laugh in Envies face But more considerately weighing his owne case he entertained better thoughts and therefore writ in the next stage of the window If Rivers great from smallest Brookes doe flow Poore hopes in time farre better haps may know But now Fortune that wayted though yet a farre off on Paris unknowne merit gave him a befitting occasion to doe Vienna though still covertly more pleasing and more glorious service For there had lately falne out in the French Court a great contention betwixt the native Barons and some severall noble Forraigners that then for their pleasures followed that Court in honour of the King The controversie was whether was most fairer or the more vertuous of these three Ladies Valentia the great Duke of Burbons Daughter Vienna the Daulphins sole heyre of Viennois or the Lady Margaret sister to the King of England Great was their debate and many there were that maintained each severall Ladies beauty Insomuch as they fall from arguing to anger from anger to blowes and from blowes to wounds The French King offended with their offending uproare and great neglect of their due respect to place and person commanded peace upon their Alleageances And after being pacified and fully possest with the cause hee held the occasion well worthy dispute but their faulty courages and our surious proceedings punishable in the place Yet fearing the further ill that might in many particulars well ensue thereof out of his deepe insight he pardoned their great over-sights and calling them all before him after some few reprehending words hee thus with a milde majesty briefely and wisely appeased them all First he commanded that asolemne and royall Justs in honour of the three Ladies should be proclaimed throughout all his Kingdome to be holden in Paris at Pente cost following free for all commers and that she whose Knight should honour her with the honour of the day should bee ever had and held for the fairest of the three and that his Queene should crowne her with a Crowne of white Lillyes beset with precious stones as Soveraigne Queene of most perfect beauty This milde and pleasing shower so kindly distilling from the King so well allayed their stormy furies that calming theyr over-enraged wills in the shame of their amisse they hunibly on bowed knees craved pardon for their offences and thanked the King for the grace and honour that he did them Then sent the King his Ambassad our to acquaint the English King and specially Messengers to the Daulphinâ— and Duke entreating the King and willing both the other to honour him and his Court with their persons his sister and theyr two daughters at the assigned day and that each of them would be pleased to prepare and bring some beseeming prize of value befitting both themselves the cause and the worth of the Victor All which they promised in the word of a Prince holding themselves no little honoured in so honorable a contention Before the day the day drawing neere there came so many noble and well appointed Knights that the French Kings Court seemed an Alexanders Campe. Great was theyr Feasting and full Royall was all theyr entertainements But the day of tryall being come Aurora no sooner shewed her mornings blush but that the French King ashamed of his sluggishnesse rose and 〈◊〉 to see the three high Artificiall Mounts which hee had caused to be erected and made for the three Ladies to sit on who no sooner were come and placed but that the Duke of Burbon came marching in with a rich Garland made all of orient Pearle hanging on a blew Banner with his coate of Armes on the other side and placed it on the Mount belonging to Valentia on her lest side Then followed the Daulphin of Viennois with a rich Coller of Esses beset all over with Rubies hanging on a white Banner with his Arines displayed on the other side and placed it on Vienna's Mount on the right hand of his Daughter Then came Englands royall King with an imperiall Crowne of burnishe gold set with Indian Diamonds and blew Saphirs supported betwixt two regall Lyons hanging on a red Banner and plac'd it on the middle Mount before his Sister the Lady Margaret In the face of each severall Mount some foure degrees under the Ladies fate each severall Ladies Father in a strange devised Seate so curiously made and so gloriously deckt that each one seemed to be Apollo sitting in the Chariot of the Sunne The Knights whose rare Devises discovered theyr secret and severall fancies as they were affected so they betooke themselves to the Mount whose honour they were to maintaine The French King sitting in his rich Pavillion powdered with Flower-deluces opposite to the Mounts caused Proclamation to be made on paine of death that none but the Knights Encounterers should stay or enter into the Listes and that no Knight unhorsed should Just againe nor any make offer of Combaâ—e This being done the King of Armes stood up and after a third sound bade them goe too and doe theyr best devoyres like valiant Knights And no sooner had he ended his words but that there came from Valentias Mount a Knight well mounted on a speedy Bay his Armour Bases and all other his Furniture Azure full of fiery flames and on his shield he bare a Phoenlx enclosed within a bright shining Sunne and under it a hand reaching towards it with this under written Motto Oâ—utinam Towards him came from the Lady Margaret's Mount a greene Knight full of eyes and bleeding Hearts mounted on a fierce Blacke bearing on his Shield an Armed Knight prostrated under a Ladies mercy his Launce lying unbroken by him with his Motto All-ready conquered These two Knights encountred with each other so furiously and forceably that their Staves shivered in the ayre and witnessed their courages in their fall but in the counterbuffe the knight of the Phoenix was borne to the ground so that the greene Knight rode on overthrowing twenty other Knights that came from both the other Mounts the last of whom bare in the Shield the Picture of Vienna most richly pourtracted with a vayle of lawne all over her and from the dexter part of the Shield there was a Hand and an Arme comming forth of a Cloud holding a faire Labell whereon was written Such an one as such is none Great was now the glory of the Lady Margaret and all malecontented sate the other two Ladies especially Vienna who now seeing her shadowed selfe lying in the dust mist and wisht for her White and unknowne Knight And as her wandering eye romed up and downe still looking whether shee could espie him shee suddainly both heard and saw a well proportioned Black Knight rudely rushing from her Mount who so fiercely saluted the Greene Knight that hee made him pay tribute for his former honour in the overthrow of his fortune Threescore other assayling Knights hee dismounted before Vienna who now joying wondred and wondering prayed that he might be her desired knight that
