the sanctuarie of the Temple and beside chief of the Economicall and politicall gouernment of this prouince who hauing one very faire daughter chast and adorned with all vertues requisit in a virgin did consecrat her to the seruice of the Oracle It fell out the duke of Fera a verie comly and gallant yong gentleman fell in loue with her onely by report hee heard of her for he had manie times heard tell that in beautie and comelinesse shee did excell the most properest of all those parts therfore did he send to the prelate to demand her for his wife but many times as he sent he had his labor for his trauell because her father would neuer be farre from her And euen as the messenger which is sent twice or thrice into one place to obtaine something of a man would saine haue séeketh by all meanes possible to satisfie his desire who requesteth it rather to auoide the paine and shame to be alwaies talking about the matter then for any zeale good deuotion which he hath towards him euen so fell it out with the bearer of this embassage being vexed to goe and come so often without doing any good did bring at last to passe that he talked one day with the maiden whom hée gaue so swéete a lesson and set such a glosse vpon his reasons to make a priuie marriage that shée was rauished in loue of the Duke and promised him if his master would come to take her away secretly from her fathers house she would go willingly with him The duke vnderstanding this embassage made hast presently to the isle where being arriued he aduertised the Damsell who sent him word backe he should goe stay for her in a certaine place néere her fathers pallace where she would not misse to méet him so soone as his people should be asléepe But the preist who by meanes of his Magicke had preuented all these practises knowing the place where the lord of Fera attended for his daughter caused from the mountaine to descend two fierce lions enchaunted These cruell beasts rushing in with a hideous roaring vpon the miserable Duke who by no meane knew how to preuent such ambuskadoes began to fawne on him in pittifull manner meane while this young prince losing at that instant all power to defend himselfe against the rage and furie of these infernall beastes was quickly torne in pieces Which his Squier beholding too pittifull and lamentable a spectacle who was come alone to accompanie him exclaimed with such a fearefull crie as the Damsell who had her eares most attentiue to listen heard it easely so also did some other of the house who running forth with burning torches to know what was the matter found the Duke alreadie dead Whereof the maiden being aduertised she ran out of the pallace as a body possessed with a spirit or mad to goe to finish vp the sacrifice So vnsufferable was the griefe and sorrow she had to sée her future spouse lie so cruelly massacred that taking his very sword set the pommell against the ground and the point right vnder her breast then cast her selfe with a great stresse of bodie vpon it thinking to pierce right vpon her heart to which she would not giue one onely moment of life after the death of her louer For all that she was frustrate of her attempt for the sword passing thorow the right side she fell vpon the dead bodie still full of life where making many complaints with sighes and sobs as fast as one could follow another she wrot with her owne bloud vpon a paper which she found in her bosome twelue lamentable verses in forme of an Epitaph To the which knowing her death drew néere shée adioined onely these last words If it be so O choice paragon of courtesâ—e that for my sake you haue endured the shipwracke of this life it should be for euer to mée too great a remourse of conscience if the very houre I had not done as much to make the expiation of your funerals so much the more accomplished And to the end my father may know the more then sodaine rashnesse of his counsaile I wil now leaue him such relikes he shall haue certaine testimonie thereof Wherein for that his repentance shall come too late I pray him in recompence to burie our two bodies togither in one tombe commanding for a perpetuall memorie of our sorrowful tragedie this Epitaph to be engrauen ouer vs Cease weeping tears for his death be not sorie Whose fame for euershall suruiue in glorie Detest his stony diamantine heart Who caus'd his only daughters deadly smart O furious planet O thou angry fate What cruell mischeife could ye meditate More inhumaine then bodies twaine to kill Ah I mistake surely it is none ill For death which all liuing creatures seaseth Our louing bodies of all anguish easeth And linkes our soules in perfect knots of loue Which did on earth such bitter sorrows proue Hauing written this Epitaph she paid the humane tribute vnto nature for neuer afterward her passible bodie receiued any motion of the vitall spirits and it is no fable to die of loue-sicknesse if with the auncient histories wée will conferre a million of moderne and late writers But to returne to the highpriest when hée heard that his daughter was ranne towards that clamour hée followed her incontinent for feare least shée should make awaie her selfe and finding her alreadie dead with her Epitaph as yet in her hand hée was in great daunger to haue made the third person in this pitiful tragedie So vehement was the anguish which seased his sorrowfull soule that he remained long time without speaking worde as a man forlorne and sure the sorrow and indignation that he endured had made him die in the place if for all comfort he had not broken his silence with an imperfect spéech in this sort Alas miserable and wretched man if thy knowledge did serue thée to act and effect the death of the duke of Fera why was it not sufficient to preuent that of thine owne daughter Ah in a cursed houre was I counsailed euer to take that deadly oportunitie Manie other gréeuous complaints poured hee out ouer those two dead bodies who might be truly coÌ„pared to Piramus Thisbe notwithstanding after that he had shed ouer them many teares accompanied with innumerable sighs he gaue order that a faire and rich tombe of brasse should be erected in which after he had embaulmed them according to the ancient ceremonie of funerall rites pomps he caused both their bodies to be buried togither with a great conuoy of mourners and the Epitaph aforesaid to be engrauen round about the same Some few daies after thorow the griefe and melancholie he tooke séeing himselfe depriued of his lawful heire and in that behalfe the order of nature peruerted he also lest this mortal life but first did he shut vp make fast the treasures of the temple by such enchantment and with so fearefull a
