e, to reueale the fine and notable pollicy
deuised by her, to rid hir selfe from a couetous caitife of the
Thracian kinde, who for lucre rather than loue, for gayne than
gratitude, promysed golden Hylles to thys dystressed poore
Gentlewoman. But shee in the ende payinge hym hys well deserued
hyre, was liked and praysed of Alexander for hir aduenturous
facte, beinge not one of the least vertues that shined in him,
before hee grewe to excessyue abuse: but bycause Plutarch in hys
Treatyse _De claris mulieribus_, more at large recounteth this
Hystory, I haue thought good almost (_verbatim_) to follow him.
Theagenes a Gentleman of Thebes, ioyninge himselfe wyth
Epaminondas, and Pelopidas, and with other noble men, for
preseruation of their countrey of Greece, was slayne in the
chace of his enemyes, as he pursued one of the chyefe of hys
aduersaries, the same cryinge oute vnto him: "Whether doest thou
pursue vs, Theagenes?" "Euen to Macedonia:" aunswered hee. Thys
Gentleman thus slayne had a sister, whose vertue and neerenesse
of kin by noble deedes, she well witnessed, although she was not
well able to manifest her vertue, for the aduersity of the tyme,
but by pacient sufferance of the common calamityes. For after
Alexander had won the Citty of Thebes, the Souldiours greedy of
Spoyle runninge vp and downe the Citty, euery of them chauncinge
vppon sutch Booty as Fortune offred them, it hapned that a
Captayne of the Thracian horsmen, a barbarous, and wycked
wretch, came to the house of Timoclia, who somewhat neere the
kynge both in name, and Kyn, in manners, and conditions, was
greatly different from him: hee neyther regardynge the noble
house, ne yet the chastity of hir forepassed life, vpon a tyme
after supper, glutted and swilled wyth abundance of wine, caused
Timoclia forcibly to be haled to his dronken Couch: and not
contented with the forced wronge, as they were in talke
together, diligently demaunded of her, if she had in no place
hidden any Golde or Siluer, and partly by threates, and partely
by promise to keepe her as his wyfe, endeuoured to get that he
desired: but shee being of ready wit, takinge that offered
occasion of her aduersary: "I would to God," (sayd shee) "that
it had beene my lucke to haue died before thys night, rather
then to liue: for hitherto haue I kept my body pure and
vntouched from all despite, and villany, vntill vnlucky fate
forced mee to yelde to thy disordinate lust: but sith my hap is
sutc