iealousie to the especiall comforte of Basilius whose weaker bowels were streight full with the least liquour of hope So that still holding her by the hand and sometimes tickling it he went by her with the most gay conceates that euer had entred his braines growing now so harted in his resolucion that hee little respected Gynecias presence But with a lustier note then wonted clearing his voice and chearing his spirits looking still vpon Zelmane whome now the moone did beautifie with her shining almost at the full as if her eyes had beene his songe booke he did the message of his minde in singing these verses VVHen two Sunnes do appeare Some say it doth betoken wonders neare As Princes losse or change Two gleaming Sunnes of splendour like I see And seeing feele in me Of Princes harte quite lost the ruine strange But nowe each where doth range With ouglie cloke the darke enuious night Who full of guiltie spite Such liuing beames should her black seate assaile Too weake for them our weaker sighte doth vaile No saies faire moone my lighte Shall barr that wrong and though it not preuaile Like to my brothers raise yet those I sende Hurte not the face which nothing can amende And by that time being come to the lodge and visited the sweete Philoclea with much lesse then naturall care of the parents and much lesse then wonted kindenes of Zelmane each partie full fraught with diuersly working fancies made their pillowes weake proppes of their ouer loaden heades Yet of all other were Zelmanes braynes most tormoyled troubled with loue both actiue and passiue and lastely and especially with care howe to vse her shorte limitted time to the beste purpose by some wise and happie diuerting her two louers vnwelcome desires Zelmane hauing had the night her onely councellour in the busie enterprise shee was to vndertake and hauing all that time mused and yet not fully resolued howe shee might ioyne preuailing with preuenting was offēded with the daies bould entrie into her chamber as if he had now by custome growne an assured bringer of euill newes Which she taking a Citterne to her did laye to Auroras chardge with these wel songe verses Aurora now thou shewst thy blushing light Which oft to hope laies out a guilefull baite That trusts in time to finde the way aright To ease those paines which on desire do waite Blush on for shame that still with thee do light On pensiue soules in steede of restfull baite Care vpon care in steede of doing right To ouer pressed brestes more greeuous waight As oh my selfe whose woes are neuer lighte Tide to the stake of doubt strange passions baite While thy known course obseruing natures right Sturres me to thinke what dangers lye in waite For mischeefes greate daye after day doth showe Make me still feare thy faire appearing showe Alas said she am not I runne into a strange gulfe that am faine for loue to hurt her I loue And because I detest the others to please them I detest O onely Philoclea whose beautie is matched with nothing but with the vnspeakeable beautie of thy fayrest minde if thou didst see vpon what a racke my tormented soule is set little would you thinke I had any scope now to leape to any new chaunge with that with hastie hands she got her selfe vp turning her sight to euerie thinge as if chaunge of obiecte might helpe her invention So went she againe to the caue where forthwith it came into her head that shoulde bee the fittest place to performe her exploite of which she had now a kinde of confused conceipte although she had not set downe in her fancie the meeting with each particularitie that might fall out But as the painter doth at the first but showe a rude proportion of the thing he imitates which after with more curious hande hee drawes to the representing each lineament So had her thoughts beating about it continually receaued into them a ground plot of her deuise although she had not in each parte shapte it according to a full determination But in this sorte hauing earelie visited the morninges beautie in those pleasant desartes she came to the King and Queene and tolde them that for the performance of certaine her countrie deuotions which onely were to be exercised in solitarines shee did desire their leaue shee might for a fewe daies lodge her selfe in the Caue the fresh sweetnes of which did greately delight her in that hot countrie and that for that smal space they would not otherwise trouble themselues in visiting her but at such times as she would come to waite vpon them which shoulde bee euerie daye at certaine houres neither should it be long shee would desire his priuiledged absence of them They whose mindes had alredie taken out that lesson perfectly to yeelde a willing obedience to all her desires which consenting countenaunce made her soone see her pleasure was a lawe vnto them Both indeede inwardlie glad of it Basilius hoping that her deuiding her selfe from them might yet giue him some freer occasion of comming in secrete vnto her whose fauourable face had lately strengthened his fainting courage But Gynecia of all other most ioyous holding her selfe assured that this was but a prologue to the play she had promised her Thus both flattering them selues with diuersly grounded hopes they rang a bell which serued to call certaine poore women which euer lay in cabins not far off to do the houshould seruices of both lodges and neuer came to either but being called for And commaunded them to carry foorthwith Zelmanes bed and furniture of her chamber into the pleasaunt Caue and to decke it vp as finelie as it was possible for them That their soules rest might rest her body to her best pleasing maner that was with all diligence performed of them and Zelmane alredie in possession of her newe chosen lodging where she like one of Vestaes nunnes entertaind herselfe for a fewe dayes in all showe of streightnes yet once a day comming to doe her dutie to the King and Queene in whom the seldomnes of the sight encreased the more vnquiet longing though somwhat qualified as her countenaunce was decked to either of them with more comforte then wonted Especially to Gynecia who seing her wholy neglecting her daughter Philoclea had now promisd her selfe a full possession of Zelmanes harte still expecting the fruite of the happie hoped for inuention But both she and Basilius kept such a continuall watch about the Precincts of the Caue that either of them was a bar to the other from hauing any secret commoning with Zelmane While in the meane time the sweete Philoclea forgotten of her father despised of her mother and in apparance lefte of Zelmane had yeelded vp her soule to be a pray to sorow and vnkindnes not with raging conceite of reuenge as had passed thorow the stout and wise harte of her mother but with a kindly meeknes taking vpon her the weight of her owne woes and
to paragon the little one with Artesias length not doubting but euen in that little quantitie the excellencie of that would shine thorowe the weakenesse of the other as the smallest starre doth thorow the whole Element of fire And by the way he had met with this blacke Knight who had as hee saide robbed him of it The iniurie seemed grieuous but when it came fully to be examined it was found that the halting Knight meeting the other asking the cause of his going thetherward and finding it was to defende Pamelas diuine beautie against Artesias with a prowde iollitie commaunded him to leaue that quarrell onely for him who was onely worthy to enter into it But the blacke Knight obeying no such commandements they fell to such a bickering that hee gat a halting and lost his picture This vnderstoode by Basilius he told him hee was now fitter to looke to his owne bodie then an others picture and so vncomforted therein sent him away to learne of AEsculapius that he was not fit for Venus But then the question arising who should be the former against Phalantus of the blacke or the ill apparelled Knight who now had gotten the reputation of some sturdy loute hee had so well defended himselfe of the one side was alleged the hauing a picture which the other wanted of the other side the first striking the shield but the conclusion was that the ill apparelled Knight should haue the precedence if he deliuered the figure of his mistresse to Phalantus who asking him for it Certainely said he her liueliest picture if you could see it is in my hart and the best comparison I could make of her is of the Sunne and of all the other heauenly beauties But because perhappes all eyes cannot taste the Diuinitie of her beautie and would rather be dazeled then taught by the light if it bee not clowded by some meaner thing know you then that I defend that same Ladie whose image Phebilus so feebly lost yesternight and in steede of an other if you ouercome mee you shall haue mee your slaue to carrie that image in your mistresse triumphe Phalantus easilie agreed to the bargaine which alreadie he made his owne But when it came to the triall the ill apparelled Knight choosing out the greatest staues in all the store at the first course gaue his head such a remembraunce that he lost almost his remembraunce he himselfe receyuing the incounter of Phalantus without any extraordinarie motion And at the seconde gaue him such a counterbuffe that because Phalantus was so perfite a horseman as not to bee driuen from the saddle the saddle with broken girthes was driuen from the horse Phalantus remaining angrie and amazed because now being come almost to the last of his promised enterprise that disgrace befell him which he had neuer before knowne But the victorie being by the iudges giuen and the trumpets witnessed to the ill by apparelled Knight Phalantus disgrace was ingrieued in lieu of cōfort of Artesia who telling him she neuer lookt for other bad him seeke some other mistresse He excusing himselfe and turning ouer the fault to Fortune Then let that be your ill Fortune too saide she that you haue lost me Nay truely Madame said Phalantus it shall not be so for I thinke the losse of such a Mistresse will prooue a great gaine and so concluded to the sport of Basilius to see young folkes loue that came in maskt with so great pompe goe out with so little constancie But Phalantus first professing great seruice to Basilius for his curteous intermitting his solitary course for his sake would yet conduct Artesia to the castle of Cecropia whether she desired to goe vowing in himselfe that neither hart nor mouth-mouth-loue should euer any more intangle him And with that resolution he left the company Whence all being dismissed among whom the black Knight went away repining at his luck that had kept him from winning the honor as he knew he should haue done to the picture of Pamela the ill apparelled Knight who was only desired to stay because Basilius meant to shew him to Zelmane puld off his Helmet and then was knowen himselfe to be Zelmane who that morning as she told while the others were busie had stolne out to the Princes stable which was a mile off from the Lodge had gotten a horse they knowing it was Basilius pleasure she should be obeyed and borrowing that homely armour for want of a better had come vpon the spur to redeeme Philocleas picture which she said she could not beare being one of that little wildernesse-company should be in captiuitie if the cunning she had learned in her countrye of the noble Amazons could withstand it and vnder that pretext faine she would haue giuen a secret pasport to her affection But this act painted at one instant rednesse in Philocleas face and palenesse in Gynecias but brought forth no other countenances but of admiration no speeches but of commendations all these few besides loue thinking they honoured themselues in honouring so accomplished a person as Zelmane whom dayly they sought with some or other sports to delight for which purpose Basilius had in a house not farre off◠seruants who though they came not vncalled yet at call were redye And so many daies were spent and many waies vsed while Zelmane was like one that stoode in a tree waiting a good occasion to shoot and Gynecia a blauncher which kept the dearest deere from her But the day being come on which according to an apointed course the sheapheards were to assemble and make their pastorall sports afore Basilius Zelmane fearing lest many eyes and comming diuers waies might hap to spy Musidorus went out to warne him thereof But before she could come to the Arbour she sawe walking from her-ward a man in sheapperdish apparrell who being in the sight of the Lodge it might seeme he was allowed there A long cloke he had on but that cast vnder his right arme wherein he held a sheephooke so finely wrought that it gaue a brauery to pouerty and his rayments though they were meane yet receiued they hansomnes by the grace of the wearer though he himselfe went but a kinde of languishing pace with his eies sometimes cast vp to heauen as though his fancies straue to mount higher sometimes throwne downe to the ground as if the earth could not beare the burthen of his sorrowes at length with a lamentable tune he song these fewe verses Come shepheards weedes become your masters minde Yeld outward shew what inward change he tryes Nor be abasht since such a guest you finde Whose strongest hope in your weake comfort lyes Come shepheards weedes attend my woefull cryes Disuse your selues from sweete Menalcas voice For other be those tunes which sorrow tyes From those cleere notes which freely may reioyce Then power out plaint and in oneword say this Helples his plaint who spoyles himselfe of blisse And hauing ended he strake himselfe on the
if he did accept the combat Damaetas would neuer dare to appeare and that then the honour should be his but and then willed him to lie downe vpon the earth as flat as he could Clinias obeyed and Damaetas who neuer could thinke himselfe safe till Clinias were dead began to thinke with himselfe that if he strake at him with his sworde if he did not kill him at the first blowe that then Clinias might happe to arise and reuenge himselfe Therefore he thought best to kneele downe vpon him and with a great whittle he had hauing disarmed his heade to cut his throate which he had vsed so with Calues as he had no small dexteritie in it But while he sought for his Knife which vnder his armour he could not well finde out and that Clinias lay with so sheepish a quietnes as if he would haue beene glad to haue his throate cut for feare of more paine the Iudges came in and tooke Damaetas from off him telling him he did against the lawe of Armes hauing promised life if hee threwe away his sworde Damaetas was loath to consent till they sware they would not suffer him to fight any more when he was vp and then more forced then perswaded he let him rise crowing ouer him and warning him to take heede how he dealt any more with any that came of his fathers kinred But thus this combate of cowardes being finished Damaetas was with much mirth and melodie receiued into the campe as victorious neuer a Page there failing to waite vpon this Triumph But Clinias though he wanted hart to preuent shame yet he wanted not wit to feele shame not so much repining at it for the abhorring of shame as for the discommodities that to them that are shamed ensue For well he deemed it would be a great barre to his practize and a pulling on of iniuries when men needed not care how they vsed him Insomuch that Clinias finding himselfe the scorning-stocke of euery companie fell with repining to hate the cause thereof and hate in a cowards hart could set it selfe no other limites but death Which purpose was well egged on by representing vnto himselfe what daunger he lately was in which still kept no lesse ougly figure in his minde then when it was present and quickly euen in his dissembling countenance might be discerned a concealed grudge For though he forced in himselfe a farre more diligent officiousnesse toward Amphialus then euer before yet a leering eye vpon the one side at him a countenance still framed to smiling before him how little cause soeuer there was of smiling and grombling behind him at any of his commandements with an vncertaine manner of behauiour his words comming out though full of flatterie yet slowly and hoarcely pronounced might well haue blazed what armes his false hart bare But despised because of his cowardlinesse and not marked because despised he had the freer scope of practize Which he did the more desperately enter into because the dayly dangers Amphialus did submit himselfe into made Clinias assuredly looke for his ouerthrow and for his owne consequently if he did not redeme his former treason to Basilius with a more treasonable falshood toward Amphialus His chiefe care therefore was to finde out among all sorts of the Amphialians whom either like feare tediousnes of the siege or discontentment of some vnsatisfied ambition would make apt to dig in the same mine that he did some alredy of welthy weary folks vnconstāt youths who had not found such sudden successe as they had promised thēselues he had made stoupe to his lure But of none he made so good account as of Artesia sister to the late slain Ismenus the chiefe of the six maids who had trained out the Princesses to their banket of miserie so much did the sharpnes of her wit counteruaile as he thought any other defects of her sex for she had vndertaken that dangerous practise by the persuasion of Cecropia who assured her that the two princesses should be made away and then Amphialus wold marry her which she was the apter to beleue by some false persuasiō her glas had giuen her of her own incomparable excellēcies by the great fauor she knew he bare to her brother Ismenus which like a self-flattering womā she cōceiued was done for her sake But when she had atchieued her attempt and that she found the Princesses were so far frō their intended death as that the one of them was like to be her souereigne that neither her seruice had woon of Amphialus much more then ordinary fauor nor her ouer-large offring herselfe to a mind otherwise owed had obteined a loked-for acceptatiō disdain to be disdained spite of a frustrat hope perchance vnquenched lust-growne rage made her vnquiet thoughts find no other rest but malice which was increased by the death of her brother whom she iudged neither succoured against Philanax nor reuenged vpō Philanax But all these coles were wel blowne by the cōpany she especially kept with Zelmane all this time of her imprisonment For finding her presence vncheerfull to the mourning Philoclea and contemned of the hie harted Pamela she spent her time most with Zelmane Who though at the first hardly brooking the instrument of their miserie learning cunning in the schoole of aduersitie in time framed her self to yeeld her acceptable intertainment For Zelmane when she had by that vnexpected mischiefe her bodie imprisoned her valure ouermastred her wit beguiled her desires barred her loue eclipsed assured of euill fearing worse able to know Philocleas misfortune and not able to succour her she was a great while before the greatnes of her hart could descend to sorow but rather rose boyling vp in spight and disdain Reason hardly making Courage beleeue that it was distressed but as if the walles would be afraid of her so would her lookes shoote out threatning vpon them But the fetters of seruitude growing heauier with wearing made her feele her case and the little preuailing of repining and then griefe gat a seate in her softned mind making sweetenesse of passed comforts by due title claime teares of present discomforts and since her fortune made her able to helpe as litle as any bodie yet to be able to waile as much as any bodie solitarie Sorrow with a continuall circle in herselfe going out at her owne mouth to come in againe at her owne eares Then was the name of Philoclea graued in the glas windowes and by the foolish idolatrie of affection no sooner written then adored and no sooner adored then pittied all the wonted praises she was wont to giue vnto her being now but figures of rethorick to amplifie the iniuries of misfortune against which being alone she would often make inuectiue declamations methodized only by raging sorow But when Artesia did insinuat herselfe into her acquaintance she gaue the gouernment of her courage to wit was content to familiarize herselfe with her so much the rather
naturall rest but that still it forced our thoughts to worke vpon this place where wee last alas that the word last should so long last did graze our eyes vpon her euer florishing beautie did it not still crie within vs Ah you base minded wretches are your thoughts so deeply bemired in the trade of ordinary worldlings as for respect of gaine some paultry wool may yeeld you to let so much time passe without knowing perfectly her estate especially in so troublesome a season to leaue that shore vnsaluted from whence you may see to the Island where she dwelleth to leaue those steps vnkissed wherein Vrania printed the farewell of all beautie Well then Remembraunce commaunded we obeyed and here we find that as our remembrance came euer cloathed vnto vs in the forme of this place so this place giues newe heate to the feauer of our languishing remembrance Yonder my Claius Vrania lighted the verie horse me thought bewayled to be so disburdned and as for thee poore Claius when thou wentst to helpe her downe I saw reuerence and desire so deuide thee that thou didst at one instant both blushe and quake and in stead of bearing her warre readie to fal down thy selfe There she sate vouchsafing my cloake then most gorgeous vnder her at yonder rising of the ground shee turned her selfe looking backe toward her woonted abode and because of her parting bearing much sorrow in her eyes the lightsomnes wherof had yet so natural a cherefulnesse as it made euen sorrow seeme to smile at that turning shee spake to vs all opening the cherrie of her lips and Lord how greedily mine eares did feed vpon the sweete words she vttered And here she laide her hand ouer thine eyes when shee saw the teares springing in them as if she would conceale them from other and yet her selfe feele some of thy sorrow But woe is me yonder yonder did shee put her foote into the boate at that instant as it were diuiding her heauenly beautie betweene the Earth and the Sea But when she was imbarked did you not marke how the windes whistled and the seas daunst for ioy how the sailes did swell with pride and all because they had Vrania O Vrania blessed be thou Vrania the sweetest fairnesse and fairest sweetnesse with that word his voice brake so with sobbing that he could say no further and Claius thus answered Alas my Strephon said he what needes this skore to recken vp onely our losses What doubt is there but that the light of this place doth cal our thoughtes to appeare at the court of affection held by that racking steward Remembrance Aswell may sheepe forget to feare when they spie woolues as we can misse such fancies when we see any place made happie by her treading Who can choose that saw her but thinke where she stayed where she walkt where she turned where she spoke But what is all this truely no more but as this place serued vs to thinke of those thinges so those thinges serue as places to call to memorie more excellent matters No no let vs thinke with consideration and consider with acknowledging and acknowledge with admiration and admire with loue and loue with ioy in the midst of all woes let vs in such sorte thinke I say that our poore eyes were so inriched as to behold and our lowe hearts so exalted as to loue a maide who is such that as the greatest thing the world can shewe is her beautie so the least thing that may be praysed in her is her beautie Certainely as her eye-lids are more pleasant to behold then two white kiddes climing vp a faire tree and browsing on his tendrest braunches and yet are nothing compared to the day-shining starres contayned in them and as her breath is more sweete then a gentle South-west wind which coms creeping ouer flowrie fieldes and shaddowed waters in the extreeme heate of summer and yet is nothing compared to the hony flowing speach that breath doth carrie no more all that our eyes can see of her though when they haue seene her what else they shall euer see is but drie stuble after clouers grasse is to be matched with the flocke of vnspeakeable vertues laid vp delightfully in that best builded folde But in deede as we can better consider the sunnes beautie by marking how he guildes these waters and mountaines then by looking vpon his owne face too glorious for our weake eyes so it may be our conceits not able to beare her sun-stayning excellencie will better way it by her workes vpon some meaner subiect employed And alas who can better witnesse that then we whose experience is grounded vpon feeling hath not the onely loue of her made vs beeing silly ignorant shepheards raise vp our thoughts aboue the ordinary leuell of the worlde so as great clearkes doe not disdaine our conference hath not the desire to seeme worthie in her eyes made vs when others were sleeping to sit vewing the course of heauens when others were running at base to runne ouer learned writings when other marke their sheepe we two marke our selues hath not shee throwne reason vpon our desires and as it were giuen eyes vnto Cupid hath in any but in her loue-fellowship maintained frindship between riuals and beautie taught the beholders chastitie He was going on with his praises but Strephon bad him stay and looke and so they both perceaued a thinge which floted drawing nearer and nearer to the banke but rather by the fauourable working of the Sea then by any selfe industrie They doubted a while what it should bee till it was cast vp euen hard before them at which time they fully saw that it was a man Wherupon running for pitie sake vnto him they found his hands as it should appeare constanter frendes to his life then his memorie fast griping vpon the edge of a square small coffer which lay all vnder his breast els in him selfe no shew of life so as the boord seemed to be but a beere to carrie him a land to his Sepulchre So drew they vp a young man of so goodly shape and well pleasing fauour that one would thinke death had in him a louely countenance and that though he were naked nakednes was to him an apparrell That sight increased their compassion and their compassion called vp their care so that lifting his feete aboue his head making a great deale of salt water come out of his mouth they layd him vpon some of their garments and fell to rub and chafe him till they brought him to recouer both breath the seruant and warmth the companion of liuing At length opening his eyes he gaue a great groane a dolefull note but a pleasaunt dittie for by that they founde not onely life but strength of life in him They therefore continued on their charitable office vntill his spirits being well returned he without so much as thanking them for their paines gate vp and looking round about to the vttermost lymittes of his sight
suddaine alteration who after some trifling excuses in the ende confessed vnto him that his maister had receiued newes that his sonne before the daie of his neere marriage chaunst to bee at a battaile which was to bee fought betweene the Gentlemenne of Lacedaemon and the Helots who winning the victorie he was there made prisoner going to deliuer a friend of his taken prisoner by the Helots that the poore young Gentleman had offered great raunsome for his life but that the hate those paysaunts conceaued agaynst all Gentlemen was such that euerye houre hee was to looke for nothinge but some cruell death which hether-vnto had onelye beene delayed by the Captaines vehement dealing for him who seemed to haue a hart of more manlie pittie then the rest Which losse had stricken the old Gentleman with such sorrowe as if abundance of teares did not seeme sufficiently to witnesse it hee was alone retyred tearing his bearde and hayre and cursing his olde age that had not made his graue to stoppe his eares from such aduertisementes but that his faithfull seruantes had written in his name to all his friendes followers and tennants Philanax the gonernour refusing to deale in it as a priuate cause but yet geuing leaue to seeke their best redresse so as they wronged not the state of Lacedaemon of whom there were nowe gathered vpon the frontiers good forces that he was sure would spende their liues by any way to redeeme or reuenge Clitophon Now sir saide hee this is my maysters nature though his grief be such as to liue is a griefe vnto him that euen his reason is darkned with sorrow yet the lawes of hospitalitie long and holily obserued by him giue still such a sway to his proceeding that he will no waie suffer the straunger lodged vnder his roofe to receyue as it were any infection of his anguish especially you toward whom I know not whether his loue or admiration bee greater But Palladius could scarce heare out his tale with patience so was his heart torne in peeces with compassion of the case liking of Kalanders noble behauiour kindenesse for his respect to him-warde and desire to finde some remedie beesides the image of his deerest friend Daiphantus whom he iudged to suffer eyther alike or a worse fortune Therefore rising from the boorde hee desired the stewarde to tell him particularly the ground and euent of this accident because by knowledge of many circumstances there might perhaps some waie of helpe be opened Whereunto the Steward easilie in this sorte condiscended My Lorde said he when our good king Basilius with better successe then expectation tooke to wife euen in his more then decaing yeares the faire younge Princes Gynccia there came with her a young Lord cousin german to her selfe named Argalus led hether partly with the loue and honour of his noble kinswoman partlie with the humour of youth which euer thinkes that good whose goodnes hee sees not in this court he receiued so good increase of knowledge that after some years speÌ„t he so manifested a most vertuous mind in all his actions that Arcadia gloried such a plant was transported vnto them being a Gentleman in deede most rarely accomplished excellentlie learned but without all vayne glorie friendly without factiousnes valiaunt soe as for my part I thincke the earth hath no manne that hath done more heroicall actes then hee howsoeuer now of late the same flies of the two princes of Thessalia and Macedon and hath long doone of our noble prince Amphialus who indeed in our partes is onely accounted likely to match him but I say for my parte I thinke no man for valour of minde and habilitie of bodie to be preferred if equalled to Argalus and yet so valiant as he neuer durst doe any bodie iniurie in behauiour some will say euer sadde surely sober and somewhat giuen to musing but neuer vncourteous his worde euer ledde by his thought and followed by his deede rather liberall then magnificent though the one wanted not and the other had euer good choise of the receiuer in summe for I perceiue I shall easily take a great draughte of his praises whom both I and all this countrie loue so well such a man was and I hope is Argalus as hardly the nicest eye can finde a spot in if the ouer-vehement constancie of yet spotles affection may not in hard wrested constructions be counted a spot which in this manner began that worke in him which hath made both him and it selfe in him ouer all this countrie famous My maisters sonne Chlitophon whose losse giues the cause to this discourse and yet giues me cause to beginne with Argalus since his losse proceedes from Argalus being a young Gentleman as of great birth being our kings sisters sonne so truely of good nature and one that can see good and loue it haunted more the companie of this worthie Argalus then of any other so as if there were not a friendship which is so rare as it is to bee doubted whether it bee a thing in deede â—or but a worde at least there was such a likeing and friendlines as hath brought foorth the effectes which you shall heare About two years since it so fell out that hee brought him to a great Ladies house sister to my maister who had with her her onely daughter the faire Parthenia faire in deede fame I thinke it selfe daring not to call any fairer if it be not Helena queene of Corinth and the two incomparable sisters of Arcadia and that which made her fairenesse much the fairer was that it was but a faire embassadour of a most faire minde full of wit and a wit which deliteth more to iudge it selfe then to shew it selfe herspeech being as rare as pretious her silence without fullennesle her modestie without affectation her shamefastnes without ignorance in summe one that to praise well one must first set downe with himselfe what it is to be excellent for so shee is I thinke you thinke that these perfections meeting could not choose but find one another and delight in that they found for likenes of manners is likely in reason to drawe liking with affection mens actions doo not alwayes crosse with reason to beshorte it did so in deed They loued though for a while the fire therof hopes wings being cut of were bloweÌ„ by the bellows of dispaire vpoÌ„ this ocasioÌ„ There had beene a good while before and so continued a suter to this same lady a great noble man though of Laconia yet neere nieghbour to Parthenias mother named Demagoras A man mightie in riches power and proude thereof stubbornly stout louing no bodie but him selfe and for his owne delights sake Parthenia and pursuing vehemently his desire his riches had guilded ouer all his other imperfections that the olde Ladie though contrarie to my Lord her brothers minde had giuen her consent and vsing a mothers authoritie vppon her faire daughter had made her yeeld therunto not because shee liked her
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
beyond the degree of a man and to looke with a certaine almost bâ—shfull kinde of modestie as if he feared the eyes of men who was vnmooued with sight of the most horrible countenaunces of death and as if nature had mistaken her woorke to haue a Marses heart in a Cupids bodie All that beheld him and all that might behold him did behold him made their eyes quicke messengers to their minds that there they had seene the vttermost that in mankind might be seene The like wonder Palladius had before stirred but that Daiphantus as younger and newer come had gotten now the aduantage in the moyst and â—icle impression of eye-sight But while all men sauing poore Argalus made the ioy of their eyes speake for their harts towardes Daiphantus Fortune that belike was bid to that banket and ment then to playe the good fellow brought a pleasant aduenture among them It was that as they had newly dined there came in to Kalander a messenger that brought him word a yong noble Lady neere kinswoman to the faire Helen Queene of Corinth was come thither and desired to be lodged in his house Kalander most glad of such an occasion-went out and all his other worthie guests with him sauing onely Argalus who remained in his chamber desirous that this company were once broken vp that he might goe in his solitarie quest after Parthenâ—a But when they met this Lady Kalander streight thought hee sawe his neece Parthenea and was about in such familiar sorte to haue spoken vnto her But shee in graue aud honorable manner giuing him to vnderstande that he was mistaken he halfe ashamed excused himselfe with the exceeding likenes was between them though in deede it seemed that this Lady was of the more pure and daintie complexion shee saide it might very well bee hauing beene many times taken one for another But assoon as she was brought into the house before she would rest her she desired to speak with Argalus publickly who she heard was in the house Argalus came hastilie and as hastilie thought as Kalander had done with sodaine chaunges of ioye into sorrow But she when she had staide their thoughts with telling them her name and qualitie in this sorte spake vnto him My Lord Argalus sayd she being of late left in the Court of Queene Helen of Corinth as chiefe in her absence she being vpon some occasion gone thence there came vnto me the Lady Parthenia so disfigured as I think Greece hath nothing so ougly to behold For my part it was many daies before with vehement oathes and some good proofes she could make me think that she was Parthenia Yet at last finding certainlye it was she and greatly pitying her misfortune so much the more as that all men had euer tolde me as now you doo of the great likenes between vs I tooke the best care I could of her and of her vnderstood the whole tragicall historieâ— of her vndeserued aduenture and therewithall of that most noble constancie in you my Lord Argalus which whosoeuer loues not shewes himself to be a hater of vertue and vnworthy to liue in the societie of mankind But no outwarde cherishing could salue the inwarde sore of her minde but a few dayes since she died before her death earnestly desiring and perswading me to thinke of no husbande but of you as of the onely man in the worlde worthie to be loued with-al she gaue me this Ring to deliuer you desiring you by the authoritie of loue commanding you that the affection you bare her you should turne to me assuring you that nothing can please her soule more then to see you and me matched together Nowe my L. though this office be not perchance sutable to my estate nor sex who should rather looke to be desired yet an extraordinarie desert requires an extraordinarie proceeding and therefore I am come with faithfull loue built vppon your worthines to offer my selfe and to beseech you to accept the offer if these noble gentlemen present will say it is great folly let theÌ„ withall say it is great loue And then she staid earnestly attending Argalus his answere who first making most hartie sighes do such obsequies as he could to Parthenia thus answered her Madame said he infinitly am I bound vnto you for this no more rare then noble courtesie but most bound for the goodnes I perceiue you shewed to the lady Parthenia with that the teares ranne downe his eyes but he followed on and as much as so vnfortunate a man fitte to be the spectacle of miserie can doo you seruice determine you haue made a purchase of a slaue while I liue neuer to faile you But this great matter you propose vnto me wherin I am not so blinde as not to se what happines it should be vnto me Excellent Ladie know that if my hart were mine to giue you before all other should haue it but Parthenias it is though dead there I began there I end all matter of affection I hope I shall not longe tarry after her with whose beautie if I had onely beene in loue I should be so with you who haue the same beautie but it was Parthenias selfe Lloued and loue which no likenes can make one no commandemeÌ„t dissolue no foulnes defile nor no death finish And shall I receiue said shee such disgrace as to be refused Noble Ladie saide he let not that harde word be vsed who know your exceeding worthinesse farre beyond my desert but it is onely happines I refufe since of the onely happines I could and can desire I am refused He had scarce spoken those words when shee ranne to him and imbracing him Why then Argalus said she take thy Parthenia and Parthenia it was in deede But because sorow forbad him too soon to beleeue she told him the trueth with all circumstances how being parted alone meaning to die in some solitarie place as she hapned to make her complaint the Queene Helen of Corinth who likewise felt her part of miseries being then walking also alone in that lonely place hearde her and neuer lefte till she had knowen the whole discourse Which the noble Queene greatly pitying she sent her to a Phisition of hers the most excellent man in the world in hope he could helpe her which in such sort as they saw he had perfourmed and shee taking with her of the Queenes seruants thought yet to make this triall whether he would quickly forget his true Parthenia or no. Her speach was confirmed by the Corinthian Gentlemen who before had kept her councell and Argalus easily perswaded to what more then ten thousand yeares of life he desired and Kalander would needes haue the mariage celebrated in his house principallie the longer to holde his deare guestes towardes whom he was now besides his owne habite of hospitallitie carried with loue and dutie therefore omitted no seruice that his wit could inuent and his power minister But no way he sawe he could so
