able to get out of Bed and to dine with his Queen feeding much more greedily with his eys then with his mouth The Court was full of banquetting and contentment Onely Prince Doralbo though he knew it misbecame him not to appeare more joyfulll then usuall among these universall rejoycings could not keep the sad Ensignes of inward melancholy from appearing in his pale face which fretted him even to the heart his extraordinary sadness being perceived by all the Queen not many dayes after was also aware thereof to boot that it was commonly whispered about by the Ladies and Gentlemen She had compassion on him and to give him some comfort and since the cause of so great a melancholy might not for a long time be seen into she began by degrees to be more gracious unto him sometimes cheering him with pleasing smiles sometimes with partiall lookes so as shortly returning to his former vivacity he became not onely cheerfull as before but was the ioy and delight of the whole Court O the fondness of vain Lovers who think themselves made happy by a smile or look which sometimes is but casuall and not willingly confer'd and perhaps sometimes not without fraud and are again made miserable by another look which they interpret as scorn or ingratitude which may peradventure be a cunning invitation to spur them on to be more ardent in their loves Nissena imparted these favours unto him so as they were no ways prejudiciall to the cand or of her faith which she had plighted and vowed to Thoas For from the time she had tane upon her the yoke of marriage though it were not yet consummate not so much as one misbecomming thought sullied the inward purity of that breast which witnessed outwardly immaculate innocency She I know not whether out of favour to him or sollicited by her naturall genius to read bookes of Chevalry desired him to provide her some fitting for her to read that she might pass away the tedious hours of that season which was now hotter then usuall though it was alwayes very hot under the Climate of Cyprus He interpreted the honor of this command as a favour from the prodigall Heavens and his understanding being inlightned by blind love which infuseth subtilty into the most rough hewen minds much more into such as are quick and airy he furnisht her with many books the leaves whereof he had in some places cunningly turn'd down where amorous affections are by ingenious Writers expressed whereby he discovered his passions to her who was their adored occasion Nissena being quick of understanding finding Doralbo's cunning restored back his books unto him folded down in like manner in other leaves whereby he might understand and receive such answers as sometimes excited hope in him sometimes reproved him of boldness The modest Lover was herewithall so fully satisfied as he pretended to no other food or reward of his love The King this mean while would needs have the Queen who was now satiated with Feasts Turnys and Tiltings honour a Theater with her presence whereon the Marquess of Martasses who with great fervency had desired this favour caused an excellent Stage-play to be acted She went thither having on her a vesture given her that day by her husband contrived and woven with Amianto a pretious stone which is spun like threed of which as of other Jewels and Minerals the Mines of Cyprus are very fruitfull so as Beams being cast abroad on every side by the reverberation of lights which inlightned the Theater Nissena semed to be the Sun of Beauty Poor Doralbo How many and how great splendors wer't thou to resist to keep the eyes of thy mind undazeled The Play took all the Auditory exceedingly being represented with stately Sceans and inventions sutable to the Marquess his generous minde but the Prince was chiefly pleased because it made most for his purpose with the fall of an unfortunate Lover who desperatly threw himselfe from the top of a Mountain into the Sea and to all appearance seemed to be therein drowned Nissena was a little moved at this spectacle as she witnessed by saying Poor wretch Since thou wer't onely guilty of too much love thou didst not deserve so miserable a death Doralbo let not this occasion slip without making his use of it being already become so bold as he durst reply unto the Queen Good Gods How is it possible your Majesty should commiserate one drowned in the water and not be any thing at all concern'd in him who is consumed in flames And who is he replied she who is thus consumed I see none hereabouts invironed with fire Ah said the Prince with a trembling voyce you see him too well but will not vouchsafe to look upon him 'T is I that am that wretch who in love with you would a thousand times have breathed forth my Soul had not my life been miraculously preserved by your more then humane Image which is imprinted in my Heart Disdain not O my Goddess that I adore you for I know how to doe it without any blemish to your honour prejudice to your reputation or offence to my Soveraigne Lord Thoas I pretend to nothing else nor doe I ought desire but that I may be permitted to adore you whilst I shall live and that you will suffer it without disdain I will doe what becomes your greatness and my condition be not you therewithall scandalized most mighty Queen if you would have me live And here with a broken sigh he stopped expecting his sentence of life or of death from the mouth of his beloved She somwhat blushing answered That if the love he talked of were of any other temper then what he had sayd he might doe well to leave the vain and rash enterprize of loving her but that if it were true that he knew to love like a true Prince and Gentleman in termes circumscribed within the confines of that integrity and faith which she intended to preserve immaculate to her husband she was pleased with his affection and that he might rest assured of like correspondency in her whilst his thoughts should continue thus modest These were the beginnings of that Love which not knowing how to get entrance into her chast bosom went thus by piecemeal insinuating it self insensibly into her heart Thou shalt shortly see Nissena and be aware that affections enter our souls as it were by stealth that they may afterwards in process of time become Tyrants These discourses might pass freely between them without being observ'd or listn'd unto the Queens chair being placed somewhat high and the Prince standing close by her on foot whose soul was so filled with joy upon this lucky incounter as whereas formerly he perisht through affliction he now was almost kill'd with content which was a little lessen'd in him by hearing how that Thoas who grew daily better in his health would by consummation of his marriage reap Nissena's Virginity and though the knowledge of the unjustness of
