Orpheus Tale.

SInce the mad frowes of Bacchus (in that I was sworn an enemy to women through the vnkindnes of Euri­dicae,) stoned me to death while I sate playing musicke to the Rockes, which seemed to mooue at my melody: my soule sent to Pluto, I founde fauour at his handes for that he wronged me of my wife, that I had frée liberty to passe into euery seuerall mancion: wherupon one day with my Harpe I walked through seuerall places, and heard seue­rall complaints, but at the last I came to a thicke fogge, the smoake and stench so deadly and pestilent, as all the ghosts in hell, respecting this dungeon, seemed to liue in Elisium, out of this mist I heard the voice of a woman, vt­tering pittifull shrikes, hauing remorse of her passions, I toucht my Harpe, and plaid, thinking while my musicke lasted, to make her forget her torments, as I had done the other ghosts in hell, but she told me all was in vaine, sith as her faulte exceeded all, so her torture was more then they all: for here quoth she I hang by the haire of y^e heade in so thicke a smoake and stinking a fog, as no tongue can expresse, nor imagination conceiue it. Desirous to heare the cause of this strange extreame, I askt her name, and the offence, shee wisht mee [...]alfe angerly to cease my fid­ling, and she would discourse at large: I put vp my pipes [Page 13] at such a dry blowe, and shee murmured out of the fogge thus.

I am Lidia that renowned Princesse, whose neuer matched beauty seemed like the gorgious pompe of Phoe­bus, too bright for the day: rung so strongly out of the trumpe of Fame, as it filled euery eare with wonder: Daughter to Astolpho, the King of Lydia: who thought himselfe not so fortunate for his Diadem, sith other Kings could boast of Crownes: nor for his great possessions, al­though indued with large territories, as happy that hee had a Daughter whose excellencie in fauour stained Ve­nus, whose austere chastitie set Diana to silence with a blush: Know whatsoeuer thou art that standest attentiue to my tale, that y^e ruddiest Rose in all Damasco, the whi­test Lillies in the créeks of Danuby, might not if they had vnited their natiue colours, but haue bashed at the vermi­lion staine, flourisht vppon the pure Christall of my face: the Marguerites of the westerne Indies counted more bright and rich, then that which Cleopatra quaft to An­thonie, the Corall highest in his pride vppon the Affricke shoares, might well be graced to resemble my teeth and lippes, but neuer honoured to ouerreach my purenes. Re­maining thus the mirrour of the Worlde, and natures strangest miracle: there arriued in our Court a Thracian Knight, of personage tall, proportioned in most exquisite forme, his face but too faire for his qualities, for hee was a braue and resolute Souldiour. This Caualier com­ming amongst diuers others to sée the roiallie of the state of Lidia, no sooner had a glaunce of my beautie, but he set downe his staffe, resoluing either to perrish in so sweet a Laborinth, or in time happily to stumble out with These­us. He had not staide long in my Fathers Court, but hee shewed such Knightly deeds of chiualrie amongst the no­bilitie, lightned with the extraordinary sparkes of a cou­ragious minde, that not onely hee was liked and loued of all the chéefe Péeres of the Realmes, but the report of his [Page 14] valoure comming to my Fathers eares, hee was highly honored of him, & placed in short time as Generall of his warlike forces by Land: resting in this estimation with the King, preferment was no meanes to quiet his minde, for loue had wounded so deepe, as honour by no meanes might remedy, that as the Elephants can hardly bee ha­led from the sight of the Wast, or the Roe buck from ga­zing at red cloth, so there was no obiect that could so much allure the wauering eyes of this Thracian called Acestes, as the surpassing beautie of the Princesse Lydia, yea, so déepely he doted, that as the Camelion gorgeth herselfe with gazing into the ayre, so he fedde his fancie with sta­ring on the heauenly face of his Goddesse, so long dally­ing in the flame, that he scorcht his wings, & in time con­sumed his whole body. Beeing thus passionate, hauing none so familiar as he durst make, hee fell thus to debate with himselfe.

Is it Alcestes loue that troubles thee? why thou art a Souldiour, sworne to armes, not to Armour: to incounter foes in the féelde, not to courte Ladies in the Chamber: Hercules had almost performed his twelue labours, ere he durst find leysure to loue, and thou art scarse acquain­ted with Mars, but thou seekest to be priuate friend to Ve­nus: away fond foole, to thy Speare and Shielde, manage thy horse, though héere in a peaceable Countrey: let not Bées hiue in thy Helmet, rust inblaze the figure of sloath on thy Armour, or loue call thee her milksoppe, by whom warre it selfe hath approoued martiall: hast thou forgotte that which thou suckest out of thy Nurses teate, that to loue is to loose, and fancie bee it neuer so charie, is meere folly: for loue how soeuer it bee, is but a Chaos of cares: and fancie though neuer so fortunate, hath her crosses: for if thou inioy the beauty of Venus, thou shalt finde it small vantage: if thou get one as nice as Minerua, thou mayst put thy winnings in thine eye: if as gorgious as Iuno, thy account being cast, thy sums will be rated with losse: [Page 15] yea, be shée chast, be shée vertuous, be shée curteous, con­stant, rich, renowned, honest, honourable, yet if thou be wedded to a woman, thinke thou shalt finde in her suffici­ent vanity to counteruaile her vertue: assure thy selfe ne­uer to liue lesse without disquiet, nor die before thou haue cause to repent: which Craterus the Emperour noted, when wishing that some sinister misfortune might befall his foe: he prayed vnto the Gods he might be married in his youth, and dye without issue in his age: accounting mariage by this wish, farre more full of preiudice, then of pleasure. This, yea all this Acestes thou knowest to be true: but suppose it were not, is there not sufficient to dis­swade? beside, seest thou not? or hath fancy cast such a maske before thine eyes, that thou wilt not sée? that her beauty as it is excellent, so it is high seated: both in the dignity of her parentage, & the selfe conceite of her mind, to be gazed at, and so honored: not to be reacht at and so enioyed, thou séest she is little liberall of her lookes, much lesse prodigall of her loue: she couets rather a God, then a man: thē amongst men think she wil aime at the high­est, or sit still as she is: Pride in her greatest pompe sits inthrond in her eyes, and disdaine in her lookes: that if she glaunce to so low as Acestes, it is rather to grace him with a smile then to shew him any fauour: beside, fortune hath opposed her selfe to thy aspiring thoughts, in that thy good will hath not yet deserued any such guerdon: thy desire, is farre aboue thy desert: and the poore stay of a wandring Knight, farre vnfitte for the Princely state of worthy Lidia: But suppose she were pricked in the same veine, and that Venus would friendly instill some drops of her inchaunted water to mollifie her hart, yet y^e Duke her Father will neither condiscend to her mind, nor con­sent to my motion: nay if he should but heare of such reck­les folly, as he hath wrought my promotion, so hee would worke my confusion: and in troth Acestes, not without cause: for art thou so voyde of vertue, or vowde to vice, as [Page 16] to requite his liberality with such disloyalty: to returne the trust which hee reposeth in thée with such treachery: Tush, Loue is aboue Lord or law, friend or faith, where Loue buddeth, no Maister is made account off, no King cared for, no friend feared of, no duty respected: but all things done according to the quality that is predominant. Hast thou béene a Souldiour, and dreamest thou of such doubts? are the courtings of Venus, more perrillous then the incounters of Mars? or the deniall of a Lady, worse then the daunt of a foe: no Acestes, be not faint harted as the North Ilands, where the people Iberi dwell foster no venemous beast, nor the Sea called Mare mortuum fee­deth no Fish, so are there no Cowards suffered to arriue at Paphos, she is but a woman, and therefore to be wone: Then sound on the march, aske not of what degrée she is, but where she is: these words Acestes (carry emphasis) and are more fit for a Souldier then for a Louer: for loue is quesie, and if it be ouer-strained, cracketh at the first wrest: enduring in this doubt, he sat downe déepely ouer­charged with melancholy passions; that as he which ea­teth of the Goord Nutte, loseth his memory: and as the Elephant féeding on the Helytropian becommeth sleepy: so Acestes fell into a drowsie kind of contemplature, that to auoide such cogitations as combred his minde, hee got him selfe into a Gallery which was built betweene the Turrets of the house, and there sette himselfe downe as halfe in a traunce: Loue, that tooke pitty of this patient, so fauourd him, that he had not sat long in his dumps but that Lidia came thither all alone to be solitary, who séeing Acestes sitting thus sadly slumbring, determined for her owne recreation to be a little plesant with him, and ther­fore awakened him thus.

Why how now Acestes, is it your custome in Thracia to vse slumbers after meat for Phisick? or is it some me­lancholy impression that thus amateth your sences? trust me at the first I called to remembrance the picture that [Page 17] Zerxsis drew of Endimion, lying vpon the mount of Ereci­nus, who leaning his head on his hand, his eyes shutte as one in a dreame: yet had his face so bedued with distilling teares, as his outward plaints did sufficiently bewray his inward passions: and so Acestes, in this thy solitary dump? didst thou resemble Endimion, both in countenance and colour, that had teares fallen from thine eyes as thou wert in a traunce? I had happily demaunded how Phebe had vsed thee: So apalde was Acestes at this sodaine pre­sence of Lidia, that hee sat still as a man depriued of his sences: till at the last gathering of his wittes together he start vp, and his due reuerence done, he made this an­swere.

