you shew me in commending me that if I owed you not that great obligation as doe all the rest in generall and withall the Princesse her selfe my Mistresse yet were this a sufficient tie to oblige me eternally howbeit I beseech you give me leave to tell you that I cannot as yet absolutely promise you any thing in this purpose having not as yet seene the Princesse nor knowing how she lives neither am I acquainted with the place whereby I might make use of such occasions as would be requisite in such a businesse but if you please to give me time to see her and to discover and observe her manner of life I promise you then that I will endeavour to obey you to the utmost of my power assuring my selfe that you will not command me any thing wherein I may not serve you without blemishing my honour The Prince well satisfied with the reasons of Perseno told him that he would willingly attend and withal would not stray from his directions Afterwards having sent for the Countesse he told her he was glad that she was safely arrived to her Lady and Princesse to whom though he could not be permitted to come to kisse her hands as his duty bound him he hoped neverthelesse to be favored with some command of hers ere his departure which would be about three dayes thence during which time he had need to repose his Galley-slaves that he might then after hold on a straight course to Sardegna where he hoped to finde out his Brother The Lady who was of right noble behaviour answered him that she found her selfe confused in the confused being and state of her Mistresse for that she well knew that to suffer him to depart thence without being for his noble favours courteously thanked by her herselfe was no otherwise than to satisfie a great obligation with the coine of a greater ingratitude and therefore besought him to be pleased to excuse with the perfection of his courtesie the imperfection of the times and to assure himselfe that she for her part would not faile to manifest to the Princesse to the King her father and to all the world how deepely and for how great a good turne she remained engaged to his Highnesse Wherunto the Prince replied that he deemed himselfe most happy in being so fortunate as to happen to doe so slender a service for so worthy a Princesse for which he pretended no other guerdon than the favour of her commands that he might more effectually serve her and so tooke his leave abiding below without offering either to goe up himselfe or permit any other to ascend the Rocke The Princesse in the meane time according to the custome of melancholy folkes who either stand stone-still or else are never quiet nor content with any place roaming up and downe now here now there about the upper part of the rocke vouchsafed not once to move herselfe at the newes which was brought her of the splendor descried afarre off although it made towards and drew neere that place till seeing the Galley appeare from under the cliffe and marvelling at a piece so rich and gallant she could not chuse for all her griefe but behold it yet fretting with her selfe for giving her senses way to taste of the least content contrarie to her resolution made of never taking delight in any thing she returned to her lodgings become in respect of its garnishment situation and solitarinesse gastly and hideous to behold she could not beleeve that they were company sent her from her father for well knew she that his Arcenall affoorded no such Galleyes And whilst she curious to know whose it was was angry with her selfe for being curious desirous to rest naked of any other affect than of griefe alone Gierofando the Priest came unto her with newes that the Countesse of Palomera was at the foot of the rocke with all those of her household sent her from her father accompanied with a great Prince Eromilia doubtfull in her minde what she should doe and wrought on by the tendernesse of her affections being not altogether indulgent nor yet altogether repugnant to her naturall inclinations knew not whether she should rather joy for the comming of the Countesse her Governesse or fret her selfe that any Prince would contrarie to her deliberation proffer to come to that place Neverthelesse the stocke of her naturall prudence remaining yet livily after being awhlle amazed to see her household come unsent for imagining the cause thereof which displeased her not in that she began already to conceive the danger she incurr'd in by living so alone she made no other answer than that the Countesse was wellcome and that she onely should be admitted to come to her But that for strangers he well knew himselfe that she could not be seene of her owne father and therefore referr'd to him the satisfying of that Prince in that behalfe Whilst then with crooked and tortuous interrogations Gierofando endevoured to tell her what she required not thither came the Countesse whom the Priest went to meet conducting her in all-alone The teares here shed were in such abundance as there was not for a good while any roome left for speech but as soone as any was the wittie Lady knowing that the time served but to things generall presented her with the letters of the King and Queene giving her withall succinct newes of the houses of such things as were sent her by her father and of the love of the family The Princesse mollified in affection would needs see them all who came one by one to kisse her hands waxen so moist with the teares of every one of them as she could not restraine hers The Countesse then afterwards related unto her how they had beene taken by Pirats and freed by the Prince of Mauritania extolling the humanitie of his behaviour his Royall manners and the features of his person acquainting her further of the desire he had to kisse her hand or at least to receive from her some command ere his departure thence The Princesse answered she was sorry she could nor might not see him to acknowledge the obligation she owed him But hoped that he being a courteous Knight would accept of her excuses in stead of more essentiall reasons With which embassage to satisfie him in that behalfe she willed there should be sent him some Knight in her name such as should to the Countesse seeme fittest The Countesse having observed in their voiage the affectionate inclination the Prince had shewed towards Perseno caused him to be called in to whom the Princesse said Perseno the Countesse hath told me what great favour both I and all you have received at the hands of the Prince of Mauritania and how by his meanes have beene saved both your lives and liberties If I were now as heretofore I have beene I would endeavour with my owne mouth to assure him how highly I esteeme his favours but I being now no more my selfe am among
