it was ever to be constrain'd to love The Prince of Creet under a feign'd name at this time was entertain'd at the Court in whom it appeared that Nature and Fortune had Epitomiz'd all the wonders of the World In Arms he was invincible singular for handsomnesse and in vertue without equals It seemed that Jove Mars and Love in that face had finished their Greatnesses Whoever once beheld him could never after forget him he fixing indelibly such rarities in his minde that observed him He was Honoured and beloved by the King and his principall Lords who in him alone admired at those perfections which are to be wished for in all others The Princesse in particular Conquered by so many wonders affecting him above any other preferred him above her selfe She had not runne precipitally in these Resolutions for twice Diaspe for so he gave out his name had saved her life Once in the Lake Chiti whither shee was carried by the unrulinesse of her Horses Another time at a coursing with Gray-hounds for a Tigre rushing out of some Wood that terrified and over-threw all the rest a with an admirable undauntednesse was slaine by him To these Obligations the Affection he professed he bore her was adjoyned For one day after he had a thousand times discovered his heart to me he had the fortune to meet the Princesse alone in a Garden where he had opportunity to tell her his Passions to reveale his Bosome and discover his Birth He found her so disposed that the greatest difficulty was to invent a meanes whereby to obtaine the Ends of their Amours He would have stoln her away but the Princesse consented not to it doubting she might offend her Father the Kingdome and her selfe Such Examples were for her Restraint the free opinion of the world having condemn'd them and those marriages to be unhappy which begin with the dishonour of the people and the griefe of ones Parents To obtaine her by request for his wife was impossible because of the inveterate hatred between the two Crownes A Father so repleat with tendernesse ought not to deliver his onely one daughter into the hands of one of his greatest Enemies To subject the Crowne to a Prince who should not make his abode in Cyprus was to reduce that Kingdome into a Province an insupportable thing to this People Notwithstanding to continue themselves intangled in these feares became a great molestation to them both because with Lovers those things cannot be long endured that retard the Atchievement of their desires Diaspe grew almost wild at the Kings Resolutions He would destroy Armenia and kill this new Pretender Sometimes he reproved the Princesse of her little love because she had submitted her selfe to a simple command of her Fathers That there was nothing more unconquerable than love who knows not to deny knows not how to affect A Father ought to be obeyed in all things saving those that directly were opposite to ones owne heart Sometimes he accused himselfe of negligence that with a powerfull Army should have prevented the designes and hopes of all Princes would not be regulated but by a present feare And in their Consultations any Resolution would be overcome that was besieged by a multitude of Souldiers Sometimes he complained of the King that with an obstinate Command would make desperate his Daughters affections so much the more because she was his only one and heire of such a Kingdome They proceed with little discretion that by their odde humours enforce maids to desperation Princesses saith he ought then in their Marriages to preferre their Fathers before their own satisfaction That which is not denied to the basest woman of the world shall not be permitted them who are borne to rule If your Father to please himselfe cares not to displease you why will you encounter death rather than contradict the Commands of your Father Is there perchance an Equality between Greece and Armenia Between the power of a King and that of a private person who takes you not so much to enjoy you as a wife but because he sees you a Queene The Princesse answered not but with teares and reposed all her defences and all her reasons in lamentations Finallie they concluded that in great Evils violent Remedies are the safest That too much zeale and too much modestie were as prejudiciall as an excesse of feare or a rash resolution That he therefore should send into Creete to his Father to raise speedily a very strong Armie that he might be enabled to defend his pretentions by the Sword That supposing the will of heaven was interposed to these Negotiations that the Princesse should escape thorough this Cave to the sea side where before her flight was discovered they might be farre cuough from the jurisdiction of Cyprus Diaspe the better to have prosecuted this business would have returned thither in person but the Princesse would not suffer him foreseeing as it were in her selfe some mischiefe I being present the Faith of Matrimony they plighted betweene them invoking all the Imprecations of the Gods upon the Failers vowing to meet death a thousand times before they would bestow their affections upon others Many daies before then the Promise of Marriage had passed between them but now only authenticated by my being by and solemnized by the testimony of the Gods In the meane while all the City was a preparing to entertaine the new Prince who was gone into Armenia to his Father to desire Embassadours and Attendants that should assist with state at his Nuptials Arches were erected Colossuses raised representing the Glories of Cyprus and Armenia All were a preparing Armes and Horses to flatter the Genius of the Princes and not to shew themselves inferiour to others The Count of Cittera a young man of a very great valour and an extraordinary expectation was Admirall of the Sea He had in him an infinite number of faults but he so well knew how to disguise them that if they were not acknowledged for vertues they were not believed as vices The King had raised him to this degree of honour for his Fathers deserts who was the chiefe of his Councell of State He managed it well enough because aspiring to high things he would not shew himselfe unworthy Perceiving the favour of the People the affection of the Souldiers and the Kingdome without a succession of Males he imagined by marrying with the Princesse to advance himselfe to the Royall Throne he durst not open his mouth of it to his Father for knowing him of an incontaminated goodnesse he would not have prevented him with chastisement at least have hindred him in his waies He assayed the mind of the Princess with signes of an affection not ordinary but perceiving himselfe despised he turned his thoughts upon new designes He endeavoured to procure to himselfe the good wils of the Great Ones with feasts and banquets He obliged the Militia with liberty and gifts The Vulgar were captivated with a plenty of all things
that he provided them and with nourishing them in their vices In briefe he did not neglect any of those Arts which might facilitate his tyranny The Nuptials of the Princess with the Armenian interposed the course of his pretentions whereupon he applied his mind to a wickednesse more execrable In conclusion when a perfidious mind is disposed to mischiefe all the stops in the world are not availeable sufficiently to stay it The Count had been twice in Thracia the first time with his Father about State Affaires The other time alone to congratulate the comings of the new King to the Crown of his Ancestors Amuritte for so the King was called had many times been in Cyprus when his Fathers Palace was infested by the malice of his Domesticks He appeared to the Count as an excellent instrument to perfectionate his hopes He advertized the Thracian by a Messenger dispached on purpose That the Kingdome of Cyprus at the least beck of his Majesty was ready to fall into his hands That the People were ill contented with King Vassileo's Government the Commonalty grown Cowards the Forts without defence the Souldiers under him the Arms in his Command the Seas and Ports in his Custody That he was not provoked to this by any other end but that he would not obey a King who was a stranger deformed in mind and in body That seeing the Kingdom must be altered he did rather choose to make gift of it to his Majesty a Prince of whose greatnesse he had made experiment as also of his vertues then to give obedience to a Man who came to the Throne before he had learnt the Rules to governe by That if his Majestie was pleased with the offer and this resolution of his heart he would request nothing for his service but the Princesse to wife with the Kingdome in dowry and that he and his Successours would hold it of the Thracians and pay them homage with a very great tribute He added that to raise a great Army would without any benefit to himselfe beget suspicion in his confining Princes That in the suddenness of this consisted the accomplishment of the enterprise he now needing but to steale it and not to fight for it That only two Gallies would be more than enow they being certaine to find no resistance That he might disguise the cause of his Arrivall with a pretence either of friendship or of chance He omitted not other particulars and other instructions which might render him the more easie to consent to him Ill men never want meanes to give effect to their wickednesse One Morning with two Gallies becoming the merit of his Greatnesse the King of the Thracians appeared in the Port of Arsinoe The King Vassileo with some amazement received newes of the Arrivall of this Prince although the designe never fell within his thoughts Order was given to the Admirall as one best known to the Thracian to receive him Their meetings though on a sudden was most magnificent the Horse innumerable and the Traine infinite The King came to Land with but fifty of the most Noble and the most couragious youths of Thace with a great deale of affection he welcomed those that came to him by the appointment of his Majesty to whom he returned thanks for the honours he received of them His Entertainment was at the Charges of the Republick But after three daies he would not permit it saying he had given way to that as a signe of his liberty which was prepared for his Honour The day after he was waited on to the King Vassileo who received him at the foot of the Staires There he used such words and expressed such things as would have beguiled Providence it selfe Among other things he said He was come to adore that Sun that not scorning his misfortunes by a benigne influence of it had blessed him with prosperity That he rejoyced at the Matrimony of the Princesse with the Prince of Armenia adding that he could not containe himselfe for joy in seeing the Age of so worthy a King extended by it to eternity but said he it was never subject to yeares he for his wisdome being never young That he was above Fortune who in despite of it knew to choose himselfe so deserving a Son That the principall cause of his comming was to serve his Majesty in those Feasts which Fame and not without good reason had spread through the greatest part of the world And that he came not as a King but as an Adventurer the merits of the two Princes being such as would compell any body to any disguise to do them service He omitted not other particulars expressed with so much Affection that Adulation and Dissembling won him Affection and an high welcome After some returne of thanks King Vassileo answered him That he the rather desired to be eternized in those Nuptials of his Daughter because they would report to his Posterity the Obligations which he owed to the Love of so great a King That he received the honour of this visit as an Act proper to the King of the Thracians For he knew nothing in himselfe worthy to deserve such Graces but the ardent affection he bore him These Complements being past they went both of them to the Princess And it was observed that the Thracian stood in amaze at her beauty not believed such by him before having seen her only when she was a Child There after some expressions how welcome he was he told her his coming was to wait on her at her Wedding and then jested with her at the stay of the Armenian offering himselfe to be her Knight untill his returne The Princesse replied to all with so much expression of kindnesse and gentlenesse that her words conquering his resistance betraied his heart Finally after they were parted the Thracian remained no lesse satisfied at the Kings entertainment than he was astonished at the Beauties of his Daughter From day to day they continued to oblige themselves with so high expressions that their Subjects flatterers of their Princes disposition feasted them perpetually now in the City now upon the Galleys nor neglected any thing that might be a signe of their friendship and good will The Admirall in the meane while prosecuted his plot with such circumspection that there was not any body that suspected him One day while the Thracian understanding the Armcuian Princes arrivall with foure Galleys was neare fearing some stop should fall betweene him and his hopes he gave the last assay unto his wickednesse He invited King Vassileo the Princess and some of the Court to a Fishing which he appointed to be made according to the Custome of his Countrey He had been other times on the Sea with his Majesty whereupon there was not any that doubted of his Faith And the rather because he had disposed for this businesse but one only Galley leaving his other in the Port and having with a specious Apparance divided his men into small Barkes brought
ground with to the height of a man which at the same time both made the earth fertile and secured it from treacheries Here Celardo was laid they procuring all meanes for him either usefull to end the cure of of his Body or trouble of his mind Six daies he remained in danger of his life and if Arnulta with her diligences or at least with her beauty had not brought him some remedy he had been in danger to have falne into the hands of death Many times she had told him That to despaire was the last of evills That if the Lady whom with so great a feeling of sorrow he bemoaned were dead teares were superfluous if alive not necessary That living he might find out some meanes to content his affections but so unhandsomly to give over himselfe to dye besides the signe of a courage less than ordinary it deprived that Lady of a Protectour and himselfe of any hope ever to satisfie those Obligations he professed so great to her What cannot reasons effect proceeding from a mouth that knows to perswade even without words Celardo with a silent answer acknowledged himselfe convinced and attended nothing but the recovery of his health Nevertheless sometimes he could not be so alienate from himselfe by his paine as not to fix his memory on the Princess He accused his negligence in leaving a Lady of so high descent in a Countrey not known and in a Wood to the mercy of Beasts and not men only He blamed Fortune that having delivered her into his power was a Tyrant to him making him lose her before he had well got her Lastly he was angry with the starres that had not suffered him to be borne but to see him alwaies miserable One day that he by himselfe was thinking on his misfortunes he was surprised by Oleandro who was now cured and came as he was accustomed to visit him He blush'd to see himselfe so taken endeavouring to conceale those teares that apace fell from him He would not communicate his sorrows to any but himselfe esteeming complaints unbeseeming a Knight being only allowed to the weakenesse of women Oleandro suffering him to give a stop to his grief began thus to speake to him If I had not these eyes witnesses of your vertue I should forme some sinister opinion of your courage I cannot bethinke me how a mind that is greater than Fortune and hath meanes in its own power to raise Glories to it selfe can submit to the violence of sorrow so much the more unseasonable because it hath no foundation above opinion and feare I speake freely because the acquaintance that is between us and the Obligation that I have profest to you will not permit I should bely the thoughts of my heart To lament too much is to betray ones selfe It was not fit those should be borne and live that will not be aimed at by the stroke of destiny We are all equally made lyable to infortunities And this humane condition of ours hath no greater certainty than to be engaged to all Accidents with this law we came into the World and between termes so unhappily hath Nature placed us as to have no sence of it on one side is a signe of stupidity so to despaire at it is altogether the effect of weakeness The body will sometimes exercise those functions to which it is enclined by the corruption of its beginning yet notwithstanding it is necessary that the mind which hath the soveraignity of power over it should calme those motions that may depress the virtue of the Intellect Sense ought never to overcome reason but in those who have no other reason but sense He would have proceeded farther but Celardo prevented him saying These opinions were true yet to be wish'd for Every Physitian knows how to forbid that to another which he will not deny to himselfe That there is nothing less easie than to give Counsell and that the tongue is easier to be moved than the heart Oleandro replied he spake not at randome but could authenticate his Maximes by examples And that if it would not be troublesome for him to heare he would let him know all the circumstances of his Fortune which alwaies would have enthralled him to sorrow but that he with a generous sufferance made himselfe thought one of the happiest men in the World Celardo shewing a great curiosity to know professing he had been silent of his own desires for fear he might offend him constreined him with a kind of affectionate violence to the discourse of his misfortunes The History of Oleandro I said Oleandro in despight of Fate that could deprive me of a Kingdome but not of the Character of a Prince am King of Morocco My Father in one yeares space lamented the death of his Queen the Rape of his Daughter the losse of his Kingdome and the ruine of his House Seeing that Fortune had torne her saile and bound up her haire not to transport elsewhere the effects of her inconstancie and the bitternesse of her griefes he abandon'd the wretched remnants which the insatiate covetousnesse of his enemies had not plundered from him But before his departure he recommended to Felido Count of Olano a Prince of the blood of an experimented virtue the protection of me and my life He was not deceiv'd in his Election In his private fortune he had his Education from the Prince There was not any thing which could awaken or molest my designe which I did not attaine to Vertue was my employment exercise on horseback my profession and hunting my pastime He when he perceiv'd the noblenesse of my Genius seeing me also sixteen yeares of Age he perswaded me to the recovery of my Fathers Kingdome That sloth was the worst of evils and that these yeares should not be slighted which so speedily passe away That old mens courages very hardly provoke the commonaltie to an innovation of Government As much as he delaies his Claime so much he loses of his Cause with three Maximes likewise he tied the affections of the chiefe that were obliged to the memory of my Father the news of his death after his departure being every where verified He findes them most ready who hate the Tyrants compassionate my misfortunes they see in my Person the Spirits of my Progenitors florish and cannot away with that new Modell of Government which being unjust cannot be but cruell They prepare Arms and Souldiers and excite those affectionated to the Crown and perswade the neighbour Princes with all possible secrecy when the enemies advertiz'd either from jealousie the protectour of Estates or feare the discoverer of dangers or from the reports of Fame which cannot even conceale the Dreams of Princes glutted themselves with all barbarisme with the lives of those that maintain'd my Title The Count seeing in the night time the principallest of his Forts betraied by the infidelity of his not by the Valour of the Enemie regarding more my safety then his own let me out at
subordinate to your Commands And that I feare not infelicity so it may be accompanyed by your desires and by your appointments Therasia seal'd up her answer with a deep courtsey The Prince receiving heat from these repulses that invited him after some Reply he promised her marriage and express'd a great earnestness to get out of her the causes which had occasioned the Dutchess refusals Therasia willing to gaine her selfe an higher place in the Princes affection made use of infidelity to authenticate her faith She recounted to him the Amours of the Dutchess with the Count of Nasaos with all those particulars that might render true her designe Yet she made no mention of me perswaded I know not whether by feare or by affection The Prince joyfull to have accomplished his ends with divers gifts among others a Jewell of pearle in the which all the Gods were wrought dismist her My Uncle perswaded himselfe he could not easier beguile the heart of Therasia than by enterposing the duties to her He thought she could take no suspition of treachery whilest she had the Gods witnesses She returned in that time to our Lodgings when I was halfe dead oppressed by the paines of Child-birth When I had remained about an houre in the hands of death I was delivered of a daughter which encreased my afflictions It was so like you that to deny it yours were to strive against the judgement of all eyes I had scarce time to looke on it but it was taken from me the Dutchesse fearing the crying of it would discover my errours I had no power to oppose my selfe for being overcome by weaknesse I had no force left me but in lamentation It was took away by a Gentleman of the Court beleeving it a child of one of my Damsels The Count not being willing in a businesse of such consequence to trust to the faith of any other My Father and the Physitians were deceived in the knowledge of my disease whereupon there were not any that suspected In a few daies I mended filling the Court with comfort that sighed for my recovery In the meane while the Prince my Uncle visiting daily the retirings of Therasia though he yet counterfeited with the Dutchesse put me into some feare But on the other side he had the praises which Therasia bestowed upon the merits of the Prince though she had formerly been wont to blame his insolency The signes of her mind to perceive her cold in her service to her Lady and full of disdaine and pride to other Ladies of the Court confirmed me All motives that enforced me to observe her when she was alone in her Chamber One day I perceived that she talked to a Picture all beset with Jewels Her words were all of affection although they arrived not all distinctly to my eare and the Effigies of the Picture was suddenly known by me to be the Princes my Uncles Upon that with a violence forcing the doores I came upon her before she had time to lay by the Picture Injuries accompanied the hastinesses of my disdaine so much the more furious by how much the more reasonable I snatched it out of her hand with speeches as severe as could proceed from a mouth which invenomed the words to render them more offensive Her excuses were abundant attended on by so many teares that in my doubts they made me more consused For she insisted alwaies with invocating all the Deities of heaven that she had not told any thing of me She said she had done amisse not to do amisse That she could not help her Lady without injuring her selfe Being elected by the Prince for his Spouse she could notbut obey him Divers things she said and if I would have permitted her had spoke of more I found not a greater alteration in my life To be silent with hope that others will be so is difficult and dangerous Therasia offended by my rebukes and alwaies under the shadow of my anger was not to be contained within her duty I could not repose trust in her whom I had injured and in whose heart the favours of the Dutchesse could find no fidelity What chastisement ought not I to feare from the King my Father since though mine were concealed I had given assistance and assent to the Amours of the Dutchess My Father would not that the Riches of the Dutchess should foment the spirits of any to aspire to the disturbance of the Kingdome He had many times expressed himselfe to me he would feigne penetrate into the thought of the Dutchess to know whither her heart aimed He knew her of a Family that had ever made the Kings jealous Her Father for this purpose under the species of honour was maintained out of the Kingdome and mine accounted not himselfe safe till he had heard news of his death These considerations in such wise possessed my mind that a great part of the night was spent before I came out of Therasia's Chamber In this while the Dutchess came in and with a great deale of alteration related to me that the Prince meeting with the Count that came to visit her intending to assault him was slaine by him with many wounds in his breast not giving him leave to use any imaginable defence for feare others should stir in his assistance The Prince informed by Therasia of the Counts walkes had waited many times to murther him I having been weake retarded this desire in him for keeping my bed the Dutchess with other Ladies were necessitated to attend me But I being recovered he resolved to effect it and it had succeeded if he had made use of his hands before his tongue The Count had hardly suffered the Prince to call him Traitour but knowing him by his voice he stuck his Iron in his breast My Uncle would have said I am slaine but the effects preceded his words for he said nothing but I am The Count came presently to acquaint the Dutchesse with this and perswaded her to make ready to be gone whilest he would expect her untill day at the shore in one of the strongest Vessels not having any thing to be his hinderance the Ports and the Guards of the Sea being committed to his custody This new Accident I perfected in my thoughts to make me maddish I gave my selfe over to the aggravation of my miseries with so much senss that I imagined I felt all my past evills Then said I shall I evermore be tyrannized over by Fortune Then to satiate the appetites of my sense shall I every day be unhappy Then those many favours that I have received from chance in being a Princesse of such a Kingdome have done nothing but molest me Dutchess I will dye with great reason it was said that our felicity remaines in our hands since by killing our selves we may make our selves happy And what hope can longer entertain me in life A Lover to whom I have given the liberty of my heart abandons me A Sister whom I loved equall to my selfe
