such sort as I tolde you not sticking plainly to confesse that he meanes not while he breathes that his daughters shall haue any husbād but keepe thē thus solitary with him weher he gius no other body leaue to visit him at anytime but a certaine priest who being excellent in poetrie he makes him write out such thinges as he best likes he being no les delightfull in conuersation then needfull for deuotiō about twēty specified shepheards in whō some for exercises some for Eglogs he taketh greater recreation And now you know as much as my selfe wherin if I haue held you ouer long lay hardly the fault vpon my olde age which in the very disposition of it is talkatiue whether it be said he smiling that nature loues to exercise that part most which is least decayed and that is our tongue or that knowledge being the onely thing whereof we poore olde men can brag we cannot make it knowen but by vtterance or that mankinde by all meanes seeking to eternize himselfe so much the more as he is neere his end dooth it not onely by the children that come of him but by speaches and writings recommended to the memorie of hearers and readers And yet thus much I will say for my selfe that I haue not laid these matters either so openly or largely to any as your selfe so much if I much faile not doo I see in you which makes me both loue and trust you Neuer may he be olde answered Palladius that doth not reuerence that age whose heauines if it waie doune the frayl and fleshly ballance it as much lifts vp the noble and spirituall part and well might you haue alledged another reason that their wisedome makes them willing to profite others And that haue I receiued of you neuer to be forgotten but with vngratefulnes But among many strange conceits you told mee which haue shewed effectes in your Prince truly euen the last that he should conceiue such pleasure in shepheards discourses would not seeme the least vnto me sauing that you told me at the first that this countrie is notable in those wits that in deed my selfe hauing beene brought not onely to this place but to my life by Strephon and Claius in their conference found wits as might better become such shepheardes as Homer speakes of that be gouernors of peoples then such senatours who hold their councell in a sheepecoate for them two said Kalander especially Claius they are beeyond the rest by so much as learning commonlie doth adde to nature for hauing neglected their wealth in respect of their knowledge they haue not so much empayred the meaner as they bettered the better Which all notwithstanding it is a sporte to heare howe they impute to loue which hath indewed their thoughtes saie they with such a strength But certainely all the people of this countrie from high to lowe is giuen to those sportes of the vvitte so as you would vvonder to heare hovv soone euen children vvill begin to versifie Once ordinary it is among the meanest sorte to make Songes and Dialogues in meeter either loue vvhetting their braine or longe peace hauing begun it example and emulation amending it Not so much but the Clowne Dametas will stumble sometimes vpon some songes that might become a better braine but no sorte of people so excellent in that kind as the pastors for their liuing standing but vppon the looking to their beastes they haue ease the Nurse of Poetrie Neither are our shepheards such as I heare they be in other countries but they are the verie owners of the sheepe to which either them selues looke or their children giue dayly attendance And then truly it would delight you vnder some tree or by some riuers side when two or three of them meet together to heare their rurall muse how pretily it will deliuer out sometimes ioyes sometimes lamentations sometimes chalenginges one of the other sometimes vnder hidden formes vttering such matters as otherwise they durst not deale with Then haue they most commonly one who iudgeth the Price to the best doer of which they are no lesse glad then great Princes are of triumphes and his parte is to sette downe in writing all that is saide saue that it may be his pen with more leasure doth polish the rudnesse of an vnthought-on songe Nowe the choise of all as you may well thinke either for goodnes of voice or plesantnes of wit the Prince hath among whome also there are two or three strangers whom inwarde melancholies hauing made weery of the worldes eyes haue come to spend their liues among the countrie people of Arcadia their conuersation being wel approued the Prince vouchsafeth them his presence and not onely by looking on but by great curtesie and liberalitie animates the shepheardes the more exquisitely to labour for his good liking So that there is no cause to blame the Prince for sometimes hearing them the blame-worthinesse is that to heare them he rather goes to solitarinesse then makes them come to companie Nether doe I accuse my maister for aduancing a countriman as Dametas is since God forbid but where worthynesse is as truely it is among diuers of that fellowship any outward lownesse should hinder the hiest raysing but that he would needs make election of one the basenesse of whose minde is such that it sinckes a thousand degrees lower then the basest bodie coulde carrie the most base fortune which although it might be answered for the prince that it is rather a trust he hath in his simple plainnesse then any great aduancement being but chiefe heardman yet all honest hartes feele that the trust of their Lord goes beyond al aduancement But I am euer too long vppon him when he crosseth the waye of my speache and by the shadovve of yonder tovver I see it is a fitter time vvith our supper to pay the duties we owe to our stomacks then to break the aire with my idle discourses And more witte I might haue learned of Homer whom euen now you mentioned who neuer entertayned eyther guestes or hostes with long speaches till the mouth of hunger be throughly stopped So withall he rose leading Palladius through the gardeine againe to the parler where they vsed to suppe Palladius assuring him that he had already been more fed to his liking thē he could be by the skillfullest trencher-men of Media But being come to the supping place one of Kalāders seruants roūded in his eare at which his colour chaunging he retired himselfe into his chamber commaunding his men diligently to waite vpon Palladius and to excuse his absence with some necessary busines he had presently to dispatch Which they accordingly did for some fewe daies forcing thēselues to let no change appeare but though they framed their countenaunces neuer so cunningly Palladius perceaued there was some ill-pleasing accident fallen out Wherupon being againe set alone at supper he called to the Steward and desired him to tell him the matter of his
