death then dishonour Pandosto séeing that there was in Fawnia a determinate courage to loue Meleagrus and a resolution without feare to hate him fléeing away from her in a rage hee sware that if in short time she would not be won by reason he would forget all courtesie and compell her to grant by rigour But these threatning words no whit dismayed Fawnia but that shee still both despighted and despised Pandosto While thus these two Louers stroue the one to winne loue the other to liue in hate Egistus heard certaine newes by Merchants of Bohemia that his sonne Dorastus was imprisoned by Pandosto which made him feare greatly that his sonne should be but hardly intreated yet considering that Bellaria and hée were cleered by the Oracle of Apollo from the crime wherewith Pandosto had vniustly charged them hee thought best to send with all spéede to Pandosto that hée should set frée his sonne Dorastus and put to death Fawnia and her father Porrus Finding this by the aduice of counsell the speediest remedy to release his sonne hée caused presently two of his ships to be rigged and thorowly furnished with prouision of men and victuals and sent diuers of his Nobles Embassadours into Bohemia who willing to obey the King and receiue their young Prince made no delayes for feare of danger but with as much spéed as might be sayled towards Bohemia the wind and seas fauoured them greatly which made them hope of some good hap for within thrée dayes they were landed which Pandosto no sooner heard of their arriuall but hee in person went to méet them intreating them with such sumptuous and familiar courtesie that they might well perceiue how sorry he was for the former iniuries he had offered to their King and how willing if it might be to make amends As Pandosto made report to them how one Meleagrus a Knight of Trapolonia was lately arriued with a Lady called Fawnia in his Land comming very suspitiously accompanied onely with one seruant and an old Shepheard the Ambassadours perceiued by the halfe what the whole tale meant and began to coniecture that was Dorastus who for feare to be knowne had changed his name But dissembling the matter they shortly arriued at the Court where after they had béene very solemnly and sumptuously feasted the Noblemen of Sicilia being gathered together they made report of their Ambassage where they certified Pandosto that Meleagrus was sonne and heire to the King Egistus and that his name was Dorastus and how contrary to the Kings mind he had priuily conueyed away that Fawnia intending to marry her being but daughter to that poore Shepheard Porrus Whereupon the Kings request was that Capnio Fawnia and Porrus might be murthered and put to death and that his sonne Dorastus might be sent home in safety Pandosto hauing attentiuely and with great maruell heard their Ambassage willing to reconcile himselfe to Egistus and to shew him how greatly he estéemed his fauour although loue and fancy forbad him to hurt Fawnia yet in despight of loue he determined to execute Egistus will without mercy and therefore hee presently sent for Dorastus out of prison who maruelling at his vnlooked for courtesie found at his comming to the Kings presence that which hee least doubted of his fathers Ambassadours who no sooner saw him but with great reuerence they honoured him and Pandosto embracing Dorastus set him by him very louingly in a chaire of state Dorastus ashamed that his folly was bewrayed sate a long time as one in a maze till Pandosto told him the summe of his fathers Ambassage which he had no sooner heard but he was touched to the quicke for the cruell sentence that was pronounced against Fawnia but neither could his sorrow nor perswasions preuaile for Pandosto commanded that Fawnia Porrus and Capnio should be brought to his presence who were no sooner come but Pandosto hauing his former loue turned into disdainefull hate began to rage against Fawnia in these termes THou disdainefull vassall thou currish kite assigned by the Destinies to base fortune and yet with an aspiring minde gazing after honour how durst thou presume being a begger to match with a Prince by thy alluring lookes to inchaunt the sonne of a King to leaue his owne Country to fulfill thy disordinate lusts O despightfull minde A proud heart in a begger is not vnlike a great fire in a small cottage which warmeth not the house but burneth it assure thy selfe thou shalt dye and thou old doting foole what folly hathbeene such as to suffer thy daughter to reach aboue thy fortune looke for no other meede but the like punishment But Capnio thou which hast betrayed the King and hast consented to the vnlawfull lust of thy Lord and Master I know not how iustly I may plague thée death is too easie a punishment for thy falshood and to liue if not in extreame misery were not to shew thée equity I therefore award that thou shalt haue thine eyes put out and continually till thou dyest grind in a mill like a brute beast The feare of death brought a sorrowfull silence vpon Fawnia and Capnio but Porrus séeing no hope of life burst forth in these spéeches PAndosto and ye noble Ambassadours of Sicilia séeing without cause I am condemned to die I am yet glad I haue opportunity to disburden my conscience before my death I will tell you as much as I know and yet no more then is true wheras I am accused that I haue béen a supporter of Fawnia's pride and shée disdained as a vile beggar so it is that I am neither father vnto her nor she daughter vnto me For it so hapned that I being a poore Shepheard in Sicilia liuing by kéeping other mens slocks one of my shéep straying downe to the sea-side as I went to seeke her I saw a little boat driuen vpon the shore wherin I found a babe os sixe dayes old wrapped in a mantle of scarlet hauing about the necke this chaine I pitying the child and desirous of the treasure carryed it home to my wise who with great care nursed it vp and set it to kéepe shéepe Here is the chaine and Iewels and this Fawnia is the child whom I sound in the boat what she is or of what Parentage I know not but this I am assured that she is none of mine Pandosto would scarce