The Historie of Titana, and Theseus

The Historie of Titana, and Theſeus. Verie pleasant for age to auoyd drowſie thoughts: profitable for youth to eschew wanton paſtimes: ſo that to both, it brings the mindes content. Written by W. B. London, Printed by T. C. for Thomas Pauier, and are to be ſolde at his ſhop in Cornhill, neare the Exchange. 1608.

To the right worshⁱpfvll, Humphrie Coniſbie: W. B. wiſheth all ioy, and happineſſe, in this world, and in the world to come, life euerlaſting.

RIght Worſhipfull (ever ſince my childiſh yeares, were adopted, with that mutuall ſence of ſeeing, and imboldned with your favourable ſmiles; I preſumed to ſurvey the manifold fauours, that I found written in the Margent of your love; (which ſeeing) I find my ſelfe ſo deep^ly indebted to your Worſhip, that although I ſhould indeuour my ſelfe euen to the laſt gaſpe, yet were it imposſible for me to deſerue, or make you reſtitution for the leaſt of them: but as heretofore I ſtill preſumed on your kindneſſe, preſenting your worſhip, the frownes of Fortune, ſo rudely and roughly poliſhed, that I feare you will ſmile with Alexander at the crooked deformitie of Vulcan: yet ſometimes the minde is as well pleaſed to heare of Pans homely fancies, as of Hercules renowned labours; Homer write verſes as well on Irus the Beggar, as Euryma^uchus the Woer: Apollo gives Oracles as well to the poore for his mite, as to the rich for his treaſure: Darius aſwell receiued the rough unpoliſh’d colors of Miſon, as the curious picters of Apelles. Therefore I beſeech you, to ſhroud this imperfect Pamphlet, vnder your Worſhips patronage: aſſuring my ſelfe that your Worſhips learned education, and vertuous diſpoſition, will be a ſufficient defence to protect me from the enuious tongues of the ſchorning Sicophants, and hoping as Iupiter and his ſonne, vouchſafed to lye in Philemons poore Cottage: ſo I hope your Worſhip will excuſe my ſlender ſkill, and except of my willing minde, and when you haue giuen them a fauourable view, with Minerua vnder your golden Target couer a deformed Owle, ſo hoping for more then yet I haue deſerued, I reſt: wiſhing you the happie ſucceſſe of harts content, where I leaue you to the Heauens diſpoſing.

Your Worſhips moſt dutifull and euer bounden W. Bettie.

THE HISTORIE of Titana, and Theſeus.

IN Greece, there dwelt a mightie King, called Aegeus, who had raigned fiftie years; fortunate and ſucceſſiue in all his warlike affayres: that through the puiſſance of his force to his foes, and bountyfull curtiſie, to his friends; he was feared in hate, and imbraced in loue. This Aegeus had one onely Sonne, whoſe name was Theſeus, who was by birth Royall, learned by education, by Nature valorous, and by Vertues famous: in ſo much that it was hard to iudge whether his Valour, Fortune, or Vertue, wonne the greateſt praiſe.

This young Prince, being ſo richly adorned with the rare Feats, and accompliſhments of Chiualry, that he did not only enioy his Fathers loue, but alſo wonne his ſubiects harts: at that inſtant, there liued Meleagar, King of Achaia, not farre diſtant from the Court of Aegeus, who had a Daughter, a faire young Uirgin, whoſe name was Titana, her vertuous diſpoſitions were ſuch, as might iuſtly challenge more loue than the world could yėeld her: for her beauty was ſuch, as it tainted Venus cheekes, her vertue ſhadowed Dianaes Altars, her learning ſtayned ſacred Pallas, & her loyalty was ſuch as it quite ſurpaſt Penelope: how can the world then extoll theſe excellent gifts of Nature, to the high ſpheere of their deſerts, being ſo exquiſitly limitted, and ſo louingly applauded by their Subiects reports, but by committing them to thoſe glittring creatures, incloſed within the ſpangled ſkies, where wėele leaue them to the Heauens diſpoſing, and turne to Meleagar her father: who in his youth, had beene brought vp with Aegeus, and was his Sch∞lefellow; ſo as they had bėene Sch∞le fellowes in their youth, they remained louing Neighbours in their age, maintaining courſe, and recourſe, t∞ and fro each others Courts, vpholding golden amitie, with the pillars of Brotherly loue, which did not onely reioyce the Achaians, but alſo augment the Grecians loue, with ſuch inordinate and extreame paſſions, that euery yeare, vpon the Kings Coronation day, the people throughout all Greece, and Achaia, held a generall feaſt, for the ſpace of fortie dayes, with Iuſts, and Turnies, with Running, Wreſtling, Leaping, and Dancing, with Bonfires, ringing of Bells, and ſuch like pleaſant paſtimes: not onely to honour their two Kings, but alſo to ſhew their inward ioy, by their outward actions: as well to ſhew their Kings, their royall deſerts, as their loyaltie, being Subiects. When this ſolemne Triumph was quite ended, the people returned vnto their former labour, and wonted courſe of life, where wėele leaue them and turne to Theſeus: who though but young in yeares, yet old in experience, though valorous with Hercules, yet not too venturous with Phaeton; though vpheld with the wings of Fortune, yet not raſh in flying with Icarus, but keeping lower bownds with Dedalus; hee feared not the Thunderbolts of Ioue, nor yet the raging waues of Neptune: well (to be briefe:)

Theſeus, who had euer ſince he was able to harbour, or conceiue one amorous thought, markt the excellency of Titanaes behauiour, and the exquiſitie of her beauty, perſwaded himſelfe that ſhe was matchleſſe on earth: in ſo much, that at laſt he fell into paſſionate affections with Titana; and burſt out his paſſions in theſe tearmes, being alone in a garden, ſitting vnder an Orenge Trėe:

Ah Theſeus thou art a Kings ſonne, and art applauded by the Greekes, to be the only champion of this climat, and wilt thou liue a ſlaue to Venus, confind and bard of libertie? no, no, caſt of theſe f∞liſh affections; for Theſeus, ſurely thou doſt not loue, theſe are but inſtant conceits, ſwėetned with hony, or fire made with ſtraw, they are not Amors of perfection.

Ah Theſeus, flatter not thy ſelfe, thy heart doth feele the deadly wound of Cupids Darte: Oh, that blinde boy hath pierſt it cleane through, like an Indian pearle: yet be chearfull Theſeus, what nėedſt thou feare, thou knoweſt the ſalue to cure thy amorous coraſiue; Titana, is a Kings Daughter, and ſhe is by birth Royall, learned by education, faire by Nature, by vertues famous, and by poſſeſſions rich: why then what needſt thou feare, caſt off theſe diſpayring follies, and put on aſſuring fancies, for Cupid neuer throwes his Dart, but Venus ſeekes the wound: why then Theſeus, art thou a Prince, and a valiant Souldier, and wilt liue thus perplexed with f∞liſh loue, or a wound giuen by a Boy, expell ſuch capitall follies, as would include thėe with ignominious conceite? when he had thus ſufficientlye explained his paſſions, & ſearcht the dėepneſſe of his ſtill blėeding wound, he takes his farwell of the Orenge Tree, that ſhaddowed him from the beames of Phœbus, & returnes to his chamber, where wėele leaue him ruminating on his loue, and turne to Titana: Who all this while, euen from her infancie, had noted the princely geſture of Theſeus, & ſeeing his face ſo perfectly featurde, and viewing each lim, the portrature of his body ſo well limmited, that ſhe greatly commended Dame Natures art, and excellencie in ſhaddowing ſuch perfection vnder her Fortunes lot; perſwading her ſelfe, that none but Theſeus ſhould reape the harueſt of her affection: being thus perplexed with inordinate paſſions, and poſſeſt with amorous affection, it wrought like a purgation with her, in ſo much that at laſt ſhe brake her paſſions in theſe tearmes.

Ah Titana, (thou art in loue) (I) with whom? with Theſeus, (with Theſeus) hee is a Kings ſonne, why ſo art thou a Kings Daughter; he is famous in birth; thou art vertuous, and faire by Nature; he is a Prince; why thou art a Princeſſe: thou euery way art equiualent with him: (why thou) if thou loueſt Theſeus, Theſeus cannot chuſe but loue Titana: Ah Titana, thou fond f∞le, ſigh, ſob, and lament thėe of thy follies, art thou ſo fond to thinke that Theſeus being a valiant warrier, the Grecians champion, and heire apparent to that inuincible King Aegeus, will l∞ke on thee: no, thou art not an obiect, fitting for his expectiue eye, though thy vertuous qualities be oppoſite to his vallorous accompliſhmẽts, yet he cannot loue Titana: Why? Titana is beautifull, vertuous, and rich, I, & after her fathers deceaſe heire to the Crowne of rich Acchaia: why then Titana, ſuppreſſe theſe franticke paſſions, and incline to louely affections, for doe thou but ſmile, he cannot chuſe but loue: well when ſhėe had thus at large playd, and diſplayd her paſſionate affection, ſhe returnes to her chamber, to be melancholy, where wėele leaue her.

Theſeus, who had receiued ſuch a deadly wound, thought it long vntill he had ſome remedie for it, ſtarts him vp, from the imbracements of his reſtleſſe bed, and walkes towards the Court of Meleagar: euen at his approach within the Court gates, the clocke ſtrucke eight: quoth Theſeus, it is t∞ earely dayes to ſėeke to ſpeake with Titana yet; Ile goe walke a courſe or t∞ about the Garden, till the clocke ſtrikes againe, and that I thinke will be about the time of Titanaes riſing. He immediately turnes on the backe ſide of the Court, to enter into the Garden, but when he came hee found the d∞re faſt lockt: yet Fortune willing to fauour his preſence, would not ſuffer him to returne, but cauſed him to knocke, the which hėe did, and immediatly it was opened by a Gr∞me of Titanaes chamber: quoth Theſeus, where is your Lady and miſtris, ſtirring yet? quoth the Gr∞me, and ſhall pleaſe your Highnes, ſhe ſits alone at the further end of the Garden, a reading; with that Theſeus caſt vp his eye, and eſpied his louely Parramour: walking in the Garden vnſeene of Titana, he ſtept into a grėene Arbour, which ſt∞d directly oppoſite againſt her, and not farre diſtant from her, where he firſt viewed each limmit, or proportrature of her bodie: and then beganne he to breake his paſſions: Ah Theſeus: (ecce) ſėe how her crimſon lips ſtands like two Pilgrimes, to adorne thoſe vermillian cheekes of hers, which like as the Adamant drawes the ſtėele ſo they draw thee to loue: Nay behold her chriſtall eies how like to vneſtimable Diamonds, they glitter and giue light to the out-chanted Cinthia: now laſt of all, ſee how farre her twined lockes doth ſurpaſſe the Arabian gold, in golden beautie: when he had thus breathed out his paſſions in theſe paſſionate tearmes; he ſtands a while commenting in this dull perplexitie, yet at laſt beginnes to proſecute his paſſions with theſe tearmes.

