this wound yet must it néeds marueilously offend and displease me that so good people by a false and miscreant Dog should be so outraged Neuerthelesse séeing I can no other way redéeme it I sweare and protest before yée all hereafter to be a cruell and capital enemie to these harbarous and vnbeléeuing helhounds making them dearely to buy before hand the infelicity destinyed to this moane-worthie countrie And euen so it came to passe in that both he and Palmendos in his Kingdome of Thessalie did great and infinite dammages to the Turkes for euer after there was continually open warres betweene those Nations But the Emperour then somewhat mittygating hys choller with a more pleasing countenance and milder tearms thus spake to them about him Wherefore should I offend my selfe wyth such things as we shall neuer behold I pray yée for all this let vs not leaue the fruition of such pleasures as God hath sent vs at this instant for séeing it is hys will that happy successe shall betyde the affayres of my time and they that follow of my posterity likewise I haue no reason to passionate my selfe but rather to repute me the most happy Prince that thys day inhabiteth betweene the two Poles Therfore I pray you quoth hée to the Messenger on my behalfe thank the Lord of the enclosed Isle your Maister for putting mée out of those doubtfull imaginations striuing to vnderstand what these two figures shoulde signifie assuring him withall that he hath no friend in this world who can make more account of his goodwill than I doo nor shall hee finde any iot lesse in me towards him when pleaseth him to make any triall therof so breaking off the Gentleman went a little lower toward Primaleon who likewise was there present thus spake to him Happy fortunate Prince the Lord of the enclosed Isle my master who louer you as himself hath sent yée this good sword and rich shield the two best and most exquisite weapons that at this day are to be found in all the world and them hee thinks méete for so valiaunt a Knight as you will prooue aduertising you that the clouen rock being thus separated as you may beholde héere figured in this shield signifieth the partialitie and little looue betwene you and her who in after time shall make one sole heart of twaine so that on the day of this riciprocation hapning betwéene you this impregnable rock shall then remaine intyre closed againe and without any impeach to testifie your reconciliation Tell your Master from me answered Primaleon as one abashed to heare such spéeches that as it hath pleased him to send me this fayre present which I shal wel carefully hope for his sake so wold I haue him commād me any thing wherin I may do him pleasure when he shall aduertise me as the mā that may command my vttermost whom I highly thank for his curtesis albeit I cannot but remaine in pensiuenes 〈◊〉 I vnderstand more clearly the matters you haue told mée The time will come replyed the yong Gentleman when you shall knowe them sufficiently although at this instant they séeme so hard and obscure to yée and then shall ye recompence the seruice which now yée receiue from my Maister Then commaunded Primaleon that one should fetch a rich present for the Lord of the enclosed Isle in requitall of the excellent Armes he sent him and another in like manner for the Gentleman that brought them which immediatly was perfourmed in euery respect when the youth with great reuerence taking his leaue returned presently towarde the Isle leauing all the Court meruayling at the newes before rehearsed The Emperour and his Barrons long looked on the weapons each one commending the artificiall workemanship of them meruayling what the strange seperation of the rocke should meane being thus foretold that one day it should ioyn together againe which made the Emperour deliuer these wordes before all there present I am perswaded wee shall behold great matters of importance when this halfe deuided Rock shall knit together againe So that as séemes to mee my Sonne speaking to Primaleon for thée are reserued many aduentures which none but thou canst effectually finishe Wherein I pray God to bee thy directer enduing thée with such strength and hardines as thou mayest honorably make an end of them So doe I deuoutlie pray my selfe answered Primaleon els shall I repute all my life verie careleslie bestowed and I vnworthie to come in companie of so great personages if I shuld not resemble in some good part or other the noble Lord that begot me and that I may attaine thereto it is necessarie I should passe through many perillous tranayles knowing that without excéeding endeuour it is impossible to reach such honour as doth for euer make men to be estéemed For this may serue me as a most worthie crample yea and an infallible mirrour of all vertues proceeding from your excellencie so great a president as not onely hath sweetly conquered the loue of your subiects but gayning likewise a priueledge of euerie ones good will hath beside constrayned the enemie and most barbarous Nations to admire and honour yée for al perfections being the cheefest peece of workemanshippe