lodging who at a windowe noting his solemne kind of walking and the fruit that he gathered after his comming vp called him into her chamber But first let me tell you a little of the pages spéech that he had to himselfe in the garden per he went vp Oh poore Merilla what a misery art thou falne into left thy countrie thy father thy friendes and all thy home fortune to followe a stranger who hath betraied thy affection and abused thy fauour women are said to haue their willes wauer as the wind but oh false Rantifo no sooner come to the Sea but thy loue is gone into an other worlde Rantifo no thou art Fantiro the Dukes sonne whatsoeuer be shy conceit to conceale it from thy father and Bilanta is thy sister howsoeuer thou hast made her thy mistris But alas what will become of thée when thy mistris shall know thée to be thy selfe how will shee vse thée if I reueale what I am can she other then disdaine thâ—…e our parents being scarce friends if thou reuealest the cause of thy comming will shée not laugh at thy foslie make it knowne to the worlde if she do not it is more of the heauens blessing then thy merite and of her good nature then thy wit Saie that now shee doth somewhat like of thee shee maie bee then out of loue with thee and yet it maie be that for her loue to her brother she maie be kind to me and at my humble entreatie conceale my follie from the worlde well I will hope the best till I sée the worst And so determining to make her selfe knowne to her mistris she went vp into her lodging where being come to the princesse she fell againe to her musike wherein she did so please the Princesse that she thought euerie houre a yéere till she had some priuate conferance with him for which she stated not long foâ—… after that she had commanded all her attendants out of the chamber but the page willing him to laie downe his lute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aboore with him in this maner My prettie wag if thy 〈◊〉 should haue occasion to employ thee in a secret paece of seruice wouldest thou so late it vp in thy bosome that no man shoulde perceiue it Madame quoth the page for my secreâ—…e I holde it not the least part of mine honesty and therefore make you no doubt of it but if my sufficiencie answeare not your expectâ—…on I beseech you let mee entreate your pardon assuring your honour that I shall hate my selfe in slacking my dutie in your seruice but good Madame be not angrie if my good will bee not fortunate for my heart I protest you haue bound it to you in the faith of much affection The Ladie not a little pleased with this spéech gaue him this hind answeare Thy affection is the best part of the seruice that I will desire at thy handes for to tell â—…hee trueth I neuer same the face but one that I liked so well or could thinke to loue but thine and for him hee was a noble personage son and heire to the Duke Feronte of the Ilandes of Balino who is latelie gone home and I feare will neuer come againe such heartburning is growne betwixt our parentes vppon the paiment of a little monte vngodlie kind of drosse the cause of much mischiefe in the world therefore I must haue patience with my passion for euer hoping of comfort at his hands but for his sake whose feature me thinkes I beholde in thy face I did first affect thee and do nowe for his and thine owne sake I must confesse entirelie loue thée be wise therefore I charge thée for in reuealing my loue it maie endanger thy life in concealing thy comfort thou shalt finde the honour of thy fortune The Page with a great sigh at his brothers absence but more agrieued at the discord of the two Dukes with her eies readie to shedde teares made her this humble answere Good Madam shall I humblie begge this fauour at your hands that you will vouchsafe to keepe secret what I will commit vnto the onelie care of your honourable kindnes wherein you maie either saue my life or procure my death Sweete boie quoth the Princesse let me not liue but I will doe more for thy loue then I will speake of and for my secresie suspect nothing that maie hurt thee and speake freelie wherin I maie do thee good thinke I cannot vse thee vnkindlie Then good Madam answered the Princesse I will tell you a strange yet true tale The embassadour that seemeth to bee your louer is your brother sonne to the Duke your father his name is Fantiro sought to be slaine by a murtherer hired there to by your vncle lately dead but to saue his life sought by the malice of your vngodly vncle was deliuered vnto the decated Merchant Mario who brought him as a Page to our Court I meane the Court of Feronte the Duke of Balino my father whose daughter I am brought ouer in this habit that you sée onlie to come to the sight of your brother my onlie beloued Lord on this earth Your brother for my loue was by a wretch in our Court wrought hither to this embassage but such was his cariage in our Court as from his first setling foote into fauour he dailie encreased it by his much well deseruing so that there was no man of good spirit but loued him and were sorrie to part with him and for my