auengde Not make your eyes so blinde But rather if so be there is No nay but they must die Giue leaue at my request that they Their proper strength may trie Let them make choice vpon their death And scape your handie force Whereto they all agréed in one But no man tooke remoise It irckt them that the tyrants blood Shouldst rest so long vnshed There were appointed for the noueâ— That both the Ladies led Into an tuner lodging where When they arriued were The eldest sister like a Dame Vndaunted voyde of feare From off her waste did loose the scarâ—e That girt her loynes about And bid her yonger sister doe The like with courage stout Then to a rester of the house Their girdles both were tide The knots and all were fitly made To cause the silke to slide Who so had viewde those virgins then He would haue thought that they had not intended by and by Such break neck game to play Their faces were so fresh to fight Their eyes did neuer stare Their tungs pronounst their tales as though Their hartes had felt no care Their outward gesture shewde a ioy More rather than distresse When thus I say the knots were knit To do the feate the lesse Of both the Ladies tooke the elder Sister by the hand Requesting her that shée as then So much her friend would stand As first to let her die the death And play her part before To whom the elder answered thus As neuer heretofore I haue denyde thée Sister aughte In all my life So now Euen at my death I am content Vnto thy will to bow Thou shalt haue leaue to let me liue Till thou be dead and gone But that which gréeues me most of all And giues me cause of mone Is that I liue to see thy death before my losse of life The yonger Ladie thereupon Without a farther strife Conuaid her head into the scarfe The other standing there Gaue counsell so to place the knot Just vnderneath the eare As lightly she might loose her breath And rid her selfe of paine The yonger followed her aduise An easie death to gaine A wofull thing for me to write And loathsome eke to you Deare Ladies who to passe their time Shall hap my book to view To thinke that two such virgins borne And bred in Princely blisse Should be inforst in fine to make So hard a choyce as this But as the auncient Prouerbe goes Perforce obaies no law The crabbed carters whip will cause A stately steed to drawe The yonger sister thus hereft Of life the elder came And cut the girdle of the beame To hide her sisters shame As well as shée good Ladie might Then was her part to play Who putting on that other scarfe About her necke gan say Vnto Megesten noble Dame When thou shalt see me ded For honours sake vnto thy kinde Sée thou my carkasse led In place that is for maidens méete Let not my body lie Despoyld of robes to naked shew And view of euerie eye And with her saying downe shée slipte And by her bodies pease Though light it were did stop her pipes And so shée dyde with case The Lenuoy THose realmes right happy are where princes rainge That measure out by vertue all their deedes Abhorring with their vassals blood to staine Their sacred hands and gore their kingly weedes The subiects there with willing harts obay And Peeres be safe from fall and foule decay But out alas where awfull Tyrants hold In haughtie crucil hands the royall powre And mischiefe runnes by office vncontrolde There aye the great the lesser sort deuoure By daylie proote ech one may daily see That such as rulers are such subiects be Vnlesse the law forbid the lewde to sinne Vnlesse the Prince by rigor vices quell Disorders will by sufferance soone rush in Who striues not then in mischiefe to excell By nature man vnto the worst is bent If holesome statutes stay not his entent A hangrie wight is hardly harde from food The kindled straw is seldome when put out A Cyrant that hath tasted once of blood With much adoe forbeares the fillie rout So sweete is sinne as once from vertue fall And thou art lightly lost for good and all No looking backe no bending foote about No feare of fall for mauy a mischiefes past No ill reuockt no dreed of any doubt Till God by heapes powre downe his plagues at last As by this verse is planily set to view No matter tainde but auncient storie true Who would by might haue maintained Iuzios lust That â—ewe the childe before the fathers face Whaâ— King would wincke at matter so vniust Or fauour muffian in so foule a case The fact was vile and dreadfull vengeance dewe Vnto a Prince that such disorder knewe To bolster vice in others is a blame For such as may by power suppresse the deed But crowned kings incurre the greatest shame When they themselues on Subiects flesh do feede For Lions take no pleasure in the blood Of any beast vnlesse they bee withstood And when such states so fouly doe offend Not they alone doe bide the bitter scurge But subiects are for rulers vices shend Is when the Sea doth yeeld to great a surge The lesser brookes doe swell aboue their boundes And ouerflow like floods the lower grounds Lyacon lewde that fed on strangers blood Although himselfe were he that God forgate Yet causer was that loue with sodaine blood Drownde all the world saue 〈◊〉 and her mate Thus one ill yeere may worke ten thousands woe God hates yll kings and doth detest them so As heere we see this vgly Tyrants wife And giltlesse broode that neuer did offend Raunsomde the fathers faultes by losse of life And he him selfe was brought to wretched end Wherefore let Peeres and states vprightly stand Least they and theirs be toucht by Gods owne hande For he that guydes the golden globe aloft Bekoldes from hie and markes the deedes of man And hath reuenge for euery wicked thought Though he forbeare through mercy now and than He suffereth long but sharpely payes at last If we correct not our misdoings past He spares no more the Monarke than the Page No more the Reysars than the countrie Clownes He fauours not the auncieut for their age He cuts off Kings for all their costly Crownes No royall roabes no scepter no deuice Can raunsome those that fauour fylthy vice The Argument to the ninth Hystâ—rie SYâ—â—ona lilet of Pasquine passing well And he did frie as fast with egal slame In sorte as on a time these louers fell To make a match of purpose for the same With one coâ—â—ent where time and place was set This louing couple in a garden met There 〈◊〉 to other vttered their deuise To salue the fores that fancy fixt in brest They kist they â—olâ—d thus neither part was nice To take the time of both vvas compted best Amid their glee vvas Pasquines hap to spie A bed of sage that there vvas grovving by
