The most excellent and plesant metaphoricall historie of Pesistratus and Catanea. Set forth this present yeare by Edm. Eluiden Gentleman

The Historie of Pesistratus and Catanea . IN fertile fruitefull happye soyle which Grecia hath to name , And pleasant Appollonia lande contained in the same , There flourished the courtly race of A●anetians kind , Which stained euery hauty bloud in valure of the minde : And in the midst , when flickering fame had spred hir selfe to praise , To Aganetians did amount more happy golden dayes . For when Aganetos , the cheefe of Aganetians rout , Began to leaue his youthful yeares , proceeding to misdoubt : So fortune fauored his case , that he possesse the gaine , Whose want , had long dismayd his sense and causde him to complaine . And from Veronia , whom he chose to be his matched mate , There did proceede two goodly imps , which glorified his fate . And after his decease , when death incroched on his yeares , They did renue their fathers fame , and had not then their peeres . For when the perilous dispatch of childish age was spent , In no misorder , but in vse which daungers doth preuente And they approcht vnto the time when season doth indue The sense with reason , and the wights which rea●on do insue , These youthful Knights did tracke the steeps that sire had trod before , In such an ample valiant sort , as they could do no more . One Kenedoxus , the other eke he Pesistratus high , The yongest last whose fame my pen doth purpose to indite , Who chiefly through his valure great , so satisfied the sire , That Pesistratus to preser the father dyd desire . And therefore when as crooked age did one rate his backe , And he opprest with faint disease , did feele of force the lacke , He cals to him these brothers twayne , who present thus he sayde : ( But to the elder first his speeche and meaning he conuayd : ) Thou Kenedoxus knowest wel the Aganetians fame , And to be Aganetian● heire thou loo●est for the same : And since it is thy right , my sonne , I graunt thou shalt inioy The very same , without my let , disturbance or anoy : But oh my welbeloued babes , consider in your braine , How I haue labored for your wealth and for your propre gaine , In seeking to suppresse the foes which gape for the dispoyle Of Aganetians , vnto whom I alwayes gaue the foyle . I meane the Tetimetians , they , who burne in furies fire , To haue on Aganetians bloud the ful of their desire . But what conflicts and combates fierce , it needes not to be showne , Hath bin betwixt my selfe and them , for it is wel yknowne . Now this is my request my sonnes , your prowesse may vphold The fame , which Tetimetians haue so derely to me sold , For wel I do perceiue , bycause there is two springals sprong From Tetimetians , you shall feele their wrath ere it be long : And therefore warily prouide , and manfully pretend , In al their fierce assaults , your selues with courage to defend : Wherof , not only you shal reape immortall happy praise , But also g●ine a quiet state , attaining to the stayes Which nere your predecessors could before you yet possesse . But euer , for your sakes , haue liued in werisome distresse : And for bycause your stomacks might in no wise seeme to faile , Nor once your harts , in your defence and quarel for to quaile , I will declare to you , the cause from whence began this strife . Which hath indured , euer since the entrance of my life . When Turkish nation did assay our Appollonia soyle , To bring the same vnto decay , and to a shameful foyle , Tetimetians auncester by craft and treason did conspire , Unto the Turkes against the same , for priuie prouling hire : Which , when your graundsire Aganes perceiued to be so , How Tetime by treason wrought , and was so g●eat a fo Against his natiue countrey ( movde by nature to the same ) He brought before the armed rout , this ●etimes to shame : For there in open audience he his treason did discry , Which done he offred to approue the m●tter by and by , Wheras in open sight , by force this Tetimes he slew , And after slayne , his trayterous corps vpon a dunghil drewe . Which when the chieftaines viewed wel of Aganes his might . And how the traytour he had slayne in maintenance of right . They al consented and agreed , your graundsire should possesse Tetimes heritage , wherein be tooke a firme release , And Aganetians euer since baue so inioyde the same , Wheron the Tetimetians most their malice do proclayme . Thus know you al the ful effecte ( my children ) of the cafe , And therfore s●eke you to insew your grauns●ers former rase . But vnto thee Pesistratus , with fatherly consent , I giue my blisse , as much as of a father may be meant : And wil thee only , to maintayne the Aganetians fame , And to reuenge these foes dispight , vnto their further shame : And whatsoeuer either of you by force of foes attayne , I wil it do redownd to thee , as for a rightful gaine . And so be stint , and gushing teares proceeded from his eyes Upon his brest , like dropping dewes descending from the skyes : And force did faint , and wauering life was vp and downe y●ost , Til at the last in happy time he yelded vp his ghost . But , when to brothers did appeare their fathers mourneful death . With roaring voyce and shryking cryes , and sighs and sobbing br●ath , And woful houlings , plaintes , and teares , and piteous mones , they spend Their youthful dayes , in ruful sorte vnto a paineful ende . But in a season , when the rage of burning did aslake , ( Wherby the boylings did delay ) they did begin to make The rich and solemne funerals , ( according to the vse ) Of fathers carkasse , meete for earth , which done without abuse , With al things incident therto , the brothers , though dismayd Through death of ●ire , yet did deuise how eche thing might be stayd : But Pesistratus , cheefely movde by nature to the same , To brother Kenedoxus , thus his speeche began to frame : Though we vnhappy haue great cause with teares vs to complaine , Yet season ( brother ) seemes to craue we should therfore refraine , And though it be both natural and duety we do so ▪ Yet is it needeful to surmise on furies of our fo : And therfore , sorow set a side , and pensiuenesse from hart , Let lustye blouds of Aganes be ●old to do their part , In seeking to maintaine the fame , the honor and renowne , Which Aganetians here●ofore haue gayned , as a crowne , Wherin you seazed , must possesse the profits of their toyle , And therefore most had neede to care herein , and most to moyle : And I as duety doth me binde , and ●athers sweete request , To maintnance of my brothers wealth , am alwayes ready prest . And though our father now deceast , is so for euer gone , Yet let our fathers streite preceptes be alwayes thought vpon : And since his greatest charge was this , that we , deuoyde of blame , Should maintaine auncestors renoume , and put our foes to shame , As needful now , let mutual braynes suppose vppon the case , That we may both auoyde our payne , and beautifie the rase Of former Aganetians , who haue vsd● their former care , That we successors vnto them , may likewise partly beare The fruiteful flower of their fame : thus doing may we say , Our auncestors haue wel begonne , and we haue made the slay : But otherwise , if we should slacke our dueties to prefarre , They should not be so much a fame to vs , but we a scarre To them , and those which shal insue of Aganetians blood , Who after vs , may rightly say , wee neuer did them good . 'T is true , quoth Kenedoxus then , I graunt to your desire , And gentle brother to these things , I willingly aspire : And therefore , as our fathers wil , of you so likewise I Do craue , these matters to dispose , and I shal nought deny , But vrge my tra●el , to pursue the force of your aduise , From whence I doubt not , but the proofe of profit wil arise . And thus these brothers do conclude their talke , and now begin To follow the effectes therof : whom I wil leaue herein , And vnto Tetimetians rage my penne and I must bende , For to discry the mind at large , and matter they intende . THe Tetimetians waying well how euery thing doth s●and , And how Agenetes is dead , and they of stronger hand , And how the brothers be the chiefe of Aganetians route , Wheron they gather lesse suspect or m●●ion of misdoute , In fell and furious ranckrous rage so fiercely they abound , That now in haste , but al in wast , they hope straight to confounde The Aganetians , and proceed in wrathfulnesse and ire , By sundry shiftes and secret craftes to worke the sayde desire . But Anteres , the principall of Tetimetians , be Pervsing better of the case than al the rest could see , Amongst the midst , began with voyce amounting , thus to say : My friendes and Neuews , be attent to that I shal display : The Aganetians ( as you knowe ) the quarel do defend , And we desirous of reuenge , the quarel do extend : Now , since the quarel is our owne , and that we seeke our fame , We ought to chalenge them , as so we get no further shame : And therefore note what I intend , I haue ( as you do knowe ) Two sonnes proceeded from my loynes , who daily seeme to grow And to increase in prowes great , and these shal chalenge those , I meane the brothers , which disc●●d from parties of our foes , In meete appointed place to proue that Tetimes was slayne By treason false , of Aganes , who falsly did it faine , And if the brothers do consent to come in poynted place , And dare presume to meete my sonnes and looke them in the face , Wee wil ordaine the chiefest strength of al our noble bloud , To helpe my sonnes , if ought should chaunce to them more worse than good : And by this meanes , as by a shift when they are present there , We shal the Aganetians all suppresse , deuoyde of feare . To this , the Tetimetians glad , were very wel agreed . And therefore , shortly to conclude , it briefly was decreed Of al the Tetimetian route , that chalenge should be made Of Tetimetian brothers , who consenting , causde to vade A verlet dight in posting haste , to Aganetians trayne , Who did informe them of this thing , and then returnde againe . But none amidst the valiant route of Aganetians , more , Than Aganetian brothers ioyde , to heare of this before . For it was chiefly that they wisht , and therfore did prouide Eche requisite and needful thing for the appointed tide . And not vnlike to Lions fierce . who rage for wante of pray , They burnd and boylde in furies fire , til the appointed day , The which approcht , the furious youthes be mette in foresaide field , With barbed horse and steely cotes , and blade and speare and shield , And after course of rankrous talke , with staffe in steady wreast , Eche youth appointed , for his foe is now alredy prest . And traiterous Tetimetians they , as erst they did deuise , Were in ambushment priuie hid in secret , so likewise The Aganetians eke , vnknowne did closely couche in place , Where they suspecting of their foes and of the foresaide case Did lie , their nephewes to defend , if reason should assaile To worke them mischiefe , wherein much their watching did preuaile : For when eche youthful knight had met and buckled with his foe , Like thunder ratling in the skies which tumbleth to and fro , At last the Tetimetians force began to fainte and faile , The which when Aganetians spide , more fiercely did assayle Their foes , with ouercharging thwackes til Tetimetians route Espying those their nephewes fare , in hast did rushe them out From bushes , like to buskling boares , vpon the brothers twayne Of Aganetian kind , and thought the brothers to haue slayne : But Aganetians likewise hid , as furiously do meete , From couert bushes , these theyr foes , in their defence to greete , And now begins the stirre a newe , for euery man doth straine Himselfe with al his force and might , to put his foe to paine , But most surpassing all the rest , the prowesse , and renowne Of Pesistratus did excell , who so suppressed downe The rage of Tetimetians pride , that through his Martial might And manly courage , to conclude , they put their foes to flight . And then in better peace , than earst when they sustaynde anoy . They did retyre , with happy heartes and stomackes stuft with ioy , But woe to Fortunes tickle wheeles , who seemeth to aduaunce , When with hir froward kicking heeles she charmeth a mischaunce : Thou blubbered blind and bleared ●yde , thou fond and fickle foole , Thou thrice and thriee accursed Wench , thou girle of Momus schole , Why doth thy sausie finger touch these manly Martiall knightes ? Why doest thou so infect these youthes with thy impoysned spightes ▪ Art thou not thrall : not thrall ywis : doth fortune eche thing guide ? Why then , alas , attend to heare of this vnhappy tide . The Aganetians thus returnde from former feareful broyle , The conquest got , by knightly force in giuing foes the foyle , In season after sweete repast receiued , they deuise And mutually consented now , they purpose to surmise , How that the spoyle they haue obtaynd of foes , may parted bee Amongst them selues , and herevpon they seeke for to agree . But when as Kenedoxus viewde this purpose and intent , In hope to haue the whole himselfe and all the rest preuent . With forced voyce and fyled tong , and hawtie glozing stile , He movde his speech as thus , and cravde attentiuenesse a whyle : You valiant impes and worthy limmes of Aganetians rase , Considering what you do intend and purpose in this case , I thinke my selfe the boldlier may proceede for to declare Such certaine things , as to be showne both good and needeful are . You know , of Aganetians I by duety do retaine The landes and lordships , which by right to me the heyre remaine : And now bycause we haue of foes by force possest a spoyle , Wherein , more landes we purchaste haue contained in this soyle , It seemeth requisite to mee , that I possesse the same , Bycause thereby it may enlarge the Aganetians fame . For if our lands should be disperst and not in one mans vse , In tract of time it would returne vnto our owne abuse : And therefore note what I shal say , let me the lande possesse , And what your partes amount vnto , I will the same addresse With ready paiments into golde , how answere you to this ? None answerde but Pesistratus , who sayde it were amis That he should seeme so to incroche vpon the same , whose right ▪ Was due to him by Sires bequest , if foes were woon by fight . Which when the Aganetians wayd . remembring it for true , That by the fire it was disposde for Pesistratus due , With one accord they did consent , that Pesistratus , he Should it enioy , as fathers wil hath graunted it to be . But Kenedoxus movde to wrath , with swelling face for ire , Did brast out these vnseemely words , and no wise would aspire : What value more hath bin resinde from Pesistratus part ? Or manly prowesse , than of me and of my willing hart ? Or why should such vnequal dole be offred for my paine ? Since I my care , as much as he , haue vsde for to maintaine The Aganetians worthy fame , whose worthiest heire am I , And therefore hold it greatest skorne , that you should so denie To render me my rightful due , or strongly to withhold , My proper right , it likewise seemes , my brother is to bolde : Not bolde , quoth Pesistratus then , in seeking for mine owne , But you to bolde in wresting mine as it is well yknowne . Which wordes when Kenedoxus heard , with hautie spitefull hart He left them all , and rancrous ful did furiously depart . Repairing to his chamber , where deuold of quiet rest , His raging braynes vnbridled boyle in fierce Alectos brest , And fuming in the furious fits which madnesse intertaine , As one distraught of sense and wittes , he puts himselfe to paine , In raging for to seeke reuenge in most despightful wise On Pesistratus , whose disease he ceaslesse doth deuise . But Aganetians musing much at K●nedoxus tag● , And Pesistratus seeing it , desirous to aswage The same , with leaue requested , hies to Kenedox in hast , Where as approcht , his brother spies to mumble very fast Unto himselfe with rayling voyce on Pesistratus , who Perceiuing Kenedox , as madde to raile vppon him so , Had entring , thought by gentle words to molifie his ire , But Kenedoxus seing him , auoyde and come no nyer Quoth he , for ( villaine ) I will seeke as much thy great defame , As thou hast sought , in open sight of frendes to worke my shame . Yet Pesistratus ( curteous knight ) replide to him againe With gentle kind of humble speech , and sought for to refraine Himselfe from wrath : but Kenedox so furiously was bent Against Pesistratus , that fraught with fierce and fell intent , He drewe from secret sheath , as wo●● , his desprate testie blade , Wherwith on Pesistratus , hee so fiercely did inuade , That had not Pesistratus slept from chamber dore in hast , His curteous heart of brothers blade had felt th vnsauerie tast . But Pesistratus viewing this , with Rapior bad in hand , Returnd againe to brothers face his rigor to withstand : And movde by this occasion iust to anger , caitife vile ( Quoth hee ) wouldst thou in brothers blood so cowardly defile Thy filthy fistes ? and art thou meant to seeke thy friendes decay ? If so , in a conuenient place and on appointed day Agree to get reuenge , and seeke thy quarell to renue , And I this blade in traiterous bloud of thine shal there imbrue : Wherewith eche partie did consent in poynted place to meete . And when the season was approchte , as time doth swiftly fleete , These youthes are met , prouided both , according to the time , With speare and shield , and bloudy blade , to tell eche others crime , Not with the tong , but Martial fist , in such vnfriendly sort , As eche did iudge his foe , no friend , or for to play in sport : But now began the broyle so hot , that who had seene the blowes , The deadly thrustes , the desperate foynts that eche to other showes , The battring bangs , and thumping thwacks that eche to other lent , With stayned fielde , of brothers bloud so carelesly dispent , He would haue ieast surmysde , that these should naturall brothers be , But rather friendes of Cerberus kynde , or impes of Hels decree : So furious fiersly did they deale , without remorse of life , Or nature , but respecting nought saue cause of former strife , Like Tigres fastening on their pray ▪ the sought eche others death , Til both had laboured with such paine that they were out of breath : And then they breathd and fought afresh , and breathde and fought agayne , And neuer stint , til at the last there came with might and maine A great conuent of armed knightes , who had in forrest by Bin chasing , through their martial feates a dragon monstrous hie , And of proportion wonderful , who long had brought to spoyle The corne and cattel therabout contayned in their soyle . And when the knights had from a farre espide these brothers fell , Eche so assaulting others life with bloudy blade to quell : With pricking spurre , they forward forst their bodies to be borne . And when approcht , they viewde the knights so batterd , taggde and torne With dint of sworde , it was no boote to bid them forward hie To part the foes , for it was done in twinckling of an eye . But Kenedoxus what