more then wish wel to such all pleasing goodnes say you so answered Coranus then would my dâ—…lling my selfe or my daughter had any meanes to inuite you to contenment promise for your selfe good Father replyed Deltona For company worketh temptation and Yongmens flatteries are the baites of out modestie which they suppose with a few idle praises to supplant Nay quoth Montanus for my part I will not abuse what is of worth with flatterie but thinke that prayses proceede from necessitie Then belike sayde Deltona you make praysing a necessary helpe to flatterie that was cunningly concluded But I hope answered hee you will not so hemme in my speeches with vnkind exception No no replied Coranus be sure my daughter meanes well whatsoeuer shee saitâ—… and quoth Deltona Montanus speakes well whatsoeuer he meaneth and Deltona lookes well answered Montanus to be spoken vnto But words said she be like the passage of a shippe leauing no shew behinde of her course and promises resemble fading shadowes Then try performance replied Montanus vertue appeareth in her liueliest colours in action Nay yet obiected Deltona better liue with want os something may be wished for then in certaintie of euery thing breedeth trouble Why quoth Montanus is there such trouble in Marriage I assure you not said Coranus for if the parties loue vpon a sure ground they resemble a building strongly founded and one part depending on another equally deuideth the comfort againe when inconueniencies arise least the burden proue too grieuous a yoke-fellow helpeth between them it is made lightsome besides the tirannie of want is surprised with content and mutuall agreement ouer commeth necessitie But letting this passe beleeue me Montanus we are very glad of your companie and since your aduenture me thinkes there appeareth I know not what alteration But I know said Deltona to look smooth to dispute cunningly to seeme ceremonious to bring presents to vse protestations and commit errors and if all this tende to good purpose I see no cause of mislike nor I of liking answered Deltona but to despise all these and make account of simple trueth Well quoth Coranus let vs set our teeth on worke as we haue done our tongues and for conclusion Deltona and I will visite Placandus to morrow Thus passed away the time and this meeting with the time yet could not Montanus after thankes for his entertainement but take a kinde leaue of Deltona leauing her indeed musing at the departing with these tearmes My life and Loue once for all liue to be happy and suppose there is more in Montanus loue then thou canst imagine so farewell and let them feare ill that wish not Deltona to farewell But least he should ouerprise this iollitie misfortune presented him to an ominous chance the meeting with Franio the same Franio whose willingnesse to mischiefe exceeded his power yet had his power compassed some hatefull stratagems The same Franio whose arme was broken in wrestling with Montanus and whose heart receiued infection from the sirruppe of malice The same Franio who therefore pryed into Montanus actions not with a desire of imitation nor with a slender wickednesse only to find fault at imperfection but with an implacable hatred to supplant him as the least occasion hapned euery way playing the Monster of Nature neither daring to execute his owne reuenge nor willing that he should perceiue him reuengefull For still his countenance was as full of flatterie as the heart of Deceit This appeared in his ceremonious saluting of Montanus which continued with tearmes of good will and by way of insinuation gaue him notice his Iorny was discouered insomuch that he knowing excuses would increase suspition in good fashion told him how Placandus had intreated Coranus and his Daughter to visit him to morrow That is very strange quoth Franio for euer since the Duke threatned to steale her away wee neuer saw her but at the Feast Heere might Montanus haue easily stepped into a litle curiosity as not yet acquainted with any certainty of this story but loth to be beholding to such a man for a discourse he somewhat cunningly shifted him off by excuse of businesse as contraries departed the one full of diuolish mischief the other of honest desires When Montanus came home he told his Father the substance and circumstance of his Iorney the sicknesse of Deltona the entertainement of Coranus 〈◊〉 â—…lke at their dinner the manner of his departing and the meeting with Franio withall he asked Placandus if Deltona were borne in that Countrie and the reason because he thought her behauiour ouerstately and that she managed a different cariage from the rest To be plaine answered he it is full twelue yeares since her Father and she were cast on shore by shipwracke where euer since they haue continued with such applause regard that of him we haue esteemed as a man industrious and peaceable and of her as a very sparke of delight Well sayd Montanus she will be here to morrow and then I per wade mee wee 〈◊〉 heare of newes But returning to Deltona she finding it but densome to keepe her meditations so inclosed conceiued of reliefe in reuealing them Truly quoth she to her Father my minde giues mee this man is but the subiect of some 〈◊〉 for a time else from whence comes this grace this gallantnesse this maiestie withall His last speach there is more in Montanus discouerre then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…agme Then belike quoth Coranus he spake to you of Loue I cannot dissemble answered she he did it his own speeches had not condâ—…ed me into the fields or expectation he might questionlesse haue marched in the tryumpd or his vertuous conquest Now was Coranus 〈◊〉 for remembring his troubles past the greatnesse of Deltonas birth the wonderfull matters depending on her discouerie hee trembled to giue his 〈◊〉 to any â—…paragement and yet 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thoughts with her owne Storie againe in a prescience of Montanus hee suspected a worse displeasure it it should afterward appeare that he had been an obstacle to his desires Therefore with a kinde of indifferencie like a skilfull Rider that neither checketh too hard for feare of disordering the mouth nor yet giueth that liberty to countenance any head-strong defect hee thus replyed Well Deltona hitherto all is well and since you are thus amended thinke the Gods keepe their mercy in store and powers inscrutible Let not vs then subuert the frame of their workmanship by beeing wilfull or preiudicate but rather consent to direction and aduice which resemble the props of a ruinous Building Bee therefore affable yet vse it as a vertue not imperfection Loue with relation to deseruing worth yet consent not too soone least thy good meaning be misinterpreted Consent at leasure yet keepe chastity secured so shalt thou be sure of more desire and more reuerence For though men say they can be contented with a vertuous familiarity yet is the conquest of that the India
would not degenerate from honour and vertue And in Montanus of Loue and Anger his Loue supposing nothing impossible to be attempted his Anger assuring to be compassed what so euer might be attempted and thus went hee forward vnaccompanied vntill Coranus ouertooke him entring into the Towne which they found full of rumours by reason of the accident This imboldned him to bid Montanus stay awhile for Wilfulnesse repenteth when Reason openeth the eyes of Vnderstanding and his Counsell must be the Threed to direct him out of this Laborinth Counsell how you will quoth Montanus so it tende to recouer Deltona Then must you be attentiue a while replyed Coranus for strange and dangerous is the Storie Is it time now answered hee to tell tales or to tryfle No no Pleasure and conceites are not sutable to this feate and haste besides in matters of necessitie delay openeth the sluce of Inconuenience Tush sayd Coranus you mistake mee much But O eternall Powers whom doe my eyes behold Bertosus loyall Bertosus my brother and deaâ—…fellow Bertosus With that they saluted a comely Old man of the Cittie who mooued with the first vprore and like a right Naturalist thirsting after Newes posted to the Court to be beholding to Truth for hauing a Sonne named Egerius of secret respect with the princely Philano the first borne of the Duke hee presumed on his knowledge and credite but thus intercepted by Coranus whom in thirteene yeares hee had not seene nor euer supposed to haue seene as long since seeing the neuer satisfied Ocean swallow him vp hee was confounded the strangenesse making them both as strange vntill the extasie moderated gaue Remembrance leaue to play her part then appeared Knowledge and Comfort in full life and after a second ceremony of kindnesse tuned the organs of Speech to this purpose But doth Brizaca liue quoth Bertosus I if Trezoboro be preserued said Coranus Then hath the Gods mightily fauoured Coranus replyed Bertosus And miraculously protected Bertosus answered Coranus Now was Montanus astonied for these new names increased new thoughts and the strangenesse of the nouelty rebated his first heate distempering him with a trembling desire Oh said Coranus now shall you heare a discourse of some trouble bee therefore more considerate good Montanus and let Bertosus salute thee With that a mannerly ceremony passed betweene them vntill Bertosus counselled to returne to his house where the benefite of Aduice might be thus farre aduantagious vnto them that the Duke made acquainted with the matter would questionlesse proceed in a new course But ere they were entred into a full passage of speech Egerius all ready enamoured on the excellent Deltona tormented to se another in possession of his delight came home to his father very sad yet was he the sadder for comming home because ignorant whom his father accompanied his determination of solitarinesse seemed disappointed and but that the gallantnesse of Montanus as it were naturally attracted a respect his first course had entertained a further fullennesse yet being a Courtier who seeme to be the professors of humanity indeed arrogate to themselues the essential knowledge of curtesie and good manners but especially induced by some regardable appearance hee saluted them with a very good grace whereby delight it selfe seemed to play in the greeting For Egerius countenance not so much as down'd with the difference of Sexes kept an extraordinary grauity Montanus comelynesse an vnaccustomed temperature which pleased Egerius and Egerius pleased Montanus who demanded many questions tending rather to necessitie then curiositie answered without ambiguitie or circumstance In the meane while Coranus and Bertosus paceâ—… out the very secrets of their knowledge and concluded to participate the same to Egerius who hauing the greatest interest in the matter might remember himselfe and remember the Duke that Deltona was farre surpassing her selfe wherupon Bertosus not without a reuerent contrarietie taking Egerius by the hand thus began If the Gods had not their Iudgements inscrutible and vnited to supernaturall power a prerogatiue beyonde mans capacitie wee might slightly estimate their mightinesse and step into presumption of our industry but because they will giue vs notice of their all working preeminence miraculous and strange accidents