40	THE HIS TOR IE OF
carefull for her little babe that floated on the Seas, then sorrowful for her owne mishap. For of that she doubted : of her selfe shee was assured, knowing if Apollo should give Oracle according to the thoughts of the hart, yet the sentence should goe one her side, such was the clearenes of her minde in this case. But Pandosto (whose suspitious heade still remained in one song) chose out six of his Nobility, whom hee knew were scarse indifferent men in the Queenes be-halfe, and providing all things fit for their journey, sent them to Delphos: they willing to fulfill the Kinges commaund, and desirous to see the situation and custome of the Hand, dispatched their affaires with as much speede as might be, and embarked themselves to this voyage, which (the wind and weather serving fit for their purpose) was soone ended. For within three weekes they arrived at Delphos, where they were no sooner set on lande, but with great devotion they went to the Temple of Apollo, and there offring sacrifice to the god, and giftes to the Priest, as the custome was, they humbly craved an aunswere of their demaund : they had not long kneeled at the Altar, but Apollo with a loude voice saide : Bohemians, what you finde behinde the Alter take and depart. They forthwith obeying the Oracle founde a scroule of parchment, wherein was written these words in letters of Golde,—
the oracle.
SUSPITION IS NO PROOFE : JEALOUSIE IS AN UNEQUALL JUDGE: BELLARIA IS CHAST ; EG1STUS BLAMELESSE : FRANION A TRUE SUBJECT ; PANDOSTO TREACHEROUS : HIS BABE AN INNOCENT, AND THE KING SHAL LIVE WITHOUT AN HEIRE : IF THAT WHICH IS LOST BE NOT FOUNDE.
As soone as they had taken out this scroule, the Priest of the God commaunded them that they should