the head so that the blood ouerflowed his costly attire and he fell to the ground Philenia halfe madde with melancholie leapt from her palfrey to comfort her paramour and seeing the whole troope of assailants ready to charge her husband and assured that Arsadachus was the chiefe of them with such a piteous looke as Venus cast on bleeding Adonis shee behelde Minecius and wiping his wounds with one hand and touching the knees of Arsadachus with the other she spake thus Ah Cuscan prince though thy face is shadowed I knowe thee by these follies though thy raiments are changed I iudge thee by thy rashnesse what seekest thou if my fauour it is already bequeathed if reuenge how base is it against a woman if Minecius life how iniurious art thou to wrong him that loues thee as his life Ah cruell as thou art yet would thou wert not cruel thou knowest Chrises teares could moue Achilles the one proceeding from a seely maid the other pitied by a princely man thou knowest that Alexander to Campaspe Pompey to his prisouer and other great conquerours haue rather shewed compassion then victorie and wilt thou who art equall to all in power be inferier to al in vertue Ah wo is me poore Philenia that haue planted my affections there where they are watered with warme blood and heape my compassion there where working teares haue no boote I pray thee gracious prince I pray thee be gracious diuide not those by murther whome the gods haue vnited by marriage seperat not those soules by death whome the destinies haue appointed to liue In speaking these words she beheld Minecius who through the grieuousnesse of his wounds fell in a swowne wherevpon she casting off all care of life and hope of comfort closed her soft lippes to his breathing the balme of her sighes into his breathlesse bodie clapping his pale cheekes with her pretie hands moisting his closed eies with her christal teares so that they who were the very authors of her sorow gan sigh to see her ceremonies Wilt thou hence said she Minecius Oh stay for Philenia let our soules post together to Elizium that on earth here may not enioy their happinesse for nothing shall separate me from thee my loue if thou do banish sight from thine eie I will driue out blood from my heart if thy beautie grow pale as â—ying death my cheekes shall pine as seeking death if thou faint through feeblenesse of bodie I will default through waightinesse of discontent and since we may not liue together we will die together With this Minecius rowsed himselfe and Arsadachus inflamed replied Philenia there is no raunsome of thy husbands life but thy loue nor no meanes to pacifie me but my pleasure of thee speake therefore and sound the sentence of my delight or Minecius destruction which said he approched to kisse hir whom Minecius though halfe dead beganne to rescue and Philenia halfe bedlam enforced her selfe in these termes Traitor disloyall and damned leacher since neither teares nor tearmes will satisfie thee vse thy tyranny for better were it for me to be buried with honor then bedded with infamie do therefore thy worst thou hated of the gods and despised among men for no sooner shalt thou assaile my husband but thou shalt slaie me each drop of his blood shall be doubled by mine and â—s in life he should haue beene the shelter of mine honor so euen in death wil I be the shield to defend him froÌ„ the assaults of his enemies come therefore ye murtherers in growing cruel to me you wil proue pitiful first take my life that Minecius beholding my constancie may die with more comfort Thus cried she out with many teares and Minecius disswaded her But the time passing away and Arsadachus fearing delaies seeing all hope lost grew to desperate furie so that animating his followers they set on Minecius who valiantly defended himselfe It was a world to see how during the conflict Philenia bestirred her letting no blow slip without the warde of her body lying betweene the sword of the enemy for her husbands safetie crying out on the heauens til she was wellnie hoarse with crying At last Minecius lacking blood Philenia breath both of them entangled arme in arme fell downe dead leauing the memorie of their vertues to be eternized in all ages Arsadachus seeing the tragedies perfourmed not without some sighs which compassion extorted from him as strokes do fire out of hard flint he presently sent Brasidas away as it was concluded attended by those Cuscans that followed him in the enterprise and hee with Thebioâ— speedily posted to their lodging both vndiscouered and vnsuspected By this such as attended Minecius to his castle had with speedy flight entred the court of Arsinous who certified of his daughters danger aduised the emperour and presently with certaine armed souldiers posted on to the rescouse meane while Protomachus made search through al the court for such as were absent and they that were appointed to the action entring Arsadachus chamber found him in his foxe sleepe where-through the emperour being aduertised gan little suspect him in like sorâ— found they Thebion only Brasidas was missing In the meane while Arsinous hauing attained the place of the conflict found both the murthered bodies sweltered in their blouds whereupon falling from his horse in great furie he thus exclaimed on fortune Oh fortune wel art thou called the enemie of vertue since thou neither fauourest such as deserue wel nor destroyest those that performe ill for hadst thou not beene partiall my daughters chastitie had preuented her death and her murtherers crueltie had beene their owne confusion woe is me that haue lost my floure in the bud my hope in the eare and my haruest in the blossome Ah my deere Philenia deare wert thou to me that bought thee with much care and haue lost thee with more deere wert thou vnto me who hast cost me many broken sleepes to bring thee vp many carefull thoughts to bestow thee more fatherly teares to preuent thy ouerthrow and now hauing reared the fortresse of my delights the tempest of iniurious fortune hath destroyed it wo is me that am carefull to publish my paines and negligent to seeke remedy fond am I to defie fortune from whom I cannot flie ah Arsinous weepe not her that may not be recalled with teares but seeke to reuenge her shew thy selfe rather fatherly in act then effeminate in teares Which said he gouerned himselfe causing the dead bodies honorably to be couered and conueied with him to his castle where within a temple erected to chastitie hee reared a faire tombe of white marble wherein with the generall teares of the emperour and his whole court these two faithful louers were entombed and ouer their graues thus written Vertue is dead and here she is enshrined Within two lifelesse bodies late deceased Beautie is dead and here is faith assigned To weepe her wracke who when these dide first ceased Pitie was dead when tyranny
wise-mens meanings Soiling the spring from whence his science flowed In all he gaines by perfect iudgement gained A hate of life that hath so long remained From height of throne to abiect wretchednesse From woonderous skill to seruile ignorance From court to cart from rich to rechlesnesse The ioyes of life haue no continuance The king the caitife wretch the lay the learned Their crowns woes wants wits with griefe haue erned The Iudgement seate hath brawles honour is hated The souldiers life is dayly thrall to danger The marchants bag by tempests is abated His stocke still serues for prey to euery stranger The scholler with his knowledge learnes repent Thus each estate in life hath discontent And in these trades and choice estates of liuing Youth steales on manly state and it on age And age with weakned limmes and mind misgiuing With trembling tongue repenteth youthly rage And ere he full hath learnd his life to gouerne He dies and dying doth to dust returne His greatest good is to report the trouble Which he in prime of youth hath ouerpassed How for his graines of good he reapt but stubble How lost by loue by follies hew disgraced Which whilst he counts his sonne perhaps attendeth And yet his dayes in selfe like follies endeth Thus mortall life on sodaine vanisheth All like a dreame or as the shadow fleeteth When sunne his beame from substance banisheth Or like the snow at once that dries and sleeteth Or as the rainebow which by her condition Liues by the Sunnes reflect and opposition Thus life in name is but a death in beeing A burthen to the soule by earth intangled Then put thou off that vaile that lets thy seeing O wretched man with many torments mangled Since neither childe nor youth nor staid nor aged The stormes of wretched life may be asswaged And with the Egyptian midst thy delicates Present the shape of death in euery member To make thee know the name of all estates And midst thy pompe thy nying graue remember Which if thou dost thy pride shall be repressed Since none before he dies is perfect blessed Thus sumptuous was the lodging of Protomachus but far more glorious the chamber of Margarita which seemed from the first day to be fashioned to her affections for ouer the entrance of the doores was drawen and carued out of curious white marble the faire goddesse of chastitie blushing at the sodaine interception of Acteon and her naked nymphes who with the one hand couering their owne secret pleasures with blushes with the other cast a beautifull vaile ouer their