AT what time Zamieis Ninias , the fift Emperour of Assiria , sonne of Ninus , and Ascolanta Semiramis , had in battell vanquished th' accursed sonne of his father , and common enemie to mankind Cham , otherwise called the Egipsian Saturne , and sonne of Noa , then vsurping ouer the Bactrians : part of his Nauie ( vpon occasion ) returning by Schythia , was so dangerouslye tossed with stormes and seas , that they which seemed euen now most glorious and insolent victors , appeared then most miserable and desolate wretches . Neuerthelesse , after long dispayre of their liues , great losse of their treasure , and extreme danger of both , the disparkled fleete of the Assirians ariued at Niniuie , one only ship excepted , wherin were imbarked more then a hundred braue soldiours , ouer whom one Sorares was captaine .

Not far from that place whereas the mountains Taurus and Caucasus begin the headsprings of all the Asian Seas , which take their sundrie names according to the channels , whereinto the scattered waters fal , there lieth an Iland , no lesse obscure for the scituation , then vnfrequented for the infertilitie thereof : into this Iland , the ship of Sorares was by tempest driuen . Where hauing landed his men , and repaired his wetherbeaten Uessell , he determined a further search into the Iland , as well to learne what commodities might there be founde , as also to keepe his soldiors occupied , vntill time might serue more conueniently for their departure away : and therfore marching from his ship in good order , he pearsed a greate part of the same Ilande , wherein he found nothing but myrie bogges , or stiepie rockes , not worth the discouerie , much lesse the trauell or hazarde of a conquest : and he made it no wonder that hee founde no people there to defend it , seing he himself thought euery●day a yeare , vntill he had left it .

At the length , sending the wind to be more fauourable , then their discouerie profitable , his purpose was to retire his men , and forthwith to haue wayed anker . But whilste he rested in this resolution , the Assirians might espie ( descending towards them from a mountaine ) two men altogether vnweaponed and naked , sauing that their pined bodies were in some parts disorderly couered with a few vnhandsome rags : their lookes seemed wilde , their countinaunces full of heauinesse , their colour swarth , their heare and beardes long , lothsome , and vnkembde , and ( to describe them in a word ) being men in shape , they seemed monsters in show : but yet such monsters , as were rather to be pitied for their penurie , then to be feared for their crueltie .

These being come before the Assirians , albeit their sauage demeanour sauoured more of the place of their present abode , then of the ciuilitie ( small though it were ) of the countrey wherein they were bread , yet remembring that they were men , & that they were to deale with men , the one of them , whose name was Arbaces sometimes a Duke in Media , had these following speeches .

HOw rufully these wordes were vttered by the miseble Meade and how effectually the same wrought in the hartes of the Assirians , the passioned gestures of the one did testifie , and the pittifull regards of the other witnesse . Let it suffice , that the sillie soules were pitied , their pensiuenesse comforted , their bodies appareled , al former enmitie pardoned , and libertie promised .

But see what an euill euent followed so good an hansel . In the night before the Assirians should depart , Sorares calling diuers the cheefe of his soldiors to suppe with him in his cabben , enuited amongst the rest the two Meades , and after supper ended , he intreated the miserable Duke to declare by what mishap they chanced into that harborlesse Iland , wherevpon Arbaces proceeded in this maner .

JF so be ( my dere friends and countreimen ) the inuasion of the Assirians , the ruine of Media , and our late passed perils , had ben to me by oracle or otherwise reuealed , I then would haue made you acquainted before hand with that which was threatned to follow : so might wee either haue pacified the Gods by prayer , encouraged our selues to abyde the daunger , or else before it had hapned haue dyed for sorrow : but , contrary to our expectations wee haue auoyded the outrage of our foes , and though hardly yet safly escaped the seas .

But nowe , if I that cannot diuine as a prophet , prenosticate as an Astrologer , inuocate as a Nigromancer , obserue as an Augur , interpret as a Dreamer , calculate as a Wyzarde , or cast figure as an Arteste , shoulde say vnto you , that the mischiues yet behinde , are more & greater than whereof we haue already our shares , you ( perhaps ) thinking it impossible , would esteeme it as a fable , and accompt me as a foole .

