e out,
beseechyng thee to reach me hither thy victorious handes to
kisse and salute." This Lady was a passing fayre gentlewoman, of
flourishing age and comely behauiour, none comparable vnto her
within the whole region of Affrica: and so much the more as hyr
pleasant grace by amiable gesture of complaint did increase, so
much the heart of Massinissa was delyted, who being lusty and of
youthly age (according to the nature of the Numides,) was easily
intrapped and tangled in the nettes of Loue: whose glutting eyes
were neuer ful, nor fiery hart was satisfied in beholding and
wondring at hir most excellent beauty: not foreseeing therefore,
or taking heede of the daungerous effect of beautie's snares,
his heart being so fiercely kindled with the swingyng flames of
loue, who causing hir to rise, exorted hir to prosecute hir
supplication: then she began to procede as foloweth: "If it may
be lawfull for me thy prysoner and bondwoman (O my soueraign
lord) to make request, I humbly do beseech thee, by thy royal
maiesty, wherein no long time past my husband and I were
magnificently placed in so kynglike guise as thou art now, and
by that Numidicall name, common vnto thee and my husbande
Syphax, and by the sauinge Gods and Patrons of this City, who
with better fortune and more ioyfull successe do receyue thee
into the same, that expelled Syphax out from thence: it may
please thy sacred state, to haue pity on me. I require no hard
and difficult thinge at thy handes, vse thine imperiall
gouernement ouer me, sutch as law of armes and reason of Warre
require: cause me if thou wilt, to pyne in cruel pryson, or do
me to sutch death with torments, as thou list to vse, the sharp,
fierce and cruel death that any wight can suffre, or Perillus
Bull shall not be dreadfull vnto me, but more deare and
acceptable than wonted life in pleasures led: for no death shal
bee refused of mee, rather than to be rendred into the proud
handes of the most cruell Romanes. Rather had I tast the trust
of a natiue Numidie, borne with me in Affrike soyle, than the
faith of straungers kinde: I know full well that thou dost knowe
what curtesy a Carthaginian and daughter of Hasdrubal, shal
surely looke for at the Romanes hands: whose mind is fearfull of
nothing more than of theyr pride and glory intollerable: if thou
(my lord) haddest sisters of thine own, or daughters of thy
royal bloud brought forth think that they may chaunce
(if fortune frown) to slide into