deuotion to become a Christian and to receiue the holy sacrament of baptisme Wherevnto a certaine deuine instinct did prouoke him which the most highest of all gods did put in his mind and also not for to loose her whom hée loued with so cordiall a zeal that without her only he could not liue one halfe quarter of an hower albeit in doing so he lost the hope of euer returning againe into his kingdome of Tarsus When the Emperor vnderstood these things he assured himselfe incontinent Marcomyr must néeds be his son by the prompt and summarie suppuâ—ation he made of his age and of the time he was in the prouâ—nce of Pasmeric where the Quéene his mother by a subtil deuise had iouyssance of his loue by meanes whereof he became shamefast a little in beholding the Empresse wherof the purple coulour which made his face blush shewed a cleare signe for the vermilion tincture thereof went and came in such sort that the Empresse and al â—hose of the same side where her chaire of state was set perceiued it well but she only suspected what the matter might be calling to mind the fine trickes the Quéene of Tarsus plaid her as the Emperor himselfe had sometime told her albeit she as a ladie prudent and of great discretion made as though shée had known nothing and the Emperor then remembring at the same instant the perfections of Marcomyr accused himselfe of great simplicity to be ashamed of so perfect a péece of a worke therefore calling to him againe his former gladnes and spéech bespake him thus My dear friend Marcomyr surely I loue and estéeme you much more then before hearing you say you are son to that Quéene which hath honoured me so much in her countries whose onely name resounding in mine eares make me call to memorie the exploits I did there so that I cannot expresse my ioy especially séeing you resolued to renounce paganisme and the heathen sect of your gods to reduce your selfe totally to our faith And mine aduise herein is that thinges be not prolonged too much but that to morrow morning you receiue the holy charactor of Christiandome and by the same meane vnder one to be celebrated also the solemnitie of your affiancing with madame Celestina for reason willeth in this case we hasten your attempt séeing for hâ—r sake you haue endured so many trauels and forsaken such a kingdome as yours is the ertendue riches and fertilitie whereof is not a thing vnknowne to me To vnderstand Marcomyr was a king were meruellous glad the king and Queene of Thessalie and far more without comparison when they were certified of the first degrée of his genealogie of which the Emperor would not yet make any further enquirie vntill he had better coniecture of the truth but well he knew how to alter his talke and falling with a good decorum from one thing into another they conferred ioifully together till supper time when the tables were spread thorow the court In meane time the Empresse and the Quéene withâ—rew themselues into their chambers leauing the king and Marcomyr to â—up with the emperor where they were magnificently serued not only with exquisit and rare dishes but had also of all sorts of musicall Instruments which they vse at the repastes of great princes The tables being taken vp the Emperor praid the king of Thessalie to retire himselfe to the Quéen his deare wife séeing the time did then require to be a little together without any beholders to stand by Whervnto he willingly accorded as well to gratifie him therein as to quench the desire which might stirre him forward to reconquest the place where no refusall was made at the entrance and where the long distance of yeares wherein he endured such sufferance did so much more augment his forces Yet he did at his wifes request cut his haire and trim his beard and for him were quickly made very rich habilimeÌ„ts to be on the morrow present at the betrothing of his daughter in such array and sumptuous attire as did beséem his roial estate At the length Marcomyr remained alone with the Emperâ—r who desired so affectionately to know if he were his sonne that being not able to endure any longer this disquiet thought which troubled his spirit he tooke him a little aside with instant praier to tell him the very troth Sir quoth Marcomyr then Surely I can no longer conceale it from you séeing you so carefull to know albeit I had rather hold my peace a great deale knowing my selfe vnworthie of such generation by reason of my too litle valor notwithstanding to obey your request know that you your selfe begat me in the cittie of Alâ—arin in the kingdome of Pasmerie the same night you tooke very gratiously your congie of the Quéene my mother Who being duly aduertised of the perfections which Nature had bestowed vpon you aboue all others was so ardently enamoured of you that being vnable to resist the impatient desire which made her more yours then her owne she found meanes to acquaint her selfe with you by the vertue of a certaine potion mixed with many drugs that a most expert Magitian had composed for her the working wherof was so vehement that your vitall spirits could not preuaiâ—e so much but they remained attainted and oppressed with such an assured forgetfulnes as she had craftely of you that which by praiers she did despaire to obtain And this act hath not so much displeased God but he hath permitted to be procreated thereby a deuout creature of his who euidently knoweth the Predestination vnto which euer since his nauitie he submitted it Which is my selfe your most humble son and obedient seruant to whom it séemeth impossible this extream desire should not giue you some presumption of the matter when you shall haue certaine assurance by the remembrance which may now refresh your memorie of that which happened betwéene you both But she gaue me moreouer at my departure from Tarsus a gage whereby you shall further sée more apparent tokens of the truth commanding me to deliuer it vnto you by the which you may cal to mind the like wherof she made you a present when you were to depart from her countries and Celestina now hath it in possession if she haue not lost or put it away Of all this mysterie would she not tell me the least word till the old beldame which put Celestina into my thoughts had before giuen me to vnderstand For shée dreaded a thing which soone after came to passe that I would abandon my kingdome to take my iorney towards you to serue in the suite of your court The desire with which I found my selfe afterward inflamed for the same purpose hath so without all cease night and day prouoked me forward that neuer perill or any aduenturous danger might diuert my spirit from employing it in those things which might a little recommend me to you till the time that this should come to your notice wherein albeit
