courtesies are not supportable when they be prejudiciall to your wounds There is no wound can prejudice me answered Polimero that is annointed with the precious balsome of your Highnesse favours yet must I needs for all that obey you for to that end was I borne Whereat she smiling said I could doe no lesse Sir Knight than come to see you to yeeld you thankes for the present you sent me ere your arrivall hither whereof I know nothing till this instant I pray the heavens I may be able to shew my selfe not ingratefull unto you for for my owne part I owing so much have without their aide but little to satisfie so great a debt He then willing to raise himselfe anew and she charging him to lie still made her this answer Your Highnesse her presence enjoyes a vertue so excellent as it is not either in respect of it selfe or of others capable of receiving of the least blemish of defect so as what in others might be perhaps stiled importunity is in your Highnesse no other than a favour who being so bountifull a distributresse of your courtesies will not suffer me to goe away without largely participating thereof for that I well know that they point fully at me so as I hope for more ease and good to my wounds from them than from all the balsomes and soveraigne herbes in the mountaines of Sardegna by so much the more am I therefore indebted unto your Highnesse by how much you exceeding with your goodnesse and bounty the weakenesse of my deserts deeme me worthy of that merit which no dignitie can deserve for the rest if presents ought to be prised for their good qualities then hath your Highnesse no reason to thanke me for this because among men there is not a worse than that Traytor or if by some consequence or motive of just revenge your Highnesse thinke this present meritorious yet cannot that neither make it thanke worthy seeing all men are obliged to justice and Knights above all other and yet above all Knights I who have dedicated my selfe to your Highnesse service ere ever I knew you The Princesse having fixt on him her eyes whilst he spake exactly surveying and considering with her selfe his beautie which exceeded that of any other in his time his comelinesse and behaviour gifts in him naturall and by education perfected together with the sweetnesse of his words which pronounced in a feemely order and with a certaine kinde of inimitable utterance won the hearts of such as heard him maugre the vigor of her courage the vertue of her dignity her formerly made deliberation never to affect any could not chuse but love him which she afterwards continued with a passion so excessive as there was never woman that ever more truly lov'd than she Moved then with the affects of love borne at the first sight or ere she beheld his face and growne up by seeing him with his beaver off but now waxen ripe in both seeing and hearing him she rested so troubled in her minde as she knew not what to say till at length somewhat stammering and bewraying with her humide eyes the state of her burning heart she said unto him What shall I say to you courteous Knight sithence that your vertue being subordinated to the divinitie a type of all vertue contenting it selfe with it selfe despiseth those fruits which humane vertue delights in among mortals You will be obliged unto me and will maintaine that you cannot by serving of me disoblige your selfe if humane affaires proceeded in such a fashion then were the conditions of some miserable and of others tyrannicall for those straightly bound without being able to untie themselves and these quite loose and free from all possibilitie of becomming bound could never hold that relation together that nature requires equally among things not unequall Wherefore in that we are in nature equall and therefore necessarily borne to this relation it must needs follow that who so serves deserves and that you being the obliging I must consequently needs be the obliged unto you otherwise by treading the paths of divinitie all humane wayes would be quite destroyed Your wounds Sir Knight though peradventure not your actions bewray you to be a man and being such how can you hold your selfe tied to this snare of obligation and to this chaine of servitude without ever pretending either liberty or reward Nay not so much as commendations being you must strip your self of that also if you will sustaine the machine of your paradox You free from all kinde of debt and duty either of vassallage or otherwife have done me so great services as I may not endure to heare you degrade by the indignitie of the prize your worthy actions that so much oblige me and if your argument were true the gods should never be exalted by me seeing their good turnes extended no further than to the purging the world of monsters and to terrestriall things here below on earth who neverthelesse ought with great reason to be adored as those by whose meanes we receive all goodnesse And if by the other argument you beleeve you could not oblige me in that you were already obliged to justice give me but leave to tell you that the just man is indeed commended onely by justice not because wee are not all