choice but because her obedient minde had not yet taken vpon it to make choice and the daie of their assurance drew neere when my yonge lord Clitophon brought this noble Argalus perchaunce principallie to see so rare a sight as Parthenia by all well iudging eyes was iudged But though fewe dayes were before the time of assurance appointed yet loue that sawe hee had a great iourney to make in short time hasted so him selfe that before her word coulde tie her to Demagoras her hart had vowed her to Argalus with so gratefull a receipte in mutuall affection that if shee desired above all thinges to haue Argalus Argalus feared nothing but to misse Parthenia And now Parthenia had learned bothe lyking and misliking louing and lothing and out of passion began to take the authoritie of iudgement in so much that when the time came that Demagoras ful of proude ioye though to receaue the gift of her own self shee with woordes of resolute refusal thoughâ— with teares shewing she was sorie shee must refuse assured her mother shee woulde first be bedded in her graue then wedded to Demagoras The chaunge was no more strange then vnpleasant to the mother who beeyng determynatelye least I shoulde saye of a greate Ladie wilfully bent to mary her to Demagoras tryed all waies which a wittie and hard harted mother coulde vse vppon so humble a daughter in whome the onely resisting power was loue But the more shee assaulted the more shee taught Parthenia to defende and the more Parthenia defended the more shee made her mother obstinate in the assault who at the length finding that Argalus standing betweene them was it that moste eclipsed her affection from shining vpon Demagoras she sought al means how to remoue him so much the more as he manifested himself an vnremoueable suiter to her daughter first by employing him in as many dangerous enterprises as euer the euil stepmother Iuno recommended to the famous Hercules but the more his vertue was tryed the more pure it grewe while all the things she did to ouerthrowe him did set him vp vpon the hight of honour inough to haue mooued her harte especially to a man euery way so worthy as Argalus but she strugling against all reason because she would haue her wil and shew her authoritie in matching her with Demagoras the more vertuous Argalus was the more shee hated him thinking her self conquered in his conquestes and therfore stil imploying him in more more dangerous attempts in the meane while shee vsed all extremities possible vpon her faire daughter to make her giue ouer herselfe to her directioÌ„ But it was hard to iudge whether he in doeing or she in suffering shewed greater constancie of affection for as to Argalus the world sooner wanted occasions then he valour to goe thorow them so to Parthenia malice sooner ceased then her vnchanged patience Lastly by treasons Demagoras and she would haue made away Argalus but he with prouidence and courage so past ouer all that the mother tooke such a spitefull greefe at it that her hart brake withall and she died But then Demagoras assuring him selfe that now Parthenia was her owne shee would neuer be hit and receiuing as much by her owne determinate answere not more desiring his owne happines then enuying Argalus whom he saw with narrow eyes euen ready to enioy the perfection of his desires strengthning his conceite with all the mischieuous counsels which disdained loue and enuious pride could geue vnto him the wicked wretch taking a time that Argalus was gone to his countrie to fetch some of his principall frendes to honour the mariage which Parthenia had most ioyfully consented vnto the wicked Demagoras I say desiring to speake with her with vnmercifull force her weake armes in vaine resisting rubd all ouer her face a most horrible poyson the effect whereof was such that neuer leaper lookt more vgly then shee did which done hauing his men horses ready departed away in spite of her seruants as ready to reuenge as they could be in such an vnexpected mischiefe But the abhominablenes of this fact being come to my Lâ— Kalander he made such meanes both by our kings intercession and his owne that by the king Senat of Lacedaemon Demagoras was vpon paine of death banished the countrie who hating the punishment where hee should haue hated the fault ioynde himselfe with all the powers he could make vnto the Helots lately in rebellion against that state and they glad to haue a man of such authority among them made him their general and vnder him haue committed diuers the most outragious villanies that a base multitude full of desperate reuenge can imagine But within a while after this pitifull fact committed vpon Parthenia Argalus returned poore gentleman hauing her faire image in his heart and alredy promising his eies the vttermost of his felicitie when they no bodie els daring to tell it him weare the first messengers to themselues of their owne misfortune I meane not to mooue passions with telling you the greefe of both when hee knew her for at first he did not nor at first knowledge could possibly haue vertues aide so ready as not euen weakly to lament the losse of such a iewell so much the more as that skilfull men in that arte assured it was vnrecouerable but within a while trueth of loue which still held the first face in his memorie a vertuous constancie and euen a delight to be constant faith giuen and inward worthines shining through the foulest mistes tooke so full holde of the noble Argalus that not onely in such comfort which witty arguments may bestow vpon aduersitie but euen with the most aboundant kindnesse that an eye rauished louer can expresse hee lauboured but to driue the extremitie of sorow from her to hasten the celebration of their mariage wherunto he vnfainedly shewed himselfe no lesse cherefully earnest then if she had neuer beene disinherited of that goodly portion which nature had so liberally bequeathed vnto her and for that cause deferred his intended reuenge vpon Demagoras because he might continually be in her presence shewing moe humble seruiceablenes and ioy to content her then euer before But as he gaue this rare ensample not to be hoped for of any other but of an other Argalus so of the other side she tooke as strange a course in affection for where she desired to enioy him more then to liue yet did shee ouerthrow both her owne desireâ— and his and in no sorte would yeeld to marry him with a strange encounter of loues aâ—fects and effects that he by an affection sprong from excessiue beautie should delight in horrible foulnesse she of a vehement desire to haue him should kindely buyld a resolution neuer to haue him for trueth is that so in heart she loued him as she could not finde in her heart he should be tied to what was vnworthy of his presence Truely Sir a very good Orator might haue a