that euer Nature made These gentle and gratious speeches of the Prince Primaleon made the Emperour his Father so pleased as possiblie might be hearing from him such honest commendations yet collourably ayming at a third person as thence forth he reputed him verse magnanimous and remembring Achilles Alexander Themistocles and other such valiant Champions which Greece in former time had brought forth he began to conceiue some hope that one day he should see him go beyond all other of his time Whereupon hee gaue commandement that the weapons sent from the Lorde of the enclosed Isle should be verie charilie layde vp and for this cause if afterwarde in any place Primaleon would not be knowen he named himselfe the knight of the clouen rocke From that time all the whole day there passed no other speeches among them but of the meruaylous knowledge of this great Magitian the Emperour entring into so good opinion of him as he could neuer forget that the Empire of Greece should be sackt by the Turkes which was a continuall griefe to his heart yet would hee not outwardly deliuer any show thereof but with Princely iestures shadowing them still seemed as pleasant as euer be was before Primaleon likewise on the other side was very pensiue desiring also to know her name who already by the very words of the yong Gentleman had inflamed his thoughts with the heauenlie fire of Venus for till this houre hee had no knowledge of amourous passions but now his heart was so liuely touched therewith as there they had taken a perpetual dweling place as yee shall perceiue by the following discourse of the Historie But now he fell to make prouision with the other knights giuing order that all thinges might bee readie against the
some supposed they were stricken with the falling sicknes insomuch that they mâ—â—ed all the standers by to compassion and the Emperour for his parte would willingly haue deliuered them had hee not perceaued Palmendos could not honestly frustrate Ozalio of the promise which he had made him By meanes whereof not to abide beholding them any longer in this pitteous Tragedie he commaunded incontinent to recarry Ocurites to his loâ—ging Marencida backe into her chamber where she would willingly haue done that for him to saue him from death which Alceste whilom Quéene of Thessalie would only haue enterprised for Admetus her husband after she vnderstood by the Oracle that any one of his friends who would die in his stead might saue his life which else in no wife might bee preserued So great was she heartes griefe Ocurites felt during his traunce that refusing to eat or drinke a long time afterwards he weakned so much his members and spent his naturall vigour so farre that his soule was constrained to take leaue of his body which was interred afterward by commaundement of the Emperour in a rich tombe whereof Marencida neuer knew any thing for they sought meanes expressâ—â—y to conceale from her this mischaunce fearing lest she should goe after to héepe him companie in the other world as might bee misdoubted by the coniectures gathered of the anguish she indured séeing him in so miserable estate when shee sounded in his presence as you haue read before And for that Ozalio did solicite at the length her departure with all dilligence Palmendos caused two shippes to be made readie with all things necessary graunting him fréely his departure albeit there was much griefe on both sides for that from their infancie they had béene both brought vp together they gaue each other their last adieu not without bedewing their faces with store of teares their mindes beeing touched inwardly with the strict and more than fraternall amitie betwéene them so that euerie one maruelled why he would not for this only respect renounce Paganisme as Palmendos had done which hee would surely haue done if the loue of Marencida had not so preuailed with him The Emperour gaue them many sumptuous presentes to carrie from him to the Queene of Tharsus which beeing bestowed in fit place on ship boorde hee commaunded to hoyse sailes and so incontinent launched into the maine sea which was so calme and still that within fewe dayes hee fell within the coast of Tharsus So soone as he was ariued in the haue it all the Cinso began to make bone fires and many other tokens of ioy thinking to recouer their true liege Soueraigne Palmendos But soone after chaunged their reioycing into sadnes when they knew certainly Palmendos was so farre from that plate where they thought him to be present all the people doing nothing els but curâ—â—e and ban the old Beldame who 〈…〉 the loste of so made and gentle a Prince At this time â—ay she Quéene very grieuously sicke in her bed for the absents of her sonne Palmendos so that seeing Ozalio 〈…〉 for into the chamber her heart felt present he such an 〈◊〉 anguish that she had neyther sinew veine artir nor miâ—scle which was not depriued of their vsuall functions So that without hearing the Ambassage which the Emperor 〈◊〉 to Ozalio to oster hir with his presents she died more 〈…〉 euer â—â—erre through 〈…〉 This honourable Lady hauing thus