Theſeus, thou ſeeſt her excellencie, perfection and beautie, why then make a mixture with thoſe, and thy intire loue, and drinke them as a phiſicke potion, either to cure, or kill, and ſo ſhalt thou be ſure to be eaſed by death, elſe cured to life, for in loue there is life in hate there is death, but Titanaes face, reſembles an Adamants vertue, to draw loue by affection, and not kill Loue with reiecting, (and more) it is impoſſible, that ſhe ſhould couer a flintie heart, with a ſmiling face, for I know the vertue of Venus mollifies the heart of Titana: why then Theſeus, what needſt thou feare, ſhew thy ſelfe as valiant a Prince to Titana, as thou haſt done in former time to Mars, and returned victor of the field, when thou waſt beſet with millions of foes, and wilt thou now feare the repulſe of a woman, and being thy loue too? no thou ſhalt ſcale the walles and lay batterie to the faireſt: and with that hee ſtepts out of the Arbour with a modeſt behauiour, and full reſolution, takes her by the hand, and withall dimples her chėekes with a louelie ſmile, as loue giues louers direction: (and thus beginnes). Faire Titana, euer ſince I could conceiue one Amorous thought, or caſt a wanton eye on beauties perfection, I haue remained imburthened with the eſſence of your beautie, and wounded with the vlcerous ſore of your loue: therefore, faire Lady reiect me not with diſdaine, becauſe I approach with courteſie: and as our two aged Fathers liues in peacefull amitie, ſo let vs combine a matrimoniall vnitie, it will not onely be a comfort to them, but alſo an eternall ioy to vs: Titana reſting, and meditating a while, at laſt bepaints her chėekes with a maiden bluſh, and thus replies.

Prince Theſeus, this is very ſtrange to mee, that ſuch inordinate paſſions of loue, ſhould ſo farre ouerflow her ſhores on the ſudden, being no ſtorme nor ſpring to be the cauſer: therefore Theſeus, ſurely this is not loue, theſe are but fained fictions to try ſimplicitie: inluring baites, to catch fond folly in wantons ſnares: for Demophoon was faire by nature, but pr∞ued falſe to Phillis: Aeneas was a braue man, but as falſe as Almider: yet were their proteſted vows, greater then common hearts can conceiue: Therefore Theſeus ſuppreſſe thy paſſions, and leaue to loue Titana, for ſhe cannot loue thėe againe, ſhe is like the ſtarre Artophylax, that is beautious to the eye, but fit for no vſe: euen ſo is Titana, iuſt oppoſite againſt Nature: well ſtill ſhe kėepes him at the ſtaffes length, and ſits her ſtill on the grėene banke where he found her; ſhadowing her yėelding paſſions with denying frownes.

Theſeus, who all this while had markte, and viewed each limmit of her body, and the feature of her face, thought it very ſtrange, that Nature ſhould indow ſo faire a face, with ſo hard a heart, ſuch comely limits, with ſuch peruerſe conditions: at laſt thus beganne to proſecute his cauſe againe in theſe tearmes.

Faire Titana, bee not proude of beauties painting, for it is but a Summers flower, the Winter fades it, and thoſe which diſdaine in youth, are deſpiſed in age: therefore faire Lady, make not a Goddeſſe of beautie, but yėeld me loue, for loue, and let not the deſtinies cauſe me to diſpaire, now in the verdency of my bl∞ming youth. Titana ſitting ſtill on the banck, (as it were) not regarding him, thus beginnes. Theſeus I commend thine excėeding wit, but in this caſe, I pittie thy diſtreſſe, and for thy extremitie of loue thou beareſt to me, I vow thėe recompence; but with contract I dare not promiſe, therefore g∞d Theſeus, ſuppreſſe thoſe paſſions, which now thy minds perplexed with.

Theſeus ſtanding a while, commenting in this dull perplexitie, ſcarcely dared vouchſafe to giue an anſwere, or demaund a remedie, yet ſaide hėe, opportunities neglected are ſignes of follies, therefore he beganne againe in theſe tearmes.

Titana, the fatall doubts of cruell death, is not ſo feared of me, but I dare extend my life with fortunes fate, to enioy thy loue: why then faire Lady; ſith I am ſo wounded with your loue, yėeld to my requeſt, which is within the bounds of modeſtie deſired: If I were laſciuious, demaunding vnchaſt deſires, to vſe thėe as a Concubine, then mighteſt thou iuſtly be peruerſe & ſay me nay: or were I a Begger, or a baſe borne vaſſell, of no deſert, or for reputation vile, then would I hold it wiſdome: or came I like a Scithian Shepheard, with my ſhėepcr∞ke on my neck: but comming like a Grecian Prince, with my Scepter in my hand, demanding loue with a chaſt deuotion, mėe-thinks you ſhould not be ſo peruerſe to denie ſo kind a demaund. Quoth Titana, g∞d Theſeus be not ſo tedious, for to be ſhort in tearmes, I will not grant thėe loue; for loue is the only thing I hate, therefore trouble me no more with ſuch friuolous ſpėeches, if you pleaſe to accompany mėe, as in former time you haue done, you ſhall be the welcommeſt man in Greece: but if you replie with ſuch like ſpeeches as loue, I rather deſire your abſence, then your preſence.

Theſeus hearing her ſtill in that froward denying vaine, quite expeld hope, and included diſpaire: and thus beganne he, which ſcarcely found beginning. Oh wicked and diſpairing wretch: forlorne, and of Titana forſaken, worſe than the ſeruilſt ſlaue in Achaia, more baſe then the ſlimie earth vnderneath thy fėete: more in bondage, then Tuniſſian gally ſlaues, more vacant on earth, then Indians in Arabia, and more wretched then Progne in her tranſformation: why how camſt thou thus metamorphoſed being a Kings ſonne? (oh with loue) with loue of that ingratefull Titana, for had I not loued Titana, ſhe had not cauſed my vntimely death, but meaſuring my aduerſe fortune, with thy peruerſe obſtinacie, Ile end my life: and with that hee unſheatſhs his fatall Engine and ſayd thus: Faire Lady, as like y^e Camelian, I haue liued by the Airie eſſence of thy loue: ſo like faithfull Theſeus by thy hate ile die: Hėe ſets the point of his ſword to his breſt . Titana ſėeing him ſo deſperate, lightly, ſkipt from off the bancke whereon ſhe ſate, and ſuddenly takes him by the hand which held his ſword, and thus beganne.

Theſeus, art thou a Prince, and a Kings ſonne, a warrior, and Grecians Champion: and wilt at a wenches frowne ruine thy body, and bring thy aged Fathers grayhaires, with griefe vnto his graue, and his carefull head, on a reſtleſſe pillow? remember this, thou art heire apparant vnto thy Fathers Crowne, and Kingdome; and by thy well liuing, thy Fathers daies are prolonged on earth, but by thy ill dying, with griefe they are ſ∞ne ended: why then know this braue Theſeus, wenches will moſt denie, the thing they moſt deſire; & ſėeme moſt peruerſe, where moſt they loue; and pr∞ue moſt conſtant, where they ſėeme moſt wauering (and ſo will I, my loue) although I fained a ^frowne, yet deteſted I to hate, and though my tongue ſayd no, my heart proteſted I . Therefore ſwėete Theſeus, impute me not peruerſe, for the heauens know, I ſhame to expreſſe, how proude I haue bėene of Theſeus loue, yet would I not ſay Theſeus I loue thee: becauſe then thou mights repute me immodeſt being a Lady, but the Gods doth know, I haue honoured Theſeus with a zealous deuotion, and I loued Theſeus with as dutifull affection, as Titana could performe, or Theſeus deſire: therefore ſwėete loue, thinke not I yeeld with vrgent prayers, but with the force of loue.

Theſeus noting her behauiour, and hearing ſuch vnexpected tearmes, and ſugred alurements of Titana, which made ſuch pleaſing harmony in his halfe dead eares, was halfe rauiſhed, & wholly reuiued to his former ſences: ſheathed his fatall blade againe, imbracing her in his armes, layd battery to her ſkarlet lips, with many a ſugred kiſſe he giues aſſault and wines the Fort: In briefe, they ſuddenly combind, and fully accompliſht a monumentall contract, ſo that after many louely imbracings, and pleaſing wanton toyes, (as loue hath many) they parted for y^e time, ſo fraught with inordinate ioy, that it is impoſſible for the capacitie of man to l∞ke ſo high as their ioy did raiſe rebounds.

Fortune now enuying their g∞d acts, turnes her Whėele, and as ſhe had dimpled her chėekes, ſo now ſhe wrinkled her forhead, and vnrėeled the deſtinies, for in Achaia there dwelt Oenie, which euery yėere did ſacrifice the firſtlings of his ſtore: the which he firſt aſſigned of his corne, and fruits to Ceres: to Bacchus the firſt preſſing of his wine? and vnto Pallas Olliffe-oyle, and thus honouring the Gods of graine, and fruite, hėe offered franckinſence, but at Dianaes Altars none was offered, hėe ouer-ſlipt them, the which Diana t∞ke in high diſdaine, & ſayd, he ſhall not ſkape vnpuniſhed, though he paſt mine Altars vnworſhipped, nor vaunt of his eſcape vnreuenged, i^f I be a Goddeſſe ile plague him and his fruits, and with that away ſhe flies: and on the next morne, ſhe ſent a huge ouer grown Boare to Oenies ground, ſuch as the like had neuer yet bėene ſėene . This grėedy Boare deuoured his Corne, and graſſe, and rent his Vines vnto the ground: and not ſo ſufficed but beganne to ouer-runne, and deuoure the Countrey of Acchaia? inſomuch that the huſbandmen had laboured in vaine, he ouer-runne their Lambs, ſhėepe, and Heards of Kie, nay men, women, and children, went daily in Danger, of this orped ſwines dreadfull Tuſkes.

In ſo much, that the people of Achaia preferred ſupplications to Aegeus, Meleagar and Theſeus, and many other Kings, Dukes, Lords, and Knights, to deſire their ayde to conquer this mercileſſe Hogge: the which they all were very willing and affable, but Theſeus: yet he ſaide I, although he could haue wiſht it no: for the reaſon that m∞ued him rather to haue ſtayed at home, than haue gone was this: he was newly returned from his loue Titana, and they had both agrėed to make their Fathers acquainted with their loues on the next day following, which was the day appointed; that this Princely knot ſhould mėete and accompany each other, to the face, of the Achaians foe: Theſeus very much diſcontent with this newes, could haue fained himſelfe ſicke, and ſtaide at home, but his heart was ſo enobled with valour, that it would ſuffer excuſe to take no place: he ſeeing no remedie, but goe he muſt, being that renowned King Meleagar, with his royall tr∞pes of valiant Knights, accompanied with his Father Aegeus were come, he like Jaſon, when he ventured for Medea, or Hercules for Deianira, or like Turnus, before he went to his bloudie fight, armed and Enobled himſelfe with valour: which done, hee accompanied this Princely knot of noble Knights, euen to the very brincke of his owne aduerſe Fortune, where wėele leaue him vnreeling the deſtinies, and turne to Meleagar the cauſer of his griefe: who being vpholden with the wings of Fortune, reaped the plenteous Harueſt, of a renowned encounter, by the winning a famous victory. Meleagar with the reſt of the valiant Knights, threw his luckie Darte againſt this orped ſwine, who being more potent with Fortunes fauour, then impotent with Dianaes frowne, gaue this B∞re his deadly wound: this being done, though old in yeares yet young in conceit, for with pride meerely of his fortunate ſtroake, he preſently fell into amorous ſeakes, with Atalant, Schœnies Daughter of Tegea: and ſuddenly ſtepping to the Swine, ſaid thus:

Oh Lady Atalant,

receiue thou this my fee:

And of my glorie, vouch thou ſafe,

partaker for to bee.

And with that gaue her the head of the Swine.

THis Lady for the giuers ſake was as glad in heart, as for the gift, and receiued it very thankfully: but the reſt repinde that ſhee ſuch honour had, and armes diſplayd, that all the field might eaſily ſėe, and heare, their murmuring diſcontent: Plexippus, and Toxey cryed: Dame, lay downe this geare, doe we take the toyle, and thou the honour of our Game? no, nor let that faire face ſm∞th face of thine beguile thėe, leaſt he that being doated in thy loue, and giuing thėe our fėe, be ouerfarre to reſcue thee: and with that word they t∞ke the gift away from her, and right of gift from him.

