_Evphimia the Kyng of Corinth's daughter fell in love with
Acharisto, the seruaunt of her father, and besides others which
required hir in mariage, she disdayned Philon the King of
Peloponesus, that loued hir very feruently. Acharisto conspiring
against the Kyng, was discouered, tormented, and put in prison, and
by meanes of Evphimia deliuered. The King promised his daughter and
kingdome to him that presented the head of Acharisto, Evphimia so
wrought, as hee was presented to the King. The King gaue him his
daughter to wyfe and when he died made him his heyre. Acharisto
began to hate his wyfe, and condemned hir to death as an
adulteresse. Philon deliuered hir: and vpon the sute of hir
subiects, she is contented to mary him, and therby he is made Kynge
of Corinth:_
Constancy in honest loue (being a perfect vertue, and a precious
ornament to the beloued, induinge eyther, besides ioy and
contentacion, with immortall fame and Glory,) hath in it selfe
these onely marks and properties to be knowen by, Chastity, and
toleration of aduersity: For as the mynde is constant in loue,
not variable, or geuen to chaunge, so is the body continent,
comely, honest and pacient of Fortunes plages. A true constant
minde is moued with no sugred persuasions of frendes, is
diuerted with no eloquence, terrified with no threats, is quiet
in all motions. The blustering blasts of parents wrath, cannot
remoue the constant mayde from that which she hath peculiarly
chosen to hir selfe. The rigorous rage of frendes, doth not
dismay the louing man from the embracement of hir whom he hath
amongs the rest selecte for his vnchanged feere. A goodly
example of constant and noble loue this history ensuing
describeth, although not like in both, yet in both a semblable
constancy. For Euphimia, a kings daughter, abandoneth the great
loue borne vnto hir by Philon, a yong prince, to loue a servant
of hir father's, with whom she perseuered in great constancy,
for all his false and ingratefull dealings towards hir. Philon
seeing his loue despised neuer maried vntill he maried hir, whom
afterwards he deliuered from the false surmised treason of hir
cancred and malicious husband. Euphimia fondly maried agaynst
hir father's will, and therefore deseruedly afterwards bare the
penaunce of hir fault: and albeit she declared hir selfe to be
constant, yet duty to louinge Father ought to haue withdrawen
hir rash and heady loue. What daungers do ensue sutch like
cases, examples be rife, and experience teacheth. A great
dishonour it is for the Lady and Gentlewoman to disparage hir
noble house with mariage of hir inferior: yea and great griefe
to the parents to see their children obstinate and wilfull in
carelesse loue. And albeit the Poet Propertius describeth the
vehement loue of those that be noble, and haue wherewith in loue
to be liberall, in these verses:
_Great is the fayth of Loue,_
_the constant mynde doth mutch auayle:_
_And hee that is well fraught with wealth,_
_in Loue doth mutch preuayle._
Yet the tender Damosell or louing childe, be they neuer so noble
or rich, ought to attend the father's tyme and choyse, and
naturally encline to parent's will and likinge, otherwise great
harme and detriment ensue: for when the Parentes see the
disobedience or rather rebellious mynde of theyr childe, their
conceiued sorrow for the same, so gnaweth the rooted plante of
naturall loue, as either it hastneth their vntimely death, or
else ingendreth a heape of melancholie humors: whych force them
to proclaime defiance and bytter cursse against their propre
fruit, vpon whom (if by due regard they had bene ruled) they
would haue pronounced the sweete blessyng that Isaac gaue to
Iacob, the mother's best beloued Boye: yea and that displeasure
may chaunce to dispossesse them of that, whych should haue bene
the onely comfort and stay of the future age. So that neglygence
of parent's hest, and carelesse heede of Youthfull head,
breedeth double woe, but specially in the not aduised Chylde:
who tumbleth himselfe first into the breach of diuine lawes, to
the cursses of the same, to parent's wrath, to orphan's state,
to begger's lyfe, and into a sea of manifold miseries. In whom
had obedyence ruled, and reason taken place, the hearte myght
haue bene satisfied, the parent wel pleased: the life ioyfully
spent, and the posteritie successively tast the fruits that
elders haue prepared. What care and sorrow, nay what extremetie
the foresayde Noble Gentlewoman susteined, for not yelding to
hir father's minde, the sequele shall at large declare. There
was sometimes in Corinth, a Citty of Grecia, a Kinge, which had
a daughter called Euphimia, very tenderly beloued of hir father,
and being arriued at the age of mariage, many Noble men of
Grecia made sute to haue hir to wife. But amongs al, Philon the
young king of Peloponesus, so fiercely fell in love wyth hir, as
he thought he could no longer liue, if he were maried to anye
other: for which cause her father knowing him to be a King, and