after so many troubles into the absolute possession of that Crown which was due unto her by her so many deserts and for so many other reasons Nissena was mightily pleased with this newes but the hearing that her beloved Doralbo had run hazard of his life onely in her revenge caused so great a passion of heart in her as though it were the effect of joy had yet somewhat mixt with it of sorrowfull and bitter passions which she wisely concealed Having rewarded the Souldiers with a rich chain of Massie gold they were dismist and she immediatly her impetuous-love passion ceasing a little gave Order that all the Commanders and chief men of the Citie should follow her for she would goe towards Niccsia The Sun hasted towards the West to leave the World in darkness and Doralbo accompanied with above an hundred Gentlemen spurâ—d on his Horse towards that Sunne which brought unto him a rise of joy and whose bright beams he hoped to enjoy in spight of the approaching night Nissena when she heard a far off the noyse of Trumpets which advertis'd her of her Warriers approach she felt her heart not onely beat but flutter so within her breast as she thought she had been neer death and that those were the last beatings of her soul which would open the passage to get out of her body When Doralbo heard from a-far off the thunder of those Drums which preceded the lightning of that countenance with which his adored Nissena came to assault him he much to his amazement fell a trembling even then when he found himselfe more then ever inflamed with unquenchable heat At last these two souls in love who had long since incountred each other in their affections met one another now with their eyes Nor did the noyse of a thousand musket shot of a hundred Trumpets and of as many other War Instruments mixt with the neighing and trampling of horses and common shouts of joy hinder them from hearing one another say with their looks and strive who should best express themselves therein Well met dear eyes so long desired I now do more then ever feel the fire of love Thus they said in a language understood by none but themselves Doralbo leapt from horsback and had not she hinder'd him was ready to fall down prostrate before Nissena to whom with a trembling voice he said Your Majestie is at last return'd to Nicosia to receive that Crown which will be proud of the honour of incircling your Temples you are come to receive some shadow of that reward which is due to the Immensitie of your merit I have not bin wanting for whatlies in my power to sacrifice my life to the Deitie of your greatness but the Gods have pleased to preserve me that upon some other occasion I may be readie to lose it I shall do it at all times O my Queen for your service for whose sake death would have been and shal ever be welcome to me He would have proceeded but was thus by her interrupted Sir I know how great my obligations are to you the Crown of Cyprus would be but a weak return of Gratitude for what you have done for me Let it suffice I am not ungratefull Doralbo would have reply'd but struck through with a pleasing smile and affable look from her his answer was turnd into a sigh which though it were cut short off made the inamour'd Queen fully understand that she was the Shrine that he adored She afterwards apply'd her selfe to receive obsequious applications from the other Gentlemen who with reverence bowed unto her to whom she answered with such a Majestical Grace as all of them blamed Fortune which had so long kept her from that sublime degree which her so many perefctions did deserve All the Ladies of Nicofia came to her clothed in black as a Livery which they wore to the memory of the deceased King and to their Queens Widowhood to whom humbly bowing themselves they found in her an affable but not abject correspondency such as shewed Majesty but not pride whence that reverentiall love began in them with which Nissena was ever after respected and beloved by all her Subjects of whatsoever condition Before they could get to Nicosia darkness had canopied over the vvhole Orizon so as the great abundance of lighted Torches and Bonsires did in an instant so inlighten the darkness of the night as it had no reason to envie the brightest day and yet all these flames and heats appear'd to Doralbo but obscure horrors in respect of those beams which darted from Nissena's eyes She came unto the Palace amidst the noyse of Warlâ—ck Instruments the shouts and acclamations of the rejoycing people and calling to mind how she had not long before fled from thence abandoned by all and how she now returned reverenced and cried up nay as it were adored she could not but admire the strauge fickleness of Fortune She would not forbear giving of audience and receiving congratulations from the numerous inundation of Ladies Lords Tituladoes and personages of all condition til she was insufferably weary but at last she was inforc'd to betake her self to her rest She gave order that Eurania Doralbo Agenor of Soria and Filarbo should sup in privat with her the chief Commanders of the Army having their Lodgings appointed out to them in the Court and being treated with such sumptuositie as belonged unto them The Armies were entertained in the field with such abundance of rich Wines of vvhich Cyprus is very plentiful with such varietie of Viands as the Soldiers spent the whole night almost in their cups and eating The Queen vvas readie to sit dovvn vvith the others at the Table vvhen she vvas inform'd that tvvo Gentlemen of Rhodes desired audience bring them in said she I shal soon dispatch them Theocastro and Emerino entred together with the miserable Melaspus loaded with Irons who prostrating themselves before her presented Melaspus to her as a slave All were amazed at this so unexpected a sight but Doralbo I know not whether out of disdain or pittie a colour coming into his face broke forth into these words The Heavens at last leave no guilty persons unpunished Who would ever have imagined most gratious Queen that this fellow should at this time be brought hither in this condition perfectly to compleat your Majesties happiness and safety These said she are miracles which divine Justice knows only how to bring about Let him be led unto the Castle and let him be well treated there I bequeath him to you Prince Doralbo appointing you to be his Judge but upon this condition that you absolve him of being partaker of his fathers wickedness Go and be of good comfort Melaspus said Doralbo you have already begun to taste of the Queens clemencie Theocastre and Emerino having recounted their adventures sate down likewise at the Table with Nissena who had leasure enough at a long and gladsome supper to let Doralbo know by her most modest favours that she lov'd him better then her self Four whole days were past over by these two Lovers neither of them daring to discover their affections unless by their looks and by letting some little words escape which equivocally noted their inward heat of heart in which Nissena busied her self onely in dispensing her rewards and favours and in winning not only the love but the Idolatry of her Subjects Nissena thought it unbefitting her to speak her love to Doralbo and though she knew she was in regard of her prioritie bound to begin first in the declaration thereof and was sometimes resolved to do so her innate modestie would not suffer her so to do or else her very affection hindred her it being impossible for one who truely loves to say he loves Doralbo who did not believe he merited Nissena's service much less her love would rather have chosen to die then to make his affection known unto her by discovery of his flames Who am I said he within himself or what am I that I should pretend love unto so beautifull a Queen 'T is true I am born a Prince I have served her to the evident neglect of my life and I love her more dearly then mine own soul But what 's all this She merits greater things Should I discover my love and she not correspond with me therein what would become of me is it not safer to say nothing to serve observe and nourish stil my hopes then to receive my death from her scorn or from her flat denial if she be pleased to Crown our love with reward she will not want ways and means how to do it Thus did both she and he in vain lament which crafty Eurania perceiving and compassionating their too abstenious ravings she invited them one day after dinner into a Closset to see certain Pictures wherein were drawn to the life the affections between Venus and Adonis and hence she took an occasion freely to say unto them this is the way of love my Children I know Nissena and Doralbo that you burn in love each with other in unquenchable fires and strive who should love one another best why do you then thus id'ly consume your selves away cold in the midst of flames Say Nissena I take thee Doralbo for my husband Say you Doralbo I take thee Nissena for my wife so so imbrace each other Matrimonial love is no shame to the world nor fault committed against heaven The two Lovers with a blushing countenance and ill assured look confirm'd her sayings and grew so bold as at one and the same instant they ran so greedily to interchange a kiss as their souls had almost flown through excess of joy from out their inamour'd breasts Here ended the sorrws and began the joys of Nissena and Doralbo who reigned prosperously and loved each other faithfully all their life FINIS
