was ready about Autumn and he came to Cotrona with a Hundred and Ten Galleys and some other Sails but seeing the Winter come on and wanting Victuals and Money for so great a Fleet he went to disarme at Brindiso with design to put to Sea again in the Spring and in the mean time to make Provision of all that should be necessary for the bringing to pass his Projects If Death had not made them vanish in a moment He dyed at Foggia a City in la Pouille oppressed with sadness and Malancholly after having lived Fifty Six Years and reigned Nineteen This Prince was tall of a ruddy Complexion had a great Nose and a fierce and Martial Air he was sharp and severe in punishment much more admirable for War than for Peace As to the rest very serious and of almost a Religious Life in what concerned Love He slept little spoak seldome doing more than he said He was liberall to brave men and firm in his Promises an Enemy of Trisles and useless Courtiers but a generous Protectour of Soldiers and Ambitious more than any Prince whatever resolute to have Money at any rate soever when he was to bring to pass any enterprize One of the things that have been most found fault with in this Prince and which has lest some stain in his Glory is the great License he gave to Soldiers in time of Peace to the great disadvantage of his Subjects but otherwise one of the most accomplished Princes of the Earth In that time Pope Martin had sent two Cardinals to Sicily for the endeavouring to make Peace with King Peter of Arragon and not being able to reduce him to accept the Conditions that they proposed they renewed the Excommunication there was against him and likewise Excommunicated all Sicily from whence they departed in that manner The Sicilians more Animated than ever to see themselves so ill Treated by the Pope in Consideration of the French having learnt the Death of King Charles run to the Prisons where the rest of those were who had been taken with the Prince of Salerno for to Massacre them But they found there so vigorous a Resistance that for the sparing of the Blood of theirs they were Obliged to set the Prison on Fire and caused the Death by this unmercifull Cruelty of the finest Youth that had been seen of a long time in Italy in sequel of which they caused the Judges of the Principal Cities of the Kingdom to Assemble for to make the Process of the Prince of Salerno who was in Prison with Nine of his Friends after the Example of King Charles the First who had caused Corradin to be thus judged and they all unanimously condemned him to be Beheaded as had happened to the unfortunate Prince of Suevia But Queen Constance a Princess whom Historians cannot enough commend being then in Sicily designed to save him and for to satisfy the People who demanded his Death she let them understand that in an Affair of so great Importance nothing could be Executed without the allowance of the King her Husband and thereupon she ordered that that Prince should be sent into Catalonia where King Peter of Arragon was to the end he might do as he should think convenient This was at length approved by the People and much Commanded in the World after the Action of Charles the First The Pope having learnt the Death of this King sent to Naples in Quality of Legate Gerard Cardinal of Parma and King Philip the Count de Artois his Son for to take care of the State with Mary Princess of Salerno in the Name of Charles then in Prison during that this King on the other side with the Count de Valois to whom the Pope had given the Investiture of Catalonia entred that Kingdom with two powerful Armies of which that by Sea was of a Hundred and Twenty Galleys They won Girona by assault where the King of Arragon who was there in Person to defend it received a Wound of which he dyed He left Anfus his Eldest Son King of Arragon and Don James the Second King of Sicily During that time Roger de Loria being departed from Sicily to come to the Succours of the King his Master learnt that a part of the Fleet of France was in the Port of Roses and that the other was gon to seek Victuals at Narbonne Whereupon he went and attacqued first that of Roses of which he burnt a part having taken or sunk the rest and made Prisoner Enguiran Admiral of France From thence turning towards that of Narbonne he surprized and defeated it with much less difficulty than the former which being understood by King Philip who was Sick at Perpignan it so grieved him that it caused his Death and almost at the same time that of Pope Martin the Fourth Insomuch that there dyed in the space of a Year three Kings and a Pope Things seemed to be some thing appeased in the midst of so many Deaths of that Consideration and the King of England who was come into Gascony endeavouring to make Peace between the two Young Kings James and Charles the Second then in Prison in Catalonia had almost concluded when it was interrupted by the Occasion I am going to relate The Cardinal Legat and the Count d' Artois Governours of the Kingdom of Naples judging the Conjuncture fair for the recovering of Sicily resolved with Fifty Galleys that they had obtained part from the Venetians and part elsewhere and some Militia that they had caused to come from Toscany with the French and the Country People to attempt this enterprize under the Command of Raynand Count of Aveline This Fleet put to Sea they Landed in that Kingdom they beseiged Catania they took it and the Count fortifying himself there sent his Fleet to Naples for to take in the Soldiers which had been left on Shoar there At the same time the Count of Montsort Vicar of Toscany accompanied with the Count de Boulogne and Philip Son of the Count of Flanders who were at Sienna departing from Maremma with a Fleet of Sixty Galleys of which Arrigin of Genoa was Admiral came towards Sicily to joyn with the Count de Aveline But de Loria who had newly won two Famous Victories having learnt at his coming from that of Narboune the descent that the Nepolitans had made into Sicily turned that way and came to the Succours of the Sicilians The First that he met with were those of the Count de Aveline who were going to Naples whom he chaced and finding them almost unprovided of Soldiers he immediately routed them and from thence going to meet that of the Count of Montfort which was coming from Toscany there was a furious fight in which being at length Conquerour he took the Count of Montfort Prisoner the Count of Boulogne and Prince Philip These two last ransomed themselves with a Sum of Money But the Count of Montfort having been detained Prisoner dyed some time aster in
