of shamefastnes and wanton languishing borrowed of her eyes the down-castlooke of modestie But we in the mean time farre from louing her and often assuring her that we would not so recompence her husbandes sauing of our liues to such a ridiculous degree of trusting her she had brought him that she caused him send vs worde that vpon our liues we should doo whatsoeuer she commaunded vs good man not knowing any other but that all her pleasures were directed to the preseruation of his estate But when that made vs rather pittie then obey his folly then fell she to seruile entreating vs as though force could haue bene the schoole of Loue or that an honest courage would not rather striue against then yeeld to iniurie All which yet could not make vs accuse her though it made vs almost pine away for spight to loose any of our time in so troublesome an idlenesse But while we were thus full of wearinesse of what was past and doubt of what was to follow Loue that I thinke in the course of my life hath a spot sometimes to poyson me with roses sometimes to heale me with wormewood brought forth a remedy vnto vs which though it helped me out of that distres alas the cōclusion was such as I must euer while I liue think it worse then a wracke so to haue bene preserued This King by this Queene had a sonne of tender age but of great expectation brought vp in the hope of themselues and already acceptation of the inconstant people as successour of his fathers crowne wherof he was as worthy considering his partes as vnworthie in respect of the wrong was thereby done against the most noble Plangus whose great desertes now either forgotten or vngratefully remembred all men set their sayles with the fauourable winde which blewe on the fortune of this young Prince perchaunce not in their harts but surely not in their mouths now giuing Plangus who some yeares before was their only champion the poore comfort of calamitie pittie This youth therefore accounted Prince of that region by name Palladius did with vehement affection loue a yong Ladye brought vp in his fathers court called Zelmane daughter to that mischieuouslie vnhappie Prince Plexirtus of whom already I haue and sometimes must make but neuer honorable mention left there by her father because of the intricate changeablenes of his estate he by the motherside being halfe brother to this Queene Andromana and therefore the willinger committing her to her care But as Loue alas doth not alwaies reflect it selfe so fell it out that this Zelmane though truely reason there was enough to loue Palladius yet could not euer perswade her harte to yeelde thereunto with that paine to Palladius as they feele that feele an vnloued loue Yet louing indeed and therefore constant hee vsed still the intercession of diligence and faith euer hoping because he would not put him selfe into that hell to be hopelesse vntill the time of our being come and captiued there brought foorth this ende which truely deserues of me a further degree of sorrow then teares Such was therein my ill destinie that this young Ladye Zelmane like some vnwisely liberall that more delight to giue presentes then pay debtes she chose alas for the pittie rather to bestowe her loue so much vndeserued as not desired vpon me then to recompence him whose loue besides many other thinges might seeme euen in the court of Honour iustly to claime it of her But so it was alas that so it was whereby it came to passe that as nothing doth more naturally follow his cause then care to preserue and benefite doth follow vnfained affection she felt with me what I felt of my captiuitie and streight laboured to redresse my paine which was her paine which she could do by no better meanes then by vsing the helpe therein of Palladius who true Louer considering what and not why in all her commaundements and indeed she concealing from him her affection which shee intituled compassion immediatly obeyed to imploye his vttermost credite to relieue vs which though has great as a beloued son with a mother faultye otherwise but not hard-harted toward him yet it could not preuaile to procure vs libertie Wherefore he sought to haue that by practise which he could not by praier And so being allowed often to visite vs for indeede our restraints were more or lesse according as the ague of her passion was either in the fit or intermission he vsed the opportunitie of a fit time thus to deliuer vs. The time of the marrying that Queene was euery year by the extreme loue of her husband and the seruiceable loue of the Courtiers made notable by some publike honours which did as it were proclaime to the worlde how deare shee was to that people Among other none was either more grateful to the beholders or more noble in it selfe then iusts both with sword launce mainteined for a seuen-night together wherein that Nation doth so excel both for comelines and hablenes that from neighbour-countries they ordinarilye come some to striue some to learne some to behold This day it happened that diuers famous Knights came thither from the Court of Helen Queene of Corinth a Lady whome fame at that time was so desirous to honor that she borrowed all mens mouthes to ioyne with the sounde of her Trumpet For as her beautie hath wonne the prize from all women that stande in degree of comparison for as for the two sisters of Arcadia they are far beyond all conceipte of comparison so hath her gouernment bene such as hath bene no lesse beautifull to mens iudgementes then her beautie to the eiesight For being brought by right of birth a woman a yong woman a faire woman to gouern a people in nature mutinously proud and alwaies before so vsed to hard gouernours as they knew not how to obey without the sworde were drawne Yet could she for some yeares so carry her selfe among them that they found cause in the delicacie of her sex of admiration