_Seleucus king of Asia, gaue his wife to his owne sonne in mariage,
being his mother in lawe: who so feruently did loue her, that he was
like to die, whiche by a discrete and wyse inuention, was discouered
to Seleucus by a Phisition._
Although the wyse Philosopher Plutarche, elegantly and brieflye
describeth this historie, in the life of Demetrius: yet bicause Bandello
aptlye and more at large doth discourse the same, I thought good to
apply my pen to his stile. Who saith that Seleucus king of Babylon,
a man verie victorious in battaile, was amongs the successors of
Alexander the great, the moste happie and fortunate: He had a sonne
called by his father’s name Antiochus. After the deceasse of his wife,
his sonne increased and gaue great hope of valiaunce in future time, to
become a valiant gentleman worthy of suche a father. And being ariued to
XXIIII. yeres of age, it chaunced that his father fell in loue with a
very faire yonge gentle woman, discended of great parentage (called
Stratonica) whom he tooke to wife, and made her Queene, and by her had
one sonne. Antiochus seing his mother in lawe, to be (besides her great
beautie) a curteous and gentle Lady, began to be very amerous of her,
whose hart war so set on fire (without apparent shew) that incredible it
is to expresse the loue that he bare her. And yet he thought that loue
to be vnnaturall because she was his father’s wife, and therefore durst
not discouer it to any man. And the more secrete he kept it the more the
heate began to boile and consume him. But bicause he sawe that loue had
fixed so deepe footing, that he was not well able to retire, hee
determined after long sorow and great turmoile, to seke some quiet hauen
to reste his weather beaten barke, that had ben tossed with the waues of
pensife and sorowfull cogitacions. His father had many kingdomes and
Prouinces innumerable vnder his Empire. At whose handes Antiochus craued
licence to visite some of them for his disport and recreation, of
purpose to proue if he could auoide that vnseasonable loue, wherewith
his hart was suppressed. But he was no soner out of his father’s house,
but his harte was vexed with greater tormentes then before, being
depriued from the sight of faire Stratonica, whose presence did better
content him, then all the pleasures and sportes of the worlde.
Neuerthelesse, desirous to vanquishe his indurate affections, he
continued abroade for a certaine time, during whiche space, vnable to
quenche the fire, he led a more desolate and troublesome life, then he
did before. In the end victorious loue toke him prisoner and caried him
home againe to his father’s house. Who seing the great loue that his
father bare to his wife, and the ioyfull tyme that hee spent with faire
Stratonica, transported into many carefull panges, many times complained
to him selfe in this wise. “Am I Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus? Am I
he that my father loueth so well, honoreth so much, and estemeth better
then al his realmes and dominions? Alas if I be Antiochus in deede, the
sonne of so louing a father, where is the duetifull loue, and bounden
reuerence that I ought to beare vnto him? Is this the duetie of a sonne
towardes his father? Ah wretche and caitife that I am. Whether hath
grosse affection, vayne hope, and blynde loue caried me? Can loue be so
blynde? Shall I be so voyde of sence, that I know not my mother in law
from an other woman who loueth me no lesse, and entertaigneth me so wel,
as if she were mine own mother, that laboured with painful panges, to
bring me into light? Which being true, as it is most true, why then do I
loue her? nay rather more then loue her. Why doe I seke after her? What
meane I to hope for her? Why doe I precipitate so fondlye into the
snares of blynde and deceiptfull loue, and into the trappe of
