whereupon beleeving them to belong to one of the dead Princes he ranne hastily to the shore to hinder their disembarking All this while had Anter asto hastned the best he could for feare of comming too late doubting of the fortunate temeritie of his brother from whom he assured himselfe the Rocke could not easily be won by so few men as his troopes consisted of if his brother but once possessed it And seeing ride there three Galleyes he was not affraid of them but marvailed to see them so silent taking them to belong to the Princesse and imagining that his brother was not as yet there arrived drawing neerer them and seeing two of them full of dead bodies and the their with the colours of Orgilo which he soone descried together with himselfe standing on the shore he imagined that he had taken the Galleyes but that for not being able to take the Rocke he had then retired himselfe His first resolution was to seaze on the Galleyes which succeded him fortunately for causing his Archers to play at those squadrons he saw marshalled on the shore hee gave them no time to remount aboord their Galleyes as they sought to have done shooting them at his pleasure though to no great hurt of those others who kneeling on the ground and covering themselves with Targets closed together one athwart another sheltred themselves from the shot Orgilo had with him the bravest and expertest souldiers of all Assrike so as though inferior in number he no more feared this assault than if he had had equall forces to withstand it nor would he retire himselfe one steppe from the ground he stood on which was there where such as came a-shore were of necessitie to land Anterasto seeing the slender service his arrowes did him made on towards the shore with a Frigate whereupon his men seeing him goe with so few against enemies that so well defended themselves leapt into the water to ranke themselves with him who would have found enough to doe had they not beene armed with launces wherewith maugre the obstinate courage of Orgilo they forced a place to land the rest of their troopes yet him could they never have forced if his owne men had seconded him by doing as much as he did who not caring a rush for the pikes and launces but encountring them boldly burst them with his breast in shivers so confident was hee in the fine temper of his Cuyrasse not stirring one inch off his ground but blaspheming heaven and abusively injuring his followers branding with infamous titles and direfull menaces the most valiant of them who having retired themselves not cowardly but discreetly for being over-matched in number and armes as they forsooke him not in effect so came they farre short of equalling his temerity reduced to the point of obstinately resolving not to stir thence a foot Anterasto glad to see him brought to this streight and desirous to make use of this advantage commanded his troopes to keep the enemies so separated as they might not be able to come to re-unite themselves any more with their Captain wherein hee was straightwaies obeyed for two hundred of them falling into a close order interposed themselves between them leaving Orgilo all alone without possibility of being succoured by any whilest hee with his sword in both hands made himselfe large way without being hurt of any for all shun'd the whisk of his mortall blade which had by its keen cutting showne it selfe to be both well tempered and of finest edge and metall Anterasto who was a Knight of great valour and though not so strong yet more dexterous and warie than his brother whom he desirous to kill with his own hands not so much for any distrust hee had of his who would if they had known him have borne him respect as to carry away together with Eromilia and a kingdome the rich spoiles of three sovereigne Princes bravely encountred him hand to hand wounding him with a main blow on the elbow of the sword hand which although it struck him not downe because of the goodnesse of his armour yet was it such as so benum'd him as he was not able to requite him with the like so as favoured by this opportunity to make use of his point he bore him a thrust under the vauntplate between the two cuyshard pieces bursting through the mail that assured that part of his body and running his sword in his belly foure fingers beneath the navell Full well preceived Anterasto that hee had mortally wounded him yet not satisfied with giving him his deaths wound but desirous withall to let him dying know by whose hand hee fell Pround wretch said he th' art now come to that passe which thou thoughtst by thy treacheries to bring mee to die thou shalt now maugrethy stout mischievous heart by my hand and I will kill thee fairly as becomes a good Knight although thy treacherous life nver deserved at my hands so honourable a favour Orgilo knowing his brother and not grieving so much for his death as to dye by his hand seeing he could not use his right arm and that there was no way for him but death being therefore loth to lose any time in making him any answer hee throwing away his shield and patiently suffering himself to be wounded anew without offring once to put by any thrust with his left arm strongly grasped Anterasto whom hee being endued with extraordinary force bare to the Shore-brink which was not above ten paces off with telling him Die then I will for so will my misfortune have it yet shalt not thou insulting traitour out-live mee for wee will both march hand in hand to the other world where if there be any field to fight in I now mortally defie thee to an eternall combate At which word throwing himself downe headlong into the water with him maugre all his strugling to get off hee bare him downe to the bottome whence neither of them return'd ever sithence up again Anterasto's Knights there present little thinking to see their wrastling come to such an end were nothing carefull to help their master seeing the advantage hee had already much lesse when they came to know his enemy but when they saw both of them so plung'd in the Sea they remain'd thereat much astonished The Frigats ranne to their succour but too late and one who disarmed himself to dive under water to fetch them up soone repenâ—ed him of his intention when hee saw it was to no purpose at all seeing that if they were dead all his labor was in vain and if alive yet was it more than hee alone could do to bring them up again who besides would have had so much sense as to keep him under water with them taking him for an enemy and so should he have been drowned for atâ—nd man But indeed the truth is that they cared not much for either of them all men fearing and hating as well the one of them as the other so
to steale away the Princesse of Maiorica Of this good plot knew I nothing for the Prince beginning to grow cold in his favours to me-wards favoured another perhaps worse yet than my selfe at least in that behalfe that he could not conceale a secret wherewithall his Lord trusted him which he telling in confidence to a friend of his and that friend againe to another soone occasioned our almost utter ruine We incountred as it pleased the gods by the way the Prince of Mauritania your Highnesse brother with whom the matter past ill for us In that fight remained I wounded endevouring either to die or regaine the Princes favour not with an intention to enjoy it long but onely to assure my selfe thereof till such time as opportunity presented me occasion and place to run away it grieved me exceeding that I say so wounded as I was not able to helpe my selfe now that I might have made use of so fit an occasion for my purpose The King of Maiorica after the departure of the Prince of Mauritania considering how little it stead him to detaine in that sort Don Peplasos and too withall that sithence he was to set him at libertie his fairer course was to do it with giving him as little disgust as possibly he could after he had given his daughter notice of it thereby freeing her from danger in case Don Peplasos resolved to returne thither againe he went himselfe in person to visit him referring it to his owne choise whether he would go or stay Whereupon he assoone as he had dispatched himselfe thence having by making by the way enquiry easily found out the Author of the rumor spread a-broad caused him in his owne presence to be hang'd up by the maine yard Arrived at home scarce were his wounds cicatrized or begun to close up when he on the same pretext as before with an excuse that his wife was retired to Pegno della morte embarked himself taking with him foure Galleyes wheron it behoved me to mount aboord too wounded as I was resolved to run away at any hand as soone as we should be landed in Afrique Where what afterwards befell us is already knowne unto your Highnesse whom I humbly beseech to intercede some remission for me since that it better beseemes the Lady Princesse Eleina's royall brest to pardon than it ill befitted my base heart to offend protesting before the Immortall gods that in all these evills my offences shall never grow so high that they left not rooted in my mind a feeling sorrow for having committed them neither did I as I hope for mercy commit them out of any despight or malice but meerely for that ambitions sake that hath in every man such power in causing him to desire to engrosse to himselfe his Prince his favour wherein we have no example left us of any man that could ever yet in that kinde of avarice content or temper himselfe To these last words of his Polimero could not without disdainefull anger listen and beholding him earnestly he excused Don Eleimo's judgement for that Catascopo's countenance and demeanour was able to deceive the most penetrating subtilest understanding Once was he about to make him no answer at all his person not meriting any but observing to be there present many of the principall Courtiers he desirous that this example might serve them for a document thus said unto him Catascopo the Historie I heare of thee makes thee knowne to bee unworthy of what thou cravest especially those arguments aggravating thy fault wherewith thou pretendest to qualifie it Thou would'st have the Princesse Eleina pardon thee out of her ggreatnesse what thou hast offended out of thy basenesse not considering how that Princes are obliged to punish malefactors not to doe sacrifice to their particular revenge but for the publike weale's sake the people being much better bridled by example than swayed by lawes Nor indeed can she as a Princesse justly pardon thee for though that all her miseries had ended with her death yet the mischiefs and miseries that had thereon ensued or that may yet proceede therefrom betweene the Arelatan and Catalognian kingdoms might or yet may be perpetuall with the death of thousands of innocents that might or yet may perish by thy meanes Moreover thy being in the act it selfe sorry for having offended her makes thee the more unworthy of favour for it is no marvell if the blinde fall that hath no bodie to leade him or that a franticke man under the conduct of his corrupt imagination throw himself down headlong from any precipie but for one of a perfect sight to fall and refall so foulely and for one that hath a reflux of knowledge and beene admonished by conscience to precipitate thy selfe so dangerously and wilfully as thou hast done is a thing altogether prodigious nor can a man judge otherwise of thee than that thou intendest whensoever thou didst any mischiefe to doe it irrevocably without the consent either of reason or conscience an evident figne of an accomplished malice never to be repealed with any kind of good inspiration whatsoever nor am I ever a whit induced to beleeve that it was repentance which made thee when from on high thou sawest her drying her eyes with the sleeves of her poore gowne to thinke of succouring her and of bringing her home to her father for that was not an effect of a repentant spirit but of a minde already vilified in the consideration of its proper danger that thou incurredst with thy Master for the life thou could'st not deprive her of And this made thee thinking on thy own miseries capable of that pitty which thou hadst not whilest thou wast void of such impressions Men of a shallow judgement looking no farther than the apparances take those to be vertues that are not whereas the wiser sort examine the actions distinguishing that which really is from that which seemes to be Which that it is so thou maist see by thy selfe for thou betrayed'st not thy Master first but with premeditation nor the Princesse afterwards but with deliberation and yet passed there betweene these two treason plots dayes and moneths wherein thou hadst time to kindle the coles of charitie towards the one and the other if there had beene remaining in thee any sparke of vertue but thou didest it not till thy foreseene miserie joyned with the danger engendred in thee this adulterate pittie if it may be termed pittie and not rather basenesse diffidence of being able to save thy selfe any other way Nay I beleeve what is yet worse nor can I beleeve otherwise of such an one as thou art that thou seeing thy self undone thought'st with a new invention of malice to winne her to be thine after thou hadst lost her to her selfe and to make the instrument of thy life and good fortune her whose death thou had'st complotted whose miserie thou mean'dst to accomplish by taking from her her honour to no other end than to oblige her