THE DELIGTFVL HISTORY of Celestina the Faire Daughter to the king of Thessalie Shewing how she was inchaunted by the three Fairies with the strange Aduentures Trauels Chiualries Tournies Combats Victories and Loues of diuers wandring Princes and knights errant but especially of Sir Marcomyr of Tharsus who did conquest hir by the sword and enioied her afterwards in mariage with the Thessalian kingdome for hir dowrie and his perpetuall inheritance Done out of French into English NON PLVS WB LONDON Printed by A. I. for William Barley and are to be sold at his shop at the vpper end of Gratious street 1596. To the Worshipfull and his verie good friend M. Barley of Petworth in Sussex W.B. wisheth health and prosperitie REmembring sir the great good wil and vndeserued kindnesse which your Worship hath shewed vnto me makes mee to thinke my self much bound vnto you so much as if I should not by some means shew my selfe thankfull to your Worship I might be condemned of great ingratitude Wherefore I haue thought good euen now being vrged thervnto by the kindnesse which I haue found at your hands to shew my thankfull mind towards you although not in so ample manner as I would doe or as I hope hereafter I shall doe when it shal please God to make me better able till which time I humbly desire you to accept at my hands this token of my feruent good will wherein I haue made bold to set foorth vnder your Worships Patronage this Booke entituled The delectable Historie of Celestina the Faire hoping it wil be the better regarded of your Worship first in respect of the indeuour and pains which hath bene taken in translating and publishing of the same to the intent the reading thereof might be some pleasure and delight both to your Worship and your good friends and secondly in respect of my thankful and willing mind towards you who wisheth vnto your Worship all bountifull happinesse in this life according to your hearts desire and in the life to come eternall felicitie Your Worships to commaund William Barley The delightfull Historie of Celestina the faire daughter to the king of Thessalie Shewing how she was inchaunted by the three Fairies with the straunge aduentures trauels chiualries tourneys combats victories and loues of diuerse wandring Princes and knights errant but especiallie of sir Marcomyr of Tharius who did conquest her by the sword and enioyed her afterwards in marriage with the Thessalian kingdom for her dowrie and her perpetuall inheritance CHAP. I. THe time being then come that Belcarin king Frisols sonne should receiue the order ofknighthood hee humblie besought the Emperour to knight him with his owne hand the like request made yong Tiraquell sonne to duke Eustace of Micene who desired likewise the honor of the same order which the good Prince graciously graunted foreséeing how worthily on them knighthood would be employed Therfore after obseruation of the Uigill as the vse was on the Monday morning next after Easter day hée armed them both knights with great magnificence beséeching God of his goodnesse to make them of that valour which should neuer degenerate from their auncesters Belcarin especially to whom with a louing kisse on his chéek he began thus Deare nephew I pray our Soueraigne aboue to accomplish in you the perâ—ection of all noble vertues that euerie one may say you are sonne to the good knight Frisol no lesse hardie and valâ—râ—us then anie whosoeuer bore Armes in his time The ceremonie being ended they all reâ—urned to the Palace where the new knights as soone as they could be disarmed attired themselues in most rich and sumptuous robes for the more honour of the feast which for their sakes was solemnised with verie great pompe throughout all the Court But Belcarin made no tariance to behold the â—â—litie of that assemblie his mind was rather occupied in the high intended thought of his future glorie then in the excesse of a feast which made him begin thus to debate with himself Belcarin thou hast now no more idle time to spend hauing taken vpon thée the honourable degrée of knighthood and art therewith inuested by the hâ—nd of thine vncle the Emperour one of the best knights whom euer the diuine prouidence hath adorned and made illustrious through many laudable vertues which neuer wanted thy father also in any thing that might bée requisite to a man perfectly accomplished in armes if thou hast liued hitherto in delights and pleasures yet now it is high time for thée to trauaile the world to shew wherein thou resemblest thine ancestors treading in their steps who with great paine wandered before thée and purchased therby that famous renoâ—me the memorie whereofshall euer remaine immortall the which if thou wilt not blemish thou must hasten thy departure from hence and looke out to séeke some strange aduentures as they did After manie cogitations which perplexed his mind not a little he resolued in as secret maner as might be to depart with one onely Squire to attend vpon his person purposing to take his voyage directly into Macedon there to make his first assay of Armes in the aduenture of Celestina the Faire who was at that time enchaunted within a castell of the I le of Carderie for at that season there was no other talke euery where but of the great number of knights who dayly flocked thither enterprising to win her by the sword being to haue her in mariage afterward with the kingdome of Thessalie for her dowrie so great should be the recoÌ„pence and guerdon of him who could deliuer her out oâ—the inchanted dungeon But as yet had no knight been séene there who could set foote within the castell to set frée this yong Princesse Now were Belcarins eares oftentimes tickled with the fame of this aduenture which euerie one reputed so strange that he determined to goe thither to trie what he could doe with an incredible desire to performe it for besides he should thereby purchase great honour and a generall commendation of the world he might yet thinke himself most fortunat making his so rich and faire a Damosell and that by dint of sword So that being excéeding glad through the hope which he had conceiued to atchieue his desired purpose hee did onâ—ly but thrée daies honor this solemne feast with his presence and the fourth day endossed verie early in the morning a rich armour burnisht greene which he had caused very priuily to be made and commaunded to paint on his shield in a siluer field a castell of Gâ—wles representing a Iasper stone in verdure for his deuise Departing thus the citie without knowledge of any person hee tooke his voyage towards the kingdome of Macedon The Emperour who heard afterward ofhis secret departure was passing glad of this enterprise and in presence of many knights began thus in his fauour Now as God mee helpe I haue an opinion nay a confident hope Belcarin will be haue himselfe so valiantly in feates of armes that