deceiptfull hope? Can I not perceyue that these desyres, these vnstayed
appetites, and vnbrydeled affections, doe proceade from that whiche is
dishonest? I see well enough that the waye I take leadeth mee into great
inconuenience. And what reproche should I sustayne, if this vnreasonable
loue were made common to the world? Ought not I rather to suffer
infamous death, then to see my father depryued of suche a wyfe, whome
hee so derely loueth? I wyll giue ouer this vnsemely loue, and reuerting
my mynde to some other wyght, I wyll accomplishe the duetie of a good
and louinge sonne towardes his father.” Reasoning thus with hym selfe,
hee determyned wholly to giue ouer his enterpryse. And hee had no soner
purposed so to doe, but sodaynly the beautie of the Lady appeared, as it
were in a vision, before the face of his mynde, and felte the flames to
growe so hotte, as hee, vppon his knees, craued a thousande pardons of
the louing God, for the abandoning of his gentle enterpryse. And
therewithal contrarie imaginations began to ryse, whiche so contended
with mutuall resistaunce, as they forced hym thus to saye. “Shall not I
loue this Ladie, because shee is my fathers wife? Shall not I prosecute
my suite, for all that shee is my mother in lawe? Ah cowarde,
fayntharted, and worthy to bee crowned a Prince of follye, if therefore
I should giue ouer my former mynde. Loue prescribeth no suche lawe to
her suters as pollicie doth to man. Loue commaundeth the brother to loue
the sister, loue maketh the doughter to loue the father, the brother his
brothers wife, and many times the mother, her sonne in lawe: whiche
being lawfull to other, is it not lawful to me? If my father being an
old man, whose nature waxeth cold, hath not forgotten the lawes of loue,
in louing her whom I loue: shal I being a yong man, subiect to loue, and
inflamed with his passions, be blamed for louing her? And as I were not
blame worthy, if I loued one that were not my fathers wife, so must I
accuse Fortune, for that she gaue her not to wyfe to an other man,
rather then to my father, bicause I loue her, and would haue loued her,
whose wyfe so euer she had bene. Whose beautie (to say the trouth is
such) whose grace and comelinesse so excellent, that shee is worthy to
be receiued, honoured, and worshipped of all the worlde, I thinke it
then conuenient for me to pursue my purpose, and to serue her aboue al
other.” Thus this miserable louer, trauersing in seuerall mindes, and
deluding his own fansie, chaunged his mynde a thousand times in an
hower. In thende, after infinite disputations to him selfe, he gaue
place to reason, considering the great disconuenience that would insue
his disordinate loue. And yet not able to geue it ouer: And determining
rather to die, then to yelde to such wicked loue or to discouer the same
to any man. By litle and litle he consumed, as sleting snow against the
warme Sone: wherwith he came to suche feble state, that he could neither
slepe, nor eate, and was compelled to kepe his bedde, in suche wyse,
that with superfluous paine he was brought to marueylous debilitie.
Whiche his father perceiuing, that loued him very tenderly, conceiued
great griefe and sorowe: and sent for Erasistratus, (which was a very
excellent Phisition and of great estimation) whom very instantly he
praied diligently to loke vnto his sonne, and to prouide for him such
remedie as was conuenient for the greatnesse of his disease.
Erasistratus viewyng and beholding all the partes of the yonge
gentlemans body, and perceiuing no signe of sickenes, eyther in his
vrine or other accident, whereby hee coulde iudge his body to be
diseased; after many discourses, gaue iudgement, that the same
infirmitie proceaded from some passion of the mynde, whiche shortelye
woulde coste hym his life.
