THE most excellent and pleasant Metaphoricall history of Pesistratus and Catanea. Set forth this present year By Edm. Eluiden Gentleman.  
Imprinted at London by Henry Bynneman.  
cum PRIVILEGIO   

To the right honourable Edward Deuiere, lord Boulbecke, earl of Oxford, Lord great chamberlain of England, edmond Eluiden wisheth long life with increase of honour.  
IT was not with out wise forecaste right honourable( that the politic Poets & wise philosophers, haue many times uttered in pleasant Metaphors, hidden secrets and sundry notable instructions, considering that as the mind is satisfied with profound mysteries, so likewise the weakness of nature is made well disposed by pleasant conveyance: for as the one informing wisdom, burdeneth the wits, so likewise the other refresheth the senses, reneweth the memory, and preserveth the tender appetite from tediousness: which requisite recration of me presumptuously thought upon, I haue boldly or rather impudentely offered to your honour this present rude and gross conceit, wherein I haue to my slender ability bestowed the fruits of my willing labour, for your honors recreation and avoiding of tedious time, after your weighty affairs finished, not altogether void of secret meaning, but well perused of your lordship, sufficiently intending to satisfy the humour of your wise disposition. And thus craving your courtesy to respect of my good will, as chiefly bent for your especial pleasure, rather than of my simplo travell, I briefly leave to trouble your honour with tedious circumstance.  
Your honors humble at commandment, edmond Eluiden.   

To the Reader.  
THere is no soil so barren( gentle Reader) but being wisely used, will yield some commodity: In like case nothing so vnpollished but may be somewhat adorned. wherefore, boldly let me crave thy patience to accept this my simplo endeavour: and it shall be the redy way to encourage a gros conceit to somewhat better fertility. In the mean season take this present simplo gift as for thy recreation, meaning well, and the better if thou conceive therof vprightlye: in reading therefore, peruse and perusing, take that thou thinkest for acceptable, and that which thou judgest weak, let thy good will ratify: and so doing thou shalt justly recompense my travel, the which though it bee simplo, requireth rather the iudgement of the gentle, than the praise of the slanderous, or sentence o● the captious. farewell.   

The Argument.  
IN graecian soil two brothers born there is,  
they father haue Agenetos, whose blis,  
In happy time the children had attained:  
the father died, and valiant sons remained.  
The eldest son he Kened●xus hight,  
the other named Pesi●tr●tus, they fight  
With ancient foes, who Tetimetians callde,  
were( caitiffs al) to marshal brothers thralde:  
And conquest got, the brothers fall to strife,  
for spoil of foes, whereon each seeks the life  
( In pointed place) of other to suppress:  
Pesistrate conqueror departs, & in distress  
He brother leaves, whose fatal wound he thought  
with cursed blade his cruel hand had wrought  
whereon into Italian partes he flies,  
and well retainde, a seemly lady spies,  
Whom loving long, the joyful man at last  
his Ladies love attained, his dollars past.  
From ruling room then Kenedox deprivde  
in native soil, to Tarent town ●rivde,  
Where brother was: of treason he accused  
the Louers both: and Champion not refusde,  
In combat fought: the Kenedox was slain,  
and louers thus were rid from former pain  
Then Champion dead, was Pesistrate exiled  
from Ladies sight, whose changed robes beguiled  
His foes despite: thē proclamation made  
that Pesistrate to proper soil should vade,  
He there ariude prepared a valiant host,  
wherewith returned into Italian cost.  
He slay the fo in open chalengde fight,  
that erst had wrought the troubled man such spite  
And Lady won, he took hir to his mate,  
and livde at ease, and dyde in happy state.   

The history of Pesistratus and Catanea.  
IN fertile fruitful happy soil  
which Grecia hath to name,  
And pleasant Appollonia land  
contained in the same,  
There flourished the courtly race  
of A●anetians kind,  
Which stained every haughty blood  
in valour of the mind:  
And in the midst, when flickering famed  
had spread herself to praise,  
To Aganetians did amount  
more happy golden dayes.  
For when Aganetos, the chief  
of Aganetians rout,  
Began to leave his youthful yeares,  
proceeding to misdoubt:  
So fortune favoured his case,  
that he possess the gain,  
Whose want, had long dismayed his sense  
and caused him to complain.  
And from Veronia, whom he choose  
to be his matched mate,  
There did proceed two goodly imps,  
which glorified his fate.  
And after his decease, when death  
incroched on his yeares,  
They did renew their fathers famed,  
and had not then their peers.  
For when the perilous dispatch  
of childish age was spent,  
In no misorder, but in use  
which dangers doth prevent  
And they approached unto the time  
when season doth endue  
The sense with reason, and the wights  
which rea●on do ensue,  
These youthful Knights did track the steeps  
that sire had trod before,  
In such an ample valiant sort,  
as they could do no more.  
One Kenedoxus, the other eke  
he Pesistratus high,  
The youngest last whose famed my pen  
doth purpose to indite,  
Who chiefly through his valour great,  
so satisfied the sire,  
That Pesistratus to preser  
the father did desire.  
And therefore when as crooked age  
did one rate his back,  
And he oppressed with faint disease,  
did feel of force the lack,  
He calls to him these brothers twain,  
who present thus he said:  
( But to the elder first his speech  
and meaning he conveyed:)  
Thou Kenedoxus knowest well  
the Aganetians famed,  
And to be Aganetian● heir  
thou loo●est for the same:  
And since it is thy right, my son,  
I grant thou shalt enjoy  
The very same, without my let,  
disturbance or annoy:  
But oh my well-beloved babes,  
consider in your brain,  
How I haue laboured for your wealth  
and for your proper gain,  
In seeking to suppress the foes  
which gape for the despoil  
Of Aganetians, unto whom  
I always gave the foil.  
I mean the Tetimetians, they,  
who burn in furies fire,  
To haue on Aganetians blood  
the full of their desire.  
But what conflicts and combats fierce,  
it needs not to be shown,  
Hath been betwixt myself and them,  
for it is well yknowne.  
Now this is my request my sons,  
your prowess may uphold  
The famed, which Tetimetians haue  
so dearly to me sold,  
For well I do perceive, because  
there is two springals sprung  
From Tetimetians, you shall feel  
their wrath ere it be long:  
And therefore warily provide,  
and manfully pretend,  
In al their fierce assaults, yourselves  
with courage to defend:  
whereof, not only you shal reap  
immortal happy praise,  
But also g●ine a quiet state,  
attaining to the stays  
Which nere your predecessors could  
before you yet possess.  
But ever, for your sakes, haue lived  
in werisome distress:  
And for because your stomacks might  
in no wise seem to fail,  
Nor once your harts, in your defence  
and quarrel for to quail,  
I will declare to you, the cause  
from whence began this strife.  
Which hath endured, ever since  
the entrance of my life.  
When Turkish nation did assay  
our Appollonia soil,  
To bring the same unto decay,  
and to a shameful foil,  
Tetimetians auncester by craft  
and treason did conspire,  
Unto the Turkes against the same,  
for privy prouling hire:  
Which, when your graundsire Aganes  
perceived to be so,  
How Tetime by treason wrought,  
and was so great a fo  
Against his native country( moved  
by nature to the same)  
He brought before the armed rout,  
this ●etimes to shane:  
For there in open audience he  
his treason did descry,  
Which done he offered to approve  
the m●tter by and by,  
whereas in open sight, by force  
this Tetimes he slay,  
And after slain, his traitorous corps  
vpon a dunghill drew.  
Which when the chieftains viewed well  
of Aganes his might.  
And how the traitor he had slain  
in maintenance of right.  
They al consented and agreed,  
your graundsire should possess  
Tetimes heritage, wherein  
be took a firm release,  
And Aganetians ever since  
baue so inioyde the same,  
whereon the Tetimetians most  
their malice do proclaim.  
Thus know you al the full effect  
( my children) of the cafe,  
And therfore s●eke you to insew  
your grauns●ers former rase.  
But unto thee Pesistratus,  
with fatherly consent,  
I give my bliss, as much as of  
a father may be meant:  
And will thee only, to maintain  
the Aganetians famed,  
And to reuenge these foes despite,  
unto their further shane:  
And whatsoever either of you  
by force of foes attain,  
I will it do redound to thee,  
as for a rightful gain.  
And so be stint, and gushing tears  
proceeded from his eyes  
Upon his breast, like dropping dews  
descending from the skies:  
And force did faint, and wavering life  
was up and down y●ost,  
till at the last in happy time  
he yielded up his ghost.  
But, when to brothers did appear  
their fathers mournful death.  
With roaring voice and shryking cries,  
and sighs and sobbing br●ath,  
And woeful houlings, plaints, and tears,  
and piteous moans, they spend  
Their youthful dayes, in ruful sort  
unto a painful end.  
But in a season, when the rage  
of burning did aslake,  
( whereby the boilings did delay)  
they did begin to make  
The rich and solemn funerals,  
( according to the use)  
Of fathers carcase, meet for earth,  
which done without abuse,  
With al things incident thereto,  
the brothers, though dismayed  
Through death of ●ire, yet did devise  
how each thing might be stayed:  
But Pesistratus, chiefly moved  
by nature to the same,  
To brother Kenedoxus, thus  
his speech began to frame:  
Though we unhappy haue great cause  
with tears us to complain,  
Yet season( brother) seems to crave  
we should therfore refrain,  
And though it be both natural  
and duty we do so▪  
Yet is it needful to surmise  
on furies of our fo:  
And therfore, sorrow set a side,  
and selfishness from hart,  
Let lusty bloods of Aganes  
be ●old to do their part,  
In seeking to maintain the famed,  
the honor and renown,  
Which Aganetians here●ofore  
haue gained, as a crown,  
wherein you seized, must possess  
the profits of their toil,  
And therefore most had need to care  
herein, and most to moil:  
And I as duty doth me bind,  
and ●athers sweet request,  
To maintnance of my brothers wealth,  
am always ready prest.  
And though our father now deceased,  
is so for ever gone,  
Yet let our fathers streite precepts  
be always thought vpon:  
And since his greatest charge was this,  
that we, devoid of blame,  
Should maintain ancestors renown,  
and put our foes to shane,  
As needful now, let mutual brains  
suppose upon the case,  
That we may both avoyde our pain,  
and beautify the rase  
Of former Aganetians, who  
haue vsd● their former care,  
That we successors unto them,  
may likewise partly bear  
The fruitful flower of their famed:  
thus doing may we say,  
Our ancestors haue well begun,  
and we haue made the slay:  
But otherwise, if we should slack  
our dueties to prefarre,  
They should not be so much a famed  
to us, but we a scar  
To them, and those which shal ensue  
of Aganetians blood,  
Who after us, may rightly say,  
wee never did them good.  
'Tis true, quoth Kenedoxus then,  
I grant to your desire,  
And gentle brother to these things,  
I willingly aspire:  
And therefore, as our fathers will,  
of you so likewise I  
Do crave, these matters to dispose,  
and I shal nought deny,  
But urge my tra●el, to pursue  
the force of your aduise,  
From whence I doubt not, but the proof  
of profit will arise.  
And thus these brothers do conclude  
their talk, and now begin  
To follow the effects therof:  
whom I will leave herein,  
And unto Tetimetians rage  
my pen and I must bend,  
For to descry the mind at large,  
and matter they intend.  

THe Tetimetians weighing well  
how every thing doth s●and,  
And how Agenetes is dead,  
and they of stronger hand,  
And how the brothers be the chief  
of Aganetians rout,  
whereon they gather less suspect  
or m●●ion of misdoute,  
In fell and furious ranckrous rage  
so fiercely they abound,  
That now in hast, but al in wast,  
they hope strait to confound  
The Aganetians, and proceed  
in wrathfulnesse and ire,  
By sundry shifts and secret crafts  
to work the said desire.  
But Anteres, the principal  
of Tetimetians, be  
perusing better of the case  
than al the rest could see,  
Amongst the midst, began with voice  
amounting, thus to say:  
My friends and Neuews, be attent  
to that I shal display:  
The Aganetians( as you know)  
the quarrel do defend,  
And we desirous of reuenge,  
the quarrel do extend:  
Now, since the quarrel is our own,  
and that we seek our famed,  
We ought to challenge them, as so  
we get no further shane:  
And therefore note what I intend,  
I haue( as you do know)  
Two sons proceeded from my loins,  
who daily seem to grow  
And to increase in prows great,  
and these shal challenge those,  
I mean the brothers, which disc●●d  
from parties of our foes,  
In meet appointed place to prove  
that Tetimes was slain  
By treason false, of Aganes,  
who falsely did it fain,  
And if the brothers do consent  
to come in pointed place,  
And dare presume to meet my sons  
and look them in the face,  
Wee will ordain the chiefest strength  
of al our noble blood,  
To help my sons, if ought should chance  
to them more worse than good:  
And by this means, as by a shift  
when they are present there,  
We shal the Aganetians all  
suppress, devoid of fear.  
To this, the Tetimetians glad,  
were very well agreed.  
And therefore, shortly to conclude,  
it briefly was decreed  
Of al the Tetimetian rout,  
that challenge should be made  
Of Tetimetian brothers, who  
consenting, caused to vade  
A varlet dight in posting hast,  
to Aganetians train,  
Who did inform them of this thing,  
and then returned again.  
But none amid the valiant rout  
of Aganetians, more,  
Than Aganetian brothers ioyde,  
to hear of this before.  
For it was chiefly that they wished,  
and therfore did provide  
each requisite and needful thing  
for the appointed tide.  
And not unlike to Lions fierce.  
who rage for want of pray,  
They burnt and boylde in furies fire,  
till the appointed day,  
The which approached, the furious youths  
be met in foresaid field,  
With barbed horse and steely coats,  
and blade and spear and shield,  
And after course of rankrous talk,  
with staff in steady wreast,  
each youth appointed, for his foe  
is now already prest.  
And traitorous Tetimetians they,  
as erst they did devise,  
Were in ambushment privy hide  
in secret, so likewise  
The Aganetians eke, unknown  
did closely couch in place,  
Where they suspecting of their foes  
and of the foresaid case  
Did lye, their nephews to defend,  
if reason should assail  
To work them mischief, wherein much  
their watching did prevail:  
For when each youthful knight had met  
and buckled with his foe,  
Like thunder rattling in the skies  
which tumbleth to and fro,  
At last the Tetimetians force  
began to faint and fail,  
The which when Aganetians spied,  
more fiercely did assail  
Their foes, with ouercharging thwackes  
till Tetimetians rout  
Espying those their nephews fare,  
in hast did rush them out  
From bushes, like to buskling boars,  
vpon the brothers twain  
Of Aganetian kind, and thought  
the brothers to haue slain:  
But Aganetians likewise hide,  
as furiously do meet,  
From covert bushes, these their foes,  
in their defence to greet,  
And now begins the stir a new,  
for every man doth strain  
himself with al his force and might,  
to put his foe to pain,  
But most surpassing all the rest,  
the prowess, and renown  
Of Pesistratus did excel,  
who so suppressed down  
The rage of Tetimetians pride,  
that through his marshal might  
And manly courage, to conclude,  
they put their foes to flight.  
And then in better peace, than erst  
when they sustaynde annoy.  
They did retire, with happy heartes  
and stomachs stuffed with ioy,  
But woe to Fortunes tickle wheels,  
who seemeth to advance,  
When with hir froward kicking heels  
she charmeth a mischance:  
Thou blubbered blind and bleared side,  
thou fond and fickle fool,  
Thou thrice and thriee accursed Wench,  
thou girl of Momus school,  
Why doth thy sausie finger touch  
these manly Martiall knights?  
Why dost thou so infect these youths  
with thy impoysned spightes▪  
Art thou not thrall: not thrall iwis:  
doth fortune each thing guide?  
Why then, alas, attend to hear  
of this unhappy tide.  
The Aganetians thus returned  
from former fearful broil,  
The conquest got, by knightly force  
in giuing foes the foil,  
In season after sweet repast  
received, they devise  
And mutually consented now,  
they purpose to surmise,  
How that the spoil they haue obtaynd  
of foes, may partend bee  
Amongst themselves, and hereupon  
they seek for to agree.  
But when as Kenedoxus viewed  
this purpose and intent,  
In hope to haue the whole himself  
and all the rest prevent.  
With forced voice and filed tongue,  
and haughty glozing style,  
He moved his speech as thus, and craved  
attentiuenesse a while:  
You valiant imps and worthy limbs  
of Aganetians rase,  
Considering what you do intend  
and purpose in this case,  
I think myself the boldlier may  
proceed for to declare  
Such certain things, as to be shown  
both good and needful are.  
You know, of Aganetians I  
by duty do retain  
The lands and lordships, which by right  
to me the heir remain:  
And now because we haue of foes  
by force possessed a spoil,  
Wherein, more lands we purchaste haue  
contained in this soil,  
It seemeth requisite to me,  
that I possess the same,  
because thereby it may enlarge  
the Aganetians famed.  
For if our lands should be dispersed  
and not in one mans use,  
In tract of time it would return  
unto our own abuse:  
And therefore note what I shal say,  
let me the land possess,  
And what your partes amount unto,  
I will the same address  
With ready payments into gold,  
how answer you to this?  
None answerde but Pesistratus,  
who said it were amis  
That he should seem so to encroach  
vpon the same, whose right▪  
Was due to him by Sires bequest,  
if foes were won by fight.  
Which when the Aganetians wayd.  
remembering it for true,  
That by the fire it was disposed  
for Pesistratus due,  
With one accord they did consent,  
that Pesistratus, he  
Should it enjoy, as fathers will  
hath granted it to be.  
But Kenedoxus moved to wrath,  
with swelling face for ire,  
Did brast out these unseemly words,  
and no wise would aspire:  
What value more hath been resinde  
from Pesistratus part?  
Or manly prowess, than of me  
and of my willing hart?  
Or why should such unequal dole  
be offered for my pain?  
Since I my care, as much as he,  
haue used for to maintain  
The Aganetians worthy famed,  
whose worthiest heir am I,  
And therefore hold it greatest scorn,  
that you should so deny  
To render me my rightful due,  
or strongly to withhold,  
My proper right, it likewise seems,  
my brother is to bold:  
Not bold, quoth Pesistratus then,  
in seeking for mine own,  
But you to bold in wresting mine  
as it is well yknowne.  
Which words when Kenedoxus heard,  
with haughty spiteful hart  
He left them all, and rancrous full  
did furiously depart.  
Repairing to his chamber, where  
deuold of quiet rest,  
His raging brains unbridled boil  
in fierce Alectos breast,  
And fuming in the furious fits  
which madness entertain,  
As one distraught of sense and wits,  
he puts himself to pain,  
In raging for to seek reuenge  
in most despiteful wise  
On Pesistratus, whose disease  
he ceaseless doth devise.  
But Aganetians musing much  
at K●nedoxus tag●,  
And Pesistratus seeing it,  
desirous to assuage  
The same, with leave requested, hies  
to Kenedox in hast,  
Where as approached, his brother spies  
to mumble very fast  
Unto himself with railing voice  
on Pesistratus, who  
perceiving Kenedox, as mad  
to rail upon him so,  
Had entering, thought by gentle words  
to mollify his ire,  
But Kenedoxus seing him,  
avoyde and come no nyer  
Quoth he, for( villain) I will seek  
as much thy great defame,  
As thou hast sought, in open sight  
of friends to work my shane.  
