constancy untill Roxana her self being displeased with her fruitlesse irresolutions at length went without her leave When Cassianus came he found the Princesse seated not onely in a darke chamber but invironed with those mourning Curtaines about her bed which she had caused to be hung up since her last imprisonment as testimonies of the discontented State she conceived her selfe in when Roxana had informed her of the Princes presence to attend her pleasure after she had with a low voyce desired him to sit downe in a chaire neere her she used this discourse unto him Cousin said she is it possible you can thinke that the bload of the poore and aged Flamine may be so acceptable an offering to the gods as to make them thereby more propitious to your desires or doe you believe that my love which you seeme to hope for will be perswaded easily by the cruelty of so horrid a sacrifice if you meane to threaten instead of intreaing perhaps you may please your owne nature but never I can assure you compell my liking since I finde in my soule so much courage yet left notwithstanding all my misfortunes as not to give away my affections to one that hath merited so much just hate from me Certainely you are mistaken to thinke Cypres branches are fit ornaments to become a marriage bed for the many examples in that kinde have beene alwayes prodigious can you flatter so farre your owne imagination as to apprehend the slaughter of my friends and slaughtered chiefly for my service can create lesse effects in me then a revenge when I shall have power to execute it according to my will upon those that have occasioned my displeasure It should be strange they should expect to be entertained in my bosome that have spightfully procured my disgracefull discontent No Cousin assure your selfe these are not the wayes to captivate a Virgins gentle heart or to trust protestations of such a Suitor that wanted not hate in the highest professions of his love Cassianus after he had heard these words from the Princesse hastily without any reply at all tooke his leave which not onely gave occasion of many conjectures both to Cloria and Roxana but also of some discourses that produced hopes and feares untill within three houres of his departure he againe returned into the Princesse Chamber with a reprieve for the old mans life signed by the hands of the Senate though with this condition that she must be pleased to follow the direction of the whole Kingdome in her marriage however Cassianus vowed by the heavens he imployed all his power to have procured it absolute Cloria notwithstanding she was not well satisfied with the restriction yet she was pleased with the pardon and presently sent it by Roxana to the officers that had the custody of the old Flamine whilst in the meane time she conceived some dissembled satisfaction was necessary that he might continue still his begun courtesies to the aged father withall to possesse him with the knowledge of the impossibilities that hindred the progresse of his love whereby he might be lesse violent in pressing the Senate to the accomplishment of his desires and the rather she fell upon this resolution for that Narcissus absence secured him from all danger by underhand practises though her selfe could not be confident of his safety since she had heard nothing from him which consideration at the present drew from her faire eyes some teares before she used these wordes to Casstanus Worthy Cousin said she for so I will now call you since I finde your words reall and your love noble if the Gods did give me the possibility of being your wife I should a great deale rather declare my selfe perswaded to the choyce by your owne vertues then by the Senates wisedome since the interest of a kingdome is not to be put in the ballance with the unity of affection the one proceeding onely from forced reasons that last no longer then the motives have power by the operation of private ends when the other arising from the secret influence of the heavens engraves a perpetuall affection in the heart not to be removed by humane Tyranny Wherefore I say interests of Crownes cannot contribute any thing to the felicity of Nuptialls however sometimes they pretend false shewes to cover hidden discontents and so by that meanes conzens the world into a beliefe of what the married couple never enjoy of the contrary enduring millions of concealed torments that are increased in violence when they burst forth like imprisoned flames which by accidents procure their owne liberty Therefore I say nay I will boldly professe the undergoing the punishment of a thousand deaths before I be ever compelled to marry by the prescription of earthly respects much lesse be commanded to take any for my husband that hath not really perswaded my judgement or absolutely wrought upon my fancy let it suffice your perfections carry with them more powerfullnesse in my consideration then the Senates desires doe waight in my understanding though I should be sorry to chuse rashly or to be guided wholly by mine owne opinions which is enough to let you see my unconquered and I hope pure love cannot be constrained although my deare life pay the ransome of my seeming wilfulnesse for though Tyranny may shut up my weake body within strong Walles untill the just gods punish the wickednesse yet my resolved soul will be free to make election of death or life as the occasion shall be presented so that as your actions have changed already my beliefe of your intentions