not dead and bemoaned him not The Queene who as a childe of her owne deerely tendred him was even heart-broken with griefe for him The King sollicited the Physitians for fresh Pittims and new Cordialls but nothing avail'd him since they penetrated not into the nature of the disease nor its true occasion Ridden hee had and danced too that morning but without excesse exercises to him ordinary Dined he had too but yet sparingly repletion and disorder had no place in him Deadora seeing him in such a plight too late now repenting her being the causer of it taking him by the hand warm'd it betweene hers calling to him with so many throbs and teares that happy he had he but seene them Nor did such demonstrations any way impeach the reserved modesty of her sex their neernesse in blood education and domestick amity sufficiently priviledging her so to doe At length hee came to himselfe just in that time when litle better than abandoning him for dead every ones thoughts were busied more about his funerall than life for now the King Queene Princesse and Princes were all of them parted save onely Vincirco who staid behinde with the Physicians and was now set a weeping over him as dead The King having notice thereof returned with the rest and finding him laid in warme cloathes in a feaverish fit shaking every joynt of him he began to hope the best of him And because the throng of Courtiers that came in with him might not disturbe his cure he tooke them all againe out with him leaving there onely the Queene with Deadora The former where of being told by the Physicians that the accident proceeded from some great oppression of the heart much marveyled thereat for that shee had observed him to be ever merry yet beleeving that some internall humour falling on that part had caused that accident shee ranne to her lodgings for a most delicate paste made for that purpose leaving with him her daughter and Vincireo Shee seeing the Physitians retired and her selfe all alone with Vincireo whom shee cared not for concealing her selfe from accoasting his bed-side cures the wound given by the weapons of her former sharpe by the balme of these her milder words My Princely Lord and deerest Cozen said shee I confesse my selfe faulty and pronounce my selfe most worthy of chastisement for having beene against all reason the cause of endangering your life by bringing you thus to deaths doore I confesse yea I now from my soule confesse your interesses to be full of love and most worthy of being really corresponded with an equall affection Behold mee here now my endeer'd Lord most ready to make you plenary amends Cheere then up your selfe I beseech you for loe I am disposed and immutably resolved to goe whithersoever you please Banish then from you all melancholy since I am ever yours and never will be any others which that you might be the more assured of I have not you see abhorr'd the testimony of the Prince of Pontus your Cozen and mine here present which shee expressed with an affection so sincerely-ardent as both amazed Vinciero and restor'd Gradamoro to life It is naturall for an oppressed heart to disgorge in teares in the very instant of its being eased that maligne humour that suffocated it a token of health and a signe that Melancholy departing leaves roome and way for joy to enter Right so befell it now the Prince of Cyprus hee stood a good while taking first the Princesse's hands betweene his and distilling rivulets of teares out of the fountaines of his eyes and then affectionately kissing them return'd her this answer I know not incomparable Madame when I shall be ever able to serve you conformable to the great obligation to your more than excelling courtesie You Madame cannot be faulty where you have soveraigne power nor bee subject to punishment whereas you sway the scepter over all the lawes of my affections Your nobly vouchsafing to comprehend in the better sense my interesses and out of your goodnesse to accept them in good worth is to me a supreame favour but your benignely daigning to correspond them surpasseth even all expectation of mine much more the slendernesse of my merits so as I am so farre unable from really requiring your nobly-obliging favours by deeds as I cannot finde apt words to expresse or acknowledge them For the rest could I but have thought nay hoped that the King your Father upon any earnestly-sollicitous Embassie of mine could have beene wrought to bestow you on mee I then would I protest unto you never have presumed to have preposed you your flight but being promised as you are alas what likelihood is there for you to have by his consent other husband than Erpandro And the example of your mother that I proposed you with the revenge that thereupon ensued were never by mee intended for arguments to perswade you since I knew them farre from being availeable in that behalfe but to shew you how by them you might assure your selfe that your resolution should be lesse blamed and censured Besides that I pretend not to robbe what 's any other mans for so you Madame be but pleased to make me by your noble assent but worthy I will marry you ere wee part to the end our faults if such they be may seeme by so much the lesse in the eyes of both heaven and the world The Princesse resolved both to felicitate and cure him here thus interrupts him Well my Lord to the end you may see that there is no neede of justifications behold me here at your disposure therefore so you be therewith pleased marry me a-Gods-name right now in the presence of your Cozen here who astonished to see them at that point without imparting any inckling thereof to him till then taking off his finger a rich Diamond Gradamoro having then no Ring ready reached it him to marry her therewith as instantly he did remitting the rest to another time The Physicians being called found his pulse at a good passe and the Queene come he would needs take what shee brought him to make her the Authresse of his health and then got out of his bed the day following so healthsome and blithsome as if he had not beene sick at all But then Vincireo could not forbeare from taxing him with discourtesie for the small signe of love he shewed him in this occasion of making use of him When he craving him pardon told him that at first he had concealed it with out knowing himselfe the reason why having entred into this businesse beyond all expectation and that afterwards doubting that hee would have disswaded him he was confirmed in his silence judging it a lesser evill to offend by concealing his affection than after communicating it not to follow his counsell or be in some way ruled by him And being thereupon demanded how he meant to carry the businesse now that his resolution had excluded all other either deliberation or counsell He answered