of singular beautye, and that he was far in loue wyth his
Daughter, would gladly haue chosen him to be his sonne in lawe,
persuading hir that she should liue with him a lyfe so happy as
was possyble for any noble lady matched wyth a Gentleman, were
he neuer so honorable. But the daughter by no meanes would
consent vnto hir father's wyll, alleaging vnto him diuers and
sundry consideracions wherby hir nature by no meanes would
agree, nor heart consente to ioyne wyth Philon. The king aboue
all worldly thynges loued his fayre daughter: and albeit hee
would fayne haue broughte to passe, that she should haue taken
him to husband, yet he would not vse the father's authoritie,
but desired that Loue rather than force should mach his
daughter, and therfore for that tyme was contented to agree vnto
hir wyll. There was in the Court a young man borne of hir
Father's bondman, whych hyght Acharisto, and was manumised by
the kinge, who made him one of the Esquiers for hys body, and
vsed his seruyce in sundrye enterpryses of the warres, and
bicause hee was in those affayres very skilfull, of bolde
personage, in conflicts and battayles very hardy, the king did
very much fauor him, aswell for that he had defended him from
manifold daungers, as also bycause he had deliuered him from the
treason pretended against him by the kyng of the Lacedemonians:
whose helpe and valyance, the king vsed for the murder and
destruction of the sayde Lacedemonian king. For whych valiant
enterpryse, he bountifully recompenced him wyth honorable
prefermentes and stately reuenues. Vpon this yong man Euphimia
fixed hir amorous eyes, and fell so farre in loue, as vpon him
alone she bent hir thoughtes, and all hir louing cogitations.
Whereof Acharisto being certified, and well espying and marking
hir amorous lookes, nouryshed with lyke flames the fire
wherewyth she burned. Notwythstanding his loue was not so
feruently bent vpon hir personage, as his desire was ambicious
for that she shoulde be hir father's onely heyre, and therfore
thought that he should be a most happy man, aboue al other of
mortall kynde, if he myght possesse that inheritance. The king
perceiuing that loue, told his daughter, that she had placed her
minde in place so straunge, as hee had thought hir wysdome would
haue more warely foreseen, and better wayed hir estate and
birth, as com of a princely race, and would haue demed sutch
loue, farre vnworthy hir degree: requiringe hir wyth fatherly
words, to withdraw hir settled mynde and to ioyne with him in
choyse of husbande, for that he had none other worldly heire but
hir, and tolde hir how he ment to bestow hir vppon sutch a
personage, as a most happy life she should leade, so long as the
destenies were disposed to weaue the Webbe of her Predestined
life: and therefore was resolved to Espouse hir vnto that noble
gentleman Philon. Euphimia hearkned to this vnliked tale, and
with vnliked words refused hir fathers hest, protesting vnto him
sutch reasons to like effect as shee did before, therby to draw
him from his conceiued purpose, wherunto the wise king hauing
made replye, continuing his intended mynde, at length in ragyng
wordes, and stormed mind, he sayd vnto Euphimia: "How mutch the
sweter is the wyne, the sharper is the egred sawce thereof.
I speake this Parable, for that thou not knowing or greatlye
regarding the gentle disposition of thy father's nature, in the
ende mayst so abuse the same, as where hitherto he hath bene
curteous and benigne, he may become through thy disordred
deedes, ryghte sowre and sharpe:" and without vtterance of
further talke, departed. Who resting euill content wyth that
fonde fyxed Loue, thoughte that the next way to remedy the same,
was to tell Acharisto how greuously he toke his presumed fault,
and in what heinous parte he conceiued his ingratitude, and how
for the benefits which liberally he had bestowed vpon him, he
had broughte and enticed hys daughter to loue him, that was
farre vngreeable her estate. And therfore he called hym before
hym, and with reasons firste declared the duetye of a faythfull
seruaunt to his Soueraigne lord, and afterwards hee sayd: That
if the receyued benefits were not able to lette him know what
were conuenient and seemely for hys degree, but would perseuere
in that which he had begon, he would make him feele the iust
displeasure of a displeased Prince, whereby hee shoulde repent
the tyme that euer hee was borne of Woman's wombe. These woordes
of the Kyng seemed greeuous to Acharisto, and not to moue hym to
further anger hee seemed as though that (being fearfull of the
Kyng's displeasure) he did not loue his daughter at all, but
sayd vnto hym, that he deserued not to bee so rebuked, for that
it lay not in his power to wythstand hir loue, the same
procedyng of hir own good wyll and lyberty: and that hee for his
part neuer requyred loue: if shee did bend hir mynd to loue hym,
hee could not remedye that affection, for that the freewyll of
sutch vnbrydled appetite rested not in hym to reforme.