I think Madam that melancholy is not particuler ei­ther to person or place, but that being a complexion, it fol­loweth oft-times the quality of the affection: so that the mind any way distrest, the body must yéeld in effect to the most precious part: I confesse therefore, that being dis­quiet at my hart, I felt mine eyes heauy, as they which were the chéefest procurers of my malady: but when I awoke and sawe your excellency, both your presence and curtesie greatly daunted my mind: your presence, in daze­ling mine eyes so suddenly with so solemne an obiect: your curtesie, in that your Ladyshippe without curiositie would vouchsafe to talke with so mean a Gentleman: but I sée the best fruite hath the brauest blossomes: the most precious stone, is chosen by the most glistering hue, and the best conditions, by the swéetest countenance: so that where beauty raigneth, there vertue remaineth: and vn­der a faire face resteth a faithfull hart: But whereas you say you had taken mee for Endimion by my penitrature & countenance, but that I wanted teares to decipher my sorrow: I answer, that the hottest thunders are not euer quenched with raine, nor the déepest gréefes euer discoue­red by teares: the stone Garatides fryeth without and is cold within, the Germander least when it is most full [Page 18] of moisture, looketh then most dry: where the sea is most déepe, there it is most calme: & where is the smallest shew of teares, there oft are the greatest effect of sorrow: For trust me Madam, I thinke Endimion sighing for the ab­sence of his Lady Luna, neuer felt more bitter passions on the mount Erecinus, then I suffered in this halfe wa­king slumber: why (quoth Lidia) are you in loue? Acestes at this question fetcht a déepe sigh, as it séemed his heart strings should haue crackt in sunder, he stood as one in an extasie, doubting whether nowe hee should take time by the fore-head, or to defer it till afterward: well, séeing op­portunity so fit, he boldly tooke hart at grace, and began to giue this encunter.

They (Madame) that séeke to stop the swift running Volgo, a Riuer that leadeth into Persia, by staying the streame, maketh the flood flow more fiercely: to represse the fier, is to encrease the flame: and to conceale loue, is to smother smoake in the nosethrill, which either wil out, or els stifleth: wounds fed of with delayes fester, and oft prooue incurable: fancy long held in the grasse, seldome prooues a timely Haruest: which makes me to set my ha­zard on the Dice, and either presently to heare the curte­ous sentence of my life▪ or the cruell doome of my death. Since most excellent Princesse, I arriued at the Court of Lidia, so hath mine eyes fed on the beauty of your face, mine eares wrapt in admiration of your deuine wit, my mind inchaunted with the consideration of your vertues, and my hart as the receptacle of all these excellencies, so deuoted to the substance that contriues such supernatu­rall qualities, that the exceeding pleasure, which so long luld mee in delight, at length suncke so déepe, that they grew to gréeuous passions: to say all (what I could at large discourse) in on worde, so long did I gaze at your beauty, that I was snared, and so long did I admire your vertue, that now I rest your Captiue: so farre Madame entred the Laborinth, that either I must perrish with the [Page 19] Minotaure, or els humbly craue your ayde, that the clue of your mercy may hale me forth of such an intricate dan­ger.

Lidia, who swelled in choller at these spéeches, coulde not brooke to heare vp the ende of his discourse, but faring like angry Ioue, who in his rage couereth the beautifull Skye with a world of stormes, so she incensed with dys­daine, filled her sweet countenaunce with a shaddowe of bitter frownes, knitting her browes she beganne thus to reply.

Why gentle maister Knight, hath too much familiari­tie bredde contempt? are you such a good Phisiognomer, that you haue insight into my wrincle in the browe and dimple in the cheekes? I see well if Apelles that cunning Painter, suffer the greasie Sowter to take a view of his curious worke, hee will growe so malapart as to meddle with his picture, that he must be thrust into his shop with Nae sutor vltra crepidum, if the proude Centaur Ixion bee bidden to the feast of the Gods, no lesse then Iuno herselfe will suffice him for his choyce.

Set a Begger on horsebacke, and they say he will ne­uer light: extoll one of base stock to any degree of digni­tie, and who so proud and hautie: I speake this Acestes to thy reproofe, for that my Father hath made thée generall of his forces, seekest thou to maister him in fortune: will no dyet downe but my Fathers owne Dish? no meaner mate suffise vnlesse thou marry with a Prince? Dyd my Father preferre thee, and now wilt thou presume to bee his better? haue my lookes beene so louing, my glaunces so full of good will, as to promise so much as thou doost pre­sume? no▪ but the least countenaunce of familiaritie to a seruile minde, procureth great incouragement: hast thou euer noted any of my actions so base, that thou mightest think I would match with a man of thy calling? Haue I wantond it so euer in thy sight, as thou mightst think mee fit for Venus? But suppose my minde were so fonde, as I [Page 20] would (soring so hie as euer I haue doone) stoope nowe so low? thinkest thou my Father coulde affoorde thee hys Daughter Lidia, whom he farre priseth aboue his crown? hopest thou to compasse his consent? No, but if he knewe of thy daring presumtion, he would repay thy follie with such punishments, as thy aspiring thoughts doe merrit: hée woulde vnplume thée of all thy feathers: and like E­sops Crowe turne thee naked to the worlde: that they which grudged at thy hastie promotion, might laugh at thy sudaine fall: if therfore thou loue thine own welfare, kéepe thy selfe within thy bounds: least in soaring with the Hobby, to fall to the geound with the Larke: and in daring with Phaeton, thou fal headlong into such infirmi­ties, as thou shalt neuer be able to créepe out of: and with that she flung away in a great rage, and left Acestes pas­sing passionate: so that hee sate him downe againe more melancholie then he was before: musing aud meditating vppon the cruell resolution of Lidia, slumbring thus on his harde fortune, vppon a suddaine hee fell into these tearmes.

But by the swéete, how should wee know the sower: the white séemeth most siluer hued when it is adioyned to blacke: and prosperitie is most sweetest when it hath beene fore-crossed with aduersity. This principle perhaps Lidia meanes to make me try by experience, thinking to féede mee first with bitter broathes, that after, dainty fare may more delight me: for the childing colde of Winter, makes the Sommers Sun more pleasant: and the frow­ning lookes of Lidia, will cause her smiles to séeme more cheerefull. Then Acestes cease not to pursue thy sute, vn­till thou finde her more curteous, or resolutely vowed to remaine obstinate.

Thus like a valiant Champion, Acestes neuer feared that mislike hung in Womens browes, and into theyr harts hee could not pry: but hoped the best, and sought for opportunitie to iterate his sute in this distresse. But For­Fortune [Page 21] meaning plesantly to sport with this young no­uice, would not minister such fitte occasion that hee might haue sole and solitary accesse to his Goddesse: for Lidia vpon pretended purpose, so warily auoided his companie: and with such disdainfull lookes rewarded his proffered dutie, that Acestes was faine to aime his course by a new compasse, and therefore getting into his Chamber, step­ping to his standish, he wrote her a Letter to this effect.

THis Letter conueid with great spéede and no lesse se­crecy to Lidia beeing then solitary in her Chamber, who receiuing them, vnripping the seales, sawe no sooner the name of Acestes, but shee perceiued he was importu­nate in his old sute: which droue her into such a fury, as at the first shée flung away his Letter in great disdaine, vpbrayding him of immoderate presumption, that durst attempt the loue of such a Paragon: so that throughly in­flamed with choller, shée stept hastily to the Letter and red it, which after shée had perused, falling into a satyri­call scoffing kinde of vaine, shee rudely returned him this aunswere.

THis Letter shee sent by one of her Gentlewomen to Acestes, who no sooner read the contents, but the dis­daine of his Goddesse strooke such a colde dumpe to his hart, that hee sat as the picture of Pigmalion, when the poore caruer leaned with great passion on his marble mi­stresse: his thoughts were on dispaire, his musings on dispaire, the obiects to his eyes, sounded the vgly shadowe of dispaire: that as one lunatick, he said: Venus was ths strumpet of Mars, the baude of Iupiter, the Patronesse of leachers: and that in all her Kingdome there was ney­ther loue nor vertue, but lust and vanity: I graunt (quoth he) she hath beauty to bestow, but so it is tempred with pride, as hee that buyes it dooth penetentiam emere: shee hath many such truls as Helena to sell, but they were ei­ther so froward or so frolick, as feare may perswade them from the one, or turne them from the other: shee is God­desse of womens hearts, but shee trickes them vp with such false colours, and engraues so many principles of her Philosophy, in the very center of it, that they are as [Page 25] expert in coyning of deceites, forging of teares, feigning of sighes, casting of lookes, lending of fauning smiles, and such preiudiciall pollicies to bewitch men, as euer the Caldees were in their diuinations, but this is, suffiseth not to reuenge me on her words, would she were mortall, thē would shee were Mars, that I might with my arming Sworde pearce their disdaine and ingratitude in single Combate.

