their friends being ingaged for them Then I reclaimed him from ill company I meane inferiour to him which he naturally had best loued and as if a new molded him so as in troth he deserued and doth respect from me and that hee shall haue the Court I confesse I loued well I brought him though not to like it himselfe to let me be there when I would and priuately he would come vnto me the Princesse I serued a Lady faire and louing but something variable and changing as her fauour was to me for I being of her chamber in great fauour and grace fell into the most bitter dislike and disgrace that euer any did Causes she alleaged but an easie thing it is to frame such yet the worst thing she did to me and which I tooke indeed to the heart was shee mistrusted I loued a brother of hers who she neither much cared for nor esteemed my honour shee made a young braue Lady likewise acquainted with all whom she did command to attend on her and in the last part of the euening or rather in the night they came into the Garden where if I had been gone to his chamber as shee imaginedâ— I must needs to my owne lodging passe through in my returne All the doores they locked double and bolted the others that had not such locks on them walking vp and downe to catch me who surely they imagined a very kind woman to goe so farre to a seruant whose part it had rather been to come to me but they watched and the truth is I was in another garden on the other side but not with him yet being that way suspition said I was guilty so vpon likelihoods I was condemnd To the doore I came and thinking to find the place as I left it I boldly put my key to vnlock it but it would not doe mine was but single my enemies double I at first found it not but seeing I could not open it I tried againe and then plainly discernd some had been there after me yet I did not dreame of the Princesse Presently my tampering hauing giuen them the allarum I might heare them whisper the Lady spake a little louder as of purpose that I should speak to her I did iust as she desired and fell into the trap as they wished for I cried Who is there T is I said she I pray open the doore said I. I will do you more seruice then that said she where with she opened it the Princesse of this plot and place standing close by her I started when I saw her How doth my Brother said she I told her her Highnes was deceiued in me I am not answered she but I haue been for I tooke you to haue been good and vertuous the contrary this action shewes you to be I protest cryed I I am innocent of ill and free from this wrong you accuse me of The way time your attire condemnes you said she why should you vndrest in night habits at this late houre and alone walk abroad iust this way towards his lodgings none els lying in those parts were it not to him the world besides had such a conceit and you knowing it your part had bin to auoid al cause or shadow of cause to mistrust you rather then to runne into the open mouth of danger and plaine discouerie I saw her so violent I besought her yet in mercy and pity of womens honour which could be no fame to her to ruine whatsoeuer she conceited of me yet to spare me to the world Shee smild scornefully and said she was not of the trade of my counsell-keepers who knew of â—y going to him in mans apparrell before that time and so flung away I was in truth troubled exstreamely with it and spake to the Lady to bee my friend in it Shee protested freely and brauely shee would doe me any seruice in that or any other thing and that it was first vnknowne to her what the pretence was â—onely dutie taught her to obay after vtterly against her will to proceede in it But what mends had I the Princesse told it to euery one and which madded mee most to this braue Gentleman you saw with me who at that time and by her meanes wholly had not so good an opinion of me as now he hath nor had I so much respect to him yet I loued him euer shee I thinke did so too and in no better a kind then shee thought I did her brother But I am charitable and I thinke no ill was done for I am sure he is noble and good Vpon this I left the Court and with me or presently after me fearing tricks for who how vertuous soeuer can preuent so odde and deuillish a plot as this was all or the greatest part of the Ladies went from thence euen she who then was so deare vnto her in little more grace then my selfe leauing her attended on with her chamber and those enough to be vsed ill She then grew melancholly and at last sought company some she got together but of what sort those that were of the age before who hauing young minds rumbled vp their old carcases and rubd ouer their wrinckling faces like old wainscot new varnished and little sweeter was some of their beauties But these serued to fill vp places and adorne a chamber of state like ill Pictures yet brauely guilt and set forth make as good a shew though but glassed as the cunningst piece of worke if not to iudging eies an noise they also made of mirth banqueting and inuiting company but all would not serue the glaringst signe or greatest bush drawes not in the best company no more did they make the Court much the fairer Dance they did and all ridiculous things that ancient but young made women could inuent to do I came again hauing liberty to behold theÌ„ but neuer any more to serue in ordinary Lord how I admird the alteration and the place being changd from what it was as much as from a Court to a Play-house She vsd me indifferently wel and I took it so enuying none but the Lady whom I was a little in aw of but not for that I did grudge at her but repined to see her blest as I imagind since I haue gaind what I fear'd she had or if she had I haue gaind it from her yet alwaies braue Princesse be confident I am chast and vntoucht of ill action how euer they haue laid my reputation low but I forgiue them now nor iudge amisse of my liberall discourse your freedome hauing inuited me to it My Lord good man was glad of my disgrace because it brought me home as he thought yet I so tampred with him as he thought at last it was not in earnest but a plot betweene vs so to the Court I went when I pleased or told him I would go though sometime another way I went yet lately I haue liued most at home and stil resolue to doe though with
that stead in the meane time accept our petition to bee forgiuen our fault Vrania who had before in their out-sides seene enough to be wondred at hearing their speech bred more admiration she answered them Your beauties mixt with so much mildnesse and sweetnesse might pleade for you if you had offended which I saw not but in hauing giuen too much respect to me the most miserable of women nor any rudenes see I but in that beast which you haue so manfully destroy'd if your habits shew wildnesse your speech takes away that error nor haue you committed any fault if not in sauing mee to liue to greater miseries The young men then blushing humbly thanking her were taking their leaues when she curteously desired them that since they had rescued her she might know the men that saued her and the aduenture brought them thither They answered Withall their hearts they would satisfie her demand but for that time desired to be excused since they were sent by their old weake father to get some food for him which when they had done they would returne to her She hearing this Alas said she shal you who haue kept me out of the throat of a rauening wolfe want what I may helpe you to Goe to your father I will accompanie you this Lambe shall feede him at this time sent of purpose without doubt to cherish so good and blest a man as is father to two such sonnes and then may I know your storie and his together They happy to see so fit a dish for his age on their knees would haue thanked her but she hindred them and so together they went towards the place where hee remain'd which was in a Caue vnder a great rock neere to the sea when they ariu'd at the place the elder of the two went in telling the old man of the faire shepherdesses coÌ„ming and her kindnes to him Wherfore he sent out a yong maid who was cloth'd in plaine but neat apparrell of such beautie as who had seene her alone would haue thought her incomparable but Vrania excelled her meeting of her knowing by the youth she was his sister most sweetly saluted her taking her by the hand went in where they found the old man so feeble as â—e had but his tongue left to serue himselfe or them withall and well did it then serue him for the good of the young men thus beginning to Vrania Admired Shepherdes and most worthy to bee so since the inward beauty of your mind so much excells the peereles excellency of your outward perfections as vertue excels beauty see here a poore signe of greatnes ouerwhelm'd with misfortune and be as you are all excelling a happy meanes to aidean els destroi'd hope of rising sit down here and grudge not me that honor for before the story be ended you wil see more reason to pity theÌ„ scorn and you my sons daughter come neere for now shal you know that which I haue til this present kept from you for feare I shuld not els haue held you in this poore but quiet liuing They being ready to sit heare the story a mans voice made theÌ„ stay Vrania intreated as in lesse danger if seene then the other to go forth she perceiu'd a gentlemaÌ„ of that delicacy for a maÌ„ as she was struck with woÌ„der his sweetnes fairnes such as the rarest painters must confes theÌ„selues vnable to couÌ„terfeit such perfections so exquisit proportion He had a mantle richly embroidered with pearle and gold the colour of that and his other apparrell being watchet suitably imbrodered his haire faire and shining so young he was as hee had but the signe of a beard Armes he had none saue a sword to defend himselfe or offend his enemies hee came softly and sadly on towards the rocke but his eyes to the seaward she beholding him said O sweet Iland how mai'st thou indeed boast thy self for being the harbour of all excellent persons He whose mind was distant from him held his eyes and thoughts as at first fixt beseeching the sea if shee had Amphilanthus in her power shee would be pitifull vnto him after hee had concluded these words he whose soule was absent from him lookt towards the Iland when his eyes were soone called to admire and admiringly behold the rare Shepherdesse who in the same kind of wonder lookt on him He rauished with the sight scarce able to thinke her an earthly creature stood gazing on her She who poore soule had with the sight of Perissus giuen leaue for loue to make a breach into her heart the more easily after to come in and conquer was in so great a passion as they seem'd like two Master-pieces fram'd to demonstrate the best and choisest skill of art at last as men haue the stronger and bolder spirits he went vnto her not remouing his eyes in the least from hers and with a braue but ciuill manner thus spake vnto her If you be as you seeme an incomparable Shepherdesse let me bee so much fauour'd of you as to be permitted to aske some questions but if you be a heauenly person as your rarenesse makes me imagine let me know that by the humble acknowledging my fault I may gaine pardon Alas Sir said Vrania so farre am I from a heauenly creature as I esteeme my selfe the most miserable on earth wherefore if any seruice I can doe may pleasure you I beseech you command me so may I receiue some happinesse which I shall obtaine in obeying you What I will demaund said he shall be such things as you may easily grant and by that make me your seruant I desire to know what this place is but most what you are for neuer can I beleeue you are as you seeme vnlesse for the greater wonder all excellencie should be masked vnder this Shepherdesse attire For the perfections in me as you call them said Vrania were they not made perfect by so excellent a Speaker would be of no more value then the estimation I make of my poore beautie touching your demaunds I will as well as I can satisfie you in them This Iland is called Pantalaria gouern'd by an ancient worthie Lord called Pantalerius who hauing receiu'd some discontent in his owne Countrie with his family and some others that lou'd and seru'd him came hither finding this place vnpossest and so nam'd it after his owne name hauing euer since in great quiet and pleasure remained here himselfe and all the rest taking the manner and life of shepheards vpon them so as now this place is of all these parts most famous for those kind of people For my selfe I can say nothing but that my name is Vrania an old man and his wife hauing bred me vp as their owne till within these few daies they told me that which now more afflicts me then the pouertie of my estate did before trouble me making me so ignorant of my selfe as I know no parents For they told me that I
skilfully mixed could but frame such an one and yet but such a one in shew like a Picture well drawne but the subiect more perfect apparelled in greene her haire hanging carelesse nothing holding it but a delicate Garland which she wore vpon her head made of Pansies and Wood-binds Her face bare boldly telling me not I onely but all hearts must burne in that purenesse Eyes like the perfect'st mixtures of heauenly powers not to be resisted but submitted to Lipps fully commanding the plenty of duty when they seem'd to demaund obedience Her neck the curiousest pillar of white Marble breast of Snow or smooth waues of Milke swelling or falling as the sweet gale of her most sweet breath did rise or slacke All other parts so exquisite as none saue onely she can be so excelling This I found in her who me thought came to mee vsing these words Arise leaue Bohemia and rescue me from the hands of Rebels I cride out stay O stay and tell me how and whereâ— In Hungaria said shee with that I wak'd hauing her Image so perfect in my breast as nothing can remooue it from me A pretty while I lay still wishing to sleepe againe so once more to haue beheld her but she was too rich a Iewell slightly to appeare to such worthlesse eyes Contented with that I had seene I lay feeding on that and my resolution which was to seeke her When day began to appeare what ioy was it to meâ— But for my greater comfort I found hard by me this Armour laid with this Shield and Sword I staid not but put it on thinking with myselfe how to attaine to the honour of Knight-hoode my Father hauing refused it to me because my elder Brother being weake and sickly had not demanded it resoluing I should attend his encrease of strength my Fathers whole content being in that Sonne Considering this I knew it no way to goe to him wherefore arm'd my Squire carrying my Sword I passed vnto the Emperours Court who without delay gaue me what I demanded honoring me with the gift of an excellent Horse and furnishing me with all conueniencies Then tooke I my way for Hungarie which Kingdome I had no sooner entred but I mett the newes of a great rebellion made by the vncle Kings Bastard sonne called Rodolindus against the Daughter and Heire of the second brother called Melasinda who was Crowned Queene after the decease of her Vncle and Father But hee enuying her greatnesse and ambitiously seeking the honour himselfe claym'd a contract betweene the King and his mother with all vowes and protestations of marriage Witnesses he produced true or false they made a terrible stirre and brought the fairest Malasinda into great danger Troopes I continually mett some with the Queene some against her with much difficultie I passâ—d till I came to an ancient Lords Castle within two leagues of the City of Buda whereshe was inclosed this nobleman held with his Soueraigne and after much discourse of those affaires he led me into a Gallery where he shewed mee the picture of that distressed Princesse truely I will not say so well drawn as that which remaines figur'd in my heart but so well as none but her Counterfeit could appeare so beautifull and such as I knew it to be the same which in that blessed night in the Forrest shewed her selfe to me This made me conclude the aduenture was reseru'd for me wherefore carefully examining all things that had passed and curiously and affectionatly weighing the businesse and meanes to atchieue the finishing not leauing any thing vnask'd that might auaile concluding to aduenture what ere came of it The good Lord aduised me perceiuing my purpose to bee ruled by him which I consented to when I found hee meant honestly for his Princesse good and circumspectly for my safety by no meanes suffering me to enter the Towne as my selfe by reason of a great hate had been betweene our Parents but as an aduentrous Knight who hearing of her troubles offerd my seruice to her She most faire most louely â—hee accepted me into her seruice where I performed what was put into my trust in two dayes killing two of the mightiest and strongest knights of all his party In the ende the Councell of both sides and the people weary of war aduised and agreed vpon a peace on those conditions that he should lay downe all claime to the Crowne yeelding it wholly to her but in requitall shee should take him for her Husband This was bitter to her but this she must doe or be left alone people-lesse and kingdome-lesse I was but one and vnable to set the Crowne and keepe it on her head against the whole state wherefore louing her so much as not daring to thinke of any harme to her in giuing ill aduise nor could my soule allow her lesse then the kingdome with the rest I perswaded for him till shee told me She was sorry she no better deseru'd my loue but that I would thinke another fitter for it or she vnworthy of mine I swore and truely the world had not that treasure I more couetously sought then her enioying she vrg'd the vnkindnesse betweene our Parents made me doubt I firmely vow'd her loue made me secure and happy but what I did or said in this was onely for her good and safety With much adoe and long perswasions I wonne her loue to mee her yeelding for the other so the match was concluded and peace on all sides I leading her the day of her marriage to her wedding Chamber where I left her to her husband the next morning shee came downe into a little Garden whereinto no window looked but that in her Cabinet nor key could open but her owne Into this place I was conuay'd by her woman a little before where meeting her we passed some houres together Thus was I the blest man inioying the world of riches in her loue and hee contented after hauing what he sought Thus I liued a while till I found him alter'd and the face of the Court a little chang'd towards mee for former causes they pretended forgetting me and what was done by mee for them which made me fearing her harme leaue the Country for a while which little time to me already seemes ages being yet but moneths and few in number though in loue innumerable She was sad and grieu'd for my going I playd the woman too and wept at our departing but soone I hope againe that we shall meete howsoeuer I will see her though in priuate and venter life for it After that I left Hungary I came through many Countries till I came into Italie and so hoping to meete you there but hearing of your being in Moreaâ— I went crosse the Sea into that Countrey and so had mist you but that I fortunately met your Squire who seeking Parselius enquired of me for him and I for you of him Wee resolu'd each other I telling him where I had left him which was in Elis
fairest Maide in this Kingdome the vnfortunateliest married and vnhappiest wife this Countrey had the most desolate and grieued Widdow for in all estates that euer shee was in if shee had a shew of good shee had substances of ill and mischiefe to succeed In her youth or indeed infancy shee loued a braue Knight who deseru'd all loue and respect but yet hee had a fault as most men haue I was his companion and knew as much of him for some time as any did yet that was a secret and I neuer intruth mistrusted it till I was gone into a retyr'd life and a change growne among vs all being diuided seuerall wayes and scattered like Hayle Shee callâ—d to the Court continued her begun loue hee fell in loue with her and so much as hee raged almost with passion till hee discouer'd it being for a while as hee vowed himselfe neere madnes but as passions are hot and in youth more flaming then afterwards mature iudgement will permit hee grew slacker shee grieu'd lost her content and yet thinking to please him as that being her onely end refrain'd fearing as seeing his dislike and scorne to her his presence hoping to content him with giuing liberty to his new choyce This whether offending or as hee tooke the matter making it seeme an offence shee lost his loue and not onely that but hee made it appeare that hee loath'd her Shee sweet Creature whose heart to him was but as the softest part of his to his new Mistris so grieuously tooke this curst hap as shee melted into griefe as Virgins waxe with the heate of fire will into water and yet thereby the coldnesse of that Element grow hard as frozen by coldnesse So was shee clos'd in cold despaire yet not hardened but with that not with hate or dislike suffering as patiently as a dead body permits handling by any rude standers by shee onely felt paine of loue and into that was metamorphosed All delights shee cast from her all exercises left couer'd her misfortune with the losse of her Husband when as if her loue had continued true shee had in the other losse beene happy but as it fell out a most vnhappy creature shee was and is An ancient Lord old in age and antiquity of honour made loue vnto her shee was not only perplex'd with him but with her friends and Parents hee being infinitely rich but shee finding that her heart as shee cal'd him and as that was subiect to him cal'd it selfe his would not consent shee refus'd and with great ioy that hee lou'd her so well as hee could not thinke of imparting her to any other though sure enough that hee could not hold her long Death being gaping for him After she denied men of all sorts for age and fortune who durst take the boldnesse to sue to her Lately a young Duke of this Countrey made profer of Loue to her but shee not willing to entertaine him would not beleeue hee meant it and so perswaded him out of it yet he lookes after her followes her when hee may meets her where hee can haue opportunity smiles on her seekes to please her in all he may and in some things doth for he neuer speakes to her but by lookes of Loue his company she allowes of out of noblenesse and out of true loue will not heare of his loue An ancient Lord also and a mighty rich man for estate but in yeares seekes her shee will not vnderstand it He sends to her inuites her to his dwellings Shee finds still excuses and neglects ciuilly Hee vowes to finde her out and court her She flyes and takes iourneys vnthought on to shun him and al this is for loue that so she flyes Loue willing to warme her hands at the fire of honour but dares not come neere the loue-fire for feare of scorching while shee burnes in her owne flames neuer any more belou'd woman breath'd nor euer will or can breath so true a louing woman What hath shee left vnexprest to manifest her affection in all kindes life shee hath ventur'd honour lost beauty and all happinesse dead while shee growes old in her truth of loue and hath but that for her owne satisfaction to content her selfe withall and that is riches vnspeakable when in her owne soule shee can say I am iust yet suffer for it as if a fault what is then a vertue when such perfections are errors One pretty tale shee now as you came told me her still beloued friend came into her company by Aduenture hauing with him a deare companion of his newly growne into that league of friendship and brought by him into the same with all his friends This Gentleman seeing her discreet grew into discourse with her she louing all that loued her lou'd euen his Mistris for his sake was well pleas'd with his conuersation and so neâ—re they grew as he spake freely to her and she coufidently to him so much she saw in him as she knew he knew most of her fortune she grudged not his knowledge for a nobler man breathes not as shee sayes except her owne friend and hee must before her haue no Competitor nam'd for worth or any goodnesse though shee suffer for his ill so excellent hee yet appeares to her But this braue Gentleman at last with frâ—edome began to perswade her to leaue her constancie which would but hurt her and continue no other wayâ—s true then truely to say shee had lou'd longer and iustlier then hee but seeing no returne nor hope no longer to bee a slaue when she might beâ— free nor to him who deseru'd so ill from her as if shee lou'd ill so well as to bee bound to it yet did hee neuer name his friend though by discourse said he knew him euer protesting to name none in such kindes Shee only answerd this that so much she lou'd and honour'd truth as shee desir'd shee might liue in that if a fault and grow old with such a vertue whose worthines would giue her youth and eternity in comfort and honor to the world her wrincles by truth would bee closed and shee seeme as faire as euer her palenesse and losse of complexion restor'd by the rarenesse of such a vertue and her Age as by Medeas charmes turn'd to infancy in the cleerenesse and ablenesse of such worth Hee lamented her misfortune shee smil'd to heare him so much mistake and told him 't was her perfection this is the error said he of women and yet not generally doe they erre in this kinde so as I may only say of a woman and of one of the best and therefore the more to be pittied The Florentine did naturally loue strange things and such as could hardly be compass'd wherefore hee had a great desire to see this Lady againe and to court her and so resolu'd to trye his fortune hauing as he thought as much boldnesse and winning power as any man To helpe him on the same talking Knight came againe the next day
the young Knight their first acquaintance should be the man The day come when as the Lists were made without the Towne the Iudges appointed old Seleucius Vncle to Antissius and the honest Captaine Lisandrinus were the Iudges for their side on the other were the Admirall and Marshall of Romania The Gates were all set open and free libertie giuen euerie one to passe where hee listed onely inioyn'd to goe vnarm'd The first that entred into the field was the King on each hand of him his two Companions in fight before him six men bare-headed one carrying his Helme three other his Speares the two last his Sword and Sheild his Armour was greene floured with Gold the furniture to his Horse of the same colour cut into Garlands of Laurell and embroidered with Gold but so artificially ioynd together as they seemd when the Horse stird to rise as ready to crowne each part of his conquest In his Shield he had a crowne of Bayes held vp by a Sword Word he had none so as it seemd he staid for that till his hoped for victorie had prouided one for him The other Knights were both alike in Watchet and Gold their deuices a blew Cloud out of which sparkled fire But then came the honour of his sexe neuer enough admired and belou'd Amphilanthus his Armour was white fillited with Rubies his furniture to his Horse Crimson embroydred with Pearle his Shield with the sameâ— deuice from which hee tooke his name Steriamus according to his fortune was in Tawny wrought all ouer with blacke As they were entring a braue Gentleman in a murry Armour fillited with Diamonds his furniture richly wrought with Siluer and Gold came to Amphilanthus vsing these words My Lord your worth cannot bee hid though you haue obscured your name they both but the former most ties mee to be your seruant and as the first fauour I shal receiue beg the honor of being third in this braue exploit not that I am so ignorant as to thinke my selfe worthy of being your Companion but wholly out of ambition to serue you Amphilanthus looking vpon him seeing the richnes of his Armes and the brauerie of his Personage being as comely and strongâ— set as euer hee had seene any made him this answer Sir the honor is mine to gaine so braue a Companion and friend wherein I reioyce and in place of your loue to me giue you mine which is and shall be firme vnto you and with all my heart embrace your offer to bee the third not now doubting of the victorie hauing so happy a beginning Then they imbraced and taking him on the left hand of him and Steriamus on the right they went on to the Iudges and all sixe meeting together speaking some few wordes one to another they parted to meete neuer more to part on some sides Amphilanthus encountred one of the Watchet Knights Steriamus the King and the Forrest Knight so being called because of his Deuice which was a great and pleasant Forrest most pleasantlie set forth as the cunning of the rarest Painter could deuise met the other watchet knight The first Knight lost his Stirrop else there was no aduantage on any side and thus they continued the three courses then lighting and drawing their swords there grew the cruellest and yet delightfullest Combate if in cruelty there can be delight that Martiall men euer performed or had beene seene by iudging eyes for neuer was courage magnanimity valour skill and nimblenesse ioyn'd better together so as indeed a Kingdome was too low a prize for such a Combate Long it continued till the Knight of Loue disdaining one man should hold out so long with him gaue him such a wound in the head as therewith he fell downe dead at his feete At the same instant the King gaue Steriamus a great hurt in the body but he was quickly paid with a wound in the belly which gaue him his discharge and freed him from any more trouble of ruling or obeying The Knight of the Forrest seeing his Companions good fortune knew it his part to accompany them so as with a surely giuen stroke the head of the other and last knight fell to kisse his feete Steriamus was carried presently into the Towne where by the helpe of a good Chyrurgion he was soone recouered The Iudges all in face glad howsoeuer some of their hearts were affected came to them who with the rest presently proclaymed Antissius King who was by the people receiued with much ioy at the Coronation which was within short time Antissius created the Generall Duke of Neapolis and Lysandrinus Duke of Selybria All things being in quiet the Knight of Loue would needes returne into â—orea to see things fitting for Steriamus and to accompany him in his Conquest With him went the Knight of the Forrest betweene whom grew so strict a bond of Friendship as was neuer to be broken they two lying together in one roome Steriamus in another by reason of his hurt Amphilanthus in the night often turn'd and turning still did end with sighes The Forrest Knight perceiu'd it yet let him alone till the morning when being ready to rise My onely friend said he Your last nights ill rest made mine vnpleasing to me and most because mine ignorance hinders me from being able to serue you I cannot be yet so bold to demand the cause since what proofe haue you of me that I should thinke you might esteeme mee worthy of such a fauour Yet this you may be confident of that death shall ceaze me before I refuse to venter life to obtaine your desires and lose it rather then reueale any secret you shall impart to me Amphilanthus answer'd that he saw vnexpected good happen to him in al things especially in this blessed frieÌ„dship but in that which he most sought for nor would I conceale the cause of this my paine from you were it once discouer'd to her from whom I suffer it but till then I must conceale it and you I hope on this occasion will excuse me and for proofe of your accepting this for that which it is being truth tell me your loue and fortune in it which shall binde me to confidence and ingage me to the relation of mine My Lord said he to satisfie you which is the all of my wishes vnderstand that my poore selfe onely rich in the honour of being your friend hunting one day in a great forrest my Father the king of Bohemia and many other Princes of Germanie being assembled It was my fortune following the sport more eagerly then the rest to goe so farre from my company as I was left in the woods all night there I tooke my lodging resting free from passion if not rage for wanting iudgement so to be lost In this night and middest of it for I wak'd with the dreame and found it was not day me thought I saw a Creature for shape a woman but for excellencie such as all the rarenesin that sexe curiously and
