say vnto you that it was no small griefe vnto him since fortune would not present him with any especial occasion whereby he might declare the good will he bare you neuerthelesse he desired you very humbly that you would make acceptance of this his first seruice though it be not of so great estimation as your singularitie deserues And now I remaine to know in what cause it shall like you to imploy me that I may doe you seruice Albayzar being well knowne in the Emperors court great ioy was made on all side for his arriual and the Emperor himselfe was very well pleased to sée him come in so good disposition for the good regard he had of the Princesse Targiana his Lady whose vertuous deserts had bound him to be very carefull of Albayzars health prosperity and safe deliuerance The Princesse of Thrace arose and taking Albayzar by the hand spake thus vnto him I pray you Sir Albayzar to doe what it shall please the Emperour to command you which I iudge will be nothing hurtfull vnto you séeing the great desire he hath to reioyce the Princesse Targiana with your presence Albayzar tooke in very good part the gentlenesse which the Princesse of Thrace vsed towards him and hauing giuen her hearty thankes for her courtesie he came and saluted the Empresse and the Princesse Gridonia afterward he came to the Emperour who taking him in his armes entred into these spéeches I assured am Sir Albayzar that the Soldane Olorique your Father receiued more great contentment when I imbraced him then I can doe yet am I desirous to doe you all the honour you can as well from the friendship I beare to your father as to recompence some part of the great courtesie which I haue receiued by the Princesse Targiana your espoused Lady who may commaund any thing she shall thinke good in my court and I am sory that you cannot perswade your selfe how you may doe as much My gracious Lord answered Albayzar I am not of so simple vnderstanding but I can well perceiue what great honour you haue alwayes offoorded me but yet I cannot forget the shame I receiued here in your Court when I was vanquished and likewise how you haue not done Iustice to the Prince Florian for the iniury he offered the Princesse Targiana albeit the great Turke her Father requested it at your hands which is no more but right and Iustice and which you daily permit to euery one but kindred preuaileth so in you towardes him as you will not heare what Iustice calleth for I sée well then said the Emperour that reason cannot preuaile with you I certifie you once more yet that the princesse Targiana came hither more on her owne good will then compelled or enforced therto by Florian of the Forrest my Nephew But referring this talke because it is not to be vsed among friends I pray you imagine your selfe welcome and goe rest your selfe in your Chamber while the Gallies be prouided which haue expected here your comming since my sonne Polendos and the other Knights arriued at Constantinople My Lord said Albayzar I take the time so commodious for mée now to saile as I will not vse so good opportunitie and therefore I intend to stay no longer in this Countrey Eeuen as please you for that answered the Emperor it is not méet that I should disswade him that is so resolute The ambassador who had staied there all this while came very reuerently to the Prince Albayzar and to hold that the Gallies were ready the Sea in good case and the winde very well for their voyage The Prince Albayzar tooke his leaue of the Emperor the Empresse and her Ladies and being accompanied with the princes Primaleon Polendos Belcar the Giant Dramusiande and others they came to the Port where the Galleys lay but the Giant Dramusiande séeing the small account Albayzar made of the Princes that bare him company he spake vnto him in this manner I sée well Albayzar that the Emperor is worthy to be blamed for shewing honour to such an vnthankefull person as you are who seemes not to regard the Prince Primaleon he at his Fathers request coÌ„ming to grace you with his company albeit he needed not to abase himselfe so much Tush Sir answered Albayzar it is long since I knew the small good will thou couldest allow me but this I tell thée that a noble mind disdaineth familiarity to them whom he accouÌ„teth for his better enemies and thus thou maist perswade thy selfe that I am an enemy to all of the Emperors Court and so thou maist tell him from me wherefore then should I vse any courtesie to the Prince Primaleon to whom I will shewe the very worst I can Wherefore sir Dramusiande grieue not to see me behaue my selfe as I doe among mine enemies for I promise you I will returne with as much expeditions as I can to witnesse before the walles of his Citie that which I haue at this houre in my minde I could wish saide Dramusiande that thou hast béene there where thou wouldst be and wert returned hither againe that I might reuenge the iniurie thou didst me when thou wast so bold as to cary away the shield of the princesse Miragarda Albayzar was about to make him answere but the Prince Primaleon tooke DramusiaÌ„de by the hant with the other knights returned to the pallace where they gaue the Emperor to vnderstand what good will the Prince Albayzar bare him The Gallies being launced into the déepe the Marriners hoyâ—ed their sayles hauing their wind so at will as in short time they reached the great Caire where the great Turke made his abode who iudged that the Emperour Palmerin would be offended for the had entertainement he gaue his Knights But when he had knowledge of the arriuall of the Galleys he was so ioyfull as he came himselfe to receiue the Prince at the hauen being not desirous to question of the Emperors honest vsage towards him for then he feared least his owne intent of treason would reprooue him Albayzar remained a certaine time in the great Turkes Court attending the comming of the principall estates of Babilon whom he would haue there preseÌ„ted at the second solemnizing of his marriage which was honoured with the presence of the Soldane of Persia the King of Bythinia the King of Gasplia the King of Terbifonde beside many other Princes and Knights who concluded all together to passe the Seas and lay siege to the citie of Constantinople and because they would the more suddainely execute their intent they seuerely returned into their dominions to make preparation for their traiterous enterprise CHAP. XXXI Of that which happened to the Knight of the Tiger after he was departed from the Perillous Isle taking his iourney towards the Citie of Constantinople THe Knight of the Tiger of whom our History hath beene silent along time entred the Foyst with Argentao the Gouernour of the ProfouÌ„d Isle at what time the wind was so
her but the Knight of the Sphere made such account of her beauty as in his silent thoughts he vttered these words I would I were as fortunate and my déedes as worthy as I sée you coye in accepting of those who render their very soules subiect vnto you So breaking off he closed againe with the strange Knight who in troth was not slowe in receiuing him and I assure you their liues had béene in very great danger at this third triall if it had not beene for the arriuall of a damosell who being mounted on a white Palfray and her haire hanging ouer both her shoulders came to the strange Knight crying so loude as her voice brought an Eccho of the whole Forrest At this sight euery one was suddainely abashed and chiefely these two knights who separated themselues to knowâ—th cause of the Damosels lamentations which she came to vtter before the seure Ladies desiring them to let vs vnderstand for what reason these two knights entred the Combate Mansia tolde her how they fought for Madame Latrania wherevpon the Damosell approched to her entâ—ing into these spéeches Madam if life and honor ought to be preferred before vncertaine appetites afflictions I desire you humbly to allow aid and â—uccor to two distressed Damosels who not farre from this place are in great danger to loose their honour which they esteeme of greater price then their liues out of which trouble they shall be soone deliuered if it may please you to let mee haue one of these Knights who endure a hotte Combatte for your Loue. When she had thus spoken she shed such aboundaunce of teares and deliuered forth so many scalding sighes as Latrania was enforced to misse of her desire thinking to see the ende of the Combate betweene these Knights on which behalfe the King séeing Latrania make no answer spake vnto the Damosell in this manner Which of these two Knights faire Damosell doe you desire to haue with you because you shall perceiue my willingnes to intreate for you If it please your Maiestie answered the Damosel they are both so good Knights as I know not well which of them I should request neuerthelesse I will make choyse of the Knight that bereth his shéeld couered Latrania had no sooner heard the Damsells words but shee presently came betwéene the two Knightes giuing in shewe that the Straunge Knight should not suffer any refusall and wherevpon she spake to him thus Syr Knight if for the succour of the afflicted Armes were first inuented I pray you that the teares of Damosell and the loue you say you beare me may cause you to forsake this Combate and moue you to goe helpe the oppressed Ladies Madame saide the straunge Knight for me to obey you in this cause were very fond and vnaduised yet would I doe it if I were not busied about especiall matters for you may perswade your selfe that the Bond wherein I haue tyed my selfe doth defend me from satisfying your commaundement considered also Madame Torsia may finde her selfe offended that I should now in this manner slip from her and not giue her her due her Beautie worthily deseruing it I pray you sir quoth Torsia that you would witnesse your Seruice for my Loue in the place where this Damosell will conduct you I am coâ—tent to obey your commaundement answered the strange Knight if you likewife will goe in our companie for I haue taken this condition of you not to be depriued of your companie during my limitted time of guarding this Valley Madame said the damosel to Latrania the knight doth perfectly let you vnderstand that he is an obedient seruant to loue as your selfe may well perceiue séeing he preferreth his pleasure before your will Wherefore I desire you to intreate the other Knights to goe with me for I am of the opinion you shall finde him more affectionate to you then he whom yoâ— haue reposed so much hope in Latrania being willing to pleasure the Damosell beganne to intreate the Knight of the Sphere that it might stand with his pleasure to giue ouer the Combate and assist them with his ayde who were in great hazard Madame answered the knight of the Sphere I know it is no great harme for me to let alone the Combate mine enemy being such a noble and redoubted Knight yet would I not haue any one to thinke that in respect of feare or dismaying in my selfe I let this passe thus for that I know my selfe sufficient enough for a greater matter Marry as concerning your request the earnest loue I beare you is such and so great as I am content to suffer whatsoeuer you will lay vppon me onely to satisfie and content your will Then turning to the strange Knight he beganne againe in this manner I pray you Sir thus to imagine and think that my earnest desire to purchase the loue of Madame Latrania hath bene some hinderance to you of the victory albeit you made some assurance thereof in your owne conceit Indéede answered the strange Knight I sée it is very hard for a man to get any aduantage of you without putting his owne life in great danger for I assure your stroakes haue béene so well laid on me as they haue made me to conceiue so good opinion of your valour whereof since I am so well assured it doth not a little please me that so good a knight shall goe in this Damosels cause But ere you depart I would very gladly vnderstand your name to the end Latrania may haâ—e knowledge of him to whom of necessitie she must account her selfe greatly indebted The king himselfe who was no lesse desirous to know him then the strange knight desired him earnestly to reueale himselfe to him The knight of the Sphere séeing the kings great importunitie tooke off his Helmet and kneeled downe to kisse his Maiesties hand but he perceiuing him to be his friend Dramusiande would not so permit him but casting his armes about his necke embraced him with maruellous gratious courtesie being very sory that his suddaine departure would not suffer him to regard him as he willingly would And hee would not let him part before he had made him knowne to the Quéene and and the other Ladies who declare to the king what a benefite the knowledge of the strange knight would be to them Alasse quoth the King I would as willingly knowe him as any of you all and I am much out of quiet with my selfe that I haue not knowne him all this while Oh Syr saide Dramusiande I beséech you to expectt yet a little longer vntill his enterprise shall be ended for I am of the opinion that he will not then seeke to depart hence before hée make himselfe first knowne to your Grace The Damosell presented her selfe before him declaring it was high tâ—â—e they should be gone wherevpon he tooke his leaue of Latrania who esteemed her selfe aboue all the other Ladies in that she had the power to bring into her obeysance so good a
pittifull Lamentations hée yéelded vp the Ghost leauing the Cittie so comfortlesse and dispayring within themselues as they desired to finish their liues forsaking quite all hope in them that were in the Fielde to whome happened what Fortune had ordained as you may read in the Chapter following CHAP. LXV ¶ Of the second Battell betweene the Christians and the Turkes and what happened therein THe darke cloud being gone out of fight and the Sage Aliart hauing brought the Empresse and her Ladies to the Perillous Isle the day began to waxe cléere againe and the Armie marched forward to méete together But as they were about to enter the skyrmish they heard a most lamentable and pittifull outcrye which made them staye their hands and looking about to sée the cause of this noyse they saw a great many of Ladyes and Damosells come foorth of the Cittie with their haire dispersed abroade ouer theyr shoulders and wringing their handes in very grieuous manner And for that they had lost the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart whom they knew were left for their succour and Defence they came into the Christian Campe to their Husbands Brethren Sonnes and Kinsmen For séeing they could promise themselues no assurance in the Cittie they would liue and die with them in the Fielde King Edward and Primaleon were so amazed at the clamor of these Women as they caused theyr Ensignes to stay and commanded the Horsemen not to breake theyr Array till they had vnderstood the cause of this disorder but when it was told them how that the King Tarnaes and the Sage Aliart had forsaken the Cittie they were both driuen into a great admyration with themselues whereupon they sent Pompides and Platir into the Cittie to bring them certaine tydings of this vnlooked for mischaunce When these two Knightes were come into the Cittie and heard after what manner the King Tarnaes dyed as also howe the Sage Aliart was gone no man could tell whether they beganne to thinke within themselues that both they and all theyr Traine were brought to such extremitie as Fortune had concluded to finish the memorie of theyr Knightly déedes by deliuering theyr liued to the swords of theyr enemies They did likewise perswade themselues that the Sage Aliart absented himselfe for no other occasion but onely because he perceyued theyr generall destruction was at hand in this respect they iudged hée had prouided some refuge for the Empresse and the Ladies that their Enemies might not triumph in theyr misfortunes to the great discontentment of theyr Lordes and Husbandes With these heauy Newes they returned to their Camp againe certifying King Edward and Primaleon how the Sage Aliart was departed Whervpon they concluded by generall determination to withdraw themselues into the Cittie to make prouision for the Defence thereof before they would enter the Battell with their Enemies But I assure you it was a pittifull sight to behold how the Men Women and Children came and fell down at the Princes féete yea the Ancient Citizens with their gray heads and white beards being so weake and féeble with Age as they were glad to support themselues with their staues they all made their humble requests that they might rather enter the Battell and thereto end their liues then to be destroyed at home with their Wiues and Children by the enemie King Edward Primaleon and all other Princes were not a little abashed finding the Pallace in such a desolate manner neyther the Empresse the Princesses nor any of the other Ladyes to be founde this vexed their mindes with vnexpressable griefe They went into theyr accustomed Chambers and not finding them there to whome they were most affectionate their very soules were ready to forsake theyr bodyes for the young Princes enioying theyr swéet Ladyes so short a time for whose sakes they had suffered so many bitter brunts they thought themselues not able to liue any long time being depriued of their company whom they honored with most pure and vnfained affection For now their paines were greater then euer they had béene before and this mishap was more irkesome to them then all the dangers past because their Ladies were the rewardes of their knightly victories but hauing thus lost them on such a sodaine they were out of hope to enioy the sight of them any more wherefore they séemed as men depriued of their sences looking gastly and fearefully one vpon an other knowing not which way to comfort or redrâ—sse their present heauinesse In this case the Christian Princes remained for the space of thrée daies hauing no minde at all to giue their enemies battaile during which time Primaleon maide conueiance of the aged men with their wiues and children in the night time to diuers of his Castles and Fortresses néere adioyning knowing them farre vnable to helpe in this extremitie and then he caused the wals of the Cittie to be beaten flat to the ground which was thought good by the aduice of euery one to bee so done and that for two especiall causes The first that it would more animate and imbolden the Christians in the time of battaile séeing themselues dispoyled of the place wherein they reposed their assurance of safety The other that the enemies should not vaunt how they had destroyed the City but that it was defaced by the Christians themselues if so be Fortune suffered them to enioy the victorie They of the citie séeing the walles so spoyled euen to the very first foundation thereâ—f conceiued such hatred against the Turkes whome they reputed to cause the subuersion of their strongest defence as they prepared themselues altogether to enter the Field to reuenge themselues on their proud and vsurping enemies and so they marched all with the Princes into the Field who went in the same manner as they did before when Aliart conueied the Empresse and her Ladies from Constantinople to the Perillous Isle Albayzar knowing well the intent of his enemies coÌ„manded his Captaines to place their men in aray afterward the Trumpets summoning them brauely to the Battaile he commanded the king of Aetolia to giue the onset with his Band to the enemy whereto the king presently obeyed and comming on gallantly with his troupe of men the Prince Primaleon prepared himselfe to receiue him and giuing his horse the spurres he preuailed so fortunately in the encounter as he made the King of Aetolia measure his length on the ground but hee was quickly succoured by his men otherwise Primaleon had giuen him his deaths wounde Palmerin of England ran against the Prince Argelao and met him with such puissance as his Launce pierced cleane thorowe his body so that he fell to the ground starke dead the like did the Knight of the Sauage man to a valiant Knight named Richard who was estéemed a singular Captaine amongst the Turkes the Prince Florendos Platir Gracian Berolde and the other knights slew them outright likewise that encountred them in the Ioust Dramusiande and Framustant brake their Launces
sollace thou must forsake passe the remainder of thy dayes in sorrow I rue thy case but can giue thée no comfort I sorrow to thinke on thy misery and can giue thée no remedie blood will haue blood againe and cruelty will haue the like rewarded thou shalt féele the force of my chollericke moode and by reuengement will bee so sharpe as will be trebble griefe for thée to sustaine it The Prince being vanquished with a sudden feare to heare the Giant vse such words of fury put vp his hand where heâ— thought to finde his Sword but failing of his purpose he presently sayd In the greenest grasse lyeth the most deceitfull Serpent and in the calmest waters the deepest whirlepoole so in those places where aman thinketh himselfe farthest of all mishaps he is soonest assayled by some sudden mischance Well quoth the Giant though my anger doth vrge me vnto great impatience and that I cannot brooke the open iniury done vnto to mee but am bent seuerely to reuenge me on thée and all thy Kindred as my after dealings shall make manifest to their great dishonour yet will I kéepe thée being first chaunced into my hands that thou mayest witnesse to the rest my his displeasure As for thy life I franckly and fréely giue thée séeing the Kingly Lyon disdaineth to vaunt on his conquered Prey and the Princely Eagle scorneth to stoupe to a Flye Besides thy life is not of sufficiencie in such a cause as this beeing first the death of my Father next the distresse of my Friends now the present griefe of my selfe and lastly euer hereafter to all my issue an eternall sorrow which to appease the life of one no not of tenne no nor yet of an hundreth is able to make recompence or suffice to quench my rigour Neuertheles in poore and meanest sort I minded to vse thee not as thou list and as I like not to thine owne choyse but as I shall finde occasion so that to recount thy posted pleasure and also to thinke on thy present ensuing paine though it be griefe to mee to vse it and so harde thy hap that thou canst nor mayst refuse it shall witnesse a world of miseries that thou art to abide and the rarest Misfortunes that euer man did taste This is thy lucke and this is my law this thy hard hap and this my heauy hatred as 〈◊〉 thou departest thou shalt sufficieÌ„tly vnderstand and by that time thou knowst what and who I am that haue this authoritie thou shalt feele to thy greater woo my pretended iniurie Hauing thus finished his talke he caused him to bee carried into his strongest Prison which was in the top of the Castle and clapped a great pair of Gyues on his legs minding in this furie neuer while hee liued to take them off againe Don Edoard thus suddenly chaunged from Princely pompe to present penurie from the Court of his Father to the Cabbin of his Foes from the presence of his Ladie to the loathing of his life enclosed in a Castle so admirable in a prison so vncomfortable and in a Dungeon so dispaireable closing his armes together entred into these sorrowfull moâ—es Oh poore Prince is thy hope thou haddest of so great courtesie and so soone chaunged into extreame crueltie Didst thou credite faire wordes to be such troth and now doest thou finde them quite turned to treason Alas who sooner deceiued then the well meaning man and who more quickly beguiled then he that means most honestly Hath Fortune hetherto allowed thée honour and will shee now leaue thée to taste this horror hath all thy life hetherto beene spent in delight and shalt thou now end thy dayes in this direfull distresse Alas then hast no helpe to the contrarie wherefore thou must holde thée content there is none néere to succour thée wherefore suppe vp thy sorrow Thy aged Father will misse thée thy louing Ladie will lacke thée and all thy Courtly companions will sorrow for thy want And what of that Bucephalus will stoupe to none but Alexander and Mercuries Pipe will be scunded by none but Orphaeus Euen so my proud soo may no wayes be intreated but either must be conquered in strength or craftily deceyued in sleights which how farre my thought is from deliuery so farre from comfort is my poore oppressed heart O my déere Florida when thou shalt call thy vnkindenesse into question and my last departure from thy presence into a Womans opinion I know the care will no lesse trouble thy minde then my want of thy comfort causeth my miserie Alas though I haue thus left thee by follie yet thinke not but I still loue thée faithfully and although thy griefe as I knowe is great for my losse yet thinke not but my sorrowe putteth me to extremity of my life in that this Prison so amateth me with sadnesse as I am of opinion neuer againe to sée you without whose companie my life cannot long endure but eyther to dispaire vpon my hard Aduenture or presently die in so sharpe an assault O inuincible Prince Primaleon what griefe will you abide for losse of your brother and what sorrow will you conceiue for your deare Friend whose misfortune I feare will cause you leaue your Parents and whose tryed friendship mooue you put your life in perill Except the Soldan of Niquâ—e Maiortes Gatterit the King Tranies by their friendly perswasion may otherwise determine your purpose And though their méere Loue kéepe you at home yet I thinke my mishap will enforce them to be sorry So that some of them will endeuour to heare of me againe although it be vnpossible to giue mee succour except fauour may plead their cause wiâ—h the Lady of this Castle whose crueltie I feare will no way be intreated In these and such like rufull complaints the Captiue Prince spent his time vntill earnest opinion of his Ladie to be present with him vrged him to breake foorth into these spéeches Alas my good Ladie this cruell Prison is not cause of my death but to sée your person accompanie me in distresse when the Court were more méete to shrowde your séemely selfe then this vncomfortable Dungion for you to set foote in Whose presence procureth so fierce an assault in my hart that the feare of your safety is more to my perill then a thousand torments might be to my paine Wherefore good Ladie content yourselfe and suffer mee to moane blemish not your faire face with rufull teares for me the one may endanger your prosperitie and the other may no way be to my profite Thus clasping his armes together and entring into a farther conceit in his minde I leaue the extremitie of his griefe to those that haue tasted the like mishappe that where before he was equal with any for good fortune he is now aboue all respecting his ill lucke CHAP. II. ¶ In this Chapter is declared why Eutrope the Enchauntresse procured thus the hard hap of the Prince Don Edoard and what the Gaint was
Armour to the aged King Fredericke who caused it to be placed in the House of Ensignes amongst the Armour of many famous Knights THe renowed Knight of Fortune whom through occasion we left to speake of remained so long in the house of the ancient Gentleman his Hoste that his woundes were perfectly healed and his body well able to endure the bearing of Armor When Siluian had prouided him new Armor like his other and a shield with his vsuall deuise of Fortune vpon it he departed which way he thought soonest to finde the Castle of Dramusiande At last arriuing at the foote of a mountaine he espied a little Pauillion wherein were a great many of lighted torches which because the darke night was somewhat entred gaue a very great shewe of light to the place This strange sight moued him to take his way thither as well to sée what it might be as to driue other fancies away that greatly annoyed his mind When he was entred the Pauillion he perceiued two séemely Knights the one lying on a sumptuous Béere more like a dead then a liuing creature the other making great lamentations and pittious bemonings ouer him whom hee presently knowe to be Don Rosiran de la Bronde the Cousin of the aged King of England which made him suppose that the Knight on the Béere was some man of great authority estimation Comming to Don Rosian and saluting him very friendly he presently had knowledge of him that he was the noble Knight of Fortune to whom he began in this manner following Sir I sée that Fortune hath greatly fauoured you in permitting you to sée the dead body of the Knight of the Sauage man to whom you were alway a mortall enemy yet could not bée he that should vanquish him in fight The Knight of Fortune hearing the wordes of Don Rosiran was ouercome with such heauinesse that the teares trickled down his chéekes when he began to frame his answere thus Indéede neuer had I more desire to preuaile against any man then my minde laboured to conqure this hardy Knight whose prowesse is no lesse bruted euery where then his knightly behauiour deserued But now since death so hath cut off this famed Champion whom I laboured to know yet could neuer attaine my wish I will end the enmity that hath bin betwéene vs with so sharpe a reuenge of his vntimely death as were it possible for his ghost to imbrace my friendship himselfe should perceiue his enemy is become as deare a friend to him as euer was any Wherefore of all courtesie shew me the place where he hath receiued this misfortune and I wil die on him that hath bene the death of so good a knight Trust me Sir answered Don Rosiram my arriuall hath bene here so lately that I am ignorant how he happened to this mischance neuerthelesse I was aduertised by one who departed not long before you came that at the Castle of Dramusiande where all the knights remaine that haue bin so long lost he hath sustained this vnfortunate hap yet not without iniuring him and his traine as the memory of this knight shall remaine to him while he liueth albeit Fortune would not suffer him to end the aduenture The knight of Fortune greatly displeased to sée this knight brought into such extremitie began to conceiue better estimation of the aduenture then euer he did before albeit he was greatly abashed that so good a Knight had failed in that enterprise Then began he to behold the Armour that lay there by him being defaced and hacked in so many places which vrged him to commend them that had the strength to vse it so but more the man that had the might to resist such an extreme danger wherevpon he saye I may well perswade my selfe that the hope to end this adventure is altogether lost the Knight béeng dead who had the puissance to finish all other At these words he approched to the Béere to sée if he were cleane depriued of life when lifting vp the shéete of Silke he perceiued his countenance so grim and hardy as it was at the time he entred Cambate with him As he stood wishly beholding this noble Knight his heart began greatly to conceiue an inward ioy and his minde began to muse on a thousand matters But chéefly the lesse of his Brother was his greatest thought whom he suspected this knight to be by diuers markes he knew ie his face for the better assurance whereof he called Siluian willing him to behold the knight and report as his minde serued his answer was comfortable to his Maisters opiâ—ions giuing credite that it was Florian who returned not after he departed with the Lyons Vpon this perswasion the knight of Fortune desired Don Rosiran to certifie him of the name of the Knight of the Sauage man insomuch as it should neither disprofite the one nor the other but that he might resolue him in a matter which caused him to vse great suspition to which words Don Rosiran thus answered Sir Knight in what I may or can satisfie your desire assure your selfe I will do my best As concerning his name neither my selfe nor any other that I know were so happy as at any time to vnderstand it for that he vsed no other name then to call himselfe the Fatherlesse But in times past he hath often declared vnto me that the best friend he had remembrance off was a Sauage man who nourished him a long time and whom he supposed to be his Father but because he could not certainly assure himselfe thereof he termed himselfe as I haue told you The Knight of Fortune whose minde was maruellously reuiued at the words of Don Rosiran perswaded himselfe that the knight of the Sauage man was his Brother Florian for which cause he offered to embrace him as he lay but on a suddaine there entred foure men who lifting vp the Béere vppon their shoulders departed away with it in very great hast The Knight of Fortune endeuouring to follow them they willed him to the contrary giuing him to vnderstand that such good prouision should be vsed to him as if the Diuine bountie would agrée therto his life would be preserued his estate recomforted With this perswasion heâ— returned to Don Rosiran to know which way he intended to trauaile because he had determined himselfe to go séeke the place where this good knight had bene so ill handled and reuenge his cause though it were the losse of his owne life Sir quoth Don Rosiran I meane presently to take my way towards London where I will present the armour of my deare Friend to the king mine Vncle at whose hands he receiued the order of knighthood that it may be reserued in such a place where the remembrance of his déedes done in his life time may eternize the memorie of his infortunate death With this answere the knight of Fortune was very well pleased desiring if he could shewe him the way to the Castle of
