The troublesome and hard adventures in love. Lively setting forth, the feavers, the dangers, and the jealousies of lovers; and the labyrinths and wildernesses of fears and hopes through which they dayly passe. Illustrated by many admirable patterns of heroical resolutions in some persons of chivalry and honour; and by the examples of incomparable perfections in some ladies. A work very delightfull and acceptable to all. Written in Spanish, by that excellent and famous gentleman, Michael Cervantes; and exactly translated into English, by R. C. Gent.

CHAP. XXII. How Periander met with Pharelus, and how Pharelus declared to Periander what hapned in the Court of Albion since the de∣parture of Duches Brisil.

PEriander after he was departed from the Vil∣lage where he left Brisil, within one dayes travel reached into a Wood, wherein after he had strayed up and down for the space of six or seven houres in the night, could not finde any path to lead him out of the same desart place. Insomuch that being weary of travel, he was forced to lie on the ground among the wild furzen bushes and thornes to rest himself, where he slept till morning, at which time awaking out of his sléep, he saw a certain Albion Knight stand before him, whom he knew very well, for he was his fathers Taster, and was called Sir Pharelus; whereat Periander was so ama∣zed

that he could not tell what had befallen him; but the Knight spake presently in this manner.

Fair Shepheard or Nymph (for Periander had his womans attire yet) whatsoever thou be, be not displeased that I have emboldned my self to presse so néer the place where you slept, for seeing that I was loth to wake you out of your sound sleep and wished to speak with you, I thought best to stay till you awaked of your owne accord; therefore seeing you have given over your sleep, I beseech you to shew me what way I may take to get out of this huge wood in which I have sore against my will remained three dayes, not finding any way that lea∣deth out of the same. Periander glad that Sir Pharelus knew him not gave him this answer: Sir Knight, I have no rea∣son to be displeased at you, seeing that I my self would in the like case have used as much boldnesse; I am no Nymph, yet if I could pleasure you and satisfie your demand, I would the willinger do it, considering that I would think my self be∣holding to him that would shew us the way out of this Wood; For yesterday about the decline of the Sun, did I first enter into it, having travelled this way never before; and seeing I could not finde the way out again, having lost my path, the wearisomnesse of my journey forced me to take my rest. But pray you Sir (if I may be so bold) what luck hath brought you hither, for I perceive by the strangeness of your apparel, that you are of some countrey afar off, seeing that no Gencle∣men hereabout are cloathed after such a fashion. In truth (quoth Pharelus) it was ill luck brought me hither fair shep∣heardesse, for you shall know that I am a Brittain, born in the Isle of Albion, and left my Countrey by the command of our King who being informed by Letters from the King of Spain, that his son the young Prince of Albion was broken out of pri∣son, and fled (for he was imprisoned in Sivil by his fathers command) sent me into Spain, to enquire after him, and not to return till I had heard of him. But when I was arrived in Spain, I heard that the King of Spaines daughter Florena went with him, or after him, but no man could tell me whether she

were by him, or had not yet found him, or what way he was gone. Thus I have travelled up and down Spain, and have not as yet discovered any more news of him. In truth (quoth Periander) I heard great talk in our village, of the Kings daughter Florena, how she was conveyed out of the Court by another Kings son (I know not of what Countrey) that was imprisoned as you say by his own fathers command, because he would be married to a young Duchesse whom the King himself would have to his wife. True (quoth Pharelus) but the Duchesse about three or four days before the appointed Wedding day secretly fled out of the country no man know∣eth whither; which the King took so grievously, that partly for danger & partly for grief, he kept his chamber six weeks, at the end of which time he received letters from the K. of Spain, in which he understood of his sons flight, which news almost set him besides his wits; for he had purposed to send Embassadors to Spain for his son, and to proclaim the Duchesse that was fled, Queen of England: and wife to his son Periander, unto whom he intended to resign the title of the Crown, and to marry him to the aforesaid Duches, with whom he was promised many years before. Therefore seeing that Fortune so crossed him, fell into a grievous and dangerous disease, insomuch that we doubted of his recovery. But after he had kept his bed one fortnight, by the singular skill and industry of the Physitians, he began to mend; and calling me one morning to his beds side, uttered these words unto me. Ah Pharelus, thou seest how pittifully your King hath been used both by Fortune and Heaven; for the Gods intending to revenge my unnatural crueltie and barbarous tyranny against mine own son, though I repented, yet would both bar me from my de∣sire, and punish my offence. But now, as I féel by the altera∣tion of my weaknesse, that they have slaked their vengeance, and pitie my case, so I hope Fortune will in like manner be∣come more favourable than hitherto she hath been. You know how the Duchesse Brisil is fled, and no news can be heard what is become of the poor Lady. In like manner now

