extremity of loue thou bearest to mée I vow thee recompence but with contract I dare not promise therefore good Theseus suppresse those passions which now thy minde is perplexed with Theseus standing a while commenting of his dull perplexity scarcely dared vouchsafe to giue an answere or demand a remedie yet sayd hee opportunities neglected are signes of follie therefore hée beganne againe in these tearmes Titana the fatall doubts of cruell death is not so feared of me but I dare extend my life with fortunes sate to enioy thy loue why then faire Lady sith I am so wounded with your loue yéeld to my request which is within the bounds of modestie desired If I were lasciuious demanding vnchast desires to vse thee as a Concubine then mightest thou iustly be peruerse say me nay or were I a begger or a base borne vassall of no desert or for reputation vile then would I hold it wisedome or came I like a Scythian Shepheard with my shéepe-hooke on my neck but comming like a Grecian Prince with my Scepter in my hand demanding loue with a chast deuotion me thinkes you should not be so peruerse to deny so kind a demand Quoth Titana good Theseus be not so tedious for to be short in tearmes I will not grant thee loue for loue is the only thing â— hate therfore trouble me no more with such friuolous spéeches if you please to accompany mee as in former time you haue done you shall be the welcomest man in Greece but if you reply with such like speeches as loue I rather desire your a sence than your presence Theseus hearing her still in that froward denying veine quite expel'd hope and included despaire and thus beganne hee which scarcely found beginning O wicked and despairing wretch forlorne and of Titana forsaken worse than the seruilst slaue in Achaia more base than the stimie earth vnderneath thy féete more in bondage than Tunisian gally slaues more vacant on earth than Indians in Arabia and more wretched than Progne in her transformation why how camest thou thus metamorphosed being a Kings sonne oh with loue with loue of that ingratefull Titana for had I not loued Titana she had not caused my vntimely death but measuring my adverse fortune with thy peruerse obstinacy I le end my life and with that hee unsheashed his fatall Engine and sayd thus Faire Lady as like the Camelion I haue liued by the Airy essence of thy loue so like faithfull Theseus by thy hate I le die He sets the point of his sword to his brest Titana séeing him so desperate lightly skipt from off the banke whereon she sate and suddenly takes him by the hand which held his sword and thus beganne Theseus art thou a Prince and a Kings sonne a warriour and Grecians Champion and wilt at a wenches frowne ruine thy body and bring thy aged Fathers gray haires with griefe vnto his graue and his carefull head on a restlesse pillow remember this thou art Heire apparent vnto thy Fathers Crowne and kingdome and by thy well liuing thy Fathers daies are prolonged on earth but by thy ill dying with griefe they are soone ended why then know this braue Theseus wenches will most deny the thing they most desire and séeme most peruerse where most they loue and proue most constant where they séeme most wauering and so will I I loue although I faigned a frowne yet detested I to hate and though my tongue sayd no my heart protested I. Therefore swéet Theseus impute me not peruerse for the heauens know I shame to expresse how proud I haue beene of Theseus loue yet would I not say Theseus I loue thee because then thou mightst repute me immodest being a Lady but the Gods doe know I haue honoured Theseus with a zealous deuotion and I loued Theseus with as dutifull affection as Titana could performe or Theseus desire therefore swéet loue thinke not I yéeld with vrgent prayers but with the force of Loue. Theseus noting her behauiour and hearing such vnexpected tearmes and snared allurements of Titana which made such pleasing harmony in his halfe dead eares was halfe rauished wholly reuiued to his former senses sheathed his fatall blade againe imbracing her in his armes layd battery to her skarlet lips with many a sugred kisse he giues assault and winnes the Fort In briefe they suddenly combind and fully accomplish'd a matrimoniall contract so that after many louely imbracings and pleasing-wanton toyes as loue hath many they parted for the time so fraught with inordinate ioy that it is impossible for the capacity of man to looke so high as their ioy did raise rebounds Fortune now enuying their good acts turnes her Whéele and as she had dimpled her cheekes so now she wrinkled her forehead and vnréeled the destinies for in Achaia there dwelt Oenie which euery yéere did sacrifice the firstlings of his store the which he first assigned of his corne and fruits to Ceres to Bacchus the first pressing of his wine and vnto Pallas Oliue oyle and thus honouring the gods of Graine and fruit hee offered frankincense but at Diana's Altars none was offered hee ouer slipt them the which Diana tooke in high disdaine and sayd he shall not scape vnpunished though he past mine Altars vnworshipped nor vaunt of his escape vnreuenged if I be a Goddesse I le plague him and his fruits and with that away she flies and on the next morne she sent a huge ouer growne Beare to Oenies ground such as the like had neuer yet beene séene This gréedy Boare deuoured the Corne and grasse and rent his â—â—ines vnto the ground and not so sufficed but beganne to ouer-runne and deuoure his Countrey of Achâ—ia insomuch that the husbandmen had laboured in vaine he ouer ranne their Lambs shéepe and Hearvs of Kie nay men women and children went daily in danger of this orped swines dreadfull Tuskes In so much that the people of Achaia preferred supplications to Aegeus Meleagar and Theseus and many other Kings Dukes Lords and Knights to desire their ayde to conquer this mercilesse Hogge the which they all were very willing and affable but Theseus yet he said I although he could haue wisht it no for the reason that moued him rather to haue stayed at home than haue gone was this he was newly returned from his loue Titana and they had both agréed to make their Fathers acquainted with their loues on the next day following which was the day appointed that this Princely knot should méete and accompany each other to the face of the Achaians foe Theseus very much discontent with this newes could haue faigned himselfe sicke and stayed at home but his heart was so enobled with valour that it would suffer excuse to take no place he seeing no remedie but goe he must being that renowned King Meleagar with his royall troopes of valiant Knights accompanied with his Father Aâ—geus were come he like Jason when he ventured for Media or Hercules for Deianita