attended the accomplishment of these Desires which are not extinguished with a kisse when Fortune would infelicitate me with happinesses themselves I was chosen Commissarie to the Souldierie of the Castle of Lomapa by the Councell of State My departure thence was with that resentment as if my soule were separated from my body A thousand doubts combate upon the feare of my minde having abandoned her who can only reconsolate the sadnesses of my heart My greatest ease is to walke sometimes wandring up and downe these Fields participating my passion with them You will not therefore hereafter have reason to chide me having understood the justice of my teares I suffer with you Sir Knight replyed Arelida and compassionate you and so much the more because I have reason to doe so And now being come neare the Pallace they were met by the Squires who having already covered the Tables waited the returne of their Lady Arelida and the Knight presently sate them downe Where after a supper of the most delicate meats they proceeded into diverse discourses untill being told by them that waited that the night was very far spent they retired to their rests although the griefe the Knight felt for the great distance of his beloved Object did not afford him but one short sleep disquieted by a thousand Phantasmes All this while Dorcone the King of the Thracians remained in Cyprus honoured by King Vassileo with an Affection above his Genius by reason of his new Enmity with the Prince of Creet The day was spent either in Tournements or Huntings and a great part of the nights in Playes and Dances At all times the Thracian would wait upon Dianea who although she was full of sorrow for the remote absence of Astidamo feigned her selfe to accept him gratefully though she seriously hated him He repleat with confidence through the Affection of King Vassileo one day taking him aside requested the marriage with Dianea demonstrating that these Nuptials onely could secure the safety of Cyprus insidiated by the Kings of Armenia of Egypt of Creet and of all those that envied or feared the greatness of him That the wisedome of men consisted in preventing dangers But if these Motives should even prove useless he hoped to obtaine her because he could not bestow his daughter on a dearer friend and a sonne more interested to his Majesty King Vassileo thanking the Thracian for his excellent disposition through which he was willing to change Friendship into Alliance replyed That in a business of such consequence he would acquaint his Councell with it to conclude the marriage with the greater reputation to them both That he had designed to bestow Dianea on the Duke of Filena to whom he had imparted some of his Resolution with the Assent of the same Councell that if it should be in his power to retract his word he would doe it more then willingly there being no comparison betweene the greatness of the Thracian and the poore Fortunes of a Duke That Princes nevertheless in some business were not Patrons of themselves Leaving him then in this Commotion of heart hee demanded the Opinion of his Councell of State Onely two raised Opinions The Baron of Ovarta a young man of great wit who preposed by Favours from the Thracian maintained for him And the Count of Salinera the greatest among the chiefe opposed him The Baron said that the motions of a Kingdome had need of great staies That all forraign Princes were ill-affected and all their Neighbors Enemies If that Thracia should not be interested in the defence of the Kingdome they had no other hope That the modesty of the Duke of Filena would pretend no Resentment to yield up that to a King which had been promised to him That he would assent to it having not an Ambition after so great things and the sooner because that Promise had not exceeded the Kings desire and the Approbation of the Councel That Accidents alter the Deliberations of Princes who would not have a jurisdiction superiour to others if they might not alter at their pleasures He concluded it was but reason to give a Queen to Thracia having slaine them a King The Count of Salinera on the other side having no other Affections but those of the Publicke Interest spoke with more lively Reasons Then said he shall the Kingdome of Cyprus seek for Kings from Thracia Then shall our Greatness be prostituted to the command of Barbarians I know not how such conceits become not rejected before they be spoken What Motives should invite us Perhaps the greatness of the King of Thracia Hath then the Kingdome of Cyprus need of Greatnesse To joyne it to Thracia is to destroy it not to make it greater The Kingdome will be changed into a Province and we shall all be subjects to Thracia The feare of our Enemies is not so much as to make us deliver our selves into the hands of our very Enemies I much more feare the friendship of the King of Thracia then the hatred of the King of Egypt of Armenia Creet and all the World Then shall a remote Feare without other Foundations then those of Opinion perswade the Counsell of Cyprus to subjection These same Kings which are asserted for Enemies would become united to defend us The reason of State not permitting the Augmentation of another His Majesty should lay to heart if not his Word at the least his Interests The Armes and Armies are under the Dukes Command To render him discontented in my opinion were to provoke him to the prejudice of the State He hath a heart that cannot beare an affront He added other Reasons but neverthelesse the greater party gave Vote to that of the Baron of Ovarta both because they perceived the Kings minde enclined that way and because they envied at the Choise made of the Duke of Filena So much Adulation and Envy can prevaile in Councellors The Consult ended the King went to Dianea's Lodgings and taking her by the hand led her aside saying to her You may see through your owne understanding our dangers and those of the Kingdom All Princes aym at my oppression and if I prevent not their Malignity with some Defence I must onely waite to become a prey to the Ambition of those who would raise warre even against Jove This cannot be done without joyning you in marriage to some great Prince who interesting himselfe in our Affaires will be of power to protect us There could not have been a worthier Election then that of the Duke of Filena while new Accidents had not presented to us new Resolutions To alter an opinion is convenient to all but particularly to Princes who feare not censure nor punishment for their inconstancy The Interests of our security have made me change the Duke of Filena into the King of Thracia so much the more deserving you as you merit no lesse Personage for your Husband then a King You will evermore receive Commendations following the Opinion of the Councell
of State and the command of your Father Dianea suffered not these words without displeasure Yet she was unwilling that any externall signes should appeare to her Father desiring noâ— to oppose her Discontents though very reasonable For a while she deferred her Answer as if she premeditated words or rather because shee was to declare an Opinion remote from that of her Father she was willing to prolong as much as was possible her angring him Lastly the Ensignes I know not whether of Shame or Discontent unfolded in her Countenance shee thus answered him Sir in some things I supposed my selfe not obliged to obey your Majestie above once you commanded me that I should respect the Duke of Filena as my Husband and in despite of my heart I assented which perchance was very unwilling to submit to Matrimonie Now I would humble my selfe to your resolutions if I could do it or if it lay within my power to do it I find my selfe engaged to the Duke of Filena and am not in a condition to receive affections nor to love another Let the tendernesse of a Father commiserate the weaknesse of his Daughter who with the losing of my selfe have been willing to obey my Father I do not call to your memory the infelicious remembrances of the Thracians infidelitie because this ought to be a consideration of discretion which some should propose to me I have not an ambition for the multitude of Kingdomes This of Cyprus is sufficient to satiate the vastitie of these thoughts which peradventure would not be wooed into a content with the Dominion of a World The valour of the Duke of Filena allowes us not an oceasion to dread the hostilitie of enemies The Kingdome of Negrepont speakes too much otherwise of his virtue I know not who would resist a ship when he should assist at the sterne She would have added other reasons but was interrupted by King Vassileo who said to her Dianea I am not come to dispute with you but only to acquaint you with my resolvs As a daughter you should reverence them as disercet commend them The interests of the State and Kingdome appertaine not to your Age nor to your Sexe It concernes me to make you obey and acknowledge the Obligation you owe to the Gods and to a Father so affectionate and so indulgent Dianea perceiving him full of anger threw her selfe at his feet and there speaking and lamenting united her teares and supplications to perswade him and overcome him at the same time All was in vaine for with a rigorous severitie he determined the Nuptials should be solemnized without delay Whereupon Dianea despaiting altogether of her life would not any longer conceale her affections Prostrating her selfe againe at his feet with sobs and sighs and all her cunning she said to him Father Behold the unhappy Dianea compelled languishing at your feet to confesse the errours and follies of her heart I deny not to deserve the most severe rigours of your indignation not for any fault I can discerne in my Election but for having made it without the approbation of your Majestie But now torments and crosses are prepared for I cannot assent to a new Marriage having given my Faith to Astidamo Prince of Creete Let not your Majesty thinke that I will justifie the demerit of my disobedience for I will have no reason against a Father who hath been pleased to love me to such an excesse Much lesse can I beseech you for pardon because my mind cannot imagine an offence having made choice of a Prince so great and so worthy nor can I admit of repentance for having elected him King Vassileo in a moment changed colour a thousand times That countenance which through age was nothing but palenesse he apparelled with so many flames that it well preclaimed the fire which he nourished in his breast He would have thrust Dianea from him who held him embracing his Knees if a sudden feare had not brought a trembling both into his feet and hands Recovering in some measure his strength and growing into a fury he gave command for the imprisonment of Dianea There was not any that durst contradict him nor enquire of him the cause shewing himselfe so highly displeased that it was not with securitie of life to speake to him About an hour after dissembling the flames of his perturbation he sent for the Thracian to whom he related his miseries with resentments so lively that Dorcone himselfe was enforced to accompanie him in weeping After wards breaking the silence he was compelled to by griefe he began to say O what prodigies are these that reward me with inventions of impossibilitie only to render me miserable Father you have slaine me How can it be that Dianea who beares bashfulnesse and simplicity in her countenance should be disobedient to her Father Can she be immodest Your Majesty must excuse me if I beleeve it not For my affection would not receive an impression on of things which might prejudice the honour of Dianea But yet let it be how it will I beseech your Majesty to bestow her on me because my affection is not capable of any thing but the possession of her I hope by serving her I shall dispoyle her of all those loves which have rendered her engaged to another King Vassileo setting aside the interests of his Kingdome answered Friend I am unwilling she should be anothers who would not be mine She shall receive from me double punishment as from a Judge and as from a Father Having abused the effects of my love she shall prove those of my indignation The Thracian replied suggesting to him That he could not more worthily supply the Interests of her honour than by placing her in marriage That otherwise she would ever live with that blemish of shame on her Reputation King Vassileo becomming impatient by the provocations of sorrow unable to suffer that others should appoint him Rules to his Affaires returned him a sharpe answer which Dorcone taking great exception at parted from him repleat with anger The voices of the people encreased it upon him who alwaies ignorant in their Furies supposing him the author of Dianea's miseries followed him through the streets with a thousand reproaches The Thracian was become odious to all the Court his vices being discovered appearing the greater because for a time he had dissembled them Many times he held himselfe but little assured of his life perceiving the clamours multiplied in such a manner that they exprest evidences of an insurrection Dorcone resolved upon his departure unwilling to render himself lyable to the Precipices of the Vulgar alwaies blind in their Judgements and ever rash in their Resolutions He scarce arrived at the Port when he saw the burning of his two Galleys consumed with fire before the Marriners could provide any remedy A few by swimming escaped the danger the fire at one and the same time having deprived them both of preventions and an escape It was an impossibility to
penetrate into the originall though the simpler sort imagined it fire falne from heaven This accident neverthelesse made him not at all retard his departure for Dorcone hiring a small Vessell went aboord with all his Before he was got far from the Port he was certified of the death of Dianea He with much ado suppressing his teares began to vent a thousand imprecations against that Father who had violated Nature and thrown into oblivion the name and affection of a Father Before he would hasten the Marriners to flye from that heaven so impious that it rendred a Father an Executioner to his own Children he would understand better the particulars of Dianea's death The Count of Vafraro who had a great Acquaintance in the Court and who to that purpose was left behind by Dorcone thus gave him an account of it After the departure of your Majesty King Vassileo convoked his privy Councell whom he made acquainted with the Amours of Dianea proposing what punishment a Daughter deserved that had disobeyed her Father defamed the Kingdome and betrayed her honesty By the Councell there was two waies demonstrated to him The one of the Laws of the Kingdome which appointed her to punishment and that of the affection of his Majestie which might render her worthy of grace and pardon Both just though that of the Fathers forgiveness more proper For if he pardoned through the effects of his clemency those he did not love why ought he not to pardon her whom he should love more than himselfe Afterwards he was beseeched by all the Councell to impose upon the inconsideration of youth that punishment which the errour of the Princess merited That a Father neither ought to be a King or Judge against his Children That the old age of his Majestie required not such an affliction neither the Kingdome such a losse To these reasons King Vassileo answered that he could not distinguish between the person of a Father and that of a King That he had loved Dianea accounting her a support to his age a reputation to his house an honour to the Kingdome and a benefit to his People But she proving otherwise he was obliged to hate her That that ill which impunity might bring forth or the dissembling of his Daughters errours enforced him to condemne her else he should alwaies be held culpable of the miseries his Clemency would produce That it was more profitable for the Kingdome to have no Heires than to have them unworthy That he should immortalize himselfe more by punishing her than by seeing her a mother of many Children It being an higher reputation in a just Judge to take away the lives of his Children than to abide them culpable This said he made the Sentence of her death to be signed which she had incurred by the Laws of the Kingdome having disobeyed her Father married a Stranger and made an oblation of her selfe before the Nuptials were solemnized With a strange undauntednesse he subscribed it whence many judged him without love or that he was insensible of compassion at the miseries of his Daughter Dianea when she heard the certainty of her death and that the revocation of it depended upon the cruelty of him who was inexorable said Is it possible that an only Princesse should not obtaine a jot of pity in a Father to give her the courtesie of her life Not a jot of favour in the Councell to excuse her No whit of wisdome in her Friends to beare with her who was reverenced a little while since as the Kingdomes Heire Then by Picture were presented to her many formes of death She would not look on them saying That all deaths were equally cruell and so much the more commanded from a Father She made a little aggravation upon the infelicity of her Fortune on the inhumanity of her Father and on the cruelty of the Councell Although these words flowed forth from the Ardours of her mind she had neverthelesse so great a moderation in her sorrow that she prevaricated not into imprecations which are proper to those who looke upon death approaching She desired she might be allowed to write to her Father and it not being denied her she signed a Folio with these ensuing Characters I know not if I should write to my Father or the King both of them proving void of commiseration to sacrifice me to ignominy dispoyled altogether of that pity which resides in Regall minds and in Paternall breasts I will write only to a Father to acconsolate the horrors of an infelicious death with that name which hath had at all times the power to make me happy I shall not be so sensible Father of that hand which shall sacrifice me to death as the sense of the sorrow is insupportable to me which hath constrained you to condemne me in my life and honour I feele in me a more dolorous compassion that I have of your heart which is enforced to command the slaughter of a Daughter than I shall in the torment of the punishment for my transgression of the Laws I had rather dye a thousand times than imagine the Agonies which the errours of Dianea have brought upon you For knowing with what an excesse of affection you have been pleased to love me I know that you have in the defect of a Daughter condemned your own Innocency O just heaven O most upright Gods You that make you a mirrour of the hearts of men reveale with some resentment justifie with some realty whether I have injured my Father my Country or my selfe I love a Prince then whom hitherto Fortune hath not been able with all her Favours to forme one more great who hath delivered my Country from Traitours my Father from death and his Daughter from infamy I desire not Father to provoke your tendernesse to become pitifull by my supplication I only beseech you to consider that I have loved one whom I am not able to hate without the brand of infamy I will use no more of justification I would not pretending to be innocent make the justice of my Father for the death of his daughter appeare wicked All that is just which a Father commands I implore only a full indulgency to my Ashes that under the displeasure of my Father I may not descend also unhappy to my Tomb. Father dry away your tears For she deserves not compassion that hath incensed a Father Consolate your selfe that my misery as well brought forth the punishment as the wickednesse Adien deare Father Adieu beloved Father Forget in the Remnant of your daies this unhappy Dianea who in the period of her death shall not have an imagination more dirfull than the Remembrance of having offended you Dianea Having ended the Letter she left it unsealed And casting her selfe upon a bed she commanded the Dutchesse of Belprato she should suffer the sentence to be executed Two Salves entred the Lodgings and putting an halter of silke about her Neck they strangled her The which was also
is raised The one is having occupied it as a thing altogether abandoned by the first and legitimate possessors The other is having defended it through so many ages against all the strength of Armes and envy of all their Enemies in the world It is a thing without the jurisdiction of Doubt or Dispute that those things which have no Patron or because they never had or because the lawfull Lord slighted the Possession belong to those that first seize them and defend them and such an one hath a just Title and a Legitimate Command to be accounted the true Owner By the very same right the free Princes have made themselves Masters of the Lakes in the which they founded their City beleeved by all the Miracle of Nations and a Modell of that of Heaven For the first Founders which were the most noble of the most noble Cities retiting themselves to avoid the cruelty of Barbarians and finding them unoccupied and abandoned by the Owners as a thing of small moment gave the beginning to the glorious Foundation of their City not finding any that had the boldness to oppose they became Lords of the place as of a thing that ought to be his who came the first to possess it VVhereupon the Emperours of the East and VVest dividing between them the Empire declared That the City of the free Princes should remaine free and that it should be understood to belong to neither of them The very same just Title then that the free Princes have of their City they have also over this Sea This Sea of Saturne which is enclosed by Istria Albania Pulia and Abruzzo and Romania did formerly appertaine to the Emperour of the East The vicissitude of things which never suffers greatnesses to continue in their heights debilitated in such wise the Emperours Maritimate Forces that being unable to defend this Sea he left it exposed to the Incursions of all those which would infest it The Narentines a people accustomed to Thefts and Rapines becomming potent by molesting it daily imposed a tribute upon the Navigation as absolute Patrons The Emperour never supprest so great a presumption although the teares of his Subjects who were robbed by these Pirats acquainted him with the Losses they received by it The free Princes perceiving the Emperour had abandoned and neglected the possession of this Sea leauing it in prey to Pirats who arrogated to themselves the Dominion of it and made themselves Lords of it took Armes and by the space of an hundred and seventy yeares fought continually against the Narentines These made such a resistance favoured and succoured by the King of Croatia that in the end they were overcome and constrained to sue for peace The free Princes gave it them but with a condition that leaving their Piracies they should never more demand any Tribute for Navigation And so they became Lords of this Sea the Emperours of the East themselves assenting to it although Malignity Envy or Force should deprive them of it In the maintaining of which the Gold and Bloud which they have spent would buy and replenish a world I could say that the prescription of time which is of many entire ages admits not of putting to doubt a verity rendred so indubitable by yeares I could say that a thousand and a thousand Historians not obliged to their Interest but to the duty of truth affirm this lawfull possession and that for above three hundred years without ever being contradicted they have received Tribute for Navigation I could adde that the greatest Princes of the world are witnesses to this who confirming this most just possession have upon many occasions by publick writing confessed this truth Neither have they ever had the boldness to passe with their Fleets before they have got leave which hath many times been denyed them and many times granted according to their Interests I could adjoyne many other Reasons that vindicate this verity above suspicion but speaking to a Prince that understands all things I have peradventure trespassed too farre in saying so much It is very true that I cannot conceale with pardon from your benignity an annuall Ceremony no less great then ancient which these Princes use in signe of Soveraignty ever the Sea One day of the most solemne in the yeare the Duke and Senate of the free Princes with the Ambassadours of the greatest Kings with that State which is agreeable to their greatness go to espouse the Sea the Prince throwing in a rich Ring saying We wed thee O Sea in signe of a true and perpetuall Command Can your Majesty desire more true or Reasons more satisfactory VVonder not then if I conforming my selfe to Custome and so good cause for it have done the Obedience that was due The Thracian seemed to be satisfied saying These Reasons beare a great strength but how come so great Interests knowne to you accustomed onely to plow the waves and know the windes how grew you acquainted with the Jurisdictions of these people Your Majestie may please to know the Mariner answered that I am not such as my Habit and Profession shew I am not a Mariner but through pure necessity Fortune that blindfoldly dispenses her Inconstancies hath made me rather trust to the Infidelity of a Sea then that of a Prince I was borne in Catalonia the onely sonne of a Duke who for his vertues might have pretended to the greatest matters although hee had not an Ambition to desire them My King knowing me an emulator of my Fathers example suspected he should neither keep his Life nor Kingdome if I should have Children or should come into a way to have any I was compelled to rebell against my Genius and to put on an habit different from my heart This did not satisfie to secure the feares of my King who perhaps was suspicious of punishment for his owne violences Comforted with hope I undertook a voluntarie Exile I went into the Kingdome of Fortune and even into that City which is accustomed to allure every one by the Name of Love although in the effects it returns death There I had the occasion to detest Covetousness and Ambition that triumph in that Court Adulation is there in an excess every one endeavouring to advance himself in some Degree of Favour with his Patron for his owne advantage The pillage and sale of Places sacred to the gods is not reputed a Crime because it is practised by the greatest Cruelty there keeps residency they not knowing Love who know nothing but to destroy Nature Gold becomes a recompence to the most vile and the most ignoble Holiness Innocency and goodnesse professed in words but by deeds altogether trodden under foot All there is vendible and many there sell themselves at the low price of a Mercenary hope so much the more uncertaine in that it depends on a life for the most part consumed of Physick and Years The Kings there are Elective whereupon they attempt all meanes to enrich themselves though to
