dignitie to haue so noble a seruant And what is that chastitie which I séeke so charily so kéepe Do not some men say that women alwayes liue chastly ynough so that they liue charily ynough that is so that they conueigh their matters so couertly that their doings be not commonly knowne for otherwise to incontinencie were added impudencie likewise for a woman to enter in conuersation with a rascall of no reputation cannot be but a great blemish to the brightnesse of her name for a foule adulterer is euer worse then adulterie it selfe And is it not a great signe she loatheth her husband when she liketh one better which is euery way worse But to haue a friend of reseruation whose very countenance may credit her husband methinks cannot be no great dishonour either to the one or to the other What discredit was it to Helen when she left her husband Menelaus and went with Paris to Troy did not the whole glorie of Greece to her great glorie goe in armes to fetch her againe And if she had not béen counted a péece of price or if by that fact she had defaced her honour is it to be thought the Graecians would haue continued tenne yeeres in warre continually to win her againe But to leaue honour and chastitie and come to commoditie and safetie what do I know what perils will follow of this repulse Is it likely Maechander will put vp this reproch patiently May I not iustly looke to haue his loue turned to hate and that he will either by tyrannous meanes séeke the subuersion of my husband or by treacherous designements worke the ouerthrow of me and my good name For the first Edward a King of England may serue for an example who when the Countesse of Salisbury would not consent to content his incontinent desire he so raged against her parents and friends as that the father was forced to perswade his owne daughter to folly and the mother as a bawde to prostitute her to the Kings lust and bring her to his priuie chamber For the second the Earle of Pancaliar may serue for testimonie who when the Dutchesse of Sauoy would not yéeld to his lasciuious lust wrought such wiles that she was condemned for adulterie and iudged to suffer most shamefull death by burning Now to preuent either of these perils it lieth in my power and séeing of euils the least is to be chosen I thinke it better then to hazard life liuing or good name to loose that which shall be no great losse to my husband or my selfe for as the Sunne though it shine on vs here in Arcadia yet it giueth light likewise to those which are in England and other places so is there that in me wherewith Lysimachus may be satisfied and Maechander sufficed And this encourageth me thereto the rather for that I see by experience in most of my neighbours that those are euer most made of who that way deale most falsely with their husbands Besides that how openly soeuer they deale in these affaires their husbands neuer heare of it and though they do yet will they not hearken vnto it and albeit they do in a manner sée it yet will they not beléeue it and though thereto they giue credance yet will they loue them the better to haue them leaue it the sooner Againe what know I whether my husband deales falsely with me and rowe in some other streame which if it be so I shall but saue his soule in paying his debts and exercise the vertue of iustice in requiting like for like And touching the corruption of my bloud I thinke it made more noble in participating with one of more dignitie then is my husband But canst thou harlot call him husband whom thou meanest so wickedly to betray Am I in my wits to vse these senselesse words Is it my mouth that hath vttered this blasphemie or was it the Diuell within me that deliuered it foorth No if I were guiltie but in thought hereto I would restore the fault with criminall pennance yea if I felt any part in me apt to any such euill I would cut it off for feare of infecting the rest of the body Good God whither now is honour fled which was euer wont to be the fairest flower in my garland whither now is chastitie banished which hath béen alwaies the chiefest stay of my state shall the sunne of my shining life be now eclipsed with an act â—o filthie that the very remembrance thereof is no lesse grieuous then death Why was Helen for all her heaueÌ„ly how any other accounted then a common harlot and was it not onely to be reuenged on her and on her champion Paris that the Grecians continued their siege so long And touching the inconueniences which may incurre by this refusall is any euill worse then dishonestie Is there any thing to be feared more then offence Is not the lesse of goods lesse then of ones good name Is not an honorable death to be preferred before an infamous life And touching the Countesse before rehearsed had she euer married with the King if she had not coÌ„tinued in her constancie to the end And for the Dutchesse of Sauoy what hurt susteined she by that false accusation did it not make her glorie and vertue shew more splendentlie to the view of the whole world yes no doubt of it For like as streames the more you hinder their current the greater is the deluge or as the hearb Camomtle the more it is suppressed the more it spreadeth abroade euen so vertue and honestie the more they are wronged with enuie the more they eleuate and extend their flourish for honour euermore is the reward of vertue and doth accompany it as duly as the shadow doth the body And as the Sunne though it be vnder a cloude kéepeth still his brightnesse albeit by vs it cannot be discerned so vertue though it be darkened with diuelish deuises yet it reserueth her power and vigour still though to vs it séeme vtterly to be extinguished so that so long as I remember vertue and honestie I néede not care what man what malice or the diuell can deuise against me No no swéete husband I will not make thée ashamed to shew thy face amongst the best of them and I will let thee vnderstand the villanie which that viper Maechander indeuoureth to do thee And shall I deale so fondly indéede Is not the repulse punishment ynough vnlesse I bewray his doings to Lysimachus and so procure him further displeasure yea I might thereby be occasion to set them together by the eares whereby it might fall out as the euent of battaile is alwayes doubtfull that my husband might be hurt or slaine and the common report would be as the people are euer prone to speake the wrost that I being an ill woman had conspired his confusion and set Maechander to sley him And though no such thing chaunced as God forbid it should yet this at least I should be sure to get
disalow marriage and that you pretend otherwise in words then you intend to do in works I am content to giue you the honour of the field and thus far to yeels my consent to your opinion that virginitie considered of it owne nature simply without circumstance is better then matrimony but because the one is ful of perill the other fraught with pleasure the one full of ieopardie the other full of securitie the one as rare as the blacke swanne the other as common as the black crowe of good things I thinke the more common the more commendable I said she I haue gotten any conquest thereby I thanke mine owne cause not your courtesie who yéelds when you are able to stand no longer in defence Nay Madame say not so quoth he for in that verie yéelding to your opâ—â—â—on 〈◊〉 marriage better then virginitie for that it is more common neither would I haue you turne my silence 〈◊〉 this matter in lacke of knowledge or reprehend me if I spare to inforce further proofe in a matter alreadie sufficiently prooâ—ed no more then you would rebuke the spanniell which ceaseth to hunt when he seeth the hawke seazed on the paâ—tridge But you may maruaile madam what is the cause that maketh me perswade you thus earnestly to marriage which as mine owne vnworthynesse willeth me to hide so your incomparable courtesie enâ—â—rageth me to disclose which maketh me thinke that it is no small cause which can make you greatly offended with him who beareth you great good will and that what sute soeuer I shall prefer vnto you you will either graunt it or forgiue it pardon or pittie it Therefore may it please you to vnderstand that since not long since I tooke large view of your vertue and beautie my heart hath bene so inflamed with the bright beames thereof that nothing is able to quench it but the water which floweth from the fountaine that first infected me and if pittie may so much preuaile with you as to accept me I dare not say for your husband but for your slaue and seruant assure your selfe there shal no doubt of danger driue me from my duetie towards you neither shall any Ladie whatsoeuer haue more cause to reioyce in the choice of her seruant then shall your selfe for that I wil account my life no longer pleasant vnto me then it shall be imployed in your seruice Fuluia dying her little chéekes with vermilion red and casting her eyes on the ground gaue him this answere As I am to yéeld you thanks for your good wil so am I not to affoord consent to your request for that I neither mind to marrie nor thinke my selfe worthie to retaine such a seruant But if I were dâ—â—pâ—sed to receiue you any way I thinke the best manner meane enough for your worthinesse Immediately hereupon there came company vnto them which made them breake off their talke and Fuluia being got into her chamber began to thinke on the sute made vnto her by Valentine and by this time Cupid had so cunningly carued and ingraued the idoll of his person and behauiour in her heart that she thought him worthie of a farre more excellent wife then her selfe and perswading her selfe by his words and lookes that his loue was loyall without lust true without trifling and faithfull without faigning she determined to accept it if her parents would giue thereto their consent Now Valentine