liue one houre Great matters are these which you tell me quoth the yong prince the Emperor then knoweth not that he hath had any children by you No surely replied the Quéene nor would I he should for any thing in the world That can not be long so quoth Marcomyr for néeds must I one day goe to sée him but beléeue me Madam I shall not be long away for that I haue fully determined neuer to leaue you nor to abandon by my will the kingdome that God hath giuen me to gouerne Thus communed together of many things the mother and the son who from thence forwarde shewed himselfe to his vassals verie pleasant and well pleased in mind so that resoluing spéedily to bée knighted he caused to be made for himselfe an armour perfect red and another white for Ozalias whom he loued as his brother And after they had watched in the chappell they had both the sword girded to them and the long spur put on by the father of Ozalias who was one of the best knights in all those countries Hauing then both of them receiued of him the accollado order was giuen for the solâ—mnising of a great feast for y e same effect During which feast Marcomyr bestowed many rich presents vpon diuers But hee could neuer forget Celestina nor put out of his mind the words of the old beldame for that he had them so liuely imprinted therein that they tormented him more than might do any mortall martirdome Wherfore he concluded to passe into Gréece to the end to visit the Emperor his father and to learne some newes of this ladie for well déemed hee not without cause had the enchauntresse vsed such vile spéeches to him so that one day after dinner finding the Quéene his mother at conuenient leisure and in a place fit for the purpose in very modest sort hee kissed her cheeke And as many discourses had passed betwéene them Marcomyr besought her humbly she would grant him one â—oone which the Quéene who loued him as dearly as her owne person little déeming his affection would carry him to that which he had already deâ—eigned willinglydid grant him I would madame quoth he then you take no displeasure if I make shortly a voyage to Constantinople to sée the emperor my father the braue knights of his court for I féel dayly augment in me the desire which euer since you assured me to be his son commeth euery houre into mine imagination but I promise you by the inuiolable sincere faith which the child aboue all things oweth the mother to returne with as great speed as shall be possible Alas my sonne cried out the Queene and sighed your wordes haue so farre wounded and pierced my heart that I behold plainlie Atropos alreadie cutting off the thread of my sorrowful life yet if to auoid the extremitie into which I see my selfe now reduced I feared alwaies to manifest to you my ruine seeing I cannot now preuent it nor with honestie denie that whereunto I haue so rashlie consented it is good reason I suffer patiently my misfortune One onely thing I will entreate you if maternall zeale and loue may so farre mooue you to haue compassion on mee it would please you to returne with all speede possible to the place of your natiuitie to the ende once before I die that these mine eyes beholding you my soule maie passe with better comfort into the other worlde The Gods forbid replied Marcomyr I should contrarie the least of your commaundements or in anie wise frustrate the good hope which you may conceyue of my returne My deare child then quoth the Queene seeng you vndertake so farre a voiage I should aduice that you accompanie your selfe with some number of knights to the end the Emperour may entertaine you with greater honour Madame answered he I am certaine my Lord the Emperour will esteeme nothing the more of me for séeing me well accompanied because he shall well know I am king of Tharsus wherein consisteth not the true point of mine honour neither but rather in the continuall trauels which I hope hereaâ—â—â—â— tâ— endure in faire feates of armes which I hope he shall heare resound of me through the world For as you are not ignorant the time hath béen when he himselfe hath gone alone thorow the world by his magnanimious courage exposing himselfe to thousandes of maruellous aduentures which are at this day blowne abroad of hiâ— and neuertheles the diuine goodnes hath alwayes preserued him from death in all the perils that euer he was in and as well as hee a number more of other renowmed princes What aduenture can a man name more hazardous than that of Iason the Argonaut when he woon the golden fâ—éece in the Isâ—e of Colches Or that of Theseus the gallant champion when hee vanquished the Mâ—â—otaur in the Labyrinth of Créete and yet the gods deliuered them both from all daunger Truely in my time I haue sometimes behold shiâ—s with poore equippage singling in the déepe sâ—a in great â—ortuâ—e of weather and storme who in the end hauâ—â—râ—iued rich and cast anker in the safe hauen Many others 〈◊〉 I seen also whâ—â—ithful sail nauigating in a calme â—ea 〈…〉 oâ— wil who haue afterward béen caâ—◠〈◊〉 â—nd 〈◊〉 néer the shore side and in the hâ—uens mouth I should not â—hâ—n feare to commit my self to the peril of the sea fortune séeing we are all predestinate Therfore hâ—ue I determined to carry along with me no more companie but Ozalias onely two squires as simple gentlemen Desiring to proue my selfe against y e knights of Europe before the emperor know me The Queene resolued to striue no longer against the determinatioÌ„ her son had secretly coÌ„cluded in his mind but rather endeuored to shew him the fairest countenance although her sorowful hart did hardly consent therto Wherfore Marcomyr on a day causing all y e principal of his kingdom to assemble togither declared to theÌ„ his full intention with expresse commandement that none of them should transgresse the ordinance and will of his mother nor of his oâ—ncle whom he lest behind him for gouernour and lieutenant generall ouer all the prouince in his absence Allof them were very sorry for so suddaine a departure but seeing they could not stay him they all promised with one accord to accomplish all that which he had giuen them in charge to do wishing him all in their hearts a prosperous and happie voiage Then the quéene retired her selfe into her closet where her hand imitating the office of her tongue she couched quickly in writing a letter direâ—â—ed to the Emperour with which letter she was to send a ring like vnto one which she presented him when she was in the countries of Asia to the end by means of this ring Marcomyr should bée the sooner recognished of him whilst these things were in doing there was rigging â— very tall ship thorowly equipped with all store of nourishing victuals and whatsoeuer els was