As thus hee was halfe in a frensie, one came to him from the King with Letters, the contents whereof were, that he should make him ready with all possible speede to passe into Pamphilia, to make inuasion with fire & sword: This newes come to Acestes view, as a man reuiued frō the dead, hee burst from his former plaints, and began thus to frolicke with him selfe: Now despight of Venus hath Fortune sworne to ioyne me in friendship with op­portunity, now time proffers the full cup, and the deuill take me if I carowse it not: Now Lidia shall be mine if euer she shalbe to any: women are wonne with honors: the fame of Prowesse challengeth more then eloquence, a Souldiers sword preuaileth more with a Princesse, thē a Cowardes pen: when newes shall come to Lidia that Acestes hath made a conquest of Pamphilia, whē he sends the Kinges Crowne as a token to the faire and matchles Lidia, thē no doubt but she wil be as curteous, as now she is cruell: her lookes will lighten loue, where now they drop hate: her words will be welcome, where now they threten reuenge: Conquerers carry commaunds in their foreheads, and loue kneeles to them where others bow to loue? then Acestes ply thee, martiall thy Souldiours in hast to Pamphilia, and there fight both for honor and loue, which either resolue to get or to misse of both with death: Hauing thus comforted him selfe, he prouided all things necessary for his voiage into Pamphilia, both of souldiers, money, victuals, and munition: which beeing ready: taking his leaue onelie of the King (for Lidia would [...] [...] [Page 28] and his Daughter on his right hand, were amazed, as noting in his face some extraordinary sparkes of Chiual­rie: Acestes pacing vp to the steps that decended from the Kings seate, placing on eyther hande a King, began thus to deliuer his tale.

Right mightie Soueraigne, executing the charge of the Generall of thy forces against Pamphilia, as thy cō ­maund and my allegance bad me, I entred with fire and sword, and by the helpe of Fortune made conquest of the Countrey, the King is slaine, his Crowne I sent to thy Daughter, the kingdom is garisond to thy vse: his confe­derates these two Kings of Caria & Cylicia, for that they vnited their supplies to his forces, I inuaded, conquered, and brought hither Captiues: their Crownes theyr king­doms, the treasure, the bondslaues, for that they were without thy Commission, I not present to thee, but to the Princesse Lidia, with all the honour I won in the fielde, euer vowing to deuote all my thoughts, my actions, and my Sword and life, as prest to execute her commaunde and seruice: with that, rising vp, he led the Kinges to the Princesse, and deliuered them her as her Captiues, shee coulde not for shame in such a presence, but faine a good countenaunce, and accept them gratefully: whom shee forthwith presented to her Father, who entertaind them as belonged to such Kingly prisoners: all the Nobles ca­sting their eyes on Acestes, as honouring the man for his vertues: the King starting vp, gaue him great thanks, and bad him demaunde some-what before that honorable assemblie: with the gift whereof hee might gratifie him: swearing whatsoeuer he craued, as he was true King hée woulde performe it: Acestes hearing this happy motion, casting his eye on the Lady Lidia, boldly beganne his re­quest thus.

Although right mighty Soueraigne, Crownes and Kingdoms be swéete, and your grace hath willed mee to aske any thing without acception: yet for that I paunde [Page 29] my life & honor for the atchiuing of these conquests with my blood, which a Souldiour holdeth far deerer then Di­adems, I little make account of such pelfe: but rather make choise of that which I prefer before honour, life, and land, or all the world, if it should be presented to me: and that is, the faire and vertuous Princesse Lidia. Scarce had Acestes vttered this worde Lidia, but the King start­ing from his seat, turned to his daughter, and asked what loue was passed betwixt her & Acestes. Such (quoth shee) with a frowning countenaunce, as past betwixt Iuno and the Centaure Ixion: I not deny, but before his iourney to Pamphilia, he courted and made great sute by worde, and letters, but howe I disdained the motion of so base a com­panion, let the aunswers of his Letters manifest: And nowe before this royall & honorable assembly I protest, if Acestes were featurde like Narcissus, as couragious as Hercules, hauing as many heroicall vertues as euer had any, and could present me euery day two Kings for Cap­tiues till he made me Empresse of the World, yet woulde I disdaine him, as one vnworthy the Princesse Lidia. At this aunswere, all the assembly abashed, as counting the Princesse discourteous and ingrate: the King as a man inflamed with furie, began to prosecute his Daughters speech in this manner: Presumptuous Thracian, vnfitte with these late conquests, rather obtained by the ill for­tune of these Kings, then thy prowesse: for thou hast done mee seruice, I graunt thee life, but for thyne aspyring thoughts to demaunde the Princesse Lidia, I discharge thée of thy Generalship, and absolutely of my seruice, cō ­maunding thee vpon paine of death, within ten dayes to depart out of all my dominions, and neuer to approch my Confines or land. This saide, the King in great choller rose vp ready to depart, the Nobles were amazed and greeued, yea, aud grudged secretly at Acestes wrong, but for feare of the King were silent: Acestes howsoeuer in­wardly vexed, yet shewed no discontent in his counte­nance, [Page 30] but with a Souldiers courage pulling of his Gar­land, said: I am not dismaied at this doome, for that I ne­uer greeued at the ouerthwarts of Fortune: what I haue got in thy Court, I leaue, as disdaining ought y^t is thine: the honour I haue wonne, is mine owne, and that thou canst not depriue me off, and so committing my fortunes to my deserts, I leaue thee and thy Court: and so soone as may be thy Country: where if euer I arriue, I dare thee to doo thy worst: and with that Acestes went away, and the King with the two Kings and the Lords, passed in to dinner.

No sooner was Acestes alone, but the ingratitude of the King, the disdaine of his Daughter, the disgrace offe­red by both, so pierst him to the hart, that as such as drink of Lethe become obliuious: so he forgetting the beauty of Lidia, fell to such déepe thoughts of hate and reuenge, that he enioyned himselfe for a great space to be solitary, that Nemesis and he might consult together how to bring both the Father and the Daughter to confusion: at last hee re­solued to goe to Armenia to Sertorius, there great Poten­tate of that Country, whom hée knew to be mortall ene­mie to the King of Lidia, and in this resolution hée tooke his iourney. No sooner was hee arriued in the Armenian Court, but worde was brought to Sertorius that Acestes the martiall Thracian, that conquered Pamphilia, Ca [...]ia, and Cylicia, was come disguised, and as a stranger into his Court: the King hearing this, tooke one or two of hys chéefe Lords, and went to salute Acestes, and to giue him honourable entertainement, such as belonged to so migh­tie a Cōquerer: Acestes perceiuing himselfe to be known, after due reuerence doone to the King, began at large to discourse to him what seruice he had doone to the King of Lidia, and how hee was rewarded, crauing succour and supply of his Maiestie, that hee might reuenge with hys Sworde. The King amazed at such monstrous ingrati­tude, wondring how such base resolutions coulde harbour [Page 31] in the hart of Prince, he promised Acestes not onely to ayde him with an army of approoued Souldiers, but in person to hazard him selfe, both to requite olde iniuries: and to reprooue in iustice such an abuse offred without de­sert. This answer of Sertorius so contented Acestes, that after great thanks, hee rested in the Court, passing fro­licke, til the forces were furnishing: which no sooner were ready, but without delay Sertorius and Acestes marched merrily forwarde towardes the confines of Lidia, as soone as Acestes had sette his foote within the ground of the in­gratefull King, drawing his Sword, hee swore not to sheathe it, till hee had made it drunke with the blood of Lidians, commaunding his Souldiers (for Sertorius had giuen him the ordring of the battailes) that they should vse all extremeties of martiall, burne, sack, spoile Citties, Townes, and Castles, to cast all to the ground, to take none Captiues of whatsoeuer degrée or sex, but to put all to the Sword: men as they were subiects in Lidia, Wo­men as the wormes that he most hated: Children as the issue of them both: the pillage of all should be theirs, only the King of Armenia should haue the Kingdome, and he would content him selfe with reuenge: this Oration en­ded, he furiously marched forward, and where hee came, left the Countrey desolate: The King of Lidia hearing this, was driuen into a great agony, but dissembling his gréefe for feare of discouraging his Souldiers, he leuied a mighty army, and hasted forward to buckle with Acestes whom he met halfe at aduantage, as hauing most of his men at pillage: whereupon the Lidians taking oportuni­ty set vpon the Armenians, but Acestes so rangde those that he had, in such warlike sort: that he not only aboade the braue of his enemy, but entred his battaile, disorde­red his ranckes, and put them to the flight: many were slaine in that present place, such as escapt and fled, were met by the Pillages and haruiers of the Armenians, and all put to the sword, so that of forty thousand Lidians there [Page 32] scarse remained thirty with the King, who passing vp in­to the Country: insconst him-selfe within a strong Castel with his Daughter Lidia, a few faint harted Souldiers, and all the treasure hee could get: Acestes followed his Fortunes, and leauing Sertorius behind with the mayne battaile, tooke with him ten thousand Horse, and sixe thou­sand foote, and made after the King of Lidia, as fast as his men were able to march: comming at last to the Castell weere he was insconst, first he intrencht a siege round a­bout and legard it on euery side, then he damd vp all such springs, wels, and Conduits, as serued the Castell with fresh water: this done, hee resolued not to loose a man at the assault, but to make them yeeld by famine. The Prin­cesse Lidia looking ouer the walls, séeing how her mortall enemy had girt the Castell with Souldiers, Armenians men there thirsted after blood, and hated both her and her Father, she fell from thoughts to passions, from passions to teares: insomuch that she sat her downe, and wept bit­terly: her Father comming vp the batilments, séeing his daughter in such perplexed estate, finding want of victu­als, and that of force he must be famished: gréefe stopping his spéech, he sat him downe and bare her company in her passions: and after consulted how to preuent ensuing mi­sery, many coniectures cast: at last they resolued to sub­mit themselues to his mercy, whereupon Lidia decking her selfe in most gorgious attire, accompanied onely with two of her Ladies, passed out of the Castell gate, & went toward the Legar: the Sentonell no sooner had them in hold, but they were honourably conueyed to the Pauilion of Acestes, who being certified that the Princesse Lidia was attended to speake with him, leapt from his seate, and went to entertaine her, Lidia no sooner saw him, but she fell downe at his feete: Acestes curteeusly tooke her vp, and setting her in his seate, demaunded her what shē craued: Lidia all blubbered with teares, falling downe on her knées, began thus.