could not but seem somewhat troubled his blood hastening presently from his heart to his face so as with a panting heart he added I vow unto you upon the vvord of a Prince I know nothing but I beseech you acquaint me quickly with it It vvas not yet two a clock at night said the Baton when one of my Footmen gave me divers letters directed to the Queen vvhich I presently conveyed unto her much time vvas not past vvhen she molested in mind caused her Aunt Eurania to be called unto her and presently afterward those two Gentlemen her Cosen-germans who had accompanied her from Rhodes and having given express order that no one whosoever should be suffered to come in she entertained herselfe a good while in discourse vvith them I vvas afterwards vvilled that by all means possible I should acquaint the King that his humblest servant Nissena did most earnestly desire that his Majesty would immediatly afford her audience I vvas much astonished at the hearing hereof but I had nothing to doe but to obey The King had betane himself to his rest which notwithstanding he gave command that the Queen might be permitted to enter whensover she pleased who accompanied by her Aunt and her two Cousens entred the Kings Chamber and in a reverent but very sad manner kneeld down before his Majesties bed who had raised himself up to welcome her and confounding her words with her tears and sobs she thus exprest her inward sorrow I very well knew since my first coming from Rhodes O Thoas how unworthy I was to be your wife but I knew not nor could I imagin it possible that a King whose fame is so glorious throughout the whole world would go about to abuse a poor silly young Maid who though she be not descended from Kings hath yet in her the blood of the no ignoble house of the Marquiss of Falerno who at all times and upon all occasions have always prefer'd their honour before their lives Such a one was I born as I can very well by my death wash away with my blood any the least shadows of shame which may hitherto have sullied my reputation When I came to Cyprus I came in condition of your Majesties wife not of your Concubine your self knows it full well The Kingdoms of Cyprus and of Rhodes knows it If I have been strangely deceived I am no ways guilty of the deceit I might justly deserve all manner of punishment and might be esteemed guilty if I should tarry any longer here whither being come to live as your servant and consort I am advertised I must live your whore Sir I beg your leave to be gon suffer me O King to return to that Climat where people are born as innocent as here for in case you should not permit me so to do I shall send my soul somewhither else He who had all this while with a confused and troubled aspect patiently listen'd unto her being able to hold no longer cryed out What dreams be these my Queen who is that hath possest you with these apprehensions injurious to my Crown and to your merit since when is it that you have been my Concubine and not my true wife Listen unto me If ever I was possest with thought any ways the least prejudicial to you and if I be any ways conscious or but consenting in very imagination to what you mention let the heavens hurl down thunder upon me let me be punisht by Omnipotency let the earth swallow me up and may hel take me I who have always preserv'd my faith inviolable to all men shall I maculate it to your prejudice who next my Honour are the only object for whom I would yeild up my Kingdom shed my bloud and lose my life Is it I that must betray you have not my past actions sufficiently witnessed to the whole World and to your self which troubles me most the candor and integrity of my soul O if I shall ever know who that wretched villain is that hath plotted these my vexations my revenge shall make him an example to all ages For what remains be of good comfort my Nissena for you shall soon see that you have been deceived in thinking your self deceived by me who honour you Or you shall be Queen of Cyprus or I will lay down the Scepter thereof Reach me pen paper Then calling in for divers Noble men Gentlemen of the Court me amongst the rest he in their presence under-writ a blank paper and signing it with his Regal Seal take this said he my Queen Write in this whatever tyes or agreements you shall think fit to ratifie our marriage and if I do ever deceive Nissena be you all witnesses to the whole world of my infamy and declare me unworthy either to Reigne or live At these lively expressions of true affection and candid Loyalty the Queen for awhile stood immovable then weeping for tenderness she obsequiously took the Kings hand in hers and humbly kissing it said Pardon me Sir for I am betray'd pardon I beseech you the offence which you might justly take at me for suffering my self to be too easily perswaded that you were guilty of a fault which now I see to have been so far from your magnanimous and Princely heart This Sir was that that betraid me and therewithall she gave him a Letter which she had received in the Packet from Rhodes the sence whereof was That a personage much affectionate to her compassionating that misfortune which had carryed her from her fathers house from her country to the end that in her so flourishing age and indow'd with so great beauty and worth she was likely to be grosely abused and deceived by anothers barbarous lust he was resolved through pitty of her misfortunes to adverise her that Thoas feigning by specious ways and pretences to take her to be his wife nourishing her with vain hopes would enjoy her as a whore That he did the rather acquaint her with these proceedings since by doing so he did second the will of Heaven which having till then afflicted the King with sickness shew'd how it did abhor his mischievous machinations but that being now recovered he would not be long in bereaving her of her virginity That she should therefore speedily flie from Cyprus if she would keep that reputation untainted which had for so many ages made famous the House of Falerno or if she desired to render her self glorious for having wisely deluded the lustful ends of a treacherous King Thou art the wicked Traitor who e're thou art cry'd Thoas who possest with I know not what Infernal fury indeavourest to subvert my quiet but if I may ever know who thou art thy head shal justly pay for these thy base and infamous stratagems Then observing the Letter to be without a name or date O Nissena said he you were too easie in crediting the slightness of a Letter written by one who was ashamed to own it if every one
