THE HISTORY OF Don Fenise A NEW ROMANCE Written in Spanish BY Francisco De las-Coveras And now Englished by A PERSON OF HONOVR LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his shop at the Prince's Arms in St Paul's Church-yard 1651. To the READER WEE shall not need to throw away words in commendation of this History Those that â—ave read it will save us that laâ—our and those that never saw it 〈◊〉 now they censure it will speake â—o late For the Book hath alreaâ—â— had honourable Test from the â—est Judgements in the Court and Academies of Spaine If you â—inke them partiall beleeve an Enemy one of the greatest Wits of France who in a Letter since printed writes thus to his friend Though I have little reason to doate on ought that but tast's of Spaine which fights against us and in one Summer robb'd me of a Brother and a Nephew Yet I confesse I am much enamour'd on the Booke you sent me The History of Don FENISE The Plots are so well mannaged the Passions cleane and naturall the Language chosen and proper and the whole Discourse so perfectly well wrought that I am sorry it was written by an Enemy to our Country I wish hee that speakes so excellently of Lovers did not hate France We allow'd them more Cunning not more Wit But this Author hath the happinesse of his own Nation of ours By this time perhaps you â—ike the Book but doubt the Transâ—ation 'T is now in your power and must speak for it selfe All I aske and 't is no buge Request that you would not pronounce upon it without comparing the Originall Otherwise you may do more wrong to the Translator than he hath done to the Author The severall Histories contained in this Booke THe History of Fenne and Laure pag. 10. The History of Don Lovis pag. 26. The continuation of the History of Laure pag. 35. The continuation of the History of Don Lovis pag 45. The history of Eufemie and Theodore pag. 60. The Second Booke The History of Rufine and Don Jovan pag. 88. The History of the Tragick Loves of Marcel pag. 116. The History of solitary Simeon pag. 128 The Third Book The History of Frederick pag. 147. The continuation of the History of Eufemie pag. 161. The history of Don Jame pag. 206. The Fourth Booke The History of Don Antonio pag. 250. The history of Don Charles and Violante pag. 295. The history of Don Garcia and Constance pag. 308. ERRATA Pag. 8. Rookes for Rocks p. 16. lin 31. a Chiâ—â—gooâ— ib. l. 32. sâ—â—recâ— p. 20. l 17. could for told p. ib. l. 18. dele when p. 36. l. 28. Splendor p. 41. l. 26. Heride for Lerida p. 3 13. Lult then for the. THE HISTORIE OF FENISE The First BOOKE IT was towards the Evening of one of the fairest dayes of the Spring time when Poleron one of the most accomplish'd Shepheards of the Mountaines and Meadowe neighbours of Toledo was neare unto a Fountaine enâ—ertaining his Thoughts but so sad that the various beauties of the Plants Streames could but veâ—y little recreate him A misfortune that had beâ—alne him kept him in this country place where in expecting that the Destinyes might be favourable unto him he served the Shepheardesse Jacinte whose Renowne did blemish the lustre of the faiâ—est of that Amiable habitation but his suite was not pleasing unto her Shee shewed him nothing but contempt the assured recompence of those that merit her the least She was the onely daughter of a Shepheard and dearely beloved of another who did possesse much more of the goods of Fortune then did Poleron the which did render her equally vaine and disdainefull towards those that courted her and who did endeavour by honest wayes to get accesse neare to her In such manner that playing too much the discreet and reserved person she made her disdaine to appeare Neverthelesse Poleron did not cease to continue the Vowes which he had made to serve her wherein he went beyond his Rivalls and wherein he had so good grace that hee was envied of all those which had the same intentions This Shepheard Walking about the Fountaine discoursed within himselfe of the extravagancies of Lovers and the divers effects of that passion as having a most particular knowledge thereof when as remembring himselfe of certaine verses that did agree with his opinion he song them for to recreate and entertaine himselfe with the Echo of those Rocks expecting that Jacinte would passe neere this Fountaine where she came almost every night when she might not bâ—â— importuned with the heate of the sunne they were these A Complaint against Love Thou wants as much judgement as ey no odds Thou little devill which subdu'st the gods For thou hat'st those that love thee onely those And like an insolent Proud Victor Never is thy rigour strictâ—r Then gainst such as submitt to thy dispose In all thy actions Treachery presides And th' Army of thy Passions Fury guides That gainst the Lawes of prudence will advance Thy food is poyson and no reason Can thy wild Discourses season by knowledge is by height of Ignorance When a poore Lover that hath worne thy chaines Imagines he hath tooke sufficient paines And his Remuneration lookes to have Then thy severitie regarding No high merit for rewarding â—ayes him with torments like a gally slave None more then I feeles how thy sorrow wafteâ— None lesse then I thy sweetnesse ever tastes â—he scornes me to whose favour I pretend I chase she flyes