it being unpossible that the reverence of hoary age worke not much in a young Prince already by reason both perswaded and convicted As for time and opportunity to accomplish it wee shall not misse of that it being his ordinary use to walke through this grove for the preservation of his bodily health though it conduce nothing to that of the spirit which the Count not contradicting leaving his Squire to accompany the other sate him downe by him to heare his story The young Knight in the meane time over-wearied with past watchings continued his sleepe arrived-upon unexpectedly by a Lady both for complexion beautifull comelinesse and comely beauty worthy to bee numbred among the fairest shee was cloth'd in a sky-colour'd silke gowne embroydered with gold and pearle which shee wore after the fashion most used by Nymphes tuck'd up with a rich girdle about her slender waste so as there lay discovered to the eye her silvered buskins fastned with tyes of riband which in the form e of leaves encircled in the mid'st of them a litle rose of diamonds her brest sparingly discovered dispersed not else-where the beholders sight but engrossed it wholly to it self without giving it any occasion to repent it's employment the parts subject to excellencie and defect indifferently appearing her haire neatly smooth'd but dishevelled made disorder become so seemely and delightsome that never any order could boast of such passing seemlinesse There encompassed them for honour for for ornament themselves were their sole adorners a gay and odoriferous garland Her dainty hands the amorous hookes of hearts discovered transparently how slender-boned they were flesh'd tender soft and almost unpalpable exquisitely proportioned and long delicately hilly and lasciviously dimpled adorned with golden bracelets interlaced with claspes that hooked together hearts inlaid with diamonds Shee was thither come all alone carrying with her a basket of Roses and in a little silver vessell quick embers The sight of the Knight staid her not from adorning with her flowres the Goddesse and her little one nor yet from burning some of her sweete incense the odoriferous fume wherofawoke him so as rising from off the ground and gazing on her with astonishment he could hardly as hee had reason for it beleeve himselfe opening therefore his eyes better and then yet more fixed in his errour hee opened their fluces and with a flood of teares burst her out these speeches Oh with what words should I thanke you the Lady of my life Liarta who having already but too much obliged mee whilst you liv'd a mortall are now that you are celestiall come to undoe me with your unmeritable favours Is it possible that my plaint could mount so high and move you enthroned among the glory of the happy to come and commâ—â—tate my griefes Which said he rapt with a conjugall love ran to embrace her which shee avoyding hee spake on And will you not then deare life of my soule permit mee to claspe you in my unfortunate armes No I am sure you cannot for I know you to be unpalpable yet let me enfold and hold within the circle of my armes this faite Image which though dead to the world lives yet in the center of my heart with that offering againe to embrace her and shee shunning him as before I perceive it is not then true proceeded he that to the blessed spirits together with the affects of vertue doth for their greater blisse and glory remaine the memory of things past for then I am sure you would not have forgotten your Almadero Or was there perhaps together with your mortall body buried my immortall love as unworthy to be blest with you in heaven to make me onely among all upon earth most miserable and unfortunate What! are soules dumbe or can they not distinguish words as well as represent personages But be it as it be will I am sure I see you in whose faire countenance I yet discerne the lillies I so esteemed but ah what is become of the roses alas death hath gathered them off Which the Lady with a beck of her head denying and gently smiling shewed him those of the Goddesse When hee being now come to himselfe somewhat better perceived shee was not indeede the same he beleeved her to be and would therefore have craved her humble pardon but so suddenly lost both his speech and conceit that hee could not accomplish his intent Shee that attentively had observed him in all his deportments and no lesse liking his person than pittying his passion returned him this answer I am not gentle Sir the Lady you take me for since I have a reall body am yet a woman and live nor enjoy I ought that is celestiall save the sole hope of this Goddesse I am very sorry that I awoke you and crave you pardon for it but being come hither expressely to adore the Goddesse I could doe no lesse than offer her my accustomed oblations The Knight with a greedy eye examining in her all those beauties that in a faire woman could be desired dispensing withall now if not forgetting his loyall affection to his Liarta makes her this reply The favour faire Lady that I receive from you is of it selfe too great to be merited without the unexpressible addition of these your-to-me-too-too-courteous satisfactions yet wonder I not thereat knowing that as the Gods extend not their liberality unto us according to our dignity but conformable to their abundant benignity so cannot those divine beauties of yours choose but participate of the selfe same nature which if when unimployed it excell the loftiest imaginations will no doubt when it is well imployed surpasse all humane merit both curtesie and beauty in you with equall pace march on to exeedingnesse so as I being too feebleeyed to behold the shining splendor of the one am dazled with the glit-Tering rayes of the other nor can I possibly correspond with any parity an imparity so discorrespondent for having beene already dazled with the like beames I finde my selfe so weake-sighted that my very intellect being together with my senses and optick organs enfeebled cannot expresse nor fully discern the good which in its ill it receiveth yet will I not for all that forbeare to acknowledge meerely out of my being sensible of the greatnesse of your merits how deeply I am engaged unto you to the end you may both know mee to be yours and withall so you bee pleased so much to honour mee declare me being such for your Knight and servant The Lady who by nature was endued with a vivacity disposed to a pawze-not-intermitting-motion impatient at so long a discourse would gladly have many times interrupted him being inclin'd rather to speake than heare but restrain'd or rather curb'd by a certaine unknowne force shee stood patiently-silent no otherwise than doth a generous Courser who though hee bite and champe the Bit refuseth not for all that to obey his rider The sight of this gentle Knight disliked her not though shee yet
matter did the best shee could to comfort her till seeing shee could get no answer of her shee opened the windowes and then seeing her looke so pale shee was againe amazed yet finding no drop of blood about her though her lips and eyes looked of a pale blewish colour shee gently tooke her by the hand and respectively kissing it besought her to speake one word to her but was answered with a gastly grone wherewith shee expired because of her wounded heart's being by then quite suffocated with blood The Gentlewoman searching over her body a-new and yet finding nothing considering that the occasion of her death was not to be divulged shut the doore and went and acquainted therewith the King who because hee could not beleeve that shee died without violence commanded to view her better himselfe casting the meane while an eye on her pulses and paps under one whereof as hee more heedfully observed hee came to discover the bodkin by a litle blood that trickled off the orifice of the wound and so comprehending the cause of her death he charged that no words should be made thereof giving out the morrow following that shee was dead of an apoplexie Feredo in the meane time hastned on his journey beleeving that the farther hee went from Venedotia the neerer he came to content and quietnesse till hee chanced to come to the famous Court of Logria whose then King Alfrido observing him besides the comelinesse of his person to be endued with incomparable qualities had a minde at first sight to make him his Son-in-law for establishing the dominions which hee possessed lying open to divers hostile incursions with the alliance and stay of a King for territories and power next himselfe the greatest of all Albion One sole Daughter had he of some eighteene yeares of age named Alite for beauty singular among the fairest and one sonne as then absent addicted to exercises of Chivalry No sooner was Feredo seene by her than that shee began to affect him seconding her Fathers secret designe with an honest open love and the correspondencie as it was fitting it should had beene by him as forwardly repaid her but that at his first comming thither he began suddenly to feele strange passions of mellancholy which transporting him to turbid imaginations would never suffer him in quiet for that he thought hee