Volume Ii Part 5 (1/2)

Qvintus Curtius, that notable Historiographer, remembringe the stout fact of thys Thebane gentlewoman, amonges other the Gestes and Facts of Alexander the great, I haue deemed not altogeather vnfit for this place, to reueale the fine and notable pollicy deuised by her, to rid hir selfe from a couetous caitife of the Thracian kinde, who for lucre rather than loue, for gayne than grat.i.tude, promysed golden Hylles to thys dystressed poore Gentlewoman. But shee in the ende payinge hym hys well deserued hyre, was liked and praysed of Alexander for hir aduenturous facte, beinge not one of the least vertues that s.h.i.+ned in him, before hee grewe to excessyue abuse: but bycause Plutarch in hys Treatyse _De claris mulieribus_, more at large recounteth this Hystory, I haue thought good almost (_verbatim_) to follow him.

Theagenes a Gentleman of Thebes, ioyninge himselfe wyth Epaminondas, and Pelopidas, and with other n.o.ble men, for preseruation of their countrey of Greece, was slayne in the chace of his enemyes, as he pursued one of the chyefe of hys aduersaries, the same cryinge oute vnto him: ”Whether doest thou pursue vs, Theagenes?” ”Euen to Macedonia:” aunswered hee. Thys Gentleman thus slayne had a sister, whose vertue and neerenesse of kin by n.o.ble deedes, she well witnessed, although she was not well able to manifest her vertue, for the aduersity of the tyme, but by pacient sufferance of the common calamityes. For after Alexander had won the Citty of Thebes, the Souldiours greedy of Spoyle runninge vp and downe the Citty, euery of them chauncinge vppon sutch Booty as Fortune offred them, it hapned that a Captayne of the Thracian horsmen, a barbarous, and wycked wretch, came to the house of Timoclia, who somewhat neere the kynge both in name, and Kyn, in manners, and conditions, was greatly different from him: hee neyther regardynge the n.o.ble house, ne yet the chast.i.ty of hir forepa.s.sed life, vpon a tyme after supper, glutted and swilled wyth abundance of wine, caused Timoclia forcibly to be haled to his dronken Couch: and not contented with the forced wronge, as they were in talke together, diligently demaunded of her, if she had in no place hidden any Golde or Siluer, and partly by threates, and partely by promise to keepe her as his wyfe, endeuoured to get that he desired: but shee being of ready wit, takinge that offered occasion of her aduersary: ”I would to G.o.d,” (sayd shee) ”that it had beene my lucke to haue died before thys night, rather then to liue: for hitherto haue I kept my body pure and vntouched from all despite, and villany, vntill vnlucky fate forced mee to yelde to thy disordinate l.u.s.t: but sith my hap is sutch, why should I conceale those thyngs that bee thine owne, thou beinge mine onely tutor, lord and husband (as thou sayst) when the G.o.ds shal please to bringe the same to pa.s.se: for by thy will and pleasure must I vnhappy Thebane Wench be ruled and gouerned. Ech vanquished wight must subdue their wyl and minde to their lord and victor: I beinge thy slaue and prisoner, must needes by humble meanes yelde vp my selfe to the vnsaciate hest of thy puissant heart: what shall let me to disclose the pray that thou desirest, that we both, if thy minde be sutch, may rather ioye the same, than the soyly filth of stinkinge Earth, should deuoure sutch spoyle, which for feare, and hope of future fortune, I buried in the bowels of the same. Then marke my words, beare them well in mynde, sith lot had wrought me this mishap. I hauinge plenty of coyned siluer, and of fyned gold no little store besydes sutch Iewels as belonge to the settinge forth of the grace of woman's beauty, of valure and price inestimable: when I saw this Citty brought to sutch distresse as vnpossible to be saued from takinge, all the same I threw away, or more truely to say, I whelmed altogether in a drye Ditche voyde of water, which my fact fewe or none did knowe. The Pit is couered with a little couer aboue, and thickly round about beset with bushes and thornes. Those goods will make thee a welthy personage, none in all the Campe to be compared to thee, the riches and value whereof, wyl witnes our former fortune, and the state of our gorgeous, and stately house: all those doe I bequeathe to thee, as on whom I thinke them well bestowed.” This greedy Lecher, laughinge to him selfe for this sodaine pray, and thinking that his lady fast holden within his barbarous armes had tolde him truth, routed in his filthy Couch till the day had discouered the morning light, then gapinge for his hoped gaine, he rose and prayed her to tell the place, that he might recouer the same. She then brought him into her Garden, the doore whereof she commaunded to be shut, that none might enter. He in his Hose and Doublet, went downe to the bottome of the Pit: when Timoclia perceiued him down, she beckned for certaine of her maids, and rolled downe diuers great stones with her own hands, which of purpose she had caused to be placed there, and commaunded hir maides to tumble downe the like. By which meanes she killed that lecherous and couetous vilayne, that rather carked to satisfie his desire, than coueted to obserue hys promisd faith. Which afterwardes beinge knowen to the Macedonians, they haled his body out of the Pit: for Alexander had made proclamation, that none should dare to kill any Thebane, and therefore apprehendinge Timoclia, they brought her to the kinge, accusinge her for doinge that murder: who by her countenaunce, and stature of body, and by her behauiour and grauity of maners, beheld in her the very image of gentle kinde.