resolution so as taking me by the haire and dragging me into the Wood among the bushes whose cursenesse seconded their masters furie tearing my skinne and scratching my bare leggs to a tree he there tied me but not long â— continued there for he going a little from me returned with a Pastors coat which he tooke from a poore man that was in that Wood seeking a lost Beast with this he disguised me and also hauing taken the mans Horse tooke me behinde him putting a gag in my mouth for feare I should speake for helpe posting vnused waies through the desart to the Sea-side where he got a boate and so passed ouer to this place where euer since we haue remained for my part with daily whippings and such other tortures as pinching with irons and many more so terrible as for your sake seeing your griefe my deerest Lord I wil omit declaring only this I must speak of belonging to my story Once euery day hee brought mee to this pillar where you found me and in the like manner bound me then whipt me after washing the stripes and blisters with salt waterâ— but this had been the last had not you thus happily arriu'd for he determined as he said after my tormenting had been past in stead of washing me with the sea-water to cast me into her and so make a finall end of his tormenting and of my torments To this end he likewise went yesterday to the Towne and bought this armour arming himselfe to the intent that after his purpose was accomplisht he might take his iourney which way best he pleased Thus my Lords haue you heard the afflicted life of poore Limena in whom these tortures wrought no otherwise then to strengthen her loue and faith to withstand them for could any other thought haue entred into my hart that would haue been a greater affliction to my soule then the curst stroakes were to my body subiect only to his vnnaturalnesse but now by your royall hand redeemed from misery to enioy the only blessing my heart can or euer could aspire to wish and here haue you now your faithfull Loue Limena Perissus embraced her with that loue his best loue could expresse and then speaking to the Morean Prince he said The thanks most braue Prince for this happinesse belongs vnto you which is so much as my life shall euer bee ingaged to pay the due vnto you and my sword imployed to the best of my power to serue you vowing that when I and the same I professe for my deerest here proue vngratefull wee will no more see light nay let vs be as wretched as euer we were if that sinne know vs. Parselius with much affection requited their protestations making the like for himselfe in his loue to them so for that night they went to rest The next day taking their iourney to Naples to prouide such things as were necessary for them thence went they into Sicily hauing a braue ship which the Gouernor of that Towne knowing Parselius prouided for them going himselfe and many more braue Gentlemen to conduct them ouer whither being come they found the Country in great trouble the King being dead and an Vsurper in his stead but quickly were those stirres appeased by the presence ef Perissus well helped by the Company which came out of Naples with him but most and indeed chiefly compassed by the valour of Parselius who with his owne hands in a battell which was fought betweene the vsurper and an army that came to aide Perissus as soone as his arriuall was published kild the false king and his two sons being counted the valiantest men of all Sicily and in stature were little lesse then Giants This being finished Perissus was crowned King and soone after was the last promise performed in the marriage which was solemnely and with great state accomplished Then did Parselius take his leaue of the King and Queene returning to Naples and so to the Court of that King where with all ioy and welcome hee was receiued the triumphs and feastes making testimonie of it Yet was his sorrow such for Vrania as all those sports were rather troublesome then pleasing vnto him Some few daies after the triumphes began the Squire of Amphilanthus found him there to whom he deliuer'd his Message with much ioy did the old King receiue the Squire bringing him such ioyfull newes of his Sonnes being well though much more welcome had he beene if he could haue told any thing of his returne thither Parselius demanded of the Squire how hee found him out Why Sir said hee My Master going away from Morea with Antissius and that company sent mee by Sea to seeke you in this Countrey by chance our Shipp sprung a leake so as we were forced to put in againe to mend her after we had beene a day at Sea before she was throughly mended came a braue Gentleman called Ollorandus younger Sonne to the King of Bohemia who seeking my Lord to whom he hath vow'd his Loue and seruice knowing mee to bee his seruant enquired of me for him I told him where at that time he might find him Hauing done this I tooke the boldnesse to aske him if hee heard any newes of you and withall the cause why I asked he answered me that hauing past Italie in search of Amphilanthus and hearing he was cast vpon Morea by Shipwrack hee followed after him till hee came to the Court which at that time was in Arcadia there hee heard that he had beene there but was againe gone into Italy to seeke you and that hee would with you soone returne againe into that Countrey to goe into Albania wherfore he desiring to see something in those parts passed vp and downe sometime to Morea where in Elis he met with you hauing as hee merrily tolde me passed a pretty aduenture with a Lady and her Knights From thence hee came to that part of the Kingdome where I was put in by that chaunce meaning there to ship once more for Italy but I telling him of my masters iourney to Romania he with all speed followed him there to deserue his friendship by his seruice and thus came I to be so fortunate to meet you Then did Parselius acquaint the King with his entent which was to follow Amphilanthus so taking his leaue he went with as much fortunate speede as might be to oâ—ertake his friend promising the old King to hasten his Sonnes comming withall letting him know the hope he had of Vrania's being his Daughter which hope was as comfortable to him almost as if hee had already enioyd her Parselius in his iourney trauelled with great paine of mind the like sufferd Pamphilia who all this while continued her Loue and life in Morea who by loues force was it seemed transform'd into the same passion her loue-sicke Companion still accompanying her till one morning her deare though vnquiet affections calling her to attend them made her see day sooner then otherwise she had by many houres
though abus'd by her and sham'd in her Leandrus went to him and kindly offerd his seruice if he needed it Hee casting vp his weeping eyes in teares thankt him but said One man was enough to suffer in so slight a cause and so vndeseruing a creature He desired to know the matter He answerd he had lou'd a Lady she had done the like to him or made him thinke so but hauing what shee would she had changed and not only so but giuen her selfe to his enemy being first betrothed vnto him and in that time he was prouiding for the marriage married the other and this is the cause of my torment hither I am come to reuenge my selfe of him and in him of her if shee loue him still They are in a strong Castle of his where they merrily liue while I am miserably vexed with tortures and dishonour the worst of torments What was the originall cause of his malice Truly Sir this cruelty hee vseth but to mee as belonging to my destiny Neglected I haue been of my friends for bearing this disgrace from mine enemy and the hater of all my Countrie the reason of his hatred to vs proceeding from this The King of Morea in his youth was a braue man at Armes and followed and finished many aduentures by chance at a great Iust held in Achaia for ioy of the birth of the Kings son cald Leandrus as after I heard he was and proou'd a Prince worthily deseruing the ioy then shewed for receiuing of him This Lords father was likewise there and encountring the King was by him throwne to the ground which disgrace hee took so heauily as he would haue reuenged it with his sword but that being forbidden the end of those triumphes reaching no further then sport discontented and burning in rage hee went thence watching when the King returnd in his iourney in this very place he set vpon him troopes of his comming all these seuerall waies and at once charging him who onely for his pleasure had sent his greatest company before him following with two Knights and their Squires but in this conflict the King got so much of the victorie as hee slew his Enemie with his owne hands but could not keepe himselfe from being taken prisoner and carried almost to the Castle whither if hee had gone without doubt hee had thence neuer returnd But the Squires seeing his distresse and the death of the other two their Masters ran euerie one a seuerall way till they got a good number of the traine together who with all speed and fury pursued them ouertaking them hard by the Castle and taking their Lord from them most being kill'd some few got into the hold where relating their vnlucky aduenture the wife of the slaine Lord and Mother to this Lord hauing as great a spirit as any woman breathing made a vow to bee reuenged of all the Court of Morea of the King and his posterity especially And this she hath hitherto performed with great cruelty her sonne hauing beene nursed in this hatred doth likewise continue it with more violence as his spirit is so much greater as commonly a mans is in respect of a womans and this is the cause why hee hateth all the Moreans of which countrey I am borne in Corinth my heart truely scorning him for his other iniury done mee am inuited hither for these two reasons to bee reuenged on him Leandrus thank'd him for his discourse but told him hee had by it made him long to try if hee could bee made a Prisoner also for so iust a cause or deliuer those so vniustly inclosed and the rather said hee to serue one so much iniuried as your selfe whose quarrell lay on mee and doe you defend the honor of your King and Country shee not being worth fighting for Hee answered that was true yet his honor hee esteemd worth cleering and that calld vpon him While they were thus discoursing the Lord and the false Lady came louingly hand in hand together downe one of the paths shee smiling in his eyes and want only courting him seeking to giue him occasion of mirth but hee went on like a man to whom ill was succeeding hee had some seruants with him arm'd and his owne armour was likewise carried by him if hee should haue any occasion suddenly to vse it hee was of a cleere and pleasing complexion a person amiable and louâ—ly curld hayre fayre eyes and so iudiciall a countenance as might haue made the worthiest woman like him and so well hee deseru'd as it was pitty hee fell into her hands who vndid both his minde and bodie making him as wicked as her selfe which was the worst of her sex He looked vpon her with loue but his speech was sparing either that naturally he had not store of words or his inward heauinesse at that time made him silent When he came neere the fountaine Clarimatto approched to him My Lord said he I am sure you know the cause of my comming into these parts if not examine your heart and that will tell you the iniuries you haue donâ— me or if that be so impure or partiall as it will not for offending bee true to so false a master behold this creature by you your shame and mine and in her forehead the faire field of our disgrace you shall see it written in spots of infamy and wrong The Lord knew his face and with it the offence therefore answered him thus Sir said he if on these conditions I acknowledge the vnderstanding of your rage I should make my selfe guilty of what I am free from to my knowledge I neuer wronged any if vnwillingly I made amends and am ready so to doe Can you giue mee my honour againe throwne to the ground by you and your inâ—atiable Loue cride he You wrong vs both said he and this shall be the Ground of my reuenge and answer to you with that he arm'd himselfe shee crying to him not to aduenture his deare selfe against that stranger whom she knew full well shee kneeled to him held him by the leggs kissed them gazed on him in termes call'd him dearest All would not serue he encountred his enemy and truly was he iustly made so by his owne ill deseruing They fought like two one hauing got and earnest to keepe a Mistris the other hauing lost and reuengfull to gaine his honour and kill his Riuall and Vndoer in his Loue at last the true cause got the vpper hand and the Lord came to the lower side of Victory which the seruants perceiuing rushed all vpon Clarimatto Leandrus finding the wrong they offer'd and the other was like to suffer stepp'd in to his rescue A fight was among these performed fit and onely the prize of Loue fit to be the end of it Clarimatto nimble valiant and hauing Iustice on his side fought accordingly and so as the Lord hauing lost much bloud out of two wounds giuen him by his foe nor had he escaped free but was hurt in
strongly hath continued the honour in keeping the conquest as I am and euer must bee your deuoted Seruant my loue being wholly dedicated to you and this I would faine long since haue said but I feared your displeasure nor had I now ventured but that me thought you bid me bee bold taking your discourse wholly to my selfe Then did you take it right said shee for I confesse with that shee blush'd so prettily and look'd so modestly amorous as shee neede haue said no more to make him know she lou'd him Yet he couetous to haue the word spoken taking her in his armes be not so cruell my onely life said he to barre me from the hearing of my blisse Why then said shee I must confesse I loue you Blessednâ—sse to my soule cryd he these words are now my dearer selfe canst thou affect poore me I honor your worth and loue your selfe said shee but let your loue be manifested to me in your vertuous carriage towards me Vertue said hee made choice for me then can she not abuse her selfe and vertue in you made me most to loue you then assure your selfe that onely vertue shall gouerne me Thus they louingly and chastly liu'd a while only pleas'd with discourse but that grew to leaue place to more enioying it selfe being loath that any time should be spent without it enuying the night that kept them so long absent to auoid which he so earnestly sued and she so much lou'd as she could not refuse what hee desired for their equall contents so as making two of her maides and his Squire onely acquainted one morning they stole out of the Castle by a back doore which opened iust vpon the Mote and hauing a bote there wherein they vsed to row for pleasure they crâ—st the water and so walked vnto an Hermitage hard by where after they had heard Prayeâ—s the Hermit plaid the Priest and married them With infinite ioy they returnd to come to the height of their desires where wee will â—eaue them a little and speake of Berlandis Squire to Amphilanthus who longing to see his Lord and seeing little hope of getting Parselius thence resoluâ—d to try how he might get him from that lazie life and win him againe to follow Armes but alas this was as impossible as it was for Vrania to belieue that Parselius would forsake her Many times he vrg'd him many times he told him of aduentures which himselfe and his Cosen had past to theiâ— eternall fames oft hee remembred him of the promises hee had made and vowes which ought to bee performed but these wrought nothing vowes he remembred not but this last holy one which was most religiously to bee obserued promises hee had made but those might stay till some other time or till he had longer solaced himselfe in these new delights To conclude Berlandis concluded to leaue him and so telling and taking his leaue of him departed with this message to Amphilanthus that he would in short time come vnto him in the meane time intreated to bee pardoned since in his time hee had a little absented himselfe from him vpon a like though not so iust an occasion Then hee charged Berlandis not to let any know where hee had left him except his owne Lord and to intreate likewise his secrecie to all others to denie his finding of him Thus Parselius obscured himselfe for some time while the fame of his Brother brauely fild the world and had shind alone like the greatest light had not one eclips'd it with his greater power which was and is Incomparable Amphilanthus who with his two companions left Romania intending to goe to Morea as I before said hasting thither as in pretence of the Albanian businesse After they had taken ship they came downe the Archipelago and amongst those Islands staying at Sio for fresh water and to take in some passengers left by that ship there at her going to Constantinople into the which Iland the Knight of the Forrest would needes perswade the rest to enter seeing it delightfull and louing naturally to see nouelties and venture as farre and oft-times as happilie as any this motion was agreeable to Steriamus whose heart yet faild him for all Amphilanthus did warrant him to goe where his soule was Prisoner for feare of offending her though so much hee loued as if hee had been sure to see her and with that sight to die instantly rather then liue and not see her he would so haue suffered death But Amphilanthus was loath to loose time yet hee was contented to content his Friend so as they passed vp a good way into the Iland themselues alone without any other not so much as their Squires with them long they had not gone before they met three fine young Maides apparreld after the Greeke manner carrying each of them a basket wherein were seuerall delicate fruites the knight of the Forrest went to them desiring to bee resolu'd of the manner of that place and whether they could let them vnderstand any aduenture The maides with much sweetnes and modest fashion replied They were but of meane Parentage and not accustomed to such businesses but said they this last night a braue Gentleman lay at our Fathers house much complaining of the losse of a young Prince called Dolorindus Prince of Negropont who landed here and since was neuer heard of much hee seemd to doubt his danger and especially to feare Treason the Lord of this Iland being indeed the most cruell and treacherous man breathing old and yet so ill as his white haires haue gaind that colour from black since he practised villany for these fortie yeares plotting nothing but the destruction of braue Knights and delicate Ladies of which hee hath store in his Castle where in darke and vgly prisons he continues them onely letting them haue light when he sends for them and sports himselfe in their torments and this proceedes from no other cause but out of a generall hate to all where vertue liues and beautie dwells His wife of as sweet a condition who is worne away to bare bones with meere hatefull fretting to heare that any should liue inricht with goodnesse From this paire are brought a forth couple of as hopefull branches as can proceede from so good stocks their parents ill which they haue bin many yeares practised in to come to perfection being fully flowing in them so as they in this kind excell hauing so many yeares fewer and yet as much sinne in them falshood and all treason abounding with ill nature in them one of them being a Daughter and the elder called Ramiletta the most cunning dissembling flattering false Creature that euer sweete ayre suffered to breath in without corrupting it with her poysonous treasons the other a Sonne vilde craftie and beyond measure luxurious These three are now gone a iourney whither I cannot tell you but surely to some villanous purpose brauely they are attended on and richlie set forth the old woman onely left
from him but soone was that well reuenged if her life were answerable for such a mischance yet did they keepe her aliue till the Castle was setled one drop of his bloud being more worth then millions of liues of better people Then she was terribly tortured and yet kept long in paine for her more lasting punishment and lastly burn'd By this were most dead or yeelded all being safe Amphilanthus was carried into a rich chamber where his wound was searched and drest by the three Sisters who were now come into the Castle brought in by Steriamus of purpose to dresse the Prince Ollorandus being so perplext that it was his vnlucky fate to haue the weapon that hurt his friend as he was truly sorrow it selfe euen being ready with it to haue parted his owne life from him had not Amphilanthus coniured him by all loues and friendships and protestations to forbeare Quickly did the Sisters assure them of his safety which as a blessing came vnto them After he was dress'd he sent his friend to fetch the Prisoners all before him which was done where were of Knights and Ladies such store as if in health and strength there had beene a fit number for the furnishing a braue Court but as they were it was a sight of commiseration so pale and weake they were with want of foode and their bodies so abused with tortures as they appeard like people of purpose made to shew miserie in extremitie Among them was Dolorindus whose owne minde and this vsage had brought him into a fit estate to answer his name Amphilanthus knowing him first tooke care of him calling for his owne apparell which was brought and causing delicaâ—e foode to bee brought him cheerished him so as by that time that he was able to trauell for his wound Dolorindus was likewise fit to accompany him which in few daies came to passe by the diligence and care of the three Sisters who were next in true succession by the Mothers side to the ancient Lords of Siâ— their Father came vnto them with the Squires to the Princes and those of the Ship Then prepared they for their departure Amphilanthus bestowing the Castle and the Island vpon the Sisters his kinde Chyrurgions promising to send his faithfull and best esteemed seruant Berlandis to marry the eldest as soone as he could finde him and on the other two Steriamus and Ollorandus bestowed their Squires giuing them the Order of Knighthood who well deseru'd it prouing worthy of such Masters making the world see that such example as dayly their Master shewd them must needs make braue men leauing that place in quiet hauing taken the oathes of all the Inhabitants in Berlandis name and his wiues Then tooke they Ship againe for Morea but passing along the AEgaean Sea they entred many Islands seeking and finding aduentures but in one being though little yet plentifull as a greater delicately compassed with Snow white Rocks yet mixt with small fine trees whose greenenesse gaue them hope to see but pleasure gaue them heart to goe into it when they found it within such a place as a Louer would haue chosen to haue passed his time in and this did vrge the foure Knights all amorous and yet in seuerall kindes to expresse their passions seuerall waies Amphilanthus left the other three taking the direct way to the heart of the Land as euer ayming at that place hauing the best and most power continually ouer that part Steriamus tooke on the right hand Ollorandus to the left but Dolorindus who neuer knew difference of fortune still hauing liued in a constant state of her displeasure went away betweene them all his thoughts as euer in action better being able to vtter forth his passions being alone which in this kinde he did when he came into a dainty fine wood of straight high Oakes and young Beeches mingled with a fewe Ashes and Chestnut trees in the midâ—st of the Wood was a Mount cast vp by nature and more delicate then Art could haue framâ—d it though the cunningest had vndertaken it in the mid'st of it was a round Table of stone and round about it Seats made of the same Stone which was blacke Marble some Letters or rather characters he found ingrauen in the vpper part of those seates and on many of the Trees which curiously incompassed it many Ciphers althougth but one for meaning though in number many Louers had done these as he thought louers made him remember he was one and that oft he had caru'd his Mistrisses name vpon Bay trees to shew her conquest which shee had requited cutting his name in Willowes to demonstrate his fate This afflicted him and moued so much in him as hee could not but frame some verses in his imagination which after were giuen to Amphilanthus and his other companions the lines were these place and fortune procuring them SWeete solitarines ioy to those hearts That feele the pleasure of Loues sporting darts Grudge me not though a vassall to his might And a poore subiect to curst changings spite To rest in you or rather restlesse moue In your contents to sorrow for my loue A Loue which liuing liues as dead to me As holy reliques which in boxes be Plac'd in a chest that ouerthrowes my ioy Shut vp in change which more then plagues destroy These O you solitarinesse may both endure And be a Chirurgion to find me a cure For this curst corsiue eating my best rest Memorie sad memorie in you once blest But now most miserable with the weight Of that which onely shewes Loues strange deceit You are that cruell wound that inly weares My soule my body wasting into teares You keepe mine eies vnclos'd my heart vntide From letting thought of my best dayes to slide Froward Remembrance what delight haue you Ouer my miseries to take a view Why doe you tell me in this same-like place Of Earths best blessing I haue seene the face But maskd from me I onely see the shade Of that which once my brightest Sun-shine made You tell me that I then was blest in Loue When equall passions did together moue O why is this alone to bring distresse Without a salue but torments in excesse A cruell Steward you are to inrole My once-good dayes of purpose to controle With eyes of sorrow yet leaue me vndone By too much confidence my thrid so sponne â—n conscience moue not such a spleene of scorne Vnder whose swellings my despaires are borne Are you offended choicest Memorie That of your perfect gift I did glorie If I did so offend yet pardon me Since 't was to set â—orth your true exclencie Sufficiently I thus doe punish'd stand While all that curst is you bring to my hand Or is it that I no way worthy was In so rich treasure my few dayes to passe Alas if so and such a treasure giuen Must I for this to Hell-like paine bee driuen Fully torment me now and what is best Together take and mem'ry with the
