g the most
sorowfull present that euer was offred to any fayre Lady. This
is the way alone to saue hir from the Romanes handes. Pray hir
to consider the worthines of hir father, the dygnity of hir
countrey, and the royal maiesty of the II. kings hir husbands,
and to do as hir mynd and wil shall fansie best. Get the hence
with all possible spede, and lose no tyme to do thys Message:
for thou shalt cary the bane and present death of the fairest
Ladye that euer Nature framed wythin hir fayrest mould." The
seruaunt with this commaundment did departe, and Massinissa lyke
a Chylde beaten with the rodde, wept and cried. The messenger
being come to the Queene, and giuing hir the cup with the
poyson, declared his cruell ambassage. The Queene took the
poysoned Cuppe, and sayd vnto the messenger: "Geeue the king thy
mayster myne humble thankes, and say vnto hym, that I receyue
and Drynke thys Poyson wyth a wyll so good, as if hee had
commaunded me to enter in Tryumph wyth Laurel Garlande ouer myne
ennymyes: for a better gifte a husbande can not gyue to wyfe,
than accomplyshment of assured fayth the funeralles whereof
shall bee done wyth present obsequie." And sayinge nothynge else
vnto the messenger, shee tooke the Cuppe, and mynglynge well
together the poyson wythin, shee vnfearfully quafft it vp: and
when she had dronke it shee delyuered the messenger hys Cuppe
agayne, and layed hir selfe vpon hir bed, commaunding hir
gentlewomen in comely wyse to couer hir wyth Clothes, and
withoute lamentation or Sygne of feminine minde, shee stoutly
waighted for approching death. The Gentlewomen which wayted vpon
hir, bewayled the rufull state of their Maystresse, whose
plaints and scriches were heard throughout the palace, whereof
the brute and rumor was great. But the good Queene vanquished
with the strong force of the poyson, continued not long before
she died. The messanger returned these heauie newes vnto
Massinissa, who so sorowfully complained the losse of his
beloued wife, in such wise as many tymes hee was lyke to kyll
hymselfe, that hys Soule might haue accompanied the ghost of
hir, whych was beloued of hym aboue all the dearest things of
the Worlde. The valyant and wyse capitayne Scipio vnderstanding
the newes hereof, to the intente Massinissa shoulde not commit
any cruelty agaynst hymselfe, or perpetrate other vncomely
deede, called hym beefore him, and comforted hym wyth the
sweetest wordes he could deuise, and frendly reproue