mishappes to flie I yéelde my brayne too barraint farre my verses all too vyle My pen too playne with metre méte to furnith Lucans style Whose déepe deuise whose filed phrase and Poets péerelesse pen Would cloye the cunningst head in court and tyre the Iustiest men But yet sith none of greater skill and ryper witte would write Of Caesar and Pompeius warres a woorke of rare delight I thought it good as well to passe the idle time away As to the worlde to set to vewe howe discorde bréedes decay To turne this princely Poets verse that simple men might sée Of Ciuill broyles and breach at home how great the mischeiues bée But sith it standes not with your wills who lady Muses are That one so dull as I should deale in case concerning warre I am content to plie vnto your pleasures out of hande It bootes me not against the will of heauenly states to stande Yet being that my present plight is stufte with all anoye And late mishaps haue me bereft my rimes of roisting ioye Syth churlish fortune clouded hath my glée with mantell blacke Of foule mischaunce wherby my barke was like to bide the wracke Good ladie giue me leaue to write some heauy sounding verse That by the vewe thereof my harmes the readers heart may perse With that the Goddesse gaue a becke and yeelded my request And vanisht streight without offence and licenste me to reste Then I to reading Boccas fell and sundrie other moe Italian Authours where I found great stoare of states in woe And sundrie sortes of wretched wights some slayne by cruell foes And other some that through desire and Loue their lyues did lose Some Tyrant thirsting after bloud themselues were fowly slayne And some did sterue in endlesse woes and pynde with bitter payne Which gaue me matter fitte to write and herevpon it grewe That I this Tragicall deuise haue sette to open viewe Accept my paynes allow me thankes if I deserue the same If not yet lette not meaning well be payde with checke and blame For I am he that buylde the bowre I hewe the hardened stone And thou art owner of the house the paine is mine alone I burne the bée I holde the hyue the Sommer toyle is myue And all bicause when winter commes the honie may be thine I frame the foyle I grane the golde I fashion vp the ring And thou the iewell shalt enioye which I to shape doe bring Adieu good Reader gaze thy fill if aught thine eyes delight For thee I tooke the woorke in hande this booke is thine of right The argument to the first Historie THrough wilful loue and liking ouermuch Nastagios state did melt and without returne Of like good will Euphymiuâ— minâ—e was â—uel She felt no flame when he gâ—od man did buâ—â—â— But made hiâ— griefe her glâ—◠〈◊〉 bitter â—marre Might nothing rize or pierce her marble harte By friendes aduise at last he parted thence Though greatly greeâ—â—ed remouing racke him sore To quit the cause of al his fond expence And purchase case which he had lost before A death no doubâ— it was to put away And yet no life with her in place to stay Beholde the happ as he ful pensiue stoode Amyd a groue adioyning to his tent Recounting former toyes athwart the wood With cruell curres an armed knight there went That had in chace a frotion fresh of hewe Whom he by force of sword and mastiues â—lewe And after death this lady liude againe Vp start away she ran before the Knight For thus the Goddes alotted had her paine Bycause she slewe by scorne that â—â—uing wight In death he was her plague whâ— me â—â—e in life Enforst to slay himselfe with mutthering knife Nastagio pondering in his restlesse thought As wel the requely as the cause of all Seing that skorne the ladies penance wrought For dealing earst so hardely with hir thrall Bethought him howe to make a my â—rour right Both of the mayde and eke the cursed knight His plat was thus he byd in friendly sort Vnto his tente to feast and banket there His auncient loue that made his payne hir sporte Whose mother came and diuers friendes I feare Amyds the feast the knight pursude the mayde And slevve hiâ— there as I before haue sayde Which sight amazde the route but most of all That virgin coye so carelesse of the man Be gonne to quake it toucht her to the gall And therevpon hir liking first began For after that she woxe hâ—s wife at last Dreading the gods reuenge for rigour past IN Italie there is a Citie hight Rauenna by report as braue a place As may be found both fresh fair to sight Wherein of yore there was a noble race Of gallant wights great choise of men of fame But one in chief Nastagio by name The father of this forward ympe did dye Forespent with yéeres and load with siluer locks VVhose laud and fee descended orderly Vnto the Sonne with store of other stocks Few fathers of this aged mans degrée In so good case did leaue their sonnes as hée This might suffice to make Nastagio rich But where wealth is there lightlie followes more For hée an vncle had who gaue as mych At time of death as father left before The wealth of thefe two rych renowmed wights Iu little space vpon Nastagio lights Not one in all Rauenna might compare With him for wealth or matcht him for his muck He liude at full not tasting any care But tooke his time and vsde his golden luck Not wanting ought that fitted for his state By meane of flowing wealth full warme he sate This youth his wanton prime without a wife Retchlesse consumde and liude in single sort Estéeming that to be the blessed life Because he found it stuft with glée and sporte As yonkers that at randon vse to range Refuse to wed because they loue to change Vntill at length his roauing eies hée kest Vpon a wench and tooke so perfect view Of Graces that did harbour in her brest As streight to liking of this maid he greâ—â— His fansie fed vpon hir featurde lookes In sort as none saue her this gallant brâ—kes Who doublesse was a neate and noble Dame Trauersar cleaped was her worthir Sire And she herselfe Euphymia cald by name As fresh of hewe as men might well desire With her I say Nastagio fell in loue Whose setled choyse no reason might remoue Her christall eyes had lurcht his yéelding heart And razde his bending hreast by often glaunce Her glittering locks so queyntly coucht by art Had brought this youth to such a louing traunce As all his care was how to compasse grace From her whom he so derely did imbrace Then as it is the trade of Cupids â—â—nghts He fell to feast where lackt no daintie fare To come be forraine cates that breede delights For no expence this courtly wight would spare Hée vsde the tilt on Ienate trapt with gold To please his Donnas eyes with courage bold For if
had And foule repulse for all his good desart Gan walke abrode and wild his groomes to part VVhereby he might the better call to thought The causelesse rigour of the cruell Dame VVhose smal regard his former spoil had wrought And turnde his torments into pleasaunt game Along he paced into a gladsome groue VVhilst in his head ten thousand fancies stroue There stalkte he on as soft as foote could tread In déepe discourse of beautie and disdaine Vntill himselfe a mile or more he lead Into the Coppyse not hauing any traine So long he staide as dinner time drew neare VVhich he forgot not minding bellye cheare Loe sée the hap that him did there betide VVithin a while he heard a dolefull noyse Of one that in the groue full shrilly cryde Who séemde to be a virgin by her voyce The sodayne feare so much amazde the man As streight to leaue his pleasant thoughers he gan Vplifted he his head and glewde aboute To sée what woofull wight it was and why She so exclamde and made such sodaine shoute And as alongst the lawnde he kest his eye A naked Nympbe well shapte in euery lym With spéedie pace he sawe come towards him Reichelesse she ran through thick thin amayn Bebrusht with bryers her broosed body bled The brambles skirmishte had with euery dayne Vntrust her haire hoong rounde about her head And euer as she ranne athwarte the wood Mercy she cryde with open mouth a good Two monstrous mastyues eke he sawe that ran Close by her side two vgly curres they were Who euer as they ouertooke het gan Her haunches wish their greedie téeth to teare To view alas it was a wofull sight Such hungrie houndes on naked flesh to light He