nothing dismayed with her former deniall for that it had a courteous close so soone as opportunitie serued set on her againe in this sort Now Madame you haue considered my case at leisure I trust it will stand with your good pleasure to make me a more comfortable answere I beseech you sir said she rest satisfied with my former resolution for other as yet I can make you none Alas Madame quoth he the extremitie of my passion will not suffer long prolonging of remorse wherefore I humbly entreat you presently to passe your sentence either of bale or blisse of saluation or damnation of life or death or if the heauens haue conspired my confusion and that you meane rigorously to reiect my good wil I meane not long to remaine aliue to trouble you with any tedious sute for I account it as good reason to honour you with the sacrifice of my death as I haue thought it conuenient to bestow vpon you the seruice of my life Alas quoth she this iesting is nothing ioyfull vnto me and I pray you vse no more of it for the remembrance of that which you vtter in sport maketh me féele the force thereof in good earnest for a thousand deaths at once cannot be so dreadfull vnto me as once to thinke I liue to procure the death of any such as you are If said he you count my words sport iest and daliance assure your self it is sport without pleasure iest without comfort and daliance without delight as tract of time shall truly maniâ—est But if you loue not to heare of my death why like you not to giue me life which you may doe onely by consent of your good will Why sir quoth she you know my consent consisteth not in my selfe but in my parents to whom I owe both duetie and honour therefore first it behooueth you to demaund their consent Why Madame quoth he shall I make more account of the meaner parts then of the head you are the chiefe in this election and therefore let me receiue one good word of your good will and then let heauen and earth doe their worst It is not the coyne countenance or credit of your parents that I pursue for to purchace such a treasure as is your good will I could be content all the dayes of my life to be obnoxious vnto all calamities so that you be mainteyned according to your desire and worthinesse Well said she séeing I am the onely marke at which you shoote assay by all meanes to get my friends good liking and if you leuell any thing straight me you shall not misse Valentine vpon this procured the Kings letters for in his fauour he was highly interested to her father in this behalfe who hauing pervsed them said he trusted the King would giue him leaue to dispose of his owne according to his pleasure and that his daughter was too néere vnto him to sée her cast away vpon one who for lacke of yéeres wanted wisedome to gouerne her and for lacke of lands liuing to mainteine her And calling his daughter before him he began to expostulate with her in this sort Daughter I euer heretofore thought you would haue béen a solace and comfort to my old yeeres and the prolonger of my life but now I see you will increase my hoaâ—â—e haires and be the hastner of my death Doth the tender care the carefull charge and chargeable cost which I haue euer vsed in bringing you vp deserue this at your hands that you should passe a graunt of your good will in marriage without my consent Is
ye can cunningly closely thus conuay vnto the officers the tenour of your minds I will â—o highly gratifie you as neuer afterwards ye shal be found to exercise your old occupation These hell hounds glaâ— of this large proffer promised to venter aioynt but they would further him in his enterprise whereupon he dispatcht them away whose minds were so fixed on this liberall condition that they be stirred their stumps till they came vnto the towne where notice of their aduertisement being taken assisted by the Magistrate they made to the wood who no sooner were come within the reach of Valentines eye but puffing blowing as though all would haue split againe he posted vnto them charging theÌ„ vpon their alleageance they bore to their soueraigne Lord their King that they should not spare to execute the rigour of the lawe vpon his brother who estéeming gold sufficient honour became so deafe against my fathers philosophicall harmonie and made more value of profit then of vertue as to the end that he might strip me out of my possessions came rushing in and laid such violent hands vpon me as had not the sight of your approaching hither terrified his vnnaturall stratagem he had ere this bereaued me of life Whereupon séeing his notorious villanie which so long lay hid in the ashes of pretended simplicitie thus discouered and after this sort detected for his better securitie betooke himselfe to his héeles whome if you follow downe along this vale towards my house he cannot possiblie escape your hands Fortune that saw how Lysimachus valewed not her deitie but held her power in scorne thought to haue about with him and brought the matter to passe thus Lysimachus as his vsuall maner was walked before his brothers house in a valley betwéene two high mountaines topt with trées of maruellous verdure whereby ran a fountaine pleasant as well for the murmur of the streames as for the swéetnes of waters with his Boare-speare vpon his neck where hauing stroken a Déere and but lightly hurt he packed downe by the groue in great hasle expecting his fall from whence he might espie his brother accompanied with a crue of armed men following him amazed at this sight as he stoode gazing his nose on a sodaine bled which made him coniecture as it was indéede that there was some dangerous euent pretended As soone as they were come within his reach Valentine commanded the officers without further examination to carry him to prison Lysimachus smiling both at the enuious treacherie and cowardize of his brother brookt all the iniuries of fortune with patience Lying in prison all night the next morning as soone as the day brake taking a Cytterne in his hand he warbled out this mournefull Sonnet Lysimachus Sonnet that he made in prison YOu restlesse cares companions of the night That wrap my ioyes in folds of endlesse woes Tire on my heart and wound it with your spight Since Time and Fortune prooues my vtter foes Farewell my hopes farewell my happie dayes Welcome sweet griefe the subiect of my layes Mourne heauens mourne earth your seruant is forlorne Mourne times and howers since bale inuades by bowre Curse euery tongue the place where I was borne Curse euery thought the life which makes me lowre Farewell my hopes farewell my happie dayes Welcome sweet griefe the subiect of my layes Yet drooping and yet liuing to this death I sigh I sue for pittie at his shrine Whose mightie power can quicklie comfort breath And make my selfe thus not in woes to pine Farewell my hopes farewell my happie dayes Welcome sweet griefe the subiect of my layes Meane while my sighes yeeld truce vnto my teares By them the winds increase and fiercely blow Yet when I sigh the griefe more plaine appeares And by their force with greater power doth glow Farewell my hopes farewell my happie dayes Welcome sweet griefe the subiect of my layes Fortitèr ille facit qui miser esse potest Hauing thus chaunted ouer his Sonnet he heard the prison doore open whereupon he grew passing melancholie and not without cause for the Iayler certified him that the Burgomasters of the towne were assembled in the common hall to heare how he could cléere himselfe of the accusations which were laid to his charge At this Lysimachus taking heart of grace being imboldned with his innocencie he boldlie went with the officers vnto the hall with whom as the nature of man is desirous of nouelties came a great prease of people to heare the matter throughlie canuased When Lysimachus was thus brought before the barre Valentine his brother who had suborned these retchles roagues solemlie to depose that they saw him preiudicially bent began his inuectiue thus I am sory graue citizens and inhabitants of Idoniana that this day I am come to accuse my brother Lysimachus whose vertues hitherto haue woon him many fauours and the outward shew of his good qualities hath been highlie applauded of all men but my conscience constraineth me not to conceale such hainous sinne and the rigour of the law chargeth me not to smother vp so great an offence without rebuke This considered I am forced to discouer a wicked déede that this Lysimachus hath committed and that is this It chanced as I walked solitarie downe my woods to see if any of my Ewes and Lambs as it is my ordinarie custome were stragled downe to the strond to browze on sea Iuie whereof they take especiall delight to féede that my brother hauing concealed a secret resolution of some desperat plot and could no longer hide fire in the flaxe nor oyle in the flame for enuie is like lightning that will appeare in the darkest fog and séeing now opportunitie answerable to the performance of a mischiefe thought best not to let it slip but assaulted me with such violence redoubling his stroakes with such courage that had not the arriuall of the officers been speedie my death had been sodaine For proofe hereof these men pointing to the bâ—ggars shall heere before you all make present deposition and with that he reacht them a Bible whereon being sold vnto sinne and sworne to wickednes they swore that Lysimachus was most preiudicially bent At which oath the people that were Iurors in the cause belieuing the protestations of Valentine and the depositions of the roages presentlie found him guiltie and Valentine and the rest of the Burgomasters gaue wagement that he should the next day at the Market place loose his head As soone as Lysimachus heard the censure he appeald for no mercy nor abasht any whit as one dâ—sirous of fauour but liâ—ting vp his eyes to heauen only said thus O God which seest the secrets of all hearts knowest all things before they come to passe which discernest the very inward thoughts and trieâ—t the hearts 〈◊〉 Thou knowest that my brother hath slandered me with 〈◊〉 me whereof I was neuer guiltie that he hath produced these 〈◊〉 men by a sinister subordination to periure themselues
