begun that the Fish might bite the more eagerly when the bayte was pulled away But oh said Vienna for now she had swallowed the hidden and hurtfull hooke didst thou not perceive the cause of his so secret and so great a griefe Yes Noble Lady said Poltron Time and Occasion gave me meanes to know the same Then good Poltron let me intreat thee she said to relate the full discourse thereof For such Subiects of woe best fitteth wofull mindes and causes of dolour and calamity are ever most pleasing to perplexed persons Poltron thus halled on to set the trap that should ensnare her life thus cunningly gave fire to her tinder Though said he I am unwilling to ingrieve my thoughts with the sad remembrance of my friends over-grieuous sorrowes yet since it is your pleasure your will commands my obedience Then know most fairest of faire Ladies that after I had many times observed the frenzie of his passions and wondring had noted his broken and disconsonant complaints hee being at other times most advisedly wise and most humbly though sadly patient As wee were sitting at the mouth of his Cave chatting on the miseries of this life and the crosses of this uncertaine world I requested him in favour of my desire to recount unto me the cause of his so often passionate laments In answere whereof he said Though my griefe be already such as there can be no addition to so great an extreame and though my wounds cannot be healed because they may not be searched yet to giue thee some content know that not farre from Tolledo in Spaine I serued not long since a great and mighty Lord called Don Daulphinatus who had one onely daughter named Paris-enna whose beauty was farre fairer then the euening starre and whose vertue was more powerfull then the greatest constellation By her sweet influence did I only liue and breathe and though my meane fortune durst not gaze on so bright a Planet yet did her gracious aspect both so ennoble and inable my towring thoughts that vnknowne I atchiued in honour of her name many admired exployts After some season both my acts and my loue were accidentally made knowne to her who in time made mee though most unworthy the Maister of her desires that was and still am a servant to her will Our mutuall mindes thus combined was like the Garden of Eden wherin grew more delights then either Nature now affords or Art can expresse Our hearts fed on pleasures our eyes beheld the blisse of each other and in the full comfort of all content did we sleepe in love and wake and walke in all fulnesse of ioy From this Paradice were we driven by felonious Fortune who envying our happinesse would not suffer that we should make this earth our heaven that was before curst for our sinnes My Lord her Father had knowledge thereof who finding my indignity not worthy of such soveraignty was so caried away with disdainfull scorn and irefull displeasure that he doomed me to death if ever I were found within the precinct of his command This separation for now I was put to my flight was such a corasive to both our confounded soules that she stayed to endure a greater misery the deprivation of life and I wandered in unknowne pathes to seeke after a wished death Long was my travaile and manifold my fortunes But neither distance of place continuance of travaile happinesse of fortune nor tract of time could free my fancie nor weary me from my constant affection At last being both wearied and nighted I came to this harmelesse Cell where in love of Solitarinesse and in contempt of the world I vowed to spend the unspent sorrowes of my Life and keepe my selfe from the knowledge of Men and thereupon he devoutly swore mee that I should not make his private aboad knowne to any Man Whereat the wounded Princesse in her apprehension sighed and watered the floare with her baulmy Teares as knowing by the amplyfied and conioyned Names and by the concurrence and circumstance of the Matter that hee was most assuredly her beloved Paris and thereupon shee demanded what was his Name Sans Lieure replyed Poltron did he call himselfe Sans Lieure sayd she Oh how rightly did the Destinies Christen him and how truely doth his Name expresse his Fate For Griefe hath but a dead heart and haplesse Love none at all But where is that Place of playnt that so confines Sorrow in it selfe and makes Woe a habitation for so miserable a Man Tell mee O tell me that I may send some Sanctified person to comfort him and weyne him from so wretched a life My Oath answered Poltron will not admit that any Man be my meanes should know thereof Then would I were shee sayd with him my selfe for by his Name I now remember hee is that Divining Man that hath revealed Wonders and can tell what shall befall every one Oft have I heard of him and strange things by him fore-told hath come to passe Thus did they both disguise theyr mindes and with untempered Morter daube up their severall concealed meanings and hidden intentions that they might both the better worke out theyr Advantages But Poltron seeing his venemous Plot had without all suspect thus poysoned her beliefe boldly told her That as she was no Man shee was not within the Condition of his Bond and therefore if so she pleased he would not only give her full liberty but also bring her unknowne to that haplesse Hermite whom shee desired much to see provided that shee should give him Gold to bring him after to his native Home and also bee directed by him both for the meanes and the manner of theyr escape and travaile To this she answered that Prisons were no Treasure-houses and that she had no Minte to answere her minde onely some reserved Iewels she had which she would give him It shall said he suffice Pitty pleades in your behalfe your merit claymes redresse and my feeling griefe to see a Princesse so distrest commandes the hazard of my Life Be you but silent and secret and you shall see that I will deceive the waking eyes of encharged wisedome and over-throw the heedfull care of reposed trust And thus it must be By the Print of the Keyes which I will make in Waxe will I make other like Keyes by which all the doores shall congee to your Will and give passage to your pleasure Then will I have you for our better security homely attired with a Boxe under your arme and Bone-lace hanging out of it a payre of Shieres tyed to your Girdle a Yeard in your hand that you may seeme to be not what you are but what in appearance I would have you shew to be And I will with a Pedlers packe on my backe well suited thereunto travell along with you as your Husband So shall wee both better escape and avoyd suspition But how sayd Vienna shall Izabella bestow her selfe She sayd Poltron must stay behind in Prison
