forgotten his word Leauing further to descant on this plaine song returne we to the Princesse who was aduertised by her woman what had passed betwéene the Knight and her not omitting his heauy lookes and pitifull spéeches And then againe as glad to please the Princesse whom she was assured loued the Knight letted not at large to set out his honors gained his comelinesse of person bountie and whatsoeuer the world admired in him she highly aduanced to the great content of y e Princesse who thought euery minute a yeare vntill she saw him whome she with hartie desire expected long looked for comes at last And Nutania who at a casement wayted diligently his coÌ„ming espied her beloued Knight what ioy it caused let them iudge which better experience haue made perfit in louers delights The Princesse hauing the sight of her so long desired Knight sent Guenelia to entertaine him and to bring him to her presence The Princesse studying to frame her countenance for his welcome bethought her selfe of sundry meanes eftsoones doubting by her too pleasant and kinde vsage to be thought too forward in loue then what discomfort her heauy lookes might moue to him whom she most desired to please In this quandary fitting on a Pallet leaning her head on her pillowe Guenela hath brought the Knight to her presence who doing his dutie was by the Princesse againe saluted Attending like the guiltie condemned his sentence from her mouth which was to giue him either life or death the Knight thus at an nonplus ouercome with the beholding of the Princesse exellent perfection was by her the mirror of all honor and curtesie remoued out of his dumpes in this maner Sir Pheander whether I should chastice thy presumption in writing so boldly vnto me or no I am not yet resolued but before I acquainted my father therewith I thought good to heare thée speake for that I would not sodeinly disgrace thée whom I haue so often graced as well to heare thy intent committing so great a follie as what thou canst say in excuse thereof Princes are not to be ieasted with nor to be attempted in such maner by their inferiours and therefore thou hast highly erred in that thou hast done and encurred the daunger of our strictest lawes by which thou art already coÌ„demned were thy fact known The Knight standing at the bar where Bewlie sat chiefe Iudge was surprized with so many griefes that he might hardly vtter any word yet reuiued by hope of those comfortable and swéete wordes pronounced by Guenela hée saith Gracious Lady that I haue presumed farre I cannot but acknowledge yet that I haue encurred such punishment as your highnesse inferreth I deny vnlesse death be the guerdon assigned the faithfull for dutifull seruice and entire affection vrged me to séeke thy fauour in loue without which I may not liue so déepely is thy vertuous perfections imprinted in my heart which if I enioy not I desire no longer to breathe Therefore Madame if thou disdaine his loue that liuing dieth continually for thée doo but say the word and this blade so often imbrued in the blood of mine enemies shall sacrifice his maisters owne true heart before thy face that thy cruell selfe maist witnesse to thy selfe how faithfully thy seruant hath loued thée The Princesse gréeued to heare these spéeches moued with great ruth could hardly forbeare sheading of teares yet modestie the ornament of womankinde caused her to feine a counterfeit show of displeasure to him whose teares wroong droppes of blood from her tender heart yet that she might not too sodeinly confesse her hearts desire nor giue him cause of vtter dispaire she saith Pheander that thou maist sée and séeing report in all places where euer thou shalt become of womens pitie I grant thée pardon for thy fault and with my pardon thy life which was wholly in me to dispose For louing me as thy Prince I heartily thanke thée but in séeking to obtaine my loue as thy wife that haue bene denied to diuerse and sundrie Princes in that thou errest let each estate frame themselues in loue to their equall so shall they sooner obtaine their desires and their loues in more tranquilitie be mainteined Thou knowest thy birth how base it is and though for thy vertues it pleased my Princely father to aduance thée who cannot of his Princely nature but rewarde the dâ—serts of the well deseruing If for his good to thée thou séeke to robbe him of his childe therein thou shewest a verie vngratefull minde and laiest open to the world thy base condition Therefore persist to prosecute thy sute let reason vanquish that brain-sicke humor which so afflicts thée in doing which thou shalt shewe thy selfe to be thy selfe For no greater conquest can be atchieued then conquering a mans owne effects Doo this and thou shalt finde Nutania thy faithfull and assured friend who will be as carefull to aduaunce thée as I haue found thée readie to pleasure me Alas good Madame answered the Knight I haue often heard the whole néeds no phisition it is easier far to giue counsell then to take it The full gorged Churle litle regardeth the staruing creature at his gate but madame could you conceiue the least part of many thousand griefes that afflict me you would pitie me at least though you yéelded me no farther fauour If thy heart be not harder then the Adamant pittie me swéete Lady and yéeld thy grace to augment my life or vtterly deny me your fauour for euer I exspect but your answere for my resolution is no other then I haue profest dastards feare to die but the Noble minde preferreth death which endeth all sorrowes before a life to be continued with discontent The Princesse which was at her wits end as full of griefe as he of sorow turned her spéeches from her matter to question him of his Country the maner of the Court and state therof thinking so to be guilde the time and put him off for that season But so long dalied she that she was forced in the end to confesse her loue to be no way inferior to his Thus as I haue said demaunding of the Knight many questions she earnestly entreated him to resolue her whether the Prince Dionicus were such as the world reported him who had name to be a Paragon excelling in all actions required in a Noble man The Prince hearing his name called in question by the Princesse on such a sodaine beléeued verily that she had some secret knowledge of him which made him with blushing chéekes to say what reportes soeuer your Grace hath heard of that Prince Dionicus I know not a subiect I was to his father and ought to speake reuerently of him yet what is truth and not for affection or despighte to say other then I will with my blood auow Wherefore Noble Lady I will truly answere your demaunds The Prince whose father was matchlesse gaining the loue of all men with care and honor mainteined the reputation
couer y e blushing of her face as ashamed of what she had to say vnto him in reuealing her owne griefe she said Famous Prince whome the world applaudeth and our Courtiers of Thrace with wonder do admire that I loued thée being Pheander I cannot deny and how many iarres I endured for thée I omit each particuler wringing tears from my heart which how willing so euer it was to haue made the same knowne modestie restrained laying before me many wrongs offred in Ladies loue by such periured knights as haue profest with their toongs what their harts neuer ment wherby diuers Ladies of honor haue bene dishonored sundry lost their liues which considered blame me not if I rather chuse to die then passe the bandes of modestie so farre as seeke thy loue or knowing thy grief to blame mine yéeld before I heard thée auow on thine honor what thy letters imported But gentle Prince that thou maist better beléeue what I report how much soeuer my heart hath denied to reueale perswade thée if I loued thée being Pheander and a counterfeyt merchant assure you I cannot hate thée for that thou art Dionicus the one a Prince the other an inferiour of whose loue were I assured and that his tongue and heart agreed in one Dionicus should be in loue so requited as neuer any should haue interest in Nutanias heart but the péerlesse Prince of Numedia At vttering of which teares restrained her spéech which y e Prince noted and perceiuing that she spake what her heart thought he â—omforted her thus Faint not Madame neither sorrow for those comfortable confections bestowed on a dying creature whose fauors hath haled him from the graue whereunto he was like to haue bene swallowed had not thy comfort reclaimed mée who liuing died for thy loue which grace shall neuer be forgotten And that you shall assure you my faith and loue is firme and honorable I protest by that honor that euer the Numedian Prince hath regarded that my loue to the Princesse Nutania is no other but honourable nor neuer none hath had any interest in Dionicus or euer shall but the onely bewtifull and verteous Princesse Nutania and on that take here my hand and with my hand the heart loue and honor of a Prince Guenela lending an eare to this prattle hearing them so earnest to put them from their melancholy tooke the word at aduantage and comming sodeinly to them said Madame at finishing of bargains they shake hands if there be any exchange betwéene your knight and you you were best to take witnesse least disliking the match he recant his word Guenela quoth the Prince your Lady is beholding to thée for thy care and I your debter challenge it when you please Sir quoth Guenela I thank you but wilt please you remember your promise excuse Guenela quoth the Princesse without my Lord y â— Prince his further intreaty I pardon al faults committed against me for confirmation of which get your Lawyer to draw an acquittance generall from the beginning of the world and I will signe it Nay Madame answered Guenela it were an euil seruant that will not take her mistresse worde for a dozen or two of stripes which I am sure had bene the most and if they should light on my ribbes might well grieue me slay me they could not my heart is of more valour then so But Madame shal Sir Pheander marie the Princesse Nutania that you call him your Lord the Prince if that be the bargaine I feare there is some fire in the strawe And howe then quoth the Princesse Nay Madame quoth Guenela nothing but I pray God giue you much ioy and make you happy in your loue While they were thus pleasant a page brought word that diuers Ladies were come to visite the Princesse which caused them how loth so euer after manie swéet imbracings and louing kisses betwéene them enterchanged to giue each other the farewel parting better content then they came together hauing vnburthened their heartes of much griefes giuing content to both by yéelding to loue which vanquished both whome to their pleasing imaginations I leaue to recount the Kinges of Thrace and Thessalie their pastimes in hunting These Kinges following the chace with great pleasure as pastime they greatly delighted were so wearied with the same and toiled with the extremity of heate which made them choose some place vnder the shadowe of the spreading trées to refresh themselues where they had not long rested but they were espied of an ancient woman the widdow of good yeâ—man and her sonne who hauing workmen not farre from thence were carrying them victuals The poore aged woman hauing séene as she thought vnséene the kings doubting they were some of those robbers that haunted those mountains woulde haue shifted from them another way but were interrupted of the King who suddeinly calling them draue them both into such a shaking feare as they which are ouerburthened with a feauer The King who graciously regarded their timmorousnesse comforted them with all the fauourable spéeches he could vse protesting vnto them that in their company they should receiue no discurtesie by none if the King himselfe were present and therefore willed them to set feare apart and to tell them what they were the cause of their feare and their businesse they had that way These honorable spéeches of the King mildly vttered comforted them wherefore in such blunt manner as her bringing vp required shée sayd Gentlemen for so you séeme if your inward conditions answere your outward habit as many in this age doeth whose garments might become men of great worth if apparell may make a man more worthie yet diuerse times couer those carkases voyd either of worship honestie or other good condition Pardon my harsh behauiour gentle sir and blame me not for auoiding the way experience haâ—â— taught me to eschue harmes who to my cost haue dearly paid for my learning hauing my goods spoiled at home and my self family dangered abroad and without offence may I speak it by such whose countenance and attire might wel haue deceiued them of more iudgement then my selfe The King delighted with her plaine spéeches demanded where she dwelled and whether she had a husband or liued a widow Oh sir if any gentilnesse abide in you quoth she vrge me not to deliuer a tale of such ruth as your questions import The remembrance of my passed pleasant life when I call to minde with the cares I now am combred with many sundry wayes are so displeasing vnto my gréeued heart as I may not without many teares shed recount the same These words spoken in heauinesse noted of the King made him more importunate to heare the rest and therfore willed her all feare set apart to reueale vnto him what estate she liued in and if any wrongs were offred hir he protested by oathes which might haue bene well beléeued to remedie it yea if it were the King himselfe The carefull widow encouraged by
I the Physitian that could cure his maladie and had so good iudgement of his affects as of mine owne charity would I shoulde minister vnto his disease what effect soeuer the potion would worke prouided this that he disclosed his griefe in time mistake me not Pheander and pardon mée if I conceale what I would vtter my thoughtes are mine owne Trueth Ladie quoth the Knight neither was y e same demaunded to vrge any thing more theÌ„ standeth with your good liking yet for the prince this I say it were pittie he shoulde die for loue So say I quoth the Princesse for few men ther be of that condition and as seldome is such a one séene as multitudes of blacke Swans Your errour is great Madam quoth the knight for many haue bene with loue so ouercome that Kinges haue bene enforced to stoop to their subiectes and the greatest conquerours whose valour many volumes recorde by loue compelled to forsake themselues taking sundrie shapes and many toyles to gaine the loue of their Ladies I speake now Madam for the Prince whom I loue well and challenge your charity may bee to him continued for your loue is the only physick that must cure him or els all other helps are friuolous in hope wherof he breaths a lingring life til your gracious consent finish his griefs yéelding to his desires in whom it resteth to restore him banished to his regal dignities who is y â— cause of his exile dastardnesse hath caused him to conceale it bearing the extremitie of his passions with intollerable pain whose flames encreaseth by viewing your exellent perfections The want of whose grace haleth him on to desperation not able any longer to resist loues assaults which with such hot allarmes assaileth him that longer he cannot endure them The Princesse hearing her Knight pleade for the Prince with such earnestnesse leauing his owne sute to draw her to loue him of whom her thoughts were least on thought it some pollicy of the Knight which imagined loue had vanquished her swelling with anger at these new imaginations heâ— colour changed into so many formes that the least child which had séene the same might easily haue gest what small content those last vttered spéeches wrought But doubting least with silence it should be perceiued with a heart full fraught with fury she sayd Deceitfull wretch vnworthy the fauour of the simplest drug that by thy subtil practises hast sought to insinuate thy selfe into my secrets was it not false varlet sufficient that I forbeare the punishing of thy own bold writings but to my