apparell loaded with greasie Wooll His intension was to expose himselfe to all danger so as he might kill those two petty Kings who hindred him from intirely possessing that Kingdome which without that Citie seemed to his ambition but a Body that had some joynt lopt off He imagined that either he or some of his getting into the Courts of those petty Kings might possibly come to mingle poyson whereof each of them was well provided amidst their meats or else by night to bring such a of powder into the lower Vaults of the Palace as might suffice to blow up the Walls thereof wherewithall both to kill and bury his enemies at once If nothing else should succeed he should learn the exact quantity of the people their plenty or penury of Ammunition the condition of their Souldiery their inward provisions and fortifications of the Citie and finally all such occurrences as might facilitate unto him the way how to take that Citie by storm which he could not doe by stratagem He determined and performed but if he went to vanquish he was vanquished though the loss did at the last occasion his Victory His feigned condition of a Shepheard getting him access without suspition into all places he made use therof to pry into all particulars which might conduce to the execution of his designs Being one morning invited by his curiosity to see the inside of a sumptuous Palace the great men of Cyprus using in those dayes freely to permit every one to enter their habitations he stept into a garden and gazing upon a side of the House which was all made of purest Marble he might see a Woman sitting upon a little rise of a Hill drying her wet black hair at the Sun beams She sitting a good while still and seeing one look fixtly on her in a habit which made her beleeve him to be some simple Countrey Clown who dazled with her more then usual beauty stood greedily gazing on her broke forth into a lowd laughter and said unto him What is' t you look so earnestly upon Companion Did you never see a woman before Yes Lady said he I have seen other women but never any of so exquisite a Beauty Look thy belly full upon me then said she whilst a Gentlewoman came with an Ivory Comb to put her hair in order Biamartes forgetting what personage he represented had almost by speeches and behaviour befitting his true condition and mind discovered himself to have nothing in him of Clownish but his apparell But knowing how much it imported him to be taken for what he appeared to be he began with divers sensless words and speeches to little purpose masked over with simplicity to move them to laughter who had delighted a good while to make themselves merry with him At last they departed from the little rise of the Hill and he went out of the Palace so far in love with this Lady as he found it much a harder matter to withstand his own thoughts then to fight a numerous Army 'T was a wonder that being blinded by love he could yet see that he could hope for no success neither in his martial affairs by the death of his Enemies nor yet in his love Wherefore he wisely resolved to leave Famagosta where he had reaped nothing but the loss of his heart and the having exposed himself to the evident danger of his life liberty and renown which he had won at such expence of valour He left the City as did severally those that depended on him except one of the craftiest amongst them who by his command staid to prie into the proceedings of the petty Kings and to discover that Ladies condition whose merit had wrought upon a Kings affection Byamartes perceived afterwards how rash his enterprise was but according to the custom of great ones yea of all such as have been favoured by fortune he attributed that to the goodness of his own wit which was the meer gift of a friendly fortune He ceased not this mean while at a great expence of treasure and the full extent of his power to raise all such men and arms as he could to assault Famagosta again which being impossible to be besieged on that side towards the sea was not to be taken but by assault Though he were busied about so hard an enterprise yet could he not forget her vvho had rob'd him of his heart but thirsted the more to make himself master of the City This mean vvhile he vvhom he had left in Famagosta having inform'd himself touching the Lady found that she vvas of a noble and rich Family allyed to the best houses of the City though her husband as having too great and numerous a retinue vvas not vvell looked upon but rather held under by those petty Kings vvho knevv their uncertain Dominion to be yet but vveakly grounded vvhich made her be better inclin'd to Biamartes his Party then to theirs The crafty Officer thought it therfore his best course to let it come to her knowledge by one of her houshold servants whom he had by great sums of gold corrupted that Biamartes being come into that City by stealth and unknown was falne mightily in love with her in so much as he was sent by him to offer her together with his soul whatsoever his Crown was able to do she being the sole Mistress of his will Telisbe for so was this Lady called thought it impossible that a great King should have hazarded himself within the precincts of an Enemies Wall and that having such important affairs of War upon his hands he could have leasure to think of love but did rather imagin that this was a plot of some one or other that was in love with her to make tryal of her chastitie or else that it was some of Biamartes stratagems whereby to make himself Master of that City which was only wanting to compleat his Dominion over all Cyprus Were it then that she desired to know whether she were grown so ingenuous or no as to discover the plots of others or that eg'd on by the itch of ambition she would gladly know the certainty whether her beauty were such or no as to have operation in the heart of a great Prince and valliant Warrler she would be punctually inform'd by this her domestick servant who it was that had prevailed so far with her as to make her venter upon so rash a business She wrought so much by intreaties and by threats as she learn'd all she knew out of her Which was no more but that dazled by the brightness of the gold whereof a stranger had been very liberal unto her she was induced to deliver such messages believing she should not find her easie to consent but yet ready enough to pardon the folly of a fault which had got her so much wealth The Lady seemed to be appeas'd and asked her whether she thought the stranger would be perswaded to speak with her her self or no charging her that when
tenderly then my self or mine own Interests and I call your selves and heaven to witness whether I had ever any other end then to govern like a good Shepheard ready to shed my sweat nay my very bloud for the good of my Flock It may notwithstanding be that without any consent of my will some one may think himself either ill dealt withall through my rigor or injur'd by some innocent fault of mine If I have done amiss I have done it out of ignorance and for doing it I first humbly ask pardon of Gods hands then at your hands who are here present and lastly from the meanest and poorest of my Vassals It hath pleased the Gods peradventure because I knew not how to deserve it that I die void of succession or an heir to whom leaving that love hereditary which I bear to you I might assure my self that for the future you were to be govern'd with those just ends wherewith I have always governed you But my faults have been too great to others which have withheld me from having deserved so greatly a desired felicity and death would be too welcome to me if I could die with this content Yeild I beseech you unto my will and be therewithall wel pleased and if the Love and Justice which I have ever indifferently born unto you all have merited any retribution from you I beg a comfort of you able to make me happie before I breath my last Grant it unto your King if you wil not that he die slain rather by desperation then by sickness Grant it I desire you I beseech you I conjure you if for nothing else for the publick prosperity which is to arise from thence I would have my Scepter to pass from me to Nissena I know that as being the last of my race I may by the ancient Laws of this Kingdom justly dispose of but I will receive that as a gift from your consent which I might freely dispose of according to mine own will Let her afterwards chuse a husband whom I wish may be such a companion to her both in the Kingdom and in her bed as you by her privat election may enjoy publique tranquility Howsoever if it had pleased the Gods to bless me with longer