in all service and so rising up he made a lowe obeyzance and both parting both of them looked backe at one instant upon each other a true record that their liking hearts reioyced in the sight of either other But Sir Paris being come to the rest of the Knights departed with them and as they rid each one towards his severall home he and La-nova tooke an occasion to light to mend their Saddles the rest passing carelesly on which they seeing tooke the next turning and so were gotten away before they were mist and mist before they were knowne The Daulphin thus deceived by him he meant to deceive was much agreved so were the Knights that they could not tell by whom they were vanquished so was Vienna that she knew not by whom she was honoured She thought and ever looked that he should haue discovered himselfe that he might the better bee respected of her and the world take further knowledge of him and his merit But the clouding of himselfe assuredly assured her that he and none but he was the man that so sweetly under her window sang her praise that so dolefully recorded the passion of his tormenting love and that so valiantly forc'd to flight her Fathers Guard His secret departure argued she thought so much and his invaluable valour shewed no lesse Desire now of she knew not what made her love she knew not whom oft she wisht she knew him still she talkt of him and ever shee highly commended him but her wishes were but vaine thoughts and her words but as alluring windes During this their discontentments The Duke of Vandoume now called Vendosome being brother to the issulesse King of France a man so powerfull in meanes and so popular in State that nothing could make him unhappy but the excesse of his happinesse This Duke I say beeing the first Prince of the blood was so transported with such an aspiring pride and unlimitted desire of Rule that he could not disgest a small expectation His desire of Soveraignty caried him so beyond the bounds of all respects that neyther Wisedome could informe his minde nor Honour sway his actions Nature nor Duty could prescribe him any law though he were a Subject subject to the law How to gaine the Crowne was all his care His glorious consideration thereof made a continuall examination of all his thoughts how he should be possest thereof Ambition the Nurse of disloyall plots and practises sayd The King must dye and Resolution the performer of all deeds answered Hee shall dye But how or by whom hee knew not Young men he sayd are not ripe enough for such an action and Old men are too timorous for so great an enterprise The rashnesse of the one and the feare of the other are the ruine of such businesse To trust others then is to deceive my selfe For hope of reward for the preservation of a King will I feare betray my trust And then I must conclude that though a desire to steale make not a Thiefe yet my intent for treason will make me a Traytor and in the punishment thereof I shall finde no distinction of persons What resteth then but force and Armes my sword must plead for possession Rome could not resist Cesar when he came to the gates in the strength of his forces I will therefore first fortifie my selfe with potent friends dissemble for the time my intent and take counsell of three sorts of men of the Lawyer that speakes not as he thinkes of the Physitian that doth not as he sayes and of the Divine which oftentimes teacheth better then himselfe leades and alwayes better then the people follow I know the least winde of the peoples favour will fill my sayles full Their eyes are fixt upon my greatnesse and they observe mee already for my interest The King hath no issue and therefore of lesse regard his time is but short and Respect onely waytes on posterity that promiseth continuance of raigne No sooner sayes some is a Collaterall heire known but the Kings Testament is made why then should he live to command me that am borne to rule He may live to burie me where then is my Crowne I must and will raigne Vpon these moveable sands like a foolish Merchant that adventures all his substance in a broken vessell did this fond Duke build both his resolve and his hope And to give successe to his trust he sent presently to the Daulphin of Viennois whose principality was in manner equall with a Kingly Royalty to require his daughter the faire Vienna in marriage for his sonne The haughty Daulphins minde did well simpathize the Dukes nature both their prides and desires were reciprocall onely the Daulphin was more reserved and ever better advised but this motion did so attatch him with ioy to thinke that his daughter should in time be a Queene that he covetously embrac'd the Dukes request and wished that Commissioners on either side might be nominated and appoynted to conferre and conclude thereof This consent of the Daulphin did so elevate and animate the Duke that hee thought himselfe already an invested King The incorporating of Daulpheny to his Dukedome would he knew make him undoubtedly redoubted great and the uniting of both their powers with their adheres would well enable him to affront the King who now was fitter for a Cloyster as hee thought then for a Crowne Thus we see that where men hath least reason there they are aptest to beleeve anything that but flatters their desires Men that fall into Treachery or misery not knowne nor fore-seene are worthy of some compassion but they that wilfully runne into rebellion or calamity deserve no pitty but shame and death In all our attempts justice and discretion should be the plotters and Honour and Moderation the Actors A violent humour overthrowes the Master Kings we know are made onely by God either in Iustice to execute his wrath upon a sinfull Nation or in mercy as well to preserve and set foorth his worship and glory as to maintaine his people in righteousnes and peace For neither Royall birth succession election usurpation conquest nor right can so establish or perpetuate a Royalty but that God when he pleaseth can and will translate it to others But now the disloyall and deceitfull Duke being as farre from procrastination as the Daulphin was greedie of dispatch sent his Commissioners for the recapitulation and perfecting of such Articles as should be proposed on either side In briefe they agreed on all points and assigned a day for the young Prince of Vandoume to come to the Daulphins Court This being divulged made knowne to Sir Paris did so excutiate all his thoughts and so enflame his perplexed heart that hee was ready to expose himselfe to all dangers and hazards In this distraction La-nova found him and knowing the cause of his distemper for Rumour had possest all men with it hee grieving thus sadly said unto him Let patience my Paris conduct thee out
Foard was not pastable which made Sir Paris so impatient so to be frustrated of his attending Ship the assurance of his safety that Monsieur de la Mott over venturous to venter over the passage was in searching the Foard most unfortunately drowned in the mercilesse Flood Sir Paris daunted at that so fatall a sight sighed and sighing grew to a prodigious prognosticator of his owne ensuing harmes But fearing least the knowlege thereof might appale his faire Friend he suddainely returned to theyr religious Host where he had left the two Ladies when he went to find the Foard and to try the passage and shadowing now his tormenting griefe with a forced smile he demaunded of Vienna how she fared who answered as my Love fares so fares thy Love happy in my selfe because happy in thee And long may said Paris my Love live to love that loves to live onely for my love Scarce had Sir Paris pronounced his last word when one came running to tell the Priest that there were many Knights in the next Towne that came in quest and searched for Vienna and Sir Paris Which Vienna vnderstanding was so surprized with griefe and feare that being altogether disheartned in her hope she held her selfe more then undone in her disturbed expectation But after she had bathed the beauty of her eyes in the sorrow of her teares fearing most in this present perill least death should arrest her beloved Friend She with a much more resolued minde and an assured countenance then befitted eyther the time or was incident to her sex thus exhillerated her astonished Friend My Paris she said Time admittes not there many wordes where danger still knockes at the doore In extremities the winning of time is the purchase both of life and love Let not violent passions that neuer remooves any ill but betrayes our secret imperfections now sway the vertue of thy thoughts nor the fortitude of thy heart but carry