face in colorable maner deludest me with tales of I know not what Haue I euer graced thée since I first sawe thée and requitest thou my fauour thus dallying with me as with thy inferiour or some of thy base Trulles No no vse thy ieast with such that can better disgest them and from henceforth be warned and warned take héed how thou dare either by word or writing vse any like motions least I acquaint y â— world with thy impotent dealings and by death thou receiue the guerdon of thy ill and so fare as thou maist for neuer expect farther fauour at my hands The Prince hearing this finitiue sentence from her whose tongue was to pronounce his life or death thought it high time to speake for himselfe before she departed and staying her as she would haue gone he humbly besought her not in displeasure to leaue him but with patience endure what he could say which albeit she might hardly be wonne to grant yet her former affection banished chollor in such wise that he had libertie to speake saying Gracious Lady that I offended your Exellence whom of all earthly creatures I most honor I hartily sory for it iudge me not so impudeÌ„t or senslesse to moue matter without some reason especially enduced therunto by your exellent fauour and charitable pittie of the wretched estate of that vnhappie Prince who hath vowed to loue your grace to the death and by granting him your loue you shall draw him from death thereby not onely restore him but fill the hearts of many thousands with ioy which with teares continually lamenteth his losse which is lost to them for euer and shortly will be losse to himselfe the whole world Vnhappy Prince why name I him Prince whose miseries is more theÌ„ the most wretched slaue that liueth who not able to endure the force of loue hath forsaken himselfe to follow his own affectioÌ„s without knowledge of father kin or subiects Muse not Madam at the straungenesse of the Tale I haue to deliuer nor let it séeme incredible that I am that vnhappy Dionicus lawfull heire of the Numedian Crown that Prince through whom so many miseries is befallen his country his fathers care cause of his careful mothers vntimely death who fettred in loues bands by report of thy péerlesse bewtie vertues hath drawne me to take the habit of a merchant vsurping the name of Pheander the more vnsuspected to attain the sight of thée whom my heart so desired whom if thou pitie liueth by thy loue to do thée honor and without thée may no longer inioy this life in pursuit of whose loue if I die my ghoast among the rest of louers shal sing hymnes in laude of thy péerlesse bewtie The Princesse as one in a trance could not tel whether she heard him speak or dreamed yet noting his countenaÌ„ce which shewed a troubled spirit tickled with a sodain ioy as women be proud in their Loues that her loue to Pheander was methamorphosed to Dionicus the Numedian Prince of whome her fathers Courtiers reported such honours she sayd Pheander or how I shall call thée I know not thou hast filled my sences with a world of coÌ„fused thoghts in recounting the straungenesse of thy fortunes which I can hardly be drawne to beléeue nor is it possible that the Prince Dionicus could liue in the Court of Thrace so long concealed without knowledge of some one if I might by reason be induced to beléeue the same I would say more Madam quoth the Prince howsoeuer I haue disguised my selfe heretofore as loth to be dishonored yet beléeue me in this that I said no more then is truth Therefore if thou couldst not loue Pheander being a merchant for ignobling thy noble house yet as I am Prince of Numedia vouchsafe me thy liking by whome thy honor can no way be disparaged but by exchanging loue for loue with him aduance thy honor far higher Say nâ—w Madame all nicenesse set apart can you loue The Princesse whose loue was equall though willingly she would haue coloured the same yet moued with a pitifull desire to ease his griefe which farre surpassed as also to ease her owne heart which was not a litle infected with the self disease their welfares depending both on her grant or deniall After she had deliberated a while fixing her hand in his which she easily grasped and leaning her head on his shoulder to
play tell of me Ile tell of thée Well watcht my Lord Octauius quoth the whole company but my Lords let the further hearing of this matter rest till better opportunitie least your tediousnesse bréed trouble to my Lord the Prince whose quiet I would not willingly offend My honorable Lords answered the Prince if these discourses of those noble men be pleasing to your honours assure you they are no way offensiue vnto me I haue troubled you from your better cheare to accept of a sicke mans pittance whereunto you are all so heartily welcome as to your owne Pallaces and welcome saith our Countrey housholders is the best dish at their feasts if therefore my Lords you accept my welcome I am the more honoured by you which haue so graciously vouchsafed me your companies Then turning to the Lord Cariolus he said for you my good Lord how much I acknowledge my selfe indebted to you I omit and yéeld you as many thousands thankes for your pleasing spéech as there were sillibles in your words you haue like your selfe defended the weaker sexe for the which were I the Princes Nutania your challendge made in my cause should be bountifully rewarded I am sory my good Lord my bad hap was such that I knew you no sooner But if it shall stand with your Lordships pleasure that during the time of your abode here to vouchsafe me your company so it may be no disparagement to your serious affairs perswade your selfe your welcome shall be no better in anyplace then vnto me for which kindnesse you should hinde me vnto your friendship Gratious Prince answered the Noble Cariolus thanks for your Princely fauour and gracing me thus which am not any way to do your maiestie seruice but wherein your highnesse shall commaund I shall be readie with all dutifulnesse to accomplish Leaue these spéeches good my Lord quoth the Prince and offering dutie where friendship is requested and granting my sute let me enioy thy companie so shalt thou command Dionicus for euer as a friend The grauer sort of those Noble strangers whom matters of more importance called away after humble thanks giuen for their royall entertainment wishing health and all happinesse vnto his excellence they commit him to his rest Barnardine which had endured the end of all these prattles and perceiuing that this talke was altogither friuelous and not worthie the hearing moued him to delight he began diligently to enter into each perticular discourse of Cariolus and Octauius and considerately to note each seueral passion of the Prince so farre searched this skilfull phisition into euerie particular that caâ—â—asing it throughly he noted his speciall iesture and how his colour came and vanished yea how much his heart was possessed with ioy when he heard the Princesse Nutania named the working of his pâ—â—ces made Barnardine imagine the cause of his disease yet had no assurance thereof and to enquire it of the Prince was in vaine for that he had so often denied the same wherefore he consealing his thoughts in hope to worke meanes for his recouerie And finding those cynders which were like to com 〈…〉 e him and the rather if he could procure Cariolus to accompany him Thus leauing the Prince to his quiit and Barnardine to his care for recouering his health returne we so the aged weake King The King whose long sicknesse and care of his wife and sonnes health whome he loued most zealously being extreemly vexed and greatly weakened of his 〈…〉 when Phisicke had done what was possible and small hope to recouer him in the midst of his passions when all hopes was past but onely the comfort of him who by his word rayseth the dead from the graue so this Manpelius receiued comfort by his kingly neighbours friends whose letters when he had by his Councell perused and with regard and aduise noted each kinde offer with their persuading reasons albeit he could hardly â—â—gâ—st the â—ame yet considering how fraile men are and that our cares of Terraine ioyes are to be fa 〈…〉 d to that Celestiall commander which reléeueth all those that seeke him he reuiued himselfe and like a faithfull souldier taking holde of the promise in holie writ so often repeated he cast care of wâ—â—â—â— childe and kingdome vppon him that first gaue it him and by whole prouidence he so long enioyed theâ— â—aking his chiefest care to gra 〈…〉 thoâ—e his friends by whoâ—â—â—â—â—â—sell he was vrged to the heauenly comfort And those honourable Nobles for their paines who wishing to be with their friends in their owne Countries attend his highnesse pleasure for answere which hée tooke order should with such spéede be dispatched as possibly might 〈…〉 way be vsed Dionicus whose heart was on his halfpennie vowing his loue whollie to the Princesse Nutania was so delighted in recounting hee praise as nothing could be so pleasing but as all sorts of men infected with that agâ—â—â—e iâ— their loue be faithfull are enclined to some iealousie so this monstrous Basalicke whose poyson infecteth the vaiâ—es and consumeth the heart without wisedome gouerne the minde as by this Prince notably appeared who in his idle thoughtes calling to minde the praises of Cariolus and the challenge made in defence of the Princesse Nutania as loue endureth no arriual so Dionicus striken wtih the sting of ielousie began to conceiue manie vnhonourable thoughtes of Cariolus supposing Nutania was was his Loue and that by Cariolus his ioyes in her loue and hope of fauour should bee frustrate and of no account with much matter more then euer was by Cariolus imagined how largely so euer his spéech was vsed in the Princes behalfe to procure their delights and mooue Octauius to chollor notwithstanding no reason might perswade where iealousie had giuen iudgemeÌ„t for the Prince in this ielousie fought no meane but reuenge of him that neuer committed the least thought of euill against him When reuenge in this Princes heart was thus imprinted and rage and ielousie set downe his death an honourable motion more befitting his grace then rigor moued by the inspiration of the eternal God withdrew him from this base attempt he called to mind the honour of his house the loue of those Princes their bordering neighbors by whose command Cariolus came into his Country the Scandall so bloodie a fact deserued what continuall ignomy would redownd vnto him and his progeny for euer accusing himselfe of great impietie he exclaimed on his follies in this maner Blush Dionicus at thy base thoughts and so much sorrow for thy pretended mischiefe against this noble straunger as if thou hadst shed the bloud of a thousand innocents hast thou from thy Cradle disdained to offer wrong to the most inferiour and wilt now begin with murther of a noble man Knowest thou not that to adde to his head one haire is more then the greatest Prince can doo And wilt thou séeke his life that neuer had thought of il against thée Hath thy father liued so many
sooner arriued he at that so long desired place but Fortune who had bent his thoughts to trauaile entending after her many crosses to sauce his sowre with some swéets and like a comfortable Phisition after many bitter Pilles ministred for cloying the stomacke of his Patient comforteth him with some consarue or other more pleasing his appetite so the Prince now in the beginning of his fortunes found this fauour to arme him with the better hope of ensuing good for at his first comming to the Citie after enquiry made for some ship bound for Thrace he had intelligence of a Barke alreadie haled out of the harbourgh into the roade her yardes crossed and her Marriners exspecting the comming a boord of the maister and her marchaunts and so to depart Which newes how pleasing it was to the prince suppose you gentils that haue your harts so full fraught with desire as this noble Dionicus who no sooner was informed hereof but diligently went himselfe to search the maister marchants of this ship whō he found in an Ostria carowsing healthes to their good voyage and taking leaue of their friends in the citie to whose company the Prince being come albeit nothing acquainted with the conditions of those people yet he so framed his behauiour to his habit that it might haue bene admired amongst the Courtiers his quaint behauiour had they bene beholders thereof pleasing so well these humorous companions with his carowsing curtesie and bountifull expences that nothing he could require was denyed him A woonder it were to tell you whē he required passage with what willingnes they graunted it and what large proffers were made him of their cabbins and other sea curtesies all which he accepted with such kindnesse and none more welcome than Dionicus who standing on thornes to be cleare of his land whō loue enforced without regard of father crowne or subiects to leaue he hasteneth the rest aboord of whose company the Mariners were not a litle ioyfull for y ◠the wind serued thē in such pleasing maner to bring thē to their desired hauen whither following the Masters direction for their course sailing with a faire gale we leaue them for a time to tell you of the griefe of Manpelius the Numedian king for the losse of his son of whom no maner of news might be heard You haue heard Gentles with what pollicie the prince wrought the better to bring his purposed intent to passe and what seuerall pastimes were by him deuised in which seuerall actions it was supposed by the Courtiers himself would haue bene a chiefe or at least a beholder of their sportes But hée which had more hammers working in his brains than one taking that time as fittest for his opportunity gaue them a cause of great sorrow as you shall heare Whose sportes ended and euerie thing with great credite to the actors and pleasure to the beholders finished the King and Quéene whome age nowe called to rest after kinde countenances and manie thanks to the Noble men Gentiles bad thē good night who were in all humblenes and heartie loue cōmended to their rests wher let thē rest vntil the newes of their sons departure be brought them by the wofull Barnardine whose hearts surcharged with sorrow could hardly be comforted but that through the extremitie of his griefe he had resigned his latest gaspe to him who first gaue him breath This wofull newes was two whole dayes and more kept from the king by that mirrour of fidelitie Barnardine who by all meanes either Art or trauell could imagine enquired after the Prince but of him could heare no tydings whereby many supposed hee was slaine some coniectured one thing some another But most of al the King Quéen their happinesse was such as may not without great effusion of teares be remembred which caused a generall griefe throughout the whole Regiment But neither sorrow of the subiects nor lamentation of their King might recall him who they all so much desired to sée which caused the King ouercharged with melancholy rather desiring death then life breathe out these spéeches Vnhappie Manpelius and more vnhappie in being father to so gracelesse a childe oh Dionicus why haue I liued to sée thée growne a man tenderly caring to bring thée to that estate and now my chiefest hope was in thée to haue comfort thus by thy vnkind demeanour to cause my grief how happie be those parents whose children liue in obedience but thrise accursed those fathers which giueth y e bridle of youth into their hands who ought to be held in as the Colt vntamed with the hardest bit Though wisedome presageth lawes of gouernment to fathers and experience of the Auncient which haue liued in elder times giueth aduise crying out of such as giueth libertie to yonglings yet law of nature whereunto we vnhappie parents are too much tyed forgetting all counsels are so besotted on those carelesse yonglings that if they desire any thing whether it be profitable for their instruction or haleth them to destruction it may not be denied them how many of high estate by the carelesse regarde of their vntoward children haue bene brought to great heauinesse Or who taking pleasure in his ofspring can sée him restrained I but vnhappie man hast thou not heard the learned Surgion often tell his tender Patient that it is better to smart once then endure griefe euer And thou that mightest haue kept thy deare sonne vnder his Tutors custodie wherein he liued in obedience might so haue had him still if thy owns foolishnesse had not bene so carelesse of him Then since thou hast bene the cause of thine owne sorrow blame thy selfe and sigh to think on thy follies and as thou hast bene the originall of this mischiefe not onely robbing thy countrey of a towarde braunch to succéede thée but hast lost to thy selfe the ioy of a father in wanting thy sonne thy lifes sole happinesse Perswade thée that as many Countries haue bene punished for the Princes offences so this plague is laide vppon thy subiects for thy misse Wherefore in sorrowing for thy sinnes and that God may shewe his mercy vpon thy kinde Countrey men sorrow for thy foppery and abiuring thy selfe from kingdome wife and Countrey betake thée to some vnknowne place where thou maiest spende the remainder of thy ouer worne yeares in contemplation for thy sinnes so may that God of all mercie which neuer turneth his face from the penitent receiue thée to his grace and restore thy sonne calling him from his youthfull desires to become a comfort vnto those which with manie fault teares and hearts full gorged with sorrow bewayle his absence Thus powring foorth his griefe with sighes and manie brinish teares vttering his sorrow hée resolued to leaue all his earthly possessions and altogither forsaking the companie of all mankinde liue sollitarie in some vnfrequented place vntill it woulde please God some tydings should be sent him of his sonne or else by death call
