The second tome of the Palace of pleasure conteyning store of goodly histories, tragicall matters, and other morall argument, very requisite for delighte and profit. Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable authors: by William Painter, clerke of the ordinance and armarie. Anno. 1567.

Alexander the great.

¶ The great pitie and cōtinencie of ALEXANDER the great and his louing entertainmēt of SISIGAMBIS, the wife of the greate Monarch. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, after he was van∣quished.

The second Nouel.

GReat Monarches and princes be the Gods and onely rulers vpon earthe, and as they be placed by Gods only prouidence and di∣sposition, to conquere and rule the same, e∣uen so in victorious battailes and honora∣ble exploites, they ought to rule & order their conquests

like Gods: that is to say, to vse moderate behauiour to their captiues and slaues, specially to the weaker sorte & feminine kinde, whome like tyrants and barbarous, they ought not to corrupt and abuse, but like Christians and vertuous victors, to cherish and preserue their honour. For what can be safe to a woman (sayd Lucrece, when she was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Romaine Tarquine) hir chasti∣tie being defiled? Or what can be safe to a man, that gi∣ueth him selfe to incontinencie? For when he hath des∣poiled the virgin, robbed the wife, or abused the widow of their honor and good name, they protrude them selues into many miseries, they be impudent, vnshamefast, ad∣uenturous and carelesse, how many mischiefes they do. And when a Prince or gouerner doth giue him self to li∣cencious life, what mischieues, what rapes, what mur∣ders doth he cōmitte? No frende, no 〈◊〉〈◊〉, no subiecte, no enimie doth he spare or defende. Contrarywise, the mer∣cifull and continent captaine, by subduing his affections recouereth immortal fame, which this historie of king A∣lexāder full well declareth. And bicause before we spake of that great conquerour in the Nouell of the Amazo∣nes, and of the repaire of Quene Thalestris for vse of his bodie, at what tyme (as Curtius sayth) he fell from ver∣tue to vice: wée purpose in this, to declare the greate continencie and mercie that he vsed to Sisigambis, the wife of the Persian Prince Darius, and briefly to touch the time of his abused life, which in this manner doth be∣gin. Alexander the great hauing vanquished Darius and his infinite armie, and retiring with his hoste from the pursute and slaughter of the Persians, entred into their campe to recreate him selfe. And being with his fa∣miliars in the mids of his bāket, they sodenly heard a pi∣tifull crie, with straunge howling and crying out, which did verie much astonne them. The wife and mother of

Darius with the other noble women newly taken pri∣soners, wer y^e occasiō of that present noise, by lamenting of Darius, whome they beleued to be slaine, which opi∣nion they cōceiued through one of the Eunuches, which standing before their tent doore, sawe a souldier beare a piece of Darius Diademe. For which cause Alexander, pitying their miserie, sent a noble man called Leonatus to signifie vnto them that they were deceyued, for that Darius was liuing. Repairing towards the tent where the women were with certaine armed men, he sent word before, that he was coming to them with message from the king. But when such as stode at the tent 〈◊〉〈◊〉 saw ar∣med men, they thought they had ben sent to murder the Ladies: for whiche cause they ranne in to them, crying that their last houre was come, for the souldiers were at hande to kill them. When Leonatus was entred the pa∣uilion, the Mother and wife of Darius fell downe at his féete, intreating him that before they were slain, he wold suffer them to burie Darius, according to the order and maner of his countrey, after the performance of which obsequies, they were content (they sayd) willingly to suf∣fer death. Leonatus assured them, that both Darius was aliue, and that there was no harme towardes them, but shoulde remaine in the same state they were in before. When Sisigambis heard those wordes, she suffered hir selfe to bée lifted vp from the grounde, and to receyue some comfort. The next day, Alexander with great di∣ligence buried the bodies of suche of his owne men as coulde be founde, and willed the same to be done to the noble men of the Persians, giuing licence to Darius mo∣ther to burie so many as she liste, after the custome of hir countrey. She performed the same to a fewe that were next of hir kinne, according to the habilitie of their pre∣sente fortune, for if shée shoulde haue vsed the Persians