draw vs to admiration and that men may be subiected euen the greatest estates feele the scourge of affliction This appeare thin the Discourse now intended For concerning your selfe no longer Sonne nor Egerius but princely Trezoboro Concerning Deltona no longer Deltona nor Coranus Daughter but priselesse Brizaca And concerning vs no longer the reputed fathers of Mengrelius children but loyall vassals to the Emperour of Trebizonda With that he vnfolded many intricate circumstances of his birth losse and fortune whereby it appeared that Egerius was sonne to the Emperor Mengrelius of Trebizond by the name of Trezoboro that Deltona was his twin Sister and called Brizaca and Coranus with Bertosus were brothers to whose trust the charge of their infancie was committed But thinke you did Montanus heare this or did hee wonder at the hearing or remayned he silent at the wondring or seemed hee amazed in the silentnesse Surely he heard wondred kept silence and 〈◊〉 amazed yet quieted his thoughts and gaue Time a little scope to play with the nouelty expecting a prosperous euent But Egerius adding a new spirit to 〈◊〉 to wardlynesse and yet retayning his wonted affabilitie replyed Seeing it hath pleased the Gods thus to make you the instruments of their power let not me be ingrateâ—… either in the diffidence of their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neglect of regard to you whose honesty loue and paines haue made tryall of so many inconueniencies for our sakes Yet least the Duke coupling Power and Wilfulnesse togeather yeeld Intemperance full liberty and so we may â—…ment but not redresse the misehiefe I thinke it requisite to awake his sleeping honor by sounding the trumpet of strangenes into his â—…ares telling that Fortune hath an 〈◊〉 and to relate 〈◊〉 was â—…ered with such an allacrity of spirit and 〈◊〉 of speech that the hearers promised to them selues what so â—…uer the expectatioÌ„ of a Prince could afford whereupon the next morning they accompanied him to the court Egerius saluting the princely Philano was answered as if loue had in sumpathy pleased one another Then quoth Egerius let this loue acquaint the Duke that a matter of importance is to be discussed and how I am to impart the circumstance Heere omitted friendship no part of her dutie for the willing Philano presented himselfe before his Father and certified their accesse and the cause But whether a feare to be preuented of enioying Deltona made euery conceit a suspition of her hazzard or some vncomfortable misdoubt fore-tolde anothers interest to the thing he vsurped he quite degenerated from his owne Customes vntill Philano seeing his Egerius attend vnregarded conferred againe with the Duke and he sommoning his Counsell as if the Common-wealth claimed a redresse was at last ouer-ruled by them
reioycing where hee remayned and the world trembling whither his fame was dispersed For honorable industrie increased Riches Riches amplication amplication reuerence and reuerence feare which though against others engendred hate yet toward him was the cause of loue in regard hee was loth to acquaint them with any displeasing Newnes and they respectious to giue no occasion of inconsiderat neglect but remained in one vnitie of loue as hee did in one method of discipline When Mengrelius saw his Ioy triumph ouer Anoyance and that hee had leasure to actuate his Ambition he proclaimed a publike Celebration as if he meant to make the day of this Peace a glorious Feastiuall whereby the people were acquainted with vnacquainted Ceremonies confirmed the manner of the State knowing when to appoynt and to whom proportion both Honour and respect This was made manifest because they solemnised his Coronation with willingnesse beautified his Pompe with cost augmented his Triumph with Presents and diuulged their good Opinion with acclamations And truly most mighty Duke whethâ—…r he had a desire in him selfe to make his Renowne a worthy subiect of Report or that his Fathers example suborned his industry hee performed so many things tending to perfection that euery one adored him as a God in the world and magnified the time as the yeares of true comfort wherein hee might haue tempted the reuenger of all contempt with scorne of alteration had not remembrance of the Oath to his Brother and Couenaunts to Carambello dashed out all ouerboldning conceites much like an Aprill tempest chancing in a moment to the dismay of a Gardner boasting of a sun-shyning morning to grace his handy worke this strocke a pensiuenesse for a time and did indeed add an outward countenance of demission For considering that in hauing a Wife the blessing of a Wife was to be quite extinguished and the name of a Mother a most wretched title in her owne Children by reason of their murder Who could but tremble at the conceit and exclaime on the vnaduisednesse of such enforcement Till at last Time the consumer of all things ware out the print of that feare Youth the maintayner of Carelesnesse would needes haue recourse to Pleasure Nature an enemie of Deuises scorned to be counterchecked with Appoyntment Fortune the Mistris of of Alteration stomaked the stedfastnesse of mans Proposing and Loue the Father of Fancie raged to be suppressed with a peeuish Promise Wherevpon they conspired in a league and brought him to the house of Wantonnesse where he was welcommed according to his worth and ouer-esteemed for his wealth and greatnesse For whether hee meant to satiate an incontinent liberty heere were such as knew the power of a Princes dalliance or whether hee meant to limit his affection to a vertuous choyce heere were such as secured chastity with a victorious army of good thoughts but when that Iudgement was to be giuen though his communication extended to variety of disport hee onely liked his sister Arcabella to their greater despight whom fauour for beautie beautie for countenance countenance for comelinesse comelinesse for delight and all for Maiestie had so extraordinarily graced that neither kindred interposed her neerenesse nor conceit of mischance to come rebated his desires but hee made tryall of her modestie and layde downe his Crowne as the rewarde of consent and shee considering that Emperours make no Prentishipp of their Contracts without delay or nicetie tooke hold of opportunities hayrie top Thus was the Mariage happily concluded and speedily celebrated with glorious Triumphs belonging to state and stately continuance appropriate to Kings so that Ballutasa as a gladsome Mother reioyceth and Arcabella as a happy wife is comforted till requited with an husbandly duty and making shew to the world of an irrecouerable losse by her swelling Wombe an vnkind remembrance checked her iollity and affoorded occasion to others in this manner to descant What meanes Mengrelius now to performe the couenant so vnnaturally graunted or violate his oath so dangerously made Shall an Emperour be a bloody executioner of his owne Childe or a Tyrant ouer his Country Must Trebizouda be reproched for immanitie or reprooued for perfidiousnesse Can it stand with naturall pietie to destroy faultlesse Infants or regardable Honour to tryfell out so strange a composition Surely Content repineth at the inequalitie For either shall Kalucki haue occasion of new Warre or a wretched Murder continue an old Peace NOtwithstansting these doubts though Arcabella might haue made him a ioyfull Father yet he ere nine howers caused her to be a sorrowfull mother For the Child was marked to the house of death as soone as the birth gaue notice of his sexe which done vnkindly pacified Arcabella vuderstood it must be so and the too late repenting Balutasa was assured it should be so Thinke not yet any outward Maske so obscured the continuance of sorrow but many perceiued the Emperours allacritie dulled and the very life of the Court discouraged As for Arcabella whom dellicatenesse made more subiect to griefe griefe manifested in her the effect of griefe sadnesse and teares which by reason of neglect resembled Spots made by the enuy of an vnlucky hand on a white wall Oâ—… vnluckly staines disgraciously chancing to some pure Linnen nor was this vngentlenes so satisfied but enforced as many sighs as teares and pangs as sighes with whose violence the heart had broken but that the spirit driuen as farre as the passage of the mouth by the life of the tongue procured some ease O inscruâ—…ible powers qd she whom the frame of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the wonders of the world compell to acknowledge can you seeme so inexorable that after so many forcible intercessions I yet am destitute of reliefe and subiect vnto all wretchednes and opproâ—…ry For is not the glory of my life quire raced when the benefite of hauing children in the hauing them is disappoynted Who else lamenteth not when this blessing is wanting Who else complaineth for enioying the Prerogatiue Better had it been that I had neuer been the louing child of a happy mother then to be now the vnhappy mother of an vnfortunate child whom impartiall Destenie hath not onely denyed but an vnnaturall Father despightfully murdered Murdered yea too too cruelly murdered yet witlesse and impatient To complaine of my Emperour must proceed from passion for he is bound to honorable strictnesse I am subiect to dutie and alleagence To complaine of Fortune will detect more weaker â—…s for she distibuteth with carelesnes and is inconsiderate in her fauours To complaine against the Gods is execrable they framing all things to good purpose and we vnframing them to bad appetites What shall I then doe cast ouer the account againe and then euen I haplesse Arcabella must support the burden of this horrer I consented to disappoint the first borne of his birth-right and am now reuenged with my first borne liues right I infringed the law of nature and am now tormented
