therefore you had no neede to be therewith offended but sithence that you are so disdainefull and proud as to dare not knowing the termes of civilitie thus boldly to threaten us I am content to returne with this your answer and doe beleeve that you will be faine to shew whether you can prove your selfe to be so brave and valiant in deeds as you are rash and arrogant in words The Knight not accustomed to such answers taking a bow in hand aimed at him an arrow which if it had hit where he levelled dispatched had beene the life of Tolmido but fortune so favoured him as it slipping by him razing onely his skinne and doing him no other harme pierced into the water Whereupon he retiring himselfe with his company though shot at by the Galley returned safely to the Prince who seeing what violence was offered advanced forwards causing to be hung out the standard of warre understanding afterwards by Tolmido what termes were used he could not imagine who that Knight might be till at length he began to suspect it might be some Prince that went about to steale away Eromina neither was he indeed therein any whit mistaken This suspition made him become more fierce and eager so as having got the lee of her he began to salute her with such a showre of arrowes as obscured even the midday Sun Yet found he not her asleepe nor her men with their hands tied at their girdle for as soone as Tolmido was gon she turn'd backe and mainely rowing came on to charge the Prince The battle of Archers lasted not long because Metaneone not waying a rush the furie of the shot-men hastened to grapple with the Galley and having under him the best Vessell in the world and the wind a-poope encountred her with such a thump as tearing off her snout tottered and bruised her all-over then armed with a halfe-pike being backed by his Archers and seconded by his Knights himselfe in person the first among the formost gotten up on her prore made such a massacre of all such as opposed him that in spite of them he boorded her where followed by his owne men hee justling and laying about him with sword in hand won her to her mast where encountered with a Squadron of chiefe Knights hee was forc'd to retire himselfe some steps backewards But resolved either to prevaile or die he Tiger-like flung himselfe on the little Knight who was Lord of the rest and getting within his pikes point cut it off close at his hand charging him withall with such and so many blowes as constrained him to fall downe at his feete on the hatches whence Tolmido taking him by the heeles drag'd him betweene two bancks intending if he had had time to cast him over boord Whilst the Prince obstinately pursuing the assault got againe as farre forwards as the maine Mast and thence further but with such difficultie as he was faine to win the Galley by inches for besides the good ghing there were aboord her betweene Knights and souldiers about two hundred who behaved themselves very valiantly of all which neverthelesse there remained but sixtie alive those for the most part wounded The Prince lost some twentie of his beside some of the ghing that were hurt with the arrowes and more had been kild and wounded but that the battlements defended them Then would the Prince forthwith know of the prisoners what they were and who was their Lord Whereto they made answer that they were Catalans and that the Knight by him hurt and perhaps slaine was Don Peplasos Prince of Catalogna who enamoured of the Princesse of Maiorica and understanding that by her good will shee would not consent to any mariage at all went to Afrique to steale her away which he resolved to effect without his owne fathers consent and therefore unknowne to him set forth privily from Barcellona Metaneone rejoycing for so good an encounter and that fortune by such unthought of meanes had so favoured his desires blessed the tempest that drave him thither joying in himselfe that it was his good fortune by the instigation of an unknowne desire to cut off and frustrate the designes of the Prince which had they beene effected had made him the unhappiest man in the world In the meane time lay Peplasos more than halfe dead betweene two of the ghing-bancks when Metaneone causing him to be tane up and his wounds search't and drest sent the Count to visit him and to tell him that he was sorrie for his hurt but much more because he himselfe was the occasioner thereof for had they but knowen one another then that inconvenience had not hapned whereas his concealing of himselfe might have occasioned a greater disaster But he more vexed at heart for the frustrating his designes than for his wounds having understood who his enemie was dissembling his anger answered That he was not agrieved at his hurts got by the hands of so valorous a Prince but rather thought him well imploied in that they gave him occasion of being acquainted with him in respect therefore that there was not between them any cause of enmity he desired to be permitted to hold on his way seeing that if the inconvenience was occasioned by his ignorance he well felt the smart thereof The Count having related this suit unto the Prince who then was upon going himselfe to visite him gave him thereby cause to alter his minde so as he went not but sent againe the Count with order to tell him That he was sorry he could not serve him in that perticular understanding how he was bound for Afrique to steale away the Princesse of Maiorica an offence that extended it selfe to the King of Catalogna his father the King of Maiorica and to all other Princes but more particularly to all Knights expresly obliged to defend that sex And that therefore he might doe well to see carefully to the cure of his wounds assuring himselfe he should not be detained prisoner being there was a good and reciprocall amitie bewixt both their fathers but that the reason why he could not let him part suddenly was because he could not be accessary to his offence which otherwise hee must needs have beene if knowing his intention and being able to prevent it he did it not Nay that he further knew himselfe tied as he was a Prince to remedy it and as he was a Knight to chastise him if he offered to put his plot in execution but that he hoped that the qualities of his birth and dignity with the obligations accompanying them had already therefrom sufficiently disswaded him Don Peplasos stood a good while after he had heard this embassage without speaking any thing till at length he burst forth into such speeches The Prince of Mauritania favours me exceedingly in redoubling the paines of a person of your merit thereby re-obliging me with the favour of his visits But as concerning my voyage which as you tell me from him was to steale away
the faire termes of Knighthood much rather in that he doubted lest the noise and bustling of their blowes might indanger them so as the poore Prince pierced at once with six darts was not any more able either to strike or speake The Baron of Iangue and the Count of Pussinera were from the beginning runne to the bed who lest the Lady Admirall should cry out held close her mouth stopt up with the sheetes her husband having made her rise up and put on a chamber-weede intending because he disdained to kill her himselfe to cause her to be strangled by the slave seeing the Prince not yet quite dead grew desirous for his greater anguish that she should give him his last wound and having therefore made her take a Poyniard in hand he told her his will was that to revenge the death he had given her honour she should resolve to kill him with her owne hands she seeing him wallowing in a lake of bloud and how he though gasping for life yet beheld her laying aside all feare stab'd her husband with the Poyniard in the face thinking to strike him in the throat-pipes for well deemed she him arm'd every where else and had therewithall sped him had he not fallen flat on the ground then turning towards the next unto her which was the Baron of Vellapetres she ranne him in the flanke and kil'd him The Admirall in the meane while gotten up gave her a thrust in the side which pushed her upon the Baron of Lybaraba in whose belly she without losse of time buried the Poyniard up to the hilts aiming her thrust low for doubt of sticking it in his coat of maile and therewith sped him but then shee beaten downe with divers blowes and struggling to set her selfe forwards againe to kill her husband came to fall upon the Prince where faintly kissing him she breathed out her life with him in that very instant as he breathed out his last gaspe The Admirall seeing his plot brought to passe at so deere a rate as to have two of his companions slaine and himselfe wounded knew not what course to take with their bodies and yet needs must he have resolved to get him thence when every one advising him not to lose any time about two inutile carcasses he thought his best and safest course was to be ruled by them Having therefore bound up his wounds hee wished them all to goe out into the Hall to the end that those of the house wakened with their bustling seeing them jest beating one the other with pillowes might beleeve that thence began the first noise The beds being made ready they