pompe therin, the Macedonians might haue enuied it, which being victors, vsed no great curiositie in the mat∣ter. When the due was performed to the dead, Alexan∣der signified to the women prisoners, that he him selfe would come to visit them, and causing such as came with him to tarie without, he onely with Ephestion entred in amongs them. The same Ephestion of al men was best beloued of Alexander, brought vp in his cōpanie from his youth, and most priuie with him in al things. There was none that had such libertie to speke his mynd plain∣ly to the king as he had, which he vsed after such sorte, that he semed to do it by no authoritie, but by suffrance. And as he was of like yeares vnto him, so in shape and personage he did somwhat excel him. Wherfore the wo∣men thinking Ephestion to be the king, did fall downe and worship him (as their countrey maner was to do to kings) till suche time as one of the Eunuches that was taken prisoner, shewed which of them was Alexander. Then Sisigambis fell downe at his féete, requiring par∣don of hir ignorance, for somuch as she did neuer see him before. The King toke hir vp by the hande, and sayde:

Mother you be not deceiued: for this is Alexander al∣so.

Then he behaued him self after such a maner, that he erceded in continencie and compassion, al the kings that had ben before his time. He entertained y^e two Quéenes with those virgins that were of excellent beautie, so re∣uerently, as if they had bene his sisters. He not onely ab∣steined from al violation of Darius wife, which in beau∣tie excelled all the women of hir time, but also toke great care & diligence, that none other should procure hir any dishonor. And to all the women, he commaunded their ornaments and apparel to be restored: So that they wā∣ted nothing of the magnificence of their former 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sauing only the assured trust that creatures want in mi∣serie:

which things considered by Sisigambis, she sayd vnto the king:

Sir, your goodnesse towards vs, doth de∣serue, that we should make the same prayer for you, that whilome we did for Darius: and we perceiue you wor∣thie to passe so greate a king as he was, in felicitie and good fortune, that abounde so in iustice and clemencie. It pleaseth you to terme me by the name of Mother and Quéene: but I confesse my selfe to be your handmaide. For both I conceyue the greatnesse of my state past, and féele that I can beare this present seruitude. It lieth on∣ly in your handes how we shal be delt withall, and whe∣ther you will make vs notable to the worlde thorough your clemēcie or crueltie.

The King comforted them all he might, and willing them to be of good chéere, toke Da∣rius sonne in his armes. Therat the child was nothing afraid, hauing neuer séene him before, but toke & imbra∣ced him about the neck. He was so moued with the con∣stancie of the childe, as he behelde Ephestion, and sayde: Oh, I would y^t Darius had had some part of this childes gentlenesse. Which mercy, continencie, humilitie and cō∣stancie of minde in Alexander, if he had still kept to his latter daies, might haue bene accompted much more for∣tunate than he was, when hauing subdued all Asia from Hellespont to the Occean sea, he did counterfait the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Bacchus. Or if amongs the residue of his cōquests, he would haue trauailed to ouercome his pride and wrath, being vices inuincible. Or in his dronken∣nesse abstained from the slaughter of his Nobilitie, and not to haue put to deathe those excellent men of warre without iudgement, which helped him to conquer so ma∣ny Nations. But at this time the greatnesse of his For∣tune had not yet altered his nature, although afterwards he could not beare his victories with that Uertue, wher∣with he wanne them. For when he gaue him self to 〈◊〉〈◊〉

and banketting, he vsed the companie of harlots. Amonges whome there was one Thais, who vpon a day in hir dronkennesse, affirmed to Alexander, y^t he should wonderfully winne the fauour of the Greekes, if he com∣maunded the Palace of Persepolis to be set on fire. The destruction wherof (she said) they greatly desired, for so much as the same was the chief seat of the kings of Per∣sia, which in times past had destroyed so many great Ci∣ties. When the dronken harlot had giuen hir 〈◊〉〈◊〉, there were other present, who being likewise dronken, confirmed hir woordes. Alexander then that had in him more inclinacion of heat than of pacience, said:

Why doe we not then reuenge Greece, and set this Citie on fire?