against the law of all nations and am now 〈◊〉 because my hopes are abortiue and am now without all excuse For I was an Actor in Kaluckis tragedie and must con-continue an agent in Mengrelius miserie These broken speeches had not their passage in stillnesse for Sabina her quondam Nurse pressed with dutie and care ouer-watched and ouer-heard her distemprature and for feare shee might haue burdened her tender heart with to â—…ore conceit discouered her self aâ—…d thus presumed to try whether counsell and comfort had made a league together Leauing most peerlesse and long I hope to continue most peerelesse Princesse to agrauate your griefe either with as much griefe or more teares I hope my former vndâ—… Zeale shall â—…fie that the imparting of your sorrow hath deuided the same wherfore I thought it part of my dutie to studie for redresse which the Godâ—… I hope haue consented vnto in this manner Let a iorney bee made to Delphos There will the Oracle either disanull the vnmercifull coâ—…ts as ouer ruling by deuine reuolution or ratifie the crueltie as a distributiue iustice in reuenging abusâ—… wickednes in after ages by the one must Kalucki remit the composition as vnreasonable by the other Mengrelius maintaine it as prodigious This was so well liked of Arcabella that present ioy chased away the enemies to health griefe and dispaire making way to cheerefulnes with whose helpe beautie appeared in more liuely colours and so shee hasted to the Emperour whom finding at leisure or causing other affayres to tarry her leisure after some debating of the matter she confirmed to her opinion yet for a while she was vnanswered by his musing on the successe resembling a man ready to taste of an inchanted Cuppe whose propertie by shedding or sauing the drinke warrenteth a chaste or dissolute wife and reasoning thus what do I now attempt If she be found constant it is no lesse than I expect If incontinent it is that I would not know without doubt I will therefore make no such triall but in this point Mengrelius kept not correspondencie For though he impugned the iourney by many arguments yet at the last he promised Arcabella to go in person and sealing the couenant with an amorous kisse dismissed her to entertaine a greater delight and applyed himselfe to the conuenient dispatch of the Progresse Stay a while my Egerius quoth the Duke and let vs be resolued what aduenture hath enforced this hurliburly in the Cittie With that they might heare the Alarum-bell of the Hauen ring out and a Messenger discouered King Zalbys approch whom a strange accident had drawne downe into the nether Comagena the dispatch whereof and neerenesse to the place where the Duke his Nephew was reziant gaue libertie to a motion of kindnesse to put it selfe it practise and thus occasioned his accesse to Fortona IN the setled time of King Zalbyâ—… gouernment the neither Comagena was famous for the Riuer Gozaxs playing the wanton betwixt the Pallaces of the Lords Cusanach and Soltimos which as you see a Messenger bring glad tydings to one and so returne to another ran through a pleasant valley to Cusanach and backe againe to Soltimos proportioning both the sides of a Peninsule with a current of 15. Leagues For first it went forward with iollitie to the East and then as if it had beene proud of some good Newes with a stately compasse least too short turning might hinder his good speed whirled backe againe to the West and by often recourses at last acquainted the inhabitants with the birth of two sonnes two sons famous to the world for Natures first life famous in the world for liues strange loue famous from the world for loues vnmatchable continuance which made death stomach the 〈◊〉 For as the worke finished in them both shewed but one person in both though parted in motion so the mindes of both grew with their bodies to a Sunpathy and resembled sweet musicke made by the well tuning the strings onely their names accorded to this difference that Cusanach taught Xantippus the dutie of a sonne and Soltimos shewed Encelidon the affection of a father and surely how euer greatnesse breedeth many times contempt the secret enemy of conuersation and absolute hinderer of former amitie yet heere did the fathers liue without grudging and the sonnes proportion their affections accordingly as not debarred by the distance of their dwellings from counter-changeable meetings and inseperable familiaritie in eating lying liuing and louing together keeping time in their actions as if they had determined to conclude some woonder of friendship in the world and indeed appeared like Twinne-brothers of one mother both in habite fashion demeanour and what circumstances soeuer may make any thing like another yea it grew to that rare and admirable effect that when Xautippus had with strange conflicts resisted his passion least the loue of Eucasta beautious Eucasta and in being beloued of Xantippus fortunate Eucasta should deuide the loue of his friend he yet continued the same Xantippus and would not permit Encelidon to depart from Xantippus nor could indeede Encelidon digest any thing but what liked Xantippus AT last Fortune despighted to behold such a mirrour of immutability bribed the sonne of Venus as the Poets vse to sing to sow the seedes of Diuision which how euer they rooted were sprinkled in Encelidons heart and began to spring forward as sweetned with the graces of Eucasta which like the translucent beames of so me fayre Planet shewed tokens of admiration rather then knowledge so that Encelidon could not but loue Eucasta Eucasta could not but like Encelidon because hee was like Xantippus and Xantippus loued Eucasta the better for liking Encelidon till the controuersie grew betwixt a passion ouerruling Reason and true Friendship ouermastring Idle humors But when Encelidon perceiued no way of comfort but by beeing a traytor to Zantippus friendship preuayled and hee chose rather to die then to be found dissoyall so that after many circumstances of discontentment hee would haue killed himselfe had not the working of his spirit compelled the tongue to intreat Death not to be too too cruell by which occasion with the fortune of ouerlooking his deâ—…neanor Xantippus was made acquainted with the errour of Encelidon and Encelidons distraction exposed both feare and trouble yet the admirable innated loue expelled the combersome enemies of his quiet Ielosie and Mistrust and by way of kindnesse hee expostulated with Encelidon the cause of his griefe distemperature and now desperate attempt But as you see a guiltie man disconsolare with the iudgement of Conscience and Law concluding his finall end so stood Encelidon hauing nothing to answere but amazing lookes and a deiected countenance wherein Xantippus might read the mischiefe pretended and by his abashed vnwillingnesse to reueale found and at last compelled him so to confesse the first discouerie to be true Encelidon had no sooner cursed the day of his Birth Fortune Loue Heauen Earth and Hell that thus had
mother added forceable reasons shee raised a strong partie and determined to repaire by force of Armes what her slender policie as she tearmed it had almost ruined so that Xantippus was compelled to stand on his gaurd and when he perceiued how he which only lyeth at defence helpeth himselfe but a little withdefence after to make an offensiue war To this Encelidon and the house of Soltimos was auxiliary and the two friends gloried in their constancie and cared not who stomaked the successe of their businesse till at last the many slaughters and distractions of the Prouinces pleaded for redresse and king Zalby was cornpelled in person to come into Comagena to limit or restraine these mischiefes yet wrought his presence no other attonement but the surceance of the warre For Eucasta or Iugeroth in her daughters behalfe would not hearken after any reconciliation and Xantippus denied to be diuided from Encelidon because Encelidon concluded neuer to be seperated from Xantippus THis was the occasion of king Zalbys comming to Fortona at such time as Egerius related the Historie of Mengrelius whereupon they all dissisted from the worke in hand to attend the Duke who made it a matter of respect and specialitie to remember the Kings worth as being his Vncle in blood and father for directions and corroboration in his estate whereupon the Officers of his Houshold omitted nothing which belonged to the state of his person the dignity of the present Court Thus is King Zalby feasted and much satisfied to be so magnificently feasted thus is the Duke established in the strengthening amitie of such a mightie Prince thus is Deltona cheered that no action of Rugios ouer-passed the limmits of moderation But thus is Montanus perplexed as confounding desire distrust together at last the Duke imparted to the King all the circumstances of his loue Rape of Deltonas demeanor contempt of Egerius complaint discourse which the King because he had bin long fince cursorily made acquainted with Kaluckies banishment Mengrelius aduancement desired to heare at large Like a man tasting on delicates who more longeth to fill his stomach after the proofe of the sweetnes then before whereupon the Duke soon conferred with his sonne Philano conceruing the matter who as soone certified Egerius of the Kings pleasure who as soone confented to obey the pleasure and dispatch the matter wherein he thus proceeded THe great Eye of heauen most mighty Princes had not fully viewed all the parts of the earth nor time chased with such swiftnesse the course of the yeere but that the fruitfull Arcabella once againe gaue notice of her pregnancie and signified to the world she was borne to be a mother what Disaster soeuer went about to disappoint her which only hasted the Emperors iourney forward who setting on worke all the parts of his thoughts made a hundred seuerall fashions of one piece Sometimes with more quicknesse then good speed running ouer all the course of former occurrents with a certaine heart-breaking at his Brothers exile but surfetting on that dish hee loathed the dyet and choaked himselfe with the delight of principalitie next hee remembred the contract whereof the very terrour made him abashed to thinke in what madnesse it was ratified then and with what remorce repented now anon hee conceited how his subiects were affected if either the murther of his children should continue or the breach of such inhumane couenants be attempted afterward hee reasoned why Arcabella importuned this trauell and last of all whether the sentence should be reputed Canonicall Butthe feare of that diffidence extinguished at the first puffe the flame and yet gaue light to goe forward in the other path as if there were as much necessitie to propitiate Apollos displeasure as to determine his owne affaires whereupon hee sent out Commissions for the artificiall housing the Sea and defensiue furnishing and rigging his Nauy in which the benefit of a Sun-shining morning nothing then practised but honourable necessitie without further delay embarked him and time not much intermingled with strange occurrents brought him at last to safe harbour Thus prooued this Voyage prosperous at Sea and was not altogeather ominous at Land because Scalitorax King of Phocis truly aduertised of the Emperours comming and the cause found it a matter of small suspition and therefore made an honourable Welcome a forward Spring of his owne greatnesse and a very life of Mengrelius hope But when his brother Misocrapus and Apollos Priest had returned answere hee would attend the Emperour at Delphos not doubting of auspicious successe hee seemed rauished with gladnesse and in that poynt of extremitie onely affoorded occasion of suspition as when we see a sodaine Storme immediatly succeed a glorious Heate yet durst no man make such interpretation because the Art of Deuining was peculiar to the Priestes So the Emperour went forwatd and had Scalitorax company to the Towne where he found the reuerent Misocrapus ready for his conduct to the Oracle THis Delphos had the report of others illustred and the rarenesse of it selfe made admirable in respect the place was supported by the euer-florishing Pernassus which seemed glad to be the foundation of the Building but ten times glad that it resembled some Bulwarke to secure a tresurie and yet it appeared more beholding to Nature then Art For the cragginsse of the Hill resembled a very net of Rockes as if the Stone and Earth were layde countercompony togeather next the passable wayes were so many and hemmed to crosse turnings meeting one another that it made a confused Laborinth Lastly the entries into mighty Caues represented so many Dores of the house of Darknesse and by the many changes of Lightnings Thunders casting vp of Stones Sulphur flashings filthy stenches and suffocating Dampes seemed the very entries of Hell which Xerxes made proofe of by loosing foure thousand men in going about ro robbe the Treasure and Brennus Duke of Gallia experimented when hee prosecuted the like theft Contrariwise all peace-working gentlenesse and sence-pleasing sweetnes welcommed the necessarie commers and liberall Benefactors On the topp of this Mountaine was the Oracle erected a place beautified with the cost of Kings venerated by the accesse of chiefest Monarches for therein none might enter but especiall Priests religious Princes and strange Embassadours Concerning the Monument it selfe Fame confirmed it a Temple vnmatchable and Time designed it the Pallace of Apollo allowed both for an honorable dwelling and a consecrated Sanctuarie the substaunce whereof it was compounded made shew of a costly Marble and the forme it retayned seemed a spatious Goodlinesse staying the eyes of the beholders with varietie of obiect wherein the Workemen had so played their partes as if indeed they had determined to make their memories immortall For Agamedes and Trophonius the supposed Attificers are for this cause made famous It was well Leaded on the top strongly bard with Iron vnusually windowed with Iaspar mightily vnderpropt with Pillars
