therefore first tell me how my Lady Piera fareth Noble Duke said I she is in good health and in great prosperity I rejoyce thereat quoth he though I haue otherwise euerlasting cause to sorrow For our Soueraigne Lord the King after he had put the Armenians to flight was very desirous vpon some occasion as yet vnknowne to leaue the Court in his absence committing the Government thereof to my vnhappy selfe and that noble Knight Thrureus which we performed with great quiet vntill Duke Oretus one that was neuer true to the State hearing of the Kings departure which we could by no meanes conceale raised a false report that we had murthered the King Which rumour moued the Common people to such disquiet that they began to Rebell Which he perceiuing ayming thereby to winne the Crowne gathered a great multitude of them together with pretence of revenge against vs which when we heard of with all the hast wée could possible we Mustered men for our defence but so eager were the multitude to our destruction together with Oretus his perswasions that before we were any way able to resist them they set vpon vs and shed a great number of their owne Countrey mens blood that stood in our defence and draue vs to immure our selues within the City The King of Armenia hearing of this Rebellion with great spéed brought a mighty great Army into this Land destroying all that came in his way burning both Townes and Cities and destroying the common people with an excéeding great Slaughter Which came to Oretus hearing with such terror that he presently fled and left his Confederate Rebels to be destroyed by the Enemy Which caused vs by a Herauld to demand whether they would submit themselues to vs or no Or by their treason to sée their Countries ruine With that they yeelded and we gathered all the Forces we could to resist the enemies with whom we fought thrée great Battels and in the same lost aboue thirty thousand Assyrians being driuen to flight This day againe gathering head to resist them but being too few in number in respect of their strength and multitude you sée how our bodies be scattered vpon the Earth mangled and cut in pieces My selfe being I thinke the last that liueth to tell this newes For the Noble Thrureus is already slaine whose déeds of Valour would containe a great volume Which newes when our King shall heare it will no doubt cut off his vertuous life with sorrow My greatest griefe being that I cannot heare of his safety before my death My Lord said I our gracious King is liuing and in good health in Persia who sent me vnto your Honour and Thrureus with a secret Message which I néed not now vnfold Yes good Pisor quoth he let me heare my Lords Message that I may thereby know whether I were still in his fauour or no. With that I vnfolded the cause of my comming Which heard such a passion of discontent ouercame his vitall spirits that with many bitter groanes he gaue vp the ghost When I saw there was no meanes for his recovery I departed to enquire what slaughter the Enemy had made who by that time the day was ended had vanquished the Assyrian forces taking the City and most of the Nobility Prisoners I stayed some foure dayes hiding me secretly to bring you certaine Newes which is this The King of Armenia compelled the Noblemen to sweare Allegeance vnto Palyon his eldest Sonne whom he hath crowned King in Assyria and left a mighty Army for his defence When I vnderstood this I returned to certifie your Highnesse thereof CHAP. VII How Persicles hearing the newes by Pisor hee departed into a solitary place and thereby caused the unfortunate separation between him and Constantia who in great sorrow wandring to seeke him was found by Helyon and carried into Arabia And of the many sorrowes Persicles endured for her absence How Pisor became franticke PErsicles his heart was ouercome with such sorrow to heare Pisors heauy Newes that he had much adoe to containe himselfe from extreame madnesse that he minded a while to withdraw himselfe to vtter his plaints in those solitary walks but séeing Pisor follow him he desired him to returne to the â—hepheards house and in no case to acquaint Constantia with these misfortunes But if she asked for him he should tell her he would come presently Pisor being departed he sought for the most vnfrequented â—lace of the Wood wandring long in that discontent but could find none agréeable to his mind neither knowing whether he went nor almost what â—e intended his sences being dulled with such passionate vexation continuing so long therein that he spent longer time in seeking out a place of rest then he was aware off which turned to his greater vâ—rest as afterwards it fell out For Constantia marvelling that he stayed so long and withall noting Pisors darkened countenance supposed some ill newes was the cause of both finding occasion fit thought to find her Loue in the midst of his dumps and with her amiable presence to comfort him stole from the Cottage into the Wood where Pisor told her that he had left him Where shée wandred vp and downe a great while not finding him which made her marvell sometimes callâ—ng him but not by his right name least any should heare her and finding that meanes to prevaile nothing she began to enter into many doubtfull thoughts sometimes calling his Loyalty in question then againe reproving her fancies for entring into suspition of him then thinking some ill newes was befalne in Assyria which might driue him into a carelesse desperation and also fearing thaâ— some of the Persian Knights had met with him and finding some likelyhood of suspition in him had carryed him to the King her Father These Meditations possest her mind so long and wrought such a terrour in her fancies that she fared like one that had beene possest with the truth that it was so Thus did they both continue most part of that day she seeking him and he opprest with care not remembring that it was time to returne home yet both of them directing their steps a contrary way that they met not but wandred a way from one another At last he began to remember where he was how long he had béene absent and what care she would take for his absence which caused him with as much spéed to hast backe as with carelesnesse he had wandred vp and down which before he could atâ—ain it grew to be towards Night Pisor likewise marvelling at his long stay and at Constantiaes sudden departure fearing that some ill might betide him and some extraordinary care oppresse her left the Cottage to find him and if he could méet her to direct her to the place where he left him When Persicles found them both absent he maruelled thereat enquiring of the old Woman when they departed who told him that Constantia went first out and he after her Which made him thinke
that she missing him so long might go to séeke him and Pisor followed her thinking to direct her least she should wander astray as shée might well doe in those vnfrequented places But when he had a long time continued in those dumps and saw neither of them returne hée began to enter into many misdoubts such as procéed from the vnquiet motions of distempered thoughts being fearefull to depart thence againe least he might so misse them Pisor being entred the Wood came to the place where he had left Persicles but could neither finde him there nor Constantia which made him wander vp and downe so long that he was weary At last comming to a shady place and laying himselfe downe to rest casting vp his eyes espyed most beautifull fruit vpon a Trée hanging right over his head The sight whereof pleased him so well that plucking some of the same he found the taste pleasant which caused him to eate many of them which made him presently to fall into a deadly sléepe The name of the Fruit is called Pilos the nature whereof is to procure those that taste thereof first to sléepe without a waking for the space of foure and twenty houres and after to become Franticke for the space of thrée Moneths which hindred Pisor from returning When Persicles had stayed so long expecting their returne vnâ—ill it began to be darke hée againe went out telling the Shepheard that he was going to séeke them cruell Fortune directing his â—teps directly to the place whereas Pisor lay sléeping whom he beâ—eld and neither by calling nor by any other meanes could awake â—im a deadly feare possest his Fancy that some furious Beast had â—laine him and either deuoured Constantia or pursued her flying â—rom him Which caused him like a Franticke man to draw foorth â—isors Sword running vp and downe to séeke that which was not here to be found Constantia by this time was wandred so farre in search of Perâ—â—cles that shée could by no meanes tell which way to returne aâ—aine but she was constrained all that night to wander vp and down â—ith hope to haue returned But contrary to her thought going a quite contrary way her feare and care causing her to make the more speed that being wearied with trauell comming to the out-side of the Wood she sate downe vpon a Bancke and there after she had bewailed her miserable estate and wearied her sences with sorrow as she had her body with trauell she fell asléepe Now it so fell out that Helyon the day before had taken his leaue of the King of Persia to trauell into Arabia and that Night lay at Seliaes Fathers causing her to be attyred in rich Ornaments that morning carried her with him into Arabia intending there to make her his Bride and by misfortune past by the place where Constantia lay fast asléepe some of his followers soone espyed her and â—hewed her to Helyon Selia likewise séeing her presently told Helyon that her Apparell was either the same which Constantiaes Gentlewoman tooke from her in the Persian Court or so like it that she could not know one from the other Helyon himselfe rode to her and awaked her by his former disposition and her Countenance which was still in his remembrance perfectly knowing her She likewise at the very first sight knowing him which amated her sences with deadly feare To whom he said My deare Constantia what hath caused you thus discourteously to reject my Loue and leaue the Persian Court to endure this hard Fortune so much disagréeing to your estate Yet at length I beséech you accept of my Loue and goe with me into Arabia Leaue off your dissembling speeches quoth Constantia and let me alone for I had rather all my life lye on this cold Earth then liue in all ease with you With that she would haue left him but he commanded his Seruants to take her by force into the Coach and so carry her along with him into Arabia not letting any know what she was but onely his Selia When Constantia saw that of force she must néeds goe she vttered such plaints and made such sorrowfull exclamations that those which guarded her thought she would haue fallen mad though neither knowing her nor her cause of sorrow yet inwardly in their hearts pittying her Whom we will leaue fully possest with the vttermost extremity of anguish onwards towards Arabia the place she most of all loathed to speake of Persicles who in a mad fury hauing runne vp and downe a great while in the Wood againe returned into the Shepheards house sée if Constantia were not yet returned but there he found onely the Shepheard and his Wife in great care awayting his returne who espying the Sword in his hand and his face and hands in many places bloudy which was with the scratches he had receiued in the darke Wood were ready to run from him for feare but he mildly demaunded if Constantia were yet come backe who told him they saw her not Alas qd he poore Lady I feare she is deuoured by some mercilesse Beast For I found Pisor lying dead in the Wood Which affrighteth me with such feare of her mishap that I know not what to doe nor which way to goe in her search My Lord said the old Shepheard I can assure you there doth no Wild Beast haunâ—â—â— is Wood for then could not my flockes féede in quiet of which I haue not lost one Lambe by any casualtie but rather I thinke my Lady missing you all the day is wandred so farre into the Wood that she cannot returne nor you find her whom I doe not doubt but to finde in the Morning neither is he dead but I belieue hath tasted some of our vnlucky fruit called Pylos that hath cast him into a dead sléepe and after that he will be Franticke for a certaine space Persicles was wonderfully comforted with the Shepheards spéeches yet notwithstanding leaving him and all that Night wandring vp and downe the Wood to finde her but he spent his labour in vaine neither that night nor the next day finding her which draue him so farre beyond the compasse of naturall continency that if hée remained long in that extreame perplexity it would cut off his life When hée saw himselfe voyd of all hope without meanes how to finde her and assurance that she was not within the Wood he layde him downe vpon the earth vttering these laments How fortunate had I béene had I never set foote in the Persian soyle then had I still bin King of Assyria Constantia in quiet in her Fathers Court whereas now both I but especially her selfe are fallen into extreame misery Had it onely fallen to my share to haue endured a thousand more misfortunes I could with patience haue endured them onely this tormenteth mée that my misfortune hath brought her from Weale to wee from quiet to discontent from pleasure to paine from happinesse to misery and from life to death I cannot tell how to
were in the Court of the King my Father in Persia. My heart said she rejoyceth to heare your kind spéeches vowing to imploy my life and all my being to be at your command Then they departed into the Pallace with purpose not to tarry there but instantly to leaue the same but comming into the outer Court hée remembred that he had heard the voyces of men that lay in misery his heart willing to succour them desiring her not to be offended if he had made â—ome stay to release them out of Bondage which hée might soone doe when there was none to resist them She willingly consented and he in little search found the Keyes that opened the Entrance into the Prison leaving Constantia in place of security for that he would not trouble her Sences with the smell of the Prison being entred he found a great number there inclosed many of them in such poore and distressed estate that his heart lamented to behold so fast as he could pulling of their Fetters at last he beheld Helyon though to him vnknowne whose flesh séemed to be incorporate with the Earth whereon he lay from whence he could not rise vntill hée was holpen who now knew the Enchantment to be finished repenting himselfe of the folly he had committed when he had set them at liberty and they were come out into the cleare light they with one assent yéelded him thanks vowing themselues his perpetuall boundeâ— friends Constantia likewise séeing them wept with griefe that so many should be endangered to set her at liberty They all proffered their Service vnto her but she desiring not to be knowne of any in courteous sort refused the same reposing her whole confidence in the Knight of the Oracle who presenting according to her desire left the Pallace and without the Bridge found his owne Stéed grasing in company of others that had lost their Riders amongst them hée tooke thrée on which he mounted Constantia and her two Damzels hasting to travell so farre as the dayes length would permit from the Pallace Lodging that Night in a Village some sixe Miles distant from the same The Knights that were released séeing them departed likewise betooke themselues to travell except Helyon who was so Féeble that he could not travell CHAP. XXIX How the Knight of the Oracle departed with Constantia How they arrived at Delatus Castle and how she knew him to be her Sonne FOr Constantia found such courteous behaviour and kind assistance in the Knight that she remained in great quiet but noting his countenance she perceived the same to be darkned with some misty Cloudes of discontent which she supposed to be for the losse of Philoâ—heta but yet she concealed her opinion from him wherein she jumpt