away sodainlie without any answere hée doubted the Knight whereof shee spake should bee him who sent thither this present for hauing finished the aduenture of Delphos hée could not choose but be as braue a Knight as anie liuing In summe the Emperour did not so much maruaile at the magnificence and riches of this present the sumptuositie whereof might not onely compare with all the treasure of Xerxes Iulius Caesar or Alexander but also did farre excéede all the reuenewes of his Empyre as at the aduenturous feates of armes and renowmed chiualrie of the Knight whome he yet knew not but did desire to sée him in his Court to the ende hée might honour him according to his desart To manie Knights of the Emperours traine séemed these woordes verie peremptorie and odious who from that time forwarde purposed in themselues if peraduenture Marcomyr came into the Court to proue their valours agaynst him so that the Emperour might haue occasion to remember himselfe hée had spoken but by way of affection Neuerthelesse he did not perceiue their conceyte but replenished with a maruailous ioy commaunded by all meanes they should giue order to get all things in a readinesse agaynst the next Triumph which was then at hande To the which flocked daylie manie Knights from diuerse Countreys whome the Emperour entertained and feasted royally Rifaran and Lechefin shewing themselues the most braue and sumptuously apparelled amongest them all next after the Emperour himselfe which procéeded of the liberall presents bestowed vpon them albeit most of all for the great fauour towardes Lechefin who after the Empresse with her thrée daughters Philoâ—rista Florida and Basilia had with manie courteous and gratious wordes welcomed and entertained him discoursing with him long time about the strange aduentures of Marcomyr he was so enamoured and rauished with the beautie of Philocrista that he could not hold his eyes off her from surueying her exterior vertues and graces iudging himselfe happie and fauoured by the Planets who had brought him thither to sée the diuine Sunne whose radiant beames had alreadie so dazeled his eyes and set all his vitall spiriteâ— on fire that hée felt for Philocrista an extreame passion in his heart yet durst he not disclose it by anie means which did enflame him so much the more To conclude the Emperour sent presentlie vnto Delphos one of his principall Knights with a great troupe of armed Souldiers to assure it vnto himselfe for feare least if anie rebellion chaunced hée should hardlie possesse himselfe of the Castell and of the whole Isle in his owne name Giuing him great charge if Marcomyr were there remayning still to pray him by all meanes to come visite the Emperour but the Knight was not found there for hée had before hoysed sayle to hasten himselfe to Constantinople as wée shall hereafter declare Then the Knight inuested himselfe and tooke possession of the Pallace whether all the people of the Isle resorted to sée him and to accept the Emperour for the peaceable and liege Prince of that state who in the ende translated it to one of Marcomyrs children and it was indéed a verie goodly and rich countrie CHAP. XI Howe Marcomyr sayling in the Egean Sea rescued the Souldan of Babylons sonne from the handes of Ocurites King of Culacin who was a rouer on the coast of Greece How Ocurites fleete is ouerthrowne hee taken prisoner and sent to the Emperour Cleodomyr with diuerse other prisoners by Marcomyr deliuered ouâ— of his captiuitie MArcomyr hauing established Guillador for chiefe Iusticer and gouernor in the Isle of Delphos till the emperor should send some other thither for y e same effect in his name he embarked himselfe with Ozalias vpon a Munday morning Six daies they sailed with a fore-wind very prosperously towards Constantinople when Marcomyr resolued to anker in any port of Thrace whether soeuer it pleased Fortune to guide them to the end they might vnderstand there some newes from the emperours Court and of the aduenture of Celestina resoluing to gouerne himself according to his occurrence of things which he should learne in those countries Eolus and Neptune were so fauorable vnto him that on the seuenth day he came to surge within the strait of Sestos and Abidos where hauing giuen commandement to strike sailes one of his Pilots who was aboue in the top-mast espied at sea many foysts and ships skirmishing couragiously togither wherevpon Marcomyr got into y e forecastell to sée if he could perceiue what should be the matter and hearing the great stir and noise which they made in these vessels especially intwo of them which séemed the principal and better equipped with warlike munition theÌ„ the others he had great desire to make towardes them Therfore coÌ„manded his master to the helme incontinent to go to aid him whosoeuer had the worst in this fight Here must you know for your better vnderstanding of this passage when the Soldan of Babylon Archidianae his wife vnderstood of the match that the emperor was about to make of their daughter with Ditreus the prince of Hungarie they were very ioiful of so good an alliance and because they would further it thebest they could they purposed to send him many gifts of great riches by y e yongst of their sons who had not yet receiued the order of knighthood He being called Abenunq a fine yong geÌ„tlemaÌ„ made sute to his mother to get leaue oâ—the soldan his father for him that he might after the marriage of his sister soiourne somewhile in Constantinople which Archidiana liked very well to the end soone after the Emperour might giue him the order of knighthood with his owne hand So she obtained this request of her husband and soone after sent him to sea accompanied with a traine of manie other knights Abenunq then sailing merrilie towards the coast of Thrace he met with Olurites king of Culaquin and sonne in law to the great Turke who was estéemed one of the most valiant and noble knights amongst all the Turkish nobilitie and therefore had the barbarous tyrant bestowed on him his daughter one of the fairest ladies which was in all the Heathen dominion This king Ocurites who knew the emnitie and old grudge betwéene the Emperour and his father in law the Turke rigd out a nauie to gratifie him the more and kéeping along the coast of Gréece sent alwaies before him pinnaces and frigates to discouer the Christian failes so that he caried along with him many slaues and captiues then when hée began to lie in the wind for the Soldans sonne So soone as this Rouer knew the Prince of Babilon by his flagges and streamers he purposed to set vpon him with a great furie for he knew his father was the Emperours great friend and as he had chéered vp his men to the fight hée came vpon Abenunq his ship who séeing this vnlooked for encounter set his men brauely in order to receaue him During this conflict behold arriueth the valiant knight
