who seeing him barricadoed about with the enemies horse none of them daring for all that approach him being seconded by the Marquesse and the Valentinians with an unresistable force brake into their ring by that meanes freeing him from the danger he was in without having the power either to speake one word unto him although she was alwayes close by him or to separate her selfe from him though she knew no reason therefore Wherehence I gather concede me I pray you this small digression that among the hidden secrets of nature that of sympathizing is one of the truest which if we judge vaine in respect of the operator may yet prove to bee not altogether such in respect of the principles of nature For as experience teacheth us that the influence of lights and planets are true in the mutations of qualities here below which none can denie that denie not sense it selfe so may we also argue from the like that the other starres have also their peculiar influence which if it be granted and that wee allow them to bee promoters of affections then must they bee such also of love and harred by reason of the diverse proportion of their aspects and not of elections or casuall accidents and if they or these bee changed from their former into a diverse proportion and that the celestiall signes be found to bee of diverse aspects and that some of them be malignant others not some predominant and others obedient this may proceede from the foundation of daily conjectures whereby wee see one friend rule another the sonnes the fathers and the servants also oversway and in a certaine manner domineere over their Masters So now Polimero before ere hee saw the Princesse became enamored of her and she likewise without seeing him fell so strangely in love with him that the more willingly she ey'd and followed him the lesse power had shee to speake to him Nay almost deprived of all boldnesse and courage she feared either to looke in his face or fall in conference with him He in the meane time scoured over all the field edg'd onwards by his great spirit and by the desire hee had to shew himselfe worthy of the favour of her whom hee had elected for his Lady and Mistresse stand long still to looke on her hee could not as well for a native respect potent in that age of his in teaching him that necessarie circumspection which might give others no occasion to take notice of his thoughts as also because it behoved him to have an eye both to himselfe and to his horse who delighting in the warre gave sometimes such countertimes as might teach a good Horseman to sticke firme to his seate yet failed he not to cast a carefull eye to her dangers wherein he abandoning all other care rescued her twise from being oppressed with the enemies Of all the Prince his murtherers there remained free none but the Baron of Lagosardo who albeit he were fierce and couragious yet fought he neverthelesse very circumspective of his person not that he feared to die but because he feared to fall alive into the hands of the Princesse Him Polimero knew not for one of them though he had beene shewed him as well as the other foure yet incountring him by chance hee strucke him on the nape of the necke with a backe blow which made him bow downe his forehead to his horse-necke which he come to himselfe requited with a thrust in the flancke whence began to gush forth store of bloud which the Princesse perceiving and desirous to revenge violently flew at him with such a furie that maugre those that would have guarded him or her owne determination of having him alive she never left him till such time as shee saw him mortally wounded fallen downe and trampled not weighing a rush all the rest especially because Polimero though he had no finger in her combat as long as it lasted guarded neverthelesse her person in beating the way round about her with his Flammauro by which meanes he defended her from all such as would have strucken at her By this time the enemies could doe no more nor hold out any longer having lost almost all their Captaines so as there remained no other eminent Commander than the King alone for the remnant of the Rebels being the Earles of Sarda Terra nova and Longeria were run away for feare of being taken prisoners So that if either the day had lasted or Polimero not beene wounded then even there had ended the warre and perhaps the life of Epicamedo But Eromena doubting lest his wound were mortall in that she saw gush out thereof such store of bloud caused a retreite to be sounded and then suspition chasing away respectivenesse she having lifted up her beaver said unto him Sir Knight so great is the obligation I owe you that it grieves me my power is inferior to the desire I have to expresse my gratefulnesse I see you bloudy but know not how you feele your selfe Doe you beleeve that your wound is very deepe Polimero as soone as he saw her face uncovered permitted his greedy eyes to runne to such a long'd for sight thinking hee saw the heavens opened and those parts which with celestiall symmetry formed that face to be congregated gods