To the Right Hono­rable & vertuous his very good La­die and Mistresse, the Lady Margaret Countesse of Cumberland: and to the no lesse Honorable and ver­tuous the Lady Anne Countesse of Warwicke: Robert Greene wisheth increase of Honor and Vertue.

SOcrates (Right Honorable) being forced by the Athenians to send presents to Apol­lo, offered not vp, as others did, the super­fluity of wealth, but the Aenigmaes of Hermes Tresmegistus, yeelding this rea­son, that Apollo was not poore but wise. Achilles beau­tified the Temple of Pallace with Speares and Helmets, in that the Goddesse was patronesse of Souldiers. Dyanas present was a bow: And I by chaunce finding so precious a monument as the Web of Penelope, the onely trophee of her chastity, was perswaded to bestow it vpon your Honors, as vpon two Ladies, whose vertues deserues a­mong the best the patronage of such a famous antiquity. For if truth be the daughter of time, and time the Heralt that best imblazeth affections. The report that the Greci­ans made of the Princesse of Ithaca, may seeme but a fic­tion compared with the fame of your Ladiships vertu­ous [Page] resolutions: which are such and so rare, as your very enemies (if you haue any) are forced maugre their teeth to be true discouerers of your vertues. Homer penned his Odissea comprehending the life of Vlisses because hee was wise. And I (may it please your Ladiships) haue at­tempted the discourse of Penelopes Web, for that sh [...]e was chast, that as diuers reading the Poets works did im­mitate his wisdome spoke well of his pollicie: so some by glancing at this toy may take a president of her chastitie, & giue thanks to your Honors, whose chast & vertuous life brought this worke to light. But some may obiect that Homers pen deawd forth such [...]ugred eloquence, as beseemed the discourse of Vlisses trauailes: whereas my harsh style and method makes the Web that of it selfe was as soft as the Seres wool, be as rough as Goates haire. I confesse my fault, and therefore by custome cla [...]me par­done of course: yet thus farre dare I answere for my selfe, that although Demosthenes had a Plaudi [...]e for his Oratiō because it was curious: yet Nemius got the sentence for the trueth of his plaine tale. Penelope her self was more chast then eloquent. Virgill was seene to haue Ennius in his hand. The Romain Ladies spurned at the sweet verses of Ouid, when they read ouer the Satyres of Inuenall▪ And I hope your Ladiships w [...]l vouchsafe of Penelopes Web, at least for the vertue of the wowan that first wrought it, though the Cloath workers arte haue giuen it so bad a glosse. Damydas caused his Parrat to pea [...]ke vn­der a Dragon of brasse to defend it from the Vulturesty­ranny: and I shrowde this simple worke vnder your Ho­nors patronage, that the enuious, whose tungs cut like Swords, may like the Serpent feare to offend that hearb, whereon the beames of the Sunne doth rest. Thus ho­ping [Page] your Ladiships will▪ [...]r Penelopes sake vouchsafe of such a homely present, though otherwise vn­worthy the patronage of [...] Honorable personages▪ I commit your honors to the Almightie.

Your Ladiships in all duetifull seruice to commaund, Robert Greene.

TO THE GENTLE­MEN READERS HEALTH.

SO oft (Gentlemen) haue I relyed vpon your courte­sie, and found you so fauorable, that still I aduenture to present what I [...] to your iudgements, hoping as my intent is to pleaseall, if it might be without of­fence, so I shallbe pardoned of all, though presumiug to farre: It may be the forehead is not alwaies a true heralt of affections, nei­ther the rules of Phisiognomie infallible principles: for they which smiled at the Theatre in Rome, might assoone scoffe at the rudenesse of the Scaene, as giue a Plaudite at the perfection of the action, and they which passe ouer my toies with silence, may per­happes shrowde a mislike in such patience, if they doe, yet sooth­ing my selfe in the hope of their courtesies, I sleepe content like Phid [...]as in mine owne follies, thinking all is wel, til proofe tels me the contrarie. I was determined at the first to haue made no ap­peale to your fauorable opinions, for that the matter is womens prattle, about the vntwisting of Penelopes Web. But considering that Mars will sometime bee prying into Venus papers, and gen­tlemen desirous to heare the parlie of Ladies, I thought rather to write a line to much, and so be counted forward, then by leauing out one title, incurre your displeasures, and so be iudged froward: but whatsoeuer I haue done or written, I onely desire for my paines your fauorable acceptance, and so wish to you, as to my selfe, to liue fortunate, and dye happy.

Yours to vse, Robert Greene.

To the Courteous and Courtly La­dyes of England.

AFter that (Gentlewomen) I had finish­ed this worke of Penelopes Web, and was willing to commit it to the Presse, I [...]ell to parlye with my selfe, whether I should stay it as Apelles did Venus pic­ture, halfe vnfinished in the Printers fourmes: or thrust it out as Myson did a ragged table bescratcht with a pensell. Apelles was froward, and Myson too forward, both faulty, and euery man hath his folly. It may be some will thinke me of Antisthenes fac­tion, that layed platformes of euery mans life, and yet the Philosopher was more vvise in his precepts then vvary of his ovvne gouernment: and count me very oeconomycall that seeke to sette dovvne the duety of a vvife, & to deliuer principles to such a purpose. If I haue intermedled too far, it is (Gen­tlevvomen) in discouering the vertues of your sex, not in censuring seuerely of your actions: for I pre­sent but the vievv of those vertues that naturally [Page] are, or incidently ought to be as well in virgins that sacrifice to Vesta, as in wiues▪ that make secrete vowes to Lucyna. I reprehend not (as one think­ing all generally to be vertuous,) but perswade as one wishing particularly euery one should lyue well and dye better. If any that are enuyous grudge at my dooing, I straight for refuge flye to your good words, which I count as a sufficient de­fensory against such as loue to backbyte. Commit­ting therefore my Booke to your pa [...]ronage, least the gates being too big for the Citty, the Moun­taine should seeme to swell and bring foorth a Mouse, I wish you all such happy successe as you can desire and I imagine.

Robert Greene.

Penelopes VVeb.