gods haue you in enuying this my prosperitie depriued me of the view of that wherein I imagined my whole felicitie should consist vngentle Cupid hast thou déeming my Varrona fairer then thy Pshyche thwarted thus my doating humour I will wander through the earth augmenting the springs with streames of my teares filling the woods with rebounding Ecchoes of my woes tracing the plaines with my restlesse steps O that I might equall Orpheus in art as I excell him in anguish the powerful vertue of his heaueÌ„ly tunes amazed furious beasts staied flueÌ„t streames raised stones assembled trées mouing sense in senselesse things Descending to the silent â—aults of Aâ—heron he caused ghostes to groane shadowes to sigh effecting releÌ„ting thoughts in hels remorslesse iudges But were I his pheere in that profession I would do more enforcing Syllanus her father not touched with such a sympathie to leaue his suspition and grant me my loue whither do I wandere Is this to rest leaue Lysimachus nay procéed Lysimachus cease to suppose begin to sorrow Ay me wretched me hoplesse hopelesse what meanes can I now conceit what deuise may now be potted Herâ—aâ— he sâ—â—pt and opening the flood-gates of his eyes distilled a shewer of teares supplying his spéeches with déepe sighes But resoluing to procéed he was interrupted by the shepheard who hearing the words of his complaints lamented at the 〈◊〉 of his sorrowes 〈◊〉 by all meanes to 〈…〉 of his memorie the rememberance of these caushalties assuring him that time being the wachstone of loue would no doubt sort all things for his content and so quoth he you sâ—â— it is time to â—old our flockes with that they 〈◊〉 shéepe 〈…〉 home but he poore soule that had loue his 〈…〉 thoughts set on fire with the 〈…〉 began to cauâ—â—nate 〈◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 which Varrona had receiued from her father Remaining in this pitifull plight féeding on nothing but heauie dispaire he became so changed in his bodie and soule as though they had bene now 〈◊〉 But 〈◊〉 good hap his mourning being ouerheard by the good shepheard and finding him so transformed 〈…〉 â—â—formed Varrona thereof She hauing taken diligent notice of this his information admired greatly at the constancie of his affection and séeing her father vpon vrgent affaires was rode to the Court she déemed if not amisse herselfe to goe and visit him Who calling vpon Lysimachus with a â—hrill voice recouered him better with her words then withall the potions or hot drinkes she could deuise to giue him Lysimachus staring her in the face muttered as it séemed to himselfe but remained spéechlesse but she with great care comforted him as a woman want no good words in such a case and brought him againe to the vse 〈◊〉 his tongue wherewith he soulâ—red out these words Ah Varrona cruell dispaire hath so mangled my swéete hope that vnlesse I finde some spéedie remedie the wound will growe incurable and willing to goe forward his breath failed him Lysimachus quoth she as I am ignorant of the cause so I am sorrowfull for thy disease and I would I had as much power to heale thy extremitie as will to performe it if it shall not preiudice the glorie of my credit or blemish my honour therefore if it be in my hands to better thée assure thy selfe to 〈◊〉 the benefit the honour of my name alwaies excepted Lysimachus 〈…〉 a while thought it best to discouer himselfe and presently to receiue the conâ—â—t to life or the reply to death for his life death did depend in her answere praying the rest to depart with a sighing spirit and trembling chéere disclosed himselfe Aâ— my swéete Varrona in whose answere is seated my heauen or hell to recount to you my sorrowes or repent my loue can neither ease me of the one or further me in the other sâ—eing your selfe shall appeare a witnesse in them both Although that reason did somewhat prefer me by the benefit of séemely gouernment keeping in subiection the vntamed appetite of furious affections yet confirming it by my owne eye-sight the manifold graceâ— wherewith â—ame nature hath mightily enriched you I found my thoughts so fiercely assaulted that either I must yéeld to be your captiue or else die in the combat Yea the glistering beaâ—â—â—â— of your heauenly perfections so pierced my heart that I was forced to forsake reason to followe affections and to forgoe libertie to liue in bondage if it may be tearmed bondage to serue with loue such rare excellencie Hauing tasted so much of fancies cup and the drinke dispiersing it selfe into euery part I felt such passions in mine vnacquainted conceits that nothing but the rememberance of your swéetest sake could procure my ease fully resolued to serue loue and honour Varrona till the destinies of death should denie me Tumbling in the extremitie of these straunge passions and hearing that thy fathers suspition or rather iealousie of our late vnited simpathie doth watch like Argus ouer Io vnwilling that thou shouldest passe beyond the reach of his eye vnlesse as the thinkes thou shouldest ouerreach thy selfe my contents were turned into delayes complaints and my pleasure wrapt in this laborynth of grieuous lamentations but now noting the exâ—temitie of thy fortunes I find that Venus hath made this constant to requite my miseries and that where the greatest onset is giuen by fortune there is strongest defence made by affection Thus I doubt not but thy father in watching thée ouer-waketh himselfe and I hope profiteth as little as they which gaze on the flames of Aetna which vanish out of the sight in smoake Varrona throughlie vnderstanding his rare and ruthfull discourse with wéeping eyes and sorrowfull chéere embracing him in her armes after a sugred kisse gaue him this swéete comfort The heauens Lysimachus by their miraculous working haue taken truce with our affections whose diuine influence I thinke by some secret contemplation do séeme to conclude our loues It may be I haue béen liked of some and flattered of many but neuer deserued of any but only of thée Lysimachus whose life loue and loyaltie may iustly claime an intâ—rest in the fauourable consent and constancie of thy Varrona Lysimachus hearing this heauenlie harmonie was so rauished betweene ioy and feare for he feared least it had bin but a dreame that he was not able to vtter one word but at last sensibly perceiuing that it was no vision but the veritie of his desires staying himselfe by her hand concluded thus Ah swéete Varrona the only reuiuer of my dying spirit although neither heauen nor earth can affoord me thanks sufficient to requite thine honourable fauour yet shall the zealous truth and tried loue of Lysimachus affections encounter the glorie of Varronas beawtie And I vow by the heauens that when Lysimachus shall let his eye slip from thy beawtie or his thoughts from thy qualities or his heart from thy vertues or his whole life from euer honouring thée then shall heauen cease to haue starres the earth
THE MOST EXcellent Historie of Lysimachus and Varrona daughter to Syllanus Duke of Hypata in Thessalia Wherin are contained the effects of Fortune the Wonders of affection and the conquests of incertaine Time By I. H. R. Sectantem grandia nerui Deficient animusque LONDON Printed by Thomas Creede 1604. TO THE RIGHT Honourable Henry VVriothesly Earle of Southampton and Baron of Titchfield I. H. wisheth encrease of all vertuous and Honourable resolutions REport Right Honourable that hath enobled your singular and manifold vertues by nature and fortune to the Worldes recommendation hath induced mee to thrust into the open light this my abortiue issue to be shrowded vnder the shadowe of your Lordships winges the fruite of some idle houres sith after many thoughts I could not excogitate any more pleasing recreation whereon I might bestow times of leysure The argument I confesse is of too base consequence to procure your liking or deserue your allowing Neuerthelesse the force of dutie and zeale possessing the chiefest portion of mine interests ouerrule my thoughts and resolutions in hazarding the entertainment thereof at your fauourable courtesie and construction And if I may perceiue that your Lordship affoords the countenance to grace my papers with the demonstration of the extreamest degree of good liking I shall be emboldned to raise my Muses note that now yeelds harsh musick to an higher key a fairer fruite of my better ordered vacant houres and manifest my dutie to your Honour in some matter of greater import then a superficiall toy But fearing to grow offensiue through tediousnes I commit this simple work to your Lordships patronage and your Honour to the Almighties protection for the preseruation of which I will pray continually I ende Your Lordships most firmely deuoted in all seruiceable endeuours I. H. To the Gentlemen Readers GEntlemen I haue written the Historie of Lysimachus and Varrona a worke attempted to winne your fauours but to discouer mine own ignorance in that raunging in a large field of copious matter and being engulphed in an Ocean of conceit I lye there ouerwhelmed If my methode be nothing pleasant yet presuming vpon your curtesies I doubt not but you will smoother it vp with patience and the vertue of your affectioÌ„ I trust will stand in the front as a stroÌ„g fort of defence to shield me from the descanting verdits of such vnfriendly Readers which conceiting the Authors entent amisse may wrest his meaning by wrong coÌ„iectures and from the sowre censures of the ouer-curious Moralists of our