through heate and want of breathing winde , And what through faintnesse of his wounds , he to the earth declinde As dead , for Pesistratus had impierst with cruel thrust , His shoulder through , whom when he viewd to grouel in the dust His heauy hart was so agast and he in dumpes dismayde , Bycause he thought his brother dead , that thus with teares he sayde : O lucklesse wight , oh cursed youth , and hath this this my fist My brother slayne ? and shal I liue ? no , no , I wil vntwiste My vital knotte , and this the knife , which wrought my brothers death , Shall likewise pierce my cruel hart , and stop my vitall breath . And therewithal in desprate moode he set the hilts on ground , And thought with point of piercing knife to take his latest wound : But present knightes withdrew his hand from that vntimely acte , And sought how to perswade hym now , ( since finisht is the fact ) The he departe from natiue soyle into some forraine place , Whereas , deuoyde of further feare and daunger , he may passe His life in safetie , both from foe and peril of the lawe : To which Pesistratus agreed , when he the daunger saw , That woulde ensue vppon his case if he were bent to stay , And therefore speedily prepares and takes his ready way To secret place , where he might hide his woful head a space , Til season that he may conuey his steps to further place . But there arriued , woful man , his troubles so increase , And he so vexed is in griefes , which no wise he can cease , That al addrest to mourneful chere , his cares he doth discus , The which prouokte his forced penne , in verse to vtter thus : OH heauie hart dismaid , To the tun● of Damon & pythias oh stomacke stuft with paine , Oh woful wight , oh cursed wretch , why shouldst thou not complaine ? Art thou in pleasant state , or hast thou cause to ioy ? No , no , thy fates are frounst in feares , come death and ridde my ceasles anoy , Oh cruel carelesse wretch , doest thou deserue thy life , Since thou thy gentle brothers breast hast pearst with cursed knife ? What meanest thou to liue ? and wilt thou life enioy ? No no , thy fates are frounst in feares , come death and ridde my ceasles ano● You fatal sisters all , you twisters teare my threede , With fatall knife my fatal knott to share in hast proceede . For I vnhappie wretch am cleane exilde from ioy , And liue in woes , in griefes and feares , come death and ridde my ceasles anoy ANd then the wretched heauy wight , doth spende the tedious tyme In plaintes and teares , and vexing griefes , bewayling former crime , In such a mourneful sorte , as who had seene the man in feares , To scald his pleasaunt youthful chekes with such excesse of teares , His heauy hart would yearning , melt to heare his woful mones , Whose griefes might moue the fixed starres or mollifie the stones . And yet ( vncessant ) doth he frounse his hart in these his woes , Regarding nought but wished graue his carcase to inclose : Whom , so dismayde in drousie dumpe amidst his cares I leaue , And now to Kenedoxus state my quil I must bequeaue . OH heauy case , ambition should because of such anoy , That mutual bloudes should be disperst and so deuoyde of ioy : Oh haplesse chance , vnhappy thrice , how fel is greedie rage , That it should pester so the partes , which reason can not swage ? Alas alas , ambition was 't that kindled al this fire ? And was 't ambition which addrest the brothers so to ire ? And was 't ambition from the whence this greuous case so grew ? Ambition was it , wherfore harke what did thereof insue . Pesistratus for feare thus fled , within a certaine space When dumpes auoyded , vital course returnde to proper place , Then Kenedoxus did reuiue , and musing very much To see so great conuent of knightes , full fraught with former grutch , His body raised from the ground in hast with desperate blade : As one distraught of reasons sense he fiercely did inuade The knightly troope there present , who dismaide to see the same , Yet wisely pondring that to strike it would be to their shame , Intreated often him to cease , pronouncing vowes , that they Were all his friendes , and minded least to seeke for his decay . Which waying , he perceyuing eke the man not present there , On whom he sought reuenge , and what more cause he had to feare , Soone stayde his handes , and gently then he gan for to request , What cause compeld their presence there , to be in armour drest . Who aunswerd , certifying him of al the former case : And how his brother they had sent into a forreine place , Bycause they feared he was dead , supposing it for best He should depart , than there to liue in daunger and vnrest : But oh the dolor that redoundes to Kenedoxus hart , Impleating euery vaine with griefe or rather deadly smart , When first he vnderstood the same , yet quickly was it layde , For gayne and ranckour did perswade so much , that soone he stayd Therefrom , bycause hys greedie hart had now the thing attaind , I meane the landes for which so much of trauaile he sustaind : Ye● further thinking of the thing when he perused well , And saw that Pesistratus had the conquest as it fell , Bycause that he was left as dead : oh how did ranckour rage In broyling breast , as poysned fire whych floodes may not asswage : So fiercely freting did the fume of choler frame his ire , That if by suffraunce he might had the ful of his desire , He would for anger haue destroyed himselfe in desperate minde , Such was the scorneful pride wherto hys stomacke was inclinde . And twixt these passions , dolour so attempting him , quoth he , And is he fledde , and doth he thinke to ●kape and to be free By flight ? no , no , though he suppose I am a senslesse corse , Ere it be long he shall abide and throughly feele my forse . And therwithall a spightfull vow in solempne wise he made , That tyme should nere content his harte till he with deadly blade Had pierced Pesistratus sides , whose then effused blood Should onely tend for to suffise his ire and do him good . Oh frendlesse frettes of hautie wrath , O impe of serpentes kinde , How could thy stomacke so desire , thy brothers life to blinde ? What rest lesse rage assaulteth thee , what strange disguised sort Of diuelish Gods , constraine thy wil such lewdnesse to support ? Thy brother doth complaine , to thinke of thine vnhappy fate And his vnkindnesse , thinking him in more vnhappy state . And with excesse of piteous teares , and blubberings , sighes , and cryes : The lothsome tedious tyme he weares , in a most mornefull wise . And not so much for his exile , as doubt of thy misfare , Yet thou accursed , onely sekst and dost employ thy care To bring thy brother to his ende , regarding nature nought , Nor yet the concord which by right of brother should be sought . Oh woful hearing , what a thing is this , that such a knight As Pesistratus , fraught with grace , with vertues , and with might , Who long may liue in quiet rest : to do his country good : Should so by ranckrous spight be forst , to flee from natiue brood ? The cause of mone is very much . and it disturbes me stil : Yet now compeld to leaue my teares , I must ordaine my quill To further thy deserued fame , Pesistratus thou kinde , Whose praise I wish , were printed plaine in euery bodies minde . The hautie pride of ranckrous rage , turmoyling thus in breast Of Kenedox , when spiteful wordes by tract of time were ceast , Associated with the route , of foresayde hunters trayne , He is arriued at ●aliance wh●re he wonted to remaine : And he no sooner seysed had his footesteps in the towne : But it was rifely blowne abrode , and spred for true renowne That Kenedoxus was approcht , and almost dead through wounds , The which as by report to al , so likewise it resoundes Unto the hearing of his freindes and kinsmen , who agast , With speedy trauel did prouide to visite him in hast : And present viewing how the wight was dyed in his bloud , Wherein he wallowed as a beast : bycause they vnderstoode Nothing of former case , as how , Pesistratus had sped His brother so : nor how for feare of daunger he was fled : With musing much they did demaund , of his vnlucky fare : To whome the circumstance of all did Kenedox declare , Which vttred in dispightful sorte and in a raging wise ▪ With blasted face and stamping feete : his kinsmen did surmise , And wisely pondred of the case : which well pervsing , they Perceivde that Kenedox was cause of this vnhappy fray , Wheron they chiefly did repute to Kenedox the blame , Who fiercely fuming more in frets did rage to heare the same : And they aggreued for to thinke of Pesistratus exile , Were euen as fiercely bent againe to rough and raging stile , Wheron eche partie was displeasde : for Kenedox was mad , To see his brothers ●ase bewaylde when he the wors●● had : And they lamenting , r●ed the time that they had lost the wight , I meane Pesistratus , whose helpe was all their chiefest might : And therupon such taunting checkes and wordes from euery side Proceded forth , that greeued they no longer would abide With Kenedox , but curst his pride , and iudgde him for their foe : As likewise he no otherwise of them esteemde but so . And thus departed they , whom now as cause addrest to ire : So cause to Pesistrate doth moue , my pen for to retire , The only reaper of the praise , and gainer of the fame : Which this my simple rude discourse , indeuors to proclame . Who thus by fortune forst to hide , his head in little space : Prouided wel for to conuey , himselfe to further place . For as it fel , a vessel riggde , and redy drest to ride , Towards Italian coastes , was there the very selfe same tide That he arriued at the place , wherto before he fled : Whereof the woful man was glad , that he so wel had sped . And therefore briefly did conclude with ●ailer for his hire : The which agreed with prosperous winde , and tide to their desire . They set aloofe , and hoysed sayles , and daunst amidst the seas , With easie , calme , and pleasant streames at their desired ease . But Pesistratus he alas , for all these foresaide things : Could not vnwrap him selfe from cares , or such pernitious stings As troubled him through former fact , but ceaslesse did lament His curssed crime , which with excesse of teares he did repent . Yet at the last when fansies fill , he tumbled had in braine : He somwhat left for to distil his teares , and to complaine , And gathered stomacke , as behoues a man in such a case : For to retaine , though with much paine , as Pesistratus was . And therfore he auoyding greefes , and setting cares apart : Considering what was requisite , with courage fraught his hart , And craued aid with crouching knees , of mightie loue his hand : Desiring comfort might preuaile his dolour to withstand . Which prayers made , as one renewd , and now no more anoyde : He felt his burdened hart more light and cleane of cares deuoyde . And therefore thanking mighty loue for sodaine such reliefe , He cleane forsakes his drousie dumpes and doth disdaine his griefe : And with a cheereful brayne prouides hys voyage to forecast , Supposing of the things to come , and not of matters past . And seekes to recreate his sense , and to refreshe his minde , With spending tyme in pleasant sort and sportes of comely kinde . Wherto Aurore and Tytan both do seeme for to agree With pleasaunt golden glittering raye● whych mutual splendant bee . As eke the siluer surging streames , which likewise seeme to play In pleasant sort with Titans beames which beutifide the day . And thus the season seeming fit , in trait of time at last , With helpe of Zephyrs gentle breath , their iourney ouerpast . They arrivde in cons●nes of Italian partes with ease , Where as approcht , Pesistratus doth safely leaue the seas , And takes his way to certaine place , where he was bent to bide , Till season that he might deuise a maister to prouide , Whom he might serue , supposing so to spende his tedious dayes : Yet hoping wel in tract of time to finde some other wayes To purchase credite , wherby he might happier fate attaine : Wherein pervsing thus , he thought to vse therin his paine . Alas what cause thou woful wight hast thou to make thy mone ? How canst thou brooke ? to serue a knight , since thou thy selfe was one Of woorthy fame , and prowesse more in Gretia soyle containd : How may thy nusled custome bee by neede so much restraind : How canst thou frame thy selfe to crou● since crouching vnto thee , It was thy duetie to receiue the crouch of cap and knee ? How canst thou suffer for to leaue , the silken robes of thine : And now thy tender corps , to weedes of basenesse to refine ? How canst thou gnaw of refuse bones , when wont it was thy trade , To feede of sweetest sauouring meates , that ioyly iunckets made ? How canst thou beare the taunting check ▪ of maisters common vse : Or how can stomacke be content , to liue in such abuse ? How mayst thou brooke the felowship , of simple seruile kinde : Or how mayst thou forbeare so much , for to subdue thy minde : Since all the routes of courtly traine , were seruile vnto thee , And redy prest to execute the wil of thy decree ? Howe mayst thou frame to weare in s●e of golden linked chaine , About thy necke , in bondage yoke , of seruitude and paine ? Yes yes , thou canst , thy gentle hart is voide of ha●tie pride : And thou as wel canst ease deny , as it hath thee denide . And take thy fortune as it fals , thou canst forbeare the same : Wherfore I shall addresse my pen , thy vertues to proclame . And thys my verse though not as wel , as faine I do de●ire , Bycause it wrought in Plutos forge is tride with scarce good fire , Yet shal indeuor to proceede , to paint thy further prayse In ful effect , who so wil heare , though not with hautie praise . Pesistratus in former plight , and place abiding stil , Expecting for a seruice such as might content his wil , Considering of his doubtful state , and case , perceiued playne That there to stay , it were a thing but frustrate and in vaine . And therefore he departed thence , where first he did ariue : Well hoping of a fitter place , where better he should thriue : And as he trauelde , fortune so by fauour brought to passe , That wandring witlesse vp and downe , not knowing where he was : There dwelt an auncient Hermite by , in Sabels all y●lad , With hoary beare , and countnaunce graue , of gesture very sad , Whom Pesistrate espying soone , prepared for to meete : And after met in curteous wise , and maner did he greete : And after greeted , did disclose , the summe of all his care , Requiring Sire to haue remorse , to hys vnlucky fare : Desiring further that he would vouchsafe to entertaine Him in his seruice , wherein he did vow to vse his paine . To whom with gentle speech the Sire did curteously reply , That he was bent to liue alone , as likewise so to die : But viewing both the seemely shape , the countenaunce and the grace Of Pesistrate , in tract of time when he had paus'd a space : My Sonne ( quoth he ) I pittie much the cause of thine anoy , And would to god my power could streetch , to worke thy further ioy : But if my simple cottage may suffise thee for to please , And to remaine with me my sonne , thou thinke it for thine ease , My hart contented is to graunt , therin thy whole request : As likewise for to pleasure thee , in ought else am I prest . For which Pesistratus did thanke a thousand times the Sire , That he vouchafed so to graunt the thing he did require . And thus a pun●● Hermite he become , they did repayre Unto their little cottage by , auoyding open aire . Where as refection taken they as earst returne to walke Againe : and then the Sire begins , in former wise to talke . Demaunding Pesistratus , why he left his natiue soile : Who blanke to sp●ake , yet fearing least he purchase should a toyle , Deuisde a shift : and as he thought to speake , in boysterous haste A Lion fier●● with stamping feete who therby had bin c●ast , Came fl●●ging fiersly towardes them , with open roaring voice And gaping mouth and staring eyes , and fearefull thundring noise . Whom when they spide ▪ the father feard , beg●n to cry : Oh knight , Thou hast deceiued me , wheron the Saints do beere me spight ▪ But Pesistra●●● ●el aduisde , preparde his sword and shielde . The whych in iorney he had borne , and brought into the field . And with a courage met the beast , in such a rigorous sort , That plaine by force , he set his tayle on ground , for al hys port . And further fiersly so attempt , that with his testy blade He spil● in twayne his hart , before recouery could be made . And whilst so manfully be dealt , the chas●rs folowing fast , Were present come , who viewing this , were wondrously agast . This only one durst so assault , the best whych they before Durst not inuiron or attempt , without at least a skore . And feared sire , when he so sawe , the valiantnesse of hart . In Pesistrate , began to cry , S. George is of our part . And with a thousand yelded thankes he gratified his pay●● , Desiring pardon for 〈◇〉 wordes , when erst he ▪ did complaine . And Pesistratus thus attaind , the conquest of the beast : Which after was the chiefest cause , that set his hart at 〈◇〉 For in the route ▪ of the conuent of chasers , was a knight Of prowesse great , and valure like , who Pecipater ●ight : He bare the most and chiefest sway in countries therabout , But chiefly in Tarentum towne a citie voyde of doubte : Because it florisht through the meanes of Pecipater , who Beholding Pesistrate his fight , hys strength and co●rag● so , Was mou'd with inward● burning zeale of fauour to retaine : As though his loue were ready prest to quite Pesistrates paine . And therefore , when the victory by Pesistrate attainde , Eche turmoyle cast the raging beast , by force was so restrainde . Wyth comely grace in coursers corps , he Pesistrate doth 〈◇〉 . Whom wyth aboundant curtesie , the gentle knight did greete , And after salutations made to him and to the slee , He doth of Pesistratus straight . with frendlynesse require , By what aduenture he was driuen to meete the chased beast ? Who did enforme him of eche thing , and aunswere his request , With no lesse grauitie than words . in seemely order set , And gesture courtly , comely grace and comelinesse as great , Which Pecipater noting well and liking , did deuise In semblant sort , to vtter that his fansie did surmise To craue , which was in fellowship Pesistrate to retayne : Whose peerelesse prowesse be esteemde eche mortal wightes to s●aine . In season therfore fitte assignde , he moues with pleasant stile , His frenldy wordes , and thus saide he , it were a great exile . My friende Pesistratus that we by happy fortune met , Should part , whose presence neyther cause nor season seemes to let● But not so much exile , as griefe and dolour vnto mee , Who should esteeme thy presence left , my selfe not to be free . But thral to care , such is the zeale that stirreth my desire To craue thy presence , wherfore yelde to that I do require . I can not chuse saide Pesistrate , but very well suppose Of al the profred friendship which so friendly you disclose . But yet the basenesse of my birth , and barenesse of my state ▪ And rudenesse of my persone , seeme vnfitte for such a mate , Which be the motions that compel me boldly to deny ( My pardon cravde ) for to assent thus to presume so hie , As match the mate , whose bondage may beseeme my seruile kinde More better farre , than for to yelde , to your desirous minde . Yet Pecipater could not be suff●led with the same , Nor iudged the abasing of himselfe to be defame : But was importunate the more to haue him to agree : Wherto Pesistratus wyth thankes did yeld , when he did see The gentle valure that was shrinde in Pecipaters brest , And ioyde in tart to thynke his state was setled at such rest : That where as earst an exilde wight , he wandred vp and downe , He now a rulers mate hath reapt by fortune such renowne , And 〈◇〉 agreed , they do repayre wi●h sire to cottage by , Where as a while they did prouide , their weary lymmes to lye At more of ease , and then refresht , with taken leaue of Sire , Unto Tarentum whence they came they buskled to retire . Wyth whom Pesistrate worthy knight departing : toke his leaue Of foresayde Sire , whose wish the like to god did hym bequeaue . And now eck praunser ready prest , with ten thing furnisht fit : As tracking trappers , saddels trimme , and large restrayning bit : The lusty valiant youthful knightes , proceede with stamping pace And portly gesture , towardes that the sayd desired place , And mouing talke of hunters trade , they reason of their game , Wherby Pesistratus was knowne as expert in the same , As present any ▪ whereon eche did iudge and deeme his race , More rather rightly to proceed of royall bloud than base . Whose comely countenaunce pleased so eche wight , that eche man thought Himselfe a happy mate , that fate had such companion brought . But Pecipater happiest hee , esteemde amongst the rest Himselfe , that what he chiefest sought ▪ such fortune had addrest : And thus eche partie well content , such friendlynesse doth flowe From euery side , that Pesistrate lets foresaide sorrowes go : And only now deuiseth he their curtsies to requi●e : And thus whilest tract of time by stealth , had taken proofe of flight , And they approched had their pace , vnto Tarentum nie , Pecipater a varlet sendes before , for to discry The conquestis wonne , and that hys wil was eche man should prepare Against hys presence seemely showes , their conquest●s to declare . Which message done by varlet , was prouided in the towne : For triumphe eche thing redy fitte pretending great renown : As valiant route of armed knights , with glistering helmes and shieldes : And blazing banners set aloft , in turrets , fortes , and fieldes , And trumpets sounding vp triumph , and drummes pretending fame : And iangling belles with Musikes arte , wel placed in the same . And diuers well deuised toyes , and sundry pleasant sightes , Attendant ready for the fame of these t●iumphant knightes . And al the chiefe and nobles there , assembled ewre likewise In decent order for the nonce , eche thing was so precise , Amidst the which , the royal race of Pecipaters blood , The hiest roome and worthiest place possessing : seemely stood , Their worthy kinsman to salute wyth such aduised prayse , As doth behoue for worthye wyght which hath deserued prayse . Whych was so passing pleasant sight , as could be wisht no more : For both of lusty youthful knightes . and glittering dames such store , Were present , as in Tarent towne , the like was neuer sene : Nor yet in all Italian costes , no better could haue bin . Yet most surpassing all the rest , in beauties beames as farre , As glittering glee of P●ebes forme , surmountes the twinckling starre . Was present one , a certaine dame , who Catanea hight , The sister to Pecipater , a peerelesse gemi●e by right : For seemely such she was , as though shee framed were in molde : With equall grace so equal matcht , as tong may not vnfolde . Here beauty , blazing m●re in sight , within hir angelike face , Than in the skies , the golden rayes of Tytans ●aumping race . Such perfect ●eature firmely fixt within hyr secret frame : As though by right , dame Nature scornde , she chalendge endlesse fame , With curteous countenaunce , comely corps , and portrature demure , So rare that Gods might seeme to bow hir fansie to procure . And so indude in euery point , wi●h natures speciall giftes , As though shee onely perfect wrought , eche else by fayned shiftes . This Nimphe with al the foresayde route , now ready do remain● : Expecting for the presence of hir brother and his trayne . And viewing thus at last , she spits the knightes approched nie : Wheron eche thing prouided proues his prowes for to 〈◇〉 : For trumpets sound , and shalmes recorde , and cornets quiuer fast , To gratifie the conquerors with sweete saluting blast . And euery thing reioycing , seemes to make a pleasant tide . Wherein the seemely knightes be come . I and they arriued ride ●n decent order , prauncing fast , on corps of comely steede : Which satisfide eche eyesight well , his fansie for to feede : For first the youthfull valiant knights , conducting praunst before , In seemely ranke and portly grace as doth behoue the●fore . And then Pecipater in midst , with Pesistrate proceedes , By certaine signe pretended wel the proofe of eche mans debes : For Pecipater had a head of wylde and tusked Bore , Which he hymselfe by force had slayne , transported him before : And Pesistrate of Lyon fierce , the great and grislie ●ed Which he had slaine , as erst was sayde , before hys courser led . And thus in Tarent stretes arivde , the people al reioyce , To see such valiant sight , wheron was moude so great a noyse , As though with thanks they wold haue rais'd the Conquerours to skies , So glad the people for their praise , did moue such lofty cryes . But euery wight that marked well , Pesistratus his grace , His feautred limmes so sightly set , and pight in equal place , As though the Gods had all agreed to frame of earthly molde , In humaine forme a wondrous worke , for nature to beholde : Not little musing , praised much his valure in their minde : Whose peere in euery poynt they iudge , a man should neuer finde . And stil proceeding forwarde thus , at last they came to place , Wheras remainde the royal troupe , of Pecipaters ra●e . To whom they vsde reuerence such , as like was vsde againe . With modest coun●nance , to the route of Pecipaters traine . But when Pecipater hymselfe , with Pesistratus was Therto appr●cht , who then had seene the curtesie did p●s●e From part to par● , he would haue thought Minerua had indude : Their seldome seene 〈◇〉 there , with none such gestures 〈◇〉 . So courtly countnaunce did vnfolde the meanin●s of the minde : Pretending outwardly wher●● the senses were inclinde . And after salutations thus concluded , to the praise Of Pesistrate ▪ Pecipater to Catanea sayes : If one surpassing other eche ▪ a peerelesse may be hight : This youth possest wyth ●arest giftes , de●erues the name by right : Indude with courag● , fraught with truth abounding ful of fame . And natures g●ft is so seldome seene as fewe retaine the same . Wheron hys person greeting well , to Pesistrate she faide : His presence welcome , thrise and thrise , but silly he dismaide To viewe the 〈◇〉 beuties blaze appearing in hir face , And eke hir 〈◇〉 protrature , and correspondent g●ace : As one of wits b●stroug●t did stande , infected at the hart . With 〈…〉 and poisned point of Cupides 〈…〉 And had no 〈◇〉 to moue his speech , his tong was so restraind : Nor render t●●nkes ▪ his nummed sense was so in secret painde . Yet pa●sing time ●●●ening strength , such h●●t● thanke● quoth he , I yelde and wish , as by my tong they may not vtterd be . Which well shee we●ed , marking eke , how course of bloud did change , As likewise wistly viewd his vaynes , in panting wise to raunge : Yet all the rest suspected least therof , but onely waide The comely answere which to hi● , i● seemely wise he sayde . For w●ich in minde eche did commend hym much , pretending so In curteous wise as he could deeme , in presence none a foe : And then in one conuent they went to Pecipaters place , There for to vse such meete repastes , as fitted for the case . And Catanea she alone with Pesistrate did walke , Who by occasion movde , did vse such sober friendly talke , As either partie liked well , wheron their stomackes flame In mut●all loue , and Cupides fire , proceeding in the same , In zealous wise , though that vnknowne it was to either , how The others hart to eithers wil , was redy for to bow . And thus eche trapped in the 〈◇〉 , of sodaine seemely sight , Theyr fansies feeding on the baites , of further loues delight . When voyage finisht , they are com● to Pecipaters place , Ech gift will greeted as behours , such curtsie for the case , And Pesistrate lyke welcom'd : they perseuer further still , Wyth filed tong , and pleasant stile , to please ech others wil . Tyl such time as season did their appetites require , With natures 〈◇〉 to frede their natural desire . The which approcht , prouided wel , such delicates they haue , Of euery commendable kinde , as hart no more might ●raue . It were a folly therfore that I further should pretend : For to describe their sumptuous f●ast , and to afrustrate ●nde . Bycause in 〈◇〉 words may it serue , the whole for to di●close : It was as delica●e and 〈◇〉 , as fansie might suppose . This matter 〈…〉 , I wil proceede for to proclame This Pesistratus worthy prayse , and Cataneas fame . Of whom my purpose toke in hand , with pen for to endite Their sodaine loue , and constant faith to set in open sight . When feast was finisht , and the day intending to his ende : Sir Titan leaues his splendant streames , a while for to extende . The guestes with rendring harty thankes , be redy to repayre , Eche to hys vaine , as cause did moue their presence to be there . And Catanea with them bent , in likewise to depart : Hir brother left ( who wisht hir yet to stay wyth willyng hart ▪ ) Did minde to we●● to dwelling place , where wonted she remainde , Of vncle ●yrs , who from her youth , in vertues had hir traynd To present age , yet not forgot , she takes desired leaue , Whom Pecipater to the Gods tuition did bequeaue . And then to Pesistrate she frames hir speach in gentle wise : Well wishing to his person health , and so the homeward vies . But who had seene the countenance of Pe●i●tratus when he , Perceiud he must forg● the sight , which most ●e cravde to set . He would haue thought the silly man , were redy prest to dye : His heauy dolefull gestures so his sorowes did discrie . Which she perceyuing , could not chuse but blush and was abasht . Wherby hir ●uddie rising bloud , in countnance fully flasht At first : but afterwarde hir hart for sorrow waxing colde , No bloud at all hir 〈◇〉 fa●e , by any meanes ●ould hold . And thus the lou●●s at the 〈◇〉 departing , heauy cheare , Did force 〈◇〉 of 〈◇〉 inward thought at large for to appeare : Though certainly it was not knowne to eche ●f others loues . Byca●se experience had not tride , in season it to proue : But ioy m● happy ●a●e to thinke , of curtesie I finde Of you , and long to see the day , whereby may be resignde Some part of recompence for this , your friendly friendship found : Which well I may suppose in none more amply to abound . And when the place auoyded thus , of gues●es no more remainde , But Pesistrate , whose heauy hart , was so by griefe restrainde , From comfort cleane , Pecipater , espying him alone , Demaundeth why he was so sad , and seemed for to mone : The whom sayd Pesistrate , my Lord I haue no cause to waile : Nor yet occasion that with greefe my stomacke should assaile . The recompence already done , ( quod Pecipater ) is : And therefore friend Pesistratus , surmise no more of this . But thinke : as Saintes do witnesse beare , that for to do thee good , I minded am in thy behalfe , to spend my proper bloud : If therfore that thou shouldst misdoubt hereof , what might be sayde : But that I should with teares lament the same , and so he slayd To speake : and Pesistrate he led from thence to chamber by , Which was prouided for the nonce , his weary limmes to lye . Where Pecipater further did , hys ●●iendlinesse protest . Desiring him there for his ease to vse his quiet rest . For which Pesistratus did thanke , both with his mouth and minde , Hys gentlenesse a thousand times , and then to couche declinde . And Pecipater did depart : but when a little space Pesistratus had line on bed , reuoluing of his case , He was so vexed silly man , that nothing could appease Or once asswage his sorowes , but increasing hys disease , He thinkes of Catanea , who hath so in fetters yokt His louing heart , that all his ioyes to thraldome are prouokt . And he supprest to bondage like , and so the miser lies Bewayling such his wretched fates , with sundry plaintife cries . And when he thinkes , how much vnlike he is to get reliefe : The more in doubt and deepe dispaire increaseth still his griefe : And thus dismaid , in diuers dumps he lyes , and woful wight Dyspaires , and yet he hopes , but feares least time should worke despight . And wrapped in the dulled drouse , which fortune hath assignde Unto his pay , a thousand thoughts surmising in his minde : His turmoylde wits inforced so , his sorowes to discusse , Did vrge hys faultring tong at last with paine to vtter thus : Ah wretch , what friendlesse fates be thine , thou curssed catife thris● ▪ How feltst thou fortunes froward force ? how do thy cares arise ? How canst thou suffer such anoy ? how maiest thou more forbeare Such griping greefe , wyth pinching pangs so vehemently to teare Thy hart in sunder ? yelde thy knife from thy vnhappy hande , To rid thee from such vexed life , thy dolors to withstand , For banished from natiue soyle , thou liv'st an exile here , And yet art bridled with the yoke of pensi●enesse and feare , Tormented with the sodaine sights , and trapped in the snare , Of one who skornes thy loyall loue , and least regardes thy care . Alas what therefore shouldst thou do , but to thy death consent : Since fortune doth , and season least to thy releefe relent ? Wo worth the curssed time when breath . was yelded vnto thee In mothers wombe , would poyson had more rather bin thy fee . Wo worth the tyde , when to the world , of mother thou wast borne : Would then thy childish tender limmes , had bin to tatters torne . Wo worth the foode that euer since , thy nature hath sustainde . Wo woorth the nursse that from mishap , thy youthful age restraind . Wo worth the craking cradle which was rocked for thine rase : Would eche disport had bin addict thy humor to displease . Wo worth that ere thou wast aduaunst in natiue propre soile : Would God thy brothers handes had giuen to thee thy l●●est foyle . Wo woorth the curssed fist which wrought thy brothers fatall paine . Which was the cause that brought thee here . and moues thee to co●plaine . Wo woorth the vessel wh●ch conueyd , thy corps to present place : Neptunus crase his seemely sides , and all his ●al●es deface . What should I cursse and further say , to rid me of my smart : But death dispatch my lothed life , and furie brast my hart . But brainlesse foole why cursse I thus my selfe , and cry out so : More seemely were it that I blist my selfe , and curst my so , Who is the cause of all this griefe , and worker of my paine : Why should I not with taunting tong , hir wily battes disdaine , Which hath my senses so deceiude , and yelded such anoy , Unto my pay , that in despaire I liue deuoyde of ioy . Oh Pesistrate , art thou to learne ▪ of womens wonted willes ? Art thou to knowe , that sooner none the sheep , than Foxe begiles ? Art thou vnskilfull of the trade ▪ of womans wanton lure ? Hast thou not hard what fond conceites , their practisde slights procure ? Yes , yes ▪ renue to memorye their ticklenesse of will : Their poysned lookes , their fained grace , their counterfaited skil , I trow thou needst not to be taught , their practise is so playne : That women all by kinde are bent , and nature , for to faynt . For if she view the personage , which doth please hir in hir mind : Then seekes shee to display hir snares , as in familiar kind . And if consenting he pretend , to vse hir in likewise , Then seemes she coy , and stranger streight and is as much precise . If humble he , then hauty she , and seemes to scorne his sute : But if he coy , then hateth she , and frowning standeth mute . And if intrapped , he bewayle to hir his carefull ●ate , She seemes to muse , what loue should mean and laughes at his estate . But if she loue , and he dispise to put the like in vre : Then labors she by suttle slights , his fansie to procure . Which got , she seemes for to reiect , regarding nought at all : But ioyes and iudgeth it a sport , to purchase him a fall , Shame therfore so to set thy minde , on such despised toyes , Which hinder wealth , and moue defame , and breede thee such anoyes . And settle wits to such aduise , as may prouide thee rest : From louely fits , for reason seemes such fondnesse to detest . Suppose the Lady whom thou lou'st were ment for to requite Thy loyal loue with loue againe , were this thy cheefe delite ? Forgettest thou the vnfaithfulnesse of Helen , who forsoke Hir spoused Menelaus , and to Paris hir betoke ? Or falsed faith of Cresseda , whom Troylus serued long Remember how these fickle dames , did worke their louers wrong : And let the griefes of Troy●us , and Cresseds ●auering minde , Be warning to thy louing fits , least like requite thou finde . And seeke in time to bridle will , least after some repast Of pleasure had , thy griefes renue a thousande times as fast . What say I , should I leaue my loue and Catane forsake ? Or should my fansie craft so soone , or seruice thus aslake ? And should I now despise the dame , whom ea●st my zelous hart So lov'd , that for hir sake it could sustaine eternall smarte ? No , no , the fi●● shall loose his might the sunne his golden glee , And heauens their hew , before such thought surmised be of mee : For curteous nature , gentle grace , and seemelynesse abounds , So rifely , as to euery eare it famously resoundes : With feature such as Venus shee , hir selfe may not compare , Or once presume in equal sorte hir vertues to declare . Nor Dian for hir chastitie , to match hir virgins race , Nor once Minerua vouchsafe wil to set hir selfe in place , Not onely this , but eke of hye and famous stocke shee springs , Wherto as reputation like , dame Fame dayly forth brings : Since therfore thus she wanteth nought . that fansie may require , How mad man I from such a dame , to bridle my desire : And bow to blame for to reproch the comely courteous kinde Of women , since such heauenly giftes they do possesse in mind . But oh alas , accursed wight , why thinke I of hir hue : What doth it bote hir worthy state or birth for to renue ? What doth the lodged vertues in hir tender gentle brest Prouoke my ioy , or noble byrth , intend to worke my rest ? No whit at all , but those things most compel me to misfare , And depely drowne me in misdoubt , and dubble all my care . For since she wanteth nought at al , the which I seeme to craue . But doth possesse eche nedefull gift , that more she may not haue : The more infe●iour do I seme to hir , whose royall