mistresse daintie nakednes the two pillers of the doore were beautified with the two Cupids of Auacreon which well shaped modestie often seemed to whip lest they should growe ouer wanton no sooner was the inward beauties of the chamber discouered but the worke wrought his wonder and the wonder it selfe was equalled by the worke for al the chastâ— Ladies of the world inchased out of siluer looking through faire mirrours of chrisolites carbuncles saphires greene Emeraults fixed their eies on the picture of eternitie which fixed on the toppes of a testerne seemed with a golden trumpet to applaud to them al in the tapistrie beutified with gold and pearle were the nine Muses curiously wrought who from a thicket beheld amorous Orpheus making the trees leape through his laments and as he warbled his songs the flouds of Hebrus staied their sources and the birds that beheld their comfort began likewise to carrol It was strange to thinke and more strange to behold in what order Art matched with nature and how the lymning painter had almost exceeded nature in life sauing that the beauteous faces wanted breath to make them aliue not cunning to proue them liuely Thus was both the emperor and his daughter lodged wanting neither delights of hunting nor other princely plesures to entertain them so curious was the good olde man in pleasing his emperor and master But among al other courtly delights Margarita met not the least who in this castle found a companion to accompanie hir in life and a chaste maide to attend her in loue who beside hir education which was excellent hir virtues such as equalled excellence hir beauty so rare as exceeded both was beloued by a noble lord of Moscouy who for his singularities in poetry science in feats of arms was rather the seignior then second of al the empire The enterchange of which affections was so conformable to the fancies of the princesse that she who was ordained to be the miracle of loue learnd by them their maners the true methode of the same for when Minecius courted his Philenia Margarita conceited her Arsadachus and by perceiuing the true heart of the one supposed the perfect habite of the other If at any time cause of discourtesie grew betwixt Philenia and her friend Margarita salued it hoping by that means to sacrifice to Loue to gratifie him in her fortunes which were to succeede How often would she make Minecius deserts excellent by her praise and he his Philenia famous by his poetrie It was a world to see in them that when loue waxed warm those louers waxed wittie the one to command the other to consent if at any time Minecius wrote an amorous sonnet Margarita should see it and if at any time Margarita read a sonet she would commend it to satisfie Philenia and in that Arsinous the father through the good opinion of Protomachus the Emperour thought not amisse of the marriâ—ge betweene his daughter and the Moscouite he rather furthered then frouned on their pâ—stimes and Minecius hauing aâ—â—iued her father and intangled the daughter in fancie soughâ— all meanes possible to satisfie her delights sometimes therefore vnder a pastorall habite he would hide him in the grâ—â—es and woods where the Ladies were accustomed to walke where recording a ruthful lay as they passed by hee through his harmonie caused them beleeue that the tree tattled loue such was his method in his melancholy fancies that his coate was accordant to his conceit and his conceit the miracle of conceits among the rest these of no small regard I haue thought good in this place to register which though but few in number are worthie the noting First being on a time melancholy by reson of some mislikes of his mistris he wrote these sonets in imitation of Dolce the Italian and presented them in presence of the Princes Margarita who highly commended them ouer the top whereof he wrote this in great Roman letters PIETATI If so those flames I vent when as I sigh Amidst these lowly vallies where I lie Might finde some meanes by swift addresse to flie Vnto those Alpine toplesse mountaines high Thou shouldst behold their Icie burthens thawe And crimson flowers adorne their naked backs Sweete roâ—es should inrich their winter wracks Against the course of kind and natures lawe Buâ— you faire Ladie see the furious flame That through your will destroyes me beyond measure
and rest you of danger for sore haue I feared lest your maiestie should haue perished before you had beene aduertised Alas why in such dangers are you vnattended vpon when the foe is at the doore why is not the guard in a readinesse Ah royall Moscouite rowze thee and arise and honour the sequele of the greatest treason that euer was contriued Why what tidings bringeth Arsadachus said Protomachus Thus mighty prince said he yesternight very late when I entred Thebions chamber vnawares I found his page his master being absent laying certaine waste papers out of his pocket vpon his table perusing which as I was accustomed by reason of the neere familiarity betweene vs I found one among the rest where alas that subiects should be so seditious there was a conspiracy signed by Thebion Ctesides and others whose names I remember not to make your mightinesse away and Thebion to enioy the crowne the maner to execute their stratageme was when you least suspected this morning at which time Thebion by reason of his neere familiaritie and accesse to you should enter your chamber and murther you This paper when I had ouer-read I laide aside making semblance of no suspition resoluing this morning early to signifie the whole vnto your maiestie whose life is my libertie whose happines is my honour whose death were my vtter ruine and detriment Thebion a traitor quoth Protomachus are my fauours then so smally regarded is my curtesie rewarded with such cursednesse Well Arsadachus said he happy art thou in bewraying it and vnfortunate he and his confederates in attempting it for they all shal die This saide he presently attired himselfe laying certaine of his trustiest gentlemen in guard behinde the tapistrie of his priuy closet expecting the houre of a most cruell reuenge when as sodainely Thebion knocked at the doore and was presently admitted who had scarcely said God saue the emperour but euen in the bending of his knees hee was thrust through by Arsadachus and the other of the guard hearing the broile came and mangled him in peeces casting the residue to the Emperours lions according as hee had appointed Protomachus grudging at the sodaine death of Thebion began to chide Arsadachus for his haste saying that it was inconuenient for a subiect to be punished before hee were conuicted Conuicted said Arsadachus why doth your grace suspect his guiltinesse Beholde saide hee drawing out the poinyard which Thebion had at his back the instrumeÌ„t that should haue slaine you see saide hee taking the schedule out of his pocket the confederacie to betray you and should such a wretch liue then to iustifie No mightie Emperour my soule abhorres it the care I haue of you will not suffer it the loue I beare Margarita will not indure it The Emperour ouer-reading the writing and seeing the poinyard gaue credible beleefe and with teares of ioy imbracing Arsadachus he said thus Ah my sonne the gods haue blessed vs in sending vs such a friend who hath saued mee from imminent danger and will make me fortunate by marriage hold take thee said he my Margarita and with her enioy my empire and more take thou my loue which is so rooted in me toward thee that death may not vntwine it Arsadachus thanked the Emperour for this fauour and recomforted Margarita with sweete words being almost dead to see the stratageme passed Meane while the Emperour gaue present direction to hang all the other conspirators and put them to other tortures who presently without knowing why or licence to answere were tyrannously executed so great is the tyranny of princes which are subiect to light beliefe and led by subtil suggestions The rumour of this accident spread through the Court moued sundry imaginations in mens minds some praised Arsadachus some suspected the practise all feared for whereas iustice sleepeth being ouerborne with tyranny the most secure haue cause to feare among the rest Arsinous wept bitterly knowing in himselfe the vertue of Ctesides and remembring him of the murther of his deere Philenia hee could not cease but welme bedlam to crie out on the heauens whose tragedie we must now prosecute and leaue Arsadachus and his Margarita to their mery conceits and discourses Protomachus after that this late treason had beene discouered beganne to be more warie to keepe greater guard and to vse Arsinous and the rest of the nobilitie with lesse familiaritie who good old man hauing before time beene shrewdly hurt tooke this vnkindenesse to the heart for where greatest loue is there vnkindenesse is most grieuous for that cause almost desperate he sought out the emperour and finding opportunitie he humbling him on his knees beganne thus As Traiane dread Monarch was commended in Rome for bearing poore mens complaints so art thou condemned in Mosco for shutting thy gates against all kind of sutors so as nowadayes thou hearest by others eares workest by others hands and speakest by others mouthes where-through iustice is made a nose of waxe warmed and wrought according to all mens pleasures and the poore are left to complaine the