the Helots And he was answered by a man well acquainted with the affaires of Laconia that they were a kinde of people who hauing beene of olde freemen and possessioners the Lacedaemonians had conquered them and layd not onely tribute but bondage vpon them which they had long borne till of late the Lacedaemonians through greedinesse growing more heauie then they could beare and through contempt lesse carefull howe to make them beare they had with a generall consent rather springing by the generalnes of the cause then of any artificiall practise set themselues in armes and whetting their courage with reuenge and grounding their resolution vpon despaire they had proceeded with vnlooked-for succes hauing alredy taken diuers Towns Castels with the slaughter of many of the gētrie for whom no sex nor age could be accepted for an excuse And that although at the first they had fought rather with beastly furie then any souldierly discipline practise had now made them comparable to the best of the Lacedaemonians and more of late then euer by reason first of Demagoras a great Lorde who had made him selfe of their partie and since his death of an other Captaine they had gotten who had brought vp their ignorance and brought downe their furie to such a meane of good gouernment and withall led them so valourouslie that besides the time wherein Clitophon was taken they had the better in some other great conflicts in such wise that the estate of Lacedaemon had sent vnto them offering peace with most reasonable and honorable conditions Palladius hauing gotten this generall knowledge of the partie against whom as he had already of the partie for whom hee was to fight he went to Kalander and tolde him plainlie that by playne force there was small apparaunce of helping Clitophon but some deuice was to bee taken in hande wherein no lesse discretion then valour was to bee vsed Whereupon the counsel of the cheefe men was called and at last this way Palladius who by some experience but especiallie by reading Histories was acquainted with stratagemes inuented and was by all the rest approoued that all the men there shoulde dresse themselues like the poorest sorte of the people in Arcadia hauing no banners but bloudie shirtes hanged vpon long staues with some bad bagge pipes in stead of drumme and fife their armour they shoulde aswell as might bee couer or at least make them looke so rustilie and ill-fauouredly as might wel become such wearers and this the whole number shoulde doo sauing two hundred of the best chosen Gentlemen for courage and strength whereof Palladius him selfe would be one who should haue their armes chayned and be put in cartes like prisoners This being performed according to the agreement they marched on towardes the towne of Cardamila where Clitophon was captiue and beeing come two houres beefore Sunne-set within viewe of the walles the Helots alreadie descrying their number and beginning to sound the Allarum they sent a cunning fellow so much the cunninger as that hee could maske it vnder rudenes who with such a kinde of Rhetorike as weeded out all flowers of Rhetorike deliuered vnto the Helots assembled together that they were countrie people of Arcadia no lesse oppressed by their Lords and no lesse desirous of liberty then they and therfore had put themselues in the field had alreadie besides a great number slain taken nine or ten skore Gentlemē prisoners whō they had there well and fast chained Now because they had no strong retiring place in Arcadia were not yet of number enough to keepe the fielde against their Princes forces they were come to them for succour knowing that daily more more of their qualitie would flock vnto them but that in the mean time lest their Prince should pursue them or the Lacedaemonian King and Nobilitie for the likenes of the cause fall vpon them they desired that if there were not roome enough for them in the town that yet they might encampe vnder the walles and for surety haue their prisoners who were such men as were euer able to make their peace kept within the towne The Helots made but a short cōsultatiō being glad that their contagiō had spread it selfe into Arcadia and making account that if the peace did not fall out betweene them and their King that it was the best way to set fire in all the partes of Greece besides their greedinesse to haue so many Gentlemen in their handes in whose raunsomes they alreadie meant to haue a share to which hast of concluding two thinges well helped the one that their Captaine with the wisest of them was at that time absent about confirming or breaking the peace with the state of Lacedaemon the second that ouer-many good fortunes began to breede a proude recklesnesse in them therefore sending to view the campe and finding that by their speach they were Arcadians with whom they had had no warre neuer suspecting a priuate mans credite could haue gathered such a force and that all other tokens witnessed them to bee of the lowest calling besides the chaines vpon the Gentlemen they graunted not onely leaue for the prisoners but for some others of the companie and to all that they might harbour vnder the walles So opened they the gates and receiued in the carts which being done and Palladius seeing fit time hee gaue the signe and shaking of their chaynes which were made with such arte that though they seemed most stronge and fast hee that ware them might easily loose them drew their swordes hidden in the cartes and so setting vpon the warde made them to flie eyther from the place or from their bodies and so gaue entrie to all the force of the Arcadians before the Helots could make any head to resist them But the Helots being men hardened against daungers gathered as well as they coulde together in the market place and thence woulde haue giuen a shrewd welcome to the Arcadians but that Palladius blaming those that were slowe hartning them that were forward but especially with his owne ensample leading them made such an impression into the squadron of the Helots that at first the great bodie of them beginning to shake and stagger at length euerie particular bodie recommended the protection of his life to his feete Then Kalander cried to goe to the prison where he thought his sonne was but Palladius wisht him first scouring the streates to house all the Helots and make themselues maisters of the gates But ere that could bee accomplished the Helots had gotten new heart and with diuers sortes of shot from corners of streates and house windowes galled them which courage was come vnto them by the returne of their Captaine who though he brought not many with him hauing disperst most of his companies to other of his holds yet meeting a great number running out of the gate not yet possest by the Arcadians he made them turne face and with banners displayed his Trumpet gaue the lowdest testimonie
