rient Empyre. Who seeing
that vpon the decease of Odenatus certayne of the East Countries
began to reuolt, shee determined to open hir Treasure, ressemble
hir men of Warre, and in hir owne person to march into the
fielde: where she did sutch notable enterprises, as shee
appalled hir enemies, and made the whole world to wonder. About
the age of .XXXV. yeares Zenobia was widow, beinge the Tutrix of
hir children, Regent of an Empyre, and Captayne generall of the
army. In which weighty charge she vsed hir selfe so wisely and
well, as shee acquired no lesse noble name in Asia, than Queene
Semiramis did in India. Zenobia was constant in that whych she
tooke in hand, true in words, liberall, mylde, and seuere where
she ought to be, discrete, graue, and secrete in her
enterprises, albeit she was ambicious. For, not content with hir
title of Gouernesse, or Regent, she wrote and caused her selfe
to be called Empresse, she loued not to ride vpon a Mule, or in
a littor, but greatly esteemed to haue great horse in hir stable
and to learne to handle and ryde them. When Zenobia went forth
of hir Tent to see the order and gouernment of hir Campe, she
continually did put on her Armure, and was well guarded with a
band of men, so that of a woman, she cared but onely for the
name, and in the facts of Armes shee craued the title of
valiaunt. The Captaynes of hir Army, neuer gaue battell, or made
assault, they neuer skyrmished or did other enterprise of warre,
but she was present in her owne person, and attempted to shewe
hirselfe more hardy than any of all the troupe, a thinge almost
incredible in that weake and feeble kinde. The sayd noble Queene
was of stature, bigge and well proporcioned, her eyes black and
quicke, hir forehead large, hir stomak and Breastes fayre and
vpright, her Face white, and ruddy, a little mouth, hir Teeth so
whyte, as they seemed like a rancke of white pearles, but aboue
all things she was of sutch excellent Spirit and courage, as
shee was feared for hir stoutnesse, and beloued for her beauty.
And although Zenobia was indued with so great beauty,
liberality, riches, and puissaunce, yet she was neuer stayned
with the blemish of vnchaste lyfe, or wyth other vanity: and as
hir husband Odenatus was wont to say, that after shee felt hir
selfe wyth chylde, shee neuer suffred hym to come neare her,
(sutch was hir great Chastity) sayinge that Women ought to marry
rather for children than for pleasure. She was also exce