doth make his name excell Therfore as I am Princesse true I voâ—n Ariodant By him that Skies and Earth did frameâ— and trees and herbes did plant Til lise doth leaue my careful corpse to loue thee faithfullie As euer Lady loued her féere in spite of vyle aduersitie She sayd and down to ground she falles in sound and drawes no breath Long time as one that had reâ—ind her life to wished death And when she doth reuiue againe the stilling teares depart Like siluer droppes from drowned â—yes and gastlie sighes from hart Thus leaues she Ladies companie and shunnes eche kind of sport In stéed wherof to desert walkes shée dayly doth resort Where sundrie thoughts opresse her mind now feare for to obtayne Like loue of him for whom she doth these passions hard susteine And now the Kings consent she feares whose hest she must obey And eke whose mynd is chiefly bent t encrease her slate eche way These arguments full fraught with doubt are rise within hir brayne And if she finde one pleasant thought a thousand griefes remayne Like fittes doo saint Ariodant that wandring here and there Can finde no plare to case his paine nor damp his doughts of feare Wherfore his bloâ—d consumes away his sleshe to boanes doo fade His colour whan as clod of clay most like a senslesse shade The youthfull sutes which earst he ware vnworne doo â—ye in chest And now the black and tawny hew doth please this heauy gest In fine these fittes so much annoye his wery irksum life That now he seekes vnhappie man to fall on persing knife Lurcanio that marks this change and sees with woo this state And feares least that he mought be wayle his brothers griefâ— to late Spies out at length both tyme and place for to discharge his mynde To him and listing tare required spends thus his boteles winde HOw long shall these consuming fittes increase thy brothers gâ—iefe From whom vnkind thou hidst thy cares thâ—t seekes for thy reliefe What meaues I say these pâ—ning paines whence springs these sluddes of care What feuer fit hath forced thee thus ruthâ—ully to fare Why speakest thou not why stayes thy touÌ„g disclose thy long disease And wylt thou thus with shortning dayes the heauenly ghostes displease If sicknes do opresse thy corps then physicks counsel vse If fond conceytes of matters past do forse thee for to muse And shun the ioyes that here be vsed then seeke swete musikes art Which wil they say all heauy dumps to ioyfull fittes conuart Perhaps the apre of this land thy nature doth dytest And makes thee thus to féele disease and taste vnquiet rest If that it be no feare of death tyme wyll weare that away As earstit did when in the Seaâ— this part we learnd to play But what doth meane this mourning wâ—eds and lothsâ—me tawnic hew As though thou hadst thy fredom lost to serue fond Uenus crewe If so thou hast aduise thee well so choyse be egall plaste Beware in tyme shunne froward dame least wind and woords be west By proufe I say my brother I this lesson short is trewe The Faulkner seld is suer of Hauke till she be close in mewe Therfore let wittes be guid to déedes thou warnd mayst learn to lyue Shun thraldoms yocke thy brother biddes that doth this councell giue Ariodant that hard this speache but reason nought estéemed With strayned voice thus answer made as one with care consumd As you haue sayd my brother deare a lethsome lyfe I leade But wheÌ„ce or wher or he wit comes t is hâ—â— from me in deede No quaâ—taine fit hath freated me ne fury fond of mynd Ne change of skyes but gods aboue thâ—â—â—lage haue iust assingd For my fore passed dayes in sinne wherfore let this content Thy doutfull head sith iust it is which Ioue himselfe hathsent Think you these toyes of veneire â— should lodgâ— within my braine Or Ladies loue in hope to win should make me thus sustaine Those sâ—orching griefes and pyning paines and stormâ— of deadly smart No no those fittes most ferdest be from my vnskilfull heart Wherfore in 〈◊〉 I thus conclude as sinne did smart deserue So Ioue that high and mightie God from pitie will not swerue This answer made â—urcanio dâ—parts with pleased mind Now deâ—ing least but word for word as he had hard to find Ariodant that nought was moued to leaue his wanted woes For brothers words to whom his loue he hates for to disclose Doth still consume a wery lyfe with endles griping payne And dayly feare augments his doole least loue be voud in vayne Besides thinks he if she should yelde like loue to my desert And then by loue vnegall we should foresed â—e to part These eyes should neuer sâ—e againe the rayes of Titans lyght But poyson strong or bathed blade my desprat death should dight But yet if she would rue my care I â—orst not Princely might For rather then the loue should slackeâ— we suro would make a flight And better it is in my conceâ—t to liue in pouerâ—ie With ioye then in these cancred carâ—s to tâ—st flouddes of prosperitie For iâ—ye bryngs health to aged limmes when cares consume the corse And ioy doth make lâ—ng lyfe to men when couples care deuorse What profits welth to â—yuâ— in woe what gyines possessiâ—ns great When heart is veâ—t continually with cares of firie heat The best and happie state I count in this vnstable lyfe Is pleasure plast with quietnes denoyde of stormes of stryfe Should we then let in hope to finde this wiâ—hâ—â—â—â—litie To leaue a Princâ—â—â— Pallas fraught with this â—yle miserie And i st not better tayle for â—ence with willyng sweat of browe And laboryng hand to dyg and dâ—lue or els to dryuâ— the plowe And then when labour finisht is to sit by tâ—sting fyre And sing and whyâ—â—le mirely with gaine of earned hyre Then here in court to goe as braue as rayes of glistryng Sunne And haue a hart that dayly seekes his vital breath to shunne Besides what shame can turn to vs to liue in soyle not known For banisht wights but laboring soules to toyle to keepe our owne Oh that these woords mought once procede from those thy rubâ—e â—ippes Whosâ— countnance shape and comlines hath forst me feele these fittes For at the least till thou shalt take some pitie of my care These grieâ—s paÌ„gs of wished death my ghost wil neuer spare Thus makes his faltring tengue an end and he on tumblyng bed Doth cast his weake and wery lyins wheâ— now from troubled â—ead Doth passe soft slumbring â—â—cape and now in dreame appeare Two ladies dect with robes of gould that purpuâ— haue do weare Upon their heads two crowns they had well set with precious stone And in their hand Ieneuora that semd to make great mone Thus past they soorth with stately steps and now approch the place Where he doth lye and thus begins the one with seemly grace BEhould thine owne Ariodant