bound to be just but because the law of justice doth not compell us to have a hand in all just causes and therefore you for having a hand in this and in a cause of such a nature and withall with the hazard of your life whereto justice obliged not acquire thereby the praise not onely of a just man but also of a stout Champion for which you deserve the guerdon if justice cease not to be justice Polimero seeing her so profoundly dive into the center of the Ethnickes with a resolution not to be vanquished making her with all respectivenesse a submissive cringe to manifest his yeelding as conquered said thus unto her Let not your Highnesse imagine I beseech you that I meane to oppose your courteous Tenents by so much the rather because they tende to my favour And although that truth in its power can doe more than all powers this rule neverthelesse shall for this time suffer its exception your Highnesse generositie of necessitie exceeding and surpassing truth it selfe Pardon me I pray you for so saying for had I said otherwise it would have prov'd a species of Rebellion in my service which although your arguments rather stop my mouth that can expresse little than perswade my faith which beleeves what it ought being it desires to conserve it selfe faithfull cannot chuse but confesse even to the death that the condition of my services is nothing in comparison of the royall merits of your Highnesse which of themselues are such as by vouchsafing to suffer them to be knowen is a guerdon sufficiently satisfactorie to whosoever is graced with the favour of knowing them Thus did love solace it selfe in these
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
Oliui a palace of the Queene his Mother gave order publikly to Carasio to come thither to him with the furniture of his chamber Got out of the City and fetching a great compasse he return'd againe at night and finding Carasio in the place appointed went aboord the shippe who having waied up her anchors hoyst up her sailes before a pleasant and gentle gale of winde As soone as the King had dined he sent secretly a Gentleman of his chamber to spie for Polimerâ— and understanding what order he had given Carasio was thereof well pleased imagining that by that meanes he might avoide occasion of new broiles And lest the Prince should resolve to pursue him wroth perhaps that his brother went away triumphant with the horse escaped from his anger he entertained him all that day in counsell The day following came to court the housekeeper of Poggio who seene of the King and questioned of the cause of his comming to the City whilest he ought to have beene an assistant in the service of the Infante Polimero answered He was come for some service of the house And that as touching the Infante Polimero he understood not his Maiesties meaning How understandest thou me not replied the King what I would tell thee is that when any of my sonnes come to Poggio thou depart not thence but serve them as cause shall require Even so doe I my Leige answered the housekeeper and acknowledge my selfe blame-worthy if I did otherwise But my Lord the Infante Polimero is not at Poggio How is he not there said the King very angrily and having espied the Gentleman that had told him he was gone thither he said Did you not tell me that Polimero was gone to Poggio I did so my Liege answered the Gentleman citing with that his authors who were some of the Infante's servants there present who joyntly protested that they saw him mount on horseback and that he would not suffer any man come with him but gave order to Carasio to bring that night to Paggio the furniture of his chamber The keeper amazed at so many affirmations turning towards the King My dread Soveraigne said he my Lord the Infante Polimero parted yesterday in the evening to goe to Poggio I know not where he may be he came not the last evening nor this last night much lesse this morning for I dined there neither is it above an houre since I parted thence The King fixing his eyes on the table knew not what to imagine he thought first hee might be gone to his uncle in Numidia but that seemed impossible considering the discommodity of the journey because of the sands it being not likely he would undergoe that journey secretly with so much danger and besides he would have feared to be pursued and overtane Afterwards reasoning on the old desires he had to travell even in that also appeared difficulty being he could not doe it without a great provision of monies But the remembrance of his sister the Queene of Ireland come into his fancy he imagined that for certaine he was imbarqued to goe to her and therefore commanded to see what manner of shipping had set out of the Port that night and whither they went and from whence they were but finding that there parted no other than a ship of Sardegna he remained more confused than before not judging it a thing likely that he was gone for Sardegna but that the ship had rather 〈◊〉 course of the straight of 〈◊〉 supposing that they could not 〈◊〉 land in Sardegna because of the warres which he knew to be there very hot Inveloped with so many coniectures he