offered him many presents but he would accept none thanking him much for his good will especially of the assurance he gaue him not to depart any way from the Emperours court vntill he arriued there for hée made him a promise before many daies were past he would appeare there in person as he requested him to giue the Emperour to vnderstand then bidding him adiue entered aboord his ship commanding his maister to lanch out a contrary way CHAP. XII How Abenunq arriueth in Constantinople at whose comming the emperour is very glad and Esquiuela his daughter most ioifull and how Linides the lord of the island Liquia and the County Pelides his cousin ioust against the knights of the court and win the best ABenunq maruelous glad of the good succour which came at such a pinch sailed with a fauourable wind till he came to Constantinople where as soone as hée was arriued he commanded king Ocurites and all the Christian slaues to be landed in skiffes whom he appointed to march towards the Emperours pallace to acomplish the message which Marcomyr had giuen him in charge whereof the emperor being aduertised demanded what meant this troupe of prisoners when one of the principal knights of Abenunq who went before to make them march in order answered in this sort If it please your maiestie it is the king of Culaquin sonne in law to the great Turke who departed his countrie with a puissant and huge armie to endomage and ruin your empire By this traitor had the prince Abenunq son to the Souldan of Babilon your nephew and all his traine ben put to sword or to the chaine had it not ben for the succour of a knight called Marcomyr second to none other who rescued vs and hath now sent him prisoner to you These good newes much pleased the Emperour thinking Marcomyr had béene come with Abenunq neuerthelesse as soone as he vnderstood he had left him beehind at the streight of Sestos and Abidos he was wroth and sore displeased surely quoth he albeit it gréeueth me I cannot haue him in my house to recompence him as his prowesse and courtesie deserueth yet hereof may the king Ocurites well vaunt himselfe for were it not for respect of the knight by whom he is vanquished and sent vnto me I should torment him all the daies of his life with sharpe and cruell punishment to make him call to mind the fellonie he hath heretofore shewed towards my vassals freinds and confederats Neuerthelesse séeing I receiue him from the hand of so valiant a man as Marcomyr he shall be committed to safegard vntil his comming Then sent he to lock him vp in a high tower commanding he should want nothing néedfull for his life and ease But to return to Abenunq after Diocles and the other lords had with al courtesie entertained him and welcommed them al more quaintly for his owne part he conducted him before the emperour of whom he was receiued most honourably who caused him to lodge in his pallace in a lodging néere his son Diocles who as yet was vnknighted as was he himselfe whereby grew a great loue and acquaintance betwéene these two hoping both one day to be companions in arms together Abenunq discoursed then the summe of Marcomyrs message and could neuer satisfie himself with sufficiently commending his liberall bountie and vnspeakeable valour so that the good prince was stil inflamed more and more to sée this knight for whom he blessed and praised God who had infused so many perfections into him the which Rifaran and Lechefin did confirme by this little word that there can neuer be so much good and honour spoken in his praise but the merit of his vertues would far excéed the capacity of the most learned and eloquent tongue which should bée emploied to that purpose After that Abenunq had deliuered some other matters of his embassage to the Emperour he went to sée the Empresse in her chamber and as he would haue bowed himselfe to kisse her hand with the more reuerence the honourable ladie rising vp from her seat to saue him that labour receaued him wonderfull courteously and at large demanded him the newesfrom Archidiana his mother whom the prince answered in al points very sagely as from his childhood he had ben learned to doe then came to embrase him swéetly the infant Philocrista and Esquiuela her companion who could not tell what countenance to make for the extreame ioy shée felt in her mind hauing before her eies the second highest hope of her heart and albeit she did all she might to dissemble it she was constrained notwithstanding in the end to fill the eares of the assistants with these spéeches My dearest brother I know not what greater conteÌ„tment might happen to me at this present then to behold your presence in the assemblie which shall be here one of these daies holden for me where séeing our parents cannot be present it hath ben their pleasure to honour me so much as to send you in their place who I know are as wel welcome to euery one as all our company of ladies is glad to bid you welcome Sister quoth Abenunq the Souldan our father hauing vnderstood the honour which the Emperour doth you in matching you with the prince Ditreus his nephew hath sent me to giue him heartie thanks and to offer on his part vpon conclusion of the articles of contract such agréements as shall like him well being assured these things so well handled by him cannot chuse but be acceptable to both parties contracted As for madame Archidiana our mother she presenteth you by me many Iewels rich stuffes and other exquisite singularities sutable to a princesse of so great a house as you are to the end on your mariage day you may shew the maiestie of the race whence you are descended hereof Esquiuela and Ditâ—eus rested well pleased and satisfied and now they did but long for the happie hower which should bring them that ioy and contentation which they had so long in heart desired In the meane time the Emperour he caused a triumph to be published thorowout all Gréece and vpon the fiftéenth day following should the marriage be solemnly celebrated so that you might haue séene what an infinite number of knights flocked daily to the court from all parts Amongst others thether came Linides lord of the island Liquia he that had done more valiant acts in the aduenture of Celestina then any other aduenturer And of a truth was thought to be one of the best men at armes at that time in all the Empire thorow the which was already spread the fame of this feast This knight tooke with him in companie only his cousin the County Pelides a hardie gentleman and so estéemed and accounted of all in martiall affairs albeit he was yoonger then Linedes When they were both arriued at Constantinople they would not enter into the cittie but encamped themselues in the plaine a great way from others and néer