which the gods if thou repent not wil shortly punish in thee Beleeue me good Emperour such as shut their gates against their subiects cause them not to open their hearts willingly to obey them and they that norish feare in their bosoms without cause make themselues guilty of some crime by their suspect Whâ—refore sliest thou the sight of those that loue thee shutting thy eares lest thou heare those complaints that haue already deaffed the heauens for equitie O prince looke abroad it behooueth thee doe iustice for it becommeth thee and heare olde Arsinous a haplesse father father doe I say being thus robbed of my children nay a desolate caitife and doe me right That iustice becommeth thee marke these reasons Homer desirous to exalt it could not say more but to call kings the children of the God Iupiter and not for the naturalitie they haue but for the office of iustice which they minister Plato saieth that the chiefest gift that the gods haue bestowed on man is iustice that therefore thou may seeme â—ightly descended of the gods vouchsafe me audience and to the end thou may boast thy selfe to enioy the least gift of the gods suâ—cour me Thou knowest my Philenia is â—laine but by whose hands thou knowest not thou hearest Minecius is murthered but by whom thou enquirest not thou hast rubbed the gall but not recured the wounde thou hast tempered the medicine but hast not ministred it yea thou hast refreshed the memorie of my griâ—fes very often but remedied them neuer Three moneths are past since thou hast made inquirie of my daughters death and she that I nourished vp twentie yeares and better is forgotten of all but her olde father lamented of none but Arsinous and can be reuenged by none but Protomachus O Emperour I heare their discontented griefe crying out in mine eares and appealing to thee by my tongue for iustice me thinkes bloudlesse Minecius standeth by
ceased and Philenia blushed Minecius to cut off these mute melancholies of his mistresse gaue the dagger a new haft turning ouer the leafe to a second discourse ministring Arsadachus by that meanes occasion to court Margarita and himselfe opportunitie to pacifie Philenia who by the carriage of her eie shewed the discontent of her mind In short words Arsadachus so behaued himselfe with his Mistresse that neither Tiberius for his eie neither Octauius for his affabilitie neither Alexander for his scarre nor Cicero for his mole were so much commended noted as the yong Cuscan was for his behauior Lord how demurely would he loooke when he thought most deuillishly how could he fashion himselfe to haunt there where he did most hate to smooth â—holer vnder colour of friendship so that Margarita laughed for ioy to see his grauitie Minecius admired to behold his demeanour but Philenia mistrusted his double and sinister subtilties In a word as the day succeedeth the night and the shutting vp of the euening is followed by the serenitie of the morning so time passed so long til the present day aproched wherein the marriage was to be solemnised whereon the emperor the â—ore to dignifie the nuptials countenanced the marriage with his presence Thither likewise resembled the flower of the nobilitie and Ladies among whom Margarita was not least sumptuous for on that day hir apparel was so admirable hir cariage behauior so execelent that had the wisest Cato beheld her he would haue in some parte dismissed his stoical seueritie hir golden haires curled in rich knots and enterlaced with rich bands of diamonds and rubies seemed to sâ—aine Apollos golden bush enuirond with hir wreath of chrisolites her eies like pure carbuncles seemed to smile on the roses of her cheekes which consorted with the beautie of the lillie made her beutie more excelent her eies briars like the net of Vulcan polished out of refined threeds of sine ebonie her alablaster neck was encompassed with a coller of orient perle which seemed to smile on her teeth when she opened her mouth claiming of them some consanguinitie her bodie was apparrelled in a faire loose garment of greene damaske cut vpon cloth of tissue and in euerie cut was inchased a most curious Iewell wherein al the escapes of Iupiter the wanton delights of Venus and the amorous deceits of Cupid were cunningly wrought Thus attired she attended the bride being hir selfe waited on by a troupe of beautifull dainsels that day Arsadachus though with little deuotion accompanied the Emperour being that day clothed in red cloth of golde betokening reuenge It were a vaine matter to reckon vp the order of the bridegroome the maiestie of his fauorers the maner of the lords and ladies the sumptuousnes of the feasts and triumphs the harmonie and musicke in the temples sufficeth it that by the consent of Arcinous Philenia was betrothed to Minecius who seeing the day welnigh spent the time conuenient to depart to his castell after he had with humble reuerence inuited the emperor his daughter with the other Princes the next day to his festiual which he had prepared in his owne house made all things in a readines and departed hauing receiued by the emperor and Arcinous many rich rewards Arsadachus seeing the long desired houre of his delights at hand stole out of the courte in great secret to his lodging where arming himselfe according as Thebion had giuen him instructions and attended by Brasidas and other Cuscaâ—s his trustie followers he presently posted vnto a groue thorow which the new married couple should needly passe where he priuily hid himselfe and his ambush By that time the bright and glorious light of heauen abasing himselfe by degrees reposed his sweatie steedes in the soft bosome of cleere looking Eurotas and euening the fore-messenger of the night had haled some starres to illuminate the hemisphere when as Minecius in the top of al his felicities accompanied with his faire Philenia and other folowers without either suspect of treason or other trouble entred the wood and through the secretnesse thereof hied them toward their determined abode But al the way Philenia took no comfort dreadfully suspecting the subtile dealings of Arsinous and oft she sighed and often she dropt downe lillies on the roses of her face or rather such sweete teares wherewith the blushing morne enchaseth the soft Hyacinth Minecius seeing her in these passions perswaded her vnto patience but euen as according to the opinion of Aristotle lions beares eagles griffins and al other birds and beasts whatsoeuer are then more egre and cruel when they haue yong ones so Philenia hauing now a second care annexed to her owne safetie which was for her deere husband could not cease to perplexe her selfe and to feare for him Long had they not trauelled but they discouered the ambush and the ambush assaulted them among which Arsadachus greatly disguised as he that enuied the fortunes of Minecius tooke holde on the reines of Phileniaes palfrey whilest Thebion and Brasidas with others with their naked swordes beganne to assault Minecius and his followers He that hath seene the faulâ—on seizing his keene talents in the flesh of a sillie doue and playing his sharp bill on her soft feathers might haue thought on Arsadachus who no sooner tooke holde on her but pulling the maske from her face enforced many violent kisses on her soft lips whilest she exclaiming on the name of Minecius and crying help repulsed the iniuries with her white hands which were iniuriously offred to her delicate face Minecius suspecting no more then was true and vnable to endure further violence deemed it greater honor to die in defence of his mistresse then beholde the impeach of her credit left his companions who fled and with naked sword smote Arsadachus a mightie blowe on the helme through which he staggered and lost his hold-fast then renewing his mistresse which was almost dead for feare hee boldly spake thus to Arsadachus Traitor and coward that in time of peace goest thus armed and with vniust armes assaultest naked knights if any sparke of honor raigne in thee giue me armes and weapons if thou seek my life take it from me with courage like a knight not by treason like a coward if my Loue I pray thee take these eies from their sight these handes from their sense and this tongue from his speech for whilest the one may see the other fight and the third threaten thou shalt haue no part of that wherein my felicity is reposed thus saying he remounted Philenia whilst he was thus occupied Arsadachus swelling with impatience after he had bin animated by his followers replied thus Soft amorous sir this is no meate for your mowing you best were rather to fall to your prayers then to vse prating to beseech for life then to seech loue for assure thy selfe there is no way with thee but death nor no loue for Philenia but mine This said he gaue Minecius a mightie stroake on
