it being unpossible that the reverence of hoary age worke not much in a young Prince already by reason both perswaded and convicted As for time and opportunity to accomplish it wee shall not misse of that it being his ordinary use to walke through this grove for the preservation of his bodily health though it conduce nothing to that of the spirit which the Count not contradicting leaving his Squire to accompany the other sate him downe by him to heare his story The young Knight in the meane time over-wearied with past watchings continued his sleepe arrived-upon unexpectedly by a Lady both for complexion beautifull comelinesse and comely beauty worthy to bee numbred among the fairest shee was cloth'd in a sky-colour'd silke gowne embroydered with gold and pearle which shee wore after the fashion most used by Nymphes tuck'd up with a rich girdle about her slender waste so as there lay discovered to the eye her silvered buskins fastned with tyes of riband which in the form e of leaves encircled in the mid'st of them a litle rose of diamonds her brest sparingly discovered dispersed not else-where the beholders sight but engrossed it wholly to it self without giving it any occasion to repent it's employment the parts subject to excellencie and defect indifferently appearing her haire neatly smooth'd but dishevelled made disorder become so seemely and delightsome that never any order could boast of such passing seemlinesse There encompassed them for honour for for ornament themselves were their sole adorners a gay and odoriferous garland Her dainty hands the amorous hookes of hearts discovered transparently how slender-boned they were flesh'd tender soft and almost unpalpable exquisitely proportioned and long delicately hilly and lasciviously dimpled adorned with golden bracelets interlaced with claspes that hooked together hearts inlaid with diamonds Shee was thither come all alone carrying with her a basket of Roses and in a little silver vessell quick embers The sight of the Knight staid her not from adorning with her flowres the Goddesse and her little one nor yet from burning some of her sweete incense the odoriferous fume wherofawoke him so as rising from off the ground and gazing on her with astonishment he could hardly as hee had reason for it beleeve himselfe opening therefore his eyes better and then yet more fixed in his errour hee opened their fluces and with a flood of teares burst her out these speeches Oh with what words should I thanke you the Lady of my life Liarta who having already but too much obliged mee whilst you liv'd a mortall are now that you are celestiall come to undoe me with your unmeritable favours Is it possible that my plaint could mount so high and move you enthroned among the glory of the happy to come and commâ—â—tate my griefes Which said he rapt with a conjugall love ran to embrace her which shee avoyding hee spake on And will you not then deare life of my soule permit mee to claspe you in my unfortunate armes No I am sure you cannot for I know you to be unpalpable yet let me enfold and hold within the circle of my armes this faite Image which though dead to the world lives yet in the center of my heart with that offering againe to embrace her and shee shunning him as before I perceive it is not then true proceeded he that to the blessed spirits together with the affects of vertue doth for their greater blisse and glory remaine the memory of things past for then I am sure you would not have forgotten your Almadero Or was there perhaps together with your mortall body buried my immortall love as unworthy to be blest with you in heaven to make me onely among all upon earth most miserable and unfortunate What! are soules dumbe or can they not distinguish words as well as represent personages But be it as it be will I am sure I see you in whose faire countenance I yet discerne the lillies I so esteemed but ah what is become of the roses alas death hath gathered them off Which the Lady with a beck of her head denying and gently smiling shewed him those of the Goddesse When hee being now come to himselfe somewhat better perceived shee was not indeede the same he beleeved her to be and would therefore have craved her humble pardon but so suddenly lost both his speech and conceit that hee could not accomplish his intent Shee that attentively had observed him in all his deportments and no lesse liking his person than pittying his passion returned him this answer I am not gentle Sir the Lady you take me for since I have a reall body am yet a woman and live nor enjoy I ought that is celestiall save the sole hope of this Goddesse I am very sorry that I awoke you and crave you pardon for it but being come hither expressely to adore the Goddesse I could doe no lesse than offer her my accustomed oblations The Knight with a greedy eye examining in her all those beauties that in a faire woman could be desired dispensing withall now if not forgetting his loyall affection to his Liarta makes her this reply The favour faire Lady that I receive from you is of it selfe too great to be merited without the unexpressible addition of these your-to-me-too-too-courteous satisfactions yet wonder I not thereat knowing that as the Gods extend not their liberality unto us according to our dignity but conformable to their abundant benignity so cannot those divine beauties of yours choose but participate of the selfe same nature which if when unimployed it excell the loftiest imaginations will no doubt when it is well imployed surpasse all humane merit both curtesie and beauty in you with equall pace march on to exeedingnesse so as I being too feebleeyed to behold the shining splendor of the one am dazled with the glit-Tering rayes of the other nor can I possibly correspond with any parity an imparity so discorrespondent for having beene already dazled with the like beames I finde my selfe so weake-sighted that my very intellect being together with my senses