with his owne consent Thereafter was Lucilla crowned Queene To recompence the wrong she had receiv'd Fortunes inconstancie may well bee seene In this for why those folkes who lately crav'd To take her life now as their Queen most fit In one accord Lucilla they admit Thus liv'd Calanthrop and his Ladies here Into Corena for a prettie space At last Lucilla long'd to see Epire Yet er'e Calanthrop mov'd from that same place In favours of the nearest of the blood Royall did of the crowne himselfe denude So did Lucilla to her endlesse praise But yet they ever tendred this respect That Cyrenaican kings of them alwayes Should hold their crowne and likewise should elect If that the royall race were dead or gone Ever their kings by their advice alone Those Articles the Princes all have sworne Likewise they vow their dearest bloods to spend In his behalfe as if he had been borne Their native king they vow him to defend Thus they convoy Calanthrop to the sea Giving rich gifts to all his companie Now from the coast of Africa they goe Towards Epire with great celeritie Smoothly their ships divide the Ocean so The way they went cannot discerned bee Sweet Southerne windes affoord them so good way Comarus hav'n they gained without stay Then in Nicopolis a day or two They stayd then went they to Vallonia Calanthrop now not fearing any foe Embassdours sent vnto Calabria Intreating that the Duke without delay Would come to Epire 'gainst his wedding day Where many Princes of no meane degree Earles Lords and knights would likewise there expect And give their presence each as well as hee Hon'ring the nuptials with a great respect The Duke tells them his presence hee should give They thanke him humbly then they take their leave So to their King Calanthrop they returne Told him their answer whereof hee was glad Now in Vallonia did the King soiourne Where'gainst his Nuptials hee provided had Each in his court horse clothes and armour brave And each thing requisite their hearts could crave Amongst those Courtiers was one gallant knight Hee to Calanthrop Cousin-german was Likewise the King in him tooke great delight This knight did love Sophona that sweete Lasse Sophona likewise did the knight affect For why no wench his carriage could reiect Sophona Aunt was to Lucilla faire In birth his equall and such like in love Therefore the King the Queene and all were there Applaud this match and willingly approve Their equall choyce so king and Queene consent They wedded be with them to their content O what inestimable ioy and pleasure These lovers by this promise did conceive I thinke they brookt it in the greatest measure Imag'narie that mortall creatures have Thus they swift sliding time in pleasure spend Yetlongingly the nuptiall day attend Now when this day that every one desir'd So much was come and Princes Earles and Lords Were present each one whom the King requir'd Vnto them all Calanthrop spake these words Yet to Calabria's Prince he did direct His speech in speciall vnto this effect MY Princely brethren quoth hee I intreate You think not hardly I in Armes am clad Nor that my Queen stands maskt for I 'le repeate The reason hereof which yet makes her sad Till she bee wedded sheel 'e not show her face Nor I vnarme my selfe in any case This is the cause Of late in Africa By chance I was O fort'nate adventure When as the King of Cyrenaica A tyrant vile did many one iniure Heavens struck this tyrant with a lethargie So that no physick could his griefe supplie This Lady you see here was then his Queene Yet wedded to him much against her will Hee wasfound dead vpon the wedding ev'n So each one thought the Queen the king did kill Therfore the Queen and this her waiting maid Who likewise must be maskt as I have sayd Vntill she wedded be imprisond were Thereafter were they both adiudg'd to die Before the counsell would their king interre This time a boy acquaints me privilie That two the fairest Ladies that did breath For no offence this day must suffer death I hearing that having an Armie strong Hard by Corena for a speciall vse 'Cause that dead king before had done me wrong I long'd for to revenge that old abuse So I in spite of his releiv'd at length Those Ladies two by stratagems strength Thereafter homeward I my iourney tooke Those Ladies needes would beare me companie Since for my sake they Africa forsook It had in me been great discourtesie Their kindnesse to reiect in any sort