the sanctuarie of the Temple and beside chief of the Economicall and politicall gouernment of this prouince who hauing one very faire daughter chast and adorned with all vertues requisit in a virgin did consecrat her to the seruice of the Oracle It fell out the duke of Fera a verie comly and gallant yong gentleman fell in loue with her onely by report hee heard of her for he had manie times heard tell that in beautie and comelinesse shee did excell the most properest of all those parts therfore did he send to the prelate to demand her for his wife but many times as he sent he had his labor for his trauell because her father would neuer be farre from her And euen as the messenger which is sent twice or thrice into one place to obtaine something of a man would saine haue séeketh by all meanes possible to satisfie his desire who requesteth it rather to auoide the paine and shame to be alwaies talking about the matter then for any zeale good deuotion which he hath towards him euen so fell it out with the bearer of this embassage being vexed to goe and come so often without doing any good did bring at last to passe that he talked one day with the maiden whom hée gaue so swéete a lesson and set such a glosse vpon his reasons to make a priuie marriage that shée was rauished in loue of the Duke and promised him if his master would come to take her away secretly from her fathers house she would go willingly with him The duke vnderstanding this embassage made hast presently to the isle where being arriued he aduertised the Damsell who sent him word backe he should goe stay for her in a certaine place néere her fathers pallace where she would not misse to méet him so soone as his people should be asléepe But the preist who by meanes of his Magicke had preuented all these practises knowing the place where the lord of Fera attended for his daughter caused from the mountaine to descend two fierce lions enchaunted These cruell beasts rushing in with a hideous roaring vpon the miserable Duke who by no meane knew how to preuent such ambuskadoes began to fawne on him in pittifull manner meane while this young prince losing at that instant all power to defend himselfe against the rage and furie of these infernall beastes was quickly torne in pieces Which his Squier beholding too pittifull and lamentable a spectacle who was come alone to accompanie him exclaimed with such a fearefull crie as the Damsell who had her eares most attentiue to listen heard it easely so also did some other of the house who running forth with burning torches to know what was the matter found the Duke alreadie dead Whereof the maiden being aduertised she ran out of the pallace as a body possessed with a spirit or mad to goe to finish vp the sacrifice So vnsufferable was the griefe and sorrow she had to sée her future spouse lie so cruelly massacred that taking his very sword set the pommell against the ground and the point right vnder her breast then cast her selfe with a great stresse of bodie vpon it thinking to pierce right vpon her heart to which she would not giue one onely moment of life after the death of her louer For all that she was frustrate of her attempt for the sword passing thorow the right side she fell vpon the dead bodie still full of life where making many complaints with sighes and sobs as fast as one could follow another she wrot with her owne bloud vpon a paper which she found in her bosome twelue lamentable verses in forme of an Epitaph To the which knowing her death drew néere shée adioined onely these last words If it be so O choice paragon of courtesâ—e that for my sake you haue endured the shipwracke of this life it should be for euer to mée too great a remourse of conscience if the very houre I had not done as much to make the expiation of your funerals so much the more accomplished And to the end my father may know the more then sodaine rashnesse of his counsaile I wil now leaue him such relikes he shall haue certaine testimonie thereof Wherein for that his repentance shall come too late I pray him in recompence to burie our two bodies togither in one tombe commanding for a perpetuall memorie of our sorrowful tragedie this Epitaph to be engrauen ouer vs Cease weeping tears for his death be not sorie Whose fame for euershall suruiue in glorie Detest his stony diamantine heart Who caus'd his only daughters deadly smart O furious planet O thou angry fate What cruell mischeife could ye meditate More inhumaine then bodies twaine to kill Ah I mistake surely it is none ill For death which all liuing creatures seaseth Our louing bodies of all anguish easeth And linkes our soules in perfect knots of loue Which did on earth such bitter sorrows proue Hauing written this Epitaph she paid the humane tribute vnto nature for neuer afterward her passible bodie receiued any motion of the vitall spirits and it is no fable to die of loue-sicknesse if with the auncient histories wée will conferre a million of moderne and late writers But to returne to the highpriest when hée heard that his daughter was ranne towards that clamour hée followed her incontinent for feare least shée should make awaie her selfe and finding her alreadie dead with her Epitaph as yet in her hand hée was in great daunger to haue made the third person in this pitiful tragedie So vehement was the anguish which seased his sorrowfull soule that he remained long time without speaking worde as a man forlorne and sure the sorrow and indignation that he endured had made him die in the place if for all comfort he had not broken his silence with an imperfect spéech in this sort Alas miserable and wretched man if thy knowledge did serue thée to act and effect the death of the duke of Fera why was it not sufficient to preuent that of thine owne daughter Ah in a cursed houre was I counsailed euer to take that deadly oportunitie Manie other gréeuous complaints poured hee out ouer those two dead bodies who might be truly coÌ„pared to Piramus Thisbe notwithstanding after that he had shed ouer them many teares accompanied with innumerable sighs he gaue order that a faire and rich tombe of brasse should be erected in which after he had embaulmed them according to the ancient ceremonie of funerall rites pomps he caused both their bodies to be buried togither with a great conuoy of mourners and the Epitaph aforesaid to be engrauen round about the same Some few daies after thorow the griefe and melancholie he tooke séeing himselfe depriued of his lawful heire and in that behalfe the order of nature peruerted he also lest this mortal life but first did he shut vp make fast the treasures of the temple by such enchantment and with so fearefull a