and optick organs enfeebled cannot expresse nor fully discern the good which in its ill it receiveth yet will I not for all that forbeare to acknowledge meerely out of my being sensible of the greatnesse of your merits how deeply I am engaged unto you to the end you may both know mee to be yours and withall so you bee pleased so much to honour mee declare me being such for your Knight and servant The Lady who by nature was endued with a vivacity disposed to a pawze-not-intermitting-motion impatient at so long a discourse would gladly have many times interrupted him being inclin'd rather to speake than heare but restrain'd or rather curb'd by a certaine unknowne force shee stood patiently-silent no otherwise than doth a generous Courser who though hee bite and champe the Bit refuseth not for all that to obey his rider The sight of this gentle Knight disliked her not though shee yet
its losing shewes the inestimablenesse of its excellencie and value But the Princesse having not the heart to answer him her constancie beginning now to faile her without further speech to him went and placed her selfe among the Ladies The Prince making no longer tarrying having conferr'd with his Fathers Embassadour and changed his apparrell departed thence arriving within few dayes at his owne home where unbuttoning his brest he plucked out thence the wrongs done him Hee burst off the treaty and would if his Father had suffered him have broken off the peace too howsoever the seeming preparation he is now busied about makes the world expect for warres The other Princes stand all of them observing the issue desirous to free themselves from suspicions and hidden treacheries though with manifest dangers and I am now going to recall Polimero Prince of Sardinia now many yeares sithence banished through the occasion of the King his Father-in-lawes-doting fits to the end he returned home may if neede be make one with the rest This is the danger wherein weare The world on that part hath one sole enemy superior to any one inferior to all together this is knowne unto all and yet such as can withstand him will not they shut their eyes and runne for company downe the streame of the ruined to their owne utter ruine thinking themselves more hurt with the biting of a flea that skips in their shirts than with the venemous teeth and poysoned breath of the dragon that both infects them and devoures their dominions Some Princes there are that for certaine rules cannot leave off siding with the Scandinavian though they be sure to be in the end oppressed or which is the least evill they can hope for to be of free-men made first subjects and then slaves Others thinke it a happinesse to be the last that perish We have none of us any prudence but are all carried to action it we doe any thing by spirits of confusion and brought to that passe that the Gods being pleased to punish mortals reduce them unto which is to deprive them of their diviner part their understanding Here held the ancient Knight his peace seconded with a sad silence of all full of that horror wherewith an unexpected evill encumbers mens spirits But the Druide having stood a good while with downe-cast eyes thinking his present profession obliged him to speake knew not well what to resolve of so distracted was he with a passionate affection that egg'd him on to make others beleeve that which reason suffered not himselfe to give any credit unto Now he had ever since the arrivall of the Venedotian Knight had great conflicts in his minde about his returne but his first deliberation growne up now to the hight of obstinacie tyed him fast to his resolution of not parting though love and filiall duty perswaded him strongly to the contrary insomuch as he perswaded himselfe that that was his best course now that the entrance into wholsome counsels was shut up and that hee fostered in their steede imaginations which being once tasted it is a hard matter to forget their smacke leave them to catch hold of the reall substance and guile-detesting truth Having then heard this story treating of a publick State which imposed on him a necessity of changing his purpose hee gladly would for not changing it have deceived himselfe with beguiling also the rest of the company and perswading them to thinke well of that opinion which he knew in his owne conscience to be starke naught This noble Knights tale said hee hath horrible appearances and minds taken at unawares may easily conceive fears to be where none are by measuring the effects or rather the expectation of them with the deceivable rule of false good and false evill Here is presented to our view an altered and a new world as if it and its accidents had not ever been the same sithence it first began to have a beeing not that I deny alterations but consider them in the revolution of times which if they could choose but be changed mutations then could not but be denied but if they be at this present in a bad state they shall no doubt hereafter be in a goood one 'T is ordinary for old men to praise the greennesse of their youth and for Poets to runne on the commendation of the Spring yet perceive not the former that if they were not waxen old nothing would seeme altered unto them Cities townes and houses would then have the selfe same aspects and appeare unto them with the very same beauty menthen should have their delights confined to past-sports would taste all meates with the same rellish and the spirit glutted and tired with merry thoughts farre distant from mellancholike Philosophie would not be capable of such differences no not so much as to imagine that any such were or could be Poets likewise would say that the world were ever the same or if it ever altered that then it rather bettered than otherwise for in later ages were never knowne as in the first brother-killers without any precedent example promiscuous lusts without shame or punishment incests with fathers nor a thousand other mischiefes