wonne her Christall Shield and Chaplet at her Fathers Court and well shee prayed that had so well her prayer for it was Sir Paris indeed who knowing that Emulation hath many eyes and that Observation might easily discover him fearing to be knowne by his white Armour had thus fadly arm'd himselfe sutable to his sable fortune and therefore he bare nothing in his Shield but Blacknesse for his Devise was still to be without Devise only his sad Armour was covered all over with mourning Clouds Many Knights there were overthrowne by La-nova but more then many did Sir Paris foyle For then if ever 3. and if ever then did he shew the verâ—â—o of his valour in the strength of his courage Now grew the hurly-burly great and many and great were the oncounters made on each side In so much that there rested but unoverthrowne one Valentia on the Lady Margarets part on eitherside three and all onely on Viennas but one which was the blacke clouded Knight who now was deem'd hardly bestead both in regard of his former travailes and the present advantage of the sixe fresh assailants who bent all theâ—r forces first against him Valentias hope was now a little revived and the Lady Margarets proud expectation fully answered Valentias hope Onely doubtfull Vienna neere dyed for feare least that her beauty should now be eclipsed in the losse of her gotten fame and that her fame should be buried in the dying renowne of her best esteemed beauty For as she wondred hee had so long resisted so shee held it unpossible hee should longer resist But Sir Paris onely weary in that there were no more to be wearied by him casting his eye the messenger of his heart on Vienna and seeing the shining lights of her transparent beauty over-shadowed with sorrow and dismay Desite so blew the fire of his new conceived rage that like an unmercifull and hunger-starved Lyon that runnes raging for his prey so he violently runne amongst them that with one staffe he overâ—hrew the first three he met and turning his Horse before Vienna could turne her dispaire he charg'd the fourth so forceably that hee sent both Horse and Man to the ground At the sight whereof tee people gave such applaudrng shoutes that Vienna lifting up her sad eye as waking from a carefull slumber she saw her Knight returning in the glory of theyr overthrowes So that hoping now for better hap a better hap did befall her then she did or could expect For no sooner made hee his last returne but hee returned againe from overturning of the other two Who triumphed then but Vienna Who now more sad then Valentia or who more gâ—â—eved then the Lady Margaret the Just thus ended the French Queene camâ—â—with a troope of attending Ladyes carying before her the Crowne of Artificiall Lillies richly stoned and setting it on Viennas head shee Crowned her for sole and Soveraigne Queene of absolute and matchlesse beauty Then came the King and tooke Sir Paris by the hand and lead him all the other Knights and Barrons following them witâ— tryumphing honour and sound of Trumpets to the three Mounts where with his owne hand hee gave him the three Banners with the three prizes on them which Sir Paris reverently taking re-delivered over to his friend La-nova secretly to convay them away while hee stayed the ending of all other the Ceremonies All which being accomplished The King the Daulphin and Vienna rendring Sir Paris thankes for his worthy and affectionate endeavours and most renowned and fortunate atchievemâ—nts requested him in the name of Vienna to discover himselfe and tell unto whom they were all so much bounden But Sir Parâ—â— humbling himselfe in all duty made reverent shew of his unwillingnesse therein which the King noting would not further importune him nor could the Daulphin in any wise over-treat him nor durst Vienna overmuch presse him So that he kissing her hand held it long and after drawing his sword sayd it at her feete and taking it vp againe kist it likewise and then holding it up seemed to threaten the world in her behalfe which added this Article to Viennas beleife that he undoubâ—edly was her white Knight and the same and non but the same that first so melodiously sang under her Chamber window and therefore her desires having now no end shee ever after though each houre an age till she knew him But Sir Paris withdrawing himselfe to the rest of the Knights retired with them still giving backe till he was the last of the troope and then taking a crosse-way separated and convayed himselfe from them and suddenly disarming himselfe hee speedied to finde out the Bishop of St. Lawrence with whom of purpose to prevent all surmises hee had a little before familiarized himselfe and no sooner had hee espyed him but that hee hasted to greet him and still kept in his company as if St. Marke had robb'd god Mars of a Martialist Such was his holy shew of devout Religion as that he made all men admire him and his father to be inwardly grieved at him But Vienna who now had greater cause to love him then meanes to know him wondring at his valour not to be valued and valuing his vertues by clouding the glory and value of his prowis held now his love an honour to her affection and vowed her affection a guerdon for his love But when she heard of his secret departure and that no one knew what he was from whence he came nor to what place he had ret red himselfe Then impatient desire made her the child of passion and feare to loose that she never had made her feele what before she neither knew nor feared And so much the more she held her selfe miserable in that she knew not for whom she was so miserable nor how to seeke an end to end her misery As Viennas sad conceit thus overshaded the glory of her beautifull Conquest so was Sir Iaques flattering hope made blacke with foule dispaire For missing his sonne Sir Paris out of two so Royall and honorable Assemblies where renowne eternized each deserving Knight with never dying fame and seeing him still associating the Bishop hee feared least his businesse of over-superstitious Zeale had abandoned all desire and regard of Knightly Chivalry And therefore hot in his repining conceit hee hastened to find La-nova unto whom in griefe he manifested the cause of his griefe Requesting and conjuring him by the sacred lawes and name of friendship and by the honour he owed to Arnies to perswade his sonne to a more beâ—tting respect of his unregarded honour La-nova hearing Sir Iaques worthy complaint and seeing his frosted beard all bedewed with the teares of his sorrow pittyed his lament but durst not disclose the mistery of the truth but commending his honourable care hee comforted him with promise of assured and present remedy and so left him better satisfied then truely certified And no sooner where they parted but La-nova departed to impart to
much for any desire wee had to have them as to give him occasion to come to enquire after them In this processe of time the Warres of Florence were ended and Sir Paris being intelligenced of his Fathers sicknesse whose infeebled age he much feared and beeing desirous to see Vienna though dispaire of successe the hearse of his supposed idle hopes yet Desire the nurse of perseverance gâ—ve 〈◊〉 wings to make the more speed so that La-nova and hee ostâ—ng homewards happily came and found Sir Jaques well amended whose good recovery was no lesse joyfull to Sir Paris then his returne was comfortable to his Father After they had long discoursed of the occurrents of these Warres and of his many adventures and fortâ—nes Sir Paris longing to give his eye contentment by gazing on his I dolatrous Prizes he tooke his Mother by the hand and walking towards his Chamber like the Lapwing that flyeth farre from her nest he enquired of Court affaires but she being not able to satisfie the drift of his reach he prest her no further but being entred into his Chamber he made a step into his Oratory were suddenly missing the first pride of his happy atchievements the chiefe glory of his study and the true testimony of Viennas beauty and bounty being therewith much appaled and mooved at their remove he all angerly came forth and asked who had beene there and there had taken away such things as â—ee most esteemed His Mother abashed at the question but more grieved that thre was any thing wanting not knowing hew or by whom they should bee taken away answered that since