was as wrinkled as the rocke his complexion Sand-colour without so much red as to make a difference 'twixt his lips and face his haire had beene blacke but now was growne grisled yet still kept the naturall stubbornnesse of it being but thin and those few haires desirous to be seene stood staring neither were they of any equall length but like a horses maine new taken from grasse which by the wantonnesse of some of his companions had beene bit and natch'd in diuers places Beard he had none to distinguish his sexe his habits being forc'd to speake for him to that purpose onely a wart he had on his right cheeke which liberally bestowed some haire according to the substance for the sight of such as saw him He was not onely a Dwarfe but the least of those creatures and in some sort the ill-fauoured'st this youth seeing Amphilanthus straight cryd alas wee are betray'd for heere is an armed man that will assuredly destroy vs. The Prince promised on his word he nor any there should haue the lest harme if he would let him but come in vnto him the olde Dwarfe scarse knew how to trust hauing before beene in his trust deceiu'd wherefore he desired first to know who he was that gaue his word The King answered I am called and knowne by the name of the Knight of Loue but mine owne name said he is Amphilanthus Praysed be heauen said he that you are landed here for alas my Lord I am your Subiect miserably perplexed by a cruell and tyranicall man Lord of the Island of Strombolli and who hath vndone me and my children then leap'd he from the window and opened the dore which was made fast with many bolts of yron the doore open the King went in though with some difficulty at the entring by reason the place was low fitter for such a man as the Host then the Romanian King In the roome he found a woman in height and louelinesse answerable to the man and three younger men then himselfe but all of his proportion who seem'd to be his Sonnes Then did Amphilanthus desire to know the cause of his complayning against the Lord of Strombolli which the old Dwarfe began to relate in this manner May it please you great Prince to vnderstand I am called Nainio borne in Strombolli to pretty possessions the which I enioyed some yeares after my Fathers decease but the Lord of the Iland or better to say the Gouernor passing that way and seeing my liuing pleasant and delightfull groues of Orange and Lemmon Trees all other fruites plentifâ—lly yeelding themselues for our vses grew in loue with the place and in hate with me first hee peremptorily commanded mee to bring my wife and these tall men my sonnes to attend him his wife and children I that was borne free would not bee made a slaue wherefore I must confesse vnaduisedly I gaue too rough an answere that bred dislike and gaue iust occasion against mee Then sent hee for mee made mee a scorne in the eyes of all men and when hee had gloried enough in my miserie scoffing at my shape and stature saying I would make a fit Commander against the Infidels hee put mee and my family into a little boate and when shipping went for Greece sent mee along with them but such kindnesse I found among them as they indeede carried mee but brought mee backe againe this was discouered whereupon I was to die but my pardon was got by the Lady wife to the Lord a vertuous and sweet Lady on condition if euer I were found in Strâ—mbolli or any part of Italy I should die for it Then went I away and with the first mentioned Saylers got into this sea and so vnto this Iland where I haue remaind but in continuall feare for considering the danger I was in for my life it so with the memorie frights mee as I had rather haue steru'd here then gone hence for feare of harme euerie one that I heare or see in this place being as a Sprite vnto mee and so did you appeare till you told me who you were so much doe I yet stand in awe of the cruell Iland Lord. The King smil'd to heare his discourse but most to see his action which was so timerous and affrighted as neuer any man beheld the like and as did so did his Sons like Munkeys who imitating one another answer in gestures as aptly and redily as one Ecco to another and as like and so the sport was doubled Great delight did hee take in these little men wherefore gently and mildly hee gaind so much of them as they would with him leaue that place conditionally that hee would not carry them into Italy where they more feared their first enemie then trusted to the power of the King such a Lord is coward feare ouer base minds as vnderstanding gaines small place in their hearts as by this appeared else might they haue been assured in his company in Strombolli it selfe But consents agreeing on both sides they went out of the rocke to meete the other Princes the Dwarfes quaking at euery leafe that shook and fainted when they heard the Armour a little clash in his going but directly they lost life for a while when they met the other Knights not being able to belieue they were their Lords friends But after they grew more valiant like a coward who against his mind being brought into the middle of a battaile can neither runne nor his cries bee heard and therefore of force must abide that hell torment So were these brought to it by sight of fights when death could only haue relieued them from feare Amphilanthus following on came to a great Caue into which hee went putting the Dwarfes before him a great way they passed into it till hee came to a Riuer which either was blacke or the darkenesse of that shadowed place made appeare so the vault was of height sufficient for him without trouble to walke in and of breadth for three to goe a front paued and couered round with free stone when he came to the Riuer he desired to passe it but at first saw no meanes at last he discouerd or feare in his Dwarfes discouerd for him they being able to discerne hauing been long in the darke which though at first it blindes like Loue yet it giues at last fight to get out of it so they found a board which was fastned with chaines to the top of the Vault and two pines of yron that held the chaines being stuck into the wall those being pulled out the chaines let the Planke fall gently downe iust crosse ouer the water which was not aboue six yards ouer but being on it they might see a great way vp and downe the streame Then passed they on to a doore which they opened a pretie way along the same vault from the brook and the end of it thorow which they entred into a dainty Garden and so into a faire Pallace of Alabaster incompassed
with Hilles or rather Mountaines of such height as no way was possible to bee found to come at it but thorow the same vault the King came Diuers Gardens and Orchards did surround this pallace in euery one was a fountaine and euery fountaine rich in art and plentifully furnished with the vertue of liberalitie freely bestowing water in abundance These places hee past staying in a large stone Gallerie set vpon pillers of the same stone there hee sat downe complaining still of his Mistrisse whose heart was stored with paine and loue equally oppressing her O cride he my dearest loue the sweetest cruell that euer Nature fram'd how haue I miserable man offended thee that not so much as a looke or shew of pity will proceede from thee to comfort mee are all thy fauours lockt vp and onely sad countenances allotted mee Alas consider women were made to loue and not to kill yet you will destroy with cruell force while I changed to a tender creature sit weeping and mourning for thy crueltie which yet I can hardly terme so since thou knowest not my paine Further hee would haue proceeded when a doore opened into that roome and out of it came a graue Ladie apparreld in a black habit and many more young women attending her shee straight went to him saluting him thus Braue King welcome to this place being the abiding of your friend and seruant Hee looking vpon her perceiued wisdome modestie and goodnesse figured in her face wherefore with a kind acceptance hee receiued this salutation desiring to bee informed of the place but most to know how he came knowne to her Sir said shee my name is Mellissea and hauing skill in the Art of Astrologie I haue found much concerning you and as much desire to doe you seruice Can you find good Madam said hee whether I shall bee happie in my loue or not In loue my Lord said shee you shall bee most happy for all shall loue you that you wish but yet you must bee crost in this you now affect though contrarie to her heart But shall I not enioy her then miserable fortune take all loues from me so I may haue hers Shee loues you said Mellissea and it will prooue your fault if you lose her which I thinke you will and must to preuent which if possible beware of a treacherous seruant For this place it is that anciently reuerenced and honoured Iland of Delos famous for the birth of those two great lights Apollo and Diana the ruines of Apollo's and Latona's Temples remaining to this day on the other side of that mountaine called Cynthus once rich and populous now poore and peoplelesse none or very few inhabiting here besides this my family the sharpe and cruell rockes which girdle this Iland guarding it selfe and vs from dangerous robbings But must I loose my Loue said Amphilanthus Accursed fate that so should happen I yet doe hope if I may be assured shee loues mee this will neuer bee Well my Lord said shee to let you see that hope is too poore a thing in comparison of truth to trust to I wil giue you these tokens to make you truly see my words are true you haue lately had a wound by a woman but this a greater and more dangerous you must suffer which will indanger your life farre more then that last did yet shall the cause proceede from your owne rashnesse which you shall repent when 't is too late and when time is past know the meanes might haue preuented it but to doe what I may for your good I aduise you to this alter your determination for your iourney to Morea and in stead of it goe straight to Ciprus where you must finish an Inchantment and at your returne come hither and with you bring that company that you release there then shall I bee more able to aduise you for this doth yet darken some part of my knowledge of you Hee remaind much perplext with those words yet as well as such affliction would permit him hee made shew of patience Then did Mellissea send one of her Maides to bring his companions to him hoping their sights and the discourse of their fortunes would a little remoue his melancholie from him in the meane time hee with crossed armes walkt vp and downe the Gallerie musing in himselfe how hee should so farre and deadlily fall out with himselfe as to be the cause of his owne miserie not being able though hee had the best vnderstanding to reach into this misterie Sometimes the Lady discoursed to him and he for ciuilitie did answere her yet oft-times she was content to attend his owne leisure for his replie so much power had his passions ouer him Thus hee remaind molested while Steriamus following his right hand way was brought into a fine plaine and thence to the foote of a mountaine where hee found rich pillers of Marble and many more signes of some magnificent building which sight wrought pitie in him remembring how glorious they seem'd to haue been now throwne downe to ruine And so said hee was my fortune faire and braue in shew but now cast low to despaire and losse O Pamphilia Goddesse of my soule accept mee yet at last if not for thy seruant yet for thy Priest and on the Altar of thy scorne will I daily offer vp the sacrifice of true and spotlesse loue my heart shall bee the offering my teares the water my miserable body the Temple and thy hate and cruellest disdaine the enemy that layes it waste Once yet consider greatest beautie mightiest riches sumptuousest buildings all haue some end brightest glory cannot euer dure and as of goodnesse must not ill haue so grant this and then thy rage must needs conclude Yet thus did not his paine find conclusion but a little further hee went among those ruines where hee laid himselfe not downe but threw himselfe among those poore and destroyed reliques of the rarest Temples where hard by hee heard Ollorandus likewise complaining My Melasinda said hee how iustly maist thou blame thy Ollorandus who still trauels further from thee who stroue to bring thy loue still neerest to him Canst thou imagine thy immaculate affection well bestowed when so great neglect requiteth it Wilt thou or maist thou thinke the treasure of thy loue and richest gift of it well bestowed when absence is the paiment to it If against mee and these thou do'st but iustly except yet what doth hold thee from killing that slaue and setting thy deare soule at libertie No thy vertues will not like a murderer it must bee as it is Destiny must onely worke and despairing sorrow tyre it selfe in me Steriamus wanting pitie knew the misse and therefore would bee as charitable as hee could to shew which goodnesse he rose and went to Ollorandus to put him from his mourning who was then againe entring into his waylings telling him they were too long from Amphilanthus As hee start vp behold Dolorindus who came sadly towards them
as many dayes iourneyes as wee could still to win of time at last wee there arriued where want was none if fault onely I found the continuall company of her good man that which I disliked yet wee conuersed freely as well wee might before him hee being as free as noble courtesie could desire expression in but we were not fully contented with this wherefore wee would venture for more which cost all for hee lying from his Wife that night by reason of care to her lest continuall businesse might disquiet her I hauing notice of it when all were in their beds and sweete silence spread with sleepe ouer all the house I rose out of my lodging and softly went vnto her Chamber where I found her sleeping at my comming to the bed side shee awaked but how did shee blame mee and yet truly I belieue it was the hazard I had put my selfe in shee more accused and chid then my selfe for shee did not too cruelly reiect mee though earnestly she intreated nay coniurd my sudden retyring which I after some howers yeelded vnto taking my leaue of her with as sad and dying affection as if I had foreseene the ensuing harme which thus happened I had at my rising lighted a Candle which careleslie my mind onlie on my aduenture I left burning on the Cubbord in my Chamber this light by miserable mischance wasting it selfe to my ruine burned so into it selfe as not being able to sustaine or in mallice falling downe to throw mee to the bottome of all destruction tooke hold of the Carpet so setting that on fire the blaze aspiring to my ende fired the hangings they hating the iniurie the guest they honoured had done to their owne Lord in angrie flames made testimony of their loyaltie to their Master giuing him knowledge by their light to see my fault and to bee as torches for the conducting him vnto my misery The fire great the smoke greater and which more hastily flew about to call witnesses of their innocencies raised the seruants they their Master he carefull of me sent to my chamber to call me to safetie but more respecting his wife as dearest to him went himselfe to saue her when at the doore how vnwelcome a meeting had he encountring in mee the robber of his honor Hee stood still and in truth I must euer say hee beheld mee rather with â—orrow then fury nor would he suffer any to be witnesse of his ill but seeing me vnarm'd and onely in my Cloake he intreated me to passe into the next roome which I did and seeming cheerefull enough to all els tooke care of his House to preserue it if possible Then brought he vnto me a suit of Cloathes and hauing caused me to make my selfe ready together we went forth vnnoted by any as well wee might considering the businesse they had to saue the place from destruction When wee came into a faire Field he with teares thus â—aid Till now had I neuer the misfortune to be acquainted with the worst of offences which is breach of the true law of Friendship but since I am falne into the wretchedest experience of it I must like the most miserable seeke a way out of it You cannot deny but you haue deseru'd death and in the worst kind yet though I may haue it yet will I leaue the fault where it is and in the brauest manner wipe away the staine which cannot be washed but with your bloud or cleansed by my ende Take then this Sword throwing one to mee and said he defend your selfe I besought him not to put me to such a triall I had deseru'd no fauour nor wishd I any to my selfe onely that hee would honor me with giuing me my death and spare his wife who was for all my shamefull attempt vertuous and vntouch'd He onely shooke his head and fetching a deepe groane bid me leaue speach and goe to the conclusion which must bee death Wee fought for my part with so much foule guiltinesse as me thought strength cunning all good and vnderstanding had abandon'd me hee furious reuengefull and as I preceiu'd greedy of ende pursued me who onely held my Sword not to offend but to defend me till some who I descern'd not farre off could come to part vs but he likewise seeing them ran â—o fiercely at me as I must either lay my selfe open to take death or holding but my Sword out giue him his end which I most vnwillingly did forc'd to it by the frailty of the Flesh which in the apparent dangers is alwaies kindest to it selfe Those I saw came and iust to take vp his body and who alas followed them but the poore Lady extremity of shame bringing her to shew her shame She seeing him slaine cry'd out O spare not me who am the wofull cause of all this misery let me at last be thus farre blessd as by your hand to be sent againe vnto him from whom your sinne and mine haue parted me neuer let so detestable an offence rest vnpunished Shame calls vpon you and calls to me for satisfaction The seruants amazedly beheld vs till she neuer ceasing accusing her selfe nor vrging death seeing she could not get it kneeled downe and taking a cold kisse from his lips that were to her doubly dead in affection and pale death suddenly rose vp and in rising taking his sword with furious and hatefull spite to her selfe and wrong done him threw her selfe vpon it falling downe vpon him ioyning in that manner her broken vow againe in a new one with their ends Then did the seruants finde the cause whereupon they set on me for I would not yeeld to goe with them choosing and deâ—iring rather to dye with them then outliue them in such shame but too happy and contrary to my wish was my destinie for I slew them Being then left with the two dead bodies I fell into such complaints as sorrow and shame could procure in me crying out where affliction hath iudg'd it self in being excell'd as in my misery why should it not haue end in death then gaue I my selfe many wounds neuer ceasing wounding while my wounded soule abided in my body at least the soule of humane sense for so it onely prou'd for others following their Master and Mistris found vs all in the entertainment of wounds palenesse mixt with bloud in the outside in stead of the more naturall habitations the veines hauing made open flouds to drowne themselues in as a riuer may swell against it selfe to loose her owne name and yeeld it to a greater by her owne Pride Their bodies they carried away mine remain'd like a tatter'd Ensigne rather a glory of gaine then losse and so poore a thing was I but a charible man more louing goodnesse then me and yet louing me for goodnesse sake to make me haue a better ending then in bloud tooke my martyr'd body away with bathings and many more fine curiosities he brought mee to know I liu'd to be more knowing my dayly
dying In a little Cell hee recouer'd me but to no more health then to be able to goe thence for longer I would not stay then I had ability to goe away I discouer'd nothing of my selfe to him but by him all that had passed after I left sense till his recouering me the generall report was I was burn'd some fewe said murdred all agreed I was lost and in that was true agreement for so I was and am Then left I Apulia and in Hermits Cloathes roam'd vp and downe till I lighted on this place neuer finding any that could content mee but this What since became of my poore Daughter her misfortunes or blessings I can giue no account of but I feare the worst since one day one instant and one Planet gouernd and gaue our births onely 2â— yeares differing in time here haue I since remaind and till now neuer disclosed my selfe nor would haue done to you had not your freedome first ingag'd me repentance hath beene my blessed delight hauing enioyed that as plentifully and comfortably as euer ioy was to soules Now sir you see before you where misery hath not beene sparing where afflictions haue not faild their greatest bounty in excessiuenesse and where only comfort of a happy repentance rules and giues a sweeter consolation then worldly pleasures could with all glorious paintings giue liking Then did Parselius againe grieue for him and yet comfort sprung as after a hard Frost flowres though dead may appeare liuing retaining some warmth in the roote as in his breast that he might with gray haires know a change from misaduentures to a pure content Thus they continued sometimes Parselius wayling sometimes the Hermit relating his Stories past hee bent to comfort the other to Dispaire though sometimes a little moou'd to hope but with as small strength as life hath in the last gaspe But now must Steriamus and his companion find their way to their destined reliefe following the course ordained for them they took to the Sea so toward St. Maura Steriamus euer bringing into his sight the sweetnesse and brauenesse of Pamphilia blessing Mellissea for sending him to such a heauen of ioy as to see her and with her fauour to speake to her and for his happinesse to kisse her hand shee mildly permitting him O said he Steriamus now shalt thou end happily if so thy Destiny bee since thou hadst a kind parting from thy better selfe Then beheld he the Sea which calme and smooth gaue them quiet passage so said he appeard my Mistris gently letting my good come vnto me to passe me vnto an vnlooked for content Dearest Loueâ— how doth sweetnesse better fit with you where truest sweetnesse dwels then harsh cruelty Then did night possesse them but so still an one and so brightned by the fauour of the faire Moone who seem'd chastly to behold her selfe in the smooth face of the Sea which yet sometimes left her plainnes rising as catching at her face or as with loue to embrace it or rather keepe her in her dwellings wherein shee was deceiu'd for fauours are not euer so free as though lent to be possess'd for euer and thus greedy was I said he but she as chastly refused me yet did their sight bring some Verses into his minde which were these PRay thee Diana tell mee is it ill as some doe say thou think'st it is to loue Me thinks thou pleased art with what I proue since ioyfull light thy dwelling still doth fill Thou seemst not angry but with cheerefull smiles beholdst my Passions chaste indeed thy face Doth seeme and so doth shine with glorious grace for other loues the trust of Loue beguiles Be bright then still most chast and cleerest Queene shine on my torments with a pittying eye Thy coldnesse can but my despaires discry and my Faith by thy clearenesse better seeme Let those haue heat that dally in the Sunne I scarse haue knowne a warmer state then shadeâ— Yet hottest beames of zeale haue purely made my selfe an offring burnt as I was wonne Once sacrific'd but ashes can remaine which in an Iuory box of truth inclose The Innocency whence my ruines flowes accept them as thine 't is a chast Loues gaine Hauing done them he said them to Dolorindus whose thoughts were as busily employd in the same kinde now were they come within sight of St. Maura wherefore Steriamus demanded of the Marriners if they knew the white Rocke they did and so in the long Boate carried them vnto it where landing them they departed the Princes taking to the topp of it viewing it and the ruines admiring what they should doe in that desolatnesse where they found no man no place for man to bide in saue one little Caue whereâ— into they went and sitting downe they afresh discoursed of their Fortunes Steriamus relating to his companion the manner of his liuing in Pantaleria in the little Caue and so his youth but when he touched of Pantaleria he could not passe it ouer without some passionate remembrance of it where he only liued free and therefore as hee called it happy Delightfull Pantaleria would he crie when I remaind in thee how was I Lord of my selfe and so of all quiet content dayes were then past in hunting or some other countrie delights which now waste in being hunted by afflictions no paine knew I if not by surfetting of pleasure yet proued I a man esteeming change my greater happinesse when braue Parselius with the rarest of women except my Lady released me from ignorance bringing me into the world to be the riper in miseries fruite what happinesse in comparison of the woe we Princes suffer doth remaine in a country life O Pantaleria would I had still remaind in thee or would I had neuer knowne delights which were still springing in thee like thy dainty flowers and tender grasse which increased in plenty of sweetnes being corrected for the little height it some times got by the tender sheep as my sorrowes abound by the cruelty of my dearest loue Cruell loue Ah cruelst of cruelties why end you not your tyrannies or let tyrannie end with ending me Cursed be the time I euer suffered the vnrightfull Monarchy of loue to gouerne me thus to soueraignize ouer me giuing wounds and a little easing them as to make one hope the danger of death were past of purpose to make them more intollerable in the suffering els why brought you me from ioy to misery then a little to enioy a glimmering hope to be put into a darker night of sorrow with parting from it els might you haue left me in the sweet Morea when Pamphilia smiled on me Loue you inuited me but steru'd me you againe feasted mee but poyson'd me forcing me to drinke of absence You said Dolorindus doe lament as if alone you were appointed to suffer or alone did indure affliction when too couetously you hoard vnto your treasure what belongs to other men you call loue a tyrant when you are a
what could be wished to giue true delight contrarily wrought against them The morning come they rose and as one parted not but together went to the top of the Castle whence they saw their ruine then kissing her and gently weeping on her face hee said My deere mistake not you these tears which now I shedd onely in tendernesse vnto your state and for you who was sauer of my life How can life better be disposed of then to her seruice who did once preserue it when I a stranger hurt and mangled was conducted to your house how was I there relieued and cherished by your care this was but to this end and this end is more welcome then a life which without you I otherwise had gained Farewell deere loue more kind and sweete then blessings in distresse I le fight for thee and this must be my last yet feare I not for doe but see my end and that will make me liue with ioy in death when I see thee beholding me from hence my courage will increase and make my blowes more terrible and fatall then the harme which falls in stormes from high Farewell once more my deere my life my ioy and my last comfort sweete weepe not for me nor marre those deere eyes which wound mee more to see them harme themselues then stroaks that from the enemie can come and bee assured the victory will turne to vs if you but let their cleernes shine on me but dimme them and I die The sweetest soule did weepe yet wip'd away the tears to fauour him and shew them bright farewell my life said shee if thou dost die for after thee I le neuer more see day then kiss'd they once againe and so did part hee to the gate whereout he sallied then arm'd in â—edd his sheild with the old deuice which was an Azuer Speare vpon his â—rme a scarfe of Azuer colour giuen him by his loue and thus against the enemie he came who neuer stay'd to meete him but with troops incompassing him round who fought with rage against all hope more then a hope â—o dye like to himselfe and to renowne his blood that though shedd by such â—orce yet so well shedd would write his fame eternally to times and witâ—esse worth with valour ioyn'd made loue the crowne whereat they leiâ—el'd still To say what courage he did show how many slew what wounds what â—roaks it were but tedious and most vaine but so much did hee there as â—ade a way through the thickest so pass'd in spite of what their furyes or â—heir numbers could doe to hinder him A path he made of men and paâ—ed the ground with bodyes while their bloods sought how to bath them â—leane and wash their wounds which giuen on so ill grounds did blush or shame Hee beeing pass'd and on the other side cast vp his eyes to see if â—ee beheld which when he saw and that she made a signe to him to scape â—nd euen with hands held vp and knees bent downe shee did beseech hee â—rauely answered with his sword wau'd round about his head as who â—â—ould say no heere I le dye or set my Lady free With that behind him â—â—me a gallant Knight and fifty more who neuer speaking word as he aâ—aine did charge his enemie charg'd in with him and did so brauely helpe 〈◊〉 in short time the conquest was dispos'd to braue Philarchos and his new come friends then did they seeke among the prisoners where they might finde the spring of all this ill at last they got the Duke and then with guards brought him into the Castle when kind Orilena came vnto her Knight and holding him fast in her tender armes wellcomd him to his owne and her command but as she did embrace him she perceau'd the blood to runne along his arme wherefore shee went and speedily did fetch an excellent baulme and then disarming him did dresse his wounde but when his helme was off the stranger Knight caught him with all true loue into his breast and louingly thus said My Lord how bless'd am I to see the Prince I seeke he also hauing pulld off his helme but young Philarchos knew him not wherefore my Lord said he the honor you haue done this day is to your selfe in rescuing a poore distressed Lady and restoring her vnto her birth-right which shee else had lost for me this fauour and the aide I had from your braue selfe and these your followers shall euer binde me to be still your friend and faithfull seruant when you shall dispose of me and mine which still you freely may and shall command yet let mee know I doe beseech you who you are and how that you knew me My name said he is honoured most by this braue title of your friend my selfe am calld Antissius King of Romania setled and restored by your excellent cousen and the worlds greatest worth Amphilanthus the knowledge that I haue of you is this I saw your picture in the famous Court of your father the Morean King and withall your name and many of your acts were there related while you passd vnknowne but as the bare Knight of the Speare ioyes infinitly did possesse the Court to heare the fame which all parts holds of you besides so like you are to that braue King whom heauen doth fauour for the earths best good as for his sake if for no other cause I should affectionatly loue you The honors which you lay on me said he great King are such as I but weake in worth can hardly beare the waight of yet the last affects me most that I am something like that matchlesse King whose worth ambitiously I seeke to imitate though sure to come as much below the reach of it as 't is from me vnto the cleerest starre Then did they bring the King into a roome where they disarmd him and then went backe vnto the Duke whom they had put into a gallerie well guarded and respected like himselfe him they found not ouerthrowne with griefe for neither was hee sad nor any way dismay'd but seem'd to beare his ouerthrow patiently to him Philarchos thus began My Lord for so you are to mee since I am husband to your elder child who fondly and no way humanely for loue to Erinea you forget and would disinherit but shee borne to more good was first releiud by me lastly and most by this great King heauen so much fauoring her as to haue succour sent her from farr parts before his comming we were marryed determining to die if such our fates in holy wedlock Now you may discerne what wrong you did and if you please accept me for your sonne and pardon what without your knowledge wee in loue and great extremity haue done nor thinke shee hath dishonored her selfe or you in making me her husband for I am a Prince and sonne vnto a mighty King my name Philarchos my Country Morea third sonne vnto the King thereof Then did the Duke embrace him speaking