and lewde villanies Alterations of States civill and domestick enmities pestilences and famines have beene in all times so have there ever beene eclipses lightning thunderbolts droughts earth-quakes and comets and if not alwayes deluges no more doth there alwayes meete in the deepest of the heavens in the signe Cancer the great conjunction of Iove and Saturne Besides the Gods which is indeede the true reason doe not alwayes punish us according to our deservings The world though placed in the midst of the ayre yet falls not it s owne nature upholds it and makes it durable for alterations without which the heaven and earth would seeme to us to be of iron If it be so then things present should not seeme so strange to us seeing they are but even what have beene before nor yet afflict us if leaving naturall considerations we accoast to the supernaturall which may alone serve us for a true rule in all things Men talke of a generall revolution in the world by which most beleeve that the buds of the growing Monarchy is to be prun'd off no otherwise than if we thought it possible to strike a naile in the celestiall wheele or beleev'd that the disposition of the Gods were unto us as prejudiciall as incomprehensible But if we beleeve that there are Gods and that they have a provident care over us doth it not imply that the meanes of their providence stand above the reach of our knowledge and that they oftentimes make for our good when they seeme in our eyes to worke our prejudice Humane mindes capable onely of the individuall things present measure all eternall universall acts by the short Ell of their clouded capacity not considering how that the infinite essence hath a constant care of the finite with an Idea of eternity which we
six times as many that that other dastardly Prince durst not have in any other manner affronted him knowing his inferiority to him in Armes which hee unknightlike endeavours to supply no lesse injuriously than basely with the oddes of men and Armes yet let him assure himselfe spake shee on that he hath yet one enemy more than hee ever yet made account of and that 's I who ere he shall be his death as he threatneth to be will kill him my selfe with my owne hands which if through fortunes disfavouring it succeede mee not yet shall I not faile howsoever either to take him prisoner or dye in the attempt And you said then the Herald not knowing the Princesse in that habit that make such an answer for Melianto who are you to have authority so to speake I am answered him shee Deadora which sithence thou now know'st and hast heard and spoken enough returne whence thou camest and that quickly too The Herald throwing towards the Galley a bloodied Dart bidding his Oare-men strike amaine returned crying oh Iupiter oh Mars oh Bellona yee Gods all of Heaven Earth and Hell listen and heare Let Melianto an unjust Prince unreasonable a ravisher a violator of quiet and the Law be this day chastised and corrected by you Come to his Lord he relates unto him both the Princesse's answer and the habit he saw her in whereat he was like to swound for griefe conceiving that if shee were as shee professed to be married he had then no reason to pretend right in her any more but examining that such considerations were secret and therefore could not satisfie the world whereas the rape was a publickly declared injury he thought he could not without prejudice to his reputation abstaine from revenge Therefore hee boorded the enemy a-prow causing him to be at the selfe-same time boorded on both the Starbur and Larbur-sides and last of all a-poope by other five with a mighty force The assaulted ship bravely received the shock of the foure that ran at her sides the poope being assured from being endangered by the beake of that Galley which came to offend it with many straw-mats that were hung downe round about it which also served for a parapet to such as defended it The quantity of slaine-men almost equalized the number of the arrowes shot in the first assault for the Thracians having parted from out their Countrey in Vessels fitter for pompous shew than for fight had not wherewithall to shelter them from the showre of shotte imagining that in respect of their number they should not in case they were necessitated to fight encounter other difficulty than boording their Enemies Galley so as there flew not an arrow from out the assayled Galley that either slew or wounded not whereas her men on the contrary were so well covered as they could hardly be any way offended The easiest places of mounting a-boord her was her prow and poope her sides being defended aswell by her owne as her Enemies Battlements and close-fights Besides if any one endeavoured to clime up that way 't weare of the two more likely hee should fall lower than get higher the Prince of Pontus having taken on him the care and charge of keeping the Enemy at distance off that part The Prince of Cyprus standing arm'd on the prow received the Enemies shock with a greater countershock charging him with the full force of all his Oares The stemmes burst both alike but with an unlike effect that alone being all the prejudice he received whereas Erpandro deprived of the plankes that being laide athwart the prow sustained his combatants lost by that wrack forty of his company betweene Knights and Galley-slaves whereof the greater part were by the weight of the timber and suddaine falling of them one a-top of another either maymed or wounded he being thereat runne thither himselfe to defend the entrance or to speake more properly to issue out through it thinking that he had by reason of his great advantages the victory cock sure in his owne hands Deadora hearing the terrible crash of their encounter and knowing the Enemies could not without great difficulty mount up the poope for its being bravely defended by the Count and Don Eleimos seconded by others of their owne company hastily shifted off her gowne and then arming