first slew them And heauen inioies their soules tho earth doth rew them Since beautie then and vertue are departed And faith growes faint to weep in these their fading And vertuous pitie kind and tender hearted Died to behold fierce furies fell inuading Vouch safe ye heuens that fame may haue in keeping Their happy and thrice blessed names for whome Both vertue beautie pittie died with weeping And faith is closed in this marble tombe This register of his loue did Arsinous with many teares write â—pon the toobme of his deceased sonne in law daughter who had no sooner furnished the funeralles but Phidias a page of Philenias who during the mortall debate bloudy massacre had hid himself in a thicket and ouerheard the whole discourse of Arsadachus repaired to the court who calling Arsinous aside with pitious teares discoursed vnto him the whole tragedy in such ruthfull manner as that it was hard to say whether the lad in bewraying it or the father in hearing it were more compassionate The old man certified the truth though scarce able yet smothered his griefes till oportunitie offered suffering the emperour like a wise man to follow his owne course who the next morning assembling his nobilitie forgot not Arsadachus who making semblance to haue but new inteligence of the murther of Minecius his loue repaired to the Court in mourning apparrell and being present when the matter was debated seemed to weepe bitterlie crying out on the emperour for Iustice exclaiming on the iniquitie of time the crueltie of men and tyrany of loue Protomachus was not a little pleased herewith neither was Margarita aggreeued to heare it but Arsinous boyled in choler to see it at last it was found out by a scarfe which Brasidas had let fall and was after taken vp by one of those who fled that he was at the murther whereupon his absence was sufficient to conuicâ— him and Arsadachus called forth to answere for him in that he was his attendant spake thus Noble emperor the gods that haue placed thee in thy kingdome shal beare me witnes how I grieue this accident willingly would reuenge it and since my follower to my defame hath as it is supposed bin a principall vouchsafe me noble emperour licence for a time to depart to Cusco where I will both discharge my choller purge my griefe and be so reuenged of Brasidas who as I heare is fled and by the token is guilty as all the world shall ring of the iustice and ridde me of suspition The emperour not hearing one that dared say his letters should suffice endeuouring himselfe to seeke the confederates and because by his lookes he perceiued some discontents in Arsadachus he sought al the means he could to please him and remembring himselfe that those good deeds which are done to our self beloued are esteemed as to our selfe he highly promoted Thebion thinking thereby to winne the heart of Arsadachus so that he pretermitted no consultations where Thebion was not chiefe neither bestowed benefits wherein he had no part The yong prince measuring al this according to the corrption of his nature supposed these fauors were but to sound him and that Thebion being wonne by benefits would easily consent to bewray him whereupon he conceiued a deadly hate against him and perseuered it so long till he effected it in this maner to his death For knowing that Margarita deerely loued him ayming all her fashions to his fancies hir behauiours to his humors he began anew to cloake with her shewing her â—o vndoubted signes of assured affection that she seemed in a paradise of pleasure to see his pliantnes and hauing with sweete words trained her to his lewer he attended such an occasion as that he found her alone walking in the priuie garden in her meditations for those that loue much meditate oft where nying her with a courtly salute he thus found her affection Faire Princesse if either my vnfained loue haue any force or your vertuous nature true compassion I hope both my sorrowes shal be pittied and my discontents succored Why what aggreeueth my deere Lord said Margarita and heartily she sighed in saying so is either our court vnpleasant our entertainement vnworthie our ladies vnapt to worke your delights beleeue me good prince if Mosco cannot suffice to please you Europe and the worlde shall be sought to satisfie you Kinde words good madam said Arsadachus act and silence must content me which if you will vnder the faith of a noble and famous princesse promise me I shall be heades man to pray for your happinesse and rest yours vnfained in all seruice and loyaltie Margarita hauing gotten such an oportunitie to please him both vowed and reuowed all secrecie swearing although it were with the hasard of hir life to do whatsoeuer him best liked and conceale whatso it please him to discouer so great is the simplicitie of women who are soone led where they most like Arsadachus finding the iron hot thought good to strike the fruit ripe began to gather the floure springing ceased not to water and thus began to worke her True it is madam that where loue hath supremacie all other affections attend on it so that neither the eie beholdeth neither the sent smelleth nor the eare heareth neither the tongue speaketh any thing but is to the honour of the best beloued this finde I true in my selfe who since I surrendred you the sort of my fancie finde my delights metamorphosed into yours ye so much am I tied vnto you as that danger which either attempteth or toucheth you or any of yours wholly attainteth me The proofe wherof you may perceiue in this that hauing heard through my intire acquaintance with Thebion a certaine resolued determination in him to make your father away by reason of his familiar accesse to his maiestie euerie morning I could not choose but discouer his drift vnto you sweete Princesse whose dangers must needely second your fathers subuersion Thebion said Margarita alas my lord what reason should moue him hereunto since no one is more fauoured by my father then heâ— can fauour possibly be requited with such falshood Doubt you it said Arsadachus why madam where is greater treason then there where is least mistrust vnder the cleare Christ all lurketh the mortall worme vnder the greene leafe the greedie serpent and in fairest bosomes are falcest hearts Thinke not that liberallitie hath any power in depraued minds for whereas the thoughts hant after emperie hemâ— are each supposes faith dieth truth is exiled nulla fides regni if you haue read histories you shall finde that they soonest haue supplanted their Princes who haue bin least suspected as may appeare by Giges and other cast therefore hence my deare ladie all thought of excuse and bethinke you of preuention for it is greater wisedome to see and preuent then to heare and neglect Thebion hath conspired and doth conspire resoluing with himselfe to vsurp the empire murther Protomachus banish you all
thy throne vpbraiding thee of his seruices and conuicting thee of ingratitude Philenia crieth iustice Protomachus iustice not against Brasidas who was but agent but against Arsadachus the principall that wretched Arsadachus who in her life time assaied to moue her to lust and wrought her death in that she would not consent to his lust against Arsadachus the viper nourished in your bosome to poison your owne progenie the locust dallied in Margaritaes lap to depriue her of life Ah banish such a bewitched race of the Cuscans I meane not out of your kingdome but out of life for he deserueth not to beholde the heauens that conspireth against the gods root out that bloodthirsty yongman root out that murtherer roote out that monster from the face of nature that the poore deceased ghostes may be appeased and their poore father pacified Shew thy selfe a prince now Protomachus the surgeon is knowen not in curing a greene wound but in healing a grieuous fistula the warriour is knowne not by conquering alittle village but a great monarchie and a prince is perceiued in preuenting a capitall pestilence not a priuate preiudice That I accuse not Arsadachus wrongfully behold my witnesses which saide he brought out Phileniaes page who confidently and constantly auowed all he had told his master in the presence of the emperour wherefore noble monarch haue compassion of me and by punishing this tragicke tyranny make way to thine owne eternitie Protomachus hearing this accusation was sorely moued now thinking all trueth which Arsinous had said by reason of that vertue he had approued in him in times past now deeming it false in that Arsadachus as he supposed had lately and so luckily preserued him from death For which cause calling the yong prince vnto him he vrged him with the murther before the old man and the yoong ladde his accuser who shooke off al their obiections with such constancie that it was to be wondered what saith he Protomachus am I who haue lately manifested my zeale in sauing your life made subiect to the detraction of an old doting imagination with his pratling minister I hope your Maiestie saith he measureth not my credit so barely nor wil ouerslip this iniurie so slightly since you know that when the murder was done I was in my bed when the tragedie was published I was the first that prosecuted the reuenge and more the friendship twixt Minecius and me should acquit me of this suspition But it may be that this is some set match of Thebions confederates that seeke my death which if it shall be heere countenaunced I will returne to Cusco where I dare assure my selfe against al such subtilties This said Arsadachus angerly departed for which cause Protomachus fearing his speedy flight sent Margarita to pacifie him and causing the tongue of the guiltlesse lad to be cut out and his eies to be prickt out with needles both which were guiltie as he said the one of pretended seeing the other of lewd vttering He banished the olde Duke of Uolgradia who for all his faithfull seruices had this lamentable recompence and remoued himself his court and