reasons Whereupon the Thracians came to land without hinderance But they would not remove from the Port untill they received information from their Spies Being certified of King Vassileos Resolutions they plundered a great part of the Isse with small profit to themselves the people and all things of value being got into the principall Cities They put it into a dispute whether they should first attempt the Conquest of the other Cities or of the Metropolis which was Arsinoe Many delivered their opinions and amongst others the Duke of Pereno maintained they should first take the other Cities before they laid siege to Arsinoe Conquests said he and victories consist in the reputation of Armies And how can this reputation be acquired continuing at the siege of a City rendred inexpugnable by the strength of the scituation and the obstinacy of the Defenders I for my own instruction have studied the designe and I thinke it insuperable if you have no secret intelligence which if you have I am satisfied It is built upon a naturall Rock and not liable therefore to be mined The walls are all of fine stone and so broad that two carts may meet On the top they are made after the fashion of a Scarpe and within there is so much roome that it can containe an infinite number of people Within it is fortified by an high Cavagliere and three Bastions of earth It hath a Bulwarke in the wall furnished with warlike instruments that both from above and below scoure the ditch from one side to the other It is also defended by great Towers which encompasse it and within hath a large street following the Circuit of the wals for the conveniency of the horse The Ditches are deep industriously made by the force of Chizels The Flankers of the Ditch are as high or higher than the top of the walls The earth without is made like a Scarpe so that the houses of the City cannot be discerned and in assaults can receive no harme There is also the Castle trenched about with ditches into which the Sea comes in such wise scituated that I figure to my selfe the winning of it an impossibility Contratiwise setting upon others lesse strong and weaklier defended our Souldiers will receive a recompence for their labours more commodiously and with lesse danger All the chief strength of King Vassileo is within Arsinoe there he attends us there he wishes for us He will consume us before he can be overcome It is provided with victuals a long time and fears not storming For my full discharge I must add that to besiege it is to endanger the Army the aire being unwholsome and the waters corrupted whilest they within the City on the other side have most pure in their wells All the Island being surprized what will King Vassileo do with the only place of Arsinoe Afterwards we may with lesse inconveniency besiege him having no Foe at our backs I beseech your Majesty to excuse me if peradventure I have not encountred the best and your meaning The Duke of Nicopolis all the other remaining silent thus answered him If all the Cities of the Kingdome of Cyprus would fall into our hands with that facility that your opinion figures to you I should likewise subscribe that Arsinoe should be the last that should prove our Forces But all the Cities being very strong I must affirme there can be no securer counsell given than in the first place to beare our Armes to the Siege of Arsinoe It will be a great terrour to King Vassileo and all his Kingdome to see us resolved upon the most difficult enterprise without taking Arsinoe and the King what will the Kingdome of Cyprus availe us When these are fala into our hands who can supply his Office Who will refuse to obey us Rewards and punishments are ordinarily fomentations to the greatest resistances The King being taken who will adventure his life without hope of reward And who will prove faithfull not fearing the punishment of infidelity But let us passe to a point of higher consequence We ought without doubt to beleeve that King Vassileo will be aided either by those that love him or by those that feare us To perswade our selves otherwise is to give credit to the apparency of dreames and to flatter our own desires in an impossible supposition Their Embassage designed for Egypt is now known and the jealousies of other Princes who feare our greatnesse Succours then comming in time before Arsinoe be tooke or King Vassileo slaine all our endeavours will prove in vaine and our Armies fruitlesse Then we shall be necessitated to adventure a battell with an incertainty to which side victory will encline The taken City seeing aide come will be against us partly for hating to be under our command and partly to deserve some reward from their King Having betrayed and renounced their friends with the greater facility they will deceive their enemies It is not a secure resolution to confide in the conquered whilest any hope of their former Liberty remaines in them They will rather be an impediment to us for being to go to field we must dismember our Forces to guard them with a good number of Souldiery not to afford them an opportunity of rebellion Arsinoe won all is won and the Kingdome subjugated The head is that which enlivens the members and gives motion and strength to all the rest of the body That the place is inexpugnable I know not to affirme although I acknowledge it very strong As light is communicable to all eyes so there is not any place that submits not to a valour above ordinary All that which is subject to necessity and to the command of the elements may also be brought under the Laws and strength of a Conquerour A Sword can make way through all neither is there any thing but perseverance and experience may overcome it So much the greater will the glory and the reputation of the Thracian Armies be which attempt not upon enterprizes imagined possible Facile attempts are thought unworthy of the Thracians This opinion prevailed whereupon all the Army began to presse upon Arsinoe they having tooke order that their Galleys should block up the mouth of the haven Viralto who was unwilling to adventure upon so unequall a battell kept within the Wals issuing forth onely under the advantages of night The first time he did great harme to the Thraeians with the slaughter also of many of their Officers But once falling into an Ambuscado he was in danger of being slaine losing a great part of his men Therefore he adventured but seldome forth and onely to impedite their Machines which the enemy built carrying fire to them but ever with very much danger The Duke of Nicopolis perceiving that a part of the Army was sufficient for the begirting of Arsinoe whilst they within possessed with feare stole out to runne away and not to fight counselled Dorcone to attempt some surprizall The Thracian approving of the
a private Gate disguis'd in poor cloths while he put on mine and made himselfe taken by a deceit that my escape being known I should not be pursued Death will be the least of his evils for besides the envy of his Emulatours he had the hate of the Tyrants who infinitely often at any price had requested my life of him my disguise carried me safe from every danger nor mist I any thing that offended me I departed from Morocco deploring my misfortune that would not permit me an occasion to exercise the undauntednesse of my heart or the strength of my sword I embark'd for Numidia to tug if Fortune would change by the alteration of Climes The injuries of Tempests of Heaven of Lightnings accompanied me in my Voyage When one is once made the scope of the miseries of fate he only knows what 't is to be unhappy I came ashore in Dana a Region of Numidia because destiny there had provided for me greater miseries Afoot I walked toward Tesset the Metropolis of the Kingdome accompanied by the sorrow of those thoughts which had almost made me beyond my selfe the Heaven served for my Canopy and my griefe for a Centinell which admitted me not to have the multiplicity of wild Beasts which Africke breeds I was foure miles short of Tesset when I felt my eares struck with schreekes and lamentations of a faire woman Shee fled from Death which the trechery of four privy Murtherers menaced her with Her cloths were extreamely rich which shewed her to be a Lady of no ordinary descent Her embroideries pearle and gold were out-vide by the comelinesse of her Face and the beauty of her haire which stirr'd up and downe by the wind and raining it seems they were moved towards Heaven to contend for splendour with that of Ariadne her beautie not at all diminished by feare made me admire how it did not stirre up aide in the cruelty of those hearts Shee scarce saw me but both with her love and by signes shee implor'd my aide Her entreaties were delivered with such an inbred statelinesse that they seem'd rather commands then prayers I sodainly laid hand on my sword and justice favoring me in despight of my ill fortune they all there lost their lives Shee ranne to render me thanks having seen vengeance taken of her enemies without hurt to my selfe After some few short complements she told me the danger her Father was in shewing me the way to him I went to him with all speed and saved his life who was incompass'd with most eminent dangers Their kind embraces and the honours they did me amaz'd me These were the King of Numidia and his daughter that tracing a Stag had lost themselves and were assaulted by those Arabians who with their Nurses milk sucke in hatred to that Crown I rendred thanks to the gods and Fortune who now grew weary to afflict me with an infelicity of successes I accounted my selfe blest onely for preserving from Death so great a King and so faire a Princesse No body can be thought happy or miserable who hath not tride all accidents The fairenesse of a day is not despair'd of for the Cloudes which are seen before Sunne-rising Our wounds were hardly bound up but the Courtiers came upon us who with abundance of care pour'd forth their vowes for their Princes safety They conducted us into Tesset where we were encountred with those applauses wherewith Subjects manifest their affections At the foot of the Palace staires was the Queen accompanied with a daughter attended by a multitude of Ladies They rain'd from their eyes two most lively showers of teares which issue not alwaies from the fountaine of sorrow whom they had lamented for dead with his daughter they cannot yet be satisfied to see alive and embrace Thank said the King this Knight pointing to me from whose Valour next to the gods I acknowledge my safety and life I profess my selfe in so high a manner beholding to him that should I give him my Crown I should not in part have paid what I owe him for it is his and I receiv'd it from him both through his good fortune and courtesy The modest conceit I had of my selfe forced me with blushes to answer his good opinion of me I was made his companion in the Palace and a while after one of his Royall Councell and by many that flattered their own hopes in my greatness I was almost reverenc'd as the Heire and successour of the Kingdome My mind exalted by the beginning of these felicities lost within a few dayes the remembrance of its misfortunes The thoughts of regaining my Fathers Kingdome and to ease my subjects of their miseries the love that I took to the Infanta Ariama at that time I freed her from the ravenousnesse of the Arabians drove out of my mind The benignity of her favours the comliness of her countenance the continuation of seeing her would have subdued the obduratenesse of any heart not onely mine easy to receive any impression through the weakness of youth and in experience Dissemblings some few daies conceal'd my fire which presently after becomming insupportable made me subject to a most dangerous sicknesse The King carefull for my recovery assisted at my bed comforted me in my undiscovered sorrows and bemoan'd me as if it were his own disease The Physitians despairing to find out the cause refus'd to visit me having no hope at all left them of my life I did receive no other comfort but from the Presence of my faire Infanta Not only my recovery but life depended on the sight of her One day the Queen and the Princesse attentive at the consultation of the Physitians or because shee saw in the sadnesse of my countenance the bitternesse of my sorrowes or because she read in my eyes the indeleble Characters of my affection with much adoe refraining from teares shee said to me Then O Knight shall your obstinacie deprive us of your Person Is it possible that dissimulation is more prevalent over your will then my entreaties If you deny this not to receive redresse for your Maladie confesse it to comfort me I love you Sir for the debt of gratitude I owe you and by the election of my will without you I cannot neither will I live Discouer then your griefs either that they may meet with remedy or to comfort them with the companie of my teares I that was troubled with no other griefe but with doubtfull thoughts of her affection and the poornesse of my Fortune although borne a Prince and whom feare of repulse had made rather choose death then her disdaine at the sound of these words felt my spirits recover'd and believ'd my selfe well Not containing my selfe for joy I thus answered Faire Infanta my griefes have had originall from your beauty I have conceal'd in the cinders of dissimulation those fires that turne my heart into ashes My poor merit compar'd to your reall greatness rendred the desires of my affection impossible
I rather preferr'd to encounter death then occasion your displeasure Now that the excesses of your benignity have embolden'd me with these words I will lay open before you my most inward wounds and I attend from the favours of your munificence that helpe which the knowledge of my condition denies me If the care of your maladie replied the Infanta depend upon my will rise for you are well The honesty of your desires shall have their end and correspondencie in my affection Doe not deceive me to flatter my hopes for you know what love can doe in the breast of a woman that will and knowes to love The arrivall of the Mother and the Princess with Physitians broke off the continuance of this discourse who found in me extraordinary signes of an unexpected health They were amaz'd at so sodaine an alteration and blam'd the imperfection of their Art that founding the reasons of it upon an experience alter'd by the diversity of complexions astonish'd them at my amendment as if they were altogether ignorant of my disease Yet there was among them some that made a doubt of my life They were fixd upon a rule though common fallacious that in a body extenuated by fastings griev'd by infirmitie and streitned of remedies Nature would not be wanting of a sodaine to receive extraordinary helpes And these they said were the last strengths of it Experience contradicted their reasons They soone saw my amendment being durable had reall foundations The strength of my body they increased with most pretious meats but with regard to the quantitie which at first they denied me lest the digestion interrupted or suffocated should bring me into a more dangerous sickness afterwards Plenty of Physick and the visits of the Physitians and the affection of the most beautifull Infanta recover'd me Those few daies I kept my bed in I endeavoured to contrive how we might enjoy the pleasures of our desire as a sign of her affection shee had bestowed kindly a kiss on me I having formerly told her my birth and given her my faith Shee obliged her selfe when I was healed to bring me into her lodgings my desire made me well before my time neither did shee deceive me in her promise She trusted her thoughts and affections to the Dutchess of Corona beseeching her assistance Shee to disswade her made use of all reasons and entreaties but in vaine Love hath not reason nor receives perswasion contrary to the will of them that love Feare represented to her prodigies of my ruine Whereupon shee doubted whether shee had best reveal it to the King But the good will shee bore the Princess and high opinion shee had of me witheld her She aided us to the fruition of our loves impossible but by her means The severeness of this happiness continued but for a very little while In the which I had consulted with the Infanta of requesting of her Father Armes and Mony for the regaining of my Kingdome when Fortune that till now had made truce with my griefs united all the forces of her strength to ruine me This short calme serv'd to no other purpose but to make me trust to her intending to make me drinke of a Sea of miserie The Princess Arelida became enamour'd of me who with divers and extraordinary favours forced her selfe to discover her affections At Dancings shee would alwaies dance with me at Huntings be even with me and at Torneaments give me constantly her Favour to weare whence shee would have me take notice that excessive honours proceeded not from an ordinary affection I counterfeited with such cunning to take no notice of it that shee found her selfe prevented and hopeless But because the power of Love receives no hinderance from modesty one day faining her selfe indispos'd shee made me be call'd to her and after some courteous Complements past she thus spoke to me Is it possible Oleandro that I should be so little skill'd in the practiques of Love and you so knowing of his Favours Some few daies agoe I know not what provoked me to discover my flame Your modesty or my ill luck blinded you I am desirous to restore your sight finding my heart too narrow for so overflowing excesses of Love Deare friend Oleandro I love you if you believe not my tongue the interpreter of my mind and faithfull revealer of my intentions give credit to these teares true signes of an extraordinary affection and blood of my heart The Nobleness of your conditions the honestie of your actions the sublimity of your mind and the comeliness of your countenance tyrannize over the freeness of my will the greatness of my Birth the modestie of my conditions and the blushes of my face I should have fear'd rather to have gain'd by this boldnesse your indignation then affection if I knew not your worth so great that it would excuse even the errours of Princesses She offends not that bestowes her affection on a deserving object The gods rejoice to be beloved by all The Lawes of Cupid punish the ingratefull that love not not those that doe Nor is there any such thing that honestie is contrary to affection For I love you with a desire to live with you as a wife not to enjoy you as a servant my birth is not capable of so base thoughts my desires have no meaning that may blemish the candidnesse of their ends If you be a Prince as I shall not believe you if you denie it you have no reason to refuse my Nuptials I hoping both by the Law of Nature and right of succession to be a Queen If you be not of so high a condition you ought then to embrace this occasion that invites you to the possession of me and thereby of the Kingdome If you discerne any want in any of these Motives my affection ought to have power over the hardnesse of your thoughts to win you to afford me your consent The World hath not treasure enough to recompense the affection of a Princesse Correspondence alone is the onely reward of love Love me then and with an obstinate resolution disdaine not the benignity of Fortune which proffers you the possession of a beauty esteemed singular by many that have desired it and the soveraignty over so great a people that would even weary the ambition of an Alexander With these words the Princesse set a period to her speech attending with great alterations of mind giving signes thereof with various colours in her face and with submisse entreaties of her eyes my answer A while I stood silent after I reflected that to make a Princesse hopelesse of her love would prove a Precipice to my affections That women are not accustomed to receive denials in those things which for the most part are proffered them before hand That blush that inflames the countenance of a Princess to gaine the Love of her beloved if refus'd is converted into scorne to take from her eyes the memory of her rejection Therefore after some Complements
thanking her noble disposition that without any regard of my condition had enriched me with the graces of her affection I beseeched her to remember the greatness of her Birth the pooreness of my state and the frownes of his Majestie the indignation of his subjects and lasty that her love having no foundation of Merit was likely in short time to decay and leave me in danger of my life and that her selfe with it converted into dislike to glorifie her desires and conceale her blushes would procure mee harme with such like reasons some dayes I entertain'd the enamour'd Princess who deceiv'd by an appearance of these excuses did not conceive me so far from consenting to her desires Lastly one day while I was walking in a Garden shee came and tooke me by the hand and led me under an Arbour where any bodies curiosities could not discover us and earnestly beseech'd me either to consent to her desires or to disclose mine That my excuses were apparent That the satisfaction of a Princesse ought not to be offended though the doubts of misfortune were neer Whereupon not enduring any longer the importunity of her Prayers seing the mischiefe brought to such a passe that Lenitives were no longer necessary I tooke upon me a resolution to undeceive her for I had agreed to doe so with my Infanta who forth of jealousie had had a falling out with me She had told me that wantonizings were the baits of Love and that my body loved not any who had not confidence to be beloved because coy hearts never take the mindes of women I replyed therefore Princesse it would be a greater impiety to conceale my affections from you then strive to give you a recompence That would be a crime of my will this is a fault of destiny the more excusable because it is not in my power A thousand praises a thousand gratious signes testify your love with confusion to my selfe I acknowledg it being in a condition unable to requite you I have had no other desert in me for so many favours but the Noblenesse of your affection To which though I am denied correspondencie I am so much the worthier of pardon that seeing I have committed so manifest an errour it yet ought to be imputed to the violence of the Starres and not to any defect in my will The feeling that my soule receives in not being able to serve your commands should in part free you from the passions of your heart Release your selfe from loving me with the consideration that I am unworthy to be beloved by you because I cannot returne affection Princesse I cannot neither will I love you My thoughts are fix'd my promise made my heart engag'd A Princesse of so much merit to whom even the affections of the Gods are due ought not to procure the leavings of that heart that knowes not which way and cannot love her Her eares had hardly received these last words but with a generous disdaine throwing away my hands which were between hers and rising up in a fury shee parted thence without answering me I feared lest that mind provoked by the stings of revenge should contrive some plot against my life All things are easie to the disdaine of a Lady in Love The authority of a Princesse provoked by affection and fury findes no impossibility that can appoint it limits But she freed me from suspition by seeing her not a jot altered by these successes with the same gentleness as formerly she continued with all freedome her favours to me Yet although I was delivered from my feares I resolved to remove that object that might offend her memory by her eyes I resolved to intreate aide of his Majesty for the reconquering of my Kingdome the Infanta consenting to it rather not to offend my deliberations then for any hope shee yet had of good success by it One evening when I had not been brought to her Chamber by the Dutchess of Corana being abed and thinking of the conquests of a new Kingdome untill after midnight I heard I knew not who making a little noise with a low voice pronounce my name I hastily roused up my selfe laying hand on my sword when I saw one that I knew not who with a little Candle came to me delivering me a note Having received it he sodainly departed none of my servants perceiving him or hearing of him With a great alteration which I found in my selfe I opened it and knew the Character for it was the hand of the Infanta It said thus Friend we are discovered I am a Prisoner and you will be betrai'd if you fly not You shall find at the Golden Gate the signet Royall Armes Mony and a guide delay not for the danger is great Preserve your life and follow your guide I was of a sodaine assaulted with variety of thoughts It appeared to me an act of baseness to confess my selfe by my flight guilty of a greater fault then perhaps I was To leave the Infanta a prey to the fury of the King seemed unsupportable But considering that delay could not be but dangerous and that also the Reasons of my own Innocency with less perill would be treated on being farre from the Judge and with more reputation That my stay would be unprofitable to the Princess who with teares would prosecute the mercie of a Father so affectionate and that lastly the hopes of the Kingdome of Morocco should not be shut up in a Prison I made no stay having put up some Jewels and the Picture of the Infanta without speaking a word to any of mine I went to the Gate I found there what was promised me The Guide was a Knight richly apparelled with two Squires who waited for me with Armes I being armed the Knight senâ— away the Squires and we travail'd toward the Dukedome of Riano making all haste without speaking a word We came into the midd'st of a thick wood I cautious of the truth of the business between anxieties of a thousand Passions beseeched the Knight to make the tediousness of the way cheerefull with Discourse and with his Relations to withdraw my minde from apprehension of evill that to fix ones Intellect upon Adversity was more hurtfull then Misfortunes themselves He staying a while in suspence after some interrupted sighes began thus to speak to me Oleandro our owne common obstinacy hath brought us hither to lose Reputation and life Behold the Princess Arelida despis'd and scorn'd brought into this Habit by a violent affection When you reveal'd your thoughts to me I knew of your favour with the Infanta I dissembled a while the better to break them off Finally imitating her hand I have deceived you for deceiving me I rejoyce that I shall punish with Honour and with bloud your ingratitude and my folly The unquietness of your minde will give rest to my soule I shall carry to my Tombe this satisfaction that my Rivall shall be deprived of your Embraces you my Enemy defamed in Reputation