Wherein I tooke thereafter great comfort For when I had with admiration gaz'd Vpon this Ladies beautie stands me next Her lovely face my spirits so amaz'd That ever since my ioyes in her are fixt Likewise because shee thinkes I sav'd her life She is content now to become my wife Now you the reason may perhaps admire Why she is pleasd be wedded vnder vaile It is their countrey fashion though not here Those that be widowes ever to bewaile Their husbands death with maids in like attire Till they do wed their husbands then require Them vsually for to leave off to mourne Likewise for to cast off their mourning weed The which they doe and so againe returne To love the quick and to forget the dead This is the cause why those their face obscure My Princely brethren hereof be you sure But now you may in reason likewise aske Why I thus arm'd desire to wed my Bride I else have showne you why the Ladies maske Their face so likewise know I arm'd abide Because the martiallkings of Epirus Who wan theirwives by Armes were wedded thus This other forme'they ever likewise vsd Some forraine Prince their Queene must to them give Which ancient custome none have yet abusd Nor shall by me for why it would me grieve To abrogate such worthy fashions old Ordain'd by my ancestors stout and bold For this cause I most humbly doe request You noble Prince of rich Calabria Doe me the honour before all the rest Of Kings and Lords of famous Grecia 'Cause you 're a forraine Prince as to bestow This Queene on me which all the rest allow Sir quoth the Duke if that can can do you good Your Queene I shall deliver vnto you Therefore it 's best you presently conclude To goe to Church for to the gods I vow I 'le honour you in any thing I can For why I love each martiall-minded man The king did yeeld him thankes and so they went To Church whereas the parties all were wed The Duke knew nothing of the Kings intent When to the armed king his Lasse hee led For this same Duke had vowd during his life With his consent his Lasse should nere be wife The Palace Royall stood amidst the towne When there they came Calanthrop went apart And on Lucilla's head he set hiscrowne Disarm'd himselfe then with a ioyfull heart The King the Queene Sophona and her Lord Vnmaskt or arm'd
to supper for them send Yet did the Duke and his faire Lasse conceive Great ioy that they had gaind what they would have But I beleeve Calanthrop did enioy As much content as any man aliue For now he doth his best wits all imploy To speake his mistres yet doth wisely strive To hide the same till time and place doe serve Though he meane while in love was like to sterve To supper went they after that to rest Lucilla by her maids was then conveyd To chamber but Calanthrop now supprest His passions great expecting fort'nate aid When Duke and Lords and Knights were all asleepe Sick-thoughts Calanthrop did best comp'nie keepe Thus then perplext hee went out at the gate Seeking to finde some solitarie place Where he might well vnheard or seene regrate His hard mishaps and wofull black disgrace In coverd walke ne're to the river side Haid by the garden him sweet Cedars hide Ov'rcharg'd with griefe hee 'gins for to impart His love-sick passions to each sencelesse thing Deepegrounded sighes opprest his loyall heart Which mov'd him to his Lute this Dittie sing The subiect was how Fortune crost each man In their loves suite thus Calanthrop began CALANTHROP HIS THRENODIE THE silent night summonds each thing to rest The schrieking Owle nights Herald notes her houres In sable robes when crystall welkin loures Each fowle an little bird flie to the their nest The Hamadriads haste to shadie bowres Each beast opprest with labour travell paine House hold or cave to rest them in remaine Now dew discends vnseene in silver shoures Refreshing scorched plants flours grasse grain Each thing that lives this season somway please The wearie Phlegon in the night findes ease Coolding in Tethys bowre his fierie waine Yet I tormented by a deepe disease In night find neither rest nor yet reliefe Pale-fac't disdaine is cause of all my griefe My frowning Fate I no way can appease Fortune aye me hath made me to be briefe A gazing-stock of discontented woe And still decrees I shall continue so Till death exhale my breath by lawlesse reife You whistling windes that ev'rywhere doe blow Tell all the world how I am forc't to prove The worst of Fortune in the best of love Smooth