ich I Crowned and
rewarded hir wyth thys golden Garland, bycause of the stoute
slaughter which she made vpon that myghty Egle, worthy for that
solemne guise. But when I considered how boldly and rashely she
assayled and killed the Egle, which is hir Queene and
Maystresse, I thought it a part of Iustice, that for hir bolde
and vncomely act, she shoulde suffer the payne due to hir
deserte: for vnlawful it is for the seruaunte, and vnduetiful
for the subiect, to imbrue his handes in the bloud of his
Soueraygne Lord. The Faulcon then hauinge slayne hir Queene, and
of all other Birdes the Soueraygne, who can with reason blame me
for cuttinge of the Faucon's head? Doubtlesse none, that hath
respect to the quiet state betweene the Prince and Subiect."
This example the Iudges alleaged against Ariobarzanes when they
pronounced sentence: and applyinge the same to him, ordeyned
that first Ariobarzanes, for his Magnanimity and liberal
curtesie should be Crowned wyth a Laurell Garland, for the
generosity of his minde and exceedinge curtesie, but for his
great emulation, earnest endeuour, and continuall dyuice to
contende wyth hys Prynce, and in Liberality to shew him selfe
superior, bysides the mutteringe speech vttered agaynst hym, his
head ought to be striken of. Ariobarzanes beinge aduertised of
thys seuere condemnation, hee purposed to sustayne the Venemous
Darte of Fortune, as hee had endured other bruntes of that
Enuious inconstant Lady, and in sutch maner behaued and directed
his Gestes, and Countenaunce, as no Sygne of Choler or Dyspayre
appeared in him, onely Pronouncinge thys Sentence with ioyfull
Cheare in the presence of many: "Glad I am that at length there
resteth in me so mutch to be liberall, as I employ my life and
bloud, to declare the same to my Soueraygne Lorde, which right
willingly I meane to do, that the World may know, how I had
rather lose my lyfe, than to faynt and geue ouer in mine
accustomed liberality." Then callinge a Notary vnto him, he made
his Wyll (for so it was lawfull by the Persian lawes) and to his
Wyfe, and Daughters hee increased their Dowries, and to his
kinsfolke and freendes he bequeathed diuers rich and bountifull
Legacies. To the kyng he gaue a great number of most precious
Iewels. To Cyrus the king's sonne, and his by mariage (besides a
great masse of money) he bequeathed all his Armure, and Weapons,
with all his instruments for the warres, and his whole stable of
horsse. Last of all