age which glory to be tearmed the new vprearers of the long agoe confuted Stoicall Apathy Howsoeuer the case standeth I looke for no praise for my labour but pardon for my good will it is the greatest reward that I dare aske and the least which may be offered I desire no more I deserue no lesse Thus Gentlemen committing these my labors to your friendly view and submitting my selfe to your curteous censures I end wishing to you all seuerall good fortunes Farewell I. H. R. Verses in praise of the Booke COme see this worke that is but slily wrought Take but this simple trauaile in your view As in a mirrour there is deeply taught The wanton vices of proud fancies crew There is depainted by most curious art How loue and folly iumpe in euery part This little Pamphlet more conceit combines Then wanton Ouid in his art did paint And sharper Satyres are within his lines Then Martiala sung proud Venus to attaint Sith then his art doth plainly yeeld such gaines Read it and thanke the Author for his paines Ro. Bacchus YE English gallants stoupe and gather bayes Make Coronets of Floraes proudest flowers As gifts for him for he must haue the praise And taste the deawes that high Parnassus shewers As hauing leapt beyond old Ouids straine In taunting Louers for their fruitlesse paine Tho Talkinghame Gentleman THE MOST EXcellent Historie of Lysimachus and Varrona Daughter to Syllanus Duke of Hypata in Thessalia IN Thessalia when Nature hath made the soyle proude with the beawtie of Floras riches as though she meant to wrap Teilus in the glorie of her vestments there dwelled a Magnifico a man of most honorable parentage whome Fortune had graced with many fauours and Nature honoured with sundrie exquisite qualities so beawtified with the excellencie of both as it was a question whether Fortune or Nature were more prodigall in desciphering the riches of their bounties This Knight thus enricht with vertue and honour surnamed Syllanus had to ioy him in his age a daughter of great beawtie so exquisite in her exteriour feature as no blemish might eclipse that which Nature had bestowed in her lineaments This Damsell whose name was Varrona dayly vsed to trauerse the plaines wherein her fathers shéepe were kept partly to preuent inconueniences which through idlenesse might haue annoyed â—â—â—â—ealth and partlie to ply the care of her fathers folds for shâ— knew that the eyes of the maister fáedes the cattell which with such diligence was performed as that she seemed with labour to enter 〈◊〉 against want and with her hands thrift to preoccupaie her hearts griefe 〈◊〉 thus dayly the walks of Thessalia the Shepheards not a little delighted at the view of so excellent an obiect held their eyes fortunate when they might behold her feature accounting him happie that could lay his flocks néerest vnto her walks Amongst these that fed their thoughts on her fauours there was one called Lysimachus a yong youth that had the pride of his yéeres triumphing in his countenance a man whose parentage though it were worshipfull yet was it not indued with much wealth insomuch that his wit was better then his reuenewes and his industrie more beneficiall then his substance This Lysimachus trauailing amongst the lawnes no sooner had a glaunce of her beawtie but set downe his staffe resoluing either to perish in so swéete a laborinth or in time happily to stumble out with Theseus In which extasie he shall remaine till we haue described the cause why he left Macedonia his natiue countrey and the perilous euents which hapned during his voyage hither into Thessalia This youth was one of the sonnes of Alexandro who hauing passed the prime of his youth in sundry battailes against Astolpho king of Lydia at last as the date of time hath his course grew aged his haires were siluer hewed and the map of his age was figured on his forehead in such sort as that all men might perceiue his glasse was run and that nature of necessitie challenged her due Alexandro that knewe the tearme of his life was now expired hauing two sonnes by his wife Olympias the very pride of his forepassed yéeres thought now seeing death by constraint would compell him to leaue them with wholesome admonitions and louing perswasions for the increasing of their ensuing amitie to distribute in their portions the substance of his wealth for the countercheck of pouertie All which being done to the end that they might not forget
went in sunder the storme raging sâ—ill so furiously that poore Vâ—rrona was almost dead for feare but that she was greatly comforted with the presence of Lysimachus The tempest continued thrée daies all which time the marriners euery minute looked for death and the ayre was so darkened with cloudes that the maister could not tell by the compasse in what coast they were But vpon the fourth day about nine of the clock the wind began to cease the sea to waxe calme and the skie to be cleere and the marriners descryed the coast of Arcadia shooting off their ordinaÌ„ce for ioy that they had escaped such a feareful tempest Lysimachus hearing that they were arriued at some harbor swéetly kissed Varrona bad her be of good courage being set on land and rewarding the marriners bountifully for their paines they soiourned in a little village a mile distant from the sea where after they had rested for a day they made prouisioÌ„ for their mariage which according to the sacred rites was solemnely celebrated which being performed putting on pilgrims aparrell they went hand in hand and heart in hart wailfully and wilfully wandring in that vnknowne countrie Arcadia to auoide further punishment and displeasure Sée gentlewomen the lamentable lot of loue which draue Varrona from her pleasant pallace from her flourishing friends from her traine of seruants from her sumptuous fare from her gorgeous garments from varietie of delights from secure quietnesse yea from heauenly happines to wilde wildernesse to desart dens to careful caues to hard chéere with hawâ—s and hippes to pilgrims pelts to perill of spoiling to danger of deuouring to miserie of mind to affliction of bodie yea to hellish heauinesse O pittiles parent to prefer his own hate before his childs loue his owne displeasures before his childs pleasures to forget that himselfe was once yong and subiect to loue to measure the fiâ—ie flames of youth by the dead coals of age to gouerne his child by his owne lust which now is not which was in times past To séeke to alter his naturall affection from his daughter vpon so â—ight a cause shewing himselfe a rebell to nature to vndo the destinies and disappoint the appointment of the Gods shewing himselfe a traytor to them Two or three dayes being passed and noe newes heard of Varrona Syllanus assured of her escape cryed out as a man halfe lunatick he was by Lysimachus robd of his onely iewel wherevpon in a dispairing furie he cmomanded Procyon to be sent for in al hast Who maruailing what the matter should be began to examine his owne conscience wherein he had offended the Duke but imboldnâ—d with his inocencie couragiously went to the pallace whither assoone as he came he was not admitted vnto the presence of Syllanus but presently sent to prison Many passionate thoughts came into his head till at last he began to fall into consideration of Lysimachus tollies and to meditate with himselfe leaning his head on his hand and his elbow on his knee full of sorrow grief and disquieted passions he resolued into these tearmes Unhappie Procyon whome too much courtesie hath led to these misfortunes and vaine credulitie wrapt in the maze of these calamities Now I see but alas too late that the smoothest tales for the most part haue put small truth that the fowlest skin is couered with faire paintings that vice lieth obfuscated in the cinders of honest simplicitie Woe worth the day wherein my eie offended in the prodigalitie of her sight woe worth that I pittied his destresses relieued his wants tooke compassion of his necessities succoured his state entertained him fauored affected him and approued his behauior All these I greatly feare will if not ruinate my selfe yet make shipwracke of my credit and liking with the Duke so that by liuing I shall die to want by death purchase such a name of infamie as neuer shal be forgotten be penitent assign thy life some penance to discouer thy sorow pacifie his wrath In the depth of this his passion he was sent for to the duke who with a looke that threatned death intertained him demanded of him where his daughter was Procyon made answere that indeede Lysimachus was too familiar with Varrona his daughter wherevpon I fearing the worst quoth he about 3. or 4. daies past verie sharply rebuked him for his saucinesse adding moreouer that if it were not lest he would bring both vpon himselfe extreme preuidice and eternall confusion vpon me and my wife now the next morning after I neither heard of him or sawe him Syllaâ—us perceiuing the mans vnfained simplicitie let him depart without incurring further displeasure concealing such secret griefe for his daughters reâ—â—hlesse follie that she had so forgotten her honour and parentage by so base a choice to dishonour her father and discredit her selfe that with verie care and thought he fell into a quartain feueâ— which was so vnfit for his aged yeares and complexion that he became so weake as the Phisitions would not grant him no life And one day being in his agonie he breathed out his griefs in this sorrowfull sort Iâ— nature by the diuine prouidence of God did not moue vs to the 〈…〉 of mankind surely the charge of childreÌ„ is such a heauie burden that it would feare men from entring into the holy state of matrimony For to omit the inconuenience of their infancy which are infinite when they drawe once to mans estate what time they should be a stay to our staggering age good God with what trouble do they torment â—â—â—with what cares do they consume vs what annoyes doe they afflict our decaying yeares withal They say we are renued and reuiued as it were in our ofspring but we may say we die daylie in thinking of the desperate deedes of our children And as the spider â—â—eleth if her webbe be prickt but with the point of a pâ—â—me so if our children are touched but with the least trouble that is we feele the force of it to pierce vs to the heart But how well this tender care is by them considered alas it maketh my heart bléede to thinke If we looke for obedience of them and that â—hey should followe our counsaile in the conueigh of their affaires why they imagine we doate and their owne wits are farre better then ones If we warne them to be warie and thriftie they thinke it procéedeth rather of couetousnesse then of kindnesse if we prouide them no marriages it is because we will depart with no liuing to them if we perswade them to marriage it is because we will haue them to forsake all good fellowship and liue like clownes in the countrie by the plough taile if we perswade them to learning it is that they might liue by it without our charge if we perswade them to one wife rather then an other it is because the one is richer then the other If we looke seuerely to them we loue them not if we vse them familiarly