his departure no one had beene there but the Daulphinis and her daughter the Lady Vienna accompanied with other Ladyes that came to visite his Father in his sicknesse and that shee desired amongst other Chambers to see that which she after some denying excuses durst not longer gaine-say and how that shee her selfe was with them so long as they stayed Saving that the Lady Vienna being suddenly surprised with sicknesse requested for her better ease to stay onely alone with Izabella to rest her a while on your bed Paris flattering himselfe with his owne favourable construction deemed and truely deemed that the cause of her alteration grew by the unexpected fight of the Prizes and the view of his verses that hee had left on his Table and that shee had taken them away eyther in her angry disdaine or to see what account hee made of them or whether hee would re-demand them And therefore pleased to adventure his Fortune upon the rocke of this hazard hee shewed no further mislike that hee mist them But afterwards shadowing his desire to see Vienna under the borrowed vayle of duty to see and to attend the Daulphin he went to the Court where the Daulphin glorying in the lustre of his Subjects renowne because it gave a splendour to his Greatnesse hee kindly received him with more familiar embracements and loving respects then his austere nature did usually afford by this his unwonted curtesie and grace he made Sir Paris thoughts more obligatory to his favours and fashioned his favours more complementory to Sir Paris fortunes for curtesie they say in Majesty binds ever affection in duty As Sir Paris stood before the Daulphin relating the honour and issue of the Florentine Warres hee glaunc'd and fearefully glaunc'd many times on Vienna but checking his eyes that still rebuked him hee left to looke on whom not daring to looke hee could not but looke But Vienna whose late kindled love was now growne into a flame having tediously before expected him could not now seeing him feast her ravisht eyes at full but gazing still on his ample perfections for now hee seemed more then exquisite and taking pleasure in the sweet harmony of his well tuned words streeâ—â— sooner rejoyced joying in her owne desires but that straight she desired the enjoying And turning towards â—â—â—billa she all blushing smised and smiling blusht againe because she smiled and then asked her whether she saw not bashfull leare and doubtfull discontentment 〈◊〉 on the face of his troubled countenance for the losse of his Frizes and the discouery of his affection and whether she were not happy in her Choyse and more then happy in his loue All which Gnathonizing Jabella prodigally confirmed and demanded how shee would doe to enfeoffe him with her affection that durse not be knowne of his owne Loste Which Vienna well ruminating in her mind at length woman-like found our this device She faigned her selfe for some three dayes very sicke and in the distemper of her wounding offences fearefull of her sinnel but after when shee was better enabled 〈◊〉 in body and minde she desired leave of her Moâ—â—er to goe the next day for the more quieting and confirming of her conscience and to giue God praise for her recovery to the Bishop of St. Lawrence to confesse herselfe and to receiue the Sacrament within the sacred Temple of God which hee Mother liking yeelded vnto rejoycing no little to see her so well amended and so devoutly and piously devoted In the interim Vienna caused Izabella to send to Sir Paris in the Bishops name to come and speake with him in the Cathedrall Church at time of the clocke the next morning which Sir Paris promising performed accordingly For at the appointed houre 〈◊〉 came and being come saw and wondered that so he saw the Princesse Vienna conferring with the Bishop whose loysure he willingly attended and walked a little aside wearying his fancie with wishes and punishing his concest with fearefull imaginations Long hee had not walked but that Vienna espying him applauded her fortune and armed with her owne desires shee gaue her selfe countenance vnder the pretext of employment and called to Sir Paris telling the Bishop that shee had matters of imployment in forraigne affaires to impare vnto him from her Mother And therefore she s requested the Bishop if he had any occasion with him to walke a while aside till shee had performed her Mothers command and then shee would leaue them both to their pleasures The Bishop being glad to see the Princesse so fanctified commended her â—eale and lost her to the discharge of her duty blindly supposing that the Daulphinis would send Sir Paris in message to some of her forraigne friends But Vienna finding her selfe alone with him in whom shee joyed alone she pleasantly demanded what hee made there or whether he had any suit to her or to any other wherein shee might accominodate him If it be so so it be convenient Sir Paris shall finde a friend if Sir Paris be found a friend This pleasing and preludious demand and Enigmaticall conclusion made Sir Paris somewhat fearefull how to answer But Hope the comfortable Counsailour of Loue shap'd in him this bold and short reply My businesse thrice worthy Lady is the Bishops will my suit your service your service my chiefe desire and my desire your fauourable countenance And longer may
over-runne by the pride of a late swelling flood that the Foard was not passable which made Sir Paris so impatient so to bee frastrated of his attending Ship the amrance of his Usery that Monsiour de la Mort over venturous to venter over the passage was in searching the Foard most unfortunately drowned in the mercilesse Flood Sir Paris daunted at that so fatall a sight sighed and sighing grew to a prodigious Prognosticator of his owne ensuing harmes But fearing least the knowledge thereof might appale his faire Friend hee suddainly returned to their religious Host where hee had left the two Ladyes when he went to find the Foard and to try the passage and shadowing now his tormenting griefe with a forced smile hee demaunded of Vienna how shee fared who answered as my Love fares so fares thy Love happie in my selfe because happie in thee And long may sayd Paris my Love live to love that loves to live onely for my love Scarce had Sir Paris pronounced his last word when one came running to tell the Priest that there were many Knights in he next Towne that came in quest and searched for Vienna and Sir Paris Which Vienna understanding was so surprized with griefe and feare that being altogether disheartned in her hope shee held her selfe more than undone in her disturbed expectation But after she had bathed the beauty of her eyes in the sorrow of of her teares fearing most in this present perill least death should arrest her beloved Friend She with a much more resolved mind and â—n assured Countenance then befitted eyther the time or was incident to her Sex thus exhillerated her astonished Friend My Paris shee sayd Time admits not there many words where danger still knocks at the doore In extremities the winning of time is the purchase both of life and love Let not violent passions that never removes any ill but betrayes our secret imperfections now sway the vertue of thy thoughts nor the fortiâ—ude of thy heart but carry thou in thy Lyons looke a Lyons minde and like the Sunne shew thy fayrest face in thy lowest fall Load not my sorrowes with thy griefe nor kill thou thy selfe for feare of death But in the wonted courage of thy never-daunted Spirit get thee to some other more safer shore where let Vertue hee thy Governour my remembrance thy Love thy loue my comfort and my