doubting what Iland the Oracle meant Sostratus for he as I told you was a chiefe commander in the warres said that it was time that they should to Tyre to do sacrifice to Hercules for by all likelyhood that should be the place the Oracle intended since the answer was this the Iland took its name from a tree Phoenix in the Tyrian tongue signifies the branch of a Palme tree Now Tyre is an Iland of the Phoenicians for which the sea and the earth contend this drawing it to her selfe the other striving to wash it away being it lyes on the sea and yet is not parted from the earth but by the help of a narrow path is joyned to the continent which path is as it were the neck of the Iland not lying on the bottome but floating upon the top of the water affording a strange spectacle a City in the Sea and an Iland on the land Now what was meant by Vulcan and Pallas wee may construe to bee oyle and fire both which are there joyned together for in a certaine holy place an Olive tree growes incompast in with flames which consume not the tree but make the Olives the better as if betwixt them there were a muâ—â—â—ll league and here Minerva refuses not the society of Vâ—â—can Then Chaerephon Sostratus colleague in the warre and of more authority than him because hee was of Tyre extolling him above measure said thou hast well interpreted the answere of the Oracle but dost thou think that the nature of fire onely is to bee admired water hath its miracles too some whereof I my self have seen There is a fountaine in Sicilia containing water mingled with fire wherein you may see the flames leaping up from the bottome yet if you but touch the water it is as cold as snow nor yet doth the water extinguish the fire or the fire heat the water but betwixt them there is a truce There is also in Spaine a river which you would thinke at the first sight differed not at all from other rivers but if you listen more attentively you shall heare it make a great noise for when a little winde hath raised the waves thereof they are like so many strings of an Harpe which the winde being the quill playes on There is also a Lake in Lybia the sand whereof differs not much from that in the Indian rivers which Lake the Virgins in that Countrey know to bee rich for its wealth which lies hid under water mingled with the mud a fountaine of gold flowing there now they let â—â—wn a long staffe besmear'd with pitch even as the hook is to the fish so is this sticke to the gold for it catches it and the pitch serves in stead of the bait to which as much gold as it toucheth sticketh and by this meanes they take it out of the the Lybian Sea Chaerephon having spoken this he sent those to Tyre which should do sacrifice the City allowing of it wherefore Callisthenes feigning himselfe to be one of the overseers of the sacrifice made what haste he could to Tyre and having learned where my father dwelt laid snares for the women who came to view the pompe of our sacrifice which was most sumptuously set forth with great store of incense all varieties of flowers the chiefest of the incense was Cassia Franckincense and Saffron of the flowers the Rose Daffadilly and Myrtle All of them smell'd so sweet that they seemed as it were to contend which should delight much The beasts to bee sacrificed were many the chiefe whereof were Aegyptian Bulls which are not only admirable for their colour but their height a huge stature they are of having a fat neck broad shoulders a great belly and hornes not like those of Sicilia bending downward or deformed as those of Cyprus but such as sprouting out to a great length are by little and little so bowed till their toppe come to be distant each from other no further than the rootes representing in a manner the forme of a full moone the colour they are of is that which Homer commends in the Thracian horses this beast marcheth with his head stately erected as if hee were King of the rest into this kind of Bull sure did Iupiter turne himselfe if the story lie not when hee stole Europa Now at that time it happened that my mother in law was not well Leucippe also feigning her selfe to bee sicke for wee agreed it should bee so till all were gone forth stayed at home so that no body but my sister Caligo went forth with Panthia Leucippe's mother So Callisthenes which had never seene Leucippe took Caligo to bee her for hee knew Panthia very well and consulting with no body whether it were her or no for I thinke now he was quite blind made no more adoe but shewed her to one of his servants in whom he put trust and commanded him to provide theeves to steale her away prescribing withall the manner how it should be done telling him that the solemnity was at hand wherein all the virgins were to goe down to the sea side which when he had spoken taking no care for the sacrifice he departed Now he had a private ship which hee had furnished before hee came forth to the furtherance of the businesse which hee intended the rest of his company which seemed to be of those who had the overseeing of the sacrifice launcht into the middle of the sea but Callisthenes went not farre from the shore that he might not only see what company came but also lest his ship being neare Tyre after the fact was done he should presently be pursued and taken As soone as hee came to Saraptas a street of the Tyrians situate in the sea there he provided those which should lye in ambush and committed them to Zeno that was the servants name who had the charge of stealing her away He was a man of a strong body and had beene a pirate who came to Tyre by chance and meeting there with some fishermen which were pirates fell into their company There is a little Island neare Tyre called Orodopes tombe where the Tyrian ships harbour there he set his pinnace Wee made our selves ready in the night to doe sacrifice the next day which was not unknowne to Zeno wherefore when we set forth he followed us Now it was our chance to goe out in a very opportune time for Zeno lift up a certaine ensigne whereupon the pinnace made to shore There were in it tenne men and there were eight more lying in wait on the shore dressed in womens apparell and their beards shaven all these had swords hidden under their garments and to avoid all suspicion attended on the sacrifice insomuch that none could discerne them from women After fire was ready to be put to the sacrifice they put out their torches and set upon us whilst wee astonisht ranne one this way another that way so with their swords drawne they carried away my