suffer him to tell out his tale but that he required the time of the yéere the manner of the boat and other circumstances which when he found agréeing to his count sodainely he lept from his seat and kissed Fawnia wetting her tender chéeks with his teares and crying My daughter Fawnia ah my swéet Fawnia I am thy father Fawnia this sudden passion of the King draue them all into a maze especially Fawnia and Dorastus But when the King had breathed himselfe a while in this new ioy he rehearsed before the Ambassadours the whole matter and how hee had entreated his wife Bellaria for Iealousie and that this was the child whom he sent to float in the seas Fawnia was not more ioyfull that she had found such a father then Dorastus was glad he should get such a wife The Ambassadors reioyced that their young Prince had made such a choice That those Kingdomes which through enmity had long time béene disseuered should now through perpetuall amity be vnited and reconciled The Citizens and subiects of Bohemia hearing that the King had found againe his daughter which was supposed dead ioyfull that there was an heire apparant to the Kingdome made Bone-fires and shewes throughout all the City The Courtiers and Knights appointed Iusts and Turneis to signifie their willing mindes in gratifying the Kings hap Eightéene dayes being past in these Princely sports Pandosto willingto recompence old Porrus of a Shepheard made him a Knight which done prouiding a sufficient Nauy to receiue him and his retinue accompanied with Dorastus and Fawnia and the Sicilian Ambassadours he sailed towards Sicilia where he was most princely entertained by Egistus who hearing this Comicall euent reioyced greatly at his sonnes good hap and without delay to the perpetuall ioy of the two young Louers celebrated the marriage Which was no sooner ended but Pandosto calling to mind how he first betrayed his friend Egistus how his iealousie was the cause of Bellaria's death that contrary to the law of nature he had lusted after his owne daughter moued with these desperate thoughts hee fell in a melancholly fit and to close vp the Comedy with a Tragicall stratagem he slew himselfe whose death being many daies bewayled of Fawnia Dorastus and his deare friend Egistus Dorastus taking leaue of his father went with his wife and the dead corps into Bohemia where after it was sumptuously intombed Dorastus euded his dayes in contented quiet FINIS
that he could take no rest but cast into his old head a thousand new deuices at last he fell into these thoughts HOw art thou desired Pandosto with fresh affections and vnfit fancies wishing to possesse with an vnwilling mind and a hot desire troubled with a cold disdaine Shall thy mind yéeld in age to that thou hast resisted in youth Peace Pandosto blab not out that which thou maist be ashamed to reueale to thy selfe Ah Fawnia is beautifull and it is not for thine honour fond foole to name her that is thy captiue and another mans concubine Alas I reach at that with my hand which my heart would faine refuse playing like the bird Ibis in Aegypt which hateth serpents yet féedeth on their egges Tush hot desires turne oftentimes to cold disdaine Loue is brittle where appetite not reason beares the sway Kings thoughts ought not to climbe so high as the heauens but to looke no lower then honour better it is to pecke at the starres with the young Eagles then to prey on dead carcasses with the Vulture it is more honourable for Pandosto to dye by concealing loue then to enioy such vnfit Loue. Doth Pandosto then loue Yea Whom A maid vnknowne yea and perhaps immodest stragled out of her owne Country beautifull but not therefore chaste comely in body but perhaps crooked in minde Cease then Pandosto to looke at Fawnia much lesse to loue her be not ouertaken with a womans beauty whose eyes are framed by Art to euamour whose heart is framed by nature to inchant whose false teares know their due time and whose swéete words pierce déeper then sharpe swords Here ceast Pandosto from his talke but not from his loue for although he sought by reason and wisdome to suppresse this franticke affection yet he could take no rest the beauty of Fawnia had made such a déepe impression in his heart But on a day walking abroad into a Parke which was hard adioyning to his house he sent by one of his seruants for Fawnia vnto whom he vttered these words FAwnia I commend thy beauty and wit and now pitty thy distresse and want but if thou wilt forsake Sir Meleagrus whose pouerty though a Knight is not able to maintaine an estate answerable to thy beauty and yéeld thy consent to Pandosto I will both increase thée with dignities and riches No Sir answered Fawnia Meleagrus is a Knight that hath wonne me by loue and none but he shall weare me this smister mischance shall not diminish my affection but rather increase my good will thinke not though your Grace hath imprisoned him without cause that feare will make me yéeld my consent I had rather be Meleagrus wife and a begger then liue in plenty and be Pandosto's Concubine Pandosto hearing the assured answer of Fawnia would notwithstanding prosecute his suite to the vttermost séeking with faire words and great promises to scale the fort of her chastity swearing that if shee would grant to his desire Meleagrus should not onely be set at liberty but honoured in the Court amongst his Nobles But these alluring baites could not intice her mind from the loue of her new-betrothed mate Meleagrus which Pandosto séeing he let her alone for that time to consider more of the demand Fawnia being alone by herselfe began to fall into these solitary meditations AH infortunate Fawnia thou séest to desire aboue fortune is to striue aboue gods and fortune Who gazeth at the Sun weakeneth his sight They which stare at the skie fall of into déep pits hadst thou rested content to haue béen a shepheardesse thou néedest not to haue feared mischance better had it béen for thée by sitting low to haue had quiet then by climing high to haue falne into misery But alas I feare not mine own danger but Dorastus displeasure Ah swéet Dorastus thou art a Prince but now a