all ye will be glad in heart to heare me make the discourse therof God graunt it may be so and may he fortunatly direct him in his courses and so well prosper the generous forwardnesse that all men may beholde shining in him that hée maie winne thereby honour and aduauncement such as his heart desireth Surely this act of Belcarin did well please them except Tiraquâ—l who wâ—s greatly offended because he imparteâ— to him no part of his entent for he would glâ—dly haue kepâ— him companie so that he resolued immediatly to put himselfe in quest after him as soone after it fell out In the mean time Belcarin made such expedition in his iournies that without any let by the way he got out oâ— the boâ—ds of the Empire in a small tiâ—e and being entered the frontiers of the kingdome of Macedonie he lodged the first night in an old knights castle who very affable and courteous séeing him passe before his gate because it was alreadie late geÌ„tly desired him to take his rest that night with him which offer he willingly accepted at the instant request of the venerable old father who tooke great pleasure in beholding Belcarin after he had disarmed himself as well for his goodly stature and proportion of members as for his eloquence and affability wherewith he much enriched and graced his language which was occasion that they conferred long time together and falling from one matter into another in the end the old man discouered that this knight was one of the chiefest fauorites of the Emperour Cleodomyr But the Gentleman had three sonnes very vngratious â—mpes and of a wicked natâ—re who were veâ—y much offended at the courtesie and liberall hospetallitie their father vsed toward strangers wherefore he who knew well their mallice went to méet them in the way homeward for at that present they were hunting abroad to admonish them how they should welcome and entreat this new guest Know my children quoth hee we hâ—ue this night in our house a knight descended of the Emperours house whose physiognomie bewraieth him to come ofsome great and high linage for which cause I pray you do him all the honor you can in the best sort deuise and feasting him with all chéere and gladnesse speake nothing before him which may not beseeme his honourable estate Father answered they we shall doe all your commandements But assoone as he was gone they conspired to assaile this knight on the morrow at the entraunce into a forrestnot farre distant from the castle to proue if he were so braue a man as their fâ—ther had signified vnto them Therefore came not thâ—y to supper as they promised but on the morrow morning betime salied out of the castle all three wel mounted and in armes The honourable and good knight séeing the ingratitude and disobedience of his childeren did his best to do all the honour he could to Belcarin who returning him many thanks the next day departed and tooke his leaue of him to put himselfe againe into his way wherein hee had rode little more then two miles but he met the thrée brethren lying in ambush for him at the side of a wood the eldest hauing his launce vanced vpon his thigh stept before him and thus began to play the champion Faire knight you must ioust with me otherwise you can passe no further for now I will try whether you be so hardie and valiant as your report is or no. Belcarin who doubted a greater ambuscado tooke a lance out of his esquiers hand and speaking very courteously made him this answer Knight ye offer great wrong to assaile thus the Emperours gentlemen perhaps you may quickly find one who will giue you both your hands full and little leisure to repent your hast Trouble not your self therfore replied the eldest brother haue don and prepare your selfe to breake a launce This said they retired from ech other the length of a good carrier then setting spurs to their horses they came to encounter with such a violent â—ury that the assailants staffe flying in shiuers could not stir neuer so little Belcarin out of the saddle who on the other side for that he was strong and puissant hit him so soundly with the first blow oâ—his launce that piercing his shield and armour he ran him more then a foot and halâ—e thorow the body with his sword so that there was no néed to send for a Chirurgion to cure his wound The two other brethren which beheld this piteous spectacle supposing truely their elder brother had his deaths wouÌ„d came in a great rage galloping towards him called to him aloud Ha knight in a curled hour didst thou strike that blow for thou shalt presently receiue thy death So they can boâ—h full at him but the one misâ— his blow and the other lighted vpon his slanke where he made a little wound wherof when Belcarin felt the smart he began to stir himselfe couragiously in his owne defence And albeit these two brethren dâ—d trouble him sore yet the bickering lasâ—ed but a while for this yong prince being very resolute and experâ— in armes did deliuer such a full blow vpon the massard of one of them that hée set him tumbling to the ground to beare his brother companie And to