therof dyd nothyng kno Now is Alfagus layd in the bed he made no longe delaye The mayden knew not whom he was and dyd him not denaye ¶ For why wee thought nought els but the Archelaus had ben theare But alfagus ioyfull was to see that hee so well did fare These two young wedded foalkes therfor â–ª no longerlye they may For â—â—h man hyed faste to ryse so farre spent was the daye ¶ Archelans thought it was most meete for to disclose his mynde Whyle all his kynred theu were there no better tyme to fynde Alfagus his deare freind therfore be vnto hym dyd caâ—ll And placed him within the myddest among his kyndes foalke all ¶ And all the nobles that dyd dwell in Carthagye was theare To whom Archelaus reuerence shewed desyryng them full fayre To gyue attentyue eare a whyle that Alfagus myght discus A secre at thyng Archelaus sayd which hee will saye to vs. Who beyng placed in his â—owme amongest the myddest of all Declared foorth such woordes to them as after follow shall ¶ The Oracion which Alfagus made before the freindes of Archelaus openynge vnto them the hole matter Cap. vi MY freindes nobles of Carthage this day amongest you all An insample is shewed vncredible which lately did befall Which doth dyscrybe the deuyne power of honorable loue Whose forcyng darte with deadly stroke excelleth all aboue ¶ This loue hath brought perpetuall fame and eke great commendacion Unto this Citie and also vnto the Grecians nacion Wherfore you ought ryght excelentlye greate comforte for to take And giue due thankes to God the which this ardent loue did make ¶ If that amonge you there remayne such auncient wyse report As had your noble progenytours which weare of the lyke sorte For what more prayse may be to men that on the earth do dwell Then faythfullnes Beneuolence and constancie whose vertues doth excell ¶ For lacke wherof all countreyes and all Cities do decaye Unto desolacion and â—uen eke they runne without delayeâ— Lyke as by them also they â—ome to great and high prosperytie With high estate and much renowne of Prudence and felycytye ¶ What shall I longe delaye the tyme or tarâ—y in the thynge Coniectyng myne intent and not to tell my hole meanyng You know â—yght well ech one of you from whence I came and howe Unto this Cytie I was sent whearas I am euen now ¶ And by aduenture I did fynde the house of Olympus here Who of longe tyme a very friende he was to me most deare His sâ—nne Archelaus theare I found of myne owne age and state Who in all thynges was lyke to me hym chose I for my mate ¶ We were so lyke in euery thynge the one vnto the other That wee coulde not deserned be of father nor of mother But onlye that we woulde our selues tell one anothers name Unto our parentes and also to others shew the same ¶ So that at length about our neckes sylke laces they dyd taye Of sundrye collours that they myght deserne vs by that waye What mutuall loue and agrement hath byâ— betweene vs twayne This eyght yeres alwayes since I came with Olimpus to remayne ¶ You all be witnesses that haue byn be holders of the thynge Tose our sweete conuersacion you haue alwayes byn wandrynge And also our consent of mynde in luste and apetye You neuer sawe dyscorde noâ— once wherin we dyd varrye ¶ And as for my parte after that my father was deseased Not withstandyng that to mee aboundantly ther happened Great possessyons and houses fayre with ryches eke innumerable And proffers of hye dignitie wyth Ladyes fayre and amyable ¶ My freyndes and alyans eke also theyr letters to mee sente Desyrynge mee importunately to â—od as they haue mente In commyng home for to receyue myne erytage due to me Yea them which in the Senat now of all most auncyent be ¶ Offered me aduauncement hye in dignitie to raygne Amongest those which the publycke welth doth seeke for to mayntayne I wyll not now remember of the lamentacions great Which my most naturall mother made me homwardes to intreat ¶ Expressyng with most tended woordes in letters to me sent All blotted wyth teares the which on them abundantly were sprent Wher in shee dyd accuse me sore because I did delaye The tyme so long and vnto her not seeke to come awaye ¶ Sayeng that I am much vnkynde syth nature would agree Specially now in her most neede her comforte for to bee But yet all this within my harte could not at all preuayle Ne to remoue Archelaus from but to the breadâ—h of my nayle ¶ And but that force doth me constrayne by nature so prouyded I coulde nor may not be with drawne for anye thynge contryued Once from his company most sweete and pleasaunt vnto mee Acsepte with his most gentle harte he doth therto agree ¶ I chusynge rather for to lyue wyth hym by fatall doome His felow and companyon to be then counseler of Roome For which my kynd nes hath byn well aquitted nowe this daye Or els redoubled by his helpe if I the troth do saye ¶ Delyueryng mee frome cruell