affection to him let my trauaile witnesse my truth Nowe for the loue that in nature you beare your brother for the kindnes that you maie finde requited in my brother for the honor that you beare vnto loue and for the loue that you beare vnto honour let me humblie beseech you to conceale my follie and in what you may to be a friend to my affection The Princesse with a modest blush smiling at her discourse made her this kinde and gratious answere Sister for so will I loue thee and estéeme thee as I cannot be happy in any thing vnder heauen but in thy brothers loue which I holde as déere as my life so if my brother doe not in all honourable seruice either requite or deserue this thy kindnesse I protest to renounce him for my brother and detest him as mine enemie be therefore of good chéere anâ—… feare no euill thy fortune shall be mine my bedde my table my purse yea and my heart shall be all at thy disposing to doe thee good And thus will I leaue them togither in their kinde talke and I will tell you a little of the Duke Feronte and his sonne The Duke Feronte in no little rage to thinke of the losse of his daughter notwithstanding that he had heard his sonnes report of his Roiall entertainment followed on his determination for his intended warre against the Duke Ordillo where his embassadour was too well to returne and his faire daughter was taken loues prisoner and therefore calling his
a word or two of the Duke Ordillo and his sonne Fantiro The Duke making preparation for the next daie to answere the enemie both horse and foote and after good order taken for euerie thing according to his desire calling his sonne vnto him with certaine of his Lordes and principall men of Armes vsed this roiall speech vnto him My good friendes and followers the matter that we haue now in hande is of no little moment when the liues of our selues wiues and children our libertie our landes and goods and our honour and reputation for euer in this worlde standeth vpon the issue of one daies seruice wherein the triumphant shall bee blessed and the vanquished in a manner vtterlie confounded our enemie is angrie and fâ—…erce now it becommeth vs to be patient and valiant for nothing more daunteth furie then the banishment of feare which in a fielde is commonlie the cause of the ouerthrow Rashnes maie be hurtfull but cowardise is the shame of reason Let vs therefore put on resolution to be readie vpon the first summon to answere the enemie ours is the better quarrell hee would haue that he hath no néede of and we cannot spare that he will commande now our pouertie hath made his pride to swell to such a height as I hope will come down for if euerie one be of my minde he shall haue a sharper breakfast then he had a supper which if hee disgest not the better maie happe sticke in his stomacke till his heart ake our strengthes are well fortified but shall we looke on him a farre off and be afraid to take him by the hand no I am olde and first to thee my sonne I speake so to all my friends I will neuer returne to my Court without great contentment to my countrey and he that loueth me or himselfe let him laie downe his life with me in this seruice I will leade you follow me that will and let him die quoth his sonne that will not to which praier was such a generall Amen that with the cheerefulnesse of euerie one it séemed they rather thought of a banquet then a battaile But not long they were in this resolute consultation but the two Ladies before spoken of nowe armed at all pointes like souldiers were brought before the Duke and his sonne who after the reading of the letter and deliuerie of the chaine of pearle with much adoe obtained 〈◊〉 â—…t suite without the companie of anie more then themselues to trie their fortune in gaining honour vpon the enemie who leauing the Duke with his sonne in their tentes in the dim night marched towardes the enemie and vpon the sodaine fearing to be descried by some sooâ—…te ambusâ—…aded themselues in such sort that they would be sure of their purpose ere they would put their honours in aduenture where they had not long rested till they mette with the happinesse of their whole hope but I will leaue them there close waiting for their fortune and tell you a fewe wordes of Penillo the young Prince sonne to the Duke Feronte This roiall spirited youth euer spurring for the best fortune and hauing that night obtained of the Duke his father the charge of the watch for that night and the leading of the vanguarde the next morning looking rounde about him and seeing no cause of feare or doubt of enemie the moone though dimlie shining yet giuing so much light as might deserie a lesse shadow then a souldiers with his trunâ—…enin his hand and his rapier at his side walking as it were carelesse of all fortune thinking none within the hearing tell thus to talke to himselfe Oh poore Penillo the most vnfortunate man liuing to come with honour from the seruice vpon the Turke and nowe to make a quarrell with alas too weake a Christian what shall I doe I must followe my father to fall out with my friende Ordillo vsed