Quoth Meleagar, with a ſterne and fierce l∞king countenance, you Theſties race, learne this from me, and doe not other folkes diſpoyle of honour giuen, for Princes gifts are frėe, of none to be reiected: and Princes wills are lawes, of none to be vſurped. Therefore Plexippus, what difference is betwixt your threats and deedes, ile with this weapon trie: & with that he ſuddenly ſtrikes him through the breſt with his B∞re ſpeare. Toxey ſeeing his brother ſlaine, ſt∞d doubting what way to take, deſiring to reuenge his Brothers bloud, yet fearing to be murthered as his Brother was before, ſt∞d amazedly commenting: Meleagar, to diſpatch his doubtfull muzes, drew his fatall ſword and ſlew him for company of his Brother Plexippus, whoſe bloud was hardly cold as yet.

This bloudie proſpect, bred ſuch a mutinie amongſt them, that their armes diſplayd on both ſides, inſomuch that the two houſes, Meleagar and Aegeus, fell to ciuill diſcenſion, and much bloud was ſpilt on both ſides: and not onely theſe two houſes of Meleagar, and Aegeus, but almoſt all Greece, Achaia, and Calidon was in an vproare, for each t∞ke armes againſt other, and being renowned and famous Princes, friends t∞ke partes, and they beganne to bandie, and ouerrunne each others Dominions.

This diſagrėement betwėene the Parents, although it was a heart breaking to theſe two louers, Titana, and Theſeus, yet did it not at all diſparage their affection, but the greater the mutinie, the dėeper was the impreſſion of their mindes, and by this meanes their libertie was confinde, and meeting places quite debard; yet loue being a priuie ſearcher of ſecrets, found a time and opportunitie, which gaue them place, time, and leaue to parle, to play and diſplay each others minds: when theſe two louers came together, they were in feare, and danger to be eſpied, which cauſed them one while, to ſigh, ſobbe, lament, and grieue; another while, kiſſe, ſmile, laugh, and toy: and thus they ſpent the time as pleaſantly as diſtreſſed louers could doe, yet they ſware to each other, y^t their Fathers diſſention ſhould neuer ſeperate their loues, nor aduerſe. Fortune ſhould diminiſh their affections, but would remaine ioyfull vnto death, in deſpite of the hatefull deſtinies: hauing thus recounted each others loue to their hearts content, yet ſeeing they could not enioy the full fruition of their loues in Greece, nor Acchaia. Theſeus determined aſſ∞ne as time and opportunitie gaue him leaue, to prouide a maſſe of mony, and Iewells for the eaſier carriage: and ſo tranſport themſelues into Spaine, to Tunis: and there to liue a contented life, not knowne, but as a Grecian Knight, vntill he heard of ſome vnited peace betwixt their Fathers, elſe by ſucceſſion to enioy their Kingdomes: Titana hearing his determinate courſe, commended highly his wittie deuice, (and ſayd thus) Faire loue, if thy father Aegeus ſhould take me within his precincke it were death, or at leaſt perpetuall impriſonment, and againe on the other ſide, if my father Meleagar, ſhould take thėe in his Dominions, it were the like danger for thėe to come into. But if my Father ſhould heare of this contract, his fury would be ſuch, that y^e tortorous death were ſo eaſie for vs both, firſt you for preſumption, then I for ſimplicitie, and ſo we ſhall bite both on the deſtinies bridle. Therefore ſwėete Theſeus, make haſt with all expedition, & prouide all things fitting for our Voyage, for delay brėeds danger, and falſe Fortune deſpite. Theſeus being fraught with boundleſſe ioy and prickt forward with loues deſire, did proteſt vnto her aſſ∞ne as opportunitie gaue him leaue, he would prouide ſoch neceſſaries as were fitting for their Voyage, ſo reſting vpon this reſolution, and night beginning to liſten to their complement: after many imbracings, payed and repayed kiſſes they parted. Theſeus hauing taken the leaue of his beſt beloued Titana, returnes him backe againe to his fathers Court: which being there arriued, cald vnto him, an ancient Seruant of his fathers, whoſe name was Iunia: this Iunia being a faithfull Seruant, and Theſeus appr∞ued friend, he thought him not leſſe then fitting to imploy about this his ſecret pretence. Theſeus depoſing confident truſt in him, declared the whole volume of his minde vnto him, from the beginning to the end:

Iunia, hearing him ſo fully bent, and determinately reſolued on this imparfet courſe: beganne to diſwade, or diuert him to the contrarie, aleadging diuers inſtant inconueniencies: Theſeus being to determinate in his pretence beganne to reiect Iunia for his folly in diſwading him, and told him he did not call nor diſcloſe his mind vnto him, to aſke his aduiſe, or to be intercepted by him, but the cauſe he had him there preſent, was this, he did depoſe truſt vnto him, and impoſe this ſecret buſines on him, to prouide a ſmall barke, or Pinnis to tranſport them into Spaine, with monies and certaine Iewells and ſuch like cōmodities for the eaſier cariage: which if he could prouide and make readie againſt ſuch a time hee would reward him royally for his paines. Iunia hearing this, that there was no perſwaſion would take effect, or inſtant examples to the contrarie diuert him, and withall reſpecting the Princes bountifull promiſe beganne to yėeld vnto him, I and in the end promiſed him to prouide all things readie for their Voyage within the ſpace of fortie daies at the furtheſt. Theſeus hearing this direct anſwere and promiſe of Iunia, was excėedingly fraught with ioy, in ſo much, that to ſhew his bountie, and bind him vnto his promiſe, he ſent him away very richly rewarded, where wėele leaue him prouiding for their Voyage, and turne to Meleagar.

Fortune, who had already layde her traine, ſo deſtinated, that it vtterly brake the vnited bands of theſe two Louers fathers combinde League, and almoſt to the ſeparating of their loue, with heart breaking: yet not ſo content, intending as ſhe had giuen them a ſlender checke, ſo now ſhe ſhould giue them a cruell blow; and to bring her pretence to be managed with perfection, ſhe layd her plot in this wiſe.

Meleagar, walking priuately in his Garden, commenting on his Daughter Titana, brake out his paſſions in theſe tearmes; Meleagar, thou haſt but one onely Daughter, and ſhe is now about the yėeres of 23. and ſhe is a Prince ſo richly deckt, and adorned with the gifts of Nature, ſo fraught with beautie, and vertuous qualities, that ſhe is not onely a comfort to thėe, but alſo a ioy to thy p∞re Commons: why then, place all thy ioy in her perfection, and ſith ſhe is now marriageable, prouide her a huſband that is equiuolent with her: when he had thus paſſioned a while, he ſate him downe vnder a P∞mſitherne Trėe, to meditate on whom he might beſtow his Daughter Titana: till at laſt, he called to minde great Ambroſa, King of Portugall, who in former time had bin brought vp togeither for the ſpace of ſeauen yeares in Sch∞le: and knowing this Ambroſa to haue a Sonne, whoſe name was Piriſmus, who was faire by Nature, royall by birth, by vertues famous, and by poſſeſſions rich: preſently ſends Embaſſadors to the King of Portugall, to intreate a marriage betweene his Daughter Titana, and his Sonne Piriſmus. Ambroſa hearing this, was excėedingly fraught with ioy, and told the Embaſſadors, it was his decrėe before they came, to haue ſent to their King Meleagar, concerning the ſame matter, but ſith they were ſo happily come, he told them his nauie was ready, and his Sonne Piriſmus ſhould along with them to Calidon, and if God did permit him, he would be there with them within fortie days The Embaſſadors hauing receiued their anſwere, and the Prince b∞rded his Flėet, the Marriners hoiſted their maine ſailes, weighed ancors, and halled into the deepe.

Fortune fauouring Theſeus deſtinie, opens the windows of Aeolus, and giues them a full winde, which in a ſhort ſpace arriued them on the ſhores of Acchaia: being ſo fortunately arriued, they inſtantly retired to the Court with the young Prince Piriſmus, and made report to Meleagar of Ambroſaes anſwere, and how he had ſent his Sonne as a pledge in the meane while. When Meleagar heard that was Ambroſiaes Sonne, hee ſeemed very angrie they did not ſend him word of their comming, that he might haue receiued him in a more princelike manner, but ſėeing it was now t∞ late, to recall what was paſt, he ſaluted him very ſubmiſſiuely, and told him he was very ſorie he knew not of his comming, for if he had, he would haue met him by y^e way. Well after theſe, and ſuch like words, Meleagar takes him about the middle, and leads him into the priuie Chamber, cauſing the Nobles to attend them, whereas Titana ſate a ſowing. Quoth Meleagar, young Prince Piriſmus, behold, there ſits mine onely Daughter Titana, my chiefeſt ioy, and the originall cauſe of your Voyage hither, and if you pleaſe to acquaint your ſelfe with her you may. Quoth Piriſmus, my noble Leige, with your leaue elſe not. Quoth Meleagar, yong prince, you haue our leaue, to vſe your pleaſure, Quoth Piriſmus with a low obeyſance, thanks my noble Liege, and with that ſteps vnto Titana, takes her by the hand, and thus beginnes: Faire Lady, if a Pilgrime Prince, may vouchſafe ſo bold to be, as to preferre a rough vnpoliſht touch, vnto thoſe ſoft lips of yours, without offence, my deſire is accompliſht, other wiſe my ſuit is cold. Titana ſėeing him a ſtranger, and hearing ſuch inordinate tearmes procėede from him, was halfe in a miſdoubt that her father had brought him, to be a ſuter in a cauſe that was already ouerthrowne, and dammages recouered, yet hoping the beſt, though fearing the worſt, with a low curteſie, ſhe thus replies, noble Knight, as your requeſt is ſmall it is the eaſier granted; againe, if I ſhould by deniall refuſe it, you might iuſtly appeach me f∞liſh: with that he giues her a kiſſe, which ſhe very thankfully receiued, and accompanied him vnto her father, the which did greatly reioyce the King, her father: by this time there was a table furniſhed with ſuch cates, and dainties, as could at ſo ſmall a warning be prouided. Meleagar ſitting downe, cauſed Piriſmus to ſit on the ſame ſide which he ſate on, and Titana to ſit on the other ſide, right oppoſite againſt him, becauſe they ſhould take a ful view of each other, the which Piriſmus did; in ſo much that her perfection dinted ſo deepe an impreſſion in his heart, that none but Titana could ſatiſfie, the Amor of Piriſmus eye: when he was thus ſolemnly, and ſumptuouſly feaſted, and royally entertained; and ſo entertained, that if Ambroſa had bėene there himſelfe in perſon, hauing ſo ſmall warning, they could not receiue him with more triumphant royaltie . After they had thus ſufficiently paſt the day in ſumptuous feaſts, and banquets? the King gaue commaund he ſhould be attended on to his lodging, & all his Lords, Knights and Gentlemen, and their followers appointed their lodgings, and attended alſo: which being done and all departed, Meleagar calls for Titana, and thus brake his mind vnto her.

Titana, my gray-haires ſounds an alarum, and calls me to my graue: therefore actions meaſured by time, are ſeldome bitten with repentance; thou art young, and I am old, my white haires are fading bloſſomes, and thy freſh coulors bl∞ming flowers, mine preparing to die, and thine repairing to liue: (therefore Titana) I take care, and tell thėe as a father, hoping thou wilt giue care, and obey as a Childe. The chiefe thing I haue taken care for, and deſired, hath bėene to ſėe thėe happily married before I die, or thou grow old.

Titana, hearing her fathers counſaile, and marking well his words, beganne to fėele which way the winde ſate, and at laſt perſwaded her ſelfe in her opinion, as this, that her father had choſen this young Prince Piriſmus to be her ſpouſe; fearing to diſpleaſe her father, yet ſwearing and vowing not to forſake Theſeus, made him this anſwere.