and thought the time long of imbarking himselfe to goe finde him out and bring him home againe But the Queene being informed by the King of the conference had with his sonne of the humble speeches he used and of the unfained teares which he saw spring from his heart prayed the King not to suffer him to goe wherto he had willingly condescended if the doubt of shewing himselfe too credulous lest this repentance were counterfeited had not confirm'd him in his former deliberation But the Queene urging earnestly the businesse with many reasons drew him at last to be of her opinion they agreeing to send in his stead the Count of Bona who in a well arm'd galley should suddenly depart The Prince as soone as hee understood that the King was gone from his mother went thither And in the same manner as he had done with his father accusing himselfe of his ill carriage towards his brother besought her pardon But perceiving that she consented not to what was proposed touching his going to seeke his brother prostrating himselfe before her he besought her with reasons so lively and teares so effectuall that she mollified in affection to see her sonnes reconciled was content to let him goe The Prince forthwith caused to be rig'd and trim'd up the Royall which was a bastard Galley of three and thirty banks with sixe men to an oare he armed her with twise as many crossebow-men as souldiers and furnished the remnant with knights and adorning her with double harnesse tackling and furniture he chose to take along with him for counsellor the same Count of Bona. By whom though hee were advised that the Galley would onely serve in the Mediterranean sea as farre as the straights but that being to passe thence to Ireland in respect of incommodity and perill of the long vessels in those seas it would be good to take a-long with them a spare shippe for that purpose yet resolved hee to bring with him no other but the Galley because she being well rig'd and man'd might overtake Polimero's shippe ere she could reach to the straights being that she parted but a day and two nights before them in which time she had no good wind but onely one night and some few houres the day following the rest of the time being calme as it continued to that very instant And if hee should neede to passe any further he might then either leave the Galley in the straights or send her backe againe and there hire or buy a round vessell The Prince having kissed the King and Queens hands ascended into the Galley and causing the ghing to ply the sea with their oares vanished in an instant out of the channell of Birsa and leaving on one hand Porto-Farina Biserta and Capo di ferro and on the other the Iland of Sardegna steer'd a course right on towards the straights the Galley slaues being eased by a little gale that blew from the shoreward Polimero in the meane season sayled very pensive his vessell running the course of Sardegna hee could find in himselfe no comfort because of the discurtesies of his brother nor quietnesse for having in such a fashion forsaken his parents The noble Pilot who delighted much in his generous presence knew well who he was and seeing him so heavy imagined that there was some thing occasioned it his age and constitution not being such as might argue melancholy Whereupon desirous to make him merry he said Sir If you were constrained to make this voyage of necessity which I beleeve you doe onely of your owne free will I would imagine you could not be exempt from feare being you goe to a place where the landing is somewhat dangerous If such be the cause of your heavinesse which I beleeve not I beseech you be of good courage Because God willing I hope if you vouchsafe to marke what I shall tell you to direct you in such a manner as you may enjoy the sight of the warres without participating the perills thereof Polimero that purposed to goe for Ireland and had put himselfe in that shippe only to get out the speedier from Birsa and that till then understood nothing of that warre desired to heare the relation thereof The Pilot most willing to obey him and assuring him that he should understand a memorable though a pittifull history thus began Arato King of Sardegna whither we are going had two children the one a male named Perosphilo and the other a female called Eromena both so beautifull as that the world never produced a goodlier couple But that which chiefly adorned their fading and corruptible beauties were the everlasting perfections of their immort all soules whereby the one hath already and the other doth at this present shew her selfe admirable to such as know her The prince Perosphilo was growne up to about your yeeres being as I conceive not above sixteene when after he was dub'd an arm'd Knight he so manifested the dexterity or his body as leaving his home and spending sower yeares time abroad in most noble atchievements he made himselfe therby though unknowne famous and knowne over all the world But recalled by often messages from his father he returned home with such rich tropheyes store of good manners and languages that displaying them opportunely without ostentation he both amazed and delighted such as were so fortunate as to enioy the happinesse either of his conversation or service whilst he thus travelled abroad to passe the time without losing it Eromena at home made such a benefit and use of hers as every man thought he could not make a richer gaine of his time than to spend it in admiring her whose imployments were a noble and solid curiosity of knowing things in their beginnings a strict vigilancy to accuse and correct her selfe if her perfections could have beene capable of the least error To speculate the meanes of negotiating with diversity of persons and to put the same in practise with the measure of more and lesse according to the difference and merits of each one and to yeeld every one satisfaction so as not any how highly soever favoured could presume to judge himselfe worthy thereof so well knowen was her Incomparable courtesie that shee participated it to all with a proportion so regular that neither she in doing it although a Princesse nor others in receiving it how meane conditioned soever came thereby to lose or gaine in the imagination of others This court then by meanes of these two princes so flourished as that the kingdome of Sardegna though neither ample in territories nor opulent in riches surpassed neverthelesse in many things sundry of the greatest and most famous for these Princes being young studying onely to delight and be delighted by their affability and gracefull behaviour allured and wan the hearts of all that knew them In so much as nought else was there to bee seene but Iousts and tourneyes entertainements of armes and love so as such as came thither from other
Prince hath heretofore participated of some part thereof whereof he is at this present deprived because true vertues are perpetuall neither are they ever found unaccompanied with others like themselves so that when one of them is corrupted all the residue are thereby blemished Touching honour I allow what you say thereof but the selfesame argument of yours is sufficient to give you satisfaction True honour as you terme or limit it is that which is found common in every one as the law of nature is common to every man observing this rule I should have but small reason to finde my selfe aggrieved But there are certaine particular lawes which although they be not observed elsewhere than in places where they are established yet can it not be denied but that they are lawes and ought to bee knowne and observed of every one for such When custome hath brought a thing to become or be esteemed a branch of honour whosoever is not observant and obedient thereto is dishonored not because it ought to bee so in effect but because we have consented that it should be so I confesse that to watch over womens honesty with so great curiositie is a custome altogether prejudiciall but wee being thereto subject must needs endure it and so much the rather by how much we are the more conspicuous eminent in our callings And if I would free my selfe from the bonds thereof then would it not be said that I did it because the Philosophie of honour taught me to despise this fantasticall opinion but rather for that avarice and ambition had induced me to become patient so as I shall not onely make my selfe subject to the sottish talke of the vulgar but shall also bee accounted of my Peeres