VVhen as the stately Citty of Troy was sackt by the Grecians, & al the Princely brood of Priamus either vtterly extinguished by the sword, or fa­tally exiled the place of their natiue residence: Vlisses, Prince of Ithaca, who had remained ten yeares at the siege, resolued to leave the confines of Asia, & to returne to the gouernment of his owne Monarchy: but especially to see the mistres of his thoughts chast Penelope, frō whome these broiles had so long frowardly detained him: thinking as it was the part of a friend to accōpany Menelaus in reuenge, so it was y [...] duety of a husband by smal delay to bewray his affectiō: that it was the office of a Prince as wel to study in Pallas as to cry Alarum with Mars: that as great honour dyd depend in the Scepters as in the sword: tha the gréene Lawrell in the Senate house, was as pleasing an obiect to y [...] eye, as glit­tering armour in the field: Consideratiō, ther preuenter of bad I wist, tyed him so to the performing of these forenamed premis­ses, that causing his weather Ships to be warped out of the Hauen assoone as they were made tyght, rigged and trim­med, able to brooke winde & weather, be [...]oysed sayle and thrust into the mayne, conuerting his course toward Ithaca: but For­tune the enemy to prosperous resolutions, willing to bewray her selfe, hauing commission from angry Neptune to shewe her inconstancy, kept him still in the Court of Ithaca, for that Nature had made her beautiful by a superficiall glory of well proportioned lineaments, and vertue had made her wise by ay­ming after fame with wel ordred actions, thse two perfections the speciall friend to fancy, armed with the long absence of V­lisses, & with many rumors of his death, brought all the Péeres of Ithaca to become sutors to Penelope. She whom Loue had [Page]arested for a subiect, but neuer brought to any seruile obedience, whom the Idea of Vlisses printed in her thoughts, had resolued to dye the wife of so good a Prince, refused their proffers, & with the warrant of her chastity sought to appease their humorous perswasions. But the Noble men whom delay and tyme had made impatient of denyall, fell in to flat tearmes and craued an answer. Penelope seeing that fortune had conspyred her mishap, by breeding such a restlesse importunity to her wooers, was dri­uen to seeke a knot in a Rush, and with policy to preuent that which the honest and honorable pretence of her chastity was not able to defend. She therfore beguiling time with labour, hauing begun a webbe wherein she spent the day, to keep her selfe from ydelnesse, knowing that Otia si tollus [...] cupidinis arcus, gaue answer, that when her worke was finished she wold make a choice of some one of them for her husband. The Noble men who knew that as y e work was not great, the dated time could not be long, contented themselues with this reply, which some­what eased the mind of Penelope: but when she fell into consi­deration with herselfe, that the longest Sommer hath his Au­tumne, the largest sentence his Period, and the greatest labour his performance, she began to be melancholy til Loue had lear­ned her a shift to make her work endles, by vntwisting as much in the night as shée woue in the day: this policy put in practice, (for that the night the friend of sweet and golden sléepes grud­ged that her benefits should be despised by the restlesse labour of such a politick huswife) she determined accompanied with her Nurse and two Maides, to passe away the time in parle, think­ing thus both to further her content, and procure paine to bée mittigated by such pleasing delights: seeing therefore that her Nurse began to nodde and her Maides to winke, she wakened them out of their dreames with this mercy chat. I can but smile (Nurse) to sée how time maketh a distinction of ages by affec­tions, and the disposition of the sences followes truely the tem­perature & constitution of theyr bodies, as a particuler instance makes manifest: for the time of the night (growing to rest) sum­mons both you and my Maydes to sleepe: yet though the affect [Page]is al one the effects are diuers▪ for age whom nature hath stored with imperfection and disease, and therefore fréed from the taxe of disquieted thoughts, teacheth the sences by the desire of sleep, how the number of your yeres are dated vnto death: that with Antisthenes wee may say how the bed r [...]sembleth the graue, and y e closing of the sences the dissoluing of life: my maides whō youth perswades vnto rest, and want of care, prooues that the blacke Oxe neuer troade on their féete, onely cares how to serue time▪ for that no other care hath yet bitten them by the héele, & so resoluing their minds in quiet by such content, séekes to plea­sure the sences by swéet slumbers: but I poore soule whom for­tune hath set as a subiect, wheron to worke the variable points of her inconstancy, finde my sences so countermanded with dis­quieted thoughts, as desire of content drawes mée into a labo­rinth of restlesse passions.

Eubula one of her Maides that was most familiar with her Lady, made this pretty and pithy reply: I remember (Madam) that Ph [...]dias, drawing the counterfaite of youth, f [...]gureth labour as the task-master of his actions, & ease as the paymaster of his deserts: meaning as I can coniecture by the Embleame, that as it behoueth youth to spend the day in worke, whereby to auoide the sugred snares that idlenesse layeth to intrap the sences: so the guerdō for such forward inde [...]ours is to consume the night in swéet and quiet slumbers, least the vitall spirits ouercharged with too much labour, should either grudge at too sore an impost, or else fall to inconuenience by ouerlong toyle and watchings: Extremity is euer a vice, too much in euery thing is hurtful, and the greatest prodigality is the expence of the eye: I meane not (Madame) in gazing want [...]nly, but in watching ouer niggard­ly: which when I consider how prodigal your honour is in this point, I cannot but (as euer I haue done) merua [...]le at your wis­dome and vertue, so now to wonder at your loue and constancy: forthinking with my self that your Grace is seated in a Throne of Maiesty, adorned with a Scepter and a Dyadem, honoured with the possession of a Kingdome & the tytle of a Quéene, rich, beautifull and young, the very aduocates of vanity: and séeing [Page] that the affection your Highnes beares to Vlisses, the loue to your Husband, the vow to your Lord, though in long absence still qua [...]fies the forenamed pleasures with the swéet deaw of a modest chastity: I must (Madame) without flattery say, that in requitall of such constant affection, the Gods in iustice must crowne you with immortality, and the world reward you with fame and honour.

Indéed quoth Vygenia (for so was her second Maide called) when I sée maiesty a contented copartner with labor, and a re­solute farewell to ease: the chosen companion to a Quéene, I cannot thinke but loue is a great Lord, that in a womans affec­tions worketh such straunge effects. Take héede quoth Ismena (which was the last and youngest of the thrée) that in this word loue, you deceiue not your selfe: for there is an Amphibological equiuocation in it, which drowneth y • hearers oft in a laborinth of perplexed conceipts. As how quoth Penelope, let vs heare you make this distinction? Ismena that was young and very quicke witted, willing to content her Ladies humour by begui­ling the night with prattle, applying as well her fingers to the web as her tongue to the tale, went forward thus in her descrip­tion. Although (Madame) experience hath not taught mée to set downe the diuers effects of Loue, yet the Phisition by reading▪ oft knoweth the nature of the Simple as well as the Gardner that planteth it: & he which séeth Fortune standing on a Globe, may iudge she is fickle though he try not her incōstancy: many speak of the Crocadiles teares that neuer felt her deceipts, and diuers condemne Diogenes for a sinick that saw not his Tub: The Shoomaker corrected Appelles picture, yet he kn [...]w not the vse of the Pensell: & I may by your honours patience talke of Venus Temple that neuer smelt the fume of her Sacrifice: but to say what I haue heard, thus to the matter. Anacreon, Menander and Ouid, with others, who were studious in this amorous Philosophy, haue as they set down principles, so pen­ned down precepts, wherby the fond and variable effects of loue is manifestly deciphered, calling it by the name of a God, as vn­der that tytle bewraying the forceable efficacie that by a predo­minant [Page] quality, it doth infuse into humane minds: other whiles a Fury, as discouering the sorrows, griefes, and disquiets that procéeded from such a furious humour, pain [...]ing Cupid blind, as noting the selfconceipt in choice, like a little boy, as figuring small gouernment, not leueled by the proportion of reason, win­ged, as absolutely pourtaying inconstant and fickle passions of Louers, whose thoughts are variable, whose ioyes are momē ­tary, like to the shadows which Iuno presented to the Giants, bringing forth like the Ceader trées faire leaues but no [...]ui [...]es, and as the Date hauing soft rindes, but with in stones as hard as stéele: This loue (Madame) presented by Venus as an inuea­gle obiect, no sooner entreth the eye but he pierceth the heart, not accompanied with vertue to perswade, but armed with the out­ward hew of beauty to constraine, which what effect soeuer en­sueth, waxeth at last sorrow and repentance: Such was the loue of Dido to Aeneas, that séeing the curious forme of the dissem­bling stranger, through too ouer hasty affection, did both ruinate herselfe and her Kingdome. Ariadna by crediting the swéete tales of Theseus, Med [...]a of Iason, Phillis of Demophon, and infi­nite other, which entring into this passion runs headlong after endlesse repentance.