his face so perfectly featured and viewing each limb the portraiture of his body so well limited that she greatly commended Dame Natures art and excellencie in shaddowing such perfection vnder her Fortunes lot perswading herselfe that none but Theseus should reape the harnest of her affection being thus perplexed with inordinate passions possest with amorous affection it wrought like a purgation with her in so much that at last she brake her passions in these tearmes Ah Titana thou art in loue I with whom with Theseus with Theseus hee is a Kings sonne why so art thou a Kings Daughter he is famous in birth thou art vertuous and faire by Nature he is a Prince why thou art a Princesse thou euery way art equiualent with him why then if thou lonest Theseus Theseus cannot chuse but loue Titana Ah Titana thou fond foole sigh sob and lament thee of thy follies art thou so fond to thinke that Theseus being a valiant warrier the Grecians champion and heire apparent to that inuincible King Aegeus will looke on thee no thou art not an obiect fitting for his expectiue eye though thy vertuous qualities be opposite to his valorous accomplishments yet he cannot loue Titana why Titana is beautifull vertuous and rich I and after her Fathers decease heire to the Crowne of rich Achaia why then Titana suppresse these franticke passions and incline to louely affections for doe thou but smile hee cannot chuse but loue well when she had thus at large playd and displayd her passionate affection she returnes to her chamber to be melancholy where wée le leaue her Theseus who had receiued such a deadly wound thought it long vntill he had some remedy for it starts him vp from the imbracements of his restlesse bed and walkes towards the Court of Meleagar euen at his approach within the Court gates she clocke strucke eight quoth Theseus it is too earely dayes to séeke to speake with Titana yet I le goe walke a course or two about the Gorden till the clocke strikes againe and that I thinke will be about the time of Titana's rising he immediately turnes on the backe side of the Court to enter into the Garden but when he came he found the doore fast lockt yet Fortune willing to fauour his presence would not suffer him to returne but caused him to knocke the which hée did and immediatly it was opened by a Groome of Titana's chamber quoth Theseus where is your Lady and mistris stirring yet quoth the Groome and shall please your Highnes shee sits alone at the further end of the Garden a reading with that Theseus cast vp his eye and espied his louely Paramour walking in the Garden vnséene of Titana he stept into a gréene Arbour which stood directly opposite against her and not farre distant from her where he first viewed each limit or proportraiture of her body and then beganne hée to breake his passions Ah Theseus ecce sée how her crimson lips stand like two Pilgrimes to adorne those vermillion chéekes of hers which like as the Adamant drawes the stéele so they draw thee to loue Nay behold her chrystall eies how like to vnestimable Diamonds they glitter and giue light to the out chanted Cynthia now last of all sée how farre her twined lookes doe surpasse the Arabian gold in golden beauty when he had thus breathed out his passions in these passionate tearmes he stands a while commenting in this dull perplexity yet at last beginnes to prosecute his passions with these tearmes Theseus thou séest her excellency perfection and beautie why then make a mixture with those and thy intire loue and drinke them as a physicke potion either to cure or kill and so shalt thou be sure to be eased by death else cured to life for in loue there is life in hate there is death but Titana's face resembles an Adamants vertue to draw loue by affection and not kill loue with reiecting and more it is impossible that she should couer a flinty heart with a smiling face for I know the vertue of Venus mollifies the heart of Titana why then Theseus what néedest thou feare shew thy selfe as valiant a Prince to Titana as thou hast done in former time to Mars and returned victor of the field when thou wast beset with millions of foes and wilt thou now feare the repulse of a woman and being thy loue too no thou shalt scale the walles and lay battery to the fairest and with that he stepts out of the Arbour with a modest behauiour and full resolution takes her by the hand and withall dimples her cheekes with a louelie smile as loue giues louers direction and thus beginnes Faire Titana euer since I could conceiue one Amorous thought or cast a wanton eye on beauties perfection I haue remained imburthened with the essence of your beauty and wounded with the vlcerous sore of your loue therefore faire Lady reiect me not with disdaine because I approach with courtesie and as our two aged Fathers liue in peacefull amity so let vs combine a matrimoniall vnity it will not onely be a comfort to them but also an eternall ioy to vs Titana resting and meditating a while at last be paints her chéekes with a maiden blush and thus replies Prince Theseus this is very strange to mee that such inordinate passions of loue should so farre ouerflow her shores on the sudden being no storme nor spring to be the causer therefore Theseus surely this is not loue these are but faigned fictions to try simplicity inluring baites to catch fond folly in wantons snares for Demophoon was faire by nature but prooued false to Phyllis Aeneas was a braue man but as false as Almider yet were their protested vowes greater than common hearts can conceiue Therefore Theseus suppresse thy passions and leaue to loue Titana for she cannot loue thee againe shee is like the starre Artophylax that is beautious to the eye but fit for no vse euen so is Titana iust opposite against nature well still she keepes him at the staffes length and sits her still on the gréene banke where hee found her shadowing her yéelding passions with denying frownes Theseus who all this while had mark'd and viewed each limit of her body and the feature of her face thought it very strange that Nature should endow so faire a face with so hard a heart such comely limmits with such peruerse conditions at last thus beganne to prosecute his cause againe in these tearmes Faire Titana be not proud of beauties painting for it is but a Summers flower the Winter séedes it and those which disdaine in youth are despised in age therefore faire Lady make not a Goddesse of beauty but yéeld me loue for loue and let not the destinies cause me to despaire now in the verdency of my blooming youth Titana sitting still on the banke as it were not regarding him thus beginnes Theseus I commend thine excéeding wit but in this case I pitty thy distresse and for thy