lookte a little more ascance and vewde One riding faste as Ienats legges could goe A hydeous knight to séeming swarthie hewde And as appearde he was the maydens foe For in his hande a naked sword he had Whose face was grimme and he in blacke yelad Who gallopt on and glewde with fell regarde Pronouncing threates and termes of hye disdaine VVith cruell tooles for murther well preparde And cryde so â—onde Nastagio heard it plaine That he reuenge of her by death would take VVith other thundring words which thoe he spake Thus for an houre space or thereaboute In one selfe brake Nastagio mazed stoode Perplexed sore and greatly in a doubte Beholding howe the dogges athwarte the wood Did chace the wench and how the wrathful knight VVith gastly looke pursewde this sillie wight So long he gazde that pitie grew in fine And swelling yre incenst his manly brest Pricking him on and making him repine To see a fillie daine so sore distresse So as vnlesse he rescued her from soes She was assurde estsoone her life to lose But beoclesse t was to meane to help the mayde Not hauing we apons fit nor sworde nor launce But yet bicause the case required ayde He raught a truncheon from a Pyne by chaunce And therewithall against the armed knight And both his curres he made with all his might The horseman when be sawe Nastagio dent For her supplie whom he would reaue of life Exclamde alowde withstande not mine intent Nastagio stinte and breede no further stryse Forgoe thy force let mastiues haue their will Sith they and I this monster meane to kill He scarsly spake the worde but by and by The egrâ— curres vnto her flankes they slewe And with her bloud that ran abundantly Their monstrous mouths they hastned to imbrewe VVithall the knight dismounted from his sléede And in he ranne his hungrie dogges to feede Nastagio séeing this approcht the knight I muse quoth he how thou shouldst know my name VVho neuer earst eche ether sawe with sight But this assure thy selfe it is a shame A man at armes his honour to distaine With conquest of a mayde so fowly slaine Ablouddie facte a fimple wenche to kill VVith cruell sworde whofe force consistes in flight A beastly parte such mastiues mawes to fill With giltlesse bloud a vill aines nature right Thou dealte with her as though she were a beaste In forest bredde not tasting womens breast Assure thy selfe as much as lyeth in me I meane to garde her maugre all thy might I compte her cleare without offence to be She is vnlike to be a guilâ—ie wight I may not brooke such wrong in any wise Against my kinde and honour sore it lies Wherto the knight to this effect replyder Nastagio would thou wist and knewst it well That I to thée am verie néere allyde Both borne and bred where thou thyne do dwell My first descent I tooke of noble race Thou knowst my stocke Now listen to my case I lyued when thou wert but of tender age A mortall man and hight sir Guye by name My lucke was such as fansie made me rage And fall in liking with this stately dame Whom here thou séest my loue was nothing lesse Than that which doth thy yéelding heart possesse I likte her well I helde her verie deare But cruell she so tygrelyke requites My great good will with such a skornfull cheare As lacke or ruthe berefte me my delightes Despaire so grewe within my haplesse brest As on a time to compasse greater rest This fauchion fell in dâ—â—pe despite I drewe To stinte my woes which neuer would aslake And with the same my sefe I fowly flewe In hope thereby an ende of bale to make Which wicked déede the Gods detested so As I was iudge to hollow hell to go And there assignde by rightfull doome diuine For shortning of my life to liue in payne Where lingring griefes should make my ghost to pine For life mispent the fittest hire gayne With Plato thus it was my lot to stay Woe worth the time that I my selfe did staye But listen on within a little space This haughtie dame that hastned on my death For yéelding me such slender hire and grace Who thought it none offence to stoppe my breath Likewise did dye whome mightie Ioue and iuste For her desarte among the furies thrust To quit her shame in hell she had a share With diuelish impes that whilom wanted grace And after that she had remayned thare And plungde her limmes in frozen pittes a space She was aduaunste vp to the earth againe And I with her to bréede eche others payne Loe thus the Gods did will it for to bée Whose sentence may at no time be vndone That she in poaste as thou thy selfe doest sée All bare of roabes before these dogs should ronne And I on horsebacke after her should goe Not as a friende but like a mortall foe And looke howe ofte I reachte her on the way So oft I should dismember all her corse With selfe same sworde that did his maister slay She giuing cause though I did vse the force And butcherlike to rippe her downe the raynes Who for good will allowde me bitter paines And hauing cut her carkasse quite in twayne That I should
should gee But whē this youth had once atchiude the state He scornde the Queene al her friends forgate Puft vp with princely pride he wore the crown And lawlesse liude so neare his brothers trade As needefull was to seeke to put him downe And thereupon the Queene this practise made She hirde for coyne a noble man at armes To slay her sonne to salue her countries harmes This warlike Captaine came from Libie lande Who tooke by force this tyrant coward king And gaue him vp into his mothers hande A Noble dame that compast twice to bring Her realme to reste and rigour to subdewe Lo here the summe the processe doth ensewe VVIthin Cyrene earst there dwelling was a Dame Namde Aretafila of birthe and noble bloud she came Elator was her Syre a man of great renowme Sir Faedimus her husband hight the chiefe in all the towne For noble minde and wealth this Ladie was so well With bewtie dighte as she the reste not onely did excell For feature of her face that was full fayre to looke But eke for graue Mineruas giftes and cunning in her booke Her sacred giftes were great her wisdome was as rare As was her face for fewe with her in learning might compare What time this Ladie liude a tyrant fierce and fell Nicocrates possest the lande where did this matron dwell Who many of the men that in the Citie were Did do to fowle and shamefull death he kept them all in seare In colour of the dead who cause he did not trust The bearers with his naked sworde the bodies vsde to thrust Through coffin where they lay to make the matter sure This great outrage of his the Queine no longer coulde endure But verie much mislikte these Tyrants trickes and had Compassion of her natiue soyle and woulde béen very glad With hazard of her life to rid this monster quight For hatred which shée hare to him that murthred so the knight Whom shée full dearely loude and albeit the king Made very great account of her yet did shée minde the thing Which shée concerude before and purposde in her breast And till shee had atchieude the same could neuer liue at rest And though the Prince his power this dayly greater grewe Had bred the Subiects to dispayre their fréedome to reuewe Or euer safe to liue within their natiue land VVhere such a cruell king did holde the scepter in his hand Yet did this noble dame conceiue a greater trust To finde a time to worke her feate which eyther doe shée must And so at fréedome set her countrie men againe And venge