scorne-worthy and infamous As for my life and goods the selfe-same custome will answer for me which custome will that I preferre my selfe and my owne honor before all things and that with losing all I declare my selfe a rebell to Nature which commands us to looke to our owne profit and to conserve what we enjoy of hers Touching my friends I know not what to answer you saving only that the disgrace I suffer doth also reflect on them what is my case to day may be theirs to morrow It rests that I tell you that the Prince might have allowed himselfe pleasures without offending any man as wise Princes doe who jest not but where such iests are received for favours The summe of all is that I am resolved that the lives of both the Prince and my wife shall satisfie the vengeance of my wronged honour Seeing that such is your resolution replied the Count mine also shall be conformable to yours And after they had proposed divers meanes for effecting it at length they concluded on these that the Admirall should sell a good part of his goods who to give a colour to the sale thereof was to lose publikely at play with the Count sixty thousand crownes That he should practize a plot with the King of Corsica by the mediation of Mortiro one of the Ambassadors that came to demand the Princesse a friend to them both whom they were to procure to come disguised and give them the meeting That the assistance of that King should be sued for with proffering him in recompence the Kingdome of Sardegna That they should in the meane time insinuate into the love of the Captaines Souldiers and Mariners but so discreetly as their unaccustomed liberality might not cause them to be suspected All which accomplished the last thing should be the death of the Prince The Admirall after this agreement seemed to be of better comfort and considering how it would be well done to prepare thereto their friends and particularly the Baron of Frisano the Count thereto agreed not but said that the foundations being once well grounded which were the moneyes and the backing of the King of Corsica their friends would bee thereunto afterwards more easily perswaded The day following they returned to Sassari where taking on them to be merry and setting themselves to gaming the Admirall lost some monies which he tooke out of his pocket and then playing on ticket lost twenty thousand crownes under which pretext he had leasure to give himselfe over to his melancholy and holding on his game although the Baron with many Captaines would have set themselves in betweene them and the Count himselfe made as though he plaid unwillingly in a few dayes the Admirall resolutely lost threescore thousand crownes The newes of these losses were suddenly rumored about the Court and came to the eares of the Admirals wife who grieved extremely thereat and not long after received from her husband a letter with order to finde out such as would buy so much of his goods as might make up the summe of sixty thousand crownes Now the Prince being that night come unto her she with be-teared eyes shewed him the letter and he glad of having occasion to gratifie in any thing his Talasia wished her not to trouble her minde therewith Having therefore sent for the Admirall to Calari who came thither very unwillingly he bespake him in this wise I understand that your Steward hath offered to sale your goods which have for these many yeares belonged unto your honour for which I am indeede sorry more for the occasion that for the thing it selfe the King my father will not that you being the second Baron of Sardegna should by being ruinated become unable to serve him repaire therefore unto the Treasurer generall who hath order to deliver you sixty thousand crownes make use thereof and restore it againe by little and little without discommodating your estate The Admirall who well knew the cause of this liberalitie dissembling kneeled downe before him and with most humble speeches thanked him doing the selfesame to the King who advised him not to suffer himselfe by play to be any more reduced to such necessitie The Admirall continued at home but a very small time where it behooved him to make much of his wife with no lesse art than disgust Returned backe to Sassari he wrote to his Cozen to whom as soone as hee was come he publikely disbursed sixty thousand crownes acquiring thereby the praise and reputation of a loyall and geneâ—ous spirit Afterwards retired aside the Count shewed him the answer of Mutriro the contents whereof was that he would goe to Assinara in the habit of a Fisherman where they were to expect him they therefore retired to the fleete and taking on them to goe a fishing went so farreonwards till they came to Assinara where the counterfeit shepheard expected them and landing a bowshot distant from him leaving their Squires busied in making dinner ready they walked along the strond till they came to his Barke where dissembling the matter before his servants there present and asking him what he was and what he there did they singled him from them and he with a seeming humility followed them till such time as
other defects disinabled herein which at this present inwardly grieves me my present estate being more capable of receiving than in doing courtesies and seeing because of my vow I may not see any man I cannot therefore content my selfe in partly satisfying so great a service Then wiping off her teares which the imagination of her melancholy made her powre out in abundance she further said I can tell you no more you know my minde and therewithall the condition of my hard fortune you shall therefore with your speech supply the defect of mine And because the place is not furnished with any thing worth the presenting him nor my selfe stored with any thing to honour him withall you shall endevour to assure him of the griefe I conceive thereof Afterwards when shee had opened her fathers letter she found it thus said Onely and beloved daughter by your absence have I obscurely ghessed and by your letters clearely understood of the strange resolution by you undertaken so that if I knew you not well or beleeved not that I knew you more than passing well I know not what I could thinke of you for first for the losse of one thing in hazard or uncertaine and which might well not be that is your husband you have despised many things certaine and which could not chuse but be and such am I your mother our subjects and kingdome And albeit the gods have endued you with a spirit transcending the ordinary neverthelesse I beleeve for a certaine that if a man would at this present demand your reason why you have so done you would answer him with I cannot tell and therefore the first essence that was in you is necessarily corrupted seeing the actions thereon depending are corrupted for although it were granted that the Prince of Sardegna had beene already your husband and that the possession of his person had redoubled your love yet what reason should move you to grieve for him in such a fashion as that because you cannot enjoy him you will not enjoy the world Nay though even this were also granted you yet who will grant you that you may live and not live to the world If then you ought to make use of the world then ought you doubtlesse to exchange a Cliffe for the Iland Baleari which ought to be so much the worthier of your ashes by how much the neerer they are to the tombes of those you love so well And though your judgement were so unequall as to judge that you ought for the place where you are leave the place where you should be and that you may live and yet not live to the world