fauourers to her pretence and thus walkt thée a while commenting in these dull perplexities till at last her passions were so vrgent with her shee could no longer suppresse them but safe her down on a gréene banke and burst out her passions in these tearmes Ah Titana thou vnfortunate wretch art thou a Kings Daughter and liue thus a slaue to Cupid better wert thou a country wench to enioy their louely pleasure than a courtly mistresse thus wrapt in troward miserie now maist thou sée the destinies plague thee for thy disobedience Ah sigh Titana draw dry those two chrystall fountaines from whence these pearled streames descend to ouerflow these tender cheekes of thine loue Pirismus and in louing him thou louest thy selfe Ah no I dare not Pirismus no 't is Theseus and none but Theseus shall haue my true loue Ah foole that thou art to fix so fondly thou knowest Theseus is a Grecian and Greekes thy fathers foes then sticke to thy fathers Election and loue Pirismus for in louing him thou shalt enioy the worlds content Ah no I haue made my solemne vowes to Theseus and will kéepe them 't is not worldly content alone that I desire but Theseus loue the patron of my meditating thoughts the Couch of my weary ioyntures rest and the Crowne of my earthly glory When shee had thus breathed forth her solitary passions from the gray Morne to the red Euen Zephyr beganne to draw the melancholy curtaines of portendous night which caused Titana to depart who hauing taken her leaue of the Orenge and Lemmon Trées which onely did accompany her all that day returnes to her chamber againe where shée immures her selfe in contemplation At hapned that in two dayes after her father Ambrosia Pirismus and all their followers arriued on Calidon shores and Pageants Drums and Trumpets were prouided with swéet persumes and Frankincense the stréets were swéetned for their passage which greatly pleased Ambrosia so that they suddenly arriued at Meleagars Court where they were most sumptuously entertained with banquets and feasting which being done Meleagar willing to make knowne by outward shewes how hee was possest within ward ioyes leapt from his chaire of state and fetcht his Daughter Titana leading her into Ambrosia's presence by the middle Titana séeing her supposed sire faigned on him a smile and withall to grace the dimples of her chéekes she giues them a comely and modest blush and with a low and reuerent courtesie the old obeysance to King Ambrosia the which he séeing suddenly stept to her took her in his armes and louingly imbrac'd her with many courteous and royall spéeches Pirismus who had all this while markd her behauiour blest his Fortune and thank'd the gods for his good accesse when he had so done hée thought himselfe to haue most right to her tooke her aside to the further side of the Roome where hee sported his blind folly and catcht at shaddowes yet to his hearts content and both their Fathers increased ioy but alasse to poore Titana's heart breaking though she faigned a smile in her fathers presence yet was she forc'd to wéepe in his absence Meleagar was so fraught with ioy that hee thought euery day a yéere that his Daughter went vnmarried yet past he six dayes more in kéeping Ambrosia company and shewing him the Pastimes and pleasures that hee chiefely tooke delight in the meane time he called to him his chiefe Officers and Nobles and demands if all things were ready for the Nuptiall the which they all answered I. When Meleagar heard that he was very ioyfull and presently makes Ambrosia Pirismus and Titana acquainted with his pretence which was this that on the seuenth day following being the sixtéene day of the month he did purpose to accomplish the marriage betwixt Pirismus and Titana the which they all séemed to be very ioyfull glad of saue onely Titana yet shee séemed no lesse than ioyfull in the sight of her Father but in her chamber she passioned whole riuers of teares from her christall eies where wee l leaue her to the fauour of the gods and turne to Theseus Who all this while hath béene very busie and laborious in his carefull affaires and hauing accomplish'd his busines finish'd his purpose and layd the ship ready in the Hauen is very desirous to speake with his loue Titana but his father being present he could find no opportunity fitting to make escape forth which bred hatefull melancholly in so much that he immured vp himself in his chamber to sollicite sadnes Fortune smiling at his folly dandled him once again on her indulgent knée It hapned at that instant a Noble man of Aegeus Court riding through a Forrest that was some eight miles distant from Athens espyed a wilde Boare and knowing the King loued the sport of hunting as well as the one halfe of his kingdome came riding post to the King and made report of his busines the king hearing him caused sudden preparation to be made he hauing a very faire Pallace standing in the midst of the Forrest determined to go thither to bed that night the which preparation being made and all things ready he calls for Theseus but he had heard some inkling of his fathers hunting progresse and how he was vpon going faigned himselfe sicke and tooke phisicke when word was brought to the King that Theseus could not goe he demanded the occasion they answered hée was not well hée tooke phisicke The King hearing that newes and loth to delay time and so lose his sport called his Nobles about him where they mounted their Stéeds and rode towards the Forrest where wee le leaue them to their sport and turne to Titana Who now hath little hope to enioy Theseus loue for the six dayes are al most expired and the seuenth is the Nuptiall day appointed which was the next day following yet being the last day of her hope she went one morning to walk in the Garden to séeke her Theseus bearing a sharpe Engine in her hand determining with her selfe that as she had made her vowes to Theseus none should enioy her loue but Theseus and where she did protest those vowes to Theseus there she meant to sacrifice her blond to the Gods for Theseus sake where wée le leaue her Theseus hearing his father was gone puts on a disguised suite of apparell and secretly conueyes himselfe forth at the Court gates by Junia's meanes determining neuer to come in againe sends Junia to the Hauen where the ship lay and caused him to attend his comming there which done his walkes towards the Court of Meleagar which was at that time neare adioyning to the City of Atheus hee being arriued at the Court suddenly makes meanes to enter the garden which being entred hee walkt to the farther side where hee was wont to méete his Loue Titana he was no sooner approacht but he spied her where she sate leaning her head on her hand as though she had béene asléepe he no lesse then glad to see
