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

CHAP. IV. How this Amazonian Lady Victoria arrived at King Gallieno's Court, and after what a Noble manner she was courted by him. (Book 4)

AS soon as the Heroick King Gallieno heard of the Delivery of the fair Lady Victoria, and that she was coming to his Court, he was right-glad thereof, and went in great Pomp himself to meet her, and conduct her to his Stately Palace: At their first encounter, he alighted out of his Coach of E∣bony, and taking her by the Hand, led her into it: Twenty thousands of his Royal Guard gallantly attir'd, and arm'd at all points, were rank'd on both

sides the Coach, and accompanied her to the Royal City Tutelia; into which, when he was about to enter, Command was given, that all the Bells should ring: The Streets were cover'd with rich Tapestry, bestrow'd with the most choice Flowers, the beauteous Daughters of the Spring, no less delightful to the Eye, than Odoriferous to the Smell: The Guns were discharged ten seve∣ral times; the Conduits ran with Wine: The Altars sent up the sweet Per∣fumes of Incense to Heaven; and in a word, all the Solemnities were used, that might express a most affectionate Welcome.

The Lady Victoria was entertained in a Majestick Palace, curiously adorn'd with the most costly Furniture in all Luyslandia, and accompanied by all the Princesses of the Blood, and Ladies of the Court: whose attire was so quaint and admirable, and their Demeanour so Charmingly civil, that the Noble Ama∣zon, surprized with wonder, thought her self happily translated from a kind of Hell of misery, to the Joys of Heaven: where K. Gallieno coming to visit her, would have seated her in a Chair of State next himself; but she modestly refused, and humbly requested she might first perform the Duty to which she was oblig'd both by Gratitude and Honour; and so falling on her Knees, she began this Oration. Invincible Monarch! How much is your Servant Victo∣ria oblig'd to you for your Goodness and Valour in freeing her from the slavish thral∣dom in which she was detain'd by the unworthy Knight Nasonius! For not to speak of his former rude Behaviour (which is shameful to remember) a Dungeon had been as welcome to any Noble Personage, as were their following Civilities to make amends for that basest of Injuries. I had no Company but that of ill-bred Boars, and which was worse of all, that of Nasonius himself, whose ill-humour'd Con∣versation, even, when he was in highest Mood, bred in me an unspeakable abhorrence. Not one action did I see; not one discourse did I hear amongst them to divert my Grief, that had the least resemblance of a Gentlewoman: Their Mirth was unsavoury Taunt, their Wit dulness it self, their Comple∣ments rustick, their Language harsh, and grating to a Ladies Ear; Their Carriage Brutish, and their very Eloquence Hoggish: Besides the hourly ex∣pectation of further rudeness from their Bear-like Natures. But oh! how quite contrary do I find every thing here! Wisdom polisht and mixt with Sweetness, Civility, Decency, grateful Conversation, noble Receiption, and highest Magnificence: Accept then, Glorious Monarch, the humblest Thanks of your ever indebted Servant Victoria, with her firm Vows never to forget such invaluable Obligations.

Having thus said, the Noble Gallieno rising up, took her kindly by the hand, and told her, That such actions were their own reward, and that whilst she staid there, she might command all, and use the same freedom in every thing, as if she had received no benefit from him at all: for that he sought not In∣terest but Glory, and plac'd his greatest Glory in performing honourable and valiant Actions, especially to those noble Personages who were injured by un∣worthy Men, and sought to him for Redress.

The next day King Gallieno gave order for Knightly Exercises of Justs and Tournaments in which the war-like Lady took especial Content. At night O∣pera's were shewn, sung with most ravishing Musick, the subject of which were the Lawless Imprisonment, and the coarse Entertainment of the Lady Victo∣ria in her unjust Confinement in the Hydropick Camp, representing the rustickness of her Jaylours, and her Noble Sufference: And lastly, her de∣liverance by the valiant Giant Grandorsio. To close all the Solemnity, Balls too were prepared: But the Heroick Lady, not much delighting therein, excused her self with much civility, as not being the Custom of her Country, or suitable to her Genius or Education.

Some days after King Gallieno call'd together an assembly of all the Prin∣ces, Princesses, and Nobility of his Court, and invited thither also the fair Amazonian Lady Victoria; every one wondring what this august meet∣ing of so many great Personages should mean; when the King taking the Lady Victoria by the right hand did in the hearing of them all deliver his Mind on this manner.