went to the Queene to whom hee related what till then no creature living durst have spoken of whereat shee orecome with an extreame hearts griefe beganne the pitifullest complaint that could be The King not able to endure the sight of her in that plight went out from her and having sent for the Count of Bâ—na charged him diligently to search Palimero's lodgings and study and to bring him word of all whatsoever he found there The Count obeyed and making a diligent search of all made an inventory thereof Being come to the study he caused it to be opened wherein the first thing he discovered was a letter sealed and placed on the midst of the table with inscription To the King my 〈◊〉 which the Count tooke and brought unto the King offering him also the inventory which hee refused But opening the letter hee found it said Sir Among all the misfortunes which I have hitherto in these my few yeeres partaked of the greatest is that I part without your Maiesties royall licence which if I had done in way of disobedience or other such like thing my life would be loathsome unto me neither could that joy be found that might any way case me But Royall Sir I hitherto ever have and henceforth ever will study to obey you whereof although the obligation takes away the merit yet bereaves it not me of that comfort which a noble minde receives in doing his duty I am gone away not for any curiosities sake to see my selfe free nor for any desire I had to exercise my selfe in the profession of armes Since that in the one I aspire to no greater liberty than to serve your Maiestie neither had your clemency denied me in its time fit in the other such reasonable satisfaction and in such an equipage as had beene answerable to the honor I have in being your sonne The sole cause of my going away is Because the small fortune I have in the favour of my LORD the Prince hath therto advised me Had I thought I could be able to have bettered the respect I owe him and so becom more gracious in his favor heavens be my witnesse I had never entertained such a resolution knowing that next your Maiestie he is that only one whom I ought to serve and honour But seeing my conscience doth not accuse me of misdoing I must needs confesse my behaviour to be such as cannot please him And if my duty be to please him but cannot then am I obliged to what I can which is to absent farre from him my presence which so much dislikes him Touching the last occasion of my departure I am not willing to say any thing not meaning to excuse my selfe by pretending that I could not find any reason in my LORD the Prince who indeed cannot doe amisse in any thing he doth against me But rather I humbly beseech your Maiestie to hold mee for faulty condemning 〈◊〉 for my absence though neither voluntary nor malicious for which I hope by the intercession of your gratious benignity to obtaine your royall pardon I write not to the Queen my Lady and Mother lest I thereby grieve her the more Assuring neverthelesse the one and the other that I part hence with an Indeliblememory of being of both your Maiesties a most humble and most obedient Sonne and servant Polimero The King
desirous to pay the tribute of the dutie that he owed his father having gotten leave of his father-in-law to take along with him Eromena they accompanied with Eleina went on their intended voyage for Mauritania where being arrived they were received with such pompe and joy as greater can not be described The old King seeing his sonnes thus well match'd and Polimero so well provided for and setled joyed for the hope he had to see issue from them a faire posteritie which hee was so fortunate as to see spring from both of them for Eromilia about foure moneths then after was brought to bed of a boy Whilest Eromena knowing her selfe to bee with child thought to returne home being sent for by her father but the intreaties of her parents and brothers-in-law were so importunate as it was not possible for her to returne and the Embassadors sent thence to Sardegna got with much difficultie leave for her to stay there somewhat longer her time being come she was brought to bed of a daughter whose features were both so faire and manly that the sight of her bred no lesse delight than wonder in the hearts of all that saw her And too withall nature it selfe which in ingendring amazement proceeds with unaccustomed meanes now in her operations exceeded her ordinarie bounds for two or three nights before her birth were heard all over the Palace and through the streets of the citie a pleasing murmur as that of voices and instruments that carried to the eare an unusuall sweetnesse of harmonie beguiling many who went through the lodgings to seeke for it with others who went out of their houses thinking to finde it abroad The day shee was borne on there was no man that minded his owne businesse but every man drawne by an unknowne affect forsooke his shop whilest the sacred temples shone with sacrifices and devout worshipping Never was there seene over all Afrique a more temperate day or a more sweetly-warming Sunne than was then Orenge Lemon and Cedar-trees that never budded before now