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
into thickest of the woods lamenting and euen crying out so pitifully that my seruant though of a fortune not vsed to much tendernes could not refraine weeping when he told it me He once ouertooke him but Amphialus drawing his sword which was the onely part of his armes God knowes to what purpose he carried about him threatned to kil him if he followed him and withal bad him deliuer this bitter message that he wel inough found I was the cause of all this mischiefe and that if I were a man he would go ouer the world to kill me but bad me assure myselfe that of all creatures in the world he most hated mee Ah sir Knight whose eares I think by this time are tired with the rugged waies of these misfortunes now weigh my case if at least you know what loue is For this cause haue I left my countrie putting in hazard how my people will in time deale by me aduenturing what perilles or dishonors might ensue onely to follow him who proclaimeth hate against me and to bring my necke vnto him if that may redeeme my trespasse and asswage his fury And now sir saide she you haue your request I pray you take paines to guide me to the next towne that there I may gather such of my company againe as your valor hath left me Palladius willingly condiscended but ere they began to go there came Clitophon who hauing bene something hurt by one of them had pursued him a good way at length ouertaking him and ready to kill him vnderstoode they were seruants to the faire Queene Helen and that the cause of this enterprise was for nothing but to make Amphialus prisoner whō they knew their mistresse sought for she concealed her sorrow nor cause of her sorrow frō no body But Clitophon very sory for this accident came backe to comfort the Queene helping such as were hurt in the best sort that he could and framing friendly constructions of this rashly vnder-taken enmitie when in comes an other till that time vnseene all armed with his beuer downe who first looking round about vpon the cōpany as soone as he spied Palladius he drew his sword making no other prologue let flie at him But Palladius sorie for so much harme as had already happened sought rather to retire and warde thinking he might be some one that belonged to the faire Queene whose case in his heart he pitied Which Clitophon seeing stept betweene them asking the new come knight the cause of his quarrel who answered him that hee woulde kill that theefe who had stollen away his masters armour if he did not restore it With that Palladius lookt vpon him and sawe that hee of the other side had Palladius owne armour vpon him truely saide Palladius if I haue stolne this armour you did not buy that◠but you shall not fight with me vpon such a quarrell you shall haue this armour willingly which I did onely put on to doo honor to the owner But Clitophon straight knewe by his words and voyce that it was Ismenus the faithfull and diligent Page of Amphialus and therefore telling him that he was Clitophon and willing him to acknowledge his error to the other who deserued all honour the yong Gentleman pulled of his head-peece and lighting went to kisse Palladius hands desiring him to pardon his follie caused by extreame griefe which easilie might bring foorth anger Sweete Gentleman saide Palladius you shall onely make me this amendes that you shall cary this your Lords armour from me to him and tell him from an vnknowen knight who admires his worthines that he cannot cast a greater miste ouer his glory then by being vnkind to so excellēt a princesse as this Queene is Ismenus promised he would as soone as he durst find his maister and with that went to doo his duetie to the Queene whom in al these encounters astonishment made hardy but assoone as she saw Ismenus looking to her picture Ismenus saide shee here is my Lord where is yours or come you to bring me some sentence of death from him if it be so welcome be it I pray you speake and speake quickly Alas Madame said Ismenus I haue lost my Lorde with that teares came vnto his eyes for assoone as the vnhappie combate was concluded with the death both of father and sonne my maister casting of his armour went his way forbidding me vpon paine of death to follow him Yet diuers daies I followed his steppes till lastly I found him hauing newly met with an excellent Spaniell belonging to his dead companion Philoxenns The dog straight fawned on my master for old knowledge but neuer was there thinge more pittifull then to heare my maister blame the dog for louing his maisters murtherer renewing a fresh his complaints with the dumbe counceller as if they might comfort one another in their miseries But my Lord hauing spied me rase vp in such rage that in truth I feared he would kill me yet as then he said onely if I would not displease him I should not come neere him till he sent for me too hard a commaundement for me to disobey I yeelded leauing him onely waited on by his dog and as I thinke seeking out the most solitarie places that this or any other country can graunt him and I returning where I had left his armour found an other in steede thereof and disdaining I must confesse that any should beare the armour of the best Knight liuing armed my selfe therein to play the foole as euen now I did Faire Ismenus said the Queene a fitter messenger could hardly be to vnfold my Tragedie I see the end I see my end With that sobbing she desired to be conducted to the next towne where Palladius left her to be waited on by Clitophon at Palladius earnest entreatie who desired alone to take that melancholy course of seeking his friend and therefore changing armours againe with Ismenus who went withall to a castle belonging to his master he continued his quest for his friend Daiphantus So directed he his course to Laconia aswell among the Helots as Spartans There indeede hee found his fame flourishing his monuments engraued in Marble and yet more durably in mens memories but the vniuersall lamenting his absented presence assured him of his present absence Thence into the Elean prouince to see whether at the Olympian games there celebrated he might in such concourse blesse his eyes with so desired an encounter but that huge and sportfull assemblie grewe to him a tedious louelinesse esteeming no bodie founde since Daiphantus was lost Afterward he passed through Achaia and Sicyonia to the Corinthians prowde of their two Seas to learne whether by the streight of that Isthmus it were possible to know of his passage But finding euerie place more dombe then other to his demaundes and remembring that it was late-taken loue which had wrought this new course he returned againe after two moneths trauaile in vaine to make a freshe searche in Arcadia