she would restore it again when he should haue most neede to imploy it in seruice This moued him to approoue the shield because of the spéeches of the Damosell before the Emperor of Constantinople whē the Sage Aliart sent her as you haue heard before likewise because this was the most dangerous aduenture that in all his life time he enterprised he could not wish for a more fit occasion then at this instant to make not wish for a more fit occasion then at this instant to make triall of his shield Don Edward being ready prouided menaced his corage to that knight of Fortune who receiued him with such exquisit behauior of fight that Don Edward was sore hurt but the good knight by receiuing his stroke vpon the shéeld escaped the force of the lance The knight of Fortune vpon this good lucke would haue entred the combate with the sword but Pandare comming forth of the Castle commanded the Prince toreturne so that he could not satisfie his request Don Edward entring the castle the knight made such spéed that he entred with him which when Pandare perceiued he shut the gate and came vanting with his sword toward the good knight who in short time dishartned Pandare because his blows could not pierce the shéeld but he so spoiled the armor of the giant that in short time he brought him vnder his obeysance being greatly cōmended of Dramusiand Don Edward Primaleon for his noble exployt The Grecian knights had partly knowledge of him in that some of them were at Constantinople when the damsel broght the shéeld which they knew by the beautie and the braue deuice and such was their opinion of this knight that if he fayled to end the aduenture they doubted they should neuer get deliuery from that cruell Castle Yet so great was the pleasure they conceiued of him as they could not tell wether they should go to welcome him or enter the combate and so deliuer him but seeing how he vsed Pandare vrged them to beléeue he should haue good successe in this hautie enterprise Alligan séeing Pandare was néere losing his head came and fiercely assailed the knight of Fortune but he welcommed him with such a pure paiment as he made him quickely retyre to take his breath Dramusiande séeing Alligan so shrewdly handled was so vexed he knew not well what to say for he thought it vnpossible to conquer this hardy knight hauing such a shéeld as could not all this while be pierced so that he began vtterly to denounce Fortune that had fauoured him so long and would now leaue him at the last Alligan albeit very vnwilling began againe to assaile the knight but such was his reward for his trauaile that he was brought vnder his subiection and left his head on a gage to the knight of Fortune When Dramusiande saw that Alligan was slaine in a great rage he called for his Armour vowing to execute seuere reuenge on the good knight in the meane time the Prince Don Edward came vnto him requesting such friendship at his hands as he would suffer him to haue a sight of his face Floraman séeing he was vnwilling to discouer himselfe saide to him that he ought not to deny such a small request to so noble a Prince as Don Edward was When he heard Don Edward named who was reported to be such a singular knight in Prowesse and for whose sake so many valiant Princes had left their countrey and kindred to finde him who was lost none could tell where he caused Siluian to take off his helmet when the Prince delighted with his comely contenance presently said I hope Sir knight as God hath endued you with such a séemely and honourable shape so he hath reserued you to finish this perillous and strange aduenture for that your behauiour doth eneourage vs all to so good an opinion Neuerthelessee if Fortune do allow you the victorie I desire you to vse curtesie to this Giant who prepareth himselfe to encounter with you for that his gentle vsage to vs doth constraine me to speake so fauourable in this case The knight of Fortune had not not the leysure to make him answer because he perceiued Dramusiande comming towardes him when Siluian hauing armed his head they began to charge each other very furiously so that now began the proofe of the fight for al that had passed before was nothing in respect of this present exployts The strokes of Dramusiande entred the knight of Fortuns shéeld as easily as it would haue done in any other which vrged the good knight to think that the promise made of the shéeld was false and of no truth séeing it failed when he stood in most extremitie But then he perswaded himselfe againe that if he gained the victory it should not be attributed to the vertue of the shéeld but rather to the gotten by the valour of his person which should be estéemed of more renowne then to atchieue the conquest by such a prouided meane Wherefore reposing no longer confidence in his shéelde he trusted to his strength and the good successe he did assure himselfe off vsing Dramusiande in such sort as he had little cause to boast of his bargains But to speake vprightly small was the aduantage on either side for they were both sore wounded both alike wearied and both in great danger of the present death which made all the Princes heauy and the regardants sorrowfull to sée such an vnfriendly spectacle Dramusiande retyring to take pause beganne to suspect that this was the Knight should bring him and all his vnder obeysanue of whose comming his Aunt Eutropa alway cast a great doubt which to preuent hee thought best to render him some of the Princes and so to will him leaue off his enterprise but when he considered that to present such a condition to his enemie might expresse his cowardise and extinguish the good report of his woonted knightly déedes he determined to end his life with so good a champion rather then to be reproched by continuall infamy The knight of Fortune walking vp and down communing with him selfe in this manner If doe loose my life to deliuer so many of my deare friends I account it the chiefest honor of my life and the best aduenture that euer I enterprised Then suddainly turning his thoughts to his faire Polinarda in this manner he began to vtter his amourous complaints Madam if at any time you respected the vowed dutie of your seruant then at this time vouchsafe to remember me in your Princely fauor so that if the victory returne according as I wish I may manifest the honour of mine attempt to your soueraigne bounty by which I liue and in which I haue hope to confound my enemy Then they began againe in such wrathfull manner that all supposed there was no other remedie but the death of them both such was their féeble estate and so great the losse of their blood that Dramusiande was constrained to fall downe hée
one another about the strange conceyts they perceiued in this Caue which made them to iudge that in times past it had béene the solitary dwelling of some noble man exiled from his Countrey but therein they were greatly deceyued For this ancient edifice was erected by the Enchantresse Mellia who kept that place a great while during the raigne of the king Armace her Brother Vrganda and she liued both at one time as it is rehearsed in the History of the Emperour Splandian Sonne to the valiant most magnificient king Amadis and the Princes Oriana his Wife Quéene of the great Brittaine When the Princes and knights had satisfied their mindes in beholding this place they returned to the Pauillions to their Ladies who welcommed them all very louingly and Primaleon sitting downe by his sister Flerida rehearsed to her the manner of the Caue where the two Princes were nourished which did not a little content her minde in that the place was not ruinated and put into obliuion This night they reposed themselues in the Forrest as honourably serued as if they had béene in the English Court and in the morning they prepared themselues towards the Castle being all the way delighted with such fiue deuises sent by the cunning of the Sage Aliart that euery one tooke great pleasure in this Princely iourney There were Hunters who pursued wilde Bores Harts Bucks and all such noble game and came wearily falling downe at the Ladies feete but when they offered to touch them they were presently skipping on the farder side of the Riuer these deuises so pleased the Emperor with all the company that they gaue great thankes to Aliart who frequented them with such pleasant pastime al the way as they rode At last they arriued at the Valley of Perdition where they had a sight of the Castle of Dramusiande which went somewhat to the heart of the Princesse Flerida séeing the prison wherein her louing Don Edward had so long remained The Emperour Trineus king Frederick fel into great commendation of the sumptuous building of the Castle then which they had not often séene a fayrer which mooued theÌ„ to intreate Dramusiande who was the founder of such a singular péece of workmanship to which demand Dramusiande presently gaue this reply My gratious Lords this Castle was first builded by mine Aunt Eutropa through her meanes it hath remayned thus long out of knowledge Trust me said the Emperour Trineus a Fortresse of such strength and beautie ought not to be in the hands of one who could imploy it to such great abuse but commonly we sée the wicked do thriue as well as the good and enioyas great account in this world as they that maintaine all their actions by iustice and equitie So riding on at last Dramusiande willed them to a suddaine stay where he began in this manuer to vnfold the cause Me thinks I sée at the entrance of the Bridge a séemly Knight ready appointed to the Ioust but I can perceiue no body that offereth him resistance which maketh me supose that he hath attempted to kéepe this passage At this vnlooked for accident they stayed to behold the Knight who was very well mounted on a gray Courser his Armour spotted with white and blacke which greatly pleased the eyes of the beholders In his shéeld he baâ—e the naked body of a Lady the beauty of whose countenance was so excellently figured that Altea for whom Floraman accomplished such chiualricus déeds at Constantinople might not séeme to offer comparison to this beautifull spectacle neither the faire Princesse Polinarda might not presume to equall her selfe with the braue shape of this Lady and at the lower end of this shéeld in letters of Gold was written Miragarda While Princes occupied their eyes in beholding the singular forme compacted in his shéeld they perceiued his Esquire come towards them who after he had done his dutie to them all began to salute them with these protestations Faire Lords and Ladies the noble knight my Maister whom you behold on the Bridge by me giueth you to vnderstand the cause of his trauailes vnto this place He is of a far countrey from whence he had aduentured himselfe in honour of his good fortune and at the command of his Lady whose humble seruant he remayneth at this houre to try his knighthood at this Castle which hath béene blazed abroad to be most infortunate But being here arriued he is aduertised how the Enchantment is fully finished and the strength of the Giant Dramusiande with all his retinew conquered by the valour and hautie Prowes of a knight named Palmerin of England who hath deliuered the Princes that were kept Captiue by the cruell meanes of the disloyall Eutropa which newes are most welcome vnto him in that he desired nothing more Yet for that he is loth to returne to his Lady being at the place where knighthood hath bene tryed and he to passe backe againe not approued of any he craueth to enter the Ioust with such as are disposed referring the Combate of the Sword because he will aduenture for pleasure This challenge encreased such courage in the knights that they entred into strife who should first runne with the strange knight which the king perceuing returned the Esquire with this answer My friend tell thy Lord his enterprise is worthy perpetuall renowne if he containe such courage in proofe as both his Message and himselfe giueth in show his Lady shall haue occasion to vse him according as his valiant attempt deserueth The Esquire receiuing the kings pleasure returned to his Lord to whom he had no sooner made it knowne but Tremoran shewed himselfe before the bridge inuiting the strange knight to the Ioust who stayed not to accomplish his desire but encountring him with such a pleasant charge that Tremoran was forced to leaue his saddle This chance somewhat displeased Luyman of Burgondie who thinking to reuenge the repulse of Tremoran was sent himselfe to kéepe him company Belcar being desirous to shew his prowesse among the young Knights couched his Speare against the strange Knight who sent both Horse and man to the ground when presently Don Rosuell tooke the cause in hand and was made pertaker of the same mishap In like manner Guerin Frisol Blandidon Floraman diuers other were serued which moued the King Polendos vnto such choller that he would haue ventured against the strange Knight had not the prince Don Edward perswaded him to the contrary Then there went a great murmuring amongst the knightes who supposed the Sage Aliart had brought this Champion by his Art to be a disgrace vnto all their attempts and that he had vsed such meanes vnto him as he might not be vanquished but herein they greatly deceiue themselues for it was onely the noble force of the knight which was continually animated by beholding the faire face of his Ladie which was so brauely proportioned in his shield Floraman being greatly bent against the Knight and
she hath seene in you the perfect appearance of knightly and worthy behauiour she desireth if you will fauour her request so much that you would breake a fewe Lances with certaine of her Knights the fulfilling whereof will cause her to reward you with all honourable thankes Trust me said Palmerin we all desire to fulfill any occasion that may be found pleasant to the Princesse Florenda and seeing it is her pleasure to see vs Iuste certifie her that we remaine at her gratious coÌ„mand No sooner had the Esquire deliuered his answere but the Princesse Florendos Knights came foorth of the Tentes when Don Florian hauing obtained leaue for the first Iuste encountred the first Knight with such hautie courage that he sent him to measure his length on the earth In this manner he serued fiue without breaking his Lance but on the sixt he sheuered it in pieces wherefore Pompides deliuered him his Launce being very glad to see him spéede so luckily The Princesse somewhat mooued to see her Knights foyled so fast by one exhorted the other to make better proofe of their Chiualrie but in the meane while a Damosell came crossing the valley on a blacke Palfray and yeelding her selfe at the foote of the renowned Palmerin began to vtter these speeches I desire you Sir Knight for the honour you haue receiued in your knightly déedes of Armes at this instant to conceiue such courage as to followe me you shall receiue the greatest praise in giuing me ayde as in all your life time you neuer gained the like Palmerin who bare Armes only to succor the weake estate of the distressed desired Pompides to kéepe his Brother Florian company not fayling to ayde him in finishing that noble enterprise and he would not be long before he returned to them againe so giuing a Conge to the Ladies he rede away in all the hast with the Damosell One of the Ladies belonged to the princesse Florenda séeing Palmerin to depart on such a suddaine came to Pompides with these wordes Truely Sir it séemeth you deserue not to beare Armour or that you are afraide it should be too much bruised that suffer your Companion to depart alone not knowing the mishap of the Damosell or the hard Fortune that may hap to attach the Knight Lady answered Pompides the Gentlewoman is in the gouernmeÌ„t of so good a knight as I dare awarrant she shall haue little cause to feare but because you shall net account me of such cowardise I will presently direct my course after him rather to behold his hardy prâ—wesse then to thinke he should stand in néede of my helpe Wherevpon he tooke his leaue of the Lady endeuoured himselfe that way the Prince was gone before him but he had so far outreacht him that Pompides could not ouertake him a good while after Florian hauing dismounted eight of the Kuights could deale with no more because his laace was broken but one of the ladies came and presented him with another desiring him to breake that one lance for her sake Florian thanked the Lady very courteously promising to employ that lance as a Present come from the hands of her to whom he would aduenture his life in seruice which to witnesse he prepared himself against the ninth knight who hauing a good opinion of himselfe began in this order to speake to the Prince I haue a great desire sir Knight to try your valour which is of such estimation being in hope that I shall manifest that to you which you haue not yet seene Thus concluding his spéeches and casting his eye vpon Carmelia the handmayde to the princesse Florenda whom he had chosen as chiefe mistresse of his heart he couched his speare against the Prince Florian thinking to honour his Saint with his ouerthrow But reckoning without his Host he was faine to make a new account and possesse the place on the ground himselfe being now as sorrowfull for his ill Fortune as he was pleasantly disposed before he entred the Iust Hauing thus vnhorsed them all the last Knight came and tooke his turne being the valiant Germayne of Orleance who had vndertaken the charge to conduct the Princesse being her affectionate and loyal friend he bare in his shield a Tyger bearing a white Lyon in pieces and not knowing the Prince Florian to reuenge the dishonour his companions had receiued encountred the Prince with such courage that at the third attempt he was enforced to keepe his friendes company not a little displeased to be foyled in the presence of her to whom he had vewed the honour of all his victories The Princesse séeing the Iousting was finished desired the Prince that she might see his face as also to report his name of wheÌ„ce he was at whose request he alighted and hauing taken off his Helmet desiring her pardon offered in humilitie to kisse her hand but she would not suffer him so to do Germaine of Orleance who had knowledge of him presently came and imbracâ— him in very câ—urteous manner and turning to the Princesse Florenda he vttered his spéeches on this wise Faire Mistres I account it no dishonour to be vanquished by this Knight for that in all his attempts he euer remaineth victor When the Princesse vnderstood that he was Florian of the Desart somwhat allied to her by kindred she came running to him and imbraced him with a maruellous protestation of exceeding loue And then commanding the Tents to be taken downe because it was the time of her departure shee desired Florian to accompany her to the French Court where she might do him more honour then she was able in that solitarie place But Florian desired pardoÌ„ for at that time he could not satisfie her desire because he would follow the Lady who allured his Brother and Pompides to stray from him in that manner The Princesse vnderstanding yâ— the knight who went with the lady was the famous Palmerin took Florian by the hand with these words Now trust me sir Florian it grieueth me that I was not so fortunate as to know him in the time he remained here being the knight that I alwaies desired to sée wherefore I desire you to make haste after him and at your returne to passe thorow the kingdome of my father that I may do him the seruice my hart desireth Then the lady whose words procured Pompides to depart after Palmerin came to the prince Florian with these speeches Sir I would faine haue knowledge of the knight who hath betaken himselfe to trauaile after my Lord your Brother desiring you to certifie him the sorow I conceiue for the words I gaue him Faire lady answered Florian he is such a knight as I am sure will bée ready at all times to employ himselfe in your seruice he is named Pompides my brother and euer approoued good friend I humbly pray you said the lady that you would excuse me to him in the greatest offence I haue vngently offred Florian promised he would accomplish her
Knightes returned to him that had carried Targiana away perswading himself in her company to attaine the title of immortall praise CHAP. LXXXVIII Here shal be rehearsed who the knight was that carried Targiana away and what happened to him in her company REmembrance is made in the History how the King of Denmarke had thrée Sonnes al of them prooued to bee noble and valiant knights especially the eldest who was called Albanis of Freze so renowned thorow his fathers Kingdom that there was no knight durst encounter with him He being come to the age of fiue and twenty yeeres and hearing the braue report of the Princesse Miragarda he became so affectionat to her that leauing his Fathers Court he trauailed to the Castle of Almarol accomplishing many notable déeds by the way and arriued there at such time as Albayzar had carried the shield thence When he saw he could not attaine his will to enter the combat he staied till fortune would suffer him to sée the princesse Miragarda at whose view hee became so seuerely vanquished that he vowed if it were possible to bring her sheeld againe and if Fortune did stand his friend so much he purposed to make her greatly beholding to him but she was of such a strange condition as I haue told you that shee reioyced to receiue euerie one without making shew of their welcome Albanis preuailing in diuers aduentures came to the Cittie of Constantinople where séeing the number of shields this valiant Moore had woon and the great renowne was held euery where of his valour he purposed to manifest his courage against him But albeit his worthinesse was very great and that he brake thrée Speares on the valiant Albayzar yet was Fortune so much against him that he receiued the foyle his Shield was placed among the conquered Knights Being departed from thence out of opinion euer after to serue Miragarda hee arriued in the valley where Florian and Palmerin fought where beholding Targiana he estéemed her the fairest Creature that euer he had séene and knew it was shée on whose behalfe Albayzar sped so happily Wherevpon he concluded to bring her with him to Constantinople to trie if Fortune would fauour him better against Albayzar hauing in his presence the faire Targiana to whom he offered great honour and curtesie which was not of power to altar the faithful affection she bare to the Prince Florian Wel on they rid and drawing néere to Constantinople in an euening they met a Knight in blacke Armour riding very sad and heauily to whom Albanis gaue spéech of friendly salutation but the Blacke Knieht rid on without making any answer whereat Albanis was somewhat displeased and desirous to shew some courage before Targiana he turned to the Blacke Knight in this manner Sir albeit my words are so little estéemed of you that you haue made no shewe of a courteous answere yet doe I thinke it had béene your dutie to offer some friendly motion to this Lady wherto the Blacke Knight made this reply Good Sir if I haue béene obliuious of my selfe towards this Lady I am ready to recompence the same in what she shall commaund but if you séeme so discourteous in spéech because I haue not saluted you trust me you are very farre from reason for my minde was so busied with other affaires that I neither saw you before me much lesse did I heare you I would faine knowe sayde Albanis from whence ariseth the cause of your doubt to sée if it be sufficient to excuse your vnciuill behauiour Syr quoth the Blacke Knight I would wish you to kéepe on in your iourney for to tel the cause of my griefe to you would gladly pleasure me and but little profit you Albanis being desirous to know what he had demanded was so importune on the Blacke Knight that he tooke the Field at his pleasure and encountred Albanis with such force that the horse fell downe with his shoulder broken and before Albanis could recouer himselfe the Blacke Knight alighted and forced him to abide his mercy which done he was riding away but Targiana came and stayed him thus Sir Knight I desire you euen as you make hazard of your person in many dangers and magnanimitie doeth accompany you against all aduersity that you will not abandon those who liue in affliction but beare the gentlenes of mind to keepe them câ—mpany And if so be you trauaile to the Emperours Court suffer me to be a partner in your iourney for that my businesse lyeth in that place to expect a Knight who conducted me in my trauailes hither Lady answered the Blacke Knight I thought this knight had vndertook to conduct you but now perceiuing the contrary and that you are minded to goe thither where of force I must be I will pleasure you in so small a request albeit the extremitie of my liâ—e stood thereon And thus they departed together leauing Albanis more sorrowfull then euer he had bin The Blacke Knight by the way requested of her wherfore the Knight had enforced her to goe with him to whoÌ„ Targiana ript vp the whole matter wherefore the Blacke knight gaue her greater honor then he had done before for he knew it was she in whose cause Albayzar kept the Shield of Miragarda which made him somewhat to excuse the déede of Albayzar for that the beauty of Targiana would haue vrged any Knight to aduenture the hardiest exployt They arriued at Constantinople wheÌ„ Albeyzar was appointed to depart from thence and to carrie the Shields away with him because none durst aduenture to recouer theÌ„ which made the Emperor greatly agrieued estéeming this yâ— greatest shame that euer happened in any Princes Court. On the other side Primaleon was so chafed because his Father would not grant him to Combate with Albayzar that he was minded to stay his comming foure miles without the Citie and to beare in his Shielde the Image of Gridonia which he had secretly caused to be made to sée if he might vanquish Albayzar and bring backe the Shields to the ladies that had lost them But Fortune so hindred him that his purpose tooke not effect and also would not suffer Albayzar to depart thence with so great glorie CHAP. LXXXIX How the Blacke Knight entred the Combat with Albayzar THe Blacke Knight lodged that night without the City in the house of an ancient Gentleman because he would not be knowne and the next morning Targiana attyred her selfe very sumptuously in a Gowne of the Turkish fashion of Crimson Sattin adorned with braue biâ—laments of gold and precious stones and mounted on a Palfray as white as a Swan her Damosels and Esquires likewise very braue in apparrell and atteÌ„ding on her in seemely order in this maner she came into yâ— city accompanied with the Black Knight arriued at the Iusting place wheÌ„ Albayzar had euen then conquered an English knight and placed his shield among the other The Emperour with all his Courtly company behelding the braue gesture
excéeding pittie which I take to sée your grieuous sighes and manifold teares as I must néeds consent to your request but it were a great discredite to you that in a man of such an Ancient and goodly time as you are there shuld be found Forgerie or deceytfull dealing which my good opinion will not suffer mée to iudge so of you And this Knight which you sée standing by me is called the Prince Florian of the Forrest albeit some name him the hardie Knight of the Sauadgeman he is my Nephew and one in whome I put the greatest trust to giue ayde and succour in a matter of such importance and I sée hee prepareth himselfe to forsake the Court and to assist you with his Noble and approoued valour in any cause that you shall haue neede to vse him The Aged man séeing the maruellous courtesie of the Emperour fel down before him on his knées and after he had kissed his hand spake as followeth It is not in vaine I sée well most famous Emperour that both young and olde so thunder your surpassing Bountie for the occasion which my selfe receyueth at this time giueth me good cause to thinke that the vttermost I haue hearde in your noble Commendation hath rather beene sparing speech then sufficient to comprehend your Heroâ—call desertes and I shall thinke my selfe the most happiest aliue hauing séene that with mine Eye which hath bene so often bruted in mine Eare. The Knight of the Sauadge-man aduanced himselfe to kisse the Emperours hand in satisâ—action of the honourable spéeche he vsed of him to the Aged man who was still so earnest in his suite as the Prince Florian was constrained to arme himselfe presently and departed from the Court in such great haste as hee had not the leisure to take leaue of the Empresse and his other Friends The Emperour fell into questioning with the Knights of his Court if any of them did knowe that Auncient man in whose company his Nephew Florian was so suddenly gon but not one of them all could report of whence or what he was Primaleon was very much offended that the Emperour his Father would command his Nephew Florian to depart so soone with the aged man not knowing first into what place or to what aduenture he would conduct him wherevpon the very same day Berolde the Prince of Spaine Platir Blandidon Pompides Gratian Polinard Reccamon Albanis Don Resuel all the other most renowmed Knights of the Emperors Court departed to folow the Prince Florian for that they feared least any euill should happen to him vnder the guilefull dealings of this Aged man When the Emperour saw his Court left desolate in a manner of the noble Knights that was woont to kéep his company he found himselfe very grieuously perturbed in minde fearing least some finister chaunce should happen to his Nephewe Florian who rode on still in the company of his Aged Guide without resting in any place til the next day in the morning when of necessity they must stay to giue refreshing to their Horses and when they had suffered them to féede indifferently they mounted againe on Horsebacke and rested not all that day likewise till they were come within the sight of a fayre Castle which stood on the top of a fayre Rocke a Fortresse very delâ—ctable in the eyes of them that did behold it at the foote whereof a goodly Riuer had his course so déepe and dangerous as they that went vnto the Castle were constrained to passe ouer in a very small Boate wherein two men could hardly passe at one time The Aged man being very wearie with ryding and desirous to haue a little ease alighted from his Horse vsing his language in this manner to the Prince Florian. This is the danger Sir Knight wherin we must hazard our liues if we be so bold as to venture our selues both together in this little Boate therefore I pray you that you will alight and you for the more securitie shall passe ouer alone then your Esquyre and I will come one after another because we will bring ouer with vs the Horses You reason wel answerd the Prince Florian in respect of your Aged and vnweldy péeres as also in wishing me for my best auaile therfore I intend to follow your counsell for that I sée necessitie compelleth vs to doo as you say At these words he dismounted from his Horse and entred into the little Boate commanding him that had the charge thereof to passe him ouer but scantly had he attained the middle of the water when suddenly such a blacke and ougly clowde ouershadowed him as the Aged man and the Esquyre being on land had lost the sight of him which when the Esquire perceiued hée was about to leape into the water to followe his Lord but as he was in this desperate intent he espyed a great Hill suddenly before him which would not suffer him to passe any further Vpon this he turned to goe to the place where he left the aged man but he was so quickly rapt away and gone as the Esquire could not possiby imagine which way he had taken then the Esquire began to iudge that the teares which the Aged man shed in the presence of the Emperour was to no other end but only shadow the treason which he wretchedly weÌ„t about so there he stood musing a great while and after he had canuased out a thousand imaginations a he concluded to search his Maister about all those parts and if it were not his fortune to find him he would then return to yâ— Emperors court to make known the vnfortunate losse of his Lorde and Maister to the ende that the Princes who were his Friends might take vpon them to enquyre after him for such was the opinion of this loyall Esquyre that the diligent search of a great many Knightes might happily recouer his Lorde againe The Noble Prince Florian of the Forrest had no sooner gotten the further side of the Riuer but the Clowde conueyed away the Boate wherein he passed in such sort as hee could by no meanes haue a sight of it wherevpon hée began to aduance himselfe towardes the Castle that stood vppon the Rocke not fearing any daungers that might happen to him but because the Rocke was high and troublesome to climbe and the Armor hee had on very weightie withall hee was constrained to rest himselfe thrée or foure times by the way so that the Night had chased away the gladsome Day before hee could arriue at the Castle When hee came vnto the Castle Gate there came foure verie gallant Damozells to receyue him and after they had caused many Torches to be alighted they shewed themselues very dutifull to entertaine him into the Castle which courteous offer the Prince would not séeme to denye for that the Beautie of them did so much blinde him as he had no minde on the Daungers that might suddenly happen but hee fedde his Eyes with beholding them altogether as one that had his will