we feede them with flatterie because we will giue them little and so of all our louing déeds they make these lewd deuises yea when we haue brought them vp with great care and cost when we haue trauailed all our time by sea and by land earely and late in paine and in perrill to heape vp treasure for them when we haue by continuall toyle shortned our owne liues to lengthen and inlarge their liuings and possessions yet if we suffer them not to royst and to ryot to spill and to spoyle to lauish and to consume yea and to follow the furie of their owne frantick fancies in all things this forsooth is our recompence they wish an end of our liues to haue our liuings Alas a lamentable case why hath not nature caused loue to ascend as well as descend why hath she indued the Storke with this propertie to féede his damme when she is old and men with such malice to wish their parents death when they are aged But I speake perchaunce of my owne proper griefe God forbid it should be a common case for my daughter why doe I call her daughter hath not onely wisht my death but wrought it She knewe she was my onely delight she knewe I could not liue she being out of my sight she knew her desperate disobedience would driue me to a desperate death And could she now so much doate on a poore shepheard to force so little of her louing father Alas a husband is to be preferred before Father and Friend but had she none to fixe her fancie on but a Swaine the sonne of I knowe not whome Alas loue hath no respâ—â—â— of persons yet was not my good will and 〈◊〉 to be craued therein alas she sawe noe possibilitie to obtaine it But now alas I would grant my good will but it is too late her feare of my furie is too great euer to be found her 〈◊〉 is too great euer to looke me in the face any more and my sorrow is too great euer to be salued And thereupon got him to bed very heauilie affected dayly bewayling the losse of his daughter Varrona with whom I do now begin The Sunne soiourning in his winter mansion had disrobed Arcadia of all her pleasures and disgarnished Vestaes mantle of delights variable choice wherewith Flora had in plentie powdred the freshnes of her earst gréene hue Night suted in a duskie robe of pitchie darkenes besieged the globe with long shadowes while Phoebus wanting wonted vigour did by darting his scarce reflected beames affoord surall comfort to the earths increase so that Arcadia earst the soueraigne seate of all content and sole place of worlds perfections séemed now a patterne of the ancient Chaos wherein all things if things were confounded Fields flowerlesse trées leauelesse ground heatelesse brookes streamelesse springs vnhaunted groues vnhalowed augmented this hue of horrour blemish of Europs paradice The mayden huntresse Arcadiaes patronesse did seldome trace the plaines guarded with her troupe of virgin knights to fixe shafts on the flying beasts whose wont was in time of heauens more milde aspect to grace the fields with her daily presence and when her brothers scorching heate tired her limbs with faintnes to bath her chast bodie in some pleasant brooke Nor did the wanton Satyres lightlie skipping on the painted meades painted I meane by natures workemanship vaunt their bodies agilitie to the fairie wood-Nymphs Pan Arcadiaes president pend vp himselfe in his winter lodging and the other rurall powers séeing their glories date ended for that yéere shrouded themselues in the place of their wonted repose In this season a season well fitting their melancholie thoughts distracted with moodie passions Varrona and Lysimachus the maps of fortunes mutabilitie left their countrie wandred in middest of winters rage surcharged with sorrow the extremitie whereof made them haplesse abiects while rough Boreas winters henchman mustering legions of stormes scourged the plaines with a trouâ—e of tempests and aimed his violent blasts at the tallest trees to loy their heights pride and combatting with his companions filled the aire with dreadfull noyse of their tumultuous encounter these infortunate louers in whose minds loue martialled millions of striuing passions thus wandring whom fancie tost in a boundlesse Ocean of perplexing thoughts ceased not their trauaile till the weathers intemperate furie calmed by heauens milder influence tooke truce with time and sealed the attonement with a sodaine change But when Phoebus renuing his yéerely taske and denying longer residence to stormie winter had pierced earths entrailes with comfortable warmth opening a frutefull passage for the issue of her wombe to cloath Pomonaes branches with natures bountie and diapre her owne mantle with Floraes sense-alluring pomp Lysimachus and Varrona entred the maine continent of Arcadia where séeing the late hue of horrour turned to an heauen of eyes happines they redoubled many sighes drawne from the depth of their wofull hearts centre for remembring that Tellus was earst dismantled the trees bereaued of their blossomes beautie earths naturall defects anatomized by time in the place where frostie Hyems had displaied her ycie trophies they lamented to thinke that these tokens of worlds mutabilitie had recouered their former flourish by the yéeres timely alteration but their desperate fortunes as they imagined had no hope of any happie spring to calme the winter of their woes Drowned in these deepe meditations they procéeded pensiue but they had not walked farre when they espied a faire broad Oake whose spatious branches enuironed the ground lying vnderneath with a shadie circle There they determined to rest a while their bodies wearied by long iourneis and somewhat disburthen their soules by displaying their sorrowes As thus they were discoursing of their fortunes they beheld as they looked back an Arcadian and by his habit seemed a Shepheard who ouer-hearing the last words of their complaints and aiming though amisse at the occasion of their sorrowes thought that being strangers he lameÌ„ted the losse of their way to which imaginatioÌ„ applying his words he began thus Friends for so I may tearme you without offence the day is almost spent and the night being dangerous for such as you are or at least seeme to be I meane strangers accept then a simple lodging in my cottage with such homely fare as Shepheards houses yeeld and when to morrowes Sunne shal display his bright though late forcelesse beames ye may prosecute your intended iourney wherein if my directions may further you ye shall find me readie to affoord them They wondering at such rare humanitie harboured in those contemptible wéeds made a loÌ„g pause as if they had enioyned their mouthes to perpetuall silence at last Lysimachus shapt him this replie Friend for so your preffered courtesie bindes vs to tearme you muse not that sobs interrupt my words or sorrowes season my discourse which onely comfort my fates haue assigned me What we were we list not now to repeate what we are you sée we grieue a lodging in your
made no better prouision for lights and other things necessarie then such as you speake oâ— they might soone haue slipt into the mire but as I perceiue by your words you are disposed to iest and be merrie so I am content for this once to be made the instrument thereof thereby to ease some part of the paines which you are like to take in receiuing such troublesome guests as we are and for our cheere you neede take no thought for it shall be so much too good for vs by how much lesse we haue deserued any at all your hands After this amorous encounter he caused the company to sit downe to the banquet and so disposed the matter that Varrona sat at the table right ouer against him whereby he freely â—ed his eyes on that meat which coÌ„uerted rather to the norishment of sicknes then to wholesome humors of health For as the finest meats by one in extremitie of sicknes resolue not to pare blood to strengthen the bodie but to watrish humours to feed the leuer and disease so though her face and lookes were fine and swéet and brought delight to all the beholders eies yet to him they wrought onely torment vexation of mind And notwithstanding he perceiued her beauty to bréed his bane and her lokes to procure the losse of his libertie that as the Cocatrice by sight only slaieth so she by curteous countenance only killed wounded his heart yet would he not refraine his eyes from beholding hir but according to the nature of the sickly patient which chiefly desireth that which most of all is forbidden him he so incessantly threw his