sport I got a time as I thinke vnmarked by any to steale away I cared not whether so I might scape you so came I to Ithonia in the prouince of Messenia wher lying secret I put this in practise which before I had deuised For remēbring by Philanax his letter Kalāders speech how obstinately Basilius was determined not to mary his daughters therefore fearing lest any publike dealing should rather increase her captiuitie then further my loue Loue the refiner of inuentiō had put in my head thus to disguise my selfe that vnder that maske I might if it were possible get accesse and what accesse could bring foorth commit to fortune industry determining to beare the countenance of an Amazon Therefore in the closest maner I could naming my selfe Zelmane for that deere Ladies sake to whose memorie I am so much bound I caused this apparell to be made and bringing it neere the lodges which are heard at hand by night thus dressed my selfe resting till occasion might make me to be found by them whom I sought which the next morning hapned as well as my owne plot could haue laide it For after I had runne ouer the whole petigree of my thoughts I gaue my selfe to sing a little which as you knowe I euer delighted in so now especially whether it be the nature of this clime to stir vp Poeticall fancies or rather as I thinke of loue whose cope being plesure wil not so much as vtter his griefes but in some form of pleasure But I had song very little when as I thinke displeased with my bad musicke comes master Dametas with a hedging bill in his hand chasing and swearing by the pantable of Pallas such other othes as his rusticall brauery could imagine when he saw me I assure you my beauty was no more beholding to him then my harmony for leaning his hands vpon his bil and his chin vpon his hands with the voice of one that plaieth Hercules in a play but neuer had his fancie in his head the first word he spake to me was am not I Dametas why am not I Dametas hee needed not name himselfe for Kalanders description had set such a note vpon him as made him very notable vpon me and therefore the height of my thoughts would not discend so much as to make him any answer but continued on my inward discourses which he perchaunce witnes of his owne vnworthines and therefore the apter to thinke himselfe contemned tooke in so hainous manner that standing vpon his tip-toes and staring as if he would haue had a mote pulled out of his eie Why said he thou woman or boy or both whatsoeuer thou bee I tell thee here is no place for thee get thee gone I tell thee it is the Princes pleasure I tell thee it is Dametas pleasure I could not choose but smile at him seeing him looke so like an Ape that had newly taken a purgation yet taking my selfe with the manner spake these wordes to my selfe O spirite saide I of mine how canst thou receaue anie mirth in the midst of thine agonies and thou mirth howe darest thou enter into a minde so growne of late thy professed enemie Thy spirite saide Dametas doost thou thinke me a spirite I tell thee I am Basilius officer and haue charge of him and his daughters O onely pearle saide I sobbing that so vile an oyster should keepe thee By the combe-case of Diana sware Dametas this woman is mad oysters and pearles doost thou thinke I will buie oysters I tell thee once againe get thee packing and with that lifted vp his bill to hit me with the blunt ende of it but indeede that put me quite out of my lesson so that I forgat Zelmanes-ship and drawing out my sworde the basenesse of the villaine yet made me stay my hande and he who as Kalander tolde mee from his childehood euer feared the blade of a sworde ran backe backward with his handes aboue his head at lest twentie paces gaping and staring with the verie grace I thinke of the clownes that by Latonas prayers were turned into Frogs At length staying findinge himselfe without the compasse of blowes hee fell to a fresh scolding in such mannerlie manner as might well shewe hee had passed through the discipline of a Tauerne But seeing mee walke vp and downe without marking what he saide he went his way as I perceiued after to Basilius for within a while he came vnto mee bearing in deede shewes in his countenaunce of an honest and well-minded gentleman and with as much courtesie as Dametas with rudenesse saluting mee Faire Lady saide hee it is nothing strange that such a solitary place as this should receiue solitary persons but much doe I maruaile howe such a beauty as yours is should be suffered to be thus alone I that now knew it was my part to play looking with a graue maiestie vpon him as if I found in my selfe cause to be reuerenced They are neuer alone saide I that are accompanied with noble thoughts But those thoughts replied Basilius cannot in this your lonelines neither warrant you from suspition in others nor defende you from melancholy in your selfe I then shewing a mislike that he pressed me so farre I seeke no better warrant saide I then my owne conscience nor no greater pleasure then mine owne contentation Yet vertue seekes to satisfie others saide Basilius Those that bee good saide I and they will bee satisfied as long as they see no euill Yet will the best in this country saide Basilius suspect so excellent beauty being so weakely garded Then are the best but starke nought aunswered I for open suspecting others comes of secrete condemning themselues But in my countrie whose manners I am in all places to maintaine and reuerence the generall goodnes which is nourished in our harts makes euerye one thinke the strength of vertue in an other whereof they finde the assured foundation in themselues Excellent Ladie said he you praise so greatly and yet so wisely your country that I must needes desire to knowe what the nest is out of which such Byrds doo flye You must first deserue it said I before you may obtaine it And by what meanes saide Basilius shall I deserue to know your estate By letting me first knowe yours aunswered I. To obey you said he I will doe it although it were so much more reason yours should be knowen first as you doo deserue in all points to be preferd Know you faire Lady that my name is Basilius vnworthily Lord of this country the rest either fame hath alreadie brought to your eares or if it please you to make this place happie by your presence at more leasure you shall vnderstand of me I that from the beginning assured my selfe it was he but would not seeme I did so to keepe my grauitie the better making a peece of reuerence vnto him Mightye Prince said I let my not knowing you serue for the excuse of my