thou in thy Lyons looke a Lyons minde and like the Sunne shew thy fayrest face in thy lowest fall Loade not my sorrowes with thy griefe nor kill thou thy selfe for feare of death But in the wonted courage of thy never-daunted Spirit get thee to some other more safer shore where let Vertue be thy Governour my remembrance thy Loue thy loue my comfort and my comfort thy sole contentment Thou hast conquered men in loue and Loue in me and both in worth and wisedome and neuer shall I deeme my selfe happy but when I shall see thee happy for whom I now am so vnhappy As thou leauest me so shalt thou finde me be but thou as constant a Friend to my Minde as thou shalt be a true Possessor of my Heart and I shall haue as much cause of joy as thou no cause of doubt If thou continue loyall successe thou shalt see will blesse thee well and all good fortune will waite on thy just merits This Diamond which here I giue thee shall be a true remaining record of my sincere loue to thee Onely let me heare of thy aboad and so I leaue thee to the guide of Vertue and seruice of Fortune Sir Paris thus discomforted comforted weighing the danger of delay by his immient perill and forced to set vp his sayles in this so insupportable threating a tempest and there sealing vp the vow of his faith in the silent griefe of a departing kisse he posted to the Riuer side againe where Dispaire made Feare so valiant that ere he found cause of feare hee was past all feare For hauing past he knew not how the Riuer he was got before he wist into the Ship wherein being Cabined hee told of La Mot his fatall accident and forced them to put to sea sayling himselfe with as many contrary thoughts as Eolus sent out windes vpon the Trojan Fleete At length he arriued at Genua where he rested his restlesse selfe and where he liued wanting but little because not desiring much But such was his disconsolate solitary life that the Citizens though strangers affecting the man in his manners pittied much his distresse in the shew of his discontentment In the meane while the Daulphin wasting himselfe in his owne implacable and vnlimited wrath violently and suddainly seazed and consiscated all Sir Jaques Lands and Goods into his hands imprisoning both him and his Lady as Fauters Abetters Confederates and Adjuters thereunto Thus ets Outrage euer the sharpest edge vpon the first aduantage And in this distemper of his ill disposed minde he commanded that naught but bread and water should be giuen them For said he where the offence is greater then the seruice there Iustice changeth the bond of recompence into due punishment During this their faultlesse imprisonment the questing Knights returned with Vienna and the Hospitalious Parson her Host who being brought before the angry Daulphin her enraged Father shee saw the cloud a farre off before the storme fell and therefore prostrating her selfe at his Feete shee required pardon for her offence and prayed that he would not make her sinne deadly which was but veniall pleading ignorance for the Prelate and vnresistable loue for her selfe swearing and assuring him by sacrament of solemne oath and the testimonie of her Host that shee was as honest in her flight as she was in her birth and that her vn potted thoughts were neuer stayned with any vnchast deede or desire The noble followers of the obdurate Daulphin seeing the Princesse washing her repentance in her owne teares humbly besought him to forget and to forgiue her amisse since the frailty of her offence was rather a sore then a sinne and wounds were to be healed and not hurt This submission strengthened by such generall entreaties somewhat quencht the burning heate of his enflamed ire And though his seuere Iustice told him that not to punish an euill was to allow of an euill yet mercy hee knew pardons them oft that deserues it not and judgement in nature should be next a kin to fauour Vpon this calme construction after many sharpe rebukes and protested threates he vowed that determinate and ineuitable condemnation 〈◊〉 punish her next offence and so he pardoned her vpon promise of more regardfull duty Now Sir Paris had not long sojourned in Genua but that mindfull of his charge he writ to Vienna and enclosed it in another writ to La-noua wherein he excused his vnkinde departure without his priuity and conjured him by the sacred lawes of true amity to attend and follow his Lady in all seruice and fast friendship La-noua glad of such glad tydings went in the height of his ioy to Vienna and after some complementall salutes asked her what shee would give to heare of her Paris Vienna great with child with the expectation of her friends welfare longed to be delivered with the notice of his health and said that the whole world afforded not sufficient worth to answer her liberall heart therein La-nova ioying in the constancy of her love shewed her the letter which
heale or soares For all men takes pleasure to come to theyr journyes end before they be wearie and our teeming hopes would ever be delivered of a gratious Birth Yet be you Madame he reanswered as you should be if not as you would be since it will be as it is and with some sweete deceit exile these sower conceits Alasse sayd Vienna how can sowre conceites entertaine sweet deceites since present deceites are still my sowrest conceites Your Physicke La-nova is good but my disease is desperate For patience without comfort brings perill of consumption and they are alwayes unpatient Martyrs that are punished uniustly my griefe was at the highest before and now like swelling Nilus it disdaineth bounds Deceive not your selfe said La-nova his endeered Love not brooking your misery and not his fraud never knowne to any with his killing dispayre the bloody butcher of all hopes contentments hath forced thus his further flight And for probation thereof reade heere his Letter which he sent me and doubt you not Madame but when after-times shall make him finde the error of his amisse and that his wounded hope shall be healed with better thoughts that then finding with the sicke man that the shifting of his Bedde alters not his disease he will then I say returne in his repentance and make inquisition after your welfare Vienna taking and perusing the Letter and swallowing up the contents with contentment was overcome asmuch with kinde and affectionate griefe as before she was surprised with cold care and distast of his supposed flying fancie Insomuch that washing a new her face in the balmy droppes of her love-distilling teares she laide her hands on his shoulder and sighing sayd O pardon La-nova my offensive offence Sweet Paris where so ere thou art pardon my amisse I was I am and will be still the same and ever thine Thus having surfeited in her owne sorrow she purged heriealous conceite and in the comfort of his constant love she layd her downe on her weeping bed where La-nova left her to rest her restlesse thoughts By this time the Moone seven times had showne her fullest face and as many times lost the splendor of he light When the Prince of Burbon desirous to see the Emperious Mistresse of his enthralled heart taking humble leave of his Father secretly poasted to Vienna where the Daulphin enknowledged of his comming went to receive him at his outermost gate The young Prince greeted entertained and feasted of some of many of all amongst them all mist the fairest of them all the faire Vienna the admired Princesse of all pulcretude of whose wished welfare he asked her Father Who like a subtile Mercurist cunning in Cautels soberly sayd that as yet she had not recovered her health The young Prince discomforted in so lingering a sicknesse importuned