him to those ioyes which neuer shall haue ende Thus for this time he ended his sorrowfull spéech vttered in great griefe of minde whome carefull for to espie time and opportunitie fit for his departure we leaue for a time And shall tell you further of the Prince Dionicus who long before this time is arriued in Thrace The Prince whome desire ledde to gaine the loue of Nutania not otherwise knowne but for a marchant landed now in safetie after a friendly welcome giuen to his fellow passengers the Maister and Owners with bountifull rewardes bestowed on the Marriners was lodged by the Maister in a Marchants house of great reputation where vnknowne to be any other then he séemed he imployed his stocke by Brokers to great benefite whiche bountifully hée spent whereby he gained the loue of all men that euer had any acquaintance with him so that in short time his fame was so bruted throughout the Cittie that none of anie account but tooke great pleasure in his company and ioyed to recount his many vertues This amorous Prince whose heart was on his halfepenny loth to acquaint any man with his secret loue to the Princes doubting some further perill to his person then hée was willing to hazard would oftentimes intrude himselfe into the companie of yoong Courtiers amongst whome hée so demeaned himselfe and so Courtly in all thinges that all men might iudge from what trée such branches sprung By this often frequenting of the Court in the companie of those to whome he was most welcome hée atteined the sight of his Ladie whose beautie when he had séene so amazed him that if he were before passionate he was now more perplexed iudging her excellent perfection to bee without compare yet not knowing how to make knowne his loue vnto her smothering in silence his affection hée daily desired some occasion might be offered wherein for her safetie and honour of his beloued he might shew some act worthie honour and to deserue her liking which by Fortunes assistaunce thus happily came to passe Mustopha Corienia yongest sonne to Sutton Corienia Emperour of Constantinople burning in loue of this Princesse onely by the rare report of her singular perfections had by Embassadors from his father craued the Princesse in marriage who disdaining his loue being a Pagan although honourable might not be wonne by any entreatie to fancie him how great soeuer his offers and protestations of loue were which refusall the Prince brooked so ill being of such might that determining to gaine her by force for his concubine which in friendship he had so often required to marry he leuied a power of one hundred thousand both on horse and foote and shipping them in warlike maner in Gallies Frigattes Foystes and Brigandioces he arriued by the hard labour and painfull bowging of his slaues before the Citie of Lemonia where Philarchus kept his Court landing the greatest part of his men and horse suddeinly and beleagared the same both by land and sea vnto which he gaue many fierce and hote assaults were as valiantly resisted by the courage of those gallant Cittizens who fighting in right of their Countrey feared not the hugenesse of their Armies nor their force of shipping yet as the extremes of forrain force causeth many troubles so did the Army of Mustapha driue these braue Thracians to many wants whose courage through the lacke of victualls began to quaile that hauing no meane of reliefe neither by sea nor land loth to famish came daily to the court humbly beséeching the King to take pittie of them and not with famine to suffer them die But considering that the Princesse was the marke whereat he aimed would rather deliuer her who should be honourably entreated then suffer so many thousands to perish Philarchus vexed in mind was driuen to a non plus so diuersly perplexed he could not suddeinly answer his child who was his onely comfort and heire either to be deliuered him whose name was odious vnto him or his subiects who loued him no lesse then their owne soules must perish in this extreame Thus doubtfull what to answere he craued respite for two daies which they willingly yéelded vnto albeit their want of victualles was so great they might hardly endure The report of this dolefull sute of the commons comming to the eares of Dionicus who with his attire wee change to Pheander who was not a litle mooued there and the greater was his heauinesse by how much the more his loue was encreased towards the Princesse for whose reléef he sought many deuises eftsoones determining one thing then another presents it selfe which seemeth better at length resoluing least delayes should bréede danger hée determined in that action which was honorable to shew him selfe and eyther by his prowesse frée the King and his beloued from the tyranny of the vsurping Infidell or yeeld his latest gaspe in their defence In this resolution he came to the kings presence vnto whome doing his humble duty prrostrating himselfe he saith Most gracious Soueraigne and liege Lorde pardon the bold attempt of a rude stranger whome dutifull zeale hath bound to your seruice and of your gracious fauour to all men vouchsafe me that honour in this extreme wherin your woorthy citizens stand distressed by this faithlesse infidell who doeth séeke your subuersion and their vtter decay whose presumption if it please your Excellence to giue me leaue shall by mée and such as I can by loue and money drawe vnto me be chastened and made to knowe your Highnesse can expell at your pleasure the power of a more strong and mightier enemie who though you haue of curtesie suffered it hath not bene of cowardize as hée shall well vnderstande In this request most gracious and renowmed Soueraigne if it shall please you to honor me I doubt not by the ayd of the highest of a happie victorie The King which during his long tale had earnestlie noted the countenance and his grace in vttering the same assured himself that the honour of his house which shewed in his courage or the power of the eternal Deity wrought this motion in him and therefore without any longer pause taking him curteouslie from his knées determining to trie the fortunes of this supposed Merchant hee saith What euer thou be that honor vrgeth to this attempt thankes for thy loue wishing my good and forwardnesse in venturing thy life yet before I accept thée for my Champion say gentle friend of what countrey art thou what name and parentage to the ende that I may giue thée honour as thy desertes and bloud do require and answering me truely to these demaundes tell me what mooued thée likewise being so braue a man and in thy flourishing estate to hazard thy selfe in an action wherein so many men of honour and great valour haue lost their liues Know renowmed Lord quoth the Prince Numedia is my countrie my father a Gentleman professing martiall Discipline my name Pheander the youngest of manie of my
where she had but begun to like him before Cupid that commandeth the mightiest began most furiously to assaile her that her tender heart vanquished therewith was enforced to yéeld her selfe a slaue to his deitie and giuing ouer other courtlike delightes bend her whole studie in séeking which way to win her best beloued to her liking for the accomplishing of which many waies were deuised but none thought sufficient so that resting in a laborinth of confused thoughts commanding her attendants from her she said Nutania what wretch that liueth enioyeth not more swéet content then thy selfe who yéelding to follow the follies of thy youthful mind hast planted thy loue thou knowest not on whome a straunger and of no more reputation then a Merchant a base Trade and most frawdulent as I haue heard many Nobles discusse whereby they obtaine to great wealth and by their extraordinary meanes wring such yoong Gentlemen as are forced to haue to doo with them from their auncient Patrimonies making of Noble men Gentiles of great worship beggers and their owne base-born brats to become yoong maisters which in time and small time consumeth that in ryot which their miserable fathers by extortion false reckonings vnsatiable vsery and other loose dealings sold their soules the precious Image of our Sauiour to the diuel But wretched wretch whither wandrest thou these be no points for thée to stand vpon thou hast now vied the game and art bound by such a band as there is no remedie but sée it thou must therefore leaue to discourse what he was or hath bene Thou hearest by generall report of all men he is honorable in wars valiant bountifull and endued with all maner of Gentilmanlike conditions which argueth him descended of better parentage then he will acknowledge And therefore cease not to loue him who by all coniectures if outward shewes procéede of the motion of the heart regardeth thy honour then requite his seruice Nutania and séek in time to quench that flame which beginneth but yet to warme lest encreasing by litle and litle it consume thée In extremes the Noble mind is best knowne happie are they accounted which forewarned can eschue a mischiefe If thou canst win thy Loue what creature may be compared with thée for happie content Be resolute Nutania feare no colours thy loue is planted on such a one who for his vertues may be mated with the greatest Princesse on the earth then stand not on termes of his being but determine to loue him faint hearted souldier neuer gained conquest if he be base thou maist aduance him Thou art heire to the Crown of Thrace and thy fathers sole delight who then should gainsay thy will herein fathers sole delight said I yea there Nutania lieth a block which thou canst hardly remoue Thy father what will he aged King say when he shall heare of thy loue so basely planted which hast refused to be wife to two famous Kings requiring thée with great sute in marriage Refraine fondling from this rash determination let thy fathers loue be a raine to hold thy vnbrideled will feare his displeasure which gaue thée life and séeke not by thy folly to bring his head with sorrow to his graue which if thou persist will be such a corasiue to his heart and such a staine to thine honour as the memorie of Nutanias disobedience will neuer be raced out With these and such like motions of good she sought to withdraw her loue from him that for birth and other noble actions deserued her better albeit vnknowne to her but what euer hée be the more shée sought to suppresse the flame of her loue the more it encreased that without regard of fathers good or her own honour she determined to loue him yea the Mayden Knight with his Prize was arriued at the Court whom the King and Nobles welcomed with all curtesie they could shewe as ioyfull of his safe returne who had so honourably borne himselfe in that action as if he had conquered Europe which kindnesse to the knight was recompence sufficient for all his charge and hard aduenture The Princesse who was awaked from her studies by report of the knightes comming sumptuously attired as she could as beséemed her estate accompanied with all her troupe of Ladies and maides of honour came vnto the Presence who no sooner approached the place where the knight was but beholding the exquisite perfection of her bewtie which he so much delighted in was sodeinly bereaued of his sences so that he stood as a mā which had lost himselfe yet reuyuing loath to make manifest what with great griefe hée had consealed so long humbly on his knées presented the glorie of his enterprise vnto her saying Most gracious Princesse as by your moste excellent hands I receiued my first steppe to honour and fighting for your Graces and Kingly fathers sakes it hath pleased God to prosper me with a happy victorie for which good hauing nothing worthie to present your Grace as I desire yet in knowledge of my dutie to your Exellence to whom my life and seruice is deuoted I humbly beséech you accept this Gentleman my prisoner and your Noble fathers mortall enemie The Princesse to whom nothing could be more pleasing thē the sight of the beloued knight graciously accepted the prisoner rendering great thankes for the same as also for his valour shewed in their defence And then turning to the captiued Prince she said My Lord you sée the chaunce of Fortune and how mutable she is in all actions sometimes fawning sometimes frowning but whether by your fortune or cowardise or both you are now at their mercy whose ouerthrow you assured your selfe of and which you more desired then all territories of the earth but our God which neuer suffereth his seruants to perish hath mightily defended vs it is not your mightie powers can daunt the hearts of Christians whose God is their guide neither regard we them at all as a matter of any trust your eyes can witnesse who hauing an Army able as you thought to haue vanquished all Christendome is by a handfull to your multitudes surprized Yet dismay not my Lord a Maiden is your Iaylor who wil vse you more honourably then you can imagin or your hard threats deserueth The Prince which saw the bewtie of the Princesse whom he so earnestly vpon reports had desired was astonied greatly holding the fame that was bruted to be nothing to her worthinesse therfore accusing himselfe of great impietie that had borne Armes against the onely Paragon of the earth and not by curtesie haue continued his loue begun ashamed of himselfe he saith Renowmed Lady Fortunes darling Bewties chiefe pride though mishap hath made me of a Prince and heire to the mightiest Potentate of the earth a captiue and that by thy champion I am dishonored and my power vanquished crosses which may cause the stoutest that euer liued to cry out on Fortune to curse the Destinies yet am I comforted in y