triumphant scepter enriched with all honour and immortall praise Wée néed not aske whether Marcomyr did meruaile hearing the voice of the Damsell who came to succour him in this austere desert to decipher to him so well his affaires For the extasie and rauishment of his spirits who had then séene his countenaunce did giue sufficient testimonie thereof Yet séeing himselfe in place fit to speake to this Damsell hée called his spirits againe to him and embouldened himselfe to say thus Madame for the honour and reuerence you beare vnto your God I pray you not to conceale from me who you are that know mée so well and I beséech you therein excuse mine vnwise request for your rare and perfect beautie which doth prouoke mée to demaund it doth draw mée into greater admiration then all the other strange visions which I haue now séene the which I held for friuolous and Diabolicall in respect of you who séeme to mée celestiall and sent hether of the gods into these base regions séeing that you discoursing so well of the future euent of my destinies doe comfort my sorrowfull heart with an incredible ioy and contentment Courteous knight quoth she thinke not strange at any thing I tell you for it is long since I knew who you are and for your prowesse and valour I loue you and estéeme you more then any other knight of this round world therefore am I come hether farre from the countrey where I was borne to make you vnderstand it Praying you to pardon mée otherwise if I doe not tell you who I am for at this present your curiositie is not to bée satisfied herein well will I assure you before long time passe wée shall sée one another at pleasure together and then shall you know something of my doings by a gift which I will request at your hands which is not now to be disclosed It should bée a great ioy and an vnspeakeable comfort to mée replied Marcomyr if you would commaund mée something in which I might employ the vertue of all my forces with the perfect deuotion I féele alreadie vowed to make the world know the singular affection I haue to obey you and to rest alwaies your faithfull friend Offering my selfe for earnest of this obeisance hereafter to serue you as your knight with promise not to transgresse the least of your commaundements as long as my life shall dwell in this terrestriall bodie And thinke not I will any more importunate you to tell me who you are séeing that it is not your will I should know it albeit to haue knowne it had béene to me a thing most acceptable so that euerie day to me shall séeme a thousand yeares vntill I sée the hower which you say is so happie for me But in attending it I wil accomplish for my part all that which it hath pleased you to giue me in charge and will dedicate this temple to the seruice of your God whose faith alreadie hath by your meane greatlie edified mée in this Euangelicall truth Whilst the Damsel gaue him thanks for this good affection and for his so many amiable spéeches behold the old beldame came who enchaunted him with the loue of Celestina in his Kingdome and taking this maiden by the hand saith to her Come away with me my daughter and leaue this discourteous and foolish Knight alone who suffered me to be misued before his presence in Tarsus for which abuse I hope full soone to bée reuenged on him by the extreame anguish and passion his heart shall endure hereafter Scarsely had she spoken these last words but both of them vanished away at the very instant whereat Marcomyr maruelled much and from that time forward entered into such a déepe conceit of the liuely and perfect beautie of this Damsell that he had almost died with the thought thereof for it séemed to him he had neuer séene her second and in truth he was not deceiued in his iudgement in this matter as many young louers bée who in their owne loues shew themselues too fauourable iudges By and by he thought with himselfe because the old mother had taken her away from hard by him this Damsell must sure be Celestina her for whom he felt so liuely imprinted in his heart the loue which did encrease in him more euery day then other at the onely remembrance of this ladie and forced him first to abandon his kingdome So great was then the perplexitie of his spirit because of this amourous fantasie that vnstopping the fludgates of his eies hée shead a great streame of teares which were tossed with the impetuous wind of his sighes so thicke one after another that during this torment he was faine to exclaime thus Alas olde mother I knowe not what thou maiest bée but well I finde thy spéeches to be true O that in an ill houre for the happinesse of my life did Ozalias anger thée in my presence Ah cruell enemie why hast thou so soone depriued my sight of the vnspeakable content it receiued beholding this angelicall and diuine face Thou diddest permit me to sée her that I should loue her past all measure albeit I know not how thy wordes haue pierced my heart so farre that I could not taste of anie more sharpe and corosiue bitternesse notwithstanding if this be the obiect of Celestina who séemed to mee the fairest and most exquisite péece that euer presented it selfe to mine eye I will neuer rest till I haue met her once againe In this anguish of minde remained the knight long time so astonished as if hée had come from the Antipodes and accusing himselfe greatly of simplicitie and want of courage blamed the olde woman who had cleane taken away his strength vnable to stay the damsell with him whose presence and gracious spéeces did so content him as hee thought him selfe in eternall blessednesse for the while To bée briefe as soone as hée perceyued the cleare morning to chase towardes the West the darkenesse of the night hee resolued to effect all that the vision did commaund him wherefore he went straight to the Aultar where the riches was and taking the golden basins with all the other sumptuous things hee laide them all on a heape to carrie them out of the Temple and spoiled moreouer the idoll of his scepter and crowne which he had about him In the meane time were Ozalias Rifaran and the other Knights verie sadde and melancholicke thinking they had lost Marcomyr their lorde wherefore they purposed to goe see what was become of him and especiallie Ozalias who without delay called vppon all the rest to follow him thorowe the same way which hée perceyued his cousin had cut out to the Temple And béeing come to the place of the combate they first found the horrible boare slaine whereof béeing most ioyfull and maruailing much they amased themselues there all a little to beholde rhis monstrous animall except Ozalias who béeing desirous to sée the Prince entered as soone as euer hée