saw Gelinda every houre in an horrid shape with a naked and bloody brest settle her selfe by him whether hee were laid in bed or walking any where abroad so as he passed most nights without closing his eyes which made him desire to watch with merry company who upon his corrupted affects wrought just such an effect as doth one single drop of water on one tormented with a burning feaver that thinkes all the rivers of the world too litle either to coole his heate or quench his thirst Many a time have I thought upon these visions whether any such really be or no and whether that which appeared was the very spirit of Gelinda or nothing but the meere imagination of Feredo For if the Gods permit the dead to walke why more for hatred than for love since we heare not for the most part of any such apparitions save in the likenesse of such as have come to their deaths by violent meanes betweene husband and wife father and sonne brother and brother and friend and friend in whom Nature and long practice imprint reciprocall affections with greater efficacie wee seldome or never heare of any such though they should be ordinary Which though they also were yet could they then neither be no arguments making for imagination and use would discover unto us those of reason Nature being not able to worke ordinarily by extraordinary reasons contrary to it selfe The Count who attentively listned seeing him looke as if he expected an answer said unto him Nature gentle Sir cannot give a reason for all things as it seemes you expect it should since we have for attaining to it onely the two meanes of the practick and speculation By the practick we cannot shee requiring time and we being short-liv'd By speculation much lesse she never soaring higher than the pitch of sense Hence comes it that our common knowledge obscure even in things manifest is subject to the censure of contradictions where of such as were Antagonists choosed for the surer side rather to doubt of all than to affirme any thing for certaine out of the uncertainty of our understanding and the same knowledge though in much deceivable is yet neverthelesse embraced for want of a better which well may I beleeve be hoped for but not found by the meanes of humane organs without a long and almost eternall life If then we be so ignorant in things subject to our very senses what can we be in those of the soule abstracted from them yet should not for all this the insufficiencie of meanes of attaining to the knowledge of things make us deny their effects if any be and yet the curiosity of seeking out for them is hurtfull because speculation too much subtilized makes a man unfit not only for the active but even for the contemplative life so as if he be but short in conceiving the first heads he becomes quite dull by that time he comes to the second so blunted shall hee finde his intellect with the hardnesse of what hee understands not therefore a mans choyser course were to rest at quiet and to beleeve that which common opinion both drawne from all the lawes and approved by all the prime Schoolmen of the world in all ages induceth us to beleeve which if otherwise it were not so this Prince his very case might be a sufficient argument for it Since hee was in perfect health when he came from home nor was he ever troubled with any infirmity of his fancie till after the death of his Sister and then too without knowing whether shee were dead or no. So as we must of necessity either deny all and by consequence make the Prince a lyar or in beleeving him beleeve the generall terient which is a reall apparition of the dead a beleefe due to the obedience of the Lawes The Gentleman that stood listning unto him litle satisfied with what was alleadged and loath to let the discourse fall replied My doubt honour'd Sir neither toucheth nor arrives to the law but is as I may say an abstract from it touch it perhaps it might if it were incorporated with it and partaked of its substance and colour as wine doth with those of water The lawes have all of them the selfe same principals and the selfe same ends at leastwise in appearance that is God and good dealing or piety the end of this is to feare those It will not be denied mee that apparitions belong to piety and by consequence make wonderfully for it my doubt doth but question the power of Nature for if Nature could but be united or conform'd to the Law in things supernaturall and that
Parthenope the Metropolis of those happy Countries where crowned with a counterfeit Diadem it was placed on the principall Gate for a perpetuall example Don Elcimos was courteously visited of all and especially of Feredo who having first heard Catascopo's name and then seene his wicked head knew him for that of the Traytors But because Don Elcimos had need of repose hee thought it unfit to trouble him with any discourse till the day following and then he acquainted him with his being also a personall actor in the Tragyck-comedy of that vertuous Princesse Eleina the other astonished at so strange an accident with humbling himselfe before him more submissively than before told him he was heartily sorry to have had for companion in his miseries so worthy a Prince howbeit hee now beleeved the Gods had so many yeares reserved Catascopo to make him in both their sights an example of his justice to satisfie both of them the debt due to their revenge the Princesse being partly avenged before by his long imprisonment The Prince afterwards falling into discourse of the generall affaires of the then-present times and desirous to know why Polimero lived an exil'd Prince the Count of Bona not knowing how to conceale himselfe tels him what he was relates unto him all Polimero's affaires and what had hapned him from his first parting from Sardinia even to his second where he continuing his discourse proceeded in these words King Arato remain'd so profoundly heart-strucken with the death of Prince Perosphilo that not ceding in his love to him to the Queene his Mother he would needs evidently testifie it though not by being starke frantick as shee was yet by raving in such a manner that as oft as hee hapned to remember it he deprived of his understanding spake and did things unworthy of his Regall quality and if hee chanced to observe in any young Gentleman any extraordinary good parts he would then instantly repine at them as robb'd from his sonne and withall extreamely hate such as owned them But if there was any accomplish'd Gentleman that in bodily feature and excelling qualities exceeded all others and paragonized Perosphilo then surely that same one was the excellent Polimero who returned from Mauritania with his wife and daughter passed three yeares time without any notable disturbance his father-in-lawe's doting humour being not as then growne up to its full ripenesse but increasing proportionably with his age and by his remarking every day more than other in Polimero such qualities as were peculiar in Perosphilo he began first to envy and then by degrees to hate him till at last he grew to that passe that hee could not endure the sight of him In all things else Arato conserved his ancient prudence with other vertues wherewith he was well stored nor were they alwayes obscured with this frantick humour of his which being a motion of the imagination contrary to the ordinary motion of reason prevailed onely then when reason oppressed with this frantick humour remained impedited in its operations free in any other thing where the minde was not obstructed by its malignity onely in this one thing he lost nay went besides himselfe so as there was no man about him that could or durst either shew him his error or appease or divert him from the passion of his no lesse unreasonable than violent desire either to see Polimero dead or never to see him at all Eromena more troubled in minde with this than ought else that ever befell her spake and did good Princesse what shee could the same did also the Kings Councell But