ate no more than hee which dreames he eates for still leaning my elbow on the table I viewed her and that was meat and drinke to me After supper was ended a boy came with a Lute and tuning the strings it gave a gentle low sound but afterwards taking his quill and striking up louder hee added his voice which made the musicke more sweet Hee sung how Apollo complained of Daphne for flying from him how neere he had like to have caught her how shee was turned into a Bay tree with the leaves whereof he made him a garland which song added more violence to my inflamed love For an amorous story is a great enticement to lasciviousnesse and though a man may be of himselfe continent yet he is drawne by a strong example and the more easily by how much the more that vice is patroniz'd by some great one for shame which at the first did revoke him from offending being posted forth by the dignity of some one which is better than himselfe yet guilty of the same crime turnes into licentiousnesse Wherefore thus I resolved with my self was not Apollo in love did not he cast away all shame and openly pursue his Daphne whilst thou like a foole benumm'd with sloath and overcome with modesty containst thy selfe Art thou or wouldst thou seeme better than a god The evening drawing on the women went to bed first and not long after we Some having bestowed the pleasure of the supper on their bellies I on mine eyes so that I was glutted and as it were drunk with love wherefore I betook my selfe to my chamber where I used to lie but slept not one winke For nature hath so ordained that all diseases and wounds of the body are most troublesome in the night especially when we cannot sleepe nor is a wounded heart in a better state for when the body moves not it being hurt is farre more troubled because when the eyes and eares are busied about diverse objects it feeles not the goads of care but distracts the minde so that there is no leisure left to grieve but while the members are at ease the minde recollecting it selfe is sensible of its calamity for such things which before lay as it were asleepe are then rouzed up are at hand to wit to those that mourn sorrow to those that are sollicitous about any civill affaires distraction of thoughts to those that are in danger feares to those that are in love fire At length the morning approching sleep took pitie on me and afforded me some rest nor then was shee out of my minde but all my dreames were of Leucippe with her I playd with her I talkt with her I supt then enjoying more delight than when I was awake for me thoughts I kist her and that truly Whilst I was in the midst of this delightsome fancie one of the servants called me whom I curst that hee had wakened me out of so sweet a dreame then rising out of my bed I went on purpose to walke in a place that the maid mought see me where holding downe my head I read in a booke which I brought along with me that as often as I turned backe to her doore I might cast mine eyes on her Thus having done I departed with a mind most miserably perplexed and so I spent three dayes Now I had a kinsman two yeares elder than my selfe whose father and mother were both dead his name was Clinias which had formerly beene in love against whom I had much exclaimed that he should have nothing else to do but he laughing at me and shaking his head replyed that the time would come when I my self should be caught in the same snare him I went to and having saluted thus I began Ah Clinias now am I justly punished for all those scandalous and opprobrious obloquies which I cast on thee seeing I my selfe am now caught At which clapping his hands and most excessively laughing he saluted me and said Truly I perceive by thy very lookes that thou art in love He had scarce said this but immediately came in his friend Caricles on whom he had formerly bestowed a most gallant horse who comming said Clinias I cannot be at rest till I have revealed my minde unto thee Clinias as if his soule had beene joyned with his and not onely compassionate but really sensible of what harmes might befall Caricles with a stammering tongue replyed Thou kill'st me with thy silence tell me thy grievance what is it troubles thee or with whom art thou to fight My father said Caricles is providing me a wife and such a blouze that I shall bee tormented with her above measure if a handsome woman bee an evill intolerable what is an ill favoured one but my father he gapes after her wealth and there is no hopes of mee poore wretch but that I must bee betrayed to a little money Which when Clinias heard hee waxed pale and inveighing against the whole sex disswaded the young man from marriage in this wise Doth thy Father provide thee a wife how hast thou so ill deserved at his hands that hee should cast thee into bonds and fetters doth not Iupiter say in the Poet The fire that bold Prometheus stole from me With plagues call'd women shall revenged be On whose alluring and enticing face Poore mortalls doting shall