thy misfortune no sure I thinks thou art not so fond she is not thy frend whome thou mayest hope to get but thine enimy whome thou art not sure to gaine nor neuer thinke she will requit thy merit with â—eed or repay thy loue with liking ono she hateth thee Dorestus as a vowed enimy to her fathyr thy comming hether is to parte of peace take then a truce with thine owne affections and ende those warres which fancie hath begun in thy selfe but alas beauty hath runge the larum and loue is the chieftaine and leader of the band whoe hath alreadye subdued my sences and taken prisoners all my affections and although wit would gladly fight it out yet will who shoulde take in hand the charge hath surrendered himselfe and is already yéelded and reason not able to abide the assault is likewise driuen to fly the field Alas Dorestus what victory canst thou hope for more then to plead for pittie and to seeke mercy at her handes that may yet haue compassion and saue thy life Dorestus without any further speeches determined resolutly to trie his fortune and watching his best oportunity to bewray his liking to Leonida hee found out her haunt where shee priuately walked euery day in the after none in a pleasant gardin fast adioyning to her owne lodgnig whether hee secretly conueied himselfe and being shrouded amongst the pleasaunte laurelles Leonida accordinge to her custome pacing vp the allie softely by her selfe was incountered by Dorestus humbly saluted her Leonida something amased with this sudaine approch knowing him to bee a stranger demaunded howe he came thither Dorestus answered by chaunce he happened into the place hauing lost his way so doe many quoth Leonida that seeke vnknowne waies and likewise followe their owne wayes but what hath brought you hither or who hath bin your guide my desire aunswered Dorestus to sée and withall to be satisfied no worse guide vnder the sunne said Leonida haue you not séene desire pictured both blind and flyeng aswell to shewe his erroure as his hast besides vnbridled to shewe his rashnes and howe hardly he can be staied Dorestus finding himselfe thus pritiely niped was in a quandare howe hee might prosecute his vndertaken attempt yet in the end he gaue the onset in this manner the choice is hard lady Leonida where partie is compelled either by silence to dye with griefe or by vnfoulding his mind to liue with shame yet so sweete is the desire of life and so soure the passions of loue that I am inforced to preferre an vnseemely sute before an vntimely death loath I am to speake and in dispaire I am to speed in the one shewing my selfe a coward in the other weieng myne owne case for considering what loue is I faint and thinking howe I am counted a foe I feare and so it is that intending to be a victor I am become a vassall comming to conquere I am vanquished seeking to haue brought others into thrall I haue lost mine owne liberty I came to your fathers court a captaine but am like to returne a captiue my charge was to parle of peace but my chance is to discourse of passion your beauty madame ah your heauenly beauty hath brought me into this bondage your exquisit perfection hath snared my fréedome your curtesie onely may frée me from care or your crueltie crosse me with endlesse calamitie Leonida that had all this while listened to his tale was so inflamed with a melancholy kind of heate as shee was not of a long time able to vtter a word yet at the last as it were in a furie she deliuered this aunswere Why Dorestus quoth she art thou become frantique or deemest thou me to be out of my wits if thy spéeches bein iest they are to broad weieng the case if in earnest they are to bad considering the partie to dally with Venus that art vowed to Mars argueth theée to be either a coward or a counterfeit to make shewe of loue that arriued heere in hate sheweth thée to be infected with frensie or folly but it is a blind goose that loues to heare the fox preach and shee a louing foole that stoupes to her enimies lure and therefore if I should loue what must it be Dorestus my fathers foe the bloudy wretch that seekes his life the cursed enimie to my cuntry no no he cannot fauour the stemme that would cut downe the old stocke he little respecteth the twig that tendereth not the roote he lightly loueth the child that deadly hateth the father I may not therefore so far forget mine honour mine honesty my parentes and my cuntrie as to loue nay not deadly to hate him which is a foe to the least of these cease then to seeke for loue where thou shalt finde nothing but hate and assure thy selfe if thou didst loue as faithfully as thou dost flatter falsely yet would I neuer belieue thée requite thée or any wayes pittie thée Alas madame aunswered Dorestus way my case with equity if you hate me as I am a foe to Miletto yet fauour me as I am a frend to Leonida if you loath me as an enimy to your cuntry yet pitty me as I am a captiue to your beautie Tarpeia fauoured Titus though a foe in Rome Scilla respected Minos yet he beseaged Nisus Tereus the prince of Thrace beeing sent by his father to defye Pandyon the king of Athens was inamoured of his daughter Progne whereby in steede of fatall enmitie there insued frendly amity O what greater signe of affection then where in liewe of hate there insueth loue it is to bee immagined either a thing confirmed by the fates or appointed by the gods then where I haue done amise I will not faile to make amendes if I haue committed a fault I am ready to render recompence and as I haue bin your fathers foe no we will I be his faithfull frend if I haue sought his di squiet I will procure his rest yea I will goe against the haire in all thinges so I may please Leonida in any thing Leonida bréefely replied Dorestus your sudaine liking bewrayes the lightnes of your loue and this your fond affection importes the ficklenes of your fancy may hee bee counted a priuie frend that shewes himselfe an open foe for your examples they be necessary caueates for ladies to be warned by for if Progne loued her fathers foe how wretchedly did Tereus requit her loyalty for the other two their gaines were perpetuall shame and endlesse discredit for the one was slaine by the Sabines the other likewise reiected by Minos and therefore sir to conclude you cannot more displease me then in seeking to please me and as for my father be his frend or his foe it is in your own choice but for me if I knowe no other cause to hate thée this shall suffice I wil neuer loue thée without any more spéeches away she flung in a great chafe leauing Dorestus alone by himself who
forraine enemies and such moodlesse rigour to his natiue subiectes that it was doubtfull whether hee were more feared of his foes for his cruelty or hated of his friendes for his tyrannie yet as the worst weed springeth vppe more brauelie then the holsomest hearbe and as the crookedst tree is commonly loaden with most fruite so this rigorous king was fostered vp with great fortune his estate established with no lesse worldly honour indued hee was with woonderfull wealth and fortunate againe with the like prosperity but most happiest of all in a sonne and a daughter the sonne called by the name of Antipholus a most gallant young Prince loued for his curtesie reuerenced for his vertue and honoured for both and the heire apparant to the Crowne of Illeria The daughter called by name Moderna in demeanure decent in countenance so sweet in face so amiable in body so comely in all her parts so proportionable that nature might not possibly affoord more beautie in any creature nor art supply any defect in nature Besides all these exquisite perfections she was the inheritrix to the kingdome of Dalmatia by the right of her mother called Persida the onely daughter and heire to Vrbanus the late king of Dalmatia who before his death gaue his laid daughter Persida vnto Astulpho for a second wife assuring for her dowry after his decease the kingdome of Dalmatia to Astulpho during his life and so to the heires of his body begotten of his daughter Persida of whome Astulpho had no other issue but onely Moderna at whose birth Persida died in childe-bed so leauing the inheritaunce of the kingdome to Moderna who although she were but the halfe sister to Antipholus yet nature in respect of the Symphatie of their mindes seemed to haue planted but one and the selfe same heart they so intirelie loued the one of them the other These two Princes beeing thus come vnto