gate for the other Verasco perceiving this caused all the servants of the house to come into that alley whose feet hee measuring with the prints which were made in the sand there was none found any way agreeing but onely Clarinda's whose shooe did perfectly fit the lesser print which served as a great proofe at the least for a violent suspicion against her who otherwise accused and convinced by her owne conscience did not deny the fact But alas it had beene much better that she had disavowed this truth than to have added so execrable and notorious a lye For it is very true shee said it was I who opened the gate notwithstanding it was by my Mistresses command Verasco not willing to proceed further in examination of a cause so criminall made Clarinda fast and sent for the Justice strictly forbidding every body to speake of it unto Calista who was so plunged in sorrow and drowned in griefe that her sickenesse moved no lesse pity than Cleanders death The Judges who for the most part are like Surgeons seeking for nothing more than for wounds and swellings quickly came unto the place visited the body and examined Clarinda who persevering in what shee had formerly said added that Lisander was the man who had killed her Master as might easily bee seene by the sword which hee had left that she had let him into the house by Calista's command as formerly shee had done although to her extreme sorrow which she no longer able to beare had discovered to Berontus whom she called to witnesse these words Calista being upon this accusation heard for the fulnesse of her misfortune saw her selfe accused of her husbands death by her who was the cause thereof and for her last calamitie that shee might the more lightly passe this troublesome passage was carried unto prison in the little Castle in this proud City of Paris where in former times shee had beene often seene in so much pomp and glory The End of the sixth Booke A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF these Times THE SEVENTH BOOKE CALISTA being thus in prison the very centre of misery and a sepulchre unto those who live therein must not be forgotten nor suffered to lye long there yet her comming forth cannot bee so soone for innocency doth not easily appeare in darke dungeons neither is the getting out of prison so easie as the entrance thereinto Clarinda was also placed in another chamber and in her stead there was a strange woman appointed to waite upon Calista whom she had never before seene in appearance to serve her but in truth to observe her words and espy her actions As for Verascus hee remained at Beauplaine unto which place having sent for Berontus and there celebrated Cleanders funerall and setled his houshold he afterward went unto Paris to become Calista's adversary who being brought into this pitifull estate began first to teare her haire and to doe mischiefe against her selfe after having remained in silence a long time without speaking one word as one whose griefe tooke away her sense at the length her present mischiefe bringing unto her minde her former fortune brought teares into her eies and these words into her mouth stirring pity in that place where it never had beene O Calista where art thou what are become of all thy pleasant dayes unto what is all thy glory and vanity reduced O Cleander my onely joy and comfort was it not affliction enough to lose thee without being accused for thy losse Ah Lisander the services which you have done mee heretofore are now dearly sold unto me and I pay those honest acknowledgements of your love with a high price O Lisander why doest not thou know of my imprisonment And you my Judges why doe you not know mine innocency And thou Clarinda why dost thou accuse mee In the middest of these complaints much more grievous than I can expresse nothing comforted her but the hope of death which was preparing for her which shee would have much more desired than her liberty if she could have received it without incurring infamy for the crime whereof she was accused But not to be long upon so grievous a subject I will briefly say that Berontus being come from Burgundy and being no lesse astonished than sorry for those accidents since his departure was heard by the Provost and confronted with Clarinda unto whose former speeches his being conformable it seemed that Calista was sufficiently attainted and convicted of her husbands death so that her processe was in the worlds opinion judged both to the losse of her life and honour I must not forget the griefe which this misfortune brought unto Olinda Alcidon Argire who were then at Paris the sorrow which Ambrisia had who was in Burgundy and that which was suffered by Lidian and his Parents in Normandy when they knew of it Argire and Olinda imployed all their friends to speake with Calista but were not able to obtaine it All the world wondred that Lisander had so fouled the glory of so many brave deeds by so dishonourable an act There was none but Cloridons friends who beleeving that hee was cowardly murdered rejoiced that hee had committed this last base act as a proofe of the former Lisander was then at Brusels farre from thinking upon such an act where a faithfull Poste whom Alcidon had sent let him understand the newes of this deplorable disaster When he heard of Cleanders death he uttered great sorrow as for a person whom next unto Calista he truely loved above all creatures but when he knew that the common beliefe was that he had killed him with his wifes privity who was for that cause a prisoner and upon the point of her punishment he was strooke with silence the newes taking from him both his feeling and all his senses like a great stroake which is not felt at the instant but some time after it is received When he had gathered his spirits unto him which were wandred away with the violence of the first motion and that griefe had given place unto his words O God what did he not say his griefe cannot be represented but by that of Calista for never two soules were so equally wounded with one stroak and their wounds unlike unto all others had nothing to paralell either the others but themselves yet being a man and having his liberty he did resolve to lose it together with his life or else to assure Calista's Now if hee durst appeare he had done his Lady a great service for his flight was one maine argument against her and his presence would have much served for their justification But Cloridons murder being fresh and his blood almost warme representing it selfe every day to the Kings memory who would never grant him his pardon he thought that his presence in stead of satisfying things would exasperate them and that unprofitably he should carry his head to bee lost at Paris without saving Calista's but what cannot love doe in a gentle heart hee
last order by which not presenting himselfe within three weekes hee was to be declared guilty of the crimes whereof he was accused That all France wondred at his not appearance in this needfull occasion and did thinke him convicted That his friends could not tell what to thinke nor what to doe but onely to present themselves at the last day to fight with his accusers in his absence But what a shame would that be said he in the sight of so great a King that Lisanders friends should enter combate for his cause he in the meane time being idle in the countrey Adrastus more vexed at this last newes than at the former knew not what answer to make unto Lidians speeches but that they had neither heard of Gentleman nor any man else that brought letter from Dorilas that this was the first word hee had heard of his pardon And as for Lisander see what is written unto me which I received but now and saying this hee shewed him Hippolita's letter Lidian marvelling that there was no newes of the Gentleman and sorry that he had missed of Lisander comforted himselfe with hearing that hee was gone unto the Court and giving unto Adrastus and Hypermestra Ambrisia's letter wherewith they were much rejoiced hee stayed only one night at Miramont departing the next morning early and determining to see Hippolita as he passed by as well for the estimation was made of her as to make a true discovery of Lisanders waies hee found her such as she was described unto him exceeding faire and having understood by her that Lisander was gone towards Bourdeaux and by easie journies he thought if he did goe Poste he might come thither as soone as Lisander for which cause hee tooke his leave being much satisfied with her fashion and behaviour and presently tooke his way after his friend Neverthelesse Lisander had made such haste thinking his father was still at his heeles that he was departed from Bourdeaux the very day that Lidian came thither wherefore beleeving that it was not Gods will out of some secret judgement which hee understood not that he should meet him he resolved to ride no more after him esteeming it unprofitable seeing he travelled to bring him unto a place whither it was said he was gone before And hearing of the great tilting which was to bee in England hee resolved to breake a Launce there a consideration worthy of a rash man rather than of Lidian who knew well the great griefe wherein he had left his parents neither would he ever have undertaken this journy but through the assurance which was given him in so many severall places that Lisander was gone unto the Court. Let us now returne unto Calista whom we have left wandring alone so long and see what became of her After that shee was gone from Clarevall her horse which was accustomed to Paris way brought her about breake of the day unto the gates of that great City and then remembring the times which she formerly spent there in the glory of her fortune and comparing it unto her present misery her heart was likely to melt in her breast and come forth at her eyes Ah Calista said shee what meanest thou to doe what designe hast thou taken unto what extremity hath thy misfortune reduced thee darest thou ever returne before the face of thy parents having thus injured them But coward as thou art why speakest thou either of comming in thy parents sight or of living in the world after this affront No no Calista thou must dye once for all and in dying tye about the necke of thy ungratefull Lover the revenging furies of this death In saying this she entred into the city covering with her cloake her face which was all wet with teares and went to seeke for a lodging toward the Temple the most retired part of all Paris lest she should be knowne Having rested a little if the griefe which did continually racke her may be called rest she called her Hoste and intreated him to get her a servant who was an honest fellow could dresse a horse and to cause an Armorer to come unto her An Armorer answered my Hoste you shall presently have but an honest servant is not found in a small time yet I will get you such a one for whom assurance shall be given Saying this he caused an Armorer to be sent for of whom shee bespake an armour complete all blacke with a devise of a wheele like unto one of those used in watring of gardens incompassed with water-pots some full and others empty his word was Los llenos de dolar ylos vazios de Speransa and entreated him to make it as speedily as was possible Now shee knew the combate which the King had granted unto Lucidan in case Lisander did not appeare within three weeks or some other for him which she beleeving he would not do considering the ingagement of his new love did resolve to fight with him for Lisander whom she accounted her enemy certainly determining to die in the fight and cause therby sorrow and griefe unto Lucidan for killing of her in thinking to kill Lisander and make Lisander repent that ever he had left her seeing that although he had despised her and betrayed her yet she would lose her life for him All being fantasticke passions of a woman blinded with love and jealousie Now let us make a steppe into great Britaine waiting for the tilting day We left Lisander on his way thither and Lidian following him shortly after But to relate all things in their order Lisander being come unto London keeping himselfe secret caused Armes to be made for him of an ashie colour which hidde the sparkles of a lively fire spotted with Flower-de-luces of silver his device was a Love tied to a pillar in the middle of a faggot kindled by a Lady the word was Alwayes constant his Feather was Gree de liu and white his Coate of Armes and caparison of his horse Gris de liu embroidered with silver Lidian comming the next day to the towne caused Armes to bee made of Azure colour spotted with starres of gold without number his Device was a Love holding a Dart in the mouth an Olive branch in the hand and having a goose at his feete holding a stone in the bill the word was Leale secreto a devise which he had made in the time when Clarangeus his jealousie made him love no lesse secretly than faithfully his Lady Olinda His feather was yellow and blew his coate armour and the caparison of his horse was of blew Velvet embroidered with gold The tilting was begunne before the Armes of our Knights could bee finished The Tourney was in this manner with Launces having steeled and sharpned heads and in open field hee who was overthrowne at the tilting might not demand the combate with the sword but if they both fell unto the ground or that after the breaking of three launces they remained unhorsed it was
a hundred paces where being ready prepared they ran one at the other and at the first encounter were both wounded Lisander gave him a very great wound in his thigh which he ran thorow and he himselfe was wounded in the left arme so that the one lost the use of his thigh and the other of his arme But Alcidon fell downe unto whom Lisander said We fight but for our friends and for our honour without any particular occasion of hatred to each other wherefore you having some of my bloud suffer me I pray though unwillingly to carry away this of yours and that remaining your friend I may goe separate those whom a small occasion hath made enemies This being said without staying for answer hee ran unto Lidian and Clarangeus whose combat had proceeded in this manner Lidian had made a thrust unto Clarangeus which lighted upon his Rapier and going betweene the barres of the hilts wounded him in his right hand but he himselfe was wounded in the left hand and his Sword engaged in the hilts of his adversaris broke in the middle Then seeing Lisander comming towards him with his sword naked and bloody and not seeing Alcidon he did verily thinke that he had killed him and came now to helpe his friend wherefore seeing two such enemies upon his hands at once and himselfe without a sword for whom two had beene too little that he was in extremity it may easily be imagined yet dissembling his thought and willing to cover his pressing and manifest danger as one who had rather lose a thousand lives than one title of honour he cast which way hee might revenge his death which hee did beleeve to bee inevitable when Lisander threw himselfe betweene their weapons and before Clarangeus could have liberty to speake one word he cryed unto them Sirs you are both noble both bloody and both friends without having any advantage one of the other or if there be any it is rather due unto fortune than valour which is equall between you I conjure you to give your difference which is but small unto your ancient friendship which was so great and unto this blood which Alcidon and I have shed for your pleasure How said Clarangeus and shall not Lidian confesse himselfe vanquished being alone and without a sword against us two Never vanquished though killed answered Lidian for although you kill mee yet I will never want courage to dye though I want armes to defend my selfe Live then invincible said Clarangeus for it shall never bee said that I triumph over you rather by fortune than vertue Ah said Lidian now thou hast vanquished me in saying I should remain invincible my life being in thy hand which thou hast generously spared when I would not have begged it to have redeemed it from death In saying this he flung away the rest of his sword and ran to embrace sometimes Clarangeus and sometimes Lisander having teares in their eyes out of tender joy principally Clarangeus who was more particularly touched with his former affection equally thanking them for their courtesie In the meane time Lisander lost much blood and Alcidon more whereby hee was not able to rise wherefore all three went unto the place where he fell and found him more afflicted with griefe that hee could not follow Lisander than with his wound but when he knew the happy successe of their combat his contentment made him forget the greater part of his griefe Now this challenge could not be carried so secretly but Olinda who was the cause of it knew also the effect by whose fearefull yet loving minde it was quickly divulged through the Court and many of the chiefe Courtiers were on horse-backe to hinder the combate betweene such noble Gentlemen but inasmuch as no man knew the place which was chosen they so long rode up and downe the fields to seeke them that the blowes were all past and they had called their people who were binding of their wounds to stay the blood when they came in unto them The first who found them were of Alcidons friends who caused him to be laid upon a hand-litter and carried unto Fountaine Bleau Lidian having taken his leave of him and left in charge with them he accompanied Lisander and Clarangeus to the outermost part of the Launds and there againe renewing the oath of his former friendship and contracting a new affection with Lisander he tooke leave of them who ridde towards Paris he himselfe directing his course to Beauplaine to see his brother Cleander and his faire sister Calista The End of the first Booke A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF OUR TIMES THE SECOND BOOKE WHilst Lidian endevoured by hard riding to reach Beauplaine the newes of his combate spread through all the Court so that Dorilas his father waking in the morning and sending one of his men to the Castle to enquire for his sonne about eight of the clocke he understood by him that his son was gone very early to fight that there were three more in the company and that all the Court was on horse-backe to part them which newes did so much trouble him that hee was likely to strike him who told it yet speedily resolving hee got to his horse and galloping after those which were gone before it was not long ere he met with those who carried Alcidon from whom hee learnt the successe of the combate and the retreat of the Combatants Whereupon the good old man returning to Fountaine Bleau recommended the care of his wounded Servants to the Surgeon and instantly setting his foot in the stirrop in great haste rode unto Beauplaine and as there is no better spur or rather no better wings than those of love so the affection which hee bare his sonne carryed him so nimbly that Lidian was in Cleanders armes embracing when Dorilas came so that it seemed they came together It is not to be told whether Calista were more glad or Lidian more surprised at the unexpected comming of their father After that Dorilas had embraced Cleander and Calista Lidian did him reverence whom Dorilas embraced as the others and dissembled for the present any knowledge of his affaires although he saw his arme in a scarfe but a small time after sitting at Supper and Lidian not using his left hand the faire Calista sitting neere him invited him to bee merry saying I thought at the first brother that you wore this faire scarfe for fashion sake but now seeing you doe not use your hand I thinke it is out of necessity It is true sister answered Lidian neither doe I know how it happens I have such a fluxe fallen into my arme within these few dayes that I have lost the use thereof I know well answered Dorilas from whence it proceeds but to ease me of the labour of telling relate it your selfe and lye not otherwise I shall make another quarrell betweene you and Alcidon if you contrary the truth which hee told mee Lidian finding himselfe convinced
into her Coach towards Paris with purpose to goe from thence into Normandy to see her parents Aussun is a village whereof we have spoken before which lyeth in the mid-way not alone betweene Beauplaine and Paris but betweene Fountain Bleau also and Paris and therefore well known and frequented by all those especially who follow the Court. Calista comming unto this towne about dinner time saw a Caroch standing at the doore of the Inne and going into the house a Lady perfectly faire who came from Fountaine Bleau and was going to Paris At first they did not know each other but saluting Calista knew that it was Olinda her brothers Mistresse and Olinda knew her also to bee the faire Calista Lidians sister Their complements quickly gave place to the admiration which they had each of others beauty and to the ceremonies which are usually among women but their dinner being over Time which they were to husband called on them to depart and being to go all one way the more commodiously to entertaine one the other Olinda entred into Calista's Caroch leaving her owne for the other Gentlewomen and maids There she understood the cause of her journey how she went to visite her parents to see if the contentment which shee hoped to receive by their sight might wipe away the sorrow of her husbands absence Olinda who knew not that they were gone into Holland with the pleasure which she received to heare that Lidian and Clarangeus were gone together good friends felt no lesse sorrow for Lidians absence than Calista suffered in her heart for Cleanders and Lisanders Neverthelesse as they gave not place one unto the other in affection so they did not yeeld one unto the other in skill how to dissemble it for Olinda had alwaies loved Lidian yet so discreetly hid it that hee himselfe could not discerne it and from thence proceeded the quarrell which hee had with Clarangeus because that thinking she loved the other better than she did him and Clarangeus thinking as much of Lidian they grew jealous one of the other Now according to a naturall desire of holding speech of that which one loves they almost spoke of no other thing all their journy and being come unto Paris they parted with assured promises of perpetuall friendship Calista promised to be backe againe at Paris within a moneth and not to depart from thence untill Cleanders returne which shee hoped would be shortly after and to write to her in her absence Thus Olinda remained at Paris and Calista three dayes after arrived at Bellaire who was received there with the tendrest and dearest affections that could be expressed They demanded newes of Cleander and she told them how Lisander and the other whom we have named were gone to Reyne Berk according unto the designe which Lisander had propounded God send them a happy returne said the old man for next unto my children whom naturall affection maketh me preferre before all others nothing can bee so deare unto mee as this Lisander who you say is the author of this journey He saved my life once and gave it me the second time in preserving Lidians your brother I doe not thinke that two such obligations can ever be perfectly acknowledged Calista replied not because she would not discover what she thought but falling into other speeches told them how upon the way shee met with Olinda whom she no lesse wished to bee her sister-in-law than Lidian did to bee her husband Dorilas himselfe knowing the quality of her person and her great estate a consideration which at this day especially with old men doth extraordinarily worke would also have beene glad to have beene her father-in-law A moneth after Calista came unto Bellaire newes came of Berontus his taking prisoner of Alcidons and Clarangeus being wounded and of the extreme danger wherein Lidian and Cleander were which had beene to their utter losse if Lisanders incomparable vertue had not freed them This newes came like an unresistable blow to imprint deepe in Calista's heart already made flexible by his former services his incomparable qualities and matchlesse person as also his most religious affection unto her which wrought no lesse effect than any of the other it being that alone for which shee entred into the consideration of the one and did presume was the cause of his atchieving the rest yet wisely dissembling whatsoever was in her heart it appeared not in her eyes but with silence past it over untill in the end Dorilas and Otranta breaking out cried O God wilt thou never be pleased to blesse us so much that we may be able to acknowledge these unspeakable favours for which we are so much indebted unto this Knight Some comfor it would bee if wee might but see him Daughter said Otranta unto Calista you shall not goe from hence before Cleanders returne and if hee will have you he shall come himselfe for you that wee may see this Lisander so good an Angell unto us These words did wonderfully please Calista unto whom now it was a paine to dissemble the love which she bare him and who considering the strange effects of this love the meanes by which Fortune did necessarily constraine her to acknowledge them otherwayes tyed in the same necessity unto that which shee owed unto Cleander and unto her owne honour could have wished Lisander lesse accomplished that shee might not be so taken in his love Yet though shee found her selfe consumed with the same fire which devoured him she resolved rather to extinguish it with her life than to ease her selfe by any meanes which might wound her honour Thus having spent a moneth longer at Bellaire than shee made account and desiring that Cleander should finde her at Beauplaine or at the least at Paris where she had promised Olinda to be a moneth sooner they tooke leave of her with teares in their eyes shee also contributing hers unto their griefe which seized them as violently at their departure as her comming rejoiced them went away accompanied with the same sorrow which shee had left They would have stayed her if the old Gentleman who came with her had not told them that Cleander had a businesse in court which did require the presence of his wife Away then she went unto Paris where the Court then was and where she employed a moneth more aswell in soliciting her husbands affaires as in visiting her friends amongst whom Olinda was not forgotten neither was she by Olinda Their friendship was confirmed by this conversation so much the more agreeable unto Olinda by how much shee seemed to be with Lidian when she was with Calista They were lodged neere unto the Arcenall where almost every day there was tilting sithence the returne of the Court for the royall tilting place was not then finished One afternoone as they were all together they were told that there were strange Knights who were come in the morning and had challenged the Knights of the Court to breake some