death wherto I was so nye That of all deathes I should haue dyed a death most cruelly And so Lachesus shoulde haue spunne my fatall thred in yayne My pleasant yeares and youthfull dayes the fryttell yearth should gayne ¶ I do perceaue you wonder much ye noble Athenes now To heare of thes and of atrouth no maruell is for how Or what is he so bolde of harte that burst attempte with Ire To satysfye his cruell mynde my death for to conspire â–ª ¶ Being a Romayne and decente of ryall Romaynes blood Or who els thynke you would be so malicious or so wood To sley me whom you all do know hath done no villanye To any man or woman which doth dwell within this Cyâ—ye ¶ You all shall be my iudge therin if that it be not so For if I should mysuse my selfe you myght well therof kno For in your syghtes I haue byn still synce to this Cytie I Came fyrst and in Olimpus house appoynted was to lye ¶ Nay nay my freyndes there is no man that I herein accuse Before you all my friendes here no such talke will I vse I do perceaue you lysten styll and woulde desyre to kno What man he was that dyd presume or seeke to vse mee so ¶ With cruell deede and great dyspyte my lyfe frome mee to take Or in lyke sort to do this facte such enterpryse dyd make It was loue o Carthagines euen that same loue I saye Which as your Poettes doth declare hath wounded many a waye ¶ The cheifest parte of all the Gods to whom ye honour gyue The whylst they were on earth here lyke earthly men dyd lyue Thys loue constrayned Jupiter to swym as doth a Swan And be transformed lyke a Bull to hyde his shape of man. ¶ Hercules eke the vanquysher of monsters great and stronge Lyons fearce and Gyantes
That by so good lucke should escape his vyolent mynde and wyll When wyth his owne hands he did thinke his innocent blood to spyll ¶ By lawe now shall I dye quoth hee ryght glad I am therfore Good freindes make haste dyspatche my dayes that I may see no more The lyght of Sonne ne yet of skye which on the earth doth showe Theyr glystryng lyght gladsome heate on trees on earth belowe ¶ The mournyng feyldes by lymbo lake I woulde approche to see With those whom loue they re deathe dyd force that place is best for mee The offycers marueiled greatly then to see hym so content To take his death with spedy haste intreatyng as he went. ¶ That thay wolde not delaye the tyme wherfore was tolde anon Unto the Senate with reporte the deede of such a one Who as you harde before was slayne and that in such a place Was found a man in Carthage borne suspected in that case ¶ And how they founde the blood dye knyfe in his hande being styll And that it semed to be hee the whych the man dyd kyll Wherfore foorth with they dyd commaunde to brynge him to the barre Because that time in Judgement seate the counsell setten were ¶ Alfagus was cheife counceller then or in lyke dygnitie Syttyng in his royall seate wyth great felycitiy Archelaus then moste myserable man vnto the barre was brought With byls and staues most lyke a theefe and innocent was of thought ¶ Of whom it was demaunded then if he the man dyd slaye That was found dead as ye haue harde which he dyd not denaye But in moste sorowfull maner did his fortune cursse and â—an Sayeng he was in all the worlde the moste vnfortunatest man. ¶ O myserable wretche quoth hee what curssed starre dyd raygne When I my fatall thred of lyfe by nature did obtayne I woulde to god Lachesys had my fatall thred vntayed Before I knew that vnkynde wretche whych hath me now vpbrayed ¶ Thus syghyng in his harte be sayd but no man could espye For whom he sorrowed in such sorte in care and and mysery At length one dyd demaund of hym in what place he was borne And howe he traueyled had so farre with cotes so rent and torne ¶ In Carthagye good syr he sayde my mother dyd me bare And in my youthfull tyme and dayes full well I lyued thare But fortune with her fatall wheele my good lucke dyd enuye And therwith on Alfagus hee dyd caste a sorowfull eye ¶ With indignation much and braste into great syghes wyth all Wherby aboundantly the feares downe from his eyes dyd fall Whych when Alfagus did beholde esspyeng eke also A marke vppon his vysage whyche of certayne hee did kno ¶ It was Archelaus his deere freinde consyderyng therwythall That by some euyll aduenture hee into that case dyd fall Sodenly from his seate hee rose and kneeled on his knee Before the iudges all and sayde my Lordes gyue eare to mee ¶ This man my selfe I slewe quoth he of olde rancour and hate The which renewed was by vs of malyce now of late This man is gyltlesse of the thynge he is a straunger here For in the eyes of all men nowe ryght well it may appeete ¶ That he is desperate in his mynde and careth not for to dye And to abreue his sorowes hee doth not the facte denie He doth confesse the fact wherof he is moste innocent And so to fynysh his sorowfull dayes that