Notwythstandyng, bycause he vnderstoode hys vnwyllyng mind, he
from that tyme forth would so endeuor hymselfe as he shoulde
well perceyue that the vnstayde mynde of the young gentlewoman
Euphimia, was not incensed by hym, but voluntarily conceyued of
hir selfe. "You shall doe well" (sayde the kyng) "if the effecte
procede accordinge to the promise: and the more acceptable shall
the same bee vnto mee, for that I desyre it shoulde so come to
passe." The king liked wel these words although that Acharisto
had conceiued within the plat of his entended mind, som other
treason. For albeit that he affirmed before the kyng's owne
face, that hee would not loue his daughter, yet knowing the
assured wil of the louyng gentlewoman, hee practised the
mariage, and like an vnkind and wretched man, deuised conuenient
tyme to kil him: and fully bent to execute that cruel
enterpryse, he attempted to corrupt the chiefest men about him,
promising promocions vnto some, to some he assured restitucion
of reuenewes, which by father's fault they had lost beefore, and
to other golden hilles, so that hee mighte attayne by slaughter
of the king, to wynne a kingly state and kingdome: which the
sooner he peruaded himself to acquire, if in secrete silence,
they coulde put vp that which by generall voice they had agreed.
And although they thought themselues in good assurance, that
theyr enterpryse could take no ill successe, by reason of their
sounde and good discourse debated amonges themselues for the
accomplishement thereof, yet it fortuned that one of the
conspiracy (as commonlye in sutch lyke trayterous attemptes it
chaunceth) beeynge wyth hys beloued Ladye, and shee makyng mone
that little Commodytye succeeded of hir Loue for hir
Aduauncement, brake out into these wordes: "Hold thy peace"
(sayde hee:) "for the tyme wyll not bee longe before thou shalt
bee one of the chiefest Ladies of this land." "Howe can that
bee?" (sayde hys Woman.) "No more adoe?" (quod the Gentleman:)
"Cease from further questions, and bee merrye: for wee shall
enioye together, a verye Honourable and a quyete Lyfe." When hir
Louer was departed, the gentlewoman went to an other of hir
gossips very iocunde, and tolde hir what hir Louer had sayd: and
shee then not able to keepe Counsell, wente and tolde an other:
in such wyse as in the ende it came to the eares of the King's
steward's wyfe, and she imparted the same vnto hir husband, who
marking those words, like a man of great wisedome and
experience, did verily beleue that the same touched the daunger
of the king's person: and as a faythfull seruant to his lorde
and maister, diligently harkned to the mutteringe talke murmured
in the Court, by him which had tolde the same to his beloued
Lady: and knowinge that it proceeded from Acharisto, which was
an obstinate and sedicious varlet, and that he with three or
four other his familiars, kept secret company in corners, iuged
that which he first coniectured, to be most certayne and true:
wherefore determined to moue the king thereof, and vpon a day
finding him alone, he sayd vnto him, that the fidelity and good
will wherewith he serued him, and the desire which he had to see
hym lyue in longe and prosperous Estate, made hym to attend to
the salfegard of hys person, and to hearken vnto sutch as should
attempt to daunger the same: for which cause, marking and
espying the doings of certayne of his chamber (whose common
assemblies and priuy whisperings mislyking) he feared least they
conspiring with Acharisto, shoulde worcke treason, for
berieuinge of his life: and to th' intent their endeuours might
be preuented, and his safety foreseene, he thought good to
reueale the same to hys Maiesty. Then he tolde the King the
words that were spoken by the first Gentlewoman, to one or two
of her companions, and disclosed the presumptions which he had
seene and perceyued touchinge the same. Amongs the ill
conditions of men, there is nothinge more common than Poyson,
Conspiracies, and Treason of Prynces and great Lordes: and
therefore euery little suspicion presuming sutch perill, is a
great demonstration of lyke myschiefe: which made the Kyng to
geue credit to the Woords of hys Steward, hauing for hys long
experience knowen him to be faythfull, and trusty. And sodaynly
he thought that Acharisto attempted the same, that after hys
death, by mariage of Euphimia, he might be the Inheritour of hys
Kyngdome: the beliefe whereof, and the singular credite which he
reposed in hys Steward, besides other thinges, caused hym to
commaund the captayne of hys Guard to apprehend those 4 of whom
hys Steward told hym, and Acharisto, committinge them to
seuerall Prisons. Then he sent hys Officers to examyne them, and
found vpon their confessions, the accusation of his steward to
be true: but Acharisto, although the whole effecte of the
Treason was confessed by those foure conspirators that were