Iupiter said hee speaking to Palladius how happens it that beautie is only confined to Arcadia But Palladius not greatly attending his speach som daies were continued in the solemnising the marriage with al conceipts that might deliuer delight to mens fancies But such a chaunge was growen in Daiphantus that as if cheerefulnesse had bene tediousnesse good entertainement were turnd to discourtesie he would euer get himself alone though almost whē he was in company he was alone so little attentiō he gaue to any that spake vnto him euen the colour figure of his face began to receaue some alteration which hee shewed little to heede but euerie morning earlie going abroad either to the garden or to some woods towards the desert it seemed his onely comfort was to be without a comforter But long it could not be hid from Palladius whom true loue made redy to marke long knowledge able to marke therefore being now growen weary of his abode in Arcadia hauing informed him selfe fully of the strength and riches of the coūtry of the nature of the people and manner of their lawes seeing the courte coulde not be visited prohibited to all men but to certaine sheapheardish people hee greatly desired a speedy returne to his owne countrie after the many mazes of fortune hee had troden But perceauing this great alteration in his friend hee thought first to breake with him thereof and then to hasten his returne◠whereto hee founde him but smally enclined whereupon one day taking him alone with certaine graces and countenances as if he were disputing with the trees began in this manner to say vnto him A minde well trained and long exercised in vertue my sweete and worthy cosin doth not easily chaunge any course it once vndertakes but vpon well grounded and well wayed causes For being witnes to it selfe of his owne inward good it findes nothing without it of so high a price for which it should bee altered Euen the very countenaunce and behauiour of such a man doth shewe foorth Images of the same constancie by maintaining a right harmonie betwixt it and the inward good in yeelding it selfe sutable to the vertuous resolution of the minde This speech I direct to you noble friende Pyrocles the excellencie of whose minde and well chosen course in vertue if I doo not sufficiently know hauing seene such rare demonstrations of it it is my weakenes and not your vnworthynes But as in deede I know it and knowing it most dearely loue both it and him that hath it so must I needes saye that since our late comming into this countrie I haue marked in you I will not saye an alteration but a relenting truely and a slacking of the maine career you had so notablye begon and almost performed and that in such sorte as I cannot finde sufficient reason in my great loue toward you howe to allowe it for to leaue of other secreter argumentes which my acquaintaunce with you makes mee easilie finde this in effect to any man may bee manifest that whereas you weere wont in all places you came to giue your selfe vehemently to the knowledge of those thinges which might better your minde to seeke the familiaritye of excellent men in learning and souldiery and lastly to put all these thinges in practise both by continuall wise proceedinge and worthie enterprises as occasion fell for them you now leaue all these thinges vndone you let your minde fall a sleepe beside your countenaunce troubled which surely comes not of vertue for vertue like the cleare heauen is without cloudes and lastly you subiect your selfe to solitarines the slye enimie that doth most separate a man from well doinge Pyrocles minde was all this while so fixed vpon another deuotion that hee no more attentiuely marked his friendes discourse then the childe that hath leaue to playe markes the last parte of his lesson or the diligent Pilot in a daungerous tempest doth attende the vnskilfull wordes of a passinger yet the very sound hauing imprinted the generall pointe of his speech in his hart pierced with any mislike of so deerelie an esteemed friende and desirous by degrees to bring him to a gentler consideration of him with a shamefast looke witnessing he rather could not helpe then did not know his fault answered him to this purpose Excellent Musidorus in the praise you gaue mee in the beginning of your speech I easily acknowledge the force of your good will vnto mee for neither coulde you haue thought so well of me if extremitie of loue had not made your iudgement partiall nor you could haue loued me so intirelie if you had not beene apt to make so great though vndeserued iudgementes of me and euen so must I say to those imperfections to which though I haue euer through weaknes beene subiect yet you by the daily mending of your mind haue of late bin able to looke into them which before you could not discerne so that the chaunge you speake of falles not out by my impairing but by your bettering And yet vnder the leaue of your better iudgement I must needes say thus much my deere cosin that I finde not my selfe wholie to bee condemned because I do not with continuall vehemency follow those knowledges which you call the bettering of my minde for both the minde it selfe must like other thinges sometimes be vnbent or else it will be either weakned or broken And these knowledges as they are of good vse so are they not all the minde may stretch it selfe vnto who knowes whether I feede not my minde with higher thoughts Truelie as I know not all the particularities so yet I see the boundes of all these knowledges but the workinges of the minde I finde much more infinite then can bee led vnto by the eye or imagined by any that distract their thoughts without themselues And in such contemplation or as I thinke more excellent I enioye my solitarines and my solitarines perchaunce is the nurse of these contemplations Eagles wee see flye alone and they are but sheepe which alwayes waies heard together condemne not therefore my minde sometime to enioy it selfe nor blame not the taking of such times as serue most fitte for it And alas deere Musidorus if I be sadde who knowes better then you the iust causes I haue of sadnes And here Pyrocles sodainly stopped like a man vnsatisfied in himselfe though his witte might well haue serued to haue satisfied another And so looking with a countenaunce as though hee desired hee shoulde know his minde without hearring him speake and yet desirous to speake to breath out some part of his inwarde euil sending againe new blood to his face hee continued his speach in this manner And Lord dear cousin said he doth not the pleasauntnes of this place carry in it selfe sufficient reward for any time lost in it Do you not see how all things conspire together to make this country a heauenly dwelling Do you not see the grasse how
beguiled the times hast and shortned the wayes length till they came to the side of the wood where the hounds were in couples staying their comming but with a whining Accent crauing libertie many of them in colour and markes so resembling that it showed they were of one kinde The huntsmen handsomely attired in their greene liueries as though they were children of Sommer with staues in their handes to beat the guiltlesse earth when the houndes were at a fault and with hornes about their neckes to sounde an alarum vpon a sillie fugitiue The houndes were straight vncoupled and erelong the Stagge thought it better to trust to the nimblenes of his feete then to the slender fortification of his lodging but euen his feete betrayed him for howsoeuer they went they themselues vttered themselues to the sent of their enimies who one taking it of an other and sometimes beleeuing the windes aduertisements sometimes the viewe of their faithfull councellors the huntsmen with open mouthes then denounced warre when the warre was alreadie begun Their crie beeing composed of so well sorted mouthes that any man would perceiue therein some kinde of proportion but the skilfull woodmen did finde a musicke Then delight and varietie of opinion drew the horsmen sundrie wayes yet cheering their houndes with voyce horne kept still as it were together The wood seemed to conspire with them against his own citizens dispersing their noise through all his quarters and euen the Nimph Echo left to bewayle the losse of Narcissus and became a hunter But the Stagge was in the end so hotly pursued that leauing his flight hee was driuen to make courage of dispaire and so turning his head made the hounds with change of speech to testifie that he was at a bay as if from hotte pursuite of their enemie they were sodainly come to a parley But Kalander by his skill of coasting the Countrey was among the first that came in to the besieged Deere whom when some of the younger sorte would haue killed with their swordes he woulde not suffer but with a Crossebowe sent a death to the poore beast who with teares shewed the vnkindnes he tooke of mans crueltie But by the time that the vvhole companie vvas assembled that the Sagge had bestovved himfelfe liberally among them that had killed him Daiphantus vvas mist for vvhom Palladius carefully enquiring no nevves could bee giuen him but by one that saide he thought hee was returned home for that hee markt him in the chiefe of the hunting take a by way which might lead to Kalanders house That answere for the time satisfying and they hauing perfourmed all dueties as well for the Stagges funerall as the hounds triumph they returned some talking of the fatnes of the Deeres bodie some of the fairenes of his head some of the hounds cunning some of their speed and some of their cry till comming home about the time that the candles begin to inherit the Suns office they found Daiphantus was not to bee found Whereat Palladius greatly maruailing and a day or tvvo passing vvhile neither search nor inquirie could help him to knovvledge at last he lighted vpō the letter vvhich Pyrocles had vvritten before he vvent a hunting and left in his studie among other of his vvritings The letter vvas directed to Palladius himselfe and conteyned these wordes My onely friend violence of loue leades me into such a course whereof your knowledge may much more vexe you then helpe me Therefore pardon my concealing it from you since if I wrong you it is in the respect I beare you Return into Thessalia I pray you as full of good fortune as I am of desire and if I liue I will in short time follow you if I die loue my memorie This was all and this Palladius read twise or thrise ouer Ah said hee Pyrocles what meanes this alteration what haue I deserued of thee to bee thus banished of thy counsels Heretofore I haue accused the sea condemned the Pyrats and hated my euil fortune that depriued me of thee But now thy self is the sea which drounes my comfort thy selfe is the Pirat that robbes thy selfe of me Thy owne wil becomes my euill fortune Then turned he his thoughts to all formes of ghesses that might light vpon the purpose and course of Pyrocles for hee was not so sure by his wordes that it was loue as hee was doubtfull where the loue was One time he thought some beautie in Laconia had layed hold of his eyes an other time hee feared that it might be Parthenias excellencie which had broken the bands of al former resolution But the more he thought the more he knew not what to thinke armies of obiections rising against any accepted opinion Then as carefull he was what to doo himselfe at length determined neuer to leaue seeking him till his search should bee either by meeting accomplished or by death ended Therfore for all the vnkindnesse bearing tender respect that his friends secrete determinatiō should be kept from any suspition in others he went to Kalander and told him that he had receaued a message from his friend by which he vnderstood he was gone backe againe into Laconia about some matters greatly importing the poore men whose protection he had vndertaken and that it was in any sort fit for him to follow him but in such priuate wise as not to bee knowne and that therefore he would as then bid him farewell arming himselfe in a blacke armour as either a badge or prognostication of his minde and taking onely with him good store of monie and a fewe choise iewels leauing the greatest number of them and most of his apparell with Kalander which he did partly to giue the more cause to Kalander to expect their returne and so to be the lesse curiously inquisitiue after them◠and partly to leaue those honorable thankes vnto him for his charge and kindenes which hee knewe hee woulde no other way receaue The good old man hauing neither reason to dissuade nor hope to persuade receaued the things with minde of a keeper not of an owner but before he went desired he might haue the happines fully to know what they were which he saide he had euer till then delaid fearing to be any way importune but now he could not be so much an enemy to his desires as any longer to imprison them in silence Palladius tolde him that the matter was not so secrete but that so worthie a friend deserued the knowledge and should haue it as soone as he might speake with his friend without whose consent because their promise bound him otherwise he could not reueale it but bad him hold for most assured that if they liued but a while he should finde that they which bare the names of Daiphantus and Palladius would giue him and his cause to thinke his noble courtesie well imploied Kalander would presse him no further but desiring that he might haue leaue to goe or at least to sende his
So that you must resolue if you will plaie your parte to anie purpose whatsoeuer peeuish imperfections are in that sexe to soften your hart to receiue them the verie first downe-steppe to all wickednesse for doo not deceiue your selfe my deere cosin there is no man sodainelie either excellentlie good or extremelie euill but growes either as hee holdes himselfe vp in vertue or lettes himselfe slide to vitiousnes And let vs see what power is the aucthor of all these troubles forsooth loue loue a passion and the basest and fruitlessest of all passions feare breedeth wit Anger is the cradle of courage ioy openeth and enhableth the hart sorrow as it closeth so it draweth it inwarde to looke to the correcting of it selfe and so all of them generallie haue power towardes some good by the direction of Reason But this bastarde Loue for indeede the name of Loue is most vnworthylie applied to so hatefull a humour as it is engendered betwixt lust and idlenes as the matter it workes vpon is nothing but a certaine base weakenes which some gentle fooles call a gentle hart as his adioyned companions bee vnquietnes longings fond comforts faint discomforts hopes ielousies vngrounded rages causlesse yeeldings so is the highest end it aspires vnto a litle pleasure with much paine before and great repentaunce after But that ende how endlesse it runes to infinite euils were fit inough for the matter we speake of but not for your eares in whome indeede there is so much true disposition to vertue yet thus much of his worthie effects in your selfe is to bee seene that besides your breaking lawes of hospitallitie with Kalander and of friendship with me it vtterly subuerts the course of nature in making reason giue place to sense and man to woman And truely I thinke heere-vpon it first gatte the name of Loue for indeede the true loue hath that excellent nature in it that it doth transforme the verie essence of the louer into the thing loued vniting and as it were incorporating it with a secret and inwarde working And herein do these kinde of loues imitate the excellent for as the loue of heauen makes one heauenly the loue of vertue vertuous so doth the loue of the world make one become worldly and this effeminate loue of a wōman doth so womanize a man that if hee yeeld to it it will not onely make him an Amazon but a launder a distaff-spinner or what so euer other vile occupation their idle heads can imagin and their weake hands performe Therefore to trouble you no longer with my tedious but louiug wordes if either you remember what you are what you haue bene or what you must be if you cōsider what it is that moued you or by what kinde of creature you are moued you shall finde the cause so small the effect so daungerous your selfe so vnworthie to runne into the one or to bee driuē by the other that I doubt not I shal quicklie haue occasion rather to praise you for hauing conquered it then to giue you further counsell howe to doo it But in Pyrocles this speech wrought no more but that hee who before hee was espied was afraide after being perceiued was ashamed now being hardly rubd vpon left both feare and shame and was moued to anger But the exceeding good will he bare to Musidorus striuing with it hee thus partly to satisfie him but principally to loofe the reines to his owne motions made him answere Cosin whatsoeuer good disposition nature hath bestowed vpon me or howsoeuer that disposition hath bene by bringing vp confirmed this must I confesse that I am not yet come to that degree of wisedome to thinke light of the sexe of whom I haue my life since if I be any thing which your friendship rather finds then I acknowledge I was to come to it born of a womā nursed of a womā And certēly for this point of your speach doth neerest touch me it is strāg to see the vnman-like cruelty of mākind who not content with their tyrānous ābition to haue brought the others vertuous patience vnder them like childish maisters thinke their masterhood nothing without doing iniury to them who if wee will argue by reason are framed of nature with the same partes of the minde for the exercise of vertue as we are And for example euen this estate of Amazons which I know for my greatest honor do seek to counterfait doth well witnes that if generally the sweetnes of their disposition did not make them see the vainnesse of these thinges which wee accōpt glorious they nether want valor of mind nor yet doth their fairnes take away their force And truely we men and praisers of men should remember that if wee haue such excellēcies it is reason to thinke them excellent creatures of whom wee are since a Kite neuer brought foorth a good flying Hauke But to tell you true as I thinke it superfluous to vse any wordes of such a subiect which is so praysed in it selfe as it needes no praises so withall I feare lest my conceate not able to reach vnto them bring forth wordes which for their vnworthines may be a disgrace to them I so inwardly honor Let this suffice that they are capable of vertue and vertue ye your selues say is to be loued I too truly but this I willingly confesse that it likes me much better when I finde vertue in a faire lodging then when I am bound to seeke it in an ill fauoured creature like a pearle in a dounghill As for my fault of being an vnciuill guest to Kalander if you coulde feele what an inward guest my selfe am host vnto ye would thinke it very excuseable in that I rather performe the dueties of an host then the ceremonies of a guest And for my breaking the lawes of friendshippe with you which I would rather dye then effectually doo truely I could finde in my hart to aske you pardon for it but that your now handling of me giues me reason to my former dealing And here Pyrocles stayed as to breath himselfe hauing beene transported with a litle vehemency because it seemed him Musidorus had ouer-bitterly glaunsed against the reputation of woman-kinde but then quieting his countenance aswell as out of an vnquiet minde it might be he thus proceeded on And poore Loue said he deare cosin is little beholding vnto you since you are not contented to spoile it of the honor of the highest power of the mind which notable mē haue attributed vnto it but ye deiect it below all other passions in trueth somewhat strangely since if loue receiue any disgrace it is by the company of these passions you preferre before it For those kinds of bitter obiections as that lust idlenes and a weake harte shoulde bee as it were the matter and forme of loue rather touch me deare Musidorus then loue But I am good witnesse of mine owne imperfections and therefore will not defende myselfe but herein I must say you
deale contrary to your selfe for if I be so weak then can you not with reason stir me vp as ye did by remembrance of my owne vertue or if indeed I be vertuous then must ye confesse that loue hath his working in a vertuous hart and so no dout hath it whatsoeuer I be for if we loue vertue in whom shall wee loue it but in a vertuous creature without your meaning bee I should loue this word vertue where I see it written in a booke Those troblesome effectes you say it breedes be not the faults of loue but of him that loues as an vnable vessell to beare such a licour like euill eyes not able to looke on the Sun or like a weake braine soonest ouerthrowen with the best wine Euen that heauenly loue you speake of is accompanied in some harts with hopes griefes longinges and dispaires And in that heauenly loue since there are two parts the one the loue itselfe th' other the excellencie of the thing loued I not able at the first leap to frame both in me do now like a diligent workman make ready the chiefe instrument and first part of that great worke which is loue it selfe which when I haue a while practised in this sorte then you shall see me turne it to greater matters And thus gentlie you may if it please you thinke of me Neither doubt ye because I weare a womans apparell I will be the more womannish since I assure you for all my apparrel there is nothing I desire more then fully to proue my selfe a man in this enterprise Much might be saide in my defence much more for loue and most of all for that diuine creature which hath ioyned me and loue together But these disputations are fitter for quiet schooles then my troubled braines which art bent rather in deeds to performe then in wordes to defende the noble desire that possesseth me O Lord saide Musidorus how sharp-witted you are to hurt your selfe No answered he but it is the hurt you speake of which makes me so sharp-witted Euen so saide Musidorus as euery base occupation makes one sharp in that practise and foolish in all the rest Nay rather answered Pyrocles as each excellent thing once well learned serues for a measure of all other knowledges And is that become saide Musidorus a measure for other things which neuer receiued measure in it selfe It is counted without measure answered Pyrocles because the workings of it are without measure but otherwise in nature it hath measure since it hath an end allotted vnto it The beginning being so excellent I would gladly know the ende Enioying answered Pyrocles with a deepe sigh O saide Musidorus now set ye foorth the basenes of it since if it ende in enioying it shewes all the rest was nothing Ye mistake me aunswered Pyrocles I spake of the ende to which it is directed which end ends not no sooner then the life Alas let your owne braine disenchaunt you saide Musidorus My hart is too farre possessed saide Pyrocles But the head giues you direction And the hart giues me life aunswered Pyrocles But Musidorus was so greeued to see his welbeloued friend obstinat as he thought to his owne destruction that it forced him with more then accustomed vehemency to speake these words Well well saide he you lift to abuse your selfe it was a very white and red vertue which you could pick out of a painterly glosse of a visage Confesse the truth and ye shall finde the vtmost was but beautie a thing which though it be in as great excellencye in your selfe as may be in any yet I am sure you make no further reckning of it then of an outward fading benefite Nature bestowed vpon you And yet such is your want of a true grounded vertue which must be like it selfe in all points that what you wisely account a trifle in your selfe you fondly become a slaue vnto in another For my part I now protest I haue left nothing vnsaid which my wit could make me know or my most entier friendship to you requires of me I doo now beseech you euen for the loue betwixt vs if this other loue haue left any in you tovvards me and for the remembrance of your olde careful father if you can remēber him that forget your selfe lastly for Pyrocles ovvn sake who is novv vpon the point of falling or rising to purge your selfe of this vile infection other vvise giue me leaue to leaue of this name of freindship as an idle title of a thing vvhich cannot be vvhere vertue is abolished The length of these speaches before had not so much cloied Pyrocles though he vvere very impatient of long deliberations as this last farevvell of him he loued as his ovvne life did vvound his soule for thinking him selfe afflicted he vvas the apter to conceiue vnkindnesse deepely insomuch that shaking his head and deliuering some shevve of teares he thus vttered his greifes Alas said he prince Musidorus hovv cruelly you deale with me if you seeke the victorie take it and if ye list the triumph haue you all the reason of the world and with me remaine all the imperfections yet such as I can no more lay from me then the Crow can be perswaded by the Swanne to cast of all his blacke fethers But truely you deale with me like a Phisition that seeing his patient in a pestilēt feuer should chide him in steed of ministring helpe and bid him be sick no more or rather like such a friēd that visiting his friend condemned to perpetuall prison and loaden with greeuous fetters should will him to shake of his fetters or he would leaue him I am sick and sick to the death I am prisoner neither is there any redresse but by her to whom I am slaue Now if you list leaue him that loues you in the hiest degree But remember euer to cary this with you that you abandon your friend in his greatest extremitie And herewith the deepe wound of his loue being rubbed a fresh with this new vnkindnes began as it were to bleed againe in such sort that he was vnable to beare it any longer but gushing out aboundance of teares and crossing his armes ouer his woefull hart he suncke downe◠to the ground which sodaine trance went so to the hart of Musidorus that falling downe by him and kissing the weping eyes of his friend he besought him not to make account of his speach which if it had beene ouer vehement yet was it to be borne withall because it came out of a loue much more vehement that he had not thought fancie could haue receiued so deep a wound but now finding in him the force of it hee woulde no further contrary it but imploy all his seruice to medicine it in such sorte as the nature of it required But euen this kindnes made Pyrocles the more melte in the former vnkindenes which his manlike teares well shewed with a silent look vpon Musidorus as who should say
And is it possible that Musidorus should threaten to leaue me And this strooke Musidorus minde and senses so dumbe too that for greefe being notable to say any thing they rested with their eyes placed one vpon another in such sort as might well paint out the true passion of vnkindenes to be neuer aright but betwixt them that most dearely loue And thus remained they a time till at length Musidorus embrasing him said and will you thus shake of your friend It is you that shake me of sayde Pyrocles being for my vnperfectnes vnworthie of your friendshippe But this said Musidorus shewes you more vnperfect to be cruell to him that submits himselfe vnto you but since you are vnperfect said he smiling it is reason you be gouerned by vs wise and perfect man And that authoritie will I begin to take vpon me with three absolute cōmandemēts The first that you increase not your euill with further griefes the second that you loue her with all the powers of your mind and the last commandement shal be ye command me to do what seruice I can towardes the attaining of your desires Pyrocles hart was not so oppressed with the two mighty passions of loue and vnkindnes but that it yeelded to some mirth at his commaundement of Musidorus that he should loue so that some thing cleering his face from his former shewes of griefe Well said he deare cousin I see by the well choosing of your commandementes that you are farre fitter to be a Prince then a Counseller therfore I am resolued to imploy all my endeuour to obey you with this condition that the commandementes ye commaund me to lay vpon you shall onely bee that you continue to loue me and looke vpon my imperfections with more affection then iudgement Loue you said hee alas how can my hart be seperated from the true imbrasing of it without it burst by being too full of it But said he let vs leaue of these flowers of newe begun frendship and now I pray you againe tel me but tell it me fully omitting no circumstance the storie of your affections both beginning and proceeding assuring your selfe that there is nothing so great which I will feare to doo for you nor nothing so small which I will disdaine to doo for you Let me therefore receiue a cleere vnderstanding which many times we misse while those things we account small as a speech or a looke are omitted like as a whole sentence may faile of his congruitie by wanting one particle Therefore betweene frends all must be layd open nothing being superfluous nor tedious You shal be obeyed said Pyrocles and here are we in as fitte a place for it as may be for this arbor no body offers to come into but my selfe I vsing it as my melancholy retiring place and therefore that respect is born vnto it yet if by chance any should come say that you are a seruant sent from the Queene of the Amazons to seeke mee and then let mee alone for the rest So sate they downe and Pyrocles thus said Cousin said he then began the fatall ouerthrow of all my libertie when walking among the pictures in Kalāders house you your selfe deliuerd vnto me what you had vnderstood of Philoclea who much resembling though I must say much surpassing the Ladie Zelmane whom so well I loued there were mine eyes infected and at your mouth did I drinke my poison Yet alas so sweete was it vnto me that I could not be contented till Kalander had made it more and more strong with his declaration Which the more I questioned the more pittie I conceaued of her vnworthie fortune and when with pittie once my harte was made tender according to the aptnesse of the humour it receaued quickly a cruell impression of that wonderfull passion which to be definde is impossible because no wordes reach to the strange nature of it they onely know it which inwardly feele it it is called loue Yet did I not poore wretch at first know my disease thinking it onely such a woonted kinde of desire to see rare sights and my pitie to be no other but the fruits of a gentle nature But euen this arguing with my selfe came of further thoughts and the more I argued the more my thoughts encreased Desirous I was to see the place where she remained as though the Architecture of the lodges would haue beene much for my learning but more desirous to see her selfe to be iudge for sooth of the painters cunning For thus at the first did I flatter my self as though my wound had bene no deeper but when within short time I came to the degree of vncertaine wishes and that those wishes grew to vnquiet longinges when I could fix my thoughts vpon nothing but that within little varying they should end with Philoclea when each thing I saw seemed to figure out some parte of my passions when euen Parthenias faire face became a lecture to me of Philocleas imagined beautie when I heard no word spoken but that me thought it caried the sounde of Philocleas name then indeed then I did yeeld to the burthen finding my selfe prisoner before I had leasure to arme my selfe and that I might well like the spaniell gnaw vpon the chaine that ties him but I should sooner marre my teeth then procure liberty Yet I take to witnesse the eternall spring of vertue that I had neuer read heard nor seene any thing I had neuer any tast of Philosophy nor inward feeling in my selfe which for a while I did not call to my succour But alas what resistance was there when ere long my very reason was you will say corrupted I must confesse conquered and that me thought euen reason did assure me that all eyes did degenerate from their creation which did not honour such beautie Nothing in trueth coulde holde any plea with it but the reuerent friendship I beare vnto you For as it went against my harte to breake any way from you so did I feare more then any assault to breake it to you finding as it is indeed that to a hart fully resolute counsaile is tedious but reprehension is lothsome and that there is nothing more terrible to a guilty hart then the eie of a respected friend This made me determine with my selfe thinking it a lesse fault in frendship to do a thing without your knowledge then against your will to take this secret course Which conceit was most builded vp in me the last day of my parting and speaking with you whē vpō your speach with me my but naming loue whē els perchaūce I would haue gone further I saw your voice and countenance so chaunge as it assured me my reuealing it should but purchase your griefe with my cumber therfore deere Musidorus euen ran away from thy wel knowne chiding for hauing writtē a letter which I know not whether you found or no and taken my chiefe iewels with mee while you were in the middest of your
at the first liking of a likely beautie louing because they will loue for want of other businesse not because they feele indeed that diuine power which makes the heart finde a reason in passion and so God knowes as inconstantly leaue vpon the next chaunce that beautie castes before them So therefore taking loue vppon him like a fashion he courted this Ladie Artesia who was as fit to paie him in his owne monie as might be For she thinking she did wrong to her beautie if she were not prowde of it called her disdaine of him chastitie and placed her honour in little setting by his honouring her determining neuer to marrie but him whome she thought worthie of her and that was one in whome all worthinesse were harboured And to this conceipt not only nature had bent her but the bringing vp she receaued at my sister in lawe Cecropia had confirmed her who hauing in her widowhood taken this young Artesia into her charge because her Father had bene a deare friend of her dead husbandes had taught her to thinke that there is no wisdome but in including both heauen and earth in ones selfe and that loue courtesie gratefulnesse friendship and all other vertues are rather to be taken on then taken in ones selfe And so good a disciple she found of her that liking the fruits of her owne planting she was content if so her sonne could haue liked of it to haue wished her in mariage to my Nephew Amphialus But I thinke that desire hath lost some of his heate since she hath knowne that such a Queene as Helen is doth offer so great a price as a Kingdome to buie his fauour for if I be not deceaued in my good sister Cecrâ—pia she thinks no face so beautifull as that which lookes vnder a Crowne But Artesia indeede liked well of my Nephew Amphialus for I can neuer deeme that loue which in hauty harts proceeds of a desire onely to please and as it were peacock themselues but yet she hath shewed vehemencie of desire that way I thinke because all her desires be vehement in so much that she hath both placed her only brother a fine youth called Ismenus to be his squire and her selfe is content to waite vpon my sister till she may see the vttermost what she may worke in Amphialus who being of a melancholie though I must say truly courteous and noble mind seemes to loue nothing lesse then Loue and of late hauing through some aduenture or inward miscontentment withdrawne himselfe from any bodies knowledge where he is Artesia the easier condiscended to goe to the court of Laconia whether she was sent for by the Kings wife to whome she is somewhat allied And there after the war of the Helots this Knight Phalantus at least for tongue-delight made him selfe her seruaunt and she so little caring as not to showe mislike thereof was content onely to be noted to haue a notable seruaunt For truely one in my court neerely acquainted with him within these few dayes made me a pleasaunt description of their loue while he with cheerefull lookes would speake sorowfull words vsing the phrase of his affection in so high a stile that Mercurie would not haue wooed Venus with more magnificent Eloquence but els neyther in behauiour nor action accusing in himselfe anie great trouble in minde whether he sped or no. And she of the other side well finding how little it was and not caring for more yet taught him that often it falleth out but a foolish wittinesse to speake more then one thinkes For she made earnest benefite of his iest forcing him in respect of his profession to doo her such seruice as were both cumbersome and costly vnto him while he still thought he went beyond her because his harte did not commit the idolatrie So that lastlie she I thinke hauing in minde to make the fame of her beautie an oratour for her to Amphialus perswading her selfe perhaps that it might fall out in him as it doth in some that haue delightfull meate before them and haue no stomacke to it before other folkes prayse it shee tooke the aduauntage one daye vppon Phalantus vnconscionable praysinges of her and certaine cast-awaie vowes howe much hee would doo for her sake to arrest his woord assoone as it was out of his mouth and by the vertue thereof to charge him to goe with her thorow all the courts of Greece and with the chalenge now made to giue her beauty the principality ouer all other Phalantus was entrapped and saw round about him but could not get out Exceedingly perplexed he was as he confest to him that tolde mee the tale not for doubt hee had of him selfe for indeede he had little cause being accounted with his Launce especially whereupon the challenge is to be tryed as perfect as any that Greece knoweth but because he feared to offend his sister Helen and withall as he said he could not so much beleeue his loue but that he must thinke in his hart whatsoeuer his mouth affirmed that both she my daughters the faire Parthenia wife to a most noble Gentleman my wiues neere kinsman might far better put in their clayme for that prerogatiue But his promise had bound him prentice and therefore it was now better with willingnes to purchase thankes then with a discontented doing to haue the paine and not the reward and therefore went on as his faith rather then loue did lead him And now hath he already passed the courts of Laconia Elis Argos Corinth and as many times it happens that a good pleader maks a bad cause to preuaile so hath his Lawnce brought captiues to the triumph of Artesias beautie such as though Artesia be amoÌ„g the fairest yet in that coÌ„pany were to haue the prehemineÌ„ce for in those courts many knights that had bene in other far countries defended such as they had sene liked in their trauaile but their defeÌ„ce had ben such as they had forfaited the pictures of their Ladies to giue a forced false testimonie to Artesias excellencie And now lastly is he come hether where he hath leaue to trye his fortune But I assure you if I thought it not in dew and true consideration an iniurious seruice and churlish curtesie to put the danger of so noble a title in the deciding of such a dangerles combat I would make yong master Phalantus know that your eyes can sharpen a blunt Launce and that age which my gray haires onely gotten by the louing care of others make seeme more then it is hath not diminished in me the power to protect an vndeniable verity With that hee bustled vp himselfe as though his heart would faine haue walked abroad Zelmane with an inwarde smiling gaue him outward thanks desiring him to reserue his force for worthier causes So passing their time according to their woont they wayted for the comming of Phalantus who the next morning hauing alredy caused his tents to be pitched neere to a
a certaine Sycionian Knight was lost thorow want rather of valour then iustice her husband the famous Argalus would in a chafe haue gone and redeemed it with a new triall But shee more sporting then sorrowing for her vndeserued champion tolde her husbande shee desired to bee beautifull in no bodies eye but his and that shee would rather marre her face as euill as euer it was then that it should be a cause to make Argalus put on armour Then woulde Basilius haue tolde Zelmane that which she already knew of the rare triall of that coupled affection but the next picture made their mouthes giue place to their eyes It was of a young mayd which sate pulling out a thorne out of a Lambes foote with her looke so attentiue vppon it as if that little foote coulde haue bene the circle of her thoughts her apparell so poore as it had nothing but the inside to adorne it a shephooke lying by her with a bottle vpon it But with all that pouertie beauty plaid the prince and commanded as many harts as the greatest Queene there did Her beautie and her estate made her quicklie to be knowne to be the faire shepheardesse Vrania whom a rich knight called Lacemon farre in loue with her had vnluckely defended The last of all in place because last in the time of her being captiue was Zelmane daughter to the King Plexirtus who at the first sight seemed to haue some resembling of Philoclea but with more marking comparing it to the present Philoclea who indeed had no paragon but her sister they might see it was but such a likenesse as an vnperfect glasse doth giue aunswerable enough in some feitures and colors but erring in others But Zelmane sighing turning to Basilius Alas sir said she here be some pictures which might better become the tombes of their Mistresses thē the triumphe of Artesia It is true sweetest Lady saide Basilius some of them bee dead and some other captiue But that hath happened so late as it may bee the Knightes that defended their beauty knew not so much without we will say as in some harts I know it would fall out that death it selfe could not blot out the image which loue hath engrauen in them But diuers besides these said Basilius hath Phalantus woon but he leaues the rest carying onely such who either for greatnes of estate or of beauty may iustly glorifie the glory of Artesias triumph Thus talked Basilius with Zelmane glad to make any matter subiect to speake of with his mistresse while Phalantus in this pompous maner brought Artesia with her gentlewomen into one Tent by which he had another where they both wayted who would first strike vpon the shielde while Basilius the Iudge appointed sticklers and troumpets to whom the other should obey But non that day appeared nor the next till all ready it had consumed halfe his allowance of light but then there came in a knight protesting himselfe as contrarie to him in minde as he was in apparrell For Phalantus was all in white hauing in his bases and caparison imbroidered a wauing water at each side whereof hee had nettings cast ouer in which were diuers fishes naturally made and so pretily that as the horse stirred the fishes seemed to striue and leape in the nette But the other knight by name Nestor by birth an Arcadian in affection vowed to the faire Shepherdesse was all in black with fire burning both vpō his armour and horse His impresa in his shield was a fire made of Iuniper with this word More easie and more sweete But this hote knight was cooled with a fall which at the third course he receiued of Phalantus leauing his picture to keepe companie with the other of the same stampe hee going away remedilesly chafing at his rebuke The next was Polycetes greatly esteemed in Arcadia for deedes he had done in armes and much spoken of for the honourable loue he had long borne to Gynecia which Basilius himselfe was content not onely to suffer but to be delighted with he carried it in so honorable and open plainnes setting to his loue no other marke then to do her faithfull seruice But neither her faire picture nor his faire running could warrant him from ouerthrow and her from becomming as then the last of Artesias victories a thing Gynecias vertues would little haue recked at another time nor then if Zelmane had not seene it But her champion went away asmuch discomforted as discomfited Then Telamon for Polexena and Eurileon for Elpine and Leon for Zoana all braue Knights all faire Ladies with their going downe lifted vp the ballance of his praise for actiuitie and hers for fairenes Vpon whose losse as the beholders were talking there comes into the place where they ranne a shepheard stripling for his height made him more then a boy and his face would not allow him a man brown of complexion whether by nature or by the Suns familiaritie but very louely with all for the rest so perfectly proportioned that Nature shewed shee dooth not like men◠who slubber vp matters of meane account And well might his proportion be iudged for he had nothing vpon him but a paire of sloppes and vpon his bodie a Gote-skinne which hee cast ouer his shoulder doing all things with so pretie a grace that it seemed ignorance could not make him do a misse because he had a hart to do well holding in his right hand a long staffe so cōming with a looke ful of amiable fiercenes as in whō choller could not take away the sweetnes hee came towards the king and making a reuerence which in him was comely because it was kindly My liege Lord said he I pray you heare a few words for my heart wil break if I say not my mind to you I see here the picture of Vrania which I cannot tell how nor why these men when they fall downe they say is not so faire as yonder gay woman But pray God I may neuer see my olde mother aliue if I think she be any more match to Vrania then a Goate is to a fine Lambe or then the Dog that keepes our flock at home is like your white Greihounde that pulled downe the Stagge last day And therefore I pray you let me be drest as they be and my hart giues me I shall tumble him on the earth for indeede hee might aswell say that a Couslip is as white as a Lillie or els I care not let him come with his great staffe and I with this in my hand and you shall see what I can doo to him Basilius sawe it was the fine shepheard Lalus whom once he had afore him in Pastorall sportes and had greatly delighted in his wit full of prety simplicitie and therefore laughing at his earnestnesse he bad him be content since hee sawe the pictures of so great Queenes were faine to follow their champions fortune But Lalus euen weeping ripe went among the rest longing to