but Clarangeus distrusting his cause would not referre himselfe unto the judgement of a woman already gained by his adversary yet Alcidon and Cleander used so many perswasions unto him that hee yeelded if Olinda made choice of Lidian for her servant Clarangeus should leave her service and should never pretend any interest in her love and in like manner if she should rather chuse Clarangeus Lidian should forbeare any further suit and never come in any place where he might hope for grace or favour from her Commission to deliver this agreement unto Olinda was given unto those who had made it and their honours were ingaged to the performance of these conditions declaring themselves enemies unto the first breakers thereof Olinda being equally offended with them both beleeving also that she had power to call backe Lidian when she pleased and not thinking it fit to make choice of one and offend the other resolved to bee rid of them both entreating both the one and the other to absent themselves and promising to choose him for her husband who should last come unto her The Oracle proceeding from this mortall goddesse so unexpected by those who asked it so astonished Clarangeus but most Lidian that the next morning without communicating their designe or taking leave of any person they got to horse leaving the Court and all their friends in great sorrow In the meane time feeble Lisander by little and little recovered his strength and no lesse by Calista's charmes than by the Operators skill who onely applyed his salves unto the doublet lost the paine of his wounds The contentment which he received in her company was so great that fearing to lose that he was unwilling to be healed out of which respect when she asked of him how his wounds were he answered Better than I would Madam because the happinesse which I receive in your most deare company doth infinitely surpasse the paine which they put me to and I doe so much feare the losing of this glory when I shall bee healed that to preserve it eternally I could wish them incurable Calista gently smiled at these words and told him that hee should onely take care for the healing of them and after they should enjoy more pleasure being whole than in being sicke But what pleasure Madam answered Lisander can I hope from your rigour if you use mee alwaies according unto your accustomed manner You complaine without cause replyed Calista knowing as you doe well unto what extremity I have beene reduced to please you but as it is said to bee willing to be healed is a beginning of health only be willing to be healed that I may see you once doe what I desire With these sweet words Lisander thought that Calista did but deferre the remedy of his love untill the healing of his wounds did make him capable of the receiving thereof And thus deceiving his hope with his evill unsensibly he was reduced to his former health But then when Lisander thought to gather the fruit of this love for which hee had suffered so many rigorous absences travels and wounds and that Cleanders Alcidon and Berontus riding after Lidian and Clarangeus who being gone this very day as wee said put them all in feare that they were gone to fight made him hope of a favourable occasion to enjoy his Mistresse She entring with Clarinda into his chamber spake thus unto him Sir since the time that I suffered you to see mee at Beauplaine unknowne to my husband I have beene alwaies followed with a multitude of torments which have never left mee in peace and I doe beleeve that God hath justly suffered them to punish in me the wicked designe which you have had to dishonour a person who entirely loveth you although I have committed no other offence but suffering that which I could not hinder and that I did not give notice of an injury which you procure unto him who ought to be more deare unto me than you are and who ought to bee more deare unto you than I am This hath beene confirmed unto me in this last affliction which I have had for your wounds in which time I made a vow to God that if he shewed you so much mercy as to suffer you to escape I would never draw his anger upon my head by having any connivence with your crime I doe entreat you therefore Sir and conjure you by that love which you say and I beleeve you beare me that if you will love mee you would love mee honourably and according to the love which I owe unto Cleander and the friendship which hee beares you if not I doe most humbly entreat you to pardon me if in paying the vow which I have made unto God and in satisfying the just obligations which are amongst men I am constrained to entreat you to retire your selfe and use that great courage which you make appeare in every danger to suffer constantly the losse of a person who cannot be acquired lawfully by you I would faine have all those who are apprehensive of love think with what patience Lisander could heare a speech so little looked for at the instant when hee expected the possessing of a pleasure so long and so vainly followed Ha Madam answered he is it possible that in the midst of so many faire hopes which you have made me conceive of your pity you should use mee so cruelly Is this the recompence of so many services which I have done you of so many dangers whereinto I have throwne my selfe of so many wounds which I have received and so many passions which I yet suffer Had it not beene better you had then suffered mee to dye when I was so neere death when I should have felt no paine it being a kinde of pity to kill those quickly which of necessity must dye rather than to make me suffer it with so much violence after so much sweetnesse having prolonged my life to prolong my torment Alas it was not without cause I feared to bee healed too soone seeing that in recovering my health I lose your favour and then to faine a counterfeit vow to excuse your ingratitude and cover your cruelty with the cloake of Religion will not heaven punish this hypocrisie Lisander said Calista I will speak but one word after which I entreat you not to hope for any other I take the same heaven to witnesse which you doe invoke against me that I grieve that I cannot love you as you love me and doe wish that I may be punished according to your desire if I use either hypocrisie or dissimulation You wrongfully accuse mee of ingratitude and cruelty seeing I cannot satisfie you without being ungratefull unto Cleander nor have pity upon you without being cruell unto my selfe I have told you that I loved you and with so perfect a love that it could not bee encreased nor lessened since the first birth thereof neither am I ignorant of your merits towards me but
by having none in this world But this is not all said Lisander you must needs goe with us not to stay seeing you will not but to helpe us convert a Moorish Slave whom wee have in our company who would willingly be of our religion Clarangeus who at first thought that hee mocked him was about to tell him that hee had profited little either by his sickenesse or pilgrimage when intentively beholding Cleander upon whom so busie he was in embracing Lidian he had not yet so much as cast a looke and lesse imagined that hee was there present he fell from his first admiration into amazement It were a new story to relate the words the imbracings and entertainments which passed betweene them wherefore I will omit them and onely say that after the first motions of this sudden joy was over it was agreed that Clarangeus should aske licence of his Superiours to goe stay some time in the house of the Capuchins at Paris and that they would stay for him at Dijon from thence to go all together to Paris Departing in this resolution that very night Clarangeus demanded and obtained of the Fathers leave to goe to Paris in the company of another of the Order whom they gave to him for a companion and having received their benediction he went the next morning to his friends who waited for his comming Thus went these foure together whilest Calista in the meane time afflicted with an extreme sorrow which daily increased in her through Cleanders not returning and by Clarinda's evill deportments which by Calista's gentlenesse were now growne insufferable neither was Lisanders and Lidians absence a small cause In this adversity besides the ordinary visiting of Olinda and Argire she was seldome without the company of Ambrisia and Otranta her mother whose presence would have diverted much of her evill if it had beene curable by companie yet shee set a merrier countenance upon it than the sadnesse of her minde would well suffer But disloyall Clarinda being come to such a degree of impudency that shee made no scruple to admit Leon into her chamber after her Mistresse was in bedde so farre wounded Calista's patience that breaking into a most just choler she discharged her giving her but three dayes warning either to retire to her friends or otherwayes to provide for her selfe Clarinda growing desparate at this putting away knowing that together with her Mistresse shee lost her friend besides the discredite which it would be to be turned away upon such an occasion which shee did beleeve Calista would never conceale determined to prevent her in accusing her Mistresse for her owne fault like as falling into one depth hasteneth unto another so shee endevoured to cloake her sinne with a crime and to weave the basest and treacheroulest infidelity that ever came within the compasse of any wicked womans heart In this thought weeping Berontus comming unto her whilest Calista entertained Otranta and Ambrisia who knew nothing of Clarinda's act asked her the cause of her teares and finding that they proceeded from her turning away more curious to know the cause thereof than of her teares said unto her Clarinda my sister is moved to this extremity by some great cause I pray thee tell it mee and I promise I will either reconcile thee againe unto her if I can or if I cannot I will otherwaies work you so good conditions that you shall not sorrow for your departure from her and this I promise upon mine honour also if it bee for a cause not fit to bee spoken I sweare never to utter it to any Sir answered Clarinda who knew that Berontus envied Lisanders vertue under the assurance of your promise and to discharge my conscience of the treason which I have beene constrayned to use against my Lord Cleander in serving my Lady Calista I will tell you that which to my great griefe I have concealed untill this time After that my Lady had heard Lisanders plaints which he made for her in the woods of Beauplaine where I thinke you then were shee so farre imprinted his love in her minde that her heart never tooke rest nor I ever saw good time about her From thence proceeded the Alarum which one night you had at Beauplaine occasioned by Lisander whom my Lady had brought into her chamber unknowne unto any body whatsoever I could say to divert her and with so small discretion that hee was very likely to be surprized by my Lord. Then mingling this truth for the greater credit of her lies shee told him at large what you have heard of Lisander when hee saved himselfe out of Calista's chamber and continuing her discourse she added that from thence proceeded her Ladies sadnesse and affliction wherewith she was so continually overwhelmed uncessantly bewailing Lisanders absence under the colour of her brothers and husbands Finally she told him that from thence proceeded her disgrace because shee could noâ— applaud nor approve an affection so contrarie unto her honour and so detested by God and man adding so many teares and oaths unto her words that Berontus who knew the subject was both amiable and worthy was drawne to a beliefe at the least of part and wondred that Lisander was the theefe who would have stolne away his brothers honor yet respecting his sister in law withall desperately of late loving Ambrisia by consequence was obliged to do nothing rashly against Lisander but only desired to cleer so dangerous a suspicion and never to speake of it but when he could verifie it Hee judged that these lovers would never stay in so faire a beginning if Lisander were once returned and that by Clarinda's meanes it would bee easie to surprize them or if Lisander did never returne hee resolved to rake it up in silence and never to trouble his brothers mind or house with discovering an evill which could never bee helped wherefore hee forbad Clarinda to speake any word or to make any shew that she had spoken of it promising that he would worke her into her Ladies favour and service upon condition that she would advertise him of her actions and chiefly of Lisanders comming Instantly going to Calista and taking her apart said so much of Clarinda's fidelity of the affection she bare unto her service and of her sorrow to leave her concealing what had past betweene them that Calista's easie and pitifull nature overcome by his prayers and deceived by them both Clarinda was again received into favour at least into service Calista nourished an enemy in her house who lightened forth strange and miserable effects in small time after But at that time Argire willing to acknowledge her Alcidons faithfull affections determined to affiance her selfe unto him in the presence of Otranta Calista Ambrisia Olinda who were all entreated by her and onely Berontus and Leon by Alcidon the solemnity being deferred untill the returne of their friends Thus being all together after dinner with Argire who as we have said seldom went
humbly entreated as well by Cloridons friends as by Cleanders that hee would not suffer the murder of two such Knights to passe unpunished whom they thought had been murdred by Lisander who said they not content wickedly to have killed his friend Cleander by the helpe of his wives conspiracy is not now ashamed to live with her in the face of all the world writ unto his Embassadour that hee should seize upon them both which had beene done without faile if the Embassadors wife who heard an inkling thereof had not first advertised Calista who together with Lisander getting away as well as they could went both together into Frisland and so escaped this danger with no lesse labour than the former I know that some Authors lesse faithfull than slanderous or willing rather to imitate the Roman of Amadis than to follow the thread of a true discourse have said that in the course of this voyage and during their abode in these parts Calista vanquished with Lisanders importunities services yeâ—lded in the end into the violence of his desires But such Authors having had more knowledge of the false report which in thiâ— time was spread against her than of her vertues have 〈…〉 tranâ—ported by the passion of her enemies than by the truth of the Story But leaving them in Friseland and this discourse of them in the world wee will returne unto Paris unto which place Ambrisia came a little after their going upon a letter which she had received from Lisander and shortly after came Lidian upon a letter of Olinda's They met all together at the same Olinda's house with Alcidon who received them with no lesse contentment than they gave by telling of Calista's innocency liberty Ambrisia was as joyfull for her brother as Lidian for his sister and for Lisander himselfe whom with reason above all men living he loved Berontus knowing of Ambrisia's comming would according to his accustomed manner have gone to see her as one whose love was not altered by any former accidents But she entreated him not to think evill if shee could not accept of this honour untill there were better correspondency betweene him and her brother although shee so visibly loved him that Lidian offended with Berontus his prosecution against his sister had challenged him into the field if the respect unto Ambrisia and her teares had not prevailed wherein she was assisted by Alcidon and Argire and by Olinda who was alone more powerfull in this than all of them As for Verascus the consideration of his age kept Lidian from quarrelling with him But Alcidon having told unto Berontus all the treason of Clarinda as you have heard who for to hide her shamefull life with Leon had accused her Mistresse of her owne fault and finally caused Cleanders death who could not bee killed but by Leon seeing it was hee who found Lisanders sword who was at the time of Cleanders death in Flanders as hee said hee had learnt as well from Lisander as from Calista and that it was to be beleeved in regard of Leons flight To be short having demonstrated unto him that in the taking of Leon consisted the cleering and proofe of the whole businesse he made both Lidian and Berontus sweare to enter in quest with himselfe never giving over untill either the one or the other of them had found him and that hee who first should finde him should lead him to Paris and make it known unto the other So leaving their Mistresses at Paris they all three one after another departed to seeke for Leon in all places of the world where we will let them goe and returne unto Lisander We have left him in Friseland disputing Calista's favours whose beauty gave so full into the eyes of a young Frison Lord called Berengarius with so great lightning that he was too weake to suffer it for although her minde was possest with sorrow and mourning covered her face yet could not the lustre of her excellent perfection wherewith she was inriched be defaced Lisander who did not lead her thither for him seeing that he did openly declare himselfe confident of the friends and meanes which he had in the Countrey from a lover which hee was became jealous and fearing to inwrap himselfe in new mischiefes yet languishing under the ruines of those which had overwhelmed him he knew not what order to give when as Calista preventing him in this care intreated him to lead her into some other place alledging for her reason that this aire was unwholsome hiding the feare shee had of the events which the rashnesse of this lover might produce who being an Almain and lesse subtile than naturall did so ill disguise his affection that one not so cleare-sighted as Lisander might easily observe it which was the true cause that moved her to make this request Lisander was glad that this motion came from her for hee thought it was liberty enough for him to let her see his love without making his jealousie knowne neither did he give her any occasion to thinke that any such hammer beat in his head but representing unto her how far they were from their friends destitute of all goods which were seized upon and confiscated and had no meanes long to support the expence which they were constrained to be at he intreated her to be willing that he might carry her into Gascoigne where hee had some places so farre from the Court that there would bee none to discover them and so strong that they could not be surprised though they were discovered whereunto Calista yeelded to avoid a greater mischiefe which neverthelesse they could not shunne upon condition that he should first have her into Normandy to endevour to recover the favour of her parents that having justified themselves with them they might make their innocency appeare before all the world and so recovering their ancient glory and reputation which they had in France together with the Kings grace and favour they might with the approbation of all their friends contract together a lawfull marriage This being concluded and agreed upon betweene them earely in a morning without taking leave of any body they trussed up their baggage and entring into a Caroch Lisander Calista and her two women followed with two Gentlemen well horsed and with some other servants who with his faithfull footman ledde Lisanders good Horse along with him they tooke their way towards France following the least beaten wayes that they might not be knowne Already were they come upon the confines of Frisland Lisander losing both the remembrance of Berengarius and his countrey studying nothing more than how to establish himselfe in his own when they discovered five or sixe horsemen comming after them whom Berengarius vexed at Calista's departure had assembled together to take her away from him upon the way At the first they did not thinke that they were enemies wherefore they hastned not their way but when they saw them come a gallop Lisander leapt
Pilot and if he had not used his skill I know not what hee would have done but his friends sorrow was no lesse beleeving certainly that he was cast away so suddenly they had lost the sight of the skiffe amongst the waves After this unhappy accident Neptune as satisfied with this revenge contented to have punished those audacious persons who had rashly contemned his power by Lisanders losse shewed himselfe lesse terrible by little and little appeasing the fearefull motions of his Empire The skie waxed cleere the sea calme and the windes having strove all day against the waves now retired into their dennes leaving in some rest the miserable ship who all broken with the tempest in the end came to Callis having beene a whole summers day making a three houres voyage with a good wind Then did Lidian Alcidon and Berontus who now had altered his opinion conceived against him for his brothers death renew their complaints for Lisanders losse especially when they saw his Armes his Horse his rich Sword and the collar which hee had gained at the tilting resolving to keepe them safe untill they could heare more certain newes of him and staying only one night at Callis the next morning very early they tooke their way towards Paris hoping to be there at the day of Lucidans combate with whom every one of them had a particular designe to fight in Lisanders quarrell who then being in the skiffe alone with the Pilot ran a fortune all that day and the next night tossed upon the waves at the pleasure of the windes through the darknesse of the night in the greatest misery that ever he had seene The day following the light appearing the aire being cleere and the sea quiet they were carried upon an Iland which the Pilot knew to be Gersey where landing with great danger in a place amongst cragged and desert rocks rarely frequented by any man they found a young Hermite who not seeing them complained so loud that they easily heard all his lamentations which you shall understand in order after we have related the memorable combate which about that time was fought in the most famous City and before the greatest King in the world We left three Knights pretending all to fight with Lucidan with great impatience expecting him whom fortune should chuse for that purpose when a fourth entring into the field stayed the childes hand as he would have drawne the lot out of the Caske This Knight was mounted upon a Spanish Jennet as white as milke his Armes also were white having for his device a naked Cupid which passed through Pikes Launces Swords and Darts with this word Spresoogin rischio by which hee made knowne that there was no danger which hee did not despise to follow his end After hee had humbled himselfe before the King without discovering himselfe more than any of the others he made it known unto him that having more interest in this combate than any of those who had presented themselves he required if not to be preferred at the least to be put to the casting of lots with the rest which being granted him and having called his name Lisanders Knight it was put into the Caske with the other where having beene shaken together every one expected with great unquietnesse unto whom fortune would dispose the battell It was wondred at by all when the childe drew forth the Knight named Lisanders Knight to the extreme griefe and sorrow of the other three whom the Judges causing to depart the field and having equally for advantage of some placed the combatants the Trumpets gave the token of the battell and the Knights spurring their horses and couching their staves met with such fury that their launces breaking flew into pieces and their horses astonished with the blow set their cruppers unto the ground from whence with bridle and spurre being raised they bravely perfected their careere without advantage and setting their hands unto their swords began a combate no lesse strange for the novelty than admirable for the combatants valour Lucidan who was esteemed and justly one of the best Knights in France and consequently of the world striking his adversary sometimes with the edge and somtimes with the point made him bend sometime to his horse necke and sometime backe upon the crupper The other who gave not place unto him pressing upon him with strokes like a fury made him also swerve sometimes upon one side then upon the other with the gesture and motions of a man falling unto the ground yet he held firme and when he was thought to fall he recovered himselfe with more vigour and strength reducing his adversary to many great extremities Thus the combate without advantage was continued the space of two houres before they stayed to breathe while they thus rested themselves they looked one upon another through their visers in great fury themselves being beheld by all the assistants in great admiration who expected the end uncertaine and doubtfull unto which of them the victory would happen But above all the faire Calista Dâ—rilas her father and Adrastus were in great paine not knowing who hee was that so valiantly maintained the justice of Lisanders cause It was about foure of the clock in the afternoone when three unknowne Knights entring into the field and passing through all the multitude went to doe their reverence to the King of whom one of them craving leave to speake said in this manner a generall silence being amongst the multitude and a generall attention unto his words out of curiosity of the novelty Sir these two Knights who are here fighting have entred into this combate rather out of passion the one desiring to revenge his kinsmans death the other to serve his friend than out of any certaine reason which they have both of them grounding their actions upon the good opinion which they have of those for whom they are armed There is none in France but my selfe and one Knight more who I thinke is not here now that can cleere your Majesty in this action and maintaine unto Lucidan with certainty that Lisander killed Chrisantes and Cloridon like a valiant Gentleman for I knew it from Chrisantes himselfe who told it unto me at his death being gone out with Leon who is the absent Knight of whom I spake to part them and having found him even upon the point of death with the losse of his arme he had onely the power to tell me succinctly the combate and afterwards gave up the ghost commending his enemies vertue and blaming Cloridons passion and their evill cause for which both of them lost their lives and of this Sir Leon wheresoever he is to be found will be my witnesse and many other persons unto whom the very same day I made the relation although I was not then nor have been since any great friend unto Lisander in regard of some accidents which have mischievously fallen out But my conscience Sir obligeth mee to utter this truth and my