Phrygia but as I may terme it of a wanton crueltie inconstant in his choise of friends or rather neuer hauing a friend but a playfellow of whom when he was wearie he could not otherwise rid himselfe then by killing them giuing somtimes prodigally not because he loued them to whom he gaue but because he lusted to giue punishing not so much for hate or anger as because he felt not the smart of punishment delighted to be flattered at first for those vertues which were not in him at length making his vices vertues worthy the flattering with like iudgement glorying when he had happened to do a thing well as when he had performed some notable mischiefe He chanced at that time for indeed long time none lasted with him to haue next in vse about him a man of the most enuious disposition that I think euer infected the aire with his breath whose eies could not looke right vpon any happie man nor eares beare the burthen of any bodies praise contrary to the natures of all other plagues plagued with others well being making happines the ground of his vnhappinesse good news the argumēt of his sorrow in sum a man whose fauour no man could winne but by being miserable And so because these two faithfull seruants of theirs came in miserable sorte to that Courte he was apte inough at first to fauour them and the King vnderstanding of their aduenture wherein they had shewed so constant a faith vnto their Lordes suddainly falles to take a pride in making much of them extolling them with infinite prayses and praysing him selfe in his harte in that he praysed them And by and by were they made great courtiers and in the way of minions when aduauncement the most mortall offence to enuy stirred vp their former friend to ouerthrow his owne worke in them taking occasion vpon the knowledge newly come to the court of the late death of the King of Phrygia destroied by their two Lordes who hauing bene a neere kinsman to this Prince of Pontus by this enuious Councellour partly with suspition of practise partly with glory of in-part reuenging his cousins death the King was suddainly turned and euery turne with him was a downe-fall to locke them vp in prison as seruaunts to his enimies whom before he had neuer knowne nor till that time one of his owne subiects had entertained and dealt for them did euer take heed of But now earnest in euery present humour and making himselfe braue in his liking he was content to giue them iust cause of offence when they had power to make iust reuenge Yet did the Princes send vnto him before they entred into warre desiring their seruants liberty But he swelling in their humblenes like a bubble blowne vp with a small breath broken with a great forgetting or neuer knowing humanitie caused their heads to be striken off by the aduice of his enuious Councellor who now hated them so much the more as he foresaw their happines in hauing such and so fortunate masters and sent them with vnroyall reproches to Musidorus and Pyrocles as if they had done traiterously and not heroically in killing his tyrannicall Cosen But that iniurie went beyond all degree of reconcilement so that they making forces in Phrygia a kingdome wholy at their commandement by the loue of the people and gratefulnesse of the King they entred his country and wholy conquering it with such deeds as at lest Fame said were excellent tooke the King and by Musidorus commaundement Pyrocles hart more enclining to pitie he was slaine vpon the tombe of their two true Seruants which they caused to be made for them with royall expences and notable workmanship to preserue their dead liues For his wicked Seruant he should haue felt the like or worse but that his harte brake euen to death with the beholding the honour done to their dead carcasses There might Pyrocles quietly haue enioyed that crowne by all the desire of that people most of whom had reuolted vnto him but he finding a sister of the late Kings a faire and well esteemed Ladie looking for nothing more then to be oppressed with her brothers ruines gaue her in marriage to the noble man his fathers old friend and endowed them with the crowne of that kingdome And not content with those publike actions of princely and as it were gouerning vertue they did in that kingdome and some other neere about diuers acts of particular trials more famous because more perilous For in that time those regions were full both of cruell monsters and monstrous men all which in short time by priuate combats they deliuered the countries of Among the rest two brothers of huge both greatnesse and force therefore commonly called Giants who kept themselues in a castle seated vpon the top of a rocke impregnable because there was no comming vnto it but by one narrow path where one mans force was able to keepe downe an armie These brothers had a while serued the King of Pontus and in all his affaires especially of war whereunto they were onely apt they had shewed as vnconquered courage so a rude faithfulnes being men indeed by nature apter to the faults of rage then of deceipt not greatly ambitious more then to be well and vprightly dealt with rather impatient of iniury then delighted with more then ordinary curtesies and in iniuries more sensible of smart or losse then of reproch or disgrace These men being of this nature and certainely Iewels to a wise man considering what indeed wonders they were able to performe yet were discarded by that vnworthy Prince after many notable deserts as not worthy the holding Which was the more euidēt to thē because it sodainly fell from an excesse of fauor which many examples hauing taught them neuer stopt his race till it came to an headlong ouerthrow they ful of rage retyred thēselues vnto this castle Where thinking nothing iuster thē reuenge nor more noble then the effects of anger that according to the nature full of inward brauery and fiercenes scarcely in the glasse of Reason thinking it selfe faire but when it is terrible they immediately gaue themselues to make all the countrie about them subiect to that King to smart for their Lords folly not caring how innocent they were but rather thinking the more innocent they were the more it testified their spite which they desired to manifest And with vse of euill growing more and more euill they tooke delight in slaughter and pleased themselues in making others wracke the effect of their power so that where in the time that they obeyed a master their anger was a seruiceable power of the minde to doo publike good so now vnbridled and blinde iudge of it selfe it made wickednesse violent and praised it selfe in excellencie of mischiefe almost to the ruine of the countrie not greatly regarded by their carelesse and louelesse king Till now these Princes finding them so fleshed in crueltie as not to be reclaimed secretly vndertooke