fight with him therefore I cannot chuse but mislike your iudgement in that any one will repute your enterprise rather for want of discretion then vpon any good or sound aduise The Knight of the Tiger tooke in good part the councell which his host laboured to haue him follow but yet he did not intend to be ruled by him so after he and his host had talked an indifferent space he withdrew himselfe into his Chamber where he tooke his rest better then he had done the night before and he reioyced greatly that his brother Florian was not as yet arriued there as also that himselfe was there ready to helpe him if so be hée were brought to this cruell Collambra In the morning after he had taken leaue of his courteous Hoste hée departed to follow what hée had intended and comming into a Forrest where through he should trauaile to the Citie where Collambra made her aboade he heard the roaring noyse which the Sea made whereto he would néedes goe to sée if he could espy any vessell wherein the knight of the Sauage man his brother might be imbarqued but as he rode towards the Sea coast hée heard a great bruit or noyse somewhat néere him and riding forward to sée what it might bée he espyed a Shippe lying at Anker and hard by it was tenne Knights belonging to Collambra the Mother of Arlencea maintaining a firce Combate against thrée other Knightes which he so soone as he had séene them knew them to be Platir Berolde the Sage Aliard of the Obscure Valley who had put their liues in hazard onely to giue succour to the Knight of the Sauage man This sight mooued him somewhat to reioyce till suddenly he was astonished againe beholding not past twentie paces from these Knights that fought the Combate a Giant of a maruellous stature and Armed in rich and costly Armour who cried to kill and murder those thrée Knights that presumed to make such resistaunce and so hacked and hewed their enemies as now one tumbled on this side then another on that side and the most of them being very dangerously wounded The Giant séeing this beganne to waxe meruailous worth with himselfe when mounting on horsebacke he came to giue ayde to his Knights which the Knight of the Tiger perceiuing and fearing least his arriuall would be hurtful to his three deare friends he poasted till he came before them when he saluted the Giant with these words Art thou not ashamed Espouuantable to offer thy selfe against them whom thou séest sore wounded and haue scantly power to defend themselues let them alone and addresse thy selfe to me who as my mortall enemy came now to séeke thée for that I would deliuer that vnfortunate Isle out of thy cruell and bloody tiranny The Giant stayed a while to behold him who had summoned him to the Combat in such braue manner and perceiuing that he bare a golden Tiger in his Shield hée knewe presently that this was the Knight whom the world did hold in so great estimation for he thought no other durst be so bold as to speake so proudly neuerthelesse regarding not the presence of the Knight of the Tiger but in séeing his Knights so vanquished he fell into these spéeches I sée well that the valour of these strange knights is far different to them of this countrey which maketh me the more desirous to hazard my Fortune for that my happy conquest will yéelde me the more contentment then comming to the Knight of the Tiger he began againe thus I desire you Syr Knight to doe me so much fauour as to tell mée if any of you belong to the Emperours Court of Constantinople or if you be the Sonnes or of the linage of the noble Prince Don Edward you might greatly content mée if you would resolue mée héerein for I am perswaded that you could not thus long maintain yâ— fight against my knights without you be some of them which I haue named I am content answered the Knight of the Tiger to satisfie thée in that thou desirest wherefore I giue thée to vnderstand that these Knights were brought vp in the Court of the Emperour of Constantinople in the company of my selfe who am the Sonne of the Prince Don Edward and brother to the renowned knight of the Sauage man on whose behalfe I earnestly desire to requite the treason which thou and other of thy kindred haue practised to bring him vnder your subiection in this Island Art thou Palmerin said the Giant the eldest sonne to the Prince Don Edward who vanquished Dramusiand and Camboldam and didst win the Islle which no man else could thrusting all them forth which kept the same For what cause desirest thou to know answered the knight of the Tiger Marry for that I greatly desire said Espouuantable to enter the Combat with thée in the presence of my sister Collambra who would receiue vnspeakeable contentment in séeing thée seuerely tormented for the dishonour thou hast done to her kindred to which words the Prince replyet thus I am euen the selfe-same man whom thou hast so great desire to knew and I am glad to see thée so willing to fight the Combate although it be in the place which thou thy selfe hast appointed because I will make knowne publikely to all how the heauenly powers haue sent me to chastise thy wicked life as also the crueltie of thy Sister Collambra Well then said the Giant to the end thou maist the better folow thy enterprise faile not to prepare thy selfe against the morning and this night will I cause the Field to be prouided wherein we entend to fight the Combate and if those thy companions would be likewise set to worke I haue thrée Couzins which shall maintaine the Combat against them and I will furnish them with Armour out of the Armoury of my brother Bravorant because I see their Armour is greatly out of order hauing fought so long against my knights vppon which words Berolde tooke occasion to speake thâ—s Thou shalt do vs great pleasure to lend vs Armour that haue neede of it and so we will not refuse the Combate as well to accompany and do seruice to the Prince Palmerin as to destroy and abolish the memorie of them who haue kept the people here in such tirannous seruitude I sée then quoth the knight of the Tiger that the combate betwéene the Giant and me must be ended first Noble Palmerin said the Sage Aliart we desire you to suffer vs the Combate first for it may so fall out as you hauing obtained the victory against the Giant feare will make his Couzins to forsake the field the day following wherefore to shunne the misfortune that may happen to vs we desire you to cause the Giant to agrée to this request which if you do you shall endue your selfe with perpetuall renowme and doe vs a great pleasure who are your humble seruants at commandement Séeing it is your earnest desire answered the Knight of the Tiger
which are no other but shapes without substance for in the beholding these you do but mispend your time looking for that recompeÌ„ce which they haue not the power to giue you And therefore it shall be more necessary for you to goe to them whom the Pictures represent who in time will more sufficiently content your hearts then your eyes receiue pleasure in looking on these toyes which Vrganda giueth you to see at this prefent by her Enchauntment Palmerin hearing the words of his Brother the Sage Aliart returned to him with this answere Doe you maruaile Syr Aliart if they which behold the liuely presentations of so faire and beautifull Goddesses finde good cause to busie their braines and receiue their memories Credite me I thinke no man but would be rauished in delight to sée things of so rare and excellent importance Palmerin spake in this manner because he would not haue his friends suspect his amorous thoughts so departing thence they went againe to the Castle where prouision being made they sate downe to dinner which being ended they concluded to depart from the Island wherevpon Palmerin caused Satrafort to be called into his presence with the other Gentlemen that came in his company when Palmerin speaking to his Brother the Sage Aliart began to vse his spéeches thus If I should not consider with my selfe my noble friend and Brother which way Fortune might aduance me to such estate as I should be able to recompence the manifold courtesies I haue receiued at your handes you might repute mée of a most base and ignoble minde wherefore to witnesse to you the great feare I haue least I should be condemned amongst the vnthankefull I here frankely and fréely giue you the Perillous Isle which I haue conquered with great trauaile and losse of my blood desiring that you would accept thereof in that it ought rather to be vnder your gouernment then any other that I know Wherefore I pray you not refuse my gentle gift and I would it were of such estimation as I could finde in my heart to bestow vpon you for I perswade my selfe that it was the will of Vrganda it should be reserued for you And for Satrafort I perceiue he is as willing hereto as my selfe desiring you that you would account of him as his noblenesse and vertue requireth that you may discharge the duty wherein I am greatly bound to him My Lord answered the Sage Aliart they of this Island haue good occasion to be offended séeing you will commit it into the handes of him who is not worthy to come within it neuerthelesse the earnest desire I haue to doe you seruice willeth me not to make refusall of your gratious offer and I accept Satrafort not as my fubiect but as my louing friend and companion as well for the valour of his person as likewise to let you perfectly vnderstand that I am he who vowes himselfe alwayes at your commandement Thus concluding his spéeches he offered to take she Prince Palmerins hande to kisse it but the courteous Prince would not permitte him then taking the Sage Aliart in his armes he beganne againe as followeth My louing Brother if Fortune rayse me to any such preferment as I may finde somewhat worthie your good desertes you shall well peceiue the affection I beare you in the meane while imagiae the best of mee The Prince Berolde and Platir commended marueilously the liberalitie of Palmerin whose presence was more acceptable to Satrafort then the Sage Aliart so that he would gladly haue changed his maister neuerthelesse he concealed his mind closely to himselfe doubting least he should purchase the displeasure of his new Lord to whom he aduaunced himselfe to giue him his faith for his dutifull obedience praying the Knight of the Tiger that he would continue him in his woonted noble fauour Palmerin vsed such friendly behauiour towards him as he remained well content withall and hauing left the Sage Aliart to giue order about the customs of the Isle he imbarqued himselfe in the ship with Argentao being desirous to goe on firme land so soone as he could possible considered also that hee would haue Arganto returne to his gouernment And because he would the more commodiously rip vp his secret griefe to Siluian he tooke his leaue of the princes Berolde and Platir giuing theÌ„ to vnderstand that he must of necessitie goe alone by himselfe for that hee had an aduenture assigned him where he promised to be on the day ensuing These three thus parting Platir and Berolde being glad to please the Prince Palmerin in any thing he thought méete they entred the same Foyst wherein they were brought thither and so humbly taking their farewell of Palmerin they sayled towards Constantinople the wind and weather seruing them so commodious as in few dayes they attained the firme land In like manner did the Prince Palmerin in another Countrey after he had taken his leaue of Argentao who likewise returned into the Profound Isle where his Subiects receiued him very â—â—atiously accounting them highly bound to the Prince Palmerin in ordaining them such a Gouernour who would in no case suffer the people of that Island to be so cruelly dealt withall as they had béene before of the bloody Giants CHAP. XX. How Alfernao arriued at the Emperours Court of Constantinople and of that which happened to him NOt many dayes after the Knight of the Sauage man was departed from the Citie of Constantinople the Emperor was aduertised of his losse by the Prince Florians Esquire which caused no small griefe thorow the whole Court but it came so to passe that Alfernao arriued there vpon the sudden euen as the Emperour sate leauing on the Table lamenting for the want of his Nephew Florian and when he had caused him to come before him Alfernao fell downe at his féete with these words Illustrious and most gratious Emperour I humbly desire your maiesty that you would thinke of me in your woonted fauour clemency not remembring my passed transgressions for if your Grace looke into the depth of them I shall be found worthy of most grieuous punishment which your royall clemency hath power to moderate in that you are accustomed to vse mercy to them whose offences deserue rigorous intreating I am dread Prince that ancient man who came and requested your highnesse assistance and dissembling with teares and faint spéeches which were nothing else but méere deceite that I had great néede of the ayde of one of your Knightes wherevpon you granted licence to your noble Nephew that he should leaue your Court and goe in my company but I intending deceit was deceiued my selfe and could not execute on him what I had determined Then began Alfernao to discourse to the emperor the whole successe of his Nephewe Florian of the Forrest who had sent him to informe his Maiestie of all that hapned to him that the report of the Esquire might be the better belieued whereto the Emperour thus answered Certainly
I pray you tell the Ladies there that I desire them to repose their trust in me if they shall imagine themselues in any danger and let them be well assured that I will aduenture what hazard soeuer if my helpe may yéeld them any assistance notwithstanding one of these thrée Ladies is desirous to haue them thinke the contrary but as for her counsell I desire them humbly to make no account thereof And because I may know who you are I pray you tell me your names before you depart for that I may demand another day whether you haue fulfilled your promises or no. My Lord quoth the first Knight we are all thrée of the same Court whereto you send vs by meanes whereof we grieue more to go shew our misfortunes there then in any court whatsoeuer it might like you to send vs. And for our names you shall vnderstand that I am called Grouanell and this other knight is my brother named Brabosan we twaine being the sonnes of the Countie Loban and the third knight who is our Couzin he is called Claribard a knight greatly renowmed in the Court of Spaine Truely Gentlemen said the Damosels knight you ought not to thrust your selues into such dishonourable actions neuerthelesse I must excuse you for that the beautie of women hath sometime inueigled the wisest heads but I would wish you to be better aduised albeit I my selfe do often féele the heat of the same fire So ending he rode on with his charge of Ladies being very glad that he had sped so well of these knights in their presence and they likewise commended his high good fortune CHAP. XXV How Trofolant and these other three Knights yeelded themselues in the Spanish Court And how the damosels knight arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almaroll IT was long before the Damoseis Knight could reach to the Castle of the Giant Almaroll because he was hindered in his way by many knights who ventured themselues to take the Damosels from him which he had taken charge of in conducting them But it chanced as the King Recinde stood pleasantly talking in his window with the Quéene and many Knights in the Chamber with him beside he beheld to enter a goodly tall Knight his face being couered with his Helmet his armour broken in many places and so besprent with blood as the fine deuises thereon could hardly be discerned His shéeld which was carryed after him by his esquire was shiuered in the selfe same manner and because his deuise therein could not well be séene euery one was in great admiration of him but he went with such proud iestures as he made estimation of neuer a knight there who came to entertaine him at the Pallace gate but passed on till he came into yâ— Chamber where the King was to whom when he had made obeysance he returned to the Quéene with these words Madame I haue Combatted with a Knight who not long since was in this Court and Iousted against the Prince Albayzar he hath in his company nine Damosels and I desired him to bestow the one halfe of them on me whereto he would by no meanes consent but made me answer that he could wish I had as many Ladies in conduct as he had for then would he take mine from me beare his Ladyes company in trauaile Vpon this proude answer I intended to take them from him perforce which he would not suffer but made such resistance against me as in the end I was not onely conquerâ—d but in great danger to loose my life had not this valiant and redoubted knight granted me mercy vpon condition I should performe what he did command me But such was his great humanitie as he would adioyne me no other punishment then this that I should come and present my selfe to your maiestie to craue pardon on his behalfe that he would not let himselfe to be knowne when he was in your court but at his returne he will not faile to come in better acquaintance with your highnesse in the meane while he craueth that you would pardon him for his offence past I know not said the king how I should remit this iniury in that he hid himself from me who most of all desired to know him and more earnest I am now séeing your Armour so much defaced My good Lord answered the Quéene I desire you would not be offended at that which is past for I cannot thinke that such a Knight as he is would desire to passe vnknowne to your grace without he were compelled so to do by some earnest occasion Then said the King to the knight I pray you Sir tell me who you are Those that know me said the Knight call me Trofalont the Fearefull I haue answered the King oftentimes heard much talke of you and the Knightly déedes which you haue atchieued and for this cause would I the more gladly haue knowledge of the Damoselles Knight wherefore I pray you tell me if you know him or can iudge of whence hee should be My Lord said Trofolant I promise you I neuer saw him in all my life till now but I iudge him to be one of the sonnes of the Prince Don Edward for I am perswaded that no one Knight else could haue conquered me whereof I am not a little ashamed yea and so much gréeued thereat as I take my leaue of your highnesse now that I haue discharged his commandement Quoth the Quéene I giue you licence to depart at your own leisure And I would no other thing with you saide the King but that you would take a better Armour at my handes because your own is not in case to doe you seruice beside I would not that any of the Knights which serue the Emperour should depart my court destitute of horse or Armour My Lord answered Trofolant I thinke my selfe highly bound to your maiestie for the Princely offer you haue made me but I am determined to goe euen as you sée me because I will deride Fortune to her face and so he departed The King gaue the Queene to vnderstand that Trofolant was reputed as good a Knight as any other but he would not beléeue that any of the Sonnes of the Prince Don Edward would come into his Court and depart againe without his knowledge While the King was commending the valour of the Damoselles Knight Grouanell Brabosan and Claribard entred into the Chamber who hauing made reuerence to the King and the Quéene came and presented themselues before the Ladies to whom they rehearsed their great misfortune and that which the Damoselles Knight and Poliphemia had commanded them The Ladies knew well that Poliphemia had receiued some iniury by the knight whose noblenes made the king to speake thus Gentlemen I promise you I greatly desire to know the knight who hath thus vanquished you and I intend to send some of my knights after him that they may bring him hither once more If it shall like your highnesse answered one of the
to the end you may giue the sounder iudgement in this case and be the more earnest in trying the Combate on the behalfe of the beautie of my Ladie Latriana I will worke the meanes that you shall sée her and if it come to passe that you be afterward vanquished you may the better know whether it be by your owne imbecilitie or the imperfection of her beautie for whom you enter the Combate Floraman returned her this aunswere I haue bene alwayes so vnfortunate faire Damosell in maintaining the like enterprises that I will not now make it daintie inhazarding the inconstance of flattering Fortune I haue often heard of Madame Latrinia and I take her to be one of the foure Ladies of this Realme who excéede all the other in soueraigntie of beautie I could wish iâ—â—ti were possible so good hap might come to me to be entertained into her gratious seruice but the greater part who are giuen on the other side maketh me to be doubtfull herein according as it is permitted to the fréedome of a mans will As the Damosell and Floraman continued this talke they came before the Castle an as they offred to passe on these thrée knights stepped before them vsing these words to the Prince Floraman We would know Sir knight if you be determined to imploy your selfe on the behalfe of any of the foure French Ladies because that each of vs being no seruant to her whose cause you maintaine shall then be constrained to enter the Combate with you Sir answered Floraman I may not lawfully refuse the Combate because I haue not séene any of these foure Ladies one of the thrée Knights replied to him againe thus If it be so Sir that as yet you haue not séene these Ladies you shall be suffered to enter the Castle where you may contemplate the beauty of Latrania and if it chaunce you to remaine affectionate to her as many other haue done before you we desire you not to enter her seruice because you may so shun the danger of the Combate The Knight laying his hand vpon one of his companions spake thus to Floraman Her whom I hold my honour by they that haue the sight of them all foure would chuse my Lady Mansia for his Mistresse then another of them saide And my selfe with this Knight wee are altogither addicted to the seruice of Telansia and for this cause we abide in this place to sée if any Knight that holdeth on the other part dare be so bold as to come into this place that wée may try our fortunes in gaining the recompence the Ladies haue ordained for him who shall be so happy as to remaine victor Floraman who was greatly enflamed towards these Ladies remembring still the losse of his fuire Altea entred the castle where Latrania receiued him very gratiously he excusing himselfe towards her because he did not his dutie to her as she passed by him in the Forrest and I assure you Floraman iudged the Lady of the Castle so faire as hee could willingly haue offered himselfe to sustaine her quarrell but that he feared least he should be reputed vnfaithfull vnto his best beloued Altea There he stayed in the Castle till the morning when hée would haue departed thence the Lady vnwilling to see him she was so much offended that he had not offered to maintaine her beautie Vpon this Floraman went foorth to the thrée Knights when one of them came vnto him and demanded if the beauty of Madame Latrania had â—â—onne any power ouer him to whom he answered No. Certainly said the Knight I greatly desire to deale with thée that I may giue due correction to thy proud ingratitude Gentlemen answere Floraman I pray you put your selues in a readines to reuenge the shame which you say I haue done to Madame Latrania whom I may as well serue as you because I haue better knowledge of her deserts then you haue neuerthelesse such is my humor at this present as I dare not aduenture my selfe on her behalfe Then I entend saide the Knight to make you knowe the offence you haue done vnto her And so he gaue his horse the spurres against Floraman who albeit in the Ioust he lost one of his Stirroppes encountred the Knight so valiantly as hee sent him to the ground headlong so astonished as he could not tell where he was Which the other two perceiuing they desired him likewise to runne with them Since my Lance is yet whole and sound answered Floraman I am content to doe you so much fauour Then he ran against the second Knight seruing him like as he had done the first and the third came after to kéepe them company The first knight being offended that hee was so vnhorsed desired Floraman to strike halfe a dozen blowes with him to the end he might amend the foile he receiued in the Ioust The Prince of Sardignia séeing no excuse would perswade the knight alighted from his horse and hauing drawn his sword he dealt so nobly with him as in short time he perceiued what great dishonr he gained in prouing his valour against him for he continued so roughly in the fight as the knight was compelled to step aside to take a breathing which made Floraman giue him these words I beléeue sir knight you iudge me as sufficient to serue Latrania as your selfe is No truely saide the Knight for it is not your force but the beautie of the other to whom she may no way equall her selfe that hath brought me into this daungerous estate I am very well content answered Floraman to heare you say so much but the greater aduantage should I haue if your Lady were present to heare you and I assure you she hath good occasion to accept well of you for that you haue spoken as became a man greatly affected to her Then beginning afresh againe the Knight though very faintly defended himselfe so well as he could Latrania leaning in one of the windowes of the Castle seeing the great daunger whereinto the Knight was brought came downe to the place where they fought the Combate and being come before the Prince Floraman she desired him to saue the Knightes life whereto at her request he willingly consented speaking to her in this manner I would gladly to honour you the more end the Combate but because you thinke it not so conuenient the Knight may thinke himselfe highly beholding to you for that you haue saued his life which I was thorowly intended hee should loose séeing the small regard he made of you as your selfe did heare when I let him rest himselfe Latrania gaue him very honourable thanks and returning into her Castle she grieued excéedingly that this good and hardy Knight could not thinke so well of her as to be her Champion in her cause Floraman willed the Knight to tell him his name I promise you answered the Knight I entend nothing lesse for our Combate was hindred by the Lady to whom you haue giuen greater aduantage thereof then to
whose presence the former feareful and vncertaine doubts were somewhat calmed in that he certified the Emperour how Florian would not be long absence from thence which newes did much ioy his Maiestie as he caught the Sage Aliart in his armes and embraced him with a gracious countenance Then came the Empresse to entertaine him with the same fauour the like did Bazilia the Empresse of Allemaigne Gridonia Polinarda and the other princesses and Ladies among whom the Quéene Flerida was most glad of his presence as well to perceiue the loue King Edward her husband bare him as also because he had sundry times preserued the liue of his Children by his knowledge The same day came to the Emperours Court the Prince Floraman who trauailed to finde the Prince Florian of the Forrest and being aduertised how the enemies had laid siege at Constantinople he left his Realme of Sardignia giuing charge to the Gouernours he had left there that they should leuey a great Armie with all expedition and send them after him to Constantinople as you may read more at large hereafter The same day likewise there arriued King Estrellant of Hungaria accompanied with two thousand horsemen and tenne thousand footmen being vnder the conduct of the Prince Frisoll his Sonne Albayzar was greatly grieued at the losse of his men wherfore he gaue charge to his Chirurgions in his campe that they should bee carefull and respectiue to them which were wounded and commanded the â—laine to bée buried And when all things were accomplished that he thought expedient he called the principall estates of his armie to councell with whome hee concluded that all persons should be vigilant and carefull of themselues that night because the next morning he should take landing at a certaine watch-word he would giue them The day had no sooner chased away the vncomfortable and obscure night but the Ships Gallies Brigandines Gaâ—â—ots and other prouision for war tooke landing about a league distance froÌ„ Constantinople being not hindred or forbidden by any whereupon they sounded the drums trumpets cornets clarions and other instruments wherewith they made such a triumphant noyse as the people in the Citie were much amazed thereat The Sage Aliart and Floraman desiring to sée the Campe of the enemie requested the Emperour that he would lycence them to goe thither which his Maiestie would not graunt to any yet had hée such assurance in the knowledge of the Sage Aliart as in what place soeuer he was he néeded not to feare him These two knights thus departed the Citie being armed with no other defence but onely their swordes and because the day was faire and cleare they betooke themselues to a little hill where they might at pleasure discerne the enemies Armie Diuers thought it good to scout out and take them because by them they might vnderstand the strength of the Citie but Albayzar would not grant it should be so wherefore he sent an Esquire vnto them who attended on him when he was in the Emperours court to let them vnderstand that if they would come néere and see his Campe he who was then in authoritie to commaund them was such an indifferent friend vnto them as they might come and depart without any danger These two knights gaue such credit to the message Albayzar sent them as they went in the Esquiers company which Albayzar perceiuing he came forth with two Pages in very rich apparrell attending on him to receiue them Afterward hee went with them thorow the Campe because they should sée the mightie strength thereof and he declared to them the names of the Princes in his companay among whome were verie many Giantes as terrible and ouglie as they which were slaine by Dramusiande and Palmerin of England All this while Albayzar had diligent regard to these two Christian Knights to sée if all this sight he had showne them could discourage them with feare or doubt of theyr Wellfare but they contained such a stoute and vndaunted countenaunce as they seemed to disdayne those occasions which Albayzar thought should most dismay them whereat he did not a little maruaile After they had séene the whole Army Albayzar accompanied hem very neere the Citie desiring them to salute the Emperour and Empresse from him then taking his leaue courteously of them he returned â—o his Campe and they walked on very sadly especially the Sage Aliart who hauing foreséene what would happen could not hide the sorrow hee conceiued in his minde Neuerthelesse they behaued themselues pleasantly at their entraunce into the Cittie because they would not discourage the mindes of the people but when they were come to the Pallace into the Emperors presence the Prince Floraman by the commaundement of his Maiestie entred into these speeches My gratious Lord the riches which your enemies hath brought before your Cittie were incredible in rehearsall for if I should take vppon me to make rehearsall thereof I should wast a great deale of time which I may apply to better purpose in certifying your excellencie of your enimies strength wherefore this is to let your Maiestie vnderstand that your enimies can be no lesse in number then two hundred thousand the very simplest whereof carryeth such a brauerie of minde as he will abide the Féeld to the latest houre of death The King of Aetolia being thirtie yéeres of age hath the conduct this day of them which are vnder his charge being tenne thousande Horsemen and fortie thousand Footemen so brauely armed as surely I must of necessity commend them But aboue all the rest the pride of the Prince Albayzar doth much amaze me for no small estimation he made of your puissance as himselfe gaue vs the sight of his whole Armye graunting the like assuraunce to any of your Court as hee did to vs if so be they will desire to sée his Garrison a thing which I haue diligently noted and which cannot greatly profite himselfe as for the rest whereof perhappes I may be forgetfull my good Lorde the Sage Aliart can at large discourse vnto your Highnesse You haue behâ—ued your selues so well my Friends sayd the Emperor as it is not possible for any other to bring vs a more certaine assurance in this cause wherefore it is necessarie that we enter into councell how we may auoyd the enterprise of Albâ—yzar and his Souldiours And I am content that he shall likewise sée our Cittie so that charge be giuen to our Captaines to behaue themselues with such circumspection as our Enemies may not get any sudden aduantage against vs. When the Emperour had set downe this for a determination the Princes betooke themselues to their seuerall charges that they might better respect the practiâ—es of the Enimie CHAP. LVII ¶ Of that which Albayzar did after he had well prouided for his Armie and of the succour which came to the Emperour Palmerin ALbayzar prouiding for the strength of his Armye caused such Trenches and Rampiers of Defence and Fortification to bee made round about