called for dice commanding the servants to goe sleepe under colour of having no man to over-looke their game and because many of them considering how unfit it was to leave Lords of such a ranke not attended with asmuch as one servant would have waited out of the Hall they constrained them to get them thence and by locking the doores after them had thereby conveniencie a little after to shift themselves away thence without being observed of any The Admirall had fore-thought of all things except the two slaves whom then also he had not remembred had they not presented themselves before him so as they must have taken them up behind them on their horse-croppers had not the death of the two Barons remedied that inconvenience And because Caleri for the suspition it had of Corsica stood then guarded with some watch it behooved the Admirall to make himselfe knowen unto the Porter of the Citie They rode all night having twise changed horse and taking the way of Montevero arrived there the day following There were they inforced to leave behind them Prodotima accompanied with the slave all galled and bruised with riding to embarke themselves suddenly at the mouth of the river Thirsis distant but eight miles from Montevero and thence to get them to Porto Torre themselves without one minutes stay holding on their journey with incredible diligence arrived the night following at Sassari As the Pilate held on his discourse there appeared in sight a small Barke sayling here and there without any order or direct course which being shewed them by Polimero they judged it to be some one that had beene rob'd by Pirates and left as a play-game to the windes desirous to know the truth they bore up to her But because she was yet afarre off the Pilate requested to continue his History thus proceeded It grew to be farre dayes and Talasia's Gentlewomen expected that Prodotima should come to call them up as she was wont to doe but dinnertime being come and no Prodotima as yet appearing and the Serving-men on the other side marvelling they saw not in the strangers lodgings the Knights come thither with their Master the night before went on towards the fore-chamber where Prodotima lay where knocking many times and hearing no body stirre within they began to doubt of I know not what Whereupon bouncing againe many times and often they resolved without any respect to throw downe the doore which when they had done and found not their Prodotima onwards they went into the chamber and there they saw the pittifull spectacle of foure bodies lying weltred in bloud whereof to their great horror they knew at the first sight their Mistresse and the Prince My tongue cannot expresse the effects of griefe and amazement that seazed on these poore people neither beleeve I that they can be imagined unlesse the imagination had experimented a like disaster they could not as much as ghesse how the matter stood because they never were any way privie to the Prince his love but seeing him now in such a plight and knowing that their Master came to the house that night and thence shifted himselfe away privily they beganne to doubt of what was so indeed The Steward having caused the gate to be shut with charge not to open it to any man went to the Kings Councell to whom he related the fact conformable to his conjectures The Councell not knowing by what meanes they might therewith acquaint the King were advised by the Marquesse of Bossa Lord high Chamberlaine not to informe the King of any thing ere they had seene themselves the body of the Prince and with more certainetie informed themselves of the case wishing therefore all or some of them to goe to the Admirals house whilst he rooke care that no man came neere the King His Councell was imbraced The Marquesse retiring to the Kings chamber and the others as soone as their coaches came hurrying to the Admirals house where causing it to be close shut up and the chamber opened they saw the relation prove but too too true there being not any of them present who by the place persons and qualities of the dead comprehend not the case Having afterwards examined the household they understood of the Admirals being there that night accompanied with Reparata and the rest and how that the slaves were
my selfe into solitarie places there at home But what kinde of a solitarie life had that beene where every one would have baited and opposed me Besides how had I beene able to resist authoritie but much more your sweete perswasions wherewith you are able to divert the most constant resolutions Now whereas you afterwards accuse me of small love certainely My Lord if you thinke you have occasion to say so I hope you have no reasion to beleeve so for it is right all one as if you accused me for a dead woman and respectlesse of your griefe and of my mothers love together with the debt I owe your subjects and doe you beleeve that it would grieve me lesse to abandon these respects than it would doe to lose my life No surely but the violence and wrong done me by such a conjecture is at least as great if not greater than death it selfe seeing it is true that love and death are both of equall power I answer not to all the residue of your grave and prudent reasons which although they convict mee not because they are grounded upon common suppositions which in my case void of all rule give no rule at all neverthelesse the reverence I owe you obligeth mee to receive them as if they had already convinced mee My loving family I will love and among them the Countesse above all little thought they once to see mee in the estate of a Mistresse but of a slave for companie with them It pleased God that the Prince of Mauritania freed and conducted them here in safetie as shall bee told you more at large by Fidele the bearer hereof whereto I referre my selfe beseeching you that in respect I could not thanke that Prince by word of mouth you would be pleased to supply my defect by sending to the King of Mauritania his father and to him such personages as are capable of executing such an embassage Touching the particular of my person I know the danger wherein I am and will fortifie my selfe in such a manner as I may be able the place being strong of its owne situation onely with my owne family to defend my selfe and live secure from all the world so I bee but furnished with victuals And in the meane time God will provide for all whom I pray to grant your Majestie the height of felicity and to me that comfort which being absent from your Majestie I cannot receive Eromilia With this letter the King became somewhat consolated in that hee thought he had wrought something on his daughters melancholy Albeit she therein made no mention of returning homewards neverthelesse he could not chuse but be well satisfied with the accidents that had hapned hoping they would prove a meanes to induce her to alter her intention But when afterwards he had seene the letters of the Countesse and Perseno he thought than that the Gods had sent them that Prince to free them from affliction Therefore having given order to receive him with all honour and that notice should be given him when he were descried in the sight of the Iland he went the day following himselfe in person to meete him on the sea-coast The honors wherewith be entertained him were such as might be expected from an inferior and the love such as could bee hoped for from a loving father The Queene who both by the relation of Fidele and also by her owne letters comprehended the Prince his merits received him with such tendernesse of affection as a mother is wont to welcome her endeared Sonne After reciprocall complements the Prince retiring himselfe aside with the King told him that the cause of his comming thither was an accident that chanc'd him with the Prince of Catalogna whose servants had plainely confessed that they went with an intent to steale away the Princesse Eromilia because their Prince had no hope of obtaining her by any other meanes That it seemed not good unto him to take him along with him lest he might thinke himselfe detained prisoner much-lesse would he by any meanes set him at liberty lest he should then effect his designe And that being now wounded his Majestie under the colour of hospitality might detaine him and in the meane time advertize thereof the King of Catalogna his father and send the Princesse provision to assure her from such like dangers The King not knowing how to finde out words correspondent to the qualitie of his beholdingnesse omitted no meanes of letting him see how dearely hee esteemed such notable and so worthy services And concerning Don Peplasos told him that a better course could not be thought of whom he would detaine and have a provident eye to the curing of his wounds till such time as he had effected all that the Prince had counselled him And so passing from businesse to complements and from complements againe to affectionate passions the Prince who according to the custome of lovers had not all this while the boldnesse to open his mouth in his owne desire whereat the King marvelled beleeving that the Countesse and Perseno who had thereof written unto him so confidently were altogether deceived yet now having