O people for your inconsiderate peeuishnes to bee pitied , are your eyes cleare and yet will you counterfaite blyndnes ? haue you your senses , and yet will you seeme sensles ? and seeing imminent distruction , dare you neuertheles be desperate ? haue you bene ouercome by men , betweene whom and you ought to be an equalitie , and yet are you feareles of monsters , betweene whom and you consisteth no indifferencie ? muse not at that which I haue spoken , for you are likely to find more than monsters , being to encounter with Ambition and Auarice , th one by presumption , woulde rente the gods from the skyes , and thother rest vncontented to possesse their seates , & vnles both be incountred , neither of both can be conquered , such is their vndeuisible properties .

Know yee not ( my friendes ) that the ambitious person , neither hauing gentry to elate him , reuenewes to inrich him , personage to adorne him wit to aduaunce him , good qualities to preferre him , or any one vertue to commend him , if by the benefit of fortune her blyndnes , he attayneth to dignity hee forthwith becommeth a lordelike tyrant , a vainglorious Magnifico , careles of other mens profit , and arrogant of his own preferment : his countinance is fastidious , his speechloftie , his meditat●ons asspiring , not brooking his superiour , nor bearing his equall , to his inferiors burdinous , to all men cumbersom & not remembring his old friends that forgetth his newselfe .

If beggers thus set on horsebacke ride a galop , let vs then make accompt , that these claiming by gentry will ply the spurre . Briefly what can I say more , than in effect is already experienced ? see you not or are you willingly blinde ? how these two gallants onely remembring what they sometime were but not acknowledging what they presently be , make no question of our safety , but fall to quarrels for their priuate superiority : not considering the fire once squenched forgoeth both heate & brightnes , that grasse once mowed , looseth both sap and greenes , & that a noble man exiled , if not of noble birth , yet of authority and honorable estimation standeth disgraded .

But let it be that banishment is no dispargement to birth , yet should we for our own assurance , respect the sequell , & haue an eie to their inclinations whom we admit to rule . For mine own part I carry this opinion , that had these men no other fault , yet are they therefore vnfit for gouernment , because so forward to gouerne : authoritie should be denyed to such as desire it , & offred to those that refuse it , for a wise man and one well minded , neuer receiueth an office , vnles thereunto compelled , as foreseeing that the same to his body shal be a trauell , to his conscience a care , that he shal be marked of all , enuied of many , & cannot but daunce in a ne●● . But such as are these our high minded intrudors ( whom we may therefore call ignoble , because not vertuous , as hauing already dashed at home against the rockes of ignomie , and now here entred into vtter shipwracke of the small remaine of their credit , ) these I say chaleng preeminence not for desertes , but of duty : exacting that of vs through ambition , which they can neither discreatly discharge , nor we dangerles dispose : & yet like as violent waters are prone to often eruptions , becomming shallowest within their ordinary channels , so proud persons are euermore capable of higher dignities , though not wel able , to excercise their present meane offices : stil doth the proud man flatter himself in that that he would , not esteeming of himself in any point as he ought .

There is hardly that thing so good , but there may be a better , or that thing so bad , but there may be a worser : the wilde oliue is sauerie , but the ripe figge is sweeter , the Tiger mangleth with her teeth , but the Baselique murdereth with her eye : there is no beautie without some blemish , nor any blemish that is not either naturall , or necessarie : no perfection with some imperfection , and yet the same imperfection either to be cured , or tollerable : only Ambition , vntill of it own selfe it be deuoured , is bloodlesse for blushing , and intractable for taming , penurie doth not decrease it , and plentie doth increase it , in wel doing it is insolent , in ill doing impudent .

As for the other monster Auerise , a little varying from Ambition in qualitie of affection , but not in quantitie of affecting , this ( I say ) is still hunting , but euermore hungering , still praying , but continually pining , stil getting but neuer gaining , and still hoording , but neuer hauing . For as the hollow spoute receaueth much water , and yet retaineth nothing but ayre , so the couetous man gathereth much wealth , and yet possesseth nothing but cares , and only he of all monsters , in his rauenous deuouring is vnsatiable : for whereas commonly all other vices by old age are impaired , his only vice is theerby repaired , the nerenesse of the graue the rather adding to nigardise .