And first of al, he asked her what she was: to whom boldly with constant cheere, she stoutely answered: ”Theagenes was my brother (said she) who beinge a valiaunt Captaine, and fightinge against you for the common safegard of the Greeks, was slaine at Chaeronea, that we together might not sustaine, and proue the miseries, wherewith we be now oppressed: but I rather than to suffer violence vnworthy of our race and stocke, am in your maiestie's presence brought ready to refuse no death: for better it were for mee to dye, than feele sutch another night, except thou commaunde the contrary.” These wordes were vttered in sutch rufull plight, as the standers by could not forbeare to weepe.

But Alexander sayinge, that hee not onely pitied the woman endewed with so n.o.ble wit, but mutch more wondred at her vertue and wisedome, commaunded the Princes of his army, to foresee no wronge or violence to be done to the Gentlewoman. He gaue order also, that Timoclia and al her kin, should be garded and defended from slaughter or other wronges. What say yee (good Ladies) to the heart of this gentlewoman that durst be so bolde to stone this Caytife wretch to death, and for wronge done to her bodie til that tyme vntouched, to wronge the corps of him that sauoured of no gentle kinde: who rather for earthly mucke, than for loue of suche a pleasaunt prisoner, exchaunged Loue for Gold? but note hereby what force the puritie of mynde vnwilling of beastlye l.u.s.t doth carye in it selfe: a simple woman voyde of helpe, not backed with defence of husbande's ayde, doth bring a mighty Captayne, a strong and lofty lubber to enter into a Caue, and when shee saw her best aduauntage, thacked him with stones, vntil he groaned foorth his grieslye ghost. Such is the might and prowesse of chast.i.tie: no charge to burdennous or weightye for suche a vertue, no enterprise too harde for a mynde so pure and cleane.

THE FOURTH NOUELL.

_Ariobarzanes great steward to Artaxerxes king of Persia, goeth about to exceede his soueraigne lord and maister in curtesie: where in be conteyned many notable and pleasaunt chaunces, besides the great patience and loyaltie naturally planted in the sayd Ariobarzanes._

A question is mooued manye times among learned men and Gentlemen addicted to the seruice of the Court, whether commendable deede, or curteous and gentle fact done by the Gentleman or Courtier towardes his soueraine Lord, ought to be called Liberalitie and Curtesie, or rather Band and Dutie. Which question is not proponed with out greate reason. For so muche as ech man doth know, that a seruaunt do what he can for his Mayster, or lette him imploy the vttermost of his endeuour, al the labor and trauayle he bestoweth, all trouble and daunger which he sustayneth, is to little, yea and the same his very bounden duty. Haue wee not red of many, and knowne the lyke that to gratifye their prince and mayster, haue into a thousande daungers and like number of deaths, aduentured their own propre liues? Marcus Antonius that notable oratour beying accused of incest, and broughte to the iudgement seate, his accusers required that his seruante should be called, for because he bare the candel before his maister, when hee went to do the deede, who seyng his mayster's life and death to depend vpon his euidence, vtterly denied the facte: and notwithstanding that he was whipped, racked, and suffered other cruel tormentes, would rather haue loste his lyfe than accuse and betray his mayster.