whome cares of loue do kill Whose lyfe and death thou skillesse houldst to saue or els to spill At length let pitie placed â—e within thy friendly brest That she may gaine thou not lose the fruits or wished rest Quod 〈◊〉 and than the other sayd How long shall freating payne Consume her Rosiat colour that all earthly shapes doth staine See here vnkynd whilst thou dost sleape and take thy quiet ease Ieneuora doth feele for thee the fittes of viâ—e disease Wherfore dispatch caâ— sleape away bryng health to her againe That since she 〈◊〉 dyd see thy corps hath felt this pyning paine These words had scarsly left hir lips when they wear out of sight And he that care had choked me and fedde with great delight To see his Ladie and hiâ— loue in presence face to face And gone againe so sodainly before he could imbrace Her tender limmes these sights I say hath forst him to awake But when he knowes it is a dreame an cut crie he doth make As though his hart had felt the stâ—he of fiers vntimely death And lyke as if â—o loftie Skies he 〈◊〉 resingâ—â— his breath And doâ—h it not suffâ—se quoth he a wâ—kyng wight to wrong With hâ—pes 〈◊〉 undeserâ—ed pâ—ynes and fittes of death among But 〈◊〉 and fond aluâ—â—ns two must help for to augment My scorching cares that long or this my life had welnye spent Oâ—â—rowâ—ing goods and merciâ—es that seeke to feede my vâ—yne with fond perswaâ—ions that my loue is quite with loue againe These eyes saw my Ieneuora that sâ—d to pyne away Because she ferd to ioy my loueâ— as Ladies two dyd sayâ— which were the heauenliest creaturâ— that erst myne eyes dyd see Bedect with gold crowns they had and suer Gods they bee Oh blessed sight and ioyful newes to good for troth I feare And may it be that thou thus farest for him that houlds the deare Then fye of care and farewel couch reioyce in ioye my hart For then within my skyn shal lodge â—no more this dayly smart But why should I thus trust in dreames that fansies be of mynde And eke vnconstant groundes of troth as writers haue definde At least a dreame is contrary and then to true in déede It is that lothsome loues dispayre my griping griefes doth feede Yet Poets say that dreames be true and things to come foreshowes For profe they tel a doleful dreame that Creasides ghost well knows And wast not tould Andromaka in vision plaine by night That Hector shuld the morow next depart from life by fight If Poetes fayle let Scripture serue and did not Pharao breame What gret increase derth likewise should happe vnto this Realme And Ioseph saw in slumbring sleape what honour should befall To him and how his brothers shefes before his shefe did fall These proue y dreame is messenger of good and bad ensue As warning sent from God aboue these sinfull déedes teschue Therfore in hope of happie hap dispayre I do deste And henceforth bouldly I do intend to séeke some remedie And if such lotte belotted me as I may her inioye No more these cares I do protest my sences shall annoy Now is the pacient plaiâ—â—er layd to his long fretted wouâ—d And now his wits he cals to him to helpe with counsell sound He leaues those careful couches now he séekes to salue his sore As â—ne that shunnes the furious meates instruct by Phisickes lore The desert walâ—es which earst he trâ—d are desert now for him And now remembraunce of his dreame reioyseth in euery limme In fine his care doth now consist only for to disclose His fittes vnto Ieneuora and his long tasted wors Wherin so wisely he hath wrought and playd so well his part That now by life or els by death to ease his loden hart a meanes he findes VUhen Cupid had with poysned dart performed his full intent Upon these sillie louers twoo and forst them to consent Unknown to both vnto his lore by mutuall burning loue He left eche wayling others chaunce and clymes to skies aboue But she alas whose colour shâ—wes the passions of her mynde Stayes not to wayle her bitter chaunce with teares and wasâ—ed winde And still complaynes in secret wise of this consuming fit Which for to ease she cries to death her hart in hast to slit The Ladies craue by gentle meanes to know her cause of care But she with skill nought more than that detesteth to declare The night is past with tumbling oft within her wery bed And seld or neuer doth approche one sleape vnto her head In stead wherof contrary thoughtes doo occupy her brayne And then whole floudes of brokish teares depart from eyes amaine Her moystie pilow she doth leaue long or the day appeare And rechlesly she deckes her selfe nought forcing what she weare Thus clothd she spends welny the day in temple much deuout Accompanied with one alone and not with glistring rout Of Courtlie dames this Lady hath in charge her booke to beare As one that for her parentage the Princes held full deare This soone espide Ariodant that long had sought to finde Conuenient place and time as fit to vtter out his mynd Which séene welcome the time he saies of me desired long Wherin I hope to be releast of this my solom song For if I may such frendship finde of her that beares the booke As ones to wayte in stead of her for more I do not looke Then shall my plaint which written first and cold in secret wyse Within the booke disclose my care â—t full before her eyes Wherin shée shall perceiue also the fittes of my disease And how my cause to her I yeld to order as shee please And if shee be of nature good Though shée disdayne my name Yet will shee kepe it secretly that therby grow no blame And if shee hate to rue my care I know the end of all The worst is that my desperate corpse on goring knife shall fall But if she take me to her grace who liues in better plight Or who can vaunt of greater blisse or isâ—a happier wight Tâ—us he concludes and findes out time and place and now doth craue Of her that daylie beares the booke the cariage for to haue The morow when her Ladie doth to chappell take the way Which frienship showd shall bind me yours for to remaine alway He said And she y knew no guile â—e what was his intent Ercept to get the Princes grace his wilie head was bent Which by that means might soone be wonne and then the fruites of gayne As hopte reward for seruitur in recompenes of pâ—yne As moud with termes of curtesie doth yeld vnto his will Who frindly said you haue your â—est your mind I do fulfill Therfore see that to morow next about the houre of eyght You geue attendance in this place in my steade for to weight Ariodant with thousand thankes requites this freindly graunt And voues for her in all assaies his power