[Page 33] Mighty Acestes, if repentance were any satisfaction for offences, or sorrowe any salue to couer ingratitude, if teares might wipe away disdaine, if a Uirgines blood would pay raunsome for them which haue done amisse: I would present all these to pacifie the fury of thy con­quering Sword: but I know such déepe hate of my Fa­thers ingratitude, such desire to reuenge my rechlesse dis­daine, and the disgrace proffered by both: hath set a fire the hart of Acestes, as nothing may serue to quench such an ouer heated flame: Oh yet might I finde so much fa­uour, that my death might redéeme the old man my Fa­ther, if not for the losse of Kingdome, yet of life: and from falling into the handes of his ancient enemy Sertorius, I should account Acestes as mercifull as he is valiant: if my treaties may not preuaile, as it little behooueth Ace­stes any way to fauour Lidia, yet graunt me this, that I may dye vpon thine owne Sworde, that my blood vani­shing on thy blade, thou mayst be satisfied, and I slaugh­tred: by the hand of Acestes so braue a Souldier, might dye contented.

No sooner had shee vttered these words, but shee pou­red foorth such streames of teares, as made the Armeni­ans to take pitty of the distressed Princesse: Acestes ta­king her vp againe, called for his Sworde, and vnshea­thing falling downe at her feete, began thus to make reply.

Such déepe impression of gréefe swéete Goddesse, hath pierced the heart of Acestes, in that hee hath lifted his Sworde against the Lord that harboreth Lidia such sor­row, such repentance, such remorce, in that I haue doone any thing that might offend the Princesse Lidia, whose deuine presence hath raced out all intent to reuenge: and so captiuated againe her Acestes: that héere franckly he offreth his conquering Sworde, (that hath atchiued so many battailes) into the hand of his mistresse to chastice eyther with death if she please, that daring Knight that [Page 34] hath so déepely offended, and with that he sat as a man in a traunce: Lidia séeing she had brought the Beare to the stake, thought now so cunningly to muzzle, as she would kéepe him heereafter for biting: following therefore her inchauntment, shee fell about his necke, and wette his chéekes with her teares in such sort, that at last from wée­ping they fell to kissing, yea so did Acestes comfort Lidia, that from melancholy she grew to be somewhat plesant, the Knight possessed thus of his Lady (as hee thought) af­ter he had banqueted her with such delicates as souldiers can affoord, taking only her hand for pawne of his fafety, he went with her to the Castell, where they were no soo­ner entred, but the King of Lidia with his Crowne in his hand met Acestes, and submitting him selfe, offered both his diadem and daughter as due to so victorious a cham­pion, Acestes refused his dignities, but accepting of his Daughter, embraced her, and entred into priuate and familier parle: insomuch that choller past vppon both sides, they began to treate of the marriage, which was concluded: when the King of Armenia returned out of his Kingdome: wherupon without delay (so feruent was the loue of Acestes,) hee tooke leaue of Lidia and her Father, and going downe to the Legar, raysed the siege, to the great admiration of all his Souldiers, and from thence marched to the Campe where Sertorius lay: to whom Acestes reueled what had past, and craued that he would depart out of Lidia with sufficient coyne answerable for his costs: Sertorius with a frowning looke tolde him that in battaile he neuer plaid in iest, and what he had wonne with the blood of his Souldiers and danger of his owne person, he would not deliuer vp but by battaile: Acestes whose minde was too haughty to intreat, said nothing, but secretly stole from the Campe, and trauersing through Lidia, got vp of Horse and Footemen, the number of sixe and thirty thousand, with whome trusting to his For­tunes, hee marched closely and secretly to the Campe, [Page 35] of Sertorius, where he arriued about midnight, vsing now pollicy, that before had conquered with prowesse: so that killing the watch and Sentonell, he past the Courte of garde, and set vpon the Souldiers, making a great slaugh­ter of such men as were sleepie and amaz'd: yet Sertorius escaped, but Acestes passed forward and followed him in­to Armenia, where his fortunes so serued him, that hee conquered Armenia, and brought the King himselfe cap­tiue to Lidia: comming thus in tryumph to my Fathers court, seating him in greater pompe and possessions then euer he had, he began to vse his late familiarity towards me, but I as a woman changed in calling and condition, shooke him off with more disdaine then before: hee chal­lenged my Fathers promise, who presently commaunded he should be apprehended and put in close prison: wee ha­uing thus cauhgt the Lyon in y^e snare, my Father questi­oned mee how I would haue him vsed. I would not re­solue on any lesse penaltie then death, my reason least in letting him abroad, he should fal to his fortunes: the ma­ner of his martirdome I deuised to be famine, as hee in­tended to vs by his leager: my Father yeelding him ab­solutely into my hands: I prosecuted the matter, causing euery day for his greater torment, a course or two of dain­tie viands to be carried before the window that looked in­to his Chamber, and my selfe to agrauate his sorrowes, would passe often by his lodging in most pleasant humor. Acestes séeing himselfe thus ouertaken in his own follie, by trusting too much the teares of a woman, would not exclaime against the sexe, but séeing no way but death, no kinde but famine, he resolued to shew an honorable mind in great patience, & so remained their foure dayes, when, pinched with extreame hunger almost euen to death: as Lidia passed by, he fell into these passions.

Meate, meate, oh for want of meate I perrish: Ah hunger, hunger, the extreamest of all extremeties: were I amongst men, men would pittie me: amongst beastes, [Page 36] beastes should feede me or feede vpon me. Amidst y^e pikes would I venterously escape, or valiantly perrish: on the land, I could shift: in the Sea, I could swimme: no place so barren, no people so barberous that woulde not releeue me or soone ridde mée: euery where more help, no where lesse, hope, ah hunger, hunger, the extreamest of all extre­mities. Thrice cruell Lidia, no worse I will tearme thée for that once I loued thee: not suffering mee to liue, nor simply to dye: my head is giddy, mine eyes dazell, fallen are my cheekes, and my tonge die my words, my sinewes shrinke, my blood consumeth, all my limmes fainte, and my hart failes me: euery minute I die, and I with I dyd but die: too long am I out of the way, to bee well out of the way: Ah hunger, hunger, the extreamest of all extre­mities.

Ah Liuia, haue I deserued thus to bee doone vnto, I gaue thee Crownes, and thou wilt not giue mee a crum: I bestowed Kingdoms on thy Father, aud hee presents me with famine: thus Loue wrought the traine, and for­tune, nay mine owne folly performed the treason: yet this hope I haue, that he hath found me, is hee that hath fashioned mée, who though he scourge mee, will yet saue me, how be it my God I cannot but cry, ah hunger, hunger, the extreamest of all extremeties.

What is it I would not rather be, then thus bee? then thus, ah then thus in pined walles to attende so bitter a death? I faint, alas I faint, my harts anguish commaun­deth my tongues silence: then Acestes silently be patient, patiently be penitent, penitently perrish, and that last martirdome will be thy least miserie, because longer thou shalt not cry: ah hunger, hunger, the extreamest of all extremeties.

This complaint highly contented Lidia, so that shee departed and tolde it to her Father, reioycing that her deuised fourme of death sorted to so bitter euents: well another day past, so hungry grew Acestes, that he greede­ly [Page 37] fed on the flesh on his armes, spilling that bloode with his own teeth, which before he had so prisde in many bat­tailes: which when hée had done, readie to giue vp the ghost, seeing the bare bones of his armes, he fell into this last complaint: Miserable wretch euen in the highest de­grée, miserably with my teeth haue I tyred on mine own flesh, till now bloodlesse and famished, my latest gaspe hardly giues passage to a few, and my farewell wordes, Lidia, ah Lidia, wherof is thy hard hart formed? that the sting of such diresse cannot peirce it, hast thou the eares of a woman to heare my cries, and not the hart of a woman to pitty my case? Ah Lidia, he that loued thee, for that hee loued thee must die: he that sounded thy praises in sundry Prouinces, him hast thou pinned and pined vp, till those armes are bare from flesh, that in many battailes bruted thy fame: I will not curse; thou art Lidia, nor exclaime at my last date thou wert my loue: nor pray for reuenge, sith at my death my patience shall giue my soule the bet­ter passage. But fondly, how short a time haue I to speak and yet how foolishly I speake, to name my earthly God­desse when I shoulde pray to my heauenly God: the one hath consumed me, the other must saue mée: now comes the touch, my hart yeeldes to him that framed it, now the last bitter sweete pang of death endes what the malice of man hath inflicted, and so falling downe, he died.