safetie into your hands your Curiositie and Entreaties which I should reverence in other matters as Commands should not prevaile with mee to speak a word Who cannot tell how to hold their peace is unfit to serve Princes The principall duty of Faith is to conceale those Actions which Kings breathing forth scarce trust themselves with I though a Woman have evermore observed this Axiome the Dutie I owe others and the regard I have to my owne safetie inciting me Great secrets are not reveal'd but with great danger and ordinarily who ever betraies is betrai'd You may please to take notice that this Island is the amorous Kingdome of Cyprus Fame gives out that this Cave was made by the command of Venus to conceale her Amours in or by the first Kings here to secure themselves from Treacheries It hath seven Mouthes that all reach to the Sea so farre distant one from another as a man can see I suppose that under a pretence of Religion Tillage is prohibited in this part of the Isle to take away occasion from the Inhabitants of discovering these retiring places or observing of any that should come into them All the Continent is sacred and to kill a wilde beast or cut downe a Tree a Capitall offence After a long Circuit the Entrance growing narrow determines in a place call'd the secret Palace The common people beleeve that it took name from a Fountaine which one drinking of it represents in a dreame to their imaginations things to come or as I perswade my selfe by these private withdrawing places under ground knowne onely to his Majestie and his Daughter who for the most part here keeps his Court by reason it is the most strong and delicious part of this Island In the remotest Chamber his Highnes Treasure is kept but in a place the least observ'd the Entrance being stopt with some boards in such wise doth close that they deceive both the eye and feeling The easinesse of removing them can be onely discover'd by those who see them taken away But I will not with tedious Circumstances rob you of the Houres of your Repose I will abbreviate my Discourse and onely declare those things which are most worthy of your curiosity I beseech you added the Princess I being newly arrived in these parts and knowing a full Relation will come the welcommest to me and my desires my sorrowes not permitting me over-much sleep doe not so The History of Dianea Diaspe c. THe Dutchesse went on The handsomest here are chosen Kings and they have power to continue the Kingdome in their Line whether Males or Females Of the which if there be a faile the chiefe of the Island meet about a new Election which alwaies lights on him whom Venus is prodigall of her favours to In King Vassileo who now reignes in whom the vertue of his mind contends with the comliness of his person all our hopes are accomplished The Acclamations and the Joyes of the people were not any whit defrauded by the proofs of his merit and the goodnesse of his Government being of a complying disposition to all but inexorable to wicked men with a Majestick Pleasantness he hath gain'd himselfe the good will of his enemies and not onely the hearts of his Subjects He was fear'd by his neighbour Princes belov'd by the Remote and in briefe ador'd by all The Devotions of the people were unanimous in supplications to the mercie of the Gods to eternize a stock so every way worthy By two wives he had no issue but one daughter the Princesse Dianea my Mistris so call'd after her mothers name who died in Child-bed of her The more she increased in yeares the handsomer she grew This Sun although but rising ravished the desires of all eyes and awaked in the most frozen mindes and in the cruellest bosomes a tender affection An eye cannot behold her without parting with an heart I should say more if so noble conditions could be exposed and if you when you had seen her should not believe her one of the most beautifull Ladies of the world A thousand have aim'd at her affection and infinite is the number of them who have falne in love with her This Paradise of perfection hath been desired and beseeched for of all worthy men What cannot a beautie more then great accompanyed with a vast Kingdome for her Dowrie doe They that knew not how to love any thing but themselves and their proper Interests expressed themselves most ambitious of her Those insensible ones that could not be conquered by her Beauty were inthral'd by the power of their owne Ambition The wisedome of his Majestie which would get him a Sonne-in-law and not an enemy neither entertain'd nor refused their offers He inclin'd not to Kings because he would not dismember Cyprus And with his Subjects he disdain'd as a diminution of the Royall greatness His neighbour Princes were not to his satisfaction because being blemished with a thousand vices he would not at the same time endanger his Kingdome his Daughter and himselfe And of Remote matches he abhorred the thought as they that would carrie the Princesse with them which would be a separating of his Soule from his Body Finally his Majesties mind fix'd on the Duke of Araone the youngest Sonne of the King of Armenia a Knight but for the deformity of his face the most worthy of his times His abode was then in the Court and with the proofes of his valour he had to won upon the Kings affections that him he chose to ally so neare to him as to make him his Sonne There was no doubt that he should dismember the Crowne or remove the Princesse into a Remote Countrey being the last of a numerous Issue and having the disposing of nothing in his hands but his Horse and Armes The King acquainted the Princesse with his Resolution who was ready to die of sorrow when she heard it The reverence sheow'd her Father and the modesty of her Sex were not sufficient to cloath her with so much wisedome as to conceale the passions of her minde To oppose her selfe to the desires of her Father was not the custome of her will or heart And how should she contradict him who commanded as a Father and would be obeyed as a King But recovering her selfe she beseeched his Majestie to give her some time that she might be able to dispose of her selfe according to his Commands She said that great Resolutions should not bee prosecuted without premeditation that seeing she was to oblige her selfe to so unequall a matrimonie it was but reason that she first should perswade her minde to it That marriages compell'd either by the Authority of those that treat of them or by their power that make them are for the most part unhappy She added other Reasons whereupon her Father allowed her six moneths time not onely for her deliberation but the consummation of the Nuptials How then the Princesse remain'd confus'd they may imagine whose Destinie
I could not offer up to the gods a greater Sacrifice then the punishment of this wicked man who for his Ambition of Rule hath in his Treason to others betrai'd himselfe The other Accessaries which are of some number I remit them to your Justice Give me leave onely to put your in minde that forgivenesse is a noble property of Kings And that the taking away the heads of a Conspiracy ought to be attributed to the gods as a great Favour and accounted to a Kingdome as a great Felicity For what remaines when the winde will permit I will conduct your Majesty into Arsinoe where I will pretend to no other reward then the love and thanks of so great a King Here he staied fixing his eyes upon his Majestie who after a little Recollection said thus King Amuritte Those things which Fortune to day hath presented unto me have in a manner so amazed me that I know not whether I live or dreame The zeale of your affection with which preventing my Interests hath made you condiscend to so great Deliberations shall be alwayes reverenced by me according to the multitude of my obligations I will acknowledge from the candour of your friendship the generousness of your Spirit the worthinesse of your Minde and the noblenesse of your Birth The Conservation of my Kingdome the Honour of my Daughter and preservation of my Selfe His Majesty had not stopped here if the Father of the Admirall had not interrupted him with saying Pardon me O King that if for the griefe I feele I cannot containe my selfe within the Duties I owe to the Eminencies of your Merit and the humblenesse of my condition The Faults of the Count of Cithera whom I will not call Sonne to encrease my sorrow if they are such as they are reported deserve your anger even to all his kindred If the gods had permitted that they had been the slanders of his Enemies to precipitate him from the favours of your Majesty I should have become a Supplicant to you for Justice although I should not have obtained it It will be an Adjunct to your glories Magnanimous King to exercise your pietie upon the Ashes of the dead and that your humanity be moved with Carkasses in their Sepulchers In these Doubts of my Sons loyalty and my Princes favour I cannot live I will not allow Fortune so much power over me If ever Sir the candidness of my thoughts the goodness of my actions the ingenuity of my fashion and the freedome of my Consults have aim'd at any thing then the Reputation of your Majesty the Preservation of your Posterity the honour of your Crowne and the welfare of your Kingdome I invoke all the Gods that the stormes of their indignation may fall upon my head and that they never grant Repose to my soule in the Elizian happy fields These last words were scarce understood when stabbing himselfe twice in the breast hee dyed before he could be succoured The Thracian suddenly commanded the dead bodies should be removed which was done with so great a resentment to all that the least expression was Tears It was impossible that any body should eate wherfore the Tables being took away he accompanied us into the Keel for now a Tempest so suddenly came on us that it gave us not time to know our danger It was repleat with darkness so that it seemed the Gods had deprived us of the Beames of the Celestiall Luminaries that the waters might swallow us It sceemed that heaven would smother the sea and that it would make warre against the Starres The Windes concurring with the Waves raised mountaines and Precipices Thunder and Lightning dazling our sight and taking away our hearing took away all Command and Obedience The cries of the Mariners and Pilots to keep the Rowers to their Duty they heard so imperfectly that instead of remedying the Danger they produced more Confusion and augmented fear The Oars being too weake to contend with the violence of the Waves were shivered into a thousand pieces so also were their Cords and Tacklings The Thracians Diligences who with a brave undauntedness now exhorted now promised now threatned shewing at one time both the Office of a Mariner and a King delay'd our being cast away which every moment we expected By one of his Priests he was advertized that the Sea-gods were offended when dead bodies are carried aboard the Genius of the Waters not enduring it That this Piety might be exercised upon the shore collecting their Ghosts into one place by devout Funeralls The Thracian durst not oppose this superstition or Religion of the Mariners Therefore the bodies of the Admirall and his Father being throwne among the Waves the furie of the Tempest was suddenly appeas'd we being driven far from Cyprus upon the shores of Africk He gave command to his that the Dammages of their past Fortune should be repair'd with all diligence that with their more security they might make their return to Cyprus Afterwards hee came to King Vassileo and some talke of the past danger being ended he said There is not any thing Father and Friend that more alters our deliberations than the Accidents of Fortune All our proposals designs and all our promises are lost vanished and retracted when the reasons that first occasioned them are removed or altered you promised the Princesse Dianea to the youngest Son of the King of Armenia when others were not Sutors for her and when your own Interests in your State were not so as they are at present Now when I have delivered you from an enemy the more formidable because hard to be discovered and that all things of your Kingdome are altered why may you not with honour release your selfe from your promise I will not insist upon to perswade you the greatnesse of my States the strength of my Armies the valour of my People because King Vassileo's mind cannot be tempted by hopes So having spoke he did not manifest by any signe that he had him in his power to demonstrate that with all candidnesse he treated of this Match or else with a cunningness seeming to slight it to raise a greater opinion of him in the King His Majesty having a regard to his present condition made use of such words as were convenient expressing that he had a great desire to please him He added afterwards you propound to me friend a match to be wished for when it was in my power to effect it who would not though with much trouble procure an alliance with Amuritte and Thracia Who would not endeavour to renew himselfe in a young man so valiant and in a King so great Yet know that to retract my word given to a King with the Consent of my Councell and to the satisfaction of my Subjects is not in my power I propose not here the case of my reputation and the honour of my promises All that is lawfull which pleaseth Amuritte I reflect only upon the impossibility of a remedy and upon the
by their valour rendred necessary to the State should be recompenced by his Majesty with bestowing me on them to wife The War being denounced and we overcome we began to feele all those discommodities and miseries which they receive who are seene unjustly dispoyled and robb'd of what they have without any meanes to prevent it Our principall Cities either through feare or treachery set open their Gates to the Enemie so that the greatest part of his Dominions being lost we had nothing remaining but what this Island contained in it My Father who in many Battailes had found Fortune contrary to him having gathered together the last Forces he was able to raise Commanded the Duke of Lovastine who from a private Knight by the Kings favour with the envy of all was advanced to this degree to Adventure his uttermost hopes on a set Field The Duke readily obeyed the Commands of his Majestie and under Zenilp offered the Enemy battaile who more then willingly encountred him This was one of the most obstinate and bloudy fights they had Even my memorie I confess hath lost the remembrance of so cruel assaults It began two hours after Sun-rise and continued till Noon without the least advantage to be perceived on either side Lodato that for valour would yield to none ran through every thing leaving it hard to be distinguished whether he was Generall or a private Souldier At last Victorie inclining to his side and evident signes of having the better appearing the Duke of Lovastine all hope of overcomming being lost with a select party of his best men charged that part where Lodato's Prowetle performed wonders He alone aimed at him and having unhorsed him they wounded him mortally His men who obeyed him as a King and adored him as a God seeing him fall to the ground ranne thither making such a slaughter of our men that there almost all our Officers of note were slaine the Duke of Lovastine being sorely wounded The Vesats had the victorie though losing their King it was beleeved they had the worst He being brought off to his Pavillion with so much undauntednesse exhorted his to prosecute the war as if he had commanded over death He recommended the Government of the Army to the Duke of Vimana entreating his to continue without faction because they could not bee over-come if they were not disunited And desired his friends to dry their eyes for hee could not have received a greater benefit from the Gods than to dye at the top of his glories with his Armes in his hands He had lived long enough he said who had the Fortune to point them out the way of liberty With these words he ended his life with so great a sorrow to his that many would not survive him His Exequies were not yet accomplished but the Bier many dayes carryed about the Army with such a sadnesse of the souldiers that they esteeming Tears too ordinary a way to expesse their Passion and Affection bathed it daily with bloud Newes of this being brought to the Court it was entertained according to severall affections The friends to the Crowne rejoyced at it as if this onely blow had occasioned our security and the safety of the State But those that expected to build their hopes upon our Precipices received it with an extraordinary sorrow and express'd it with attempting to bring the Duke of into disgrace with my Father who being of an incredible goodnesse did not believe himselfe deceived nor that others would deceive him His Majesty for all this continued to reward him according to the merit of his valour enriching him daily with Lordships money and priviledges so that he had not in the Kingdome neither a Superiour nor Equall He being advertized of the Treacheries his Enemies intended him writ to my Father That having serv'd him so many yeares carelesse of his life hee desired now some repose not to absent himselfe from dangers or to withdraw himselfe from his service but to cure himselfe of some Evils which rendred him an old and an unable man before his time That the charge of an Army was over-great a Burthen for the shoulders of an old man that had spent more bloud in the Service of the Crowne then he had left for the preservation of himselfe That the Interests of his Majesty required that others should bee employed in the Wars to supply his weaknesses Other Resolute but very Respectfull things he urged which compelled Dinanderto to send to him expressely that he should continue his command adding other particulars of honour the more to oblige him to him The Duke for some time to his very great applause prosecuted his charge but understanding that his Enemies proceeded in multiplying crimes upon him which never entred into his minde that they treated about Articles of peace without once mentioning him in them and that the King of the Gauls sent the Duke of Riat with a Command equall to his owne having but an ill opinion of the Princes of Catanosa who were voluntiers in the Army he began to thinke of some security for his owne safety He set some Prisoners at liberty without taking any thing from them but a simple Testimony of honour He negotiated effects of friendship with the Monarch of the Belgi of the Aquitans and the Celta and lastly so ordered the businesse that the greater part of the Heads the Colonels and the Captaines of the Army subscribed to a writing in the which they obliged themselves to serve him in all encounters and never to abandon him while they lived My Father had Notice speedily given him of all this but not crediting these Relations although proceeding from reasons well affected and uninterested he would understand the truth with more certainty he made the Duke of Lassimano Nephew to Lovastine to be brought into his presence unto whom he made a Discourse of the Merits of the Virtue and of the Victories of the Generall and that hee had resolved to send him to him to comfort him and assure him that sinister informations could not alienate his heart from that man whom he loved equall to himselfe That hee knew the wickednesse of Courts where the most worthy are the soonest exposed to the injuries of malignity and envy Upon this occasion he made one of his Councellors of State to accompany him giving him private Commission to spy into the actions of the Duke of Lovastine forcing himselfe to penetrate even into his thoughts his operations and his ends The Councellour being come to the Army was informed of the Rebellion of the Generall of his Treaties with the Enemies and of a thousand other particulars which rendred him guilty He gave his Majesty notice of this while some of the chiefe who had subscribed to the Paper came and signified it in his presence My Father remained astonished at an attempt so execrable Considering that the summe of the businesses consisted in the speedy dispatch of them he declared the Duke of Lovastines Commission
it selfe in your Face I write to justifie my Resolutions and to confound your disloyalty The retiring Places of the Grott have not been able to bury your Amours That God whom so extreamely you worship should advertise you that he goes naked because it is impossible to conceale him and that dissimulations are not Garments that can cover him To my own happinesse I have discovered thus much That I should not be hers who will not be mine unlesse in the same time she might bestow her selfe upon others Heaven be praised that you came not to be the destruction of my Kingdom Dissolute women too much have afflicted Grecia I have satisfied the teares of my sorrow with the bloud of him that came to enjoy you This Passion which cannot bring you my full Anger will doubtlesse present you with this Advertisement If the others Soule be in the body that loves I have punished at one time your perfidiousnesse and satisfied the justice of my indignation Live then with griefe to have lost at once two Lovers the one scorned and the other slaine and perpetually feare to heare the Reproaches of a sinister Fame I go from hence to Creete where I shall find beauties more worthy because they will prove more modest Diaspe She had scarce read these last words but her hands would make amends for the Offences given her eyes tearing that Letter into a thousand peeces which designed her to a continuall lamentation Her tongue also ran for the succour of her heart uttering those things which might vent out her griefe and lessen her passion Faithlesse man said shee didst thou want other meanes lesse impious to satiate thy barbarismes Couldst thou with waies more cruell disdaine my Affections With wickeder stratagems couldst thou triumph over my simplicity Couldst thou with more disguised Fictions betray my Innocency Is this thy faith these thy promises these thy oaths O Dianea only unhappy because thou hast loved Gods why preserved you me from the hands of the Thracian who could only have deprived me of my life to leave me a prey to a wicked one who at once takes from me my Kingdomee Life and Honour Wherefore preserved you me safe from the furies of the sea to let me be swallowed up in an Occan of Infamy Cruell one are they Arguments that I can love others because I have loved thee Thou shouldst not therefore have doubted of it being I cannot love my selfe If I had I should not have disposed my honour and fortune into the hands of a man to whom inconstancy is as proper as motion to the Heavens Thou hast reason to suppose mee unfaithfull because I have betrayed my selfe But where are those testimonies that make my Innocency seeme guilty How canst thou convince my heart of disloyalty that out of an abundance of affection to thee grew jealous of it selfe Ought I then to be convicted for a simple suspition Doubts then must serve for proofes against her who to be be thine hath been willing to endanger her life displease her Subjects and deceive her Father Wicked man I know thy perfidiousnesse Because thou canst not love thou feignest things for true which cannot fall under Imagination much lesse sense Suspitions are not nourished but in unfaithfull bosomes as Thunder-bolts are not made but in the coldest Regions of the Aire Dianea no sooner had finished these Complaints but Floridea would have tried all means to have comforted her if she had not been assured by the Dutchesse that her Father who came to visite her was not far off At notice of this she stopped the Torrent of those teares which ran with her tongue to exaggerate her sorrows She forced her selfe to disguise her passions and to conceale those signs that might make the warinesse of a King jealous whom Age had not deprived of his judgement Having taken leave of Floridea she went to meet her Father who was already entred into the Pallace She presently gave signe by the palenesse of her face and by the gastlinesse of her eyes of the motions of her mind and the alteration of her heart Yet for the most part she satisfied the feares of her Father suspitious at it she told him the cause laying the blame on the night past wherein she had neither slept nor taken any repose you had need therefore replied Vassileo choose you such a Companion that should provoke you to rest and taking her by the hand retired into the Garden and said to her Daughter since the unfortunate successe of the Infante of Armenia I have had no greater thought than about your Marriage You cannot remaine as you are without danger to your selfe and me They that envy the happinesse of my State and aspire to the Possession of the Kingdome under the pretence of wedding you cover either their infidelity or ambition The example of the Count of Cithera should teach Princes not to promote with hopes the wicked affections of their Subjects and strangers There is not any who will not acknowledge himselfe enamoured on your person and your Kingdome But should other Motives be wanting that of posterity makes me desirous I wish to see my selfe renewed in my Grand-Children which I would not leave in their Nonage in a Kingdome so great and powerfull but yet not without enemies Provinces and Kingdomes the richer they are the more are they envied Many make but slight esteeme of that victory which enricheth not the Conquerour and great dangers stay not some from great pretensions your Nuptials will allay these suspitions which deprive me of all consolation To these therefore I desire your assent which I beleeve cannot be contrary to my desires and my entreaties Dianea dissembling those afflictions that oppressed her soule after a little pause to recover her spirits answered Becks from your Majesty ought by all to be received as Commands not only by your Daughter who hath learnt no other thing but obedience and can serve you in nothing but obeying you The King replied another answer he could not looke for from her discretion and affection The Duke of Filena shall be your Husband a young man to whom nothing is wanting to render him superiour to all but a Kingdome which you shall bring him in dowry In peace he hath not his Equall and in war none above him The Kingdome of Negropont which hath been the Theatre whereon he hath acted the wonders of his valour bewailes his absence He hath quieted the seditious extinguished the Rebels returned liberty to the people and not being else able to resist the entreaties of those who would have had him their King he is hither retired into our Kingdome Prepare you then for I will remove all stops that may delay this Marriage This said he parted from her because perceiving Dianea in a great perplexity of mind he would not trouble her farther retiring joyfull to the Court in that he had opened the businesse on which he conceived all his happinesse depended Dianea after her Fathers