I could alleage and bring forth in place, the example of Mycithus, the seruaunt of one Anaxilaus Messenius, the fidelitye of the seruauntes of Plotinus Plancus, the faythful mayden called Pythias, that waited vpon Octauia, the chast Empresse and wife of that monster Nero, with diuers other: but that I thinke they be to the learned wel knowen, and of the vnlearned the vertue of seruauntes fidelitye is greatly liked and commended: but if the faythful seruaunt know that his desertes do gayne the grace and fauoure of his mayster, what trauayles, what payns ought he to suffer to mayntayne his reputation and to encrease the fauour obtayned? for as the common prouerbe and wise sayinge reporteth, that the vertve is no lesse to conserue Frends.h.i.+p gotten, than the wisedome was great to get and win the same.

Other there be which do contrarily contend, and with very stronge argumentes do force to proue that al which the seruant doth besydes his duetye and beyond the obligation, wherein he is bound to his mayster, is and ought to be termed, Liberality, which is a matter to prouoke his patrone and mayster to deuyse new benefytes for his seruaunte: and that at al tymes when a man doth his duty and seruice appoynted by his mayster, executing the same with all diligence and industry requisite therunto, that then he deserueth to be rewarded. Which is not to be discommended. For no true and honest seruant will refuse any trauayle for commodity of his mayster, ne yet discrete and wyse mayster will leaue the same vnrewarded according to that portion of ability wherewith he is possessed: but leauinge questions and disputacion aside procede we to that which this Nouel purposeth.

I say then that there was in the kyngdome of Persia, a kyng called Artaxerxes, a man of most n.o.ble mynde, and of great prowesse in armes. This was he that firste beynge a priuate man of armes, not hauing as yet obtayned any degree in the fielde, kylled Artaba.n.u.s the last kinge of the Arsacides, whose souldiour he was, and recouered the Persian kingdome, which was then in the Macedonians subiection (by the death of Darius, which was vanquished by Alexander the great) the s.p.a.ce of 538 yeares. This n.o.ble gentleman hauing deliuered all Persia, and created king, kept a princely court, wherin were many magnificent factes and vertuous deedes exercised and done, and hee himselfe moste n.o.ble in all affayres, besydes the tytles which hee worthelye wanne in many bloudy battels, was estemed throughout the east part of the worlde, to be the most liberal and magnanimous prince that in any age euer raigned: in feastes and bankets he was an other Lucullus, royally entertaining strangers that repayred to his court. This king had a Senescall or steward, named Ariobarzanes, whose office was, that when the king made any pompous or publike feast, to mount vpon a whyte Courser with a Mace of gold in his hand, and to ride before the esquiers and Sewers for the king's own mouth, and those also that bare the king's meat in vessel of gold couered with fine napery, wrought and purled with most beautiful workemans.h.i.+p of silke and gold. This office of Senescall was highly estemed and commonly wont to be geuen to one of the chiefest Barons of the Realm. Wherfore this Ariobarzanes besydes n.o.ble Linage and incomparable ritches was the most curtious and liberal knight that frequented the court whose immoderate expence was such, as leuing the mean, wherin al vertu consisteth, by reason of outrage which many times he vsed he fel into the vice of prodigality, wherby he semed not only in curtious dedes to compare with the king, but also contended to excel him. One day the king for his recreation called for the chessebord, requiring Ariobarzanes to kepe him company, which game in those dais among the Persians was in greate vse, in such wise as a player at the Chestes was no les commended then amonge vs in these dais an excelent Oratour or famous learned man: yea and the verye same game in common vse in the Court, and n.o.ble mens houses of oure time, no doubt very commendable and meete to be practised by all states and degrees. The king and Ariobarzanes being sette downe at a table in the greate Hall of the Pallace, one right against another, accompanied with a great number of n.o.ble personages and Gentlemen lookinge vpon them, and marking their playe with greate silence, they began to counter one another with the Chesse-men. Ariobarzanes, whether it was that he played better than the kinge, or whether the kinge took no heede to his game, or what so euer the occasion was, hee coursed the king to such a narow straight, as he could not auoid, but within two or three draughtes, he must be forced to receiue the Checkemate: which the king perceiuing, and considering the daunger of the Mate, by and by there grew a greater colour in his face than was wont to bee, and imagininge how hee mighte auoyde the mate, besides his blus.h.i.+ng he shaked his head, and fetched out diuers sighes, whereby the standers by that marked the game, perceiued that hee was dryuen to his s.h.i.+ftes. The Senescall espyinge the kinge's demeanour, and seeing the honest shamefastenesse of the king, would not suffer him to receiue such a foyle, but made a draught by remouing his knighte backe, to open a way for the King to pa.s.se, as not onely hee deliuered him from the daunger of the Mate, but also lost one of his Rockes for lacke of taking hede: whereupon the game rested equall. The King (who knew the good nature and n.o.ble mynde of his seruaunt, by experience of the same in other causes) fayning that hee had ouerseene the takinge of hys rocke, gaue ouer the game, and rysing vp, sayd: ”No more Ariobarzanes, the game is yours, and I confesse my selfe ouercome.” The king thought that Ariobarzanes did not the same so much for curtesie, as to bynde his soueraigne lorde and king by benefit to recompence his subiecte's like behauiour, which he did not very well like, and therfore would play no more.