either one or the other of them two would compell her as Ladies would faine be forced in those occasions and doe never yeeld but with some shew of constraint answered in this manner Sir it is a complaint which I renew every day in my soule and one of the greatest evils wherewith my minde is afflicted that ever I should be the cause of sorrow unto my parents But that which comforteth me Sir is the assurance which I have in my heart that your Majesty and they themselves doe cleerly see that it is rather my evill fortune than my fault And as unto the disobedience whereof they complaine I have yeelded it as fully as ever any daughter in this world did excepting onely in one point from which the condition of my widowhood a thousand other reasons which I cannot speak of do dispense me And Sir though there were no other reason but my will having once submitted me unto theirs they shall force me to submit if I do again in so unreasonable a matter Calista said this beleeving that the King would have more respect unto Adrastus his request and unto Dorilas than unto any reasons which she should bring but she was deceived and did quickely repent her of this last folly for the King wisely judging that nothing in the world ought to bee freer than marriage nor that any thing was so contrary unto the liberty thereof as violence dismissed the two fathers from the power which in this case they demanded over their children Calista because she had beene once married at her fathers will Lisander because he was not bound to obey his in a matter impossible exhorting neverthelesse to obey him in any other thing This sentence being pronounced by such a King Calista was disappointed the parents confounded and Lisander desparate who casting himselfe at his Ladies feete with teares in his eyes spake in this manner I see that after so many labours and hazzards for a reward of my fidelity which is beyond that of all lovers I must finde ingratitude in a heart which hath alwaies promised me never to be capable thereof and that for having adored you I suffer such usage as I should have deserved if I had done the contrary I will not dispute with you whether it be with justice for that were to seeke reason in love and your will holding in mee the place of reason and law doth binde me to beleeve against my proper feeling that what you doe is just but if you do not thinke that the services which I have done are injuries I doe most humbly entreat you Madam to tell mee here in this most illustrious company what offence I have committed and let not my condition be worse than that of criminall persons unto whom the cause of their punishment is at the least told before they suffer any And if I doe repent my services here it is not to reproach you but to shew that in serving you I have not beene so unhappy as to offend you You may thinke what you please but I must needes thinke that you might better have acknowledged them than I could better have addressed them and God forbid Madam that ever I should complaine the time which I have lost in your service since it hath bin emploied according unto my intention which was to honour you It is true Madam that herein I have done but my duty yet I do not know that I have committed any fault and it is no small matter to pay all that one owes especially unto one unto whom all is owing neverthelesse since together with the eternall affections which you have so solemnely promised I must lose the greatest happines that ever I hoped for in this world I will leave with you if you please this remembrance of youâ— Lisander that he is not sorry he hath suffered so much and is glad he hath not deserved this suffering Live therefore satisfied and contented with my misfortune and beleeve it shall be a comfort unto mee in all my miseries to heare that they doe bring you contentment I only ask your permission to endure them and to honour you at the least in holding my peace and in hiding in the secret of my heart that which you cannot take away but in appearance To conclude Madam I will not complaine of you but of my fortune which maketh your pitty dumbe and changeth your nature without changing my affection thereby shewing that it is not subject unto the change of her wheele And I should think my selfe unthankfull if in this my complaint I did not give her thankes that by my destiny being reserved unto such cruell mischiefes she hath ordained that they should come from your hand Madam whose cruelty I have loved more than my life and whose despising I doe honour in the pangs of death doe me this last office and beare this pitifull testimony of your Knight That he had lived longer if he had beene lesse faithfull This his long speech ended with their Majesties incredible patience who were pleased to heare him and no lesse disquiet in Lisanders friends who feared he would never get out to his advantage It was a pleasant spectacle to see them in one instant to shed teares for joy Lisander for love and Calista out of pity upon whose answer depended the misery or happinesse of their lives who having consulted some time with her selfe her heart inflamed with love her face with shame in the end answered in this manner It is true most deare Lisander that I have promised you never to be capable of ingratitude and if I have beene so untill this time in regard of the cause which you have given me I will not be so now you having taken the cause away Wherfore pardon me the evils which you have suffered seeing that I my selfe first felt them and in respect they will serve to be so many witnesses of your fidelity will make the injoying which we shall have one of the other so much the sweeter by how much we have indured the more And seeing their Majesties do suffer me my parents command me your services do oblige me I do confirme in this most excellent presence and assembly the oath which particularly I have made unto you that I will be onely yours In saying this Calista gave him her hand which he most amorously kissed blessing the evils which hee had suffered for so great a good And the contentment of these two lovers not being able to bee contained in themselves spread through all the company renewing imbracings with joy which was then pure without any mixture of sorrow or feare if this word Joy be not too weake a word to expresse the feelings which cannot be spoken hardly comprehended Who can tell the divers motions of so many persons who had a part in this common rejoycing Verascus his astonishment Berontus his admiration as also of Hippolita and Lucidan who can speake of the infinite pleasure of Alcidon and Lidian of Olinda and Argire of Ambrisia and Otranta and the unspeakable pleasure of Dorilas and Adrastus These two latter having long embraced Lisander Calista snatching them one from another and imbracing them between them with teares as those who after a dangerous storme having escaped shipwracke doe meet upon the dry land in uncredible joy To increase which Lisander knowing the love which Lucidan bore unto Hippolita most humbly entreated the King to marry them together and after turning to Adrastus made the like request unto him in favour of Berontus and Ambrisia Then looking unto Argire and Alcidon Lidian and Olinda he entreated them that as they had suffered great griefe and sorrow with him so they would honour him so much as to let one day give an end unto all their troubles and one day by marriage a beginning unto their joyes By this meanes the Marriages were resolved to bee in one day finished between Alcidon and Argire Lidian and Olinda of Lucidan and Hippolita of Berontus and Ambrisia and of brave Lisander and Calista who humbly taking leave of their Majesties retired all together to Dorilas and Adrastus who as we have said had but one house where after a magnifick supper they gave themselves unto their rests expecting the next morning with longing which being come all of them most richly apparelled especially Calista who having ever since Cleanders death neglected her attire now richly beset with jewels and with that rich collar which Lisander had conquered in great Britaine drew all the eyes of the beholders upon her with admiration They were solemnly married in the Chappell of Burpon where I will leave them returning home with wishes of the people that they might long and peaceably after so many alarums and stormes enjoy the deare delights and sweetest pleasures of this life FINIS
A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF OUR TIMES VNDER THE BORROWED Names OF LISANDER AND CALISTA LONDON Printed by R.Y. for G. Lathum at the Bishops head in Paules Church-yard Anno Domini â—635 TO THE VERTUOUS AND NOBLY DISPOSED Gentlewomen Mistris FRANCIS FORTESCU wife unto Ma. JOHN FORTESCU And Mistris ELIZABETH DUNCOMB wife unto Master WILLIAM DUNCOMB of Badlesden My most Honoured THis French Knight and his Lady being importuned contrary to their designe and the fashion of this time which is almost all French to appeare to publick view in this their English habite and knowing how subject strangers are to malignant humours a disposition growne so common that like a contagious disease it hath infected almost the whole world they have made humbly bold to expose themselves abroad under your auspicious and candide names hoping they may be more free from censure and more boldly tell their Loves their Feares their Dangers their Imprisonments their Jealousies and their Joyes They have in their native country served under the protection of a great King where the gentlenesse of their spirits had a generall approbation and now their hope let it not be accounted presumption is that you according to your accustomed noble goodnesse will not refuse it unto them here where they are poore strangers at the least that they may resting by you await your leisure when by their conversation they may endevour to rob away tediousnesse though but from one houre to which the greatest mortals are at sometime subject This is their highest ambition and my only end not capable of greater expression is to witnesse my affection to your services from intending whereof onely death shalâ— divide Your most humble and most devoted servant W.D. A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF these Times THE FIRST BOOKE UNder the reigne of our great HENRY the valorous father of our invincible Monarch there lived in France a young Lord whose Heroick Noblenesse was more recommended through the glory of his Vertue than by the antiquity of his Race Hee was called Cleander rich both in the goods of Fortune and Nature being no lesse beloved for his Beauty than feared for his Valour If hee were valiant hee was also more wise and if hee were wise hee was also more happy But his chiefest happinesse was in his marriage for in his first youth his merits had gained him a wife one of the fairest that France ever brought forth The East had never so many Pearles as shee had Beauties and the morning did blush to behold any thing fairer she was called Calista neither was there any thing wanting but an apt name to expresse her perfections With this woman did Cleander passe the sweetest life that ever fell into mans imagination enjoying a happinesse which cannot bee comprehended but by mindes capable of the glory of such thoughts The Sunne did never looke upon the earth but he beheld these two Lovers embracing Neither did night ever kindle so many fires in Heaven as they felt within their soules Their desires were not like unto those which were drowned in their pleasures but contrariwise their loves were sharpned by enjoying for the more they did possesse that which they did desire the more they did desire that which they did possesse But darke night followed this bright day and this cleerenesse was clouded yea even whilst Cleander made the earth envious and the heavens jealous of the favours hee received from his Mistresse There was another Knight called Lisander who in courtesie and valour gave place to none of his yeares who had beheld Calista's excellent beautie with the lightning whereof hee was so amazed that hee cleane lost the remembrance of himselfe Hee was now no more that Lisander whose free and warlike mind was wont to apprehend no disturbance but ambition for in stead of breathing forth an honourable desire of glory hee was so possest with the Idea of this perfection that it was not possible for him to receive any other thought nay hardly could hee finde a place in all his minde for himselfe This new guest thus lodged in Lisanders heart counselled him to see his Lady Now this Knight was a most absolute Gentleman and a most acceptable companion especially among Ladies of a sweet and courteous conversation full of attraction and recommended with so many excellent parts as well of body as of minde that it seemed Love had stollen into this man of purpose if it were possible to ruine Calista's chastity for there was appearance that if shee could love any thing it must needs be him who loved nothing but her and that if she had not a heart of stone shee must needs be apprehensive of his torment But for as much as hee could not well acquaint himselfe with this woman without accosting the husband he first sought Cleanders friendship who held it for an honour and prevented his suit recompencing Lisanders feigned with true affection He seldome spake but of him nor ever made any good relation if Lisander were not the subject thereof Calista her selfe who saw not but by her husbands eyes nor judged but by his knowledge could not choose but honour that which shee saw Cleander loved she being otherwise by Lisander adored with so much respect that she should have wanted humanity if shee had been with out discerning thereof Behold here a faire beginning for our Lover but this is nothing without perseverance His care was now to make knowne unto her the great passion which hee suffered for her and to let her know it in such a fashion that Cleander might not perceive it Hee was cleare sighted like a Linx and although he were not jealous yet he was a husband and unto a wife whose admirable beauty did deserve to be preserved If he once did discerne of this love all was lost there could be no more friendship nor acquaintance and otherwise to resolve to dye in a silent griefe so neere unto his remedy hiding his death from her who was the cause thereof hee could never consent thereto And indeed it is better never to see that which one loveth than seeing it not to dare to expresse ones love for the object stirreth up the desire Neither is there any evill in the world like unto the presence of a forbidden good Which the Poets the better to expresse did not represent Tantalus his thirst in a Desert void of waters but in the middle of waters not being able to drinke To prevent then the husbands distrust and to keepe suspicion from entring into his minde hee ruled his actions his words and his lookes in such sort that in his sight hee never came neere unto the wife hee never spake unto her nor ever looked upon her but as upon a thing indifferent neither â—oo free nor too reserved fearing lest if hee were too much composed or not enough hee might discover his designe in the guiding thereof He held therefore a meane betweene both with that dexterity that there was no gesture nor motion of his
which did not rather seeme naturall than affected In the meane time to make that knowne unto one which hee would have invisible unto the other hee every day made matches with Cleander and other Knights of Tiltings and other noble Exercises where the two friends were alwayes of a side and alwayes vanquishers In the morning they were together at the Church after dinner together in their houses after supper in their gardens and alwayes Calista is the starre which lightneth the place Time passing in this manner Lisander consumes occasion of speaking unto his love being not offered It is true that every day he spake unto her but not of love nor of any thing relishing thereof so that in every mans eye hee languishingly decayed of an unknowne passion in the midst of all the contentments which could be imagined And although hee intended to dissemble his evill covering his true griefe with feigned joy yet did the dying colour of his face discover yea even unto those of small knowledg that there was some passion in him which with much griefe lay at his heart Cleander is the onely man who doth not perceive it beleeving that he should wrong his friend in thinking so Hee discerned plainely how the lively flowers of his face did daily wither but he thinks that it proceeded from accident and would have imagined that it sprung from any other than from the true cause They were then at the Court in the great city of Paris which so proudly raiseth her head above all the Cities almost of the world when as Cleander said that Lisanders indisposition proceeded from the unwholesome aire of the City wherefore he was resolved to lead him into the countrey Now he had a house a dayes journey from Paris built in a Lake within the middle of a great Parke called Beauplain the situation whereof being pleasant beyond expressing would have rejoiced sorrow it selfe Thither did he invite Lisander together with three or foure friends and Calista also without whom the feast was of no value went along with them It was then in the Spring when the earth more beautifull than at any other time of the yeare reneweth her countenance and decketh herselfe in her richest apparell There Cleander and Calista continuing unto Lisander their acustomed loving entertainment made triall that the country recreations which they gave him together with all other honest delights were no better remedies for his languishing than the pleasures of the city The exercise of Hunting which was ordinary with them could not divert his fantasie variety of company wherewith hee was every day visited did but increase his evill and gave him occasion to steale out of their companies to entertaine himselfe alone with his thoughts which he durst not communicate to any body living One day they having made a match to hunt an out-lying Stagge Calista having stayed at home with a young brother of Cleanders called Berontus after some time walked out with her brother in law to see their returne from the hunting and as she was at the side of a wood in the middle of the Parke so thicke that solitarinesse perpetually resides there in the shadow of an impenetrable leafinesse she heard a voice which in bewailing manner proceeded from the bottome of this wood In the beginning she could not understand the complaint but going somewhat neerer with Berontus who onely conducted her she heard these words Poore Lysander must thou consume in these woods the miserable remainder of thy youth and unprofitably lose thy life both in absence and unknowne unto her who is the cause thereof Must thou needs dye obscurely without having the contentment to let her see in thy death the sacrifice which thou offerest unto her of thy life O faire Calista is it possible that such a divinity as yours should be ignorant of those extreame affections which you stirre in me and have no feeling of those flames which you so lively kindle in my soule Can it be that a cause so faire should be ignorant of so necessary an effect as my love O God suffer not this want of knowledge in her to be a punishment unto me for my ingratitude unto Cleander O Lisander thou dost violate together with the law of Hospitality the most perfect friendship in the world Neither canst thou hope for pardon in any respect but onely in this that thou art forced by a beauty which bendeth every thing under the violence of its sweetnesse and whose excellency not alone lesseneth thy fault but maketh thee worthy of pardon and also of merit By these words they knew not onely the subject of this complaint which was love but also the person that made it who was Lisander and her for whom it was made who was Calista It is not to be spoken who was more abashed of Calista or Berontus for this passion was equally unknowne to them both But Calista was most ashamed and most grieved although her innocency was sufficiently witnessed by this complaint And indeed it was enough to have troubled a very able and wise woman for she did not know whether she ought to entreat her brother in law to hold his peace or tell her husband or whether she were best to hide or discover that which might bee told by his brother and where there was no lesse danger to conceale it than scandall to declare it Neverthelesse dissembling her thought shee went on as if she had not heard any word of this discourse Berontus who was none of Lisanders bestfriends jealous of the overmuch love which his brother did beare him had a faire occasion to divide them but he considering that hee should wrong his sister and not willing to imbroile his brothers heart with so miserable a passion as Jealousie nor to ruine the affection which he ought unto his wife in destroying that which he unduly bare unto Lisander resolved in himselfe to say nothing But all these considerations were apart and in silence without communicating any word one unto the other In the end Berontus seeing that Calista returned without saying a word spake unto her in this manner I doe not wonder Sister at Lisanders languishing but I rather wonder at your cruelty who so ungratefully suffer a Knight of his merit to dye without taking any care or knowledge of the wounds which your beauty giveth him Brother said Calista you shew as much folly in entertaining me thus with his evill as he doth in complaining if it be true that he hath forgotten himselfe so much for I am unwilling to heare either your discourse or his complaint But because we may have no more cause of suspition thereof and that the house may be as well free from suspition as from crime I doe conjure you to remove away the cause and to finde some meanes so to drive him away that I may have no more cause to complaine of the good which you say he wisheth unto mee Sister said Berontus it is a businesse wherein I cannot