their deaths imbrace And such truly is all pleasure wee take in any thing that is bad not much unlike the Syrens who deluding poore Mariners with the melodiousnesse of their voice slay them Me thinkes the very pompe and provision if there were no other evill in marriage were enough to deterre a man from it the noise of musicians the crackling of doores dancing singing revelling and the like were able of themselves to make a man miserable for in my mind one were better be in a skirmish Were you not a Scholler you might perhaps bee ignorant what history and antiquity have related concerning the wickednesse of women but seeing you are so good a proficient in your studies that you are able to relate to others of how many tragedies womens cruelties have been the argument how can you seeme to forget Euriphyles bracelet Philomela's banquet Sthenobaeas calumny Aeropes incest Prognes salvage murdering of her childe Agamemnon was ensnared with the beauty of Chryseis Achylles of Briseis who proved the ruine of both their armies Candaules married a beautifull wife and was murdered by her Helena's nuptiall torches set all Troy on fire Nay more the chastity of Penelope proved the death of many suiters Phaedra slew Hippolytus whom she loved Clytemnestra Agamemnon whom she hated O women ready to attempt any mischiefe who are as pernicious in their love as in their hatred little reason was there that Agamemnon should be slaine a man of so exquisite a composure for his beauty To be compared with th' immortall gods Yet though hee was endowed with such excellent perfection a woman was the death of him And all this may
part we saw two rare pieces of Evanthus the painters drawing whose picture also hung there in the one wherof was Prometheus bound in the other Andromeda which was the reason I thinke the painter had joined them together though in other parts and circumstances there was much analogy betwixt them both of them had a rocke for their prison both were manacled each had his executioner at hand and each had a Grecian champion to deliver them the one Perseus and the other Hercules the one whereof shot at the Eagle Iupiters bird on the ground the other at the whale Neptunes fish in the aire the rocke was hollowed no more than to containe the virgin and so curiously done that it seem'd not to bee artificiall but naturall for the painter had made it cragged and uneaven as the earth uses to produce it in it sate the virgin of so comely an aspect that would you onely looke on her beauty the very picture were worthy your admiration but if on the chains wherwith she was boūd and the whale ready to devoure her you would count it an object scarce worth your sight as representing you a rude and disorderly sepulchre She was faire and yet pale withall her beauty being plac'd chiefly in her eye her palenesse in her cheeke which was not yet quite destitute of the red tincture wherewith before it had beene dyed nor did her eyes so sparkle but that you might discover in them as in violets lately gathered a kinde of languishing and drooping to expresse in her a modest feare of what shee was to suffer her hands which being bound to the rocke were stretched out the prominent veines whereof making them to incline to a purple blew colour seemed to hang on her armes like grapes on a vine thus was the face of her exprest which every minute expected death shee was attired like a bride as being about to bee married to Pluto in a garment downe to her heeles white as snow and for the subtilty of the weaving like the spiders cobweb not made of the sheepes fleece but such feathers as the Indian women kembe off the trees Over against her appeared the whale with his head onely above water yet the shadow of his shoulders the ranks of his scales the bending of his backe and the wreathing of his tail might be discerned throgh the water his nose was wrinkled like a snarling dogges and his mouth being wide open reached to his shoulders betwixt the virgin and this ugly beast came Perseus flying downe from heaven naked onely a scarfe over his shoulders on his feet he had winged shooes and a hat on his head like a helmet in his left hand he held the Gorgons head which served him for a buckler it looked most grimly with a gastly countenance shaking its haire and wreathing the serpents up and down so that the very picture were enough to have affrighted you in his right hand he had a certaine kinde of weapon which was made in the manner of a sword and a sickle from the hilt to the middle it was like a sword then it was divided and one part was crooked toward the point the other straight so that at the same blow hee would wound and draw to him thus was the story of Andromeda set forth Prometheus was tied to a rock with iron chains by him stood Hercules with his bow and arrows in his hand the Eagle preyed on Prometheus breast still opening it wider and wider digging in further with his beake to finde out more of his liver a great part whereof the painter had made appeare through the wound upon one thigh stood the Eagle whilst he shrinking up his side and lifting it up gave her talons the more hold his other thigh was stretcht out wherein you might discerne each sinew and veine nor were these all the postures that might expresse the greatnesse of his torture for he frowned bit his lips gnasht with his teeth all which were so lively done that the very picture would have moved you to compassion While he was in this distresse Hercules was ready with his bow and arrow who with all his might drew the string to his right dugge and shot at the Eagle which he did so speedily that at the same instant hee drewe his arrow to the head and discharg'd it at the marke Prometheus himselfe full of feare and hope cast his eyes one