Whereof he aduertised Seleucus. Who louing his sonne after a fatherly
maner, and speciallye, because he was indued with vertue and good
condicions, was afflicted with vnspeakeable griefe. The yong gentleman
was a marueilous towarde youth, so actiue and valiaunte as anye that
liued in his tyme, and therewithall verie beautifull and comely. Whiche
made hym to be beloued of all men. His father was continuall in his
chamber, and the Queene her selfe oftentimes visited him, and with her
own handes serued him with meates and drinkes: whiche bicause I am no
Phisition, I knowe not whether the same did the yong man any pleasure,
or whether it did him hurt or good. But I suppose, that her sight was
ioyfull vnto hym, as of her in whom he had placed his comfort, all his
hope, quietnesse, and delight. But beholding before his eyes so many
times the beautie of her whome so greatly he desired to enioye, hearing
her speake that was the cause of his death, and receiuing seruice of
meates and drinkes at her handes whome he loued better then the balles
of his eyes: vnto whom he durst not make any request or praier, whether
his grief surmounted all other, and therefore continually pined and
consumed, I thinke it of reason to be beleued. And who doubteth but that
he feling him self to be touched with those her delicate handes, and
seing her to sitte by him, and so many times for his sake to fetche so
many syghes, and with suche swete woordes to bidde hym be of good chere,
and that if he wanted any thing to tell her, and praied him with
pleasaunt woordes, to call for that he lacked, and that for his sake she
would gladly accomplish what he desired: who douteth I say, but he was
marueilously tormented with a thousande cogitations? Nowe conceiuing
hope, and now dispaire, and still concluding with him selfe, rather to
dye then to manifeste his loue. And if it bee a griefe to all yonge men,
(be they of neuer so meane and base condicion) in theyr youthlye tyme,
to lose their lyfe, what shall we thynke of Antiochus, beyng a younge
man of freshe and flourishyng age, the sonne of a ryche and mightie
kyng, that looked if hee escaped after the death of his father to bee
heyre of all, did willingly craue death, of that small disease: I am
assured that his sorowe was infinite. Antiochus then beaten with pitie,
with loue, with hope, with desyre, with fatherly reuerence, and with a
thousande other thynges (lyke a shyppe tossed in depest Seas) by litle
and litle beganne to growe extremely sicke. Erasistratus that sawe his
bodye whole and sounde, but his minde greuously weakened, and the same
vanquished with sundrie passions. After hee had with him selfe
considered this straunge case, hee for conclusion founde out that the
yonge man was sicke of loue, and of none other cause. Moreouer he
thought that many times, wise and graue men, through ire, hatred,
disdaine, melancholie, and other affections, could easily faine and
dissemble their passions, but loue if it be kept secrete, doth by the
close keping therof, greater hurt then if it be made manifest. And
albeit that of Antiochus he coulde not learne the cause of his loue, yet
after that imagination was entred into his head, he purposed to finde it
out by continual aboade with him, and by great diligence to obserue and
marke all his actions: and aboue all to take hede to the mutacion of his
poulces, and whereupon their beating did alter. This deliberation
purposed, he sat downe by the bed side, and tooke Antiochus by the arme,
and helde him faste where the poulses ordinarily do beate. It chaunced
at that very instant, that the Queene Stratonica entred into the
chamber, whom so sone as the yonge man sawe comming toward him, sodainly
the poulse which were weake and feble, began to reuiue through mutation
of the bloud. Erasistratus feling the renforcing of the poulce, to proue
howe long it would continewe, he remoued not at the comming of the
Queene, but still helde his fingers vpon the beating of the poulces. So
longe as the Queene continued in the chamber, the beating was quicke and
liuely, but when she departed, it ceased, and the wonted weakenes of the
poulces retourned. Not long after the Queene came againe into the
chamber, who was no soner espied by Antiochus, but his poulces receiued
vigor, and began to leape, and so still continued. When she departed the
force and vigor of the poulce departed also. The noble phisition seing
this mutation, and that still it chaunced vpon the presence of the
Queene: hee thought that he had founde out the cause of Antiochus
sickenesse: but he determined better to marke the same the next daye, to
be the better assured. The morowe after, Erasistratus satte downe againe
by the yonge gentleman and took him again by the arme, but his poulce
made no motion at all. The king came to see his sonne, and yet for all
that his poulces were still: and beholde the Queene came no soner in,
but sodainly they reuiued, and yelded suche liuely mouing, as if you
woulde haue sayde:--“Yonder is shee that setteth my harte on fyre.
Beholde where she is that is my life and death.”--Then Erasistratus was
wel assured and certaine that Antiochus was feruently inflamed with his
mother in lawe, but that shame constrained him to conceale the hotte
firebrandes that tormented him, and to keepe theim close and secrete.
Certified of this opinion, before he would open the matter, he
considered what way were best to geue knowledge therof to king Seleucus.