ought will do me good if not vse me no more thus vnkindly least ouercome with the extreme of my griefe I chance to say with my tongue what my heart will repent or vse my hands with such rygor as becommeth not a mayden The Gentlewoman séeing the wind blow so warme fearing as much as was promised séeing the Princesse impatience such thoght not good to tempt her aboue her strength for women being by nature warme with a litle fâ—wel will be made hotte past reason wherefore making a preamble to her discourse like an eloquent Orator began thus Pheander with that word making a long pause to note the Princesse countenance on the sodain naming her beloued was interrupted thus Pheander Guenela what franticke humor causeth thée to name him in this manner with whome thou hadst neuer anything to say Madame quoth Guenela attend the rest before you either condemne me or commend me Then procéed quoth the Princesse This Pheander of whom my tale is before your Exellence to be told is that Knight who of your maiestie is called the Mayden Knight this Knight as it is told me loueth a Lady but whoÌ„ I cannot declare before I know but as it is told me by his dear friend which knoweth the secrets of his heart so tormented is he in his passions that the night naturally made for rest restlesse he consumeth in great discontent the day wherein all creatures delight is vnto him loathsome so that through watching and refusing his dyet with other cares which cloyeth his stomake his louely face is altered from the sanguine vnto the yealow coloured Saffrone yea Madame these mine eyes are witnesses of it who this day sawe him passe into the Court so féeble that his weake legges might hardly endure the waight of his bodie No more of this my swéete Guenela least thy tongue busied too long on this Tragedie ouercome with the extremitie of my griefe I â—e enforced to seeke an ende of my torments by dispatching my owne life Oh Guenela is this thy comfortable confection Is this the reliefe thou preachest off which would yéeld me such quiet of minde Vnhappie Lady why should I liue to sée another enioy my Loue Is not Pheander my seruaunt haue not I made choyse of him and shall another no way worthie to enioy him haue that interest which might delight the Goddesses Peace Nutania whither romest thou let reason subdue rage let not euery one knowe thy loue to Pheander but conceale it as thou maist and séeke some secret deuise to giue thy hart ease by death which is thy best remedy yet would I liue to become a succour for the well deseruing Knight and gaine his hearts desire for him if I might Cruel were that â—ame not worthy to inioy the simplest groom which causâ—es for loue consumeth such a man in all perfections and liniaments of body as Pheander without yéelding him loue But hearken Guenela that thou maist in time when my bodie shall be intombed among the dead report vnto my Loue and louing Knight how deare I held his loue as my countenance often shewed though he carelesse of loues toyes neuer regarded it for he shall well know at my last ende how I wish his welfare doo but this for me by his friend to learn the Ladies name whoÌ„ the Knight is so inthralled This is all the seruice that I will euer command thée that knowing hir I may become an intercessor for him whom my hart more desireth than all the worlds possessions with this teares which trickled downe from her eyes restrayned her tongue In which sorrowful passion her maiden became a partner and grieued for her follie committing so haynous a faulte in procuring the same she excused in this maner Most gacious Princesse how much I grieue to sée your discomfort I can not say but hope your Grace will pardon me which haue bene more bold presuming on your fauour then beséemeth mée neyther what I haue done gracious Lady was of any intent to offend you but to acquite my selfe of blame in a matter which I haue of curtesie vndertaken as the sequele shall manifest if it shall please your Ladiship to peruse this letter which will no doubt resolue you without further paines to me or trouble to your Grace what she is that is best beloued of the Maiden Knight on the earth This letter I receiued at his handes who hearing of your disquiet desirous as it should séeme to acknowledge his dutie to you coniured mée by many faire words and proffrrs of good to deliuer it vnto your hands which albeit for modesty I did long refuse thrusting that from me with my finger which I woulde willingly haue drawne to me with all my force in the end I consented the rather for your Ladiships quiet which as I suppose will bid it welcome for the maisters sake who if my iudgment in the Planet Venus deceiue me not wil prooue shortly a coniunction or Ile neuer trust my skill again for Venus being in the signe Leo hath domination ouer both houses viz. he and she or hée and you The Princesse at her last shift when she heard Guenelas tale voyd of all hope to enioy her beloued Pheander after shée had a while paused as one at length awaked from her memento as from a sléepe she saith Now trust me wench thou hast cunningly gone about the bush and hast daintily sought to enter into my déepest secretes yet how cunningly so euer you haue dealt there may be a quilitie to deceiue both thée and him but I pray thée Guenela tell mée what spéeches vsed the Maiden Knight at the deliuery therof tell me swéet gyrle in friendship The despairing Knight good Madam for so I must call him howe euer his vallour showes it selfe in fielde as no doubt woorthily so saith report yet in loue I sée his dastardnesse who loueth yet dare not reueale the sum of his desires but must commit it to a tell-tale paper languishing to the death wanting his delight and prolonging his sorrowes by silence his lookes bewraying more than he can vtter for be it said he that had séen not long since his beautie and gallant grace the abilitie of his bodie and noted euery particular lineament at this time with the debility thereof should sée a metamorphosis which might mooue the most hardest hart to pittie the cause to me vnknowne but suspected The assurance I doubt not but your Grace wil soon vndestand if you vouchsafe to teare the seale and peruse the contents The Princesse which thought euery minute a yeare till she had knowledge of the Knights minde put her maiden from her prattle with a fained message when being all alone with a number of sorrowfull sighes for the Knights perplexitie she read and manie times reade those lines which gaue her first comfort of enioying her heartes coutent how welcome they were vnto her it may better bée imagined than explaned whose head was wholly busied in answering the same
for which the thought it not vnfit to vse the help of Guenela wherfore resting from her former studies we leaue her contemplating on her loue til Guenela her returne who séeing her Ladies callour somwhat reuiued began to smile Madame quoth shee though I made a fault in detayning so long the physicke that I promised you yet I hope your Maiestie will pardon that offence considering the good it doth in working howe you disgest it I know not but hée that hath least skill in iudging complexions will say your mariage is mended by twentie in the hundred if you recouer but so much of your losse euery two dayes there are few in one wéeke wil beleeue you haue bene sicke Well wanton well answered the Princesse you haue bene pretily disposed to play your parte and take your pastime in beholding the follie of both our loues which I am the more willing to forget in that thou hast so rightlie iudged of both our griefes But leauing iest I pray thée say my swéet Guenela what sayd my seruant when hée deliuered these letters vnto thée Madame to say trueth nothing touching his loue but imported with such earnestnesse for the presenting them vnto your handes as might haue made many proude to doe so charitable a déeâ—e crauing it with spéech so pitifull and lookes so ruthfull for mine owne part my heart imagining by your affection that the Goddes which caused your grief had fettered him and wel knowing where loue is vnited the ones weal is the others good though I were hardly won to the same I vndertooke the hazard of your good wil promising to returne to him an answere thereof wherein I shall breake promise without you graunt your consent Oh Guenela doubts thou of my consent for answering of his kinde letters which haue endured so many nights of vnrest and carefull dayes for his sake No heauens neuer graunt me good in this world if I séeke not his content that with so good loue and affection as hée offereth his loue and seruice to me vnkind were I els that louing am beloued should suffer my dearest loue to languish who may remedy it Therefore Guenela as thou hast plaide the Aduocate so make I thée my principall and chiefe Secretorie peruse these lines and in right consider if that his griefe deserue not to be pittied then let me sée thy skill in enditing to the which thou shalt haue my helpe Delay the time no longer hunger my Wench is sharp sawce as those say which haue good stomackes and I measuring his desires by mine owne imagine that meate cannot bee more pleasing to the hungry then the vnexspected tydings of consent from his new acknowledged Loue. Soft fire Madame quoth Guenela makes the swéetest Mault say our huswiues your Ladiship is farre wide what no sooner at the style but ouer haste makes waste looke before you leape least a blocke vnthought of chaunce to breake your shins What if these letters impart his loue how are you assured thereof Men are subtil and can cast many cullours to deceiue women all is not gold that glistereth nor al sugar that hath a swéete taste vnder the gréenest grasse lurketh y â— poysoned Adder the Crocadile sheadeth most tears when he séeketh most to deceiue try ere you trust Madam repentance comes too late therefore howsoeuer you affect him conceale it Lightly wonne is as lightly lost The Labourer that gayneth his mony by hard labour is more chary in parting therewith then the purloyning théefe or the ryotous youth which by subtill practises draweth all he can from his kind parents to maintaine his inordinate expences Let him bite on the bridle a while yet gently line his curbe that he galle not a litle thing pleaseth a childe and a good countenance is woorth golde to him that regardeth it as he professeth Weigh your own estate which are heir to this most famous crowne of Thrace with the basenesse of his calling which was no better than a Marchant consider what a corrasiue this loue of yours woulde be to your honorable father should he know it and how your Nobles would stomacke him for his birth grieuing to liue in obedience to one so farre their inferiour The enuious regard not what vertues he is possest with which I must néedes say deserue to bée accounted the man gayning honour by vertue and valour is more woorthy to gouerne the State then the Noble which ignobleth his house by his bad demeanor How many such there bée in this Court I grieue to sée who liuing licentiously abuse themselues in such odious maner that if your Ladishippe heard the pitifull complaints of the Commons crying out on the Prince for iustice against them and how by fauour of their friends ruling both the King and the State they are suborned cleared of the cryme and the poore Complainant returned with a checke able to breake the heart of a simple man abuses which may be more lamented then easily remedied But touching the Mayden Knight from whom I haue digrest I speake not any thing to disparage his loue nor to draw your lyking from the Knight but wish you temper your affection in such sort that you may long enioy it with content to you both and so gouerne your Graces lookes and countenances that the lightnesse of the one nor the liberall bestowing of the other giue iealous heads any cause of suspition For Princes be great markes and haue many eies beholding them and once perceiued what peril it may procure to either part your wisedome can conceiue Thus in dutie haue I spoken and deliuered a grosse aduise which I referre to your Graces better consideration Well hast thou said my Guenela quoth the Princesse but what auaileth counsell to a desperate minde no more then he that séeking to quench the flame powreth Oyle to it I finde thy loue so great towards me that I cannot requite it which with such good regard balanceth each perill incident to both our states if thou canst as well deuise how we may enioy our delight without which we perplexed cannot long endure what is it that Nutania shall euer enioy but Guenela shall command Then as thou tenderest my good bethinke thée of some remedie for my loue to him is such as nothing may extinquish Say my swéet Guenela shall I by writing answere his Letters or no In this I wil be ruled by thée how gladly soeuer I wish his comfort in whom of al earthly creatures consisteth my most comfort Experience is the best wisedome quoth Guenela who would euer haue beléeued loues power to be of such effect how imperious soeuer he séemed had they not séene and heard what I doo through which I am compelled to recant my heresie and say Loue is a God or how is it possible he could command Princes But to your Graces request wheras you haue referred the answere of Pheanders Letters to me I was neuer so voyde of reason nor so desirous to be counsellor to your
excellence to take so great a matter vpon me yet shal I so please it you to heare me deliuer my simple opinion as I would do my selfe in the like action The olde wiues say they that féede with the deuill must haue a long spoone and they that goe about to master Loue had néed of manie good precepts disswade your Grace I will not to forget it for I sée it is vain neither would I wish you to answere by writing for a paper is soone lost and lost to whose finding it shall come tis vncertaine as soone to some enuious enemie as a wel-willer in which some word simplie meant of you or me may be construed by them at their pleasure whereby your name may be brought in question and a slaunder raised is not so easily suppressed writing is a specialtie whereof the subtill Lawyer takes no small aduantage to auoyd all which casualties this may you doe pretend some matter of conference with him and appoint the time when hée shall attende your pleasure at your lodging comming secretely vnto you and at such time as the King your father shall bée employed in serious affaires so may you vse your spéech at your pleasure this would Guenela doe your Grace may vse your discretion I like thy deuise wel good wench and giue thée manie thankes quoth the Princesse therefore faile not to méete him for thy promise what els I refer to thy best indgemeÌ„t Nowe in faith Madame quoth Guenela you haue made a good choyce for a solliciter but take me as I am this is the first suit that euer I was retained for nor I doubt not if I spéed well now of manie elpantes As they were thus pleasant betwéene themselues they heard a trumpet sound to horse which caused the Princesse to sende her Page to enquire the cause who returned her answer that the king with his traine were setting forward to hunt a wilde bore which his Forrester had roused this newes gaue them cause of ioy hoping that Fortune fauoured them with a happy time which they were both loth to omit doubting the like opportunitie the Princesse especially who coulde not be quieted in minde vntill shée heard her Knight aunswere for himselfe wherefore a Page was presently commanded to search for y e Knight willing him with such conuenient spéed as hee could to meet Guenela in the garden the Page vsed such diligence y e soone he was brought vnto the Knightes presence whome he found solitary as a holie father at his Orizons whome the Page awaked with his ioyful message which was welcom vnto him albeit doubtfull whether of weale or woe either to augment his sorrowes or vtterly to extinguish them The sudden hearing of which caused him to pause a while when hauing determined curteously returned answere to the Gentlewoman that he would attend her he rewarded the Page so bountifully as he had cause to boast him of his wel employed seruice Guenela hauing receiued his answere by the Page aduertized the Princesse thereof who commaunded her to haste least she gaue the Knight cause of discontent by her long stay but for al her spéed Pheander was long there before atteÌ„ding her comming who was no sooner of him perceiued to enter the place but his heart prâ—â—aging some good was more delighted thereat theÌ„ all the motions that could be imagined after his curteous salutations done thus said Swéet Guenela I know not what