while on his wound and another while on Hercules on whom they would still have dwelt had not his torment violently snatcht them away to the contemplation of it also Now when we had stayed here a pretty while and had refresht our selves after the misery wee had suffered by shipwracke we hired an Aegyptian pinnace for we had some money left and sailing on the river Nilus steering our course toward Alexandria intending there to live hoping also to finde some of our friends whom happely wee supposed the violence of the tempest might have cast on those shores but when we came to a certaine towne wee heard a great noise at which the mariners crying out The shepheards are upon us and making as if they would goe back the bankes were filled presently with a company of rude and salvage fellows very tall not quite so blacke as the Indians nor tawny as the Aegyptians but betwixt both they were bareheaded their feete were very little their bodies great their language barbarous where our Pilot affirming that we were all dead men stayed our ship for it had beene to no purpose to have gone forward the river being so narrow So immediately there came foure of them aboard our ship who carried away all the goods and moneyes that were in it and went their wayes leaving us bound in the custody of some other of their companions that the next day we might be brought before their King for so they stile the master of the theeves Now he dwelt two dayes journey from that place as we understood by some others who were taken captives vvith us in the meane time the night drew on and our keepers were asleep by reason vvhereof I had a good opportunity to bevvaile Leucippe's calamity wherefore considering my selfe to be the chiefe cause I sighed deeply and not daring to utter my griefes aloud spake softly thus You gods if there be any in this place is our offence so great that in so short a time you should afflict us thus you have given us over into the hands of Aegyptian robbers vvhose heartes are so obdurate that we may utterly despaire of finding any mercy from them how many be there vvho have pacified the mercilesse fury of their inraged enemy vvith their prayers For the tongue pleading for the griefe of the minde is a strong motive to divert the fury of the adversary but alas vvhat prayers shall vve poure forth vvhat vows shall vve make though our speeches vvere sweeter than the Syrens or the musick of our tongues more harmonious than that of the spheres
outlive Hesiods crow the jaw bone of him is as big as an oxe head if you saw his mouth you would thinke that hee had two great hornes growing out of it but they be not hornes but teeth bending upwards in the middle whereof growes his proboscis or snout which they call his hand in forme and bignesse like a trumpet very usefull to him for in that he receives his meat and if it be such as is his usuall food he conveyes it to his mouth if not he gives it to his master an Aethiopian who sits on his backe To this Aethiopian he is very obedient for he understands his language hee fawnes on him and yet stands in awe of him and if hee offend is by him in stead of a whip beaten with an iron barre One strange thing I will tell you whereof I my selfe was an eye-witnesse I remember I saw a Grecian once I have forgot his name lye downe and lay his head to the Elephants head who opening his mouth breathed on him in which thing I much admired the boldnesse of the man and the clemency of the beast but the Grecian afterward told me that he was faine to fee the Elephant so having received his reward hee blew on him a breah more sweet than all the Indian spices which cured him of a paine in his head and that the Elephant knowing this like a cunning lawyer would not open his mouth gratis or like a proud Physician would be greaz'd in the fist ere hee vvould meddle vvith his patient then said I how comes it to passe that so ugly a beast should have so svveet a breath His meate is the cause of it saith Charmides vvhich is a certaine kinde of leafe vvhich grovves in a City of India a place vvhere the Sunne is first seene and displayes most heat vvhich among them concealing its svveet savour is of no account either because it vvil not boast of its vvorth in its ovvn countrey or that it envies that those inhabitants should injoy it this leafe removed from thence and planted on some mountaine discloses its hidden savour and of a leafe becomes a flovver this is that vvhich among the Indians they call a blacke Rose on vvhich the Elephants feede among them as Oxen doe on grasse among us to vvhich kinde of food they being continually used their breath smels like the flower After Charmides had done his tales he let not much time slip for they which are wounded with love are tost to and fro scarce able to undergoe the burthen of their griefe but calling Menelaus aside tooke him by the hand and said I see Menelaus by what thou hast done for Clitophon thou art a trusty friend thou shalt find that my fidelity shall be answerable to thine onely doe one courtesie for me which is easie for thee to perform and to me a matter of such moment that thereby thou wilt preserve my life Leucippe hath almost slaine me doe thou save me shee has not yet paid thee for that life she owes thee let her in loving me make thee requitall thou shalt have for thy pains fifty pieces of gold and Leucippe as many as shee will aske Then Menelaus answered Your money Sir keepe to your selfe or at leastwise profer it to such as use to sell courtesies for my part seeing I am so deeply ingaged in your favour I shall endeavour to make it appeare to you that you have not fastened your affection on one void of all desert Not long after he met with me and told mee what had past betweene him and Charmides