right on his affirmity for his heart was pincht with such care for her losse and safety that it could endure no quiet But in the Morning when they should depart they began to consider which way they should travell or whether they should stay to heare of Persicles there or goe directly into Assyria Amongst many doubts they agréed to travell directly into Assyria where he told Constantia they should assuredly find him for that the time of the appointed méeting of him and the King of Armenia drew nigh after many dayes travell they came to the place where he remembred he first saw Philotheta and parted from Persicles which he revealed not to Constantia as vnwilling to make her priuy to his Loue yet he purposed in his Iourney to visit Amphiador hoping to find her there and comming to the Castle he was welcommed thither by Delatus that was againe restored to his Dukedome Sir said the Knight of the Oracle I had thought this had béene Amphiadors Castle Amphiador did possesse it but indéed the right was mine and though I haue no acquaintance with you yet I beséech you accept such entertainment as it yéeldeth and if not longer yet for this night that I may know whom I have Lodged and you have some knowledge of my affection vnto They both noting with what hearty affection he spake being weary with travell alighted to rest themselues being kindly welcommed by him and Alsala After Supper Delatus began these Spéeches Worthy Knight should I rehearse the whole circumstance of my misfortune and Amphiadors wickednesse I should both trouble you with the tediousnesse and renue my owne sorrowes onely this he wrought meanes to depriue me of this Dukedome and caused Penthrasus to Enchant me in the Desart with purpose I should never returne yet he favouring me bound me there no longer then Constantia should remaine Inchanted in the Tower built by Helyon Prince of Arabia revealing vnto me many Secrets that I will hereafter discover Not many dayes since I found my selfe fréed from this Bondage whereby he knew that the Enchantment was finished The same day the Enchantresse Jla favouring Amphiador séeing the date of her power grew to an end came to this Castle and with her brought Philotheta not his but my Daughter declaring to him my release with whom hée is fled carrying Philotheta with them but whether I knew not Which I feare me will turne to her great sorrow for his mind is so apt to cruelty and mischiefe that he careth not to act any villany to satisfie his owne mind I rehearse this vnto you though I know it concernes you not yet to let you vnderstand that by finishing the Enchantment I was released Which Ila knowing gaue him knowledge of and that is the cause of his flight and also I intreat you to grant me one favour That is to let me know whether your Name be not Constantia for my mind giveth me you are the same I am said she that most vnfortunate Creature and by this Knights noble Valour was I set at liberty to whom am I most infinitely bound My heart said Delatus rejoyceth that I ever had cause to doe you any courtesie and that it was my good fortune to sée you in this place having long wished for your Releasement not onely for mine owne good but for that Noble King Persicles sake who was with me in the Desart where I lived inthralled since his comming into Arabia who with earnest resolution determined to spend the date of his life in your search From which I disswaded him and by my directions he returned into Assyria for the Sequell of your Releasement was revealed vnto me by Penthrasus himselfe Which none could atchieue but your owne Sonns which is this Noble Knight Nay said he doubt not of this for what he revealed and I haue published is true though it râ—steth not in my knowledge to â—ilate the circumstance thereof They both wondred at his spéechâ—s and the Knight of the Oracle said Can I be more fortunate or heare better Newes or receiue any comfort that can comfort my heart more then this O Heavens grant that my joyfull hope may not be frustrated but that I may bée assured I am discended of such
likely to endure by her malice and his cruelty Palia having heard her Spéeches Reverenced her comforted her and promised her with many Vowes and Protestations to fulfill her desire thereby to worke some revenge against the Quéene In her heart pittying the distresse of Constantia of whose Vertues she had before times some knowledge With this Promise did Constantia somewhat comfort her selfe hoping yet in the end to escape from that Bondage being daily cherished by old Palia who behaued her selfe towards Selia with such duty and obedience notwithstanding her often vpbraydings that she still kept her selfe in most place of credit about her The day being now come that the Quéene was delivered of a goodly Boy and Constantia the next Night of another none being priuy thereto but Palia who handled the matter with such cunning that she conveyed Constantiaes Child to Selia and hers to Constantia making her acquainted with her intent therein The next day declaring to Helyon how that the Damzell in her custody was deliuered of a Boy Helyon hearing that willing her to kéepe the same secret from any vpon paine of death Not so much as once to reueale it to the Quéene vowing ere many dayes to destroy it Giuing Order to haue his owne Christened naming him Perus And comming to the Quéene told her it were best to be Nursed in the Countrey who was contented to be ruled by him Then calling to him Palia he told her that shée must needs provide a Nurse for his Sonne who already hauing complotted what she intended told him that she knew a kins-woman of hers that was lately brought to Bed some twenty miles off in the Countrey to whom she would if it liked him conuey the Infant Helyon was glad of her promise appointing her all things fit for her departure the next morning Late in the Evening when Palia was sure none could sée her shée went to Constantia telling her what she had intended Withall asking her counsell what hée should doe Aye me quoth Constantia I know not in this extremity what to resolue vpon fearing never to see my Sonne againe and if thou goest I loose my greatest comfort Then taking the Chiloc in her armes and bestowing many Teare-wet kisses thereon she said Palia I pray thee let me know what thou intendest to doe with it Lady quoth she if you perswade me not to the contrary after I am departed this Court I will never leaue trauelling vntill I arriue in Assyria where I doe not doubt but to find Persicles vnto whom I will declare your misfortunes But if I finde him not there I will then Trauell into Persia to the place where you lost him where I shall then assuredly find him that he knowing your estate may seeke to release you And wilt thou doe this for in said Constantia that am neuer likely to make thée amends I will qd Palia and with such faithfulnesse execute the charge I vndertake as shall turne to thy everlasting quiet Many speeches past betwixt them before they parted but yet in the end shee was constrained to leaue Constantia almost dead with griefe but afterwards somewhat comforted with the good hope she had of her faithfull dealing Of two evils thinking it the best to commit the Babe to her custody who by all likelyhoods intended well thereto Early the next Morning Palia departed hauing none in her Company with all the hast she could trauelling towards Assyria Helyon now beganne to meditate on Constantiaes Fortune and who should be the Father of her Childe and whereas before he determined to penne her vp in that Cloyster vntill she would yéeld to his desire he now resolued to revenge the disdaine she had showne in refusing his Loue with all Cruelty that finding occasion when none could interrupt his spéeches being alone with her in her chamber he thus sayd Disdainefull and discourteous Lady did you estéeme so basely of my Loue in my contempt to choose some base-borne Peasant to possesse that which I long sought with such deuoted affection and refusing my Honorable proffer to chuse rather to become anothers Harlot Who would euer haue thought thy comely person shadowed with so faire a pretext had inwardly nourished such ignoble affections Doe you thinke the King of Persia will rejoyce to heare that his faire Daughter Constantia that may well be termed Incontinency hath so vildly stained her Princely blood and defamed her Royall stocke with so infamous a fact or not rather dye with griefe Therefore to prevent so great a mischiefe as will come by his death I will be the meane to kéep thy fact from comming to his knowledge and in his behalfe worke such Revenge as shall be agréeable to so great an offence Yet let me know the cause of thy contempt against mée and who is the Father of thy bastard Which if thou refusest to doe by gentle meanes to vnfold I will by force compell thée thereunto Constantia with Patience heard out his spéeches and with as great Patience answered him Helyon I can well beare your Opprobrious spéeches neyther will I impugne how scandalous they are For the Father of this Infant is as good as your selfe and him I Loue farre more honourable and vertuous then Helyon King of Arabia who ensureth me according to the quality of his owne disposition The reason I left my Fathers Court was to avoyd your importunate suite which was vnpleasing to me in respect of the honorable Loue I imbraced therefore beware you abuse not Constantia For though the King of Persia will not revenge my wrongs yet there is a King as mighty as hée claymeth my possession and will not suffer me to be injured What is a King the Father of that Bastard qd he No thou shalt never perswade mée to that for it looketh not like a King but is the perfect Image of a Foole. Yea said Constantia and yet a King as wise as thy selfe and that ere long thou shalt know for the Father thereof is priuy to all thy Actions although thou thinkest me safely kept And if thou doest murther it I care not for thy selfe will be the first that shall repent the déed And for me vse me well for the Father of this Child loueth thée well and yet thou wilt be thine owne destruction in séeking his death Helyon vnderstood not her meaning maruelling who it should be she meant that he sayd I thinke thou art madde or counterfeytest some deceyt by the ambiguity of thy spéeches for how can the Father of that Brat loue me Or what cause should there be to make me repent any thing that I should doe to it Which the rather shall suffer my wrath because of thy derisions Therefore resolue me or be assured of my euerlasting hatred I neither said she regard thée nor thy hate vtterly denying to fulfill thy request in any respect Yet if thou hadst not demanded it I would peraduenture haue told it thée Doe the worst thou canst I care not for misery it selfe
those two Cities was so large a Valley of Plaines that the faire prospects of both the Cities lay open to each others view in the midst of this Valley were the Royall Tents of Persia and Mâ—cedonia pitcht and about them a number of Tents of gallant Knights that came to beare them company the Cities were both of them Fortified with Garrisons of Souldiers to prevent all occasions of injury that might be offered on either party The Emperour of Macedonia likewise brought with him his thrée Sons Mentus Drurus and Thetus his Empresse his faire Daughter Sabina in whose company were the choice Ladies of Macedonia And such Troopes of valiant Knights that all the Valley was filled with their Tents and Pavilions Persicles trusting to the assurance Delarus had given him of Constantiaes release caused all the beautifull Damzels in Assyria to be brought before him electing out of them a hundred for whom he caused most costly attires of White to be prepared and delivered to each of them He caused also a most stately Pavilion to be erected in the view of all the rest of such costly and curious worke that all that beheld it admired the rare Workemanship thereof Over the Doore of this Pauilion were these Verses written in Letters of Gold Honour Valour and Vertue guard this place Where Harbour is for all that those embrace An absent Knight of honoured Gifts and Fame Shall bee their Host Montelyon is his Name Heere boldly enter repose and feed For Love to him made Persicles doe this deed Who so he bee can tell where hee remaines Shall have a principall gift to quite his paines Persicles intent in doing this was that whatsoever Stranger came that had not good Provision of his owne should there find Entertainment in Honour of Montelyon in whose memoriall he had built the same as a remembrance of his Loue and Favour His intent being to draw all strangere thither by whose report hoping hée might heare some Newes of his beloved Friend Montelyon Travell within few dayes had brought the Knight of the Oracle and his Company into Assyria where they met with an Assyrian of whom the Knight of the Oracle demanded whose Tents were those they beheld He declared so much as hée knew Where may we haue Lodging said he Not within a City answered the Assyrian for thither are none permitted to come without examination But in the middest among those Tents there is one Pavilion the most beautifullest that ever Eye beheld built in remembrance of the Noble Knight Montelyon that fréed our Country from the Armenians oppression in which place all that are strangers and without provision of their owne haue Entertainment in his remembrance Wilt thou direct vs thither said he and I will reward thée I will said he When they were come thither according to the Assyrians report they were honourably entertained and Lodged in such sort as themselues desired And for that it was very late every one departed to their place of rest remitting conference vntill the next Morning Earely in the Morning the Knight of the Oracle Arming himselfe mounted his Stéed and rode vp and downe vntill it was Noone to behold the Tents and beautifull Scituation of those two Cities and some Tilts Turneys that were performed by certain Knights Returning at Noone to conferre with Constantia his Mother about the discovery of them to Persicles Persicles hearing that many strangers were in Montelyons Pavilion that day he disguised himselfe into the habit of one of his owne men onely to view them and to sée whether his Servants vsed them so honourably as he intented they should And comming into the roome where Constantia the Knight of the Oracle Delatus and Alsala was at the first sight he knew Delatus and Montelyon which was called the Knight of the Oracle and viewing well Constantia he likewise at the first sight knew her Then did he immediately beléeue that the Knight of the Oracle had released her which was Montelyon which Delatus told him should be finished by his owne Sonne These joyes concurring fil'd vp his Sences with such delight that he was inforced to withdraw himselfe from being discovered which at that time he would not be Altering his disguise againe and without further deliberation hée went to the King of Persiaes Tent and finding him in a convenient place he vttered these kind words Most renowned King the Friendship and helpe I haue received by your favour without any merit of mine owne hath made me most infinitely bound to your Excellency yet neverthelesse I must request one further favour at your hands which you may with more safety grant then deny and thereby also make me and your selfe happy My loving Friend said he whatsoever it be I will not deny it you I make the more doubt said he because I haue heard you vow the contrary and yet should you performe that vow it would procure you much discontent A rash vow said hée may be broken and therefore let me know your request and it may be I will dispence therewith My desire is you would pardon Constantia your Daughter and remit the offence committed by her and him that caused her to leaue the Persian Court. Why my Lord said he doe you know where she is First I beséech you grant my request and then I will reveale vnto you all that I know For your sake said he I will fréely accept her into my favour Then I most humbly thanke you said he both for her and my selfe For it was my most vnhappy selfe that was the cause of her departure but since that time I haue not séene her vntill this day For going to the Pavillion which is named by Montelyon this day I espyed her there in company of Montelyon which is called Knight of the Oracle The King of Persia rejoyced to heare that Newes which pleased him so well that he could not choose but reveale it to the Empresse who was ready to runne foorth of her Tent to sée her The Emperâ—â—r and Empresse with a goodly Traine accompanied by Persicles who had sent for the hundred Damzels and most of the Péeres of Assyria to welcome Constantia with great royalty went to Montelyons Pavilion the Emperour and Empresse going before and he comming after that when their gréetings were past he might haue the more liberty to embrace Constantia They entring the roome where Constantia was conferring with Montelyon knew her and she them and falling prostrate on her knées before them whilest they welcommed her with such kindnesse as if they had never conceived offence against her Whilest they welcommed the Knight of the Oracle Persicles embraced Constantia each wéeping for Ioy. Oh God said Persicles never was I blest whilest this good happy houre after so much sorrow to enjoy such pleasure Montelyons approach brake of his Spéech who knéeled before him Nay my déere Friend said Persicles knéele not for I am not worthy to be so honoured My Lord said