May it pleaſe your Grace, to giue me leaue to ſpeake? Quoth Meleagar, we giue you frėe leaue . Quoth Titana, Sir, there is no greater bonde then dutie, nor ſtricter law then Nature: for often diſobedient youth, are deſpiſed in age, and Parents wills are lawes; therefore, rather than by deniall, I ſhould be appeached of diſobedience, ile reſt content to loue, although it bee the onely thing I hate: If it may pleaſe your Highnes to appoint whom I ſhall loue.

Meleagar hearing this vnexpected anſwer of his Daughter, and ſėeing how light ſhe accounted of loue, began to bėe very hot, and chollericke, and with a frowning countenance, made her this haſtie anſwere.

What Titana, canſt thou not loue? why, doth the cinnicall paſſion of prone deſires, ouercome thėe with franticke frowardneſſe, or pėeuiſh peruerſeneſſe? or doeſt thou thinke thy ſelfe a young Phœnix, that there is none to equall thėe? Ah Titana, take hėed, leaſt high Pride, bring low pouertie; and young diſobedience, aged repentance: the Tree Alpia waſteth not with fire, but withereth with deaw, and that which loue nouriſheth not, hate periſheth.

Well, yėeld Titana to thy Fathers perſwaſions, which may preuent all after-perills; thou ſėeſt I am olde, and full of gray haires, daily walking on the brincke of my graue, ready to fall in euery houre, and thou heire apparant to my Crowne, after my deſceaſe, ſhalt ſuccėede my Kingdome, in more triumphant Throne, then ere thy Father Meleagar did in his youngeſt years: knowing this, thou being young in yeares, and ſcarce gouerneſſe of thine owne diſpoſitions, it would be a greater trouble, & a heauier burthen, to be ſo ouer-preſt with the charge of a whole Kingdome, to gouerne and l∞ke t∞: with ioy, I haue choſen thee a huſband hėere, the Prince Piriſmus, thou ſaweſt heere erewhile, he is a Prince, faire by nature, royall by birth, by vertues famous, and by poſſeſſions rich: therefore if thou like Piriſmus, thou breedſt my content, and in louing him, thou ſhalt haue my loue, otherwiſe an euerlaſting hate.

Titana ſtanding a while, called to minde that Theſeus did purpoſe to take his Voyage to Tunis very ſhortly, where ſhee determined to arriue with him, and therefore ſhe thought it was as g∞d for her to ſay ſhe loued him, and kėepe her fathers g∞d will, as ſay ſhe could not loue him, and haue his ill will: and againe, ſhe thought this, if ſhe ſhould be peruerſe and ſay him nay, it might be a meanes in her fathers anger, to make him ſuſpect, and miſdoubt ſome other matters, and ſo l∞ke more nearer vnto her, and ſo be a hinderance to her departure with Theſeus: therefore ſhee determined to yėeld with words vnto her Fathers deſire, and thus beſpake him, with a low courteſie:

Father, I obey your commaund as a child, hoping to enioy your loue as a Father: and if Piriſmus can loue Titana, Titana will loue Piriſmus; but pray father thinke not, but that I yėeld with loue, and not with your perſwaſions: and pleaſe you to appoint the nuptiall day, I will be readie to accompliſh what you pleaſe to impoſe on me.

Quoth Meleagar, now haſt thou wonne my heart, and ſhalt enioy my loue, Ile make thėe rich by poſſeſſions, and happy by marriage, Ile indow thee with wealth, and Piriſmus with loue; I ioy to ſee thee toward, and hate to ſee thėe peruerſe: now ſhall my gray-haires enioy a reſt, which long hath beene diſturbed with care; ſo after theſe, and many other ſuch like ſpeeches, he appointed her the nuptiall day, which ſhould be at Ambroſaes comming: Titana being mindfull of her true loue Theſeus, was ſorely troubled in minde, becauſe her father had appointed the time within ſo ſhort a ſpace, ſhe was fearefull that Theſeus could not prouide all things for their Voyage ſo ſ∞ne, yet bearing it out with a g∞d countenance, ſhėe l∞kt pleaſantly in the ſight of her father, and determined, if things were not readie ſ∞ne inough, ſhe would faine ſome excuſe, to prorogue the time: well for that time, they departed, and bet∞ke them to their reſt: on the morrow morning, Meleagar was ſtirring very earely, and calls to him, his chiefe Admirall, and commaunds him to prouide a Fleete of his chiefeſt Ships, and furniſh them with men and Ordinance, and all things elſe fitting to receiue a Prince; he being no leſſe then willing to fulfill the Kings ioyfull determination, very ſpėedily prepared all things fitting for their Voyage, t∞ke his Embaſſage of the King, and ſuddenly boarded the Nauie, hoyſted mayne ſailes, weyghed anchors, and away they cut through the dėepe, where wėele leaue them to the fauour of the winde, and the Seas.

Meleagar, hauing ſent his Embaſſadors for the King of Portugall, calls his Nobles, and chiefe Officers together, and told them, that the tenth day of that preſent month ſhould be the Nuptiall day: and bad them proclaime a feaſt, Iuſts, and Turnies, and inuite all their neighbour Princes, with the chiefe of his owne Dominions; and that it was Meleagars command and will, the Court gates ſhould ſtand open, and receiue all commers for the ſpace of twentie days; as well for the royall entertainment of Ambroſa, as for honour of his Countrie: his Nobles being no leſſe then willing to further his pretence, very diligently according to the Kings commande, prepared all things in a readines: where weele leaue them attending Ambroſaes comming, and turne to Titana: who in the ſight her new loue Piriſmus, ſeemed no leſſe then fraught with the wanton ſeakes of loue, to leade that ^toyiſh f∞le into a purblind paradice, where in the end ſhėe meant to leaue him champing of Cupids bridle: and in her fathers ſight, ſhe ſėemed ſo abundant in her loue, that ſhe almoſt made his gray haires begin afreſh to bud, and to bl∞me forth youthfull bloſſomes againe, in ſo much that it is impoſſible to conceiue the inward ioy, that he receiued by their outward toying; and though ſhe forcſt her ſelfe to be ioyous and pleaſant in her fathers, and Piriſmus preſence, yet was ſhe forcſt to balefull melancholly, and hatefull griefe in their abſence: well, it happened that in few dayes after, there came newes to Meleagars Court, that Ambroſa was come within two days ſailing of Calidon, and by contrarie winds forcſt to caſt anchor, and lie there for the winds returne. Meleagar hearing this newes, cauſed a Fleete of his beſt ſhips to be made readie; which being done, he himſelfe, and Piriſmus with others, boarded the Flėete, and Titana ſhould haue gone t∞, but the Seas vnwilling to croſſe her ſubmiſſiue Loue, with aduerſe hate, cauſed a tempeſtiuous ſtorme to riſe, in ſo much that the very ſight of Neptunes frownes caſt her into a diſpairing feare, the which her father ſeeing, cauſed her to returne to the Court againe, and they t∞ke their Voyage towards Ambroſa, where wėele leaue them to their fortune, and turne to Titana againe.

Who being ſo long abſented from her loue Theſeus, and ſo often preſented with her hated Piriſmus, like a true Louer diſcontented, deſired to walke and ſit alone to meditate: on the back ſide of her fathers Pallace, there was a very large Garden, which had diuers d∞res to enter in at; this Garden was the place, where Theſeus did vſe to mėete her, which place ſhe held moſt conuenient, and fit for her to paſſion out her griefes: when the after n∞ne came, ſhe walked all alone into the Garden, vnto the wonted place where Theſeus was w∞nt full often to imbrace her, with many louely kiſſes, hoping that the Gods ſėeing her diſtreſſe, would relieue her want, & as they had bėene witneſſes to her vowes, ſo ſhe hopt they would be fauourers to her pretence: and thus walkt ſhe a while commenting in theſe dull perplexities, till at laſt, her paſſions were ſo vrgẽt with her, ſhe could no longer ſuppreſſe them, but ſate her down on a grėene banck, and burſt out her paſſions in theſe tearmes.

Ah Titana, thou infortunate wretch, art thou a Kings Daughter, and liue thus a ſlaue to Cupid? better wert thou a country wench, to enioy their louely pleaſure; than a courtly miſtriſſe, thus wrapt in froward miſerie: now maiſt thou ſėe the deſtinies plague thėe, for thy diſobedience. Ah ſigh Titana, draw drie thoſe two chryſtall fountains, from whence theſe pearled ſtreames deſcends, to ouerflowe theſe tender chėekes of thine: loue Piriſmus, and in louing him thou loueſt thy ſelfe. Ah no, I dare not; Piriſmus no: tis Theſeus, and none but Theſeus ſhall haue my true loue: Ah f∞le that thou art, to fix ſo fondly; thou knoweſt Theſeus is a Grecian, and Greekes thy fathers foes: then ſticke to thy fathers election, and loue Piriſmus, for in louing him thou ſhalt enioy the worlds content. Ah no, I haue made my ſolemne vowes to Theſeus, and will kėepe them, tis not worldly content alone that I deſire, but Theſeus loue, the patron of my meditating thoughts, the Couch of my wearie ioyntures reſt, and the Crowne of my eartheriall glory.

When ſhee had thus breathed f∞rth her ſolitarie paſſions, from the grey morne, to the red euen, Zephir beganne to draw the melancholly curtaines of portendous night, which cauſed Titana to depart, which hauing taken her leaue of the Orenge, and Lemmon Trees, which onely did accompany her all that day, returnes to her chamber againe, where ſhe immures her ſelfe in contemplation.

It hapned that in two dayes after, her father, Ambroſa, Piriſmus, and all their followers arriued on Calidon ſhores: and Pagents, Drums, and Trumpets were prouided, with ſwėet perfumes, and Franckinſence, the ſtrėets were ſwėetned for their paſſage, which greatly pleaſed Ambroſa: ſo that they ſuddenly arriued at Meleagars Court, where they were moſt ſumptuouſly entertained with banquets, and feaſting, which being done, Meleagar willing to make knowne by outward ſhewes, how hee was poſſeſt with inward ioyes: leapt from his chaire of ſtate, and fetcht his Daughter Titana, leading her into Ambroſaes preſence by the middle: Titana ſėeing her ſuppoſed fėere, fained on him a ſmile, and with all to grace the dimples of her chėekes, ſhe giues them a comly and modeſt bluſh, and with a low and reuerent courteſie, ſhe did obeyſence to King Ambroſa, the which he ſėeing, ſuddenly ſtept to her, t∞ke her in his armes, and louingly imbraſt her with many courtious and royall ſpėeches, Piriſmus who had all this while markt her behauiour, bleſt his Fortune, and thankt the Gods for his g∞d acceſſe: when he had ſo done, hee thought himſelfe to haue moſt right to her, t∞ke her aſide to the further ſide of the R∞me where hee ſported his blind folly, and catcht at ſhaddowes, yet to his hearts content, and both their Fathers increaſed ioy: but alaſſe to p∞re Titanaes heart breaking, though ſhe fained a ſmyle in her fathers preſence, yet was ſhe forſt to weepe in his abſence: Meleagar was ſo fraught with ioy, that hee thought euery day a yeare that his Daughter went vnmarried, yet paſt he ſixe dayes more in kėeping Ambroſa company, and ſhewing him the paſtimes and pleaſures that hėe chiefely t∞ke delight in: the meane time he called to him his chiefe Officers and Nobles, & demaunds if all things were readie for the Nuptiall; the which they all anſwered, I. When Meleagar heard that, he was very ioyfull, and preſently makes Ambroſa, Piriſmus, and Titana acquainted with his pretence (which was this) that on the ſeuẽth day following, being the ſixtėene day of the moneth, he did purpoſe to accompliſh the marriage betwixt Piriſmus and Titana, the which they all ſėemed to be very ioyfull & glad of, ſaue onely Titana, yet ſhee ſėemed no leſſe than ioyfull in the ſight of her Father, but in her chamber ſhe paſſioned whole riuers of teares from her chriſtall eies, where weele leaue her to the fauour of the Gods, and turne to Theſeus;