call any of her Maids No answered she him in sighing with a languishing air But from whence comes it that the Countess goes away I know not Madam answered the Count in a manner something perplexed You know not replyed the Princess I believe however you can tell me the reason if you will but I begin added she to know the little relyance there is to be had upon you by the little Confidence you have in me Alas with what do you reproach me Madam cryed that Lover and how little you Penetrate how far goes he stopped there sighing and on a suddain renewing the discourse with something more heat if my Life was concerned Madam added he I should not hesitate one moment the telling you all there is in my Heart Why then replyed she do you refuse me the part I demand in your Confidence You know Madam answered the Count what you forbid me Yes but I no longer forbid it you replyed she how should I know what you would think For if it is what they would make me beleive it would seem that in leaving you in this silence one should authorize your temerity No Count pursued she with a more pressing manner than ever you shall tell me I Command it you if your Heart does not accuse you of any thing against me if the sentiments you have for me are as full of respect as I could desire them of you You are troubled Count continued she still seeing the disorder into which she put him and your Face does but too much declare that you are Guilty Do not rely upon my goodness I have a consideration for you because you have some merit but I am to maintain my Glory a small thing would wound it and you would less deserve favour than any one soever if you were fallen into such a misfortune The amorous Hannibal with a Countenance sad and full of respect though ever very passionate I have failed Madam I confess it said he to her sighing without being able to say any thing more at which that lovely Princess extreamly touched began to represent to him with a great deal of softness that she was neither of a Rank nor in a State to suffer that any other than the King her Husband should have such sentiments for her and that if he was reasonable he would do himself justice in that point and not suffer himself to be hurryed away by a blind passion and without hopes That he very well knew that it was to lose his respect to her and that since she had perceived it what she owed to her self would oblige her not only to forbid him her presence but also to cause him to be recalled by the King her Father if the hopes she had of reducing him to his devoir did not make her treat him with a little more goodness that this merited that he should make some reflection upon it and that he would seriously labour to cure his mind of a blindness which could not fail in the end of being his ruine I know Madam answered that Lover who began to take Courage that I have merited Death I shall not refuse it at any time you shall be pleased to order it me but for loving you nothing can hinder me as long as I live I might not tell it you as I did not during the space of Five Years that I have loved you with a passion the most tender and fullest of respect that ever one loved with I might likewise not see you that neither my Eyes nor sighs should speak but I should not however have failed of having alwaies for you the same ardour and it does not depend on me to get rid of it I have told my self all that can be said in that case I have set before my Eyes greater unhappinesses than all those you can ever threaten me with and all this Madam has but the more irritated my passion All the reasons contrary to this inclination and even to your very hatred which would be to me the most redoubtable thing in the World have never been able to persuade me that you were not the most lovely Princess under the Heavens and that I ought to love you to the very Grave I saw it was without hopes pursued he seeing that the Queen let him speak I durst not even flatter my self that you could ever know any thing of it and yet I could not hinder the abandoning my self to it as if I were to have been the most happy of all Lovers The Queen who had thitherto suffered her self to be lulled with the pleasure of hearing him recovering from so charming an Errour was something ashamed of her weakness and blusht Whereupon recalling all the efforts that modesty and devoir could make upon her and taking an air more severe than the softness of her Nature and than even the tenderness of her Heart could well permit her You only seek then to irritate me against you and what advice soever I can give you you will despise it and you fear not my anger I fear all from you Madam answered he with a transported voice but what I ought most to sear in you is your fair Eyes And would to God added he sighing that I had ever seen you in anger and full of disdain and contempt for me This wish so little usual and the action with which that Lover pronounced these words appeared something so rare to the Queen that notwithstanding all her affected seriousness she could hardly hold from laughing and not being willing to pursue a discourse from which she saw she should not come of on her side with that haughtiness that what the Count told her merited she rose and without looking upon him I have nothing else to say to you said she to him without it be that you make use of the advice I have given you for you may very well judge pursued she in going out of that Arbour that I can no longer see you with modesty and without doing an injury to my Glory if you stil continue in the same Sentiments Wherefore change them added she if you would have me live with you as I have hitherto done You must then Madam learn me how to hate you For to hate me No replyed the Queen but there is a Temperament between both that I could pardon in you Ah! Madam replyed this Lover how difficult is that Temperament to keep with such a Person as you I believe pursued he that if it was possible not to Love you with that Excess that I Love you I should hate you more than ever any one was hated The Queen fell a smiling and viewing him I must then be extreamly hated in the World For I assure my self there are few People in the World that are bold enough to Love me as you say If all the Earth knew you as well as I do Madam replyed immediately the Count with a Tone full of Ardour all the Earth would adore you or hate you as