accomplished the last law of nature and yeelded before God her mortall homage Ozalio gaue the principals of the Kingdome to vnderstand of the ordenance of Palmendos his Cosen wherby vpon calling them together soone after the decease of the Quéene hée shewed them fast scaled and so subscribed as they ought to bee by which meanes they all knowing him to bee a most sage and valerous Prince accepted him gladly for their King Thus hauing peaceably inuested himselfe in the kingdome he married forthwith in great triumph and magnificence his deare Marencida who seeing the loue her husband bare her to increase more and more euery day conuerted her mourning and sorrow into thankfull gladnes so that within few daies she quite forgate all thinges past louing afterward so perfectly the good King Ozalio her second husband that shee had by him many goodlie children many whereof proued very braue and hardie Knights Thus feasting them whom he tooke from Constantinople for to accompanie him homeward at length he returned them backe againe with such newes and rich giftes which the king Ozalio sent to his Cosen Palmendos as hee in memoris hereof continued the same euery yeare following in like manner for tribute and homage of the high estate which he confessed onely to hold of him No sooner were the Knightes arriued in the Emperours Court but Palmendos was aduertized of the death of the Quéene his mother whereupon he grew into great mellancholle and made woefull lamentation seeming to him that his absence was the principall cause of her death but he loued Franchelinaso ardently that hee could not well busie his spirites in any other thing than in those which he knew might cause her delight and pleasure wherefore in time hee forgot the sorrow which these heauie newes caused especially féeling himselfe so comforted by his loue whom wee will now leaue to take the gratious pastimes wherwith those that are 〈…〉 affianced and wont to sollace one another attending the wished day of their Nuptials And now returne wee vnto Rifarano whome we shall finde yet in the house of the Countesse of Island CHAP. IIII. How Rifarano beeing departed from the Countesse of Island to go to the Tourney which was to be held in Constantinople met with his companion Ledefin with whome hee fought to reuenge a pore Damsell whose husband hee had slaine RIfarano who Combated Dioll the Earle of Islandâ— brother if you remember remayned sometime with the Countesse his widdowe as well to heale his woundes throughly especially that in the scull of his head which hee was faine to cauterise and haue throughly seâ—â—ched as also for the pleasure and graunt of amourous fauours which he receiued daylie of her by meanes where of he could not leaue her till hée was aduertised how the Emperour Palmerin would holds open Court in Constantinople and of the great Triumphes which were here in preparation to solemniâ—s the alliance Nuptials of the infant Philocrissa with Arnodes Sonne is the King of Fraunce likewise of the Princesse Franchelina with Palmendos But not to loose so good occasion to present himselfe in so honorable a companie which hee hoped would there mâ—ete at this solemne feast hee demaunded licence of the Countesse to goe see the Prince Palmendos at whose handes he had heretofore receaued so much fauour that vs though that held his life but of him and the immortall God who might end it when â—â— best pleased him Whereunto very loath and vnwilling she accorded doubting lest bee should not returne againe to her so
I will craue none aduenture at thy handes After these words he alighted from his horse and séeing his enemie disarmed hee would not drawe his sworde but closed with him which Prince Edward did in like manner and so they tugd a good while together In the end fortune woulde so much sauour the Prince that he laide his enemie a long setting his knée vppon his breast he cut a two the stringes of his Helmet thinking presently to cut off his head but as he was about to do it he pecceaued it was a verie faire woman so that maruelling much at this mummery he rose vp incontinent being in great admiration Faire Lorde then ganne the Damsell admire not to sée now a woman in Armes séeing that there haue bin and as yet are some which are couragious and warlike and take it not in disdaine that you haue sought against one of them for Acâ—illes estéemed that one of his most signall victories which he obtained against Penthasilia the Nunne of Amazonians and the valiant Mithridâ—tes King of Pontus neuer craued better aide than that of Hipsicratea his wedded wife the which béeing in mans attire after the Persian manner did enter into all dangers vnto which her husband did aduenture himselfe during the war which hee had against Pompeius So much I say because I sée you make a wonder at this strange noueltie Neuerthelesse if you will graunt me but one beene I will conduct you into a place where you shall sée things far more admirable than these Uerie willing will I accord thee whatsoeuer it shall please thee to demaund at my hands answered the Knight vnto hir for the great desires sake which