the City which was committed to the charge of the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley they hauing their conduct fiue hundred Knights on horsebacke and foure thousand able footemen and for the rest of the Christians they were deuided into sixe seuerall Bands The first was conducted by the Prâ—nce Primaleon who had atiending on him two thousand and fiue hundred Knights The second Band being of the same number was committed to the Prince Floraman of Sardignia The third to the king Estrellant The fourth to Albanis of Frieze The fifth to Drapos Duke of Normandie all these fiue hands being like in number The sixt was vnder the charge of the noble king Edward to whom came all the rest of the Christian souldiers The Soldane Bellagris with his traine had the charge of the vtter wings to giue ayde where he saw néede required When these Knights departed from the citie toward the field they were all in blacke Armour and their shields of the same colour without any deuices their horses were likewise trapped in blacke and the more to expresse their inward heauinesse they would haue neither Drumme Trumpet nor any kind of instrument vsed in warre with them Neuerthelesse albeit this sad procéeding to the battaile declared their owne heaninesse yet was it likewise a feare and terror to the enemy séeing them comming farre from them and euery man had closed the Beuer of his helmet because the enemy should not perceiue their mournfull countenances When they were come to the place where the Battaile should be fought they spread themselues abread in the field after the deuice of their Captaines without making any maner of noyse at all The footemen came after being all attired in black likewise and without either Drums Phifes or Trumpets wherby they gaue the enemies to vnderstand what vnfained loue and affection they bare to their Emperour and how they could not forget what gracious and friendly entertainement he was woont to make to his very enemies A thing which all Princes ought to haue in regard and in remembring the great vertue of this famous Emperour to gouerne their Kingdomes in such sort as the people may rather know what a gréeuous losse they haue by the death of such a Prince then to behaue themselues in such manner as their Subiects shall reioyce to be rid of their Gouernour The Turks were greatly abashed séeing their enemies come marching in this order they knew well by their mourning habits that they would in this battell make no account of their liues But Albayzar séeing the astonishment of his Souldiers came to encourage them like a noble captaine laying before them the renowme of the victorie which should be the recompence of all their trauailes and a sufficient reuenge for the death of many of their parents and friendes who lost their liues before the walles of Constantinople for which cause this warre was first enterprised When he had a good space vsed these and such like spéeches to them they began to waxe desirous of the battaile and chasing all their formerfeare out of remembrance they marched on after the same manner as they did in the first battaile sauing that they were vnder the charge of other captaines for that they which conducted them before were slaine Their Armour was very much broken and bruised and so died with the blood that issued from their bodies that it was almost as strange a sight in the field as the Christians sad and mournefull habites of blacke King Edward séeing his men placed in decent order and the backwings in such regard as hée thought méetest hée gaue charge to Primaleon to giue the consent with his company for he had with him the noble Palmerin of England Florian of the Forrest Florendos Platir Pompides Blandidon Don Rosuel Bellizart Dragonalt King of Nauarre the Giant Dramusiand and the most renowmed princes of the Court. On the enemies side the King of Aetolia was first in the field because he conducted the formost troupe wherein was the most puissant knights in all the Turkish Armie beside the Giant Framustant who desired aboue all other things to preuaile against Dramusiande The Christians finding themselues in a readinesse the Turkes sounded their Drummes and Trumpets to beginne the Battaile but sodainely came on them so great a tempest as they returned backe againe being not able to ioyne in fight for the space of two houres after In the meane time as this tempest continueth let vs returne to the Citie of Constantinople which as you haue heard before was committed to the chargs of Tarnaes king of Lacedemonia and the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley who finding by his Art that the Cittie of Constantinople would bee brought to destruction and that king Edward of England and the Prince Primaleon with the rest of the Princes Knights that maintained the warre would stand in great hazard of loosing their liues being not able to auoyd the cruelty of the Turks who would get the Cittie into their possession vpon these aforesaid considerations he determined to prouide for the safety of the Princesses and Ladies of high authority who were most of them great with childe and neare the â—ime of their deliuerance Wherefore that the fruit of their bodyes might not perish in this extremity he raised a very darke and obscure cloude which shadowed the light of the firmament in such sort as not onely they in the field were couered therewith but also the Cittie was so wrapt in the cloud as it was not possible for them to discerne it In the meane while both the Armies remained in great amazement by this darkenesse as they had not the power to méete together Aliart conueyed through this daâ—ke Cloud the Empresse the Princesse Polinarda and all other Princesses and Ladyes beside to the Perillous Isle which the Prince Palmerin of England had bestowed on him and he shaddowed the Isle likewise by his Enchantment in such manner that it remained as it were inuisible vntill Aliart conceiued so well of the time and reason as he thought good to discouer it These Ladies were surprised with maruellous admiration whâ—n they found themselues not in Constantinople but in a strange land where they could not haue their company who had endured so many hard and dangerous conflicts for their sakes this aboue all other causes did most offend and trouble their consciences yet at length when they saw no other remedy they were glad to practise and content themselues with often visiting each other in their Chambers to expell all other cogitations that séeme irksome vnto them Thus wil we leaue the Empresse and her ladies in the Perillous Isle and returne to the King Tarnaes at Constantinople who after the cloude was vanished away and the day cleare againe séeing that the Empresse with her Ladies and the Sage Aliart had forsaken his Companie conceyued such extreame griefe within himselfe doubting least some mischaunce had befallen them as amidde his
labouring to auoyde that motion that either might séeme to her person displeasant or by any sinister meanes to make shew of her disprofit destred him to appoint such prouision for her that there she emight discharge her heauy burthen and not to depart before she sawe the fruits of her labours To which reasonable request the Prince right courteously consented being right glad to fulfill that occasion that might be to her content and for that cause as yet he refused the gouerning of the kingdome appointing the whole affaires thereof to the wise discretion of King Fredericke his father vntill such time as he saw the Princesse in better estate of her health And in this order sought he ech vnfrequented place of passage and eche solitary habitation to remooue his Tents when pleased the Princes déeming those places to his better content then the youthfull delights of the King his Fathers Court But as the fayrest colours soonest fadeth the freshest flowre soonest withereth and the cleerest day quickly cloudy euen so the man to whom Fortune dooth anouch most fréendlinesse is soonest intrapped by he dissembling falshood and when least he thinketh of any secret doubt he is deceiued by sudden daunger So this valiant and renowned Prince whom Fortune had encouraged by his admirable conquests and aduaunced his name in respect of his Noblenesse new reclaiming her former and woonted courtesie causeth him to taste her present crueltie and where before she helde his Honor as best woorthie her fauour now in a chollericke humor breaketh of her fréendship causing him to knowe though she had holpen him long she was now minded to hurle him downe at last The time being come of her appointed treacherie and the meane deuised to accomplish her crueltie shée caused Don Edward to leaue the company of the Princes Flerida and all other his Lords and Ladies who were there present with her and walketh to the Sea side which was not farre distant Returning agaiue hée caused the tents to be pitched foure miles from the Forrest on a pleasant gréene platte by a little running riuer which delighted the minde of the Princesse the place was so fine and fitly chosen out On a sudden there was heard a great tumult in a thicket of trees neare adioyning to sée what it might be the Prince mounted on Horsebacke and rode to the place where casting his eyes aside hee espied a wilde and mighty Bore which sight the Prince was not a little glad of but with diuers of his noble Lords made present pursuite after Don Edward still rid after the game that the other had quite lost the sight of him which they sought againe to recouer but all was in vaine for the day being cleane spent and waxing somewhat darke caused them to retyre againe to the Princesse Who séeing her Lord Don Edward not returne with them fell into great dismaying and doubting of his safetie which she had iust cause to doe for that this his sudden departure was greatly lamented through the Realme of England and all kingdomes in Christendome before they had his presence againe The strayed Prince being thus allured by Fortune affecteth his game with such great delight that he neuer minded the Princesse distresse but gaue himselfe wholly to his present pastime not fearing for foreséeing what might be the perill His Stéede with tediousnesse of trauaile waxeth stract in his limines which caused the Prince to stay and alight for the darkesomnes of the night had lost his game and the fayning of his Horse required to haue rest Don Edward resting him at the foote of a Trée beganne at last to call to minde the desolate estate of the Princesse Flerida and the griefe his Lords would conceiue for want of his company Faine he would haue slept but could not for still the doubts that assailed his mind one while for the Princesse another while for his Péeres first to thinke how his absence would cause her to iudge somewhat of his vnkinde dealing then how his Lords would stand in feare of his danger these and a thousand more tristfull terrors with held him from receiuing that swéet rest he gladly looked for Alas thought he how hard is his hap to whom Fortune is aduerse how contrary his good lucke that awaiteth her liberality the one is a thing euer to be doubted and the other ought at no time to be desired The night is spent in these and such like cogitations and at the appearence of the day his eyes began to waxe heauy as commonly it happeneth vnto those whom conceiued sorrow denieth the required rest at last very griefe of it selfe constraineth them to slumber This carefull Prince hauing obtained such quietnesse as the extremitie of his paine would permit him stretching forth his armes calleth againe into question the retchlesse regard he had of himselfe so lighly to leaue his Lady and so vngently to forsake his company which although it happened against his will he iudged they would not accept it so in worth Then mounting vpon Horsebacke rode on to finde his company so vnaduisedly lost but Fortune still denying his pretended purpose by how much he estéemed himselfe néere to his comfort by so much the farder of she set him to the contrary yet hasting on in hope at last he arriued in a great Groue of Trées the thicknesse and height whereof caused him to fall into admiration with himselfe Through this graue ran a faire and cleare Riuer wherein he perceiued the resemblance of a Gallant and curious Castle as strongly fortified as rarely edified the sight whereof somewhat asswadged the egernes of his gréefe likewise the pleasant ratling of the gréene leaues with the mellodious harmony of the pretty chirping Birds exiled the former heauines of his heart and caused him to remember the gladsome time wherein he spent his labour to gaine his best beloued during the warres of the Emperour Palmerin where first he named himself Iulian. In these pleasant conceits hee rid along by the Riuer side so rauished with his inwarde delight that he little suspected the imminent daunger for vnto that place did he chéefest frame his desire which Fortune had appointed to worke his distresse Don Edward beholding the braue scituation of this Castle so curious in workemanship and costly in outward resemblaunce the Bridge at entring whereof was so large that foure knights might easily haue Combatted thereon no lesse insued at his suddē arriual then he meruailed at this his strange aduenture The Porter of the Castell with double diligence more then deserued thankes set open the gate to allure him in which the Prince perceiuing misdoubted no daunger or any secret guile in his gallant prospect because he neither sawe any to resist his entrye and the Porter being vnarmed made him doubt the lesse It last more on a youthfull courage then an aduised care he aduanced himselfe to the Gate of the Castle desiring to know the name of so pleasant a place who protected a thing of
knights closed the dore so that Primaleon had not the meane to answer her neuerthelesse he staied to heare the sorrowfull clamors they made within which was no lesse irksome to his heart then had he séene the perfect interring of his brother Don Eodard At last hee departed dyrecting his course into such places where he thought soonest to heare tydings of his straied friend So trauayling on in good hope we wil leaue him a while And declare more at large the cause of Pandritia her great mourning as also what fortuned to the two yong Princes nourished in the Caue of the Sauadgeman CHAP. VII ¶ The cause why Pandritia led this solitary kind of life And how the yong Prince Florian straied from the Caue of the Sauadge man and by Sir Pridos was brought â—o the English Court and what further happened THe occasion why Pandritia bare such great affection to the Prince Don Edoard is at large declared in the Booke intituled Primaleon How that after the Prince had deliuered her Brother Tarnaes out of the Enchaunted Castle wherein his Father had deuised the way to enclose him and the came home with him into Lacedemonia Shee oftâ—â—â—â—emed to mooue good liking on her behalfe to the Prince Don Edoard but hee by no meanes could direct his fancy after her course for that his promise before passed to the Princesse Flerida withheld the consent she gladly looked for To auoyd therefore what might happen he refused to vse her company in talke as before hee was wont which very much displeased Bellagris who was SoldaÌ„ of Niquee after the death of Molerin his eldest brother For hee vnderstanding the secret affection and great good will that she entirely bare to the noble Prince Don Edoard aduentured to trie Fortune who so fauourably prospered his intent that vnder the tytle of Don Edoard he entred his sisters Chamber where acquainting himselfe with her to his desire and her deceit time brought thoâ—â— pleasure to a goodly Sonne named Blandidon of whom hereafter you shall be more largely certified But Pandritia giuing credite to her selfe that the noble Don Edoard had receiued the estimation of her honour grouuded such firme affection on him as was more then we ought and more then he would grant So kéeping his Picture in his absence and vnderstanding of his supposed death she vsed this soleunitie in honour of his Funeralles and attyred her selfe according as became her misfortune departing from the Garden of Damoselles to her House of sadnesse supposing thereto end her life with the losse of her loue So remaineth she in place where she shut the dore against the Prince Primaleon who is likewise endeuoring himselfe in his aduentures Returne we now to the two young Princesso whom the Sauage mans wife had carefully nourished vp as had they béene her owne Children she could not haue vsed more motherly compassion In short time they grew to such estate that their whole delight was to hunt the sauage Beastes in the Forrest wherevnto Florianâ— had more affection then his brother Palmerin for he vsed euery day to beare his bowe and leade the two Lyons that hee became more expert then the Sauage man himselfe and thus for ten yeares space liued these two young Princes beloued wâ—ll of him who before was their greatest enemie It fortuned on a Sunday morning the Princes Fletida walked forth into the Forrest as well to sorrow for her Luue as to lameÌ„t the estate of her infortunate life hauing accomplished what she desired she returned At this time Florian wandred about the forrest with his Lyons which he tyed vp meaning to take by force the first wilde Beast that should appeare in his sight Hauing long stayed without any prey he determined to returne but at last he espyed a mighty Hart in a groue of trées whereat he let slie an Arrow with such force that it passed cleane through the body of the beast The Hart féeling himselfe wounded prosently tooke flight which he perceiuing let slip the Lions after him but all in vaine for the swiftnesse of the Hart outreached the spéedy pace of the Lyons And Florian strayed so farre that he had lost the sight of the Lyons and the Harte as also the way to the Sauadge mans house which caused him to wander in heauinesse till the darke Night ouershadowed him when he espyed two Shepheards making a little Fire of stickes to warme them because the Night was excéeding colde Florian being there arriued hee sate him downe by a Riuers side in the very same place that his Mother brought him into the World where sitting a pretty while he espyed a Knight come ryding attyred in blacke Armor spotted with red bearing in his Shielde the figure of a Gryffon with a certaine Poesie which was vnknown to any his Lady and himselfe excepted This Knight was named Sir Pridos who still aduanced himselfe in the search of the noble Prince Don Edoard and he rode very pensiue and sad till casting his eyes vpon Floran his heart beganne somewhat to conceiue a maruellous inward Ioy for that his countenance bare the perfect Image of his noble Father Whereupon Sir Pridos fell in diuers demaundes with him which Florian very courteously answered So that Syr Pridos fell into great desire that he would beare him company to London wherein the Kings Court he would present him among the number of those whome renowmed Fame did euer accompany The young Prince Florian more desirous to leade his life among the braue Gallantes then so to passe his time so solitarie among the vnfrequenten places in the Wilde Forrest gaue his consent and iournyed with Sir Pridos to the English Court where he presented him to the King cloathed in the Skinne of an Harte a thing of no small admyration to the King yet did hee receiue him very graciously in that he supposed him to be one of the Sonnes of the Princesse Flerida vnto whose Chamber he walked with this young Prince and in this manner beganne to salute her Fayre Daughter among all the grieuous vexations that afflict your weake Nature loe heere the Honour Syr Pridos doeth present you withall who in searching your Noble Lord and my Sonne hath found this Iewell which hee offereth to you as the frustes of his labours And trust me the oftner I beholde his sweete countenance the more I conceyue Opinion of his Allyance to my Sonne Don Edoard The Princesse Flerida was not a little pleased with so glad a present in signe whereof shée imbraced her Sonne albeit vnknowen and went straight way to Sir Pridos who certified her that he found him sitting in the same place where the Sauadge man came with his two Lyons and tooke her two Children from her This mooued Flerida to suppose him for her Sonne but Fortune would not as yet suffer a perfect assuraunce that eyther hée should know her for his Mother or shee him for her Childe Neuerthelesse shée gaue him the name of Desart training him vp in the
company of a young Gentleman Sonne to Syr Pridos and Attaida named Don Rosiran De la Bronde with whome I will leaue this gentle Prince Florian to know what the Sauadge man and Palmerin did séeing Florian returned not as he was woont CHAP. VIII How grieuous the Sauadge man tooke the suddaine losse of the yong Prince Forian when he perceiued the two Lions returne all washed in the blood of the Hart that they had slaine And how the young Prince Palmerin walking to the Sea side to seeke his Brother accompanied with Siluian the Sauadge mans Sonne departed thence in a Galley with Polendos King of Thessalie who sailed to ConstaÌ„ntinople where he presented them to the Emperor And how a Damosel mounted on a white Courser and bearing Armes arriued at the Court of Constantinople where she presented the Emperor with a Letter sent from the Lady of the Lake which gaue him at large to vnderstand what should oappen to â—he yong Prince Palmerin LOng expected the Sauadge man she returne of Florian and seeing it waxed darke and his hope deceiued hee was out of measure disquieted for the absence of Florian whose company both for expertnesse and towardnesse in his exercise was more commodious to him then his griefe would suffer him to expresse wherefore hee concluded thus young Florian was some way distressed and himselfe vtterly disdained of Fortune But in the morning the Lyons returned home al washed in the blood of the Hart which they had slaine when the Sauadge man percelued their guide wanting and they thus pollnted what with anguish of heart and chollericke perswasiâ—ns in his dosperate moode hee slew both the Lyons and entred into such a disquietnesse that nothing could asswage his extreame passion The yong Prince Palmerin sustaining great sorrow for the absence of his brother walked to the Sea shore accompanied with Siluian the Sauadge mans Sonne where sitting comforting each other on the greene bancke as naturs moued the one and nurture the other they espied a Galley to strike on shore where they twaine disported Polendos King of Theslalie being chiefe Captaine in this Galley who likewise directed his iourney for the finding of Don Edoard commanded to cast Anker there because for recreations sake he would walke vp into the Forrest as also to finde swéete water whereof he was greatly destitute Palmerin and Siluian séeing the King landed and fearing least they should sustaine some harme in that they were ignorant what they were determined by courteous demeâ— nor to let them passe by so should they haue no cause to molest them but to depart friendly perceiuing nothing but courtesie Polendos deholding the beautie of Palmerin with the no lesse ciuill then comely behauiour of them bdth desired them to goe abrdad with him and hee would preferre them in such place as they should be raised to honour and finde all things equiualâ—t to their gentle natures Palmerin whose fancy could hardly brooke that sauadge kinde of life but rather desired to acquaint himselfe with Courtly exercise gaue grant to that which â—he King had requested albeit Siluian vsed intreatie to perswade him to the contrary but when hée saw all meanes that he deuised could take no effect as well for the great loue that was betwéene them as the inuiolate affection he alway bare to the young Prince he vowed neuer to leaue his company either for misery misfortune or any accident whatsoeuer The King no lesse delighted in minde then greatly contented with the manners of Palmerin his seruants beeing returned with such necessaries as hee sent them for went abroad and heysed Sayles presently committing themselues to God the mercie of the waues So riding at their pleasure the King desired Palmerin if hée might lawfull craue so much to certifie him as concerning his byrth and Parentage which the courteous Prince right willingly gaue consent vnto declaring his life with the Sauadge man whom he certainely supposed to be his Father After many dayes fayling they arriued at Constantiuople which at that preseÌ„t was endued with as great heauines as in time past it surpassed in Princely delights the Port or Hauen likewise being nakedly prouided of ships for that the Occean and Mediterranian seas had scattered yâ— who le Nauy in search of the P. Don Edoard as also to know what was become of the Noble Primaleon yet in all this time no wished tydings heard The Emperor vnderstanding yâ— Polendos was arriued at Constantinople walked dâ—wn to the Hauen to accompany him to his pallace where being come and hearing by him no tidings of his sons became very sorrowfull as he had coÌ„tinued so a long time Then Polendos to put the Emperour out of this sadde cenceyte presented vnto him the young Prince Palmerin accompanied with Siluian Who casâ—ing his eyes on the young Prince entred presently into such an alteration of ioy as had he béene his own sonne Primaleon he could hardly haue béene better contented Wherefore he commaunded a Knight to conduct hm to the Princesse Gridonia willing her to giue him as seruant to the faire Polinarda whose beauty was so excellent her feature agréeable in euery lyneament her modestie so decent vertue therto apparant that she was rightly termed the Phaenix for beauty most famous among Ladies for bounty The Empresse and Gridonia receiued the yong Prince albeit ignorant of his estate yet as beséemed their honors respecting who sent him went straightway to present him to the faire Polinarda who in time caused him to aduenture his good Fortune among the pikes of mischanches and hazards of most daunger onely for her loue which hée bought as déerely as she gaue it daintily for proofe let suffice what hereafter ensueth But attend a strange rare euent On a subdaine was arriued in the Emperors Pallace a comely Damosell mounted on a Courser as white as a Swan bearing Armor also answerable to the same in colour her haire spread ouer her shoulders which gaue cause of meruaile to all that saw her She being come into the presence of the Emperor to the no little admiration of him with all those that beare him company she drew foorth a Letter delyuering the same with such Maiestie of behauiour as was méete to gratifie such an honourable personage which the Emperour deliuering to one of his Heralds coÌ„manded it to be read in publique audience who vnseaking it began as followeth ¶ To the Inuincible and most renowned Palmerin Emperour of Greece Salutations REnowned Emperor at whose name the enemy quaketh and the Subiect reioyceth in whose Court your name is the riches of the valiant friendship the reward of any that be venterous I wish thy state as permanent as thy deeds hath beene puissant and the vnanimitie of thy friends to prosper in longanimitie of happy Fortune The yong Prince that thou hast receiued into thy Court albeit thou maist think incredible yet shall finde it certaine when Time doeth will it must be it is descended of two the most
puissant Kings in Christendome and himselfe as victorious as â—uer was any Wherefore let his entertainment be such as his honour doth deserue and his estimation according as his valure doth declare for he it is must needs defend the Diadem of thy domiminions when it shall remaine destitute of wished defence and he it is that shall make thee lauded of Fortune and loued of thy enemies as of thy dearest friends Likewise the two most infortunate Princes of the world shall enioy their libertie by him in which many haue and shall attempt but he alone is oidained to finish this Exployr for that he is aboue all in the Fauour of Fortune and he shall exell all in the Nobilitie of Knighthood Thus leauing the summe of my promise to your gratious triall I wish the noble Emperour of Greece may liue in eternall honour and felicitie By her who is more in dutie then by pen or words she can any way disclole The Lady of the Lake The Emperor no lesse amazed at this happy aduenture then contented at the glad newes of this noble yong Prince desired of the Damosel who might be the Lady of the Lake To whoÌ„ the Damosell replied Noble sir she is altogether vnknowne of me but thus much I dare boldly assure your Maiestie that what her Letter presenteth shall be performed in this worthy young Prince These spéeches ended the Damosell departed which the Emperor perceiuing sent for the yong Prince vpon whom vsing many chéerfull countenances he desired his noble Gentlemen standing by that he might be tearmed of all Palmerin after his owne name for that he thought he should be the better estéemed of his Lady Polinarda in whose fauor he was greatly estéemed as the wearing of his Ladies colors he might giue some cause of beliefe But the Empres and Gridonia still lamented the losse of Primaleon whose absence from the court was chiefest cause of their sorrow CHAP. IX Of that which happened to Vernar the Prince of Allemaign in his search of Don Edoard and of the controuersie betweene him and Belcar the Duke of Duras in the vnfortunate Forrest of England I Haue declared to you before how Vernar the Prince of Allemaigne and sonne to the Emperour Trineus and the faire Agrigola left the Court of Constantinople when Palmerin departed to séeke the Prince Don Edoard In which affaires this gentle Prince likewise behaued himselfe so worthily in many rare exploytes that his Fame remaineth as a perfect type of his hononr in the Allemaigne Chronicles for which cause I leaue to rehearse them returning to that which happened this Prince and is in my charge to speake of It fortuned that hee hauing spent no small labour in trauaile arriued at last in great Brittaine where he had good hope to heare some newes to end his labour And being entred into this vnfortunate forrest ryding very sadly for yâ— his mind was somwhat distracted with remeÌ„brance of his faire Bazilia at length there met him a comely Knight very brauely mounted attyred in gilt armour whereon was wrought many Leopards by Artificiall deuice yet crazed and broken by some rough encounter that he had béene in And in his Shéeld he bare a Serpent in a field of Siluer trauailing also in the search of the strayed Prince as likewise to méet with such who professed the magnanimitie of minde to combate in the honour of their owne good Fortune for which cause he left the Ladies in the English Court among whom he was called The Knight of the Serpent Passing by the Prince Vernar he vsed such courtesie vnto him as beséemed his Knighthoode and was méete for such a Noble person but he altogether vsing his thoughtes on his fayrest Bazilia had no leysure to beholde the Knights courtesie The Knight of the Serpent supposing that eythere hee willingly would not perceyue or séeing scorned the gentle Salutations he vsed reuiued the Prince Vernar with these spéeches Syr Knight mee thinkes it might stand with your Honour and profession and no blemish to you any way but bounty euery way to haue thought well of him who meant no ill to you and to haue gratified him like a Courtier that disdained to passe by you and not vse courtesie The Prince being driuen foorth of his dumps whereto hee had more pleasure then to the Knights gentle proffer betwéene Iset and earnest thus answered Sir I muy be offended without blame and iudge your behauior to be very bald that would constraine me to speake not hearing your spéeche when I had more matters in minde then would suffer me to sée you much lesse to heare you Syr quoth the Knight of the Serpent this excuse is farre too simple in denying both your Hearing and Sight for though statelynesse would not suffer you to sée me yet the leawdnesse of my spéech doth iustifie you might heare me Vernar hearing the large language of the Knight which might quickly mooue him to anger being before subiect to ouer much Melancholie thus shortly replyed Syr Knight you haue better licence to depart then leaue to stay here for that my minde is troubled with such metters as rather requireth your absence thea alloweth your presence Giuing you farther to vnderstand that your companie is so much to my heart that the strife which may arise betwéene vs will be to your great harme When the Knight perceyued what small estimation Vernar had of him thus roundly replyed Syr either your bringing vp hath bene ouer churlish or your present behauior scant currant in that you estéem courtesie more like a Carter then a Courtyer and Ciuile demeanour more fitte to holde the Ploughe then fine qualities to honour your person I estéeme it both méete and modest that you expresse such a Friuolous motion as doth represse abruptly the nature of Friendly manners for greater danger is in concealing what I desire then damage in concealing such a simple demand I desire rather quoth Vernar mine owne ruine then I should be so simple to graunt what you request In so much that it is expedient none should know my thoughts shee onely excepted that must be priuie to what I thinke Wherefore esteeming thy Manhoode as small to commaund as thy might to compell I will bury my Thoughts with my Death before I intend to satisfie thy desire So leauing off words they fell to their weapons where shiuering their Speares and Armour they Encounted with such Brauerie that they were glad to take breathing when the Knight of the Serpent beganne thus to charge him I belieue Sir you finde this Skirmish more hote then your concealed thoughtes may be estéemed wisedome and that your Estate standeth in a more sharpe hazarde then your mute conceyts are of force to yéeld you any sure helpe which I hope shall shew you the difference betweene a carelesse Groome and a Courtly Gentleman Syr aunswered the Prince Vernan your opinion is as yet farre beyond my purpose for that you are as wide from your hope as you are