and taking euen precepts of preuailing in Pamela by her fayling in Philoclea shee went to her chamber and according to her owne vngratious method of subtile proceeding stood listning at the dore because that out of the circumstance of her present behauiour there might kindly arise a fitte beginning of her intended discourse And so shee might perceaue that Pamela did walke vp and downe full of deepe though patient thoughts For her look and countenance was setled her pace soft and almost still of one measure without any passionate gesture or violent motion till at length as it were awaking and strengthning her selfe Well said she yet this is the best and of this I am sure that how soeuer they wrong me they cannot ouer-master God No darkenes blinds his eyes no Iayle barres him out To whom then else should I flie but to him for succoure And therewith kneeling downe euen where she stood she thus said O all-seeing Light and eternall Life of al things to whom nothing is either so great that it may resist or so small that it is contemned looke vpon my miserie with thine eye of mercie and let thine infinite power vouchsafe to limite out some proportioÌ„ of deliuerance vnto me as to thee shal seem most conuenient Let not iniurie ô Lord triumphe ouer me and let my faultes by thy hande be corrected and make not mine vniuste enemie the minister of thy Iustice But yet my God if in thy wisdome this be the aptest chastizement for my vnexcuseable follie if this low bondage bee fittest for my ouer-hie desires if the pride of my not-inough humble harte bee thus to bee broken O Lorde I yeeld vnto thy will and ioyfully embrace what sorrow thou wilt haue me suffer Onely thus much let me craue of thee let my crauing ô Lord be accepted of thee since euen that proceedes from thee let mee craue euen by the noblest title which in my greatest affliction I may giue my selfe that I am thy creature and by thy goodnes which is thy selfe that thou wilt suffer some beame of thy Maiestie so to shine into my mind that it may still depende confidently vpon thee Let calamitie bee the exercise but not the ouerthrowe of my vertue let their power preuaile but preuaile not to destruction let my greatnes be their praie let my paine bee the sweetnes of their reuenge let them if so it seem good vnto thee vexe me with more and more punishment But ô Lord let neuer their wickednes haue such a hand but that I may carie a pure minde in a pure bodie And pausing a while And ô most gracious Lorde said she what euer become of me preserue the vertuous Musidorus The other parte Cecropia might well heare but this latter prayer for Musidorus her hart helde it as so iewel-like a treasure that it woulde scarce trust her owne lippes withall But this prayer sent to heauen from so heauenly a creature with such a feruent grace as if Deuotion had borowed her bodie to make of it selfe a most beautifull representation with her eyes so lifted to the skie-ward that one woulde haue thought they had begunne to flie thetherwarde to take their place among their fellow starres her naked hands raising vp their whole length and as it were kissing one another as if the right had ben the picture of Zeale and the left of Humblenesse which both vnited themselues to make their suites more acceptable Lastly all her senses being rather tokens then instruments of her inwarde motions altogether had so straunge a working power that euen the harde-harted wickednesse of Cecropia if it founde not a loue of that goodnes yet it felt an abashment at that goodnes and if she had not a kindly remorse yet had she an yrksome accusation of her own naughtines so that she was put from the biasle of her fore-intended lesson For well shee found there was no way at that time to take that mind but with some at lest image of Vertue and what the figure thereof was her hart knew not Yet did she prodigally spend her vttermost eloquence leauing no argument vnproued which might with any force inuade her excellent iudgement the iustnes of the request being but for marriage the worthinesse of the suiter then her owne present fortune which shoulde not onely haue amendment but felicitie besides falsely making her belieue that her sister would thinke her selfe happie if now shee might haue his loue which before shee contemned and obliquely touching what daunger it should be for her if her sonne should accept Philoclea in marriage and so match the next heire apparant shee being in his powre yet plentifully periuring how extreamely her sonne loued her and excusing the little shewes hee made of it with the duetifull respect he bare vnto her and taking vpon her selfe that she restrayned him since shee found shee could set no limits to his passions And as shee did to Philoclea so did she to her with the tribute of gifts seeke to bring her mind into seruitude and all other meanes that might either establish a beholdingnesse or at lest awake a kindnes doing it so as by reason of their imprisonment one sister knew not how the other was wooed but each might thinke that onely shee was sought But if Philoclea with sweet and humble dealing did auoid their assaults she with the Maiestie of Vertue did beate them of But this day their speach was the sooner broken of by reason that he who stood as watche vpon the top of the keepe did not onely see a great dust arise which the earth sent vp as if it would striue to haue clowdes as well as the aire but might spie sometimes especially when the dust wherein the naked winde did apparaile it selfe was caried a side from them the shining of armour like flashing of lightning wherewith the clowdes did seeme to bee with childe which the Sunne guilding with his beames it gaue a sight delightfull to any but to them that were to abide the terrour But the watch gaue a quicke Alarum to the souldiers within whome practise already hauing prepared began each with vnabashed hartes or at lest countenaunces to looke to their charge or obedience which was allotted vnto them Onely Clinias and Amphialus did exceed the bounds of mediocrity the one in his naturall coldnesse of cowardise the other in heate of courage For Clinias who was bold onely in busie whisperings and euen in that whisperingnes rather indeede confident in his cunning that it should not bee bewraied then any way bolde if euer it should bee bewrayed now that the enemy gaue a dreadfull aspect vnto the castle his eyes saw no terror nor eare heard any martiall sounde but that they multiplied the hideousnesse of it to his mated minde Before their comming he had many times felt a dreadfull expectation but yet his minde that was willing to ease it selfe of the burden offeare did somtime â—aine vnto it selfe possibilitie of let as the death of Basilius