prisoner by too much loue procuring thine own losse haddest thou not loued Fawnia thou hadst béen fortunate Shall I then bee false to him that hath forsaken kingdomes for my cause â—o would my death might deliuer him so mine honour might be preserued With that fetching a deepe sigh she ceased from her complaints and went againe to the Palace enioyning a liberty without content and proffered pleasure with small ioy But poore Dorastus lay all this while in close prison being pinched with a hardrestraint and pained with the burthen of cold heauy yrons sorrowed sometimes that his fond affection had procured him this mishappe that by the disobedience of his parent he had wrought his owne despight another while cursing the gods and Fortune that they would crosse him with smister chance vttering at last his passions with these words AH vnfortunate wretch borne to mishap now shyfolly hath his desert art thou not worthy for thy vase mind to haue bad fortune Could the destinies fauour thée which hast forgot thine honour and dignity Will not the gods plague him with despight that paineth his father with disobedience Oh gods if any fauour or iustice be left plague me but fauour poore Fawnia and shrowd her from the tyrannies of wretched Pandosto but let my death frée her from mishap and then welcome death Dorastus pained with these heauy passions sorrowed and sighed but in vaine for which he vsed more patience But againe to Pandosto who broyling in the heat of vnlawfull lust could take no rest but still felt his minde disquieted with his new loue so that his Nobles and Subiects maruelled greatly at his sodaine alteration not being able to coniecture the cause of this his continued care Pandosto thinking euery houre a yéere till he had talked once againe with Fawnia sent for her secretly into his chamber whither Fawnia though vnwillingly comming Pandosto entertain'd her very courteously vsing these familiar spéeches which Fawnia answered as shortly in this wise Pandosto Fawnia are you become lesse wilfull and more wise to preferre the loue of a King before the liking of a poore Knight I thinke ere this you thinke it is better to be fauoured of a King than of a subiect Fawnia Pandosto the body is subiect to victories but the mindes not to bée subdued with conquest honesty is to be preferred before honour and a dram of faith weigh downe a tunne of gold I haue promised Meleagrus my loue and will performe no lesse Pandosto Fawnia I know thou art not so vnwise in thy choyce as to refuse the offer of a King nor so vngratefull as to despise a good turne thou art now in that place where I may command and yet thou séest I intreat my power is such that I may compell by force and yet I sue by prayers Yéeld Fawnia thy loue to him which burneth in thy loue Meleagrus shall be set frée thy Countrey-men discharged and thou both loued and honoured Fawnia I sée Pandosto where lust ruleth it is a miserable thing to be a virgin but know this that I will alwayes preferre fame before life and rather choose
where fancy forced friendship was of no force These suchlike doubtfull thoughts a long time smothering in his stomacke began at last to kindle in his minde a secret mistrust which increased by suspition grew at last to flaming iealousie that so tormented him as he could take no rest He then began to measure all their actions and misconstrue of their too priuate familiarity iudging that it was not for honest affection but for disordinate fancy so as hee began to watch them more narrowly to sée if he could get any true or certaine proofe to confirme his doubtfull suspition While thus he noted her lookes and gestures and suspected their thoughts and meanings they two silly soules who doubted nothing of thishis treacherouas intent frequented daily each others company which draue him into such a franticke passion that he began to beare a secret hate to Egistus and a lowring countenance to Bellaria who maruelling at such vnaccustomed frownes began to cast beyond the Moone and to enter into a thousand sundry thoughts which way shee should offend her husband but finding in her selfe a cleere conscience ceased to muse till such time as shee might find opportunity to demand the cause of his dumps In the meane time Pandostos mind was so farre charged with iealousie that he no longer doubted but was assured as he thought that his friend Egistus entred a wrong point in his tables and so had played him false play Whereupon desirous to reuenge so great an iniury he thought best to dissemble the grudge with a faire and friendly countenance so under the shape of a friend to shew him the tricke of a foe deuising with himselfe a long time how he might best put away Egistus without suspition of treacherous murther concluded at last to poyson him Which opinion pleasing his humour he became resolute in his determination the better to bring the matter so passe hee called to him his Cup-bearer with whom in secret he brake the matter promising him for the performance thereof â—to giue him a thousanâ— Crowns of yeerely reuenue His cup-bearer either being of a good conscience be willing for fashions sake to deny such a 〈◊〉 request began with great reasons to perswade Pandosto from his determinate mischiefe shewing him what an offence murther was to the gods how much vnnaturall actions did more displease the heauens then men and that causelesse cruelty did seldome or neuer escape without reuenge hée laid before his face that Egistus was his friend a King and one that was come into this Kingdome to confirme a league of perpetuall amity betwixt them that hee had and did shew him a most friendly countenance how Egistus was not onely honoured of his owne people by obedience but also loued of the Bohemians for his courtesie And that it hee now should without any iust or manifest cause poyson him it would not only be a great dishonour to his Maiesty and a meanes to sow a perpetuall enmity betwéen the Sycilians and the Bohemians but also his own subiects would repine at such trecherous cruelty These and such like perswasions of Franion for so was his cap-bearer called could no whit preuaile to