Yet Pesistratus( courteous knight)  
replied to him again  
With gentle kind of humble speech,  
and sought for to refrain  
himself from wrath: but Kenedox  
so furiously was bent  
Against Pesistratus, that fraught  
with fierce and fell intent,  
He drew from secret sheathe, as wo●●,  
his desperate testy blade,  
wherewith on Pesistratus, he  
so fiercely did invade,  
That had not Pesistratus slept  
from chamber door in hast,  
His courteous heart of brothers blade  
had felt th vnsauerie taste.  
But Pesistratus viewing this,  
with Rapior bad in hand,  
returned again to brothers face  
his rigor to withstand:  
And moved by this occasion just  
to anger, caitiff vile  
( Quoth he) wouldst thou in brothers blood  
so cowardly defile  
Thy filthy fists? and art thou meant  
to seek thy friends decay?  
If so, in a convenient place  
and on appointed day  
Agree to get reuenge, and seek  
thy quarrel to renew,  
And I this blade in traitorous blood  
of thine shal there imbrue:  
Wherewith each party did consent  
in pointed place to meet.  
And when the season was approchte,  
as time doth swiftly fleet,  
These youths are met, provided both,  
according to the time,  
With spear and shield, and bloody blade,  
to tell each others crime,  
Not with the tongue, but marshal fist,  
in such unfriendly sort,  
As each did judge his foe, no friend,  
or for to play in sport:  
But now began the broil so hot,  
that who had seen the blows,  
The deadly thrustes, the desperate foynts  
that each to other shows,  
The battring bangs, and thumping thwacks  
that each to other lent,  
With stained field, of brothers blood  
so carelessly dispent,  
He would haue jest surmysde, that these  
should natural brothers be,  
But rather friends of Cerberus kind,  
or imps of Hels decree:  
So furious fiercely did they deal,  
without remorse of life,  
Or nature, but respecting nought  
save cause of former strife,  
Like tigers fastening on their pray▪  
the sought each others death,  
till both had laboured with such pain  
that they were out of breath:  
And then they breathd and fought afresh,  
and breathde and fought again,  
And never stint, till at the last  
there came with might and main  
A great convent of armed knights,  
who had in forest by  
been chasing, through their marshal feats  
a dragon monstrous high,  
And of proportion wonderful,  
who long had brought to spoil  
The corn and cattle thereabout  
contained in their soil.  
And when the knights had from a far  
espied these brothers fell,  
each so assaulting others life  
with bloody blade to quell:  
With pricking spur, they forward forced  
their bodies to be born.  
And when approached, they viewed the knights  
so battered, taggde and torn  
With dint of sword, it was no boot  
to bid them forward high  
To part the foes, for it was done  
in twinkling of an eye.  
But Kenedoxus what through heat  
and want of breathing wind,  
And what through faintness of his wounds,  
he to the earth declined  
As dead, for Pesistratus had  
impierst with cruel thrust,  
His shoulder through, whom when he viewed  
to grouel in the dust  
His heavy hart was so aghast  
and he in dumps dismayed,  
because he thought his brother dead,  
that thus with tears he said:  
O luckless wight, oh cursed youth,  
and hath this this my fist  
My brother slain? and shal I live?  
no, no, I will vntwiste  
My vital knot, and this the knife,  
which wrought my brothers death,  
Shall likewise pierce my cruel hart,  
and stop my vital breath.  
And therewith in desperate mood  
he set the hilts on ground,  
And thought with point of piercing knife  
to take his latest wound:  
But present knights withdrew his hand  
from that untimely act,  
And sought how to persuade him now,  
( since finished is the fact)  
The he depart from native soil  
into some foreign place,  
Whereas, devoid of further fear  
and danger, he may pass  
His life in safety, both from foe  
and peril of the lawe:  
To which Pesistratus agreed,  
when he the danger saw,  
That would ensue upon his case  
if he were bent to stay,  
And therefore speedily prepares  
and takes his ready way  
To secret place, where he might hid  
his woeful head a space,  
till season that he may convey  
his steps to further place.  
But there arrived, woeful man,  
his troubles so increase,  
And he so vexed is in griefs,  
which no wise he can cease,  
That al addressed to mournful cheer,  
his cares he doth discus,  
The which prouokte his forced pen,  
in verse to utter thus:   

OH heavy hart dismayed, 
To the tun● of Damon & pythias   
oh stomach stuffed with pain,  
Oh woeful wight, oh cursed wretch,  
why shouldst thou not complain?  
Art thou in pleasant state,  
or hast thou cause to ioy?  
No, no, thy fates are frounced in fears,  
come death and rid my ceaseless annoy,  
Oh cruel careless wretch,  
dost thou deserve thy life,  
Since thou thy gentle brothers breast  
hast pierced with cursed knife?  
What meanest thou to live?  
and wilt thou life enjoy?  
No no, thy fates are frounced in fears,  
come death and rid my ceaseless ano●  
You fatal sisters all,  
you twisters tear my thread,  
With fatal knife my fatal knot  
to share in hast proceed.  
For I unhappy wretch  
am clean exiled from ioy,  
And live in woes, in griefs and fears,  
come death and rid my ceaseless annoy   

ANd then the wretched heavy wight,  
doth spend the tedious time  
In plaints and tears, and vexing griefs,  
bewailing former crime,  
In such a mournful sort, as who  
had seen the man in fears,  
To scald his pleasant youthful cheeks  
with such excess of tears,  
His heavy hart would yearning, melt  
to hear his woeful moans,  
Whose griefs might move the fixed stars  
or mollify the stones.  
And yet( uncessant) doth he frounse  
his hart in these his woes,  
Regarding nought but wished grave  
his carcase to enclose:  
Whom, so dismayed in drowsy dumpe  
amid his cares I leave,  
And now to Kenedoxus state  
my quill I must bequeave.   

OH heavy case, ambition should  
because of such annoy,  
That mutual bloudes should be dispersed  
and so devoid of ioy:  
Oh hapless chance, unhappy thrice,  
how fel is greedy rage,  
That it should pester so the partes,  
which reason can not suage?  
Alas alas, ambition was't  
that kindled al this fire?  
And was't ambition which addressed  
the brothers so to ire?  
And was't ambition from the whence  
this grievous case so grew?  
Ambition was it, wherefore hark  
what did thereof ensue.  
Pesistratus for fear thus fled,  
within a certain space  
When dumps avoyded, vital course  
returned to proper place,  
Then Kenedoxus did revive,  
and musing very much  
To see so great convent of knights,  
full fraught with former grudge,  
His body raised from the ground  
in hast with desperate blade:  
As one distraught of reasons sense  
he fiercely did invade  
The knightly troope there present, who  
dismayed to see the same,  
Yet wisely pondering that to strike  
it would be to their shane,  
entreated often him to cease,  
pronouncing vows, that they  
Were all his friends, and minded least  
to seek for his decay.  
Which weighing, he perceiving eke  
the man not present there,  
On whom he sought reuenge, and what  
more cause he had to fear,  
soon stayed his hands, and gently then  
he 'gan for to request,  
What cause compelled their presence there,  
to be in armor dressed.  
Who aunswerd, certifying him  
of al the former case:  
And how his brother they had sent  
into a foreign place,  
because they feared he was dead,  
supposing it for best  
He should depart, than there to live  
in danger and unrest:  
But oh the dolor that redoundes  
to Kenedoxus hart,  
Impleating every vain with grief  
or rather deadly smart,  
When first he understood the same,  
yet quickly was it laid,  
For gain and ranckour did persuade  
so much, that soon he stayed  
Therefrom, because his greedy hart  
had now the thing attained,  
I mean the lands for which so much  
of travail he sustained:  
Ye● further thinking of the thing  
when he perused well,  
And saw that Pesistratus had  
the conquest as it fell,  
because that he was left as dead:  
oh how did ranckour rage  
In broiling breast, as poisoned fire  
which floods may not assuage:  
So fiercely fretting did the fume  
of choler frame his ire,  
That if by bead he might had  
the full of his desire,  
He would for anger haue destroyed  
himself in desperate mind,  
Such was the scornful pride whereto  
his stomach was inclined.  
And twixt these passions, dolour so  
attempting him, quoth he,  
And is he fled, and doth he think  
to ●kape and to be free  
By flight? no, no, though he suppose  
I am a senseless corpse,  
Ere it be long he shall abide  
and thoroughly feel my force.  
And therewithal a spiteful vow  
in solemn wise he made,  
That time should nere content his heart  
till he with deadly blade  
Had pierced Pesistratus sides,  
whose then effused blood  
Should onely tend for to suffice  
his ire and do him good.  
Oh frendlesse frettes of haughty wrath,  
O imp of serpentes kind,  
How could thy stomach so desire,  
thy brothers life to blind?  
What rest less rage assaulteth thee,  
what strange disguised sort  
Of devilish Gods, constrain thy will  
such lewdness to support?  
Thy brother doth complain, to think  
of thine unhappy fate  
And his vnkindnesse, thinking him  
in more unhappy state.  
And with excess of piteous tears,  
and blubberings, sighs, and cries:  
The loathsome tedious time he wears,  
in a most mornefull wise.  
And not so much for his exile,  
as doubt of thy misfare,  
Yet thou accursed, onely sekst  
and dost employ thy care  
To bring thy brother to his end,  
regarding nature nought,  
Nor yet the concord which by right  
of brother should be sought.  
Oh woeful hearing, what a thing  
is this, that such a knight  
As Pesistratus, fraught with grace,  
with virtues, and with might,  
Who long may live in quiet rest:  
to do his country good:  
Should so by ranckrous spite be forced,  
to flee from native brood?  
The cause of mone is very much.  
and it disturbs me stil:  
Yet now compelled to leave my tears,  
I must ordain my quill  
To further thy deserved famed,  
Pesistratus thou kind,  
Whose praise I wish, were printed plain  
in every bodies mind.  
The haughty pride of ranckrous rage,  
turmoiling thus in breast  
Of Kenedox, when spiteful words  
by tract of time were ceased,  
Associated with the rout,  
of foresaid hunters train,  
He is arrived at ●aliance wh●re  
he wonted to remain:  
And he no sooner seized had  
his footsteps in the town:  
But it was rifely blown abroad,  
and spread for true renown  
That Kenedoxus was approached,  
and almost dead through wounds,  
The which as by report to al,  
so likewise it resoundes  
Unto the hearing of his friends  
and kinsmen, who aghast,  
With speedy travel did provide  
to visit him in hast:  
And present viewing how the wight  
was dyed in his blood,  
Wherein he wallowed as a beast:  
because they understood  
Nothing of former case, as how,  
Pesistratus had sped  
His brother so: nor how for fear  
of danger he was fled:  
With musing much they did demand,  
of his unlucky fare:  
To whom the circumstance of all  
did Kenedox declare,  
Which uttered in dispightful sort  
and in a raging wise▪  
With blasted face and stamping feet:  
his kinsmen did surmise,  
And wisely pondered of the case:  
which well perusing, they  
Perceivde that Kenedox was cause  
of this unhappy fray,  
whereon they chiefly did repute  
to Kenedox the blame,  
Who fiercely fuming more in frets  
did rage to hear the same:  
And they aggreued for to think  
of Pesistratus exile,  
Were even as fiercely bent again  
to rough and raging style,  
whereon each party was displeasde:  
for Kenedox was mad,  
To see his brothers ●ase bewaylde  
when he the wors●● had:  
And they lamenting, r●ed the time  
that they had lost the wight,  
I mean Pesistratus, whose help  
was all their chiefest might:  
And thereupon such taunting checks  
and words from every side  
proceeded forth, that grieved they  
no longer would abide  
With Kenedox, but cursed his pride,  
and iudgde him for their foe:  
As likewise he no otherwise  
of them esteemed but so.  
And thus departed they, whom now  
as cause addressed to ire:  
So cause to Pesistrate doth move,  
my pen for to retire,  
The only reaper of the praise,  
and gainer of the famed:  
Which this my simplo rude discourse,  
endeavours to proclaim.  
Who thus by fortune forced to hid,  
his head in little space:  
provided well for to convey,  
himself to further place.  
For as it fel, a vessel riggde,  
and redy dressed to ride,  
Towards Italian coasts, was there  
the very self same tide  
That he arrived at the place,  
whereto before he fled:  
Whereof the woeful man was glad,  
that he so well had sped.  
And therefore briefly did conclude  
with ●ailer for his hire:  
The which agreed with prosperous wind,  
and tide to their desire.  
They set aloof, and hoist sails,  
and danced amid the seas,  
With easy, calm, and pleasant streams  
at their desired ease.  
But Pesistratus he alas,  
for all these foresaid things:  
Could not vnwrap himself from cares,  
or such pernicious stings  
As troubled him through former fact,  
but ceaseless did lament  
His cursed crime, which with excess  
of tears he did repent.  
Yet at the last when fancies fill,  
he tumbled had in brain:  
He somewhat left for to distill  
his tears, and to complain,  
And gathered stomach, as behoves  
a man in such a case:  
For to retain, though with much pain,  
as Pesistratus was.  
And therfore he avoiding griefs,  
and setting cares apart:  
Considering what was requisite,  
with courage fraught his hart,  
And craved aid with crouching knees,  
of mighty love his hand:  
Desiring comfort might prevail  
his dolour to withstand.  
Which prayers made, as one renewed,  
and now no more annoyed:  
He felt his burdened hart more light  
and clean of cares devoid.  
And therefore thanking mighty love  
for sudden such relief,  
He clean forsakes his drowsy dumps  
and doth disdain his grief:  
And with a cheerful brain provides  
his voyage to forecast,  
Supposing of the things to come,  
and not of matters past.  
And seeks to recreate his sense,  
and to refresh his mind,  
With spending time in pleasant sort  
and sports of comely kind.  
whereto Aurore and Tytan both  
do seem for to agree  
With pleasant golden glittering raye●  
which mutual splendent bee.  
As eke the silver surging streams,  
which likewise seem to play  
In pleasant sort with Titans beams  
which beutifide the day.  
And thus the season seeming fit,  
in trait of time at last,  
With help of Zephyrs gentle breath,  
their journey overpast.  
They arrivde in cons●nes of  
Italian partes with ease,  
Where as approached, Pesistratus  
doth safely leave the seas,  
And takes his way to certain place,  
where he was bent to bide,  
Till season that he might devise  
a master to provide,  
Whom he might serve, supposing so  
to spend his tedious dayes:  
Yet hoping well in tract of time  
to find some other ways  
To purchase credite, whereby he  
might happier fate attain:  
Wherein perusing thus, he thought  
to use therein his pain.  
Alas what cause thou woeful wight  
hast thou to make thy mone?  
How canst thou brook? to serve a knight,  
since thou thyself was one  
Of worthy famed, and prowess more  
in Gretia soil contained:  
How may thy nusled custom bee  
by need so much restrained:  
How canst thou frame thyself to crou●  
since crouching unto thee,  
It was thy duty to receive  
the crouch of cap and knee?  
How canst thou suffer for to leave,  
the silken robes of thine:  
And now thy tender corps, to weeds  
of baseness to refine?  
How canst thou gnaw of refuse bones,  
when wont it was thy trade,  
To feed of sweetest savouring meats,  
that ioyly iunckets made?  
How canst thou bear the taunting check▪  
of maisters common use:  
Or how can stomach be content,  
to live in such abuse?  
How mayst thou brook the fellowship,  
of simplo servile kind:  
Or how mayst thou forbear so much,  
for to subdue thy mind:  
Since all the routs of courtly train,  
were servile unto thee,  
And redy prest to execute  
the will of thy decree?  
Howe mayst thou frame to wear in s●e  
of golden linked chain,  
About thy neck, in bondage yoke,  
of servitude and pain?  
Yes yes, thou canst, thy gentle hart  
is void of ha●tie pride:  
And thou as well canst ease deny,  
as it hath thee denied.  
And take thy fortune as it fals,  
thou canst forbear the same:  
wherefore I shall address my pen,  
thy virtues to proclaim.  
And this my verse though not as well,  
as fain I do de●ire,  
because it wrought in Plutos forge  
is tried with scarce good fire,  
Yet shal endeavour to proceed,  
to paint thy further praise  
In full effect, who so will hear,  
though not with haughty praise.  
Pesistratus in former plight,  
and place abiding stil,  
Expecting for a service such  
as might content his will,  
Considering of his doubtful state,  
and case, perceived plain  
That there to stay, it were a thing  
but frustrate and in vain.  
And therefore he departed thence,  
where first he did arrive:  
Well hoping of a fitter place,  
where better he should thrive:  
And as he trauelde, fortune so  
by favour brought to pass,  
That wandring witless up and down,  
not knowing where he was:  
There dwelled an ancient hermit by,  
in Sabels all y●lad,  
With hoary bear, and countnaunce grave,  
of gesture very sad,  
Whom Pesistrate espying soon,  
prepared for to meet:  
And after met in courteous wise,  
and maner did he greet:  
And after greeted, did disclose,  
the sum of all his care,  
Requiring Sire to haue remorse,  
to his unlucky fare:  
Desiring further that he would  
vouchsafe to entertain  
Him in his service, wherein he  
did vow to use his pain.  
To whom with gentle speech the Sire  
did courteously reply,  
That he was bent to live alone,  
as likewise so to die:  
But viewing both the seemly shape,  
the countenance and the grace  
Of Pesistrate, in tract of time  
when he had paused a space:  
My son( quoth he) I pity much  
the cause of thine annoy,  
And would to god my power could streetch,  
to work thy further ioy:  
But if my simplo cottage may  
suffice thee for to please,  
And to remain with me my son,  
thou think it for thine ease,  
My hart contented is to grant,  
therein thy whole request:  
As likewise for to pleasure thee,  
in ought else am I prest.  
For which Pesistratus did thank  
a thousand times the Sire,  
That he vouchafed so to grant  
the thing he did require.  
And thus a pun●● hermit he  
become, they did repair  
Unto their little cottage by,  
avoiding open air.  
Where as refection taken they  
as erst return to walk  
again: and then the Sire begins,  
in former wise to talk.  
demanding Pesistratus, why  
he left his native soil:  
Who blank to sp●ake, yet fearing least  
he purchase should a toil,  
Deuisde a shift: and as he thought  
to speak, in boisterous hast  
A Lion fier●● with stamping feet  
who thereby had been c●ast,  
Came fl●●ging fiercely towards them,  
with open roaring voice  
And gaping mouth and staring eyes,  
and fearful thundering noise.  
Whom when they spied▪ the father feared,  
beg●n to cry: Oh knight,  
Thou hast deceived me, whereon  
the Saints do beer me spite▪  
But Pesistra●●● ●el aduisde,  
prepared his sword and shield.  
The which in journey he had born,  
and brought into the field.  
And with a courage met the beast,  
in such a rigorous sort,  
That plain by force, he set his tail  
on ground, for al his port.  
And further fiercely so attempt,  
that with his testy blade  
He spil● in twain his hart, before  
recovery could be made.  
And whilst so manfully be dealt,  
the chas●rs following fast,  
Were present come, who viewing this,  
were wondrously aghast.  
This only one durst so assault,  
the best which they before  
Durst not environ or attempt,  
without at least a score.  
And feared sire, when he so saw,  
the valiantness of hart.  
In Pesistrate, began to cry,  
S. George is of our part.  
And with a thousand yielded thankes  
he gratified his pay●●,  
Desiring pardon for 〈◇〉 words,  
when erst he▪ did complain.  