doe not againe change your actions that I become of an other minde wherein you will but lose honour instead of gaining love and that losse perhaps may make you uncapable of all other fortunes it is enough I valew your bloud I esteem your person and love your vertues however I cannot be yours in possession as long as Narcissus lives and with those words wept againe as at her former apprehensions of his safety which continued her in a silence untill Cassianus reply gave her thoughts new matter to work upon Madam said he as I cannot but be perswaded though unwillingly by your powerfull and excellent Rhetoricke yet give me leave to tell you that I understand not your conclusion since you have beene pleased to say in your discourse that as long as Narcissus lives you cannot be mine a choyce I must confesse that the gods have never to this houre revealed unto me since at my leaving of Lydia a match of a farre greater dignity in Titles seemed to be the obstacle that destroyed my hopes and so consequently all motions I could make of my secret love but however if my ears have not much deceived my knowledge I have heard it generally reported that some accident many moneths since hath deprived Narcissus not onely of the share you pretend he hath in your affection but also of all the claime he can expect in this world If it have
in a manner miraculously the desperate danger of the Sea and entered into such adventures as scarce can be paralleld for his body being supported upon a flat chest full of Jewells belonging to himselfe by the onely flowing of the water was carried into certaine Nets belonging to poor fishermen who finding a young man full of beauty though almost dead by the violent agitation of the waves after they had recovered some life in him presented him to a Lords daughter of the Country called Brisania as a subject worth her best compassion but the Lady-whether taken with the youth and beauty of her patient or having an inclination to affect that she had once preserved of a sudden fell in love with his lovely person since she had no motives to be inticed by the knowledge of his Titles he having concealed himselfe the better to performe his intended journey into Syria and this love at last from small sparcles began to encrease to a great flame though for a long time Cassianus was not informed of the Ladies passions for her virgin modesty ever supprest the declaration of that which shee had much adoe to hide untill the secret fire was discovered by the sharp sight of another Suitor that had already procured the good will of her Father for their future marriage notwithstanding another Rivall by a more noble love contended with the former for preheminence In the interim that these intricate affections seemed to act severall parts the old Lord by his unexpected death left his faire daughter to inherite rather misfortune then jurisdiction For Fridius her hated Lover being so called presently seized both upon her Person and Country pretending that her Father in his last will had instituted him the sole governour of her Minority least she might endanger both her honour and safety by some inconsiderable match resolving withall to make Cassianus a Sacrifice or a Petitioner to compasse his ends to which purpose he caused him publickly to be accused that he intended to have betrayed the Towne and Conutrey to a forraigne power under pretence of freeing Brisania from prison who seemed also to have consented to the practice whereby to have procured her own releasement And this being falsely laid to his charge he was unjustly condemned however Fridius suspended the execution untill he had not onely againe attempted the Ladies consent to his offered Love but procured Cassianus who went by the borrowed name of Cassa to be himselfe a Sollicitor in his suit which opportunely gave Brisania occasion instead of granting Fridius his request to discover her own love but Cassianus became rather confused then pleased at this discovery since the hazard of his own life could but purchase the acceptance in so much as onely with a sorrowfull courtship he entertained her discourse however she gave him leave to depart and carry her peremptory denyall to the proud Tyrant Neverthelesse poore Cassa was to be made the object of his spleen since Brisania would not be the subject of his love for some few dayes after he was brought to a publicke scaffold erected before the Castle window where Brisania remained that she might be the better witnesse of the bloudy Tragedy intended Cassa appeared in a mourning habit becomming the sadnesse of his present condition but much more clouded in his sorrowfull countenance that shewed his dejected minde though his beauty had yet so large a possession in his person by the opinion of the people that he seemed a Sun shaded in a dark skie that notwithstanding shot forth bright beames under the blacke coverture And in this manner was lead to the Theater of death in the view of the people who accompanied him all the way with their liberall lamentation since these were the onely sacrifices they could offer in his behalfe for although he was esteemed amongst them but a private Gentleman of Iberia yet could they not chuse but grieve to see a Youth of his naturall perfections untimely brought to his destruction by the cruelty of a wicked Tyrant But in the meane time poore Brisania summoned to the spectacle by the noyse of the spectators at the first sight began to feele new passions in her gentle bosome