gave her selfe and divers other particulars Which being heard with a disdainefull laughter of the Infanta she said to him Oleandro dreames and fables find no belefe in the mind of a Lover who hardly can credit her eyes Are you not satisfied to have tormented my innocency with your workes that anew you would with words entice my soule from me See how perfidious and how cruell thou art Thou proposest things to me so far distant from being and possibility that I can never enforce my heart to beleeve them How Thou receive a Letter and not distinguish the Characters A Messenger wakened you and you observed him not A Knight accompanied you and you knew him not The wounds the thieves and thy other imaginations raise in me that effect which the fragours of the waves of Nylus make which deafen Thou art ingratefull thou art a Traitour thou art a wicked man and therefore no wonder thou shouldst be a Lyer Besides who is this that goes along with you a Partaker of your misfortunes What confidence what engagement what meanes rendred thee a Companion so interessed that she hath a boldnesse as it were to repose her selfe in thy bosome and now assured of thy protection hath given her selfe over a prey to sleepe This replied Oleandro is my Sister and I would that you should understand it from her very mouth So speaking he awakened Arnalta saying to her Come Sister and reverence this Lady whom my heart hath elected for its Queen Is perhaps this replied Arnalta the Infanta of Numidia Understanding it was the same she ran to kisse her hands The Infanta drew them back to her saying Excuse me if Love and Jealousie take from me those actions of Courtesie which are owing to your merit To day I should rejoyce to be deceived because I might beguile my feare I have businesse of some consequence with this whom you affirme to be your brother I can neither answer nor live if I see not the end of this Turning her selfe then to Oleandro she said to him I cannot deny but that thy Lies carry a face of truth But this time they shall not find credit I will yeeld to your assertion that this is your Sister But how will you prove that performed which you have fabled of me Innocency readily replied Oleandro hath not need of many proofes Behold the Letter which the Princess Arelida your Sister made use of to deceive me Take notice of your own Characters so well imitated that I believe you your selfe would remaine in doubt that your hand had fashioned them unknown to your eyes and heart Then said the Infanta Is Oleandro faithfull Then is he mine O Gods what thankes can I ever render you having restored me my Lover on better conditions then I could desire or imagine She ranne after to embrace him neither the presence of Arnalta nor that of the other Knight could containe her in those tendernesses which are practis'd onely among Lovers Their kisses were centuplicated Their Arms which as it were strove with their hearts in expressing Affection were not wearie with Embracing as much as might be they endeavoured to unite their bodies The heart not being able for joy to contain it self in the breast issued out of it in words kisses and teares In summe there was not a sense in them which rejoyced not These first violences of Affection being over-passed they excused themselves he with the Knight and she with Arnalta they resolved presently to depart thence not to be over-taken by the night The Knight told them that not farre off there was an house where they need not desire welcome They took their way towards it Olsandro entreated the Infanta to make the tediousness and troubles of their journey pleasant with some Relation he being desirous of the newes that fell out in the Court after his departure with the Princesse The Infanta with an eagerness encountring this occasion thus began her Storie The History of the Infanta Ariama IT was two houres day when the Damsels of the Princess my Sister perceived that shee was missing More by their teares then words they acquainted my father with it At the notice of it he became speechlesse He afterwards sent without delay to the Ports to learne whither she took her voiage dispatching every way souldiers on Horseback to stay her Hee imagined she was gone with you the Guards of the Golden gate reporting your Departure with one Companion who by the Description they made could not but be my sister When I knew it I was willing to die for griefe I said and did things which would have provoked sense of Pity even in things insensible My Father hearing no tidings of her could not be comforted and removed some Moneths without sufferring himselfe to be seen in publick In that time the Prince his Brother returned from warre maintained alwayes at great charges abroad because being cruell of nature and a Lover of innovation my Father very willingly saw him not in the Kingdome Hee was scarce come but he desired leave to depart for Cyprus by Fame enflamed with love to the Princess Dianea who for Beauty was esteemed a new Venus My Father whom these Amours pleased not for Reasons of State would not consent to him for many times their Of-spring engage Parents to great Matters and 't is small security to a Prince that many may pretend to the Government My Uncle shew'd himselfe not to care for this denyall especially because a few dayes before the Nuptials of Dianea with the King of Armenia's youngest Sonne were there published He fixed his minde and thought on new objects He esteemed the Dutchess of Corana worthy his affections There he applyed himselfe with such a Passion that he made all the Court admire him seeing a Prince a Rivall to Mars become suddenly a Tributary to Cupid Many times an alteration into the Extreames is Easie My Father neither allow'd of nor withstood these Amours feigning himselfe blinde in things perspicuous to all The Dutchess although Ambition and a desire to be beloved be connaturals to women seemed strange altogether and coy at it She had formerly engaged her heart to Doarte the Count of Nasace a Knight who by the gentleness of his behaviour and the valour of his sword had gained himselfe the Affections of all Shee truely had never applyed her minde thither if my interest had not induced her The seeing me so neare to render account to Nature of the pleasures I had stole from my marriage made her fall into a Resolution far from her opinion and genius We two onely could not conceale nor mature the birth with safety There was need of many shadowes to darken so many eyes The Count was made acquainted with my secrets the Dutchess veiling the Necessity under an apparance of trust He that was repleat with good Nature and kindnesse offered himselfe to serve me in all that which was knowne to be able to exercise his devotion and make triall of his
another being mine But pretences are not wanting to justifie your departure your Kingdome of Nigrepont for so it ought to be called groanes for your absence your own Interests ought to be preferred to those of others A Princesse disinheritated implores your aide this by the Obligation of Knighthood you should not refuse me Besides what doth King Vassileo lose by your departure The enemy is far off and peradventure but imaginary The Militia hath other Chiefetaines and neare the Metropolis who may every moment receive assistance from his Majesty Our danger contrary wise would be great The King hath designed you the Husband to Dianea if you refuse behold the hatred of a Prince which is alwaies mortall Kings institute Laws of their wills and will what they will He that attempts to oppose their desires may also endeavour to fixe the motion of the Heavens Much more how will his Daughter endure you slighting her whom she affects more than her selfe What hindrances soever you excuse your selfe on you very well know how to remove An impossibility hath not prescription in the mind of Grandees which prosecutes the execution of that which falls not under reason You will be enforced to accept of her and I to dye perceiving my selfe deceived But I very well foresee my misery That affection is weake which suffers it selfe to be overcome by ambition and a conceit of what others may judge of it That in Princes is united with honour which meets with their satisfaction He loves not that is too scrupulous You care not for me and perhaps upon my ruines you have raised your hopes You are willing to abide in Cyprus to have occasion to be compelled to betray me Here Floridea ended giving way to her teares which fell in such abundance that a lesser virtue than that of Viralto had suffered it selfe to be overcome He not withstanding enforced himself to perswade her saying You make me Princesse suspitious of your affection whilest you seeme careless of my honour And what will you find to love in me when by all tongues you shall heare me reported infamous Is it possible for you so to humble your mind as to looke upon me endure me and love me for a Traitour If you do this to assure my loyalty you have no reason for it having received continually proofes of my fidelity How can you satisfie your selfe that I should affect you if I know not how to love my Prince You would have good occasion to suspect inconstancy in my heart seeing me treacherous to him who hath trusted me with a Kingdome Who deceives his Prince that is able by force to punish his falseness may much more easily abuse the innocency of a maid who hath nothing but teares to repulse her injuries He that loves without reason makes no estimation of his honour Contrariwise he that hath placed his affections on a Princesse ought above others to be zealous of his Reputation by reason honour is more necessary in a Prince than others What avails it me that King Vassileo loseth nothing if I by my departure endanger my all Whoever pretends that love serves as a shield against all things hath perhaps an intention to counterfeit himselfe enamoured only to endeavour unworthy things Excuse me Princesse whilest my Reputation is treated of I ought not love you nor obey you you shall perceive in the residue of all my undertakings that neither the authority of the King nor all the force of the world shall have power to oblige me to any other affection but yours When I am free from his Majestles employments I will be yours Exercise your experimented gentlenesse of your affections in loving me for this once in excusing me These reasons did not at all appease the passions of Floridea who rather casting her selfe at the Dukes feet aggravated the perpetuity of her miseries making use of all those Arts affection could administer She said Obstinate Fortune that dost impoverish me in conquests and seasonest the felicities with so much bitternesse that thou daily compellest me to desire to be more unhappy To see you and behold you so neare me was my highest desire now that possession and sight becomes my greater torment Cruell One is it possible is it possible that these praiers should not perswade you these sighs move you that these tears should not mollifie you Unfortunate Florsdea unable to prevaile no not with weeping She said more but was constrained to silence the Dukes Guard approaching who brought him Orders from his Majesty to draw up to the Port of Cethina with the Army to receive Dorcene King of the Thracians who as a Friend came to King Vassileo He was astonished at this newes knowing the perfidiousness of that Nation wherefore making the Princess to retire into a secure place who forbore not her teares and lamentations he applyed himselfe to the ordering of the Militia to make a pompous shew of the Forces of the Kingdom and to be ready for defence if the Thracians should attempt any novelty This while Diaspe reposing between the Armes of Dianea in a short time recovered his health There is not a more profitable medicine for Lovers than the presence of the beloved Object He resolved to depart thence with Prodirto who was also cured Dianea being called thence by her Father against the arrivall of the Thracian One morning betimes ere the Sun could looke upon their Action they issued out of the Grott with an intention to come to the Court at the same time as the King of Thrace Diaspe could not think of his Arrival without the oppression of his heart His memory represented to him those unhappy objects which had formerly reduced him neare to desperation He knew the Thracians impious in their actions and name and King Vassileo too easie to beleeve all things To divert himselfe from these thoughts he beseeched the Duke to disclose to him his birth and to relate some part of his adventures to him what fortune had brought him into that Kingdome and what accident had guided him into those Recesses which he imagined concealed from the eyes of heaven it selfe I have replied Prodirto so obscure a name and am of so meane a birth that it will not concerne you to know and I blush to relate My Genius enclining to Armes made me inquisitive after the greatest Wars in the World I have been one in them with little benefit to my selfe although with much danger All Victories were referred to the Commanders in chiefe and the valour of a poore Souldier that hazards his life a thousand times can hardly arrive to such a stipend as will serve to maintaine life with I have endeavoured to merit the favour of the chiefe with exposing my selfe to all dangers but it succeeded not Grown void of hope I have many times been ready to despaire If Valour hath not the protection of favour or Gold it wants the marke of desert Promised rewards serve to no other end but to promote Envy
My most flourishing yeares being spent despairing to attaine an higher preferment I assayed with a friend of mine to steale away the Princess of Colchos The Enterprize succeeded fortunately Figuring with this Prize great Conquests in my imagination I imbarqued for the Baleares Islands where I promised my selfe a secure Retreat My ill Fortune that accompanied me in the same Vessell made me cast ashore by a tempest at sea in this Island where the Princess was stolne from me by my friend with whom I had trusted her Whilest with curiosity I sought after their flight I saw her hid among these Rockes where you first challenged me to the combate The Fall I then had cast me into so great a swoon that comming to my selfe if my bloud had not assured me of it I should have thought my selfe deceived by adreame I found my selfe in so ill a condition thankes to your Valour that if I had not been succoured by the Piety of some Marriners I had been without any hope of my life As soone as my wounds allowed me any motion I fixed my mind upon finding the Princess without whom my poverty gave me not leisure to live in quiet I came to the foot of the Mountaine where finding that Entrance I presently conceited that there my traiterous Friend concealed his Theft I was scarce entred into the Court but you pressing on me that befell me which you know This in substance is the whole of my life I beseech your generousnesse that hath so much respected the recovery of my health to discover to me to whose hands I am obliged for my life They cannot surely but be royall ones because only noble minds know how to oblige enemies though I am not such with benefits The History of Diaspe and his Brother I replyed Diaspe am Prince of Creet though in this Kingdome not known but for a Knight belonging to King Vassileo Three yeares since I returned from Forreigne Wars to the Court to comfort the age of my Father who bemoaned my absence Thither three Palestine Merchants chanced to come with three Pictures of the most beautifull Princesses of this Age. They were the Princess of Nigrepont her of Feaâ—ia she of Cyprus Come to Court they presented them in gift to my mother who caused them to be exposed to the sight of all They were loaden with the commendations of the beholders and the envy of all the women Particularly Dianea could not be beheld but with a prejudice to the Fairest All hearts at that sight rebelled from the Vassalage to any other beauty It provoked flames even in the most cold breasts in whom Age had consumed heat My Brother and I at the first sight gave up our Soules to her We stood unremoved contemplating it with that anxiety as Northern Nations gaze upon the Sun after a most long night We continued divers daies to sacrifice to it our eyes and sighs as if that Picture had been the Idoll of our Pleasures We remained alwaies fixed looking upon it but when we were interrupted by others who came to feed their eyes upon those marvelous Beauties which though but counterfeit had the power to torment minds I regan to look upon my brother with some disdaine not being able to endure Rivalls in a Picture He who had a Genius not to be subjected to feare finding an opportunity took down the Picture of Dianea to carry it to his Lodgings I came accidentally just upon the time as he delivered it to one of his I grew suddenly changed and inflamed by Love injured him in so high a manner that he was enforced to lay hand on his sword I that perceived so much boldness in a younger brother my anger preventing all discourse try'd my utmost force to have slaine him He defended himselfe with so great courage that I was sometimes in danger to be killed The noise and confusion carried the voices to the King and Queene who both running forth at this uproare made us cast away our Armes and embrace although neither of us laid aside his anger The occasion of this contention being understood the King reprehended me with so severe a fashion that I had not the confidence to looke him on the face Dianea's Picture remained in my mothers hands who professed she would never part with it to any body I passed away some daies with so much impatiency that I thought my selfe unable to live them I should have flowne to have seen the Originall of that Picture which afflicted my memory if the feare of my Father the season contrarie and the enmity between the Crowns had not been interposed to my desires The same anxietie tortured the heart of my brother who as the younger could much less withstand amorous assaults which worke with the greater violence where they find more heat I avoided the occasion of meeting him because my eyes could not endure him Brethrens enmities are ever mortall He fomented by the Adulation of those that served him flung forth some words of slighting which agmented my disdaine My Fathers Age which enclined to the Grave nevertheless permitted me not that I should precipitate my hopes And although I percived my mother ready to provoke him either for seeing me disobedient or that it is a property of that Sex to love the worse I cared not for it Finally women are women as prone to hatreds as they are to Love My brothers servants were frustrated of hopes looking on me as Successour to the Crowne There is none that dares thunder against heaven which can retort thunder They certified me from time to time of all his actions whereupon he could hardly find secresie in his own thoughts By these I was one morning advertized that he with Dianea's Picture was departed from Creete I followed him with an evill intent conceiting that my mother had given it him or that he had stolne it Two miles out of the City I overtooke him He having eyes impatient of not beholding that Object which felicitated his heart made a Favourite of his to carry the Picture I presently accused him of sawciness whilest in despite of one whom he should reverence as Heire to the Kingdome he bore from him that Jewell I added other words of slighting him and disdaine calling him many times unworthy to fixe a look on that Picture which ought not to be viewed by a rash man by one disobedient to his Father his Prince and his Brother I stay'd for no answer but stretched forth my hand to lay hold on the Picture He who carried it who was the Count of Sfour intending by that act to merit superlativelie the affection of my Brother would not let me take it I drew my sword and with two blows made him see that I knew how to make my selfe obeyed more by my hands than my tongue My brother who saw the Count wounded and the Picture lost said to me Prince If you would that I should reverence you tyrannize not so over me To offend him so