her selfe at all peics ranne to the prore where forcing Melianto to cede her the place shee put herselfe before him up shee gets on the beake head with an halfe pike in her hand the Archers playing the meane while their parts from above thence shee leapes over into the Enemies Galley followed by Melianto who was vexed at the heart for this her over-rash boldnesse 'T was her good luck that the disorderly falling downe of the plankes and timber-workes disordered the Defendants so as they could neither re-unite themselves nor stand to their ground without treading on such as had beene beaten downe who lying senselesse along and athwart the Decks and Hatches became a ruinous impediment otherwise shee had done enough if after making a proffer of her courage shee could have but fairely retired without being wet considering how the Enemies Galley was mann'd with the hardiest and choysest Knights of all Thrace But fortune over furthers a bold resolution for forcing her passage onwards shee was followed by fifty resolute Gentlemen the greater part whereof abandoning their pikes conformable to the necessity of their enterprise laide about them with their swords with such an undaunted resolution for gaining the Vessell as amazed the Thracians Deadora knowing Erpandro first among the foremost furiously flew at him and after many maine active blowes received and given seeing him yet unwounded shee gransh'd her teeth for meere rage of anger Now she had one of the best mettled and tempered blades that ever was forged or wrought Vulcan himselfe never made the like it was formed hookedwise of an edge somewhat thick and neere three fingers broad it would cut an arm'd arme in two but with a blow fetch'd by such an arme as hers which made her wonder that neither her blade nor arme wrought now their wonted effects Erpandro was a stout Knight tutered in a good Schoole of Armes and armed as advantagiously as could be since there was not a juyce-affording herbe whose vertue the Artificer made not use of in tempering the Armour he was clad in onely he was ill-provided of a Sword for in warding of a blow the one halfe thereof burst off and dropp'd at his feete whereby his sword-arme lay open and wounded Vpon this the Princesse was assaulted by such as were neerest her but by wounding three of them in an instant shee freed her selfe from out that streight And now seeing the valiant Melianto fiercely lay about him to guard her shee goes to single out Erpandro who with a new sword made towards her to revenge himselfe of her They aymed both of them at the selfe-same time at each others head their blades fortuning to meete edge
difference betweene well-wishing and affection For my owne part I hated the ordinary presumption of such young men as beleeve that a woman cannot as much as glance on them a looke with out intimating to her eyes object the homage of her liberty and person well might I indeede perswade my selfe that some internall gift might perhaps serve me for a ladder to climbe up to mens good opinions but was never for all that so selfe-conceited as to beleeve that either my lookes face or person had the power to allure or gaine me the affection liking or good opinion of any one sex or other Then began I to make some signes of my departure not without an internall hearts-griefe occasioned by a truly-affectionate love But scarce had I therein opened my mouth when Crisanta reposing her hand on my arme as we walked alone in a large alley in the garden spake thus unto mee Celio for so made I my selfe be called I understand that this countrey likes you not no more doth perhaps this house neither and that you therefore intend to be gone But I could wish you would prove so courteous as to make first knowne unto me the reason why you doe so for if it so be that you received any disgust here take my word I will endeavour to see you righted because indeede my intent and desire is that of mine you be honoured as of me you are beloved and held in as deere and respective an esteeme as are my owne sonnes But if this be not it that ayles you and that nought else save meere heate of youth spurres you onwards to such a resolution I could then advise you to thinke better on it first and to consider how you are now that you have lost your old servant left all alone although I would not be backwards in supplying you with whatsoever you should want for your journey yet should you me thinkes have already learnt to your cost that simple provisions suffice not being you may in your way light on not onely high-way theeves as you did in my countrey but a thousand other inimaginable misadventures now then so you be pleased to oblige me so much as to let me but know who you are and to make withall your businesse appeare to me such as require your so sudden departure I will then on my word take order that you be conveyed by such a company as shall secure you from all perils But if the case with you stand quite otherwise and that there be no such matter I shall then lovingly entreate you to suspend the deliberation thereof at least so long till I have time to resolve with my selfe whether I can bee without you or no whom I love though you know it not deerer than my owne life These last words drew shee out of her mouth with a kinde of a pretty unwilling willingnesse which so got out had drawne others after them if bashfulnesse having displayed its vermilion colours on her beteared cheekes had not staid her tongue with the modest curbe of the consideration of her sex At the sweete sound of these her sweeter words I altered my first deliberation more speedily than doth a dancer at the change of the musicks tone alter his manner of footing Nor held I it my best course to tempt fortune by doing the office of a woman in refusing since shee had already done that of a man in proffering for having beene already sufficiently turred therein at the cost of others That a woman unlesse shee be impudently-bold can