This loue is like the Baaran Leafe which séene pleaseth, but touched pierceth the skinne, this loue is that which ouerruling yong heads, sotteth the sences, dulleth the wittes, hindreth qui­et, and maketh a passionate confusion in the minde of man called by the title of loue, which indéed is méer [...] lust and vanity: wher­as true and perfect loue hath his foundation vpon vertue onely, ayming at the inward perfection of the mind, not at y • outward complection of the body, which decreaseth not but increaseth w t time, vniting the harts with such strickt leages of amity, that it [...]ccounteth all labour a pleasure, to shew endles desire by ef­fects, as (Madam) to infer your self for an instance▪ who not po [...] ­sessed with this fond fury, which mē faine to come from Venus, but that settled fancy, which we are sure procéedes from vertue, although the Prince Vlisses hath ten yéeres béen absent at the siedge of [...], and report in this space hath made sundry and [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] time nor pretence of loue can euer be able to reconcile where De­ [...]pita [...] olde age whom diseases hath tyed to the Crouch, will now with the babe returne to the Cradel: that stoo [...]ing to the graue by burden of ouer many yéers, wil yet offer a toothles Sacrifice to Venus for a young husband: this well may becal­led a mariage of Labour, where the maried couples so inequall in match, are continually troubled with a spirit of dissention▪ for as the fower Elements are different in their properties, so are these disagreeing in their manners: the earth & ayre are not pla­ced well in one ballance: the fire and water brookes not the selfe [...]amelimites: age and youth may conioyne in law but not in loue, sith the sanguine complection of the one, & the melancho­lye & saturnine cōstitutiō of the other, are alwaies in thoughts, effecte, and desires opposite ex dyametro: so that by the opini­on of Aristotle they be as it were immediat contraries: which Dyonisius the elder noted very, well, when séeing his Mother passing old and ouer growne with age, desirous to mary a yong stripling, told her that it was in her power to violate the lawes of Syracusa, but not the lawes of nature: this affirmeth Plato in his Androgina, & agréeth to the censure of Dionisius, affirming that marriage in olde Women is with the Giants bellum ger [...]e, cum Diis, which the Romane Lady Valeria well noted, who al­waies had this saying in her mouth, that her husband dyed to others, but liued to her foreuer. And héerin can I commend my good daughter Penelope, that hating such marriages of labour, doth intend both toliue and dye to Vlisses. Nay good Nurse quoth Penelope, lets heare your last distinction, I meane the mariage of griefe: tis Madam quoth she, where the old prouerb is sulsil'd, better one house troubled then two, I meane where a bad husband is coupled with a bad wife, where the one striueth to ouercome the other, not in vertuous actions, but in disquiet and murmurings. I cannot thinke quoth Penelope, that there is any husband so bad, which the honest gouernment of his wife may not in time reforme, especially if she kéep those three speci­all points that are requisite in euery woman, Obedience, Cha­stity, and Silence, thrée such graces Nurse, as may reclay me [Page] the most gracelesse husband in the world: and because my mayds are young, and may in time trie the fortune of mariage, we wil this night discourse of this poynt, to discouer the effects and effi­cacie of obedience: which (for that I wil be first in this newe de­uised disputation) I will take in hand to discourse of, that both we may beguile the night with prattle, and profite our mynds by some good and vertuous precepts.

The maides hearing their Lady in so good a vain were glad, and therfore setting their hands to the Web, and their eares to hir talke, Penelope began in this manner. Zenobia the wife of Radamysius, King of Armenia, being demanded of a Lady in her Court, how she procured hir husband so déepely to loue hir as he feared in any wise to offer her occasion of displeasure, an­swered by fearing ot displease him, meaning that the chiefest point of wisdome in a good wife, is to make a conquest of her husband by obedience. Aristides the true and perfect Iusticiari [...] of his time, caused the portraiture of a woman figured on her knées, to be caried before y • Brydes at their espousals, to signifie that they meant now to obey & submit, not to rule or command, for quoth he, such fond and fanastick women as make choise of effeminate Husbands, thereby to challenge a soueraine superio­rity ouer them, may rightly be compared to chose presumptu­ous fooles y • had rather be masters of blind men, then seruants to the discréete and learned, which caused Plato in his Androgi­na to say that a wise woman ought to thinke hir husbands ma­ners y e lawes of her life, which if they be good, she must take as a forme of her actions, if they be bad, she must brooke with pati­ence: His reason is thus. As a looking glasse or Christal though most curiously set in Ebonie, serueth to small purpose if it doth not liuely represent the proportion and lineaments of the face inspicient: so a woman, though rich & beautifull, deserueth smal prayse or fauour, if the course of her life be not directed after her husbands compasse. And as y e Mathematicall lines which Geo­metricians doe figure in their carracters, haue no motiō of them selues, but in the bodies wherin they are placed, so ought a wife to haue no proper nor peculiar passion or affection, vnlesse fra­med [Page] ans, prouiding Soldiours, money and Munition, took her iour­ney as farre as Athens, where she receiued letters from Antho­ny to returne backe to Rome, which she with great obedience performed, sending him al the forenamed necessaries, although she perfectly knew that Cleopatra was with him in the fielde: But when the warres betwixt him and Augustus were ended, he sent straight to commaund Octauia that she should depart from his house, which she did so obediently, that Rome after her death would haue erected an Image in her praise, but that Au­gustus would not suffer it, kéeping Anthonies children, that hée had by his first wife, with such care and diligence, as it did wel note to the world her loue and obedience. To confirme which more at large, I will rehearse a pleasant history.

Penelopes Tale.

SAladine the Souldan of Aegipt, who by his pro­wesse had made a generall conquest of the South­east part of the world, tooke to wife Barmenissa the onely daughter and heyre of the great Chan, who amongst sundry Sutors not inferiour to him in pa­rentage and progeny, yet made such a carefull choyce of this yong Aegiptian Prince, not for his beauty (for that Nature had denied him that fauour) but for his vertue (fith he was wise and valiant) that imprinting the perfection of his mind with a déep insight into the déepest place of her heart, and sealing the knot of fancy with y • signet fo mariage, she neuer so much as in thought crost him with any discourtesie: yet for that men are the subiects of Fortune and therfore variable, and the true disciples of time, and therefore momentary, he began to loath that in the fruite which he loued in the bud, & to spurne at that in y e saddle, which he secretly vsed in the cradle, repaying the faith of Bermenissa, not with flattery to inueagle her, but with foule language t [...]e better to manifest his hate: which although Nature forbad her to brooke, yet obedience the Heralt y • best imblazeth loue, taught [Page] her that against such sorrow there was no better salue then pa­tience: that reuenge in a woman was not to be executed by the band, but by the hart, and yet not with rigour but with clemen­cy persisting in this opinion, Olinda the Concubine which Sa­ladine so greatly loued, sent a letter to this effect.

Olinda to Saladine health.

IF the inward affects of the minde be manifested by outward effects or the brow the bashful bewrayer of secrets, and yet the true discouerer of thoughts, may bée credited, the Empe­rour of Aegipt in his loues resembleth the Pyne trée, whose leaues remaine in one colour but one day: Well might the cen­sures fo wise Clarks haue bin caueats of my likely misfortune: for they say Princes affections as they are glorious so they are brittle: that he fauour of Kings hangs in their eye lids ready with euery winke to be wiped out: that as they are full of Ma­iesty and aboue law, so they are full of incōstancy, because with­out law: this which other spoke by proofe, now I alledge by ex­perience: for your Highnes abridgeth me of my wonted allow­ance, not onely in expence but in lookes, so that I account that day happy when Saladine but glanceth at Olinda. The mistris of my mishap is thy iniurious wife Barmenissa, to whō I wish thy ill fortunes & my miseries: she with a fained obedience séek­eth to inueagle thée with a conceipt of her loue, who if shée did loue, could not content, for she wants the eye pleasure, beauty: thou tickled with an inconstant humour dost listen to the melo­dy of the old Syren, whose necke shadowed with wrinckles af­foords but had harmony: Kéep not (Saladine) fire and water in one hand: in running with the Hare hold not with the Hound: beare not both a Sword and an Oliue. Paris gaue sentence but on Venus part, affection brooketh no diuision? therefore if thou loue Olinda, hate Barmenissa: follow the example of Anthony, who after his choyce of thy Countriwoman neuer fauoured Octauia: tis beauty that mertis a Crowne, and as well would the Diadem of Aegipt beséeme they Lemons head, as thy wiues: [Page] I should, and yet were loth to flatter in saying what I would not: but if I may haue free libertie to speake what I think, my verdit shall be soone giuen. I confesse that what pleaseth the fa­ther ought to content the sonne: and therefore I count the will of Saladyne a lawe to Garinter: yet as obedience wisheth a con­sent, so Nature willeth with a friendly denyall to diswade from things that offende not onely men, but y • are euen hatefull to the Gods. I say therefore that Saladyne should get more honour by exyling Olynda, not onely from Babylon, but out of all the con­fines of Aegipt, then if he had obtayned more tryumphes then that inuincible Caesar. No doubt your Grace shall soone, nay I feare to soone, finde my words to be true, that in hoping to get a swéete content you gayne a sower mislike: like to them which pleased with the colour of the trée Lotos, are poysoned assoone as they taste of the Apples.