scant wise to put your intent to hap Perswade your selfe thus that the courage I haue to your foyle and secrecie I estéem of mine owne faith shall ere long giue an absolute answere whether I shal perish in my determination or thy selfe preuaile in what thou demandest which shall craue no longer forbearance then my Sword hath taught you manners that against my will would teach me your kinde of modestie Then fell they to a fresh Combate which was more dangerous then their first Assault when being wearied with Swords they endeuoured by wrastling to suppresse the strength of eache but the equal behauiour of their force was such as the losse of their blood was great yet their valorous hearts would conceiue no faintnesse The Knight of the Serpent had such a desire to knowe against whom he fought that once more he began to vse fair spéeches to him I perceiue Sir you more estéeme your earnest opinion then you stand in feare of the losse of your life which were more honour for you to deliuer vnto knowledge then such a seuere chaunce should happen vnto either of vs yet is my minde so affected that I will know both your secret and your selfe or it shall value my life As for my life qd Vernar I am so much the more willing to loose it by how much I perceyue you zealous to know what you shall not Wherevppon they beganne againe the third time albeit more faintly then before passed which caused their Esquyres standing by to enter into many heauy complaintes especially the Esquire of the Prince Vernar who as thus framed his mone Oh infortunate Emperor who is ignorant that Fortune at this time will depriue him of his ioy The Knight of the Serpent noting these words presently coniectured that it was the Prince Vernar sonne to the Emperour of Allemaigne against whom he entred Combat and how grieuous the Emperor Palmerin would take the matter if he heard of the losse of either of them both Beside himself would be loth any way to displease the Gentle Prince Vernar wherefore for more assurance of him he beheld his broken Shield wherein he perceiued the deuise of his Lady Bazilia coloured all in Purple with the halfe burning Heart in the midst and on the Armor of the Prince was her Portraite curiously drawne which gaue him perswasion that was hée to whom hee thus vsed his spéech Syr. Vernar my minde constraineth me to giue ouer the fight being right sorrie that I haue continued it so long for that the Princesse Bazilia is cause of your sorrow which you feared to vtter and now by my selfe declared Pardon your friende Belcar who is so hartily sorry that he rather desireth the death then to sée you in any distresse The Prince Vernar perceiuing that it was his friend Belcar ran to him embracing him in his armes giuing him a thousand thanks that he had so found the meane to cut off their quarrell Then taking their Helme to to theyr Esquires who did their best to binde vp their wounds they rode to the Citie of Brique which was not far from the Forrest recounting to each other what had happened them in their search of the Prince Don Edoard CHAP. X. ¶ How Eutropa gaue Dramusiande to vnderstand of the arriuall of a Knight at his Castell whose valiant behauiour should put him in some cause of feare which words made him presently to fortifie his Castell to auoyd anie perill that might annoy him And how Primaleon who was the Knight Eutropa spake of came to the Castell where he Iusted against his deare Friend Don Edoard in which Fight they had knowledge of each other And how in hope to purchase his deliuery he ouercame Pandare and Alligan two monstrous Giaunts entring into Combate likewise with Dramusiande who ouercam◠Primaleon and tooke him prisoner into his Castell DRamusiande still retaining in Captiuitie the Prince Don Edoard was on the sudden aduertised by the Enchauntresse Eutropa his Aunte that there should arriue a certaine Knight at his Castell whose valour and Prowesse should goe néere to attainte his Honour as also inforce his life to stand in some hazard He giuing credite vnto her perswasion and likewise somewhat carefull to auoyde the imminent perill fortified his Castel with such sure defence as he thought sufficient to award the Enemie and maintaine the intent he had vowed to prosecute For feare some times maketh a man to become wise that else in a desperate moode would set the world on whéeles So Dramusiande albeit famous in his déedes yet fearefull to be surprised by any danger vseth the industrie of his Aunte Eutropa with the helpe of his Friends whose courage he knew equall to their wise foresight to be reuenged on all Knights for the death of his father Frenaque Which the better to accomplish he entertained into his Castle two hardy and fearefull Giants the one named Pandare the other Alligan whose stature were no lesse in vglinesse then their strength cruell in resistance and because he would haue euery thing in due preparation he determined when néede should be how he would haue his Castle defended as thus The noble Prince Don Edoard against all Knights that came should haue the first honour of the fight next to him the Giant Pandare should giue a fresh assault which twaine if they should faile by misfortune as his Auntes words made him doubt of some mischaunce stout Alligan of the Obscure Caue would giue them their last welcome whose countenance was feareful to all that saw him and whose might was cruell to all that should hap to féele him Fortune bending her browes on the couragious Primaleon whom she had earst aduanced to honour and now determined to vnhappinesse directeth his course to this vnfriendly Castle where he should end his trauailes with his owne thraldome For after he had left the solitarie Pandritia in the realme of Lacedemonia he trauelled through Burgondie where happening among other Knights to come in place of a Triumph himselfe brauely mounted all in gréene Armor which colour somewhat asswaged his extreame Melanchollies and in his Shéelde on a ground of Azure a Sea brauely painted he bare for his deuice At this triumph he bare away the honour of the day so trauailing on in his iourney hée arriued in this manner at the Castle of Dramusiande And being come neare the Castle the Noble Prince Don Edoard came foorth vppon the bridge very valiantly mounted his armour all blacke whereon was a resemblaunce of little flames of fire tormenting a Louers heart which was engrauen in the middest of his breast His Shéelde was aunswerable in colour to his Armour in the middest whereof was curiously painted the Image of a sadde conceited minds so artificiallie framed that the beholders might easily iudge the heauinesse of the knight to be according to his sad Deuise Primaleon no lesse abashed at the brauery of the Castle then to sée a Knight so well appointed at Armes began in this order
image of vgly death and standing stedfastâ—â—ke looking and beholding the Picture of Altea vnto himselfe the beganne in this manner I reioyce my déere Altea that Fortune hath not altogether forgotten mee but alloweth my in this place to reuenge the foyle I sustained at my sorrowfull Mansion in that by my good endeuour all the Ladies of this Court shall be forced themselues to confesse that I maintaine the quarrell of perfect beautie and therefore worthy to beare the prize away To breake off these imaginations Polinard the brother of the Prince Vernar presented himselfe before the tent when the Emperor and the Ladies were set in their appointed place his Armour being blew and his Shéelde the chéerefull countenaunce of a very beautifull Damosell which he bare in the honor of the Princesse Polinarda vnto whom he vowed great affection but bashfulnesse did hinder himm from making it knowne The regardents of the Joust willed him to beliuer his Ladies fauour because it was the order of the fight that he should doe so to whom he answered The fauour of my Lady which as yet I haue found very slender shall be brought on this knight whom I haue hope to conquer and I will deliuer him that small fauour I haue to her Fame and his eternall dishonour The knight of Death replying Many a good Knight had thought so and yet hath béene deceiued and although you bragge you so you may hap to haue as hard a bargaine So without mor words they encountred verie fiercely but Polynard was ouerthrown with his arme gréeuously broken with incensed him with such anger that he would haue bin at his enemie againe but the knight of Death gaue him this perswasion Syr you haue done enough for this time when your arme is in estate you shall haue a fresh combate These spéeches so vexed Polynard that he became so troublesome to them both in talke and behauiour that he would neither yéelde his Armour nor obey the orders that were appointed in the field which caused the Emperor to giue him a great check wherupon he departed giuing great offence to the knight of Death in denying that which was his right and tytle to haue Then dealt he with fiue knights more and vanquished them all sending them into his Tent to the Sepulchre of Louers by which time it drew toward Dinner and the Emperour with the Ladies withdrew themselues and euery one departed till they had refreshed them as nature required When dinner was endes the Emperour went to the stent to sée the knight of Death to whom he gaue no small commendations for the worthy behauior he had séene in him So continuing that after noone in their sport to the foyle of many a good knight among whom was Trusiande and Bellizart that bare company with other knights to the Sepulchre of Louers And when they were ready to leaue of their pastime there suddainly came ryding a very séemely knight whose Armour was beset with gréeue Spheres bearing in his Shéelde likewise a Sphere of the same collour he perceiuing the Emperor with the company of so many braue Ladies came prancing and shewing many trickes with his horse before the knight of Death At last he drew forth a little table with a circle of gold round about it wherein was liue Pictured the faire face of Onistalda Daughter to the Duke of Drapos of Normandie looking stedfastly vpon it began thus to vse his talâ—ke Swéet Mistresse I haue enterprised this iourney vnder the soueraign title of yourâ— singuler beautie not doubting but to vanquish him who as yet hath borne the prize from al. Therefore let not the fauour which was my accustomed reward he denyed me at this time for that your beautie maketh me enter the field which I will maintaine to my desire or sustaine thd death So deliuering the table to the Regardants who were appointed to receiue it they set the Spurres to the horses and met with such puissance together that they were both throwne to the earth when drawing their Swords they charged one another so brauely that this combate bare the commendation aboue all that had béene séene at that Tournament Great desire had the Emperour to know the knight of the Speere but their fierce encountring would not suffer any answer to be made Retiring a little to take breath the knight of Death beheld his Armour all flasht and broken on the faire face of Altea which caused him to fall into these complaints Ah my swéete Altea how can I desire your fauour or make account to enioy your loue suffering your blamelesse face to be thus offended in whose remembraunce I haue and do enioy the honour of all good Fortune On the other side the Knight of the Shpere complayned to his Lady saying How happy might I estéeme my self my good Lady if for the price of my wounds I might enforce my enemie to say you are the onely Goddesse of beauty which either I will do or die ere I depart out of the field But if you with draw your fauour then shall mine enemie be conqueror and I constrained to liue in eternall detriment of my life By this time it waxed very darke because they would not giue ouer the Emperour caused Torches to be lighted which gaue great cause of courage to them both to sée the good will of the Emperour and would not depart the field till one were conquerour At last ioyning themselues together through extreame faintnesse and wearinesse they fel both to the ground but the knight of the Sphere was vnderneath the Ragardaunts giuing the victorie to the knight of Death Then leading the knight into the Tent where he rendred his Armour and his name to the Sepulchre of Louers they knew him to be Berolde the prince of Spaine which when the Emperour heard he sent for him into his Pallace where he was carefully tended vntill his health was perfectly restored yet he was maruellously offended with himselfe that his Lady past without the honour of the day The knight of Death could beare no Armour a great while after for that he had found the puissance of the Prince Berolde of no lesse force then worthy commendations But when he had gained hs good estate of helth he stil maintained his quarell against many strangue knights of whom by his good Fortune he had alwaies the victorie replenishing his Sepulchre of Louers to his owne hearts content And the Emperor Palmerin gaue him such honour in the time he endured his aduentures that he was double encoured to maintaine the beauty of his Lady Altea CHAP. XXIIII How the Knight of Fortune hauing left Pompides chanced to meete with the Green Knight that accompanied the Knight of the Sauage man in the Turnament at Constantinople who was the sonne of Sir Pridos named Don Rosian De la Bronde in whose company the Knight of the Sauage man was nourished in the Court of England who trying their strengths together Don Rosiart was vanquished EEduring the
Syster to the other Knight that lyeth on the ground the gaue vs to vnderstand that this knight meaning the knight of the Sauadge man had cruelly slaine her Father and did his endeuour to kill her Brother likewise wherefore she desired vs to stande her Rescue and to deliuer her foorth of such griefe as shee might conceiue by his death Francian perceyuing her Brother in such estate as hee could not awarde the heauie blowes this Knight charged him withall entred betwéene them and in like manner was brought to as lowe estate himselfe Yea and I perswade my selfe had not your Grace come to ende the strife my selfe had bene partner of their hard mishap The knight of the Sauadge man hearing what the Prince Gracian had saide began in this order to discourse how it happened My grations Soueraigne the Damosell of whom this Knight hath spoken came Ryding towardes mee her haire dispearsed on her shoulders her Face all blubbered with teares her Garmentes torne and very much polluted all the way as she came crying how that this knight whome she after named to be her Brother did séeke to dishonour her and therefore desired mee to defend her in so great extremitie When I had ioyned Combat with the Knight soone after she came againe and brought these two knight reporting to them as hee hath informed your Maiestie so leaning vs in this strife she departed we know not whither The King well noting the deceyte of the Damosell which was onely to séeke the ruine of those Noble knights caused the Helmet of Francian and of the other knight to be taken off when féeling the ayre they came to themselues againe sauing that their wounds made them very féeble Then was the other Knight known to be Polinard son to the Emperor Trineus when presently the King caused Francian and Polinard to bée conueyed in a Chariot to the Citie of London And by the way the King questioned with Polinard for what cause be pursued the Domosel when this noble knight tooke in hand to defeÌ„d her By your gracious leaue answered Polinard I thinke shée was the most wicked and deceitfullest Damosell on the earth for through her perswasion Onistalde and Dramisian my friends were brought into such ignorance and such credite of her that they entred Combat and had almost slaine one another had not I arriued at their fight when they were hardly to be iudged if there were any recouery for their health At my request they ended their strife and rode together I know not well which way nor if they be aliue as yet but I followed the Damosel to know the occasion why my brethren were fallen to so great debate wheÌ„ this knight came and preuented me as your Grace hath heard The King was greatly displeased at this misaduenture and sent presently about to heare tydings of Onistalde Dramisian that if their bodies were found dead they might be interred according to the nobilitie of their birth But they were found liuing and by the king sent to the Monasterie of Cleare Victory where they were carefully cherished by the brethren of that Religion which was first found by Amadis de Gaule néere vnto Fenrisse thither were his bones carried after his death from the great Brittaine to witnesse the victory hee had got of the Kings in that place The king caused a great many of knights to pursue after the Damosell but their labour was in vaine for her Mistresse Eutropa who sent her kept her safe enough from them When the King was come to the Court hée caused the Princes to bée so prouided for as they recouered againe their health in short time and the knight of the Sauage man lying in his accustomed Chamber was diligently looked vnto by the Princesse Flerida and the King would often visite him because his minde did stil vse perswasion with him that he should be somewhat allyed to him in kindred To be resolued whereof he would intreate the Princesse and he himselfe would often question with him to make knowne vnto them what he was or of whence he iudged himselfe to descend but he would neuer by any meanes satisfie their request because indéed he could not gaine any knowledge of himselfe CHAP. XXXV How the Sage Aliert brought the bodies of Flâ—raman Platir Pompides and Blandidon in a Chariot to his Castle where he healed their wounds and set them againe in the place where they fought their Combat which made them know one another and ioyne together like friends And how a Damosell came talked with them and gaue them Horses and Armour with foure Esquires to attend on them so they all departed with the Damosell to finish an aduenture which made her liue in great sorrow And how the knight of Fortune departing froÌ„ the Castle of the Sage Aliart happened to lodge in the house of an ancient Gentleman neare London where a Damosel came to intreate him of an aduenture hee should take in hand on her behalfe against the noble knight of the Sauage man SAge Aliart of the Obscure Valley as the Historie declareth caused the bodies of Platir and the other knights to be brought in a Chariot to his Castle where separating them in sundry chambers â—ee vsed such great care and diligence for reâ—â—ring their health that in short time they had escaped the point of danger and were in as good constitution of body as they had beene before For this occasion vrged him to vse more circumspection to them that if their liues had failed thorow misaduenture then had not onely their noble kindred béene oppressed with griefe but also their Dominions remained destitute of their chiefe defence For which cause he had thus prouided for them albeit out of their knowledge whence such friendship should procéede neither how they left the place of their Combate and were brought into so strong a Castell Platir and Floraman were at last lodged in one Chamber in like manner were Pompides and Blandidon where they no lesse maruelled at their sudden recouerie of health then at the Princely attendance was daily vsed to them but which was more to their griefe they could gaine no knowledge of their Host either what he was or wherefore he vsed such great curtesie vnto them The knight of Fortune who as yet remained in the Castle of the Sage Aliart could neuer compasse the meane to find the Lodgings of these Knights but was very pensiue to thinke of their great hurts receiued in the Combate Neuerthelesse the perswasion that the Sage Aliart vsed with him as promising all should bee safely recured vrged him to exempt so great a debut When time serued according as the Sage Aliart thought conuenient by force of his charmes hee cast them in a dead slumber and brought them to the place where they sought their Combate where when they awaked they found the place bestrewed with the Trunchions of their Speares as also pieces of their armour and the grasse somewhat died with the effusion of
not contained a much larger quantity to which demand the Hermite thus answered Good Sir when first I came to inhabite this place which by computatioÌ„ of time I gesse to be about 34. yéers since I found this ancient Sepulchre in the same estate you now behold it But as I haue heard of many and therefore may be hold to report it when the Infidels did inuade this Land they did ruinate and spoyle this Tombe aboue all the rest Not sparing these other by it as you may perceiue wherein are inferred Don Grumedan and Don Cuillan the Pensiue beside other personages of no lesse nobilitie then knightly behauiour The Hermits talke vrged him to remember the discourse of the life of this noble Don Guillan comparing his haplesse life with his heauy estate which was in like manner procured as his Lady Polynarda was the original of his sorowful mourning At this remembrance falling into a great agony of mind he was constrained to leane on the irons that compassed this auncient Sepulchre vttering such rufull complaints within himselfe as the gréefe thereof caused the teares to run down his chéekes Standing a great while as it were in amaze the Hermite supposed he occupyed his mind about some euill intent but Sriuian stepped vnto him declaring that it was his wont to be often incumbred with Melancholy and therefore willed him to vse no more doubt in this matter At length he hapned forth of this mute study turning his head to hide his extreame griefe when Siluian went vnto him desiring he would noc forget his enterprise with the knight of the Sauage man and to leaue â—ch thoughts as would draw his estate into such debility as might greatly hinder his former determination With these words he was somewhat displeased saying I more doubt of that which my late studying hath called into remembrance theÌ„ either the feare or force my enemy can vse to me So taking his leaue of the Hermit he rode toward the Citty where he met the Gentleman his Host and the Damosell on whose behalfe he had enterprised the Combate then because he would not enter the Citty as yet he sent Siluian to the Court to manifest before the King his Maisters challenge and to vse great circumspection what answer the King returned Siluian well noting his Maisters commandement departed and in short time arriued at the Pallace where going vp into the great Hall he perceiued the King was newly risen from Diuner walking with his knights among whom was the knight of the Sauage man being well and perfectly cured of the wounds he had receiued when he fought against Gracian Francian and Polynarda who were there also in his company Siluian came into the presence of the king where on his knée with such duty as is required in that respect he began as followeth Most puissant Prince the knight of Fortune my noble Lord and Master by me in humility of his owne person yéeldeth the homage of his heart and knightly Sword at your Graces command Such was his intent as in your Courts he bowed to make proofe of his seruice but Fortune not so agréeing in stead of aquiet entry vnder your Graces leaue he meaneth to come by way of a challenge For as he trauailed he met a Ladie whose cause of misfortune shée doeth attribute to the Knight of the Sauage man and my Lord taking her distressed case in hand by me giueth challenge to him of Combat to méet him if he dare so that your Grace will allowe my Lord a safe entrance and returns without the disturbance of any to hinder his determination the Knight of the Sauage man onely excepted The king who had heard the fame of the knight of Fortune to be such as was extolled in all Princes Courts was very sory that his arriuall should moue such a request and would willingly haue denied the Combate but that the Knight of the Sauage man came before his Maiestie and vsed these words My gracious Soueraigne the Knight of Fortune is of such reputation as neither may your Grace denie his request nor my selfe refuse to enter Combate with him And albeit his puissaÌ„ce hath vrged him to a Challenge and the aduantage gotten in other countries maketh him the more earnest to haue his déedes knowne here yet can neither his gréeting dismay my courage nor his presence compell me to leaue the fielde Wherefore I desire your Grace to grant his request that he may haue libertie of the Iust according as hée ought otherwise will I goe to him as well to satisfie his desire as to compasse the affection I haue of my selfe The King séeing all excuses would not serue to hinder this matter but that the Knight of the Sauage man would néedes take on him the fight returned Siluian with this answere My Friend tell thy Lord I am both pleased and offended at his request yet séeing his demand standeth with law of armes which I can no way iustly denie I graunt him free leaue without contradiction of any But better would I haue iudged of him had his challenge béene to any other Knight where being as it is he will not so lightly escape as perhaps hee maketh account of With this message Siluian returned to his Maister who hauing heard the pleasure of the king came prnsently to the place appointed for the combat where the king with the Quéen and the Princesse Flerida with all the nobility were ready placed to behold this noble attempt The Citizens likewise repaired thither to see this combate which was so suddenly noysed abroade so that the place was filled with abundance of people The knight of Fortune entred and made his obeysance to the king and passed by then came the knight of the Sauage man accompanied with many knights noble gentlemen among which company was Argolant who brought him his speare Don Rosiran de la Bronde deliuerd him his shéeld so marching on by the king they left him vsing this talke with the knight of Fortune I know not sir knight what should be the cause of your so great challenge without it be to iniurie him that neuer offended you Sir answered the knight of Fortune behold the Ladie here present to whom you haue offered no small abuse which I will sée you recompence or constraine you to abide the doome of my mercy Trust me sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man the Lady is altogether vnknowne of me neyther haue I offended her or any body beside that I should deserue to be thus vngently accused but I sée the good opinion you haue of your owne manhood causeth you to be so earnest in this matter which I will not denym albeit I could yet giue no spot to my honour So departing themselues to fetch their caréere at the sound of the Trumpetst hey met brauely together breaking halfe a dozen Staues a péece yet neither able to stirre the other When they saw they could not dismount one another they tooke their swords and
disped among faire Ladyes The Princes was so well pleased with this good agréement that giuing each of them harty thanks she returned to her Chamber and the King not a little pleased at this good euent commanded the knights should bée brought into his Pallace where such respect should be vsed to them that in short time they might recouer their former good health But the Knight of Fortune would not accept the knights offer at that time but departed with the Gentleman his Host to his house againe whether being carefully brought in a Chariot such prouision was ordained for him that by the helpe of the Gentlemans Daughter who was maruailous expert in the Arte of Medicine his weake estate was relieued into indifferent good plight Then was the Damosell sought for who was the cause of this Combate but answere was made that so soone as they had entred the fight she secretly shrunke away thorow the preace so that they could gaine no knowledge of her The knight of the Sauage man was conducted to his Chamber where hée had such great attendance in the curing of his wounds as by any meanes they could deuise what might best serue for remedy For neuer were his hurts so dangerous as those that he had receiued at this Combate nor his life in greater hazard then it was at this present which made the Princesse so diligent about him that she enterprised as much as the simplest that had any occasion to trauaile for his health The King was greatly displeased that the knight of Fortune would not vouchsafe the lodging in his Pallace where we will leaue awhile the two vnknowen brothers till they haue attained their health that thē we may haue more occasion to speake of them And loth were I to be forgetfull of the Knights of the Court of Constantinople who assembled themselues in tranaile in the Forrest of great Brittaine trusting to the tickle dealings of fléering Fortune Who if she fauored them a day frowned on them againe for a months space after and when they thought themselues in surest estate of good hap then were they néerest to their owne destruction CHAP. XXXVIII How Eutropa the Enchantresse who had sent this Damosell that procured the Combate betweene the Knight of Fortune and the knight of the Sauage man caused al the Grecian Knights to come before her Castle where they seuered themselues in maner of two Armies And how she sent two Damosels more who by their faigned reports set such a discord betweene both parties that they prepared themselues to a dangerour Battaile EVtropa the enchantresse and Aunt to the Giant Dramusiande seeing her Castele stored with good Knights and fearing the time drewe nie to preuent her wicked purpose she sought to set such discord among the Knights that were lately arriued in England as they should without knowledge spoile the liues of each other For to this ende and purpose she framed her intent that if she could execute her will on the couragious Knights who endeuoured themselues in the search of the strayed Princes she would set such strife and enmitie thorow all Christendome that the Paganes should ruinate and spoile all the Dominions and be Lords ouer the kingdoms and Countreys And the better to bring her deuises to passe shee sent Damosels continually abroad through the circute of great Brittaine to set strife and discention betwéene all the trauayling Knights and the Damoselles were so diligent in theyr Mistresse commaund that they daily brought many good Knights into hazard and danger as you haue partly heard and shall doe hereafter One of these Damosels was the occasion of the Combate betwéene Polinarda and Knight of the Sauage man the very same Damosell brought the Horse and Armour to the Prince Platir and his companions She also set the strife betwéen the Knight of Fortune and the Knight of the Sauage man for this Damosell had teares at her commaund and such subtill reports for the auaile of her Mistresse that shée was onely beloued and estéemed with Eutropa yea shee referred the whole substance of her practise to the deceitfull reports of the Damosell The Knights that were lately come from Constantinople and remained a while for their pleasure in the English Court were enforced by these craftie meanes to take their departure and to séeke the aduentures that were in great Brittaine So when the Combate was ended betwéene the knight of Fortune and the Knight of the Sauage man they disguised their Armour changed the deuises of theyr Shieldes least they should be knowen and put themselues in trauayle which way they were inforced to finde the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande Eutropa had brought all the knights into the field where the Castle stoode seuering them in two companies and a Riuer running betwéene them where their Tents were pitched and such prouision appointed as thogh they had determined to fight a maine Battaile On the one side was the Prince Gracian Onistalde Dramain Francian Polinard Tremoran Claribal and Emeralde the Faire on the other side was the Prince Berolde Dridan Belizart Guerin Estrellant Germaine of Orleance Platir Floraman Blandidon and Crispian with diuers other And both the sides brought into such estate that they neither could tell what the other were nor by what meanes they were brought into that place At last foorth of the Castle came two Damosels the one accompanied like a persō of great grauitie the other hauing no body with her but a yong Gentleman that was her guide who presently went to the Pauillions next the Castle and the other to the Prince Gracian and his company that were on the further side of the Riuer After she was come into the presence of the Princes very gently and courteously entertained preparing her selfe to a deceitfull course and intermedling her talke with teares shée beganne in this manner Sir knights the crown of your noble déedes and continuall Fame of your well imployed Knight-héed is sufficient to irritate your vsurping enemies and to confound all such as swell against honourable duety so that their owne drifts shall prepare their iust destruction and their euill deuices runne into contempt of the whole world As concerning the presumption I haue vsed in my rash entry with the bold behauiour you may perceiue to my reproch I shall desire you first to consider the extremity of my griefe and then to pardon my enterprise when you are priuy to my Passions This auncient Castell which you may here behold doth belong to me that haue liued in it both a heauy and happy time in that in times past I haue béene better acquainted with pleasant conceyts then for a long time I could enioy the like tranquility as they to whom my misfortunes are very well knowē can witnesse the great alteration of my former estate For Fortune among all the liberall benefits she had bestowed on me as wealth to maintaine me and a quiet gouernment to protect me gaue me a Daughter so perfect in beauty so