are donne And secretly in chamber he thus hath his tale begonne What wants ther now Ariodant what is ther now behind What hard attempt is yet vndone or what is in thy mynd Not yet performd thou mayst atcheue and bring vnto an ende Before the greuous gastly grenes thy wofull hart doth rende Behould these eyes of myne haue séene the last of all thy ioye And this vnhappy head to late doth wayle thy great annoy Oh friendles wretch y heuens agrée to sée thy fatall fall And these thy endles dolefull plaints are ioye vnto them all Els had thy folly neuer forst thée to attempt this ioye Which scand iudged indifferently depriues thee of thy ioy Thinkst thou her noble hart caÌ„ brook thy grosse vnegall loue Who for her shape and sâ—melines mought match with Gods aboue Thinkst thou with patiâ—Ì„ce she can vew the foly of thy brayne Whose passing wisdoÌ„ wel approude all earthly wittes doth stayne Thinkst thou to scape without thy hire of him that rules the lant Thinkst thou thy wandring letter sound of all shall not be scand Oh witles wretch when stéed is â—câ—nâ— thou séest what may ensue But when thou meughst thou couldst nâ—t tleÌ„ a preâ—ent harme eschue Oh more then thryse vnhappy wight eche open mouth shall sound To Skies thy shame when thy vile corpse forgot shall lodge in ground Dispatch therfore why stayes thy hand to geue thy hart his meede Whose foolish lust and fond desire was causer of this déede And therwithall he vrew his blade his desperat part to play But reason with hir holsome skyll forst hastie hand to staie Nay rather yeld thou foole quoth she to reasons sound aduise Who greater fits then thou dost féele can cure with a tryse Wilt thou with desperate death deserue the paynes of lasting smart That mayst with eased mynd a whyle finde salue to heale thy hart Perchance thy Ladie doth require thy loue with loue againe Why wilt thou then till troth be knowne with dread increase thy payne Perchance or this her hart hath felt for thee lyke fittes and care Aâ—d truth it is she crased is and heauely doth fare And wait not be that Cupide is a iudge indifferent Who for taâ—gment your ioyes the more doth thus your lymmes torment But loue thou saist vnegall plast is causer of thy care Ah foole and hast thou now forgot how Cupide none will spare And is not King and Kayser perst with his artylerie and knowst thou not how blinded he at ventures lettes it flie Canst thou alone then suffer shame if shame a man mought call An honest loue when worlds of men to loue are hound and thrall Suppose the King might know thy loue what harme can then insue Himselfe or this could hardly shunne the sparkes of Uenus crewe Wherfore let thought be fordest from the bounds of quiet hart And with aduise what 's best to doe these passions set apart Thy Ladie is a gentill Dame her bewtie doth declare Who for to ease thy gréedie minde an answere will not spare Craue once againe the cariage of the booke thou late didst beare And in the cariage search the booke if ought be lodged there Perchaunce as thou didst first inuent so she will now deuise And will her answere ther inclose thy mynde for to suffise These thoughts as Phebus clears the skie from foule infectiue myst Do ease his mynd â— banish thought out from his cloudy brest In western seas swift Phaeâ—on doth plunge his gleaming chayre And in his steed the gliding starres â—oth compasse loftie ayre When in his bed Ariodant doth couch his heauy head In hope to sleape but fanstes newe doo rule in Sopros stead The Princes is to closet gone not rekles of her friend And least her déeds mought be espide the dore is lockt and pynd Then takes she paper pen and Ink and thus writes to her own Take this not as an answere sent from one to thee vnknown But let these lines be guide to thée which way thou mayst attayne Unto my answer craued that doth by Oliue tree remaine Kepayre therfore Ariodant to priuie gardayn where Under the mightie Oliue trée by me lies hidden there That thou didst craue this may suffise at fâ—ll thy longing minde Till more at large at fitter time thou shalt my answer finde This done she takes an other shetâ— of paper which doth serue To answere to his letter sent for which he nie doth sterue Therin she blisseth thryse the tyme when he did tread on ground Of Scottish Realme whose like quoth she in earth can not be found Therin she blisseth eke him selfe that would take such great payne To sée so meane a wight as she in whom doth not remayne Halfe that great prayse which he bestowes on her vnworthy shape Which is the worst that euer did from natures handes escape Then dolefully she doth lament his long sustained woe His pining fittes vnquiet rest his cares she rues also Now is the time when Uenus first did thrall her to her lore Declared eke and care for care she doth requiâ—e and more Now doth she like an Oratres perswade him to be true She vows by Ioue to shun the paths that she wils him eschue What should I say she tels y time she tels the secret place When either other person may without suspect imbrace Untill which time she wished him amendment of his fittes With thousand ioyes which to declare would trouble sore my wittes Well wery hand and watched eye seeke now longe shunned rest As sleape to work thy drousie charme at hand is ready prest This night the glad Ieneuora of sleape receiueth more Then in six months and odde I think she did receiue before Ariodant as Marchant tost with stormes from kenned land That feares by rock or swallowing goulfe his deaths day is at hand Dispayring lies and dreadfull thoughtes oppresse his crased minde And doughting most that battred barke so soone good port should finde Yet as he had concluded he by breake of day doth ryse And in dispite of fortune mindes tachtefe his interpryse Ieneuora though heauy head did craue more golden sleape Is not vnmindfull of her charge ne lenger bedde doth keape But long before Ariodant she doth vnknown arise And with her letter hastely to priuie garden hies And as she had deuised earst within her little scrowle She hides it by the Oliue trée vnknown to any soule That done to warme an easie bed not waking any wight She plies againe and lieth till Aurora geueth light Then vp she startes decks her self with costlie robes of gould Her glistring hear in sumptuous cal the courtly Dames doo â—ould Then close in closet she doth put the scrowle into the booke Which first she made of purpose y her friend theron should looke That done she thus commaundes her maydâ— if he doth come this day That last did beare the booke when I to chappell went to pray And craue the booke agayne of you graune him quoth she his