comfort thy sole contentment Thou hast conquered men in loue and Loue in me and both in worth and wisedome and never shall I deeme my selfe happy but when I shall see thee happy for whom I now am so vnhappy As thou leavest me so shalt thou finde me be but thou as constant a Friend to my Minde as thou shalt be a Possessor of my Heart and I shall have as much cause of joy as thou no cause of doubt If thou continue loyall successe thou shalt see will blesse thee well and all good fortune will waite on thy just merits This Diamond which here I giue thee shall be a true remaining record of my sincere loue to thee Onely let me heare of thy aboad and so I leaue thee to the guide of Vertue and seruice of Fortune Sir Paris thus discomforted comforted weighing the danger of delay by his imminent perill and forced to set vp his sayles in this so insupportable and threatning a tempest and there sealing vp the vow of his faith in the silent griefe of a departing kisse he posted to the Riuer side againe where Dispaire made Feare so valiant that ere he found cause of feare hee was past all feare For hauing past he knew not how the River he was got before he wist into the Ship wherein being Cabined hee told of La Mot his fatall accident and forced them to put to sea sayling himselfe with as many contrary thoughts as Eolus sent out windes vpon the Trojan Fleet At length he arrived at Genoa where he rested his restlesse selfe and where he liued wanting but little because not desiring much But such was his disconsolate solitary life that the Citizens though strangers affecting the man in his manners pittied much his distresse in the shew of his discontentment In the meane while the Daulphin wasting himselfe in his owne implacable and vnlimited wrath violently and suddainly seazed and confiscated all Sir Iaques Lands and Goods into his hands Imprisoning both him and his Lady as Fauters Abetters Confederates and Adjuters thereunto Thus gets Outrage ever the sharpest edge upon the first advantage And in this distemper of his ill disposed minde he commanded that naught but bread and water should be giuen them For said he where the offence is greater then the service there Iustice changeth the bond of recompence into due punishment During this their faultlesse imprisonment the questing Knights returned with Vienna and the Hospitalious Parson her Host who being brought before the angry Daulphin her enraged Father shee saw the cloud a farre off before the storme fell and therefore prostrating her selfe at his Feete shee required pardon for her offence and prayed that he would not make her sinne deadly which was but veniall pleading ignorance for the Prelate and vnresistable loue for her selfe swearing and assuring him by sacrament of solemne oath and the testimonie of her Host that shee was as honest in her flight as she was in her birth and that her vnspotted thoughts were neuer stayned with any vnchast deed or desire The noble followers of the obdurate Daulphin seeing the Princesse washing her repentance in her owne teares humbly besought him to forget and to forgiue her amisse since the frailty of her offence was rather a sore then a sinne and wounds were to be healed and not hurt This submission strengthened by such generall entreaties somewhat quencht the burning heate of his enflamed â—re And though his severe Iustice told him that not to punish an evill was to allow of an evill yet mercy hee knew pardons them oft that deserues it not and judgement in nature should be next a kin to fauour Vpon this calme construction after many sharpe rebukes and protested threats hee vowed that determinate and inevitable condemnation should punish her next offence and so he pardoned her vpon promise of more regardfull duty Now Sir Paris had not long sojourned in Genoa but that mindfull of his charge he writ to Vienna and enclosed it in another writ to La-nova wherein hee excused his vnkind departure without his priuity and conjured him by the sacred lawes of true amity to attend and follow his Lady in all seruice and fast friendship La-nova glad of such glad tydings went in the height of his joy to Vienna and after some complementall salutes asked her what she would give to heare of her Paris Vienna great with child with the expectation of her friends welfare longed to be delivered with the notice of his health and said that the whole world afforded not sufficient worth to answer her liberall heart therein La-nova joying in
withstand all sinister accidents No sooner was he come into the Sultans sight but that he cheerfully called him and briefly told him that he meant to invade Christendome And that for his approved Prowes and for the love he bare him he meant to grace him with the conducting of his Army and make him Generall over all his forces This said he is our will and this your charge Then see that your performance answer our expectation and that our love be guerdoned with your victories Sirap wounded with these words knew not how to lay a plaister on this sore yet resolved in his Countries good he humbly prostrating himself yeelded all reverend thanks for such his great esteem and gracefull respect But such said he pardon me most victorious and most mightiest of most mightiest Princes is my unpractized knowledge in Marshalling of Troops and ranging of Battels that I should rather eclipse the feared honour of your name by my overthrow then eternize your gotten same by my Conquests Besides know most great Commander that though I be a mortall enemy to the Crosse of Christ and an inherent foe to all Christians yet for some private causes best knowne to my selfe I vowed long since never to tread on Christian ground nor come where any worship that Messias for their God Then let I humbly intreat your Imperiall Majesty some other in worth more worthier supply my defects in their better deserts and bury not your living renown in my so probable ignorance and unexperienced discipline The Su'tan weying the danger of an unpractised Generall allowed the rather his devout objections and considering the religiousnesse of his vowes though he held it superstitious in it self yet would he not violate his consecrated promise but yeelding to his request he made Mustapha Basha his Generall and the preparation for him was so great that the bruit thereof piercing the Western clyme came to the knowledge of the French King who as the greatest Christian Prince assembled his wisest counsellours and noble Peers praying also in ayd of all his allyes and Princely confederates about him to confer and conclude somewhat for the honour and preservation of Christendome Amongst whom the Dolphin of Viennois was there as the sole Solon and onely wisest though too severe a Cato of his Country But such was his over weening conceit such the elevation of his high stirring spirit and such his proud estimation of his allowed wisedome that halled on I know not by what destiny he voluntary offered secretly and Pilgrim like to go to Constantinople there to espy and learn the strength intention course and preparation then intended meant and made for Christendome This being applauded by the whole assembly so tickled the flattering humor of his vain glory the ecclipse of his mature wisedom that poysoned with their praises he sayled to look into the consideration of so doubtfull and threatning an enterprise Pride made him forget both his place and his yeares and Glory would not permit him neither to take counself of Time nor make a provident delay which well shewes that they that are transported with their own desires have no true scope of judgement lest them