falsehood I sée my Children lye dead before my face How should I then be contented By Heaven I sweare I will revenge this villany King of Macedonia said Persicles I defie thée for accusing me or mine of any dishonour and thou shalt sée and find this Accusation is false why else are thy Sonnes here disguised with my enemy Palian by whose complot this mischiefe was pretended against my Sonne though the punishment lighted vpon themselues CHAP. XXXVI Of the griefe Philotheta endured for this misfortune How she was taken and carried to the Armenian Hoste Of Raleaes misfortune And the Message she delivered to the Knight of the Oracle PHilotheta séeing how vnfortunately all things fell out withdrew her selfe out of sight and in bitter exclaimes lamented her hard fortune but most of all that she was the cause of Montelyons comming thither which had so néere endangered his life Therefore she shrowded her selfe vntill it was night which being come she travelled further into the Country and there by selling a Iewell and good fortune not being discryed she altered her old habit into her right forme staying certaine dayes in a Village some sixe miles distant from the City of Pisos in the house of an ancient Lady named Ralea to whom she related her misfortunes procured by Amphiador concealing her Loue to Montelyon which she durst not commit to her serresie This Ralea being a woman of great wisedome vsed Philotheta wondrous kindly promising in words and her déeds shewing it that if shée would stay with her shée would as dearely tender her as her owne Daughter whom she caused continually to accompany Philotheta She rejoyced at this good Fortune and being alone she vttered these spéeches Praxentia thée onely may I accuse for this misery for whom I vndertooke a taske which my heart even then abhorred and now repent not so much inteâ—nding to procure thée that thou desiredst as to satisfie my owne disquiet Sences by the same means having drawne the most loyall Knight into danger of his life whose blood thou didst séeke to spill else wouldst thou not so dishonourable and fasly haue accused him The consideration of which stratageme drew such a flood of teares from her eyes that she could not stop their passage Which Ralea espying demanded the cause thereof but séeing Philotheta make no reply she said Philotheta I pitty your estate and would gladly know the cause that I might vse my indeavour to comfort you Philotheta trusting to vertue disclosed to her the loue he bare to Montelyon and all that passed betwixt her and Praxentia as is before rehearsed Ralea thereby noting her beauty commended the same promising her that if with patience she would quiet her selfe some few dayes she would vse all meanes possible to comfort her Montelyon having recovered his wounds gathered together a mighty host and brought them vnto the City of Pisos whither were assembled the choice Souldiers Noblemen Knights and Gentlemen of Persia to fight in their Emperours behalfe who entrencht themselues without the City The King of Macedonia and Armenia likewise had gathered togetheâ— so mighty an Army as might haue béene thought able to make a Conquest of the World who pitched their Tents about the City in Armenia where â—he King of Macedonia and Armenia lay Montelyons heart was fixed with desire to driue backe those foes not staying to giue them leaue to make the first challenge but humbling himselfe vpon his knée before the Emperour and his Father vttered these spéeches Most mighty Emperour and my Noble Father I haue already I hope satisfied you of my innocency being trained by some subtilty to my intended death by Praxentia and her brethren but for that mine honour hath béene blemished by that infamous accusation and the common people rest vnsatisfied and my Foes vnrevenged I humbly craue you licence that I may send destance to my false accusers and by challenge acquite my selfe which am constrained thus hastily to desire for that my heart will abide extreame torture vntill it be finished The Emperour rejoycing at his forwardnesse and séeing Persicles willing to haue it so gaue his consent Which done Montelyon left them and arming himselfe in an Armour of white which he had caused to be made of purpose that no man should know him rode into the field betwixt both Campes and by a Herald sent deffence into the Campe of the Armenians King of Armenia theâ—e is a Knight whom you may behold in the field that hath sent dâ—stance to all the Knights in this Army especially to Palian whom he accuseth to bée a most disloyall and dishonourable Knight not worthy to be named a Knight that he most falsly sought to betray Montelyons Life and withall he offereth by combate to proue against all Knights that Montelyon is a Knight both Honourable and vertuous and that Praxentiaes accusation is most false and vntrue This message was no sooner delivered but thousands of Knights made sute to combat him first but Palian to whom it principally belonged to defend his owne honour desired his Fathers consent and obtained it presently Arming himselfe and gallantly mounted rode into the field to him Montelyon desirous of revenge and his heart inwardly tormented with griefe met Palian with a furious encounter he answering him with the like breaking their Lances with great comelinesse then drawing their Swords began the combat which was soone ended for within few blowes Montelyons Sword burst that hee was enforced to close with Palian with such force wrinking his Sword from him and with the puâ—mell thereof striking him so violently on the head that he bruised his head and overthrew him every one thinking he had béene dead Which was no sooner done but Mensus eldest Son to the King of Macedonia being ready armed greeted Montelyon with these words Knight thou hast vndertaken a tedious taske to combate all the Knights in this Campe yet I hope thou shalt never doe that for my selfe will abate thy courage If they were as many more quoth Montelyon I â—eare not all if thou commest to combat me hold thy tongue and be stirre thy hands for I will haue about witâ— thée With that they gaue each other many cruâ—ll blowes and received some wounds till Montelyon againe overe arging his Sword with his vnmeasurable strength brake the same which so vexed him that he rusht vpon Meâ—sus to haue closed but he knowing his intent avoided him and before he could turne about gaue him some bloâ—es which pierced so his Armour and flesh the bloud ranne downe Montelyon hauing the hilt of his broken Sword still in his hand flung the same with such violence that lighting short on Mensus Horse head strookâ— him downe dead his master having much adoe to get from him without harme whilest Mensus was mounting himselfe on a fresh Stéed Montelyons Squire had brought him the Sword that was given him by the Hesperian Nymphes which when he grasped he said Had I armed my selfe with thée my Foes had felt
thy life shall not satisfie the dishonour thou hast done vs. With that he drew his Sword and he starting from his bed to reach his to defend himselfe in which time the K. of Armenia catching hold on her as she lay drew her forth into the floore where beholding her he was then much more enraged being ready to kill her but that the King of Macedonia prevented him who likewise séeing her stood as one amased whilest she hasted to apparell her selfe and ran from thence vnto the Pallace The King of Armenia vowing revenge went from the Macedonian Tent and presently caused his Drum to strike vp Alarum and commanded his Souldiers to destroy the Macedonians who according to his command suddenly set vpon them that there began an excéeding slaughter amongst them The Emperor having newes thereof supposing the cause had béen for the losse of Philotheta commanded two of his knights to goe vnto either of them and desire them to be pacified vntill they had discovered their griefes to him which he could easily remedy if not he would become a friend to one of them The messengers found them both together in single combat and delivered their Message but it was long before either of them would goe to him yet at last they went both To whom Delfurno said My Lords I beléeue your strife ariseth from the losse of Philotheta if that be the cause contend no longer for as you were both willing I should enjoy her so I haue this night had possession of her life being lawfully married vnto her at Barnards Cell The King of Armenia what with rage and jealousie not well knowing what he did drew the Curtaines and discovered their viewes the Quéene of Macedonia who séeing her Honour so betrayed lay quits bereft of sence but comming againe to her selfe she cryed out for pardon alleadging she was betrayed but there was now no time of parley for all of them were enraged and as well Delfurno as the rest betooke themselues to Armes But the Quéene of Macedonia humbling her selfe at her husbands féet Said Both you my selfe and all of vs are deceived Honorius yesternight declared vnto me that you intended privily to carry Philotheta from hence I requested him to counsell me how to prevent you whereupon he told me that you had appointed to méet with him and her at Barnards Cell and for his Passe he had received your Signet which at my earnest intreaty he delivered me I thinking to surprize you there came thither where the Emperour as I now perceiue met me whom I tooke to be your selfe and he taking me to be Philotheta that went to Bernards Cell I still concealed my selfe thinking I had not offended but now I sée I am betrayed Lady qd he I willingly pardon this fault having committed the same with the Quéen of Armenia and in the same manner deceived by Honorius The Emperor hearing that sent a Messenger to sée if Philotheta were in the Court but he returned newes that both she and Honorius were not to be found The Emperor then said that knight hath dereived vs all therfore let vs be friends Contented qd the King of Macedonia By heaven qd the King of Armenia I will not beare this dishonour but be revenged to the full and cause thâ—e to repent that ever thou sufferedst such dishonour to Armenia The King of Macedonia could not brooke his words but in a rage made this reply I know quoth he thou art a tyrant and regardest not the lawes humain nor divine as may be séen by the vnjust title thou layest to the Crowne of Assyria which is forged and were it not to revenge my Daughters dishonour and Sons death I would not haue offered armes against that worthy King Therefore since thou art so peremptory doe thy worst for I regard thée not The King of Armenia went from thence setting vpon the Macedonians And the King of Macedonia forsooke his Tents to defend himselfe The Emperor presently commanded his Forces to march forth of the City CHAP. XLVI How the Knight of the Oracle and Persicles suddenly issuing out destroyed the whole Armenian Hoast MOntelyon knowing that some stratageme would follow his last nights policy after he had submitted himselfe to his Parents the Emperor he armed himselfe in the armour which was given him by the Hesperian Nymshs presently mounted himselfe leading his sixty thousand Souldiers forth of the City which likewise he performed before the Emperor or Persicles heard therof who at last being certified sent for him to know the cause this night qd he shall we surprize our Enemies who are now together by the cares within themselues Persicles thereupon armed himselfe and Deloratus Pisor Cothanes and many other Knights of great estéeme marching thither wards where they heard such cruell alarums as though the City had béen vtterly destroyed And being come néere the City they beheld the Emperour in the field to whom Persicles sent a Herald to certifie him that Persicles was never foe to the Almaigns and therefore sent to know if Delfurno had any quarrell against him Delfurno returned answer that he was never foe to Persicles Montelyon was the first that entred the City and set vpon his enemies with such fury that many of them lost their liues and the day being light discovered such a cruell slaughter as eye hath not beheld The King of Armenia and Macedonia were then in cruell combat together betwixt whom Montelyon stept saying Striue not to destroy one another but defend yâ—ur selues for I am come to doe that They knowing him to be the Knight of the Oracle were so amazed as if they had béene surprized with a sudden trance running seuerall wayes to call backe theirSouldiers from destroying one another to defend themselues but before they could set themselues in any good order the Assyrians were so intermingled amongst them that before they were aware they lost their liues Palian séeing themselues so overtaken perceived it was in vaine to striue for victory stole forth of the City to Delfurno intreating him not to forsake them but he knowing disadvantage had seized on them refused letting him returne without comfort and entring into the City he found his father grievously wounded and ready to yéeld to Montelyons sword at whom he ran with such fury that he wounded him in the thigh Montelyon séeing that and knowing him let driue at him with great courage and continued combat against him whilest the King of Armenia began to withdraw himselfe Montelyon séeing that strooke so forcible a blow at Palian that he astonisht him and with that overtooke the King at the first blow cutting in sunder his wrist which had lost his Gantlet and at the next thrusting his sword quite through his body Palian by this recovered himselfe and looking about â—im beheld his fathers tragedy ayming himselfe to revenge Montelyâ—â— séeing him comming welcommed him with so cruell a blow that his â—â—mour flew in pieces Palian would haue done the like had