themselues into perill of death hauing once séene me abroad openly whereas to win honour many haue proued themselues in the aduenture which was destinated to Marcomyr as to him who surpasseth them all in Prowes and brauenesse of Chiualrie God forbid quoth Diocles then I should gainesay you therein séeing the vertues graces of Marcomyr are such as well merit the felicitie wherewith the deuine prouidence would make him happie now in all fulnes And you haue iust reason to loue him as indéed he loueth you but séeing her so firme and constant in her affection albeit her beauty had almost made a wound in his heart he would not parly with her any longer of that matter The Emperour and the Empresse came forth with Philocrista as farre as the pallace gate to goe méet them where the Quéene and Celestina her daughter alighted quickly from their palfries to doe them honour and reuerence but the good prince Cleodomyr and his honourable wife Griana welcommed them and entertained theÌ„ most courteously Then they lead them along into the great chamber where the Quéene began to the Emperour in these spéeches most happy and illustrious prince Marcomyr the choice Paragon of knights who humbliâ— kisseth the hand of your emperiall maiestie by vs sendeth you this damsell my daughter praying you to kéepe her vnder pour protection vntill he returne from Turkie with the king of Thessalie my deare spouse if God giue him leaue to frée him out of the hands of the Infidell the which I pray deuoutly with all my heart he briefly permit him as wel for the extreame desire I haue to sée the king my lord as for the great desire I haue to come to doe you seruice which he hopeth in short time to compasse With these words she consigned vp her daughter into his hands whom the Emperour receiued very amiably and shewing himselfe most ioifull of their arriuall offered them frankely all thinges which might be necessarie for the content of their spirits Moreouer praied God he would so well direct all the actions of Marcomyr that he might quickly set frée the king her husband out of his long captiuitie assuring her if the knight had ben willing to haue had forces along with him in this enterprise he would haue aided him with a huge armie Then the quéen answering he would haue no other companie with him but that of God and of his cousin the Emperour began again to pray in form like vnto this He which maketh me liue in great desire to know him for the good seruices I haue receiued at his hands by his diuine power happilie conduct him and after his exploit reconduct him hether againe then taking Celestina as his daughter saith To you Philocrista doe I giue the charge to guard this princesse till the returne of her knight My lord and father qd the Infant I will obey with all my heart all your commaundements and beside I shall make deare estéeme of so good companie nay I shall be passing glad to sée a damsell néere me for whom so many excellent exploits haue ben worthily atchieued The Empresse tooke the quéene by the hand and Philocrista Celestina then they went to sit down together vpon the rich seats of tapistrie which were in the presence where the knights beholding these thrée ladies thought there should be amongst them a second iudgement of the apple of beautie And who had taken Arnedes for the gentle shepheard Paris Alexander his deare ladie Philocrista should full soone haue ben in possession of him because loue did so sway his heart that he found her the perfectest of al though Celestina excelled her in some gifts of fauor so that all the assistants concluded by a coÌ„mon resolution they had neuer séen a fairer lady except the Empresse wheÌ„ she was in flower of her yong yeares And a thing most true it was Philocrista neuer attained to the perfection of her mothers beautie but she had two sisters named Flerida and Basilia which resembled her very much especially Flerida which was iudged the fairer as you shall heare hereafter The emperour intreated Celestina to tell him who this Marcomyr was if she could shew him so much whom the princesse answered very modestly If it please your grace I cannot giue you any thing to vnderstand of him but this he commaundeth a kingdome and many other seigmories of very great estate and when I should know of him more yet were I to be excused though I did not discouer so much for it is his pleasure to conceale it till he come himselfe in person to manifest his countrie and his progenie For this modest answer was Celestina greatly commended of the emperour who iudged her to be very wise and well aduised when he began to behold héedfully her gestures so that spieng on her finger the ring which her louer gaue her to keepe in testimonie of his seruice he déemed it presently to be much like that whereof the quéene of Tarsus made him a present at his departure from her Therefore he could not chuse but demaund her in what place she had recouered so rare a ring and so néere resembling one which he estéemed the fairest of his Cabinet The damsel answering him Marcomyr gaue it her at her deliuerie out of Carderie he much maruelled therat imagining in his spirit whether the knight might be sonne to the same quéene of Tarsus or no wherefore from thenceforward he doubled his great desire to sée him hauing not beside forgotten the good turnes he receiued at her hands in the kingdome of Pasmerie so that causing his ring to be brought and matched with Celestinas he found them so like one another and conformable that putting themboth together you could not discerne the one from the other as also in very déed it was all one making and so cunningly wrought by art Magicke to serue for the true token and cognisance of the paternall stocke of Marcomyr whereby the emperour began to thinke he might wel be his sonne calling to mind the secret sport the quéene and he had together when she first practised to come by his acquaintance yet he neuer imparted so much to any body but did daily greater honour then before to the quéene of Thessalie for her daughter Celestinaes sake to whome hée did shew like loue as to Philocrista so that the Empresse séeing the great coÌ„tent and pleasure she receiued passed the greatest part of her time in great ioy and solace with the quéene and Philocrista with Celestine who began to loue together with a loue more then common In fine the emperour was very glad hearing Belcarin was not in gaâ—d of the bridge when Marcomyr ariued there as being also very sorie for Tiraquels misfortune albeit he estéemed the knight courteous that would not further aggrauate the ill successe of the prince of Micene and to say truth of his nature he made little account to kil or wound any knight after he had once brought him to the ground