to looke with perfecâ— eyes into their designes otherwise actions so uncertaine had been better not undertaken then unfortunately hazarded But he ever hasteth to repent that rashly enterpriseth He was most resolute in his determination nothing could dismay him nor no man could disswade him doubt he held to be the bane of all hopefull endeavours and if his fate were certain he said it would profit him little to take heed and if uncertain it would be more then mear foolishnes to fear what he was ignorant of would happen In this resolute resolve he called for the Lord Vran Esperance a man whose care and providence was the life of that State unto his wisedome and trust did he leave the whole government of his Principallity till his returne commanding him upon his allegiance to martiall and manage the whole State as best should stand with Justice Law and equity and that he would neither in pitty duty nor favour such was his perseverant rigour release comfort nor give countenance to the Princesse Vienna otherwise then was by him already censured allowed and accustomed That her obstinate and degenerate disobedience she being a Traytor to true Generation might eternize his un partiall Iustice make her miserable in being an example to others and that his Title and right might in his absence be the better secured by her imprisonment And so taking his leave he privately departed accompanied with none but with Mal Fiance his affected and learned servant After their Land-travell they Shipt themselves and lanched into the Ocean where after some dayes sayling they were by force of wrathfull and sinister winds by the command of Nepâ—une driven into the Egyptian Sea and so cast on the Bay of Alexan Iria where he had not rested full three dayes but that a subtile Mercurian a Merchant of Babilon that then lay in Traffique there observing more heedfully the eminent Mâ— jusâ—â—iy and uncontrolled countenance of the Dolphin supposed therâ—by that he was of no mean Estate His Complexion and attire made him a Christian and his commanding eyes the true image of the mind shewed him to be of an high Spirit This Lynx this Blood-hound to mischief hunted after opportunity to resolve this doubt and by fortune encountred with Mal Fiance in the Market-place whither the Dolphin his Lord had sent him to buy some necessaries Vnto whom in Latine as the most generall Tongue best known to all the politique Merchant gave many kind salutes offering him secretly for the love he bare to Christ and Christians all the best Offices he might perform wishing withall to gaine the more credit not to make himselfe known in so dangerous and impious a place Mal Fiance being better Learned then travelled finding himself so kindly intreated by a stranger returned thanks and joyfully embrac'd his courtesie The Merchant glad that hee understood him requested his acceptance of a cuppe of their Country-Wine which Mal Fiance as one proud of such unexpected friendship in so strange a place and that he had met with one of knowledge to conferre withall willingly assented unto The Marchant having waded thus farre into the depth of his awaked intention thought good to sound the Foord at full by undermining their projects And therefore in the curtesie of their Bacchonizing cups he gave him some few pieces of Gold wishing him to make his wants known with the distresse of his Companion that he might privately relieve them and secretly give them comfort and directions for their more security This false fire the seeming shew of good regard burnt up all Mal Fiances fear of distrust the strength of hot wines consumed all due consideration and the joy he took in finding so good a Christian amongst unbeleeving Infidels made him unadvisedly tell the Merchant who he was whom he seroed and
Sultan was slain instantly did rise and confusedly did run to the Pallace bearing all down before them in such a distract sort that the Turks Guard was glad to shut the Gares against them and to entreat the Sultan to shew himself out of the Casement unto them which so well appeased them that they quietly returned to their houses Then was inquisition made after the knowledge of the Sarazene apparell which was so base that all men wondered not only that he was there but how he came there His mangled body kept him unknown and his mean habit made him no appertenant to the Court. When no notice could be had neither of the one nor of the other the appeased Sultan sent for the Eunuches that attended his Emperess and caused two Mutes to strangle them in his sight After he caused all the dead bodies with the two beds and all their Apparell to be carryed forth of the City and to be burned all together and further gave in charge that the two Chambers should be converted into houses of base use and that no one under pain of death should after speak thereof Now Sirap who during these tempestuous storms lay at anchor in his own private Harbour as one that knew well that great men ever envying the glory and fortune of strangers would in these tumults be ready to stab at the bosome of merit and that Mischief the cursed Captain always of the unruly Commons might in a disturbed uproar indanger his safety hearing now that the sight of the Sultan had allayed the windy Allarum of his rumoured death and that the present murther of the Sultanesse with her Maid and unknown Paramor was the occasion of such disorder rising He grew jealous of the Cause suspicious of the Firour and timorous of his wend fare For though gliarded with innocency yet was he fearfull lest Mentiga had cast some scandalizing aspersion upon his unspoiled honesty In this fearfull doubt he kept himself within himself untill report had further manifested not only the manner of all their Deaths but the ignorance of the Cause This dispierced all Clouds of care and made him a perfect Judge both of the error and the event Then lifting up his erected heart he said O Vienna thy love I see now hath given me a second life and my constant loyalty hath kept me from the grave Instice hath preserved the guiltless and righteousness hath found mercy in judgement Now praised be my God my strong defence For he hath covered me under the wings of his protection and kept me from the death of the wicked He hath cast down lightning and burnt up the Daughters of Babell that I might be safe in their suddain destruction The storm is past and these cloudy occurrants threaten another tempest The Sea cannot be so calm in Summer but that it may swell again with the rage of wrathfull winter There is more wisedom in prerenting then in redressing a mischief Security lives not in tyranny For though the Tyger hide his clawes yet in the end will he shew his Rapine Revenge hath now smoothed the Sultans angry brow and Time hath given some peace to his displeasure The tide serves me and my prophane aboad with the heathen is displeasing to the heavens My captived Lord calls me away and Vienna says I am too slow my mark is set and I levell streight I will comend my aim and therewithall casting off all further deliberation he went to the Court to take his leave of Solimon who seeing him stand upon his departure after some private conference and protestations that he would crown his return with highest honours advancement he vouchsafed graciously to embrace him and so bad him farewell The next morning Sirap having before caused all things to be in readinesse the winds summoning him to Sea he took shipping and sayling by the Islands scituate in part of the Mediteranean Sea he landed at Sidon a Port Town in Syria and there taking Horse he posted through the Country and