not of contempt which was notable euen in the time that many countries about her were full of wars which for old grudges to Corinth were thought stil would conclude there yet so handled she the matter that the threatens euer smarted in the threatners she vsing so strange and yet so well-succeding a temper that she made her people by peace warlike her courtiers by sports learned her Ladies by Loue chast For by cōtinuall martiall exercises without bloud she made them perfect in that bloudy art Her sportes were such as carried riches of Knowledge vpon the stream of Delight and such the behauiour both of her selfe and her Ladies as builded their chastitie not vpon waiwardnes but choice of worthines So as it seemed that court to haue bene the mariage place of Loue Vertue and that herself was a Diana apparrelled in the garmēts of Venus And this which Fame only deliuered vnto me for yet I haue neuer
beseech you Sir said she since your prowes hath bereft me of my company let it yet so farre heale the woundes it selfe hath giuen as to garde me to the next towne How great so euer my businesse bee fayre Ladie saide hee it shall willingly yeeld to so noble a cause But first euen by the fauour you beare to the Lorde of this noble armour I coniure you to tell mee the storie of your fortune herein lest hereafter when the image of so excellent a Ladie in so straunge a plight come before mine eyes I condemne my selfe of want of consideration in not hauing demaunded thus much Neither aske I it without protestation that wherein my sworde and faith may auaile you they shall binde themselues to your seruice Your coniuration fayre Knight saide she is too strong for my poore spirite to disobey and that shall make me without any other hope my ruine being but by one vnrelieueable to graunt your will herein and to say the truth a straunge nicenesse were it in me to refraine that from the eares of a person representing so much worthinesse which I am glad euen to rockes and woods to vtter Know you then that my name is Helen Queene by birth hetherto possession of the faire citie and territorie of Corinth I can say no more of my selfe but beloued of my people may iustly say beloued since they are content to beare with my abseÌ„ce folly But I being left by my fathers death accepted by my people in the highest degre that couÌ„try could receiue assone or rather before that my age was ripe for it my court quickely swarmed full of suiters some perchance louing my state otherâ— my person but once I know all of them howsoeuer my possessions were in their harts my beautie such as it is was in their mouthes many strangers of princely and noble blood and all of mine owne countrie to whom either birth or vertue gaue courage to avowe so high a desire Among the rest or rather before the rest was the Lorde Philoxenus sonne and heire to the vertuous noble man Timotheus which Timotheus was a man both in power riches parentage and which passed all these goodnes and which followed all these loue of the people beyond any of the great men of my countrie Now this sonne of his I must say truly not vnworthye of such a father bending himselfe by all meanes of seruiseablenes to mee and setting forth of himselfe to win my fauour wan thus farre of mee that in truth I lesâ—e misliked him then any of the rest which in some proportion my countenaunce deliuered vnto him Though I must protest it was a very false embassadour if it deliuered at all any affection whereof my hart was vtterly void I as then esteeming my selfe borne to rule thinking foule scorne willingly to submit my selfe to be ruled But whiles Philoxenus in good sorte pursued my fauour and perchance nourished himselfe with ouer much hope because he found I did in some sorte acknowledge his valew one time among the rest he brought with him a deare friend of his With that she loked vpoÌ„ the picture before her and straight sighed straight teares followed as if the Idol of dutie ought to be honoured with such oblations and then her speach staied the tale hauing brought her to that looke but that looke hauing quite put her out of her tale But Palladius greatly pitying so sweete a sorrow in a Ladie whom by fame he had already knowen honoured besought her for her promise sake to put silence so longe vnto her moning till she had recounted the rest of this story Why saide she this is the picture of Amphialus what neede I say more to you what eare is so barbarous but hath hard of Amphialus who followes deeds of armes but euery where findes monumeÌ„ts of Amphialus who is courteous noble liberall but he that hath the example before his eyes of Amphialus where are al heroical parts but in Amphialus O Amphialus I would thou were not so excellent or I would I thought thee not so excellent and yet would I not that I would soâ— with that she wept againe till he againe solliciting the conclusion of her story Then must you saide shee know the story of Amphialus for his wil is my life his life my history and indeed in what can I better emploie my lippes theÌ„ in speaking of Amphialus This Knight then whose figure you see but whose minde can be painted by nothing but by the true shape of vertue is brothers sonne to Basilius King of Arcadia and in his childhood esteemed his heir till Basilius in his olde yeares marrying a yonge and a faire Lady had of her those two daughters so famous for their perfection in beautie which put by their yong cosin from that expectation Wherevppon his mother a woman of a hautiâ— heart being daughter to the King of Argos either disdaining or fearing that her sonne should liue vnder the power of Basilius sent him to that Lorde Timotheus betweene whome and her dead husband there had passed streight bands of mutuall hospitality to be brought vp in company with his sonne Philoxenus A happie resolution for Amphialus whose excellent nature was