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. XXVII. How the younger Philorenus, being taken for the elder, was im∣prisoned by the King of Naples his command.

THe second day after I went from Naples, the o∣ther Philorenus (son unto my Mother by that Castilian Captain) dwelling in the same Ci∣with the Sergeant that brought him from Cinqueni, chanced in the evening time to passe by a Noble-mans house, where Hyppolito the Kings son had been at supper; who standing at the door among certain Gen∣tlemen, espyed this Philorenus, and thought undoubtedly that I was the man, and that I had changed my apparel to the end that I should not be known to be Philorenus, which he imagi∣ned that I should have done, being unwilling to go in Am∣bassage unto the King of Persia, and yet feared to ask leave to stay at home, and to be discharged of that so troulesome a ser∣vice, I being unaccustomed to deal in affairs of so great mo∣ment and importance.

He therefore stealing from his company, followed my bro∣ther (for we came both out of one wombe) and when he saw him in place where least company was, hee tooke him by the slip of his cloak, and calling him by his name Philorenus, bad him not be grieved though he were overtaken by him, seeing it was his lucke first to bee espied by him, that was the best friend that he had in the world. My brother knowing Hyppo∣lito the Kings son, began to fal on his knees, to honour him ac∣cording to the manner of the countrey, marvelling that the young Prince used such words unto him. But Hyppolito loth that I should be knowne (for the King and all the Nobility knew not but that I was departed from Naples for Persia)

with something an angry countenance, uttered these words. Philorenus, if thou be wise follow my counsell, and leave these tekens of honour, lest thou be bewrayed, and if my request will not serve, let my commandement move thee to be more pru∣dent and follow me. Philorenus my brother, ravished with mar∣vel what this meant, and fearing to displease him, who might make him repent his offence, did as he commanded. And so they went together to the court, where Hyppolito bearing my brother into his chamber, and shutting up the door lest any of the Courtiers should interrupt them, and know of my being there, (thinking nothing lesse then that the same Philorenus was my Brother, séeing neither I my self knew that I had a Brother, nor my Brother that he had a Brother in the Court, by Fortune lifted to so high estate) began in this manner to speak unto him.

Ah Philorenus, who would have thought that the great dis∣cretion and wisedome, whereby you have obtained such love and credit at my fathers hands, had so lost his force and vigor, that it suffereth thee so indiscréetly and fondly to behave thy self, being imployed by his Majesty in a matter which might have beene committed to the chiefest person of the Realme? And art thou so berest of all thy wits and understanding, that thou thinkest we are all so blinde, that because thou hast put on another Garment, wee should not know thee? Thinkest thou that we are so forgetfull of thy favour, that the change of apparel is able to make thée unknown unto us? No, no, Phi∣lorenus, and although all other men were taken with oblivi∣on of thy Face, yet the Picture of thy Visage, the Lineaments of thy Face, and the very Phisiognomy of thy Csuntenance, is so déeply ingraven in my heart, that no time, no change, no alteration, no colour, nor no deceit is able to rase out the print thereof.

Wherefore I cannot enough marvel Philorenus, that séeing thou knowest how I am affected towards thee (insomuch that thou canst not ask any thing of me that lieth in my power to grant thee, and be repulsed) thou hast notwithstanding so

madly sought so dangerous (if I may say my mind) so coward∣ly and base means to shake of the charge committed unto thée by the King; whereas if thou hadst but let me know how thou wert unwilling to be imployed therein, I would have intrea∣ted my father, and perswaded him to send some other into Per∣sia, that I might have enjoyed your company, for whose absence I doubt not but you perceived how sorry I was. And now, first you know, that though you were never more seen by us or known, yet you should be deprived of all the credit and honor which you had in the Court, being compelled to live in obscu∣rity and base manner, wanting both wealth and fame.

Besides also; perpend not onely what injury you offer the King, but also the losse and detriment unto his subjects, and the neighbour kingdomes of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal, in that my fathers intent is frustrated, and an embassage of such moment, serving for the welfare of so many worthy kingdoms, neglected. The consideration whereof, I hope will make you come to knowledge of your fondnesse, yea rather madnesse, in committing so heinous an offence and hurtful trespass, where∣by you hade deserved the Kings indignation, who no doubt if he were acquainted with this your franticke kind of dealing, would with no lesse pain then death punish your delict,

But I judge that the Gods tendring thy fortune, have made thee so happie, as that thou shouldest be espied by me before thy sinister doings were bewrayed unto any other, and so re∣vealed to the King my father, to the end that I might provide some remedy in this case, and save thée from the danger which otherwise thou wert like to incur.

