ine vnhappy countrey
without desert, and now the present and most terrible
astonishment: if my hard fortune and distresse after so great
ruine might haue bene relieued, what greater fauour, what thing
in all my life, coulde chaunce more fortunate, vnto me, than to
bee called wife of thee? O, I blessed aboue all other women to
haue a man so noble and famous to husband. O mine aduenturous
and most happy ruine. O my moste fortunate misery, that such a
glorious and incomparable mariage was prepared for me: but
bicause the Gods be so contrary vnto me, and the due ende of my
life approcheth (my deare soueraygne lorde) to kindle againe in
me, my hope half dead, or rather consumed and spent, bicause I
see myself wrapped in a state, that in vayne against the
pleasures of the Gods, I go about to molest thee: a greate gift
(and to say truthe) a right great good turne, I make accompte to
haue receiued of thee, if mine owne death I should procure by
thee, that dyinge by thy means or with thy handes, (whych were
more acceptable,) I shoulde escape the feare of the Romaynes
thral and subiection, and this soule deliuered of the same,
should streight passe into the Elysian fieldes. The final scope
of this my humble plaint, is to ryd me from the hands of the
Romanes, whose thraldom to suffer I had rather die. The other
benefit which thou dost frankly offer to me pore wretch, I dare
not desire, mutch lesse require the same, bicause the present
state of my mishap dareth not presume so high. But for this thy
pity and compassion ioined with louing regard and mind toward
me, mightye loue with al the other Gods reward and blesse thy
gotten kingdom in long raign, enlarging the same with more ample
bounds to thine eternal renoum and praise: and I do not only
render humble thanks for this thy kynd and louing enterteinment,
but also yeld my self thine own, so long as lyfe gouerneth this
caitif corps of mine." These words wer pronounced with such
effect, as Massinissa was not able for pity to hold his teares,
which watred so his comely form, as the dew therof soaked into
his tender heart, and not able a long time to speake, at last
thus hee sayd: "Gyue ouer (O my quene) these cares and thoughts,
dry vp thy cries and plaints, make an end of all these dolorous
sutes, and reioyce, that frowarde Fortune hath changed hir mind:
the Gods no doubt with better successe, wil perfourm the rest of
thy liuing dais. Thou shalt henceforth remain my Quene and wif