The Palace of Pleasure Volume I Part 16

VIII. THEOXENA AND PORIS.

The crueltye of a Kynge of Macedone who forced a gentlewoman called Theoxena, to persuade hir children to kill and poyson themselves: after which fact, she and hir husband Poris ended their lyfe by drowninge.

[_Source and Origin._--Livy, xl. 4.

_Painter._---I. ii. 39; II. ii. 48; III. ii. 94; IV. ii. 252.]

IX. LADY OF HIDRUSA.

A straunge and maruellous vse, which in old time was obserued in Hidrvsa, where it was lawfull, with the licence of a magistrate ordayned for that purpose, for every man, and woman that list, to kill them selues.

[_Source and Origin._--Bandello, Part i., nov. 56.

_Parallels._--Belleforest, t. iv., f. 214.

_Painter._--I. ii. 61; II. ii. 50; III. ii. 98; IV. ii. 256.]

X. THE EMPRESS FAUSTINA.

The dishonest Loue of Favstina the Empresse, and with what remedy the same loue was remoued and taken away.

[_Source and Origin._--Bandello, Part 1, nov. 36.

_Parallels._--Belleforest, t. iv., f. 83.

_Painter._--I. ii. 65; II. ii. 52; III. ii. 102; IV. ii. 260.]

XI. TWO MAIDS OF CARTHAGE.

Chera hid a treasure: Elisa going about to hang her selfe, and tying the halter about a beame found that treasure, and in place thereof left the halter. Philene the daughter of Chera going for that treasure, and busily searching for the same, found the halter, wherewithal for dispayre she would haue hanged hir selfe, but forbidden by Elisa, who by chaunce espied hir, she was restored to part of hir losse, leading afterwards a happy and prosperous lyfe.

[_Source and Origin._--Cinthio, _Ecatomithi_, giorn. ix., nov. 8.

_Parallels._--"Heir of Linne" in Percy; Guellette, _Contes tartares_.

_Painter._--I. ii. 67; II. ii. 54; III. ii. 106; IV. ii. 264.]

XII. LETTERS OF THE EMPEROR TRAJAN.

Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the n.o.ble and vertuous Emperour Traiane, and from the sayd Emperour to Plutarch: the lyke also from the said Emperour to the Senate of Rome. In all which be conteyned G.o.dly rules for gouernment of Princes, obedience of Subiects, and their duties to common wealth.

[_Source and Origin._--Guevara.

_Painter._--I. ii. 76; II. ii. 62; III. ii. 121; IV. ii. 279.]

XIII. LAMIA, FLORA AND LAIS.

A notable History of three amorous Gentlewomen called Lamia, Flora, and Lais: conteyning the sutes of n.o.ble Princes and other great Personages made vnto them, with their answeres to diuers demaundes: and the manner of their death and funerals.

[_Source and Origin._--"Pausanias and Manitius" (text).

_Parallels._--Painter I. nov. xv.; for Lais, Fenton, _Wonderful Secretes_ 1569, ff. 65-7.

_Painter._--I. ii. 123 [89]; II. ii. 73; III. ii. 143; IV. ii. 301.]

XIV. ZEn.o.bIA QUEEN OF PALMYRA.

The lyfe and giftes of the most Famous Queene Zen.o.bia with the Letters of the Emperour Avrelianvs to the sayde Queene, and her stoute aunswere thereunto.

[_Source and Origin._--Tacitus, _Ann._ xii. 51.

_Painter._--I. ii. 89 [95]; II. ii. 78; III. ii. 153; IV. 311.

_Derivates._--A _Zen.o.bia_ was played at the Rose Theatre in 1591.]

XV. EUPHEMIA AND ACHARISTO.

Euphimia the Kyng of Corinth's daughter fell in love with Acharisto, the seruaunt of her father, and besides others which required hir in mariage, she disdayned Philon the King of Peloponesvs, that loued hir very feruently. Acharisto conspiring against the King, was discouered, tormented, and put in prison, and by meanes of Euphimia deliuered. The King promised his daughter and kingdome to him that presented the head of Acharisto. Evphimia so wrought, as hee was presented to the King. The King gave him his daughter to wyfe and when he died made him his heyre.

Acharis...o...b..gan to hate his wyfe, and condemned hir to death as an adulteresse. Philon deliuered hir: and upon the sute of hir subiects, she is contented to mary him, and thereby he is made Kynge of Corinth.

[_Source and Origin._--Cinthio, _Ecaton_, viii., nov. 10.

_Painter._--I. 101; II. ii. 82; III. ii. 162; IV. ii. 320.]

XVI. THE MARCHIONESS OF MONFERRATO.

The Marchionesse of Monferrato, with a banket of Hennes, and certaine pleasant wordes, repressed the fond loue of Philip the French Kynge.

[_Source._--Boccaccio, _Decamerone_, giorn. i., nov. 5.

_Origin._--_Seven Wise Masters._

_Parallels._--_Anc._: II. Sam. c. xi. _Med._: Sindibad, and plls.

_Painter._--I. ii. 112; II. ii. 91; III. ii. 180; IV. ii. 338.]

XVII. ANSALDO AND DIANORA.

Mistresse Dianora demaunded of maister Ansaldo a garden so faire in Ianuary, as in the moneth of May. Mayster Ansaldo (by meanes of an obligation which he made to a Nicromancer) caused the same to bee done.

The husband agreed with the gentlewoman that she should do the pleasure which maister Ansaldo required, who hearinge the liberality of hir husband, acquited hir of hir promise, and the Necromancer discharged maister Ansaldo.