And Pesistratus thus attained,  
the conquest of the beast:  
Which after was the chiefest cause,  
that set his hart at 〈◇〉  
For in the rout▪ of the convent  
of chasers, was a knight  
Of prowess great, and valour like,  
who Pecipater ●ight:  
He bare the most and chiefest sway  
in countries thereabout,  
But chiefly in Tarentum town  
a city void of doubt:  
Because it florisht through the means  
of Pecipater, who  
Beholding Pesistrate his fight,  
his strength and co●rag● so,  
Was moved with inward● burning zeal  
of favour to retain:  
As though his love were ready prest  
to quiter Pesistrates pain.  
And therefore, when the victory  
by Pesistrate attained,  
each turmoil cast the raging beast,  
by force was so restrained.  
with comely grace in coursers corps,  
he Pesistrate doth 〈◇〉.  
Whom with abundant courtesy,  
the gentle knight did greet,  
And after salutations made  
to him and to the slay,  
He doth of Pesistratus strait.  
with frendlynesse require,  
By what adventure he was driven  
to meet the chased beast?  
Who did inform him of each thing,  
and answer his request,  
With no less gravity than words.  
in seemly order set,  
And gesture courtly, comely grace  
and comeliness as great,  
Which Pecipater noting well  
and liking, did devise  
In semblant sort, to utter that  
his fancy did surmise  
To crave, which was in fellowship  
Pesistrate to retain:  
Whose peerless prowess be esteemed  
each mortal wights to s●aine.  
In season therfore fit assigned,  
he moves with pleasant style,  
His frenldy words, and thus said he,  
it were a great exile.  
My friend Pesistratus that we  
by happy fortune met,  
Should part, whose presence neither cause  
nor season seems to let●  
But not so much exile, as grief  
and dolour unto me,  
Who should esteem thy presence left,  
myself not to be free.  
But thrall to care, such is the zeal  
that stirreth my desire  
To crave thy presence, wherefore yield  
to that I do require.  
I can not choose said Pesistrate,  
but very well suppose  
Of al the proffered friendship which  
so friendly you disclose.  
But yet the baseness of my birth,  
and bareness of my state▪  
And rudeness of my person, seem  
unfit for such a mate,  
Which be the motions that compel  
me boldly to deny  
( My pardon craved) for to assent  
thus to presume so high,  
As match the mate, whose bondage may  
beseem my servile kind  
More better far, than for to yield,  
to your desirous mind.  
Yet Pecipater could not be  
suff●led with the same,  
Nor judged the abasing of  
himself to be defame:  
But was importunate the more  
to haue him to agree:  
whereto Pesistratus with thankes  
did yeld, when he did see  
The gentle valour that was shrinde  
in Pecipaters breast,  
And ioyde in tart to think his state  
was settled at such rest:  
That where as erst an exiled wight,  
he wandered up and down,  
He now a rulers mate hath reaped  
by fortune such renown,  
And 〈◇〉 agreed, they do repair  
wi●h sire to cottage by,  
Where as a while they did provide,  
their weary limbs to lie  
At more of ease, and then refreshed,  
with taken leave of Sire,  
Unto Tarentum whence they came  
they buskled to retire.  
with whom Pesistrate worthy knight  
departing: took his leave  
Of foresaid Sire, whose wish the like  
to god did him bequeave.  
And now eck praunser ready prest,  
with ten thing furnished fit:  
As tracking trappers, saddles trim,  
and large restraining bit:  
The lusty valiant youthful knights,  
proceed with stamping place  
And portly gesture, towards that  
the said desired place,  
And moving talk of hunters trade,  
they reason of their game,  
whereby Pesistratus was known  
as expert in the same,  
As present any▪ whereon each  
did judge and deem his race,  
More rather rightly to proceed  
of royal blood than base.  
Whose comely countenance pleased so  
each wight, that each man thought  
himself a happy mate, that fate  
had such companion brought.  
But Pecipater happiest he,  
esteemed amongst the rest  
himself, that what he chiefest sought▪  
such fortune had addressed:  
And thus each party well content,  
such friendlynesse doth flow  
From every side, that Pesistrate  
lets foresaid sorrows go:  
And only now deviseth he  
their curtsies to requi●e:  
And thus whilst tract of time by stealth,  
had taken proof of flight,  
And they approached had their place,  
unto Tarentum nigh,  
Pecipater a varlet sends  
before, for to descry  
The conquestis won, and that his will  
was each man should prepare  
Against his presence seemly shows,  
their conquest●s to declare.  
Which message done by varlet, was  
provided in the town:  
For triumph each thing redy fit  
pretending great renown:  
As valiant rout of armed knights,  
with glistering helms and shields:  
And blazing banners set aloft,  
in turrets, forts, and fields,  
And trumpets sounding up triumph,  
and drums pretending famed:  
And jangling belles with Musikes arte,  
well placed in the same.  
And diuers well devised toys,  
and sundry pleasant sights,  
Attendant ready for the famed  
of these t●iumphant knights.  
And al the chief and nobles there,  
assembled ewer likewise  
In decent order for the nonce,  
each thing was so precise,  
amid the which, the royal race  
of Pecipaters blood,  
The highest room and worthiest place  
possessing: seemly stood,  
Their worthy kinsman to salute  
with such advised praise,  
As doth behove for worthy wight  
which hath deserved praise.  
which was so passing pleasant sight,  
as could be wished no more:  
For both of lusty youthful knights.  
and glittering dames such store,  
Were present, as in Tarent town,  
the like was never sene:  
Nor yet in all Italian costs,  
no better could haue been.  
Yet most surpassing all the rest,  
in beauties beams as far,  
As glittering glee of P●ebes form,  
surmountes the twinkling star.  
Was present one, a certain dame,  
who Catanea hight,  
The sister to Pecipater,  
a peerless gemi●e by right:  
For seemly such she was, as though  
shee framed were in mould:  
With equal grace so equal matched,  
as tongue may not unfold.  
Here beauty, blazing more in sight,  
within hir angelic face,  
Than in the skies, the golden rays  
of Tytans ●aumping race.  
Such perfect ●eature firmly fixed  
within hyr secret frame:  
As though by right, dame Nature scornde,  
she challenge endless famed,  
With courteous countenance, comely corps,  
and portraiture demure,  
So rare that Gods might seem to bow  
hir fancy to procure.  
And so indude in every point,  
wi●h natures special gifts,  
As though shee onely perfect wrought,  
each else by feigned shifts.  
This nymph with al the foresaid rout,  
now ready do remains:  
Expecting for the presence of  
hir brother and his train.  
And viewing thus at last, she spits  
the knights approached nigh:  
whereon each thing provided proves  
his prows for to 〈◇〉:  
For trumpets sound, and shawms record,  
and cornets quiver fast,  
To gratify the conquerors  
with sweet saluting blast.  
And every thing rejoicing, seems  
to make a pleasant tide.  
Wherein the seemly knights be come.  
I and they arrived ride  
●n decent order, prancing fast,  
on corps of comely steede:  
Which satisfide each eyesight well,  
his fancy for to feed:  
For first the youthful valiant knights,  
conducting praunst before,  
In seemly rank and portly grace  
as doth behove therefore.  
And then Pecipater in midst,  
with Pesistrate proceeds,  
By certain sign pretended well  
the proof of each mans debes:  
For Pecipater had a head  
of wild and tusked Bore,  
Which he himself by force had slain,  
transported him before:  
And Pesistrate of lion fierce,  
the great and grisly ●ed  
Which he had slain, as erst was said,  
before his courser lead.  
And thus in Tarent streets arivde,  
the people al rejoice,  
To see such valiant sight, whereon  
was moude so great a noise,  
As though with thanks they would haue raised  
the conquerors to skies,  
So glad the people for their praise,  
did move such lofty cries.  
But every wight that marked well,  
Pesistratus his grace,  
His feautred limbs so sightly set,  
and pight in equal place,  
As though the Gods had all agreed  
to frame of earthly mould,  
In humane form a wondrous work,  
for nature to behold:  
Not little musing, praised much  
his valour in their mind:  
Whose peer in every point they judge,  
a man should never find.  
And stil proceeding forward thus,  
at last they came to place,  
whereas remained the royal troupe,  
of Pecipaters ra●e.  
To whom they used reverence such,  
as like was used again.  
With modest coun●nance, to the rout  
of Pecipaters train.  
But when Pecipater himself,  
with Pesistratus was  
thereto appr●cht, who then had seen  
the courtesy did p●s●e  
From part to par●, he would haue thought  
Minerua had indude:  
Their seldom seen 〈◇〉 there,  
with none such gestures 〈◇〉.  
So courtly countnaunce did unfold  
the meanin●s of the mind:  
Pretending outwardly wher●●  
the senses were inclined.  
And after salutations thus  
concluded, to the praise  
Of Pesistrate▪ Pecipater  
to Catanea says:  
If one surpassing other each▪  
a peerless may be hight:  
This youth possessed with ●arest gifts,  
de●erues the name by right:  
Indude with courag●, fraught with truth  
abounding full of famed.  
And natures g●ft is so seldom seen  
as few retain the same.  
whereon his person greeting well,  
to Pesistrate she faide:  
His presence welcome, thrice and thrice,  
but silly he dismayed  
To view the 〈◇〉 beuties blaze  
appearing in hir face,  
And eke hir 〈◇〉 protrature,  
and correspondent g●ace:  
As one of wits b●stroug●t did stand,  
infected at the hart.  
With 〈…〉 and poisoned point  
of Cupides 〈…〉  
And had no 〈◇〉 to move his speech,  
his tongue was so restrained:  
Nor render t●●nkes▪ his numbed sense  
was so in secret painde.  
Yet pa●sing time ●●●ening strength,  
such h●●t● thanke● quoth he,  
I yield and wish, as by my tongue  
they may not vtterd be.  
Which well shee we●ed, marking eke,  
how course of blood did change,  
As likewise wistly viewed his veins,  
in panting wise to range:  
Yet all the rest suspected least  
therof, but onely weighed  
The comely answer which to hi●,  
i● seemly wise he said.  
For w●ich in mind each did commend  
him much, pretending so  
In courteous wise as he could deem,  
in presence none a foe:  
And then in one convent they went  
to Pecipaters place,  
There for to use such meet repastes,  
as fitted for the case.  
And Catanea she alone  
with Pesistrate did walk,  
Who by occasion moved, did use  
such sober friendly talk,  
As either party liked well,  
whereon their stomachs flamme  
In mut●all love, and Cupides fire,  
proceeding in the same,  
In zealous wise, though that unknown  
it was to either, how  
The others hart to eithers will,  
was redy for to bow.  
And thus each trapped in the 〈◇〉,  
of sudden seemly sight,  
their fancies feeding on the baits,  
of further loues delight.  
When voyage finished, they are com●  
to Pecipaters place,  
each gift will greeted as behours,  
such curtsy for the case,  
And Pesistrate like welcomed: they  
persever further still,  
with filled tongue, and pleasant style,  
to please each others will.  
till such time as season did  
their appetites require,  
With natures 〈◇〉 to frede  
their natural desire.  
The which approached, provided well,  
such delicates they haue,  
Of every commendable kind,  
as hart no more might ●raue.  
It were a folly therfore that  
I further should pretend:  
For to describe their sumptuous f●ast,  
and to afrustrate ●nde.  
because in 〈◇〉 words may it serve,  
the whole for to di●close:  
It was as delica●e and 〈◇〉,  
as fancy might suppose.  
This matter 〈…〉, I will  
proceed for to proclaim  
This Pesistratus worthy praise,  
and Cataneas famed.  
Of whom my purpose took in hand,  
with pen for to indite  
Their sudden love, and constant faith  
to set in open sight.  
When feast was finished, and the day  
intending to his end:  
Sir Titan leaves his splendent streams,  
a while for to extend.  
The guests with rendering hearty thankes,  
be redy to repair,  
each to his vain, as cause did move  
their presence to be there.  
And Catanea with them bent,  
in likewise to depart:  
Hir brother left( who wished hir yet  
to stay with willing hart▪)  
Did mind to we●● to dwelling place,  
where wonted she remained,  
Of uncle ●yrs, who from her youth,  
in virtues had hir traynd  
To present age, yet not forgot,  
she takes desired leave,  
Whom Pecipater to the Gods  
tuition did bequeave.  
And then to Pesistrate she frames  
hir speech in gentle wise:  
Well wishing to his person health,  
and so the homeward vies.  
But who had seen the countenance of  
Pe●i●tratus when he,  
Perceiud he must forg● the sight,  
which most and craved to set.  
He would haue thought the silly man,  
were redy prest to die:  
His heavy doleful gestures so  
his sorrows did descry.  
Which she perceiving, could not choose  
but blushy and was abashed.  
whereby hir ●uddie rising blood,  
in countnance fully flasht  
At first: but afterward hir hart  
for sorrow waxing cold,  
No blood at all hir 〈◇〉 fa●e,  
by any means ●ould hold.  
And thus the lou●●s at the 〈◇〉  
departing, heavy cheer,  
Did force 〈◇〉 of 〈◇〉 inward thought  
at large for to appear:  
Though certainly it was not known  
to each ●f others loues.  
Byca●se experience had not tried,  
in season it to prove:  
But ioy m happy ●a●e to think,  
of courtesy I find  
Of you, and long to see the day,  
whereby may be resignde  
Some part of recompense for this,  
your friendly friendship found:  
Which well I may suppose in none  
more amply to abound.  
And when the place avoyded thus,  
of gues●es no more remained,  
But Pesistrate, whose heavy hart,  
was so by grief restrained,  
From comfort clean, Pecipater,  
espying him alone,  
demandeth why he was so sad,  
and seemed for to mone:  
The whom said Pesistrate, my Lord  
I haue no cause to wail:  
Nor yet occasion that with grief  
my stomach should assail.  
The recompense already done,  
( quod Pecipater) is:  
And therefore friend Pesistratus,  
surmise no more of this.  
But think: as saints do witness bear,  
that for to do thee good,  
I minded am in thy behalf,  
to spend my proper blood:  
If therfore that thou shouldst misdoubt  
hereof, what might be said:  
But that I should with tears lament  
the same, and so he slayd  
To speak: and Pesistrate he lead  
from thence to chamber by,  
Which was provided for the nonce,  
his weary limbs to lie.  
Where Pecipater further did,  
his ●●iendlinesse protest.  
Desiring him there for his ease  
to use his quiet rest.  
For which Pesistratus did thank,  
both with his mouth and mind,  
his gentleness a thousand times,  
and then to couch declined.  
And Pecipater did depart:  
but when a little space  
Pesistratus had line on bed,  
revolving of his case,  
He was so vexed silly man,  
that nothing could appease  
Or once assuage his sorrows, but  
increasing his disease,  
He thinks of Catanea, who  
hath so in fetters yokt  
His loving heart, that all his joys  
to thraldom are provoked.  
And he suppressed to bondage like,  
and so the miser lies  
bewailing such his wretched fates,  
with sundry plaintiff cries.  
And when he thinks, how much unlike  
he is to get relief:  
The more in doubt and deep despair  
increaseth still his grief:  
And thus dismayed, in diuers dumps  
he lies, and woeful wight  
Dyspaires, and yet he hopes, but fears  
least time should work despite.  
And wrapped in the dulled drouse,  
which fortune hath assigned  
Unto his pay, a thousand thoughts  
surmising in his mind:  
His turmoylde wits enforced so,  
his sorrows to discuss,  
Did urge his faltering tongue at last  
with pain to utter thus:  
Ah wretch, what friendless fates be thine,  
thou cursed catife thris●▪  
How feltst thou fortunes froward force?  
how do thy cares arise?  
How canst thou suffer such annoy?  
how maiest thou more forbear  
Such gripping grief, with pinching pangs  
so vehemently to tear  
Thy hart in sunder? yield thy knife  
from thy unhappy hand,  
To rid thee from such vexed life,  
thy dolours to withstand,  
For banished from native soil,  
thou liv'st an exile here,  
And yet art bridled with the yoke  
of pensi●enesse and fear,  
Tormented with the sudden sights,  
and trapped in the snare,  
Of one who scorns thy loyal love,  
and least regards thy care.  
Alas what therefore shouldst thou do,  
but to thy death consent:  
Since fortune doth, and season least  
to thy relief relent?  
Wo worth the cursed time when breath.  
was yielded unto thee  
In mothers womb, would poison had  
more rather been thy fee.  
Wo worth the tide, when to the world,  
of mother thou wast born:  
Would then thy childish tender limbs,  
had been to tatters torn.  
Wo worth the food that ever since,  
thy nature hath sustainde.  
Wo worth the nurse that from mishap,  
thy youthful age restrained.  
Wo worth the craking cradle which  
was rocked for thine rase:  
Would each disport had been addict  
thy humour to displease.  
Wo worth that ere thou wast advanced  
in native proper soil:  
Would God thy brothers hands had given  
to thee thy l●●est foil.  
Wo worth the cursed fist which wrought  
thy brothers fatal pain.  
Which was the cause that brought thee here.  
and moves thee to co●plaine.  
Wo worth the vessel which conueyd,  
thy corps to present place:  
Neptunus crase his seemly sides,  
and all his ●al●es deface.  
What should I curse and further say,  
to rid me of my smart:  
But death dispatch my loathed life,  
and fury brast my hart.  
But brainless fool why curse I thus  
myself, and cry out so:  
More seemly were it that I blessed  
myself, and cursed my so,  
Who is the cause of all this grief,  
and worker of my pain:  
Why should I not with taunting tongue,  
hir wily bats disdain,  
Which hath my senses so deceiude,  
and yielded such annoy,  
Unto my pay, that in despair  
I live devoid of ioy.  
Oh Pesistrate, art thou to learn▪  
of womens wonted wills?  
Art thou to know, that sooner none  
the sheep, than fox begiles?  
Art thou vnskilfull of the trade▪  
of womans wanton lure?  
Hast thou not hard what fond conceits,  
their practisde sleights procure?  
Yes, yes▪ renew to memory  
their ticklenesse of will:  
Their poisoned looks, their feigned grace,  
their counterfeited skill,  
I trow thou needst not to be taught,  
their practise is so plain:  
That women all by kind are bent,  
and nature, for to faint.  
For if she view the parsonage, which  
doth please hir in hir mind:  
Then seeks shee to display hir snares,  
as in familiar kind.  
And if consenting he pretend,  
to use hir in likewise,  
Then seems she coy, and stranger streight  
and is as much precise.  
If humble he, then haughty she,  
and seems to scorn his suit:  
But if he coy, then hateth she,  
and frowning standeth mute.  
And if entrapped, he bewail  
to hir his careful ●ate,  
She seems to muse, what love should mean  
and laughs at his estate.  
But if she love, and he despise  
to put the like in ure:  
Then labours she by subtle sleights,  
his fancy to procure.  
Which got, she seems for to reject,  
regarding nought at all:  
But joys and iudgeth it a sport,  
to purchase him a fall,  
shane therfore so to set thy mind,  
on such despised toys,  
Which hinder wealth, and move defame,  
and breed thee such anoyes.  
And settle wits to such aduise,  
as may provide thee rest:  
From lovely fits, for reason seems  
such fondness to detest.  
Suppose the Lady whom thou lov'st  
were ment for to requited  
Thy loyal love with love again,  
were this thy chief delight?  
Forgettest thou the unfaithfulness  
of heal, who forsook  
Hir spoused Menelaus, and  
to Paris hir betoke?  