howbeit he was dubious in the absolute distinction of the greater from the lesser seeing all generally Majesticall and every one by it selfe worthy of the service of so many more worlds But those splendent eies full of sparkling rayes that pierced through the concentred point of his heart made him a little stagger whose lustre was as that of Apollo but their vertue as of a greater Deity for these in stead of dazeling the material eyes strike those of the minde with so reiterated raies that there is no lightsome splendor either of Sunne Moone or Stars which containes the thousandth part of its own vertue so fully in it selfe as these possesse all of all theirs in a manner so unexpressable as the most perspicuous wit could never forme to it selfe an Idea conformable thereunto And although her language had its preheminence and that it had captivated the understanding in its first apprehension neverthelesse the shafts of her eyes made themselves be esteemed the armes of love nay his throne nay his heaven nay Iove himselfe Wherefore having already lifted up his beaver with an humble garbe and true posture of veneration he returned her this answer And who can ever presume valorous Lady to thinke himselfe worthy or capable of serving you in such a manner as that your deserts and the dutie of who so serves you exceede not a thousand times his service or what greater recompence ought any one pretend from your Highnesse for any service than your service it self such have the gods made you that being onely and absolutely singular in all excellent parts you onely should for being such be excladed and exempted from the debt which others own by the common law of
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
force and vigor neither can we chuse but lament when we behold the state of our drooping kingdome which by thee alone become once renowned and famous returnes now that it is deprived of thee it 's light and life to it 's former cloudinesse and dimme obscuritie But if every one hath cause to lament why should I not then bewaile thee with an eternall lamentation seeing I participate of all the generall causes and have withall peculiar to my selfe alone a particular cause as being left the onely Sister of an onely brother taken from me suddenly unawares and without all reason Here overcome with extremitie of griefe and being not able to forbeare she flung her selfe upon him whence as her Ladies endevored to raise her she turning towards them with a fierce and severe look said unto them How unseasonable unjust and pittilesse is this pitty of yours that would defraud so worthy a Prince of these funerall rites I owe him Which if I beleeved that I could better solemnize with my death I would willingly doe it Then taking off the sword from the corpes side and lifting up her eyes to heaven she proceeded But I assure my selfe my noble Brother that I am not the sacrifice which thou requirest Wherefore if so be that thy divine ghost doth as yet wander or hover hereabout thy faire body that thou seest our griefe comfort us then we beseech thee whilst I also comfort thee and assure thee that I will never rest till I have executed just vengeance on him that unjustly slew thee Which said girding her selfe with the sword she dried away her teares and seeing there was no action to be hoped for of the King her father she caused the Councell to come together and after a briefe consultation commanded the souldiery to be mustred resolving at the returne of the Count of Montereale to march in her owne person to Sassari most assured that the kingdome would be on that part assaulted by King Epicamedo without whose privitie the Admirall would never have undertaken to murther the Prince her Brother The very same night she privately caused the corps to be interred reserving the solemnizing of the funerall rites till her returne enjoying in so great heavinesse one sole comfort which was to see the unfained teares of the people The Count of Montereale used all possible meanes to ore-take the Conspirators Albeit he perceived that he laboured in vaine the pursued having gotten the start of him both in time and riding which hee could not recover without change of horses and had therefore returned backe but that he hoped to blocke them up either in Sassari or Porte Torre or at least to chase them out of the kingdome The day following he came to Montevero where when the dolefull newes were spred abroad the lamentation was such as you would have judged it to be an effect of one only heart and spirit Now whilst the Count could imagine no possible meanes to overtake the Admirall who by that time might have reach't to Sassari he was informed how that there was left behind him in that village a slave of his together with a woman-slave bruised and galled by riding who because she could not goe by any other meanes had caused her selfe to be carried in a chaire to the sea coast to take shipping and that if it pleased him to send after them they might be both overtaken by the way The Count although he were wearie and his