He would have added how being transported with the favours of the Princess he assumed the confidence to reveale his affection and how meeting there with a correspondency he attempted to attaine her for his wife But he broke off his Relation being interrupted with the Acclamations of the Souldierie that attended the King of the Thracians He was met in a splendid pompe by the Duke of Filena The Souldiers were placed in a decent posture Squadrons of Horse and Foot so interwoven in so delightfull an order that the Thracian could not satisfie himself in beholding them He was accompanied but only by an hundred of his Thracian youth of the noblest birth Their Apparrel was wondrous rich The Chaines and Jewels they wore exceeded Estimation Yet the strangeness of their Habit was more admirable then the costliness of it He upon a Courser all covered with Velvet made an excellent shew of his dexterity Hee took pleasure to make that Horse curvet as if he were also ambitious to make himselfe obeyed even by Beasts Hee submitted to the Bridle with so much readinesse that it well appeared his Genius instructed him that he was not to be handled by Grandees but with his Obedience Though Horses know not Adulation this seemed that with his motion and neighings hee intended no other but to flatter him The Thracian had the Duke of Eilena on his left hand with whom he discoursed of Military Armies Each other of his Court was attended on by a great Field-Officer And in this state they approached Arsinoe At the Gates he was waited for by all the Councell And come to the Pallace King Vassileo met him without the Gates of the great Hall The Welcomes and Complements were redoubled on both sides with so high an expression of affection as if nature had obliged them to love one another They both sate them downe under a cloth of State which covered two most rich Chaires Vassileo took the right hand though he feigned himselfe willing to have resigned it to Dorcone Here those keeping silence that were come to be present at this first Audience The Thracian in his own Language said That he was come in person to confirme that peace which had ever been preserved inviolate by his Predecessors That Accidents never had the power to alter that disposition which had alwaies rendred his heart obliged to love King Vassileo as a Father That the Reports that he had raised men against the Kingdome of Cyprus had extreamly afflicted him so that his Affection could not suffer him that the security of that Kingdome should grow jealous at his preparations for warre That he had built a Fleet to make shew of his power not to usurpe upon the States of others or disturbe his friends He spoke long upon this matter and with so much eagernesse that it was impossible to conceive whether those Words were the Daughters of Truth or of Dissimulation King Vassileo answered that he ascribed to his greatest Fortune in seeing himself honoured by the visit of such a King that it grieved him he was not young that he might have prevented him but yet that this was an Adjunct of Glorie to the Thracian that he would yield to one who was inferiour to him in merit and that he would oblige without a hope of correspondency That he thanked him for the trouble hee had took and the peace confirm'd he having not greater desire in his so declining yeares then to enjoy quietnesse He plied him with so many expressions of Affection that he enforced the Thracian to an humiliation Rising they were led to the Princesse Lodgings who hearing of it came to receive them The Thracian stood still fixing his eyes upon the Face of Dianea with such an Alteration that it was easily observed by all Dorcone first bowing to her said Fair Princess it is a greater felicity to be borne slaves in Cyprus to enjoy the sight of such a Beautie then a King in Thracia I that have brought peace to this Kingdome cannot vouchsafe it to my heart which will ever be assaulted by so divine Rarities I beseech you disdaine not that I should love you that I might expresse my ambition to serve a Princess who to enrich the world it was necessarie she should receive Trophies from all the Beauties of Heaven Dianea that with a discontented mind heard of the Arrivall of the Thracian not onely for being ravished from the Embracements of Diaspe but also for the hatred she bore that Nation could not but with a disdaine afford her eare to these words Neverthelesse with that dissimulation which is borne in the mouthes of great Personages She answered She besought him to moderate those commendations that he might not put himselfe into a danger to undertake the Defence of an unjust Thing that in her there was no desers that might move the Affection of a King in whom Nature and Fortune were met to render him superiour to the greatest Amidst such Complements Dorcone parted from Dianea leaving neverthelesse his soule in pawne for the usurie of the Delight of his eyes King Vassileo would wait on him downe staires although the Thracian by all meanes possible refused it They were on the last steps ready to part when they were both stai'd by a noise of Armes which made them both suspicious of Treason Dorcone saying to King Vassileo Friend are we secure of our Lives King Vassileo made no reply but with a great deale of danger to his owne person hee quieted the Tumult and passing through the croud went where it received originall Diaspe who had met the Thracian was resolved to follow accompanying him to the Court. In this while Celardo incited by report of the comming of so great a Prince was also arrived there to see those meetings which seldome happen and also to satisfie the curiosity of a Knight who some dayes before was become his Guest He was presently taken notice of by Diaspe who remembring his ancient Contempts and imagining him come into that place in a Rivalship for the love he bore Dianea unable to containe himselfe he said Rash man Hast thou yet the Confidence to approach him whom thou hast so often offended If the Majestie of King Vassileo deserved not all Reverence you should soone finde I know well how to chastise the fond folly of those that depart from their Duty Celardo not accustomed to receive Injuries answered him with advancing his hand to strike him on the face without delay unsheathing his sword Diaspe avoiding the box on the Eare drew likewise his forth They that were neare them were not slow to take Armes crying out they should cease that Tumult The Souldiers that were far off supposing themselves betray'd by the Thracians began to deale blowes with so great an insolency that though King Vassileo was a great way off it was an inconvenience of consequence for him to goe thither His Majestie all this while holding Dorcone by the hand made every one draw backe and
received a distinct Relation of the occasion of this businesse Understanding Diaspe was the Author he drew neare to him and with a countenance enflamed with anger said Diaspe That honour that was done you in my Pallace merited not that I should receive so ill a recompence If I bore not in my minde how much you have done for the Crowne your head should pay for the displeasure you have done me But now content your selfe to depart hence without delay that I may not have occasion to punish your disobedience having in an high manner pardoned your Rashnesse Diaspe replied not for King Vassileo turning to Dorcone who was going away afforded him not leisure to answer He retired to his Lodgings which was a Pallace sutable to his birth and the liberality of the King whom he served Many of the Barons and the principall of the Court came to condole with him his ill fortune who having performed so many services to the King his Daughter and Kingdome received the reward of Banishment for his paines But that yet he ought something to dispense with the Kings Anger who knew not otherwise how to secure the diffidences of the Thracian but with a severitie that exceeded his nature That these first motions-being over he would without doubt be restored to his former respect Diaspe answered he had formerly learnt the Customes of Courts and Princes That he complained not of King Vassileo who followed but the example of others that they recompenced great benefits with as great ingratitudes and that therefore one day he hoped he should reprove him of a resolution so precipitate That he would be no more seene in Cyprus but greater or an equall to King Vassileo Afterwards being licensed by them he wrote to the King and Dutchess of Belprato Leaving these Letters with full directions with two Squires only he departed to embarque himselfe Finding a Vessell in the Harbour he went aboord promising great matters to the Rowers if within a few daies they arrived at Creet Whilest the Vessell driven forward by the Waves the Rowers flew upon the sea he fix'd in the constancy of his thoughts knew not what to do but bemoane his misery He repented his departure without leave from his Lady the Princess having left her in a time of so much danger without attending for her Commands whereon he thus reasoned with himselfe How is it possible that this heart should be moved with any affections but those of love Can then the Command of King Vassileo prevaile more than my Dutie to my Obligations Shall Feare then win upon this mind which never yet knew what it was Unhappy that I am since all things conspire to my wretchedness Dianea what imaginations wilt thou have of thy Astidamo who parted without bidding thee farewell What Arguments wilt thou find to consolate thy passion Amidst these thoughts he betook himselfe to rest designing to himselfe a speedy returne with such an Army that King Vassileo should repent himselfe for having offended him and whereby he should securelie accomplish his marriage with Dianea In the interim the Letters were presented by a Squire to King Vassileo He read them with a great alteration whereof these were the Contents To the Majesty of Vassileo King of Cyprus Astidamo Prince of Creete IT grieves me that the ingratitudes I have foundin your Kingdome compell me to remember them unwillingly One who had saved your life deserved not an infamous Exile for using his sword in his own defence I shall not live if I do not guard my selfe nor must I do so without displeasing you But past things admit not of advise Neither pretend I to excuse my selfe Yet assure your selfe that I am one that with my Armes will repay the injuries of my Superiours and I cast away my counterfeit name of Diaspe that I may have no remembrance that I have served you These Letters in the Councell of State occasioned a great Commotion whereupon Embassadours were made choice of that they might carry King Vassileo's Reasons into Creete That he was not engaged to know those that would not be known That the Majesty of a King ought to be reverenced by all and much rather in the presence of another King The danger into which all were run in that Tumult that they scarce took notice of or spared the life of their naturall Prince Those were attended on by a different effect which the Squire privately presented to the Dutchesse of Belprato Diaspe would not changed to Astidamo write to the Princess foreseeing the inconveniences that might arise thence if they should happen to be discovered He writ to the Dutchess Friend I am necessitated to depart upon a Command which admits not of a name The cause will be known to you For it fell out in publike I go hence into Creete to returne armed not willing to be any more subjected to injuries The sorrow that I have of parting without seeing you shall be an instigation to me to hasten my returne I beseech you to preserve me alive in that state of Grace wherein Fortune and Love established me Astidamo is undisguised I trust not too much to this Letter both because honour and the Kings Command hastens me and because I will not recommend all my thoughts to Fortune The Prince of Creete In this while Celardo having withdrawn himselfe perswaded so to do by the other Knight out of danger he returned to his house so confused and so offended at his own unhappiness that it was in vaine to comfort him He would suddenly leave Cyprus not accounting himself secure from the hatred of his Brother He was accompanied by that Knight And so they imbarqued in a Vessel of war which intended a voyage to Egypt While their sailes filled with a favourable south-wind carried the Ship so swiftly that it beguiled sight that Knight entreated Celardo to relate the Originall of the Conflict he had at the Court with that Knight whom he heard him call Diaspe The History of Celardo CElardo answered I know not who Diaspe is I know only that the Knight you spoke of is my brother by bloud though my Enemy by his Actions We are both of us Sons to the King of Creete though he for being the eldest hath attained the name of Prince and next succession to the Crowne But of this I care not to complaine of Fortune because she workes blindly and knows not how to favour desert Becomming both enamoured of the Picture of Dianea we fell to blowes Anger easily reigning betweene brothers unequall To withdraw me from his fury and not to adde afflictions to the declining age of my Father I resolved for some time on a departure from Creete My Mother that had not patience to looke on my departure accompanied me with so many teares that from them I took an unhappy presage She bestowed upon me the Picture of Dianea which she had kept by her by my Fathers command My brother being certified of this by those who
the quality of the Day-flies For the Death of King Dinanderto ensuing and those Revolutions in the Kingdom which cannot but be knowne to you I could not enjoy my Loves no not in an hope When Prodirto attempted the stealing away of the Princesse I became an Agent in that businesse assenting to it having neither forces nor meanes to divert him He would have related how they arrived in Cyprus and how he having got her lost her but was interrupted by the Pilot who came to informe them that they were pursued by a Pirats Ship and that if it belonged to Mariscapi it was the lesser evill to die then to be took That he suspected it the day before for pretending to steere another way that Vessell did likewise the same That while the winde continued he made no words of it by reason that secured them from danger but perceiving it to cease within a few houres they should be overtooke Celardo and the other Knight endeavoured to allay the Pilots teares with saying That the strength of their Ship so well provided for a fight had no reason to be in feare of the power of one onely vessell But he in more terrour then before because the winde fell still answered Sirs if you were skilfull in Navigation you would not certainly have have so great a confidence That without doubt which followes us is Mariscapi's the most brave one that was ever beheld on these Seas not so much for the goodnesse of it and the strength as for the valour of the men that are within it Simple people imagine it was built by Enchantment For within the compasse of a few Moneths this most cruell man hath atchieved by force such great matters that his name is become a terrour to all that use these Seas Celardo and the other Knight grew curious to know who this Mariscapi was The Pilot after he had given directions fitting for their Defence with those preparations which are used in time of Fight said Sirs Between Sicilia and the Coast of Barbarie lies the Island of Melito Some Command there under an obligation to destroy the Pirats of these Seas more infested then others by reason they are of an easier passage and richer then other by reason of a continuall Navigation One of these is Mariscapi so named as I believe that whoever would be secure from his Treacheries should avoid the Sea He being covetous of Riches and not content in that Degree where Fortune had placed him and of Birth lesse then ordinary followes such a course of life as he himselfe will not permit to Pirats He is much worse then they for they remaine satisfied with Prizes whilst he also puts to death for feare of being discovered When he knowes he cannot conquer he counterfeits himselfe a friend and afterwards observing his Times and Occasions equally betraies all Many times he hath been taken Prisoner but hath ever had pretences to defend and enlarge himselfe and returned after with greater pride and an higher boldnesse to ransack these Islands Whilst he reported this they saw the Vessell of Mariscapi come so nigh them that the Shouts carried by the winde arrived to their eares though confused It was but of an ordinary bignesse but so well built and furnished that a whole Fleet would have found it a difficulty to have taken it With so strange a speed it plowed the Sea that it could not be discerned whether it moved the Windes or was moved by them It came to assault the ship but with little hurt although it made a Breach The fight was unequall for the ship in height surpassed the Vessell But yet the valour and cunning of Mariscapi and his Souldiers was so great that without the assistance of Celardo and that other Knight the ship had doubtless beene lost They fought smartly having for their Object the one their safety and the others the booty The Sea became red and seemed as it were that it blushed at the shamefulnesses of those men that came so wickedly to throw away way their lives Mariscapi's Men made many Thundrings from their Balista's upon the ship which by reason it was the higher there was not a blow which did not great harme On the other side those in the Vessel with their Arrows and their wild-fires made a slaughter of their enemies The fight had not been determined without the death of all if the Winde that til now had been quiet at this spectacle had not finished the Contention The Waves swell'd and the Clouds gathered they began to blow so violently that those that fought were compelled by maine force to retire The ship that was the lesse able to resist the violences of Heavens Anger perswaded the Pilot to come ashore in a Rock which was the beginning of an Island Celardo and that other knight unwilling to adventure themselves more to the inconstancy of the Sea resolved to travaile by Land untill some Accident should prescribe them what to doe Whilst they passed onward into the Island without meeting any body who could acquaint them with what they desired Celardo beseeched the Knight to make him partaker of his Adventures hee having not refused to doe the same to him The Historie of Ossirdo I Refuse not Sir Prince the Knight replyed to serve you and so much the rather because my infelicities have received originall from the Princesse Dianea who hath been also the occasion of yours Island is my Countrey an Island situated under the Artick Pole betweene Auster and Boreas neare the frozen Sea in former times for the remotenesse of it having been called the lost Island Aspane who there governes the Scepter is my Father My name is Offirdo his onely sonne beloved of the King and reverenced by the Kingdome as successour to the Crowne Having attained to that age wherein Idlenesse is wont to beget Repentance I resolved to forsake the Easinesses of my Countrey to acquire some applause from the voices of Fame Island for the remoteness of it is ignorant of the Ambition of those Monarchs who out of a Desire to enlarge their Dominions have a Courage to raise Warre against the starres My Designe being laid without further delay I put it in Execution making a Voiage to Norway where unknown I came ashore although that King was neare to my Father both by bloud and affection Continuing there some certaine dayes in Court I fixed my thoughts upon the Princess Doricia an owner of so singular Beauties that save onely in whiteness she yielded not to Dianea Nature peradventure was willing to declare that shee can exercise her wonders in all colours And that in many Objects shadowes are not at all inferiour to Lights Doricia being assured of my Affection was prodigall to me of all those favours which belong to a Princess It was an envy to those of the Court to see themselves out-stripped by one who the last of all became her servant The Duke of Gotlandia not enduring to see himselfe excluded or to
when my thoughts were fixed upon my engagements to the beauties of Doricia I tormented my selfe with resentments so lively that sighs and teares were the least signes of my affection I accused Love who to disquiet the reposes of my felicity had enforced the mind of Dianea to affect me I cursed Fortune who to disturbe my desires had presented Treasures to me which I might not obtaine Finally I blamed the vanity of my thoughts the inconstancy of my affections which could not fixe upon that object which by the obligement of correspondency the rules of fidelity the merit of beauty ought to be preferred to any other To ease me of my griefe I entered into Doricias Lodgings A heart receiving no greater refreshment than from the survey of an excellent Countenance I found her in bed as it were dying encompassed round by her Ladies who lamented over her as dead Her face was overcast with a mortall colour by it to demonstrate the sadnesse of her heart Her eyes were shut neither did she open them but to vent forth her teares Her tongue could not deliver a plaine word prevented I beleeve by her sighs which buried them in her mouth Her lips having lost their scarlet and purple appeared as if they were over-spread with ashes by those most ardent exhalations which proceeded from her heart Her hands rebelling against the rest of her body continually attempted to teare her hair do injuries against her face or rather they strooke her breast as to breake it open that evaporating the fire she might be molested with a lesser torment At so funebrous a spectacle I could not refraine from griefe which then is not counterfeit when it is provoled by pity and affection Taking her by the hand I beseeched of her the occasion of her malady Fixing her eyes on my countenance after breathing forth some sighs as harbingers of her passion she said Perfidious man dost thou also endeavour by a dissembling pity to deceive me Dost thou shew a resentment of that evill which thou only hast procured Wherein hath the unfortunate Doricia demerited thy affections What errour have I committed worthy of a punishment so tormentfull What motive perswaded thee to come and disturbe the quiet of my heart whilest thou intendest to betray me Lament despised beauties the funerall of your ambition since you have been desired and courted not to be enjoyed but slighted unhappy Dorieia to whom hast thou engaged thy mind Even to one who knows not how to love himselfe and was borne under that heaven where the seas are frozen Her teares stopt her words whereupon I protesting my affection by an Imprecation of all the Gods and my loyalty I beseeched het not so much to wrong her selfe by declaring me guilty before the cause was known That the examples of the seas are not to be compared with those of the heart much rather because the mountaines of Island although covered with a perpetuall snow give nourishment also to a continuall fire within Lastly I added it was a property of those to betray who were too fearefull to be deceived and who are free from love cannot be perswaded of the affections of others At these words she being no longer able to containe her selfe calling me many times by the name of perfidious and traitour shewed me the Letter I had writ to Dianea adding With what excuses O wicked man canst thou disguise thy Treachery Wouldst thou have other testimonies to convince thee then those from thy own hand from thy own very Characters I then perceiving my fault to reprove me which afflicted my conscience wished my selfe rather confronted by a thousand Souldiers with any perill to my life I endeavoured to appease her with entreaties with promises and with invoking the testimony of the Gods That in the dictating of that Letter I had had no other feeling but that of my hand All my attestations proved fruitlesse whereupon despairing seeing her so estranged I laid hold of my Poynard to have slaine my selfe I would have done it so great was the repentance I received from her Reprovings and her teares She her selfe withheld me saying I will that you should know the superiority that I have above you in loving That although these be feigned expressions I will beleeve them and prevent them as if true But yet I deserved not so great a mortification loving you to an excesse Having survayed your praises of Dianea with such a partiality sung from your mouth I have had an experience of your infidelity but with so grand a passion that I had rather have dyed than endured it The Letter that came to you under Dianea's name was dictated by me to make tryall of your Loyalty The Gods for my happinesse put this in my thoughts that I might not undergo a Tyrannie in the inconstancy of your affections I suffered her not to proceed in these complaints but said That to tempt the fidelity of a man approved faithfull was an offence to the Gods That my Letter was a token of my gratitude not a witnesse of my affection That she her selfe would not have writ otherwise to any great Prince that towards her had used termes so courteous To these and many other reasons I added such signes of humility that in a great measure I calmed her disdaine And there is not truly any thing more powerfull over the heart of a woman Time that affords remedies to the most desperate evils exalted me into my former condition although in some kind she forbore not to taxe me A jealous Lady is a torment so much the more if she hath reasons sufficient to convince by Our Nuptials were celebrated with that sumptuousnesse as is fully proper to the Greatness of a King The Justs the Turnaments and the Feasts were infinite honoured by the presence and assistance of such Knights and Princes that all acknowledged there were never seen richer in the Kingdome of Norway Two daies only remaining dedicated to the solemnitie of my Espousals when Fortune troubled with an envy at my contentment brought a Knight to the Court who entreated publike audience And being brought in he so spoke in the presence of the King I am Hydraspe Prince of Hibernia an Island of the Ocean Sea Whilest I remained enjoying the quietnesse of my Countrey and the felicitie of command Love came to disturbe me He made use of a Portraiture of Dianea which happening into Ireland obtained more hearts which gave up their Liberties to it than it met with eyes that unconquerably could behold it It was accompanied with two other Pictures which peradventure might have been accounted more than handsome if I had not looked upon a Paragon so exceeding them Dianea then being made the Idoll of my pleasures in such manner possessed my mind that the reposes of the night and all the houres of the day were bestowed in my Adoration of that beauty My mother fuller of pity than discretion hoping to take that from my heart which