alas what good can perswasion worke upon a doting braine that in its fancie formes things diversly from what they really are by reason of the judgement and senses being corrupted and spoyl'd But Arato finding the point of ridding him away to be difficult to be resolved on it treating of a Prince and his supposed successor innocent generally beloved behoovefull to commonweale and countrey thought now to beguile his humour in making the world beleeve 〈…〉 was not he that he disaffected but that the bow of his hatred a strange and unheard-of fantasie was bent against the babe presumed heire to Perosphilo being such a one too as indeed together with the kingdome succeeded him in perfections of body mind those of manly valour though in a woman not excepted on her therefore spent he all the talent of his hatred whilst shee pretty soule that with her sweete lovelinesse and quaint pratling was able to winne the hearts of the cruellest tigers could never for all that any whit mollifie that of her braine-sick Grandfather by whom shee being banished from Sardinia was conveyed by her mothers affectionate care into Majorica whither for some new progressions of the Tingitan Metaneone was runne with his Eromilia of both which shee was received with affections different from those of her Grandfather they compassionately bemoaning in the tendernesse of her yeares the hardnesse of her fortune for which respect no body could ever afterwards endure to call her Lindadori but ever by the nick-name of Donzella Desterrada that is A damosell expelled or banished her countrey Expresse I would if knew how the faire Eromena's griefes in their pure essence especially at her parting from her deerely-tendred girle and the adorations which shee made her father to remove him from that passion if the expression of them were lesse difficult than their imagination yet this beteared privation neither augmented nor diminished onely it aggravated his frensie for not discerning before which of the two it was that he hated but now seeing himselfe ridde of the one which confounded his judgement in distinguishing the hatred he bare to the other hee came to know that he had erred the plummet of his passion falling not on Lindadori but on Polimero it may be he would have thought the same of her if shee had staid because the violence of the humour was come to such a passe as it passed all limits of discretion and judgement the first effects of his infirmity taking up all his minde and staying it from proceeding to any other operation And withall to contradict or disswade him from any of his Capricio's was as dangerous as bootelesse for then he becomming raging mad both commanded as a King and executed as an officer the Court being taught by other mens harmes to shunne him in those fits or at least to stand quiet without contrasting with him who in the rage of his fury would have gone neere to have kill'd Eromena her selfe had shee not prov'd as strong in resisting as discreete in evading his furious passions The noble-hearted Polimero was therefore constrained to give his humour way and to retire into Corsica a kingdome by his prowes acquired and united to the Crowne of Sardinia But because Eromena went often to see him the crasie-brain'd King upon calling to minde the repining hate of the Corses the reason that Polimero had to detest him the greatnesse of
the difficulty of beleeving what is ardently desired But if it so be indeede that your words are true interpreters of your heart resolve I conjure you then to stay here with me for the company of my sonnes and the excuse of expecting to heare some newes from your home will give a sufficient colour for the occasion of your abode here This advise of hers being by our mutuall consent growne to the ripenesse of a resolution wee after having first taken such order as was requisite for the fruition of our loves returned in gladsomely disposed delaying no time of confirming our words with actions to the so passing content of both of us as there was no degree I am perswaded of joy and delight that could exceede that of our furtive conversation The darkenesse with us was light our sunne eyes its beames amorous glances our sincere affection the faire weather heaven our bed and its truer influences dalliance and kisses so as the large scope of our imaginations could not comprehend any felicity or condition more desireable than ours And I though of yeares but greene burned yet in love so vehemently that the more I enjoyed her the more ardently found I my selfe enflamed whereas shee being of fully ripened yeares and therefore consequently capable of enjoying its pleasure at full found her selfe so ravished with its delicious sweetes as for not being able to endure the tedious longsomnesse of the day which deprived her of them shee would often come with divers excuses to take mee away from her sonnes for engrossing me to her selfe alone so had her affection blinded her as shee neglected or rather forgot both the dignity of her place and quality of her person But after that love had reduced us both to one onely heart taking from us all other distinction except to make us the happier that of our persons and sexes it lay then no more in my power to conceale from her either Coralbo or his birth or harsh fortunes which wrought in her a confirmation if not augmentation of her affection But tormented afterwards with the Idea of my States privation reason perswading her that the recovery thereof was necessary shee would oft-times sigh to thinke of it with proposing mee divers proffers for the accomplishing by other mens meanes what none but my selfe could well effect but comprehending every proposition defective as hatcht by the blindnesse of an extreame affection rather than by any perfect rule of a prudent judgement shee assented to the reasons that contradicted her but dissented againe when to put them in effect the discording string of my departure was to betouched Her designe was to give me martiall forces under pretext of employing them in some secret enterprises but the consideration of the way being for distance farre and for passage difficult and through the dominions of sundry Princes stopt even in its very source the current of any such counsell But admitting that both all those difficulties were removed and all these wayes levelled yet alas what could they have done without me she proffered me a great summe of money to leavy souldiers in those parts by my mother or some other yet made not this neither for the purpose as well because no man could put a hand to the enterprize without mee as also for that the principall meanes for the recovery of a State consists not either in forreine forces or expence of treasure but chiefly if not wholly in the love of the subjects which onely being wanting all other meanes would prove no leste vaine than superfluous In the meane time shee seeing me desirous to be knighted would by all meanes procure my content the age of her sonnes become now capable of the like honour therefore sent shee all of us to Parthenope to receive the Order of Knighthood with the occasion of the marriage of the Princesse Corianna the Kings onely daughter which was then shortly to bee solemnized accompanied with a traine of many noble Knights among them the Lord of Canne who thought by this service to manifest the continuance of his affection towards her with the opinion of meriting it or to shew the constancie of his affections to be such as could not be blowne downe by any blast of small hope Arrived at Parthenope wee were all three of us dubb'd Knights the Court favouring us though ill satisfied with the Dutchesse for not comming thither shee being knowne to be the fairest Lady of the whole kingdome But the reason indeede of her not comming was an agreement betweene us that I being to part away from my company under the colour of some secret enterprize shee should take on her to be sick that so shee might expect me at her house