horses tired having procured a Guide would needs personally pursue them Neither rode he five miles when as he ascending a hillocke descried the she-slave in a chaire who seeing the horsemen grew pale and over-tane by the Count who well knew her in the Admirals house she besought him to kill her But he thereby better assured that she was the authresse of all the mischiefe answered her No mischievous and accursed Traitresse thou shalt not enjoy the happinesse of dying by my hand it grieves me that there is no kind of death so cruell as can equalize thy base offence And inquiring afterward for the slave he understood by the porters that he was gon before to hire a barke The Count therefore leaving the woman in safe hold spur'd amaine to the sea-ward but the slave espying him descending a little mountaine having already bespoken a Barke imagined that those horses came for him wherefore although all alone without any Mariners who were gon to Bossa for provision having got himselfe aboord the Barke he waied anchor spread sailes before the wind whom though most ignorant of that profession feare made so cunning as he was gotten more than two miles into the maine ere the Count could gaine the sea shore and which was worse there was not so much as one Barke with sailes to be found at the mouth of the river Thirsis but onely small fishing boates unfurnisht of all things necessarie Whereat this Count was ready to eate his fingers But whilst he sent for a Barke to Pisanco that of the slaves was in a short time borne away with the wind so as although they had made after her yet the night would have taken her out of the sight of such as pursued her The woman slave was sent backe againe to Caleri and onwards went the Count to Sassari when finding it shut and calling to the Centrees he was answered with a showre of arrowes wherewith were kild eight of his horses and many more hurt and wounded Whereupon perceiving the mischiefe to be greater that he tooke it for in that the subjects maintained with open Rebellion the wicked actions of their Lord he retired himselfe with all the speed he could and having sent Scours to scoure the field he received intelligence that the King of Corsica in person was passing over into the Iland with a great army considering therefore that his stay there could be but disadvantagious his horses being already all spoild he determined to advertize thereof the King and to retire himselfe to the first secure place In the meane time the Princesse who onely sate alone at the Helme of this weather-beaten ship having left part of the Lords of the Councell at Caleri having given order for the marching onwards of the foot Companies followed them with two thousand horse her selfe being armed at all pieces and mounted on a great Courser having first commanded the she-slave to be sarely lockt up in the bottome of a Tower by meanes of whose confession came to bee knowne all that I have told you and because wee shall come shortly to Sardegna you shall there understand the sequell hereof and shall perhaps see with your owne eyes the generous actions of the fairest and stoutest Princesse the world enjoyes Polimero who with twise so much sweetnesse had dranke of Eromena's perfections by how much compassion he had listened to the Tragicke story of so worthy a Prince thinking himselfe not as yet fully satisfied in mind desired to know how the Princesse came to have
as there were some of them that interposed themselves between the two squadrons that yet continued fighting who understanding the case and knowing themselves for vassalls of one and the same King lifting up their arms in token of accord appeased their mortall fury But seeing themselves on the rock where they imagined the Princesse to have great treasures they resolved to force the place under pretext of revenging the death of their lords by sacrificing to their soules the bodies of such as defended it Nor could the strong situation of the place restrain them who grown couragious by their false imagination prepared themselves to give th' assault Returned into Sardegna was the Count of Bona with an happy answer to his embassage to perfect the happinesse of Prince Metaneone who the selfe same night in his sweetest sleep thought he saw some one awake him ingreat haste the chamber was without light yet thought he that all the wall on its foreside stood open so as by Moon-light he might see that he that awoke him was Perseno Fain would hee have risen on his elbow to salute him when the other without uttering a word keeping him down with one hand with a look melancholike and all besmear'd with blood shewed him with the other the Pegno dellamorte assailed by many men who strove to come scale the walls Metaneone turning about to know of him who they were how he came thither lost suddenly the sight of him and desirous thereupon to rise up he saw no more neither battell nor Pegno nor any opening of the wall but the obscure pitchy darknesse of the night with the chamber in its former naturall termes and dimensions come to know himselfe