not so much of love as pitty since the prisoner himselfe had by divers messages solicited her to yield rather then to make him the onely object of Fridius his hate wherefore first she laid before her thoughts the innocency of the prisoner that was to suffer onely because she continued wilfull Then she began to thinke there was nothing but her own miserable captivity could redeem his life religion charity and affection pleaded of one side as hatred honour and courage contended of the other which made her sometimes resolve to breake through the crowde and fling her selfe at Fridius his feet to begge his pardon But then her spirit againe disdaining such a submission rather chusing to cast her person amongst the people and by her own death incite their revenge Whilst these considerations tormented her gentle soule and that his approaching execution seemed to exact from her consent a speedy resolution at the further end of the Market place appeared a confused feare amongst the common people which was quickly seconded not onely with cryes of Treason but with the noyse of many warlike instruments tending to the surprize of the Towne so that the scaffold that was ordained to be the stage where Cassa was to act his last part became soon emptied of all those unwelcome assistances and he left onely to be his own prisoner an accident certainly that sufficiently pleased him although his amazed joy had scarce beliefe enough to apprehend he was freed which made him longer continue that posture the executioner had put him in then his good fortune required at his hands so that he moved not untill one of the Souldiers wish't him to pray for the life of Saxanius who had delivered him from death By which declaration it was quickly knowne throughout all the Market-place that Brisanias first Suitor had both saved Cassa from destruction and possest himselfe of the City who hearing of the cruell captivity of his deere Mistresse by the wicked tyranny of Fridius had assembled all his friends to her rescue and by a neat stratagem had happily brought about the designe for her delivery and her enemies punishment Fridius sufficiently apprehensive of the guilt of his own Treason staid not to dispute the right of his cause with his victorious rivall but presently retired under the safe protection of the strong Castle where he supposed was a Garrison able to contend whilst other succors came to his assistance besides he had Brisania in his power by whose authority and Title he imagined the better to retaine the obedience of the People But Saxanius intending neither to be slothfull in his love or hate after he had given some orders for the surer obedience of the Towne soon placed a formall siege before the Fort where his Mistresse was
woman wept with the remembrance of her deare losse untill her many Teares running downe her aged cheekes gave some interruption to her discourse but finding her griefe was scarce seasonable to the passionate multitude she wiped her eyes and then proceeded When the violence of the warre said she became so qualified that Parents had some leasure to enjoy the comfort of their children I presented my Lord with a beautifull daughter though for the other I had in charge I desired his favour to make my excuse since it was not in my power to prevent the will of the gods which gave him so much satisfaction that he perswaded Elizana by letter to be content that had many more which continued untill my Lady Brisania by his late death as you know became heire to all his possessions though interrupted some time by wicked Fridius and redeemed by valiant Saxanius to whom without a great deale of ingratitude she cannot but give her selfe and all that she hath since she hath received it from his hands At which words Cassianus began to muster up within his brest a multitude of passions untill the old woman turning towards him told him that presently she would render him satisfied also wherefore after the people were a little quieted in their confused murmur she thus ended her story But now said she to unriddle this mystery and fully to performe my promise I must let know that Brisania wat not child to your late deceased Governour but daughter to worthy Elizana I onely using that fallacy upon the death of the other because I feared the losse to my Lord would have proved a vexation intollerable since he wanted children to inherit his fortune and honour and for Elizana I supposed the crosse would not appeare so great in respect of the bountifulnesse of the issue which the gods had bestowed upon her however I made a private vow to my selfe as I said never to discover this mystery untill some pressing occasion forced from me the declaration aswell to retaine Brisania in her supposed Fathers possessions as to take from their Parents all jealousie of my fraude But since the heavens by the power and right of conquest have now establish't my Lord Saxanius in that government which Brisania did intend innocently to usurpe and that his noble pretentions to her love deserve her best entertainment as if the Gods intended a perpetuall unity in their hearts against all obstacles I hope it will be the opinion of all here present that the marriage between them be solemnized instantly in the Temple and the rather for that I cannot doubt Prince Cassianus will forbid the conjunction since nature denies him the capacity of such a happinesse This declaration was quickly warranted by the desires of all the people with loude acclamations so that