aside all fiercenesse drew neere Polimero Who taking him gently by the reines and turning towards the Prince said I beseech your highnesse seeing through the favour of the gods you haue received no hurt to grant life to this faire beast for my sake I will not answered irefully the Prince but will that hee dye Vpon this every man strove who should be formost to come to strike him which Polimero perceiving to be done in scorne of him and not being able to endure it lightly vaulted on the courser and gallopping a maine speede out of the Quirie entred into the Kings stables where finding by chance the chiefe rider he deliuered the horse into his charge as a speciall steed of the Kings denouncing him his Maiesties indignation if he permitted any one not excepting any man breathing to lay hands on him The rider astonished to see one of the Kings sonnes come riding on such a horse imagining that the exception comprehended no ordinary persons answered that he would obey him and besought him to send for those horsemen that were accustomed to governe him whereto the Infante would not consent but caused him to put the horse now grown to be gentle into a good place of standing The Prince in the meane time having understood whither the Infante was gone stood a good while doubtfull whether hee should pursue him or no but pride and disdaine boyling within him he returned to the palace Some there were in that very instant that acquainted the King of these passages who made as though he knew nothing thereof expecting at the houre of dinner the comming of his sonnes according to the accustomed manner but observing Polimero's roome void and inquiring for him of one of his servants come thither expresly for that purpose hee was answered that he was in his withdrawing chamber come newly from abroad somewhat hot and weary but that he was well and desired with his Maiesties good leave to dine alone The King attentively looking on the Prince perceived his colour altered In the meane time Polimero returned from the Kings stables and reasoning with himselfe upon the matter was visited unawares by his governour the Count of Bona who told him how the Prince as hee returned towards the palace had rashly let slip that the death of some body should redeeme the life of the horse and therefore besought him to be circumspect and for a few daies to retire himselfe to a countrey palace of the Queens cald Poggio Because he beleeved that these words aimed at no man but him The Infante seeing the businesse fall out worse than hee imagined making shew of embracing his aduice resolved to depart for good and all and taking leave of him caused to be called unto him Carasio This Carasio was a squire given him by his father who having served him from his cradle besides that he was by nature loyall so deerely loved him as he judged that he could not trust any other more faithfull and more loving Wherefore he said unto him Carasio You see on what tearmes I stand with the Prince my brother I am resolued to give fortune place Only two things grieve me the one is that I must part without the consent of my Soveraigne the King and my Mother the other that I have not as yet received the order of Knighthood But now necessity must excuse me in the one and assist me in the other See that those armes which we over-saw some daies agoe be put in a readinesse with that little mony that I have and such jewels as you thinke may best stead and lesse comber me Choose you out for your selfe one of my steeds the best in the stable for me I will have no other than that fatall cause of my exile And as Carasio would haue said something Polimero interrupting him replied I know what you would say It greeves you that I part in respect of the discontent my father will conceive there-from It seems that my resolution is rash and overhasty not having beene advised thereon proceeding as you believe from some childish disposition But know that if I part not my stay will occasion heavier discontents I choose my departure as the lesser evill many moneths 〈◊〉 have I thought thereon my resolution is neither suddaine nor childish 〈◊〉 grounded on manifest tokens of the hate of my brother who will doe me all the 〈◊〉 he may during my fathers life and after his death all the mischiefe he please I therefore being of age to discerne and know my owne danger were very simple if want of yeeres should hinder me to eschew it My father I will satisfie not with my presence because I may not but by my letters and much more with my actions Here is not any patrimony for me we are to many brothers my selfe the yongest of all and not like to enioy o the eportion than my brothers hatred my fathers love should not make me hope for any thing who being aged must by course of nature dye shortly and he once gone who will protect me against such an one as is naturally inclined to tyrannize over me and beleeveth that the deceitfull love of the vulgar should edge me on to cause him leade a life full of misery and suspition Fortune Carasio is a woman and consequently a lover of youth seeing therfore I cannot abide here it behoves me the younger the better to seâ—ke her find her out and retaine her To waite irresolutely for time is but to lose time and to bring ones-selfe to such a passe as he can never amend the error of time And though I were not in such danger as I am yet must I goe get my selfe a patrimony elsewhere since that the spite of fortune made me bee borne last and the rigor of the law makes mee for being borne such poore and miserable Ther 's none can deny but that I doe well aswell to avoid contentions with my brother wherein I cannot choose but loose as also to take away the occasion of many vexations of the King my Father whom I should not grieve I will hence to Ireland to my Aunt and then I will thinke on my journey as occasion shall require See you dispatch all things this day in any wise and prepare this evening a ship the first that sets out of the hauen For I am most resolute that the Sunne shall not eye me to morrow in Birsa Carasio having heard his LORDS irrepliable reasons without any more adoe went to the haven where finding a ship of Sardegna with hoised up sailes and understanding that there blew a faire gale and that she would part about the first watch he having agreed with the mariners for their passage acquainted therewith Polimero who causing Flammauro to be led forth mounted on him and having awhile gently mannaged him without finding him any way disobedient to the great amazement of all those that had formerly seene him very capritious fayning to goe recreate himselfe to Poggio de gli
come visite her his most humble handmaid answered him that shee knew it not otherwise but that she must needs die The Prince in a manner illuminated by this answer but much more by her manner of expressing it suspected what the matter was indeed but desirous to be better cleared of his doub having besought her to comfort and cheere up her selfe hee prayed her to lenâ— him her pulse and there withall lest she night take cold by putting forth her arme he reached in his hand gently to it But she feeling her selfe touched with that hand which shee so much desired not able longer to refraine tooke it betweene her two hands and sweetly kissing it and bathing it with her teares said unto him Behold LORD how that I a dead woman have now more courage than I had when I was lively I beseech your Highnesse to pardon me I presume too much I know it I offend against mine own honesty but much more against your resolution which is by not loving me to compell me to die yet this doth me good that you being the cause of my death doe now know it you neede feele no other pulse than my heart which being in you you may keepe as you please dead or alive and by it give mee either life or death The Prince orecome with supreame tendernesse of affection answered Madam I have and doe love you and if I resolved to strive to conceale my affection yet did I it not with an intent to withdraw it from you I beseech you recover and be well otherwise my life shall end with your death Scarce had he finished the last accent of his speech when the Princesse came unto them Who having asked her how she felt her selfe said unto her Talasia I pray you torment me not by depriving me of you All the world will have your sicknesse to be nothing else but a meere melancholy and therfore the remedy lies in your owne power what want you woman will you be your owne murtheresse If you will not recover for any others sake yet doe it for mine See my LORD and brother the Prince is come to visite you and I am sure that you cannot please him better than in recovering The Lady Admirall who had already chased away all melancholy and who full of content thought the time long that she left not her bed answered The favours Madam you doe me are such as it is impossible for me to die though I would I am not so foolish but that I know that it is better for mee to stay here and serve you than to lie in the grave with my ancestors I will endeavour to obey you and doe already perceive my selfe to have that ability which before I had not I am toomuch obliged to my LORD the Prince by whose gratious visit I acknowledge my selfe revived for at his commâ—ng in I felt my selfe so amend as I now hold my selfe fully recovered The Princesse very gladsome embracing her about the necke kissed her and having together with the Prince accompained her a good while left her being well pleased to see manifest signes of her amendment neither deceived she her selfe therein for in eight daies space shee returned in her former plight both of health and beauty Perosphilo having thus under the pretext of pitty given reines to sense thought the time tedious till he should enjoy her and meeting her at his sisters agreed to speake with her that night being to enter into her house through a secret doore standing towards an alley frequented of few her husband was then executing his charge in the fleete on suspition of the King of Corsica who gave no obscure signes of enmity Because he requiring for wife Eromena the Princesse Arato denied her