Robert Greene

“ To this fair Fawnia, with a blushing face, returned this answer: 'A shepherd's calling, Sir, is truly innocent, and the results of that is sweet content: here no ambition creeps into our breasts, nor no dishonest thoughts into our hearts; we reckon our clothes fine enough, if warm, and food sufficient, that suffices nature: our only care is to keep our flocks from wolves, and pass away our hours with country songs; we take as much delight to talk of Pan and rural pranks, as lovers do, to speak of Venus and her wanton joys ”

“ Egistus at first was hardly persuaded to believe that Pandosta could be guilty of so barbarous a treatment, to a friend, that so dearly loved him, and that came on purpose to visit him in love. But, considering what a cruel passion jealousy is, where it is once entertained, and how unreasonable also, and Franion, solemnly protesting the truth of what he told him, Egistus began to be persuaded of the truth thereof, and to consider also, that in love and kingdoms, neither faith nor laws do meet with that regard which they ought to have. ”

“ Before the Christian religion had blessed the European world, in the well known kingdom of Bohemia, now subject to the German emperor, there reigned a King whose name was Pandosta, fortunate in war, and bountiful to his subjects in peace, which made him feared abroad, and beloved at home. He had a Princess, whose name was Bellaria, great by her birth, but greater by her virtue, living with the King her husband, in that love and amity, that made them both happy in each other ”

“ Porrus, finding, himself unable to resist, prayed Capino to be good to him. The ship immediately weighed, and stood out for sea. Porrus was surprised when he saw the Prince and Fawnia on board, whom he hardly knew at first, being in rich attire. The poor man entreated hard to be on shore, but all in vain. King Egistus missing the Prince, great search was made for him, but he was not to be found. For, having a prosperous gale, they designed for Italy, but the wind turning, crossed their intentions, and, by a great tempest, blew them on the shore of Bohemia ”

“ Tho' Franion, to prevent the fury of the king against his own life, had promised to take away that of Egistus, yet, he was not fully resolved on the matter, but that taking of advice on his pillow, he more sedately considered of it, and found that this was only the effect of the king's unreasonable jealousy, without any good grounds for it, being very well satisfied, that if Egistus, which he did not believe, could be guilty of so foul a thought, yet, Bellaria, whom he knew to be an extraordinary woman for goodness and virtue, would never consent to it ”

“ The want of such circumspection was a very great oversight in Bellaria and Egistus; for, though there was neither evil act nor evil thought between them, yet Pandosta, considering that his wife was most beautiful, and his friend Egistus a very brave and comely personage, began to imagine that their being familiar and intimate with each other could no more be confined within the limits of virtue, than flax and fire, when joined together, could be kept from burning. For, he knew that Egistus was a man, and, therefore, subject to love, and his wife was a woman, and therefore, might be overcome ”

“ When Fawnia had attained to the age of seven years, the shepherd bought the lease of an adjoining farm, and a flock of sheep of his own, and, when Fawnia was ten years old, he sent her to keep them. They letting her know nothing, but that Porrus was her father, and his wife her mother, and she paid a dutiful regard to them. Porrus, rising by slow degrees, became a man of wealth and credit in the country, and purchased a considerable deal of land, which caused several farmer’s sons to make their addresses to Fawnia, whose beauty began to distinguish her from all the rest of the country ”

“ The shepherd seeing her turn her head about, as if to seek the pap and cry afresh, he thought that it was some distressed infant, he took it in his arms, and spreading the mantle over it, out dropt a purse of gold: and, carrying the infant to his wife, she imagined it to be his bastard, till he shewed her the pearl neck-lace and purse of gold, which convinced her to the contrary, and, thereupon, she told her husband, that heaven had seen their want, and lent them these things to relieve their poverty, and they having no child, they were fully resolved to make this child their heir. ”

“ For, after the devil of jealousy had once possessed him, he misconstrued all they said or did, even their most innocent and inoffensive words and actions. The queen, having no other design, in the civility and respect she shewed to Egistus, but to honour him whom her husband so loved, and for whom he himself had such a respect. ”

“ But whilst Pandosta was thus courting Fawnia, Egistus understanding, by some Sicilian merchants in Bohemia, that his son was made a prisoner there, he sent an honourable embassage of divers of his noblemen, to entreat Pandosta to send home his son, and put Capino, Porrus, and his daughter Fawnia to death, by whom the Prince bad been deluded. ”

“ And, that Pandosta, besides the glutting of his revenge upon the account of his jealousy, might also think by his death, to go and invade the kingdom of Sicily, and, in the confusion that kingdom would be in by his death, he might make a conquest, thereof, and unite it to his own. ”

“ The king was glad to see his ambassadors returned, and having inquired of them what news? They told him, that they had brought an answer from Apollo in a scroll of parchment, which they were commanded not to open, till they came into the presence of the king: The noblemen, thereupon, entreated the king that the queen might be present, to hear her condemnation or acquittal; which the king immediately ordered ”

“ Then, promising he would do his utmost to serve him, and also, telling him that he had some skill in navigation, and, his being acquainted with all the ports and havens of the kingdom, and the danger of the seas, he hoped, would be of very great service to him. ”

“ Pandosta, overjoyed that his revenge was so near being accomplished, had not the least suspicion of Franion; who by that means, had the greater liberty to carry on his design, and so greatly effected it, that, without any opposition, they all got on board ”