her louing husbands death or let them all be slaine As hée good knight had béene To pricke her on the more Shée cald to minde the practise of a Theban dame before That wise Faeraea hight for doing of the which The valiant women wan renowme and was commended much VVhom shée had great desire to follow in this déede But when shée saw for lack of aide and helping hands at ueed VVhich the the Theban had shée could not doe the léeke Shée meant to doe it with a thing that was not farre to séeke Deuising by a driuke to rid the Tyrants life Who siue her busband by deceite and forst her to his wife A poyson she preparde whereby as I shall tell In present perill of her life this ventrous Ladie fell For still her purpose failde and being in the end Discouered and the matter found which shée did then pretende Dissembling could not serue to salue the sore againe For what good heart she bare the king did then appeare too plaine The Tyrants mother eke that Madame Caluia hight Not louing Aretafila a dame of great despight Full fit to bréede a babe of such a blooddie minde For children commonly are like vnto the mothers kinde Perswaded that to death this Ladie should be done As one that did pretend the spoyle and slaughter of her sonne But what the great good will to her the Prince did beare And answere bold that shée had made with vsage voyde of feare Before the mother Quéene who there in open place Accusde her of her murther ment there standing face to face Did quit her from the death But when the proofe was such And euidence so plaine appearde so that shée mought not much Excuse her of the fact but that the poysoned cup Was made by her and meant vnto the king to drinke it vp There Aretafila before the Iudges face In presence of the Prince her spouse did thus declare the case My Soueraigne Lord and Loue I cannot doe no lesse But that this cup I did procure before thée now confesse My selfe the syrrope made and meant to giue it thee But this I will protest againe not knowing it to be A venim rancke and vile but verily did thinke By cunning to deuise this cup and make a craftie drinke To cause a man to loue for knowe you this that I Am spited at of sundrie that my marriage doe enuie It gréeues a number that you beare me such good will It is a gall to some to see that I shoulde haue my fill Of treasure and attyre and be a Prince his wife And they themselues to liue vnknowne and lead a priuate life I knowe they cannot well my haphy state endure But that they will at length deuise your friendship to allure And cause you cast me off which was the cause that I Did brewe this drinke to kéepe good wil. I thought it good to trye By art to stay a friend whom I by fortune wonnes And if so be I did offend you cannot deeme it donne For malice but good will for hatred but for zeale VVhy should I then condemned be that neuer meant to deale But as a louing wife And if your pleasure be I shall bée punisht for my fault yet doeaccount of me Not as a witch that woulde bereaue you of your life But one that by enchauntment thought to make your Loue your wife And match her in good will that doth extréemely loue And who to be belovde alike dyd meane this sleight to proue VVhen thus the Matron had with manly mouth and grace Ypleaded for her selfe the Prince to whom pertaind the case VVell liking this excuse woulde not in any wise That shée who was his wife shoulde die but this he did deuise That there shée should be rackt till time shée would confesse The truth and what shée meant thereby in open place expresse When torment readie was and rack there set in place Then cankred Caluia plaide her part and laid her on a pace Vntill shée wearie woxe shée longed for her blood Which made her earnest in the case and plague the Quéene a good But Aretafila as one that forced nought Of all the paines shée had indurde discouered not her thought She nothing would confesse but kept it in her minde And hereupon deliuerde was Nicocrates could finde No due desart of death Then grew within his breast A great remorse for rigour showne
flakte his burning fire And made request withall that she Should graunt him his desire He promisde golden mountaynes then But all his sute was vayne No iote of friendship for his life The merchant mought attaine Wherefore desirous then to die Saluestra he besought That in rewarde of all his loue And all his former thought Which he had suffered for her sake She would but yelde him grace To warme himselfe within her bed Fast by her side a space Whose flesh 〈◊〉 maner frozen was With staying there so long He made her promise on his faith He would not offer wrong Vnto Saluastra at not once Let fall a worde so mutch Nor yet her naked carkasse with His manly members tutche But hauing taken there a heate And warmde himselfe in bed He would depart and déeme that he Sufficiently had sped Saluestra taking pitie then Of Gyrolamus case Vpon the promise made before Did yelde him so much grace As on her bed to stretch him selfe The youth thus being laid Besides his mistres toucht her not But with him selfe he waid The great good wil that he so long Within his brest had borne Vpon her present rigor eke He thought and shamefull scorne And being brought to déepe dispaire He purposde not to liue But die the death without delay And vp the ghost to geue And hereupon his sprices withdrew Themselues from outward parts His senses fled he stretcht him selfe And so the youth departs Fast by Saluestras sauage side To whom he sude for grace When Girolam thus dead had line Vpon her bed a space The wench did wonder very much That he was wore so chaste Whose flame of late so burning was And fancie fride so fast At length in feare her husband would Awake she gan to say Oh Gyrolamus how 〈◊〉 this When wil you packe away But hearing him no answere make She thought him sound asléepe Which made her reach her hand to wake The man that slept so déepe She felt and found him colde as yee Whereof she marueld much And therupon with greater force She gan his limmes to touch And thrust him but he stirred not With that within her head The wife conceaued and wistful wel That Girolam was dead Whereof she was the soriest wench That euer liued by breath She knew not what to doe to see So strange and sodaine death But yet at last she did deuise To féele her husbands thought In person of another not As though her selfe had wrought Or béen a party in the fact Put case good fir quoth she A yonker loued a maried wife As I my selfe mought be And comming to her chamber late In hope to winne the wife Were both begilde of all his hope And eke berefte of life By only force of franticke loue And lacke of his desire And want of pities water to Delay his scalding fire What would you doe in such a pinche How would you deale as than Whereto the husband answered that He weuld conuay the man Vnto his home without mistrust Or malice to the dame His wife that had resisted so The force of Cupides flame Which wheÌ„ she herd she answered thus Then husband doth it lye Vpon vs nowe to practise that And eake that tricke to trye And taking of his hand she put It on the coarse that laye Vpon the other side of her As colde as any kaye Wherat the wilfull wight dismayde And ierst with sodaine feare Lepte of the bed full sore amazde To féele a body there And out he ran to lightâ—â— linke Without debating more Of further matter with his wife Of