apprehended, and aduouched to his Face, and for all the
Tormentes wherewith he was racked and cruciated, yet still
denied, that eyther he was authour of the enterprise, or
partaker of a treason so wicked: then the king incontinently
caused the foure Gentlemen of hys Chamber to be rewarded
accordinge to the worthinesse of their offence, and were put to
death, and Acharisto to be repryued in sharpe and cruell prison,
vntill with torments he should be forced to confesse that which
he knew to be most certayne and true by the euidence of those
that were done to death. Euphimia for the imprisonment of
Acharisto, conceiued incredible sorrow, and vneths could be
persuaded, that hee would imagine, mutch lesse conspyre, that
abhominable fact, aswell for the loue which Acharisto seemed to
beare vnto hir, as for the great good wyl wherewith he was
assured that she bare vnto hym, and therefore the death of the
kyng to be no lesse griefe vnto him, than the same woulde be to
hir selfe, the Kyng being hir naturall and louing father:
Acharisto thought on the other side, that if hee might speake
with Euphimia, a way would be founde eyther for hys escape, or
else for hys delyuery. Whereupon Acharisto beinge in this
deliberation, found meanes to talke wyth the Iaylor's wyfe, and
intreated hir to shewe hym so mutch fauour, as to procure
Euphimia to come vnto him: she accordingly brought to passe,
that the yong Gentlewoman in secrete wise came to speake wyth
thys trayterous varlet, who so soone as he sawe hir, shedinge
from hys eyes store of teares, pitifully complayninge, sayd vnto
hir: "I know Euphimia, that the kinge your father doth not
inclose me in this cruell prison, ne yet afflicteth me wyth
these miserable torments, for any suspicion he conceyueth of me
for any intended fact, but only for the loue which I beare you,
and for the like, (for whych I render humble thanks) that you do
beare to me: and because that I am wery of this wretched state,
and know that nothing else can rid me from this paynefull Lyfe,
but onely death, I am determined wyth myne owne propre hands to
cut the threed of life wherewith the destinies hitherto haue
prolonged the same, that thys my breathinge Ghoast, which
breatheth forth these doleful playntes, may flee into the Skyes,
to rest it selfe amonges the restfull spirites aboue, or wandre
into the pleasaunte hellish fieldes, amongs the shadows of
Creusa, Aeneas wyfe, or else wyth the ghost of complayning Dido.
But ere I did the same, I made myne humble prayer to the maiesty
diuine, that hee would vouchsafe to shew me so much grace, as
before I dye, I myghte fulfil my couetous eyes with sight of
you, whose ymage still appeareth before those greedy Gates, and
fansie representeth vnto my myndfull heart. Which great desired
thing, sith God aboue hath graunted, I yeld him infinit thankes,
and sith my desteny is sutch, that sutch must be the end of
loue, I doe reioyce that I muste dye for your sake, which only
is the cause that the King your father so laboureth for my
death: I neede not to molest you wyth the false euidence giuen
against me, by those malicious villaines, that be already dead,
which onely hath thus incensed the Kinge's Wrathe and heauy rage
agaynst mee: whereof I am so free, as worthilye they bee
executed for the same: for if it were so, then true it is, (and
as lyghtly you myght beleue) that I neuer knew what Loue you
beare mee, and you lykewyse did neuer knowe, the loue I bare to
you: and therefore you may thinke that so impossible is the one,
as I dyd euer meane, thinke, or ymagine any harme or peryll to
your father's person. To be short, I humbly do besech you to
beleue, that so faythfully as man is able to loue a woman, so
haue I loued you: and that it may please you to bee so myndfull
of me in thys fadyng Lyfe, as I shal be of you in that life to
come." And in sayinge so, wyth face all bathed in teares, he
clypped hir about the myddle, and fast imbracing hir said: "Thus
takinge my last farewell of you (myne onely life and ioy)
I commende you to the gouernement of the supernall God, and my
selfe to death, to be dysposed as pleaseth him." Euphimia, which
before was not persuaded that Acharisto was guylty of that
deuised Treason, nowe gaue full belyefe and credite to his
wordes, and Weeping wyth him for company, comforted him so wel
as she could, and bidding him to bee of good chere, she sayde,
that she would seeke such meanes as for hir sake and loue he
should not dye: and that before longe time did passe, shee would
help him out of prison. Acharisto, although he vttered by ruful
voice that lamentable talke, for remedye to ridde himselfe from
pryson, yet he did but fayne all that he spake, addyng further:
"Alas, Euphimia, do not incurre your Father's wrath to please my
minde: suffer me quietly to take that death, which sinister
Fortune and cruell fate hath prouided to abridge my dayes."