glyding streames that to the Ocean goe Shew raging Neptune limited above My restlesse passions and heart-killing feares Move me each houre as tribute pay him teares 〈◊〉 blessed Powers above the starres who move And when you list to vs below appeares I you implore to abrogate my smart Else lend Lucilla her coequall part For she as yet what love may be admires Therfore doe wound by sweet remorse her heart O Cupid if I durst I would demaund Why thou permits her thus thy lawes gain-stand I wish thou wouldst but touch her with thy dart Then should she be subiect to thy command And pittie me who daily for her feele Griefe paine and passions signes of sorrows seale And thou faire ring oft kist her fairer hand Now drouping sits and heares what I reveale Thou by that meane didst much more honor have Then I thy master who like blisse did crave Old doting Morpheus is most glad to steale The guerdon which in right I should receive Possessing her faire body he doth smile At wenching Iove who strives him to beguile Why doth not death me soone of breath bereave Since black disdaine affection doth exyle Satyrs Faunes which haunt those woods among And dauncing Driads witnes this my wrong See how the windes keepe silence all this while To heare the sad rehearsal of my tongue Sea-guyding Cynthia shames to come in sight And twinkling stars in clouds obscure their light Sweet smelling Cedars straight passing long Thrice happy I were this my finall night No no I yet must try a wearie day For to my griefe the Fates my death delay Lest I by death might ease this wofull spright O heavens what have I done that you assay In my loves quest each way to give me crosse Though I much fear to call heavens errors grosse Yet this abuse my sences so dismay I 'me sensible of nothing but my losse Looke how Aurora at my woe doth weepe Cleare dewie teares from her gray eyes downe leep On Flora's coat where gentle windes them tosse The pleasant brookes a grudging murmure keepe Faire Phoebus now beginnes to guild the fields And though his beames to all things comfort yeelds Yet since he sees me wrapt in sorrowes deepe Musing a mayd can see a man so pyne Sham'd of my wrong he now withdrawes his shine CAlanthrop having sung this Threnodie Sighes strive with teares and both prevent each word Teares wet his cheekes sighes dry them suddenly His matchlesse griefe deepe grounded groanes record Such wofull passions oft suggest despaire Whose on-wayters be sorrowe shame and care Yet Iove defend such like should him befall Superiour powers think it now high time That Fortune should in prosp'rous ioyes install Him whom till now she punisht without crime So lest perchance hee offer might offence Vnto himselfe by desp'rate violence Heavens mov'd Lucilla his complaint to heare For such like passions made her to awake With loving heart and with a listning eare Loves kingly power made her pittie take For by the consequent one may surmise Her selfe was subiect to the same disease And yet she did most cunningly proceed How skild bee women in their coying Art She well perceiv'd Calanthrop stood in need Of her sweet aid to ease his love-sicke heart And though she was most willing to extend Reliefe to him yet doth the same suspend Now ov'r the walke where Calanthrop then lay Therestood a gallerie on the garden wall To this same gallerie was a privie way From her bed-chamber here she vs'd to call Her maids by one dilating there her will To those shee pleasd whilst all the rest stood still Vnto this gallerie went she all alone For all that night she had receiv'd bad rest Hearing her knight relate with many groane The various wayes his vrgent grieves increast And when Calanthrop had left off to sing He slept which time shee dropt on him a ring The happy ring this posie did conteine Thy chiefe desire shortly shalt thou acquyre E're he awoke she went away vnseene Then to a secret walke did she retire Repenting her that e're this ring she threw Vnto her knight whereof he nothing knew Now being alone she ' ginnes her selfe to blame That should give place to such an idle thought As love even thus Lucilla now thy shame Apparent is which thou regardest nought What fond Lucilla wilt thou midst the yeares Of tender age subiect thy selfe to feares For Love's a field of feares of cares of paine Of trouble sorrow griefe and ghostly woe Since so it is in time it 's best restraine Such fruitlesse folly and such like forgoe Lest Venus boy thy gentle heart intrap Making therof no conquest but a rapt And what is hee that thou dost thus affect A stranger and perchance