the Nobles and Knights that came to the Solemnization of the Wedding were departed except Prince Helyon sonne to the King of Arabia The occasion of whose stay was to craue Constantia in marriage assuring himselfe of her Loue by reason of the familiarity that was betwixt them in her fathers Court which indéed by her former kindnesse he might be in some assurance off though not by any promise she had made him which motion hée made to the King of Persia who estéeming so honourably of him regarding his Birth and most of all desiring to be allyed to the Arabian King gaue his consent which was fully concluded and agréed vpon before it came to Constantiaes knowledge Prince Helyon having his assurance with a merry heart sought out Constantia entending to reveale the same to her and according to his wonted kind of Familiarity began to gréet her In whom he found such an alteration that he wondred thereat saying My deare Constantia this vnexpected vnkindnesse in you whom I estéeme as my most chosen Friend maketh me admire whereas I had thought to haue enjoyed your loue without interruption Vpon confidence of your courtesie I haue moved your Fathers consent to our Marriage who hath yéelded thereto then I beséech you darken not both your and my joyes with these Misty clouds of care which will fill my heart with sorrow but rather increase your kindnesse to both mine and your comfort Constantia's countenance bewrayed the angry motions of her heart incensed by his spéeches that we had much adoe to withhold her eyes from shedding teares yet with a colour as red as Scarlet she gaue him this answer Prince Helyon if that be true which you tell me I cannot chuse but wonder at your folly that would without assurance of my Loue make such a motion thinke you my affections are to be limitted according to your disposition For my part I disclayme such interest and renounce such Affection for I never intended any such matter nor ever did you demand the same Then my Lord be you satisfied for this for I never yet did nor will giue my consent Helyon hearing her answere was nipt on the head being strooke with such griefe that he could not tell what to say But at last replyed Constantia I confesse I haue done you wrong in adventuring so farre without your consent but yet for that I haue not thereby either dishonoured your Name or otherwise injured you I humbly craue pardon desiring you to ratifie that which I haue by your former courtesies assured my selfe of and let not my overboldnesse alienate any part of your good will For you know my affections haue remained inviolable constant many yeares and I haue attended your liking with such feruency as you may be resolutely assured of my truth Then I beséech you be not now displeased with mée but according to your wonted kindnesse accept me into your favour My Lord replyed she I cannot deny but that your good will hath excéeded my deserts for which I thanke you and withall that I haue alwayes estéemed you which likewise I would haue done still But now that opinion is altered neither can I be induced to conceiue well of him that would doe me such manifest injury as you haue done Therefore I pray be contented with that fauour you haue had for my affections are otherwise employed and my heart vtterly disagréeing to the motion you haue made With that shée espyed Piera in the Garden comming towards her to whom she went downe saluting her most kindly Piera thought now to haue delivered her Persicles Letter but by reason that there were divers in their company she could not then performe it After a while they left each other Piera returning to her Chamber and Constantia into a secret place of the Garden where she vttered these meditations What contrarious disquiets are these possesse the center of my heart what inconveniences am I like to run into and how shall I avoyd blame for the one and reape content by the other How vnkindly hath Prince Helyon vsed me to make this motion to my Father whose disposition must not be crost without hazard of much disquiet My kindnesse to him hath caused his over-fond conceit of himselfe and brought me into much trouble I could haue loved him before I came to the sight of Persicles whose guifts are so farre excéeding his that whereas my heart loved him the thought of that Loue is now most grievous Wherein I may doe my selfe great wrong for in hope of his affection I refuse Helyons loue which may depriue me of both purchase my Fathers heavy displeasure and my owne perpetuall discontent Reuoluing a Chaos of these and such like confused cogitations which overcame her sences with their ambiguity in a heavy and discontented vaine she went to her Chamber thinking there to consider of every particular at the full where we found Piera all alone staying her comming in who soone espyed that Constantia had wept whereupon she tooke occasion to say as followeth My beloved Sister I am sorry to sée you in this heavy and sadde vaine alwayes finding you either sad or wéeping which maketh me wonder and desiâ—ous to know the cause as one willing in any sort to counsell you and comfort you with my vttermost assistance I haue of purpose entred your Chamber to haue some conference with you in priuate being a Messenger sent to you by my Brother Persicles who I know loveth you dearely who by me humbly commendeth himselfe vnto you being sorry that his sudden departure was such that he could not before his going doe you that Service you doe deserue and he desired Withall he desired me to deliver you this Letter which he left behind to testifie the depth of his affection which at my request vouchsafe to read and withall credit for I know his honourable heart endureth much care by his absence Constantia without making reply received the letter and read the same which when she had done she said Deare Sister I thanke you for taking this paines to come to me and not rather to haue sent for me that rest at your command And also I thanke that worthy King Persicles that he will vouchsafe mée such vndeserved favour as to estéeme well of my vnworthinesse to whom I am bound in all honorable respect but how vnfit I am to entertain loue your selfe would judge if you knew my estate which vpon assurance of your secrecy I will vnfold Prince Helion of Arabia vainely presuming he was assured of my favour hath asked my Fathers consent to a marriage betwixt him and me which he hath granted vnto which the heavens can testifie is vtterly disagréeing to my heart and altogether without my consent which he shall never attaine what danger soever I incurre thereby Which if Persicles should vnderstand would soone alter his mind Therefore it is best for his quiet not to place his affections on me so vnworthy but let me alone to endure the
affliction that is likely to ensue I know qd Piera my Brothers Loue is so constant that nothing can alter the same which he related to me at large which maketh me testifie y◠assurance thereof Which would you but accept of or giue me some comfortable hope in his absence I should think my selfe bound to you for ever and to haue done him an excéeding pleasure for nothing but the happy tidings of your favour can comfort him The King of Persia will not compell you to marry Helion when he vnderstandeth that you are otherwise bent for that were cruelty And I think Helion himselfe beareth not so dishonourable a mind as to séeke your Loue by constraint for that were inhumanity But would you yéeld to like of my Brothers loue that is every way as good as y◠Prince of Arabia the knowledge thereof would soon make him returne to aske your fathers consent which may peradenture stand as well affected to him as to Prince Helyon Ay me go Constantia sister I néed not doubt to reveale my greatest secrets to you that I know for Persicles sake will conceale them I confesse without further circumstances that I loue that worthy King Persicles which is the cause of these disquiets neither did my fancy ever yéeld the least conceit of liking Helyons loue which I tooke to be rather grounded upon common familiarity then pretence of Marriage Therefore now that you are assured of that which you request I beséech you not to conceiue amisse of my rash confession nor estéeme my loue light because of so short continuance for it shall be immoueable but rather comfort my poore disquieted heart with your counsell how to avoyd these inconveniences And if that worthy King be so affected towards me as your spéeches and his Letter here affirmeth I would wish his returne might be spéedy otherwise my sorrowes will be endlesse For I know my Fathers nature to be such that whatsoever he will haue must be performed though equity would perswade the contrary Grieue not so much quoth Piera with premeditated conceit of feare which peradventure shall never come to passe I will presently send messengers vnto my Brother which shall carry such newes as will comfort his heart and cause spéedy returne in the meane time I will make Deloratus acquainted with Helyons practise not Persicles Loue who shall perswade the King all that may be not to consent to marry you against your minde Be then of good comfort and in assurance of Persicles Loyalty let no feare disquiet your sences or impaire your health For things now at the worst may haue a good end These spéeches ended they parted All this while Prince Helion was meditating how to hasten the Marriage but most of all to find the cause of Constantias discontent which he thought was aggravated against him by some good conceit we had lately entertained of some other then himselfe which made him prosecute the same with more feruency and dealt so effectually with the King that he swore Constantia should be ruled by him And thereupon the next day sent for her to whom he said Daughter I thinke it is not vnknown to you that I haue promised you in Marriage to Prince Helyon one that is every way worthy to match with you both for Noblenesse of Birth vertuous qualities and comelinesse of person Withall I am given to vnderstand that you like not our choice nor estéeme our command which if you neglect you shall not onely displease me but also loose my favour for ever For as you are mine I purpose to dispose of you but if you refuse my counsell refuse me too for I will not regard a disobedient child The manifold reasons I could alleadge that perswade me to the confirmation of this Contract are of such waight as I might séeme carelesse of your welfare and your selfe enuious of your owne good to deny them therefore let me know your answer Constantia well knew that if she denyed hée would be offended and his froward nature to be so much disposed to wrath that before she could speake she shooke with feare yet resolution so hazard the worst humbling her selfe vpon her knée she made this answer My reverend duty to you most loving Father perswadeth my consent to fulfill your command though my Loue bindeth me to the contrary that I stand perplext twixt two extreames the one fearing to offend you the other to procure my everlasting discontent for in refusing to doe according to your will I shall incurre your indignation and in performing the same my everlasting sorrow For as yet my heart could never yéeld to loue that worthy Prince who farre too worthy to be matcht with me Most humbly beséeching you to consider that inforced Loue never bringeth content but disquiet which with Helyon will be my portion Therefore I beséech you reuoke your determination Is it even so quoth he shall my command be countervaild by your péevish conceit Is this the regard you giue to my good will Are you wiser then I Or are you willing to displease mée Shall my will stand at your direction Is this the duty you owe to your Father or feare you no more to offend me Haue I so carefully brought you vp and tenderly regarded you for this Henceforth never come in my sight for I will not estéeme thée as a Child but as a bastard and withall I vow that if thou dost not yéeld to marry him vse him kindly and apply thy devotions to his liking I will vse thée in such sort that all Persia shall lament thy case Having given her this bitter reproofe he departed leaving her wéeping the fountaines of her precious eyes dry wringing her hands and like one in a dead trance overcome with griefe cast vpon the Earth The first that entred the roome was Helyon who séeing her in that agony tooke her by the hand to haue raised her from the earth but she refusing his help vttered these spéeches Vntill this time I alwayes estéemed honourably of you but now my good opinion is altered for that you onely séeke my torment my Father hath given me charge to Marry with you which I must against my heart fulfill but be assured never to possesse my Loue for that I haue bequeathed another onely my outward parts may be yours but my inward affections shall continually estéeme you as the onely occasioner of my endlesse miseries With that shée rose vp from the ground giving him neither better words nor other kind behaviour but left him standing still as one astonisht Piera made Constantia's estate knowne to Deloratus who so farre as he durst perswaded her Father not to constraine her to marry the Prince but such wilfulnesse possest him that the more they intreated him the more contrarious he was and therefore appointed the day for the Marriage to be within two moneths And in the mean time doubting the King of Arabiaes consent he sent his Ambassadors to that effect Piera hearing this presently sent
hath made me so resolute to endure the greatest extremity And know that I so much the more dislike this Babe because it is like thée that hath no sparke of honour or honesty in thée Aske me no more questions for I will not answer thereto estéeming my selfe more fortunate in thy hatred then thy friendship for the one is but the distemperate motion of a Cowardly disposition and the other the inconstant falshood of a shallow-Wit Helyon was much vexed to sée how lightly she estéemed him that almost ready to teare his haire he went raging and swearing from her meditating which way to worke hiâ— Revenge Selia noting his distemperature by his pale Countenance asked him what had disquieted him To whom he gaue no answer at all casting a scornefull looke towards her which she tooke in such suspitious sort that she presently supposed he did it in scorne of her and her heart being puft vp full of Iealousie could not detaine it selfe from bursting forth into Teares and then into these spéeches My Lord I now perceiue the Loue you protested to beare mée is altered and I like a poore Cast away like to liue in misery would to God I had still liued in my contented estate in Persia then should I not haue béene subject to these misfortunes Constantia whom you tolâ—e me loved you not is she that hath stolne away your Affection and on her you dote despising me wherein you shew the inconstancy of your variable disposition besides she hath disclosed what I am and that maketh me be scorned and despised of the Ladies of this Court that the misery I am like to endure is intollerable Doe not said he disquiet your selfe with the least suppose of such alteration in me for by Heaven I vow I love none but your selfe the cause of my vexation is how to revenge my selfe on Constantia that euen now hath vsed me with approbrious termes Besides she is brought to Bed of a Bastard begotten of some base-borne Peasant which shall not liue long to vexe me I would I had left her in Persia so haue béene deuoured by wilde beasts rather then pittying her for to worke my selfe this disquiet Should I send word to the King of Persia he would compell me to marry her or else bring open Warre against my Kingdome or if I should séeke her death the knowledge thereof would by some meanes come to his hearing and then would he séeke revenge against me that in this extremity I know not which way to ridde my selfe from her Selia hearing him say she had a Bastard presently beganne to suspect it was his which she would then haue vttered but that feare and premeditated hope of revenge against Constantia withheld her thinking first to learne the truth before she would offend him perceiving his inconstant disposition to be such that the least thing altered his Loue deferring the same vntill her Moneth was ended by which meanes Constantia rested voyd of disturbance The flame of envious suspition burnt so furiously in her brest that as soone as she had forsaken the Monastery and had a while with all kindnesse behaued her selfe towards the Nobles and Ladyes of most estimation thereby to insinuate into their good opinion she came to Constantia fawning vpon her with an affable countenance and vsing many spéeches of curtesie towards her with intent to lift out the truth of her suspition Helyon hearing that she was in the Monastery fearing shée would haue done Constantia some violence followed her and found her in quiet conference with her Selia séeing him there was halfe astonished supposing he had not knowne thereof and withall now of a truth