to imagine of thy sudden message yet willing to be resolued as one that by thy answer exspecteth his doome either of life or death I attend thy pleasure say therfore swéet Lady what faith the Princesse to my letters with whom Guenela purposed to be somthing pleasant not to cloy his stomacke with such plesant confections that he should surfet therewith and framing a countenance to her spéech she said Sir Knight of all the Gentlemen in the Courte of Thrace my good opinion was such of you that on your word I durst haue hazarded my greatest credit which expectation thou hast farre deceiued and therefore not worthie to be accounted among such honorable men at Armes which take their principall honor holding their word with Gentlewomen At the deliuery of which spéech he that had tooke regarde to the Knightes countenaunce might haue thought him past phisickes recure And withall standing so mute it verely perswaded Guenela that he was readie to deliuer his interest of life whiche made her alter her rough words and with a smoother methode new file them doubting that her Comedie begun in mirth should prooue a Tragidie to the great grief of the whole Country which generally honored him Wherfore taking him by the hand she sayd Sir Knight I am sorie I haue charged you so far what cause soeuer I had but tis womanlike to be slaine with words and no fit passion for a man of your profession That you may comfort your selfe I first pardon the offence against me committed and enioyne you as you tender your credit with the Princesse Nutania that you faile not to repaire at such conuenient time as you best can to her lodging where if you hold your word you will excuse your messenger Oh Guenela how haue thy spéeches tormented me filling my entrailes with suche a confusion of comfortlesse thoughts as haue ouercome my senees Yet Guenela if thou be curteous or haue any sparke of gentilitie abide in thée Say my good Lady what countenance gaue the Princesse to my bashfull paper Vouchsafed she the reading of them Or how to discomfort you good Knight quoth Guenela it were pittie being alreadie at so low a datum which pitieth me to behold Comfort can I giue none to thy desires but this thy sute is loue as your Letters import in which dispaire not for thy mistresse is a woman though a Princesse and how pitifull our sexe is I will not boast but wish thée not dispaire If thy birth were as great as thy vertues thou mightst boord and bedde as good as the Princesse Nutania vnto whom I wil be a faithfull soliciter Mistake me not Pheander I speake as a friend and so leaue thée vntill thy comming to my Lady which detract not for time lost is such a precious thing as can neuer be recalled Before whom when thou shalt come pleade thine owne cause and discouer thine owne grie And so farewell Pheander which had some greater hope by Guenela her last spéeches was so ouer ioyed that he could not bid her farewell yet after his memento past he saith farewell the faithfullest friend in my distresse that euer I founde Oh Guenela happy maist thou be in thy loues and highly honored amongst men by whom my cares are thus comforted faithfull Guenela the worker of my hearts happie content by whom past all hope I am by thy faithfulnesse and trueth in deliuering my message freed of so heauie a burthen as was likely to haue torne my poore oppressed heart in a million of péeces Thus vplawding Guenela he had almost
of his Countrey which by his carelesse sonne is blemished who neglecting the dutie of a child without regard of father crowne or kingdome exiled himselfe no man knowes where or whether he rest aliue or no since which time the king his father who loued him too dear if fathers loue may be too deare hath likewise absented himselfe and liueth in exile The mother Quéen hath resigned her due to death leauing by losse of those honorable persons their country without a head and their state by subiectes to bée gouerned wherby a ruine of the kingdom is like to ensue all procéeding from the Prince A miserable country is that quoth the Princasse to be lamented but more the losse of so noble a race the father hauing bene such and the sonne as report saith so toward But say good Knight quoth she was there neuer cause supposed of their departures nor did not the father through his harsh demeanor for youth in these times take vnkindly their fathers vnkindnes age is froward which frowardnes might minister great cause of discontent Madam quoth the Knight to my knowledge this I wil say my father being a Courtier in some regard whereby I became familiar with the Prince and as youth will make choise of some one to participate with so it pleased the Prince louing my father wel to vse my company in all his exercises through which I saw his demeanor with such reuerent duetie to the king acknowledged and as kindly requited of the king as on the earth might not bee found loue more perfect til his speach fayling in his mouth he could vtter no more The Princesse giuing héed to each word by him pronounced albeit she sawe the repeating of the Princes life was somewhat cumbersome vnto him yet ceased he not to vrge him to shew such sorrowe in deliuering the storye so of her desired Ah Madame quoth the knight at his departure began our Countries grief and my sorrow from whome in life I could neuer bée seperated such was my loue to him which refused himselfe his Crowne and dignities Adolefull tale hast thou deliuered quoth the Princesse which I perceiue mooueth you to impacience wherefore one demaund and an ende The Prince Dionicus made choyse of you for his companion Then vnder benedicitie let me craue all law of friendship exempted did he not acquaint you with his determinations for me thinkes it is scant credible that such an vnity should be amongst men their loues being so perfect but he should disclose each secret intent whatsoeuer many reasons draweth me to suppose it which I will omit for I perceiue I am too tedious Your Ladiship vrgeth me far yet will I accomplish your request who haue power to commaund me The Gentleman who neuer offended but in committing of this great offence long before his departure hauing belike some motion of desire in his thoughtes became of a pleasant Gentleman the most melancholiest that could be found that quite abolishing all company hée best contented himselfe with his secrete cogitations continuing this homour so long that he fell sicke of an extream Feuer which so encreased vpon him as all Physickes reliefe was quite giuen ouer so that small was the hope of his recouerie whose distresse the kind King with the mother Quéene grieued in such wise to beholde as in shorte time it was hard to be iudged which of the thrée endured most extreames But God that in aduersity sends comfort restored the Prince to some streÌ„gth belike receiuing some comfort in his imaginations by his recouery the King Quéene were both so comforted as in short time they were raised from their sicke cabinets to frolike it amongst their noble subiects who ioyed in nothing so much as in their healthes But how soone the Sunshine of their happinesse was ouershadowed with cloudes of comfortlesse care grieueth me to recount yet dare I not gainsay your Ladiships request The Prince recouered of his maladie made semblance of such content that none but himselfe could witnesse vy the least suspition his hearts discontent yet oftentimes should I being seldome from his company sighing with a number of far fetched sobs heare him say Péerlesse Ladie would my loue were as wel known to thée as to mine own heart then doubtles wouldst thou pitie me which lanquish for thée that art the only Princesse on the earth excelling in al vertues which beautifie the honourable the report of which hath fettered my fancies to thée that I protest to bée thine or neuer mine owne then looking with a gastly loook about him to sée if any ouerheard him hee woulde fall into some other discourse euer applauding y e rare perfections of his mistresse who was vnknowne to all but only to himself I who froÌ„ the first he acquainted with y e same briefly Lady for I weary you with my discourse the loue of his Lady hath drawn him from his country whose absence caused the kings exile the Kings exile the Quéens death The Princesse hearing all these extreams to grow from affection knowing well her owne hearts discontent with a sigh from the déepest which wroong tears from her heart she said Alasse noble Gentleman whose ioy so soone ouerwhelmed hath heaped so many cares vpon me what folly was there in thée that wouldest not disclose thy loue which burned so vehementlie was the dame so base that thou fearest thereby to ignoble thy issue or of such high estate thou doubtest to obtaine her if either by perswasions all griefs might haue bene mittigated if a Monarch why thou by report deseruest her if a begger thou mightest make her noble what ere she were hearing thy distresse could she forbeare to pitie thée No no were her heart more harder then the Diamond it could not choose at y e hearing therof but relent else wel woorthy were she to bée scorned of al Ladies and neuer to bee named amongst the number of women The Prince séeing the Princesse in this pitiful humour thought it good striking wheÌ„ the iron was hot taking the opportunity answered her thus Is your Ladiships censure such of hard-hearted Ladies wil not be entreated of him whose loue to you is no whit inferior to the Pr. Dionicus as himself wold confesse wer he present hard me recount y e many griefs wherwith loue hath afflicted me might he â—e Iudge wold allow me recoÌ„pence for my seruice in loue But Madame if without offence I might demaund this say Nutania the Princesse of Thrace were the Saint vnto whome this vnhappie Prince had vowed his deuotions and that all the passions he hath endured are for your loue would you vouchsafe him loue in recompence thereof The Princesse driuen to her shiftes at this demaund could not tell what to answere yet sharpening her wittes as women can doe she said Pheander Loue is not to bée dallied with as I haue heard them say which speake by experience therefore I cannot directly answere thy question but were
such there is which shall be found by thee Keturne thou then â—â—â—e dread thy guiltlesse blood Whose life preserued is for thy Countries good When the aged Pilgrime had perused thâ—se lines musing at the darknesse of the same which he construed many wayes yet had no certaintie wherefore resoluing on the mercifull fauour of the God which had so pittifully heard his prayer he passed on his iourney in search for those princes which hée hoped was liuing whom to his trauaile we leaue to returne vnto the Princesse Phedera who hauing the company of the Mayden Knight had sundry motions of desire to enioy his Loue euermore applauding his person curtesie and valoure which so farre excéeded all mens in her iudgement that shée honoured him for the Paragon of the world holding her for the most happiest Lady on the earth which should enioy his loue wishing that she were worthy of his loue and framyng her selfe by all meanes that modestie would permit to gaine it But hée whose heart was fixed on his Lady had no motion of any other onely wished to bee with her whome hee so much honoured whose presence he more desired then all the riches the worlde could offoord Tormented with these restlesse passions which was of the King and Courtiers noted especially of the Lady Phedera many imagined the cause yet none so good a phisition to finde the truth or cause thereof as continuall care weakeneth the bodie and causeth many extreames so Pheander féeling in himselfe a weakenesse of nature and looking for some disease through his melancholy to ensue finding the king at conuenient time he humbly besought him of fauour to depart alleaging that the aire and contagiousnesse of those Confines was nothing agréeing with his body and that his longer staie might be by his confusion The king which loued him as his owne soule and tendered his welfare more then the wealth of his kingdome whom he had found so kinde and forward aduenturing his life for his good in many broyles though loth to leaue him in whome so much he delighted yet noting his melancholike humours which had much altered his complexion imagined it was no excuse and therefore the rather condescended to his request appoynting a time as he desired when if God sent winde and weather to be readie with their shipping to conduct him to Egypt whither the king promised with his sister and nobles to accompany him for which iourney a strict commaund was giuen to all Officers to sée each thing necessary puruayde which with such diligence was performed as in short time all things was as they could wish or desire furnished onely attending a faire winde to set sayle which they stayed not long for But a gale fitting their purpose the kyng with his sister the Mayden Knight and their train embarqued themselues for Egipt where by the good furtherance of him that commaundeth all they shortly arriued in safetie whose comming being knowne vnto the Vizeroy Cariolus with such prouision as they could make on the suddaine repaired vnto the place of landing where the king ioyfull to sée the good recouery of Cariolus in most kinde maner imbraced him And so generall welcomes being giuen on all sides by the Nobles they passe on towards the Pallace of the king who with a generall loue of his Commons was to his great delight welcommed with such shewes of ioy as on the sodaine they could prepare Thus after some time spent in banquetting and other pastimes for their welcomes to beguile the time the better the Mayden Knight standing on thornes vntill he might behold the swéete content of his liues comfort finding Cariolus in place where they might discusse at large theyr mindes The knight not forgetting his promise made to Cariolus in his own country and willing to make amends for the wrong he had there thus said My Lord what I haue to impart vnto you as one that wisheth your good is such as becommeth a friend vowed to do your Lordship what seruice my abilitie can stretch vnto onely I beséech you promise on your honor to conceale what I shall discouer Cariolus who both honored and loued the knight musing to what these spéeches tended relying on the fidelitie of him whome he neuer had heard or séene to commit any dishonorable action gaue him his word and honor to be as secret in all things as he could desire which the knight accepting thus said My Lord first I humbly beséech your fauourable loue to be continued and pardon my great offence committed against you in Numedia where not being my selfe I committed a most hainous offence and dishonorable for which I am willing to make such satisfaction as you can require Cariolus hearing the knight vse these spéeches of submission noting them well and bethinking himselfe what had fortuned being in Numedia could not call to minde any vnkindnesse offered him by any inferiour person neither did he well remember the princes discurtesie yet leauing nothing vnsought calling his wittes togither bethought him of the prince whom they forbeare to answeare vntill he had with earnestnesse noted the phisnomy of the knight whose face with long sicknesse wherewith he was at that time possest was quite altered from the forme it now had which made him more to admire But calling to mind the resemblance of the aged king he conceiued by some signes of his fauour that it was doubtlesse the prince yet doubtfull he was for that being so nobly borne he came to the Numedian Court with no better countenance then a Merchant After many thoughts not willing to offend through rashnesse or to offer any vnkindnesse he humbly besought him in true friendship which he had found to pardon him which could not call to minde no wrong done him nor any familiaritie that euer had bene betwéene them Well my Lord quoth the knight I sée your minde is frée from reuenge that know not those that haue endaungered your life and therefore am the more willing to reueale my selfe to cleare you of this doubt Know that I am Dionicus the vnhappy Prince of Numedia who in my fathers Court so much abused you whereof I repent me and haue sorrowed for it But pardon me good Cariolus and accept that friendship I vowed vnto you which wil endeuour to deserue thy loue in all occasions wherein true loue consisteth To giue you some cause to credit what I say I haue thought good to find this opportunitie not onely to reueale myselfe to you whose fauour I desire but to doo my best indeuour to deserue the same and to aduance thy estate if so you can lyke of my offer Cariolus amazed at these spéeches after he had with more aduised eyes beheld the Prince was assured it was he prostrating himselfe on his knée humbly besought his grace of pardon which had so vnreuerently behaued himselfe But gratious Prince quoth he faultes vnwillingly committed deserue the lesse punishment I speake for my selfe which am ready to make amendes in performing