Countesses Chamber for whom he could not any longer but have an aversion followed the Queen and told her that she should rather condemn him to die by a thousand hallebards or cast himself headlong out of the window than to oblige him to stay so long with a Woman whose sight alone was become more insupport able to him than Death it self The Queen turning towards him and from whence comes it Count said she to him as if she had been surprized at this discourse you have so much aversion after so long a conversation and which ought not to produce only contrary effects If there has been any division pursued she smiling you will have leasure to reconcile this Night for Quarrels between lovers last not long and it is usually what most unites them I have no Quarrel with her answered the Count couldly no more then I have ever had union But what pleasure do you take pursued he in tormenting me with with that You know whether my sighs go aded he in looking upon her amorously you know to whom my vowes are addressed why should you kill me by so cruel a way for I declare to you Madam that if any thing has contributed to the aversion I have taken for that Lady it is the unjust and disobliging War you have daily made me upon her account The Queen fell a laughing and the rest of the conversation would have been favourable enough for the Count for this Princess was satisfied with him that evening but she had notice brought her that the King was coming in Insomuch that she had only time to tell that Lover that he must return to the Countess and to run to meet that Prince for the giving the Count leizure to retire It was not possible for Hanibal to obey this order the less since that the Queen did not cease to charge him upon the Countesses account he believed to be in right of seeking all meanes not to give her any longer reason to do it He therefore sought where he could hide himself in that chamber and finding by chance that the Queen had left the Key in her Cabinet he fancied that the Conjuncture was fair that he ought to lay hold of it and that he should apparently be in more safety in that place than in any other part Insomuch that without making any noise he slipt into it with the greatest joy imaginable and hearing the King already in the Chamber he remain'd for some time planted in one and the same place for fear not knowing what was in the Cabinet he should have met with something in the dark that might have made a noise and discovered him The Dialogues there was between the K. and the Queen and of which he lost not one word was for some time his Divertisement for the Courtship that Prince made use of for to Cokes his Dear Spouse was something very pleasant but being at length wearied with standing in one place which demanded so much constraint and where he had been already a long time and no longer hearing any one speake in the Chamber he conjectured that the King was already in Bed and was a sleep wherefore he would venture a little farther with design to open a Window that he might have a little light if possible Whereupon he approached it and as he sought for the Casement he met with something colder and softer than the Walls or the Tapistry His Curiosity went farther and in fine by much feeling he found the figure of a Man He neither lost time nor judgment but taking his Ponyard in his Hand he asked who it was no answer was made him He set his Weapon upon the mans Breast and threatned him with Death if he did not speak The Complement was something harsh to a man who had no mind to dye such a violent Deaths Wherefore it had the effect that he desired For his Ponyard being set upon that Humane Body caused immediately a lamentable voice which said to him Ah! my Lord take pitty of a wretch In the emotion the Count was he could not well distinguish that voice Insomuch that still pressing him to tell who he was and what he came to do there It is Don Geronimo my Lord answered he Ah! Traytor the jealous Hannibal interrupted him with more fury than ever is this a place for thee he was in that moment so transported with rage that he was Two or Three times upon the point of dispatching a man so fatal to his repose but in sine a certain return of tenderness that he had still for that unjust Princess stopping his arm not doubting but that an action of that Consequence would absolutely ruin her he spared for the Love of her the Blood of that wretch and in such a weight of grief not being able to stay any longer in that fatal Cabinet least his fury might perhaps at length overcome the regards he owed to what he so much loved he went out and passing without any noise through the King's Chamber where there was no light he went to the Countess who was much surprized to see him because that the Queen who had but just left her had protested she knew not what was become of him and that he must absolutely have been retired without knowing however after what manner not having seen him since the King was entred her Chamber The Count who was as sunk into despair hardly hearing what that Lady said to him gave her no answer In the mean time the Queen in the uneasiness she was for her Lover having heard some noise in her Cabinet rose softly while that her Husband reposed in a profound sleep took her Night Gown and would go see what it was almost doubting the truth that the Count had hid himself in that Cabinet She advanced trembling towards the Door which she found open the Count not having given himself the trouble to shut it for his Rival But when she was to have gone in her courage failed her several reslections she made all at once upon her self upon the time and the Hour it was upon the Equipage she was in in the dark in a Cabinet where she did not doubt but that her Lover was but a Lover beloved and against whom she easily perceived that all her Glory could not resist if he added violence all these Reflections I say made her resolve to return rather than to expose that cruel Glory to so evident a danger but she was no sooner near her Old Husband who was in a deeper sleep than ever than that inspired again with an amorous Curiosity she reproached her self with her fearfulness and arming her self with new courage that her Heart suggested to her for the better deceiving her she went into that Cabinet without hearkening any longer to any Reflection she searched on all sides and suffering her self to be led by a passion that blinded her she came at length to the place where Don Geronimo was who knew not what to do and had