by this meanes trained on with as good education as any Princes sonne in the worlde could haue which otherwise it is thought his mother farre vnworthie of such a sonne would not haue giuen him The good Timotheus no lesse louing him then his owne sonne well they grew in yeeres and shortly occasions fell aptly to trie Amphialus and all occasions were but steppes for him to clime fame by Nothing was so harde but his valour ouercame which yet still he so guided with true vertue that although no man was in our parts spoken of but he for his manhood yet as though therin he excelled him selfe he was coÌ„monly called the courteous Amphialus An endlesse thing it were for me to tell how many aduentures terrible to be spoken of he atchieued what monsters what Giants what conquests of countries some times vsing policy some times force but alwaies vertue well folowed and but followed by Philoxenus betweene whom and him so fast a frindship by educatioÌ„ was knit that at last Philoxenus hauing no greater matter to imploye his frindshipp in then to winne me therein desired and had his vttermost furtheraunce to that purpose brought he him to my court where truely I may iustly witnes with him that what his wit coulde conceiue and his wit can conceiue as far as the limits of reason stretch was all directed to the setting forwarde the suite of his friend Philoxenus my eares could heare nothing from him but touching the worthines of Philoxenus and of the great happines it would be vnto mee to haue such a husband with many arguments which God knowes I cannot well remember because I did not much beleue For why should I vse many circumstances to come to that where alreadye I am and euer while
at the first liking of a likely beautie louing because they will loue for want of other businesse not because they feele indeed that diuine power which makes the heart finde a reason in passion and so God knowes as inconstantly leaue vpon the next chaunce that beautie castes before them So therefore taking loue vppon him like a fashion he courted this Ladie Artesia who was as fit to paie him in his owne monie as might be For she thinking she did wrong to her beautie if she were not prowde of it called her disdaine of him chastitie and placed her honour in little setting by his honouring her determining neuer to marrie but him whome she thought worthie of her and that was one in whome all worthinesse were harboured And to this conceipt not only nature had bent her but the bringing vp she receaued at my sister in lawe Cecropia had confirmed her who hauing in her widowhood taken this young Artesia into her charge because her Father had bene a deare friend of her dead husbandes had taught her to thinke that there is no wisdome but in including both heauen and earth in ones selfe and that loue courtesie gratefulnesse friendship and all other vertues are rather to be taken on then taken in ones selfe And so good a disciple she found of her that liking the fruits of her owne planting she was content if so her sonne could haue liked of it to haue wished her in mariage to my Nephew Amphialus But I thinke that desire hath lost some of his heate since she hath knowne that such a Queene as Helen is doth offer so great a price as a Kingdome to buie his fauour for if I be not deceaued in my good sister Cecrâ—pia she thinks no face so beautifull as that which lookes vnder a Crowne But Artesia indeede liked well of my Nephew Amphialus for I can neuer deeme that loue which in hauty harts proceeds of a desire onely to please and as it were peacock themselues but yet she hath shewed vehemencie of desire that way I thinke because all her desires be vehement in so much that she hath both placed her only brother a fine youth called Ismenus to be his squire and her selfe is content to waite vpon my sister till she may see the vttermost what she may worke in Amphialus who being of a melancholie though I must say truly courteous and noble mind seemes to loue nothing lesse then Loue and of late hauing through some aduenture or inward miscontentment withdrawne himselfe from any bodies knowledge where he is Artesia the easier condiscended to goe to the court of Laconia whether she was sent for by the Kings wife to whome she is somewhat allied And there after the war of the Helots this Knight Phalantus at least for tongue-delight made him selfe her seruaunt and she so little caring as not to showe mislike thereof was content onely to be noted to haue a notable seruaunt For truely one in my court neerely acquainted with him within these few dayes made me a pleasaunt description of their loue while he with cheerefull lookes would speake sorowfull words vsing the phrase of his affection in so high a stile that Mercurie would not haue wooed Venus with more magnificent Eloquence but els neyther in behauiour nor action accusing in himselfe anie great trouble in minde whether he sped or no. And she of the other side well finding how little it was and not caring for more yet taught him that often it falleth out but a foolish wittinesse to speake more then one thinkes For she made earnest benefite of his iest forcing him in respect of his profession to doo her such seruice as were both cumbersome and costly vnto him while he still thought he went beyond her because his harte did not commit the idolatrie So that lastlie she I thinke hauing in minde to make the fame of her beautie an oratour for her to Amphialus perswading her selfe perhaps that it might fall out in him as it doth in some that haue delightfull meate before them and haue no stomacke to it before other folkes prayse it shee tooke the aduauntage one daye vppon Phalantus vnconscionable praysinges of her and certaine cast-awaie vowes howe much hee would doo for her sake to arrest his woord assoone as it was out of his mouth and by the vertue thereof to charge