eater prayse than the conquest of the whole world.
Take heede I say, that you blot not your good qualities and
conditions, with the spots of dishonor and pusillanimitye.
Obscure not that fame which hitherto is aduaunced aboue the
Regyon of the glytterynge Starres. Let not thys vyce of Femynine
Flatterye spoyle the desertes of Noble Chyualrye, and vtterly
deface those merytes with greater ignomynie than the cause of
that offence is worthye of disprayse." Massinissa hearynge these
egree and sharpe rebukes, not onely blushed for Shame, but
bytterly Weepinge, sayde: that hys poore prisoner and wyfe was
at the commaundement of Scipio. Notwithstanding, so instantly as
Teares coulde suffer hym to speak, he besoughte hym, that if it
were possible, hee woulde gyue him leaue to obserue hys faythe
foolishlye assured, bicause hee had made an othe to Sophonisba
that with life shee shoulde not bee delyuered to the Handes of
the Romanes. And after other talke betweene them, Massinissa
retired to hys pauylyon, where alone wyth manifolde sighes, and
most bytter teares and plaintes, vttered wyth sutch houlinges
and outcryes, as they were hearde by those whych stoode neare
hande, hee rested al the daye bewailynge hys presente state: the
most part of the nyghte also hee spent with lyke heauynesse, and
debating in hys mind vpon diuers thoughts and deuises, more
confused and amazed than before, hee could by no meanes take
rest: somtimes he thought to flee and passe the straights
commonly called the Pillers of Hercules, from thence to saile to
the Fortunate Islandes with his wife: then agayne hee thoughte
with hir to escape to Carthage, and in ayde of that City to
serue agaynst the Romanes, somtimes hee proposed by sworde,
poyson, halter, or som such meanes to end his life and finish
his dolorous days. Many times hee was at pointe by prepared
knife and sworde to pierce his heart, and yet stayed the same,
not for feare of death, but for preseruation of his fame and
honor. Thus thys wretched and miserable louer burned and
consumed in loue: tossing and tumbling him selfe vppon his
bedde, not able to find comfort to ease his payne, thus began to
say: "O Sophonisba, my deare beloued wyfe, O the life and
comfort of my life, O the deynty repast of my ioy and quiet,
what shall become of vs? Alas and out alas I crye, that I shall
see no more thine incomparable beauty, thy surpassyng comely
face, those golden lockes, those glistering eyes which a
th