imprisoned with so great a probability of prevailing that within some few dayes he received a Message from wicked Fridius that if he did not presently retire himselfe and his Troopes from before the Castle he vow'd by all the gods that Brisania should act the first part in that Tragedy was intended And for the greater assurance of his intention he caused the Lady to be brought upon the Leades where were already prepared the circumstances of her death Saxanius after he had understood this peremptory demand from the proud Tyrant and beheld with his sorrowfull eyes the threatned danger of his faire Mistresse for whose safety he had ingaged not onely his owne courage but the valours also of all his friends and kindred became tormented with many thoughts and divers resolutions since if he absolutely performed the commanding request of his hated rivall he was no more secured as he supposed of Brisania's preservation then if he should yield to nothing he desired but rather gave Fridius the more liberty to be cruell when he had no occasion to feare And for any promise he could make it was to be esteemed like the rest of his false actions wherefore he almost determined to send away the Harralde with a threatning deniall instead of a submissive consent But then reflecting upon the apprehensions of his deare love who as he believed would imagine that he esteemed much more a little honour then the saving of her life it destroyed his former halfe resolution and entered him againe into new and confused considerations which were lost in his desperate breast with diversity of passions untill casting his sad eyes towards the place where Brisania was as a pure sacrifice to be offered according to his imagination who seemed in his apprehension already to accuse him of unworthy love that could so long dispute in his minde her preservation of a sudden he might see one cast headlong from the top of the Castle into the ditch which too soon perswaded his beliefe that the wicked Tyrant had prevented his judgement by performing the execution before the returne of his messenger so that he remained like one that seemed to be changed into a marble Statute untill a flagge of Truce appeared joyfully upon the Castle as a testimony of future friendship however Saxanius could not be satisfied in the Omen untill a Messenger from the Fort assured him not onely of the Ladies safety but also of the death of Fridius with this relation that the Souldiers of the Fort neither being able to endure their Princesse captivity nor the Tyrants cruelty had by force rescued their Mistresse and committed a supreame Justice upon his person who now was sent from Brisania to know what conditions the besiegers expected both for her liberty and the Towne they had already conquered But Saxanius would make no Articles at all with his Love for after he had disposed of his Troopes into severall Quarters he went to present himselfe a slave to the faire Captive he had redeemed where he intended to chaine his freedome for ever However Cassianus finding that he was not onely fallen into some disdaine by reason of those desires he exprest for his own preservation as also Saxanius likely to take possession of those favours he might have enjoyed imagined there was no way to preserve him still in the good will of his Lady but to discover his quality which he supposed would both advance his esteeme and lessen his rivals credit and by that meanes become a publicke pretender to Brisania which notwithstanding produced no other effects then a challenge from Saxanius which Cassianus in honour could not refuse after he had given sufficient testimonies of his condition to be a Prince and no wandring stranger Yet however the day was appointed for the combate and every ones expectation attended the finall event of the quarrell Brisania's nurse called Rhena promised to satisfie all parties without danger or bloud provided her Mistresse would be directed by her Counsells and become wife to him whom the heavens had ordained to be her husband This strange intricacy gave curious desires to multitudes of people to be present at the wonder since both the Champions were resolved not to be foyled in their honour scarce in their loves Wherefore they came into the Field armed to supply the defect of the old womans performance according to her bold promise but when they were prepared to have ended the difference by a bloudy encounter Rhena intreated them they would first repaire to the great Temple to sacrifice to the immortall gods where she said she might perhaps relate such a story that would satisfie all their desires This proposition from the old woman although it carried not with it much probability of according the rivalls their quarrell being grounded upon a difference that knew not how to admit of any competition when gratitude it selfe seemed to have no place in Cassianus disposition though he enjoyed his life by the fortunate favour of Saxanius yet by the importunate cryes of the people who began to be lesse curious and more pittifull they were perswaded to follow her directions and being before the Altar encompassed round about by the expecting multitude Rhena after she had called the heavens to witnesse of the truth of what she intended to utter delivered this relation which as she said she had bound her self by a vow never to declare untill some necessity not to be avoyded forced from her the discovery When beautious Elizana said she the vertuous mother of Prince Cassianus here present was constrained with her deare Husband to flye from the Countrey of Mesopotamia by the prevailing power of Artaxes generall in the way being great with child she was forced to retire to the house of my late Lord Father to Brisania whose wife was her neere kinswoman and at the same time great also where she had not remained many dayes before she was delivered of a faire daughter as my Lady not long after of another to the joy of the whole house however the gods esteeming my Mistresse too good for this life took her out of this world before she had finished the moneth of her child-birth to the unspeakable sadnesse both of her husband and all her servants leaving no issue to inherit her singular vertues but a daughter only Elizana also being quickly called away by her own troubles left her little infant unto my education as my Lord also trusted me with his jewel but accidents and the warres in Armenia growing every day more hot then other for the better security and quiet I was perswaded with the two children to retire to my own house where we remained for some yeares they contented to be each others companion as I happy to be both their Foster mother since they increased not so fast in dayes and nights as in beauty and goodnesse but alasse the Fates were envious at our felicity and tooke one of them out of the world and with these words the old
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