hardly resolve with her selfe to aske a second time a blesh-procuring question The consideration where of made mee returne her this answer This is unparalled Madame the onely Countrey where I have lighted on the best and worst of fortunes spite and favour your Excellencie being the best of good and the theeves that robb'd me the worst of ills But now the evill since past and gone corrupts not the sweete rellish of the present good which is the onely subject whereabout my thoughts are busied and that the rather because discontent hath no abiding place either under the heaven you breathe in or in the spirits that receive from you their influence And for my owne part Madame I see my selfe both honoured beyond my fortune and beloved beyond my merit so as the resolution of my parting hence springs not from these grounds your goodnesse thought good to mention nor yet from my in that behalfe innocent youth but indeede from the consideration of my being a meere stranger and from the doubt I conceived of abusing with a too too bold if not odious indiscretion the noble courtesie of so long an entertainment besides some peculiar affaires of mine owne requiring my crossing the sea to see the state and being of my poore house and mother though I know I cannot doe that neither without your courteous and obliging furtherance which in its time I neither can nor will refuse to accept of The losse which I sustained in the death of my deerely-tendred servant was indeede exceeding great but millions of degrees short nay nothing in comparison of the acquisition of so high and noble a Mistresse Heere stopping my speech with coloured cheekes and downe-cast eyes I stood some short while mute when shee taking mee by the hand and gently wringing it thus bespake mee Hitherto Colio doe I hold my selfe satisfied but what answer make you mee for the rest What further answer can I make you Madame said I seeing that for as much as depends on mee I have already exprest my selfe and then for that which depends on you the answer thereof lyes in your owne brest Depends it on mee replied shee to know either your being since I am a meere stranger to it or your stay here since I cannot divine your thoughts yea Madame said I very well both the one and the other because my beeing depends wholly on you nor can I in such a case either make my selfe better knowne unto you or receive any alteration of being without you But shee not yet fully conceiving me I then with a bolder courage thus proceeded Noble Madame of my native being I beseech you question mee no farther at this time lest the story thereof seeme a fable unto you all other beeing of mine is yours and hath its whole dependance on you By you and through your meanes I live to the world for having beene through your compassionate benignity from being left for dead gathered up and cured And by you also thankes to your obliging love I now live to my selfe being cured of a wound which for not daring to manifest I should if I had parted hence have carried along with me bleeding in my heart No sooner heard shee this than with a blithsome countenance shee said unto mee My Celio I know not whether I may confidently beleeve or no what you tell mee I beseech you deceive me not though I must confesse that my douot of it springs but from
should shortly light on some unexpected good accident Coralbo he comforted more with offers than reasons an argument of an unfained comforter and he knowing it now bootelesse to contrast with the will of Heaven having his minde fortified with generous resolutions stoutly trampled under the feete of his courage both want and fortune Both these Knights being desirous to see by all meanes the great Court of Egypt put them selves on the way to Memphi where the King then resided faring sometimes well and other timesill conformable to the quality of their lodgings Phebus now hastened to bathe his swealtry Steeds in the foaming Ocean when they might descrie a-front of them a Grove of Palme-trees and in it might heare a great rumor of voyces whereupon lacing on their helmets they spurr'd onwards as fast as their horses could gallop where come they might see two knights and no more busied in slaughtering their assaulters at least forty in number who seemed rather to turne tayle than to fight observing though their time of charging and wheeling about altogether in such an orderly disorder that the fight seemed to such as beheld it from a farre off rather a shew than a skirmish Polimero suddenly started as one amazed at the sight of one of them whom he thought he should know by a black Eagle which he wore on his crest and was assured thereof when he saw his Squire by that time beaten off his horse by six of those theeves that presently fell a-stripping of him maugre all his struggling to get out of their mischievous clutches and full ill would he have fared they being already fully bent to butcher him but for the timely arrivall of Polimero who sacrificed their cursed lives as an oblation due to the infernall spirits his well guided sword so conforming to his heroïke spirit that he strooke never a blow without expected successe for doubt of comming in too late to the rescue of the other two who bravely maintained the fight against a strange squadron of these raskals Coralbo seeing them skirmish in severall divisions affronted one of them charging it with so resolute an arme that he disconfited it in a moment and then without lofing any time set upon the second which with as much facility was rowted by the same valour upon this the third fronting to their flanckward spurr'd towards him which one of the two unknowne Knights perceiving he leaving his companion to make good the field against such of their enemy squadron as surviv'd their deaths-right usurping blowes resolutely spurr'd on all alone to encounter it whilst Coralbo seeing his assistance so well imployed turn'd to second him with as brave a resolution Of a great number