what they spake before The candle light bewrayed the corse He sawe the partie playne He made no more a doe but put Him in his robes agayne And bore him on his shoulders thence And knowing verie well His lodging set him at the doore Where did his mother dwell When day was come and people sawe The carkasse of the dead Before the gate the fame thereof Throughout the citie spread Each one did wonder at the chaunce That passed by the way They knewe the partie passing well But wist not what to say Yet most of all the mother musde And vexed was in minde That hauing searchte the body coulde No wounded member finde Which made Phisitions flatly say That forowe stopte his breath With one assent they all agréede That griefe did cause his death As custome is the corse was borne Into a temple by Where merchant men of his estate And welthie wights did lie The mourning mother the ther came To waile her sonnes decease And with the matrone thousands moe Of neighbors more and lesse Were come to church to shed their teares Saluestras husband then Perceiuing that the preate was grent Of women and of men Ran home wilde his wife do on A kerchiefe on her head And throng amid the 〈◊〉 to beare What newes went of the dead And be him selfe thrustan among The men to learne what they Imaginde of the marchants death Where any one did say Or had him in suspect thereof Sâ—â—aestra hereupon Made hast to church and felt remorse Within her brest anone But all to late her pitie â—ame For she desired to vew Him being dead whom carst aliue She tooke disdatâ—e to râ—we Or recompence so much as with A kisse O wenche vnkind A maruels thing to thinke how hard It is for man to finde Or sounde the depth of louers thoughts Or knowe the force of loue For loe hir brest whom Gyrolams Good fortune might not moue Nor during life procure to ruth His death did raze hir harte His misaduentures did renewe The stroke of Cupides darte Hir auncient flame rekindled was And to such pitie grewe When as she did the carcasse dead Of Gyrolamus vewe That being but in simple wéede As meanest women were By one and one she gate before The richest matrons there Not stintyng till she came vnto The body where it lay And being there she gaue a shoute And yelded forth a bray So loude as for hir life she could And groueling with hir face On Gyrolamus carcasse fell His bodie to imbrace And bathde his limmes with brackish teares That issued from her eyes As long as life would giue her leaue Which done Saluestra dyes And looke how griefe hidden thought Had slayne her desperate friend Euen so remorse of couerte cares Her loathed life did ende Which when the mourning matrons saw Eache one in friendliest wise To comfort her in words began And willd her thence to rise As then not witting who she was But at the last when that She would not mount but lay me still Vpon the body flat They came to lift her vnber legges And rayse her from the grounde And then both that the wife was dead And who she was they founde Saluestra then she did appeare Then dubble woxe the woe Of all the wiues that mouruers were When they the dame did knowe Then gan they mourne as fast againe As ere they did before For euery sighe a
hundred sobbes For euery teare a score This brute no sâ—â—er out of Church Among the people came But out of hand per husband hearde The tidings of the same Who as I said was gone among The men to lend an eare And hearken what report there went Of them that died there Then like a louing husband that Imbrast Saluestra well From sobbing sighes to trickling teares For her misfortune fell And waild her ddath no little time And after that to some That were in place declard by night How Gyrolam did come Vnto his house through burning loue Which he Saluestra bore And tolde the tale from point to point As I haue pend before Where at the audience wofull woxe That vnderstood the case Then taking vp the carkasse of The wife that lay in place And hauing knit the shrowding shéete As common custome is They layd her body on the beare And set her side to his Thus hauing wept vpon the dead In proofe of inward paine And buried both together home The people went againe See lucke whom loue was not of force Aliue to linke in one Death found the meanes to couple close Within a marble stone Lenuoy VVHether stars doe stir good lykyng from aboue By hidden force and couert power deuyne Or câ—aunce breede câ—oyce leades vs on to loue â—nd fancy falses as fortune list assigne I cannot iudge nor perfectly defyne But this I know ouce let it ghther roote And to remoue it then is slender boote Let sicknes grow let cankers worke theyr wyl Seeke not at first their malyce to suppresse Scorne wholsome helpe doe floute at physikes sail In hope thy greefe wyl swage and vvaren lesse And thou at last shalt neuer haue redresse Diseases more admitte no cunning cure The cause by tyme is fastned on so sure When fire to once crept yn among the shaw And flame hath raught the rotten roose on hye T is hardly quencht hys fury hath no law It seldome sinkes tyl all on ground do ly The way to help is busily to ply The matter fyrst before it grow too far When steedes are stolne t ys bootles doores to darre Euen so it fares when fancy blowes the cole Of frend â—ipfâ—â—st and sâ—ts abroach good will I man may ympes with ease from loue controle Whilst feare dot force them stoupe to parents wyl But let them run their race at ryot styl And not rebukte by reason at the fyrst Along they go let parents doe their worst Too late comes salues to cure contyrmed sores When loue is linkt and choyce is chayned tast You may as soone plucke trees vp by the rootes As breake the knot or sunder promise past The tackle hangs so sure vnto the Mast When shypâ— from shore haue hopste vp all their saâ—les To bend about againe it little vailes So statelie is the stroke of Cupids bow So fell his force so huge his heauie hand No striuyng serues no shift to shun the blow No might nor meane his Godhead to withstand Who fastest runnes sinks deapest in the sands Wherefore I wish that parents giue consent And not repine when mindes to match are bent For barre the sick whom Feuer doth molest To drinke his fill gis thirst will be the more Restraine thy Ienates course thy bridle wrest The beast becouimes farre fiercer than before Where streames be stopt there riuers most doe rore Downe goe the banks and ouer flowes the flood Where swellyng waters feele themselues withstood No trauayle serues to sunder louing heartes No absence breedes in friendes forgetfull mindes The farther of that dely from other parts The botter ech his flaming fancie findes Who striues to stop doth most enrage the wynds No louer true but beares within hys brest The shape of her whom he doth fancie best As thunder showres whom weather calmes againe Gyue greater drought and helpes along the string By meanes of heate mixt with the blomiing raine So safe returne of absent friende doth bring Increase of loue and faster streames the spryng Respect of birth of state or ought beside Stops not the boat that driues wuh such a tide A folly then for parents to restraine For lucres sake their children â—th we see That both theyr care and labour is in vaine And sundrie times a thousand tiles there bee That doe ensue when they will not agree As in this tale the Florentine doth showe The great mishaps by such restraint that grow Could mothers threates