THE FIRST CHAPTER.
Howe Antiochus committed incest with his owne daughter^ and beheaded such as sued vnto her for marriage^ if they coulde not resolue his questions.
THE most famous and mightie king Antiochus, which builded the goodly citie of Antiochia in Syria, and called it after his own name, as the chiefest seat of all his dominions, and most principal place of his abode, begat vpon his wife one daughter, a most excellent and beautifull yoong Ladie. Who in processe of yeeres growing vp as well in ripenesse of age, as perfection of beautie: many Princes and noble men resorted vnto her for intreaty of marriage, offering inestimable riches in iointure. Howbeit the king her father, euermore requiring deliberation, vpon whom rather than other to bestow his daughter, per-ceiued eftsoones an vnlawfull concupiscence to boyle within his breast, which he augmented with an out-ragious flame of crueltie sparkling in his heart, so that he began to burne with the loue of his owne childe more than it was beseeming for a father. Thus being wrapped in the toyle of blind desire, hee sustained, within himselfe a fierce conflict, wherein Madnesse put Modestie to flight, & he wholly yeelded himselfe vnto loue. Wherefore, not long after, on a certaine day hee came into his daughters chamber,