blossomed abundantly yeelding at that birth their fruit in all maturitie and perfection The gentle Dolphins ranne sporting themselves nimbly in the sea chasing to the land whole armies of fish which the inhabitants tooke with no lesse joy than amazement an old well or deepe wintch that at first was sunke in the castle of Birsa for the commoditie of the Garrison and was for being found afterwards with salt water in it dedicated to Neptune boild all the night long becomming in the following morning so sweete as it excelled in goodnesse the best waters in that Countrey Full glad was Eromena to heare of such things acknowledging her thankes to heaven for doing them in the favour of her girle Congratulations she received not as a woman in child-bed but as a Captaine vanquissant of a battel Many times and often kissed shee her sweet babe who without either crying or weeping beheld stedfastly the faire light of the world by no meanes possible would the sweet little one endure the swathing bands but would with a lovely fiercenesse push them off her No other dugs would shee touch saving those of her mothers wherein though they thought to beguile her by Eromena's holding her in her armes and others reaching her a dug yet she informed by the instinct of nature would shut up close her pretty mouth chusing rather to die for hunger than to be nurst with other milke than her mothers She would by all meanes bee obeyed in all things and faine were they whether they would or not to let her have her will to the passing content of her grand-parents leaving at her parting so great a longing after her as the expectations from her exceeded that of all the girles that ever were borne in Africke Polimero with his Eromena departed thence leaving every one sad for their privation who arrived in Sardegna setled themselves to the ordering of the Relame-affaires Whose strange adventures and rare feates of chivalrie together with other things in this Booke unfinished shall be writ in the Story of Donzella-desterrada or the Exiled Virgin FINIS * Venetia
other desiring him therefore to vouchsafe so it be not troublesome unto him to come hither himselfe The exceeding joy the Countesse hereat conceived cannot be expressed who went her self to conduct the Knight with the Physitians and Chirurgians to Perseno whose wounds not being mortall were with all diligence by them carefully look'd unto but the soveraigne balme that cured him indeede was his Mistresse her resolution told him by the Countesse so as having answered the Knight as he was in respective dutie obliged he licensed him to returne to his Master Metaneone as soone as he understood this unexpected answer would needs suddenly runne up but considering it to be then dinner-time he thought best to deferre it a little when lifting up his eyes by chance he saw the Countesse that beckned to him to come up whereupon accompanied with a few leaving all the rest below he ascended the rocke The Princesse made a shew of beleeving that he comming from as farre off as Sardegna without touching land any where was unfurnish'd of provision and therefore seeing that he came not had willed the Countesse to call him albeit she was by reason of the ruines and losses occasioned by the last great bickering deprived of the meanes of entertaining him any thing sumptuously But that was not indeede the white her intentions aimed at for the truth is that the desire she had to see him was so great as she had not the patience to stay till he came she being now upon the Countesse her perswasions totally changed from what she was before Nor might this be said to proceede from inconstancie seeing that she in all her actions manifested the contrarie than which it should rather bee beleeved that she being by nature endued with a constant inclination to whom shee was to bee married loved Perosfilo beleeving him to bee the man and in the errour it selfe followed her naturall inclination but come in the end to see and know the vanitie of her amisse-shed teares the reall blame she thereby justly incurr'd the more than great evills and inconveniences that thereupon ensued and withall how this Prince had served her deserved her and obtained her ere ever she knew him she could now doe no lesse than follow the instinct of her generous nature which was to love him whom the heavens had appointed for her Metaneone being come up the Countesse came to the gate to meete him where she would have kneeled unto him but that he permitted her not howsoever shee rapt with an extremitie of joy said unto him A great good fortune was it to us valorous Prince to meete with your Highnesse sithence thereon depended the safetie of us all who had else beene twice lost ere this time Nay rather right fortunate was I answered the Prince in having beene favoured with the occasion of serving my Lady the Princesse in your person who deserve to be served for your owne sake Whereto she with a respective obeisance replied Your Highnesse knowes well how to oblige too much although I cannot have too-much time to acknowledge your Princely favours Vouchsafe I beseech your Highnesse to come in and be joyfull