Notwithstanding the king neither by signe or deede, ne yet in talke, shewed any token of displesure for that curtesie done.

How be it, he would that Ariobarzanes in semblable act, shoulde abstayne to shewe himselfe curteous or liberal, except it were to his inferiours and equalles, because it is not conuenient for a seruant to contend with his maister in those qualityes. Not long after the kinge beyng at Persepolis (the princ.i.p.al citye of Persia,) ordayned a notable day of hunting of diuers beastes of that countrey breede: and when all thinges were in a readinesse he with the most part of his Court repayred to the pastyme. When they were come into the place, the king commaunded a woodde to be set about with nettes and toiles, and appointed eche man where he should stand in most conuenient place, and he himselfe attended with the dogs and hornes to cause the beastes to issue forth oute of their Caues. And beholde, they raysed a wyld beast, which with greate swyftnesse leapte ouer the nettes and ranne awaye with greate spede. The King seyng that strange beast, purposed to pursue him to death: and makinge a signe to certayne of his n.o.ble men which hee desired to keepe him companye hee gaue the rayne and spurre to his horse, and followinge the chace Ariobarzanes was one of those n.o.ble men which pursued the game. It chaunced that day the kinge rode vpon a horse, that was the swiftest runner in his stable, which hee esteemed better then a thousande other, as wel for his velocity, as for his readinesse in factes of armes. Thus following with bridle at will, the flying rather then running beast, they wer deuided far from their company, and by reason of the kinge's spedines, none was able to followe him but Ariobarzanes, and behind him one of his seruants vpon a good horse which alwaies he vsed in hunting matters, which horse was counted the beste in all the court. And thus following the chace with galloping spede Ariobarzanes at length espyed the horse of his soueraigne lord had lost his shooes before, and that the stones had surbated his hoofes, wherupon the kyng was driven either to geue ouer the chace or else to marre his horse: and neyther of these two necessities but would haue greatly displeased the kinge, that perceiued not his horse to be vnshod. The Senescall did no sooner espye the same but sodainly dismounted from his owne, caused his man to deliuer vnto him a hammer and nailes (which for such like chaunces he always caried aboute him) and toke of two shoes from the horse feete of his good horse, to set vpon the kynge's not caring for his own rather then the king should forgoe his pleasure: wherfore hallowing the kinge which was earnestly bent vppon the chace, tolde him of the daunger wherein his horse was for lacke of shoes. The kinge hearinge that lighted from his horse, and seyng two shooes in Ariobarzanes manne's hand, thinking that Ariobarzanes had brought them with him, or that they were the shoes which fell from his owne, taried stil vntil his horse was shod. But when he saw the notable horse of his senescall vnshod before, then he thought that to be the curtesie of Ariobarzanes, and so did let the matter pa.s.se, studying by lyke meanes to requite him with Curtesie, which forced himselfe to surmount in the same: and when his horse was shod, he gaue the same to Ariobarzanes in rewarde. And so the king chose rather to lose his pleasure of hunting, then to suffer himselfe by his man to be excelled in curtesie, wel noting the stoutnesse of Ariobarzanes mynde which semed to haue a will to contend with his prince in factes renoumed and liberal. The senescall thought it not conuenient to refuse the gyft of his liege lord, but accepted the same with like good will as before he shod his horse, still expectinge occasion how he might surpas his master in curtesie and so to bind him to requite the same againe. They had not taried there long, but many of those that followed did ouertake them. And then the king got vp vpon a spare horse and returned to the city with all his company. Within few daies after the king by proclamation sommoned a solemne and pompous iust and tryumph at the tilt, to be done vpon the kalends of May next ensuing. The reward appointed the victor and best Doer in the same was a couragious and goodly curser with a brydle and byt of fine gold rychly wrought, a saddle correspondent of pa.s.sing great pryce, the furniture and trappers for the brydle and saddle of like cost and workmans.h.i.+p, the rayns wer twoo chaynes of golde very artificially made, the barbe and couerture of the horse of cloth of golde fringed round about with like gold, ouer which horse was placed a fine sword the hiltes an chape wherof together with the scabard wer curiously beset with Pearles and Precious stones of Inestimable value. On the other syde was placed a very beautiful and stronge Mace, verye cunninglye wrought with damaskin. The Horse was placed in forme of triumph, and besydes the same all the Armours and weapons meete for a Combatante Knyghte, riche and fayre without comparison. The Placart was marueylous and stronge, the Launce was guilte and bygge, as none greatter in all the troupe of the chalengers and defendauntes.

