o rich as Nathan, enuious of
his vertue and liberality, purposed by some meanes or other to
defame and obscure his neyghbour's good reporte: and hauing
builded a Palace like to that which Nathan did possesse, began
to vse curtesies to those which passed to and fro, in outragious
and disordred sort: whereby in little time he purchased great
fame. Now it chaunced vpon a day, as Mithridanes was alone in
the court of his Palace, a poore woman entring in at one of the
gates of the same, craued almes, and had it and so successiuely
euen to the twelfth and thirtenth time, also she retorned
agayne, which Mithridanes perceiuing, said vnto her: "Good wyfe
you come hither very often:" and yet he denied not hir almes.
The old woman hearing those words, sayd: "O how maruellous is
the liberality of Nathan, whose palace hath XXXII. entries by
seuerall gates, so greate as this, and daily begging almes
there, neuer made semblance as though he knew me, and yet the
same was not denied me: and being come hither but XIII. times,
I haue bene marked and reproued:" and saying so, she went her
way, and neuer after came thither agayne. Mithridanes hearyng
these wordes to proceede from the old woman fell into a great
rage, deeming the fame reported of Nathan to be a diminution of
his own, and said: "Ah wretch, when shal I be able to attayne
the liberality of Nathan's greatest things? and why then goe I
about to excel him, when in litle matters I am not able to come
neare him? verily I labour all in vaine, if I myselfe do not
seeke meanes to rid him of his life, sith croked age is not
disposed to dispatch him, I must therfore doe the same with myne
own hands.{"} And in that fury makyng no man priuy to his
intent, he rode forth with a smal traine, and in three dayes
arriued where Nathan dwelte, and then commaunded his men in any
wise not to be knowen that they came with him, and likewise that
they knewe him not, but to prouide lodging for themselues,
vntyll sutch tyme as they had further newes from him.
Mithridanes then being arriued about evening, al alone, found
Nathan walking vp and downe before his faire Palace, without
other company than himself, who in simple attire and garment
went forth to meete him: of whom Mithridanes, bicause he knew
not Nathan, demaunded if he could tell him where Nathan dwelt.
Nathan pleasantly made him answer: "My sonne, ther is no man in
these quarters that can better tel thee than I, and therfore yf
thou please,