what strange misfortune Crosses me still to importune 〈◊〉 she resolve never to condiscend â—â—at such sad pressures may finde some reliefe 〈◊〉 little yet to mollifie my griefe â—rom hope alone vaine hope there drops a balme I in the aire am building Castles With the winde my Fancy wrastles And in a tempest searches for a calme Maugre the Demon's pow'r that blinds my sight And drives into an eternall night Yet through the storme my passage I extort But las when I have long been striving To scape death and am arriving My fate is to be shipwrackt in the Port. The Shepheard ending these last verses remained in so profound a consideration of their subject and so satisfied with his singing for there is no Musician that doth not take pleasure to heare himselfe that after having ended his musick he was a little time without perceiving the motion of certaine bushes which were neere him astonished it may be to see a man habited after another fashion then those who were accustomed to visit them in the end hearing this motion and seeing that there was no storme to cause it he was a little surprised but his admiration ceased by the presence of a yong Gentleman who came out of the thicket who coming to him said thus Shepheard the travells wherewith Fortune persecutes me and the favour that nature hath done you hath conducted me hither and although that being brought up amongst these Rocks it seemes
flying messenger and a cypher which I would have us use we shall presently come to the end of some high enterprise the secret of our cypher shall be to take the neighbouring letters to those we have need of as for example in stead of an A. take a B. for B. take C. for C. D. and so untill Z. for the which Z. we will take two AA then for to say I adore you I would put these letters K. BEPSF ZPW. yet if you finde not this convenient you may let it alone but for my part I shal alwayes much esteeme this eypher as most necessary to my good fortune and the secret Thus ended this letter which left some kinde of sorrow in the minde of Magdalene because she assured her selfe that this unknowne Cavalier was her brother This proximitie did not please her for as much as it did not accord with the love that begun to take place in her heart Erimene that penetrated into her most secret thoughts perceived well that there was something in the letter that pleased her not and to be cleared of the suspition which she had conceived she prayed Magdelene to tell her what it was that troubled her to the end she might comfort her Deere companion of my caprivitie said Magdelene to her you have just occasion to complain of me if I should reserve any secret from you and to testifie that my heart is open to you I will tell you truly that since the houre that my father made me to see the Cavalier I have had extraordinary troubles I know not whether it proceed from the influence of the stars Blood or the graces of that gentleman but I have suffered since that moment unquietnesses which I have hitherto beene ignorant of and also I have a certaine sorrow that he is so neere unto me I have said enough I am ashamed that I have so freely confessed my fragilitie unto you The ingenious Erimene having heard these words which confirmed what she had before imagined thought that this was a proper occasion to declare reciprocally to Magdelene the secret which she had hidden from her to incourage her love which ought to serve as a foundation to the edifice of their liberty Since that you have spoken to me with so much freedome said Erimene J am obliged to imitate you lest J give you occasion to accuse me of ingratitud and this shal be now to acquit me of that which J owe to the affection which you have so particularly testifyed unto me Vntill this present J have concealed from you my true name birth and country not to follow the ordinary custome of those who seeing themselves in a miserable condition vaunt to be of a greater extraction then they are to the end to move compassion or courtesie in others J told you at our first meeting that J was called Erimene that J was of the kingdome of Aragon and of meane condition at this present J will confesse the truth to you J am called Leonor Velazquez J am of Toledo and of noble birth Then she made him an ample narration of all the history which we have already recited of the death of Felix and her servant and the cruelty of Don Jouan her brother as it hath beene said in the first booke then she continued saying Having then considered by the tragique end of this unhappy lover which dyed for being disguised in my person by the cruelty of Don Jouan my brother and seeing also that he had slaine her in thinking to have killed me J conceived so great a hatred against him and his presence was so odious to me that since that time it was impossible for me to stay in his company For to separate my selfe entirely from him J lest Toledo and went with one of my cosens to the towne of Leride scituate in the province of Catalogna Amongst the pleasant conversations of this towne J saw a Cavalier whose perfections and good offices which he rendered mee obliged me to give him my heart and soule that J might not be reputed scornfull nor ingratefull But with your permission J will attend a more convenient time to recount unto you how J came to see