按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
untill such time as his intent was accomplished。 King Gulielmo being
aged； and never acquainted with the affectiotiate proceedings of
Gerbino； nor any doubtfull reason to urge this security from him； in a
case convenient to be granted： yeelded the sooner thereto right
willingly； and as a signall of his honourable meaning； he sent him his
royall Glove； with a full confirmation for his safe conduct。
No sooner were these Princely assurances received； but a goodly ship
was prepared in the Port of Carthagena； well furnished with all
thinges thereto belonging； for the sending his daughter to the King of
Granada； waiting for nothing else but best favouring windes。 The young
Princesse； who understood and saw all this great preparation； secretly
sent a servant of hers to Palermo； giving him especiall charge； on her
behalfe； to salute the Prince Gerbino； and to tell him that （within
few dayes） she must be transported to Granada。 And now opportunity
gave faire and free meanes； to let the world know； whether he were a
man of that magnanimous spirit； or no； as generall opinion had
formerly conceived of him； and whether he affected her so firmely；
as by many close messages he had assured her。 He who had the charge of
this embassie； effectually performed it； and then returned backe to
Thunis。
The Prince Gerbino； having heard this message from his divine
Mistresse； and knowing also； that the Kin his Grandfather； had past
his safe conduct to the King of Thunis； for peaceable passage
through his Seas： was at his wits end； in this urgent necessity；
what might best bee done。 Notwithstanding； moved by the setled
constancy of his plighted Love； and the speeches delivered to him by
the messenger from the Princesse： to shew himselfe a man endued with
courage； he departed thence unto Messina； where he made ready two
speedy gallies； and fitting them with men of valiant disposition；
set away to Sardignia； as making full account； that the Ship which
carried the Princesse； must come along that Coast。 Nor was his
expectation therein deceived： for； within few dayes after； the Ship
（not over…swiftly winded） come sailing neere to the place where they
attended for her arrivall； whereof Gerbino had no sooner gotten a
sight； but to animate the resolutes which were in his company； thus he
spake。
Gentlemen； if you be those men of valour； as heretofore you have
bene reputed； I am perswaded； that there are some among you； who
either formerly have； or now instantly do feele； the all…commanding
power of Love； without which （as I thinke） there is not any mortall
man； that can have any goodnesse… or vertue dwelling in him。
Wherefore； if ever you have bene amorously affected； or presently have
any apprehension thereof； you shall the more easily Judge of what I
now aime at。 True it is； that I do love； and love hath guided me to be
comforted； and manfully assisted by you； because in yonder Ship； which
you see commeth on so gently under saile （even as if she offered her
selfe to be our prize） not onely is the Jewell which I most esteeme；
but also mighty and unvalewable treasure； to be wonne without any
difficult labour； or hazard of a dangerous fight； you being men of
such undauntable courage。 In the honour of which victory； I covet
not any part or parcell； but onely a Ladie； for whose sake I have
undertaken these Armes； and freely give you all the rest contained
in the Ship。 Let us set on them； Gentlemen； and my deerest friends；
couragiously let us assaile the ship； you see how the wind favours us；
and （questionlesse） in so good an action； Fortune will not faile us。
Gerbino needed not to have spoken so much； in perswading them to
seize so rich a booty； because the men of Messina were naturally
addicted to spoile and rapine： and before the Prince began his
Oration； they had concluded to make the ship their purchase。
Wherefore； giving a lowde shout； according to their Country manner；
and commanding their Trumpets to sound chearfully； they rowed on a
maine with their Oares； and （in meere despight） set upon the ship。 But
before the Gallies could come neere her； they that had the charge
and managing of her； perceyving with what speede they made towards
them； and no likely meanes of escaping from them； resolvedly they
stood upon their best defence； for now it was no time to be slothfull。
The Prince being come neere to the Ship； commanded that the Patrones
should come to him； except they would adventure the fight。 When the
Sarazines were thereof advertised； and understood also what he
demanded； they returned answer： That their motion and proceeding in