pray Of littell whelp doth howle roare and dreadfully doth bray As Lurtel Doue that is beguild of hoped faithfull mate In pining wyse misâ—â—king spendes hir tyme tyll latest fate So fares it with Ariodant this wretch full fraught with woe Whose trembling feete no soner had left poore Lurcanio But out vnknown to fields he hies and raunging here and there Like frantike man now runs he fast and now as caught wiâ—h â—eare â—e créeping by y ground doth crawl and now like one agast He staring stands not mouing ioynt and now he vies as fast But styl vâ—on this tragedy vpon his letted part His heauie mynde is occupide and eke his desperat hart Wherfore at last approching neare vnto a Riuer déepe He doth conclude his last deuise no longer now to sléepe But calling to a traueler that then past by the waye With broken sâ—â—bes and faltring tonguâ— he thus to him doth say My friend qd he although vnknown perhaps I am to thee Yet let me craue thy curtesie thus much to doo for me That is that thou forthwith wilt go vnto the Scottish court Wher from me to Ieneuora thus much thou shalt report Through to much sight Ariodant hath founde vntimely death And yelded to the greadie streame his last departing breath This same is all this doo forme let pâ—â—ie moue thy mynde Sith power wants for to requite that friendships lore doth bynâ—e This said the cloudie sighes procâ—â—de from scorched hart by heapes And therwithal deepe sobs grones from gasping throte out leapes The traueler agast to heare these straunge and careful newes Doth feele his vitall senses fayle and falles in mortall mewse And coming to him selfe againe in faire and friendly wise Lyke to his skill he vttereth what harme therof might rise As first his death once bruted foorth his lyfe is had in scorne And ther with lasting memorie with liueles limmes is worne Except report reprochfull blast in euery coast doth sound How wilfully Ariodant his desperate course hath dround Besides the daunger of the soule he puts into his mynde And eke the terrour of the payne that is therfore assingde Bâ—t care of heauen or dought of hel is fardest from his thought And how y world wold deeme of him he neither careth ought Wherfore when no perswasion could chaunge his black intent with drowned eyes y straunger doth to his request consent Then from the toppe of craggy rock he lookes to streame belowe â— stretching â—ooth his shaking armes him selfe foorthwith doth throwe â—midst the streame y foulds his corse and ther withall doth â—inke Unto the ground ther remaynes which causd the straâ—nger think That gredi goâ—lf had chokt his breth and that he had ben dead Wherfore he hies vnto the court with minde complet with dread Ariodant though noble hart did scorne for to remayne In such distres and rather chusd by death to ease his payne Yet feeling pangs of lothsome death which kinde could not indure He striues againe to get that life which care did earst procure To banish from his vexed limmes and vsing lothed might by force of armes stretched legges lyfe ther hath won the fight And death is fled with whom retires that foule and dreadfull thought Which carefull wretch Ariodant to deare well me had bought Thus quite from death the straunger now doth sommon wits againe To counsell what is best to doo amidst these stormes of raine First pleasure biddes him to repaire againâ— to luâ—â—y court Wher sone thou shalt distroy qd he these thoughts through pleasant sport And sith thou art by skill instruct to shunne false Uenus bayte Perswade thy selfe the blynded boy no more for thée will wayte With that conceit affection doth seeme for to agree Although in reasons they be all and therfore thus saith hée How knowest thou Lurcanio wil brooke these heauy newes What griefe of minde shal he indure what torments will he vse Thinkst thou when he shal heare thy death to ryd his lothed life The best is thinke by pining dayes if not by persing knife And I qd vertue can not yeld vnto your ioynt consents I sée small reason to induse me to so straunge intents We say that man thryse happy is whome others proued haâ— me From fallyng hedlong to such haps can warne and warely charme The court was causer of thy care by court did spryng thy paine Then let these daungers of the court from court straunge the againe The wyly byrd can shunne the net which earst enthrald her so The sely mouse once caught in trap can shunne the guyle also But vessels sayd with sower wyne kepe still their former tastâ— And that which in the boane is bred from thence is hardly plast So hard it is to maister loue which rooted is in hart But rather by continual sight is growen a greater smart And as vnto Lurcanio how he these newes will take I dought it not but for thy death he great complaint wil make But for to say in desperat wise he will him selfe confound That 's very straunge â— hard to makâ— that in myne eares to sound He loues thee as a brother ought so nature dâ—th him moue But selfe loue toucheth nearer kindâ— this tale thou true shalt proue At first thy death is griefe to him â—ls kindly force is gone But as the wearing time doth waâ—â—e so doth abbridge his mone wherfore leaue lusty blouds in court let brother morne his fill Let fading worldly pleasures be and â—erke than to my skill Learn thou with remnant of thy daies the blissed sacred lore Seke now at last tappease the heuâ—s whom thâ—u offendst so sore So shalt thou learne by lyfe to die and die to lyue in ioy So shal not then thy fleshly lustes thy sinâ—ull ghost annoy This sentence was no sooner tould but for to show consent Eche lymme and ioynt are eased wel and lyppes pronounce content The Parlament thus ended is to vertue stranger yeldes And running here and there abrode amidst the desert fields He doth at last a sheapard spie whome he in friendly wyse Salutes and after that he crauâ—s the sheapard to aduise Him of some holy place wheras a man mought leade his lyfe In quietnes and wher he mought abandon worldly strife Upon this hill qd shepard then if that thou list to go Thou shalt ther find an Hermetage an aged man also That there alone doth passe away his wery aged tyme. In prayers much deuoutly for remiâ—â—e of former cryme This known Ariodant doth leaue the Sheapehard with farewell And mountes on hauty hyll wheras the Hermite poore doth dwell And finding him amidst his beades with hartie greatings made The goodly courtier strayns his spech and thus to him he sayde That god that form'd the erth seas and framed man of nought Increase thy faith and send thée that which thou so long hast sought â—ood father though through tender age the frayle vnbridled youth Doth lacke the deepe discretion to seanne and iudge the