so obserue as their merits may purchase from him so great a grace as to be able to choose fittest loues his power must not be limited nor his gouernment mixed as if he had a counsell set about him or a protector ouer him his knowledge wanting no aduice his knowledge neuer knowing partner who is in truth all wisdome all knowledge all goodnesse all truth he must not haue it said that loue with discretion is the truest loue since in truth of loue that is but a bastard brought vp at home like a right borne child and yet is his iudgement such as hee makes discretion shine through all his acts but how as a seruant to his greater power as if your heart should command your tongue to deliuer what it thinkes but discreetly to doe it so as offence may not proceede from it here is discretion and yet the tongue is but the hearts messenger Leandrus whose end was to procure fauour not to contend wittily tooke hold of this last speech thinking it better to make this the introduction to his loue then any longer to waite or expect occasion offered which if once but let slip seldome comes againe so as letting her louelinesse and her owne words to be the beginning and meanes for his affections knowledge he answered thus Madam said he it is most true that the tongue is but the hearts messenger yet messengers from such a part are to haue and carry credence then let my tongue bee the deliuerer to you of the most feruent affection that euer heart bare to Princesse with the truest and vnfaigned loue disdaine not then my affection since I will with loyalty and seruice deserue your fauour as wel or better then any man breathing a Crowne I will adde to yours and the soueraigne command of Leandrus but what talke I of a Crowne to her who weares the crowne of all vertues My Lord said she I cannot but thanke you for your princely offer but it must bee my fathers liking with the consent of my nearest and dearest friends that can set any other Crowne on my head then that which my people haue already setled there and the consent of so great a people and so louing to me must not be neglected what vertues are in me shall appeare through the obedience I owe and will pay to his Maiesty and the rest therefore I am altogether vnable to giue you satisfaction any further then this It is you that must may say all said he Then can you haue no answer said she Why are you not cryd Leandrus soueraigne of your selfe by Iudgement yeares and authoritie vnlimited by fortunes by gouernment and the loue of your Parents which will goe with you in my choice These still are but the threads that tie my dutie replide the Queene but if they consent said he wil you eternise my happinesse with your agreeing Giue me leaue first said Pamphilia to know their minds and that can be no hinderance nor furtherance of your affaires nor shall my answere bee more displeasing to you then now it might be Your doubtfull answer will breede despaire in me cryd he It were much safer said she to doubt then vainely to nurse hope Then bent she her walke homeward which he durst not withstand though fearelesse of any man or monster yet trembled hee in her presence both they went and so continued both louing both complaining and neither receiuing comfort he beholding her and in her seeing no affection nor cause of hope shee seeing him but with eyes of thankefull respect without loue yet went he further and so still made the greater distance Yet was not this all for her loue was set not to be stirred or mooued to other course then whether the fortune of her choice did guide her She sigh'd he thought it did become her and so sigh'd too she grew pale and sad so did he wanting what he sought Shee oft-times would discourse of loue he thought it was the prittiest theame and answerd her in that Shee would complaine of men accuse their fickelnesse and change hee ioyned though contrary in sexe to speake of women and their slightings Thus they agreed though in a different kind and both did please because they both did loue He stroue by some pleasing talke in a third person to bewaile his case she would not know his meaning yet with wit would let him see she loued and not himselfe Cruell it was to vnderstand her affection was else-where placed yet sometimes would hee flatter himselfe and giue his fawning hopes leaue to dissemble and cast a glasse of comfort on him but glasse-like was it brittle although faire faire in hope broken to dispaire Loue violentest storme that can bring shipwrack to a quiet heart why doe you trauell thus to bring home gaine onely of losse Bee fauourably kinde loue should be mild while loue you are most curst and this did poore Leandrus know whose spring-time ioy was turned to winter-griefe yet still hee did pursue and so vnfortunately must proceede Pamphilia loyall louing and distressed because passionate that night after this discouery which though kind yet to her was displeasing when each retired to their rest shee went vnto her watch of endlesse thoughts into her chamber she hasted then to bed but what to doe alas not within that to sleepe but with more scope to let imagination play in vexing her there did shee call his face vnto her eyes his speech vnto her eares his iudgement to her vnderstanding his brauerie to her wit all these but like that heape of starres whose equall lusture makes the milky way One while shee studied how to gaine her loue then doubt came in and feared her in that plot his lookes shee weighed if out of them she might but gaine a hope they did assure her ioy then did her heart beate quick vnto that blisse but then againe remembrance threatned losse how he had lou'd might again chuse new False traitor cryd she can thy basenes be so vild wicked in bringing thus in mind what thou in goodnes shouldst haue cast away what if one errd must that bee registred what vertues hast thou laid aside which in him dwell and thus vncharitably bringst his worser part in sight to harme him but thou faylest now I know his worth and doe excuse that fault and here I vow to liue a constant loue and louer of his matchlesse excellence then turnd she to the window poore dull night said she keepe still thy sadnesse till thy Sun appeare and mine together shineing as light Darke art thou like my woes dull as my wits with that she laid her downe to rest but it 's not granted her it must not yet bee shee must more endure Then rose she and did write then went shee to bed and tooke a Candle and so read awhile but all these were but as lime-twiggs to hold fast her thoughts to loue and so to all vnrest which gouern'd her for till the day did
not to prolong time or amaze you with discourse alas that I must say these words deerest Vrania I must throw thee into the Sea pardon me Heauen appoints it so My deerest brother sayd she what neede you make this scruple You wrong me much to thinke that I feare death being your sister or cheerish life if not to ioy my parents fulfill your command and be assured it is doubly welcome comming to free me from much sorrow and more since giuen mee by your hands those hands that best I loue and you to giue it me for whose deare sake I onely lou'd to liue and now as much delight and wish to die Kinde teares proceeded from them both and mournfull silence did possesse their tongus till she againe besought and hee refused but yet at last resoluing if she perish'd to ende with her he tooke her in his armes and gently let her slide shewing it rather to be her slipping from him then his letting her fall and as shee fell so fell his heart in woe drownd in as deepe an Ocean of despaire but soone was he call'd to wonder and all ioy for no sooner had she suncke into the water but the waues did beare her vp againe to shewe the glory they had in bearing such perfections but then the Deepes ambitious of such a prize sought to obtaine her opening their hearts to let her sincke into them when two men in a boate came rowing towards her and one who lay in a craggy part of the Rocke furiously threw himselfe vnto her she only saying Liue happy Amphilanthus and my onely deare Parselius farewell that calld him who leaping in cry'd Parselius will neuer out-liue Vrania and sunke straight with her then were both pulled vp and safely brought to land by the help of the other two who leaping out of their boat into the sea spared not danger or life it selfe all foure then soundly washed came a shoare where Amphilanthus embraced them and with teaâ—es of ioy welcom'd his sister and his friends who now well vnderstood the operation of that water for Parselius knew nothing of his former loue to her onely the face of Vrania and being assured of her neerenesse to him in bloud reioyced with them the others did the like Now was Steriamus released of his vnfortunate loue esteeming Pamphilia wholly for her worth not with passion thinking of her Vrania's desires were no other then to goe into Italy to see her father and Dolorindus to accompany his friends whither they would goe Thus happily were all deliuered of the most burdenous tormenting affliction that soules can know Loue and Loue was pleased because now he might haue new worke in new kinds Parselius longs to see his Dalinea Vrania wisheth it also without iealousie or anger but loues her heartily for her Cosins sake most happy Princesse to be deliuerd from such a hell as louing him who had although so neere to her been so farre from truth to her Amphilanthus was so ouercome with comfort and ioy discerning this fortunate and blessed issue of the aduentures as kindnesse now wrought like sorrow then embracing all they tooke to the boats the Hermit going with them to the Iland where with kind louing perswasions they inuited him to leaue that place and to accompany them thence but hee excused himselfe promising to be ready at any time to doe them seruice but his vow he could not breake then he intreated them that if by chance in their trauels they happened into Dalmatia they would enquire for his vnfortunate daughter Bellemira and by some meanes to let him vnderstand of her They promised this so with more kind farewels they parted from the Hermit and at Amphilanthus eaâ—nest intreaty went together for Italy where they arriued and so past vnto the Court But what ioy what content did all hearts feele in seeing the Princesse of true worth and admiration returnd Then did the old king whose haire and beard like snow make a true resemblance of it ioy like the Sun heating and melting so did ioy melt his hart into teares they like a thaw dropping on the lower snow he held them in his armes they kneeld he kist them but could not speake so was he wrapped and ouerwhelmd with ioy At last Amphilanthus spake beseeching him to salute the other Princes which he did and then turnd to them and againe kissed and embraced them This being past they were conducted to their lodgings Vrania hauing rich robes fit for her birth brought vnto her till then hauing worne her Shepherdesse attire which she resolu'd to doe as long as she liu'd vnseene of her father only to receiue them from his hands Now was Italy fild with delight being the pleasing'st and delightful'st of any sports are new inâ—â—nted to giue welcome and Iusts proclaimed wherein these Knights must also shew their skil the Ladies came from al parts to see Vrania the Knights to honor Amphilanthus the first day of the Iusts the King being ready to go forth of the Hall to the lists there entred an old man in habit like a Pilgrim with a staffe of that fashion in his hands bare-footed and with all demonstration of that life he spake lowd and besought the King to stay till he had deliuerd some things fit for his knowledge then all placing themselues he began thus Most happy King receiue these speeches from me a miserable man if you pitie not a Prince I am by birth but a Villaine by nature Prince I was of Istria and brother to the King of Dalmatia proud I was and accompanying that vice I had malice and all ill abiding in mee which causd a detestable treason in me for hearing many prophesies likelihoods of the greatnes worth of Amphilanthus I studied how I might any way crosse the successe he then being but of tender yeares scarce hauing attained to seuen yeares of age but that which most moou'd me was that a learned man said he should rule ouer the greatest part of the world and liue to be Lord of my Country alsoâ— to auoid this I vowed to loose no meanes or opportunitie wherefore I went to the Court of my brother where there then liu'd a great and a wise man this man confirm'd what before I had heard adding more vnto it for his increase of honour for he had cast his natiuitie hauing gaind it from one who was at the birth of the worlds wonder your sonne Vpon this I disguised my selfe and hither I came into your Country and Court where I found the Queene newly brought to bed of a daughter this I thought might be a meanes for my safety for no magicke could withstand the happy fortune of Amphilanthus though a danger he should fall into vncertaine to recouer it and by a woman So determining to haue my ends some way hauing some skill in Magicke I cast a sleepe vpon all the attendants where the babe lay and being in an euening tooke the child and conueyed it away
wherfore embracing her I told her she said right and that I was the same Vrania afflicted then for ignorance of mine estate now known to be daughter to the King of Naples but hers proceeding from loue I againe intreated the vnderstanding of it she then rose vp and with sober and low reuerence she began her discourse thus Most excellent Princess poore Liana your seruant being as you know Daughter to the chiefe Shepheard of that Iland who had the title of Lord ouer the rest being indeed a Noble man and a great Lord by birth in his owne Countrey which was Prouence but misery glorying to shew in greatnesse more then in meaner sorts of people It happ'ned so as the Earle of Prouence tooke dislike with him and that growing to hate he so farre prosecuted his spight as he ceased not till he had vndone him an â—asie thing for a Prince to compasse ouer a Subiect Then hauing nothing left him but life and misfortune hee left his Countrey seeking to gaine some solitary place to ende his daies in he happened into that sweet Iland and as you haue heard I am sure very often with his few friends that would not forsake him else left by fortune inhabited in it and call'd it by his name nor did I till after your departure know my Father to be other then the chiefe Shepheard But my misfortune brought that knowledge and makes me desire a speedy end for thus it was I being his onely child and so heire to all his estate which was great for a Shepherd was by many sought iâ—deed most if not all the young and best Shepherds of the Countrey those youthes all striuing for me made me striue how to vse them all alike and so I did likeing none but courteously refusing all till as euery one must haue a beginning to their misery there came a Shepherd and a stranger he was in birth to that place yet gained he a neerer and choycer acquaintance with my heart and affection then any of our home-bredâ— neighbours He call'd himselfe Alanius and so if you haue heard part of my discourse I am sure you haue already with that vnderstood his name being the head-spring to my calamitie for Alanius I affected and onely lou'd and to say truth most desperatly did loue him O Loue that so sweet a name and so honour'd a power should bring such disasters secretly I lou'd somewhile vnknowne vnto himselfe but not before his heart had made it selfe my prisoner little imagining mine had beene so much his subiect But so it continued till his paine made him discouer his loue and that pittie I held ouer his paine mixed with mine owne affection compelld me to yeeld to my misfortune yet was Alanius then worthy of my loue for hee loued me and I must euer loue him still though he be false False murdering word which with it selfe carries death and millions of tortures ioynd with it yet thou art so and I vnfortunate to call thee so else no worth wanted in thee But this is too sadd a relation I will proceed with the continuance of our Loues which was for a pretty space when another who had before Alanius his comming thither sought me for his wife being of good estate and of equall hope to rise in his fortunes giuen to husbandry and such commendable qualities as Countrymen affect and so it was my fathers minde to breed me too and therefore had giuen his consent looking to the towardlinesse of the man and the great blessing hee had receiued in more then vsuall increase of his stocke These were allurements to him while they were scarce heeded by me the riches I looked vnto being fortune in our Loues till one day my Father call'd me to him telling mee what a match he had made for me and not doubting of my liking shewed much comfort which he had conceiud of it and so went on with ioy as if the mariage had beene straight to bee consummated I was truely a little amazed withall till he finding I made no answere pulling me to him told mee â—hee hop'd my silence proceeded from no other ground then bashfulnesse since he assur'd himselfe I would not gainesay what he commanded or so much as dislike what he intended to doe with me wherefore hee would haue mee ioyne my dutifull agreement to his choice and order my loue to goe along with his pleasure for young maides eyes should like onely where their Father liked and loue where he did appoint This gaue me sight to my greater mischiefe wherefore I kneeld downe words I had few to speake onely with teares I besought him to remember his promise which was neuer to force me against my will to marry any Will said he why your Will ought to be no other then obedience and in that you should be rather wilfull in obeying then question what I appoint if not take this and bee assured of it that if you like not as I like and wed where I will you you shall neuer from me receiue least fauour but be accompted a stranger and a lost childe These words ran into my soule like poyson through my veines chilling it as the cold fit of an Ague disperseth the coldnesse ouer all ones body for not being Alanius whom he meant it was death to me to heare of marriage yet desirous to seeme ignorant and to be resolud who it was I desired to know who it was it pleased him to bestow vpon me Hee reply'd one more worthy then thou canst imagine thy selfe deseruing then naming him that name was like a Thunder-bolt to strike my life to death yet had I strength though contrary to iudgement to doe this I kneeld againe and told him that if he please to kill me I should better and more willingly embrace it else vnlesse he did desire to see me wretched and so to conâ—clude my daies in misery I besought him to alter his purpose for of any man breathing I could not loue him nor any but. That But I staid withall yet he in rage proceeded But cryd he what haue you setled you affections else where Who is this fine man hath wonne your idle fancie Who hath made your duty voide Whose faire tongue hath brought you to the foulenesse of disobedience Speake and speake truely that I may discerne what choice you can make to refuse my fatherly authoritie ouer you I truely trembled yet meaning to obey him as much as it was possible for me to doe in my heart louing the expression of dutie I told him it was Alanius Alanius a trimme choice truely said he and like your owne wit and discretion see what you haue done choose a man onely for ouâ—side a stranger and for any thing we know a run-away from his countrey none knowing him nor himselfe being able to say what he is I weeping implor'd a better opinion of him since I assured my selfe that if I could come to the blessing of enioying him all happinesse in this world
one of their fellow prisoners in the Castle of loue wherefore desirous to heare that discourse especially louing to heare loue descâ—ibed and related by a woman out of whose lipps those sweet passions more sweetely proceeded hee gaue occasion for it as they walked along a dainty pleasant brooke the bankes whereof were of such sweetnesse as the plenty of the most delicate smelling flowers could yeeld vnto them being shadowed from the Sunnes parching by Mirtle and that Mirtle preserued by high and braue trees whose breadth and large boughs spread to giue content to those who vnder them would submit to solitarinesse This place said Amphilanthus were fitter much for louers then such free Princes as liue here Is there any free from that passion my Lord said she Only such said hee as you are whose sence of loue doth rather from you command harts to your seruice then presume to bring you into the fetters being rather his commandres then subiect An vntoward gouernment answered she assuredly I haue yet had I neuer hauing enioyed quiet minut since I knew this state but that rebellious passions haue euer tormented me Can that be cry'd Amphilanthus I am sensible of them said she Alas said Amphilanthus that I might be so fortunat to merit so great a happines as to vnderstaÌ„d the way that bold loue takes to coÌ„quer such perfection That may soone be gaind said shee for requite me with your story and I will truly discourse my fortunes to you Neuer let mee bee rewarded for my paine said hee if I refuse this noble offer Begin you Sir said shee I will obay in that also said he and then did he tell her the whole story of his affection onely keeping her name secret because Ollorandus knew her and had mistrust of it but no assurance after which she began thus My Lord so ill it seemes loue hath carried himselfe as it is a kind of fault in a woman to confesse any such matter yet I knowing my selfe innocent of ill and now ingaged by your freedome to make a requitall I will venture to speak of this Lord Loue. My father had a sister married to one of the noblest and greatest Princes of this Countrie as rich in possessions as any yet possessed he not so much treasures as hee did vertues being richer in them then any other of this land true noblenesse and noble hospitalitie abounding in him He had to inherit his estate two Sonnes and one Daughter children fit for such a father truly and lawfully being heires to both his estates of riches and vertuous qualities Many yeares this good Lord liued but age claiming the due belonging to time and a sore disease taking him hee dyed leauing his honours vertues and chiefe estate to his eldest sonne called Laurimello who had been much in my fathers house his father putting that trust in his brother in Law as to leaue his dearest part of comfort with him besides my Fathers estate lay neare to the Citie of Buda which was a conueniency by reason of the Courts lying there for his seeing and frequenting that by reason whereof after his fathers death he brought his sister likewise thither betweene whom and my selfe there grew an entire friendship She being great and her brother beloued and honoured aboue any other Prince many sought her for wife but shee knowing her perfections and greatnesse was nice in accepting any nor indeed had shee much mind to marry louing her liberty more then mariages bondage Among others that offered their seruice to her there was one called Charimellus who by his friends and parents was sent to sue for her fauour thither hee came but I comming with her into the roome where her suiter was and her brother with many more hee cast his eyes on mee which brought him that misfortune as to bee so suddenly surprised as he knew not scarce how to salute her which made her scorne him laughing at his bashfulnesse which caused so much blushing and trembling in him I regarded not his traunces beginning so much as to thinke from whence it proceeded but out of good nature was sorry for the man who in troth deserued much pitie and merited great respect but my heart elsewhere placed held mine eies in their set way not marking any thing but mine own fortunes no more then one starre troubles it selfe with anothers course but my cosin who would not keepe her thoughts from imparting them to her friends liberally vsed her wit on him whose part I tooke ignorant of the cause I had till some dayes being passed in which she gaue him refusall he discouered his loue to me and withall protesting how he was surprised at my first sight I told him I could not belieue one fight on such an instant could worke such an alteration nor if it were true that I would so soone accept of a refused suiter since my fortunes I trusted would not be such as to bind me to take my cosins leauings This answer grieu'd him yet did it no way allay his affection but rather like snow which plaid with all doth make ones hands burne so did the cold despaire of my words make his hart hot glow in loue towards me my friends liked and lou'd him he being of a sweet and mild disposition valiant and accompanied with many braue and noble conditions and such a one as none I thinke could haue disliked that had been ordaind to marry with iudgement onely or had not their heart before settled as mine was Long he pursued his loue at last he gained my fathers consent my mothers and most of my friends the estate and antiquitie of his house besides his person meriting any subiect for wife When I saw this and the danger I was in to bee bestowed I then wholly employd my time in studying how I might gaine mine owne desires and finely put this off While this was in my mind a third businesse came in which was another match offerd my father for me whose estate was greater and neerer to our dwelling to which my father being more then ordinarily affectionate to me quickly harkned and willingly embraced Then was I in more danger then before my heart so perplexed as I knew not what I did Poore Charimellus came vnto me wept to me presented his affection to my memory and eies I pittied him and truly had as much compassion vpon him as I or any other whose soule was in anothers keeping could haue of him and so much fauour I did grant him as to promise to speake with my Father and directly to refuse the new proffered match This contented him hoping my refusall had been onely for his good I performed my promise and spake with my father telling him how much he was afflicted how passionately he loued me what reasons I had rather to accept of him then any other how the world had taken such notice alreadie of his two yeares suite as it would be a disgrace to him and a touch to me to take
