who hauing knowledge thereof immediately went vnto the Prince who vsed such intreaty that although very vnwillingly he yéelded to his request and comming backe told his daughter to what effect he was sent for which shee was glad of though outwardly shee made a shew of vnwillingnesse Pollipus hauing vnderstood the cause why Parismus sent for her Father Parismus louing him so dearely that he would not conceale any thing from him reuealed vnto Parismus the loue that he bare to Violetta who promised to further him in what he could by this time the banquet was ended and the King departed to the Pallace with great ioy and excéeing triumph and soone tooke order to haue Violetta sent for but her father séeing the messenges come began to take such sorrow for their departure that it would haue melted a heart of stéele into teares to heare his complaints that the messengers pittying the sorrowes olde Andrugio made returned without her which draue Pollipus to such an extasie of desperate sorrow that he seemed altogether impatient to endure want but seeing on another furtherāce to his loue he oftē repaired to old Andrugios house and manifested his sute vnto her who vsed him most kindly but still delayed his sute with such excuses that hee was thereby further intrapped in the snares of loue and yet nothing the neerer of obtaining his sute At last it was concluded betwixt Parismus and him that Parismus should accompany him in some disguise and make himselfe knowne to none but Violetta thereby the sooner to procure her good liking to Pollipus which shee was the more willing to doe for that he thought vpon manifesting himselfe vnto her she would not denie Pollipus request and therefore finding a conuenient time they went to olde Andrugeos house where they were kindely vsed of Andrugio and his Daughter Violetta who welcommed these more kindly then euer shee had done Pollipus comming alone beeing thereunto drawne by an inward forwardnesse which she felt contrary to her former disposition where they had not long continued but Parismus found opportunity to greet Violetta in this sort Faire damosell quoth he I am come vnto you an humble petitioner in the behalfe of my friend Pollipus whose loue is such and so feruent towards your selfe that vnlesse you pitty him yeeld some comsort to his care you will be the death of the worthiest knight liuing therefore I desire you that I may be the happy Oracle to declare vnto him his happy Fortune pronounced from your sacred lips Violetta all this while stood as one amazed feeling such an excéeding throbbing at her heart that shee could not well tell what to answer at last being touched with remembring of his loue that had reapt the fruits of her virginitie she replied in this sort Gentle knight quoth she I would not willingly be any mans death if I could otherwise choose but to grant to this sute I cannot without doing another as great wrong as might be for so it is I haue already placed my affections and haue already vowed neuer to alter them whilst life doth last in me Which sodaine and resolute reply of hers Parismus much commended yet vsed many perswasions in the behalfe of Pollipus and began to demaund of her to whom she had vowed her loue vsing many intreaties that at last she said it was but a folly to aske the question for that she was resolutely determined not to declare who it was Said Parismus what would you say if I name the man wherewith Violetta blushed exceedingly and Parismus puld out of his bosome the scarfe which she had before giuen him Quoth he behold in this scarfe your self haue set down a description of your loues first comming vnto you which was the Prince of Bohemia himselfe vnto whom you presented this who leaping downe the Pallace wall slew your Fathers dogges and what kindnesse he receiued at your hands your selfe know best and since it is impossible to obtaine any recompence at his hands being wedded to the Princesse Laurana let Pollipus who in Chiualry is inferiour to none be the man that shal possesse the second roome in your good liking Violetta hearing him make so true a rehearsall of her aduenture so affirme by many reasons that it was Parismus was strooken with such a sudden feare and shame to sée her secrets disclosed that she was ready to swound with grief and knéeling down with the teares standing in her eies began to intreate him not to reueale the same to any for she was fully resolued not to loue any but him although it were Parismus and although it were impossible to attaine any fauouror recōpence at his hands I wil not quoth he reueale it to any for none but Parismus knoweth thereof who is heere present with thee wherewith hee most louingly tooke her in his armes and kissed her shee yet beeing in some doubt that it was not he vntill at the last Parismus made himselfe knowne vnto her and by such priuate tokens as she both certainely and assuredly knew that it was hee which so reioyced her heart that she most humbly vpon her knees intreated him to pardon her boldnesse and vowed neuer to loue any but himselfe which protestation