Barmenissa, hearing how sharply her sonne shooke vp the Em­perour, with a modest countenance, as nothing grudging at the iniurie of fortune, at her last farewell gaue him this charge: Al­though sonne the law of nature willes thée to be partner of thy mothers misfortunes, yet the Gods, whose lawes are aboue na­ture, commaunds that thou gainsay not the Edict of thy father: For as Proclus the Academick affirmes, there is nothing which we ought more to regard then duetie and obedience: the com­maunde of the father is not to bée limited by the conceipt of the child, for as their superiority is without proportiō, so their wils ought to be without denials, first the frowne of a father (saith E­pictetus) is like the eleuation of a Commet which foreshewes euer some fatall and finall ruine. Then Garinter offend not thy father in thought, least the gods grudging at thy secret diso­bedience plague thée with an open reuenge: further sonne, thou art his subiect, and be thy soueraine, what duetie is due to such a mighty potentate thou must by law and conscience offer vnto him. And séeing by the consent of the Aegiptian lawes I am de­posed, and O [...]nda inuested with the regall crowne: if a mothers commaund may be a constraint to the sonne. I charge thée that thou shew her the same obedience that belongs to a Princesse, [Page] and thy fathers wife, Philarkēs y • sonne of Psamnet [...]chus [...]beyed Rhodope, whom his father raised from a common courteza [...] to a Princesse. Antiochus the sonne of Demetrius buil [...]ed stately Sepulchres for his fathers Concubines: Reuenge (son) ought not to go in purple, but in white, & the salue for iniuries i [...] not choller but patience: for myne owne part Garinter I set thée down no precept but y • which my self meane to hould for a prin­ciple, and thou by imitating thy mothers actions, shew thy selfe to be duetiful, which if thou performe, I will continnually pray to the Gods of thy good, otherwise, if for my cause thou intend reuenge, I wish thy ill: & so wishing to thy father as to my soue­raigne, & to the Princesse as to one honored with a Diademe, I take my leaue at y t Court, as wel cōtent with my aduersitie, for y • it is y e kings cōmaund, as euer I was wi [...]h prosperitie: And with this the Princesse departed, leauing both her sonne and the Nobles passing pensiue for her present disgrace, The Souldan not satisfied with this iniurie, caused presently Proclamatiō to be made, that the Princesse should haue no reliefe, but what she earned with her hands, that her ladies should be labour, and her maintenance, no other then her owne indeuour could prouide: This edict commaunded to be published, the King solempnised his marriage with sumptuous showes and triumphes, & Ga­rinter that he might shew how carefull he was to obey his mo­thers last command, broght in Maskes and comicall delightes to finish vp the solempnitie of y • nuptials. The festiual time be­ing past, Olinda puffed vp with a swéete conceipt of her prospe­ritie, so ruled and ouerruled in her gouerment, vsing such tiran­ny in words, and perswading her Husband to such disordred ac­tions, that she generally fell in hate of all the people, in so much that the Souldan himselfe grudged at her ambitious presump­tions: Well leauing her to her follies, againe to the Lady Bar­menissa, who fallen from a Crowne to a Cottage, and from a Scepter almost to a Scrip, stil salued her want with labour and her pauertie with patiēce, bearing as princely a mind in aduer­sitie, as she did in prosperity, neither grudging at iniury, nor ga­ping after reuenge, staied thus vpon this vertuous founda [...]ion,

[Page]
The happy fates thy sor [...]ows haue withstood,
By syning want and pouerty thy share.
For now content (f [...]nd fortune to despight)
VVith patience lows thee quiet and delight.

Barmenissa had no sooner ended her madrigale, but that she heard a great noise, which at the first amazed her, but at the last she perceiued it to be the voice of men: desirous therfore to bée a partner of their secrecy, she kept her selfe silent w tin the thicket, when she perceiued certaine of the nobles of Aegipt y • were rety­red to that solitary place, to confer of the ambitious supremicy that Olinda vsed since her Coronation, and amongst the rest one of the Lords, whose name was Egistus, burst foorth into these tearmes.

Egistus Oration to the Lords of Egipt.

IT is not vnknowne (right Honorable Lordes of Aegipt) not onely to vs, but to the whole Empire, how the King, seduced by the flattering allurements of a Strumpet, hath not onely violated the law of our Gods, in prophaning the nuptiall Bed, made sacred by the holy law of Matrimony, but also the law of Aegipt, which forbiddeth diuorce w tout cause: but sith in a Mo­narchy the willes of Princes may abide no ch [...]ck, but their rea­sons (how soeuer vnreasonable) are the principles y • may not be infringed, it resteth only for vs to complaine, but not to redresse: [...] ayming more at y • weale of our coūtry thē our own liues, we set our rest on the hazard and so desperatly throw at al. First let vs consider that Saladine the mighty Souldan of Aegipt, puffed vp with the Highnes of his Maiesty, and number of his [...]errisories subiect to his gouernment, hath been so tyrannous to his commons from his first Coronation, that vnlesse his un­mod [...]ate pride and presumption, had bin mittigated by the ver­teous clemency of his wife, the burthen of his cruelty long time [Page] since had béen intollerable: but now hauing deposed that péere­lesse Princesse, whose vertues made her famous, and vs happy, and maried a Concubine, whose vanities bréedes her enuy and our mishap: we are to look for no other euent but our particuler ill fortune, and the generall ruyne of the weale publicke. Then my Lords, least we should be spotted with the staine of ingrati­tude, in suffering the Princesse iniury vnreuenged: and least we should séeme to be borne more for our selues then our Country, let vs attempt the restitution of the Queene, and the fatal ouer­throw of the insolent Concubine, although death and daunger were the end of our enterprize: The plot my Lords I haue laid by impoysoning her cup at the next supper: but with this pro­uisō, that no intent of treachery, shall so much as in thought bée pretended to the person of our Soueraigne, whom next vnder y e Gods we are bound to loue & reuerence. This my Lords is my purpose, wherto if you consent, I meane this night to put it in practise: otherwise to craue that my spéeches may bée buried in silence.

Egistus hauing ended his Oration, the Lordes not only gaue their frée consent, but also sware to be secret, and to be ayders in his defence, if any iniury should be offred for his enterprise: and vpon this resolution they departed. Barmenissa (who all this while held her self close in the Couert) hauing heard their deter­mination, was surprised with such sodaine ioy, that at last shée burst foorth into these spéeches.

Now Bermenissa, thou séest that delay in reuenge is the best Phisicke: that the Gods are iust and haue taken thy quarrel as aduocates of thine iniury: now shalt thou sée wrong ouer ruled with patience, and the iuyne of thine enemy with the safety of thine owne honour▪ time is the discouerer of mishap, and For­tune neuer ceaseth to stretch her strings til they cracke: shame is the end of trechery, and dishonour euer forerunnes repentance, Olinda hath soard with [...]ca [...]us, & is like to fall with Phaeton: sooner are bruses caught by reaching too hye, then by stooping too low: Fortune g [...]udgeth not at them which fall, but enuy bytes thē which climbes; now shall the Lords of Aegipt by reuenging [Page] dound to both your contentments: and then she made manifest the pretence of those Noble men.