They were all chafed with drinking, and rose immediat∣lie vpon those wordes to burne that Citie in their dron∣kennesse, which the men of warre had spared in their fu∣rie. The king himself first, and after his guestes, his ser∣uauntes & his Concubines, set fire in the Pallace, which being builded for the most part of Cedre trées, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sodenly in a flame. When the armie that was encamped néere vnto the Citie, saw the fire, which they thought had ben kindled by some casualtie; they came running to quenche the same againe. But when they sawe the king there present increasing the fire, they poured downe the water which they brought, and helped likewise the mat∣ter forwardes. Thus the palace that was the head of the whole Orient, from whence so many nacions before had fetched their laws to liue vnder, y^e seat of so many kings, the only terror sometime of Greece, the same that hath ben the sender forth of. 9000. ships, and of the armies that ouerflowed all Europa, that made bridges ouer the Sea, and vndermined mountaines where the Sea hath nowe his course, was consumed and had his ende, and neuer rose againe in all the age that did ensue. For the kings

of Macedon vsed other Cities which be now in the Per∣sians hands. The destruction of this Citie was such, that the foundation therof at this day could not be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, but that the riuer of Araxes doth shew where it stode, which was distant from Persepolis. xx. furlongs, as the inhabi∣tants rather doe beleue than know. The Macedonians were ashamed that so noble 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was destroyed by their king in his dronkennesse: yet at length it was tur∣ned into an earnest matter, and were content to thincks it expedient that the Citie should haue ben destroyed af∣ter that maner. But it is certain, that when Alexander had taken his rest, and was become better aduised, he re∣pented him of his doing. And after he had kept companie with Thalestris aforesaid, which was Quéene of the A∣mazones, he tourned his continencie and moderation (being the most excellent vertues appearing in any kind of estate) into Pride and voluptuousnesse, not estéeming his countrie customes, nor the holsome temperance that was in the vsages and discipline of kyngs of Macedon. For he iudged their ciuill vsage and maner, to be ouer base for his greatnesse, but did counterfaite the height and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the kings of Persia, represēting the great∣nesse of the Goddes. He was content to suffre mē there to fal down flat vpō the ground & worship him, & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 y^e victorers of so many nacions, by litle & litle to ser∣uile offices, coueting to make thē like vnto his captiues. He ware vpon his head a Diademe of purple, interpa∣led with white, like as Darius was accustomed: & fashio∣ned his aparell after the maner of the Persians, without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of any euil token that is signified, for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to change his habite into the fashion of him whom he had vanquished. And althoughe he vaunted, that he ware the spoyles of his enimies, yet with those spoyles he put vpon him their euil maners, and the insolencie of

the mynde, folowed the pride of the apparell. Besides, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sealed such letters as he sent into Europa, with his ac∣customed seale, but all the letters he sente abroade into Asia, were sealed with Darius ring. So it appered that one minde coulde not beare the greatenesse that apper∣tained to two. He aparelled also his frēds, his captains, and his horsemen in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 apparell, whereat though they grudged in their mindes, yet they durste not refuse it, for feare of his displeasure. His courte was repleni∣shed with Concubines, for he still mainteined thrée hun∣dred and thrée score that belonged to Darius, and among them were flocks of Eunuches accustomed to performe the vse of women. The old souldiers of Philip natural∣ly abhorring such things, manifestly withstode to be in∣fected with such voluptuousnesse and strange customes. Whervpon there rose a generall talke and opinion tho∣roughoute the Campe, that they had loste more by the victorie, than they had wonne by the warres. For when they sawe them selues ouercome in suche excesse, and fo∣rain customs so to preuaise, they iudged it a simple guer∣don of their long béeing abrode, to returne home in pri∣soners maner. They began to be ashamed of their king, that was more like to such as wer subdued, than to them that were victorious: and that of a King of Mace∣don, was become a Prince of Persia, and one of Darius Courtiers. Thus this noble prince from continencie and mer∣cie fel into all kind of disorder, the originall whereof, he toke by delite in wo∣men, which being vsed in sort lawful, be great comforts and delights, otherwise, the very spring of all crueltie and mischiefe.