that time to aduenture and hauing rid two dayes iourney without let or any kind of hazard the third day he vnfortunatly hapned into a house belonging to a Keeper and standing in a great Forrest this Keeper had in his youth beene an Esquire to an Epirian Knight slaine at Mantinia at a great iust there held after whose death he return'd and putting himselfe vnto the Queene hee gain'd the keeping of this Forrest this man fell into discourse being crafty and so fitt for so ill an imployment as he was vsed in by discourse hee gain'd knowledge that this was one belonging either in place or affection to the Morean Court then hauing enough to worke vpon as if he had eaten much poyson hee must breake so brake he into the open way of destroying Selarinus for sending his boy to the Court which was then but ten miles off by the next morning he had forty Knights to secure him and conduct the Prince trecherously made a prisoner to the Queene who mistrusting no Treason vnder greene clothes nor falshood where so faire language and welcome dwelt at night being weary vnarm'd himselfe and went to bed where hee slept till hee was awaked with the paine which hard cords cast about his armes brought him he did after confesse he heard some noise but thought it had only beene his Squire puting vp his Armour or making it ready and fitt against the morning but when he saw how he was deceiu'd and heard his poore seruant cry also out against them he only with Princely patience said this suffer imprisonment with mee poore boy said he as well as thou hast enioyed freedome and content witnessing that Fidelius can serue Infortunius in all estates faithfully By that the youth knew his Lord would not be knowne by other name then Infortunius wherefore hee resolu'd to dye rather then betray him Till morning hee was thus held then deliuered to to the Knights who straight carryed him to their Queene shee hating all that had but seene Morea or any of those Countryes belonging to them she cal'd enemies went into her Hall and with all magnificent state sate to behold so to scorne the vnfortunate Knight who was brought in chaind the Queene sitting with a setled resolution to manifest hate scorne and contempt but seeing his sweetnesse and louelynesse his tender youth his modest countenance tryumphing as it were ouer his misery with noble patience only shewing stoutnesse in bold suffering and giuing way to Fortune as subiect in that tyranny yet inwardly his estate molested him shame to see those braue armes fetterd and bound brought some blood into his face which though shewed vpon such occasion yet it prouoked an other conclusion for he being naturally some what pale this made his beauty appeare more delicate as if of purpose to purchase his libertie thus was hee forced to be beholding to that womanish part to restore his manly power to liberty that working for him which his worth held least worthy in him for the Queene though most ambitiously raised in conceit of her selfe now found there was a greater Prince and a higher authority which might and would command She gazed on him shee blam'd the small respect their rudnesse had shewed to a Knight to bring him like a theife chain'd shee caused his bands to be taken off and strictly corrected them who expected thanks telling them the disarming had beene an honor but their taking him naked was a shame vnto them and to all braue spirits Then called shee the Prince to her desiring to know his name and Country kindly smiling on him holding him by the hand the softnesse and fairenesse of which she grieued should handle a sword or be vsed in fights fitter to bee held by her like-louing selfe withall she assured him his imprisonment should be no other then content if he would but yeeld to her desires Hee answered his name was Infortunius nephew to the Lord of Serigo who was killed at the King of Morea's Court in his presence and many more hauing thither brought a faire Lady whose loue he was to winn by fight but he was slaine by Selarinus younger brother to Steriamus for whom the great preparations were now made to winn Albania Are you of their party said she Truely Madam said he I wish good to all iust causes otherwise I being but one am little able to asist any therfore dare I not venture to say I am of any side but I did intend to see the warrs If you did but intend that you may said she still continue that purpose nor will I hinder you yet I must enioyne you to some things for my sake Hee answered her his life was in her hands to command Not but to saue and cherish it replied she therefore goe with this Gentleman who shall direct you and conuey you to a chamber fitt for you then did one of her cheife officers conduct him to a maruellous rich roome which she had appointed him to carry him vnto where hee had all things necessary and braue saue his armes then did he leaue him there and his owne Squire to attend him with many more whose respects and officiousnesse was such as mou'd trouble and proued such liberty a true imprisonment yet at night he had freedome for by the Queen's appointment they were not to lye in his Chamber but in an other roome where for his safety no way to trouble him they might conueniently remaine Supper was serud vnto him with all seruicable duty infinite rich and sumptuous fare glorious plate and nothing wanting that so proud a woman could to satisfie that humour thinke of to gloryfie her selfe and obleige him He fed and after supper went to bed the doores were shut and hee layd downe to rest but what quiet could he enioy fearing all these faire beginnings would turne to his greater harme for no end could he see but dishonour to him as himselfe and certaine danger as Infortunius abuse and what was most as Philistella's seruant shame and iust reproach if hee falsified her trust or his affection Tormented thus he did remaine til towards midnight when a doore opened at his beds head out of which came sixe Ladyes each carrying two white wax candles which they set downe vpon a cupbord placed of purpose before the bed then they returned when the Queene as rich and glorious as Iuno came in her mantle was Carnation sattine embroder'd with gold and round pearle fastned with a faire Ruby her wastcoate of the most curious worke could bee made with needle her petty coat suitable to her mantle her head dressed with a dressing fram'd of the same worke with her wastcoate through which her haire was delicately drawne in many places daintely she was apparrel'd able to winne any but such a spirit as Selarinus for neuer did curious carelesnesse better adorne creature then it did this Queene who with care sought to bee neglectiue in her apparrell To the bed side she came and
Burnt like a Phaenix change but such could shake And a new heat giuen by your eyes did make Embers dead cold call Spirits from the pits Of darke despaire to fauour new felt fits And as from death to this new choice to wake Loue thus crownes you with power scorne not the flames Though not the first yet which as purely ries As the best light which sets vnto our eyes And then againe ascends free from all blames Purenesse is not alone in one fix'd place Who dies to liue finds change a happy grace These I did learne for these did fit mee best and from that time contented was to let him see I entertaind his sute which was his kingdome wonne in sweet delight then was that as an Empire to my gaine when I first saw him rudely yet innocently clad like a Lamb in wool for colour and softnesse to the eye or touch his face blushing like modesty after his arme had showed manly power his delicacie asking pitie but his commanding absolutenes disdaining it as much as the bright Moone if we should say wee were sorry in a frostie night to see her face in the water least she might bee cold rather might I say I feard the Sunne would burne him when hee enamourd of his dainty skinne did but incloase him with his power from other haâ—me touching him not to hurt but to make difference twixt his fauours shind and shielded him while others he did burne kinde in embracements and soft in his force The language he did speake was milde so were his lookes loue shaddowing all himself within his eyes or in his face keeping his greatest Court because most gaining Ah sweet Philistella had you seene the vn-relatable exquisitenesse of hiâ— youth none could haue blam'd me but euen chid me for not instantly yeelding my passions wholly to his will but proud ambition and gay flatteriâ— made me differ and loue your brother thus if I changd t was from sweete Steriamus to Parselius for his excellency wonne me first so this can bee noâ— change but as a booke layd by new lookt on is more and with greateâ— iudgement vnderstood You need not said Philistella striue to make me seâ— your loue and cause thereof to Steriamus since I truely speake I thinke none worthyer to bee truely loued except my Lord then I imagine him nor can I much or any way defend my brother who had you still continued louing I should haue blam'd he prouing so vniust yet this only salue and good excuse is left Desteny did and euer still must rule Now for mee deere Vrania all I aime is loue if I discourse what is it of but loue if I walke out what trauell in but loue if I sit still what muse I on but loue if I discoursed be withall what answere I but loue so as being made maintaind by loue and in loue shaped squared only to his rule what neede excuses but plaine truth and say if I doe speake from purpose or extrauogantly fly from the matter we were talking of if cleaue to other â—ubiect â—diuert the proferd speech say this and only this Loue who is Lord of all braue royall minds hath like the heauens beheld my lowly breast and in it taken lodging gracing it with humbling his great Godhead to embrace a true and yeelding heart in comparison of his supreame authority most meane should I not thus without excuse be freed nay euen respected when loue is adored As if hee spake from me so heare me now loue dwels in me hee hath made me his hoste then if I only doe remaine as sure I shall wholly affection and his humblest slaue scorne mee not but still reckon mee a seruant nearest wayting on great Loue. Others like Painters better can set him forth in his coulers Kings we see haue pictures drawne to be eternised by but t is them selues for which the picture is drawne not for the workemans skill so fauor me for Loue nor blame me though an ill peece 't is the best though by an ill hand drawne t is to the life others may smoother bee and fairer none more like nor iust vnto the perfect true resemblance of pure loue thus see you before your royall selfe the humblest vassall Cupid cherisheth Vrania in her soule coÌ„mended the pretty confession faire Philistella made admiring her sweetnesse of disposition as much as before she woÌ„dred at the beauty of her person embracing her my deere companion in true loue said she now shall we with more ease and freedome serue our Master dayes must not passe without our seruice done to him nor shall my deere Vrania said the other let our most priuate thoughts be to each other plaine and open seacrysie to all others held and only loue and we know what we think thus they did liue and loue and loue and liue Nerana still remaining in Cicely now growne as humble as before proud and ashamed as before scorning liuing in a Caue alone and feeding on hearbs roots and milke of Goats which fed on those rocks playing the milke-mayd better then before the Princesse extremity forcing her contented with patience and patiently contented nothing troubling her but her loue which was and is enough to vex the greatest and best gouernd Spirits hers being none of those the exactliest ruld To bring her from her misery Loue hauing sufficiently tyrannised the King Perissus came thither who in loue to his friends the braue and matchles Princes meant to assist them iournying towards them hee happned to that place where he beheld the sportfull exercise of Fortune a Princesse without a Country cloathes or seruants a Lady that must tell her selfe to be one else not to be mistrusted a miserable woman and the more so because she felt it experience and sufferance making her sencible of misfortune She sought to shunne the King at first but afterwards considering her good might come from him her hurt likely if kept close to abide with her she came vnto him and with much humility made her aproach who beheld her with a gratious and pittying eye seeing in her more then ordenary behauiour and a countenance that might carry greatnes with it and had it in it though shadowed vnder pouerty Perissus tooke her to him and demanding some things of her shee answered with these like words Said she this estate may iustly merit contempt and scorne from you or so great a Prince as you appeare to be I am a creature liuing by ill chance able to relate my misery which if you please to giue an eare vnto I shall tell you I am cal'd Neraena Princesse of Stalamina made in myne owne Country and in the most perfect time of my rule subiect to a stranger both to me and I feare good nature so far scorning me as it brought me to this estate you see me in for after with curst and scornfull words he had refusd my loue and louing petition for pitty left me and with his friends as
with such ioy as her heart did like the waues swell her colour came into her face and she was so surprized with content as she could not tell what to say vnto him at last she remembred that she was not alone but that she must consider all eyes were not her seruants she corrected herselfe yet could not blame that passion for so deseruing a cause My deere said she I cannot hide my happines nor am I sorry for it since it is for thee I suffer this vnlesse that holding it so deere I may grudge any should partake of it Yet calling her sences more about her to avoyd suspition she demanded how Parselius Rosindy and Philarchos did and Amphilanthus said she I hope also doth well That came out so sweetely and louingly as one might iudge shee asked for the rest for his sake because she would name him or named him last as more to sticke in memory Orilena was so desirous to know how her Philarchos did as shee nere heeded how Pamphilia carried her selfe Surpassing passion excellent still gouerne how delicate is thy force How happie thy rule that makes such excellent women thy subiects made so by thy gouernment instructed by thy skill taught by thy learning and indeed made by thee Bee thou still and worthily adored and this Pamphilia doth agree to excellent Queene the true paterne of excellent affection and affections truth Shee then called the Messenger and hauing called her Spirits to her asked particularly of the estate of Albania Hee related the whole discourse as instructed to set forth his Lord to his owne loue shee needed not much inuiting to that banquet this discourse fed her day and night They talked of the warres and of the braue Champions whose honours were neuer greater then when extolled by her At last to Morea they came the King and Queene comming â—wo dayes iourney to meete her the most perfect Queene her Cosin â—oying in her sight as in heauenly happinesse for so she held her Deare Great ioy was made for her comming and still augmentations of that by â—he newes from the Army euer bringing good Vrania reioyced and Philistella was ouercome with content sweete Selarina was as glad as any but her passions were moderate and discreetelie held themselues within yet shee would finely though in shew carelessely inquire how Antissius prospered The other Ladies would smile at it and someâ—imes to make sport so pretily anger her as was delightfull pastime eueâ—y one enuious to haue each others passions knowne not doubting but â—heir owne were equally discouered iealous onely of each others power â—or being better able to conceale their flames then themselues here did Loue truly and royally triumph Pamphilia gotten alone looked as often on the token as her hearts eyes looked on the sender it was his picture shee kissed it shee laid it â—nd wore it continually in her breast carefull shee was least her Chamber-maide might see it because it was more then her reseruednesse did warrant yet rather had shee all should know and see it then bee one minute hindred from the enioying it so neare My deare selfe would â—hee say what happinesse find I in thee how am I blessed alone in â—hee and aboue all by thee Deerer part of my soule take the other â—o thee pure loue calles thee to acceptance and thou doest I hope take what I so firmely giue thee What shall I say thou sayst thou wilt not â—ee vngratefull I assure my selfe of that and blame my selfe extremely â—f I said any thing might make thee thinke I doubted thee thou knowest I neuer vrged so much as by question to know if thou diddest loue mee I â—aw it what needed I to aske much lesse to feare No sweetest loue I loue â—oo much to mistrust and loue thee more then to demaund assurance which needes not where such confidence remaines nor is fit since if man-like â—hou shouldest once liue to change thy change would grieue my heart but kill my soule to know thou wert both changing and forsworne falsehood were double here and single euen enough to murder me but those deare eyes assure mee those lippes swell in anger I should thus dispute then and now dearest take mine vnto thine which with whispering let my breath say I doe long onely to see them moue againe and tell mee of thy loue soules comfort how I see in my soule spirit-like cleare and bodilesse from corruption gouerne and command like loue a thing adored and reuerenced but not seene except to louers so art thou to me my spirit and my All. While she was thus in loues best clothes apparreld the brauest of Ladies of her time came to her finding her in her ancient loâ—ing walk she met her with ioy and respect knowing her so worthy as she was onely fit to bee mother to such a sonne who alone deserued so matchlesse a mother To her shee went who in her armes entertained her that humbly tooke her fauour with a low reuerence which loue made her yeeld her No time was lost betweene them for each minute was fild with store of wit which passed betweene them as grounds are with shadowes where people walke and the longer they discoursed still grew as much more excellent as they to nightward seeme longer Among other speech the Queene of Naples asked Pamphilia what shee heard of the warres in Albania Shee discoursed it all vnto her but the last busines seemd the strangest vnusuallest said she although Polidorus his fortune in his wiues affection was rare the discourse was this Nicholarus being one of the Kings of Albania as they falsely termed themselues a Gentleman indued with all vertuous parts of learning courage and in truth al that could be required in a braue man yet was encountred with a stronger enemy then his iudgement could resist which was loue and loue of one who for his misery loued another Nicholarus came oft where she was oft shewed his affection the other came with him as if to glory in his mastery or to enioy with triumph what was refused this King as a prisoner led is a more glorious spectacle then to know he is in a Tower so are inioyings before refused more happy and prized then if by stealth or kept in priâ—ate though loue can bee held as deare and best The poore Prince hauing a Scarfe by cunning loue throwne ouer his eyes neuer misdoubted any thing still louing and cherishing him more then any because he saw she respected him Once to her house he came where they were entertained as their places and dignities required but the louer as loue commanded The Prince or King or what you will call him because in his Neighbours Countrie watched as hee thought an opportunitie and in the morning when they were to meete the other Kings who were neare to that place assembled about an especiall businesse of hunting her husband louing that sport wel was soonest vp and called the King hee employed him in some other
Yet these you praise the true stile opinion By which truths gouernment is shroudly gon Honor by you esteemd a title true A title cannot claimd by change as due It is too high for such low worth to reach Heauen gifts bestow'th as to belong to each And this true loue must in reuenge bestow On you his sacred power with paine to know A loue to giue you fickle loose and vaine Yet you with ceaselesse griefe seeke to obtaine Her fleeting fauours while you wayling proue Meerely for punishment a steddy loue Let her be faire but false great disdainefull Chast but to you to all others gainefull Then shall your liberty and choice be tide To paine repentance and the worst sinne pride But if this cannot teach you how to loue Change still till you can better counsell proue Yet be assur'd while these conceits you haue Loue will not owne one shot you say he gaue His are all true all worthy yours vniust Then changing you what can you from him trust Repentance true felt oft the Gods doth win Then in your Waine of loue leaue this foule sin So shall you purchase fauour bannish shame And with some care obtaine a louers name These Verses being sent to Nicholarus by the same messenger that brought his he â—ell into so violent a despaire and hate of himselfe as being more subiect to passion then strength of iudgemeÌ„t or power of vertue he grew distracted or indeed stark mad so as care was had of him and gouernors set about him as ouer his estate til at last by dilligence faithful Phisitions seruants he recouerd but how only to be made more miserable or to haue iuster cause to be mad as if the other were not sufficient for then succeded the inuasion and he gaind his wits to see his Country lost and feele his weaknes in estate as before in sence yet was he happier then for that want made him not want it this finds it In his mad fits hee once writ to her and would needs conuey it by a Romanian who then wayted on him He honestly deliuered it but more honestly wept and bewailed his Lords misfortune She caried it brauely and that is all can be said for what should shee or could shee doe louing an other she was no question sorry in a noble sort but not in respect that had he beene other she must haue runne a greater danger in hazard of her honor and breach in faith to her beloued This made her imagine the other the lesse and her fortune the better The same Lady and her louer likewise but at seuerall times were brought to the victorious King whose pardons he gaind being as mercifull as braue and this relation haue I from the Prince of Sauoy a Gentleman excellently bred and discreetely liuing good as any learned aboue ordinary Princes and delicatly skill'd in Poetry This discourse hee hath put in verse which is that I meant hee sent me and daintily expressed all the passions The Queene of Naples desired to see it shee promise the performance then walked they a little farther still taulking of loue the braue Queene longing to heare the young Queene confesse shee willing enough if to any shee would haue spoken it but hee and shee must only bee rich in that knowledge In the euening the other Princesse came vnto them and so all attended the rare Lady into the Palace who was as perfect in Poetry and all other Princely vertues as any woman that euer liu'd to bee esteemed excellent in any one shee was stor'd with all and so the more admirable With in a short time after the King of Morea intending to meete the Princes who hee imagined would bee in that time vpon their returne determined to encounter them more cleerely to see his loue for hee tooke a iourney towards them and so resolued to remoue his Court to Corinth that famous auncient and fayre Citty there hee purposed to stay and to haue the fitter opportunity to entertaine them how happy a resolution in shew this was for the amorous Ladyes louers can well and best coniecture Being arriued at that beautyfull place the young louing Princesses must needs see the Sea and not only that but goe vpon it Pamphilia went to the shoare with them but then considered her grauity was too much in the opinion of the world to enter into so slight an action wherefore desired pardon They would not allow it herâ— but with sweete perswasions and inticements got her a bord with them they sayled some leagues from the shoare with much pleasure and as they cald it content Pamphilia and Vrania discoursing Philistella and Selarina Orilena was at that time with the Queene of Naples whom they would not call least their iourney might bee hindred thus they plotted to deceiue themselues and ranne from safety to apparent danger for what is the Sea but vncertaintie Why should Pamphilia vnlesse on necessity venture her constant selfe in such a hazard as if to tempt her enemy which surely shee did for she grew angry to see she was made to serue her perfectioÌ„s in fury waxed in raged the Shippe grew kindly with bending her selfe to each waue to aske pitty and bowing with reuerence to demaund safety and returne But shee the more sought to like a proud insolent woman grew the more sâ—out and haughty regarding nothing more then her owne pride and striuing to molest those beautyes The Ladyes cry'd the Sea vnmercifully stubborne was deafe to their laments They besought she came vp to the very sids of the Ship as if to harken but then slid downe and smild at their feare and rose againe in glorious height to behold more of their sorrowes O said Pamphilia when did I euer play so foolish a part iustly may I bee condemned for this error and blamd for so much lightnes how she despisd her selfe and complaind to her loue how she accused all but him how she wept and as it were saw by the course a comming harme to her soule which then and after for a long space best knew the hurt wayling in condemning her The storme continued the winds calling loud to the Sea to assist or continue her fury To the shoare of either side they could not get Fortune would not permit ought but misfortune to gouerne at last they were quite carried out of the Gulfe and being in the Adriatike Sea the Shippe was tossed as pleased Destiney till at last she was cast vpon a Rocke and split the braue Ladyes saued while she a while lay tumbling and beating her selfe as hoping to make way into the hard stone for those who could pierce the stoniest heart with the least of their looks When they were got vpon the Rocke and seeing no place but it selfe which appear'd to be at first but small they were in an excessiue perplexity wishing rather in the storme to haue beene swallowed then brought thither to some hope and then cast into the depth of Dispaire except
must not haue it lent thee but loose more A ship at last came towards him to demaund newes and if they came from Greece of Amphilanthus He made answere himselfe that he was the man they sought My Lord said he your brother by me salutes you and desires your speedy returne the cause you shall by these letters vnderstand He tooke them and found that a great warre was begun betweene two famous and great houses in Italy by reason that the Duke of Milans younger sonne had stolne away the Duke of Vrbins onely daughter the businesse at first was but betweene themselues then grew further all neighbours taking part with them so as Italy was all on fiâ—e and the Regent no more respected then as their kings brother but power he had none or very little so as hee remained at Rome in the Castle and thence sent to his brother to returne and gouerne whose sight they all thought would appease the fury He was grieued to goe from seeking her and them he loued so dearely yet this was an occasion to bee looked vnto nor could it bee long that it was likely to hold him wherefore by Ollorandus his aduise and the care hee had of his poore Countrie for her sake more then his owne to preuent the ruine hee bent his course that way Alas vnfortunate Lady what will become of you this is the last time for some moneths hee shall come so neare but yeares before his affection bee so much Vnluckily did Fortune prouide for thee when blessings only kisse like strangers but haue their dwellings other where Hee arriued in Italy presently letting his comming be knowne all flocked vnto him and as when a ciuill warre in a Country hath made parties yet when a common enemy comes they all ioyne against him so did they flee now from the partakings but runne to happinesse and welcome He examined the cause found matters ill on both sides yet at last with power loue and iudgement appeased them all and setled Italy in as braue peace and quiet as euer it was flourishing now doubly as in riches and the ioy of such a King While he remained there much people frequented thither and the fame of his acts brought most eyes to behold him and as he returned so flew the report of his being there with them whereupon the King of Dalmatiâ— sent Embassadors to treat of a marriage twixt his daughter and Amphilanthus a thing long before spoken of and wished but this father would neuer heare of it during his life now reuiued againe and with much earnestnesse pursued The King made a courteous and ciuill answer to the Embassadour but said for marriage hee did desire to be excused till he knew by his owne labour certainely what was become of his Sister and Cosin then hee would come himselfe into Dalmatia and satisfie the King to his full content This answer was sufficient for the time thus resolued he to goe in the search appointed and to that end hauing called the Princes together who were all met and those from Albania returnd gaue charge of his estate to the Counsâ—ll making an old graue man of much reuerence in the Country and of the house of Florence President of the Counsell his brother he would haue setled againe but he desired to bee excused and to haue the order of Knighthood that with the rest of the braue Princes hee might seeke his sister and Cosins The King refused him not but himselfe gaue him the order and then parted he one way with Ollorandus the young Leonius another way by himselfe hauing none but an Esquire with him Amphilanthus changed his armour and colours making all tawny as if forsaken which was but the badge of the Liuerie hee gaue her soone after who best deserued from him and therefore least merited that reward he also gaue himselfe another name and was cald the Lost Man Ollorandus must likewise alter else one would make the other knowne wherefore he contrariwise cald himselfe the Happy Knight carrying in his Sheild Victory crownd with Loue. Thus they trauelled vncertainely where to stay or land letting the Marriners guide them as they pleased who were strangers to them and of Dalmatia whither they carried them they asked no more questions but landed and so went vp into the Countrie comming into a Wood which was great and euery way thicke and desart they yet traueld when they came to a way that parted in three they stood in question what to doe at last they resolued to take the middle way and by no meanes to deuide themselues The course they tooke brought them to a mighty Hill whose curled sides were so thick with trees as no possibility was to go downe being so steepe as they must hope to do a miracle and walke on the crownes of trees or els fall to their ruine like Icarus melted for presumption so they might bee bruised for proud hope and broken in their fall They lighted from their horses to trie if so they might goe on but all was in vaine so as they kept the Hill till they came to a place where trees had bin cut this was little better for their horses yet some thing more easie for them Here with much difficulty and paine which to aduenturous Knights is called pleasure their life being a meere vexation wilfully disguised to content they got downe and then came into a most louely Vally which had been the perswasiue part to their descending louelinesse being as attractiue as the Adamant hauing a property in loue to Iron so louelinesse hath to affection In this vally they rid a prety space but â—ot one word past betweene theÌ„ to a Riuer they came fierce and violent in the streame no way might bee found to passe it in many miles riding till at last they came vnto a Bridge which was defended by two Knights They would passe the Guarders refused vnlesse they would fulfill the orders there They desired but to know what they were and they as willingly would obey as they demand The orders said they are these you must iust with vs two one after another if you ouercome the first you must proceed to the next and if vanquish both the passage is free but one must venture first nor his companion helpe but stay his turne and so fight with both The vnmatchable King would take that taske on him his companion standing by he began and brauely concluded it with the Victorie Then seeing no more to be done he tooke the Swords of the vanquished and hung them on a Pillar hard by commanding them not to touch them but to goe to the King of that Country from him and to â—ell what had befallen them and sweare to carry no swords for two yeares nor euer more to defend so slight a cause They desired first to goe to the Lady who had set them there and tell her then to doe the rest desiring to â—now who had ouercome them Hee answered the Lost Man