which when I heard I thought it was time to bestirre my selfe for avoiding this danger at last we pitcht upon this resolution to couzen Charmides for then it was not safe to give a flat deniall when he might by violence effect what he had intended and flye we could not by reason every place was fraught with theeves besides he had many souldiers attending him continually who might have pursued us Therefore Menelaus went confidently to Charmides and told him that his businesse was dispatcht and that the maide did at the first very obstinately deny his suit but afterward upon much intreaty mention also being made of the reward proposed she yeelded yet conditionally hee would grant her one favour before he enjoyed her to stay till hee came to Alexandria for the place where they then were was but a small village and all would be knowne quickly to the inhabitants This good turne quoth Charmides will be long a comming and in warre who can have patience to deferre his desire no man goes into the field who can assure himselfe of the conquest seeing there be so many passages open to his death do thou begge of Fortune that I may returne safe out of the battaile and I will tarry I goe now to fight with the shepherds but have a greater fight within me the souldier armed with bow and arrowes fights against mee and hath so far prevailed over me that I am nothing but wounds fetch me hither a Physician some one for my wounds rankle I goe to fling fire against the enemie while Cupid flings torches about in my heart doe thou Menelaus first put out these torches for it were a good omen mee thinkes first to fight Venus battaile ere I enter into Mars his field True said Menelaus but you see how hard a thing it is for her to conceale it from her husband who is still conversant with her and besides which loves her so dearely I but said Charmides it is an easie matter to send him out of the way Whereat Menelaus seeing him so eager upon the matter and fearing much lest I should have some mischiefe done me fained this excuse would you needs know the truth of the matter Charmides I wil tell you she is sick I will stay then said hee three or foure dayes meane while let her come to me and talke with me I long to heare her voice to take her by the hand and to embrace her this would bee some remedy for my love-sicke soule sure shee may safely give me a kisse When Menelaus was come backe and told me this I could not chuse but at his last words cry out that no man but my selfe should enjoy a kisse than which nothing is more sweet from Leucippes mouth For in the congresse questionlesse there is some measure and satiety but kisses are endlesse and alwayes fresh The three best things which the mouth can boast of are the breath the voice and a kisse yet thinke I not that there is any delight in the mutuall touch of the lips but the fountain of all pleasure is the heart Trust me Menelaus for in my distresse I will not bee ashamed to reveale any thing I have hitherto obtained nothing my self at Leucippes hands but a kisse she is yet a virgin and made a woman by nothing else this shall no man adulterate and hee that shall seeke to robbe me of this treasure will brand
time into the market place there came one behind mee who taking mee fast by the hand turnd mee about and saluted mee at first I knew not who it was but afterwards seeing that his salutations tended toward mee I eyed him a little more narrowly and immediatly shouting out for joy imbrac'd him for it was my old friend Cinias After much complementing betwixt us home I bring him where hee relates to mee what befell him and I to him what had happened to Leucippe hee beganne thus Thship being split I got to the sail-yard which be being ful of men I could not handsomely bestride and was forc't therefore to hang by one end of it while we were thus tost up and down there came a wave and dasht the saile-yard against a rock which rebounding againe cast me off like a stone out of a sling so that I was forc'd to spend the rest of that day in swimming having made shipwracke then of my hope also at length weary and committing my selfe wholy into the hands of Fortune I espied a ship comming towards mee and stretching forth my hands to them which were in it humbly implored their aid the Saylours whether they were truly compassionate on me or whether the violence of the winde drove them that way made to mee and one of them cast out a rope to me as the ship past along which when I had taken hold of they drew mee out of the jawes of death This ship was bound for Sidon wherein were some that knew mee and tooke care of mee Two dayes expired wee arived at Sidon but I desired some Sidonians which were in the ship to wit Xenedamas the Merchant and his father in law Theophilus that if they met any of Tyre they should not tell that they had saved mee from dâ—owning least happily they might conjecture that I fled with you indeavouring by this means to conceale my flight which I did easily seeing I had beene but five dayes absent and had left word with my servants that they should tell any man which enquired for mee that I was gone into the countrey and intended not to returne till after ten dayes but to see the mischiefe two dayes after we were gone your father returned home from Palestina and found letters which were sent the day before from Leucippe's father wherein he betrothed his daughter unto you which when hee had read and heard that you were gone hee was exceedingly inraged partly that you should loose so rich a profer and partly that in so small a time things should be brought to such a passe none of which had happened had the letter come but a day sooner yet he desired Leucippes mother to conceale it hoping that hee might heare tidings of you not