lighted on so fit an opportunity said unto him Your Majestie is together with the title and dignity of a King endowed by the heavens with inclinations so Royall as they embolden me to supplicate your Majestie for one favour since that you have beene so courteously pleased as to command me to aske you any thing The King all joyfull taking him by the hand made answer that he could not doe him a greater favour than to demand whatsoever hee desired assuring him he would not denie him any thing comprehended within the limits of his power The Prince then kneeling on one knee whence he would not be raised up doe what the King could untill hee had first expressed his desire said unto him The boone I then begge of your Majestie is that your Majestie would vouchsafe to be pleased to accept me for a sonne by giving mee for wise my Lady the Princesse Eromilia Whereunto the King raising him on his feete answered Worthy Prince your Highnesse obligeth me more in disobliging me than I can ever deserve much lesse requite My daughter cannot bee bestowed on either a greater or worthier Prince than your selfe and the demanding her as a boone in so gentle a manner as you have done had beene a sufficient motive to have induced me to give her you if nothing else had tied mee thereto Therefore I tell you that without asking either counsell or advice of any one bee it the Queene or Councell as is usually done betweene Princes of our condition I will that shee bee yours for as much as concernes me Whereat the Prince would have kneeled downe againe to kisse his hands but the King staying him up spake on I told you for as much as lies in my power because for what is in the power of others I must request two things of you the one is that there
kil'd and the ladders for the most part torne and rent all to pieces Whereupon the Prince renewing the assault and loosing then more than before seeing the place inaccessible retired himselfe just as there came a Galley rushing into the port with great fury upon the sudden arrival whereof he neither knowing whose she was nor willing to fight against so many making up a squadron of such as remained alive marched downe to the sea shore to see whom it was but receiving no answer he waxed bolder and just as he opened his mouth to haile them againe with his beaver lift up there hit him a shaft in the very mouth that pierced him quite through the nape of the necke wherewithal showred so great a cloud of arrowes on the rest of his troope that almost all of them lay dead in the place whilest those of Andaluzia not so much as once quitted their standing whose Prince mad angry for being discovered assayling with a sudden furie the Granadan Galley easily tooke her and understanding whose shee was was passing glad thereof These two Princes were Cozen-germanes growne at ods for certaine lands and other pretentions of the brothers their fathers become now withall rivals and pretenders to one and the same beautie which sole occasion had been sufficient ground of enmitie Howsover the Andaluzian Prince could not chuse but grieve now that he saw the other dead being that neerenesse of bloud must needs worke something in any one whose heart is not waxen altogether inhumane and resolutely given up to hate and revenge Yet was not the Tragicke example of his Cozens death sufficient to warne this infortunate Prince from tumbling downe the precipice of the same fortune albeit by the chillinesse of divers shivering feares his first heate were frozen for growne now neere his end he could not give place to the opposition of reason because it lay not in his power to resist the will of heaven so as seeing himselfe thus guided by so wavering a passion in the place where his misfortune led him on to slay his Cozen he more now enraged than enamoured commanded his men to give the assault resolved now that he found himselfe growne to that passe either to take the rocke or die But alas what could he doe with so few men against that hold which was of its naturall situation so strong as it could not be won but either by surprisall or by farre greater forces than his were Whilest he thus despairing of what he would have done but much more desperate for what he had done made account to retire himselfe behold the Prince of Tingitana hearing the noise of the conflict comes sweeping amaine over the swelling waves and seeing the two Galleyes left unmanned thought it his best course to seaze on them left they might be made instruments to indamage him which he soone accomplished for finding in them but very few fighting men he put them all to the sword without sparing one of them even to the imbruing his Princely blade in the base bloud of the raskally Ghing The Prince of Andaluzia seeing himselfe thus surprized having retired his men from the walls stood ready to receive this second unlook'd for enemy who landing with no great difficultie and understanding by a prisoner the case of the Cozens growne cholericke to see his designe thus thwarted came fiercely on with sword in hand desirous rather to kill him with his owne hands though with danger than to shoote him through with arrowes as he might have done without any perill at all This Prince Orgilo was great of stature and strong as any Knight of his time who for knowing himselfe to be such never knew what feare meant which engendred in him an undaunted temeritie But as his force was greater than that of a savage beast so was his iudgement lesse than that of man Stay to be backed by his he would not but went on himselfe alone to charge them all and had made them all retire too had there but beene any place of retreit The poore Andaluzo stood almost under the walls whom Perseno taking for Orgilo as he tooke also Orgilo for Anterasto defeated with logs and stones so as the true Orgilo had no great adoe to make an end of the rest having first with his owne hands killed the Prince as he had desired which effected he knew not what to doe next but he from below and Perseno with his from above stood looking the one on the other without speaking a word The night was exceeding faire so as the Moone being then newly risen discovered them each to other When Orgilo seeing himselfe injured by none and thinking to delude them told them who hee was and that being advertized of the intentions of these two Princes he was come of purpose to interrupt and chastise them being an act that concerned him not so much for being Prince of that Countrey as because he more than any other was desirous to serve the Princesse of Maiorica their Mistresse Perseno dissembling his knowledge in those passages answered him That that act of his was such as might bee expected from a just and generous Prince for which he kindly thanked him on the behalfe of the Princesse and the King her father both which would therefore remaine his debtors but that he was onely sorry for one thing which was that he had put himselfe to that trouble without any neede for if he thought himselfe able to oppose two Princes and frustrate their designes with one onely Galley hee might easily have imagined that the qualitie of the Princesse her servants was not so lither and effeminate not their valour so slender as not to know how to defend themselves against so few in a place so strong and that therefore it had beene sufficient for him to have sent the Princesse intelligence thereof without exposing himselfe to such a hazard or if he would needs come wherefore came he not then by land which he might have more easily done and with more men too being that there wanted no Barkes at Velez to passe them over to the rocke Strange seemed this language to Orgilo who judged him too arrogant and withall too sawcily subtle for penetrating and touching him so neere the quicke of the truth which made him disdainefully thus reply I know not what thou art that speakest thus indiscreetly I hold the Lady Princesse for the most courteous damzell of the world so as I have cause to wonder that she retaines in her service a fellow so discourteous as thou art It besits not thee to examime or pry into the actions of Princes who governe themselves according to their particular uncontrouled wils and understandings not staying to have their actions scanned by the measure of the common judgement of the vulgar for the most part false and remote from any true principle Somewhat more hee would have said when his owne men pointing with their fingers shewed him two Galleyes that came entring the port