or tutors taunts reucke This Marchants minde or make him alter loue Could Parris pleasure once this youth prouoke His auncient friend from fancie to remoue Yea though it were a thing for his behoue No backe he came the selfe same man he went He chaungde the ayre but not his first entent And loue to helpe him onward od his race Assisted with deuise and subtile sleight Eke Venus taught him how to come in place And shrowded him in cloudie cloke of night Whereby he might approch to his delight But all for nought The game that he pursude Was caught before and thence his haue ensude So Pyramus in Babylon of pore Faire Thisbe loued but parents disagreed They might not match but prisoned were therefore Yet loue at length this faithfull couple freed The time was set the place and all decreed When foule mishap bereft them both of life Who slue themselues with one vnluckie knife Had pitie lodge within Saluestras brest Would she haue forst so true a man to die Who chargde with loue and thousand woes distrest Did hazard life to presse in place so me Vnto a dame that with her spouse dyd lie O blooddie Beare nay rather Tygers whelp That would refuse her auncient friend to helpe O marble mynde O stayne of womans stocke Not fed with un â—e of kindly nurses pappe But hewed with toole out of some ruthles rocke And layd withyn some Lionesses lap Couldst thou alow thy frend so hard a hap As by thy syde amid his sute to see Him dâ—e the death and all for loue of thee Draw hether dames and read this bloody fact Note wei the fruite of frovvardnes in loue Peruse the plague of her that pyty lackt See how in that she pleasd the gods aboue Example take your xygoâ— to remous And you that are Cupydos knyghts taâ—e heede Bestovv no more good wil then shalde need Renounce the loue of such as are forsped Forgoe those frends vvhâ—m law forbids to lyke Courte no mans wyfe embrace no maryage bed Leaue of your luste by others harines to seeke No such good vvyl can last aboue a vveeke Looke vvhen you thynke your selues in cheefest pryce They set you by vvhylst others throvv the dyce When once regard of honor lyes asyde When credyt is respected nought at all Then shame ensues and follovves after pride From vertue then to fylthy vice they fall And to allure they vse a pleasant call And beyng once entangled in the tvvyg To make you fat they â—eede you vvith a fyg For one delyght ten
to me then Helen was to Priams sonne of Troy And constant more in loue then was Vlisses make Of whose assured life and zeale so much the Poets spake Lesse light then Lucrece eke whom Tarquins lust defilde As curteous as the Carthage Quéene that fowly was beguilde To quite all which good parts this vow I make to thée I will be thine as long as I haue power mine owne to be Another Epitaph vpon the death of Henry Sydhnam and Gyles Bampfield gent. YF teares might ought auayle to stynt my woe If sobbyng sighes breathd out from pensiue brest Could ease the gryping greefes that payn me so Or pleasure them for vvhom I am distrest Neyther vvould I stycke vvyth teares to fret my face Nor spare to speud redoubled fighes apace But sith neyther dreary drops nor sighes haue power To doe me good or stand my frends in steede Why should I seeke vvyth forovves to deuoure Those humors that my fayntyng lymmes should feede Bootelesse it vvere therfore I vvyl assay To shevv my selfe a frend some other vvay Some other vvay as by my mournyng pen To doe the vvorld to vvit vvhat vvyghts they vvere VVhose deaths I vvayle vvhat frendly forvvard men And to thys land they both dyd beare Alas I rue to name them in my verse VVhose only thought my trembling hart doth pearse But yet I must of force their names vnfolde For things concealde are seldome when bewaild Tone Sydnham was a manly wight and bolde In whom neither courage baute nor feature faylde Faythful to frends vndaunted to his foes A lambe in loue where be to fancy chose The second neere vnto my selfe allyde Gyles Bamfield hight I weepe to wryte his name A gallant ympe amyd his youthfull pryde Whose seemely shape commended natures frame Deckte of the gods in cradle where he lay With louely lymmes and parts of purest clay Themselues might boast theyr byrths for gentle bloud The houses are of countenance whence they came And vaunt I dare their vertues rare as good As was their race and fitted to the same There wanted nought to make them perfect blest Saue happy deathes which clouded all the rest When rascall Irysh hapned to rebel Who seld we see doe long continue true Vnto the Lord of Esser lotte it fell To haue the lotte those outlawes to subdue Who went away to please the Prynce and state A â—â—â—ded on of many a doughty mate Whose names although my dreary quil conceale Yet they I trust wil take it wel in worth For noble mindes employd to common weale Shall finde a stemme to blaze their prowes foorth My dolefull muse but this alone entends To wryte and wayle my frends vnhappy endes Away they would and gaue their last adew With burning hearts to slay the sauage foe Bestride their steads and to the sea they flew Where weather rose and water raged so As they alas who meane their countrey good Were forst to lose their liues in Irish flood Those eyes should haue lookt the foe in face Were then constraind to winke at euery waue Those valiant armes the â—illowes did imbrace That vowd with sword this reaims renowne to saue Those manly minds that dreaded no mishap Were soust in seas and caught in suddaine trap Proud Eole Prince controller of the winds With churlish Neptune soueraigne of the â—eâ—s Did play their parts and shewd their stubburn kinds Whom no request nor prayer might appease The Tooyan Duke bid not so great a brunt When he of yore for Laume land did hunt And yet these wights committed none offence To Iuno as sir Paris did of yore Their only trauell was for our defence Which makes me waile their sodain deaths the more But what the Gods do purpose to be done By proofe we see mans wisdom cannot shun Ye water Nimphes and you that Ladies be Of more remorse and of a milder mood Than Neptune or king Eole if you see Their balefull bodies dâ—â—uing on the floud Take vp their lims allowing them a graue Who well deserued a richer hearse to haue Whereon do stampe this small deuice in stone That passers by may read with dewed eyes When they by chance shall chance to light thereon Loe Sydhnam here and Bampfields body lies Whose willing harts to serue their prince and realme Shortned their liues amid this wrathfull streame Ante obitum supremáque funera foâ—lix Deo iubente fato cedunt mortalia A louer deceiued exclaimes against the deceiuer and hir kind HOw much a wretch is he that doth affie so well In womans words and in hir hart doth lodge his loue to dwell Beléeues hir-outward glée and tickle termes to trust And doth without regard of time apply to womans lust Sith that hir wandring will and most vnstable mind Doth daily tosse and turne about as leaues amid the wind Who lothes hir most she loues and him that sues for grace She sharply shuns and proudly scornes and ebbes and flowes apace ¶ O gods what haue I done alas at length I spie My former follies and discerne how much I marcht awry To plant assured trust in tickle womans brest That Tygerlike sance mercy liues and euer shuns the best And yet she knowes I loue and how I waste away And that my hart may haue no rest nor quiet night