the sanctuarie of the Temple and beside chief of the Economicall and politicall gouernment of this prouince who hauing one very faire daughter chast and adorned with all vertues requisit in a virgin did consecrat her to the seruice of the Oracle It fell out the duke of Fera a verie comly and gallant yong gentleman fell in loue with her onely by report hee heard of her for he had manie times heard tell that in beautie and comelinesse shee did excell the most properest of all those parts therfore did he send to the prelate to demand her for his wife but many times as he sent he had his labor for his trauell because her father would neuer be farre from her And euen as the messenger which is sent twice or thrice into one place to obtaine something of a man would saine haue séeketh by all meanes possible to satisfie his desire who requesteth it rather to auoide the paine and shame to be alwaies talking about the matter then for any zeale good deuotion which he hath towards him euen so fell it out with the bearer of this embassage being vexed to goe and come so often without doing any good did bring at last to passe that he talked one day with the maiden whom hée gaue so swéete a lesson and set such a glosse vpon his reasons to make a priuie marriage that shée was rauished in loue of the Duke and promised him if his master would come to take her away secretly from her fathers house she would go willingly with him The duke vnderstanding this embassage made hast presently to the isle where being arriued he aduertised the Damsell who sent him word backe he should goe stay for her in a certaine place néere her fathers pallace where she would not misse to méet him so soone as his people should be asléepe But the preist who by meanes of his Magicke had preuented all these practises knowing the place where the lord of Fera attended for his daughter caused from the mountaine to descend two fierce lions enchaunted These cruell beasts rushing in with a hideous roaring vpon the miserable Duke who by no meane knew how to preuent such ambuskadoes began to fawne on him in pittifull manner meane while this young prince losing at that instant all power to defend himselfe against the rage and furie of these infernall beastes was quickly torne in pieces Which his Squier beholding too pittifull and lamentable a spectacle who was come alone to accompanie him exclaimed with such a fearefull crie as the Damsell who had her eares most attentiue to listen heard it easely so also did some other of the house who running forth with burning torches to know what was the matter found the Duke alreadie dead Whereof the maiden being aduertised she ran out of the pallace as a body possessed with a spirit or mad to goe to finish vp the sacrifice So vnsufferable was the griefe and sorrow she had to sée her future spouse lie so cruelly massacred that taking his very sword set the pommell against the ground and the point right vnder her breast then cast her selfe with a great stresse of bodie vpon it thinking to pierce right vpon her heart to which she would not giue one onely moment of life after the death of her louer For all that she was frustrate of her attempt for the sword passing thorow the right side she fell vpon the dead bodie still full of life where making many complaints with sighes and sobs as fast as one could follow another she wrot with her owne bloud vpon a paper which she found in her bosome twelue lamentable verses in forme of an Epitaph To the which knowing her death drew néere shée adioined onely these last words If it be so O choice paragon of courtesâ—e that for my sake you haue endured the shipwracke of this life it should be for euer to mée too great a remourse of conscience if the very houre I had not done as much to make the expiation of your funerals so much the more accomplished And to the end my father may know the more then sodaine rashnesse of his counsaile I wil now leaue him such relikes he shall haue certaine testimonie thereof Wherein for that his repentance shall come too late I pray him in recompence to burie our two bodies togither in one tombe commanding for a perpetuall memorie of our sorrowful tragedie this Epitaph to be engrauen ouer vs Cease weeping tears for his death be not sorie Whose fame for euershall suruiue in glorie Detest his stony diamantine heart Who caus'd his only daughters deadly smart O furious planet O thou angry fate What cruell mischeife could ye meditate More inhumaine then bodies twaine to kill Ah I mistake surely it is none ill For death which all liuing creatures seaseth Our louing bodies of all anguish easeth And linkes our soules in perfect knots of loue Which did on earth such bitter sorrows proue Hauing written this Epitaph she paid the humane tribute vnto nature for neuer afterward her passible bodie receiued any motion of the vitall spirits and it is no fable to die of loue-sicknesse if with the auncient histories wée will conferre a million of moderne and late writers But to returne to the highpriest when hée heard that his daughter was ranne towards that clamour hée followed her incontinent for feare least shée should make awaie her selfe and finding her alreadie dead with her Epitaph as yet in her hand hée was in great daunger to haue made the third person in this pitiful tragedie So vehement was the anguish which seased his sorrowfull soule that he remained long time without speaking worde as a man forlorne and sure the sorrow and indignation that he endured had made him die in the place if for all comfort he had not broken his silence with an imperfect spéech in this sort Alas miserable and wretched man if thy knowledge did serue thée to act and effect the death of the duke of Fera why was it not sufficient to preuent that of thine owne daughter Ah in a cursed houre was I counsailed euer to take that deadly oportunitie Manie other gréeuous complaints poured hee out ouer those two dead bodies who might be truly coÌ„pared to Piramus Thisbe notwithstanding after that he had shed ouer them many teares accompanied with innumerable sighs he gaue order that a faire and rich tombe of brasse should be erected in which after he had embaulmed them according to the ancient ceremonie of funerall rites pomps he caused both their bodies to be buried togither with a great conuoy of mourners and the Epitaph aforesaid to be engrauen round about the same Some few daies after thorow the griefe and melancholie he tooke séeing himselfe depriued of his lawful heire and in that behalfe the order of nature peruerted he also lest this mortal life but first did he shut vp make fast the treasures of the temple by such enchantment and with so fearefull a