the Illerian Courte were verie well welcomed by the King Astulpho but most kindlie entertained by the Prince Antipholus and although the honourable exploites of these two gallant Princes was reported in the court of Illeria longe after their personall ariuall which won the hearers to loue them before euer they saw them yet now such heroycall greatnes shewed in their eies such extraordinary maiesty in all their actions but especially the goodly presence of Brusanus in whome such true valiaunce shined bred a delight full admiration to all beholders and now insinuating themselues into the socrety of the gallant courtiers they proued to bee in sport so pleasaunt in talke so witty in manners so modest in conceytes so cunning in parle so pithy and in all their conuersation so comely that they were generally liked of all and for a time there was no other talke in the court but in the commendation of the two Princes But Brusanus besides the beautie of his body had such a naturall dexterity in all thinges as in feates of armes who more hardy in any excercise of the body who more actiue in communication or any discourse who more pleasant and in all manner of companies who better esteemed so that there was no person time or place wherevnto hee aptly applied not himselfe insomuch that the familiaryty betwéene himselfe and Antipholus did more and more exceed and it fortuned that Moderna casting a glaunce vppon the beautie of Brusanus felt a certaine alteration in her affections and as it were a sudaine assault within her selfe but hauing small practise in the prankes of loue shee could not coniecture the secret cause of these her sudaine passyons thinking it to be but some toy lightly taken and would be againe as sudainly left and vppon this she still rested her selfe conceiuing yet a good likeing towardes Brusanus Dorestus on the other side hauing espied Moderna accompanied with other Ladies walking in the fieldes to take the aire contemplating himselfe in the perfection of her beautie hee was taken prisoner before hee had leisure to arme himselfe but loe how occasion offered it selfe to a further mischiefe Brusanus and Dorestus were inuited amongst many other to a banquet prepared by Moderna there was likewise her brother the Prince Antipholus with many other Lordes and Ladies of the court The second Chapter The perplexity of Dorestus for the loue of Moderna the like of Moderna for the loue of Brusanus DVring the time of this banquet Dorestus being placed right ouer against Moderna and taking a better views of this perfect blossome of beauty this matchlesse parragon for personage perfited by nature and polished by nurture he was so fettered in the snare of fancy his fancy so intangled in the trap of affecting that his onely blesse pleasure ioy and delight was in contemplating his eies on the heauenly face of this Goddesse but alas her beauty bred his bane her lookes his losse her sight his sorrowe her exquisit perfections his extreame passions Brusanus in this meane time now and then enterlarding the dishes with pleasant discourse was throughlye surueyd by Moderna whoe marking his manners and musing at his modestye notinge his excellent courtesye and wondering at his exquisit beautie was so inflamed with frendly affection towardes this yonge Prince that where before she esteemed her likeing to be but the frutes of her gentle nature she now gaue free scoape to those sweete thoughts which by this had taken the ful possession of her harte The banquete once ended and euery one departed Moderna shutting her selfe into her Chamber discoursed thus alasse poore Moderna how art thou bewitched where is thy wonted vertue hast thou prepared a banquet to intrap thy selfe with a more delicate dish then any thou didst prouide hast thou laid a bait and thy selfe poysoned with the bane hast thou bid him welcome that hath caught thee captiue Blush Moderna at thy Fortune thy thoughts thy choice thy loue cannot be vttered without shame nor thy affections without discredite But ah Brusanus ah swéete Brusanus thy beauty Brusanus but peace Moderna blab not out that which thou maiest bee ashamed to reueale vnto thy selfe but thou doost loue Moderna yea and whome a straunger Prince stragled out of his owne Countrey beautifull enough but yet perhaps not staied in minde and therefore not fit for thée to fancie Cease then Moderna to looke at Brusanus much lesse to loue him be not ouer-taken with these dissembling men whose eies are framed by art to allure Die thē Moderna Moderna die better were it for thée to perish with high desires then to liue in base thoughts thus throwing her selfe vpon her bed drawing the Curtaines shee turned too and fro as if shee would haue hidden her selfe from her owne thoughts Dorestus againe who was departed from the banquet with a new field of fancies traueiling in his mind went directly to his chamber and making fast the dore began in this sort to discourse Ah Dorestus art thou alone O no not alone when thou art accompanied with so many vnacquainted
The Aduentures of BRVSANVS Prince of Hungaria Pleasant for all to read and profitable for some to follow Written by Barnaby Riche seauen or eight yeares sithence and now published by the great intreaty of diuers of his freendes FAMA FIDES 〈…〉 OCCVLVS Imprinted at London for Thomas Adames 1592. To the woorshipfull and vertuous yoong Gentlevvoman mistrisse Iayes Aston daughter to the right woorshipfull Sir Edward Aston knight MY very good cosyn if I should follow the fancies of some writters who are accustomed in their dedycations to glorifie the parties whome they haue chosen to be patrons of their workes with manye strained wordes and far sought for phrases then in seeking to praise your beauty I shoulde borrow colours for your cheekes from lillyes and red roses for your lippes cheryes pearles for your teeth to figure foorth your chastyty witt and many other graces I must seeke out Diana Pallas the Muses and diuers other helpes both deuine and pretious and thus whilst I might be curious in blasing the perfections of your body I should vtterly forget the beauty of your soule Let this then suffice your beauty is not borrowed and therefore without blemish your body comly neither bumbast nor bolstered and therefore not holpen by arte for the giftes and qualities of your mind as they are many so they are such as may wel bee said to bee both vertuous and godly and nowe affyenge my selfe in your courtious acceptaunce I haue made bould to present you with this historye The aduentures of Brusanus reade it at your leasure and what you mislike leaue it and blame me or blame it chide me and you shall see that your gentle rebuke shall be of importaunce either to make me recante and so to aske mercie or otherwise to satisfye for my misse as it shall please you to inioyne me I haue sought to shun vndecent tearmes vnfytting for your modestie and nowe commending alltogether to be censured by your curtesye I can but wish you that happines that your owne vertue doth worthely merite Your louing Cosyn who wisheth you all happines Barnaby Rich The aduentures of Brusanus Prince of Hungaria pleasant for all to read and profitable for some to follow written by Barnaby Riche seuen or eight yeares sithens and now published by the great intreaty of diuers of his friends The first Chapter Myletto King of Hungaria had a sonne and a daughter the sonne called Brusanus the daughter Leonida AT that time when the most renowned Liberius gouerned the empire of Constantinople holding the parts of Cayre Soria Calypha and all Grecia in the most christian catholicke faith at that very instant ther raigned likewise in Hungaria y e noble king Myletto a prince of such iustice as he neuer thought him selfe priuiledged in being a prince nor did measure greatnes by any thing but by goodnes This prince was so fauoured and fostered vp by fortune his estate so established with honour so beautified with wealth so deckt with the diademe of dignitie and so indued with fortunate prosperity that he â—â—med to want nothing which either fortune or the fates might aforde him so that he was honoured with the sacred titles of good iust merciful with many other like vertuous additions But as the vices of children are swords which passe through y e harts of their parents so the happines of Myletto was greatly surcharged with this heauines for hauing to wife a lady called Paulina by byrth royall by nature faire by education