him seeing his daughter not thereto inclined this King who is called Epicamedo being of a crabbed nature pimple-faced and a creple Whereupon pretending old titles to the Iland of Asinara a naturall member of Sardegna it seemed he would by this pretext molest that kingdome Now the Lady Admirall had in her house many maids and women to whom she would not trust her selfe beleeving she might better commit her life and honour both into the hands of Prodotima her slave with many courtesies obliged unto her who withall was already some time past a servant in the Admirals house and shee seeing her selfe become her mistres treasurer of a secret of such importance was infinitely glad thereof hoping to reape there-from no ordinary profit shee was borne in Orcano and taken on those shores when she running away with her lover endevoured to save her selfe from the fury of her parents that came pursuing her not because they cared either for her or for the honor of their blood she being but basely borne but because at her parting away she had broken up the chest in the warehouse where her father was factor and stolen there-out the money And because matters ill begun end worse her fortune was to escape her parents and perish among strangers for the galleys of Sardegna being by a great tempest wether-beaten and driven to that shore the two Fugitives spied by the Galley-slaves were by them first taken and stript and then presented to the Admirall Andropodo which was the secret lecher was put to serve in the stable and she being an artificiall dissembler knew so well how to worke for her selfe that she was withdrawen from base slavery to services more civill about the person of her Mistresse And now perceiving her selfe imployed in affaires of so great consequence she with well composed words promised her utmost helpe and being rich in invention discoursed upon the manner and means of the comming of the Prince with such circumspection as the poore Talasia thought it impossible to perceive it her selfe much lesse her husband and gave her forthwith in earnest of her liberality two hundred crownes of gold At the appointed houre came Perosfilo armed with a sword a little buckler and a halfe coat of maile so secretly as that not any of his servants were any way privy to his going because some dayes before he had begunne to locke himselfe in his chamber with a devise that lying a bed he could with a little cord open and pull towards him the doore so now also hee caused himselfe to be set a bed but as soone as the Gentlemen that waited on him were gone he put on his cloathes himselfe and getting out by a secret ladder went on to the Admirals house where he needed not to touch the doore so vigilant was the villanous Prodotima who expecting him with the doore under-shut suddenly leade him the way in It 's needlesse to tell you of the joy and pleasure of the two Lovers because the imagination unable to conceive it deprives the tongue of the ability of expressing it let it suffice that they did their best to recompence the two yeares time lost to their loves with the perill of death incurr'd by her in her last
the faire termes of Knighthood much rather in that he doubted lest the noise and bustling of their blowes might indanger them so as the poore Prince pierced at once with six darts was not any more able either to strike or speake The Baron of Iangue and the Count of Pussinera were from the beginning runne to the bed who lest the Lady Admirall should cry out held close her mouth stopt up with the sheetes her husband having made her rise up and put on a chamber-weede intending because he disdained to kill her himselfe to cause her to be strangled by the slave seeing the Prince not yet quite dead grew desirous for his greater anguish that she should give him his last wound and having therefore made her take a Poyniard in hand he told her his will was that to revenge the death he had given her honour she should resolve to kill him with her owne hands she seeing him wallowing in a lake of bloud and how he though gasping for life yet beheld her laying aside all feare stab'd her husband with the Poyniard in the face thinking to strike him in the throat-pipes for well deemed she him arm'd every where else and had therewithall sped him had he not fallen flat on the ground then turning towards the next unto her which was the Baron of Vellapetres she ranne him in the flanke and kil'd him The Admirall in the meane while gotten up gave her a thrust in the side which pushed her upon the Baron of Lybaraba in whose belly she without losse of time buried the Poyniard up to the hilts aiming her thrust low for doubt of sticking it in his coat of maile and therewith sped him but then shee beaten downe with divers blowes and struggling to set her selfe forwards againe to kill her husband came to fall upon the Prince where faintly kissing him she breathed out her life with him in that very instant as he breathed out his last gaspe The Admirall seeing his plot brought to passe at so deere a rate as to have two of his companions slaine and himselfe wounded knew not what course to take with their bodies and yet needs must he have resolved to get him thence when every one advising him not to lose any time about two inutile carcasses he thought his best and safest course was to be ruled by them Having therefore bound up his wounds hee wished them all to goe out into the Hall to the end that those of the house wakened with their bustling seeing them jest beating one the other with pillowes might beleeve that thence began the first noise The beds being made ready they called for dice commanding the servants to goe sleepe under colour of having no man to over-looke their game and because many of them considering how unfit it was to leave Lords of such a ranke not attended with asmuch as one servant would have waited out of the Hall they constrained them to get them thence and by locking the doores after them had thereby conveniencie a little after to shift themselves away thence without being observed of any The Admirall had fore-thought of all things except the two slaves whom then also he had not remembred had they not presented themselves before him so as they must have taken them up behind them on their horse-croppers had not the death of the two Barons remedied that inconvenience And because Caleri for the suspition it had of Corsica stood then guarded with some watch it behooved the Admirall to make himselfe knowen unto the Porter of the Citie They rode all night having twise changed horse and taking the way of Montevero arrived there the day following There were they inforced to leave behind them Prodotima accompanied with the slave all galled and bruised with riding to embarke themselves suddenly at the mouth of the river Thirsis distant but eight miles from Montevero and thence to get them to Porto Torre themselves without one minutes stay holding on their journey with incredible diligence arrived the night following at Sassari As the Pilate held on his discourse there appeared in sight a small Barke sayling here and there without any order or direct course which being shewed them by Polimero they judged it to be some one that had beene rob'd by Pirates and left as a play-game to the windes desirous to know the truth they bore up to her But because she was yet afarre off the Pilate requested to continue his History thus proceeded It grew to be farre dayes and Talasia's Gentlewomen expected that Prodotima should come to call them up as she was wont to doe but dinnertime being come and no Prodotima as yet appearing and the Serving-men on the other side marvelling they saw not in the strangers lodgings the Knights come thither with their Master the night before went on towards the fore-chamber where Prodotima lay where knocking many times and hearing no body stirre within they began to doubt of I know not what Whereupon bouncing againe many times and often they resolved without any respect to throw downe the doore which when they had done and found not their Prodotima onwards they went into the chamber and there they saw the pittifull spectacle of foure bodies lying weltred in bloud whereof to their great horror they knew at the first sight their Mistresse and the Prince My tongue cannot expresse the effects of griefe and amazement that seazed on these poore people neither beleeve I that they can be imagined unlesse the imagination had experimented a like disaster they could not as much as ghesse how the matter stood because they never were any way privie to the Prince his love but seeing him now in such a plight and knowing that their Master came to the house that night and thence shifted himselfe away privily they beganne to doubt of what was so indeed The Steward having caused the gate to be shut with charge not to open it to any man went to the Kings Councell to whom he related the fact conformable to his conjectures The Councell not knowing by what meanes they might therewith acquaint the King were advised by the Marquesse of Bossa Lord high Chamberlaine not to informe the King of any thing ere they had seene themselves the body of the Prince and with more certainetie informed themselves of the case wishing therefore all or some of them to goe to the Admirals house whilst he rooke care that no man came neere the King His Councell was imbraced The Marquesse retiring to the Kings chamber and the others as soone as their coaches came hurrying to the Admirals house where causing it to be close shut up and the chamber opened they saw the relation prove but too too true there being not any of them present who by the place persons and qualities of the dead comprehend not the case Having afterwards examined the household they understood of the Admirals being there that night accompanied with Reparata and the rest and how that the slaves were
not sithence seene by whom they beleeved the Prince to bee betraied and so by the helpe of the rest murthered by the Admirall They sent suddenly to the gates where they understood that the Admirall with eight Companons all well horsed went out at the gate of Castlemuni They resolved to send after him and having to that end sent for the Count of Montereale Generall of the horse and shewed him the body of the Prince they committed to his charge what he was to doe The Count who adored him living and now being dead could not satisfie himselfe in bemoaning him considering that the present state of the businesse required somewhat else than teares went on his way most resolute to use all possible diligence to revenge his death The Lords of the Councell in the meane time after they had taken such order as was requisite touching the bodies of the Prince and of the guiltie Traitors returned to the Palace But the Citizens having I know not how understood of the accident and telling it one unto another were seene to shut up all their shops in an instant with lamentations so manifest that the King perceiving it asked the Marquesse what was the matter who answered him that he knew not but the King seeing it more and more increase bade him goe call the Prince and learne what the matter was Wherein whilst the Marquesse tooke on him to obey him there appeared in his presence the Privie Counsellors who when the King saw come thronging so many together he imagined that some great disaster had hapned for all of them pitifully lamented insomuch as the President who was to be the Speaker could not utter a word whereat the King impatient turning towards the Marquesse and seeing him make greater moane than any of the rest asked him angerly if the King of Corsica were in Caleri or if the Kingdome were lost My Soveraigne Leige answered then the President would to God I could bring you that newes in exchange of this other