brest saying O miserable wretch whether do thy destenies guide thee The voice made Zelmane hasten her pace to ouertake him which hauing done she plainly perceaued that it was her deare friend Musidorus whereat maruailing not a little she demaunded of him whether the Goddesse of those woods had such a powre to transforme euery body or whether as in all enterprises else he had done he meant thus to match her in this newe alteration Alas said Musidorus what shall I say who am loth to say and yet faine would haue said I find indeed that all is but lip-wisdome which wants experience I now woe is me do try what loue can doo O Zelmane who will resist it must either haue no wit or put out his eyes can any man resist his creation certainely by loue we are made and to loue we are made Beasts only cannot discerne beauty and let them be in the role of Beasts that doo not honor it The perfect friendship Zelmane bare him and the great pitie she by good triall had of such cases could not keepe her from smiling at him remembring how vehemently he had cryed out against the folly of louers And therefore a litle to punish him Why how now deere cousin said she you that were last day so hie in the Pulpit against louers are you now become so meane an auditor Remember that loue is a passion and that a worthie mans reason must euer haue the masterhood I recant I recant cryed Musidorus and withall falling downe prostrate O thou celestiall or infernall spirit of Loue or what other heauenly or hellish title thou list to haue for effects of both I finde in my selfe haue compassion of me and let thy glory be as great in pardoning them that be submitted to thee as in conquering those that were rebellious No no saide Zelmane I see you well enough you make but an enterlude of my mishaps and doo but counterfaite thus to make me see the deformitie of my passions but take heede that this iest do not one day turne to earnest Now I beseech thee said Musidorus taking her â—ast by the hand euen for the truth of our friendship of which if I be not altogether an vnhappy man thou hast some rememberance and by those secret flames which I know haue likewise neerely touched thee make no iest of that which hath so ernestly pearced me thorow nor let that be light to thee which is to me so burdenous that I am not able to beare it Musidorus both in words and behauiour did so liuely deliuer out his inward griefe that Zelmane found indeede he was thorowly wounded but there rose a new ielousy in her minde lest it might be with Philoclea by whome as Zelmane thought in right all hartes and eyes should be inherited And therefore desirous to be cleered of that doubt Musidorus shortly as in hast and full of passionate perplexednes thus recounted his case vnto her The day said he I parted from you I being in mind to returne to a towne from whence I came hether my horse being before tired would scarce beare me a mile hence where being benighted the light of a candle I saw a good way off guided me to a young shepheards house by name Menalcas who seing me to be a straying stranger with the right honest hospitalitie which seemes to be harboured in the Arcadian brests and though not with curious costlines yet with cleanly sufficiencie entertained me and hauing by talke with him found the manner of the countrie something more in particular then I had by Kalanders report I agreed to soiourne with him in secret which he faithfully promised to obserue And so hether to your arbour diuers times repaired and here by your meanes had the sight O that it had neuer bene so nay O that it might euer be so of the Goddesse who in a definite compasse can set forth infinite beauty All this while Zelmane was racked with iealousie But he went on For saide he I lying close and in truth thinking of you and saying thus to my selfe O sweet Pyrocles how art thou bewitched where is thy vertue where is the vse of thy reason how much am I inferior to thee in the state of the mind And yet know I that all the heauens cannot bring me to such thraldome Scarcely thinke I had I spoken this word wheÌ„ the Ladies came foorth at which sight I thinke the very words returned backe againe to strike my soule at least an vnmeasurable sting I felt in my selfe that I had spokeÌ„ such words At which sight said Zelmane not able to beare him any longer O said Musidorus I know your suspition No no banish all such feare it was it is and must be Pamela Then all is safe sayd Zelmane proceede deare Musidorus I will not said he impute it to my late solitarie life which yet is prone to affections nor to the much thinking of you though that cald the consideration of loue into my mind which before I euer neglected nor to the exaltation of Venus nor reuenge of Cupid but euen to her who is the Planet nay the Goddesse against which the onely shield must be my Sepulchre When I first saw her I was presently striken and I like a foolish child that when any thing hits him will strike himselfe againe vpon it would needs looke againe as though I would perswade mine eyes that they were deceiued But alas well haue I found that Loue to a yeelding hart is a king but to a resisting is a tyrant The more with arguments I shaked the stake which he had planted in the ground of my harte the deeper still it sanke into it But what meane I to speake of the causes of my loue which is as impossible to describe as to measure the back-side of heauen Let this word suffice I loue And that you may know I doo so it was I that came in black armour to defende her picture where I was both preuented and beaten by you And so I that waited here to do you seruice haue now my selfe most need of succor But whereupon got you your selfe this aparrell said Zelmane I had forgotten to tell you said Musidorus though that were one principall matter of my speech so much am I now master of my owne minde But thus it happened being returned to Menalcas house full of tormenting desire after a while faynting vnder the weight my courage stird vp my wit to seeke for some releefe before I yeelded to perish At last this came into my head that very euening that I had to no purpose last vsed my horse and armour I tolde Menalcas that I was a Thessalian Gentle-man who by mischaunce hauing killed a great fauorit of the Prince of that country was pursued so cruelly that in no place but either by fauour or corruption they would obtaine my destruction and that therefore I was determined till the fury of my persecutors might be asswaged to disguise my selfe among the shephards
folly of the keeper who thinking himselfe able to rule them had caried them abroad and so was deceiued whom yet if Basilius would punish for it she was readie to deliuer Basilius made no other answere but that his Mistres if she had any more such beastes should cause them to be killed and then hee told his wife and Zelmane of it because they should not feare those woods as though they harbored such beasts where the like had neuer bene seene But Gynecia tooke a further conceit of it mistrusting greatly Cecropia because she had heard much of the diuellish wickednesse of her heart and that particularly she did her best to bring vp her sonne Amphialus being brothers sonne to Basilius to aspire to the crowne as next heire male after Basilius and therefore saw no reason but that she might coniecture it proceeded rather of some mischieuous practise than of misfortune Yet did shee onely vtter her doubt to her daughters thinking since the worst was past shee would attend a further occasion least ouer much haste might seeme to proceede of the ordinarie mislike betweene sisters in Lawe onely they maruelled that Basilius looked no further into it who good man thought so much of his late conceiued common wealth that all other matters were but digressions vnto him But the shepheards were ready and with well handling themselues called their senses to attend their pastimes The first Ecloges BAsilius because Zelmane so would haue it vsed the artificiall day of torches to lighten the sportes their inuentions could minister And because many of the shepheardes were but newlie come hee did in a gentle manner chastise their negligence with making them for that night the Torchbearers and the others he willed with all freedome of speech and behauiour to keepe their accustomed method Which while they prepared to do Dametas who much disdayned since his late authority all his old companions brought his seruant Dorus in good acquaintance and allowance of them and himself stood like a directer ouer them with nodding gaping winking or stamping shewing how he did like or mislike those things he did not vnderstand The first sports the shepheards shewed wearful of such leapes and gambols as being accorded to the pipe which they bare in their mouthes euen as they daunced made a right picture of their chiefe God Pan and his companions the Satyres Then would they cast away their Pipes and holding hand in hand daunce as it were in a braule by the only cadence of their voices which they would vse in singing some short coplets whereto the one halfe beginning the other halfe should answere as the one halfe saying We loue and haue our loues rewarded The others would answere We loue and are no whit regarded The first againe We finde moste sweete affections snare With like tune it should be as in a quire sent backe againe That sweete but sower dispairefull care A third time likewise thus Who can dispaire whom hope doth beare The answere And who can hope that feeles despaire Then all ioyning their voyces and dauncing a faster measure they would conclude with some such wordes As without breath no pipe doth mone No musicke kindlye without loue Hauing thus varied both their songs and daunces into diuers sorts of inuentions their last sport was one of them to prouoke an other to a more large expressing of his passions which Thyrsis accounted one of the best singers amongst them hauing marked in Dorus dauncing no lesse good grace hansome behauiour then extreame tokens of a troubled mind began first with his Pipe and then with his voice thus to chalenge Dorus and was by him answered in the vnder-written sorte Thyrsis and Dorus. Thyrsis Come Dorus come let songs thy sorrowes signifie And if for want of vse thy minde ashamed is That very shame with loues high title dignifie No stile is held for base where loue well named is Each eare suckes vp the words a true loue scattereth And plaine speach oft then quaint phrase better framed is Dorus. Nightingales seldome sing the Pie still chattereth The wood cries most before it throughly kindled be◠Deadly wounds inward bleed each sleight sore mattereth Hardly they heard which by good hunters singled be Shallow brookes murmure most deep silent slide away Nor true loue loues his loues with others mingled be Thyrsis If thou wilt not be seene thy face goe hide away Be none of vs or els maintaine our fashion Who frownes at others feastes doth better bide away But if thou hast a loue in that loues passion I challenge thee by shew of her perfection Which of vs two deserueth most compassion Dorus. Thy challenge great but greater my protection Sing then and see for now thou hast inflamed me Thy health too meane a match for my infection No though the heau'ns for high attempts haue blamed me Yet high is my attempt O Muse historifie Her praise whose praise to learne your skill hath framed me Thyrsis Muse holde your peace but thou my God Pan glorifie My Kalas giftes who with all good gifts filled Thy pipe ô Pan shall help though I sing sorilie A heape of sweetes she is where nothing spilled is Who though she be no Bee yet full of honie is A Lillie field with plowe of Rose which tilled is Milde as a Lambe more daintie then a Conie is Her eyes my eyesight is her conuersation More gladde to me then to a miser monie is What coye account she makes of estimation How nice to touch how all her speeches peized be A Nimph thus turnde but mended in translation Dorus. Such Kala is but ah my fancies raised be In one whose name to name were high presumption Since vertues all to make her title pleased be O happie Gods which by inward assumption Enioy her soule in bodies faire possession And keepe it ioynde fearing your seates consumption How oft with rayne of teares skies make confession Their dwellers rapt with sight of her perfection From heau'enly throne to her heau'n vse digression Of best things then what world can yeeld confection To liken her decke yours with your comparison She is her selfe of best things the collection Thyrsis How oft my dolefull Sire cried to me tarrie sonne When first he spied my loue how oft he said to me Thou art no souldier fitt for Cupids garrison My sonne keepe this that my long toyle hath laide to me Loue well thine owne me thinkes woolles whitenes passeth all I neuer found long loue such wealth hath paide to me This wind he spent but when my Kala glasseth all My sight in her faire limmes I then assure my selfe Not rotten sheepe but high crownes she surpasseth all Can I be poore that her golde haire procure my selfe Want I white wooll whose eyes her white skinne garnished Till I get her shall I to keepe enure my selfe Dorus. How oft when reason saw loue of her harnised With armour of my hart he cried O vanitie To set a pearle in steele so meanly
in nature vnhappy by fortune But most wretched I am now loue awakes my desire Dorus when he had soong this hauing had all the while a free beholding of the faire Pamela who could well haue spared such honor and defended the assault he gaue vnto hir face with bringing a faire staine of shamefastnes vnto it let fall his armes and remained so fastened in his thoughts as if Pamela had graffed him there to growe in continuall imagination But Zelmane espying it and fearing he should too much forget himselfe she came to him and tooke out of his hand the Lute and laying fast hold of Philocleas face with her eyes she soong these Sapphikes speaking as it were to hir owne hope If mine eyes can speake to doo harty errande Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet But if eyes faile then when I most doo need them Or if eyes language be not vnto her knowne So that eyes message doo returne reiected Hâ—pe we doo both dye Yet dying and dead doo we sing her honour So become our tombes monuments of her praise So becomes our losse the triumph of her gaine Hers be the glory If the spheares senselesse doo yet hold a musique If the Swannes sweet voice be not heard but at death If the mute timber when it hath the life lost Yeldeth a Lutes tune Are then humane mindes priuiledg'd so meanly As that hatefull death can abridge them of powre With the vowe of truth to record to all worlds That we be her spoiles Thus not ending ends the due praise of her praise Fleshly vaile consumes but a soule hath his life Which is held in loue loue it is that hath ioynd Life to this our soule But if eyes can speake to doo harty errand Or mine eyes language she doo hap to iudge of So that eyes message be of her receaued Hope we do liue yet Great was the pleasure of Basilius and greater would haue bene Gynaecias but that she found too well it was intended to her daughter As for Philoclea she was swetely rauished withall When Dorus desiring in a secret maner to speake of their cases as perchance the parties intended might take some light of it making lowe reuerence to Zelmane began this prouoking song in hexameter verse vnto her Wherevnto she soone finding whither his words were directed in like tune and verse answered as foloweth Dorus. Zelmane Dorus. Lady reserud by the heau'ns to do pastors company honnor Ioyning your sweete voice to the rurall muse of a deserte Here you fully do finde this strange operation of loue How to the woods loue runnes as well as rydes to the Pallace Neither he beares reuerence to a Prince nor pittie to begger But like a point in midst of a circle is still of a neernesse All to a lesson he draw's nether hills nor caues can auoide him Zelmane Worthy shepeheard by my song to my selfe all fauor is happned That to the sacred Muse my anoyes somewhat be reuealed Sacred Muse who in one contaynes what nine do in all them But ô happy be you which safe from fyry reflection Of Phoebus violence in shade of sweet Cyparissus Or pleasant mirtell may teach th' vnfortunate Echo In these woods to resounde the renowmed name of a goddesse Happy be you that may to the saint your onely Idea Although simply atyrde your manly affection vtter Happy be those mishapps which iustly proportion holding Giue right sound to the eares and enter aright to the iudgement But wretched be the soules which vaild in a contrary subiect How much more we do loue so the lesse our loues be beleeued What skill salueth a soare of a wrong infirmity iudged What can iustice auaile to a man that tells not his owne case You though feares do abash in you still possible hopes be Nature against we do seeme to rebell seeme fooles in a vaine sute But so vnheard condemn'd kept thence we do seeke to abide in Selfe-lost in wandring banished that place we doe come from What meane is there alas we can hope our losse to recouer What place is there left we may hope our woes to recomfort Vnto the heau'ns our wings be too short earth thinks vs a burden Aire we do still with sighes encrease to the fire we do want none And yet his outward heate our teares would quench but an inward Fire no liquor can coole Neptunes realme would not auaile vs. Happy shepheard with thanks to the Gods still thinke to be thankfull That to thy aduauncement their wisdomes haue thee abased Dorus. Vnto the Gods with a thanckfull heart all thankes I do render That to my aduauncement their wisdomes haue me abased But yet alas O but yet alas our happs be but hard happs Which must frame contempt to the fittest purchase of honnour Well may a Pastor plaine but alas his plaints be not esteem'de Silly shepheards poore pype when his harsh sound testifi's anguish Into the faire looker on pastime not passion enters And to the woods or brookes who do make such dreery recitall What be the pangs they beare and whence those pangs be deriued Pleasd to receaue that name by rebounding answere of Echo May hope therby to ease their inward horrible anguish When trees daunce to the pype and swift streames stay by the musicke Or when an Echo begins vnmou'd to sing them a loue song Say then what vantage do we get by the trade of a Pastor Since no estates be so base but loue vouchsafeth his arrow Since no refuge doth serue from woundes we do carry about vs Since outward pleasures be but halting helpes to decayd soules Saue that dayly we may discerne what fire we do burne in Farre more happy be you whose greatnes gets a free accesse Whose faire bodily gifts are fram'd most louely to each ey Vertue you haue of vertue you haue left proofe to the whole world And vertue is gratefull with bewty and richnes adorned Neither doubt you awhit time will your passion vtter Hardly remains fyer hid where skill is bent to the hiding But in a minde that would his flames should not be repressed Nature worketh enough with a small help for the reuealing Giue therefore to the Muse great praise in whose very likenes You doo approch to the fruite your onely desir's be to gather Zelmane First shall fertill grounds not yeeld increase of a good seed First the riuers shall ceasse to repay their fludds to the Occean First may a trusty Greyhounde transforme himselfe to a Tigre First shall vertue be vice and bewty be counted a blemishe Ere that I leaue with song of praise her praise to solemnize Her praise whence to the world all praise hath his only beginning But yet well I doo finde each man most wise in his owne case None can speake of a wound with skill if he haue not a wound felt Great to thee my state seemes thy state is blest by my
iudgement And yet neither of vs great or blest deemeth his owne selfe For yet weigh this alas great is not great to the greater What iudge you doth a hillocke shew by the lofty Olympus Such my minute greatnes doth seeme compar'd to the greatest When Cedars to the ground fall downe by the weight of an emmott Or when a rich rubies iust price be the worth of a walnut Or to the Sun for wonders seeme small sparks of a candle Then by my high Cedar rich Ruby and only shining Sunne Vertue richesse beawties of mine shall great be reputed Oh no no worthy shepeheard worth can neuer enter a title Where proofes iustly do teach thus matcht such worth to be nought worth Let not a puppet abuse thy sprite Kings Crownes do not helpe them From the cruell headache nor shooes of golde doo the gowt heale And preciouse couches full oft are shak't with a feauer If then a boddily euill in a boddily gloze be not hidden Shall such morning deaws be an ease to the heate of a loues fire Dorus. O glittring miseries of man if this be the fortune Of those fortune lulls so small rest rests in a kingdome What maruaile tho a Prince transforme himselfe to a Pastor Come from marble bowres many times the gay harbor of anguish Vnto a silly caban though weake yet stronger against woes Now by thy words I begin most famous Lady to gather Comfort into my soule I do finde I do find what a blessing Is chaunced to my life that from such muddy abundance Of carking agonies to states which still be adherent Desteny keepes me aloofe for if all this state to thy vertue Ioyn'd by thy beauty adorn'd be no meanes these greefes to abolish If neither by that helpe thou canst clime vp to thy fancie Nor yet fancy so drest do receiue more plausible hearing Then do I thinke in deed that better it is to be priuate In sorrows torments then tyed to the pompes of a pallace Nurse inwarde maladyes which haue not scope to be breath'd outâ— But perforce disgest all bitter ioyces of horror In silence from a mans owne selfe with company robbed Better yet do I liue that though by my thoughts I be plunged Into my liues bondage yet mâ—y disburden a passion Opprest with ruinouse conceites by the helpe of an outcrye Not limited to a whispringe note the Lament of a Courtier But sometimes to the woods somtimes to the heau'n do decyphire With bolde clamor vnheard vnmarckt what I seeke what I suffer And when I meeâ—e these trees in the earths faire liuory clothed Ease I do feele such ease as falls to one wholy diseased For that I finde in them parte of my state represented Lawrell shew's what I seeke by the Mirre is show'd how I seeke it Oliue paintes me the peace that I must aspire to by the conquest Mirtle makes my request my request is crown'd with a willowe Cyprus promiseth helpe but a helpe where comes no recomforte Sweete Iuniper saith this thoh I burne yet I burne in a sweete fire Evve doth make me thinke what kind of bow the boy holdeth Which shootes strongly with out any noyse and deadly without smarteâ— Firr trees great and greene sixt on a hye hill but a barrein Lyke to my noble thoughtes still new well plac'd to me fruteles Figge that yeeldes most pleasante fru'te his shaddow is hurtefull Thus be her giftes most sweet thus more danger to be neere her Now in a palme when I marke how he doth rise vnder a burden And may I not say I then gett vp though griefs be so weightie Pine is a maste to a shippe to my shippe shall hope for a maste serue Pine is hye hope is as hie sharpe leau'd sharpe yet be my hopes buddsâ— Elme embraste by a vine embracing fancy reuiueth Popler changeth his hew from a rising sunne to a setting Thus to my sonne do I yeeld such lookes her beames do aforde me Olde aged oke cutt downe of newe works serues to the building So my desires by my feare cutt downe be the frames of her honour Ashe makes speares which shieldes do resist her force no repulse takes Palmes do reioyce to be ioynd by the match of a male to a female And shall sensiue things be so sencelesse as to resist sence Thus be my thoughts disperst thus thinking nurseth a thinking Thus both trees and each thing ells be the bookes of a fancy But to the Cedar Queene of woods when I lifte my beteard eyes Then do I shape to my selfe that forme which raign 's so withâ— in me And thinke ther she do dwell heare what plants I do vtter When that noble toppe doth nodd I beleeue she salutes me When by the winde it maketh a noyse I do thinke she doth answer Then kneling to the ground oft thus do I speake to that Image Onely Iuell O only Iuell which only deseruest That mens harts be thy seate and endlesse fame be thy seruant O descende for a while from this greate height to behold me But nought els do behold else is nought worth the beholding Saue what a worke by thy selfe is wrought since I am altred Thus by thy worke disdaine not that which is by thy selfe done In meane caues oft treasure abides to an hostry a king comes And so behinde foule clowdes full oft faire starres do ly hidden Zelmane Hardy shephearde such as thy meritts such may be her insight Iustely to graunt thee rewarde such eâ—uie I beare to thy fortune But to my selfe what wish can I make for a salue to my sorrowes Whom both nature seemes to debarr from meanes to be helped And if a meane were found fortune th' whole course of it hinders This plag'de how can I frame to my soare any hope of amendemente Whence may I show to my minde any light of possible escape Bownd bownd by so noble bandes as loth to be vnbownd Iaylor I am to my selfe prison prisoner to myne owne selfe Yet be my hopes thus plast here fix'd liues all my recomforte That that deare Dyamond where wisdome holdeth a sure seate Whose force had such force so to transforme nay to reforme me Will at length perceaue these flames by her beames to be kindled And will pitty the wound festred so strangely within me O be it so graunte such an euent O Gods that euent giue And for a sure sacrifice I do dayly oblation offer Of mine owne harte where thoughts be the temple sighte is a aultar But ceasse worthy shepheard nowe ceasse we to weery the hearers With monefull melodies for enough our greefes be reuealed If by the parties ment our meanings rightly be marked And sorrow's do require some respitt vnto the sences What exclaming praises Basilius gaue to this Ecloge any man may ghesse that knowes loue is better then a paire of spectacles to make euery thing seeme greater which is sene through it and then is neuer tongue tied where fitt commendation whereof womankinde is so
the hunters chas'd Though they do fly yet backwardly do glowe With proud aspect disdaining greater hast What rage in them that loue in him did show But God giues them instinct the man to shun And he by law of Barly-brake must run But as his heate with running did augment Much more his sight encreast his hote desire So is in her the best of Nature spent The aire hir swete race mou'd doth blow the fire Hir feet be Purseuants from Cupid sent With whose fine stepps all loues and ioyes conspire The hidden beauties seem'd in waite to lye To downe proud hearts that would not willing dye Thus fast he fled from her he follow'd sore Still shunning Nous to lengthen pleasing race Till that he spied old Geron could no more Then did he slack his loue-enstructed pace So that Vrán whose arme old Geron bore Laid hold on him with most lay-holding grace So caught him seem'd he caught of ioyes the bel◠And thought it heau'n so to be drawn to hell To hell he goes and Nous with him must dwell Nous sware it was no right for his default Who would be caught that she should go to hell But so she must And now the third assault Of Barly-brake among the six befell Pas Cosma matcht yet angry with his fault The other end Geron with Vrán garde I thinke you thinke Strephon bent thitherward Nous counseld Strephon Geron to pursue For he was olde and easly would be cought But he drew hir as loue his fancy drew And so to take the gemme Vrania sought While Geron olde came safe to Cosma true Though him to meete at all she sturred nought For Pas whither it were for feare or loue Mou'd not himselfe nor suffred hir to moue So they three did togither idly stay While deare Vrán whose course was Pas to meet He staying thus was faine abroad to stray With larger round to shun the folowing feet Strephon whose eies on hir back-parts did play With loue drawne on so fast with pace vnmeet Drew dainty Nous that she not able so To runne brake from his hands and let him goe He single thus hop'd soone with hir to be Who nothing earthly but of fire and aire Though with soft leggs did run as fast as he He thrise reacht thrise deceiu'd when hir to beare He hopes with dainty turns she doth him flee So on the down's we see neere Wilton faire A hast'ned Hare from greedy Grayhound goe And past all hope his chapps to frustrate so But this straunge race more straunge conceits did yeeld Who victor seem'd was to his ruine brought Who seem'd orethrown was mistresse of the field She fled and tooke he folow'd and was cought So haue I heard to pierce pursuing shield By Parents train'd the Tartars wilde are tought With shafts shott out from their back-turned bow But ah hir darts did farre more depely goe As Venus bird the white swift louely Doue O happy Doue that art compar'd to hir Doth on hir wings hir vtmost swiftnes proue Finding the gripe of Falcon fierce not furr So did Vran the narr the swifter moue Yet beauty still as fast as she did sturre Till with long race deare she was breathles brought And then the Phoenix feared to be cought Among the rest that there did take delight To see the sportes of double-shining day And did the tribute of their wondring sight To Natures heir the faire Vrania pay I tolde you Klaius was the haples wight Who earnest found what they accounted play He did not there doe homage of his eies But on his eies his heart did sacrifise With gazing looks short sighs vnsettled feet He stood but turn'd as Girosol to Sun His fancies still did hir in half-way meet His soule did fly as she was seen to run In sum proud Boreas neuer ruled fleet Who Neptunes webb on daungers distaff spun With greater powr then she did make them wend Each way as she that ages praise did bend Till spieng well she welnigh weary was And surely taught by his loue-open eye His eye that eu'n did marke hir troden grasse That she would faine the catch of Strephon flie Giuing his reason pasport for to passe Whither it would so it would let him dy He that before shund hir to shun such harmes Now runnes and takes hir in his clipping armes For with pretence from Strephon hir to garde He met hir full but full of warefulnes With inbow'd bosome well for hir prepar'd When Strephon cursing his owne backwardnes Came to hir back and so with double warde Emprison hir who both them did possesse As heart-bound slaues and happy then embrace Vertues proofe fortunes victor beauties place Hir race did not hir beauties beames augment For they were euer in the best degree But yet a setting foorth it some way lent As rubies lustre when they rubbed be The dainty dew on face and body went As on sweet flowrs when mornings drops we see Her breath then short seem'd loth from home to pas Which more it mou'd the more it sweeter was Happy ô happy if they so might bide To see hir eies with how true humblenes They looked down to triumph ouer pride With how sweet sawes she blam'd their sawcines To feele the panting heart which through hir syde Did beate their hands which durst so neere to presse To see to feele to heare to tast to know More then besides hir all the earth could show But neuer did Medeas golden weed On Creons child his poison sooner throw Then those delights through all their sinews breed A creeping serpentlike of mortall woe Till she brake from their armes although in deed Going from them from them she could not go And fare-welling the flocke did homeward wend And so that euen the barly-brake did end It ended but the others woe began Began at least to be conceiu'd as woe For then wise Klaius found no absence can Help him who can no more hir sight foregoe He found mans vertue is but part of man And part must folowe where whole man doth goe He found that Reasons self now reasons found To fasten knotts which fancy first had bound So doth he yeeld so takes he on his yoke Not knowing who did draw with him therin Strephon poore youth because he saw no smoke Did not conceiue what fire he had within But after this to greater rage it broke Till of his life it did full conquest win First killing mirth then banishing all rest Filling his eies with teares with sighs his brest Then sports grew paines all talking tediouse On thoughts he feeds his lookes their figure chaunge The day seemes long but night is odious No sleeps but dream 's no dream 's but visions straunge Till finding still his euill encreasing thus One day he with his flock abroad did raunge And comming where he hop'd to be alone Thus on a hillock set he made his mone Alas what weights are these that lode my heart I am as dull as winter-sterued sheep
Mopsa that is onely suteable in laying a foule complexion vpon a filthy fauour setting foorth both in sluttishnes she was the load-starre of my life she the blessing of mine eyes she the ouerthrowe of my desires and yet the recompence of my ouerthrowe she the sweetnesse of my hart euen sweetning the death which her sweetnesse drew vpō me In summe what soeuer I thought of Pamela that I saide of Mopsa whereby as I gatte my maisters good-will who before spited me fearing lest I should winne the Princesse fauour from him so did the same make the Princesse the better content to allow me her presence whether indeede it were that a certaine sparke of noble indignation did rise in her not to suffer such a baggage to winne away any thing of hers how meanely soeuer she reputed of it or rather as I thinke my words being so passionate and shooting so quite contrarie from the markes of Mopsaes worthinesse she perceiued well enough whither they were directed and therfore being so masked she was contented as a sporte of witte to attend them Whereupon one day determining to finde some means to tell as of a third person the tale of mine owne loue and estate finding Mopsa like a Cuckoo by a Nightingale alone with Pamela I came in vnto them and with a face I am sure full of clowdy fancies tooke a harpe and soong this song SInce so mine eyes are subiect to your sight That in your sight they fixed haue my braine Since so my harte is filled with that light That onely light doth all my life maintaine Since in sweete you all goods so richly raigne That where you are no wished good can want Since so your liuing image liues in me That in my selfe your selfe true loue doth plant How can you him vnworthy then decree In whose chiefe parte your worthes implanted be The song being ended which I had often broken of in the middest with grieuous sighes which ouertooke euery verse I sang I let fall my harpe from me and casting my eye sometime vpon Mopsa but setling my sight principally vpon Pamela And is it the onely fortune most bewtifull Mopsa said I of wretched Dorus that fortune must be the measure of his mind Am I onely he that because I am in miserie more miserie must be laid vpon me must that which should be cause of compassion become an argument of cruelty against me Alas excellent Mopsa consider that a vertuous Prince requires the life of his meanest subiect and the heauenly Sunne disdaines not to giue light to the smallest worme O Mopsa Mopsa if my hart could be as manifest to you as it is vncomfortable to me I doubt not the height of my thoughts should well counteruaile the lownesse of my qualitie Who hath not heard of the greatnes of your estate who seeth not that your estate is much excelled with that sweet vniting of all beauties which remaineth and dwelleth with you who knowes not that all these are but ornaments of that diuine sparke within you which being descended from heauen could not els-where picke out so sweete a mansion But if you will knowe what is the bande that ought to knit all these excellencies together it is a kinde mercyfulnesse to such a one as is in his soule deuoted to those perfections Mopsa who already had had a certaine smackring towards me stood all this while with her hand sometimes before her face but most commonly with a certaine speciall grace of her owne wagging her lips and grinning in steede of smiling but all the words I could get of her was wrieng her waste and thrusting out her chinne In faith you iest with me you are a merry man indeede But the euer-pleasing Pamela that well found the Comedie would be marred if she did not helpe Mopsa to her part was content to vrge a little further of me Maister Dorus said the faire Pamela me thinks you blame your fortune very wrongfully since the fault is not in Fortune but in you that cannot frame your selfe to your fortune and as wrongfully do require Mopsa to so great a disparagement as to her Fathers seruaunt since she is not worthy to be loued that hath not some feeling of her owne worthines I staied a good while after her words in hope she would haue continued her speech so great a delight I receaued in hearing her but seeing her say no further with a quaking all ouer my body I thus answered her Ladie most worthie of all dutie how falles it out that you in whom all vertue shines will take the patronage of fortune the onely rebellious handmaide against vertue Especially since before your eyes you haue a pittifull spectacle of her wickednesse a forlorne creature which must remaine not such as I am but such as she makes me since she must be the ballance of worthinesse or disparagement Yet alas if the condemned man euen at his death haue leaue to speake let my mortall wound purchase thus much confideration since the perfections are such in the partie I loue as the feeling of them cannot come into any vnnoble hart shall that hart which doth not onely feele them but hath all the working of his life placed in them shall that hart I saie lifted vp to such a height be counted base O let not an excellent spirit doo it selfe such wrong as to thinke where it is placed imbraced and loued there can be any vnworthinesse since the weakest mist is not easilier driuen away by the Sunne then that is chased away with so high thoughts I will not denie answered the gratious Pamela but that the loue you beare to Mopsa hath brought you to the consideration of her vertues and that consideration may haue made you the more vertuous and so the more worthie But euen that then you must confesse you haue receiued of her and so are rather gratefully to thanke her then to presse any further till you bring something of your owne whereby to claime it And truely Dorus I must in Mopsaes behalfe say thus much to you that if her beauties haue so ouertaken you it becomes a true Loue to haue your harte more set vpon her good then your owne to beare a tenderer respect to her honour then your satisfaction Now by my hallidame Madame said Mopsa throwing a great number of sheeps eyes vpon me you haue euen touched mine owne minde to the quicke forsooth I finding that the pollicie that I had vsed had at lest wise procured thus much happinesse vnto me as that I might euen in my Ladies presence discouer the sore which had deepely festered within me and that she could better conceaue my reasons applied to Mopsa then she would haue vouchsafed them whilest her selfe was a partie thought good to pursue on my good beginning vsing this fit occasion of Pamelaes wit and Mopsaes ignorance Therefore with an humble pearcing eye looking vpon Pamela as if I had rather bene condemned by her mouth then highly exalted by the
is me my woes renewe Now course doth leade me to her hand Of my first loue the fatall band Where whitenes dooth for euer sitte Nature her selfe enameld it For there with strange compact dooth lie Warme snow moyst pearle softe iuorie There fall those Saphir-coloured brookes Which conduit-like with curious crookes Sweete Ilands make in that sweete land As for the fingers of the hand The bloudy shaftes of Cupids warre With amatists they headed are Thus hath each part his beauties part But how the Graces doo impart To all her limmes a speciall grace Becomming euery time and place Which doth euen beautie beautifie And most bewitch the wretched eye How all this is but a faire Inne Of fairer guests which dwell within Of whose high praise and praisefull blisse Goodnes the penne heauen paper is The inke immortall fame dooth lende As I began so must I ende No tongue can her perfections tell In whose each part all tongues may dwell But as Zelmane was comming to the latter end of her song she might see the same water-spaniell which before had hunted come and fetch away one of Philocleas gloues whose fine proportion shewed well what a daintie guest was wont there to be lodged It was a delight to Zelmane to see that the dogge was therewith delighted and so let him goe a little way withall who quickly caried it out of sight among certaine trees and bushes which were very close together But by and by he came againe and amongst the raiments Miso and Mopsa being preparing sheets against their comming out the dog lighted vpon a little booke of four or fiue leaues of paper and was bearing that away too But then Zelmane not knowing what importance it might be of ran after the dog who going streight to those bushes she might see the dog deliuer it to a Gentleman who secretly lay there But she hastily cōming in the Gentleman rose vp and with a courteous though sad countenāce presented himselfe vnto her Zelmanes eies streight willed her minde to marke him for she thought in her life she had neuer seene a man of a more goodly presence in whom strong making tooke not away delicacie nor beautie fiercenesse being indeed such a right manlike man as Nature often erring yet shewes she would faine make But when she had a while not without admiration vewed him she desired him to deliuer backe the gloue and paper because they were the Ladie Philocleas telling him withall that she would not willingly let them know of his close lying in in that prohibited place while they were bathing themselues because she knew they would be mortally offended withall Faire Ladie answered he the worst of the complaint is already passed since I feele of my fault in my selfe the punishment But for these things I assure you it was my dogs wanton boldnes not my presumption With that he gaue her backe the paper But for the gloue said he since it is my Ladie Philocleas giue me leaue to keepe it since my hart cannot persuade it selfe to part from it And I pray you tell the Lady Lady indeed of all my desires that owes it that I will direct my life to honour this gloue with seruing her O villain cried out Zelmane madded with finding an vnlooked-for Riuall and that he would make her a messenger dispatch said she and deliuer it or by the life of her that owes it I wil make thy soule though too base a price pay for it And with that drew out her sword which Amazon-like she euer ware about her The Gentleman retired himself into an open place frō among the bushes and then drawing out his too he offred to deliuer it vnto her saying withall God forbid I should vse my sword against you since if I be not deceiued you are the same famous Amazon that both defended my Ladies iust title of beautie against the valiant Phalantus and saued her life in killing the Lion therefore I am rather to kisse your hands with acknowledging my selfe bound to obey you But this courtesie was worse then a bastonado to Zelmane so that againe with ragefull eyes she bad him defend himselfe for no lesse then his life should answere it A hard case said he to teach my sword that lesson which hath euer vsed to turne it selfe to a shield in a Ladies presence But Zelmane harkening to no more words began with such wittie furie to pursue him with blowes and thrusts that Nature and Vertue commanded the Gentleman to looke to his safetie Yet still courtesie that seemed incorporate in his hart would not be perswaded by daunger to offer any offence but only to stand vpon the best defensiue gard he could somtimes going backe being content in that respect to take on the figure of cowardise sometime with strong and well-met wards sometime cunning auoidings of his body and somtimes faining some blows which himself puld back before they needed to be withstood And so with play did he a good while fight against the fight of Zelmane who more spited with that curtesie that one that did nothing should be able to resist her burned away with choller any motions which might grow out of her owne sweet dsposition determining to kill him if he fought no better and so redoubling her blowes draue the stranger to no other shift then to warde and go backe at that time seeming the image of innocencie against violence But at length he found that both in publike and priuate respects who stands onely vpon defence stands vpon no defence For Zelmane seeming to strike at his head and he going to warde it withall stept backe as he was accustomed she stopt her blow in the aire and suddenly turning the point ranne full at his breast so as he was driuen with the pommell of his sworde hauing no other weapon of defence to beate it downe but the thrust was so strong that he could not so wholy beate it awaie but that it met with his thigh thorow which it ranne But Zelmane retiring her sworde and seeing his bloud victorious anger was conquered by the before-conquered pittie and hartily sorie and euen ashamed with her selfe she was considering how little he had done who well she found could haue done more In so much that she said truly I am sorie for your hurt but your selfe gaue the cause both in refusing to deliuer the gloue and yet not fighting as I knowe you could haue done But saide shee because I perceaue you disdayne to fight with a woman it may be before a year come about you shall meete with a neere kinsman of mine Pyrocles Prince of Macedon and I giue you my worde he for me shall maintaine this quarell against you I would answered Amphialus I had many more such hurtes to meete and know that worthy Prince whose vertue I loue and admire though my good destiny hath not bene to see his person But as they were so speaking the yong Ladies came to whom Mopsa curious in any thing