late our â—ecret loue oh speake thou flying â—prite And ease me of this one conceit as thou art faithfull knight To late to late a lasse I crie in vayne I wast my breath But out to soone to soone a lasse I wayle thy cruell death And shall I liue bereud of friâ—nd shall mourning let in age And i st enough with heauy mones my passioâ—s to asswage No no myne owne Ariodant my first approued frend And eke â—he last with whom I mynd my dayes in loue to spend Euen as thy liuely feature inforst me to thy loue So shall thy death let in my death as time right well shâ—ll proue And as she did begin at fiâ—st nie chockt with mortall sound Euen so she endes her heauy plaint with falling down to ground Amidst â—â—ele stormes of deadly grief and pâ—ssiâ—ns â—â—oarde with payne Repâ—rt wâ—th treble sounding voyce his yelling â—â—rdaie dâ—th strayne And puttes into eche open eare how that by selâ— consent Amidst the streame Ariodant his latest dayes hath spent And now into Lurcanios eares this heauy newes he blowes And how â— when he drownd him self to him he plainly showâ—s wherwith y carefull brother caught with sting of pearsing death Resines his warlike force and falles therâ—with downe to the earth Wher after many griping grones inforst by grief of mynd His noble hart hath wonne by force his banisht breathing wynd But festred lies in hart the care that troubles euery vayne And déep in thought is lodgd y cause of this newe proued payne The force wherof so calmed hath his flerce coragious hart That see from eyes loÌ„g time dryd vp a floud of teares depart Which mixed are with heauy sobbes from manlike broyling brest And compast in with smoking sighes and flames of great vnrest All these in dungeon deepe below Alecto fiers espies Whose nature is in vexed haâ—t pale hatred to deuise Wherfore hir snaky heares wound vp she leaues hir lothsome denne And flies vnto the Scottish court wheras â—urcanio then Was heaueâ—y bewayling of his wretched brothers death To whome like aged matron dight she â—pends this diuelish breath When shall thy childish plaints haue ende when shal thy cares be spent when shal thy latest sighes be brethed that tende to smal intent Oh false vnto thy brothers ghost doo womeÌ„ns mones suffise To answer that which for reuengâ— to thee eche houre cries Shal murder thus be suffored shall bloudie hands enioye A longer life is this the loue thou sekst for to imploye On him that whilst he liued on erth held thée then lyfe more deare Is this a brothers iust rewarde dost thou such friendship beare Unto thy most abused friend and canst thou liue to see Thy brother dead his foe alyueâ— hym sterud and she styll free hath nature formd thee void of witte oh cruell to thy kinde Hath pitie so assoâ—ed this thy worthy warlike minde That neither brothers amitie ne lynke of iustice lore Can moue thee for this foule offence iust iudgement to implore Leaue thou these lamentations long drie vp these childish teares And spedely sée that thou put into thy souereignes cares How that the Prince Ieneuora dishonored hath her state In feeding her dishonest lust with one thou sawest of late And that of body she is false see thou defend with force So shalt thou yelde a iust rewarde by burning of her corse This spightfull spight thus vomited from vgly lothsome pate A snake she pulles which for to moue Lurcanio more to hate She throwes into his bosome right wher stinging it remaynes And poysneth so eche ioynt limme and swelles so all his vaynes That raging like a fâ—anâ—ike beast vnto the king he hies To whome his dutie finished this tale he doth deuâ—se That fayth oh king which subiectes bare vnto their soncraigne That ioâ—â— that to their Princely stâ—te within their harts remayne That care which to their high renowne and honor eke they haue And last that great regard they vse their vertue still to saue Hath forst my trembling tongue to speake against the lâ—â—t of mynde and charged my closed lippes to tell that duties force doth binde Which newes though some vnrest do bringe vnto your horie heares Yet yelding iustice for the same gaynes life that neuer weares Oh worthy king and my liege Lord though but alyde by vowe The noble intertainment which I haue receiued of you Commaundes me not to hide a fact so hemous from your grace â—hough déede be done by such anonâ— as comes of râ—yall rare Whordom oh king committed by the Prince Ieneuora It is that so hath moued my tongue and lippes from lâ—nger staie which thâ—se my eyes to soone haue séene at place and time vnfit In proufe wherof â—oo here my gage I will my lyfe commit Into his hands that giues the palme vnto the faithful wight and yeldes the gayne of victorie to him that fights in right I néede not now declare what thoughte â— oppresse the pensiue king Ne what ill rest to aged head these careful newes doo bring Sith prone it is to testie age to take in fretting wise A small offence and euery fault is great before their eies wherfore his present panges I passe I leaue his heauy hart Wrapt in with web of carefulnes and gript in graue of smart And to this kings reply I will direct my penne againe Who pausing long from carefull thoughtâ— at last he doth refraine and thus he sayes LUrcanio thy seruice good and faithfull vnto me Doth argâ—e in my doughtfull head thy minde from falshood free But if my age be not disceiud if fame doo not beguile My hoping hart such shameful actes are fardest in exile from hir whom thou hast now accusd whose parents goodly age Was neuer iustly tayâ—ted with a deede of such outrage Wherfore sith doughtfull yet it lies within our princely minde And sith none but Lurcanio this foule abuse doth finde We will before our sentence geuen examine this accusd That hath by whordom as thou saist our state so much abusd And least thou deeme mée partiall I do accept thy gage Condicionly that thou thy self this proferd fight shalt wage Against who listeth to mainteine her truth against thy might Like to our auncient laws ordeind by force of combat fight And it thou gaine the victory then she to flames of fire If vanquist thou she frée shall liue thou death shalt haue for hire Which fight we wil shal be performd vpon the fiftéenth day Ensuing next when God I trust the right with right will pay So sayd Lurcanio leaues the King and to his chamber hies Wher for his brothers death he doth renewe his wonted cries But careful king wheÌ„ strauÌ„ger was departed from his sight In minde to trie his truth herein doth send a faithfull knight For carefull Ieneuora whom messenger doth finde Amidst her maydes lamenting still with head to brest inclindâ— To whome his dutie finished his message he doth show Thefâ—eâ— wherof Ieneuora when perfâ—â—tly doth knowe â—he wiping cleane