a thousand times more wofull for there might be hope to recover againe the Realme whereas the losse that both you and the Kingdome have now sustained is irrecoverable What can it then be replied the King Is Perosfilo dead At which demand all of them kneeling downe and pitifully lamenting him with grieuous sobs and mornefull cries answered that he was The King hereat astonished would have runne towards the Lodgings of the Prince thinking to see him there Whene the Queene comming out thence accompanied with Eromena with their heire hanging disorderly about their eares more like Bacchanals or mad women than themselves met him at a doore full-but The Queene strangely gazing on the standers by with reiterated words cried out Perosfilo Where is hee where is my Sonne Come give him mee withhold him not rom mee for I will have him This incounter was to the King even as a fire which come neere a dry tow-like matter fuming and halfe consumed puffs it up in a flame in an instant for seeing his wife and daughter in so strange a fashion his spirits and courage so failed him as he sunke downe to the ground But the Queene without taking any notice of him running about while here while there continued in calling out for her Sonne till become all hoarse with crying she held her eyes immoveably fixt where once she let fall her sight without shedding a teare Eromena the mirrour of beauty and Prudence stood in that instant with her faire eyes concentrated pale and wan She wept not and yet she wept for her weeping were exclamations and sighes she called on the beloved name of her brother she sought for him all over his Lodgings and hehind the Tapistrie as if she had hoped to have found him there hidden The King was raised up from the ground and laid in his bed so would the Ladies have likewise disposed of the Queene but she become frantike ran up and downe the Palace and round about the Lodgings complaining of the heavens and cursing men till she brought her selfe to that passe as she was not able any more either to move or crie The numerous companie of Ladies that pittifully wept about her had not beene able to re-conduct her to her Lodgings if Eromena fearing with her brother to lose also her mother had not with her presence and teares importuned and perswaded her to retire her selfe It boots me not to tell you of the revolt of the Citie when the corpes of the Prince were about midnight brought to the Palace The dolefull Eromena considering how her father was by reason of his great griefe fallen sicke of a Feaver and her mother growne distracted of her senses was not therefore willing to let them know any thing but went her selfe with a few others to veiw the body but then although all her vitall powers ran unto her heart although all her force and vertues whereof the heavens were unto her so graciously liberall united themselves together to fortifie her courage yet could not all this save or sustaine her spirits and almost her life from failing her at that instant she grew pale shee swounded she fell dead at least in all likelihood and died she had indeed if a spirit more feeble had given shape and being to a lesse generous heart In the end come to her selfe and sitting by the corps as she watered his breath-losse face with a fountaine of her teares she said Are these then the joyes Brother which we expected of thee Are these the hopes that the world had of thee which with all reason is expected of thy valour Is this the flourishing age by so short a space of life so cruelly cut off to bring therewithall to an end with no lesse crueltie the lives of those that brought thee into the world why did not thy resplendent vertues dazle the eyes of him that slew thee maugre the spectacles of envie O cruell starres To what end served such and so great influences of beautie and exquisite feature in a body peerlesse for prowesse and adorned with so divine a soule seeing a little blemish an error in youth so tender so excusable hath caused and proâ—ured the corruption and ruine of all those excellent perfections to give the whole world cause to lament the losse of them yet are they not lost for what ascends from above must returne to whence it came so as we have no cause to grieve for thy generous soule but yet can we not chuse as we are mortall but lament the dissolution of the perfectest composure that ever nature put together neither can we without death chuse but bewaile thy death depriving us of the life which from thy sweet life we received for in thee were indivisible all those graces which the Graces participate not to others but in such measure as is requisite for the delight of humane kind We cannot chuse but mourne seeing our selves threatned at home and abroad being since we are deprived of thee without
to other mens labours The Princesse astonished at her discourse would faine egge her on a little further for the better discovering among obscurities so palpable the cleerenesse of an elevated capacitie wherefore she said unto her The cause sister mine of our errour in beleeving that evill hath a greater stroke over us than good proceeds from our owne passions as you your selfe have confesessed though in respect of themselves they bee of equall weight The palat is more digested with the bitter than pleased with the sweete though of its proper nature it love and affect the latter the reason is because our senses make us more sensible of ill than good which if wee consider rightly we shall have no reason to complaine of nature which made not contraries with proportion more contrary in the one than in the other The blacke is no more blacke than the white is white albeit the one is discerned better than the other not for any defect of contrarietie but by reason of the qualitie of the eye that is more inclined to receive the impression of the one than of the other the Sunne likewise which for his brightnesse should bee more apt to bee seene is neverthelesse for a like reason lesse seene If then it bee so as most assured it is Why then comfort you not your selfe now that you are certaine of having passed the period of your evils by the escaping of death the extremest point of all misery So as necessarily your misfortune declining it 's malignite in the recesse prepares for you in his change argument of consolation and seeing that changes are no other than mutation of qualities you ought to suppose that it must needs bee from bad to good Alas Madame answered the woman weeping consider I pray you that reason and sense cannot be weighed with equall weights because reason is either so fleeting as she will not suffer us easily to lay hold on her or else light and wavering if shee chance to be formed by use or opinion But the sense being weightie and of certaine consistence remaines active and deceives not unlesse it selfe be beguiled by some alteration well said you that so should I doe for indeede so would I faine doe but first make you these scales even if you can by giving mee either so much reason as sense or else no more sense than reason and then will I both obey you and comfort my selfe But woe is me it is their irreconcileable disparitie that makes my miserable estate inconsolable in that the practise of the Theoricke is in them too too different the one being more easie to an eloquent tongue than the other to the stoutest heart when it shall have occasion to put it in practise Now as touching the excesse and period of my evils know most noble Lady that if men could content themselves with food onely as doe the wilde beasts then might the argument be good for you of your commiseration having freed me frō death which was the period of evill me thinks reason tels me that I am now in its recesse for that the way of life is opened unto me but too too miserable is our condition to bee contented to live onely and to live to our selves alone there is none but knowes that we must live for others also neither say I onely as he who held that we are borne to our Countrey and friends but I hereto adde that we are likewise borne to our owne affections and among them above all to honour which subsisting of an unknowne and delicate element receives its influence from the course of the more delicate spheares which conjoyned to these materials are in the point of their period diverse in qualitie even as mine are so as the recesse of ill in the one is the recesse of honour in the other How then can one live in the recesse of ill with the hope of the accesse of good when the recesse of honor engenders the accesse of infamy that stands in the opposite point But to speak with your own principles you Madame well know that it is not one sole aspect that makes us become miserable but our meeting afterwards with other new aspects in the way of theirprog ressions the being of the maligne stars which the learned call the Infortunate of superior situation and by consequence heavier and slower which being in some sort intricated with the fixed that are slowest of all are never more disinveloped but accompanie our few dayes with infinite evils which being limited by death and deprived of all power of hurting us in a life freed from their fetters pursue us nevertheelesse to our very graves with an abominable and ignominious fame which i say not because I beleeve it to be so indeede but because that who so gives those principles credit will be induced to beleeve no otherwise And I for my part cannot chuse but subscribe to the opinion of such as beleeve that the fates and constellations are no other thing than the providence of the gods whereunto if I now trusted not more than I doe to the celestiall figures I should utterly despaire The Princesse observing her to speake with much paine and great perplexiti of minde thought it not good to trouble her any further albeit she much desired to know both her and the originall of her misfortunes the rather because she well discerned in her ordinary signes of no ordinary person leaving therefore Aretia to accompany her she returned to the Princes to whom she related what discourse she had with her expressing her selfe to be gladder of this prize than of that of both the Fleets They lodged themselves in Terranova as well as they could where the sicke woman was carefully looked unto and lodged as commodiously as the straightnesse of the place would permit who by meanes either of the Physitians or of comfortable repose recovered together with her strength her before exiled beauty Whilst the Princesse continued with the weake woman the two brothers had time to conferre together where Metaneone informed his brother of all that past betweene him and his father and how he was by him sent to finde him out whom therefore he once intended to have conducted homewards but perceiving as he thought in that Princesse probable signes of an excessive love towards him and considering withall how the tie of honour straightly obliged him to deferre his departure thence till the warres were ended he knew not what course he were best to resolve of howbeit he held his owne returne necessarie because he was to intreate his father to demand for him a wife and there related he unto his brother all the story of Eromilia yet knew he not well how he could go home without him And that on the other side in procuring him to returne with him he should doe very ill for that he might thereby marre his fortune and hinder his advancement which hee ought rather by all meanes to further and procure not onely for