thinking it fit to acquaint Sostratus with this mischance perswading himself that whithersoever you went it was to make up the match which when you heard you should have free leave to doe you would returne home not ashamed to tell the cause of your flight wherefore his sole care was to enquire diligently whither you fled and to come and seeke you out Not long after Diophantes of Tyre who was newly returned out of Aegypt told him that he saw you here wthich comming to my eares I made no delay but came straightway to tel thee of it and have now beene eight daies in enquiring thee out thinke therefore again and againe what course you will take for your father will be certainly here very shortly Hearing these words I bewailed much that Fortune should make such a May-game of mee I am in a fine case sure Sostratus hath betrothed me his daughter now she 's dead hee reckoned the dayes fairely when his promise could not prevent our flight O unseasonable happinesse or rather O till this day happy Clitophon I must be wedded to a coarse forsooth and while I am mourning for her death sing her marriage song a fine bride sure a carcasse without a head Clinias hearing this told mee that it was not a time to lament but that I should settle upon some course or other whether to returne home or expect my father here neither of them pleases me said I for how shall I looke him in the face out of whose house I fled so basely and made him to falsifie his oath to his brother treacherously robbing him of that which was committed to his custody I thinke no way safer therefore than to be gone ere he come While Clinias and I were in talke in came Menelaus and Satyrus both of them having embrac'd Clinias and fully understood my minde Satyrus turned to me and said thus There is an opportunity not to bee contemned offered to thee Clitophon nor shall Clinias bee exempted from hearing it whereby thou maist not onely repaire thy fortunes but also cure thy inflamed desire it is a happinesse which Venus her selfe prostitutes to thee sleight not then her profer There is a woman in Ephesus named Melite which is deepely in love with thee shee is very rich and so faire that when thou seest her thou wilt take her to be some goddesse she hath lately lost her husband at sea and now desires thee not for a husband but for a paramour laying her selfe and all her fortunes at the feet of thy acceptance for thy sake shee hath stayed here two moneths wooing of thee to goe home with her nor can I see any reason why thou shouldst bee backward in granting her suit unlesse thou lookst that Leucippe should revive againe Then said Clinias Satyrus in my minde counsels you well for there needs no demurring when beauty riches and love offer themselves so freely whereby thou maist not onely enjoy thy pleasure but purchase credit and furnish thy selfe with all necessaries besides you must know that the gods may punish you for your pride no sin being more detestable to them than that contradict not therefore their will and if I may counsell you follow Satyrus advice At this I sighed saying lead me whither you will since Clinias approves of it so this woman bee not so troublesome or hasty as to exact my love ere I come to Ephesus for I have solemnly vowed not to marry any other in that place where I have lost my Leucippe Satyrus hearing this carried the newes to Melite and not long after returned telling us that at the relation of it the good woman was ready to swoun for joy and that she had invited me to supper that night So I went to her She had no sooner seene mee but she met me entertaining mee with a thousand kisses and embraces nor was shee any of the unhandsomest for shee was of a most beautifull aspect such as might befit Venus her selfe what comelinesse she had was genuine for the colour in her face was not sophisticated with Ceruâ—e or Fucus but lookt like a mixture of bloud and milke her haire was thicke and shined like gold which rare perfection of hers made mee delight much to
hands all this I will confesse it is granted that he bought her Melite released her is there any thing else you would aske him surely no why then Sosthenes is dismist But now let mee turne my speech to Melite and Clitophon What have you done with my servant you stole from me for she was mine and no mans else this Thersander craftily put in by the way that if Leucippe were yet alive shee should still continue in his service he added this moreover Clitophon saith he kild the maid Melite denies it but her the maids testimonies confute for if it appeare as it doth already that Melite gave them the charge of her and they never restored her what must be become of her why she was sent out sent out to whom that they tell you not is it not therefore palpably manifest that she was delivered into some mans hand to be slaine which it is likely was concealed from the maids lest many being privy to it there would incurre a greater danger of having it divulged for they left her among a company of theeves where it is very probable they durst not stay to see what would become of her Againe he tels you a flim flam tale of a fellow prisoner of his who should make mention of this murder but who should this bee which should tell him all and the Iudges never a word had he not denyed that he knew him he might perhaps have beene bidden to produce him and have beene caught in a lye How long will your grave and judicious eares suffer themselves to be abused with such trifles and gewgawes as these are can you thinke that a man should accuse himselfe were he not guilty and did not the gods by speciall providence compell him to it Here when Thersander had made an end of speaking and had taken his oath that hee knew not what was become of Sosthenes it seemed good