And all those furnitures were appoynted to be geuen to him that should do best that day. A greate a.s.semblye of straungers repayred to that solemne feast, as wel to doe deedes of Armes, as to looke vpon that pompous tryumph. Of the kynge's Subiectes there was neither knyghte nor baron, but in ryche and sumptuous apparell appeared that day, amonges whom, of chiefest fame the kynge's eldest sonne was the fyrst that gaue his name, a Gentlemanne very valorous, and in deedes of armes of pa.s.sing valour brought vp from his very youth, and trayned in the fielde and other warlyke exercises. The Senescall also caused his name to be inrolled: the like didde other knyghtes as wel Persians as other straungers: for that the proclamation was general, with safeconducte for all forrayners, n.o.ble men or other that should make their repayre. The king had elected three auncient Barons to be Judges and Arbitratours of their deedes, sutch as in their tyme for their owne personages had bene very valiant, and in many enterprises well exercised, men of great discretion and iudgement. Their stage was placed in the middes of the Listes, to viewe and marke the Counterbuffes and blowes of the Combatants. We nede not to remember, ne ought to forget the number of ladies and gentlewomen a.s.sembled out of al partes to behold and view this triumphe, and peraduenture eche knight that ran that day was not without his amorous lady to note and behold his actiuity and prowesse, euery of them wearing his ladie's sleeue, gloue, or other token, according to the common custome in such lyke cases. At the day and houre appoynted appeared all the Combatantes in greate Tryumphe and Pompe, with rych furnitures as wel vpon them selues as vpon their horse. The triumphe begon and many Launces broken in good order, on either sides Iudgement was geuen generally that the Senescall Ariobarzanes had wonne the prise, and next vnto him the kinge's sonne did pa.s.se them all, for that none of al the combatantes hadde broken past V. staues, and the sayd yong Gentleman had in the face of his aduersary broken in pieces IX. at the least. The Senescall brought for the eleuen launces, which were couragiously and houourably broken, by breaking of the last staffe which was the twelfth he was iudged most worthy. The condition wherof was, that euery combatant should runne twelue courses with twelue launces, and he whiche should first breake the same should without doubt or further controuersie obtayne the reward. What pleasure and delight the king did conceiue to see his sonne behaue him selfe so valiantly that day, I referre to the iudgement of fathers, that haue children endued with like actiuity. But yet it greued him that the Senescall had the greater aduantage, and yet being a matter so wel knowen and discerned by the Iudges, like a wyse man he discembled his countenaunce. On the other syde, the yong Gentleman which did combate before his amorous ladye was very sorrowful for that he was voyde of hope of the chiefest honour. So that betwene the father and the sonne, was one very thought and desire: but the vertue and valor of the Senescall did cut of eythers greefe. Now the tyme was come that the Senescall should runne with his last staffe mounted vppon the horse which the king gaue him when he was an huntyng, who knowing wel that the king was very desirous that his son should excell all men, perceyued likewyse the inflamed mynd of the yonge gentleman for the presence of his lady to aspyre the honour, purposed to geue ouer the honour atchieued by himselfe, to leaue it to the sonne and heir of his lorde and mayster: and yet hee knewe ful wel that those his curtesies pleased not the king, neuerthelesse he was determined to perseuer in his opinion, not to bereue the king of his glory, but onely to acquire fame and honour for him selfe. But fully mynded that the honour of the tryumphe should be geuen to the kynge's sonne, he welded the staffe within his reste, and when he was ready to encounter (because it was he that