unto thee with a strange kind of benefit directed wholly to thy own sole ends which also might have accordingly succeeded thee considering the noble inclinations of so excellent a Princesse But the gods permitted thee not to put that project in practise having destined for her safetie other meanes than thy malicious pittie which because they in thee abhorred they blinded thy eyes and clouded thy understanding for finding her any more nor doth thy last alleaged excuse that the ambition of the Prince his favour was cause of thy offence decline any whit from thy other reasons for if we ought not to doe evill that good may come thereof how can we excuse that evill whence springs another evill by many degrees greater The impossibilitie thou inferrest of the never being of any man that could in such like ambitions containe himselfe is most false whereof though I yet granted thee that there were not any yet will I never concede that there cannot be any such A Prince his favour is acquired either by merits or else by reason of the inclination of the Prince himselfe and where merits are there is seldome any great fortune for they proceeding from vertue those vertues cannot brooke fortune but disdaine her means and she again seeing her selfe so despised scornes and contemns them where inclination is there resides fortune also but diversely for many Princes are good have good inclinations but with them have they also their affects which they will have humored yet should they not be therefore abhorr'd seeing they are but men nor should they be condemned or much blamed for chusing persons to their fancy and liking so that the State suffer not thereby True it is that such as these shall be by so much the neerer a fortune by how much the farther off they are from integrity except when the Prince his meere liberality inricheth them out of his owne without prejudicing any other But such as are cald to favour to be instruments of the wicked to the ruine of the good as thou wast are not of this number but of a third degree as detestable for being in the extremitie of evill as is that of the good desirable that marcheth in the fore-ranke of goodnesse so as I beleeve that among all men in the world thou onely art in that degree and as such an one unworthy of either excuse or pardon Much amazed remained Catascopo at this so rigorous though just judgement of Polimero which ended he was reconducted to prison where along time he continued without any hope of pardon or releasement Eromena having passed over into Corsica and taken Bonifacio march'd on to Sagona which yeelded it selfe to her mercy with the same felicitie tamed she the Talsines acquired Telisano the valley of Vasina Giovellino with whatsoever other places are contained in Capo-Corso Nebbio that was then the citie and seate Royall made her some resistance the Rebels being reduced thither and most resolute to defend themselves till death which they had performed if the inhabitants had thereunto consented which later weying with themselves the losse they sustained by Polimero's valour and considering withall how scant their provision was growne yeelded on reservation of the safegard of their lives and goods whilest the Rebels seeing the people so inclined saved themselves by timely flight in Balagnia In the meane time had Polimero long before sent the Count of Bona to the King his father that he might when he had given an account of his embassage in Maiorica obtaine an other for Sardegna to demand in marriage for him Eromena wherein he was with such expedition dispatched as Nebbio was scarce rendred up when the Princesse received letters from her father with newes of the arrivall of an Embassadour from the King of Mauritania about a businesse of so great importance as it necessarily required her personall presence wishing her therefore to leave good order for the enterprise and to hie her selfe thither with all possible speed Vpon this Eromena well knowing what the businesse was though loth to part from her lover posted away leaving all the troopes in his charge taking along with her the Marquesse with the principall Commanders of the Campe to the end that the whole honour of the conquest of Corsica might rest entirely his alone Nor was she therein deceived for Polimero desirous to bring his enterprise to an end and above all to get into his hands the Rebels came before Balagnia so suddenly and unexpected as they had no time to get out as they made account to have done any tentative of theirs serving them to no purpose for that the citie was walled round about so as it was soone given up and the Rebels consigned him alive This done he tooke Calui wth all its territorie nor remained there now other than Genarca which because of its being seated on the sea had not so easily beene forced if he by bringing thither the Fleet had not constrained it to follow the fortune of the others Afterwards having embarked the Rebels on the Mauritanian Gallies he commanded the Admirall to deliver them from him to the King As soone as Eromena was come the King told her the occasion for which he sent for her was for that the King of Mauritania had sent to demand her in marriage for his sonne Polimero She making as though the matter were strange to her answered that shee would doe what should be by the State thought fitting referring her selfe wholly to the Councell Now those of the Councell come with her from the Campe were fewer than those others of the Court and approved of the marriage acknowledging for chiefe of their side the Marquesse of Oristagnio But the Marquesse of Bossa being uncle to the Count of Montevero endevoured by all meanes to crosse those nuptials making with the kinsmen of the Rebels so strong a voice as that but for the others authoritie he had easily hindred it His reasons were the disparitie of their yeares his being without any patrimonie his having made many principall houses in the kingdome his enemies with the imprisonment and consequently the torture and death of so many Barons which though it were done on a just ground yet was not justice able to give every one satisfaction And though that prudent Princes ought to aime their levell at reason onely when they reape no prejudice therefrom yet if they see any likelihood of the contrary then ought they to second the passions of their subjects who being potent in a state might otherwise trouble it they presupposing the justice done to the faulty to bee a generall injury to their bloud whereof in respect of the number of such as were innocent there should be a speciall care taken not to contaminate the honour of some in the punishing of some others Nor can the governement be supportable of a Prince brought in with the bloud of so many who for for being necessitated to leade a life full of jealous suspitions cannot be
countries preferred Calary which is the citty where the King did and doth yet reside before all others the most renowned cities of Europe Among the principall dames of Sardegna among the fairest and best esteemed of the Princesse was Talasia Lady Marquesse of Sassari a young Lady of nineteene yeares of age brought up with the Princesse Eromena Who though married had yet no occasion to leave the court because her husband a harsh fellow but of a great spirit served the King as Admirall of his fleete Perosphilo at his returne home was two and twentie yeere old during all which time Love could never get any victory over him being ever till then daunted with the Maiesty of his vertues imployed in so many heroike actions But espying him now idle thought it the fittest time to bring him under his obeysance and because hee had beene his wilfull enemy with a miserable and tragicall successe The Lady Admiral kept continually the Princesse her company neither came the Prince ever to the lodging of his sister but that hee there found her And finding in her at first sight regard-worthy objects hee thought well of her ere the destinies compled him to love her neither imagined shee ever that the favours of the Prince were other than meere termes of gentility wherewith she being caught began to love him ere shee thought her selfe belov'd of him yet as the native vertue of the one served as a remedy to quell downe the growing fire so the seemely modesty of the other fearing to presume too high made her conceale that flame which in the end reduced to ashes both her life and honor The Prince in his long travels lighted on a thousand occasions of love which he eschewed to shunne any thing that might disturbe the honorable course of his worthy enterprises and now freed from this care as though other occasions deserved not such or greater obstacles hee suffered himselfe to bee bound and being but a Novist in that practise thought at first there was no such matter to bee doubted of but deceiving himselfe and beleeving that faire parts in a beloved object were onely faire for being vertuous hee perceived not how the more he esteemed it the more it pleased him and the more it pleased him the more it inflamed him After that vertue a greenefuâ—ll for such a fire was somewhat dry'd up and that it's smoake which were good inspirations evaporated away through the chimniâ—s of youth the flame of the one began so lively to communicate it selfe with the flame of the other that joyned both in one they became to be by little and little an infernall Mongibello The Prince meditating with himselfe considered as a presager of what was to ensue all the mischiefe that afterwards befell him There lay represented before him his Illustrious deeds his renowne acquir'd with those his royall vertues that purchased him the good opinion of the world then the quality of the woman not for being his inferior but for being married and because her husband was a noble and valiant knight the King his fathers servant and a well deserver of the crowne But that which more than all the rest tormented him was his conscience gnawing him so shrewdly and stinging him so deepely that the very Imagination of the sinne was to him both penance and torment This conflict betweene him and reason lasted well-nigh two yeeres during which time he did as much as a well governed understanding could doe and thought to ease his heart of this conceit by listning to the marriage which his father treated for him with the Princesse of Maiorica But the subtile Lady Admirall who was long before aware of the Prince's love to her-ward and did oft hope that the heate of youth and delight of enjoying would in time vanquish all the Philosophy of vertue and reason when she understood that hee had condescended to the conclusion of the marriage so long for her sake suspended was ready to grow franticke with the very thought therof But honesty so tempered her affctions that concealing inwardly her griefe shee seemed in outward shew to be more joyfull than ever before Meane time the disease creeping inwardly brought her to her bed for not bringing her to her Beere which had been better for her The Physitians knew not what to doe her impairing was manifest her disease unknowne and strange yea meere conjectures were deficient because the meanes whereby to coniecture were wanting they applied vnto her foments but not such as she required they gave her cordialls but not proportionable to her melancholy so as cestaine of the evill and despairing of the cure they left her in the hands of fortune The Princesse that truly loved her conceived thereof an extreame griefe not omitting to visite her dayly having caused her to bee brought to the Palace in a covered chaire and couch'd her in a withdrawing chamber neer her owne The Prince for all his resolution made never more to thinke of her could take no rest neither thought he that hee could possibly live if she died he asked for her often of Eromena and was somewhat solaced in hearing the sweete harmony of her name But finding one day his sister with bitter sobs bemoaning her as dead hee comforted her intermingling among the offices of consoling an expression of a certaine pious desire he had to see her wherupon his sister said Alas my LORD and brother and well are you thereto obliged for you owne not that subject that is more observant of you than Talasia with much a-doe could the Prince refraine from teares when concealing his griefe hee said Let us goe Madam to doe this charitable office which I had done long ere this had not the due respects of her sexe withheld me The Princesse would first know what she did and would goe give her notice how that the Prince would come visit her The languishing Talasia that stood on the point of death and who having abandoned all earthly things retaind only the love of her Perosphilo understanding that she should see him before her death was the best contented woman in the world and not wanting her gentile spirits although deprived of all the rest sent him word that she having never merited much and now being a carkasse nothing at all should exceedingly joy to carry with her to her grave the honour of being so highly and gratiously favoured of her LORD and Prince The chamber-windowes were all shut so that whosoever came therein saw nothing but onely heard a pitifull murmure of the standers by and sometimes the languishing sighs of the sicke Lady Perosphilo was conducted unto her bed whilst the Princesse would needs goe know of the women what she said or did since she had left her The grieved Prince knew not how to frame his speech yet with a pittifull accent enquired of her disease Shee with an amorous hearts griefe able to become visible in darknesse it selfe thanking him for having so much abased himselfe as to