Who all this while, hath bėene very buſie, and laborious in his carefull affaires, and hauing accompliſht his buſines, finiſht his purpoſe, and layd the ſhip ready in the Hauen, is very deſirous to ſpeake with his loue Titana, but his father being preſent, he could find no opportunitie fitting to make an eſcape f∞rth, which bredde hatefull melancholy, in ſo much that he immured vp himſelf in his chamber, to ſo^licit ſadnesse, fortune ſmiling at his folly, dandled him once again on her indulgent knėe: It hapned at that inſtant, a Noble man of Aegeus Court, riding through a Forreſt, that was ſome eight miles diſtant from Athens, eſpyed a wilde Boare, and knowing the King loued the ſport of hunting, as well as the one halfe of his kingdome, came riding poſt to the King, and made report of his buſines: the King hearing him, cauſed ſudden preparation to be made, he hauing a very faire Pallas ſtanding in the midſt of that Forreſt, determined to go thither to bed that night, the which preparation being made, and all things readie, he calls for Theſeus, but he had heard ſome inkling of his fathers hunting prograce, and how he was vpon going, fained himſelfe ſicke, and t∞ke phiſicke: when word was brought to the King that Theſeus could not goe, he demaunded the occaſion, they anſwered he was not well, hėe t∞ke phiſicke. The King hearing that newes and loth to delay time, and ſo loſe his ſport, called his Nobles about him, where they mounted their Stėedes, and rode towards the Forreſt, where weele leaue them to their ſport, and turne to Titana;

Who now hath little hope to enioy Theſeus loue, for the ſixe dayes are almoſt expired, and the ſeuenth is the nuptiall day appointed, which was the next day following, yet being the laſt day of her hope, ſhe went one morning to walk in the Garden to ſėeke her Theſeus, bearing a ſharpe Engine in her hand, determining with herſelfe, that as ſhe had made her vowes to Theſeus, none ſhould enioy her loue but Theſeus: and where ſhe did proteſt thoſe vowes to Theſeus, there ſhe meant to ſacrifice her bl∞d to the Gods for Theſeus ſake, where wėele leaue her.

Theſeus hearing his father was gone, puts on a diſguiſed ſuite of apparell, and ſecretly conueyes himſelfe forth at the Court-gates by Juniaes meanes, determining neuer to come in againe, ſends Iunia to the Hauen, where the ſhip lay, and cauſed him to attend his comming there; which done, hėe walkes towards the Court of Meleagar, which was at that time neare adioyning to the Citie of Athens: hėe bėeing arriued at the Court, ſuddenly makes meanes to enter the garden: which bėeing entred, hee walkte to the farther ſide, where he was w∞nt to mėete his Loue Titana: he was no ſ∞ner approacht, but hėe ſpied her where ſhėe ſate, leaning her head on her hand, as though ſhėe had bene aſlėepe: hėe no leſſe then glad to ſėe her, began to ſtep haſtily to her, but euen as he was ready to touch her, hėe perceiued that ſhe was wėeping and lamenting very grieuouſly to her ſelfe: breathing out her paſſions in theſe tearmes;

Ah infortunate Titana, and therefore infortunate wretch, borne vnder the deſtinies diſpleaſure, and therefore croſt with Fortunes frowns, bound to Theſeus by loue, therefore pincht with care by fate: yet Theſeus, Ah ſwėet Theſeus, my dearer farre, then my ſelfe is to my ſelfe, and none ſhall deflowre mėe of his virgins Roſe, except this fatall Engine; ſith proteſtations, vowes, and bonds are made, and ſealed with the waxe of Loues ſweete lips, t’is Theſeus, and none but Theſeus ſhall enioy my Loue.

Theſeus, ſėeing her in that dull perplexitie, and ſo metamorphoſed, ſt∞d aſtoniſhed at that ſight, and had not the power to goe backward nor forward, he was driuen to ſuch an exigent: faine he would goe backe to loſe the ſight of ſo grieuous a proſpect, and fayner goe to her, to knowe the cauſe, and ſeeke redreſſe, yet could hėe do neither, but ſt∞d ſtill in a dull extaſie, halfe dead with griefe: till at the laſt ſhee rem∞u’d her head, and l∞kt vp after a mournfull faſhion, as Phillis l∞kt for Demophoon; and caſting aſide her blubbered eyes, ſhėe eſpyed her Theſeus: ſhee roſe off the banke whereon ſhe ſat making her complaints: threwe away her Fatall engine, t∞ke him about the necke and kiſt him, ſmiled, and thus beſpake him; Ah Theſeus, arte thou come to proſecute my weale or woe? (Quoth Theſeus) thy weale I hope, with harts content ſwėet Loue: but I pray thee ſwėet-hart, what’s the occaſion of theſe thy preambling paſſions, thus ſob’d with ſourcing teares? Oh ſaid Titana, ſiniſter Fortune, hath caſt mee into aduerſe perplexities: for ſince thou departedſt from theſe ſwėete imbracements of mine, Fortune hath frowned on our pretence (quoth Theſeus, how ſwėete Loue?) Titana fained to ſmile, yet forced to wėepe, thus began:

Oh Theſeus, my Father ſent Ambaſſadours to Ambroſa King of Portugall, to intreat a marriage betwėene his Sonne Piriſmus, and thy loue Titana; his father being as willing to yėeld, as my father to demand: preſently ſends ouer his ſon Piriſmus, as a pledge of his promiſe, by the returne of my fathers Embaſſadors, and now is come himſelfe to accompliſh the match: when my father heard the returne of his Embaſſage, and ſaw Piriſmus, he called me to him, where he opened the whole volume of his pretence, perſwading me of the Princes intire loue, his rare accompliſhments, and how happie I was to enioy the loue of ſo rich a friend, with many ſuch capitall perſwaſions; in ſo much that in the end, I did reply this obſtinate anſwere: I could not loue, it was the onely thing that I did hate: with ſuch like words, that at laſt he fell from kind perſwaſions, and fell into thundring threats, and in ſuch franticke manner, that I durſt no longer withſtand him, but gaue conſent, and promiſed to be readie whenſoeuer he pleaſed to appoint the time, the which he was very ioyfull to heare, and appointed the Nuptiall to bee the ſixtėenth day of this moneth, which is the next day following: yet g∞d Theſeus account not my behauiour light, though I haue promiſed loue to two men at once: but know this deere loue, it is the one is ſtedfaſtly to abide, the other but falſely to delude: for if I ſhould haue ſt∞de obſtinate, and peruerſe denying him; then ſhould I haue had his perpetuall hate, and in hauing his hate, like p∞re Ioue with Argus ſhould ſtill be watcht and l∞kt after, that I the harder ſhould finde oppertunitie to depart with thėe to Tunis: therefore to auoide ſuſpition, I made him a fained promiſe, but ſtill braue Theſeus reſting at thy commaund, and obeying as thy hand-maide, ile liue and die with thėe; and with that takes him about the necke, and doth ſo pay and repay him with kiſſes, that ſhėe halfe ſmothers him. Theſeus heard her politicke anſwere; hearing her wittie reply, and ſėeing her loue ſo conſtant; much commended her wit, but more pittied her griefe, deſired her to patience, and wiſhing her not to be ſo paſſionate, promiſed her that euery teare that ſhe had for him ſpent, ſhould from him returne tenne thouſand ioyes againe: and quoth Theſeus I haue prouided a ſhip, and all things neceſſarie for our paſſage, which lies ready in the hauen, and if you are readie and willing, nowe there is a fit gale of winde to tranſport vs from the Grecian ſhores to Tunis . Quoth Titana, my dėere loue, it is the onely thing I deſire, through fire and water to follow thėe ſwėete Theſeus. Quoth Theſeus, faire Titana, this night about the houre of twelue, I will come and mėete thėe hėere, for then I hold it the beſt time to depart without ſuſpition of any, therfore ſwėete heart make no delaies, nether for Iewells, or rich array, leaſt that we permitting this opportunitie, may ſtay long for the like againe, for I haue all things needfull already prouided. Titana hearing theſe ioyfull tidings, was exceedingly fraught with boundleſſe ioy, thinking that euery houre before night came would pr∞ue a yėere, in ſo much that the time being appointed, and fearefull to be eſpied in their priuate parley, after many louely enterchanges, and ſwėete eclipſed lips, they parted, where wėele leaue them a while ruminating on their enſuing fortunes, and turne to Piriſmus.

Who now is prouiding Roabs for the Nuptiall, which I doubt will pr∞ue his funeral, yet loue being ſo vrgent with him, it caſts a miſt before the eies of his folly, in ſo much, that he thinkes euery ſmile that Titana lends him, is a promiſe of perfection: but alaſſe p∞re f∞le, that ſuch infancie ſhould reſt in ſuch experienced yėeres: but tis not to be maruelled at, for Cupid doth greater miracles then this ſome times, for hėe forceth the bond ſlaue to loue, and blinds his eies with folly: he makes the yong old, and the old become yong againe; hėe cleares the ageds eyes, and make the youthfull dim: therefore blame I not Piriſmus, nor yet commend him, but as hėe deſerues, ſo let fortune ^attribute her fauours vnto him, where weele leaue him a ſpectator to his aduerſe hopes, & turne to Titana:

Who being mindfull of her promiſe to Theſeus, aſſ∞ne as the Court was quiet, and euery man bet∞ke him to his reſt, Titana very carefully had reſpect that none might ſėe, nor heare her, ſtayed till the deade time of the night, which was much about the houre that Theſeus had appointed her to come: ſhe hearing no noiſe, nor ſeeing no light throughout all the Court, hauing a d∞re that opened into the Garden, ſhe ſecretly vnlocks it, and away ſhee goes to the wonted place, where ſhe findes Theſeus attending her comming, and without any great circumſtance t∞ke her by the arme, and led her f∞rth at a backe gate that Titana had giuen him the key on before, where his man Iunia ſtayed his comming with his Gelding: he ſuddenly mounted on his horſes back, t∞ke Titana vp behind him, and rode to the hauen where the ſhip lay, which was about a mile diſtant from that place; he no ſ∞ner came there, but the Marriners were readie with their Cockboate to receiue them aboard: where being coucht together in a Cabbin, they paſt away the time in recounting their old loues, till their man Iunia came: he had no ſ∞ner boarded the ſhip, but the Marriners hoiſting their mainſailes, weighed anchors & halled into the dėepe, where weele leaue them to y^e fauour of the winde and the Seas, and returne to Meleagar, and the Bridegrome Piriſmus.

The morne being come, and Phœbus ſaluted the day with his glorious Beames: Piriſmus ſtarts him from the imbracements of his bed, to rouſe Titana from her nightly couch; he being entred her chamber, and ſaw ſhee was ſtirring before him, and forſaken her chamber, he thus beganne:

What hungry fiend or croaking night worme, durſt bėe ſo bold as to diſturbe my Titana from her reſt, till I Piriſmus gaue her the Bon Jour.

What lowing Beaſt, or bleating Lamb-kin, durſt attempt my Loue. Titanaes vnreſt, before that I beſtowed the mornings Salutation on her.

What Scythian ſheepheard durſt be ſo bold, with his h∞pes and cries, to fright my Titana from her natiue ſleepe, before I enterchanged a kiſſe with her, to embrace this Nuptiall morne?

