from Sicilia was used with such courtesy, that Egistus might easily perceive how both he and his were honoured for his friend's sake. Bellaria, who in her time was the flower of courtesy, willing to show how unfeignedly she loved her husband by his friend's entertainment, used him likewise so familiarly that her countenance betrayed how her mind was affected towards him: oftentimes coming herself into his bedchamber, to see that nothing should be amiss to mislike him. This honest familiarity increased daily more and more betwixt them; for Bellaria, noting in Egistus a princely and bountiful mind, adorned with sundry and excellent qualities, and Egistus, finding in her a virtuous and courteous disposition, there grew such a secret uniting of their affections, that the one could not well be without the company of the other; in so much that when Pandosto was busied with such urgent affairs, that he could not be present with his friend Egistus, Bellaria would walk with him into the garden, where they two in private and pleasant devices would pass away the time to both their contents. This custom still continuing betwixt them, a certain melancholy passion entering the mind of Pandosto drove him into sundry and doubtful thoughts. First he called to mind the beauty of his wife Bellaria, the comeliness and bravery of his friend Egistus, thinking that love was above all laws and therefore to be stayed with no law; that it was hard to put fire and flax together without burning that their open pleasures might breed his secret displeasures. He considered with himself that Egistus was a man, and must needs love; that his wife was a woman, and therefore subject unto love, and that where fancy forced, friendship was of no force.

These and such like doubtful thoughts a long time smothering in his stomach, began at last to kindle in his mind a secret mistrust which, increased by suspicion, grew at last to be a flaming jealousy that so tormented him as he could take no rest. He then began to measure all their actions, and to misconstrue of their too private familiarity, judging that it was not for honest affection, but for disordinate fancy, so that he began to watch them more narrowly to see if he could get any true or certain proof to confirm his doubtful suspicion. While thus he noted their books and gestures, and suspected their thoughts and meanings, they two seely souls who doubted nothing of this his treacherous intent, frequented daily each other's company, which drove him into such a frantic passion, that he began to bear a seci et hate to Egistus, and a lowering countenance to Bellaria, who, marvelling at such um

tomed frowng bow

into a thousand san try thoughts, which way she should offend her husband: but nding in herself a clear conscience, ceased to muse, until such time as she might find fit opportunity to demand the cause of his dumps. In the meantime Pandosto's mini was so far charged with jealousy, that he did no longer doubt, but was assured (as he thought that his friend Existus had entered a wrong point in his tables, and so had played him false play; whereupon desirous to revenge so great an injury, he thought best to dissemble the grudge with a fair and friendly countenance and so under the shape of a friend, to show him the trick of a foe. Devising with himself a long time how he might best put away Egistus without suspicion of treacherous murder, he concluded at last to poison him; which opinion, pleasing his humour, he became resolute in his deternination, and the better to bring the matter to pass he called unto him his cupbearer, with whom in secret he brake the matter: promising to him for the performance thereof to give him a thousand crowns of yearly revenues. His cupbearer, either being of a good conscience, or willing for fashion sake to deny such a bloody request, began with great reasons to persuade Pandosto from his determinate mischief; showing him what an offence murder was to the gods, how such unnatural actions did more displease the heavens than men, and that causeless cruelty did seldom or never escape without revenge. He laid before his face that Egistus was his friend, a king, an! one that was come into his kingdom to confirm a lea,ue of perpetual amity betwixt them; that he had, and did show him a most friendly contenance; how Egistus was not only honoured of his own people by obedience, but also loved of the Bohemians for his courtesy. And that if he now should, without any just or manifest cause, poison him, it would not only be a great dishonour to his majesty, and a means to sow perpetual enmity between the Sicilians and the Bohemians, but also his own subjects would repine of such treacherous cruelty. These and such like persuasions of Franion (for so was his cupbearer called) could no whit prevail to dissuade him from his devilish enterprise but remaining resolute in his determination, his fury so fired with rage, as it could not be appeased with reason, he ban with bitter taunts to take up his man, and to my before him two baits -pref.rment and death saying that if he would poison Egistus he would ady: no him to hih di nities; if he refused to do it of an obstinate mind, no torture should be too great to requite his ersuade Pandosto any

wherewith Pandosto remained somewhat satisfied, hoping now he should be fully revenged of such mistrusted injuries, intending also, as soon as Egistus was dead, to give his wife a sop of the same sauce, and so be rid of those which were the cause of his restless sorrow. While thus he lived in this hope, Franion being secret in his chamber, began to meditate with himself in these terms.

[These terms omitted.]