onely in age and affection followed his suite with all meanes of vnhonest seruants large promises and each thing els that might help to counteruaile his owne vnlouelines And she whose husband about that time died forgetting the absent Plangus or at lest not hoping of him to obtaine so aspiring a purpose lefte no art vnused which might keepe the line from breaking whereat the fishe was alredy taken not drawing him violently but letting him play himselfe vpon the hooke which he had so greedily swalowed For accompanying her mourning garments with a dolefull countenaunce yet neither forgetting handsomnes in her mourning garments nor sweetenes in her dolefull countenance her wordes were euer seasoned with sighes and any fauour she shewed bathed in teares that affection might see cause of pity and pity might perswade cause of affection And being growen skilful in his humors she was no lesse skilfull in applying his humors neuer suffering his feare to fall to a despaire nor his hope to hasten to an assurance shee was content he should thinke that she loued him and a certaine stolne looke should sometimes as though it were against her will bewray it But if thereupon hee grewe bolde hee straight was encouÌ„tered with a maske of vertue And that which seemeth most impossible vnto me for as neere as I can I repeate it as Plangus tolde it she could not only sigh when she would as all can doo weep wheÌ„ she would as they â—ay some can doo but being most impudent in her heart she could when she would teach her chekes blushing make shamefastnes the cloake of shamelesnes In sum to leaue out many particularities which he recited she did not only vse so the spurre that his Desire ran on but so the bit that it ran on euen in such a careere as she would haue it that within a while the king seing with no other eys but such as she gaue him thinking on other thoughts but such as she taught him hauing at the first liberal measure of fauors theÌ„ shortned of theÌ„ wheÌ„ most his Desire was inflam'd he saw no other way but mariage to satisfie his longing and her minde as he thought louing but chastly louing So that by the time Plangus returned from being notably victorious of the Rebels he found his father not onely maried but alredy a father of a sonne and a daâ—ghter by this woman Which though Plangus as he had euery way iust cause was grieued at yet did his griefe neuer bring foorth ether contemning of her or repining at his father But she who besides she was growen a mother and a stepmother did read in his eies her owne fault and made his conscience her guiltines thought still that his presence caried her condemnation so much the more as that she vnchastly attempting his wonted fancieâ— found for the reuerence of his fathers bed a bitter refusallâ— which breeding rather spite then shame in her or if it were a shame a shame not of the fault but of the repulse she did not onely as hating him thirst for a reuenge but as fearing harm form him endeuoured to doo harme vnto him Therefore did she trie the vttermost of her wicked wit how to ouerthrow him in the foundation of his strength which was in the fauour of his father which because she saw strong both in nature and desert it required the more cunning how to vndermine it And therefore shunning the ordinary trade of hireling sycophants shee made her praises of him to be accusations and her aduancing him to be his ruine For first with words neerer admiration then liking she would extoll his excellencies the goodlines of his shape the power of his witte the valiantnes of his courage the fortunatenes of his successes so as the father might finde in her a singular loue towards him nay shee shunned not to kindle some fewe sparkes of ielousie in him Thus hauing gotten an opinion in his father that shee was farre from meaning mischiefe to the sonne then fell shee to praise him with no lesse vehemencie of affection but with much more cunning of malice For then she sets foorth the liberty of his mind the high flying of his thoughts the fitnesse in him to beare rule the singular loue the Subiects bare him that it was doubtfull whether his wit were greater in winning their fauours or his courage in imploying their fauours that he was not borne to liue a subiect-life each action of his bearing in it Maiestie such a Kingly entertainement such a Kingly magnificence such a Kingly harte for enterprises especially remembring those vertues which in successor are no more honoured by the subiects then suspected of the Princes Then would shee by putting-off obiections bring in obiectioÌ„s to her husbands head already infected with suspitioÌ„ Nay would she say I dare take it vpon my death that he is no such sonne as many of like might haue bene who loued greatnes so well as to build their greatnes vpon their fathers ruine Indeed Ambition like Loue can abide no lingring and euer vrgeth on his owne successes hating no thing but what may stop them But the Gods forbid we should euer once dreame of any such thing in him who perhaps might be content that you and the world should know what he can do but the more power he hath to hurte the more admirable is his praise that he will not hurt Then euer remembring to strengthen the suspition of his estate with priuate ielousie of her loue doing him excessiue honour wheÌ„ he was in presence repeating his pretie speaches and graces in his absence besides causing him to be imployed in all such dangerous matters as ether he should perish in them or if hee preuailed they should increase his glorie which she made a weapon to wound him vntill she found that suspition began already to speake for it selfe and that her husbands eares were growne hungry of rumours and his eies prying into euery accident Then tooke she help to her of a seruant neere about her husband whoÌ„ she knew to be of a hasty ambition and such a one who wanting true sufficiencie to raise him would make a ladder of any mischiefe Him shee vseth to deale more plainely in alleaging causes of iealousie making him knowe the fittest times when her husband already was stirred that way And so they two with diuers wayes nourished one humour like Musitians that singing diuers parts make one musicke He sometime with fearefull countenaunce would desire the King to looke to himselfe for that all the court and Cittie were full of whisperinges and expectation of some soddaine change vpon what ground himselfe knew not Another time hee would counsell the King to make much of his sonne and holde his fauour for that it was too late now to keepe him vnder Now seeming to feare himselfe because he said Plangus loued none of them that were great about his father Lastly breaking with him directly making a sorrowful countenance and an
meeting then returne againe to her inward thoughts sometimes despaire darkning all her imaginations sometimes the actiue passion of Loue cheering and cleering her inuention how to vnbar that combersome hinderance of her two ill-matched louers But this mourning Basilius himself gaue her good occasion to go beyond them For hauing combd and trickt himselfe more curiously then any time fortie winters before comming where Zelmane was he found her giuen ouer to her musical muses to the great pleasure of the good old Basilius who retired himselfe behinde a tree while she with a most sweete voice did vtter these passionate verses LOued I am and yet complaine of Loue As louing not accus'd in Loue I die When pittie most I craue I cruell proue Still seeking Loue loue found as much I flie Burnt in my selfe I muse at others fire What I call wrong I doo the same and more Bard of my will I haue beyond desire I waile for want and yet am chokt with store This is thy worke thou God for euer blinde Though thousands old a Boy entit'led still Thus children doo the silly birds they finde With stroking hurt and too much cramming kill Yet thus much Loue O Loue I craue of thee Let me be lou'd or els not loued bee Basilius made no great haste from behind the tree till he perceaued she had fully ended her musick But then loth to loose the pretious fruite of time he presented himselfe vnto her falling downe vpon both his knees and holding vp his hands as the old gouernesse of Danae is painted when she sodainly saw the golden shoure O heauenly woman or earthly Goddesse said he let not my presence be odious vnto you nor my humble suite seeme of small weight in your eares Vouchsafe your eies to descend vpon this miserable old-man whose life hath hitherto bene maintained but to serue as an encrease of your beautifull triumphs You only haue ouerthrowne me and in my bondage consists my glory Suffer not your owne worke to be despised of you but looke vpon him with pittie whose life serues for your praise Zelmane keeping a countenance ascanses she vnderstood him not told him It became her euill to suffer such excessiue reuerence of him but that it worse became her to correct him to whom she owed duetie that the opinion she had of his wisedome was such as made her esteeme greatly of his words but that the words themselues sounded soâ— as she could not imagine what they might intend Intend said Basilius proud that that was brought in question what may they intend but a refreshing of my soule and a swaging of my heat and enioying those your excellencies wherein my life is vpheld and my death threatned Zelmane lifting vp her face as if she had receaued a mortall iniurie of him And is this the deuotion your ceremonies haue bene bent vnto said she Is it the disdaine of my estate or the opinion of my lightnesse that haue emboldned such base fancies towards me enioying quoth you now little ioy come to them that yeeld to such enioying Poore Basilius was so appalled that his legges bowed vnder him his eyes lookt as though he would gladly hide himselfe and his old blood going to his hart a generall shaking all ouer his bodie possessed him At length with a wanne mouth he was about to giue a stammering answere when it came into Zelmanes head by this deuise to make her profite of his folly and therefore with a relented countenance thus said vnto him Your words mightie Prince were vnfit either for me to heare or you to speake but yet the large testimonie I see of your affection makes me willing to suppresse a great number of errors Onely thus much I thinke good to say that the same words in my Ladie Philocleas mouth as from one woman to another so as there were no other bodie by might haue had a better grace and perchance haue found a gentler receipt Basilius whose senses by Desire were held open and conceipt was by Loue quickned heard scarcely halfe her answere out but that as if speedie flight might saue his life he turned away and ran with all the speede his bodie would suffer him towards his daughter Philoclea whom he found at that time duetifully watching by her mother and Miso curiouslie watching her hauing left Mopsa to doo the like seruice to Pamela Basilius foorthwith calling Philoclea aside with all the coniuring words which Desire could endite and authoritie vtter besought her she would preserue his life in whom her life was begonne she would saue his graye haires from rebuke and his aged mind from despaire that if she were not cloyed with his companie and that she thought not the earth ouer-burdened with him she would coole his fierie griefe which was to be done but by her breath That in fine whatsoeuer he was he was nothing but what it pleased Zelmane all the powers of his spirite depending of her that if she continued cruell he could no more sustaine his life then the earth remaine fruitefull in the Sunnes continuall absence He concluded she should in one payment requite all his deserts and that she needed not disdaine any seruice though neuer so meane which was warranted by the sacred name of a father Philoclea more glad then euer she had knowen her selfe that she might by this occasion enioy the priuate conference of Zelmane yet had so sweete a feeling of vertue in her minde that she would not suffer a vile colour to be cast ouer her faire thoughts but with humble grace answered her father That there needed neither promise nor perswasion to her to make her doo her vttermost for her fathers seruice That for Zelmanes fauour she would in all vertuous sort seeke it towards him and that as she would not pearce further into his meaning then himselfe should declare so would she interprete all his doings to be accomplished in goodnes and therefore desired if otherwise it were that he would not impart it to her who then should be forced to beginne by true obedience a shew of disobedience rather perfourming his generall commandement which had euer beene to embrace vertue then any new particular sprong out of passion and contrarie to the former Basilius content to take that since he could haue no more thinking it a great point if by her meanes he could get but a more free accesse vnto Zelmane allowed her reasons and tooke her proffer thankfully desiring only a speedie returne of comfort Philoclea was parting and Miso streight behind her like Alecto following Proserpina But Basilius forced her to stay though with much a doo she being sharp-set vpon the fulfilling of a shrewde office in ouer-looking Philoclea and so said to Basilius that she did as she was commanded and could not answere it to Gynecia if she were any whit from Philoclea telling him true that he did euill to take her charge from her But Basilius swearing he would put out her eyes if she stird a
in malice that neyther during nor after the fight she gaue anie truce to her crueltie but still vsed the little instrument of her great spight to the well-witnest paine of the impatient patient and was now about to put out his eyes which all this while were spared because they should doe him the discomfort of seeing who preuayled ouer him When I came in and after much adoe brought her to some conference for sometime it was before she would harken more before she would speake and most before shee would in her speeche leaue off the sharpe remembrance of her bodkin but at length when I puld off my head-peece and humbled entreated her pardon or knowledge why she was cruell out of breath more with choller which increased in his owne exercise then with the paine she tooke much to this purpose she gaue her griefe vnto my knowledge Gentleman said she much it is against my will to forbeare any time the executing of my iust reuenge vpon tâ—is naughtie creature a man in nothing but in deceiuing women But because I see you are yoong and like enough to haue the power if you would haue the mind to do much more mischief then he I am content vpoÌ„ this bad subiect to read a lecture to your vertue This man called Pamphilus in birth I must confesse is noble but what is that to him if it shal be a staine to his dead auncestors to haue left such an offspring in shape as you see not vncomely indeed the fit maske of his disguised falshood in conuersation wittily pleasant and pleasantly gamesome his eyes full of merie simplicitie his wordes of heartie companablenesse and such a one whose head one would not thinke so staied as to thinke mischieuously delighted in all such things which by imparting the delight to thers makes the vser therof welcome as Musick Daunsing Hunting Feasting Riding and such like And to conclude such a one as who can keepe him at armes end need neuer wish a better companion But vnder these qualities lies such a poysonous addar as I wil tell you For by those gifts of Nature and Fortune being in all places acceptable he creepes nay to say truely he flies so into the fauour of poore sillie womeÌ„ that I would be too much ashamed to confesse if I had not reuenge in my hande as well as shame in my cheekes For his hart being wholy delighted in deceiuing vs we could neuer be warned but rather one bird caught serued for a stale to bring in more For the more he gat the more still he shewed that he as it were gaue away to his new mistresse when hee betrayed his promises to the former The cunning of his flatterie the readines of his teares the infinitenes of his vowes were but among the weakest threedes of his nette But the stirring our owne passions and by the entrance of them to make himselfe Lord of our forces there lay his Masters part of cunning making vs now iealous now enuious now proud of what we had desirous of more now giuing one the triumph to see him that was Prince of many Subiect to her now with an estranged looke making her feare the losse of that minde which indeede could neuer be had neuer ceasing humblenes and diligence till he had imbarked vs in some such disaduantage as wee could not returne dryshod and then suddenly a tyrant but a craftie tyrant For so would hee vse his imperiousnes that we had a delightfull feare an awe which made vs loath to lose our hope And which is strangest when sometimes with late repentance I thinke of it I must confesse euen in the greatest tempest of my iudgement was I neuer driuen to thinke him excellent and yet so could set my minde both to get and keepe him as though therein had laien my felicitie like them I haue seene play at the ball growe extremely earnest who should haue the ball and yet euery one knew it was but a ball But in end the bitter sauce of the sport was that wee had ether our hartes broken with sorrow or our estates spoyled with being at his direction or our honours for euer lost partly by her owne faults but principally by his faultie vsing of our faults For neuer was there man that could with more scornefull eyes beholde her at whose feete he had lately laine nor with a more vnmanlike brauerie vse his tongue to her disgrace which lately had song Sonets of her praises being so naturally inconstant as I maruell his soule findes not some way to kill his bodie whereto it had beene so long vnited For so hath he dealt with vs vnhappie fooles as we could neuer tell whether hee made greater haste after he once liked to enioy or after he once enioyed to forsake But making a glorie of his owne shame it delighted him to bee challenged of vnkindenesse it was a triumph vnto him to haue his mercie called for and hee thought the fresh colours of his beautie were painted in nothing so well as in the ruines of his Louers yet so farre had we engaged our selues vnfortunate soules that we listed not complaine since our complaints could not but carrie the greatest accusation to our selues But euerie of vs each for her selfe laboured all meanes how to recouer him while he rather daily sent vs companions of our deceipt then euer returned in any sound and faithfull manner Till at length he concluded all his wronges with betrothing himselfe to one I must confesse worthie to be liked if any worthinesse might excuse so vnworthie a changeablenesse leauing vs nothing but remorse for what was past and dispaire of what might followe Then in deede the common iniurie made vs all ioyne in fellowshipp who till that time had employed our endeuours one against the other For wee thought nothing was a more condemning of vs then the iustifiing of his loue to her by mariage then Despaire made Feare valiant and Reuenge gaue Shame countenance whereupon we that you saw here deuised how to get him among vs alone which hee suspecting no such matter of them whom he had by often abuses he thought made tame to be still abused easily gaue vs opportunitie to do And a man may see euen in this how soone Rulers grow proud and in theyr pride foolish he came with such an authoritie among vs as if the Planets had done inough for vs that by vs once he had beene delighted And when wee began in courteous maner one after the other to lay his vnkindnes vnto him he seeing himselfe confronted by so many like a resolute Orator went not to deniall but to iustisie his cruell falshood and al with such iestes and disdainfull passages that if the iniurie coulde not bee made greater yet were our conceites made the apter to apprehend it Among other of his answeres forsooth I shall neuer forget howe hee woulde proue it was no inconstancie to chaunge from one loue to another but a great constancie and
seene her I am the willinger to speake of to you who I know know her better being your neer neighbor because you may see by her example in her self wise and of others beloued that neither folly is the cause of vehement loue nor reproch the effect For neuer I think was there any woman that with more vnremoueable determination gaue her selfe to the coūcell of loue after she had once set before her minde the worthines of your cosin Amphialus and yet is nether her wisedome doubted of nor honor blemished For O God what doth better become wisedome then to discerne what is worthy the louing what more agreable to goodnes thē to loue it so discerned and what to greatnes of hart then to be constant in it once loued But at that time that loue of hers was not so publikely known as the death of Philoxenus and search of Amphialus hath made it but then seemed to haue such leasure to send thither diuerse choise knights of her court because they might bring her at lest the knowledge perchaūce the honor of that triumph Wherin so they behaued thēselues as for three daies they carried the prize which being come from so far a place to disgrace her seruaunts Palladius who himselfe had neuer vsed armes perswaded the Queene Andromana to be content for the honour sake of her court to suffer vs two to haue our horse and armour that he with vs might vndertake the recouerie of their lost honour which she grāted taking our oath to goe no further then her sonne nor euer to abandon him Which she did not more for sauing him then keeping vs and yet not satisfied with our oth appointed a band of horsemen to haue eye that we should not go beyond appointed limits We were willing to gratifie the young Prince who we saw loued vs. And so the fourth day of that exercise we came into the field where I remember the manner was that the forenoone they should run at tilt one after the other the afternoone in a broad field in manner of a battell till either the strangers or that countrie Knights wan the field The first that ran was a braue Knight whose deuise was to come in all chayned with a Nymph leading him his Impresa was Against him came forth an Iberian whose manner of entring was with Bagpipes in steed of trumpets a shepheards boy before him for a Page and by him a dozen apparelled like shepherds for the fashion though rich in stuffe who caried his Launces which though strong to giue a launcely blow indeede yet so were they couloured with hooks neere the mourn that they pretilye represented shephooks His own furniture was drest ouer with wooll so enriched with Iewels artificially placed that one would haue thought it a mariage betweene the lowest and the highest His Impresa was a Sheepe marked with pitch with this woord Spotted to be knowne And because I may tell you out his conceipt though that were not done till the running for that time was ended before the Ladies departed from the windowes among whom there was one they say that was the Star whereby his course was onely directed The Shepherds attending vpon PHILISIDES went among them and sang an eclogue one of them answering another while the other shepherds pulling out recorders which possest the place of pipes accorded their musicke to the others voice The Eclogue had great praise I onely remember sixe verses while hauing questioned one with the other of their fellow-shepheards sodaine growing a man of armes and the cause of his so doing they thus said ME thought some staues he mist if so not much amisse For where he most would hit he euer yet did misse Once said he brake a crosse full well it so might be For neuer was there man more crossely crost then he But most cryed O well broke O foole full gaily blest Where failing is a shame and breaking is his best Thus I haue digrest because his maner liked me well But when he began to run against LElius it had neere growne though great loue had euer bene betwixt them to a quarell For Philisides breaking his staues with great commendation Lelius who was knowne to be second to none in the perfection of that art ranne euer ouer his head but so finely to the skilfull eyes that one might wel see he shewed more knowledge in missing then others did in hitting For with so gallant a grace his staffe came swimming close ouer the crest of the Helmet as if he would represent the kisse and not the stroke of Mars But Philisides was much moued with it while he thought Lelius would shew a contempt of his youth till Lelius who therefore would satisfie him because he was his friend made him know that to such bondage he was for so many courses tyed by her whose disgraces to him were graced by her excellencye and whose iniuries he could neuer otherwise returne then honors But so by Lelius willing-missing was the oddes of the Iberian side and continued so in the next by the excellent running of a Knight though fostred so by the Muses as many times the very rusticke people left both their delights and profites to harken to his songs yet could he so well performe all armed sports as if he had neuer had any other pen then a Launce in his hand He came in like a wilde man but such a wildenes as shewed his eye-sight had tamed him full of withered leaues which though they fell not still threatned falling His Impresa was a mill-horse still bound to goe in one circle with this word Data fata sequutus But after him the Corinthian knights absolutely preuailed especially a great noble man of Corinth whose deuise was to come without any deuise all in white like a new Knight as indeede he was but so new as his newnes shamed most of the others long exercise Then another from whose tent I remember a birde was made flie With such art to carry a written embassage among the Ladies that one might say If a liue bird how so taught if a dead bird how so made Then he who hidden man and horse in a great figure liuely representing the Phoenix the fire tooke so artificially as it consumed the bird and left him to rise as it were out of the ashes thereof Against whom was the fine frosen Knight frosen in despaire but his armor so naturallye representing Ice and all his furniture so liuely answering therto as yet did I neuer see any thing that pleased me better But the delight of those pleasing sightes haue carried me too farre into an vnnecessary discourse Let it then suffice most excellent Ladye that you know the Corinthians that morning in the exercise as they had done the daies before had the better Palladius neither suffring vs nor himself to take in hand the partie til the after noone when we were to fight in troupes not differing otherwise from earnest but that the sharpenesse of the
because he would reuenge vpon him whom he knew we loued the losse of his brother thincking as indeede he had cause that wheresoeuer we were hearing of his extremitie we would come to relieue him in spite whereof he doubted not to preuaile not onely vpon the confidence of his owne vertue and power but especially because he had in his company two mighty Giants sonnes to a couple whom we slue in the same realme they hauing bene absent at their fathers death and now returned willingly entered into his seruice hating more then he both vs and that King of Pontus We therfore with all speede went thetherward but by the way this fell out which whensoeuer I remember without sorrow I must forget withall all humanitie Poore Daiphantus fell extreme sick yet would needs conquere the delicacie of her constitution and force her selfe to waite on me till one day going towarde Pontus we met one who in great hast went seeking for Tydeus and Telenor whose death as yet was not knowne vnto the messenger who being their seruaunt and knowing how deerely they loued Plexirtus brought them word how since their departing Plexirtus was in present daunger of a cruell death if by the valiantnesse of one of the best Knightes of the world he were not reskewed we enquired no further of the matter being glad he should now to his losse finde what an vnprofitable treason it had bene vnto him to dismember himselfe of two such friends and so let the messenger part not sticking to make him know his masters destruction by the falshood of Plexirtus But the griefe of that finding a bodie alreadie brought to the last degree of weakenesse so ouerwhelmed the little remnant of the spirits left in Daiphantus that she fell sodainely into deadly soundings neuer comming to her selfe but that withall she returned to make most pittifull lamentations most straunge vnto vs because we were farre from ghessing the ground thereof But finding her sicknesse such as began to print death in her eyes we made all hast possible to conuey her to the next towne but before we could lay her on a bed both we and she might find in herselfe that the harbingers of ouer-hastie death had prepared his lodging in that daintie body which she vndoubtedly feeling with a weake chearefulnes shewed comfort therein and then desiring vs both to come neere her and that no bodie els might be present with pale and yet euen in palenes louely lips Now or neuer and neuer indeed but now is it time for me said she to speake and I thanke death which giues me leaue to discouer that the suppressing whereof perchance hath bene the sharpest spur that hath hasted my race to this end Know then my Lords and especially you my Lord and master Pyrocles that your page Daiphantus is the vnfortunat Zelmane who for your sake caused my as vnfortunate louer and cosen Palladius to leaue his fathers court and consequētly both him and my Aunt his mother to loose their liues For your sake my selfe haue become of a Princesse a Page and for your sake haue put off the apparell of a woman and if you iudge not more mercifully the modestie We were amazed at her speach and then had as it were new eies giuē vs to perceiue that which before had bene a present strāger to our minds For indeed we forthwith knew it to be the face of Zelmane whō before we had knowen in the court of Iberia And sorrow pittie laying her paine vpon me I comforted her the best I could by the tendernes of good-will pretending indeed better hope then I had of her recouery But she that had inward ambassadors from the tyrant that shortly would oppresse her No my deere master said she I neither hope nor desire to liue I know you would neuer haue loued me and with that word she wept nor alas had it bene reason you should considering manie wayes my vnworthines It sufficeth me that the strange course I haue taken shall to your remembrance witnesse my loue and yet this breaking of my hart before I would discouer my paine will make you I hope thinke that I was not altogether vnmodest Thinke of me so deare Master and that thought shall be my life and with that languishingly looking vpon me And I pray you said she euen by these dying eies of mine which are onely sorrie to dye because they shall lose your sight and by these pouled lockes of mine which while they were long were the ornament of my sex now in their short curles the testimonie of my seruitude and by the seruice I haue done you which God knowes hath beene full of loue thinke of me after my death with kindnes though ye cannot with loue And whensoeuer ye shall make any other Ladie happie with your well placed affection if you tell her my folly I pray you speake of it not with scorne but with pittie I assure you deare Princesse of my life for how could it be otherwise her words and her manner with the liuely consideration of her loue so pearced me that though I had diuerse griefes before yet me thought I neuer felt till then how much sorow enfeebleth all resolution For I could not chuse but yeeld to the weakenes of abundant weeping in trueth with such griefe that I could willingly at that time haue chaunged liues with her But when she saw my teares O God said she how largely am I recompenced for my losses why then said shee I may take boldnesse to make some requests vnto you I besought her to doo vowing the performance though my life were the price thereof She shewed great ioy The first said she is this that you will pardon my father the displeasure you haue iustly conceiued against him and for this once succour him out of the daunger wherein he is I hope he will amend and I pray you whensoeuer you remember him to be the faultie Plexirtus remember withall that he is Zelmanes father The second is that when you come once into Greece you will take vnto your selfe this name though vnlucky of Daiphantus and vouchsafe to be called by it for so shall I be sure you shall haue cause to remember me and let it please your noble cousin to be called Palladius that I doo that right to that poore Prince that his name yet may liue vpon the earth in so excellent a person and so betwene you I trust sometimes your vnluckie page shall be perhaps with a sigh mencioned Lastly let me be buried here obscurely not suffering my friends to know my fortune till whē you are safely returned to your own countrie you cause my bones to be conueied thither and laid I beseech you in some place where your selfe vouchsafe sometimes to resort Alas small petitiōs for such a suter which yet she so earnestly craued that I was faine to sweare the accomplishment And then kissing me and often desiring me not to condemne her of lightnesse in mine armes she
vnnaturall as not to haue with the holy name of your naturall Prince any furie ouer-maistred For such a hellish madnes I know did neuer enter into your harts as to attempt any thing against his person which no successor though neuer so hatefull will euer leaue for his owne sake vnreuenged Neither can your wonted valour be turned to such a basenes as in stead of a Prince deliuered vnto you by so many royall ancestors to take the tyrannous yoke of your fellow subiect in whome the innate meanes will bring forth rauenous couetousnes and the newnes of his estate suspectfull cruelty Imagine what could your enimies more wish vnto you then to see your owne estate with your owne handes vndermined O what would your fore-fathers say if they liued at this time and saw their of-spring defacing such an excellent principalitie which they with much labour and bloud so wisely haue establisht Do you thinke them fooles that saw you should not enioy your vines your cattell no not your wiues and children without gouernment and that there could be no gouernment without a Magistrate and no Magistrate without obedience and no obedience where euery one vpon his owne priuate passion may interprete the doings of the rulers Let your wits make your present example a lesson to you What sweetnes in good faith find you in your present condition what choise of choise finde you if you had lost Basilius vnder whose ensigne would you go if your enimies should inuade you If you cannot agree vpon one to speake for you how will you agree vpō one to fight for you But with this feare of I cannot tell what one is troubled and with that passed wrong another is grieued And I pray you did the Sunne euer bring you a fruitfull haruest but that it was more hote then pleasant Haue any of you children that be not sometimes cumbersome Haue any of you fathers that be not sometime weerish What shall we curse the Sonne hate our childrē or disobey our fathers But what need I vse these words since I see in your countenances now vertuously settled nothing els but loue and dutie to him by whom for your only sakes the gouernment is embraced For all what is done he doth not only pardon you but thanke you iudging the action by the minds not the minds by the action Your grieues and desires whatsoeuer and whensoeuer you list he will consider of and to his consideration it is reason you should refer them So then to conclude the vncertainty of his estate made you take armes now you see him well with the same loue lay them downe If now you end as I know you will he will make no other account of this matter but as of a vehement I must confesse ouer-vehement affection the only continuance might proue a wickednes But it is not so I see very well you began with zeale and will end with reuerence The action Zelmane vsed being beautified by nature and apparelled with skill her gestures being such that as her words did paint out her minde so they serued as a shadow to make the picture more liuely and sensible with the sweete cleernesse of her voice rising and falling kindly as the nature of the worde and efficacie of the matter required altogether in such an admirable person whose incomparable valour they had well felte whose beautie did pearce through the thicke dulnes of their senses gaue such a way vnto her speach through the rugged wildernesse of their imaginations who besides they were striken in admiration of her as of more then a humane creature were coold with taking breath and had learned doubts out of leasute that in steed of roaring cries there was now heard nothing but a confused muttring whether her saying were to be followed betwixt feare to pursue and lothnesse to leaue most of them could haue bene content it had neuer bene begun but how to end it each afraid of his companion they knew not finding it far easier to tie then to loose knots But Zelmane thinking it no euill way in such mutinies to giue the mutinous some occasion of such seruice as they might thinke in their owne iudgement would counteruaile their trespasse withall to take the more assured possession of their mindes which she feared might begin to wauer Loiall Arcadians said she now do I offer vnto you the manifesting of your duties all those that haue taken armes for the Princes safetie let them turne their backs to the gate with their weapōs bent against such as would hurt his sacred person O weake trust of the many-headed multitude whom inconstancie onely doth guide to wel doing who can set confidence there where cōpany takes away shame and ech may lay the fault on his fellow So said a craftie felow among them named Clinias to himselfe when he saw the word no sooner out of Zelmanes mouth but that there were some shouts of ioy with God saue Basilius and diuers of them with much iollity growne to be his guard that but litle before ment to be his murderers This Clinias in his youth had bene a scholler so farre as to learne rather words then maners and of words rather plentie then order and oft had vsed to be an actor in Tragedies where he had learned besides a slidingnesse of language acquaintance with many passions and to frame his face to beare the figure of them long vsed to the eyes and eares of men and to recken no fault but shamefastnesse in nature a most notable Coward and yet more strangely then rarely venturous in priuie practises This fellowe was become of neere trust to Cecropia Amphialus his mother so that he was priuy to all the mischieuous deuises wherewith she went about to ruine Basilius and his children for the aduauncing of her sonne and though his education had made him full of tongue yet his loue to be doing taught him in any euill to be secret and had by his mistresse bene vsed euer since the strange retiring of Basilius to whisper rumors into the peoples eares and this time finding great aptnes in the multitude was one of the chiefe that set them in the vprore though quite without the consent of Amphialus who would not for all the Kingdoms of the world so haue aduentured the life of Philoclea But now perceiuing the flood of their furie began to ebbe he thought it policie to take the first of the tide so that no man cried lowder then he vpon Basilius And some of the lustiest rebels not yet agreeing to the rest he caused two or three of his mates that were at his commandement to lift him vp then as if he had had a prologue to vtter he began with a nice grauitie to demaund audience But few attending what he said with vehement gesture as if he would teare the stars from the skies he fell to crying out so lowde that not onely Zelmane but Basilius might heare him O vnhappie men more mad then the
