Page:The Queens of England.djvu/82

68 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. the two princesses experienced the heaviest force of the tem- pest. Several of the vessels of the dispersed squadron were wrecked at Limousso, on the coast of Cyprus, where they were pillaged by Isaac, the caitiff prince of the island, who 'in puerile ambition attached to himself the title of emperor. But not satisfied with pillage, this lawless and impolitic despot not only loaded with chains and imprisoned the crews of the ves- sels he had plundered, but had the folly, as well as the bar- barity to prevent the ship which contained the princesses, and was most perilously tossing and laboring in the offing, from entering the harbor. Speedily, however, was ample vengeance taken for this ignoble cruelty ; for, oh approaching Cyprus, the first object Richard beheld was the dangerous position of his sister and Berengaria ; and on learning the cause, his fury knew no bounds. Scarcely waiting for the disembarkation of a few of the most eager of his warriors, he leapt on the shore, armed cap-a-pie and battle-axe in hand, and driving back the wrecker prince, who attempted to oppose their landing, Limousso was entered by storm. The triumphant avenger then signaled to the royal ship that it might approach with safety ; and the weary, anxious princesses once more escaped their perils by sea, and reposed themselves on a less unstable element. The next day Richard again defeated the felon Isaac, and compelled him to surrender. His person being seized, he was imprisoned and laden with fetters of iron; when, complaining bitterly that the quality of the metal which constrained him was not proportionate to his dignity, the fierce Plantagenet, from whim or ostentation, ordered him to be secured with chains of silver. This concession so gratified the vanity of the ignoble Isaac that he praised his conqueror for his generosity. In this appropriate isle Richard united himself to the fair Berengaria, amidst all the pomp and circumstances of oriental luxury and feudal power. If some historians are to be believed, King Richard did not escape from the bad influences which seem to be native to this island ; for, bridegroom as he was, it is asserted that he became enamoured of the daughter of his prisoner Isaac. But this imputation was, there is every reason to believe, wholly unfounded, and took its rise simply from this princess having accompanied to Palestine his queen, Berengaria.