The most pleasant historie of Ornatus and Artesia Wherein is contained the vniust raigne of Thaeon King of Phrygia. Who with his sonne Lenon, (intending Ornatus death,) right heire to the crowne, was afterwardes slaine by his owne seruants, and Ornatus after many extreame miseries, crowned King.

CHAP VII. How Ornatus told Artesia of Floretus intent, and vpon what occasion he discouered himselfe. (Book 7)

Floretus being by himselfe, began to consi∣der howe rashly he had committed his se∣crets to Syluian, entring into these medita∣tions; Doth Syluian thinke that my poli∣cie excéedeth not her shallow capacitie: poore simple straunger, she hath vndertaken a matter of great importance for me, that meane nothing lesse then good wil to her, she for my loue hath promised to poyson Artesia, and is likely that once done, to taste of the same sawce, for loued she me neuer so well, I will not trust her with my life, but peraduenture she ha∣teth me, and will reueale my drift to Artesia. No Floretus thou

art deceiued, she is so farre in loue that she doteth, and would I am sure to any thing at my request. What a world is this, what villanie can be intended, that some either for fauour or reward, wil not execute? If I should trust her that is so easily wonne to do such a hainous déed, might I not be accounted madde? yes, and therefore I wil not trust her: Artesia being once dispatcht, she shall follow next. Ornatus on the countrary part, was glad that he had felt the depth of Floretus counsell, thinking likewise that he was so farre in loue with him (taking him for a woman,) that for his sake he sought. Artesias death: which was the onely meanes to helpe him attaine her loue, which he likewise determi∣ned to giue her knowledge of, and discouer himselfe, hoping that when she sawe his innocencie, his faithfull loue, and how by his meanes her life was preserued, she would yéeld him due guerdon for his good will. Whilst he was in the depth of those cogitations, he espied Artesia enter the garden, and taking his Lute, founde her seated vpon a flowrie banke, vnder the shade of a mirtle trée, and perceiuing that she was somewhat heauily inclinde, he satte downe by her, and with his swéete melodie, brought her a sléepe, when she had slept a good while, being excéedingly aff••ighted with a dreame, she started vp, looking earnestly vpon Syluian, saying; I pray thée Syluian do not poyson mée. Syluian séeing her so af∣frighted, was excéedingly amazed, and she her selfe not yet fully recouered, séemed to be affraid of him, till at last Syluian said. I beséech you what is it that affrighteth you? O Syluian said she, I drempt thou wouldst haue murthered me. Heauens forbid (quoth he) that I should attempt to hainous a deede: But woulde you vouchsafe to heare my tragicke report, you should be rid of that doubt, though Syluian is much tempted to do such a déede: who estéeme your life more dearer then mne owne, and would rather with my owne hands teare out my wofull heart, then thinke the least thought to wrong you. But because I haue so fit occasion, and I hope your patience will permit me, I will reherse a most monstrous and hainous intended michiefe. The other day I re∣member you were excéedingly offended with me for naming Or∣natus,

for that you supposed him to be an actor in Arbastus death, but both he and Allinus are innocent, and farre from any such thought, for your vncle Floretus was his murtherer, which hée tolde me himselfe: he hath béene oftentimes importunate to win my loue (which an other possesseth) but I suspecting as much as I now find to be true, held him of with this delay, that he had not wealth to maintaine me. Which when I had often alleaged, hée tolde me all that belonged to Arbastus was his: then I demaun∣ded how that could be, since you were liuing? Quoth hee, sweare but to be secret, and I will tell you how, With that vpon my pro∣testations▪ he tolde me that he had murdred Arbastus, and ment to poison you: perswading me to consent thereto, for that hée said, I onely could do it: with that (I not purposing to do it, but to pre∣serue you) promised him my vttermost assistance, which he tolde me should be done, in this manner. I will (quoth he) perswade Artesia, to forsake this Castle, and to soi••••rne some few dayes in a house Arbastus hath in his Parke, where none but you & two others seruāts, whose secrecie I nothing doubt, shall kéep her com∣pany, where I will giue you such a potion, as shall end her life, and yet by no means be perceiued, neither can there be any doubt thereof: for that I and none else am left of her kindred, to search the truth. This is the summe of that he tolde me. Artesia hearing her words, sate like one without sence a good space, being so farre ouercome with greefe and feare, that she could not speake a word, but at the last burst foorth into these lamentations. Ay mee, vn∣knde, and most vnnaturall Vnckle, canst thou speake me so faire and intend me so much harm? Who would haue thought so foule impietie, had ben shrowded vnder so faire pretext? Couldst thou be so vnnaturall, as to murther thy owne most naturall louing and dear brother, and not contented with his tragedie, to séek my vn∣timely death? What frenzie or follie doth possesse thy brest, that I estéemed replete with vertue? How canst thou suffer so impious and haynous a thought to sink in thy brest, much lesse to act such a notorious outrage against him y^e loued thee as his life, & her that honoreth thee as her friend? O Syluian, may I credit thy words, and not rather accuse thée, and excuse him? May I thinke him so