so grieued him that he began to perswade her not to wrong her selfe so much for that hee was no way to breake his Wedlocke vowes to pleasure her My déere Lord quoth she if I had a thousand liues and euery life tenne thousand times dearer then this my life I would most willingly spend them in meditating on the first fruits of your kind nesse towards me Hee séeing her firme resolue could not tell what other meanes or perswasions to vse to alter her stedfast resolution but passing some time with her in that priuat talk till he saw Pollipus expected with heauie sighes his happy or vnhappy newes therefore he departed and came vnto him telling him that there was some hope of obtaining her loue vpon which comfortable spéech Pollipus still earnestly proscecuted his sute vnto Violetta who hearing that Parismus was departing towards his owne Countrey determined to aduenture her life credit to goe with him and therefore fitted her selfe in Pages Apparell which so well became her that she seemed to be the most excellentest workmanship that euer Nature had framed her sute being gréen Satten her buskings of the finest Spanish Lether fastned to her dainty legge with Christal buttons her haire wreathed with a carnation Ribbin and all things else so neate and decent vpon her delicate body that she was most comely to view and behold and so in this changeable sort apparalled shee secretly stole away from her Fathers house and soone gate to the Pallace where although there were a generall search made by Andrugios means who soone mist her and the report of her losse came to Parismus hearing yet she was not in that habite any way suspected where she continued many daies together in which time she laboured by al meanes to be
Oristus making spéede soone arriued at the Cittie of Thebes where the King then kept his Court and being admitted his presence deliuered his message Which when Dionisius vnderstood he told Oristus that he would very wilingly gratulate the Princes kindnes desiring him to certifie his Lord that he shuld be most hartily welcome wherewith Oristus departed Dionisius willing his Noble men to be in readines the next day for hée purposed to méete the Prince himselfe In the meane time hée commaunded all preparation that might bée deuised to be made for his more honorable entertainement Early the next morning Dionisius attended by his noble men rode forth to méete the Prince some thrée miles from the Citie whome he most louingly imbraced and welcommed with excéeding courtesie Parismus maruelling at this vnexpected kindnesse in him said Most high and magnificent King I being altogether vnworthy of this your excéeding fauour most humbly intreate your pardon to my presumption desiring you to impute my rashnesse to my youth which hath attempted this boldnesse without any hope in the least degrée how to deserue such kindnesse Dionisius taking him by the hand desired him to leaue off those spéeches for that hée estéemed his Court and Countrey insufficent to entertaine him according as hée desired telling him that hée was the most welcome guest to his Court that might be wherewith they ioyfully departed towardes the Cittie but as they roade they heard a most gréeuous grone in the Thicket of a Woode hard by Whereupon Dionisius commaunded his Knightes to beset the Wood on euery side himselfe Parismus and diuers Noble men entered the Thicket where they found an Armed Knight most grieuously wounded At which pittifull spectacle Dionisius alighted from his Horse viewed his face and knew him to be his trustie Knight Osiris whome hée most dearely loued Wherefore hée commaunded him to bee conueyed to the Court that his owne Phisitians might looke to him and binde vp his wounds In the meane time the King Parismus and diuers Knightes made diligent searche in the wood but coulde finde no creature there and thereby no certaintie how Osiris should be thus wounded That departing discontented the King was certified that there was great hope of his recouery who speaking to Parismus said Most noble Prince I hope this mischaunce hath not disquieted you for I would be sorie you should conceiue any occasion of sadnesse thereat but I trust by that time Osiris be recouered wée shall easily come to the knowledge hereof My Lord replied Parismus I haue no cause to be gréeued for my part but to see your Maiestie hereby disquieted Indéed said Dionisius it some what gréeueth me because Osiris is one that I loue being well worthy thereof for his vertues do farre excéed many mens of whose faith and fidelitie I haue had sufficient triall that a more loyall Knight cannot be found By this time they were come to the Pallace gate where was the Quéene with all her traine of Ladies to welcome Parismus which was a most pleasing sight to beholde that the Prince with the suddaine viewe of theyr beautie was driuen into a déepe studie from which hée was reuiued by the Quéene who most gratiously welcommed him saying In all kindnesse I bid your honour welcome into Thessaly where we will indeuour to requite your friendship in comming to