University of Virginia Library

[Nicocrates a cruell tyrant, slewe]

The Argument to the second Hystorie.

VVithin Cyrene earst
there dwelling was a Dame
Namde Aretafila, of birthe
and noble bloud she came,
Elator was her Syre,
a man of great renowne:
Sir Fædimus her husband hight,
the chiefe in all the towne
For noble minde and wealth:
this Ladie was so well
With bewtie dighte, as she the reste
not onely did excell
For feature of her face,
that was full fayre to looke,
But eke for graue Mineruas giftes,
and cunning in her booke:
Her sacred giftes were great,
her wisdome was as rare,
As was her face, for fewe with her
in learning might compare.
What time this Ladie liude,
a tyrant fierce and fell,
Nicocrates, possest the lande
where did this matron dwell.
Who many of the men
that in the Citie were,
Did do to fowle and shamefull death,
he kept them all in feare.
They wist not what to doe:
Apollos priest he slewe,
His handes he nothing stucke with bloud
of prophets to imbrue,
Whom shame, and sinne it was
with rigour to entreate,
Respecting what their office was,
and why they kept the seate.
At length this cruell king
thus hauing sundrie slaine.
To trap Sir Fædimus in snare
did beate his wilie brayne,
And neuer gaue it off,
till he had wrought his will:
He thirsted for his bloud, whom he
without offence did kill.
And after husbands death,
this noble dame did wedde:
Who had as leuer lost her life,
as layne in tyrants bedde.
But force did take effect,
to striue it booted nought,
(For tyrant lust doth stande for lawe)
to yeelde it best she thought.
So monstrously his minde
too bloudie deedes was bent,
As sauing death without deserte
might nothing him content.
And looke as many as
he forced so to die,
Hee caused to be carried out,
without the walles to lie,
Amid the open fieldes,
that they might neuer haue,
The reuerence to corses due,
nor honour of the graue.
His Subiects when they sawe
him bath him so in blood,
And that to slay the giltlesse wight
it did this monster good,
Some, to auoide his handes,
did make in wise they were
Quite voide of life, to the ende they might
be borne on the beare,
And carried to the fielde,
where dead did vse to lie,
They thought them blest that by this wile
could bleare the Princes eie.
At length this subtile shift,
the cruell king perceiude,
And saw how to escape his scourge,
they had him long deceyude:
To worke a surer way,
at euery gate there was
Appointed one, with charge to looke
that no man there might passe,
In colour of the dead,
who cause he did not trust
The bearers with his naked sworde
the bodies vsde to thrust
Through coffin where they lay,
to make the matter sure:
This great outrage of his, the Queene
no longer coulde endure.
But verie much mislikte
these Tyrants trickes, and had
Compassion of her natiue soyle,
and woulde been very glad
With hazard of her life
to rid this monster quight,
For hatred which shee bare to him
that murthred so the knight
Whom shee full dearely loude:
and albeit the king
Made very great account of her,
yet did shee minde the thing
Which shee conceiude before
and purposde in her breast,
And till shee had atchieude the same,
could neuer liue at rest.
And though the Prince his power
this dayly greater grewe,
Had bred the Subiects to dispayre
their freedome to renewe,
Or euer safe to liue
within their natiue land,
Where such a cruell king did holde
the scepter in his hand:
Yet did this noble dame
conceiue a greater trust,
To finde a time to worke her feate,
which eyther doe shee must
And so at freedome set
her countrie men againe,
And venge her louing husbands death,
or let them all be slaine,
As hee, good knight, had beene.
To pricke her on the more,
Shee cald to minde the practise of
a Theban dame before,
That wise Faræa hight:
for doing of the which,
The valiant women wan renowme,
and was commended much.
Whom shee had great desire
to follow in this deede;
But when shee saw for lack of aide
and helping hands at need,
(Which tho the Theban had,)
shee could not doe the leeke:
Shee meant to doe it with a thing
that was not farre to seeke.
Deuising by a drinke,
to rid the Tyrants life,
Who slue her husband by deceite
and forst her to his wife.
A poyson she preparde,
whereby as I shall tell,
In present perill of her life
this ventrous Ladie fell.
For still her purpose failde,
and being in the end
Discouered, and the matter found,
which shee did then pretende,
Dissembling could not serue
to salue the sore againe.
For what good heart she bare the king
did then appeare too plaine.
The Tyrants mother eke,
that Madame Caluia hight,
Not louing Aretafila,
(a dame of great despight)
Full fit to breede a babe
of such a blooddie minde,
(For children commonly are like
vnto the mothers kinde)
Perswaded, that to death
this Ladie should be done,
As one that did pretend the spoyle,
and slaughter of her sonne.