life she must have been your Queen she is already Crown'd The Fates have given you her for your Queen and the Gods knowing that she deserves a Kingdom and that a Kingdom is but an adequat reward to her deserts I vow unto you by that sincere Faith which may be expected from a dying man she is no less inwardly then outwardly beautiful Did I not know her to be so I would not propound her as a Head to those my dear Subjects whose happiness I shal for ever love even in my grave Let the performance of this my pleasure be your charge Mintaurus who are my chief President for methinks I see a willing content in every ones countenance that Nissena should be their Queen Mintaurus rising from his seat kneeled down and said If the heavens have ordained which the Gods forbid that your Majestie forgoe this life the Queen shal see how highly her merits shal be observed by me and how obsequiously your Majesties commands shal be obeyed They all one after another kneeled down before her and humbly kissed the hem of her garment to which the much grieved Ladie answered only in tears which falling in abundance from her eyes invited many of the standers by to do the like Do not bewail said the dying King with an almost smiling eye the loss of a King since you make so advantageous a change in so worthie a Queen I wil carrie with me the memory of your goodnesse my faithful Subjects into Elisium Remember you your Thoas who dies Here his voice growing very weak he made signes that all should withdraw except Nissena to whom with words hardly brought forth for want of breath he expressed his affections scarcely understood I die Nissena whilst I lived as soon as I had the happiness to know you I made you a free gift of my heart in death since I have nothing to present you withall more worthie of you I give you the Scepter of Cyprus after death my Soul shal eternally love you Remember Nis and not being able to pronounce her whole name he at once lost both his memorie and his voice which he never recovered again Help help cried the Queen aloud help my Lord the King for he dies and weeping downright she fel in a swound upon the beds side which seemed a hears loaded with two dead corps Phisitians and servants came running in and women being sent for the swounding Ladie was carried to her Lodgings whilst with divers Balsoms Cordials and odoriferous extractions they indeavoured but in vain to recall the King to his sences He laie languishing all that night til the break of day and then breathed out his soul Alas that neither Kings nor yet Kingdoms are exempt from the darts of death and in death greatness and Dignities serve only to make death the more grievous Behold that Court which but awhile afore abounded in Feasting and Nuptial Jollities now become a Theatre of sorrow plentiful only in dolorous tears and shal shortly be the Scene of Fatal and Tragical revolutions The Queen when she was come to her self wondred to find her self not near the bed of her expiring husband after whose condition she immediately enquired whether he was yet alive or no or whether he had for ever abandoned her Answer was made that he was at rest and that she should do wel to mind her self for he wanted for no care nor possible assistance Early the next morning papers were found thrown about in divers parts of the Palace wherein was publisht that the King was dead by slowly working poison betraied by some who plotted yet more execrable assassinations to the universal ruine of the whole Kingdom This was whispered up and down the Court til at last it came to Nissena's ears who betaking her self to fresh sorrows would have accompanied her Husband in death She past afterwards from tears to so impetuous and blind a desire of revenge as she seemed out of her wits threatning the Gallows Ax Fire ruine and destruction to whosoever had kild Thoas But there was not the least signe nor imagination to be had who this wicked one should be Mintaurus came in vvho under pretence of obviating those scandalous accidents which might be occasioned by the Queens ill regulated violence changed and redoubled the Guard comforting her in an almost imperious and severe manner Not long after his son Melaspus came in to comply with her and to offer her not only what he ow'd unto her as a Subject and servant but promising with his sword and the expence of his bloud to do what in him lay to bring her consolation by way of revenge These unusual complements misbecoming his rough and bestial nature were observ'd by Eurania Nissena's Ant but
not by her who quite lost in the passions of grief and revenge minded nothing but her own fury and affliction The Kings Funerals were by Mintaurus orders celebrated with no extraordinarie Pomp upon whom by reason of his dignitie the Government and interest of the Kingdom depending he indeavor'd by unusual kindnesses to win into the good opinion of the great ones and by liberalitys never by him before practis'd to to make the soldiery the common people his friends he notwithstanding made many to be imprison'd and amongst others one of the late Kings secretarys pretending that they were complices in the murder of one of the chief Gentlemen of Nicosia who was slain some daies before He acquainted the Queen with all proceedings whose grief not being yet over committed all affairs and expeditions to his charge This was the only thing which he gaped after who desires to strengthen his own authoritie with the people and to weaken the Queens power hasted apace towards the accomplishing of his vast and proud designes Melaspus ceased not to wait often upon Nissena indeavouring by his obsequiousness and service to work himself into her good opinion as being in love I know not whether more with her or with the Kingdom This his new waie of proceeding was known by al men to be but craft which aimed at the Crovvn and made him more hatefull in the eies of many then had his detestable conditions done before The Court was sufficiently aware to what end Mintaurus actions tended as also those of Melaspus and both Eurania and Nissena perceived it too though too late who finding her Guards to be changed how she was attended by none but Mintaurus his friends and kindred and even deprived of the company of her most intrusted waiting women knew she had almost totally lost her Princely power or was rather of a Queen become a servant whilst every vvhere and in all things Mintaurus vvas more obeyed then she She desired that a Councel of State might be called but it vvas deferr'd under pretence of his indisposition of health and of the absence of many of the chief Lords vvho after the Kings death had vvithdravvn themselves not only from the Court but from the Citie She desired to be inform'd of many Occurrences of the Kingdom more particularly of the War of Famagosta and vvhat had succeeded since the Prince Doralbo's expedition But she could learn nothing but Ambiguities and falshoods In fine she found her self utterly lost not having any one left her vvith vvhom to advise and make knovvn her mind save only Eurania vvho amongst the rest of her vexing cares she acquainted vvith her amorous inclination vvhich since the Kings death did much increase in her tovvards Doralbo Melaspus this mean while who by his Fathers persvvasions did often visit Nissena could no longer hold commerce with those fair eyes without becoming in reality her very fervent Lover and forgetting his Fathers sordid and avaritious ends which aimed at the unjust possessing of the Kingnom he aspired to nothing else but the possession of Nissena's beauty 'T is a folly to expose ones self to the flames with a thought of not remaining if not burnt at least throughly warmed Nissena was at all times exceeding handsome but being atired in Widovvs aparrel and vails she appeared to out-do her self It was no wonder therefore if Melaspus vvho