him to goe with her thorow all the courts of Greece and with the chalenge now made to giue her beauty the principality ouer all other Phalantus was entrapped and saw round about him but could not get out Exceedingly perplexed he was as he confest to him that tolde mee the tale not for doubt hee had of him selfe for indeede he had little cause being accounted with his Launce especially whereupon the challenge is to be tryed as perfect as any that Greece knoweth but because he feared to offend his sister Helen and withall as he said he could not so much beleeue his loue but that he must thinke in his hart whatsoeuer his mouth affirmed that both she my daughters the faire Parthenia wife to a most noble Gentleman my wiues neere kinsman might far better put in their clayme for that prerogatiue But his promise had bound him prentice and therefore it was now better with willingnes to purchase thankes then with a discontented doing to haue the paine and not the reward and therefore went on as his faith rather then loue did lead him And now hath he already passed the courts of Laconia Elis Argos Corinth and as many times it happens that a good pleader maks a bad cause to preuaile so hath his Lawnce brought captiues to the triumph of Artesias beautie such as though Artesia be amoÌ„g the fairest yet in that coÌ„pany were to haue the prehemineÌ„ce for in those courts many knights that had bene in other far countries defended such as they had sene liked in their trauaile but their defeÌ„ce had ben such as they had forfaited the pictures of their Ladies to giue a forced false testimonie to Artesias excellencie And now lastly is he come hether where he hath leaue to trye his fortune But I assure you if I thought it not in dew and true consideration an iniurious seruice and churlish curtesie to put the danger of so noble a title in the deciding of such a dangerles combat I would make yong master Phalantus know that your eyes can sharpen a blunt Launce and that age which my gray haires onely gotten by the louing care of others make seeme more then it is hath not diminished in me the power to protect an vndeniable verity With that hee bustled vp himselfe as though his heart would faine haue walked abroad Zelmane with an inwarde smiling gaue him outward thanks desiring him to reserue his force for worthier causes So passing their time according to their woont they wayted for the comming of Phalantus who the next morning hauing alredy caused his tents to be pitched neere to a
likerouse is offered vnto it But before any other came in to supplie the place Zelmane hauing heard some of the shepheards by chaunce name Strephon and Klaius supposing thereby they had bene present was desirous both to heare them for the fame of their frindly loue and to know them for their kindenesse towardes her best loued frinde Much grieued was Basilius that any desire of his mistresse should bee vnsatisfied and therefore to represent them vnto hir aswell as in their absence it might be he commaunded on Lamon who had at large sett down their country pastimes and first loue to Vrania to sing the whole discourse which he did in this manner A Shepheards tale no height of stile desires To raise in words what in effect is lowe A plaining songe plaine-singing voice requires For warbling notes from inward chearing flow I then whose burd'ned brest but thus aspires Of shepheards two the seely case to show Nede not the stately Muses helpe inuoke For creeping rimes which often sighings choke But you ô you that thinke not teares to deare To spend for harms although they touch you not And deigne to deeme your neighbors mischefe neare Although they be of meaner parents gott You I inuite with easie eares to heare The poore-clad truth of loues wrong-ordred lot Who may be glad be glad you be not such Who share in woe weygh others haue as much Ther was ô seldome blessed word of was A paire of frends or rather one cal'd two Train'd in the life which on short-bitten grasse In shine or storme must sett the doubted shoe He that the other in some yeares did passe And in those gifts that years distribute doe Was Klaius cald ah Klaius wofull wight The later borne yet too soone Strephon hight Epeirus high was honest Klaius nest To Strephon AEoles land first breathing lent But East West were ioin'd by frendships hest As Strephons eare heart to Klaius bent So Klaius soule did in his Strephon rest Still both their flocks flocking togither went As if they would of owners humour be And eke their pipes did well as frends agree Klaius for skill of hearb's shepheards art Among the wisest was accounted wise Yet not so wise as of vnstained harte Strephon was yonge yet markt with humble eies How elder rul'd their flocks cur'd their smart So that the graue did not his words despise Both free of minde both did clear-dealing loue And both had skill in verse their voice to moue Their chearfull minds till pois'ned was their cheare The honest sports of earthy lodging proue Now for a clod-like hare in fourm they peere Now bolt cudgill squirrels leape do moue Now the ambitiouse Larke with mirror cleare They catch while he foole to himself makes loue And now at keels they trie a harmles chaunce And now their curr they teach to fetch daunce When mery May first early calls the morne With mery maids a mayeng they do go Then do they pull from sharpe niggard thorne The plenteous sweets can sweets so sharply grow Then some grene gowns are by the lasses worne In chastest plaies till home they walke a rowe While daunce about the may-pole is begun When if nede were they could at quintain run While thus they ran a low but leaueld race While thus they liu'd this was indede a life With nature pleas'd content with present case Free of proud feares braue begg'ry smiling strife Of clime-fall Court the enuy-hatching place While those restles desires in