[THE INDUCTION
Carassus hauing thus finished his tragicall history, Inquisition presented vnto Memory the lady Hellina; but Memorye hauing her at the fyrst sight in great admiration, sayde as followeth: “Why haue you brought before vs the goddesse of Diana? Our intent is to heare the complayntes of them who are smothered with Forgetfulnesse: as for this goddesse she is renowmed more then sufficient.” “O Memory,” quoth Inquisition, “this is not Diana: no, Diana, no Gouzaga, no Emila, no Cariclia, no Pallas, no Iuno, no not knowing Minerua, may compare with her for the flourishing features of her incomprehensible complexion for the comly composition of her ladilike limmes, being the perfectest peece of woorke that euer nature created, that euer earth nouryshed, or that euer death destroyed, for the passing great dexteritie of her ingenious capacitie, the very Phœnix of women, and the chiefest amongst men that euer thou Memory didst celebrate for learning, for knowledge of tongs, and for the diuers gifts of the mind, shee only dyd inhabite betwixt the wings of flilling fame, for a happye, long, quiet lyfe in this worlde, she onely was fauoured by fortune, or rather singularly preserued by her maker. For that shee neuer tasted in all her raigne any aduersytie, shee is to bee esteemed immortall: for that in all her actions shee had her harte’s desyre, shee may iustly bee esteemed a goddesse (or rather the very beloued of God.) Now I report me vnto you is there any goddesse or nimph inhabiting the mount Helicon, which maye compare with queene Hellina, not shee of Greece which brought finall destruction vnto the flourishing Troy, but shee of Brittayne, who redeemed her decaying country from forraine tyrannye, which made not onely a menes for the bodyes of her subiects to liue in quiet peace, but she also prescribed vnto them an order how they might saue their soules. She planted religion amongst her subiects which were at that time sauage, neither knowing God, nor esteeming godlynesse, she was daughter vnto king Coell: shee was queene of Bryttayne, empress of the worlde, wyfe vnto Constantius, mother of Constantine the great. Yet the descriptions of time, I meane the chronicles, haue lefte so litle reporte of her that I founde her standyng betwixte Forgetfulnesse and Memory, almost smothered with Obliuion.”[1178] “If shee bee so renowmed, as you haue spoken of,” sayde Memory, “we shoulde doo her great wrong to deny her a place in this pageant. Speake therefore, good madame Hellina, with good leaue, your minde, and as other by their falles doo set downe examples very necessary for the auoyding of vice, so let your history bee a meanes to incourage all men to imbrace vertue.” Then the good queene, although somewhat abashed, yet glad to repeat her lyfe forerunne, sayde as followeth.]
THE LYFE OF QUEENE HELLINA.
How Queene Hellina was empresse of all the worlde. This storie dooth declare how happye they bee, which liue in the feare and loue of God.[1179]
1.
Men’s due desertes ech reader may recite,
For men of men doo make a goodly show,
But women’s workes can neuer come to light,
No mortall man their famous factes may know,
No writer wyll a litle time bestowe,