Euphimia, vanquished with inspeakable griefe and burning passion
of loue, said: "Ah, Acharisto, the onely ioy and comfort of my
lyfe, do not pierce my heart with such displeasant wordes: for
what should I do in this wretched world, yf you for my sake
should suffre death? Wherfore put away that cruel thought, and
be content to saue your Lyfe, that hereafter in ioye and myrth
you may spend the same: trusting that yf meanes may be founde
for your dispatche from hence, we shal liue the reste of our
prolonged Lyfe together, in sweete and happy dayes: for my
Father is not made of stone flint, nor yet was nourced of Hircan
Tigre: he is not so malicious but that in tyme to come hee may
be made to know the true discourse of thine innocent life, and
hope thou shalt atteyne his fauour more than euer thou didst
before, the care whereof onely leaue to me, and take no thought
thy selfe: for I make promise vpon myne assured faith to brynge
the same to passe: wherefore giue ouer thy conceyued gryefe, and
bende thy selfe to lyue so merie a life, as euer gentleman did,
trained vp in court as thou hast bene." "I am content," said
Acharisto, "thus to doe. The Gods forbid that I should declyne
my hearte and mynde from thy behest, who of thy wonted grace
doest seeke continuance of my Lyfe, but rather, sweete Euphimia,
than thou shouldest suffre any daunger to performe thy promise,
I make request (for the common loue betwene vs both) to leaue me
in this present dangerous state: rather would I lose my lyfe
than thou shouldest hazard the least heare of thy heade for my
releefe." "Wee shall be both salfe ynough, (aunswered Euphimia)
for my deuice proceedinge from a woman's heade, hath already
drawen the plot of thy deliueraunce." And with those wordes they
both did end their talke, whose trickling teares did rather
finishe the same, than willing mynds: and eyther of them geeuing
a kysse vnto the Tower Walle, wherein Acharisto was fast shutte,
Euphimia departed turmoyled wyth a Thousande amorous Pryckes,
and ceased not but firste of all to corrupt and winne the
Iayler's Wyfe, whose husband was sent forth on businesse of the
king's: the conclusion of which practise was, that when shee
caried meate to Acharisto, according to the order appoynted, she
should fayne hirselfe to be violently dispoyled of the Pryson
Key by Acharisto, who taking the same from hir: should shut hir
in the Prison and escape, and when hir husband did returne, shee
should make complaynt of the violence done vnto hir: accordinge
to which deuise, the practyse was accomplished: And when hir
husbande returned home, hearing his wyfe crie out within the
Tower, was maruayllously amazed, and vnderstandinge that
Acharisto was fled, (ignoraunt of the pollicy betwene his Wyfe
and Euphemia,) hee fell into great rage, and speedely repayred
to the Kynge, and tolde him what had chaunced. The Kinge
thinking that the breach of Prison was rather through the
woman's simplicity than purposed malice, did mitigate his
displeasure, howbeit forthwith he sent out scouts to spy, and
watch into what place Acharisto was gone, whose secret flight,
made all their trauayle to be in vayne. Then the Kinge when hee
saw that he could not be found, made Proclamation throughout his
realme, that who so would bringe vnto him the head of Acharisto,
should haue to Wyfe hys onely Daughter, and after hys decease
shoulde possesse his Kingdome for Dowry of that mariage. Many
knightes did put themselues in redinesse to atchieue that
enterprise, and aboue al, Philon was the chiefe, not for
gredinesse of the kingdome, but for loue which hee bare vnto the
Gentlewoman. Whereof Acharisto hauinge intelligence, and
perceyuinge that in no place of Europa hee could bee safe and
sure from daunger, for the multitude of them which pursued him
vnto death, caused Euphimia to vnderstand the miserable Estate
wherein hee was. Euphimia which bent hir minde, and employed hir
study for his safegarde, imparted hir loue which shee bare to
Acharisto, to an aged Gentlewoman, which was hir nurse and
gouernesse, and besought hir that she would intreat hir sonne
called Sinapus, (one very well beloued of the king) to reach his
help vnto hir desire, that Acharisto might retourne to the court
agayn. The Nourse like a wyse woman lefte no persuasion
vnspoken, nor counsell vnremembred, which she thought was able
to dissuade the yong gentlewoman from hir conceiued loue: but
the wound was so deepely made, and hir hearte so greuously
wounded with the three forked arrows of the little blinde archer
Cupide, that despising all the reasons of hir beloued nurse,
shee sayde, how she was firmely bent eyther to runne from hir
father, and to seke out Acharisto, to sustaine wyth him one
equall fortune, or else with hir owne hands to procure death, if
some remedy were not found to recouer the king's good grace for
the returne of Acharisto. The Nurse vanquished with pity of the
yong mayden, fearinge both the one and the other daunger that
myght ensue, sent for Sinapus, and vppon their talke together,
Euphimia and hee concluded, that Acharisto should bee brought
agayne vnto the Courte, and that she hir selfe should present
him to the King: wherein should want no kinde of diligence
vntill the Kyng did entertayne him agayne for his faythfull
seruaunt, as he was wont to do. Vpon which resolution, Acharisto
was sent for, and being come, Sinapus and Euphimia together with
the nurse tolde hym in what sort they three had concluded
touchinge his health and safegarde: which of him being well
lyked, did giue them humble thankes: and then Sinapus went vnto
the kyng, and told him, that there was one newly arriued at
Corinth, to make a present vnto his grace of the head of
Acharisto. At which newes the kynge shewed hymselfe so ioyfull,
as if hee had gotten an other Kingdome: and beinge placed vnder
his cloath of state, with his Counsell and Princely trayne about
hym, tellinge them the cause of that assembly, commaunded hym
that brought those news, to bring the party forth newely come
vnto the City to present the head of Acharisto before the
presence of the King, who no sooner looked vpon him, but fell
into sutch a rage, as the fire seemed to flame out of his angry
eyes, and commaunded him presently to be taken and put to death.