you to present me whereof notwithstanding I know neither my selfe nor any of mine worthie for that farre aboue their knowledge did passe your vertue and valiancie as being him only who should accomplish the aduenture of this castell wherein the Fairies had emploied all their secret philosophie Neuerthelesse let vs omit these circumstanceâ— to some fitter opportunitie let vs goe to the end of the bridge to giue some comfort to the quéene of Thessalie who attendeth your comming thether for that neither she nor any other whosoeuer can enter within the bridge before you be first come forth with her daughter and then shall all these enchantments cease except the castle which shal stand for euer firme in his foundation for an eternal memory of her who was once therein so long enclosed O God quoth Celestina alowd is the quéene my deare mother then here Surely I sée the heape of all my blisse by little and little come to perfection And as she shewed still in her going many signes of congratulation to her louer the knight certified her how ten or twelue daies past her officers arriued at the end of the bridge and she her selfe the next morrow after accompanied with many Barons and ladies whereof Marcomyr was well aâ—aid hoping to send away Celestina with her mother to the Emperour and to depart himselfe quickly to go to deliuer the king of Thessalie When the quéene saw her daughter come so pompeously attired she was seised with so much pleasure and ioy that her spirits vncapable to conceiue it she fell downe in a traunce betwéene Ozalias armes who had almost born her companie through the content and ease suddainely stroken into his heart séeing Marcomyr seated vpon the top of Fortunes whéele But as soone as Celestina was come to her she knew right well it procéeded of the vehemence and superabundance of suddaine ioy therefore she tooke her mother by the hand and kissing it many times began to wéepe for compassion but she soone came to her selfe againe and séeing her daughter hard by her she embraced her with so ardent a motherly zeale that she could not chuse but vnscopping the sludgates of her eies let the tears trickle downe her chéekes when her mother began thus Alas my deare daughter how long a time it is that mine eies â—round in teares doe séeke by all meanes to sée you O how many times hath my heart quailed with continual anguish in vaine sighed and powred forth complaines and cries into the aire for the absence of you and of your father wishing that which I sée may in brief bring some remedie to my griefe by the meanes of him who hath now deliuered you out of prison Ah pittiâ—ull mischance when I remember I was so cruell and seuere a mother to you the true substaunce of mine entrals as to suffer you to be banished and shut vp in prison so farre from me Alas God had predestinated it in this manner which was cause the loue of the mother nor the abundance of feminine pittie could not in any thing preuent the will of the fatall destinies And therevnto was I forced to consent not without enduring extreame heartsgriefe which I suffer patiently since the thrée Fairie sisters had vndoubtedly persuaded me I should recouer your father againe by the meane of him who should deliuer you from the charmes and enchauntments which they should lay vpon you So that there resteth nothing now but to sée whether these magitians are here in veritable wherefore faire knight whom God blesse from all mischance séeing you haue brought into so great gladnes the soule which floated among the waues of this tempestuous sea of aduersity restoring Celestina into my hands so also I must entreat you with an affection procéeding from a heart which shall féele it selfe for euer bounden to you to doe so much that this ioy may be entire and perpetuall to giue me her father as he is by the fatall destiny appointed to the end we may liue together the rest of our old age in al tranquility of spirit The knight had great pittie on the quéene and quickly tooke her vp by the hand saying Madame I pray you vex not your selfe any further for I haue determined to die or to worke these matters so about that you shall passe the rest of your old yeares with more content then of the quéene of Thessalie may be imagined Then the good ladie thanked him and kissing his chéeke very courteously she replied thus againe I beléeue vndoubtedly my son you wil assuredly hold your promise séeing our Lord hath so wel accoÌ„plished you in all things that he doth not permit you to speak ought with your mouth but your hart is pricked with a desire ready to perform it to y e vttermost While they were vpoÌ„ these purposes althe Barons and knights of y e quéen did approch to kisse the hand of Celestina being the ioifullest meÌ„ in the world to sée her so fair so sage for y e hope they had to be one day vnder the siegniory of so perfect a couple of louers And at the last the knight of the isle besought the quéen Marcomyr séeing many had by this time passed easilie ouer the Bridge to coâ—e loâ—ge within the castell to refresh themselues there and to the end they might both forget their sorrows and paines past Which they did right gladly with all their traine who marueled as much as at some great miracle séeing y t rich houses of y e Fairies built wrought with â—â—mirable architecture if y e building did shew stately magnificeÌ„t that part of y e island wher it was scituated séemed no lesse delightfull and a place of pleasant recreation By meanes whereof they remained there thrée daies with as much pleasure and solace as any humane spirit might wish nor could they saciat themselues with beholding the strange things especially those of the dongeon wherein Celestina had bene so long time enclosed wherby it chaunsed that Marcomyr finding the seat of this isle in so good and fertile a climat purposed to transport thither a colonie of people out of his kingdome of Tarsus to inhabit it the better and to the end also this countrie might immortalise the remembrance of him and of Celestina to the future ages of his posteritie There were they serued sumptuously and with all abundance by the siegnior of the island but the quéen could not glut her selfe in beholding her daughter and talking to Marcomyr who loued her surely no lesse then her selfe did in such manner that they two one day being both together far in talke he praied the quéene most louingly to conduct her daughter to Constantinople to put her on his behalfe vnder the protection of the Emperor whom shée should tell moreouer that so soone as he could dispatch his voiage into Turkie he would kisse his hand and so acquit himselfe of that promise which he had by the mouth of others made vnto him diuerse