I haue to follow straunge aduentures Mount then replied the Damsell vpon my Horse and come presently away with me But Prince Edward would first goe fetch his Armes and make his people priuie to his departure to the end they should not trouble themselues to seeke after him then the Ladie told him that to compasse their attempt it was expedient for them to set forward of their iournie forthwith So then he mounted vppon a Courser and she vpon a palâ—râ—e which attended not farre from thence Fiue dayes iourney they made and met nothing which might hinder them in their way and vppon a Saterday morning they arriued at a faire Cloyster of women built vpon the top of a high Mountaine in a verie solitarie place There did the Damsell cause this Knight to alight whome shee lead afterwarde into a faire Chamber whether the Abbesse and all her Nunnes came to entertaine him when his guide began to vtter these spéeches vnto him Faire Knight knowe that in this Monasterie there is a most strange and maruellous aduenture which as they saye cannot be ended but by one of the best Knightes of this age for that you are reputed one of those whom the celestiall plannets haue adorned with so manie excellent graces in preheminence of Chiualrie we haue hope that you will bring it to a finall end Now within the precinct of this Religious house is enclosed a verie faire Orchard planted with diuers sortes of fruit trées which in their seasons doe bring forth their fruites in abundance and within the whole compasse of our Conuent is there none more delightfull place than that except on the north side from whence out of a fearefull caue euerie Saterday about Euensong there cometh forth a most hideous and ill fauoured old woman bearing a rich Faulchâ—on in her hande where with she striketh flatting when she méeteth by chaunce with any Religious Nunne so furiouslie that shee sendeth her quicklie to the ground in such sorte that the poore wretch can not rise againe nor a long time after get out of this traunce so much doth she féele her selfe astonished with the blowes this â—lend of hell giueth her Which done she returneth within her den lamenting in most strange maner And I tell you faire Knight that a great number of valiant Knightes haue come hether thinking to follow her and to see the place of her residence towards which none can apprethe nearer than ten paces but he is immediatly repulsed verie rudely so that we haue no hope euer to see an end of this aduenture vnlesse you accomplish it now For this effect haue I brought you hether hearing by report in diuers places that your prowesse valour doth exceede farre that of the most hardiest Knights of all the West Madame replied Prince Edward then it falleth out some times that many Knights which are esteemed hardie and valiant Champions shewe in the end the contrarie of this vulgure opinion And vppon me first of all may such an example bee shewed Notwithstanding séeing I finde my selfe brought vnto this place I will not let to proue what I can do in the aduenture whereof I haue heard so great speech Towardes the which feeling not my selfe endued with the force addresse which is expedient for him to haue who shall finishe it I should not presume to bee so hardie as to march my selfe so that béeing not able now to bring it about I will only leaue as others haue done the honour thereof to whome God hath reserued it CHAP. XIX How Prince Edward entred the Caue where hee vanquished a Knight who would haue kept him out of the gate of the Pallace which was there within And howe passing further in hee founde two Gentlemen within a Marble Sepulcher whome he deliuered out of strange paine and the sequele THe houre of Euening praier approching Prince Edward Armed himselfe carefully with a Harnesse that some Knight who had béene there to proue himselfe in the aduenture of the Caue had left behinde him in the Abbye then beeing brought into the Orchard by the Damosell and by one of the Nunnes hee put himselfe néere the mouth of this hole where hee stayed not long before the old trot came foorth and quickly popt in againe seeing the English Prince before her eyes who was not slow to follow her in when she casting her armes about his necke by no force or strength soeuer that he could employ hee could neuer stay her nor once loose her from him but stil the further he went in so much more did his labour paine increase and torment him for that finding the farther he was in the way more darke and obscure it seemed vnto him that some bodie stroke him on euery side pushing him backewards to make him recoyle But hee who was magnanimous enduring this paine thumping and thrusting without euer letting goe the old trot came at the last into a great Pallace very sumptuously wrought and set forth Then the old woman crying for ayde there came a Knight vppon him verye richlie Armed bearing a shield vppon his arme whereon were painted two Damsels wherof the one which appeared very beautifull held betwéene her handes a hart wounded which the other that had a vaile vppon her face made semblant to take away from her by force Helpe me