vs. Most vertuous Quéene quoth hée for this your honourable fauour both my selfe and all that is mine shall be continually bound to do you dutifull seruice The glory of the Pallace made Parismus maruaile this honourable entertainment the sumptuous banquets the rare Musick and gallant showes too tedious to rehearse made him thinke that Fame had altogether darkened the glory of that place that all his sences were replenisht with varietie of delight At such time as Dionisius and the Prince entered the Court Laurana hearing of the Princes comming standing at her Chamber windowe viewed them well and knew or at least thought that to be Parismus that came with her father noting well his gallant comely proportion said to one of her maides named Leda Is not yonder Knight that accompaineth my father the Prince of Bohemia Yes quoth Leda I thinke so for a more gallant Knight did I neuer beholde Wherewith the crimzin colour in Lauranaes cheeke began to reuiue which Leda perceiuing said it would become our Couâ—… wel to haue his presence continually for it cannot chuse but a Knight of so faire prrportion must needs be endued with as excellent gifts Why quoth Laurana this Court cannot long containe such guests wherewithall she went to dinner féeling a kinde of alteration in al her parts which séemed strange to her for euen then loue began to kindle in her tender heart which yet shee did not well vnderstand but afterwards grewe to a burning heate as shall be declared She vsed sildome to come abroâ—…d but sometimes priuately for recreation for such was her chaste resolue that she delighted in nothing but vertuous meditations To relate the conference the King and Parismus had were tedious and imperitinent to the Historie But the Prince maruailed he could not sée Laurana so famous for her beautie being hereby drawne into many déepe cogitations by which thoughts and remembrance of the long iourny hée had passed onely to behold her person and now could not be assures hâ—…e had seene the beautie hée expected was drawne into such a sad studie that in a manner he neither heard what was spoken nor cegarded where he was At last reuiuing his sences that were dulled with passion hée suddenly sighed and smiling said fearing his heauinesse had bene noted your Maiestie may peraduenture note my sadnesse the remembrance of your Knights iniury maketh me study how he should be so gréeuously wounded and no man found that should act the same which words hée onely spake to excuse himselfe Surely answered the King some man by secret treachery hath wrought him that harme which at more conuenient time we shall finde the truth thereof which I would effect with all spéed but that I hope to be ascertained by himselfe whom my Physitions say is in good estate of amendment With these and many other spéeches Dinner being fully ended Dionisius Parismus and the Quéene walked into a most pleasant Garden where after a while he was entertained with a most costly and rare banquet prouided in an Arbour or banqueting House adioyning to a Groue fraught with many pleasant Birds whose swéete harmonie much augmented the pleasure of the place all things being most artificially contriued for delight which when Parismus beheld hee then began to thinke with himselfe how shall I sée the Princesse Laurana for whose sight I haue vndertaken this trauell whose delightfull presence shall refresh my tired sences and expell those inward cares wherewith I am thus perplexed But when he sawe none but the King and Quéene hée was much troubled in his minde to thinke what might be the cause that thée whose fame had long since come to
vertuous selfe withall but if all this wil not suffice then shall I spend my daies in endlesse sorrow and your selfe purchase thereby your owne discontent Therefore sweet Lady let me receiue some comfortable answer to mittigate these my sorrowes Laurana hauing heard his spéeches was so surprised with a vertuous disdaine to heare his flattering that she was resolued not to answer him at all but at last she replied in this sort It is in vaine Tyrant quoth she for thee to think to purchase any loue at my hands by thy flatteries there fore desist thy sute which is as odious to me as thy selfe which thinkest because by trechery I am brought into thy cruel haÌ„ds I will yeeld to thy allurements no Tyrant no inflict what punishment thou canst vpon me I wil neuer yéeld to shew thee any fauour that deseruest to be hated of all men besides thou seest my estate vnfit to listen to the allurements of loue therfore if thou hast any vertue in thee as thou she west thy self to haue none shew that thou louest me by desisting to trouble me any more with the harsh sound of thy odious instrumeÌ„ts wherwith she turned from him and he in a monstrous rage departed the chamber Afterward comming vnto a sister which he had with him named Adamasia he began to vnfold vnto her the sum of his affection to Laurana how disdainfully she had vsed him requesting her counsel to further him therin who being an euil disposed creature and rather ready to intice him