and a Princesse aliue But once for them she might haue gone whether she would thinking it a sacriledge to touch her person when she finding she finding she was not a sufficieÌ„t oratour to perswade her own death by their haÌ„ds well said she it is but so much more time of miserie for my part I will not geue my life so much pleasure from hence forward as to yeeld to his desire of his own choise of death since all the rest is taken away yet let me excell in miserie Leade me therfore whether you will only happy because I can not be more wretched But neyther so much would the honest Shepheards do but rather with many teares bemoned this encrease of their former losse till she was faine to leade them with a very strange spectacle either that a Princesse should be in the hands of Shepheards or a prisoner should direct her gardiens lastly before either witnes or accuser a Lady condemne her selfe to death But in such monefull â—arch they went towards the other Shepheards who in the meane time had left nothing vnassaied to reuiue the King but all was bootles and their sorrowes encreased the more they had suffred any hopes vainly to arise Among other trialls they made to know at least the cause of his end hauing espied the vnhappy cup they gaue the little liquor that was left to a dogge of Damaetas in which within a short time it wrought the like effect although Damaetas did so much to recouer him that for very loue of his life he dasht out his braines But now all togither and hauing Gynaecia among them who to make her selfe the more odious did continuallie record to their mindes the excesse of their losse they yelded themselues ouer to all those formes of lamentacion that dolefull images do imprint in the honest but ouer tender hartes especially when they thinke the rebound of the euill falls to their owne smart Therefore after the auncient greeke maner some of them remembring the nobilitie of his birth continued by being like his Auncestors others his shape which though not excellent yet fauour and pittie drew all things now to the highest point others his peaceable gouernment the thing which most pleaseth men resolued to liue of their owne others his liberalitie which though it cannot light vpon all men yet men naturallie hoping it may be they make it a most amiable vertue Some calling in question the greatnes of his power which encreased the compassion to see the present change hauing a dolefull memorie how he had tempered it with such familier curtesie among them that they did more feele the fruites then see the pompes of his greatnes all with one consent geuing him the sacred titles of good iust mercifull the father of the people the life of his Countrie they ranne about his body tearing their beards and garments some sending their cryes to heauen other inuenting perticular howling musicke manie vowing to kill themselues at the day of his funeralls generallie geuing a true testimonye that men are louing creatures when iniuries put them not from their naturall course and howe easily a thing it is for a Prince by succession deeplie to sinke into the soules of his subiects a more liuely monument then Mausolus Tombe But as with such hartie lamentacion they dispersed among those woods their resounding shrikes the Sunne the perfectest marke of time hauing now gotten vp two howres iourney in his dayly changing Circle their voice helped with the only answering Echo came to the eares of the faithfull and worthy Gentleman Philanax who at that time was comming to visite the King accompanyed with diuers of the worthie Arcadian Lords who with him had visited the places adioyning for the more assurance of Basilius solitarines a thing after the late mutinie he had vsually done and since the Princesses returne more diligentlie continued which hauing nowe likewise performed thinking it as well his duty to see the King as of good purpose being so neare to receyue his further direction accompanied as aboue sayd he was this morning comming vnto him when these vnpleasant voices gaue his minde an vncertaine presage of his neere approching sorow For by and by he saw the bodie of his dearely esteemed Prince and heard Gynecias lamenting not such as the turtle-like loue is wont to make for the euer ouer-soone losse of her only loued make but with curfings of her life detesting her owne wickednes seeming only therefore not to desire death because she would not shew a loue of any thing The Shepheards especially Damaetas knowing him to be the second person in Aucthoritie gaue forthwith relacion vnto him what they knewe and had proued of this dolorous spectacle besides the other accidents of his children But he principally touched with his maisters losse lighting from his horse with a heauie cheare came and kneeled downe by him where finding he could do no more then the Shepheards had for his recouerie the constancie of his minde surprised before he might call together his best rules could not refraine such like words Ah deere maister sayd he what change it hath pleased the Almightie Iustice to worke in this place How soone not to your losse who hauing liued long to nature and to time longer by your well deserued glorie but longest of all in the eternall mansion you now possesse But how soone I say to our ruine haue you left the fraile barke of your estate O that the words in most faithfull dutie deliuered vnto you when you first entred this solitarie course might haue wrought as much perswasion in you as they â—prang from truth in me perchaunce your seruaunt Philanax should not nowe haue cause in your losse to bewayle his owne ouerthrowe And therewith taking himselfe and in deede euill fitteth it me sayde he to let goe my harte to womanish complaints since my Prince being vndoubtedly well it rather shewes loue of my selfe which makes me bewaile mine owne losse No the true loue must be proued in the honor of your memorie and that must be shewed with seeking iust reuenge vpon your vniust and vnnaturall enemies and farre more honorable it will be for your Tombe to haue the blood of your murderers sprinkled vpon it then the teares of your friendes And if your soule looke downe vppon this miserable earth I doubt not it had much rather your death were accompanyed with well deserued punishment of the causers of it then with the heaping on it more sorrowes with the ende of them to whome you vouchsafed your affection let them lament that haue wouen the webbe of lamentacion let theyr owne deathes make them crye out for your death that were the authors of it Therewith carying manfull sorowe and vindicatiâ—e resolucion in his face he rose vp so looking on the poore guiltlesse princesse transported with an vniust iustice that his eyes were sufficient herauldes for him to denounce a mortall hatred She whome furies of loue firebrands of her conscience shame of the