yet tell me I pray you what reason what law or what god have ever heard grant or allow such injustice offence or crueltie as you an onely daughter use towards me your father that never gave you any occasion therefore Which if you had no reason to have done although I had used you ill what cause or colour have you then for it knowing that I esteemed you not onely as a daughter but as mine owne heart you being withall even in my life's time excepting the title Soveraigne Queene of my people In that you loved him that was to be your husband it is a signe of a good and laudable nature I blame you not therefore but to have so loved him as because you cannot love him any longer you will not love either me or any other you shall finde this to be an obstinate contradiction of nature You say you are retired because you would not be interrupted in your griefe Truly if nature were as constant as she 's variable in our affections then had you wisely deliberated and I would have therefore commended you for if a man could shunne all griefes for the price of one griefe alone though the same were most violent doubtlesse he ought to purchase it at any rate because it is impossible that it can of its nature last long and passions passe away even as pleasures doe though not so soone which though they did not yet paines abstractions and businesses but above all things time extenuating it by little and little would at length reduce it to nothing Whence it proceeds that who so beleeveth to prefix and give himâ—selfe a law for his life founded upon a running griefe imagining it to be everlasting as you have done such an one doth not onely deceive himselfe but also as soone as his understanding is cleared from the cloud of passion he first repents himselfe thereof and then lookes in the face of his owne ignorance which instructs him how humane nature is changeable in all things and yet rather in love than in hatred But let us suppose it be not so and let 's grant that you may be in time possessed if not of a greater griefe at least of a more worthy resolution occasioned by some danger of your honour of my death of the losse of your subjects and of many other accidents which cannot be imagined Tell me which of them would you judge more worthy the entertaining the first or the last That which toucheth you very neere or that which nothing at all concernes you That whereto you applying the remedy may bring to nothing or that which being irremediable can receive no other being than that of your imagination But yet this is not all it is a thing ordinary for one evill to produce many others Your unreasonable griefe may beget desperation and desperation the loathing of all things hence sprung your disobedience your stealing away your new course of life and finally your vow of depriving your selfe of your selfe and of seeing you every man my selfe not excepted If this be the ladder to climbe up to heaven and the way to please the gods as you pretend then would I thinke that humane actions were to them indifferent and that their favour might be acquaired as well by working iniquitie as by doing good and vertuous deeds Perceive you not alas what opinions your actions manifest you to hold which is to forme by degrees this monstrous horrid and blasphemous consequence If you had a desire to serve the gods how then to marrie Or will you that I beare something with your love truly lawfull and in its limits vertuous well I am so content but what hinders you to serve the gods abiding at home in your owne house Are Maiorica and Minorica not to your liking for being more spacious and fairer than your Pegno della morte And why so I pray you Have the gods perhaps such eyes as we Or respect they more the outward appearance than the inward realitie Thinke you that they esteeme more an erected Temple than a contrire heart No surely we may as well serve the gods in our delicious and sumptuous palaces as offend them in Caves and Deâ—â—rts yet can you not say that you want such because you have the Cabrera and Dragonera whither you might have retired your selfe with greater reason
of him Being afterwards disanchored whilest the ghinge stood readie with oares in hand at the whistle of the Boatswaine she saluted according to the custome the place thrice with cries and trumpets the windowes above them appeared full of Ladies and Knights that standing bare saluted the Prince who requiting them with the like and causing the ghing plie the water with their oares in tenne stroakes vanished out of the Port whence passing the Promontory towards the East landing at Budema twentie miles off he smiling said to the Count What thinke you Have we not made a long dayes journey And upon this acquainting him of what he meant to doe he there entertained himselfe untill the day appointed which seemed to him a tedious yeares time but then having armed and mann'd a Frigat with men and oars he went aboord her taking a speciall care when he came neere the rocke to glide on so silently that the noise of rowing might not discover him arrived to the place appointed he had no cause to attend for there found he the diligent Perseno with a little Whirry wherein both of them passed over to the Rocke having first taken order that the Frigat should returne the night following to the selfesame place to fetch him backe againe Thence gotten up on high with no small paines to the Prince being unacquainted with that steepie ascent the night being also darke and not otherwise illuminated than by starlight he slept that night with Perseno because he could not be better accommodated yet was so merry in that he hoped to obtaine his desire that he never thought of any toile or discommoditie The day come the Princesse who slept little or nothing rose up early in the morning and after the Chappell was dedicated which was without any ceremony and where the Prince could not be admitted to come every oneretired himselfe to his owne lodgings till such time as the funerall Beere was put in order Then appeared the Princesse in the Hall where the ceremony was to begin clad in a blacke gowne straight wasted with large sleeves and so long as they reached downe to the ground it was lined quite through with whitesilke cipres pleated and crisped about the necke with a deepe fringe round about it the body of her garment and the sleeves of her wascot were cut from the highest to the lowest part thereof and rejoind with small blacke loope-lace betweene which cuts the same cipres came puckering out in equall small pleats attracting the eies of the beholders with the comelines of her person the strangenesse of the habit and the proportion of contrary colours her head necke and brest were covered with a kind of robe of exceeding fine linnen foulded in waves which reached no further downe than the knee her sweete face restrain'd in its owne confines had allowed it for observers and keepers as it was not fit it should be left all alone some few of her faire haire which the more they were confused in the Chaos of so comely a melancholy the more orderly were they disposed to proportionate the fairest of all other beauties yet were they no golden haires because nature foreseeing or peradventure emulating those accidentall colours of her habit being desirous to sure naturally the same devise had framed her countenance as white as the driven snow and her haire like the glittering browne of finest silke this robe of hers together with her face were covered all over with a transparent veile which although it was blacke yet did it not moderate but rather augment those singular beauties that being