the Admirall perceiving himselfe out of sight told him that the occasion wherefore he had prayed him to come thither was for that he resolved to avenge his wrong'd honour was desirous to participate it to King Epicamedo who by that occasion might not onely be revenged for the refusall of the Princesse Eromena but also impatronize himselfe of that kingdome which they offered him telling him that they demanded no moneys howbeit he might doe well to imploy such as hee should have given them in reinforcing of the fleete with more men and munition to passe over into Sardegna when he should be thereof advertized That the Admirall would stirre up to rebellion the fleete under his command having already purchased the love and affection of the Captaines and Souldiers thereof which he could the easier accomplish because his was no rebellion but a just revenge That as soone as he received an answer he would communicate the businesse to all his friends whereof some of them had their lands and castles lying in the Province of Lougodori over against Corsica so as at their landing in the Iland they should find no resistance That in these consisted all the strength of the kingdome in that the Prince being once dead there would remaine to King Arato but very few souldiers without either Generall or Captaines Glad was Mortiro of so goodly an imployment whereof when when they had sufficiently discoursed every one returned to his owne barke agreeing within six dayes to meete againe in the same place where being accordingly returned Murtriro presented the Admirall with a letter from King Epicamedo whereby he accepted of their offer promising all whatsoever they had required of him specifying withall how that he would send into the Iland twentie thousand souldiers and increase the fleete to the number of five and twenty Galleyes together with this message sent he him for a present a rich sword with the hilts inlaied with many diamonds and unto the Count a rich Iewell to weare in his hat Afterwards having more particularly ordered a setled course for what was to be effected the Admirall together with the Count returned to the Fleet and thence went away as if it had beene to recreate themselves together with the Baron of Frisano to whom when they had communicated the businesse he remained so troubled in mind to here of such an unexpected act done by the Prince that loving both the Admirall and his Cozen as it were with an equall affection he easily consented to make one in this conspiracy Thence compassing about Capo Luogodori they infected all those tributaries thereabout whereof the principallest were the Earles of Reparata of Pussinera and of Castle Rabone with the Barons of Ianque of Lilaraba of Lagosardo and of Villapeires All these were present at the death of the Prince except the Count of Montevero who with the occasion of apparant receit of sixtie thousand crownes having by the Admirals appointment liberally given as largesse of his winnings in the army more than six thousand of them had so obliged the Captaines and all the rest that it was thought fit to leave him in the custody and governement thereof The Admirall in the meane time sent the King and Prince often intelligence of the great preparations of the King of Corsica desiring to be authorized with greater power to the end he might give order in the country of Luogodori for the defence of that Cape dangerous in time of invasion as the neerest unto the enemy Whereupon he received greater authoritie than he desired and began first to fortifie his owne holds namely Sassari and Porta Torre Thence with title of Commissary Generall he visited the Conspirers and caused their townes to be fortified their battalions armed and many companies of souldiers to be levied all at the charge of the Kings Exchequer without a penny of expence of either his or his complices All which accomplished and nothing but the execution lest uneffected he sent for the slave under pretence of having the horse which he governed who come and instructed of what he had to do returned to expect him at Caleri Where the Admirall with the conspirers came by night at the houre appointed and were hidden by Prodotima after Talasia was a bed in the study of the fore-chamber After that the Prince had received intelligence from the Admirall of the King of Corsica's being up in armes he felt in his heart although he was the most valourous Knight in the world a new effect of melancholy withisome conceit or feeling of feare whereat he was astonished It seemed to him unlikely that Epicamedo alone without forraine aide durst move warre against Sardegna a kingdome well-neere thrice greater than his and withall abounding with warrelike subjects And being desirous to proceede on sure ground he had sent many spies into Corsica who conformably advertized him of the great preparations there and how that all the troopes marched towards Basilica over against Sardegna whereupon he often sollicited the Marquesse by sundry poasts to assure that Countrey of Luogoderi till such time as he having mustered up the horse and armed men came thither in person All that morning which preceded his death spent he with the King and Queene who grieved to see him so changed and he angry at himselfe strove to force himselfe to be merry but his joyes vanished in an instant In the evening he determined to goe sport himselfe with his Talasia Prodotima led him to the chamber as she was accustomed all trembling as knowing what was to befall him and passed before the Conspirers The Prince disarm'd and uncloath'd himselfe but the Admirall not able to hold any longer rush't into the chamber just as the Prince thought to lay himselfe downe and without speaking a word thrust at him a full stocada which although it pierced him quite through the other side yet was it not mortall The Prince seazing suddenly on his sword that lay by him stroke at the Admirals head with so maine a force that he warding with his buckler was not able to beare off the blow but yeelding thereto the sword came to charge him so furiously on the head that cutting through the Helmet it somewhat wounded him But the Prince seeing so many about him and among those the Earles of Reparata and Castel Robone both his speciall Favorites detesting and wroth to see so great ingratitude he said unto them And to you Traitors what have I done that you thus murther me Thou hast done too much in maculating our bloud answered Reparata now these were all of them of kinne either to the Lady or to the Admirall and the Count of Reparata was her owne Cozen-germaine who thought this fatall shame concerned him nearest in that she had neither father nor brother living The Admirall who had fore-thought of the manner of conducting this enterprize had before-hand furnished his companions with Iavelings because having considered the valour of the Prince he judged it folly to regard
Prince his servant to whose memorie I am so much indebted as that I shall never more content my selfe in that I can no longer serve him And as soone as by the meanes of the conductors backe of the she-slave the flight of this Villaine was knowne I resolved to goe to sea my heart telling me that I should finde him out having verie well knowen him in the house of the Admirall his master I romed of purpose up and downe this sea almost a moneth without being any thing the neerer of finding what I sought for untill assayled by a great tempest I was constrained to save my selfe in the haven of Birsa Where to avoid the being questioned of the affaires of Sardegna whereof I was doubtfull whether I might without danger relate any thing in neighbouring countries I charged every one to call me by the counterfeite name of Pilot. And when I saw your servant enquiring out for passage in some ship for two persons and two horses I know not what spirit prompt me knowing him to be your servant that he sought them for you putting then his hat off in reverent manner he proceeded which are the Infant Polimero worthy sonne of the puissant King of Mauritania wherein I thought my selfe exceeding fortunate judging that in our tribulations the gods had touched the heart of a youthfull Prince so like both in the vertues of the mind and beautifull proportions of body to our deceased Prince to come to the defence of Sardegna so as it was no difficult matter for us to accord for the passage And now my Lord behold us both unmasked Here as he would have kneeled downe before Polimero he taking him by the hand besought him not to discover him telling him how he would as unknowne make one in those warres moved so to doe for the interest common to all Princes against Traitors for the revenge due to the vertues of Prince Perossilo and for the valour sake of a Princesse so renowned as Eromena And this was indeed the occasion of breaking off his intended voiage into Ireland Within two dayes then after they landed safely in Chia to the great pleasure and content of both parties The end of the First Booke of BIONDI'S EROMENA CAVALIER GIO FRANCESCO BIONDI HIS EROMENA The Second Booke PRINCE Metaneone furrowed the surging waves variously affected with contâ—nt and griefe both tormented with the remembrance of his offence and comforted with the hope of finding out his Brother to amend and recompence past defects with contrary effects The Count of Bona exceeding consolated in seeing him so altered and indeede partially obliged to rejoyce at the love of the Brothers as one who next the King his Father claimed greatest interest in Polimero for having bred him up from his infancie confirmed him in his good intentions being as he already assured himselfe not counterfeit in that he made choise of him for a companion in his voiage to be a testimonie of his actions The weather was cleare whereat all the world seemed to joy except the Galley-slaves who for being becalmed were forc'd to ply their oares The Galley scowred away amaine course seeming for her riches and curiositie of workemanship to be some rare inchanted piece of excellency She had her poope curiously carved with divers Histories of finest graven worke gilt all over with gold her pavement of Iewels and richest mother of pearle her hulke painted over with sparkling vermilion her oares of the same but