Olinda amazed at this sodaine newes (as base myndes are euer fearefull) desired the Souldan that they might hye home, least some treason in that place were intended: for (quoth she) I knowe, whatsoeuer she saies, that Barmenissa was the author of this treacherie, whose life, how long so euer it be, is y e continu­ance of my sorrows. The Souldan whom cōscience began now to sting at the very hart, turned his backe without farewell, and no sooner came at the Court, but caused the Lords that were fa­uourers of this treason to be apprehended, who willingly con­fessed their intended determination, with resolution either to die or to perform it. The King, perceiuing their obstinacie, cō ­mitted them to warde: and now to make proofe of Olyndas pa­tience, he counterfeated a more déeper affection then euer he did, and for confirmation thereof, he gaue her free libertie to make choise of thrée things without denyall whatsoeuer she would craue: which Olynda taking kindly, desired this graunt to bee sollemnely giuen before the Péers of Aegipt: Upon this request the Souldan made Proclamation throughout all his Empyre, that the Nobility should within fiftéene daies appeare at Mem­phis, where then he kept his Court with notice also that vp­pon that day the Quéene should fréely aske thrée things of the Souldan without denyall. The commons greatly grudged at this graunt, and began to mutinie, that a gracelesse Concubine should reape such fauours without desart. The olde Empresse, partaker also of this newes, willing to forwarne the Princesse of ambition, determined with herselfe to send her certaine ver­ses, as a cauea [...]e for so warie a choyce. Wellleauing her to her Poems: the Nobility and many of the Commons at the dated tyme came, where in the Parliament house the Souldan reuea­led the cause of their comming: namely, to be witnesses of his graunt and her demaund▪ Olynda fearing the worst, caused the King sollemnely to sweare, that he should not reuoke whatsoe­uer he had promised. The Souldan taking aduice, made this sollemne prostetation, and sware by the God of the Aegiptians, [Page] that whatsoeuer he had promised to the right and lawfull Quéene of AEgipt, he would performe. Olynda settling her selfe to vtter her mind, was interrupted by a messenger that came from Bar­menissa with a scrole. The Shuldan understanding to what ef­fect it tended, caused it openly to be read: the contents whereof were the verses following, ouer which was written this lattin sentence. ‘Tempora mutantur, & nos mutan [...]or in illis.’

Aspiring thoughts led Phaeton [...]
Proud Icarus did fall he sour'd so hye:
Seeke not to clymbe with fond Semyramis,
Least Sonne reuenge the fathers iniury.
Take heede, Ambition is a [...] ill
That fortune layes, presumptuous minds to spill.
The bitter griefe that frets the quiet minde,
The sting that prickes the froward man to woe:
Is Enuy, which in honour seld we finde,
And yet to honour sworne a secret foe.
Learne this of me, enuy not others state,
The fruites of enuie is enuy and hate.
The misty cloude that so eclipseth fame,
That gets reward a Chaos of dispight,
Is blacke reuenge which euer winneth shame,
A fury vilde thats hatched in the night.
Beware, seeke not reuenge against thy foe,
Least once reuenge thy fortune ouergoe.
These blasing Commets doe foreshew mishap,
Let not the flaming lights offend thine eyes:
Looke ere thou leape, preuent an after clap:
These three forewarn'd well mayst thou flye.
If now by choyce though aymest at happy health,
Eschew selfe-loue, choose for the Common Wealth.
[...]

[Page] heard his melody & diuers landed at Samos that sayles not to Corinth, [...] is not the disco­uerie of affection: neither to the talke of a husband the proofe of mariage: but feeling where your owne shooe [...] ye, you aime at the straightnesse of my last.

Ismena hearing hir fellowes at such drye blowes, told them that how [...] so euer they made it, their s [...]ken throtes would easily digest such [...] (quoth she I dare sweare the precisest of you both had rather a husbād thē heare of him, seeing your yeares are enough and your minds not vowed to Minerua.

Penelope could not but smile at the chollericke prattle of her mayds and yet for that the night was farre spent & her Nurse in a sound sleepe, she tooke vp their controuersie, concluding w t the opiniō of her maid Ismenia, that they had rather follow Iu­no to the Temple then Diana to the Woods: and rather sing with Himenius thē weepe with Vesta. Well, the maids whose conscience told them their Mistris propheste was truth, agréed to hir principles with silence: and Penelope waking her Nurse, mannerly foulding by her [...] went quietly to her rest.

The second nights discourse.

AFter that the day was come, & the Sutors had filled the stately Pallace of [...]enelope with their seuerall traynes, y e Princesse put on hermourning attyre, which alwa [...]s she was accustomed to weare since the absence of Vlisses: shew­ing her selfe (as Antisthenes commaunded) a good wi [...]e discon­tent in her husbands absence, y • thereby she might both bewray the perfection of her loue, and quallifie the passionate d [...]sires of her Sutors: which séeing her dayly busie about her Web, and yet her labour (like Belyde [...] Daughters to powre water into bottomelesse Tubs) endlesse, could not comprehend within the compasse of their imagination▪ what the reason of this should be, seeing so carefully shee endeuoured her selfe to bring her worke to an end. Well, resting in hope y • time should ease their long­ing, [Page] they spent the day in sundry pleasant pas [...]imes and seuerall discourses, til the Sunne declining to the West, they departed.

Penelope glad of their absence, séeing that Phoebus had lodg­ [...]d himselfe with Ty [...]an, and Venus the swéet messenger of the silent night appeared in the Skye, accompanied as before with her Nurse and her maids, she went to her old talke, vntwisting that in the night, which before she had w t great labor wrought in the day. Sitting thus busily at their worke, the olde Nurse (who by the last nights prattle had found the length of Penelo­pes [...]oote) began to waken them out of their dumps in this ma­ner. I maruel, when I consider with my selfe that y • Romaines who couetto surpasse the Gre [...]ians in all honorable & vertuous actions, did not sée into their owne follies, whē they erect [...]ē ­ples vnto Flo [...]a, as a Goddesse worthy of deuine Sacrifice, ap­pointing in honour of her funeral day certain laiciuious sports and pastimes, called after her name Floralia, she being a most vile and infamous Courtizane, and discrediting y • state of their Common wealth with her incontinencie: & yet grudge to errect an Image in the memorie of Lucrece, that with her inuiolable chastitie, not onely honoured the Romaine vertue, but fréed y • [...]ittie from the burthen of a Tyrant. The reason as I gesse (quoth Penelope) is for that the nature of man is so corrupt & addicted too vice, that what vanity presents, they still (be if neuer so had) kéep it as an obiect to their eyes: but what is veriously performed they commit to obliuions charge to reward. In déed (quoth Is [...]enia) now I perceiue y • my doubt is absolued, which long hath holdē me in suspence: for long haue I mused why on­ly in all the whole world Diana hath a Temple in Ephesus, and Venus is commonly honored as the household God [...]ar, that hath a corner in euery mans kitchin: for in Paphos, Cipres, A­thens, Samos, Rome, and infinite other Citties, her Temples stand in the streetes, di [...]couering the erecters deuotions by the costly and sum [...]tuous buildings. And yet (quoth Eubula) the Vestals in Rome, who were dedicated to virginitie, bare Palme aboue the rest: for the Senators apparelled in their Robes of Maiestie, neuer met any of thē in the streete but they gaue thē [Page] credit then voluptuousnesse, so nothing getteth more honour & glory then chastity. The consideration whereof, moued Iulius Caesar rather to suffer a diuorce, thē an incōtinent wife, wishing if Gracchus had liued in his daies, that he might haue made an exchange of y • Empresse for his chast wife Cornelia so highly did that Monarch estéeme of that vertue Chastity saith Epictetus is the very faire and redolent blossomes that the trée of true and perfect loue doth afford, yéelding so swéet and fragrant a [...]uour that the most vicious and unbridled [...]us [...] and [...] by the smell of such a deuine perfume. Euripedes entring into the con­sideration of this vertue, crieth out, as wondring at the excellen­cy thereof. O how is chastity to be estéemed, that is the cause of such great glory and honour amongst woman: for it sheweth the feare she oweth to the Gods, the loue she beareth to her hus­band, the care she hath of same, the small desire to inordinate af­fections, and maketh her a woman, a very patterne of superna­turall perfection. Hipsicratea being demaunded what was her richest Iewel, answered chastity, alluding to the opinion of Cra­tes the Philosopher, who was wont to say: this [...] ornament that adorneth, & that thing adorneth a woman which maketh her more honorable: and this is not done by Iewels of Golde, Emeralds, Precious stones or sumptuous attyre, but by euery thing that causeth her to be accounted honest, wise, humble and chast. The Emperour Aurelius made certaine lawes to inhi­bite superfluity of attyre, affirming y [...] such y [...] curiously paint out themselues with [...], swéete perfumes, and straunge ornaments of pompe [...] nobility of birth vrge them to such brauery) make men most dissolute and subiect to folly: especially if such sumptuous sh [...]ws be ayded with a rowling eye and vn­chast look wheras a wise woman through her honest behauior and modest countenance, lead as many as cast their eyes vpon her, to a continent reuerence of Chastity. Socrates was wont to say, that when a maried wife holdeth her looking glasse in her hand, she should speake thus to her self, if she be foule: what then should become of me if I should be also wicked? & if she be faire: how shal my beauty be accounted of, if I continue wise and ho­nest? [Page] for a hard fauoured woman that is renouned for her chasti­ [...]y, is more honorable then she which is famous for her beauty: The reco [...]ds that speake honorably of the Romaine Ladies, tel vs that the wife of a poor Smith méeting the Empresse Fausti­na, tooke the wall of her in the stréetes, whereat the Empresse grudging, complained to the Senate, who sending for the poore woman, & demaunding of her if she committed the déed? she de­nyed it not, and therefore her husband was condemned in a cer­taine summe▪ vppon which sentence the woman appealed from the Senate to the Emperour, who asked what she could say for her self? As muchquoth she, as (if thou be iust and wise) may suf­fice. For although I am not so honorable as thy wife, yet I am more honest, and the Cittizens of Rome ought to es [...]éeme vertue before dignity: the Emperour vpon this discharged the womā of the sentence Alexander the great hauing at the conquest of Babylon taken a very wel [...]auoured Egiptian Lady, a widdow whom for her beauty he did greatly affectionate, at night com­maunded one of his Captaines to bring her to his Tent, which she boldly refused, willing him to say to the King, that captiuity was no priuiledge to infringe chastily, and if he went about to dishonor her, she would peruert such violence by death: this an­swere returned [...]o Alexander; he not onely moderated his de­sire, but sent her his Signet, as a warrant of her safety▪ Portia the wife of Brutus, was told by one of her seruants, that certaine Embassadore of Samos were come, which were passing beauti­full and wel proportioned men: holde thy [...] foole quoth she, wouldst thou haue ince prepare a poyson for mine honour by the meanes of mine eye? Cyrus King of Pe [...]s [...]a making warres against the Sythians, had for his Pryze of the triumph a very faire woman called Panther, who being the wife of Ab [...]adatas his enemy, being desired of Cirus for his concubine, she told him that she was chast, the king little respecting this short answere, demaunded a further resolution, why quoth Panther? can there be any other answer, that is not cōprehended in this word, cha­stity? héereby noting that the Antidote against, the enuenomed thoughts of mens alluring intisements, and the surest corrosiue [Page] to roote out such vnbridled desir [...] [...] draw thē to in [...]rdin [...]te af­fecti [...]n is this pretio [...]s Iewel of chastity, the which the more to confirme, I will rehearse vnto you [...] pleasant History, which hapned not long since within our dominions of Ithaca.