Zalby was much mooued at this but Rugio more as suspecting a purposed neglect of dutie yet perceiuing a setled countenance and vndeuided speeches to conclude the rebuke they knew not how to enterpret it considering the partie reputed an inferiour amongst them at last they called Coranus who more fearefull to oppose against the Duke then firme in expectation of Montanus told them of his shipwracke at Sea Placandus entertainement his loue to Deltona the Contract at the Caue and in a sparing manner how he promised her to discouer a further secret which wrought thus much that the King fore-saw there might be cause of affliction and he seemed likely to be of better account by which reason the Duke was pacified and Montanus moderated his forwardnesse but who had seene Egerius behold him in this extasie pleading for Deltona would haue sworne he had beene contemplating some Prodegie presently Philano aduaunced himselfe and asking Egerius what troubled him bade him withall tell his opinion of Montanus Truely sayd Egerius accidents of admiration chance in the world and men are subiect to high direction so that it must needs fall out that hee hath beene ouer-burdened with extremitie and is sure of better desert then the outward habite or appearance which hee the rather allowed because by his owne example hee might immagine as vnlikely possibilities to come to passe VVell sayd Philano ere wee haue done I beleeue wee shall haue much to doe for as yet we are in the midst of a confusion and ignorance tryumphes she hath and must make vs astonished But the Duke loth that a time of mirth and entertainment should bee out-faced with trouble and dismay dismissed them awhile euery man to his owne course and imployed himselfe to honor the King with entertainment befitting whereuppon a solemne hunting inuited him to varietie of pastime and no man was wanting whom place or pleasure induced to attend and as you see a cunning enemie obscure himselfe in some remote place of aduauntage when hee apprehendeth a stronger force is comming against him So played the Inhabitants of these woods after they vnderstood now they were besieged till suspecting the ill successe of a tryall they tooke aduantage to escape little thinking that their steppes betrayed them and gaue notice to the aduersarie of their beeing who by this time discrying their flight shooted for ioy as if already victory had administred both renowne and reward in the end least delay might breed disaduantage the Houndes with the addition of their Masters policie in laying of Toiles and orderly following the execution quickly ouer-tooke them in the Retreat and them subiected to a furious slaughter But the Officers loth to make too tyrannous a spoyle sounded the rechaite so the rest at randome were assured of more rest yet rested not the Duke till he conducted the King in to a gallant Arbour so cunningly handled that a man might haue said the deuiser determined to grace the walkes of the Pallace with a worke of specialtie and set foorth his owne praises as if he were by it to commend himselfe for who could but aske his name to know him and extoll him once knowne Heere was a roiall Banquet prepared and an after time of Counsell sorting with the conueniencie of the place concluded that Bertosus should end the Storie of Mengrelius who as willing to be disburdened of hir owne feares as they seemed to be acquainted with others fortune sent for Montanus to come within hearing and thus began AFter Gellida and Perinthum had taken notice of our solitary life knowing we retyred our selues in the fulnesse of a good opinion least the deceiuing vanities of the world might endanger or entrappe vs they committed the Infants vnto our charge not without some circumstances of the perill in the discouerie the feare of both the Empresses the troubles depending and their owne reuerent care toward them as if the hope of many Kingdomes lay heauy either vppon our diligence or negligence Thus were wee much esteemed for the resort of the Kings daughters vnto vs who indeede often visited and as often rewarded vs so that wee had cause to bee carefull as well for their sakes that commanded as theirs wee had in custodte this wee performed with reasonable successe For the time of Nursing ouer-passed the Princes seemed to scorne their Infancie by entertaining a third year to which they posted with such a gallantnesse as if indeede they had knowne with iudgement to haue welcommed all gallantnesse But most Noble King and Duke looke how a suddaine storme is so much the more terrible to a well burdened Barke by how much it is in iollitie of a good beginning and almost in sight of safe harbour so was the pride of our hopes rebuked and when wee least suspected alteration in such a kinde there happened a most vnkinde alteration For as my brother and I solaced the Princes in the walkes of a pretty Groue whereon the handy-worke of man had bestowed addition and stood playing the wantons with conceit of their towardlinesse who by this time seemed the Heauens charge as well as our charge comes the Arch-pirate Cleonidas and altering the manner though not the profession hurried vs together toward the Hauen where his ships lay at Anchor With that Montanus in suddaine motion interrupted his speech hearing the name of Cleonidas pronounced cried out O Eternall Powers hath Cleonidas been an Actor in this Tragedie and do I liue to heare so odious a sound to my sences Or shall I liue to thanke the gracious Nemesis for his destruction Or may I liue to reuenge my disgraces if the Ocean haue scorned to bee poisoned with his carkas O Princes pardon my impatience this is the head from whence my affliction springs and runneth into a strong channell of disquiet this is the roote supporting a stocke of miserie and spreadeth into branches of all vnhappinesse to shade my happinesse this is the author of such immanitie as my tongue trembleth to report it though he seemed raised from the deepest hell to put it in practise As he was setting forward this inuection King Zalby perceiuing hee had awaked some conceit of importance rose vp with a milde intent of pacification least in counterchecking the humour it might either grow to violence or exasperate his discontent and thus perswaded him Princely Montanus We are not so incredulous of those infinite accidentes which are directed by highest influence as to oppose against your desert but lay the fault of our slight respect vpon ignorance and permit Bertosus to goe forward then by a Kings protestations I sweare your desires shall not range to such a scope but wee will bring them within limitation and if neede requireth with a royall consent alsist your desires By this time had discretion wonne the field and Montanus seemed halfe ashamed yet loth to make any demisse appearance hee thus replyed Vertue great King I see will be like a square Die euery way cast
Nettes whom as I learnt afterwad was the old Piscaro and as I had cause to acknowledge was the honest Piscaro For seeing some strange thing floting a farre off hee watched to helpe if hee could and graciously helped when hee could So my safetie increased with his comfort in which loth to appeare defectiue hee had me presenty to his House confirming his Charitie by his good Workes NOw when hee presumed on my strength hee questioned with mee about my Shipwracke and to be plaine I made a round excuse as though Cleonidas had set fire on my poore dwelling in Persia and caried mee Prisoner to his Iland till a tempest deuided vs and sent mee floting as hee found I but quoth Piscarro would a Pirate permit you so much leasure to tie your Child to your backe and giue you libertie to make such shift Questionlesse replyed I you haue made a pretty doubt yet must the truth thus resolue you and fauour him that out of furie hee is most pittifull and worthy of a good report This was the excuse I made and with this excuse was my peace made so that I remayned with him a while rather willing to please then to complaine of my owne discontentment but when he found my endeuours consorting to his disposition as though I ment to checke ingratitude he professed a further liking and very suddenly imparted his wealth vnto me to be breife with him I continued some fiue yeeres not forgetting the bringing vp of my sonne who seemed of that forwardnesse as quickly learning and gracing whatsoeuer he learnt that my contentment sprang from his expectation but this manner of life did not long last because Piscarro lasted not himselfe as summoned to a stricter tryall by the irreuocable sentence of death and preparing for another world made an oueraffection adept me his heyre in this world left a stranger to be subiect vnto their mallice that saw me possessed of his wealth which though it amounted to no great matter yet I compassed the dwelling I now enioy and was able to bring vp Egerius as you all can partly witnesse But seeing the winges of time haue thus spread out themselues and the booke of heauenly reuolutions turneth to this leafe let not vs degenerat with dulnesse or wilfulnesse but take out a new lesson and with reuerence acknowledge him the Emperor Mengrelius Sonne and remember his true name to be Ptincely Trezoboro For this is he whom Gellida and Perinthum gaue me such charge of But say Coranus quoth King Zalby after Bertosus was thus vnkindly seperated from you what fauour found you amongst the tossing surges Not much vnlike my brother replied Coranus only in being thus deuided my sorrow the rather encreased and I seemed to lament his losse as much as suspect my owne danger Now belike mischiefe wery of her owne handyworke gaue liberty to an other sceane to alter the act For within two houres after the calme presented it selfe I kenned a farre oft a Fisher boate who conceiuing of our extremitie made as much hast as my tongue did require their hast thus was I saued and by their industry recouered the old Silenus one of the Shepheards of the Downes