her bathed chekeâ— and trimmeth vp her heare Doth so repaire vnto the king though with vnchaunged cheare To whome she is no sooner come but voydance then is made Of eche estate and then the king with trickling teares thus sayde They say that childe thrise cursed is whose vile and viciouâ— life Doth cause the louing parents dye consumde with carefull strife which endles grief god grant qd he thy actes force me not proue But that thy hoped vertues doo from such conceits me moue T is so qd he Ieneuora whylst in our Princely court We weard away our crooked age lyke to our wonted sort Before our presence doth appeare the stout Lurcanio Who of free will dyd iustifie and threw downe gage also To proue that thou hast don the déede that hath deserued fyre I meane that thou hast purchast deth through whordoms foule desire which déede him selfe did see he vowd at place anâ—time vnmeetâ— And iudgement he did craue also for such offence most fitte which iudgement I haue stayed yet to heare what thou canst saye why dreadful doome of present death should longer for thee staye This sayd the king complete with carâ— doth staye his choked breath And feeles the force of mortall ache and latest pangs of death But she whose wretched ghost hath felt the worst of all her smart With countnance fearse disdayning lyfe all feare doth set appart And answers thus vnto the king my â—ord and soueraigne Of catiues all she wretch is mâ—st she feeles most store of payne whose heauy hap doth rather â—idde the tongue for to confesse Untroth then by accusing tale to pleade for her redresse Oh king of whom this earthly shapâ— by â—ome I doo enioye Let not these latest woords of mine thy Princely mynde annoy But heare indifferently what cares thy childe doth now susteyne That rather seekes to suffer death then long to taste this payne My dread and soueraine Lord and kyng thy skilfull horie heares Know well how from the cradell vp vnto the latest yeares We subiect are to euery sinne and thrald of natures kinde By thought by woord by déede and sight vnto the fancies blynde Of worldly cares and nought there is within our sinfull hart But fancies fond which reason willes should tast a lasting smart Such thoughts such words such déedes and fights oh king haue rulde in me And doo and will tyll of the yokâ— of life my â—immâ—s he frée Amongst which sinfull passions one 〈◊〉 annoyed my minde One act ther 〈◊〉 wherin oh king I greatest griefe doo finde which fith both time present statâ— byds tâ—ll vnto your grace I will disclose from my hart all damps of feare displace wherby I shal driue dought I trust out from your doughtfull breast And make you priuie of such hapâ— as in me lurking reast Amongst the train of this your court and of your courtiers stout Amongst the worthy company of all the courtly rought There was your highnes knowes right wel one knight Ariodant In whom that should adorne a man no gift at all did want A seemely wight of spotles faith although an alien borne Whose shape with thousand comely gifteâ— dame nature did adorne His noblenes his grace and shape enforce my virgins hart LoÌ„g time to plunge in goulfs of care and tast of louers smart He turnd my chast disposed mynde from thoughtes of maydens life And taught me seke to salue y wound of Cupides fatall knife But sée the heuens I think it would that stroke which pearst my brest Did carue in him a griefly gashe and in his hart did rest Thimpoisned push which forced him to feele lyke fittes and payne And in like storms of troubled mind long time for to remayne Till y a means he found which way he mought disclose his loue To me and eke for to bewray that Cupides force did moue Which when I vnderstood no wight did euer tast like ioye As I glad soule that banisht then that earst did me annoy And waying long his vertues great and eke his good intent Which caused my affection at last I did consent Unto his loue and choosing then him as my dearest frend I did conclude in wedlocked band wâ—â—h him my life to spend But see the frâ—tes of this our blisse see here vnstable state See see oh King the end of all this our most happy â—ate Whylst we in linke of loyall loue thus led our restles life And whylst my careles hart did ioyâ— the chaunge of wonted strife I know not I what cruell fact inforst my hartes delight My frend myne own Ariodant to worke this cruell sâ—ight On me amidst the choking streameâ— oh fierse vntimely death He drownd him self to the waues he did resigne his breath whose death oh hart shal work thiwo and ende thy wonted ioye And force my heauy head to learne howe life I may destroy Yet know oh Syr in all this loue nought did offend but thought Nought trespased but that vnknown to thée oh King I sought To choose a feare of race vnfit vnto your Princely state Whose râ—ial tiâ—e coÌ„mauÌ„ds me choose a farre more firter mate But if this gayne by breach of lawe the death of scorching fyre Then do pronâ—uÌ„â—e the sentence stayd t is death I so desire Only let this perswade your mynde no eye did euer see This corpse of myne with whordoms blâ—e so spotted for to bee This long discourse of amours past and eke deâ—iall made That neuer cloud of shame could yet her honor iustly shade She stayd her wery iawes and ends her heauy panting breath And wonted woâ—s doo force herfall in sound downe to the earth The aged King that sees this fitte nye caught with like disease with shaking haÌ„ds her temples rubs and seekes eche way tappease These choking griefs but all in vain he rubs and chafes his childe For death hath nummed euery part and life is now exilde Til panting hart with strained might receiues his wonted force And lets in wholsome breath againâ— into the senceles corse which ioyful king with hart reuyud doth see and driueth feare Away and strayning then his sprites he thus the Princes doth cheare I was or this resolued long of thy vnspotted grace My sweete and deare Ieneuora wherfore in hart displace These cankerd cares froÌ„ tender brest feare not the paynes of death Let nâ—t the losse of desprate freend force thee resigne thy breath For I not only will prouide for sauegard of thy life But for a â—rend that shall thée please and gard thy hart from strife And kissing long her rubie lippes and wiping cleane her eyes He takes her by the christall hand and ceaseth to deuise Of former talke and then himself conueies her to her court Wher he once gone she doth renew her wonted carefull sport But pensiue king doth tract no tyme ne lengâ—r makes delay For to prouide a champion to helpe in this assay Wherfore with blast of trompets sound it is proclaymed eche wheâ—e That who so
