We read in a story, that a certain man had eaten his1 son, but it was done unawares: he knew not that it was his son, else no doubt he would not have eaten him. The story is this: There was a king named Astyages, which had heard by a Prophecy, that one Cyrus should have the rule and dominion over his realm, after his departure: which thing troubled the said king very sore, and therefore sought all the ways and means how to get the said Cyrus out of the way, how to kill him, so that he should not be king after him. Now he had a noble man in his house named Harpagus, whom he appointed to destroy the […] Cyrus: but how soever the matter went, Cyrus was preserved and kept alive, contrary […] the kings mind. Which thing when […] heard, what2 […] he? Mary this. Harpagus that noble man which was put in trust to kill Cyrus, had a son […] the court, whom the ⟨p. 62⟩king commanded to be taken, his head, hands, […] to be cut of, and his body to be prepared, roasted or sodden, of the best manner as could be […]. After that, he biddeth Harpagus to come and eat with him, where there was […], one dish coming after an other: At length the king asked him, Sir, how liketh you your fare? Harpagus thanketh the king with much praising the kings banquet. Now the king perceiving […] to be merrily disposed, […] one of his servants to bring in the head, […], and feet of Harpagus son, which when it was done, the king showed him what […] of meat he had eaten, asking him how it liketh him. Harpagus made answer though with an […] hearte, Quod Regi placet, id […] quoque placet, Whatsoever pleaseth the king, that also pleaseth me. And here we have an ensample of a flatterer or dissembler: for this Harpagus spake against his3 own heart and conscience. Surely […] there be a great many of flatterers in our time also, which will not be ashamed to speak against their own heart & […], like as this Harpagus did, which had no doubt a […] heart, & in his […] the act of the king […] him: yet for all that, with his tong he praised the same. So I say, we read not in any story, that at any time any father had […] his […] willingly & wittingly. And this Harpagus, of whom I rehearsed the story, did it unawares.
We reade in a storye, that a certayne man had eaten hys1 sonne, but it was done vnwares: he knewe not that it was his sonne, elles no doubte he woulde not haue eaten hym. The storye is this: There was a kynge named Astyages, whyche had hearde by a Prophecye, that one Cyrus shoulde haue the rule and dominion ouer his realme, after his departure: whyche thyng troubled the sayde kyng very sore, and therfore sought all the ways and meanes howe to gette the sayde Cyrus out of the waye, howe to kyll hym, so that he shoulde not be kyng after hym. Nowe he had a noble man in his house named Harpagus, whom he appoynted to destroye the 〈…〉 Cyrus: but howe soeuer the matter went, Cyrus was preserued and kept alyue, contrary 〈…〉 the kynges mynde. Whyche thyng whan 〈…〉 hearde, what2 〈…〉 he? Mary this. Harpagus that noble man which was put in trust to kyl Cyrus, had a sonne 〈…〉 the court, whom the ⟨p. 62⟩king commanded to be taken, his head, handes, 〈…〉 to be cut of, and his body to be prepared, rosted or sodden, of the beste maner as coulde be 〈…〉. After that, he byddeth Harpagus to come and eate with him, where ther was 〈…〉, one dyshe commynge after an other: At lengthe the kyng asked him, Syr, how liketh you your fare? Harpagus thanketh the king with muche praisyng the kinges banket. Now the kyng perceyuyng 〈…〉 to be merily disposed, 〈…〉 one of his seruauntes to bryng in the head, 〈…〉, and feete of Harpagus sonne, whiche whan it was doone, the kyng shewed hym what 〈…〉 of meate he had eaten, askyng hym howe it lyketh hym. Harpagus made answere though with an 〈…〉 hearte, Quod Regi placet, id 〈…〉 quoque placet, Whatsoeuer pleaseth the kyng, that also pleaseth me. And here we haue an ensample of a flatterer or dissembler: for this Harpagus spake againste his3 owne heart and conscience. Surely 〈…〉 ther be a great many of flatterers in our time also, which will not bee ashamed to speake against their owne heart & 〈…〉, like as this Harpagus did, which had no dout a 〈…〉 hearte, & in his 〈…〉 the act of the kyng 〈…〉 hym: yet for all that, with his tong he praised the same. So I say, we rede not in any storie, that at any tyme any father had 〈…〉 his 〈…〉 willingly & wittingly. And this Harpagus, of whom I rehersed the storie, did it vnwares.
- 1The history of Astiages and Harpa gus.
- 2An eusample of cruel […].An eusample of cruel 〈…〉.
- 3An […] of a […].An 〈…〉 of a 〈…〉.