suspecting that he came to visit Constantia of Loue and not to séeke her againe burst foorth into teares whereon he tooke occasion to say Selia I perceiue suspition is the cause of your disquiet Therefore so shew what little cause you haue to vse me so doe but say what I shall doe to this dishonourable Lady and I will performe it Constantia then began to feare some mischiefe was neare her which might easily haue béen perceiued by the oft change of her countenance who made this reply Helyon if thy Quéene knew how much I disdained thee such motions of suspect for me would not disquiet her For I contemne the base dispositions which is ready to alter with the â—last of euery inconstant winde Or Selia doest thou thinke that my minde will stoope to his base lust or become Concubine to so degenerate a wretch and to thy Husband No I will rather sée thy body forne into péeces and suffer the cruellest misery in the World he threatned me with terrible spéeches but his Cowards heart is not of courage to execute his detested will Therefore thou that peradventure art of a more hardy and inhumane disposition commest to encourage him to mischiefe doe the worst you can both for I feare you not but would gladly be ridde out of this miserable life And ridde thou shalt soone be said Selia notwithstanding thy counterfeit dissimulation thinking with disdainfull spéeches to colour thy wickednesse I am indéed come to be revenged on thée that crossest my content and first shall that Bastard féele the smart of my wrath then catching the Child out of the cradle where it lay she held the same by the Héeles in the one hand and the knife in the other ready to depriue it of life vntill Helyon withheld her and Constantia sayd Nay Let her murther it and let herselfe be the first that will repent it yet first view it well and sée if it resemble not the Father that standeth by I assure thée it is his and that thou shalt soone know Out vpon thée said Helyon I defie thée With that Selia viewed it well and perceived that it resembled him perfectly wherewith she cast the same on the Earth saying Did you bring me hither to doe me this intollerable wrong Shall I suffer my selfe to be thus abused and liue to endure perpetuall discontent The Péers of this Land shall vnderstand the wrongs I sustaine and if none else mine owne hands shall worke revenge Constantia then said Selia take vp the Infant and cherish it for it is thine owne My child by this time is conveyed farre enough from thy power by Palia who pittying my distresse and scorning to be subject to the base Pride hath enterchanged one for the other leaving thine with me and carrying my Infant into Assyria vnto the King Persicles who is Father thereof who I doe not doubt will soone revenge the wrong is done to me Neither doe thou jealously suspect me for that degenerate K. thy Husband for she that is Daughter to the King of Persia scorneth to be thy Corriuall if I had dealt vnfaithfully with him then might he worthily haue inflicted this punishment vpon mée but his owne Conscience knoweth I alwayes refused to yéeld to loue him my Loue being before vowed to the King of Assyria Both of them were amazed at her
Charme vpon them that they presently followed him vnto the Castle which he afterwards named Penthrasus Pallace by his Charmes and Spells binding them to kéepe the first entrance of the Bridge and by his Sorceries guarding every entrance in such strong sort as it was impossible to be overcome When he had performed every thing according to his minde hée brought thither his Wife named Ila determined to spend the rest of his life there Within few yeares he fell sicke and by his Art found the date of his life to be nigh an end Whereupon he went vnto the Oracle of the Hesperian Nymphs in the Desart which he was stricktly enjoyned vnto by a Vision which he saw in his sléepe to know what he should determine as concerning those charme she had set vpon the Castle Whose answer was this Penthrasus because by thine Art thou hast not attempted any wickes Action and to disclose the Destinies many a Knight of sundry strange Countries shall heare of the beauty of Constantia and shall come to try their Adventures to set her at Liberty but yet none shall performe it neyther shall it be Revealed that shée is Daughter to the King of Persia vntill shée be released by the valour of her owne Sonne The manner and meanes how is as yet hidden and vnrevealed vntill which time Ila shall liue and by our Directions governe the Castle vntill the Enchantments be ended Penthrasus having received his Answer returned home and within few dayes dyed Thus was Constantia enclosed enjoying all the Delights her heart could desire but nothing could comfort her but the Remembrance of Persicles for whose absence she liued in continuall sorrow Helyon kept that which he had done concerning Constantia from the knowledge of Selia determining never to see her againe but within short time such discord beganne betwixt him and Selia that by meanes thereof the whole Court was in an vprore and he found such disquiet with her that then he began to hate her abandon her company and beganne excéedingly to dote with remembrance of Constantia repenting him of the evill he had done her and resoluing againe to set her at Liberty or else to obtaine of Penthrasus to liue for ever with her in the Castle and by extraordinary meanes to attaine her Loue. And vpon a time he rode thither determining to haue a sight of her Where when he came he found the Gate at yâ— entrance of the Bridge fast shut and nothing but a horne hanging thereat fastned to a Chaine which he Winded and with that one of the Giants came forth with whose sight he stood affrighted till he asked him what he sought I would said Helyon speake with Penthrasus With that the Gyant had him come in and shutting fast the Entrance brought him before Ila who presently knew him saying I know the cause of thy comming which thou shalt never obtaine For which disloyall thought and other ignoble déeds thou shalt never depart from hence vntill the Lady thou causedst to be inclosed here be set at Liberty With that not suffering him to reply she caused him to be bound and carryed into a darke Dungeon where he was hardly Dyeted and worse intreated Ila hauing him in her custody knowing that none else was priuy to Constantiaes being there caused these Verses to be written in Letters of Gold and hung ouer the outtermost Gate and by the same Constantiaes Picture whereon she had cast such a Spell that all that beheld it were in Loue with it The Verses were these Within this Castle is inclos'd The Daughter of a King Whose Beauty caus'd a Traytor fell Her from her Countrey bring Here must she bide vntill a Knight By Sword doth set her Free And by his valour end the date Of crooked Destinie The World shall Fame him for that deede And great shall be his gaine Her lasting Loue shall he enjoy That rids her out of paine When Ila had written these Verses and placed them vnder the picture she withdrew her selfe into the Castle staying the comming of the first Knight for the Adventure CHAP. X. What befell to Palia how she was devoured by Wilde Beasts How the young Infant was found by a Lady who cherished him and afterwards named him Montâ—lion NOw returned wée to speake of Palia and what befell to the Infant After she had trauelled out of Arabia resoluing with a faithâ—ull heart to execute what she had vndertaken and attained to the bounds of Assyria shée soone vnderstood those evill Newes of the Armenians victorie whereby she was assured it would be in vaine to séeke Persicles there and therefore she returned towards Persia intending to follow Constantiaes directions to find him but being wearied with continuall travelling she sat herselfe downe vpon a Mountaine standing in a vaste and Desolate place on the top whereof grew a tuft of Trées that shadowed her from the heate of the Sunne where she had not long rested but the Boy fell fast asleepe and she being very hungry began to séeke for Fruit no other foode being there to be gotten leaving him vpon the Mount Palia wandring into the Thicket by misfortune was deuoures of a Lyon and so the poore Infant left ready to be destroyed but the Destenies that had alotted him to better fortune thus preserued him Not farre off their dwelt an ancient Knight named Cothanes who with his Lady the same day had beene Hunting and now she being weary of the sport with two servants in her company chanced to alight at the very place where the Babe lay who by that time awaked and missing his Nurse began to cry The Lady hearing the noyse searched among the Trées and presently found the Child which she tooke vp in her armes commanding one of her servants to take vp a bundle of cloathes that lay by the same and to 〈◊〉 his Horne that Cothanes hearing it might come vnto them Who according to her desire came asking what was the matter You haue said she all this day Hunted after Wild beasts and lost your labour but I haue found a richer Prize yet by what misfortune left in this place I know not With that they both viewed the Child well noting his excéeding beauty and swéet countenance with great joy carrying him home by the way naming him Montelyon finding in the fardell many rich Iewels and a faire Embroydered Scarffe whereby they knew him to be of no meane Birth educating him carefully and after he was come to knowledge teaching him many commendable and vertuous qualities When he came to the age of fourtéene yeares Cothanes taught him how to Ride and manage a Horse taking him forth with him many times on Hunting delighting wonderfull in his forwardnesse Wherein he shewed such aptnesse that he could not offer to teach him any thing but he soone grew to be as perfect therein as himselfe Whom we will leaue to be Educated by Cothanes and returne to speake of Persicles and what befell to him after the losse of
Army with exceeding losse was discomfited EArely the next morning Deloratus Persicles Cothanes and all the rest of the chiefe Commanders of the Persian Army were assembled who gaue order that euery battell should be planted in such sort as if they expected a present assault which being performed Montelion in great triumph was brought into the field and by Persicles inuested with the order of Knight-hood which when he had received the Souldiers gaue such shoutes as made the ayre resound with their Ecchoes The Armenians hearing the noise could not judge what might be the cause thereof some censuring one thing some another Palian fretting with excéeding vexation at the last dayes discomâ—iture which went the néerest his heart for that in all the time of warres he had not endured the like called vnto him the chiefest Knights in his Campe which were Althesus Golgron Mulatus and Lamdelyon Knights of Honourable birth great wisedome and appointed valour vttering to them his hearts griefe and his earnest desire of revenge desiring them with all spéed to counsell him which way to suppresse the Persians courage onely reuiued with the ayde the strange Knight had brought them Amongst whom it was agréed and generally held best to surprize them at vnawares in the middest of their joy that with all spéed and as spéedily as might be they detained their Forces and without the noyse of either Drum or Fife issued the City gates Certaine Persian Spyes perceiving their intent posted to the Camp and certified their Generall thereof who gaue commandement that without making any kind of suspition they should continue their mirth so that thereby the Armenians might be heartned to their owne dustruction Montelyon with a company of Horsemen departed out of their Campe a contrary way to that the Armenians came with intent to get betwixt them and the City which afterwards sorted to effect The Armenians thinking to make a sudden slaughter of them and nothing at all suspecting their readinesse to receiue them with carelesse hast approached the Campe with gréedy desire of conquest running vpon their Enemies Whom they found in such orderly sort ready to welcome them that within an houres space they wisht themselves againe within the City Walls To recite every particular of their Conflict and with what terror the battell continued would dull my wits with confusion Principally my pen shall barely recite the admirable déeds of the most honourable of both Armies Persicles considering what just cause he had and with what equity he might challenge his right wrongfully detained vp his vsurping Foe bent his Sword point with the vnrelenting Fury to the destruction of his Enemies pittying their deaths who dyed by his Sword ayming the same rather at Palians owne heart then against them that were by constraint enforced to hazard their dearest liues Which when he had coloured and made drunke with many of their deaths bloud he at last met with Palian whom at the first encounter he had surely berest of life had not his owne Stéed by great misfortune stumbled at a dead body that interrupted his steppes but notwithstanding his Swords point by that mischance missing his right ayme 〈◊〉 quite through his Stéeds necke who falling and Palian with him both lay groueling on the ground ready to be trodden to death Mulatus being next at hand rescued Palian and mounted him on his owne Stéed whereby he lost his owne life For Persicles with both his hands fetcht so full a blow at his head that with the force thereof his Armour yéelding some scales thereof pierced his Braine and he dyed Palian for a while continued Fight with Persicles with euery blow receiuing a déepe wound vntill he felt himselfe so vnable to hold out that he must eyther yéeld dye or retyre but euen then came Golgron fortunately to his ayde who with him maintained fight against Persicles who notwithstanding that oddes had neare hand brought them both to destruction had he not espyed Deloratus and Cothanes in distresse who were vnequally assailed by sixe valiant Knights two of them being Althesus and Lamdelyon vnto whom he hasted giuing them succour by the death of the first he met Whilest the Battell was maintained in the Fore-front by the chiefe Commanders of both Armies and Montelyon with his resolued Follewers whose hearts were enspired with fiery courage to be guarded by so valiant a guide was gotten behind them and began such a Massacre that multitudes of a suddaine were slaughtered by his approach whose déeds of valour amazed their sences with such feare and abated their courage with such terror that like as a flocke of fearefull shéepe espying the approach of a deuouring Lyon ranne with amazed feare from his pawes Euen so the Armenians fled from the destroying hands of Montelyon filling the empty ayre with such dismall cryes that the noyse thereof amazed the hearts of the stoutest Armenians Palian and Golgron then turned their backes making hast thitherwards to know the cause Althesus and Lamdelyon did the like whilest Deloratus and Persicles and the rest made such hauocke against the common Souldiers that had the fight continued long the whole Forces of the Armenian Army had béene destroyed Palian and Althesus met Montelyon not knowing him but supposing it was he had made such slaughter amongst them the last day both assailed him who in his heart rejoyced that he had met with two such Champions to make tryall of his valour continuing to braue a combat against them both as is not to be described By this time the cry beganne againe on the contrary side with such hideous noise that Palians heart was affrighted therewith and defended himselfe as if a flender youth should hold encounter against a strong Giant till both he and Althesus were so grieuously wounded that it had béene a pittifull spectacle to behold Both being driuen to retire amongst their scattered Troupes and withall the haste they could to preuent their vtter ouerthrow to sound a retrait and with all spéed haste vnto the City which could not be accounted a retyre but rather an absolute flight for it was done with such haste as if they had béene all amazed none hauing the power to resist and pursued by Persicles and Montelyon with such fury that their owne hearts relented at their owne hands cruelty which covered the earth with the dead bodies of their affrighted Foes The day being thus ended to the terror of the one and comfort of the other The Persians retyred as Victors and the Armenians halfe mad with griefe and despaire within their Wals not minding suddenly to issue again Persicles and Deloratus honouring Montelyon with their kinde embracings and the Souldiers applauded their valours with rejoycings Euery one according to the present occasion betooke themselues to their charges spending the time in more joy and security then earst they had done CHAP. XIIII How the Armenians sent two Knights into Armenia for more ayde who were met and one of them taken Prisoner and of other