Penelopes second tale.

IN this Countrey of Ithaca not long sin [...]e, there dwelled a Nobleman called Calamus, of parentage honorable, as allyed to the bloud Royall: of possessions rich, as one of the greatest reuenewes in all the Country: but therwithall so wedded to the vaine suppose of pleasure and delight, that his friends sorrowed at the course of his vnbridled follies, & his poor tennants groned not vnder the burd [...]n of his [...]ouetous desires, but were taxed w t the griefe of his voluptuous appetite, for such was the inconti­nēcy of his life, as s [...]ciety of wāton aff [...]ctions neuer glutted his mind with content: But as the Serpent Hida [...]pis, the more hée drinketh the more he is [...] thirst, & as the Sala [...]and [...]r, th [...] more he lyeth in the fire, [...]e more desirous he is of the flame, so Cala­mus, the more he off [...]nded in this intemperate concupiscence, the more his thoughts were adicted to y • vice, so as al his neighbors did wish he might fall head-long into the Center of some déepe misfortune. Wallowing thus in the sel [...] conceipt of his wicked­nes, on a day as he rode on hunting with certaine of his gentle­men, he stumbled by cha [...]nce at a [...]armers house, whether as he road to taste a cup of their smal wine, for y • the wel her was hot, where he espied a woman homely attired, of modest coūtenance, her face imported both loue and grau [...]ty, who séeing t [...]e Noble man approch, dying her christal chéekes with a vermillion [...]ue, after humble salutations brought him in a country C [...]use such drinke as their cottage did afford. Calamus narrowly marking the proportion of this country huswife, courteously tooke his leaue & departed, but the sparkes of lust that had kindled a flame of desire in his fancie, perplexed his minde with sundry passi­ons: For calling to mind not onely her exterior be auiy, adorned with sundry and seueral graces, but also her inward perfection, [Page] bewrayng that she was both wise and honest, he [...]ell into this conside [...]ation with himselfe: For shame ( Calamus) let not thy thoughts w [...]nder in a laborinth to be endlesse: Séeing y • flower of thy youth hath [...] spent in vice, let the fruite of thyne age on [...]ly [...] of [...] if the Gods had not the firstlings of thy yeeres, yet let thē haue thy gray head in pawne of a Sacra [...]ice: time is [...] from vanity and vice: thy foot is stepping to the graue, & oport [...]nity [...]ids thée tak hold of repentance. Venus is printed without wrinc [...]os, as signif [...]ing she is the Goddesse of youth what of this, [...]ond [...]oole, suppose thou wert young, shalt thou therfore [...]: Doe not the Gods for­bid thée to craue y • y • i [...] another mans due: Are not volupiuous [...] to be suppressed as well in the young [...] as in the old trée: Is thy [...]alloy so fickle as [...] must be vewed with af­fection: [...] man, thinke this th [...] the poore man maketh as great account of his wife, as the greatest Monarch in y • world both of an Empr [...]sse: that honesty harbors assoone in a cottage, as in the Court [...] y • their minds oppressed with want, are fréed from the [...] of loue▪ Then Cala [...]us, cease from these tri­nolus [...], and séeke no [...] so much as in thought to offer wrōg to so modest a womā, whose honest behauiour foreshews that she is poore, so she is chast, and holdeth as déere the price of her same as the state of her life. No doubt Calamus, thou art become a holy Prelate, that hast so many p [...]ecepts to re [...]ell that thou hast alwaies followed: Is not loue a Lord as wel amōgst Beggars as Kings▪ Cannot Cupid assoone hit a Shepheards hooke as a Sc [...]pter: Doth not pouerty by natural insight yéeld to the desires of Nobility: Are womens faces alwaies Kalen­ders of truth: or are their [...]ookes (as Ouid affirmeth) euermind­glasses: No, the thoughts of women hang not alwaies in their eyes: dissimulation is sister to Ia [...]us, and wanton appetite oft [...]etteth vnder the Ma [...]ke of Chastitie: Hast thou he therto not bin rep [...]lied with any resolute denya [...]s, and shalt thou now be ouerthrowne with alooke? No, forward Calamus in thy pur­pose, triumph man and say as Caesar did in his Conquests, veni, vidi, vici: The Nobleman resting vpon this wicked resolutiō, [Page] hearing of her husbands mishap, powred out such continuall fountaines of teares, [...]s not only Cala [...]us, but all men took pit­ty of her plain [...]s. Bu [...] the vnbridled [...] of lust, that [...] it runs headlong into a laborinth of mischefes feele [...]h no remorce, had no consideration of hir daily sorrows, but resolued i [...] not by intreaty, a [...] least by force to come to the end of his [...] de­sire. Which resolution being knowne to Cratina: from prayers she went to pollicy, and therefore on the sodaine became more courteous, desiring Calamus that he would giue her some space to forget her olde loue and entertaine a new choyse: He whose fancy was some what appeased with this good spéech, granted her the terme of a month▪ with free liberty to walke in the gar­den and els where at her pleasure. Cratina enioying her wish so fortunatly, taking time by the [...], early in a morning stole secretly from the Pallace and fled into the Country, where in the day time hiding her amongst bushes, and in the night traue­ling as fast as she could, at last she came to the place where her husband was with the Collyeriand there changing her apparel into the attire of a man, and her head brauely shorne, she became a handsome stripling▪ The next day comming to the Colepits she demaunded seruice. The Master Collyer séeing the youth well faced, had pitty of his want, and entertained him: and for that Lestio his man wanted one to driue his Cart, he appointed Cratina to attend vpon him: She thanking the Gods that blest her with so fauourable a seruice, was brought to the sight of Le­stio and committed to his charge. Lestio pittying the poore estate of such a young youth, noting narrowly the lynamentes of her face, fell into sighes, and from sighes to feares, for the remem­brance of his swéet Cratina: who indéede pittying her hus­bands plaintes, in that she was a true de [...]iner of his thoughts, could not (as womens secrets oft hang at the tip of their t [...]ngs) but bewray to her husband what she was: who when he perfect­ly knew his wife so straungely metamorphosed, what for ioye of her presence, and sorrow that Fortune had made them both thus vnhappy, he fell into déeper complaintes, till appeased by his wife, they went merily to their worke.