part of the Desarts of Arabia and so came to Babylon Where we will leave him to look into France and see how Vienna brookes her continued thraldome which was not so grievous unto her as the tormenting suppose of Sir Paris losse Great was her sorrow in fear of him and many her bernoanings for not hearing from him Insomuch that La-nova seeing the increase of her growing cares thus sadly spake unto her Madam these ruthlesse Walls neither melt with your tears nor yet shake nor shrink with your sighes Comfort dwels not in restraint nor lives remedy in Lamentations Though your Father be absent yet hath he left a jealous Keeper You may ever weep and bewayl your estate and ly still in the bed of sorrow If you never seek after redresse you shall over find your self a Prisoner You know the scorer way I made to relieve you If so you please I will convey you through the same to some private place where Metamorphosed we will either hunt in quest after Sir Paris or you shall rest unknown in some Forraign Nation till either my travell shall gain knowledge of his aboad or that the death of the Dolphin shall leave you for your right to the tryell of your friends Then cast off these mortifâ—ing dumps and leave now your sorrow to the Governors as a pawn for your return and let us stand upon our fortunes hope lives in industry and my adventures shall ever wayt on your pleasure This kind offer did move her much but could not remove her at all Liberty she said was sweet to that life that might take the pleasures of this life But to a dejected heart whose banisht content could promise no wished delight there a close prison was better then a glorious Pallace To travail she said to my Paris would be more pleasing then painfull to Vienna but not knowing where he is I might perhaps extravagantly go further from him then I am that aâ—n already further off then I would bâ—â— here for his love was I made a Prisoner and here wil I still rest a Prisoner for his love If he be living and loving here shall I soonest hear from him and if he be neither in Love nor in life here will I end both my Love and life Onely take thanks for thy loving care and kind respect and be still a true friend to Paris that Vienna may ever have comfort in La-nova Upon this conclusion he parted and Isabella strewed the ruslâ—â—es over the private way that gave him entrance But no sooner was it done but that one of the Keepers Gentlemen that seemeel ever most serviceable unto her came in whom the devillish Dolphinis had before fashioned to her purpose for she wrought upon his wants as knowing well that poverty betrayeth vertue and that wealth bewitcheth wit Corruption having made him her creature she had instructed him how to traine Vienna to her destruction for nought but death could satisfie her disdainfull fear Her
malicious and unbounded pride looked into the danger of her Lords return If the Dolphin fell then must Vienna though now a Prisoner be Soveraign This made her heart-burning hate to prosecute her overthrow And though she had no cause to fear her for occasion never yet made her her enemy yet could she not indure to think that she should be subject to another that now was most eminent in her self To have the Regent was all her ambitious desire and nothing did let but Vienna's right To frustrate which she with fulnesse of Gold and promites of preferment had as aforesaid seduced this mettle-minded Servant to deceive and to destroy her by such subtile and obscure meanes as both gave least shew of mistrust and most likelihood of execution And this it was Don Poltron for so was he rightly named bringing Vienna's mornings repast to her with a bemoaning tongue and a sighing heart complained much against Nature and envyed more against Fortune that had made beauty so miserable and vertue so unhappy as to entomb the glory of the one and the efficacy of the other in so unprofitable and so uncomfortable place My eyes said he cannot endure to sec Dignity so disgraced nor can my Eares entertain the killing sound of your laments I must and will leave my service that at length I may be a Stranger to sorrow least my grief foâ— your griefe make â—ny revived woes as great as your grief Vienna liking his generous nature judged by his discreet and relenting discourse that he was well bred and pleasing witty and therefore required him to tell what was his name and where he was born who answered Don Poltron am I called and in Spain was my birth my education was better then my fortune and this my servile Place bears now record of my sinister fate Why said Vienna if thou be infortunate keep still thy station here is a place of woe and thou hast a Princess to associate thee in thy sorrows Hast thou cause to bewail thy mishaps Let us know thy crosses and we will ease thee with our grief For it is a comfort to find a companion in misery Then say Poltron for thy Nature agrees better with us then thy Name and story to us the life of thy Fortune that we may also recreate our mind by listening to thy griefs Poltron having pleased her with this sugered Bayt cast out his hidden Hook and told her that he was a rich Merchants Son in Spain left so well Treasured that he swayed the world aâ— will untill imperious Love made him of a free Lord a Bond slave to Molloflora Unto her said he I sued long for obtained grace which had I held my self more fortunately happy then Paris did in the fruition of his Love Paris said Vienna what Paris Paris said he of Troy that enjoyed the Beauty of Greece and made his Pleasure a Plague to his Country But in the height of my joyes and hope of highest happiness Death deprived me of my Paradised Bliss and not only made my broken heart the sad habitation of woe but also turned my mind which before was a Kingdom to me into a Hell of tormenting thoughts The place of my birth grew by her loss so hatefull to me that I was necessitated to forgo the ground that yielded me no other Harvest but grief In brief for better portage I turned all my Substance into Jewels of estimate and travelled to Naples where I spent more of my wealth then I did of my woes Thâ—n Repentance made me leave that wastfull Nation and so I came unfortunately into France Thus he drew on her attention with a faigned tale that he might without all suspition and with better gain of belief give more fewell to her desire for his further betraying discourse And to blind all jealous thoughts he purposely seemed by his abrupt end to be unwilling to proceed further But Vienna whose crossed affection delighted to hear of semblable fortunes would needs know what other mishaps waited on his lost love Alas Madame said Poltron the small remainder of my broken state I brought with me into France to maintein the length of my days but in my passage I was set on by four Theeves that stript me of all I had and wounded me sore and would no doubt have taken my life but that by chance there came by a poor Hermite who seeing their violence without all dread of their number or fear of his own feebleness cast off his peacefull Gown and drawing out a hidden sword out of his staffe he so fiercely assaulted them that in the end he slew three of them whilest the fourth run away with the prey the danger of my wounds made him then as far to surmount himself in pitty as he had excelled the other in valour And in the tenderness of his relenting mind he brought me to his Cell where on a bed of moss he laid me and binding up my wounds with a piece of his shirt for other linnens he had none he afterwards applyed the juyce of hearbs so oft unto them that they healed and I began to grow strong With him had I