chest They welcom'd her then altogether went And with sad hearts inter'd Calanthrops boy When they had done they all with one consent Each other toward Cephalas convoy Where they in silence spent that wearie night Longing to see faire Phoebus come in sight When day appeard and that the night was past They went to finde some village or some towne For 'gainst their will they kept a two-dayes fast The wearie Ladies by the way sate downe To rest themselves Calanthrop found a boy Who said hee would to Tapra them convoy Riding hee was a spare horse in his hand He held whereof Calanthrop was most glad Yet at the boy hee humbly did demand For money leave to ride to which the Lad Gave good attendance telling him for pay He should them horse to Tapra all the way Calanthrop gives him coyne the boy alights And told him likewise that hee had some bread If they were hungry to refresh their sprights Likewise some wine if they thereof had need The bread and wine Calanthrop from him takes Thereof for Ladies noble banquet makes When they had done Calanthrop much admir'd A barbarous boy to them was so discreete To know his name therefore hee much desir'd The which the boy did willingly recite My name quoth hee Sir is Philodespot Likewise by birth I am an Epirot I 'me glad quoth Calanthrop for so am I At this Lucilla could not chuse but smile But quoth Calanthrop pray thee tell me why Thou in Barbaria loves to stay this while Sir quoth the boy our ship was run a-ground By this late storme where my sweet master drownd And now since I a master lacke I goe To Tapra for to try if I can finde Some shippe going for Greece that I may so Transported be which much will ease my minde Please thee quoth Calanthrop I 'le give thee wage If thou wilt stay with me and be my page I am content quoth he Sir if you please Yet much I long my native soyle to see But yet it will my minde most greatly ease To serve or be in honest companie So horse those Ladies I shall be their guide Behinde you one the other me shall ride Forwards they iourney'd towards Tapra Citie But by the way misfort'nate accident The vilest tyrant lecherous lacking pittie That breath'd or mov'd beneath the firmament They met with all Anxifer was his name Of Cyrenaica king yet lacking shame This shamelesse tyrant when that hee perceiv'd Such matchlesse beautie have so slender guard He and his comp'nie bea stlily behav'd Themselves not caring what came afterward For many wounds they to Calanthrop gave Thereafter of his Ladies him berave Two great misfortunes Calanthrop did prove For first the Ladies were bereft him there Next was so wounded that he scarce could move But yet the losse of his Lucilla faire More then his wounds did aggravate his griefe Though his kinde Page did yeeld him great reliefe For hee on horse set him when they were gone So through great labour they the Citie gain'd But oh to heare what wofull wailing mone The Ladies made when as they were constrain'd To part with Calanthrop and hee so wound That sight the gladdest heart might have confounded Calanthrop through his wounds was forc't to stay In Tapra Citie for a weeke or two Then towards Epire he without delay And his kinde Page addrest themselves to goe Minding a navie shortly for to bring Towards Corena and besiege the King For in Corena did this king abide This Anxifer who did Calanthrop wrong In Cyrenaica hard by the sea side Corena stands a Citie matchlesse strong The tyrant to this towne the Ladies brought Where many times he villanies had wrought Now must we leave Calanthrop in Epire Levying his forces with what haste he can And speak of those faire Ladies who were here Kept in Corena by this div'lish man This Anxifer that monster for a King Who sought the Ladies to dishonour bring For when he was as pittie were returnd Vnto Corena he made shut each gate Toward Lucilla he in lust so burn'd That he waxt carelesse of his owne estate Save onely that he lov'd to be secure Till time he might his vile content procure Therefore hee to a chamber quickly went Taking Lucilla with him all alone Minding for to effectuate his intent Which he I thinke might easily have done Had not the vertue of the Ladies ring Him disappointed of his curst designe But when he saw that strength could not prevaile Nor that he could not purchase her