Or falsed faith of Cresseda,  
whom troilus served long  
Remember how these fickle dames,  
did work their louers wrong:  
And let the griefs of Troy●us,  
and Cresseds ●auering mind,  
Be warning to thy loving fits,  
least like requited thou find.  
And seek in time to bridle will,  
least after some repast  
Of pleasure had, thy griefs renew  
a thousand times as fast.  
What say I, should I leave my love  
and Catane forsake?  
Or should my fancy craft so soon,  
or service thus aslake?  
And should I now despise the dame,  
whom ea●st my zealous hart  
So loved, that for hir sake it could  
sustain eternal smart?  
No, no, the fi●● shall loose his might  
the sun his golden glee,  
And heauens their hue, before such thought  
surmised be of me:  
For courteous nature, gentle grace,  
and seemelynesse abounds,  
So rifely, as to every ear  
it famously resoundes:  
With feature such as Venus shee,  
herself may not compare,  
Or once presume in equal sort  
hir virtues to declare.  
Nor Dian for hir chastity,  
to match hir virgins race,  
Nor once Minerua vouchsafe will  
to set herself in place,  
Not onely this, but eke of hye  
and famous stock shee springs,  
whereto as reputation like,  
dame famed daily forth brings:  
Since therfore thus she wanteth nought.  
that fancy may require,  
How mad man I from such a dame,  
to bridle my desire:  
And bow to blame for to reproach  
the comely courteous kind  
Of women, since such heavenly gifts  
they do possess in mind.  
But oh alas, accursed wight,  
why think I of hir hue:  
What doth it boat hir worthy state  
or birth for to renew?  
What doth the lodged virtues in  
hir tender gentle breast  
provoke my ioy, or noble birth,  
intend to work my rest?  
No whit at all, but those things most  
compel me to misfare,  
And deeply drown me in misdoubt,  
and double all my care.  
For since she wanteth nought at al,  
the which I seem to crave.  
But doth possess each needful gift,  
that more she may not haue:  
The more infe●iour do I seem  
to hir, whose royal grace  
My simplo birth in scorning sort  
may utterly deface.  
And do despair when each respect,  
I ponder in my mind:  
As thinking of hir haughty state:  
how basel● mine inclined.  
For where she come of noble line,  
doth live with honoured name,  
I silly wret●● in exile state,  
do purchase nought but shane:  
And she determined, at hir case  
doth live in wished ioy?  
I poorly spend the troublous time,  
misdoubting more annoy.  
Alas, alas, why think I then  
of this, since plain I see,  
Hir birth, hir state and virtues rare  
so unfit for my degree?  
Or why presume I so to match  
myself with royal race,  
Why? well I may presume, because  
I live in hope of grace.  
In hope of grace? why blinded fool,  
doth grace grow from disdain?  
No scorn of hope: yes scorn of force  
in haughty harts remain:  
In haughty harts I do agree,  
but in a gentle breast  
Doth favor flow, and haughty scorn  
is utterly suppressed.  
But is thy Lady lowly such?  
yea certesse: can lofty state  
Agree to match with simplo slave  
and make decay his mate?  
Yea Cupid forceth Keysars bend,  
and layeth Princes pride:  
Yet knowst th● not thy ladies mind,  
b●caus● thou hast not tried.  
Then try I will: how worst thou try?  
my hope provokes me so,  
What cause of hope hast thou? beware  
thy hope is most thy foe.  
Hir outward shape is cause enough,  
my hope for to maintain:  
Through sightly bait the silly fish  
receives his latest d●ine:  
Alas then death to thee I yield:  
thus sa●de the woeful wretch,  
And therewithal his loathed limbs  
he 'gan abroad to stretch:  
And through his grief the sinking smart  
that sucked through his vain●s  
distilled the water to his hart  
which so increased his pains,  
That silly senses overcome  
he fainteth to the ground:  
And dampish humour loathsome life  
enclosed in a swoon  
In time when vital course redound  
according to his kind:  
His spirits reuivde, but yet his griefs  
were printed in his mind.  
And raising then himself again  
vpon his toused bed,  
He lays his weary limbs to muse,  
and rest his heavy bed.  
But rest disdaynes his furious frets,  
and hope doth scorn his health:  
And nought doth happen to his hope  
that might renew his wealth.  
And thus in painful plight the time  
maintains his lingering life:  
He wishing only vital twist,  
were cut by fatal knife,  
And having no disport ne cause  
of comfort in his care:  
The more he strives, the more he is  
entangled in the snare.  
And therefore patiently perforce  
he takes his chanced fate:  
And wallowes in his woes as doth  
behove a louers state:  
And then he thinks of Catane,  
supposing of hir grace:  
Whose comely countnaunce minding well,  
his fancy se●● hir face,  
And ponders of hir fr●endly looks,  
as 〈◇〉 hir seemly cheer:  
And doth imagine of hir shape,  
as though she had been there,  
In present sight he printed so  
●ir feature in his t●ought,  
As if Apelles through his Arte,  
hir picture had ywrought.  
Then dreams his humour, that he makes,  
to Cresside his complaint,  
And shows his cause and case, as how  
hir beauty did attaint  
His simplo ●enses at the first,  
which streight subdued were▪  
Unto hir yoke, as servile slaves  
to harm, to hope, and fear.  
And now the passing pangs, that he  
sustained for hir sake,  
He tells, and how his diuers doubts▪  
do cause his hart to quake.  
And then he sues and craves for grace,  
to purchase at bit hand  
His full request, for to be losd  
from bondage and hir band.  
And then he thinks his Lady seems  
some favor for to show,  
But out of this amaze his wits  
reuiude, when he doth know  
That only fancy fed his fear,  
and no such thing to bee  
Is he ymaginde in his heart,  
or thought his eye should see.  
The griesly gripping gulfs and rage,  
that broiled in his breast:  
And qualming coldes did so agreeue,  
and work him such vnreast,  
The s●●ly wretch his vital course  
distempered, he d●●lynd,  
As one, who to the heauens again  
his spirits had refinde.  
And stil, as oft as he reui●d,  
he faynted down again.  
And thus the thrice unhappy man  
was turmoyld in his pain,  
whilst lucky fortune drove, by chance,  
Pecipater to please,  
Where Pesistratus was diseasde  
and vered in such case.  
Whom vi●wing and with shriking cries  
did move so hye a voice,  
That Pesistrate from former trance,  
renyued through the noise.  
To whom Pecipater did strain  
his woeful speech, and said:  
Alas, Pesistrarus my friend,  
what ceaseless cares upbraid  
Thy youthful race, that vexed thus,  
thou s●endst thy wo●full d●yes,  
In ceaseless plai●tes, in moves and tears,  
and seeks no other ways  
For to avoyde t●e cause of griefts?  
whence cometh this thy care?  
What thing doth cause? what wight hath wrought  
thy dull vn●usty fare?  
And so he stint, and skal●ing tears  
distilling on his breast,  
Pesistrate said▪ let not my griefs  
be cause of thine unrest  
My Lords for ten times cursed I,  
haue forsing cause to wail,  
Yet not for present cause which should  
my woeful hart assail:  
But thinking on such matters past  
as in my country do●e,  
My vanquished stomach much displeasde  
was so by dolour won,  
The which insorst me to complain:  
nought else my Lord surmise,  
But let this serve( quoth Pesistrate)  
your fancy to suffice.  
By this excuse was and dissolvde,  
that nought should move his grief,  
But ma●ters past, and therefore seeks  
to yield him some relief,  
As might intend for to expel  
Pesistrats thoughtful care.  
The which allurde his heavy hart  
to somewhat better fare.  
Yet though a little were decreast  
the torments of his pain,  
The countenance of Catane,  
was butted in his brain:  
And thus he frounced amid his thought  
and feeding fancies fyl.  
I leave a while, and shal resign  
to Catane my quyll.  
Whose drowsy dumps, whose dainty doubts,  
whose fickle fits, whose fears,  
Whose grisly goulfes and piteous plaints,  
whose sobs, whose sighs and ●earess,  
To paint at large, you Furies teach,  
you by-paths dispose my style,  
Apollo guide, Minerua mind  
my mazed m●se a while,  
Departed from hir brothers place,  
arrived when she was  
Where she remaynde, in secret wise  
to closet did she pas,  
Where all alone, surmising of  
the matters past of late,  
She 'gan to muse, bow Pesistrate  
by sudden happy fate,  
Should meet hir brother as he did:  
and musing thus in thought,  
By Cupides force, in fancies fire,  
attend what thing was wrought.  
Forsaking to respect the chance,  
perusing in hir mind  
Pesistrats comeliness, she thought  
in what a courteous kind  
He did salute hir, when at first  
she viewed his friendly face.  
And how in sudden sort, his blood  
did course from place to place.  
And thus respecting of his change,  
hir fancy did consent,  
That if he lovde, the like of hir  
for ever should be meant.  
For why? perusing each respect  
that nature had bestowed,  
She said in mind, in Pesistrate  
that al these virtues flowde.  
And thinking of his portlynesse,  
shee could not but suppose  
His comely gesture to excel:  
and thus hir thoughts arose  
So long as till at last insnarde,  
like little fish on ho●ke,  
Who long hath played with pleasant bait  
and in the end is took,  
She is res●raind, hir fre●dome lost,  
and had no power to start,  
But firmly vowed, and fixed hath  
to Pesistrate hir heart.  
And thus consented to this new  
and fiery zealous love,  
From whence no power she could attain  
did fansi● to remove,  
She 〈◇〉 ●ir dis●ased corps  
on co●ch, ●o ease hir mind?  
To whom Mercurius, Sopor hath  
in sudden e●orte refinde:  
And 〈◇〉 with the drowsy rod,  
the winged fellow shows  
To hir in dream Pesistratus,  
whose countenance well she knows,  
Of whom she thought she did receive  
a ring of purest gold,  
With bloody letters therein gravde,  
the which when she did hold,  
Did seem to bleed excessively,  
and al hir fist defiled,  
Wherein, Mercurius fled away  
and Sopor clean exylde,  
She waking straynd hir slender throat  
in such a piteous wise,  
As well I deem hir sighs and sobs  
did pierse the highest skies:  
Yet seing that it was but dream,  
contented somewhat more  
She stayed a while, but knowing well  
the fearfulness before,  
Her passions then begin a new,  
and ceaseless she complaynes,  
With heavy moans & trikling tears  
increasing double pains,  
And 'gan of each especial point  
to ponder and surmise,  
As of the ring, and of the blood,  
but nought she could devise  
That might maintain the token good  
of blood that did distill,  
whereon not able for to rule  
herself, nor guide hir will,  
Through vexing grief hir careful thought  
suppressing senses force,  
She lies in trance as though distraught  
of ly●e, like senseless corpse:  
And when as vital course returned,  
in former plight she▪ spends  
The time renewed, and ceaseth not,  
but earnestly she sends  
Hir sobs and sighs from laden hart:  
yet after season past,  
When tract of time delayed had  
the fierceness of the blast,  
whereby the stomach more at ease  
was somewhat more at rest:  
She pondering further of the thing,  
began much to detest  
The former rashness of hir love,  
accounting it a shane,  
That erst hir tickle will was bent  
to such deserved blame:  
whereon for grief that such abuse  
had blinded wandring wits,  
Hir tongue was moved amid the rest  
of these hir diuers fits,  
To paint despite, in such a sort  
with scornful taunts conuayde,  
As might suffice for fancies ease,  
and thus the Lady said:  
If reason ought for to persuade  
the foolishness of will,  
Or wise forcast to teach the trade  
that doth engender ill,  
Or counsel lead the weakling wits,  
whom knowledge doth not guide,  
Or else experience show the proof  
of matters to be tried,  
How much unwise accursed I,  
whom neither reason lead,  
Nor yet forcast could make avoyde  
the dangers may be bread,  
Nor counsel move for to beware,  
nor by experience past  
Aduise myself, but haue agreed  
in such a sudden hast  
To fix my foolish fancy fast  
on such a doubtful wight.  
Who for his fault in native soil,  
hath hither made his flight,  
Or else, for want of succour there,  
is glad to use his pain.  
In foreign partes, as toiling wretch  
to get his hired gain?  
Or witless wench, and couldst thou thus  
consent to exile slave,  
And purchase pain unto thy pay,  
bewitched dost thou rave?  
Suppose the infamy, the shane,  
the poverty, the care,  
The fall, the loss of foriner famed,  
the rainous misfare  
That were addicted to thy case  
if matched to such a ma●e,  
Thou wert content to yield thyself  
to his abased state:  
And think how might thy kindred scorn  
thy will, a●d yield thee blame,  
As also how thou shouldst deserve  
and reap reports defame.  
Might it not rightly bee replied,  
thy fondness was thy fall?  
And would not thy abuse be scornde  
and mocked, yes certes of all.  
Why t●en, disdain such foolishness,  
and set thyself at rest,  
A ●oyde such shane, forecast thy cares  
and case, for this is be●t:  
And let such cause of thine annoy  
be ●ur●hest from thy thought,  
Least stomach won, thou shouldst to late  
repent the thing were wrought.  
And then she pausde, and then again  
in new reu●luing mind,  
How much is scornful tongue( quoth shee)  
to scornefulnesse inclined?  
Thy blame I so the seemeliest Knight  
that earthly globe contains?  
Or why presume I to reproach  
with tongue which nought restraynes,  
But vomits al his ve●ime out,  
Pesistratus, whose grace,  
Whose comely corps and seemly port  
descries his loyal race.  
Why name I him an exile slave,  
whom gesture doth bewray  
For to proceed from princely line,  
and season doth display  
No slave, but for his manhood tried  
a worthy valiant Knight,  
Is hath appearde by prowess provde  
of late in open sight?  
And why a toiling wretch call I,  
the noble youth with shane?  
Whose honoured acts I may perceive  
to yield him haughty famed.  
Unhappy tongue, restrain such talk,  
think( hart) with happy ioy,  
If thou wert lovde as thou dost love,  
would banish thy annoy:  
And such disgracing lay apart,  
suppose what seemly h●w  
Pesistrate bears, his comely corpse  
and grace doth now renew:  
Whose feature passeth al the Gods,  
and wit apollo stains,  
And whose especial planted gifts  
abound in natures veins:  
Thou knowest his gesture doth excel,  
his parsonage eke doth pass  
each wights, since taken life thou viewdst,  
or ere in Tarent was:  
And further, needs thou must confess  
his manhood to be rare:  
And is not this sufficient then,  
since al these virtues are  
In him so placed▪ to move thy mind,  
and stir in fancies fire  
Such zeal, as then to yield thyself  
to him and his desire?  
think how accorda●●t in this yeares  
and fit in each degree,  
save present wealth in likely place,  
the wight doth seem to thee:  
And well perusing thou mayst know  
that riches is the least,  
And vainest thing by due to bee  
accounted for the best:  
And whether wouldst thou be content,  
to spend thy lingering dayes.  
With crooked wretch, whose onely wealth  
and riches were his stays,  
Or live with seemly adorned wight.  
whose youthful yeares possess  
Sufficient sk●l to yield thee ●ase,  
and purchase wealths increase?  
Whereon she stayed a while, and then  
in feeding fancy still,  
Why do I thus restrictly note  
with such a special will,  
The worst of his estate? and why,  
suppose I of his want,  
Or think of ought he lacketh, since  
his virtues be not scant?  
No, no respect rejected clean,  
I shall adjoin my hart  
And zealous love to Pesistrate,  
for ever not to start:  
And whether hatred do assail  
our state, or fortune frown,  
Or scorn endeavour to suppress  
our famed, and pull it down,  
Or want provoke us for to beg,  
my hart shall stil consent,  
To feel what Pesistrate doth feel,  
and never shall repent:  
And though that fortune be our fo●,  
yet shal report display,  
That faithful louers livde in link  
and did in one decay.  
And therewith as though in deed,  
their loues had been supplyde,  
If ever( quoth she) Pesistrate,  
it otherwise be fryde,  
Than that I ever shal perform  
my ●xed faith to thee,  
The furies ●eare my tender flesh,  
and poison be my fee.  
But when the pausing time in tract  
had set in plainer sight,  
Hir former fits, she pondering eke  
the lack of hir delight,  
because she was uncertain of  
such certain love again  
From ●esistrate, as she did yield,  
oh how she did complain:  
Accursing both dame natures arte,  
who had employed hir eyes  
To work throw sight such sudden griefs,  
as eke with careful cries  
So cursed the time, that ever breath  
hir carcase had iclad,  
And season, whereby maintenance  
of lingering life was had:  
And then hir griefs increased so,  
and she was bound to pain,  
That having not sufficient strength  
hir dolours to restrain,  
Hir feeble limbs were forft to faint,  
and prostrate on the ground  
The Lady lay, stil dumps were sled  
and vital course redound:  
And then renewed, like passion doth  
hir to●sed wits compel,  
For to record hir caus● of cares,  
which to hir case befell:  
wherein the further pondering, did  
peruse how folly led  
Hir tickle will whereon hir griefs  
was ●rst the more ybread?  
And thinking thus, as one provoked,  
not able to withhold  
Such earnest motion, for hir case  
with tongue she did unfold  
his altered mind and changed dumps,  
which forced hir thus to say:  
None but myself unhappy wretch  
is cause of my decay?  
For tis my folly that assures  
my griefs, because in vain  
I hope, come therefore wished death,  
and rid n●e of my pain.  
Alas if doubt should make beware  
the doubtful, wherefore then  
( O Catane) dost thou no● doubt,  
whose doubt is despair clea●●?  
Or why dost thou ascertayne so  
thyself to haue in hold  
Pesistrates hart, as he hath thine,  
what maketh thee so bold?  
Thou knowst that youth doth mind affairs  
that tend to purchase famed,  
And not such joys to think vpon,  
thou thrice and thrice to blame.  
Why then should not thyself the like  
endeavour set aside,  
Such folly clean, as seems by right  
thy rudeness to deryde?  
And this so said, she did decline  
to drowsy couch, where as  
A thousand sobs and sighs arise,  
and sundry thoughts do pass  
From grieved carcase to the skies,  
whom moning thus a while  
I leave, and to Pesistratus  
I shal resign my style.  
That woeful wight, who likewise vexed,  
( as erst was said) remains  
In midst of his abundant griefs,  
wherein he stil complayns.  
And thus, the louers live in lack  
of that they most desire,  
And mutual both uncessant burn  
in Cupids painful fire:  
Whom for a space the season moves  
my verse for to re●raine,  
till season such as season shal  
enforce my pen again  
To leave the state of Kenedox  
and doings to descry,  
whereto now season craves I should  
my present pen apply.   

THat Kenedox was left as dead  
by Pesistrate 'tis said,  
And likewise how by hunting Knights  
he homeward was conuayde,  
As also, how through this abuse  
his kinsmen moved to ire,  
Which came to visit him, in rage  
did back again retire.  
Which variance bread to such a strife  
within a little time,  
That spighting still the heynousnesse  
of Kenedoxus crime,  
And thinking on the present want  
of Pesistrate his aid,  
( Whose presence was the chiefest staff  
whereon their profit stayed:)  
The kinsmen sought to take away  
from Kenedox his r●ght,  
And sundry times by force of arms  
assaulting it with might▪  
In field appointed at the last  
the conquest they attained,  
And forced Kenedox to fly,  
and slay them that remained:  
Whereon the wretched Kenedox  
was forced to leave the soil  
For shane, that cowardly be fled,  
and purchased had the foil  
And therefore after long aduise  
he minded to arrive,  
In Italy, where as and heard  
Pesistrate was alive:  
Determining that if and could  
but once approach to sight  
Of Pesistrate, to thrust him through,  
and thence to take his flight.  