learned by vertue mous by this lady Myletto in the prime of his yeares had two children the one a sonne called Brusanus the other a daughter named Leonida so perfect in complextion so pure in constitution so adorned with outward beuty and so indued with inward bounty as her very countenaunce was full of bashfulnesse loue and reuerence Brusanus on the other side was so contrarie to his sister though not in state of body yet in the stay of his minde as it made al men maruell how two so contrary stems could spring of a selfe same stocke yet his parsonage was most comelie euery lineament gallantly proportioned his face and countenance sweet and amiable with an intising louelines to as many as did behold it But in the quality of his minde hee was so spotted with voluptuousnesse so nusled in wantonnes so giuen ouer to licentiousnesse so linked to wilfulnesse and so caried away with all kind of wickednesse that neither the feare of god the displeasure of his parents the sundry admonitions of his carefull and louing friendes nor the regard of his owne honor could make him desiste or driue him from this detestable kind of life the day he consumed in such ryot excesse dronkenesse dicing gaming swearing swashing as whole millions of gold were insufficient to maintaine the expences of so witles prodigality the night he spent in masking muÌ„ming dauncing banqueting and hooring do you thinke then there wanted ruffians roysters flaterers brokers bawdes and such other like to follow him O no be sure there wil be to many counterfaites to imitate the naturall vice of princes but the good king his father hauing many times wasted his wind in fruitles exhortations to his sonne being still gauled with this continuall griefe fearing that after his death his sonnes lascyuious life would be the ouerthrow of his house the consumer of the kingdome the wracke of the common weale and the very man that should bring the state to mischeife and miserie determined eyther to cut of the course of his liuing or of his life thinking it better to want a sonne then neuer to want sorrow hauing soe gratious a daughter to whome he might leaue the inheritance of his crowne in whose issue the kingdome might bee made more happye but firste determined to seeke all other possible meanes He caused his sonne to be sent for to whom he said as foloweth The second Chapter The fatherlie exhortation of Myletto to Brusanus CAlling to mind Brusanus first the royall race froÌ„ whence thou art descended the vertuous education wherein thou hast beene nurtered the sundry holsome preceptes where with thou hast beene instructed with the lewed and shamles demeanure wherein thou art daily nusled as I can but lament thy misfortune so I must more wonder at thy follye and yet the more I thinke the more cause I haue of thinking the lesse hope of thy amendment Haue thy friendes hoped so long for a plentiful haruest now shalbe constrained to gather weedes hast thou from thy youth béene trained vp in learning and after thou hast giuen a good soape to the payle thou shouldest kicke it downe curstly with thy heels O how much better had it beene for thee neuer to haue rypened then so soone to haue rotted thou seest Brusanus my white heaires are blossomes for the graue and thy fresh coulour fruit for time and fortune so that it behoueth me to think how to dy for thée to care how to liue my
brought from the country so now they be helplesse by that I hear from the court when we be depriued as I perceiue from our good king the only anker-holde of al my hope that should haue ministred right to my infinite wronges And are your wronges such aunswered Corynus that they are not other wise to be remedied then by the king himselfe if I be not deceiued there be lawes in the countrie to determine your right you haue likewise maiestrates to administer the lawe in mine opinion your cause wer very strange if it should not be relieued by one or both Very true sir aunswered Castus my cause is strange indéede and yet if I were'aswell stored with coyne wherwith to corrupt as I am furnished with sorrowe whereof to complaine I néeded not haue trauelled to the courte for redresse neither haue I omitted so farre as my poore abillitye woulde stretche both to atempt lawe and to fée aturnies but mine aduersary is wealthy and therefore worshipfulll whose loftye countenance is enoughe to cary out his lewd conscience and although the lawe in it selfe intendeth nothing but right yet as it is ordered by some that hath the handeling of it it is made the very instrument of wronge yea the most of them framing their plea therafter as they be féede not according to the truth and for priuat aduantage or how many delaies can they forge from court to court from day to day from time to time yea from yeare to year then haue they such distinctions such errours such demurs suche quillites suche shiftes and so many deceites that the plaintife shal passe a thousand troubles before he may procéede to one tryall Oh these golden dumbe shewes are soe mightie in working that hee that hath them to giue they will make iudges them selues to become both deafe and blinde Thus riche men néede speake but a word and all wil hear them when poore men may shead their teares but no man pitie them But after that I had thus tried my selfe in the lawe I indeuoured by petition to present my cause before the pitilesse maiestrates but alas ther began my greater miserie For first euen amongst their base and seely porters I found a peuish pride and such a scorneful demeanure that I might not be suffered to stand nere muchlesse to enter their gates without a bribe but then againe amongst their clarkes O what gaping for greater gyftes and what loking after costly rewardes the which my pouerty not able to searche vnto what found I then but coy countenances currish language other like disdainful demeanure thus leauing their comfortlesse houses I was dryuen to giue attendance in the colde streates where after longe and tedious waiting the very horsekéepers would shoulder me from their maister who if perhaps through my pitious exclamations hee chaunced to cast his head aside it was either to afright me with his terrible lookes or vtterly to dismaye mée with his churlish checkes Thus hauing tryed all but finding none to pitie or comforte my distresse I determined with my selfe to trauell to the court hoping there to find some gentleman attendant about his maiesty that might preferre my sute to the king him selfe who is accustomed to heare sutors with more expedition and to kéepe them with lesse expences but alas I perceiue my purpose is preuented and I left destitute of all hope for euer to be happy The tenth Chaper The aunswere of Martianus whether it be better for a suter the courte or country IT is but a bare comfort answered Martianus wherthe best choice hath yet assurance of doubtful end you haue ceast your playnt in the country to become a sutor in the court and herein you may be compared to him that goes out of gods blessing into the warme sunne do you thinke to finde suche curtisie amongst courtiers you say you go to complaine of a wronge and peraduenture to him that will giue no man his right you say you are poore and vnable to giue a fee but you shall hardly finde him in the courte that will do any thinge for gods sake in the country if you found such churlishe regardes in the courte you shall find as proude lookes yea the very doore-keepers to these greate men in the courte will looke for more cappes and curtesies then I aunswere you haue bin accustomed vnto and yet still receiue your obaysance without any regarde of your busines but do you complaine of bribing in the country and would you come empty handed to the courte where ther is no grace without gold nor no friend without a fee and if your aduersarie be wealthy as you haue saide and that he be able to sende fiue hundred duccattes on his message do you not thinke them able to worke wonders in the court as the golden dumbe showes you speake of could euer do in the country yes be sure they are not onely able to make men blind and deafe but they wil open his lippes that was dumbe to present al manner of â—easinges yea for a néed before the king himselfe I am sorie my experience should serue me so well to display the court of Epirus but he that himselfe hath béene surely prickt can bid others take héede how they run amongst thorns and I that haue sped so ill with my courting can wishe