DORASTUS AND FAWN1A. 31
to put Pandosto out of suspition, the night before they should sayle, he went to him, and promised, that the next day he would put the device in practise, for he had got such a forcible poyson, as the very smell thereof wold procure suddain death. Pandosto was joyfull to heare this good newes, and thought every houre a day, till he might be glutted with bloudy revenge \ but his suit had but ill suc-cesse. For Egistus fearing that delay might breede danger, and willing that the grass should not be cut from under his feete, taking bagge and baggage, by the helpe of Franion, conveied himselfe and his men out of a posterne gate of the Cittie, so secretly and speedily that without any suspition they got to the Sea shoare; where, with many a bitter curse taking their leave of Bohemia, they went aboord. Weighing their Anchors and hoisting sayle, they passed as fast as wind and sea would permit towards Sycilia : Egistus being a joyfull man that he had safely past such treacherous perils. But as they were quietly floating on the sea, so Pandosto and his Cittizens were in an oproare; for seeing that the Sycilians without taking their leave, were fled away by night, the Bohemians feared some treason, and the King thought that without question his suspition was true, seeing the Cup-bearer had bewrayed the sum of his secret pretence. Whereupon he began to imagine that Franion and his wife Bellaria had conspired with Egistus, and that the fervent affection sh'ee bare him, was the onely meanes of his secret departure; in so much that incensed with rage, he commaunded that his wife should be carried straight to prison, untill they heard further of his pleasure. The Guarde unwilling to lay their hands one such a vertuous Prin-cesse, and yet fearing the Kings fury, went very sorrowfull to fulfill their charge: comming to the Queenes lodging, they found her playing with her