awakened he marvelled much to see his imagination work so strongly on him as to make him not onely think his dream true but even to beleeve that it was no dream at all Return'd to sleep again there passed not an hower ere hee was in the same manner again awakened by the Countesse of Palomera Seeing again through the breach of the chamber the Pegno assaulted but as he would have ask'd her somewhat he saw she was quite vanished away in her place appeare the Princesse his Lady and Mistresse who from the windowes of the Castle beckoned unto him to come to her succour Whereupon throwing away the coverler and rising up suddenly without further examining whether it were a dream or no now he saw himselfe awake nor beleeving it lesse true in that he saw the Well closed up againe having cald up his servants to bring him lights he went to the next chamber where Polimero lay to whom when he had related the vision he told him how he was resolved to hie him thither because he could not beleeve that this vision or dreame whatsoever it was contained not in it some mysterie and had upon this parted suddenly but that the occasions of the warres perswaded him to stay till day for the avoiding of such suspicions as might be concelved of this nocturnall and sudden resolution Polimero being as yet very sleepie said unto him My Lord and Brother to stay till day will doubtlesse prove to bee your best course because so suddaine a departure cannot chuse but be ill taken and much censured especially seeing you cannot goe so alone but must take with you many of your Galleyes designed for the Corsan enterprise And then having pawzed awhile he proceeded I cannot beleeve that either too light or too free-feeding hath occasioned you this dreame for being that you supped last night these fantasies could not proceede from any weakenesse and on the other side seeing you fed not superfluously there is no place left for imaginations so particular and distinct as those you saw neither is indeede your temperature or complexion any way subject to melancholy but I should rather thinke that you were ere you slept troubled with some imaginations that caused you to see in this your dreame such resemblances as were represented unto you No brother no answered him Metaneone it was not any distemperature proceeding from diet that hath produced these effects much lesse any imagination or melancholike passion for I went to bed merrily enough disposed and albeit I denie not that my thoughts are ever busied about Eromilia yet am I sure they are not any thing spiced with melancholy which though they were how is it possible for them to have shape so distinct a dreame if it may bee said a dreame to finde my selfe broad-waking gotten up and withall to have spoken once with Perseno and another time with the Countesse of Palomera and to see the selfe same things the second time as at the first not sleeping but broade waking and which is more the assault the very place nay my Lady Eromilia's self out of my chamber laid then open to the heavens and splendor of the moone To these last words Polimero halfe-smiling made him this answer The seeing now your chamber as before the knowing of the great distance of the persons you saw and much rather of the place which of it selfe is immoveable may assure you that yours was but a dreame though such as of it selfe is not altogether to be slighted for many are of opinion that the knowledge which we have of the gods for as much as concerneth pure nature and its instincts depends partly in the order of such things as wee see in the world and partly on the motions of the minde in dying and on the quietnesse and sweet temper of the senses in sleeping for the soule being in that instant free and in its pure celestiall disposition foretells us things to come thereby instructing us how we should govern our selves which also befalls oftner the good than the bad the former participating of the divinity in a certain manner which the evill doe not By this came in Divination which many well-ordered Common-wealths not onely beleeved but also governed themselves by it which as I cannot commend so must I needs confesse that who so denies not the divinity cannot deny the examples of divine admonitions by way of dreams whereby have been ruled both men and kingdomes onely what I think not well of is to credit every dream indifferently because as the denying of divine admonitions is impiety so also to beleeve that all dreams are divine admonitions is both superstition and vanity I know not what to say of it answered Metaneone but well know that the world for the most part excludes those things for which it can give no reason whereof I beleeve this to be one Nor can all the Philosophers that ere the earth enjoyed make mee beleeve that their ignorance in knowing the reason of things can make that not to be which experience teacheth us cannot choose but be in effect Which he expressed so passionately that Polimero could not choose but smile thereat and therefore said unto him It is an ordinary thing for such as desire to surmount others in knowledge to