make briefe with his falchion doubled his blowes so thicke against the other that hee was faine to fall from his horse al amased to the earth where he lest them all three thus vanquished and betooke himselfe to his voiâ—ge againe The squier who came with the brethren hauing séene the end of the skirmish rode backe presently towards the castle and finding their father in his chamber certified him of this heauie news Alas sir quoth he man vnlucky houre did you lodge yesternight the strange knight who euen now hath made an end of sâ—aieng your three sonnes Thâ—â— hâ— began to rehearse the whole discourse of the combat whâ—â—e sorâ—â—wfull issue drew vp the fludgates of a stream of tears which distilled froÌ„ the miserable fathers eies who bewailing their so great disaster called them many times fellonious and prowd children His vassals vnderstanding afterward the occasion of his gréeuous lamentation went incontinent to the place where their young lords were discomfited Two wherof they found stone dead and the third in danger of his life if he had not present succour Whom they put into a litter and the other two they laid vpon a Béere couered ouer with dolefull black and so did they conuey them with much sorrow and mourning into the castle where was their wéeping mother powring forth a sea of salt teares wringing her hands with pittifull and lamentable complaints sâ—réeching vp to the heaueÌ„s with continuall yelling and crying that you would haue iudged her rather to haue resembled some senceles thing then a woman in any thing partaking humaine wit and reason The like did her daughter also who after she came againe to her best senses did protest and déepely sweare before
him thou art dead cruel and inhumane Barbarian séeing thou hast not had pittie of a better and more courteous knight then thy selfe Hée knowing it was time to bestir something els then his tongue and not to be all day in doing it put himselfe brauely in defence when with the first stroake of his sword he sent one of them to kéepe Diolas company in the other world But the other foure held him so liuely play that he receiued two or thrée wounds yet not mortall nor dangerous for he droue them so before him that neither one nor other could once come néere him but they should find him ready to receiue them And although they gaue him his hands full as doubtlesse the match is too vnequall of foure against one yet he neuer shewed himselfe coward or fainthearted but in warding stil their blows mist not their bodies an inch at euery aduantage where they lay open and he made the sweat drop down his forhead for feare whom he could sometimes by chance light vpon The countesse séeing her champion in perill of death sent many of her people to his rescue so that there salied out of the fortresse more then twentie knights all very well armed to goe sacage and take prisoners those foure assailants for all that they could take but two of them al hewen and massacred of their bodies whom they caried afterwards within the castle for as for the others very feare had made to take their héeles so soone as they saw the supplie of enemies come forth of the castell to assaile them In the meane while two young knights kinsmen to the countesse came humbly to thanke Rifaran and to inuite him to refresh himselfe within the fortresse as well because it was néedfull for him to rest as also because the ladie and mistresse thereof had a great desire to know him and to doe him all the honour she might deuise for the suddaine and miraculous aid she had receiued at his hand Gentleman quoth the knight then smal matters are these I haue now exploited in respect of that I would endeuour to accomplish as far as my life would goe for her and her péeres Notwithstanding I will goe willingly to visit her to the end to doe her that reuerence which I ow to all the honest and vertuous paragons of her sex So he walked forth towards the castle and as he drew néere it behold the countesse who met him who thanking him in most humble manner for the knightly act he came from performing in the defence and maintenance of her good right required him most instantly and with a very amiable grace he would declare her his name to that end her spirits might be setled knowing him by whom she had receiued this aid Madame quoth Rifaran I am a gentleman of the emperours court whence I am come not long since to séeke a knight who departed thence very secretly this other day and arriuing here by chance as you may sée I could not endure you should be thus villanously outraged by your aduersarie against whom I haue as I thinke without all blame attempted that which euery aduised and noble knight is bound to doe in the like occurrence With this talke they mounted vp the staires of the great hall where being arriued the countesse did with her owne hand disarme Rifaran then laid him in a rich bed and caused his wounds to be looked vnto with all care giuing commaund the same euening to make an honourable tombe to inter therein the bodie of Diolas her brother in law with ceremonies of funerall pomps as were requisit for the yonger brother issued of so high a house as that of Iseland And afterward causing al her vassals to bée assembled she aduised that Rifaran and the two knights which she held prisoners should recount vnto them the discourse of this battaile the happie issue whereof made them more then content In respect whereof they all againe sware and promised vnto her loiall fidelitie and she remained in tranquillity and peaceable possession of her estate So that hereby her thoughts being no more troubled with the continuall vexations and alarmes that Diolas was wont to giue her she occupied her selfe altogether in tricking vp of her naturall beautie and in doing of things which might please the knight whom she perceiued alreadie a little entangled in her loue which on the