O most miserable man , to whome is wanting as well that which he possesseth , as that which he wanteth , hee hungereth after that which he coueteth , and feareth to lose that which he emoyeth , and as in aduersitie he craueth prosperitie , so in prosperitie he feareth aduersitie , in his superior he dreadeth force , in his inferiour he m●strusteth theft , such ( I say ) is his wretched estate , that he presently suffereth all and so much as he feareth . Therefore is it a true saying , that nothing may bee wished more harmefull to a couetous man , then long life . And ( trust me ) if we consider with what toile wealth is got , with what danger it is kept , what charmes in vsing it , what detriment in abusing it , and with what anguish we leaue it , then shall we find more profite in pouertie , then quietnesse in riches .

One thing it is to be happie , and an other to bee riche ▪ but detestable is the exchange , when to follow golde wee forsake the Gods : as no doubt doth the couetous man , of whom what should I more say ? but that his life is detested of many , his death desired of all , and being dead , the poore man curseth , his heire reioyceth , the saints weepe , and the diuels laugh .

How harmeful ( ye Meades ) these two monsters haue bene , all the world hath found , we haue felt , and more shal feele , except being yet but yong Snakes , they be cut off , before they grow to be old Serpents .

If these two iollie Champions had bene well counceled , and not so couitous , or more pollitick , and lesse proud : then this vnnecessarie strife shoulde haue bene the last thing of a thousand , for our behoofes much more necessarie : Neither would they haue perswaded themselues to be Kinges not being assured of subiects , nor haue contended for a kingdome , not hauing conquered an Iland .

Alas how much more vnfortunate are we in transporting these reliques of gentrie , and small remnant of treasure into Scithia , then in leauing the blood of our friends , and masses of wealth behind vs in Media .

But if you can be content to cherpe in cages , that may sing in the bushes , if you can disgest that these feast with full dishes , whilste you shall fast with emptie bellies , that they sing whilst you sorrow , that they bee adorned with chaines of gold in token of their superfluitie , whilst you shall be fettered with yrons , as pledges of your necessity . If it be your pleasures to make them your Lordes , and you to become their slaues , yet shall you vnderstand that Chebron hath set an hier prise of his freedome , then to exchange it for such bondage . And though it be not my meaning to be superiour to the worst here , yet thinke I my selfe equall to the better of these two , and he which hath deserued any thing at all , hath deserued more then either of them : only their new courage seemeth straunge to me , so well acquainted with their late cowardise .

Are not these the men ? or were they then metamorphosed , from Egles , to Owles , or from Lions to Lambes ? that whilest we applyed the pumpe , reeling vp and downe the ship could naught else but purge : that whilst we laboured on the hatches , lay quaking in their cabbens ? Yes verely , these iolly fellowes are the verie same , to one of which ( for not aboue one may be receiued into a kingdome ) you may resigne the pleasures of your ouerpassed perrils : as for my selfe , I more account of libertie then esteeme of such pollicie , and am more zealous of your welfare , then carefull of mine owne safetie , fearing more a comming then our common scourge .

THus much Chebron with a couragious countinaunce spake , and was about to haue said more , but that he espied one of those two against whome he thus enuaied ( impatient of his speeches ) to aime a dart against his head : wherefore the same anger that before had occasioned him to speake , and then had tied his tongue , moued him now to vse his weapon , the which he pearced into the bowels of him that threatned the flinging of the dart : and with the like successe hee also dispatched the other standing amased in beholding his dying companion , saying : happily you shall find hell a gulfe as vnrepleatable , as your selues haue bene men vnsatiable .

Beleeue me ( Sorares ) whether it were the vigorious force of magnanimitie , that then proceeded from him ( for I may terme him magnanimious , whome neither flattering , nor frowning fortune can alter , that preferreth mediocritie before superfluitie , a common profit before a priuate gaine , and an honourable death , before a thraled life ) or whether it were the tim●rous astonishment then planted in vs , that gaue spurres to these his proceedinges I know not : but most certain it is ▪ that like as the shepheard entreth into the Coote , there sequestring from amidst the flockes , what sheepe it pleaseth him to appoint to the slaughter , so Chebron , euen in the middle of vs , on these two performed this tragedie so couragious was he , and so amased were we .