to euil then to dissawaded him frâ—… the same she promised him that if she might haue the custodie of Laurana shée would not doubt but soone to bring her to consent vnto his desire which Andramart was in som doubt to suffer for that he was loth any should haue the kéeping of her but himselfe But at last being intised by hope of obtaining her good will gaue his consent and the wicked Adamasia had the charge of the most vertuous Laurana vnto whoÌ„ shée vnfolded the cause of her comming vsing manie perswasions to Laurana to consent to loue Andramart telling her that shée was vnwise to refuse the good will of him that was so mighty a man Laurana séeing a worse plague then euer shée before endured to be now befallen her by being troubled with such an impudent solliciter was so ouercome with sorrow and griefe that this last vexation seemed more gréeuous then all that euer she endured would giue no answere vnto her impudent sollicitings by which meanes Adamasia was frustrated of al hope to obtaine her liking but many daies she vsed the vertuous Laurana very kindly and séemed so loth to offend her that she would not long time after motion any thing in the behalfe of her brother which the wicked hag did only to feele the disposition of the vertuous Laurana and also perceiuing that she was great with child told Andramart that it was to no effect to deale any further in their suit vntill she were deliuered Wherfore with all diligence they ministred all things necessarie and the time of her deliuery being come she was inriched with a goodly boy whom she named Parismenos whom Andramart caused to be nursed and to be most delicately brought vp many daies in that castle After a few daies Andramart grew so impatient in his loue that with many intreaties he requested Adamasia either speedily to work his content by obtaining Lauranaes liking or else he told her she should soon see his death for without the same it was impossible for him to liue Wherwith Adamasia beganne to settle her selfe to the taske she had vndertaken and finding as she thought a conuenient time when Laurana was alone she began to féele her minde in this sort Uertuous Lady quoth she I haue long diligently marked the doleful plaints you secretly vtter which maketh me muse that you hauing no cause at al shuld spend your daies in such heauie sort wheras you might if you plesed inioy such happy delights as many thousand ladies wold wish for You are here in a happie place in my opinion where nothing is wanting that might procure your content where no iniurie is offered you that vnlesse you indure some secret griefe I know not what to coniecture of your discontent and the loue of Andramart in my iudgement faire Lady should bring you that happie consent that yet you neuer enioyed the like who in all respects beareth such an intire affection to your selfe that whatsoeuer he hath or can coÌ„mand resteth wholly at your dispositioÌ„ But if it be so that you haue som friend already vnto whom you are any way tyed in the bands of loue for him you indure this pensiuenes that by some mischaunce is perished then let the famous Andramart possesse the second roome in your gentle heart and let me be the messenger to carrie these happie tidings to ease his torment Laurana hauing heard this cunning insinuation of Adamasia wel vnderstood her meaning therfore told her that her gréefes were best knowne to her selfe which she determined not to reueale and as for Andramart she told her she esteemed his loue worse then his hatred and that she had rather indure the greatest force of his malice then the loathsome profers of his loue and therfore willed her not to prosecute any further her vnwelcommed sute which should make her lesse welcome vnto her companie Adamasia hearing Lauranaes resolute answere was so kindled into anger with the same and being of a proude disposition could not refraine from vttering her inward rancor but replyed as followeth Proude Lady quoth she know that Andramarts more fauoring thée then thou deseruest hath appointed me to intreat thy fauor but thou disdainfully reiectest his profered courtesie and makest scorne of my speeches which I cannot indure for thou shalt well know that I am the better and I tell shee that thou shalt yeelde vnto his iust sute or repen the time that euer thou wert so coy therfore let me haue thy answere to morrow which is the vttermost respit that I will giue thée Auant foule Hag quoth Laurana my answere thou shalt now receiue that for thy detested sake I will neuer yeeld vnto his sute Which words so inraged the rude Adamasia that coÌ„ming to Laurana she strooke her such a blow on the face that the blood ran aboundantly froÌ„ her mouth wherwith she departed and left Laurana in that sort bléeding with her bloud mingling her Christall teares which in abundance ran from her eyes This hag was so inragde with the sharpe answere of Laurana that presently she came to Andramart and told him that there was no dealing with hir in gentle sort rehearsing how disdainfully she refused all the proffers and sutes she could make vsing such perswasions that Andramart consented to be wholly ordered by her nothing regarding what she intended so hée might haue his desire Adamasia therfore purposing to bring her businesse to effect first caused Leda to be prisoned and