whither I was privily to retire my selfe for the enjoying of each other free from the scanning of so many eyes especially of those of her sonnes which troubled her more than the rest The Prince of Sicily was expected to come and espouse the Princesse when one night shee fled out of a Castle that lyes on the Sea whither feigning her selfe sicke shee was retired and where were many found slaine the Duke of Lucania the Lord high Constable two of the chiefe Peeres of the Realme together with two servants of the later The originall ground of which accident could not bee possibly learnt out There was not a Knight that set not himselfe in the search of her and among the rest the two brothers my companions I taking for an excuse of not following them a blow of a launce which the day before had both beaten off my helme and bruised my head which me thought hapned very fit for my purpose The Lord of Canne who with rather enamoured than squint-eyes had noted something betweene me and Crisanta seeing me now stay behinde resolved to doe himselfe the like and then watching the time of my parting dogg'd me a-farre off till upon his observing my way tend towards the Sannits hee assaulted me unawares with calling mee unworthy villaine and base traytor I unused to be so stiled answered him with sword in hand The fight lested a good while both of us being armed and each of us resolved to kill the other of my death his valour and my youth made him confident till my agility depriv'd him of that hope for being because of the wearinesse of our horses driven to alight I then so tired him as he was glad to fall from pursuing me to defend himselfe The danger and earnestnesse of this our combate could not for all that withdraw my thoughts from musing what should be the occasion of this affront seeing him therefore stand in neede of a breathing-time I besought him to heare mee a word whereunto when he condescended I ask'd him why he had so assaulted me and called me traytor he answered Because I had violated the bonds of hospitality by enjoying a Princesse whom I was not worthy as much as to name whilest others farre worthier than my selfe were of her
oh doe it not my deere Corrideo death though timely will seize on thee but too soone which alas he should not in this the faire spring-time of thy youth and in the budding forth of its flowres before the taking of its fruite and ere it be either gathered or tasted Looke on thy deere Mother her love towards thee is no new affect and thinkest thou that thou canst satisfie her by dying the debts thou owest her living For my selfe I say nothing for if I desired that thou should'st live for my sake I should not then love thee but my selfe but I loving both thee and her ought to procure thy life for her sake and thine More he would have said but here ceased for having his royall spirits o'rewhelmed with a fatherly affection seconding as raine followes thunder his lamentation with teares My Soveraigne Lord answered him the Prince if one that already feeles the ravishing sweetes of a better life would follow the affections of this he were unworthy to enjoy them I never the Gods know meant to abandon you which if it bee conceived by any that I by dying leave you such a conceit argues not wisedome in the hatchers thereof your Majestie I am sure is not of that opinion This life is a race unequall in all men mine whatsoever one it be is ended I finde my selfe at the marke in my best strength and therefore since I have wonne the prize you have no reason to repine or be sorry for my gaine The young man and decrepit dotardare when they are once parted hence in an equall degree nor would my dying an old man doe me any more good in consideration of my present yeares since eternity admits of neither number nor time Indeede if I abandoned you for the interest of my owne sole advantage you then had reason to grieve for it but alas the arrest that is laid upon mee comes from a higher power your royall commandement extends not so farre no more than my possibility in the effect of serving you Therefore my dread Soveraigne the accusing me with the argument of my duty towards you and my Mothers love to me corrupts to me the divine sweets which I already relish with the bitternes of unsavory terrene affects which like sharpe thornes prick me but too-too much already on this my death-bed Now for those things which you proffer mee with putting me in minde of my Countrey and kingdome they alas are not to be parallel'd with those I aspire unto besides I were most unworthy if it lay in my power to live to live for any other end than to honour and serve you That I by dying corrupt the hopes conceived of me I in my judgement in so dying dye an happy man having in these few yeares of mine learn'd that actions contend with opinions of volubility and inconstancie so as although who so doth well digresseth not yet escapes he not for all that the censure of opinions which like meere shadowes and Chimera's of spirits runne along with our dayes and alter with our yeares Therefore my Royall Soveraigne if your perswading mee to live be to command me be then pleased I beseech you that I tell you that neither your authority nor my obedience hath so large an extent since the spirit for being the better choyce hath more prevailing arguments than the flesh For the rest behold here my Brother Almondo on whom my memory may together with the heritage be setled If you but looke well into him you shall have no occasion to grieve for want of me Be not I beseech you blinded with my lovely livelihood and prompt forwardnesse now done and past that nature which you see sweetly-grave in him goes on indeed a slower but a surer pace To you Madame it rests that I make knowne that in this my passing over into the other world there lies no greater rub in my way than my affection to you-wards as yet not transmuted but halfe-terrene and mingled with your motherly affects yet I hope that the Gods will hold me excused for its being an effect of pitty to one whom next them I owe most unto Madame my Liege Almondo I now goe hence let the memory of me be deere unto you which to the end I may part hence contented I pray you promise it me without grieving With that word hee offered to reach them his hand which as he began to raise up sunke downe againe he with that restoring his divinely-sweet spirit to him that had sent it him Such was the end of Prince Corideo which may serve for an example to who so aspires to gaine that which should be desired farre before any earthly thing The lamentation and moane made for him was exceeding great the King also being no more capable of consolation than the Queen although to comfort her he tooke on him to grieve lesse than indeede he did They are now retired into that Chappell there pointing with that towards the place with his finger whither our Father Guardian a Priest of much holinesse and profound learning is gone a litle while since to comfort them and I was just now a going thither to see and heare them If you therefore can dispence with my service I shall crave leave of you to goe on or if otherwise you be possest with the same curiosity as I am I will then so you be therewith pleased see you seated in a darke window whence you may unseene see all Vpon acceptation of this last courteous proffer they mount up where upon the opening of a doore leading from a privy chamber they discovered a litle Temple wherein upon large velvet cushions sate the King and Queene whose Royall aspect so discovered their dignities that their mourning-habit voyde of both pompe and ornament could not disguise their native greatnesse Shee being endued with a beauty so majestically-grave as might strike reverence into the stubbornest spirits and he bearing stamp't in his forehead the true caracters of a magnanimous and generous heart In the same instant entred the Priest who being made sit on a low stoole close by the Queene thus fram'd his speech Madame the Gods send me hither to be both your Physician and Embassadour with command to comfort you as an Embassadour and to cure your griefe as a Physician so you therefore bee but pleased to make a short pawse on your hitherto-just-teares I will the Gods willing accomplish both the one and the other The Queene lifting up her eyes and seeing stand before her a reverend old man who cloathed in a snow-white rayment made a shew of something more than humane dryed her beteared eyes but return'd him no answer for being at one and the same time to doe two as it were contrary offices which was to retaine her teares and give free way to her speech Whereupon hee as one long sithence acquainted with the nature of griefe without expecting any answer proceeded Madame I am glad that saving health begins already