patient the roome being freed by accident from all company else the youth to her no small amazement prosecuted this discourse Alasse sweet Eretheria said he what serve these outward remedies you apply to my weake body when you leave my heart still subject to a dangerous and painfull disease these words seemed so strange to the eares of the young Lady that with a certaine kind of amazed look she only entertained his expectation for some time but at last apprehending a few sparcles of love might proceed from her frequent visitations that hadimboldned the youth to higher ambitions then any way his condition could merit or she admit of had drawn from him these extravagant expressions turning her countenance instantly into a frown she told him she was of opinion that his distracted spirit by reason of his long sicknesse had caused him to very ridiculous fancies instead of using fitting respects To which he suddenly replyed no no most deare Eretheria know that I am not mad by these new distempers but long since wounded by your bewitching beauty so that as the guilt justly belonges unto you so ought you also to take upon you the blame for you may be satisfied if you please that your patient is no other but your unfortunate servant Eumenes preserved as I may say miraculously from the rage and violence of the Seas unkindnesse to be more again tormented and endangered by your cruelty This was enough to have put Eretheria beyond all degrees of wonder and amazement since Hyacinthia our Queen had brought newes of his and Prince Cassianus miscarriage as she had been enformed by an unfortunate shipwrack in her company but when againe she had computed inwardly in her mind the time of the accident and the finding of his body lying upon the sands to agree punctually together it rendred her absolutely certaine in her beliefe that he was no other then the right Eumenes besides both his voyce and countenance though much changed by reason of his sicknesse at last lively came into her apprehension so that after shee had a long time rested silent as if her consideration laboured to digest her thoughts into a method or rather seeming to labour inwardly by the force of many passions she at last broake out into these expressions wherein both her words and her teares were sufficient witnesses of her extraordinary distemper O you gods said she must I be an instrument to protect murther under the pretence of using charity much lesse certainly ought it be imagined that I should imbrace such a love without my fathers consent who undoubtedly can never be pleased with an election of these oppositions And with that flew out of his chamber with some violence This gave Eumenes considerations sufficient imployments since he was not only in despaire that Eretheria would never entertaine his affections but doubted whether or no she might not deliver him up into the hands of justice but againe reflecting upon the noblenesse of her nature accompanied with so many rare perfections he could not believe so pure a whiteness of disposition like the rich Ermin would suffer it selfe to be defiled by any provocation to false-hood Neverthelesse the griefe to be left in that manner by the faire Eretheria as it were confounded in a vast Sea of confusion when as before he had raised his hopes to some pitch of probability by reason of the opportunities he enjoyed with those respects he had received from her after the tilting continued his distempers a long time upon him which also became extreamly augmented in regard that Eretheria absolutely forbore her accustomed visits that caused her belike in the interim more closely to retire her selfe amongst the holy Virgins in the place where she then remained either being struck perhaps with the sensible feeling of the youthes sufferings withall a little jealous of her own honour or the more conveniently to avoid the importunity of such suitors that her father had proposed to her choyce however not to detaine me over long in the relation or 〈◊〉 in the hearing by laying open all the circumstances that might appertaine to so passionate a story Eumenes after he was in a sort perfectly recovered of his sicknesse found means by a certaine disguise he borrowed of a young Novice belonging to the order not only to procure admittance into the conversation of Eretheria who not being absolutely profest he might the more conveniently doe but in a short time after he had one day discovered himselfe to her knowledge with teares sighes and other services obtained some kind of entertainment in her favour Neverthelesse in the interim she conjured him by all those affections that he could expect from her condition so to conceale his person from the knowledge of any that her father might never suspect either his pretentions or that he was living Eumenes although he thought himselfe sufficiently honoured that his beautifull Mistresse would in this manner allow him the freedome of her chast conversation yet considering he was not much neerer his journeyes end by the favour then the Suns revolution that did but rise and set to prosecute the one course without alteration conceived himselfe to be in a manner in the same predicament as tormented Tantalus her permittance being onely remedies to keep his thoughts alwayes in an appetite without tasting of that fruit which he so much coveted however his hopes were sufficiently encouraged to keep despaire from seizing upon his soul Thus I say he continued enjoying though he never enjoyed untill the unexpected death 〈◊〉 the Duke her father gave Eretheria full liberty as she thought to dispose of her selfe without contradition At these words Narcissus began to grow pale in so much as the Priest asked him how he did but he reflecting upon the necessity of concealing himselfe in regard of the Princesse Clorias desires where as she only upon those conditions was content to allow him her conversation and besides considering that the demonstration of any passions could not againe call his father to a new life◠told them that as a little quame had something overcome his stomack so was he for the present pretty well recovered wherefore desired Creses without any more interruption in his behalfe to prosecute his story which made him quickly returne to the matter in this manner Eretheria said he being thus the absolute possessor of her own liberty as by descent the only heire to her fathers fortunes since her brother Narcissus had miscarried unfortunately some time before at Sea as was generally conceived throughout the whole Island of Cyprus was presently perswaded by the States of the Countrey to make election of some Noble and worthy husband that might be capable to execute that charge and command that belonged formerly to the Duke her father for that by reason of her sex she could not entirely of her selfe enjoy the office being willing as they said if it were possible to continue the jurisdiction in the same bloud in regard of