demeanor of these knights At supper time after much other talke the old knight demanded of his guests if they went to the triumph at Constantinople for quoth he I came from thence yesterday wondring much at the great number of nobles who are come thether alreadie to be present thereat Then he began to make vnto them the whole discourse of the Iousting betwéene the county Pelides and Arnedes wherein Marcomyr tooke a meruailous delight to hear him talke neuerthelesse he could not forbeare to say thus much vnto him I wonder much in al the Emperours court there cannot be found any knight who might in valour and chiualrie excell the two cousins and the Frenchmen Of a truth sir answered the good old man it is euen as I say neuerthelesse I am of this beliefe if Belcarin sonne to the king of Hungarie and brother to the betrothed Ditreus had ben there he would haue depriued the French man of the victory which he won from the County and Linedes his cousin séeing they haunt chiualries and worthy feats of armes for the which he is more and more renowned daily in guarding the aduenture of Celestina Nor was there euer knight who arriued there to proue himselfe in the enchaunted combat since he made his assay in the enterprise whom he hath not surmounted and happily vanquished so that Celestina is yet fast enclosed within the Fairies tower and shal be vntil some knight morefortunate and aduenturous then Belcarin deliuer her thence For he hath sworne to employ so well all the sinewes of his strength that none shall fetch her thence séeing hée failed therein if he doe not surpasse him in valour and prowesse Thinke you whether Marcomyr were ioifull or not hearing him speake of Celestina when a sodaine and vehement heat which procéeded from the flame wherewith he felt his heart fiered before for her loue â—eised in such manner his members that in an instant he changed his coulour many times and his very soule altered all her powers at this only word of Celestina Wherefore with all instancie the knight praied his host to declare of what race this Damsell was descended and to discourse at large to him the aduenture wherein these knights went to trie themselues thinking to deliuer her likewise in what countrie was the castell where the Fairies had deuised this enchantment for that oftentimes he had heard spéech therof but neuer man could tel him the truth thereof Sir then quoth the old man vnderstand the damsell one of the fairest and most gracious princesses as is knowne in this terrestriall habitation betwéene the two tropicks of heauen is daughter to the king of Thessalie now prisoner to the great Turke and was from her cradle fatally enclosed in the castell of Carderie by thrée enchanteresses ladies of that Isle who foresaw by their art Magick that her father who was their great freind should neuer get out of captiuitie from the infidell but by the meane ofsome accomplished and perfect knight So did they deuise the inchantment that the fame of the beauty of this damsel which they had spread throughout al the regions round about or els the desire to win the kingdome of Thessalie for he who could set her frée from thence espousing her to wife should inherit it after the death of the captiue king would prouoke good knights to trie their fortune in that aduenture and indéed many repaire thether vpon hope to exploit so happie a conquest as Belcarin himselfe who thought to atchieue it at the first but his strength comming too short as also that of many others he resolued to make the accesse to this fortresse more difficult vntill he for whome the princesse of Thessalie was destinated should arriue there endued with so much valour and magnamitie as should make him by force auoid the place This good gentleman told Marcomyr many stories of Celestina the which he heard attentiuely with the which his spirit was so much moued that then he beléeued the words of the old beldame would proue true and séeing she was able to tell him so many things of Celestina shée might be very well one of the Fairies which did deuise this enchantment the abolition whereofhe supposed euer afterward was only reserued to him whereof he felt an incredible ioy in his heart which prict him forward to prosecute the aduenture Wherfore he called to him one of his squiers commanding him to lay vpon the table all the rich iewels and rings he had at that time wherof he frankely gaue away the greatest to the good old man and to his daughter praying him to marry her honourably and he would furnish a sum of money for a dowery and all other things necessarie for her marriage From thence he tooke his iourney very secretly with Ozalias towards Constantinople and lodged that night within two miles of the citie where they aduised not to shew themselues but only vpon the two first daies and then to depart away to take their voiage towards the isle of Carderie CHAP. XV. How Marcomyr commeth vnknowne vnto Constantinople where he won the price and honour of the first Iousting and the morrow after departed the court fearing to be sought out for the same cause THe marriage day of prince Ditreus and the infant Esquiuela being come the Emperour and all his knights put on their richest robes but aboue all others Arnedes the king of France his sonne appeared sumptuous and magnificent hoping to haue a sight of the princesse Philocrista her to whom the conquest of his heart was already vowed All thinges were in a readinesse and good order when the Empresse came forth with Philocrista and her two other young daughters to accompanie the bride to church who was so gorgeously attired with iewels and other rich ornameÌ„ts and likewise the thrée infants with many other ladies of the blood roiall that the great riches which was about their persons that day could not be valued nor could any humane tongue were it of the eloquent Demosthenes or Cicero once approch to tel the worthy praise of their rare and perfect beauties and especially that of the ladie Philocrista Who comming in sight of prince Arnedes did draw him into such admiration that but he had séene her he could neuer haue beléeued she had beene endued with halfe so naturall perfection For euen as the sun the most excellent of all planets shewing himselfe vpon the Horison through the great inextinguible light of his beames dimmeth the light of all other starres dazeling the eies of those who long time behold it euen so was it with the infant Philocrista whose celestial portraiture did obscure al other ladies néere about her and moreouer did much alter the iudgement of Arnedes who being confounded in his sensure did estéem the perfect beautie of this princesse farre aboue that of the goddesse who appeared to Paris Alexander in the mountaines of Ida when she had title to be fairest of the thrée Esquiuela and Philocrista
