The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise

About this Item

Title
The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise
Author
Plutarch.
Publication
At London :: Printed by Arnold Hatfield,
1603.
Rights/Permissions

To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.

Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09800.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The philosophie, commonlie called, the morals vvritten by the learned philosopher Plutarch of Chæronea. Translated out of Greeke into English, and conferred with the Latine translations and the French, by Philemon Holland of Coventrie, Doctor in Physicke. VVhereunto are annexed the summaries necessary to be read before every treatise." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A09800.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 12, 2025.

Pages

CAMMA.

THere were in times past, two most puissant Lords and Tetrarches of Galatia, who also were in blood of kinne one to the other, Sinatus and Synorix. Sinatus had espoused a yoong virgin named Camma, and made her his wife; a ladie highly esteemed of as many as knew her, as well for the beautie of her person, as the floure of her age; but admired much more in regard of her vertue and honestie; for she had not onely a tender respect of her owne good name and honour, carried an affectionate love and true heart unto her; but also, was wise, magnani∣mous, [ 50] and passing well beloved of all her subjects and tenants, in regard of her gentle nature, and her debonair and bounteous disposition; and that which made her better reputed and more re∣nowmed, was this; that she was both a religious priestresse of Diana (a goddesse whom the Ga∣latians most devoutly honour and worship) and also in every solemne procession and publicke sacrifice, she would alwaies be seene abroad most sumptuously set out, and stately adorned. It fortuned so, that Synorix was enamoured of this brave dame, but being not able to bring about his purpose and to enjoy her, neither by faire meanes nor foule, perswade he, or menance what

Page 501

he could, so long as her husband lived: the divell put in his head, to commit a most heinous and detestable fact; for he said waite for Sinatus, and treacherously murthered him: he staied not long after, but he fell to wooing of Camma, and courting herby way of marriage; she made her abode within the temple at that time, and tooke the infamous act committed by Synorix, not piteously, and as one cast downe and dejected therewith, but with a slout heart and a sto∣macke mooved to anger, and yet consideratly, waiting the time and opportunitie of revenge: on the other side, Synorix followed his sute verie earnestly, soliciting and intreating 〈◊〉〈◊〉 nately; neither seemed he to alledge vaine and frivolous reasons, but such as carried some co∣lourable pretense of honestie; namely, that he had alwaies shewed himselfe a man of more valor & worth than Sinatus; and whereas he took away his life, induced he was thereto for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ 10] love that hee bare to Camma, and not mooved thereto by any malice otherwise. This yoong dame at the first seemed to denie him, but yet her denials were not verie churlish, and such, as he might take for his finall answer; for daily by little and little, she made semblant that she relented and inclined unto him, for that divers kinsfolk and friends also of hers, joined with him to second his sute, who (for to gratifie and doe pleasure unto Synorix, a man of the greatest credit and authoritie in his countrey) perswaded, yea & forced her to yeeld unto this match. To be short, in the end she gave her consent, & Synorix was sent for to come unto her, where she kept her resiance, that in the presence of the said goddesse, the contract of marriage might passe, & the espousals be solemnized: when he was come, she received and welcomed him with an amiable and gracious countenance, lead him unto the very altar of Diana, where rehgiously & [ 20] with great ceremonie she powred forth before the goddesse, a little of a potion which shee had prepared, out of a boule; the one part thereof she drunke herselfe, & the other she gave unto Sy∣norix for to drinke: now this potion was mead mingled with ranke poison: when she saw that he had taken his draught, she fetching a loud and evident groane, doing reverence also unto the goddesse: I protest and call thee to witnesse (quoth she) most powerfull and honourable god∣desse, that I have not survived Sinatus, for any other cause in the world, but onely to see this day, neither have I had any joie of my life all this while that I have lived since, but onely in regard of hope that one day I might be revenged of his death, which seeing that now I have effected, I go most gladly and joifully unto that sweet husband of mine; and as for thee (most accursed & wic∣ked wretch in the world) give order to thy kinsfolke and friends, in stead of a nuptiall bed, to [ 30] provide a grave for thy burial: the Galatian (hearing these words, and beginning withal to feele the operation of the poison, and how it wrought & troubled him within his bowels, and all parts of his body;) mounted presently his chariot, hoping that by the jogging and agitation thereof, he might vomit and cast up the poison; but immediately he alighted againe, and put himselfe into an easie litter; but did he what he could, dead he was that very evening: as for Camma, she continued all the night languishing, and when she heard for certaintie that he was deceased, she also with joy and mirth departed out of this world.

Do you have questions about this content? Need to report a problem? Please contact us.