me like himselfe and shall I be vngratefull in the greatest vnkindnesse but Bilanta my loue what will she thinke of my faith to she we such fruites of my affection Oh I am not my selfe that cannot be hers and yet in my heart I am hers howe harde soeuer be my happe but I must not be vnnaturall and I would not be vnkinde what is to be done Oh heauens doe that which I cannot deuise loue is diuine and as the stature is of my affection so let me prosper in my fortune Which word was scarcelie out when the two vnknowne souldiers laied hold of him and carried him prisoner to the Duke Ordillo before whom 〈◊〉 they had brought him the Duke had them for rewarde of their seruice aske anie thing whatsoeuer his court or countrey could affoorde them with protestation vpon the sword of honour not to denie nor to delaie them but before the demâ—… of the souldiers for their promised rewarde passed these fewe words betwixt the two Princes Fantiro the yoong Prince seeing the sonne of his enimie prisoner the more to abate as he thought the pride of his spirit entertained him with this welcome Your fortune is like your quarrell no better then I wish and as it beginneth so I hope will bee the ende disgrace at the first thinke what will bee the last Well quoth Penillo I am nowe not my selfe had not fortune thus throwne me into thy handes thou wouldest neuer haue dared to haue vttered one of these wordes and had I my libertie I would make thee shake for this presumption Who â—…e quoth the Prince Fantiro Thou art deceyued thou shalt see howe little account I make of thy too great minde go take thy libertie see what thy second fortune can do vppon mee but hadst thou me at this aduantage what wouldest thou do to me Use theeâ—… quoth the Prince nowe prisoner as thou dost mee giue thee thy libertie for charitie At which wordes the young Prince Fantiro smiling at the greatnesse of so roiall a spirite with better wordes perswaded him to patience When the two Ladies taking off their Burgonets descrying themselues to the great admiration of the Duke the young Prince and the prisoner and all the beholders neere them demaunded their rewardes in this manner Merilla by her traâ—…e through the Seaes losse of her fathers loue her brother friendes and countrie desired to haue for her rewarde the young Prince Fantiro whome the Duke with no little gladnes was content to yeeâ—… vnto Bilanta in the aduenture of her life in yâ— atchieuing of this honor pleaded a blessing of the heauens for the enioying of her loue which was the prisoner The other young Prince whoseeing his fortune no worse then to fall into such faire hands was nothing vnwilling to haue the Dukes worde performed But I will leaue them awhile determining of the euent of these fortunes and I will speake a little of the duke Feronte and his passions Nowe the morning following the duke expecting his sons comming to his Tent to take the charge of the vanguarde for that daye in the seruice intended but neyther seeing nor hearing of him soo long that he grewe into some feare least some mishap or other was come vnto him fell at last into this speech with himself Oh Feronte vnder what planet wert thou born or what offence hast thou committed against the heauens to haue these heauie fortunes befall thee in thy aged yéeres thy onelie daughter as full of vertue as honour could wish to bee stolne from thy Court by a stranger and perhaps thine enimie thy sonne more deare to thee then thy selfe hauing wonne honour in the seruice of the Emperour to loose it in the gouerment of a meane Prince naie more dost thou not rather doubt of his deathe then hope of his life hauing no notice what maye become of him Oh too much valour I feare hath made thee too forwarde Is it possible that thou liuest if thou hast lighted into the hands of thine enimies No thy spirite is so great that it will not let thée yéelde but to death and if thou dost liue howe canst thou hope of anie thing but 〈◊〉 knowing the condition of my comming Well all thinges are at the heauens disposing to whome I will referre the hope of my comfort Iâ—… thou liuest Sonne I will redeeme thée and if thou diest I will follow thée And thus in extreame passion determyning the aduenture of his owne life to take reuenge of his sons fortunâ—… vpon the sodaine canâ—…e a Herauld of Armes from Ordillo the Duke with this Ambassage vnto him that if it woulde please him to remit all iniuries and to accept the submission of much loue the intended warre should turne to a continuall peace he shoulde haue the demande of his desire and more contentment then he could expect This message in the midst of his manie griefes so pacified his wrath that he â—…ad yâ— Herauld tell his master that his words were currant weight with him and that if he would in person meete him betweene both the campes he should see what comfortable effect his kindnes had wrought with him with which wordes and a bountifull rewarde for his good message hee returned to the Duke his master who vpon the receit of the message came presentlie out of his tent met with yâ— Duke Feronte according to appointment to whome after akind of humble greeting he recounted all that happened of both their children and that in regard of the debt that he confessed due vnto him he would if with his fauour hee might endowe his daughter with his whole Dukedome which discourse and profer so pleased his much appawled mind that causing al the children to be brought togither on either side in steede of sharpe intended war made so blessed a peace that the houses vnited in mariage liued euer after in much loue the souldiers al commanded to laie by their Armes after much feasting and manie triumphes returned home with no little ioie FINIS