daughter to Mosco where wee will leaue him a while Arsinous thus banished from the Court after he had furnished himselfe of necessaries conuenient for his iourney trauelled many a weary walke towards the desarts of Ruscia crying out and exclaiming on the heauens for iustice his hoarie lockes and bushy beard he carelesly suffered to grow like to those Moscoes who are in disgrace with their emperors seeming ratherâ— sauage man than a ciuile magistrate as in time past he had beene Long had hee not trauelled among many barren rockes and desolate mountaines but at last hee arriued in a sollitarie Groue encompassed with huge hilles from the toppes whereof through the continuall frosts that fell a huge riuer descended which circling about a rocke of white marble made it as it were an Island but that to the northward there was a pretie passage of twelue foote broade deckt with ranks of trees which gaue a solitary accesse to the melancholie mansion mansion I call it for in the huge rocke was there cut out a square and curious chamber with fine loopes to yeeld light hewen thereout as might be supposed by some discontented wood-god wedded to wretchednesse Here Arsinous seated himselfe resoluing to spend the residue of his dayes in studies praying to the gods continually for reuenge and to the end if happily any shoulde passe that way that his deepe sorrow might be discouered he with a punchion of steele in a table of white Alablaster engraued this ouer the entrance of his caue Domus doloris Who seekes the caue where horride care doth dwell That feedes on sighes and drinkes of bitter teares Who seekes in life to finde a liuing hell Where he that liues all liuing ioy forbeares Who seeks that griefe that griefe it selfe scarce knowes it Here let him rest this caue shall soone disclose it As is the mite vnto the sandie seas As is the drop vnto the Ocean streames As to the orbe of heauen a sillie pease As is the lampe to burning Ticius beames Euen such is thought that vainely doth indeuer To thinke the carâ— liues here or count it euer Here sorrow plague dispaire and fierce suspect Here rage here ielousie here cursed spight Here murther famine treason and neglect Haue left their stings to plagâ—â— a wâ—fâ—ll wight That liues within this tombe of discontent Yet loathes that life that nature hath him lent In this solitarie and vncouth receptacle Arsinous liued turning of his steede to shift for foode amid the forest and assending euerie day to the height of the rocke hee shed manie salte teares before the Image of Minecius and Philenia whose pictures he had brought with him from his castell and erected there and after his deuotions to the gods for reuenge and to the ghosts to manifest his grief he accustomed himself to walke in that desolate coppesse of wood where sighing he recounted the vnkindnes of his prince the wretchednes of his thoughts and life melting away in such melancholie as the trees were amased to beholde it and the rockes wept their springs to heare it as the Poet saith on a desolate and leauelesse oake he wrote this Thine age and wastfull tempests thee Mine age and wretched sorrowes me defaced Thy sap by course of time is blent My sence by care and age is spent and chased Thy leaues are fallen away to dust My yeares are thralld by time vniust Thy boughes the windes haue borne away My babes fierce murther did decay Thy rootes are firmed in the ground My rootes are rent my comforts drownd showers cherish Thy barren bosome in the field I perish Since nothing may me comfort yeelde Storms showers age weare waste daunt make thee dry Teares cares age ice waste wring and yet liue I. In these melancholies leaue we the desolate duke of Uolgradia till occasion be ministred to remember him and return we
direction to gouern these sports They do said Margarita Then sit aside quoth he and giue place to your commander whereupon all the assembly laughed and Asaphus smilingly sate downe in the highest roome placing the Ladies opposite against theie louers and himselfe seated in his soueraintie began thus Since in bankets the place is not to be giuen for the maiestie but the mirth be not displeased though I preferre my selfe my subiects since I know this that I haue crothets in my head when I haue tasted the cup and no man is more apt to talke then I when I haue trafficked with good wine and were it not so you had no cause to waxe wroth with my presumption for as the mason preferreth not the attique stones in his building for nobilitie neither the painter his precious colours in limning for their liuelines neither the shipwright his Cretan cedar in framing for the sweetenesse so in festiualles the ghests are not to be placed according to the degrees but their dispositions for their liuelynesse not their liuelyhoods for where pleasures are sought for the person is smally regarded which considered I am iustified But to our purpose since loue is the affection that leadeth vs at him we will leuill our fancies canuassing this question amongst vs whether bee so best worketh by the eie the touch or the eare for of the fiue sences I thinke these three are most forcible Nowe therefore wee will and command you our masculine subiects said Asaphus to beginne to our feminine Philosophers and since you Arsadachus are of greatest hope incipe After they had all laughed heartily at the maiesticall vtterance of Asaphus and his imperious manner the yong Cuscan saide thus The Thebians in time past who confined vpon Pontus begat such children who when they beheld their parents killed them by their lookes as it faved with them so falleth it out with me who bethinking my selfe of those thoughtes which I haue conceiued in respect of loue am confounded in thinking of them such power hath fancie where it hath hold-fast I must therefore as they quelled the one kill the other or I shall die by thoughts as they did by lookes but since to die for loue is no death but delight I will aduenture to thinke talke and discourse of him and rather perish my selfe then suffer these pastimes to be vnperformed Our question is of loue faire ladies whereat you blush when I speake and I bowe when I thinke for he giueth me words to discourse and courage to decide for as Plato saith loue is audacious in all things and forward in attempting any thing hee yeeldeth speech to the silent and courage to the bashfull hee giueth industrie to the negligent and forwardnes to the sluggard making a courtier of a clowne and lighting on a currish Minippus hee softeneth him as iron in the â—â—te and maketh him a courtly Aristippus vnder his safeconduct therefore I will talke of him and with your patience I will satisfie you that loue hath soonest entrance by the eie and greatest sustenance by the sight for sight whereas it is stirred vp by many motions with that spirit which it darteth out from it self doth likewise disperse a certaine miraculous fierie force by which meane we both doe and suffer many things and as among all the senses the eie extendeth his power furthest so is his working most forcible for as the clay petrot draweth fire so the lookes do gather affection And that the forcible working of the eie may be prooued to exceed all other the senses what reason can be greater since according to euery affection of the heart or distemperature of the minde the radiations of the eie are correspondent if the heart be enuious the lookes dart ouâ— beames of fierce enuie as may be considered by that of Entelidas in Plutarchâ— Quondam pulcher erat crinibus Entelidus Sed sese ipse videns placidis in fluminis vndie Liuore infamis perdidit inuidiae Facinus attraxit morbum formamque perdidit For it is reported that this Entelidas taking a delight in his owne liuely beauty and beholding the same in a spring grew in enuy against the same and by that meanes fell into a sickenesse whereby he lost both health and beautie Narcissus neither by taste nor the ministerie of speech nor the office of scent affected his owne forme but his sight bereft him of his senses and the eie drew fancie to the heart for this cause the poets call Ladies eies Cupids coach the beames his arrowes placing all his triumph and power in them as the â—hiefest instrument of his seigniorie and that the eie only beside the ministerie of other senses procureth loue you may perceiue by these examples following Xerxes who despising the sea and scorning the land found out new meanes to nauigate and armies to choake the earth yet fell in loue with a tree for hauing seene a plantane in Lydia of huge greatnesse he staied vnder it a hote day making him a shelter of his shadow a louer of his loues and afterwardes departing from the same he adorned it with collars of golde and iewelles as if that that tree had beene his enamoured ouer which he appointed a guardian to assist it fearing lest any should doe violence vnto the branches thereof And what I pray you moued this affection in Xerxes but the eie A noble yong man of Athens loued so much the stature of good fortune erected neere vnto the Prytaneum that he embraced it and kissed it and offered a great summe of money to the Senate to redeeme the same and not attaining his suite hee slew himselfe and what wrought this in this noble yong man but the eie for this marble image had neither sent to delight the sent speach to affect the eare nor other meanes to moue affection it was then the sole force of the eie which conducteth to the heart each impression and fixeth each fancie in the same what resteth there then but to giue the honor to the eie which as it is the best part in a woman so hath it the most force in loue Soft saide Plicotus claime not the triumph before you heare the triall for if vertue and the whole praise thereof as the philosophers say consisteth in act let the touch haue the first place and the eie the second for lookes doe but kindle the flame where the touch both maketh it burne and when it listeth quencheth the furie Such as beholde Anter are healed of the falling sickâ—nesse saieth Arsadachus and they that sleepe vnder Sinilan at such time as the plant swelleth and beareth his floure are slaine Quoth Plicotus saffron floures procure sleepe the Amethist staieth drunkennesse by which reasons you ought to ascribe as much power to the scent as to the sight But heare me you detracters from the touch the hearb Alissus taken in the hand driues sighes from the heart Yea but said Arsadachus the mad elephant beholding the raine groweth wilde Yea but the wilde
