ontent to saue your Lyfe, that hereafter in ioye and myrth
you may spend the same: trusting that yf meanes may be founde
for your dispatche from hence, we shal liue the reste of our
prolonged Lyfe together, in sweete and happy dayes: for my
Father is not made of stone flint, nor yet was nourced of Hircan
Tigre: he is not so malicious but that in tyme to come hee may
be made to know the true discourse of thine innocent life, and
hope thou shalt atteyne his fauour more than euer thou didst
before, the care whereof onely leaue to me, and take no thought
thy selfe: for I make promise vpon myne assured faith to brynge
the same to passe: wherefore giue ouer thy conceyued gryefe, and
bende thy selfe to lyue so merie a life, as euer gentleman did,
trained vp in court as thou hast bene." "I am content," said
Acharisto, "thus to doe. The Gods forbid that I should declyne
my hearte and mynde from thy behest, who of thy wonted grace
doest seeke continuance of my Lyfe, but rather, sweete Euphimia,
than thou shouldest suffre any daunger to performe thy promise,
I make request (for the common loue betwene vs both) to leaue me
in this present dangerous state: rather would I lose my lyfe
than thou shouldest hazard the least heare of thy heade for my
releefe." "Wee shall be both salfe ynough, (aunswered Euphimia)
for my deuice proceedinge from a woman's heade, hath already
drawen the plot of thy deliueraunce." And with those wordes they
both did end their talke, whose trickling teares did rather
finishe the same, than willing mynds: and eyther of them geeuing
a kysse vnto the Tower Walle, wherein Acharisto was fast shutte,
Euphimia departed turmoyled wyth a Thousande amorous Pryckes,
and ceased not but firste of all to corrupt and winne the
Iayler's Wyfe, whose husband was sent forth on businesse of the
king's: the conclusion of which practise was, that when shee
caried meate to Acharisto, according to the order appoynted, she
should fayne hirselfe to be violently dispoyled of the Pryson
Key by Acharisto, who taking the same from hir: should shut hir
in the Prison and escape, and when hir husband did returne, shee
should make complaynt of the violence done vnto hir: accordinge
to which deuise, the practyse was accomplished: And when hir
husbande returned home, hearing his wyfe crie out within the
Tower, was maruayllously amazed, and vnderstandinge that
Acharisto was fled, (ignoraunt of the pollicy betwene his Wyfe
and Euphemia,) hee fe