neither altogether apparant nor yet altogether hidden could not either be concealed in their being shadowed or conceived in their full perfections for their raies penetrating through the pores of the heart made themselves knowen and yet dazling the eyes of the capacitie depriv'd it of the meanes of well-knowing and fully discerning them This her habit was embellished with the pearles that drop'd in chaines from her chrystall eyes which united together in a milke-white piece of fine linnen under the black veile were motives sufficient to change even mirth and laughter it selfe into plaint and griefe The family came to the Hall a little before to waite on their Mistresse and among them Metaneone and Perseno in the very instant of her comming forth of her chamber as private as they could to shun the occasion of discourse with any one The Prince seeing appeare such a tree cloath'd with a shadow purpurized under the obscuritie of veiles betweene two contrary colours no otherwise than Aurora when she begins at the approach of the Sun-beames to shew forth her ornamentall graces having besprinkled the eyes attracted with unknowen violence in stead of dew with a treasure of teares signes not obscure of an amorous heart became thereat so astonished as that if he had beene so forgetfull of the qualitie of the place as he was of his owne condition hee had no doubt in that place quite forgotten himselfe But Perseno that with a vigilant eye beheld him seeing him beginne to stagger set him right againe by bringing him to himselfe with a becke Iust as a generous Courser forgetting his exercise is suddenly brought in againe by the voice and hand In the midst of the Hall stood a Beere representing the body of the dead Prince raised up from the ground with a large Beere-covering of blacke velvet fringed round about with divers Tropheies of armes and instruments of warre with the Escocheons of Sardegna and Maiorica quartered and richly embrodered with gold at each of it's foure corners The superficies of the Beere-cloath was sprinkled all over with drops of bloud represented to the life by a curious hollow-stich of vermilion silke The Hall hang'd all over with blacke Arras not onely the walls but also the seeling and pavement thereof So as amongst all these obscure colours there was not any white discernable but onely that which shaming all blacks was not onely transparent but resplendent from under the veiles of the Princesse At one end of this Hall right over against the Beere stood placed a Canopy of State with a little bench and two great cushions all covered over with blacke velvet here stood still the Princesse and kneeled downe where after she had a while fixed her waterie eyes to heaven-wards then as if she hated the light bent them downewards to celebrate the funerall weeping out amaine such musicke as with i'ts mournefull and compassionate tone drew humid lamentations from the driest eyes Metaneone uncertaine with himselfe whether he was in a dreame or awake nere tooke his eyes off the Princesse and forming in his minde a rapsody of the things he saw was not aware that he saw them so great was the confusion hee tossed too and fro in his minde The musicke ended there were distributed torches which though of pure white wax were yet all artificially made obscurely browne Then the Priest having first invocated the God of gods with
and truly but that we doubted you would have thought us discourteous we had permitted you alone to undergoe the brunt of destroying Epicamido's whole campe we are now come hither by her Highnesse Commission to obey and follow your armes and command Polimero inclining himselfe somewhat downewards made answer Sir Knight if my actions were such as might deserve the commendations you give me I should deeme my selfe exceeding fortunate but the little time that makes me know you so courteous makes me know also how little reason I have to beleeve my selfe valorous and yet that little in that respect alone that I am favoured with your applause As touching my not being succored I have reason to beleeve that I needed not any because of the justice of the Lady Princesse neither could I without being much to blame entertaine so unworthy an opinion of such worthy Knights as ye are nor is it indeed possible that any one fighting for such a cause as this can chuse but be couragious if not valorous and for the rest I am come hither with an intention to serve if therefore you be to fight behold me ready to obey and follow you The Marquesse who was one of the most courteous of his time had not left Polimero's answer unreplied unto had he not beene prevented by the enemy who perceiving these Knights descend the hill had formed a squadron of the best of the host to goe encounter them which the Marquesse seeing now come galloping towards him with their launces rested said to Polimero The Lady Princesse is that onely one that can paralell your courtesies see where comes the enemy let us goe meete them at which words he spurring his horse passed on But Flammauro at the onely cheeke of the hand as if he had knowne his Masters will sprung forwards such a leape as he left behind him the Marquesse Polimero had no launce for he had broken it in the first encounter so as being encountred by many he bore the brunt of them all without moving ever so little of his seate yet stroke he downe at every blow a horseman to the ground being assured if he fail'd any his horse supplied his default who beate downe so fast as even his owne friends feared to approach him Epicamedo who began by this time to recover and had left his bed being desirous to see what was done abroad caused himselfe to be carried up on a hill accompanied with divers Lords among whom were the Earles of Reparata Pussinera and Castle Rabone with the Barons of Ianque and Lagosardo all the Prince his murtherers seeing now so rich a squadron on the enemies side would needs know who they were wherein he was satisfied by these Lords who well knew them by their devices But as they knew not Polimero so were they astonished at his valour By this time had the horse issued from their side received the charge after the foote were cut all to pieces Epicamedo not able to support this so foule a disgrace all swollen with disdaine called for his armes The Chirurgions were not able to disswade him who although he was by reason of his wounds growne weake yet was he farre more stout than feeble and because hee could not suffer his head not as yet well cured to be armed therefore would he needs goe bare-headed But those great ones that were about him in the end so prevail'd with him as calling for their horses they quieted him with assured hope that they would by the getting of that dayes victory recover the honour of the field The Marquesse of Oristagno seeing the enemies foot overthrowne and their horse but few and these retiring drew neere Polimero to conduct him to the Princesse judging the residue sufficient to make good the field but now perceiving issue from their side more than twenty troopes of horse he said I once thought that the enemie had contented himselfe with the losse he hath already sustained but hee I perceive is insatiable and will have more let us see what troopes are these looking then towards the Princesse he perceived she sent him succour and comming afterwards to know among the enemies the Count of Reparata and the other Rebels he shewed them Polimero but more particularly those that slue the Prince The Princesse seeing the conflict grow greater and greater mounted on horsebacke and causing the Trumpets to sound so rowsed up