that the enemies were there remained now but the hardiest of them the rest lying all scatteringly groveling about the palme-trees as the trophey of these foure Knights valour so that the remnant of them knowing they were not able to make long defence dispersed themselves upon their flight into severall wayes which occasioned the separation of the foure Knights also in their pursuite Polimero and the Knight of the Eagle went together and Coralbo with the other followed by the Squire never was chase so obstinately maintained nor hunted Deere so fleetly pursued as either of these couples did these fugitive villaines which was the cause that they lost sight each of other in the confused order of the wood massacring all the while without any remorse those who remorselesse and voyde of pitty or humanity lived on the blood of innocent travellers At length Polimero with the Knight of the Eagle being left though well-nigh tired sole Masters of the field speedily ranne to embrace and take acquaintance each of other the twilight having by that time surrendred his dominion to his elder brother Darknesse whilst the Sunne plunged in the depth of the Ocean left sight-depriving night in her full possession When Polimero lifting up his beaver thus greetes his companion I know not whether or no mine eyes or imagination deceive me but if you be not Eromena my Lady and Princesse Angell of what Hierarchy I beseech you be you then of noble and valiant Cavalier The other instantly knowing him by his voyce impatient of any delay embracing him with his Armes about his neck made him this answer If I then bee her for certaine you are my Lord and Prince Polimero Delightsome it was to see how readily without any more words their amorous affects adapted their nimble hands to unbuckle each others helmes that the wounds of their kisses might have the deeper impression in their love-enflamed faces Nor had they beene so soone weary of this as they were of the other battell had not Eromena's telling him that the Knight her companion was Landadori put him in minde to goe seeke her out whom accordingly they rode a whooping hollowing for overall the wood though in vaine till their horses in the end growne weary neere a homely house that stood in the open field they repaired thither to repose themselves hee freeing by the way thither Eromena from all feare of her daughters miscarriage by the confidence he had of Coralbo's valour seconded with the assistance of Carasio who was the Squire and order before hand taken to meete at Memphi in case they happened to loose one another Come to the lodging after replied embracements the first thing that Polimero desired to know was the occasion that moved her to come through so many dangers into those so remote parts Whereupon shee having told him as much as hee had formerly understood by Coralbo said on That after the Count of Bona's departure the King her father was fullen into another farre different but better frensie upon considering with himselfe That the Count being now good man growne decrepit and of a crasie constitution might fall sick by the way and so finde him either not at all or too late and that upon proposing therefore of sending some other Lindadori offered to the passing content of her Grandfather to undertake her selfe that service and that whilest the businesse esteemed but a jest passed unthought on a great many that were named fearing the girle's humour made their excuse with confessing its occasion but the consultation of dispatching her appearing to her at length to be but in jest shee inwardly fretted thereat and boldly told the Councell that shee was now in yeares to beare Armes as well as any other whatsoever and that in respect shee could not be disswaded neither by hers nor by the King or Councel's perswasion shee was forced out of the tender care shee had of her wellfare to become her selfe her companion and that so leaving the King rather appeased than satisfied they had departed to seeke him out That understanding at Athens what way he had taken they without hearing any newes of the Count crossed over into Egypt where meeting by good fortune Carasio they travelled towards Memphi where they were by the way set upon by those
not dead and bemoaned him not The Queene who as a childe of her owne deerely tendred him was even heart-broken with griefe for him The King sollicited the Physitians for fresh Pittims and new Cordialls but nothing avail'd him since they penetrated not into the nature of the disease nor its true occasion Ridden hee had and danced too that morning but without excesse exercises to him ordinary Dined he had too but yet sparingly repletion and disorder had no place in him Deadora seeing him in such a plight too late now repenting her being the causer of it taking him by the hand warm'd it betweene hers calling to him with so many throbs and teares that happy he had he but seene them Nor did such demonstrations any way impeach the reserved modesty of her sex their neernesse in blood education and domestick amity sufficiently priviledging her so to doe At length hee came to himselfe just in that time when litle better than abandoning him for dead every ones thoughts were busied more about his funerall than life for now the King Queene Princesse and Princes were all of them parted save onely Vincirco who staid behinde with the Physicians and was now set a weeping over him as dead The King having notice thereof returned with the rest and finding him laid in warme cloathes in a feaverish fit shaking every joynt of him he began to hope the best of him And because the throng of Courtiers that came in with him might not disturbe his cure he tooke them all againe out with him leaving there onely the Queene with Deadora The former where of being told by the Physicians that the accident proceeded from some great oppression of the heart much marveyled thereat for that shee had observed him to be ever merry yet beleeving