But Acharisto falling downe vpon hys knees, humbly besought his
maiesty to geeue him leaue to speake: but the kinge not
suffering him to vtter one word commaunded hym away. Then the
Counsellours and other Lords of the Court, intreated his grace
to heare him: at whose requestes and supplications he seemed to
be content. Then Acharisto began to say: "Most sacred Prynce,
and redoubted souerayne Lord, the cause of this my presumptuous
repaire before your maiesty, is not to shew my selfe guilty of
thy late deuised conspiracy, ne yet to craue pardon for the
same, but to satisfie your Maiesty, wyth that contented desire,
whych by Proclamation ye haue pronounced through your highnesse
Realmes and dominions: which is, to offer this heade for reuenge
of the faulte vniustlye layed vnto my charge by those foure,
which worthily haue tasted the deserued payne of theyr offense.
Wherfore I am come hither of myne owne accord, to shew the loue
and greate desyre, whych euer I had to serue and please your
Maiesty: and for that I would not consume my life in your
displeasure, I make offer of the same to your mercifull wyll and
dysposition, chosynge rather to die, and leaue your maiesty
satisfied and contented, than to lyue in happy state, your
princely minde displeased: but desyrous that your maiesty should
know myne innocence, I humblye besech your grace to heare what I
can say, that my fidelity maye bee throughly vnderstanded, and
the wickednesse of the Varlets, mine accusers wel wayed and
considered." Then he began to rehearse all the things done by
hym for the seruyce of his crowne and maiestye, and finally into
what daunger he did put himself, when he kylled the Lacedemonian
king, that went about by treason to murder him: whych enterpryse
might appeare vnto him to bee a sure and euident testimony, that
hee ment nothinge hurtfull or preiudiciall to his highnesse: and
that hee esteemed not his life, when hee aduentured for his
seruice and sauegard to employ the same: and after these
alleaged causes, he added briefly, that the loue which his
maiesty knew to be betweene him and Euphimia his Daughter, ought
to haue persuaded him, that he had rather haue suffered death
himselfe, than commit a thing displeasant to Euphimia. And
knowing that a more offensive thynge coulde not chaunce to hir,
than the vilent death of her father, hee myghte well thyncke
that hee woulde haue deuysed the death of a Thousande other,
rather than that horible and abhominable deede, sutch as hys
greatest Ennemy woulde neuer haue done, mutch lesse hee whych
was bounde vnto hym by so many Receyued Benefittes, for whose
seruice and preseruacion he had dedicated and vowed hys Lyfe and
Soule: but if so be his maiestie's rancor and displeasure could
not be mitigated, but by doinge him to death, hee desired that
none of his alleaged reasons should bee accepted, and therefore
was there ready to sacrifice his life at his maiestie's
disposition and pleasure. Acharisto by nature could tel his tale
excedingly well, and the more his tongue stode him in seruice,
the greater appeared his eloquence: whych so pierced the minde
of the king and persuaded the Counsellers, and other of the
Court, as he was demed giltlesse of the treason: and the matter
was so debated, and the King intreated to graunt him pardon, as
he was accompted most worthy of his fauour. Then the kyng, by
the aduise of hys Counsell, was perswaded, that by force of hys
proclamation, hys daughter should be giuen to Acharisto in
mariage, and his kingedome for a dowrie, bicause hee had offered
his owne heade, accordyng to the effecte of the same. So the
kinge repentinge himselfe that he had offended Acharisto, in the
end agreed to the aduise of his Counsell, and gaue him his
daughter to wife: whereof Euphimia was so ioyful, as they bee
that atteyne the summe of their heart's desire. The father liued
one whole yeare after this mariage, and Euphimia so pleasant a
life for a certaine time, as was possible for any Gentlewoman.