whereupon beleeving them to belong to one of the dead Princes he ranne hastily to the shore to hinder their disembarking All this while had Anter asto hastned the best he could for feare of comming too late doubting of the fortunate temeritie of his brother from whom he assured himselfe the Rocke could not easily be won by so few men as his troopes consisted of if his brother but once possessed it And seeing ride there three Galleyes he was not affraid of them but marvailed to see them so silent taking them to belong to the Princesse and imagining that his brother was not as yet there arrived drawing neerer them and seeing two of them full of dead bodies and the their with the colours of Orgilo which he soone descried together with himselfe standing on the shore he imagined that he had taken the Galleyes but that for not being able to take the Rocke he had then retired himselfe His first resolution was to seaze on the Galleyes which succeded him fortunately for causing his Archers to play at those squadrons he saw marshalled on the shore hee gave them no time to remount aboord their Galleyes as they sought to have done shooting them at his pleasure though to no great hurt of those others who kneeling on the ground and covering themselves with Targets closed together one athwart another sheltred themselves from the shot Orgilo had with him the bravest and expertest souldiers of all Assrike so as though inferior in number he no more feared this assault than if he had had equall forces to withstand it nor would he retire himselfe one steppe from the ground he stood on which was there where such as came a-shore were of necessitie to land Anterasto seeing the slender service his arrowes did him made on towards the shore with a Frigate whereupon his men seeing him goe with so few against enemies that so well defended themselves leapt into the water to ranke themselves with him who would have found enough to doe had they not beene armed with launces wherewith maugre the obstinate courage of Orgilo they forced a place to land the rest of their troopes yet him could they never have forced if his owne men had seconded him by doing as much as he did who not caring a rush for the pikes and launces but encountring them boldly burst them with his breast in shivers so confident was hee in the fine temper of his Cuyrasse not stirring one inch off his ground but blaspheming heaven and abusively injuring his followers branding with infamous titles and direfull menaces the most valiant of them who having retired themselves not cowardly but discreetly for being over-matched in number and armes as they forsooke him not in effect so came they farre short of equalling his temerity reduced to the point of obstinately resolving not to stir thence a foot Anterasto glad to see him brought to this streight and desirous to make use of this advantage commanded his troopes to keep the enemies so separated as they might not be able to come to re-unite themselves any more with their Captain wherein hee was straightwaies obeyed for two hundred of them falling into a close order interposed themselves between them leaving Orgilo all alone without possibility of being succoured by any whilest hee with his sword in both hands made himselfe large way without being hurt of any for all shun'd the whisk of his mortall blade which had by its keen cutting showne it selfe to be both well tempered and of finest edge and metall Anterasto who was a Knight of great valour and though not so strong yet more dexterous and warie than his brother whom he desirous to kill with his own hands not so much for any distrust hee had of his who would if they had known him have borne him respect as to carry away together with Eromilia and a kingdome the rich spoiles of three sovereigne Princes bravely encountred him hand to hand wounding him with a main blow on the elbow of the sword hand which although it struck him not downe because of the goodnesse of his armour yet was it such as so benum'd him as he was not able to requite him with the like so as favoured by this opportunity to make use of his point he bore him a thrust under the vauntplate between the two cuyshard pieces bursting through the mail that assured that part of his body and running his sword in his belly foure fingers beneath the navell Full well preceived Anterasto that hee had mortally wounded him yet not satisfied with giving him his deaths wound but desirous withall to let him dying know by whose hand hee fell Pround wretch said he th' art now come to that passe which thou thoughtst by thy treacheries to bring mee to die thou shalt now maugrethy stout mischievous heart by my hand and I will kill thee fairly as becomes a good Knight although thy treacherous life nver deserved at my hands so honourable a favour Orgilo knowing his brother and not grieving so much for his death as to dye by his hand seeing he could not use his right arm and that there was no way for him but death being therefore loth to lose any time in making him any answer hee throwing away his shield and patiently suffering himself to be wounded anew without offring once to put by any thrust with his left arm strongly grasped Anterasto whom hee being endued with extraordinary force bare to the Shore-brink which was not above ten paces off with telling him Die then I will for so will my misfortune have it yet shalt not thou insulting traitour out-live mee for wee will both march hand in hand to the other world where if there be any field to fight in I now mortally defie thee to an eternall combate At which word throwing himself downe headlong into the water with him maugre all his strugling to get off hee bare him downe to the bottome whence neither of them return'd ever sithence up again Anterasto's Knights there present little thinking to see their wrastling come to such an end were nothing carefull to help their master seeing the advantage hee had already much lesse when they came to know his enemy but when they saw both of them so plung'd in the Sea they remain'd thereat much astonished The Frigats ranne to their succour but too late and one who disarmed himself to dive under water to fetch them up soone repenâ—ed him of his intention when hee saw it was to no purpose at all seeing that if they were dead all his labor was in vain and if alive yet was it more than hee alone could do to bring them up again who besides would have had so much sense as to keep him under water with them taking him for an enemy and so should he have been drowned for atâ—nd man But indeed the truth is that they cared not much for either of them all men fearing and hating as well the one of them as the other so
the meanes how he might with vertue ore-match destiny and by making himselfe the forget of his owne fortunes verifie that the Wise man rules thestarres his nature then being equaliz'd with an education conformable induced his Parents allured with the splendor of so many graces to dote on him as a creature singular in whom the heavens had with extraordinary partiality placed all these good gifts which they ordinarily vsed to share among many Metaneone the eldest brother observing this their inclination became iealous thereof began so deeply to hate Polimero that he borne to endure rather any misfortune than domestike hatred purposed though not as then arived to sixteene yeeres of age to leave the countrey and the effect had accompanied his deliberation had not the reverence which he owed his father perswaded him to a discreet dissimulation thereof It hapned that the Queene of Ireland Catalampo's sister by relation enamored of the toward linesse of her Nephew sent him some pretious gifts and among those two Irish Greyhounds of the goodliest and best that were in her kingdome Polimero desirous to try them commanded that a Lion and Leopard should be led out of the den of the Lions into an inclosure neere the kings Quiry railed in with pales for such like baitings which was no sooner performed but that the Prince came unexpectedly thither Polimero courteously and affectionatly entertaining him and leaning on the gallery with him caused one of the Greyhounds to be led in together with the Lion The dogge as soone as hee saw the sauage beast slipt eagerly off with a great leape The Lion lashing himselfe with his tayle went on to encounter him th' other as if hee had beene accustomed all his life time to wrestle with such like beasts seeing the fierce beast make stealing-wise towards him flung himselfe furiously on him and with his fore feet keeping down his â—rm'd pawes pinch'd him in the eye with so terrible a shake that the Lion not able to recover from under him orecome with an extreame convuision was constrained to forsake himselfe If the wonder of the Prince was great greater yet was the content of Polimero who having caused the railes to be removed away willed that th' other Greyhound should be led in with the Leopard This dogge as if hee envied his fellow to shun the disadvantagious dexterity of his enemy encountered so furiously in the aire that he shookt his backe against the ground and ere he could get up againe seazing on his shoulder tore it sheere off his body with such facility that an hatchet could not have done it more neately The Prince well pleased with the fiercenesse of the Greyhounds and desirous to have them could not satisfie himselfe in commending them which Polimero observing profered them unto him and praying him to accept of them the Prince said Infante Polimero I will not accept them as a gift If I have them at all I will owe fortune for them choose you out of my stable two steeds such as like you best those I will play against your doggs at such a game as we shall agree on Polimero perceiving that his gifts meerely for ill will's sake were not accepted and that by law of inferiority it behooved him to accept the proposition replied My Lord sithence that you will not vouchsafe me this favour