valure and fore-preparation put all his companie to the sword but such as could flie away As for Antiphilus she caused him and Erona both to be put in irons hasting backe toward her brothers tombe vpon which she ment to sacrifice them making the loue of her brother stand betwene her and all other motions of grace from which by nature she was alienated But great diuersitie in them two quickly discouered it selfe for the bearing of that affliction For Antiphilus that had no greatnesse but outward that taken away was readie to fall faster then calamitie could thrust him with fruitlesse begging of life where reason might well assure him his death was resolued and weake bemoning his fortune to giue his enemies a most pleasing musique with manie promises and protestations to as little purpose as from a little minde But Erona sad indeede yet like one rather vsed then new fallen to sadnesse as who had the ioyes of her hart alreadie broken seemed rather to welcome then to shun that ende of miserie speaking little but what she spake was for Antiphilus remembring his guiltlesnesse being at that time prisoner to Tiridates when the valiant princes slue him to the disgrace of men shewing that there are women both more wise to iudge what is to be expected and more constant to beare it when it is happened But her wit endeared by her youth her affliction by her birth and her sadnesse by her beautie made this noble prince Plangus who neuer almost from his cousin Artaxia was now present at Eronaes taking to perceyue the shape of louelinesse more perfectly in wo then in ioyfulnesse as in a picture which receiues greater life by the darkenesse of shadowes then by more glittering colours and seeing to like and liking to loue and louing straight to feele the most incident effects of loue to serue and preserue So borne by the hastie tide of short leysure he did hastily deliuer together his affection and affectionate care But she as if he had spoken of a small matter when he mencioned her life to which she had not leisure to attend desired him if he loued her to shew it in finding some way to saue Antiphilus For her she found the world but a wearisome stage vnto her where she played a part against her will and therefore besought him not to cast his loue in so vnfruitfull a place as could not loue it selfe but for a testimonie of constancie and a sutablenes to his word to do so much comfort to her minde as that for her sake Antiphilus were saued He tolde me how much he argued against her tendeâ—ing him who had so vngratefully betraied her and foolishly cast away himselfe But perceiuing she did not only bend her very good wits to speake for him against herselfe but when such a cause could be allied to no reason yet loue would needes make it-selfe a cause and barre her rather from hearing then yeeld that she should yeeld to such arguments he likewise in whom the power of Loue as they say of spirits was subiect to the loue in her with griefe consented though backwardly was diligent to labor the help of Antiphilus a man whom he not only hated as a traitour to Erona but enuied as a possessor of Erona Yet Loue sware his hart in spite of his hart should make him become a seruant to his riuall And so did he seeking all the meanes of perswading Artaxia which the authority of so neere and so vertuous a kinsman could giue vnto him But she to whom the eloqueÌ„ce of hatred had giuen reuenge the face of delight reiected all such motions but rather the more closely imprisoning them in her chiefe citie where she kept them with intention at the birth-day of Tiridates which was very nere to execute Antiphilus and at the day of his death which was about halfe a yeere after to vse the same rigor towards Erona Plangus much grieued because much louing attempted the humors of the Lycians to see whether they would come in with forces to succor their Princesse But there the next inheritor to the crowne with the true play that is vsed in the game of kingdoÌ„s had no sooner his mistres in captiuity but he had vsurped her place and making her odious to her people because of the vnfit electioÌ„ she had made had so left no hope there but which is worse had sent to Artaxia perswading the iusticing her because that vniustice might giue his title the name of iustice WaÌ„ting that way Plangus practised with some deere friends of his to saue Antiphilus out of prison whose day because it was much neerer then Eronaes and that he well found she had twisted her life vpoÌ„ the same threed with his he determined first to get him out of prison and to that end hauing prepared all matters as well as in such case he could where Artaxia had set many of Tiridates old seruants to haue well-marking eyes he coÌ„ferred with Antiphilus as by the aucthoritie he had he found meanes to do and agreed with him of the time maner how he should by the death of some of his iaylors escape But all being well ordered and Plangus willinglie putting himselfe into the greatest danger Antiphilus who like a bladder sweld redie to breake while it was full of the winde of prosperitie that being out was so abiected as apt to be trode on by euery bodie wheÌ„ it came to the point that with some hazard he might be in apparant likelihood to auoid the vttermost harme his hart fainted and weake foole neither hoping nor fearing as he should gat a conceit that with bewraying this practise he might obtaine pardon and therefore euen a little before Plangus should haue come vnto him opened the whole practise to him that had the charge with vnpittyed teares idly protesting he had rather die by Artaxias commaundement then against her will escape yet begging life vpon any the hardest and wretchedest conditions that she would lay vpon him His keeper prouided accordingly so that when Plangus came he was like himselfe to haue bene entrapped but that finding with a luckie in-sight that it was discouered he retired and calling his friendes about him stood vpon his guard as he had good cause For Artaxia accounting him most vngratefull considering that her brother and she had not only preserued him against the malice of his father but euer vsed him much liker his birth then his fortune sent forces to apprehend him But he among the martiall men had gotten so great loue that he could not onely keep himselfe from her malice but worke in their mindes a compassion of Eronas aduersitie But for the succour of Antiphilus he could get no bodie to ioyne with him the contempt of him hauing not bene able to qualifie the hatred so that Artaxia might easilie vpon him perfourme her will which was at the humble suite of all the women of that citie to deliuer him to their censure who mortally hating him for
feele the comfort of the morning Turnde to the mortall serene of an euening Klaius Me seemes I see a filthy clowdie euening As soone as Sunne begins to clime the mountaines Me seemes I feele a noysome sent the morning When I doo smell the flowers of these vallies Me seemes I heare when I doo heare sweete musique The dreadfull cries of murdred men in forrests Strephon. I wish to fire the trees of all these forrests I giue the Sunne a last farewell each euening I curse the fidling finders out of musicke With enuie I doo hate the loftie mountaines And with dispite despise the humble vallies I doo detest night euening day and morning Klaius Curse to my selfe my praier is the morning My fire is more then can be made with forrests My state more base then are the basest vallies I wish no euenings more to see each euening Shamed I hate my selfe in sight of mountaines And stoppe mine eares lest I grow mad with musicke Strephon. For she whose parts maintainde a perfect musique Whose beautie shin'de more then the blushing morning Who much did passe in state the stately mountaines In streightnes past the Cedars of the forrests Hath cast me wretch into eternall euening By taking her two Sunnes from these darke vallies Klaius For she to whom compar'd the Alpes are vallies She whose lest word brings from the spheares their musique At whose approche the Sunne rose in the euening Who where she went bare in her forhead morning Is gone is gone from these our spoyled forrests Turning to desarts our best pastur'de mountaines Strephon. These mountaines witnesse shall so shall these vallies These forrests eke made wretched by our musique Klaius Our morning hymne is this and song at euening But as though all this had bene but the taking of a taste of their wailings Strephon againe begā this Dizaine which was answered vnto him in that kind of verse which is called the crowne Strephon. Klaius Strephon. I Ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Despise delight am tyr'd with thought of ease I turne my minde to all formes of annoyes And with the chaunge of them my fancie please I studie that which may me most displease And in despite of that displeasures might Embrace that most that most my soule destroyes Blinded with beames fell darkenes is my sight Dwell in my ruines feede with sucking smarte I thinke from me not from my woes to parte Klaius I thinke from me not from my woes to parte And loth this time call'd life nay thinke that life Nature to me for torment did emparte Thinke my harde haps haue blunted deaths sharpe knife Not sparing me in whom his workes be rife And thinking this thinke nature life and death Place Sorrowes triumph on my conquerd harte Whereto I yeeld and seeke none other breath But from the sent of some infectious graue Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue Strephon. Nor of my fortune ought but mischieue craue And seeke to nourish that which now containes All what I am if I my selfe will saue Then must I saue what in me chiefely raignes Which is the hatefull web of sorrowes paines Sorrow then cherish me for I am sorrow No being now but sorrowe I can haue Then decke me as thine owne thy helpe I borrowe Since thou my riches art and that thou haste Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Klaius Enough to make a fertill minde lie waste Is that huge storme which powres it selfe on me Hailestones of teares of sighes a monstrous blast Thunders of cries lightnings my wilde lookes be The darkned heau'n my soule which nought can see The flying sprites which trees by rootes vp teare Be those despaires which haue my hopes quite wast The difference is all folkes those stormes forbeare◠But I cannot who then my selfe should flie So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Strephon. So close vnto my selfe my wrackes doo lie Both cause effect beginning and the ende Are all in me what helpe then can I trie My ship my selfe whose course to loue doth bende Sore beaten doth her mast of comfort spend Her cable Reason breakes from anchor Hope Fancie her tackling torne away doth flie Ruine the winde hath blowne her from her scope Brused with waues of Cares but broken is On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse Klaius On rocke Despaire the buriall of my blisse I long do◠plowe with plough of deepe desire The seed Fast meaning is no truth to misse I harow it with Thoughts which all conspire Fauour to make my chiefe and onely hire But woe is me the yeare is gone about And now I faine would reape I reape but this Hatefully growne Absence new sprongen out So that I see although my sight empaire Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire Strephon. Vaine is their paine who labour in despaire For so did I when with my angle Will I sought to catch the fish Torpedo faire Eu'n then Despaire did Hope already kill◠Yet fancie would perforce employ his skill And this hath got the catcher now is caught Lamde with the angle which it selfe did beare And vnto death quite drownde in dolours brough◠To death as then disguisd in her faire face Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase Klaius Thus Thus alas I had my losse in chase When first that crowned Basiliske I knewe Wose footesteps I with kisses oft did trace Till by such hap as I must euer rue Mine eyes did light vpon her shining hue And hers on me astonisht with that sight Since then my hart did loose his wonted place Infected so with her sweet poysons might That leauing me for dead to her it went But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Strephon. But ah her flight hath my dead reliques spent Her flight from me from me though dead to me Yet liuing still in her while her beames lent Such vitall sparke that her mine eyes might see But now those liuing lights absented be Full dead before I now to dust shall fall But that eternall paines my soule haue hent And keepe it still within this body thrall That thus I must while in this death I dwell In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Klaius In earthly fetters feele a lasting hell Alas I doo from which to finde release I would the earth I would the heauens sell. But vaine it is to thinke these paines should cease Where life is death and death cannot breed peace O faire ô onely faire from thee alas These foule most foule desastres to me fell Since thou from me o me ô Sunne didst passe Therefore esteeming all good blessings toyes I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes Strephon. I ioy in griefe and doo detest all ioyes But now an ende O Claius now an ende For euen the hearbes our hatefull musique stroyes And from our burning breath the trees do bende So well were these wailefull complaints accorded to the passions of all the princely hearers while euery one
day sped no better For Amphialus being well beloued of that people when they saw him not vanquished they esteemed him as victorious his youth setting a flourishing shew vpon his worthinesse and his great nobilitie ennobling his dangers But the first thing Amphialus did being returned was to visite Philoclea and first presuming to cause his dreame to be song vnto her which he had seen the night before he fell in loue with her making a fine boy he had accorde a prettie dolefulnes vnto it The song was this NOw was our heau'nly vaulte depriued of the light With Sunnes depart and now the darkenes of the night Did light those beamy stars which greater light did darke Now each thing that enioy'd that firie quickning sparke Which life is cald were mou'd their spirits to repose And wanting vse of eyes their eyes began to close A silence sweet each where with one consent embraste A musique sweet to one in carefull musing plaste And mother Earth now clad in mourning weeds did breath A dull desire to kisse the image of our death When I disgraced wretch not wretched then did giue My senses such reliefe as they which quiet liue Whose braines broile not in woes nor brests with beatings ake With natures praise are wont in safest home to take Far from my thoughts was ought whereto their minds aspire Who vnder courtly pompes doo hatch a base desire Free all my powers were from those captiuing snares Which heau'nly purest gifts defile in muddy cares Ne could my soule it selfe accuse of such a faulte As tender conscience might with furious pangs assaulte◠But like the feeble flower whose stalke cannot sustaine His weighty top his top downeward doth drooping leane Or as the silly birde in well acquainted nest Doth hide his head with cares but onely how to rest So I in simple course and vnentangled minde Did suffer drousie lids mine eyes then cleare to blinde And laying downe my head did natures rule obserue Which senses vp doth shut the senses to preserue They first their vse forgot then fancies lost their force Till deadly sleepe at length possest my liuing coarse A liuing coarse I lay but ah my wakefull minde Which made of heau'nly stuffe no mortall chaunge doth blind Flew vp with freer wings of fleshly bondage free And hauing plaste my thoughts my thoughts thus placed me Me thought nay sure I was I was in fairest wood Of Samothea lande a lande which whilom stood An honour to the world while Honour was their ende And while their line of yeares they did in vertue spende But there I was and there my calmie thoughts I fedd On Natures sweet repast as healthfull senses ledd Her giftes my study was her beauties were my sporte My worke her workes to know her dwelling my resorte Those lamps of heau'nly fire to fixed motion bound The euer-turning spheares the neuer-mouing ground What essence dest'nie hath if fortune be or no Whence our immortall soules to mortall earth doo flowe What life it is and how that all these liues doo gather With outward makers force or like an inward father Such thoughts me thought I thought and straind my single mind Then void of neerer cares the depth of things to find When lo with hugest noise such noise a tower makes When it blowne downe with winde a fall of ruine takes Or such a noise it was as highest thunders sende Or canons thunder-like all shot togither lende The Moone a sunder rent whereout with sodaine fall More swift then falcons stoope to feeding Falconers call There came a chariot faire by doues and sparrowes guided Whose stormelike course staid not till hard by me it bided I wretch astonisht was and thought the deathfull doome Of heauen of earth of hell of time and place was come But streight there issued forth two Ladies Ladies sure They seemd to me on whom did wait a Virgin pure Straunge were the Ladies weeds yet more vnfit then strange The first with cloth's tuckt vp as Nymphes in woods do range Tuckt vp euen with the knees with bowe and arrowes prest Her right arme naked was discouered was her brest But heauy was her pace and such a meagre cheere As little hunting minde God knowes did there appeere The other had with arte more then our women knowe As stuffe meant for the sale set out to glaring showe A wanton womans face and with curld knots had twinde Her haire which by the helpe of painters cunning shinde When I such guests did see come out of such a house The mountaines great with childe I thought brought foorth a mouse But walking forth the first thus to the second saide Venus come on said she Diane you are obaide Those names abasht me much when those great names I hard Although their fame me seemd from truth had greatly iard As I thus musing stood Diana cald to her The waiting Nymphe a Nymphe that did excell as farr All things that earst I sawe as orient pearles exceed That which their mother hight or els their silly seed Indeed a perfect hewe indeed a sweet consent Of all those Graces giftes the heauens haue euer lent And so she was attirde as one that did not prize Too much her peerles parts nor yet could them despise But cald she came apace a pace wherein did moue The bande of beauties all the little world of Loue. And bending humbled eyes ô eyes the Sunne of sight She waited mistresse will who thus disclosd her spright Sweet Mira mine quoth she the pleasure of my minde In whom of all my rules the perfect proofe I finde To onely thee thou seest we graunt this speciall grace Vs to attend in this most priuate time and place Be silent therefore now and so be silent still Of that thou seest close vp in secrete knot thy will She answer'd was with looke and well perform'd behest And Mira I admirde her shape sonke in my brest But thus with irefull eyes and face that shooke with spite Diana did begin What moude me to inuite Your presence sister deare first to my Moony spheare And hither now vouchsafe to take with willing eare I know full well you know what discord long hath raign'd Betwixt vs two how much that discord foule hath stain'd Both our estates while each the other did depraue Proofe speakes too much to vs that feeling triall haue Our names are quite forgot our temples are defac'd Our offrings spoil'd our priests from priesthood are displac'd Is this the fruite of strife those thousand churches hie Those thousand altars faire now in the dust to lie In mortall mindes our mindes but planets names preserue No knees once bowed forsooth for them they say we serue Are we their seruants growne no doubt a noble staye Celestiall powers to wormes Ioues children serue to claye But such they say we be this praise our discord bred While we for mutuall spight a striuing passion fed But let vs wiser be and what foule discorde brake So much more strong
as that she perceiued in her certaine flawes of il-concealed discontentmeÌ„t Insomuch that wheÌ„ Zelmane would sweeten her mouth with the praises of the sisters especially setting forth their noble gratefulnes in neuer forgetting welintended seruices inuoking the iustice of the gods not to suffer such treasures to be wroÌ„gfully hidden somtimes with a kind vnkindnes charging Artesia that she had ben abused to abuse so worthy persons Artesia though falsly wold protest that she had bin beguiled in it neuer meaning other matter theÌ„ recreatioÌ„ yet withall by alleaging how vngratefully she was dealt with it was easie to be seene it was the vnrewarding and not the euill employing her seruice which grieued her But Zelmane vsing her own bias to bowle neer the mistres of her own thoughts was content to lende her beleefe and withall to magnifie her desert if willingly she would deliuer whom vnwillingly she had imprisoned leauing no argument which might tickle ambition or flatter reuenge So that Artesia pusht â—orward by Clinias drawne on ward by Zelmane bound her selfe to that practise wherin Zelmane for her part desired no more but to haue armour and weapons brought into her chamber not doubting therwith to perfourme any thing how impossible soeuer which longing Loue can perswade and inuincible Valour dare promise But Clinias whose faith could neuer comprehende the misteries of Courage perswaded Artesia while he by corruption had drawne the guard of one gate to open it when he would appoint the time to the enemie that she should impoyson Amphialus which she might the easier do because she her selfe had vsed to make the broaths when Amphialus either wearied or wounded did vse such diet And all things alredy were ready to be put in execution wheÌ„ they thought best to break the matter with the two excellent sisters not doubting of their consent in a thing so behoofefull to theÌ„selues their reasons being that the Princesses knowing their seruice might be sure to preserue them from the fury of the entring souldiers whereof Clinias euen so could scarcely be sufficiently certaine and withall making them priuie to their action to binde them afterwardes to a promised gratefulnes towards them They went therefore at one time when they knew them to be alone Clinias to Philoclea and Artesia to Pamela and Clinias with no fewe words did set forth what an exploite was intended for her seruice But Philoclea in whose cleere minde treason could finde no hiding place told him that she would be glad if he could perswade her cosin to deliuer her and that she would neuer forget his seruice therein but that she desired him to lay downe any such way of mischiefe for that for her part she would rather yeeld to perpetuall imprisonment then consent to the destroying her cosin who she knewe loued her though wronged her This vnlooked-for answere amazed Clinias so that he had no other remedie in his minde but to kneele downe to Philoclea and beseech her to keepe it secret considering that the intention was for her seruice and vowing since she misliked it to proceed no further therein She comforted him with promise of silence which she perfourmed But that little auayled for Artesia hauing in like sort opened this deuice to Pamela she in whose mind Vertue gouerned with the scepter of Knowledge hating so horrible a wickednes and streight iudging what was fitte to doo Wicked woman said she whose vnrepenting harte can finde no way to amend treason but by treason now the time is come that thy wretched wiles haue caught thy selfe in thine owne nette as for me let the Gods dispose of me as shall please them but sure it shall be no such way nor way-leader by which I will come to libertie This she spake something with a lowder voice then she was woont to vse so as Cecropia heard the noise who was sooner then Artesia imagined she would come vp to bring Pamela to a window where she might see a notable skirmish happened in the Campe as she thought among themselues and being a cunning fisher in troubled waters streight found by their voices and gestures there was some matter of consequence which she desired Pamela to tell her Aske of her said Pamela and learne to know that who do falshoode to their superiours teach falshoode to their inferiours More she would not say But Cecropia taking away the each-way guiltie Artesia with feare of torture gat of her the whole practise so as Zelmane was the more closely imprisoned and Clinias with the rest of his corrupted mates according to their merites executed For as for Artesia shee was but lockt vp in her chamber Amphialus not consenting for the loue hee bare to Ismenus that further punishment should be laide vpon her But the noyse they heard in the campe was occasioÌ„ of the famous Prince Anaxius nephewe to the Giant Euardes whom Pyrocles slew A Prince of body exceedingly strong in armes so skilfull and fortunate as no man was thought to excell him of courage that knew not howe to feare partes worthie praise if they had not beene guyded by pride and followed by vniustice For by a strange composition of mind there was no man more tenderly sensible in any thing offered to himselfe which in the farthest-fette construction might be wrested to the name of wrong no man that in his owne actions could worse distinguish betweene Valour and Violence So proud as he could not abstaine from a Thraso-like boasting and yet so vnluckie a lodging his vertues had gotten he would neuer boast more then he would accomplish falsly accounting an vnflexible anger a couragious constancie esteeming feare and astonishment righter causes of admiration then Loue and Honour This man had foure sundrie times fought with Amphialus but Mars had bene so vnpartiall an arbiter that neither side gate aduauntage of the other But in the end it hapned that Anaxius found Amphialus vnknowen in a great danger and saued his life whereupon louing his owne benefite began to fauour him so much the more as thinking so well of himselfe he coulde not choose but like him whom he found a match for himselfe which at last grewe to as much friendship towardes him as could by a proud harte conceiued So as in this trauaile seeking Pyrocles to be reuenged of his vncles death hearing of this siege neuer taking paines to examine the quarrell like a man whose will was his God and his hand his lawe taking with him his two brothers men accounted little inferiour to him selfe in martiall matters and two hundred chosen horsemen with whome hee thought him selfe able to conquere the world yet commaunding the rest of his forces to follow hee himselfe vpon such an vnexpected suddainnesse entred in vpon the backe of Basilius that many with great vnkindnesse tooke their death not knowing why nor how they were so murdred There if euer did he make knowne the wonderfulnes of his force But the valiant and faithfull Philanax with well gouerned speed
away as well as while you are here take not away your force which bars not the one and bridels the other For as for their shewes and words they are but feare-babes not worthy once to moue a worthy mans conceit which must still consider what in reason they are like to do Their despaire I grant you shall do well to preuent which as it is the last of all resolutions so no man fals into it while so good a way as you may offer is open vnto them In sum you are a Prince and a father of a people who ought with the eye of wisdome the hand of fortitude and the hart of iustice to set downe all priuate conceits in comparison of what for the publike is profitable He would haue proceeded on when Gynecia came running in amazed for her daughter Pamela but mad for Zelmane and falling at Basilius feet besought him to make no delay vsing such gestures of compassion in steed of stopped words that Basilius otherwise enough tender minded easily granted to raise the siege which he saw dangerous to his daughters but indeed more carefull for Zelmane by whose besieged person the poore old man was streightly besieged so as to rid him of the famine of his mind he went in speed away discharging his souldiors only leauing the authority as before in Philanaxis hands he himselfe went with Gynecia to a strong Castle of his where he tooke counsell how first to deliuer Zelmane whom he called the poore stranger as though onely Law of hospitalitie moued him and for that purpose sent diuers messengers to trafficke with Cecropia But she by this meanes rid of the present daunger of the siege desiring Zoilus and Lycurgus to take the care till their brother recouered of reuictualling and furnishing the Citie both with men and what els wanted against any new occasion should vrge them she her selfe disdaining to harken to Basilius without he would grant his daughter in mariage to her son which by no means he would be brought vnto bent all the sharpenesse of her malicious wit how to bring a comfortable graunt to her sonne whereupon she well found no lesse then his life depended Therfore for a while she attēpted all meanes of eloquent praying flattering perswasion mingling sometimes gifts somtimes threatnings as she had cause to hope that either open force or vndermining would best win the castle of their Resolution And euer as much as she did to Philoclea so much did she to Pamela though in manner sometimes differing as she found fit to leuell at the ones noble height and the others sweet lowlinesse For though she knew her sonnes harte had wholly giuen it selfe to Philoclea yet seeing the equall gifts in Pamela she hoped a faire grant would recouer the sorrow of a faire refusall cruelly entending the present impoysoning the one as soone as the others affection were purchased But in vaine was all her vaine oratory employed Pamelaes determination was built vpon so braue a Rock that no shot of hers could reach vnto it and Philoclea though humbly seated was so inuironed with sweete riuers of cleere vertue as could neither be battred nor vndermined her witty perswasiōs had wise answers her eloquence recompenced with sweetnes her threatnings repelled with disdaine in the one and patience in the other her gifts either not accepted or accepted to obey but not to binde So as Cecropia in nature violent cruell because ambitious hatefull for old rooted grudge to their mother and now spitefull because she could not preuaile with girles as she counted them lastly drawne on by her loue to her son and held vp by a tyrannicall authoritie forthwith followed the byas of her own crooked disposition and doubling and redoubling her threatnings fell to confirme some of her threatned effects first withdrawing all comfort both of seruants seruice from them But that those excellent Ladies had bene vsed vnto euen at home and then found in themselues how much good the hardnes of education doth to the resistance of misery Then dishonorably vsing them both in dyet and lodging by a contempt to pull downe their thoughts to yeelding But as before the consideration of a prison had disgraced all ornaments so now the same consideration made them attend al diseasefulnes Then stil as she found those not preuaile would she go forward with giuing them terrors sometimes with noices of horror sometimes with suddaine frightings in the night when the solitary darkenesse thereof might easier astonish the disarmed senses But to all Vertue and Loue resisted strengthned one by the other when each found itselfe ouer-vehemently assaulted Cecropia still sweetning her fiercenesses with faire promises if they would promise faire that feeling euill and seeing a way far better their mindes might the sooner be mollified But they that could not taste her behauiour when it was pleasing indeed could worse now when they had lost all taste by her iniuries She resoluing all extremities rather then faile of conquest pursued on her rugged way letting no day passe without new and new perplexing the poore Ladies minds and troubling their bodies and still swelling the more she was stopped and growing hot with her owne doings at length abhominable rage carried her to absolute tyrannies so that taking with her certaine olde women of wicked dispositions and apt for enuie-sake to be cruell to youth and beautie with a countenance impoisoned with malice flew to the sweet Philoclea as if so many Kites should come about a white Doue and matching violēt gestures with mischieuous threatnings she hauing a rod in her hand like a fury that should carry wood to the burning of Dianas temple fell to scourge that most beautifull body Loue in vaine holding the shield of Beautie against her blind cruelty The Son drew clouds vp to hide his face frō so pitifull a sight and the very stone walls did yeeld drops of sweate for agonie of such a mischiefe each senselesse thing had sense of pittie onely they that had sense were senseles Vertue rarely found her worldly weakenes more then by the oppression of that day and weeping Cupid told his weeping mother that he was sorie he was not deafe as well as blind that he might neuer know so lamentable a worke Philoclea with tearefull eyes and sobbing breast as soone as her wearines rather then compassion gaue her respite kneeled down to Cecropia making pittie in her face honourable and torment delightfull besought her since she hated her for what cause she tooke God to witnesse she knew not that she would at once take away her life and not please her selfe with the tormenting of a poore Gentlewoman If said she the common course of humanitie cannot moue you nor the hauing me in your owne walles cannot claime pittie nor womanlie mercie nor neere alliance nor remembrance how miserable so euer now that I am a Princes daughter yet let the loue you haue often tolde me your sonne beares me so much procure that for his
sake one death may be thought inough for me I haue not liued so many yeares but that one death may be able to conclude them neither haue my faults I hope bene so many but that one death may satisfie them It is no great suite to an enemie when but death is desired I craue but that and as for the graunting your request know for certaine you lose your labours being euery day furtherof-minded from becomming his wife who vseth me like a slaue But that in stead of getting grace renued againe Cecropias fury so that excellent creature she was newly againe tormented by those hellish monsters Cecropia vsing no other words but that she was a proud and vngratefull wench and that she would teach her to know her owne good since of her selfe she would not conceaue it So that with silence and patience like a faire gorgeous armour hammered vppon by an ilfauoured Smith she abode their pittiles dealing with her till rather reseruing her for more then meaning to end they left her to an vncomfortable leysure to consider with her selfe her fortune both helplesse her selfe being a prisoner and hopelesse since Zelmane was a prisoner who therein onely was short of the bottome of miserie that she knew not how vnworthilie her Angell by these deuils was abused but wanted God wot no stings of griefe when those words did but strike vpon her hart that Philoclea was a captiue and she not able to succour her For well she knew the confidence Philoclea had in her and well she knew Philoclea had cause to haue confidence and all troden vnder foot by the wheele of senselesse Fortune Yet if there be that imperious power in the soule as it can deliuer knowledge to another without bodilie organs so vehement were the workings of their spirites as one mette with other though themselues perceaued it not but onely thought it to be the doubling of their owne louing fancies And that was the onely worldly thing whereon Philoclea rested her minde that she knewe she should die beloued of Zelmane and should die rather then be false to Zelmane And so this most daintie Nimphe easing the paine of her minde with thinking of anothers paine and almost forgetting the paine of her bodie through the paine of her minde she wasted euen longing for the conclusion of her tedious tragedie But for a while she was vnuisited Cecropia employing her time in vsing the like crueltie vpon Pamela her harte growing not onely to desire the fruite of punishing them but euen to delight in the punishing them But if euer the beames of perfection shined through the clowdes of affliction if euer Vertue tooke a bodie to shewe his els vnconceaueable beautie it was in Pamela For when Reason taught her there was no resistance for to iust resistance first her harte was enclined then with so heauenly a quietnes and so gracefull a calmenes did she suffer the diuers kindes of torments they vsed to her that while they vexed her faire bodie it seemed that she rather directed then obeyed the vexation And when Cecropia ended and asked whether her harte woulde yeelde she a little smiled but such a smiling as shewed no loue and yet could not but be louelie And then Beastlie woman sayde shee followe on doo what thou wilte and canst vpon me for I know thy power is not vnlimited Thou maist well wracke this sillie bodie but me thou canst neuer ouerthrowe For my part I will not doo theâ— the pleasure to desire death of thee but assure thy selfe both my life and death shall triumph with honour laying shame vpon thy detestable tyranny And so in effect conquering their doing with her suffering while Cecropia tried as many sorts of paines as might rather vexe them then spoyle them for that she would not do while she were in any hope to winne either of them for her sonne Pamela remained almost as much content with triall in her selfe what vertue could doo as grieued with the miserie wherein she found her selfe plunged only sometimes her thoughts softned in her when with open wings they flew to Musidorus For then she would thinke with her selfe how grieuously Musidorus would take this her miserie and she that wept not for herselfe wept yet Musidorus teares which he would weepe for her For gentle Loue did easlier yeeld to lamentation then the constancy of vertue would els admitte Then would she remember the case wherein she had left her poore shepheard and she that wished death for her selfe feared death for him and she that condemned in her selfe the feeblenes of sorrow yet thought it great reason to be sory for his sorow and she that long had prayed for the vertuous ioyning themselues together now thinking to die herselfe hartely prayed that long time their fortunes might be seperated Liue long my Musidorus would she say and let my name liue in thy mouth in thy harte my memorie Liue long that thou mayst loue long the chast loue of thy dead Pamela Then would she wish to her selfe that no other woman might euer possesse his hart and yet scarcely the wish was made a wish when her selfe would finde fault with it as being too vniust that so excellent a man should be banished from the comfort of life Then would she fortifie her resolution with bethinking the worst taking the counsell of vertue and comfort of loue So these diamonds of the world whom Nature had made to be preciously set in the eyes of men to be the chiefe workes of her workemanship the chiefe ornaments of the worlde and Princesses of felicitie by rebellious iniury were brought to the vttermost distres that an enemies hart could wish or a womans spite inuent Cecropia dayly in one or other sorte punishing them still with her euill torments giuing them feare of worse making the feare it selfe the sorest torment of all that in the ende wearie of their bodies they should be content to bestow them at her appointment But as in labour the more one doth exercise it the more by the doing one is enhabled to doo strength growing vpon the worke so as what at first would haue seemed impossible after growes easie so these Princesses second to none and far from any second only to be matched by themselues with the vse of suffering their minds gat the habit of suffring so as all feares and terrors were to them but summons to a battaile whereof they knew before hand they would be victorious and which in the suffering was painfull being suffered was a trophe to it selfe whereby Cecropia found her selfe still farder off for where at first she might perchance haue perswaded them to haue visited her sonne and haue giuen him some comforte in his sicknesse drawing neere to the confines of Deaths kingdome now they protested that they would neuer otherwise speake to him then as to the enemy of most vniust cruelty towards them that any time or place could euer make them knowe This made the poison swell in her
to me that he would kill his mother if hee knewe how I had bene dealt with but that Cecropia keepes him from vnderstanding thinges howe they passe onely hauing heard a whispering and my selfe named he had of aboundaunce forsooth of honorable loue giuen this charge for vs. Whereupon this enlargement of mine was growne for my parte I know too well their cunning who leaue no mony vnoffered that may buy mine honour to beleeue any word they say but my deare Pyrocles euen looke for the worste and prepare my selfe for the same Yet I must confesse I was content to robbe from death and borrowe of my misery the sweet comfort of seeing my sweet sister and most sweete comfort of thee my Pyrocles And so hauing leaue I came stealing into your chamber where O Lord what a ioy it was vnto me to heare you solemnise the funerals of the poore Philoclea That I my selfe might liue to heare my death bewailed and by whom by my deere Pyrocles That I saw death was not strong enough to diuide thy loue from me O my Pyrocles I am too well paide for my paines I haue suffred ioyfull is my woe for so noble a cause and welcome be all miseries since to thee I am so welcome Alas how I pittied to heare thy pittie of me and yet a great while I could not finde in my hart to interrupt thee but often had euen pleasure to weepe with thee and so kindly came forth thy lamentations that they inforced me to lament to as if indeed I had beene a looker on to see poore Philoclea dye Till at last I spake with you to try whether I could remoue thee from sorrow till I had almost procured my selfe a beating And with that she pretily smiled which mingled with her teares one could not tell whether it were a mourning pleasure or a delightfull sorrow but like when a few Aprill drops are scattered by a gentle Zephyrus among fine coloured flowers But Pyrocles who had felt with so small distance of time in himselfe the ouerthrow both of hope and despaire knew not to what key he should tune his mind either of ioy or sorrow But finding perfite reason in neither suffred himself to be caried by the tide of his imagination and his imaginations to be raised euen by the sway which hearing or seing might giue vnto them he saw her aliue he was glad to see her aliue he saw her weep he was sory to see her weep he heard her comfortable speches nothing more gladsome he hard her prognosticating her own destruction nothing more dolefull But when he had a little taken breath from the panting motion of such contrarietie in passions he fell to consider with her of her present estate both comforting her that certainely the worst of this storme was past since alreadie they had done the worst which mans wit could imagine and that if they had determined to haue killed her now they would haue done it and also earnestly counselling her and inhabling his counsels with vehement prayers that she would so far second the hopes of Amphialus as that she might but procure him liberty promising then as much to her as the liberalitie of louing corage durst promise to himselfe But who would liuely describe the manner of these speeches should paint out the lightsome coulours of affection shaded with the deepest shadowes of sorrow finding then betweene hope and feare a kind of sweetenes in teares till Philoclea content to receaue a kisse and but a kisse of Pyrocles sealed vp his mouing lips and closed them vp in comfort and her-selfe for the passage was left betweene them open went to her sister with whom she had stayed but a while fortifying one another while Philoclea tempered Pamelas iust disdaine and Pamela ennobled Philocleas sweet humblenesse when Amphialus cam vnto them who neuer since he had heard Philoclea named could bee quiet in himselfe although none of them about him fearing more his mothers violence then his power would discouer what had passed and many messages he sent to know her estate which brought answeres backe according as it pleased Cecropia to indite them till his hart full of vnfortunate affection more and more misgiuing him hauing impatiently borne the delay of the nights vnfitnesse this morning he gat vp and though full of woundes which not without daunger could suffer such exercise he apparelled himselfe and with a countenance that shewed strength in nothing but in griefe he came where the sisters were and weakely kneeling downe he besought them to pardon him if they had not bene vsed in that castle according to their worthines and his duetie beginning to excuse small matters poore Gentleman not knowing in what sort they had bene handled But Pamelaes hye hart hauing conceiued mortall hate for the iniurie offred to her and her sister could scarcely abide his sight much lesse heare out his excuses but interrupted him with these words Traitor said she to thine owne blood and false to the profession of so much loue as thou hast vowed doo not defile our eares with thy excuses but pursue on thy crueltie that thou and thy godly mother haue vsed towards vs for my part assure thy selfe and so do I answere for my sister whose mind I know I do not more desire mine owne safetie then thy destruction Amazed with this speech he turned his eye full of humble sorrowfulnes to Philoclea And is this most excellent Ladie your doome of me also She sweete Ladie sate weeping for as her most noble kinsman she had euer fauoured him and loued his loue though she could not be in loue with his person and now partly vnkindnes of his wrong partly pittie of his case made her sweete mind yeeld some teares before she could answere and her answere was no other but that she had the same cause as her sister had He replyed no further but deliuering from his hart two or three vntaught sighes rose and with most low reuerence went out of their chamber and streight by threatning torture learned of one of the women in what terrible manner those Princesses had bene vsed But when he heard it crying out O God and then not able to say any more for his speech went backe to rebound woe vpon his hart he needed no iudge to goe vpon him for no man could euer thinke any other worthy of greater punishment then he thought himselfe Full therefore of the horriblest despaire which a most guiltie conscience could breed with wild lookes promising some terrible issue vnderstanding his mother was vpon the top of the leades he caught one of his seruants swords from him and none of them daring to stay him he went vp carried by furie in steede of strength where she was at that time musing how to goe thorough with this matter and resoluing to make much of her Neeces in shew and secreatly to impoison them thinking since they were not to be wonne her sonnes loue would no otherwise be mitigated But