others to beware how they come thither a sewing if they be not able to maintaine bribing It is now thirtie yeares sith I became a souldier from which time I haue serued the king in all occations against his enimies in the fielde the rest of the time I haue continued in his garrisons in this meane space I haue spent what my friendes left me which was some thing I haue lost part of my bloud which was more and I haue consumed my prime of youth and florishing yeeres which was most and comforting my selfe with some hope of happy rewarde for my better helpe now in my declining years with this resolution I came to the courte what mony I was able to make I put it in my pursse to bear my charges I haue ther continued these six monthes with cappes and curtisies downe to the ground and some time may it please your honour otherwhiles I beseche your worship but neither honorable nor worshipful that I could find to better my state but I haue spent my mony am come away as you see And yet I muste confesse that for the king himsef ther was neuer prince y t was more bountiful nor liberall nor that hath giuen oftiner or greater rewards But alas poore king if without arrogancy I may pitie a king he hath beene nothing more deceiued then in bestowing his rewards for being driuen to sée with other mens eies to heare with other mens eares and to reward by other mens commendations it is seene that promotion is determined in suche fort as fancy rather confirmeth the election then discretion in so much that desert may now go a begging when al the
your body nor your profite Dorestus that was strucken in a dumpe with these admonitions answered againe You handle me Brusanus as a crabbed mother that when her childe hath caught a fall shee whippes the taile to make amendes but if you finde your selfe an Apostata to loue or that you haue displaied the flagge of defiance against fancie can you not vse your liberty to your selfe but you must vse it as if you would vantingly martch ouer your frends miserie O Brusanus things are sone promised but not so hastelie perfourmed it is easie to sound the victorie but very hard to obtaine the conquest all can say we would ouer-come but few or none returne with triumph Loue is a God and will be obaid and lookes to command not to be conquered and beautie cannot be resisted dare reason abide the brunt wher beautie bids the battell can wisedome winne the fielde where loue commaunds as captaine O no no loue is without lawe and therefore aboue all lawe honoured in heauen feared in earth and a very terrour to infernal ghosts Lord how wise you be answered Brusanus in framing propositions to deceiue but your selfe if loue be lawlesse as you infer it is lewd if without limites lasciuious if contained within no bounds beastlie if obserued with no order odious so that lawlesse loue without reason is the very loadstone to ruth and ruine Howe can you then imagine the effect to bee good when the subiect is naught or howe canne you so clearkely defend your desperate motion proceeding from suche a fond and foolishe occasion But you will saye it was the perfection of her comelye person her exquisite feature and rare beauty that kynd led your desire But remember Dorestus beauty no soner slorisheth but it as quickly fadeth it is not fully ripe before it begin to rot it is no soner out of the budde but it withereth in the blossome If then beauty be so fading so fickle so momentarie so withering so wauing sone passed and soe sone parched is this the Iewell that you make soe deare off is this the Iemme that you would purchase with so great daunger consider againe al beautifull thinges are not precious Mercury is milke white but deadly poyson the gloworme is bright in the hedge but blacke in the hande the Panther hath a painted skin but a deuouring paunche the Serpent is pleasing to the eye but pestilent to al our other partes and he that taketh to much delight to gaze on beauty shall sometimes bee gauled with to much griefe Yet I say not nay but that loue may haue a certaine childishe vehemency but if louers were not charmed with some secret inchauntment they would be able either to kéepe their fancies for being inflamed or else to coole desire being alreadie blinded for the daies they spende in thoughtes the nightes in dreames both in griefes either beguylinge them of that they had and promising that they are neuer like to finde their heades fraught with fantisies fixed with ielosies troubled with both yea so many inconueniences waite vpon loue as were infinit to recken them all and to much intolerable for a resonable man to tast but one being alwaies begun with griefe continued with sorrowe and ended with deathe and albeit the pleasure passeth away in a trise no soner done but forgotten and the punishmente is permanent yet so delightfull is the present swéete that they neuer remember the following soure The time is yet to com wherein many thorns are not founde amidst the roses of mariage Marius the Romaine asked Metellus why he would not take his daughter to wife séeing she was beautifull in body staide in countenance eloquent in speach noble by race riche in doury happy in good name and adorned with sundry vertues to whome the other replide that he knew all this to be true yet quoth he I had rather bee mine owne then hers An other good fellowe on a time aduised his friend not to marrye his son before hee were wise was thus aunswered be not deceiued my friend quoth the other if my son once grow to be wise he will neuer marry nowe Dorestus if you had a will that inticed you to loue recouer now a wit to se the error in loue better counsaill can you not haue more holsom aduise I cannot giue if you cary an obstinat eare you hurt but your selfe if you accept of my curtisie I profer it friendly if you take it as I meane it you will followe it willingly Dorestus that stood all this while with a flea in his eare at last made aunswere I se Brusanus that loue and beautye are little beholding to you but that eye that loatheth to behold beauty is vnworthy to contemplate the heauens what appetite more earnestly to be sought after then beauty which conceiueth no blemish and concerneth the light of the body But fortune I now most humbly thanke thee for the recomforting mee with the delightfull remembrance of the beauty of my mistris making me pertaker of that contemplation which is heauenly the memorie whereof is a present restoritiue to all incumbrances that you haue hetherto feared me with and a sufficient defensatiue to any misfortune that can heere-after befall me but it is against reason Brusanus so vncharitably to exclaime against those without whome our life though neuer so luckie should séeme most loathsome and so preiudicially to contemne those heuenly creatures whose onely sight is a salue against all hellishe sorrowes If thou didest knowe Brusanus the ioy the comforte and recreation that is conuersante with beautye thou wouldest doe pennance and marter thy selfe for abusing so high an estate as Cupid is Truely quoth Brusanus thou art worthy Dorestus to be a chapman that will bid so well for thy chaffer But I would mine owne experience had neuer serued me to iudge so well of wemens manners that somtimes adicted my selfe wholy to their seruice and spent my life in the lappes of Ladies wasting my goods to maintaine their brauery and my wit to follow their folly Oh howe curious haue I beene to please my Lady but how carelesse to serue my Lord O that I had bene more carefull in avoiding wemens company and lesse cunning in disciphering their vanity But if beauty be the marke that you shoote at Dorestus take heede for many vices of the mind are couered vnder this vaile of beautie it hath brought commodity to very fewe but they are not to bee numbered that it hath brought to vtter distruction O shunne Dorestus shunne I say this sugered mischiefe be not longer obstinat let not your vertues decrease shake of this collor of incumberance be not subiected by loue nor seduced by lust no erroure shall then mislead you no foolish fancy shall feed you no woman shall besotte you no vice shall withdrawe you no glaring beautie shall intice you and what knowledge but shall serue you Dorestus that had his mind trauelled with two extreame passions the one of loue towardes his