sonne before him vsed these wordes vnto him Penillo I haue made thee acquainted with my resolution for my reuenge of yâ— wrong that I haue receiued of Ordillo out of whose countrey I will fetch my fond daughter thy vnhappie sister either dead or aliue and therefore prepare thy selfe to put off all conceit of his kindnes and gaine the encrease of my loue by the honour that thou shalt get vpon mine enemie The young Prince sorie to haue such cause to carrie armes against the father of his faire mistris and yet vnwilling to be disobedient to his father though it were the aduenture of his death did humblie frame him this answere My Gratious father I would be loath to disswade you from your setled resolution but yet let me tell you that although loue hath in my sister wrought a follie shall the malice of a wicked spirit so poison your eare that such a furie possesse your heart that no sparke of patience can haue place in your conceit It will bee thought to the greatest part of your Court yea and almost to your whole countrey that Signor Sperto hath béene the kindler of all this fire and the bréeder of all these warres I wonder not a little that your Grace coulde endure to heare of his presumption in making loue to my sister who I thinke bee rather runne into another countrey to trie the fortune of her affection then to liue at home to abide the vnfitting suite of so ilfauoured a creature whom but that he hath the name of a man if I did not the better know him I should surelie take for a monster But if I maie begge so much fauour of your Grace as to grant me my humble suite I beséech you beginne iustice at home and I hope we shall prosper the better abroad Let Sperto in regard of his malicious practise against a stranger and presumption in troubling the patience of your daughter be openlie called before you reprehended for his follie and banished your Court for his offence and I doubt not but your maiestie shall sée the venome of his vile nature droppe out in his right kinde my sister honorablie returned to your good fauour and your warres turne to such a peace as all that loue you shall be glad of I speake not this like the Prince of Pigmeies that should be affraid of Cranes but that I will attend you in your warres where I hope an honourable triumph will be better then a bloudie conquest but fall what will I will not liue but to bee obedient to your loue and therefore will be readie when it shall please you to attende you The Duke not a little noting the good counsaile of his discréet sonne willing his son to be in readines against a daie shortlie after appointed him caused Sig. Sperto forthwith to be brought before him to whome with a sterne countenance he vsed this spéech Sperto I haue long giuen eare to thine vnsuspected subtiltie but of late hauing sounded the reach of thy conceit I will laie open thy cunning in the time of Rantifoes being in our Courte thou couldest neuer cease to ring in mine eares some couse of dislike in him which I tooke well at thy handes in regarde of thy imagined care of my good but nowe I finde the ground of thy vngratious working grewe from the malicious feare in thee of his fauour from my faire daughter whom thy vnworthie selfe wouldst haue bewitched with wicked eloquence let me tell thée for that I haue in some occasions of importaÌ„ce made good vse of thy seruice thou shall not be vnregarded for I will make thee receiuer of my customes but for thy saucines with my swéete daughter driuen out of our countrey by thy dogged meanes I will out of hande haue thee made an â—…unuch and so commanding one of his Surgeons to take him to his charge to dismember him of his implements fell in hande presentlie with his Counsaile to go forwardes with his resolution for his warres while Sperto with the conceit of his miserie crauing leaue of the Surgeon to spare him till the next morning when his griefe being put a little ouer he should with the more strength endure his torment rather desirous to go to hell quicklie then to hope for heauen with repentance with a paire of his owne garters hangde himselfe in his owne chamber But leauing thus the wicked wretch to his wofull end and the furious Duke in his inerorable anger procéeding onwards with his warres I will tell you a fewe wordes of the two Ladies Merilla and Bilanta the imagined page that I left togâ—…ther in their chamber within a Castle of the Duke Ordillo The Ladie Bilanta after she had secretlie