those Knights maintaine the passage said hee To defend poore mee cryd shee who since now left vngarded on that side I beseech you will conuey me to my house which when you see you will find likewise cause of pitty there Then brought she them vnto her dwelling which was in a Caue of great bignesse and large proportion a Monument in the mid'st of it of the most pretious stone of that time wherein shee liued being the Tombe of her sweete and last deere loue her sonne Deuided the Caue was into pretty roomes finely furnished but such as seemed rather to affect delicate cleanlines then sumptuous ornament yet were they rich enough Her attendants few but their seruice shewed them sufficient for that place with a modest and sad kindnesse shee bad them wellcome thither and instantly asking pardon that she must leaue them for such a tyme as she might performe her vow of mourning ouer the Tombe which hauing finished with numbers of sigh's groanes and teares she returnd to them againe Amphilanthus was not yet satisfied with the discourse wherefore againe he vrg'd her Then Sir said she you shall haue all I was borne to be betrayâ—'d for before this cunning ill man came I was vndone in former hops by one that had beene with my Lord almost from his birth who with flatterings had seald vp my heart to his vse neuer hiding any thing not my loue it selfe from his knowledge he making the greatest shew of obligâ—tion to me for my confidence that might bee expressed by so rare a witt striuing by subâ—ill meanes to make me thinke hee vsd all wayes hee might to make me happy still vrging me who needed no inticement to thinke how worthy the loue was how fit the match and then shewed me the liknesse of it our loues being so perfectly and reciprocally embraced the strong bond of friendship twixt our fathers and the continuance of that betweene him and my father as inheriting it from him lastly of our breeding together which though in our infancies yet the more naturally bred loue and increased it adding to loue as the smalest sticks doe with momber to the fiâ—rs of triumph but what aboue all indeed was the earnestest moouer as he treacherously protested was the true euen consent of our dispositions which seem'd so neere being one as though by birth made two yet created so as to be ioyned in one for the more direct and vnpartiall strength of perfectnesse and thus were you made to be one said hee in all fortunes and beings Heauen I confesse I held his louâ— Father Mother friends all were strangers to me in respect of the nearnesse of my affection to him and next to that did I thinke my best spent time was with those he most affected in his absence in that kinde seruing him Fortunate I thought my selfe and honour'd when his companions accompanyed me and so much I loued him as being forsaken I now the more am tortur'd with iust cause of coÌ„playning This Creature loath I am to name by other title and yet grieued to giue him his due and to call him spoyler of my blisse too diligently attended me neuer left me when any time might be permitted for man to see me in I embraced his conuersation but it chang'd to my affliction and contents destruction seeing oft times my passions which were too vehement for mee to hide or my weakenesse couer hee aduised yet still inticed mee on At last a match was offered me many had beene so before but all refused my conscience being such as neuer to marry any that I could not loue especially knowing it before yet was this more earnestly pursued then any other before the Gentleman himselfe too much and vnhappily affecting mee My Parents looked without loues eyes or rather saw while that child was blind the goodnes and greatnesse of his estate the hopefullnesse of the man his vertues and noble conditions much perswaded mee vnto him yet could not more mooue me then it is possible to stirr the most renowned Albion Rocks and in as much chast whitenesse remain'd my loue to my Lord while this Diuell who promis'd his helpe aymed at a farre fowler end beeing gaind I will not say by bribes to the friends of a great Heire whose estate might make one how vnworthy soeuer before a couetous minde seeme beautifull This was his fire and by this hee wrought destilling the offence of Villanie through the Limbeck of his wickednesse and this was the beginning My only loue being gon a iourney with the King loued infinitely by Deterius my father and hee staying had left his chamber and seruants to his dispose and command a stranger came in the plot ordained so by this Villaine while my Lord was dressing him hee desired to speake with the Traytor he went vnto him coÌ„ming in againe with a paper in his hand amazednes in his face which made my deerer selfe demand the cause he teÌ„derly louing the wretch because he had instructed himâ— froÌ„ in his tender youth He counterfetted loathnes to speake as if vnwelcome newes would follow his words the more he was troubled silent the more perplexed was my deere wherefore he priuately called the messenger to him of whom he demanded the newes he answered he knew none but that with much ioy and content Bellamira was betrothed to her long louing friend though not till then beloued of her he then loued and so may youâ— the better iudge of his paine When he heard I had giuen my selfe to another yet thus discreetly heâ— caryed it that hee spake not any thing vnto it though some while after heâ— demaunded of his fauour'd seruant as if but by chance if he heard any thing of Bellamira he would not answere but with a sigh and these words It is impossible I now find for any woman to be true Why said my Lord is Bellamira marryed No answered hee but as ill for shee is betrothed O women O loue how fickle and false are you both My deere hearing the death of my loue confirmed in this likely but vntrue manner saiâ— little only turned himselfe to a window where some teares he shed yet hauing the noblest spirit in the world would not suffer himselfe too long tâ— be gouernd vnder sorrow turned againe and so walked into an Orchardâ— where they conferred and at last he gained his consent to his desired end I ignorantly liued not daring to make other expressions then by looks or humble and willing seruices offered him which with as much affection were embraced yet was I grieued I heard not of him which still till then I did by euery one that saw him he as willing to send as I to receiue kindnesse The earnest suiter and falsely supposed betrothed man still did pursue and so hotly as at last I resolued to stretch the limits of modesty and to acquaint my Lord withall by letter and so ambitiously hoped to gaine one from him but considering many dangers I
me leaue me smarting affliction scourge to loyall hearts yet leaue you hold me being left by him who onely holds my loue Thus passed I part of the night the rest in an exercise mine vndoer taught mee putting my thoâ—ghts in some kind of measure which else were measurelesse this was Poetry a thing hee was most excellent in That night and many more were ended in that manner till at last taking a resolution which was made by necessity I came abroad againe meeting at my fathers chamber one day with my still deâ—re though forsaken He wished me much ioy I told him hee might best wiâ—h it hauing caused so much sorrow to me hee told mee my chosen loue hee hoped would bring content vnto mee Then had you been more kind and true said I. Treborius is the man must hold your affection said he The Forrest Heire cryd I hath made you change and mee forsaken liuing thus vnhappily made free Free said hee and betrothed Pardon mee my Lord said I I neither am nor will bee till I wed Will you begin said hee to vse that vice you euer till now contemned dissembling a thing protested against by your vertue It is that thing I most abhorre answered I but if I would vse it my faith should hinder it from you Heauen then beare witnesse of my wrong cryd hee and pitie mine said I. With this the company came about vs so as for that time wee said no more then did hee seeke meanes how to regaine my affection which he feared was lost to him while alas my labour was how to couer that which so truly was his as I doubted my selfe for being a safe keeper of it from him determining all chastitie in loue not so much as entertaining his outwaâ—d complements farther then ciuilitie commanded Treborius followed his sute my father vrged mee and I cast away by fortune threw my fortunes at his feete to bestow them truly then not worth the accepting yet loue in the man made him seeke me and with as much ioy receiue me The time was appointed all our friends and kindred inuited and as a principall guest my lost loue was intreated to come who obayed but his sad demeanor shewed it was no pleasure to him to see me giuen to another if hee were troubled how was I afflicted In the morning before I was quite dressed according to the manner of our Countries libertie the chiefe strangers came into my chamber permitted by custom to see the Bride dressed among the rest or before the rest he came in yet said nothing onely lookes spake for him I was to the soule perplexed and being ready to enter into my miserable estate I went into a great window which had a curtaine ouer it A Lady whom I most respected and so did all those whose happines was to know her worth being for all noble vertues and excellent parts to be admird would not be denied to go with me Befoâ—e her I performd a vowed sacrifice which was of a lock of haire that I had worne constantly many yeares this haire was his though not giuen to me by himselfe but by an ancient seruant of his vnknown to his Lord. The vow was that if euer I should be so vnfortunate as to marry any but himselfe that morning before my marriage to burne it to my losse and loue This next my heart I euer carried and with the losse of that finished my vow that fatall day before the perfectest of women not without teares as since that noble Lady hath told me when with her fauour shee would giue libertie to her selfe to speake with me vnworthy of her iudgement making mee often call my selfe to mind yet I thinke rather to bee resolued of what shee could but coniecture then to renew my torment with memorie of my distresse But this finished the marriage followed what torture was it to mee standing betweene my loue and Treborius when I was to giue my selfe from my loue to him How willingly would I haue turned to the other hand but contrary to my soule I gaue my selfe to him my heart to my first loue Thus more then equally did I deuide my selfe within a short time after I went with my husband to his house wishing neuer more to see any light or company which in some sort I enioyd for one whole yeare but then the King going to see his Country in Progresse my husbands house was found fit in his way so as he lay there and was by him freely and brauely entertained he being as bountifull in his house as any man but this brought further trouble for such a liking the King had to the place as often in the yeare he visited it much his Maiestie was pleased to grace mee I thinke for my friends respect but howsoeuer mine eyes ascended no higher then a subiects loue Many times by the Kings command I was after at the Court once I remember being at the entertainement of the King of Slauonia brother to his Maiestie there was tilting course of field and many such braue exercises but so farre short all the Gallants and the King himselfe being one came of my loues perfectnesse as they seemd but foyles placed to set forth the lusture of his excellence The sports brake vp and the King Queene and Court accompanied the Slauonian King to the Sea who was from thence to take a further voyage with my husband I returned my heart so filled with loue as nothing but it selfe could find biding or entrance there Treborius out of loue to me loued my friends and those he saw I most respected which made me so willing to requite his affection as I studied how to content him euer sauing my first loue perfect to the owner and truly such I found his kindnes as I haue been sorry I had no loue left for him yet could I not in the kindest humour spare him any from the other By the way as we returnd how would the good man praise his person his fashion speech horse-manship conuersation pleasing mirth concluding still he was the only exact piece of man-kind and framed alone without equall and as if hee were made to honour all vertues and they framed to serue him I tooke such ioy in these as still I bore him vp in them seeing in his words the picture of my heart and thoughts liuely drawne he maintained them to content me while I best satisfied seemed to commend his witty descriptions as if they and not the subiect pleased me Thus did I dissemble and thus onely for my loue and with him that loued me yet this may be pardoned if pardon may bee giuen for such a fault since loue did warrant mee and I obayd my Lord. Other times though for it I blamd my selfe because I wrongd his kindnes I would commend his ordinary talke when hee praised rude sports or told the plaine Iests of his Hunts-men yet the best their vocation could afford laugh and bee merry with them but why because oft-times
an vnlook'd for meanes for Amphilanthus at his first comming into the Caue being confident of not being knowne pulld off his Helme while Bellamira was gone to the monument at her returne seeing his face she fell on her knees blushing at her errour My Lord said she the afflictions which make me ignorant of all â—hings but themselues haue caused my forgetfullnes vnto you which I most humbly craue pardon for He admired how she knew him desiring to bee made certaine of the cause and meanes of her knowledge being extreamely sorry to be discouered Be not displeased great Prince said she that your seruant my poore selfe knowes your excellency since heere you shall command what it shall please you and be knowne but as you name your selfe only giue me leaue to expresse what ioy my afflicted heart did little expect in beholding in this my sad dwelling the most matchlesse Prince the earth carryes and may glory in bearing But Madame said hee how doe you I beseech you know me My Lord said she I attended on the Kings Neece in â— iourney she was pleased to make out of too much pride and conceit of her beauty being enough to be liked but too little to be defended in field Into Italy among other places shee went and then it was my happines to see you and the honor of chiualry in you which the poore Prince my Ladies seruant found for after you had cast him to the ground she cast him out of her fauor scorning any after but your selfe yet not louing you because you wonne the prize from her beauty to your Mistris The King did very well remember that accident and so discoursing a little more to that purpose they concluded with her promise not to disclose him or to know him to be other then the Lost Man and that was the reason she so freely disclosed her passions to him Shâ— tooke her way towards Saint Maura the two Kings higher into the Country though no way likely to finde the Ladyes yet first for them who could lay those memories apart trauelling through the delicate parts of Greece till they came to Romania passing many aduentnres vnder the name of the Lost Man one being necessary to be remembred On the skirts of Romania they came into a place Rockey and hilley nothing but Heath and some small shrubs to shelter rayne Sunne or any thing from one the mighty Rocks which shewed their swelling sides appeard like Swannes in their neasts when breeding and angry at passengers for troubling them white as they and fringed with Holly trees the wayes stony and troublesome so as they walked on foote and their Squires led their Horses Defirous to see rarities Olorandus went among them Amphilanthus keeping on in a path The braue Bohemian seeking among them at the last hapned to one which was wonderfull to behold a Rocke of great height and bignesse the midst of which was cleft to the bottome so euen and iust as if cut by hands yet was it impossible for hands to doe it Nature shewing how neere she can come to Art and how far excell it Beyond this was an other Rocke in which was a little Caue and in that a man lying it was so shallow in the body of it as he might discerne him to lye on his left side his face from the light in Pilgrims cloathes his staffe and bag by him and to add to this sad sight his voyce agreed to make him knowne miserableâ— breaking into these complaints Vngratefull wretch monster of manâ—kinde why liue I still to poyson the sweete Aire with my vild breathing what wickednesse is there that I abound not in and haue committed false trecherous and vngratefull I haue beene dye then with shame wrap'd round about thee dye Dolorindus and neuer let thy vnworthy face be more beheld nor thy false eyes behold the light let darkenesse not so blacke as thy sinne infold thee and be as thou art a creature vnfit for Heauen to looke vpon Olorandus knew he had beene lost strangly the manner and cause was vnknowne the other Kings keeping his councell til they could finde meanes to worke for his good He stole away softly and calld Amphilanthus who presently came with him where they heard him continue in his moanes crying out O Villaine that had a thought to wrong thy worthyest friend to be vngratefull to al-deseruing Amphilanthus nay more to plot his ruine and conspire his death Antissia thou art the cause of this and I the more miserable to be brought by a woman to be a Beast Amphilanthus pardon me my soule begs it let the fault be where it is laid iustly on vniust commands in loue But what excuse can I make say Antissia bad mee kill Amphilanthus is that enough O noe truth tels me that he saued mee from ruine from staruing from death shall a woman then make me forget these benefits and only because I loued her loue should not extend to hurt or procure murther I haue offended beyond pardon mercy must be shewed if I continue but mercy cannot I aske so far hauing forgone truth as my offence flyes higher then any hope can ascâ—nd to Antissia I now hate thee more then once I loued thee and more iustly for thy loue hath made me worth-lesse and spoyled my name honor and content shame is the reward I haue gain'd for my loue to thee and the heauy waight of vngratefulnesse lyes on my heart They were both amazed to heare these words not being able to coniecture whence they came the voyce they knew and the name but how this sorrow was could not imagine In the end they concluded to speake to him and Olorandus began Repentance said hee merits pardon for the greatest ill if you truely repent doubt not but you shall receiue what you seeke and the neerest way to that is to confesse freely your fault and then pardon will follow Pardon cry'd he I cannot be pardon'd I cannot hope I cannot be forgiuen You may said he And for that I will ingage my honor if you will be ruld said Amphilanthus With that hee rose and looking on them knew them which so much oppressed his weake body as he fel to the ground in a swound Amphilanthus took him vp and Ollorandus went to the next Spring for water wherwith they rubd his temples and brought him to himself but to what end only to die again for so was he afflicted as impossible it was for him to liue as they doubted then Amphilanthus vowed vnto him at his second comming to himselfe that whatsoeuer he had done or thought against him was then forgiuen desiring onely to be resolued of the griefes cause My Lord said he how shall I dare to tell you what I haue done when no shame is so great so infinite so ill as my faultâ—â— I am a Traitor to you take reuenge or let me giue it you Stay Dolorindus said he fall not from one ill to a greater speake to me plainely tell me
Morea and the worse doe I thriue for that since she hates all of that Country for hauing beene refused her desires by the braue Prince thereof on whom shee will now bee fully reuenged hauing got him in her custody and no hope is there of gayning him out aliue for she will hold him close prisoner in such a place as no force can get him thence till shee haue her ends and at last his death the Castle is impregnable and she vnwinable and thus his misfortune fell passing along this way in search as it seemed of his Sisters and Cousen hee met some of our troops who encounter'd him hauing demanded first who hee was then knowing him and how acceptable a present hee might bee to their Lady set all vpon him and finding them selues too weake blew a Horne at which came many more to their succour and so at last with numbers and his faintnesse loosing bloud he fell and into their vnmercifull hands his companion was taken before him and both caryed into the Castle with welcome they were receiued because shee was glad in her malicious heart shee had him and there hath hee remained now some ten dayes his Armour they threw about they card not where taking care only of his person to bring him aliue which was all they could doe yet I heare since by a wayting woman of hers that hee is yet liuing and some though little hope is of him Is there no way said the King to come at him or to purchase his deliuery mee thinkes you being of his Country and his fathers Subiect should study how to doe him seruice Truly Sir said hee I loue him as my Prince and admire him as his worth meriteth and could I but tell how to gaine his liberty were it with the losse of mine owne life I would venture it Haue you no power answered Rosindy with that wayting woman you before named she might assist you It is true said hee shee may and will I assure my selfe but Sir said he I am but one and this Castle is full of strong men and so dangerous it is to acquaint any with such an enterprize as death were all wee could expect and shamefull death in such a sort as would be inflicted without gaine but assured harme to him if it were discouerd it were plotted for his release besides so weake the two Princes are as they cannot performe any thing in their owne defence and if wee stay till they be strong it may bee for my Lady is extreame suddaine they may be dead before our helpe come For their assistance said Rosindy were they but able to trauell I would aske no more nor I Sir said the other were you two Amphilanthus and Steriamus I am neither of them said hee but if I may without boasting say I haue tryd my selfe in their companies and haue come away without any shamefull affront and for my companion he is little inferiour to any liuing The Knight began to mistrust something yet being indeede honest and meaning what he said desired to see his face Hee not once fearing any thing from him who so freely had discoursed to him lifted vp his Beuer but instantly let it fall againe whereat the Knights heart euen leaping with ioy Ah my Lord said he now shall we release the Prince but you must venture a great hazard for it you must goe to the Castle offer your seruice to my Lady court her refuse her nothing which fondnes will worke infinitely on her and so much as you may by that meanes win the sight of them and let me alone then for the rest I cannot doe this answered hee being a harder matter for me then winning the Castle for I cannot be vniust to my owne deerer selfe but deerest friend you may you are not ingaged but to hate all women what neede you care then what you doe to hinder their sexe Must I make loue to her said Polarchos Yes Sir said the other But if when this is done and I haue playd my part we should faile I should hate my selfe and vexe incessantly at my fortune Neuer doubt it Sir replyd the other but be sure you make enough of her and then preuaile for although she be crafty and deuilish yet so much she loues her pleasure as she will rather be made a foole in enioying them then misse of them and so passionate she will be as you may haue any thing of her and but satisfie her minde Polarchos vndertoke the busines and Rosindy went but as his friend this agreed vpon they went to the Castle the Knight being Nephew to the great Marshall of Morea held there as a prisoner to serue her conducting them telling the rest that this was one of purpose come to serue their Lady hearing of her rare beauty and vertues Being arriued at the Castle they went vp into the Hall euery place seeming stroÌ„ger then other so the harder to win In a withdrawing roome aboue stayres this Venus sate dressed as an inuiter to those pleasures vseth to bee her necke all bare as low as her brests could giue her leaue for too much immodestie to shew her sleeues loose and as she stir'd her armes they would rise vp and discouer their nakednesse and surely white otherwise she shewed too much for an ill skinne although neuer so much delicasie wanting chastity will make men distract for how ill soeuer men be in their discourse or liuing yet they loue modesty best and most prize it in their breasts though their tongues say other She had her haire curled and dress'd vp with Iewels and Rings and many pritty deuises as wantonly and phantastically placed as her eyes which laboured in twinckling to moistnesse giuing occasion for beliefe that that humor was most ruling in her Vnsteady she was in her fashion her head set vpon so slight a necke as it turnd like a weather-cocke to any vaine conceit that blew her braines about or like a staulke of Oates the eare being waighty her feete neuer but moouing as not willing to stand or sit still her gate wagling and wanton businesse she had perpetually in her selfe and with her selfe the looking-glasse being most beholding to her for stay this woman thought Polarchos is fit to bee the subiect for this enterprize hee saluted her and most affectionately looked vpon her shee straight imagined shee saw loue in him and felt as much in her selfe for she neuer wanted that amorously she entertained his his salutation her seruant whispering to her that hee was a fit seruant to bee employed by her shee knew he knew her and therefore gaue credit to him after she cast her eyes vpon Rosindy demanding who he was They replyde his name was Cautuâ—us that he was of Bulgaria coÌ„ming only in company with Larchos if euer loue did soueranize at first sight heere it was for so passionat was she of the new guest as she euen almost hung vpoÌ„ him to beg pity He refused no fauour shee asked but
pleasant sweet flowers naturally growing there among the stones as Pancies and Violets and others what could be there shewed him concerning the place she willingly let him see and told him it did belong to the Lord of Corsu an Iland not farre off but within sight of it more it seem'd she was vnwilling to tell but this the truth of the story was shee was by birth a great Lady in the before-named Iland belou'd and wooed by many but shee lou'd onely one who lou'd her as much for many yeares she was married to a Knight but her affections were wedded to her owne choyce He whom shee lou'd was also married but like her to one he car'd not for Their loue for what loue can be kept secret where such barres bee for enioying was seene and spoken of by many yet few blam'd them but wish'd they were free and married together there was another Lady in the same Country with whom shee did much keepe company and at her house had the happinesse to meete her loue shee being acquainted with their affections for what could shee hold from this Lady who was her chosen friend carefull shee was to keepe their counsels desirous to aid them in their desires and as kinde a friend as a true one but heere began the harme to smother like wet hay in fire smokes but the flame was longer in breaking forth This Lady call'd Siluarina had a cousen whom shee did dearely loue deseruing from her what loue could bee express'd from one to such a kinsman who was both that and a loyall friend to her nothing so deare to him as her loue nor of what did hee take care in comparison of her but being young and young men bee wanton he fell in liking with a seruant that belonged to the Lady where they lay cald Diania shee had others fairer but this was by him chosen for louelinesse shee was of as passionate a disposition as hee apt to receiue which was to the height of loue he gaining as it seem'd what he required as it also was found he did not sparingly demaund after this he was perswaded by his friends to go see a Lady a great marriage and to wooe hâ—r he consented to it and brake with his Cousen about it she very wel liked of it incourag'd him in it the spiteful woman seeing that thought she would haue her time to act her part therfore hauing got a false key one night when the louers had appointed a meeting as many they had though still chast she opened the dore and going into the chamber being certaine by the watch she made that she was gone forth tooke the lampe which hung on the wall at the beds feete and hung it in a chayre hard by the beds side of purpose to giue her at her returne occasion to looke on the remouing of it and to take a paper which she had laid at the bottome of it wherin she had written the most vilanous letter for threatnings reuilings of her for her sin as she cal'd it as it a little troubled Siluarina though she had a great spirit but that told her she had a husband and so the knowledge would be dangerous she had honour that would she be ouerthrowne lastly her loue might suffer which most greeu'd her for if all the harme had fallen on her shee had the lesse cared to auoid this and keepe all safe she resolu'd to speak with her the next morning for the hand she knew but first her seruant comming into the room to see her before he went a iourny he was determined to make for some daies she shewed him the paper Hee was vexed withall being afflicted that she should be in hazard for him and in such a kinde as his paines and stirring in it would bee the worse for her reputation Shee was more grieu'd to see him perplexed then with the businesse wherefore shee did comfort him and assur'd him shee would finde a meanes to salue all Hee tooke his leaue of her enioyning her to send him word how things passed Shee promised that and willingly would shee doe it had it beene for no other cause then so to heare from him whom so dearely she lou'd Hee gone she rose and being ready sent for the Gentlewoman to her to whom she brake forth into these words What offence did I euer giue you or what cause of malice haue you against me to worke such a treacherous practise seeking to ruine me and my honour She replyed that her Cousen was assur'd to her and therefore she did it that you said shee hauing such power with him should not seeke to marry him to the Lady mention'd to him or to any but my selfe which if you doe assure your selfe I will not spare you either to your husband or any els but the whole world shall bee fill'd with your shame Threaten not base woman said shee I feare not nor thinke thou shalt make mee so neere thy selfe wicked as to wrong my Kinsman or bloud so much as to let him fall to such mischiefe as to bee thy husband I know you wrong him for he cannot haue that litle worth to be so fond of so vile a creature or forget himselfe so farre as to thinke of marrying you or were it so neuer thinke tricks can fright mee of any ill knowne by you that I haue committed I am as cleere as ayre onely suspition you may vrge and that was brought to light by you and the cause knowne to be malice who will beleeue you my life hath gained a settled opinion in the world not to be stirr'd by your ill tongue my husband is so iust as when he shall heare you and me he wil I know right me so farre as you shall be punished and whipp'd for slandering me What good then can you hope for if you doe talke which doe if you haue a minde to it and beleeue it you shall bee no more spar'd then you threatned me What witnesse can be brought against me an enuious railing woman your selfe onely What will that worke against me when differences will be iustly made betwixt you and me and malice ouerbalance the report Shee hearing her so fearelesse and knowing those things she spake to be true found shee was deceiu'd in her plot and Diania in her inuention encountring another manner of woman then she look'd for shee therefore turn'd her speech protesting how much shee had euer honour'd her that there should be nothing to the value of her life neglected to serue her withall desiring pardon for what she had said excusing her selfe with madnesse that possessed her for feare her Cousen would forsake her Thus they parted shee carelesse of her danger in outward show to her in whom the danger lay yet wished she for all her great spirit that shee were fairely dead and so her honour safe it continued thus her seruant returning backe againe and meeting her at the same place Siluarina hauing in the meane time