and the necessitie of spéedye dispatche my father hauinge already promised me in marriage to your friend companion Dorestus whom in my hart I could neuer fancy whom with all my soule I vtterly renounce and haue wholie settled my selfe to be thine onely one wherefore neither feare nor scorne to inioy that which is thine or at the least-wise let her presentlie vnderstand thy pleasure whose good or bad daies whollie consists in thy good or bad answere thus ending her spéeches she now againe beginnes to weep Brusanus that was almost out of his wits to hear this louing discourse returned this answere for her better comfort Madame when dogges falles to snarling serpents to hissing and wemen to wéeping the one meanes to bite the other to sting and the third to deceiue but doe you looke for an answere truely madame I haue no leasure to loue I must about other busines and thus away hee flinges leauing Moderna in a pittifull plight you may imagine who finding her selfe so shaken off departed presently into her chamber and casting her selfe vppon her bed shee closed her eies as if each thing she saw had bene a picture of her mishap where she began thus to exclaime Alasse quoth she disspised Moderna is this the reward of thy giuen away liberty Why didst thou not holde thy thoughts in their simple course and content thy selfe with the loue of thine owne vertue O vnkinde Brusanus could thy force and courage finde out no â—tter conquest then to triumph ouer her mishappes who at the first sight did wish thée all happines shall it bee said that the mirrour of man-kind hath beene the wracke and ruine of a Ladie that loued him what triumphe canst thou make of this conquest what spoiles wilt thou carrie away of this my vnderserued ouerthrow But O wicked mouth how darest thou blaspheme the ornament of the earth the vessell of vertue the very obiect that all eies owe reuerence vnto and how maiest thou blame him or wherein hath hee offended thée O no no there is no fault but in thine owne imaginations that would thinke that so high a perfection would staine it selfe with so great impossibilities Alasse hee hath then doone thée no wrong it was thine own weaknes that wrought thine owne woe thou maiest then beginne to hate thy selfe but neuer leaue to loue him But what a labyrinth am I entred into I disdain my fortune and yet I reuerence him that disdains me I accuse his vngratfulnes and haue his vertue in admiration Oh heauens I would his vnkindnes could race out the deapth of my affection or my affection could make him to relent from his vnkindnes Moderna thus taking to her selfe the waight of her own woes left off further speaking and beganne to turne her selfe to euery thing as if change of obiects might helpe her inuention and although she had a great while traueiled her thoghts not settling any determination in the ende shee resolued from that time forward to restraine the libertie of her sences not so much to looke on the Sun that had dimde her eies with brightnes Dorestus that had bene all this while busie at his penne and being now prepared of an answere to Brusanus sent it immediatly vnto him in these words The tenth Chapter Dorestus Prince of Epirus to Brusanus the common deprauer of Feminine vertue VVHen the Foxe doth once begin to preach good wemen then beware your Géese and where vanitie dare oppose it selfe for verity there vice may cry checke but neuer giue the mate How miserable is the condicion of those men that wil make themselues guilty of their owne mothers disgrace and how vnnaturall may that séede bee accounted which will shew it selfe vnthankfull to the soile and although grosse questions are to be answered with slender reasons and adle heads should be scoffed at with idle answeres yet to helpe simplicity thus beset with subtilty I must not neglect the defence of so many innocent Dames for any respect of a deprauing friend For your large exhortatorie I let it passe as friuolous but we must not doe wemen that wrong to condemne them for a little foolish Philosophy for as the Philosophers were men so they had many faults ther were some of them Parasites som Epicures some Iesters some railers some insected with pride some with couetousnes but most lascinious and it is a custome of ill men to defame wemen openlye when they haue abused them secretly Such a one was your great Emperour and worthy Philosopher Marcus Aurelius whome you so muche account of but who more dissolute in the company of wemen yet who more prodigall in defaming of wemen in the disordered demeanure of his owne wife Faustine did many times so disquiet him that he was not able to moderate himselfe no not withall his precepts of Philosophie I doe not speake this to confirme Brusanus in his opinion that wemen were thus able to martir the minds of these learned Philosophers but I speak it aswell to confute those bitter inuectiues pronounced by the Philosophers peraduenture in a furie as also to confound their actions that notwithstanding their pretended knowledg would suffer themselues to bee seduced not onely by wemen that liue in suspect but some of them most notoriously known as namely Layis of Corinth whome Aristippus so nicely courted and to whome Demostines came to cheapen but her ware was too hie prized Periander chiefe Philosopher in Gréece at the instaunt of a strumpet slewe his honest wife Anacharsis was so bewitched on his Curtisan Ielaua that he so instructed her in his knowledge of Philosophy that on a time while he lay sicke she supplied his place of reading in the schoole Cleobulus when hee was 60. yeares olde and had read Philosophy 45 yeares climing vp a window to haue come to his beloued fell downe from the ladder and died of the bruse Solon that was accounted such a sage was besotted of his owne bond-woman whome he brought from the warres Aristotle so much renowmed for his wit at the fond request of his foolish mistresse made himselfe a sillie Asse creeping about a chamber with a bridle in his mouth where dame folly his mistresse sitting on his backe hauing appointed her companions in priuy corners to behold this pageant made but a scorne of that learned Philosopher Terrence was hanged out of a window in a Basket Socrates was crowned with a pisse-pot by his own wife Zantippa By this you may perceiue that these men notwithstanding their great philosophy submitted themselues to the wils of wemens of litle modesty is it not like that such as will commit Idolatrye with wicked wemen without care may not after blaspheme all wemen without cause and that they will obserue as little grauity in their vnbridled furie as they obserued reason in their disordered fantasie But to make proofe and triall of mettals there is no better meane then to bring them to the touch then shall you find men to be furious
readye at an inch with fuell to kindell the fire wrought such a sudaine alteration in his mind and such contrary passions so perplexed his doubtful thoughts that after a long controuersie in himselfe hee was driuen perforce to yeeld to fancie and pulling in his former flagge of defiance intreated for truce and began to enter parle with Cupid on this manner Why howe nowe Brusanus what a doubtfull combat dost thou find in thy selfe is thy lawlesse liberty turnd to a slauish captiuity is thy freedome fettered are thy sences besotted wert thou of late at defiance with Venus and wilt thou now shake handes with vanity didest thou ere while renownce beautie as a foe and wilt thou now imbrace her as a frend hast thou so carefully counsailed others to beware the baite and wilt thou now so crabbidly poison thy selfe with the bane but foole that thou arte whye dost thou thus rechlesly rage against reason why dost thou thus fondly exclaime against thine owne wellfare why dost thou condemne thy selfe of that crime where of thou art not guilty thou hast vowed to beware of fickle fancy but this thy liking is firme affection thou hast bin bitten with the sore of lawlesse lust but neuer tasted the sweet of loyall loue bicause thou hast indeuoured to desist from vanity wilt thou therefore exempt thy selfe from vertue wilt thou neglecte a peerelesse Princesse whose birth may be a countenance to thy calling in the attayning of whome thou shalt gaine honour nay more thou shalt inherit a kingdome I marry Brusanus there goes the game away followe that chace it is no small matter to inioy a scepter I but yet remember thy selfe and thou shalt find that thy desire must needes be waited on with daunger Moderna is promised by the king her father to Dorestus he againe is thy vowed frend and wilt thou requit the trust he reposeth