shold come agaynst him,) he let fal his launce out of his handes, and said: ”Farewel this curtesie of myne, sith it is no better taken.” The kinge's sonne gaue a gentle counterbuffe vpon the Placarde of the Senescall, and brake his staffe in many pieces, which was the X. course. Many heard the wordes that the senescall spake when his staffe fell out of his handes, and the standers by well perceiued that he was not minded to geue the laste blowe, bicause the king's sonne might haue the honor of the triumph, which he desyred so much. Then Ariobarzanes departed the listes: and the Prince withoute any great resistance wan the prise and victory. And so with sounde of diuerse instruments the prise borne before him, he was throughout the citie honorably conueyed, and among other, the senescall still waited vpon him with mery countenance, greatly praising and exalting the valiance of the yong Prince. The king which was a very wise man, and many times hauing experience of the chiualry of his Senescall at other Tourneis, Iustes, Barriers, and Battels, and always finding him to be prudent, politike, and for his person very valiant, knewe to well that the fall of his launce was not by chaunce but of purpose, continued his opinion of his Senescall's liberalitye and courage. And to say the trouth, such was his exceding curtesie, as fewe may be found to imitate the same. We daily se that many be liberall of Fortune's goods inuestinge some with promotion, some with apparel, Gold and Siluer, Iewels and other things of great value. We see also n.o.ble men, bountifull to theyr seruaunts, not onely of mouable thiugs, but also of Castels, Lands, and Cities: what shal we speake of them, which will not sticke to sheade their owne bloud, and many tymes to spende theire lyfe to do their frendes good? Of those and such like examples, all recordes be full: but a man that contemneth fame and glorye or is of his owne honour liberal, is neuer founde. The victorious Captayne after the bloudy battayle, giueth the spoyle of his ennemies to his souldiours, rewardeth them with prisoners, departeth vnto them the whole praye, but the glory and honor of the battel he reserueth vnto himselfe. And as diuinely the father of Romaine eloquence doth say, how that philosophers by recording the glorious gestes and dedes of others, do seke after glory themselues. The king was displeased with these n.o.ble dedes and curtesie of his Senescall, because he thought it not mete or decente that a Subiecte and seruant should compare with his lord and mayster: and therfore did not bare him that louing and chereful countenance which hee was wont to doe. And in the ende, purposed to let him know, that he spent his brayns in very great errour, if he thought to force his mayster to be bound or beneficial vnto him, as herafter you shal perceiue. There was an auncient and approued custome in Persia, that the kinges yerely did solemnise an Anniuersarye of theyr Coronation with great feast and tryumph, vpon which day all the Barons of the kyngdome were bounde to repayre to the courte where the king by the s.p.a.ce of VIII. dayes with sumptuous bankets and other feastes kept open house. Vpon the Anniuersary day of Artaxerxes' coronation, when al thinges were disposed in order, the king desirous to accomplish a certayne conceiued determination commaunded one of his faythful chamberlaynes spedely to seeke out Ariobarzanes, which he did, and telling him the kinge's message, sayde: ”My lorde Ariobarzanes, the king hath willed me to say vnto you, that his pleasure is, that you in your own person euen forthwith shal cary your white steede and Courser, the mace of gold, and other ensignes due to the office of Senescal vnto Darius, your mortal enemy, and in his maiestye's behalfe to say vnto him, that the kynge hath geuen him that office, and hath clerely dispossessed you thereof.” Ariobarzanes hearing those heauy newes, was like to dye for sorrowe, and the greatter was his grief, because it was geuen to his greatest enemy.