As soone as I perceiued hee was dead, not yet content with reuenge, I caused his body to be hang'd in chaynes, that the world might see the trophée of my crueltie: The manner of his death beeing knowne, the Nobles and spe­cially the Commans began to murmure that so braue a warriour who had made foure Kingdoms tributories to Lidia, shoulde so ingratefully perrish through y^e malicious disdaine of a woman, yea, so farre it pierced into the hart of Selidon great Duke of our realme, that suddainly cau­sing a mutiny, he summond most of the Nobles, & told thē such a tirant was too heauy for them to beare, to be short, [Page 38] the Nobles agréed, the Commons of their free will came in flocks to reuenge, so that he had quickly leauied an Ar­mie of an hundred thousand men, and entred into the Ca­stle, tooke mée and my Father prisoners, whom hee com­maunded to be famished in the same place where Acestes ended his life, there without remorse we dyed, they tooke downe the body of Acestes, and buried him with princelie funerals, and ouer his tomb, for that he attempted the re­uenge: they crowned Solydor King of Lidia.

AS soone as she had ended her tale, she fell to her won­ted cryes and shrikes, not answering to any question, so that I left the place and returned backe with my Harp: Orpheus hauing thus discoursed, Iupiter asked Venus how the liked of the tale: marry quoth shée, as of one that Orpheus tells, comming out of Hell: nothing preiudicial to my Dietie, sith shee was enemy to loue, and of so au­stere chastitie: it rather toucheth Iuno or Diana, the one stately in her lookes, the other too chary in her thoughts: for my part so I dislike of her disdainfull crueltie, as if I might haue censured, if possible it might haue béene, shee shoulde haue had a more bitter death vppon earth, and a more pinching paine in hell: Truth quoth Mercurie, for perhaps the paine is not so great to remaine in the fogge, as the remembrance how faire once shee was, and nowe to haue all smeared with the smoake: I think when Ve­nus was a maid, she was more charie of her face then her maidenhead: and more warie of her beauty then her ho­nestie. These quippes quoth Mars are digressions, but leaue Venus and talke of Lidia, whose life was so strickt, whose hart so opposde to loue, whose thoughtes so full of pride and disdaine, as her instance serueth rather to bée produced for a wonder, then for example to condemne women, sith the world I thinke containes not one so bad: Apollo smiling said, Well taken Mars for you owne ad­uantage, women must be pleasde, and Venus will frowne [Page 39] if she be not flattered: Vulcan sits fast a sléepe, or else I would not haue spoake so broad before, but to drink down all the frumps, Ganimede (quoth he) fill in Nectar, so the Gods from disputing fel to carowsing, and then Arion tu­ning his instrument, began to warble out this Ditty.

ARion hauing ended his Ditty, Apollo sayde, this falls out fitte, for Orpheus hauing made the diuision of a womans nature to be either too cruel, or too curteous: [Page 40] Arion standeth in his song as well to defend, as he to op­pose: accounting women the wealth of nature, and farre more profitable then Orpheus saies they are preiudiciall, therfore if it please the rest of the Gods, we'le heare what Arion censures of that sexe, they gladly agreed, and Apol­lo commaunded him to shewe his opinion, where-vpon Arion began thus.

No sooner right mighty Gods, had nature in her curi­ous moulde formed the counterfeite of Beauty, but loo­king vpon her workmanship, shee fell in loue with that metaphysicall excellency, as Pigmalion did with the per­fection of his owne Art: which may assure vs, that it is most exquisite, wherein curious nature taketh such ex­treame delight: this glorious Idea drawne out from the secret temper of the graces nature, bestowed more prodi­gally vpon women then men, as creatures more worthy and excellent: the richest gold hath the rarest colour, the purest stones are most cleare, the sweetest Flowers most pleasing to the eye: and women as the purest quintissence circolated from all other liuing things, are therefore the most beautifull and faire: yea in their own sex, beauty is the touchstone of vertue, and y^e fairer a woman is, the ful­ler of good conditions: for such as nature hath either slipt ouer with negligence, or made in her melancholy, so that they are ill fauoured and deformed eyther in face or body: such I holde as a principle to be counted stigmaticall, as noted by nature to be of a bad constitution: then must we confesse that beauty is excellent, as the pride of nature: deuine, as fetcht from the Gods: glorious, as the delight of the eye: pleasing, as the content of the hart: and to be estéemed aboue all things, as the very couer and superfi­cies vnder which vertue lyes hid: if then men séeing such heauenly obiects, such swéet Saints, haue their eyes fixed, their minds fettered, their thoughts inchanted with their loues, are they to be blamed or not? rather to be thought of Heroicall conceite: that place their liking on the foun­dation [Page 41] of beauty, and to be counted men of great iudge­ment, that in their desires séeke to covnite themselues to such an excellency: for may not he which enioyeth a beau­tifull Lady, boast that he possesseth at command? by spen­ding a few yéeres in wooing, some part of his liuing in ex­pences, his dayes quiet in sighs, his nights sléep in teares, by these toyes and a few other passions, he possesseth him­selfe of that creature which the graces and nature had studied many ages to make excellent: yet there be some such satiricall copes-mates▪ that spare not to raile against them, calling them the imperfection of nature, saying beauty is vanity, and the signe of little honesty, noting women as waspish, froward, deceitful, toyish, light, sullen, proud, inconstant, discurteous, cruell, and what not: such as can afford them no better spéeches, I would haue either made Euenuches or Esseni or plaine Asses, neuer to be fauoured of women, but to be accounted as stoicall com­panions, vnfit to attend on such beautifull and vertuous creatures: for in my opinion swéete and simple soules: they be pleasant, open harted, far from deceit God wote, as bearing all their owne secrets both graue, and yet ha­uing many mad and merry tricks to pleasure men, hum­ble & lowly, submitting themselues to what their friends will lay vpon them: constant, as neuer to be turnd from their opinions: kind enough, and to be short, as full of ex­cellent qualities, as the precious stone Silex is full of se­cret vertue, and this right mighty Gods is my opinion of women: The Gods smiled at this censure of Arion, and wished him if he could to proue it with an instance as Or­pheus did the contrary: Arion laying by his instrument, and the Gods being silent, he told his tale to this effect.

Arions Tale.

AFter that Right mighty Gods, the Pirats had hea­ued me ouer boord, & that being receiued vpon a Dol­phins back, I was safely transported to Loyath, the King [Page 42] glad of my arriuall, as honoring me for that I was coun­ted the most perfect musition in Thece, and musing at the strangenes of my fortunes: to make his péeres and princes of his land, partakers not only of my melody, but of the wonder: he proclaimed a generall feast, not of vo­lentary but vpon commaund, that all Dukes, Earles, Barrons, Knights, and other Gentlemen, should with their wiues and children, for the more magnificence be present: which strickt Edict, was so straightly obeyed of all, that at the day appoynted, none failed to be present: there appeard in the Kings Pallace such troups of Lords and Ladies, as might with their glorious brauery ouer­charge the eye with pleasure. To these the King presen­ted me clad in my rich robe, with mine instrument euen as I sate on the Dolphins back, with the whole discourse of my fortunes: wherat they were all driuen into a wan­dring admiration, after long gazing on me, as at a man reserued to some higher or more hatefull destiny, they sate downe in the great Hall to dinner: beeing placed by the King him selfe and his Sonne, who then playde the Marshall of the Hall: the yong Prince, whose name was Philomenes, giuing greatest attendance where hee sawe the fairest Ladies: as hauing his eye drawn rather with beauty then chiualry, at last he espied a lampe that light­ned all the rest, or rather disgraced them: as Phebe dooth the little fixed Starres: for so farre she surpast the other Ladies in excellency, as she did in dignity: and by birth she was daughter to Pelopidas the Duke, and great com­maunder in Corinth, this Lady whose name was Argen­tina was so faire: as touching the faultles mixture of ver­million flourisht vpon Iuory, & so full of fauor for the per­fect proportion of the linaments, whereupon this natiue colour was ouer-dasht, that nature had made beauty ab­colute, and beauty made Argentina the most excellent: Philomenes séeing so heauenly a Nimph, stoode staring on her face, as at a wonder, gazing so long, that Venus séeing [Page 43] Ceres and Bacchus honored all the rest, thought to arrest the yong Prince for her attendant, so that leuelling Cu­pids arrow aright, and wishing the boy to draw home, she pierst Philomenes so deepe, that hee shrunk & start at the suddaine prick which this inuenomed arrow had tainted him with: feeding thus his eye, his fancy & his thoughtes with contemplation, hee lost his stomacke to gorge with the Camelion on the ayre: sure was that messe where Argentina sat, to haue what attendance the Prince could grace them with: but their seruice was so broken and so ill sewed, that either they must coniecture the Prince to bee no cunning seruitor, or els that his hart was on his halfe-penny: well, dinner beeing doone and the tables ta­ken vp, Arion fell to his musick, and the cheefe Ladies to the measures, Philomenes ringleader of the rout, singled out the Lady Argentina, who blushing to sée the young Prince make choise of her aboue the rest, gaue such a glo­rie to her face, that Philomenes all on fire at the sight, had almost forgotte the time of the measure: but calling his wits together, he led formost till the musick ceast, & then wringing her by the hand, he whisperd to her thus. I see Madam that all these Lords and Ladies present, frolicke themselues as fitting the time, and feeding my Fathers delightful humor: my silly selfe onely excepted, who thys day giuing mine eyes leaue to banquet on your beautie, commanded my stomacke to fast and pray, that my heart which had surfetted on the excellencie of loue, might finde a curteous Phisition: now swéete saint it resteth in your fauour, whether I shall triumph as the most happiest, or sorrow as the most miserable. The musick called on to an other measure, so that Philomenes was interrupted, & for­ced to tread his taske, but as soone as the musicke gaue breathing time, Argentina beginning her exordium with a blush, made Philomenes this aunswer.

