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. XXIII.

How Aadramart vnderstanding how Adamasia had vsed Lau∣rana, and missing young Parismenos, would haue slaine her, but shee hasting to auoide his furie, burst her necke downe a paire of staires.

ANdramart all this while continued in good hope of Lauranas fauour, which hee was in some sort assured of by Adamasias per∣swasion, who continually vsed all the de∣laies she could to hinder him from visiting Laurana: for she was assured, that if he had any knowledge how shee had misused her, it would turne to her great displeasure. But he hauing a long time endured her absynce with an afflicted minde and seeing that he could not attaine the fellicity hee ex∣pected, but was still delayed by the faire promises of his sister, which came to no effect determined himselfe to visit her, which he had not done in many daies, and therefore with a pleasant countenance, he entred her Chamber, where at his comming in, he found such an alteration, as he was astonished to behold the same: for Laurana •…•…ate by her beds side, vpon the floore, shed∣ding aboundance of teares, her ornaments all betorne by the two cruell Hagges, that vsed daily to torment her, her golden tresses hanging disheuered about her shoulders, her crimson coloured chéekes turned to a pale hue, her Face mangled and scratched with their hellish nailes, and all things so disordered contrary to his expectation (little suspecting the cruelty that the cruel Adamasia had vsed) that in a maruellous perplexity hee stoode coniecturing what might bee the occasion thereof. One while thinking, that her owne impaciency had caused her vse that cruelty against her selfe. Aga•…•…de hee beganne to suspect Adamcsia, for that he mist Leda, Lauranaes Gentlewoman.

At last Laurana hauing espied him, being abashed at his sud∣daine comming, for that she was so disrobed, arose from off the place where she sate, fearing least his comming thither might be to offer her some violence. But Andramart humbling him∣selfe vpon his knée, vttered these speeches. Most vertuous La∣die, vouchsafe to heare your vassal speake: whose heart is op∣pressed with a thousand griefes, to see the extreame sorrow you remaine in: I haue according to your command, absented my selfe, from manifesting my desire, so be acceptable in your sight, this long time, trusting that your gentle heart would in time pitty the extremity of my passions, and now beeing oppressed and ouerburdened by a longing desire to enioy your heauenly presence, I haue presumed to shew my selfe in your gentle As∣pect though contrary to your command, trusting to haue some good hope of your gentlenesse but contrary to my expectation, I find my selfe frustrated of all comforts, and your selfe to bee in that equipage, that I know not how to vtter these my spée∣ches, nor coniecture of the cause of this your sorrow, which dri∣ueth me into a thousand doubtfull cogitations, least I am now more vnwelcome to your company then I haue deserued, bee∣ing altogether ignorant of any cause of offence that I haue gi∣uen you. More he would haue said, but that Laurana inter∣rupted him in this sort. It ill beséemeth a man of thy sexe to vse dissimulation, for that the cruell vsage I haue endured, cannot be vnknowne vnto thee, but procured by thy meanes: and now further to torment me (that am altogether resolued to abide thy greatest furie) thou commest with dissembling and counterfait flatter•…•…es to excuse thy tyranny, thinking by thy counterfait ig∣norance, to purchase that which thy tyranny cannot effect. But be assured that I am now so far from cōdescending to conceiue any good opinion of thee, as it is but in vain for thee to vtter a∣ny more speeches: but thinke and be perswaded, that by thy cruell deuises, thou hast giuen me such cause to hate thee, that I will for euer estoome thée the hatefullest Tyrant liuing, and the cruellest homicide that is in the world. These speeches draue