shall make Basilius willing or vnwilling to knowe his owne happe in graunting you Philoclea then I will cheerefullie goe about this my most desired enterprise and shall thinke the better halfe of it alreadie atchieued beeing begunne in the fortunate houre of my friendes contentment These wordes as they were not knitte together with such a constant course of flowing eloquence as Dorus was woont to vse so was his voice interrupted with sighes and his countenaunce with enterchanging coulour dismayed So much his owne hearte did finde him faultie to vnbende any way the continuall vse of theyr deare friendshippe But Zelmane who had all this while gladlie hearkened to the other tydings of her friends happye successe when this last determination of Dorus strake her attentiue eares she stayed a great while oppressed with a dead amazement Ther came streight before her mind made tender with woes the images of her own fortune Her tedious longings her causes to despaire the combersome follie of Basilius the enraged Iealousie of Gynecia her selfe a Prince without retinewe a man annoyed with the troubles of woman-kinde lothsomely loued and daungerouslie louing And now for the perfecting of all her friend to be taken away by himself to make the losse the greater by the vnkindnes But within a while she resolutely passed ouer all in warde obiections and preferring her friends proffitt to her owne desire with a quiet but hartie looke she thus aunsweared him If I bare thee this Loue vertuous Musidorus for mine owne sake and that our friendshipp grew because I for my parte might reioyce to enioye such a friend I shoulde nowe so thorowly feele mine owne losse that I should call the heauens and earth to witnesse howe cruelly yee robbe mee of my greatest comforte measuring the breach of friendshippe by myne owne passion But because indeede I loue thee for thy selfe and in my iudgement iudge of thy worthines to beloued I am content to builde my pleasure vppon thy comforte And then will I deeme my happe in friendshippe great when I shall see thee whome I loue happie Let me be onely sure thou louest me still the onely price of trew affection goe therefore on worthye Musidorus with the guide of vertue and seruice of fortune Let thy loue be loued thy desires prosperous thy escape safe and thy iornye easie Let euery thing yeeld his helpe to thy deserte for my part absence shall not take thee from mine eyes nor afflictions shall barre mee from gladding in thy good nor a possessed harte shall keepe thee from the place it haâ—h for euer allotted vnto thee Dorus would faine haue replied againe to haue made a liberall confession that Zelmane had of her side the aduantage of well performing friendshippe but partelie his owne griefe of parting from one he loued so dearely partly the kinde care in what state hee shoulde leaue Zelmane bredd such a conflicte in his minde that many times he wished he had either neuer attempted or neuer reuealed this secreat enterprise But Zelmane who had now looked to the vttermoste of it and established her minde vpon an assured determination my onely friend said shee since to so good towardnes your courteous destinies haue conducted you let not a ceremoniall consideration of our mutuall loue be a barre vnto it I ioye in your presence but I ioye more in your good that friendshipp brings foorth the fruites of enmitie which preferres his owne tendernes before his friendes domage For my parte my greatest griefe herein shal be I can bee no further seruiceable vnto you O Zelmane saide Dorus with his eyes euen couered with water I did not think so soone to haue displayed my determination vnto you but to haue made my way first in your louing iudgement But alas as your sweet disposition drew me so farre so doth it now strengthen me in it To you therefore be the due commendation giuen who can conquere me in Loue and Loue in wisedome As for mee then shall goodnes turne to euill and vngratefulnes bee the token of a true harte when Pyrocles shall not possesse a principall seate in my soule when the name of Pyrocles shall not be helde of me in deuout reuerence They would neuer haue come to the cruell instant of parting nor to the il-faring word of farewell had not Zelmane sene a farre off the olde Basilius who hauing perfourmed a sacrifice to Apollo for his daughters but principally for his mistresse happy returne had since bene euery where to seeke her And nowe being come within compasse of discerning her he beganne to frame the loueliest couÌ„tenance he could stroking vp his legges setting his bearde in due order and standing bolte vpright Alas said Zelmane behold an euill fore-token of your sorrowfull departure Yonder see I one of my furies which doth daylie vexe me farewell fare wel my Musidorus the Gods make fortune to waite on thy vertues and make mee wade through this lake of wretchednes Dorus burst out into a floud of teares wringing her fast by the hande No no said he I go blindfold whither the course of my ill happe caries me for now too late my harte giues me this our separating can neuer be prosperous But if I liue attend me here shortly with an army Thus both appalled with the grieuous renting of their long Combination hauing first resolued with theÌ„selues that whatsoeuer fell vnto them they should neuer vpon no occasion vtter their names for the coÌ„seruing the honour of their Royal parentage but keep the names of Daiphantus Palladius as before had ben agreed between theÌ„ they tooke diuerse waies Dorus to the lodg-ward wher his heauy eyes might be somthing refreshed Zelmane towards Basilius saying to her selfe with a skornefull smiling yet hath not my friendly fortune depriued me of a pleasant companion But he hauing with much searche come to her presence Doubt Desire bred a great quarrel in his mind For his former experience had taught him to doubt true feeling of Loue made doubts daungerous but the working of his desire had ere long wonne the fielde And therefore with the most submissiue maner his behauiour could yeeld O Goddesse said hee towardes whom I haue the greatest feeling of Religion be not displeased at some shew of deuotion I haue made to Apollo since he if he know any thing knowes that my harte beares farre more awful reuereÌ„ce to your self then to his or any other the like Deity You wil euer be deceaued in me answered Zelmane I wil make my selfe no competitor with Apollo neither can blasphemies to him be duties to me With that Basilius tooke out of his bosome certaine verses he had written and kneling downe presented them to her They contained this PHaebus farewell a sweeter Saint I serue The high conceits thy heau'nly wisedomes breed My thoughts forget my thoughts which neuer swerue From her in whome is sowne their freedomes seede And in whose eyes my dayly doome I reede Phaebus farewell a sweeter Saint I serue
face to the top of the house shrugging all ouer his bodie and stamping somtimes vpon the ground gaue Mopsa occasion who was as busie as a Bee to know any thing to aske her louer Dorus what ayled him that made him vse so strange a behauiour he as if his spirits had beene rauished with some supernaturall contemplation stoode still muett somtimes rubbing his forehead sometime starting in him selfe that hee set Mopsa in such an itche of inquirie that she would haue offred her maydenhead rather then belonge kept from it Dorus not yet aunswearing to the purpose still keeping his amazement O Hercules saide he resolue me in this doubt A tree to graunt ones wishes Is this the cause of the Kinges solitarie life Which parte shall I take Happie in either vnhappie because I cannot know which were my best happ These doubtful selfe speches made Mopsa yet in a further longing of knowing the matter so that the prettie pigge laying her sweete burden about his neck my Dorus saide she tell mee these words or els I know not what will befal mee honny Dorus tell them me Dorus hauing stretched her minde vpon a right laste extremely loued Mopsa saide hee the matters be so great as my harte failes me in the telling them but since you holde the greatest seate in it it is reason your desire should adde life vnto it Ther with he told her a farre fet tale how that many millions of yeares before Iupiter fallen out with Apollo had throwne him out of heauen taking from him the priueledge of a God So that poore Apollo was faine to leade a verie miserable life vnacquainted to worke and neuer vsed to begge that in this order hauing in time learned to bee Admetus heardman he had vpon occasion of fetching a certaine breed of beastes out of Arcadia come to that verie deserte where wearied with trauaile and resting himselfe in the boughes of a pleasaunt Ashe tree stoode little of from the lodge hee had with pittifull complaintes gotten his father Iupiters pardon and so from that tree was receaued againe to his golden spheare But hauing that right nature of a God neuer to be vngratefull to Admetus hee had graunted a double life and because that tree was the chappel of his prosperous prayers he had giuen it this equality that whatsoeuer of such estate and in such maner as he then was sate downe in that tree they should obtaine whatsoeuer they wished This Basilius hauing vnderstoode by the oracle was the onely cause which had made him trie whether framing himselfe to the state of an heardman he might haue the preuiledge of wishing onely graunted to that degree but that hauing often in vaine attempted it because indeede hee was not such he had now opened the secret to Dametas making him sweare hee should wish according to his direction But because said Dorus Apollo was at that time with extreme griefe muffled round aboute his face with a skarlet cloake Admetus had giuen him and because they that must wish must be muffled in like sorte and with like stuffe my master Dametas is gone I know not whither to prouide him a skarlet cloake and to morrow doth appointe to returne with it my Mistresse I cannot tell how hauing gotten some inckling of it is trudged to Mantinea to get her selfe a cloake before him because she woulde haue the first wishe My master at his parting of great trust tould me this secret commaunding me to see no bodie should clime that tree But now my Mopsa said he I haue here the like cloake of mine owne and am not so verie a foole as though I keep his commaundement in others to barre my selfe I rest onely extreemely perplexed because hauing nothing in the worlde I wish for but the enioying you your fauour I think it a much pleasanter conquest to come to it by your owne consent then to haue it by such a charming force as this is Now therefore choose since haue you I will in what sorte I shall haue you But neuer child was so desirons of a gay puppet as Mopsa was to be in the tree and therefore without squeamishnes promising all he woulde shee coniured him by all her precious Loues that she might haue the first possession of the wishing tree assuring him that for the enioying her he should neuer neede to clime farre Dorus to whom time was precious made no great ceremonies with her but helping her vp to the top of the tree from whence likewise she could ill come downe without helpe he muffled her round about the face so truely that she her selfe could not vndoe it And so he tolde her the manner was she should hold her mind in continuall deuotion to Apollo without making at al any noyse till at the farthest within twelue howers space she should heare a voice call her by name three times that till the thirde time shee must in no wise aunswere then you shall not need to doubt your cōming down for at that time said he be sure to wish wisely in what shape soeuer he come vnto you speake boldly vnto him and your wish shall haue as certaine effecte as I haue a desire to enioy your sweet Loues in this plight did hee leaue Mopsa resolued in her hart to be the greatest Lady of the world neuer after to feede of worse then furmentie Thus Dorus hauing deliuered his hands of his three tormentors took speedely the benefit of his deuise and mounting the gracious Pamela vpon a faire horse he had prouided for her he thrust himselfe forthwith into the wildest part of the desarte where he had left markes to guide him frō place to place to the next sea porte disguising her very fitly with scarfes although he rested assured he should meet that way with no body till he came to his barck into which hee ment to enter by night But Pamela who al this while transported with desire troubled with feare had neuer free scope of iudgemēt to look with perfect consideratiō into her own enterprise but euē by the lawes of loue had bequeathed the care of her self vpō him to whom she had geuē her self Now that the pang of desire with euident hope was quieted most part of the feare passed reason began to renew his shining in her hart make her see her self in her selfe weigh with what wings she flew out of her natiue contry and vpon what ground she builte so strange a determinaciō But loue fortified with her louers presence kept still his own in her hart So that as they ridde together with her hand vpon her faithfull seruants shoulder sodainly casting her bashfull eies to the ground and yet bending her self towards him like the clyent that committes the cause of all his worth to a well trusted aduocate frō a milde spirit saide vnto him these sweetely deliuered wordes Prince Musidorus for so my assured hope is I may iustlie call you since with no other my
then my longe suite is signde You none can clayme but you your selfe aright For you do passe your selfe in vertues might So both are yours I bound with gaged harte You onely yours too farr beyond desarte In this vertuous wantonnes suffering their mindes to descend to each tender enioying their vnited thoughts Pamela hauing tasted of the fruites and growinge extreame sleepie hauing ben long kept from it with the perplexitie of her dangerous attempte laying her head in his lappe was inuited by him to sleepe with these softly vttered verses LOcke vp faire liddes the treasure of my harte Preserue those beames this ages onely lighte To her sweete sence sweete sleepe some ease imparte Her sence too weake to beare her spirits mighte And while ô sleepe thou closest vp her sight Her sight where loue did forge his fayrest darte ô harbour all her partes in easefull plighte Let no strange dreme make her fayre body start◠But yet ô dreame if thou wilt not departe In this rare subiect from the common right But wilt thy selfe in such a seate delighte Then take my shape and play a louers parte Kisse her from me and say vnto her spirite Till her eyes shine I liue in darkest night The sweete Pamela was brought into a sweete sleepe with this songe which gaue Musidorus opportunity at leasure to beholde her excellent beauties He thought her faire forehead was a fielde where all his fancies fought and euery haire of her heade semed a strong chain thattied him Her fairer liddes then hiding her fairer eyes seemed vnto him sweete boxes of mother of pearle riche in themselues but contaning in them farre richer Iewells Her cheekes with their coullour most delicately mixed would haue entertained his eyes somewhile but that the roses of her lippes whose separating was wont to bee accompanied with most wise speeches nowe by force drewe his sight to marke how preatily they lay one ouer the other vniting their deuided beauties and thorough them the eye of his fancy deliuered to his memorie the lying as in ambush vnder her lippes of those armed rankes all armed in most pure white and keeping the most precise order of military discipline And lest this beautie might seeme the picture of some excellent artificer fourth there stale a softe breath carying good testimony of her inward sweetnesse and so stealingly it came out as it seemed loath to leaue his contentfull mansion but that it hoped to bee drawne in againe to that well cloased paradise which did so tyrannize ouer Musidorus affectes that hee was compelled to put his face as lowe to hers as hee coulde sucking the breath with such ioye that he did determine in himselfe there had ben no life to a Camaeleons if he might be suffered to enioye that foode But long hee was not suffered being within a while interrupted by the comming of a company of clownish vilaines armed with diuers sortes of weapons and for the rest both in face and apparell so forewasted that they seemed to beare a great conformity with the sauages who miserable in themselues taught to encrease their mischieues in other bodies harmes came with such cries as they both awaked Pamela and made Musidorus turne vnto them full of a most violent rage with the looke of a shee Tigree when her whelpes are stolne away But Zelmane whome I left in the Caue hardly bestead hauing both great wittes and sturring passions to deale with makes me lend her my penne a while to see with what dexteritie she could put by her daungers For hauing in one instant both to resist rage and goe beyond wisedome being to deale with a Ladie that had her witts a wake in euery thing but in helping her owne hurte she saw now no other remedy in her case but to qualifie her rage with hope and to satisfie her witt with plainesse Yet lest to abrupt falling into it shoulde yeelde too great aduantage vnto her shee thought good to come to it by degrees with this kind of insinuation Your wise but very darke speeches most excellent Lady are wouen vp in so intricate a maner as I know not how to proportiō mine answere vnto thē so are your prayers mixte with threates and so is the shew of your loue hidden with the name of reuenge the natural effect of mortal hatred You seeme displeased with the opinion you haue of my disguising and yet if bee not disguised you must needes be much more displeased Hope then the only succour of perplexed mindes being quite cut off you desire my affection and yet you your selfe thinke my affection already bestowed You pretend crueltie before you haue the subiection and are iealous of keeping that which as yet you haue not gotten And that which is strangest in your iealousie is both the vniustice of it in being loath that should come to your daughter which you deeme good and the vaynnesse since you two are in so diuers respects that there is no necessitie one of you should fall to be a barre to the other For neyther if I be such as you fancie can I mary you which must needes be the only ende I can aspire to in her neither neede the maryeng of her keepe me from a gratefull consideracion how much you honor me in the loue you vouchsafe to beare me Gynaecia to whome the fearefull agonies she still liued in made any small repriuall sweete did quickly finde her words falling to a better way of comfort and therefore with a minde readie to shewe nothing could make it rebellious against Zelmane but to extreme tyrannie she thus sayd Alas too much beloued Zelmane the thoughts are but outflowings of the minde and the tongue is but a seruant of the thoughtes therefore maruaile not that my words suffer contrarieties since my minde doth hourely suffer in it selfe whole armyes of mortall aduersaries But alas if I had the vse of mine owne reason then should I not neede for want of it to finde my selfe in this desperate mischiefe but because my reason is vanished so haue I likewise no power to correct my vnreasonablenes Do you therefore accept the protection of my minde which hath no other resting place and driue it not by being vnregarded to put it selfe into vnknowne extremities I desire but to haue my affection answered and to haue a right reflection of my loue in you That graunted assure your selfe mine owne loue will easily teach me to seeke your contentment and make me thinke my daughter a very meane price to keepe still in mine eyes the foode of my spirits But take heede that contempt driue me not into despaire the most violent cause of that miserable effect Zelmane that alreadie sawe some fruite of her last determined fancie so farre as came to a mollifyeng of Gynecias rage seeing no other way to satisfye suspicion which was help open with the continuall prickes of loue resolued now with plainnesse to winne trust which trust she might after deceyue with a greater subtletie Therefore looking
her liues enterprise for well shee knewe deceite cannot otherwise be mayntayned but by deceite and how to deceyue such heedfull eyes and how to satisfye and yet not satisfye such hopefull desires it was no small skill But both their thoughtes were called from themselues with the sight of Basilius who then lying downe by his daughter Philoclea vppon the fayre though naturall bed of greene-grasse seeing the sunne what speede hee made to leaue our West to doo his office in the other Hemisphere his inwarde Muses made him in his best musicke sing this Madrigall WHy doost thou haste away O Titan faire the giuer of the daie Is it to carry newes To Westerne wightes what starres in East appeare Or doost thou thinke that heare Is left a Sunne whose beames thy place may vse Yet stay and well peruse What be her giftes that make her equall thee Bend all thy light to see In earthly clothes enclosde a heauenly sparke Thy running course cannot such beawties marke No no thy motions bee Hastened from vs with barre of shadow darke Because that thou the author of our sight Disdainst we see thee staind with others light And hauing ended Deere Philoclea said he sing something that may diuerte my thoughts from the continuall taske of their ruinous harbour She obedient to him and not vnwilling to disburden her secret passion made her sweete voice be heard in these words O Stealing time the subiect of delaie Delay the racke of vnrefram'd desire What strange dessein hast thou my hopes to staie My hopes which do but to mine owne aspire Mine owne ô word on whose sweete sound doth pray My greedy soule with gripe of inward fire Thy title great I iustlie chalenge may Since in such phrase his faith he did attire O time become the chariot of my ioyes As thou drawest on so let my blisse draw neere Each moment lost part of my hap destroyes Thou art the father of occasion deare Ioyne with thy sonne to ease my long annoy's In speedie helpe thanke worthie frends appeare Philoclea brake off her Song as soone as her mother with Zelmane came neere vnto them rising vp with a kindly bashfulnes being not ignorant of the spite her mother bare her and stricken with the sight of that person whose loue made all those troubles seeme fayre flowers of her deerest garlond Nay rather all those troubles made the loue encrease For as the arriuall of enemyes makes a towne so fortifye it selfe as euer after it remaynes stronger so that a man may say enemyes were no small cause to the townes strength So to a minde once fixed in a well pleased determinacion who hopes by annoyance to ouerthrowe it doth but teach it to knit together all his best grounds and so perchance of a chaunceable purpose make an vnchangeable resolucion But no more Philoclea see the wonted signes of Zelmanes affection towardes her she thought she sawe an other light in her eyes with a bould and carelesse looke vpon her which was wont to be dazeled with her beawtie and the framing of her courtesyes rather ceremonious then affectionate and that which worst liked her was that it proceeded with such quiet setlednes as it rather threatned a full purpose then any sodayne passion She founde her behauiour bent altogether to her mother and presumed in her selfe she discerned the well acquainted face of his fancies now turned to another subiecte She sawe her mothers worthines and too well knewe her affection These ioyning theyr diuers working powers together in her minde but yet a prentise in the paynefull misterye of passions brought Philoclea into a newe trauers of her thoughtes and made her keepe her carefull looke the more attentiue vppon Zelmanes behauiour who in deede though with much payne and condemning her selfe to commit a sacriledge against the sweete saincte that liued in her in most Temple yet strengthening herselfe in it beeing the surest waye to make Gynecia bite off her other baytes did so quite ouerrule all wonted showes of loue to Philoclea and conuert them to Gynecia that the parte she played did worke in both a full and liuely perswasion to Gynecia such excessiue comforte as the beeing preferred to a riuall doth deliuer to swelling desire But to the delicate Philoclea whose calme thoughtes were vnable to nourish any strong debate it gaue so stinging a hurt that fainting vnder the force of her inwarde torment she withdrewe her selfe to the Lodge and there wearye of supporting her owne burden cast her selfe vppon her bed suffering her sorrowe to melt it selfe into abundance of teares at length closing her eyes as if eache thing she sawe was a picture of her mishap and turning vpon her hurtside which with vehement panting did summon her to consider her fortune she thus bemoned her selfe Alas Philoclea is this the price of all thy paynes Is this the rewarde of thy giuen awaye libertye Hath too much yeelding bred crueltye or can too greate acquaintance make mee helde for a straunger Hath the choosing of a companion made mee lefte alone or doth graunting desire cause the desire to bee neglected Alas despised Philoclea why diddest thou not holde thy thoughtes in theyr simple course and content thy â—elfe with the loue of thy owne vertue which would neuer haue betrayed thee Ah sillie foole diddest thou looke for truth in him that with his owne mouth confest his falsehood for playne proceeding in him that still goes disguised They say the falsest men will yet beare outward shewes of a pure minde But he that euen outwardly beares the badge of treacherie what hells of wickednes must needes in the depth be contayned But ô wicked mouth of mine how darest thou thus blaspheme the ornament of the earth the vessell of all vertue O wretch that I am that will anger the gods in dispraysing their most excellent worke O no no there was no fault but in me that could euer thinke so high eyes would looke so lowe or so great perfections would stayne themselues with my vnworthines Alas why could I not see I was too weake a band to tye so heauenly a hart I was not fit to limit the infinite course of his wonderfull destenies Was it euer like that vpon only Philoclea his thoughtes should rest Ah silly soule that couldst please thy selfe with â—o impossible an imagination An vniuersall happines is to flowe from him How was I so inueagled to hope I might be the marke of such a minde He did thee no wrong ô Philoclea he did thee no wrong it was thy weakenes to fancie the beames of the sonne should giue light to no eyes but thine And yet ô Prince Pirocles for whome I may well begin to hate my selfe but can neuer leaue to loue thee what triumph canst thou make of this conquest what spoiles wilt thou carry away of this my vndeserued ouerthrow could thy force finde out no fitter field then the feeble minde of a poore mayde who at the first sight did wish thee all
suffering them to haue so full a course as it did exceedinglie weaken the estate of her bodie aswell for which cause as for that shee could not see Zalmane without expressing more then shee woulde how farr now her loue was imprisoned in extremitie of sorrow she bound her selfe first to the limits of her own chamber and after griefe breeding sicknes of her bed But Zelmane hauing now a full libertie to cast about euery way how to bring her conceaued attempt to a desired successe was ofte so perplexed with the manifould difficultie of it that sometimes she would resolue by force to take her a way though it were with the death of her parents somtimes to go away herself with Musidorus and bring both their forces so to winne her But lastly euen the same day that Musidorus by feeding the humor of his three loathsome gardiens had stolne awaye the Princes Pamela whether it were that loue ment to match them euerie waie or that her friendes example had holpen her inuention or that indeede Zelmane forbare to practise her deuise till she found her friend had passed through his The same daye I saye shee resolued on a way to rid out of the lodge her two combersome louers and in the night to carrie away Philoclea where vnto shee was assured her owne loue no lesse then her sisters woulde easely winne her consent Hoping that although their abrupt parting had not suffered her to demaund of Musidorus which way he ment to direct his iorney yet either they should by some good fortune finde him or if that course fayled yet they might well recouer some towne of the Helotes neere the frontieâ—es of Arcadia who being newly againe vp in armes against the Nobilitie shee knew would bee as glad of her presence as she of their protection Therefore hauing taken order for all thinges requisite for their going and first put on a sleight vndersute of mans apparel which before for such purposes she had prouided she curiously trimmed her self to the beautifâ—ing of her beauties that being now at her last triall she might come vnto it in her brauest armour And so putting on that kinde of milde countenaunce which doth encourage the looker on to hope for a gentle answere according to her late receaued maner she lefte the pleasant darkenes of her melancholy caue to goe take her dinner of the King and Queene and giue vnto them both a pleasant foode of seing the owner of their desires But euen as the Persians were aunciently wont to leaue no rising Sun vnsaluted but as his faire beames appeared clearer vnto theÌ„ wold they more hartely reioyce laying vpoÌ„ them a great fortoken of their following fortunes So was ther no time that Zelmane encouÌ„tred their eies with her beloued presence but that it bred a kind of burning deuotioÌ„ in theÌ„ yet so much the more glading their gredy soules as her couÌ„tenance were cleared with morefauour vnto theÌ„ which now being determinatly framed to the greatest desceÌ„t of kindnesse it took such hold of her infortunate louers that like children aboute a tender father from along voyage returned with louely childishnes hange about him and yet with simple feare measure by his countenance how farr he acceptes their boldnes So were these now throwne into so seruiceable an affection that the turning of Zelmanes eye was a strong sterne enough to all their motions wending no way but as the inchaunting force of it guided them But hauing made a light repaste of the pleasunt fruites of that countrye enterlarding their foode with such manner of generall discourses as louers are woont to couer their passions in when respecte of a thirde person keepes them from plaine particulars at the earnest entreatie of Basilius Zelmane first saluting the muses with a base voyal hong hard by her sent this ambassade in versified musicke to both her ill requited louers BEautie hath force to catche the humane sight Sight doth bewitch the fancie euill awaked Fancie we feele encludes all passions mighte Passion rebelde oft reâ—sons strength hath shaked No wondre then though sighte my sighte did tainte And though thereby my fancie was infected Though yoked so my minde with sicknes fainte Had reasons weight for passions ease reiected But now the fitt is past and time hath giu'ne Leasure to weigh what due deserte requireth All thoughts so spronge are from their dwelling driâ—'n And wisdome to his wonted seate aspireth Crying in me eye hopes deceitefull proue Thinges rightelie prizde loue is the bande of loue And after her songe with an affected modestie shee threwe downe her eye as if the conscience of a secret graunt her inward minde made had sodainely cast a bashfull vaile ouer her Which Basilius finding and thinking now was the time to vrge his painefull petition beseeching his wife with more carefull eye to accompanie his sickly daughter Philoclea being rid for that time of her who was content to graunt him any scope that she might after haue the like freedome with a gesture gouerned by the force of his passions making his knees his best supporters hee thus saide vnto her Yf either said he O Ladie of my life my deadly pangues coulde beare delaye or that this were the first time the same were manifested vnto you I woulde nowe but maintaine still the remembraunce of my misfortune without vrging any further reward then time and pittie might procure for me But alas since my martirdome is no lesse painefull then manifest and that I no more feele the miserable daunger then you know the assured trueth thereof why shoulde my tonge deny his seruice to my harte Why should I feare the breath of my words who daylie feele the flame of your workes Embrace in sweete consideration I beseech you the miserie of my Case acknowledge your selfe to bee the cause and thinke it is reason for you to redresse the effectes Alas let not certaine imaginatife rules whose trueth standes but vpon opinion keepe so wise a mind from gratefulnes and mercie whose neuer fayling laws nature hath planted in vs. I plainly lay my death vnto you the death of him that loues you the death of him whose life you maye saue say your absolute determination for hope it selfe is a paine while it is ouer mastered with feare and if you do resolue to be cruel yet is the speediest condemnation as in euills most welcome Zelmane who had fully set to her selfe the traine she would keepe yet knowing that who soonest meanes to yeelde doth well to make the brauest parley keeping countenaunce alofte Noble prince said she your wordes are to well couched to come out of a restlesse minde and thanked be the Gods your face threatens no daunger of death These are but those swelling speeches which giue the vttermost name to euerie trifle which all were worth nothinge if they were not enammeled with the goodly outside of loue Truely loue were verie vnlouely if it were halfe fo deadly as your louers still liuing tearme it
I thinke well it may haue a certaine childish vehemencie which for the time to one desire will engage al the soule so long as it lasteth But with what impacience you your selfe showe who confesse the hope of it a paine and thinke your owne desire so vnworthy as you would faine bee ridd of it and so with ouermuch loue sue hard for a hastie refusall A refusall cried out Basilius amazed with al but perced with the last Now assure your self when soeuer you vse that word diffinitiuely it will be the vndoubted dome of my approching death And then shall your owne experience knowe in mee how soone the spirites dryed vp with anguish leaue the performaunce of their ministerie whereupon our life depeÌ„deth But alas what a crueltie is this not only to tormeÌ„t but to think the tormeÌ„t slighte The terriblest tirants would say by no man they killed he dyed not nor by no man they punished that he escaped free for of all other ther is least hope of mercie where there is no acknowledging of the paine and with like crueltie are my wordes breathed out from a flamy harte accompted as messingers of a quiet mind If I speake nothing I choake my selfe and am in no way of reliefe if simplye neglected if confusedly not vnderstoode if by the bending together all my inwarde powers they bring forth any liuely expressing of that they truly feele that is a token forsooth the thoughts are at too much leasure Thus is silence desperate follie punished and witt suspected But indeed it is vaine to say any more for wordes can bind no beliefe Lady I say determine of me I must confesse I cannot beare this battell in my minde and therefore let me soone know what I may accompt of my selfe for it is a hell of dolours when the mind still in doubt for want of resolution can make no resistaunce In deed aunswered Zelmane if I should graunt to your request I should shew an example in my selfe that I esteeme the holy bande of chastitie to bee but and Imaginatife rule as you tearmed it and not the truest obseruaunce of nature the moste noble commaundement that mankinde can haue ouer themselues as indeede both learning teacheth and inward feeling assureth But first shal Zelmanes graue become her marriage bedd before my soule shall consent to his owne shame before I will leaue a marke in my self of an vnredemable trespasse And yet must I confesse that if euer my hart were sturred it hath ben with the manifest manifold shewes of the misery you liue in for me For in trueth so it is nature giues not to vs her degenerate children any more general precepte then one to helpe the other one to feele a true compassion of the others mishappe But yet if I were neuer so contented to speake with you for further neuer ô Basilius looke for at my hands I know not howe you can auoyde your wiues iealous attendaunce but that her suspicion shall bring my honour into question Basilius whose small sailes the leaste winde did fill was forth with as farre gonne into a large promising him selfe his desire as before hee was striken downe with a threatned deuill And therefore bending his browes as though he were not a man to take the matter as he had done what saide hee shall my wife become my misteris Thinke you not that thus much time hath taught mee to rule her I will mewe the gentlewoman till she haue cast all her feathers if she rouse her selfe against me And with that he walked vp and downe nodding his head as though they mistooke him much that thought he was not his wiues maister But Zelmane now seeing it was time to conclude of your wisdome and manhood sayd she I doubt not but that sufficeth not me for both they can hardly â—ame a malicious toong and impossibly barre the freedom of thought which be the things that must be only witnesses of honor or iudges of dishonor But that you may see I doo not set light your affection if to night after your wife be assuredly asleepe whereof by your loue I coniure you to haue a most precise care you will steale handsomely to the caue vnto me there do I graunt you as great proportion as you will take of free conference with me euer remembring you seeke no more â—or so shall you but deceyue your selfe and for euer loose me Basilius that was olde inough to know that women are not wont to appoint secreat night meetings for the purchasing of land holding himselfe alreadye an vndoubted possessour of his desires kissing her hand and lifting vp his eyes to heauen as if the greatnes of the benefit did goe beyonde all measure of thankes sayde no more least sturring of more words might bring forth some perhaps contrarye matter In which traunce of ioye Zelmane went from him sayeng she would leaue him to the remembrance of their appoyntment and for her she would goe visite the Ladie Philoclea into whose chamber being come keeping still her late taken on grauitie and asking her how she did rather in the way of dutifull honour then any speciall affection with extreeme inward anguish to them both she turned from her and taking the Queene Ginaecia ledde her into a baye windowe of the same Chamber determining in her selfe not to vtter to so excellent a wit as Gynaecia had the vttermost poynt of her pretended deuise but to keepe the clause of it for the last instant when the shortnes oâ— the time should not geue her spirits leasure to looke into all those doubts that easily enter to an open inuention But with smiling eyes and with a deliuered ouer grace fayning as much loue to her as she did counterfeit loue to Philoclea she began with more credible then eloquent speech to tell her that with much consideracion of a matter so neerely importing her owne fancie and Gynaecias honour she had nowe concluded that the night following should be the fittest time for the ioyning together their seuerall desires what time sleepe should perfectly do his office vpon the King her husband and that the one should come to the other into the Caue Which place as it was the fyrst receipt of their promised loue so it might haue the fyrst honour of the due performance That the cause why those fewe dayes past she had not sought the lyke was least the newe chaunge of her lodging might make the Duke more apte to marke anye sodayne euent which nowe the vse of it would take out of his minde And therefore nowe most excellent Ladie sayde she there resteth nothing but that quicklie after supper you trayne vp the King to visit his daughter Philoclea and then fayning your selfe not well at ease by your going to bedde drawe him not long to be after you In the meane time I will be gone home to my lodging where I will attend you with no lesse deuocion but as I hope with better fortune then Thisbe did the toomuch