in thée with such disloyalty But dost thou stand vppon doubts nowe Brusanus O fie for shame art thou false harted what fearest thou the displeasure of a king if thou by the meanes mayest compasse a kingdome and did not Dorestus tell thée himselfe that loue was without lawe what respect is then to be had of frendship feare not then Brusanus the rest of thy time hath bin but a dreame vnto thée it is nowe onely thou beginnest to liue now onely now thou hast entered into the way of blissefullnes let not then the opinion of I know not what promise bind thée from paying thy duty to nature With this resolution Brusanus determined to watch oportunities to come to the spéech of Moderna and by chaunce finding her walking in a gardin comming to her before shee was aware of him as hee begun to open his lippes to salute her Moderna of a sudaine started away from him withdrawing her selfe into her chamber the which shee did rather fearing to bee farther tempted with so sweete an aspecte then for anye hatred shee bare him whome shee loued against her will Brusanus marking her demeanure was somewhat amased yet not minding so to giue euer he went to his chamber where he wrote these insueing liues vnto her Brusanus to Moderna Madame although the passion which is commonly incident to all wemen I meane misbeliefe hath ouer taken you of late yet thinke not that either my affections are so light as to esteeme your disdaine for iniury or let that loue finishe with a braule which is in me begun and shall be continued for euer vnkindnes may preuaile for a season but not corrupt and your repulse may perhaps perswade me to forbeare yet not to forsake as nature hath made wemen faire thereby to intangle men no reason but some times they shoulde bee frowarde to commaund men but it was a swéete pollicy by a vitter repulse to renew affection other doubtes misdéemings or opinions haue I none but onely this that my mistres was froward to make triall not to forsake that my selfe am by nature to brooke an iniury to be pertaker of so happy a benifit well Moderna all misdéeming set a part grant me your grace and fauour and I shall haue greater cause to reioyce then you to susspecte and wil alwaye remaine your faithfull seruant to commaund who craueth nothing more then to do you seruice Yours if he be Brusanus This letter being sealed vppe he quickly found the meanes to haue it deliuered to the handes of Moderna who noting the contents of these plausible lines by the same messenger returnes him this aunswere Moderna to Brusanus I stood in doubt Brusanus whether I shoulde aunswere with silence or sophistry because where the demaund is but a iest the fittest aunswere were a scoffe for dwelling still in your olde error who will beléeue your newe protestations but to make you to acknowledge your faultes and to morteste that madde humour of yours that made you so much to forget your selfe and to bring you againe into your right sences I wil not let to pray for you nay more then that I would be glad to here a whole trentall of masses besides other charitable actions to redeeme you because I did loue you but séeing your purgatory is not pardonable without sattisfaction from your owne merrites I can but wish you to haue grace to acknowledge it and by penitent wisdome to win againe what your wilfulnes hath lost for the many seruices you proffer me if to morrowe after dinner you will come to me that I may speake wich you if I find your owne words correspondent to your writings it may be I will imploy you till then farewell Yours if she could Moderna The twelfth Chapter Brusanus and Moderna practiseth secret slight BRusanus not able to stand of any ground for ioy mist not I warrant you his appointed time to visit his lady who being as ready to awaite his comming they conuay themselues to an inward chamber where for the time either of them remaines confused with a sodaine astonishment of excéeding ioy Brusanus in the end breaking of their vnnecessarye silence vsed these words Though timerity madame hath caused me to refuse your proffered bounty and the déeming of mine owne vnworthinesse to neclecte your fauorable curtisie yet séeing the fault procéeded rather from a mistrust of mine owne happines then for any mislike or other contempt of your greate worthines I humbly craue pardon for this my fore-passed simplicity promissing heere-after protested faith and loyalty Moderna taking Brusanus by the hand smilingly made this aunswere It is an easie matter Brusanus to purchase credite where the party is al-ready perswaded and to infer beléefe where euery word is acounted an oracle but to cut off other friuilous protestations let this suffice thou hast the victorye vse it with vertue but fearing that my father shoulde suspecte our liking and by that meanes preuente our purpose hauinge as thou knowest promised me to Dorestus I am therefore content to followe thée where-soeuer thou wilt be my conducter and by
by the generall award of the Iudges and heraulds apointed for the purpose I am now accordingly to chalenge that prise of greater estimation in mine owne conceipt then if the signory of the whole world had happened vnto me This Princesse Valeria vnderstanding him now to be so greate a Prince and although loue had already made entrie in the most secret part of her hart by the view of his knight-hoode soe nowe the same breach being made wider by the second assault of his beautiful lookes loue entred with banner openly displaied finding no resistance tooke possession wholy of her hart swearing al her affections to be his true prisoners she being nowe wholy surprised with an incounter of loue and bashfullnes mildly made him answere in these few wordes Worthy Prince Antipholus as I am not to resist the ordinaunce of my frendes that he most carefull for me so I must not gaine say those conditious wherevnto I haue voluntarily tied my selfe by publique proclamation neither do I thinke it fit for mine honour to make shew of squemishnes to a Prince of such excelent vertue when the whole multitude are as it were eie witnesses of so great magnanimity and prowesse you may therefore noble Prince accounte of Valeria as your proper right and Valeria heere voweth to Antipholus faith loue and loyallty The Queene Eriphila accompanied with the nobility of Calypha came with cheerefull countenaunce to entertaine Antipholus thanking the heauenlye powers altogether that hade vouchsafed soe greate good fortune to their yoong Princesse Thus were they all filled with exceding ioy Bryanto onely excepted who seeing his deuises would no longer serue to shift Valeria from mariage was nowe debating with him selfe what course he might take to bring her to her end the which he thought to be the ready way for the accomplishment of the rest of his purpose and loe oportunity seemed ready to further his intent for Antipholus as you haue hard before had vndertaken this trauell to finde out Brusanus and his sister Moderna and hauing yet got no intelligence of them hee would needes prosecute his iourney to Constantynople where if he could heare no other newes he would then make his returne when with a more quiet conscience and a better settled mind he might performe their mariage rightes to both their contentacions in the meane time he committed his dearest Lady to the custody of her mother protesting that in what coast or cuntry so euer he should happen into that his hart should remaine dedicated to her deuine beautie and vertue and so commending her health to the Gods he thus tooke his leaue The fourth Chaprer Bryanto falleth in loue with Calynda shee bewrayeth it to Eriphila how he is deluded by them both and of other his vngratious and villianous intents Bryanto had nowe leasure to cast about and debating with himselfe of many holsome attemptes in the end he honestly resolued with all speede to practise the death both of the Queene his wife and of the Princesse her daughter by the death of the Princesse he hoped to compasse the crowne and by the death of the Queene he should set himselfe at liberty to take an newe wife For Calynda remaining in the court as you haue hard attendant on the Queene although shee had so cunningly counterfieted her state that shee was not known what she was yet she could not hide the perfection of her beautie but she had so intangled Bryanto the Duke that he had many times assayed to practise her to his beastly appetite to the which bicause shee refused to consent