[Page] But Calamus missing Cratina, and after diligent search per­ceiuing she was stole away, fel into such a melancholik humor, that his seruants thought him half in a frenzie: He cōmanded horse to be made out into euery hie way, al passages to be stopt, euery womā to be examined, but in vain: which so increased his furie, that taking his horse he rode vp and downe the Country as one halfmad, but found not that which he sought for: at last Fortune enuying the happines of Lestio and his wife, brought him where the Col [...]ars were at work, and a prety space before hée came at the pitte hee met Cratyna: who séeing Cala [...]us, al­though he had disguysed himselfe, because he would ride vnkno­wen, yet perfectly perceiued what he was, and therefore would willingly haue bene out of his companie: but he called vnto her, and she hauing her lether Coate all dusty, & her sweete face al he smeared with coales, was the bolder to goe, and demaunded of him what he wanted? Calamus inquired if such a woman past not y • way: Yes mary (quoth Cratyna) there past such a one in déede, who as she reported fled from Cala [...]us, for that the No­ble man would haue rest her of her chastitie. Canst thou tel my friend (quoth he) whether is she gone? & if I could (quoth Cra­tyna) thinke [...] so little curtesie in me as to bewray her: for by thy straigh [...] inquiry I perceiue thou art seruāt to that dishono­rable [...], that spareth neither wife nor widdow to satisfie his vnbr [...]led lust. Calamus not brooking these hard spéeches al­lighted from his horse, thinking to haue [...]oel bū [...]asled the boy: who as falt as he could fled to the Colepit. The Colliars séeing their boy (whō for his good behauiour they al generally loued) to be misused by a seruingman, took their whips in their hands and demaunded of Calamus what he ment to offer violence to any of their companie: for y • (quoth he) the boy hath greatly a­bused me. Crauna told thē at the whole matter: which knowne, the Colliars wisht him if he were well to be packing, Calamus séeing amongst such an vnruly cōpanie he could not mend him­selfe, went his way with a flea in his eare: and as he roade, per­ceiued where Lestio lay a sleepe, who was not so disguised but he knew him perfectly therfore thinking when he did wake to [Page] learne some thing out of him, & so turning his horse into a Close hard by, rested himself behind a bush: Long he had not sitten be­fore Cra [...]ina came merily whistling with her Cart, & tolde her husband all what had happened, who both smiled that the No­ble man had such rough entertaynment, as also that she was so cleane out of fauour. Calamus who ouerheard them, and percei­ued that the youth whome he tooke for a stripling was Cratyna y e poore mans wife, felt such a remorce in his conscience for offe­ring violence to so vertuous and chast a mind, that assoone as they were gene he posted as fast as he could to y • Court, where Menon the Grandfather of my Lord Vlisses then raigned as Prince, and reuealed vnto him the whole matter: who greatly pleased with the discourse, desirous to sée so honest a wife, pre­sently dispatcht a Purseuāt to commaund the Colliar to bring his man Lestio and his boy before the King. The Purseuant sparing no horseflesh, came so fast from the Court that he found thē all at dinner: who after they heard his message, were ama­zed, especially poore Cratina, who feared some new misfortune: yet chéering her selfe, the better to cōfort her husband, they wēt with the Purseuant to the Court: where being brought before Menon and Calamus, he there complained of the Collia [...] how he had abused him in maintaining his boy to giue him ill [...]an­guage. The Colliar (as a man amazed) confessed his fault, but vnwittingly, for that he knew him not: and therfore desired Ca­lamus to bee his good Lord and master. Menon, who all this while had his eye on Cratina, ask [...]e her what he was: May it please your grace (quoth she) I [...] to this man who is owner of the pit, but vnder this other who is ouers [...]r of my work: So then (quoth the King) you [...] two maisiers, y • one by day, the other by night: Nay my [...] but one master, for we make smal account of any seruice y • is [...]ne in the night. How say you [...] (quot [...] the [...]ing to [...]) is not this boy your man: No my Lord (quoth he) only my [...], and th [...]t is all the seruice I craue at [...]. At this answer the King and Calamus smiled, and [...] fearing she was discouered began to blush: which Menon [...], dema [...]n­ded [Page] of hir of what age she was? About eightéene my [...] (quoth the) Menon willing to trye then what the euent would be: tolde the Collyar that he and his man, for that their faults were sho­row ignoraunce, might get them home: but for your boy (quoth the King) seeing he is so young and wel saced I meane to [...]alie him my page. The Collyar was glad he was so dispatcht, but poore Lestio through aboundaunce of griefe was almost driuen into anextasie, so y • changing colour he could scarce stand on his legges: which Cratina perceiuing, seeing now Fortune had done her worst, resolued to suffer all miseries whatsoeuer, f [...]ll downe vpon her knées, and vnfolded to the King what she was, and from point to point discoursed what had happened betwéen her and Calamus, intermedling her spéeches with such a foun­taine of feares, as the king pittying her plaints, willed her to be of good chéere: for none in all his kingdome should offer her any vyolence. Calamus in the behal [...]e of Cratina thanked the King, with promise before his Highnesse that the vertuous and chast disposition of her minde had made such a met amorphosis of his former thoughts, that not onely he was content to bridle his af­fections, but to indow her with such sufficient lands and posses­sions, as might very wel maintaine her in the state of a gentle­woman. The King praising Calamus for his good minde, wil­ling to be an actor in this Comedy, commaunded his Steward to furnish them with apparell, and afterward to conuey them to Calamus Pallace, where they liued long after in presperous and happy estate.

The tale was long and the night was too far spent to run a­ny further descant onso good a playne song, and therefore Pene­lope hauing finished her taske went to her lodging.

The third nights discourse.

THe day no sooner appeared, but according to their olde cu­stome, the Noble men of [...] repaired to the Pa [...]lace of Penelope, who fayning her selfe▪ not well, kept her Camber, which her sonne▪ [...] [...]spying, carried the Lords w t him [Page] of certaine women washing of their clothes, where they talked of a certaine place in the towne that was weake and worst de­fended. Many inconueniences grow of the intemperancy of the tongue, as discention and strife in a house, wheras contrariwise nothing more appeaseth choller nor sheweth modesty then si­lence. To confirme the which, I will rehearse a pleasant and delightfull History.

Penelopes third tale.

THe Historiographers whose Annual Records makes mē ­tion of that auncient Citty of Delphos, where Apollo deliuered his Oracles, sets downe as Chronicled for truth, that sometime there raigned as chiefe and Gouernour of the Citty, one Ariamenes, a Prince, wise, as seated in a place where the meanest inhabitant was able to discourse of wisedome: rich, as indewed with such and so large possessions that all his bordring neighbors were inferiour to him in wealth and reuenews: and fortunate, for that he had thrée Sonnes: honourable, as discen­ded from such parentage, and vertuous, as sauouring of their fa­thers prudent education. Ariamenes blest thus euery way with earthly fauours, séeing his gray hayres were summons vnto death, and that olde age the true limiter of time, presented vnto him the figure of his mortality, that he was come from the cra­dle to the Crouch, and from the Crouch had one legge in the graue: knowing that the kingdome of Delphos was not a Mo­narchy that fell by inheritaunce, but that bee might as well ap­point his youngest sonne successor as his eldest, being affected to them all alike: was perplexed with contrary passions, to which of the three hee should bequeath such a Royall Leagacy, sith by such an equall proportion Fortune had inriched them with fa­uours. Nature, who is little partiall in such peculiar iudge­ments, was by the seuerall thoughts that troubled Ariamenes head, almost set at an non plus; insomuch that the olde King driuen into a Dylemma, fell into this consideration.