great men rife To visite so low folkes did much disdaine This while though poore they in themselues did raigne One day ô day that shin'de to make them darke While they did ward sun-beames with shady bay And Klaius taking for his yongling carke Lest greedy eies to them might challenge lay Busy with oker did their shoulders marke His marke a Piller was deuoid of stay As bragging that free of all passions mone Well might he others beare but leane to none Strephon with leauy twiggs of Laurell tree A garland made on temples for to weare For he then chosen was the dignitie Of village-Lord that whitsontide to beare And full poore foole of boyish brauery With triumphs shews would shew he nought did feare But fore-accounting oft makes builders misse They found they felt they had no lease of blisse For ere that either had his purpose done Behold beholding well it doth deserue They saw a maid who thitherward did runne To catch hir sparrow which from hir did swerue As she a black-silke cap on him begunne To sett for foile of his milke-white to serue She chirping ran he peeping flew away Till hard by them both he she did stay Well for to see they kept themselues vnsene And saw this fairest maid of fairer minde By fortune meare in Nature borne a Queene How well apaid she was hir birde to finde How tenderly hir tender hands betweene In iuory cage she did the micher binde How rosy moist'ned lipps about his beake Mouing she seem'd at once to kisse speake Chastned but thus thus his lesson tought The happy wretch she putt into hir breast Which to their eies the bowles of Venus brought For they seem'd made euen of skie-mettall best And that the bias of hir bloud was wrought Betwixt them two the peeper tooke his nest Where snugging well he well appear'd content So to haue done amisse so to be shent This done but done with captiue-killing grace Each motion seeming shott from beauties bow With length laid downe she deckt the lonely place Proud grew the grasse that vnder hir did growe The trees spred out their armes to shade hir face But she on elbow lean'd with sigh's did show No grasse no trees nor yet hir sparrow might To long-perplexed minde breed long delight She troubled was alas that it mought be With tedious brawlings of her parents deare Who would haue hir in will worde agree To wedd Antaxius their neighbour neare A heardman rich of much account was he In whome no euill did raigne nor good appeare In some such one she lik'd not his desire Faine would be free but dreadeth parents ire Kindly sweete soule she did vnkindnes take That bagged baggage of a misers mudd Should price of hir as in a market make But golde can guild a rotten piece of wood To yeeld she found hir noble heart did ake To striue she fear'd how it with vertue stoode This doubting clouds ore-casting heau'nly braine At length in rowes of Kisse-cheeke teares they raine Cupid the wagg that lately conquer'd had Wise Counsellors stout Captaines puissant Kings And ti'de them fast to leade his triumph badd Glutted with them now plaies with meanest things So oft in feasts with costly chaunges cladd To crammed mawes a spratt new Stomake brings So Lords with sport of Stagg Hearon full Sometimes we vse small birds from nests do pull So now for pray these shepheards two he tooke Whose mettall stiff he knew he could not bende
begin My song clime thou the winde Which holland sweet now gently sendeth in That on his wings the leauell thou maist finde To hit but Kissing hit Her ear 's the weights of wit If thou know not for whome thy Master dies These markes shall make thee wise She is the heardesse faire that shines in darke And giues her kidds no food but willow's barke This said at length he ended His oft sigh-broken dittie Then raise but raise on leggs which faintnes bended With skinne in sorrow died With face the plot of pittie With thoughts which thoughts their owne tormentors tried He rase streight espied His Ramme who to recouer The Ewe another loued With him proud battell proued He enuied such a death in sight of louer And alwaies westward eying More enuied Phoebus for his westerne flyinge The whole company would gladly haue taken this occasion of requesting Philisides in plainer sorte to discouer vnto them his estate Which he willing to preuent as knowing the relation thereof more fit for funeralles then the time of a mariage began to sing this song he had learned before he had euer subiected his thoughts to acknowledge no Master but a Mistresse AS I my little flocke on Ister banke A little flocke but well my pipe the couthe Did piping leade the Sunne already sanke Beyond our worlde and ere I got my boothe Each thing with mantle black the night doth scothe Sauing the glowe worme which would curteous be Of that small light oft watching shepheards see The welkin had full niggardly enclosed In cofer of dimme clowdes his siluer groates Icleped starres each thing to rest disposed The caues were full the mountaines voide of goates The birds eyes closd closed their chirping notes As for the Nightingale woodmusiques King It August was he daynde not then to sing Amid my sheepe though I sawe nought to feare Yet for I nothing sawe I feared sore Then founde I which thing is a charge to beare As for my sheepe I dradded mickle more Then euer for my selfe since I was bore I sate me downe for see to goe ne could And sange vnto my sheepe lest stray they should The songe I sange old Lanquet bad me taught Lanquet the shepheard best swift Ister knewe For clerkly reed and hating what is naught For faithfull hart cleane hands and mouth as true With his sweet skill my skillesse youth he drewe To haue a feeling iast of him that sitts Beyond the heauen far more beyond your witts He said the Musique best thilke powers pleasd Was iumpe concorde betweene our wit and will Where highest notes to godlines are raisd And lowest sinke not downe