mynd The strauÌ„ger shows a courtiers part it comes from gentill minde With dutie done the Lady graunts vnto her Ladies will That in her stead doth wish he had of wayting full his fill Ariodant abideth nâ—we in his appointed place But fearfulnes compels him hyde his blushing bashfull face Till that the Princes past the place where lurking he did stay She is scarce gone when secretly the Lady he doth pray Once more in stéede of her to wayte and cariage for â—o haue Of paayer booke she graunts it him he hath that he did craue Then secretly the fearfull man doth prie within the booke The scrowle he finds takes it out he cannot therin looke For feruent ioye he puts it vp she is now come to pewe He geues y booke with blushing face his Lady that doth vewe Her smiling chere bids him farwell his hastie foote doth part These frendly looks which after that for euer lodge in hart This longing louer is aryud at chamber now in hast He opes y scrowle word for word he findes in order plast As erst I could he heues his handes and streacht out armes to skies His clothes he bathes with gushing teares that run from swelling eyes His ioye is in her secretnes that myndes not to disclose His preferd loue as by thappointted place he doth suppose For though quoth he the answere be not as my fansie would Yet by this meanes to show my mynd no doubt I may be bould And though she now doth light estéeme and will not heare my plaint In tract of time my fittes I trust her stony hart may taint For rust in tyme will canker in the gad of sturdy stéele And littel worme in tract of tyme doth make the Oke to reele In time by droppes of raynie dew the fiâ—ie â—â—int doth freat In time also the beating sea the ruggie rock doth eate And may not then in time my sobbes and teares from drowned eyes Pearse gentil hart whose nature is to rule on wofull cryes Besidâ— if lookes may moue me think my loue she doth requite I' neede no greater proofe then that wherof I late had sight For did not colour chaunge in face when she beheld me fast First read as any Rose in May and pale agayne at last Some say that these be arguments of vext and troubled minde And sonest séene in louers face as I in writers finde But why doo I thus spend the time in dought and doughtfull toyes When answer seen and once perusd may ease perhaps annoyes And ther withall like gréedy wolfe nye sterued for his pray He â—eaues his talke and hastelie to gardin takes the way Where priuely at bidden place he séekes with curious eyes The answer which his Ladie did for him of late deuyse The ioyfull man hath found it out his labour now is don He leaues the gardin for that nyght he doth to lodging runne Wher carefully he doth vnfould the letter closâ—â—ie seald And readeth eke by surcumstance that was by dreame reueald And as I sayd how she extolles his shape vnto the skyes And how of her renoumed grace she basely can deuise Then how she rewes y scorching fits which he so long hath felt And then as touching her ill rest how loue with her hath delt Next that her wyse perswasion he with leaping hart doth réede Then fiâ—ed faith and plighted troath till death doth craue his méed Oh happy newes oh ioyfull liues oh sentence glad pronounst That makes hâ— seke for rauisht wits that so in cares wast trounst Come helpe yâ— Mountain Ladies al and leaue Pernassus hill Come help me with your sugred stile my charge for to fulfill And thou oh Spring of eloquence come helpe to guyde my hand That rudely doth presume to write in verse but grosly scand Of ioyes that had their ginning first of black and lothsome fittes Come helpe therfore Apollo thou to wheat my dulled wittes And help oh knights of Cupidâ— crew on whom â—ame Uenus smiles To write of blisse and more the ioye that floudes of cares exiles For your report must make my skill by prouâ—e I nought can write Of ioyes although y more my ruth of cares I can indight But sith the listing eare doth wayte to heare howe he doth fare That late receiud these gladsome newes such wynde I now will spare And sith both Musts Gods and Men disdayne to rue my plaint You must with baser verse my lords your learned heads acquaint Therfore when hungrie eyes had 〈◊〉 long tyme on pleasant newes And gladnes bad his pining corse sâ—â—h mourning to refuse With bowed knee his ioyned handes to hautie heauen he houldes And then vnto the mightie Ioue he thus his mynd vnfouldes Perpetuall prayse immortall God that all of nought didst frame Be dewe to thée and lasting grace be geuen vnto thy name That from the toppe of hiest heauen to déepest vale belowe Dost like a gentell Sauior on me such pitie showe Whose sinfull deeds doo dayly moue thy godly mynde to yre And purchase eke by iust desert the paynes of dreadfull fyre Thy goodnes Lord no â—ong can tell ne head can well deuise No pâ— can paint such worthy prayse as may thy deede suffise My hart vnable is to think tâ—y goodnes showd to mee That with thy might hast socourd one quite drownd in miserie For was not I the wofulst wretch that liued vnder skyes Consumd with care nye chockt with sobbes besprent with teares and cryes And now who liues in greater blisse who now more happier wight Whose fate doth fortune fauor more or who in better plight Wherfore if thou oh mightie Ioue wilt bryng to happie eno This loue begonne which in thy law we mind till death to spend If thou I say as thou dost knowe the secrets of my hart Be quite from guyle fardest from the sinne that asketh smart Wilt turne our former passions of vile consuming care To lasting ioye and perfect â— lisse and graunt to vs the share Of spousals rights which more then goods or friends or life I loue I vow by all that earst thou framdst in earth and heauen aboue By this my soule I vow I sweare I firmly doo protest To loueâ— to dread and serue thée lord whylst lyfe lodge in my brest This vow he made and vp he starts he feeles he thinks no ground His limmes that earst for weaknes bowd in strength do now abound His mynde runnes on Ieneuora and of hir worthy hew He giues to hir the chiefest prayse of all fayre bewties crewe He thinkes now of the courteous lines whiche she to him did sende He reades them till by hart eche worde he knowes and then doth rende The paper least by some mishappe the letter lost and founde Mought turne to his decaye and hers to whome he chiefe is bounde Now thinkes he of the ioyfull place whiche she did late inuent Where he with sight of her his ioye his minde he mought content Against which time he deckes himselfe with sutes