the attributes of onely incomprehensible and eternall thus prayed Receive O Lord our prayers and accept our teares which because they are not worthy of thy sight vouchsafe to make them worthy for thy mercies sake seeing we because of our corruption cannot make them worthy but acknowledge thee to be both the worke and the workeman the beginning and end of all things and that in thee is perfect happinesse which we hope to enjoy in thee by thee and with thee for ever and ever Which said taking out of a golden Chalice a spoonefull of most pretious sweete incense he powred it on the kindled embers that stood by him in a great vessell of silver and then made a signe to them all to stand up and goe forward with their tapers lighted those of meaner qualitie going first in rancke were followed by such as carried the Beere next after which followed the Princesse herselfe with her Ladies The little Chappell was all over illuminated with no other light than wax candles having its windowes shut up with cloath curtaines to make the ceremonies seeme more lugubrous and the office more devout In the end thereof stood a great Altar hung round about with blacke velvet whereon in stead of fringe were richly embrodered divers tropheies of death On this Altar was not any god onely there stood fastened in the wall a large Tablet of delicate picture-worke whereon with astronomicall proportions was represented the Vniverse in whose poles stood two hands full of light that gave it motion made in such a fashion as they seemed to be of a greater body than the world And this body became invisible by being hidden by the interposition of the machine of the universe but much more by its owne splendent raies the distance betweene these raies were fild up with good Angels having sundry coloured wings and about it might be reade And in perpetuall working I Finde sweete repose eternally As soone as they came hither they laid downe the Beere upon a rais'd-worke mourning Coverlet adorned with many pieces of armes The Priest having in his hand a silver vessell that hung at small chaines of the same wherein was finest incense on fired coales went thrise about the Beere invocating the greatest Iove Whereto being answered by the Quire of musicke he made a stand before the Altar where after a long silence lifting up his eyes towards heaven he said O Lord that art the true love wherewith thou joinest together in an invisible society the things become incorruptible and immortall we pray thee so to strengthen us as that wee being divided from our corruptible and mortall parts may comfort our selves in thee which art our only life and comfort and then puâ—ting more incense on the fire of the Altar he spake on Kindle O Lord our soules with thy ardent fire that we being ride of the desire of terrestriall things may withdraw our selves from them and trust onely in thee Let our prayers for thy goodnesse sake ascend up to thy sight even as this incense by its nature mounts upwards and as its odour is pleasing unto us so let our prayers be acceptable unto thee Let all the dead live in thee together with him for whâ—m we now pray that though they be severed from us at this present in the diversitie of their essence yet that when we become conformable to them in essence eternall we may joyne with them to praise thee world without end To this the musicke answering So be it ô God we beseech thee sung an interchangeable quire consort in a time so dolefull as might move to plaint and heavinesse the merriest disposition In the meane time got up the Princesse and Metaneone before advertized by Perseno to whom that duty belonged was ready to helpe to raise her supporting her to his so great content as he might well in disparity or in a contrary kind contend to paralell her discontent Come to the Altar she taking in her faire hands the Incense and laying it on the fire returned all the rest imitating her in doing the same which finished she rose up againe and causing the statue of Perosfilo to be carried onwards with great solemnity she causing it to be laid in a Presse made for that purpose thus said Behold My Lord the last duties of your Spouse it pleaseth the heavens that it so be and therefore must needs please me I once hoped to serve you in another manner and to place you elsewhere in an other-ghesse shape But sithence it so pleaseth my cruell disdaine that in stead of your noble person I may enjoy but your shadow and picture behold me most ready and willing so to live all my lifes time The Bride-chamber My Lord is denied you but not the Elysian Fields And I taking thence example knew not where to place your Image in a fitter place than this which being dedicated unto the eternall it is fit your Image should haue another like here on earth Which said she with many teares retired to her lodgings wherehence all the rest retired to theirs The Prince of Mauritania having laid aside his roabe and caused Perseno whether he would or no to sit downe by him thus bespake him I have received from you My Lord so