The first part of Parismus, the renovvmed Prince of Bohemia His most famous, delectable, and pleasant historie. Containing his noble battails fought against the Persians. His loue to Laurana, the Kings daughter of Thessalie: and of his strange aduentures in the desolate iland.

CHAP. IIII.

How Parismus by meanes of Leda, Laurananes waiting∣maide, came to the speech of the princesse, and how they met in an Arbour in the garden. And how Sicanus described the loue betwixt Parismus, and the princesse Laurana, and fearing to be disappointed, declared the cause of his comming to the King, and what ensued thereon.

DIonisius was earely vp as his custome was, to visit his guestes, and busie in entertai∣ning them with all roialty that might bee, Parismus being as busie in his minde (more then any knewe) got himselfe into the Garden, vnder the windowe of Laura∣naes lodging, beeing frustrated of all o∣ther hope to see his beloued: where he had not long walked, but was soone espied of Laurana, who bee∣ing delighted with his sight, called Leda, and willed her to make some excuse into the Garden, where hee was walking, to see it his comming into that place were for her sake or no. Leda therefore taking a faire cloath in her hand, went into the Garden, as if shee entended to gather some hearbes, and had not seene him. When shee came neere the place where hee was sitting vnder an open Arbour, in deepe stu∣dy, hauing a sight of her, hee suddenly started, and knowing her to bee the seruant to Laurana, kindly saluted her, saying: faire Damosell, quoth hee, if I bee not deceiued, you are attendant on the Princesse Laurana. Sir, answered Leda, I am. I pray you (saith hee) how

fareth your Mistris, for I am in doubt our last nights •…•…cise disquieted her, which if I knew, I wold not hereafter attempt such boldnesse. Indeed (quoth Leda) I know not, but I heard my Lady much commend the Prince of Bohemia, to be a gal∣lant Knight, and that she was much beholding vnto him, and vsed many gracious words in his commendation. Do you not (quoth he) know Parismus, if you saw him? no sir, said Leda: I am the man, said he, and thou bringest me that comfort, by re∣porting that my mistris thinketh well of mee, as if thou hadst saued my life, & I am to entreat a fauour at thy hands, which if thou grant, I shal rest bound vnto thee for the same. My Lord (said Leda) I humbly desire you to command me, and I will both faithfully and secretly accomplish your request. Then this is my request, quoth he, that thou wouldest commend me vnto thy Lady, and deliuer vnto her this paper, certifying her, that I haue thus holdly presumed to •…•…rouble her, being therto com∣pelled by her commanding courtesie, on which hope I fully re∣ly for pardon: withall giuing her a rich Iewell, shee departed towards her mistris, telling him that she would returne with an answer the next morning. Parismus being much quieted in minde with this hope of comfort, went into the great Hall, where he found the King and y^e rest of the Nobles, and hauing saluted them, he espied Sicanus, sonne to the king of Persia, betweene whom and his father, the king of Bohemia had been long time in continual wars: but now lately a peace was con∣cluded. This Sicanus was the knight that concealed himselfe, who the night before, seeing Parismus so much honoured, and beloued, could not indure to stay any longer, for that he enuied him still as an enemy. Parismus séeing him, and noting his last nights sudden departure, dissembling as though hee had not known him, spēt the rest of that day in company of Dionisius. Leda likewise being returned vnto her mistris Laurana, told her all the speaches that Parismus had with her, and deliuered the letter he had sent: which when she had receiued, shee went into her closet, and with great ioy opened the same, and found the contents to be these.

To the most Vertuous Princesse Laurana, Parismus wisheth hearts content.

MOst Honourable Princesse, I presume thus boldly to write vnto your vertuous selfe, thereby to ease my heart of the care wherewith it is perplexed, onely procured by your heauenly excellencies, that I here prostrate my selfe your thrall, desiring you of pittie to mittigate my martyrdome by your clemencie. I desire your gentle accep∣tance of my loue, which haue vowed constanly, to continue perfect to your selfe: which being grounded vpon the truest foundation of sincere affection, is not to be blemished with any dishonour. I cannot protest, but performe the part of a faithfull seruant, my true heart shal not harbour vntrouth, but I rest yours, to preserue or destroy. If your excellency would admit that I might come to speake with you, then would I giue you farther assurance of my fidelitie, which if you vouch∣safe to graunt, it shall be no way to your disparagement: and as from your selfe I first receiued my wounde of disquiet, so let your clemencie saue my perplexed miserie. And thus com∣mitting with this poore paper my life, into your custodie, I cease.

Yours euer, or his owne neuer. P.