conferred with the Ladie Merilla touching both their loues minding to make her selfe merrie with a prettie conceit after that they had past a night or two in priuat talke togither how to bring all matters about to their best contentment sent for the embassadour her brother in all kindnesse spéedelie to come to her who no sooner receiued the message but laying all businesse apart came to his sister whom he then called mistris little thinking indeed to haue found his true beloued and louing mistris so neere But being come into her lodging and well entred into her chamber commanding apart all her attendantes shee thus fell into talke with him Seruant though perhaps it maie séeme immodestie in a Uirgin of my sort to giue such entertainment to a stranger of what sort soeuer he maie be as I am perswaded your honourable kindnesse will deserue yet let me entreat you one fauour to tell me without dissembling if I am the first obiect of your déerest affection or whether you neuer haue had anie mistris that you haue helde anie especiall account of and hath worthilie had the promise of your loue Truely Madame answered her brother as hee thought vnknowne to her I must confesse I had a mistris whom I so deerely loued and so duelie serued that had I anie possible hope to enioie the fruit of her fauour I shoulde hate my selfe in the loue of anie other but shee being so farre from the comfort of all such conceit I thinke it no dishonour to my loue to doe seruice to the vertue that I finde in you for if I coulde be so vile as to thinke you a base thought death bee the rewarde of my desire and to presume further in the best nature of honour then maie stande with your good fauour might condemne mee of follie and perhaps ouerthrowe my fortune but in such good termes to doe you seruice as maie please you to accept I thinke it a duetie in Chiualrie but for my mistris I protest had you euer seene and knowne her you would haue thought as much good of her as I do and wish her as much happinesse as I want The Ladie smiling at this answere would néedes know her name and whence she was who tolde her that she was the onlie daughter
for the loue of his son Fantiro so pleased the Duke that he not onelie kindly gaue him thankes but richly rewarded him for his good newes and rosaltie considered all his honest and kinde dealing and presentlie caused his sonne the Ambassadour to be sent for whom he welcomed with such a soie as such a father might such a son Who hauing recounted all his fortune his father the Duke caused his sister the young Princesse to be sent for to whom he not onlie gaue thankes for her carefull and kinde vsage of the young Princesse Merilla but charged her vpon his blessing to continue all kindnesse that might giue her knowledge of the â—…oifull loue that shee should finde both in himselfe his Court and his whole countrey and that for a fewe daies shee should seeme to conceale it from her that he knewe of her being in his Court till he had made preparation euerie waie fit for the entertainment of her presence And thus will I leaue the Ladies passing their time together in priuate conference of their thiefest comfortes and I will returne to the Duke Feronte nowe hauing gotten his forces togither marching with his whole Armie towardes the sea minding to make for Cotasi where nothing should content him but a conquest The Duke resolued vpon his determination either to leaue his bloud or take his reuenge dispatching awaie a post with letters to his embassadour for the defiance of his termed enemie the Duke and proclamation of warre with him and his whole countrey calling his sonne vnto him vpon a rocke on the sea side in the middest of his Armie made this speech vnto his people The long iniurie that I haue borne at the handes of my vnfriendlie neighbour Ordillo besides the debt that hee oweth me and neuer intendeth to paie me togither with my extreme griefe for the losse of my onely daughter that onelie through a fonde affection carried I know not how to a stranger I know not whom coâ—…ueied away by a banbrout or decaied merchant if I maie better terme him into that vngratious piece of ground where Ordillo hath his gouernment these I safe with manie other iust causes of discontentment conceiued against yâ— proude Prince and his stubborne people haue caused me to put on the resolution either of death or reuenge which shall no waie ende but in conquest or submission as manie therefore as either regarde our loue or haue anie hope of our fauour let them with willing heartes followe the honour of my resolution protesting that whatsoeuer he bee that shall in the least shewe of feare turne his backe vnto the enemie if hee were as déere to me as mine owne sonne he shall die in the place where I finde him but hee that shall with the fortune of his forwardnesse bring me the Duke or his soune either dead or aliue I will so regard and reward him that he shall leaue honour to his posteritie the winde serueth well for our passage and we shall finde them perhaps vnprouided for our comming so the easier will be our victorie and the