notable a peecâ— of service as I will never forget it whilst I breathe I pray you continue your good inclination to me-wards whereby I assure you you shall reape nought else but honour I part hence so enchained to the beauties and noble behaviour of your Mistresse the Princesse as I doubt to die thereof though I am more affraid that the selfe-same will betide her if she obstinately persevere in such an unreasonable and desperate way of Melancholy My intent is to demand her of the King her father but I doubt it will prove but lost labour unlesse she alter her opinion I am not of my selfe a man to resolve of any thing without your advise as well for my ingagement to your Highnesse as also because I finde my selfe an insufficient Counsellor in this businesse being onely capable to receive it from you Perseno desirous to stand up but retain'd by the Prince in his seat made answer My Lord you have no cause to thinke your selfe obliged to me sithence you well know that I by your meanes enjoy both libertie and life 〈◊〉 selfe which though it were not so yet would I neverthelesse beseech you to command me because in so doing you much oblige me Besides you may well judge that the little service I did you tended indeed to the service of my Mistresse and therefore the foundations of what you thinke your selfe obliged for to me-wards is quite demolished For I fore-thought most excellent prince that you becomming enamored of her as I was sure you would be considering her perfections might prove a meane to divert her from her so strange a course of life Because her being sought for by so great and worthy Prince as your Highnesse is might open away to
the gaining him such and so great a Princesse but also for that when himselfe had obtained Eromilia they might betweene them make as it were but one state of Mauritania Sardegna and Maiorica and so become awed of all their bordering neighbours Here the Count of Bona perceiving the Princesse comming interrupted their discourse and assoone as they came a-shore counselled them both to abide in Sardegna undertaking to be himselfe the Ambassadour of their commissions not doubting but that the King would be for that time contented to know that they loved one another of whom he promised them to procure for the Prince an Embassage for Maiorica and for the Infante troopes of aide for Sardegna wherewith he might for the furtherance of his marriage with Eromena conquer the kingdome of Corsica who also now that he was knowne for a Prince should in the meane time endeavour to bring his loves to a determined end Of this proposition the Prince liked well desiring it might bee suddenly put in execution whereupon both of them wrote to their father conformably as well of the friendship confirmed betweene them as also of the reasons that constrained them to stay some-time in Sardegna and withall of the neede they had of being favoured by his Majestie in what should by the Count of Bona to whom they wholly referred themselves be manifested unto him more at large to the same effect wrote they likewise to their mother sisters and brothers telling afterwards the Princesse that they being resolved to serve her in those warres thought good to acquaint therewith the King their father to the end that he might not grieve in that he saw them not returne homewards whither they meant to send for that end the Count of Bona whom they besought her Highnesse to honour with some command of hers if such an occasion might any way proove serviceable unto her for which the Princesse kindly thanked them telling them withall that she herselfe would also write to the King being bound to thanke him for the favours shee had at their hands received which accordingly shee did with as lively a gratitude as by paper and inke could be expressed The Count went speedily aboord the Royall and in two dayes he arrived in Tunis The King seeing him come wihtout the Princes became thereat strangely amazed but had no sooner understood the occasion of their stay and perused their letters than he was therewith fully satisfied and exceedingly comforted Those two businesses were proposed to the Kings Councell where the Count of Bona shewed the utilitie of matching the Prince in Maiorica to be so evident especially comprehending the other of Sardagna of him held for assured that no man opposed the conclusion thereof yet stirred he not from Tunis till such time as there were eight thousand foote and two thousand horse ready levied for Polimero And for Metaneone it was the Kings pleasure that the same Count as soone as hee had disembarked his forces should goe treate of the match with Maiorica giving him for adjutants three of his fellow-peeres to the end that the embassage might be the more solemnly performed Eromena in the meane while lived now at her owne hearts sweet content having not onely fortunately vanquished her enemies and ended so dangerous a warre but come also to know Polimero for the sonne of so great a King as his condition could not give the people any occasion of murmuring and therefore meant shee