craue his aide with forced might to yelde to him againe The place which he by right should haue which others now doo gayne therwith ould Slumber gan imploy with careful mynd his might To conquer Hope or els to dye himselfe amidst the fight And with his Ingin he doth scale the fort but meanly mande And through the wall doth make a way for to conduct his bande This seene poore Hope as vanquisht man not able to defende Him from the whyrling dartes that Sléepe about his cares doth sende Doth yelde himselfe cendicionally that next to Slumber hée Within his batterd castell may be second in degrée The conquerour doth graunt here to poore Hope is peakte away And now doth Dreame amidst the presse his drowsie part well playe But Night that is the generall of all this sâ—â—ggish crewe Gan from the fardest Orient â—â—ast the mornyng playnly vewe Then least he should to long abide he seuds the Herault out The Oule y with her croked trump cries Retreat to the rout Wherby the armie leaues the land and flittes to Leathian seas Wher they abide till Night againe shall yeld them former ease The cocke Auroras messenger sends foorth from stretched throte With flâ—ckring wings roused lym his cherefull mornings note Hope heer 's this sound theÌ„ he know his foe is fledde away Wherfore within his secret caue no longer he can stay But to his former crased fort with hastie foote he plies Wher entring in Ariodant doth lie before his eyes Who was one of his souldiers when that sleape did geue the foyle And taken eke a prisoner as he for Hope did toyle But by good hay no harme he had saue only in his headâ— A littell scarre of fond dispayre that drousie Dreame had made Him Hope doth comfort as he can and with a lustie cheare No hâ—rme qd he dismay thée not discharge this filthy feare Herewith the séely crased man doth leaue his easie bed And hath concluded secreatly within his vexed head To leaue the Duke and to returnâ— vnto the court agayne Least by his still abiding there the Duke mought seeke a meane To searcâ—e of him the truth herein which though he loth to showe yet mought such wordâ— procéed vnwares as therby harme mought grow Wherforeâ— when Duke of Albany had left his chambers rest Ariodant with bowed knée gan of his grace request For to depart his license anâ— his fauour for to haue And he thogh with vnwilling mind doth graunt that he doth craue Thus leaues the straunger Polinesse and he with spéed to court Doth plie againe for to renewe his fourmer ioye and spourt yet can he not by any meanes the sight of showed ring Forget though hope with pleasant wordes good signes of ioye doth bring By this he is aryude amongst the crewe of Courtiers stout That ioye to sée him safe retournde among that lusâ—y rought His brother eke Lurcanio inforst by course of kynde Doth welcome home Ariodant with ioyfull pleasant mynde And of such iestes as happened since he did leaue the court Unto his brothers lustinge eares he makes along report But he this carefull louer that is ny caught with dispayre Doth somon all his wittes at once to helpe in this affayre And sith vpon two fickell pointes his present state dependes To take aduise or he beginnes his wyly head intendes I Nede not now for to recount what guyle Duke polynesse Did vse with Princes Dyamond tannoy his hidden gesse Nor how â—e faild â—f his intent â—e of the diuerse talke That now from Polinessos lippes and now from straungers walke but al you know my Lords how y Ariodant did feare That this was the selfe Dyamond he gaue his Ladie deare which fere so toâ—t his troubled brain that as a man forâ—orne He shuns eche youthfull companie and life he had in scorne To ease these fittes two only wayes this carefull louer spies Wherof as present state did craue he gan this to deuise Firstly thinks he if with my pen I causles should accuse Or els in presence by complaint I blameles should abuse The Princes grace to whom I must accombt me chiefly â—ound Whose zelous mynd except I faile I faithfull oft haue found If that I shuld once moue I say these doughtfull thoughts of myne Under her grace by letters sent or els before her eyne For to aâ—cuse her troth vnknowne then let vs sée the ende Hereof and to what passe our taunting tale would tend At first as well she mought in dede she should bestow on me At fond suspecting louers name and most vntrue to be That at the sight of euery toye would take occasion To blame her troth and eke to liuâ— in vile suspicion Then after that for to withdraw her loue so euell employd And eke repent that such an one so long hath it enioyd Which if these â—ies shâ—ld once behold these hands with bloudie knife Sâ—uld take reuenge vpon my tonguâ— by ridding of my lyfe And if she grâ—untâ— as vile dispayre perswades me for to deeme I mean that she doth loue this Dukâ— and euell of me estéeme If this she say what then tell me what 's then our remedyâ— In faith by corâ—â—es bane or corâ— to die in misery Againe if to my self I should these secrets sole impart Lett es sée if this may change our 〈◊〉 or els our cares conuert This charge qd he to make the salue that cures the burning wâ—und Tasswage the humors cold that dotâ— the patient â—ye confound As hard iâ— is â—o ease the wight with freting furious meat Whom feâ—â—rs force continually to â—â—â—ning bones doth eate So hard it is that silence which augments my misery Shuld salue y sore which nothing elâ— but talke can remedy For see as belching poyson broyles within the panting brest And scorching heat conuerts y helth to most vnquiâ—t rest So do the cares of veâ—ed mynd consume the crased hart Tyll by disclosing of his griefe he findes to ease his smart But if as this my case doth stand be wraying bringeth death T weare better thus to proue the end then for to wast my breath They say that corsy ministred vnto them poysoned corse Will coole the fearse contagious heâ—t and quench the burning force Why may not theÌ„ the troubled mind by silent tongue annoy That health which silence banisheth and doth the hart enioy For if my doubtes be false indéed and she doth loue me still What then but silence can preuayle and bridell lauish will. And if she vse me for disport and scornes my proferd loue The knowledge of the troth therin a desperate death doth moue Wheras if yet my loue cannot within her hart preuayle yet silence truth and tract of time hereafter may auayle Wherfore as reason séemes â—â—grâ—â— vnto a secret hart So from these lips those leud coÌ„ceitâ— I mynd shall not depart But as before the newes I hard so now amidst the crewe Of courtly dames my wonted sportâ— I will forthwith renewe This last