arraied in this sumptuous manner with all curiosity of iewels and womens ornaments were mounted vpon two white hacknies brauely harnessed and trapt to the ground with stones set in collets and buckles of gold finely wrought and embrodered ouer Next vnto whom rode Diocles mounted vpon a great Barbary horse caparassond after the turkish manner to conduct the bride and Abenunq her brother came next the Princesse Philocrista but Lechefin who loued her not the least put himselfe on the other side to goe front by front with her yet for all that Arnedes whom Cupido did impatiently maister wrought so cunningly by his amourous deuises that he got the place finely from him whereby he might behold her better at his ease whereat Lechefin fell in so meruelous an indignation that from thence forward he began to beare him more then a mortall grudge perceauing thereby very well he loued her as well as himselfe Recindos sorted himselfe with the infant Melissa Ditreus sister for she séemed to him excéeding faire and gratious with whom Rifaran who was her conduct made her quickly acquainted by saying it was the knight who vanquished the earle and that for his laudadable vertues he well deserued some fauour aboue the rest By meanes wherof she began to make him discourse of many excellent matters which she could do meruellous well by reason of the ripe vnderstanding and fine grace wherewith nature had enriched her For she néeded not to betaught to vse her tongue affably and discréetly Here by the way Recindos was so enflamed with her loue that as long as he liued the heat so liuely kindled dwelt in his heart that it could neuer be quenched after that time Now if he were wel pleased in mind the prince Arnedes was no lesse glad for his part beholding himselfe in that pearle of beautie which his deare ladie Philocrista inherited from the day of her birth whom he gaue well to vnderstand by his curious and often looking on her that he was her entire and perpetuall slaue yet neuer was so bold to tell her the least word in the world thereof such a strange humour felt he in his soule which forbad him to speake But in the meane time Lechefin whose eies fed of her beautie much gréeued at such an obiect did rage with gréefe and intollerable phrensie multiplying in his stomack more and more the rage and hatred he bore against him When all this honourable troupe was arriued within the principall church of the cittie the solemnity of the mariage was incontinent celebrated with great ceremonie then after the same order it came returned with as goodly pompe to the pallace where they did couer for the feast which was so sumptuous and magnificent in all thinges that it might almost compare with that of the gods held at the mariage of Peleus and the goddesse Thetis The tables were serued in and the princes and princesses all set and placed in their order then began a ioifull musicke in the which were instruments of all sorts here might the louers behold their ladies whereby they receiued an excéeding ioy in their hearts which they could not dissemble after dinner when they shewed by the agility of their bodies in dauncing the great desire euery one had to win the fauourable iudgement of his mistresse to be reputed the finest reueller In this iollitie past they that day away with great pleasure and content till the houre the bridegroome and bride were to goe to bed when the Empresse her selfe brought the Princesse Esquiuela into the bride chamber where she left her in a bed which was richly prepared for her and the Emperor himselfe brought Ditreus into the same and soone after euery one retired into his lodging Arnedes amongst the rest the ioisullest man liuing in his mind brake thus with Recindos How like you cousin the beauty of Philocrista did you euer sée a more rare and perfect péece Ah I must néeds hasten the end of this my most vrgent businesse to giue some howers of quiet rest to the anguish of my poore passionate heart wherfore I am determined to dispatch a post to the king my father to the end he send hether honourable embassadors who shall conclude this marriage with the Emperour Meane while I will sound the depth of this amourous riuer and I will sée whether the knowledge and wisdome of the spirit of Philocrista be correspondent to her singuler beautie and if so be her inward vertue second the excellencie wherewith nature hath outwardly endued her I may repute my selfe the most happie and fortunate knight who liueth vnder the zones of the heauen hauing her once in my power Surely sir replied Recindos you may truly praise her and I pray vnto God in deuout and humble praier our comming may succéed as well in my behalfe as I beléeue it will fall out shortly in yours for as touching my matter if the grace and courtesie of Melissa doe not giue mée some succourable comfort I may well assure you it had bene better for me I had neuer set foot in these countries Then Arnedes tooke him in his arms and embraced him saying O how glad and eased am I by these your words which haue pleased my hearing aboue all other Séeing by them I sée you are my companion in all things repose I pray you your firme hope in him on whom depend all things who by his deuine bounty shall direct our actions so well that with time they shall sort a happie effect And if it please him to fauor mine affairs that they cary aright and succéed I will worke yours till they compasse the matter you leuell at Courage then and let vs make the Gréeks know France bréedeth as good knights and men of as great valor as any nation in the world Upon these spéeches they went to take their rest till the morrow when the Emperour went forth into the fields with the Empresse and the new maried couple who were conducted by the thrée infants to the scaffolds which were richly hanged with clothes of state tissue where they might behold the triumph better at their ease Hard were it to count the number of ladies gentlewomen and others who were assembled without the citty to view this goodly sight the scaffolds were thorowly replenished and the presse on euery side the stages so great that it could not hold halfe the people for the knights only who came within the lists to Ioust made vp the number of six thousand all choice men and braue champions when they began to come to hands you might heare the aire ring on euery side with drums and trompets which sounded the assault and forthwith the combattants run together crashing their lances hacking and hewing one another with their cemitories and courtelaxes There might you haue séene a thousand blazing starres by reason of the glitring of so many braue frontstals helmets sheilds and guilded armours faire burnished and shining bright as the sun or as the Carbuncles in