the Daulphin that he might visit her and so somewhat satisfie his hungry minde almost famished with desire The Daulphin whose sences held now a Synode was driven to such an exigent that not knowing how to avoyde the Cheque without a Mate he was peâ—force forced to confesse the trueth So that taking him aside he swore by Sacrament of solemne Oath that his whose drift and desire was to bestowe his Daughter on none but him and that he had banished ambitious and audatious Sir Paris for his over-proud and presumptious love But such said he hath beene and is still her permanent frowardnesse and most obstinate disobedience therein that in injustice I have iustly imprisoned her not so much for her degenerate breach of duty though not to restraine an ill is to maintaine an ill as to bring her to yeeld to your fancy But overhardened in her willfull conceit shee rests no lesse carelesse of her endurance then resolved in her wilfullnesse for which I also have deprived her of her glory and comfort sworne her continuall thraldome and pray the continuance of your good opinion and amitie The young Prince astonished at the strangenesse of the case wondred greatly at the cause Yet flattering himselfe with selfe-conceite of his more worthy worthinesse He earnestly intreated the Daulphin that he might make some tryall what himselfe could doe for himselfe The Daulphin granting his request he presently cloathed himselfe in the richest Ornaments of Pride and State and Princely attended went with more speed then successe to the Prison the Doore whereof had but onely a small hole cut forth to take ayre in and to receive such leane and slender Sustenance as was most sparingly allowed her Vienna foretold of his comming had before gotten by La-nova's meanes a Capon whose dismembred Legges she closely had tyed under the holes of her naked Armes that there with heate putrifying they might the sooner corrupt and unsavery smell the stronger The young Prince comming to the doore knockt and demaunded for Vienna Who comming and seeing him so richly cladde and in so glorious an estate blusht out such beauty that her very Eyes seem'd a fayre Temple wherein Love and Beauty seated themselves Yet dissembling her knowledge of him she asked what he was and would Viennas Friend hee sayd and Viennas Love I would My Friend sayd she oh Friendlesse name I Friend that live exempt from Friends My Love why name I Love that onely love to live here unbeloved The young Prince whose listening eares were well pleased with the sweete harmony of her well tuned words and whose liking Eyes were ravished with the sight of her perfections was so perplexed betwixt new conceived desires and disdaine to be disdained that not knowing what to say he stood like one that had lost himselfe not reall in sence but as a faire Flower nipt with the morning frost hanging downe his head as most sorry for his declyning glory In this dispaire the remembrance of his owne greatnesse and the conceite of his owne merits gave such quickning life to his mortified thoughts and such freedome to his imprisoned tongue that boldly and plainely he told her who he was why and for what he came Vienna pleading ignorance for the error of her carelesse regard humbled her selfe with thankefull acknowledgement of his more worthy worthinesse But such said she is the obligation of my decreed chastity that nought but death shall breake the bond Why Madame replyed the Prince in so doing you wrong Nature in clouding the brightnesse of her Sunne deprive the world of more glorious light neglect your duty in disassenting from your Fathers will wound my desires with forlorne hopes and rob your selfe both of propagating pleasure sweetest content and greatest glory Then leave these iniurious walles and change your Prison unfitting your Person for a Pallace prepared for a Princesse In assurance whereof accept most renowned Ladie this Pledge of my Faith wherein is charactered the Life of my Love and the Love of my Soule and therewith Of Ruby rich a wounded heart he gave That pirec'd by Dart did bleed and mercy crave This was so Artificially made and cut that the falling drops did
Iustice without pitty is as cruell as Pitie without Iustice is foolish If wrath were not by mercy to be appeased no flesh should be saved O would and thus as he would have floated further in the Sea of his sorrow hee was interrupted and driven out of his Saturnall humour by a certaine Messenger of worth that the Turke had sent to seeke him with whom he returned shadowing his griefe with the borrowed vale of seeming pleasant and arming his patience with noble resolution to give way to all occurrents and to withstand all sinister accidents No sooner was he come into the Sultans sight but that he cheerefully called him and briefly told him that hee meant to invade Christendome And that for his approoved prowis and for the love he bare him he meant to grace him with the conducting of his Army and make him Generall over all his forces This said hee is our will and this your charge Then see that your performance answere our expectation and that our love be guerdoned with your victories Sirap wounded with these words knew not how to lay a playster on this sore yet resolved in his Countries good hee humbly prostrating himselfe yeelded all reverend thankes for such his great esteeme and gracefull respect But such said he pardon me most victorious and most mightiest of most mightiest Princes is my unpractived knowledge in Marshalling of Troupes and ranging of Battels that I should rather ecclipse the feared honour of your name by my overthrow then eternize your gotten fame by my Conquests Besides know most great Commander that though I be a mortall enemie to the Crosse of Christ and an inherent foe to all Christians yet for some private causes best knowne to my selfe I vowed long since never to tread on Christian ground nor come where any worship that Messias for their God Then let I humbly intreat your Imperiall Maiesty some other in worth more worthier supply my defects in their better deserts and bury not your living renowne in my so probable ignorance and unexperienced discipline The Sultan weying the danger of an unpractised Generall allowed the rather his devout obiections and considering the religiousnesse of his vowes though he held it superstitious in it selfe yet would he not violate his consecrated promise but yeelding to his request hee made Mustapha Bassha his Generall and the preparation for him was so great that the bruit thereof piercing the Westerne Clyme came to the knowledge of the French King who as the greatest Christian Prince assembled his wisest Councellours and noble Peeres praying also in ayde of all his Allyes and Princely Confederates about him to conferre and conclude somewhat for the honour and preservation of Christendome Amongst whom the Daulphin of Viennois was there as the sole Solon and onely wisest though too severe a Cato of his Country But such was his over-wayning conceite such the elevation of his high stirring spirit and such his proud estimation of his allowed wisedome that halled on I know not by what destinie he voluntary offered secretly and Pilgrime-like to goe to Constantinople there to espye and learne the strength intention course and preparation then intended meant and made for Christendome This being applauded by the whole assembly so tickled the flattering humour of his vaine glory the ecclipse of his mature wisdome that poysoned with theyr praises hee fayled to looke into the true consideration of so doubtfull and threatning an enterprise Pride made him forget both his place and his yeares and Glory