What Indian Rauens, and Grecian Larkes, what Canarie-Finch, or ſiluer Swanes durſt with their harmoniall tunes intice my loue from forth her bed before I came?

But yet me thinkes, I fėele no hate procėed from fourth their chirping blaſts, therefore ſurely thou doſt miſconceiue them: for thy loue is gone to recreate her ſelfe in the Garden this freſh morne: and is eſpied by theſe louing creatures; and to adorne her and her Nuptiall, they all accord, ſtriking the ſwėete relaces of their conſorted tunes, to giue the heauens an Eccho of their ioy, and thy Titana the harmonie of ſo happie a day.

When he had thus paſſioned a while, he was returning f∞rth of her chamber againe, euen as he was parting, comes Meleagar, calling haſtily, for his Daughter Titana, and mėeting Piriſmus, aſked him for Titana, who anſwered, ſhe was not in her chamber: Meleagar returning againe enquired, and ſent about the Court & Garden to ſėeke her, but no newes could be heard of her, in ſo much that in the end Meleagar beganne to feare ſome ill was betide her, and that ſhe had bėene walking late, and ſo was taken by ſome of Aegeus men and kept priſoner: well this conceit t∞ke ſuch effect, that he ſends Embaſſadors to Aegeus Court, to demand the queſtion, if Titana were taken priſoner by any of his Souldiers, who had an anſwere no: returning againe, told Meleagar their anſwere: they had no ſ∞ner deliuered their meſſage, but their comes a poſt from Aegeus Court, to demaund if they had not taken Theſeus priſoner, the which had his anſwere deliuered him in the ſame manner, no: which done, he returnes againe. Meleagar; who thought to haue feaſted, and made a triumphant Nuptiall; nowe caſts off his ſumptuous Roabs, and put on mourning wėedes, and in ſtėed of delicious feaſting, imbraceth mournefull faſting: Piriſmus, who fed on the beautie of Titana, as the Camelian fėeds on the aire, was franticke, at this ſudden extaſie. Ambroſa from his aged eies ſhed many teares, to ſėe Meleagar ſo grieued, and his Sonne ſo impatient: the gueſts that were inuited, at this ſudden change were caſt into dumps, and dull perplexities, in ſo much that you might haue paſt through the Court, t∞ and fro, and hardly haue heard a word ſpoken, but haue ſėene many a weeping eie, which held for the ſpace of foure days; the fift day he cauſed proclamation to be made, that whoſoeuer could but bring tidings where Titana is, or what is become of her, he would beſtow a liuing on him worth an hundred pound a yeare, induring his life: this being proclaimed, at that time, there was a Sailer that ſhould haue gone in the ſhip with them, but hee had ſome hindrance, hee being f∞rth of the ſhip when Theſeus and Titana boarded it, hee ſtaide ſome thing long, and Theſeus and his loue, thought it ſeuen yėere till they were put from the ſhore, leaſt fortune ſhould chance to bewray their pretence, he would ſtay no longer, but commanded them to put off and lanch into the deepe: ſo that this Sailer was left behind, and hearing this great promiſe of the King, determined to goe inſtantly, and informe the King of her departure: but you muſt note this, hėe did it more for the benefit of the liuing, then to certifie the King: hėe being arriued at the Court, made meanes to come to the ſpėech of the King, hėe being in preſence, did his dutie, and as farre as hee could hee vnfoulded the matter, in euery point: the King hearing how it was, and that ſhe was gone with Theſeus, beganne to be in an excėeding great rage, in ſo much that the Sayler wiſht himſelfe fourth of his preſence, though he neuer had his gift: yet the King being a noble Prince, beſtowed his promiſe on him, and ſent him away a ioyfull man.

Meleagar, though he heard tidings of his Daughter, yet could it no whit perſwade him to patience, but rather kindled the hot fire of war againſt Aegeus for a reuenge, becauſe he had but one only daughter, and ſhe to be carried away by an enemies ſonne. Aegeus miſſing his ſonne Theſeus, and hearing that he was gone with Meleagars daughter Titana, hėe ſware a bloudie reuenge on Meleagar: and thus the two fathers fell into bloudy paſſions, in ſo much that all Achaia, Calidon, and Greece were vp in armes againſt each other, where wėele leaue them a while, and turne to Piriſmus.

Who hearing of the ingratefull departure of Titana, preſently betakes him to his chamber, where he ſate ruminating on her, and her departure with Theſeus, in ſo much that hėe perſwaded himſelfe neuer to returne to Portugall againe. ſith Titana had deceiued him: well, he being as it were halfe franticke, grew careleſſe what became of himſelfe, and in this diſcontented humour ſitting alone in his chamber, thus breathed out his paſſions:

Titanaes love, did lend thee life,

Titanaes hate will cauſe thy death:

Titanaes parting, hath ſharpt the knife,

That now muſt ſtop thy vitall breath.

Titana farwell, for loue I die,

As here theſe lines, will teſtifie.

WHen he had thus paſſioned a while; hee drawes his fatall Engine, and ſtabs himſelfe: when Meleagar and Ambroſa were ſitting at dinner, Piriſmus was called for, but he could not be found, in the end they l∞kt in his chamber, where they found him moſt grieuouſly murdered: newes was preſently carried to the Kings table, who hearing of this pitious tidings, cauſed him to bee brought into the preſence, and ſent for Doctors, and Surgions, but all in vaine, for he was quite gone, and paſt recouery: they ſeeing no helpe, cauſed preparation for the funerall, which all things being in a readineſſe, thoſe neighbour Princes which were inuited to the Nuptiall, were now intreated to his funeral: theſe ſolemne obſequies, and funerall being ended euery man t∞ke his leaue, and departed: but Ambroſa ſtayed till the beginning of the next moneth, and when the time came, he departed towards Portugall, with a heauier heart then he came towards Greece: withall, when he had taken his leaue of Meleagar, he boarded the Flėete, weighed anchors, and away they cut through the dėepe, where wėele leaue him and turne to Titana, and Theseus.

Whom fortune beginnes to ſport her ſelfe, in their aduerſities, for as ſhe had ſmiled on them a while, and giuen them a full winde fitting to tranſport them to the hauen of their deſire: ſo now ſhe meant to frowne on them, and giue them a Calme; when as they lay thus becalmed, fortune who loues to ſport her ſelfe in the variable accidents of loue, brought it thus to paſſe: certaine Gallies that were Robbers vnder the French King, eſpied this Grecian ſhip, and thinking to haue ſome rich prize, made out, and gaue onſet, commanding them to yėeld: the Grecians being calme could not make away from them, yet although t∞ weake, Theſeus ſtoutly denied to be boarded, and fought it out to the vtmoſt: yet in the end they boarded the ſhip, and beſtowed Titana and Theſeus vnder the hatches amongſt the Saylers, and then rifled the ſhip of all their rich Iewells: which done, they t∞ke the Saylers and caried them into their Gallies, and chained them faſt, and made Galli-ſlaues of them, when they had ſo done, they t∞ke Theſeus into one of the Gallies, but the chiefe commanded that they ſhould offer no rigor at all vnto him, for hee ſaw by his behauiour, that he was of g∞d birth and parentage, which made him the more fauourable vnto him. Theſeus deſired of the generall that he would entertaine or ſuffer Titana to come into the Gallie to him, and fare as he fared, they both deſired and intreated, but it could not be granted, which cauſed p∞re Titanaes eies all blubbered with teares, and almoſt dead for feare, and griefe, but all would not preuaile: the chiefe generall ſent halfe a douſen ſhakerags with the ſhip, & her to Rone, where they ſtript her out of her P^{rincely Robe}s, and put her into beggers Ragges, and when they came to the ſhore, they gaue her three duckets and turned her off there in a ſtrang Countrie, that ſhe neither knew their Language, nor had ſhe any friends there: but ſith her fortune was ſo alotted vnto her, for her owne part ſhe t∞ke it very patiently, but when ſhe called to minde her Theſeus ſhe wept bitterly, but ſith there was no remedie, ſhe meant to paſſe, and ſpend her life in Pilgrimage, where wėele leaue her trauelling towards Italie, and turne to Theſeus:

Whoſe chiefe ſoliciter is carefull griefe, for his p∞re loue Titana, and is forcſt to liue as a rouing Pirate on the ſeas: it hapned about ſixe moneths after they chancſt to mėete with ſome Merchants of Venice, on whom theſe Pirates gaue onſet, theſe Merchants being well prouided, breathed defiance on them, at which theſe Pirates t∞ke great diſdaine and diſcharged vpon them, the Merchants ſėeing that, beganne to play vpon them, Pėece, after Pėece, ſo long that in the end, they ouercame them, and t∞ke two of their Gallies: in which two, Theſeus and Iunia were Priſoners in: fortune fauouring Theſeus for Titanaes ſake, beare her Target of defence before him, that he eſcapt with life, but Iunia was ſlaine, when the Merchants had thus rifled the Gallies, being nėere the coaſt of Bohemia, ſent the Gallie-ſlaues, and others that were Priſoners in the Gallies, to the ſhores ſide, and ſet them a land to ſhift for themſelues, then had Theſeus but halfe a Ducket to buy him meate & drinke, and his clothes were but ſimple Ragges God knowes, yet glad he was that he was ſo happily landed, but yet p∞re Titana, the very thought of her, ſtrake him halfe dead, hee determined neuer to returne vnleſſe he met with his loue Titana, but would ſpend his life in Pilgrimage till death claimed his right: where wėele leaue him trauelling in Germanie, and turne to Meleagar.

Who is in the field with Troupes of Souldiers, waging warre againſt Egeus: but his mother enuying him, for killing her two Brothers, Plexipus, and Toxie, had ſworne on him to be reuenged, yet ſtudied ſhe a long time, and knew not how to be cruell inough in her reuenge, till in the end, ſhee called to minde a brand that the deſtinies put in the fire, when ſhe lay in child-bed of Meleagar: which brand was of this mercileſſe force, and power, by the deſtinies charmes, that when this brand was in the fire burnt, Meleagar ſhould conſume and burne to aſhes, for the deſtinies ſpunne his fatall threed at his birth day, and did put this brand in the fire, to take him the firſt day of his birth: but Althœa, to preuent it, t∞ke it f∞rth againe, and layd it vp very charilie, till now ſhe meant to make vſe of it, as thus.

Meleagar, being in the field againſt Aegeus, in fierce and cruell battell, and hauing giuen an ouerthrow to Aegeus, there was great reioycing, and Bonfires made througout al Calidon, with ringing Bells, and ſuch like. Theſties Daughter ſeeing ſo much w∞de layde on the fire for Meleagar, and to ſhew the loue they beare to the King her Sonne: ſhėe thought whilſt the fire was burning to beſtow one ſticke on him, to ſhew the hate ſhe bare to him, although ſhe died for company with him herſelfe, ſhe cared not, ſo ſhe might bėe reuenged on him: after ſhe bethought her ſelfe, ſhe ſteps to a cheſt where ſhe ſafely had layd this brand, and takes it f∞rth, and with a zeale to miſchiefe, ſtretcht out her fatall arme, and threw it in the fire, which being done, ſhe thus began:

Behold yee triple Goddeſſes

Of wrecke, yee Helhounds three:

Behold you all this furious fact,

And ſacrifice of me.

I wrecke and doe againſt all right,

With death muſt death be payde:

On miſchiefe, miſchiefe muſt be heapt,

On courſe, muſt courſe be layde.