diswade him from his diuellish enterprize but remaining resolute in his determination his fury so fixed with rage as it could not be appeased with reason he began with bitter taunts to take up his man and to lay before him two baits preferment and death saying that if he would poyson Egistus hée would aduance him to high dignities if he refused to doe it of an obstinate minde no torture should be too great to requite his disobedience Franion séeing that to perswade Pandosto any more was but to striue against the streame consented as soone as opportunity would giue him leaue to dispatch Egistus wherewith Pandosto remained somewhat satisfied hoping now hee should be fully reuenged of such mistrusted iniuries intending also as soone as Egistus was dead to giue his wife a sop of the same sauce and so to be rid of those which are the cause of his restlesse sorrow while thus he liued in this hope Franion being secret in his chamber began to meditate with himselfe in these termes AH Franion treason is loued of many but the traytor hated of all vniust offences may for a time escape without danger but neuer without reuenge Thou art seruant to a King and must obey at command yet Franion against law and conscience it is not good to resist a tyrant with armes nor to please an vniust King with obedience What shalt thâ—u doe Folly refused gold and frenzy preferment wisdome séeketh after dignity and counsell looketh for gaine Egistus is a stranger to thée and Pandosto thy Soueraigne Thou hast little cause to respect the one and oughtest to haue great care to obey the other Thinke this Franion that a pound of Gold is worth a Tunne of leade great gifts are little gods and preferment to a meane man is a whet-stone to courage There is nothing swéeter than promotion nor lighter than report care not then though most count thée a traytor so all call thée rich Dignity Franion aduanceth thy posterity and euill report can but hurt thy selfe Know this where Eagles build Faulcons may prey where Lions haunt Foxes may steale Kings are knowne to command seruants are blamelesse to consent feare not thou then to lift at Egistus Pandosto shall beare the burthen Yea but Franion conscience is a worme that euer biteth but neuer ceaseth That which is rubbed with the stone Galactities will neuer be hot Flesh dipped in the Sea Aegeum will neuer be swéete The Herbe Trigion being once bit with an Apsis neuer groweth and conscience once stained with innocent blood is alwaies tyed to a guilty remorse Preferre thy content before riches and a cleare minde before dignity so being poore thou shalt haue rich peace or else rich thou shalt enioy disquiet FRanion hauing muttered out these or such like words séeing either he must die with a cleare minde or liue with a spotted conscience hée was so cumbred with diuers cogitations that hée could take no rest vntill at last he determined to breake the matter to Egistus but fearing that the King should either suspect or heare of such matters hée concealed the deuice till opportunity would permit him to reueale it Lingring thus in doubtfull feare in an Euening he went to Egistus lodging and desirous to speake with him of certaine affaires that touched the King after all were commanded out of the Chamber Franion made manifest the whole conspiracy which Pandosto had deuised against him desiring Egistus not to account him a traytor for bewraying his Masters counsell but to thinke that hée did it for conscience hoping that although his Master inflamed with rage or incensed by some sinister reports or slanderous spéeches had imagined such causelesse mischiefe yet when time should pacifie his anger and try those tale-bearers but flattering Parasites then he would count him
as a faithfull seruant that with such care had kept his Masters credit Egistus had not fully heard Franion tell forth his tale but a quaking feare possessed all his limmes thinking that there was some treason wrought and that Franion did but shadow his craft with these false colours wherefore hée began to waxe in choller and said that he doubted not Pandosto sith hée was his friend and there had neuer as yet béene any breach of amity he had not sought to inuade his Lands to conspire with his enemies to disswade his Subiects from their allegians but in word and thought he rested his at all times he knew not therefore any cause that should moue Pandosto to séeke his death but suspected it to be a compacted knauery of the Bohemians to bring the King and him at oddes Franion staying him in the midst of his talke told him That to dally with Princes was with the Swannes to sing against their death and that if the Bohemians had intended any such mischiefe it might haue béene better brought to passe than by reuealing the conspiracy therefore his Maiesty did ill to misconstrue of his good meaning sith his intent was to hinder treason not to become a Traytor and to confirme his promises If it pleased his Maiesty to flye into Sycilia for the safegard of his life hee would goe with him add if then hée found not such a practice to be pretended let his imagined treachery be repayed with most monstrous torments Egistus hearing the solemne protestations of Franion beganne to consider that in Loue and Kingdomes neither Faith nor Law is to be respected doubting that Pandosto thought by his death to destroy his men and with spéedie Warre to inuade Sycilia These and such doubts throughly weighed hée gaue great thankes to Franion promising if he might with life returne to Syracusa that he would create him a Duke in Sycilia crauing his counsell how hée might escape out of the Countrey Franion who hauing some small skill in Nauigation was well acquainted with the Ports and Hauens and knew euery danger of the Sea ioyning in counsell with the Master of Egistus Nauy rigged all their ships and setting them afloat let them lie at anchor to be in the more readinesse when time and wind should serue Fortune although blinde yet by chance fauouring this iust cause sent them within six daies a good gale of winde which Franion séeing fit for their purpose to put Pandosto out of suspition the night before they