continued still but that during the stay of my recovery I could not endure to see this good Chyrurgion and noble minded Hermite that had so well preserved and cherished me sit so oft sighing and many times exclaiming against unjust rigour unnaturall injustice that half distraught he would often confusedly say Doth the Sea nourish a more cruell fish then the Dolphin Is not Vienna the fairest City of the world And lived there ever a more unfortunate man then Paris Then would he bewayl destroyed Troy and blame Love that fired Illion and by and by curse that wretched Knight that overthrew so fair a Creature and so glorious a City Then would he sit in a dolefull dump and after suddainly start up as one affrighted and accuse his offending tongue of treachery for wronging the divine name of love since he was so highly beloved as his mean fortune merited not the glory thereof But leaving him with my Prayers both to his Cave and to his Cell after many thanks I left that wofull and worthy Hermit and came to Viennois where necessity compelled me to seek this service And this most vertuous Princesse is the Map of my misery and so he seemed to end before he had begun that the Fish might bite the more eagerly when the bayt was pulled away But oh said Vienna for now she had swallowed the hidden and hurtfull hook didst thou not perceive the cause of his so secret and so great a grief Yes Noble Lady said Poltron Time and Occasion gave me meanes to know the same then good Poltron let me intreat thee she said to relate the full discourse thereof For such subjects of woe best fitteth wofull minds and causes of dolor and calamity are ever most pleasing to perplexed persons Poltron thus halled on to set the trap that should ensnare her
indebted unto his own desires to do him all further possible service This interchange of kindnesses gave contentment to them both and was most pleasing to the Dolphin who yet fed so on his fresh feeling happinesse that he gave in charge that all his Subjects should honour Sirap as himself and hold his will as the will of their Lord For so he said is your Lords will that next to the Lord of Hoasts holds his life and living of him Then told he them how and with what hazard of his life he had redeemed him from most base bondage and cruell death How he had left many Heathen honours to honour him then greatly dishonoured and how he had protected him at Sea from danger of Pyrats and lastly established him in his Regalty in despight of his foes And therefore many and sundry were the Tryumphs that now were ordained for him but more then many were the severall thoughts that afflicted his doubtfull mind Vienna he thought had cause to condemne him since affection ever thinkes all times of stay too long that hangs on desert Lainova he knew would rebuke him for violating the sacred lawes of friendship in his concealement and his reverend Father might well question his breach of love and duty that so refused to shew himself a son One while he was ready to embrace Lainova another time to run to Vienna and by and by he was ready prest to fal on his knees to Sir Jaques Now did he pitty distressed Vienna who in all these alterations was neither moved nor removed Then did he fear her liberty since her Father had no feeling of her calamity Thus dubiously perplexed in mind he sadly sate unregarding regarding the continuing and maintaining justs untill the Dolphin judging of his stormy thoughts by his clouded countenance thus awaked him by his interpreter What think'st said he my best worthy friend of our French Knights and how stands our Court sports with your liking Sirap whose Martiall mind was now mollify'd with milder and calmer thoughts by his man thus answered As Knights of of good regard I regard your Knights and as noble befitting sports I commend your Heroicall pastimes All doth well and well doth it stand with your Highnesse that hath Knights that can do so well But the justs being ended the Dolphin that had read his discontentment in the deep characters of his face for the countenance oft shewes the affects and passions of the heart took him by the hand and privately led him into a fair tapistred gallery hanged with most artificiall pictures of greatest Monarchs where he thus againe assayed to find the cause of his disturbance Let not said he any doubt dismay my lifes preserver nor let any remembrance of your last and lost honours work in you any repenting humour since Viennues Dolphin is both willing and ready both to accomplish your demand and to honour you with all Dginities What pleaseth Sirap pleaseth the Dolphin and nothing shall content the Dolphin but what shall well like Sirap Then ask my Lord and be Lord of your asking Sirap thus kindly intreated and encouraged lowly humbled himself and by Bonfoy thus replyed Know most renowned and thrice worthy Prince that doubtfull suspition harbours not in noble hearts nor think I once of honours change Your covenanted promise exiles that doubt and the effect of my request is the honour that best will please my mind Then let me shew and shewing crave both what troubleth your servant and what he now in all humility demands for his conditioned gift not affecting honours the worlds fading glory nor coveting riches mans pleasing evill but seeking contentment in loves felicity I aske claime and require your daughter my Lord for my wife and a wife for my reward The renown of her attractive vertues and the vertue of her moving perfections hath by report so captivated my freest thoughts since my comming to Viennois that wondring at her Fame I am wounded with Fancy and my desire is to see and applaud her excellencies Then let it not seem strange unto you that unseen perfections have thus wrought unknown passions since the ear is as well subject to conceit as the eye is pliant to affection The Dolphin whose unnaturall and impenitrable heart felt no longer remorce of her endured misery then whilest hee was himself in misery and who was no sooner free but that he freed his remorced thoughts from all thought of remorce In so much that looking neither after her imprisonment nor his own posterity he in his ever over awfulnesse shewed himself now rather an unrelenting Tyrant then a chastising Father But now thus urged by Sirap whose warranted demand and highest deserts might well challenge an absolute grant he herein still discontented thus contented Sirap Nothing I see right noble valiant and most meritorious Moore seemeth worse to love then to preferre any thing before it selfe For cloathe Desire in plates of burnish'd Gold and Desire will shiver all for colde and fill affections purse with treasure and fancy wanting contentment will starve for hunger so that nothing can satisfie Love but love Your deserts might well have challenged my Principallity for your due my Dignities for your right and all my treasure for your own But all these I see suffice not because they satisfie not And to ask you why is to ask one half pyned why he is hungry You love my Lord you love but whom my daughter yea that is my grief Not that you love her unworthy your love but that I cannot give you her more then worthy her For such I swear by the eternall and my all-preserving God hath been and yet is the undutifulll and most obstinate will of my too disobedient and degenerate daughter that never yet nor yet ever could I or shall I I fear perswade intreat or enforce her to consent to any in royall rank worth or Majesty suitable to herself For many times many powerfull Princes that sued for her favour she hath both carelesly disrespected and scornfully refused And as many times many times hath she therein my will disobeyed and contemned Not regarding her renown shining in their glory Nor respecting my contentment nor progeny eclipsed both in her neglect of me and in her afforded favour to her far inferiours which caused me in justice to punish her hatefull disobedience with imprisonment and yet in nature to bewail her imprisonment though enforced by Justice Where I left her there so you please may you find her a prisoner to her will that will not yet submit her self to my will and therefore by my will worthily chastised without offence to nature For where nature offendeth law there law may justly be executed on Nature Assay her most worthy of all worth and put in ballance your fortune with your fancy and if your hap may drown her favor you shall redouble the smal remainder of my aged dayes and well satisfie the justice of my displeasure with the honour of your desired