as soone as the state were well appeased and fully setled without any further delay to returne to Caleri marry him from which although the death of her brother as yet fresh in her memory did in some sort disswade her neverthelesse when shee considered with her selfe how incapable of government her father was she was perswaded that the world would commend her for making choice of a Prince of such exquisite conditions and knowne valour the onely obstacle indeede was his somewhat too greene youth for which she doubted some would grumble at her the rather because the dise qualitie of yeares she being at least by six yeares his elder made the difficultie the greater but love suppressing all such considerations made all these skores even so as she having sent for Polimero told him that shee had not as yet rejoyced with him according unto her minde for having obtained her so long wished for desire of knowing him nor expressed as she ought how sorry she was that he had not made himselfe knowne unto her sooner But hee on the other side endevored to excuse himselfe with many reasons among which some were that he being desirous to become worthy of her favours thought it expedient to obtaine his intention therein rather by reall feates of armes than by bare merit of bloud being a condition hee was sure could never faile him that he was bound to thanke the heavens in that he saw till then all things succeed well save onely one which he as yet wanted and as shee thought to aske him what that might be It is a thing said he that I cannot expresse unto you in words but if your Highnesse would vouchsafe but to looke into my heart you might there see it protraied which you shall there no sooner see than know it to be no other thing than an ardent desire of being your servant till death which as he said his speech failed him as he would have pronounced the last accents Now Metaneone knowing his youth too tender for the managing of a businesse of that nature and importance had before hand lessoned him what he should say wherein he following his instructions thought himselfe afterwards to have made more ample manifestation of his courage than if he had fought alone against all the world Eromena being glad he had thus begun to breake the ice returned him this answer My Princely Lord I understand not well what you would say being that you are too great a Prince for my service for well see you how I am served by no other than simple Knights and the services I have received of you are indeed no services but favours which rather binde me to be your servant for the obligations I therefore owe you and for me to looke into your heart alas how can I possibly doe it without your prejudice which I would not doe although it were to save my owne life It is true that a Painter might in your hearts portrayture place my Picture and so might I by that means come to see it without harming you doe but tell me then I pray you how was it that he did it and who he is and I will be his scholler Polimero waxen by this time somewhat bolder replied Right excellent Lady your Highnesse ought not refuse my service because I am a Prince but should accept of me the rather for being such an one and for the Painter you neede seeke no further than your Royall selfe because your Highnesse is both the Painter and Portraiture who if you had the
kil'd and the ladders for the most part torne and rent all to pieces Whereupon the Prince renewing the assault and loosing then more than before seeing the place inaccessible retired himselfe just as there came a Galley rushing into the port with great fury upon the sudden arrival whereof he neither knowing whose she was nor willing to fight against so many making up a squadron of such as remained alive marched downe to the sea shore to see whom it was but receiving no answer he waxed bolder and just as he opened his mouth to haile them againe with his beaver lift up there hit him a shaft in the very mouth that pierced him quite through the nape of the necke wherewithal showred so great a cloud of arrowes on the rest of his troope that almost all of them lay dead in the place whilest those of Andaluzia not so much as once quitted their standing whose Prince mad angry for being discovered assayling with a sudden furie the Granadan Galley easily tooke her and understanding whose shee was was passing glad thereof These two Princes were Cozen-germanes growne at ods for certaine lands and other pretentions of the brothers their fathers become now withall rivals and pretenders to one and the same beautie which sole occasion had been sufficient ground of enmitie Howsover the Andaluzian Prince could not chuse but grieve now that he saw the other dead being that neerenesse of bloud must needs worke something in any one whose heart is not waxen altogether inhumane and resolutely given up to hate and revenge Yet was not the Tragicke example of his Cozens death sufficient to warne this infortunate Prince from tumbling downe the precipice of the same fortune albeit by the chillinesse of divers shivering