commaunding it should be so and I was glad to finde it so but more glad when he brought vs home to his House where with louing care and sufficient meanes wee had the comfortable effectes of good diligence and â—…onest looking vnto But when I told him I was a man of Husbandry in Armenia and was taken in a Passage-Boate by the Pirate Cleonidas as I was traueling into Media to an elder Daughter there bestowed with this Child hee much pittied my distresse But when I tolde him seeing Fortune was so crosse vnto me pouertie must needes prooue combersome and the discouerer of imperfections I would take any paines in an other Country to helpe my wants rather then be a scandall to my selfe a laughing stocke to my Enemies a scorne to my Friends or at least such as in former time professed so hee liked mee as a man of sence and added somewhat of his owne opinion But when I told him that the bond of his Kindnesse had tyed mee to the strict obseruation of Satisfaction and that I offered him the fruit of my endeuors in his seruice he tooke it in good part made tryall of my industry and welcommed me accordingly There I remained vntill Deltona for so I named Brizaca was able to apprehend my instructions and loth to let her loose the benefit of this towardlynesse I obtained of Selenus a Cottage by my selfe wherin we liued till she in her life florished and I in her florishing prospered For as if the graces had doated on her each action she attempted was gratious and I as if fortune menâ—… to turne her Wheele indeed in euery thing had good successe in so much that with the admiration of her beautie gallant behauiour Deltona obtained the chiefe place at the feast with regard of the companie and my owne good vsage the poore Coranus held the reputation you found him in therefore most Noble Duke looke on her now with other eyes for no longer Deltona but the Emperor-Mengrelius daughter Brizaca By that time Coranus concluded his discourse a generall muttering was heard and raised a manner of confusion amongst them wherein we will leaue them till the extasie haue end and as they begin to conferre of the strangnesse shall the time acquaint you with the story Finis Libri Secundi THE THIRD BOOKE of the Historie OF TREBIZOND Imprinted at London by W. White for T. Downes and E. Dawson 1616. To the honorable Lady FRANCIS EGERTON HONORABLE LADY I Could flourish the colours of your Prayses from Vertue Beautie Gracefulnesse Magnanimitie and such like enriching giftes of Nature But at this time I will extend your worth no further then that you are a faire promising Fruite of a glorious Tree and so haue chosen you with the rest to ouer-shade mee from the tempestes of Detraction considering I am now like a ceeled Doue to flye abroad with strange disguises and haue as it were matriculated my selfe in the Schoole of Folly by writing of Bookes Yet if you will relieue it as a poore cast-out Orphan then are you charitable If you entertaine it for any cause in it selfe then doe you Iustice If you pardon the faults then are you Vertuous If you protect it then are you Heroyicall Nay if you make it contemptible I shall impute it to my owne ill deseruing not any deficiencie in you But casting these doubts aside I am confident that you will either giue me leaue to make vse of your Honorable supportation or lift me vp your selfe with so strong an arme that neither Enuie nor Derision of others shall shoulder me aside from your acceptation or come neere you that are willing to be so gentle and gracefull vnto mee Your Honors to commannd Th. Gainsforde The Third Booke of the Historie
action hassard of preuayling so incurring his displeasure danger of temptation ielosies mistrustes and the cunning of Women At last the king commaunding or he being willing to obey Pasquito furnished him selfe and came to Damafloris with all the graces of a Princes solicitor first beginning with her owne worth that shee did Beautie wrong to keepe it like a Flower in a close Potte making no vse either to please the scent or the sight that shee was a present for a mighty King and peraduenture a King indeed did like her This hee sayd to make her inquisitiue knowing Women were subiect to curiositie that he had heard and knew shee was Wise and therefore would not refuse the fortune was toward her and that hee came from Ormisdates who wished well vnto her and had sent a Present of kindnesse by him so that if hee were not an vnworthy Messenger and a man hatefull it could not choose but shee must apprehend the blessing ment This was vttered in so good a fashion that though shee had knowne how to haue reprooued Incontinencie yet could shee not much mislike him that did but his dutie to his Prince nor the King that offered fauour to his Subiect nor her selfe for beeing solicited by the mighty Ormisdates But with a kind of abasshed drawing backe rather studying to contriue her businesse to the best purpose then willing to entertaine any cause of mislike shee yet made him beleeue there was cause of mislike saying and almost weeping in so saying that the King wronged her much to suppose shee would make sale of her Chastity that hee wronged her more so to motion her dishonour hauing neither seene nor heard any tokens by her of immodesty All this sayd Pasquito is confessed yet quoth hee the loue of a King is of that prerogatiue that hee protested it was more for her owne sake then the Kings satisfaction hee came thither and so by degrees of insinuation fell to appeasing her from appeasing to perswading from perswading to counsayling that howsoeuer she determined which sayth he I will not vrge further against your vertuous resolutio it were not amisse to speake with the King Heere shee stopped againe falling to the examination of particulars how when and where the King should take notice of her All which he certified with excellent circumstances Then she made many doubts of the Queenes ielousie the Courts opinion and her owne iourney Nay sayth hee if you vouchsafe me the Author of this good Newes to my Prince neither Queene Court nor your selfe shall know your selfe or once haue cause to entertaine the attributes of Ielosie Thus it was concluded that shee should bee disguised like a Marchant of Arabia and so vnder colour of the sale of rich Iewels haue secret conference with Ormisdates and this she did with that gallant demeanor and attractiue that the King was rather rauished then â—…amored toward her yea she behaued herselfe so well that at a second meeting he promised to inuest her a Dutches and if he had issue by her to proclaime him heire to his kingdome which was performed accordingly For with in one yeere after she brought him a sonne named Ascrasapes and he thought himselfe a happy man to be the Father of a Child This made him dote on her the more and that made her deale with him the cunninger so that the Queene Garifeola seemed altogeather forgotten and her former deseruing was ouergrowne with the rancke weedes of a Strumpets flatterie which shee could not but repine at yet at the first shee gently behaued her selfe till finding the nature of some things as Nettles and Burres to sting the sorer by the softer handling shee remembred her great birth and plainely tould him the wrongs done to her and her house were intollerable and that shee would be reuenged both on the tother and the Bastard this incensed the king and mingled with the Counterfeate feare of Damafloris contriued a strange course which was by deuorce vnder colour of barreâ—…nesse to be seperated from her nor desisted he so But as a man tumbling downe a paire of Staires neuer lins falling till he came to the bottome did â—…e cause the same resemblance in the Queene absolutely putting her by all gouernment and proclaiming Damafloris in her stead But when Artabanus Otanes her Sonne vnderstood of these proceedings the indignitie was too hainous to tollerate and the reuenge too difficult to attempt yet something must be done to keepe his Honour intigrate and his Mother from so strange infamie wherupon without further ambagie finding himselfe vncapable of the Scepter by reason that the Lawes of Persia debarred a Stranger which yet they afterward went about to disanull and vnable to make a conquest in regard of home incumbrances hee determined to cast it on some other whose 〈◊〉 and abilitie might second the enterprise To this counsaile was Tautaxes called a Noble man of Persia of the honourable family of Odâ—…nates and next heire to the Crowne to him did Artabanus inferre the scandall of the Kingdome the wicked life of Ormisdates infaming them all the bastardy of Ascrasapes an vnlawfull stop to hinder his course the desire of the people to haue reformation who most commonly vnder that goodly shew begin inuouation and his owne power to assist him touching sparingly his Mothers wronges as if hee would leaue out somewhat for him to remember and so might be sure of his apprehention which consorted to his wish For Tautaxes ambitious enough of himselfe was willing to be thought worthy to be a Prince not remembring the danger of that point but now incited by such liklyhoodes he gathered his forces and friendes togeather sending Artabanus word that if he would come in person because he would haue the name of a King and credite to the action there should not any oare want to â—…owe the Boate to what streame he liked Thus began the ciuell Warres of Persiâ—… and this stone neuer left rowling till Ormisdates house was cleane extinguished and the Crowne at last vnited to Media yet many battailes were first fought and the seuerall alterations gaue only notice that this world is a stage of vncertainties For as Artabanus once brought the King to a narrow streight and Tautaxes if he had followed his Fortune might haue ended the Warre Ormisdates thus despighted in the worst manner made the wronged Garifeola beare the burden of his rage and striking off her head sent it her sonne as a present I will not say he lamented a remedilesse matter but he prosecuted his reuenge and went forward apace had not his owne misfortunes in despight of resolution recalled him and this was the first reuolt of Medormus and Gliranda in Media yet Tâ—…taxes proceeded as well now to liue as to raigne For there is no Medeum betweene an Emperor and Traytor and in a gallant encounter shew the miâ—…ed Ormisdates and returned in triumph toward Magranopolis where the incontinent Damafloris kept her Court of purpose to shew