vvas vvont formerly onely to follow after vvanton and lascivious love suffered himselfe at this time to be taken by that countenance which though it breathed forth nothing but noble flames did notwithstanding ravish with a redoubled violence he therefore sollicited his father to such resolutions as might give him Nissena in possession so as his sons intreaties joyned to the conatural goads of Ambition Avarice Mintaurus resolv'd himself to propound Melaspus to Nissena for Husband She blushing but wisely keeping in the height of her disdain took time to give answer so as the vvary vvicked fellow perceiv'd she was not much inclin'd to such a marriage And though he feigned yet inwardly inraged he said within himselfe Thou shalt either marry Melaspus or have Death for thy Bridegroom The Queen saw her self afterwards worse treated then ever and the ill usage practised hitherto by Mintaurus with hidden Art began to degenerate into evident neglects She was no more acquainted as formerly with the affairs of the Kingdome nor for all that she could do could she ever get the Councell to meet She was attended as meanly as might be onely in what concern'd necessity not as became her greatness the number of her Courtiers and Servants in her waiting rooms being every day decreased and the number of Souldiers every day increased Melaspus only whose flames grew daily greater continued to serve her though the little correspondency or gratitnde that he met withal might have made him see he was not at all respected The Niece and Aunt perplext between these straits resolved it not onely needful for them but necessary to acquaint Doralbo by Letters how barbarously they were treated by Mintaurus after the Kings death And this Nissena was the willinger induced unto now that she saw the way open unto her to make with honour her affection known to that gallant Prince whose love she now esteem'd a greater fortune then the Crown ' I was hard for them to get the letter safely conveyd unto him but wary Eurania sent it by a very trusty Messenger For what remain'd they resolved to shew themselves for the future more inclin'd to the proposition of Nissena's marriage with Melaspus whose affection should be fed and nourisht by her with some seeming content yet so cunningly as a sudden change might not cause suspition The sad couple were tossed between the billows of these anxious thoughts and Nissena opprest with unwelcome Melancholy was more afflicted then usually when a young man appear'd before her of a noble enough aspect though not very richly attir'd who having bowed reverently unto her spake to her in this manner The weight of affairs vvherein your Majesties life and the possession of this kingdom are concern'd required that I should come before your presence and for that I was often denied entrance by the guard I who am a Merchants son of this Citie have abused the Souldiers making them believe that I was sent for by you with direction to bring you some Looking-glasses wherewith the better to colour over the Fiction I have brought good store with me and to that purpose Madam I will present you with a Glasse wherein you shal see the wicked practises of others and the imminent dangers which hang over you Be not I beseech you offended that Fortune hath made choyce of me your unworthy servant and most humble subject as an instrument to withdraw you from those misfortunes to which you are so much the more expos'd for that you doe the lesse discern them as long as my Relation shal serve to your reliefe you need not care who I am
was hurt before This was the end of this days action Agenor being carried to his Tents and the Prince upon a very fleet horse to his Quarters The Armies being mustered about 2000 horse and 3600 foot were found wanting on the Crowns side and on the Common-wealths side little less then 4000 horse and only 2700 foot So as those who defended the Kingdom had but small cause to boast of a Victorie purchased with so much bloud Doralbo's wound being tented and drest was found to be but slight and no ways dangerous so as he who long'd very much to be where his heart alreadie was after having given order and express command in what was requisit for the burial of the dead for the cure of those that were wounded and for all other occurrences which belonged to the Interest of War which he affectionately recommended to Filarbo and Theocastro's care he speedily took his way toward Nicosia awaited on only by two Gentlemen and one page 'T is hard to imagin much harder to say how many troubled thoughts he was agitated with in this his Journey he found his heart beat within him for joy to think he should so soon be made happie in the so often wisht for sight of his Nissena from vvhom he hoped hereafter for correspondencie in love if not more ardent at least more free and lavvfull she not being novv bound unto any other affections save to the gratefull matrimonial memorie of her dead husband he hoped and fear'd hope and fear being inseparable from a soul in love He hoped to make himself vvorthy of his beloveds favour by doing some great actions aiming at her service and relief But he feared lest she being raised to the Regall Throne might despise him who though born a Prince had no considerable fortune save what he might be made partaker of by her from whom he could not be induced to hope for or to pretend unto any thing more then some little gratitude in not being contemn'd or abhor'd He thought he had already put a period to Mintaurus his pride that he had trode him under foot cut his throat and offered him as a victime in sacrifice to his adored Idoll Spurre on thy Horse in Gods name poor Doralbo thou shalt shortly see to what fatall Spectacles and sad misfortunes thy miserable destiny hath reserved thee And thou unhappy one not foreseeing thy adverse destiny hastest to see and hear things and objects which will make thee suffer a thousand deaths He was scarcely come within sight of the Citie when he might perceive how much Nicosia was altered for what concern'd him from what it was when he left it He was questioned whilst yet a good way off by two Sentinels who were armed and walked carefully upon a Bulwark who he was and not allowing him leasure to reply they in an imperious manner added That he must either presently stay or else give in his name and lay down his Arms at the entrance into the Gate to the which whilst he drew neer he was withstood by a number of Soldiers who kept the Guard And what said he in angry manner is my countenance so much alter'd How now you Rascals doe you not know me Then clapping spurres to his Horse he would force his entry One of them more rash then the rest laying hold upon his Horses bridle said Stay Sir for we are Mintaurus his Souldiers and have no respect for you At which he reply'd aloud Did I not disdain to defile my sword in so base bloud I would teach thee to discourse thus with a Prince What is Mintaurus And since when commands he over such as I am in Nicosia He would have said more but the Captain of the Troop coming in interposed himselfe in such like words Sir these may be excused enter in Gods Name I in the mean while will acquaint him whom I ought to doe so with your Highness arrivall He entred all swoln with anger nor had he advanced far when he might discern such a hushness and melancholy in all the people as recalling into his mind Thoas his death presented nothing but confusion to him and what mischiefe might overhang him and Nissena insomuch as he found his heart struck through by an unexpected deep melancholy Troubled with these thoughts he came to the Court Gates which were likewise guarded by a body of men unknown to him He advanced being not so much respected as before but he did not much mind it his heart leaping within him to think he was so near seeing and discoursing with his