Brisania turning about to Saxanius with a blush that more enflamed his joy after a little pawse saluted him with this language My Lord said she for so it should seeme the destinies have designed you against all difficulties though whether I shall be now esteemed worthy in your vertuous thoughts to give you that Title may be some question since your noble addresses formerly received not those ready entertainements they merited however I shall endeavour to perswade you to believe that the heavens have had a secret influence whereby the better to unite our selves since my preposterous affection to my Brother upon small grounds endeavoured something to obscure your perfections in my apprehension which now appeare to my knowledge in a most full and affectionate prospect that absolutely delights all my senses And with that as if she had been too liberall in her language like a Rose over-prest with the nights dew by little and little cast downe her lovely lookes upon the ground Saxanius instead of delivering his judgement concerning Brisania's plea put in execution his intended decree by a gentle kisse upon her faire lips which gave the people sufficient intelligence of his thoughts so that the marriage became presently solemnized to the content of all the standers by but more specially to themselves whose happinesse could not fully be apprehended but in the fruition onely And this Madam I say is the delightfull though intricate story of Cassianus adventures since his departure out of Lydia which he was pleased to signifie in writing under his own hand however to none but to his faithfull friend and chiefest counsellour Dimogoras But now that I have entertained your eares with these strange though pleasant passages as I may say seemingly rather miracles then accidents I shall come neerer a great deale to your concernments This intelligence of the safety of the Prince you must know enflamed the thoughts of Dimogoras whereupon he began to consider if a marriage could be compassed between Cloria the Kings daughter and Cassianus it would undoubtedly not onely strengthen his own greatnesse but exceedingly fortifie all manner of contentions of the Senate with Euarchus the King since by this means his daughter should not be matched to any forrain Prince that might give her father assistance but rather by degrees would be wrought to be an enemy to his pretentions and desires With these considerations he went presently to the Senate whereby to make them acquainted with the intelligence he had received To this purpose being sat in the Councell he uttered this kind of speech with as much eloquence as his naturall roughnesse and want of education could deliver My Lords said he as it is most evident the gods have hitherunto prospered our attempts in a most admirable manner to the wonder of all Asia so of the other side may we againe behold a kind of miraculous influence depending upon those accidents fignified unto you by Prince Cassianus Letters These things being considered I see no reason nay I may boldly affirme there is a great deale of piety in the resolution both belonging to the service of the gods as also towards the establishing of our own affaires to endeavour all waies possible to unite the persons and affections of Cloria the Kings daughter and Cassianus the advent'rous Prince in such indissolvable ties of love and marriage that may not onely render them happy themselves but secure us from all feare of a forraigne conjunction that undoubtedly would disorder if not destroy that work we have already wisely begun and hope shall fortunately end in this Kingdome For my part I must confesse I doe almost tremble yet when I consider in how great a hazzard our affaires stood before your Admirall surprized the Princess at Pergame for that the alliance intended between her selfe and Narcissus could not have been other than ominous when as of the other side we are most assured to finde Cassianus upon all occasions not onely a furtherer of our designes but a lover of our persons Perhaps you may be a little startled with the doubts that Cloria will scarce be brought to think of such Nuptials but truly these are meerly frivolous considerations
worst of periods she looked upon it as if she expected a miraculous remedy or a miserable distraction till at last conquered by the very depth of her desperate imagination she became exceeding pale and scarce was so for any time before a more earthly colour by little and little seemed to change that yet lovely white which death it selfe a great while had no power to overcome But alasse the procession was too wilfull for not long after her dainty though weake legs not being able to support the waight of her faire body since her pure soule could contribute no assistance she sunke downe to the ground like a rich marble statue built upon snowy bases which caused the poor Pilgrim with a haste composed of an amazed sorrow and a desperate feare to flye to her reliefe cursing not onely his relation but his very journey that occasioned it his violent execrations had not power to breath the least shew of life into her sweet body as if the gods were resolved to keep possession of so heavenly a spirit notwithstanding he continued the rubbing of her Temples with more then ordinary passion untill he spake in her eares that Narcissus was not dead but falsly so alleadged by his malicious wicked tongue and for a testimony of his last affirmations which he wisht might be confirmed by his perpetuall