And thus supposing, did provide  
to do as he deuisde:  
And after his arrival at  
Tarentum, he surmysde,  
At first to execute the same,  
but in a further space,  
When he had wi●tlyer pe●vsde  
and thought vpon the case:  
And seen the danger that would rise,  
if rashly he were bent  
To slay his brother in such wise,  
as was his first intent.  
He then determined to deform  
himself, disfiguring clean  
each part he might, supposing so  
as by a secret mean,  
To be as servant entertaynd  
of Pesistrate, whereby  
He might in secret work the feat  
that he did mean to try.  
His beard he cut, and shavde his head,  
and used strange attire,  
And after each thing ●it prepared,  
he boldly did aspire  
To presence of Pesistratus,  
who solitary was,  
With book in hand, in garden set,  
the tedious time to pass:  
To whom the Kenedox with grace  
and gesture well disp●sde,  
( His salutations friendly made)  
his meaning thus disclosed:  
Oh worthy Knight, thy raised famed  
hath sounded to mine ears,  
The which hath moved me boldly thus,  
devoid of doubted tears,  
To crave thy courtesy to yield  
such 〈◇〉 ●nto ●●e,  
As th●● I might a happy man,  
be intertaind of thee:  
Whose service more I do esteem  
than princes equal sta●e,  
Or bondage better than the best  
of fortunes flattering fate.  
To whom( quoth Pesistrate) my friend▪  
a stranger thou dost seem▪  
Of modest meekness, wile conceit,  
and gesture as I deem:  
And for as much as I can judge  
no otherwise of thee,  
But that should well maintain my hope  
I grant and do agree  
To thy request, and what thy power  
can further for mine ease,  
To do the same with willing hart,  
it shall my fancy please.  
This sayd● Pesistratus, but least  
he did suspect the guile  
That lurked under flattering phrase  
and poisonous pleasant style,  
By●a●se that he persuaded was  
that Kenedox was slain,  
As with his eyes he also saw  
his latest fatal pain:  
As likewise thought he that the man,  
had been a trojan born,  
because his beard and naked head  
was in such maner shorne:  
whereon he made him privy strait  
what things did appertain  
Unto himself, and whereunto  
he should employ his pain:  
And then demanding of his name,  
that Antropos it hight  
The seruant said, which Pesistrate  
esteemed to be right.  
And thus the wicked wretch hath brought  
as erst he did require,  
Unto a perfect purposde end  
the full of his desire:  
Whose further pranks to be declared  
hereafter shal ensue,  
And now Cataneas ceaseless cares  
my travell shal renew:  
Who stinteth not, but even as erst  
she spent hir loathed dayes,  
So stil the countenance of hir wealth  
vpon Pesistrate s●ayes.  
And lingering out the lazy time,  
when Tytans glittering face  
Forsaken had to show himself,  
encroaching couching place,  
And Phoeb●, did succeed in room,  
and Sopor claymde his right,  
Catanea views in drowsy dream,  
as though in ce●tayne sight  
Pesistrate sitting on a bank  
with pleasant flowers decked:  
To whom a Serpent did approach,  
of Hyd●as fearful sect,  
With hundred heads and thousand tongs,  
which struck with such a force,  
Pesistratus, that it seuerde  
his head from deadly corps:  
Which so dismayed the drowsy dame,  
that having not such poure  
As to perceive it for a dream,  
she lay in trance an hour,  
Before that vital course could be  
recovered to his place,  
Or sense had sense to understand  
the sondnesse of the case?  
And when 〈◇〉 from hir sound  
she was, for very fear  
each limb did quake a●d tremble, such  
hir grievous dolours were:  
bewailing woefully hir fates,  
that fortune was inclined,  
For to increase such double cares  
to ouerpresse hi● mind:  
till Titan had from East appeared,  
and raysde himself again,  
And then the Lady rose from couch  
and ceased to complain.  
And 'gan advisedly to think  
that dreams were but abuse,  
whereon to better ease approached,  
she doth disdain to muse  
Thereon, but calls Pesistratus  
to mind, and doth renew  
How that the wight, as abject wretch  
was clad in taunie hue,  
Which doth pretend, that he did love,  
and could not that attain,  
That should intend his loyal faith  
for to requited again:  
And thus supposing of the thing,  
which as a pleasant bait  
Did feed hir fancy and encroach  
upon hir humour straight  
Oh seemly wight Pesistratus,  
thrice happy is the dame  
( Quoth she) whom thou so lov'st, as for  
hir sake thou wearst the same:  
Hir joys surmount unto the heauens,  
hyr comforts pierce the skies:  
Or else I deem the blinded wretch  
dame natures gifts defies:  
Would to the Gods, it were myself  
to whom thou dost employ  
Thy hart, then happy might I think  
that greater were my ioy  
Than Alexanders hye renown,  
or Dame Mineruas famed.  
Alas replied she then, what more  
vnlikelier than the same?  
Unlikely why? I know my state  
and wealth as great as his:  
But doth Cupido wealth respect  
or look where riches is?  
No, no, alas, what motion then  
provokes thee to such hope?  
Thou knowst that love at randon runs,  
and Cupid shoots at scope,  
Oh truth( she said) and then, as though  
a woman prest to die,  
small hope I haue yet some, because  
his gestures did descry  
Of late his mind with paled face  
and count●●aunce sodain● changed,  
When as I viewed his blood discoursed  
and a● his humors rangde.  
And t●us hir fancy with herself  
di● question▪ till at last,  
Di●payre not Catane( she said)  
nor be no more aghast:  
But since thou seest, thy lover is  
in ●aunie colours dressed▪  
wear thou the like▪ that he may judge  
the cause of thine unrest.  
whereto agreed, shee did proceed  
to execute hir will:  
Whom thus I leave and shal resign  
to Pesistrate my quill:  
Who stil consumes the tedious time  
in tears and ceaseless woes,  
And dare not once( unhappy man)  
his cause of cares disclose  
To any wight, but to himself  
in secret doth complain,  
whereby the more he doth provoke  
his mot●ons unto pain,  
till that in cursed time, by chance  
as he bewailing was,  
His new come seruant Antropos,  
by chamber door did pas:  
And ●earing t●us his master mone,  
did( entering there) e●pye  
The silly man on ●ossed bed  
as redy bent to die:  
To whom the caitiff K●nedox,  
in●ending nought but guile,  
With bauty phrase and bidden gloze  
adorned thus his sti●e:  
Alas my Lord, from what disease  
proceedeth this thy care?  
What is the vexing cursed cause  
that grieved thus you ar●?  
Hath loss of goods distempered,  
or faithful friends thy state?  
Or hath impoisned fortune fround  
and spyghted thee of late?  
Or hath the seemly sight of Dame  
disquieted thy head,  
whereby thy fixed fancy is  
by blinded Cupid lead?  
inform thy seruant of thy cause  
of cares, and if his power  
May do thee good, 'tis ●esdy prest:  
and if that fortune ●oure,  
forbear the same with patience,  
and season shall requited  
In time again, when fortune leaves  
to proffer further spite:  
And if that love assail thy youth,  
attend what I shal say,  
And scorn not counsel, neither let  
aduise be set away:  
For 〈◇〉 it hath been seen, the blind  
in safety sure to pass  
The place whereas the seing man  
hath fain and burst his face.  
And sometime may a wise man bee  
advised by a fool,  
As doth a whetstone serve to sharp,  
but is no carving tool.  
If love I say, so trouble thee,  
my loving Lord beware,  
Least nusling, thou thyself be trapte  
in loues entangling snare:  
And way, that if thou love, thy love  
with equal love be placed,  
For hye ascendyng gettes a fall,  
and weakness is defast:  
And since occasion forceth thee  
to faint through chanced fate,  
Comfort thy heavy hart, and eke  
support thy drowsy pate  
With hope, and season shal display  
the proof of hope in time,  
When fearful fancy shall be fled,  
though not in present prime.  
For how might ever sugrie sap  
be known, if bitter taste  
Had nere been felt, or pleasant bait  
were nere addicte to wast?  
How wealth, if never woes were wist?  
how health if never harm?  
Or what man can discern the cold  
which never knew the warm?  
give therefore place to pain, and that  
shall pleasure bring at last,  
As diuers savours teach, the true  
experience of a taste:  
And hope as I do hope, which is,  
to see the happy day,  
That thou shalt full enjoy thy wish,  
thy sorrows worn away:  
And leave thy couch, and seek the means  
clean to avoyde thy care,  
For lying thus, thou dost increase  
thy dolorous misfare.  
And worthy Pesistratus, mark  
and ponder well my words:  
A man with pain may beate the bush,  
and other catch the birds.  
So mayst thou thus increase thy griefs,  
decreasing stil thy strength  
And lusty force, when other men  
shall get thy game at length.  
Were this the way to win thy will?  
were this the wi●est act  
That thou mayst do, so to abuse  
thy wits by foolish fact?  
No, no, thy wealth will wear away,  
thy force will faint and fail,  
Thy sorrows will augment defame,  
and nothing thee avail:  
rise therefore up, with courage arms  
and fortify thy case,  
Polish thy parts with healthful hope,  
avoyde this loathsome place,  
And either seek such means thyself,  
as may exile thy grief,  
Or else let seruant use his pain  
to purchase thy relief,  
Who shal, by death and life( I vow)  
for thy desired ease,  
Bo●h venture life, and suffer death,  
and present life displease.  
That all, Pesistrate noted well,  
and pondered in his heart  
An answer, viewing in his dead  
what were his wisest part:  
And in conjecturing, thought at first  
to hold his secret deep,  
Considering that the Fox doth wixck  
when oft he faynes to sleep:  
But afterward respecting much,  
the earnest●esse did seem  
To be in talk of Antropos,  
because he could not deem  
No otherwise than mere good will  
to move his zealous phrase,  
And marking that his counsel was  
as needful to his ways,  
Without suspect, alas: the Knight  
his secrets did disclose  
In end to Antropos, and thus  
his woeful speech arose:  
What sudden tickle chance hath charmd  
thy footsteppes to the place,  
To see thy friend tormented thus,  
and vexed before thy face:  
Whom every creature doth disdain,  
and comfort doth refuse,  
And every torment, with his pain  
and penury doth use?  
'Tis neither want of worldly wealth,  
nor lack of earthly store,  
Nor loss of friends nor frowning face  
of fortunes fickle lore.  
That makes me spend my doleful dayes  
in such excess of tears,  
But Antropos, alas, alas,  
it is thy trembling fear▪  
The doubtful hope, the could conceits,  
the ceaseless burning broils  
Of louers fits, that I sustain,  
and thus my stomach toils,  
And stil alas I strain, as much  
as in my power doth lie,  
Yet ay, the more I strive, the more  
I feel my force to die,  
And thus I live in deep despair,  
and haue no cause to ioy,  
But drink my death, and feed of air,  
and breed mine own annoy,  
whereon I can not think my pain  
his pleasure will induce,  
because no pleasure can depend  
upon mine own abuse.  
I gain, my hope is so defast,  
and I myself attain  
Unto such little cause of hope,  
that hope is most my pain.  
And though al this I know, yet grief  
so much doth me suppress,  
That I not able am to seek  
or work for my redress,  
Thus seest thou Antropos, so much  
unhappy is my state,  
That thy aduise is frustrate all,  
and council come to late.  
wherefore as cause doth move my cries,  
so forced I do complain,  
And haue no cause to set me free  
or these my griefs restrain  
Yet for as much as I perceive  
what wisdom is in thee,  
And how thou tenderly bewaylst  
my case, and fauorest me,  
( O Antropos) I shal declare  
to thee my secrets all,  
And how by due desert, I haue  
attained to this my fall.  
In Appollonia, graecian soil,  
a town of raised famed  
I born a worthy father had,  
Aganetos his name,  
Who tendering so his loving sons  
as much as father might,  
whereof I one, an other was,  
who Kenedoxus hight:  
And when that crooked age encrocht  
vpon our ancient Sire,  
The father did with trickling tears  
of us his sons require,  
Like valiants to withstand the rage  
of Tetimetians pride,  
( Who were our foes) as he before  
their haughty hartes 〈◇〉 tried,  
Disposing unto Kenedox  
his lands, as due by right  
They were: and unto me, what so  
of foes we got by fight:  
And stinting so the aged Sire  
from seat to earth declynde,  
And taking death, unto the heauens  
his spirits he resinde.  
Whom in due time we laid in earth,  
and then did both consent,  
To work for foes despite, whereto  
our mutual wils were bent:  
And in a space as we requirde,  
we met our foes in face:  
And in the skirmish ouerc●me  
their pride in pointed place,  
And slay each man, save those which fled,  
whereby when so the soil  
They purchasde had, by right I claymde  
their lands, in foresaid soil  
contained, because by fathers will  
they were disposed to me.  
But to this same, my brother would  
in no wise once agree,  
whereat our kinsmen were displeasd  
with Kenedox, and said,  
That since it was my right, the same  
should be to me conveyed:  
But he as much displeasde again,  
and freting in his ire,  
Departed thence in wrath, because  
he mist of his desire:  
Whom viewing I, so fiercely set,  
supposing to persuade,  
Did follow fast but when I seen  
of him, with deadly blade  
He meeting, thought me to haue slain  
in that his hasty made,  
Whose rigor viewed, with Rapier drawn  
in hand, I him withstood:  
And moved by this occasion just  
to anger, caitiff vile  
( Quod I) wouldst thou in brothers blood  
so cowardly defi●e  
Thy filthy fists? an● art thou ment  
to seek thy friends decay?  
If so, in a convenient place  
and on appointed day  
Agree to get reuenge, and seek  
thy quarrel to renew,  
And I this blade in traitorous blood  
of shine shal there imbrue:  
To w●●● agreed, he vowed by Saints  
to meet: and time approached,  
Wherein each foe his brothers corps  
with bloody blade incrocht,  
In further fight I slue the knight,  
whereon in hast I fled,  
And towards these Italian parts,  
through seas in ship was lead.  
And when arivde I was, such fate  
allotted to my pay,  
That wandring up and down, not known,  
and knowing not the way,  
By chance I met an ancient sire,  
with countnance very grave,  
And sober gesture, unto whom  
intelligence I gave  
Of my affairs, and whilst that such  
discourse of talk did pass,  
In foreste by, Pecipater  
with other hunting was  
A monstrous Lion, whom so long  
the coursers chased had,  
That flinging Lion forest left,  
came towards us as mad,  
With whom encountering I bestowd  
such blows, as at the last,  
His rage abated, him I slue,  
and so the danger past.  
And by this means acquainted grew  
with chasers Knightly rout,  
But chiefly with Pecipater,  
with whom, as it fel out,  
I did repair to present place,  
which place hath wrought my pain,  
And feeds my fancy, as thou seest,  
with poisonous pleasant baine:  
For Pecipater worthy man  
a sister hath, who hight▪  
Catanea, a phoenix rare,  
a peerless dame by right,  
Whose seldom beauty hath dismayed  
so much my wandring wits,  
That will I ●il I, forced I am  
to suffer these my fits,  
Accursing the unhappy time,  
that ere my footsteps trode  
Italian ground, or that my life  
so long hath here abode:  
As eke the time that ere I vseud  
that glittering face of ●its,  
Whose b●aui●es blaze, I dare avow  
doth dim the twinkling stars.  
Thus haue I told thee( Antropos)  
the cause of my annoy,  
My present state, and vexing griefs,  
and overpassed joy:  
Which al these pains, I do confess,  
of this the present time,  
I do deserve▪ and thousands more  
for former foresaid crime:  
And thee and none else haue I made  
so privy to the same,  
My secrets wherefore keep thou close,  
and yeld me no more blame▪  
And so he stint to speak and ●earess  
did trickle dow●● the face  
Of silly man and quaking fear  
dis●●mperd every place  
So much that wretched wight he stood  
in such amazed muse,  
As though his spirits were fully bent  
his body to refuse.  
Whom Antropos beholding, thus  
did craftily reply,  
With tongue dessembling under which  
the mischief al did lye:  
My Lord alas, I much lament  
to see thy doleful dayes  
In irksome cares so vainly spent,  
whilst haughty famed and praise  
Might be thy gain, through knighthod shown,  
refuse this loathsome trade  
Of lazy life, in singring woes▪  
and let thy sorrows vade.  
For since it is but love, that moves  
thy stomach to such pain,  
No doubt we shal prevent the harms,  
and well enough restrain  
The further mischief that would grow  
throught want of wise forcast,  
By travel such as shal intend  
to work thy wealth at last:  
Thou knowst that nothing is so dark,  
but labour doth espy,  
And nought so stout, but travel may  
suppress, if it will try:  
And wherefore then wilt thou despair?  
or why doth drowsy doubt  
So drown thy senses, that thou thus  
forsakst the courtly rout,  
And yeeldst thy carcase to thy couch,  
as one who seekest to crave  
His lazy ease, or to be laid  
in his desired grave?  
Is this the way to move the mindes  
of Ladies to surmise  
upon thy manhood, or the means  
to make thy fixed eyes  
Of lowly stomacks to respect  
thy person? or the way  
To yield thee famed through due deserts,  
or purchase louers pray?  
No no, thou knowst: then shane to use  
such means as do 'allure  
Thy present hindrance in such things  
as fain thou wouldst procure.  
And now forsake thy drowsy bed,  
and use such fit attire,  
As seemeth requisite and apt  
for loving, thy desire:  
For Catane in 〈◇〉 hue  
is clad of late and why?  
Mai●t thou not judge it doth as well  
like love of hers descry  
As of thine own? renew thy hart  
and let not courage quail,  
Hope well and haue well, so they say,  
nought haue, if nought assail:  
And writ thy mind with plaintiff pen  
unto thy Ladies grace,  
Beseeching comfort for thy cares,  
and favor for thy case:  
And I thy secret seruant, shal  
in secret al convey  
Unto hir hands, this is the best,  
this is the wisest way.  
For otherwise thou ceaseless mayst  
continue in thy grief,  
And stil bewail, and yet be void  
of comfort or relief.  
Thou wisely sayest( quod Pesistrate)  
and I with willing hart,  
To follow this thy good aduise  
will prosecute my part:  
Though yet, alas, I may perceive  
that al is but in vain,  
because presumption plainly shows  
presumption of disdain?  
As also if I should fail,  
what mischief would succeed,  
And what rebuk unto my shane  
would follow for my dead?  
Yet try I will, for sure I am  
my Lady will not prove,  
Though hers surpassed my good will  
or flamd in hotter love.  
And therewithal the trembling wight,  
on crouching knees declined,  
Wit● lifted ●andis unto the skies  
his prayers thus resinde.  
Oh mighty love, with heavenly ghost  
my spirits now endue,  
give uttering gift, that sugared pen  
may so my griefs renew,  
As that my faithful meanings may  
requited be again  
With some remorse of loyal love:  
and so he stint to strain  
his further speech: and then with pen  
pouided in his hand,  
Thus did the wretch describe his case  
subdued to beauties band.   
Pesistratus letter to his lady.  