without the earnest entreaty of the empresse and his nobility sent present messengers to Mosco beseeching the emperour Protomachus presently to dispatch Arsadachus vnto him assuring him of the perilous estate of his life and the desire he had to stablish his son before his death for therfore the emperour of Mosco though loathly dismissed his pretended triumphs and gaue Arsadachus licence to depart for Cusco The vngodly yong prince seeing his purposes fall out so happily sacrificed to Nemesis cleering his browes of those cares wherewith discontent had fraught them and hauing with all expedition furnished himselfe to depart hee thought good to cast a faire foile on his false heart to colour his corrupt thoughts with comfortlesse throbbes and comming to Margarita who was almost dead to heart the tidings with a fained look and false heart he thus attempted her Madam were I not assisted with my sighes succored by my teares 〈◊〉 disburthen the torments of my heart I feare me it shoulde euen now burst it is so fraught with bitternesse Alas I must now leaue you being the bark to the tree the blossome to the stalk the sent to the flower the life to the bodie the substance to the shadow I must now leaue you being the beautiful whom I honor the chast whom I adore the goddesse of al my glorie I must now leaue you to liue in sorrow without comfort in dispaire without solace in tears without rescouse in pains without ceasing I must now leaue you as the dam her yong kid the 〈◊〉 her deare lambkin the nightingale her prettiest nestling feaâ—ing lest the cuckow hatch those chickens which I haue bred the Callax bring vp those yong fish I haue got forren eies feed on those beuties which only fasten life in me Ah Margarita so faire as none so faire more vertuous then vertue her selfe if these troubles attaint me in what temper shal I leaue you being the mirror of beauty and euen the miracle of constancie me thinkes I see those iniurious though faire hands beating those delicate brests these eies surffeting with tears these lips with blasting their roses with sighing â—â— but ah deere lady let not such follies be your familiars for as the thorne pricking the dead image in waxe pierceth the liuely substance indeede so euerie light â—lip you 〈…〉 will fell this bodie euery light teare that trickleth from these eies wil melt me to water the least sighs steaming froÌ„ these lippes will stifle me haue therefore patience sweete ladie and gouerne your passions with discretion for as the smallest kernell in time maketh the tallest tree so in time these shadowes of sorrow shall turne to the substance of delight yea in short time my returne shall make you more happy then my present departe nowe maketh you heauy With these words Arsadachus was ready to take his leaue When Margarita presaging the mischiefe that was to follow casting her armes about his necke gaue him this sorrowfull adue Since my misgiuing mind assureth me of my succeeding harme ah suffer me sweet prince to embrace that which I neuer heereafter shall beholde and looke vpon that with my weeping eies which is the cause of all my wastefull enuies Ah my soule must thou leaue me when thou wert wholy incorporate in this bodie Ah my heart must thou forsake mee to harbour in this happy bosome What then shall remaine with me to keep me in life but my sorow being the bequest of misery shal assist me in my melancholy ah deare Arsadachus since thou must leaue me remember thou leauest me without soule remember thou leauest me heartlesse yea I woulde to the gods thou mightst leaue me lifelesse for then disburthened of this body I might in soule accompanie thee vniting our partes of fire since our fleshly persons must be parted farewell deare Lord farewell euer deare Lord but I beseech thee not for euer deare Lord remember thou hast conquered and art to triumph thou hast gotten the goale and art to reape the garland thou hast taken the captiue and maiest enioy the ransome hie thee therefore oh hie thee lest heauinesse ouerbeare me returne to her that shall liue in terrour till thou returne But if some angrie faâ—es some vntowarde fortune some sinister planet detaine thee and with thee my soule heart life and loue now now oh now ye destinies end me This said she fell in a swowne and her Ladies coulde hardly recouer life in her Meane while by thâ— direction of the emperour who heard her impatience Arsadachus was called away to whom Protomachus presented many gifts swearing him in solemne manner before the whole assembly of his nobilitie to make a speedy returne to Mosco to accomplish the marriage In the meane time Margarita was reuiued who seeing her Arsadachus absent demeaned her selfe in the most pitifull manner that euer poore lamentable Ladie did at last remembring her of a rich iewell which Arsinous had giuen her which was a pretious box set with emeraulds the which at such time as he gaue it her hee charged her to keepe vntill such time as he she loued best should depart from her she sent the same for a present to Arsadachus beseeching him as he loued her neuer to open the same boxe vntill such time as he beganne in any sort to forget her for such counsell Arsinous had giuen her This present was deliuered the prince when he mounted on horse who promised carefully to keepe it and with his retinue rode on his way towards Cusco where we leaue him to returne to Margarita who no sooner heard of the departure of Arsadachus but laying apart her costly iewels her rich raiment and princely pleasures â—closed herself vp in a melancholy tower which through the huge height thereof beheld the countrey farre and neere on the top whereof each houre she diligently watched for the returne of her beloued Arsadachus Her lodging was hangd about with a cloth of black veluet embrodered about with dispaires before her bed hung the picture of her beloued to which she often discoursed her vnkindnesse conceiued offering drops of her blood daily to the deafe image such a fondling is loue when he groweth too fierie no day no night passed her wherein she spent not many houres in teares and many teares euery houre neither could the authoritie of her father the perswasions of his counsaile nor the intreatings of her attendants alter her resolution In which melancholie a while I will leaue her to discourse the damned treasons of Arsadachus who arriuing at last in Cusco after long iourneis was after many hearty welcomes conducted to his father who receiued such sodaine ioy at the sight of him that he recouered strength and cast off his sickenesse so that calling his nobilitie vnto him hee ordained a time wherein Arsadachus should be inuested in the empire publishing the same through al his prouinces In the meane time with much mirth and festiuall the yoong Prince liued in his fathers court deerely tendered by
you may command my life where you are lord of my wealth can I be so forgetfull of duetie thinke you to denie you my daughter whose worth is of too great weakenesse to entertaine such dignitie but since it pleaseth your excellence to daine it her in vertuous sort command me and her to our vtmost powers we are yours Arsadachus thinking himselfe in heauen thanked Argias for his courtesie who at last wholly discouered vnto him how secret he was to his affections shewing him his sonnet to be briefe it was so complotted that without further delay Arsadachus should bee presently wedded to Diana which was effected so that both these two married couples in the height of their pleasures passed their time in wonderfull delight in Argias castle But as nothing is hidden from the aid of Time neither is any thing so secret which shall not be reuealed the emperor Artosogon by reason of Arsadachus continuall abode at Argias house discouered at last both the cause and the contract whereupon storming like the Ocean incensed with a northeast brise he presently sent for Argias and without either hearing his excuses or regard of his intreaties presently caused him to be torne in peeces at the tailes of foure wilde horses then casting his mangled members into a litter hee sent them to Diana in a present vowing to serue her in the same sawce her father had tasted that durst so insolently aduenture to espouse with the sole heire of his empire The poore ladie