grace My simple byrth in scorning sort may vtterly deface . And do dispaire when eche respect , I ponder in my minde : As thinking of hir hauty state : how basel● mine inclynde . For where she come of noble line , doth liue with honored name , I silly wret●● in exile state , do purchase nought but shame : And she determind , at hir case doth liue in wished ioy ? I poorely spend the troublous time , misdoubting more anoy . Alas , alas , why thinke I then of this , since playne I see , Hir birth , hir state and vertues rare so vnfit for my degree ? Or why presume I so to match my selfe wyth royall race , Why ? wel I may presume , bycause I liue in hope of grace . In hope of grace ? why blynded foole , doth grace grow from disdaine ? No skorne of hope : yes skorne of force in hautie harts remaine : In hauty harts I do agree , but in a gentle brest Doth fauor flow , and hautie skorne is vtterly supprest . But is thy Lady lowly such ? yea certesse : can loftie state Agree to match with simple slaue and make decay his mate ? Yea Cupid forceth Keysars bende , and layeth Princes pride : Yet knowst th● not thy Ladyes minde , b●caus● thou hast not tryde . Then trye I wil : how darst thou trye ? my hope prouokes me so , What cause of hope hast thou ? beware thy hope is most thy foe . Hir outwarde shape is cause inough , my hope for to maintaine : Through sightly bait the silly fish receiues his latest d●ine : Alas then death to thee I yeeld : thus sa●de the woful wretch , And therwithall his lothed limmes he gan abrode to stretch : And through his greefe the sincking smarte that sucked through his vain●s Distild the water to his hart which so increast his paines , That silly senses ouercome he fainteth to the ground : And dampish humor lothsome life inclosed in a swound In time when vitall course redound according to his kinde : His sprites reuivde , but yet his griefes were printed in hys minde . And raising then himselfe againe vpon his toused bed , He layes his weary limmes to muse , and rest his heauy bed . But rest disdaynes his furious frets , and hope doth scorne his helth : And nought doth happen to his hope that might renue his welth . And thus in painful plight the time maintaines his lingring life : He wishing only vital twist , were cut by fatall knife , And hauing no disport ne cause of comfort in his care : The more he striues , the more hee is intangled in the snare . And th●refore patiently perforce he takes his chaunced fate : And wallowes in his woes as doth behoue a louers slate : And then he thinkes of Catane , supposing of hir grace : Whose comely countnaunce minding wel , his fansie se●● hir face , And ponders of hir fr●endly lookes , as 〈◇〉 hir seemely cheere : And doth imagine of hir shape , as though she had bene there , In present sight he printed so ●ir feature in his t●ought , As if Apelles through his Arte , hir picture had ywrought . Then dreames his humor , that he makes , to Cresside his complaint , And shewes his cause and case , as how hir beautie did attaint His simple ●enses at the first , which streight subdued were ▪ Unto hir yoke , as seruile slaues to harme , to hope , and feare . And now the passing pangs , that hee sustayned for hir sake , He tels , and how his diuers doubts ▪ do cause his hart to quake . And then he sues and craues for grace , to purchase at bit hande His ful request , for to be losd from bondage and hir band . And then he thinkes his Lady seemes some fauor for to showe , But out of this amaze his wits reuiude , when he doth know That only fansie fedde his feare , and no such thing to bee Is he ymaginde in his harte , or thought his eye should see . The griesly griping gulfes and rage , that broyled in his brest : And qualming coldes did so agreeue , and worke him such vnreast , The s●●ly wretch his vitall course distempered , he d●●lynd , As one , who to the heauens againe his spirits had refinde . And stil , as ofte as he reui●d , he faynted downe againe . And thus the thrice vnhappy man was turmoyld in his payne , Whilest lucky fortune draue , by chance , Pecipater to please , Where Pesistratus was diseasde and vered in such case . Whom vi●wing ●e with shriking cryes did moue so hye a voyce , That Pesistrate from former traunce , renyued through the noyse . To whom Pecipater did strayne his wofull speech , and sayd : Alas , Pesistrarus my friend , what ceasles cares vpbrayde Thy youthful race , that vexed thus , thou s●endst thy wo●full d●yes , In ceaslesse plai●tes , in moues and teares , and seekes no other wayes For to auoyde t●e cause of griefts ? whence commeth this thy care ? What thing doeth cause ? what wight hath wrought thy dul vn●usty fare ? And so he stint , and skal●ing teares distilling on his brest , Pesistrate sayde ▪ let not my greefes be cause of thine vnrest My Lords for ten times cursed I , haue forsing cause to waile , Yet not for present cause whiche should my woful hart assaile : But thinking on such matters past as in my country do●e , My vanquisht stomacke much displeasde was so by dolour won , The which insorst me to complayne : nought els my Lord surmise , But let this serue ( quoth Pesistrate ) your fansy to suffise . By thys excuse was ●e dissolvde , that nought should moue his griefe , But ma●ters past , and therefore seekes to yeelde him some reliefe , As might intend for to expel Pesistrats thoughtfull care . The which allurde his heauy hart to somewhat better fare . Yet though a little were decreast the torments of hys payne , The countenance of Catane , was buried in his braine : And thus he frounst amidst his thought and feeding fansies fyl . I leaue a whyle , and shal resigne to Catane my quyll . Whose drowsy dumps , whose dainty douts , whose fickle fits , whose feares , Whose grisly goulfes and piteous playntes , whose sobbes , whose sighes and ●eares , To paynt at large , you Furies teach , you Nimphes dispose my style , Apollo guyde , Minerua minde my mazed m●se a whyle , Departed from hir brothers place , arriued when she was Where she remaynde , in secret wise to closet dyd she pas , Where all alone , surmising of the matters past of late , She gan to muse , bow Pesistrate by sodayne happie fate , Should meete hir brother as he did : and musing thus in thought , By Cupides force , in fansies fire , attend what thing was wrought . Forsaking to respect the chaunce , perusing in hir minde Pesistrats comelynesse , she thought in what a courteous kinde He did salute hir , when at first she viewd his friendly face . And how in sodaine sort , his bloud did course from place to place . And thus respecting of his change , hir fansie did consent , That if he lovde , the like of hir for euer should be meant . For why ? pervsing eche respect that nature had bestowde , She sayd in minde , in Pesistrate that al these vertues flowde . And thinking of his portlynesse , shee could not but suppose His comely gesture to excel : and thus hir thoughts arose So long as til at last insnarde , like little fishe on ho●ke , Who long hath playd with pleasant bayte and in the ende is tooke , She is res●raind , hir fre●dome lost , and had no power to starte , But firmely vowd , and fixed hath to Pesistrate hir harte . And thus consented to this new and firie zelous loue , From whence no power she could attayne did fansi● to remoue , She 〈◇〉 ●ir dis●ased corps on co●ch , ●o ease hir minde ? To whom Mercurius , Sopor hath in sodayn e●orte refinde : And 〈◇〉 with the drousie rodde , the winged fellow showes To hir in dreame Pesistratus , whose countenaunce wel she knowes , Of whom she thought she did receiue a ring of purest golde , With bloudy letters therein gravde , the which when she did hold , Did seeme to blede excessiuely , and al hir fist defilde , Wherein , Mercurius fled away and Sopor cleane exylde , She waking straynd hir slender throte in such a piteous wise , As well I deeme hir sighs and sobbes did pierse the hyest skyes : Yet seing that it was but dreame , contented somewhat more She stayd a whyle , but knowing wel the fearefulnesse before , Her passions then beginne a new , and ceasles she complaynes , With heauy mones & trikling teares increasing double paynes , And gan of eche especiall poynt to ponder and surmise , As of the ring , and of the bloud , but nought she could deuise That might maintayne the token good of bloud that did distil , Wheron not able for to rule hir selfe , nor guyde hir wil , Through vexing griefe hir carefull thought suppressing senses force , She lyes in traunce as though distraught of ly●e , like senselesse corse : And when as vitall course returnd , in former plight she ▪ spendes The time renewd , and ceasseth not , but earnestly she sendes Hir sobbes and sighes from laden hart : yet after season past , When tract of tyme delayed had the fiercenesse of the blast , Wherby the stomacke more at ease was somewhat more at rest : She pondring further of the thing , began much to detest The former rashnesse of hir loue , accompting it a shame , That erste hir tickle will was bent to such deserued blame : Wheron for griefe that such abuse had blinded wandring wits , Hir tong was movde amidst the rest of these hir diuers fittes , To paint despight , in such a sorte with scorneful taunts conuayde , As might suffise for fansies ease , and thus the Lady sayde : If reason ought for to perswade the foolishnesse of wil , Or wise forcast to teach the trade that doth ingender yll , Or counsell leade the weakling wittes , whom knowledge doth not guide , Or else experience shew the proofe of matters to be tride , How much vnwise accursed I , whom neyther reason led , Nor yet forcast could make auoyde the daungers may be bred , Nor counsel moue for to beware , nor by experience past Aduise my selfe , but haue agreed in such a sodaine hast To fix my foolish fansie faste on such a doubtful wight . Who for his fault in natiue soyle , hath hyther made his flight , Or else , for wante of succour there , is glad to vse his payne . In forreyne partes , as toyling wretch to get his hyred gaine ? Or witlesse wench , and couldst thou thus consent to exile slaue , And purchase payne vnto thy pay , bewitched dost thou raue ? Suppose the infamy , the shame , the pouertie , the care , The fal , the losse of foriner fame , the rainous misfare That were addicted to thy case if matcht to such a ma●e , Thou wert content to yeelde thy selfe to his abased state : And thinke how might thy kinred scorne thy will , a●d yelde thee blame , As also how thou shouldest deserue and reape reports defame . Might it not rightly bee replyde , thy fondnesse was thy fall ? And would not thy abuse be scornde and mockt , yes certes of all . Why t●en , disdaine such foolishnesse , and set thy selfe at rest , A ●oyde such shame , forecast thy cares and case , for this is be●t : And let such cause of thyne anoy be ●ur●hest from thy thought , Least stomacke woon , thou shouldest to late repent the thing were wrought . And then she pausde , and then agayne in new reu●luing minde , How much is scorneful tong ( quoth shee ) to scornefulnesse inclind ? Thy blame I so the seemeliest Knight that earthly globe contaynes ? Or why presume I to reproch wyth tong which nought restraynes , But vomits al his ve●ime out , Pesistratus , whose grace , Whose comely corps and seemely porte discries hys loyal race . Why name I hym an exyle slaue , whom gesture doth bewray For to proceede from princely lyne , and season doth display No slaue , but for his manhode tryde a worthy valiaunt Knight , Is hath appearde by prowesse provde of late in open sight ? And why a toyling wretch cal I , the noble youth with shame ? Whose honored acts I may perceiue to yelde hym hauty fame . Unhappy tong , restraine such talke , thinke ( hart ) with happy ioy , If thou wert lovde as thou dost loue , would banish thy anoy : And such disgracing lay apart , suppose what seemely h●w Pesistrate beares , his comely corpse and grace doth now renew : Whose feature passeth al the Gods , and wit Appollo staines , And whose especial planted giftes abound in natures vaynes : Thou knowest his gesture doth excel , his personage eke doth passe Eche wights , since taken life thou viewdst , or ere in Tarent was : And further , needes thou must confesse his manhoode to be rare : And is not this sufficient then , synce al these vertues are In him so plast ▪ to moue thy minde , and stirre in fansies fyre Such zeale , as then to yelde thy selfe to him and his desire ? Thinke how accorda●●t in this yeares and fit in eche degree , Saue present welth in likely place , the wight doth seeme to thee : And wel pervsing thou mayst knowe that riches is the least , And vainest thing by due to bee accounted for the best : And whether wouldst thou be content , to spend thy lingring dayes . With crooked wretch , whose onely wealth and riches were his stayes , Or liue with seemely adorned wight . whose youthful yeares possesse Sufficient sk●l to yelde thee ●ase , and purchase wealthes increase ? Whereon she stayde a whyle , and then in feeding fansie still , Why do I thus restrictly note with such a speciall wil , The worst of his estate ? and why , suppose I of his want , Or thinke of ought he lacketh , since his vertues be not scant ? No , no respect reiected cleane , I shall adioyne my hart And zelous loue to Pesistrate , for euer not to start : And whether hatred do assayle our state , or fortune frowne , Or scorne indeuor to suppresse our fame , and pul it downe , Or want prouoke vs for to beg , my hart shall stil consent , To fele what Pesistrate doth fele , and neuer shall repent : And though that fortune be our fo● , yet shal report display , That faythful louers livde in linke and did in one decay . And therewithal as though in deede , their loues had bin supplyde , If euer ( quoth she ) Pesistrate , it otherwise be fryde , Than that I euer shal perfourme my ●xed fayth to thee , The furies ●eare my tender flesh , and poyson be my fee . But when the pausing time in tract had set in plainer sight , Hir former fits , she pondring eke the lacke of hir delight , Bycause she was vncertaine of such certaine loue agayne From ●esistrate , as she did yelde , oh how she did complaine : Accursing both dame natures arte , who had employde hir eyes To worke throw sight such sodayne griefes , as eke with careful cryes So curst the time , that euer breath hir carkas had iclad , And season , wherby maintenance of lingring life was had : And then hir griefes increased so , and she was bound to payne , That hauing not sufficient strength hir dolours to restraine , Hir feeble limmes were forft to faint , and prostrate on the grounde The Lady laye , stil dumps were sled and vital course redound : And then renewde , like passion doth hir to●sed wits compel , For to recorde hir caus● of cares , which to hir case befel : Wherin the further pondring , did peruse how folly lead Hir tickle wil wheron hir griefes was ●rst the more ybread ? And thinking thus , as one prouokt , not able to withholde Such earnest motion , for hir case with tong she did vnfolde Hys altered minde and changed dumps , which forst hir thus to say : None but my selfe vnhappy wretch is cause of my decay ? For t is my folly that assures my griefes , bycause in vayne I hope , come therefore wished death , and ryd n●e of my payne . Alas if doubt should make beware the doubtful , wherfore then ( O Catane ) dost thou no● doubt , whose doubt is dispayre clea●● ? Or why dost thou ascertayne so thy selfe to haue in holde Pesistrates hart , as he hath thine , what maketh thee so bolde ? Thou knowst that youth doth minde affaires that tende to purchase fame , And not such ioyes to thinke vpon , thou thrise and thrise to blame . Why then should not thy selfe the like indeuor set aside , Such folly cleane , as seemes by right thy rudenesse to deryde ? And this so sayde , she did declyne to drousie couch , where as A thousand sobs and sighes aryse , and sundry thoughts do passe From greued carkas to the skyes , whom moning thus a whyle I leaue , and to Pesistratus I shal resigne my style . That woful wight , who likewise vext , ( as erst was sayde ) remaynes In midst of his aboundant griefes , wherein he stil complayns . And thus , the louers liue in lacke of that they most desire , And mutual both vncessant burne in Cupids paineful fire : Whom for a space the season moues my verse for to re●raine , Til season such as season shal inforce my pen agayne To leaue the state of Kenedox and doings to discry , Wherto now season craues I should my present pen apply . THat Kenedox was left as dead by Pesistrate 't is sayde , And likewise how by hunting Knights he homewarde was conuayde , As also , how through this abuse his kinsmen movde to yre , Which came to visite him , in rage did backe againe retyre . Which variance bred to suche a strife within a little time , That spighting still the heynousnesse of Kenedoxus crime , And thinking on the present wante of Pesistrate hys ayde , ( Whose presence was the cheefest staffe wheron their profit stayde : ) The kinsmen sought to take awaye from Kenedox his r●ght , And sundry times by force of armes assaulting it with might ▪ In field appointed at the last the conquest they attainde , And forced Kenedox to flye , and slew them that remainde : Whereon the wretched Kenedox was forst to leaue the soyle For shame , that cowardly be fled , and purchast had the foyle And therefore after long aduise he minded to arriue , In Italy , where as ●e heard Pesistrate was aliue : Determining that if ●e could but once approch to sight Of Pesistrate , to thrust him through , and thence to take his flight . And thus supposing , did prouide to do as he deuisde : And after his arriual at Tarentum , he surmysde , At first to execute the same , but in a further space , When he had wi●tlyer pe●vsde and thought vpon the case : And seene the danger that would ryse , if rashely he were bent To slay his brother in such wise , as was his first intent . He then determined to deforme himselfe , disfiguring cleane Eche part he might , supposing so as by a secrete meane , To be as seruaunt entertaynd of Pesistrate , whereby He might in secret worke the feate that he did meane to try . His beard he cut , and shavde his head , and vsed strange attyre , And after ech thing ●it preparde , he boldly did aspyre To presence of Pesistratus , who solitarie was , With booke in hand , in garden set , the tedious time to passe : To whom the Kenedox with grace and gesture wel disp●sde , ( His salutations friendly made ) his meaning thus disclosde : Oh worthy Knight , thy raysed fame hath sounded to mine eares , The which hath movde me boldly thus , deuoyde of doubted teares , To craue thy curtesy to yelde such 〈◇〉 ●nto ●●e , As th●● I might a happy man , be intertaind of thee : Whose seruice more I do esteeme than princes equal sta●e , Or bondage better than the best of fortunes flattering fate . To whom ( quoth Pesistrate ) my friend ▪ a stranger thou dost seeme ▪ Of modest meekenesse , wile conceyt , and gesture as I deeme : And for as much as I can iudge no otherwise of thee , But that should wel maintaine my hope I graunt and do agree To thy request , and what thy power can further for myne ease , To doe the same