AWoful wight whose cureless cares  
compel him to complain,  
Whose fancy fixed fast, is fed  
upon Cupidos baine,  
Whose doubtf●l dumps of deep despair,  
haue drowned in dull annoy  
His heavy hart, and can attain  
to no desired ioy,  
Hath boldly made assault, to save  
( if fortune do consent,  
And favor fr●m your tender b●est  
in gentle wise b● be●t)  
The life which erst depend on death,  
and panted in the pains  
Of latest fits, and now through hope  
some sappie sense sustayns.  
If faithful troilus had a cause  
with tears for to bewail  
His fates, when first Cupidos cares  
his stomach did assail,  
Or Tantalus the wretched wight  
his dolours to disclose,  
Or else the furies to declare  
their pangs they may suppose  
I Pesistratus motion haue  
to utter forth my smart,  
Whose grifes exceed each other pain  
that ever pinched the hart:  
And( oh Catanea) all these things  
I suffer for thy sake,  
Whose favour doubting I should find,  
doth cause each limb to quake:  
Let therfore pity yield his power  
from tender loving breast,  
In speedy hast to cure my cares,  
and yield thy lover rest.  
Which if thy grace do grant to give,  
my stomach shal intend,  
A faithful lover for to live  
till life doth take his end:  
But if I fail of that I would,  
then thrice accursed, I  
Haue no refuge, but glad to yield  
my loathed limbs to die.  
And thus, my simplo suit disclosed,  
and pity cr●●de, I leave  
our grace, and to the highest heauens  
your person I bequeane.  
THis was the sum of the complaint,  
which with his proper fist,  
That worthy Pesistratus wrote,  
who could not cares resist:  
But after this his finished work,  
〈◇〉 is woes renewed again,  
〈…〉( as ●rst, ●o likewise now)  
〈◇〉 tumble in his pain,  
〈…〉 what defaine would fall,  
〈…〉 case not mornde,  
His earnest suit, and such requests  
of Ladies grace were scornde.  
And thereupon, in deep despair  
the wretch would thus haue rent  
The paper streight, wherein but erst  
his travel he had spent,  
Had it not been for Antropos,  
whose guileful words assurde,  
That hope renewed, to Pesistrate  
his fancy he procurde  
To grant again in hope of grace  
the same to be conuayde  
By Antropos, as was deuisde:  
whereon he then thus said:  
Amidste despair a little hope  
informing fancies fears  
Of happy favour, I haue dewde  
the paper with my tears,  
And decked it in the careful robes  
of louers cursed case,  
Sustaynde by sighs, and fed by sobs,  
I live through hope of grace.  
Thus say, the woeful wight hath said,  
and let not to declare,  
How stil I lie, and yet I live,  
and what my dolours are.  
And so he ceased to speak, and gulfs  
of griesly gripes arose,  
That feeble man, was fainting, forced  
his senses strength to lose,  
till time again resigned had  
due sap to v●tal veins:  
wherein Pesistrate left, amid  
his cares and pinching pains,  
His seruant Antropos aryues  
to long desired place,  
Where Catane remaynd, and spies  
hir happy wished face:  
To whom approached, greeting well,  
the seruant did prepare,  
With filled tongue, to Lady thus  
his message to declare:  
The most y●ossed woeful wretch  
who Pesistratus hight,  
Hath wild my travel to present  
these letters to your sight,  
Beseeching humbly, that your grace  
with pity would respect  
His cursed case, the which with cares  
is woefully bedecked:  
And he amazed, as though of wits  
distraught with fancies filled,  
So frounced in midst of Cupides flames  
which hath his hart distillde,  
Like savoury sap of fruitful herb  
which meltes in vessel where  
The fuming fire doth force the same  
a watery substance bear,  
That neither health, ne wealth, ne rest,  
the seelye soul sustaynes,  
But only freezeth in his fears,  
and burneth in his pains.  
Which said, the courteous Lady did  
to Antropos reply,  
That letters read, to morrow next,  
hir answer should descry  
Hir meanings, wishing Pesistrate  
no otherwise to deem,  
But that hir friendship should incline  
his proffers to esteem:  
For which a thousand thanks returned,  
the seruant doth retire,  
And tells his master, al fell out  
according to desire:  
And how the dame with wisling hart  
receyvde the letters sent,  
And that with proffered service she  
was very well content,  
With promise made, that answer should  
tomorrow make requited  
Of his good will, as should intend  
to move him to delight:  
Which Pesistratus hearing, was  
the ioyfulst man alive,  
So motiond to such sudden joys,  
as pen can not descriue  
The lively fancies that he felt,  
nor yet the hart suppose  
His happy state, nor his conceits  
no trouling tongue disclose:  
But as a mortal, clean renewed  
from earthly irksome cares  
To heavenly joys, so Pesistrate  
( thrice happy man) he fares.  
wherefore he blessed the fruitful womb  
from whence he did proceed,  
And eke the paps that gave him suck,  
and sustnance that did feed  
His nourished limbs, and eke the day  
whereon he took his flight  
From native soil, Dame Nature eke  
who yielded him his sight,  
With all the furtherers of life:  
but most he blessed the Dame,  
Who was the cause, that happy he  
was moved to bliss the same:  
And then: you furies al( quoth he)  
receive your due again,  
I haue no cause to wail with you,  
I scorn your drowsy pain.  
You pleasant nymphs, come you and aid  
the blessed to paint his joys,  
And let the cursed caytifs plain,  
bewailing their anoyes.  
But pausing then a while: when time  
had somewhat made delay  
Of sudden such conceived joys,  
be then began to say:  
Oh cursed caitiff, what abuse  
hath blinded wandring wits?  
What cause hath moved thee so to use  
such unadvised fits?  
Hast thou receiude of Ladies grace  
in writing hir good will,  
So blasde as nothing can disprove  
the same? No, no: distill  
Then from the waterish eyes thy tears,  
let sighs go fly apase,  
To maintain that which thou hast wrote,  
according to thy case:  
And rather yield thee to thy couch,  
as erst, for to bewail:  
For likelyhoodes uncertain bee,  
and fickle hope will fail:  
And those thy letters so receiude,  
the Lady doth retain,  
To show thy fondness for a scoff,  
for sure shee doth disdain  
Thy simplo service, and doth scorn  
thy bold presumptuous suit,  
And means to yield for thy defame  
the same to common brute:  
whereby the pride should be espyde  
and lewdness should be blown  
Through every care, that thy abuse  
of each man might be known.  
And dost thou then conceive a cause  
as though of lucky hap,  
When so thy fondness is displayed  
in every taunters lap?  
Oh blinded fool●, dispatch thy life  
more rather, with thy blade,  
And let in breast with piercing knife  
thy latest wound be made,  
And therewythall to that intent  
be ready was to draw  
For his dispatch: but pondering then  
again when well he saw  
His vain perose, revoking sense  
from errors further thrall,  
Oh wretch( quoth he) and wouldst thou so  
obtain thy proper fall?  
Dost thou not know the Lady is  
of gentle courteous kind,  
Of wise behaviour, and discrete,  
and of a lowly mind?  
And dost thou then suppose that she  
would work thee such defame?  
No, no, in judging so thou art  
unhappy much to blame.  
And much unworthy to receive  
the thing thou dost require,  
Since to thy lady such abuse  
thy stomach doth aspire:  
Ist not enough for riddance of  
thy tedious irksome grief,  
Of Ladies mouth, that Ladies grace  
shall soon be thy relief?  
And canst thou not a season stay  
to take thy wished joy,  
When thou hast spent long tract of time  
in case of much annoy?  
Let reason rule thy sense for shane,  
and bridle wandring will,  
And shun such foolish forcing cause  
as doth provoke thine ill.  
Thus said Pesistratus, and then  
at somewhat better ●ase,  
His hap bequeathed unto hope,  
his dolours do appease:  
And fed by hope and yet in doubt  
and sundry sudden fears,  
In wandring motions void of stay  
the lingering time he wears:  
Whom I resign in such his fits  
and shal intend to paint,  
As simplo vttrance can declare,  
the joys that did attaint  
The beautiful Catanea,  
who after message done  
Of Antropos, to secret place  
approaching,( dolours won)  
Did so record hir happy 'haps,  
that pen may not express  
The force of those hir joyful fits,  
which did hir heart address  
To happy state, as woman erst  
to every dolor yokt,  
And now with peerless joys possessed,  
to gladfull cheer provoked,  
Whose lucky fates so frounsed had  
hir senses in delight,  
That trickle tears, for happy joy,  
distilled: and yet no sight  
She had of secrets that should bee  
in letters there reposde,  
But kist the same a thousand times  
before it was disclosed:  
And then with dainty finger, she  
attempted to reveal  
The same, but first with sugry lips  
she kist again the seal,  
And then with gazing greedy sight  
the letters did peruse  
A hundred times, before she could  
agree for to refuse  
The same, hir comforts so arose  
through foresaid letters sent,  
That she not able was, from them  
hir fancy to relent.  
For season long till senses were  
so much therein it oft,  
The humour ●ed his fill, the dame  
for ioy began to boast  
( With happy wights) hir happy state▪  
whose comforts did excel  
( As she supposed) each life, whereto  
no comfort did rebel.  
whereon the Lady forced hir joys  
surpassing to compare,  
The phoenix 'gan hir happy fates  
and case for to declare  
With haughty voice, and thus she said:  
oh fortuna●est day  
That ever past in earthly globe,  
oh sweetest purchased pray  
That ever lover hath attained:  
whose 'haps excel my joys?  
Whose riddance is more better made  
than mine from my anoyes?  
Who lives in happier plight than I?  
who spends the lucky tide,  
In better bliss? whose case is more  
than mine by cares defide?  
Whom favours fortune more than me?  
whom hath she more advanced?  
Whose loyal love is more than mine  
by loyal love inhaunst?  
Whose louers seemelynesse doth pass  
my comely loving Knights?  
No, no, none cause like me to joy,  
none lives in more delights.  
Most happy therfore be the tide  
that ere I saw the face  
Of Pesistrate that peerless wight,  
and viewed his portly grace?  
And blessed be his gentle hart,  
whose loyal love hath brought  
Unto my state more ease, than all  
the Gods could haue ywrought,  
Thus said the dame, and pausing then  
again, unhappy wretch  
Quod she, what meanest thou( by this)  
thy slender throat to stretch  
In such disguised sort? what toys  
assaulted haue thy head?  
That want of reason al this while  
thy wandring wits hath lead?  
What though Pesistratus hath made  
so feigned a complaint?  
Is this sufficient to 'allure  
that favour should attaint  
Thy stomach strait? oh Catane  
dost thou not know the guile  
Of mens abuse? and dost thou not  
perceive this subtle wile:  
And art thou yet to learn their trade?  
is practise out of use?  
Or dost thou deem, that now disdain  
doth scorn the like abuse?  
No, no, their feigned deceits abound,  
their snares be daily laid,  
And al their travell and their speech  
to trapping trade conveyed.  
And yet, when yielded love is lent  
unto their feigned request,  
They seem to scorn this is their use,  
to make therof a iest.  
And thus by nature they addict,  
mind nought but womens shane,  
And midst the rest of scoffing routs  
they most deride the same.  
For offered they do much detest,  
and coyed grace they crave,  
Which when by long complaints and suits  
in end they purchased haue,  
They do reject, as not content  
therwith, or else disdain  
To use their love so stately bent  
as nature would maintain.  
And though by chance they now and then  
do make a matched ma●e  
Unto themselves, of Lady such  
as doth adorn their state,  
When tract of time hath made delay  
of their inflamed fits,  
Then tigers like, they do surmise  
and settle spiteful wits,  
To make a thralled slave of hir  
whom erst they did retain  
As for their mate, this is their guise  
to work their louers pain:  
And thus they either always fain  
to purpose our reproach,  
By scoffed folly: or disdain  
the love they did encroach:  
Or else reject the dame, which erst  
he sude, through haughty pride,  
As who should say, so trim a man  
was he, as not denied:  
Or else attained to their wish▪  
they make their Ladies thrall  
Unto their fickle wils: and thus  
our folly frames our fall.  
Should therfore I, whose haughty fate  
doth stand at certain ease,  
So much my noble birth abase,  
and present wealth displease,  
And purchase shane and masspriest renown,  
as so to put in yoke  
To needy slave, my pressed neck,  
whose usage may provoke  
My noble hart to servile state,  
and press my honor down,  
whereby my dueties al decay,  
and losing my renown,  
I should be scoff to every tongue  
and as a common blame  
To every taunter? no, I scorn  
the cause of such defame:  
And rather than I would agree  
to such abused thought,  
My fatal web of sisters three  
again shal be unwrought.  
Thus earnest was the Lady then  
against hir former mind,  
Yet pausing now a while, the dame  
was contrary declined:  
And thinking how she rashly vowed  
against hir former will,  
Which likewise was with solemn oath  
confirmed, the tears did tril  
From trickling eyes, as drops of dew  
descending to the ground,  
And she dismayed, as though addressed  
to deadly dampish swoon.  
From heavy hart with doleful cheer  
renewed for to complain,  
And to hir former rash conceits  
replied thus again:  
Oh faithless wench, dost thou deserve  
a loyal louers hart  
For to enjoy? who wavering thus  
art blown to every parte.  
Or deemst thou it as possible,  
such currishnesse to find  
In Pesistrate, whose outward shape  
declares his courteous kind?  
Or dost thou think that each is bent  
to work his louers thrall,  
because that some men take delight  
to purchase others fall?  
No, no, thy lewdness is deceyvde,  
thrice cursed thou art moved  
To speak in mens behalf, since so  
of man thou art beloude,  
And not so gratelesse to requi●e  
thy love with such disdain,  
Which doth pretend, that womankind  
is rather bent to fain▪  
shane such abuse, and settle once  
thy wits at certain castle,  
And now provide to answer that  
Pesistratus request,  
With such a constant loving hart  
as he doth seem to bear,  
Who spends the tedious time through hope  
of grace in painful fear.  
And leaving then, with further speech  
the time for to delay,  
She 'gan devise such meek conceit  
as plainly might convey  
Hir loving hart to Pesistrate,  
whereon with happy quill  
In happy time, the Lady thus  
did writ hir constant will.  
The letter of Catanea to hir lover.  
THy loving letters Pesistrate,  
thou seemly wight attained  
unto my sight, thy Lady hath  
with happy hand restrained:  
And wishing to thy person wealth  
and cause of ceaseless joys,  
Hir heavy hart hath much bewailde  
thy former long annoys,  
At present time, with yielded love  
requiting gentle grace,  
Of thine abundant, with as much  
as may supply thy case.  
And though thy pangs surpassed the pain  
that lurk in Plutos lake,  
Thou never suffredst half like griefs  
or passions for my sake,  
As I for thy misdoubted love  
haue suffered deadly smart,  
Whose least vexation able was  
to tear the strongest hart.  
And though thy love as loyal bee,  
as Troy●us faith in Troy,  
Or else as earnest as it rains  
in breast of blinded Boy,  
I dare avow my fired hart  
in equal live to flamme,  
Which fixed fast unto my faith,  
thou only reapst the same,  
And onely shalt whilst lingering life  
doth vital course maintain,  
Or else damnation be my due,  
and Plutos forge my gain.  
Thus to thy wish I do aspire,  
and grant thy whole request,  
And to perform each craved desire  
of thine, mine hart is prests  
And therfore briefly to conceive  
as I haue briefly wrote,  
That neither tract of time, nor pain,  
shall make thee once forgote,  
But ay for to be shrinde in breast,  
and born in constant mind,  
Whilst carcase left, unto the skies  
my spirits be resynd:  
And for because I long to view  
thy comely courteous face,  
I haue deuisde, that wide of each  
suspect, in secret place  
Thou mightst repair, where mutual harts  
moy ioy their happy own:  
The time appointed, and the place  
is to thy seruant shown.  

Thy only own, whilst life doth last,  
till breath be gone, till sense be past.   

THis when the Lady finished had,  
reuovlde in mazed muse,  
Why rather did I not( quoth she)  
at first seem to refuse  
his proffered service, and to coy  
to make the matter strange,  
whereby I might provoke his love  
more hotter for to range:  
Than thus to show thyself so bound  
unto the wight again,  
Declaring for his wished love  
my former forcing pain?  
whereto she pausing did reply,  
that faithful harts should frame  
each thing so faithful, as it should  
deserve no ioy of blame.  
And so content, with softened wax  
the letters she doth seal,  
And kissed them: to secret breast  
of hers, she doth repose  
The same, whilst seruant were approached  
at due appointed tide,  
Who present come to that intent,  
and of the Lady spyde,  
Receyvde the letters, with aduise  
of foresaid time and place,  
Whereas both met, the lover might  
determine full, the case:  
And with a thousand greetings sent  
unto the worthy wight,  
The seruant homeward did repair  
apace, and meets the Knight,  
To whom he yields the paper sent,  
as also doth descry,  
The pointed place and present tide  
whereto he should apply  
His journey made, but oh the joys  
the happy man conceivde.  
When these thus lucky news he had  
and letters were bequeadde,  
I deem the Gods had no such cause  
or motions to be glad,  
As in that ten times blessed time  
the joyful man he had.  
It were therefore but frustrate, that  
I further should pretend  
His happy 'haps for to describe,  
or fancies to extend,  
S●nce heavenly powers can scarce comprise,  
I deem, the wondrous joys,  
That fed his fancy with delights  
of sundry pleasant toys,  
Wherein he spent the altered time,  
till Titan had resinde  
himself to west, and left the cloaks  
of pitchy clouds behind,  
And then again recoursed was,  
and had his streams displayed  
In open East, on fertile earth,  
and gladful light conuayde.  
wherein the Louers, loathsome couch  
forsaken, do prepare  
To meet in happy pointed place,  
and gorgeously they are  
In silken robes of costly price  
arayde and redy prest,  
As louers such as for the nonce  
their seemly sights addressed,  
And after journey, are aryvde  
to foresaid joyful place,  
Whereas the Knight his Lady met,  
doth kiss and then embrace.  
Whom likewise she a hundred times  
rekist and kist again,  
And he requited every one  
by one, yet took no pain.  
That who had seen the seemly sight  
of louers there so blazde  
With comely corps and princely port,  
be wondering would( amazed)  
Haue musde, that nature could haue made  
such artificial show,  
Or that such imps of heavenly hew  
from earthly globe should grow.  
And thus the louers ruld the time  
to their desired joy.  
And made discourse of al their 'haps,  
and blessed, that banished joy,  
They had attaynde to happy wish:  
till seasons tickle trade  
Approchte, of force( against their wils)  
departure must be made.  
Wherein, with parting kiss they past,  
appointing time renewed,  
When there in present place again  
each other might be viewed:  
And at departure, fixed fast  
their eyes for to behold  
each others presence wislly markte,  
so vttrance did unfold  
Of lovely use, each loving hart  
as long as time would let,  
upon each others comely corps  
their eyesights to bee set.  
And thus departed, both yclad  
in like adorned hallows,  
They spend the time at wished ●ase,  
as stil the time renews,  
And often thus they used to meet,  
and long their joys retainde,  
till at the last, oh cursed case,  
their customs were restraynde  
By villain seruant Antropos,  
whose long disguised guile  
Hath now at last attempted, wrought  
the louers joys exile.  
Come come, allecto therefore, thou  
unhappy caitiff, teach  
My drowsy verse, the devilish wiles  
of this unhappy wretch,  
Whose rankrous hart devising long  
to work Pesistrats pain,  
Had now a●●●te convenient time  
to charm his poisonous baine.  