It seemeth sir, that tis a mery time, your honor is so well disposed to bee pleasant, singling out a cunning musition. [Page 44] the simplest plaine song, that your descant might séeme the more refind. It behoueth such as my self to brook y^e frumps of a Prince, & to take them for fauours, for Kings wordes may not offend, if in wrath, much lesse in iest: might your handmaide dare to reply, in my opinion howsoeuer your eyes haue banquetted, your sight is neuer the worse, nor they the more satisfied: for your harts surfeite I will bee beadwoman, with your stomack not in fasting, but pray that your Phisition may prooue such as would fit your de­sires: but my Lorde to your last clause, it is vnlikely your mirth dependeth of my fauour, whose fauour cannot profit nor disfauour preiudice, but taking it in iest as your honor profferd it, I pray you for my part my Lord to be as mer­ry as you please. The instruments sounded, and forward must Philomenes, who wisht Arions strings might crack, that his melody ended, he might proceed in his prattle. As soone as the musick stopt againe, the Prince began thus.

Beléeue me Lady, if you take my talk for a iest, you haue a deeper insight in my thoughts then my self: for by your diuine beauty, (the oath that for the whole world I would not infringe) so déeply in earnest did I break into my first passion, that my hart féeleth far more then my tongue vt­tered, so strongly and strangly hath loue on a suddain vi et armis as they say made entrance, there where fancie be­fore could haue no passage, so that rightly hast thou sayde Argentina, that though mine eyes & hart surfeited, yet they are not satisfied: as vowing themselues euer deuoted to so excellent a choyse: which if they may possesse as it lyes in your power, nature by no meanes may minister thē grea­ter content: As Philomenes was ready to wade further in his discourse, the daunce, I know not vpon what occasion, brake of, and the old man calling his sonne, tolde the noble men they should heare one of Arions schollers, whervpon he commaunded his sonne to take the instrument in hys hand, who very nie as skilfull as his Maister, obeyed his Fathers charge, and glad that time had giuen him oppor­tunitie [Page 45] to shew his cunning before this Goddesse, hee be­gan to play, and sung a sonnet to this effect.

PHilomenes hauing ended his song, they all generallie commended the skil of the yong Prince, but especially Argentina, who hearing him sing both swéetly and passio­nately, was charmed as if she had heard the Sirens, that while all the other walked abroad, shee fained herselfe not well, and withdrew solitary into her Chamber, where a­lone, she began to ruminate in her memory all the perfec­tions of Philomenes, as well the swéenes of his face, y^e pro­portion of his body, as the vertues & qualities of the mind: his courage, his comlines, his dignities, but there she stopt & gaue a sigh, as being a prince too high for her to gaze at, meditating thus: shee so swallowed vp the potions y^t Ve­nus [Page 46] had tempred with her sorcery, as drunk with his beu­tie, she began to fall with herselfe into this parle.

Unhappy Argentina, whose youth vertue hath brideled with chast thoughtes, whose yeeres beauty inchaunteth with fond lookes, resembling the nettle, which may bee handled in the bud, but stingeth in the flower: do thy ver­tues increase like the pace of a Crab, backwarde? Hast thou in thy cradle been continent, and wilt thou in thy sa­dle be impudent? art thou come to this feast to buy follie? knowst thou not that Venus stands by the wine-presse of Bacchus, and breathes her venom vppon his liquor? satst thou downe pleasant & must thou rise passionate? I and in loue Argentina? and why not in loue? was I not fra­med for loue? are not Womens harts the Exchequour where fancie yeelds vp his accounts: yes Argentina, and feare not to loue, for if thy choyce be right made, there can nothing come for marriage but honour: but with whom art thou in loue? with Philomenes the Kings Sonne and heire apparent to the Diadem of Corinth, a steppe higher Argentina then it becommeth thee to tread a degrée farre aboue thy fortunes, a star to high for thée to gaze at. Kings as they are men before the gods, so are they gods before men: such high personages as wee must honor with our lookes, not attempt with our loues: Why but Argentina he loues thee, he is inamored of thy beauty, hee sues with wordes, and intreates with his eyes: What then: can­not such great Princes be sooner pensick then passionate: weare fauour in their mouthes, when they haue flatterie in theyr harts: Dooth not loue hang in their eye-lyddes, which as it is taken in with euery looke, so tis shaken off with euery winke: is not their fancies like the Somers dew, which scarce wetteth the grasse before it bee dryed vp with the Sunne? take heed Aagentina, Princes haue liberties and priuiledges, they can laugh out faultes, which wee must pay with pennalties: Wee hold Venus for a Goddesse, they neuer offer her incense nor sacrifice: [Page 47] and yet they no sooner craue, but she is ready to graunt: yea but hath sworne ah fond foole, Periuria ridet Amantum Iupiter: Louers oaths are like fetters made of glasse that glister faire, but couple in restraint: if swearing had made loue perfect, Carthage had possest Eneas for their King: Phillis had not hangd her selfe, nor Medea said Deteriora sequor, yet men must be credited, els shall loue be a sha­dow: talkt of, but not put in execution: all are not Sons to Anchisis, nor brothers to Iason, nor traitors like Demo­phon: Philomenes face bewraies his faith, & me thinkes his looks containe loyalty: Thus poore wench doo I per­swade my selfe to the best, whereas perhaps he meanes but to sport with me to make triall of my wit, well if it be so, I wil endeuor to loue him lesse thē I doo, but if he mean truth, I will labour to loue him more then I haue done: and with this she rested content, & went abroad to find out the rest of the Ladies. Argentina had not serued her selfe thus in secret, but Philomenes was as solitary: for getting himselfe vp into his Study, then setting down his head on his hand, & his elbow on his book, he began thus to debate with himselfe. Philomenes thou hast read much & reapt litle, that at one look hast learnd more, thē in seauen yeres study thou couldst discouer: Hermes told thée that beauty was a star, whose influence had sundry effects, this was Allegorical, & thou didst only passe it ouer for a principle. Auicen said that loue was a fury, how didst thou estéeme of this but as an axiome: Epictetus called Venus the rest­lesse planet, thou tookest this for a dart: & Amphibological Aphorisme comments thou hadst none, and conceiue thou couldst not: but now if Hermes, Auicen, or Epictetus want interpreters, let amorous Schollers be auditours to my precepts: for I haue found beauty a star, and haue gazd a­gainst it: Loue is a fury for it is full of passions, & Venus a restlesse starre, for since the Goddesse distilled into my thoughts her precious Balms, the opperation hath béen so mighty, as my greatest rest hath béene restlesse disquiet, [Page 48] what néed these ambigues, this schollerisme, this foolery, thou art in loue with Argentina, the cōmanders daughter of Corinth, a Duke, but thy Subiect: why then doost thou vse preambles & protestations? canst thou not say flatly I am in loue, Venus Cofers when they haue the greatest found, are alwaies most empty: & louers when they prat­tle most, are thought either great talkers, or déepe flatte­rers: then Philomenes discouer thy mind, Argentina is a woman, & therfore to be wooed, & so to be won: Kings may command, where poore men cannot intreat: tis better to name a crowne then to write a Letter: an ounce of giue me, is worth a pound of heare me: the name of Quéen is a great argument, & therfore feare not: thou hast as much to be liked, as she to be loued. Thus far wel Philomenes, but suppose she hath already setled her affection, & hath made choise of some other: séeke not to diuert her, for she that is faithles to one, will be constant to none, if thou loue her, wish her not to be disloyall, but rather paune thy life, then disparage her honor, & wrastle with Loue, whom if thou subdue: thou extéemst a glorious conquest. In this resoluti­on he flung out of his chamber, and passing into the priuy Garden, there he found all the Ladies sparfeled abroad in sundry borders, som gathering flowers, others in discour­ses of the excellency of the place, some in prattle with the birds, all busie, none idle: taking thus a superficial view of them all, as hauing his eye wandring for a fairer obiect: he passed forward to finde out if it might be the Lody Ar­gentina, whom he spied with her mother in a shady walke of the Garden: seeing non but thē two, thither went Philo­menes & saluted them in this maner: Honorable Dutches, well accompanied with your faire daughter, the Mother happy for bearing so swéete a creature, & Argentina fortu­nate in cōming from such a parent: your walking in this shady Arbour resembles Latona, tripping with her train, Diana in the Lamns, where hauing her self tried the for­wardnes of Esculapius her husband: she schoold her daugh­ter, [Page 49] so that Diana vowed perpetual chastity: I hope Lady that y^e Duke Pelopidus, brooks not company with Escula­us, & therfore you néede not nusle vp your daughter in such heresie: The Dutches hearing the yong Prince so plesant being her selfe a Lady of merry disposition, made him this answer. Lord Pilomenes, were I Latona indéed & as was­pish in minde, as ready as she to reuenge: I would cause Phebus to chastice your frumps as he did the sons of Mo­bae, in loding my back with such reuerence, & my daughter with such beauty, to your strange supposition, as far as Pelopides differs from Esculapius: so far was mine from Latonas perswasion, so beléeue me sir, if Roses be not ga­thered in the bud, they either wither or proue windfalls: Maids must be married, least they be marred: if they be coy & sweare chastity, they oft wish and wil with secrecy, youth is the subiect of loue, & Siens that are grafted yong, haue the surest ioynts, therefore so far am I from that au­stere peruersnes of some mothers, that as yong as Argen­tine is, if there were a man whom she could loue & we like of, they should neuer break off for yeeres. Philomenes hea­ring how the Dutches desembled not, began thus to re­ply: & what manner of man should he be that might both content you & please your daughter? the one measuring by age, the other be youth: I would haue him, quoth the Dut­ches, to be of age answerable to my daughters yéeres, and his parētage proportioned to his parentage, least inequa­lity of time or birth might bréed mischeefe, his personage such as might féed her eye, his vertues such as might plese vs both, his liuing answearable to all these, & him would I count a fit husband for Argentina. A right conclusion quoth Philomenes, for there is no match y^t is right made if pelfe conclude not the premises: if he had y^e age of Adon, the honors of Hercules, y^e proportiō of Theseus, the vertues of y^eboy, yet si nil attuleris ibis Homere foras, if he haue not liuing, al his loue is laid in y^e dust: but what say you Argē ­tina, in faith let me as your gostly father, haue you at shrift [Page 50] before your mother, tel me were you neuer in loue: Ar­gentina blusht & was silent, as one that durst not be bold before her mother: whereupon Philomenes said, see Ma­dam, tis your presence makes your daughter so squemish, I pray you pratle with some other of the Ladies, & giue vs leaue a litle to be secret héere in this walk, perhaps I wil be a suter to your daughter, what say you Madam, shal I haue your good wil? I, & my good word my Lord quoth she, if you meant earnestly: & with that smiling she went her way & left them to thēselues: Philomenes seeing himselfe thus alone with his Goddesse, thought to take hold of her mothers last words & frō thē to driue his insinuation thus.