almost dead to see the dead bodie of her father but more moued with her owne destruction which was to follow fell at Arsadachus feete beseeching him with brinish teares which fell in her delicate bosome to be the patrone of her fortunes Arsadachus who loued her entirely comforted her the best he might assuring her safetie in spight of his fathers tyrannie whereuppon he leuied a guard of his chiefest friends to the number of three thousand men and shutting Diana in a strong fortresse left her after many sweet embraces in their custodie and for that the time of his coronation drew neere be assembled foure thousand such as hee knew most assured he repaired to the court vowing in his mind such a reuenge on his father as all the world should wonder to heare the sequele Being arriued in court hee cloyed the gates thereof with armed men placing in euery turning of the citie sufficient rowts of guard to keepe the citizens from insurrection Then ascending the royall chamber where the Emperour his father with his nobilitie were resident hee prowdly drew him from his seate royall in which action those of the nobilitie which resisted him were slaine the rest that tremblingly behelde the tragedie heard this which ensueth Arsadachus prowdly setting him in his fathers seate was ready to speake vnto the assembly when the olde Emperour that had recouered his fall awaking his spirites long dulled with age and weakenesse beganne in this sort to vpbraide his vngracious heire Uiper villaine and worse auaunt and get thee out of my presence How darest thou lay handes on thy Lord or staine the emperiall seate with thine impure and defiled person Canst thou behold thy father without blushes whom thou hast periured by thy peruersenesse making my othes frustrate through thine odious follies ah caitife as thou arte more depraued then Caligula more bloudy indeed then Nero more licentious then Catuline would God either thou hadst beene vnborne or better taught Thou second Tarquine fostered by me to worke tragedies in Cusco thou prowd yongman thy beauty thou hast employed in riot thy forces in tyranny Oh vnkind wretch I see I see with mine eies the subuersion of this Empire and that which I haue kept fourtie yeeres thou wilt loose in lesse then thirtie moneths How can thy subiects be obedient to thee that despisest thy father How can these Nobles hope for iustice at thy hands that hast iniuriously attempted mee an olde man thy father that bred thee thy lord that cherished thee the emperour that must inherite thee What may strangers trust in thee that hast broken thy faith with Protomachus abused the loue of Margarita and all for a faire faced minion whom if I catch in my clawes I will so temper as thou shalt haue little lust to triumph O what pittie is it thou peruerse man to see how I haue bought thee of the gods with sighes how thy mother hath deliuered thee with paine how we both haue nourished thee with trauelles how we watched to sustaine thee how we laboured to releeue thee and after how thou rebellest and art so vicious that wee thy miserable parents must not die for age but for the griefe wherewith thou doest torment vs Ah woe wo is me that beholdeth thy lewdnesse and wretched art thou to follow it well did I hope that thy courage in armes thy comelinesse in person thy knowledge in letters were vertues enow to yeelde me hope and subdue thy follies but now I say and say againe I affirme and affirme againe I sweare and sweare againe that if men which are adorned with natural giâ—ts do want requisit vertues such haue a knife in their hands wherewith they do strike wound themselues a 〈◊〉 on their shoulders wherewith they burne themselues a rope on theiâ— necks to hang themselues a dagger at their 〈◊〉 stab themselues a stone to stumble at a hill to tumble downe Oh would to God that members wanted in thee in that â—ice did not abound or woulde the losse of thine eies might recompence the lewdnes of thine errours But thâ—â—lmighest to heaâ—e me lament which sheweth thy small hope of amends thou hast â—â— touch of conscience no feare of the gods â—â— awâ— of thy parents whaâ— then should I hope of thee would God thy death for that were an end of detriment if thy life I beseech the gods for mine own sake close mine eies by death lest I see thy vniust dealings In this state Arsadachus that was resolued in his villany without any reply as if scorning the old man caused his tong by a minister to be cut out then commaunded his right hand to be strooke off wherewith he had signed the writ of Argias death afterwards apparelling him in a fooles coate and fetching a vehement laughter he spake thus Cuscans wonder not it is no seueritie I shew but iustice for it is as lawfull for me to forget I am a sonne as for him to forget he is a father his tongue hath wronged me and I am reuenged on his tongue his hand hath signed to the death of my deere Argias and it hath payed the penaltie and since the old man doateth I haue apparelled him according to his propertie and impatience wishing all those that loue their liues not to crosse mee in my reuenges nor assist him in his sinister practises This saide he made all the nobilitie to sweare loyaltie vnto him and Diana laughing incessantly at the old man who continual pointed with his left hand and
lifted his eies to heauen for reuenge sometimes he imbraced the nobles inciting them by signes to reuenge but all was in vaine feare subdued their affections In the meane while the newes of these nouelties were spread thorow the citie so that many tooke armes to reuenge the old emperour who were presently and incontinently slain by the souldiers in briefe as in all conflicts the weake aâ— last went to the wall and necessitie inforced such as misdeemed of Arsadachus proceedings to allow of them in shew the day of coronation drew on against which time Lelia the Empresse little suspecting that which had fallen out arriued in Cusco who hearing of the hard measure was offered her husband by her vngratious sonne for Artosogon was shut vp all the day till meale times when Arfadachus called for him foorth to laugh at him she entred the pallace with such cries as might haue made the hardest heart melt to heare them where clasping of her armes about the necke of the olde and aged man who melted in teares to behold the melancholy of the chaste matron she cried out and complained in this manner O you iust gods can you see these wrongs without remedie are you deafe to heare or pittilesse to redresse Ah looke downe looke downe from your thrones and behold my throbbes witnes such wrongs as the sunne hath neuer seene the like the dogge is gratefull to his maister for his meate the elephant to his teacher for his knowledge the serpent to the hunts-man for his life but our vntoward sonne for releeuing him hath grieued vs for giuing him sweete milke in his youth doth feede vs with bitter aloes in our age and I for bearing him with many groanes am now betraied by him to many griefes Ah Artosogon ah my deere Artosogon it is enough griefe for thee to indure let me weep for the old man to see her shed many teares because thou sufferest that as thou decayest through tyrany I may die with teares This said sorrow stopped the passage of her speech and they both swowned bee to beholde his Lelia so forlorne she to see her Artosogon so martyred he that saw Venus lamenting Adonis Aurora bewailing Memnon Mirrha her tosst fortunes saw but the shadow of cares not the substance of complaints for this sorrowe of the princes was onely beyond compare and past beleefe wherein so long they demeaned themselues till age and sorrow after long strife surrendred to death who pittied the olde princes being despised of their lewd sonne and ended their sorrowes in ending them The rumour of whose fall was no sooner bruited in the eares of Arsadachus but that instead of solemnizing their funeralles he frequented his follies instead of lamenting for them hee laughed at them causing them for fashion sake to haue the fauour of the graue not for any fauour he bare them then calling for Diana to his court he honoured her as a goddesse causing his subiects to erect a shrine and to sacrifice vnto her and such was his superstitious and besotted blindnes that he thought it the only paradise of the world to be in her presence no one was better rewarded then he that could best praise hir sometimes would he attiring him like a second Diana readie to chace disguise himselfe like a shepheard and sitting apart solitarily where he might be in her presence he would recount such passions as gaue certaine signes in him of an excellent wit but matched with exceeding wickednes among which these tenne as the most excellent for varietie sake after his so many villanies I thought good to set downe in this place I see a new sprung sunne that shines more cleerely That warmes the earth more blithly with hir brightnes That spreads hir beams more faire shines more cheerly Then that cleere sun that glads the day with lightnes For but by outward heate the one offends me The other burnes my bones and melts their marrow The one when he sets on further blends me The other ceasles makes her eie loues arrow From that a shower a shadow of a tree A foggie mist may safely me protect But this through clouds and shades doth passe perce me In winters frosts the others force doth flee But this each season shines