passionate glaunces towards her that his eyes were altogether bleared with her beautie and she also at the length began to perceiue his louing looks towards her which made her looke pale in token of the little pleasure she tooke in his toyes of the great feare she had least some other shuld mark them wherby her good name might come in question The banquet being ended euery one of theÌ„ prepared themselues to heare a stage play which was theÌ„ readie to be performed But Maechander being able to play but one part which was of a poore distracted louer determined to goe forward with the tragedie alreadie begun betwéene Varrona and him and séeing her set out of her husbands sight placed himselfe by her and entered into reasoning with her to this purpose If faire Varrona this simple banquet had bene so swéet and pleasant to your séemely selfe and the rest as your sight is delightfull to me I am perswaded you would not haue changed your chéer for Nectar and Ambrosia which the Poets faine to be foode of the gods but séeing there was no cause of delight in the one the other containeth that in it which may coÌ„tent the Gods theÌ„selues I shal desire you in good part to accept the one and courteously to accept me worthy to enioy the other And though I haue not heretofore by dutifull seruice manifested vnto you the loyaltie of my loue yet if my poore hart could signifie vnto you the assaults which it hath suffered for your sake I doubt not but that you would confesse that by force of loue I had woon you were worthy to weare you For albeit by humane lawes your husband onely hath interest in you yet by natures lawes which being more ancient ought to be of more authoritie he ought to enioy you which ioyeth most in you which loueth you best endureth most paine for your sake And for proofe of natures lawes may it please you to consider the qualitie of the she wolfe who alwaies chooseth that wolfe for her make who is made most leane and foule by following her besides that my tytle marcheth vnder the ensign of iustice which is a vertue giuing to euery one according to his deserts that the reward of loue is onely loue againe I know you are not ignorant For all the Gods in the world are not able to requite good will the one belonging to the mind the other incident to the bodie but from the equitie of my cause I appeale to your good grace fauour and at the barre of your beautie I humbly hold vp my hands meaning to be tryed by your owne courtesie my owne loyaltie minding to abide your sentence either of coÌ„sent vnto life or denial vnto death Varrona hearing this discourse looked one while read for shame another while pale for anger neither would disdain let her make him answer nor grief giue her leaue to hold her peace but staÌ„ding in a maze betwéene silence and speaking at length she brake of the one and burst out into the other in this sort If sir your banquet had bene no better then this your talke is pleasant vnto me I am perswaded the dishes would haue bene taken whole from the table without touching but as the one was far better theÌ„ the company deserued so the other for a far worse woman might more fitly haue séemed if your sweet meat haue such sower sawce the next time you send for me I will make you such an answere as was made to Craterus the Emperour by Diogenes when he sent for him to make his abode with him in his court who answered he had rather be fed at Athens with salt then to liue with him in all delicacie so for my part I promise you I had rather be fed at home with bread water theÌ„ pay so déerly for dainty dishes Touching the paines you haue endured for my sake I take your words to be as false towards me as you wold make my faith towards my husbaÌ„d But admit they were true séeing I haue not bin the cause of theÌ„ I count not my selfe bound in conscience to counteruaile them only I am sory they were not bestowed on some more worthie your estate and lesse worthie an honest name then my selfe which being the chiefe riches I haue I meane most diligently to keepe The interest which cauellingly you claime in me as it consisteth of false premises so though they were true yet the conclusion which you infer thereof followeth not necessarilie For were it so that your loue were greater towards me then my husbands which you cannot induce me to beléeue yet séeing he by order of lawe hath first taken possession of me your title succeeding his your succession sute must néeds be cold naught for as your selfe saith of lawes so of titles the first are euer of most force and the most ancient of most authoritie Your woluish example though it shew your foxely braine yet doth it in force no such proofe to your purpose but that by my former reason it may be refelled for that the wolfe is free from the proper possession of any but therein truly you obserue decorum in vsing the example of a beast in so brutish a cause for like purpose like proofe like man like matter Your manly marching vnder the
by it that my husband euer after would be iealous ouer me and right carefull would he be to keepe that which he sawe others so busily to séeke And such is the malice of men perchance he would iudge some light behauiour in me to be the cause that encouraged Maechander to attempt my chasâ—itie For men haue this common opinion amongst them that as there is no smoake but where there is fire so sieldome is there any seruent loue but where there hath béen some kindnes shewed to kindle ones desire Moreouer this toy may take him in the head that it is a practise betwéene vs two to preuent suspition and cloake our loue and with the firme perswasion of my inuincible chastitie to lull him a sléepe in securitie and then most to deceiue him when he least suspected guile And if at any time he heare of it by others I may stop his mouth with this that I my selfe told him of it which if I had meant to deale falsely with him I would not haue done Yea what know I whether he will like the better or worse of me for bréeding such a bées nest in his braine Lastly I should derogate much from my owne chastitie and in a manner accuse my selfe of pronenesse to fall that way as though I were not strong ynough to withstand his assaults without the assistance of my husband Yes God in whom I repose my trust shall fortifie me against the furie of my foes and giue me grace with wisedome to escape his wiles with charinesse to eschew his charmes and with pietie to resist his prauitie Now to returne to Maechander so soone as that old bawde had related vnto him at large the answere of his mistres he fell from the place where he sate flat vpon the groued and lay in a traunce a great while and now those sparkes which before loue had kindled in him were with continuall sighes so blowne as it were with a paire of bellowes that they brake forth into fierie flames that which before was fancie was now turned into turie For being come to himselfe or rather being quite past himselfe with staring lookes pale countenance with fierâ—e eyes with gnashing téeth with trembling tongue in rage he roared forth these words And shall I thus be frustrate of my desire shall I with words and workes with prayers and presents pursue the good will of a daintie disdaining dame and receiue but labor for my loue and gréefe for my affection But oh franticke foole why doe I in a furie rage against her who is the most faire and courteous creature vnder heauen No it is that churle Lysimachus that soweth the séed of my sorrow it is his seueritie towards her that causeth her crueltie towards me the feare which she hath of him is the cause she dareth not take compassion on my afflictions And shall be swim in blisse and I lie drencht in deepe dispaire shall he be ingorged with pleasure and I pine away in paine No I will make him féele that once which he maketh me feele athousand times a day And herevpon determined with himselfe by some meanes or other to procure the death of Lysimachus thinking thereby the sooner to obtaine his purpose of his wife And calling vnto him one of his swearing swash-buckler seruants he layde before him the platforme of his purpose and told him plainly if he would spéedily dispatch Lysimachus out of the way he would giue him a thousand crowns in his purse to kéepe him in another country His seruant though altogether past grace yet for fashion sake began to aduise his master more wisely saying For my owne part it maketh no matter for an other countrie is as good for me as this and I count any place my country where I may liue well and wealthily But for your selfe it is requisite that extraordinary care be added in regarde that your loue towards Varrona is kowne to diuers of this cittie by reason wherof if I should coÌ„mit any such fact it must néeds be thought that you are accessarie thereto which will turne though not to your death for that none hath authoritie aboue you to execute the rigour of the lawes vpon you yet to your vtter shame and reproach it cannot but conuert Tush said his maister the case is light where counsaile can take place what talkest thou to me of shame that am by imurious and spitefull dealing depriued of the vse of reason and dispossessed of my wits and senses Neither am I the first that haue played the like part Did not Dauid the chosen seruant of God being blasted with the beautie of Bersheba cause her husband Vrias to be set in the vanward to be slaine which done he maried his wife And why is it not lawfull for me to doe the like But I know the worst of it if then wilt not take it vpon thée I will either performe it my selfe or procure some other that shall The man séeing how his maister was bent both to satisfie his mind and to gaine so great a summe of mony consented assoone as opportunitie would giue him leaue to murther Lysimachus wherewith Maechander remayned somewhat appeased hoping now to be inuested