But what the great good will
to her the Prince did beare,
And answere bold that shee had made
with vsage voyde of feare,
Before the mother Queene,
who there in open place,
Accusde her of her murther ment,
there standing face to face,
Did quit her from the death.
But when the proofe was such,
And euidence so plaine appearde,
so that shee mought not much
Excuse her of the fact,
but that the poysoned cup,
Was made by her, and meant vnto
the king to drinke it vp:
There Aretafila,
before the Iudges face,
In presence of the Prince her spouse,
did thus declare the case.
My Soueraigne Lord and Loue,
I cannot doe no lesse,
But, that this cup I did procure,
before thee now confesse.
My selfe the syrrope made,
and meant to giue it thee:
But this I will protest againe,
not knowing it to be,
A venim rancke and vile,
but verily did thinke
By cunning to deuise this cup,
and make a craftie drinke
To cause a man to loue:
for knowe you this, that I
Am spited at, of sundrie that
my marriage doe enuie.
It greeues a number, that
you beare me such good will,
It is a gall to some to see
that I shoulde haue my fill
Of treasure and attyre
and be a Prince his wife,
And they themselues to liue vnknowne,
and lead a priuate life.
I knowe they cannot well
my haphy state endure,
But that they will at length deuise
your friendship to allure,
And cause you cast me off:
which was the cause that I
Did brewe this drinke to keepe good wil.
I thought it good to trye
By art to stay a friend,
whom I by fortune wonne;
And if so be I did offend,
you cannot deeme it donne
For malice, but good will,
for hatred, but for zeale:
Why should I then condemned be
that neuer meant to deale
But as a louing wife?
And if your pleasure be
I shall bee punisht for my fault,
yet doe account of me
Not as a witch, that woulde
bereaue you of your life,
But one that by enchauntment thought
to make your Loue your wife,
And match her in good will
that doth extreemely loue:
And who, to be belovde alike,
dyd meane this sleight to proue.
When thus the Matron had,
with manly mouth and grace
Ypleaded for her selfe, the Prince
to whom pertaind the case,
Well liking this excuse,
woulde not in any wise
That shee, who was his wife, shoulde die:
but this he did deuise,
That there shee should be rackt
till time shee would confesse
The truth, and what shee meant thereby
in open place expresse.
When torment readie was,
and rack there set in place,
Then cankred Caluia, plaide her part,
and laid her on a pace,
Untill shee wearie woxe:
shee longed for her blood,
Which made her earnest in the case,
and plague the Queene a good.
But Aretafila,
as one that forced nought
Of all the paines shee had indurde,
discouered not her thought:
She nothing would confesse,
but kept it in her minde,
And hereupon deliuerde was.
Nicocrates could finde,
No due desart of death.
Then grew within his breast
A great remorse for rigour showne
to her he loued best,
Whom he without offence
had put to cruell paine.
Wherefore within a space the king
began to loue againe:
And fansie her as fast,
deuising sundry shiftes,
To winne her olde good will, he gaue
her many goodly gifts.
She could not want the thing
the tyrant had in store,
Who then but Aretafila,
whom he had rackt before?
And she that was full wise,
by countnance and by cheare,
Did make as though she did embrace
and helde the tyrant deare:
But still in store she kept
within her wrathfull minde,
Remembrance of reuenge, till she
fit time and place might finde.
And in her head she cut
the patterne of his paine,
How, if occasion servde she mought
auenge her husbande slaine.
By Fedimus she bare
whilste he yet liuing was,
A daughter that for honest life
and beautie braue did passe.
And so befell it, that
the king a brother had,
Leander namde, a wilfull youth,
and eke a wanton lad,
Much giuen to the loue
of light alluring dames,
To whom, as to a byting fish,
a bayte this mayden frames,
To take him by the lippe,
by sorcerie she wrought,
And cuppes that cause a man to loue:
whereby this youth she brought
Into her subtil net:
thus was Leander caught
By loue deuises, that the Queene
vnto her daughter taught.
This damsel hauing woonne
Leander to her lure,
So traynde him on, as she at last
the Princesse did procure
The tyrant to request,
to yeelde him his desire,
As touching mariage of the Mayde,
that set his minde on fire:
Who when Leanders loue
and purpose vnderstoode,
To Aretafila to breake
the same he thought it good.
She willing was thereto,
as one that wrought the wile:
Nicocrates perceiuing that,
denying it a while,
Yet graunted at the length:
not willing to be seene
An enemie vnto the mayde,
the daughter of the Queene,
When all good willes were got,
the mariage day drew neare,
Untill Leander wedded was,
he thought it twentie yeere.