is his hole intent ¶ Wherfore the sentence gyne on mee accordyng to my deede And haue accordyng to the lawe some shamefull death with speede Archelaus then perceauyng that contrary to his expectatyon His freind Alfagus did begin to make there such relacion ¶ And how he offered for to dye some shamefull death and so Delyuer hym from the death to whiche full lyke he was to go He more importunatlye dyd crye for iudgement to be done And that they would proceede on hym lyke as they had begonne ¶ For I am be withouten fayle that dyd thys man dystroye And as he walked by the waye withouten companye I dyd suppose to haue of hym some Juels ryche and sayre And started sadeynly from a bushe before that hee was ware ¶ Geuyng hym his deadly wound wherby I myght at ease Sâ—rche him well in euery place to do euen as I please But when I had destroyed hym so it dyd me not auayle For there no ryches coulde I fynde my purpose I dyd fayle ¶ And beyng then ryght sore in feare least any shoulde espye This cruell deede that I had done full faste I dyd me hye Into the barne where I was founde to reste me for a whyle But I had watched longe before and sleepe did me begyle ¶ So that before I was a ware full faste on sleepe I laye And had the knyfe styll in my hande the which that man dyd slaye The officers will confesse it so I muste needes dye therfore And thus he called for his death on them still more and more ¶ Alfagus dyd deny those wordes and sayde he dyd but fayne He doth inuent these wordes quoth hee the man he hath not slayne For if that he had done the deede hee would haue fled awaye And not haue tarryed in the place wher as he did him slaye ¶ Sum other thynge was in hys mynde when he did drawe hys knyfe By desperate minde perhappes he thought to haue tyd his owne lyfe Is that a weapon lyke to fyght or kyll a man wyth all No no my Lordes it is not so the knyfe is very small ¶ And he is lyke a Palmer poore which beggeth by the waye Not lyke a Ruffen you may see his coates are nothyng gay It was euen I that slewe the man the cause I tolde before Of olde hate which betweene vs was and kept so long in store ¶ For as in that place all alone a huntynge I dyd ryde By euell aduenture in the waye the man there I espyed And thynkyng that no bertter tyme I myght auenged bee But then when as we were alone and no man els to see ¶ I drewe my sworde without delaye and vnto him I sayde Thou vyâ—layne nowe to fynde the here I am ryght well apayde And therwithall on hym I layd without respect or care That so denly his deadly wounde he had or I was ware ¶ Which when I sawe out of the waye I drewe hym by and by I tooke my horse in all the haste and homwardes faste did flye This thyng is true whych I haue sayde the lawe now let me haue Why do ye deferre of so longe no man my lyfe maye saue ¶ Archelaus sayd it was not so but he the man dyd slaye Alfagus dyd withstand it tho and did hym styll denaye Thus argued they longe tyme for death who myght the other saue Aboundaytly theyr teares they shed with wishyng for theyr graue ¶ Wherat the Senat and people all was wonderouslye abasht Not knowing what the thing might mean but stoode full sore
mynde that when this thynge is done And that you do enioy the mayde by me as now begonne ¶ I shall deryded bee of all the foalke that shall it know And all my kynted wyth dispyte theyr Irefull hate wyll show In seekyng all the meanes they can me to expulce and dryue Out of this Cytye in short tyme a bannyshed lyfe to lyue ¶ And thynke me to be suche a one as hath done great out rage By geuyng of a great reproche vnto my parentage But god shall worke his wyll therin my mynde is fully bente To do the thyng that I haue sayde is all my whole intent ¶ I force not for the furyous rage of anye spytefull foe Ne yet what payne I do abyde by Fortunes frownyng blow So that you my friend Archelaus may lyue in fortunes grace And haue felyrytie to increace your honoure with solace ¶ Archelaus marriethe the Ladye for Alfagus Alfagus coÌ„firmeth matrymonye and lyeth with her all the night Archelaus defireth al hys frendes to gyue eare to the Oracion which Alfa gus would make Cappit v. WYth this Alfagus turnde himselfe as one awakte from sleepe And thought hee had but seene a dreame more cares on him to heape And doubtyng whether he had harde Archelaus speake or no Or seene a vision in his mynde deuysed to be so ¶ As he before had harde his friende with frendly wordes declare But lookynge vp with stedfaste eyes ryght well perceaued tharâ— Hys friende Archelaus standyng by with teares lamentyng styll Left Fortune by her fatall wheele hys hole deuyce should spyll ¶ The wofull Alfagus set hym vp not knowyng what to saye But comfortyng his most dere friende in all that euer he maye Thankyng hym then for his kynde wordes which were incompetable Refusyng it syth that he sayd I am so â—aryable ¶ More better were it that there shoulde a hondred suche as I Lyke vnkynde wretches to be slayne or some euell death to dye Then that so noble a man as you should sustayne any ill Or that reproche or dammage should come anye wayes you till ¶ But then Archelaus in his armes his freind Alfagus tooke Comfortyng hym all that he myght with many a merye looke And therwith all dyd swere and eke protest as not dysmayd That with glad harte al things should bee as he before had sayd ¶ He sweetlye kyssed him also and sayd my friend most dere All thynges shal be accomplysht well therfore be of good chere Alfagus then perceauyng that all thynges were fyrme and sure And that no fayned friendshyp did his faythfull friend alure ¶ He set him vp wyth ioyfull harte ryght in his bed as he Had felt before no payne at all but wakt from sleepe to be The quicke blood in his vyssage then began for to restore Suche coloure as by nature he receaued had before ¶ And after hee had well sustayned wyth some good drynke and meate His feeble bodye which before had no desyre to eate In fewe dayes was brought agayne vnto his woonted state Lyke to Archelaus in all thynges his faythfull freinde and mate ¶ The daye of maryage did approche ech one with busye care Did seeke for such thynges as should neede the weddyng to prepare Archelaus was deuysyng styll the best and surest way How he his friend Alfagus myght is to his roâ—me conuaye ¶ Now thought be this now thought hee that as fancie did him guyd At length he found the secrâ—test feat that els be myght prouyde And shewed Alfagus all the thyng in what place hee should stande Take heede therfore quoth he that you be reddye at my hande At nyght when wee to bed shall go within the chamber dore Behinde the cloth there is a hole where you may be full sure And before wee to bed moste come I will conuaye you thatâ— So that when I shall come and brynge with me the maybe so fayre ¶ You shall come forth behynde my backe and I will slyp awaye So no man shall â—spâ—e the sleyght because that your araye Is lyke to myne in euery thynge your vyssage eke also Resembleth myne so that the mayde of this can nothynge â—â—o ¶ Be of good cheere Archelaus sayd my friende Alfagus now Leaue studyeng in all other thynges and thynke on nought but how you maye accomplyshe your desyre be of good cheere therfore The daye is come that now from death to lyfe I muste restore ¶ The day was come and then anon the Ladye freshe and gaye Archelaus tooke and to the chuâ—the her lead without delay Acompanyed with his friendes and hers ryght honorable to beholde The couenauntes were agâ—eâ—id vppon and eche theyr mynde had tolde ¶ Unto the other and anon when all thynges els was done They hasted home where as the feast wyth great ioye was begonne That daye they passed with much myrth and sportes in sundrye wyse Ech man a sundrye game and playe for pastyme dyd deuise ¶ Betweene Archelaus and the mayde such entertaynement grewe That all men theare had great delyte their louely lookes to â—ewe Praysyng greatlye Gods good gyfte syth Nature did agree To gyue them beautie vertue and the arte of curtesye ¶ Which were ryght exceleÌ„t in thes twayn excelling others farre That in the Cytie of eche sorte before tymes wededd ware What shall I say the daye was spent and Phebus beames so bryght Descended downe into the west where hidden was his lyght ¶ The twyncklyng stars by wonted course appeared in the lâ—ye And euery man and woman faste vnto their rest did byâ— Archelaus and the mayden then acompaned with her kyn were brought vnto theyr chamber doore and as they entred in ¶ Alfagus hydden in the wall ryght well did them beholde And fearyng least he myght not speede hys harte was very colde But then Archelaus thynkyng on his friend Alfagus case Deuysynge how or by what meanes he might come in his place ¶ Dismissed all the foalke awaye and thankt them for theyr payne And sayd I wyth my ladye nowe must taulke a worde or twayne Gyue place to vs now at this tyme most hartely I you praye To morrow wyll we passe the tyme with more disport and playe ¶ Eche one departed them anon no wyght was left behinde But euen Archelaus and the mayde eche one to saye their mynde Alfagus lyuyng still in hope thought euery mynute a yeare Archelaus carefull was also that Alfagus myght appeare ¶ Howbeit he with ardent loue desired her to haue Aboue all worldlye treasures but his friendes lyfe then to saue He had most ardent care of all fayre mayde therfore sayd he A little whyle I must departe I praye you tarrye me ¶ And made as though to ease him selfe vnto the stoole he went He to Alfagus tooke his waye nought els was his intent Alfagus ioyfull for to see his friende Archelaus cheare Wythout delaye came foorth anon all frustrate was his care ¶ Archelaus stoode in Alfagus place and Alfagus foorth did go Unto the mayd the whych as then