For when the villain had supposed  
what suare he might invent,  
Thus bring privy to the chief  
of all their whole intent,  
And pondering what displeasure might  
to Pesistrate arise,  
If that his secret love were known,  
the miser did devise  
How to disclose to uncle of  
Catanea the same,  
With further forged tale, that might  
engender greater blame.  
whereon app●●cht to Phetratus  
hir uncle so he hight,  
With tale prepared for the no●●e  
thus uttered he his spite:   

SIr Phetratus the earnest zeal●  
I bear to thy estate,  
And eke the length of long success  
I wish unto thy fate▪  
Hath made me boldly to presume,  
my travell to address,  
As for a w●●●ing unto the●▪  
least treason should suppress  
Thy quiet wealth: and understand,  
that Pesistrate is bent,  
Conspired with Catanea,  
who yielded hath consent,  
Ere it be long to seek thy death  
and reue thy vital life,  
either by pampered poison, or  
by secret bloody knife.  
For as by chance I musing sate  
alone in secret place,  
I herde these two, presuming thus  
vpon the traitorous case,  
And Pesistratus( holding in  
his arms Catanea) say,  
I would not haue this toy my love  
no whit at al, dismay  
Thy doubtful head, for nought I care  
for Phetratus consent,  
But haue devised well enough,  
the mischiefs to prevent  
That he may work, to let our love:  
from hence not far remayns,  
A graecian silly man, who lives  
in ceaseless extreme pains  
Through sickness, which hath long suppressed  
his wished health, and he  
Of late for hire of certain sum▪  
did willingly agree  
For to begin in p●●sned cup  
to Phetratus, whereby  
Both he himself and Phetratus,  
through poison drunk should die:  
The silly man to gain of gold  
so vehemently desires,  
To leave unto his simplo son,  
and gladly he aspires  
To die, because his pains extreme  
so vexed the wearied wight,  
That boyde of health he can attain  
to rest ne day ne night.  
And by this means, our greatest foe  
shal soon dispatched be,  
And we attain to happy day  
the which we long to see.  
This said Pesistrate, and I heard  
Catanea reply,  
That it was polis●kely thought,  
advising him to try  
The subtle feat in present space,  
and not for to delay  
But do it in as speedy hast  
as possible he may.  
This with mine ears I heard sir knight,  
and will avow the same  
Upon my body to the death  
unto the traitors shane:  
And that you may for certain know  
my former talk as true,  
I heard the Louers point the place  
and time for to renew  
Their traitorous will: unto which place  
if you with armed rout  
proceed, there may you clean dissolve  
the causes of your doubt.  
And apprehended the traytors both  
at ease, devoid of fear,  
Where you should do but to desert  
if that with point of spear  
You pierced Pesistratus sides.  
Thus had the caitiff  told  
His forged tale, and now a space  
doth tattling tongue with-hold,  
To hear what Phetratus would say,  
whose answer thus was made:  
Oh grisly gripping gulfs of grief,  
that stomach do invade:  
Is exile slave Pesistratus  
so cowardly disposed  
To work my death, before he dare  
to haue his grudge disclosed?  
And is Catanea so bent  
to seek hir vnckles spoil,  
Whose long regard hath had respect  
to hir suspected foil?  
And hath she chosen for hir mate  
a slave, whose like abuse  
As this, hath caused the wandring wight  
his country to refuse?  
well, well, for Pesistratus grudge  
and Catanes despite,  
By saints I vow, with present death  
I shall them both requited:  
And since the laws of this our soil  
be thus, that who so lays  
To others charge conspiracy,  
must answer those assays  
( because and wanteth witness) first  
with solemn oath to swear,  
That witness to be sincere, just  
and true, that he doth bear:  
And then to bow no further grudge  
or spite, to cause the same,  
But only for his conscience sake,  
devoid of every blame:  
And last, that he confirm the proof  
therof, with manhood tried  
In courtly combat, him against  
of whom it is denide●  
I do aduise thee Antropos,  
the trial to withstand  
With manly courage, and myself  
shal ready prest at hand  
give aid to thee, if succour need,  
and all the slaves defy  
In thy behalf, wherein by Saints  
I mean to live and die.  
And I intend as thou hast said,  
the louers for to meet  
In pointed place, whose courtesy  
I shall so friendly greet,  
As both of them to load with chains▪  
till Proclamation made  
Of their conspiracy, thou shalt  
approve with manly blade,  
( 'gainst who so one, that doth approach)  
thy sayings to be 〈◇〉:  
Wherein I hope the wished death  
of traitors we shal view.  
This said, left Phetratus to speak,  
whom Antropos a space  
forsook, till season did require  
that unto pointed place  
They should aspire, for to behold  
the louers: but the cares  
Of Phetratus, and woes to tel,  
and how he doleful fares  
Through his conceived griefs, it doth  
I deem each wit surpass,  
The grievous dolours of his heart,  
so passing painful was,  
To think that Catane should seek  
his death, whose chiefest pain  
Was always bent from tender age  
the Lady to restrain  
For each mishap: and thus the wight,  
complained, till such time  
As ranckours rage dissuaded had  
the man to muse of crime,  
And now to presuppose reuenge,  
the which he did devise.  
But midst of all these tossed thoughts,  
it could not once aryie  
To him, that tale of Antropos,  
should fainde or forged be,  
But stil his fancy he informde,  
that he should shortly see  
The proof of al for to be true,  
as Antropos had said:  
And thus the wilful wretched wight  
remayne● so dismayed,  
Tiil time again that Antropos  
returned, who present is  
At season such, wherein they should  
if that they would, no● mis  
Of louers sight, strait hye in hast  
with every thing addressed  
thereto, whereon the wight● provide  
to haue each purpose prest,  
And then they marched in secret sort,  
and at the last drew nigh  
Unto the place, where Louers were,  
whom there they might descry,  
enjoying so their presence, as  
the use of Louers sect  
Doth take delight in likely case,  
but nought they did suspect  
( Alas) the mischief that did lurk,  
whereon devoid of fear,  
They stil imbrast and sweetly kyst  
in lurkers presence there.  
Who cursed wretches, at the last  
in rigour rushed out,  
And took the Louers al agaste,  
suspecting no such doubt.  
And bound as traitors them they lead  
as Antropos deuisde,  
To presence of Pecipater,  
who at the first surmisde  
Some spited grudge, and fainde abuse,  
whereon with frowning face,  
How dare you villains all( quoth he)  
in such disguised grace,  
Conduct my sister to my sight?  
what heinous fault is done?  
To whom Sir Phetratus replied  
what treason was begon,  
And how that Antropos descried  
the same, who was content  
upon his body to approve  
'gainst who( that durst) was bent  
For to deny the truth therof,  
( that) Pesistrate had sought  
With Catane, hi● vncles death  
in secret to haue wrought)  
Which when Pecipater had heard,  
considering what their use  
And custom was: he would not seem  
to move no more abuse,  
because that iustice should take place,  
and least his partial will  
Should cause the people to suspect,  
some further cause of yl.  
By tears distilling from his breast,  
and sighs from heavy hart  
Proceeding fast, the woeful man  
from thence doth streight depart  
To secret chamber, where his griefs  
so plenteously abound,  
That silly man in desperate mind,  
he tumbles on the ground,  
As though distraught of wits, his pain  
engendered such his smart:  
And he supposing of these 'haps,  
was vexed so in hart.  
And thence the woeful louers were  
to several prisons lead,  
whereas on hard Alectos food,  
their heavy harts are fed,  
bewailing their accursed fates,  
that spighte should so prevail  
To work their deaths, whose mutual wils  
did never once assail  
To do no yl, but only bent  
their constant love to frame,  
For loyal proof, did nere deserve  
this thryce vnhapppie shane.  
And only looking for the time  
of death, devoid of joy,  
With mournful tunes and painful plaints  
bewailing their annoy,  
They spend the drowsy doleful day,  
as ready prest to pine,  
Through pinching sorrows, whom a while  
I forced to refine  
Unto their griefs, must now apply  
my travel to pursue  
The cares of Pecipaters case,  
whose sorrows eke renew,  
And he uncessantly so vexed  
that stil he woeful lies  
bewailing Pesistratus woes  
with sundry plaintiue cries,  
Accursing fortunes tickle trade,  
as eke the villains spite,  
Whose accusation had defast  
the famed and credit quiter,  
Not onely of Pesistratus  
and of his Sisters state,  
But also of himself, whose wealth  
depended on their fate.  
Which well be weighing▪ was enforced  
with heavy hart to plain,  
And was not able vexed man,  
his dolours to restrain:  
But after long perusing of  
his griefs, he pained said:  
Oh blinded fool, what fond conceits  
hath made thee thus dismayed?  
Dost thou not know thy proper laws  
be so, that who accused  
Of other is, because himself  
by custom is refusde  
To fight in proper his behalf,  
he must a champion haue,  
Whose hand victorious must intend  
the accuzeds life to save?  
And why dost thou not then prepare  
more rather to provide,  
In these the Innocents defence,  
to haue thy manhood tried,  
Than for to grieve thy pined hart  
in such a painful guise,  
Which neither doth pretend thy ease,  
their help, nor thee for wise?  
Go rather to the wretched wight  
Pesistratus, and learn  
If that he guilty be or no,  
by whom thou mayst discern  
With equal eye, the likelihood  
thereof, and mayst dispose  
Thy deeds accordingly, which thought,  
he presently arose,  
And went in hast unto the mewe  
where Pesistrate remaynde.  
Whose person seen, the glad●●● man  
had thought that he 〈◇〉 gained  
A happy pray, and then he said,  
my friend, alas I wail,  
To see thy wretched case so much  
in hart that tongue doth fail  
To utter what my meaning is:  
but faithful friend disclose  
Unto thy friend, if guilty thou  
or innocent in those  
So ●ainous faults be, yea, or no,  
that to thy charge are laid?  
To which so spoken, Pesistratus  
again replying, said,  
That as the mighty jove of heaven  
his recompense should make,  
They sought no creatures death, nor harm,  
nor once did undertake  
Such minded mischief or pretence:  
and then he opened all  
The matter to Pecipater,  
as how that each was thrall  
To others love, long tract of time  
before that it was known.  
And by what luckless means, at last  
their zealous love was shown.  
As, how that unto Antropos  
his secrets be discride,  
By whom the letters first were sent,  
and matters all were tried,  
Yet to none other end at al,  
but only touching love,  
And nothing else was ever ment,  
as well the letters prove.  
And how the villain, privy to  
the place of their resort,  
His forged tale hath now at last  
confirmed in such a sort.  
because that in the pointed place  
the louers both were found,  
Who meaned nothing, but to show  
the fruits that did abound  
From lovely stomackrs, as like case  
of louers doth frequent:  
This said, well quod Pecipater,  
doubt not I shal prevent  
His spitful grudge, so much as shal  
apply to him the shane,  
That he had thought to both of you,  
by forged tale to frame.  
And then bequeauyng Pesistrate  
to Gods, he did depart  
From thence at somewhat better ease,  
and with more lighter hart  
Than erst, when thither he approached,  
and then to prison hid  
whereas the woeful Catane  
his doleful sister laid:  
Of whom the matter asked, he  
like answer had again,  
As did agree to Pesistrats,  
whereby he judged plain  
The louers to be innocent,  
and that the feigned lie  
Of villain Antropos was false,  
as he might well ●spye:  
whereon Catanea left, the wight  
his sorrows fled away,  
Did to his home repair, whereas  
the longing man did stay  
till season such as pointed time  
was present come, when as  
The accused wights( their dungeons left)  
to place of death should pass:  
Where if they had no Champion prest,  
their lives for to defend,  
They must prepare with harts addressed  
to take their latest end.  
He then supposing to proceed  
in their behalf to fight,  
And with the villain Antropos,  
to strain his ventured might,  
And so content, till season that  
to stay he lives in hope.  
And when in space the tract of time  
had compassed his scope,  
And that the proclamation made  
before, for pointed tide:  
The time expyrde( as time in hast  
without respect doth glide)  
The season is approached, the accused  
are from the prisons brought  
To foresaid place, whereas their deaths  
of hangman must be wrought,  
Except that Champion were addressed  
their doubted lives to save,  
By conquest got: who happy wights,  
a valiant Champion haue,  
The which unknown to them appears,  
in Sabels armor dight,  
And settled well on barbed steede,  
doth offer for to fight  
With villain Antropos, whose guile  
had done extortious wrong,  
He said, to Innocents, as he  
would prove ere it were long:  
And therewith Sir Antropos  
doth enter into lists,  
And with a lions face he saith▪  
what caitiff here resists  
The certain witness I do beate,  
and saw with proper eyes?  
To whom quoth Pecipater, I  
it is who well espyes  
Thy forged accusation false,  
and shal perform the same  
Upon thy carcase, spite of force,  
to thy deserved shane,  
Thou villain slave( quoth Antropos)  
wilt thou in the defence  
Of traitors, venture to withstand  
my rigorous sharp dispense?  
And darest thou( replied he)  
presume to meet my force  
In quarrel false, as shal be provde▪  
vpon thy caitiff corpse?  
Yea said the one in spite of thee,  
a quarrel just uphold  
And maugre thee( the other quoth)  
supresse thy pride so bold:  
wherein the Heralds sound dis●layd  
the Coursers meet with spears  
In settled r●stes, that trunc●lo●s burst,  
the pieces pat their cares,  
And then with glauering blades the blows  
were dealt in such a wise,  
That harness parde, the parings mount  
aloft into the skies,  
And sparkels beaten from their sides,  
the Targets strong are torn,  
The bars unbound, the helmets hard  
by force asunder shorne,  
The steely links vnbeaten, bounst▪  
and thus the mortal fight,  
Now quauining the accused harts  
now making stomach light,  
The one he thinketh of reuenge,  
on Pesistrate, whereby  
With Serpents ●age in finished hast  
be lets the blows go fly:  
To other striving for to save  
his friends from foes despite,  
Like lion fierce he yields again  
the blows with forcing might,  
And thus the aduersaries so,  
had made their parties good,  
That they had dyde the stained ground  
with their diffused blood,  
So long, till at the last the knights  
thus straining manly strength,  
Pecipater had pierced the sides  
of Antropos at length,  
And so courageously pursude  
his foe with desperate blade,  
That down fell Antropos to earth,  
his fatal wound so made:  
Whom Pecipater strait suppressed  
with foot, and from the ground  
With valiant stroke he made his head  
from conquered corps rebound.  
whereon with strained lofty voice,  
the people moved such cries,  
That through their hi● conceived joys  
they shakt I think the skies.  
And now the louers were so glad,  
as though their lives renewed.  
Their happy state with heavenly joys  
and pleasures were indude,  
But little deemed Pesistrate  
the riddance of his pain  
To come by death of Kenedox  
his brother, that was slain.  
Whereon they craved to see the face  
of viliant him, that so  
Had saved their lives, and maintained truth  
and vanquished the foe.  
And when his helmet laid aside  
the louers saw to be  
Pecipater, and people viewed  
and knew that it was he,  
Oh how the people vaunst his famed,  
and joyed to see their lord  
So valiant Knight, and yielded praise  
to him with one accord,  
As though their voices would haue raisde  
the man from mortal case,  
To highest heauens for his desert,  
amongst the Gods to place:  
And so the louers joyed in hart,  
requiting endless thankes  
For his abundant courtesy,  
and manly marshal pranks:  
That it doth far excel my power,  
to paint in proper wise,  
I therefore yield it to conceit  
of each man to devise.  
But when the turmoil ceased was,  
and so the spite restrained  
Of raging foe, each hoping hart  
by manly proof sustained:  
Pecipater the conquerous knight,  
with comely courtly grace  
proceeds to Pesistrate, and doth  
with seemly arms embrace,  
Whom he with gesture like requites  
so courteously displayed,  
That they that viewed the seemly sight,  
were so in hart disma●de,  
That tears by force distilling down  
for ioy from seers eyes:  
Their famed of gentle gesture streight  
amongst the thickest hies:  
And then his sister greeted like,  
she likewise greets again,  
That wondrous was it to behold,  
how erst in desperate pain,  
And now enjoys the altered time  
they spend in happy plight,  
With easy harts, vnburdend bres●s,  
and cause of al delight.  
And thus when outward vttrance had  
declarde each joyful mind,  
each man auoides the present place  
unto his home assinde,  
And conquerous knight, with Louers doth  
proceed with courtly train,  
Through T●rents streets, unto the place  
whereas he should remain,  
Who when he passed through the town  
receiude such yielded famed,  
As eke the Louers for their truth  
that to behold the same,  
The tops of houses laden were,  
and streets and stalls so fillde,  
And windows decked with peoples press  
as nere or very sild,  
Was like convent in Tarent town,  
the people were so glad  
Of constant Louers saved life,  
as ●ke because they had  
Unto their Lord so vallant wight  
as Pecipater was,  
Who with the louers and his train,  
as stil though stree●es they pass,  
At last arrived at the place  
of Pecipater, they  
With joyful hart into his house  
do presently convey  
themselves where pausde a little space  
Pecipater doth strain  
To Pesistrate his voice, and thus  
he said: thy grief my pain  
It is Pesistratus, my friend,  
and what thou dost forbear,  
I likewise feel, be it wo, be it wealth,  
be it loss, annoy or fear.  
Wherefore I crave thy courtesy,  
to yield such like respect,  
To my good will, as it regards  
thyself, as one elect  
Unto myself for faithful friend,  
as partly hath appearde  
By venture lately for thy sake,  
where rather I aspyrde  
To die with thee, than live devoid  
of presence thine: wherefore  
Know friend Pesistratus, I do  
repute thy friendship more  
Than succour of the mightiest Prince  
or Mahomet alive  
Whose hate were able to devise  
my honour to deprive▪  
Since therefore that thou dost suppose  
it for thy happiest ioy,  
Thy greate●● wealth and riddance best  
from cause of al annoy,  
For to retain Catanea  
my sister unto thee,  
My worthy friend Pesistratus,  
I willingly agree,  
●nto the same, and what so else  
of me thou shalt request,  
To grant thy suit at all assays  
I am as ready prest:  
And since thou knowest the spittful grudge  
of Phetratus, beware  
Therof, and take aduise least thou  
incur a further care:  
For I forcast and see it well,  
that when that I deceased  
My sister clayms my ruling room.  
( hir right) she shal suppressed  
By currish caitiff Phetratus,  
then stoop to every yoke,  
whereto hir careless uncle shal  
the wretched wench provoke:  
And thou shalt likewise be so used,  
as well I know, it shal  
( If that thou do not well provide)  
attain thy latest fall.  
hark therefore, oh my Pesistrate,  
attend what I shal say,  
If that thou livest for to see  
my death, without delay  
possess my place in present hast,  
as into thy due right  
By Catane thy spouse, and hold  
the same by marshal might:  
For if the caitiff Phetratus  
haue once his entry made  
Before thou canst attain thereto,  
then know I, cruel blade  
Shal work the death of both of you,  
or else your utter spoil,  
whereby the pray shal be his own,  
and yours shal be the foil.  
Thus said Pecipater, and then  
he ceased for to apply  
His tongue to further speech, to whom  
did Pesistrate reply,  
With thankes his gentleness  
requited, that his will  
Should bee with executed care  
performed to the fill:  
And after other course of talk,  
the louers did require  
Their marriage shortly to be made,  
unto the which desire  
Pecipter consented streight,  
whereon it was agreed  
At pointed time( which shortly was)  
that nuptials should with speed  
Prepared bee: and thus( their joys  
increasing happy wights)  
They did expect the wished time,  
and spend in much delights  
The joyful tide, till season that  
for which the louers stayed:  
Which time they hoped well should now  
no longer be delayde.  