spare Dyet as my store affordeth and afterwards I will be ready to declare what I can to satisfie you Which when they had done the Hermite thus began Sir I shall first discover what I am and the cause of my living in this desolate obscure place and withall discover those things that you may suppose are beyond my knowledge For no want of misfortune nor feare of being discovered hath made me choose this kind of life but mine owne voluntary fancy which perswadeth I can no other way liue so well agréeing with my vnfortunate disposition neither would I haue you thinke I intend to fill your eares with idle prattle or repitition of toyes but as I intend to ease your heart with some of the care it possesseth So I desire you by hearing my misfortune and ayding my estate to ease me or at least to comfort me with some hope of your favourable assistance for I know your name your Countrey your cause of travell your meanes of remedy and your successe hereafter which I will declare vnto you after your patience hath heard out my tragick History which I cannot choose but vtter first Persicles wondred to heare his spéech little thinking he could performe what he promised but yet determining to try him and desirous of comfort he intreated him to procéed for he was desirous to heare his Discourse Sir said the Hermite my name in my flourishing estate was called Delatus my dignity the Dukedome of Ila which I enjoyed many yeares in great quiet being both enriched in the gifts of Fortune and of Nature for in my youth I chanced to set my affection on the beauty of Alsala Daughter vnto a Gentleman of Antiochia not for her possessions but for her beauty which surpassed all the Ladies of the South parts of this Continent I sued long and at last attained her consent marryed her and brought her into Ila where I lived with her a yeare in great quiet and content being within that space enriched with a Daughter naming her Pilotheta in her Infancy shewing that more yeares would performe in her more exquisite beauty which is the Virgin that you now travell in search of Living in his blissefull content there chanced a Knight named Amphiador to take a view of my faire Alsalaes beauty which at the first sighâ—â—ierced so déepe that he was entangled therewith and laboured by all means to grow into Familiarity thereby to enjoy more fully her sight and company Fortune and my selfe so favouring him that I estéemed so well of his company that I thought my selfe not well when hée was from mée Hée on the other side séeming so much to affect mée that I admired at his kindnesse All this time did he insinuate himselfe into Alsalaes company she likewise estéeming so honourably of him that by reason of the loue betwixt him and me and her owne little suspect of his disloyall dealing she at all times admitted him her company and vsed him so kindly and familiarly that she made him privie to most of her secret counsels Notwithstanding all this hée durst not manifest his loue to her séeing indéed her vertues to be such that he thought it impossible to attaine it thinking it better rather to liue in silence and enjoy her company then by vttering his affection to be deprived of all comfort Vpon a time likewise as he did there arrived at my Castle another Knight named Pallesus whom in the same manner that he had done surfeited on my Alsalaes beauty and was both admitted mine and Amphiadors company both of vs estéeming well of him for many honourable qualities that he was endued withall He as little suspecting Amphiadors loue as he did his nor I my selfe nor Alsala once thinking any such matter for that one kindnesse bred in vs such familiarity that many passionate and amorous actions might be acted and yet on no side suspected Thus did I liue in great content some two years spending the time in Hawking Hunting and other pastimes as voyd of disquiet as heart could wish thinking my selfe happy in their kindnesse but most in my faire Alsalaes loue They with coloured courtesie séeming to liue by enjoying my good company and familiarity and she as much as I estéeming them for their loue But at last this pleasant Summer began to turne to Winter and our swéet content to discontent for Pallesus loue burst into a flame which he was vnable to restrain that in secret sort he gaue my Alsala knowledge thereof which was as delightfull for her to heare as it is for one to heare that he hath drunke poyson but notwithstanding her mind being endued with courtesie and herSoule with Vertue in kind sort she reprooved him wishing him not to prosecute any such matter for she would never yéeld thereto Notwithstanding her courteous deniall bred in him no remorce but rather a hope of comfort that continually he followed his sute which bred an excéeding trouble and disquiet in her heart that whereas she was before delightfully pleasant she became oftentimes so Melancholly and sad that I wondred thereat but could not learne the cause thereof thinking it had béene rather some Sicknesse then passion of mind Being long in this sort troubled with his loue she began to devise how to be rid of it but so as it might not come to my knowledge for vertuous loue made her loth to disquiet mée relying vpon Amphiadors vertues she thought by his assistance to rid her selfe of Pallesus and therefore on a time being with him alone in secret she declared the whole circumstance of all to him declaring his counsell and disswade Pallesus from intending me such dishonour Amphiadors heart was suddainly possest with a jealous conceit against the said Pallesus but withall he meant by that means to attaine his deâ—â—re therefore comming to Pallesus he told him what Alsala had made him privie vnto not disswading him but counselling him to persist therein promising he would by all the meanes he could further the same Pallesus was somewhat comforted therewith and Alsala was more chéerefull as hoping by Amphiadors meanes to be rid of her Lover Amphiador one day being alone with me in my Forrest first vsing many intreaties to me to be secret and binding me by many Oathes without his advice not to declare it to any he told me that Pallesus did make loue to Alsala and that it was likely she would yéeld thereto giving me knowledge that oftentimes they met in secret and withall counselling me but to note their glances and behaviours and I should find that to be true which I then least thought of Protesting that méere loue to me in regard of mine Honour and his owne duty bound him to discover that which otherwise he would never haue revealed With this my mind was much disquieted neverthelesse I would not too rashly giue credit to his spéeches before I had observed their behaviour some time which I found to be somwhat familiar on déepe affection on his part
which he had entred ascended a high Mountaine whose lofty top discovered to his sight the faire Turrets of the Enchanted Tower which glistered as if they had béene framed of Massie Gold which draue him into an admiration but viewing well the Scituation thereof he discerned the Valleyes round about overspred with Tents as if the same had béene encompassed with a Host of Enemies Thither hée intended to travell forsaking the gallant prospect to be acquainted with the cause of that Assembly making the more hast for that it grew towards night but ere he could attaine thither it grew to hée darke therefore for that Night he tooke vp his Lodging vnder the covert of a tuske of trées pleasantly seated in the middest of a gréene Meddow CHAP. XXVI Of the Conference betweene Constantia and Philotheta in Penthrasus Castle THe History hath long discontinued to speak of the Lady Constantia that remained Enchanted and of Helyon that like wise lay their inthralled in great misery rightly rewarded for his treacherous dealing Her eyes shedding continuall teares for the absence of Persicles on whom she continually meditated resolving that nothing but death should abolish his remembrance that had not Ila comforted her with promises of her release the extremity of her Sorrow had soone ended her life withall thinking that Persicles and her young Sonne might both bée in safety and yet she by no meanes could heare thereof which also added some comfort to her heauy heart Oftentimes she would intreat her to behold the valiant adventures of Noble Knights that hazarded their owne Persons in the adventure for to attaine her Loue and in private tryallâ— amongst themselues with whom they were déepely in loue onely with the sight of her Picture but she still refused it accounting it no pleasure to her to sée their misfortune that spent their labour in vain for in the continuance of so many yeares as she had béene there inclosed the fame of her beauty was spred into most parts of those Countries and many thousand Knights had béene their to try their Fortunes but all failed the recitall whereof would be ever tedious but many of them lay their imprisoned by the Enchantresse who now being in despaire of her owne safety sought to bring all to miserie as well as her selfe At such time as Philotheta was carried from Montelyon in the Hermits Cell Constantia remained in such extremity of sorrow that had not Ila wrought that device to bring Philotheta thither to accompany her it had béene impossible her Sences could haue overgrowne the extremity of the passion tormented her but sitting alone in a darke corner best fitting her sad disposition she vttered such lamentations as would haue turned the flintiest heart of a most cruell Tyrant to remorse but suddainly espying Ila entred and with her so beautifull a Damzell with chéekes bedewed with Christall teares that in aboundunce trickled downe her face with that object she left her owne laments to pitty hers and séeing them draw nigh to her she arose after a sad fort saluting their sad aproach Ila without speaking a word left them together Though they were both women yet both admiring each others beauty either thinking the other to exâ—ell all and yet had they beheld their owne perfections they might inwardly haue conceived as well of themselues as they did of the outward obiect Constantia being more familiar with sorrow then Philotheta was first brake silence saying Lady I perceiue your teares that constraint not your consent hath brought you to this place beautifull to the eye but fill'd with discontents which long experience hath taught me therefore if you want a companion in care accept of my company but if you séeke for comfort abandon me for my chiefest solace is sorrow and my very thoughts and meditations of nothing but discontent I haue not said Philotheta béene long subject to this misfortune but being now plunged therein I know not how to release my selfe or how to shun the same neither knowing who is the cause thereof where I am or when I shall be released that my Sorrowes are such as may well entertaine a sorrowfull companion accepting your proffered kindnesse with hearty thankes Lady said Constantia as you vouchsafe me your company so let me know what misfortune hath brought you hither which will shorten some of the tedious time that we are like to overpasse in this place Which done you shall know to whom you haue imparted your mind the recitall whereof will be tedious Philotheta sitting downe by her vttered these spéeches My name is Philotheta Daughter in law to Amphiador Vpon a day as I was walking in my Fathers Garden vpon what pretence I know not thrée Gyants surprised me and by force carried me thence none to my knowledge séeing their cruelty when they had travailed with me vntill it waxed late a Knight armed all in white gallantly mounted came to my rescue and entred Combate with the Gyants his valiant heart not refusing to copâ— with all thrée of them But one of them thinking himselfe too strong for him stayed to combate with him the other two with hast carrying me away but in short space one of them ranne back to rescue his fellow whom the Knight had slaine himselfe likewise returning with losse of one of his armes haling me forwards with violent force vntill they came into the midst of a Wood where they meant to stay that night This Knight directed by good fortune alighted on the place where they lay and by his Valour and pollicie slue them both yet so sore hurt himselfe that he lay breathlesse vpon the earth which afflicted my heart with Sorrow fearing his death that I could not comfort him in ought by my teares and laments accounting it more misfortune for mée to be the cause of so worthy a Knights Death then I my selfe had béene still Prisoner to those Monsters the Heavens favouring my sorrowes and his mishaps directed an old Hermit to the place who with the juyce of certaine hearbs recovered him and with my weake assistance brought him to his Cell within short space curing him In which time I noted every part of his perfections and found them such as I want skill to decipher comparing thereto his behaviour which bred a perswasion in me that as he was valiant so he was vertuous and as he excelled all that ever I beheld in person so he did in courtesie Much conference past betwixt vs which I omit The Subject whereof was Loue which he averred to be as constant in him though new begun as it was in any by long continuance Amongst the rest of his spéeches he told me that he knew not his Parents his name was Montelyon the cause of his travell was in search of a Lady named Constantia betrothed Wife to Persicles King of Assyria who parted from him that day he rescued me in Arabia Constantia hearing of such good newes of the safety of Persicles could not withhold her selfe from bewraying what
