An historical romance of the wars between the mighty giant Gallieno, and the great knight Nasonius, and his associates

CHAP. II. How Nasonius, the Famous Knight of the Hydropick Land got into high Esteem there; and how he disgusted Fortuna in attempting to ravish the Amazonian Lady Victoria. (Book 2)

NOW so it fortuned that in times of Yore, the Hydra Commonwealth had great Wars against their own King Don Ibero, against whom they had rebelled; and tho' they had very many Heads, yet, being more Fishermen than Souldiers, they had never a good one fit to lead an Army, or at least none so good as the noble Kt. Nasonius, who in all Justs and Tournaments had be∣haved himself right-valiantly, and won much Renown: For which reason those of his Family and their Descendents were, out of meer necessity, by the Hydropick Commonwealth chosen to be their Generals in War, which they call the Hydra-holder: by which means they came to that Power, that one of them attempted to Sear one of the Heads of the Hydra, and that was the greatest of them, call'd Emporiana, but living under water, it gush'd forth such Floods upon his approach, that it quench'd all his Irons. Now in the time of the War with the Giant Gallieno, it happened that Hydra had for its General a hardy Knight of the Nasonian Family, who was for a particular Reason very visible to be seen, Height Nasonious; who had behaved himself

so craftily, that tho many of the Heads hated him for his high and proud Hu∣mour, yet there was some others that Loved, and more that feared him, the which bred much difference between the Heads; yet all of them having but one Body, they never fell to open VVars with one another. This Fa∣mous Knt. Nasonius, being, as great VVarriors used to be, exceeding Amo∣rous, and much given to court fair Ladies, had a long time made Suit to Dame Fortuna, not regarding her want of Sight, (a great Blemish in a Mi∣stress) but hoping by her means to get great VVealth, Dignity, and high Preferment, after which he gap'd exceedingly; which gave some shrewd Lavish Tongues occasion to talk at random, seeing him (like the noble Knight Sir Hudibras) more to value the Advantages than the Woman. His Suit had this Effect, That she requited his good VVill with divers Favours, and pro∣mised to do him some friendly O••fices; but being of a Nature very fickle and unconstant, she would not consent to marry any Man, or to hold to him very long; but carelesly scattered her Kindnesses here and there, as if she regar∣ded not much to whom she gave them; Nay, it was very hard for any but a very wise Man to enjoy her Friendship any long time, and for that reason it was suspected, that she did secretly affect, if any, the Politick Giant, K. Gallieno. Now it happen'd that Dame Fortuna had a Relation of hers, call'd the Lady Victoria, a Stately and Majestick Dame, of the Noble Race of the Amazons: her Fortuna (being blind her self) thought might be a fit Match for the Kt. Nasonius, and that by this means she might requite his Love to her self; and therefore she broke her Mind to him on this manner:

Noble Knight, tho' I find in my self no inclination to marry any Man living, and experience my Humour to be such, that I shall never be constant to my Husband, and therefore desire you to Court me no more upon that score; Yet to make you some amends for your Kindness, I let you know that I have a Beautiful and Stately Kinswoman of mine, hight Victoria, descend∣ed from the warlike-Race of the Amazons, and sought to by a great many Great Kings and Princes, whom, if you can by Gentle and wise Court∣ship, and fair, and valiant Carriage win to affect you; I, for your Love to me, give my Consent; and when you have her, you may be sure to have me for your Friend.

To whom the Noble Kt. Nasonius being indeed the very Pink of Courtesie, tho' his Nature and Education did not enable him to express it but with a very ill grace) with an Obeisance so low, that his Nose almost toucht the Ground, did with much Courtesie answer.

Excellent Lady, or rather Goddess! I esteem my Self much bound to you for this your Grace and Favour; I have heard much of the incompar∣able Perfections of the most accomplish'd Lady Victoria: Indeed I have

never had the Luck to see her, though I sought after her much; which I impute to the Necromancy of the wicked Giant Gallieno: For when I at∣tempted to wait upon her, and let her know how passionately I doated on her rare Perfections, as soon as I came near the Place where she used to be, he did by his Enchantments raise from Hell such a Smoak and Fire, that I could not come at her sight, and sent down such Showers of Hailstones, as big as Bullets, as no mortal Man might abide them; So that I was still forc∣ed to retire, and was divers times in danger of my Life, had I not ran a∣way: To avoid which, if you please to bring her near my Tent in this time of Truce and Peace with him, I will be ready to receive her; For you know it is the Fashion of Knights never to Court any Amazonian Lady but in their Tents.