full recompence indeed if he could haue preuented a double mischance The one in suffering Cleonidas the sonne to enioy his fathers bad conditions with his estate the other in being deuided from his Royall Queene whose life was now brought to an vntimely period by a heart vexing sicknesse but heerein some supernaturall power wrought for the best because now Childlesse he after matched with Tolmiranda the Assirian Sophy by whom he enioyed the fruites of his body in great towardlinesse and continued the rest of his time in a gratious peace had not time ripened the wicked disposition of Cleonidas the sonne and hate as it were innated within him enforced many exorbitant actions setting againe the kingdome in combustion which at last was better ordred and preuented For his places of refuge were leueled with the ground his Lands and wealth confiscate his Allies and associates vnder arest and himselfe exiled the Kingdome who otherwise might haue liued a glory too the kingdome These warres and Armenus life had end togeather wherupon my father Artabazes began his Royall rase at such time as this Cleonidas entertained a conceite of reuenge by this course of Piracie wherein thirty yeares continuance made him an archmaster and custome in wickednesse so blinded him that great faults were reputed slender and small ones not so much as imperfections but the chiefest proppes too this wicked life were the confederacie of many Princes and his owne wealth vniustly amassed with which in this latter time he maintained thirty well appointed Ships and amongst other Stratagems as you haue heard was beholding to the warth full Nemesis for Artabazes losse but whether deuine Iustice tooke my cause in hand I know not For the best part of my Fortune extended to see him cursing and raging amidst the ouerraging Billowes AT this Period Anzitemus made a stoppe and king Zalby with the Princes acknowledged the delight of the story but the great affayres in 〈◊〉 â—…portuned a further matter then 〈◊〉 wherupon it was concluded that the most of them should accompany him into Armenia as well to secure his estate there as to contriue how Trezoboro might purchase his reconsiliation with Mengrelius because if it were effected it must be done by Anzitemus and Brisacas meanes but she finding how this businesse would detaine them awhile togeather ment belike to make some vse of the spare time and therfore like a true Louer stepped into the first path of Ielousie could not forget the short and passhionate description of Roxana which caused her to vse a little cunning in the matter and by making pittie a branch of vertue she questioned with him of matters of Gouernment of Geneolagies of Petigrees what became of Mitrea Astiages Mother and lastly as if it fell in by chance of discourse of Roxanas yeeres how he satisfied the Princes and how he could neglect such a proffer as the mightie Persia contented My only content replyed Anzitemus mistrust no idle disposition For deuine appoyntment hath reserued vs one for another yet will I assure you such was and I hope I may hope such is the preeminence of her beautie and louelynesse that I protest excepting the incomparable Brizaca she liueth peerelesse and well deserued a better regard then my businesse permitted and because you haue sturred conceite and by a Rauishing presence encreased that sweete delight which your company euer affoordeth I will once be humorous in a slender description of her so the louely Brizaca finde not too many faults apply that to her selse now which I am sure might be allowed Roxana then What Cunning can depaint her prayses foorth In whom appeared such exceeding worth The outward substance all at once behold And thinke the Gods a secret to vnfold Each part apart commend then Nature will Affoord thee choyse of her approoued skill The Head resembled some rich golden Spheare Which all the chiefest Lines aloft did beare Yet round about the Paralels did meet So fâ—…ll her beauteous Lockes euen to her feet The Face it selfe scarse durst a curious eye Watch at the full yet there we might espye Fauour and Loue ioyne hand in hand togeather To welcome a rare Guest Perfection thither This made her smile blush and blushing smile The lookers on deceiued all the while As though two colours had for mastry strouen And White and Crimson been togeather wouen The Necke did any counterfeite surpasse In outward shew for Princely life this was Shewing a way where Cupid vsâ—… to stand Telling the lookers on Venus owne right hand Cast vp those pretty Mounts whose sides betweene A pleasant Vally keepes delight vnseene Till it conduct thee to a bending Hill Made like an Iuâ—…ry Arch by curious skill Faire hanging ouer a well fashionâ—… Dore Wherein are hid ten thousand â—…oyes and more Yet Chastitie holdes sure both Key and Lock Vnwilling that the Gods them selues should knock For though Gods vse to Paradise to goe Yet did they heere a Priuiledge bestow That none might enter against Vertues minde Least forc'd admittance prooue the cause vnkinde Her Body bolt vpright in comely grace Outmatched Pallas for a stately pace thought Mounted on Horsebacke you would sure haue Bellona had some gallant Battaile fought Marching on foote Diana could not bee Amongst her Nimphs more gallanter to see With these her yeares were like a timely Spring Which in an ouer-ioying Hope did bring Her Blossoms foorth all happinesse assuring To him more happy in the soyles manuring With these her Vertues did proportionate The qualities belonging to the state Of high Magnificense that we might know Shee was ordained a Princes pace to goe With these a Kingdome was a mighty Dower A Kingdome full of Riches Pompe and Power Then thinke I had good cause to wish her well Who did with such great Priuiledge excell I protest quoth Brizaca you haue praysed her well but I rather allow it for a custome of Idlenesse then Necessitie and finde it vnbefitting to Iudgement to admit of ouerpalpable Flattery What call you Flattery replyed Anzitemus Assure your selfe that the Gods framing Man to commaund all the Creatures vnder the Sunne neither shuffled vp their workmanship nor were so carelesse afterward but with a great regarde sent him foorth to pubish their glory and for that purpose gaue him prerogatiue of excellencie both in body and minde This especially appeareth in your selues to whom they haue vouchsafed deuotion as finding time and your owne vertues to perfect the worke which they but began And from hence proceedeth our resemblance of this outward substaunce to a rich Treasure house made to secure more richer Wealth Now as Wealth is dispersed ouer the world to vse and good order and without that lyeth hid like Earth within the ground So your-selues are left in the world to comfort and benefit according to the fortune of him that possesseth you to happy purpose Heere then resteth the cunning and grace in the meanes of the seisure which I
of his owne life so the feare to preuent it submitted to her directions againe she with a doubtfull manner of speech that if he had sayd the truth it were better a wicked Emperor miscaried then men of vertue and good deseruing and last of all with reasons promises and protestations to make the fact iustifiable tooke his oth to kill the Emperor Which he very opportunely performed in a walke adioyning to the Pallace as conferring togeather in secret about Kalucki and no sooner shruncke the bleeding Carkase to the ground but he wounded himselfe in many places with the Emperors Semiter quight conueying away the instrument of death and so stood crying for helpe in a pittifull manner By this time hath the strange reporte of the Emperors murder possessed both Court and Country with amase and the murtherer without any pursuite quickly submitted him selfe but brought before the Empresse the rest to whom such a cause papertained he confessed the fact yet desiered that he might take away the shame though not the fault in the misfortune by discouering the secrete as it chanced now because his bleeding woundes induced commiseration and that his present staâ—… made shew of violence against him it was thought conuenient to heare him and if it were but to bolt out the rest of the conspirators Most deuine Empresse quoth he Honorable vpholders of this mightie state I intend neither to entreat for fauour nor life for in the very misfortune of the mischeife I am worthy to dye yet giue me leaue to extenuate your displeasures against me and to disclaime either a naturall disposition to such impietie or now willingnesse to lay violent handes on such a person wherein that my true simplicitie may somewhat countenance me and that I plead for my Honour and renowne giue me leaue to Launce my Barcke into this Channell Who doth not remember the misery of our Country through the ambition of our Emperours Barka and Allau deceassed Who doth not acknowledge the blessings conferred vnto vs by the Prince Kalucki who with all vertuous industries hath proceeded for our good yet mighty Peeres I shame to tell it without respect of worth royaltie honour or the benefite it selfe some wretched Ielousie so misled our Emperour that very ingratefully if I make not too great offence in the tearme hee contriued many wayes his destruction misconstruing our Loues and his Vallour to tend to an aspiring reach and when nothing appeared to appease his misdoubts hee flatly concluded to murder him secretly To which bestiallity hee suggested Chamus Iliod Iodda and my selfe ouer-reaching our Obedience with Imperious will and insorcering out fraylty with Reward and Preferment Now what euer good or bad Angell was ouer this dismall night predominant I know not but sending for mee into the Walke hee conferred about the Murder and because my slacknesse seemed rather enclined to remorce then dispatch of the tyranous decree all impatient hee flew vpon mee wounding mee in this manner neuer repressing his furie till I lost the vse of respect and consideration then life straue with necessitie and compelled her seruant strength to the cloze hoping onely to saue it selfe wherein howsoeuer it chanced the Swod in the fall strooke him to the heart which how grieuous it is vnto mee the immortall powers that haue deliuered Kalucki and preserued all your glories can witnesse This vnlookt-for contrarietie made them all amazed yet when the examination of the rest and other circumstances agreed with the truth most strange was the confusion amongst them For the people with great acclamations cryed out Liue Kalucki liue Tarachim The Empresse tooke heauily her Husbands misfortune but seemed more troubled with his infamy The Princes of the State knew not what to say or how to proceede The people they continued with zeale towarde Kalucki and in a manner protested Mullumella could not doe better then make him satisfaction by mariage Heere Wisedome played a kind 〈◊〉 For though her Desire burned within her to the same purpose yet a still modesty kept her from making shew of any such motion and when the greatest Lords as not knowing how to suppresse it being a matter of that consequence the party a man of that high deseruing vrged it againe Shee sayd it was a time of sorrow and the loue toward them would not consent to any thing vnbefitting But when indeed another and another time was spent in yeelding reasons of the likelihood of happinesse and that her cunning had drawen them to beleeue their importunities should preuaile with her shee welcommed the fortune that had thus smiled vpon her and tooke Kalucki into the tuition of her loue which quickly inuested him Emperour and sware the Subiects to loyalty and obediene Now was hee to play the part of an Emperour and by reason of the naturall rudenesse of the Country and inciuility of the people the one to be refined the other reduced the greater was his need of those excellent ornaments of Kings but being him selfe a naturallist of Maiesty hee soone put in practise Magnanimitie for his State and Court Wisedome for the common causes and extracted from her Pollicy to keepe the great men in obedience Affability as farre as their Customes permitted to obtaine fauour where it hung in suspence and Iustice to strengthen the loue got by meere good hap Besides hee knew how Mullumalla had proceeded and therefore was shee to be regarded with extraordinary behauiour But heere was no place for Mistrust or Ielousie because shee prooued an admirable Wife and Mother of many Children and the people continued in their loue as hauing no cause to mislike BVt as he went forward in this towardly Iornie to felicitie fame that euer scorned to be pend in a Corner came to tell him the Emperour Mengrelious had infringed the couenants ratefied and a Prince liued in scorne of his composition which somewhat distempred him as forseeing the troubles impending or shame to let his Honour be abused but when Scaroxus the brother of Queridock whom Mengrelius had dispossessed of the Royalties of Sinopis by placing Scydrothemis King had in person vrged other particulars then was Mullumalla made acquainted with the story from the beginning and she though desier could haue pleaded that no satisfaction was answerable to his company yet stomached the indignity and in her Heroiick spirit concluded his renowne hung in suspence without reuenge Now rested the doubt what course to take And therein many times and much debating shewd as well the dutie of a wife as Honour of a Prince at last she willed him by sommoning the Estates of the Empire to make tryall of their affection which hee performed because it pleased and it pleased because shee wished and shee wished because he was so great a person and greatly beloued to whom after the Ceremonies of the assembly were ended he deliuered these speaches Although louing and worthy to be beloued Lords and Subiects the deuine prouidence and your