Hir father was no sooner dead, but the vnkinde man, nay rather
brute beaste, had forgotten all the benefits receyued of his
kinde and louing wife: and hauing by hir onelye meanes got a
Kingdome, began to hate hir so straungely, as he could not abide
hir sight, (sutch is the property of cancred obliuion, which
after it crepeth into ambicious heads, neuer hath minde of
passed amitie, ne regardeth former benefite, but like a monster
and deadly ennimy to humaine nature, ouerwhelmeth in his
bottomlesse gulfe all pietie and kindnesse) and determined in
the ende for recompence of sutch great good turnes, to despoyle
hir of hir Lyfe. Howe thinke you, fayre Ladies, was not this a
fayre rewarde for the loue, the trauailes and sorrowes susteined
for this ingrate and villanous man, by that royal lady, to saue
his life, and to take him to husband? Here is manifest
(_probatum_) that in a vile and seruyle minde, no vertue, no
duety, no receiued benefites can be harboured. Here is a lesson
for yong Gentlewomen to beware howe they contemne and despise
the graue aduise of theyr auncient fathers. Here they may see
the damage and hurt that vnaduised youth incurreth, when
neglectyng theyr Parents holesome admonitions, they gyue
themselues to the loue of sutch as be vnworthy theyr estate and
callyng. For what should ayle the Gentle pucell borne of gentle
bloud but to match her selfe in like affinity, and not to care
for curryshe kind, or race of churle. Bee there no Gentlemen to
be found of personage and beauty worthy to ioyne in loue wyth
them? Bee they so precious in nature or tender in education as
theyr lyke can not be vouchsafed to couple in mariage yoke?
Compare the glysteringe gold to drossie durte, and sutch is the
difference betweene gentle and vngentle. But perhaps bringyng vp
may alter nature, and custome transforme defect of birth: as
Licurgus the lawemaker dyd trye betwene the Currish whelpe and
the Spanyell kinde, both by trayning vp running to their
contraries, the Spanyel not vsed to hunt eigre vpon the potage
dishe, the other nouseled in that pastime pursuing his game. But
that Metamorphosis is seldome seene amongs humane sort, and
therfore I aduise the gentle kind, to matche themselues in
equall lotte, and not to trust Sir Custome's curtesie in choyse
of feere. Returne we then to vnkind Acharisto, who now in full
possession of his desired praie, reuertinge to his puddle of
carlishe will and cancred nature, after many thousand wronges
don to his most noble and gentle Quene, accused hir to be an
adulteresse, and as one indeede, (although most innocent) she
was condemned to the mercilesse fire. Philon, Kyng of
Peloponesus, which (as we haue sayd before) loued Euphimia as he
did the balles of his owne eyes, vnderstanding the crueltye that
this wicked Man vsed towards hir, to whom both his lyfe and
Kyngdome did belonge, moued wyth nobility of mynd, determined to
declare to Euphimia the inward feruent loue which he bare hir,
and to chastise Acharisto for his ingratitude with due
correction. Wherfore depely debating wyth himselfe of this
aduenture, thus he sayde: "Now is the time Euphimia, that Philon
shewe what faythful Loue he hath euer borne vnto thee, and that
he delyuer thee both from the present daunger wherein thou art,
and from the hands of that vnkynde wretche, that is farre
vnworthy of sutch a wife: for if thou haddest agreed to thy
father's wyll, and yelded to the pursute of him that loued thee
beste, thou haddest no neede of rescue nowe, ne yet bene in
perill of the wastfull flames of fire, which be ready to consume
thy flesh and tender corps, full tenderly sometimes beloued of
thy deare father, and of thy louyng frend Philon." When he had
spoken those wordes, hee earnestly disposed him self vpon that
enterpryse. There was in those daies a custome in Corinth, that
they which were condemned to death, were caried III. miles forth
of the City, and there the sentence pronounced against them,
were put to execution. Philon hauyng intelligence hereof, did
put in readinesse a good troupe of horsemen, and being secretly
imbarked, arriued at Corinth, and closely the nyght before
Euphimia should be brought to the fire, harde by the place where
the miserable Lady should be burnt, into a woode he conueyed his
People: and so soone as the Sergeants and officers were
approched neere the place wyth the lady, he issued forth, and
did set vpon the throng, not sufferyng one of them to remayne
aliue, to carye newes. When he had delyuered Euphimia from that
present daunger of hir lyfe, and the companye dispercled, he
sayd to the Queene: "Nowe thou mayst see (fayre Queene) the
diuersitie, betwene the disloyaltie and vnkindenesse of
Acharisto, and the faith and loue of Philon. But for that I
meane not to leaue hys ingratitude vnrevenged, thou shalt staye
here, vntyll thou heare newes of the due chastisment which I
shall gyue hym." Those dire and cruell words foretold of hir
husband's death moued hir honest and Pryncely hearte that by no
meanes could bee altered from the gentle nature, which it first
had tasted and receiued: and althoughe shee had suffred Mortall
and Solempne iniury of hir vnkynde husbande for Manyfolde
Benefites, yet (shee good gentlewoman) woulde permyt no duetye
of a trustye and faythfull Wyfe vnperformed. Wherefore shee
besoughte Philon vpon her knees, not to procede to further
reuenge of Acharisto, telling him, that enough it was for hir to
haue escaped that present peryl, from which he like a princely
Gentleman had deliuered hir, and therefore duering hir life was
most bounde vnto him. Philon greately wondred at the goodnesse
of this Ladie: howbeit the ingratitude of that Varlet by no
meanes he would suffer to bee vnpunished. And beeing aduertised
that Acharisto remayned in hys Palace without any suspicion of
this aduenture, banded neyther with Guarde or other assurance,
committed Euphimia to safe custodie, and sodainly assailed the
Palace of Acharisto: and finding the Gates open, he entred the
city, crying out vpon the Wickednesse and treason of Acharisto.