or day Which sith to hir is knowen and how I hold hir chiefe Why cruell and vnkind doth she not pitie of my griefe ¶ Who is so perfect wise that may such malice brooke Of womans proud disdaine or beare their braules with quiet looke Without an open shew of lothsome lurking smart That racks the ribs that beates the brest and plagues the pensiue hart O me vnhappy wight most wofull wretch of all How do I lose my libertie and yéeld my selfe a thrall In seruing hir that cleane against all law and right Consumes my life destroyes my days and robs my reason quite O loue cut off hir course and bridle such a dame As skornes thy skill and leaues thy laws and makes my griefe hir game If as I déeme thou be the soueraigne of the skies Of Elements and Nature eke that all in order ties Wreake both thy wrong sustamd and eke thy damage done To me on hir whom flatly thou perceiuest vs both to shun Conuert hir frosen hart to coles of scalding fire Where rigor raigns and enuie dwels with poisoned wrathfull ire ¶ She crueâ—l knowes my loue and how as Saint I shrine Hir beautie in my brest and how with pearcing pains I pine And how a thousand times each day I die she knowes Yet mercilesse no mercy she nor signe of sorow showes She bound me to the stake to broile amid the brands At point to die a Martyrs death all which she vnderstands Yea though she know it well yet she conceiues a ioy At all my bitter grief and glads hir selfe with mine annoy O most disloyall dame O bloudy brested wight O thou that hast consumd by care my hart and courage quite O thou for
with thy friendes reioyce Thou seest how I do sue to whom thou for suedst grace Sith I doe pitie thy distresse to hight thy dolefull case Dispatch without delay treade torments vnder foote That mirth within thy mourning minde may take the deeper root The banquet latelie made where I beheld my chéere And marckte thy moode from point to point in whome did plaine appeare A kinde and constant heart not bolstred vp with gyle Enflamde my liuer so with loue as I was forst to smyle And had by outward shewes bewraied thée my good will Saue that my mother present was who markt my countenance still I sawe when we approcht the tent amid the wood How all thy guests reioyst thée but t was I that did thée good My presence bred delight with thy blooming brest And to dissemble liking thou didst welcome all the rest I markt at table how thou shlie cast thine eie On me askance and caruedst too my mother by and by As who would say behold the meate I meant to thée I am enforst to giue it here least they my fansie sée And when I raught the wine and dranke my thyrst to quell In self same péere how thou would pledge I yet remember well I saw when after meat wée parted home againe How all thy former frolicke fit was quickly changde to paine My comming brought thee blisse my parture made thée pine My beatie for the time enflamde and heat that heart of thine I saw what wilt thou more my presence was thy life And how mine absence set thy wits at cruell warre and strife Then sith thine eyes are bent to féed vppon my face And that the want of my good will hath made thée runne this race I rew thée now at last I pitie thy distresse I yéeld that thou the castle of thy comfort now possesse I am no Lions whelpe I suckt no Tigers teat In spoyle of such as sewde for loue delight I neuer set I neuer pleasure tooke in forcing foe to death Much lesse my tender heart wil brooke to stoppe Nastagios breath Time giues assurance good of thine vnfained trust Thou bearst no treason in thy brest thou hast no lechers lust Whom sithence I haue tride in loue so perfect true To quit thy faith I am thy friend reseruing honour due If marriage loue thou meane then franke consent I giue To yeeld thée vp Dianas bowe and loue thée whilst I liue In Iunos ioyfull yoke to ioyne and draw with thee It likes me well there rests no more but that my frends agree Small sute shal serue the turne for if they doe not yéeld Then I my selfe enright thee with the conquest of the fielde My selfe do kéepe the key where lies the iewell which Is thy delight and onely ioy whom thou desirst so much But no mistrust I haue thy motions are so good Thy flocke and state so noble as thou shalt not be withstood Wherefore O makelesse men set all delayes aside Thy Ladie loues and is content to be thy bounden bride Retire thou retthlesse wight whose lingring woundeth twaine Two noble hearts shall thinke them blest when thou returne againe These wordes I wrote in bed where oft I wisht for thée Mine honour bids me pawse at that as yet it must not be Farewell with Nestors yéeres God sende thée happie daies Remember thou that louing mindes can broke no long delaies Alas for thée I die ten thousand times a day My fits be fierce my griefe is great wherefore dispatch away I wish thée Daedals wings or Perseus praunsing stéed Or els the Cart that Phaeton rulde but better farre to speed In heart I am thy wife if that content thy will Once more adeu thy lingring long thy faithfull friend will spill Thy long beloued in RAVENNA EVPHYMIA Guerra ei mio stato dira e di duol piena Vegghio penso ardo piango EFtsoone replyde the knight with friendly face With gladsome heart trembling tong for ioy Faire Nymph quoth he thy comming to this place Delights me much and quits my great annoy The thing whereto thou saist I shall aspire Is that which long Nastagio did desire Thy message likes my minde excéeding well And sith thy Ladie deales so friendly now With me her thrall forget not thou to tell That by the Gods I make a solemne vow Not to abuse her honour or defile Her noble name by any wanton wile My purpose is in good and godly sort To take her to my lawfull wedded wife And so vnto the Lady make report I sweare my selfe her husband during life Doe giue mg Loue this Amathiste from mée As pledge that I ere long with her will bee And for thy paines loe here a slender summe But better this than no reward at all I meane to friende thée more in time to come Farewell faire swéete accept my guerdon small The maid had money thanks and leaue to part Whose answere made her Ladie light of heart And thereupon withouten longer stay Vnto her friendes shée brake her whole intent As touching marriage and withall did pray With willing mindes that they would giue consent Vnfolding her effection to the man And how in heart that onely course she ran The aged parents of this willing wight Perceiuing how their daughters minde was set And knowing eke the fansie of the knight Triumpht for ioy and thought it sinne to set Such honest loue or hinder marriage bande The short is this they wedded out of hand A marriage day no sooner gone and paste There were not in Rauenna man wife If you had fitted all from first to last In greater glée that wasted all their life She shewde heâ— selfe not halfe so hard before But being matcht she loude him ten times more And not alone this one good turne befell Nastagio through this sodaine forced feare But diuers moe that there about did dwell Bepitied those that louing hearts did beare And such as for good will had rigour showen No more for foes but louers would be knowen The Lenuoy THrice happie those I deeme aboue the rest That ground good will and sixe affection so As in the end it fall out for the best Not broken off by fortune nor by foe Seedes wâ—â—ely sowen will prosper well and growe But where aduise and wholsome counsel wants Trees may not proue they perish in the plants Who makes his choice to loue in tender age And scornes the skill of such as tune hath taught And headlong runnes at riotin his rage Is like the birde in net by fowler caught Bringing himselfe and all his wealth to naught It cannot be but such as counsel scorne Must needes at length be vtterly forlorne The sicke that leathes to listen to his cure And seekes no meane his maladie to cease To die the death for lacke of helpe is sure The carelesse man is full of wretchednesse â—o raging loue brings balefull end vnlesse The patient plie and lend a bending eare Vnto his friend that willes to forbeare VVhich