allots thy Father wills and I thy friend request Vienna thus charged could not tell how to discharge her self of him but by having a recourse to her wonted and hidden policy And therfore uncloathing her Ivory breasts she all sighing said Alas Sir Knight thy commendable demeanor and Princely worth well merits favour and thy inticing tongue is sufficient to intrap a well-advised mind and a far more stayeder conceit But know most noble and most magnificent Moor that I am far worse then I seem and much better then I would be For behold she bared her breasts that he might behold the untimely corruption of my blasted beauty look on the loathsome fruit of my long and grievous imprisonment and but feel O feel not the filthy scent of my ulcered and rotting body and then tell me whether I am not rather to be loathed then loved sled from then followed Sirap astonished at her words but beyond all amazement danted with the smell neer fainted thereat such was his insufferable sorrow for her that he curst himself for her And yet such was the constancy of his never dying love that encouraging himself the better to cheer her up he with a joyfull countenance said Be it Madam so or worse then so or what so you will it shall not matter I rest wholly yours if for yours you will accept of me that am none but yours For know most constant and my endeared Lady that Paris if Paris be not forgotten pleadeth now in person for himself and here offereth his life and service for your love In confirmation whereof see here the happy seal of your love and the sole comfort of my absence the loyall and unvaluable Ring your Highness gave me when first being perused by your Fathers Knights I departed from you like a hungry Infant pulled from his Nurses breast or a thirsty Hart chased from a sweet Fountain Then then in the pride of your perfections you paradiz'd me in the heaven of your love and now in the decay of your glory will I wed my everliving constancy to your never dying loyalty Look nay look not on me so strangely my black hue is but an artificiall vizour and my borrowed countenance but the assurance of my safety Vienna not able on the suddain to entertain so great a joy shrunk down deprived of her vitall spirits but chafed revived and enabled by Izabella she with tears of joy distilling down here heeks sadly said Ah Paris Paris thy love made me a contented prisoner but thy long absence hath made my prison a tormenting hell But now O happy now thy thrice happy return makes my prison seem a Paradise and my hell a most glorious heaven with that falling on his brest and enclosing him within her fainting arms she often redoubled her double doubled kisses Paris being likewise surprized with fulness of joy lost himself in her armes but being acquitted of that extasie he payd her large interest for her kindnesse pleaded sorrow for her martirdome and meer necessity for his absence Cease Paris she sayd my Paris surcease these needlesse excuses of faultlesse injurie since to over fortifie innocency is to breed suspition There is none but I that have if offended offended As first in being cause of thy exile then of thy dangerous travells and now in rejecting thy love but impute the first two to my Fathers severity not to my love and the last of my ignorance not to my inconstancy For proof whereof see here here shewed she the Capons legs the triall of my truth which but in pollicy I used in all extremities to wirhstand importunate Suters and all only to love none but thee earst the sole hope of my life but now the only life of my soul Thus pleaded she to please him and thus it pleased him to praise her and both of them still joying in that they enjoyed each other Then turning to Izabella he kist her many times and vowed that out of his best fortunes he would be thankfull to her for her love to him but especially for her comfort to Vienna And taking them both by the hands he told them how and by what means the Dolphin her Father had freely and absolutely given her to him And therefore he requested them to conceal their knowledge of him and to go along with him for that he meant to have her father to deliver her to him all which they both so willingly and cheerfully did that the Gent. attendiag his leisure no little marvelled to see him lead them so familiarly by the hands and so pleasantly talking with Vienna in a privat manner But when they were come before the Dolphin Paris for now is Sirap turned again to returned Paris holding her by the hand humbly requested in the presence of his daughter and Barons to ratifie his vowed gift Which the Dolphâ—n both misliking and admiring demanded of her whether her liking and consent stood to that black irreligious Moor that had so often refused so many Potent Lords and most accomplished Princes To which she in all reverence praying pardon said That the black smeared Smith was most pleasing to the Queen of beauty That that constant colour unfadable in it self well argued constancy in the person That his barbarous nature was hoth reclaimed and refined by his more civill education and that his Religion would easily be conformable to their profession But howsoever it sufficeth that I love him and love yeelds no reason of choise nor hath any respect of persons His blind deity blinds our fancies and fancy lives not in deserr but in desire We love altogether by liking not for honours and our will connot command our affections that are not in our powers Then vouchsafe my Soveraign Lord and most gracious Father of my destinied desire and admit of his well-merited demand and let me with your free consent enjoy him for my Husband that hath so well purchased me for his Wife so shall you honour your selfe in doing him right reward his services enworthy your posterity and repair my decayed glory The Dolphin seeing that it wrs but in vaine to resist Celestiall influence preordinate by Providence divine and that he could neither in honour nor conscience infringe his obliging Oath nor reject his pleading and glorious worth shewed a vertue in necessity and freely gave and delivered her unto him Now Paris being thus possest of his desire cast off his artificiall mask and lowly on his knees shewed and presented himself the humble and thankfull servant of his Lord. The Dolphin finding himself thus deceived by him that happily deceived the Soldan and his Keepers for him could not but commend his loyall love and love him for his saving service His superlative valour and unvaluable vertue shewed that his great fortunes were but Ministers to his will And therefore he cheerfully said In France was I honoured by Paris In Babylon unthralled by Sirap And at home both I my Country and People were protected by the Knight