would not permit him neither to take counsaile of Time nor make a provident delay which well shewes that they that are transported with their owne desires have no true scope of judgement left them to looke with perfect eyes into their designes otherwise actions so uncertaine had beene better not undertaken then unfortunately hazarded But he ever hasteth to repent that rashly enterpriseth Hee was most resolute in his determination nothing could dismay him nor no Man could disswade him doubt hee held to be the bane of all hopefull endeavours and if his fate were certaine he said it would profite him little to take heed and if uncertaine it would be more then meere foolishnesse to feare what he was ignorant of would happen In this resolute resolve he called for the Lord Vran Esperance a Man whose care and providence was the life of that State unto his wisedome and trust did he leave the whole governement of his Principality till his returne commanding him upon his allegiance to marshall and manage the whole State as best should stand with Iustice Law and equitie and that he would neither in pitty dutie nor favour such was his perseverant rigour release comfort nor give countenance to the Princesse Vienna otherwise then was by him already censured allowed and accustomed That her obstinate and degenerate disobedience she being a Traytor to true Generation might eternize his unpartiall Iustice make her miserable in being an example to others and that his Title and right might in his absence be the better secured by her imprisonment And so taking his leave he privately departed accompanied with none but with Mal Fiance his affected and learned Servant After their Land travell they Shipt themselves and lanched into the Ocean where after some dayes sayling they were by force of wrathfull and sinister windes by the command of Neptune driven into the Egyptian Sea and so cast on the Bay of Alexandria where he had not rested full three dayes but that a subtile Mercurian a Merchant of Babilon that then lay in Traffique there observing more heedfully the eminent Maiesty and uncontrolled countenance of the Daulphin supposed thereby that he was of no meane Estate His Complexion and attire made him a Christian and his commanding Eyes the true image of the minde shewed him to be of an high Spirit This Linx this Blood-hound to mischiefe hunted after opportunity to resolue this doubt and by fortune encountred with Mal Fiance in the Market-place whither the Daulphin his Lord had sent him to buy some Necessaries Vnto whom in Latine as the most generall Tongue best knowne to all the politique Merchant gave many kinde salutes offering him secretly for the love he bare to Christ and Christians all the best offices he might performe wishing withall to gaine the more credit not to make himselfe knowne in so dangerous and impious a Place Mal Fiance being better Learned then Travelled finding himselfe so kindely intreated by a Stranger returned thankes and ioyfully embrast his courtesie The Merchant glad that he vnderstood him requested his acceptance of a cuppe of theyr Countrey Wine which Mal Fiance as one proud of such vnexpected friendship in so strange a place and that he had met with one of knowledge to conferre withall willingly assented unto The Merchant having waded thus farre into the depth of his awaked intention thought good to sound the Foord at full by undermining theyr proiects And therefore in the curtesie of theyr
may ever take comfort in La-nova Vpon this conclusion he parted and Isabella strewed the Rushes over the private way that gave him entrance But no sooner was it done but that one of the Keepers Gentlemen that seemed ever most serviceable unto her came in whom the devilish Daulphinis had before fashioned to her purpose for she wrought upon his want as knowing well that Povertie betrayeth Vertue and that Wealth bewitcheth Wit Corruption having made him her Creature shee had instructed him how to trayne Vienna to her destruction for nought but Death could satisfie her disdainefull feare Her malicious and unbounded pride locked into the danger of her Lords returne If the Daulphin fell then must Vienna though now a Prisoner be Soveraigne This made her heart-burning hate to prosecute her overthrow And though shee had no cause to feare her for occasion never yet made her her enemy yet could she not indure to thinke that shee should bee Subject to another that now was most eminent in her selfe To have the Regent was all her ambitious desire and nothing did let but Viennas right To frustrate which shee with fulnesse of Gold and promises of preferment had as aforesayd seduced this mettle-minded Servant to deceive and to destroy her by such subtile and obscure meanes as both gave least shew of mistrust and most likelihood of execution And this it was Don Poltron for so was hee rightly named bringing Viennas mornings repast to her with a bemoaning tongue and a sighing heart complained much against Nature and enveyed more against Fortune that had made beauty so miserable and Vertue so unhappie as to entombe the glory of the one and the effecacie of the other in so unprofitable and so uncomfortable a place My eyes sayd hee cannot indure to see Dignity so disgraced nor can my Eares entertaine the killing sound of your laments I must and will leave my wounding Service that at longth I may bee a Stranger to sorrow least my griefe for your griefe make my revived woes as great as your griefe Vienna liking his generous nature iudged by his discreete and relenting discourse that he was well bred and pleasing wittie and therefore required him to tell what was his Name and where he was borne Who answered Don Poltron am I called and in Spaine was my birth my education was better then my fortune and this my servile Place beares now record of my sinister fate Why sayd Vienna if thou be infortunate keepe still thy station here is a place of woe and thou hast a Princesse to associate thee in thy sorrowes Hast thou cause to bewaile thy mishaps Let us know thy crosses and we will ease thee with our griefe For it is a comfort to find a Companion in misery Then say Poltron for thy Nature agrees better with us then thy Name and story to vs the life of thy Fortune that we may also recreate our minde by listening to thy griefes Poltron having pleased her with this sugered Bayte cast out his hidden Hooke and tolde her that he was a rith Merchants Sonne in Spaine left so well Treasured that he swayed the world at will vntill emperious Love made him of a free Lord a Bond-slave to Melleflora Vnto her sayd he I sued long for obtayned grace which had I held my selfe more fortunately happy then Paris did in the fruition of his Love Paris sayd Vienna what Paris Paris said he of Troy that enioyed the Beauty of Greece and made his Pleasure a Plague to his Countrey But in the height of my ioyes and hope of highest happinesse Death deprived me of my Paradised Blisse and not onely made my broken heart the sad habitation of woe but also turned my mind which before was a Kingdome to me into a Hell of tormenting thoughts The place of my Birth grew by her losse so hatefull to me that I was necessitated to forgoe the ground that yeelded me no other harvest but griefe In briefe for better portage I turned all my Substance into Iewels of estimate and travelled to Naples where I spent more of my Wealth then I did of my woes Then Repentance made me leave that wastfull Nation and so I came unfortunately into France Thus he drew on her attention with a faigned tale that he might without all suspition and with better gaine of beliefe give more fewell to her desire for his further