dearly beloved Being got up the stairs he went towards the Queens Lodgings and entring into the ante-rooms he found them void and abandoned by the wonted Guard and the accustomed frequencie of Courtiers Cavaliers and Noble men being entred a little further in he might hear a whispering noise as of some that were talking Laying his hand upon the dore Oh! go no further Doralbo for thou goest not knowing it to meet with worse then death and opeing it he found none but two much afflicted Women who stood talking with a page of a misfortune which was befaln Where is the Quen said he has she changed her lodgings One of them bursting forth into downright weeping answered Alas Sir our Queen may well be said to have changed her lodgings since she is gon to heaven to enjoy the reward of her innocencie being now free from the power of the wicked Tyrant At this sad and unexpected newes the inamored Prince felt a chilness run over his whole body as is usual in a cold fit of an ague and a certain vapor rise from his heart unto his head which took his sight from him and made him for awhile stupid immovable and senceless He afterward brake forth into a loud crie and said Is it true that Nissena is dead hath the barbarous rascal murderd her or who is that barbarous rascall where is he tell me where and how and when and who it was that kill'd her The sorrowfull woman mingling sobs and tears with her words answered Two Soldiers commanded so to do by wicked Mintaurus ript her soul from out her bosome with their daggers the next chamber and her own bed was the tragical scene of so unjust an act Oh my heart how deadly was the wound savedg beasts and vipers not men but I I will take revenge said the Prince if I can so long out-live my lifes death as to have time to do it O that I could assoon by my death recall her to life Lamenting thus he turn'd his face to the dore of the next chamber and saw the bed and carpets which were spread about it upon the ground and the room it self all stained besmeared and sprinkled with bloud Oh said he this is my hearts bloud unworthily drawn from that spotless and innocent body Did I come hither O Nissena to serve thee to place thee in thy Throne to reverence thee and do I finde nothing of thee but bloudie
Rhodes by inheritance lawfull Successor of the Crown of Cyprus the which doth as justly belong to me as it hath been by Mintaurus unjustly possest 't is I who beg this of you The kingdom of due belongs to me who wife to the late Thoas was by him in his life time crowned Queen in his death confirmed in the Dominion I as such a one doe both demand and offer peace and being betraid and opprest I flie to you for justice and assistance Let us then unite our forces I beseech you and let us carry the War home to his gates who hath subverted peace Nor will it be without glory to your renowned valor that the Tyrant be by your means punisht and be by you hurld down to his own bloud from his usurped Throne Let us goe for I invite you to peace glory and victory Here she held her peace Nor was there any one in that great and grave Assembly who did not joyfully and humbly offer to expose their own persons to any the greatest danger which might tend to remit her into her just and lawfull possession of the crown In the mean time they strove who should first come with bended knees to shew vvith obsequiousness their duty to her Majesty They placed her in the worthiest and most eminent place whilst they with their hats off stood on foot protesting unto her by the mouths of the best spoken men amongst them their ancient devotion towards the Crown of Cyprus and complaining of that false deceiver who by abusive fraud had necessitated them to take up arms against their King at all other times and upon all other occasions respected and honored by them as became them They thanked her for the proffered peace which they willingly accepted of protesting themselves much bound unto her for that she was pleased to make use of them to recover her Kingdom They offered unto her not onely the publick moneys but even the moneys of their privat purses as much of their Army as was left and finally they acknowledged her and bowed unto her as their lawfull Queen swearing eternall and inviolable allegiance to her Whilst these Welcomes vvere exercised there the Ladies of the Citie were advertised that the exceeding fair Lady who not long before was come thither under a pretence of Ambassie was the Queen Nissena the merit of whose beauty had raised her to the Crown and of whom they had formerly heard Whereupon they to pay their due respects to so great a Princesse and out of curiositie to see whether her beauty did answer to the fame thereof putting on their richest Ornaments and best aparrell they went in guilded Coaches to the Palace to serve and reverence her The newes of the concluded peace vvas this mean while spread abroad amongst the people with which all the Citizens and common people being overjoyed did every where applaud the Queens beauty and wisdome She came forth attended by the Ladies and Senators many whereof waited upon her to the Camp whilst the common people that they might also see a beauty which knew how to merit Kingdoms by the noise of Trumpets and beating up of Drums fild the Heavens with shouts of Jubilee and rejoycing Before 't was night the chief Commanders of the lately before enemies Army came to her Pavillion on the Senats behalf to receive her commands offering themselves to march with their Militia whithersoever she should command them she received them in a grave and courteous manner sending them back presented vvith some little Jevvels vvhich she had carried vvith her vvhen she fled from Nicosia This mean while consultation was had how and in what manner they were to depart and Nissena thinking she had put the means already in a fair way whereby she might repossess her self of her Crown had now nothing to afflict her self with but the thought of her Doralbo of whom hearing no news she could little rejoyce at any other good success which either had or could happen unto her She could not so much conceal this disquiet of her mind but that she gave express command that before the Armies should march towards Nicosia two of the most experienc'd and crafty Soldiers should be sent to learn some news of the Prince and of Theocastro and at the same time to find with what number of Soldiers the Citie was guarded and in what condition of peace and safetie Mintaurus and Melaspus were with the people whether beloved or hated whether they behaved themselves as Lords and Kings or whether but as Officers of the Kingdom VVhen Filarbo and Theocastro as hath been said before saw Doralbo though wounded go from the Camp towards Nicosia they thought it fit to follow him whereupon not many hours after his departure Theocastro took the same way He came to the Citie at that fatal instant when the Prince desperat out of Nissena's believed death having indeavoured to kill Melaspus was committed to Prison So as hearing of his being in hold he thought it good to keep himself conceal'd least he might be thought guilty as complice of the attempted Homicides and that he might the better observe what they resolved to do with the Prince to the end that he might assist him and purchase if it were possible his safetie and libertie though it should cost him his life Getting to this purpose into a friends house on whose fidelitie he might relie he desired to know what urgent occasion had induced Doralbo to so strange and unadvised a resolution and he was informed that being provoked by his exceeding anger at the Queens supposed death he resolved to revenge her whose death was afterwards found to be false but that it was true that she was fled to Rhodes He lamented his Cousins misfortune but much more Doralbo's danger as being more grievous and more imminent he being imprisoned and exposed to the arbitrarie judgment of an unjust severe independent and interressed Magistrate from whom in all probabilitie nothing but cruel resentments could be expected He resolved therefore that very night to discover what Mintaurus his intentions were against the imprisoned Prince and to this purpose he sent to the Lord Chancellor in the name of one of the chief Lords of the Court to know whether sentence were alreadie pronounced against Doralbo or no as being already convinc'd of the Fact so as all process or examination would prove superfluous He could learn nothing from him but that Mintaurus had sent for the chief Marshal and given him some privat directions Theocastro growing hereby more desirous of information would go himself protected by the darkness of the night to know of the chief Marshal who was his familiar friend whether Doralbo were in any eminent danger of death or no This man lived near the Court and from his Lodgings where he his wife and children lived there was a passage through a narrow tarrace to a pair of stairs which landed in a common little yard but not much frequented wherein were the