that the doggs be immediatly yours as I am I cannot but obey you But two horses are too much for a couple of doggs It shall suffice me so you be therewith contented to choose out for my selfe onely Flammauro This was a horse kept in the stable as a thing excellent whom never any man till then was able throughly to tame though he had already dismounted and kild above twenty Knights all which Polimero knew well and perswaded himselfe that in winning this steede he might content himselfe without discontenting his brother confident withall that himselfe alone was able to tame him The Prince therewith contented the wager was agreed on but not the game whereof many that were disliked of were proposed Met aneone would have it be three carrieres at the Ring when Impatient to stay the sadling of the horses he saw as he passed through Polimero's hall some foiles and blunt swords to fence withall whereupon his minde being altered he said Infante Let him of us twaine lose his wager that shall with these foyles receive the first foine of th' other Be it as it please you My LORD answered Polimero On this each of them having taken one the Prince advanced himselfe forwards making with his point towards the others face and faining a passage by stamping on the ground with his right foote stood still expecting his advantage Polimero who well knew what opinion the Prince had of himselfe making a shew of fearing him stood close in his guard forbidding him entrance The Prince thinking to dazle him and so put him from his ward fained at him divers foynes but with so little Iudgement that the Infante seeing him lye open touched at two thrusts his 〈◊〉 and hat But the Prince loth to acknowledge himselfe the looser every one crying 〈◊〉 that such thrusts could never have drawne bloud because they had not made any signe or impression in the clothes and continuing in striking at Polimero who warding his blowes and standing in a steddy guard with his point received the Prince in the midst of his breast as he advanced forwards with a steppe who thereupon all in a chafe threw away the foyle and confessing to have lost bade leade forth the horse The Infante seeing him in so fiery a mood said unto him My LORD since that it hath pleased you to let me winne that so you might bestow on me your steed I beseech you to favour me in accepting the Greyhounds which the Prince refusing they descended the staires into the Court of the Quiry where they saw come the horse with his spectaclâ—s and covering which taken from him he remained naked so well shapen and exquisitly proportioned as that Apelles though he had borrowed the perfections of all the horses in the world could never have painted one more perfect Flammauro seeing himselfe at liberty made no more esteeme of his bridle than if it had beene a small thread and giving a busling shake wherewith he threw to the gaound the two horsemen that held him after hee had many times raised himselfe in the â—yre tooke a full carriere towards the Prince so swift as he gave him â—o time to save himselfe for rushing in among the throng of Courâ—â—rs and trampling down many of them shrewdly maimed he then wheeling about bore downe the Prince himselfe who desirous to revenge his fall cried Kill him kill him Every man with sword in hand strove to obey him But the fierce courser like a skilfull fencer kept them aloofe off untill upon the appearing of some lances as if he had knowen that his hurt could not be redressed by defence he then quietly laying
the courage to practise and use the handling of armes an exercise not ordinary to her sex and though she had naturally such a spirit and will yet how came she to acquire an apt gesture and dexteritie ot supply the weaknesse of her sex when occasion required Whereto the Pilot smiling answered Thinke not Sir that the resolution of our Princesse is void of reason or insufficient to accomplish whatsoever she takes in hand I confesse it is a thing extraordinary to her sex but not to her for know that whilst she was yet a girle and had no other brother than the unfortunate Prince shee even then loved him and he her so heartily deerely as their fraternitie became converted to a friendly society most part of their time spent they together neither had the one any conversation in his exercise more deare than his Sisters nor the other any company more conformable to her inclination than her Brothers whose childish games and delights being such as those of all Princes should be representations of battels of armes and horses she came by the shadow to such knowledge of the things reall and substantiall that there is not a Knight can either in managing a courser observe better his times and motions or breake a Launce with a seemelier grace or bandish a Sword with greater cunning or dexteritie than this our Princesse Continued had they on this discourse so much was Polimero therewith delighted had it not beene broken off by the drawing neere of the Barke by them a little before descried whereunto seeing no body therein they drew neere and one of the Mariners boording her found therein a man stretcht all along by the pumpe covered with many cloathes and gasping for life they pittying to see him in such a plight and curious to know the occasion thereof began to question him but he opening his eyes a little and then closing them againe made them no answer they hereupon seeing him not any way wounded thought that perhaps he wanted sustenance so much the rather when having searched the Barke they found there neither meat nor drinke therefore gave they him a little wine and a while after a little more till they saw him beginne to recollect his spirits and recover some vigor and withall unclosing his eyes mutter out some faint words so as having made him a soppe with the pith of bread sokened in Spanish wine he willingly are it whereby he recovered such force as turning up his face he discovered himselfe to bee the Admirals slave of the Pilot very well knowne who was therfore the gladdest man in the world yet without making any shew thereof he commanded them to use all attendant diligence to restore him to himselfe which they so performed as in a short time he began to speake The Pilot seeing him restored to his disposition caused him to be transported over into his ship and the Barke to be tow'd then after he had given him leave a good while to repose himselfe he inquired of him what he was and by what accident he came to be so left alone He with his eyes inclined downewards began to tell them a tale without either beginning or end and so by studying for matter the more disclosed himselfe to be what he was neither had they gotten ought else out of him had not the Pilot all disguise laid aside said unto him Art thou Andropodo and knowest not him prostrating himselfe kneeled downe before him saying Pardon me my Lord for truly I knew you not in that habite you now weare and sithence I am falne into your hands I beseech you rather to kill me than bring me backe to Sardegna For albeit I am no wayes guiltie of the Prince his death neverthelesse I assure my selfe that because I am the Admirals slave my innocencie cannot save me No more of this answered the counterfeit Pilot but tell us how comes it that thou hast continued so long at sea hast thou landed any where Whereunto Andropodo all quaking made answer that about some fortie dayes sithence he imbarked himself during which time he had suffered all the miseries to a body humane insufferable that the wind ever kept him for the most part in the maine sea that sometimes he saw land and had a good wind to come almost a shore but that it changed in a moment and that he not having any experience in governing the sailes and withall being all alone had escaped in many tempests the danger of drowning a thousand times but that his ill fortune had saved him to make him die a death more miserable that when he came aboord he found in the Barke a little bread which lasted him not two dayes That on the Sardegnan coast hee met with some Fisher-men and a little farther that way a ship of Greece that furnished him with bisquet and a barrell of water which he had wanted three dayes before That the principall cause of his roving up and downe the sea was sleepe because the Barke abandoned of her Rother ranne whither the wind carried her so losing whilst he slept the way he had gained waking and beside being in the midst of the sea and not knowing on which part the land lay he beleeved that he ranne alwayes in a round going perhaps nothing at all or very little wide from the same place And finally that his spirit failing him he was stretch't along expecting death in manner as they found him And being asked why he imbarked not himselfe in the ship that sold him the victuals he answered that they would not take him aboord for feare of the plague whereof those of the East were very scrupulous it being not lawfull for them to commerce or trafficke without their patent of health from the place whence they parted with the precise number of the persons a-boord them So be it a-Gods name answered the Pilot they have well done in not taking thee with them to leave thee to me who will bring thee where thou shalt receive the reward thy treasons merit Which said he caused him to bee bound and set fast in the lowest part of the ship to deprive him thereby of the meanes of doing himselfe any harme Polimero then turning towards the Pilot and smiling said Sir you have hitherto represented the personage of one whom you are not I pray you vouchsafe to favour me so much as fully to unmaske your selfe seeing this Villaine hath almost wholly discovered you The Knight who till then had caused himselfe to be called Pilot answered I will obey you Sir knowing you for such as may command me for be pleased I pray you to know that if you beleeve your selfe masked as well as I you entertaine then an opinion that deceives you you having not so soone set your foot a shipboord but that I knew you for what you are My name is Eterossilo and am Marquesse of Chia a place on the sea coast on this part of Sardegna bordering towards Afsrique I was the