is Periander also broken out of prison, and as a banished man runneth astray, perhaps suffering a thousand miseries, and all for fear lest he should fall into my hands, where alas I would rather ask him forgivenesse, then any way prejudice him see∣ing he hath no way offended me, but I greatly injured him. And now for as much as the hold of my life consisteth in the hope which I have to see both Periander and Brisil here in my Court; I have caused thee to come hither, to declare my mind unto thee concerning this matter, wherein I will im∣ploy thy service, seeing I have found thee faithful and loyall in all matters which I ever committed to thy trust, not doubting but that I shall finde thee as ready now to do me pleasure and acquite my self of your duty, as I have been at other times. My pleasure is that thou make a voyage into Spain, and passe over all that country to sée whether you can hear of my son Periander, to the end, that if you find him, you may let him know how earnestly I wish to see him, that he may come hither, and receive the Crown of the Realm. And if it chance Duchesse Brisil be in those parts (for it may be she is with him or in travel to séek him) insomuch that you meet with her or hear of her. I would have order taken, that she notwithstanding that Periander be not yet found, might re∣turn to the Court to be crowned Queen, séeing that the Crown by the law of the Realme apperteineth unto her after my death, being betrothed to my son if he marry no other, as I know he will not, I will send others to other Countries you shall onely séek them in Spain. I pray you to do all the diligence you can, and to behave your self herein according to the opinion I bear of you. And for your reward if you find either of them, I will promise you lesse then I wil per∣form. And especially this I will say before hand, that he that findeth and bringeth Periander and Brisil both, as soon as they arrive at the Court, I will give him the isle Mon•• to be his and his heirs for ever; and he that findeth either Periander or Brisil, I will give him the government of West Albion. But as for you Pharelus, you shall receive greater benefits

at my hands if the Gods will favour your journey, yet what luck soever you have, I will not be unmindful of your labour and readinesse.

Therewith the King weary by reason of his sicknesse, and scarce able to speak more, ceased, and I thanking his Maje∣sty for his singular favour towards me, vowed to do whatso∣ever lay in me to the uttermost of my power, partly for my duty towards him, and partly for the love I bear the young Prince. Insomuch that after we had fully concluded the mat∣ter, I departed from Albion the next day with twelve men, which I have all sent to sundry places of this country, appoin∣ting them to meet all at the famous City Leon, situated along the River Eyla, as the sixt day after to morrow at which time I mean to be there by the help of the Gods, to know what ti∣dings they can bring me. Verily sir Knight (quoth Periander) the Kings son would wish to meet with you, if he knew the good tidings you bring him; I am grieved my selfe to heare that such great persons are subject to so much adversity. But I pray fair shepheard (quoth Pharelus) séeing you say you have heard talk of him in your Village to tell me where the same vilage is, and how it is called; for if I thought I might there hear any thing of him, I would take my journey that way. More then I have said (quoth Periander) shall you not heare there I promise you, and therfore séeing it is out of your way, take not the pains. And as they were thus talking together, they espied an old man wandring through the wood so far from them that they could scarce sée him by reason of the thicknesse of the bushes and small trees that grew in the wood. But cal∣ling unto him, he fearing lest they had meant to do him some harm, began to run away as fast as his old leggs could carry him. But Pharelus with all celerity followed him so long till he overtook him at last at the wood end, having run a whole hour before he could come to him, the old fellow so bestirred his stumps, and séeing he could not outrun him, he fell downe on his knées and asked for mercy, making a large apologie that he was a poor old man and had a wife and children to kéep