shorter our warres if not the sharper our fight the greater will be our honor and since feare is the badge of villanie let vs auoide the shame of such condition and as manie as loue either our crowne or countrey holde vp their handes with me who then in the whole campe that had a hand but he would holde it vp Well to grow towardes an ende as the Prince said so said the people the Duke set foote aboord and all the Armie followed him the winde serued the saâ—…les were hoised and the anchors weied and awaie they went where I will leaue them for a while and returne againe to Ordillo the Duke of Cotasi and his sonne Feronte his embassadour The post hauing béen with the embassadour as he thought but now rather an enemie then a friend if this quarrell should go forwarde perceiuing the intent of the Duke his late master rather chusing to be an vnkinde seruant then an vnnaturall sonne wrote vnto him that the case was altered hee had nowe chosen an other master whose loue hee knewe was such vnto him that seruing him faithfullie woulde not vse him vnkindlie his embassage was deliuered and nowe this must bee his answere as in kindnesse hee might command much so by the contrarie as little his comming was more expected then feared and his welcome should be as he deserued and for himselfe if his fortune were to his hope he should find a kinder seruant then he had done a master with these and such like conclusions dispatched awaie The young Prince presentlie went to his father the Duke Ordillo with whom and his Counsaile conferring vpon the seruice speedelie to bee had care of taking order by vertue of his Commission to leuie a great Armie as well to encounter the enemie as in diuerse places of strength to stand for defence if anie occasion should be offered being secure for anie feare or doubt to be ouertaken hearing by a Pinnis that being at sea deseried the fléete so farre as by meanes of crosse windes and ill weather they could not in fiue daies come néere the shore of their countrey after he had a little reposed himselfe after his trauaile considering the great discomfort that his mistris the young Princesse might take vpon the rumour of these warres making all the meanes hee could to haue it kept from her hearing tooke a conuenient time to go to his sister with whome his mistris as yet remained But as such kinde of persons most inquisitiue of newes are not without their intelligencers so fell it out that the post was scarce at the Court but his message was knowne to the young Ladies â—…hose priuate conference vpon the same before Fantiroes comming to them was as followeth Merilla considering the manie sorrowes that were now like to fall vpon her the assurance of her fathers displeasure the doubt of her brothers loue and the feare of the young Prince her seruantes death in the seruice was euen so appauled that following the humours of women first to sigh for a little griefe of disobedience in nature then enfolding her armes as lamenting the doubted losse of her brothers loue and last of all wéeping with feare to loose the comfort of all her worldes hope in her déere beloued and kinde louing Lorde in the misfortune of the warres was by the young Princesse her seruants sister comforted with these wordes Sister so will I nowe terme thee for so doe I holde thee and so doe I hope to haue thee and so will I euer loue shee take not too much griefe at anything that either feare or doubt may put into thy head let this comfort thee that thou art not alone in thy miserie if thou hast left a father thou hast found a friend and if thou hast lost a brother thou hast found a sister choler and melancholie gouernes the spirits of the aged but kindnesse and mirth should be the humours of our
What shall I saie if wee were not women we shoulde haue hearts like men but as we are giue vs leaue to shew our weakenes till we be comforted with your happines and for that I know your carefull experience is not a little comforte to your father in this action I will entreat you if it maie be not to thinke of me till I maie come to you which in the warres is vnfit and in peace is yet vnlikely His Sister withall came in with her fiue pennie-moâ—…ice in this manner Brother though you cannot bee out of loue yet now you are in hand with other matters trouble not your selfe with thinking of vs till neede be forget not your selfe and we will not forgette you followe your businesse let vs alone with your humoures the powers of heauens bring all to a good ende The young Prince with a thankfull Amen to their prayer tooke his leaue of them both and returned to the Court where I will leaue him with his father preparing for his Armie and the two Ladies in their chamber parting stakes in conceites and I will returne to Feronte the Duke of Balino and his son Penillo who with a great Armie were in sight of lande but for some politique occasions to take the benefite of time did anker all nighte in the Road before the Harbour at which time the young Prince desiâ—…ous by some resolute aduenture to gayne some especiall honour humbly be sought the Duke his