â—â—y penance it shall please your highnesse to enioyne me yéelding many millions of thankes for that fauour you haue vouchsafed in giuing me that credit to reueale your selfe to the vnworthiest of many in high estéeme which desireth your highnesse knowledge vowing by the honour of my Noble auncestry to be gouerned and directed by the Prince Dionicus and shall so please it your highnesse follow your grace where soeuer it shall stand with your good pleasure to conduct me The Prince interrupting his spéech louingly imbraced the Lord Cariolus giuing him many thanks for his kinde offers which he was assured was faithfully spoken In recompence of which my Lord quoth he and to make you some satisfaction for my former wrong offered you I will enâ—uour to aduance your estate so it stand with your good liking in this maner You sée my Lord though with some trouble and effusion of blood on either part the King in peace and quiet enioyeth his owne Countrey and with the Crowne of his enemie is like wise inuested Alluring baytes are kingdomes and haue caused many Nobles who not content with their owne estates to hazard honour life and whatsoeuer else they enioyed to attaine vnto them But my Cariolus if thou canst frame thy lyking to my wish and bend thy minde to the loue of Phedera the Princesse my endeuour shall be to obtaine her for thy Ladie and the Kingdome of Egypt for her dowry besides shée is heire to her brother who dying without issue shall to higher honours preferre thée This is all my Noble Cariolus that I haue to say and so much I say for that I wish thy aduancement if thou lyke the Ladie and haue not bestowed thy lyking elsewhere Say thy minde as to him which not onely in this but in all other matters wherein I may doo thée good commaunde mée as thy selfe Cariolus who was wise and well demeaned endued with valour and curtesie as much as might be required humbâ—â— returned many thankes for this vnexspected good moued with a desire of kingly dignitie well content to enioy so braue a princes for his loue without farther stay said My honored Lord I cannot frame my tongue to yéelde such thankes as my heart would vtter onely this good I craue that your highnesse continue your gracious fauour towards me whose will shall be euer a lawe to Cariolus who will euer be directed by your maiesties aduise And séeing most honourable Prince you haue motion of willingnesse to do me this good I humbly beséech you continue it and binde Cariolus in euerlasting bands of true friendship to your seruice Here were they interrupted by the comming of the King who hearing that the Prince was gone that way delighting in his company more then in any others came sodainly on them yet not in such maner but he was espied of them The King which saw them so earnest in their spéech comming vp with them saide Sir Knight were my Lord Cariolus a Lady as he is a honorable Gentleman I should be very suâ—pitious of you both that you would find time to stretch a point farther then became you In faith Gentlemen quoth he as there is brotherly loue betwéene you which the world well noteth let be a trinitie and accept me for the third person so shall you honor me more then I will say and endue me with such happines as I wil not for auoiding of flattry vtter Your Maiesty quoth the prince may iest but would it were knowne vnto your grace our loues to your highnesse you might then say you haue such poore friends of vs as wil euer be ready to aduenture our liues in your honorable seruice Experience good Knight answered the King long sithence hath taught me that whose eies are witnesses of your loyaltie which I wil endeuour to requite as when you please to make triall you shall finde especially you my Lord whose bloud lost in aduenturing for me I can no way requite Séeing quoth the prince your highnesse is thus disposed to iest pardon I beséech you what I haue to say and fauour me so much as to heare my humble sute and hearing let me obtaine it at your gracious hands in granting which your grace shall more honor me then I dare report Honorable Knight answered the King among friends what should néed distrust my heart gréeueth that the noble Knight Pheander should doubt to obtaine what euer resteth in my power to grant Wherfore swéet friend say on for by the honor of the Thessalian kingdom whose crown I enioy through thy good industry what euer thou requirest shall not be denied Thankes gracious Lord not for my self I intreat but for this gentleman whose heart hauing sworne fayaltie to loue which is the soueraigne guide of all men hath framed his lyking vnto the Princesse Phedera whose seruant he hath vowed himself if then noble Prince it shall stand with your highnesse good leisure to accept of him whose honourable birth and haughtie déeds of Chiualry may merit some estéeme with persons of worth I haue my desire by graunting of which and obteining the Princesse good lyking I shall be more honored then if your grace had inuested me with both the kingdomes of Thessaly and Egipt Pheander quoth the King if thou hadst required as much for thy selfe as thy friend thou couldst not haue honored me more whose amitie I desire to participate with aboue all men of what account so euer but séeing thy request is for him whose aduancement I desire and for thou shalt know in what regard I hold thy loue I will do my best to procure her loue women haue fancies and are headstrong in their affects whether she haue granted her loue I know not neither can I force her lyking if I could it were not conuenient for a forced beast is froward and women wedded to their will If in their loue they should be contraried were better lost then found their reuenging mindes are such as they will not be quiet vntill for their husbandes safetie they haue armed his head with such proofe that hée may walfe in safetie amongst the best headed stags in my Forrest But leauing this iest Pheander that thou maist assure thee of my loue my industry shall be to gaine her for thy friend whom I both honour and loue and for you my Lord I giue heartie thanks that will accept of her whom I may say I loue as a brother who if I can perswade to your wish her large dowry shall testifie Our pleasant parley hath procured me a good appetite my stomacke telleth me it is dinner time wherefore Gentlemen leauing this talke which is as much conquest as the greatest of Hercules which did neuer conquere woman vnto me let vs walke and doubt not but I will play the Orator in such wise as shall procure your content Lord Cariolus and satisfie your request Thanks gracious Prince quoth Cariolus which is all I haue to requite so great a benefit onely your true
with one not so worthie as the Lord Cariolus And yet Nay Madam quoth the King leaue not off so abruptly with an aparentizes your words are doubtfull Tell mée therfore is there any other before me if there be and thou hast made choyce and you both agreed I will not gainsay it nor tye thée to any other then thy owne content in mariage Therefore say what those words and yet imported Pardon my ouer boldnesse gracious Lord answered the Lady which vnaduisedly ouerpast those spéeches and credit my word which haue no loue fixed in my heart but will endeuour my selfe to the liking of him whom you shall commaund me yet will I answer your demaund and meaning of those words taken so by your grace at rebounde though I must and will frame me to the loue and liking of the Lord Cariolus Yet had the noble Generall bene pleased and with that a déep sigh staid her tongue in such wise as she could go no farther The King vnderstanding which way the winde of her desire blew though he could haue bene better content with her choyce yet to put her from other thoughts and to haue his sute take effect he perswaded her to let slip such fonde imaginations for that he had placed his loue on a Ladie of his Country whom he would not leaue for all the world With these happie tidings for the Lord Cariolus after some other kinde spéeches to y ◠Lady the King departed so ioying in his good successe y ◠he could not rest vntill he had comforted the Lord Cariolus with his answer whose mind egged on by the Mayden Knight was so fixed on the Lady that she was become the mistresse of his heart and he ioyed in nothing but in contemplating of her loue thinking euery day a yeare and euery houre a month vntil he heard the Kings answere musing thus on his Loue tossing with a minde disquietted from one side the bedde to the other his Page brought him word that a Gentleman from the King attended to speake with him which sodaine newes reuiued so his spirits as made his heart more light then long time before it had bene hoping to here such happie tidings as his louing sute required The Messenger hauing deliuered his messuage iudge you that be louers whether you could slack any time vntil you heard the doome of your mistresse which he was assured to do by the King vnto whom he hasteneth with such spéed as he could To whose presence being come the king as ioyful for his good successe and his sisters grant as the Lorde Cariolus to heare it with a smiling countenance which shewed the ioy of his heart said My Lord though my skill in wooing be but small hauing neuer accustomed my selfe to any such practise yet haue I playd the cunning Aduocate for your Lordship and will assure you so you holde your word and promise the Princesse shall be yours and thereon take my word of honour Cariolus so ouer ioyed at these tydings could not well tell whether he heard the King speake or dreamed of this happinesse But standing a while in an extacie his sences being come againe with eyes gastly beholding the King thus said My honourable and gracious Lord what may I doo to requite your Princely fauour who hath vouchsafed me so great honor not onely to bestowe your onely sister on me but to become my honorable soliciter what I would say modestie compelleth me to conceale Only this I assure your Maiestie my loyall seruice shall euer be ready at your commaund in such dutifull maner that your Maiesty shall haue no cause to repent you of so great a good done vnto a stranger Inough my Lord fewe words doth suffice among friendes wherefore forbeare these spéeches loue my sister and for her sake thinke of me as a friend which will be euer ready to do you what pleasure I can To giue you some interest of my faith appoint the marriage day at your pleasure and for her dowry accept this kingdom of Egypt which shall remaine to you and your heires for euer onely this homage shall you yearely tender in my Court of Thessaly two swift running Coursers of this Countrey and so God make you happie in your loue and a ioyfull father of many children With this the Mayden Knight entered his presence vnto the King what man so welcome his dutie done the King louingly imbracing him said Sir Knight I haue not long sithence comforted your friend with my happie tydings and not onely assured him of a wife which I hope will prooue louing and kinde vnto him but haue inuested him with the tytle of King of Egipt of both which I wish him so much ioy as I desire to haue ioy his wedding day let him appoynt at his pleasure which shall with the greatest honour I can be performed Most gracious and dread Lord quoth the Knight how this your honourable curtesie haue tyed mee vnto your seruice I omit that at my request hath thus fauoured my deare friend whose good I estéeme as mine owne and euer will be readie with my best endeuour to serue at all times and places where my force or seruice may do either your Maiestie or my Lord Cariolus good And séeing it is wrought to his content and your Graces good lyking let mée intreate this fauoure of you both that the wedding may sodainly be solemnized for that my staie may not be long here such desire I haue to sée my soueraigne Lorde who I am sure exspecteth my return long before this time Sir quoth the King did you knowe how displeasing those spéeches of your departure were to me that desire nothing in the whole world so much as your company you would neuer harpe so much on that string But how long so euer your staie shall be this day eight dayes I doo appoint for the wedding so my Lorde Cariolus be agreed and say Amen Neuer quoth Cariolus let him be allowed for Clarke which refuseth to say Amen to such a parson the Orizons bringing such content séeing your Maiestie referres it to me Amen say I and humbly thanke your Grace for your honourable fauour The wedding day appoynted and assigned the King sent for the Princesse who that night supped all togither which being ended the Princesse in presence of many of the Lordes of Thessaly and Egypt was betrothed vnto the Lord Cariolus and the marriage day appoynted against which time were all the nobles sommoned to be at Court to attend the King by whose commandement all the preparation for honour of that day might be deuised was ordeined the time of night being spent sommoned their watchfull eyes to sléepe wherefore after many solemne adues taken one of the other they hastened on all sides to their rest onely Cariolus and the Princesse best content shée ioying in her Loue and kingly brothers lyking and he blessing a million of times the day wherein he first saw the Prince procurer of his so great good What