other side fiered her owne thereby with an vnquenchable flame hauing vnderstood he was nephew to the Empresse of Constantinople but she knew not he was a Moore this reciprocall amitie grew so hot betwéene them that it rauished quite the spirits of this countesse euen to make her forget the chast and vndefiled lawes of her widdowhood for the impatient desire of Rifaran and the guerdon of his merit whereof she was in silent manner required did prouoke her so liuely that shée was persuaded to let her heart swim in the streame of all delicious ioissance so it fell out afterward by the subtiltie and secret practises of Cupid wherof not any liuing creature but they two and one of her most faithfull ladies of honour were priuie and Rifaran loued her afterward so strangely that for the loue of her fearing least his departure might cause her sorrow insupportable griefe he soiourned a great while longer in that place then hée was determined to doe CHAP. XX. How Marcomyr arriued in the island of Cardery where first he dismounted Tiraquel at the ioust afterward vanquished the knight Gâ—rdian at the bridge and some others who assailed him at the third turreâ— how he had at last a sight of faire Celestina and was set vpon by two great enchanted dogs YOu haue heretofore vnderstood how after Marcomyr hâ—d vanquished Arnedes he went on his way with incredible desire to arriue quicklie in Carderie so that he made tarriance in no place before he came thether which was vpon a munday at afternoone full glad was he as euer he was in his life to be come thether wherefore he put himselfe in deuout praier praying vnto God with all sinceritie to giue him so much grace that he might happily atchieue the victorie of this aduenture for a memoriall and sacrifice whereof he promised with a contrite heart to offer vp the purity of his soule to the holy character of Christianitie and to be baptised as soone as by any meane possible he might At this same time was not Belcarin in guard of the bridge as he was wont before for he was importuned to goe some daies before to visit the king and quéene Griana his ouncle and aunt in Macedon who hauing euery day newes of the great and meruellous chiualries he did in defence of this bridge had sent for him by an expresse messenger to come vnto them And indeed he had not gone so obstinate he was in his enterprise if Alderine had not requested him priuily by a letter which the very same page brought him who had spoken vnto him in her behalfe
to me the extreame desire he hath to present to you his seruice so that vpon this hope I haue willingly brought him in here estéeming it a thing of very rare and great consequence the purchasing of such a personage to augment so much the more the forces of your guard Hée is then quoth the father very welcome hether in recompence of his good will he shal haue the best cheare we may prouide for him For all that his purpose was otherwise because the more his daughter commended them the more angry was he to see them within the castle their very presence striking into him a feare and suspition neuertheles to dissemble it and not to let them perceiue therof he procéeded thus with a pleasant countenance daughter goe you in to salute your mother in the meane time these knights well disarme them This he spake meaning to cause their armes to be lockt vp and kept safe from them till they were out of the castell But Marcomyr who heard those spéeches doubting some such euent cared not much to talke with him any further but went strait away with the page of Leifida who brought him vp into a very faire chamber where in stéed of disarming themselues they caused their squiers who carried their armes alwaies after them to lace their helmets quickly then betaking them to their shields with vnconquerable courage they salied out hauing their naked swords ready drawn in their hands Which the yong man séeing was more amased then if at the same instant he had lost his forme by some new metamorphosis began to crie out in strange maner O detestable and vile act of disloialtie running downe amaine to aduertise the gard wherein he was soone preuented for Marcomyr knowing he might not delay his enterprise any longer made spéedily down into the court where he saw the captain blaming and rebuking the porters for letting him in who made their excuse vpon Leifida that brought him in with her And perceiuing him to make furiously against him he cried alarme O my loiall and faithfull knights take armes slay me these vilaines who are come to betray vs in this rash manner then the prince hauing instructed Ozalias before to win the wicket and kéepe it against all those that would come in to succour or goe forth to flie remembring his lady Celestina that he must either die in the place or deliuer the king her father out of prison began to strike without pity those of the gard the captaine séeing his honor and life reduced to so pitiful an exigent laid suddainly hold on a pâ—leax which by chance he found at hand wherewith he went to giue Marcomyr such a knock vpon his morion that had not the creast thereof ben tempered with fine steele he had seperated his soule from his bodie This constrained the knight who would not haue stroke him otherwise for the loue of his daughter to strike againe so that he gaue the old man such an ataint with a blow returned to his head that he cleft his skull downe to his iawes giuing the like entertainment to thrée or foure other knights who let driue at him thinking to massacker him quickly but in a small space he made so cruell a slaughter of al those which came to encounter him that the most hardie and valiant remained in the place either dead or dangerously wounded And if peraduenture any coward made to the gate thinking to get out that waies to saue himselfe by flight he fell into Ozalias hands who shewed them but small courtesie so that