had lost but his Fortune proved so bad that he lost both his Styrrops and had he not hung on the Saddle Bow hée had laine on the Ground The Day by this time drew to an end which caused them to remit their further tryall till the next Morning Constantia and Philotheta beholding the Valour of this one Knight according to her desire déemed it was Persicles the other Montelyon desiring Ila to send a Messenger to know his Name Who returning told them he was called the Knight of the Oracle Then it is not Persicles said Constantia No nor Montelyon said Philotheta Their Hearts now fainting with care that before were revived with hope The Knight of the Oracle that Night Lodged with a Knight of Persia named Thymus in his Tent who in courteous sort intreated him thereto Earely the next Morning he againe entred the Field ready for him that should next Encounter him who came gallantly mounted having likewise travailed many Miles to try his Fortune in the Adventure but before he came to try himselfe therein he received so great a Discharge by Encountring the Knight of the Oracle that in a desperate moode and ashamed of his Foyle he departed The Knight of the Oracle being endued with an extraordinary Wit as receiving the Essence thereof from two such goodly Princes as he was sprung of began in his thoughts to condemne the fondnesse of those Knights that comming to make tryall of the Adventure spent their time in private Quarrels still omitting that which principally they had sought his Mind being so troubled with the losse of Philotheta and Persicles desired not to linger there but to hasten in their search Therefore parting towards the Knights who were assembled on a heape studying which way to worke his disgrace he said to them Worthy Knights my comming to this place was not to try my Fortune against you but in the Aduenture and your private Enuy hath hitherto hindred mée not regarding into what private Quarrels you enter and causelesly troubling me that haue not offended you Therefore because businesse of more importance then to answer your Spléene vrgeth my departure I wish you not fearing my ability to answer you to remit this private Contention vntill another time and if any of you either enviously condemne me or repine at my good Fortune I will be ready to answer you severall Quarrels in Persia at the time that is appointed for the méeting of the Kings of Assyria and Armenia for the cause of your approach being to release this Ladies imprisonment weaken not your force in private Contention for in the Tryall thereof you shall find occasion enough to exercise your Armes Hearing his words they consented thereunto yet contending who should first try the Adventure In the end they agréed to cast Lots in which the last fell to the Knight of the Oracle every one having a Dayes respite for the finishing thereof Thus did they make tryall of themselues Some with such labour attaining the Bridge but then forced by vertue of the Enchantment to yéeld and so were imprisoned in most Lamentable wise by the Enuy of Ila who desired the Enchantment might never end but that she might liue there for ever Others with feare ran away Many dayes it was before it came to the Knight of the Oracles turne In the end all being either fledor imprisoned he alone was left to try his Fortune neither having Friend to succour him Foe to Enuy him nor any to behold him for the Enchantresse had made such Desolation among the Tents by casting fires amongst them that all the Servants to those Knights fled as amazed reporting from place to place their Masters misery and the cause of their owne terror Notwithstanding nothing could affright or discourage the valiant heart of the Knight of the Oracle but he rested as resolute to goe forwards as if there had beene no danger incident to the attempt Constantia séeing how many Knights were at that instant imprisoned all their Tents destroyed and no man she thought left began to discomfort her selfe vtterly despairing of releasement desiring Ila to let her view the Knights that were Imprisoned fearing that Persicles was amongst them but her requests were in vaine for Ila fretted with extreame feare of the end of her Enchantment in a mad rage flung from them studying which way to lengthen the date thereof which tormented poore Constantiaes heart that had béen so long in misery and terrified kind Philothetaes mind with extreame feare of further calamity Both she and Constantia all that Night bewailing their misery CHAP. XXVIII How the Knight of the Oracle finished the Enchantment And how Ila departed with Philotheta IN the Morning early the Knight of the Oracle survaying the Scituation of the Bridge which way he might either advantage himselfe or disadvantage his Foe winded his Horne wherewith there was such an excéeding Earth-Quake within the Tower that the Foundation thereof shooke as if it would haue overturned her stately Turrets At which first Sound of the Horne one of the Gyants came foorth without speaking striking at him but he defended himselfe a great while on Horsebacke vntill the Gyant pressed so hard vpon him that he was driven to withdraw him to light Which when he had done he againe assayled him giving him many a déepe wound and receiving many a sore bruise that had not his good Armour preserved him it had brought him in great danger but in the end he prevailed so much by the death of the first Gyant that he attained the first and second Fortification of the Bridge And at the third he was so violently set vpon by the other Gyant that he was onely compelled to ward his blowes in the end likewise espying such advantage that he ran his Sword quite through his body By which meanes he entred the first large Court where he beheld the Armours of such Knights as had fayled in their sundry attempts hanging about the Walls hearing their hollow voyces which by imprisonment had endured much affliction Ila now knowing that the date of her glory in that place should end in furious sort came running to the place where Constantia and Philotheta were taking Philotheta with violence from out of the Arbour and by force of her Enchantment compelling her to follow her vntill she came to the Court where the Knight of the Oracle was he suddainly behelding Philotheta at the first sight knew her and séeing them so passe by him towards the Entrance he stept after them to speake to her when presently ther rusht vpon him a number of Armed men that laid vpon him with such swiftnesse that they had no power to stirre from the place where he stood They suddainly vanished and he stood so amazed with the sight and perplexed with such doubt that he could not tell what to doe Sometimes thinking to follow in Philotheta then perswading himselfe it was but an illusion and thinking to cast off that doubt and goe forwards his
mind was possest with such desire to sée her againe for that he stood as a man without sence When suddainly such a Mist darkened all the place that he could scarcely sée his hands which continued by the space of halfe an houre Whilest he remained in such thoughts sometimes of perswasion it was Philotheta which troubled his very heart to thinke what should be become of her that he séemed to haue lost her Sences by the sight of her remaining in many meditations the Myst vanished and the Sun with excéeding Splendor disclosed the beauty of Penthrasus Pallace When he saw no further expectation of danger approaching he entred further towards the thrée Gates of Brasse beholding the curious workes thereof through which he entred into the Court which drew his mind into much admiration thereof Entring the Hall he beheld the two Lyons which kept the Passage that with a faire prospect discovered the beauty of the Garden The Lyons no sooner espyed him but they presently made such a noyse with their Roring that all the Pallace rung thereof And Constantia hearing the same cryed out as excéedingly affrighted The Knight of the Oracle attempted to passe by them expecting no other but cruell resistance yet contrary to his thoughts they laid themselues downe at his féet as it were reverencing him Which when he beheld of his owne inclination he loosed both their Chaines and they ran forth of the Pallace with excéeding swiftnesse which amazed him to behold Passing through the Hall he entred the Garden looking round about to behold the beauty thereof when suddainly he began to wonder that he had beheld never a living creature since he entred which draue him into an excéeding Admiration marvailing that he could not behold the Lady of whose Picture he had beheld at the entrance to that finding himselfe over-wearyed with labour purposing to rest his Body he returned into the Hall and there seated himselfe in a most rich and costly Chayre Constantia being in the Arbour beheld when he entred the Garden and when he went backe marveling what he should be and little thinking the Enchantment was ended not daring her selfe to goe forth of the Arbour her heart was so possest with amazement desired one of the Damzels if she loved her to goe sée what he was and learn the cause of that vprore which they had heard in the Pallace One of the Damzels being more hardy then the other told her how for the Loue she bare her she would adventure though it cost her her life Passing on towards the Pallace with such hasty steps as if something had pursued her and yet going forwards as if an evill had béen before her that she could neyther tell whether wherefore nor why she went vntill of a sudden she mounted the passage into the Hall and was right before the Knight of the Oracle Whom when she saw she stood looking vpon him trembling as if she had béene distraught The Knight of the Oracle rising from his seate said Damzell feare not I will defend you from danger héere is none intendeth your harme The Damzell hearing his voyce was revived saying Sir Knight I marvell what strange accident hath brought you hither where no Knight hath béen these many yeares Lady said he Fortune and my good Destinies that haue béene imployed to set you at Liberty Sir said she it is not I but my Mistris you meane by whose command I haue adventured to sée what was happened to whom if you will vouchsafe to goe I will conduct you He could remember it was not her Picture he had beheld therefore he blusht to be so deceived but told her his comming was to doe her Lady Service With that they entred the Garden Constantia soone espying them and séeing the Knight come in such peaceable sort with the Damzell went forth to méet him hée likewise séeing her sheathed his Sword his Heart trembling at the first sight of her by a naturall inclination bearing such a Reverend regard to her majesticall person that when he came nigh her he did her reverence vpon his knée vttering these words Most Noble Lady be not disquieted with feare of restrained liberty for the Date of the Enchantment of thisCastle is finished Constantia stepping to him tooke him by the hand desiring him not to knéele to her who was vnworthy but rather had cause to vse him with the like reuerence Most Noble Lady said he I haue all the Reward I expect yet grant me one favor which is to tell me your Name Constantiaes heart at that word leapt within her which caused an excéeding blush to possesse her chéekes saying Most Honourable Knight I were too blame to deny you so small a Request my Name is Constantia Then haue the Heavens quoth he made mée Fortunate with beholding you whom my heart hath ever honoured Constantia wondred what he should be assuring her selfe it was not Persicles for he would not haue asked her name yet she thought that Sorrow might so much haue altered her in the long time of her separation that on the suddain he could not know her that her heart was much troubled with those thoughts till he interrupted them with these spéeches Lady it may be you suppose me for other then I am to rid you of which ambiguity my name is now Knight of the Oracle which I haue but lately béene knowne by for before I was called Montelyon brought vp in Persia but whether I was borne there or who my Parents were as yet I know not the cause of my travell into this Countrey was in your search in the Company of my noble Lord Persicles who for your absence liveth in continuall griefe Therefore I beséech you reviue your heart from care and put your confidence in my fidelity for I will never part from you vntill I haue brought you to his presence Constantiaes Heart with these words was possest with such joy as is not to be exprest And remembring that Philotheta had told her of Montelyon she said Most honoured Knight I haue long before this heard of your Honourable friendship shown to my deare Lord Persicles which maketh me without doubt resolue my whole confidence in you which came to my hearing by the report of a Lady whom you lately succoured in this Countrey named Philotheta With that he fetcht a déepe sigh from the bottome of his heart saying Indéed I did once enjoy her presence but whether I shall ever sée her againe or where she is I know not Yet if I were not deluded I did behold her departing out of this Castle It may be so said Constantia for she was with me this day and hath béene here this many dayes but the Enchantresse in great hast and by violence tooke her from my company carrying her I know not whether by whose kind report of your vertues I conceiue such comfort in their assurance that I entreat your promise of assistance and with that shall my heart rest as void of feare as if I
Noble Parents Which may be true for Cothanes often times told me that he found me vpon the top of a Mountaine lying in swadling cloathes and not farre from the body of a Woman torne and dismembred by Wild Beasts and many Iewels about me One of which I haue ever since worne about my Necke When Constantia saw it she knew the fame embracing him in her armes and kissing him whilest he with humble behaviour did him reverence I should be over tedious to recite their joyes and how much Delatus and Alsala made of them who would not so leaue them but promised to Travell with them into Assyria where they were assured to méete Persicles but in such sort that none might know them for that yet Constantia feared her Fathers displeasure They stayed there but that Night and earely the next Morning betooke themselues to travell Notwithstanding this joy the Knight of the Oracle left some sparkes of discontent which troubled all his Sences and turned his quiet into disquiet which was with remembrance of Philotheta whose mishap pincht him to the very heart Who likewise was not frée from the like disquiet fearing never to sée him againe little thinking his Name had béene changed and as little thinking it was he that ended the Enchantment not onely troubled with this Dispaire but also vexed with Ilaes dealing who hauing brought her to Amphiador fled and was never séene of them againe Amphiador being alone with Philotheta thought it not good for him to discover himselfe least he thereby should hazard his life but disguising himselfe and Philotheta he left Arabia and travailed into Persia thinking to liue there vntill his death vndescryed And finding out an Habitation fit for that purpose he told Philotheta what he intended perswading her to abide with him This troubled her very heart fearing some greater mischiefe would follow Which like wise according to her misdoubt fell out For now that he saw no meanes to recover his Dignity nor attaine other Felicity then to liue in obscurity his mind being like wise much addicted to Licencious desire began to dote on Philothetaes beauty which burst out into a flame and he revealed the same iâ—â—his sort Philotheta said he if you knew what I would say or if you could conceiue my meaning without words I would refraine to speake but since there is no hope for me to liue without I attaine that I desire I will vtter to you the depth of my good Will and the thing that I desire so much you should know which is that I loue you this I hope cannot be grievous vnto you Neither will you I trust deny to loue me considering how tenderly I haue alwayes regarded you Should I not said she Loue you I were to be accounted very ingratefull and vnworthy to haue found you so kind which bindeth me to yéeld you thankes Then said he Let me enjoy that Loue for your Beauty hath pierced my heart and nothing but the swéete thereof can ease my torment Here wée may liue together voyd of disquiet enjoying each others Loue with content which excéedeth the pleasure that more dignified Honour yéeldeth Philotheta at the first knew his meaning replying with mildnesse but her heart so much disdained to yéeld to that he desired that she could not containe her selfe but gaue him this answer Amphiador Doest thou thinke thy wickednesse can overmaster my Vertue Or doest thou thinke I can like to heare thy odious Spéech that bewrayeth the inward rancour of thy heart or hast thou beheld such loosenesse in me that should animate thée to this dishonourable attempt or canst thou but conceiue an opinion that I will yéeld to thy wicked lust which is the fruit of thy ill devising Heart No know that I so much abhorre thée that I shall account the worse of my selfe to haue knowne thée and curse my cruell destinies that haue made me to sée thée and rather will end my life most desperately then suffer my Sences to conceiue one good thought of thée Then leaue off where thou hast begun for thou shalt rather sée me massacre my selfe then yéeld to the least part of thy desire CHAP. XXX How Amphiador Philotheta and Praxentia met How the two Ladies preventing Amphiadors lust and departed towards Assyria AMphiador walking alone in a solitary place heard the wofull Lamentation of a distressed Lady who vttered these words What misery am I