Dame Fortuna lik'd well of what he said, and persuaded the fair Lady Victoria to come with her into the Field, not far from his Tents, and seeing him come to meet her, civilly withdrew her self. But Nasonius no sooner cast his Eye upon Victoria, and saw he had her now at an advantage, and in his Power; but he was so enamour'd of her, that, neglecting all Courtship, and decent Treaty, contrary to the Laws of Chivalry, and fair Carriage becoming a Knight, he most dishonourably set upon her by Surprize, and attempted to ravish her even in the open Field: Who, tho' being an A∣mazonian Lady, she stoutly resisted him, and had she but foreseen such a Rude∣ness, and had been arm'd ready for him, she could easily have beaten him (for unfair Fighters are generally Cowards) yet having laid unworthy vio∣lent hands upon her, he kept her as his Prisoner, falsely pretending she was won by the Law of Arms, and could his disobliging Persuasions have pre∣vailed, he would have kept her still as his Concubine. But she in great disdain refused it, and writ to her Aunt Dame Fortuna on this wise.

Dear Aunt,

I AM most shamefully and dishonourably abused by the recreant Knight Naso∣nius; for he no sooner had me in his Power, but, forgeting all Knightly Honour, he set upon me to ravish me. You know I never lik'd the Man, because he was rash, foolish and inconsiderate, wanting both Conduct and Wisdom, and I was absolute∣ly resolved never to marry a Mock Souldier: As also, to tell you true, because my Fancy had a strange aversion against his ill-look'd Phisnomy, his Slavering Mouth, Lean-Chaps, Spindle-shanks, and Paramont Nose; which, to tell you my very Thoughts, I never saw, but it caused in me an horrible Loathng. Be∣sides, I like his Rustick churlish Humour far worse than all the rest: Nor can that Man have the le••st regard for Honour, or be Master of true Valour, who thus proudly tramples underfoot all Considerations of Vertue and Worthiness by which base and ignominious Actions. And though it was your Will I should go along with you to

visit him, yet I assure you I went with an intention to let him know how much I scorn∣ed him, and how unworthy he was of my Affection. I request you therefore to join with me in revenging such an impardonable Affront, without which, I can receive no Comfort.

Your Sorrowful Niece, VICTORIA.

WHen Dame Fortuna had perused this lamentable Letter of her Beloved Niece Victoria, she was so inrag'd that none came in her way but had some mischief or other happen'd to them: Some had their Necks broken, some were burned or drowned, some were hang'd, some died of sudden Diseases, others lost their Wits, and others their Estates by Casualties, &c. At length rushing into Nasonius's Tent, who was imperiously Proud, and puffed up with the imprisonment of Victoria, she thus accosted him.

Base Varlet, and no Knight! How hast thou abused my kindness, in using Vi∣ctoria so dishonourably, and now triumphest that thy wickedness took Effect! Hear then what I say unto thee, and what my Sisters the Fates have decreed concerning thee. Though I cannot altogether recall my words by which I promised thee good luck in divers things; Yet this Curse shall go along with it, That thou shalt never have Success but in ill things, and by means of ill Men, which shall at last turn to thy greater infamy with all truly Noble and disinterested Persons, and bring thee in the End to the greatest Shame and utter Destruction. As for the renowned Giant Gallieno, to overcome whom thou bendest all thy small and borrowed Power, he shall perpetually prevail against thee, and thy dishonourable Associates: And either force you to truckle to his great Might, managed by the wisest Policy, and sue for Peace, or else utterly subdue you. And so fare thee ill.

With that she flung away out of his Tents, and left him in Melancholly Damps, and an unspeakable disturbance of Mind, which (as some Authors write) made him, as his Custom was, groan backwards, which left an ill savoured Scent behind it.