should sayle hée went to him and promised that the next day he would put the deuice in practice for hée had got such a forcible poyson as the very smell thereof would procure sudden death Pandosto was ioyfull to heare this good newes and thought euery houre a day till he might be glutted with bloody reuenge but his suit had but ill successe for Egistus fearing that delay might bréed danger and willing that the grasse should not be cut from vnder his féete taking bag and baggage by the helpe of Franion conueyed himselfe and his men out at the Posterne gate of the City so secretly and spéedily that without any suspition they got to the Sea shore where with many a bitter curse taking their leaue of Bohemia they went aboard weighing their Anchors and hoysting saile they passed as fast as winde and Sea would permit toward Cycilia Egistus being a ioyfull man that he had safely passed such trecherous perills But as they were quietly floating on the sea Pandosto and his Citizens were in an vprore for séeing that the Cycilians without taking their leaue were fled away by night the Bohemians feared some treason and the King thought that without question his suspition was true séeing the Cup bearer had bewrayed the summe of his secret pretence Whereupon he began to imagine that Franion and his wise Bellaria had conspired with Egistus and that the feruent affection she bare him was the only meane of his secret departure insomuch that incensed with rage he commanded that his wife should be carried straight to prison vntill they heard further of his pleasure The Guards vnwilling to lay their hands on such a vertuâ—us Princesse and yet fearing the Kings fury went very sorrowfully to fulfill their charge comming to the Quéenes Lodging they found her playing with her young Sonne Garinter vnto whom with teares doing their message Bellaria astonished at such a hard censure and finding her cleare conscience a sure aduocate to plead in her cause went to the Prison most willingly where with sighes and teares she past away the time till she might come to her tryall But Pandosto whose reason was suppressed with rage and whose vnbridled Folly wks incensed with fury séeing Franion had bewrayed his secrets and that Egistus might well be railed on but not reuenged determined to wreake all his wrath on poore Bellaria Hee therefore caused a generall proclamation to be made through all his Realmè that the Quéene and Egistus had by the helpe of Franion not onely committed most iucestuous adultery but also had conspired the Kings death whereupon the traytor Franion was fled away with Egistus and Bellaria was most iustly imprisoned This Proclamation being once blazed through the countrey although the vertuous disposition of the Quéene did halfe discredit the contents yet so sudden and spéedy message of Egistus and the secret departure of Franion induced them the circumstances throughly considered to thinke that both the Proclamation was true and the King greatly enuied yet they pittied her case as sorrowfull that so good a Lady should be crossed with such aduerse Fortune But the King whose restlesse rage would admit no pitty though that although hee might sufficiently requite his wiues falshood with the bitter plague of pinching penury yet his minde should neuer be glutted with reuenge till hée might haue a fit and opportunity to repay the trechery of Egistus with a fatall iniury But a curst Cow hath oftentimes short hornes and a willing minde but a weake arme For Pandosto although he felt that reuenge was a spurre to warre and that enuy alwaies proffereth stéele yet he saw that Egistus was not onely of great puissance and prowesse to withstand him but had also many Kings of his alliance to aid him if néed should serue for hee married the Emperous daughter of Russia These and the like considerations something daunted Pandosto his courage so that he was content rather to put vp a manifest iniury with peace then hunt after reuenge dishonour and losse determining since Egistus had escaped scot-frée that Bellaria should pay for all at an vnreasonable price Remaining thus resolute in his determination Bellaria continuing still in prison and hearing the contents of the Proclamation knowing that her minde was neuer touched with such affection nor that Egistus had euer offered her such discourtesie would gladly haue come to her answer that both she might haue knowne her iust accusers and cléered her selfe of that
guiltlesse crime But Pandosto was so enflamed with rage and infected with iealousie as he would not vouchsafe to heare her nor admit any iust excuse so that shée was faine to make a vertue of her néed and with patience to heare these heauy iniuries As thus shée lay crossed with calamities a great cause to increase her griefe shée found her selfe quicke with childe which as soone as she felt stirre in her body shée burst forth into bitter teares exclaiming against Fortune in these termes ALas Bellaria How infortunate art thou because fortunate Better thou hadst béene borne a Begger then a Prince so shouldest thou haue bridled Fortune with want where now shée sporteth her selfe with thy plenty Ah happy life where poore thoughts and meane desires liue in secure content not fearing Fortune because too low For Fortune thou séest now Bellaria that care is a companion to Honour not to pouerty that high Cedars are crushed with tempests when low shrubs are not touched with the winde precious Diamonds are cut with the File when despised Pebbles lies safe in the sand Delphos is sought to by Princes not Beggers And Fortunes Altars smoke with Kings presents not with poore mens gifts Happy are such Bellaria that curse Fortune for contempt not feare and may wish they were not sorry they haue béene Thou art a Princesse Bellaria and yet a prisoner borne to the one by descent assigned to the other by despight accused without cause and therefore oughtest to die without care for patience is a shield against Fortune and a guiltlesse mind yéeldeth not to sorrow Ah but infamy galleth vnto death and liueth after death Report is plumed with Times Feathers and Enuy oftentimes soundeth