When Laurana had read the Letter, shee began to medi∣tate with her selfe how shee should accomplish his request, in such sort, that it might no way blemish her honour, nor giue him cause to suspect that she were light, to be so easily perswa∣ded, for shee esteemed her credit more then her life, and his loue more then both. At last shee resolued to answer his Letter, and giue directions to Leda how he should come to talke with her, and no man priuy thereto but themselues: and calling Leda, told her that shee should deliuer the answer to the Prin∣ces Letter, and withall this message. That if hee would take the paines the next night, he should finde her in the Arbour at the farther end of the Garden, that was vnder the window, a∣bout midnight, vpon condition that her maide Leda might be with her, and that hee should bring no man with him, for that he might easily come thither without danger. Leda being vp earely, hyed her with all speed to Parismus Chamber, where being come, shee deliuered the message Laurana gaue her in charge, which reioiced Parismus to heare, and withall the an∣swer to this Letter, which when hee had receiued, at the first he was vnwilling to teare the Seale that her sweet hand had impressed: oft viewing the superscription, but hoping the con∣tents within would bring more ease to his heart, then the out∣ward view, he opened the same, and read as followeth.

Laurana saluteth the Prince Parismus.

MY Lord, blame not a maidens rash reply, neither doe you impute any fault to my doubtfull care. I was vn∣willing to answer your Letter, yet the credit I repose in your vertue, makes mee thus much to digresse from my for∣mer resolution, that I colud not chuse but congratulate your kindnesse: I yeeld to your request to speake with mee, pre∣suming that your princely minde cannot harbour any ill mea∣ning: and the rather, for that I finde my heart yeelding with∣out my consent: therefore I commit my selfe into your curte∣sie: my honour being vnblemisht, which I trust you will not any way violate: So relying vpon your vertuous disposition, and good opinion of my rash attempt, I cease.

Yours as she may, Laurana.

Parismus was so rauisht with this curteous reply, that hee estéemed himself the fortunatest man liuing, a thousand times kissing & reading those sweet lines, that in his fancy •…•…e neuer felt any ioy comparable to this his sweet meditation, shewing Oristus the sacred lines & swéet message Laurana had sent, wil∣ling him to be ready to go with him to the place appointed, but vnseene, lest that the Princesse should blame him for not fulfil∣ling her command. Thus spending the day which he thought to be longer then three daies, he againe returned to his chāber, esteeming the time too long, and a thousand times wishing the approach of the appointed houre. Laurana in the meane time, being not vnmindfull of her promise, only with Leda was gon down into the gardē, by a doore that opened out of her lodging: where being come, Scinthias was proud to giue light vnto her maiesticall presence, and by the cleerenesse of her splendor, had any beheld her, she might haue beene esteemed to surpasse the comelinesse of Diana, walking in her chaste conceits.

Parismus somewhat before the houre, was likewise gone forth in his night gowne, with his sword vnder his arme, and com∣ming to the gate hee was wont to goe in at into the Gardeine, found it shut, and hauing no others meanes, hee gotte ouer the wall, and was gotten into a secret place to entertaine loue with a surfetting delight: but when hee beheld his diuine Goddesse enter into the Arbour, his heart was so surprised with ioy, with her presence, that at his comming to her, he could not vtter a word, but with great reuerence taking her tenderly by the soft hand, which he was afraid to touch without her leaue, at last he said, Most vertuous Lady, since it hath pleased you to grant me this excéedsng fauour, I here vowe, that I will not speake a word, nor do any thing that shall not accord with your minde. My Lord, said Laurana, had I not presumed vpon your vertue, I would not thus haue come hither. Which kinde spéech, so much imboldned Parismus, that he imbraced her in his armes and kist her, and sitting downe together, folded each in the others armes. Parismus began to recount vnto her his loue, and how that his comming to Thessaly, was onely to doo her seruice, vowing neuer to depart if she would not accept him for her poore seruant: with many other kind protestations procée∣ding from his vnfained affection, that Laurana being wounded with his intreaties, could not chuse but accept of his loue, vtte∣ring these speeches.

My Lord, for that I am perswaded of the constancy of your loue, and for that you vouchsafe to profer such kindnesse to me that haue not deserued the same, I will manifest that which rather I should conceale, for that you may suppose my yéelding so soone, might proceed of light bred affection: but my Lord, I assure you, that at such time as I sawe you comming first into this Court, my heart was then suprised, (procured as I thinke by the Destinies) that euer since I haue vowed to rest yours assured to commaund, so that you way pretend my wrong: and therefore committing all that is mine to giue into your handes, I here giue you affurance of truth, and true constant