in this skirmish there remained not one man of the castle aliue except the page which was master of the ship that brought the two cousins into this good hauen who ran imediatly to his mistres Leifida telling her thus Madame we are all traiterously betraied by the false and inhumane knight whom we haue brought in hether Therefore I know my selfe worthy of a thousand deaths if I might haue so many one after another for I was the cause that my lord your father and all his guard are put to the edge of the sword When the Damsell and her mother heard these piteous tidings they ranne forth almost out of their wits not knowing what to do séeing this horrible discomfiture they begaÌ„ to wring their hands and poure forth the most pitifull complaints that euer any liuing person heard Leifida who accused her selfe of all this blame fell downe halfe dead vpon her fathers corpes vttering a spéech in this sence Alas deare father pardon me who am the only cause of your death which séeing I haue aduanced innocently thorow the â—ained and cautelous circumuention of a Tyrant I will presently end my daies and to accomplish better the expiation and ceremonie of your obsequies and funerall pomps I will let this transitory life fréely offer vp my soule vnto the gods to accompany yours before their throne Pronouncing these words with a spent voice by reason of the continuall sighes which from her breast followed one another so thicke she would haue moued the most pitilesse and diamantine heart to compassion Marcomyr who reposed himselfe at the foot of a piller went directly to her where she made this mone who perceiuing him come ran vpon him as a lionnesse enraged when her whelpes are taken from her crying out amaine Ha cruell and fellonious knight séeing thou hast slaine my father all his guard and people why doest thou not make an end of me also How long wilt thou linger before thou send my woefull soule out of this languishing passion which it endureth in this my dying bodie Tell me Barbarian what moued thée to render this sorrowfull recompence for the extreame loue I bare thée now conuerted into all deadly hatred and more then mortall malice How durst thou deceiue a poore maiden thus trecherously considering the great familiarity into which I so soone admitted thée at the first sight Ha dissembler that hast thus surprised me through the false apparence of thy faire and sugred words saying thou wert a king a prince a great siegnior I thinke it wel but of théeues and murderers who camst hether but to pillage the treasure in this place O foolish more then miserable girle to credit so lightly thy cogging and deceitfull persuasion whose issue is but too tragicall and full of calamity Surely if all those who knew me euer haue reputed me a sage and an obedient daughter now they shall from henceforth account me for the most disloiall and wickeddest maiden that liues hauing thus wrought the death of mine owne father And although it be against my will shall I for that cease to exclaim of the inconstancie of fortune which by the only report of I know not what cloked and friuolous ostentation hath so easily chaunged my heart What will you my lord the great Turke say when you shall vnderstand the tidings of this massaker which hath ben so cautelously wrought to steale hence your treasor Alas why
doe I not call to mind the aduersitie and dommages that your brother receiued by the Emperor of Constantinople when hée trauelled the world as a knight errant I should féele no more the perplexitie which this too suddaine confidence that I reposed in this stranger driues me into but what The fatall iudgement which yéelded me so soone subiect to him would not fauorise me therein Marcomyr hauing no regard to her reuiling spéeches praieâ— her in humble manner to quiet her spirits and promised her againe if she would condiscend to go with him to aâ—â—ance her to so high estate that the world should sée the crowne of a Quéene vpon her head assuring her hée would take away nothing out of the castle but the king of Thessalie whose deliuerance encouraged him only to execute this bloodie discomfiture which willingly he would haue forborne if he had vnderstood her father would haue yéelded him without contradiction Leifida hearing this purpose Alas Mahound quoth she wéeping most pittifully how doe you permit these Christians to make so many incursions and pillages vpon the very countries and persons of your Turkes Why haue you created and lodged women so néere men séeing that for them they passe thorow innumerable torments The brother of the Gran-siegneur died cruelly for a Damsels sake and by my means his Castilion of Albase hath been murderously slaine and traiterously dishonored the king of Thessalie being forcibly taken out of his prisons â—o that I had rather die a thousand deaths then liue any longer in this world to haue still the bitter remembrance of this afliction troubling my spirits When she had made an end of her spéech she like a mad woman ran as hard as she could driue to graspe the knight in her armes thinking to haue taken away his sword to kill her self therewith and him also if she had could but Marcomyr would not strike her thinking to make her leaue her hold and died many faire spéeches and entreatings to her which did no whit assuage her choller which made her so furiously rage against him and her mother also who set on also to succour her that he could in no wise be rid of theÌ„ He knew not well what to doe for he would not hurt them when his squier who saw such gentlenes might be preiudiciall to him not shewing himselfe so courteous towards them as his maister pulled with all his might the mother off him then with the poleax that he wrâ—â—ed â—ut of her husbands hand he cut her head froÌ„ off her shoulders which was such a griefe to Leifida that she fell in a dead swound and being surprised with