with whom the faire Ladie was left in guard; although hee was aged,
yet seeing shee was so extraordinarily beautifull, he fell in love
with her, forgetting the solemne vowes he had made to his master.
One happinesse he had in this case to helpe him, namely, that he
understood and could speake her Language: a matter of no meane comfort
to her, who constrainedly had lived divers yeeres together, in the
state of a deafe or dumbe Woman, because every where else they
understoode her not, nor shee them, but by shewes and signes.
This benefite of familiar conference, beganne to embolden his hopes,
elevate his courage, and make him seeme more youthfull in his owne
opinion, then any ability of body could speake unto him, or promise
him in the possession of her, who was so farre beyond him, and so
unequall to be enjoyed by him; yet to advance his hopes a great
deale higher, Newes came, that Osbech was vanquished and slaine, and
that Bassano made every where havocke of all: whereon they concluded
together, not to tarrie there any longer, but storing themselves
with the goods of Osbech, secretly they departed thence to Rhodes.
Being : g seated there in some indifferent abiding, it came to
passe, that Antiochus fell into a deadly sickenesse, to whom came a
Cyprian Merchant, one much esteemed by him, as beeing an intimate
friend and kinde acquaintance, and in whom hee reposed no small
confidence. Feeling his sickenesse to encrease more and more upon
him dayly, hee determined, not onely to leave such wealth as hee had
to this Merchant, but the faire Lady likewise. And calling them both
to his beds side, he spake in this manner.
Deere Love, and my most worthily respected friend, I perceive
plainly and infallibly, that I am drawing neere unto my end, which
much discontenteth me; because my hope was to have lived longer in
this world, for the enjoying of your kinde and most esteemed
company. Yet one thing maketh my death very pleasing and welcome to
me; namely, that lying thus in my bed of latest comfort in this
life, I shall expire and finish my course, in the armes of those two
persons, whome I most affected in all this world, as you my
ever-deerest friend, and you faire Lady, whom (since the very first
sight of you) I loved and honoured in my soule. Irkesome and verie
greevous it is to me, that (if I dye) I shall leave you here a
stranger, without the counsaile and helpe of any bodie: and yet much
more offensive would it become, if I had not such a friend as you
heere present, who (I am faithfully perswaded) will have the like care
and respect of her (even for my sake) as of my selfe, if time had
allotted my longer tarrying here. And therefore (worthy friend) most
earnestly I desire you, that if I dye, all mine affaires and she may
remaine to your trustie care, as being (by my selfe) absolutely
commended to your providence, and so to dispose both of the one and
other, as may best agree with the comfort of my soule. As for you
(choice beauty) I humbly entreate, that after my death you would not
forget me, to the end, I may make my vaunt in another world, that I
was affected here by the fairest Lady that ever Nature framed. If of
these two things you will give mee assurance, I shall depart from
you with no meane comfort.
The friendly Merchant, and likewise the Ladie, hearing these
words, wept both bitterly: and after hee had given over speaking,
kindely they comforted him, with promises and solemne Vowes, that if
hee dyed, all should be performed which hee had requested. Within a
short while after, he departed out of this life, and they gave him
verie honourable buriall, according to that Country custome. Which
being done, the Merchant dispatching all his affaires at Rhodes, was
desirous to returne home to Cyprus, in a Carracke of the Catelans then
there being: mooving the Ladie in the matter, to understand how shee
stoode enclined, because urgent occasions called him thence to Cyprus.
The Lady made answere, that shee was willing to passe thither with
him, hoping for the love hee bare to deceased Antiochus, that hee
would respect her as his Sister. The Merchant was willing to give
her any contentment, but yet resolved her, that under the title of
being his Sister, it would be no warrant of securitie to them both.
Wherefore, hee rather advised her, to stile him as her husband, and he
would terme her his Wife, and so hee should be sure to defend her from
all injuries whatsoever.