times Lord Marcomyr qd the quéene then I will with all my heart doe that which you prescribe me yet would I faine know whether you meane to goe against the Turke with a puissant armie for as much as if the case stand so I will send into Thessalie for as many companies as you will haue and for a néed will demaund aid at the Emperours hand who will succour mée willingly with so many legions as I would demand Madame replied Marcomyr my mind is to take none other companie with me then such as I brought hether considering this busines shall be brought to an end rather by aduenturous hazard than by any forces which I may march into the field and were all those of the Emperour vnited together they shall not be able to bring it so quickly about Neuertheles sée here my resolution You must vnderstand how I met not long since at sea with the king of Culacin son in law to the great Turke beating vp downe the coast of Thrace accompanied with many other Rouers and a great consort of like faction that with all his power he might endomage the Empire I tooke him by faire war and sent him forthwith fast bound and manacled as an arch pyrat and king of Rouers vnto the power of the Emperour If perhaps I cannot by my carriages and secret drists preuaile in mine attempts being in that countrie I will politickly séeke to make exchange of these two kings vnder pretext of some good and colourable practises In bréefe I will worke as the occurrences of time and place will giue me leaue wherein I beséech the diuine bountie to shew me the spéediest and directest course whereby I may quickly bring to a fortunate end this my so affectionat desire Excéeding glad was the Quéene to heare of the exchange of the king of Culacin so that being put in great comfort through this hope she hastened with al diligence the departure of Marcomyr thinking euery day as long as a thousand yeares till she saw at libertie the king her husband the same thought Celestina also who with her amorous becks and signs shewed vnto her louer al the fauour she could deuise for that neuer going from her mother they could not giue such contentment to their hearts as they desired in amorous talke and deuise only more priuie habitude then kissing had not as yet bene permitted in their sportings nor did it happen at all till the day of their mariage when Marcomyr vndid the impolluted girdle of hir virginitie which till that day she had euer worne vntouched CHAP. XXIII How Marcomyr and Ozalias accompanied the Queene of Thessalie and Celestina her daughter departing from the isle of Carderie halfe a daies iourney and how after they had one taken their leaue of another the Queene and her daughter went to the Emperors court whether they were most welcome and excellently wel entertained THe quéene of Thessaly considering Marcomyr would neuer depart first she and her daughter Celestina tooke their leaue in good sort of the lord of the island giuing him many rich presents for the great benefits they had receiued of him the like liberality felt he from the prince of Tarsus who bidding him adieâ— as well as the ladies would néeds beare them companie halfe a daies iourney But before their departure the spirits of this trinitie could not contain but they must poure out a great streame of tears which was so tossed by the wind of their sighes that the storme did depriue their tongues of their office and especially that of Celestina Wherewith Marcomyr had his heart so griped that he could not endure to sée her in such paine but departed without further adieu and tooke his way with his cousin Ozalias towards the seacoast of this isle where he had commanded his marriners to attend him with his ship All that day did Celestina nothing but sigh and sob and for ought her mother could doe she could not be merrie but so well as they could they continued on their way in the which they had euery where great honour done them all along as they passed for they knew before who they were and the occasion of their voiage to Constantinople By meanes whereof the people ran out before them to sée Celestina who had remained so long prisoner within the enchanted castle and euery one said if the knight who set her frée were adorned with so high valour she did not appeare to be indued with lesse beauty and that it should be a paire as rare in all perfections as euer nature might couple together in matrimonie Then being arriued at the last néere Constantinople the quéene sent before one of her knights to aduertise the Emperour of their comming who meruelling much therat demanded the name of him who had conquested Celestina My lord quoth the knight he is called Marcomyr one of the most valiant and courteous knights who liues this day vnder the firmament You say true replied the Emperour but commeth he now with the quéene Surely no answered the knight for that the future deliuerance of our king hath constrained him to passe into great Turkie Then the Emperour commanded Diocles and all his Barons to goe forth to méet the quéene and her daughter which they did most gladly for vpon the famous renown alreadie spread of her euery where thorowout all the regions of the leuant euery one was enflamed with a great desire to sée her Amongst the rest would néeds venter out to behold her Arnedes who began but â—o recouer of his wounds notwithstanding he found himselfe much perplexed because he thought his fathers Embassadours staied a little too long as also for that he heard no newes of his cousin Recindos And if those of the court were all richly araied the Quéene and all her ladies on the other side came in clothed in blacke and mourning wéed except Celestina onely who by the knights entreaty must enter into Constantinople in all her gorgious attire and in her haâ—â—â—ments of most exquisite and costly stuffe As â—oone as Diocles had giuen first entertainement to the queene he came next towards Celestina laying his head vpon the bridle of her palâ—rie the like did Amedes to the quéen being both astonished at the excellencie of Celestina when Diocles began thus Madame it séeme to me the Fairies committed a great ouersight to emprâ—â—son thus long so liuely and admirable a beauty as yours considering euery gentle heart should rather endeuoured to haue gone to deliuer the king of Thessalie in séeing you then depriued of your presence séeing you are the guerdon of his exploit whereof indéed may Marcomyr estéeme himselfe fortunate if he deliuer out of prison the good prince your father So also am I most fortunate qd Celestina winning by this meane the most valiant and gentlest knight who marcheth vpon the surface of this habitable earth wherein were many learned Fairies who shut me vp fast within the castel for that a few exposed