to have place in your Majesty since at the very name of God I see you shake off the shackles of that benumming droopingnesse wherewith you were fettered Humane afflictions have Royall Madame two most potent arguments or rather meanes of shunning extreames the one practised through the helpe of Philosophicall vertue the other infused by celestiall grace that common to all this onely to those whom God communicates it unto From the first we may learne that ordinary accidents should not in any extraordinary measure afflict us that the gifts of Nature are bestow'd upon us for use not possession that riches children and honours are more suddenly lost than gotten that prudent and discreete persons receive from reason that consolation in an instant which others are wrought unto by time and perswasion and that such comfort too depends on our imagination and our imagination on us so as the prefixing to our selves things either burthensome or light is to shut or open the gates of comfort The second teacheth us that the death of the just is precious before God that humane capacity conceives not the joyes of such as have an eternall seate amongst the blessed that the life of such is not taken away but conserved till that long expected day which must bring us being freed from the tyrannie of time and fortune to the enjoying of a truly-perfect life that that death which terminates the course of an holy life is not properly death considering the sweete quietnesse that ensues it the faire advantagious exchange it makes and the undoubted assurance it receives of it that the good are called before their time for ridding them out of the hands of the wicked and from being by them either molested or corrupted that God makes no difference betweene the rathnesse and latenesse of time but that man arrived to the terme prescribed him becomes old even in his very childehood and that therefore we should with a cheerefull mind accept what he sends us to offer him in gift what we owe him of duty The Queene listned unto the Priest with great attention and seeing him now silent with a countenance composed to constancie whose milde serenity shewed shee had chased away the cloud of passion shee return'd him this answer Father I yeeld the Gods hearty thankes for having voutchsafed to remember mee through your meanes I could not I confesse answer your arguments if I had the power to practize them but wanting it it behoves me to search for it in the secret of your precepts And first I beseech you to teach mee how I shall conceive to bee ordinary that which never was heretofore I lament not as I am a woman the generall death of man but bemoane as a mother the particular death of my sonne I know that it is an ordinary thing that every man dye but to dye in youth to breake the order of Nature to have befall us in our more pleasing yeares that which should not happen us before our decrepit loathsome old age is I am sure no ordinary thing For the gifts which wee receive alas I grieve not for being debarrd the possessing them which I pretend not but for being deprived of the use of them which was violently taken from me If it were ordinary for mothers to bee deprived of their sonnes the world would then be soone ended for in one sole age there would not be either fathers or sonnes to be found that worldly things are transitory our very sense shewes us but ere sense can renounce the griefe that followes the privation of them Nature must first forbeare the forming it of passions For the discreete I know not in what sense to conceive them conceive them perhaps I might if the proprieties of affects were punctually knowne but who can fit mee one pleasure or one paine to two that be just equall to them and reduce withall their constitutions to such a parity that tense make not a difference of them which if it could be done too yet could there be no great matter of prudence in it since wee are tyed to worke with such equality And againe if it cannot be done I must then call it rigidnesse of nature declination of sense stupidity or defect of apprehension at the least The procuring in fine that meere imagination should bring us to comfort is beyond the reach of my understanding And I would faine know if such an effect shall be conformable to its cause which if it be then must such a consolation needs be false the imagination being formed of things not true To your second Arguments I make no answer their authority being but too great and their truth most manifest But the supreame truth not being comprehensible otherwise than by the minde it should not me thinkes seeme strange to you if I for being governed with the sharpe sense of my griefes comprehend it not in its owne rayes whereunto I for all that submit both my selfe and my griefes so I be but permitted to evaporate them a litle lest the principall be exceeded by the interest Vpon the hearing of these words the Assistants who till this time were all tongue-tyed by a drooping silence made resound the Cube of a confused lamentation the aged Priest weeping with the rest Till observing a litle after that the Queene dryed up her teares and that return'd to her former quiet temper shee stood expecting some further speech of him he thought to reply when shee continued the file of her speech saying Father there are some passions which have more need of sword than shield which a man must either quite defeate or still live withall which if it so bee where then shall I alas for shunning such deadly company finde Armes to defeate mine ere I be first by them quite ruin'd Philosophicall reasons are God wot but feeble wards they are shields fram'd by wit which many times either speakes what it is not sensible of or practiseth not what it speakes 'T is but too difficult a thing to put off the habit of humanity there is not any man that disburthens himselfe of it without sorrow at parting from it In heaven answered the Priest where in the hight of blisse lives the glorious Prince Corideo you Madame by that time I have assured you of your glory shall finde this vitall sword And being asked how hee could know it and if the places appointed for the happy were not the Elizean Fields These are mysteries said hee which I should indeede conceale if the imparting them you were not the unguent wherewith I should heale you The ordinary place then appointed for the happy is indeed the same you now mentioned but yet there are of them others granted but to a few for but few such are there as was the Prince Corideo The soule Madame is a fire a ray or sparkle taken from the divinity infused by the Gods into bodies in different degrees the cause of the differences that are seene betweene soule and soule All the