into the throne of his delights But the ground of this vnnaturall deuise was most strangely detected For all their consultations were ouerheard by Conscionato an other of Maechanders men but more religiously addicted being then resident in a chamber néere adioâ—ning vnto that place wherein those things were thus debated He vtterly condemning his maisters too much luxurious thoughts and greatly misliking his fellowes impudent promise but especially affecting Lysimachus as a man in whom the true sparkes of vertue were eminent made manifest incontinently the whole conspiracie which Maechander for the loue of his wife had deuised against him desiring him not to account him a traytor for bewraying his maisters counsel but to thinke that he did it for conscience hoping that although his maister inflamed with desire or incensed by lust had imagined such causelesse mischiefe yet when time should asswage his desires and moderate his affections that then he would count him as a faithfull seruant that with such care had kept his maisters credit Lysimachus had not fully heard the man tell forth his tale but a quaking feare possessed al his limunes thinking that there was some plot wrought and that the fellow did but shadowe his craft with these false colours wherefore he began to wax in choller and said that he doubted not Maechander sith he was his friend and there hâ—d neuer as yet bene any breach of amitie he had not sought any wayes to wrong him with slaunderous spéeches to offend him by sinister reports to molest his patience but in word and thought he rested his at all times he knews not therefore any cause that should moue Maechander to seeke his death but suspected it to be a compacted knaâ—â—rie of some to bring the gentlewoman and him at oddes Conscionato staying him
in the middest of his talke told him that to dallie with suspected friends was with the Swans to sing against their death and that if some had intended any such secret mischiefe it might haue 〈◊〉 better brought to passe then by 〈◊〉 the conspiracie therefore he did ill to misconsture of his good meaning 〈◊〉 his intent was to hinder murther not to become a murderer and to coÌ„firme his promise if it pleased him with his wife to flâ—â— out of Arcadia for the safegard of his life he would goe with him and if then he found not such a practise to be pretended let his imagined treacherie be repayed with most monstrous torments Lysimachus hearing the solemne protestation of the seruant attributed credit thereto willing him to abide at his house a day or two that thereby the man which should accomplish this stratageme being discouered he might with more securitie auoide the ensuing danger Now when the 〈◊〉 was growne by many houres aged Conscionato who had giuen Lysimachus to vnderstand of this intended purpose might espy where his fellow Christophero do mala mente came posting to his house amaine which thing after Lysimachus had knowne aiming himselfe for the purpose as hauing a sword obscured by the couerture of his cloake walked downe a groue which Christophero perceiuing and séeing none néer for his succour with his cutlax violently rushed vpon him but Lysimachus hauing euermore an eye vpon him with facilitie auoided the blowe and with such courage threw him to the ground falling vpoÌ„ his chest with so willing a waight that Christophero yéelded nature her one and Lysimachus the victorie He forthwith informed the chiefe officers of the cittie of these accidents who examining very effectually the matter found Maechander a duating leacher wherupon they not only amersed him a great fine to be paid to Lysimachus and Varrona but put him for euer after from bearing any office in that cittie Thus where these two louers deliuered from their enemies and reckoned now famous for their vertues through all Arcadia This strange euent spread abroade through all the countrie and as same flies swift and farre so at length it came to the eares of Syllanus who hearing by sundry reports the same of their forwardnesse how Lysimachus coueted to be most louing to his daughter and she most dutifull to him and both to striue to exceed one another in loyaltie and glad at this mutuall agreement he fell from the furie of his former melancholy passion and satisfied himselfe with a contented patience that at last he directed letters to his sonne in law that he should make repaire to his house with his daughter Which newes was no sooner come to the eares of this married couple but prouiding for all things necessarie for the furniture of their voiage they posted as fast as they could to the sea coast Where taking shippe and hauing a prosperous gale in a day and a night they were set on shore in Thessalia who spéedily arriâ—ing at their fathers house found such friendly entertainment at the old mans hand that they counted this smile of fortune able to counteruaile all the contrarie stormes that the aduerse Planets had inflicted vpon them Syllanus for the safe recouery of his daughter surprised with exceeding great ioy wait the last end of his liues legeÌ„d Lysimachus after the death of his father in lawe was created Duke of Hypatae and being willing to recompence old Procyon of a shepheard made him a knight Toxeus was preferred into the kings seruice being substituted Captain of his guard and because I will not blot from your thoughts the remembrance of all those actions Conscioanato by act of parliament was made BaroÌ„ of Cypera their farme in Arcadia made sure to Alexis Et haeredibussuis in perpetuuÌ„ These two louers thus floating in the top of louers gallantise transtreated the sea of their life in so peaceable a calme turning all their actions with the swéet consents of mutuall amitie that they were accounted the onely presidents of married gouernment What should I say they liued a mirrour to men a wonder to women and a maze to all which when it changeth expect for newes Now to close vp this comicall Catastrophe with a tragicall stratageme I will relate vnto you the historie of Valintine brother to Lysimachus and the fortunes of those two suborned villaines as in the beginning hereof I promised The Historie of Valentine and the two Beggars VAlentine vtterly forgetting the abuses which he had offred his brother thought himself so surely seated as no sinister chance or dismal influence might remoue She that is coÌ„stant in nothing but inconstancie began in a faire skie to produce a tempest thus It fell out as he frequented the court of Diocles King of Macedonia that he fired his eyes on the face of a noble gentlewoman named Fuluia daughter of Hermodius And as the mouse mumpeth so long at the baite that at length she is taken in the trap so he bit so long at the baite of her beautie that at length he was caught in Cupids snare And on a time as she was at cardes in the presence chamber this youth Valentine stood staring in her face in a great studie which Fuluia perceiuing to bring him out of it prayed him to reach her a bowle of wine which stood vpon a cupboord by and as he approached therewith to the place of her presence his senses were so rauished with the sight of her swéete face that he let the bowle fall â—oorth of his hands and retiring back with séemely shamefastnes went for more and being come therewith she thanked him for his paines saying I pray God that the fall of the wine hinder not my winning and bring me ill luck for I know many that cannot away to haue salt or drinke or any such like thing fall towards them Madame said Valentine I haue often heard it disputed in Schooles that such as the cause of euery thing is such will be the effect and séeing the cause of this chance was good I doubt not but the effect will follow accordingly and if any euill doth ensue thereof I trust it will light on my head through whose negligence it happened Fuluia answered as I know not the cause so I feare not the effect and in déede as you say hitherto you haue had the worst of it for that thereby you haue béen put to double paines If that be all said he rather then it shall be said any euill to haue ensued of this chance I will perswade my selfe that euery paine which you shall put me to shall be double delight and vnto me treble contentation You must vse quoth she then great eloquence to perswade you to such an impossibilitie Oh if it please you said he there is an Oratour which of late hath taken vp his dwelling within me who hath eloquence to perswade to a farre greater matter then this If said she he perswade you to things no more behoofefull for