done pompously from the midst downewards with golden flames her beake railes and window-linternes proportioned to the devise of her poop her mast and loope-holes gracefully adorned with banners and flags of cloth of gold on her foresaile flag-staffe hung of the same stuffe a goodly streamer of such length as it reach 't downe to touch the very waves her three lanthornes of marvellous invention glittering with gold afforded the greater lustre because of the chrystal cut diamond-wise and artificially in-laid in their footstals cubes and columnes so as she seemed to such as saw her a farre off both in shape and colours a firie Dragon with scales and wings of gold Two dayes sailed the Prince without seeing any kinde of vessell saile before him on the third he descried a galley which espying that of the Prince strove to gaine the shore But doubting to be overtaken she made off towards the West thinking to escape by the benefit of the night The Prince taking her for some Pirats ship as she was indeed commanded the Galley-slaves of his Royall to row amaine and they encouraged with hope of bootie made her scoure little lesse than her full length betweene one stroake and the other Twenty miles off were the Pirats descried by the little top-saile of their top-gallant and the Prince making forward with extraordinary swiftnesse maugre all her force of oares over-tooke her whose Commanders seeing no meanes to escape resolved to defend themselves fearing to lose the great riches they had stolne before and purposing to make head by tacking about they could not doe it so soone but that the Prince his Galley running her full course bore upon theirs at her poope whence passing over her prow she plung'd her up to the mast in the sea but the vessell being good got up a floate againe receiving thereby no other harme than the spoiling of some battlements with the death and bruising of such as were so unfortunate as to be on that side of her In the same encounter were many of the Prince his oares broken a losse not recompenced with the gaine of the Galley which with no great paines and lesse bloudshed fell into his hands Then would he know what they were and whence they came whereto one of them answering for all said That they were of Callo of Mauritania and that going with a Galley of theirs to get some bootie towards the coast of Catalogna they were by an East winde driven to land on the strand of Dragonera a little Iland of Maiorica where having understood how that from Porto Colombo to the West part of the Iland was to set out a Galley sent from the King to his daughter they made the best speed they could to rigge and dresse up theirs which with beating on the shore was almost all over crack't and bruised and that having set themselves in ambush behind the cliffe of Cabrera they had assailed her unawares and not farre off the haven taken her with the death of many for that being constrained to leave behind them their owne Galley which was unfit for any service they had no roome on this other alone to set aboord both all their companie and the slaves too And that yet for all they had kild none but the more unserviceable sparing the Knights Ladies family and servants of the Princesse with an intention to goe thence to the rocke where she was her selfe to them very well knowne and thence to take her prisoner whom they meant not to set free ere they had
my selfe into solitarie places there at home But what kinde of a solitarie life had that beene where every one would have baited and opposed me Besides how had I beene able to resist authoritie but much more your sweete perswasions wherewith you are able to divert the most constant resolutions Now whereas you afterwards accuse me of small love certainely My Lord if you thinke you have occasion to say so I hope you have no reasion to beleeve so for it is right all one as if you accused me for a dead woman and respectlesse of your griefe and of my mothers love together with the debt I owe your subjects and doe you beleeve that it would grieve me lesse to abandon these respects than it would doe to lose my life No surely but the violence and wrong done me by such a conjecture is at least as great if not greater than death it selfe seeing it is true that love and death are both of equall power I answer not to all the residue of your grave and prudent reasons which although they convict mee not because they are grounded upon common suppositions which in my case void of all rule give no rule at all neverthelesse the reverence I owe you obligeth mee to receive them as if they had already convinced mee My loving family I will love and among them the Countesse above all little thought they once to see mee in the estate of a Mistresse but of a slave for companie with them It pleased God that the Prince of Mauritania freed and conducted them here in safetie as shall bee told you more at large by Fidele the bearer hereof whereto I referre my selfe beseeching you that in respect I could not thanke that Prince by word of mouth you would be pleased to supply my defect by sending to the King of Mauritania his father and to him such personages as are capable of executing such an embassage Touching the particular of my person I know the danger wherein I am and will fortifie my selfe in such a manner as I may be able the place being strong of its owne situation onely with my owne family to defend my selfe and live secure from all the world so I bee but furnished with victuals And in the meane time God will provide for all whom I pray to grant your Majestie the height of felicity and to me that comfort which being absent from your Majestie I cannot receive Eromilia With this letter the King became somewhat consolated in that hee thought he had wrought something on his daughters melancholy Albeit she therein made no mention of returning homewards neverthelesse he could not chuse but be well satisfied with the accidents that had hapned hoping they would prove a meanes to induce her to alter her intention But when afterwards he had seene the letters of the Countesse and Perseno he thought than that the Gods had sent them that Prince to free them from affliction Therefore having given order to receive him with all honour and that notice should be given him when he were descried in the sight of the Iland he went the day following himselfe in person to meete him on the sea-coast The honors wherewith be entertained him were such as might be expected from an inferior and the love such as could bee hoped for from a loving father The Queene who both by the relation of Fidele and also by her owne letters comprehended the Prince his merits received him with such tendernesse of affection as a mother is wont to welcome her endeared Sonne After reciprocall complements the Prince retiring himselfe aside with the King told him that the cause of his comming thither was an accident that chanc'd him with the Prince of Catalogna whose servants had plainely confessed that they went with an intent to steale away the Princesse Eromilia because their Prince had no hope of obtaining her by any other meanes That it seemed not good unto him to take him along with him lest he might thinke himselfe detained prisoner much-lesse would he by any meanes set him at liberty lest he should then effect his designe And that being now wounded his Majestie under the colour of hospitality might detaine him and in the meane time advertize thereof the King of Catalogna his father and send the Princesse provision to assure her from such like dangers The King not knowing how to finde out words correspondent to the qualitie of his beholdingnesse omitted no meanes of letting him see how dearely hee esteemed such notable and so worthy services And concerning Don Peplasos told him that a better course could not be thought of whom he would detaine and have a provident eye to the curing of his wounds till such time as he had effected all that the Prince had counselled him And so passing from businesse to complements and from complements againe to affectionate passions the Prince who according to the custome of lovers had not all this while the boldnesse to open his mouth in his owne desire whereat the King marvelled beleeving that the Countesse and Perseno who had thereof written unto him so confidently were altogether deceived yet now having lighted on so fit an opportunity said unto him Your Majestie is together with the title and dignity of a King endowed by the heavens with inclinations so Royall as they embolden me to supplicate your Majestie for one favour since that you have beene so courteously pleased as to command me to aske you any thing The King all joyfull taking him by the hand made answer that he could not doe him a greater favour than to demand whatsoever hee desired assuring him he would not denie him any thing comprehended within the limits of his power The Prince then kneeling on one knee whence he would not be raised up doe what the King could untill hee had first expressed his desire said unto him The boone I then begge of your Majestie is that your Majestie would vouchsafe to be pleased to accept me for a sonne by giving mee for wise my Lady the Princesse Eromilia Whereunto the King raising him on his feete answered Worthy Prince your Highnesse obligeth me more in disobliging me than I can ever deserve much lesse requite My daughter cannot bee bestowed on either a greater or worthier Prince than your selfe and the demanding her as a boone in so gentle a manner as you have done had beene a sufficient motive to have induced me to give her you if nothing else had tied mee thereto Therefore I tell you that without asking either counsell or advice of any one bee it the Queene or Councell as is usually done betweene Princes of our condition I will that shee bee yours for as much as concernes me Whereat the Prince would have kneeled downe againe to kisse his hands but the King staying him up spake on I told you for as much as lies in my power because for what is in the power of others I must request two things of you the one is that there