would impute the fault to procéed from him notwithstanding she had not her heart vpon any other thing but on the knight to whom the honor of this victorie was truly due commending him to the heauens for his admirable addresse and magnanimitie Faine would she haue vnderstood the whole processe of his historie and knowing no better mean tooke to her aside her Embassador of the day before whom she setteth thus aworke vnspeakeable séemeth to me the generousnes of this strange gentleman who knew full well how to put in effect the resolution whereof he sent me word yesternight by you for which you must néedes goe thanke him from me and also for the great trauel and pain which he hath sustained to come for mysake thus far moreouer as he hath in ample sort shewed me his force and prowesse in armes tell him that I desire no lesse to sée his person being disarmed Wherein to satisfie me if he will be this euening at the banket with my brother who is newly espoused he shall doe me this pleasure which I wil not faile to account in the number of the kindest which I may receiue from him The yong man went to dispatch this message In the meane time while they did couer in the great chamber al their talke was of nothing else but of the great prowesse of the knight who had won the Tourney and that which drew the people into more admiration was that no bodie knew him not Ripolo himselfe who would very faine haue knowne the certaintie what he might be but none could giue him any certaine newes At the last Leifidaes page being come to Marcomyrs tent deliuered him his message in wise manner whereof the knight was meruelous well apaid and returned him this answer Gentleman I pray you certifie your mistresse from me that I would not for any thing disobey her commaundement because no other thing in the world forced me to come so far from mine owne countrie but an extreame desire I had to present vnto her my humble seruice reputing my selfe most happie if she will but employ me in any thing which may be pleasurable vnto her To goe sup with the Bridegroome it séemeth to me a thing a little repugnant to the small acquaintaunce which I haue as yet with him and with those of his companie neuertheles I thinke verily to be there soone after supper to the end mine eies may take their full repast at the obiect of the celestiall visage and comely grace of your mistresse beséeching you in all deare affection that you doe not make knowne to any who I am And if peraduenture I may speake a little in secret with her I shall tell her thinges which shall make her liue in ioifull content all the rest of her life Wherein if you will be a third agent loiall and fauorable to bée a meane of her good and your owne I will return you such recompence that you shall call a hundred and a hundred times happy the hower wherein through appointment of the destinies you met me by the way for albeit you sée me now alone and in this simple equippage of a knight errant I possesse neuertheles great wealth rich prouinces and great state Sir answered the messenger I will employ willingly my person to doe you all the seruice I may deuise in things which shal not empaire mine honor nor that of my mistresse and I will take beside very good order that you shall not be knowne of any but of hir who desireth extreamely to come to that point Then Marcomyr disarmed himselfe and cast a Turkish gowne about him carying vnder it his sword only came along with the yong man into the great chamber wher the feast was kept there standing in a corner where he might sée and be séene of Leifida began to eie her with none other then a demure smiling and fained looke to the end thereby to worke a cautelous meane to deliuer thence ere long the king of Thessalie And whilst he plaied his counterfeit pageant very circumspectly the page went vnto Leifida his mistresse telling her softly in her eare Sée yonder madam the knight vanquisher of the Tourney who praieth you in all deare loue you will not disclose him to any of this countrie whether he directed his voiage onely to sée if your beauty and excellent graces did second your renowne which resounded into his eares euen into his owne countries hoping if it be so for he hath alreadie opened to me the most secret gate of his heart so to employ himselfe in matters of all difficultie to come by your acquaintance that you shall haue none other occasion but to loue him at the least to thinke your selfe much beholding to him for the trauell you your selfe shall sée him take for the same effect The rest that hée told mee I will recount it you at leasure in a place that may séeme fit to make vnto you so long a discourse The Damsell who was sage and well aduised left off at that time to conferre any longer with her new secretary fearing least the assistants might misdéeme the loue which had alreadie too lightly ouercome her but being not able to dissemble it long time she cast her eies vppon Marcomyr who imagined still his plot how he might bring his matter about And she perceiuing him so pensiue interpreted this Saturnine stilnes to her good thinking it procéeded â—rom the rauishment that her beauty graces might haue driuen him into according to the news which her messenger had brought her before Ouer and aboue iudging in him more comelinesse forme and swéetnesse of phisiognomie then in any other whom she knew she was so enamoured in the very place with his entising looke that for the quenching of this flame she desired then no greater thing then to speake vnto him to know who he was Marcomyr neuer departed from the place till euery bodie almost was retired and his long tarying there séemed not to be in vaine assuring himselfe it would returne some â—ruit vnto him for he conceiued alreadie in his vnderstanding by the amiable and often eyings of the damsel that he should obtaine of her the greatest point of his desire the which he must néeds communicate to Ozalias who neuer boudged from him In fine when she saw them depart afterward she entered by and by into her chamber who calling aside to her the messenger of her loue she began thus Ah page most true are the words thou didst tell me of the knights beautie whose comely gesture and séemely grauitie if I deceiue not my selfe too much with his prowes and valor in armes make me déeme him the flower of the best accomplished gentlemen that I euer yet beheld Madame said the young counsellor if you will sée many perfections infused into one bodie I beséech you speake vnto him as soon as you may and let not slip out of your hands the happie and inestimable good which the destinies haue sent you