for you shall finde my Lady the Princesse an altered woman so as I am induced to beleeve that your Highnesse is the true Perosfilo and here related she unto him succinctly how she had acquainted her Lady the Princesse of her being promised unto him in marriage Meane while the Princesse stood expecting him at her chamber-doore where come he kneeled downe before her and with a reverent force taking her hand kissed it with an observant affection so as I know not whether his presence or carriage liked her best Now Metaneone was next Polimero the best accomplished Cavalier of those times and whereas he at first hated such courtesies as were peerelesse in Polimero in whom he also disliked all other perfections So now hatred being chased away and love brought in in its stead there came running in with it headlong as it were all his brother's vertues at least much resembling if not of equall weight with them as though they had beene formerly violently and unnaturally excluded The Princesse offended with her selfe that she was not able to hinder him from doing such courtesies would not heate him a word whilest he continued in that kneeling posture but seeing his courage sufficed him not to utter one sole word so wrapt was he with the he joy conceived in seeing himselfe in presence of her who was the rich Cabinet wherein lay stored all his best of happinesse she perceiving the cause of this silence said thus unto him Right excellent Prince Let it not I pray you seeme any wonder unto you that I after so much time brake off now that deliberation which I once purposed constantly to observe during the remnant of my life I beseech you not thinke me such as being first ill-counselled by my selfe am now at the perswasions of others removed by reason of any naturall levity for if it so were I would rather chuse to continue unhappie as I was before than to re-acquire my former being by running the hazard of an opinion somewhat what sinister as you in that behalfe might conceive of me I will passe over with silence all those reasons which as both your selfe and any one else may easily judge perswaded me to alter my course of life but of one onely seene by none will I make mention And with this rising up to make him a low congey she proceeded This is the obligation and tie of duty I owe you to conforme my selfe thus to your will which if my father hath thought fit for me to do for greater reason have I to judge it so and will doe while life shall last I thanke you not either for your past or present favours sithence that you have now recovered that which the heavens had prescribed you which being yours and by you as you manifest beloved the thankes you therefore owe is to your selfe And with this my Lord I thought good to acquaint you not so much for declaration of my obedience to the King my father and expression of my gratefulnesse to you my benefactor as that you might henceforwards as sole Lord dispose of our stay or departure professing before all the world that I will for ever hereafter depend wholly on that honest courteous and discreet will of yours that knew so well how to oblige me The chamber was full of people that thronged thither to see how their Mistresse would behave her selfe among whom were also the Knights that came with Metaneone and she spake somewhat loud of purpose that all might heare her The Countesse with the other Ladies when they heard her burst out a weeping so tenderly that Metaneone had much adoe to hold from doing the like so strangely was he surprised with an unexpected content but very few were they who shed not some teares for companie with the women whilest he offering to kneele downe but by her not
be declared apparent heire after the Queene of that kingdome excluding by name Coralbo for so is this unfortunate child cald in spight of all such as opposed him Very few were those that stucke to the Queenes side all following the fortune of the sonne-in-law with the pretext of the Princesse by this time fruitfull of three sonnes so as the poore distressed Queene counselled by necessitie was faine to forgoe his sonnes title but perceiving though too late that this could not make up her good sonne-in-lawes content and that Coralbos life was that which he aimed at shee sent him to the strong castle of Cardamina when he waxen wroth to see him so repriv'd from his barbarous crueltie unmasking himselfe now and promising his sisters-in-law with great Dowries to many Princes had the heart to deprive his mother-in-law of her kingdome the death of his wife giving him occasion so to do who whilest she liv'd would never consent either to the deposing of her mother or the death of her brother Established then with the title of his sonnes the deposed Queene of every one pittied too late considering how that Cardamina whither she was retired could not be long able to withstand the Tyrants force calling me unto her Sotiro my beloved Cozen said she I know you conceive the miserable estate whereto fortune hath reduced me I am now without either husband or kingdome and am also like enough to bee shortly without a sonne too In such losses as these for which I