to iote of ill With old true tales he woont mine eares to fill How sheepheards did of yore how now they thriue Spoiling their flock or while twixt them they striue He liked me but pitied lustfull youth His good strong staffe my slippry yeares vpbore He still hop'd well because he loued truth Till forste to parte with harte and eyes euen sore To worthy Coriden he gaue me ore But thus in okes true shade recounted he Which now in nights deepe shade sheep heard of me Such maner time there was what time I n'ot When all this Earth this damme or mould of ours Was onely won'd with such as beastes begot Vnknowne as then were they that builded towers The cattell wild or tame in natures bowers Might freely rome or rest as seemed them Man was not man their dwellings into hem The beastes had sure some beastly pollicie For nothing can endure where order n'is For once the Lion by the Lambe did lie The fearefull Hinde the Leopard did kisse Hurtles was Tygers pawe and Serpents hisse This thinke I well the beasts with courage clad Like Senators a harmeles empire had At which whether the others did repine For enuie harbreth most in feeblest hartes Or that they all to chaunging did encline As euen in beasts their dammes leaue chaunging partes The multitude to Ioue a suite empartes With neighing blaying braying and barking Roring and howling for to haue a King A King in language theirs they said they would For then their language was a perfect speech The birdes likewise with chirpes and puing could Cackling and chattering that of Ioue beseech Onely the owle still warnde them not to seech So hastily that which they would repent But sawe they would and he to deserts went Ioue wisely said for wisedome wisely sayes O beasts take heed what you of me desire Rulers will thinke all things made them to please And soone forget the swincke due to their hire But since you will part of my heau'nly fire I will you lende the rest your selues must giue That it both seene and felte may with you liue Full glad they were and tooke the naked sprite Which streight the Earthy clothed in his claye The Lion harte the Ounce gaue actiue might The Horse good shape the Sparrow lust to playe Nightingale voice entising songes to saye Elephant gaue a perfect memorie And Parot ready tongue that to applie The Foxe gaue crafte the Dog gaue flatterie Asse pacience the Mole a working thought Eagle high looke Wolfe secrete crueltie Monkie sweet breath the Cow her faire eyes brought The Ermion whitest skinne spotted with nought The sheep mild-seeming face climing the Beare The Stagge did giue the harme eschewing feare The Hare her sleights the Cat his melancholie Ante industrie and Connie skill to builde Cranes order Storkes to be appearing holie Camaeleon ease to chaunge Ducke ease to yelde Crocodile teares which might be falsely spilde Ape great thing gaue though he did mowing stand The instrument of instruments the hand Ech other beast likewise his present brings And but they drad their Prince they ought should want They all consented were to giue him wings And aye more awe towards him for to plant To their owne worke this priuiledge they graunt That from thenceforth to all eternitie No beast should freely speake but onely he Thus Man was made thus Man their Lord became Who at the first wanting or hiding pride He did to beastes best vse his cunning frame With water drinke herbes meate and naked hide And fellow-like let his dominion slide Not in his sayings saying I but we As if he meant his lordship common be But when his seate so rooted he had found That they now skilld not how from him to wend Then gan in guiltlesse earth full many a wound Iron to seeke which gainst it selfe should bend To teare the bowels that good corne should send But yet the common Damme none did bemone Because though hurt they neuer heard her grone Then gan the factions in the beastes to breed Where helping weaker sort the nobler beastes As Tygers Leopards Beares and Lions seed Disdaind with this in deserts sought their restes Where famine rauine taught their hungrie chestes That craftily he forst them to do ill Which being done he afterwards would kill For murthers done which neuer erst was seene By those
kindenesse to haue some good of her desired them if they were honest men to heare the woman speake Fie fellowes fie said he what will all the maides in our towne say if so many tall men shall be afraide to heare a faire wench I sweare vnto you by no little ones I had rather giue my teeme of oxen then we should shewe our selues so vnciuill wights Besides I tell you true I haue heard it of old men counted wisdome to heare much and say little His sententious speech so preuailed that the most part began to listen Then she with such efficacie of gracefulnes and such a quiet magnanimitie represented in her face in this vttermost perill as the more the barbarous people looked the more it fixed their looks vpon her in this sort began vnto them It is no small comfort vnto me said she hauing to speake something vnto you for your owne behoofs to finde that I haue to deale with such a people who shew indeed in themselues the right nature of valure which as it leaues no violence vnattempted while the choller is nourished with resistance so when the subiect of their wrath doth of it self vnloked-for offer it selfe into their hands it makes them at lest take a pause before they determine cruelty Now then first before I come to the principall matter haue I to say vnto you that your Prince Basilius himselfe in person is within this Lodge and was one of the three whom a few of you went about to fight withall and this she said not doubting but they knew it well inough but because she would haue them imagine that the Prince might thinke that they did not know it by him am I sent vnto you as from a Prince to his well approoued subiects nay as from