led by the rage of his inordinate lust he determined to rid away his wife to that end to marry her For the performance of these premisses he tooke this course he appointed a day to ride into the forrest a hunting pretending great sport and done only to shewe the yoong Princesse some pleasure finding her so dumpish for the departure of Antipholus for this purpose he had well fed a cupple of ruffians of his owne training vp the one he appointed to ride before the yoong Princesse Valeria the other should likewise be attendant till oportunity serued it was agreed that these two in the midest of their sportes and when they were most busied in following the chace should sudainely slip into some by way with the Princesse and helping them selues by the benifite of the couertes when they had her alone from the rest of the company without anye remorse they should despatch her of her life then bestowing the body in some secret place that it might neuer more be found they should both of them fly into some other country where besides y e reward which the duke for this purpose had already bestowed vpon thē he promised stil from time to time secretly to relieue them with greater sums This determination thus set downe in this meantime Calynda had made the Queene Eriphila priuie to the whole demeanure of the amarous Duke her husband fearing that hee should haue attempted her by some extraordinary meane of force The Queene nothing doubting of the tale would needes intreat Calynda the next night to appoint the Duke to her lodging where she her selfe would both supplie her place and abite all other aduentures what so euer should befall and with much adoe she won her to graunt to it Calynda the next day accordingly finding opportunity she told the Duke that yet in the end she was moued with compassion of his long sute and that if it pleased him the same night to repayre to her chamber at a conuenient time he should 〈…〉 it no great matter to open the dore desiring his grace yet to vse great circumspection although not for her cause yet for his honour Bryanto hearing this heauenly harmony thought himselfe already to be a sure possessor of his desires and kissing her handes vowing many protested seruices he left her for the present to whome the rest of the day séemed tedious but night being once approched according to his instructions accompanied onely with a Gentleman of his chamber called by the name of Lucius whome the Duke made still acquainted with all his vngratious actions and many tymes vsed his help as a broker in the like enterprises and groping thus together through many darke roomes they happened in the end to the chamber of Calynda where pushing easely at the dore and finding it open according to promise the Duke entered leauing Lucius to attend his comming out assoone as he was gotten into the chamber hee went to the bed where leaping in on that side which indeed was left of purpose for him and hauing his spirites altogether blinded with this sweet immaginatiō of imbracing his desired Calynda in whos place as before it was couenanted he found Eriphila the quéen his wife who with a determinate patience had taken vppon her for that night to abide all accidentes intended to Calynda But the Duke passing forth the night more happy in contemplating this action
remembering himselfe that the same morning was the appointed time of his goyng a hunting and minding not to let slip a matter which he immagined would fall out to so good an issue intending therfore to take his leaue and thinking now that he had her so fully at commaundement that he might trust her with all his secretes at the time of his departing he told her that in requital of her courtesie he meant not onely to make her his maried wife but verye shortly to crowne her Queene of Calypha in the acomplishment whereof he must vse her as a witnesse against his wife whome he meant very speedily to accuse of adultry when her witnesse with one other of whome he was already prouided would be a sufficient testimonie according to their lawes to condemne her to be burnt assuring her further if this should faile rather then he would be longer cumberd with her whome he did so inwardly detest himselfe would giue her poison or otherwise with his own hands he would make some riddaunce of her The poore Lady hearing the doome of her owne distruction in this manner intended by her husband you may immagin was in a pitious plight but fearing to bewray her selfe with a faint voice she gaue consent to accomplish his desires The Duke thus taking his leaue departed not with so great ioy but hee lefte her perplexed with a great deale of more griefe The fifth Chaptper Valeria in the forrest is distessed by two villianes was rescued by Brusanus he conueieth her to a place of safetie IN the morning who was so early vp ready as the princesse Valeria she was calling to horsse before a great many were out of their beds full little knewe shee what was practised towards her the Queene her mother excused her self from riding that day faining to be il at ease for she vnderanstding what the duke pretended towards her thought it not good to let slip any oportunitie that might befall her to preuent his practise but minding the same day while they were gone a hunting to flye into Boetia to the king who was her brother for the safetie of her life but let vs followe the hunters that by this time were in the forrest you knowe what game the duke hunted after vnhappy man after an innocent ladies life but the hunts men rowsed a greater stagge the hounds were vncupled the duke himselfe was one of the first in the chace the rest followed they all tended their sport my two forespoken companions watched their time and hitting on a way that lay through a mightie couert of trees he that had the Princesse behinde him turned into that way the other was hard at his heeles the poore ladye séeing one followed so fast misdoubted nothing on they rid til at the last they were cleane out of hearing of the hounds and had likewise lost all the rest of their company when one of the verlets speaking to her saide Madame which of vs twains would your selfe now make choise on to take the first fruites of your good will your friend Antipholus is gone to Constantinople to seeke aduentures and I se no reason but you might likewise aduenture of a friend that you your selfe may wel like off when hee hath soe little care so lightly to leaue you The Princesse amased to heare this saucye demaund aunswered Presumteous villaine how darest thou accompt to make suche an offer vnto me doest thou thinke I will disgest so notable an iniury no assure thy selfe I will be reuenged to the vttermost of thy villany Alas madame quoth the other and are you so ready to séeke reuenge for demaūding of a question when he hathe but honestlye sought to perswade that by curtesie the which if it pleased him or me we may bothe constraine by cruelty but content your selfe and aunswere more directlie consent you must and yéelde you shall héere are no flockes of friends to defend you and if you knewe your owne case you would be glad both to curry fauour and to speake faire The poore lady looking better aboute her and perceiuing her selfe to be singled out from the rest of her company and finding by their presumtious spéeches that she was betraied replied thus Alas the onely limites of your request is my destruction and your detestable demaund more odious vnto me then death but if my case be so hard as you do perswade I beseeche you both to determine of my deathe to the sauing of mine honour Well madame aunswered the other of the villains some thinge to satisfie your desire hauing the lawe in our owne hands we wil first serue our owne appetites then after we will not sticke to ridde you of your life to the ende you shal not longer liue to languish in gréefe This said they turned out of the way into a mighty thicket of bushes as couertly shrowded with highe and mighty trées and the Princesse dreading badde measure began in pitious manner to cry out for helpe but alas in a place so vnfrequented that there was no mortall creature to resounde an Eccho to her exclamations the which the villains knowing well tooke her downe from her horsse and forceably casting her against the ground began violently to assault her chastity she stil defending her selfe so much as her feeble force woulde permit her and euen at that instant when she was depriued of al other resistance