the which the most impossible things are easie unto mee I will not relate the torment which I suffer the evils are contagious and that which I could say may peradventure cause griefe in you suffer onely that I entreat you to save my life in preserving your honour which you cannot well refuse to your very enemy and which you may yeeld unto me in giving me the meanes to see you without scandalizing or injuring of any man I doe also intreat you to beleeve that my life is not so deare unto mee that I would preserve it with the least prejudice unto you and if I should sorrow for the losse thereof it would bee rather in respect of you than my selfe and out of the griefe I should have to see my end before I had testified the beginning of my service To conclude Madam all these words are too weake to witnesse so strong an affection as mine and doe rather lessen than expresse it therefore I intreat you not to judge it by their weake eloquence but by your owne perfections who are the faire cause and beleeve that there is not any kinde of service which I could not easilier yeeld than offer I shall expect the sentence of my life or death in your answer and will remaine so perfectly yours that I cannot say any thing neare to it when I say I am your most faithfull most obedient and most affectionate servant Calista having read this Letter and being no lesse combated with the obligation which shee had unto Lisanders love than with the duty unto her owne honour and Cleanders love discoursed long in her selfe whether shee ought to answer her honour representing that an honest wise vertuous woman as she would bee accounted and as shee was ought not to doe any thing in secret ftom her husband much lesse give him any answer and already did her heart reproach her with the audience which shee had given him and made her alone in her Closet blush with shame for receiving it But Love pleading Lisanders cause and representing his admirable qualities his incomparable affection testified with such signall and late services accused her for suffering with no lesse cruelty than ingratitude a life to bee lost which ought to bee so deare unto her if not for the love which shee bare him at least in that hee had saved both her fathers and her brothers and the rather because shee might preserve it by a word or by a looke which would oblige Lisander without any way offending Cleander Following then this last opinion and knowing that Dorilas was resolved to take Cleander Berontus and Lidian along with him the next day she concluded not alone to write backe againe unto Lisander but to take this occasion to see him in their absence without any bodies privity yet with this resolution not to yeeld him any favour but only sight and speech wherfore she answered thus CALISTA's Answer I Have received your letter against my will and answere now against my duty which is to advertise you of yours and to have you forbeare any further suit in a matter which cannot chuse but be dangerous unto you and not to promise to your selfe from mee any more than such good will as my honour and your vertue may make you hope You are not now to begin to doe me services which you offer me for you have already performed them and so binding in the persons most neere unto me that I cannot chuse but bee sorry at the griefe which you suffer by my meanes and by your absence but I doe beleeve you love me with so much honour and are so perfect a friend unto him whom I onely can love that you would not that I should remedy it to his prejudice neither if you would were it availeable seeing it is impossible yet forasmuch as you onely demand to see me and that those obstacles which you your selfe have raised doe hinder mee from permitting it openly I had rather run a fortune in giving way unto your desire than refuse you so small a mattter as my fight To the end then that you may know if I do not yeeld all that which I owe unto your merit it proceedeth not from ingratitude but from a former obligation which hindereth mee from satisfying that which I am indebted unto you I doe advertise you that if this letter may come to your hands this day I hope to bee here alone to morrow you shall find the little gate of the Garden open and Clarinda not farre from thence who shall attend you Be there about eleven of the clocke and see if I doe not hazzard more in this assignement than you do in keeping it Farewell It is true Calista you hazzard more in this than he for hee could but lose his life and you both life and honour neither doe I thinke it will be long before you repent it although you are not guilty of any offence either in effect or will But not to digresse this letter closed and given unto Clarinda that she might as from her give it unto the woman of the Village to send unto Lisander Calista went into the Hall where dinner was ready and the company onely staying for her which she excused as well as she could After dinner Cleander would needs give Dorilas and Lidian the sport of hunting of a Stagge whereupon they went all together a hunting neere unto the Village where this woman dwelt who was Lisanders messenger It fortuned whilest they were going to their sport a most violent storm of raine fell so vehemently upon them that they were constrained to seeke shelter and finding none neerer than this womans house who as I said was ordinarily at Beauplain they ran thither so fast as their horses would go all together and so suddenly that Lisanders Lacquey who was within waiting for his dispatch could not hide himselfe from being found and knowne by Cleander Berontus and Lidian who asked newes of his Master The footman who was not prepared for this surprize remained so astonished that he wished himselfe dead neverthelesse making a vertue of necessity and not being able to hide his amazement hee disguised the subject telling them that hee was not now with his Master who had put him away for a slight occasion when after so many faithfull services which he had done him hee ought to have expected a recompence so that not knowing what to doe and not having the heart to serve any other man he resolved to come to Beauplaine to entreat their favour to write in his behalfe unto Lisander to take him againe seeing the cause for which he had put him away was onely for giving a boxe on the eare unto a fellow of his who had not served him above three dayes whereas he had served him sixe yeeres But seeing this storme falling hee had come thither as well for shelter as also to entreat the woman of the house who had well knowne him at Beauplaine and had beene well acquainted
one word made him sit downe in a chaire by her bed side unto whom shee began to speake in this manner Lisander if you knew the paine and danger which I hazzard to content your desire you would love me more for this alone than for the beauty which you say is in me Know that Cleander is not at Fountaine Bleau as both he and I did thinke he should for my father would not suffer him by any meanes to goe farre with him but forced him though against his will to returne againe so that now he is retired into his owne chamber to let mee rest with more quiet here alone because to keepe my word with you I made him beleeve that I was sicke chusing rather this night to breake company with him than my promise with you Calista had scarcely uttered these words when they heard knocking at the doore and Lisander judging that it was Cleander as it was indeed did beleeve that Calista had set this match to undoe him the very first newes that a man whom he thought so far off should be so neere having raised this doubt in his minde But when hee heard the knocking at the doore there was no discourse of reason strong enough to divert him from thinking that he was betrayed wherefore he said to Calista Madam you had many other meanes to destroy my life but I perceive you doe desire it should be together with Cleanders No said she in taking him by the hand I take heaven to witnesse I have now neither meanes nor leisure to make other protestation wherefore I pray let that together with the proofe which you shall see satisfie you I doe conjure you by all that may be deare unto you to stand close behind this Tapestry speaking this softly as she could she asked aloud oftentimes who was there and called Clarinda who being fitted for the purpose mad shew as if she were asleepe In the end Lisander being placed betweene two pieces of the Hangings by the bedde side where she was and holding with one hand both the pieces close together but onely for a little hole through which he might see who came and to put the nose of his Pistoll which he had ready in his other hand Clarinda seeming halfe asleepe and being but halfe ready went to open the doore unto her Master who going round about his wives bedde shut close with a curtaine but upon one side came so neere unto Lisander that he touched the end of the Pistoll Lisander hath many times since related this and I have heard him often say that this was the greatest feare that ever his heart was capable of although that seeing Cleander come alone in his night-gowne and night-cap he knew Calista had not betraied him as he did beleeve Cleander then comming unto his wife asked her how she did she answered that her fever had encreased since supper for want of sleepe and that she did beleeve her recovery did consist in rest Cleander taking her by the hand and finding her pulse beat violently as it could not choose in that her apprehension told her neverthelesse that it was nothing and that he was also much more perplexed but my trouble proceeded from another cause for I dreamed even now that I had lost you and that there was a Dragon here which would carry you away so that waking in this feare and remembring that you went sicke to bedde interpreting my owne dreame I feared that your sickenesse was the Dragon which I saw carrying you away And this is the cause of my comming at this time to see how you doe but God bee thanked you are not so ill as by my dreame I thought you were for which I am glad I will onely lye down by you a while to feele the course of your pulse and then I will let you rest When Lisander heard Cleanders dreame he did verily beleeve that he was discovered untill he heard the exposition which was made and Calista her selfe knew not what to thinke who seeing Cleander resolved to stay bid Clarinda draw the curtaine close because the light of the candle did trouble her eyes Clarinda going to obey her Lady was constrained to let goe a little dogge which came in with Cleander which she had held in her armes upon the bedde fearing that hee would winde Lisander The little dogge was no sooner out of her armes when running towards the bedde side it presently smelling that there was a stranger began to barke so eagerly and so loud that Cleander would have risen seeing that Clarinda could not catch it from off the bedde to drive him away and had done it if Calista had not lovingly withheld him In the end the dogge was taken and put out of the doores because hee was as importunate as faithfull and Cleander having stayed about an houre with his wife went his way suffering by his absence Lisander to take a little breath who during his stay had beene vexed with so many warme alarums The one was no sooner gone out of the chamber but the other came out of his hiding place and kneeling downe before Calista demanded pardon of her for his mistrust proceeding from such apparent likelihood unto whom lifting him up with her hand shee said Hereafter Lisander learne to know Calista and beleeve that her soule shall never be spotted with infidelity Lisander beginning to grow warme by the touch of her hand although it were cold as snow and forgetting the danger past by the sight of her present beauty answereth her with so amorous a kisse that he thought his mouth ought to be knit unto Calista's and his soule to be gathered-in at her lips neither would hee willingly have beene drawne from so agreeable a trance Soft Lisander said Calista I promised you nothing but sight neither did I thinke to have permitted any further than speech content your selfe with the danger wherein I have throwne my selfe and the wrong which I have done unto my duty to acquit my promise unto you and constraine mee not to withdraw the love which I now beare you through your indiscretion as I have now pulled you to mee under the assured respect which I did promise my selfe from your modesty Madam replyed Lisander I doe humbly crave pardon if I shew my selfe unwilling to lose so faire an occasion of enjoying so many wonders for I should dye out of griefe and give you just cause to laugh at my simplicity my passion is stronger than my selfe and my violence is the more excusable proceeding from your wonderfull beauty which forceth mee now to constraine you to have pity upon me And in saying this he invaded earnestly his Mistresses Dominions endevouring to ravish away the last favour for which hee had put himselfe into this hazzard when with an extreme anger and a loud and shriller voice than the danger wherein both of them were would well permit she called her Gentlewoman and said unto Lisander Is this the recompence of the danger whereinto
I have cast my selfe to oblige you Well bee gone presently if you would not that I should shew Cleander the true Dragon which hee saw but in his dreame Thereupon Clarinda rising up of one side and Lisander forbearing of the other Calista's voice was a little quieted but not her heart what words or submissions soever Lisander said or did who was constrained to goe away with this biting sorrow that hee had lost the favour of his Mistresse with too much importunity Was not this well rid well waited well suffered and well frighted to buy with the price of so many feares so bleeding a griefe I doe wonder that hee did not presently kill himselfe before her at least to worke horrour and feare in her seeing he could not stirre pity but he did better in doing nothing but going away fuller of sorrow than of life lighted onely by Clarinda unto the doore who durst goe no further fearing lest hee might bee discovered so that hee being in the dark grabling his way with one hand upon the raile of the staires and a Pistoll ready bent in the other as hee was against Cleanders chamber doore which was somewhat lower than Calista's his feet slipt from him so that hee fell down the staires even to the bottome and besides the noise which hee made in falling the Pistoll which hee had in his hand went off and gave such a report that it awaked all the house Cleander Berontus and as many as were in the house rose in a fright and began to cry out all together asking one of another what was the matter others calling for light Calista who was not asleepe nor any way disposed thereunto hearing her husband and brother-in-law cry and not knowing whether Lisander had shot his Pistoll against them or whether they had taken him was in more than a deadly agonie Clarinda fearing to be discovered and punished desparately cryed out All was in disorder and confusion Lisander being at the foot of the staires more amazed than hurt and more hurt than seene his Pistoll being fallen out of his hand and his hat from his head and fearing to bee discovered if hee should leave them behinde him vvas a good vvhile before hee found them in the middest of the darkenesse and cryes which vvhen he had done hee runnes tovvards the Garden gate through which hee entred but as hee passed by the Kitchin doore vvhere there vvere seven or eight servants and tvvo or three dozen of dogs hee was follovved and barkt after untill he found his man vvho had his horse and getting speedily upon his backe he escaped avvay over the fields without being knovvne by any that follovved him The End of the second Booke A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF these Times THE THIRD BOOKE I Shall now want apt words to expresse the griefes wherewith in the third part of this Story wee begin to bee travelled Hitherto they have beene but feared now they are to bee felt But not to raise more sorrow in you than the relation of the truth will bring with it I will returne to our amorous Lisander disgraced not alone by fortune but which was most insupportable to him by his Mistresse gallopping towards Paris whilst Cleander and Berontus having gotten lights visited all the house to finde what it might be that had so unexpectedly troubled their deepe but quiet sleep but although they searched both high and low within and without the quest ended with no more knowledge than it began and not being able to imagine the true cause of this Alarum they judged that some theeves would have robbed them For confirmation of which some of the servants who with eyes hardly awake had seene a glance of Lisanders running by for one whom they had not well seene they said that they had seene sixe and there was one who to seeme more valiantly fortunate assured them that the Pistoll was shot at him and that the bullet came whistling so neere his eares that it blew and shaked his haire Thus Lisanders escape passed for an attempt of robbers in Cleanders opinion who failed not to goe presently to Calista's chamber to tell her that the noise was made by theeves that were fledde wherefore hee wished her to take her rest this morning for the day did begin to break and recompence her nights unquiet rest Truly he had reason for shee had but small yet this last comming was much more welcome unto her than the first Thus was appeased this trouble greater in Calista's minde than in all the house beside Dorilas being with Lidian arrived at Fountaine Bleau and willing in some measure to shew himselfe thankfull unto Lisander obtained his pardon and Lidians of the King for their combat as also Clarangeus and Alcidons who was now healed of his wound But as they went to Paris hee received letters from Normandy by which understanding that Otranta was sicke he riddâ— directly to Bellaire where the joy of his returne and the good newes which he brought her of her children helpt much to the recovering of her former health Lidian and Alcidon meeting with Lisander and Clarangeus they went to Fortlevesque to have their pardon entred with the great Provost from thence all together they went to Beauplaine Cleander Calista and Berontus bid them most exceedingly welcome and after accustomed embracings and complements were over the first discourse wherewith Cleander entertained them was how he was likely to be robbed telling it particularly unto Lisander in the presence of Calista who could not tell almost what countenance to hold He shewed them the Kitchin door where he thought the Pistoll was shot at his man hee shewed also the Garden gate where as hee said they came in and went out leaving all the company either in deed or in shew wondering at the accident finally after so tedious a discourse to the two Lovers they altered the subject of their speech of which though there were divers opinions yet none thought the truth For three or foure dayes while they stayed at Beauplaine Lisander used all his endevour to speake with Calista and shee all that she could to avoid him unlesse it were in company Lisander seeing himselfe barred of that meanes had recourse unto Clarinda and unto the woman who had delivered his first letter both of them excused themselves upon Calista's expresse forbidding not alone to speake for him but also to deliver any letter for him When hee saw all his instruments faile him he resolved againe to banish himselfe from the presence of his Mistresse and to goe into some place where hee might at least ease himselfe by complaint Holland which was then the seat of the warre and is at this day the Schoole thereof by the valour and capacity of that brave Earle who hath better understood it and better made it than can be said furnished him with a brave occasion The Archduke threatned to attach Reyne Berk with a siege and the States prepared themselves to defend it Of the one
staves with sharpe points in open field and that the King himselfe about foure of the clocke would be there in person thinking that they were English who preserve in this exercise the ancient reputation of the Knights of the round Table The novelty hereof for it was not usuall to see any tilting but with blunt staves and most commonly against Quintan made our Ladies goe to see it as also almost all the Court some to have part of the danger and honour some onely the pleasure But it continued not long for one of the brave Knights of the Court a great favourite of the King called Cloridon running first against one of the strangers was overthrowne from his horse and wounded not onely with the sharpe steele but also with a splinter of the staffe And although the blow was not mortall his Majestie neverthelesse was so sorrowfull that he caused the tilting to cease almost so soone as it was begun intreating the strangers to discover themselves who pulling off their Helmets to doe reverence unto him were knowne to bee Frenchmen and those who about three moneths since went from Beauplaine with Cleander and Lisander who was the man that had justed these men comming from Holland had agreed to make their entrance into Paris in this manner The King glad to see them more easily bearing that Cloridon should bee overthrowne by Frenchmen than by strangers as he did beleeve at the first joyfully embraced them and after hee had from them learned some particularities of Reyne Berke and witnessed by the honour hee did them how well hee was satisfied with their actions returned to the Louvre leaving them amongst the Ladies Cleander finding out his Calista who shined among the faire ones as the bright Moon doth among the Starres in a cleere night went unto her being betweene Olinda and Argire no lesse joyfull for his return than for Lisanders honourable atchievement who heaped up so many proofes of his valour one upon another that the last made the first forgotten This Argire whom wee here named was a faire Lady who among many slaves unto her beauty had captivated Alcidon who was not long before hee came unto her Lidian also and Clarangeus tooke either of them Olinda by the arme who remembring the bloody quarrell which they for her sake had had betweene them was in great care to content them both with such indifference that they might have no cause to be jealous and Cleander with Lisander saluting Calista in kissing her said in her eare Friend make much of this Knight for without him your brother and I had not beene here now Sir answered Calista this is not the first time that he hath obliged us and that his good offices have exceeded all meanes of acknowledgement But yet although hee hath taken from us the power the will at the least shall remain with us which is onely left unto us to pay those unvaluable courtesies Madam replyed Lisander the services which I have done you are smal in respect of those which I together with all the world doe owe unto your merit and I thinke you doe reproach me for their smalnesse when you speake of their greatnesse and that so highly honouring such poore actions you would make mee blush out of shame that I have done them Many other discourses past betweene them which I omit desiring rather to relate matter than words They retired all together unto Cleanders house where Calista prevailed with Olinda and Argire to stay supper besides whom they were visited with many other Ladies and Monsieurs of the Court. After supper Lisander Alcidon Lidian and Clarangeus leaving Cleander and Berontus to entertaine those which came in retired themselves to the Ladies who were apart and entertained them with extraordinary discourses because Lisander could not speake particularly to Calista before the company nor Alcidon to Argire and lesse could Lidian speake unto Olinda because of Clarangeus who gathered all their words and besides the passions of love felt also those of jealousie wherfore Olinda spake to neither of them as little as shee could that shee might not offend but addressed her speech unto the brave Lisander who speaking but little and that God knowes farre from his heart stood as if he were there onely to judge of others discourse And you brave Sir said she will you be alwayes as free as you are invincible Can it bee that so much valour can be altogether unaccompanied with love Wee are all unhappy and ought to account little of our beauties that we are not able to give one wound to your minde Lisander and Calista had much adoe to forbeare blushing at these words And Argire seeing that he answered not spake unto Olinda Thinke you Madam that seeing that greatest courages are most subject unto this passion that his can bee free For my part I doe not thinke him lesse amorous than others but I thinke him more discreet and I beleeve his flame is so much the more violent by how much he desireth to hide it Truely she had reason and failed not but who would not have thought that she had discovered the secret of Calista's affection who hearing her love thus discoursed by persons who knew nothing thereof could not well tell what to judge of it In the meane time Lisander calling himselfe from the deepe silence wherein hee stood as if hee were lost in it answered both of them in this manner Since that Mars himselfe was not able to resist love in a time when hee had not those armes which you give him there is no great appearance that I should be able to vanquish him now hee being armed with those unavoidable arrowes of your beauties But alas why should I say that I am vanquished what would it availe mee to complaine of an evill whereof I can hope for no remedy What doe you know answered Argire it may be said she you sigh secretly for one who would be very glad that your complaints made knowne might oblige her to give you that remedy which you desire All the company laughed at Argires answer And Calista to augment the pleasure fearing lest her too much reservednesse might raise a suspicion that she was interest in the discourse followed in this manner If I knew this proud one who inslaveth so much glory in captivating you and that I were perswaded my prayers would have easier accesse unto her than your merits I would never forbeare importuning of her untill she did leave her cruelty towards you in yeelding that recompence which your valour meriteth and I doe assure my selfe here is none in this company who doth not promise as much wherefore if you desire we should employ our selves for you and that you doe not lessen us so much as to beleeve our intercession is unprofitable or that you presume not so much of your selfe to thinke you have no need of our helpe tell us this faire ones name who hath the honour to possesse you to the end