him what ingaged me to love him what adventure brought me into this region and what subject hath ravished from me this object of my affection J will not for the present entertaine you with other things but what may be proper to comfort you in the paine you are in and moderate the unquietnesse of your spirit For this cause J tell you that this Cavalier which they disguise with the name of Don Louis is called Fenise J have divers times spoken and discoursed with him as being the intimate friend of my brother Don Jouan J knew then all his kindred and as soone as your father let us see him with him in Spanish habits J knew him to be the same J have now told you But having reasoned upon the disguisement under the which your father presented him to us J doe imagine that he did it for feare his presence which was unknowne to you should give you some apprehension To tell you by what meanes he is come hither how he hath made friendship with your father nor by what title he possesseth the house where he dwelleth I cannot for they are things I have no knowledge of but of his valour generositie discretion and wit I can much commend although not so much as his merits deserve so that if your sorrow proceede from the feare you have he is too neere you you may banish it at this instant and place instead or it a hope to arive one day at a glorious successe provided that we can but recover our deere libertie I this day see answered Magdalene that heaven is interessed in the alliance of our amitie I receive so much consolation from you that I do no longer fear what troubles can befall me the knowledge which you have given me of this Cavalier disperseth all the confusions wherewith my spirit was troubled In the paine which I had to believe what my father would make me understand I was a little moved to wish him well but for the present I must confesse to you that he possesseth my heart and that I take an extreame pleasure hi the increase of my affection I perceive now nothing that can trouble me upon this subject but feare that he should want inclination to esteeme my amitie No No answered Leonor you must not trouble your selfe a new I have experience enough to judg of him the just contrary to that thought I can assure you that he loveth you And that it must be so I will give you a testimony cleare enough let us looke againe upon the letter looke you regarde this example which he giveth you to use the Cypher it is not without mystery that he useth these words I adore you ading afterwards yet if you finde this not convenient you are not constrained the will ought to be
believed you are dead I do not so much marvell at this accident as I am troubled with the trouble we shall presently bring to the Feast when you shall make your self known which we must go about to do wisely and promptly for feare of a great disorder You have more cause to praise Persinde than to blame her since that he might have done this action sooner without any scruple of conscience and having attended untill this time she hath given you leasure to come to oppose the last execution Frederick approving these judicious reasons although he had his spirit much confused they entred into the hall where the assembly was covering their faces to see secretly the countenance of the future Bride and to know him which pretended to enter into the place of Frederick they put themselves into a corner standing upon a bench where certain people looked over the heads of others The first persons that Fenise cast his eyes upon as being in the place most eminent was Don Lovis his dear friend he who was the unknown sonne of Frederick and Leonard brother of Eufemie the Cavalier with whom he had made friendship after they had fought together near Valence as we have said before in the first book They were near the one to the other and with a Cavalier which Fenise could not see well enough to know but whom he judged to be of great condition as well by his rich habits as also because he took place of the other two Frederick nor Fenise knew not which was the pretended Bridegroom they demanded of one of those that was mounted upon the bench near who being as ignorant as they shewed them Don Lovis saying that it was he and that he was a stranger Fenise was much astonished at this prodigious encounter yet scarcely believed what this man had told him because of the inequalitie of their ages for he could not have more than twenty fix yeares and the woman might not onely have been his mother after the common manner of speaking but was indeed truly so Then he made a new experience of the â—ertue of Gold which makes conformity amongst things where there is no proportion In the interim Frederick ignorant of the thoughts of Fenise raised himself upon his toes attempting to see the pretended Widow he saw a troope of Ladies set in a circle but he could not distinguish his wife because they were all so brave and shining with stones then casting his eyes upon him they sayd should be her husband he was astonished at his great youth the more he considered all these things the more he was filled with confusion yet he said nothing leaving the conduct of this affair to the prudence of Fenise his spirit was moved with a thousand seâ—erall propositions which he made to himselfe to resolve how he should