Confounded let this wicked houſe,

With heaped ſorrowes be:

Shall Oenie ioy his happie Sonne,

In honour for the ſee:

And Theſties morne bereft of his,

Nay better yet it were,

That each with other company,

In mourning you ſhould beare:

Now brothers ghoſts and ſoules new dead,

I wiſh no more but you

To feele the ſolemne obſequies,

Which I prepare as now.

This ſayd.

She turned away her face,

And with a trembling hand;

Did caſt amid the fire,

This death-full burning brand.

MEleagar being abſent, and buſied about his warlike affaires, thinkes not of his mothers crueltie, but following his vrgent occaſions, with very attentiue care, it hapned not long after as hėe was walking alone to recreate himſelfe, vpon the ſudden he felt an extreame paine in his belly, it waxt more and more, inſomuch, that he did plainly perceiue that his bowells burnt with flames of ſecret fire, but yet denied he to die, but bare it out with a Princely courage, for it grieued him to die ſo cowardly without ſhedding his bloud: yet death being ſo predominate, and potent ouer him, hėe began to yėeld, and with ſighing ſobs, called on his aged father, which with age lay bedrid ſeuen yeares before|, and then with griefe departed; then called he on his brother, and his ſiſters, and laſtly on his mother, by this time his paine increaſed ſo extreame with the fire, that hėe fell therewith againe, and at that ſelfe ſame inſtant quite extinguiſht were they both: and as his body burnt to aſhes, the glowing coals his ſpirit from him drew? Then dr∞ped ſtately Calidon, both young and old did mourne, the Lords and Commons did lament, and married wiues their hairs like frantickes rent from off their heads, for griefe of king Meleagars death: The folke of Calidon not ſo ſufficed, gathers the aſhes of his conſumed body, and entombs them vp, and makes a ſolemne Funerall; nay the blackeſt diſmall day that ere was knowne in Calidon, or Acchaia, and on his Tombe, engraues an Epitaph to this effect.

The Epitaph.

Heere lies the famous King of Calidon,

Which for his fame the worlds mirror woone,

That Achaian land can ſay, though he be gonne,

Foule fall the Author, and of this mothers doome:

Who paſſeth by, and chance theſe lines to read,

Curſe them that cauſd Meleagar lie heere dead.

HAuing this done, euery man returnes againe to his abiding place. Aegeus hearing that Meleagar was dead, prouided a great hoaſt of men, and marcheth towards Calidon, and ouer-runnes their Camps, and puts their Souldiers to the ſword, ſo that in a ſhort ſpace he gets the chiefe part of Calidon, and ſtill inuades further into the Countrie, and much bl∞d hath bėene ſpilt, and a great deale more is like to be, but the winter being come, they haue left the field and lie now in Gariſon till the next ſpring, where weele leaue them and turne to Titana.

Who now hath ſpent full foure yeeres in Pilgrimage, from Countrie, to Countrie, in very p∞re manner, and now it was her fortune to come into Germaine, and as ſhe was trauelling vp into the Country, ſhe chancſt to come to Fueſen, where being late ſhe purpoſt to lie there all that night, yet knowing not how to get a lodging, for ſhe had no money, ſate down and wept bitterly: as ſhe thus ſate waſhing her tender cheekes, with ſalt brinie teares, the high Conſtable of Fueſen was paſſing by and ſaw a young Maide ſit lamenting, and wringing her hands in ſuch grieuous manner, pittied her, and demanded of her what ſhe was, and whence; ſhe anſwered ſhe was a Gentlemans Daughter of Athens: he demanded what ſhe made ſo farre from home then, and how ſhe came there? the which ſhe anſwered, that there was a young Gentleman of the ſame Cittie that was in loue with her, and ſhe with him, but their Parents would not giue conſent, wherevpon we determined to tranſport our ſelues into Spaine, where we both haue friends, and there to enioy the fruition of our loues, as we were paſſing from Greece to Spaine, we met with Pirats that rifled and robbed vs of all we had, ſet me on land in France, and carried my loue away, I know not whither: and theſe, all theſe, griefes am I poſſeſt withall. The high Conſtable pittied her very much, aſked her if ſhe could write, and reade, ſhe anſwered I, he demaunded if ſhe could ſow, ſhe ſayd I: quoth the high Conſtable, wilt thou be content to dwell with me, & teach my children for a yeare or two, or longer as thou ſhalt thinke g∞d; Titana being wearie of trauelling, and was aſhamed to goe begge, thought ſhe could not doe better then to ſerue him, till ſhe had gotten mony and cloathes to her back, anſwered him ſhe was very wel content, if it pleaſed him to except of her ſeruice; the which he anſwered very willingly with all his heart, ſo he cauſed her to follow him home, where he inſtantly ſtripes her out of rages, and put her on g∞d apparell, which done, ſhe ſettles herſelfe very cloſely to her nėedle, and teacheth his children, that in ſhort time, ſhe grew famous for her womanſhip, ciuill, modeſt, and Gentlewoman like behauiour, in ſo much that ſhe might haue had diuers wealthy and rich marriages, onely vpon the g∞d report that was ſpred abroad of her, but ſtill ſhe refuſed all, and would except of none, yet all this time ſhe neuer made it knowne, that ſhe was a Kings Daughter, but kept it cloſe, neuer meaning to reueale it, but ſtill following her buſineſſe, with carefull diligence, where wėele leaue her, and turne to Theſeus:

Who being in very p∞re eſtate, is entertained by the Lands-graue of Heſton: and ſeruing him for the ſpace of three yėeres, greatly grew in credite with him, in ſo much that hee would doe nothing without the aduice of his man Pirigrino, (for ſo he fained his name to be) the Landſ-graue taking ſuch on extraordinarie liking vnto him, (as truely to ſay the trueth, he deſerued the loue of all: (neuer had any Iuſts, & Turnies, but his Pirigrino ſhould be one, I, and ſtill did put them to the foile, whatſoeuer they were that waged againſt him, in ſo much that in few yeares he beganne to be admired of all; not onely for his rare feats at Armes, but alſo for his Gentleman like accompliſhments, ciuill, and modeſt behauiour: that in the end, the Landſ-graue began to miſdoubt that hėe came of ſome Noble deſent, and by ſome diſcontent parted with his Countrie, and went as a Pilgrime to ſėeke his fortune: well, it hapned not long after, he t∞ke an occaſion to walke after ſupper, in a Garden that ſt∞d on the backe ſide of his Pallace, with a meaning to demaunde of his man, what Countriman he was, and of what Parentage; calls for his Pirigrino, and charged him to tell him the trueth of a queſtion hee meant to aſke him. Pirigrino maruelling at this ſudden charge, anſwered thus: My dread Soueraigne, as nėere as I can I will certifie you with the truth (quoth the Graue) but this then, tell of what Parentage thou commeſt on, and what was the occaſion of thy comming into this Countrie? for thou toldſt me thou waſt a Grecian borne: (Quoth Pirigrino) my Soueraigne Lord truly ſo I am, and my father was a p∞re Gentleman, and the occaſion that I came hither was this: there was a Gentlewoman dwelling in Athens whom I dėerely loued, and ſo did ſhe me, I being a younger brother, and had but ſmall meanes to maintaine her, her friends being rich, would not giue conſent at all; we hauing but little hope to enioy the fruition of our loues in Greece, prouided a little Barke to tranſport our ſelues into Spaine, which being done, as we were paſſing the Otion, there came certaine Pirates that were rouing on the Sea, and t∞ke vs, and robbed vs of all that we had; this done, they ſent my loue, away towards the coaſt of France, and clapt me into a Gally, where I was forcſt to mannange an Ower, till I was releaſt by a Venetian Merchant, who landed me on the coaſt of Bohemia, and I purpoſing to ſpend my life in Pilgrimage, wandring vp and downe, it was my fortune to come hither, where I fortunatly hapned into your ſeruice; he thus ending his ſpėech wept very bitterly . The Lanſ-graue being very ſorry to ſėe him wėepe and lament ſo bitterly, demaunded the occaſion of his paſſions, who anſwered the loſſe of my loue. Quoth the Landſ-graue, come leaue off this womaniſh wėeping, and remaine with me, & thou ſhalt neuer want for any thing ſo long as I am able to giue thėe: well after theſe and ſuch like words, they departed to their reſt.

At that inſtant, there was attendant in the houſe of Alphonſus the Landſ-graue, a young Gentlewoman whoſe name was Impio, this Gentlewoman came of very g∞d Parentage, ſhe wiſhly viewing, and noting the excellencie of Pirigrinos face, preſently fell in loue with him; but hauing but ſmall acquaintance, could not tell how to vnfolde her minde vnto him, but this ſhe paſt the time, for the ſpace of halfe a yėere, and could find no time nor place fitting for to diſcloſe her loue: till at laſt ſhėe watcht him when hėe went to walke in the Garden alone, and lightly ſkips after him, he eſpiing her comming after him, returnes againe and met, giuing her the time of the day, and ſhe the like to him againe, ſo that in the end there paſt and repaſt many queſtions between them: in ſo much that at laſt my young Gentlewoman miſtriſſe Impio, grew ſo impudent with loue, that ſhe could bridle her paſſionate affection no longer but deſired him to ſit downe on a greene banke that was by them, for ſhe told him that ſhe had g∞d newes to tell him, he being no leſſe then willing to heare g∞d news, according to her deſire he ſate downe, where ſuddenly ſhe ſate downe by him, where ſhe declares the whole volume of her minde vnto him. Pirigrino hearing her ſo paſſionate in her tearmes, wondred much at theſe ſudden accidents, or what ſhould be the occaſion that ſhould prouoke her to ſuch inordinate ſeakes, which in his conceit ouerflowed the bounds of modeſtie, yet would he not ſeeme to reiect her for her folly, but mildly perſwaded her to be content and pacifie herſelfe with patience, for he was already prouided, yet did he humbly thanke her for her g∞d will, but grant her marriage he could not: yet ſhe would not be ſo anſwered, but began to proſecute it freſh againe, and like Venus, when ſhe woed Adonis, ſtroue with him for a kiſſe, in ſo much that he aſhamed of her folly, flung away from her; Impio ſeeing him gone, meant not to let him goe ſo, but on the next morning, ſhe goes to his chamber, and in the like manner begins againe. Pirigrino ſeeing her, and hearing her in her old tune, would not ſtay, but flings from her in an angrie fume; yet ſhe would not giue him ouer nor let him reſt, but ſtill would bee troubling and moleſting him, in ſo much, that in the end, hee told her of her imodeſtie very ſharply, and told her, that if ſhee came any more troubling him with the like matter againe, he would declare her name to his Lord Alphonſus. Impio hearing this| haſtie checke and rebuke of Pirigrino whom ſhe loued ſo dearely, turned now her loue to hate, and as in former time ſhe had ſought meanes to get his loue, ſo now ten times more buſie ſhe was, to ſeeke meanes to deſtroy his life: Pirigrino whõ fortune had turned on her whėele ſo oft with frowns and ſmiles, meant once more, to caſt him into aduerſe perplexities, & for the better conueyance of it, ſhe brought it thus to paſſe.

At that inſtant there lay in Fueſen one of the Emperors of Germanie, who had to Daughter a very faire, and proper young Gentlewoman: this Virgin being known to the Duke of Broonſwecke, and he hauing but one only Son thought it a g∞d match for him, being reſolued in this opinion, very ſpeedily ſends Embaſſadors to this Emperour, to entreat a marriage betwėene his Sonne & his Daughter; to which the Emperor, being very willing, told them, with all his heart, and had them, pray him to come and accompliſh it aſſ∞ne as he could, for his buſines would be ſo vrgent with him ſhortly, that he ſhould hardly attend their comming elſe, they receiued their anſwere, and haſted baCke to the Duke their Maiſter, where they made report of their Embaſſage, when the Duke heard each ioyfull tidings, with all expedition, he cauſed preparation for the Nuptiall, which being all finiſht, and all things readie, they t∞ke their Iourney to the Emperors Court, being then in Fueſen . The Emperour hearing they were comming; inuited diuers of the chiefe of Germanie, to the Nuptiall: whereof Alphonſus, the Landſ-graue of Heſſen amongſt the reſt was one: well, within few dayes after the Duke of Broonſweeke arriued at the Emperours Court in Fueſen, this Nuptiall day being paſt, and their royalte ended, euerie man taking his leaue of the Emperor departed, onely the Duke of Broonſweeke, the Landſ-graue of Heſton, and their followers.