her selfe that with those comfortable confections her Doctors prouided and receiuing such vyands as phisicke thought most méetest shée beganne to recouer her decaied colour and her faint limbs ouer weake with forbearing such sustenance wherewith nature should be reléeued recouered their strength in such wise as it ioyed her subiects to heare of her recouery Time which ouercommeth mightie things hath brought the Quéene to that good estate as finding a day wherein the Sunnes power vanquished the ayres rumaticke coldnesse the walked into the gardaine where shée solaced her selfe beholding Natures abiliments which beautified the earth in such manner that the pleasantnesse thereof with the swéete smelles bredde her great content The Mayden Knight which had desire to shewe his dutie in attending her royall highnesse hearing this happie tydings hasteneth to the gardaine whome the Quéene no sooner sawe but calling him vnto her after his dutie done and her Maiestie taking him vp from the grounde from off his knée she said My Lord what excuse can you frame now for neglecting your dutie to your mistresse which cannot haue your sight being in Court without a messenger if the sight of any one attending vs be offensiue vnto your Grace wée will remoue them rather then loose your company so wée may know them Noble Princesse answered the Knight that I acknowledge not my dutie as I ought pardon me and weigh in the ballance of your gracious clemencie my zeale and hartie desire to doo you seruice who albeit my heart desireth no such happinesse as your Princely presence yet knowing that Princes haue many eyes to behold them and Enuy lurketh in the hearts of subiects who imagining more then is on either of our parts thought may with their euil spéech raise that scandall as may blemish your renowne being a virgine and procure my greater trouble which am a straunger Clenly excused quoth the Quéene I sée now good seruant you haue not spent your time idlely abroad if I might know your schoole mistresse I would be so bold to thanke her for the diligent applying her scholler Madame quoth the Prince I am glad to heare your grace so well disposed I hope your Maiestie hauing recouered strength and your businesse with these nobles ouer past will thinke of your seruant and remember your word to me which chalengeth the same at your maiesties hands My Lord quoth she had I not held thy loue in regard I could not haue denied the many sutes of my Pheres and Commons which haue besought me and with great earnestnesse entreated me to marriage but so deare hath thy loue bene vnto me that I desired death rather then falsifie my faith to your grace for whom and through whose vnkindnesse I haue endured much hearts discontent No more of that quoth the Knight good Madame expel from your minde passed griefes and thinke vpon the ensuing pleasures which wil excéed all the discontent hath bene to heare your discontent is litle pleasing vnto me who neuer closed these eyes nor neuer beheld the rising of the glorious Sun without millions of times remembring your grace whose presence I more desired then I will explaine Guenela séeing some of the Councell entering the Gardaine gaue them intelligence thereof breaking off their spéech thus Sir if you haue taken orders in holy Church since your departure it is more then is expected of all the court which in time past haue shewed your selfe so worthily in Armes to your lasting honor If you haue and her grace haue chosen you for her ghostly father enioyne I beseech her maiestie to some easie penance for her long sicknes is not to endure much fasting besides here is of the Councel who hath waited to say somthing either to the Quéene or your grace These wordes of Guenela caused them surcease their talke and with shewes of louing countenaunces to giue each other the farewell The Knight framing his talke to Guenela who finding him alone thus said Sir experience of mine owne discontent hath taught me what a corifiue melancholy is to a pleasant minde who in your absence haue endured many sharpe wordes yea and oftentimes those thundering spéeches lighting with blowes either on my ribbes head or face in reuenge of which had you bin present for whose sake I endured them I should haue aduentured the cracking of a sword with your grace or greatly haue wanted of my will Why how now Guenela quoth the Knight art thou metamorphiâ—ed hath the Goddes ioyned thée abiliments of a man as wel as armed thy hart with courage faith wench art thou so valiantly minded to breake a blade take héed tis dangerous for your sexe to deale with weapons but I will desire the Quéene to search you least happily as â—ad a chance befall her maydes as Dania which enterteined Iupiter in likenesse of a Swan If Guenela be likewise by their consents allienated from her sexe it were good to preuent euils in time had I wist commeth too late My Lord quoth Guenela blushing with shame your Lordship hath through my fondnesse taken me at aduantage misconstruing my simple meaning which haue euâ—r honored you Conceale my folly in this good my Lord and forget it and pardon my fond words which haue felt many stripes for you Nay Guenela quoth the Knight I may not with my honour let passe a matter of such importance without reuealing it to her highnesse least your words as you say spoken in ieast turne some of our Ladies in earnest to be beholding to mother Midwife The Quéene which had reposed her selfe with beholding the bewtie of nature and taken y e pleasant aire which did greatly comfort her hauing some conference with her nobles departed the gardein which made the rest withall the spéed they could make to follow whereof Guenela was nothing sorowfull who was thereby compeld to leaue the Knight of whome shee wished long before to haue shift her hands The Quéene gathering some strength was loath to detaine the straunge Nobles longer from her Presence wherefore by her Nobles shee limitted a time to heare them against which day was all her nobles summoned to be at Court with her Ladies and women of account to attend her Maiestie who with the Lorde Stewarde of her houshold had taken such order for all diuersitie of vyandes that might be prouided The day appointed come not vnexspected of the straungers who prouided themselues as sumptuous as they could apparrelled after their countrey maner attended the time of her Maiesties comming forth who being come and in her Chaire of Estate set word was brought vnto the straungers who marching with the nobles of Thrace through the Court was in most honourable maner presented vnto her Maiestie who with countenance debonaire and grace magisticall as became her royaltie bad them all welcome in such curteous and Princely manner that the straungers at this first fight were driuen to great admiration beholding that grace and honor in a woman which they would neuer haue beléeued had not their eyes bene
Where the Knight imboldned by the fauour of his gracious Lady was not so great a stranger with her highnesse but that he might at pleasure repaire to her presence with whom by his earnest sute and desire to be possessed of her whom he so much loued and honoured he egged her on still to marry which for she would not do without a generall consent of her nobles and states of the realme she caused a Parliament tobe sommoned at which time finding her fit opportunitie she imparted her determinations in this maner Honourable Lordes and you our louing Commons here assembled let not those fewe words I haue to say vnto you bréede any discontent that will deliuer nothing dishonorable to my state and your disparagement to withhold you from the same long were more nicenesse then wisdom wherefore briefly thus Sithence I was by permission of him that exalteth and pulleth downe Princesse at his will I am by your honourable generall consents Crowned Quéen of this realme to whose gouernment you haue as lawfully descended from him whom you al loued and feared committed your selues sithence which you haue all with shows of honorable loue and care of our state and realmes by sundry examples perswaded me to marriage which you say may bréede your happinesse whose good he that searcheth my harts secrets knoweth that I more preferre then my life on whose sutes so often made I haue aduisedly considered and noting the many perils incident to our sexe which rather require to be gouerned then to gouerne the name of King being feared honored and loued through feare when they hold our sexe in contempt All which considered with your former sutes if I grant to your request I doubt not but I shall find that fauour which the poorest of my subiects haue fréely to choose where their loues and likings leadeth them which if you grant I shall hold my loue well bestowed on you and shall haue cause to thinke your request in times past hath bene honorable and not to tye me to any inconuenience assuring you that whateuer he be that I shall bend my liking vnto shall not disparage my estate nor dishonor you but be worthie for wisedome valour and what else is required in honorable persons to mate the Princesse of most renowne on the earth You haue heard what I haue to say and wherefore chiefly this Parliament was sommoned of which I craue your answeres The Nobles and Lords both spirituall and temporall with the Commons of both houses hearing the Quéenes motion were all mute not knowing sodeinly in a matter of such waight what to answere But remooued from their dumps the Speaker being both wise and well demeaned as befitted his place humbly prostrating himselfe thus said Most gracious Princesie albeit your Maiesties request to this honourable House is no more then wée haue earnestly sought yet pardon our sodaine answere and giue vs respite of time vntill to morrow the remaine of this day so it stande with your Princely fauoure shall be spent to heare the censure of all estates in these Presence whose loue and dutie is such as they will deny nothing wherein your royall and honourable estate is not disparaged but in all thinges will with all humblenesse subiect themselues to your highnesse pleasure The Quéene loath to require such haste in answering her question graciously commanded him to rise graunting most willingly to his demaunds for which the whole assembly with a vniall voyce gaue her Grace most humble thankes The Quéene hauing deliuered the summe of her desire graciously commending them to his will that frameth all things accompanied with many of Phéeres departeth The Quéene departed all matters in questions laid apart the Phéeres and most chéefest of both Houses assembled themselues in Councell where you must suppose no matter for benefit of the state was omitted The request made by their Quéene with great aduice considered which amongst them was admired where many imaginations assailed them deuising of each side what he should be that is in so highe estéeme and fauour with her Grace and of suche worthie reputation as shée hath reported him eftsoones naming one then some other yet the principall obiect of her loue neuer remembred which draue them all to an non plus But what euer hée were time of their owne desire to answere craued some dispatch of what they had in question Wherefore leauing friuolous questions they procéede to their begunne action gladly would they haue bene certified of their elected King but in vaine it was for them to require it Wherefore considering their owne desires they thought it would be taken in euill part of her highnesse to gainsay what with such humble and earnest sutes they had required assuring themselues of her wisedome gouernment and care of their goods which was so wise and euery way so honourably demeaned which considered thereuppon relying it was generally determined to referre all to her owne will pleasure and good lyking On which resolued the chéefest of the Nobilitie accompanied with diuerse of the Cleargy in hope of the Quéens good acceptance spéedeth them to the Court who sodeinly was aduertised of their being with their request which was to haue accesse to her highnesse No sooner was her highnesse therof certified but leauing her Chamber where she was busily imployed about those businesses which shée had in hand deuising of the answere of the Commons leauing all shée spéedeth her vnto them where taking her place their duties in all humblenesse done and shée with all honourable curtesie requited it the Speaker in presence of the whole assembly thus said Dread Soueraign the Lords both spirituall and temporall with commons in this honourable Parliament assembled weying with care and wisdom the honor of your highnesse and carefully tendering the weale publike haue with great care of both the premises considered with your maiesties request albeit they haue no knowledge of his honorable person vnto whom your royall liking is vnited yet relying on your Princely wisedome and care of your subiects by whose welfare their happinesse is to be mainteined with one vniall consent they willingly subiect themselues vnto your highnesse will and pleasure assuring your grace that whom you shall vouchsafe to endue with tytle of Lord and husband they will accept for their soueraigne and will in all humblenesse acknowledge with louing hearts their duties vnto him as to their lawfull King by your maiesties election Thus my gracious Lady haue they willed me to say in behalfe of them all and most humbly beséech your highnesse to make knowne vnto them the name so honored which you haue vouchsafed to like to the end they neglect not that dutie which is due vnto him by your good grace The Quéene hearing this answere of her Commons was more ioyed and in heart contented then euer she was since the death of her father her louing countenance shewing the content of her heart so long discontent which made her with most louely grace and
curtesie to say My Lords all and you of the Communaltie you haue in yéelding to these honorable motions by me made highly contented her whose desire in loue made me not so head-strong to consent without your generall lyking my choise being such as may be mated with the oneliest Lady of highest estéeme in the worlde as I doubt not your selues will confesse when he shalbe knowne vnto you my high estéeme of him laid apart for that you may say affection is blinde And as the Prouerb saith The Negro by nature black and loathsome in our eyes estéemes her Infant faire so Loue which commandeth all creatures caused many Princes and Ladies of worth to submit themselues to base estates Imperious loue so ouer mastering their hearts to assure you that my lyking is not such and to satisfie you which with your curteous consent hath contented me know your so elected souaraigne and he that I haue subiected my loue vnto is of no lesse worth then a Prince royally borne and descended from the loynes of a King famous and a Quéene endowed with much honor himselfe shewing his royall desent by his demeanour which is valiant wise and curteous such a one I know your desires is to chuse for your soueraigne all offection set apart such a one haue I chosen which shal cause al your ioies if you ioy in any good Where breaking off your spéech with other words of curtesie yéelding them great thankes she called Guenela whome shée commanded to send some trustie messenger for the Prince willing him all businesse set apart to repaire vnto her which done framing pleasant discourses which delighted the nobles she sought to their contents to beguile the time vntill the messenger returned which made such haste that he found the Knight vnto whom he imparted the Quéens pleasure which albeit the sodeinesse thereof was troublesome vnto him cloying his head deuising of sundry matters which her hastie sending for him should import yet neglecting no time he spéedeth him to the Presence where to the Quéene he was the welcommest man liuing as her countenance declared who calling him vnto her commanded a chair to be brought and seating him on her left hand to the admiration of all the beholders which done she said My Lords and you our louing subiects muse not at this vnwoonted fauour vsed to this Gentleman nor repine not for that it is your owne choyse This is my choyse and hée that I haue sworne my loue and loyall affection vnto who albeit hath thus long subiected himselfe to our seruice dooing vs many high fauours as your owne eyes can witnesse enduced vnto it by that high commander of men who hath procured many Princes to the lyke for our loue as I am assured he abandoned his Kingly seate disguised in the base attire of a Merchant came to our Court where what honors he hath gained by his valour and curtesie not one of you but know Numedia being his natiue soyle and the kingdome his by lawfull desent from the King his father Let it not dismay you my friends nor iudge my words spoken of him for his honor to be more then truth so shall you wrong him whose woorth you may be by my reports assured off and iniury her which had neuer intent but to deserue well of you all Therefore as you haue your desire knowing him in token of your loue and generall consents by whom hée is your adopted King shewe by your signes of content howe pleasing my choyce and lyking is vnto you The Nobles amazed at the Quéenes spéech although they could hardly be enduced to beléeue what shée had sayd yet such was the loue they honored her with that giuing credit vnto her words without longer pause of the matter that the Quéene might the rather be wonne to credit their former spéech with a vniuersall voyce prostrating themselues before him they cryed God saue the King Quéene vowing vnto him loyaltie and failtie as vnto their King and soueraigne Thanks good my Lords quoth the Prince for your good consents and doubt not of my loue to you which with such heartie affection shall be shewed that my dearest bloud shal be shead ere the least haire of the basest of your heads shall perish Which said the Quéene standing vp requested the Nobles