in solitarinesse vnlesse it were in his company The time of Parismus departure beeing come which was appointed the next morning Venola was drawne into an exceeding feare least that the knight of Fame would goe with him that shee began to deuise what meanes to vse to stay him which she could by no meanes of her selfe inuent which draue her to her wits ende and in great heauinesse complaining in her Chamber casting her selfe vpon her bedde she vttered these complaints What misery may be compared to the torments I endure procured by loue which hath entangled me in her snares and setled my liking on a stranger that as carelesly regardeth my good will as I earnestly affect his perfections What extremity is this that my vnlucky destinies haue allotted me to refuse the offer of many Kings that haue humbly sued for my loue and to make choise of one that maketh least account of my kindnesse For it cannot be but he perceiueth my loue which being so how discourteous is he that in all this time will not yeelde mee any recompence for the same Peraduenture he seeth nothing in me worth the liking or else my beauty is not such as many flatteringly haue perswaded me it is Am not I a Kings daughter and he peraduenture borne of meane parentage and what dignity might he come to by my loue but all this he regardeth nat but being rudely brought vp according to that rudenesse cannot conceiue of my liking But what meane I â—…o disgrase the Knight whose courteâ—… maketh him beloued of all whose comelinesse maketh him liked of all and whose vaiour maketh him honoured of all who hath no doubt already placed his affections on some beautifull Lady and that is the cause of his strangenesse yea that is the thing that hindreth my ioyes for without his loue I can attaine no quiet which now I am likewise like to lose by his departure which I feare me will be too soone which words being ended such passions ouerwhelmed her heart that her eies burst into â—…eares and there she lay vpon her bedde tumbling with torment of those restlesse passions Whilest shee continued her sorrowes in comes Flauia her nurse who by espying her cheekes besâ—…eered with teares and her sad counteuance maruelling what should procure the same said My sweete Mistresse how hapneth it that you weepe thus Who hath done you wrong Or why doe you torment your sweet selfe with this sadnesse Deare Lady tell me O Nurse quoth Venola my owne folly hath procured me this disquiet and my selfe being the cause whom should I blame but my selfe Why Lady quoth shee what haue you done What is the matter Haue you done your selfe any harme Why should you conceale any thing from me that haue all your life long loued you as dearely as my owne heart My sweete daughter hide nothing from me but tell me why you marre those your prettie eies with such sorrow Why quoth Venola what should it auaile my to tell you when I know you cannot helpe me if I should declare it to you and by that meanes come to my fathers knowledge it would be more grieuous to me then death then good Flauia doe not seeke to know my cause of care but let me consume my selfe in silence when I haue no other meanes of remedy Flauia hearing her words was the more desirous to know what the matter was sometimes weeping sometimes intreating her to tell to her and sometimes protesting that shee would rather endure any torment then reueale the same that Venola wonne with her perswasions teares and protestations and withall desirous of comfort imparted her whole minde vnto her desiring her to be both secret and trusty and withall asked her counsell how she might stay him from departing wich the Prince of Bohemia Lady quoth Flauia since you haue imparted your minde to me I will both secretly keepe your counsell and diligently labour to stay his iourney at this time I but quoth Venola I pray thee doe it so that he may no way perceiue that it was by my procurement Let mee alone for that said shee and in the meane time cast you off those cloudy cares and get you downe amongst the rest of those Ladies with a merrie countenance and commit the care to me which I will effect to your liking Venola beeing somewhat reuiued with Flauias promise with a merrie heart forsooke her Chamber Flauia went about her businesse going into the Citie with all haste where dwelt an ancient Apothecary a very friend of hers to whom she durst commit any secret whom shee desired to compound certaine of his drugges together and to make a somniferous Potion which would cause him sleepe for foure and twenty houres in such sort that the party might by no meanes be awakened promising if he could make a confection to reward him richlie The Apothecary hearing her words tolde her that if shee would stay he would compound such a drinke as should euery way worke the same effect shee desired Flauia hauing attained