THE HISTORIE OF TITANA AND THESEVS Very pleasant for age to avoide drowsie thoughts profitable for youth to avoide wanton pastimes so that to both it brings the mindes content Written by W. Bettie LONDON Printed for Robert Bird and are to be sold at his shop in St Laurence Lane at the Signe of the Bible 1636. TO THE RIGHT VVORshipfull HVMPHRIE CONISBYE W. B. wisheth all joy and happinesse in this world and in the world to come life everlasting RIght Worshipfull ever since my childish yeares were adopted with that mutuall sense of seeing and imboldned with your favourable smiles I presumed to survey the manifold favours that I found written in the Margent of your love which seeing I finde my selfe so deepely indebted to your Worship that although I should endeavour my selfe even to the last gaspe yet were it impossible for me to deserve or make you restitution for the least of them but as heretofore I still presumed on your kindnesse presenting to your Worship the frownes of fortune so rudely and roughly polished that I feare you will smile with Alexander at the crooked deformity of Vulcan yet sometimes the mind is as well pleased to heare of Pans homely fancies as of Hercules renowned labours Homer wrote verses as well on Irus the Beggar as Eurymachus the wooer Apollo gives Oracles as well to the poore for his mite as the rich for his treasure Darius aswell received the rough unpolish'd colors of Mison as the curious pictures of Apelles Therefore I beseech you to shroud this imperfect Pamphlet vnder your worships patronage assuring my selfe that your worships learned education vertuous disposition will be a sufficient defence to protect me from the enuious tongues of the scorning Sycophants and hoping as Iupiter and his Sonne vouchsafed to lye in Philemons poore cottage so I hope your worship will excuse my slender skill accept of my willing mind and when you haue giuen them a fauorable view with Minerua vnder your golden Target couer a deformed Owle so hoping for more then yet I haue deserued I rest wishing you the happie successe of hearts content where I leaue you to the Heavens disposing Your Worships most dutifull and ever bounden W. BETTIE THE HISTORIE OF TITANA AND THESEVS IN Greece there dwelt a mighty King called Aegeus who had raigned fiftie yeeres fortunate and successiue in all his warlike affayres that through the puissance of his force to his foes and bountifull courtesie to his friends he was feared in hate and imbraced in loue This Aegeus had one onely Sonne whose name was Theseus who was by birth Royall learned by education by Nature valorous and by Vertues famous insomuch that it was hard to iudge whether his valour Fortune or Vertue wonne the greatest praise This young Prince being so richly adorned with she rare feats and accomplishments of Chiualry that he did not onely enioy his Fathers loue but also wonne his Subiects hearts at that instant there liued Meleagar King of Achaia not farre distant from the Court of Aegeus who had a Daughter a faire young Virgin whose name was Titana her vertuous dispositions were such as might iustly challenge more loue than the world could yéeld her for her beauty was such as it tainted Venus chéekes her vertue shadowed Diana's Altars her learning stayned sacred Pallas her loyalty was such as if quite surpast Penelope how can the world then extoll these excellent gifts of Nature to the high spheare of their deserts being so exquisitly limitted and so louingly applauded by their Subiects reports but by committing them to those glittring creatures inclosed within the spangled sâ—ies where wée le leaue them to the Heauens disposing and turne to Meleagar her father who in his youth had béene brought vp with Aegeus and was his Schoolefellow so as they had béene Schoole fellowes in their youth they remained louing Neighbours in their age maintaining course and recourse to and fro each others Courts vpholding golden amity with the pillars of brotherly loue which did not onely reioyce the Achaians but also augment the Grecians loue with such inordinate and extreame passions that euery yeare vpon the Kings Coronation day the people throughout all Greece and Achaia held a generall feast for the space of forty dayes with Iusts and Turnies with Running Wrestling Leaping and dancing with Bonfires ringing of Bells and such like pleasant pastimes not onely to honour their two Kings but also to shew their inward ioy by their outward actions as well to shew their Kings their royall deserts as their loyalty being Subiects When this solemne Triumph was quite ended the people returned vnto their former labour and wonted course of life where wée le leaue them and turne to Theseus who though but yong in yeares yet old in experience though valorous with Hercules yet not too venturous with Phaëton though vpheld with the wings of Fortune yet not rash in flying with Icarus but kéeping lower bounds with Daedalus hee feared not the Thunderbolts of Jove nor yet the raging waues of Neptune well to be briefe Theseus who had euer since hée was able to harbour or conceiue one amorous thought mark'd the excellency of Titana's behauiour and the exquisitie of her beauty perswaded himselfe that she was matchlesse on earth in so much that at last he fell into passionate affections with Titana and burst out his passions in these tearmes being alone in a garden sitting vnder an Orenge Trée Ah Theseus thou art a Kings sonne and art applauded by the Greekes to be the only champion of this climat and wilt thou liue a slaue to Venus confin'd and bard of libertie no no cast off these foolish affections for Theseus surely thou dost not loue these are but instant conceits swéetned with hony or fire made with straw they are not Amors of perfection Ah Theseus flatter not thy selfe thy heart doth féele she deadly wound of Cupids Dart Oh that blinde boy hath pierst it cleane through like an Indian pearle yet be cheareful Theseus what néedst thou feare thou knowest the salue to cure thy amorous corrasiue Titana is a Kings Daughter and she is by birth Royall learned by education faire by Nature by vertues famous and by possessions rich why then what néedst thou feare cast off these despairing follies and put on assuring fancies for Cupid neuer throwes his Dart but Venus séekes the wound why then Theseus art thou a Prince a valiant Souldier and wilt liue thus perplexed with foolish loue or a wound giuen by a Boy expell such capitall follies as would include thee with ignominious conceits when he had thus sufficiently explained his passions searcht the deepnesse of his still bleeding wound he takes his farwell of the Orenge Trée that shaddowed him from the beames of Phoebus and returnes to his chamber where wee le leaue him ruminating on his loue and turne to Titana Who all this while euen from her infancie had noted the princely gesture of Theseus seeing