And when hee had well debated of this matter, he deuised this waye: hee
knew that Seleucus loued his wife beyonde measure, and also that
Antiochus was so deare vnto him as his own life. Whereupon he thus sayde
vnto the kyng. “Noble Seleucus, thy sonne is affected with a greuous
maladie, and that (which is worse) I deme his sickenesse to be
incurable.” At whiche woordes, the sorowefull father began to vtter
pitifull lamentation, and bitterly to complayne of Fortune. To whome the
Phisition sayde.--“If it please you (my Lorde) to vnderstande the
occasion of his disease, this it is: The maladie that affecteth and
languisheth your sonne, is Loue: and the loue of such a woman, which
except he enioy, there is no remedie but death.” “Alas (quoth the kinge,
weeping with bitter teares) and what woman is shee, but that I maye
procure her for him, which am kinge of all Asia, and am able with
intreatie, money, giftes, or other pollicie whatsoeuer, to make her
obediente and willinge to my sonnes requeste. Tell me onely the name of
the woman, that I maye prouide for my sonnes health, yea, thoughe it
coste me all my goodes and realme to, if otherwise shee cannot be
gotten: for if he die what shall I doe with my kingdome.”
Whereunto Erasistratus aunswered. “If it like your grace, your sonne is
in loue with my wife, but because the loue of another man’s wife seemeth
vnto him vnreasonable, he dareth not to manifest it for shame, but
rather wisheth to die, then to open his minde. Howbeit, I by certaine
euidente signes, do well perceiue it.” When Seleucus hearde these words,
he said. “O Erasistratus! thou being so worthie a man, to whom fewe in
goodnesse and humilitie be comparable, so deare and wel beloued of mee,
and beareth the bruite to be the very hauen and harborough of wisedome,
wilt thou not saue my sonne, which is a yonge man, nowe vppon the floure
of his youth, and most worthy of life: for whom the empyre of all Asia
is worthely reserued? O Erasistratus! the sonne of thy frend Seleucus,
is thy king, who through loue and silence, is at the pointe of death,
thou seest that for modestie, and honestie sake, at this his last and
doubtfull passage, he had rather chose to die, then by speaking to
offend thee, and wilte thou not helpe him? This his silence, this
discretion, that his reuerence which hee sheweth, oughte to moue thee to
compassion. Thincke my wel beloued Erasistratus, that if he loue
ardently, that he was forced to loue: for vndoubtedly, if he could not
loue, he would doe the best he could not to loue: yea, and with all his
endeauour to resist it: but who is able to prescribe lawes to loue? Loue
I knowe, not onelye forceth men, but also commaundeth the immortal Gods:
and when they be not able to resist, what can man’s pollicie preuaile?
Wherefore, who knoweth not what pitie mine owne deare Antiochus doth
deserue? who being constrained, can none otherwise do: but to be silent
in loue, is a most euident signe of a noble and rare vertue. Dispose thy
minde therefore, to helpe my sonne: for I assure thee that if thou do
not loue the life of Antiochus, Seleucus life must needes be hated of
thee: he cannot be hurt, but I likewise muste be touched with griefe.”
The wise Phisition, seing that his aduise came to passe as he thought
before, and that Seleucus was so instant vpon him for the health of his
sonne: the better to proue his minde and his intention, spake vnto him
in this wise. “It is a common saying, my most dradde soueraigne Lord,
that a man when he is whole, can giue to him that is sicke and weake,
very good counsel. You perswade me to giue my welbeloued wife to another
man, and to forgoe her whom I moste feruently doe loue, and in lackinge
her, my life also must faile. If you do take from me my wyfe, you take
with her my life. Doubtfull it is my Lord, if Antiochus your sonne were
in loue with the queene Stratonica, your graces’ wyfe, whether you would
be so liberall vnto him of her, as you woulde that I should be of mine.”