you without comparison more then he euer did desireth nothing els but to aduance you to the height and sumptuositie of the brauese estates to the end that séeing your selfe obeied nay reuerenced of no small number of subiects who are alreadie yours you may thinke thereby how you may liue content all the rest of your life And therefore faire ladie ouerwearie not from henceforth your spirit reiecting from your imagination those thinges which bring with them no ioy especially now that in humble sort I request you to entertaine with comely and ioiful countenance the Emperour Cleodomyr of whose roiall vertue I assure my selfe so much in this place that he will shew you great honor for my sake The God Mahound refuse me then replied she if I euer speake vnto him by my good will nor vnto any of his court for I féele my spirits too weake in their powers to carrie my life far from this place which I may estéeme the best content that might come to me it being to me so woefull a thing to liue in this seruile miserie that I repute my selfe worse then a senceles creature and without reason altogether Ozalias who heard her vtter these spéeches with such a countenance and affection which séemed not counterâ—eit had some compassion on her when taking her by the arme he brought her to shore more by force then by her frée will where the Emperour and the other nobles receiued her very gratiously but she would neuer bow before him nor make answer to any thing they said vnto her whereat the troupe both of the Barons and of the people also who looked vpon her were much astonied so that calling her a woman of a manly and robust courage they said nature had failed in making of her a woman Then being mounted all on horsebacke they tooke their way all in most roiall aray towards the pallace whence the Empresse descended into the base court to receiue the king of Thessalie and the knight Marcomyr his deliuerer who after the welcommings and embracings of the king kissed honourablie her hand and likewise Philocristaes whom he besought in most humble sort to accept Marencida for her companion and to giue her some priuiledge to be néere her being she was a lady extracted of an illustrious and roiall blood Seignior Marcomyr answered the infant I most willingly graunt you your request for the loue of you both and can estéeme my selfe very happie to haue so noble and precious a gage neere me of you the most perfect among the best accomplished knights so that assure your self she shall not haue in my company any worse vsage then mine owne proper person And you madam qd she to the Turkish princesse estéeme that you come to be now neere her who will honor and loue you as her self Marencida hearing these gratious words of Philocrista and the sequestration whereby Marcomyr did consign her vp to this ladie thought she must néeds be the Emperors daughter by means whereof making a low courtesie she shewed her a more ioifull face then she had as yet done to any bodie whereof Philocrista was glad and did interprete it to her aduantage taking her straitewaies by the hand and afterward when euery body was gone vp into the great chamber lead her to sit downe hard by Celestina to whom she said thus smiling Madam I take this Damsell in your place now the knight Marcomyr is come for I know that hereafter our company shal discontinue more then it hath done because reason and your fatall loues will you to prefer him before me albeit I cannot thinke therefore you will forget me Madame replied Celestina we are both yours in him haue you so good part as you shall find your selfe no lesse abashed then content when you know him who shall put you out of all feare that I should euer forget our reciprocall amitie albeit the singular deuotion which I haue to remain perpetually your humble cousin and better friend may aduertise you sufficiently of my constancy I thanke you in all kind affection for your offer quoth Philocrista for the acception whereof I can well assure you there is no Damsell in Europe more yours then I am whereof shall giue you certaine knowledge the first thing wherein you shal assay my more then little power in regard of the good will I haue to doe you any pleasure and as touching this point wherein you say I shall make vndoubtfull proofe of the conseruation of our mutuall amity you may thinke I shall be most glad to vnderstand it presently Therein shall you sée your desire soone satisfied replied Celestina for thinges cannot now be any longer dissembled whose happie successe shall testifie their good and laudable beginning During these gratious enterparlies of these ladies sent the Emperor to disarme Marcomyr and Ozalias into a place whether Diocles and Abenunq would néeds conuoy them and in the meane time the king of Thessalie made to them the whole discourse of his miraculous deliuerance But the princesse Marencida who cast her eies al about in euery corner calling to mind the riches and high estates of her father did not make any great account of the emperours court which was then vnfurnished of knights for that this suddain arriual was not expected nor known of but one houre before By meanes whereof Marencida easily supposed his magnificence and statelines not to bée such as it was deemed as oftentimes it commeth to passe to those that are caried away with any particular affection in the iudgement of things the which they alwaies interprete against the sounder opinion So this damsell hauing her spirit most occupied and â—loid with the remembrance of her misfortune censured the reputation wealth of the Emperor such as you may infer by the spéech which she began fetching a déepe sigh from the center of her bodie in this sort You know Emperor of Constantinople how the pompe and sumptuositie of my fathers house excéedeth the richest princes of the world and what a number of puissant kings yéeld him hommage and fealtie for you haue haunted his court long inough to know so much Where if you were so hardie and aduenturous as to sâ—ay without dread of them as all the world knoweth the great Turke my deceased ouncle doe but thinke I pray you what must be the perplexitie and heartssorrow of his miserable Damsell iniuriously taken away from his countries and afterwards by stealth brought into your dominion Wherein me thinketh to veryfie the renowne that is daily spread abroad of you you ought to take pittie at mine aduersitie and rather to lament and be sorrie for it then to glory and mocke as I sée you doe considering inconstant fortune is so fickle and variable that she turneth her smiling and fauourable countenance at euery winke of an eie This I say not to induce you to gratifie or honour mée the more in your court because death were far more acceptable to me then any life such as I