with willing hart , it shall my fansie please . This sayd● Pesistratus , but least he did suspect the guile That lurked vnder flattring phrase and poysnous pleasant stile , By●a●se that he perswaded was that Kenedox was slaine , As with his eyes he also saw his latest fatal payne : As likewise thought he that the man , had bene a Troyan borne , Bycause his beard and naked head was in such maner shorne : Wheron he made him priuy straight what things did appertayne Unto himselfe , and wherunto he should imploy his paine : And then demaunding of his name , that Antropos it hight The seruant sayde , which Pesistrate esteemed to be right . And thus the wicked wretch hath brought as erst he did require , Unto a perfect purposde end the ful of his desire : Whose further pranks to be declard hereafter shal insue , And now Cataneas ceaslesse cares my trauell shal renew : Who stinteth not , but euen as erst she spent hir lothed dayes , So stil the countenaunce of hir wealth vpon Pesistrate s●ayes . And lingring out the lazy time , when Tytans glittring face Forsaken had to shew him selfe , incroching couching place , And Phoeb● , did succeede in roome , and Sopor claymde his right , Catanea viewes in drousy dreame , as though in ce●tayne sight Pesistrate sitting on a banke with pleasant flowers deckt : To whom a Serpent did approch , of Hyd●as feareful secte , With hundred heads and thousand tongs , which strake with such a force , Pesistratus , that it seuerde his head from deadly corps : Which so dismaide the drousy dame , that hauing not such poure As to perceiue it for a dreame , she lay in traunce an houre , Before that vitall course could be recouered to his place , Or sense had sense to vnderstande the sondnesse of the case ? And when 〈◇〉 from hir sound she was , for very feare Eche limme did quake a●d tremble , such hir grieuous dolors were : Bewayling wofully hir fates , that fortune was inclinde , For to increase such double cares to ouerpresse hi● minde : Til Titan had from East appeard , and raysde him selfe againe , And then the Lady rose from couch and ceased to complayne . And gan aduisedly to thinke that dreames were but abuse , Wheron to better ease approcht , she doth disdain to muse Thereon , but calles Pesistratus to minde , and doth renue How that the wight , as abiect wretch was clad in taunie hue , Which doth pretend , that he did loue , and could not that attayne , That should intend his loyal faith for to requite againe : And thus supposing of the thing , which as a pleasant bait Did feede hir fansie and incroche vppon hir humor strayght Oh seemely wight Pesistratus , thryse happy is the dame ( Quoth she ) whom thou so lov'st , as for hir sake thou wearst the same : Hir ioyes surmount vnto the heauens , hyr comforts pierce the skyes : Or else I deeme the blynded wretch dame natures gifts defies : Would to the Gods , it were my selfe to whom thou dost employ Thy hart , then happy might I thinke that greater were my ioy Than Alexanders hye renowne , or Dame Mineruas fame . Alas replyde she then , what more vnlikelier than the same ? Unlikely why ? I know my state and welth as great as his : But doth Cupido wealth respect or loke where riches is ? No , no , alas , what motion then prouokes thee to such hope ? Thou knowst that loue at randon runs , and Cupid shoots at scope , Oh truth ( she sayde ) and then , as though a woman prest to dye , Smal hope I haue yet some , bycause his gestures did discry Of late his minde with paled face and count●●aunce sodain● changde , When as I viewd his bloud discourst and a● his humors rangde . And t●us hir fansie with hir selfe di● question ▪ til at last , Di●payre not Catane ( she sayde ) nor be no more agast : But since thou seest , thy louer is in ●aunie colours drest ▪ Weare thou the like ▪ that he may iudge the cause of thine vnrest . Wherto agreed , shee did proceede to execute hir wil : Whom thus I leaue and shal resigne to Pesistrate my quil : Who stil consumes the tedious time in teares and ceaslesse woes , And dare not once ( vnhappy man ) his cause of cares disclose To any wight , but to himselfe in secret doth complayne , Wherby the more he doth prouoke his mot●ons vnto payne , Til that in curssed time , by chaunce as he bewayling was , His new come seruant Antropos , by chamber dore did pas : And ●earing t●us his maister mone , did ( entring there ) e●pye The seely man on ●ossed bed as redy bent to dye : To whom the caytife K●nedox , in●ending nought but guyle , With bauty phrase and bidden glose adorned thus his sti●e : Alas my Lord , from what disease proceedeth this thy care ? What is the vexing cursed cause that greeued thus you ar● ? Hath losse of goods distempered , or faithful friends thy state ? Or hath impoisned fortune fround and spyghted thee of late ? Or hath the seemely sight of Dame disquieted thy hed , Wherby thy fixed fansie is by blinded Cupid led ? Informe thy seruant of thy cause of cares , and if his powre May do thee good , 't is ●esdy prest : and if that fortune ●oure , Forbeare the same with patience , and season shall requite In time agayne , when fortune leaues to profer further spyte : And if that loue assayle thy youth , attende what I shal say , And scorne not counsel , neyther let aduise be set away : For 〈◇〉 it hath bene seene , the blynd in safety sure to passe The place wheras the seing man hath faine and burst his face . And sometime may a wise man bee aduised by a foole , As doth a whetstone serue to sharpe , but is no caruing toole . If loue I say , so trouble thee , my louing Lord beware , Least nusling , thou thy selfe be trapte in loues intangling snare : And way , that if thou loue , thy loue with equal loue be plast , For hye ascendyng gettes a fall , and weaknesse is defast : And since occasion forceth thee to faynte through chaunced fate , Comfort thy heauy hart , and eke support thy drousy pate With hope , and season shal display the proofe of hope in time , When feareful fansie shall be fled , though not in present pryme . For how might euer sugrie sappe be knowne , if bitter tast Had nere bene felt , or pleasant baite were nere addicte to wast ? How wealth , if neuer woes were wist ? how health if neuer harme ? Or what man can descerne the colde which neuer knew the warme ? Giue therefore place to paine , and that shall pleasure bring at last , As diuers sauours teach , the true experience of a taste : And hope as I do hope , which is , to see the happy day , That thou shalt ful enioye thy wishe , thy sorrowes worne away : And leaue thy couch , and seeke the means cleane to auoyde thy care , For lying thus , thou dost encrease thy dolorous misfare . And worthie Pesistratus , marke and ponder wel my words : A man with payne may beate the bush , and other catch the birds . So mayst thou thus encrease thy griefs , decreasing stil thy strength And lustie force , when other men shall get thy game at length . Were this the way to winne thy wyl ? were this the wi●est acte That thou mayst do , so to abuse thy wittes by foolish fact ? No , no , thy wealth wil wear away , thy force wil fainte and fayle , Thy sorrowes wil augment defame , and nothing thee auayle : Ryse therefore vp , with courage arms and fortify thy case , Polish thy parts with healthful hope , auoyde this lothsome place , And eyther seeke such means thy selfe , as may exyle thy griefe , Or else let seruant vse his paine to purchase thy reliefe , Who shal , by death and life ( I vow ) for thy desired ease , Bo●h venter life , and suffer death , and present life displease . That all , Pesistrate noted wel , and pondred in his harte An answere , viewing in his deed what were his wisest part : And in coniecturing , thought at first to holde his secret deepe , Considering that the Fox doth wixck when oft he faynes to sleepe : But afterward respecting much , the earnest●esse did seeme To be in talke of Antropos , bycause he could not deeme No otherwise than meere good wyl to moue his zelous phrase , And marking that his counsel was as needeful to his wayes , Without suspect , alas : the Knight his secrets did disclose In ende to Antropos , and thus his woful speech arose : What sodayne tickle chaunce hath charmd thy footsteppes to the place , To see thy friend tormented thus , and vext before thy face : Whom euery creature doth disdaine , and comfort doth refuse , And euery tormente , with his payne and penurie doth vse ? 'T is neither want of worldly wealth , nor lacke of earthly store , Nor losse of friendes nor frowning face of fortunes fickle lore . That makes me spende my doleful dayes in such excesse of teares , But Antropos , alas , alas , it is thy trembling feare ▪ The doubtfull hope , the cold conceits , the ceaslesse burning broyles Of louers fits , that I sustayne , and thus my stomacke toyles , And stil alas I strayne , as much as in my powre doth lye , Yet aye , the more I striue , the more I feele my force to dye , And thus I liue in deepe dispayre , and haue no cause to ioy , But drinke my death , and feede of ayre , and breede mine owne anoy , Wheron I can not thinke my payne his pleasure wil induce , B●cause no pleasure can depend vppon mine owne abuse . I gayn , my hope is so defast , and I my selfe attaine Unto such little cause of hope , that hope is most my paine . And though al this I knowe , yet griefe so much doth me suppresse , That I not able am to seeke or worke for my redresse , Thus seest thou Antropos , so much vnhappy is my state , That thy aduise is frustrate all , and councel come to late . Wherfore as cause doth moue my cryes , so forst I do complayne , And haue no cause to set me free or these my greefes restrayne Yet for as much as I perceiue what wisdome is in thee , And how thou tenderly bewaylst my case , and fauorest mee , ( O Antropos ) I shal declare to thee my secretes all , And how by due desert , I haue attaind to this my fal . In Appollonia , Grecian Soyle , a towne of raised fame I borne a worthy father had , Aganetos his name , Who tendring so his louing sonnes as much as father might , Wherof I one , an other was , who Kenedoxus hight : And when that crooked age encrocht vpon our auncient Sire , The father did with trickling teares of vs his sonnes require , Like valiants to withstand the rage of Tetimetians pride , ( Who were our foes ) as he before their hautie hartes 〈◇〉 tryde , Disposing vnto Kenedox his landes , as due by right They were : and vnto me , what so of foes we got by fight : And stinting so the aged Sire from seat to earth declynde , And taking death , vnto the heauens his spirits he resinde . Whom in due time we layde in earth , and then did both consente , To worke for foes despight , wherto our mutual wils were bent : And in a space as we requirde , we met our foes in face : And in the skirmish ouerc●me their pride in pointed place , And slew eche man , saue those which fled , wherby when so the soyle They purchasde had , by right I claymde their landes , in forsayde soyle Containd , bycause by fathers wil they were disposde to mee . But to this same , my brother would in no wise once agree , Wherat our kinsmen were displeasd with Kenedox , and sayde , That since it was my right , the same should be to me conuayd : But he as much displeasde agayne , and fretting in his yre , Departed thence in wrath , bycause he myst of his desire : Whom viewing I , so fiercely set , supposing to perswade , Did follow fast but when I seene of him , with deadly blade He meeting , thought me to haue slaine in that his hasty made , Whose rigor viewd , with Rapier drawne in hande , I him withstoode : And movde by this occasion iust to anger , caitife vile ( Quod I ) wouldst thou in brothers bloude so cowardly defi●e Thy filthy fists ? an● art thou ment to seeke thy friends decay ? If so , in a conuenient place and on appointed day Agree to get reuenge , and seeke thy quarel to renue , And I this blade in traytorous bloud of shine shal there imbrue : To w●●● agreede , he vowed by Saints to meete : and time approcht , Wherein eche foe his brothers corps with bloudy blade incrocht , In further fight I slue the knight , wheron in hast I fled , And towards these Italian parts , through seas in ship was led . And when arivde I was , such fate allotted to my pay , That wandring vp and downe , not known , and knowing not the way , By chance I met an ancient sire , with countnance verye graue , And sobre gesture , vnto whom intelligence I gaue Of my affaires , and whilst that such discourse of talke did passe , In forest by , Pecipater with other hunting was A monstrous Lion , whom so long the coursers chased had , That flinging Lion forrest left , came towards vs as mad , With whom incountring I bestowd such blowes , as at the last , His rage abated , him I slue , and so the daunger past . And by this meanes acquainted grew with chasers Knightly rout , But chiefly with Pecipater , with whome , as it fel out , I did repaire to present place , which place hath wrought my paine , And feedes my fansie , as thou seest , with poisnous pleasant baine : For Pecipater worthy man a sister hath , who hight ▪ Catanea , a Phenix rare , a peerelesse dame by right , Whose seldome beauty hath dismaid so much my wandring wits , That wil I ●il I , forst I am to suffer these my fits , Accursing the vnhappy time , that ere my footesteps trode Italian ground , or that my life so long hath heere abode : As eke the time that ere I vseud that glittring face of ●its , Whose b●aui●es blase , I dare auow doth dimme the twinckling starres . Thus haue I tolde thee ( Antropos ) the cause of my anoy , My present state , and vexing griefs , and ouerpassed ioye : Which al these paines , I do confesse , of this the present time , I do deserue ▪ and thousands more for former forsayd cryme : And thee and none else haue I made so priuie to the same , My secrets wherefore keepe thou close , and yeld me no more blame ▪ And so he stint to speake and ●eares did trickle dow●● the face Of silly man and quaking feare dis●●mperd euery place So much that wretched wight he stode in such amazed muse , As though his sprites were fully bent his body to refuse . Whom Antropos beholding , thus did craftely reply , With tong dessembling vnder which the mischeefe al did lie : My Lord alas , I much lament to see thy doleful dayes In irksome cares so vainly spent , whilst hauty fame and praise Might be thy gain , through knighthod shown , refuse this lothsome trade Of lazie life , in singring woes ▪ and let thy sorowes vade . For since it is but loue , that moues thy stomacke to such paine , No doubt we shal preuent the harmes , and wel inough restraine The further mischeefe that would grow throught want of wise forcast , By trauel such as shal intend to worke thy welth at last : Thou knowst that nothing is so darke , but labour doth espie , And nought so stout , but trauel may suppresse , if it wil trie : And wherefore then wilt thou dispayre ? or why doth drousie doubt So drowne thy senses , that thou thus forsakst the courtly rout , And yeeldst thy carkasse to thy couch , as one who seekest to craue His lazie ease , or to be layd in his desired graue ? Is this the way to moue the mindes of Ladies to surmise Uppon thy manhood , or the meanes to make thy fixed eyes Of lowly stomacks to respect thy person ? or the way To yeeld thee fame through due deserts , or purchase louers pray ? No no , thou knowst : then shame to vse such meanes as do allure Thy present hindrance in such things as faine thou wouldst procure . And now forsake thy drousie bed , and vse such fit attire , As seemeth requisite and apt for louing , thy desire : For Catane in 〈◇〉 hue is clad of late and why ? Mai●t thou not iudge it doth as well like loue of hirs discry As of thine owne ? renue thy hart and let not courage quaile , Hope wel and haue wel , so they say , nought haue , if nought assayle : And write thy minde with plaintife pen vnto thy Ladies grace , Beseeching comfort for thy cares , and fauor for thy case : And I thy secret seruant , shal in secret al conuay Unto hir hands , this is the best , this is the wisest way . For otherwise thou ceaslesse maist continue in thy griefe , And stil bewaile , and yet be voyde of comfort or reliefe . Thou wisely sayst ( quod Pesistrate ) and I with willing hart , To follow this thy good aduise wil prosecute my part : Though yet , alas , I may perceiue that al is but in vaine , Bycause presumption plainly shewes presumption of disdaine ? As also if I should faile , what mischeefe would succeede , And what rebuke vnto my shame would follow for my deed ? Yet trye I wil , for sure I am my Lady wil not proue , Though hirs surpassed my good wil or flamd in hotter loue . And therwithall the trembling wight , on crouching knees declinde , Wit● lifted ●andis vnto the skies his prayers thus resinde . Oh mighty loue , with heauenly ghost my spirits now indue , Giue vttering gift , that sugred pen may so my griefes renue , As that my faithful meanings may requited be againe With some remorse of loyal loue : and so he stint to straine Hys further speeche : and then with pen pouided in his hand , Thus did the wretch discribe his case subdude to beauties band . Pesistratus letter to his Ladie . AWoful wight whose curelesse cares compel him to complaine , Whose fansie fixed fast , is fed vppon Cupidos baine , Whose doubtf●l dumps of deepe dispaire , haue dround in dul anoy His heauy hart , and can attaine to no desired ioy , Hath boldly made assault , to saue ( if fortune do consent , And fauor fr●m your tender b●est in gentle wise b● be●t ) The life which erst depend on death , and panted in the paines Of latest fits , and now through hope some sappie sense sustayns . If faithfull Troylus had a cause with teares for to bewayle His fates , when first Cupidos cares his stomacke did assayle , Or Tantalus the wretched wight his dolours to disclose , Or else the furies to declare their pangs they may suppose I Pesistratus motion haue to vtter forth my smart , Whose grifes excede eche other paine that euer pincht the hart : And ( oh Catanea ) all these things I suffer for thy sake , Whose fauour doubting I should finde , doth cause eche limme to quake : Let therfore pitie yelde his power from tender louing brest , In speedy hast to cure my cares , and yelde thy louer rest . Which if thy grace do graunt to giue , my stomacke shal intend , A faithful louer for to liue til life doth take his ende : But if I faile of that I would , then thrise accursed , I Haue no refuge , but glad to yelde my lothed limmes to dye . And thus , my simple sute disclosde , and pity cr●●de , I leaue our grace , and to the hiest heauens your person I bequeane . THis was the summe of the complaint , which with his proper fist , That worthy Pesistratus wrote , who could not cares resist : But after this his finisht worke , 〈◇〉 is woes renewd againe , 〈…〉 ( as ●rst , ●o likewise nowe ) 〈◇〉 tumble in his paine , 〈…〉 what defaine would fall , 〈…〉 case not mornde , His earnest sute , and such requests of Ladies grace were scornde . And thereupon , in deepe dispaire the wretch would thus haue rente The paper streight , wherin but earst his trauel he had spent , Had it not bin for Antropos , whose guileful words assurde , That hope renewd , to Pesistrate his fansie he procurde To graunt againe in hope of grace the same to be conuayde By Antropos , as was deuisde : wheron he then thus sayde : Amidste dispayre a little hope informing fansies feares Of happy fauour , I haue dewde the paper with my teares , And deckt it in the careful robes of louers cursed case , Sustaynde by sighs , and fed by sobbes , I liue through hope of grace . Thus say , the woful wight hath sayde , and let not to declare , How stil I lye , and yet I liue , and what my dolours are . And so he ceast to speake , and gulfes of griesly gripes arose , That feeble man , was faynting , forst his senses strength to lose , Til time againe resigned had due sappe to v●tal vains : Wherin Pesistrate left , amidst his cares and pinching payns , His seruant Antropos aryues to long desired place , Where Catane remaynd , and spyes hir happy wished face : To whom approched , greeting well , the seruant did prepare , With filed tong , to Lady thus his message to declare : The most y●ossed woful wretch who Pesistratus hight , Hath wyld my trauel to present these letters to your sight , Beseeching humbly , that your grace with pity would respect His cursed case , the which with cares is wofully bedeckt : And he amazde , as though of wittes distraught with fansies filld , So frounst in midst of Cupides flames which hath his hart distillde , Like sauorie sappe of fruitfull herbe which meltes in vessel where The fuming fire doth force the same a watrie substance beare , That neyther health , ne wealth , ne rest , the seelye soule sustaynes , But only freezeth in his fears , and burneth in his pains . Which sayd , the curteous Lady did to Antropos replye , That letters red , to morrow nexte , hir answere should discry Hir meanings , wishing Pesistrate no otherwyse to deeme , But that hir friendship should incline his proffers to esteeme : For which a thousand thanks returnd , the seruant doth retire , And telles his Maister , al fell out according to desire : And how the dame with wisling hart receyvde the letters sent , And that with profferd seruice she was very well content , With promise made , that answere should tomorrow make requite Of his good wil , as should intende to moue him to delight : Which Pesistratus hearing , was the ioyfulst man aliue , So motiond to such sodaine ioyes , as penne can not descriue The liuely fansies that he felte , nor yet the hart suppose His happie state , nor his conceits no trouling tong disclose : But as a mortal , cleane renewde from earthly irksome cares To heauenly ioyes , so Pesistrate ( thrise happy man ) he fares . Wherfore he blist the fruitful wombe from whence he did proceed , And eke the pappes that gaue him sucke , and sustnance that did feede His nourisht limmes , and eke the day wheron he tooke his flight From natiue soyle , Dame Nature eke who yelded him his sight , With all the furtherers of life : but most he blist the Dame , Who was the cause , that happie he was movde to blisse the same : And then : you furies al ( quoth hee ) receiue your due agayne , I haue no cause to wayle with you , I scorne your drousie payne . You pleasant Nymphes , come you and ayde the blest to paynt his ioyes , And let the cursed caytifs playne , bewayling their anoyes . But pausing then a whyle : when time had somewhat made delay Of sodaine such conceyued ioyes , be then began to say : Oh cursed caytife , what abuse hath blinded wandring wittes ? What cause hath movde thee so to vse such vnaduised fits ? Hast thou receiude of Ladies grace in writing hir good wil , So blasde as nothing can disproue the same ? No , no : distil Then from the watrish eyes thy teares , let sighes go flye apase , To maintaine that which thou hast wrote , according to thy case : And rather yeelde thee to thy couche , as erste , for to bewayle : For likelyhoodes vncertayne bee , and fickle hope wil fayle : And those thy letters so receiude , the Lady doth retayne , To shew thy fondnesse for a scoffe , for sure shee doeth disdaine Thy simple seruice , and doth scorne thy bolde presumptuous sute , And means to yelde for thy defame the same to common brute : Wherby the pryde should be espyde and lewdnesse should be blowne Through euery care , that thy abuse of eche man might be knowne . And dost thou then conceiue a cause as though of luckie happe , When so thy fondnesse is displayde in euery taunters lappe ? Oh blinded fool● , dispatch thy life more rather , with thy blade , And let in brest with percing knife thy latest wound be made , And therewythall to that intente be ready was to drawe For his dispatch : but pondring then agayne when well he sawe His vaine perose , reuoking sense from errours further thral , Oh wretch ( quoth he ) and wouldst thou so obtayne thy proper fall ? Dost thou not know the Lady is of gentle curteous kinde , Of wise behauiour , and discrete , and of a lowly minde ? And dost thou then suppose that she would worke thee such defame ? No , no , in iudging so thou art vnhappy much to blame . And much vnworthy to receiue the thing thou dost require , Since to thy Ladie such abuse thy stomacke doth aspire : Is t not inough for riddance of thy tedious irksome greefe , Of Ladies mouth , that Ladies grace shall soone be thy releefe ? And canst thou not a season stay to take thy wished ioye , When thou hast spent long tract of time in case of much anoy ? Let reason rule thy sense for shame , and bridle wandring wil , And shun such foolish forcing cause as doth prouoke thyne ill . Thus sayde Pesistratus , and then at somewhat better ●ase , His happe bequeathed vnto hope , his dolours do appease : And fed by hope and yet in doubt and sundry sodaine feares , In wandring motions voyde of stay the lingring time he weares : Whom I resigne in such his fits and shal intende to paint , As simple vttrance can declare , the ioyes that did attaint The beautiful Catanea , who after message doon Of Antropos , to secret place approching , ( dolors woon ) Did so record hir happy haps , that pen may not expresse The force of those hir ioyful fits , which did hir heart addresse To happy state , as woman erst to euery dolor yokt , And now with peerelesse ioyes possest , to gladfull cheere prouokt , Whose luckie fates so frounsed had hir senses in delight , That trickle teares , for happy ioye , distild : and yet no sight She had of secrets that should bee in letters there reposde , But kist the same a thousand times before it was disclosde : And then with daintie finger , she attempted to reueale The same , but first with sugry lips she kist again the seale , And then with gasing greedy sight the letters did pervse A hundred times , before she could agree for to refuse The same , hir comforts so arose through forsayd letters sent , That she not able was , from them hir fansie to relent . For season long til senses were so much therein it oft , The humor ●ed his fill , the dame for ioy began to bost ( With happy wights ) hir happy state ▪ whose comforts did excell ( As she supposde ) eche life , whereto no comfort did rebel . Wheron the Lady forst hir ioyes surpassing to compare , The Phenix gan hir happy fates and case for to declare With hauty voice , and thus she sayde : oh fortuna●est day That euer past in earthly globe , oh sweetest purchast pray That euer louer hath attaind : whose haps excel my ioyes ? Whose riddance is more better made than mine from my anoyes ? Who liues in happier plight than I ? who spends the lucky tide , In better blisse ? whose case is more than mine by cares defide ? Whom fauors fortune more than me ? whom hath she more aduaunst ? Whose loyal loue is more than mine by loyal loue inhaunst ? Whose louers seemelynesse doth passe my comely louing Knights ? No , no , none cause like me to ioye , none liues in more delights . Most happy therfore be the tide that ere I saw the face Of Pesistrate that peerelesse wight , and viewde his portly grace ? And blessed be his gentle hart , whose loyal loue hath brought Unto my state more ease , than all the Gods could haue ywrought , Thus sayde the dame , and pausing then againe , vnhappy wretch Quod she , what meanest thou ( by this ) thy slender throte to stretch In such disguised sort ? what toyes assaulted haue thy hed ? That want of reason al thys whyle thy wandring wits hath led ? What though Pesistratus hath made so fayned a complaynt ? Is this suffici●nt to allure that fauour should attaint Thy stomacke straight ? oh Catane dost thou not know the guile Of mens abuse ? and dost thou not perceiue this suttle wile : And art thou yet to learne their trade ? is practise out of vse ? Or dost thou deeme , that now disdaine doth scorne the like abuse ? No , no , their faind deceits abound , theyr snares be dayly layde , And al their trauell and their speeche to trapping trade conuaid . And yet , when yeelded loue is lent vnto their faind request , They seeme to skorne this is their vse , to make therof a iest . And thus by nature they addict , minde nought but womens shame , And midst the rest of skoffing routs they most deride the same . For offred they do much detest , and coyed grace they craue , Which when by long complaints and sutes in end they purchast haue , They do reiect , as not content therwith , or else disdaine To vse their loue so stately bent as nature would maintaine . And though by chaunce they now and then do make a matched ma●e Unto themselues , of Lady such as doth adorne their state , When tract of time hath made delay of their inflamed fits , Then Tigres like , they do surmise and settle spitefull wits , To make a thralled slaue of hir whom erst they did retaine As for their mate , this is their guise to worke their louers paine : And thus they eyther alwayes fayne to purpose our reproch , By scoffed folly : or disdaine the loue they did incroche : Or else reiect the dame , which erst he sude , through hautie pride , As who should say , so trim a man was he , as not denide : Or else attained to their wish ▪ they make their Ladies thral Unto their fickle wils : and thus our folly frames our fall . Should therfore I , whose hautie fate doth stand at certaine ease , So much my noble birth abase , and present welth displease , And purchase shame and leest renowne , as so to put in yoke To needy slaue , my pressed necke , whose vsage may prouoke My noble hart to seruile state , and presse my honor downe , Wherby my dueties al decay , and leesing my renowne , I should be scoffe to euery tong and as a common blame To euery taunter ? no , I scorne the cause of such defame : And rather than I would agree to such abused thought , My fatal webbe of sisters three againe shal be vnwrought . Thus earnest was the Lady then against hir former minde , Yet pausing now a while , the dame was contrary declinde : And thinking how she rashly vowd against hir former will , Which likewise was with solemne othe confirmd , the teares did tril From trickling eyes , as drops of deaw descending to the ground , And she dismaid , as though addrest to deadly dampish swound . From heauy hart with doleful cheere renewd for to complaine , And to hir former rash conceits replyed thus againe : Oh faithlesse wench , dost thou deserue a loyal louers hart For to inioy ? who wauering thus art blowne to euery parte . Or deemst thou it as possible , such currishnesse to finde In Pesistrate , whose outward shape declares his curteous kinde ? Or dost thou thinke that eche is bent to worke his louers thrall , Bycause that some men take delight to purchase others fall ? No , no , thy leudnesse is deceyvde , thrise cursed thou art movde To speake in mens behalfe , since so of man thou art beloude , And not so gratelesse to requi●e thy loue with such disdaine , Which doth pretend , that womankind is rather bent to faine ▪ Shame such abuse , and settle once thy wits at certain castle , And now prouide to aunswere that Pesistratus request , With such a constant louing hart as he doth seeme to beare , Who spendes the tedious time through hope of grace in painful feare . And leauing then , with further speach the time for to delay , She gan deuise such meeke conceit as playnly myght conuay Hir louing hart to Pesistrate , wheron with happy quill In happy time , the Lady thus did write hir constant wil . The letter of Catanea to hir Louer . THy louing letters Pesistrate , thou seemely wight attainde Vnto my sight , thy Lady hath with happy hand restrainde : And wishing to thy person wealth and cause of ceaslesse ioyes , Hir heauy hart hath much bewailde thy former long annoyes , At present time , with yelded loue requiting gentle grace , Of thine aboundant , with as much as may supply thy case . And though thy pangs surpast the paine that lurke in Plutos lake , Thou neuer suffredst halfe like griefes or passions for my sake , As I for thy misdoubted loue haue suffred deadly smart , Whose least vexation able was to teare the strongest hart . And though thy loue as loyall bee , as Troy●us faith in Troy , Or else as earnest as it raines in brest of blynded Boy , I dare auow my fyred hart in equal liue to flame , Which fixed fast vnto my faith , thou only reapst the same , And onely shalt whylst lingring life doth vitall course maintaine , Or else damnation be my due , and Plutos forge my gaine . Thus to thy wish I do aspire , and graunt thy whole request , And to performe eche cravde desire of thine , mine hart is prests And therfore briefly to conceiue as I haue briefly wrote , That neither tract of time , nor paine , shall make thee once forgote , But aye for to be shrinde in brest , and borne in constant minde , Whilst carkas left , vnto the skies my spirits be resynd : And for bycause I long to view thy comelie curteous face , I haue deuisde , that wide of eche suspect , in secret place Thou mightst repaire , where mutuall harts moy ioy their happie owne : The time appointed , and the place is to thy seruant showne . Thy only owne , whilst life doth last , til breath be gone , til sense be past . THis when the Lady finisht had , reuovlde in mazed muse , Why rather did I not ( quoth she ) at first seeme to refuse Hys proffred seruice , and to coy to make the matter strange , Wherby I might prouoke his loue more hotter for to range : Than thus to shew thy selfe so bound vnto the wight againe , Declaring for his wished loue my former forcing paine ? Wherto she pausing did reply , that faithful harts should frame Eche thing so faithfull , as it should deserue no ioy of blame . And so content , with softned waxe the letters she doth seale , And kissed them : to secrete brest of hirs , she doth repose The same , whilst seruant were approcht at due appointed tyde , Who present come to that intent , and of the Lady spyde , Receyvde the letters , with aduise of foresayde time and place , Whereas both met , the louer might determine ful , the case : And with a thousand greetings sent vnto the worthy wight , The seruant homewards did repayre apace , and meets the Knight , To whom he yeeldes the paper sent , as also doth discry , The pointed place and present tide wherto he should apply His iorney made , but oh the ioyes the happy man conceivde . When these thus luckie newes he had and letters were bequeadde , I deeme the Gods had no such cause or motions to be glad , As in that ten times b●essed time the ioyful man he had . It were therefore but frustrate , that I further should pretende His happy haps for to discribe , or fansies to extende , S●nce heauenly powers can scarse comprise , I deeme , the wondrous ioyes , That fed his fansie with delightes of sundry pleasaunt toyes , Wherein he spent the altered time , til Titan had resinde Hymselfe to west , and left the clokes of pitchy clouds behind , And then againe recoursed was , and had his streames displayde In open East , on fertile earth , and gladful light conuayde . Wherin the Louers , lothsome couch forsaken , do prepare To meete in happy pointed place , and gorgeously they are In silken robes of costly price arayde and redy prest , As louers such as for the nonce their seemely sightes addrest , And after iourney , are aryvde to foresayde ioyful place , Whereas the Knight his Lady met , doth kisse and then imbrace . Whom likewise she a hundred times rekist and kist againe , And he requited euery one by one , yet toke no paine . That who had seene the seemely sight of louers there so blazde With comely corps and princely port , be wondring would ( amazde ) Haue musde , that nature could haue made such artificiall show , Or that such imps of heauenly hewe from earthly globe should grow . And thus the louers ruld the time to their desired ioye . And made discourse of al their haps , and blist , that banisht ioye , They had attaynde to happy wish : til seasons tickle trade Approchte , of force ( against their wils ) departure must be made . Wherein , with parting kysse they past , appointing time renewde , When there in present place againe eche other might be viewde : And at departure , fixed fast their eyes for to beholde Eche others presence wislly markte , so vttrance did vnfolde Of louely vse , eche louing hart as long as time would lette , Uppon eche others comely corps their eyesights to bee sette . And thus departed , both yclad in like adorned hewes , They spend the time at wished ●ase , as stil the time renewes , And often thus they vsde to meete , and long their ioyes retainde , Til at the last , oh cursed case , their customes were restraynde By villayne seruant Antropos , whose long disguised guyle Hath now at last attempted , wrought the louers ioyes exile . Come come , Alecto therefore , thou vnhappy caytyfe , teache My drousie verse , the diuelishe wyles of this vnhappy wretch , Whose rankrous hart deuising long to worke Pesistrats payne , Had now a●●●te conuenient time to charme his poysnous baine . For when the villayne had supposde what suare he might inuent , Thus bring priuy to the chiefe of all their whole intente , And pondring what displeasure might to Pesistrate aryse , If that his secrete loue were knowne , the miser did deuise How to disclose to vncle of Catanea the same , With further forged tale , that might ingender greater blame . Wheron app●●cht to Phetratus hir vncle so he hight , With tale prepared for the no●●e thus vttred he his spight : SIr Phetratus the earnest zeal● I beare to thy estate , And eke the length of long successe I wish vnto thy fate ▪ Hath made me boldly to presume , my trauell to addresse , As for a w●●●ing vnto the● ▪ least treason should suppresse Thy quiet wealth : and vnderstand , that Pesistrate is bente , Conspired with Catanea , who yeelded hath consent , Ere it be long to seeke thy death and reue thy vital life , Eyther by pampered poyson , or by secret bloudy knyfe . For as by chaunce I musing sate alone in secrete place , I herde these two , presuming thus vpon the traytrous case , And Pesistratus ( holding in his armes Catanea ) say , I would not haue this toy my loue no whit at al , dismay Thy doubtful head , for nought I care for Phetratus consent , But haue deuised wel inough , the mischiefs to preuent That he may worke , to let our loue : from hence not far remayns , A Grecian seely man , who liues in ceaslesse extreeme payns Through sicknesse , whiche hath long supprest his wished health , and hee Of late for hyre of certayne summe ▪ did willingly agree For to begin in p●●sned cup to Phetratus , whereby Both he himselfe and Phetratus , through poyson dronke should dye : The seely man to gaine of golde so vehemently desires , To leaue vnto his simple sonne , and gladly he aspires To dye , bycause his paines extreeme so vext the weried wight , That boyde of health he can attaine to rest ne day ne night . And by this meanes , our greatest foe shal soone dispatched be , And we attayne to happy day the which we long to see . This sayde Pesistrate , and I heard Catanea replie , That it was polis●kely thought , aduising him to try The subtil feate in present space , and not for to delay But do it in as speedy hast as possible he may . This with mine eares I heard sir knight , and wil auow the same Upon my body to the death vnto the traitors shame : And that you may for certaine know my former talke as true , I heard the Louers point the place and time for to renue Their traytrous will : vnto which place if you with armed rout Proceede , there may you cleane dissolue the causes of your dout . And apprehend the traytors both at ease , deuoyde of feare , Where you should do but to desert if that with poynt of speare You pearsed Pesistratus sides . Thus had the caytife told His forged tale , and now a space doth tatling tong with-hold , To heare what Phetratus woulde say , whose answere thus was made : Oh grisly griping gulfes of griefe , that stomacke do inuade : Is exile slaue Pesistratus so cowardly disposde To worke my death , before he dare to haue his grutch disclosde ? And is Catanea so bente to seeke hir vnckles spoyle , Whose long regarde hath had respect to hir suspected foile ? And hath she chosen for hir mate a slaue , whose like abuse As this , hath causde the wandring wight hys countrey to refuse ? Wel , wel , for Pesistratus grutch and Catanes dispite , By saintes I vow , with present death I shall them both requite : And since the lawes of this our soile be thus , that who so layes To others charge conspiracie , must answer those assayes ( Bycause ●e wanteth witnesse ) first with solemne othe to sweare , That witnesse to be sincere , iust and true , that he doth beare : And then to bow no further grutch or spite , to cause the same , But only for his conscience sake , deuoyd of euery blame : And last , that he confirme the proofe therof , with manhode tride In courtly combate , him against of whom it is denide● I doe aduise thee Antropos , the trial to withstand With manly courage , and my selfe shal ready prest at hand Giue aid to thee , if succoure neede , and all the slaues defie In thy behalfe , wherein by Saints I meane to liue and die . And I intend as thou hast sayde , the louers for to meete In pointed place , whose curtesie I shall so friendly greete , As both of them to lode with chaines ▪ til Proclamation made Of their conspiracie , thou shalt approue with manly blade , ( Gainst who so one , that doth approch ) thy sayings to be 〈◇〉 : Wherein I hope the wished death of Traytours we shal view . This sayd , lefte Phetratus to speake , whom Antropos a space Forsoke , till season did require that vnto pointed place They should aspire , for to beholde the louers : but the cares Of Phetratus , and woes to tel , and how he doleful fares Through his conceiued griefes , it doth I deeme eche wit surpasse , The grieuous dolors of his harte , so passing painful was , To thinke that Catane should seeke his death , whose cheefest paine Was alwayes bent from tender age the Lady to restraine For eche mishap : and thus the wight , complained , til such time As ranckours rage disswaded had the man to muse of cryme , And now to presuppose reuenge , the which he did deuise . But midst of all these tossed thoughts , it could not once aryie To him , that tale of Antropos , should fainde or forged be , But stil his fansie he informde , that he should shortly see The proofe of al for to be true , as Antropos had sayde : And thus the wilfull wretched wight remayne● so dismayde , Tiil time againe that Antropos returnde , who present is At season such , wherin they should if that they would , no● mis Of louers sight , straight hye in hast with euery thing addrest Therto , whereon the wight● prouide to haue ech purpose prest , And then they marcht in secret sort , and at the last drew nye Unto the place , where Louers were , whom there they might discry , Inioying so their presence , as the vse of Louers secte Doth take delight in likely case , but nought they did suspect ( Alas ) the mischiefe that did lurke , whereon deuoyde of feare , They stil imbrast and sweetly kyst in lurkers presence there . Who cursed wretches , at the last in rigour rushed out , And toke the Louers al agaste , suspecting no such dout . And bound as traitours them they led as Antropos deuisde , To presence of Pecipater , who at the first surmisde Some spited grutch , and fainde abuse , whereon with frowning face , How dare you villains all ( quoth he ) in such disguised grace , Conduct my sister to my sight ? what haynous fault is done ? To whom Sir Phetratus replyde what treason was begon , And how that Antropos discryde the same , who was content Uppon his body to approue gainst who ( that durst ) was bent For to deny the truth therof , ( that ) Pesistrate had sought With Catane , hi● vncles death in secret to haue wrought ) Which when Pecipater had heard , considering what their vse And custome was : he would not seeme to moue no more abuse , Bycause that iustice should take place , and least his partial wil Should cause the people to suspecte , some further cause of yl . By teares distilling from his brest , and sighes from heauy hart Proceeding fast , the woful man from thence doth streight depart To secret chamber , where his griefs so plenteously abound , That seely man in desprate minde , he tumbles on the ground , As though distraught of wittes , his payne ingendred such his smart : And he supposing of these haps , was vexed so in hart . And thence the woful louers were to seueral prisons led , Wheras on hard Alectos food , their heauy harts are fed , Bewayling their accursed fates , that spighte should so preuayle To worke their deaths , whose mutual wils did neuer once assayle To do no yl , but only bent their constant loue to frame , For loyal proofe , did nere deserue this thryce vnhapppie shame . And only looking for the time of death , deuoyd of ioye , With mournful tunes and painful plaints bewayling thir anoy , They spende the drousie doleful daye , as ready prest to pyne , Through pinching sorrowes , whom a while I forced to refine Unto their griefs , must now apply my trauel to pursue The cares of Pecipaters case , whose sorrowes eke renue , And he vncessantly so vext that stil he woful lyes Bewayling Pesistratus woes with sundry plaintiue cries , Accursing fortunes tickle trade , as eke the villains spight , Whose accusation had defast the fame and credit quite , Not onely of Pesistratus and of his Sisters state , But also of him selfe , whose wealth depended on their fate . Which well be waying ▪ was inforst with heauy hart to plaine , And was not able vexed man , his dolours to restraine : But after long pervsing of his griefes , he payned sayde : Oh blinded foole , what fond conceits hath made thee thus dismaide ? Dost thou not know thy proper lawes be so , that who accusde Of other is , bycause himselfe by custome is refusde To fight in proper his behalfe , he must a champion haue , Whose hand victorious must intende the accuzeds life to saue ? And why dost thou not then prepare more rather to prouide , In these the Innocents defence , to haue thy manhood tride , Than for to grieue thy pined hart in such a paineful guyse , Which neither doth pretende thy ease , their helpe , nor thee for wise ? Go rather to the wretched wight Pesistratus , and learne If that he gilty be or no , by whom thou maist discearne With equall eye , the likelyhoode thereof , and maist dispose Thy deedes accordingly , which thought , he presently arose , And went in haste vnto the mewe where Pesistrate remaynde . Whose person seene , the glad●●● man had thought that he 〈◇〉 gainde A happy pray , and then he sayde , my friend , alas I wayle , To see thy wretched case so much in hart that tong doth faile To vtter what my meaning is : but faithful friend disclose Unto thy friend , if guilty thou or innocent in those So ●ainous faultes be , yea , or no , that to thy charge are layd ? To which so spoke , Pesistratus againe replying , sayde , That as the mighty Ioue of heauen his recompence should make , They sought no creatures death , nor harme , nor once did vndertake Such minded mischeefe or pretence : and then he opened all The matter to Pecipater , as how that eche was thrall To others loue , long tract of time before t●at it was knowne . And by what lucklesse meanes , at last their zealous loue was showne . As , how that vnto Antropos his secrets be discride , By whom the letters first were sent , and matters all were tride , Yet to none other end at al , but only touching loue , And nothing else was euer ment , as wel the letters proue . And how the villaine , priuie to the place of their resort , His forged tale hath now at last confirmd in such a sorte . Bicause that in the pointed place the louers both were found , Who meaned nothing , but to shew the fruites that did abound From louely stomackrs , as like case of louers doth frequent : This sayde , wel quod Pecipater , doubt not I shal preuent His spitful grutch , so much as shal apply to him the shame , That he had thought to both of you , by forged tale to frame . And then bequeauyng Pesistrate to Gods , he did depart From thence at somewhat better ease , and with more lighter hart Than erst , when thither he approcht , and then to prison hide Wheras the woful Catane his dolefull sister layde : Of whom the matter asked , he like aunswer had againe , As did agree to Pesistrats , wherby he iudged playne The louers to be innocent , and that the fayned lye Of villayne Antropos was false , as he might wel ●spye : Wheron Catanea left , the wight his sorrowes fled away , Did to his home repaire , wheras the longing man did stay Til season such as poynted time was present come , when as The accused wights ( their dungeons left ) to place of death should passe : Where if they had no Champion prest , their liues for to defend , They must prepare with harts addrest to take their latest ende . He then supposing to proceede in their behalfe to fight , And with the villain Antropos , to straine his ventured might , And so content , til season that to stay he liues in hope . And when in space the tract of time had compassed his scope , And that the proclamation made before , for poynted tyde : The time expyrde ( as time in hast without respect doth glyde ) The season is approcht , the accusde are from the prisons brought To forsayd place , wheras their deaths of hangman must be wrought , Except that Champion were addrest their doubted liues to saue , By conquest got : who happy wights , a valiaunt Champion haue , The which vnknowne to them appears , in Sabels armour dight , And settled wel on barbed steede , doth offer for to fight With villayne Antropos , whose guyle had done extortious wrong , He sayde , to Innocents , as he would proue ere it were long : And therewithal Sir Antropos doth enter into listes , And with a Lyons face he sayth ▪ what caytife here resists The certaine witnesse I do beate , and saw with propre eyes ? To whom quoth Pecipater , I it is who wel espyes Thy forged accusation false , and shal performe the same Upon thy carkas , spight of force , to thy deserued shame , Thou villaine slaue ( quoth Antropos ) wilt thou in the defence Of Traytours , venture to withstand my rygorous sharpe dispence ? And darest thou ( replyed he ) presume to meete my force In quarell false , as shal be provde ▪ vpon thy caytife corse ? Yea sayde the one in spight of thee , a quarel iust vpholde And Mauger thee ( the other quoth ) supresse thy pryde so bold : Wherin the Heralds sownd dis●layd the Coursers meete with speares In settled r●stes , that trunc●lo●s burst , the peeces pat their cares , And then with glauering blades the blowes were delt in such a wise , That harnesse parde , the parings mount aloft into the skies , And sparkels beaten from their sides , the Targets strong are torne , The bars vnbound , the helmets hard by force asunder shorne , The steely linkes vnbeaten , bounst ▪ and thus the mortal fight , Now quauining the accused harts now making stomacke light , The one he thinketh of reuenge , on Pesistrate , wherby With Serpents ●age in finisht hast be lets the blowes go flye : To other striuing for to saue his friendes from foes dispight , Like Lyon fierce he yeeldes againe the blowes with forcing might , And thus the aduersaries so , had made their partyes good , That they had dyde the stained ground with their diffused bloud , So long , til at the last the knights thus straining manly strength , Pecipater had pierst the sides of Antropos at length , And so courageously pursude his foe with desperate blade , That downe fell Antropos to earth , his fatal wound so made : Whom Pecipater straight supprest with foote , and from the ground With valiant stroke he made his head from conquered corps rebound . Wheron with strained loftie voice , the people movde such cries , That through their hi● conceiued ioyes they shakt I thinke the skies . And now the louers were so glad , as though their liues renewd . Their happy state with heauenly ioyes and pleasures were indude , But little deemed Pesistrate the riddance of his paine To come by death of Kenedox his brother , that was slaine . Whereon they cravde to see the face of viliant him , that so Had saued their liues , and maintaind truth and vanquished the foe . And when his helmet laide aside the louers sawe to be Pecipater , and people viewd and knew that it was hee , Oh how the people vaunst his fame , and ioyed to see their Lorde So valiant Knight , and yelded prayse to him with one accorde , As though their voices would haue raisde the man from mortal case , To hiest heauens for his desert , amongst the Gods to place : And so the louers ioyd in hart , requiting endlesse thankes For his aboundant curtesie , and manly Martial prankes : That it doth farre excel my power , to paint in proper wise , I therefore yeeld it to conceit of eche man to deuise . But when the turmoile ceassed was , and so the spite restrainde Of raging foe , eche hoping hart by manly proofe sustaind : Pecipater the conquerous knight , with comely courtly grace Proceedes to Pesistrate , and doth with seemely armes imbrace , Whom he with gesture like requites so courteously displayde , That they that viewde the seemely sight , were so in hart disma●de , That teares by force distilling downe for ioy from seers eyes : Their fame of gentle gesture streight amongst the thickest hyes : And then his sister greeted like , she likewise greets againe , That wondrous was it to beholde , how erst in desperate paine , And now inioyes the altred time they spend in happy plight , With easy harts , vnburdend bres●s , and cause of al delight . And thus when outwarde vttrance had declarde eche ioyful minde , Eche man auoides the present place vnto his home assinde , And conquerous knight , with Louers doeth proceede with courtly traine , Through T●rents streetes , vnto the place whereas he should remaine , Who when he passed through the towne receiude such yelded fame , As eke the Louers for their truth that to behold the same , The tops of houses laden were , and streets and stalles so fillde , And windowes deckt with peoples prease as nere or very sild , Was like conuent in Tarent towne , the people were so glad Of constant Louers saued life , as ●ke bycause they had Unto their Lord so vallant wight as Pecipater was , Who with the louers and his traine , as stil though stree●es they passe , At last arriued at the place of Pecipater , they With ioyfull hart into his house do presently conuey Themselues where pausde a little space Pecipater doth straine To Pesistrate his voice , and thus he sayde : thy griefe my payne It is Pesistratus , my friend , and what thou dost forbeare , I likewise feele , be it wo , be it wealth , be it losse , anoy or feare . Wherefore I craue thy curtesy , to yelde such like respect , To my good wil , as it regards thy selfe , as one elect Unto my selfe for faithful friend , as partly hath appearde By venture lately for thy sake , where rather I aspyrde To dye with thee , than liue deuoyde of presence thyne : wherfore Know friend Pesistratus , I do repute thy friendship more Than succour of the mightiest Prince or Mahomet aliue Whose hate were able to deuise my honour to depryue ▪ Since therefore that thou dost suppose it for thy happiest ioy , Thy greate●● wealth and riddance best from cause of al anoy , For to retaine Catanea my sister vnto thee , My worthy friend Pesistratus , I willingly agree , ●nto the same , and what so else of me thou shalt request , To graunt thy sute at all assayes I am as ready prest : And since thou knowest the spittful grutch of Phetratus , beware Therof , and take aduise least thou incur a further care : For I forcast and see it well , that when that I deceast My sister clayms my ruling roome . ( hir right ) she shal supprest By currish caytife Phetratus , then stoope to euery yoke , Wherto hir carelesse vncle shal the wretched wench prouoke : And thou shalt likewise be so vsde , as wel I knowe , it shal ( If that thou do not wel prouide ) attaine thy latest fall . Harke therefore , oh my Pesistrate , attend what I shal say , If that thou liuest for to see my death , without delay Possesse my place in present hast , as into thy due right By Catane thy spouse , and hold the same by Martial might : For if the caytife Phetratus haue once his entry made Before thou canst attaine thereto , then knowe I , cruel blade Shal worke the death of both of you , or else your vtter spoyle , Wherby the pray shal be his owne , and yours shal be the foyle . Thus sayde Pecipater , and then he ceast for to apply His tong to further speech , to whome did Pesistrate replie , With thankes his gentlenesse requited , that his wil Should bee with executed care performed to the fil : And after other course of talke , the louers did require Their mariage shortly to be made , vnto the which desire Pecipter consented streight , wheron it was agreed At pointed time ( which shortly was ) that nuptials should with speed Prepared bee : and thus ( their ioyes increasing happy wights ) They did expect the wished time , and spend in much delights The ioyful tyde , til season that for which the louers stayde : Which time they hoped wel should now no longer be delayde . But wo , alas , to fortunes wyles , whylest thus they fed on ioy● , And were perswaded that they had auoyded al anoy , Unhappy case ( their cares renewd ) they suffer greater griefes , Than al the former time , when state was voyde of all reliefs . For Phetratus accursed wight ▪ supposing what defame Had growne to him through late abuse vnto his vtter shame , Began with rancour for to grutch at wealth of their estate , Since that himselfe was thr●lled so to such abased state : And gan deuise , ●ha● if he could a●●ure it to such passe , That Pecipaters life were refte , that then the nuptials was Preuented , wherby he might then as ruler worke his list Upon the louers , when as none his pleasure durst resist : And thus the wretch supposing long , perseuering in ●is thought , At length deuised by this meanes to haue his purpose wrought , Which was to hyre some carlesse slaue with poyson to beguile Pecipater , and thinking thus , when he had pausde a whyle He calde to mind a certayne wretch that to him selfe retaynd , Whose disposition fit he knewe to haue these matters faynde : To him in presence he discryde the summe of al his minde , Who soone agreed , and was content to do what he assynde . And to conclude , when thus they had decreede on poynted tyde , The place , and by what secrete meanes the treason should be tryde , The wicked seruant did prepare his medicine to frame , The which so pampered , as he would , when he had done the same , In secret sorte he did conuey himselfe vnto the place Wheras Pecipater did vse to sit in iudgements case , Where he impoysned the seate with his infection strong , And euery other thing that did vnto the seate belong ▪ And then in hast retyred home : and when the approched day Was come , when Pecipaters vse was for to take his way To forsayde place , wheras he did the controuersies cease Of common wealth , & did mayntayne ●he course of publike peace , When as ( alas ) the worthy wight had sitte a whyle in seate , He gan in such a heated wise in euery part to sweare , That they that sawe the valiant so distempered , thought the route Of people to haue causde the same , wheron they caryed out Their Lorde into the open ayre , and there the woful wyght With deadly dis●greeing colde streight struck , in open sight Unto the heauens resinde his ghost , hys carkas left on ground , Wheron was movde so great a noyse and such a piteous sounde , That well I deeme the earth did shake withal and rolling skyes W●●● out of common course declinde through such their mourneful cryes : The which when Phetratus had heard , and knowing it to bee His purpose , wrought as though the wretch had only come to see The cause of rumor , with a route of thousand caytifes there , He present was bycause of doubte and his suspected feare That people would accused hym , wheras with outward shewe He so lamented , that none would had iudged him the foe Of Pecipater , for he ragde as though the wretched mad Had bin for grief : when God did know the cursed was as glad Of his successe in mischiefe wrought , as he that had restrainde With Martial fist , a vanquisht hoste , or summes of golde had gainde . And then he so persuaded with the people , that at rest The body was conuayde from thence with euery thing addrest For funerals in solemne wise : and when the season cravde That carkasse should be layde in earth , eche thing was so behaude , That least , the people did suspect that Phetratus had wrought The death of Pecipater , or such thing he would haue sought Whereon they suffred him to rule , til season that they might More better know to whome the same were incident by right . But o● the deadly pinching pains and greeuous grisly smarte That bannished the louers ioyes , and gript them at the hart , When woful wretches they so sawe the increase of ceaslesse care Through worthy Pecipaters death , which causde their mou●nful fare That they vncessantly bewaylde with tears their fickle fate , Wel knowing that dispight would cleane suppresse their quiet state , As woful wights to them it fell , it did as they did feare : For when the villayne Phetratus did see , that for to beare Authority he suffred was , now minding to dispight The louers , seeing eke the time so apt , that wel he might Indeuor his malicious wiles , to worke their vtter thrall , The wicked man to counsel doth the chief and Nobles cal Of his dominion , vnto whom in presence thus he sayde . As I my Lords , so likewise you I know are much dismayde Through cause of Pecipaters death , and since a great defame It were to vs , if slightly we should ouerpasse the same , I craue your curtesies to heare , and hearing well to way What thing as touching this , I am disposed now to say : You know how that the exile man Pesistrate , hath attainde The loue of Catane , whose wil would wisely be restrainde , For how that Kenedox accusde Pesistrate , it is plaine With reasons proofe , that he should seeke through priuie impoisned vaine My death : and note you wel of this , that he that hath so sought My death , whose death no whit at al could pleasure him in ought Would likewise seeke the death of him ( Pecipater I meane ) Whose death would yeelde him title s●che wherto the wretch might leane Through Catane , for to possesse the roume which he supplide , Wheron I do presume , that he , if it were throughly tride , Were only woorker of his death , through hope of forsayd gayne : I therefore do aduise you , that the wretch do not remayne In these our partes , but that exilde he be , wherby we shal Both Catane the dame reserue from such a shameful fall As shee would get , if to the sla●e the Lady matched were , And eke auoyde such rumors , as the people would arer● . And so he stint to speake : and they with one accorde agreed , That Pesistrate , as he hadde sayde , should be exild , with speede . Wheron for Pesistratus they did send by verlet streight , To whom in presence they declard the important cause of weight , And there commaunded him , that then without a more delay , As man exilde , from present place hee toke his ready way To forraine parts ▪ informing eke that if that he were found Upon such day , in any place of their Italian ground , That he should dye : wheron the wight began h●s iourney made With heauy hart in mourneful plight , and presently doth vade Tarentum lest , as wandring wretch into a Forrest by , Whereas he stayes his lothed limmes a while at ease to lie . And when his musing braines had tost the losse of former ioyes , And that his fansie fixly fed vpon a thousand toyes , At last , he pondering the cause of cares that so befel Unto his pay , his griping greefes so greeuously did quell His hauty courage , that by force his fainting limmes declinde , That woful lay , as though he were a body reft of minde , Until a space that season had restord the course againe Which did reuiue his vital sense : and then in greater paine Than erst , the wretch bewaild , wherein vnto his dolors ●o●t , Through painful fits , his faultring tong to speake was thus prouokt . Alas what wretch doeth greater greefes sustaine , than I abide ? Or whose estate is more than mine by fortunes spite defide ? Or whose excesse of troubles , teare his paineful pinched hart So much , as my vncessant cares do worke my deadly smarte ? In propre soyle I sometime linde a man of great renoune , And now like slaue in forreyne partes I am suppressed downe And sometime haue I in my ioyes aduaunst my selfe with fame , But now accurssed in my griefes I liue with exile name . And woe to fortunes spiteful trade , a ioyful louer late I was , and Lady had , but now to vacabonds a mate : Alas , alas , and wilt thou then ( Pesistratus ) delay To worke thy death ? wilt thou abide to see an other day ? Thou hast no cause of hope at al , for thou hast Lady left , And thus exilde , art from hir sight for euer cleane berest . And likewise bannisht from thy ioyes : for how canst thou delight In any thing , since voide thou art of Cataneas sight : And canst thou now forbeare , to liue like seruile slaue againe , In toyling trade and skorned state ? and canst thou so res●raine Thy noble nature , when as erst deuoyde of eche anoy , Thou didst in ten times happy time thy Ladies loue inioy ? No , no , thy louing hart may not indeu●r for to pant In vital sort , if that thou shouldst thy Ladies presence want . Why therfore lingrest thou to stop ( quoth he ) thy vital breath ? And therewithal the desperate man did draw from secrete sheath His blade , wherwith the wretched men ▪ to make his woful ende , But that the mighty God of heauens did happy succoure send : For by good chaunce , in Forest was a sheephearde seeking there I strayed sheepe which he had lost , who hapned nere Unto the place where Pesistrate complaind , and secrete he Behinde a thicket standing , did the forsayd matter see : Who ran to Pesistrate in hast , as so he was disposde To take his death : and on his knees the sheepheard thus disclosde : Oh seemely Knight , auoid this act , and suffer not thy sist To do thy death , let manly hart thy forcing p●ngs resist : Wouldst thou condemne thy sprituall soule for matters that be vaine ? Or dost thou deeme that such thy death would rid thee of thy paine ? No Lord , it would ingender more such matter as thou knowst , Skorne therefore this , and do disdaine such matter as thou shewst : And worthy Knight , let courage quaile the causes of thy care , And time , no doubt , shal bring againe to thee thy ioyful fare : And though that thou exiled art from present land , wherin The cheefest comforts do consist , yet let thy stomacke win Thy victory from doubts dispayre , and do as I shal say , Since that thou meanest not from hence thy presence to conuay , But here wouldst liue , bycause thou maist by some aduentured wise Thy Ladies seemely face beholde , for fansies fears suffise , Get shepheardes weeds of simple kinde , with tarboxe , dogge and booke , And other things that ought to be of shepheards vndertoke : And so disguisd , thou mayst vnknowne remaine in quiet ease , And vnderstand thy Ladyes state , which stomacke shal appease : And I pretending openly thy fellowe mate , shal be Thy humble seruant to commaund , in ought to pleasure thee ▪ Which sayde of shepheard , Pesistrate did curteously requite His good aduise , and thanking Ioue for sodaine such delite , Agreed to al the shepheard had declard , and did deuise In euery poynt ( as he had sayde ) himselfe so to disguise : And to conclude , departed thence to silly cottage by Of shepheards , where the forsayd feat they purposed to try . And thus Pesistratus , become a shepheard , and bedeckt With such accordant robes as doth belong to shepheards seckt : As hoode on head , and hooke in hand , and fastned dogge by side , And budget , tarbox , and such tooles of shepheards lusty pride : In such his office for a space I leaue , and shal intend To Catane my simple stile , who ( woful wench ) doth spende The lot●some time in ceaslesse mones , ●●mayling spiteful fate , Wa● so such sundry sorowes should oppr●ss● hir hauty state : And thinking that Pesistrate had like faithlesse fayning Knight Forsaken hir , for doubted feare of Phetratus despight , Bycause she knew not , how exilde He was through the consent Of nobles ( so in secrete was it kept of the conuent ) Nor howe he could not take his leaue of hir , bycause in hast He was compeld to take his way : The Lady doth so wast For pining greefe , that wonder 't was to see how she was changde From former hewe , in vexed brest hir doleful dolors ●angde In such a wise , and euery day the Lady would defame The Knight in such reuyling sort vnto his caused blame , In open presence vnto such as would to hir attende , That pitie was it to beholde , how to a paineful ende She liues in earth : and ceaslesse so she spent the ioyous dayes , And curst the Knight , and stil complains hir griefes and neuer stayes , But many times in desperate mood . indeuours with hir knyfe To splyt hir tender hart in twayne , and reue hir selfe of lyfe . And al these passions she sustaynde , bycause she only thought That Pesistrate had faynde , in al that he before had wrought , And ●ad bin fled , forsaking hir , whom woful woman thus In griefes I leaue : and gladly shal indeuor to discusse The happy chaunce that now befel vnto their ceaslesse ioyes , And yelded wished ease to them , auoyding al anoyes . WHen long the Aganetians had in Appollonia soyle Remaynde , without a gouernour that should defend their foyle , They waying how that ought they had of Pesistratus heard ( To be in Italie ) agreed to haue it not defeard , But that in presente hast there should a posting verlet vade , By whom in Italie there shoulde ●e proclamation made , In all the chiefe and famous townes , conteyned in that land , ( Aswel as in the farthest coastes , so also neare at hand ) That Kenedoxus was deposde from Aganetians right , And that the Aganetians will was bent , that worthy Knight Pesistratus , if so disposde he were , should now possesse Their lands and Lordships , as the heyre , whose right they do confesse It is , and after such consente the verlet , ouerpast The surging seas , in happy time arriued hath at last Italian partes : and there by chaunce he traueld vp the way , Whereas Pesistrate keeping sheepe did silly shepheard stay ▪ Of whom the varlet , passing by , demanded if he knewe A straunger , who Pesistratus was hight , yea , God indew The man with many more good gifts , I know the Knight ful wel ▪ ( Quod Pesistrate , ) and in the towne of Tarent doth he dwel . And then the messenger declarde the cause , why he was sente ▪ Into those partes , and told the whole of forsayd his intent . And after course of common talke , the shepheard thankt , he hies In hast from thence , and Pesistrate surmising , wel espies That Aganetians in distresse were ouer chargde with foes , Wheron aduisde , in present hast the happy man he goes To fellow shepheard and declares the whole that hapned had , Who hearing of the lucky chaunce was simple man much glad , That such vnlooked for successe allotted to the pay Of Pesistrate , who shephearde left , doth take his ready way In former costlye roabes yclad ( his shepheards weede● res●●de For shepheards vse ) to natiue soyle , wheras by prosperous winde And lucky ship , in season short arivde , he forward wends To Appollonia , and from thence a friendly letter sends Unto the Aganetians , who in solemne wise do meete Their worthy kinsman , whow likewise Pesistratus doth greete With trickling teares from eyes distild , wheron the ioyful knights In happy state togither spend the time in all delights : And then informing Pesistrate of foes dispiteful rage , The valiant knight doth study much their fiercenesse to asswage , By whose aduise and wise forecast they gaue their foes the foyle , And then did rest in quiet ease and gouernde wel their soyle . Of whom the R●●●r Pesistrate assynde by one accord Of Aganetians whole consent , he liues a noble Lorde , And after space that his estate was quietly disposde , To Aganetians present al the valiant knight disclosde With long oration , how his fates in Italy befel , And how in happy state a space in Tarent he did dwel , And how the spight of villaine one had wrought him such anoy , And diuers times exylde his haps from cause of chaunced ioy , And then declaring of the Dame Catanea , he shewes , Hir noble state and hauty bloud : which Fama no more blowes Of duty than of hir desert : whose ●oyal loue attainde Of him he tolde , and how by spight the same was stil restrainde From his effect , whereon he craude the Aganetians ayde And patience , that an army might to Tarent ●e conuayd , Wheras the towne besiegde , he would obtaynt his proper right , Which was the Lady , spite of foes in open chalengd fight : Or else with army ouercome by force their hauty pride , And suffer not one foe aliue in Tarent to abide . To which request , it was agreed of Aganetians all , With Pesistrate to liue and die to rise and likewise fal . Then in hast ●●●thing prepard , and al things ready prest , With warlike naui●s they ariude at Tarent , there do rest . And after wise aduise , agreed to send to Tarent streight A Herault dight , for to declare the important cause of weight , Who with his message wil preparde , did hast , without delay , To Phetratus , to whom approcht , the Herault did display That Pesistrate not little skornes the fond disdaineful pride And open wrong that he had done to him , as should be tride Upon his body , if he dare in combate stand to proue The same , as by his propre lawes and custome doth behoue He should : or else with armies force he would the Tarents spoyle As neuer towne before that time receiued such a foyle : Which message done , it was replide of Phetratus , that death Should be his pay , and he with blade would stop his propre breath Before that once he , would deny in combate for to fight With Pesistrate : wheron he sayd to Herault , that he might Pesistrate tel , that he was mente incombate for to trye Against the traytour , that he did like faithlesse ●aytife lye , To say 〈◇〉 had open wrong bycause he was restrainde From Catane , for neuer hee hir loyal loue retainde : And then , as shr●e the custome was , with solemne oth he sware , That 〈◇〉 his quarel was , and that therin no cauels are . And then the day appointed , when the combat should be fought , The Herault hyes to Pesistrate , and tels how eche thing wrought , And how that Phetratus agreed , in combate to mayntaine His quarel good , as he would proue , ( he say de ) vnto his paine : For which expected time he stayes . But oh the great reliefes , Catanea ( happy ) did conceyue , auoyding al hir griefs , When thus she sawe the constancie of Pesistrate , I deeme The woman thought hir ioyes so great as she should Goddes seme . And when the time appointed nowe approched is , when knife Of manly knight must yelde him fame , and end the deadly strife : The Lady hath hir roome in place wheras the combate must Be fought . Where preasing from the midst of rout , the foes do thrust Their martial bodies vnto fight in ratling armour , set On barbed steed and then the booke of solemne swearing set , The aduersaries both do vow this quarel to be good , And then the Knights with setled spear do seeke eche others bloud , And meete with such a thundring noyse as thunder claps from skye , Wherin ech body borne from steede with buckling sorst to flye , They rise again , and with their blades so diuersly dispend Their friendlesse blowes , that from their sides they fyery sparkles send With whizing blaze , in such a sorte as wondrous 't was to sight , To view the desperate dole of force , and fiercenesse of their fight , But at the last the courage of sir Phetratus did quaile , The which espyed of Pesistrate so faintly for to faile , Renewde with sight of Ladies grace his strength did so abounde , That with a valliant stroke from corps he draue his head to ground . And then the people movde their shootes , and caps did cut the ayre , And happy man Pesistrate had obtainde his Lady fayre , Whose mutual ioyes did so excell , as farre it doth exceede , Of any hart to be comprisde : and through his martial deede , He wan the peoples fauor so , that euery wights consent , That he should raigne in Tarent towne was very wel content : Wherby adua●●st to hauty fame , the Louers both at rest , The right of mariage had ) inioyd● theyr loues , and ( cares supprest ) Did spend their dayes in ceaslesse ioyes , and died in quiet peace : Whose like successe in loyal loue the mighty Ioue increacee . FINIS .