therefore to the chiefe of the Iudges hee was of the bloud royall and sate still in capitall causes concerning life and death though hee had some other of the elders of the Citie which did assist him in the administration of justice and with whom he frequently consulted it seemed good to him I say after he had imparted the matter to his colleagues that I should suffer death according to the law which had provided that in case a man did accuse himselfe of murder without any other evidences he should straightway bee put to death some other punishment they intended for Melite after they had examined her and for Thersander they injoyned that the oath hee had taken concerning Sosthenes should be registred but for mee it was decreed that I should bee wrackt to confesse whether Melite were guilty of the murder or no so my cloathes being taken off I was mounted upon an engine where I hung while some brought whips some fire another a wheele Clinias all this while stood by weeping when suddenly the Priest of Diana was seene to come into the market place crowned with a laurell which is a signe alwayes that there are some strangers come from forraigne parts to doe sacrifice to the goddesse Diana this accident if it happen while any malefactor is about to be punished causes his execution to bee deferr'd till the sacrifice is ended therefore at that time I escaped Now who doe you thinke was chiefe author of these solemnities but Sostratus Leucippes father for when the Byzantians by the helpe of Diana had got the victory over the Thracians with whom they waged warre they thought fit by way of gratitude to the goddesse for her assistance to offer her some great sacrifice besides Diana her selfe had privately appeared to Sostratus in a dreame foretelling him that hee should at Ephesus finde his daughter and his nephew At the same time Leucippe perceiving the doores open where shee was and fearing lest Sosthenes whom she saw goe forth should stand before the doore shee was fearfull to steale away at last seeing he came not in againe shee tooke heart of grace for recounting with her selfe how many times before and how unexpectedly she had been freed out of greater dangers and when she was almost past all hope she decreed to take hold of this faire opportunity fortune offered her for the temple of Diana being not farre distant from the place where shee then was out she went and thither betooke her selfe This Temple heretofore durst no woman who was free borne enter but to men and maidens it was alway open yet was it lawfull for such women servants as were accused by their masters for any crime to flie thither as to an Asylum or place of refuge then did the Iudges give sentence betweene the servant and her maner for if it did appeare that the master had not wrong'd her hee vvas injoyned by them to receive her againe into his service and solemnly to sweare that hee vvould never any more so much as thinke of her running avvay but if the maids complaint vvere just then shee should continue there ever after and attend the altar of the goddesse While Sostratus vvas leading the Priest who had commanded the Court should breake up towards the temple Leucippe entred in and mist but a litle of meeting her father When the assembly was broke up and that I was set free a great multitude throng'd about mee some of them pitied my case others prayed for me others asked me questions amongst whom Sostratus standing as soone as he saw me knew me for as I told you at the beginning of my story hee was sometime at Tyre when the festivals of Hercules were celebrated and there stayed a great while before our flight by reason whereof hee might easily know mee especially being told in a vision that hee should finde us both here So comming nearer to mee hee said Here truly is Clitophon but where is my Leucippe Then I knowing him cast my eyes on the ground while those that stood about mee told him all that I had accused my selfe of which he hearing sighed deeply and smiting himself on the head flew in my face and almost digged my eyes out meane time I was so farre from resisting him that I held my face to him while hee strucke mee But Clinias stepping forth held his hand and asked him what he meant so violently to fall upon one who loved Leucippe far dearer then he did himself and profered to dye because shee was supposed to bee dead Many other arguments he added also to appease his fury But hee calling often on Diana began thus to complaine Didst thou O goddesse bid me come hither for this end were these thy predictions I did beleeve thy dreames till now to bee true and was confident that I should have found my daughter here and see in stead of her I finde her murderer Clinias hearing him make mention of a dream was not a little glad and wisht Sostratus to be of good cheare telling him that the goddesse would not falsifie her word
plead against those adulterers for the whole scope of Thersanders speech was against the Priest and did but glance at other matters telling my advocate further that as soon as he had finished his accusation he should have time to put in his defence so with a most impudent looke and a tongue inured to lying he began You have heard the scurrilous and false tales which this babling priest hath invented of Thersander by retorting upon him what was more applicable to himselfe all that Thersander laid to his charge was most true for it is most evident that he set Clitophon free that he entertained a strumpet and an adulterer in the Temple but hee thinking to make Thersander odious in the eyes of this assembly rippes up a rhapsodie of vices whereof Thersander was never guiltie which mee thinkes is a thing very ill beseeming a man of his coat for of all things a priest should carry a