Steriamus when he was passionate for Pamphilia she was called Dorilina then who there was not a discreeter though a true louer As they walked discoursing of their loues and torments for it Dorolina besought the Queene to honour her with the repeating of some of her verses Shee answer'd she was growne weary of rime and all things but that which wearied her life and yet for cruelties sake would not take it Shee would not bee answer'd so but vrg'd her againe hoping to take her this way something from her conrinuall passions which not vtter'd did weare her spirits and waste them as rich imbroyderies will spoyle one another if laid without papers betweene them fretting each other as her thoughts and imaginations did her rich and incomprable minde but as yet Dorolina could not preuaile for the part of Poetry yet she gain'd so much as Pamphilia sate downe and told her this tale faigning it to be written in a French Story There was said she in France for many years many Kings that Country being diuided into seuerall Kingdomes seuerall Nations there were likewise which spake different languages some of these had Kings the others onely Princes but in successe of time all came happily vnder the rule and gouernment of one King care onely had then by marriages to make a perpetuall vnion which onely length of time could doe among these marriages there was one from which grew both good and ill a braue young Lord of the I le of France second sonne to a famous Nobleman and one who had great imployment vnder the King being counted the brauest man of the Kingdome was by the meanes of a brother in Law of his married to a great Heyre in little Brittany of rich possessions This Lady was wooed sought by many one she affected and so much loued as she was contented to thinke him worthy to be her husband and so for worth hee was Miserably hard her father kept her and close yet so much liberty she gain'd as she had almost tyed her selfe neuer but by death to be released yet her fortunes were not meant thus to be disposed of for her father dying and she thinking she was a little or much neglected by her first seruant who came not according to appointment to attend her she chang'd her minde and gaue her selfe to valiant louely Bersindor the Frenchman leauing the other as he had her at home to learne better breeding Into France she came where she was by Bersindors father and mother cherished with all affection and loue her husband kinde and as respectiue as she merited many faire and sweet children they had to their comforts and their friends and so bred they were as all companies coueted their presence being like sweet delights to sad eyes The eldest daughter was called Lindamira shee was so much fauour'd by the Queene of France as by no meanes she must be absent froÌ„ the Court which indeed was the fittest place for her being a Lady of great spirit excellent qualities and beautifull enough to make many in loue with her but shee loued onely one and that one she had loued many years before any mistrusted it or himselfe knew it Hee was likewise fauoured by the Queene Mother whose husband dead had leysure to bestow her eyes vpon the loueliest obiect and this Lord was well enough contented spending his time after his owne desire Lindamira serued thâ— Queene faithfully and so affectionately as she had no loue but them two of either Sexe yet was she carefull to giue no dislike to her mistris whom she would not iniure or indeed at that time her selfe for she was married he not thinking that it was himselfe she loued though he knew she was somewhere bound in those fetters A carefull eye he carried ouer her not that it appear'd he loued her much more then as her deserts which her noble and free carriage deserued yet he was desirous to finde her loue Once he thought it was the husband of a Lady she had made her chosen friend but after he found the contrary to his owne comfort for the Queene how well assur'd soeuer she was or rather might haue beene of her fidelity yet loue she knew had commanded her who borne a Princesse and match'd to a King yet could not resist his power might with greater ease soueraignize ouer a subiect but in Loues Court all are fellow-subiects and thus her Maiesty was deceiued in her greatnesse which could not as she thought be subiect and therefore though others must be Vassals when they are all companions aud serue alike This suspition was first put into her minde by a malicious Lady who enuyed sweet Lindamira but so was it beleeued and follow'd by the Queen as all her fauour was withdrawn as suddenly and directly as if neuer had Lindamira remaining like one in a gay Masque the night pass'd they are in their old clothes againe and no appearance of what was she yet was grieued to the heart because she truly lou'd her mistris as her disgrace went further then only discontent for the losse or the note the world might take of it which must like their reports be wiped away or washed like linnen which would bee as white againe as euer But these pierced her heart and she was inly afflicted at all times shee neuerthelesse attended neuer failing her duty yet desirous to know the cause of this her misfortune She imploy'd many to moue the Queene only to know why she was offendâ—d that if she were guilty she might aske forgiuensse and make humble submission but this would not serue she poore Lady ignorant of the cause desired the Lord for whom she suffer'd to doe the like for her hee did but return'd as the others did to her telling her the Queenes answer was that she should not know the cause therfore willed her to be satisfied with that with knowledge that she was and had iust cause to bee offâ—nded Lindamira then asked leaue to retire she had permission and withall her Maiesty when she gaue her her hand to kisse which fauour she was contented to allow her she told her she should doe well to stay till she was sent for She humbly with teares in her eyes answer'd she would obey and so shee departed going home and soon after with a husband like her last fortune went to liue with him whither soone came all her friends to visite her and by him were nobly entertain'd The Lord whom she so much loâ—ed and was accused for likewise came with that Lady her deare friend among many discourses they fell vpon this of her disgrace Lindamira saying that the thing it selfe did not now so much afflict her as the ignorance of it None said he that dares tell you the cause knowes it and some that do dare not What should feare them said she if mistrust of my secresie I will giue them cause to take away that suspition of weaknes in me other reason I cannot guessâ— if
I should goe further said he you might imagine me one could tell I am verily pâ—rswaded of that said she But I feare your displeasure said he Why said Lindamira concerning none but poore me how can any thing trouble you It may be said he it toucheth others and so much as yoâ— will hate them for suffering for them I haue no reason for that said shee though it may be I shall bee angry with my selfe for giuing cause Then said he with your pardon I will tell you that I am inioyned not to let you of any know to secrecie I will not binde you for the businesse it selfe hath power to doe that wherewith the friend Lady rose and he proceeding told her all that had passed but now said he I feare you will hate me for this Pardon me my Lord answer'd she I am onely sorry that you should suffer for me so vnworthy of your fauour but for being offended I protest I loue her displeasure since shee hath honour'd me with this worthy opinion rather then I lou'd her greatest grace more noble is my fall then my time of fauor was he did not it seemed lose that opportunity nor was she nice to let him know her long loue expressions of it and embracing affections wanted of neither side what happines this was to sweet Lindamira that constant woman if such an other there be who lou'd fiue years vndiscouer'd then on such an vnlook'd for occasion reuealed so great a secret may iudge this shewed a strange happines to befal them that a iealous woman whose doubt of losse brought her losing Lindamira's gain thus you may see the effects of that base humor but alas what succeeded all this your fortune deare Dorilena and mine for after she had lost the Queens fauour indured an vnquiet life miserable crosses from her husband possessed with like or more furious madnes in iealousie her honor not touched but cast downe and laid open to all mens toungs and eares to be vsed as they pleas'd Lastly after fouâ—teen years vnchang'd affection she cast her off contemptuously and scornfully she complain'd which complaint because I lik'd it or rather found her estate so neere agree with mine I put into Sonnets this course I might call vngratefulnesse in him and giue all ill names to it but I will with the story conclude my rage against him for thus the Booke leaues her the complaint is this diuided into seauen Sonnets Lindamira's Complaint 1. DEare eyes farewell my Sunne once now my end While your kinde willing grace I felt all ioy In soule I knew withdrawne you now destroy The house that being gaue to loues best friend You now alas to other obiects bend That warmth of blisse which best delights enioy Striuing to win an oft won idle toy By falshood nurs'd such creatures seldome mend Try your new loues affect the choyce of store And be assur'd they likewise will choose more Which I yet grieue for though the losse I beare I would haue none with you to challenge right But beare you must for making choyce so light Yet still your beames I le loue shine you elsewhere 2. O Deadly rancour to a constant heart Frownesâ— and neglect my only fauours be Sometimes a cold respect is granted me But hot flames to those eyes ioy in my smart Once yet for Iustice sake weigh my hard part In gratefulnesse I should kinde vsage see For being tied alone to you els free Till by your wrongs now ioynd with heart-broke sâ—arâ— A glorious triumph you no doubt shall haue To crowne your victory on murders graue While falshood beares the armes my life hath won I onely for twise seauen yeares loue shall gaine Change worse then absence or death's cruelst paine The last yet got you haue your labour done 3. A Surgeon I would aske but 't is too late To stay the bleeding wound of my hurt heart The roote is toucht and the last drops depart As weeping for succeeding others fate Alas that my kild heart should waile my state Or leisure haue to thinke on ought but smart Nor doth it but with pitie beare a part With her` embrac'd yours like a louing mate But now unmarried by a new disdaine Cold death must take the body from her loue And thou poore heart must end for my unworth Conscience is lost and outward fairenes gaines The place where worth did or else seemd to moue Thus world like change new triall still brings forth 4. O Memorie could I but loose thee now At least learne to forget as I did moue My best and onely thoughts to waite on loue And be as Registers of my made vow Could I but let my mind to reason bow Or see plaine wrongs neglects and slightings proue In that deare Sphear which as the Heauens aboue I prizd and homage to it did allow Canst thou not turne as well a Traitor too Since Heauen-like powers teach thee what to doo Canst not thou quite forget thy pleasures past Those blessed houres the onely time of blisse When we feard nothing but we time might missâ— Long enough to enioy what 's now off cast 5. LEaue me vaine Hope too long thou hast possest My mind made subiect to thy flattring skill While Aprill mornings did my pleasures fill But cloudy dayes soone changd me from that rest And weeping afternoones to me adrest My vtter ruine framd by Fortunes will When knowledge said Hope did but breed and kill Producing only shadowes at the best Yet Hope t is true thy faults did faire appeare And therefore loth to thinke thou counseldst me Or wilfully thy errors would not see But catch at Sunne moates which I held most deare Till now alas with true felt losse I know Thy selfe a Bubble each faire face can blow 6 THough you forsake me yet alas permit I may haue sorrow for my poysn'd crosse Thinke not though dead to ioy I cannot hit Vpon a torture for my soule-pierc'd losse Or if by chance I smile I hopes ingrosse Nor for I die not I doe bliss admit Most griefe will oft giue leaue for show to toss Vpon the waues where Shipwraâ—k'd comfort split Thinke then your will and left leaue me yet more Vexe not my loathed life to ruine bent Be satisfied with glut of your bad change Lay me vnthought on in the loue-kill'd store My griefe 's my owne or since for you 't is sent Let me haue that part from you while you range 7 SOme doe perhapts both wrong my loue and care Taxing me with mistrust and Ielousie From both which sinnes in loue like freedome free I liue these slanders but new raised are What though from griefe my soule I doe not spare When I perceiue neglect's slight face on me While vnto some the louing smiles I see I am not Iealous they so well doe fare But doubt my selfe lest Nesse worthy am Or that it was but flashes no true flame Dazl'd my eyes and so my humour fed If this be
by a new creation fall to my old place againe These and some other open disgraces truly changed my heart or wrought so much in me as I grew to loue lesse then not to loue and now am come to be more careles of him and faine almost would shun him yet I cannot directly do that though I hate the fortune I am fallen into and this is the cause I am vext with hauing this Lot Vrania and Philistella pitied her especially when she cryd Alas said she why was loue so cruell or rather to clothe loue in such cruelty as to giue hope of purpose to ruine as if one would giue a delicate banket and poyson the Guests when he had done els might hee haue left mee despaire for charities sake and not luld me with hope to martyr me againe The Queenes perswaded much with her and so at last she was pacified so farre as to giue him the Iewel and accept the name of his Mistrisse as other faire Ladies doe the like name further their friendships increased not so long as this story lasted Philistella was left heere with her deare Selarinus shee being crowned with all solemnitie as hee had been before Steriamus and his Vrania iournied on to their Kingdome where likewise shee was crowned and liued the rest of their dayes in all happinesse and ioy the like did Selarinus and Philistella Antissius and Selarina in their voyage by Sea meta fine Aduenture in a sweet and dainty Iland where they staid the Queeue not well brooking the Sâ—a in which time they walked vp into the land comming into a delicate Pallace built curiously of white stone a braue Riuer or arme of the Sea running a little on the other side of it Gardens were round about it or walkes which made it appeare the Pallace of delight and much perfecter had it bin but the Lord of it was called by lifes concluder to obedience dying and leauing two sonnes and one most faire Daughter with his noble Lady whose vertues were such as shinned in her for the honor of all other women and examples to Maydes to liue Virgins and wiues and widdowes as she had done and did She met the King and Queene at the first Gate being enformed who they were with all reuerent respect welcommed them attending them into the Gardens shewing them the pleasures of them and giuing them such fruits as that time yeelded then waited on them into the house which they admired for curiositie sitting downe to rest them in a braue Gallery which delighted them infinitely by reason of the sweete prospect which though not so far as others yet was it as pleasing beeing able to iudge of what they beheld which was one way delicate meadowes and that great Riuer beyond it fields and hills downe the Riuer an ancient and famous Citie well built and of many miles compasse vp the Riuer pasture grounds and fine inclosures thus were all sorts of delights round about and in sight of this place but the richest and finest sight was the graue Widdow the sweet youthes and the excellent young Lady whose perfections were such as no description can come neere or any thing but admiration tell whose fulnesse will not permit expression Her stature was of the brauest and best chosen height her skinne although her hayre was browne white as milke soft as downe and fine as silke her eyes black as if mourning for the murders they would commit yet so spritefull as gaue comfort and blessed content to him should bee honourd with their fauours and hope of life to the dying if they repented their ambition She was sixteene yeares of age but of such beauty as if each minute had biâ— employd to fetch excellencies to her a graue and braue fashion she had which to strangers seemd pride but to them that knew her true noblenes abounded in her which they published else she had bin vndeseruingly condemned With the King there was a braue Lord but somewhat in yeares exceeding her he yet had a young and new desire to obtaine her his worth would not seeke her but as her worth warranted him a strangers name hee feared would be distastfull yet he was so neare a home borne man in affection as that might speake for him he was an experienced man and therfore knew time the most pretious of any thing wherefore he applyd himselfe vnto her Her fashion was discreet like herself respectiue according to his owne hart which was not the meanest but such an one as might haue dwelt for noblenes in a king but being in him made him a king for bounty A Cosin-german shee had who trauelling with this Lord was so imped into the quills of his loue as he was himselfe and so wooed for him she was confident of her Cosins loue and trusted his iudgement so receiued the Romanian as on trust from him he was in great fauour with the King who spake for him and of purpose stayed in that Island belonging vnto his Crowne till his seruant had gaind his desire the weather so temperat and pleasing as his Maiesty resolued to stay there and lodge in tents for pleasure and the more commodiously to let his Fauourite court his Mistris although the Lady most earnestly besought his gracing her house with lodging in it but the delightful Island carryed him about to view it and so left him to woe and win if he could In his Progres he met many fine aduentures the Island being large and plentifull of all delicacies but the king fel to sports the Queene affected only prety delights none so violent as hunting the house where they then kept court was a large and auncient house belonging to an Noble-man built square of stone standing rather vpon a flat then a Hill for the highest of the ascents was scarce sencible There ranne behind the Garden and Orchard wall a sweete Brooke on each side whereof fine and enamiled Meadowes lay shewing their finesses to each eye in this place Selarina tooke delight and heere walked but she was with-drawne a little from the Brooke and plaine to a little hill which had some few trees to grace it selfe withall and helpe others from the scorching heate a voice to this place inuited her whither being arriued she found two men in Shepheards weeds their countenances spake for them that they were not borne to that estate yet their complexions shewed that they had not beene curious to preserue them selues from the Sun but followed their fortunes or choyce as men ought to doe any profession they take they were not so young as it might bee said they had want only taken that life the ripnes of their yeares tooke away that suspition for they were towards forty so as iudgment to content them selues or discontent one might see had brought them to it they were together when the Queene first saw them but they seeing her soone parted one as if flying company the other remayning to yeeld account of his going
alike that she had resolued to marry if euer one of her owne affections chusing so what with my slight answers and her direct refusalls she and I were left quiet and so in truth we were for her Husband left her happliy both by his losse and a faire estate hee gaue her at his end to make amends partly for the ill she had indured To her I often went and stayed as long as I could and neuer found her displeased but for my parting what blessing can any on Earth wish to equall such a blisse and this I inioyed and might still haue done but With that he sigh'd aud look'd so deadly pale as if that But had beene the Axe to take away his life Leonius desired him to proceede He turned his face they before both leaning against a Table to the Boord and hung downe his head ouer it groaning as if his breath had beene in contention with his body to goe or to be stay'd at last Leonius likewise leaning downeâ— and earnestly perswading with him he lifted vp his eyes on him eyes that would conquer in what looks so euer they pleased to attyre themselues and putting his hands together Oh my Lord said he be contented with this you haue As they were thus in intreatyes and excusings Veralinda came and the Lady so as they were now brought to a conclusion and for that night parted the Lady with much Ceremony as excellent she was at it bringing the Princes to their Chamber then all parted to their rests but the sweâ—est sadnes who remained all night as his expressions of his fortunes shewed he had beene troubled When day came he rose and went downe into a Garden there he walked and let the hower slip away vnthought on as his steps Leonius longing for the end sought him out and finding him would needes haue him goe on Then Sir said he I must beginne againe with But such was my misery as I fell into a great and strict acquaintance with this Lady which she did dislike though not me as since I vnderstand but then did belieue by reason of some slight carriages she shewed me but causlesly I did mistrust her and openly leaue her She that had none of the lowest but rather highest spirit of the World yet humbled it selfe to seeke me vngratefull I accepted it not a Iourney I was then to goe in which shee writ to mee affectionately and kindly as euer which I tooke well and writ to her a letter that she liked vpon which she made a perfect answere and as amorousan one as she had euer written and they were excellent as any in that kind could be but this came not to my hands till tenne Months after and then by the meerest accident in the world When I read it I saw her loue and the crosse fortâ—ne still that attended it I was sorry I had abused such noblenes and resolued if shee would receiue me to offer my selfe againe In this resolution I went where she was with a friend and kinswoman of hers I met her abroad walking and striuing to make my selfe acceptable looked with my old lookes vpon her she with the same I had bin blessed with receiued me then I told her I had receiued a Letter from her but it boare a long date shee said shee was sorry I had not had the meanes by that sooner to haue knowne her mind I smild as glad of her loue she euen reioyced at it but yet such habit I had got of strangnes as I could hardly get my selfe out of it But to assist mee in this busines a Feauer tooke me what kindnes did she then expresse leauing all businesses her owne house and all suffering where she was though most welcome many inconueniences and all for me tending me her selfe and being so louing a Nurse to me as I recouered within short time since wee haue beene good friends and shee so perfectly good as shee let all pass'd faults on my side dye and vnremembred passe taking the new returne in the place of it and satisfaction in that for the other without questioning of it Thus it continued and doth but I haue beene lately with her and lefâ— her not so well as I desire she should be but such accidents haue befallen vs both as I am forced not to shew how much I loue her nor she how willing to embrace it counterfeit awhile we must though I cannot in my countenance but shew what my heart feeles Discouer said the Prince likewise that and you will be better eased I will sooner dye said he leauing my selfe a pure offering to her trust then betray her she hath commanded and I will obay and in that merrit some fauour iustly from her shortly I hope to heare what most I couet from her and if I be happy most braue Prince you shal know it for I will attend you at your owne Court and if the contrary happen I hope yet you will permit â—y sadnes a receite the one shall bee an honour the other a charity The Prince would not vrge any more hauing so â—oble and free a promise from him vnasked but told him hee trusted he should finde those sad lookes turned into as much ioy which hartily he wished and the time came when he should be freed from sorrow and himselfe made happy with the story'es end which he much and infinitly desired the knowledge of The two Ladyes came into the Garden also to recreate themselues a little be-before dinner the delicate Princesse hauing libertie granted to the Lady her demand in her story of her pass'd Aduentures the Lady being to requite her told her thus I aâ— said she that vnhappy Lisia who was by birth and greatnesse of estate sought before I had knowledge and giuen before discretion was appearing in me to a great Lord I thought it as most women doe a gay matter to be great a Duches me thought was a rare thing and a braue busines but all that while I marked not the Duke who was and is as dull a piece of flesh as this or any Country neede know besides he hath had such vnsufferable passions and passages with me as truely if I had not giuen my selfe to hunting and such delights abroad to take away the trouble I had at home I must haue suffered like a Martyre vnder his churlishnes but I relolued to alter him likewise if I could and so I wrought my selfe to worke with him as I got the hand with much a doe ouer his Sycofants all of them I turnd away hauing liberty to vse my will for I had gained him by perswasions oathes and iustifications sufficient for his capacityâ— to right my selfe against those had iniured me and so to continue a kind wife as he would be an husband to me these conditions gaue me such liberty as twenty foure seruants in one day I put away and placed such of mine owne or friends as I best liked and knew would and must be iust to me