or like Turnus before he went to his bloudy fight armed and enobled himselfe with valour which done hée accompanied this Princely knot of noble Knights euen to the very brincke of his owne aduerse Fortune where wée le leaue him vnréeling the destinies and turne to Meleagar the causer of his griefe who being vpholden with the wings of Fortune reaped the plenteous Hauest of a renowned encounter by the winning a famous victory Meleagar with the rest of the valiant knights threw his lucky Dart against this orped swine who being more potent with Fortunes fauour then impotent with Diana's frowne gaue this Beare his deadly wound this being done though old in yeares yet young in conceit for with pride méerely of his fortunate stroake he presently fell into amorous feakes with Atalant Schoenies Daughter of Tegea and suddenly stepping to the Swine said thus Oh Lady Atalant receive this my fee And of my glory vouch thou safe partaker for to be And with that gave her the head of the Swine THis Lady for the giuers sake was as glad in heart as for the gift and receiued it very thankfully but the rest repinde that shee such honour had and armes displayd that all the field might easily sée and heare their murmuring discontent Plexippus and Toxey cryed Dame lay downe this geare doe we take the toyle and thou the honour of our Game no nor let that faire face smooth of thine beguile thee least he that being doted in thy loue and giuing thee our sée be ouer-farre to rescue thee and with that word they tooke the gift away from her and right of gift from him Quoth Meleagar with a sterne and sterce looking countenance you Thesties race learne this from me and doe not other folkes dispoyle of honour giuen for Princes gifts are frée and none to be reiected and Princes wills are lawes of none to be vsurped Therefore Plexippus what difference is betwixt your threats and deeds I le with this weapon trie with that he suddenly strikes him through the brest with his Boare speare Toxey seeing his brother slame stood doubting what way to take desiring to reuenge his brothers bloud yet fearing to be murthered as his Brother was before stood amazedly commenting Meleagar to dispatch his doubtfull muzes drew his fatall sword and slew him for company of his Brother Plexippus whose blood was hardly cold as yet This bloudy prospect bred such a mutiny amongst them that their armes displayd on both sides insomuch that the two houses Meleagar and Aegeus fell into ciuill discension and much bloud was spilt on both sides and not onely these two houses of Meleagar and Aegeus but almost all Greece Achaia and Calidon was in an vproare for each tooke armes against other and being renowned and famous Princes friends tooke partes and they beganne to bandie and ouer-runne each others Dominions This disagréement betwéene the parents although it was a heart breaking to these two louers Titana and Theseus yet did it not at all disparage their affection but the greater the mutinie the deeper was the impression of their mindes and by this meanes their libertie was confin'd and meeting places quite debard yet loue being a priuie searcher of secrets sound a time and opportunitie which gaue them place time and leaue to parle to play and display each others mindes when these two louers came together they were in feare and danger to be espied which caused them one while to sigh sodde lament and greiue another while kisse smile laugh and ioy and thus they spent the time as pleasantly as distress'd louers could doe yet they sweare to each other yâ— their Fathes dissention should neuer separate their loues nor aduerse Fortune should diminiâ—h their affections but would remaine ioyfull vnto death in despite of the hatefull destinies hauing thus recounted each others loue to their hearts content yet séeing they could not enioy the full fruition of their â—oâ—les in Greece nor Achaia Theseus determined assoone as time and opportunitie gaue him leaue to prouide a masse of money and Iewels for the easier cariage and so transport themselues into Spaine to Tunis and there to liue a contented life not knowne but as a Grecian Knight vntill he heard of some vnited peace betwixt their Fathers else by succession to enioy their Kingdomes Titana hearing his determinate course commended highly his wittie deuice and sayd thus Faire loue if thy father Aegeus should take me within his precinct it were death or at least perpetuall imprisonment and againe on the other side if my father Meleagar should take thée to his Dominions it were the like danger for thoe to come into But if my Father should heare of this contract his fury would be such that the tortorous death were too easie for vs both first you for presumption then I for simplicitie and so we shal bite both on the destinies bridle Therefore sweete Theseus make hast with all expedition prouide all things fitting for our Voyage for delay breeds danger and false Fortune despite Theseus being fraught with boundlesse ioy and prickt forward with loues desire did protest vnto her assoone as opportunitie gaue him leaue he would prouide soch necessaries as were fitting for their Voyage so resting vpon this resolution and night beginning to listen to their complement after many imbracings payed and repayed kisses they parted Theseus hauing taken leaue of his best beloued Titana returnes him backe againe to his fathers Court and being there arriued calld vnto him an ancient Seruant of his fathers whose name was Iunia this Iunia being a faithfull Seruant and Theseus approoued friend he thought him not lesse then fitting to imploy about this his secret pretence Theseus reposing confident trust in him declared the whole volume of his mind vnto him from the beginning to the end Iunia hearing him so fully bent and determinately resolued on this imperfect course began to diswade or diuert him to the contrarie alledging diuers instant inconueniencies Theseus being to determinate in his pretence beganne to reiect Iunia for his folly in diswading him and told him he did not call nor disclose his mind vnto him to aske his advice or to be intercepted by him but the cause he had him there present was this he did depose trust vnto him and impose this secret busines on him to prouide a small barke or Pinnace to transport them into Spaine with moneys and certaine Iewells and such like coÌ„modities for the easier carriage which if he could prouide and make readie against such a time hee would reward him royally for his paines Iunia hearing this that there was no perswasion would take effect or instant examples to the contrarie diuert him and withall respecting the Princes bountfull promise began to yéeld vnto him I and in the end promised him to prouide all things ready for their Voyage within the space of forty dayes at the farthest Theseus hearing this direct answere and yromise of Junia was exceedingly fraught with ioy