Epicamedo's spirits that she saw him send forth for a supply well neere all his horse Whereupon shee doing the like and drawing nigh the battell came to know all the Traitors of whom being desirous to take some alive she discovered her desire to the warlike Valentinian women who alwayes made good their places in the flancks of her own troope and then put her selfe forwards among foremost where Polimero was that with one blow had newly beaten off his horse the Count of Castlerabone the women alighting strave to carrie him away which they could hardly effect because of the great resistance of the enemies side The Princesse growne furious to see them all before her thrust at the Baron of Ianque which fortune so well guided that it passing betweene his curace and pouldrons came out at his backe Polimero who by the colours of Sardegna by her rich upper garment by her horse roially trapped but above all by the comelinesse of her person knew her for the Princesse and observing her strive to get this prisoner put forwards Flammauro who by making a large roome gave the women time to save their prize and then changing his sword into the other hand he compassed with his right arme the Baron of Ianque about the middle and spurring on his owne horse plucked the other sheere off his which he performed with such facility as one would have thereby judged his force to have beene sufficient to have removed a Tower and delivering him over to the charge of the Valentinian women whose designe he well observed he encountred the Count of Reparata whilst the Princesse in the same place affronted that other of Pussinera But in respect all their Cavallerie ran thither to succour them the throng grew to be so pressing as neither the one part nor the other had beene able to stirre if Flammauro had not made them roome for he keeping off with his heeles such as were behinde him gave Reparata's horse such a shocke as made him being not able to stand presse downe with him as he fell that of Pussinera who tumbled downe in a bundle with him with the legges of the one Count and the other under their horses And because Flammauro was that onely he that could make all stand off Polimero leaving to others the charge of bearing away the prisoners tooke care to secure those that bare them away from being hindred by such as would have rescued them wherein he had no small adoe by reason they were all upon him so as he had not got from them alive but that the Princesse rescued him
there the ladder behinde sithence when there was never any newes heard either of him or the slave The Prince thus frustrated of his first hope came running to Don Eulavio's house which he found open and repleate with servants waiting for their Masters that were there a gaming but scouting on further and detaining such as would have runne in to give notice of his comming he suddenly rushed in himselfe among them where every one stood up to honour him and he finding there missing Don Eulavio enquired for him after whom when every man had sought and cald too they perceived in the end he was gone his wayes which when Don Peplasos understood there was no man that durst as much as looke on his fierie eyes for hee laying aside all gravitie spake and did things unworthy a Prince all the servants there sent he packing to a close prison as he had formerly done with Don Eleimo ' neither were those Knights whom hee found a gaming any thing better used by him whilest I wretched woman lay thankes to my quiet conscience deeply plunged in a profound sleepe Many yeares before slept I al'alone the Prince never comming neere me but at the request of the King his father which was seldome and then with a demeanour rather irkesome disgustful than any whit contentsome for the conversation of married folks unlesse it be in an affectionate way is no pleasure but a torment and savours rather of beastiality than humanity There slept alwayes two gentle-woman in my bed-chamber where stood a small lampe continually burning because my melancholy being growne to be a formall infirmitie I ever found my selfe troubled with some indisposition orther either of stomacke or spleene so as there passed not a night wherein I needed not both remedies and the company of some to comfort me for my head was so replete with vapours as I saw and suffered what another woman how ill disposed soever could not have asmuch as imagined much lesse seene and endured With a great rumbling came the Prince rushing into my bed-chamber by reason whereof my fit of sicknesse seizing on me as soone as I understood the occasion of his comming thither I swounded and fell in a convulsion so extremely violent as I was so fortunate as not to heare with mine owne eares those injurious termes which I afterwards heard he gave me He would by all meanes have caused me so naked to be cast into the bottome of a dark dungeon had not the king who came running to see what this hurly-burly meant hindred him to do it who hearing him accuse me of adulterie with Don Eleimo by the instrumentall means of Don Eulavio told him that the judgement thereof belonged to him as King and therefore bade him get him to bed telling him that what he had done was sufficient assuring him withall that as he would have me burnt if he found me guiltie so would he also allow my innocencie such favour as it merited whereupon hee parting away though much against his will the King would not as yet leave me but patiently attending to see the end of my fit and conferring in the meane time while with the one and while with the other of my gentle women he well perceived the Prince his suspition to bee either vaine or malicious Returned to my selfe if so I may say that found my selfe then in a worse plight than ever the King drew neere mee consolating mee exceeding courteously and having first suffered me to vent out my teares for the disburdning of my heart hee then told me that albeit he never had occasion in so many yeares to suspect my honesty neverthelesse being that the gods had given him the Scepter of Iustice he could doe no lesse than heare such as accused me to the end he might the better heare me also And that if I knew my selfe innocent hee saw no cause I had to grieve seeing that I might assure my selfe that no tie of affection should prevaile with him so farre as to suffer me to be wronged I that felt my selfe strucke through the heart by so dishonest an injurie assured by my conscience answered him that the not condemning me obliged me never awhit because finding me guiltlesse as most certainely he should he was obliged to publish me innocent but that to free me from the evill opinion of the world wherein I was falne by this imputation lay not at his dispose unlesse he would be pleased to preferre the rites of justice before all respects of bloud by judging my malitious accusers by the strictnesse of the Talion law The King strucken inwardly with my words stoodawhile in a maze and afterwards bidding mee good night retired to his lodging leaving with me a guard with expresse order not to suffer the Prince to enter my chamber The day following the fame of this accident was rumored abroad not onely through the Citie but also over all the King dome with such discontent of the people murmuring in so open a manner against the person of the Prince as made him being no lesse timorous than cruell ready to goe besides himselfe neither was there any Market-place Temple or Common-walke where there was not punctuall scrutinie made of my life and behaviour followed by a generall judgement on my behalfe every way favourable And in truth though I had