Fames Trumpet the suspected Adultery shall flie in the Ayre and thy knowne vertues shall lie hid in the Earth one Mole staineth a whole Face and what is once spotted with Infamy can hardly be worne out with Time Die then Bellaria Bellaria die for if the gods should say thou art guiltlesse lesse yet Enuy would heare the gods but neuer beléeue the gods Ah haplesse wretch cease these Termes Desperate thoughts are fit for them that feare shame not for such as hope for credit Pandosto hath darkened thy Fame but shall neuer discredit thy Vertues Suspition may enter a false Action but proofe shall neuer put in his Plea Care not then for Enuy sith Report hath a blister on her Tongue and let sorrow bite them which offend not touch thée that art faultlesse But alas poore Soule how canst thou but sorrow Thou art with Childe and by him that in stead of kinde pity pincheth thée in cold Prison And with that such gasping sighes stopping her breath that shée could not vtter any more words but wringing her hands and gushing forth streames of teares shée passed away the time with bitter complaints THe Iaylor pittying those her heauy passions thinking that if the King knew she were with childe he would somewhat appease his fury and release her from prison went in all hast and certified Pandosto what the effect of Bellaria's complaint was who no sooner heard the Iaylor say she was with childe but as one possessed with a frenzie hée rose vp in a rage swearing that shée and the bastard brat shée was withall should die if the gods themselues said no thinking surely by computation of time that Egistus and not he was father to the child This suspitious thought galled afresh his halfe-healed Sore insomuch as hée could take no rest vntill hée might mittigate his choler with a iust reuenge which happened presently after Bellaria was brought to bed of a faire and beautifull Daughter which no sooner Pandosto heard but he determined that both Bellaria and the young Infant should be burned with fire His Nobles hearing of the Kings cruell sentence sought by perswasions to diuert him from his bloody determination saying before his face the innocency of the childe and vertuous disposition of his wife how she had continually loued and honoured him so tenderly that without due proofe he could not nor ought not to appeach her of that crime and if she had faulted yet it were more honorable to pardon with mercy then to punish with extremity and more Kingly to be commended of pitty then to discredit her And as for the Childe if he would punish it for the mothers offence it were to striue against nature and iustice and that vnnaturall actions doe more offend the gods then men how causelesse cruelty nor innocent blood neuer escapes without reuenge These and such like reasons could not appease his rage but hée rested resolute in this that Bellaria being an Adultresse the childe was a bastard and hee would not suffer that such an infamous Brat should call him Father Yet at last séeing his noble men were importunate vpon him hée was content to spare the childs life and yet to put it to a worse death For he found out this deuice that séeing as hée thought it came by Fortune so hée would commit it to the charge of Fortune and therefore hee caused a little cock-boate to be prouided wherein hee meant to put the babe and then send it to the mercies of the seas and the destinies From this his Péeres in no wise could perswade him but that he sent presently two of his Guard to fetch the childe who being come to the prison and with wéeping teares recounting their Masters message Bellaria no sooner heard the rigorous resolution of her mercilesse husband but shee fell downe in a swound so that all thought shée had béene dead yet at last being come to her selfe she cried and scréeked out in this wise ALas swéete infortunate Babe scarce borne before enuied by fortune would the day of thy birth had béene the terme of my life then shouldest thou haue made an end to care and preuented thy Fathers rigour Thy faults cannot yet deserue such hatefull reuenge thy daies are too short for so sharpe a doome but thy vntimely death must pay thy Mothers debts and her guiltlesse crime must be thy gastly curse And shalt thou swéet Babe be committed to Fortune when thou art already spighted by Fortune Shall the seas be thy harbour and the hard boat thy cradle Shall thy tender mouth in stead of swéete kisses be nipped with bitter stormes Shalt thou haue the whistling windes for thy Lullaby and the salt sea some in stead of swéet Milke Alas what destinies would assigne such hard hap What father would be so cruell Or what gods will not reuenge such rigour Let me kisse thy lips swéete Infant and wet thy tender chéekes wilh my teares and put this chaine about thy little necke that if Fortune saue thée it may helpe to succour thée Thus since thou must goe to surge in the gastfull Seas with a sorrowfull kisse I bid thée fare well and I pray the gods thou maist farewell Such and so great was her griefe that her vitall Spirits being supprest with sorrow shee
vnder her hand Fawnia thought Porrus had béene her father and Mopsa her mother for so was the Shepheard and his wife called and honoured and obeyed them with such reuerence that all the neighbours praised the dutifull obedience of the child Porrus grew in short time to be a man of some wealth and credit For Fortune so fauoured him in hauing no charge but Fawnia that hée began to purchase Land intending after his death to giue it to his daughter So that diuers rich Farmours sonnes came as wooers to his house For Fawnia was something cleanly attired being of such singular beauty and excellent wit that who so saw her would haue thought shée had béene some heauenly Nymph and not a mortall creature In so much that when shee came to the age of sixteene yéeres shee so increased with exquisite perfection both of body and minde as her naturall disposition did bewray that shee was borne of some high parentage But the people thinking she was the daughter to the Shepheard Porrus rested onely amazed at her beauty and wit Yea shee won such fauour and commendations in