torment as a punishment for his offence he sudden pulled off that deceitfull beard that had so unluckily disguised his person from her knowledge Cloria after she had for some time continued in her sad sleep that faine would gently have sent her without noyse to a better habitation she softly againe opened her eyes that seemed something ecclipsed of their former brightnesse and fixing them upon that object that onely had power to keep them from entertaining an eternall darknesse she used these low words And is it possible that Narcissus still lives or is it my flattering fancy that ever couzens me into new miseries then shut them againe as if either yet she was not absolutely perswaded of his truth or had a mind to reprove him for his unkinde concealing of himselfe But Roxana's arrivall both afforded Cloria more remedy and proved a meanes to beg Narcissus pardon who was not able by any Rhetorick to excuse the sin he had committed against the Lawes of love in borrowing a disguised shape to hide that which Cloria had onely a desire to see however lovers quarrels although they are violent yet never or very seldome are lasting beside the sweet Princesse had no room left in her bosome for revenge where there was already inspired so much joy so that in a short time a perfect truce was not only made between them though chiefly exprest in contemplation wherein their hearts spake more then their lips but after they seemed sufficiently to have surfeited of their joy Narcissus was perswaded to make a perfect relation of his own adventures Wherefore taking her faire hand and gently kissing it twice or thrice as a sworne testimony of the truth of his story he began in this manner whilst in the meane time the poore Princesse read a lecture in his looks that appeared amply to instruct her thoughts Most sweet Princesse said he as I know not what accident or rather I may call it a fate separated our ships one from another comming from Egypt so no sooner were we out of sight of your vessell but the winds as if they intended againe to remember us of a meeting though they seemed to deny the opportunity began most furiously to rage upon the waters in so much as being tost from one billow to another with a kinde of a rude uncertainty we became at last in a manner desperate of our own safeties but then O you gods how were my thoughts transported in your behalfe knowing you to be in the same condition of danger and hazard how many lives would I have willingly sacrificed of my own with what torments soever but to have rendred you secure in my own thoughts in some Haven or Harbour of quietnesse free from the inconstant cruelty of the winds and raging tempest that appeared rebellious to all our wishes what infinite dammages did I conceive the whole world would sustaine by your losse since with you went away all vertue honour and beauty from the face of the earth sometimes I would call the Marriners from their necessary imployments to aske their opinions concerning your danger and condition whilst they barbarous and ignorant wretches rather minded their own present affaires then gave me any satisfactory reply as if they understood not the consequence of my demand but rather amazedly preferred their own safety before those thoughts appertaining to your particular which caused me equally to bestow both curses and prayers in your behalfe The Princesse finding Narcissus in some sort transported with these imaginations whereby probably she should be delayed from hearing the story of his adventures with a pretty kinde of jeering smile wisht him to leave off now any more care for her particular since as she said he found her safe and rather follow that relation she expected from him as a more necessary duty for the present This made him quickly fall to his taske with fewer circumstances then formerly in this manner A night and a day said he having kept us upon the Seas in this storme at last the skye cleared it selfe from its cloudy incumberance which made us perceive that we were neare the Island of of Rhodes wherefore finding our ship was much beaten with the Tempest and most of our company unable to undergoe a farther journey without some refreshment I gave my consent to have the vessell put into the Haven the rather because I hoped to heare some news of your safety in that City The chiefe commander of that Island for the present is a great noble man of Lydia who however he keeps a certaine correspondency with the Senate for his own more convenient security yet in his heart he is an entire servant to the King your Father which not onely made me think my welcome so much the better in his Country but his wife being my most neare kinswoman I was perswaded to make my aboad for some few dayes in that place whilst in the interim we sent out many small vessels to enquire after your condition but however I could have been very well content to have remained there longer in regard of the vertuous and noble entertainment both of the Lord and Lady yet upon the messengers returne finding no advertizement could be given concerning your particular with a certain kinde of melancholly rage I retired into my chamber where I continued notwithstanding any perswation to the contrary untill another ship was fitted for our transportation in regard ours was held for the present altogether uncapable of another voyage without a great deale of mending and reparation within two or three dayes I took my leave of my kinswoman and her Lord though the gods