harboured a dishonest intention which was God knowes farre from my thoughts yet was it impossible for me to have ever put the same in practise being that I went no where unaccompanied nor staid I ever by night or day in my owne chamber all alone neither which is more favoured or affected I ever any one of my women more than the rest but esteemed them all equally alike bearing no other different respect towards them than might serve to manifest my better liking to such of them as I found more diligent in my service so as it was impossible for me to be accused by other than malice it selfe which neverthelesse by the aforesaid meanes could not possibly prejudice me because it could no way alleage time or place although by its mischievous malignitie it could devise how to alleage persons The day following the King would faine know of his sonne the cause of my accusation who related unto him all that he gathered out of Catascopo with the contumacie and suspitious flight of the two Knights where of he formed a consequence of my offence And then examining Catascopo who conformed himselfe in all things to the Prince his allegation without varying in any thing it hapned that the accusation though most false seemed somewhat likely to bee true Whereupon the King misinformed came to me and explained all that was laid to my charge opening unto me by his propositions a large field to cleare my innocency which I manifested unto him so apparently lively as any man but he would have instantly absolved me and condemned the Prince But alas No man ever hated his owne flesh so as it was no
other desiring him therefore to vouchsafe so it be not troublesome unto him to come hither himselfe The exceeding joy the Countesse hereat conceived cannot be expressed who went her self to conduct the Knight with the Physitians and Chirurgians to Perseno whose wounds not being mortall were with all diligence by them carefully look'd unto but the soveraigne balme that cured him indeede was his Mistresse her resolution told him by the Countesse so as having answered the Knight as he was in respective dutie obliged he licensed him to returne to his Master Metaneone as soone as he understood this unexpected answer would needs suddenly runne up but considering it to be then dinner-time he thought best to deferre it a little when lifting up his eyes by chance he saw the Countesse that beckned to him to come up whereupon accompanied with a few leaving all the rest below he ascended the rocke The Princesse made a shew of beleeving that he comming from as farre off as Sardegna without touching land any where was unfurnish'd of provision and therefore seeing that he came not had willed the Countesse to call him albeit she was by reason of the ruines and losses occasioned by the last great bickering deprived of the meanes of entertaining him any thing sumptuously But that was not indeede the white her intentions aimed at for the truth is that the desire she had to see him was so great as she had not the patience to stay till he came she being now upon the Countesse her perswasions totally changed from what she was before Nor might this be said to proceede from inconstancie seeing that she in all her actions manifested the contrarie than which it should rather bee beleeved that she being by nature endued with a constant inclination to whom shee was to bee married loved Perosfilo beleeving him to bee the man and in the errour it selfe followed her naturall inclination but come in the end to see and know the vanitie of her amisse-shed teares the reall blame she thereby justly incurr'd the more than great evills and inconveniences that thereupon ensued and withall how this Prince had served her deserved her and obtained her ere ever she knew him she could now doe no lesse than follow the instinct of her generous nature which was to love him whom the heavens had appointed for her Metaneone being come up the Countesse came to the gate to meete him where she would have kneeled unto him but that he permitted her not howsoever shee rapt with an extremitie of joy said unto him A great good fortune was it to us valorous Prince to meete with your Highnesse sithence thereon depended the safetie of us all who had else beene twice lost ere this time Nay rather right fortunate was I answered the Prince in having beene favoured with the occasion of serving my Lady the Princesse in your person who deserve to be served for your owne sake Whereto she with a respective obeisance replied Your Highnesse knowes well how to oblige too much although I cannot have too-much time to acknowledge your Princely favours Vouchsafe I beseech your Highnesse to come in and be joyfull for you shall finde my Lady the Princesse an altered woman so as I am induced to beleeve that your Highnesse is the true Perosfilo and here related she unto him succinctly how she had acquainted her Lady the Princesse of her being promised unto him in marriage Meane while the Princesse stood expecting him at her chamber-doore where come he kneeled downe before her and with a reverent force taking her hand kissed it with an observant affection so as I know not whether his presence or carriage liked her best Now Metaneone was next Polimero the best accomplished Cavalier of those times and whereas he at first hated such courtesies as were peerelesse in Polimero in whom he also disliked all other perfections So now hatred being chased away and love brought in in its stead there came running in with it headlong as it were all his brother's vertues at least much resembling if not of equall weight with them as though they had beene formerly violently and unnaturally excluded The Princesse offended with her selfe that she was not able to hinder him from doing such courtesies would not heate him a word whilest he continued in that kneeling posture but seeing his courage sufficed him not to utter one sole word so wrapt was he with the he joy conceived in seeing himselfe in presence of her who was the rich Cabinet wherein lay stored all his best of happinesse she perceiving the cause of this silence said thus unto him Right excellent Prince Let it not I pray you seeme any wonder unto you that I after so much time brake off now that deliberation which I once purposed constantly to observe during the remnant of my life I beseech you not thinke me such as being first ill-counselled by my selfe am now at the perswasions of others removed by reason of any naturall levity for if it so were I would rather chuse to continue unhappie as I was before than to re-acquire my former being by running the hazard of an opinion somewhat what sinister as you in that behalfe might conceive of me I will passe over with silence all those reasons which as both your selfe and any one else may easily judge perswaded me to alter my course of life but of one onely seene by none will I make mention And with this rising up to make him a low congey she proceeded This is the obligation and tie of duty I owe you to conforme my selfe thus to your will which if my father hath thought fit for me to do for greater reason have I to judge it so and will doe while life shall last I thanke you not either for your past or present favours sithence that you have now recovered that which the heavens had prescribed you which being yours and by you as you manifest beloved the thankes you therefore owe is to your selfe And with this my Lord I thought good to acquaint you not so much for declaration of my obedience to the King my father and expression of my gratefulnesse to you my benefactor as that you might henceforwards as sole Lord dispose of our stay or departure professing before all the world that I will for ever hereafter depend wholly on that honest courteous and discreet will of yours that knew so well how to oblige me The chamber was full of people that thronged thither to see how their Mistresse would behave her selfe among whom were also the Knights that came with Metaneone and she spake somewhat loud of purpose that all might heare her The Countesse with the other Ladies when they heard her burst out a weeping so tenderly that Metaneone had much adoe to hold from doing the like so strangely was he surprised with an unexpected content but very few were they who shed not some teares for companie with the women whilest he offering to kneele downe but by her not
