A Straunge Historie Poem by Humfrey Gifford

Yee that would heare a Story straunge
To this example rare,
Attentiuely take heede:
Which pictures heere, before your face,
A worthy wight indeede.
A Phenix well she may be calde,
Whose lyke cannot be founde,
Chast Camna was her name:
Endued with such comely giftes,
As none can tell the same.
All wiues that in those dayes did lyue,
This woman did excell:
In constant loue towardes her spouse,
As doth my Story tell.
Sinatus was her Husbande cald,
a gentleman by blood,
Whose graue aduice in time of neede,
did neighbours his much good.
In such chast loue this man and wife,
togither did remaine.
That no man could their spotlesse life,
With any blot distaine.


In selfe same citie where they dwelt,
A tyraunt vile bare rule:
Sinoris was his name,
Who being taken with her loue,
Did wooe this worthy Dame.
When after many onsets giuen,
Hee had sustaind repulse,
His trauayle spent in vaine,
Her worthy spowse Sinatus then
Hee caused to bee slaine.
For he surmisde the feruent loue,
That shee to husband bare,
Did hinder him from his desires,
And eke procurd his care.
This done, afresh this tyraunt vile,
Pursues in cursed suite
Of her: then that hee did before,
Hee reapes none other fruite.
The secret flames of Cupids fire,
Now broyled so in his breast:
That nought but Camna could restore,
Sinoris wonted rest.


Resolued fully was he then,
To take this dame to wife,
Though baser in degree:
When no meanes els could serue his turne,
To cracke her honestie.
Then suite was made vnto her friendes,
Who waying well his wealth,
Would haue her needes consent.
Shee after great denialles made,
At length did seeme content.
Sinoris, when he heard this newes,
Was passing measure glad:
And order gaue in al post hast,
For mariage to bee had.
To temple of Diana then,
With speede these couple goe:
And with them sundry worthy wightes,
The mariage rites to doe.
In outward shew shee did expresse,
Great signes of mirth and ioy:
But in her heart shee did contriue,
This tyrant to destroy.


Ere that they fully were assurde,
Chast Camna had one bring,
To her a drinking glasse:
Of which shee must to husband drinke,
As there the custome was.
She tempred had a pleasaunt drinke,
With balefull poyson strong:
Of which shee dranke one part,
And to Sinoris gaue the rest,
Which so did pricke his heart:
That Phisickes skill could not preuaile,
To saue his vading life,
Which well did please the minde of her,
That then should be his wife.
When Camna saw that her deuice,
Did frame euen as shee would:
She greetes Dianas Image there,
VVith thankes a thousand folde.
And meekely kneeling on her knees,
Ah Goddesse, then she sayde,
Thou knowest from murdring of my selfe
How hardly I haue stayde.


Thou knowest, quoth shee, what bitter pangues,
Hath gripte my heart with griefe:
Since my deare husbands death:
And onely hope of iust reuenge,
Prolonged hath my breath.
VVhich since I see now come to passe,
VVith gladnesse will I die,
And seeke that soule to finde:
In life and death, which then my selfe,
To me was deerer friend.
And thou, thou caitife vile (quoth shee)
Which didst my mariage craue:
In steede now of a mariage bed,
Prepare thy selfe a graue,
But seeing then Sinoris dead.
To husbandes sprite shee cryed:
Oh, let not thy sweete company,
To mee now be denied:
Come meete me now my louing mate,
Who still I tender most:
And saying so her armes abroad,
She yeelded vp the Ghost.