come short of them therein To deny either the sense or the effect of things is if not ignorance at least a sophisticall and foolish wisdome for if this so were who could give us a reason of the gods who have bestowed on us many things not that we should know them but that we might use them There 's not a people in the world but beleeves that things to come may by some meanes or other be foretold the examples whereof are infinite and the consent both generall and authorized if not by the reason of the efficient cause yet at least by its effect and successe We may then conclude that your dream not proceeding from any alteration but reiterated with the testimony of your own selfe broad waking is a voice come from heaven to call you to succour that Princesse whom being you you ought to defend against all the world The Prince seemed to be herewith satisfied though not yet well quieted in minde for having spent the residue of the night in preparing himselfe for his journey and in rowzing up his followers hee with Impatience long'd for the appearance of the new day that he might take his leave of Eromena But the Mauritanian Knights being scatteringly dispersed over the lodgings it hapned that the hearing the noise that was made in knocking in so many places and understanding it to be downe by Metaneones order rose vp all-astonished in that she knew not the occasion thereof till having sent for him hee and his brother both came and participated unto her the businesse wherewith she then remained well satisfied for the imagination of not knowing what to imagine thereof had before very much troubled her But now she offered him the whole fleet and if need were her own person also judging it by the quality of the dream impossible that this faire Princesse stood not in some dangerous plight Metaneone yeelding her therefore condigne thanks told her that hee left with her his brother in pledge of his service and besought her courteous pardon assuring her that no other occasion could have been able to have drawn him from her service especially at that time except this imployment whereto he held himselfe the more obliged albeit he had had no such interest therein as indeed he had because he thought that heaven it selfe had thither call'd for him in particular Howbeit hee meant not to take along with him any more than six Gallies in that hee saw in the vision whereto he gave credit the enemies to be but few in number leaving the others with the rest of the shipping to be disposed of by her Highnesse as her owne for such would he have them bee Whereupon loth to lose any time hee suddenly parted after he had taken his leave of the Princesse Eleina who was also come to see what this stirring meant By the break of day came he to the Fleet where embracing Polimero he praid him to send their father word of his departure promising to advertise him of whatsoever should befall him And then having taken his leave of the Marquesse of Oristagnio who would by all means have accompanied him the Count of Bona and the rest he hoist up sails with so great a desire to be in Affrick that thinking a good gale of winde not sufficient he would needs haue his oars plied withall which hee was fain to countermand againe seeing the Seas swell and the windes maintaine of themselves a stiffe gale according to his own desire Eight daies without ceasing continued his navigation alwaies attended on either by favourable gales or gentle calmes which in respect of the goodnesse both of ghing and vessells no whit disadvantaged his voyage In the morning of the ninth day was by its dawning discovered to his view the Pegno della morte and within an houre after were discried foure Gallies running into that haven which confirm'd him in his opinion that his dream was not false wherefore causing the oars to assist the sails he arrived there two houres after Sunne-rising The Souldiers of the two brothers had done their utmost endeavours to assaile the walls during the piece of night that rested but seeing at last the losse they sustained they retired themselves with an intention not to get them gone but to procure of the Lord of Velex some supply of men till such time as their King being thereof advertised either sent or came himselfe to avenge the death of his sonnes for which purpose they had sent to him a Galley And as they thought in the mean while to repose themselves they saw strike into the â—port foure Gallies whose lord being Don Peplasos seeing the armed troopes under the walls with such a number of dead bodies would not resolve of any thing till perceiving how few they were and seeing the Gallies opposing him not as soone as he came to know who they were and what had befallen them he proffered them on condition they would but assist him to take that hold the whole place it selfe with all therein the persons onely excepted quick enough were the Tingitanes in accepting this proffer who suddenly choosing themselves a Captain sent him to conclude the accord so as having landed the fresh forces and gotten new Scaling-ladders they re-began the fight the defendants being tir'd out with fighting all the night long without once closing an ey whilest Perseno who had the main care of all things both in commanding and performing discharg'd the duty of a good Knight Don Peplasos seeing that place could not be taken by scaling unlesse it were either at unawares or by night caused a Ram-engine to be landed which together with its testude they setled on its wheels covered with great searses of Goats-haire to save it from fire The Ram was fastened with a strong chain and supported by two timber-beams joyning angle-wise under it rear'd up against the wall in the lowest evenest and most accessible part of the Rock Which done he to beat the defendants off the walls planted above forty Catapults and Crossebowes which so galled the defendants that many of them were thereby killed and wounded among whom Perseno made one having one arme little better than lost by a Crosbow-shot The Ram began already to work its effect and the wall which was new and hastily built began soone to yeeld to its ruinethreatning-buts Remedy there was none for the leaden Cilinders which are used to bruise the Rams the milstones likewise and pillar-pieces were not beforehand provided â—no more than the sacks stuffed with straw which are usually let down between the wall and the Ram to abate the force of its mighty thump not had they as much as iron Wolves and Crows to graspe the Ram withall for having not in so short a warning forethought of assuring themselves against other than a sudden assault using stones for a shift in stead of oile sulphur pitch and lime when it was dangerous for the defendants as much as to peep out so incessantly
with the former battery with fiftie stiffe blowes fell to utter ruine so as the squadron that stood ready to mount the breach entred it maugre all the enemy could doe who now discouraged were forced to retire as Perseno had done before them When Metaneone knowing the Catalan Prince thus bespake him And is this Don Peplasos the recompence wherewith thou requitest the King of Maiorica's courtesie and mine when we freely gave thee both thy life and liberty Are these the exploits of a Prince or of a theefe Well I now promise to doe thee Iustice which thou deservest as a theefe seeing thou abusest the undeserved courtesie which I did thee as a Prince Don Peplasos finding himselfe disadvantaged as well in reason as power both the generositie of his minde and vigor of his spirits failing him together whether by reason of his wounds or otherwise sunke downe to the ground in a swound and senselesse Metancone causing him to be carried by a strong guard into his Galley gave order that he should be carefully looked unto whilest the most part of the rest who had the happines to die with their arms in their hands made by their death an easiee way to their fellowes captivitie who were not long detained prisoners but as common theeves hang'd up without any pittie about the walls of the Rocke Catascopo had also runne the same fortune had not Metaneone remembred to aske for him and caused him to bee a-part by himselfe put in irons to the end that the deferring of his present punishment might serve him for interest of a greater The victorie once gotten the first thing that Metaneone did was to aske how Perseno fared When understanding the ill plight hee was in he was much grieved thereat yet being unwilling to make any stay in the Fort for feare of displeasing the Princesse he sent a Knight to the Countesse of Palomera with order that having on his behalfe saluted her hee should pray her in his name to kisse the hands of her Lady the Princesse and to tell her that seeing the gods had now freed her from her enemies hee waited onely to receive her commands whereon depended both his stay and departure wishing that in the meane time some course were taken for the re-edifying the walls whereto he would cause his Ghing put their helping hands especially on the outside which had most neede of being assured against the Ram-engines and that if she needed souldiers he would leave with her as many of them as she pleased He injoyned him further to goe and visite Perseno and to tell him that he had come himself to see him but that he doubted to-incurre the Lady Princesse her displeasure with this Knight sent he him his own Physitians Chirurgians with divers soveraigne-good things for wounded and sicke men causing all his to returne to the galleys without suffring them to pillage or touch any thing within the compasse of the walls although it were the spoile of the enemies selves Now the Countesse as soone as she saw Metaneone runne in the Port and the Princesse out of her agonies had begun a-new to perswade her to change her resolution shewing her how she alone was the onely cause of the death of so many Princes whose fathers in case they went about to avenge them as they had reason would reduce her to such a streight as shee could not be able to defend her selfe long telling her withall that her vowes tied her onely to possibilities but not to what could possibly not be accoÌ„plished Besides that shee had already shewed her selfe to the Prince of Mauritania whose whole Fleete had seene her as well as he The Princesse answered her that shee would follow her Counsell and that shee would for the execution thereof write to her father to send to fetch her thence And what will it boote you to doe so said the Countesse seeing that ere your messenger can arrive in Maiorica wee shall be here besieged by all the King of Tingitana's forces whose aime will tend not so much to the revenge of his sonnes as to the gaining of this Rocke now that experience hath taught him what he saw not before the importance of such a Fort which for good reasons was not fit to bee left in the possession of a strange Prince But how can I helpe it answered the Princesse seeing I have no shipping What have you not replied the Countesse whose then are the Prince of Mauritania's Galleyes They are his owne answered the Princesse smiling but I know them to bee yours said the Countesse And here unmasking the whole state of the businesse she related unto her the great love that the Prince of Mauritania bore her and how at the request of the King his father shee was by her father promised him in marriage with the Historie of Don Peplasâ—â— and all other passages to that purpose except his secret comming by stealth into that house which the Countesse thought not good to make knowne unto her as yet whilest her mind were so agitated with passions for the deceased Prince his death which in that it could not be remedied she should as the Countesse told her strive to forget and endeavour to restore her selfe to her father kingdome and above all others to a husband and posteritie to satisfie the world with reason as she had before without any reason justly incurr'd its censure At these words the Princesse stood mute thinking it a strange matter for her to be changed in an instant and being obstinately resolved to live without any husband now should or possibly could dispose her selfe to take one but knowing that she could not but doe so her resolutions till then to the contrary being neither good nor laudable and that it was a lesser evill to cconfesse an errour being that there is no wise man but erres sometimes than to make it the more unexcusable by defending it shee quite changed or at least most resolute to change her intention told her that she marvelled she had not acquainted her with those things sooner howbeit the reason why she did not gave her in that behalfe sufficient satisfaction her servants being afterwards come to certifie her of Metaneone's conquest and Don Peplasos his imprisonment she having caused the Tower to be opened made them carry Perseno neere to the Countesse her withdrawingâ—chamber for whose wounds she grew so compassionate as they drew pearle-like teares from her faire chrystall eyes And understanding now that there was a Knight there sent from Metaneone she sent to him the Countesse who having received the embassage came and acquainted her therewith whereunto Eromilia after a short pawse returned this answer Goe and pray him to kisse his Lord the Princes hand on my behalfe and to tell him that for the rest I intend to answer to none but himselfe for seeing that I am constrained to breake my vow I meane hee shall be the man that shall breake it by seeing me first of any