good tongue in his mouth that I may whip him with his owne rod. But to come to the point and passing over the former part of his speech which would have better be fitted a Theatre than the Court let us come I say to that part wherein hee so much complaines of us for committing one to prison whom we had manifestly deprehended in the very act of adulterie wherein I wonder much that hee being a priest should take so much paines in the patronizing of this exolete couple sure it is to be suspected that their lookes have bewitched him and that the beautie of the wench hath ensnared him I'faith say which of them dost thou love best a man may without offence aske you the question for you eate together drinke together and lie together and what you then doe no bodie knowes I feare you turne the Temple of Diana into the Temple of Venus I hope we shall call your priesthood in question anon and examine whether these premises rightly considered you are a fit man for the place for as touching Thersanders conversation how modestly how incorruptly he hath lived from his childhood all the world knowes when he was of yeares hee was legitimately married though I must confesse he was much deceived in the choice of his wife for relying too much on her nobilitie wealth he found she proved another gates woman than he tooke her for for it is very probable that shee had to doe with a great many men which the good man her husband never knew of but at length shee grew to such a height of impudence that she plaid the whore publiquely and while her husband had occasion but to step a little out of the way she taking this to be a very opportune time to satisfie her lust entertained this lascivious youth whom shee could not bee content to play the whore with in Alexandria but must crosse the sea with him and bring him hither to Ephesus where she not onely lay with him but even while the very Sailors stood and looked on most wantonly embraced him O insatiate miscreants who have defiled both sea and land Aegypt and Ionia I have heard of many who have unawares slipt into this vice yet would never againe runne voluntarily into it as abhorring the bestiality of it or if they did yet have they concealed it but this woman blows a trumpet and sets a cryer to proclaime it all Ephesus must take notice of this smooth-faced youth whom shee without any shame brought from a farre countrey and shewed about the Citie being as proud of such a prize as a Merchant is of some costly wares which hee hath transported But then shee answers that shee thought her husband had beene dead thatâ—s wel answered for were it so then she were quite free seeing her husband being dead the name of adulterie dies with him Here Thersander interrupted Sopater in his speech and said What I formerly proposed needs no further examination as touching Melite and her which is reported to be daughter to him who is chief author of this sacrifice though she be truly my servant I have these conditions drawne REPEAT them Thersander concerning Melite and Leucippe for so they say this prostitute is called proposes these conditions First for Melite that since she constantly affirmes that she never had to do either with this stranger or any man else in his absence that first she sweare it next for further triall goe downe into the fountaine of Styx where if it shall appeare that she is not forsworn I will willingly yeeld that shee shall bee dismist Next for Leucippe if it appeare she be a woman she shall serve out her time to me but if shee say she be a maid shee shall be lockt into the Cave where Pans pipe hangs To these conditions we gladly agreed as being confident of Leucippes virginitie and on the other side Melite was sure that during the time Thersander was from home nothing had past betweene her and me but discourse which made her say thus to her husband The conditions I will gladly embrace nay more will sweare that when thou wast from home neither citizen nor stranger had to doe with mee but if it shall appeare that thou hast wrongfully accused mee what punishment wilt thou be content to suffer Thersander answered whatsoever the judges shall please to inflict on mee After this the assembly was dismist and it was concluded on that the next day triall should bee made of each particular contained in the conditions The story of the fountaine of Styx was this There was sometime a very beautifull virgin called Rhodope who delighted much in hunting for swiftnesse of foot and skill in casting a dart most exquisite her attire used to be a robe reaching downe to her knees and girt about with a girdle her haire short with a coronet on her head Diana on a time seeing her tooke a liking to her and led her a hunting where what they tooke was equally divided between them Rhodope for the favour she received at Dianas hands made a vow to keepe her virginitie and never to come in the company of man which when Venus perceived she was inraged and determined with her selfe to revenge the arrogancy of this maid who seemed thus to sleight her for it fortuned that there was a youth of Ephesus as handsome a man as shee was a woman whose name was Euthynicus delighted as much with hunting as Rhodope was and as much detesting the companie of women as she of men as they went forth one day both a hunting Venus cunningly stole into the wood and brought the two wilde beasts which they hunted in severall parts of the wood together by and by Diana being gone she meets with her sonne to whom she sayes thus Seest thou not strippling our two enemies yonder nay the wench hath beene so malapert that shee hath taken a solemne oath against us thou seest them following their prey doe thou play the huntsman too and first worke thy revenge on that saucie wench shee is about