Notwithstanding lyke a gentleman of n.o.ble stomacke, would not in open appearaunce signifie the displeasure which hee conceiued within, but with mery cheare and louing countenaunce answered the chamberlayne: ”Do my right humble commendations vnto the king's maiesty, and say vnto him, that like as he is soueraine lord of all this land, and I his faythful subiecte, euen so mine office, my lyfe, landes and goods, be at his disposition, and that willinglye I wil performe his hest.” When he had spoken those woordes hee rendred vp his office to Darius, who at diner serued in the same. And when the king was set, Ariobarzanes with comly countenance sate downe among the rest of the lords, which sodenlye deposition and depriuation, did maruelously amaze the whole a.s.sembly, euery man secretly speking their mind either in praise or dispraise of the fact. The king all the dinner time, did marke and note the countenance of Ariobarzanes, which was pleasaunt and merie as it was wont to be, whereat the kinge did greately maruell: and to attaine the ende of his purpose, hee began with sharpe wordes in presence of the n.o.bilitie to disclose his discontented minde, and the grudge which he bare to Ariobarzanes: on the other syde the king suborned diuers persons diligently to espy what he saide and did. Ariobarzanes hearing the king's sharpe wordes of rebuke, and stimulated by the persuasion of diuers flatterers, which were hired for that purpose, after he perceiued that his declared pacience, that his modest talke and his long and faithful seruice, which he had done to the king, his losse and hinderance sustained, the perill of his life, which so many tymes he had suffred preuayled nothing, at length vanquished with disdayne he brake the bridle of pacience, and sorted out of the boundes of his wonted nature, for that in place of honoure he receiued rebuke, and in stede of reward was depryued of his office, began in a rage to complayne on the king, terminge him to bee an vnkynd prince, which among the Persians was estemed a worde of great offence to the maiesty: wherefore faine he would haue departed the court, and retired home to his countrey, which he could not doe without speciall licence from the king, and yet to craue the same at his handes, his heart would not serue him. Al these murmures and complaintes which he secretly made, were tolde the king, and therefore the king commaunded him one day, to be called beefore him, vnto whome he sayd: ”Ariobarzanes, youre grudging complaintes and enuious quarels, whyche you brute behinde my backe throughout my Courte, and your continuall rages outragiously p.r.o.nounced, through the very Windowes of my Palace haue pierced mine eares, whereby I vnderstand that thing which hardly I would haue beleued: but yet being a Prince aswell inclined to fauoure and quiet hearinge of all causes, as to credite of light reportes, would faine know of you the cause of your complaints, and what hath moued you therevnto: for you be not ignorant, that to murmure at the Persian king, or to terme him to be vnkinde, is no lesse offence than to blaspheme the G.o.ds immortall, bicause by auncient Lawes and Decrees they be honored and wors.h.i.+pped as G.o.ds. And among all the penaltyes conteyned in our lawes, the vyce of Ingrat.i.tude is moste bytterlye corrected. But leauing to speake of the threates and daungers of our lawes, I pray you to tell me wherin I haue offended you: for albeit that I am a king, yet reason persuadeth me, not to giue offence to anye man, which if I should doe (and the G.o.ds forbid the same) I ought rather to be termed a tyrante than a Kinge.” Ariobarzanes hearing the king speake so reasonably, was abashed, but yet with stoute countenaunce he feared not particularly to remember the woordes which he had spoken of the king, and the cause wherefore he spake them. ”Wel (said the king) I perceiue that you blush not at the words, ne yet feare to reherse the same vnto my face, wherby I do perceiue and note in you a certayne kind of stoutenes which naturally procedeth from the greatnes of your mynd. But yet wisdome would that you should consider the reason and cause why I haue depryued you from your office. Do you not know that it appertaineth vnto me in all myne affaires and deedes to be liberal, curtious, magnificent, and bounteous? Be not those the virtues that make the fame of a Prince to glister among his subiectes, as the Sunne beames doe vpon the circuit of the world? Who oughte to rewarde wel doers and recompence ech wight whiche for any trauell haue al the dayes of their lyfe, or els in some perticuler seruice vsed their endeuor, or aduentured the peril of their life, but I alone being your soueraygne Lord and Prince? To the vertuous and obedient, to the Captayne and the Souldiour, to the pollityke and to the learned and graue, finally, to ech wel deseruing wight, I know how to vse the n.o.ble princely vertues of curtesie and liberality. They be the comly ensignes of a kynge. They be the onely ornaments of a prince.