Carildo But scarce was he entred when for missing to finde his Lord within he came out againe upon this enquiring of the man of the house for Erinnio they were shewed him with heavy downe-cast lookes comming droopingly towards them Being asked for the Duke he with a deepe sigh answered that hee was slipt away no man knew whither But espying with that Carildo he stoop'd downe for a stone when Olmiro seizing on his hand briefly reaccounted unto him how the case stood Whereupon after friendly embracing each other they went so long enquiring after Lucano by counter-signes that in the end they learnt he had taken the path of the wood whitherward they were then a-going Carildo by the way relates unto the others the life led by Corianna with the manner of their mistake but now come to the wood they could not finde him out although they with exquisite diligence sought for him all over what way therefore to take they knew not when Olmiro thus bespeakes the other two Here doe wee being as we are all three together but trifle out the time it were therefore better that thou Carildo went'st to the Princesse to comfort her and that done to returne hither or to our lodging if thou hast but time then one of us may keepe hereabouts to hinder the Duke to come to fight with the Knight whilst the other goes to his lodging lest he chance to come thither and the first of us that happens to finde him may impart him the good newes and send word to his fellowes But how shall I said Erinnio finde the way to the cave in case it should behoove me to come thither Mary very well as I shall now direct thee replied Carildo For ere we walke an hundred paces farther I will put thee on a path that leades directly thither and will withall give thee such counter-signes as thou canst not misse of it though thou would'st But scarce were they gone fifty steps on their way when they might heare a faint voyce whose pittifull lamentations were often parenthesed with sighes and teares whom upon their passing further on Carildo perceived to be the Dutchesse Corianna was parted from Almadero in a bodily state exceeding feeble as I told you having refused to accept his courteous proffer of causing her to be carried to the Barke which for keeping conceal'd the place of her abode shee made him beleeve shee had waiting for her returne but went not farre ere her heart was so choaked with the extreame agony of her passionate griefe that shee sunke breathlesse to the ground a benumming cold that seized on her corps depriving it of all likelihood of her ever reviving any more and the soule-afflicted Dutchesse having experimented on her all the remedies that place could afford her and seeing them all bootlesse was now set a bemoaning her and stood a crying over her with rending her cloathes and tearing her haire when the three Squires arrived who seeing a litle way off the Princesse in such a plight were ready to drop downe for griefe On the other side Lucano who remain'd in his lodging accompanied with none save Erinnio whom because hee knew not how to bee handsomely ridde of that so he might effect his intent he bethought himselfe of sending him to learne out who that Knight might be and accordingly straightly charged him not to returne without a distinct relation thereof But no sooner was Frinnio gone than that the Duke got him out of his bed and then making the best shift he could to cloathe himselfe hee tooke the way of the wood with an intention to stay there till such time as the Knight his reputed rivall came forth that then he might slay him or dye Laying then himselfe along under a tree that grew a-part he might espy a good way off the three met together who having sought him in vaine went to observe the way that led to the cave he marveiled to see them so loving together whereat conceiving an unthought-of hope hee followed them a-farre off to see what they meant to doe till seeing them make a stand he likewise rested him behinde a tree from whence he might heare the Dutchesse utter these despairing speeches And is it possible Madame that you will burthen poore innocent mee with those vengeances which you inflict on your as innocent self whereas they should bee inflicted on no other than injuring Fortune wounding thereby my very soule for not reserving them for a time more desperate Open deere Madame alas open I beseech you those faire eyes of yours oh let that gentle soule of yours respire in you or if you have such power over the Heavens as to dye when you list then befriend mee therewith too by procuring that I may follow you for I trust I have deserved that favour at your hands you know I associated you voluntarily in your sufferings and travels therefore I hope you will not shake mee off from accompanying you in your sweet repose Besides sithence I forsooke all to serve you it befits not a magnanimous noble Princesse as you are to recompence me with this to you suddaine to mee unexpected death and so leave mee a miserable-exild-stranger depriv'd of you even in that place where among the torments of your inexplicable sufferings it was my hight of glory to be neere you both to lament and participate of them Thou Lucano thou woe is me art he who not content to have while thou lived'st robb'd her of her free-will wilt yet now that thou art dead deprive her of her life too But sweete Madame alas will you leave your sweete litle Prince Lucandro motherlesse as well as fatherlesse his quaint prettinesse and taking graces must then dye too since that when you both his mother and nurse are once dead there is none then to give him poore infant any more suck The disconsolated Dutchesse stood so attent to her griefes that the three were come at her ere shee saw them so as the first motive that drew her eyes on them were these words of Carildo Why what meane these strange alterations Madame am I come to bring you good newes and pretend you to receive them with so dolorous a spectacle my Lord Lucano lives nobly-honest and loyall as ever nay more he is here too and will then his more than life beloved Princesse dye because shee will not see him At that word the Princesse opened her eyes and faintly sighing peer'd Olmiro in the face when hee prostrating himselfe on the ground thus bespake her Right excellent Princesse if any tardance of mine bee the occasion of your Highnesse sufferings I then pray Heavens that yours be my death But know my liege Lady that more than is could not possibly be done I beseech you strive with your selfe to pluck up a good heart for to your comfort know that the Duke my Lord is here and by reason of a mistake lyes in as bad a plight for you as you doe for him Bee pleas'd then
I beseech you to give us leave to carry you to the cave that I may then after hye me speedily to him to give him life and bring him to you Whilst Lucano stood as a by-spectator of this part of a Tragecomedy he might see displayed from out the wood another scene The Princesse of Feacia whom he before had taken for Corianna not knowing that her Almadero was otherwise busied was met by him whom shee had espied from the hill top And Polimero with his company seeing the three Squires comming out of the wood went another way to finde them out Whilst Lidomia being told by Almadero that he had strangers at home goes her way Lucano at first sight was almost deceived againe nay he had questionlesse so beene if the lamentation of the foure had not pointed him out the true Corianna And now seeing those Knights goe that-a-way he made a stand though his heart drew him out of the ambush he lay in as free by then from jealousie as more than ever sick of love and pitty Corianna now that shee was somewhat able was about to speake in answer to Olmiro when shee saw stand over her the five Knights and a litle after Almadero Lindadori forgetting her designe of passing for a man sate close by her like a young Girle conforting her with the prettiest words that could be When Almadero by this time come greeted her with these speeches Madame it hath pleased you see the Gods to chastize you for the disfavour you to your owne prejudice did me in refusing to accept of a short repose in my poore house I hope you will now oblige me with that favour sithence these noble Gentlemen joyne with me to entreate you to suffer your selfe to be carried up there to continue till such time as you have recovered strength enough to goe on your intended voyage But shee not being yet able to speake much with a low voyce