very hot and chollericke and with a frowning countenance made her this hasty answer What Titana canst thou not loue why doth the cynicall passion of prone desires ouercome thee with franticke frowardnesse or péeuish peruersenesse or dost thou thinke thy selfe a young Phoenix that there is none to equall shee Ah Titana take héed left high Pride bring low pouerty and young disobedience aged repentance the Trée Alpia wasteth not with fire but withereth with deaw and that which loue nourisheth not hate perisheth Well yéeld Titana to thy Fathers perswasions which may preuent all after-perills thou séest I am old and full of gray haires daily walking on the brincke of my graue ready to fall in euery houre and thou heire apparant to my Crown after my decease shalt succéed in my Kingdome in more triumphant Throne then ere thy Father Meleagar did in his youngest yéeres knowing this thou being young in yeares and scarce gouernesse of thine owne dispositions it would be a greater trouble a heauier burthen to be so ouer prest with the charge of a whole Kingdome to gouerne and looke to with ioy I haue chosen thee a husband â—â—â—e the Prince Pirismus thou sawest hereâ—ore whiâ—e he is a Prince faire by nature royall by birth by vertues famous and by possessions rich therefore if thou like Pirismus thou bréedst my content and in louing him thou shalt haue my loue otherwise an euerlasting hate Titana standing a while called to minde that Theseus did purpose to take his Voyage to Tunis very shortly where she determined to arriue with him and therefore she thought it was as good for her to say she loued him and kéepe her fathers good will as say she could not loue him and haue his ill will and againe she thought this if she should be peruerse and say him nay it might be a meanes in her fathers anger to make him suspect and misdoubt some other matters and so looke more nearer vnto her and so be a hindrance to her departure with Theseus therefore she determined to yéeld with words vnto her Fathers desire and thus bespake him with a low courtesie Father I obey your command as a child hoping to enioy your loue as a Father and if Pirismus can loue Titana Titana will loue Pirismus but pray father thinke not but that I yéeld with loue and not with your perswasions and please you to appoint the nuptiall day I will be ready to accomplish what you please to impose on me Quoth Melâ—agar now hast thou wonne my heart and shalt enioy my loue I le make thee rich by possessions and happy by marriage I le indow thee with wealth and Pirismus with loue I ioy to sée thee toward and hate to sée thee peruerse now shall my gray-haires enioy a rest which long hath béene disturbed with eare so after these and many other such like spéeches hee appointed her the nuptiall day which should be at Ambrosia's comming Titana being mindfull of her true loue Theseus was fore troubled in mind because her father had appointed the time within so short a space she was fearefull that Theseus could not prouide all things for their Voyage so soone yet bearing it out with a good countenance shée lookt pleasantly in the sight of her father and determined if things were not ready soone enough shee would faigne some excuse to prorogue the time well for that time they departed and betooke them to their rest on the morrow morning Meleagar was stirring very early and calls to him his chiefe Admirall and commands him to prouide a Fleet of his chiefest Ships and furnish them with men and Ordinance and all things else fitting to receiue a Prince he being no lesse then willing to fulfill the Kings ioyfull determination very speedily prepared all things fitting for their Voyage tooke his Embassage of the King and suddenly boarded the Nauie hoysted maine Sailes weighed anchors and away they cut through the déepe where wée le leaue them to the fauour of the wind and the Seas Meleagar hauing sent his Embassadours for the King of Portugall ralls his Nobles and chiefe officers together and told them that the tenth day of that present month should be the Nuptiall day and bade them proclaime a feast Iusts and Turnies and inuite all their neighbour Princes with the chiefe of his owne dominions and that it was Meleagars command and will the Court gates should stand open and receiue all commers for the space of twenty dayes as well for the royall entertainement of Ambrosia as for honour of his Country his Nobles being no lesse than willing to further his pretence very diligently according to the Kings command prepared all things in readinesse where wée le leaue them attending Ambrosia's comming and turne to Titana who in sight of her new loue Pirismus séemed no lesse then fraught with the wanton feakes of loue to lead that toyish foole into a purblind paradise where in the end shee meant to leaue him champing of Cupids bridle and in her fathers sight she séemed so abundant in her loue that she almost made his gray haires begin afresh to bud and to bloome forth youthfull blossomes againe in so much that it is impossible to conceiue the inward ioy that he receiued by their outward ioying and though she forc'd herselfe to be ioyous and pleasant in her fathers and Pirismus presence yet was she forc'd to batefull melancholly and hatefull griefe in their absence well it hapned that in few dayes after there came newes to Meleagars Court that Ambrosia was come within two dayes sailing to Calidon and by contrary winds forc'd to cast anchor and lie there for the winds returne Meleagar hearing this newes caused a Fléet of his best ships to bée made ready which being done he himselfe and Pirismus with others boarded the Fléet and Titana should haue gone too but the Seas vnwilling to crosse her submissiue Loue with aduerse hate caused a tempestuous storme to rise insomuch that the very sight of Neptunes crownes cast her into a despairing feare the which her father séeing caused her to returne to the Court againe and they tooke their Voyage towards Ambrosia where wee le leaue them to their fortune and turne to Titana againe Who being so long absented from her loue Theseus and too often presented with her hated Pirismus like a true Louer discontented desired to walke and sit alone to meditate on the back side of her fathers Pallace there was a very large Garden which had diuers doores to enter in at this Garden was the place where Theseus did vse to méete her which place shee held most conuenient and fit for her to passion out her griefes when the afternoone came she walked all alone into the Garden with the wonted place where Theseus was wont full often to imbrace her with many louely kisses hoping that the Gods séeing her distresse would relieue her want and as they had bin witnesses to her vowes so she hop'd they would be