betraying discourse And to blinde all iealous thoughts he purposely seemed by his abrupt end to be unwilling to proceed further But Vienna whose crossed affection delighted to heare of semblable fortunes would needs know what other mishaps wayted on his lost love Alas Madame said Poltron the small remainder of my broken state I brought with me into France to maintaine the length of my dayes but in my passage I was set on by foure Theeves that stript me of all I had wounded me sore and would no doubt have taken my life but that by chance there came by a poore Hermite who seeing theyr violence without all dread of their number or feare of his own feeblenes cast off his peacefull Gowne drawing out a hidden sword out of his staffe he so fiercely assaulted them that in the end he slew three of them whilst the fourth run away with the prey the danger of my wounds made him then as farre to surmount himselfe in pittie as he had excelled the other in valour And in the tendernesse of his relenting minde he brought me to his Cell where on a bed of mosse he layd me and binding up my wounds with a peece of his shirt for other linnens he had none he afterwards applyed the joyce of hearbes so oft unto them that they healed and I began to grow strong With him had I continued still but that during the stay of my recovery I could not endure to see this good Chyrurgion and noble minded Hermite that had so well preserved and cherished mee sit so oft sighing and many times exclaiming against uniust rigour and vnnaturall iniustice that halfe distraught hee would often confusedly say Doth the Sea nourish a more cruell fish then the Dolphin is not Vienna the fairest Citie of the world And lived there ever a more unfortunate man then Paris Then would hee bewayle destroyed Troy and blame Love that fired Jllion and by and by curse that wretched Knight that overthrew so faire a creature and so glorious a Citie Then would he sit in a dolefull dumpe and after suddainly start up as one affrighted and accuse his offending tongue of Treachery for wronging the divine name of love since hee was so highly beloved as his meane fortune merited not the glory thereof But leaving him with my prayers both to his Cave and to his Cell after many thankes I left that woefull and worthy Hermit and came to Viennois where necessity compelled mee to seeke this service And this most vertuous Princesse is the Map of my misery and so hee seemed to end before he had
barbarous Moore honoured his milde inclination wondered at his regular admonitions and thanked him for his humane comforts tender regard My minde mindfull said Sirap of Fortunes ficklenesse affects I know not how nor wherefore your deliverance what then will the Daulphin give if I affect the same The Daulphin whose smallest sayles of hope the least windes did blowe offered the third part of his Principality when hee should come to Viennois Promises said Sirap of advancement are no assurances of enrichment and he hath a wit too short of discretion that will loose certaine favours for uncertaine fortunes Notwithstanding if you will but sweare unto me by that same God which you serve and adore to grant me one request that I shall make when I come to Viennois I will endanger my life to free your life from danger and leave and loose my honours in Babylon and Greece to seale and feate my selfe with you in France more you cannot desire lesse my Country Gods ayding me I will not accomplish The Daulphin whose flattering hope suddainly gave him a present assay of future happinesse though at the first he was very credulous in entertaining such favourable conjectures yet hardly could hee ground any firme beleife since knowing him to be but a Stranger hee thought that such deepe wounds could not be searched with such shallow Instruments But at the last referring all things to God and to the will and wisdome of the supposed Moore hee wholly embraced his kinde offer and anchored all his hope in his provident industry unto whom preferring life before livelihood hee devoutly sware by his Fathers God the onely one true God and God of all Gods in whom he chiefly and onely trusted that whatsoever hee would demaund should be freely absolutely and willingly given him In further consideration whereof he gave him a rich Diamond and his Interpretour a hundred French crownes which for his vse if neede required he had closly hid betwixt the lyning of the coller of his doublet Sirap holding himselfe satisfied said it sufficed Onely hee required his continuall prayers for his better successe and so left him to feast his hopefull heart with the expectation of desired successe The next day Sirap taking occasion to walk to Euphrates that famous River that runnes by Babylon there to view the variety of strange severall small ships he casually met and secretly compounded with an avarous Pilot whose corruption being gilded over with gold he was to bring him downe the River through the Persian gulfe to the next Port Towne upon the Affricke shoare The fifth following night hee appoynted to come a boord attended onely with two men and therefore gave him in charge not onely to bee most secret therein but also that he should make full provision of all requisites This done he presently gave forth that hee would shortly depart and returne to Constantinople and the better to accomplish his desire without misdeeme he determined under colour of preparation and fitly furnishing himselfe to lye some few dayes in the Citie before he would embarque himselfe All which hee presently imparted to the Soldan and humbly with prodigall thankes tooke his leave saying that his period of time pleaded now his promis'd returne which in no wise he would violate with the high commander of his thoughts the great and Emperiall Turke unto whom hee owed all obliged love and most reverent respect And therefore if so it pleased his Majesty to command his ready service in ought hee would willingly attend his pleasure and by his Graces imployments hold himselfe more then graced The Soldan seeing he would depart presented him with many rich gifts of Royall estimate holding himselfe no little bounden to his Gods in that they had interested him in so noble meritorious a friend so blinded was hee with Siraps civill demeanour and so dusked with Solimans powerfull commends that he could not with Palimed pry now into the profundity of Vlysses And therefore requesting him to take in worth those small remembrances of his fast sealed love he friendly bad him farewell and so left him Sirap whose thoughts travailed now in quest after the Daulphins deliverance got himselfe into the Citie where he chambered himselfe in a Merchants house of great and good regard where being once left and seated hee began to call his wits to account how best he might best deceive the Daulphins Keeper For providence preventeth misfortunes and gives life to our future actions And therefore he was neither carelesly nor over-timorously suspitious of that which might sinisterly and suddenly succeede but iealous headfull in the hazard lest any over-sight might crosse his endeavours and so leave his Lord helplesse and himselfe haplesse But after he had stretcht and tentred his wit and set all possibilities on the racke of his invention at length his desire carrying him beyond all doubt of danger hee armed his determination with steeled resolution and setting his chance on the Dice he thus attempted and assayed his fortune The day before his departure hee went unto the Castle where gently greeting the Keeper he told him that he was to returne to Constantinople and therefore finding himselfe engaged to him for his