they came victoriously off The first who atchieved any thing in revenge of Lisander was Lidian who entring with a point upon his enemy lighted just betweene his arme and the curats and run him cleane thorow almost in the same time Alcidon having closed with his adversary and overthrowne him disarmed his head and without pity cut his throat Clarangeus and Berontus casting themselves desperately upon those two who were against them got them downe and killed them with the very Poniards wherewith they had wounded though most cowardly the most valiant Lisander who being found by Cleander after he had broken down the hall doore in the plight we have spoken of was carried unto a bedde having lost his knowledge with his blood without moving and almost without breathing There Cleander who besides the perfect love which hee bare him was obliged for his liberty Alcidon to whom hee had spared it being in his power to kill him Lidian whose life hee had twice saved and Clarangeus whom he had served against Lidian began to make such lamentations as are not to bee expressed Above all Olinda and Argire wept as bitterly as a little before they had heard him sing sweetly But the faire Calista seeing the most lovely Knight and best loving her of all others carried all bloody and pale though lovely as if death had taken that shape to make her in love with it received so feelingly his wounds into her heart that without complaint or teares immoveable as a Statue the violence of the evill taking away all sense she fell downe into a swoune as far from shewing any token of life as her friend was in which plight she was carried unto another bed The Surgeons who in all diligence were sent for having searched Lisanders wounds were not able to resolve of his recovery and lesse able to stanch the blood or keepe him from his swouning which made every body despaire of his life onely Lidian remembring himselfe of an Operator who had formerly cured him so excellent in his skill that he not only stayed the blood with a word but healed the most mortall wounds with an incredible facility went out of the house in all haste without speaking a word to any man and stayed not before hee was with this Operator but hee found him in his bedde and so sicke that it was not possible for him to rise Yet sir said he send me the wounded mans doublet and if he bee not absolutely dead when I receive it I will assure you his life Lidian being unable to comprehend this and fearing to lose time together with his friends life he returned with the same diligence wherewith hee went and brought him the same doublet which was taken off from Lisander whom he found in the same estate wherein he left him but being returned the second time unto Cleanders he found that Lisanders wounds were closed and his bloud stopped neither could the Surgeons more than any of the company tell the cause Then did he tell them what hee had done whereat they all wondred But the old Gentleman whom Cleander had left with Calista when he went into Holland told them that he had seene the very like practised in the person of the father of S. Andrew de Vins a brave Gentleman of Provence knowne by them all who being at the siege of Rochel Squire unto Monsieur afterwards Hen. the third cast himselfe before his Mr. when he saw a Harquebush levelled and discharged at him whereby hee received the shot in his breast and was healed by a man who never saw any thing but his doublet Shortly after Lisander came unto himselfe which Cleander ran presently to tell unto Calista who being a little before recovered received with this new cause of joy for hope of Lisanders life a new occasion of affliction out of feare that she had discovered her love Neverthelesse it was received by Cleander as an honest and pitifull affection which she truely bare unto the vertues and merits of Lisander who having recovered knowledge with so feeble a voice that he could hardly be heard had yet lost the memory of all that was past neither did hee know why or whereof he was sicke The Surgeons forbad him to speake and after they had considered of all things that were fit for his recovery they bethought themselves of the cause of this assasination No body could imagine from whom it should proceed for Lisander had no enemies at the least which were discovered and those who had so wickedly wounded him being disarmed after they were dead could not be knowne In the end the Page whom they had at first sent was found hid behinde a doore who being brought unto Cleander confessed that this match was set by a couzen of Cloridons who was first killed by Lidian hee desiring to revenge upon Lisander the blow which was given in the tilting had with those three others who were all Cloridons servants or friends sworne Lisanders death Cleander and all the company were extremely offended and went all the next morning at the Kings rising to complaine of the attempt and to demand justice against those whom they had killed but Cloridon demanding it also with them and witnessing more sorrow for Lisanders wounds than for the others death testified that he knew nothing of so divellish an enterprize And the King who loved them all desiring to make them friends expressed that for the love hee bare Cloridon he should be glad if they would content themselves with their deaths who had worthily received it as a chastisement for their fault wherefore all things so rested the dead were dead Cloridon and Lisander wounded were afterwards made friends by the Kings command The End of the third Booke A TRAGI-COMICALL HISTORY OF these Times THE FOURTH BOOKE THe haste which I made to have Lisander cured and the necessity of his evill remedied made me forget in my last part how Olinda and Argire having watched at Cleanders almost untill day retired to their houses the one conducted by Alcidon the other by Lidian and Clarangeus who with the first flames of their love felt also those of jealousie Olinda who by that which had happened judged what might happen fearing to bee the cause of a second mischiefe determined to goe no more unto Calista who never stirring from Lisander continually kept him company and shewed the best countenance unto him that she could feeding him with sweet hopes and raising in him an imagination that assoone as hee was recovered of those his bodily wounds shee would also ease those of his minde which hee said shee had made In the meane time Lidian and Clarangeus not able longer to endure Olinda's absence went both of them to her at her house where shee intreated them not to take it in evill part if for some important reasons which she would not speake she did conjure them for some time to deprive her of the honour which she received by their company This shee said
with great demonstration of sorrow seeing her selfe constrained to make this request unto them Both of them witnessing as much obedience unto her as love promised to forbeare although this banishment were more cruell unto them than any torment which her rigour could have inflicted Alcidon who made the third in this businesse remonstrating unto them what extremities they were brought unto by their jealousie having made them commit a fault a relapse whereinto could not bee but inexcusable and mortall intreated them to give this passion unto their friendship or at the least not to take it away having once given it before and if they loved Olinda they ought not to constraine her good will by violence nor make her odious unto all the world as being the cause of dividing so ancient and perfect a friendship as theirs was with many other reasons so that they promised not to forbeare loving of her for that was not in their power but at the least to abstaine from seeing her as they had promised This promise was for some dayes religiously kept by the two friends who would not by any means be justly taxed for wronging each others friendship but beleeving that they should either vanquish or by diversion wipe away their love and jealousie seeing every day all sorts of objects excepting that which was most fixt in their imagination But Clarangeus having taken a lodging neere unto Olinda's to the end he might see at his window as she went in and out at the doore her whom hee durst not goe to see in the house as lovers have strange phantasies and content themselves with what they can get when they cannot get what they would made Lidian thinke this his taking of a house was no apt meanes to make him forget her Wherefore beleeving that hee was dispensed of his promise and no more to bee bound to the oath which was first broken by his rivall hee found the meanes to meet Olinda one evening in the garden of the Tuilleryes where she was gone to walk there with some teares complaining of the torment which hee suffered in his absence by the commandement which she had given not to see her which Clarangeus had disobeyed in taking a house so neere hers expressed his love so lively unto her that Olinda who truely loved him and did not like that Clarangeus had taken a lodging so neere hers beleeving that he had done it to observe her actions suffered him to see her at certain houres which shee did assigne unto him so secretly that it was not perceived by Clarangeus although her neere neighbour These visites were by night Olinda retired her selfe earely and went late to bed and when every one else was asleepe Lidian without any followers or light was brought into her house and spent a great part of the night with her although with all the honest respect which could bee betweene honourable lovers But the Moone envious of Lidians fortune discovered him to jealous Clarangeus who watching like a Dragon at a window which looked into the street a little upon the one side from his Mistresses saw him come out from thence about two houres after midnight The unfitnesse of the time and the astonishment to see him come from a place where his word and friendship had barred him the entrance raised such humours in his braine that hee could hardly containe himselfe and to perfect the cause of his complaint Lidian being in the street and Olinda in her window they tooke new leave one of the other without thinking or remembring of their neighbour with such amorous words from Lidian and so favourable from Olinda that Clarangeus fell from an ague into a feaver and Lidian as if he had not had leisure in two houres which he was with her to speake so blinde are both love and lovers intreated her to fling him downe her handkerchiefe that he might have the contentment to lodge with it and to embrace it all night in remembrance of the deerest person unto him in the world Olinda who was otherwayes discreet and wise so farre yeelded unto his prayers that as well to satisfie his importunity as not to let him stay any longer there cast it unto him thinking that he would goe his way so soone as he had taken it up But the wind jealous of this favour blew it upon the barres of Clarangeus window who saw this action with a motion of so violent a passion that impatience and rage were likely to have carried him into the street there to decide by a last combate the difference and jealousie of their love Olinda and Lidian were in no lesse pain perceiving although too late their undiscreet improvidence yet her Gentlewoman running speedily with a pole got down the handkerchiefe which Lidian catching before it came unto the ground and in his Mistresses sight lovingly kissing it retired himselfe leaving unto her a good night and unto Clarangeus the worst that ever hee felt The next morning they failed not to meet at the Masse rather to see Olinda than for any devotion where Clarangeus comming unto Lidian said You cannot now deny that you have not seene Madam Olinda both against her command and your promise Against my promise I doe confesse answered Lidian because you have made me dispence with it in first breaking your own but not against her commandement because she hath permitted me as she did formerly forbid me Clarangeus provoked with this answer said Wherein have I broken my promise I yet never did it and doe well know the meanes to compell others to performe what they promise You need not compell answered Lidian those who are ready to pay and you did breake your word when having promised not to see Madam Olinda you tooke a lodging close unto hers Well Sir answered Clarangeus I would not so lightly have departed from your friendship as you have from mine but this is the truth herein I am your enemy Sir answered Lidian I will alwayes oppose my services unto your hatred But I entreat you to consider that our promise is reciprocall and hath no more force than my Ladies commandement gave it and if you neverthelesse beleeve that I have sooner broken my word than you pardon it unto mee and thinke that I have no more power of my selfe than you have of your selfe The holinesse of the place and their friends which did accompany them interrupting their discourse they heard Masse together with Olinda who understood part of their dispute and was no lesse offended with Lidians answer than with Clarangeus complaints who was the more provoked at that time by Lidians holding of the handkerchief against his mouth Their friends having sent to seeke for Alcidon and Cleander and they comming the best meanes they could finde to agree them was to entreat them that their differences might be determined by her will who was the cause thereof Lidian at the first word consented hereunto assuring himselfe of Olinda's favour
poorely to dye shamefully that if his divinity had not beene witnessed not alone by men living and dead but by Angels and by Devils the obeying of the windes and waters by the trembling of the earth and darkning of the Sunne it would bee impossible to receive it in our beleefe Lisander eased by the voiding of these things which hee had vomited and comforted by the remonstrance of this good religious man lifted up his â—yeâ— to his face and having earnestly beheld him a good space labouring to recover his speech and to remember where hee had seene him in a feeble and broken voice spake unto him in this manner Father I have alwaies little feared Death assuredly trusting in Gods mercy wherefore my hope of one surpassing my feare of the other I cannot be affraid of a passage which is common to all men I know nothing is more naturall that living is not more ordinary than dying And so farre am I from being astonished at it that I confesse I have desired it with lesse â—eare than impatience That which afflicteth me and feareth me is to see things come out of my body which never entred into it nor cannot bee framed there and therefore cannot come naturally from me And if any wonder can have place in my minde next unto that 〈◊〉 is to see my selfe knowne and to heare my selfe named in this agony by a man whose face I think I have seene and heard his voice in another world and in another habit This good man discovering then his head which was almost hid under his Coule and making himselfe knowne unto Lisander with teares in his eyes in kissing him said if nothing were wanting unto your health but the removing of these two causes of astonishment I durst promise my selfe to see you well no lesse astonishing the company with the Miracle of your healing than it is yet with the wonder of your evill For the things which you have vomited although they are true and seeme to be truely come out of your body ought rather to bee ascribed to the illusions of the evill Spirit who hath deceived our sense than unto the testimony of our owne eyes And it is to bee beleeved that they are reall seeing they are palpable But it is to be beleeved also that hee hath charmed our sight as the Operator who last healed you charmed your wounds and healed them in applying salves to your Doublet And it is likely that from this first charme proceeds now this second For the Devill hath done nothing for nothing and did not succour you in that extremity but onely to reduce you into a greater As for your astonishment which proceedeth from my knowing you I thinke it is now wiped away And Clarangeus having beene so perfect a friend unto Lisander cannot be unknowne by so strange a change as mine or by the violence of a sicknesse like yours For the rest you have reason in saying you have seene me in another world for this wherein I now am is much differing from that wherin I then was Lisander who knowing Clarangeus who cast from serving and banished from the presence of Olinda had confined himselfe into a Cloyster embracing him with a joy mingled with sorrow and astonishment to see him in this habit answered Is it possible that my eyes doe not deceive me Clarangeus and that it is not one of the illusions of my sickenesse how have you left the world As those replyed Clarangeus who being beaten by stormes at Sea doe search for some safe Port where they may bee covered from the tempest O how happy are you said Lisander to have that power of your selfe Yea if you knew the happinesse said Clarangeus and if after so many stormes wherewith you have beene beaten you would with mee prove the sweetnesse and quietnesse of a religious life you would despise and mocke at Honours Loves and other vanities which cast away the most part of men I would to God said Lisander I could doe it but I know my selfe so weake so chained to the world that though I should leave it to day I should take it againe to morrow and as it ordinarily happens my second entrance would bee much worse than my first You have reason replied Clarangeus For as there is nothing worse for health than to passe from one extremity to another so there is nothing more dangerous in the world than to goe from a religious life unto an irregular one From thence it comes that there is nothing more evill than a Monke who hath cast away his frocke and that the most parâ— of our errors owe their birth unto these Apostata's who as vipers doe endevour in their birth to rend the sides of their mother Ambrisia and many Gentlemen of the Countrey who were come to see her in this sicknesse of her brothers were no lesse joyfull to see him so well recovered than of Clarangeus his discourse knowledge Unto whom Lisander in continuing his speech said that not finding himselfe strong enough to observe such a perpetuall vow he promised 〈◊〉 the least if it pleased God to restore him to his former health the first voiage he would undertake after his sicknesse should be unto our Lady of Mount Serraâ— Clarangeus confirmed him in this devotion and afterwards taking his leave hee returned with the other religious man into the Covent Shortly after were it by the prayers of those good Fathers or through Lisanders vow hee began to amend but as the proverbe faith sickenesses come on horsebacke and goe away on foote of a Snailes pace It was fifteene dayes before hee could rise out of his bedde and fifteene dayes more after hee was out of his bed before hee could get strength which being past and having visited his friends but principally Clarangeuâ— and taken leave of his Sister Ambrisia hee secretly caused a â—acket of gray Serge to bee made and a Cloake of skinnes over it and having gotten a Palmers staffe in a faire Evening hee began his Pilgrimage In the meane time some of those who had left him sicke going unto Paris not onely carried newes of his sickenesse but of the habit which Clarangeus had taken which brought forth no lesse astonishment than sorrow in the minds of their Friends Olinda herselfe witnessed some feeling of pity which shee had of poore Clarangeus and it was encreased by the griefe shee had for Lidians losse But this was nothing in respect of what Calista suffered for Lisanders sickenesse she being so much the more afflicted by how much shee durst not make it appeare although her brothers and her husbands absence had been colour enough for her to have justified her griefe Alcidon being advertised of these accidents which happened after the departure of his friends determined to goe see them and taking his leave of Argire took his journy towards Burgundy But finding Lisander gone and being no lesse glad to heare that hee was well recovered than sorrowfull because
resolved to goe thither and so taking Post with the same Messenger which was sent unto him he came in the night unto Alcidons trusting both his honour and life into his hands although being of Cleanders friends he had cause to have feared if he had beene guilty Having conferred with Alcidon Argire and Olinda whom he also saw and having told them how he left his sword in the field and tooke Cloridons which hee still wore they all rejoiced at the appearance of his innocency Hee asked them if they had not seen Calista in prison and they telling him how farre they had endevoured and how little they had effected he said he had thought to intreat Clarangeus to goe thither who through the reverence of his habit might have the more easie entrance undercolour that hee came to confesse her being so neere her sentence But this could not bee for some three or foure dayes before this unfortunate accident Clarangeus was gone towards Rome and had taken his leave of Alcidon the morrow after his comming from Beauplaine As they were upon these termes one came to tell Alcidon that Berontus was at the gate who had not seene Alcidon since his comming from Burgundy which was some two dayes before that time he had spent in visiting Verasco the Judges and Clarinda whom he did confront Alcidon was not of opinion that he should see Lisander wherefore leaving him in the chamber with Olinda he with Argire ledde Berontus into another They found him much afflicted as he who did not alone bewaile Cleanders misfortune but Calista's and Lisanders also for Ambrisia's sake so that their first embracing was mingled with teares which being over Berontus could not forbeare saying Well Sir would you ever have thought that so brave a Knight as Lisander and so honest a Lady as Calista should have agreed together in committing so base a wickednesse the one against his friend the other against her husband No truely Sir answered Alcidon and doe no lesse beleeve it than ever I did although I know the world is possessed with this opinion Oh replied Berontus I would to God it were false upon condition it had cost mee some of my best blood but alas it is too true Sir said Alcidon condemne not those which are absent without hearing them it may bee they have reasons which you know not and although I doe not know them yet the experience which I have of Lisanders vertues is sufficient unto mee to repell the beleefe of a thing so farre from the noblenesse of his former actions Sir answered Berontus this very knowledge hath also stayed my judgement But let me say to you it is sixe months since Clarinda told me the very same things which shee now speaketh and it is more than a yeere since Calista and I walking in the woods at Beauplaine heard the loving complaints which he made for her sake And as for my brothers death would you have a clearer proofe than his sword For the rest said Alcidon it 〈◊〉 for him to answer and I beleeve were it not for Cloridons death whereof you well know the importance hee would not faile to be here to acquit himselfe but whereas you alledge the sword for so sure a proofe of his killing Cleander I will say that Lisander by the reverse blow wherewith he cut off Chrisantes his arme having broke it in the handle left it in the field together with his horse and tooke Cloridons horse and his sword which hee weares yet From whence it necessarily followes that it is some body else who hath found his sword wherewith this unfortunate stroak is happened No person replied Berontus knowes that better than I for I went first after them into the field accompanied with Leon who found his horse but not his sword Speake unto Leon Sir answered Alcidon and know of him if hee saw it not for the consequence is not small Berontus upon those speeches retired himselfe not knowing what to thinke of this sword and lesse the next morning when hee could not heare of Leon who was lost Alcidon returning unto Lisander told him what had passed between him and Berontus but when hee touched the complaints which Berontus had heard in the wood at Beauplaine Lisander changing colour and not willing to deny a thing so true It is true said he that I loved Calista before Cleander knew her and not being able to resist the powerfull charmes of her beauty nor the amorous shafts shot from her eyes at me without her will and knowing her to be as vertuous as faire I did bewaile my selfe in the midst of the wood for that which I never durst declare unto her beleeving that I had spoken only unto trees and not unto her or unto Berontus but let him remember seeing that he was there that I blamed my passion for the injury it did unto Cleander as well as for that which it did unto my selfe and that I did not forbeare to preferre his friendship before my own love although it were after in time It is also true that I saw her one time as Clarinda hath said but if Cleanders honour did then receive any offence I desire that neither Gods justice nor mans may pardon mee and lesse his death if I had so much as a thought thereof And how is it possible that I should thinke so basely to compasse his death whom I had pardon what I say so bravely saved They saying many other things which would be too long to recount went to supper and from thence to bed waiting the dayes comming when they first resolved that Lisander should send for his sister into Burgundy for to mediate some agreement with Berontus over whom shee had a great command and that Olinda should write unto Lidian who might openly defend the innocency of his sister and Lisander in requitall of so many obligations wherein he and his father Dorilas were tyed unto him and that in the meane time the best should bee done to suspend Calista's judgement All these remedies did not cover the moytie of the evill besides they were farre remote and the evill hard by neither would they serve unto any purpose But Lisander looking neerer as he who had greatest interest after a thousand thoughts tost up and down in his heart which kept him waking all night resolved to provide by another meanes and to that purpose rising the next morning before there was any store of people stirring in the streets he went not awaking Alcidon unto the gate of the little Castle which hee found shut betweene the Castle and the little bridge there is a street where dwell none but Butchers and whither none doe goe but such as will buy meat because there is no way out at the end thereof Lisander having learned by Alcidon that Calista's chamber did looke into this street entred thereinto waiting the opening of a little wicket and lifting up his head hee perceived the iron grillis of one of the prison