euery mans eye as her beauty was not onely praised in the Countrey but also spoken of in the Court Yet such was her submisse modesty that although her prayse daily increased her minde was no whit puffed vp with pride but humbled her selfe as became a country maid and the daughter of a poore Shepheard Euery day she went forth with her sleep to the field keeping them with such care and diligence as all men thought she was very painefull defending her face from the heat of the Sunne with no other vaile but with a Garland made of boughes and flowers Which attire became her so gallantly as she seemed to be the goddesse Flora her selfe for beauty Fortune who all this while had shewed a friendly face began now to turne her backe and to shew a lowring countenance intending as shée had giuen Fawnia a slender checke so shee would giue her a harder mate To bring which to passe she laid her trains on this wise Egistus had but one onely sonne called Dorastus about the age of twenty yéeres a Prince so decked and adorned with the gifts of Nature so fraught with beauty and vertuous qualities as not only his father ioyed to haue so good a sonne but his Commons reioyced that God had sent them so noble a Prince to succéed in the Kingdome Egistus placing all his ioy in the perfection of his sonne séeing that hee was now marriageable sent Ambassadours to the King of Denmarke to intreate a marriage betwéen him and his daughter Who willingly consenting made answer that the next Spring if it pleased Egistus with his sonne to come into Denmarke he doubted not but they should agree vpon reasonable conditions Egistus resting satisfied with this friendly answer thought conuenient in the meane time to break it vnto his sonne Finding therefore on a day fit opportunity he spake to him in these fatherly termes DOrastus thy youth warneth me to preuent the worst and mine age to prouide the best Opportunities neglected are signes of folly actions measured by time are seldome bitten with repentance Thou art young and I old age hath taught me thâ—t which thy youth cannot conceiue I therefore will counsell thée as a Father hoping thou wilt obey as a child Thou seest my white haires are blossomes for the Graue and thy fresh colours fruit for time and Fortune so that it behooueth me to thinke how to dye and for thee to care how to liue My Crowne I must leaue by death and thou enioy my Kingdome by succession Wherein I hope thy Vertue and prowesse shall be such as though my subiects want my person yet shall see in thee my perfection That nothing either may faile to satisfie thy minde or increase thy dignities the onely care I haue is to sée thee well married before I die and thou become old Dorastus who from his infancy delighted rather to die with Mars in the field then to dally with Venus in the chamber fearing to displease his father and yet not willing to be wed made him this reuerend answer SIr there is no greater bond then duty nor no stricter Law then Nature disobedience in youth is often galled with despight in age The commend of the father ought to be a constraint to the child so parents wills are lawes so they passe not all Lawes May it please your grace therefore to appoint whom I shall loue rather the by deniall I should beappeached of disobedience I rest content to loue though it be the onely thing I hate Egistus hearing his sonne to flie from from the marke began to be some what chellericke and therefore made him this answer What Dorastus canst thou not loue Commeth this Cinicall passion of proud desires or péeuish frowardnes What dost thou thinke thy selfe too good for all or none good enough for thee I tell thee Dorastus there is nothing sweeter then youth nor swifter decreasing while it is increasing Time past with folly may be repented but not recalled If thou marrie in age thy wiues fresh coulours will bréd in thée dead thoughts and suspition and thy white haires her loathsomnes and sorrow For Venus affections are not fed with Kingdomes or treasures but with youthfull conceits and swéet aâ—ours Vulcan was allotted to shake the trée but Mars allowed to reape the fruit Yéeld Dorastus to thy fathers perswasions which why preuent thy perils I haue chosen thée a wife faire by nature Royall by birth by vertues famous learned by education and rich by possessions so that it is hard to iudge whether her bounty or fortune her beauty or vertue be of greates force I meane Dorastus Euphania daughter and heire to the King of Denmarke Egistus pausing here a while looking when his sonne should make him answer and séeing that he stood still as one in a trance he tooke him vp thus sharpely VVEll Dorastus take héed the trée Alypa wasteth not with fire but withereth with dew that which loue nourisheth not perisheth with hate If thou like Euphania thou bréedest my content and in louing her thou shalt haue my loue otherwise and with that he flung from his sonne in a rage leauing him a sorrowfull man in that he had by denyall displeased his father and halfe angry with himselfe that he could not yéeld to that passion whereto both reason and his father perswaded him But see how fortune is plumed with times feathers and how she can minister strange causes to bréed strange effects It hapned not long after this that there was a méeting of all the Farmors daughters in Sicilia whither Fawnia was also bidden as the mistresse of the feast who hauing attired her selfe in her best garments went amongst the rest of her companions to a merry meeting there spending the day in such homely pastime as Shepheards vse As the Euening grew on and their sport ceased each taking their leaue of other