a father to beloued children to know what it is that hath bred iust quarrell among you or who they be that haue any way wronged you what it is with which you are displeased or of which you are desirous This he requires and indeed for he knowes your faithfulnes he commaunds you presently to set downe and to choose among your selues some one who may relate your griefes or demaundes vnto him This being more then they hoped for from their Prince asswaged well their furie and many of them consented especially the young farmer helping on who meant to make one of the demaunds that he might haue Zelmane for his wife but when they began to talke of their grieues neuer Bees made such a confused humming the towne dwellers demanding putting downe of imposts the country fellowes laying out of commons some would haue the Prince keepe his Coâ—rt in one place some in another All cried out to haue new councellors but wheâ—â—â—â— should thinke of any new they liked them as well as any other that they couldâ— member especially they would haue the tresure so looked vnto as that he should â—â—uer need to take any more subsidies At length they fell to direct contrarieties 〈◊〉 the Artisans they would haue corne wine set at a lower price bound to be â—pt so still the plowmeÌ„ vine-laborers farmers would none of that The countriâ—eÌ„ demanded that euery man might be free in the chief townes that could not thâ— Burgesses like of The peasants would haue al the GentlemeÌ„ destroied the Citizenâ— specially such as Cookes Barbers and those other that liued most on Gentlemen would but haue them refourmed And of ech side were like diuisioÌ„s one neighbourhood beginning to finde fault with another But no confusion was greater then of particular mens likings and dislikings one dispraising such a one whome another praised and demanding such a one to be punished whom the other would haue exalted No lesse ado was there about choosing him who should be their spokes-man The finer sort of Burgesses as Marchants Prentises and Clothworkers because of their riches disdaining the baser occupations and they because of their number as much disdaining them all they scorning the countrimens ignorance and the countrymen suspecting as much their cunning So that Zelmane finding that their vnited rage was now growne not only to a diuiding but to a crossing one of another and that the mislike growne among themselues did well allay the heate against her made tokens againe vnto them as though she tooke great care of their well doing and were afraid of their falling out that she would speake vnto them They now growne iealous one of another the stay hauing ingendred diuision and diuision hauing manifested their weaknes were willing inough to heare the most part striuing to show themselues willinger then their fellowes which Zelmane by the acquaintaunce she had had with such kinde of humors soone perceiuing with an angerles brauery and an vnabashed mildnes in this manner spake vnto them An vnused thing it is and I think not heretofore seene ô Arcadians that a woman should giue publike counsell to men a stranger to the country people and that lastly in such a presence by a priuate person the regall throne should be possessed But the strangenes of your action makes that vsed for vertue which your violent necessitie imposeth For certainely a woman may well speake to such men who haue forgotten all manlike gouernment a straunger may with reason instruct such subiects that neglect due points of subiection and is it maruaile this place is entred into by another since your owne Prince after thirtie yeares gouernment dare not shew his face vnto his faithfull people Heare therefore ô Arcadians and be ashamed against whom hath this zealous rage bene stirred whether haue bene bent these maÌ„ful weapoÌ„s of yours In this quiet harmles lodge there be harbourd no Argians your ancient enimies nor Laconians your now feared neighbours Here be nether hard landlords nor biting vsurers Here lodge none but such as either you haue great cause to loue or no cause to hate here being none besides your Prince Princesse their childreÌ„ but my self Is it I then ô Arcadians against whom your anger is armed Am I the mark of your vehemeÌ„t quarell if it be so that innocencie shal not be a stop for furie if it be so that the law of hospitalitie so long holily obserued amoÌ„g you may not defend a straunger fled to your armes for succour if in fine it be so that so many valiaunt mens courages can be enflamed to the mischiefe of one silly woman I refuse not to make my life a sacrifice to your wrath Exercise in me your indignation so it go no further I am content to pay the great fauours I haue receiued among you with my life not ill deseruing I present it here vnto you ô Arcadians if that may satisfie you rather then you called ouer the world the wise and quiet Arcadians should be so vaine as to attempt that alone which all the rest of your countrie will abhor then you should shew your selues so vngratefull as to forget the fruite of so many yeares peaceable gouernment or so
