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THE SECOND BOOKE 489
by Philip was one Herodicus, Prince of the Thessalians:
after whom he caused his two sonnes in lawe to
be put to deathe, each of them leaving a young sonne
behind. Theoxena and Arco were the two widdowes.
Theoxena, although she were instantly urged thereunto,
could never be induced to marry againe. Arco
tooke to husband Pons, a chiefe man amongst the
AEneans, and by him had divers children, all which she
left very young. Theoxena, moved by a motherly
charitie toward her young nephews, and so to have
them in her protection and bringing up, wedded Poris.
Vpon this came out the proclamation of the Kings
edict. This noble-minded mother, distrusting the
Kings crueltie and fearing the mercilesness of his
satelities or officers towards these noble, hopefull and
tender youths, feared not to say that shee would rather
kil them with her own hands then deliver them. Poris,
amazed at her protestations, promiseth her secretly to
convey them to Athens, there by some of his faithful
friends to be kept safely. They take occasion of a
yearly feast which to the honour of AEneas was solemnized
at AEnea, and thither they goe, where having all
day long assisted at the ceremonies and publike banket,
night being come, they convay themselves into a shippe
appointed for that purpose, in hope to save themselves
by sea. But the winde fell out so contrarie that the
next morning they found themselves in view of the
towne whence the night before they had hoisted sailes,
where they were pursued by the garders and souldiers
of the port. Which Poris perceiving, laboured to
hasten and encourage the mariners to shift away: but
Theoxena, engaged through love and revenge, remembring
her first resolution, prepared both weapons and
poisons, and presenting them to their sight, thus she
bespake them: ' Oh my dear children, take a good
heart; death is now the onely meane of your defence
and libertie, and shall be a just cause unto the Gods
for their holy justice These bright keen blades, these
full cuppes shall free you the passage unto it. Courage
therefore, and thou my eldest childe take this sword