againe like a louing mother which is still taking her leaue of her departing sonne and haueing one spetiall matter to counsell him in doth often and very often remember it so like the Father of the Common-wealth doe I put you in minde while it is time to thinke vpon the horrible end of this tryall For to affright vs the more we are to contend with Beastes and men worse then Beastes Anthropophagi Misocoli Monsters in nature and all Barbarisme so that nothing but bloud and death or vtter ruin of vs all which the Gods interdicte must follow in the preuailing Preuent therefore Preuent in time your troubles heere is Mengrelius began the inconuenience heere is Trezobro the cause of your feare heere is both father and sonne the Ransome of your disquiet But as a further vehemencie might haue vnshadowed the heate of other humors the people vnwilling to see their Prince so distempred and vnable to dissolue their firme rooted zeale cryed aloud the Gods confound the disturbers of our peace the Gods dispose of all thinges to their pleasure liue therefore Mengrelius sacred and irremoueable spare not to defend your kingdomes for we will neither hassard our Princely Trezoboro nor permit any dissipation of our gouernment THus is Kalukies Embassage contradicted and Queridock dismissed backe which caused defiance to rumour terrible thinges and the best dispositions were shuffled betwixt feare hope At last Kalucki vnwilling to trifell least prouision for so great an Armie might be wanting sent forward the greatest part of his Forces deuided into three Battailes vnder the conduct of Sicambus Mallau Petroslol Zami and Xantippus all in times past of hereditary possessions in Pontus Iberia and Colchidos and followed himselfe with the rest quartered in fiue partes vnder the commaund of Misogambus and Olippo two of the Empresse Mullumallas bretheren and Barsangol and Iubar sonnes of Mithra and Delium two Queenes of late the Concubines of Barka In the midest was Kalucki himselfe sequestred in an Emperiall Tent according to the ceremonious respect of his estate neither to bee seene nor spoken withall but at spetiall times The ordring of this businesse was not committed to such a secretary but the Emperour of Trebizond knew the manner of his proceedings and by that time he had passed Cularopa furnished himselfe reasonable well For from Taurica the heither Scithia Russia and Hiperborei he had one hundred Thousand Auxiliaries out of Colchidos Pontus Iberia and Paphlagonia he mustered eightie Thousand and from the Citties of Samarchanda Trebizond Merlanes and Xantippi he receiued twentie Thousand well appointed and of better spetiallitie by reason they were the sonnes of Noble men and Cittizens glorying in their ancient freedomes these he kept next his person and appoynted Curatsax Pharcanos Scydrothemis Mithridates ouerseers of his Guard as for Trezoboro he suffered his forwardnesse to direct the whole businesse as if his hope receiued life that some action or other might worke his miscarying Thus is the Trumpet of defiance ready to sound on both sides yet meane not the Trebizondians in such suddennesse to put it to the Tryall of a field because by being possessed of the streites and passages the enemie was sure to lessen his numbers and they winn time the Father of many contrarieties but the Circumstances of this great Warre are referred to my booke of Battailes I therefore ouerpasse them now and only certefie you that when Mengrelius perceiued he was not able to detaine them longer from a day of terror he tooke a Truce for seauen dayes laying open the Trenches and making the way plaine as if he determined to entertaine slaughter with handsomnesse or let death haue a larger freedome by easie passage So that the stoutest Courage was appauled at the preperation and had no other hope but dismay and confusion yet feares are enemies to the Progres of victory and therefore all abatements of Courage were absented when it came to the tryall indeed and Kalucki contrary to the coustomes of his greatnesse thought good to ouerlooke the partes of his Warrelike body that if neede required the helping a disease or fault in time might preuent a greater mischeife nor desisted hee so but Mounted on a throne of purpose to bee seene and herd he thus tooke his farrewell I intend not to vse many wordes vnto you as suspitious of your loues and vallures For if there were such a slackenesse it is now too late to murmure or Trifell but because my regard toward you may bee the better expressed I am the bolder to speake yet doe but determine to put you in minde of your owne mindes and knowledge Remember then what humour soeuer the enemie entertaine we are succorlesse and farre from home therefore must vallure make your way into new possessions or if you suppose the ostentation of the enemie is a glorious spectacle you haue Armes and Hands to vnplume them and bedeck your selues with their spoyles but what is this to your owne liues and glories which in a manner enforce you to shake off all incombrances of feare as for my selfe though I am loth to degeneratte from the ancient prerogatiues of your Emperors yet will I be the first to giue the onset For the cause being mine mine shall be the Honour or the shame and yours the spoyles wherein besides the renowne of the exployte the poorest vassaile shall thinke himselfe well rewarded The Country you see is pleasing and the blessinges you haue already tasted of goe one therefore goe on Fortune bidds you goe on and Victory lookes already with a pleasing Conntenance Heere a wonderfull clamour seemed to threaten heauen with the noise by which the Trebyzondians had warning of their enemies ill meaning toward them For till this they had beene awtentiue vnto Mengrelius who very well knew that a seasonable encouragement with addition of the worth of the partie speaking was a veary whet-stone of Courage and had wrought great effect indeed with whole Armies almost ready to faint Littleneed I sayed he debate any particulars concerning the former occasions of your now imminent troubles For your owne Loyalties and resolutions haue put a way all feare and continued the steadfastnesse which I now finde yea hurried you to the Gates of danger to make demonstration of your constancie I am therefore sure you will not now relent what euer mischeife is threatned nor would I haue you discouraged in that neither spoyles of Citties nor ritches of a plentifull Land shall be the recompence of your charge and endeauors but rather annimated in regard you are to support a florishing Common-wealth and a Country thankes to the eternall Powers beautified with a blessed plentie If this seeme a slender enforcement then looke on your Byrths and the places challenging naturall regard your Mothers that bare you your Wiues endeered vnto you your Children that exclaime your friends and Allies depending vpon you and your selues knowing the necessitie of life as for the Enemie I assure you
they haue not that aduantage by the number of men as your selues by discipline vallure and good order But why should I so much as wisper misdoubts amongst you when neuer appeared more loue and dutie and what will not loue and dutie effect And the immortall Powers are appeased giuing notice of in scrutible secrets as you can all witnesse the Haruspices haue promulged let not vs then consent to surquedry or demisnesse As he was going on the signe was giuen to the Battaile But behold a strange interception deuided the Armies by the descending of a thicke and spatious Cloude which stood as a Wale betweene them at last a sence dismaying thunder made a horrible rupture and a strange voyce with a passable lightning cried out Trezoboro bariona Trezoboro bariona Whereupon the Magy Gymnosophists and Haruspces were called on both sides who interpreted it to this sence that there was no striuing against deuine reuolutions For the Gods had proclaimed Trezoboro the sonne of peace and when Mengrelius vrged it was by the way of sacrifice they repugned as finding no blood must be shed by this the former terror vanished and the Armies seemed Metamorphised into sober expectation which caused the Magnificent Prince to mount himselfe like the sonne of Honour and stepping before the maine Fronts with a seemely Trotte he paced to the Tartarians desiring to present himselfe before the Emperour Kalucki and king of Kings who enformed of the gallant demeanor and presence of his Nephew called the principall commaunders of his Armie and setled in his Emperiall Tent with exceeding Maiestie and Pompe admitted him audience but when Trezoboro tooke notice of the state and the Emperours person he quickly alighted and with a respectious ceremony of obeisance entreated his fauor to giue him leaue to speake which belike was obtained with order For he thus began I haue not presumed most reuerent sacred and vnuanquishable Emperiour in any impudent manner to neglect my dutie by this Course or desperat contempt to weigh with slightnesse your high Maiestie or great Armie but by deuine inspiration whereof there is none that hath not in some sort participated I present vnto you the strange truth of my birth life and bringing vp whereby shall appeare a very destinie to this titular happinesse or as it may proue incombrance and that the wronges which haue thus sturred you to reuenge were neither determined in mallice nor meane now to be continued in contempt because the Triumphs of murder and destruction will then be lamentable which to preuent the Gods in their accoustomed mercy haue giuen a Prodigious warning Let vs not therefore with the Giants fight against heauen nor