Franion having muttered out these or such like words, secing either he must die with a clear mind, or live with a spotted conscience, he was so cumbered with divers cogitations that he could take no rest until at last he determined to break the matter to Egistus; but fearing that the king should either suspect or hear of such matters, he conecaled the device till opportunity would permit him to reveal it. Lingering thus in doubtful fear, in an evening he went to Egistus' lodging, and desirous to break with him of certain affairs that touched the king, after all were commanded out of the chamber, Franion made manifest the whole conspiracy which Pandosto had devised against him, desiring Egistus not to account him a traitor for betraying his master's counsel, but to think that he did it for conscience: hoping that although his master inflamed with rage, or incensed by some sinister reports, or slanderous speeches, had imagined such causeless mischief, yet when time should pacify his anger, and try those talebearers but flattering parasites, then he would count him as a faithful servant that with such care had kept his master's credit. Egistus had not fully heard Franion tell forth his tale, but a quaking fear possessed all his limbs, thinking that there was some treason wrought, and that Franion did but shadow his craft with these false colours: wherefore he began to wax in choler, and said that he doubted not Pandosto, since he was his friend. and there had never as yet been any breach of amity; he had not sought to invade his lands, to conspire with his enemies, to dissuade his subjects from their allegiance; but in word and thought he rested his at all times: he knew not therefore any cause that should move Pandosto to seek his death, but suspected it to be a compact knavery of the Bohemians to bring the king and him tc odds.

Franion staying him the midst of his talk, told him that to dally with princes was with the swans to sing against their death, and that if the Bohemians had intended any such mischief it might have been better brought to pass than by revealing the conspiracy:

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hinder treason, not to become a traitor; and to confirm his promises, if it pleased his majesty to fly into Sicilia for the safeguard of his life, he would go with him, and if then he found not such a practice to be pretended, let his imagined treachery be repaid with most monstrous torments. Egistus, hearing the solemn protestation of Franion, began to consider, that in love and kingdoms neither faith nor law is to be respected; doubting that Pandosto thought by his death to destroy his men, and with speedy war to invade Sicilia. These and such doubts thoroughly weighed, he gave great thanks to Franion, promising if he might with life return to Syracusa, that he would create him a duke in Sicilia: craving his counsel how he might escape out of the country. Franion, who having some small skill in navigation, was well acquainted with the ports and havens, and knew every danger in the sea, joining in counsel with the master of Egistus' navy, rigged all their ships, and setting them afloat, let them lie at anchor, to be in the more readiness, when time and wind should serve. Fortune, although blind, yet by chance favouring this just cause, sent them within six days a good gale of wind; which Franion seeing fit for their purpose, to put Pandosto out of suspicion, the night before they should sail, he went to him and promised that the next day he would put the device in practice, for he had got such a forcible poison, as the very smell thereof would procure sudden death. Pandosto was joyful to hear this good news, and thought every hour a day till he might be glutted with bloody revenge; but his suit had but ill For Egistus fearing that delay might breed danger, and willing that the grass should not be cut from under his feet, taking bag and baggage, by the help of Franion, conveyed himself and his men out of a postern gate of the city so secretly and speedily, that without any suspicion they got to the sea shore; where, with many a bitter curse taking their leave of Weighing their anchors and Bohemia, they went aboard. hoisting sail, they passed as fast as wind and sea would permit towards Sicilia: Egistus being a joyful man that he had safely passed such treacherous perils. But as they were quietly floating on the sea, so Pandosto and his citizens were in ar. uproar; for seeing that the Sicilians without taking their leave were fled away by night, the Bohemians feared some treason, and the king thought that without question his suicion was true, The cubearer had betrayed the sum or his secret preDominand his

success.

that his wife should be carried straight to prison, until they heard further of his pleasure. The guard, unwilling to lay their hands on such à virtuous princess, and yet fearing the king's fury, went very sorrowful to fulfil their charge: coming to the queen's lodging, they found her playing with her young son Garinter: unto whom with tears doing the message, Bellaria astonished at such a hard censure, and finding her clear conscience a sure advocate to plead in her cause, went to the prison most willingly: where with sighs and tears she passed away the time till she might come to her trial.

But Pandosto, whose reason was suppressed with rage, and whose unbridled folly was incensed with fury, seeing Franion had betrayed his secrets, and that Egistus might well be railed on, but not revenged, determined to wreak all his wrath on poor Bellaria. He therefore caused a general proclamation to be made through all his realm, that the queen and Egistus had, by the help of Franion, not only committed most incestuous adultery, but also had conspired the king's death; whereupon the traitor Franion was fled away with Egistus, and Bellaria was most justly imprisoned. This proclamation being once blazed through the country, although the virtuous disposition of the queen did half discredit the contents, yet the sudden and speedy passage of Egistus, and the secret departure of Franion, induced them, the circumstances thoroughly considered, to think that both the proclamation was true and the king greatly injured: yet they pitied her case, as sorrowful that so good a lady should be crossed with such adverse fortune. But the king, whose restless rage would remit no pity, thought that although he might sufficiently requite his wife's falsehood with the bitter plague of pinching penury, yet his mind should never be glutted with revenge till he might have fit time and opportunity to repay the treachery of Egistus with a total injury. But a curst cow hath oftentimes short horns, and a willing mind but a weak arm. For Pandosto, although he felt that revenge was a spur to war, and that envy always proffereth steel, yet he saw that Egistus was not only of great puissance and prowess to withstand him, but had also many kings of his alliance to aid him, if need should serve: for he married the Emperor's daughter of Russia. These and the like considerations something daunted Pandosto his courage, so that he was content rather to put up a manifest injury with peace than hunt after revenge, dishonour, and loss; determining since Egistus had escaped scot-free, that Bellaria should pay for all at an unreasonable price.

Remaining thus resolute in his determination Bellaria