French fiction -- Translations into English; Italian fiction -- Translations into English
that vntrue Sophistre: for ther is no one minde which is good and badde,
and at one time is rapt with the loue of good and euil thinges, ne yet
at one instant can wil and will not together. Wherefore it is manifest,
that ther be two mindes; when the good minde ruleth, it doth things that
be honest, when the euill is superiour, it worketh ill: and now the good
minde, by making you his frende and confederate, doth puissantly
gouerne.” “Well (sayde Cyrus) if you goe, you must beware, that your
credite may increase amonges them: tell them hardly the somme of our
indeuours, but in suche wise as our doinges may bee lettes to their
practises. And this shall hinder their deuises muche, if you saie that
we determine to inuade their countrie: for hearing this, they will not
assemble their whole power, euery man fearing his priuate part: and see
that you tary with them a good space, and looke which partes they meane
sonest to approche, the same be moste conuenient for vs to knowe: and
bid them to be ready, whensoeuer they thinke time: for when you shall
depart from them, although they know you to be priuie to their order,
yet they must needes kepe the same, and be afrayd to alter it, lest they
confounde them selues through their sodaine chaunge.” Thus Araspas
departing, telling his moste trustie seruauntes what hee would have done
in this matter, went his waye: but Panthea hearing that Araspas was
gone, sent to Cyrus this message conteining these woordes.
“Bee not sorie Cyrus, for the departure of Araspas to your enemies, for
if you wyll suffer mee to sende for my husbande, I doe promyse you, that
he shalbe a farre more assured frende then Araspas was. And I knowe he
wyll come with so great power (for your ayde) as hee is able to make,
for the father of the Assirian kyng, whiche nowe raigneth, was his
frende. But this kyng vppon a tyme, went about to make a diuorcement,
betweene my husbande and mee: therefore, knowyng that this kyng, doth
disdayne my husbandes good fortune, by hauing mee to wife, I am sure hee
woulde sone be perswaded to serue so noble a Prince as you be.” Cyrus
hearing her saye so, commaunded her to sende for her husbande, which she
did. Abradatas knowing his wiues tokens, and vnderstanding the effecte
of her message, spedely came to Cyrus with two thousand horsemen. They
that were the Persian spies, sent to Cyrus, declaring what he was. Cyrus
commaunded that forthwith he should be brought vnto his wife. When the
wife and husbande sawe eche other, they imbraced like twoo that mette
after suche troublesome aduentures. Then Panthea tolde her husbande the
goodnes, temperance, and clemencie of Cyrus towarde her. Who hearing of
her interteignement, sayde: “What shall I doe Panthea, to render thankes
to Cyrus, for you and mee?” “What other thing (saide Panthea) but to
indeuour your selfe, to bee suche a trustie frende to him, as he hath
bene to you.” Then Abradatas went to Cyrus, and when he sawe hym, he
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