they were not so touched that either of them would resolve to send for their daughter to their house which often made me thinke it is not without cause said The Norman is a terrible nation Otranta neverthelesse who was a woman could not so well cover her affection as Dorilas for her teares wherewith she had wet the letter while she read it did witnesse it sufficiently without seeing her face and having her heart so opprest with sorrow that shee could not speake shee commanded that Lisander should bee had to dinner with the servants saying that after dinner shee would give him answer In the meane time she and Dorilas sate downe to dinner where they resolved what they should write and send backe to Calista for they judged she could not unwind her selfe from so many troubles without excessive charge After dinner Otranta being retired into her chamber shee called for the messenger unto whom not yet knowing him shee said My friend I am a mother and consequently cannot deny but that I love Calista who is my child and the more because she hath hitherto obliged me unto it by her good nature which never belyed her birth but this wicked accident hath given so great a wound unto her renowne that together with her vertues for which she hath been honoured over the kingdome she hath lost the naturall affection of her parents who had rather deny their blood than avow it in favouring so detestable a crime Neverthelesse seeing you say there needes onely but the presenting of Lisander to justifie Calista there shall neither be wanting our meanes nor the favour which wee can have in Court all which wee will employ to the uttermost of our frienâ—s and of our estate to the justifying both of the one and the other for the obligations which lye upon us from Lisander are such that wee will not employ our selves lesse for him than for her But tell mee friend are they not alwaies together No Madam answered Lisander they are not I assure you but though they should whither would you that she should retire her selfe rather than to him who is at this day the onely proppe both of her honour and her life Alas said Otranta he will never so well support it as hee hath ruined it If hee hath ruined it replied Lisander it is but in appearance but in effect hee hath preserved it and will maintaine it against the world and if you thinke evill of her being with him why doe you not take her home unto you I know that Calista never longed after any other thing and oâ— her will dependeth Lisanders who will as willingly render her into your hands as hee drew her from the hands of justice but would you that she should wander up and down the world as a cast-a-way as you have left her With these last words Lisander was so transported in passion that forgetting the part which he plaied he lost both the countenance and fashion of a servingman and tooke upon him his owne true carriage So that Otranta marking him more curiously knew him no lesse by his gesture than by his words and remained almost transported with astonishment He seeing himselfe knowne and that from thence came Otranta's perplexity proceeded in his discourse in this manner Madam bee not astonished to see mee thus disguised Calista's vertues deserve that all extraordinary enterprises should bee attempted for her service But that you may know it is with that honour wherein I am tyed I doe entreat you to take her home unto you and to beleeve that this request is the farthest from my desire which is to bee alwayes with her and onely to conforme my selfe to hers and to let you see how much I preferre her contentment before that which I receive in her sight O Lisander said Otranta who can deny you so just a request and so fitting to Calista's reputation Alas if it bee true which I doubt not that you are innocent of her misfortune and Cleanders death what satisfaction can equall this your merit Merit answered Lisander there is none and for my innocency I hope God will doe me the favour to make them see it who will not now beleeve it Many other discourses passed betweene them which would be too tedious to relate after which Lisander having told her where he had left Calista they agreed that he should returne unto her without discovering himselfe unto Dorilas who going two or three daies after unto the Court would leave Otranta at liberty to be able to send for her daughter Thus was our messenger sent backe who having found his Flemming returned a gallop the same night unto Calista and gave her a faithfull account of his message Calista who was wearied with leading so miserable a life from one countrey to another with so small pleasure and lesse honour seeing the evill opinion was conceived of her love unto Lisander and seeing how freely hee had employed himselfe for her in this last action did no lesse esteeme this service than any of the former because in those former hee had served her against her enemies and in this against himselfe When hee drew her out of prison it was to save her life without which hee could not live and to enjoy her presence which was his soveraigne good so that it was to content himselfe as well as Calista But here hee laboured to lose himselfe with her sight and to condemne himselfe unto a perpetuall torment to leave her in rest and he will repent himselfe at leisure During those three dayes which they stayed in their lodging expecting Dorilas going to the Court Calista never spake of any thing but of Lisanders goodnesse and how much shee was beholding unto him which shee protested to engrave in her memory with an eternall character Lisander entreated her to take pity of the griefe which the apprehension of this departure wrought in him and the languishings which would consume him in her absence Above all things Madam said he remember the promise which it pleased you to make mee and the honest affection wherewith I have endevoured to merit it Give me not cause to repent the great respect I have born you and the incomparable obedience wherewith I have moderated the violencies of my passion otherwise you will convert my patience into fury my discretion into folly and you will reduce mee to the greatest despaire that ever wretched soule was brought unto Whereunto Calista answered Lisander either you have forgotten who I am or else you thinke my judgement is not capeable of knowing what you are yet I do not think that any of my actions or words could lead you to these distrusts remember that Calista cannot bee accused of ingratitude but by such as doe not know her and although misfortune should carry her to this vice against all the world yet it is not possible she should be so to you to whom shee oweth more than unto all men in the world So did these lovers comfort
of her brother had alwaies remained with them and borne them faithfull company In the meanetime Dorilas seeing the month expired within which time he had promised unto the King to bring in Lisander returned to Paris with an intent to combate Lucidon himself according to the offer which had been made and accepted But when he came there finding that his sonne had prevented him and was yet in his bedde wounded and beleeving that it would be thought to be done by his advice to excuse him from that wherein he had formerly ingaged himselfe he was no lesse angry with him for fighting than sorry for his wounds yet understanding that hee was carried to Clarvall hee went to see him and from thence writ unto Otranta newes of this accident Shee hearing that her sonne was wounded and lay at Argires house neere Paris came thither with Calista as speedily as shee could and as secretly as was possible I neede not relate the complements the entertainments and words which passed amongst the Ladies especially with Calista neither could I expresse them Only I will say that having found Lidian a little better than they thought their sorrow was turned into joy seeing themselves together although it was not perfect For besides Lidians wounds the absence of Alcidon Lisander his quarrels and Calista's processe were sharpe thornes amongst these roses In the meane time such as were equally friends unto Lidian and Lucidon seeing they were recovered of their wounds and seeing the small cause for them to remaine enemies there having no words of injury passed betweene them and their wounds being equal they determined to make them friends knowing that with the service which they should doe unto the two Knights in agreeing them they should also please the King which did desire it The honour the friends and the noblenesse of their proceeding had imprinted more affection than the blood which they had drawn one from the other had left hatred wherefore they were easily disposed to agreement provided that in their agreement there might be no speech held of Lisander who was the first cause of their dispute but when they should see one the other which must bee of necessity because Lidian durst not come unto Paris Lucidon was brought unto Clarvall where first embracing Dorilas and after Lidian he was ravished with the beauty of the company especially when his eyes beheld Calista who blinded him with so violent a passion of love that from a mortall enemy which not long since he was of her whole house he was now become a most affectionate servant He was young rich well favoured comely of personage of an excellent spirit and a great courage charmes which might prevaile much with women which neverthelesse were not of force with Calista whose heart was ever turned towards Lisander as the Needle is towards the North although at this time his absence and the little newes of him had much offended her Lucidon finding in Calista a minde drowned in sorrow for the death of Cleander and onely as he conceived capable of griefe as well for his death as that she was thereof accused and not yet justified contented himselfe onely to offer her all his service as well in this as in any other neither pretending nor hoping for more recompence than the honour to call himselfe her Knight And so he tooke his leave with his friends returning to Paris more wounded with the arrowes of her eyes than he had beene before by Lidian her brother and no lesse studying which way to gaine her than to destroy Lisander whom all the world knew both to love her and to be beloved by her thinking therby to satisfie both his love and hatred together wherefore the moneth which the King had given for him to come and enter his pardon was no sooner past but Lucidon remonstrated unto his Majesty that his crime heretofore cleere enough was now more than notorious that otherwise hee would never have failed to appeare within the time which was limited for the enjoying his pardon which was procured with so much instance but that Lisander convinced by his conscience fledde the light of the Sunne which discovered him confessing by his flight that hee could neither deny it in justice nor defend it with armes He therefore entreated his Majesty to revoke the pardon given him yeeld unto the shadowes of Cloridon and Chrisantes the contentment of seeing justice done upon their murtherer and if any were found who in his absence would defend him in so evill a cause that hee might be suffered to fight with him and submit his right unto the triall of armes The King taking Lisanders absence as an ill signe ordained that if within three weekes hee came not nor some other for him to fight with Lucidon the pardon which was offered unto him should be void and hee himselfe should be put into the hands of justice Further his Majesty ordained that the combate should bee on horsebacke the combatants armed at all points and in the presence of his Majesty according to the ancient custome of this Kingdome This order comming unto Dorilas his eare he dispatched Lidian away in Poste unto Lisander remaining himselfe at Clarevall expecting newes But being one day at Paris whither hee ordinarily went a little after Lidians departure hee met with two Gascoigne Gentlemen of his acquaintance who came lately out of the country by whom informing himselfe of Lisander no way disguising the trouble of minde that hee had by his absence considering what businesse called him thither they told him that they had left him about a businesse which did well deserve his stay And what businesse said Dorilas can be of such importance unto him that it can make him forget the care which he ought to have of his honour and his life Wee know not said they neither doth he beleeve that his honour doth oblige him to come hither but the cause which detains him there is I think partly because he cannot be here in that safety which he desires and partly for the satisfaction which hee desires to give unto his parents after so long an absence but the true and strongest chaine which tyeth him is the love which hee beares unto a faire Amazon who will not give him so much liberty to runne up and downe in the world as hee hath done Then did they so lively describe Hippolita's vertues and beauties adding the greatnesse of her estate unto her other perfections that Dorilas certainely beleeved it was the onely reason why Lisander was deafe unto his letters and infinitely bewailing that he had sent Lidian unto him hee returned to carry this newes to Calista at Clarvall To tell you the ravage which this newes made in her minde the rage and the fury of her jealousie the despite and the shame she had to see her selfe so despised and deceived by a man who had adored her with submissions and humblenesse as if it had beene to a Deity it is not possible
in the countrey offering to assist him as a father and as he had alwayes done in all places untill this very time That it was told him he had some designe upon Hippolita but for some considerations which were unknowne he had not yet witnessed it That if it were out of any doubt that hee would not be willing hee would cleare that doubt by telling then that he knew Hippolita to be of an illustrious family of a vertuous condition of a rare beauty and that hee did not know any in the world whom hee would rather desire to be his daughter in law That if peradventure hee feared hee should not be able to attaine the end of his suit and that this did keepe him from discovering his suit hee did ingage himselfe to draw assurance from her that hee should not lose his labour nor travaile in vaine in her service Lisander wondring at this speech knew well that his father would ingage him to marry with Hippolita whom hee would have purchased at any price excepting Calista's losâ—e but there was no duety of a sonne nor reverence of a father could draw him from so happy a captivity as hers to serve in any other place yet not willing to lose the respect which he ought him with obedience he answered That the small stay he had made in the countrey and the disorder of his affaires had kept him from thinking of marriage not imagining it fit to be suitor for a wife while hee had such criminall processes upon his hands and such deadly quarrels Neverthelesse seeing he did witnesse it to be his pleasure he would alwaies conforme himselfe especially for so faire a subject as Hippolita was whom hee knew more worthy to be served than he thought himselfe capable of serving her But before hee did embarke himselfe hee did entreat to suffer him to make one voyage unto the Court to give silence unto the infinite slanders which unworthily did injure his reputation that being returned he would unfallibly serve Hippolita and would spend the rest of his dayes under the shadow of his house if he pleased Lisander said Adrastus you aske leave of mee to goe unto the Court where you dare not appeare without evident danger of losing your selfe you promise me to serve Hippolita at your returne even as hee who promised the grand Signeur to teach an Elephant to speake and tooke so long a time that it was not possible but either the grand Signeur or the Elephant or himselfe must be dead before he were tyed to the accomplishment I see how it is you are bewitched in the love of Calista who hath reduced you to the brink of your ruine and whom you have in like manner drawne into like danger You may doe what you please but remember it shall never bee with my liking By these words Lisander knew that his father understood little lesse of his businesse than himselfe This said Adrastus turned himselfe away and not expecting any reply left Lisander in great perplexity And although hee resolved rather to suffer any thing than the losse of his Love yet hee intended to search some meanes whereby in keeping her he might not lose his parents favour At night Adrastus being gone into the Garden to take a turne rather to digest his thoughts than his supper Lisander tooke occasion to speake unto his mother Hypermestra unto whom hee told the words which his Father had said unto him and his answer which she already knew from Adrastus with the discontentment which thereby hee received whereat hee was so grieved that although hee did passionately desire to returne unto the Court for the reasons which he had alledged unto his Father yet he had rather suffer them and all extremities than displease him For this cause having more ripely considered of it he resolved to obey him in whatsoever he should please to command And because he had declared that his pleasure was he should serve Hippolita he was determined by his good will the next morning to goe see her which he humbly entreated Hypermestra to let him understand Hypermestra glad that her sonne had better bethought himselfe said that she never hoped lesse from his education and good nature and confirming him in this resolution she that night advertised Adrastus who was much rejoiced therewith The next morning Lisander pompously cloathed himselfe as one who went to see his Mistresse and taking with him onely his faithfull footman his Flemming and the Porter of the Castle at Paris who was now become Groome of his chamber he gallopped unto Hippolita loaded with blessings of his Parents who accompanied his journey with vowes and thanked God that hee was so disposed to obey them but the old folkes were much deceived as wee shall shortly see and thereby a strange effect of the power of love which of the most loyall and the most absolute man one of them in the world as Lisander was made him a deceiver of his parents betraying the hopes which hee had given them and afflicted their age with as much griefe as was possible Hee went therefore unto Hippolita with whom hee pratled some small time of love like a man who had more upon his lippes than in his heart and charmed her so well that representing unto her the necessity of his affaires which did oblige him to returne unto the Court he procured her to write this letter to his Father Adrastus Hippolita's Letter to Adrastus SIr I will tell you that your sonne finding me in apt occasion to employ the affections which he hath witnessed to me doth me the honour to undertake a journy at my request unto the Court whereof I have thought good to advertise you thinking you would not bee offended with the proofe which he offereth mee of his service for which I doe entreat you to receive the humble affection which I have to doe you the like and to beleeve me Your humble servant Hippolita This letter was no sooner dispatched but Lisander tooke his leave of Hippolita fearing lest his Father might come and stay him there and determining to goe into Normandy to see Calista he made haste and ridde great journies yet when he was at Bourdeaux hee heard of a magnifick tilting which was in England where desiring to be he changed his resolution and sending the groome of his chamber with a letter unto Calista hee embarked himselfe upon Garrowne with his footman directing his course for the river Thames Adrastus having received Hippolita's letter knew well that his sonne had gone beyond him whereat he was much discontented In the midst of which discontent Lidian arrived at Miramont and not finding Lisander there he addressed himselfe unto his Father unto whom he told how Dorilas had obtained his pardon upon condition that hee presented himselfe within a moneth That hee had expresly sent a Gentleman to advertise him so much of whom as also of Lisander there was no newes So that the moneth being past the King had given his
granted them If it hapned the defendants were overthrown by the assailants the victorious assailants must take the place of the vanquisht defendants to the end of the Tourney which was to continue three dayes The Prize of the Tourney was a sword which King Arthur had sometime worne for the Knight who should be victor and a Carquanet of great Pearle for his Mistresse Foure defendants Brittaines descended in straight line from the famous Knights errants of the Round Table were come within the lists of the field in pompous and magnificke shew The first had for his device A Sunne rising in the East over the toppe of a mountaine with this word Sin occaso Foure divers Engines rowled after them by an admirable art The first was full of Musitians who sung these Verses in passing before the Scaffold where the King and the Ladies sate YOu beauties whose excelling light Obscure the beames of Phoebus bright Whether he doth his race begin Or else the waters passing under The rayes from men be keepeth in To their still increasing wonder You can with one glance of your eyes Dazle his lookes amidst the skies And make him hide his blushing head Or else for feare if he discry Your beauties which hav ' him surpassed They should eclipse his flaming eye But to this Sunne which me subdueth And in my heart more brightly sheweth Than th' other in his Hemisphere My law prescriber this faire eye All the respect you can it beare Is to adore it like as I. Faire Sunne so trust I to attaine Ever to see you shine againe And shew your beames which alwayes are Without eclipse or accident Which as they be without compare So yet they have no Occident The second Engine followed after with the second Defendant carrying a Globe under a Love which hee pierced thorow many wayes with his arrowes with this Motto Conservat cuncta Cupido Then followed the third Engine wherin was represented the history of the lame god Thermes who though hee would never yeeld unto Jupiter now followed the triumphing Chariot of Love loaden with iron among the slaves of his tyranny The Motto was Cedere nolo Jovi cedere cogor amori In the last Engine marching with the last Defendant was carried the same God Thermes overthrowne with his heeles upwards by a stroke with a Lance with these two words Cedit cecidit together with a Consort of Musicke singing these Verses THis staffe enamelled with gold Is that which Argalus did hold Or Cephalus his dart much rather Which I with a warlike arme direct And being fatall still to conquer Never gives blow without effect To breake a Speare is action light Of a couragious noble Knight But he that breaketh Therme with Lance And without stroke doth make him fall Is of heroicke valiance This force is most heroicall This Therme that from all bond is free But onely of eternity Whom nothing can resist if tryed That god which unto nothing yeeldeth By me throwne downe to me he giveth That which to Jove he hath denied What man is he that can be found But my steele blade shall bring to ground Since with this wood for wars unstable Braving both Fortune and the skies I thus to throw to th' earth am able The strongest of the Deities Shortly after these foure Knights had placed themselves in the lists foure brave Turkes entred into the field having their Dolimans upon their Armes their Turbants upon their heads their Launces in their hands and their Cemeters hanging by their sides after thier manner Their device was the Crescent of Silver which serveth them as an ordinary marke without any word After they had made a turne about the lists and placed themselves opposite unto the defendants all eight ran one against another their Launces couched with their sharpe steele points they gave full in the visers of each others Helme the staves flew in pieces and the foure Turkes were throwne unto the ground at this first course not without pleasure and laughter unto the English about forty other Assailants were overthrowne to their comfort after them the Defendants not so much as losing a stirrop So all that day the English continued vanquishers and so went triumphing out of the field The next morning so soone as the Defendants had taken their places two strange Knights entred at the other end of the lists whose onely countenances promised extraordinary valour The one had redde Armes full of flames of gold a redde Feather the caparison of his Horse crimsin velvet embroydered with flames of gold for his device he had a Love bearing a Globe with this word Piufort d'atlante The other was in greene Armour engraven with silver his feather greene his caparison greene velvet embroydered with silver his device was a Love which overthrew a measure of corne with this word Sin mesura So soone as the Defendants had seene them take their places two of the foure opposed themselves and couching their Launces came one against another with such grace and met vvith such force that their staves breaking to their hands the two defendants fell to the ground and the strangers perfected their careere without moving to the great admiration of the beholders The two defendants remaining seeing their companions overthrowne endevoured to revenge them spurring against the assailants the assailants against them made the bravest encounter that had beene seene but neverthelesse the defendants were overthrown leaving their place to the strangers who from being assailants as they were at first now became defendants All those who presented themselves that day were overthrowne with much lesse resistance than the first And the night comming giving an end both unto the Joust and the day the strange Knights went victorious out of the field with the sound of trumpets and the like solemnity that had accompanied the Vanquishers the first day The King of great Brittaine desirous to know these Champions sent to learne their names and of what country they were but they humbly be sought his Majesty to pardon them if they shewed any unwillingnesse to make themselves knowne untill the end of the Tournament which being finished they would not faile to offer their most humble service to him All this was past before Lisander could recover his Armes whereat hee was desperately inraged but in the end having put them on the third day hee was the first in the list with such a brave behaviour upon that incomparable Horse which he had from Cloridon that hee gave cause of admiration to all the Assistants Those who had formerly beheld the others having their eyes now fixed upon him would not vouchsafe to looke upon the other The defendants seeing him come judged by his countenance that he would cut them out more worke than all the other and therefore either of them making choice of a strong Launce they prepared themselves to receive him Hee in greene armour advanced himselfe first and as a whirle-winde in the middle of the course met him