My brother Philorenus, who all this while stood astonished, not knowing the event of this matter, marvelled what fury haunted the young Prince, to make such a large discourse un∣to him; he knew not what he meant by his embassage, or what affair the King should have committed to his charge séeing he had never been near the King, and was altogether unknown unto him; and therefore he knew not what he might imagine of this accident. But knowing that who so commeth near the

fire is in danger to be burned, that who so playeth with the streams may be drowned, and that they that are near Kings are subject to their power, began to fear lest this sport should be turned into spight; and this young Prince his pastime tend to his wrack. And therefore he fel on his knées and made Hippolito this answer.

Most excellent Prince, I am a poor young man, unknown in all places of honour, and especially in the Court; howbeit that I know not how your grace knoweth my name. For I confesse my name to be Philorenus, yet I vow and protest be∣fore the Gods and sacred powers of heaven, that I never lived in the Court, never wore more sumptuous apparel then now I do; never spake unto his majesty or your grace, and that I know no more of what embassage you speak, or what charge you talk of, then I knew at the hour when I was first born. Wherefore I beseech your grace to pardon me for I speak the truth, as your grace well knoweth, who taketh pleasure to mock his humble servant.

What Philorenus replied Hippolito, hast thou not told me thy self that thou wert born about the borders betwéen the Kingdomes of Aragon and Castile, that thy father was called Coreandro, thy mother Delbia (for that was our mothers name) and that by reason of the wars betwéen the said Kingdomes, thy father came with thee, and dwelled in the village Cinque∣ni, being under my fathers subjection, whence thou were brought to Naples? Is not this most true? if not, say I lie,

God forbid (quoth my brother) that I should be so impudent as to give your grace the lie, séeing that I may in more decent manner deny that which is contrary to verity then so. And séeing I confesse all that to be true which your grace hath spe∣cified concerning my parents, my country, and my translation from the place where I was born unto this country, I hope your grace will pardon me if I deny that I never told the least point thereof unto you: for heaven confound me if ever I spake unto your grace before this time.

Hippolito moved to rage, burst out at length into these

words. Well Philorenus (quoth he) I perceive thou art more then mad, and that thou doest openly mock me, for I say that the Gods are not Gods, if they confound thee not for thy fals∣hood. It were to be pardoned if thou didst onely offnd against me, but seeing thou callest the Gods as witnesses of thy hor∣rible falsities and lies, I cannot forbear it. But I pray thee tel me one thing; hast thou any brother living? No, (quoth my brother.) why then (qd. Hippolito) art thou the same Philorenus that my father the King had from the Captain, upon the same day that the said Captain was married; who said that he brought thee from Cinqueni. True (quoth my brother) I was brought from Cinqueni, but yet I know no Captain that was married, or that gave me to the Kings Majesty. And if it wil please your grace to go with me, or send to the house where I dwell, you shall both know of him that brought me from Cinqueni and all his neighbors, that I have dwelled these seven or eight years with him, even since the time y^t I was brought from the said village Cinqueni. It is a marvellous matter (qd. Hippolito) Philorenus, that thou wilt go about to perswade me to a tale, and to move me to believe thy lies. For if thou wert a God I durst say thou liest. For thou hast no brother (so thou doest confesse) and I take all the Gods to witnesse that one named Philorenus born in the same place that thou acknow∣ledgest thy self to be born in, and of the same parents that thou claimest to be thine, and of such fortune as thou sayest thine was. Then tell me how is it possible, but that thou thy self must be the man. And albeit thou hadst a brother, yet you should not make me believe that he can be so like thee, as that I should be so absurdly deceived. Therefore séeing thou art so obstinate, thou shalt try what thou art able to gain therewith.

Herewith Hypolito taketh him by the hand and leadeth him unto the chamber of presence, where all the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen began to cherish and welcome him, asking the cause of his sudden return and why he had so disguised himself in apparel.