Brusanus who lyeng in that desert in such desperate passion as before you haue hard fortuned to come by and hearing the pitifull shrickes of a woman made to the place from whence he hard the voice and perceiuing the destressed Princesse he opposed himselfe in her defence at the very first incounter he slewe the one of those wretches the other not able to make longer resistance fell downe of his knées offering himselfe to the mercy of Brusanus who first disfurnishing him of his weapon willed him to recompt vnto him what gentlewoman that same might be and what his fellowe and he ment in such villanous manner to attempt her hee aunswered thus Noble gentleman for your valiant demeanure vndoubtedlye perswadeth me of your title for the lady I will leaue it to her owne confession to manifest what she is for my fellowe who by your valiance lyeth heare slaine his name is Eurestus my selfe called Vago both of vs trained vppe from our infancy in the courte of Brianto duke of Doletta protector and gouerner heare in this kingdome of Calipha and both of vs feed by him to haue murthered this lady and for our better oportunity it was likewise by himselfe deuised that in the time of hunting here in this forrest we shoulde take occasion to performe our enterprise the which after we had both satisfied our vngratious apetites had you not come thus to the rescues we had vndoubtedly accomplished Thus sir I haue briefly shewed we should haue beene the ministers though not the authors of an innocent ladies death but that it hath pleased God by your
posterity but what standest thou vppon these pointes thou art nowe to sit vppon thy selfe as iudge and against thy selfe to pronounce iudgement dispaire then wretch in thine owne wickednes and let a desperate death finish that cursed life that was so prone to mischiefe and so ready to persist in all deuilesh wickednes without any further spéeches he sudainelye strake him self through the body with his owne dagger where with Lucius crieng for helpe many came rushing into the chamber where the Duke lay weltering in his owne bloud so that in very short space his life vanished and lefte his bodye breathlesse the rumour of the dukes death was subainly spred through the citie and officers were immediately sent to examine the circumstaunces who to finde out the better certainty appehended Lucius whome after they had many wayes apposed he voluntaryly confessed that the onely cause why the duke had so practised the death of the queene his wife was for the loue he bare to Calynda who being many times louingly solicited by the duke in the end an nightes meeting was agreed on between them when they both confirmed their amorous desires and likewise concluded the death of the queen Calynda hoping to succeede for a second bride to the duke vppon thie confession they attached Calynda committing her to close prison assuring her no better fauour then the aspirity of the lawes would alot her Brusanus being still resident in the citie refused sundry rich presents liberall offers and honourable curtesies presented vnto him aswell by the yoong princesse as by the queene her mother languishing now in gréefe with the memory of his former fortunes he knewe no better meane to make satisfaction to Moderna then to suffer himselfe to be sacrifised by the hands of her brother Antipholus whome he knewe had pursued him but to that end to be reuenged resting therefore in this resolution not otherwise knowne then by the name of Aristo it was not long but Antipholus returned who was receiued into the citie with great honour and triumph but what ioy was made by the princesse Valeria I dare not vndertake to discipher and you may well thinke it was much The ninth Chapter Brusanus and Antipholus are brought to meete in a gardin the manner of their incounter Valeria pacifieth Antipholus he protesteth frendeship to Brusanus SOme fewe daies ouer-passed thus in pleasure in which meane space Antipholus was made acquainted with euery stratagem practised both against the princesse and her mother although the narrow escape especially of his most dearest beloued gaue him great cause to reioyce yet failing of that reuenge he intended to Brusanus his mirth was something mitigated with this gaule of discontentment which being espied by Valeria whose eies were still watchfull ouer her beloued by an easte intercesion he confessed vnto her the cause of his gréefe Valeria calling to mind the promise Aristo had before made vnto her in the forrest comforted Antipholes assuring him within very short space so to deliuer Brusanus into his handes as at his owne discretion he might minister such punishment as to himself might seeme sufficient although Antipholus wist not what meanes Valeria had to effecte such a matter so much by himselfe desired yet he rested something satisfied hoping she would bring it to passe according as she had promised Valeria minding to loose no time sent immediatly to Aristo to challeng his promise in the premisses Aristo then setteled in opinion as before you haue heard returned this answere that notwithstanding hee must confesse Brusanus to be a most infortunate creature yet hee likewise knewe him to be a prince and therefore consideration was to be had and that for diuers respectes not to betray him openly but if he might be brought priuily to speake with Antipholus in some secret place betweene themselues he would not then refuse so to satisfie Antipholus in his desires as it should wel apeare that Aristo had well discharged the office of a frende although not to Brusanus yet to Valeria the greatest matter that was nowe to be cared for was how to bring Antipholus and Aristo into some place secretly to conferre which was not long in performing for the very next morning Valeria caused Aristo to be priuily conueyed through her owne pallace into a most delicate orchard very larg and spacyous and shadowed thicke with trees heere his conducter lefte him all alone and accordingly as Valeria had commaunded him presently in like manner to fetch Antipholus Aristo nowe being alone by himselfe and there with all vtterly disfurnished of weapon the which he purposedly had lefte behinde him and thinking now to finde an ende of all his misfortunes hee entered into these spéches O Moderna behold thy sorrowfull Brusanus who disdaining heere his loathsome life hastes on his fatall houre to vewe thy heauenly face and if anye auncieut loue be lefte to consider of thy vnfortunate friend accept of his oblation who offereth for his misse no lesse then the price of his 〈…〉 behold I say his grieffes who se dayly teares are witnesses of his woes and although til this time I haue prolonged my loathed life yet in my thoughtes I euerye day haue dyed but sith the destimes haue now agreed to frée me from fortunes further despight and that my happy houre is thus concluded by the sates graunte me nowe that my deceased ghost may haue accesse vnto thy heauenly presence and that my sorrowing soule maye for euer attende thée in the Elisian fieldes By this time Antipholus was come into the garden and walking by himselfe alone to finde out he wiste not whome he espied Brusanus and being as quickly inraged with 〈…〉 as he did as sodainly know him he hastely drew out his sword running towards him he said Traytor villaine that thou art coulde thy loue towardes my sister make thee disloyall towards her father iniurous to me her brother and both false faithlesse to thy deare friend Dorestus or couldest thou immagine thy villany would escape vnpunished or diddest thou thinke the whole circuit of the earth could haue harboured thee in safetie but tell me spéedely what hast thou done with my sister or where hast thou left her Brusanus answered thus Where thou tearmest me to be a traytor or a villaine thou knowest thou doest me wronge touching my misdemeanure towardes thy father thy selfe or my friend I will not seeke to excuse for that I shoulde not disswade for the punishment wherwith thou threatenest me now in such displeasure Alas it is the thing that I then least feared or nowe stande in doubte off but where thou inquyrest what is become of thy sister that question is it that stingeth my verye conscience but knowe thou she is dead and yet to excuse her deathe by loue were to excuse loue of murther but if the losse of my owne life might haue renewed Moderna mine owne hands should haue hastened my death your weapon shoulde neuer hasarde it if therfore