Being aboord the Carrack, they had a Cabine and small bed
conveniently allowed them, where they slept together, that they
might the better be reputed as man and wife; for, to passe
otherwise, would have beene very dangerous to them both. And
questionlesse, their faithfull promise made at Rhodes to Antiochus,
sickenesse on the Sea, and mutuall respect they had of each others
credit, was a constant restraint to all wanton desires, and a motive
rather to incite Chastitie, then otherwise, and so (I hope) you are
perswaded of them. But howsoever, the windes blewe merrily, the
Carracke sayled lustily, and (by this time) they are arrived at Baffa,
where the Cyprian Merchant dwelt, and where shee continued a long
while with him, no one knowing otherwise, but that shee was his wife
indeede.
Now it fortuned, that there arrived also at the same Baffa (about
some especiall occasions of his) a Gentleman whose name was Antigonus,
well stept into yeeres, and better stored with wisedome then wealth:
because by medling in many matters, while hee followed the service
of the King of Cyprus, Fortune had beene very adverse to him. This
ancient Gentleman, passing (on a day) by the house where the Lady lay,
and the Merchant being gone about his bussinesse into Armenia: hee
chanced to see the Lady at a window of the house, and because shee was
very beautifull, he observed her the more advisedly, recollecting
his sences together, that (doubtlesse) he had seene her before, but in
what place hee could not remember. The Lady her selfe likewise, who
had so long time beene Fortunes tennis ball, and the terme of her many
miseries drawing now neere an ending: began to conceive (upon the very
first sight of Antigonus) that she had formerly seene him in
Alexandria, serving her Father in place of great degree. Heereupon,
a sodaine hope perswaded her, that by the advice and furtherance of
this Gentleman, shee should recover her wonted Royall condition: and
opportunity now aptly fitting her, by the absence of her pretended
Merchant-husband, shee sent for him, requesting to have a few words
with him.
When he was come into the house, she bashfully demanded of him, if
he was not named Antigonus of Famagosta, because she knew one like him
so called? He answered that he was so named: saying moreover, Madam me
thinkes I should know you, but I cannot remember where I have seene
you, wherefore I would entreat (if it might stand with your good
liking) that my memory might be quickned with better knowledge of you.
The Lady perceiving him to be the man indeed, weeping incessantly, she
threw her armes about his necke, and soone after asked Antigonus
(who stood as one confounded with mervaile) if he had never seene
her in Alexandria? Upon these words, Antigonus knew her immediately to
be Alathiella, daughter to the great Soldane, who was supposed (long
since) to be drowned in the Sea: and offering to do her such reverence
as became him, she would not permit him, but desired that he would bee
assistant to her, and willed him also to sit downe awhile by her.
A goodly chaire being brought him, in very humble maner he
demanded of her, what had become of her in so long a time, because
it was verily beleeved throughout all Egypt, that she was drowned in
the Sea. I would it had bin so, answered the Lady, rather then to
leade such a life as I have done; and I thinke my Father himselfe
would wish it so, if ever he should come to the knowledge thereof.
With these words the teares rained downe her faire cheekes:
wherefore Antigonus thus spake unto hir. Madam, discomfort not your
selfe before you have occasion; but (if you be so pleased) relate your
passed accidents to me, and what the course of your life hath bene:
perhaps, I shall give you such friendly advice as may stand you
insted, and no way be injurious to you.
Fetching a sighe, even as if her heart would have split in sunder,
thus she replyed.
Ah Antigonus, me thinkes when I looke on thee, I seeme to behold
my royall Father, and therefore mooved with the like religious zeale
and charitable love, as in duty I owe unto him: I wil make known to
thee, what I rather ought to conceale and hide from any person living.
I know thee to be honourable, discreete, and truely wise, though I
am a fraile, simple, and weake woman, therefore I dare discover to
thee, rather then any other that I know, by what strange and
unexpected misfortunes I have lived so long obscurely in the world.
And if in thy great and grave judgement (after the hearing of my
many miseries) thou canst any way restore me to my former estate, I
pray thee do it: but if thou perceive it impossible to be done, as
earnestly likewise I entreate thee, never to reveale to any living
person, that either thou hast seene mee, or heard any speech of me.