that Don Edward our infortunate Prince Primaleon your noble Sonne and all the other captiue Princes in despite of her and the giant Dramusiande are reléeued from their long vnhappy imprisonment Then turning to the Princesse Bazilia he began courteously to salute her as thus It stood with good reason faire Lady that your presence should be partaker of these happy tidings insomuch as you I am sure haue suffered no small afflictions for the absence of your deare friend the Prince Vernar whom I can assure you to be in as good health as you can wish sauing that he is not here as you could willingly be content he himselfe as in short time he will I dare awarrant you Gridonia rauished with the report of Argolant was so suddenly ouercome with excéeding ioy that she caught the Princesse Bazilia in her armes either of them cured of one sicknesse that one could hardly iudge whether their present gladnesse excelled their passed gréefe or in what order they receiued these newes but it sufficeth they had good cause to be pleasant The Empresse came and took either of them by the hand conducting them into her Oratorie where in heartie and solemne deuotions they gaue thankes to God for this prosperous successe In the meane while the Emperour desired Argolant to rehearse the names of such noble Princes and Knights as were partners in this long captiuitie which when he had heard he greatly reioyced that the florishing noble mindes of all Christendome bare parts of the mishappes of the renowned English Prince a token of their great loue and friendship in that they disdained not the terrour of such hard misfortune to beare him company whom all hautie hearts did honour And the rather was his ioy the greater because the knight of Fortune contained the magnanimitie of courage as notwithstanding all bitter brunts to threaten the contrary he was the chosen Champion to accomplish this rare aduenture Now he called to remembrance the letter sent by the Lady of the Lake the same day as Polendos king of Thessaly deliuered him that royall present as also the message of the Sage Aliart which had now discouered the full effect of their promises Through all the Cittie was presently noysed the recouery of the Grecian Princes which caused euery one to make small account of the presumptuous brags of the Soldanes of Babylon and Persia in that they iudged themselues vnder the surest defence that might be now they had obtained those whom they euer estéemed The Emperour causing Argolant to be brought to his chamber went straight to the Closet of the Empresse where he rehearsed all that Argolant had declared as concerning the successe of the knight of Fortune Argolant departing on the next morning was desired by the Emperour to will the knight of Fortune make hast vnto Constantinople because he had a great desire to sée him And now the Emperour with all his court was indued with as great ioy as he conceiued sorrow at his departure which he had good cause to do hauing lost his chéefest defence in the absence of the Princes and knights that were kept prisoners in the Castle of Dramusiande by the accursed meanes of the Enchantresse Eutropa and now possessing the fréedome of his losse he might well estéeme the volour of this hardy knight But such are the changes and mutabilities of Fortune who when the heart is drowned in gréefe past any hope she sendeth a happy successe to requite the former mischance and likewise where most pleasure hath continuall residence there she soonest prouideth the greatest mishap CHAP. XLV How the English knights and the Grecian knights in honor of the Emperour Trineus and the faire Agriola enterprised a braue Tournament wherein each one behaued himself very valiantly And how three strange knights arriued there whose noble behauiour vrged the royall assembly to great admiration EIght dayes after that the Emperour Trinâ—us was arriued at Court the knights among themselues determined a triumph for which cause the Tiltyard had many scaffolds and galleries built about it that they might the better behold this hauty attempt When the Emperour with the fair Agriola the king Fredericke the Quéene the Princesse Flerida Don Edward Primaleon with the other noble Ladies and gentlemen of the Court were come to the place appointed for them to sée this Tournament the English knights entred the lists where they meant to manifest the affection they bare to their Ladies that in honour of their fauours they feared not to hazard the vttermost of their liues After them entred the Grecian knights euery one brauely mounted and attired in faire new complete Armour which graced with their persons maruellously the Prince Gracian by their generall consent was chosen Captaine to whom they referred the state of their conduct for that day because Palmerin of England would not enter the Ioust against his friends left his valour should turne to their disaduantage At the sound of the Trumpet they all prepared themselues encountring one another with such knightly courage that the Estates presents with such a whole multitude of people attributed great coÌ„mendation to this hardy exployt for that they dismounted one another on either side as it was doubtfull to say which company were likest of victory Gracian ran fiercely against Eutrope of Beltran an English knight of great strength and very well estéemed but Fortune turned her backe towards him that day so that he could not withstand the knightly puissance of the French Prince Platir encountred with Normant the Proude gaue him such a colde welcome that they were faine to carry him forth of the field In like manner Carlente sped at the hands of the Prince Berolde consequently the English knights albeit their déeds did iustly merite eternall commendations both at the Tilte and Tourney were vrged to the repulse because the Grecian knights were the stronger side Berolde breaking through the rankes vsing such singular behauiour in all his attempts as was greatly liked of the Regardants came to Clariball of Hungaria who setled themselues stoutly against ech other that they endured both a doutfull and a dangerous fight neither hauing the aduantage of the other but such an equall condition passing betwéene them as the Emperour with all the royall company were greatly affected therewith The king Recinde albeit the sharpe strokes his Sonne receiued vrged him to take it some what impatiently yet the generall applause which was giuen vnto him constrained him to thinke well of his valiant procéeding Eutrope came now to the assistance of Clariball accompanyed with Syr Pridos Archirin LaÌ„bert Roquendar Rugerald Flocandrisse Alberraz Lamonstrant and Brutamont against whom to maintain the quarrell of the Prince Berolde came Gracian Frisol Luyman Onistalde Dramâ—an Tenebrant Don Rousel and Bazilliarde all these behauing themselues very gallantly at Armes yet at this brunt was too weak to resist the hot assaults of the valiant English Princes which was stil maintained with fresh supply of noble
suspition of me I giue you to vnderstand that I am called Primaleon Sonne to the famous Emperor of Constantinople When the Tristfull Knight heard these wordes he was ouercome with such extreame sorrow and heauinesse because he had entred Combat with his Father Primaleon that he had much adoe to sustaine himselfe which the Prince séeing came to him with these words Florendos let no grieuous motions séeme to abate your courage for I had knowledge of you before we fell to the Combat as for what hath passed I franke and fréely forgiue being glad that I haue tryed your right to be of such reputation The Tristfull Knight knéeling downe and in great humility kissing his Fathers hand hée sustained him graciously in his armes and great were the salutations that passed betwéene them Pandritia being glad to sée the Prince Primaleon conducted them both into her House of Sadnesse where they were lodged in a goodly chamber and their wounds attended by the Ladies with very diligent and louing respect CHAP. LII How Primaleon and the Tristfull knight being healed of the wounds they had receiued in the combat by the courteous entertainment of the sorrowfull Lady Pandritia after they had staied there a little space and Primaleon certifying her of the happy deliuery of the Prince Don Edward they both departed from thence the Prince toward Constantinople and the Tristful knight in his iourney towards Spaine when Pandritia likewise for these ioyfull ridings left her House of Sadnesse and went to the Garden of Damosels And how after Primaleon and the Prince Vernar were arriued at Constantinople the Soldan Bellagris sent a Messenger to the Emperor who gaue him to vnderstand of the dealing of the Soldan of Babilon who had staid his army to contend with certaine Lords of his dominions that rebelled and entred into armes against him FLoredos the Tristfull Knight and his noble Father the Prince Primaleon made their abode for the space of certaine dayes in the carefull Castle of the solitary Pandritia where they were so carefully visited and their feeble estates so louingly tendered that in short time they recouered their perfect health In which time Primaleon had certified her of the prosperous successe of the Prince Don Fdward whom she verily supposed to be dead long before so that shée conceiued such great delight in this report as at the request of the Prince the left her House of Sadnesse and returned to her Mansion named the Garden of Damosels vsing more pleasant conceits then for a great while she might suffer to thinke on Primaleon hauing borne her company longer then willingly hee would and declared to her the the names of the Knights that were prisoners with Don Edward as also the manner of their happy deliuerance accompanied with the Tristful Knight he tooke his leaue of her she being loath they should depart so soone but perswaded by their earnest affayres gaue them the courtesie and so they left her They twaine thus ryding together the Tristfull Knight desired his Father that hée might leaue his company because the affection to his Lady directed his trauaile into Spaine who not denying his sonnes request because himselfe was minded to ryde alone to the ende hee might make the better proofe of his valour imbraced one another the Tristfull Knight riding towards her for whose swéete sake he liued in great affliction and anguish of minde where at this time wée will leaue him and returne to the Prince Primaleon who not encountring any aduenture by this time is come to Constantinople whereas full often he wished himselfe because he had heard of the Soldanes Army which was of such force that it caused the whole Empire to stand in great feare Primaleon being entred into the Citie kept close his Beuere because he would not be knowne to any but intended to come suddainly vpon his friends which wold make him to be the better welcome Being come to y◠Pallace hauing deliuered his Horse to his Esquire he went vp into the great Hall in the same Armour that he vsed against the Tristfull Knight which was very much defaced with the blowes he had receiued causing great astonishment to all that were present who gaue him way to come before the Emperour Then knéeling downe and desiring to haue the Empresse and the Ladies present he would discourse 〈◊〉 his Highnesse what had happened lately in England which the Emperour desirous to heare yet not knowing what or who he was all this while receiued him from the ground saying That the honour of the place from whence he came should make him a great deale the better welcome and so he conducted him to the Empresse chamber where by good hap the princesse Gridonia Polinarda and Bazilia were present when the Emperor tooke occasion to begin as thus Faire Ladies this Knight commeth from the Court of England and would not declare his message to me vntil such time as he might come to your presence before whom he desireth to shewe his Ambassage which I wish to be otherwise then I thinke for because of the tariance of my sonne Primalaon whose absence is no small cause of my heauinesse With that the Emperour sate downe by the Ladies whom Primaleon began to behold very earnestly because he perceyued them growne into great alteration especially the Emperour his Father whose countenance was much changed then when he saw him last and the Princes Gridonia had greatly offended his faire face with the continuall mourning shée vsed for the absence of her Lord so generally beholding them all and staying from speaking an indifferent long space to the great amazing of the Emperor as also the company of the courtly Ladies at last he vnclasped his Beuer began in this order I desire you my gratious father to pardon my long silence as also the great time of mine absence from your royall Court hauing no other Message to present you but the good health of your noble friends in England as also of your Sonne Primaleon who humbleth himselfe before your gratious presence The Emperor was suddenly wrapt with such an inward ioy y◠for a great time he remained as it were in a trance in like maner the Empresse Gridonia Polinarda al the Ladies who came running altogether imbraced him with such ioy as it is impossible for me to giue iudgement thereon After hée had vsed curtesie to them al the Princesse Bazilia came kissed his hand to whom he said Faire Sister feare you not your Lord Vernas will not long absēt himselfe frō you but you shal haue him here right soon I dare warrant you Then was he vnarmed when the Emperour could not satisfie himselfe till he heard the ioyfull newes lately chanced in England but when he vnderstood how Palmerin was sonne to the Prince Don Edward and his daughter Flerida he receiued great contentation in that he was nourished in the company of the princesse Polinarda who concealed her ioy from any one Dramacian
Castle which gaue such an vnkind corsey to the heart of Florendos that now his mind was in some more outrage then before yea they were no sooner gone but he fell into such rigorous accusations against himselfe partly because timeritie withheld him from speaking to them and then againe how necessary his cause was to haue mooued speech so that betwéene the one the other he was euē as a man distraught of his wits Then began he to feele the seuerall accidents which loue imprinteth in the hearts of those that delight to dally vnder her Banner and how the little son of the Goddesse Citherea can pierce more déepe with his aiming shaft then the hardy enemie can enter with his launce so that he confessed himselfe to bee in more suretie when the Bullets flew about his eares then when Beautie had sent her charges to warre against his eies which was able to do more in an houre then the other had power in the space of a yeere Well sad as he was he walked to the Castell where finding the gate shut hee fell into his former agonies but by Fortune casting his eyes aside hee beheld a Shéeld hanging on the wall wherin was liuely giuen to view the Portrait of the Lady who was mistresse of his hart which he iudged to be handled in such perfection that it wanting nothing but in resemblance of the person Vnder this shéeld in golden letters was artificially written the name of Miragarda whereby Florendos verily supposed that it belonged to her who iustly deserued it because her beautie did not only merit to be viewed but would likewise inuegle the hearts of the stoutest that durst conceiue the hardinesse in themselues to come to her place of abode Yet were not those letters placed there to that in tent or purpose but only to aduertise such knights as took occasion to trauaile that way to be carefull to themselues for feare of the Giant Almarol who was Lord of that Castle and kept that Shéeld there in the behalfe of this faire Miragarda against any knight that durst presume to take it from thence While Florendos stood vsing a thousand amorous deuotions to this singular picture he espyed the Giant to come forth of the castle armed with a Iacke of Azier no lesse faire then strong and mounted on a sturdy blacke Courser when to Florendos he began to vse these words Credit me sir knight the mystery of these letters hath gottē such a maistery of you that I feare you will repent when first you saw them and that fortune was so much your enemy to conduct you to this place Trust me answered Florendos if I did not more fauour the portrait then I stand in feare of thy puissance and regard more her swéete face who owes it then I respect these words thou vsest in thy ruffe I should hardly shew her my desire or giue thée thy dutie which since thou wilt haue no forbearance but ready payment I will cause my sword at this time to seale thée quittance These words caused one either side cruell blowes with their weapons not so dangerous to the one but as doubtfull to the other yet fortune fauouring the Prince Florendos brought the Giant Almoral into such estate that he had bene made shorter by the head had not Miragarda presently discended who perceiuing Almoral brought into subiection vsed these words to the Prince Florendos Sir knight I desire you to make acceptation of the victory beare not such a bloody minde to desire the losse of his life but if for my sake you will do so much then fauour him to whom I am very much beholding as well for his gentlenesse as also because he did gard me and of this Fortresse Florendos séeing he had gotten such good lucke that he might speake to her to whom before he durst not requited her presently this answer Madame of such force are your gratious spéeches as also the good opinion I conceiue of your séemely selfe that I not onely vow my heart at your command but also my hand to mainetaine your cause wherefore I grant him his life desiring that your gentle nature wold afford me the like for that your beauty claimed such a conquest of me as none but your selfe can any way mitigate Miragarda giuing him great thanks for his curtesie departed into the Castle againe accompanyed with the Giant Florendos still remaining without complaining on the wound he receiued by her beautie and not of the hurts he had gained through the Giant In whose company he enterprised to kéepe the shéeld of Miragarda entring the Combat in her defence with all the Knights that made their iourney that way which indéed were nany through the singular report of her beautie yet fortune at that instant preferring Florendos caused him still to remaine the Conquerour Thus remained the Prince in extreame conflict of his loue frequencing dayly his Ladies picture with his amorous and pensiue complaints which Miragarda tooke such pleasure to behold that she fained for to loue him onely because she would scorne at his fond and foolish dealings But when Fame had blowne abroade the aduentures of great Brittaine how the knights were continually lost in the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande Miragarda conceiuing such an opinion of him did earnestly request that he would take his iourney thither perswading him that the aduenture of the Fortresse was only reserued to be finished by his valour Florendos loath to disobey her commandement tooke vpon him to crauaile that he arriued in England at such time as he heard the aduenture to be finished and the Princes were preparing themselues to come to the Castle where on the bridge he attended their comming and behaued himself against them as you haue heard before But now gentlewomen whose rare excellencie is such as you may perceiue that it vrgeth the gentle minde to attempt the déepest danger in your gratious seruice you shall be resolued how the faire Miragarda chanced to this Castle and why the Giant Almorol defended her as you haue heard At such time as the King Recinde was Prisoner in the enchanted Castle and that many Princes of Spain had betaken themselues to his search the Quéene remained in such gréeuous sorrowes that nothing could moue procure her to any pleasure Whereupon the Countie Arlae presented his daughter Miragarda to the Quéene to the end that we might receiue some pleasure by her company but the noble Gentlemen delighted with this rare péece of beantie enterprised Iousts and Triumphes onely to winne her to whom they were so affectioned So that expences of them were so great to doe her pleasure who litle regarded it that many of them were brought into great necessitie onely by the riotous charges her beauty set them at The Quéene séeing her Lord so long absent from his Kingdome and that the noble Gentlemen of the Court striuing to excell one another in braue and rich deuises were brought to an hard
sorrow that she had almost distraught her selfe of her wits and to reuenge his mishap she sent with all speede to the Soldan of Babylon that he should prepare a mightie Army wherewith he might ruinate the Citie of Constantinople and the whole Empire of Greece But her diuelish desire could not take effect because the Soldane had enough to doe with his owne subiects who had raised themselues in a mutany and open rebellion against him for which cause shee seeing all her drifts could not accomplish her wish came vnto this place accompanied with the thrée knights that you haue slaine and my selfe so were we performed more by her damnable Art theÌ„ any volantary affection of our selues into this Isle where round about she hath so dispersed her enchantments that she might allure all wandring knights vnder her power either to slay them preseÌ„tly or to kéepe them in continuall orizon And to satisfie her insatiable and bloody desire we here haue maintained her safety a long time being alwayes so fortunate that many knights we slew some we tooke captiue But it chanced not long since in an euening that Fortune conducted hither fiue noble knights who after we had slaine thrée of theÌ„ the other twaine conquered me and two of my fellowes but yet at last they were brought in subiection of the fourth knight and remaine as prisoners here in the Castle I pray you sir said Palmerin shew me the names of the thrée knights that were slaine as also the Prison where the other two are that I may bestow vpon them their former libertie to which demand he made this answere The first Knight was called Medrusian the Fearefull the second Titubal the Blacke and the third was Foruolant the Strong whom I am sure sometime you haue séene in the Emperour Palmerins court at Constantinople Indéed quoth Palmerin I haue séene their great ill wil wicked disposition which was alway bent to molest trouble him that wished them most good and euer honoured them wherfore the lesse I estéeme their losse but rather reioyce that the world hath cut off their enuious practises During the time of this talke they were come to the place where the two Prisoners lay who were without any company by reason of yâ— smal abode Eutropa as then had made in that place wherein she had determined to execute such tyranous cruelty yâ— this Castle should be ten times more feared then that where Dramusiande made his abiding But the Sage Aliart to whom all her drifts and practises wâ—re discouered willing to stop all the mischiefes that this Enchanttresse did striue to commit caused Palmerin to enter the Ship which he had sent for that purpose only thorow him to disapoint her vile pretence Downe went the Knight with the Prince to the prison carying a Torch lighted in his hand because it was so déepe vnder the ground as a man might shoote with a Crosse-bow in length which moued Palmerin to be greatly agast thinking on the paines the two knights endured in such an obscure and vncomfortable Prison which made him to enter into thâ—se words Certainly this Castle can I hardly beleeue to be erected by Vrganda for that as the report goeth of her she was neuer wâ—ont to vse cruelty to any wandring knights At last they came to a grate which they opened saw whereas the two knights were attending the coÌ„ming of some to do them villainy as they supposed rather then to set them at liberty which was the least part of their thought wheÌ„ presently the Prince knew them the one was Bazilliart the other Germaine of Orleance who had great yrons vpon their legs and yron chaines about their middles which caused him presently to fall into teares and not able to suffer that they should abide any longer in that heauy case coÌ„manded the knight to take off their chaines and irons But Bazilliart did not like this very well because he feared they should now be lead to some tormeÌ„ts wherefore he began to speake vnto them as thus Sir knight you might doe vs more pleasure to let vs rest in this captiuity then to lead vs now to any place of punishmeÌ„t Sir Bazilliart said Palmerin they that imprisoned you in this place would hardly consent to deliuer you so soone Then minding to put them out of this feare he would not hide himselfe any longer but but off his Helmet when Germaine of Orleance catching him in his armes renued his acquaintance in this order I sée well Sir Palmerin that hereafter I must abandon all foolish feare because your prowesse is wholly applyed to redéeme their captiuity on whom fortune beÌ„deth her lowring browes as Dramusiande can amply testifie After they had saluted one another very courteously they came presently forth of this noysome prison and then they were all conducted into a very faire chamber where after they had refreshed their hungry stomacks they discoursed with each other what had hapned in their sundry aduentures CHAP. LVIIII How during the time that Palmerin remained in this Castle called the Perrillous Isle accompanied with Bazilliart Germaine of Orleance and Saâ—ransfort the Knight that keepeth the Castle Francian and Oâ—stalde who at their departure from Siluian tooke vpon them them to trauaile in the Princes search arriued there at the Castle with whom Palmerin departed from ahence And how sayling on the Sea he attained the Coast of Spaine where being desirous to see the faire Miragarda he changed his Armor and vnder the title of the Dispayring Knight he trauailed toward the Castle of the Giant Almarol LOng time these Knightes spent in their friendly discourses till it drewe towards night when the Knight of the Castle named Satransfort had prouided two faire beds one for the Prince Palmerin and another for his two companions who that night tooke more quietnes then since their first comming into the Castle In the morning they concluded to depart from thence but first they desired to sée all the Chambers and commodities in this goodly Castell which they found so rare and excellently ordered that they could not chuse but commend it as it did highly deserue Then walked they from thence to the Fountaine yéelding no lesse laud to the noble Conquest of Palmerin then the dangerous attempt of such an exployte did worthily merite Returning vnto the Castle where at the earnest request of Satransfort they staied for the space of foure dayes and comming foorth in an afternoone to sit in the pleasant shadow vnder the gréene Trées they espied a farre off two knights come hastily ryding who were presently knowne by their Shields for they were Francian and Onistalde endeuoring themselues to séeke the Prince Palmerin At such time as Siluian had declared vnto them the losse of his Lord such was their good fortune that they came to the place where Palmerin entred the shippe and there they found passengers ready to crosse the seas so that by intreatie they sealed with them hauing such fayre winde
Amor Yet haue I one hope which will be my chiefest remedie in this extreame affliction that Death will spéedily finish my heauie complaints and cut off the miseries wherwith I am so cruelly assaulted Wherfore my good friend Armello as thou wilt manifest thy wonted curtesie and pleasure me now in mine extreame néede take here my Horse and Armor and depart to Constantinople and there giue forth for a certaine truth that Death hath claimed his due at my hands and that I haue ended my life in this vnfortunate aduenture wherein I know thou shalt not do amisse because my griefe doth assure me I shall ende and that right soone Onely let me request at thine hands that thou conceale my late mishap to thy selfe and let neither friend nor foe vnderstand it but say to euery one thou art a witnes of my death Armello hearing the words of his Master which strooke into his heart a grieuous and extreame passion with the teares in his eyes he began in this manner Trust me my Lord I know no place that can content me more or be any thing like to my desire then in your oppression to beare you companie whom if I should forsake God knowes the danger might happen to you as also the sorrow I should conceiue of my selfe Neither doe I thinke it expedient to blaze abroad your death because a number of mishappes might arise thereby which entring seuerely the minds of your friends will much more séeme displeasant to your Parents and alliance Wherefore a while beare with the furie of Miragarda and thinke not but her own rash dealing will ere long moue her vnto repentance by that time shee hath considered your faithfull seruice how her aspyring minde hath beene honourably maintained by you shee will recall her vngentle wordes and recompence you with that you haue deserued worthily therefore expect a while good Sir and all will frame well enough I warrant you I know answered Florendos the perfection of thy trustie zeale is so carefully bent for my welfare that in the despaire I am at this present I haue small occasion to thinke on it For I know my fault is such as I shall not be fauoured and her ingratitude so seuerely bent against me as were all the torments in the world adioined they might not deserue comparison with her great displeasure Yet what is that knighit in all the world that would haue been vanquished seeing he defended the onely Phaenix of beautie or where is he that would not haue made hazard of his last extremitie being encouraged to the Combate by such an excellent meane And can such crueltie dwel in such a poorelesse person or such an angry minde harbour vnder so faire a face Well Foâ—san hâ—c â—lim meminisse iuâ—abit But tel me how can I esteeme of my selfe hauing been conquerour ouer so many and could not bring in obeysance this one knight Certainely I perswade my selfe that on him I haue vsed lesse prowesse then in any aduenture wherein thou hast seene mée Wherfore I haue good occasion to take it heauily to lament the honour I haue lost being exiled from her gracious presence Therefore good Armello receiue here my Horse and Armour and suffer me to walke alone in heauinesse that am the cause of mine owne hurt After he had ended these spéeches he forsooke Armello and wandring along by a Riuer side till at last he sate him downe vnder a Tree desirâ—us to receiue a little rest but the vexations of his minde would hardly suffer him When hee awaked hee perceiued a great heard of shéepe féediug in the Pasture ground by him and vnder a tree neere by hee saw a Shepheard playing on an Instrument whereto he recorded so many swéet ditties that Florendos tooke great pleasure to sit and heare him perswading himselfe that the Shepheard was not of such base condition as he seemed because his deuises was so excellent wel ordered both in the commendation of Loue as also the great iniuries he had receiued thereby The Tristfull Knight well noting his complaints and that Fortune had conducted him to the place where he might enioy a partner to liue in heauinesse he came and vsed such friendly meanes that in short time they grew into good liking of each of other Florendos béeing very glad that hee had met such a friend to the solitarie life After that the Shepheard had vttered the secrets of his mind and the Tristfull Knight had bewraied the sum of his griefe they vowed such amitie to remaine betwéene each other that no misfortune should haue power so sunder their friendship Armello hauing stood musing a good while that his Master was gone out of sight and determined to trauell without any company he came backe againe to the castle of Almarol where at the foote of the Trée directly vnder the Shield of the faire Miragarda he placed his Masters Shield and Armour among the vanquished Knights And there in the presencâ— of Miragâ—rda hee vttered so many rufull and grieuous complaintes that they would haue mooued any gentle heart to compassion but shee being entered into such great disdaine esteemed them not worthie of any account but triumphed in the paines of the Tristfull Knight whom at this time wee will leaue in the Shepheards company Now the prince Palmerin hauing his wounds wel cured and prouided him of a new Armour because his other was cruelly defaced returned to the castle of the Giant Almarol intending not to depart from thence before he had conquered the Tristfull Knight When he was arriued at the Castle he heard the lamentations that Armello vsed whereby he vnderstood that the Tristfull Knight was the renowned Prince Florendos which moued him to great displeasure because he had entred the Combat against him And then he supposed that the hatred of Miragarda might worke an occasion of some greater mischance in that the losse of so valliant a Prince as Florendos was might cause the great griefe of the Emperour Palmerin as also the Lords and Ladies of his royall Court These thoughts vrged the Prince to so great vnquietnes that he could not determine whether he might abide there in that place or pursue after the Prince Florendos to cause him abandon that Tristful kinde of life and be a remedie to eny misfortune that might annoy him by meanes of the princesse Miragarda whom he supposed to be the fayrest Lady that euer he had séene Thus musing vpon a thousand matters as also the beauty of Miragarda to compare with the heauenly hew of his Lady Mistresse at last remembring the effect of his duty hée set spurs to his Htrse and galloped from thence not respecting which way he went but desirous to attaine the Citie of Consantinople CHAP. LXII How the Giant Dramusiande accompanied with Siluian arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where being amorous of the Picture of the Miragarda hee entred the Combate with Almarol and foyled him And how Miragarda gaue