own merit would have prompted me to greater things then this to which I am bound as I am a Prince and a Gentleman If two Gallies will not suffice you take four My care shall be to give order for them and let it be your care to make speedy use thereof lest shee may suffer in her interest by delay Bee prosperous in your journey salute her in my name and intreat her to make use of me to the utmost of my power Theocastro returned all due thanks and took his leave thinking suddenly to goe from Rhodes though he staid a many days being detained by tempestuous weather This mean while he was desired to take Emerino for Captain of one of the Gallies he who was once so far in love with Nissena but his flames of affection being extinguished in the tears of desperation he had changed his love affections into the like of Friendship or rather of obsequiousness desiring to go to Cyprus for no other reason but only that he might glorie that he had not at all erred in the choice of his love by bequeathing his heart to a beautie who deserved the government of Venus her kingdom The storms being over they put from the haven in a serene calm but the second day after their departure they met with contrary winds and foul weather a calm insuing not long after they might see a ship not far off which lying at Anchor was by the provident Mariners mended in what she had suffered by the last storms they turn'd a little out of their way to satisfie their curiosity in knowing to whom she did belong and from whence she came and this they did the rather for that they might perhaps learn from those that were within her some tidings of the affairs of Cyprus So as they steered their course thitherward and cheering up their Gallie-slaves with excellent wines they incouraged them to row apace assoon as the two Gallies were come within Cannon-shot they were in an unusual and barbarous manner shot at by four piece of Cannon so as instead of getting information they were inforc'd to prepare for fight Theocastro's Gallie received an unluckie shot with two bullets beneath the Poop which giving large entrance unto the water made them strike sail and ship their Oars to keep out the sea which fraudulently stole in and was ready to swallow up the Gallie This mean while Emerino's Gallie boarded the Enemie and after a dangerous fight behav'd her self so gallantly as with great slaughter of the Enemy she got a bloudie victorie there was one Gentleman in the Enemies ship who fighting valliantly had drawn much bloud from the Rhodians and in a bold and barbarous manner would never yeild so as they were forced to load him with Irons and by force to drag him out of the ship whence together with him they took great store of treasure and brought it and him into their Gallie leaving the ship without any sails to the pleasure of the winds and water the other rent Gallie being in some sort mended Theocastro came in to succour his companion but met with no other occasion save only to rejoyce with him for his victorie They shewed him their bootie and amongst other prisoners to his great wonder and astonishment he found the Gentleman loaded with Irons to be Melaspus over whom Fortune would have thought she should not have sufficiently insulted had she not after so many miseries brought him into the hands of his Enemies Theocastre was as glad of this desired Prey as was Melaspus grieved and almost mad to see himself in his power whilst Emerino understanding who he was thanked his destiny for having delivered up Nissena's chiefest enemy into his power to whom he thought he could not present a more acceptable gift They forthwith hoisted their sails and gave such way with their Oars as shew'd their great desire to come suddenly to shore at Cyprus they sailed so swiftly befriended by a Westerly wind and the Gallie slaves plying their Oars as within the space of five hours they began to discover the tops of the promontaries which are in the west part of Cyprus nay they did already discover the top of high Olympus which being almost in the midst of the Island seems to joyn the earth and stars together Nissena was already parted with the two Armies from the parts about Famagosta some days since marching towards Nicosia The Commonwealths horse led the Van those of the Crown followed them and after these came she backt by two Troops of choice Gentlemen and carried in a chair having all the Foot for her rearward Agenor and Filarbo never parted from her side entertaining her sometimes with pleasant somtimes with grave and sometimes with sad discourse Of which later sort their communing was when they spoke of Doralbo's danger whose name though she were glad to hear of yet was she troubled to think some misfortune might have befaln him They made not much hast in their march for though Pioners went before them to make the wayes more easie for passage they endeavoured to march so as they might doe least prejudice to the Countrey and the Queen was delighted to be with the Armies who therfore did not march faster or further then seated with her conveniency At last they incamped themselves within 7 miles of Nicosia and were preparing to make neerer approches with part of the Army and if it should be thought sitting to storm the Citie walls when the 2 Souldiers who were formerly sent to enquire after Doralbo and to learn how affairs went in Nicosia came and desired that they might be admitted into the Queens presence who did not onely give them audience willingly but when they were brought to her did with some anxiety and impatience solicit them to say quickly what they had of good or bad to tell her It was superfluous said they that your Majesty should come attended with such Forces thither where you are expected with such devotion by Prince Doralbo by the Nobility and by all the people who look for you we would say as for a Goddess did we not think we should offend your modesty which will be contented that we shall say as a Queen by them reverenced and beloved You are come with an intention of fighting and your fight is turn'd to triumph Here they acquainted her at large with all that had befaln Doralbo who had been in extream danger of losing his life in revenging her beleeved death but that being delivered by Theocastro he had slain the Tyrant and that afterwards hearing of Melaspus his being fled he was come out of the Castle with the generall applause both of the Nobility and common people and that he already had in her name made himself absolute Master of the Citie on which the secure dominion of all the rest of the Kingdom did depend That having heard of her coming by some strangers he was already on his way to come and meet her and to receive her