such a shaking fear that she died without euer speaking a word afterward to any bodie With this piteous accident was the poore page striken into such a griefe that he purposed not to liue long after but would write some memorie vpon the wall wherevpon were afterward composed these verses which follow O Iupiter seeing the Destinie Of my mishap I could in no wise flie From heauens vawt throw downe thy speedie fire To giue me death for my deserued hire For here I see the monstrous Chimere stand And will not hence his naked sword in hand To send ere long vnto the darkest hell My foule that doth in bitter anguish dwell O soueraigne gods do me this fauor shew When it shall passe grim Charons boat below Safe conduct it whilst it is ferrâ—ed ouer That to th' Elisian fields it may recouer O ye that dwell in the infernal cittie To you I eccho forth these plaints for pittie Proserpina the ladie of the lake I call on thee maist thou compassion take Vpon a damned soule that faine would die A thousand deaths out of this miserie Guilty I am and yet am innocent I will not liue to die I am content Thou Cerberus the triple-headed hound Dwelling in darkest horror vnder ground Call home to thee the too too cruell fates And keepe them prisoners fast within thy gates Clotho vnkind and Lachesis that did Both twist and spin forth our vnhappie thrid Which Atropos cuts off with bloody knife Depriuing vs poore Turks of sweetest life Else ser on worke the angry Tisiphone Alecto Megare and the fearfull Gorgone To torture them send forth all thy Furies Dislodge me hence who caus'd these cruelties But must I needs be made the mean Alas To bring this wofull tragedie to passe Why had I not some skill in Magicke art Him to preuent that plaid this blooddy part To murther me why were they not content Who of this woe was the chiefe instrument And not in fellon guile thus to haue slaine The Turks Castilion with his gard and traine But for I see my death before mine eies Dispatch my hand to doe the sacrifice Dispatch my bodie that my soule may goe Into the stinking gulfe of hellish woe The page hauing fixed this sorrowfull sonnet on the wall ran quickly to take vp the sword of one of the dead knights the point wherof he set right against his breast and so thrust himselfe to the very heart This was the tragicomicall act that Marcomyr began to play at Prissa continued at Albase where the Castilion and his gards of the castle finished miserablie their liues Hauing then dispatcht them all they made search in all corners of the castle to find out the prison wherein the king was enclosed at the last they found him locked vp fast within a tower whose windowes were all yron barred so leane and poore that he made them almost agast to behold him Marcomyr who séeing him in this pittifull taking remembring how he was father to his deare ladie Celestina could not chuse but wéepe for compassion Neuerthelesse the king did not perceiue at all of this humanitie but wonderfully astonished to sée them with their swords readie drawn thought they came to make an end of his languishing and miserable life Therefore most willingly preparing himselfe to the sacrifice he cried out alowd Redéemer of humane nature I commend vnto thée the poore soule which must presently passe out of his vile prison vouchsafe then pittiful father to accept the trauels and miseries that I haue so long time patiently suffered for pennance of my sins and séeing he hath knowne my bodie vnworthie of his protection in this world bée to him a mediatour for my soule in his celestiall kingdome to the end his Iudgement may not banish it from the place of eternall felicitie which he hath promised to the blessed Marcomyr being stricken dumbe at this lamentable spéech Ozalias began to speake thus vnto the king let not your maiestie feare that we are come to wrong you but to deliuer you out of this sufferance and to bring you to Constantinople where you shall find your Quéene with Celestina your onely daughter by whose meane you are presently set at libertie who attendeth there for you in all deuotion He procéeded to tell him how there was no bodie aliue in that castle whom they
alreadie endure wherefore I require you againe if request I must néeds make to such an aduersarie to aduise hereafter to conserue your reputation so that I purchase no blame which may offend mine honour and you shall doe much as well for my sorrowfull consolation as for the increase of your owne praise When she had vttered these spéeches the princesse began to complaine in such strange maner that the emperour himselfe did pittie her and could not chuse but answer her thus I vnderstand very well what you say and I know better that feminine choller which now enrageth your spirit making you transgresse the limits of good manners and modestie not being ignoraunt how the puissance of princes is lesse then nothing when God doth resist and stand against them wherevpon we must make our full resolution that we cannot doe any good act but according to his will by the which I was carried as it pleased him into the Gransiegniors your vncles court and I sweare and protest before him to whome all things are knowne I will not otherwise be saued at the end of my daies if I slue him or euer thought to doe it hauing then intoo too fresh memorie the honour which a little before I receiued of him this indéed I depriued him of the damsell which he detained by force to put her againe into his hands to whome by right she appertained wherein in mine opinion I committed none offence séeing he vniustly withheld her profaning the sacred lawes of royall equitie And for that the sage and wise alwaies take in good part as well aduerse as prosperous fortune I assure my selfe madame you shall haue no more cause to be sorie hereafter when you shall vnderstand you were conquered by the most courteous and braue knight who