the end of the last Booke after the manner of Architectures who as it is said make their buildings with the greatest beauty and glory towards the streete hiding their errours of contriving within the house for if wee looke neere and judge not by outward appearance but by truth we may find that among their sweetnesse and joy there was a great deale of bitternesse and sorrow All the contentment which Lisanders friends had to see him absolved and in the Kings favour no waies equalling the sorrow which they had for his losse or that which those who knew not thereof as Adrastus and Hippolita had for his absence And Dorilas his joy which he had to see his sonne and Lidian his Father did no way ballance the griefe which one suffered for his sister and the other for his daughter Alcidon and Berontus who in reason had least cause to complaine or desire were not contented because they could not see Argire and Ambrisia shine at the Court yet the webbe of these evils were mingled with some prosperities which made them some way sufferable only Calista was uncapable of comfort her whole reason and wisedome serving but to augment her griefe We left her within Longchampe sad wandring and desperate all in teares and fury not knowing what to doe but to dye whereunto shee fought all occasions but found none unexorable death which with so many sensible and violent sorrowes taketh away life from others would not doe her that favour In the meane time the Porter who amongst Alcidons and Lidians followers had seene Lisanders Flemming and footman and from them having learned the sad newes of his Master oppressed with his losse and with the despaire wherin hee had left Calista resolved to goe seeke for one and discover the other wherefore having spent this night with his fellowes he rose early the next morning and going unto Alcidon who instantly knew him told him that the Knight who offered to fight with Lucidan together with Dorilas and Adrastus having such a device and such armes and who afterwards stole away without making her selfe knowne was the faire Calista so â—arre transported not onely out of love unto Lisander but of jealousie unto Hippolita whose sight had carried her backe unto Longchampe with the same despaire wherein he had first found her That although he had promised not to discover her unto any body yet he beleeved he should erre lesse in breaking his word than in leaving her in this discomfort Alcidon wondring yet glad at this newes left the Porter at Paris who departed immediatly from thence towards Normandy to see if upon the Coast he could have any newes of his Master and not speaking a word either unto Dorilas or Lidian of what he had heard of Calista went unto Longchampe where she was still a bed with her chamber doore so fast shut upon her that it was impossible to open it without breaking He first found her Lackey with her horse who brought him directly unto her chamber where knocking at her doore Calista who thought it had beene her boy or the Porter who having lost her when she stole out of the throng at Paris was come to seeke her asked who was there Alcidon answered a Friend What seeke you said she knowing by the voice that it was neither of them whom she thought it to be I seeke you answered Alcidon Stay without replied shee and I will speake with you presently In the meane time shee arose and not content to cloath her she also armed her selfe beleeving by these meanes to passe unknowne amongst all men When shee was come out of her chamber and that she saw it was Alcidon who was not armed shee was like to fall downe dead yet not knowing what he would say nor thinking that he knew her she dissembled her astonishment as well as shee could and disguising her voice and behaviour shee asked him what hee would Alcidon making as if hee did not know her asked if she were the Knight of the Buckets who yesterday had presented himselfe with Dorilas and Adrastus to combate Lucidan Whereunto shee answered yes It is then replied Alcidon with you that I would speake but I would desire it might bee private As much as you please replied Calista who presently commanded her boy to make ready her horse When Alcidon saw himselfe alone with her hee spake in this manner You doe well to command your horse to bee made ready for hee must now serve you to escape away or else to goe unto the King who commands a straight search to be made for you forasmuch as that after your going from Paris remembring that you are the onely man who did not discover your selfe he commanded that you should bee followed to know who you were but hee was told by some that you were Lisander and that you would not discover your selfe in regard of Calista's processe whereupon his Majesty more expressely commanded to finde you out of a desire he had to marry you to Hippolita at Adrastus his request unto whom hee hath promised to pardon Cleanders murther in favour of that marriage Now if you be Lisander I beleeve according unto that great affection which we have born unto one another you will not hide your selfe from me I will counsell you freely as a friend no longer to dwell upon that wretched and unfortunate love of Calista who is lost both for you and her selfe but looking more seriously into your affaires not to lose with the Kings favour and your parents so advantageable a match as Hippolita is Hardly had he uttered the last word when Calista looking upon him in disdaine and setting her hand upon her sword interrupted him with this answer Ah thou impudent Traitor who hath given thee boldnesse to use this speech unto me doest thou use thus to counsell thy friends to betray that which they ought to hold most deare in the world for a simple appearance of a petty commodity But why hast thou not thy armes about thee to maintaine that which thou counsellest now will I shew thee unto whom thou addressest thy selfe and before thee kill my selfe to the end that the griefe and horror of thy having been the cause thereof may torment thee all thy life Saying this shee pulled off her Cask transported with fury she drew out her sword but Alcidon catching her in his armes said thus unto her Madam pardon me if it please you this invention whereunto I have beene constrained to flye thereby to make you discover your name seeing you resolved to hide your selfe from mee It is true that the King hath sent after you and if you turne not your selfe out of the way you will see him but too soone not that he doth thinke you are Lisander not that any body hath told him so and lesse that hee hath any intent to marry him unto Hippolita but I my selfe have contrived it knowing by the Porter whom you had yesterday with you the pitifull misery into
advertised of their comming had left her cloake and sword and being apparelled in the ordinary habit of her sexe received them with a shame which did raise unto a higher lustre her incomparable beauty wherewith shee excelled the fairest which above all others astonished Adrastus who had never before seene her and made him not onely excuse Lisander but also thinke that hee had a great deale of reason to disobey him for which he formerly blamed him Madam said he in saluting her I doe not now wonder if those who have had the honour to see you do despise all other glory for I my selfe whose age ought now to dispence me from that servitude whereunto you bring all the world would not wish a greater good than to be deprived from all others to have that of your service Calista knowing who he was made a great reverence unto him saying shee would receive these praises from him more for the respect which she bare him than any wayes presuming that shee could merit them And seeing Dorilas and Otranta who stretched out their armes unto her she kneeled at their feet humbly entreating them to pardon her the displeasure and sorrow which she had raised them But they lifted her up intreating her not to bring into their mindes a thing which might trouble the contentment which they had to finde her againe Furthermore said Dorilas thank this good Knight for with a faire Amazon who is at Paris and Berontus his faithfull testimony which hee gave before the King of your innocency they are all three cause that without fear of any castle or prison but the Court you and Lisander may now enjoy your liberties which heretofore you have had in Paris having the King himselfe for Judge onely Calista together with the joy of this newes felt a secret motion in her heart at the name of this Amazon which wrought an alteration in her face But Berontus advancing himselfe then with Ambrisia whom he conducted afterwards Alcidon with Argire and last of all Lidian with Olinda saluting her put it from her minde for the present and raised in her a contentment to expresse which I am uncapable After they had a little rested and refreshed themselves within the Nunnery and thanked the Abbesse and the religious women they all departed toward Paris where comming before night they alighted at the Louure Adrastus led Calista Dorilas Otranta Alcidon Argire Lidian Olinda and Berontus Ambrisia The King being then in the Queenes chamber they were all brought in to their Majesties unto whom Adrastus presenting Calista spake unto the King in this manner Sir behold the Knight whom a desire to justifie Lisander concerning Chrisantes and Cloridons death to the end that hee might afterwards justifie them both for Cleanders hath made her cover her selfe with blacke Armes which your Ma hath committed unto Hippolita's keeping We are not now come humbly to entreat you that they may be rendred unto her she having more power thus disarmed than all the Knights in the world armed but to offer you her together with our humble service to lay her honour with out meanes and our lives into your hands giving you most humble thankes that it hath pleased your Majestie to take knowledge of our cause and to entreat your Majesty to doe her justice which yet you never refused to any person Adrastus having spoken these words Calista kneeled down before the King who having never seene her in Cleanders life in regard it was much retired from the Court much lesse since his death was kindled with the lightning of this beauty which having lifted up and graciously saluted he presented her unto the Queene saying What thinke you of this Knight Madam was it not great pity that such a jewell should be shut up in the Castle Shee seemeth unto mee rather an Angell than a Knight answered the Queene and that those who tooke her from thence had more reason than those who imprisoned her These words and the presence of their Majesties invironed with a great company whose eyes were all fixed upon Calista raised no lesse blushing in her than she kindled fires in their mindes The Court at this time resembled bled a cleere heaven set full of bright starres whereof their Majesties were the principalâ— lights and Calista Ambrisia Olinda and Argire foure of the lesser Planets to perfect whose number the faâ—re Hippolita came who being led by Lucidan knowing that this Calista of whom she had heard so much speech was not onely come but knowne to be the Knight of the black armes which she had undertaken to defend left them in the guard of Erifila her maid to be her selfe at this assembly So soone as the King perceived her hee said unto her You must now faire Amazon render the armes or fight with this faire Lady unto whom they doe belong Sir answered Hippolita not onely these armes but all others ought to be yeelded up unto her beauty What shall then be given unto yours said Calista which doth shine with so much advantage over the fairest I am not able to utter all the faire words which then proceeded from their faire mouthes But what contrary thoughts were in the meane time hidde in their hearts with what different spirits from their outward shew did these faire Rivalls behold one the other with what confusion did Hippolita looke upon the advantage of Calista's incomparable beauties with what grace Calista drawing her glasse sometimes by stealth seemed to enquire of it about the victory which she presumed to have over Hippolita's perfections how many torments did Lucidan suffer between the new fires which Hippolita had kindled in his breast and the lively sparkles which having beene raked up in the ashes of Calista's absence did now become flaming by her presence In the meane time night descending covered with her large mantle poudered with stars licenced this faire company every one departed contented except Hippolita who seeing Calista conducted backe by Adrastus as if hee had already accompted her for his daughter despaired ever to bee so her selfe All night she could not sleepe Calista's faire face and the admirable attractions of her surmounting beauty swome in her minde shee saw her selfe overcome by Calista she thought her selfe despised by Lisander and called him traitour for speaking of love unto her being ingaged in another place and ungratefull for leaving her for any other then againe would shee excuse him for having made so worthy a choice which she her selfe was enforced to approve In these disquiets having passed a great part of the night shee called Erifila and arming her selfe in Calista's Armes leaving her own hanging in the place she departed early in the morning taking no leave of any body Whilest these things thus passed in France Lisander who by the tempest was cast upon the I le of Gersie together with his Pilot as we have already said hearkened unto the man yet unknowne whom wee left complaining in this manner Ah wretch unworthy
of this light whereof thou hast deprived the best Knight in the world what doest thou in this solitary corner where as a Prometheus tyed to this rock thy bowels renewing are continually devoured with the eternall repentance of this offence thinkest thou that this great sea can wash away thy crime or this secret place hide thee from thy selfe O Love thou art a Traitor and a Murtherer hiding under such sweet apparances such bloody and mortall effects Poore Cleander now reduced unto ashes by thy deadly flame nay rather by thy impudent flaming desire Infamous Clarinde who hast brought me into this extreamity for thy fault cursed bee thy memory if it yet remaine amongst men and cursed be thy Ghost if it bee gone into Hell Let thy body be without buriall thy spirit without rest and thy name without honour for ever to remaine scandalous and opprobrious unto all the world By these words Lisander knew that hee who lamented was Leon whom sorrow for having killed Cleander and feare of punishment had shut up in these rockes O what vowes did hee make unto Neptune for running this fortune how many times did he thank the winds and the waves for this happy encounter Well Leon said he stepping unto him resolve your selfe to goe to Paris with us or else here â—o leave your life in satisfaction of that which you have wickedly taken from poore Cleander Leon knowing him both by his voice and by his face and seeing his sword shining in his hand and over his head now no lesse troubled with the apprehension of death than even now weary of living answered thus It is true that I have killed Cleander not maliciously nor out of designe but onely to save my life with the honour of a person whom then I loved and who was more deere unto me than my owne life which you cannot thinke strange if ever you have loved The repentance and sorrow which I suffer will I hope something excuse the offence for which I would not refuse death if my life might not serve to justifie two persons of whom I beleeve you are one without which respect I had rather leave it here than carry it to Paris to lose it upon a scaffold but I consider that there is another in which wee must give an account for this wherefore I should bee sorry to bury with mee Calista's reputation and yours whose innocency is so troubled that it cannot cleerly appeare but in the confession of my fault Your reasons are good answered Lisander but your considerations are a little too slow and would have beene unprofitable if stay had been made untill you had executed them But better late than never and although I doe not helpe you to obtaine your pardon for the death of so deare a friend as you have killed yet I will not hurt you and it may be the King according to his accustomed clemency and goodness considering that it was love and necessity of saving your life which made you deprive him of his will rather use mercy than justice After some other discourse which they had together Lisander without entring farther into the Ile so great was his desire to be at Paris made him enter with him into the ship and the winde being faire and the sea calme they made their course along the Coast of Normandy untill they came unto New Haven from whence going without any accident unto Roane hee was constrained to stay there to buy horses and armes the richest that he had ever yet worne and to witnesse that he had rather dye in the sight of his Lady than suffer any longer the torment of his absence hee bare for his device an Argent Eagle with wings spread and halfe burned under a Sun of gold upon which he firmly looked with this word Purche godon gli occhi ardan le pinne Whilest he busied himselfe about this the Porter who as wee have said was gone from Paris to seeke him after the combate betweene Hippolita and Lucidan and going from city to city was come from Paris to Roane beleeving that in regard of the frequent arrivall of strangers which the sea brings thither he might there heare newes of him and passed by chance through the same street where Lisander was about his armes who perceiving him called him by his name Never man in this world was so content as hee was but if he were joyfull to have found him the other was as sad when the story of his Mistres was told him as you have heard and the letter given him which said thus Calista's Letter unto Lisander THis Letter serves not to bewaile but to rejoice with you for the marriage which is said that you contract If you had advertised mee and that my presence had not troubled your contentment I should have desired to have beene at the feast at least to have served as a foyle unto the lustre of that beauty you sue unto But seeing I cannot be there without troubling your peace and without making your face blush I will onely endevour to learne the colour of your livery that I may weare it in your absence and thereby witnesse unto you that although I have not tyes enow to hold you I have resolution enough to let you goe and more patience in your losse than I had contentment in possessing you Doe not looke that I should here accuse you of infidelity for herein you doe mee the most pleasing service that is possible for you and for which I am rather to thanke you than complaine neither have you deceived mee for the words which you have said proceeding but from an unconstant heart make me sufficiently judge that your actions must needs partake of the same lightnesse But you have deceived your selfe in thinking to finde in mee any thing more lovely or more easie to conquer than you have done I am glad that at the last you know your selfe for although your malice hath not beene able to prevaile over my goodnesse yet the oaths wherewith you have accompanied your words the easier to make them sinke into my beliefe have had so great effect that they raise a griefe in mee to see you sigh forth a passion whereof you cannot bee healed but by inconstancy which justifieth to me your infidelity and not onely maketh me approve thereof but also to thanke you for wiping away by this change of yours the sorrow which I conceived by seeing you suffer for my sake a remedilesse evill I also give thankes unto her who is the cause thereof seeing that labouring my minde as I did to free yours I must needâ— be obliged unto her who hath eased mee of that paine Other jealousie I have none for I shall be alwaies glad to yeeld that unto her which I should be sorry to gaine from her And besides her merit which by your election I must needs acknowledge she hath beene sooner and better beloved of you than I am and in my opinion doth love you better than I doe
great courage than with all the excuses and submissions which hee could make and receiving this perplexity for a testimony of his sorrow resolved to pardon him whereupon cleering the beams of her face which griefe and danger had darkned and beholding him with a more pleasing eye than shee had done at the first entrance she loosened his tongue whereby he had power to utter these words Madam I take heaven to witnesse that it was force and not will which hath constrained me to offend you and that now it is will not force which bringeth mee for your satisfaction to offer you my life intreating you to do it so much honor as to think it worthy of your revenge I could wish that I had something more deare unto me if by the losse thereof you might be better satisfied But seeing I have nothing whereof I can dispose more deere unto me than my life since that hath committed the fault I doe entreate you to sacrifice it to your anger and receive this voluntary reparation of a constrained injury Ah Lisander answered Hippolita you have much more grace than reason in excusing the wrongs which you have done but tell mee I pray you what hath miserable Hippolita done unto you that you should so poorely betray her facility for I doe not bewaile the wounds which I have exacted from you nor your words which strength of passion and of truth obliged you to speake unto me thinking you had spoken unto Calista But of those which from a free motion you have of your owne accord uttered falsly perswading me that you only lived for mee It is true Madam answered Lisander that I have spoken something of love unto you pressed by the instance and authority of my parents who much desired that I should serve you but never out of any free motion as you have beleeved for not onely then but long time before I had the honour to see you I was promised unto Calista Calista unto mee But though her absence and the object of your present beauty should have wrought mee unto it yet had it not beene from a free motion but constrained by the violence of a passion which you cause in many others And am I thinke you beyond others so free from passion that I cannot be subject unto it Is it a crime to love a thing so lovely Am I the onely man in the world who at divers times in divers places hath served two Mistresses or rather was there ever Knight that hath loved but one Lady It is no justification of your crime replied Hippolita to alledge examples of others infidelity but contrariwise it is an inwrapping of their faults with yours and a charging your selfe with them for the same evill You are a better Knight than a faithfull Lover in this time when it is a bravery amongst many to sport themselves with the love of Ladies you have let mee see heretofore the quickenesse of your spirit but I did never so plainely discerne it as in this occasion wherein you want no faire words good reasons at the least in appearance to colour so evill a cause I am sorry you have no better that I might have lesse cause to complaine of you and more to pardon you But an offence of this nature is not so easily justified as committed yet I thinke you have one reason which your discretion concealeth I see I must utter it my self against my selfe that is the subject for which you leave mee is of such perfection that she meriteth not only an excuse for you but also that you should bee commended for so worthy a choice for although you had loved me before you saw her as you loved her before you saw mee and that you were the faithfullest lover that ever had name yet shee hath charmes enough to make you lose your constancy and to make you ungratefull and perfidious to all the world to bee constant and acknowledging unto her only and this comfort at the least remaines unto me that if you have left me it is for a Lady who doth merit it and whose beauty incomparably surpassing all others doth lessen the sorrow the shame which I may conceive for her being preferred before me yet one thing I would intreat of you which is that though I have lost your affection you would neverthelesse preserve unto mee your good will and assure your selfe that you may well bee possessed by some other but I shall onely be yours Lisander no lesse ravished with the beauties than with the spirit and judgement of Hippolita could not answer but with sighes and offering her his humble service with a perfect friendship sorrowing that hee could not give himselfe unto her being not his owne Erifila then seeing them in this faire way of agreemēt said unto her Madam I have promised this Knight that he should returne this day to ease his Father of a combate which he is to have with Verascus but hee may be there time enough although he come but to morrow How answered Hippolita is there a combate assigned betweene Adrastus and Verascus I Madam replied Erifila who presently told what they had learned of the Poste in passing by at Pointoise Upon my honour said Hippolita it shall not goe so It is I who have made the first overture and Adrastus can be but my second if there be two accusers and there being but one it is I who must make the battaile I Madam answered Lisander if I were not present but all being enterprised upon my occasion and in my absence it is not reasonable that I being present any other should defend my right Besides I have Leon here who will depose my innocency who being heard I doe not thinke any combate will be necessary unlesse it be between him and mee if hee will denie the truth which he hath confessed I will tell you what we will doe said Hippolita to morrow I shall bee able notwithstanding my wounds to goe in two dayes to Paris for by your onely comming I finde my selfe almost well and we will appeare all together A thousand other faire words said they amongst themselves which I cannot repeat but to be short after the day was spent and a good part of the night in this manner the next morning they rose very early to goe to Paris as they had determined Hippolita's wounds were the cause they could not come thither before the day of the combate which was already begun Adrastus of one side and Verascus of the other were both come into the field the first in his armes whose colour and device we have already spoken of and the other in tawnie armour having for his device an Austridge holding an horse shoe in the mouth with this word Sic nutriantur fortes He was followed by all Cleanders kinsmen excepting Berontus who would not be there neither for one nor other Adrastus was accompanied with Dorilas Lidian Alcidon Lucidan and many others They were both couragious