father that hee would vouchsafe him leaue to haue the leading of the Uanguarde the first daie of seruice and the first night to haue the selting of the watch both which in regarde as well of his earnest suit as for the skill that he sawe in him and the honour that he had gotten in the Emperours wars against the Turke was granted him But after a counsayle helde by the Duke himselfe his Sonne and all his honourable followers for the pitching of his Campe and determination of his seruice taking some little repose till the first breaking of the morning as soone as they had light to serue their turns for landing they made all the hast they coulde a shore where I will leaue them for a while pitching their Tents and prouiding for their wars and I will tell you a worde or two of the two Ladies that I left in their chamber Bilanta hauing receaued newes that the enemie was landed and that the Dukes both in their Tentes there was like to be a battell out of hand began thus to talk to her sister Princesse Sister did not I tell thee that I would plaie a mad part wilt thou do as I do venture our liues for our loues if we shal be sisters let vs ioine handes and heartes to take part alike in our fortunes I will not stirre a foote from thee what sayest thou The Ladie amazed at her manner of spéech and yet know ing the nature of her loue made her this answeare Saie and it is done for I am no more then you will haue mee if I fayle in my loue let me fall with my life I will make no exception knowing the honour of your discretion but stand vpon this resolution our faâ—…stes of one feather let our loues â—…lie togither what you do I will do if I die for it I care not Then quoth Bilanta ten to one but Penillo will be the formost man in the fielâ—… and perhaps to striue for honour maie step vpon a stone of dan ger where if his foote slippe hee maie happen bee taken vp â—…er he rise My father and my brother are I am sure in their Tent before whom euerie man must come that will seeke preserâ—… in this péece of seruice Now let vs plaie the gallantes 〈◊〉 Armour and furnishe our selues with Armour sworde and Pike and let vs with our burgonettes close couering our faces as strangers vnknowne make suit to the Duke my father and my brother to haue leaue before the battel to do some pâ—…e of seruice in his honour and saie that we are young Knightes that will not be knowne till our actions be performed but that we come from two Ladies I meane our selues who were sent by them with this chaine of Pearâ—…e to gratifie the Duke and this Iewell my brother the better to obtaine leaue for the eâ—…cution of our attempte Nowe if we get leaue as I doubt not it maie be we shall be happier then we looke for Good sister quoth Merilla agreed I am for you if I 〈◊〉 aduenture the danger of the Seaes to follow my friend shall I feare anie course in the companie of my kinde sister No beside me life or death I will take part with you in your fortune Then sister quoth Merilla wee two will arme our selues like to gallant young souldiers and being vnknowne when our Uanguards are put down we will go to the Duke my fathers tent where ten to one wee shall finde my brother with him to them will wee present our selues by a friend that I haue made for the purpose who shall not anie waie reueale vs but make report that wee are two strange knightes that for our honoures haue auowed to feare no dangers nor slippe any occasion of aduenture and hearing of late of this Larum of the arriuall of the Duke Feronte and his Armie will vpon him or some of his chiefe Generals performe some such resolute piece of seruice as maie well approoue more loue then we will protest both to his Maiestie and his countrey which performed wee will then reueale our selues our names and conditions onely we will entreat but this fauour that we maie alone without further companie haue leaue to march this night towardes the enemie vpon whome we hope to gaine such honour as maie be to the Dukes content and the benefite to his whole countrey and the better to procure this fauour I will carrie this chaine of pearle that with a letter to the effect of this suite I will carrie as written from me to my brother which with this chaine of pearle shall be giuen him as from mee nowe if we obtaine our suite wee will to the fielde and through the darke trie our fortune It giues me in my mind the young Prince your brother will be some what gallant vpon the spleene and steppe further then he is aware of which if he doe and we light vpon him it maie bee it will make a short warre howsoeuer it bee I am resolued if we be taken prisoners wee shall receiue no great hurt and if we die our sorrowes are at an ende The Princesse Merilla smiling at her inuention and hauing past her promise to followe her in her enterprise was as good as her worde went with her into a priuate chamber with her sister Bilanta where they fell to conferre with a secret friende for the better effecting of their intent where I will leaue them like Amazones fitting their armours to plaie the parâ—…es of madde people and I will tell you