To make the matter short,
I leaue for you to scan,
Both of the maydens rich attyre,
and iewels of the man.
I leaue the musike out,
I let the banket go:
I speake not of the noble men
that were at wedding tho.
I write not of the wine,
nor of the daintie cates,
Assure your selues there wāted naught
that fitted royal states.
When wedding day was done,
the wife to chamber went,
And after her Leander came:
where they in pleasure spent
The night, as custome is,
and maried folkes do vse:
And selfe same pleasure night by night
from that day forth ensues.
The lately wedded wife
behaude her selfe so well,
That still Leander ten times more
to doting fansie fell.
Which when she vnderstoode,
a wench of wily witte,
To set her purpose then abroch,
she thought it passing fit.
A fyled tale she framde,
and thus begun to speake:
Mine own (quoth she) the great good wil
I beare you, makes me breake
My minde and meaning nowe:
The carke and care I haue,
Is causer that I will you from
your brothers sword to saue
Your life, whilste yet you may:
you see his monstrous minde,
And how his hatefull tyrants heart
is all to blood inclinde.
You know his cruell deedes,
I shall not neede recite
The sundry men that he hath slaine
vpon a meere despight:
You viewe the gorie ground,
where yet the bodies lie,
You see how tyrant like he deales,
you see with daily eye,
Such vndeserued deathes
as wo it is to tell:
In my conceite, if you should seeke,
his spoyle, you did but well.
It were a worthie deede,
and well deseruing prayse,
To murther him, and reaue his realme,
that so his subiects slayes.
To rid your natiue soyle
of such a monster, may
Not onely gaine immortall fame
that neuer shall decay:
But winne you such good will,
in countrie and in towne,
As by the meanes thereof, you may
attaine the royall crowne,
Which now your brother weares
against the peoples will,
Who would (no doubt) elect you prince,
if you the tyrant kill.
To quit so good a turne,
and noble deede withall.
But if you let him raigne a while,
I feare, at last you shall
Repent your long delay:
your state is neuer sure,
As long as he, the monster liues,
he will your bane procure.
What thraldome like to yours?
howe wretched is your life?
Haue you forgotten how you sude
to him, to take a wife?
Fie, shame, Leander, fie,
I greatly disalow,
That you who are his brother, should
vnto your brother bow.
Put case he owe the crowne,
is that a cause that you
May not go marry where you list,
but must be forst to sue
So like a boy, for leaue
to choose your selfe a make?
Oh that I were a man, I would
enforce the beast to quake.
Leander, if you loue
or make account of me,
Bereaue the monster of his life:
my mother longs to see
The slaughter of her so,
that slue my father earst.
With these her wordes Leander felt
his heart so throughly pearst,
As vp from bed he flew,
with minde to murther bent.
To sucke his brothers bloud, ere long
this wilfull marchant ment.
Leander had a friend
whom he did loue as life,
Callde Danicles, to whom he rode
and tolde him what his wife
Had willde him take in hande,
wherein his ayde he must
In whom especially he did
repose assured trust.
Leander with his friend,
when time and place did serue,
Nicocrates the tyrant slue,
as he did well deserue.
And hauing done the deed,
achieude the kingly Crowne,
He strake the stroke, and ruler was,
and gouernde all the towne.
Thus he in office plaste,
puft vp with princely might,
Not forcing Aretafila,
his mother law awhit,
Nor any of hir blood,
once hauing got the raigne,
Did all the worlde to vnderstande
by that his high disdaine,
That he his brother slue
for rancour and despight:
Not for desire his Countrey soyle
from tyrants handes to quight.
So loathsome all his lawes,
so straunge his statutes were,
Such folly in his roysting rule,
as made the people feare,
Their former foe to haue
bene raysde to life againe,
Who was not many dayes before
by this Leander slaine.
When Aretafila
sawe howe the game did go,
And that Leander in his sway
did vse the matter so,
And proudly rulde the realme,
esteeming her so light,
Who hoped by his brothers death
the countrie had bene quight
Releast of tyrants rage:
when she perceiude (I say)
Howe haughtily his heart was bent,
she meant her part to play:
In ridding of the realme
of such a cruel king,
That kept his subiects so in awe,
and vnder yoke did wring:
A fresh report was blowne
of one Anabus, bred
In Libie lande, a Martial man
that all his life had led
In face of foraine foes:
with him this wily dame
Did practise, and such order tooke,
as he with army came
Leander to subdue:
who being nigh at hand,
With mightie troupe of warlike wights,
to ouercom the land:
The Queene, his mother lawe,
as one that were dismaide,
To worke her wile, Leander cald,
and thus to him shee said:
Loe here (good sonne) you see
how nie your mightie foe,
Is come to bid you battaile, and
your Captaines are (you know)
Not to be matcht with his:
behold what men they are:
Well skild in feats that touch the fielde,
and traind in trade of warre.