her desire that way came to a Goldsmith and bought a most curious wrought bottell of golde whereon shee caused him to ingraue these Letters My pleasant taske doth doubts appease I banish care and griefe vnkinde Things yet vnknowne I doe reueale Vnknowne he is that shall me finde A friend vnknowne hath thee this sent Be bold and taste incontinent And hauing gotten euery thing according to her desire returneth to the Court and the time of rest drawing nigh she wrought such meanes that she had the appointment of the knight of Fames lodging where she laide the bottle in which time she had put the somniferous potion so right in his way that he could not chuse but finde the same intending that if she failed of her purpose yet she would worke such meanes that she would giue it him in the morning The Knight of Fame all that day kept company with Parismus vnto whom his heart bare an inward loue determining to bring him towards Bohemia and after to trauell in search of his Parents Parismus likewise was growne into such loue of his qualities and â—â—ch a hidden desire to pleasure him was stirred in his heart towards him that hee vsed him with such an extraordinary kindenesse as the friendship that past betwixt them seemed vnseparable Thus the day being spent euery one betook them to their lodgings the Knight of Fame comming to his lodging walking by and downe lighted on the bottle and noting the same tooke it vp and espying the verses read the contents which draue him into many cogitations how the same should come there at last among many other thoughts he déemed by the contents of the verses he was the man that should taste thereof Then he beganne to feare lest it might be some poison laid on purpose to betray his life but that suspition was soone extinguished the deâ—…e he had to finde ease to his doubts which the contents of the superscription promised that tasting a little of
that was intended against him there by Corus and Argalus then of his successe in the Kings Court of Thrace and the occasion why he departed from thence to the Forrest of Arde and how there hee mette the Prince of Bohemia and released Venola Then how Venola songht his Loue and how she gaue him by subtiltie a somniferous Potion to withhold his departure with Parismus which he had purposed and how afterwards perceiuino her intent departed from theâ—…e Withall hee declared the manner of the Uision that appeared vnto him in Thrace and how hee was thereby enioyned to seeke out the faire â—…adie that had appeared vnto him and sue for her Loue which was the cause that he both refused Phylenas marriage and Venolaes proffer of kindnesse and also he declared how he first arriued in that Countrey and met Angelica which was the very same Lady that appeared vnto him in the vision and also told him that he was likewise enioyned to seeke out his PareÌ„ts which the vision told him were of great birth This quoth he is the true discourse of my forepassed life which I neuer yet manifested to any but your selfe whose fauour hath farre surmounted my desert into whose hands I commit my selfe to bee disposed of desiring you not to conceiue amisse of mee for that false accusation being most vntrue Marcellus againe embracing him in his armes desired him likewise not to thinke that hee did any way conceiue the least euill opinion of him but that he did esteeme of him as the dearest friend he had in the World and that he did both loue and honour him as himselfe and would neuer forsake him whilest hee liued but continue his faithfull friend for euer Hauing in this sort made a new league of amitie Marcellus left the Knight of Fame to his priuate meditations promising to returne to him very shortly going directly to Angelica whome hee found continuing her woonted sadnes For shee could by no meanes be comforted but still augmented her Loue by remembring the Knight of Fames person to whom she bare such intire affections that she resolued neuer to Loue any other Knight but determined to spende the whole date of her life in single estate Marcellus sudden Approach brake off her silent pensiuenesse by his countenance shewing a heart replenisht with ioy which hee vttered in this sort Angelica qd hee cast off this sadde countenance for I bring you newes of more comfort for the Knight of Fame is liuing and preserued by admirable meanes Oh Brother quoth she this newes cannot be true which will nip my heart with griefe to heare of and be disappointed therein Sister qd he it is so neither maruell thereat for his innocencie in the fact laide to his charge hath I thinke caused the Gods to pitty him besides thereby you may be assured hee is borne of royall blood who is now in the Kéepers house in safety with whome I haue bene these two hours Now cast off these discontents and clowds of care for there is no further cause of disquiet for his supposed death Angelica then verily belieuing his wordes saide Good brother tell me how he doeth for whose safetie I reioyce For of all the Knights that euer I behelde I neuer liked nor loued any so well desiring you withall