Page:Famous history of the two unfortunate lovers, Hero & Leander (2).pdf/8

8 the forest, whereupon mounting his horse which he had brought with him, he came up to the miserable person, and demanding who had misused him? to whom, with a faint voico he replied, certain pirates lying in ambush in the forest, had set upon princo Armelious and his train, and had killed many of them, yet those that remained valiantly defended their prince, therefore, for goodness-sake, said he to Leander, if you are generous, hasten to their as- sistance ere it is too late. Leander, who had always a noble soul, and took great delight to relieve the distressed, needed not to be incited to such an enterprise, set spurs to his horse, being direeted to the plaee by tho continued cries, and found the prinee, most of whose men were slain, valiantly defending himself, his back being to a tree, against nine or ten of the villains : he easily perceived who the oppressors were, and flying in amongst them like a tempest, beat all down before him, eutting off the heads of some, and the arms of others as they were about to strike, making their swords drop useless from their hands ; this put new courage into Armolious and his wound- ed men, who yet survived their fellows, so that lustily laying about them, all but three of these pirates were slain, who, being likewise wounded, escaped among the trees; Armelious had searee timo to thank the generous Leander, when hearing the cries of his daughter, whom others of this rout wero carrying away prisoner, he besought him on his knees to bend his eourse to her assistanee. Leander now all covered with the blood of his ene- mies, turned his horse to the path, followed the cry, and soon overtook them; but oh ! how aston- ished was he, when he saw, and knew the lady, though in tears and disordered, to be the beauteous