and many good morrows, fearing that he should have been rob∣bed by Pharelus, which he perceiving, could not but laugh to sée the old man so timerous; and therefore said, Alack good Father, fear not, for though I perceive by thy fearfulnesse that thou art well provided of money, yet I called thee not for thy wealth, but for thy counsell, for I have been here in this Wood these three dayes and more, and cannot find any path to lead me out of the same. And though I perceive that by following thee I have attained to that which I wished for, seeing I am here at the wood end, yet I thought good to deli∣ver thee out of the opinion which thou conceivest of me, who wish thee no harme: Neverthelesse, seeing I do not well know where I am, thou shalt do me a pleasure to tell me what way I may best take towards the famous City Leon. Ah good Gentleman (answered the old fellow) the cause that I ran from you, was not for fear to loose any treasure, for I have none; but I heard that there was a poor man slain a∣bout five or six weeks ago in this wood, and seeing I knew you not, I hope you will not think the worse of me though I was afraid of you. As concerning your request, knew, that I dwell in the same City you enquire for, and if you dain to travel in the company of such an homely person as my self, by the help of the Gods I will lead you thither before three dayes come to an end. Willingly (quoth Pharelus) and I thank thee for thy courteous offer, but there is a young shep∣heardesse that followed me as I ran after thee, of whom I asked the way, and alas she knew it as little as I, and I would be sorry that we should leave her behind us; and there∣fore I pray thee to stay here a little, and I will see whether I can espy her comming. But if you be wise (quoth the old man) go not in too deep, lest you lose your way again, it were best for you to call unto her as loud as you can, or to whistle, for if she hear you she will come, and if she be cut of hearing, you may chance to seek after her as long as you have already been in the wood. Pharelus followed his counsel, and whooped unto her as loud as he might, and seeing that she came not,

after he had remained there for the space of two hourrs, the old man being very hasty to go on his journey, he would not stay behind, and omit that opportunity, though loth, yet for∣ced to leave the shepheard, he went with the old man. Peri∣ander on the other side, who for his woman-like shepheard at∣tire, could not follow Pharelus when he ran after the old man, (for his long coat catched by the thornes and brambles) and having lost the sight of Pharelus, went quite another way; so that it was no marvel that he heard not Pharelus call unto him; for he went quite contrary from the path which Pharelus took after the old man, and came out at the other end of the wood, where séeing himself out of the troublesom Forrest, was grieved that he had lost Pharelus in that sort, before he had re∣solved whether he would reveale himself unto him or no, but yet remembring that Pharelus said he meant to be at Leon within six days, he was the gladder, séeing wher he knew to find him, if he concluded to return with him to Albion; Insomuch that sitting down on a bank by the wood side, began in this manner.

Ah unfortunate Periander, now mayst thou well perceive that Fortune hath sworn to be thy enemy for ever. For hath she not first suborned the Traytor Massicourt to work thy mi∣sery, and so laid the foundation of all thy troubles? He being cut off and his villany detected, hath she not armed thy owne natural Father against th••e, and stirred him up to wrong thée of thy right? And now the Gods being incensed and provoked to wrath by such impiety, have by their vengeance moved him to repent? Hath she not battered the Fort which I ne'r thought she should have béen able to incorpor••te? Ah Brisil Brisil! ne∣ver did I think that Fortune should have triumphed of her victories in making conquest of the néerest thing that touched my heart, and that she should have braved me with the tro∣phies of thy disloyalty. Ah how often was I wont to say unto Fortune, when she threatned me to deprive me of honour, li∣ving, renown, yea life ••nd all, that none of all that was mine, thinking that I might claime nothing properly to be mine, but

lost thy love, faith, and loyalty; not caring to lose the whole world so I might enjoy thee, whom I thought that neither alteration of time, nor distance of place, nor mutation of man∣ners, nor change of estate, nor any thing whatsoever either hell or fortune might procure, could have withdrawn from Periander. In her was my mind fixed, my hope planted, and all my confidence seated; séeing therefore that fortune hath béen able to make conquest of her, I am constrained to confesse and acknowledge that she can do what she will, and that we may not resist her pleasure.