into his custodie her Portrait as also the keeping of the passage against the Knightes that came thither HEre we must remember the Giant Dramusiande who after he had trauailed many strange Countries accompanied with Siluian to finde againe the Prince Palmerin arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol within a while after the Prince was departed from thence When he had beheld the Castle hee desired so long to sée and could perceiue neither any body néere or about it he came to the Trée which he saw was laden with the Shields of the vanquished Knights whose names being subscribed vnderneath euery one made him to haue knowledge of diuers that had bene there foyled At last at the soote of the Trée he espyed the armour shéeld of the Tristfull knight which made him greatly to muse that the Armour of the Conquerour should deserue no better estimation then to be placed there among the number of the vanquished Néere to the Armour he beheld Armello who hauing endured his teares and pittifull complaints a long time at length chanced to fall fast asléepe but Dramusiande desirous to heare some tidings vsed such meanes that he awaked him But when he vnderstood of the aduentures of the Fortresse as also the departure of the Tristfull knight he began greatly to rebuke himselfe in that his Fortune failed to encounter with so good a Knight whose Shield he would haue placed as highest on the Trée but that Armello desired him to the contrary Dramusiande taking good viewe on the picture of Miragarda was brought on a suddaine into such an alteration that his stout and hauty stomacke could not any way resist the cutting cares that ouercharged his mind yea he was brought into such a great quandary that he could not hold his Launce but trembling as a leafe stirred with the wind euē so he stood as it were cleane bereft of his sences whereupon he began to vtter these spéeches Madame beholding in this Portrait the beauty wherwith Nature hath plentifully adorned you I wish and desire to kéep this Passage that I might by my faithfull seruice make you renowned thorow the whole world For since your countenance hath the courage to conquere this heart of mine which as yet was neuer done by any I desire that vnder your noble conquest I may endeuor my strength to exalt your Princely beauty which who so dare presume to speake against shall receiue the punishment due to so great an offence While he continued in this amorous thought the Giant Almarol came brauely forth of my Castell whom Miragarda had sent being offended to sée the Giant Dramusiande wherefore aduancing himselfe in his presence Almarol deliuered him this greeting Sir Knight I thinke it might be more for your auaile to set your sheild in the rancke of the vanquished then thus to busie your selfe in beholding this Portrait which thing I would rather perswade you too by gentlenesse then to shew you the constraint that may happen by my force to which words Dramusiande replied thus If I were perswaded that the Mistresse of this picture wold be pleased with so small a matter I had rather accomplish thy desire then to doe any thing that might returns the contrarie for then my trauaile should be little my losse lesse and my heart at libertie where now it remaineth captiue And because I would gladly receuer it againe I entend to enter the Combats with thee to the intent thou maist report thy words could not foile mee nor yet thy workes had the puissance to daunt mee Almarol who naturally was accustomed to cruelty and not of such courtesie as was the gentle Dramusiande receiued these speeches in very angrie manner and being both ready prouided encountred with their Speares valiantlie together Being both throwne beside their Horses they charged one another very fiercely with their Swordes and Miragarda standing in her window to behold this exploite gaue great commendation to the behauiour of Dramusiande whom she feared would ouercome the Giant Almarol When they had sore hurt and well wearied themselues they retired a while to take a little pause when Dramusiande beholding the faire Miragarda was suddenly stroken into such amaze that the remembrance of the Combat was cleane out of his minde Almarol séeing into what estate he was brought only with beholding the face of Miragarda awaked him out of his study with such a sure stroke on the Creast that the Sword cleft it and wounded him very sore vpon the head Which Dramusiande taking in very il part returned to Almarol with so great fury that he inforced him to start this way and that way as glad to auoide the blowes wherewith he was charged At last Almarol fell to the earth when Dramusiande setting his foote vpon him vnclasped his Helmet because he would haue smitten off his head but Miragarda presently sent downe one of her Damosels named Lardemia who staied Dramusiande with these words Most noble knight the Princesse Miragarda by me doth sent intreaty that you would satisfie your selfe with the honor of your victorie and not to depriue the Giant of life whose losse might be more griefe to her then all your indeuours can any way recompence Madame answered Dramusiande I not onely grant him life at the request of such a gracious Princesse but vow my selfe to keepe her famous Shield if so bee she can except of my loyall seruice and if Fortune conduct any Knight hether that can conquere me I desire her setting all pittie aside that she will suffer me to enioy the death so shall both my trauailes and troubles possesse a long wished ende Lardemia hauing lead Almarol into the Castle out at the window returneth him this answere Sir knight my Lady and Mistresse sendeth you a thousand thankes and in recompence of your courtesie committeth the safegard of her shield into your hands wishing good Fortune may alway gouerne your enterprise Dramusiande at these words was greatly cōtented because he desired aboue all things to pleasure the faire Miragarda whose beauty had depriued him of his wonted libertie forcing him in loue to grow somewhat amorous For which cause he remained there kéeping this faire Portraite accomplishing such hautie déedes of Chiualrie as was altogether supposed incredible but the honour which he got had no long time of tarriance for that fortune hauing a while fauoured him at last in her anger she forsooke him euen as she is accustomed to falsifie her promise to those whom she perceiueth haue any entrance into prosperitie CHAP. LXIII How Dramusiande keeping the shield and passage of the Giant Almarol entred the Iust with the Prince Gracian and Don Rosuel of whom he had the victory and ended their strife with friendly acquaintance ON the next morning Dramusiande to accomplish his promise to the faire Miragarda came foorth and sate downe at the Tree where the Portraite and the Knightly Shields were placed vsing such grieuous complaints that Siluian marueiled to sée so mighty a man brought
into such subiection by the force of loue The faithfull and trusty Esquire Armello kéeping them company and frequenting still his grieuous mones thought none worthy to kéepe such a precious treasure as was the shield of the faire Miragarda but onely his Lord and Maister who did best of all deserue it wherfore being not able to conceale the passions his heart conceiued began in this manner to the Giant Dramusiande I knowe well sir Knight that Fortune hath greatly fauoured you in that my master is absent and you kéepe the Iewell of his ioy but durst hée shewe himselfe in this place which he is constrained to forsake by the command of Miragarda you should well perceiue that her faire Portrait is to be kept by none but he whereto Dramusiande replied thus My friend the faith and affection thou bearest to thy Maister séemeth to me worthy of great commendation And as his déeds remaine a true confirmation and witnesse of your woryes yet you must not vse any euill suspect to him who is altogether vnknowne of you and would also enter combate wich your Maister were he present in this place And if it were any chauce to to be vanquished by him I would content my selfe to be placed among these other conquered whose assurance haue béene as likely as mine and peraduenture it might be more to my profite if I left my Shield vnder her obeysance whose will I onely séeke to satisfie by ending my life in such a hautie enterprise Againe it might so fortune if it were your chance to sée me combate wish your Maister you would conceiue another opinion thâ—n as yet you doe and iudge me either better or worse then I perceiue at this present you make your account Wherefore I perswade my selfe that I am as well worthy and able to kéepe and defend this shield of the faire Miragarda as the knight your Maister who is vnknown to me albeit I confesse not so worthy of her as he that hath so déerly deserued her not onely I am sure by this notable coÌ„quests but also by proofe of this knightly curtesie For if I should that way equal my selfe with him It might well be thought no trueth remained in me And if you shall stay here a certaine space I doubt not but you shall sée as hauty attempts ended as at any time haue béene by your Maister finished While he continued these spéeches hée espied a farre off two knights come riding along the Riuer side one of them had his Armour coloured blacke and white with diuers borders of Gold finely wrought vpon it bearing in his Shield for his deuice a murthered body in a campe of Sinople the other had his Armour of a gréene colour very thicke beset with Lyons of Gold in his shield two Lions rampant These twaine were no sooner arriued at the Castle but Dramusiande incontiuently knew them for the one was Don Rosuel and the other was the Prince Gracian who sometime had béene his Prisoners and whose amitie hée alwayes made great account of But albeit their friendship was very acceptable to him yet the promise he had made Miragarda commanded him to the contrary confidering also that loue had gotten the maisterie of him and directing his minde in this enterprise made him neither to spare friend nor foe but vsed all alike that trauailed thither Then mounting on his stéed he came forth before them when they perceiuing he prouided himselfe to the Iuste were very well pleased because they desired to approue their strength in the behalfe of the faire Miragarda But casting their eyes on her beautifull Picture which they beheld in the middest of the Shieldes that Florendos had conquered they were supprised with such a suddaine amazement that they had quite forgotten for what cause they came thither which Dramusiande seeing addressed himselfe to them with this manner of salutation Sir Knights the Portraite of this Lady is not here placed to be contemplated with so great ease but hée that desireth to enioy such a Iewell must first combate against me who denyeth him that priuiledge till I am vanquished and if that Fortune in this respect doe fauour him yet shall he féele a double torment by remayning Victor Trust me answered the Prince Gracian if a mans life may ataine the honour of such a singular personage behold him who hath the courage to aduenture first So concluding his spéeches he met Dramusiande valiantly with the breake of the Speare which was with such force that hee was throwne to the earth with so strong a violence that for a great while he was voyde of any feeling This mooued Don Rosuel to such displeasure that to reuenge his friend hée pricked foorth against Dramusiande who being ready prouided with another Speare sent him to beare the Prince Gracian company This rude encounter made them both maruaile and supposed that their enemy was the renowned Palmerin of England whereof being desirous to be resolued Gracian as the hardiest of them both with his swoord drawne in his hand entred into these tearmes Sir Knight althogh Fortune hath béene your friend to foyle vs in the Iuste yet I pray you to discende on foote to the ende we may finish the Combat with the swoord because I would trie your valour to the vttermost if I may depart from hence with the benefite of my life Dramusiande who was euer accustomed to great bounty and gentlenesse seeing the desire of the Prince Gracian on whom he had gotten the honour of the victory would not in that respect satisâ—ie his mind but made him answere in this maner Sir Gracian I do not make so small estimation of your life that I would be the man shâ—uld bring you into such danger beséeching you not to take in all part that which I haue already so boldly ventured being my selfe bound by duty to doe any thing I may for your honourable welfare Gracian hearing himselfe named by the Knight of whom he had no knowledge was greatly abashed and replyed thus Worthy sir since my fortune hath béene so good as to obtaine the friendship of so hardy a Knight I estéeme my selfe the happiest vnder the Sun desiring to haue knowledge of you if you shall finde it expedient At these wordes Dramusiande tooke off his Helmet when presently they both ranne and imbraced him conceiuing such an vnspeakeable ioy for his company that their mischance was now put cleane out of memorie because they iudged it no shame to be foyled at the handes of Dramusiande of whom they requested for what cause he remained in that place To satisfie their desires he recited the whole occasion of his iourney and how he made promise to Miragarda after he had conquered the Giant Almarol to kéepe the Shield in that place vntill some Knight by his prowesse could bring him vnder his obeysanâ—â— Certainly said Don Rosuel then I perceiue you intended to keepe it all your life time because I knowe nothing but death can ouercome you Trust
me quoth yâ— prince Gracian I haue in times past both extolled verily belieued that my faire Claritia might be equall with any for her beautie but hauing now behâ—ld this admirable Miragarda I exempt from minde all other desiring to accomplish the meane that I might doe her seruice And credite me said Don Rosuel I haue so forgotten the loue I bare to my Lady that if I depart not the sooner from hence I shall fall into contempt both of her and all other Ladies giuing the onely laud to this péerelesse Miragarda Then mounting on Horsebacke he ridde away so fast as possible he could in like maner the Prince Gracian possed presently after him neither of them vsing any friendly departing to the Giant Dramusiande who could not refrain from laughter to think on the weake stomacks of these two Princes CHAP. LXIIII. How Palmerin of England trauailing toward Constantinople laid him downe to sleepe hard by a faire Castle from whence came foure Ladies who carried him into the Castle And how one of the Ladies bearing him louing affection but he disdaining her great good will vrged her to keepe him there as her prisoner PAlmerin of England after he had left the Castle of the Giant Almarol happened on the frontiers of Nauarre in the Dominion of France which he perceiued altogether to be inhabited and gouerned by mighty Giants whose vnciuility of life wrought many cruel spoiles and villanous deeds in these parts among whom Palmerin behaued himselfe so worthily that the effect of his déeds returned his due commendation CoÌ„tinuing his trauaile along the Coast at last in a faire gréen valley he espied a goodly and well fortified Castle and neere vnto it was a faire largs Poole well stored with choice of fish where the Prince alighted from his Horse to let him feede a while in the pasture In the meane time he looking all about and could sée no body that on a suddaine might come to endanger him sat downe by the water side the beholding wherof droue many solemne fancies out of his remembrance As he was about to take a little nap his Mistres Polinarda approached his thoughtes as also the remembrance of his manifold courtesies which he receiued while he remained at Constantinople so that some of these motions prouoked him to good opinion of ioy but other some to a number of heauie lamentations as especially the sharp command of his mistres which being loath to breake mad him to absent himselfe from Constantinople longer then otherwise hee would gladly haue done In these thoughts hee fell into a sound sleepe when foure Damosels came walking foorth of the Castell who beholding the Prince his chéekes all dewed with teares and his eye lids very redde with ouermuch wéeping were all constrained to great compassion Then one of the Damosels being of rare and excellent beautie called for certaine of her seruants who with their helpe caried the Prince into a faire Chamber in the castel causing his armes to be fastened together with a chaine to the ende he might vse no resistance against them When he awaked and found himselfe in this great alteration he was so ouercome with griefe that he knew not what to say but the Ladie bearing great affection to him at euery instant changed colour which witnessed the ardent loue shée had conceiued in her minde at last made manifest the sum of her desire whereto Palmerin by no meanes would giue consent For being desirous to shunne any occasion whereby hée might bée thought disloyal to his Lady determined to depart from thence without Horse or Armour onely to auoide her importunate sute This moued the Lady to such extreame griefe that she violated the bondes of Reason whose limits duty had alwaies warned her to kéep within and séeing that neither tears nor intreatis might mollifie the heart she commanded him to be brought into her Chamber where irons were made fast about his legs and great spéeches giuen forth to terrifie him because he would vse no pittie to her outragious passions Palmerin not estéeming either her selfe or her words bare greater affection to clogging irons then to all the amorous spéeches the Lady could vse who at last turned hee hot loue into extreame hatred so that absenting her selfe out of his companie caused him to bée vsed in very rigorous manner But her crueltie had no long time of lasting for her woonted affectioÌ„ caused her to repent her hasty fury and in her mind she thought to discharge the Prince séeking all meanes possible to banish him out of her memorie for which cause she inclosed her selfe in her Chamber labouring both by examples and present proofe to extinguish the furious flames of her continuall Passions But when she saw nothing would serue but her griefe was driuen to an impossible cure she concluded to kéepe the Prince in Prison so long that at length shee would glut her selfe with his remembrance Or else at last the Prine would be so wearie that he not able any longer to endure the cruell practises she vsed would repent him of his so long deniall and so bee enforced to accomplish her amorous dessre But Palmerin hauing already made faithful vowe of his loue by no torment or cruelty would be perswaded to violate his promise to the no small griefe of the Lady who frequented himselfe still with her woonted sute as also for his obstinacy encreased her seuerall deuises of cruelty CHAP. LXV How Don Florian remaining in the Court of England made such entreatie on the behalfe of Orianda and her sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor remaining in the Castle of the Giant Calfurnien that they were restored into Kings fauour and married to three noble Gentlemen of his Court. And Don Florian departing out of England arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where he entred the Combate with Dramusiande where ending their strife with great friendship he departed accompanied with Siluian desirous to finde his brother the noble Palmerin of England DOn Florian of the Forrest of whome no mention hath béene made since the Prince Palmerin departed out of England stayed a certaine time in the Court of the King his Vncle to intreate fauour for Orianda and her Sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor For remembring the great seruice they had done to him at such time as the giant Calfurnien had wounded him so sore willing to discharge the promise he made them at his departure which might manifest his honour and redéeme them from that misery wherin they remained approached the presence of the King in this manner I haue alwayes heard my Soueraigne Lord and Vncle that laudable déedes ought to be recompenced with the like and that ingratitude and vnkinde dealing should euer be banished from the heartes of Princes wherefore fearing least my selfe should be found faulty in such a hainous crime I shall desire your gratious furtherance in a cause as shall present my duty and your owne honour It is so my
good Lord that at such time as I imbarqued my selfe from Greece the tempest ouer-reacht me with such a violent meane that our Ship attained the Coast of Ireland where I would needes goe on land albeit both the Master and all in the Ship perswaded me to the contrary Being then on land such was my Fortune that I met with the Giant Calfurnien whose strength although it was redoubted indeede yet good hap gaue me the honour of his death In this bloody fight I receiued so many grieuous and dangerous woundes that I could no way haue escaped the death my selfe had not three Ladies Daughters to the Marquesse Beltamor whome this cruell Giant kept there perforce vsed such honourable and goodly prouision that to their no small labour and trauaile I recouered a sound and perfect estate Assuring you my Lord that I not onely maste high estimation of their friendly courtesie but also confesse my selfe indebted to them for euer to spend my heart blood in their gratious seruice Wherefore remembring their infortune that for their Fathers offence they are disherited I promised to vse such intercession to your Grace as they should be restored to their lost patrimonies In the meane time they liue in hope and I expect your wonted noble forgiuenesse on their behalfe The King perceiuing the desire of Florian with the great friendship he had receiued by these Ladies returned him presently this auswere Indéede I confesse the Marquesse their Father both intended and accomplished a treasonable enterprise against me and my state yet would I not that his daughters being ignorant and innocent of their Fathers crime shall suffer punishment for his offence And since he hath sustained Law according to desert and his whole possessions are fallen into our hands we returne them to the vse and profite of the Damosels in recompence of the friendly fauour you haue receiued at their hands And for their more honour I will that the eldest of them be married to Don Rosiran my Cousin and your great friend Argolant shal not refuse to marry the second as for the third we restore her to the Marquisate of her father and will ioyne her in marriage with Beltamor Brother to the forenamed Don Rosiran Don Florian kissing his highnesse hand in token of the vnspeakable pleasure hée receiued at the Kings wordes by the meanes of Don Edward his noble Father sent a poast with al spéede to bring the Ladies to the Court as wel to sée the Kings will accomplished in effect as to make proofe of his good will habare to the Ladies When these Ladies were come end euery thing in due and decent order finished Don Florian tooke leaue of the King his vncle and also Don Edward the Princesse Flerida because he would try the aduentures at the Castle of Miragarda whose beautie was so renowned thorow the whose world With great griefe they suffered him to depart so that when in trauaile he had passed the Court of the King Redinde hee arriued at the Castel of Almarol when Dramusiande had euen then vanquished thrée Knights whereof one was the valiant Pompides which made Florian somewhat abashed because he was ignorant that it was the gentle Dramusiande Wherefore being desirous to hazard himselfe in the Combate he prepared his Speare to encounter with him which Dramusiande seeing not knowing him to be Florian of the Desart the son of his deare and louing friend Don Edward against whom he would not haue entred the fight in any case to satisfie the will of his Lady Miragarda he met so strongly with him that they were both dismounted to the earth Vp againe they rose and fell to it very violently with their Swordes in so much as Dramusiande would not beast of his bargaine nor Florian bragge of the choise he had made for that the Combate was so dangerous between them as it was not to be iudged who was likest of victory Miragarda leaning in her window extolled maruelously the hautie valure of them both so that excepting the Combate of the Tristfull Knight with Palmerin she gaue the onely commendation to this singular fight which continued with such outrage betweene them that they were constrained to retire to take a little breathing Dramusiande féeling the Prowesse of his aduersary supposed him to be Florian of the Desart and therefore concluded many times to discouer himselfe without bringing their Combat to any ende But fearing least it should be reported that he gaue ouer for want of courage to maintain his quarrell changed his opinion in that hée was so desirous to finish the intent of the faire Miragarda to whom secretly he began in this manner My déere Mistresse I know that the merite of my trauailes shall bée to burie their commendation in the piâ—te of obliuion by you that little regard them yet is it great and insupportable griefe to him that is so vnkindly requited Neuerthelesse so great a conquest haue you gained of me and my whole endeuours lincked to fulfil your good liking that I can no waies contrary what you haue ordained but remaine more affectioned to doe you honour then al my actions can merite your fauour Regard then the Knight against whom I maintaine your cause and the foreâ— of his deliuerer attempts will witnesse in what neede I stand of your friendly furtherance which I beséech you not to denie him at this presence who in faith and loyaltie is more yours then his owne lest my enemie winning the victorie cast in my téeth that he hath brought me vnder in beholding your beautie Don Florian desirous to finish his enterprise came and charged Dramusiande the second time so that Almarol debating with Miragarda and Lardemia estéemed maruellously the valour of the Giant in kéeping the Shield as also the knight that offered him resistance Siluian standing in doubt that Dramusiande would be slaine which would be great griefe to his Lord and master came to the Esquire of Don Florian whom hee presently knew which made him very ioyfull beléeuing now verily that he should saue the liues of them both wherefore he came to Florian with these wordes I desire you Sir to passe no further in this doubtfull fight for he whom you labour against is Dramusiande your trustie and loyall friend Siluian had no sooner spoken these wordes but that they presentlie threw downe their Swords embracing one another with such gentle salutations as though they had been the greatest fâ—iends in the world Florian was greatly amazed to sée Siluian there without his master wherefore hee demaunded of him how all things had hapned but when he vnderstood the losse of his brother hee remained in griefe beyond all perswasion so that he determined to goe straight to Constantinople and if he failed of him there he would séeke all the world ouer but he would find him againe So taking leaue of Dramusiande accompanied with Siluian he departed from thence not desiring to sée the faire Miragarda least he should be brought into like
opinion as was the gentle Giant Dramusiande Not farre from thence hee met with Pompides lamenting very heauily that hee had been so vanquished then presenting himselfe to beare the Prince company they imbraced very courteously and so ridde on loouingly and friendlie together desirous to meete with some one to cure their wounds that they might make the more expedition in séeking after the renowned Prince Palmerin of England CHAP. LXVI How Don Florian and Pompides being cured of the wounds they had receiued in maintaining the Combat against Dramusiande arriued at the Castle of the Princesse Arnalte who was the Lady that kept the Prince Palmerin prisoner And how in discoursing with her about the faire Miragarda they at last got Palmerin with them and so departed from thence THe Giant Dramusiande being very sore wounded was carried in to the Castle of the Giant Almarol where as great care was vsed to him as might be possible but so dangerous were his hurts that of a good while after he was not able to endure the trauaile of armor In which time Miragarda would not suffer Almarol to enter the fight any more because she had séene him thrée times vanquished so that many knights comming thither to try the aduenture were faine to stay while Dramusiande was recouered or else to returne and lose their labor Don Florian and Pompides iourneying still together happened into the house of an ancient knight whose skill was very great in the science of Chirurgery where they passed away the time in discoursing the hauty aduentres enterprised at the Castle of Almarol on the behalf of the rare and excellent Princesse Miragarda to whom Pompides attributed high commendations though he were maruailously offended at his infortunate foyle When they had well recouered their strengths againe yéelding great thanks vnto theis gentle Host they departed from thence intending to iourney toward Constantinople thinking there to find the noble and couragious Knights who had worthily prooued themselues as the onely and perfect flower of all Chiualry Wherevpon they took shipping at the next Hauen and Fortune fauouring their honourable intent in few dayes brought them before the Castle wherein the noble Palmerin of England remained Prisoner Staying to rest themselues a while they beheld a Damosell mounted on a white Palfray accompanied with two Esquires to come foorth of the Castle to whom the Knights presently tooke their way and with a friendly gréeting requested to whom that goodly Castle belonged it their demand might be no hindrance to her hasty affaires whereto the Damosell made this answere Albeit Gentlemen the busines wherin I must presently imploy my selfe are matters of waight and great importance yet the gentle demaunds both of your spéech and outward behauiour hath commanded me to stay til I haue satisfied your desire This Castle was first founded at the commandement of the noble couragious Prince Bazelie sometime the king of Nauerâ—ed he being now deceased the Princesse Arnalte his faire Daughter is come to unhabite this ancient and famous Mansion For she being vnwilling to gouerne her people by reason she is but yong of yeeres as also vnmarried committed the guiding of so waighty a charge to such honourable persons in her Court as shee knew both vertueus wise and discrete to vse Iustice to the vsurping enemie and equitie to her louing subiects in generall During the time she hath remained here report hath blazed abroad the aduentures finished at the castle of the Giant Almarol in the maintenance of the beauty of faire Miragarda whose stately magnificence being so highly coÌ„mended is the cause as she supposeth that shée is not beloued of a knight who remaineth in the Castle and to whom she heareth great loue and affection On this beliefe she hath coÌ„manded me to goe sée the Princesse Miragarda whereby she may be certified if her beauty that is so highly extolled may surmount that wherewith nature hath so plentifully adorned her selfe Which if it so fall out that the Princesse Miragarda carry the credit from her then is she minded to deliuer the Knight and he shall remaine no longer her prisoner but if my Lady prooue superiour to the canonized spectacle then know I she will put the knight to death considering the iniury he hath offred her who hath so much abased her selfe as to beare an vngrateful person such affection of whom she can gather no knowledge or acquaiatance Don Florian well pondering the Damoselles wordes and being somewhat pleasantly disposed withall demanded if the beauty of her mistresse might compare with the indifferent condition shee had of her owne Mrust me Sir quoth she if you finde any thing in me that deserued to beare the title of beautie when you shall chance to haue a sight of my Lady you will say you haue made a very simple comparison Fayre Damosell saide Florian would you followe my counsell you should here make stay your hasty iourney for credite me Miragarda is much more beautiful then you Lady quoth Pompides let not these words séeme to stay you from your Mistresse commaund but procéede in your enterprise and you shall sée that which neither of vs is worthy to vse any talke of so shal you saue the life of the knight whom she loueth and certifie your Lady with a certaine report as for what it hath pleased this Knight to say his wordes are but iesting for he neuer sawe the faire Miragarda It séemes then Sir Knight answered the Damosell that you haue béene affectioned to the faire view of this Princesse that you can so readily stand for a witnesse in the behalf of her beautie I desire you therefore to returne with me to the Princesse my Lady so shall you saue me a iourney in that you are able to speake vpon iudgement where perhaps I might stray by vsing affection So alighting from their Horses they went altogether into the Castle when the Damosell gaue her Lady to vnderstand that she had met with two Knights who were lately come from the Castle of Almaroll and could at large informe her concerning the beauty of the faire Miragarda The Princesse Arnalte being very glad of these newes caused a fayre Chamber to be prouided for the two knights where when they had disarmed themselues and taking a little ease being wearie with trauaile shée came and courteously welcommed them to her Castell shewing all the commodities that might vrge them to pleasure and walking forth to the Pondes side sitting them downe vnder the Cipresse Trees in a very pleasant shadow she began in this manner Gentlemen albeit I am ignorant how you can accept my wordes or in what manner it shall please you to shape mee an answere yet will I not be so timerous but that without any ill suspect I may craue such leaue as to cut off a doubt which hath of long time been concealed At such time as the King my Father who gouerned all this countrey had finished the course of his terrestriall time I betooke my selfe