You heare swéet Saint how fauourably your Mother speakes, now Madam what censure shall I haue at your hands? I cānot paint out many passions, not tel tales with such large periods as many vse to doo, but I wil court thée and woo thée in one word, & that is Argentina I loue thée, more I cannot promise, and so much I will performe by the faith of a Prince: Argentina séeing Philomenes speak so plainly, & therfore as she thought so faithfully made this answer: my Lord, you take the antecedent of my mothers answer for a fouor, but you leaue out the consequent: and that is if you meane in earnest, for I cannot thinke youe grace would look so low as vpō Argentina, but rather gaze at some glorious princesse, whose Maiesty might match Iuno, whose worthines Pallas, whose beauty venus, & with these might bring for her dowry a Diadem: but? & with that Argentina staid & blusht: which Philomenes espied, & therfore wringing her by the hand said: but, what Ma­dam, nay forward with the rest or you proffer me great wrong: why then my Lord, quoth she, and with that shee gald him with a glance: but if your honor would vouch­safe to fauor such a simple maid, as from a meane Lady to make her a Quéene: for other thē mariage I dare sweare your Lordship dooth not intend: your Father gracing our loues with his Kingly consent, though I could not with [Page 51] loue sufficient request loue: as in person & parentage vn­fit for your highnes, yet would I with obedience and hu­mility make supply of these defects which otherwise were wanting. This answer of Argentina so contented Philo­menes, as that hee stoode as a man in a trance, at last hee tooke her hand in his, and swore, that before the feast were ended he wold make her princesse of Corinth, let this suf­fise Argentina, qd. he, & with that he sealed vp the bargain with a kisse, and walked towardes her Mother, to whom he deliuered Argentina thus: Madam here I deliuer your daughter as safe as I receiued in outwarde appearance, but how I haue schoold her, time will make trial, perhaps we haue strooke the match, and therfore let the Lorde Pe­lopidus prouide a good dowrie, and with that he went his way: when the matter comes to that effect my Lord, you shall haue a dukedome with her: at that the Prince turnd back and said, thats mine already, and her Father is like to bee my subiect, and so to holde his liuing in cheefe: the Dutchesse smilde, & thus they parted. But leauing Philo­menes to the King his Father, who hauing noted as nar­rowly as his sonne, the beauty of Argentina, had great ly­king of the Lady, so that he made inquirie of those which were Pelopidus neerest neighbours, what disposition the virgin was of, they all affirmed to the King that shee was so vertuous, humble, curteous, and adorned with such ex­cellent qualities, as the fourme of her life was a methode wherby other Gentlewomen did direct their actions. The King hearing this, resolued in his minde there coulde not be a fitter match for his Sonne, whervpon determining to break with the yong Prince, as he was in this humor, hée met Philomenes whom he tooke aside, and began to questi­on him as concerning Argentina, whether hee could fancy the Lady or no. Philomenes afraide the King had espyed their loues, made answer, that he neuer tooke such narrow view of her that he could yéeld his iudgement with affec­tion: then doo qd. the King, and giue me within two daies an answer, and so he departed. Philomenes ioyfull of this, [Page 52] no sooner met Argentina, but he told what motion his Fa­ther had made, but to make a smal haruest of a little crop: Philomenes at the two daies end so answered his Father, that the King breaking with the Duke, it was concluded that the end of the feast should be the beginning of y^e mar­riage, which was such a ioy to the nobles to see their yong Prince allied in his owne Land, that they deuised newe Iustes and pastimes, continuing the feast many dayes to their great ioy, and the Louers most happy content: The mariage and the feast thus finished, the Nobles departed, Pelopidus leauing his daughter thus honorably espoused, took this leaue, the maried couple staying still with the old King in his Court, who being of great age, liued not long after, but paide his debt vnto nature, so that Philomenes was crowned King of Corinth: Liuing thus happily with his wife Argentina, thinking his degrée too high for For­tune to preiudice, it so fell out, that Marcion the King of Sycilia, hearing that his ancient enemy Philomenes father was dead, thought to try what mettall was in the sonne, to proue if he were as valiant and fortunate as his father, therfore he leauied a great Army & prouided a great fléete to saile to Corinth, which was no sooner rigged but he im­barqued his men, and as soone as wind & weather woulde permit, sailed towards Corinth, where arriuing in a De­sert place, as politick to land without any great resistāce: he vnshipt his men, and all his furniture for war: and let­ting his Nauie ride in the road, hee marched forward into the maine land, vsing as one y^t intended a conquest, fire & sword, Philomenes hearing by Postes how Marcion was landed with a mighty Hoast, and had spoiled many of his prouinces, started vp, & summoning his Lords about him, raised a mighty hoast, such as neuer King of Corinth dyd before him, and with thē marched to meet with Marcion, whom he incountred by the Riuer y^t runneth by the great plaines called the Corinth downes: then pitching his pa­uilion, he intrenched his Army, and so had Marcion forti­fied his: lying thus a while, at last by Heralts they resol­ued [Page 53] vpon a day of battaile, which once come & both the Ar­mies rangd: they ioynd battaile so furiously, the one to cō ­quer, the other to defend: Philomenes hart made one with equitie, the other with dispaire, that a long while y^e fight was doubtfull, till at last fortune allotted the best to Mar­cion, in such sort that the fielde was his, the Corinthians most slaine, some fledde, the King valiantly fighting, taken prisoner: Marcion triumphing in the victory, marched for­wardes to the Citty leading Philomenes as his Captiue: comming to the gates, y^e Cittizens yéelded vp the keyes, & he as a valiant conquerour entred, & passing into the pal­lace, found there the Queene all blubbred with feares, as a woman almost sencelesse, whom he comforted and com­mitted to y^e custodie of one of his Duke: seated thus vic­toriously in Corinth, he not onely disgraded the King from all dignitie, but disrobing him, commanded that he should be turnd out of the pallace, and that he should not be relée­ued vpon paine of death, but if he would haue any thing to satis-fie his thirst, he should gette it with his handythrift: Philomenes not abashed at this doome, intreated the King to be good to his wife, and so went and became a labourer for day wages, contented with this fortune: Marcion the next day sent for the Queene, who although forlorne with teares, yet nothing her narrowly, hee found her the fayrest creature that euer yet in his life he had viewed, so that hée fell extreamly in loue with her, and offered her what ly­berty or pleasure shee would haue, courting her with ma­ny faire promises and amorous conceits, but all in vaine, for shee was resolued whatsoeuer fell, life or death, y^t none to her but her loue Philomenes: Marcion captiuated in her beauty, was restlesse, féeling such strange & vncouth passi­ons, that at last he fell into these termes.