After these words, the teares still streaming from her faire eyes, she
recounted the whole passage of her rare mishappes, even from her
shipwracke in the sea of Majorica, untill that very instant houre;
speaking them in such harsh manner as they hapned, and not sparing any
jot of them.
Antigonus being mooved to much compassion, declared how hee pitied
her by his teares; and having bene silent an indifferent while, as
considering in this case what was best to be done, thus he began.
Madam, seeing you have past through such a multitude of misfortunes,
yet undiscovered, what and who you are: I will render you as
blamelesse to your Father, and estate you as fairely in his love, as
at the houre when you parted from him, and afterward make you wife
to the King of Colchos. Shee demanding of him, by what meanes possibly
this could be accomplished, breefely he made it knowne to her, how,
and in what manner he would performe it.
To cut off further tedious circumstances, forthwith he returned to
Famagosta, and going before the King of the country, thus he spake
to him. Sir, you may (if so you will be pleased) in an instant, do
me an exceeding honor, who have bene impoverished by your service, and
also a deed of great renowne to your selfe, without any much matter of
expence and cost. The King demanding how? Antigonus thus answered. The
faire daughter of the Soldane, so generally reported to be drowned, is
arrived at Baffa, and to preserve her honor from blemishing, hath
suffered many crosses and calamities: being at this instant in very
poore estate, yet desirous to revisite her father. If you please to
send her home under my conduct, it will be great honour to you, and no
meane benefite to me: which kindnesse will for ever be thankfully
remembred by the Soldan.
The King in royall magnificence, replied sodainly, that he was
highly pleased with these good tydings; and having sent honorably
for hir from Baffa, with great pompe she was conducted to Famagosta,
and there most graciously welcommed both by the King and Queene,
with solemne triumphes, bankets, and revelling, performed in most
Majesticke manner. Being questioned by the King and Queene, concerning
so large a time of strange misfortunes: according as Antigonus had
formerly enstructed her, so did she shape the forme of her answers,
and satisfied (with honor) all their demands. So, within few daies
after, upon her earnest and instant request, with an honourable traine
of Lords and Ladies, shee was sent thence, and conducted all the way
by Antigonus, untill she came unto the Soldans Court.
After some few dayes of her reposing there, the Soldan was
desirous to understand, how she could possibly live so long in any
Kingdome or Province whatsoever, and yet no knowledge to be taken of
her? The Lady, who perfectly retained by heart, and had all her
lessons at her fingers ends, by the warie instruction which
Antigonus had given her, answered her father in this manner. Sir,
about the twentieth day after my departure from you, a very terrible
and dreadfull tempest overtooke us, so that in dead time of the night,
our ship being split in sunder upon the sands, neere to a place called
Varna, what became of all the men that were aboord, I neither know,
nor ever heard of. Onely I remember, then when death appeared, and I
being recovered from death to life, certaine Pezants of the
Countrey, comming to get what they could finde in the ship so
wrackt, I was first (with two of my women) brought and set safely on
the shore.
No sooner were we there, but certaine rude shagge-haird villaines
set upon us, carrying away from me both my women, then haling me along
by the haire of my head: neither teares or intercessions could draw
any pitty from them. As thus they dragd me into a spacious Wood, foure
horsemen on a sodaine came riding by, who seeing how dishonourably the
villaines used me, rescued me from them, and forced them to flight.
But the foure horsemen, seeming (in my judgement) to bee persons of
power and authority, letting them go, came to me; urging sundry
questions to me, which neither I understood, or they mine answeres.
After many deliberations held among themselves, setting me upon one of
their horses, they brought me to a Monasterie of religious women,
according to the custome of their Law: and there, whatsoever they
did or sayde, I know not, but I was most benignely welcommed
thither, and honoured of them extraordinarily; where (with them in
Devotion) I dedicated my selfe to the Goddesse of chastity, who is
highly reverenced and regarded among the women of that Countrey, and
to her religious service they are wholly addicted.
After I had continued some time among them, and learned a little
of their language; they asked me, of whence, and what I was. Reason
gave me so much understanding, to be fearefull of telling them the