thanking him told him that those her three servants would carry her very well to her Barke and with that calling to her Olmiro shee whispered him in the eare to goe for the Duke and bring him presently to the cave Lucano who standing aside observed all seeing him part and imagining that hee went for him stept out to Olmiro a joyfull man to see him whom he was already bethinking with himselfe whither to goe to finde out who now told him in two words all the businesse by him before hand sufficiently comprehended That done Lucano suddenly breaking through the circle of Knights prostrated himselfe before her and then taking her by the hand and bathing it with his teares he affectionately kissed it Shee presently knew him and at the very sight of him instantly recovered her full strength her soule then returning to its proper mansion and her spirits executing their severall offices Clasping then her armes about his neck forgetting the nice decorum of her sex and the at other times blush-procuring presence of so many Knights shee parenthesing her words with greedy kisses thus bespake him And what God restores you to me now my sweete Lucano what spitefull death alas tooke you from me deerest life of my soule Dye I or live I now I shall live or dye contented for seeing you alive and too withall not anothers but mine But tell me I beseech you are you indeed Lucano or the sweete spirit that was in him No no! you are my true loyall Lucano Spirits I see are not dissolv'd by the blowes of Fortune This your languishing palenesse is a marke infallible of your love and a most glorious trophey of mine But my deere soule you are in some sort recompenced for it since your tombe hath not any either more worthy Epitaph nor your Hearse any Elegy that expresse your disasters more lively than doth this face of mine whereon so you but cast your eye you may there reade in sad characters the deposition of my affection To this Lucano after he had first as a preludium to his speech vented a few profound sighes thus answered The life Madame that at this present I receive is the hight of so great a glory that the death and now past calamities that I suffered come exceedingly short of meriting it Happy therefore were I if for better expressing my loyaltie and to doe you further service I might often reiterate the sufferings of my disasters For though that your favour to me-wards ever the same doth ever warrant my content from becomming subject to alteration neverthelesse Fortune's so various accidents make me now that I have prov'd and felt them adverse relish better my happinesse than before when I knew nothing of its spitefull effects Onely I affectionately begge of you to adde this one favour more to the summe of my obligations which is that you will presently cheere up your spirits and live otherwise I protest unto you that I may well resolve to dye my selfe but not to endure to see you leade me the way to either death or griefe which said he embracing her affectionately nourished by the assistance of their close-joyned lips her weakely-panting with his fresh-vigorous spirits and then shee having first bestowed such time as was necessary for recovering her intercepted breath bethought of getting her selfe up and to be gone to her retiring-place her cave For furthering of which her desire the Dutchesse to strengthen her fainting spirits presented her with a morsell of restorative conserve which shee had brought with her purposely to revive her but could not perswade her to take of it before because of her then resolution to starve her selfe or otherwise set a finall period to her dayes Now also afterwards shee was by importunity wonne to taste of a litle conforting wine which together with other dainties Almadero caused to be brought downe for her and now presented her withall not without letting her know how sorry hee was that her diffidence extended so farre as to Cavaliers who were obliged to serve her Eromena lighting now on an occasion conforming with a determination of hers concluded on by her husband and the Count of Bona of taking her along with them thus greetes her Madame I know you by your high birth noble spirit and disasters ere e're I had the honour to be acquainted with your person and now that I have the happinesse to know you that occular way too I thanke the Heavens for favouring me so much as to finde you out in such a time or plight as I may any way steede you And to the end you may be excuselesse for not commanding me I am Eromena More she would have said but that name scarce exprest bred such joy in Corianna that she interrupted her with saying And how happy a day is this for me Madame wherein Fortune hath beene so liberall as to restore me my Lucano that so both he and I might personally tender our service to you whom we so much honour and desire to serve But Eromena observing her speake with a great deale of paines made her this sudden reply Sweete Madame let us I pray you lay aside all complements and thinke of some meanes of conveying you hence to take some conforting-cordiall-simples for I conceive you have need of them Besides you may honour me by voutchsafing to be acquainted with Polimero my Lord and Lindadori my daughter who are also come here to serve you together with these two Knights the one of them which is this shewing her the Count of Bona having chanced to espie you out before hathconducted us hither expressely to bring you along with us to Sardinia where we shall with your greater advantage treate of your reconcilements And then after complementall courtesies replied on all sides Almadero would by all meanes have Corianna carried up which favour shee accepted not of but in excuse thereof said Courteous Sir I may not accept of your much-obliging proffer not because I dislike of it but for that I cannot conforme the necessity of my occasions to the desire I have to obey you in explanation whereof I must tell you that I am though I presume you hitherto know not as much your neere neighbour and have at home a young sucking babe that expects me and therefore I shall make bold to begge of you one undeniable request which is that you would bee courteously pleased to leave to my Lucano and me with our company the use of my cave whereunto seeing her resolution so fixt they all assented so as shee was seated and carried thitherward in a chaire accompanied though against her will with all of them who when they came to see that subterranean habitation though adorn'd with royall furniture they could not refraine from weeping But more than all the rest Lucano though he afterwards passed from a sea of teares to an Ocean of joy upon sight of the babe whom Lindadori would needs feede whilst Eromena having first excluded all the menkinde helped Corianna to bed and then soone after re-admitting them shee with some soveraigne restoratives by then prepared her by the noble mayden both conforted and restored her enfeebled forces Full fifteene dayes entertayned they themselves all of them in Ericusa For the Prince of Feacia being informed of their qualities went in person to conduct and lodge them in a delicious house of his pleasingly-scituated on the sea side where upon Corianna's recovering her former beauties they were observed although in apparance the same with Lidomia to bee animated though with different spirits onely so farre alike as tooke away all marveile of their being taken the one for the other Lucano rather was a greater subject of amazement since betweene him and Almadero could not be discerned any sensible difference of favour or making other than in certaine gestures and those too rather habituall than naturall Many complementall ceremonies passed betweene Eromena and Corianna touching their going together till at length upon the later her accepting of the invitation the old Prince furnished them with a Galley Leaving then Almadero protested-unto of a perpetuall amity they fetching about Sicily prosperously arrived in SARDINIA FINIS