That all his sonnes were married to women descended from [Page] honourable parents, and that sith his Sonnes were so equal in their vertues, he was to measure his affection by the conditions of their wiues: for he knew that kings in their gouernmēt pro­ued oft such Iusticiaries as y e good or il dispositiō of their wiues did afford: for the greatest Monarches haue bene subiect to the plausible perswasions of womē, and Princes thoughts are oft tied to the wings of beautie. The Emperour Commodus had neuer bin so hated in Rome for this tirannies, had he not bene pricked forward to such wickednes by his wife. Ma [...]cus Aure­ [...]us the true & perfect presidēt of a Prince, confessed, that hardly he could with stand the allurements of Faustina. The enuie of a woman hangs in the brow of her husband, and for y e reuenge of an enemie the passeth not for y e losse of a friend. These things considered, Ariamenes was thus resolued for himselfe, to be­stowe y • kingdome on that sonne whose wife was found to be most vertuous Therefore after this determined resolution he presently dispatched messengers to his sonnes in their seuerall Prouinces, y • they particularly accompanied with their wiues should méete him at Delphos, with generall commaund also y • his Nobillitie should make hastie repaire to that Cittie. The Kings commaund being put in execution, his sonnes to signi­fie their duetifull obedience, sped them to y • Court, where being come before their father, Ariamenes after he had sit a while in a muse with himselfe, fell into these spéeches.

Nature (Sonnes) the perfect mistris of affection tyeth the father to his childrē with such a [...]rickt league, that loue admie­teth no partialitie, nor fancy brooketh any difference, but a [...]ust proportiō of good will is ministred if the parties haue [...] in their vertues. Maicus Po [...]i [...] Cato who was a father [...] childrē, was wont to say, that the loue of a father as it was Royall, so it ought to be impartiall, neither declini [...]g to y • [...] nor to y • other, but as [...] doe merite. [...] who ha [...] sixteene children of his owne bodie, at his de [...]th made equal di­stribution both of goods & lands alike to them [...] being de­m [...]unded why he did not giue his eldest Sonne y • greater por­tion, made this answer. And is not the youngest also the sonne [Page] eate. To auorde which, supposition, you referre his Highnesse to the generall fame of the Countrey, y • aboue the rest you ex­céede in obedience and chastitie: Take héede Sister, fame hath two faces, and in that resembleth time, readie as well to back­bite as to flatter: therefore they which build their vertue vppon report, doe alledge but a bad proofe. But leauing your reasōs to his Highnesse consideration, thus for my self. I set not my good name at so small a price, as to hazard it vpon the chaunce of the tongue, that of al other members is most vncertaine: although I am sure my bordring neighbours of estéeme of my doings, as they take my vertues for a president of their actions: but I hope your Highnes doth consider y • such trée such fruite, that y e liuely pourtraiture of the parents is as in a Christall manifested in y • children: that nature is the best touchstone of life: that educatiō and nurture are as good as the Chrisocol to discerne Minerals: so they of maners. Then right mightie Prince, I first for proofe of my vertuous disposition lay downe the honorable & happie life of my Parents so wel ordred, that [...]ame and enuie blusheth to staine them with any spot of infamie: what care they had to bring me vp in my youth, with what instructiōs they passed o­uer my tender yeares, I referre to your Maiestie, as by willing your second sonne to match in so meane a famely: since the rites of mariage were celebrated my husbands dispositiō shall mani­fest. The eldest Sister hearing how cunningly & yet crookedly this prettie Oratresse aimed at the matter, could not suffer to heare so long a tale without replye, and therefore went thus roundly to the purpose.

Sister ill might Phillis haue blamed Dido for her folly sith she her self intertained stragling Demophon for a friend: The Cynicks that inueighed against other mens faults were seldōe culpable in the same crime: they which will haue their censures peremptorie, must not build their reasons on vncertain princi­ples therefore wipe your nose on your owne sleeue, and if you spie where my shooe wrings me, looke to the length of your own last: for in obiecting selfeloue to me you fall a sléepe in the swéet conceipt of your owne praise: which indéed wisely you frame to [Page] hazard on the chance of fame, sith your deserts are so small as report is blind on y • side which lookes to your vertues: the force of your reasons drawne from the authority of propagation, al­ledging nature and nurture for proofes of your vertues, are too light to counterpaise w t a Crowne: for we oft sée that Natures onely error is found in the dissimilitude of linage: so that the trée bringing foorth faire blos [...]omes, yet the blomes may either hée nipped in the bud with vntimely weather, or hindred with cat­terpillers, that it neuer proue good & perfect fruite. The Cedar trée is faire of it self, but the fruite either none or very bad: Tis no opinion to say a good father a good child, in that time oft ma­keth an alteration of Nature. But your husband was cōman­ded to haue pleaded your interest: mary I feare his conscience tels him the Crowne hangs too bye for his reach, sith he must be faine to attaine to it by your vertues.

The yongest Sister hearing how vnreuerently they brabled before the King, began to blush: which Ariamenes espying, no­ting in her face the very purtraiture of vertue, demanded of her why hearing her sisters so hard by the eares for a Crowne shée said nothing? her answere was thus briefe and pithy. He that gaineth a Crowne getteth care, is it not folly then to hunt after losse? The King looking for a longer discourse, and seeing contra­ry to his expectation that she was onely short and swéete, prose­cuted still inquestioning, and demaunded what vertues she had that might deserue so royall a benefit? This quoth she, that wh [...] others talke, yet being a woman I can hold my peace. Ariame­nes and all the Nobility of Delphos wondred at the modestie of the young Lady, that contrary to her naturall disposition could so well bridle her affections. Therfore dehating the mat­ter betwixt them which of the thrée were most vertuous: al­though they found by proofe that the other Ladies were both o­bedient and chast: yet for that they wanted silence, which (sayd Ariamenes) comprehended in it all other vertues, they mist of the cushion, and the King created his youngest Sonne heire ap­parant to the Kingdome.

[Page] PEnelope hauing ended her tale, the olde Nurse greatly com­mended the discourse, and b [...]cause she wold be pleasant at the parting blow, knowing that Isme [...]a was a quicke wench of her tongue, tolde her that this tale was a good president for her to direct her course, séeing silence was so profitable. Tush quoth Is­mena, feare not you Madame: for when I haue such a proffer as a Crowne, I will gaze so fast at that, that I will forget my prattle▪ but in saith my lippes are too course for such Lettice, and so hye hangs the Grapes that the Foxe will eate none. Well Madame, I know your meaning, but for all t [...]e cracke my pen­ny may be good siluer, sith silence is a vertue amongst women: but yet I sée no reason of necessity, séeing nature hath béene so niggardly in that [...]auour. It may séeme quoth the Nurse, that she hath béen rather too prodigall, for thy tung wants no met­tall. As thus they were about to part with these merry quips, a messenger came hastily rushing in, who tolde Penelope that V­lisses, was arriued that night within the port of Ithaca: This word so amazed them all with sodaine ioy, that lea [...]ing the end­lesse Web, Penelope [...]lled for her Sonne, and that night sent him in post to the Sea: where what news he heard of his father I know not. But thus abruptly this night was the discourse broken off: but for that fell out after his home comming, I re­ferre you to the Paraphrase, which shortly shall be set out vpon Homers Odissea: till when let vs leaue Penelope attending the returne either of her Husband, or Sonne, or of both.

FINIS.

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