that some internall humour falling on that part had caused that accident shee ranne to her lodgings for a most delicate paste made for that purpose leaving with him her daughter and Vincireo Shee seeing the Physitians retired and her selfe all alone with Vincireo whom shee cared not for concealing her selfe from accoasting his bed-side cures the wound given by the weapons of her former sharpe by the balme of these her milder words My Princely Lord and deerest Cozen said shee I confesse my selfe faulty and pronounce my selfe most worthy of chastisement for having beene against all reason the cause of endangering your life by bringing you thus to deaths doore I confesse yea I now from my soule confesse your interesses to be full of love and most worthy of being really corresponded with an equall affection Behold mee here now my endeer'd Lord most ready to make you plenary amends Cheere then up your selfe I beseech you for loe I am disposed and immutably resolved to goe whithersoever you please Banish then from you all melancholy since I am ever yours and never will be any others which that you might be the more assured of I have not you see abhorr'd the testimony of the Prince of Pontus your Cozen and mine here present which shee expressed with an affection so sincerely-ardent as both amazed Vinciero and restor'd Gradamoro to life It is naturall for an oppressed heart to disgorge in teares in the very instant of its being eased that maligne humour that suffocated it a token of health and a signe that Melancholy departing leaves roome and way for joy to enter Right so befell it now the Prince of Cyprus hee stood a good while taking first the Princesse's hands betweene his and distilling rivulets of teares out of the fountaines of his eyes and then affectionately kissing them return'd her this answer I know not incomparable Madame when I shall be ever able to serve you conformable to the great obligation to your more than excelling courtesie You Madame cannot be faulty where you have soveraigne power nor bee subject to punishment whereas you sway the scepter over all the lawes of my affections Your nobly vouchsafing to comprehend in the better sense my interesses and out of your goodnesse to accept them in good worth is to me a supreame favour but your benignely daigning to correspond them surpasseth even all expectation of mine much more the slendernesse of my merits so as I am so farre unable from really requiring your nobly-obliging favours by deeds as I cannot finde apt words to expresse or acknowledge them For the rest could I but have thought nay hoped that the King your Father upon any earnestly-sollicitous Embassie of mine could have beene wrought to bestow you on mee I then would I protest unto you never have presumed to have preposed you your flight but being promised as you are alas what likelihood is there for you to have by his consent other husband than Erpandro And the example of your mother that I proposed you with the revenge that thereupon ensued were never by mee intended for arguments to perswade you since I knew them farre from being availeable in that behalfe but to shew you how by them you might assure your selfe that your resolution should be lesse blamed and censured Besides that I pretend not to robbe what 's any other mans for so you Madame be but pleased to make me by your noble assent but worthy I will marry you ere wee part to the end our faults if such they be may seeme by so much the lesse in the eyes of both heaven and the world The Princesse resolved both to felicitate and cure him here thus interrupts him Well my Lord to the end you may see that there is no neede of justifications behold me here at your disposure therefore so you be therewith pleased marry me a-Gods-name right now in the presence of your Cozen here who astonished to see them at that point without imparting any inckling thereof to him till then taking off his finger a rich Diamond Gradamoro having then no Ring ready reached it him to marry her therewith as instantly he did remitting the rest to another time The Physicians being called found his pulse at a good passe and the Queene come he would needs take what shee brought him to make her the Authresse of his health and then got out of his bed the day following so healthsome and blithsome as if he had not beene sick at all But then Vincireo could not forbeare from taxing him with discourtesie for the small signe of love he shewed him in this occasion of making use of him When he craving him pardon told him that at first he had concealed it with out knowing himselfe the reason why having entred into this businesse beyond all expectation and that afterwards doubting that hee would have disswaded him he was confirmed in his silence judging it a lesser evill to offend by concealing his affection than after communicating it not to follow his counsell or be in some way ruled by him And being thereupon demanded how he meant to carry the businesse now that his resolution had excluded all other either deliberation or counsell He answered
Gods infuse not this fire nor other save such of them as have the virtuall power of influence and by the quality of our working is knowne by which of them we were inflamed This fire so infused worketh in us the same effect as the reall fire doth in coales anticipating in kindling according to the portion given it if litle slowly if much quickly Hence comes it that the knowledge of old men surmounts that of younger because the coale in these scarce kindled is in those quite burnt out This is the ordinary operation according to the course which the Gods proposed in Nature and such as of this order dye just in this life have their repose among the faire pleasing shades of the Elizean Field But the extraordinary one imployed only on such whom the Gods are out of their benignity pleased to favour extraordinarily is not only to communicate the fire in a multiplied portion but also to take