What fond motions Marcion are these that disturbe thy mind? what childish thoughts vnfit for a king, a souldier, nay for one that hath conquered both a Crowne and king­dom: thou camst from Sycilia to be victor, & heere thou art arriued & not vanquished, thou hast beaten Philomenes in [Page 54] battaile, & art brought vnder by his wife in loue, thy reso­lution was to terrifie thy foes with thy sword, so thou hast don, but faine to please a woman with thy tongue: by this fond foolery I may note, y^t Venus frowne is of more force then the weapons of Mars, that affections are harder to be supprest then enemies to subdue: that loue is aboue King and keiser, where Cupid commaunds, there dignity hath no priuiledge to withstand: then Marcion yéelde, sue and intreat, but whom, the wife of Philomenes thy captiue, ra­ther commaund her, and what shee will not yeelde by in­treaty, take by constraint: in so dooing should I reape in­famy, and forced loue is neuer swéete: no Marcion allure her with wealth, promise she shal be thy paramore, to seat her next thy selfe in thy kingdome, women are won with fauors, and there is none so chast but time and gifts may intice. In this resolution he sent for Argentina, & beganne thus to deliuer his minde vnto her. Thus seest Argentina, how I haue fauourd thée, no like a Princesse that were captiue, but euen as a Quéene that is sole mistres and so­ueraigne of my affections, thy beauty hath cōquered that hart which had made conquest of thy Country, & subdued him who before, womans feature neuer vanquished: then Argentina take pitty of him that for thy loue is so passio­nate, consent that I may enjoy thée as my paramour, and thou shalt be honourd as shée that is best loued of the King of Sycilia, I could Argentina y^• seest obtaine by force what I sue for by intreatie: but I couet rather to possesse my selfe of thy louely consent, then by constraint: yéeld there­fore what I request, and héere before the Lords of Sycilia, I promise to grant whatsoeuer thou shall commaund, so it touch not my Crowne nor thy Husbande, though to the danger of my person, fréely without exception: Argentina as one nothing dismaid, returnd him this answere: I not deny Marcion thou hast subdued Corinth, and deposed the King, which I attribute rather to his bad fortunes, then thy prowesse or chiualrie, but in all thy conquest thou shalt neuer boast thou hast conquered either Philomenes or hys [Page 55] wife Argentina, séeing we are only ouercom, not vanqui­shed: in that both of vs remaine contented, and kéepe our minds vntoucht: thou art inchaunted with my loue, no Marcion, but perhaps thou art fed with lust, & neuer hope that Argentina will minister any meanes to appease the flame: although thou shouldst inforce her to consent by the most extreame torments: Philomenes liues, & so long wil & loue: not thée, but him whom I vowed to be true vnto for euer: yet thy last condition hath somwhat perswaded me, that if thou graunt what I request, I will consent not only to be thy paramour but thine for euer: the king was so glad of this, that he iterated with an oath to performe her demauud: then this it is quoth Argentina: Tomor­row morning thou shalt shut thy selfe into a secret place, wherof my selfe wil kéepe the key, & there for thrée dayes thou shalt fast, without tasting any thing so aslake hunger or thirst: this time thou shalt pray to the Gods for the re­mission of our sinns which we shal offend in by breach of matrimony, then at the terme of thrée days thou shalt frée­ly take the vse of my body before thou eat any meat, other­wise if thou faile but as much as Proserpina to taste a graine of the pomgranet, thou shalt neuer after question me of loue: thus doo, and I grant to like thée, or els here is my head, let that pay my raunsom: Marcion was so setted in her beauty, that he thought it nothing to vndertake this taske, and therfore promised before his Lords to fast three daies, and then to lye with her before he eat any meat, or els neuer to motion her any more of loue: whereupon the next day the Princesse shut him vp till the date was expi­red, in which thrée dayes he felt such torments, such pin­ching hunger and extreme thirst, that he cursed loue, and exclaimed against beauty as a charme y^t made men sence­les, willing to giue for one crum the Diadem of Corinth▪ well the terme expired, all the Nobles were assembled & sat in the great hall, expecting what euent shold fall either of y^e kings fast, or of Argentinas request: at last Argentina sent the key to one of the Lords, that the king might come [Page 56] into the Hall whether she presently would repaire: the Lord went to the chamber doore and no sooner put the key to the lock, but Marcion started vp and cryed for meat, the Lord vnlockt and saw the king glance at him with such a fierce looke, that he was afraid and started back: villaine quoth Marcion, hast thou brought me any meat, and with that running as a mad man into the hall, flinging in fury among the Lords: Why Gentiles (quoth he) sit you héere without meat? why are not the tables spread? doo I allow such niggardly allowance, or wil you famish him that fo­stereth you all? At this he was in a rage, Argentina ap­parailed in her richest robes, came pacing, that she looked more like an Angell, then a mortall creature, insomuch that euery eye directed their glaunces at so heauenly an obiect, except Marcion, who at her sight sat as a man great­ly amated: hauing her mayde followe her with a dish of meat crumd: Argentina with a smiling countenance ta­king him by the hand, sayd thus.

Redoubted Conquerour, according to promise I am come in the presence of these Lords to offer my self subiect to your highnes plesure, ready to goe whither your grace shal conduct me: Marcion at this cried out, & thinkst thou Argentina that famisht men haue minde on beauty, or is hunger to be satisfied with loue? no, no, tis true Marcion, Sine Cerere & baco friget Venus, reason could not subdue lust, but fasting hath set it on a non plus: but what is that the mayde carries? meat my Lord quoth she for your ho­nour after, and with that she blusht: Marcion no sooner heard her name meate, but he leapt to the mayde, puld a­way the dish, saying: farwel fond loue, and welcome that wherof one morsel is worth a monarchy, Argentina giue me leaue to eate, for thou hast conquered Marcion in his own folly, and with that he fell to his meat, wherwith af­ter he had somewhat appeased his hunger, sitting him in his seat royal, he began to parle with his Lords of Argen­tinas pollicy, highly extolling the constancy of so true a wife, and so far entred into consideration of the chaunce of [Page 57] fortune, and fall of Princes, that rising from his throne, he went and embraced and kist Argentina, not only prai­sing her for her redy inuention to perswade him from his vanity, but for her sake sent for her husband, and yéelded him his Crowne and his Kingdome, and liuing his sworn friend, returned home into Sycilia.

NO sooner had Arion ended his tale, but Mars taking opportunity, said: we sée by this euent, that as women haue their vanities whereby to be checked, so they haue their vertues redounding greatly to their praise: beeing both affable and constant, although that single instance of Orpheus his Lidia did inferre the contrary: And so quoth Apollo would Venus serue for an instance if you mean of constancy, for no doubt if you may be iudge, al beauty shal be vertue, & all women shal be Saints: & now quoth Iu­piter, Apollo by your leaue to take Mars his part, we oft rightly to think of women, seeing so oft we seeke their fa­uors, & speak to them by intreaties for their loues, other­wise we should proue our selues very ingrate: to beat thē with rods, that feast vs with banquets, to proffer them Scorpions that giues vs no worse then their own selues: Liuely spokē quoth Mercury, but Iuno likes you neuer the better for this flattery, as supposing you haue sued to more then contented her, or becommed you: but in my opinion, Arions tale paints out a paragon, a matchles mirrour, as wel for constancy, as the other for cruelty: these extremes therfore infer no certain cōclusions, for they leaue a mean betwéene both, wherein I think the nature of women doo consist, neither so cruel but they wil grant, nor so constant but they will yeeld, & rather oft-times proue too curteous then too vnkind: Sée quoth Mars how péeuishly you con­clude, to taunt them still of vnconstancy: well Mercury, quoth he, thou art subtill, & canst by thy fallacions prooue what thou wilt: but yet this I set down for mine own o­pinion, that women the more beautiful they are, the more curteous, the more constant, y^e fuller of excelent qualities: [Page 58] and rather vertues, and by the Riuer of Stycks I swere, and with that he rose in a choller, this I will approoue a­gainst him that dare maintaine the contrary: though not with my pen, yet my sword: at this the Gods smild, and Mars in such a rage clapt his hand on the boord: that I a­woke, not knowing what became of the Gods or of Ari­ons soule, only I remembred their tales.

BEing thus awakt, I lookt about mee, and still sate my Shepheard: how now good fellow, quoth I, haue I not taken a lusty nap? thy Pipe sounded so swéetly, and there I had such a dreame as I would not haue lost for much, for I hope it wil after more profit me then all my iourny, I haue past to Erecinus: I am glad quoth the Shepheard, my pipe did thée so much pleasure, and if thy slumber hath presented thée any visions, note them, for al dreames that men sée in Erecinus, prooue true: and with that standing vp, me thought he had wings on his head, shoulders, and féete: he bad me farwell, & tooke his flight: then I knewe it was Mercury. Whereupon, calling to mind the occa­sion of my iourney: I found that either I had lost loue, or loue lost me: for my passions were eased, I left Erecinus and hasted away as fast as I could, glad that one dreame had rid me of fancy, which so long had fettred me, yet could I not hie so fast, but ere I could get home, I was ouertaken with repentance.