_Candaules king of Lidia, shewing the secretes of his wyues beautie to
Gyges, one of his guarde: was by counsaile of his wife, slaine by the
said Gyges, and depriued of his kingdome._
Of all follies wherewith vayne men be affected, the follie of immoderate
loue is moste to bee detested. For that husband, which is beautified
with a comely and honest wife, whose rare excellencie doth surpasse
other, aswel in lineaments, proporcion, and feature of bodie, as with
inwarde qualities of minde: if he can not retaine in the secrecie and
silence of his breast, that excelling gifte and benefite, is worthy to
be inaugured with a Laurel crown of follie. Beautie eche man knoweth, is
one of natures ornamentes, by her wisedome ordeined, not to enter in
triumphe, as victours vse vpon gaine of victorie, with brauerie to
ostentate their glorie, by sound of Shalme and Dromme, but thankefully
for the same, to proclaime the due praise to the authour of nature. For
there is nothing more fraile and fading, then the luring lookes of dame
beauties eies, altogether like the flaring Marigold floure, which in the
moste feruent heate of the Sommers day, doth appeare most glorious, and
upon retire of the nights shadowe, appeareth as though it had neuer bene
the same. And therfore he that conceiueth, reioyce in her vncertayne
state, is like to him that in his slombring dreame, doth imagine he hath
founde a perelesse iewell, of price inestimable, beset with the
glistring Diamonde: and perfectly awaked, knoweth he hath none such. If
God hath indued a man with a wife that is beautifull and honest, hee is
furnished with double pleasure; such, as rather thankes to him, then
vain ostentation is to be remembred: otherwise, he doateth, either in
Jelosie or openeth proude vauntes therof, to suche as he thinketh to be
his most assured frendes. What ioye the sequele therof doth bring, let
the historie insuing reporte.
Candaules king of Lydia, had a marueilous beautifull gentlewoman to his
Queene and wife, whome hee loued very dearlye, and for that great loue
whiche he bare her, thought her the fayrest creature of the worlde.
Being in this louing concept, hee extolled the prayse of his wife, to
one of his guarde called Gyges, the sonne of Dascylus (whom he loued
aboue all the reste of his housholde, and vsed his counsayle, in all his
weightie causes) within a whyle after he sayde vnto Gyges these woordes.
“It semeth vnto mee Gyges, that thou doest not greatlye beleue the
woordes whiche I speake vnto thee, of the beautie of my wyfe, but
because eyes bee better witnesses of thinges then eares, thou shalt see
her naked.” With these woordes Gyges being amazed cryed out, saying:
“What woordes be these (sir king) me thynke you are not well aduised, to
require mee to viewe and beholde the Lady my maistres in that sorte? For
a woman seene naked, doth with her clothes, put of also her chastitie.
In olde tyme honest thinges were deuised for mannes instruction, emonges
which was vsed this one thyng. That euery man ought to beholde, the
thinges that were his owne. But sir, I do beleue assuredly that she is
the fairest woman in the world, wherfore desire me not to thynges that
bee vnlawefull.” In this sorte Gyges replied, and yet feared lest some
daunger might happen vnto hym. Whome Candaules encouraged, saying: “Bee
of good chere, and be not afrayde, that either I or my wyfe, goe about
to deceiue thee, or that thou shalt incurre anye daunger. For I wyll
take vpon me so to vse the matter, as she by no meanes shall knowe that
thou haste seene her. I wyll place thee behynde the portall of our
chamber. When I goe to bedde, my wyfe commonly doth followe. And she
being in the Chamber, a chayre is sette readye, vppon whiche shee layeth
her clothes, as she putteth them of. Whiche done shee sheweth her selfe
a good tyme naked: and when she ryseth from her chayre to goe to bedde,
her backe beyng towarde thee, thou mayest easilye conueyghe thy selfe
out again, but in any wyse take heede, she doe not see thee, as thou
goest out. Whereunto I praye thee, to haue a speciall regarde.” Gyges
seyng that by no meanes, hee could auoyde the vayne requeste of the
king, was readie at the tyme appoynted. Candaules about the howre of
bedde tyme, went into the Chamber, and conueighed Gyges into the same,
and after the kyng the queene followeth, whome Gyges behelde at her
going in, and at the putting of her clothes{.} When her back was
towardes him, (as he was going out) she perceiued him. The queene
vnderstanding by her husbande, the circumstance of the facte, neyther
for shame did crie out, ne yet made countenaunce as though shee had seen
Gyges; but in her minde purposed, to reuenge her husbandes follie. For
emonges the Lydians (as for the most part, with all other nations) it is
coumpted a great shame, to see a naked man. The gentlewoman
counterfaited her grief, and kepte silence. In the morning when she was
redie, by such of her seruaunts, whome she beste trusted, shee sent for
Gyges, who thought that shee had knowen nothing of that whiche chaunced.
Being come before her presence; she sayde vnto hym, “Gyges I offer vnto
thee nowe twoo conditions, take whether thou wylte. For eyther thou must
kill Candaules, and take mee to thy wyfe, and the kyngdome also, or els
thou must dye thy selfe, that thou maiest vnderstande, how in all
thynges not meete to be knowen, it is not necessarye to obeye Candaules.
For eyther hee muste needes dye, whiche gaue thee that counsayle, or thy
selfe, which diddest see me naked, and thereby committed a thing
vnlawfull.” Whiche words for a while, did wonderfully amase Gyges, then
he besought the Queene that she woulde pardon him from that vnlawfull
choise. When he saw that he coulde not perswade her; he required her to
shewe him by what meanes he might attempt that enterprise. “Marie (quoth
she) euen in that place where thou sawest me naked, when he is a sleepe
thou shalt commit that facte.” After they had deuised the treason, night
approched. And Gyges with stoute courage, bent himselfe thereunto, for
he saw no remedye, but that he must kill, or els be killed. Wherefore
with a Dagger which the Queene deliuered him, he killed Candaules, when
he was a sleepe; and so gotte from him both his wife and kingdome.
A goodly example to declare, that the secrets of Marriage, ought not to
be disclosed: but with reuerence to be couered, lest God do plague such
offences with death or other shame, to manifest to the world, howe
dearely hee esteemeth that honourable state.