vnnaturall as not to haue with the holy name of your naturall Prince any furie ouer-maistred For such a hellish madnes I know did neuer enter into your harts as to attempt any thing against his person which no successor though neuer so hatefull will euer leaue for his owne sake vnreuenged Neither can your wonted valour be turned to such a basenes as in stead of a Prince deliuered vnto you by so many royall ancestors to take the tyrannous yoke of your fellow subiect in whome the innate meanes will bring forth rauenous couetousnes and the newnes of his estate suspectfull cruelty Imagine what could your enimies more wish vnto you then to see your owne estate with your owne handes vndermined O what would your fore-fathers say if they liued at this time and saw their of-spring defacing such an excellent principalitie which they with much labour and bloud so wisely haue establisht Do you thinke them fooles that saw you should not enioy your vines your cattell no not your wiues and children without gouernment and that there could be no gouernment without a Magistrate and no Magistrate without obedience and no obedience where euery one vpon his owne priuate passion may interprete the doings of the rulers Let your wits make your present example a lesson to you What sweetnes in good faith find you in your present condition what choise of choise finde you if you had lost Basilius vnder whose ensigne would you go if your enimies should inuade you If you cannot agree vpon one to speake for you how will you agree vpō one to fight for you But with this feare of I cannot tell what one is troubled and with that passed wrong another is grieued And I pray you did the Sunne euer bring you a fruitfull haruest but that it was more hote then pleasant Haue any of you children that be not sometimes cumbersome Haue any of you fathers that be not sometime weerish What shall we curse the Sonne hate our childrē or disobey our fathers But what need I vse these words since I see in your countenances now vertuously settled nothing els but loue and dutie to him by whom for your only sakes the gouernment is embraced For all what is done he doth not only pardon you but thanke you iudging the action by the minds not the minds by the action Your grieues and desires whatsoeuer and whensoeuer you list he will consider of and to his consideration it is reason you should refer them So then to conclude the vncertainty of his estate made you take armes now you see him well with the same loue lay them downe If now you end as I know you will he will make no other account of this matter but as of a vehement I must confesse ouer-vehement affection the only continuance might proue a wickednes But it is not so I see very well you began with zeale and will end with reuerence The action Zelmane vsed being beautified by nature and apparelled with skill her gestures being such that as her words did paint out her minde so they serued as a shadow to make the picture more liuely and sensible with the sweete cleernesse of her voice rising and falling kindly as the nature of the worde and efficacie of the matter required altogether in such an admirable person whose incomparable valour they had well felte whose beautie did pearce through the thicke dulnes of their senses gaue such a way vnto her speach through the rugged wildernesse of their imaginations who besides they were striken in admiration of her as of more then a humane creature were coold with taking breath and had learned doubts out of leasute that in steed of roaring cries there was now heard nothing but a confused muttring whether her saying were to be followed betwixt feare to pursue and lothnesse to leaue most of them could haue bene content it had neuer bene begun but how to end it each afraid of his companion they knew not finding it far easier to tie then to loose knots But Zelmane thinking it no euill way in such mutinies to giue the mutinous some occasion of such seruice as they might thinke in their owne iudgement would counteruaile their trespasse withall to take the more assured possession of their mindes which she feared might begin to wauer Loiall Arcadians said she now do I offer vnto you the manifesting of your duties all those that haue taken armes for the Princes safetie let them turne their backs to the gate with their weapōs bent against such as would hurt his sacred person O weake trust of the many-headed multitude whom inconstancie onely doth guide to wel doing who can set confidence there where cōpany takes away shame and ech may lay the fault on his fellow So said a craftie felow among them named Clinias to himselfe when he saw the word no sooner out of Zelmanes mouth but that there were some shouts of ioy with God saue Basilius and diuers of them with much iollity growne to be his guard that but litle before ment to be his murderers This Clinias in his youth had bene a scholler so farre as to learne rather words then maners and of words rather plentie then order and oft had vsed to be an actor in Tragedies where he had learned besides a slidingnesse of language acquaintance with many passions and to frame his face to beare the figure of them long vsed to the eyes and eares of men and to recken no fault but shamefastnesse in nature a most notable Coward and yet more strangely then rarely venturous in priuie practises This fellowe was become of neere trust to Cecropia Amphialus his mother so that he was priuy to all the mischieuous deuises wherewith she went about to ruine Basilius and his children for the aduauncing of her sonne and though his education had made him full of tongue yet his loue to be doing taught him in any euill to be secret and had by his mistresse bene vsed euer since the strange retiring of Basilius to whisper rumors into the peoples eares and this time finding great aptnes in the multitude was one of the chiefe that set them in the vprore though quite without the consent of Amphialus who would not for all the Kingdoms of the world so haue aduentured the life of Philoclea But now perceiuing the flood of their furie began to ebbe he thought it policie to take the first of the tide so that no man cried lowder then he vpon Basilius And some of the lustiest rebels not yet agreeing to the rest he caused two or three of his mates that were at his commandement to lift him vp then as if he had had a prologue to vtter he began with a nice grauitie to demaund audience But few attending what he said with vehement gesture as if he would teare the stars from the skies he fell to crying out so lowde that not onely Zelmane but Basilius might heare him O vnhappie men more mad then the