various aspect of most fertile hils nature shewing her selfe so liberall that being in other places sparing she seemed here to be prodigall which gave him occasion of discorsing with himselfe that the pleasantnesse of Poggio and others of his fathers seates compared with those he now saw were but meere apparances and besides but artificiall workes requiring much toyle and paines in conserving them whereas there were here to be seene the more than ordinary excellent workes of nature which cloathed with sundry devises shamed all artificiall colours affording such content to the senses as they were capable to receive by the fruition of those objects proportionable to their proportioned incliantions And if this varietie seemed unto him so strange in a countrey so litle distant from his in latitude what would he have thought of others far more fortunate and delightsome Sardegna being not of it selfe one of the best Provinces though as then well enough inhabited and sufficiently rich to sustaine its inhabitants and withall to contribute corne to many other countries which grew superabundantly in the Province of Luogodori Three dayes travelled Polimero without encountring any adventure on the fourth he saw comming riding towards him from afar off a Knight on a horse droppin wet with sweate and quite tired which for all that could doe by spurring him he could not make goe on one steppe further Whereupon knowing Polimero for a strange Knight lifting vp his beaver he said unto him Sir Knight I beseech you favour me with your horse for mine being tired can passe no further yet must I make haste for the Kings service to whom I am sent from the Princesse Polimero hearing such an unreasonable demand proceede from a personage of whom by his rich armour and by what his aspect promised such a request was not to bee expected made answer Sir Knight if I knew that you could not performe your duty with any other horse than mine I would gladly give him you to doe the King or Princesse any service whom I also desire to serve as well as you but knowing that you might have furnist your selfe in place through which you have passed or if you could finde none there that you may speede your selfe howsoever at Cornetto I hope you will hold me excused by so much the rather for that I going my selfe to serve the Princesse should doe her but simple service if I were deprived of my horse But as the gods shall protect you what good newes bring you with you What hath she done at Sassari Is that Traytor the Admirall perhaps taken The Knight altering his colour at these last words answered him The taking of the Admirall is not a thing so easie as you beleeve casting with that word his eyes about to see if any body was comming and seeing none in sight he spake on The Admirall was never Traytor but a Knight that can revenge injuries as now he is ready to revenge this which thou dost him and to take away as a good prize together with thy life that horse thou wouldest not give him by courteous meanes which said he lightly vaulting off his saddle drew out his sword Polimero taking him by these words for the Admirall was the joy fullest man in the world and giving Carasio his horse drew out his sword and said Yea marry this is the onely way to get the horse if thou being the Admirall as thy words descrie thee hast the courage to kill me Knight-like as thou slew'st the Prince Traitor-like Well then come doe thy worst for I will doe my best to revenge in his injurie the wrong done to all Princes The other replied not with words but with a great blow which he made at his head ere he was in his guard or had time to bring thither his shield which had put him in an ill plight had it not happened to fall athwart so as it lighting on the crest of his helme did him no other hurt than the cutting off of a small piece thereof To require which courtefie Polimero having put him to ward a fain'd blow stroake wiht a true one at his helme with such force as hitting him in a place unarmed it there made an ample wound The Knight who desired nothing more than a quick dispatch of the combat seeing himselfe thus disadvantaged in the very first blow resolved with himselfe to adventure at all For the effecting whereof having spied out his opportunitie of closing got in to imbrace him throwing away his sword that he might the better use his dagger then hee stuggling to throw him downe tried his armour every where by potching it to see if he could find any place unarmed But Polimero being fresher and stronger than the other lifting him up by the hams threw him flat on his backe and seazing on his dagger whilst he lay amazed with the fall held its point before his helmets sight bidding him yeeld which because he would not doe but struggled to get up Polimero stabd him in a place unarmed under the short rib laying him thereby to measure againe his length on the ground and taking him for dead because he saw him stirre no more he unlaced his helmet to assure himselfe thereof when seeing him yet alive though not in plight to defend himselfe he said unto him Tell me Sir Knight in plaine termes who you are Because if you be the Admiral and had as well avenged the death of the Prince as you have done mine you had not beene in the plight you now are in which had beene much better for you for the longer the gods delay punishment the heavier inflict they them as now they doe to you by not suffering you to die by my hands Which as hee was speaking hee saw comming towards him a great crew of Countrey Pesants armed with pikes and javelings who seeing the wounded Knight on the ground without any helmet straightwayes knew him and not knowing Polimero otherwise than for a stranger Alas My Lord said they what meane you to doe with this wretch which you keepe under you little better than dead How much better befits it him to die by other meanes seeing your hands are too worthy for him and he farre unworthy to die by them For he is if you know him not the Prince his murtherer the Author of the Rebellion the occasioner of the warre and wee pray God he prove not consequently the cause of our utter ruine Polimero glad of such an encounter said unto them My friends if you will promise me to bring him prisoner to the Princesse I will leave him in your hands How answered they If you please to deliver him us we will most willingly obey you not onely for our promise sake but also because it is an imploiment we much desire for we pray you be pleased to know that this is the Admirall the common enemy both of the Kingdome and of all good men howbeit for your better assurance if you list to returne backe but
to steale away the Princesse of Maiorica Of this good plot knew I nothing for the Prince beginning to grow cold in his favours to me-wards favoured another perhaps worse yet than my selfe at least in that behalfe that he could not conceale a secret wherewithall his Lord trusted him which he telling in confidence to a friend of his and that friend againe to another soone occasioned our almost utter ruine We incountred as it pleased the gods by the way the Prince of Mauritania your Highnesse brother with whom the matter past ill for us In that fight remained I wounded endevouring either to die or regaine the Princes favour not with an intention to enjoy it long but onely to assure my selfe thereof till such time as opportunity presented me occasion and place to run away it grieved me exceeding that I say so wounded as I was not able to helpe my selfe now that I might have made use of so fit an occasion for my purpose The King of Maiorica after the departure of the Prince of Mauritania considering how little it stead him to detaine in that sort Don Peplasos and too withall that sithence he was to set him at libertie his fairer course was to do it with giving him as little disgust as possibly he could after he had given his daughter notice of it thereby freeing her from danger in case Don Peplasos resolved to returne thither againe he went himselfe in person to visit him referring it to his owne choise whether he would go or stay Whereupon he assoone as he had dispatched himselfe thence having by making by the way enquiry easily found out the Author of the rumor spread a-broad caused him in his owne presence to be hang'd up by the maine