Anon , as our appaled spirits were reuiued , we began diuersly to construe of Chebron his words , & to conceaue of his deedes , and being amongst our selues diuided , one part protested that he had wel done , an other company detested his deede , and some not intermedling at all , stoode as newters . The more that Chebron intreated the factious accomplices with reason , the more they threatned him and his adherents with rigour , so that seeing them desperately addicted to assaute , he vnwillingly prouided to resist : wherevpon they fell from brawling to blowes , and from wrangling to wounds , and he that now killeth , is himselfe by and by killed .

Whilst we yet persist in this same franticke mutinie , making horrible hauocke one of an other : Those before named persons which either for feare durst not , or for policie would not be dealers in this quarrell , these men had loden themselues with great store of the treasure , & minding whilst we were thus busted in the fray , to haue made a mart of our miseries , dr●w ●owards the ship , with purpose to haue sailed away .

But a common souldiour , a factio●s fellow , smelling ou● this their pretence , and getting aboord before any of these stinche●s mighte enter , had fyred the same in sundrie places , the whiche hauing of it selfe sufficiente of combustable matter , was quickly consumed .

This we espied , and as we could not then intend it for the fray , so remained we so farre of from squenching the flame , that it rather reioyced vs of the so preuenting of those dastards , ( as we did then terme them ) then once thought on the misery that hereof ensued , for hauing gold we vainly perswaded our selues not to want any thing . But by this meanes those that woulde thus haue fledde , were now enforced to take a part in our ciuil fight .

Still perseuer we in mangling and murthering one an other , vntill Chebron and his adherentes had vtterly confounded the aduerse party , and that of an hundred men and more that ariued here , within fiue or sixe howers only xvi . remained vnslaine , yet we ( though so small a number to deuide so great a bootie ) in the sharing had well nere begone a second broile , and that day ( I would wee had bene so happie ) had ben the last to vs al , had not night preuented our harebraine proceedings , and darkenesse stayed our desperatenesse . But daylight thus failing vs ▪ euery man bestowed himselfe vpon a seuerall pile of the heaped treasure , keeping a wakefull & suspicious watche , of all that night .

As soone as the gray morning appeared , and that wee beheld the wooluish aspects of our own selues with blood embrued , the dead carkases of our slaughtered companions , and looking towards the sea , remembred the burning of our ship , and perishing of our vittailes , then , then , our furious fearcenesse was changed to feareful fantisies , and our headie rashnesse to helplesse repentance . But what dwell I longer on this mischiefe , the matter being much more dolorous that resteth yet vnresited .

When our handes were thus ouersoone filled with blood , & that our eyes had ouer late emptied their teares , although our sore limmes require rest , yet our sharpe appetites hunger for foode : and therefore as well pricked forwards by hunger , as desirous to be instructed what a profitable plot we had picked out for our here abode , wee discouered into the farthest circuit of this Iland . But the same seemed abhorred of the gods , and we found it vtterly abandoned of men , beastes , fowles , fruites , and euery other thing necessarie for mans behoofe : and ( worser then so ) we being shiplesse , and on euery side with main Seas enuironed , did also remain hopelesse of our deliuerie from hence .

Now in this melancholie , euery man laid violent hand vpon Chebron , fathering our woes vpon his late inuectiue wordes , whereby ( in my conceit ) hee rather intented quietnesse than pretended any suche quarrels : howbeit our mutinous minds altered with the time and troubles , made a newe construction of his zealous meaning , and doe what he could , we pressed him to death vnder an huge heape of golde , whose bones vnder the pile are yet extant .

After this , some of our companie not able to abide the extremitie of this climate , the stench of the ayre , and stirilitie of the Iland , by mutuall consents , made mutuall dispatch of their own persons , and shortly after vntimelye death finished the liues of the residue , who being far more fortunate in dying , then wee in suruiuing , lefte onelye vs two the vnhappy inheritours of these vnspeakeable calamities .