loue. Thus they spent the night in kinde salutations and cur∣teous imbracings, to the vnspeakeable ioy and comfort of them both. Leda all this while walking about the gardens, and care∣fully looking about her, espied a light in Oliuiaes Chamber, whereof shee gaue those two Louers intelligence. Parismus thought that newes vnwelcome, whereby being compelled to depart, which was done with much heauinesse, Parismus de∣sired to know, when shee would vouchsafe him her presence a∣gaine, which shee told him should be at his appointment, for that she now was his to dispose of: so with many a sweet em∣bracing they parted. Laurana going into her chamber said, in that she had so soone lost his companie, and could not tell what misfortune might befall him, and glad in heart to recount and think of his passed promise. Parismus quickly got ouer the wal, and was soone safely come to his chamber, where he recounted to Oristus his happy successe in loue, asking his counsell how hee might procure Dionisius good liking, to effect the mariage betwixt them, which first he thought to motion himselfe, then he thought that Dionisius would not like thereof, without the consent of his father first had, and also might blame Laurana of vndutifulnesse, if he knew it were with her priuity. Againe he thought it best to send Oristus into Bohemia, to giue his fa∣ther knowledge thereof, and to entreat him to send Embassa∣dors to that effect. Contrarily, he thought that in the meane time, some other of greater birth then himselfe, might demand her in marriage of the King, and so haue the first grant, though he were sufficiently assured that Laurana should neuer yeelde her consent. Being in this perplexity, he could not resolue vp∣on any thing, but walking in the garden to ease his heart with some recreation, he met the King, with him were the King of Hungaria, the Prince of Sparta, and Sicanus, sonne to the King of Persia, though vnknown. The King for the more honoura∣ble entertainment of his guests, made one most royall banquet for all in general: the Quéen, & a gallant traine of beautifull La∣dies, were there likewise, which was not a custome amongst

the rest: it fell so out, that Parismus was seated right opposite to the Princesse Laurana, which agreed to his hearts desire, wherby he had meanes to satisfie himselfe with beholding that inestimable Iewell, which as farre excelled all the rest of the Ladies as the Sunne doth the Moone, or white his contrary: who with such comely modesty behaued her self, that her looke did rightly resemble a countenance ful of mild, vertuous pitty, able to rauish a multitude, being also not a little glad, that she had occasion to bestowe a kind looke on her Parismus. Sicanus more narrowly marked Lauranaes behauiour then any other, because his comming was onely to request her in marriage of her father, and though both the young Princes were very cir∣cumspect: yet Sicanus curious eye, found, or at lest suspected, that there was some loue betwixt them, which they full little thought of, hauing their hearts busied with more pleasant me∣ditations: and euer after that, Sicanus inwardly malised Pa∣rismus in his heart.

Dinner being ended, the Knights spent some part of the afternoone in dauncing, when being ended, euery man betooke himselfe to what exercise liked him best. Dionisius and Lord Remus, accompanied the Princesse Laurana, and the Lady Isabella, to their lodgings, which made Sicanus to fret inward∣ly, to thinke that Parismus his onely enemy as he thought, had gotten such possession in Lauranaes loue, which might debarre him of his wished hope.

Parismus séeing Lord Remus talking to Isabella, saluted Laurana with these speeches: My deare Lady, although I confesse my selfe farre vnworthy that kindnesse you haue al∣ready granted me, yet I humbly request one farther fauour at your hands, which is, that you would vouchsafe to meet me tomorrow night, in that happy place where I receiued the first assurance of your comfortable kindnesse, for my passions are so extreame, that my life would perish, were it not onely maintained by enioying your loue, where I would impart a secret to you, that now I haue no time to vtter.

My Lord said Laurana, you need not vse such intreaties to her, that is not vnwilling, neither hath she power to deny your request. The Queen comming into the place where they were, caused Parismus with a heauy sigh to depart, and Lord Remus with him, betwixt whom there began a firme league of friend∣ship. Now Lord Remus beare great affection to the Lady Isa∣bella, and had oftentimes solicited his suit vnto her, which she in a manner yeelded vnto, which made Parismus the rather chuse him for his companion, by kéeping him company, to haue the oftner accesse vnto Laurana. The King of Hungaria, the Prince of Sparta, and Sicanus, were walked into the Garden, where they were encountred by the king, vnto whom the king of Hungaria began to declare how that the Prince of Sparta and himselfe had a matter to treate with his Maiestie, if hee would vouchsafe them audience, from the mighty King of Persia, who hauing a great desire to be allyed to him, and ha∣uing hard manifold reports of the vertuous Laurana, had sent them to intreat a marriage betwixt her and Sicanus, his sonne and heire of Persia, who was there present with them, though vntill this time vnwilling to make himselfe known. Dionisius most kindly embraced him, telling him, that he thought him∣selfe much honoured with his company, and that since it plea∣sed his father to treat of alliance betwixt them, he would giue his consent willingly, so that he would first get his daughters good will, whom he would not willingly match contrary to her liking, promising to vse his commandement vnto her for per∣formance thereof. For which Sicanus thanked him. Thus ha∣uing spent the day in this and such like talke, supper was rea∣dy: which being ended, they betooke themselues to their lod∣gings.