brought into mine owne doting folly vpon that vnknowne Knight which neither regardeth me nor I shall never sée him againe Fond woman that I am thus to abandon my Fathers Court to liue in obscurtty where I was renowned for vertue For who heard the name of Praxentia that did not adore the fame And who was more reverenced then my selfe that now haue brought my Honour into disgrace and for the loue of a stranger haue refused the loue of so mighty a Prince as Palian O Persicles thée may I curse for by thy meanes is he thus absent and thou hast lost him or left him where he will never returne Amphiador wondred much to heare her name Persicles Palian and Praxentia which severall names he knew marvelling who that should be but séeing her silent he drew neare to her saying Lady hearing your Laments I could not choose but pitty you which maketh me thus bold to approach into our company proffering my assistance to aid you in what I can My friend said Praxentia against my will you are priuy to my estate which if you doe pitty then also succour me for I am brought low by too much griefe and weake for want of sustenance Lady quoth he my Habitation is not farre hence whether I will bring you where you shall not want any thing you will desire Being come thither they found Philotheta drowned in teares the cause whereof he well knew but Praxentia wondred at it containing another inward Sorrow to sée so swéet a creature in such sadnesse Philotheta likewise marvailed what she was hoping by her comfort to receiue some comfort which might hinder his practice He on the other side went forth againe to meditate leaving them together meaning nothing lesse then to pitty either of them but devising meanes to attaine both their loues which he was fully resolved to enjoy though the déed were never so wicked and the meanes never so hainous Praxentia having well refresht her selfe with such good food as she had received demanded Philothetaes cause of sorrow Aye me said she none so miserable as I this Tyrant that brought you hither is my Father in law whose mind is so wicked that he attempteth to winne me to his lust which addeth much sorrow to my heart as I am weary of my life my name is Philotheta Daughter to the Duke of Ila whom all men had thought to haue béene since dead but he being informed of the contrary by the Enchantresse fled bringing me hither by force where he intendeth to kéepe me as his Bond-slaue but the Heavens I hope will
she for my better assurance let me bind your hands and then I will without delay come to you He accounted that request to procéed from bashfull Feare not from pollicie thinking though his Hands were bound he should be good enough for her with his Leggs he granted it Then she tooke a Scarfe which she had brought of purpose and therewith bound his hands so fast that it was impossible for them to vndoe them Which done Philotheta stept forth delivering one of the Swords to Praxentia and holding the other against his Brest said Now Amphiador What hath thy lewdnesse brought thée vnto but to misery thinkest thou that hadst no mercy in séeking our dishonour shalt find Remorse in vs to worke revenge Nay villanous Traytor said Praxentia should we suffer so vile a miscreant to liue we should doe a wicked déed for a man of thy impious condition will infect the World Art thou so treacherous as thou carest not what Lawes thou violatest and yet so simple to be over reacht by a silly Woman yet know whom thou hast offended and to whom thou wouldest haue none vioâ—ence Know I say Traytor that my Name is Praxentia Daughter to the King of Persia that will worke revenge vpon thée worthy thy hainous Acte Philotheta marvailed when she heard her Name and he lay confounded with shame his Coward heart fainting with such feare that with little violence it would haue béene overcome To make him more sure the one of them bound his féet whilest the other stood ready to stab him if he styrred Which done they withdrew themselues consulting which way to be rid of him Most Noble Lady said Philotheta your Prudence hath set vs at liberty from this Tyrant whom so if please you we will leaue in this place and not staine our Innocent hands with shedding such impure blood But said Praxentia how shall we escape from hence Easily said she for leaving him fast bound there is none to pursue vs but we may with safety travell whether it please you When they had thus concluded Praxentia came to him vttering these Spéeches Amphiador we cannot as yet resolue how to worke sufficient Revenge vpon thée therefore make no exclamation but with patience abide our will which will be too favourable for if we heare thée but once open thy mouth we will in such sort vse thée that thou shalt wish thou hadst followed our directions Which said locking fast the doores they left him Then they began to consult what to doe Praxentia saying Lady it may be your determination is to returne into Arabia which will be an occasion of our â—eparation For my purpose is to journey into Assyria vpon an occasion that concerneth me no lesse then my life which I shall reveale vnto you vpon your promise of Secresie I were not worthy to liue said she would I reveale your Counsell Then did she repeat to her her Loue to Montelyon and how Palian crost the same vntill his departure with Persicles Philothetaes heart melted within her to heare that Spéech fearing to be disappointed of her intent and misdoubting his Constancie being troubled with extreame anguish that so great a Princesse should be her Corrivall sometimes dispairing with a conceit that Montelyon did not estéeme her according to his spéech and her owne perswasion but that he proffered his loue to her of a customable common courtesie to try her not of affection Many other cogitations suddainly concurred in her braine but séeing Praxentia except a Reply without further meditatâ—on she made this Reply Most Noble Princesse if you will accept of my company I will in regard of your courtesie vndeservedly showne to me venture my selfe with you and doe my best to further you in attaining your desire Praxentia was glad thereof And with this resolution in the Morning they left that place travailing towards Assyria changing their Vpper-Garments to Palmers-gray the best meanes so passe without molestation CHAP. XXXI How the Knight of the Oracle Constantia and the rest hearing a lamentable cry found Amphiador starved to death AMphiador lay all that day vpon the Bed bound sometimes perswading himselfe they meant him no harm and againe adding doubt to that perswasion because of Praxentia but when it grew to be night he marvailed they came not againe then he began to suspect that which was true indéed that they were departed which vexed him so much that he would haue destroyed himselfe if he could haue found meanes continuing the length of that discomfortable Night in cursing his owne Fortune and Folly that had brought him to that misery thinking to his greater discomfort either to starue there without food or to preserue his Life by eating his owne flesh and so dye a lingring death Some foure dayes after Fortune so brought things to passe that the Knight of the Oracle Delatus Constantia and Alsala with many others in their company having lost their way lighted on this discomfortable place where Amphiador lay for want of food making such outragious lamentation that it pierced the Eares of the Knight who first hearing the same set Spurs to his Stéed entring the house the doores whereof he found open and drawing his Sword he found the Chamber from whence that pittious cry procéeded fast lockt which he brake open and found Amphiador in such a lamentable plight that the Water stood in his eyes Amphiador séeing him cryed out to him for meat as the thing he most wanted What art thou said he My Name quoth hée is Amphiador wicked Amphiador that for my sinne endures this punishment The Knight of the Oracle presently vnbound him and went with him downe to search for Victuals which Amphiador soone found By this time Delatus and the rest were entred and Amphiador suddenly espying Alsala whom he knew was so astonisht that he fell downe dead Farewell said the Knight of the Oracle haddest thou dyed sooner then should not some haue had cause to complaine of thy tyrranny They made short tarriance in this place for that it yéelded so little comfort but againe travailed towards Assyria CHAP. XXXII How the Emperour of Persia and Macedonia met to conclude the peace betweene Persicles and the King of Armenia How Persicles erected a Pavilion to entertaine all strangers And how the Knight of the Oracle and Constantia arrived there How Persicles discovered them and of the exceeding joy was made for their safety And how Persicles knew the Knight of the Oracle to be his owne Sonne and was afterward married to Constantia THe Emperors of Persia and Macedonia according to the Peace ratified betwixt Persicles the King of Armenia met at the City of Pisos where they were received by Persicles in such honourable bountifull and courteous sort as is not to be described This City Pisos bordereth on the vtmost Confines of Assyria not aboue a furlong distance from Armenia on the edge whereof likewise stood the City of Lisar rich and populous where the King of Armenia then lay betwéene
thou wouldst not request it but to satisfie her of that which peradventure she will not credit by thy report and at thy request I will come to her this evening Till then farewell quoth he Philotheta being parted from him by the way vttered these spéeches O that fortune would favour me so much and blesse me with that felicity to be the party this worthy Knight so constantly loveth By this she was come to the Pavilion where even then there entred foure Knights in black Armour gallantly mounted by their outward habit portended some fatall stratagem which were Palian and the thrée Sons of the King of Macedon who had vowed either secretly or openly to plot the death of Montelyon taking vp their Lodging there to complot their treason The day being past which the Knight of the Oracle overpast in many solitary meditations to the great griefe of Persicles and Constantia who wondred thereat he went to his Chamber apparelling himselfe in the habit of one of the Kings Servants onely gyrding his Sword to his side went vnto the Pavilion concealing himselfe as closely as he could but the Heavens ordaining him to endure some misery and as the eyes of enuy and suspition discovering him to Palian who espyed his comming thither and being entred the Pavilion he was met by Philotheta who with such carefulnesse expected his comming conducting him into the place where Praxentia was which went so sore against her heart to doe that with very griefe she was ready to dye whither treacherous Palians eyes watcht him Praxentia espying him could not abstaine from blushing excéedingly her owne heart accusing her of immodesty to reveale that which we would haue concealed Hée saluted her vttering these words Most noble Princesse to fulfâ—ll your desire and shew my gratitude vnto you for your Friendship bestowed on him that is not worthy thereof I am come to you desiring you not to misconceiue of me nor condemne me of inhumanity that am not mine owne and therefore I cannot giue my selfe vnto you I haue vttered vnto the Palmer that which I will now conceale as loath to offend you yet constrained thereto desiring you to command my life if you please for that shall be at your disposition otherwise I cannot imploy my selfe to your liking I haue long since knowne of your good will to me which Palian by his subtilty increased of whose Loue and procéedings I know so much that I thinke I shall wrong him to fulfill your request my selfe was the man that should haue joyned your hands when he tooke my habit and name vpon him which I presume here to vtter that thereby you may remember my innocencie in that complot and how constantly I haue vowed my selfe to another Praxentia what with anger shame and griefe stood like one mute vexed that he knew of Palians act shame to make loue contrary to the propertie of her kind and grieved to be disappointed all which together not suffering her to speake vntill at last these passions and her burning Loue so overcame her that knéeling downe she said Good Knight blame me not nor doe not condemne me of immodesty but grant pitty to my torment He taking her vp desired her not to knéele to him that was not worthie thereof nor able to deserue it then taking him by the hand she desired him to sit downe by her upon the bed beckning Philotheta to depart the roome To repeat what manner of behaviour Praxentia vsed and the words he spake would haue made any modest eare to blush to heare of but séeing that nothing could prevaile rage and lust so over ruled her that in bitter exclaimes she cryed out Inhumane disloyall and dishonourable Knight doest thou require my Loue with this disdain Or thinkest thou I will liue to beare the blot of thy refusall At the conclusion of which words Thetus entred the roome and with his Sword drawne ran at him who by good Fortune beholding him started aside otherwise he had béene slaine yet he was sore wounded wherewith he drew his sword striking at Thetus and at every blow wounding him Philotheta hearing the noyse came in and séeing the Knight of the Oracle wounded with feare grief and amazement cryed out helpe helpe the Kings Son â—ill be murdered The Eccho oâ— her shrill voice sounded throughout the whole Pavilion and both the Servants and other Knights came running thither but before they came he had gotten Thetus and overthrowne him thrust his Sword into his Bodie By this time Palian and his two Brethren came in who séeing Thetus slaine cryed out Stay the Traytor he hath murthered Thetus Son to the King of Macedonia Praxentia hearing that tore her haire rent her Garments and disfigured her face in such fort as was Lamentable to behold Some began to lay hands on the Knight of the Oracle but his Fathers Servants knowing him stood in his defence Then began there a hote Combat on both parts and many were slaine Praxentia being now discovered was knowne to Palian and her two Brethren to whom she cryed Revenge my shame and my Brothers death on this wicked Knight who séeketh by violence to dishonour me hath slaine my Brother What griefe was this to Philotheta you may judge and how much it vexed him to be thus betrayed cannot be vttered standing in his owne defence against such as would haue apprehended him that knew him not vntill he was grievously wounded and many of them slaine in which time newes thereof was come to the hearing of Persicles the Emperour of Persia and the King of Macedonia who with all hast came thitherwards The Souldiers like wise hearing of the Knight of the Oracles distresse brake the conditions of the concluded Peace and by Multitudes ran forth of the Citie to preserue them Persicles first entred the Tent next him the Kings of Persia and Macedonia giving commandement vpon paine of Death that no man should strike a blow Yet notwithstanding rashnesse and heady force so overcame them that it was long before they were appeased And the Emperour séeing Praxentia there in such sort disfigured demanded if any could tell the cause of that mischiefe First Praxentia spake being most guilty yet first thinking to excuse her selfe Noble Emperour my brother you sée is slaine in rescuing me from that Knights violence The Knight of the Oracle knéeling downe before the Emperour said My noble Grand father I slew him in mine owne defence neither did I know what he waâ— being my selfe trained hither to my death More he would haue said but the Souldiers having entred the Pavilion râ—sted not vntill they had gotten vnto him and he to satisfie them and avoid further mischiefe departed with them to the City Then did the Emperour and Persicles comfort the King of Macedonia but he vexed with his Sonnes death and his Daughters disgrace and vrged by his others Sonnes importunacy said Emperour of Persia I am now much wronged and too much abused by thée and thy Progenie by whose