of a base mind and yet then I had not the courage to lay hand on my sword I know not if the imagination that Dianea's beauty was superiout to that of Doricia occasioned that aversion in me or rather that some Devill diverted me from that fight Neverthelesse I enforced my selfe to convince Doricia with words not having the heart to give her satisfaction by my actions I said to her Doricia you mortifie my affection whilest being engaged in marriage you have an ambition to entice eies with your beauties and whilest you have a desire that they should be published The face of a wife should not pretend to more than to meet the satisfaction of her husband She is not more comely but by that heart by which she hath been judged and chosen for the most handsome your beauty henceforth is not to be submitted to opinion nor censure If I should maintaine it against the follies of the Prince of Hibernia the danger will be greater than the profit If I should conquer I should gaine nothing but a confirmation of my own thought which hath made choice of you as the most beautifull of this Age. If Fortune should rob from me the Palme of victory what a griefe would mine be I should be accused of imprudency for being more willing to give credit to the force of my sword then to the undeceivable judgement of my eies I should imagine my self worthy of reproaches from all mouths whilest I should defend the beautie of those things which are mine Give way to others to speake your praises The Encomiums of those that are interessed render merit suspected Woe be to that husband who desires that the Piazza should be the Theater of his wives beautie and would that an universall Fame should servefor an Eccho to the Glories of her Countenance He loves that beautie little who publishing it makes it more coveted and subject to Rapine He is very poore of desert who thinkes not himselfe alone sufficient to comprehend the beauties of his wife Who so publishes the comlinesse of her whom he loves or would have Companions or is distrustfull of himselfe or his own opinion had need of testimony from others That Face wants not proofes nor defences which can receive no greater prejudice than to see it selfe exposed to doubt If I should maintaine your beautie against the Prince of Hibernia I should render you equall to Dianea whilest by all others you would be accounted much her superiour I affect not so little the Delicacies of Doricia as I would gaine them Paragons nor adventure them in a battell which for the most part is over-ruled by Fortune Those things are vile which are hazarded to the Arbitrements of Conquerours If you be wise argue my affection from hence who not to put your beauty into a doubt am content in your opinion to be reckoned for a Coward With these and such like conceits I endeavoured to satisfie her She had no mind to answer me being doubly afflicted both with her griefe and my words And stuck in an opinion that I affected Dianea and could not find any meanes to undeceive her After he had staid sixe daies in a vaine expectation of Combatants the Prince of Hibernia departed And soone after I likewise determined upon going Doricia went with me in obedience to the Laws of Matrimonie and the Commands of her Father She would rather have died than departed thence if she had not scared the Censure of the World Being arrived in Island there was not any thing I omitted whereby I might rejoyce her and free her from her so vaine suspitions She was even convinced and thenceforward laying aside the sadnesses of her mind she was pleased with the expressions of my affection attending her abroad a Fishing of which our Island abounds above all other things To this she would come with much content we lying purposelie for some daies upon the shore Then also she took pleasure to view the wonders of the Island which even puzzle Faith and render the relation of them suspitious All the Crows there are milke-white and the Jay's utter an humane voice Island hath there high hills on the tops of which lies a perpetuall snow and the bottomes give nourishment to a continuall fire There are likewise foure Fountaines a stones cast distance one from the other all of contrary qualities The water of one is hotter than fire And of another so cold that it cannot be endured The third is pleasant to the taste and physicall and the fourth ranke poyson But all these Marvels of which Nature may glory yield to a voraginous place about the banks of which those men appeare that have perished by a violent death One morning but against my will Doricia stay'd there looking on a Damsell who with a loud voice called brother He suddenly appeared and had not been thought a Ghost if she had not embraced him He was demanded by her the cause of his death And answered that to performe an acceptable service to Prince Ossirdo he with some friends went to the Kingdome of Cyprus to steale Dianea thence That they having got notice she was to repaire to a Fountaine there waited to have taken her The performance had crowned the Designe if the unexpected comming in of a Knight had not deprived them all of their lives Doricia her old jealousies being awakened at these words perhaps perswading her selfe that this man by my appointment went into Cyprus began to provoke me with injuries so perspicuous that I could not abstaine from cursing my Fortune which I found daily in a readinesse to molest my Reposes I often offered to interrupt her and plead my excuses but her out-cries gave not an opportunity to my reasons Finally the unhappy Doricia not longer able to endure her sorrow ran for what ever I could do to the Fountaine of poyson and taking a draught of it fell presently down dead I although it be a species of Felicity to be rid of a jealous wife took so great a discontent at it that I fell into a sicknesse that endangered my life These newes being brought into the King of Norway's Court he was so offended that for all my Embassadours could say raising a powerfull Army he came to the harrowing of our Island I having in the first battell found Fortune averse fled away disguised esteeming it as a folly to tempt againe that Destinie who had evermore declared her selfe my enemy My Father yielded having not Forces to resist The Conquerour mollified by his teares or rather assured of my innocencie confirmed his Kingdome to him reserving to himselfe the Homage for it I had no mind afterwards to returne into Island but travell up and down the world with an hope to see the malignitie of those influences changed which have hitherto continuallie designed me to misery Whilest Ossirdo made this Relation of his adventures they heard some voices which broken between those Trees allowed not a distinction whether they were the effects
suddenly done to them before they were suffered to go thence The Dutchesse of Belprate got leave to continue a yeare by the Ashes of Dianea whilest the other Damsell that waited on her accompanied her in death The City is full of sadnesse and the bolder sort exclame about the Pallace of the King Give us Dianea give us the Princesse At this Relation Dorcone began to cry out with such a violence that there was none but thought he was strooke to death Repleat with fury and anger he called an Herauld to him whom he commanded to proclaime war against King Vassileo and without delay making them give their Sailes to the wind he tooke his voyage towards Thracia The Herauld attired in an habit of black Velvet all emboss'd with Moones of Gold expressed an importunity to be brought into the presence of his Majesty Not being able to procure Audience the People being assembled in the publike Piazza he said with an high voice Because King Vassileo hath been so bold to lay his hands unjustly upon his Daughter the destinated Spouse of the King of Tracia And because King Vassileo hath alwaies slighted the Name of the Kings of Thracia and hath been an enemy and a sheddet of their bloud Therefore I in the name of the King and People of Thracia who by Armes will repaire such injuries proclaime and denounce War So saying he threw about some Papers which contained the same he had said Afterwards from time to time he brandished in solemne manner some small Speares towards where the People were the thickest This done he went out of the City and retiring to the Sea entered into a little Barque which attended him to transport him to Thracia The End of the Third Book DIANEA The Fourth Book FAme that mixing Truth with Falshood renders the one and the other equally mendacious brought into Eno the Metropolis of Thracia the Death of Dorcone slain in Cyprus by King Vassileo who had not formerly spared the life of Amuritte Darimena who was elected by Destiny the mother to these two Kings at these Reports suppressing her Teares proper to that Sex made the forty Rectors that assisted at the Negotiations of State be convocated Discovering to them the miseries of the Kingdome and the afflictions of a Mother she provoked them by the Resentment of that Injurie which ought to be esteemed the greater depriving her of Sons and them of Kings Then said she shall Cyprus become a Tem to all the Kings of Thracia Then shall the generosity and the greatnesse of the Thracians permit that their Glories shall be buried in Cyprus To Armes to Armes your nation ought not to be so vilely despised which hath disdained to vouchsafe a pardon to Alexanders If I did not know the braverie of your hearts I should take upon me to entreat you to revenge the slaughter of your Kings and my Sonnes But it is unfit that the words of a woman should serve as spurs to awaken your Courages To exhort you were to prejudicate your hearts which need no other Motive but that which they take from themselves I know that my importunities cannot adde provocations to that vertue which eagerly aimes at the service of your Prince and the honour of your Countrey I onely commend speed to you that delay may not shew signes of dulnesse nor adde boldnesse to the Enemy Celerity is the Mother of Victories He that is backward to revenge animates Foes to double their injuries Who suddenly shewes not a Resentment at Offences seems to have deserved them These words were applauded by all the Councell whereupon the Fleet they re-inforced with such a multitude of men that they seemed now to have conquered two Worlds The superintendency was given to the Duke of Nicopolis a subject of so worthy conditions that there was not any that envied him that honour Many Princes that were then in Court enamoured on the Princesse Dercilinda accompanied the Fleet with the greatest possible strength of their Souldiery There was the Infante of Armenia a young man whose strength exceeded the tenderness of his yeares The King of Scythia foolishly cruell who was unacquainted with any other reasons but those of the sword The Prince of Missia who if he had had Valour equall to his Pride had been without equals He was acute in his discourse but alwaies Satyricall and therefore odious even to his friends The Prince of Epirus advanced into years and repleat with Wisedome yet little skilfull in matters of love And the Infante of Macedonia who vaunting himselfe to be heir of Mars omitted no occasion to make him supposed such Of the Subjects of Thracia among others the most conspicuous were foure Dukes of Pereno of Scitone of Redcsto and of Selimbria Six Counts of Finopolis of Perontieo of Tinia of Patia of Marcorico and of Marcnia Two Barons that of Cardia so repleat with Wisedome and Valour that his Pen and his Sword rendred him equally glorious And that of Achialo perhaps richer then the King but of so unworthy a behaviour that with good reason he was abhorred by all Whilst the Fleet proceeded towards Cyprus Dorcone was carried by contrary windes into the Sea of Saturn within a little distance of the Isle of Melena There staying some time to mend the dammages they had received by the late Tempest he made the Vessell to be directed towards Thracia whilst with an anxiety of Thoughte he accused Heaven Windes and Destiny that even flyingly they transported him not where his minde desired to be at the same time he took notice that the Mariners strook saile and throwing forth the Cock-boat they did an obedience to a Gally Full of indignation he commanded the Captaine of the Vessell into his presence of whom he demanded the cause of his delay who if they even flew would not have been altogether satisfied with it The Mariners Historie HE was answered by the Mariner that being on the Sea belonging to the free Princes he was obliged in duty to acknowledge their Dominion which was not doubted of by any Then applyed the Thracian the Liberty of the Sea is also put into contention by tyrannical Ambition Can Navigation which Nature hath rendred common to all be usurped by any The Mariner answered That the sailing on the Sea was common to all It remained not therefore that the superintendency belonged not to some That Nature her selfe had produced all things for all yet nevertheless the custome of Nations made every one the Patron of their owne Properties That it was necessary that some should have the predominancy of the Sea to defend it from the Rapacity of Pirats The Thracian replyed somewhat pacified in his fury and why doth this Soveraignty of the Sea belong to the free Princes and to no other Prince who hath his Kingdoms neare to the same Sea It is no difficult businesse added the Mariner to prove it There being two foundations upon which the most just command of the free Princes over the Sea
the prejudice of the Kingdome and their Subjects Rewards and Punishments are be-bestowed at randome Bribes overcome all difficulties nor is there a greater Desert then that of Riches Justice in that Kingdome hath eyes and hands There is no Religion but in habite and that for the most part so lascivious that it equals those of the most publick Courtezans Vertue which usually in that Kingdome attained to the Crowne is reduced into such a Contempt that either it is not known or if known despised Hypocrisie possesseth a great part of those that desire to deceive the people They endeavour the suppression of truth and there prohibite Pens and Pensils They forbid to others those things which they would enjoy alone and with the greatest severity punish those faults which they themselves are guilty of In briefe the most execrable Crimes and the most detestable by the Laws of Nature and the World are in this Court become naturalized Upon good Reason I can affirme so much having to my owne perill had tryall of them all To please the insatiability of those who deprived me of mine owne promising me what belonged to others in a short time I found my selfe made a scorne to the Covetousnesse of those impious ones who so extreamly hate Poverty that they cannot as much as endure it in others I was constrained to depart thence food failing me to sustain life withall The promises of my King vanishing together with that allowance which he owed me upon all Obligations But there is no reason that is prevalent with the powerful I retired into the Island of Roses where betaking my self to Navigation altogether clearing my minde of those hopes which were able to disquiet me I passe away my years in felicity They were in this while advanced a great way in their voiage and entred into the Archipelago when they discovered a Fleet which made them put a period to their Discourses They that stood Sentinell gave notice that they disoovered a number of Sailes so great that a greater had never been seen upon those Seas and that by their Streamers they appeared to be of Thracia Dorcone troubled at this Newes proceeded on in such an anxiety that he knew nor what to imagine but this change continued not loog For two Galleyes putting forth to know the Vessell and hardly understanding their King was aboard it but signe being given of it to the Navy there was not any demonstration of joy omitted The Duke of Nicopol is with all the other Knights came to receive him whereupon entring upon the Admirall he enquired the cause of their sayling When he understood it he began to thank the Gods that had exceeded him in his desires He acquainted them with his Thoughts and so without any delay they went on towards the Kingdome of Cyprus They sailed sixe daies and there wanted not two houres of determining the night of the seventh when the Fleet entred into the Port of Cromia distant from the City of Cury halfe a League scituated on the top of the Cape towards the West Although the Souldiers were prepared for battell they found no impediment that might prohibit their Landing King Vassileo being ascertained of this evill that was neare him by the preparations of so powerfull an enemy his sorrowes for the death of Draned being for the most part past over a new hurt frequently occasioning the forgetting of the paine of others betook himselfe to the defence of his Kingdome He confirmed Viralto the Duke of Filena in the Generalls place although he urged to it by Floridea had attempted all meanes possible to be dispensed with The King would have the opinion of his Councell about the state of this War so much the crueller by how much the unjuster There were divers opinions and many not without Interests Those that had possessions the nearest to the enemies violence eagerly maintained that they ought to impedite his Landing These were their reasons That it was not fitting at the beginning of a War to shew any signe of feare shutting themselves up within Walls erected only for the weaknesse of those minds that dare not make a wall of their own breasts against the courage of their enemies That keeping the Thracians by strength some daies at sea they might be constrained to suffer those discommodities that peradventure might have the power to perswade them into new deliberations That they ought not to abandon without bloud a thing so deare to them as the Port neither was it reasonable to lose it without danger Perhaps the Thracians having experimented our Force will repent them of the Enterprise There is not any thing that alters minds more than perill To concede ones owne to an enemy without blowes is to encrease his pride by the cowardice of our own Souldiers That the Thracian being kept aloofe at Sea will suffer the incommodities of hunger which being permitted to Land he will make us undergo These reasons though they were lively prevented by those to whom their own interests added the more carnestnesse did not attaine perswasion the Baron of Acamara speaking to the contrary with his utmost eloquence It is a rashnesse he said to contend against impossibility we must leave the Port free to our enemies because we have not Forces to defend it The reasons alleadged were probable if the Island of Cyprus had but one only Port But having so many which of them shall we defend The Thracian Fleet is so numerous that they divided can assaile us in divers parts On the other side we have not so many men that we can part them In my opinion it will be the surest way to preserve our Souldiery in the principall Cities untill wisdome or fortune shall afford us an occasion to attempt greater matters If by Armes we should oppose their landing we should have our enemies in our face Leaving them the Port and the Field fighting them they will be alwaies divided The Souldiers will the rather stick to our defence seeing that we would not have our security by their danger The Cities are well stored with provisions for life and Ammunition for war Is it possible then in the meane while that our miseries should not awaken the pity of those who feare the greatnesse and the ambition of the Thracian I beleeve the Embassage destined to the King of Egypt will not prove fruitlesse The King of Arabia would not see our oppression Mauritania and Gorsica doubtlesse willstir in our defence In the meane while to keep our Forces entire is the most secure way It will alwaies be time enough to hazard them Valour consists in fighting not in precipitating Let us let our enemies land it being an act of prudence to leave that which cannot be held without perill This is my opinion who have no Interest greater than that of the publike safety Notwithstanding I alwaies reserve my selfe to an obedience of what your Majesty shall command There was not any that had the confidence to oppose those
and my Brother and that it is not buried in the ruines of my house Perchance thou hast stolne me from the Thracians because thou fearest that to torment me they had not instruments more inhumane than those of thy perfidiousnesse Wicked Traitour unfaithfull to thy Prince and heaven and thy selfe preserved till now alive to accomplish only the high judgements of the Gods who with the cruelty of the impious exercife the patience of the good I cannot conceive how the the earth rendred execrable by the excesses of thy infamies prepares not for thee at every step either a Precipice or a tombe You Thunders of Jove that exercise the furies of your anger upon towers and mountaines infensible of your chastisements why strike you not this perfidious this wicked this sacrilegious man Prodirto growne furious at these words which reproaching him for his enormities could not be but displeasing comming against her villanously gave her many blows on the face saying to her Learne impudent one to injure those who so many times have preserved thee free from wrongs Receive now the fruits of my anger having not had the will to try those of love Let your Duke of Filena come now to free you from him who hath an heart more cruell against those he hates than he hath it amiable to those he loves Enjoy now my indignation of the which I have shewed my selfe so anxious Because you have abhorred my embraces having given up your selfe to those of others Now to thy double vexation I will take them more to triumph over thy obstinacy than to gather the most vile leavings of thy immodesties Thou lyest O wicked man replied Floridea for there is not any that can boast himselfe over my honesty But it is no wonder that a Traitour should take away the fame of those Princes whom he will murther I care not that thou hatest me equally despising both thy love and hatred Distaine cruell man thy hands in my bloud For I only remaine a Remnant of the barbarismes of thy Infidelity Thou hast reason to kill me that I may not witnesse to the world that thou art the most infamous Traytour that lives Then added Prodirto interrupting her shall I neither have power nor punishment to bridle thy mordacious insolency Dares then the Temerity of an impudent woman thus far So saying he began to strike her with so much anger that the bloud ran from many places She schreeched out as loud as ever she could rather to incence him more than for any reliefe she might receive to her sorrow were she secure of her honour she would not have shewed a resentment for all the mischiefes of the world she much more feared the love of Prodirto than the offences and injuries Whilest Floridea with bitings blows words and schreeches fomented the furiousnesses of Prodirto Astidamo the Prince of Creete was brought into a griefe not inferiour to hers In a short time he was carried to Creete having in his voyage received no other discommodity than that which the absence of Dianea occasioned Hefound them just a celebrating the Funerals of his Father and Mother who both died in one day He shewed a passion only to deceive the observation of Subjects who rejoyce in the tendernesse of their Princes They seldome weepe that by the death of their Parents obtaine a Kingdome Great gainings would stop teares in the eyes of pity it selfe He suddenly appeased the alterations of the Kingdome occasioned by those who by being of the bloud royall had had ambitious hopes for the Crown The deaths of some the most culpable terrified the boldnesse of others He forgot not to exercise his mercy towards the penitency of those which ran to his feet He well knew that those Kingdomes were not stable which were builded upon bloud He had under the pretence of reducing his Subjects to obedience raised an Army worthy of his greatnesse All hastened to serve him with Armes Money and Men to gaine a place in the affection of their new Prince He thanking every one gave the highest Commands to those who had the vastest thoughts not thinking himselfe safe by leaving them in Creete lest in his absence they should attempt any Innovation Making afterwards with the greatest celerity possible all the Ships and Galleys of the Kingdome to be prepared in readinesse and embarquing all his Militia he made them direct their Prores towards the Island of Cyprus To avoid the injuries of heaven he was compelled to take land in an Island uninhabited with so much impatiency that his complaints against the aversenesses of heaven was the least of his ravings Eight daies were past wherein the sea continued his fury when a Long-Boat guided by foure Marriners who fled from shipwrack entred the Port There was within it a Knight of no ordinary presence who with two Squires rendred thankes to the Gods that they had escaped out of the hands of death Astidamo went quickly to see them and there knew the Knight who was the Baron of Cormio a Subject to King Vassileo He enquired of him the news of Cyprus and the causes of his voyage He answered That the King of Thracia being displeased at the justice of King Vassileo against his daughter was departed from Cyprus with a resolution to returne back with a powerfull Army That he had been sent in all haste into Egypt to procure Aide from that King upon any condition that he had obtained it the King of Egypt promising in less then two months either to enter into Thracia to call back Dorcone to the defence of his or else to come to Cyprus with a potent Flect That returning joyfull with this answer he had been many daies tossed by the seas against which having neither force nor instrument to resist perceiving themselves neare that Haven they were abandoned beyond the hope of Fortune who having spent all her rigours with the Ship which carried them it being swallowed by the waves afforded me here a landing place and security Astidamo could hardly suffer that he should give a period to his discourse but he asked of what justice he spoke exercised against his daughter by King Vassileo I Sir replied the Knight would not weary you with a new Relation supposing you had been fully informed of it it being every where knowne that King Vassileo understanding from his owne Daughter her self that without the assent of her Father she was denated to a Marriage he had made her be put to death in prison with a sorrow even to those who loved her not You have killed me replyed Astidamo with a report so miserable He had scarce said these words but he fell down halfe dead between the Armes of his Being returned to his senses he gave himself over to teares and lamentations with such a resentment of those that waited on him that they would have esteemed to dye the least expression of their sorrow Fortune he said how dost thou know to torment this heart which believed it selfe neare