yard Arrived at home scarce were his wounds cicatrized or begun to close up when he on the same pretext as before with an excuse that his wife was retired to Pegno della morte embarked himself taking with him foure Galleyes wheron it behoved me to mount aboord too wounded as I was resolved to run away at any hand as soone as we should be landed in Afrique Where what afterwards befell us is already knowne unto your Highnesse whom I humbly beseech to intercede some remission for me since that it better beseemes the Lady Princesse Eleina's royall brest to pardon than it ill befitted my base heart to offend protesting before the Immortall gods that in all these evills my offences shall never grow so high that they left not rooted in my mind a feeling sorrow for having committed them neither did I as I hope for mercy commit them out of any despight or malice but meerely for that ambitions sake that hath in every man such power in causing him to desire to engrosse to himselfe his Prince his favour wherein we have no example left us of any man that could ever yet in that kinde of avarice content or temper himselfe To these last words of his Polimero could not without disdainefull anger listen and beholding him earnestly he excused Don Eleimo's judgement for that Catascopo's countenance and demeanour was able to deceive the most penetrating subtilest understanding Once was he about to make him no answer at all his person not meriting any but observing to be there present many of the principall Courtiers he desirous that this example might serve them for a document thus said unto him Catascopo the Historie I heare of thee makes thee knowne to bee unworthy of what thou cravest especially those arguments aggravating thy fault wherewith thou pretendest to qualifie it Thou would'st have the Princesse Eleina pardon thee out of her ggreatnesse what thou hast offended out of thy basenesse not considering how that Princes are obliged to punish malefactors not to doe sacrifice to their particular revenge but for the publike weale's sake the people being much better bridled by example than swayed by lawes Nor indeed can she as a Princesse justly pardon thee for though that all her miseries had ended with her death yet the mischiefs and miseries that had thereon ensued or that may yet proceede therefrom betweene the Arelatan and Catalognian kingdoms might or yet may be perpetuall with the death of thousands of innocents that might or yet may perish by thy meanes Moreover thy being in the act it selfe sorry for having offended her makes thee the more unworthy of favour for it is no marvell if the blinde fall that hath no bodie to leade him or that a franticke man under the conduct of his corrupt imagination throw himself down headlong from any precipie but for one of a perfect sight to fall and refall so foulely and for one that hath a reflux of knowledge and beene admonished by conscience to precipitate thy selfe so dangerously and wilfully as thou hast done is a thing altogether prodigious nor can a man judge otherwise of thee than that thou intendest whensoever thou didst any mischiefe to doe it irrevocably without the consent either of reason or conscience an evident figne of an accomplished malice never to be repealed with any kind of good inspiration whatsoever nor am I ever a whit induced to beleeve that it was repentance which made thee when from on high thou sawest her drying her eyes with the sleeves of her poore gowne to thinke of succouring her and of bringing her home to her father for that was not an effect of a repentant spirit but of a minde already vilified in the consideration of its proper danger that thou incurredst with thy Master for the life thou could'st not deprive her of And this made thee thinking on thy own miseries capable of that pitty which thou hadst not whilest thou wast void of such impressions Men of a shallow judgement looking no farther than the apparances take those to be vertues that are not whereas the wiser sort examine the actions distinguishing that which really is from that which seemes to be Which that it is so thou maist see by thy selfe for thou betrayed'st not thy Master first but with premeditation nor the Princesse afterwards but with deliberation and yet passed there betweene these two treason plots dayes and moneths wherein thou hadst time to kindle the coles of charitie towards the one and the other if there had beene remaining in thee any sparke of vertue but thou didest it not till thy foreseene miserie joyned with the danger engendred in thee this adulterate pittie if it may be termed pittie and not rather basenesse diffidence of being able to save thy selfe any other way Nay I beleeve what is yet worse nor can I beleeve otherwise of such an one as thou art that thou seeing thy self undone thought'st with a new invention of malice to winne her to be thine after thou hadst lost her to her selfe and to make the instrument of thy life and good fortune her whose death thou had'st complotted whose miserie thou mean'dst to accomplish by taking from her her honour to no other end than to oblige her
master all alone presented himselfe before him and said My Lord you wonder to see me here unsent for but the occasion that drew me hither is of such importance and concernes you so neerely that I resolved by all meanes to come hither being well assured that when you shall know it you will not onely take it in good part but will also courteously grant me what I shall demand of you The Admirall who seeing him come unawares had ey'd him with a dogged looke suspecting that he meant to flie into Corsica but that being discovered he resolved to come to Sassari or else that somebody had enticed him to runne away which might be the better done under colour and pretext of being his slave yet hearing these words permitted him to speake all that he would The slave observing the comming of others into the roome with a submissive voice besought him to make a shew of bidding him doe something till such time as the company were gone away The Admirall seeing him so circumspect thought his suspition might be vaine and his hart telling him that something was amisse he bade him do some services about the chamber to set him aworke till he were rid of those that were there then having made him follow him alone into the garden he commanded him to tell him the occasion of his comming Whereat he kneeling downe thus said unto him My Lord the thing I have to tell you is of such importance as if it should be knowne there is no man living could save my life although then I as your slave and as a slave well used am in all things obliged unto you without having any reason of pretending any reward from you neverthelesse I beseech you to be pleased that before I tell it you I begge the liberties of my selfe and Prodotima who to tell you the truth is my wife and though libertie be the onely thing that ought to be most desired of every one in the world yet would I not in this case desire it were I not of necessitie for the saving of my owne life constrained so to doe The Admirall having heard these well compact reasons absolutely promised him all that he requested in case the matter were such as he made it to be Whereupon the slave kissing his feete said vnto him My Lord Prodotima sent me unto you and out of the obligation she owes you lets you know that your bed is violated by the Prince which if you beleeve not she offers to let you see The Admirall who expected no such newes was ready to fall dead for griefe thereof but striving to encourage himselfe the best he could he demanded of him many things touching that purpose but the other fearing to faile said he knew no more thereof but that Prodotima could fully satisfie him of all The Admirall concealing what he felt in himselfe sent him to the stables bidding him say that he himself had sent for him thither Afterwards setling himselfe to ruminate or rather to rave on the case of the businesse he could not imagine that the slave came to tell him a lie neither held he him to be so simple as not to know his owne danger Whilst he thus stood there came to him unlookt for the Coant of Montevero who seeing him changed as if he had beene sicke a whole moneths time asked him if he felt not himselfe well And being answered with no The Count said that it might be that he was not sicke but that it could not otherwise be but that some great ill had befallen him The Admirall suffering at these words a deeper impression of griefe burst out like a child into an extremitie of weeping whereupon the Count taking him by the hand led him to the end of the walke and having first seated themselves in the thicket of a grove besought him to tell him the occasion of his griefe to the end that he might either comfort counsell or assist him The Admirall blushing for shame of being found in such a plight after he had dried his eyes related unto him all that the slave had told him whereupon the Count after a short pawse said unto him Cozen the occasion of your griefe is great not in respect of what is already happened you you being not the first that had a dishonest wife but in regard of what may befall you if you thinke to repaire your