It hapned in a ſhort time after, Pirigrino being chiefe attendant on Alphonſus; and Impio on his faire Lady: fortune beganne to turne her whėele, and raiſe an aduerſe fate, on p∞re ſubmiſſiue Pirigrino, in this manner: this wicked luſt ſulphering Impio, whoſe heart was fraught with burning hate, had long ſtudied how ſhe might bring him to diſgrace, or take his life from him, becauſe he did reiect her for her folly: in ſo much that in the end, ſhe agreed thus; for to inuite him to her chamber to Dinner, where if ſhe could obtaine loue at his hands, it was as much as ſhe deſired, otherwiſe ſhe meant to crie out, and ſay he would rauiſh her, and ſo by that meanes bėe reuenged on him: ſhe being profoundly grounded on this helliſh pretence, thought it long ere ſhe were acting it: yet ſhe conſidered this, that if ſhe ſhould doe ſo hauing no witnes of it, it was but her I, and his no: and ſhe ſaw that he was ſo in fauour, that he ſhould be beleeued before her, therefore to bring her matter the better to paſſe, ſhėe hires a young man, and giues him fiftie crownes to come and ſweare againſt him: when ſhe was thus prouided of a witneſſe, ſhe inuites Pirigrino to come the next day to dinner: He thinking no hurt, nor imagined not the miſchiefe ſhe pretended to him, very courteouſly thanked her, and ſayd hee would make bold to trouble her: with this anſwer ſhe returned, and called this young man to her, and told him where he ſhould ſtand to heare her, when ſhe called him; and what he ſhould ſay: well, this being done, on y^e next day according to promiſe, Pirigrino came to dinner, where they ſate all alone, and were very merry all the Dinner time, when they had ſufficiently alayd the hunger of their ſtomackes, ſhe t∞ke away the table her ſelfe, and had none to attend her at all, which made Pirigrino muſe much thereat, when ſhe had thus taken away, and ſet things in order, ſhe came to Pirigrino, and beganne her wonted tune againe, and againe, but ſtill he denied her; yet would ſhe take it for no anſwer, but ſtill importuned him for loue, in ſo much that he beganne to bėe very angrie with her, and beganne to goe f∞rth of her chamber: she ſeeing no hope to obtaine loue of him, ſhe ſware ſhe would haue his life: ſhe ſteps to him againe, and thus beſets him. Thou faire faced Pirigrino, canſt thou deny a Wench that comes of gentle bloud, no vaſſall nor runnagate, but bred and borne in gentillitie: therefore reade the margent of my browes and thou ſhalt ſėe that thy birth is not equiualent with mine; thou knoweſt how my Lord & Maiſter entertained thee but the other day, as a Pilgrime that meant to ſpend his life in Pilgrimage, and wilt thou reiect me that am a Gentlewoman of g∞d account? no, no, Pirigrino; remember thy ſelfe what thou wert when thou camſt hither; and yeelde Impio loue . Pirigrino hearing her ſo inſatiable in this vaine attempt, began to wreſt away from her, whereupon ſhe cried out, helpe, helpe; he will rauiſh me: with that ſteps in the young man that ſhe had appointed to beare falſe witneſſe againſt him, and cries out for helpe t∞ / which ſuddenly came running in diuers of the Court, and layd hands on him, and newes was carried to the Landſ-graue, and the Emperour, of Pirigrinoes fact: Alphonſus very ſorry to heare this tidings, yet would not ſeeke to excuſe him, but ſuffered him to goe to priſon, where he lay for the ſpace of ſixe daies, the ſeuenth, according to the order of their Law, he was had in examination; & for the

ter himſelfe, that he ſhould haue no wrong: but when he heard how euidently the matter was proued againſt him, by this yong fellowes meanes, that came in, and ſware directly againſt him, it was a fact that was ſo heinous, & not to be forgiuen, there Lawes were ſo ſtrickt againſt it, when he had thus conſidered with himſelfe, the greatneſſe of the offence & the ſeuereneſſe of their Law, he held his tongue and ſuffered the Law, to paſſe on him, which ouerthrew him, & the ſentence of death was pronounſt againſt him, that the next market day, there ſhould be in the midſt of the market place, a ſtake erected; vnto which ſtake, he muſt be bound faſt with Iron-chaines, and ſo done, fire kindled about him, and ſo burne to death: the Law hauing thus paſt on him, and the ſentence of death pronounſt againſt him, they carried him backe to priſon, vntill the next market day: in the meane while they made ready the ſtake, and ſet it in the midſt of the market, and when the day came, according to there order they brought him to the place of execution, where was gathered together, two or three hundred to ſėe him executed; he was ſo beloued that there was many a wėeping eie for him, and cried out to the Shrieffes, ſaying, it was a great pittie ſo braue a man ſhould die for ſo ſmall an offence, yet they could not doe withall, but cauſed him to be tied to the ſtake, which done, they layde ſtraw and faggets about him, and were kindling the fire about him; yet did he ſmile and laugh on the people, and prayed them to pray for him, the which they did all very hartily, he prouided himſelfe to die: euen as the fire was kindling, there came riding by a Knight of Athens by chance, as he was trauelling into France, eſpying a multitude of people gathered togither, turnes his horſe head, and rides to the place to ſėe the occaſion, when he came neere to the place, and ſeeing a man bound faſt to the ſtake, beganne to l∞ke very erneſtly on him, in ſo much that in the end, he beganne to perſwade himſelfe that it was Theſeus: thruſts in amongſt the people & thus ſpake, (Prince Theſeus) Theſeus ſuddenly l∞kt vp marueiling who was that which knew his name ſo perfectly, l∞king on this Knight called him to minde, and anſwered Horatio. Quoth the Knight Horatio, for ſo was his name: my Noble Leige, what make you heere thus bound with chaines ſo nėere your death? Quoth Theſeus I haue bėene falſely accuſed, & now contemned to die. Horatio intreated the Shrieffes to hold backe the

he was, for he is a Kings Son, & falſely accuſed. The Shrieffes although they were to haue done the execution by an houre, yet for the loue they bore to him, they puld backe the fire: Horatio gallopt to the Emperor, & told him in few words that hėe knew not what, to put a kings Sonne to death vpon a falſe accuſation; with ſuch, and ſuch like words, he roughly beſpake y^e Emperor, without all feare or reuerence: in ſo much that the Emperor ſent ſome of his chiefe attendants with his priuy Signet to fetch him againe, to heare the matter more plainely pr∞ued: the whilſt they went to fetch him, Horatio declared what hėe was, & the occaſion of his departure from his owne Country. Quoth Alphonſus he told me that was the occaſion of his departure, but hee told me he was a Gentleman, and a younger brother: by this time, the Emperors men came to the place of execution, where they declared his will and ſhewed the Shrieffes, the Emperors Signet for a ſign and token they ſhould bring him to the Emperors Court: when they ſaw the Signet, they knew it was the Emperors will hee ſhould be brought, then they cauſed him to be vntied, which when the people heard it, there was ſuch caſting vp of hats, h∞ting & reioycing, as though Heauen and Earth would haue gone together: when he came to the Court hee was examined againe of this matter, the which hee vtterly denied, wherupon the fellow was called againe, that came in againſt him, and demanded if this man were guiltie or no; he anſwered I. The Emperor would not beleeue him ſo, but would make a farther trial of it, ſends preſently for a Racke, to racke him, till he tolde y^e truth: aſſ∞ne as the Racke came, the very feare, & ſight of the Rack, made him fall on his knėes & confeſſe all: telling how Impio did hire him to doe it & gaue him fifty Crownes. The Emperor and the Lanſgraue hearing this, ſends for Impio, who hearing y^t her knauery was com out, gets her into her chamber, where ſhe ſuddenly ſtrangles her ſelfe with a Towell: ſhe being found there dead in this manner, they were all very ſorry, and deſired Theſeus to pardon their haſtie & raſh Iudgement, the which he freely pardoned: this being paſt y^e Emperor, & the Landſ-graue intended to accompany Theſeus into Greece, & command a Fleete of ſhips to bee prepared for this Voyage. this news being bruted about, that Pirigrino was a Kings Sonne & of Greece: in ſo much, that in y^e end it came to Titana’s eare, who was halfe perſwaded y^t it was her Theſeus, well ſhe could not be quiet in minde till ſhe ſaw him: the next day ſhe made an excuſe to goe forth, & goes to the Emperors Court . &

as ing him directly, but ſt∞d ſtill & l∞kt on him, & he did the like on her, till at laſt Theſeus ſayd Titana: when ſhe heard him ſay ſo, ſhe ſtept to him, and with ioy ſhe wept, and y^e like did he, like two Turtle Doues they ſweetly bild each other, when they had thus done, they made it knowne to the Emperor & Alphonſus, that ſhe was King Meleagars daughter, & ſhe was ſhe, that y^e Pirates t∞k from him: this newes bred more admiration, and more in Fueſen: this being paſt, the ſhips ready & all things prouided; the Emperor cloaths them in very rich aray, and cauſeth them to board the Nauie, who did accompany them the Emperor, the Duke of Broonſweeke, the Landſ-graue of Heſten, and diuers other knights, and Gentlemen of g∞d account and reckoning; which being a full winde ſuddenly arriued in Athens. The King Egeus ſeeing ſuch a fleet of g∞dly ſhips comming began to miſdoubt the worſt and ſent out a Pin^nais to ſėe what they wore, and to what intent they came: which returned him this anſwere; and ſhall pleaſe your Highnes, there is the Emperour of Germanie, the Duke of Broonſwicke, the Landſ-graue of Heſton and your Prince Theſeus. Aegeus hearing that, neere ſtayd to call any to attend him, neither to put on his Cloake; but ran to meet them, without Hat or Cloake. His Sonne Theſeus comming formoſt in the Tr∞p, when he ſaw his Father, fell down on his knees: the aged King ſt∞ped and t∞ke him vp in his armes and wept bitterly for ioy, hauing ſo done, he ſalutes Titana, and the reſt in the courteouſeſt manner he could deuiſe. The Cittizens hearing of their comming againe to ſhewe their ioy, made Bonfires, & ſhowes, with Bells ringing throughout all the Cittie: the Courtiers and Knights, appeinted Juſts, and Turnies, to ſignifie Their willing minds, gratifying the Kings fortunate hap. Aegeus hearing of his ſonne Theſeus aduerſe haps ſince he departed from him, thought now to accōpliſh his ioy, cauſed preparation for the Nuptial, which being done, & twenty dayes fully expired in ſolemne feaſting: the Emperor, the Duke, & the Landſ-graue with their followers, t∞ke their leaue & departed . Aegeus ſent for his men that were in y^e field againſt the Achaians, & Calidons, proclaimed a finall peace, & crowned Theſeus king of thoſe three kingdomes, hauing this done, & finiſht all things as he could wiſh, he gaue his Son charge of the well gouerning his eſtate, to keepe the hearts of his commons; after theſe & ſuch like words he died, euen with ouer ioying himſelfe at Theſeus return: his father being dead, cauſedad funerall to be made, which done his father intombed, & hi^{s ſolemne}