simple, to trust thée with his secrets? no I feare mee this is some pollicie inuented by thee to some bad cud. Yet I pray thée pardon me: for what canst thou get by telling me so vnlesse it were so? or not rather haue kept his counsell, & then thou mightest haue béen my heire. And pardon I ask of thée good Ornatus, though thou art absent, for that I accused thee as accessarie to my fathers death, when thou art innocent. With that a floud of teares stopt y^e pas∣sage of her spéech, & Syluian said, Artesia, yet vouchsafe to heare my counsel, which shal preuent al these imminent euils. You may peraduēture make some doubt of the truth, of that which I haue spoken: but I take heauen to record, no word is false: for I re∣gard your good aboue all thinges, and your quiet aboue mine own content: for shuld you dye, I could not liue: for by you I draw my breath. I diued into Floretus counsails, not to ayd him, but to pre∣uent them: for that I knew Ornatus was no way guiltie of any such treason, but would haue ventured his owne life, to haue pre∣serued your Fathers, whome hée both loued & honored as himselfe. Of whome I could haue told you more, but that fearing to offend you, & partly séeing how vehemētly you accused him, I durst not, whose loue is loyall, & theron I will pawn my life. Syluian (quoth Artesia) thou tellest mée things of woonder, but especially y^e thou art so priuie to Ornatu•• thoughts, and y^e thou darest so boldely af∣fi••me he loueth me, when thou maiest be deceiued. Most vertuous Artesia (quoth he) were you but so priuie to y^e thoughts of his hart as I am, you would say as much as I, & beleeue all y^e I tel you: and to put you in assurance of what I know, I giue you knowledge y^e I am Ornatus, y^• in the disguise haue sought to attaine your loue: for which boldnesse, I most humbly beséech you to pardon mee. With y^t a ruddie blush spred it selfe in Artesias cheekes, before pale with feare, being so much ashamed y^• hée had bin to priuie to many of her actions, that she could not tell with what countenaunce to behold him. Then Ornatus said, I beséech you pitie my sorment, which hath vrged mée to this boldnesse, being frustrated of other meanes to enioy your presence: my meaning being no other then vertuous, but resting at your mercifull disposition. Desiring you to put assured confidence in me, for preuenting Floretu•• intent, which you had not doubt of, for to my gréefe I know it to bee soo true.

Artesia maruelled excéedingly at the straungenesse of these newes, but most of all admired Ornatus loue, which shée could not tell how to reiect, for that she both well knewe, hée deserued loue, and the necessitie of time was such, that her safetie rested in his secrecie: yet being not willing at that instant to yeelde without further assault, said: I know not by what name to call you, when neither I know whether you are Syluian or Ornatus, but which of both, your words beare great shewe of true friendship, which I feare me is not grounded in your heart, neither do I greatly care: for since my vncle séeketh my life, let him take it, for I am weary thereof.

Let not your gentle heart (quoth Ornatus) make any doubt that I am Ornatus, though my counterfeit disguise doth shewe me other, but either vouchsafe me loue, or giue me leaue to dis for Artesia, for that potion that should dispatch you, shall ende my life: for my life is bound to your commaund, and all my felicitie resteth in your fauour. Which vnlesse you graunt, my life with∣out the same will be but shorte, and the time I haue to liue, an end∣lesse labyrinth of sorrow.

Adellena by occasion entered the garden, and found Arte∣sia wéeping, and Syluian in a heauie dumps, readie to torment himselfe to sée her sorrow, but Artesia espying her, said: Adelle∣na, doest thou loue Ornatus; so much, as that thou wouldest ha∣zard life and credit to doo him good? for that I knowe him to bée a most vertuous & honest Gentleman? I but wouldest thou quoth shée kéepe my counsell if I reueale a secret of importance to you concerning Ornatus? And vpon Adelleanas promise, she said: doo you know Ornatus if you see him? behold there he is. Adellena was at the first halfe astonisht at her spéeches: but at last she per∣fectly remembred that was he indéed: reioycing most exceeding∣ly to see him there, especially with Artesia. Then they declared vnto her all that had happened, and of Floretus intent, desiring her to be secret, and make no shewe of discontent, least he should suspect Syluian had bewrayed his secrets: and after some other speeches past, they went in togither.