“I would it were the pleasure of the Gods (sodenly aunswered Seleucus)
that he were in loue with my best beloued Stratonica, I sweare vnto
thee, by the reuerence that I haue always borne to the honourable
memorie of my father Antiochus, and my graundfather Seleucus: and I
sweare by all the sacred Gods, that freelye and forthwith, I would
render her into his hands (althoughe shee be the dearest beloued vnto
mee,) in suche wise as all the worlde should know what the dutie of a
good and louing father ought to be to such a sonne, as is my intirely
beloued Antiochus: whoe (if I bee not deceiued) is moste worthie of all
helpe and succour. Alas! this is a great vertue, in concealing that
notable passion as an earnest affection of loue: and is it not worthie
to be consecrated to eternall memorie? Is he not worthie of all helpe
and comfort? Doth hee not deserue to be pitied and lamented of all the
worlde? Trulye he is worse then a cruel enemie, naye he is rather more
fierce and vnnatural then a sauage beast, that at such moderate
behauiour as my sonne vseth, wil not take compassion.” Many other wordes
the good father spake, manifestly declaring, that he for the health of
his sonne, would not onely sticke to bestowe his wife, but also
willingly his lyfe for his preseruation. Wherefore the Phisition thought
it not good any longer to keepe secrete the cause, but toke the king
aside, and said vnto him in this wyse. “The health of your sonne (my
deare Lorde and Soueraigne) is not in my handes, but the same resteth in
you, and in your wife Stratonica: whom (as I, by certaine signes doe
manifestly know,) he ardentlie doth loue. Your grace now doth knowe from
henceforth what to do, if his life be dere vnto you.” And telling the
king the maner of his loue, he ioyfully toke his leaue. The king now
doubted but of one thing, which was how to perswade his sonne to take
Stratonica to wife: and howe to exhorte his wyfe, to take his sonne to
husbande. But it chaunced for diuers causes, that easelye ynough he
perswaded them both. And perchaunce, Stratonica made a good exchaunge,
in taking a yong man, to forsake him that was olde. After Seleucus had
made the accord betwene his wife and his sonne, he caused al his army to
assemble, which was very great: to whom he said in this maner. “My dere
and louinge souldiours, which sith the death of Alexander the great,
haue (with mee) atchieued a thousande glorious enterprises: I thincke it
meete and conueniente that yee be partakers of that which I purpose to
bringe to passe. Ye doe knowe that vnder mine Empyre, I have LXXII.
kingdomes, and that I beinge an olde man, am not able to attende so
greate a charge: wherefore (louinge companions) I purpose to deliuer and
ridde you from griefe of idlenesse, and my selfe from trouble and toyle,
reseruing to mee onely so much as lyeth betweene the Sea and the riuer
Euphrates. All the rest of my dominions I giue to my sonne Antiochus,
vppon whom in marriage, I haue bestowed my wife Stratonica, which thinge
ought to contente you, because my will and pleasure is such.” And when
he had tolde them the loue and sicknes of his sonne, and the discrete
deuise of the gentle Phisition, in the presence of all his armie, the
mariage was celebrated betwene Stratonica and Antiochus. Afterwards he
crowned them both kinge and Queene of Asia, and with royall pompe and
triumphe, the desired mariage was consummate. The armye hearing and
seing these thinges, very highly commended the pietie of the father
towards his sonne. Antiochus then continued with his welbeloued wife in
ioy and quietnes, liuing together in great felicitie. This was not hee
that for matters of Ægipt did make warres with the Romaines: but he that
onely inferred warres vpon the Gallatians, which out of Europa passed
into Asia, out of which countrie hee chased them, and ouercame them. Of
this Antiochus came Seleucus, which was father of Antiochus surnamed the
great, that attempted very notable warres against the Romaines, and not
his great graundfather, that maried his mother in law. Finally this
Seleucus (of whom I recompt this historie) by giuing his wife to his
sonne, did accomplish a miraculous act, and worthy (in deede) of
sempiternall remembraunce, and greatlye to bee commended therefore, who
although he had achieued infinite victories ouer his enemies, yet there
was none of them all so great as the victorie of himselfe, and his
passions. For certainly Seleucus did vanquish his owne appetites, by
depriuing himselfe of his wife, whom hee loued and esteemed, aboue all
worldly thinges.