honour whereof because of its difficulty you cannot easily resolve suspend I pray you your sorrow lest by bewraying it you marre all your businesse Only this much I le tell you that though in revenging your wrong I were sure to lose my life and goods yet would I most willingly forgoe them and thinke them well spent for your honors sake The Admirall framing the best countenance he could departed thence to which place both of them returned againe after supper under pretence that the Baron was disposed to recreate himselfe where after much consultation they resolved that the Admirall should goe disguised to Caleri to assure himselfe of the act before they would thinke of the rest and to the end that this his journey might not be any way suspected they tooke on them to goe thence alone to Montelione without any attendance that those of the household might thinke they made this journey for some amorous pleasure The slave sent they two dayes before with a spare Barbar horse which the Admirall was to ride on lead by him a maiâ—e pace as far as Montecouo being fortie miles where he left him having found another that there expected him being sent there by the Count which hee led as farre as Genevi being forty miles more wâ—ere after he had delivered him with the counter-signe agreed 〈…〉 a place without the Castell he went thence a foote to Caleri 〈…〉 Admirall after he had continued at Sassarie till such time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imagined that the horses sent before were somewhat reposed 〈…〉 on horsebacke very early accompanied with the Count 〈…〉 ping together as farre as Montelione where leaving him at a 〈…〉 Inne he mounted first on the one fresh horse and afterâ—â—rds upon the other posting on with such diligence that by darke â—â—ghâ— hee reached to Caleri where expected by the slave that through the stables conducted him to the house to the lodgings reserved for strangers Prodotima came to finde him out The words were few because they were to goe thence to watch the comming of the Prince she led him into the fore-chamber of her mistresse who was already laid in bed and there hid him in the study where-hence he might first see the Prince as he passed by and then through the doore which was to stand open heare and see all the speeches and actions of his wife He was well armed because he came of purpose about a businesse of such importance and wanting neither valour nor courage had soone resolved with himselfe to kill them both if his Cozen foreseeing the danger had not made him promise
to do nothing else but assure himselfe of the fact In lesse than a quarter of an houre came the Prince and passed through the fore-chamber with a light that Prodotima bore before him The Admirall saw him and knew him he heard their amorous complements their reciprocall affections the smacking of their kisses his putting off his clothes and going to bed I wonder that madnesse jealousie and fury made him not forget his promise Prodotima gone out he would not stay to heare any more not willing to trust too much to his owne patience Of her would he needs know in many particulars and amongst other things the time and continuance of this practice She concealing such things as might condemne her selfe for a mediatrix told him that it had not lasted many daies and that she for her part had absolutely denied her assistance when she was thereto requested by her mistresse who therefore mistrusting her had caused the Prince to threaten her the selfe same evening when her mistresse went her selfe in person to open him the dore as she beleeved she had done ofttimes before her being made privy thereto so that she for feare of her life could not choose but obey her The Admirall after he had seene and heard too much went his way charging her to serve them with a good countenance untill such time as he gave her further order promising her that over and besides her liberty hee would therefore well reward her The slave having put the horse to stand in a stable without the house found him when he went to saddle him so tired and weary as he could not possibly cause him to get up on his feet so as the Admirall knew not what to doe and not able to endure any longer the sight of his house or of Calari no nor of the skie that covered them went out of the citty on foot giving the slave money to hire another horse as farre as Geneui whitherward he was to come after him and overtake him by the way The subtle hangman well knowing where to finde choise of horses chose out an excellent good one paying well for him and leaving the other in pawne thereof received of his master when he overtooke him the counter-token for getting againe the horse at Geneui whither he walked at his leasure But the Admirall carried by Furies road those five and thirty miles in two houres and with the other two horses came to Montecouo ere the Count was stirring out of his bed where almost dead with wearinesse hunger and griefe he told him of all that had happened him The Count although astonished to heare him answered nothing else but that he had well done to hold his hands praying him to repose himselfe a little as he had need for not having slept a winke the two former nights and that afterwards they would discourse of the businesse with more conveniency and leasure The Admirall although he had more desire to die than to live yet orecome by necessity having refreshed himselfe with a little meate without stripping himselfe of his cloathes lay him downe to sleepe a nap on the beds side And afterwards awaking with a a shivering feare caused by his imagination and passion he found the Count awake who spake thus unto him Cozen I have thought on your case wherein I finde you may proceede two manner of waies the one profitable but contrary to the common opinion of our countrey the other by the same opinion honorable but ruinous in the first is laid before you how that he who offends you is your Prince such a Prince as this fault excepted might be entitled the worthiest that the world enjoyes Adde hereunto his discretion in doing what he doth in a manner so secret that no living creature can come to know it and what you esteem an offence is rather an amorous trespasse than an injury Moreover if we ought to ground our resolutions on the common opinion we shall finde that a Prince takes not away the honor of his subject in enjoying his wife which if it be allowed though all the world know it why will not you allow it now that no body knowes it Infinite truly are the number of such as will laugh at you in their sleeves if you but doe otherwise because honor is indeed in the end nothing else but a mecre opinion and many nations mocke and leere at us who with so great and so many dangers endevour to protect the chastity of our wives perswaded in our selves that their dishonesty spots us with infamy Therefore if you will follow this course you shall besides the saving of your honour reape therby many commodities you shall find your selfe freed of a griefe that so much troubles you and consequently letting all things passe you neede not thinke of any thing else than of your course of life And may withall if jealousie should yet torment you in some seemely fashion th wart those loves by causing your wife to come to Sassari you shall save your owne patrimony and the estates of divers others and besides free from danger your own life with those of your friends and kindred The other way of proceeding is for such as beleeve that this case marcheth in the very front of the first files of honor which if you 'l follow you 'l uncloath your owne shame and thereby procure your selfe many losses and disgraces as to be branded with the infamous name of a Traitor and utterly lose your goods countrey honor dignities and friends The choise therefore lies in your owne hand and on you alone depends the election thereof This said he pawz'd awhile till seeing the Marquesse stand silent without making any answer he thus proceeded I beleeve that these reasons shall not peradventure obtaine of you that credit as I wish they could in that you may perswade your selfe that I propose them onely to free my selfe from the communitie of your perils but to cleare you of that doubt I heare seriously protest unto you that I am most willing to incurre with you any danger whatsoever The Admirall looking somewhat more cheerefull answered Cozen I have not so little judgement but that I know you though your reasons indeede are more profitable than honourable my businesse caries with it no other ballance than that of honour which if in this case it cannot be taken from me by the Prince because he is a Prince no more can he deprive me thereof in another case for being such a person and Princes by this reason should be lesse powerfull than private men for such for being private men might and are able to doe injuries if they would whereas Princes cannot so doe for being Princes But this cozen is a false reason found out and invented either by the Princes themselves or by the women who being dishonest would thereby defend their honestie or by their husbands who faine would under that veile hide their owne disgraces As concerning vertue I confesse the