willing paines and already ready shewed kindnesses hee was come of purpose in person to invite him and all his followers vnto whom he had been troublesome to sup with him that night that hee thereby might acknowledge his thankfulnesse and they have cause to remember his love and his person And because hee said my Chamber is no receite and that I am unwilling to be troublesome or offensive to the Master of the house let me entreate the use of the Castle and so make you my Host and Guest at once The Keeper blinded with his former bounty secured by the Soldan and now drawne on by the pleasing shew of kinde courtesie knowing him whom yet hee never knew to be of a vertuous dispose of great estimate and highly favoured of the King did freely and gratefully offer himselfe his service and the Castle at his command The great unknowne distance betwixt the Daulphins and the Moores Countrey Clymes with their admiration of each other the difference of their tongues could not make the gulled keeper suspitious nor can cause him once to dreame of deceitfull guile This illusion gave Sirap hope of happy successe and therefore manifesting his thankfulnesse with a rich Iewell that he giving required that he would weare it for his sake he left him and prodigally povided what either his purse could procure or the time would afford Hee gave also further charge to his Attendants that the Table should be still and ever fully furnished with many repleat Cups of Greekish Wine For said he the cost is ill spared that is spared for cost and the beauty of the banquet is there eclips'd where Jupiter raines not downe full showers of Nectar As himselfe hee had carefully and secretly before provided sleeping Poppy heavy Darnell and the
principality extinguish all sorrow and memory of the dead Daulphinis So that wiping his eyes he turned himselfe towards Sirap and embracing him said Most worthy Knight and my dearest friend welcome to my Court to my selfe and all that is mine This Pallace my Countrey and I are all at your dispose For so in my particular obligation and by your merritorious and pleading deserts am I bound unto you And longer may not I enioy what I now possesse then you shall finde my promises full laden with rich performance And be further assured that as I onely live through your love and raigne altogether by your valour so will I ever owe you fealty for my life and still doe you homage for my Crowne Sirap understanding thus much by Boufoy returned him humble thankes for his so gratefull and high esteeme both of himselfe and his poore endeavours with protestation that he neither wish'd nor expected so great and undeseruing guerdons but still held himselfe most indebted vnto his owne desires to doe him all further possible service This interchange of kindnesses gave contentment to them both and was most pleasing to the Daulphin who yet fed so on his fresh feeling happinesse that he gave in charge that all his Subiects should honour Sirap as himselfe and hold his will as the will of their Lord For so he said is your Lords will that next to the Lord of hoasts holds his life and living of him Then told he them how and with what hazard of his life hee had redeemed him from most base bondage and cruell death How he had left many heathen honours to honour him then greatly dishonoured and how he had protected him at Sea from danger of Pirats and lastly established him in his regalty in despight of his foes And therefore many and sundry were the Triumphs that now were ordained for him but more then many were the severall thoughts that afflicted his doubtfull minde Vienna he thought had cause to condemne him since affection ever thinkes all times of stay too long that hangs on desert La-nova he knew would rebuke him for violating the sacred lawes of friendship in his concealement And his reverend Father might well question his breach of love and duty that so refused to shew himselfe a sonne One while was he ready to embrace La-nova another time to runne to Vienna and by and by hee was ready prest to fall on his knees to Sir Jaques Now did hee pitty distressed Vienna who in all these alterations was neither moved nor removed Then did he feare her liberty since her Father had no feeling of her calamity Thus dubiously perplexed in minde hee sadly sate unregarding regarding the continuing and maintained Iustes untill the Daulphin iudging of his stormy thoughts by his clowded countenance thus awaked him by his Interpreter What think'st said hee my best worthy friend of our French Knights and how stands our Court sports with your liking Sirap whose Martiall minde was now mollified with milder and calmer thoughts by his man thus answered As Knights of good regard I regard your Knights and as noble befitting sports I commend your heroicall pastimes All doth well and well doth it stand with your Highnesse that hath Knights that can doe so well But the Iustes being ended the Daulphin that had read his discontentment in the deepe characters of his face for the countenance oft shewes the affects and passions of the heart tooke him by the hand and privatly led him into a faire tapistred gallery hanged with most artificiall pictures of greatest Monarches where he thus againe assaved to finde the cause of his disturbance Let not said hee any doubt dismay mylives preserver nor let any remembrance of your last and lost honours worke in you any repenting humor since Viennaes Daulphin is both willing and ready both to accomplish your demand and to honour you with all dignities What pleaseth Sirap pleaseth the Daulphin and nothing shall content the Daulphin but what shall well like Sirap Then aske my Lord and bee Lord of your asking Sirap thus kindly entreated and encouraged lowly humbled himselfe and by Boufoy thus replyed Know most renowned and thrice worthy Prince that doubtfull suspition harbours not in noble hearts Nor think I once of honours change Your covenanted promise exiles that doubt and the effect of my request is the honour that best will please my minde Then let me shew and shewing crave both what troubleth your servant and what he now in all humility demands for his conditioned gift Not affecting honours the worlds fading glory nor coveting riches mans pleasing evill but seeking contentment in loves felicity I aske claime and require your daughter my Lord for my wife and a wife for my reward The renowne of her attractive vertues and the vertue of her moving perfections hath by report so captivated my freest thoughts since my comming to Viennois that wondring at her Fame I am wounded with Fancy and my desire is to see and applaude her excellencies Then let it not seeme strange unto you that unseene perfections have thus wrought unknowne passions since the eare is as well subiect to conceit as the eye is pliant to affection The Daulphin whose unnaturall impenitrable heart felt no longer remorce of her endured misery then whilst hee was himselfe in misery and who was no sooner free but that hee freed his remorced thoughts from all thought of remorce In so much that looking neither after her imprisonment nor his owne posterity hee in his euer over awfulnesse shewed himselse now rather an unrelenting Tyrant then a chastising Father But now thus utged by Sirap whose warranted demand and high deserts might well challenge an absolute grant hee herein still discontented thus contented Sirap Nothing I see right noble valiant and most merritorious Moore seemeth worse to love then to preferâ—e any thing before it selfe For cloath Desire in plates of burnish'd gold and Desire will shiver all for colde and fill affections purse with treasure and fancy wanting contentment will starve for hunger so that nothing can satisfie Love but love Your deserts might well have challenged my Principality for your due my dignities for your right and all my treasure for your owne But all these I see suffice not because they satisfie not And to aske you why is to aske one halfe pyned why he is hungry You loue my Lord you loue but whom my daughter yea that is my griefe Not that you loue her vnworthy your loue but that I cannot giue you her more then worthy her For such I sweare by the eternall and my all-preseruing God hath beene and yet is the vndutifull and most obstinate will of my too disobedient and degenerate daughter that neuer yet nor yet euer could I or shall I I feare perswade intreate or enforce her to consent to any in royall ranke worth or majestie suitable to her selfe For many times many powerfull Princes that sued for her fauour shee hath both carelesly