owne grant Another way he mindes her to assaile And that was this Some Sorcerers did hant Much in that palace for those hath he sent And bids them make that Lady be content To bed with him or else show him a cause Why hee could not doe what hee did intend Or else he sweares that without any pause Their wretched soules to Pluto he shall send They him request some space them to allow To morrow this time quoth he else I vow You all shall hang thus Anxifer dismist Those gracelesse Sorc'rers who in one accord Their master invocate and so insist Continually till he sent them this word Lucilla faire she keepes Calisto's ring On her left hand whose vertue lets your King Vnto the King the morrow went they all And told him that a ring was all his stay On her left hand shee keepes it they it call Calistos ring quoth they therefore assay If you can any way that ring acquire Then are you sure t' accomplish your desire Of this the King was glad gave them reward Charging them that to none they should impart What they had told him then without regard Of honour went he with a merrie heart Vnto Lucilla's chamber whose estate No heart so hard but must the same regrate She and Sophona bitterly did weepe Yet nothing did the tyrants heart relent Why doe you thus quoth he a mourning keepe Faire Ladies doe not so O be content For thou whose beautie gave my heart its wound Vpon thy head quoth he I 'le set my crowne Which if thou wilt not willingly receive Then shall you both be vylie prostitute To each base villaine and each filthy slave Then to the death I shal you persecute Yet e're you dye the hangman shall abuse You both if thou to be my wife refuse Sir quoth Sophona pray let vs advise Some little space which choyce of those to take For who so doth a marriage enterprise Should well advise before the match they make So Sir remove and doe appease your wrath For be you sure each flesh abhorreth death The King went to his Sorcerers and told How that by threats he hoped to attaine The Ladies love and to them doth vnfold That for their magick they should still remaine With him and honour'd bee as men of worth If their advice good successe now brought forth But now Sophona to her mistresse sayd Madame quoth she bewailes doe nought availe You see with tyrants and I am afraid
That he with beastly furie vs assaile If that hee see his hopes are each way spent Therefore it 's best you seeme to bee content For I am sure before the time bee long Calanthrop will see his Lucilla faire And then most sure hee will revengeour wrong Our losses all hee likewise will repaire To wed the tyrant therefore condiscend For sure your ring your honour will defend Lucilla likewise thought this course the best Their present shame and danger to prevent By this the tyrant came and did request Them now to show him what was their intent Lucilla told him much against her minde She would become his wife if hee were kinde Whereto he swore that hee should so her love That after-ages should admire the same And each one should his loyaltie approve And for the wrong he penitent became Which he had done her then he causd conveene His barbarous nobles for to see his Queene The very morne must be the wedding day He longs so much his faire Queene to enioy The heat of lust can hardly brooke delay His barbarous Lords to morrow him convoy Vnto a Church where he his Queen did wed Would see him hang'd e're shee with him would bed In divers sports they spent the afternoone Ne're was bridgrome more ioyfull or more glad Vnto their chamber are they quickly gone Never was Bride more sorrowful or sad Yet in her ring she specially reposd Not knowing that its vertue was disclosd Vnto the tyrant by a div'lish art Else all the world could not have mov'd her goe To keepe this tyrant companie apart No feare of death could her have frighted so As to involve her honour in such danger To bee alone with such a barb'rous stranger Now being alone the King his Queene intreates To come to bed which suite she doth deny How so quoth hee then summarly recites He all her promises and askes her why Shee doth refuse since that shee is his wife To bed with him as she should all her life Then lifting her left hand hee faines to kisse The same and she no other did expect But treach'rously hee did her more amisse At vnawares for hee without respect Of teares or cries pulld from her fairer hand The chaste ring which she no way could gainstand So on the