permitted returned her this answer My ever-onely Lady Nature that was so carefull to create your Highnesse singular above all things else should by its singularities assure you that there is no judgement so clouded as considering your wayes can chuse but knwo your actions to be completely perfect and though it were possible that any such could be yet should it bee constrained to confesse that in you the very errours themselves are perfections which stealiâ— gwife accompanied you and being ambitious of honour and coverous of fame changed both name and nature being not for all that grafted but onely fastned to the boughs of the goodliest and perfectest tree that ever the gods of husbandry for celestiall deliciousnesse planted among the terrene ones of humane Paradise For who could have knowne how to leave father countery and Realme without any blot of errour except your unparalel'd selfe who have even in erring abounded in a singular constancie and incomparable worth of love farre surpassing all the constancies and merits of the world Your Highnesse then should not doubt but rather confidently beleeve that you shall thereby reape the more praise in that so praise-worthy an errour cannot sufficiently be prized which I repute to be more perfect because its sole perfections having invited mee it of it selfe so ravished me as I being really transformed into a sweete error cannot without error call my selfe more mine owne Now for that it pleaseth your Highnesse to make me happie by seconding the Will of the King your father I have not words to expresse my thankfulnesse nor effects to serve you comformable to your merit onely there remaine in me a desire and a will to both And because your Highnesse merits all that is good too too blame were I if after having given what else was mine I detained from you these that are yet left me Accept them then I beseech you to make mee will and desire if it bee your will that I may wish and your desire that I may desire who account my selfe no other than the obedient executor of your commands and in that right happie since fortune hath raised mee to so high a pitch as to be thought worthy to serve you The Princesse who had now converted her widdowly moane into fresh teares of conjugall affection joyfull of having acquired so courteous a Prince would not leave him unreplied unto with a gentle correspondence of courteous thankes-yeelding which ended and the houre of dinner a good while passed they sate them downe with better content and more consolation in the straightnesse of that Rocke than others of their ranke and eminencie would have done among the superfluous varietie of royall Palaces Needs would the Prince as soone as he had dined goe see Perseno whom the Princesse also favoured with the same honour where after some gratefull passages they had no time to discourse of ought else than of their departure which somewhat troubled Eromilia's minde for not knowing how to dispose of the Rock But the Prince who well knew the Tingitanan Kings ambition and how that such a place well fortified might curbe him at any time resolved not to abandon it at any hand so as their departure was deferred for no other cause than for the refabricking of its ruines and hewing the rock in such a contrived maner as no engins might approch it which in few dayes was dispatched by the helping hand of the Galley-slaves who laboured thereabout every one his share The Princesse would have him leave some of his to governe it whereto he would by no meanes condiscend deeming it as yet unbeseeming him so to doe but prayed her to leave there for Commander Perseno the rather because hee being grievously wounded could not chuse but grow to be in worse plight with the motion and rowling of the sea the Prince himselfe sending to Orano a frontier citie of his state for all things requisite for him to assure that hold against a long siege promising him withall in private that in case it pleased him not to stay there he himselfe would procure his father in law to send him a successour gratifying him in the meane time with large rewards of honours and revenewes from Mauritania of his owne things pertaining to his principalitie Things reduced to this head he embarked himselfe with the Princesse and all her family steering on a direct course for Maiorica Now Eromilia had by Metaneone's counsell ere shee parted caused the Brother-Princes to bee fish'd up whose bodies she sent embalmed in two coffers to the Lord of Velez with the two remaining Galleyes together with the full relation of the fact whereof he was before sufficiently informed praying him to send them to the King of Tingitana their father not without expressing her being sensible of the violence done her in their Dominions and in a place purchased of the Governour himselfe whereto he dissemblingly answered That the Princes came to no other end than to defend and rescue her having understood by their spies the designes of the Princes of Andaluzia and Granada And that if one of them endeavoured to force the Rocke it was for the discourteous language given him by the Captaine of her Garrison In the same manner were the bodies of the other two Princes together with their Galleyes consigned to such of their men as remained alive thereby to take away all pretext of grievances advertizing thereof besides the Courts of sundry Princes by particular letter expressing the manner of the fact to the end that the truth might be every where knowne Onely Don Peplasos was reserved to his wives determination being deemed unworthy to enjoy the prerogative of a Prince or honour due to a Knight for being culpable of two faults and in each of them two severall times guiltie after having for his first offence in the one and the other obtained pardon offences of a base minde an impious heart and mischievous affect and against that sex which nature made pious that it might even of crueltie it selfe obtaine pittie yet he more cruell than any cruelty moved with a barbarous avarice of Tyrannicall ambition had twise attempted the death of chaste Eleina to deprive her both of life and honour and to make her twise miserable with the rape of the gentle Eromilia besides his ingratitude towards the King of Maiorica and Prince of Mauritania who albeit they knew his ill intention yet because they thought it impossible for him to fall into relapse of so foule and enormous a fault had both set him at liberty and honoured him In such a fashion was his Inditement framed not by notaries upon the testimony of two or three nor written in fragile papers but in his owne conscience approved by the deede it selfe made notorious by the attestation of all that part of the world and registred in the most tenacious memories to be conserved for a perpetuall tradition to posteritie to the horror not so much of the good as of the mischievous that as