disrespected and scornefully refused And as many times many times hath she therein my will disobeyed and contemned Not regarding her renowne shining in their glory Nor respecting my contentment nor progenie eclipsed both in her neglect of me and in her affoorded favour to her farre inferiours which caused me in iustice to punish her hateful disobedience with imprisonment yet in nature to bewaile her imprisonment though enforced by Iustice Where I left her there so you please may you finde her a prisoner to her will that will not yet submit her selfe to my will and therefore by my will worthily chastised without offence to Nature For where Nature offendeth law there law may iustly be executed on Nature Assay her most worthy of all worth and put in ballance your fortune with your fancy and if your hap may drowne her favour you shall redouble the small remainder of my aged dayes and well satisfie the iustice of my displeasure with the honour of your desired affinity All my right is yours your demand my consent and my consent a full Fathers graunt Sirap acknowledging this his so great bounty gave him more thankes then if he had presently intituled and invested him in the Principality of Viennois Yet sayd he it seemes not ouer-strange to me nor should it bee so offensive to your Highnesse that one so enriched by Nature so admired for Vertue and so endowed by Fortune should herein against all nature so resist the law of nature since Fancie is altogether guided by Destiny and Love is neither subiect to duty nor reason Then seeing that Love yeeldeth neither reason of choise nor change I will leave to reason further of it and aduenture once to cary up a dish to Venus table that never yet served in her Court The Daulphin glad that his demaund was of no greater consequence secretly smiled at his simplicity that neglecting Honours highest advancements onely contented himselfe with the naked hope of most impossible favours But Sir Sirap being more assured then the Daulphin did assure himselfe rested thankfully contented with the same And the next morning in the pride of his secret ioy hee went unto the Castle where having the Daulphins signet for his warrant hee called for Vienna who fearing some suddaine stratagem for all her hope of welfare was dead fearefully came to the dore to know the end of her punishment But when Sirap sawe the alteration that vertuous Constancie had wrought in her imprisonment griefe so attach'd him that hee was more mortified at the sight then he was Moorefied in sight yet after some secret digested sighes he cheared up his ingreeved spirit with the ioy hee had to see her and thus by his interpreter he saluted her Our Gods of all happinesse make faire Vienna happy in her desires and more fortunate in her life The same Vienna Vienna said yeelds you hearty thankes and prayes that the like content may countervaile your wel wishing Then shall said he my love be made immortall in your liberty and your liberty be purchased by my love Vienna abash'd at his reply replyed againe that griefe had no harbour for love nor loue any acquaintance with distressed Vienna A noble cause said Sirap may yet helpe to heale a grievous case Then leave these for lorne walls and let not your will make you a prisoner that may live in my love a Princesse For know Madam that your father being a prisoner in Babylon and allotted there to most base and cruell death I though by kinde an unpassionate Moore yet much more then any Moore pittying the wiseries of others had such compassion on your Fathers distresse that growing carelesse of my estate being there then entertained with greatest state I aduentured with great adventure to acquit him from shamefull bondage and more cruell death Conditionally that vpon my arrivall with him in this Countrey he should graunt me without all exception one gift that then I should require which he then ratified by oath in sight of his God and now hath confirmed it hy will in the presence of his people Now Madame hearing the well worthy renowne of your renowned beauty though being by Nature fierce yet subiect to affection I could not but in that frailty yeeld to humane condition And therefore prizing my content before a Crowne I required your Ladiship for my Wife which your Father by oath hath graunted which you in duty should yeeld unto and which I in love if love can merit such happinesse doe deserve and yet most humbly doe request Vienna thus moved remooved thus his flattering and aspiting hope If said shee my Father enioy a second life by your conditionall adventure you may Presse him to the performance so farre as it it is in his power to accomplish more you cannot aske lesse hee will not performe But know Sir Knight that love knowes no such paternall law that yet was never subiect to any law The Father hath but a consent not the choyse in the daughters affections his free thoughts have no feeling of her conceit and his mettle minde and corrupted humours are oft unpleasing to his childes fancie Neither stands it with any reason that he that cannot govern his owne passions should command others affections Then must you of necessity excuse his impossibility and admit onely of his willingnesse that can give nought but consent for his larges Yet Madame by your favour said Sirap stands the daughter bound for her Fathers good and the guerdon is but ungratefull that is required in contempt True said Vienna but every good must not bee rewarded with the best lest the best want fit requitall for due desert Let it then suffice that with thankes I acknowledge your great good and in any other thing will be ready to pleasure you Onely in this pardon me my Lord for in loves infirmities I have no affinity A troubled soule onely in teares her comfort seekes It is a heavy comfort said Sirap that in mourning stands yet said she doth the custome of sorrow lessen the griefe and it is some comfort to bee voyde of all comfort Dispaire said Sirap is mother to death and death no fit compannion for beauty My beauty said shee poore as it is hath already beene my bane and made me most unfortunate in my most fortunatnesse Why Madame quoth he hath your Grace beene deceiued So said she say they that tolde me so But truth hee replyed stands not on the tongues of men True shee said and that is the cause why we are deceived by men you mistake me much said Sirap Nay said shee not mistaken but overtaken you in the truth and so shee bad him farewell leaving him tormented in minde in that hee gest by her last words that some one to advantage himselfe or in malice to him had wronged him in words Yet could hee not but smile to thinke how his conceit was her deceit But leaving her whom hee meant not so to leave but to re-assay her againe he returned