her began to step hastily to her but euen as he was ready to touch her he perceiued that she was wéeping and lamenting very grieuously to her selfe breathing out her passions in these tearmes Ah infortunate Titana and therefore infortunate wretch borne vnder the destinies displeasure and therefore crost with Fortunes frownes bound to Theseus by loue therefore pincht with care by fate yet Theseus Ah swéet Theseus is dearer farre than my selfe is to my selfe and none shall deflowre mee of his Virgins Rose except this fatall Engin sith protestations vowes and bonds are made and sealed with the wax of Loues swéet lips it 's Theseus and none but Theseus shall enioy my Loue. Theseus séeing her in that dull perplexity and so metamorphosed stand astonished at that sight and had not the power to goe backward nor forward he was driuen to such an exigent faine he would goe backe to lose the sight of so grieuous a prospect and fainer goe to her to know the cause and séeke redresse yet could he do neither but stood still in a dull extasie halfe dead with griefe till at the last shee remou'd her head and lookt vp after a mournfull fashion as Phillis lookt for Demophoon and casting aside her blubbered eyes she espied her Theseus she rose off the banke whereon she sate making her complaints threw away her Fatall Engine tooke him about the necke and kist him smiled and thus bespake him Ah Theseus art thou come to prosecute my weale or woe Quoth Theseus thy weale I hope with hearts content swéet Loue but I pray thee sweet-heart what 's the occasion of these thy preambling passions thus sob'd with sourcing feares Oh said Titana sinister Fortune hath cast me into aduerse perplexities for since thou departedst from these sweet imbracements of mine Fortune hath frowned on our pretence quoth Theseus how swéet Loue Titana faigned to smile yet forced to wéepe thus began Oh Theseus my Father sent Ambassadours to Ambrosia King of Portugall to intreat a marriage betweene his Sonne Pirismus and thy loue Titana his father being as willing to yéeld as my father to demand presently sends ouer his son Pirismus as a pledge of his promise by the returne of my Fathers Embassadors and now is come himselfe to accomplish the match when my father heard the returne of his Embassage and saw Pirismus he called me to him where he opened the whole volume of his pretence perswading me of the Princes intire loue his rare accomplishments and how happie I was to enioy the loue of so rich a friend with many such capitall perswasions in so much that in the end I did reply this obstinate answer I could not loue it was the onely thing that I did hate with such like words that at last he fell from kind perswasions and fell into thundring threats and in such franticke manner that I durst no longer withstand him but gaue consent and promised to be ready whensoeuer he pleased to appoint the time the which he was very ioyfull to heare and appointed the Nuptiall to bee the sixteenth day of this moneth which is the next day following yet good Theseus account not my behauiour light though I haue promised loue to two men at once but know this deare loue it is the one is stedfastly to abide the other but falsly to delude for if I should haue stood obstinate and peruerse denying him then should I haue had his perpetuall hate and in hauing his hate like poore Jove with Argus should still be watcht and lookt after that I the harder should finde opportunity to depart with thee to Tunis therefore to auoyde suspition I made him a faigned promise but still braue Theseus resting at thy command and obeying as thy hand-maide I le liue and die with thee and with that takes him about the necke and doth so pay and repay him with kisses that shée halfe smothers him Theseus heard her politicke answere hearing her witty reply and seeing her loue so constant much commended her wit but more pittied her griefe desired her to patience and wishing her not to be so passionate promised her that euery teare that she had for him spent should from him returne ten thousand ioyes againe and quoth Theseus I haue prouided a ship and all things necessary for our passage which lyee ready in the hauen and if you are ready and willing now there is a fit gate of Winde to transport vs from the Grecian shores to Tunis Quoth Titana my deare loue it is the onely thing I desire through fire and water to follow thee swéet Theseus Quoth Theseus faire Titana this night about the houre of twelue I will come and meet thee héere for then I hold it the best time to depart without suspition of any therefore swéet heart make no delayes neither for Iewels or rich array lest that wee omitting this opportunity may stay long for she like againe for I haue all things néedfull already prouided Titana hearing these ioyfull tidings was excéedingly fraught with boundlesse ioy thinking that euery houre before night came would proue a yéere insomuch that the time being appointed and fearefull to bee espied in their priuate parley after many louely enterchanges and swéet eclipsed lips they parted where wée'l leaue them a while ruminating on their ensuing fortune and turne to Pirismus Who now is prouiding Robes for the Nuptiall which I doubt will proue his funerall yet loue being so vrgent with him it casts a mist before the eyes of his folly in so much that he thinkes euery smile that Titana lends him is a promise of perfection but alasse poore foole that such infancy should rest in such experienced yéeres but t is not to be maruelled at for Cupid doth greater miracles than this sometimes for hée forceth the bondslaue to loue and blinds the eies with folly he makes the yong old and the old become yong againe hée cleares the ageds eyes and make the youthfull dim therfore blame I not Pirismus nor yet cōmend him but as he deserues so let fortune attribute her fauours vnto him where wee le leaue him a spectator to his aduerse hopes turne to Titana Who being mindfull of her promise to Theseus assoone as the Court was quiet and euery man betooke him to his rest Titana very carefully had respect that none might sée nor heare her staied till the dead time of the night which was much about the houre that Theseus had appointed her to come she hearing no noise nor séeing no light throughout all the Court hauing a doore that opened into the Garden she secretly vnlocks it and away shee goes to the wonted place where she findes Theseus attending her comming and without any great circumstance tooke her by the arme and led her forth at a backe gate that Titana had giuen him the key of before where his man Junia stayed his comming with his Gelding he suddenly mounted on his horses back tooke Titana vp behind him and rode to the