that as they had with consent elected him their King so they would appoynt the time for solemnizing the marriage with the Coronation chaunging his name from Pheander the Mayden Knight to Dionicus the lawful heire of the Numedian Crowne for that was his right and the name of Pheander but vsurped Which request of her Maiestie they easily granted appoynting the marriage thrée dayes following and the Coronation presently to follow which to their great ioyes was accomplished with all the honour might be done by their subiects the costly showes and all maner of delightfull pastimes there vsed I omit albeit it was pleasing both to their King and Quéene and brought great ioy and comfort to all beholders The marriage with the Coronation past the Commons delighted with their King assured his grace to be so honorable as the Quéene had reported him and they found who in that Parlament to honor the Thracians the more and let them know his loue was no whit inferiour to theirs he entailed the Crowne of Numedia to the lawfull heire of Thrace succéeding assuring them that his Nobles and Commons should confirme and assure the same Which curteous fauour the Nobles so gratefully accepted as they returned him for the same many gracious thanks the Parliament proroged according to custome of the Country their dutie in all humblenesse done the Nobles with the chéefest of all parts in the land wished the Quéene and King many happy dayes to their ioy and harts content which they requited with such shewes of loue as might delight them and giue them cause to ioy in their Princes election of whom their comfort was great their assurance of tranquillitie with forraine Princes through his magnanimitie to be such as al true subiects might haue pleasure to recount Their leaue taken euery one departs well content to his home Thus the King and Quéene enioying hearts content their loues more and more encreased that there was no talks but of their faithfull loue and hearts lyking through which the Commons liued in peace praying for their long liues to be continued To which content in loue the story leaueth them recounting the arriuall of the aged Barnardine in Thrace who with his long trauaile came vnto the Court where wandering Pilgrimelike liuing by the deuotion of bountifull people he spent some time in contemplation others in viewing the bewtie of the Court and maners of the people eftsoones commending their religion and seruing their creature taking much pleasure in discoursing with such Pilgrime strangers as he méete of the diuerse conditions of those Nations whose Countries hée had séene which being many he affected no Princes Region as this Country of Thrace
they boorded and by hundreths entered my shippes and gallies who were valiantly repulsed But men can doo no more then God will giue them leaue so long they continued the fight that the scupars gushed bloud as they had often with the water deliuered by the Pompe And here laye one maimed and there a number slaine This pittifull stratageme when my heart with heauinesse behelde being so hardly assailed my selfe after that I was cleared from the Fléete the winde fauouring mée with a happie gale and my ship being good of saile I forsooke the fight in hope to haue recouered in my owne Countrey and by a new supply haue giuen him welcome thither But my hopes herein deceiued a boysterous storm growing the sea who is mercilesse arose in extremitie swelling with such outrage that my weak barke no longer able to endure her crueltiâ— was put against our wils on thy coast my Pylot vnacquainted with the same and a hoary myst ouer spreading the land sodeinly the ship stucke being neare the shore which draue vs to great terror To remedy the which the Mariners did their best but in vaine striue they that labour against his will that commaundeth all What should I say the outrage of the storm was such as forced the ship vpon the Lée shore which gaue vs all cause to remember our maker and with heartie prayer to craue his assistance but our comfort was comfortlesse our shyp split and we all driuen to make what shift we might my self happening on the main yard after that I had bene gréeuously beaten at sea the whole night was driuen a shore on your Confines I neuer heard of any other that were saued With this the teares restrained his spéech that he could not speake which moued the King to more pittie of his estate and friendly imbracing him he sayd No more my Lord at this time I am sorie that I haue giuen you such cause of griefe thus by recounting so lamentable a state renew your passed griefes But comfort good King when tides be at the lowest they spring againe If the Egyptian King be so extreame reason with curtesie will not content him the cause being no other but to force the loue of a woman vnto him of which perhaps he were better be without On the word of a King and by my honor I sweare I will not leaue you vntill I sée you setled in your kingdome Thus the King whome sorrow had ouerburthened was by the comfort of this noble King his hoast recomforted whose whole studie was now in preparing of an Army to ayde him to which care we leaue them Nutania whose restlesse passions neither time nor place could alter burning in these remedilesse thoughts considering the penance her louing heart was like to endure she fell into this humor Nutania how haue the Fates ordeined to make thée vnhappie that thou being deliuered from an oppressing enemy then steppes in loue to beginne a new Tragedie Thou seest her fawnings is but flattery then séek to eschue them enter not too far in the forde least minding but to wet thy shoe thou plunge ouer head and eares Thy yeares albeit not many with the examples of others whom then hast read may learne thée to be wise if thy fancie be fixed on such vanitie as may bréed thy sorrow expell it as thou maist suffer not loue to harbour in thy heart for harbored he commonly pleades possession and once possest neither force nor entreatie may remoone him so ambitious a tyrant is he that voyd of pittie against law and all hostility he holdeth what hée list Alasse Nutania if thy enemy be such what auayleth thée thou maist wish to be fréed from his tyrannie but canst neuer auoyd it so imperious is hée yet not manly but as a Coward making the breach where the wall is weakest poore women is the marke whereat most commonly he aymeth who being by nature pittifull are easie to beléeue and by â—oo light credite are taken by them they best like of Thus poore wench doest thou nothing but heaue feathers against the winde which returne into thine owne eies thy speaches vttered in loues dishonour will be challenged and like a traiterous Rebel to his Deitie shalt thou be conuicted arraigned and condemned for deprauing his Godhead If it be death fondling to speake against the maiestie of a Prince what is it to contemne the powers aboue The best remedie thou hast is reconciliation wherewith the Gods are pleased and hartily sorrowing for thy misse yéeld thy selfe vanquished yéelding séeke by fauour to attaine the end of thy desires Thy loue is matchlesse and doubtlesse honourable his countenance sheweth the true badge of Nobilitie and his valour and bountie doe answere what his other perfections promise I haue often heard it spoken that womens helpes in extremitie haue bene great if that be true proofe Nutania cal thy wittes together and so end thy tormentes by enioying thy heartes content so much discontent by yéelding to the same Thus resolued without longer stay shée called vnto her Guenela her chiefe attendant who from her infancy had bene brought vp with her In this Guenela she conceiued her greatest hope vnto whome she saide Guenela since I had reason to discerne good from euill thou knowest how I haue tendered thée and how willing I would be to séeke thy preferment make triall when thou please so shalt thou be assured of that which iustly thou maist hold in suspence But leauing these coniuring words I must Guenela commit vnto thy secrets a matter of import wheron my honor and reputation dependeth for I tell thée Guenela I haue made choyce of thée amongest all those which I may command as of her I loue and haue best cause so to do hauing had such societie else should I rather chuse to dye ten thousand deaths then reueale it Guenela which had her whole hope of good from the Princesse hearing her spéeches with teares standing in hir eyes procéeding of ioy for the honor done her by her Lady protested vnto her by heauens maker and what else he framed to be secret in her determinations and do her best endeuour to accomplish whatsoeuer she commaunded The Princesse taking her word for currant in whom she neuer found deceit said Guenela that it is incident to all creatures in their kinde to loue I know thy wittes be not so simple but thou canst conceiue and he that frameth vs directeth our likings as best pleaseth him be it prince or begger from the highest to the simplest and he my Guenela hath linked my liking to a most braue toward Gentleman on whom I thinke if affection which is blind deceiue me not is worthie to be mated with the greatest in degrée on the earth To kéepe thée with friuolous spéech is no time now hauing other matter inough to discourse therefore that thou maiest knowe him to whome my loue is vnited Pheander the new adopted Knight is hée Pheander famous for his valour renowmed for his
bountie and admired for curtesie he he Guenela is the ioy of my heart and my hearts sole delight without whom I cannot liue no I wil not liue I neither may I liue such is the seruice my heart hath vowed in loue vnto him therefore if thou loue me as thou hast profest by thy industrie séeke to â—aue my life which cannot but perish not obteining my desires Guenela listning to her discourse willing to become second in this Comedie had her braines beating alreadie in search of the charge committed vnto her yet would shée not answere any thing sodeinly considering how displeasing spéeches spoken out of time be vnto louers corasiues yet chearing the Princesse shée requested vntill the next morning respite for answer which the Princesse granted affying greatly in her which was wise and wel demeaned many wayes sometime doubtfull sometime pleasing sifted her sences to the proofe whom to her study we leaue The Mayden Knight whose extremes were far more if more might be after his abrupt parting with his mistresse that he grew so melancholy as nothing were it vyandes to relieue his weake corpse neither the daintinesse of pleasing sweete Musicke wherewith his friends presented him might any way delight him so that in outragious maner he exclaimed on his misfortune cursing the tidings bringer of the Kings repaire to the Parke and his tongue for not reuealing his griefe his Phisition so readie to hear that dispairing of his hope to enioy her he was likely to mischiefe himselfe yet reason affirming that the learnedest Phisition could not discouer the disease of his Patient without he shew it how neare soeuer he gesse Entering further in consideration of her fauourable spéeches shaking off feare like a hardie souldier he determined in writing to let her know his loue since he had no hope to méete her againe at the like aduantage Therefore like the condemned hoping of pardon liueth the Knight yet desirous to be resolued either of comfort or dispaire he calleth for Penne and Inke and write thus To willingly vouchsafe him as partner of her best fortunes yet making a kinde deniall she said Sir though I could willingly do you more seruice then modestie will I acquaint you with it is not the part of our Countrey Gentlemen to make peasts of Gentlewomen hauing Pages fit for the purpose if I refuse your request attribute it to no discurtesie in me which am very loath to offende her highnesse not knowing whether the sentence of your paper may discontent her or no. That many messengers haue incurred displeasure yea and losse of life as the cause hath deserued I hope it is not vnknowne vnto you yet hath the harmelesse messenger knowne as litle what he carried as I desirous to know of you Swéete Guenela quoth the Knight that it is wisedom to beware by others harmes I deny not yet is it discurtesie to deny the request of a Gentleman which haue euer shewed my selfe a dutifull seruant to his highnesse and honoring him can I frame my heart to preiudise that Ladie of incomparable vertue No no heauens neuer permit me life to offend her in the least sort Therefore doubt no such matter for on the word of a Gentleman my life shall be offered and fréely giuen to excuse thy friendship wherein I am so greatly pleasured by you Guenela noting by the often changing colour in telling his tale his heart was not his owne but had some more businesse in hand then hée would impart loath to offend his patience by her deniall sayd Sir perswading my selfe of your loyaltie I will for this time become your Embassador although it should impaire my credite with her Exellence whose fauour I hold as deare as my life and that you shall assure your selfe of my trustinesse herein so please it you to méete me in this place to morrow by that time the Suns power shall haue drawne the deawe from off the earth I shall returne you answere as you desire Thankes good Guenela for thy curtesie assure you I will not dye in thy debt if euer Pheander may requite it by any industry In the meane time quoth he fauour me so highly as weare this for my sake and pulling off a Dyamond of great prise gaue it her which she was loth to accept yet giuing thanks for his curtesie she sayd Sir would you did vnderstand I prise not my paines that you shuld reward me with hyre or do you good in hope of benefit or as it is vnfitting a gentle woman to take gifts bestowed in such maner so is it discurtesie and no part of a woman like condition to refuse the gift of a friend therfore accept my thankes till I may better deserue it Thus time passing away Guenela taking her leaue departed towards the Princesse and the Knight to his lodging where how many sundry thoughts assailed him I leaue to them that haue endured the like Guenela come to the Princesse presence by her pleasant iesture was of the Princesse perceiued who was iealous of her being acquainted with her maladie who calling her to her bed side she enquired where she had spent the time so long from her knowing that all her Attendants were combersom vnto her but onely Guenela with whom she might passe the time in discoursing her loue Madame dutie commands me answere your demand yet hauing bene to search some daintie that might yéeld delight to your weak stomake and cause better dâ—gesture by chance prying in y e garde in for such things I was encountred by the best skild in the dominions of Thrace who gaue me a receit which I iudge by my simple skil wil giue your Maiestie great ease yet doth the Phisition doubt whether your stomacke wil disgest it This gracious Ladie quoth Guenela hath bene the cause of my absence and no other Alas good wench how am I beholding to thée that caring to recouer my strength searchest the depth of thy skill but Guenela in vaine sâ—ekest thou her health whom no phisitiaÌ„ with all his hearbs drugs simples balmes emplaisters or what Art may prouide can remedy onely God the great commander must by his grace bring my desires to ende or by death ende my dayes of life What Madam euer in this tune once alter these discords which maketh your musick iar sing y â— beliefe with a chéerful voice so may your mind be a litle eased and the receit I haue to minister worke with the more effect I speak this Madam of experience for euery skilfull Phisitian wil prepare the bodie of his Patient before he minister Therfore Madam if you wil shake off this melancholy you shal haue a taste of what I promise if not your grace must pardoÌ„ me it were great pitie so precious a thing should be cast away Well Guenela quoth the Princesse thou art disposed to crosse me with thy words which doth but increase my disease yéelding small comfort therefore leauing those Iests say me my good wench if thou haue