My brother almost out of his wits wist not what to think,

but that either they were all more then foolish, or he born to be scoffed and mocked at: yea he could not a great while be perswaded but that he dreamed. But Hyppolito looking up∣on him, and séeing what countenance he bore, burst out into these words, all the Courtiers standing aboot O most cun∣ning counterfeit who ever saw the like? No doubt Philore∣nus doth not or rather will not remember, that ever he knew any of all this noble company of Gentlemen and Ladies, whereas notwithstanding, they all disdain not to acknow∣ledge, yea and claim old acquaintance. As he had so said, the King came into the chamber of presence to sée what the matter was, (for he had already heard something touching my comming as they thought) and séeing my brother, welcommed him after this manner, Ha our Embassadour, you have ei∣ther had wings to flie, or you have as much séen Persia as I have seen Jove; but I pray you tell mee what may bee the cause of this your holi-day-coat? Have you met with fooles by the way? or are you a weary of a Courtiers life? if the one, I was well addressed to send such a Legate to Persia, and if the other, I will soon relieve thée from that care.

With that the King being angry at the heart, comman∣ded his son Hyppolito to take order that he might be put in∣to prison till hee had deliberated what death hee should die. Which thing when distressed Philorenus heard, he fell on his knées and began thus to intreat his Majesty to be mercifull unto him. Most excellent Monarch, I beséech your Majesty by the religion & duty that all mortall men owe to the divine powers, to hear me clear my felf of all such crimes which it should séem that I have committed against your majesty. For I perceive that either it pleaseth your Majesty to exhilirate & glad your Courtiers with my misery, and threaten me impri∣sonment and death to give them occasion to laugh at my sim∣plenesse and innocencie, or there hath been some other man of my name and like me, that hath committed this heinous of∣fence against your Majesty, which most falsly is attributed un∣to me. For I protest before heaven and earth that, I am not

that Philorenus (if such an one hath béen here) as I will prove by the souldier that brought me from Cinqueni, with whom I have dwelled ever since I was by him brought to Naples; as he and all his neighbors shall testifie, or Ile die what death your Majesty shall please to appoint.

The King hearing him so soberly protest and swear that he was not the same Philorenus they took him to be, commanded him to tell one of his guard where the same souldier dwelt, which when my brother had done, the King commanded the same man whom my brother said was his master, and four or five of his chiefest neighbors, should the next day come before him.

Insomuch that the same Sergeant being called Signori Va∣lentino, accompanied with three or four Gentlemen of great credit dwelling in the same Parish, with him were brought, appeared before his Majesty according to his command and my brother being brought before them, the King asked them whether they knew that fellow?

They all answered yes, and told the King all other circum∣stances concerning my brothers Parents, and his comming from Cinquent to Naples, affirming all what they had said, up∣on their oaths.

The King marvelled that all things agréed with the Phi∣lorenus for whom he took him to be, both his name, the place where he was born, the name of his parents; and other acci∣dents onely this different, that he had dwelt with a Captain which gave him to the King, where these men testified that that Philorenus whom they had present, had dwelt with the Sergeant till that present day, and never entred into the Court; insomuch that the K. began to think that there were two brothers of them, and that they themselves knew it not, by reason that they were separated one from the other so timely. But to the end that he might be the surer of this matter, he sent for the Captain of whom he had me. Who being come, and having séen my brother; the King asked him whether he knew any privy token about my body whereby he might know

me, if there were one in the world so like me that he might hardly be known from me. Such token (answered the Cap∣tain) I know none, my Soveraign Lord; neither is it neces∣sary, for I nor any man that hath eys can doubt of this man, but that it is Philorenus whom I brought from Cinqueni, and I will not onely say so, but also affirm it by oath, and die up∣on the same. The other Gentlemen that were present said that he might be deceived, for that they had already deposed the contrary.

To make few words if the King had not been present, they had gone together by the ears, and tried the matter not by words but by wounds rather, and by fight come to knowledge of the right Philorenus, but the King commanded them to re∣turn to their mansion place, and to leave the person concern∣ing whom the question grew, (to wit my brother) with him, for that he would not be satisfied, but would have him kept in hold till such time as he might send into Persia after me to know whether I were there or no: imagining that if I were found there, then the same Philorenus that they had in the Court should be my brother; and if it were so, the King inten∣ded to give him some high office; but if contrarily I were not found in Persia, then it should be manifest that the same Phi∣lorenus was no other but the man who he was judged by all the courtiers to be, and both he and his pretended master, with the other Gentlemen that were before the King, should with death be punished for their madnesse, in taking upon them to depose such falsities, and so openly to mock with their King and Soveraign.

Well, they being returned, and my brother clapt in hold, two Knights were dispatched from the court to Persia, who ta∣king their journey th•• same way that I was prescribed to take, at every City that was of any fame, he enquired for me, but in vain; for they passed into Persia, and yet could hear no∣thing of me: neither in the way as they went thither, nor in the Court of the King ef Persia, the reason whereof was as followeth.