it from Ioves owne rayes which hee himselfe with the consent of the other Gods infuseth to forme thereof a heroe a demy-god And this multiplied portion is in some so swift in its working that some though babes are in knowledge and discretion old men and yet but children at their dying houre because the fire having done its operation both kindles and consumes away even in an instant Of this number Madame was the Prince Corideo your sonne for I observed in him whilest he was sicke the spirit of Iove the infusion imparted from the other Gods obliquely regarded with grimme and maligne aspects onely by Mars and Saturne Yet such like spirits are not infused by men and Earth but by the Gods and Heaven and have when they are separated three distinct places of blisse prepared for them conformable to the distinct degrees of the rayes they received upon their being united to bodies The first which is the inferiour containes the spatious latitude of the ayre enjoyed by such who despising vulgar opinions lift up their mindes to heaven there to consider Nature and joying for enjoying now not the uncertaine and enigmaticall but the reall and cleere sight of this fabrick compassionate such as with a sterne philosophicall brow teach lyes beleeved for truth even to this day Here it is that they contemplate the true Spheares the certaine motions of the heaven I would say of the earth too if it were credible the reasons of ebbing and flowing of the Sea the perennity of fountaines the generations of windes with a number of other things whose reasons are thought to be knowne but indeed are not And such spirits because they ever loved mankinde enter into tearmes of naturall charity with them not ceasing at all occasions to helpe them either by freeing them from evills if it lye in their power or at least in foretelling them of such ere they arrive appearing in sundry shapes and formes of Rainebowes Sunnes armed Squadrons fiery Meteors and pleasant domesticall spirits inamoured of such as have a spirit in a degree like them The second place is the extent of heaven which is the superficies of the firmament Thither come such who not content to have with the speculators of nature knowne God for the first cause beleeve further his providence and teach vertue and piety which for being a strong weapon of the spirit defeates puts to flight and slayes vices which are the true monsters of the earth and being made starres sparkle outwardly the light of their creation in signe of their divine internall love water'd by the water of their regeneration The Asterismes under the shapes of beasts and life-lesse things are formed of Heroes made blessed for the vertues peculiar to such a living creature as subtilty to serpents active strength to Lions The Beare represents a solitary life the Eagle the elevation of the minde to God the Triangle the ineffable mysterie the Altar Religion the Ballance Iustice the Po the river of celestiall grace and so forth the rest True it is that our having in our time within the space of these two and thirty yeares seene two spirits the one in Cassiopeia the other in Sagittarius taken away two yeares after their appearing hath made us beleeve that the divine providence hath beene pleased to shew us by their being exalted that the starry Circle is not the supream place of blisse but that there is yet a further passage to a third which neither eye can see nor understanding conceive where the light is inaccessible and where every rash and over-curious eye is not onely weakened but also blinded Here abide such as issued out of naturall predicaments transcended nature and by the contemplation of the divinity become partakers of the glory which the Gods only enjoy where among the eternall melodies of the super-celestiall Spheares they become worthily fellow-guests to the table of the Gods are feasted with divine Nectar and Ambrosia Here Madame in all fulnesse of blisse resides the Prince Corideo whence hee conjures you not to corrupt his joyes and glory with your heavinesse and lamentations contenting your selfe that hee being borne for heaven remaine there without wishing him to your own griefe a sojourne here contrary to his felicity Her replies the good old man knew how to satisfie with reasons so lively that as well the Queene as the King remain'd well satsfied therewithall Eromena mov'd to commiseration and somewhat grieving thereat besought her husband to be gone whereupon kindly thanking the Priest they return'd to imbarke themselves so favoured with the windes that in a few dayes they arrived at Siracusa where they had scarce set foote a-ground when they saw two Squires who having suddenly slipt out their weapons furiously endeavoured to speede each other The Count of Bona knowing one of them for Carildo stept in betweene them and by him also known Good my Lord said Carildo I beseech you hinder us not for I must needs either slay this Traytor or dye The other who was Olmiro telling him in spitefull manner that he lyed in his throate begg'd of the Count the very same favour with telling him that his enemy being the most infamous villaine of the earth should not be taken out of his hands for not freeing him from the punishment that hee deserved But having the lye retorted him by the other they being hindered from closing with their swords buckled together with their reviling tongues accusing each other with the selfe-same or a very-like fault which so puzled the five in striving to finde out the truth each of them shewing probable apparances of reason of his side as they saw no likely way of according them Meane while Almadero being got away from Corianna was no sooner come to his house than the repercussion of the Sunne on the weaponblades gave him occasion to descry from above the scuffling between these two at the next Port. Whereupon thinking they were Gentlemen come of purpose to fight in that Iland he bidding some of his servants to bring a horse after him