Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A80393
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Nissena, an excellent new romance: / written originally in Italian by Francesco Carmeni; and now Englished by an honorable anti-socordist.
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Carmeni, Francesco.
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1652
(1652)
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Wing C599; Thomason E1234_2; ESTC R210434
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67,079
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161
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NISSENA AN EXCELLENT NEW ROMANCE WRITTEN Originally in ITALIAN BY FRANCESCO CARMENI AND Now Englished by an Honorable ANTI-SOCORDIST LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Princes Arms in St PAULS Church-yard 165â— NISSENA THOAS King of Cyprus being somewhat aged was much afflicted for that he wanted one to succeed him in his Kingdome having utterly lost all hopes thereof by the death of his wife Almira daughter to the late King of Macedon who died being with child He thought it unbecoming Kingly Majesty to marry a Subject though he wanted not good store of Noble bloud and cry'd up beauty And to ally himselfe with his neighbouring Princes suited not with his politick ends wherefore moved thereunto by his naturall inclination he resolved to take unto him such a wife as might acknowledge her being made partner of the Regall Throne onely to the merit of her beauty Rhodes a neighbouring Island though but of a small circuit was in those dayes so famous for handsome women and did so much abound therein as young Travellers flockt thither from farre distant Provinces onely to feed their greedy and curious eyes with beholding those countenances which multiplied Venus'es on earth and out-did the starres in Heaven Thoas therefore putting on a strange resolution determined to send thither three of the ancientest and wisest Gentlemen of his Court with free liberty to bring her unto him whom of all the Virgins of that Island they should judge to be the fairest that he might make her a Companion both of his Bed and Kingdome to the end that the one might be blessed with issue the other with successors He recommended three qualities to be by them observed in her whom they were to chuse to be his Queen That she should be of Noble Birth Of an excellent Temper And of a befitting Age. And for a fourth he gave them in charge that she should be rarely handsome to witness to the World that he did not marry meerly out of a desire to satisfie his lust The Ambassadors departed with two of the most glorious and best rig'd Gallies which were ever made in the Kings Arsenall attended on with a number of Gentlemen Souldiers and Servants answerable to the decencie and greatness of him that sent them Having had a very prosperous passage they cast Anchor not far from the Haven which on the East is shut in by two strong necks of land thrust out by the Island to rest her self upon The usuall friendly Salute being given by Canon shot they sent Albericus one of the Gentlemen upon the Peere with the Royall Ensignes who made Fermondo the then Prince understand That three Ambassadors from Cyprus desired his good leave to come on shore and to have audience He being full of Civility and a friend to that Crown sent forthwith many of his Gentlemen unto the Haven who went forth in three stately vessels to meet and reverently to receive the Ambassadors When they were come on land and being put into rich Coaches they were waited upon to the Palace by many of the chiefest of the Rhodian Nobility They were met at the stairs head by Fermondo's selfe and after multiplied Embraces and Welcomes they were brought into the Kings lodging they were well pleased to see themselves treated with greater respect and state then they expected or could have imagined Being somewhat weary by reason of those unavoidable troubles which are suffered at Sea were buried in sleep when the Sun was well advanced from the east and when they were awakened by the gladsome sound of Trumpets and the beating of Drums which in warlike wise congratulated the arrivall of such conspicuous personages As soon as they were drest they were invited to Audience by the Prince who very affably meeting them said What is it that is desired by the Ambassadors of King Thoas whom I so love and reverence as I have taken but little rest all the last night out of my desire speediy to execute the commands of so worthy a King With all due reverence and as much eloquence as they were Masters of they delivered their Ambassie desiring that his Highnesse would be pleased that out of all the fairest and best born Maids of Rhodes one may be chosen to make happy by her Marriage and Succession the Bed Bloud Royal of Cyprus The Prince gave way unto their desires saying with a pleasing countenance How fortunate are you the Virgins of Rhodes for whom your propitious Stars and Thoas his goodnesse hath prepared so considerable fortunes Return my acknowledgements unto your King who vouchsafes to chuse a Companion out of my Subjects who though I command over them am yet his humble servant Thankfull Civilities were paid on all sides and in execution of the request publick proclamation was made That all the fairest and best born Virgins of Rhodes should withing a certain prefixt time come to Court where she who should be judged to be the handsomest should be crowned Queen of Cyprus This was soon noysed over the whole Island to the great wonder of every one and to the particular alteration of the hearts not onely of the young Maids but of their Lovers There was no so conceal'd corner in the breasts of all those Maids which was not fild with ambition womanish vainglory the belief which all Lovers have that the object of their affection is the onely true Idoll of beauty did much torment the young men every one of them fearing to lose her whom they thought to be as worthy of a Crown as she appear'd to them to be the Queen of Beauty Some of the Virgins more passionatly in love then the rest would have refused to have appeared at the time and place appointed though a Scepter depended thereupon lest they might lose their Sweet-hearts had not their Parents ambitious hopes forced them to goe The houre and place were appointed which was to be the fatall moment and Capitoll to the Triumph of that Beauty which should happiliest incounter the Genius of those Paris'es who being to be Judges the older they were would be the less passionate in favourably deciding the question wheron the possession not of an Aple but of a Crown did depend 'T was a Spectacle indeed worthy to be seen by the whole world to behold fourscore exceeding handsome and nobly born virgins within one room whose pomp riches quaintness of dress and aparrell added to their prerogatives of Nature made up so pleasing a miracle to the eyes of the lookers on as they doubted whether what they saw was mortall or heavenly 'T was then apparently seen what womens industry can do in inventing rich costly apparell and extravagant dressings to increase by Art the worth of their native beauties whilst what the innocent want of experience in virgins could not doe was by more cunning women by studied Art effected with all their whole might Here did some appeare with hair elaboratly