to kéep my counsell hauing bewrayed my secrets to none else and not let him know so much as I haue tolde you Then should both you and I doo him wrong qd he for he hath well deserued loue and especially at your hands to whom by his owne report he hath long ago dedicated himselfe and not onely of his owne inclination but of a high command for the truth of which he hath vpon trust of my secrecie reuealed vnto me which you shall likewise heare then he discoursed the whole truth euen as the Knight of Fame had before done which when she heard she said What a discourteous Lady is that Venola to séeke the ouerthrow of so Woorthy a Knight and how may I estéeme him that before he knew mee was so constant in his Loue without hope of my fauour and refused the proffred loue of two such Ladies for my sake besides the perill he hath endured in my search and peraduenture is sprung of greater byrth then my selfe And now also by my Parents doome was put in that hazard of his life Good Brother be you carefulâ—… of his good and whatsoeuer you shall counsell me too I will doo If my Father should know of his safety then were there no means for him to escape death For such a hard conceit of suspect doth possesse his minde that he hateth all those that beare me any shewe of good Will Well quoth Marcellus rest you contented and still continue your louetowards him to increase and not diminish the same who is by destiny alloted to be your husband the care of whose welfare let be my charge for I so much loue and esteeme him both for his own and your sake that I will leaue no meanes vnassayed whereby to do you good which said hee againe departed to the Knight of Fame By this time the darke night approached and Marcellus and the knight of Fame were deuising what meanes to vse for his safetie and to procure the desired content Angelica expected who before had giuen herconsent to 〈◊〉 ruled by her Brother that by the assurance he had of her hee put the knight of Fame in assured comfort of her loue by relating in some sort the contents of Angelicas conference before had with him which affected his heart with greater ioy theÌ„ euer before he had endured griefe that his escape from death did not comfort his heart so much as this happy news At last Marcellus said Noble knight you see how strictly my father gardeth Angelica that there is no meanes lefâ—…t to ease your greefe or her care by tarrying here neither can you without great hazard of your life remaine within the circuit of this Tower for that my Father suspecteth euery one yea his owne children whereby we are tired with those troubles and would willingly worke any meanes to ease our selues especially Angelica hath ben mewed vp so closely that shee I am sure would vndertake any thing to enioy her libertie were it in neuer so poore estate wherein in my opinion is many thousand of sweete contents to bee found rather then in this troublesome Pompe which is repleat with infinit cares Therefore this is my censure that you shall this night as I will direct you depart from hence and go to Saint Austins Chappell not farre hence and there stay for mee vntill to morrow morning where remaineth an olde religious Priest named Iabine who if you say you come from mee wil assuredly giue you entertainement which when you haue done I will so worke with my Sister Angelica that hee shall condescend by such meanes as I will worke for her secret escape to come to you by which I hope I shall end the
doo so mortally hate thée that I will haue thy life before I part With that he assayled him most furiously and gaue him so many mortall Wounds that with much effusion of blood hee fell downe dead Parismenos hauing brought him to this estate espied another Knight comming out of the wood which made him leaue Irus and follow him and ouertooke him at the woods side to whome he saide Knight Who art thou The Knight looking backe seeing his swoord bloodie and his Armour battered seeming to haue come from some cruell skirmish and disdaining at him to be so peremptorily examined answered What art thou that examinest me in this place Parismenos being exceedingly enraged before by the smart of some Wound he had before receiued saide I am one that will knowe what thou art before I leaue thée and with that word strooke at him The Knight likewise drawing his swoord to reuenge that blowe but he was farre vnable to withstand Parismenos that he was soone by his vnconquered Chiualrie most grieuously Wounded and in some parte disarmed Parismenos striking another forcible blowe at him hit him right where the Armour was broken and with violence the Sworde pierced his heart and hée fell downe dead without speaking a word Which done Parismenos pulled off his Helmet to see if he knewe him but he knew him not Syr Iconius hearing the noyse of the clashing of theyr Armour being then abroade drewe towards the place where Irus lay gasping for breath Whome hee presently knewe to bee the same Knight from whom he had before rescued Angelica and putting off his Helmet presently knew him to be his déere friende Irus