But wo, alas, to fortunes wiles,  
whilst thus they fed on ioy●,  
And were persuaded that they had  
avoyded al annoy,  
Unhappy case( their cares renewed)  
they suffer greater griefs,  
Than al the former time, when state  
was void of all reliefs.  
For Phetratus accursed wight▪  
supposing what defame  
Had grown to him through late abuse  
unto his utter shane,  
Began with rancour for to grudge  
at wealth of their estate,  
Since that himself was thr●lled so  
to such abased state:  
And 'gan devise, ●ha● if he could  
a●●ure it to such pass,  
That Pecipaters life were refte,  
that then the nuptials was  
prevented, whereby he might then  
as ruler work his list  
Upon the louers, when as none  
his pleasure durst resist:  
And thus the wretch supposing long,  
persevering in ●is thought,  
At length devised by this means  
to haue his purpose wrought,  
Which was to hire some carlesse slave  
with poison to beguile  
Pecipater, and thinking thus,  
when he had pausde a while  
He called to mind a certain wretch  
that to himself retaynd,  
Whose disposition fit he knew  
to haue these matters faynde:  
To him in presence he descried  
the sum of al his mind,  
Who soon agreed, and was content  
to do what he assynde.  
And to conclude, when thus they had  
decreed on pointed tide,  
The place, and by what secret means  
the treason should be tried,  
The wicked seruant did prepare  
his medicine to frame,  
The which so pampered, as he would,  
when he had done the same,  
In secret sort he did convey  
himself unto the place  
whereas Pecipater did use  
to sit in judgements case,  
Where he impoysned the seat  
with his infection strong,  
And every other thing that did  
unto the seat belong▪  
And then in hast retired home:  
and when the approached day  
Was come, when Pecipaters use  
was for to take his way  
To foresaid place, whereas he did  
the controversies cease  
Of common wealth, & did maintain  
●he course of public peace,  
When as( alas) the worthy wight  
had sit a while in seat,  
He 'gan in such a heated wise  
in every part to swear,  
That they that saw the valiant so  
distempered, thought the rout  
Of people to haue caused the same,  
whereon they carried out  
Their lord into the open air,  
and there the woeful wight  
With deadly dis●greeing cold  
streight struck, in open sight  
Unto the heauens resinde his ghost,  
his carcase left on ground,  
whereon was moved so great a noise  
and such a piteous sound,  
That well I deem the earth did shake  
withal and rolling skies  
W●●● out of common course declined  
through such their mournful cries:  
The which when Phetratus had heard,  
and knowing it to bee  
His purpose, wrought as though the wretch  
had only come to see  
The cause of rumour, with a rout  
of thousand caytifes there,  
He present was because of doubt  
and his suspected fear  
That people would accused him,  
whereas with outward show  
He so lamented, that none would  
had judged him the foe  
Of Pecipater, for he ragde  
as though the wretched mad  
Had been for grief: when God did know  
the cursed was as glad  
Of his success in mischief wrought,  
as he that had restrained  
With marshal fist, a vanquished host,  
or sums of gold had gained.  
And then he so persuaded with  
the people, that at rest  
The body was conuayde from thence  
with every thing addressed  
For funerals in solemn wise:  
and when the season craved  
That carcase should be laid in earth,  
each thing was so behaude,  
That least, the people did suspect  
that Phetratus had wrought  
The death of Pecipater, or  
such thing he would haue sought  
Whereon they suffered him to rule,  
till season that they might  
More better know to whom the same  
were incident by right.  
But o● the deadly pinching pains  
and grievous grisly smart  
That banished the louers joys,  
and gript them at the hart,  
When woeful wretches they so saw  
the increase of ceaseless care  
Through worthy Pecipaters death,  
which caused their mou●nful fare  
That they uncessantly bewaylde  
with tears their fickle fate,  
well knowing that despite would clean  
suppress their quiet state,  
As woeful wights to them it fell,  
it did as they did fear:  
For when the villain Phetratus  
did see, that for to bear  
Authority he suffered was,  
now minding to despite  
The louers, seeing eke the time  
so apt, that well he might  
endeavour his malicious wil●ss,  
to work their utter thrall,  
The wicked man to counsel doth  
the chief and Nobles call  
Of his dominion, unto whom  
in presence thus he said.  
As I my Lords, so likewise you  
I know are much dismayed  
Through cause of Pecipaters death,  
and since a great defame  
It were to us, if slightly we  
should overpass the same,  
I crave your courtesies to hear,  
and hearing well to way  
What thing as touching this, I am  
disposed now to say:  
You know how that the exile man  
Pesistrate, hath attained  
The love of Catane, whose will  
would wisely be restrained,  
For how that Kenedox accused  
Pesistrate, it is plain  
With reasons proof, that he should seek  
through privy impoisned vain  
My death: and note you well of this,  
that he that hath so sought  
My death, whose death no whit at al  
could pleasure him in ought  
Would likewise seek the death of him  
( Pecipater I mean)  
Whose death would yield him title s●che  
whereto the wretch might lean  
Through Catane, for to possess  
the room which he supplied,  
whereon I do presume, that he,  
if it were thoroughly tried,  
Were only worker of his death,  
through hope of foresaid gain:  
I therefore do aduise you, that  
the wretch do not remain  
In these our partes, but that exiled  
he be, whereby we shal  
Both Catane the dame reserve  
from such a shameful fall  
As shee would get, if to the sla●e  
the Lady matched were,  
And eke avoyde such rumors, as  
the people would arer●.  
And so he stint to speak: and they  
with one accord agreed,  
That Pesistrate, as he had said,  
should be exiled, with speed.  
whereon for Pesistratus they  
did sand by varlet streight,  
To whom in presence they declared  
the important cause of weight,  
And there commanded him, that then  
without a more delay,  
As man exiled, from present place  
he took his ready way  
To foreign parts▪ informing eke  
that if that he were found  
Upon such day, in any place  
of their Italian ground,  
That he should die: whereon the wight  
began h●s journey made  
With heavy hart in mournful plight,  
and presently doth vade  
Tarentum lest, as wandring wretch  
into a forest by,  
Whereas he stays his loathed limbs  
a while at ease to lye.  
And when his musing brains had tost  
the loss of former joys,  
And that his fancy fixly fed  
vpon a thousand toys,  
At last, he pondering the cause  
of cares that so befell  
Unto his pay, his gripping griefs  
so grievously did quell  
His haughty courage, that by force  
his fainting limbs declined,  
That woeful lay, as though he were  
a body reft of mind,  
Until a space that season had  
restord the course again  
Which did revive his vital sense:  
and then in greater pain  
Than erst, the wretch bewaild, wherein  
unto his dolours ●o●t,  
Through painful fits, his faltering tongue  
to speak was thus provoked.  
Alas what wretch doth greater griefs  
sustain, than I abide?  
Or whose estate is more than mine  
by fortunes spite defide?  
Or whose excess of troubles, tear  
his painful pinched hart  
So much, as my uncessant cares  
do work my deadly smart?  
In proper soil I sometime wind  
a man of great renown,  
And now like slave in foreign partes  
I am suppressed down  
And sometime haue I in my joys  
advanced myself with famed,  
But now accursed in my griefs  
I live with exile name.  
And woe to fortunes spiteful trade,  
a joyful lover late  
I was, and Lady had, but now  
to vacabonds a mate:  
Alas, alas, and wilt thou then  
( Pesistratus) delay  
To work thy death? wilt thou abide  
to see an other day?  
Thou hast no cause of hope at al,  
for thou hast Lady left,  
And thus exiled, art from hir sight  
for ever clean bearest.  
And likewise bannisht from thy joys:  
for how canst thou delight  
In any thing, since void thou art  
of Cataneas sight:  
And canst thou now forbear, to live  
like servile slave again,  
In toiling trade and scorned state?  
and canst thou so res●raine  
Thy noble nature, when as erst  
devoid of each annoy,  
Thou didst in ten times happy time  
thy Ladies love enjoy?  
No, no, thy loving hart may not  
indeu●r for to pant  
In vital sort, if that thou shouldst  
thy Ladies presence want.  
Why therfore lingrest thou to stop  
( quoth he) thy vital breath?  
And therewith the desperate man  
did draw from secret sheathe  
His blade, wherewith the wretched men▪  
to make his woeful end,  
But that the mighty God of heauens  
did happy succour sand:  
For by good chance, in foreste was  
a sheephearde seeking there  
I strayed sheep which he had lost,  
who happened nere  
Unto the place where Pesistrate  
complained, and secret he  
behind a thicket standing, did  
the foresaid matter see:  
Who ran to Pesistrate in hast,  
as so he was disposed  
To take his death: and on his knees  
the shepherd thus disclosed:  
Oh seemly Knight, avoid this act,  
and suffer not thy sist  
To do thy death, let manly hart  
thy forcing p●ngs resist:  
Wouldst thou condemn thy spiritual soul  
for matters that be vain?  
Or dost thou deem that such thy death  
would rid thee of thy pain?  
No Lord, it would engender more  
such matter as thou knowst,  
scorn therefore this, and do disdain  
such matter as thou shewst:  
And worthy Knight, let courage quail  
the causes of thy care,  
And time, no doubt, shal bring again  
to thee thy joyful fare:  
And though that thou exiled art  
from present land, wherein  
The chiefest comforts do consist,  
yet let thy stomach win  
Thy victory from doubts despair,  
and do as I shal say,  
Since that thou meanest not from hence  
thy presence to convey,  
But here wouldst live, because thou mayst  
by some adventured wise  
Thy Ladies seemly face behold,  
for fancies fears suffice,  
Get shepherds weeds of simplo kind,  
with tarboxe, dog and book,  
And other things that ought to be  
of shepherds vndertoke:  
And so disguisd, thou mayst unknown  
remain in quiet ease,  
And understand thy ladies state,  
which stomach shal appease:  
And I pretending openly  
thy fellow mate, shal be  
Thy humble seruant to command,  
in ought to pleasure thee▪  
Which said of shepherd, Pesistrate  
did courteously requited  
His good aduise, and thanking jove  
for sudden such delight,  
Agreed to al the shepherd had  
declared, and did devise  
In every point( as he had said)  
himself so to disguise:  
And to conclude, departed thence  
to silly cottage by  
Of shepherds, where the foresaid feat  
they purposed to try.  
And thus Pesistratus, become  
a shepherd, and bedecked  
With such accordant robes as doth  
belong to shepherds seckt:  
As hood on head, and hook in hand,  
and fastened dog by side,  
And budget, tarbox, and such tools  
of shepherds lusty pride:  
In such his office for a space  
I leave, and shal intend  
To Catane my simplo style,  
who( woeful wench) doth spend  
The lot●some time in ceaseless moans,  
●●mayling spiteful fate,  
was so such sundry sorrows should  
oppr●ss● hir haughty state:  
And thinking that Pesistrate had  
like faithless feigning Knight  
Forsaken hir, for doubted fear  
of Phetratus despite,  
because she knew not, how exiled  
He was through the consent  
Of nobles( so in secret was  
it kept of the convent)  
Nor howe he could not take his leave  
of hir, because in hast  
He was compelled to take his way:  
The Lady doth so wast  
For pining grief, that wonder 'twas  
to see how she was changed  
From former hew, in vexed breast  
hir doleful dolours ●angde  
In such a wise, and every day  
the Lady would defame  
The Knight in such reuyling sort  
unto his caused blame,  
In open presence unto such  
as would to hir attend,  
That pity was it to behold,  
how to a painful end  
She lives in earth: and ceaseless so  
she spent the joyous dayes,  
And cursed the Knight, and stil complains  
hir griefs and never stays,  
But many times in desperate mood.  
endeavours with hir knife  
To splyt hir tender hart in twain,  
and reue herself of life.  
And al these passions she sustaynde,  
because she only thought  
That Pesistrate had faynde, in al  
that he before had wrought,  
And ●ad been fled, forsaking hir,  
whom woeful woman thus  
In griefs I leave: and gladly shal  
endeavour to discuss  
The happy chance that now befell  
unto their ceaseless joys,  
And yielded wished ease to them,  
avoiding al anoyes.  
WHen long the Aganetians had  
in Appollonia soil  
Remaynde, without a governor  
that should defend their foil,  
They weighing how that ought they had  
of Pesistratus heard  
( To be in italy) agreed  
to haue it not defeard,  
But that in present hast there should  
a posting varlet vade,  
By whom in italy there should  
and proclamation made,  
In all the chief and famous towns,  
contained in that land,  
( aswell as in the farthest coasts,  
so also near at hand)  
That Kenedoxus was deposde  
from Aganetians right,  
And that the Aganetians will  
was bent, that worthy Knight  
Pesistratus, if so disposed  
he were, should now possess  
Their lands and Lordships, as the heir,  
whose right they do confess  
It is, and after such consent  
the varlet, overpast  
The surging seas, in happy time  
arrived hath at last  
Italian partes: and there by chance  
he traueld up the way,  
Whereas Pesistrate keeping sheep  
did silly shepherd stay▪  
Of whom the varlet, passing by,  
demanded if he knew  
A stranger, who Pesistratus  
was hight, yea, God indew  
The man with many more good gifts,  
I know the Knight full well▪  
( Quod Pesistrate,) and in the town  
of Tarent doth he dwell.  
And then the messenger declarde  
the cause, why he was sent▪  
Into those partes, and  told the whole  
of foresaid his intent.  
And after course of common talk,  
the shepherd overlooked, he hies  
In hast from thence, and Pesistrate  
surmising, well espies  
That Aganetians in distress  
were over chargde with foes,  
whereon aduisde, in present hast  
the happy man he goes  
To fellow shepherd and declares  
the whole that happened had,  
Who hearing of the lucky chance  
was simplo man much glad,  
That such unlooked for success  
allotted to the pay  
Of Pesistrate, who shepherd left,  
doth take his ready way  
In former costlye robes yclad  
( his shepherds weede● res●●de  
For shepherds use) to native soil,  
whereas by prosperous wind  
And lucky ship, in season short  
arivde, he forward wends  
To Appollonia, and from thence  
a friendly letter sends  
Unto the Aganetians, who  
in solemn wise do meet  
Their worthy kinsman, whow likewise  
Pesistratus doth greet  
With trickling tears from eyes distilled,  
whereon the joyful knights  
In happy state together spend  
the time in all delights:  
And then informing Pesistrate  
of foes dispiteful rage,  
The valiant knight doth study much  
their fierceness to assuage,  
By whose aduise and wise forecast  
they gave their foes the foil,  
And then did rest in quiet ease  
and gouernde well their soil.  
Of whom the R●●●r Pesistrate  
assynde by one accord  
Of Aganetians whole consent,  
he lives a noble lord,  
And after space that his estate  
was quietly disposed,  
To Aganetians present al  
the valiant knight disclosed  
With long oration, how his fates  
in Italy befell,  
And how in happy state a space  
in Tarent he did dwell,  
And how the spite of villain one  
had wrought him such annoy,  
And diuers times exylde his 'haps  
from cause of chanced ioy,  
And then declaring of the Dame  
Catanea, he shows,  
Hir noble state and haughty blood:  
which Fama no more blows  
Of duty than of hir desert:  
whose ●oyal love attained  
Of him he told, and how by spite  
the same was stil restrained  
From his effect, whereon he craude  
the Aganetians aid  
And patience, that an army might  
to Tarent and conveyed,  
whereas the town besiegde, he would  
obtaynt his proper right,  
Which was the Lady, spite of foes  
in open chalengd fight:  
Or else with army overcome  
by force their haughty pride,  
And suffer not one foe alive  
in Tarent to abide.  
To which request, it was agreed  
of Aganetians all,  
With Pesistrate to live and die  
to rise and likewise fall.  
Then in hast ●●●thing prepared,  
and al things ready prest,  
With warlike naui●s they ariude  
at Tarent, there do rest.  
And after wise aduise, agreed  
to sand to Tarent streight  
A herald dight, for to declare  
the important cause of weight,  
Who with his message will prepared,  
did hast, without delay,  
To Phetratus, to whom approached,  
the herald did display  
That Pesistrate not little scorns  
the fond disdaineful pride  
And open wrong that he had done  
to him, as should be tried  
Upon his body, if he dare  
in combat stand to prove  
The same, as by his proper laws  
and custom doth behove  
He should: or else with armies force  
he would the Tarents spoil  
As never town before that time  
received such a foil:  
Which message done, it was replied  
of Phetratus, that death  
Should be his pay, and he with blade  
would stop his proper breath  
Before that once he, would deny  
in combat for to fight  
With Pesistrate: whereon he said  
to herald, that he might  
Pesistrate tel, that he was mente  
incombate for to try  
Against the traitor, that he did  
like faithless ●aytife lie,  
To say 〈◇〉 had open wrong  
because he was restrained  
From Catane, for never he  
hir loyal love retainde:  
And then, as shr●e the custom was,  
with solemn oath he swore,  
That 〈◇〉 his quarrel was, and that  
therein no cauels are.  
And then the day appointed, when  
the combat should be fought,  
The herald hies to Pesistrate,  
and tells how each thing wrought,  
And how that Phetratus agreed,  
in combat to maintain  
His quarrel good, as he would prove,  
( he say de) unto his pain:  
For which expected time he stays.  
But oh the great reliefs,  
Catanea( happy) did conceive,  
avoiding al hir griefs,  
When thus she saw the constancy  
of Pesistrate, I deem  
The woman thought hir joys so great  
as she should Goddes seem.  
And when the time appointed now  
approached is, when knife  
Of manly knight must yield him famed,  
and end the deadly strife:  
The Lady hath hir room in place  
whereas the combat must  
Be fought. Where pressing from the midst  
of rout, the foes do thrust  
Their marshal bodies unto fight  
in rattling armor, set  
On barbed stead and then the book  
of solemn swearing set,  
The aduersaries both do vow  
this quarrel to be good,  
And then the Knights with settled spear  
do seek each others blood,  
And meet with such a thundering noise  
as thunder claps from sky,  
wherein each body born from steede  
with buckling sorst to fly,  
They rise again, and with their blades  
so diversly dispend  
Their friendless blows, that from their sides  
they fiery sparkles sand  
With whizing blaze, in such a sort  
as wondrous 'twas to sight,  
To view the desperate dole of force,  
and fierceness of their fight,  
But at the last the courage of  
sir Phetratus did quail,  
The which espied of Pesistrate  
so faintly for to fail,  
renewed with sight of Ladies grace  
his strength did so abound,  
That with a valiant stroke from corps  
he drove his head to ground.  
And then the people moved their shoots,  
and caps did cut the air,  
And happy man Pesistrate had  
obtainde his Lady fair,  
Whose mutual joys did so excel,  
as far it doth exceed,  
Of any hart to be comprisde:  
and through his marshal deed,  
He wan the peoples favor so,  
that every wights consent,  
That he should reign in Tarent town  
was very well content:  
whereby adua●●st to haughty famed,  
the Louers both at rest,  
The right of marriage had) inioyd●  
their loues, and( cares suppressed)  
Did spend their dayes in ceaseless joys,  
and died in quiet peace:  
Whose like success in loyal love  
the mighty jove increacee.   
FINIS.   

Imprinted at London by Henry Binneman, dwelling in Knightrider street at the sign of the Mermaid.