this manner； was both against Law and plighted faith； which was
promised by the King of Sicilie； for their safe passage through the
Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed。 In testimony whereof；
they shewed his Glove； avouching moreover； that neither by force （or
otherwise） they would yeelde； or deliver him any thing which they
had aboorde their Ship。
Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke； and she
appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of
her： being much more enflamed now； then formerly he had bin； replyed
thus when they shewed the Glove。 We have （quoth he） no Faulcon here
now； to be humbled at the sight of your Glove： and therefore； if you
will not deliver the Lady； prepare your selves for fight； for we
must have her whether you will or no。 Hereupon； they began to let flie
（on both sides） their Darts and arrowes； with stones sent in violent
sort from their slings； thus continuing the fight a long while； to
very great harme on either side。 At the length； Gerbino perceiving；
that small benefit would redound to him； if he did not undertake
some other kinde of course： he tooke a small Pinnace； which
purposely he brought with him from Sardignia； and setting it on a
flaming fire； conveyed it （by the Gallies help） close to the ship。 The
Sarazines much amazed thereat； and evidently perceiving； that either
they must yeeld or dye； brought their Kings daughter to the prow of
the ship； most greevously weeping and wringing her hands。 Then calling
Gerbino； to let him behold their resolution； there they slew hir
before his face； and afterward； throwing her body into the Sea； saide：
Take her； there we give her to thee； according to our bounden duty；
and as thy perjury hath justly deserved。
This sight was not a little greevous to the Prince Gerbino； who
madded now with this their monstrous cruelty； and not caring what
became of his owne life； having lost her for whom he onely desired
to live： not dreading their Darts； Arrowes； slinged stones； or what
violence els they could use against him； he leapt aboord their ship；
in despight of all that durst resist him； behaving himselfe there like
a hunger…starved Lyon； when he enters among a heard of beasts； tearing
their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes。 Such was
the extreme fury of this poore Prince； not sparing the life of any
one； that durst appeare in his presence； so that what with the
bloody slaughter； and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship；
the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could save； and
suffering the Sea to swallow the rest； Gerbino returned unto his
Gallies againe； nothing proud of this so ill…gotten victory。
Afterward； having recovered the Princesse dead body out of the
Sea； and enbalmed it with sighes and teares： he returned backe into
Sicilie； where he caused it to be most honourably buried； in a
little Island； named Ustica； face to face confronting Trapanum。 The
King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes； sent his Ambassadors
（habited in sad mourning） to the aged King of Sicilie； complaining
of his faith broken with him； and how the accident had falne out。
Age being sodainly incited to anger； and the King extreamly offended
at this injury； seeing no way whereby to deny him justice； it being
urged so instantly by the Ambassadors： caused Gerbino to be
apprehended； and he himselfe （in regard that none of his Lords and
Barons would therein assist him； but laboured to divert him by their
earnest importunity） pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince；
and commanded to have him beheaded in his presence； affecting
rather； to dye without an heire； then to be thought a King voyde of
justice。 So these two unfortunate Lovers； never enjoyed the very least
benefite of their long wished desires： ended both their lives in
violent manner。
THE FOURTH DAY； THE FIFT NOVELL
WHEREIN IS PLAINLY PROVED； THAT LOVE CANNOT BE ROOTED UPPE；
BY ANY HUMANE POWER OR PROVIDENCE； ASPECIALLY IN SUCH
SOULE； WHERE IT HATH BENE REALLY APPREHENDED
The three Brethren to Isabella； slew a Gentleman that secretly loved
her。 His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe； and shewed her in what
place they had buried his body。 She （in silent manner） brought away
his head； aid putting it into a pot of earth； such as Flowers； Basile；
or other sweete hearbes are usually set in； she watered it （a long
while） with her teares。 Wherefore her Brethren having intelligence；
soone after she dyed； with meere conceite of sorrow。
The Novell of Madame Eliz