feares his first heate were frozen for growne now neere his end he could not give place to the opposition of reason because it lay not in his power to resist the will of heaven so as seeing himselfe thus guided by so wavering a passion in the place where his misfortune led him on to slay his Cozen he more now enraged than enamoured commanded his men to give the assault resolved now that he found himselfe growne to that passe either to take the rocke or die But alas what could he doe with so few men against that hold which was of its naturall situation so strong as it could not be won but either by surprisall or by farre greater forces than his were Whilest he thus despairing of what he would have done but much more desperate for what he had done made account to retire himselfe behold the Prince of Tingitana hearing the noise of the conflict comes sweeping amaine over the swelling waves and seeing the two Galleyes left unmanned thought it his best course to seaze on them left they might be made instruments to indamage him which he soone accomplished for finding in them but very few fighting men he put them all to the sword without sparing one of them even to the imbruing his Princely blade in the base bloud of the raskally Ghing The Prince of Andaluzia seeing himselfe thus surprized having retired his men from the walls stood ready to receive this second unlook'd for enemy who landing with no great difficultie and understanding by a prisoner the case of the Cozens growne cholericke to see his designe thus thwarted came fiercely on with sword in hand desirous rather to kill him with his owne hands though with danger than to shoote him through with arrowes as he might have done without any perill at all This Prince Orgilo was great of stature and strong as any Knight of his time who for knowing himselfe to be such never knew what feare meant which engendred in him an undaunted temeritie But as his force was greater than that of a savage beast so was his iudgement lesse than that of man Stay to be backed by his he would not but went on himselfe alone to charge them all and had made them all retire too had there but beene any place of retreit The poore Andaluzo stood almost under the walls whom Perseno taking for Orgilo as he tooke also Orgilo for Anterasto defeated with logs and stones so as the true Orgilo had no great adoe to make an end of the rest having first with his owne hands killed the Prince as he had desired which effected he knew not what to doe next but he from below and Perseno with his from above stood looking the one on the other without speaking a word The night was exceeding faire so as the Moone being then newly risen discovered them each to other When Orgilo seeing himselfe injured by none and thinking to delude them told them who hee was and that being advertized of the intentions of these two Princes he was come of purpose to interrupt and chastise them being an act that concerned him not so much for being Prince of that Countrey as because he more than any other was desirous to serve the Princesse of Maiorica their Mistresse Perseno dissembling his knowledge in those passages answered him That that act of his was such as might bee expected from a just and generous Prince for which he kindly thanked him on the behalfe of the Princesse and the King her father both which would therefore remaine his debtors but that he was onely sorry for one thing which was that he had put himselfe to that trouble without any neede for if he thought himselfe able to oppose two Princes and frustrate their designes with one onely Galley hee might easily have imagined that the qualitie of the Princesse her servants was not so lither and effeminate not their valour so slender as not to know how to defend themselves against so few in a place so strong and that therefore it had beene sufficient for him to have sent the Princesse intelligence thereof without exposing himselfe to such a hazard or if he would needs come wherefore came he not then by land which he might have more easily done and with more men too being that there wanted no Barkes at Velez to passe them over to the rocke Strange seemed this language to Orgilo who judged him too arrogant and withall too sawcily subtle for penetrating and touching him so neere the quicke of the truth which made him disdainefully thus reply I know not what thou art that speakest thus indiscreetly I hold the Lady Princesse for the most courteous damzell of the world so as I have cause to wonder that she retaines in her service a fellow so discourteous as thou art It besits not thee to examime or pry into the actions of Princes who governe themselves according to their particular uncontrouled wils and understandings not staying to have their actions scanned by the measure of the common judgement of the vulgar for the most part false and remote from any true principle Somewhat more hee would have said when his owne men pointing with their fingers shewed him two Galleyes that came entring the port
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