Page:The Palace of Pleasure, Volume 1 (1890).djvu/150

 CANDAULUS AND GYGES.

Gyges behelde at her going in, and at the putting of her clothes When her back was towardes him, (as he was going out) fhe per- ceiued him. The queene vnderstanding by her husbande, the circumftance of the facie, neyther for shame did crie out, ne yet made countenaunce as though fhee had feen Gyges ; but in her minde purpofed, to reuenge her husbandes sollie. for emonges the Lydians (as for the most part, with all other nations) it is coumpted a great shame, to fee a naked man. The gentlewoman counterfaited her grief, and kepte iilence. In the morning when fhe was redie, by such of her feruaunts, whome me befte trufted, fhee sent for Gyges, who thought that fhee had knowen nothing of that whiche chaunced. Being come besore her prefence; fhe fayde vnto hym, "Gyges I offer vnto thee nowe twoo conditions, take whether thou wylte. for eyther thou muft kill Candaules, and take mee to thy wyfe, and the kyngdome also, or els thou muft dye thy selfe, that thou maieft vnderftande, how in all thynges not meete to be knowen, it is not neceflarye to obeye Candaules. for eyther hee muste needes dye, whiche gaue thee that coun- fayle, or thy selfe, which diddest fee me naked, and thereby com mitted a thing vnlawfull." Whiche words for a while, did won derfully amafe Gyges, then he besought the Queene that flie woulde pardon him from that vnlawfull choife. When he faw that he coulde not perfwade her ; he required her to fhewe him by what meanes he might attempt that enterprife. " Marie (quoth fhe) euen in that place where thou faweft me naked, when he is a fleepe thou fhalt commit that fa&e." After they had deuifed the treason, night approched. And Gyges with ftoute courage, bent himselfe thereunto, for he faw no remedye, but that he muft kill, or els be killed. Wheresore with a Dagger which the Queene deliuered him, he killed Candaules, when he was a fleepe ; and so gotte from him both his wife and kingdome. A goodly example to declare, that the secrets of Marriage, ought not to be difclofed : but with reuerence to be couered, left God do plague such offences with death or other shame, to manifeft to the world, howe dearely hee efteemeth that honourable state.

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