govern himselfe to declare the lawfull impediment of this Marriage without being the cause of some great dissention which seemed to be inevitable in this businesse In the end he found an invention to doe it without scandall He turned towards Frederick and told him that for to make this enterprise proceed happily he would advise him to return to the Inne to fetch the three Ladies who were there making them take their best attires and put their Mants upon them that is a great vail which the women have in Spain which they carry upon their heads which covereth all their bodies unto their heels also to pray Don Jame and Don Geronime to accompany them and if they would to bring Charles with them being of their company and in the interim he would have a care to hinder the solemnity of the Marriage if they went about it whilst he made this little voyage Frederick who had no other will but that of Fenise whom he knew to be as much affectionated to his interests as himselfe went incontinently to satisfie his desire Fenise seeing himself alone would do an action of gallantry which is esteemed in Spaine upon such occasions he glided behind the spectators and came to the Violins prayed them to look to his cloak and sword then he put a piece of cypresse before his face entred into the middle of the Hall and inviting the future Bride to dance who did not refuse him although he was unknown caused a Galliard to be sounded where he made himselfe admired in many things for besides his being well clothed his proportion disposition and action in this exercise ravished the eyes and affections of all the Assembly who died with desire to know who he was at the end of the dance he let fall industriously his cypresse as if it had been against his will and presently Don Louis knew him Never man had greater excesse of joy without losing his life then this Cavalier then had his speech failed him but his arms expressed his gladnesse he ran to embrace him and held him locked unto his neck untill Leonard who also knew him came to take part of his contentment testifying that he was almost angry that he had not possessed this felicity the first Don Fenise knew not which of them to welcome the better he looked upon them and imbraced them both at the same time making them the most courteous and amiable demonstrations his heart could invent After all these actions he took them out of the middle of the Hall and whilst the other Cavaliers and Dames of the Assembly were moved with this joy and devising together endeavouring to divine who it should be he spoke and testified to these two friends the astonishment which he had to finde them so happily at Cartagene and at the hour of his arrivall at Feasts and Nuptiall Solemnities which he esteemed said he as prodigious as joyfull for he yet believed that Don Louis was to marry her who brought him into the World To bring in the discourse which he had to hold him he prayed Leonard to permit him to entertaine Don Louis in particular and when he was retired he made him this discourse I believe that you are not ignorant that you are in the house of your Father this is it that hath given me an impatient desire to know by what meanes you came to the knowledge thereof At these words Don Louis made a gesture of admiration which was followed with this discourse My dear Fenise that which you tell me filleth me with as great aftonishment as your presence with joy so that although we have neither place nor time proper to make long discourses yet I have so great a desire to heare you explicate your self more clearly that for to oblige you thereunto I will presently satisfie your demand About two moneths after you was departed from Valence being revenged of the treachery of Don Jouan I went to Barcelone with intention to learn newes of Hipolite and see if there was means to remedy her sicknesse two dayes after my arrivall I learned of our friend Octave that her indisposition amended every day These newes animated
extremitie I desired to see this disloyall yet once to attempt to reduce him to reason and his duty I therefore went out by the favour of the night for this effect but considering that all men are dispenced from respect when they meet a woman alone in the streets and in the darke J stayed some ten steps from our house expecting that there should passe some one whom J might judge my selfe able to entreat to serve me for scout It seemeth that heaven amongst the infelicities which oppressed me would gratifie me with the good fortune of your encounter since that there had already passed three men of fashion good enough before you came to whom I spoke not a word but as if you had beene reserved for to render me this pious office my genius excited me to call you when you came neere me The prayer that I made to you when you stayed Sentinel at that doore which was not to trouble your selfe with the noyse which you might heare was grounded upon the hope which I had to receive satisfaction in this place for the injuries of this disloyall if he did not content me but two men that were with him hindred mine enterprise for I imagined they might stay the blow which I would give him or at the least having executed it they would put me into the hands of justice Seeing then that I ought not to hazard my selfe so rashly I approached