liues at this day vnder the stars Marcomyr by name the very same who vanquished in Hellespont king Ocurites your husband O thrise accursed that I am exclaimed the damsell then whose rauisher who hath shut me in here by the means of an inexorable gut of sea caused the imprisonmeÌ„t of the king my déere husband Now should I assuredly hasten on the last hower of my life séeing that hauing him in my countrie where by a cruell and shamefull death I might haue bene reuenged of him easily I knew not hée was the rouer and pyrat who betraied my husband O Fortune how dooest thou in all things shew thy selfe too much mine enemie bringing me into such perplexity that I cannot giue my self the mortal attaint to send my soule out of this gulfe of affliction in which I féele my selfe so déepely plunged that I sée no better remedie to get out then to launch my selfe cruelly vpon the dart of the implacable A tropos Surely thou art so spightful against me that I can haue no hope by praiers to mooue thy mercie but may say iustly the heauen hath bene far better aspected towards me then thou prosperous or fauourable and so it is better I resolue to indure patiently my mishaps séeing all things crosse me so that I cannot in them find the least sparke of fauour The end of these words brought downe such aboundance of tears from Marencidaes eyes and so great number of sighs began to rise from her heauie heart that shée remained a long while resembling nothing but some mad sencelesse creature filling the aire with such lamentable cries and sobs as no humaine eare hath heard the like Therewith was Philocrista much mooued to pitie compassion carieng her suddainly into her chamber where she so laboured by all good counsails and consolations to quiet her that she diminished part of her rage and madnesse There will we leaue them togither in this paciâ—ication to returne to the good knight Marcomyr who disarmeth himselfe in the meane time to the end to appeare in presence before the Emperour with such pompe as his roiall excellencie did require CHAP. XXX The honest and gratious conference had betweene Marcomyr the Emperour the Empresse and Dâ—ocles and how afterward he caused himself to be baptized to be fâ—anced immediatly after to his faire ladie Celestina MArcomyr being disarmed he put vpon his backe a sumptuous and rich iacket beset round about with pearles and other rare pretious stones of great inestimable valor the which he caused to be made before he departed out of the kingdom of Tarsus after the moderne and newest fashion vsed then amongst the most magnificent kings of Asia with intention to were it the first day hée came before the emperour such a splendor did this roiall vestement giue to the naturall beautie of Marcomyr that he drew all the beholders into admiration and exactly to remarke the Phisiognomie and lineature of his countenance one might haue easily iudged him to resemble much his father who engendred him but they were out of this thought so that Diocles taking him then by the hand they went and sat downe both so by the Emperour who hearing all the court to speake of nothing but of the extreame desire which they had to know of what race hée was discended began to speake vnto him in this manner Marcomyr my deare friend it behoueth you now no more to couer your selfe from me hauing your famous flourishing renowne pierced so the foure corners of this base and terrestriall region tell me then I pray you of what parents are you issued and all the rest wherevnto you may thinke our eares will be attentiue to hearken Gratious lord quoth he to you whom I hold for my liege sâ—egnior can I not cloake honestly any thing which you may desire to know of me for I should thinke my selfe vnworthie of your presence in dissembling vnto you the sinceritie of my heart Know ye then I am son to the Quéen of Tarsus the most affectionate handmaid and perpetual louer of your maiestie who by a strange aduenture am come fâ—r from the confines of my kingdome so soone as I knew who was my father whereof I was alwaies ignorant before The occasion of my comming into your court was the renowne and high praises of Celestina to whose seruice I firmely beléeue the fatall Destinies haue submitted me euer since my natiuitie for the loue of no other ladie liuing did euer get place in my spirit which hath felt an intollerable passion in knowing it self vnworthie to purchase her grace and lesse to gaine accesse and fauour in your court There made he vnto him the whole discourse of the old beldame who appeared to him sitting vpon the foot of a stone pillar in the cloisters of his palace and what she told him blaming him for the idle and delicious life he led Kéeping silent neuerthelesse how she certified him to be his sonne because he reserued that to manifest it vnto him last of all other matters if he did not sollicite him more instantly He farther procéeded how hauing till that day liued like an infidell and after the Alcoran of Mahomet he did purpose with a sincere