Andrmart into such an amazement, that with many thousand oathes vowes and protestations, he requested Laurana to ma∣nifest vnto him the occasiō of these her spéeches, which she was vrged to doe, wondring at the many intreaties he made, for she thought assuredly it had béen by his procurement, but at last by his protestations, she suspected the contrary, & began to declare to him the manner of her vsage: How she was daily whipt and beaten by two olde mercilesse women, and how Adamasia had murdered her sonne Parismenos, with remembrance of whose death she vttered such aboundance of teares, that Andramart was likewise ready to weepe, to see the sorrow shee endured. This hard vsage (quoth Laurana) I haue endured by your cru∣ell meanes, besides the imprisonment of my seruant Leda, or her death, for that I haue not of long time seen her, and now in fraudulent manner, I feare me, you come to spill my blood, which is héere ready to abide your tyranny. Most vertuous La∣die (quoth Andramart) if any of these euils haue happened by my meanes, or any waies by my consent, then esteeme me the most cruellest creature liuing, then let mee neuer enioy any ti∣tle of your fauour, which will be more greeuous vnto me, then a thousand deaths: then let the heauens poure down their ven∣geance vpon my detested carkasse, and al the furies of hel, eter∣nally possesse my soule. Let the earth receiue my bated body in∣to her bowels, and let we for euer be detested and abhorred of all creatures. Which words he had no sooner vtted, but Ada∣masia was entred Lauranaas chamber, and séeing her brother in that rage, would haue departed againe: but he espying her, cal∣led her vnto him. And Laurana now assuredly perswading her self that he was no way guilty of her cruel vsage, abhorring the sight of the tyrannesse, said: Behold the cruel executer of Paris∣menos tragedy, and your tyranny: at which words Andramart drew out his fauchion which he continually ware about him, determining to ende her detested life, but shee fearing his cruelty, and beeing terrified with his gastly countenance, ranne with such swiftnesse from his presence, that missing

her steps, she fell downe a high paire of staires, and dasht out her hatefull braines, and in that maner according to her owne wicked life, she desperately ended her daies. Andramart think∣ing her death not sufficient to make amends for the cruell tor∣ments Laurana had indured, in furious sort, ranged vp & down the castle, vntil he had found the old hags that had bin Adama∣sias instruments of furie, one of them he immediatly slew, and the other fled into the court, whom he pursused, and in the sight of his mistresse, (who was beholding the dead body of Adama∣sia) at one blow he parted her cursed head from her filthy body. Which in some sort, reioyced Laurana to sée, but he still ran vp and downe, raging in such cruel sort, that his seruant fled from his presence, and hid themselues for feare of his furie. At last he came to the place where Parismenos was nursed, but finding him gone, and withall, remembring Lauranaes speeches, for very griefe he tare his haire and stamped on the earth, at last by directions of his seruants, he came to the place where Leda was imprisoned, (being vsed in most vile sort) and vttered these speeches: Faire damsel if you haue conceiued any hard opinion of me for this your vsage, I beseech you remit the same, for it was altogether without my knowledge, and assure your selfe I haue so handled the vnworthy procurer thereof, that she shal neuer hereafter purchase your discontent, humbly destring you to pardon my negligence, by meanes whereof, you are fallen into this mischance: and also I pray you certifie your noble mistresse that Andramart is no way to bee blamed, for the re∣membrance of her griefe, hath brought such terror to his heart, that he shall neuer rest in quiet vntill he hath wrought her the happy content she desireth, which if he knew what it were hee would presently put it in practise. And taking Leda by the hād, with all humilility, he brought her vnto Lauranaes Chamber, who reioycing at her sight, louingly and with ioy, embraced her, and Andramart departed, presently cōmanding all things to be ministred vnto Laurana in such diligent sort, that shee could not choose but commene his good nature, whom she assu∣redly

beléeued, was no way priuie to his sisters actiōs: for that hée had sufficiently showne the contrarie, and still laboured by all the meanes hée could to purthase her good liking. Leda aa I said, being come to her mistresse, so reioyced her heart, that she began to leaue off her sad and pensiue thoughts that still oppres∣sed her minde, and declared vnto her, the cruell vsage of Ada∣masia, withall, the report of Parismenos, which newes made her againe begin her former sorrowe: but by the comfortable perswasions of (Leda, whose counsaile she much estéemed) she gaue her minde vnto much quiet. In which quiet state, let vs once againe leaue her.