I haue shâ—â—ne lesse then no Prowesse and magnamitie it must bée to you referred whence it is deriued and to the desire I haue therein to be known for your son Eternall God then brake the Emperor forth for ioy how happie haue I reputed my selfe recouering in so small time a son so perfect and accomplished Surely far more then any humane tongue is able to expresse for the vnspeakeable ioy wherewith I féele my heart ouercome surpasseth the capacitie of the most eloquent and learned clarke who euer for this effect might put pen to paper Ah Marcomyr my dearely begotten son vndoubtedly I beléeue that which you tell me considering you much resemble me by your complexion and many other gifts wherewith nature hath endued me and chiefly your martiall and heroicall courage whereof all those of my blood haue ben heretofore partakers and albeit this laudable and pretious fruition which I presently enioy of you redoundeth a litle to the dishonor of mine Empresse yet that doth a little pierce my heart assuring me her prudencie and modestie will not permit her to taxe nor disdaine me very much Now I perceiue how much I am bounden to loue the Quéene your mother séeing she hath taken such pains for me that of her so cunning deceit wrought on me by night there procéedeth so goodly and rare fruit At the end of these words he stroked him with his hands on both his chéeks and giuing him many swéet kisses with a more singular affection then can any father shew to his child hée prosecuted his spéech thus My sonne I pray deuoutlie the creator of all the world to accept you hereafter for his true and faithfull seruant to the end your Prowes and valiancie may shine and augment in you euery day more more by the communication of our Christian faith which you shal receiue in the fount of holy baptisme and albeit in doing so you forsake your own kingdome assure your selfe you shall find no lesse crowne herein beside that which I shal giue you during my life the future succession which you shal inherit after my death Marcomyr made humble obeissance down to the ground to thank him and to kisse his hand which he did with such humilitie that the teares distilled from the Emperors eies brought downe thorow the great ioy wherewith his heart felt it selfe rauished which being not able to abide so secretly shut in forced him to goe take the Empresse in her chamber whom at his first entrance he kissed in all most honest amitie telling her this I beléeue madam you haue heretofore held so good opinion of my firme lâ—ialty how cordially I haue al the time of my life loued you that hereafter ye will not séeke any better or more sufficient proof so that to speak this vnto you induceth a little scruple which is not long since crept into my brain fearing least you misdéem mine honest cariage wheÌ„ you shal vnderstaÌ„d y e discourse But not to suffer this fantasy to imprint it selfe further in your spirit I protest before God the only searcher of mens harts I swear vnto you again by al y e creatures which assist before his tribunal seat that neuer to my knowledge wil I haue not deâ—iled our mariage bed And lesse I haue infringed in word or déed the holy lawes of matrimonie nor polluted the inuiolable faith which I haue promised you But if I haue ben sometimes so vnfortunate that some other woman beside your selfe had of me by charmes and deceit that which to you only appertained you ought not now to be so seuere and rigorous but to pardon me séeing I confesse mine indiscreet offence and ouersight Albeit the fault did not procéed from me and that in that behalf I shal alwaies be sound innocent Madame you may well remember what heretofore I told you befortuned me with the quéene of Tarsus in her countries wherein the dreame that you dreamed was not altogether false and vaine for so much as by the acquaintance she had of me by meane of her sorcerie and sophisticated beuerage which shée commaunded the yeoman of her seller to giue me hath ben engendred Marcomyr the gentle knight My lord answered the Empresse with a smiling and very gracious countenance so soon as euer I saw Marcomyr I assured that to be true which you say he resembleth you so néerely in all lineatures of his person so that not only I haue pardoned you being ignorant of bringing into this world one so excellent and perfect creature but when wéetingly you had forgotten me in a thing whence procéedeth so rare and pretious treaâ—or being long since assured of your integritie that by your good will you will neuer worke me anger or displeasure As for Marcomyr I accept him most willingly for my son and I loue him alreadie with no lesse zeale then Diocles his brother beséeching you my lord to send him hether to me speediâ—ie for I will receiue him for no lesse and declaring mine affection to him giue him the maternall kisse and embracing which his good manners and commendable vertues do merit Glad was the Emperor without measure of this answer and sending for Diocles and Abenunq thether after they had heard the discourse of this good newes sent them for Marcomyr to bring him before the Empresse They went to fetch him with a maruellous gladnes and as far off as Diocles saw him he ran to him with open armes saying in this manner O the incomprehensible blisse that now bringeth me the neerenes of linage which would extract vs two out of one and the selfsame originall sourse O the inseperable brotherly amitie What two persons might you combine and vnite to hold better together with your affectionate hands then vs two Surely when you should wander ouer the bottome of this Hemispheare you should neuer â—ind the like couple more enclined to reuerence you especially I who therein féele my selfe aboue all other so much fauored by the diuine prouidence that I hope my deare brother and friend you shall neuer know in me any other will then your owne Ah deare brother answered Marcomyr then the felicitie which you say is the contentment of your spirit constraineth me to striue therein against you in this only that in any other thing I should crosse your desires God forbid wherein it pleaseth you to tearme your selfe the most affectionate whom fraternall amitie may at this day find on earth for when the extreame desire which I haue in this behalfe should be measured by the elle or poised in an euen ballance you should plainly sée it wey downe and surpasse yours by far the which for all that I estéeme to be no lesse then you say But for as much as mine hath excéeded the height of all measure and that it is impossible to mount aboue it I would faine giue you to know what did vrge me to assure you you shall alwaies find my body a prompt seruant of your soules desire