Your souldiers are but sheepe,
for battaile farre vnfit:
Besides their pollicies are great,
your Captaines haue no wit
To deale in such a case
that toucheth Princes state:
Againe, there commes no honour by
such brawles, and broyling hate:
Consider with your selfe,
you scarsly haue as yet
Good footing gotten in your raigne,
vnstable (sonne) you sit.
And like to take a fall:
whereof if womans braine
May giue good counsaile to the wise,
I would (I tell you plaine,)
Your foe and you were friendes:
I would allow it well,
If you with Captaine Anabus
to truce and concord fell.
I doe presume on this,
and dare to vndertake,
That you shall safely come to talke,
by meanes that I will make
With him that is your foe:
the wordes his mother spake,
Leander liked verie well
and in good part did take.
Desirous of a parle.
but ere the pointed day
Of talke betwixt the Captaines came,
she sent a Poast away,
A messenger of trust,
Anabus to entreate,
That when Leander issude out,
then he should worke his feate,
And either slay him there,
by force in open fielde,
Or vnto her, the cruell king
in chaines a captiue yeeld:
In recompence whereof
She made a large behest,
Of gold that she would franklike giue:
whereto this greedie gest,
The Lybian man of warre,
full gladly lent his care.
Leander (as the nature is
of Tyrants) stood in feare,
Deferring day of parle,
vnwilling foorth to goe,
But Ladie Aretafila
still lay vpon him so,
As very shame at last
did further this intent:
And shee, to egge him on the more,
made promise if he went.
To set her foote by his,
and looke the foe in face:
Which moude Leander very much,
and mended well the case.
So out at length they passe,
disarmd he and his,
As one that meant to treate of truce,
for so the custome is.
Anabus seeing this,
to counter him began,
And with his power approched neare:
Leander fearfull man
Would gladly made a stop,
and gazde about the place:
To viewe his gard that should assist
and helpe in needfull case.
But how much more he seemde
to linger on the way:
So much the more his mother lawe,
by words, that shee did say
As touching his reproch,
of fearefull cowards heart,
Did pricke Leander, onward still,
not letting him to part.
At Length the Lady, when
of force he would haue staid,
Upon the wretched dastard wight
his feeble fingers laid:
And by the ayde of men
whom there shee had in place,
She brought him bound both hand & foot,
before Anabus face.
And captiue gaue him vp,
to liue in lothsome holde,
Untill the Queene, as promise was,
hee payd him all his golde.
Then he eftsoone retyres
vnto the towne againe,
Declaring what successe she had
and what a spitefull paine
Shee tookeor eare shee could
that blooddie beastlie king
Depose and rid him from the realme,
and so to bondage bring.
The people passing glad
that he was so displaste,
Did make a common purse, to pay
the Lybian Duke in haste:
Who hauing told the crownes,
did send Leander backe,
Unto the Queene: and shee enclosde
the monster in a sacke,
And causd him to be cast,
from off a mountaine hie,
Into the Sea, to drowne the beast
that wel deserude to die.
Then Calnya, shee was caught,
and to a piller tied,
And there the cruell croked queane,
with flaming fagots fried,
Till all her aged bones,
to ashes were consumde,
That oft in youth with Ciuet sweete
and Amber were perfumde.
When all this broile was done,
the townesmen in a ranke,
Kneeld downe to Aretafila,
and highly did her thanke,
For freedome got againe,
with perill of her life.
I neede not here expresse the ioyes
of maiden, man, and wife.
For all reioyst alike,
mot one in all the towne,
Nor countrie, but was glad at heart
that they had wonne the crowne
Into their hands againe,
and shapte the Tyrants scourge,
Then gan they all with one consent
the aged dame to vrge,
With helpe of chosen men,
to gouerne all the land:
For vantage of the publike weale,
she tooke the charge in hand.
Because we lightly see
when Peeres and Princes faile,
Then runnes the common welth to wreck,
as shippe without a saile.
But when she saw the realme
at good and quiet stay:
And vnderstood that commons did
with willing minds obay
Unto their lawfull heads,
the Senate she bethought,
To take the gouernment a fresh:
her selfe vnfit she thought
To deale in case of state,
then tooke they all the charge,
And did the Ladie from the crowne,
and troubles quite discharge.
Thus hauing rid the realme
of two such blooddie foes,
Into a Nunnrie, there to ende
her life this Ladie goes.
Where she deuoutly dwelt,
and to her praiers fell:
And as shee liude in vertue earst,
so dide shee very well.

The Lenuoy.