insomuch that to shew his bounty and bind him vnto his promise hée sent him away very richly rewarded where wée le leaue him prouiding for their Voyage and turne to Meleagar Fortaine who had already layd her traine so destinated that it vtterly brake the vnited bands of these two Louers Fathers combinde League and almost to the separating of their loue with heart breaking yet not so content intending as she had giuen them a slender checke so now shee should giue them a cruell blow and to bring her pretence to be managed with perfection she layd her plot in his wise Meleagar walking priuately in his Garden commenting on his Daughter Titana brake out his passions in these tearmes Meleagar thou hast but one onely Daughter and she is now about the yéeres of 23. and she is a Prince so richly deckt and adorned with the gifts of Nature so fraught with beauty and vertuous qualities that she is not onely a comfort to thee but also a ioy to thy poore Commons why then place all thy ioy in her perfection and fith she is now marriageable prouide her a husband that is equiualent with her when he had thus passioned a while he sate him downe vnder a Poomsisherne Trée to meditate on whom he might bestow his Daughter Titana till at last he called to minde great Ambrosia King of Portugall who in former time had bin brought vp togeither for the space of seuen yéeres in Schoole and knowing this Ambrosia to haue a Sonne whose name was Pirismus who was faire by Natures royall by birth by vertues famous and by possessions rich presently sends Embassadors to the King of Portugall to intreate a marriage betwéene his Daughter Titana and his Sonne Pirismus Ambrosia hearing this was excéedingly fraught with ioy and told the Embassadors it was his decrée before they came to haue sent to their King Meleagar concerning the same matter but sith they were so hapily come he told them his nauy was ready and his Sonne Pirismus should along with them to Calidon and if God did permit him he would be there with them within forty dayes The Embassadors hauing receiued their answere and the Prince borded his Fléet the Marriners hoisted their maine sailes weighed anchors and halled into the déepe Fortune fauouring Theseus destinie opens the windowes of Aeolus and giues them a full wind which in a short space arriued them on the shores of Achaia being so fortunately arriued they instantly retired to the Court with the young Prince Pirismus and made report to Meleagar of Ambrosia's answere and how he had sent his Sonne as a pledge in the meane while When Meleagar heard that was Ambrosia's Son hee séemed very angry they did not send him word of their comming that he might haue receiued him in a more Prince like manner but séeing it was now too late to recall what was past he saluted him very submissiuely and told him he was very sorry he knew not of his comming for if he had he would haue met him by the way Well after these and such like words Meleagar takes him about the middle and leades him into the priuy Chamber causing the Nobles to attend them whereas Titana sate a sowing Quoth Meleagar young Prince Pirismus behold there sits mine onely Daughter Titana my chiefest ioy and the originall cause of your Voyage hither and if you please to acquaint your selfe with her you may Quoth Pirismus my noble Leige with your leaue else not Quoth Meleagar yong Prince you haue our leaue to vse your pleasure Quoth Pirismus with a low obeysance thankes my noble Leige and with that steps vnto Titana takes her by the hand and thus beginnes Faire Lady if a 〈◊〉 Prince may vouchsafe so bold to be as to preferre a rough vnpolish'd touch vnto those soft lips of yours without offence my desire is accomplisht otherwise my suit is cold Titana séeing him a stranger and hearing such inordinate tearmes procéede from him was halfe in a misdoubt that her father had brought him to be a suter in a cause that was already ouerthrowne and dammages recouered yet hoping the best though fearing the worst with a low curtisie she thus replies noble Knight as your request is small it is the easier granted againe if I should by dentall refuse it you might iustly appeach me foolish with that he giues her a kisse which she very thankfully receiued and accompanied him vnto her father the which did greatly reioyce the King her father by this time there was a table furnished with such cates and dainties as could at so small a warning be prouided Meleagar sitting downe caused Pirismus to sit on the same side which he sate on and Titana to sit on the other side right opposite against him because they should take a ful veiw of each other the which Pirismus did in so much that her perfection dighted so déepe an impression in his heart that none but Titana could satisfie the Amor of Pirismus eye when he was thus solemnely and sumptuously feasted and royally entertained and so entertained that if Ambrosia had béene there himselfe in person hauing so small warning they could not receiue him with more triumphant royaltie After they had thus sufficiently past the daye in sumptuous feasts and banquets the King gaue command he should be attended on to his lodging and all his Lords Knights and Gentlemen and their followers appointed their lodgings and attended also which being done and all departed Meleagar calls for Titana and thus brake his mind vnto her Titana my gray haires sounds an alarum and calls mee to my graue therefore actions measured by time are seldome bitten with repentance thou art young and I am old my white haires are fading blossomes and thy fresh colors blooming flowers mine preparing to die and thine repairing to liue therefore Titana I take care and tell thee as a father hoping thou wilt giue care and obey as a Childe The chiefe thing I haue taken care for and desired hath béene to sée thee happily married before I die or thou grow old Titana hearing her fathers counsaile and marking well his words beganne to féele which way the winde sate and at last perswaded her selfe in her opinion as this that her father had chosen this young Prince Pirismus to be her spouse fearing to displease her father yet swearing and vowing not to forsake Theseus made him this answer May it please your Grace to giue me leaue to speake Quoth Meleagar we giue you free leaue Quoth Titana Sir there is no greater bond than dutie nor stricter law than Nature for often disobedient youth are despised in age and Parents wills are lawes therefore rather than by deniall I should be appeached of disobedience I le rest content to loue although it be the onely thing I hate I fit may please your Highnesse to appoint whom I shall loue Meleagar hearing this vnexpected answer of his Daughter and séeing how light she accounted of Loue began to be