for whose sake he was banished So that taking him vppe he conueyed him to the Caue with great diligence labouring to reuiue him which by his Industrie hée at last attained Anna comming to haue a sight of this Knights comming in presently knewe him by his Armour to be the same that had with violence taken both Angelica and her out of Hymens Temple and enquiring of the Knights his name they answered none of them knew him for none but Iconius knewe him Angelica being now somewhat better recouered Anna made knowne to her what shee had séene but could not learne the Knights name Anna qd she neuer enquire his name but viewe him well and thou shalt soone finde him to bee Irus King of Tunis For diddest thou not heare him say how that he was of Tunis when Iconius rescued mee from him Being much more miserable by his approach For Iconius and hee are of such familiaritie that whereas before I had almost woonne his consent to conuey mee to the Getulian Court I am now out of all comfort of that for Irus will rather seeke to conuey me into Tunis So that now I feare mee I shall neuer see my beloued Knight Parismenos but must bee subiect to his power Who I know will according to his barbarous disposition vse me badly that I know not Anna what to doo in this extreamitie but rather then I will subiect my selfe to his Will I will sooner bee the executioner of mine owne death and first rippe my accursed heart out of my troubled brest Anna then comforted her by many perswasions putting her in some hope yet in the ende to attaine a happie issue to all these vnfortunate Euents Parismenos hauing slaine the Knight returned to the place where he left Irus but found him not Which made him maruell what was become of him thinking that he was escaped and fled And againe being weary and somewhat Wounded he got himselfe to his secret couert to rest where he determined to spend the remnant of his life Where he continued many dayes after In which time Irus being in the Caue with Iconius had recouered his health and knewe Iconius his olde Friende to bee the man that had before endaungered his life by taking Angelica from him and leauing him to Parismenos for which hee had now made him amends by bringing him to his Caue that was likely to perish so that when he came first to the knowledge of these things he vttered these speeches How fortunate am I good Iconius to fall into your kinde handes that otherwise could not haue suruiued I haue long since heard of your Banishment from the Getulian-Courte and onely for my sake And withall hearde how strictly Maximus sought your life Who beeing come to my knowledge I sought diligently to find you out with intent to haue carryed you with me into Tunis but since I haue now so happily found and haue much more cause to loue you let me intreate you to leaue this Desart and depart with mee to Tunis where I meane to preferre you to greater Dignitie and honour then euer you haue had in Getulia I thanke you qd Iconius but I maruell what misaduenture hath nowe brought you into this Countrey and especially into this place vnacquainted with such hazard of your life Good Friende Iconius quoth he I will declare vnto you the truth of all Then he declared the truthe how hee had stolne Angelica out of Hymens Temple and how she was rescued from him in that place And withall declared all that he knewe of the estate of Getulia and of his latest comming from thence and how he met with a Knight in that Woodde that had brought him by his valiant behauiour néere his death Iconius hearing the report of the varietie of his Aduentures made him this answere Pardon mee Noble Irus for it was my selfe that tooke the Lady Angelica from you not knowing who you were who is within this Caue Irns hearing his spéeches caught him in his armes for ioy saying My deare Friende Iconius Was it you that tooke Angelica from me How was it that I knewe you not nor you mee And how fortunate and tenne thousand times blest may I bee by your meanes if you will but continue my trusty friende as heretofore you haue bene by letting me onely haue a sight of Angelica My Lord quoth he againe I haue not forgotten nor yet once diminished my former friendship but will commit the custodie of Angelica to none but your selfe For none but your selfe are Woorthy of her or none so Woorthie only if you please to follow my counsell doo not at the first motion your former sute vnto her but vse her kindely and rather for a time dissemble the extremitie of your passion for I perceiue shee is most déepely inthralled to the Bohemian Knight Parismenos that to make any other Loue to her at the first will rather increase her Affections but when shee is without hope of finding him againe then time will soone alter her minde for Womens affections are subiect to varietie Irus then tolde him that he did like his counsell excéedingly well and withall yéelded him manie thankes for that hee hadde so found his most true and loyall friendship Iconius beeing parted from Irus came presently vnto Angelica Whome he vsed most kindely And taking occasion for that he