the one and thy high dignities the other Beggers thoughts ought not to reach as farre as Kings and yet my desires reach as high as Princes I dare not say Dorastus I loue thée because I am a Shepheardesse but the gods know I haue honoured Dorastus pardon if I say amisse yea and loued Dorastus with such dutifull affection as Fawnia can performe or Dorastus desire I yeeld not ouercome with prayers but with loue resting Dorastus hand-maid ready to obey his will if no preiudice at all to his honour nor my credit DOrastus hearing this friendly conclusion of Fawnia embraced her in his armes swearing that neither distance time nor aduerse fortune should diminish his affection but that in despight of the destinies hee would remaine faithfull to death Hauing thus plight their troth each to other seeing they could not haue the full fruition of their loue in Sicilia for that Egistus consent would neuer be granted to so meane a match Dorastus determined as soone as time and opportunity would giue him leaue to prouide a great masse of mony and many rich and costly Iewels for the easier carriage and then to transport themselues and their Treasure into Italy wherethey should lead a contented life vntill such time as either hée could be reconciled to his father or else by succession come to the Kingdome This deuice was greatly praised of Fawnia for shee feared if the King his father should but heare of the contract that his fury would be such as no lesse than death should stand for payment Shée therefore told him that delay bred danger that many mishappes did fall out betwéene the cup and lip and that to auoyd danger it were best with as much spéede as might be to passe out of Sicilia least fortime might preuent their patience with some new despight Dorastus whom loue pricked forward with desire promised to dispatâ—h his affaires with as great haste as either time or opportunity would giue him leaue and so resting vpon this point after many embracings and swéet kisses they departed Dorastus hauing taken his leaue of his best beloued Fawnia went to the Groue where he had his rich apparell and there vncasing himselfe as secretly as might be hiding vp his Shepheards attyre till occasion should serue againe to vse it hée went to the Palace she wing by his merry countenance that either the state of his body was amended or the cause of his minde greatly addressed Fawnia poore soule was no lesse ioyfull that being a Shepheardesse fortune had fauoured her so as to reward her with the loue of a Prince hoping in time to be aduanced from the daughter of a poore Farmour to be wife to rich a King So that she thought euery houre ayéere till by their departure they might preuent danger not ceasing still to goe euery day to her sheepe not so much for the care of the flocke as for the desire she had to sée her Loue and Lord Dorastus who oftentimes when opportunity would serue repaired thither to feed his fancy with the swéet content of Fawnia's presence And although hée neuer went to visite her but in these Shepheards ragges yet his oft repayre made him not onely suspected but knowne to diuers of their neighbours who for the good will they bare to old Porrus told him secretly of the matter wishing him to kéepe his daughter of home lest shee went so long to the field that she brought him home a young sonne For they feared that Fawnia being so beautifull the young Prince would allure her to folly Porrus was stricken in a dumpe at these newes so that thanking his neighbours for their good will he hyed him home to his wife and calling her aside wringing his hands and shedding forth teares hee brake the matter to her in these termes I Am afraid wife that my daughter Fawnia hath made her selfe to sinne that she will buy repentance too déere I haue newes which if they be true some will wish they had not proued true It is told me by my neighbours that Dorastus the Kings sonne begins to looke at our daughter Fawnia which if it be so I will not giue her a halfe-peny for her honesty at the yéeres end I tell thée wife now a dayes beauty is a great staâ—e to trap young men and faire words and swéet promises are two great enemies to maides honesty and thou knowest where poore intreat and cannot obtaine there Princes may command and will obtaine Though Kings sonnes daunce in nets they may not bee séene yet poore mens faults are espied at a little hole Well it is a hard care where Kings lusts are lawes and that they should bind poore men to that which they themselues wilfully breake Peace husband quoth his wife take heed what wee say Speake no more then you should least you heare what you would not Great streames are to be stopped by sleight not by force and Princes to be perswaded by submission not by rigour Doe what you can but no more then you may least in sauing Fawnia's maiden-head you lose your owne head Take heed I say it is ill iesting with edged tooles and bad sporting with Kings The Wolfe had his skin pulled ouer his eares for but looking into the Lyons den Tush wife quoth he thou speakest like a foole If the King should know that Dorastus had gotten our daughter with child as I feare it will fall out little better the Kings fury would be such as no doubt we should both lose our goods and liues necessity therefore hath no law and I will preuent this mischiefe with a new deuice that is come into my head which shall neither offend the King nor displease Dorastus I meane to take the chaine and the Iewels that I found with Fawnia and carry them to the King letting him then to vnderstand how shee is none of my daughter but that I found her beaten vp with the water alone in a little boat wrapped in a rich mantle wherein was inclosed this treasure By this meanes I hope the King will take Fawnia into his seruice and wee whatsoeuer chance shall be blamelesse This deuise pleased the good-wife very well so that they determined as soone as they might know the King at leisure to make him priuy to this case In the meane time Dorastus was not slacke in his affaires but applied his matters with such diligence that he prouided all things fit for their iourney Treasure and Iewels he had gotten great store thinking there was no better friend then mony in a strange Countrey Rich attire he had prouided for Fawnia and because hee could not bring the matter to passe without the helpe and aduice of some one he made an old seruant of his called Capnio who had serued him from his child hood priuy to his affaires who séeing no perswasions could preuaile to diuert him from his setled determination gaue his consent and dealt so secretly in the cause that within short space he had gotten a