to this ingrate with the action of a suppliant but in stead of receiving as he ought onely in consideration of my quality and to attribute to an excesse of love the resolution which I had taken to come finde him in this company he tooke occasion therefrom to treate me as a publique woman adding to the infamy of my violated honour the shame of seeing my face massacred by his rash hands Is there in the whole world a woman of so little courage that could support so many injuries without giving an exemplary chastisement to all ingrates Animated then with a furious and just anger I resolved to revenge my selfe yet this wicked man is happy amongst his misfortunes that he hath received his death from a hand which he hath so often kissed and almost adored If I haue not employed you in this action Seigneur Don Charles it was not that I believed otherwise but that you would have generously enterprised it but I repute your blood too noble to ballance it with that of a traytor Although I have taken away his life with a pistoll I doe not believe that I have used foule play for without that there would have beene too great inequalitie betwixt my weaknesse and his strength my rock and his sword what ever it was my victory ought not to have been doubtfull otherwise I should not have beene revenged In fine he is dead and God hath permitted iâ— to be so to accomplish the imprecations which he called upon him and for to chastise him for having violated the faith where he had called to witnesse the Almighty his glorious mother and all angelicall powers There is no doubt but you I shall be suspected for his death you because every one knoweth that you are his enemy and rivall and I for having taken vengeance of the perfidiousnesse which all the world knowes he hath done me for my part I will enjoy the vaine glory of my vengeance and avoid if I can the paine I may suffer being accused before my justifications may be received therefore I am resolved to absent my selfe Jf you will goe with me J shall testifie unto you the esteem which J have of your person and how sensible J am of the obligations which J have to you I have already provided what is necessary for that purpose There is an ancient servant of my fathers which attends me at his house with jewells of great price and some money which J have given him to keepe three good horses See if your heart wisheth to doe it time presseth and permits us to consult no longer things the least premeditated ofteâ— times issue the best Admiring her generositie considering her judicious reasons and above all suffering my selfe to be carried away with the love I bore her which was newly increased by the defeate of the enemy which she had taken away from mâ— I resolved to follow her with promise never to abandon her Vpon the instant we went to the mans house she had spoken of who was well advanced in yeares but yet sound strong of body and of great experience We tooke these three horses which Violante had prepared for to save her selfe with this man and a woman not thinking of encountring me and with the pearles diamonds and mony we put our selues diligently into the rode of Toledo and arrived there the next morning It was not judged expedient for us to stay there any longer but whilest Orambel so was our guide called could buy us poore country habits With this equigage we gained the mountaines neere to Toledo with designe to buy goods and flockes and inhabit there as we were in qualitie of country people untill we had given order for our affaires The age of Orambel agreed very well with ours for our plot we had made to say that he was our father he had the care of all our affaires and went sometimes disguised to Madrid to learne what was said of the things wherein we had interest for which cause we were not willing to goe further from the court I tooke the name of Lizeron and Violante the name of Lacinthe the better to disguise us We lived there in great repose imploying the time we two in perfectioning our loves after the manner of the shepheards described in Diana de Montemayor whilst that Orambel our adopted father governed household affaires During our abode there there arrived many strange encounters to us which I will not enterprise to recount unto you fearing to trouble you yet it is almost impossible for me to hinder my self from reciting one adventure that happened to us one day Then Don Charles made the discourse of his encounter with Fenise as it hath been said in the beginning of the first book adding in continuing thus we diâ—â—â—â—ed the troubles of a country life where the daies 〈◊〉 very long and great repose displeasing Vioâ—â—â— oâ—ten received letters from her Father which â—â—â—mbel went to fetch at her Aunts house amongst others she received one wherein her father let her know that hee was kept in his bed by a sicknesse which the Physitians presaged would endure a long time and therefore he could not return into Spaine that it was necessary for her presently to come into Italy to take possession of his goods to the end that if she remained an Orphan she should not bee a poore one Violante durst not undertake so long a voyage finding her selfe then indisposed she intreated me to take it for her saying that it would not be unbeseeming taking the quality of her husband I