Incomparable Lady, I understand that your self, for your excellent Beauty, and Heroick Endowments, have been sought to by all the greatest Princes and Potentates in the World for their Spouse: wherefore my request is, that you would please, in the presence of this Great, and Honourable Assembly, to declare your Mind freely, which of them you think most worthy to be your Husband: in doing which, I desire you to set aside entirely that small Title, that some may judge I have to your Affection, since I wholly quit all the obligations it may be conceived you owe me, leaving you fully to your own Choice, nor would I yet have your self, or any others, deem that this frank proposal of mine springs from any indifferency towards your Person, or signifies any sleightness of Affection to so excellent a Lady, fit to be a VVife to the greatest Monarch in the VVorld; but because I esteem it honourable not to restrain you in the least while you are in my hands, much less to force you unlawfully as did the Recreant Knight Nasonius: For I should have courted you for my self, but that I fear'd my applications might have been lookt upon by you, or interpreted by others as a kind of over-awing you from following your

own inclinations: In which Point of Honour I am so tenderly sensible, that it would damp all my felicity in enjoying you, should I apprehend, that my procuring that Deliverance, or any involuntary Tye upon you, had the least share in a determination, which ought to be the most free and unforc'd of any Action in the VVorld. Please then to speak your Mind freely, as if you had the sole Command over me and all my Actions and Dominions: Assuring you of my faithful Promise, that (how highly so∣ever I wish it may be my Lot to be your choice) whoever renders himself worthy of you, I will with all disinterested freedom render you back to be his Spouse.

To which the Lady Victoria, after some short Pause, with a lowly Bow, full of Respect and gracious Demeanour, replied in this wise.

Invinci∣ble Monarch! This Modesty of yours where you may command is the highest Complement, and most Eloquent Courtship, that is possible to be ima∣gin'd. VVhom can I better chuse than my Noble Deliverer, to whom I owe my Safety, my Liberty, and my self; I resign my self therefore wholly into your hands, and submit my self intirely to your disposal, as your con∣stant and loyal Spouse. Hoping that your unparalell'd VVorth, most civil Courtship, and highest Merit, will screen the Blushes of my Modesty, and keep the World from censuring me as too easily won: Nay further, I must confess I had been yours long since, had I not been surpriz'd by the trea∣cherous incivilities of the unmanly Knight Nasonius, you having just Title to me by your high Wisdom and Conduct, with which you manage your Affairs both at home and in the field: Only I beg this Boon of you, That when ever you go to the Campaign, I may still be with you, and wait upon you: For I know that my presence join'd with his unworthy Guilt, will so terrify Nason. that he will not dare to approach where I am; but he shall saunter up and down year after year, with an Army at his heels with∣out doing any thing worthy a Captain, which will expose him to ridicule, and lose him that little Credit he has got among the Boorish, Heads of the Hydra. Indeed, I should have ask'd the leave of Fortuna, upon whom I have some kind of dependance, before I had made this final Determina∣tion: but I have partly her Good-will already; and shou'd she be some∣thing out of humour (to which she is now and then obnoxious) and a lit∣tle frown upon us for a while, I know your wisdom is such as can reclaim her, and recover her Friendship.

Which said, she immediately gave him her fair Hand, in Token of her faithful Heart, which he graciously took, and seal'd the Contract with a kind Salute, which done, K. Gallieno added these words.

Excellent Lady! Tho' I am surpriz'd at your Goodness in bestowing up∣on me so frankly the rich Gift of your Self; yet I desire, if you please, as a thing most becoming your Honour, and Mine, That our Nuptials be de∣fer'd till I shall have challeng'd all my Rivals the Associates to come them∣selves with their Armies to Tutelia (as they have often bragg'd they would) and fetch you out of my hands, as I, by Grandorsio forced you out of the hands of Nasonius; and I engage my Royal word, that I will yet part with my Title to you, if they can accomplish it. Your worth is so Great, that the winning you is too easy a Conquest, unless it costs me more trouble than a few Complements, and an ordinary Entertainment. Nor do I speak this as if I were indifferent to part with a Jewel (which I esteem too valu∣able for the Mortgage of the whole World to purchase) but because I am assur'd they neither dare attempt it, nor can compass it; and should they indeed, they would in that case very well deserve you; and so in Honour and Reason, ought to have you.

All the Assembly stood amaz'd at such a transcendent strain of Nobleness, which amidst the affectionate Respects and Courtship of a Lover, still kept up to the height, the Grandeur of a Heroe. As for the Lady Victoria, she, being all Honour and Courage, most highly applauded this gallant motion, and declared, That K. Gallieno cou'd not possibly have better pleas'd her humour, than in so doing. Whereupon an Herald was dispatch'd to the several Associates, to the purpose aforesaid; who carried also, with K. Gallieno's consent. Letters from the Lady Victoria, inciting them by the most powerful Perswasions she could use, to force her out of King Gallieno's hands, and promising that whoever did so, she wou'd therefore be his. What be∣came of the Embassy shall be declared in the following Chapter.