At which wordes the whole City began to ryse, to helpe Philon in
his enterpryse: for there was no state or degree, but abhorred
the vnkind order of that Varlet, towards the noble woman their
Queene. Philon aided with the people, assaulted the Palace, and
in short space inuaded the same: and the Varlet beeing
apprehended, was put to death. The Corinthians seeing the noble
mind of Philon, and the loue which he bare to Euphimia, and
knowing that their late Kyng was disposed to haue matched her
wyth Philon, were very willing to haue him to be their Kinge,
and that Euphimia should be his wife, supposinge that vnder the
gouernement of a Prynce so gentle and valiant, they might liue
very happily and ioyefullye. Execution don vpon that moste
vnkinde varlet, Philon caused the Lady to be conueyed home into
hir royal pallace: and the people with humble submission, began
to persuade hir to marie wyth that younge Prince Philon. But
shee which had lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir mind vpon that
caytife, who vnnaturally had abused hir, would by no meanes
consent to take a new husband, saying, that the seconde mariage
was not to bee allowed in any woman. And albeit that shee knewe
howe greately she was bounde to Philon, as duringe life not able
to recompence his louing kindnesse and valyante exployte
performed for hir safegard, yet for al hir vnhappy fortune, shee
was minded styll to remayne a widowe, and well contented that
Philon shoulde possesse hir whole domynion and kingdome, and she
pleased to lyue his subiecte: which state she sayd, did like her
best. Philon, that not for desire of the Kingdome, but for loue
of the Lady had attempted that worthy and honourable enterprise,
sayd vnto hir: "Euphimia, it was onely for youre sake that I
aduentured thys daungerous indeuor, to ridde you from the
slander that might haue ensued your innocent death, and out of
the cruel hands of hym, whom vnworthily you did so dearely loue.
No desyre of kyngdome or worldly glorye induced me herevnto: no
care that I had to enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile
pricked the courage of my mynd (that is altogether empty of
ambytion) but the Passion of carelesse Loue, whych thys long
tyme I haue borne you in your happy father's dayes, to whom I
made incessant sute: and to your selfe I was so long a Suter,
vntyll I receyued extreame repulse: for which I vowed a
perpetuall single Lyfe, vntyll thys occasyon was offred: the
brute whereof when I hearde first, so stirred the mynde of your
most louyng knight, that drousie sleepe or greedy hunger, coulde
not force this restlesse body to tarry at home, vntyl I reuenged
my selfe vpon that villaine borne, which went about wyth
roasting flames to consume the innocente flesh of hir whome I
loued best. And therfore mustred together my men of armes and in
secret sort imbarked our selues and arryued here: where wee haue
accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you in quiet
raygne, free from peryl of traiterous mindes, crauing for thys
my fact nought else of you but wylling mynd to be my wife: which
sith you do refuse, I passe not for rule of your kyngdom, ne yet
for abode in Corinth, but meane to leaue you to your choyse. For
satisfied am I, that I haue manifested to the world the
greatnesse of my loue, which was so ample as euer king could
beare to vertuous Queene: and so farewell." At which words he
made a signe to his people, that they shoulde shippe them selues
for return to Peloponesus. But the Senatours and al the people
of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon, and how greatly their
Queene was bound vnto him, fel downe vpon their knees, and with
ioyned hands besought hir to take him to husbande, neuer ceasing
from teares and supplication, vntyl she had consented to their
requeste. Then the mariage was solempnised with great ioy and
triumph, and the whole City after that tyme, lyued in great
felicity and quiet, so long as nature lengthned the dayes of
those two Noble Prynces.