ground and telling her shee was not to kneele to her guest To my Soueraigne Lady â—â—id she I am bound and your worth claimes this and more respect from all â—â—â—angers then kissed she the Queenes hands and rose beholding the Queene with admiration of her beauty and sadnes her eyes hauing been employed to other vse then sleeping as by the red circles did appeare Delicate discourse passed betweene them a good space till the Queene found she might be bolder with her then she yet had and so began to aske her some questions the first why shee woare Blacke being a Huntresse Shee replyd shee had lost her Deare and mourned for it Then must I weare Blacke also said shee for I am parted vnfortunately from my deerest Deere for which my heart allready is in mourning The sweete Nimph with a low reverence a sigh seemd to lament for her the Queene then proceeded as longing to know the end which the other perceiuing to giue her all content yeelded vnto it and proceeded thus Since I see the desire you haue to know all my story may it please your Maiestie to vnderstand I am called Mirasilua a Forrest Nimph by my manner of life but not profest to Diana though a seruant to her delights vnmarryed I liue but wedded to a vow I made to one whose breach of his like-made-one to me cannot yet vnmarry me he was called Sildurino as faire but as false as any his life was wholy in the Country and after that manner though he was nobly discended but his Grandfather falling into an vnfortunate action ouerthrew their house his father and his children euer after liuing priuatly and but plentifully yet is there no reason to vse them with the lesse respect or to contemue them or thinke basely of them who suffer for others offences not their owne yet such was the greatnes of their spirits as of fowre sonns the Grandfather left none but his father did marry who was betrothed before his fall and she nobly would after continue her loue to her Spouse liuing happily together and as contented as if they had all the possessions and honours they were borne vnto which was as much as most or any in this Kingdome The other three brothers liued with them but so vexed stomacking their pouertyes yet hauing vertuous hearts would not consent to thinke of ill courses they perplexedly liued and at last dyed their hearts broken with their owne swellings and rent with their owne furious passions their ouerthrow came in this manner The King who vnquietly reign'd next before your most worthy Vncle was a mighty Tyrant and had purchased the Kingdome by treachery and blood-shedding of many lastly of the right King his children and kinsmen to the last he could finde that durst say he had one drop of Royall blood in him and many suffered for this hauing so much royall vertue as to striue to ouerthrow such a beast When hee had done this and none left to withstand him he yet thought himselfe not secure vnlesse he ruin'd those that knew his villany least they bloodded in ill would practise on him all those he likewise made away nay those deere friends of his that had set the Crowne vpon his head truely and worthily requiâ—ed them for so Deuilish an act with the same they fedde the poore King his predesessor who had no falt but that he was too good too honest too iust two religious shewed faults in Princes in these dayes When the king had thus gained his mind and free'd himselfe from the danger of being betray'd who had beene trecherous to so many and none left that he could feare or say that man knowes my ill so as now he might surely walke if not for his owne conscience yet what good got he by this he had not only rid himselfe of those he might mistrust or dislike to see if any remorse were in him but of friends so as hee stood alone and like a Tree in the midst of a plaine his branches cut off euery wind hath power on him So stood he apt to be shaken with euery storme which was seene and considered by many and at last resolu'd vpon that hee should reele or fall A plot was layd and most of the remayning Nobility and especially all the auncient Lords by desent though many were young men among them agreed together but the King as he was wicked so he was very wise or politique quickly discernd there was something more then was for his good wherefore like an old Foxe when he meanes to get a dwelling which he will not take paines to make himselfe layes baits and wiles to gaine his neighbours house and deceiues the poore Badger so did this Deuill laying such â—inns for them as he caught them when they lest thought of it thrusting into their counsells and companyes instruments of his who were content to sweare and forsweare any thing nay their owne soules to winne his fauour such a Tyrant is ambition ouer man to get the grace of Kings who being king it is enough and no matter what Kings they are These men did not only ioyne with the rest in what they aduised but added of their owne inuentions leading them on by traines into the snare When time was ripe for the action and the discouery the King called an assembly of all his Lords and as it were to rectifie some things that were amisse and to giue satisfaction to his people if any thing troubled them besides to propound warr against Celicia their ancient and new growne enemie These friends for too honest the maine part were to be called conspirators came with the rest and so obeyed the orders and commands of the King who help'd some things but their cheife grieuances were not brought in at last these poore betrayed Lords were when earnestest for their Country cross'd and cut short by the King which mooued them so much as rather then suffer dishonour they flew out many of the Commons tooke part with them but such is the bacenes of common people as they left them as soone as they heard one Proclamation against them they were soone taken some kild that would withstand but Sildurino his Grandfather was taken and not denying the determination held among them was executed his sonns not being of the confederacy were degraded their houses razed and their name vtterly forgotten by coÌ„mand of neuer being mentioned more then by their Christian names their goods confisâ—ated lands forfited to the King themselues confined to one house the poorest their father had where they were bound to liue without titles or meanes but from staruing and if they broke the command death ensued Many other noble families fell also my Grandfather likewise sufferd for this busines but so great a fall it was not to vs since there was none left but my selfe to inherit his estate and I so vnblessed a woman as merrit no other then a most vnfortunate being We two as borne to ill and
other to thinke to whom hee had committed himselfe and his last hopes With that the Venetian called Leurenius step in and not after the ordinary way taking the hurt body but the hurter he caught and vsing these words held him Villaine said he thus to murther one whose all and least drop of bloud being staind by thee should so haue beene cheerish'd What canst thou then say in thy defence or on thy part to excuse this cruelty this youth is not onely slâ—ine by thee but tyed to suffer the slaughter hauing no defence for himself not only so but as your speeches argue made ill and guilty of bloud this but annimated and imboldned him hauing no more order or bounds then the Sea hath in a storme on rotten and yeelding ground wicked soule what canst thou say to answere thy wickednes better then you replyed hee this bold and sawcy inquisition who authorized you in this examination who made you inquisitor or iudge truth and pitty said Leurenius neither euer ruled or had power in mee said Vicianus I am Lord of my selfe and much good lands hereabout I owe now nothing to any I did and was indebted to the great keeper of the Forrest whose command greater then mine I câ—uld not suffer but after many contentions and controuersies betweene vs he not the man that would submit or yeeld I layd a plot for reuenge that being my refuge and yesterday finding my aduantage tooke it and now am satisfied for his life I haue and now am free this creature being my only Counsellor who hurt dangeroâ—sly by him who intruth was valiant and had many good parts yet drowned them all in the brooke of dislike to my orders which were not to be corrected by him I so ordered him as wee two I say had his life and least that should come out I haue now made away with him so will I doe with you for in such bussinesses I loue no Counsell-keepers with that he let flye at him with a waighty club of Iron but Leureneus was nimble and well vsed to escape such perrils so as slipping aside he auoyded it but withal stept in like a younger brother to possession closing with him threw him downe then possest he himselfe with his armes and forced him to tell him he had done this ill he confest it was done by treasons compact more hee would not say but by chance watching opportunity catched the Princes dagger and would haue stabbed him but he quickly preuented it and made the actor better act his part shunning the blow and catching him vnprouided for resistance armed only with mischeife got the dagger from him and throwing him downe on his knees made him acknowledge his fault and make his confession the cheife Forrester is a great Lord and infinitely powerfull in loue of friends and people but most inricht with the affection of the Lady of the Forrest whom I affected and who had by the Lords appoyntment that honour done to her that title being giuen her which madded me as much as her refusing me which proudly she had done yet sought I not so much reuenge of her as of her seruant and our Forrest Lord her affection I hop'd to winne by loue or force he gone whom she affected and to be rid of him I resolued and yesterday I dispatched it This youth my then in shew cherisht-Lad slew him with an arrow as hee alone rid to see his walke and to bee suer of him when wounded I threw him into the Brooke where if any seeke they may find him his wound is on the left side the instrumeÌ„â— a Bow the weapon abroad arrow so as now if I dye I haue this satisfaction he goes and is gone before me You are said the Prince much deceiued in this for though hurt he liues and to recouer wee make no question but to assure you of it you shall goe with me and from him and his deerest only beloued receiue your punishment Backe hee led him by force and deliuered him vnto them he was by the Officers of that part the Lord being a party hauing no power to punish him sent vnto the Citty into a sharpe prison whence hee was conducted to such punishment as the Iudges and Officers appointed for him Leurenius againe going downe towards the Meddowes to find his heart which in Celinus breast he saw crauing loue or pitty she lying on the ground carelesse of order or modesty allmost distracted and lying in the most disordered Posture that could be for so discreet and curious a woman tumbling on the ground clapping her breast sobbing weeping crying all passionate ioyned to her masterie one while she tore her haire and thrust her face as it were into the ground another time she rated her passions by sufferance and so challenged reward then she confeâ—t the reasons and so recald her claime then she blamd her folly but quickly commended her loue thus by contrarieties she gained respit but not ease from her paines flying like downe in the ayre miserable bondage and most so because to a late free heart O seruitude insufferable and slauery not to bee endured Wretched Celina cryd shee that haue these vnmeasured thoughts and want of power to expresse them but in patience some lines she put together but so few as could make no kind of verse not hauing proportion or number these indeed said she are fit for my making vnmeasurable thoughts leaue me as hope help abandons me Then she again vexed to the soule rold on the grasse and with her teares to the earth and on it Receiue me deare Mother said she into thee and let me be as I am once againe with thee The Prince was grieued to see his soule which in her was thus perplext he cryd against his ill lamented as for her and in as much distresse as any that euer loued he gouerned vnder the weight of his affliction he heard her complaine of vnfortunate loue he said he might as iustly doe so to she said it was strangly fatall to loue so violently at first sight He shrug'd and said it was his fate no complaints she would make that he had not the same cause to dislike for no payne was in her that hee was not a patient of yet strong it was the paines one the accident one and cause one they were by two equall sufferings made diuers and seuerall She complayn'd shee could not measure her passions He that he could not please her by putting them in measur'd feete yet to passe the time hauing a fine voyce and skill fit for a Prince he sung this Songe 1 HAue I lost my liberty And my selfe and all for thee O Loue Yet wilt thou no fauour giue In my losse thy blame will liue Alas remoue 2 Pitie claimes a iust reward But proud thoughts are thy best guard Once smile Glory t is to saue a life When deceiuers are in strife Which to beguile 3 Your gaiâ—e hath my paine begot But neglect doth
three thus free in discourse intreated that hee might be admitted Celina was perswaded by them and so they cald him in then began they againe to talk at last they went to prety playes as chusing of Kings and Queenes the lot fell on Celina who commanded the Venetian to stay no longer in those parts but to goe vnto his friends and in witnesse of his captiuitie to trauell vnarmd till he met them or was forced by iniurie to put them on This was more then sport yet hee obayed and hauing liberty to take his leaue of the Lady hee kissed her hand and departed The last Shepheardesse that so reuiled loue being called Lemnia sigh'd at this parting louing good coÌ„pany or him who had gaind fâ—oÌ„ her a more kind conceit then she had had formerly of mankind as if the spring to the summer of her loue which increased by a strange heat growing in absence to the height of flaming as if the fire of loue were so vniuersal as the warmth like that of the Sun would heat worlds at a time so his force seru'd in absence to scorch nay burne her heart Shee looked after him as long as shee could see him and marking his louing lookes backe cast and sad on Celina she liked pittied and lou'd his manner so him and at last stole in to be a louer before shee was aware a crafty Ladd this Cupid is poore creatures how you are beguiled by him Celina and Derina had enough now to please themselues and vexe her withall yet sometimes and often the latter part fell to them while she pleased her selfe with her passions these three now soundly captiue might daunce the trickes of Loue to the tune of Sorrow Celina loues one whose heart and soule was her friends Lemnia a Prince stranger and louing Celina Derina a braue youth but married to the Forrest Loâ—ds Sister poore soules and the poorest louing thus hopelessely All they could doe in their best humours was to lament absence in the curstest and worst to raile at Loue and their misfortune curse sight hearing beleeuing and all that were assistants instruments or sufferers to these passions but the Venetian hauing as the rest had at first done sworne to obey what euer he was commanded went with sad steps vp the Hill his heart falling faster into despaire then his feet ascended When he came into the Garden hee met the Lady who told him some were with her Lord about businesse therefore intreated him to stay hee obeyed her and being loth to haue his ill known which might be imputed to folly in him to auoyd her question intreated to heare her story which thus shee related My name said shee is Belizia daughter to the Earle Marshall of this Countrey neere allied I am to the greatest of this Land but onely tyed to this Forrest Lord for whose sake I haue forsaken all and liue heere a lonely life with him much my friends and Kindred were displeased withall his meanes being small tâ—ough his honour and worth great which I looked on loued and so to them gaue my heart and had not this misfortue hapned the celebration of my gift had beene perform'd to our onely ioyes this next weeke but now must be deferrd though I trust to be one day happy for all this misery neuer man hath beene so louing nor so constant nor if I may speake for my selfe neuer any woman hath beene so firme and passionate none yet so secret for many yeares I loued before I acknowledged it nay before any thought I could thinke on such a flame yet when discouer'd some remembred I had beene a good friend to his pretty godhead neuer suffering him to be abused when my power could helpe his honours defence One of his Sistâ—rs was the first mistrusted me and telling me of it I denied it but so blushingly and faintly as that was a perfect confession She loued me so well as she was glad of it being sure to haue a perpetuall tye on me by this meanes which though shee might haue assured her selfe of beefore yet Louers loue strictest tyes to bind their loued to them so much indeed wee loued as but the faire Celina I affected her onely and best of woman kinde The ill man you tooke yesterday my friends had rather haue bestowed me on but he was contrary to my heart to like would so I had been to his then had not my deere beene wounded nor hee come to so vntimely an end for this last night before his time for execution by the Lawe appointed hee strangled himselfe in the Prison hauing nothing but his garters to execute his wicked enterprise withall when this Story was thus telling one came vnto the Lady to let her know that many Ladies were come to visit her shee then though vnwillingly tooke leaue of the Venetian whose good and faire behauiour gaue content where euer he did come but he said hee was compell'd by necessity so hee tooke his way first taking leaue of the Lord his Squire carrying his Armes he not being to weare any while hee was in Brittany by his cruell Loues command Hee trauelled till he came to London admiring the brauery and sumptuousnesse of the Citty but most of the Court arriuing iust against a mighty tryumph was to be made in honour of the King and some strange Princes who came of purpose to honour themselues with kissing his hands Nobly and courteously was hee receiued at the Court much was hee peâ—plexed with passion much pittied by all and as much hee was troubled that hee was barred from exercising himselfe in those sports which by reason of his promise to Celina hee could not doe not being able to weare armes while he was in Brittany if not for defence yet at the Ring he ranne and did it so finely as the King and all admir'd him heere hee stayed the conclusion of the tryumphs then remembring his friends and oath he took his leaue taking towards that place where he arriued iust as the Florentine did but when he saw Leurenius in a Court Suit of Willow colour Sattin embrodered with Gold his Armour trust vp carried on a Horse after him What Metamorphosis is here cry'd he Is this Leurenius the braue Venetian Prince and my friend While I was worthy I was so but now am nothing reply'd he but sorrow and despaire What is the cause said he what makes you trauell contrary to our vow vnarm'dâ— Ouercome cryd hee by the power not equallable of a Shepherdesse and by her command to leaue this Countrey and to trauell vnarmed till I met with you hauing heard my story and my former ill fortune she added this to me the worst of ills Brittany said the Duke of Florence hath beene counted the most pleasant delightfull and happiest Countrey in the world being for all bounty of contents a world it selfe nothing missing or wanting to the full plenty of happinesse Yes said Leurenius pitty wants in the heart of Celina and in
as day light Iust as Truth constant as Fate ioyd to requite Then Loue obey striue to obserue his might And be in his braue Court a glorious light 4. ANd be in his braue Court a glorious light Shine in the eyes of Faith and Constancy Maintaine the fires of Loue still burning bright Not slightly sparkling but light flaming be Neuer to slake till earth no Starres can see Till Sun and Moonâ— doe leaue to vs darke night And second Chaos once againe doe free Vs and the World from all diuisions spight Till then affections which his followers are Gouerne our hearts and prooue his powers gaine To taste this pleasing sting seeke with all care For happy smarting is it with small paine Such as although it pierce your tender heart And burne yet burning you will loue the smart 5. ANd burne yet burning you will loue the smart When you shall feele the waight of true desire So pleasing as you would not wish your part Of burthen should be missing from that fire But faithfull and vnfaigned heate aspire Which sinne abollisheth and doth impart Salues to all feare with vertues which inspire Soules with diuine loue which shewes his chast Art And guide he is to ioyings open eyes He hath to happinesse and best can learne Vs meanes how to deserue this he descries Who blinde yet doth our hidn'st thoughts diserne Thus we may gaine since liuing in blest Loue He may our Prophet and our Tutor prooue 6. HE may our Prophet and our Tutor prooue In whom alone we doe this power finde To ioyne two hearts as in one frame to mooue Two bodies but one soule to rule the minde Eyes which must care to one deare Obiect binde Eares to each others speach as if aboue All else they sweete and learned were this kind Content of Louers witnesseth true loue It doth inrich the wits and make you see That in your selfe which you knew not before Forcesing you to admire such gifts should be Hid from your knowledge yet in you the store Millions of these adorne the throane of Loue How blest are they then who his fauours proue 7. HOw bless'd be they then who his fauors proue A life whereof the birth is iust desire Breeding sweete flame which harts inuite to moue In these lou'd eyes which kindle Cupids fire And nurse his longings with his thoughts intire Fix't on the heat of wishes form'd by Loue Yet whereas fire destroyes this doth aspire Increase and foster all delights aboue Loue will a Painter make you such as you Shall able be to draw your onely deare More liuely perfect lasting and more true Then rarest Workeman and to you more neere These be the least then all must needs confesse He that shuns Loue doth loue himselfe the lesse 8. HE that shuns Loue doth loue himselfe the lesse And cursed he whose spirit not admires The worth of Loue where endlesse blessednes Raignes commands maintain'd by heau'nly fires Made of Vertue ioyn'd by Truth blowne by Desires Strengthned by Worth renew'd by carefulnesse Flaming in neuer-changing thoughts bryers Of Iealousie shall here misse welcomnesse Nor coldly passe in the pursutes of Loue Like one long frozen in a Sea of yce And yet but chastly let your passions moone No thought from vertuous Loue your minds intice Neuer to other ends your Phant'sies place But where they may returne with honor's grace 9. BVt where they may returne with Honor's gâ—ace Where Venus follies can no harboâ—r winne But chased are as worthlesse of the face Or stile of Loue who hath lasciuious beene Our hearts are subiect to her Sonne where sinne Neuer did dwell or rest one minutes space What faults he hath in her did still beginne And from her breast he suck'd his fleeting pace If Lust be counted Loue 't is falsely nam'd By wickednesse a fairer glosse to set Vpon that Vice which else makes men asham'd In the owne Phrase to warrant but beget This Childe for Loue who ought like Monster borne Be from the Court of Loue and Reason torne 10. BEe from the Court of Loue and reason torne For Loue in Reason now doth put his trust Desert and liking are together borne Children of Loue and Reason Parents iust Reason aduiser is Loue ruler must Be of the State which Crowne he long hath worne Yet so as neither will in least mistrust The gouernment where no feare is of scorn The reuerence both their mights thus made of one But wantonnesse and all those errors shun Which wrongers be Impostures and alone Maintainers of all follies ill begunne Fruit of a sower and vnwholesome grownd Vnprofitably pleasing and vnsound 11. VNprofitably pleasing and vnsound When Heauen gaue liberty to fraile dull earth To bring foorth plenty that in ills abound Which ripest yet doe bring a certaine dearth A timelesse and vnseasonable birth Planted in ill in worse time springing found Which Hemlocke like might feed a siâ—kâ—-wits mirth Where vnrul'd vapours swâ—mme in endlesse round Then ioy we not in what we ought to shunne Where shady pleasures shew but true borne fires Are quite quench'd out or by poore ashes won Awhile to keepe those coole and wann desires O no let Loue his glory haue and might Be giu'n to him who triumphs in his right 12. BE giu'n to him who triumphs in his right Nor fading be but like those blossomes faire Which fall for good and lose their colours bright Yet dye not but with fruit their losse repaire So may Loue make you pale with louing care When sweet enioying shall restore that light More cleere in beauty then we can compare If not to Venus in her chosen might And who so giue themselues in this deare kinde These happinesses shall attend them still To be supplide with ioyes enrich'd in minde With treasures of content and pleasures fill Thus loue to be diuine doth here appeare Free from all foggs but shining faire and cleare 13. FRee from all foggs but shining faire and cleare Wise in all good and innocent in ill Where holy friendship is esteemed deare With Truth in loue and Iustice in our Will In Loue these titles onely haue their fill Of happy life-maintainer and the meere Defence of right the punisher of skill And fraude from whence directions doth appeare To thee then Lord commander of all hearts Ruler of our affections kinde and iust Great King of Loue my soule from faigned smarts Or thought of change I offer to your trust This Crowne my selfe and all that I haue more Except my heart which you bestow'd before 14. EXcept my heart which you bestowd before And for a signe of Conquest gaue away As worthlesse to be kept in your choice store Yet one more spotlesse with you doth not stay The tribute which my heart doth truely pay Is faith vntouch'd pure thoughts discharge the score Of debts for me where Constancy beares sway And rules as Lord vnharmd by Enuies sore Yet other mischeifes faile not to attend As enemies to you my foes
fell into the greatest fearing the deliuery of my letter I sent it to him who was the only bar of the deliuering of it or theÌ„ I sent as at his death I found in a Cabinet deliuered by his owne hands vnto mee with teares and humble petition for pardon that so hee might die quietly which as he lamentably protested hee could not doe nor peaceably leaue this world I forgaue him and in that Cabinet found three of my letters which close me in the misery I now suffer thereby I saw manifestly I was betrayed loosing the enioying of what the losse brought my vtter ruine for I assuredly confident in him sent my letters still to him trusting him contrary to iudgement neuer receiuing answere of them but excuses from him selfe as since I find were framed by him sometime saying he could not then write but in short time he would send one of purpose to me I remained as louers enioying their like quiet But many weekes hauing passed I writ againe setting downe how I was solicited by him hee knew of almost threatned by my parents yet had they nor should they gaine more then this that he like all others should be refused for his sake if it would please him to accept of me and my truest affection wholly dedicated to him This vnfortunately I sent as the others and so kept comming the same morning before hee was by his Villany contracted to the great Heire of the Forrest Twise I was sending it by a trusty seruant of my mothers but Desteny preuailed and I destined to mischiefe could not withstand my ills Perplex'd I was with my fortune when I saw or thought I saw my faith reiected mad at my patience that forced me to beare such iniuries cursed the harme yet loued the harmeâ—maker till one night my father and many of his friends at supper the procurer of my miserie came in who was beloued and respected by my father for his learning and for his seruice to his friend and so was entertained by him placing him next vnto himselfe while I with vncertaine lookes and doubtfull blushings cast mine eyes on him yet stayed them not long there lest they might bee vnderstood my heart guiltie of the loue my soule bare to his Lord causing such a mistrust of discouerie in my owne conscience as that modestie hindred mee from discouering my harme which his countenance had else been ready to bewray as since I vnderstood by some that marked him as they sat at meate My father asked how his most noble Lord did fare Well my Lord said he but growne of late too cunning for vs al for would you thinke it he hath finely got a wife This made me boldly to looke vp for what would not such a deadly wound cause in one if it were but only to look boldly on their end life lasting in mee but to know certainely my death being so eager of it as I my self had demanded it had not my father soone preuented me asking who it was Why said hee the fly Youth hath got the mighty Heire of the Forrest I hearing it discernd my hast to bee like theirs that run to the top of the highest Rock to throw themselues from thence so did I for those words strake me dead my spirits falling and failing me encountred with the depth and bruise of fortune aduerse to me I fell from the table in a swound All ran to me or about me none because none thought I loued being able or willing to guesse the reason except the Serpent whose poyson strake me I was with care and diligence brought to my selfe againe which when I had sense to know I blamd that sense that brought that knowledge to me condemning fortune who would not permit one of her owne sex so much fauour as to die hauing such cause Then came my speech againe which I onely employd to this purpose to desire some of the seruants to leade me to my chamber beseeching the company not to stirre assuring them that there was no danger for vsually I had had such fits my father and mother especially whose loues were most vnto me and dearest to me would haue gone with mee but I preuaild the moouer of my torment looking on me with as much pitie as the Master of a good Dog doth on him when he is hurt by his owne setting on vpon either Bull or Beare When I came to my Chamber I pretended a desire to rest which made me abler to dwell in any vnrest Sir if euer you haue felt loue so perfectly as to deserue your name imagine to your selfe what I felt seeing scorne disdaine presented to mine eies nay what of all is cruelst vnkindnes Vnkindnes to a perfect louing heart is indeed said he of all miseries the cruellest and most murthering Haue you alas Sir said she felt that griefe That only said he perplexeth me I cannot say I was disdain'd for I was cherished I was not scorned but receiued I lou'd and was beloued but now I feare she is vnkind Let not feare without assurance said shee molest you lest it make you indeed loose by mistrust what is yet but mistrusted to be lost I beseech you said hee proceede and let my misfortunes remaine in me by none else thought on Yet said shee being forsaken is a greater miserie for such a losse is losse of all hope or ioy in life the other may bee helped againe with kindnesse and this I finde for had I not enioyed a heauenly happinesse I neuer had complained But to goe on being come to my chamber and hauing liberty by priuatnesse to exercise my sorrow in the absence of all but it selfe I thus began to mourne O loue cride I was it not enough that thou didst win mee to thy power and that thou didst possesse me in those yeares when first it was possible for maiden thoughts to entertaine thee to make mee chuse guiding mine eyes to the choice of one where perfections linked themselues to chaine my powers and enuy from all such that thinking I loued thee maliced my happinesse as if I had enioyed Yet cruell you cannot thinke all that I suffered by passion hatred of others enuy paine torment and all miserie sufficient but you must turne crosse and find a greater to afflict me Why did you grant me Paradise of hope to throw me downe to bottoms of despaire Why did you glory to inuite my heart to yeeld vnto the winning power of eyes eyes which were able to gaine moreâ— then hearts thrice doubled could repay with loue Fie intising eyes why wan you mee onely of set purpose to kill me with your frownes this was pretended murder your sparkling conquest seemd to gaine by vnresistable darts soules to your will and their smiles promised vnresistable darts soules to your will and their smiles promised to saue when won but triall proues you win alone to spoile Was it a victory sufficient to get and worthlesse of keeping It seemes so since you leaue