of his eleuation vnto prosperitie vtterly casting behind them the remembrance of their former state and condition This Insolainder was so blinded with promotion that vpon hope of a little commoditie purchased by his maisters death sought as I said by all meanes to worke his ruine which being perceiued for God will not suffer such vilde attempts to be practised Valentine prosecuted the matter so earnestly against him that hée was throwne into prison where for shame of his déede and dread of deserued punishment he did himselfe desperately to death Now Delfridus séeing his mistres too firmely fortified in vertue to be by consent vanquished by villanie determined also by death to remoue the obstacle And as nothing is so impossible which frantike furie will not enterprise nothing so shamefull which vnbridled desire will not vndertake nothing so false which fleshly filthines will not forge so to bring his purpose to passe as Valentine on a time in ill time passed through a blinde lane of the citie he throwded himselfe in a corner and as he came by shot him thorough with a Pistoll which done he forthwith repaired home making grieuous lamentation but in a counterfait manner for the cruell murder of his most louing and affectionate maister as he tearmed him â—uluia hearing of this vnnaturall déede and by circumstances knowing Delfridus to be the authour thereof tearing her haire scratching her face and beating her bodie against the ground so soone as the flouds of teares had flowen so long that the fountaine was drie so that her speech might haue passage which before the teares stopped she began to crie out in this carefull manner O God what iniustice is this to suffer the earth to remaine polluted with the bâ—oud of innocents Didst thou curse Cain for killing his brother Abell and wilt thou not crucifie Delfridus for slaying Valentine Is thy heart now hardened that thou wilt not or are thy hands now weakened that thou canst not preserue thy seruants from the slaues of Satan If there be no safetie in innocencie wherein shall wee repose our selues If thou be not our protector who shall defend vs If the wicked vanquish the vertuous who shall set foorth thy honour and glorie or who will so much as once call vpon thy name But what meane I wretched wight to exclaime against God as the authour of my euill whereas it is onely my selfe that am guiltie of my husbands death It is I that pampred vp my beautie to make it glister in the sight of euerie gazing eye in the thriftlesse threed whereof this miscreant was intangled that to vnwinde himselfe thereout â—ée hath wrought all this mischiefe It is I that would not detect his doings to the view of the world whereby the perill which hung ouer my husbands head might haue bée â—e prâ—uented And séeing I haue beene the cause of his death shall I béeing a murderer remaine aliue Did 〈◊〉 seeing the dead carkasse of her husband Câ—iâ— cast on shore willinglie cast her selfe into the Sea â—o accompanie his death and shall I sée my sweete belouâ—d true Valentineâ—laine â—laine and not drinke of the same cup Did true 〈◊〉 goare hee gorgeous bodie with the same sword wherewith princely Pyramus had prickâ— himselfe to the heart and are not my hands strong ynough to do the like Did Iulietta die vpon the corps of her Romeo and shall my bodie remains on earth Valentine being buried No gentle death come with thy direfull dart and pierce my painefull soule and with one death rid me out of a thousand at once For what thought do I thinke on my Valentine which doth not procure me double death What thing do I see belonging to him which is not a treble torment vnto me But it is cowardlinesse to wish for death and courage valiantly to take it Yes I can and will bestow my life for my Valentines sweete sake But O God shall the varlet remaine aliue to triumph in his treacherie and vaunt in his villanie Shall I not loe his fatall day before my finall end It is his blood that will be a most sweete sacrifice to the ghost of my Valentine and then can I end my life contentedly when I haue offred vp this acceptable sacrifice And vntill such time as I haue opportunitie hereto I will prolong my wofull dâ—yes in direfull griefe and only the hope of reuenge shall heauilie hold my loathsome life and sorrowfull â—oule together For other canâ—â— why I should desire life I haue not for that I am vtterly depriued of all ioyes of life For as the bird that is bruised with some blow lieth aloft in the â—eaues and heares his fellowes sing and is not able to vtter one warbling note out of his mournefâ—â—l voice but rather hates the harmony which other birds do make so I my heart being broken sit solitary alone and see some hâ—ng about their husbands necks some closely clip them in their armes some trifle with them some talke with them all which redoabâ—â— my paine to thinke my selfe destitute of those pleasures yea to a wretched wounded heart that dwels in dole euery pleasant sight turnes to bitter anguish and the onely obiect which shall euer content my eyes shall be the destruction of that Iudas which hath brought me to this desolation Now Delfridus thinking that time had taken away her â—eares and sorrow and supposing that neither she or any other had suspected him for the murder of Valentine began to enter into she lifts of luâ—â— againe and with a new encounter of incontinencie to set vpon her But she so much abhorred him that if she had but heard his name it caused her nature to faile in her and all her senses to faint so that when he sawe no possibilitie to impell her to impictie he meant to sollicite her in the way of marriage and caused her neere kinsfolks and friends to moue his suite vnto her for he was a man well countenanced of many who laboured very earnestlie in the matter and were so importunate vpon her that no answere would satisfie them Now Fuluia seeing she could not be rid of her friends and foreseeing that by this meanes she might be fréed from her enemie agreed to take him to husband And the day of solemnizing the marriage being come they went togither to the temple of Diana where all things according to custome being consummated the Bride-wife as the vse was dranke to her husband in wine as he thought but indeed in poison which she had prouided of purpose and when she saw he had drunke vp his death she said vnto him Go now and in steed of thy marriage bed get thee a graue for thy marriage is turned to murder a punishment iust for thy outragious lost and mercilesse designement for vengeance asketh vengeance and blood blood and they that sowe slaughter shall be sure to reape rume and destruction Now Delfridus hearing these words and féeling the force of the poison to worke within him assayed all
the remedies he could to heale himselfe but all in vaine Fuluia also feeling the poison to preuaile within her fell vpon her knees before the aulter of Diana vttering these words O Goddesse thou â—â—owest how since the death of my swéete husband this life hâ—â—h béen most loathsome and sowre vnto me and that the onely offering vp of this sacrifice hath kept me from him which now in thy presence being pâ—rformed I thinke my selfe to haue satisfied my duety and purchased thereby a pasport to passe to the haâ—iâ—ation and paradice where my husband hath his dwelling Immediately vpon this so well as she could she crawled home to her house where she was no sooner but tidings were brought her that Delfridus was dead wherewith with great ioy she cast her selfe downe vpon her bedde and called her little sonne which she had by Valentine whom blessing and bussing said Alas pretie impe who shall now defend thée from thy â—oes who shall redresse thy wrongs Thy father is gone thy mother is departing and thou poore soule must abide behind to endure the brunt and bitter blastes of this wretched world Ah if the loue which I bare my husband had not bene exceeding great nature would haue caused me to haue some care of thée and for thy sake to haue suffered my selfe sometime longer to liue but now as I haue shewed my selfe a louing wife so haue I scarce shewed my selfe a naturall mother But alas it was reason I should preâ—er him before thée who was the author of thée and who blessed me with thée Well I sée now my time is come my tongue begins to â—aile come deare child and take thy last Conge of thy dying mother God shield thee from shame God preserue thee from perrill God send thee more prosperous fortune then haue had thy poore parents And thus farewell my fruite farewell my flesh farewell sweet babe And welcome my Valentine whom I see in the Skies ready to receiue me And so in sorrow and ioy she gaue vp the ghost Thus was the end of Valentineâ—atally â—atally no doubt sent thus was the end of the beggers miserably accomplished Now I would wish you blazing stars which stand vppon your chastity to take light at this lot to take héed by this harme you â—ée the husband slain the leacher poisoned the wire dead the friends comfortlesse the child parentlesse And can the preseruation of one simple womans chastitie counteruaile all these confusions had not the losse of it bene lesse then of her life But it is naturally incident to women to enter into extremities they are too louing or too loathing too courteous or too coy too willing or too wilfull too mercifull or too mercilesse too forward or â—oo froward too friendly or too fiendlie the mean they alwaies â—â—â—nderly account of otherwise she might with reason sooner then outrage haue suppressed his rage she might with some continent courtesie haue cooled his incontinent desires and better it had bene to haue drawne him on with delaies then to haue driuen him into such dispaire and to haue brought him into some errour then into such feare to haue preâ—â—pated him But howsoeuer my words run I would not you should take them altogether to tend to her dispraise for as I must condemne her crueltie so can I not but commend her constancie and thinke her worthie to be coÌ„pared to Lucrece Penelope or what woman soeuer that euer had any preheminence of praise for her vertue And I would wish my gallant youthes which delight to gaze on euery beautifull glasse and to haue an oare stirring in euery louely boate not to row past their reach not to fire their fancies vpon impossibilities not to suffer themselues to be blasted with the beames of beautie or scortched with the lightning of louing lookes such affection towards the married is euer without loue such fire is without feare such sutes are without shame such cankers if they be not at the beginning cured growe to the confusion of the whole bodie Therefore gentlewoman I leaue it to your iudgements to giue sentence whether is more worthie of reprehension he or she He had the law of loue on his side she the law of men and of marriage on her part loue led him which the Gods themselues cannot resist chastitie guided her which the Goddesses themselues haue lost he killed him whom he counted his enemie she slew him whom she knew her friend she with reason might haue preuented great mischiefs his wings were too much limed with lust to flée forth of his follie FINIS * at the Lord of hostes