in each respect Ech where ech houre my hart doth plague perce me This other for the strange forme therof though it haue the second place deserues the first which howsoeuer you turne it backward or forward is good sence and hath the rimes and cadence according the curiousnes and cunning whereof the learned may iudge the first stands is the complaint the second the counsel both which he wrote in the entrance of his loue with Diana Complaint 132 Teares cares wrongs griefe feele I 1132 221 Wo frownes scornes crafts nill cease 4241 314 Yeares months daies howers do flie 3314 443 Fro mee away flieth peace 2423 1 Opprest I liue alas vnhappily 2 2 Rest is exilde scornde plagde thus am I 1 Answere 132 Mend her or change fond thought 1132 221 Minde her then end thy minde 4241 314 Ende thee will sorrowe sought 3314 443 Kinde if thou art too blinde 2423 1 Such loue flie farre lest thou perceiue and proue 2 2 Much sorow grief care sighing breeds such loue 1 The third though shore for the method is verie sweete and is written in imitation of Dolce the Italian beginning thus Io veggio c. I see with my hearts bleeding Thus hourely throgh my pain my life desires I feele the Hames exceeding That burne my heart by vndeserued fires But whence these fires haue breeding I cannot finde though great are my desires O miracle eterne That thus I burne in fire and yet my fire cannot disceern The fourth being written vpon a more wanton subiect is farre more poeticall and hath in it his decoram as well as the rest When as my pale to her pure lips vnited Like new fallne snow vpon the morning rose Sucke out those sweets wherin my soule delited Good lord how soon dispersed were my woes And from those gates whence comes that balmy breath That makes the sunne to smile when he ariseth I drew a life subdewing neering death I suckt a sweete that euerie sweete compriseth There tooke my soule his hand-fast to desire There chose my heart his paradise on earth There is the heauen whereto my hopes retire There pleasure bred and thence was Cupids birth Such is their power that by a touch they seuer The heart from paines that liu'd in sorrowes euer An other time at such time as in the entrance of loue he despaired of al succour hee desperately wrote this and that verie prettely Euen at the brinke of sorrowes ceasles streames All well me drownd through dalliance and disdaine Hoping to winne the truce in my extreames To perce that marble heart where pride remaines I send salt teares sad sighes and ruthful lines Firme vowes and with these true men my desire Which in his lasting sufferance scarce
repines To burne in ceaslesse AEtna of her ire All which and yet of all the least might serue If too too weake to waken true regarde Vouchsafe O heauen that see how I deserue Since you are neuer partiall in rewarde That ere I die she may with like successe Weepe sigh write vow and die without redresse This other in the selfe like passion but with more gouernment he wrote which for that cause I place here consequentlie Heape frowne on frowne disdaine vpon disdaine Ioyne care to care and leaue no wrong vnwrought Suppose the worst and smile at euerie paine Thinke my pale lookes of enuie not of thought In errors maske let reasons eie be masked Send out contempts to sommon death to slay me To all these tyrant woes tho I be tasked My faith shall flourish tho these paines decay me And tho repyning loue to cinders burne me I wil be fam'de for sufferance to the last Since that in life no tedious paines could turne me And care my flesh but not my faith could wast Tho after death for all this lifes distresse My soule your endles honours shall confesse Another melancholy of his for the strangenesse thereof deserueth to be registred and the rather in that it is in immitation of that excellent Poet of Italie Lodouico Pascale in his sonnet beginning Tutte le stelle hauean de'l ciel l impero Those glorious lampes that heauen illuminate And most incline to retrograde aspects Vpon my birth-day shonde the worst effects Thralling my life to most sinister fate Where-through my selfe estrangde from truth a while Twixt pains and plagues midst torments and distresse Supposde to finde for all my ruth redresse But now beliefe nor hope shal me beguile So that my heart from ioyes exiled quite Ile pine in griefe through fierce disdaines accurst Scornde by the world aliue to nought but spite Hold I my tongue t'is bad and speake I wurst Both helpe me noughts and if perhaps I write T'is not in hope but lest the heart should burst Another in immitation of Martelli hauing the right nature of an Italian melancholie I haue set down in this place O shadie vales O faire inriched meades O sacred woodes sweete fields and rising mountaines O painted flowers greene herbes where Flora treads Refresht by wanton windes and watrie fountaines O all you winged queristers of woode That piercht aloft your former paines report And strait againe recount with pleasant moode Your present ioyes in sweete and seemely sort O all you creatures whosoeuer thriue On mother earth in seas by aire or fire More blest are you then I here vnder sunne Loue dies in me when as he doth reuiue In you I perish vnder beauties ire Where after stormes windes frosts your life is wonne All other of his hauing allusion to the name of Diana and the nature of the Moone I leaue in that few men are able to second the sweete conceits of Philip du Portes wose Poeticall writings being alreadie for the most part englished and ordinarilie in euerie mans hands Arsadachus listed not to imitate onely these two others which follow being his own inuentioÌ„ came to my hand which I offer to your iudgement Ladies for that afterward I meane to prosecute the historie Twixt reuerence and desire how am I vexed Now prone to lay ambitious handes on beautie Now hauing feare to my desires annexed Now haled on by hope now staid by dutie Emboldned thus and ouerrulde in striuing To gaine the soueraine good my heart desireth I liue a life but in effect no liuing Since dread subdues desire that most aspireth Tho must I bide the combate of extreames Faine to enioy yet fearing to offend Like him that striues against resisting streames In hope to gaine the harbor in the end Which hauen hir grace which happy grace enioyed Both reuerence and desire are well employed The conclusion of all his poetrie I shut vp with this his Hiperbolical praise shewing the right shape of his dissembling nature Not so much borrowed beautie hath the starres Not so much bright the mightie eie of day Not so much cleare hath Cinthia where she warres With deathes neere neece in her blacke array Not so true essence haue the sacred soules That from their naturall mansions are deuided Not so pure red hath Bacchus in his boules As hath that face whereby my soule is guided Not so could art or nature if they sought In curious workes themselues for to exceede Or second that which they at first had wrought Nor so could time or all the gods proceede As to enlarge mould thinke or match that frame As I do honour vnder Dians name Now leaue we him in his dalliance making all things in a readinesse for his coronation and returne we to the constant Margarita who liuing in her solitarie seate minding nothing but melancholies triumphing in nothing but hir teares finding at length the prefixed time of Arsadachus returne almost expired and her impatience so great as shee could no longer endure his absence in a desperate furie setting light by her life she resolued priuily to flie from her fathers court to finde out Arsadachus in his owne countrey For which cause she brake with a faithfull follower of hers called Fawnia by whose assistance without the knowledge of any other in the disguise of a country maid she gate out of the citie attended onely by this trustie follower about the shutting in of the euening at such time as her traine without suspect intended their other affaires and by reason of her melancholie little suspected her departure out of doores and so long shee trauelled desire guiding her steps and sorrow seating her selfe in her heart that she gat into an vnpeopled and huge forrest where meeting with a poore shepheard shee learned sure tidings of her way to Cusco keeping in the most vntrodden and vnfrequented wayes for feare of pursute weeping as she walked incessantly so that neither Fawniaes words nor the hope she had to reuisit her beloued could rid her of ruthfulnesse three dayes shee so walked â—eeding her thoughts on her owne wretchednesse till on the fourth about the breake of the day when Phoebus had newly chased the morne crowned with roses from the desired bed of her beloued paramor she sate her downe by a faire fountaine washing her blubbered face in the cleare spring and cooling her thirst in the cristal waters thereof here had she not long rested hir selfe talking with hir Fawnia in what manner she would vpbraide Arsadachus in Cusco of his vnkind absence when as sodainlie a huge lion which was accustomed to refresh himselfe at that spring brake out of the thicket behinde their backes Fawnia that first spied him was soone supprised then she cried and rent in peeces in that she had tasted too much of fleshly loue before she feared Margarita that saw the massacre sate still attending hir owne tragedie for nothing was more welcome to hir then death hauing lost her friend nor nothing more expected but