strong and witnessed in their armes great fiercenesse as those who in their youth had atchieved many memorable adventures The royall Scaffold was furnished with their Majesties followed with a great Court besides which there was an infinite company of others who did inviron the whole field and upon one side was Calista all in mourning accompanied with Otranta Olinda Ambrisia and Argire and miserable Clarinda alone upon the other Already was the Sunne equally divided and the Trumpets sounding the charge the combatants having â—ne one against another with great violence breaking their Launces to their hands and remaining without advantage had perfected their careere And as they were returning with their swords shining in their hands every one looking stedfastly upon them without stirring an eie and silent without a word Hippolita and Lisander together with Erifila and Leon came into the field which drew the eyes of all the company upon them At their first entrance there was raised a little noise like a gentle murmuring proceeding from this infinite world of people whereof some knowing Hippolita by the Armes which shee wore raised this gentle noise In the end seeing they went directly to speake unto the King and every one being desirous to heare what they would say there was an universall silence a thing rarely happening in so great a multitude during which Hippolita having intreated his Majesty to stay the combate and to cause the combatants together with Calista and Clarinda to be brought neere shee spake in this manner Sir I am Lisanders Knight who first had the lot to maintaine his cause against Lucidan and who first have offered to defend it against Verascus Adrastus unto whom you have permitted it in my absence being but my second cannot be received but after mee But Sir before this difference be decided and that all men may know with what justice I have undertaken the defence of the accused I do humbly intreat you to heare what this Knight can say concerning Cleanders death Saying this Hippolita presented Lisander who pulling off his Helmet and doing humble reverence unto the King hee filled all the assistants with wonder and astonishment Sir said hee in presenting Leon of this man your Majesty must be informed of Cleanders death and not of me who was farre off and who had not knowne it but by his â—o wise confession It onely concernes mee Sir to defend my innocency and Calista's against those who have â—o vilely slandered us unto your Majesty and for me to demand pardon which I doe Sir with as much humblenesse and submission as is possible â—hat not having meanes sooneâ— to justifie my innocency and not daring in the 〈…〉 to appeare before the angry face of my Prince I have beene constrained to goe aside with as much sorrow as a faithfull subject could have to spend his life out of the sight and favour of so great a King At the same instant Leon cast himselfe at the Kings feet implored his mercy and demanding pardon first of his Majestie and after of Lisander and Calista declared openly before all the world that onely he and Clarinda were guilty of Cleanders death reciting the long love betweene himselfe and Clarinda the meanes which she used to bring him unto Beauplaine without the privity of her Mistresse and how as hee would have gone from her chamber when Calista was comming in hee was stayed by Cleander who came out of his owne chamber at his wives cry and that hee having gotten Lisanders sword which he wore then about him in the manner as you have heard formerly hee was constrained to kill him to save his own life and Clarinda's honour which was then most deare unto him Hee added that this fault had beene committed without his designe that he had suffered long and extreme sorrow and done great penance wherefore he besought his Majesty that it might bee in stead of punishment Wicked Clarinda seeing her selfe thus convicted of her crime by him for whose sake she had committed it and not able to deny her viâ— treachery was compelled to confesse it humbly craving pardon of the King of Lisander and of her Mistres Calista But the King abhorring her prayers and yet retained by his mercy instantly condemned her to spend the rest of her dayes within the foure walls of the repentants perpetually banished Leon out of his kingdome restored Lisander and Calista unto their former honour and for a reparation of the injury which had beene done them adjudged them the goods of the guilty Whilest these things were a doing joy and admiration possessed the hearts of all those who were present Adrastus and Verascus who lately would have killed one the other now lovingly embraced Dorilas and Otranta thanked the King for his justice to their daughter Lidian Alcidon and Berontus with teares in their eyes embraced Lisander remembring how they had lost him at the Sea and how God had sent this storme that Leon might bee found whereby things were brought to so happy an event Ambrisia Olinda and Argire kissed Calista as if they had not seen her a long time rejoycing with her at the change of her fortune past unto this presâ—nt and at the glorious end to which these long miseries were brought considering the inconstancie of our life and how small a distance theâ—e was betweene the time wherein they had seene her in so great calamity and this wherein they found her in so great glory Lisander could not tell which way to turne him so much hee was busied sometime in speaking to the King sometime to his father and by and by to entertaine his friends yet in the end getting from them and going to kneele downe before Calista shee turned from him unto Lucidan who was neere her and began to entertaine him with speech not saluting or so much as looking upon Lisander And from hence I gather that all women for the most part have a spirit of contradiction and so strange and so unequall a humour that no judgement or knowledge can be settled of them for who can otherwise say seeing Calista the ornament of her sexe leap over wals after Lisander then when her husbands death her owne processe her parents authority and Lisanders love with Hippolita might have justified her ingratitude and now when nothing could excuse her after such extreme obligations such present and signall services to turne her backe unto him when hee offered himselfe When I remember how shee went from Clareval disguised in a habit so undecent for one of her condition how shee resolved to fight with Lucidan who loved her for Lisander by whom shee thought shee was forsaken she who had never managed armes and whom I now see honour the same Lucidan to despite Lisander and to constrain her selfe to disdaine him then when he gave so great and so necessary a proofe of his fidelity I must needs accuse her of inconstancy and ingratitude and thinke her worthy of the miseries which she hath suffered
losing the sorrow which I had to see her endure them But as meates wherewith one eates in health unto a fulnesse in sickenesse are many times abhorred so the extreme and violent love which she bore unto Lisander being absent turned at the seeing him into hatred and remembring the follies which the passion of this man had made her commit she was ashamed and wished him evill for the same cause for which she had wished himselfe well furthermore being jealous of Hippolita as shee was and seeing her come with him she thought he did not much care for displeasing her since hee durst appeare before her in the company of a person who had caused so much griefe unto her As for Lisander he remained mute and immoveable as a rocke neither was this an affront which could bee repaired with a word Oh! if any other but Calista had done this how would hee have returned it What said he to himselfe in so good company in the presence of my Rivall to doe this indignity unto mee An Calista thou shalt never returne I will never give you this advantage over me In this meditation which was raised by anger that Arch rebell against love hee turned to the other Ladies all of them giving him as much honour as Calista had given him neglect And the King being entred into his Coach together with the Queene both joyfull for the happy successe of this day they all waited upon them unto the Louure and from thence retired themselves unto their lodgings very few observing the coldnesse that passed from Calista to Lisander who all that â—ight had a grievous conflict with himselfe whether to yeeld unto love or unto anger and his associates fury and despite faine he would have expo◠〈◊〉 and laied unto her his merits and her ungratitude but his great heart counselled with youth and heat and both seduced by wrath resolved never more to see her lâ—st love with the unresistable power and charmes of her lookes might pacifie his minde most ordinary amongst lovers and worke his owne soveraignty by a reconciliation Of the one side by yeelding unto his wrath he saiâ— despaire like a chiefe messenger of angered love presse hard 〈…〉 aâ—uring him that without enjoying Calista he could not love Of the other side anger represented unto him â—he scoâ—es which hee should undergoe by seeking unto her which wrought so with him 〈◊〉 especially 〈…〉 absence that he resolved though he could not live 〈◊〉 enjoying the one hee would 〈…〉 rather than suffer the other A resolution 〈◊〉 worthy of a brave Gentleman iâ— he had performed iâ— Thâ— spâ— Lisander the 〈◊〉 The next morning Alcidon and Lidian rising very early went one 〈◊〉 Adrastus his chamber and the other into Dorilasseâ— unto whom at large 〈◊〉 remonstrated Lisanders long 〈◊〉 to enjoy Calista whom he having delivered first out of prison and then freshly from all suspition of the crime whereof she was accused she could not justly be refused unto him wherefore they entreated to crowne the end of their adventures by a lawfull marriage which would accomplish their felicities adding that it was true indeed Calista's honour was restored unto the first lustre by the verifying of her innocency but having remained so long in Lisanders company although it were with all the honesty that could bee desired betweene persons of their conditions and merit her reputation would neverthelesse bee exposed unto the discretion of evill tongues if it were not defended by this marriage Adrastus seeing that Calista had now the same advantages over Hippolita which Hippolita had formerly had over her and not willing to force his sonne in a matter which ought to bee so free went instantly into Dorilas his chamber whom hee found already disposed thereunto by Lidian and who seeing that Lucidans offers were now of no value unto Calista desired rather Lisanders alliance unto whom he was so straightly bound than his wherefore meeting both in one desire together they agreed upon the marriage between Lisander and Calista no body doubting of the parties consent whom all the world knew to love one the other most perfectly But when Adrastus would speake of it unto Lisander thinking to rejoice him in bringing so good news for which not long since hee would have given the Monarchy of the whole world he was astonished at his answer which was That having run so dangerous a fortune at Sea he had made a vow to God that if he had the blessing to escape he would goe in pilgrimage unto Rome wherunto being more strongly bound by his finding Leon and the happy issue of his businesse he intreated him that he might performe his vow before he contracted any marriage And in the same time Calista answered Dorilas upon the proposition which was made unto her of marriage with Lisander That being in the Abbey of Longchampe afflicted with so many adversities God had so â—ouched her heart and had given her so lively a feeling of the difference betweene the sweetnesse of a religious life and the bitternesse which is tasted in this other life of the world that she had vowed to leave it and enter into that Monastery so soone as shee should have ended her processe The sad old men astonished and confounded with their childrens answer were so much the more sorry by how much they durst not tell one the other the answer which they had received and wondring from whence so sudden and so great an alteration should proceed as those who did not easily beleeve the vowes wherewith their children would have amused them and fearing lest they should plunge themselves againe into new mischiefes from whence they but now got out could not chuse but witnesse the feeling they had of this their disobedience What said Adrastus unto Lisander when I would have married you with Hippolita you pretended a voyage unto the Court for love of Calista and now when I would marry you with the same Calista you pretend another unto Rome Well goe whither you please but never account me for your father nor thinke that I will ever avow you for my sonne but will faile of my purpose if I have not another course held with you with these words hee flung out of the doores from him So much in the meane time said Dorilas unto Calista threatning her in extreme choler to shut her up not onely in the Nunnery of Longchampe but in the house of the repentants with Clarinda How said the olde men have you followed him through all France all Flanders and all Frisland Have you gone out of Clareval at midnight all alone to seeke after him have you left your parents disguised your sexe forgotten your condition taken armes attempted all kinde of extremities for love of him then when you were despised and now when hee doth adore you when he hath bound you unto him with so extraordinary a service you play the disdainefull foole Remember your selfe better Calista God never pardon me if I pardon you
if hee be not hee hath witnessed so little affection unto Calista that she ought not to thinke that ever there was any such in the world But is it possible said Lisander that a Knight who hath saved Dorilas his life and Lidians many times and unto Calista both her life and honour should now be forgotten for Lucidan who not onely was never their servant but hath alwaies beene their capitall enemy As for Lidian answered the other he holds for Lisander and as well he as Alcidon and Berontus will leave the kingdome rather than be present at Calista's marriage with Lucidan and she for her part hath not yet made any demonstrations that shee doth incline either unto one part or other but Dorilas Adrastus and Otranta doe stir heaven and earth for Lucidan and which is greatest the King himselfe favours the match and he can doe more than all All these words were like daggers at Lisanders heart who being able to endure them no longer bid all the company good night and retiring into his chamber went to bed While he rests there if a man tormented with so many furies can enjoy any rest we will returne unto Hippolita who being recovered from her swound and awake from a short sleepe which a generall numming of all her spirits had brought upon her not seeing her mortall enemy who had so cruelly wounded her whom neverthelesse shee loved more than she loved her selfe shee demanded of her maid where he was Shee told her his going away and his excuses together How said shee is hee gone without speaking to mee and hath hee thus left mee in this pitifull estate whereunto I am brought by his cruelty O Tiger although I were unknowne unto him I thinke meere humanity should oblige him to stay with one afflicted set apart that I am for his sake and by himselfe thus wounded and that deceived by his faigned affections I am come into this countrey moved by my true affection unto him have preserved his honour with the losse of my blood and the hazzard of my life and if wee onely speake of common good will which is amongst the most barbarous men were not that bond enough upon him to make him see the successe of the wounds which he hath given me Madam said Erifila hee was so afflicted that it would rather have encreased your evill than lessened it and therefore he went away fearing that his sight should cause some alteration in your wounds Afflicted said Hippolita what proofe of affliction hast thou seene him shed one teare or only fetch one sigh for me yet Erifila I must love him and if thou also lovest me and wilt binde mee to love thee more thou must ride speedily after this ungratefull Knight and conjure him not to flie from Hippolita who seeketh and would runne after him if the wounds which hee hath given mee did not hinder me Tell him I pretend nothing in all that affection which hee hath vowed unto mee but common good will that I quit him of his promises and that not only I will not constrain him in the love which hee beareth unto Calista but that I will mediate his peace with the King and his marriage with her and will take upon mee to solicite her against my selfe let him vouchsafe onely to see mee and suffer me but to accompany him I am none of those who have accused him for killing of Cleander but cleane contrariwise I am she who have defended his innocency and for his sake his Ladies But dispatch Erifila and reply not if thou lovest me or if thou desirest I should live Erifila who knew with what spirit shee had to doe said onely shee would not stay but would make such haste that she would finde him and shee would lose her life or bring him backe But Madam said shee againe who shall have care of your wounds in my absence Care not you for my wounds said Hippolita they are neither mortall nor dangerous onely goe thy waies and take heed thou doest not try Lisander in armes for therein hee is no lesse invincible than in grace and comlinesse incomparable Erifila departeth although it were night and upon a speedy gallop followes after Lisander where leaving her there is a necessity now we should relate what is done at Paris Besides the instant pursuits of Lucidan to marry with Calista Verascus who was advertised of the propositions which Hippolita and Adrastus had made unto the King about Cleanders murder and also what the King had ordained as well upon their offers as upon Berontus his declaration in favour of the accused came Poste to Paris and addressing himselfe unto the Court of Parliament obtained a sentence against Calista containing that most humble remonstrances should be made to his Majesty to be pleased that justice might freely bee executed upon the persons of those who were accused of Cleanders death which sentence being gravely pronounced yet vainely because the King had already given his word although they did not hide that this crime scaping humane justice could not scape divine neither could this innocent blood unjustly shed upon earth crying vengeance in heaven fall in any other place but upon his Majesties head or his childrens Verascus addresseth himselfe unto the King and intreateth him to grant unto him the like combate against those who had offered to defend Lisander and Calista as he had granted unto Lucidan a request not onely just but also favourable for besides that the combate granted to Lucidan served him as a prejudged case there was no reason to deny or refuse Verascus upon a cause already judged and against persons condemned having suffered it unto Lucidan against a man who was not in apparance furthermore hee required nothing but what the friends of the adverse part had already demanded and besides the cause of his kinsman for whose justice he sued hee was injured in his honour by Hippolita's words The King granted that which in justice hee could not deny Thus was Adrastus his life and Calista's honour once againe in tryall and all the joy of the dayes passed turned into griefe and desolation Lidian Alcidon and Berontus were all mad to dispute this difference with Verascus who in all their opinions was like discord let loose by envie out of hell to trouble all their quiet But God forbid said Adrastus that any other but my selfe being in health and present should undertake the defence of my sonne and of my owne offer I have demanded this combate against Verascus and if it please God I wil be the first that shall maintain the innocency which hee would oppresse Who is able to utter Dorilas his anger Otranta's complaints Ambrisia's griefe Olinda's teares Argires sorrow and the deadly confusion of unfortunate Calista who can declare Lidians fury to see his sisters cause and his friends hazzarded under the defence of a feeble old man whose age might justly bee dispensed from Armes finally who can speake the universall discomfort of all
For besides Calista's and Lisanders interest which was common amongst them every one had a feeling of his owne particular Lucidan to see himselfe frustrate of his hope to marry Calista if her Father were vanquished by Verascus Berontus to see himselfe deprived of his marriage with Ambrisia and Alcidon to see his also with Argire to bee deferred there being no hope to marry in the calamity of two persons so deere unto him as was Lisander and Calista So that Verascus was universally cursed of all yet the combate being granted it was published that very day and assigned three dayes after in the same place and with the same Armes as had beene appointed unto Lucidan the King reserving unto himselfe the judgement of the cause after the combate was finished Lisander in the meane time having spent the night in the greatest trouble of minde that ever hee was in continually meditating what meanes hee might use to undoe the knot of his love which was so intangled that he could finde no end about breake of day rose with Leon with purpose to goe to Paris and hoping by his presence to give stop unto Lucidans further suite or else to fight with him rather upon that quarrell than about Chrisantes his death But as he was ready to get up on horsebacke Erifila came who having posted all night and comming unto Pontoise upon the opening of the gates she met him even as he was going away and having delivered the charge which her Mistresse had given her to finde him and to intreat him to come backe unto her who did but desire to see him the trouble and perplexity of his minde redoubled so upon him that hee became dumbe and immoveable as a statue Of the one side he saw it was an unexcusable ungratitude to refuse the going back seven or eight leagues to see one who had come two hundred for his sake had fought in his quarrell against Lucidan afterwards had offered to fight against those who did accuse him for killing Cleander Furthermore such a person as Hippolita was who seeking him after so many obligations hee had in recompence doubly offended both in words which he had spoke and by those blowes which hee had made and now to refuse her in so pitifull a plight whereunto he had brought her he thought it was a cruell discourtesie extremely contrary to his nature Of the other side setting before him Calista's jealousie the strange courses which this passion had enforced her unto the combate which shee had enterprised for him then when she beleeved that hee had left her with so much more danger unto her than unto Hippolita by how much she was lesse practised in armes than Hippolita and with so much the more merit by how much she thought she fought for an enemy against a servant by whom shee was adored The letter which shee had written upon the subject of this jealousie and the displeasure which shee would receive when shee understood that hee was now with her Rivall The fresh newes of Adrastusses and Dorilasses labouring to marry her with Lucidan and the meanes which hee had to breake it off and to serve her both in justifying himselfe and her by Leons owne mouth and by this last obligation to surpasse all his former which hee could not defer without great danger of losing all All these reasons together making the ballance weigh downe in favour of Calista made him intreat Erifila to pardon him and to excuse him to her Mistres if the necessity of his affairs which had so long called him unto the Court hindered him from doing this small service unto the most sensible and most violent of all his sorrow God never be helpfull unto me answered Erifila if I doe not kill my selfe rather here in your presence than suffer you to commit so great a fault what would you kill her for I am sure the despite which she will receive by this deniall can worke no lesse Is this the recompence of all the dangers wherunto she hath exposed her self of the travell which she hath taken and of the evill which she hath suffered for you Doe not doe your selfe Sir this wrong I conjure you by that which you owe unto the greatnesse of your courage and to the glory of so many brave and generous actions which you have performed not to refuse her for I assure you if you doe you will for ever wither with a reproach of an eternall infamy I promise you you shall not stay and so farre will she be from constraining you in the affection which you beare unto Calista that contrariwise she will serve you wherefore give this contentment unto one who doth perfectly love you and who for all acknowledgment of the love which she beares and satisfaction for the injury which you have done her demandeth onely but this fight While she thus spake a Poste comming from Paris was knowne by Dorilas his man who had supped over night with Lisander he asking in Lisander and Erifila's hearing of newes from the Court was told the combate which was to bee fought betweene Adrastus and Verascus about Cleanders death Will you have any more lawfull excuses said Lisander unto Erifila must I without any feeling of my honour or of Calista's which ought to be more deere unto mee suffer my father to hazzard his life in my quarrell while I foolishly trifle out time in contenting Hippolita's idle humour besides if I could serve her to her desire what profit could I bring her unlesse it bee a â—eaver Your presence will not bee unprofitable answered Erifila for it will save her life and for the combate you have time enough to bee there in three dayes and never thinke that shee who hath come so long a journey to defend your honour here in your absence will now counsell you to lose it here before your eyes or suffer you to doe so if you were willing Let us goe then replied Lisander vanquished with her importunity upon condition you presse mee not to stay but that immediately after I have seene her I may returne my way upon these conditions hee followes Erifila with his company and came unto the Village where Hippolita lay wounded To tell you the discourse which shee fashioned unto her selfe in Erifila's absence those which were made at her returne as well by her as by Lisander the shame that both of them had when they saw one the other one remembring what he had said the other what she had heard spoken it is not possible At the first they onely beheld one another without speech thinking that their lookes could better expresse their thoughts than words In the end Lisander going about to speake first was so confounded that the more hee endeavoured to expresse himselfe the lesse he was understood Hippolita judging the confusion of his minde by that of his words and seeing his astonishment in his face was more satisfied to see the apprehension and trouble which shee raised in this