bed hee faire Lucilla threw Fully resolv'd his pleasure to fulfill He findes that once the Sorc'rers have prov'd true And yet he must be frustrate of his will For why Lucilla did the heavens implore To save her honour though she dy'd therfore The gods it seem'd did grant the Ladies suite For such a shaking did the King possesse That his designe hee could not prosecute Iust heavens doe still such villanie represse When earthly meanes the vertuous minded faile Then sacred Powers by their strength prevaile For though Lucilla could no way resist This tyrant king heavens pittied her estate And so those heavenly powers ever blist In time gave aid whilst shee her griefe relate For now the tyrant vile began to bleed And soone thereafter on the floore fell dead This sight amaz'd Lucilla's tender spright So that she cald the guard for to appeare Then vp they came for they had watcht all night But when they saw the King was dead such feare Possest them that they scarce could well take hold Of faire Lucilla who the truth them told Yet ever thinking she the king had kild Their wrath and furie did so farre abound That both the Lords and Citizens have wild The guard to putin prison most profound The Lady that this murther did coact Vntill such time as she confest the fact Her maid beg'd leave to keepe her companie And then the guard to Iayle did them commit Lucilla fully is resolv'd to dye What death they please e're she thus prison'd sit But now sweet Lady voyd of all comfort She to Sophona spake in this same sort How now Sophona had it not been good That in Calabria we as yet had staid Then had our friends not spent for vs their blood Nor we thus prison'd been for death affraid Iust are the heavens who though into their ire They punish me with flames of sacred fire Even me who have my fathers will represt Despising counsell Natures kinde respect By which I brought griefe to his aged breast Who me vile wretch intirely did affect Sweet heavens quoth shee to dye for my offence I 'm glad so death my misse can recompence But yet aye me Calanthrop my sweete knight Could I refuse to goe away with thee Since in thy selfe is plac't my whole delight Likewise thy ioyes I 'me sure are fixt in mee Therefore I vow that death or greatest paine I can for thee endure shall be my gaine Sweete Madam quoth Sophona well resolv'd Though spitefull Fortune at this time vs crosse And vs in woe hath guiltlesly involv'd Yet if with patience wee can brooke our losse We pay her home for none can more iniure Fortune then patiently their crosse indure And for your knight though you great griefe sustaine Most sure the like him likewise doth annoy For till hee see Lucilla faire againe I 'me sure his heart will never peace enioy Our griefe 's at height then Madam be content For vehemencies are not permanent Whilst thus they spake the Iaylor did them call Told them that presently they must compeare Before the Iudges in the Iustice hall So with him went the Ladies void of feare Lucilla to the Iudges did dilate The simple truth of all the present state Yet for all that she was adiudg'd to dye And so to Iayle the Ladies did returne But oh iust heavens have a disposing eye Which oft relieve the wofull hearts that mourne For now they sent the Ladies aid from sea Who can shall their wretched state supplea The morne alive midst fire to yeeld their breath Were they condemn'd this was their punishment The one as accessarie to his death The other as the actor eminent But yet Calanthrop lately came ashore E're they doe so I trust will aske wherefore For now hee sent Philodespot to towne To trye if he could with the Ladies meete The Page knew all the countrey vp and downe Therefore his maister doth him now intreate To try what newes hee heard or where the strength Of all the towne lay so the boy at length Went and return'd then to his maister shew The towne was all in armes and much agast So of the Ladies he could get no view For they into a Dungeon deepe were cast The King was dead and ev'rie one reports Two Ladies had him kild who were consorts At this report inrag'd Calanthrop sweares He will besiege the towne that 's not the best Quoth divers of his Lords for it appeares Since they 're in armes for warre they are addrest Therefore let vs some stratagem invent Them to ov'r-throw frustrate their intent Sir quoth a Captaine old I pray you heare Your Page tells that the execution place Is distant from the towne