wherof shall giue you loiall testimonie the first commaundement which I shall receiue from you wherein I pretend to employ my selfe so well that you shall discerne the little difference I put betwéene doing and saying As then Diocles and Abenunq had enterlaced many courteous spéeches and gratulations they came all thrée towards the Empresse to whom as soone as they were arriued Marcomyr fel on his knées to kisse her hand which she would not haue had him done but she lifted him vp quickly againe and embracing him with her most gentle and gratious entertainement she began thus My sonne Marcomyr the vertues gifts of the heauen whereof the soueraigne God hath knowne your bodie worthy of séeme vnto me so well emploied in your person that with great reason they incite me to loue you naturally as I doe with all my heart willingly and conceiue in my selfe a maruellous great ioy that you are now come to shew the true office of a sonne which is to recognish your father to present the humble obeissance which you owe vnto him being thinges whereof your father and I feele our selues so well pleased and content as of nothing els so much which might happen vnto vs at this day Madame answered Marcomyr it is of your accustomed bountie that it pleaseth your highnes to account me in the number of your most humble and afâ—ianced seruants albeit I doe not merit the least part of any such fauor Neuerthelesse if a sincére deuotion and zeale of a loue more then of the son to the father which I haue neuer day of my life to transgresse your commaundements might purchase me so much happines to containe me alwaies in your grace and in that of my lord my father I should content my selfe as much with fortune as the richest prince of the earth therein haue I set downe hidden the limit of my riches thinking there can be no more pretious a treasure found for me My deare child then replied the Empresse you are so forward that you néed not vse any seruice therein towards vs for this matter but henceforward you shall take such habitude and familiarity with vs as you shall séeme best for I sée you are very worthie of that â—auor and so modest you will in no wise abuse it Much more honest and gratious conference had they together In the mean while this newes was spread all ouer the pallace by means whereof Philocrista went as though she would flie to embrace and receiue Marcomyr for her brother The like did the king and Quéene of Thessalie all running to him so filled with gladnes that when they came to him they could hardly opeÌ„ their mouth to speake to him So great was the ease and pleasure of those who vnderstood this good newes that all the night they could not sléepe nor take any rest for that some made bonefires others sounded trumpets and many other instruments for ioy and gladnes in briefe he did not thinke himselfe the son of a good mother who did not welcome Marcomyr as the Emperors sonne or who did not shew some signe of reioicing at that vnexpected parentage but all this was nothing in respect of that which the Emperor did on the morrow morning who sent one of the richest and most sumptuous presents to Marcomyr and Ozalias that euery one might easily discerne common loue from that which is naturall wherein Ozalias shewed himselfe not too much pleased for no other cause but to sée Marcomyr thorowly resolued to become a Christian presaging alreadie in his heart what would befall the Quéene his aunt when she should be aduertised of that miserie neuertheles Marcomyr comforted him in the most amiable sort he might assuring him to crowne him king of Tarsus where he might lead a ioifull life with his faire Marencida which assuaged his miscontented mind a little And if the Emperor did giue rich presents vnto Marcomyr the Empresse sent no lesse to Celestina some whereof were presently bestowed vpon her person which was theÌ„ to be adorned to goe to the ceremonie of the baptisme of hir loue Marcomyr who should be affianced to hir presently after for this occasion did all the Barons and knights of the court mount on horsebacke who did much more honor to Marcomyr then before when they knew not his descent And being all arriued in gallant order within the church of Sancta Sophia he was there catholicklie baptised hauing for godfather his brother Diocles then presently by the hand of the most reuerend patriarke was he fianced to the faire Celestina who was so richly attired that she drew into more then a strange admiration al those who regarded her And we néed not to compare her in perfection of her graces corporal beautie and rarenes of iewels and habits to the sage Andromecha when the valiant and redoubted knight Hector of Troy espoused her nor to Cleopatra Quéene of Egypt when she contended in magnificence sumptuositie with Marke Antonie Triumuir her husbaÌ„d eating one of the pearls which hanged at her ears estéemed worth two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes nor vnto many others of the ancient time wherof the historians both Gréeke and Latin make memorable mention for euen as the Carbuncle the most rich and pretious of all Orientall stones set in a darksome and obscure place doth send forth such a glistering cleare splendor that not onely all the place round about is made light and shining but also the eies of all that looke vpon it are comforted and reioiced thereby likewise might they estéeme of Celestina not so much a Carbuncle within this temple as the only and true Phenix of her age The troupe then returned to the pallace in the same goodly array as they departed thence there began such a feast as neuer was the likeÌ„ séene before in such sort that euery one enioied part of the pleasure except Arnedes the good prince who felt himselfe in intollerable paine and in extreame diffidence euer to sée his fathers Embassadours arriue there By means whereof beholding a whole hower of the day together the now affianced in such content and his deare ladie Philocrista leaning vpon them one arme vpon Celestina and the other cast about Marcomyrs necke to shew him the greatest signes of loue she might deuise the sorrowfull louer attainted to the heart with that sight fel at the same instant in a trance to the ground but he was by many knights quickly holpen vp againe and forthwith caried into his chamber where after hée was come againe to himselfe fetching a broken sigh from his very heart he saith Alas my God and will the succor which should come to this poor afflicted soule stay any longer How doe you suffer thus my passible and fraile body to sée deth before it eies yet cannot die as it desireth â—iij thou searcher of hearts permit I beséech thée that death may cast quickly his dart against mine and imprint therin for whose sake I die that