reiect the blessed fauor which now shineth vpon vs as if it were to de clare the will of all working power disclaimeth effusion of blood and for my selfe which am the reputed cause you see I come as a simple Hollocaust to redeeme the liues of infinite Thousandes yet giue mee leaue how euer it pleased you to submitte at that time to vnkinde banishment to exprobrate the vnnaturall couenants ratefied which as it should seeme the whole senate of heauen contradicted With that he discouered at large the Oracle at Delphos the manner of his Byrth the pietie of Opacus daughters the theft of Cleonidas the Shipwrack of Bertosus and the mariage of Brizaca Now said he if you thinke it conuenient to impeach this secret heere I prostrate my selfe to the sauagest crueltie but if an honorable attonement might pacefie your iust conceiued displeasure and reward this Armie wee offer a yeerely Tribute to thy byrth-right a satisfaction for all charges and a Million of Treasure as a donatiue to the Soldiers besides the world shall tremble at the vnitie of your houses and ages to come reuerence the Fame of two such bretheren For you being the seruant of the great God and ruler ouer all rulers Mengrelius will be your seruant and submitte as farre as such a Monarch may doe to his elder Brother and highest Lord. These speaches iudicially deliuered his outward countenance tempered betweene an amiable and modest behauiour breathed a contentment as if a soft Winde sturring the sweete Flowers should thereby infuse delight to our Senses wherevpon succeeded the effectes a still Desire to be fedd with the Pleasure and Pitty challenging Mischance which should hinder them from that walke So Trezoboro was for a time graciously dismissed and a Truce of fourteene dayes gaue them entercourse one to another in which space the assembly of Estates sate dayly to finish this strange building of Peace As for the Souldiers their conceites stretched no farther then to woonder at the Story to be mooued with the miracle to pittie Trezoboros youth and comlynesse to wish an attonment on all sides and to returne with wealth libertie and credit at last such was the apprehension of their present state and miracle disposing their humours to contrarieties that Kalucki after Mengrelius consented to readmitte those Trebizondians that would returne to former libertie and estates or like recompence sent Misogambus and Olippo with presents of ratification who with sound of Trumpet in both the Armies proclaimed an inuiolate Truce whereupon a stately Colosseum of brasse was erected betweene the Armies insculped with the whole occurrents as they chanced in order to which bargaine of felicity Ballutasa and Arcabella set their seales the one thanking the Gods for the aduancement of her Children the other sacrificing to Fortune that had so many waies encreased her happynesse Thus doe the brothers to the great applause of the people greet one another and the state of the Spectacle would make a vollume in the description but time must determine all thinges and these great Armies be deuided so Kalucki with treasure Honor and reuerence returned to the magnanimous Mullumalla to whom he made an offortory of himselfe and ritches and Mengrelius with peace libertie and delight was welcomed to Trebizond where prosperitie seemed for the time to keepe her mansion had not the wrathfull Nemesis who neuer leaueth wrong and iniustice vnpunished sent for Ielosie and Suspition to attend on her in the progresse of visiting Mengrelius least the will of the Gods should prooue a mockery and the ineuitable decrees of Destinie be not accounted of and thus she meanes to contriue her entertainement NO sooner was the Trebizondian Armie dissolued but Trezoboro sollemly proclaimed the Prince of peace as well to cellebrate their late quietnesse as to practise Martiall exploytes went about some fruites of idlenesse with gloryous shoes to the people and many Tri umphes to the Court whereby he made way to the peoples loue to come in at and euery mans eyes were fixed vpon his youth and comlinesse as you see some forren Plant gracing a curious Garden and the commers in regarding the rest to no purpose this was despightfully pried into by some hatefull polliticeans that terrefied the Emperor with blasoning his sonns demeanor which might winn the hearts
to his ayde as for Opacus from Phrigia Lidia and his owne kingdome he made an Armie of one hundred 20. Thousand and gaue the Honor of their conduct to Delano a man of experience great yeeres and well beloued yet suppressed from aduancement by reason Cuprax the sonne of the Duke of Pantalia seemed a fauorite in Courte and would haue drawne the managing of Martiall affayres to him selfe had not Trezoboro by name entreated for Delano and the Soldiers compelled out of their Country disclaimed any other BVt when Mengrelius vnderstood that Anzitemus was come himselfe a sodaine trembling disproportioned his former Courage and the Oracle like a hellish vision appearing mightely perplexed him and was indeed the author of strange courses which at last ouerturned his good successe yet he went orderly to worke and encountred with the Armenians before they were vnited to his sonns forces who had much a doe to make their passage by reason the Boates were not yet come from Trezoboro and Anzitemus had commaunded that no man should lay violent handes on the Emperor but this interception ended with the name of a skirmish For Anzitemus with Delanos assistance quickely passed their Armie by a Bridge made of the Boates and helped with great Furre-trees keeping equall distance of Twentie foote and although the water was very broad yet industry with the conueniencie of the place for woode layed Plankes vpon the Beames and so in one day both Horse and foote passed ouer in a manner within sight of the Enemie For some two mile from the Riuer they had so entrenched the passages that Mengrelius supposed they ment their to haue encamped little thinking Delano played the Lapwing who cryeth farthest from his Neast and when he seemed most busie to fortefie a place of securytie the maine Armie marched that night vnder a Woodes side to the Riuer and the next day put ouer while the Trebizondians prepared against the Campe which they supposed was so neere them But being thus disappointed they had liberty to complaine but small meanes of reuenge onely the Emperour vnited his Forces againe and assured he was better prouided determined to dally no longer but put it to a triall wherein if Fortune fayled he was certaine to weaken the Aduersarie and renew his owne Armie at pleasure and so one day might affoord what another did deny By this time is Anzitemus and Delano welcommed by the Prince who hoping by course of pacification to end the Warre sent to Mengrelius by faire intreaty not to conceiue so hardly of so worthy a sonne and they would engage their Honor he entended nothing but fayth and dutie this message wrought no otherwise then if Trezoboro would absolutely committe himselfe to his fathers tuition without hostage or other couenant it might be the Emperor would forgiue him to this Anzitemus opposed yeelding many reasons and by a second treatie vrged the burying vnder foote of all displeasures the remission and restoring his followers and the confirming him Heire apparant Heere againe Mengrelius disdained to be abridged of his will or courbed by his sonne subiects whereupon defiance was proclaimed on all sids and a day appoynted to entertaine destruction with solemnitie at which time Anzitemus tryed another way to appease these mischeefes by sommoning the Armies to audience and the Emperour to vnderstand what must be trusted vnto To this the feare of the Souldiers rather then his owne willingnesse compelled him and so Anzitemus in the front of his Armie thus deliuered his minde I am not ignorant great Emperour and mis-led people that Wisedome and good Counsaile are sometimes vnseasonable especially in a time of fury hate amongst men of Warre commaunded and countenanced by the Kings owne person yet haue you no such cause either to put in armes these men or Armed to make them butcher them selues For though the Father fight there the Sonne is not absent heere though the elder Brother vnderstanding not the truth is with Mengrelius the younger attendes on Trezoboro And though a Friend is enroulled with you one of the Family is amongst vs and were not this lamentable though necessitie compelled it But now to proceed with out order ground or reason what scandall can be more opprobrious What cause more detestable All men haue written that Violence continues not yet haue you begun in the Cradle and are not appeased after many yeares and why the Emperour is terrefied with an Oracle and suspects his owne Children Hath the Gods preserued them for this Hath his Towardlinesse deserued this Hath his Valloure in your late Broyles been shewed for this Hath his Life been so often hazarded for this Hath your Peace been wrought for this Hath your Prosperitie followed for this Yea hath Strangers been ashamed of the Composition and the mighty Kalucki receiued him to fauour for this And will now the Common-wealth teare her owne Bowels the Members seeke their owne destruction by despising the Head and the Father murder his owne Child It is execrable and abhominable But touching the Prophesie to beleeue it not what needeth this feare To beleeue it what way of preuention But you will say it is ambiguous I reply Malice must not misconsture nor Wisedome be ouerruled with Supposes For concerning the Prince by the Deuine power which ruleth all Princes you can alleadge neither cause reason nor likelihood How then haue you wronged your Renowne and insorcered their Obedience else would they neuer consent to destroy one another to ruine their Countrey make hauocke of their owne increases see suffer mischiefe to knocke at their doores and with the Giants fight against Heauen or like that vnnaturall Bird denowring them that hatcheth her seeke to destroy the Successor on whose safetie dependeth all their liues Leaue off therefore for shame leaue off either yeeld a reason of your actions or desist from your vnreasonablenesse But you will answere It is sufficient the Emperour commaundes I doe say no hee is but the Steward of the Gods subiect to account and ordained to forme not dissolue the Common-wealth But as a further vehemencle might haue agrauated the matter the Souldiers began to repine some demaunding whether the Prince raysed the Warre or desired to saue him selfe Some for what cause Mengrelius prosecuted his Sonne Some stomaked to see intestine Dissipation Some hardly beleeued the Prince began Innouation considering he was to expect the Kingdomes to florish hereafter Some said though the Emperor were offended the submission of a Sonne might appease any Father Some absolutly denied to destroy the Prince and the rest liked not a wise man to be caryed away with dreames or deuises especially when the ruine of the Empire must succeed but Mengrelius enraged with this diuision exclamed only on dutie and alleageance threatning the reuolters with death and attempting with stripes to terrefie diuers in the speed of escape but it smally preuailed For the greatest part fled a fore his face to his sonne which Anzitemus tooke the