ACHATES

I will my Lord not once partly from your side, take you your rest, your travels do it crave, Here fast by you I am resolved to bide, to guard you so, as nought your rest deprave. The grief of mind I see works wondrous things, commanding all estates both Lords and kings. To find his daughter out these pains he took. For great offence my Lord the payment great, the meanest man feels not the greatest fallen, You rew with time that you did work in heat, and yet you find to comfort you withal: This cost to Sibilles words so does agree. But sir behold what Ladies do I see? A royal blood her virtue will bew ray, though Fortune seek her near so to oppress, And noble raze will not run far astray. but of her self will work her own redress: As I my self even now have found most true, in this your Ladies case whom I so rue. She fearing father's wrath for her offence, though by constraint unkindly caused to stray, As she intends with speed departure hence, so will she not but wisely partly away, And for advise resorted unto me, to learn what way her best return might be. My Council was, since fates had found the mean, the English Queen to make for her defence, To whose assured stay she might welleane to suage her father's wrath, so wrought for her offence: For none could help her more nor so as she, if with such suit her grace content might be. Her credit is so good her fame so flies, her Honour such, her wisdom so in note, Her name so known to all men's ears and eyes, as better mean could no where else be got, Then if he might at her hands understand, what she hath herd and seen within her land. Whereon when we resolved by joint assent, and I at her request was drawing near, To move the suit according as we meant, I met you by the way which had been here: By whom I learned a very speedy mean, to work her weal and void all terror clean. But maid where is the Duke of whom you spoke, which took this toil for your good Ladies sake? It will be hard her settled love to shake, which grounded once is not light to remove, Yet for your love and for her Countries sake, it may fallen out she will forget her love: Which being new and young did ravish so, now being old hath better leave to go, But yonder comes the maiden which was sent, and lo my Lady there for whom she went. Fair Lady this your courteous speech does crave, disclose of all that careful breast does hide, In him that lies here the world may have, wherein with maze to let their minds abide. A Prince he is, whom fortune does constrain, with fruitless toil to travel still in vain. And Asian Lord the great Cambaian Duke. Because in love her mind he did displease. Even so it was: for he from court removed her friend, for whom her country she forsook, As not of force her Lovers lack to bear: which known, the Duke to travel him betook: To find her out whom Nature made so deer, With mind resolved if he her met again, to think such hap sweet pay for all his pain. Not yet, but that Sibilla bade him go, to such a soil as I suppose is this, and there to have his hope and end his woe, Gaudina she is called of worthy fame. I thank you for your courtesy. My Lord, if words that pass from faithful heart may stay your mind, my hope here bids me stay, For marking all that's here in every partly, and minding that which Sibil once did say: Me think this place should be the happy land, where we should rest, as she bore us in hand. Beside while you took rest, a Lady came with show of grief, that your mishaps were such, And learning both yours and your daughters name, did pass away: all which persuade me much: That if you stay till she again return, your heavy heart with joyful news shall burn.