of their perill began in a great measure to calme their anger But their miseries were redoubled on them when they were certified that Fire had taken possession of their Fleet. Such a multitude of Galleys were on a sudden come upon them that the Thracians not having time to weigh Anchor or to retire into the Sea were become a prey to fire which in a mightie quantitie was thrown upon them Although the distance was of many miles those terrours were neverthelesse heard which declaring the burning rendred the dammage irreparable Their feare was encreased upon them when they understood that the enemies who had made the fire in a grand number being landed were marching thence to fall upon them This was Astidamo King of Create who joyfull that he had found her alive without whom he could not live had resolved to returne into his Kingdome Whilest they were in their voyage by asking after newes they understood the destruction of the Kingdom of Cyprus made by the Thracians That all the firme land of the Island being lost Arsinoe only held out besieged by so many Armes and so many Armies that it could but a little longer resist the force of so many enemies That the Armeniuns the Scythians the Macedonians with many other Princes had declared themselves against King Vassileo and to their detriment had raised Money and Souldiers Dianea at these newes was not able to stop her teares that in abundance fell to vent forth the passion of her mind casting her selfe at the Kings feet she said to him I supplicate Astidamo over whom my affection presumes to find some desert Sir If I should not love my Father I were unworthy to be yours and in the same time to live You your self would but be a shadow of that heart that had not affections for him who hath given me my being If I had no other reason to love him I have that of his begetting me to be yours His having condemned me to death alters not my love I rather glory to be daughter to a Father who had rather punish his Child than derogate from Justice That mind should not be but celebrated which condemnes it selfe not to leave Crimes unpunished At this present that he is exposed to the invasion of Barbarians to the power of the Thracians who boast to impose servitude upon Cyprus I beseech you by that affection that interests you to afford aide to my affaires which at other times you haue not known how to refuse to him Permit not O magnanimous that these wicked ones should vaunt to have the Father of her Prisoner to whom you have acknowledged your self so many times a Prisoner Besides how could you rejoyce in my embraces which would be continually sadded by my feares I need not add that the Kingdome of Cyprus is mine after the death of my Father because where my entreaties prevaile it is not fit that Interest should plead a Title So much the rather because the greatness of your mind receives not an alteration from those lownesses that reign only in vulgar bosomes I know if Cyprus should fall under the subjection of the Thracians Creete would not be secure from the ambition of those who would enlage the mightinesse of their Empire beyond the Confines of the World But of this also I need not use a word to that heart which hath never been capable of feare and which rejoyces that others conquer to make his own triumphs the more glorious Let this only be an Adjunct to the immortality of your name that you have twice delivered Cyprus from the barbarismes of the Thrasians and given twice life to a King when he the least hoped for it and least deserved it Dianea hath never entreated Astidamo without being heard I assure my selfe the more in it because I supplicate for a Father Astidamo embraced her saying to her Dianea I was unwilling to interrupt you extreamly rejoycing in your piety The tendernesses shewed toward your Father confirmes my opinion that you know how to love I glory that the heavens have vouchsafed me the possession of a mind which forgets not the Obligations of Nature Not to have a memory for injuries is proper to your generosity The wrongs a Father doth should not beget anger in those that receive them The earth at no time hath reason to complaine of the Lightnings that Jove throws on it I will go to the succour of your Father because it is not convenient that any beloved by you should be in danger to be lost I know that beauty will carry felicity into that Kingdome which undergoes so many miseries only by reason of your absence He speedily commanded that their Voyage should be directed towards Cyprus Fame giving out that having obtained a Wife he went to get possession of her dowry To the Souldiers he promised the spoyles of the Thracians proposing one other intervall to the victory but till he met with the enemy Favoured by the Sea and the Winds they arrived upon the Fleet which under the Command of the Count of Brandilia was dispersed into the Ports without feare and without defence The Thracians beheld at one and the same time the Fire Armes and Death The Count was busie in play with all the other prime men that had Command in the Fleet in a Galley far distant from the rest Being informed of the fire not willing to leave off play he being a winner commanded it should be quenched supposing it kindled by accident through the carelessnesse of the Galeyots or Marriners Being assured the Navy was assaulted by enemies now perswaded the winds could not have such force he would not nevertheless stir until the violence of the fire represented the inevitable danger to him Then necessity rendring him a certainty of his neglect he consented not to retire or flye much more fearing the displeasure of the King than death Perceiving the flames unextinguishable and defence impossible he commanded his Galleots they should charge upon one of those Galleys whilest he himselfe resolved to dye on the weapons of some worthy person There was not any there that would understand or that would obey him Feare had so daunted the minds of them all that to avoid the fire they leapt out to swim finding no defence but in desperation The slaughter was great whilest both Elements conspired to the dammage of the Thracians Astidamo victorious without delay made his Souldiers go a Land understanding by his Scouts the discord that was in the Campe in the Enemies Army heightning his courage he said to his On O valorous Let us pursue the Victory Here is neither danger nor labour in assaulting those who are overcome by their own discords Being at division among themselves they will bring confusion and terrour among themselves They were infinite in number but there hath hapned such a slaughter among them that they will not any more have strength to make resistance The prime Chieftaines that rendred that Army formidable are killed by
said he commanded his that they should not offend him receiving many times on his owne Shield the strokes of those that ran solicitous to wound him They went forth together retiring after many Compasses into a Valley which enclosed round by some Hills made shew as if it were so shut up for some Fight Here then they staid to renew the Assault They began then afresh to strike with so much Anger and so much Force as if then onely they gave beginning to a Battail Astidamo rendered vaine all the blowes of his Adversary knowing him of great strength Now he fenced now he bowed now with his Sword he put by the Thracians whose Valour being in great measure decreased by a continuall toile his blowes were not but weak Whereupon Astidamo although wounded in many places preserved the more his mind and his courage more Feigning he would strike Dorcone on the face he wounded him in the Hip who growne furious at it made in a moment a wound on Astidamo's Head They both lost bloud and leaving warding and the rules of a Duell they attempted not but to kill How much the more the fight wanted of Art it was so much the more perillous and mortall The Furie in those debilitated strengths then began to languish when Astidamo wounded Dorcone in his Breast in that part the nearest to his Heart plucking back his Sword all bathed in bloud The Thracian fell but with that heart that feared not death helping himself with his left hand hee stood to his Guard resting on a knee Astidamo admiring at the vertue of such a man said Yeeld O Generous since that Fortune wils that thou shalt be overcome The Thracian abusing that gentleness which offered him the gift of his life stuck his Sword into his Thigh running it quite thorough Astidamo growne furious and crying Is this the recompence of my Mercy thrust his Blade into the sight of his Helme which could not resist the force of an Arm moved by a most just Anger The Thracian dyed when Astidamo not having strength any longer to stan fell likewise down ready to dye not leaving any distinction to know the Victor from the Conquered King Vassileo in the meane while remaining with the Cretensians master of the Field gave leave to the Souldiers that they might enrich themselves with Plunder and Prisoners This Victorie in such wise rejoyced the minde of the Citizens that there was not any of them who enjoyed not part of the fruit of the Victorie The weakest old men could not stay in the City nor the infirmest Company of Women and Children Every one ran out to get some prey of the spoiles of the Enemy The Prisoners were without number and the booty was above value So rich preyes never Cyprus nor Creet had enjoyed King Vassileo seeing the Crowne setled on his Head and those destroied that attempted on his Kingdome and life would be informed if this succour was dropt from Heaven When he understood that that Army belonged to Astidamo King of Crete hee was assaulted by grave thoughts Peradventure he had a feare equall to that he had had of the Thracians He knew that Enmities with Kings were not appeased but with bloud He very well remembred that he had forbidden him the Court with termes more then severe And that by the condemnation of Dianea he had expressed signes of the hatred hee bore to the Kingdome of Crete unwilling to endure her in life who had presumed to match her selfe with his Enemie He feared these succours aimed not but to oppresse him the Armies of Potentates not moving but upon grand Interest Neverthelesse dissembling those Passions which permitted him not to enjoy the joyes of the Victorie leaving to the Count of Salinera the Command of his men with some few of his he went in quest of Astidamo willing by a demonstation of Confidence and Affection to mascherate his diffidences and his feares Astidamo not being to be found in the field he imagined he was retired to the Navy He took his way thitherwards but being something neare he espied a Lady who by her fashion and motion made a grand Pomp of her self Approaching nearer and descrying the likenesses of Dianea he cryed out VVhat is this that is made an Object to my eyes Are these Dreams or Phantasms that occupy my Cognoscitive vertue This was Dianea who hearing of her Fathers coming to the Navy was descended thence to meet him Suddainly as he drew neare her prostrating her selfe at his feet she said to him Father I am that unhappy Dianea who have demerited your affections I have lived not because I have deserved life but because Destiny hath been pleased to make me an Instrument for your security Excuse me O Father if by my presence I am come to funerallize the joyes of your Victories But in Consolations Favours and Graces are dispenced I supplicate you therefore most benigne Father for pardon Forgive by your favour the Errours of that heart that hath offended you not to injure it selfe It is true I have loved the King of Creet and I could not but love him he having elected me for his Consort I conceived it a greater Crime to denie him then to afford him my affection Who ever knowes Astidamo and loves him not knowes not who deserves Affection Father excuse my tongue that presumes to run so much in the Applauses of Astidamo for I know not how to honestize my Errour better then by exalting the Prerogatives of him who hath made me commit them I should plead something in Excuse of my fault if I could repent me of it I know not how to acknowledge a penitency for such an Excesse since from thence the Defence of your State and the safety of your person is derived Behold O Father at your benigne feet Dianea who untill now through your displeasure confesses her selfe unhappy Behold her at your feet who though condemned by you hath not therefore refused to love you Let my sorrow to have provoked your indignation make amends for what I have trespassed in Awaken mercifull Father those Affections to which Nature obliges you Remember that you are a Father and that only I can preserve alive the memories of your greatnesse suffer not affectionate Father that your Daughter Dianea should supplicate and weep without being heard King Vassileo that hitherto remained opprest by a not known alteration shedding so many teares that one might even say that the snow of his head thawing issued through his eyes with a very great affection cast his Arms about the neck of Dianea saying to her Oh! Of how many victories to day have the Gods been favourable to me Beloved Dianea lay aside those sorrowfull remembrances which perchance may render my presence odious to you Let Oblivion take possession of all things past I receive you for my daughter with a double consolation having so many times bemoaned you for dead Beleeve me I have received punishment for the sentence fulminated against you
of those times were skilfull in all the Sciences and in this in particular as most necessary in the Pallaces of Princes who will not trust their healths to the infidelity of others hands but because from her childhood her Genius had inclined her to it Oleandro in this while with an impetuous beating of the heart met with the Count of Silinera to whom he had given knowledge of his Arrivall Divers Complements passed which alwaies abound in the mouths of Great men Sitting down in a Chamber of the Pallace and dismissing his Attendants who for the most part use to spy into the Actions of their Patrons the Count of Salinera spoke thus Prince Oleandro it transfixes my soule that the first day in which I have had the fortune to reverence you should be funeralized with things most molestfull to him who is to execute them and with sorrow to him that commands them But I having to talke with a Prince who counterpoiseth all actions with reason and treating of the reason of State which is the soule that quickens the body publike you will receive those Offices in good part which though they appeare unpleasant are neverthelesse necessary I will not remember you of the miseries of this Kingdome which at the present enjoyes no other quiet nor other felicity than that which an ideall and an imaginary hope can promise us It is known to all and I suppose to you in particular that being borne to command you are obliged to observe the Customes of people and the misfortunes of Princes more than any other Laws are here either neglected or abused Justice set to sale hath rendred interessed Rewards and Punishments The Nobility are become Tyrants over the Commonalty The people fomentated by the Chances of Fortune have forgot their Obedience Honours are dispenced at randome Desert and Vertue are suppressed by favour and riches The power of King Vassileo in a manner is restrained so that he is scarce the Mastor of himselfe Some that have gained the chiefe Offices keep his eares as it were so besieged that he suspects not ill though he prove it And yet he hath beene advised by many who have not feared to ruine themselves to save the Prince This Advertisement hath been if not too late at least untimely so that to apply a Remedy was to encrease not to remove the Evill The successes in the Kingdome have constrained his Majestie to suffer the wicked because they should not grow worse He that for Wisedome knowes neither a Superiour nor equall hath been unwilling to stirre those humours which before they can be dissolved will destroy the Body The Death of the Count of Cithera a young man that by his Liberalities had won the Affections of all have so alienated them from the King that the most seditious now attend but for a new occasion to disguise the Impiety of their Designes To our Domestick miseries externall are joyned The King of Thacia and Armenia unite their Armies to invade us the one to revenge the death of his Brother and the other that of a son as if King Vassileo himselfe had been the Author of them The Chance although it was of pure Fortune is without reason ascribed to his Majestie but to those that have an intention to wage warre all Appearances become Causes Kings that have innumerable men and money make that lawfull which they will and under a mantle of Justice conceale their Ambition and Cruelty In summe this Commotion hath put his Majesty into grave deliberations for he shall at once be combated with enemies he knowes not and have occasion to feare his owne as much as he doth the Armenians and Thracians To withdraw himselfe from so imminent dangers he hath procur'd to make friendship with Princes his Neighbours and those farther off Some of them he hath awakened with this universall Maxime That the greatnesse of the Armenians and Thracians cannot be but with perill to them To give way that the forces of others should exceed their owne endangers their Liberty to the discretion of an insolent for such are Conquerours Many he hath perswaded by the ties of bloud and others he hath put in minde of injuries received from these two Kingdomes Some also he hath remembred of the Services hee done them In briefe hee hath not omitted any occasion nor notice to gaine him the hearts of those who though they cannot aide him at least shall doe him no harme In Africk he hath sounded the Affections of all and hath there found such a forwardnesse that the King of Egypt with his Cousin the new King of Morocco have offered themselves to fall upon the Kingdome of Thracia to divert him or take from him the occasion to invade us knowing their State-Tenents not to maintaine two warres at one time This fell out gratefull to his Majestie because the onely forces of Armenia could not daunt ours to whom for a long continuance of yeares they have alwayes yielded obedience so much the more being under the command of a King who never had combated with other but wilde Beasts But this joy of King Vassileo's was mortified by notice given him that the King of Morocco dispatched Embasladours to have your Person delivered him imagining himselfe whilst you lived neither secure nor King His injustices are so detestable to his Subjects that they dayly pray Heaven for your Returne If the present state of things did not necessitate my master to any agreement though unjust for the Lawes of necessity are without Law and it is allowable to doe every thing rather then fall you should have no cause to feare any and hee with as much Resolution would undertake your defence as now it grieves him to desire your Departure He hath committed to my charge to informe you of the state of things and that he himselfe not being safe can much lesse secure others He knowes that daily there are Treacheries woven against you and knowes that not long since you were dangerously wounded He heard it with as much sorrow as can be imagined in a just Prince constrained to support injustices He entreats you therefore with the greatest privacy possible to goe hence that he be not compell'd to doe wrong either to you or himselfe He for feare of having it discovered conceiving it dangerous to appoint you Vessells for your Transportation as a Present hath sent you these Jewels inferiour to your merit but perhaps needfull in the Encounters of your new fortune Though you were resolved to have continued here his Majestie desires you to goe and assures you you shall doe it with safety and will maintain that faith which he promised you when first he knew his condition and birth He is confident your wisedome will apprehend this Counsell as the securest for the safety and reputation of you both Cyprus is not worthy to possess such a Prince You may with security promise to your selfe that these feares of Warre being ceas'd this Kingdome shall serve you as a
Sanctuarie and that King Vassileo above all others will interest himselfe to favour you in the regaining you your Crowne He loves Justice more then others and cannot endure that the wicked should triumph over innocency The rather by reason the cause is common to all Kings oughting not to suffer Usurpation of States in others lest they finde the experience of it in their owne Here the Count of Salinera held his peace Whereupon Oleandro replyed I ascribe it my Lord to my great fortune that the Majesty of King Vassileo so much interests himselfe in my Calamities I shall not alwayes remaine unhappy being protected by such a Prince I will be gone because he desires it and goe willingly Because Misfortunes ever attend me I would not disquiet the safetie of his Kingdom I will take along with me these Jewels which he hath pleased to honour me with not that I have need of them but to have daily before mine eyes Testimonies of his Magnanimity Greatnesse and my obligations I should thank him for what he hath done and for what hee hath promised to doe for me if these Duties were not common in all tongues So great Engagements claim a reverent Acknowledgement which is ordinarily more expressed by silence then the tongue The reasons you have alledged were uselesse to perswade me It sufficeth that I see the Interests of the King or Kingdome to move me This Discourse being finished the Count of Salinera bad him farewell with a resentment more lively and true then those that are practised in Courts Oleandro complaining on the infinitenesse of his miseries prepared himselfe with Arnalta for their Departure Their Habits were poore his face he disfigured with a thousand blemishes So Fortune knowes how to jest even with Princes They that knew how to disguise themselves so knew not how they should have knowne themselves Celardo used all meanes to have borne them Company But being over-come by reasons and prayers was enforced to move it no farther remaining in the possession of the Pallace These two Princes departed before the Appearance of the Sunne could discover their departure When they came to the Sea side they were so weary they could hardly stand Necessitie may trouble but never can discourage worthy minds Finding a Vessell they went aboard it which set saile that very night The most noble Island of Cyprus was out of sight when they were rowsed on a suddaine by the swellings of the Sea assaulted by the winds the Mariners were constrained to fall to land on a Rock where by the help of swimming and Planks they escaped from the water The Countrey being unknowne they put themselves to walk afoot at adventure whilst the other wearied themselves to recover the ship-wrackt goods which it seemed were spewed up by the Sea with a great fury upon those shores After one houre and more of travailing they came to some Shepheards Cabbins from whom they received meat and lodging the next night These People although they could not understand them nor were understood with a thousand signes of courtesie could not weary themselves with doing them honour In minds base by birth many times are found gentlenesse which great Ones either know not how to use or will not Morning being come they departed by break of day to find out some City where they might at leisure deliberate of what they should do They walked till that time of the day that the body requires the naturall tribute of meats They rested them neare a Fountaine and after their Repast gave themselves over to sleep willing with a most pleasing repose to slight that fortune which only aimed to disquiet them Whilest they lay in this fashion a Knight came upon them for so he appeared by his Armes and his Apparell He cast his eyes upon Arnalta and praising much that beauty he fixed his look upon Oleandro He presently knew him though so unlike to himselfe There is not any thing that can be concealed from the eyes of a Lover His Travels Misfortunes Calamities had not so transformed him that he could not be known for Oleandro by her that loved him Being assured that he was the very same she trembled swet grew cold became unmoveable She was doubtfull whether she ought first to assault him with injuries or kisses Before she would have been content that he had been anothers so that she might have seen him Now she rather wisheth him dead than by the effects to discover certainly his perfidiousness imagining with her selfe that he weary and satiated with the Amours of her Sister this with him was a new Mistris Finally recollecting the reasons of her displeasure unsheathing his dagger she said Oleandro now is the time thou shalt pay for injuries committed against my faith and the honour of my Family It is unreasonable that I should endure that hatefull look which so many times I have found guilty I ought not to let that man live who with his only look can reprove me of my follies and provoke blushes in that face he hath been able to slight Thou O wicked man shalt prove what disdaine in the breast of a loving woman can do Oh God! how foolish I am How I yet love this impious man that with this dagger and death know not but that I may make him happy Would not he be fortunate if he might be freed from my indignation and enter into a place where my hatred could not arrive Impious and sacrilegious persons whose hearts are replenished with all barbarismes cannot for all that abide to looke upon the Testimonies of their wickednesses Thou shalt receive more vexation with seeing me and hearing me aggravate thy perfidiousness than if I killed thee a thousand times These Armes are too worthy for the breast of a Traitour I will not honour nor immortallize thy death with these hands which would even raze thy name out of the booke of Oblivion it selfe But I know very well how to torment thee I will kill her here whom I doubt not but if thou lovest thou wilt receive that punishment I wish thee So saying she drew neare to Arnalta and furiously lifting up the Dagger held it in the aire saying to her selfe In what hath this unfortunate one offended me that I should thus miserably deprive her of life I should not be angry with her for loving him for I also have been in the same errour Minds cannot be so compelled that they should not desire the fruition of what seems good And if she deserves any chastisement what greater punishment can I give her than the company of so faithless a man that promising her all felicity will make her miserable He deserves punishment and to him I should give it whereupon turning towards Oleandro to strike him she was againe withheld with an amazement at her selfe Is not this the man she considered with her selfe that hath had the loveraignty over my heart Do not I love him perchance more than my soule 'T is true he is