should have died I have conserved my selfe alive to the end that at every new breathing I might lively feele them all my kindred and servants have all forsaken me you onely deare Cozen have left and lost all to accompanie and comfort me so that it is not the least among my griefes to know the disproportion that is betweene your fidelitie and my present state for not being able to reward you yet will I neverthelesse give you so efficacious a token of my gratitude though the receiving of it can bee to you but a great trouble that you will confesse it lies not in my power to give you more in the case I am in at this present With that taking the child and laying it in my armes she stood a good while without opening her mouth plung'd in a sea of teares till at last she said unto me This is that which I promised you the sole Relique of my felicities and onely comfort of all my losses and miseries which I must lose to my selfe that it be not lost to the world here is no place for him poore Infant no King or Prince to whose trust I may commit him you onely dare I boldly trust him with Vpon this rising off her seate and I following her with the babe in my armes she led me into a great tower where we found so much riches Iewels and coine as I remained thereat astonished opening unto me afterwards the places shut up and my wonder thereat increasing Cozen said she I would bid you take all that you here see if the carriage of it would not endanger you take therefore all that you thinke may stead and serve you yet must you make account that what you take must without any more be the patrimonie of my poore sonne and the stay of your loyaltie my selfe not knowing either what shall become of me or whether I shall ever find any meanes of sending you any more And as she was about to tell me somewhat touching the education she would have me give him she was seazed on by so great a floud of teares as her unfinished conceits were by her sobbings limited with this onely Doe you Whereupon I transformed into her griefe though most unapt to comfort her strove the best I could to speake something to her but she soliciting me to depart with such speedy earnestnesse as if the Tyrant had beene at the gates I went and chused out of the treasure what liked me best and taking up the babe got me to Arsinoe where landing in a Merchants habit having with me the riches signed up in diverse packs with merchants marks I passed to the Nile desending on it at my leasure to the sea where boording a good shop I sought for a setling place over all the Mediterranean Ilands but being winde-driven hither and finding here a great heard of goats with this Deere amongst them I wondered to see her so gently fawne upon me without any feare at all so as I judging this a fit place for my purpose called it because of the goates Capraia and finding this mouldrie stone easie to be wrought I sent for workmen from Liguria who in a short time made me the house you here see wherein I will doe my best to conceale this disinherited Prince I brought along with me three right faithfull servants one my owne the others given me by the Queene but because I never wrote unto her more than once from Arsinoe I sent her some three moneths sithence one of them to bring her newes of us not so much for discharge of my dutie as to know what state she now is in and to see if there be any likelihood of any hope of our returne wherein if there appeare an impossibilitie I intend to continue here till such time as the child grow to be able to exercise horse and armes by that time suspitions ceased my selfe growne aged he well growne up and both of us altogether unkend and quite forgotten I will endeavour to bring him elsewhere that fortune may not together with his kingdome deprive him of those fruits the world is like to reape from his truly Royall inclinations And this excellent Princes is all that you desired to know which I beseech you to account as not spoken nor had your Royall dignities beene sufficient to have made mee become thereof confident enough if your aspects carried not engraven in them the merits of your vertues worthy to be the cabinet of so great a secret Eromilia hugging the babe close to her faire breast with kissing it a thousand times could not containe her selfe from weeping faine would she have praied Sotiro to goe along with her to have him bred up in her Court if she had thought to have obtained him which proffer she and Metaneone both made him with expression how desirous they were thereof but he humbly thanking her told her that he would finde a time to come with him to see and serve her The three dayes that the tempest lasted passed the Princesse pleasantly on this Rocke with the sweet-pleasing company of Coralbo which expired shee commending him to the gods departed with her husband In a short time arrived they at Caleri met by Polimero and wellcomed by Eromena conformable to the dignitie of their estates and communitie of their affections whence they could not part for many dayes after the marriage although the King of Mauritania had by often messages solicited their returne till at length Polimero also