certayne deepe musing and by and by out of it vncertayne motions vnstayed graces Hauing borne out the limit of a reasonable time with as much payne as might be he came darkeling into his chamber forcing himselfe to treade as softly as he coulde But the more curious he was the more he thought euery thing creaked vnder him and his minde being out of the way with another thought and his eyes not seruing his turne in that darke place each Coffer or Cupbord he met one saluted his shinnes another his elbowes sometimes ready in reuenge to strike them agayne with his face Till at length fearing his wife were not fully asleepe he came lifting vp the cloathes as gently as I thinke poore Pan did when in stead of Ioles bedde he came into the rough imbracings of Hercules and laying himselfe downe as tenderly as a new Bride rested a while with a very open eare to marke each breath of his supposed wife And sometimes he himselfe would yeeld a long fetched sigh as though that had bene a musike to drawe one another to sleepe till within a very little while with the other parties well counterfeyt sleepe who was as willing to be rid of him as he was to be gone thence assuring himselfe he left all safe there in the same order stale out agayne and putting on his night gowne with much groping and scrambling he gate himselfe out of the little house and then did the Moone-light serue to guide his feete Thus with a great deale of payne did Basilius goe to her whome he fledde and with much cunning left the person for whome he had employed all his cunning But when Basilius was once gotten as he thought into a cleare coast what ioye he then made how each thing seemed vile in his sight in comparison of his fortune how farre already he deemed himselfe in the chiefe tower of his desires it were tedious to tell once his heart could not choose but yeeld this song as a fayring of his contentment GEt hence foule Griefe the canker of the minde Farewell Complaint the misers only pleasure Away vayne Cares by which fewe men do finde Their sought-for treasure Ye helplesse Sighes blowe out your breath to nought Teares drowne your selues for woe your cause is wasted Thought thinke to ende too long the frute of thought My minde hath tasted But thou sure Hope tickle my leaping heart Comfort step thou in place of wonted sadnes Fore-felt Desire begin to sauour parts Of comming gladnes Let voice of Sighes into cleare musike runne Eyes let your Teares with gazing now be mended In stede of Thought true pleasure be begunne And neuer ended Thus imagining as then with himselfe his ioyes so held him vp that he neuer touched ground And like a right olde beaten souldiour that knewe well enough the greatest Captaynes do neuer vse long Orations when it commes to the very point of execution as soone as he was gotten into the Caue and to the ioyfull though silent expectation of Gynaecia come close to the bed neuer recking his promise to looke for nothing but conference he lept into that side reserued for a more welcome guest And layeng his louingest hold vpon Gynaecia O Zelmane sayd he embrace in your fauor this humble seruant of yours hold within me my heart which pantes to leaue his maister to come vnto you In what case poore Gynaecia was when she knewe the voyce and felt the bodie of her husband faire Ladies it is better to knowe by imagination then experience For straight was her minde assaulted partly with the being depriued of her vnquenched desire but principallie with the doubt that Zelmane had betrayed her to her husband besides the renewed sting of iealosie what in the meane time might befall her daughter But of the other side her loue with a fixed perswasion she had taught her to seeke all reason of hopes And therein thought best before discouering of her selfe to marke the behauiour of her husband who both in deedes and wordes still vsing her as taking her to be Zelmane made Gynaecia hope that this might be Basilius owne enterprise which Zelmane had not stayed least she should discouer the matter which might be perfourmed at another time Which hope accompanyed with Basilius maner of dealing he being at that time fuller of liuelier fancies then many yeares before he had bene besides the remembrance of her daughters sicknesse and late strange countenance betwixt her Zelmane all comming together into her mind which was loth to condemne it selfe of an vtter ouerthrow made her frame her selfe not truly with a sugred ioye but with a determinate patience to let her husband thinke he had found a very gentle and supple-minded Zelmane which he good man making full reckening of did melt in as much gladnesse as she was oppressed with diuers vngratefull burthens But Pyrocles who had at this present no more to play the part of Zelmane hauing so naturally measured the maner of his breathing that Basilius made no doubt of his sounde sleeping and layne a preatie while with a quiet vnquietnes to perfourme his entended enterprise as soone as by the debate betwixt Basilius shinnes and the vnregarding fourmes he perceiued that he had fully left the Lodge after him went he with stealing steps hauing his sword vnder his arme still doubting least some mischance might turne Basilius backe againe downe to the gate of the Lodge Which not content to locke fast he barred and fortified with as many deuises as his wit and haste would suffer him that so he might haue full time both for making readye Philoclea and conueying her to her horse before any might come in to finde them missing For further endes of those endes and what might ensue of this action his loue and courage well matched neuer looked after houlding for an assured grounde that whosoeuer in great things will thinke to preuent all obiections must lye still and doo nothing This determination thus wayed the first part thus perfourmed vp to Philocleas chamber dore went Pyrocles rapt from himselfe with the excessiue fore-feeling of his as he assured himselfe neere comming contentment What euer paynes he had taken what daungers he had runne into and especially those sawcy pages of loue doubts griefes languishing hopes and threatning despayres came all now to his minde in one ranke to beawtifye his expected blisfulnesse and to serue for a most fit sawce whose sourenesse might giue a kinde of life to the delightfull cheare his imagination fed vpon All the great estate of his father all his owne glorie seemed vnto him but a trifling pompe whose good stands in other mens conceit in cōparison of the true comfort he found in the depth of his mind and the knowledge of any miserie that might ensue this ioyous aduenture was recked of but as a slight purchase of possessing the top of happines for so farre were his thoughts past through all perils that alreadie he conceyued himselfe safelie arriued
returnes an imagined wrong with an effectuall iniury O foole to make quarell my supplication or to vse hate as the mediator of loue childish Philoclea had thou throwne away the Iewell wherein all thy pride consisted Hast thou with too much hast ouerrun thy selfe Then would she renew her kisses O yet not finding the life retourne redouble her plaintes in this manner O diuine soule saide she whose vertue can possesse no lesse then the highest place in heauen if for mine eternall plague thou haste vtterly lefte this most sweet mansion before I follow thee with Thisbes punishment for my rashe vnwarinesse heare this protestation of mine That as the wrong I haue done thee proceeded of a most sincere but vnresistable affection so led with this pittifull example it shall ende in the mortall hate of my selfe and if it may be I will make my soule a tombe of thy memory At that worde with anguish of minde and weakenes of body encreased one by the other and both augmented by this feareful accident she had falne downe in a sounde but that Pyrocles then first seuering his eye liddes and quickly apprehending her daunger to him more then death beyond all powers striuing to recouer the commaundement of al his powers staied her from falling and then lifting the sweet burthen of her body in his armes laid her againe in her bedd So that she but then the Physition was nowe become the pacient he to whom her weaknesse had bene seruiceable was now enforced to do seruice to her weaknesse which performed by him with that hartie care which the most carefull loue on the best loued subiect in greatest extremitie could employ preuailed so farre that ere long shee was able though in strength exceedingly deiected to call home her wandering senses to yeelde attention to that her beloued Pyrocles had to deliuer But he lying downe on the bed by her holding her hand in his with so kind an accusing her of vnkindnes as in accusing her he condemned himself began from pointe to pointe to discouer vnto her all that had passed betwene his loathed louers him How he had entertained by entertaining deceiued both Basilius Gynecia that with such a kind of deceipt as either might see the cause in the other but neither espie the effect in themselues That al his fauors to theÌ„ had tended only to make them strangers to this his actioÌ„ al his strangnes to her to the final obtaining of her long promised now to be perfourmed fauour Which deuise seing it had so well succeeded to the remouing all other hinderances that only her resolutioÌ„ remained for the taking their happy iournie he coniured her by al the loue she had euer borne him shee would make no longer delay to partake with him whatsoeuer honors the noble kingdoÌ„e of Macedon al other Euarchus dominioÌ„s might yeeld him especially since in this enterprise he had now waded so farr as he could not possibly retire himself back without being ouerwhelmed with dauÌ„ger dishoÌ„our He neded not haue vsed further arguments of perswasioÌ„ for that only coniuratioÌ„ had so forcibly bound all her spirits that could her body haue secoÌ„ded her mind or her mind haue strengthened her body without respect of any worldly thing but only feare to be againe vnkind to Pyrocles she had condiscended to goe with him But raising her selfe a litle in her bed finding her own vnabilitie in any sorte to endure the aire My Pyrocles said she with tearefull eyes a pittifull couÌ„tenance such as well witnessed she had no will to deny any thing she had power to performe if you can conuey me hence in such plight as you see me I am most willing to make my â—xtreamest dauÌ„ger a testimonie that I esteme no dauÌ„ger in regard of your vertuous satisfaction But if shee fainted so faste that she was not able to vtter the rest of her conceiued speech which also turned Pyrocles thoughts from expecting further answere to the necessary care of reuiuing her in whose fainting himself was more theÌ„ ouerthrown And that hauing effected with al the sweet meaÌ„s his wits could deuise though his highest hopes were by this vnexpected downfall sunke deeper theÌ„ any degree of dispaire yet lest the appearaÌ„ce of his inward grief might occasioÌ„ her further discoÌ„fort hauing racked his face to a more coÌ„fortable semblaÌ„ce he sought some shew of reason to shew shee had no reason either for him or for her selfe so to be aflicted Which in the sweete minded Philoclea whose consideration was limited by his wordes and whose conceite pearced no deeper then his outwarde countenaunce wrought within a while such quietnesse of mind and that quietnesse againe such repose of bodie that slepe by his harbingers weakenesse wearines and watchfulnes had quickly taken vp his lodging in all her senses Then indeed had Pyrocles leasure to sit in iudgement on himselfe and to heare his reason accuse his rashnes who without forecaste of doubte without knowledge of his friende without acquainting Philoclea with his purpose or being made acquainted with her present estate had falne headlong into that attempt the successe whereof hee had long since set downe to himselfe as the measure of all his other fortunes But calling to minde howe weakely they do that rather finde faulte with what cannot be amended then seek to amend wherein they haue beene faultie he soone turned him from remembring what might haue beene done to considering what was now to be done and when that consideration fayled what was now to be expected Wherein hauing runne ouer all the thoughts his reason called to the strictest accountes could bring before him at length he lighted on this That as long as Gynecia bewraied not the matter which he thought she woulde not doe aswell for her owne honour and safetie as for the hope she might stil haue of him which is loth to die in a louers hart all the rest might turne to a preatie meryment and enflame his louer Basilius againe to cast aboute for the missed fauour And as naturally the harte stuffed vp with wofulnes is glad greedelie to sucke the thinnest aire of comforte so did hee at the first embrace this conceite as offeringe great hope if not assurance of well doing Till looking more neerely into it and not able to answere the doubts and difficulties he sawe therein more and more arising the night being also farre spent his thoughtes euen wearie of their owne burthens fell to a straying kind of vncertaintie and his minde standing onely vpon the nature of inward intelligences lefte his bodie to giue a sleeping respite to his vitall spirites which he according to the qualitie of Sorrow receiued with greater greedines then euer in his life before According to the nature of sorrow I say which is past cares remedie For care sturring the braines and making thinne the spirites breaketh rest but those griefes wherein one is determined there is no preuenting do brede a dull
man might perceue what smal difference in the working there is betwixt a simple voidnes of euill a iudiciall habit of vertue For she not with an vnshaked magnanimity wherewith Pyrocles wayed dispised death but with an innocent guiltlessnes not knowing why she should feare to deliuer her vnstayned soule to God helped with the true louing of Pyrocles which made her think no life without him did almost bring her minde to as quiet attending all accidents as the vnmastred vertu of Pyrocles Yet hauing with a pretty palenes which did leaue milken lines vpon her rosie cheekes payd a little dutie to humane feare taking the Prince by the hand and kissing the wound he had giuen himselfe O the only life of my life and if it fall out so the comforte of my death saide shee farre farre from you be the doing me such wronge as to thinke I will receaue my life as a purchase of your death but well may you make my death so much more miserable as it shall any thinge be delayed after my onely felicitie Doe you thincke I can accompte of the moment of death like the vnspeakeable afflictions my soule shoulde suffer so ofte as I call Pyrocles to my minde which should be as ofte as I breathed Should these eyes guide my steppes that had seene your murder should these hands feede me that had not hindred such a mischiefe Should this harte remaine within me at euery pant to count the continuall clock of my miseries O no if die we must let vs thanke death he hath not deuided so true an vnion And truely my Pyrocles I haue heard my father and other wise men say that the killing ones selfe is but a false coulloure of true courage proceeding rather of feare of a further euil either of torment or shame For if it were a not respecting the harme that woulde likewise make him not respect what might be done vnto him and hope being of al other the most contrary thing to feare this being an vtter banishment of hope it seemes to receaue his ground in feare Whatsoeuer would they say comes out of despaire cannot beare the title of valure which should bee lifted vp to such a hight that holding al things vnder it selfe it should be able to maintaine his greatnes euen in the middest of miseries Lastly they would saye God had appointed vs Captaines of these our boddylie fortes which without treason to that Maiestie were neuer to be deliuered ouer till they were redemaunded Pyrocles who had that for a lawe vnto him not to leaue Philoclea in any thing vnsatisfied although hee still remained in his former purpose and knew that time would grow short for it yet hearing no noyse the shepheardes being as then run to Basilius with setled and humbled countenaunce as a man that should haue spoken of a thing that did not concerne himself bearing eueÌ„ in his eyes sufficient showes that it was nothing but Philocleas danger which did any thinge burden his harte farre stronger then fortune hauing with vehement embracinges of her got yet some fruite of his delayed end he thus aunswered the wise innocency of Philoclea Lady most worthy not only of life but to be the verie life of al things the more notable demonstrations you make of the loue so farre beyond my deserte with which it pleaseth you to ouercome fortune in making mee happye the more am I euen in course of humanitie to leaue that loues force which I neither can nor will leaue bound to seeke requitals witnes that I am not vngratefull to do which the infinitnes of your goodnes being such as it caÌ„not reach vnto it yet doing al I can and paying my life which is all I haue though it be farre without measure shorte of your desarte yet shall I not die in debt to mine owne dutie And truly the more excellent arguments you made to keep me from this passage imagined farre more terrible then it is the more plainely it makes mee see what reason I haue to preuent the losse not only of Arcadia but all the face of the earth should receaue iâ— such a tree which euen in his first spring doth not onely beare most beautifull blossomes but most rare fruites should be so vntimely cut off Therefore ô most truely beloued Lady to whom I desire for both our goods that these may bee my last wordes geue me your consent euen out of that wisedome which must needes see that besids your vnmatched betternesse which perchaunce you will not see it is fitter one dietheÌ„ both And since you haue sufficiently showed you loue me let me claime by that loue you wil â—e content rather to let me die contentedly then wretchedly rather with a cleare and ioyfull conscience then with desperate condemnation in my selfe that I accursed villaine shoulde bee the meane of banishing from the sight of men the true example of vertue And because there is nothing lefte me to be imagined which I so much desire as that the memory of Pyrocles may euer haue an allowed place in your wise iudgement I am content to drawe so much breath longer as by aunswearing the sweete obiections you alledged maye bequath as I thinke aright conceate vnto you that this my doinge is out of iudgement and not sprong of passion Your father you say was wont to say that this like action doth more proceed of feare of furder euil or shame then of a true courage Truly first they put a very gessing case speaking of them who can euer after come to tell with what minde they did it And as for my parte I call the immortall truth to witnes that no feare of torment can appall me who know it is but diuerse manners of apparelling death and haue long learned to set bodely paine but in the second fourme of my being And as for shame how can I be ashamed of that for which my well meaning conscience wil answeare for me to God and your vnresistable beautie to the world But to take that argument in his owne force and graunt it done for auoyding of further paine or dishonour for as for the name of feare it is but an odious title of a passion giuen to that which true iudgement performeth graunt I say it is to shun a worse case truly I do not see but that true fortitude loking into al humaine things with a persisting resolutioÌ„ carried away neither with wonder of pleasing things nor astonishment of the vnpleasaunt doth not yet depriue it selfe of the discerning the difference of euill but rather is the onely vertue which with an assured tranquillitye shunnes the greater by the valiant entring into the lesse Thus for his countries safety he wil spend his life for the sauing of a lym he will not niggardly spare his goods for the sauing of all his body hee will not spare the cutting of a lym where indeed the weake harted man will rather dye then see the face of a surgeon who mightwith as
indeede you shall haue the ende you shoote at for in steede of one death you shall geue me a thousand and yet in the meane time depriue me of the helpe God may sende me Pyrocles euen ouerwayed with her so wisely vttred affection finding her determinacion so fixed that his ende should but depriue them both of a present contentment and not auoyde a comming euill as a man that ranne not vnto it by a sodayne qualme of passion but by a true vse of reason preferring her life to his owne nowe that wisedome did manifest vnto him that waye woulde not preuayle he retired himselfe with as much tranquillitie from it as before he had gone vnto it Like a man that had set the keeping or leauing of the bodye as a thing without himselfe and so had thereof a freed and vntroubled consideracion Therefore throwing away the barre from him and taking her vp from the place where he thought the consummating of all beawties very vnworthely lay suffring all his sences to deuoure vp their chiefest foode which he assured himselfe they should shortly after for euer be depriued of well said he most deere Lady whose contentment I preferre before mine own and iudgement esteeme more then mine owne I yeeld vnto your pleasure The gods send you haue not woon your owne losse For my part they are my witnesses that I thinke I do more at your commaundement in delayeng my death then another would in bestowing his life But now sayd he as thus farre I haue yeelded vnto you so graunt me in recompence thus much againe that I may finde your loue in graunting as you haue sound your authoritye in obteyning My humble suite is you will say I came in by force into your Chamber for so am I resolued now to affirme and that will be the best for vs both but in no case name my name that whtsoeuer come of me my house be not dishonored Philoclea fearing least refusall would turne him backe againe to his violent refuge gaue him a certayne countenance that might shewe she did yeeld to his request the latter part whereof indeed she meant for his sake to performe Neyther could they spend more wordes together for Philanax with twentie of the noblest personages of Arcadia after him were come into the Lodge Philanax making the rest stay belowe for the reuerence he bare to womanhood as stillie as he could came to the dore and opening it drewe the eyes of these two dolefull louers vpon him Philoclea cloasing againe for modestie sake within her bed the ritchesse of her beawties but Pyrocles tooke holde of his barre minding at least to dye before the excellent Philoclea should receyue any outrage But Philanax rested awhile vppon himselfe stricken with admiracion at the goodlie shape of Pyrocles whome before he had neuer seene and withall remembring besides others the notable acte he had done when with his courage and eloquence he had saued Basilius perchaunce the whole state from vtter ruyne he felte a kinde of relenting minde towardes him But when that same thought came waighted on with the remembraunce of his maisters death which he by all probabilities thought he had bene of Councell vnto with the Queene compassion turned to hatefull passion and lefte in Philanax a straunge medley betwixt pittie and reuenge betwixt lyking and abhorring O Lorde sayde hee to himselfe what wonders doth nature in our tyme to set wickednesse so beawtifully garnished and that which is straungest out of one spring to make wonderfull effectes both of vertue and vice to issue Pyrocles seeing him in such a muse neyther knowing the man nor the cause of his comming but assuring himselfe it was for no good yet thought best to begin with him in this sort Gentleman sayde hee what is the cause of your comming to my Lady Philocleas chamber is it to defende her from such violence as I might goe about to offer vnto her if it be so truly your comming is vayne for her owne vertue hath bene a sufficient resistaunce there needes no strength to be added to so inuiolate chastetie the excellencie of her mind makes her bodie impregnable Which for mine own part I had soone yelded to confesse with going out of this place where I found but little comfort being so disdainefully receiued had I not bene I know not by whom presently vpon my cōming hether so locked into this chamber that I could neuer escape hence where I was fettred in the most gilty shame that euer mā was seing what a paradise of vnspotted goodnes my filthy thoughts sought to defile If for that therfore you come alredy I assure you your arrāt is performed but if it be to bring me to any punishmēt whatsouer for hauing vndertaken so vnexcusable presumption Truly I beare such an accuser about me of mine own conscience that I willingly submit my selfe vnto it Only this much let me demaund of you that you will be a witnesse vnto the King what you heare me say oppose your selfe that neither his sodaine fury nor any other occasion may offer any hurt to this Lady in whome you see nature hath accomplished so much that I am faine to lay mine owne faultines as a foile of her purest excellency I can say no more but looke vppon her beawtie remember her bloud consider her yeares and iudge rightly of her vertues and I doubt not a gentlemans mind will then be a sufficient enstructer vnto you in this I may tearme it miserable chaunce happened vnto her by my vnbridled audacitie Philanax was content to heare him out not for any fauour he owed him but to see whether he would reueale any thing of the originall cause and purpose of the kings death But finding it so farre from that that he named Basilius vnto him as supposing him aliue thinking it rather cunning then ignorance Yong man said he whome I haue cause to hate before I haue meane to know you vse but a point of skill by confessing the manifest smaller fault to be beleeued hereafter in the deniall of the greater But for that matter all passeth to one end and hereafter we shal haue leisure by torments to seke the truth if the loue of truth it selfe will not bring you vnto it As for my Lady Philoclea if it so fall out as you say it shall be the more fit for her yeares comedy for the great house she is come of that an ill gouerned beawtie hath not cancelled the rules of vertue But howsoeuer it be it is not for you to teach an Arcadian what reuerent duty we owe to any of that progeny But said he come you with me without resistance for the one cannot auaile and the other may procure pitie Pitie said Pyrocles with a bitter smiling disdained with so currish an answere no no Arcadian I can quickly haue pitie of my selfe and I would think my life most miserable which should be a gift of thine Only I demaund this innocent Ladies securitie which vntill
no time nor place will euer bee forgiuen you They that yet trusted not to his courtesie bad him stande further off from his sword which he obediently did So farre was loue aboue al other thoughts in him Then did they call together the rest of their fellowes who though they were fewe yet according to their number possesâ—ed many places And then began these sauage Senators to make a consultation what they should do some wishing to spoile them of their Iewels and let them go on their iourney for that if they carried them back they were sure they should haue least parte of their pray others preferring their old homes to any thing desired to bring them to Basilius as pledges of their surety and ther wanted not which cried the safest way was to kill them both to such an vnworthy thraldom were these great and excellent personages brought But the most part resisted to the killing of the Princesse fore-seing their liues would neuer bee safe after such a fact committed and beganne to wish rather the spoyle then death of Musidorus when the villaine that had his legge cut off came scrawling towardes them and being helped to them by one of the companie began with a growning voice and a disfigured face to demaunde the reuenge of his blood which since hee had spent with them in their defence it were no reason he should be suffered by them to die discontented The onely contentment he required was that by their helpe with his own hands he might put his murderer to some cruel death he would faine haue cried more against Musidorus but that the much losse of bloud helped on with this vehemencie choked vp the spirits of his life leauing him to make betwixt his body and soule an ill fauoured partition But they seing their fellow in that sorte die before their faces did swell in newe mortall rages All resolued to kill him but nowe onely considering what manner of terrible death they should inuent for him Thus was a while the agrement of his slaying broken by the disagrement of the manner of it extremitie of cruelty grew for a time to be the stop of crueltie At length they were resolued euery one to haue a pece of him and to become all aswell hangmen as iudges when Pamela tearing her heare and falling downe among them somtimes with al the sorte of humble praiers mixt with promises of great good turnes which they knew her state was able to performe sometimes threatning them that if they kild him and not her she would not onely reuenge it vpon them but vpon all their wiues and children bidding them consider that though they might thinke shee was come away in her fathers displeasure yet they might be sure hee would euer shewe himselfe a father that the Gods woulde neuer if shee liued put her in so base estate but that she should haue abilitie to plague such as they were returning a fresh to prayers and promises and mixing the same againe with threatninges brought them who were now growne colder in their fellowes cause who was past aggrauating the matter with his cryes to determine with themselues there was no way but either to kil them both or saue them both As for the killing already they hauing aunsweared themselues that that was a way to make them Cittezens of the woodes for euer they did in fine conclude they would retourne them backe againe to the King which they did not doubt would bee cause of a greate reward besides their safetie from their fore-deserued punishment Thus hauing either by fortune or the force of those two louers inward working vertue setled their cruel harts to this geÌ„tler course they tooke the two horses and hauing set vpon them their princely prisoners they retorned towards the lodge The villaines hauing decked al their heads with lawrel branches as thinking they had done a notable acte singing and showting ranne by them in hope to haue brought them the same day againe to the King But the time was so farre spent that they were forced to take vp that nights lodging in the middest of the woods Where while the clownes continued their watch about them nowe that the night according to his darke nature did add a kind of desolation to the pensiue harts of these two afflicted louers Musidorus taking the tender hand of Pamela bedewing it with his tearesâ— in this sort gaue an issue to the swelling of his harts grief Most excellent Lady said hee in what case thinke you am I with my selfe howe vnmerciful iudgements do I lay vpon my soule now that I know not what God hath so reuerssed my wel meaning enterprise as in steed of doing you that honour which I hoped and not without reason hoped Thessalia should haue yeelded vnto you am now like to become a wretched instrumeÌ„t of your discomfort Alas how contrary an end haue al the enclinations of my mind taken my faith falls out a treason vnto you and the true honour I beare you is the fielde wherein your dishonour is like to bee sowen But I inuoke that vniuersal and only wisdome which examining the depth of harts hath not his indgement fixed vpon the euent to beare testimonie with me that my desire though in extremest vehemencie yet did not so ouercharge my remembrance but that as farre as mans wit might be extended I sought to preuent al-things that might fall to your hurt But now that all the euil fortunes of euil fortune haue crossed my best framed entent I am most miserable in that that I cannot only not geue you helpe but which is worst of all am barred from giuing you counsail For how should I open my mouth to counsaile you in that wherein by my councel you are most vndeseruedly fallen The faire and wise Pamela although full of cares of the vnhappie turning of this matter yet seing the greefe of Musidorus onely stirred for her did so treade downe all other motions with the true force of vertue that she thus aunswered him hauing first kissed him which before she had neuer done either loue so coÌ„maunding her which doubted how long they should enioy one another or of a liuely spark of noblenes to descend in most fauour to one when he is lowest in affliction My deere and euer deere Musidorus said shee a greater wronge doe you to your selfe that will torment you thus with griefe for the fault of fortune Since a man is bound no further to himselfe then to doe wisely chaunce is only to trouble them that stand vpon chaunce But greater is the wronge at least if any thinge that comes from you may beare the name of wrong you doe vnto me to thinke me either so childish as not to perceaue your faithful faultlessnes or perceauing it so basely disposed as to let my harte be ouerthrown standing vpon it selfe in so vnspotted a purenes Hold for certaine most worthy Musidorus it is your selfe I loue which can no more be diminished by these showers
of euill hap then flowers are marred with the timely raynes of Aprill For how can I want comforte that haue the true and liuing comforte of my vnblemished vertue And how can I want honour as long as Musidorus in whom indeed honour is doth honour me Nothing bred from my self can discomfort me fooles opinions I wil not recken as dishonour Musidorus looking vp to the starres O mind of minds said he the liuing power of all things which dost with al these eies behold our euer varying actiōs accept into thy fauorable eares this praier of mine Yf I may any longer hold out this dwelling on the earth which is called a life graunt me abilitie to deserue at this Ladies handes the grace shee hath shewed vnto me graunt me wisdome to know her wisdome and goodnes so to encrease my loue of her goodnes that all mine owne chosen desires be to my selfe but second to her determinations What soeuer I be let it be to her seruice let me herein be satisfied that for such infinite fauours of vertue I haue some way wrought her satisfaction But if my last time aprocheth and that I am no longer to be amongst mortall creatures make yet my death serue her to some purpose that hereafter shee may not haue cause to repent her selfe that she bestowed so excellent a minde vpon Musidorus Pamela coulde not choose but accord the conceite of their fortune to these passionate prayers in so much that her constant eyes yeelded some teares which wiping from her faire face with Musidorus hande speaking softly vnto him as if she had feared more any body should be witnes of her weakenes then of any thing els shee had said you see said she my Prince and onely Lord what you worke in me by your much greuing for me I praye you thinke I haue no ioye but in you and if you fill that with sorrow what do you leaue for mee What is prepared for vs we know not but that with sorrow we cannot preuent it wee knowe Now let vs turne from these things and thinke you how you will haue me behaue my selfe towardes you in this matter Musidorus finding the authoritie of her speach confirmed with direct necessitie the first care came to his minde was of his deare friend and cosin Pyrocles with whome long before hee had concluded what names they shoulde beare if vpon any occasion they were forced to geue them selues out for great men and yet not make them selues fully knowen Now fearing least if the Princes should name him for Musidorus the fame of their two being together would discouer Pyrocles holding her hand betwixt his handes a good while together I did not thinke most excellent Princesse saide hee to haue made any further request vnto you for hauing bene alredie to you so vnfortunate a suiter I knowe not what modestie can beare any further demaūd But the estate of on young man whom next to you far aboue my selfe I loue more then all the world one worthy of all well being for the notable constitution of the mind and most vnworthy to receaue hurt by me whom he doth in all faith and constancie loue the pittie of him onely goes beyond all resolution to the contrarie Then did hee to the Princesse great admiration tell her the whole story as farre as he knew of it and that when they made the greuous disiūction of their long company they had concluded Musidorus should entitle himself Paladius Prince of Iberia and Pyrocles should be Daiphantus of Lycia Now said Musidorus he keeping a womans habit is to vse no other name then Zelmane but I that finde it best of the on side for your honour you went away with a Prince and not with a sheepheard of the other side accompting my death lesse euil then the betraying of that sweete frende of mine will take this meane betwixt both and vsing the name of Paladius if the respect of a Prince will stop your fathers furie that will serue aswell as Musidorus vntil Pyrocles fortune being som way established I may freely geue good proofe that the noble contrie of Thessalia is mine and if that will not mitigate your fathers opinion to me wards nature I hope working in your excellencies wil make him deale well by you for my parte the image of death is nothing fearefull vnto me and this good I shall haue reaped by it that I shall leaue my most esteemed friend in no danger to be disclosed by me And besides since I must confesse I am not without a remorse of his case my vertuous mother shal not know her sonnes violent death hid vnder the fame will goe of Paladius But as long as her yeares now of good number be counted among the liuing shee may ioye her selfe with some possibilitie of my returne Pamela promising him vpon no occasion euer to name him fell into extremytie of weping as if her eyes had beene content to spend all their seing moistnes now that there was speech of the losse of that which they held as their chiefest light So that Musidorus was forced to repaire her good counsailes with sweete consolations which continued betwixt them vntill it was about midnight that sleep hauing stolne into their heauie sences and now absolutely commaunding in their vitall powers lefte them delicately wound on in anothers armes quietly to waite for the comming of the morning Which as soone as shee appeared to play her parte laden as you haue heard with so many well occasioned lamentations Their lobbish garde who all night had kept themselues awake with prating how valiant deedes they had done when they ranne away and how faire a death their felowe had died who at his last gaspe sued to bee a hangman awaked them and set them vpon their horses to whom the very shining force of excellent vertue though in a very harrish subiect had wrought a kinde of reuerence in them Musidorus as he rid among them of whom they had no other holde but of Pamela thinking it want of a well squared iudgement to leaue any meane vnassayed of sauing their liues to this purpose spake to his vnseemly gardians vsing a plaine kind of phrase to make his speach the more credible My maisters said he there is no man that is wise but hath in what soeuer hee doth some purpose whereto hee directes his doinges which so long he followes till he see that either that purpose is not worth the paines or that another doinge caries with it a better purpose That you are wise in what you take in hand I haue to my cost learned that makes me desire you to tell me what is your ende in carying the Princesse and me backe to her father Pardon saide one rewarde cried another well saide he take both although I know you are so wise to remember that hardly they both will goe togeather being of so contrary a making for the ground of pardon is an euill neither any man pardons but remembers an
euill done the cause of rewarde is the opinion of some good acte and who so rewardeth that holdes the chief place of his fancie Now one man of one companie to haue the same consideration both of good and euill but that the conceite of pardoning if it bee pardoned will take away the minde of rewarding is very hard if not impossible For either euen in iustice will he punish the fault as well as reward the desert or els in mercie ballance the one by the other so that the not chastising shal be a sufficient satisfiing Thus then you may see that in your owne purpose rests greate vncertaintie But I will graunt that by this your deede you shall obtaine your double purpose Yet consider I pray you whether by another meane that may not better be obtained then I doubt not your wisdomes wil teach you to take hold of the better I am sure you knowe any body were better haue no neede of a pardon then enioy a pardon for as it carries with it the suretie of a preserued life so beares it a continuall note of a deserued death This therefore besides the daunger you may runne into my Lady Pamela being the vndoubted enheritrixe of this state if shee shall hereafter seeke to reuenge your wrong done her shall bee continually cast in your teeth as men dead by the lawe the honester sorte will disdaine your company your children shal be the more basely reputed of you yourselues in euery slight fault hereafter as men once condemned aptest to bee ouerthrowne Now if you will I doubt not you will for you are wise turne your course and garde my Lady Pamela thither ward whether shee was going first you neede not doubt to aduenture your fortunes where shee goes and there shall you be assured in a countrie as good and rich as this of the same manners and language to bee so farre from the conceate of a pardon as we both shall be forced to acknowledge we haue receaued by your meanes what soeuer we holde deere in this life And so for rewarde iudge you whether it be not more likely you shall there receaue it where you haue done no euill but singuler and vndeserued goodnes or here where this seruice of yours shal be diminished by your dutie and blemished by your former fault Yes I protest and sweare vnto you by the faire eyes of that Lady there shall no Gentlemen in all that country bee preferred You shall haue riches ease pleasure and that which is best to such worthy mindes you shall not bee forced to crie mercy for a good facte You onely of all the Arcadians shall haue the prayse in continuing in your late valiaunt attempte and not basely bee brought vnder a halter for seeking the libertie of Arcadia These wordes in their mindes who did nothing for any loue of goodnes but onely as their senses presented greater showes of proffit beganne to make them wauer and some to clappe their hands and scratch their heades and sweare it was the best way Others that would seeme wiser then the rest to capitulate what tenements they should haue what subsidies they should pay others to talke of their wiues in doubt whether it were best to send for thē or to take new wher they went most like fooles not reddely thinking what was next to bee done but imagining what cheere they woulde make when they came there one or two of the least discourses beginning to turne their faces towards the woods which they had lefte But being nowe come within the plaine neere to the lodges vnhappily they espied a troupe of horsmen But then their false harts had quickly for the present feare forsaken their last hopes and therfore keeping on the way toward the lodge with songes of cries and ioye the horsemen who were some of them Philanax had sent out to the search of Pamela came gallowping vnto them marueyling who they were that in such a generall mourning durst singe ioyfull tunes and in so publicke a ruine were the lawrell tokens of victorie And that which seemed straungest they might see two among them vnarmed like prisoners but riding like captaines But when they came neerer they perceaued the one was a Lady and the Lady Pamela Then glad they had by happ found that which they so litle hoped to meete withall taking these clownes who first resisted them for the desire they had to be the deliuerers of the two excellent prisoners learning that they were of those rebells which had made the daungerous vprore aswell vnder cullour to punish that as this their last withstanding them but indeed their principal cause being because they themselues would haue the onely praise of their owne quest they suffered not one of them to liue Marry three of the stubbernest of them they lefte their bodies hanging vppon the trees because their doing might carry the likelier forme of iudgement Such an vnlooked for end did the life of iustice worke for the naughtie minded wretches by subiects to be executed that would haue executed Princes and to suffer that without lawe which by lawe they had deserued And thus these yonge folkes twise prisoners before any due arrest deliuered of their iayloures but not of their iayle had rather change then respit of misery these souldiers that tooke them with verie fewe wordes of entertainement hasting to carrie them to their Lorde Philanax to whom they came euen as he going out of the Lady Philocleas chamber had ouertaken Pyrocles whom before hee had deliuered to the custody of a noble man of that countrie When Pyrocles led towardes his prison sawe his friend Musidorus with the noble Lady Pamela in that in expected sorte returned his griefe if any griefe were in a minde which had placed euery thing according to his naturall worthe was verie much augmented for besides some small hope hee had if Musidorus had once bene cleere of Arcadia by his dealing and aucthoritie to haue brought his onely gladsome desires to a good issue The hard estate of his friend did no lesse nay rather more vexe him then his owne For so indeede it is euer founde where valure and friendshipp are perfectly coopled in one hart the reason being that the resolute man hauing once disgested in his iudgement the worst extremitie of his owne case and hauing either quiet expelled or at least repelled all passion which ordinarilie followes an ouerthrowne fortune not knowing his friendes minde so well as his owne nor with what pacience he brookes his case which is as it were the materiall cause of making a man happie or vnhappie doubts whether his friend accomptes not him selfe more miserable and so indeede bee more lamentable But assoone as Musidorus was brought by the souldiers neere vnto Philanax Pyrocles not knowing whether euer after hee should bee suffered to see his friende and determining there could be no aduauntage by dissembling a not knowing of him leapt sodainelie from their hands that helde him and passing
