Page:Famous history of the two unfortunate lovers, Hero & Leander (1).pdf/11

11 darted some rays through a cloud, with this inscription, She for whom I suffer is ignorant of my love.

Leander thus accoutred, took an opportunity to come to the tilt just as the trumpets were sounding to action, and found divers champions in readiness, well mounted, who upon the signal, ran two and two together, and broke their lances with divers success, many being laid in the dust; but above all, the prince Persepolis, who was enamoured of the fair Hero, and to whom her father designed her to wed, unhorsed all that came near him; and though he was a man of an ill temper, and little beloved of any, glorying in his achievements, in a braving manner came and demanded the prize as his due, unless any other knight would dare to attempt any thing further against him. Leander, who had all this time stood still, that he might be crowned with the greater victory, induced by those he had foiled, putting spurs to his horse, entered the list, and demanded combat against him; they no sooner encountered but the prince was overthrown, together with his horse, as if he had been thunderstruck, which disgrace some of his followers attempting to retrieve, ran the same risk, so that in the end none daring to appear against him, the prize was declared his; which he had no sooner received, but he laid it at the feet of his most lovely Hero, telling her, That above all the world, she alone was worthy of so fair a diadem. She most modestly refused, and said it was the prize of his valour. But he entreated her in so particular a manner, that at length she accepted it, declaring she would keep it for his sake. Many admiring this, some with wonder, and others not without jealousy; prince Armelious was well pleased with