seldome when in frantike youth is found In case of loue vvhere pleasure strikes the stroke They hate the plaister that should heale the vvound And like the beast runne willing to the yoke That with his straightnesse sundrie times doth choke The least aâ—oy that fraile defires bestow Is wracke of wealth if quite the carcasse goe Yea diuers times goodes life and al decayes Through foolish luste and wanton witlesse wil So many be the dristes and double waies That craftie dames doe put in prattise still As some they sotte and other some they kill They little force how raging louers rewe So they themselues in peace the pageant vewe Not much vnlike the wilie witted boy That tiles his trappe to take the subtile foxe Who clappes his handes and makes the greatest ioy When he pecceiues fale Raynard in the stockes And for his labour giues ten thousand mockes So craftie Dames contented are to lute Men on to loue but scorne them being sure Their pranking beauties pricke them on to pride Their feitured limmes bedeckt with natures die Makes them followe rigour for their guide And ouerlookes their friendes with haughtie eye Who for their loues are euen at point to die Without regarde of spoyle or of expence Deeming them selues quite cleare of all offence As in this processe plaine is set to viewe Wherein a heauie mistresse playde her parte Right well content to let Nastagio rewe And for good will to reape disdaine and smarte That loude her from the bottome of his hearte Who though were ritche and noble by descent Yet might not make her marble minde relent By lingring loue she made his monie mealte As waxe doth weare against the slaming fire Through her disdaiue outragiously he dealt Vasting his wealth to compasse fond desire A great deale more than reason did require She was the cause for had not fancie bene He would more neare vnto his profite seene But vvomens beauties bleare the clearest eyes Their feeble force makes vveake the vvisest vvittes Their limber chaines the sturdie Champion ties The grauest sage is thrall to louing fitts The rockiest brest vvith bolt Cupido hittes And vvho so thinkes to scape most cleare avvay Is soonest caught and makes the longest stay I coulde accompte Cupido for a God When I respect his puissance and his might If in his shaftes he were not found so odde But would in case of liking deale aright And force faire daines their louers to requite But commonly vvhentmen in tansie burne Then womens hartes are most vnapt to turne When man doth rage his Ladie lies at rest When he laments she liues at quiet ease She coldely loues when he doth fancie best And when she powtes yet he must seeke to please And make faire wether in the roughest seas Yea and perhaps at last when all is done As farre to seeke as when he first begonne As proues this noble man who hauing spente No slender summes in seruice of his loue And barde himselfe by racking of his rent Yet could by no desert good lyking moue In ruthlesse brest no pitties plantes might proue Till feare of harmes her late repentance wrought She could to clothe by no deuise be brought But when in fine this bloody broile she sawe And plainely vewde amid the open groue The Ladies plagues then was she pincht with awe Of like successe then little Cupide stroue Within her bulke because that she had woue The web that wrought Nastagio all his woe And thereupon she lette to be his foe Then fell she flatte to fansie out of â—ande Than sent she messege to bewray her mynde Then did she let Nastagio vnderstande How that she meant no more to be vnkinde But willing was her selfe in matche to binde Whereby vve see that sundry things are done By force of feare vvhich vvit had neuer vvonne But sure good vvill of feare that takes his grounde But badly proues a fansie forst in harte Full lightly fades and seldome vvhen is sounde With euery heate t is ready to departe It doth resemble colours made by arte The franke consent in loue t is euer best Whom meere affection breedes in yeelding brest Faire Ladies beare with what I vtter here Concerning women and their deepe disgrace I gyrde the coye I leaue the curteous cleare And this I say Who favvnes vpon the face Of any dame and reapes a scornefull grace Were she as braue as Paris Ladie vvas For louing so he proues himselfe an Asse Who serues a sot and bovves at euery becke Without the guerdon that to loue is devve And playes his game at chesse to gayne a checke Deserues the mate that doth the checke enfevve Because he scornes his mischiefe to eschevve And she that hath a perfite friend to trust Deserues a plague if she be found vnâ—ust You stately Dames that peacocklyke do pace Through pride abusing such as are your thralls Enforcing them for lacke of better grace Vnto their bane which sundrie times befalles Not finding lalue to cure their griefull galles Euphymias plagues imprinte in hee defull mynde And looke for like if you be found vnkynde Ama chitama Minor paena Tantall ne linferno Pate che chi di donna sta al gouerno The Argument to the second Hystorie NIcocrates a cruell tyrant flewe Sir Fadimus who had vnto his wife One Aretafila of gallans hewe And after hauing reft the husbaÌ„ds life Did wedde this dame who though were made a queene Might not forget the murther she had seene No loue deuise no iewels fet from farre Could so reclaime this noble Ladies minde But that she would aduenture him to marre Who slevv her knight whereat she so repinde By poisoned drinke she meant to do the deede But that was found it might not vvel succeede The tyrants mother Caluia tygreleeke Procurde her plagues and torments diuersly For that the Queene to slay her sonne did socke But vvisely she did slacke this crueltie And made him thinke her sirupe vvas to proue Where she might forte in him a greater loue Which shift allovved she more in credit grevv The king forgaue but she could not forget But once againe deuisde a drifte anovve VVhich as she thought might lightly haue no let The king a brother had a vvifull vvight Bente all to loue and he Leander hight This Ladie bare by Fedimus of yore A daughter faire vvhom she by practise sought To couple with Leander euermore Which macht at leÌ„gth with much ado was wroght Then all the mothers skil and daughters drifte Was by this youth the king froÌ„ crown to lifte By day the Queen the daughter did perswade The wife by night did play her part so well As in a while these two Leander made To vndertake to rid this tyrant fell No dew regard of bloud no care of kinde Could stay the fact this Princoxe was so blinde The king was slaine by cruell brothers hande The realme releast of such bloudie foe Leander then did gouerne all the lande The hope was great that matters wel