a constant but reuerent behauiour desired them they would not exercise priuate grudges in so common a necessitye Hee acknowledged himselfe a man and a faultye man to the cleering or satisfyeng of which he would at all times submit himselfe since his ende was to bring all things to an vpright iudgement it should euill fitt him to flye the iudgement But sayde he my Lordes let not Timantus rayling speech who whatsoeuer he findes euill in his owne soule can with ease lay it vppon another make me loose your good fauour Consider that all well doing stands so in the middle betwixt his two contrarye euils that it is a readye matter to cast a slaunderous shade vpon the most approued vertues Who hath an euill toong can call seueritie crueltie and faithfull dilligence dilligent ambition But my ende is not to excuse my selfe nor to accuse him for both those hereafter will be time enough There is neyther of vs whose purging or punishing may so much import to Arcadia Now I request you for your owne honours sake and require you by the duety you owe to this estate that you doo presently according to the lawes take in hande the chastizement of our maisters murderers and laying order for the gouernment by whom soeuer it be done so it be done and iustly done I am satisfyed My labour hath bene to frame things so as you might determine now it is in you to determine For my part I call the heauens to witnesse the care of my heart stands to repaye that wherein both I and most of you were tyed to that Prince with whome all my loue of worldly action is dead As Philanax was speaking his last wordes there came one running to him with open mouth and fearefull eyes telling him that there were a great number of the people which were bent to take the young men out of Sympathus hands and as it should seeme by their acclamacions were like inough to proclayme them Princes Nay sayde Philanax speaking alowde and looking with a iust anger vppon the other noble men it is nowe season to heare Timantus idle slanders while strangers become our Lordes and Basilius murderers sit in his throne But who soeuer is a true Arcadian let him followe me With that he went towarde the place he heard of followed by those that had euer loued him and some of the noble men Some other remayning with Timantus who in the meane time was conspiring by strong hand to deliuer Gynaecia of whome the weakest guard was had But Philanax where he went found them all in an vprore which thus was fallne out The greatest multitude of people that were come to the death of Basilius were the Mantineans as being the nearest Citie to the lodges Among these the chiefe man both in authoritye and loue was Kalander he that not long before had bene hoste to the two Princes whome though he knewe not so much as by name yet besides the obligacion he stood bound to them in for preseruing the liues of his sonne or nephewe theyr noble behauiour had bred such loue in his heart towardes them as both with teares he parted from them when they left him vnder promise to returne and did keepe their iewells and apparrell as the relicks of two demy gods Among others he had entred the prison and seene them which forthwith so inuested his soule both with sorrowe and desire to helpe them whome he tendred as his children that calling his neighbours the Mantineans vnto him he tould them all the prayses of those two young men swearing he thought the gods had prouided for them better then they themselues could haue imagined He willed them to consider that when all was done Basilius children must enioy the state who since they had chosen and chosen so as all the world could not mende their choise why should they resist Gods doing and theyr Princesses pleasure This was the only way to purchase quietnes without blood where otherwise they should at one instant crowne Pamela with a Crowne of golde and a dishonoured title Which whether euer she would forget he thought it fit for them to way such said he heroicall greatnes shines in their eyes such an extraordinary maiestie in all their actions as surely either fortune by parentage or nature in creation hath made them Princes And yet a state already we haue we neede but a man who since he is presented vnto you by the heauenly prouidence embraced by your vndoubted Princesse worthy for their youth of compassion for their beawtie of admiracion for their excellent vertue to be monarkes of the world shall we not be content with our owne blisse Shall we put out our eyes because another man cannot see or rather like some men when too much good happens vnto them they thinke themselues in a dreame and haue not spirits to taste their owne goods No no my friends beleeue me I am so vnpartiall that I knowe not their names but so ouercome with their vertue that I shall then thinke the destenyes haue ordayned a perpetuall florishing to Arcadia when they shall allot such a gouernor vnto it This spoken by a man graue in yeares great in authoritie neere allyed to the Prince and knowen honest preuayled so with all the Mantineans that with one voyce they ranne to deliuer the two Princes But Philanax came in time to withstand them both sides yet standing in armes and rather wanting a beginning then mindes to enter into a bloudy conflict Which Philanax foreseeing thought best to remoue the prisoners secretly and if neede were rather without forme of iustice to kill them then against iustice as hee thought to haue them vsurpe the state But there agayne arose a new trouble For Sympathus the noble man that kept them was so stricken in compassion with their excellent presence that as he would not falsifye his promise to Philanax to geue them libertye so yet would he not yeeld them to himselfe fearing he would do them violence Thus tumult vppon tumult arising the Sunne I thinke aweary to see theyr discords had alreadye gone downe to his Westerne lodging But yet to knowe what the poore Shepherds did who were the fyrst descryers of these matters will not to some eares perchance be a tedious digression Heere endes the fourth booke or acte The fourth Eglogues THE Shepheards finding no place for them in these garboyles to which their quiet hearts whose highest ambition was in keeping themselues vp in goodnes had at all no aptnes retired themselues from among the clamorous multitude and as sorowe desires company went vp together to the Westerne side of a hill whose prospect extended it so farre as they might well discerne many of Arcadias beawtyes And there looking vpon the Sunnes as then declining race the poore men sate pensiue of their present miseries as if they founde a wearines of theyr wofull wordes till at last good olde Geron who as he had longest tasted the benefites of Basilius gouernment so seemed to
it shoulde not onely be vniust and against the lawe of Nations not well to receyue a Prince whome good will had brought among them but in respecte of the greatnes of his might very daungerous to geue him any cause of due offence remembring withall the excellent tryalls of his equitie which made him more famous then his victoryes hee thought hee might bee the fittest instrumente to redresse the ruynes they were in since his goodnes put hym without suspicion and hys greatnesse beyonde enuye Yet weighing with himselfe howe harde many heads were to be brideled and that in this monstrous confusion such mischiefe mighte be attempted of which late repentance should after be but a simple remedie he iudged best first to knowe how the peoples mindes would sway to this determinacion Therefore desiring the Gentleman to returne to the King his maister and to beseech him though with his paynes to stay for an houre or two where he was till he had set things in better order to receiue him he himselfe went fyrst to the Noble men then to Kalander and the principall Mantineans who were most opposite vnto him desiring them that as the night had most blessedly stayed them from entring into ciuill bloud so they would be content in the night to assemble the people together to heare some newes which he was to deliuer vnto them There is nothing more desirous of nouelties then a man that feares his present fortune Therefore they whome mutuall diffidence made doubtfull of their vtter destruction were quickly perswaded to heare of any newe matter which might alter at least if not helpe the nature of their feare Namely the chiefest men who as they had most to lose so were most iealous of their owne case and were alreadye growne as wearye to be followers of Timantus ambition as before they were enuyers of Philanax worthinesse As for Kalander and Sympathus as in the one a vertuous friendship had made him seeke to aduaunce in the other a naturall commiseration had made him willing to protect the excellent though vnfortunate prisoners so were they not against this conuocation For hauing nothing but iust desires in them they did not mistrust the iustifyeng of them Only Timantus laboured to haue withdrawne them from this assemblye sayeng it was time to stop their eares from the ambitious charmes of Philanax Let them fyrst deliuer Gynaecia and her daughters which were fit persons to heare and then they might begin to speake That this was but Philanax comming to liâ—ke broyle vpon broyle because he might auoyd the answering of his trespasses which as he had long intended so had he prepared coullored speeches to disguise them But as his words expressed rather a violence of rancour then any iust ground of accusation so pierced they no further then to some partiall eares the multitude yeelding good attention to what Philanax would propose vnto them Who like a man whose best building was a well-framed conscience neyther with plausible words nor fawning countenance but euen with the graue behauiour of a wise father whome nothing but loue makes to chide thus sayd vnto them I haue said he a great matter to deliuer vnto you and thereout am I to make a greater demaund of you But truly such hath this late proceeding bene of yours that I knowe not what is not to be demaunded of you Me thinkes I may haue reason to require of you as men are woont among Pirates that the life of him that neuer hurt you may be safe Me thinkes I am not without apparence of cause as if you were Cyclopes or Cannibals to desire that our Princes body which hath thirtie yeares maintained vs in a flourishing peace be not torne in pieces or deuoured among you but may be suffred to yeeld it selfe which neuer was defiled with any of your blouds to the naturall rest of the earth Me thinkes not as to Arcadians renowmed for your faith to Prince and loue of Country but as to sworne enemyes of this sweete soyle I am to desire you that at least if you will haue straungers to your Princes yet you will not deliuer the seignory of this goodly Kingdome to your noble Kings murtherers Lastly I haue reason as if I had to speake to mad men to desire you to be good to your selues For before God what either barbarous violence or vnnaturall follie hath not this day had his seate in your mindes and left his footsteps in your actions But in troth I loue you too well to stand long displayeng your faults I would you your selues did forget them so you did not fall againe into them For my part I had much rather be an orator of your prayses But now if you will suffer attentiue iudgement and not foreiudging passion to be the waigher of my wordes I will deliuer vnto you what a blessed meane the Gods haue sent vnto you if you list to embrace it I thinke there is none among you so young either in yeares or vnderstanding but hath heard the true fame of that iust Prince Euarchus King of Macedon A Prince with whom our late maister did euer holde most perfit alliance He euen he is this day come hauing but twenty horse with him within two miles of this place hoping to haue found the vertuous Basilius aliue but now willing to do honor to his death Surely surely the heauenly powers haue in so full a time bestowed him on vs to vnite our diuisions For my part therefore I wish that since among our selues we can not agree in so manifold partialities we do put the ordering of all these things into his hands aswell touching the obsequies of the King the punishment of his death as the mariage and crowning of our Princesse He is both by experience and wisedome taught how to direct his greatnesse such as no man can disdaine to obey him his equitie such as no man neede to feare him Lastly as he hath all these qualities to helpe so hath he though he would no force to hurt If therfore you so thinke good since our lawes beare that our Princes murther be chastized before his murthered bodie be buried we may inuite him to sit to morowe in the iudgement seate which done you may after proceede to the buriall When Philanax first named Euarchus landing there was a muttring murmur among the people as though in that euil ordered weaknes of theirs he had come to conquer their country But when they vnderstood he had so small a retinue whispring one with another and looking who should begin to confirme Philanax proposition at length Sympathus was the first that allowed it then the rest of the Noblemen neither did Kalander striue hoping so excellent a Prince could not but deale graciously with two such young men whose authoritie ioyned to Philanax all the popular sort followed Timantus still blinded with his owne ambitious haste not remembring factions are no longer to be trusted then the factious may be perswaded it is for their
shal be well to knowe how the poore and princely prisoners passed this tedious night There was neuer tyrante exercised his rage with more grieuous torments vpon any he most hated then afflicted Gynecia did crusifie her owne soule after the guiltines of her harte was surcharged with the sodainenes of her husbāds death for although that effect came not frō her minde yet her mind being euil the effect euill she thought the iustice of God had for the beginning of her paines copled thē together This incessantly boyled in her brest but most of al whē Philanax hauing cloasely imprisoned her she was lefte more freely to suffer the fierbrands of her owne thoughts especially when it grewe darke and had nothing left by her but a little lampe whose small light to a perplexed mind might rather yeld feareful shadowes then any assured sight Then beganne the heapes of her miseries to waye downe the platforme of her iudgement then beganne despaire to laye his ougly clawes vpon her shee beganne then to feare the heauenly powers shee was woont to reuerence not like a childe but like an enemie neither kept she herselfe from blasphemous repyning against her creation O Gods would she crye out why did you make me to destruction If you loue goodnes why did you not geue me a good minde Or if I cannot haue it without your gifte why doe you plague mee Is it in me to resist the mightines of your power Then would she imagine she sawe strange sights and that she heard the cries of hellish ghostes then would she skritch out for succour but no man comming vnto her shee woulde faine haue killed her helfe but knewe not how At sometimes againe the very heauines of her imaginations would cloase vp her senses to a little sleepe but then did her dreames become her tormentors One time it would seeme vnto her Philanax was haling her by the heare of the head and hauing put out her eyes was redy to throw her into a burning fornace Another time she would thinke she sawe her husband making the complainte of his death to Pluto and the magistrates of that infernall region contending in great debate to what eternal punishment they should allot her But long her dreaming would not hold but that it woulde fall vpon Zelmane to whom shee would think she was crying for mercy and that she did passe away by her in silence without any shew of pittying her mischief Then waking out of a broken sleep and yet wishing she might euer haue slept new formes but of the same miseries would seaze her minde shee feared death and yet desired death shee had passed the vttermost of shame and yet shame was one of her cruellest assaulters she hated Pyrocles as the originall of her mortall ouerthrowe and yet the loue shee had conceaued to him had still a hie authoritie of her passions O Zelmane would she say not knowing how neere he himselfe was to as great a daunger now shalt thou glut thy eyes with the dishonoured death of thy enemie Enemie alas enemie since so thou haste wel shewed thou wilt haue me accompt thee couldest thou not aswel haue giuē me a determinate deniall as to disguise thy first diguising with a doble dissembling Perchaunce if I had bene vtterly hopelesse the vertue was once in me might haue called together his forces and not haue beene led captiue to this monstrous thraldome of punished wickednes Then would her owne knowing of good enflame a new the rage of despaire which becomming an vnresisted Lorde in her brest shee had no other comforte but in death which yet she had in horror when she thought of But the wearisome detesting of her selfe made her long for the dayes approach at which time shee determined to continue her former course in acknowledginge any thing which might hasten her ende Wherein although shee did not hope for the end of her torments feeling alreadye the beginning of hell agonies yet according to the nature of paine the presente being most intollerable shee desired to change that and put to aduenture the ensuing And thus rested the restlesse Gynecia no lesse sorrowfull though lesse ragefull were the mindes of the Princesse Pamela and the Lady Philoclea whose only aduantages were that they had not consented to so much euill and so were at greater peace with themselues and that they were not lefte alone but might mutually beare parte of each others woes For when Philanax not regarding Pamelas princely protestations had by force left her vnder garde with her sister and that the two sisters were matched aswell in the disgraces of fortune as they had beene in the best beauties of nature those thinges that till then bashfullnes and mistrust had made them holde reserued one from the other now feare the vnderminer of all determinations and necessitie the victorious rebell of all lawes forced them enterchaungeably to lay open There passions then so swelling in them as they woulde haue made Auditors of stones rather then haue swallowed vp in silence the choking aduentures were falne vnto them Truely the hardest hartes which haue at any time thought womans teares to be a matter of sleight compassion imagining that faire weather will quickly after followe would now haue beene mollyfied and bene compelled to confesse that the fayrer a diamond is the more pittie it is it shoulde receaue a bleamish Although no doubte their faces did rather beautifie sorrow then sorrow coulde darken that which euen in darkenes did shine But after they had so long as their other afflictions would suffer them with doleful ceremonies bemoned their fathers death they sate downe together apparrelled as their misaduentures had founde them Pamela in her iournying weedes nowe conuerted to another vse Philoclea onely in her night gowne which she thought should bee the rayment of her funeralls But when the excellent creatures had after much panting with their inwarde trauell gotten so much breathing power as to make a pittifull discourse one to the other what had befallne them and that by the plaine comparing the case they were in they thorowlye founde that their greiues were not more like in regarde of themselues then like in respecte of the subiecte the two Princes as Pamela had learned of Musidorus being so minded as they woulde euer make both their fortunes one it did more vnite and so strengthen their lamentation seing the one coulde not bee miserable but that it must necessarilie make the other miserable also That therfore was the first matter their sweet mouths deliuered the declaring the passionate beginning troblesome proceeding and daungerous ending their neuer ending loues had passed And when at any time they entred into the prayses of the young Princes to long it woulde haue exercised their tonges but that their memory foorthwith warned them the more prayse worthy they were the more at that time they were worthy of lamentation Then againe to crying and wringing of handes and then a newe as vnquiet greefe sought
him and you shall not want a childe A childe cried out Musidorus to him that killes Pyrocles with that againe he fell to intreate for Pyrocles and Pyrocles as fast for Musidorus each employing his wit how to shew himselfe most worthy to die to such an admiration of all the beholders that most of them examining the matter by their owne passions thought Euarchus as often extraordinarie excellencies not being rightly conceiued do rather offend then please an obstinate hearted man and such a one who being pittilesse his dominion must needes be insupportable But Euarchus that felt his owne miserie more then they and yet loued goodnesse more then himselfe with such a sad assured behauiour as Cato killed himselfe withall when he had heard the vttermost of that their speach tended vnto he commaunded againe they should be carried away rising vp from the seate which he would much rather haue wished should haue been his graue and looking who would take the charge whereto euerie one was exceeding backward But as this pittifull matter was entring into those that were next the Dukes bodie might heare from vnder the veluet wherewith he was couered a great voice of groning Whereat euerie man astonished and their spirites appalled with these former miseries apt to take anie strange conceite when they might perfitly perceiue the bodie stirre Then some beganne to feare spirits some to looke for a myracle most to imagine they knew not what But Philanax and Kerxenus whose eies honest loue though to diuerse parties held most attentiue leapt to the table and putting of the veluet couer might plainly discerne with as much wonder as gladnesse that the Duke liued For so it was that the drinke he had receiued was neither as Gynecia first imagined a loue potion nor as it was after thought a deadly poyson but a drinke made by notable Arte and as it was thought not without naturall magicke to procure for thirtie houres such a deadly sleepe as should oppresse all shew of life The cause of the making of this drinke had first been that a Princesse of Cyprus graundmother to Gynecia being notably learned and yet not able with al her learning to answere the obiections of Cupid did furiously loue a yoong noble man of her fathers Court. Who fearing the kinges rage and not once daring either to attempt or accept so high a place shee made that sleeping drinke and found meanes by a trustie seruaunt of hers who of purpose inuited him to his chamber to procure him that suspected no such thing to receiue it Which done he no way able to resist was secretly carried by him into a pleasant chamber in the midst of a garden she had of purpose prouided for this enterprise where that space of time pleasing her selfe with seeing and cherishing of him when the time came of â—â—e drinks end of working and he more astonished then if he had falne from the cloudes she bad him choose either then to marrie her and to promise to flie away with her in a bark she had made readie or else she would presently crie out and shewe in what place he was with othe hee was come thither to rauish her The noble man in these straightes her beautie preuailed he married her and escaped the Realme with her And after many strange aduentures were reconciled to the king her father after whose death they raigned But she gratefully remembring the seruice that drinke had done her preserued in a bottle made by singular Arte long to keepe it without perishing great quantitie of it with the foretold inscription which wrong interpreted by her daughter in law the Queene of Cyprus was giuen by her to Gynecia at the time of her marriage and the drinke finding an old body of Basilius had kept him some houres longer in the trance then it would haue done a yoonger But a good while it was before good Basilius could come again to himself in which time Euarchus more glad then of the whole worldes Monarchie to be rid of his miserable magistracie which euen in iustice he was now to surrender to the lawful Prince of that countrie came from the Throne vnto him and there with much adoe made him vnderstand how these intricate matters had fallen out Many garboiles passed through his fancie before he could be perswaded Cleofila was other then a woman At length remembring the Oracle which now indeede was accomplished not as before he had imagined considering all had fallen out by the highest prouidence and withall waying in all these matters his owne fault had been the greatest The first thing he did was with all honorable pompe to send for Gynecia who poore Ladie thought she was leading forth to her liuing buriall and when she came to recount before all the people the excellent vertue was in her which she had not onely maintained all her life most vnspotted but nowe was contented so miserably to die to follow her husband He told them how she had warned him to take heede of that drinke and so withall the exalâ—inges of her that might be he publikely desired her pardon for those errours he had committed And so kyssing her left her to receiue the most honourable fame of anie Princesse throughout the world all men thinking sauing onely Pyrocles and Philoclea who neuer bewraied her that she was the perfit mirrour of all wifely loue Which though in that point vndeserued she did in the remnant of her life daily purchase with obseruing al dutie faith to the example glorie of Greece So vncertain are mortall iudgments the same person most infamous and most famous and neither iustly Then with Princely entertainment to Euarchus and many kinde words to Pyrocles whom still he dearely loued though in a more vertuous kinde the marriage was concluded to the inestimable ioy of Euarchus towardes whom now Musidorus acknowledged his fault betwixt these peerelesse Princes and Princesses Philanax for his singular faith euer held deare of Basilius while he liued and no lesse of Musidorus who was to inherite that Dukedome and therein confirmed to him and his the second place of that Prouince with great increase of his liuing to maintain it which like proportion he vsed to Kaledulus in Thessalia Highly honouring Kalander while he liued and after his death continuing in the same measure to loue and aduannce this sonne Clitophon But as for Sympathus Pyrocles to whom his father in his owne time gaue the whole kingdome of Thrace held him alwaies about him giuing him in pure gift the great Citie of Abdera But the solemnities of these marriages with the Arcadian pastoralles full of many comicall aduentures hapning to those rurall louers the straunge stories of Artaxia and Plexirtus Erona and Plangus Helene and Amphialus with the wonderfull chaunces that befell them The shepheardish loues of Menalcas with Kalodulus daughter the poore hopes of the poore Philisides in the pursuite of his affections the strange continuance of Klaius and Strephons desire Lastly the sonne of Pyrocles named Pyrophilus and Melidora the faire daughter of Pamela by Musidorus who euen at their birth entred into admirable fortunes may awake some other spirite to exercise his penne in that wherewith mine is already dulled FINIS LONDON Printed for William Ponsonbie dwelling in Paules Church yard neere vnto the great north doore of Paules Anno Domini 1593.
one of them is the other smaller Lodge but of like fashion where the gratious Pamela liueth so that the Lodge seemeth not vnlike a faire Comete whose taile stretcheth it selfe to a starre of lesse greatnes So Gynecia her selfe bringing me to my Lodging anone after I was inuited and brought downe to sup with them in the gardein a place not fairer in naturall ornaments then artificiall inuentions where in a banquetting house among certaine pleasant trees whose heads seemed curled with the wrappings about of Vine-branches The table was set neere to an excellent water-worke for by the casting of the water in most cunning maner it makes with the shining of the Sunne vpon it a perfect rainbow not more pleasant to the eye then to the mind so sensibly to see the proofe of the heauenly Iris. There were birds also made so finely that they did not onely deceiue the sight with their figure but the hearing with their songs which the watrie instruments did make their gorge deliuer The table at which we sate was round which being fast to the floore whereon we sate and that deuided from the rest of the buildings with turning a vice which Basilius at first did to make me sport the table and we about the table did all turne round by meanes of water which ranne vnder and carried it about as a Mille. But alas what pleasure did it to mee to make diuers times the full circle round about since Philoclea being also set was carried still in equall distance from mee and that onely my eyes did ouertake her which when the table was stayed and wee began to feede dranke much more eagerlie of her beautie then my mouth did of any other licour And so was my common sense deceiued being chiefly bent to her that as I dranke the wine and withall stale a looke on her me seemed I tasted her deliciousnesse But alas the one thirste was much more inflamed then the other quenched Sometimes my eyes would lay themselues open to receiue all the dartes she did throwe sometimes cloze vp with admiration as if with a contrary fancie they would preserue the riches of that fight they had gotten or cast my liddes as curtaines ouer the image of beautie her preâ—ence had painted in them True it is that my Reason now growen a seruant to passion did yet often tell his master that he should more moderatly vse his delight But he that of a rebell was become a Prince disdayned almost to allow him the place of a Counseller so that my senses delights being too strong for any other resolution I did euen loose the raines vnto them hoping that going for a woman my lookes would passe either vnmarked or vnsuspected Now thus I had as me thought well playd my first acte assuring my selfe that vnder that disguisment I should find opportunitie to reueale my selfe to the owner of my harte But who would thinke it possible though I feele it true that in almost eight weekes space I haue liued here hauing no more companie but her parents and I being familiar as being a woman and watchfull as being a louer yet could neuer finde opportunitie to haue one minutes leasure of priuate conference the cause whereof is as strange as the effects are to me miserable And alas this it is At the first sight that Basilius had of me I thinke Cupid hauing headed his arrows with my misfortune he was striken taking me to be such as I professe with great affection towards me which since is growen to such a doting loue that till I was faine to get this place sometimes to retire vnto freely I was euen choaked with his tediousnes You neuer saw fourscore yeares daunce vp and downe more liuely in a young Louer now as fine in his apparell as if he would make me in loue with a cloake and verse for verse with the sharpest-witted Louer in Arcadia Doo you not thinke that this is a sallet of woormwood while mine eyes feede vpon the Ambrosia of Philocleas beauty But this is not all no this is not the worst for he good man were easy enough to be dealt with but as I thinke Loue and mischeefe hauing made a wager which should haue most power in me haue set Gynecia also on such a fire towardes me as will neuer I feare be quenched but with my destruction For she being a woman of excellent witte and of strong working thoughts whether she suspected me by my ouer-vehement showers of affection to Philoclea which loue forced me vnwisely to vtter while hope of my maske foolishly incouraged me or that she hath takeÌ„ some other marke of me that I am not a woman or what deuill it is hath reuealed it vnto her I know not but so it is that all her countenances words and gestures are euen miserable portraitures of a desperate affection Whereby a man may learne that these auoydings of companie doo but make the passions more violent when they meete with fitte subiects Truely it were a notable dumb shew of Cupids kingdome to see my eyes languishing with ouer-vehement longing direct themselues to Philoclea and Basilius as busie about me as a Bee and indeed as cumbersome making such vehement suits to me who neither could if I would nor would if I could helpe him while the terrible witte of Gynecia carried with the beere of violent loue runnes thorow vs all And so ielious is she of my loue to her daughter that I could neuer yet beginne to opeÌ„ my mouth to the vneuitable Philoclea but that her vnwished presence gaue my tale a conclusion before it had a beginning And surely if I be not deceiued I see such shewes of liking and if I bee acquainted with passions of almost a passionate liking in the heauenly Philoclea towardes me that I may hope her eares would not abhorre my discourse And for good Basilius hee thought it best to haue lodged vs together but that the eternall hatefulnes of my destinie made Gynecias ielousie stoppe that and all other my blessings Yet must I confesse that one way her loue doth me pleasure for since it was my foolish fortune or vnfortunate follie to bee knowen by her that keepes her from bewraying mee to Basilius And thus my Musidorus you haue my Tragedie played vnto you by my selfe which I pray the gods may not in deede prooue a Tragedie And there with he ended making a full point of a hartie sigh Musidorus recommended to his best discourse all which Pyrocles had told him But therein he found such intricatenesse that he could see no way to lead him out of the maze yet perceauing his affection so grouÌ„ded that striuing against it did rather anger then heale the wound and rather call his friendshippe in question then giue place to any friendly counsell Well said he deare cosin since it hath pleased the gods to mingle your other excellencies with this humor of loue yet happie it is that your loue is imployed vpon so rare a
woman for certainly a noble cause dooth ease much a grieuous case But as it stands now nothing vexeth me as that I cannot see wherein I can be seruisable vnto you I desire no greater seruice of you answered Pyrocles thē that you remayn secretly in this country some-times come to this place either late in the night or early in the morning where you shall haue my key to enter bicause as my fortune eyther amends or empaires I may declare it vnto you and haue your counsell and furtheraunce and hereby I will of purpose leade her that is the prayse and yet the staine of all womankinde that you may haue so good a view as to allowe my iudgement and as I can get the most conuenient time I will come vnto you for though by reason of yonder wood you cannot see the Lodge it is harde at hande But now sayd she it is time for me to leaue you and towardes euening we will walke out of purpose hetherward therefore keepe your selfe close in that time But Musidorus bethinking him selfe that his horse might happen to bewray them thought it best to returne for that day to a village not farre of and dispatching his horse in some sort the next day early to come a foote thither and so to keepe that course afterward which Pyrocles very well liked of Now farewell deere cousin said he from me no more Pyrocles nor Daiphantus now but Zelmane Zelmane is my name Zelmane is my title Zelmane is the onely hope of my aduauncement And with that word going out and seeing that the coast was cleare Zelmane dismissed Musidorus who departed as full of care to helpe his friend as before he was to disswade him Zelmane returned to the Lodge where inflamed by Philoclea watched by Gynecia and tired by Basilius she was like a horse desirous to runne and miserablie spurred but so short raind as he cannot stirre forward Zelmane sought occasion to speake with Philoclea Basilius with Zelmane and Gynecia hindered them all If Philoclea hapned to sigh and sigh she did often as if that sigh were to be wayted on Zelmane sighed also whereto Basilius and Gynecia soone made vp foure parts of sorrow Their affection increased their conuersation and their conuersation increased their affection The respect borne bred due ceremonies but the affection shined so through them that the ceremonies seemed not ceremonious Zelmanes eyes were like children before sweet meate eager but fearefull of their ill-pleasing gouernors Time in one instant seeming both short and long vnto them short in the pleasingnes of such presence long in the stay of their desires But Zelmane fayled not to intice them all many times abroad because she was desirous her friend Musidorus neere whom of purpose she led them might haue full sight of them Sometimes angling to a little Riuer neere hand which for the moisture it bestowed vpon rootes of some flourishing Trees was rewarded with their shadowe There would they sit downe and pretie wagers be made betweene Pamela and Philoclea which could soonest beguile silly fishes while Zelmane protested that the fit pray for them was hartes of Princes She also had an angle in her hand but the taker was so taken that she had forgotten taking Basilius in the meane time would be the cooke himselfe of what was so caught and Gynecia sit still but with no still pensifnesse Now she brought them to see a seeled Doue who the blinder she was the higher she straue Another time a Kite which hauing a gut cunningly pulled out of her and so let flie caused all the Kites in that quarter who as oftentimes the world is deceaued thinking her prosperous when indeede she was wounded made the poore Kite find that opinion of riches may well be dangerous But these recreations were interrupted by a delight of more gallant shew for one euening as Basilius returned from hauing forced his thoughts to please themselues in such small conquests there came a shepheard who brought him word that a Gentleman desired leaue to do a message from his Lord vnto him Basilius granted whereupon the Gentleman came and after the dutifull ceremonies obserued in his maisters name tolde him that he was sent from Phalantus of Corinth to craue licence that as he had done in many other courts so he might in his presence defie all Arcadian Knights in the behalfe of his mistres beautie who would besides her selfe in person be present to giue euident proofe what his launce should affirme The conditions of his chalenge were that the defendant should bring his mistresse picture which being set by the image of Artesia so was the mistresse of Phalantus named who in sixe courses should haue better of the other in the iudgement of Basilius with him both the honors and the pictures should remaine Basilius though he had retired himselfe into that solitarie dwelling with intention to auoid rather then to accept any matters of drawing company yet because he would entertaine Zelmane that she might not thinke the time so gainefull to him losse to her graunted him to pitch his tent for three dayes not farre from the lodge and to proclayme his chalenge that what Arcadian Knight for none els but vpon his perill was licensed to come would defende what he honored against Phalantus should haue the like freedome of accesse and returne This obteyned and published Zelmane being desirous to learne what this Phalantus was hauing neuer knowne him further then by report of his good iusting in somuch as he was commonly called The faire man of armes Basilius told her that he had had occasion by one very inward with him to knowe in part the discourse of his life which was that he was bastard-brother to the faire Helen Queene of Corinth and deerly esteemed of her for his exceeding good parts being honorablie courteous and wronglesly valiaunt considerately pleasant in conuersation and an excellent courtier without vnfaithfulnes who finding his sisters vnperswadeable melancholy thorow the loue of Amphialus had for a time left her court and gone into Laconia where in the warre against the Helots he had gotten the reputation of one that both durst and knew But as it was rather choise then nature that led him to matters of armes so as soone as the spur of honor ceased he willingly rested in peaceable delightes being beloued in all companies for his louely qualities and as a man may terme it winning cherefulnes whereby to the Prince and Court of Laconia none was more agreable then Phalantus and he not giuen greatly to struggle with his owne disposition followed the gentle currant of it hauing a fortune sufficient to content and he content with a sufficient fortune But in that court he sawe and was acquainted with this Artesia whose beautie he now defends became her seruant sayd himselfe and perchaunce thought himselfe her louer But certainly said Basilius many times it falles out that these young companions make themselues beleeue they loue