Insomuch that I strive against the stream, and cast stones against the wind, in opposing my self against fortune seeing she hath vowed my utter ruine, and will bring her will to passe. The ashes of the old Phoenix bréedeth the new, and with me the end of one misfortune is the beginning of ano∣ther. How can I then hope ever to injoy content, seeing I never had happy hour? if fortune looketh on me she lowreth, if she turneth her face from me, she threatneth me, if she re∣member me she is inraged at me, and if she smileth, she flatte∣reth: whether dissembling to wreak her anger and ingraft her spight against me whom she could never brook. Yet Periander how canst thou so greatly complain of her, séeing that she so favoureth thée, that thy father, who was thy foe, is now be∣comes thy friend; thou that wert but a Kings son, art now when thou wilt a King; and where thou didst live in impri∣sonment, in exile, and misery, maist now live in Court, in li∣berty, and in all the pleasure of the world? No, no, fond fool, fortune doth not this, but the just Gods, and if she be any cause of it she doth it onely thereby to entice me to become as disloy∣all as Brisil, and so wholly to vanquish and overcome me. But no, though I have acknowledged her to be never so puissant, yet she shall not make conquest of my fidelity, nor brag of my disloyalty, séeeing, I will not, nor may give over the love of Brisil; and thought she neglect and hate me, yet will I love and honour her till death.

After Periander had thus lamented the losse of the love of

Brisil, he determined to go to the City Leon to méet with Sir Pharelus, and with him to return to Albion, intending to live there and enjoy his Fathers Crown; but never to love any but Brisil, or to knit himselfe in marriage to any other. And resolved to take his journey by the same village where he left Brisil, meaning to speak with Malorena, and to leave a Letter with her for Brisil, as he had done before: in which Letter he purposed to let Brisil know of all that which he had learned of Pharelus, wohm he found and lost in the wood. He intended al∣so to write a Letter to Petulca, and to let him know as much, protesting that if hee would come into Albion when hee were Crowned, he would give him the Dukedome pertaining unto Brisil in marriage with her, and doe him all the honour that a Monarch might do to any of his Péers, seeing that Brisil made such account of him. In this mind Periander returned secretly unto the village where he had sojourned with Brisil, and chan∣ging his attire, apparelled himselfe in mans cloathes, accord∣ing to his sex and nature. And being come to the village he tooke his lodging in a shepheards house, where he thought he was least of all known. When he had entred into the house, and caused supper to be made ready, he asked one of the shep∣heards daughters, whether they knew not a certain shephear∣desse called Malorena, (for he thought to have spoken with her, and to know of her how Petulca and Brisil were moved at his departure, & to leave the Letters which he purposed to write, with her, to deliver them to Brisil and Petulca) wherewith they were halfe angry, thinking he did it to have occasion to speak ill of the maids and shepheards of their country, and therefore gave him this answer. We knew her, but too well, and if we thought you were one of her favourites, you should have but had lodging here. Pardon me (fair shepheards, replied Perian∣der) if I offend against my knowledg, for the cause that I ask for her, is that I am her cousin, & have not séen her this great while: I as yet have never heard any ill of her, nor ever knew any thing by her, but that she behaved her self as a maid of her calling ought to do. Thereby (quoth the shepheards wife) we

perceive thee to be but a stranger here, and therefore to be ex∣cused; for as you say, she was famed for one of the most modest maids of the whole country, but now of late she hath commit∣ted great villany against two of the loyallest lovers that ever the world harboured. And thus the good wife declared the sum of the whole matter unto Peaiander, how all things were pas∣sed: which so altered his affections, that all they that were pre∣sent could perceive that he was moved thereby. Yet least he should bewray who he was, forced himself as much as he could to abstain from sighing or weeping til he was alone, at which time he poured forth whole flouds of tears out of his eys, for grief that he had shamefully suffered himself to be deluded by Malorena, and thereby brought himself into all these miseries, where otherwise he should have béen the happiest man that li∣ved. Neverthelesse when he had heard what moan Brsil had made for his sudden departure, and how that she was gone to séek him he was joyfull and glad, accounting more of her Love and loyalty, then all other things whatsoever. Thus Periander both sorry and glad, wist not what he might best do, to séek for Brisil▪ or to go to Leon first, and speak with Pharelus. But con∣sidering, that it were a most uncertain voyage, and doubtfull labour to stray after her, he concluded to goe to Pharelus first, and with all spéede to returne to Albion, where after he were crowned King, he doubted not, but that she would come unto him, assoon as she should be informed thereof. Besides, he pur∣posed to send so many to enquire after her, that in despight of Fortune, he should hear of her, or she of him, especially séeing she sought for him, which was the chiefest point that encoura∣ged Periander.

He therefore having his head full of Bees, and building ca∣stles in the aire, slept a little that night, and rising betimes in the morning, took leave of the shepheard, paying and dischar∣ging that which could be asked for his lodging and entertain∣ment, departed towards the City Leon, where he arrived two days after Pharelus.