remaine in one Knight and he neuer to haue assayed a more perillous aduenture Often they staied and fell to it againe the Prince hauing slaine two of them and the Lady vsing reprochfull wordes vnto them that they fiue had not the power to preuaile against one which set the other in such a chafe that they began to charge him with vnmercifull blowes seeing they had no way to escape from him because on the one side the sea hindered them and into the Castell they could not retyre for the lady within had commanded the gate to be made fast Wherefore two of them fell downe dead before him when the last Knight séeing the danger he stood in tooke the point of his Sword in his hand and humbled himselfe before the Prince as thus Most worthy Knight since fortune hath allowed you the honour of this victorie and that you haue preuailed against all my companions let pitty enter into your heart to saue the life of him who most humbly submitteth himselfe to your mercy I grant thée thy life said Florendos because I will not bée thought of such a bloody mind to kill him that is not able to resist me Then sat he downe to rest himselfe the Lady vsing great care to bind vp his wounds when the Lady within the Castle standing in feare lest her stubbornnes might procure the greater iniury sent one of the damsels who opened the gate which Florendos séeing tooke the Lady by the hand and entred the castel where they met the Lord that had béen prisoner so long who imbraced his Lady with very great thankes for bringing the Knight that had won him his liberty to whom he began in this order Worthy sir your Knightly déedes haue gained such honour that I cannot make estimation of them according as they haue worthily deserued but if it shall please you to rest here a while we will yéeld you what courtesie we can and then we will depart together Florendos gaue him great thankes and stayed there to sée the Lady that kept the castle but he could not attaine to his desire because she had made her selfe fast in her Chamber so that no one might come to haue a sight of her Then went he to sée the place where the Lady vsed to imprison the Knights amongst whom he found the Prince Guerin who reioyced maruelously to see Florendos and knowing that he had finished this hard aduenture he accounted himselfe happy to be in his company After that eight daies were expired they departed in a Galley from thence to the house of the Knight and the Lady where Guerin and hee found themselues so gratiously vsed as if they had béen in the Court of Constantinople Within a while after they tooke their leaue of the Knight and the Lady who gaue to each of them a very good Horse and in their trauelling together they parted from one another because Florendos desired to iourney alone that he might better approoue the aduenture which Fortune had reserued for him CHAP. LXXV How Palmerin Florian and Pompides in their trauaile met with a Damosell who brought them to the Castle of Dramorant the Cruell where they found Albayzar with the shield of Miragarda who had vanquished twelue knights and slew Dramorant the Lord of the Castle PAlmerin and his brethren continuing in their trauaile towardes Constantinople riding thorow a Forrest saw a Lady come riding towards them in very great feare who being come somewhat neare them Florian staied her Palfray saying Faire Lady I pray you to shewe vs the cause of your feare Alas sir quoth she how can I stay to report any thing séeing I dare scant assure my selfe in your company for when I enterprised my iourney to the Court of the French Quéene two knights came and resisted me endeuouring them selues to abuse mine honour But Fortune was so fauourable to me that at my cry a Knight came who defended my cause and behaued himselfe so worthily against them that in open fight he slew them both Then passing by a Castle at the end of this stone wal he was assailed by twelue Knights who I feare me will be the death of him if he be not spéedily holpen by some good rescue and trust me Gentlemen the losse of him would be very great being one of the most hardy knights in al the world I pray you Lady said Florian bring vs to the Castle where the knight remaineth in such danger as you seeme to report for it were great pittie to suffer such a knight to die for lacke of helpe Although quoth she I was otherwise determined yet will I bring you to the place as well to try your worthinesse as also shew my good will to the Knight who in his owne danger hath pleasured me so much This said they rode on together in short time they heard the clattering of the weapons where they found the knight to haue slaine fiue or sixe of the Knightes behauing himselfe also very manfully against the other whereat the Prince fell into great admiration which the Lady séeing how they sate still and looked on began to enter into these wordes Why Gentlemen if you determined to doe nothing when you came it had béene more honour for you to haue kept on your iourney rather then to suffer so good a knight to be slaine in your presence and you stand by refusing to aid him which maketh me iudge that your weapons are very ill bestowed on you Faire Lady answered Palmerin the Knight doeth so well discharge his dutie that we should offer him great wrong if we presumed to aid him for so might we cut off the praise which he should worthily beare in the obtaining the victory which is the only cause of our stay Mary if we should perceiue the Knights to haue any dangerous aduantage ouer him then would we shewe him such ayde in their resistance that you should recall your words and haue a better opinion of vs. While they continued this Parle the Knight who was the famous Albayzar of the twelue knights had left but foure aliue which vrged Florian to this opinion in words I belieue that this knight is ordained to darkē the déeds of all Knights yours onely accepted déere Brother Palmerin wherevnto I know he neither can nor may approch neuerthelesse I know not any one that professeth knightly Armes but would striue to exalt his déeds seeing the behauiour of so noble a Champion In fine they perceiued all the Knights to be slaine except two who were constrained to yéelde themselues to this noble conquerour when presently came forth Dramorant himselfe very brauely mounted strongly armed which Albayzar seeeing mounted on his horse came to the prince Palmerin and his Brethren in this manner I pray you gentlemen to bestow one of your speares vpon me to receiue the knight that prepareth himselfe against me assuring you that I will not forget to remēber your courtesie in so doing Sir said Palmerin
Fortune who preserued them to a greater conquest of honor caused at that very instant the noble Palmerin of England to arriue in that place who knowing Dramusiande supposed verily that he was slain wherefore he came to the other knight and taking his Helmet off and perceiuing that it was the noble Florendos he became so ouercharged with griefe that he could hardly sustaine himselfe from falling to the earth Then he commaunded Siluian to goe to the Citie and presently to bring Chirurgions with him because he thought verily they were almost past recouery and Siluian knowing that the death of these two knights might be an occasion to put his Maisters life in danger vsed such diligence that in short time hee returned with two very expert Maisters in Chirurgerie Palmerin desired them to manifest their knowledge at that present in recouering the health of those dangerous wounded Knights and his recompence should excéed in liberalitie so when the Chirurgians had searched their wounds they found them not so dangerous as their weakenesse and wearinesse wherefore they promised by the grace of God to bring them into as good estate of health as euer they were The Prince reioyced at their good answere and caused Siluian to fetch a Coach from the Citie wherein they were brought to the house of an ancient Gentleman and there Palmerin bare them company vntill they were able to trauaile againe CHAP. LXXXII How Albayzar came to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin and of the conditions he made there to begin his aduenturous intent VEry well prouided and full of renowned Knights was the Court of the Emperour Palmerin at such time as Albayzar hauing left Palmerin of England where hée slewe Bracandor arriued there when alighting from his Horse he came vy into the great Hal in very faire gréene Armour beset with golden Speares with two Esquires attending on him where finding the Emperour sitting with the prinoipall of his knights he thronged thorow them and reuerenced himselfe before the Emperour with these spéeches Most dread and puissant Emperor I haue béene constrained to visit your Court for two causes which I hold as especial the one to sée the noble mindes that are alwayes here abyding the other to try my selfe against them all on her behalfe that hath sent me hither Giuing you to vnderstād that for the loue of the fairest and most noble Lady in the world I haue béene at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where by force I haue obtained the Shield of the faire Miragarda which by force I beare onely to honour that Saint to whom I homage my heart and will enforce all knights to yeeld as vassailes So that if your Highnesse will licence me the Field I will compell all the Knights of your Court as also any other that dare auouch the contrary My Lady and Mistresse Targiana the onely Daughter to the great Turke my Lord and Soueraigne is she that shall beare the prize all for beautie And these conditions I doe require in mine attempt that the Defendant on his Shield shall bring the liuely Portayt of his Lady with her name to be verified at the foote thereof because it shall be the onely recompence the Conquerour shall gaine And there be any who will manifest themselues to be but indifferently fauoured of their Ladies they shall be sworne to giue in writing the name of their Mistresse As for him that hath the good hap to vanquish me he shall not onely be Lord of the shield of my Lady Targiana but shall haue likewise deliuered to him all the shieldes which Fortune shall allow me by my prowesse And furthermore to be granted that the knight dismounted in the Iust shall not haue the licence to fight with his Sword but as vanquished deliuer his Shield and so depart Now expect I your answere most redoubted Emperour as concerning the request of him that hath trauailed many a strange Countrey and now commeth to make triall of the valure and puissance of your knights if so be they can conceiue the courage to aduenture the combat on the behalfe of their Ladies When he hadde ended his spéeches a great tumult arose among the Knights and Ladies of the court who were very desirous to sée Albayzar in the field the Ladies to know the valour of their amorous seruants and the Knights to manifest the cause to deserue their loue euery one wishing to quallifie this presumptuous challenge The Emperour would make no answere to Albayzar till such time as he had conferred with his Councell when then he returned with this reply You haue sir knight attempted such a hauty enterprise as if wée should deny we should not onely grant our cowardise but also hinder you of many noble Exploits to the griefe of your selfe as also of such knights as haue a desire to shew themselues in the field Wherefore the fielde is licenced you at what time you please and your conditions allowed which were before specified but I desire you first to resolue me of one thing are you not allied to the Soldane Oloricque of Babilon because it séemeth you resemble him somwhat in fauour My lord answered Albayzar the curtesie you haue offered me moueth me in humility to kisse your gratious hand assuring you that I am the son of the Soldane Oloricque and am called by the name of Albayzar The Emperor arose immediatly and imbraced him saying I would gladly see you in my Court in another estate then you are at this present but loue shall now excuse your enterprise And then he commaunded a Chamber should be prouided for him but he made refusall thereof because he had sworne not to depart the field till he saw the issue of his hauty desire The Empresse and Gridonia sent vnto him desiring that he would suffer them to view the Shields of Targiana and Miragarda whereon they entred into iudgment that although Targiana was very faire yet was she nothing comparable to the Princesse Miragarda With seuerall suppose they went from hand to hand till at last they came to the Princesse Polinarda who was somewhat offended to see the princesse Miragarda so singular and faire which made her now to wish that the noble Palmerin of England would now arriue at the Court for shée perswaded her selfe that his worthinesse would aduance her to the glory of the Shields So that sometime she was minded to send for him but then by and by she altred her thought so that she ministred occasion to some disdainfull minde of that noble Sex how no stability or constancy is to be found in a woman Then was the picture of Altea brought which for a precious Iewel supplied a roome in the Empresse coffer and comparing her with the faire Miragarda she was found to differ very far in beautie Albayzar receiuing his Shields departed to the place appointed for the Turnament where the Emperour had commaunded two Tents to be erected and on a Pillar neare adioyning was placed the faire Portrayt of the
Ladies in beauty yet shew you your selfe excelling all other in that singular gift to ouercome him that hath conquered so many For I perswade my selfe you wil not fauor him that hath done you such wrong as disloyally to beare the Shield from your Castle but let me that am your true and faithfull seruant giue you the honour of this hautie attempt and afterward deale with this cursed carkase of mine euen as it shal stand with your gratious pleasure After this they fell to to the combate a fresh when the Emperor séeing the small defence they had for themselues supposed they could not long continue the fight and Primaleon through opinion which came by nature in griefe of mind receiued perfectly the cruell wounds of the Blacke knight as though he had felt them vpon his owne body because he supposed him to be of his linage And by the cruell behauiour they vsed to ech other the Empres Gridonia departed as not able to abide the grieuous sight of these two champions who after they had griped one an other by the closing their arms Albayzar â—s too weake to resist any longer fell to the ground whereat the Blacke knight reioyced and vnclosed his helmet to haue smiten off his head but the Emperour called to him to vse more mercy yet he makking as though he heard not lifted vp his sword when the Princesse Targiana fell before him on her knées with these spéeches Syr Knight first I desire you to strike off my head and afterward proceed in what shall please you for loth would I be to see him die that hath ventured his life in danger to do me such honourable seruice The Blacke Knight seeing the modestie of the Princesse was moued with pittie wherewith he granted Albayzar his liâ—e and then the iudges came into the field to haue the Blacke Knight honoured according as became a victorious conquerour But he would not depart out of the Field before the Portrait of the faire Miragarda was placed in the middest where against all reason the Princesse Targiana supplied the roome whom he led with him to be honoured according as her hie estate did deserue The Emperour commaunded Albayzar should be led into his Tent meane whiles the Blacke knight kissing his highnesse hand vpon his knee began in this manner Most dread and mighty Emperour I desire that this Princes may be regarded aboue all in your Court for you ought to shew more honor to her then to any other person that I know WheÌ„ the Emperour knew that the Blacke knight was his noble nephew Florendos his heart was supprised with an vnspeakable ioy and chiefely his Father the Prince Primaleon who caused Albayzar to be brought into the Palace vnderstanding that Targiana was the daughter of the great Turke lodged her with the faire Princesse Polinarda his daughter who greatly desired it at the hands of the Emperour and there was we as honorably serued as had she béene in the Court of the great Turke her Father the Prince Florendos and Albayzar had great care vsed to their dangerous wounds and the shield of the Princesse Miragarda was now held in chiefest estimation CHAP. XC How a Damosell of Thrace brought a strange aduenture to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin WHile Florendos and Albayzar remained at the cure of their wounds the Empresse and Gridonia as glad that the victory chanced to Florendos would often come and visit him reporting their iudgements on the singular forme of Miragarda which talke partly wrought as much for his health as the medicines that were applied to his wounds Likewise the Emperour and Primaleon would often visite Albayzar vsing comfortable speeches wherby he might forget the griefe he sustained because he was vanquished but Albayzar dissembled with a good countenance deuised with himselfe how he might worke iniury to Florendos which afterward he did as you shall perceiue at large in the second volume of this Historie In the meane while the Court of the Emperour was stored with the most renowned knights and Ladies of incomparable state of beautie in all the world so that there wanted no other thing there theÌ„ the two renowned Knights of England whose presence in the Court made the Emperor to thinke yâ— then no force might preuaile against him While they were in their triumphing the Empresse Gridonia Targiana and Polinarda sitting vnder the Cipresse Trées néere a very faire Fountaine a Lady of a maruellous and mighty stature presented her selfe before them whose séemly iestures and sumptuous shew in apparell made them beléeue shee was of great authoritie Her attyre was of Sattin cut and laide out with cloath of siluer a purple Robe compassing her bodie wheron was placed a number of rich and costly precious stones her long sleeues hanging downâ— were thicke beset with Birds Harts and other braue deuises of Foules and Beasts of gold that the eie could neuer be wearied beholding a thing of such inestimable value there attended on her two Knights the one hauing in his armes a very faire coffer which was closed with little Lockes of Gold and brauely garnished with Pearles and precious stones of maruellous cost and reputation When the Emperour and all were placed to regard the cause of her arriuall she receiued the Coffer of the Knight and with a little Key of Gold that hung about her necke she opened it whereout she tooke a curious and costly Cup which was so artificialle composed that beholding the outside might easily be discerned what was within which was nothing but water so hard congealed and frozen that it was impossible to moue any moity thereof After she had held it a while in her hand she deliuered the Coffer againe to the Knight whereon she set the Cup and looking wishly vpon all the company at last she began to vtter these speeches Most noble Emperour I haue been in so many Princes Courts to make triall of the strange aduenture contained in this Cuppe that not finding any to ende the same I am wearie to seeke auy further as also out of opinion of any good hap Except that now in your Highnesse Court which is most honoured and esteemed vpon the whole earth I may find such expected Fortune as of long time I haue failed in which doth encourage me somewhat considering there is not the like But first before the triall be attempted I will discourse the cause of this rare aduenture because each one of these noble gentlemen may be the better affectioned to her who holdeth his heart as chiefe Mistresse of his thoughts There was sometime ruling in Thrace a king who was name Sardamant so excellent well séene in the Art of Magique that for the qualitie of that gift he surpassed all other liuing in his time This King had a daughter of no lesse beauty then Courtly behauiour who was greatly beloued of two knights the one called Brandimar the other Artibel but they kept close their secreat loue from each other til
farre distant from the loyalty of a louer so did his holding the Cup manifest the same for while he held it there is nothing in the world can be iudged more blacke or griesly then the Cup séemed at that instant Targiana who knew him yet would not be known therof for the griefe she conceiued at this accidentâ—â— retired into her Chamber repenting that euer shee had bestowed her loue on him who was esteemed of so small fidelity The Damosell of Thrace receiuing the Cup againe of Florian said Sir Knight if Fortune spéed you no better in déedes of Armes then your actions manifest your faithfulnesse in loue I would â—ounsell you neuer hereafter to pursue aduentures Faire Lady answered Florian if you recompence your seruants according to desert it would greatly grieue me to fal into so hard destiny but your farre distance from reason maketh me to esteeme it the lesse for if I should passe on farther and suffer my selfe to be inueigled in your snares I were the lesse to bee pittied when I seeme to bewaile the languishing of my life This answer of Florian albeit it séemed acceptable to many of the knights yet the Ladies receiued it in great contempt because their naturall quality is such to yéelde according to the déedes of those who submit themselues to abide their pleasure and contrariwise their naturall inclination is to vse such recompence as their seruice they haue receiued neuer deserued The Damosel of Thrace came to the Knight of the Dragon desiring him to try the Cup according as diuers other had done before him perswading him that of a person so knightly as hée séemed there was to be expected a very good issue Palmerin séeing the matter brought to this extremity cast his eye on the Damosell and his heart on her whose obstinacy caused him to die with griefe entring into these spéeches If this aduenture be of a truth then I pray you my Lady henceforth to excuse the fearfulnesse of him who dares not presume to think what is in your mind So receiuing the Cup it contained the same quallitie as it did in the hand of the Prince Florendos because it could not exceede farther The Emperour being very glad tooke the Cup to prooue the rest of the Damosels words and in the bottome of the teares he beheld the Empresse as pleasant as euer he had séene her which made him to thinke the aduenture was ended but doubting the contrary he requested of the Damosell if the Cup shuld alway remaine in that state whereto the Damosell answered thus It must 〈◊〉 be tried if it wil turne againe to the former blacknes but I desire you that this Knight meaning the prince Florian make triall thereof no more for he hath so little desire to kéepe his loue faithfull to any Lady that the Cup in his hand will stand in great danger at which pretty triump the Ladyes conceiued good occasion of laughter Then the Emperour commanded that al the knights should take the Cup againe but their labour was in vaine for it neuer séemed to alter the colour wherefore the Empresse tooke it and beheld the Emperour so perfectly in it as if she had verily séene his face After the Empresse came Gridonia and Bazilia wherin they saw them that they chiefly estéemed but when the Princesse Polinarda took it she perceiued the noble Palmerin of England in such heauines that not able to endure his extreame grieuous countenance she deliuered the Cup from her fearing to let it fall her hand shaked so maruelously But none knew what was the cause thereof except the Emperour whose amorous youthfull time gaue him occasion to thinke that shee had séene some one in the Cup who greatly desired to doe her seruice which made him to round her in the eare saying Faire Daughter you make mee iudge that you want a seruant At which words she began so sweetely to blush that with her rare beauty it gaue her an excellent colour whereat the Knight of the Dragon became more and more afflicted The cup passed from hand to hand till it came againe to the Prince Palmeriu who beholding in it the swéet face of his faire Polinarda tooke occasion to speake in this maner to himselfe My gratious Lady I very well perceiue by your countenance that you haue not forgotten him who was only borne to do you seruice yet doth the miserie of his time constraine him to liue without hope desiring nothing else but to accomplish your pleasure Then he deliuered the Cup to his Brother Florian who beheld in the bottome of the teares the Princes Araalte of Nauarre and the faire Targiana as also many other Ladies who were as greatly offended with him as were these twain whom he had deceiued wherefore the Damosell taking the Cup from him said Doe you now Sir Knight behold the issue of your vnfaithfull Loue whereto he presently shaped this answere It séemeth that your sex canno hartily fauour the Knights that oweth them most affection which maketh many not force of their constancy to you but yet thus much I dare assure you that Ladies both haue and shall be a great deale better secured of me then of diuers that haue tried the aduenture of this Cup and to whom it hath showne more fauour then to me The damosell making him no answere turned to the Emperour saying I desire your highnesse that nâ—w the proofe may be made of those that are most and chiefest beloued wherein credit me you will receiue great pleasure Agréed quoth the Emperour and I intend my selfe to mak triall first for so shal I perceiue that being but slenderly fauoured of the Empresse I haue lost the power to end the aduenture So holding the Cup it remained in the same order still without any change or apparance of heate wherefore the Damosell said My Lord you must confesse your selfe that your time is past and therefore deliuer the Cup to the Empresse who hath so truly and faithfully loued you In the Empresse hand it continued to still wherfore Primaleon and the King Polendos who being faithfully beloued of their Ladies made the cup still to containe the chiefe brightnes After these two Princes Don Rosuell aduanced himselfe to make triall at his Loue which was so little that the heate the Cup contained vrged him to deliuer it to the Prince Platir who found it not altogether so hot as when Don Rosuell had it It passed the hands of them all some with good hap some with ill till it came againe to the Prince Florian but he passed it as lightly as the other because his heart was exempted frée from any Louers griefe From him Albayzar tooke it whom Loue fauored so much that he held it a great while Then came the turne of the Knight of the Dragon whose hap proued worse then all the rest for the Cup was so enflamed round about him that it séethed euen as water doth vpon the fire which caused great feare to all that
desiring him that he would suffer them to assist him as defending the challenge of the other two giants Dramusiande séeing them so well prouided would not refuse their knightly offer whereat Gracian Berolde Pompides and Floraman were somewhat offended because ther was none of them al but would gladly haue taken part with the Giant Dramusiande The Giants named Arbusar Albaroco and Berocant refused the offer which was made them answering that if there were no Giants for them to deale withal they disdained to take armes against men of no more might Elorian hearing them speake so arrogantly in a chafe tooke Arbusar by the arme saying Thou counterfeit Monster sâ—me not to excuse thy selfe so fondly from entring the Combate for in recompence of thy deserts I will present the Emperor with thy head from thy shoulders And to giue thée the better occasion to fight thou shall vnderstand that I am the Knight who brought the princesse Targiana into this Countrey and for this Knight thou séest with me I knowe his hardinesse will suâ—â—er him to deale with Albaroco now refuse the combat iâ— you dare The Giants hearing him to confesse that he had brought the Princesse Targiana from her countrey became so full of choler that they desired the place might be assigned where they presently determined to hazard the fight The Emperor commanded the place should be showen them whereabout he caused such good regard to be placed as in such dangerous affaires he was woont to doe but it was somewhat displeasant to him that â—orian should venture on such ougly follows iudging the other knight to be Palmerin of England he was in great feare least now he should chance to lose them both At such time the knights were entring the Field the Damosel of Thrace taking Florian aside secretly vsed these words vnto him Sir knight if Fortune bend her selfe against you that in this dangerous attempt your strength doe faile you commend your selfe to the clemency of some lady and doubt you not but to escape the hazard luckily God forbid said Florian that I should trust in them who haue not the power to helpe themselues much lesse can they any way send me succour or that I should prostrate my selfe to deâ—ice their fauour whose greatest libertie is continuall thraldome to an aduenturous minde With these words they all mounted on horsebacke and rode into the field the Emperour with all the Ladies and Knights hied themselues to the windowes to sée this hautie exployt and Albayzar likewise desirous to sée it came to one of the windowes desiring that the victory might fall to the Giants as he had good hope beholding their valiant and noble courage CHAP. XCIIII What happened in the fight against the Giants AFter that the Iudges were placed to discerne the fight the Trumpets sounded and they encountred one an other very couragiously euery one dealing so roughly with his enemy that this was supposed the most dangerous Combate that euer was séene The Emperor was still affectionate to behold the marueilous courage of the Knights of the Dragon as for Dramusiande and Florian they behaued themselues with such deliuer behauiour that Primaleon Florendos and all the Knights gaue great praise to the hautie valour of them all The Empresse Gridonia departed from the window greatly pittying the danger on either part but the Princesse Polinarda staied to sée the end accompanied with Targiana who was as much gréeued to sée the boldnes of Florian as she was pleased in beholding the courage of the giants by whose helpe she thought to haue reuenged the great inconstancy shee found in the prince Florian. And then he gaue the damosel of Thrace to vnderstand that it was not for want of strength he preuaild no better in the triall of the cup for albeit the giant Arbusar desended himself well he could not resist against Florian who saluted him with many mighty and cruel strokes driuing him into such wearinesse that he could hardly indure to stand on his féete At last faintnesse and wearinesse constrained them to retire when Berocant séeing his fellows so dangerously wounded began to rage with himselfe in this manner O gods is it possible that the force of Berocant Arbusar and Albaroco so highly estéemd throughout the whole world should be brought into subiection by one only giant and two knights why grant you not vs our accustomed strength but in our greatest néed leaue vs destitute of all succour How happy might I estéeme my selfe if I might vanquish him who sometime conquered Dramusiand and deliuered the number of knights he kept as Prisoners If you will not suffer me to haue aduantage ouer him then would I that here were with him foure of the best knights on the earth so losing my life on them I might the better broke this my hard fortune The Knight of the Dragon had no other recourse for his amorous thoughts but only to the beautiful face of his Lady Mistâ—es whose vngentle words at his departure from CoÌ„stantinople armd him with greater patience to abide the death if his froward hap should now prouide it for him As for the prince he had no body to apply his thoughts vnto but only coÌ„mitted himselfe to the gouernment of Fortune whom he only kept for his Lady and Mistresse Euery one vsing some pretty fancy to himselfe during the time they remained breathing assalted one another again very valiantly when the knight of the Dragon hauing brought Albaroco to his foote to honor his mistresse with his conquest he opened his helmet and before her part his head from his shoulders as glad of the victory as before he stood in doubt how to obtaine it Then he aduanced himself to assist Dramusiand against Berocant at whom he fiercely let fly a stâ—oke but their often trauersing the ground caused the blow vnfortunately to fall on Dramusiande giuing him a greater wound on the shoulder then any he had receiued at the hands of Berocant wherfore Dramusiand turned to him with these words Trust me sir knight I estéeme the succour you giue me to be oppression and no friendship wherefore I pray you suffer me to end this cause my selfe and if perhaps you sée me vanquished then put your valour in triall to kill him who shall remaine victorious ouer me for the death I rather chuse then the shame which may fall to me by this vngentle manner of ayde The knight of the Dragon hauing thus against his will iniuried his friend Dramusiande retired greatly displeased with himselfe and Aâ—busar was reduced into such weakenesse that Florian quickly gaue him his paiment so sore wounded himselfe that the Iudges would haue had him carried out of the field but he would not consent thereto before he had séene the issue of the fight which was so displeasant to Albayzar and Targiana because the giants were so cruelly vsed that they went from thence as not able to suffer such a gréeuous sight The Emperor Primaleon
his sword and offered resistance when presently the beasts vanished he knew not which way Then Palmerin leaped into the Boate and with all diligence rowed himselfe to yâ— farther side but when he was landed there hée had more cause of maruaile because now hée sawe no way how to get vp vpon that Rocke Walking a litle aside hée beheld a Rope that reached to the ground from the top which was so slender and rotten that hée thought it not able to abide the waight of his Armour wherefore to make himself the lighter he determined to leaue his Armor there yet not knowing what occasion he should haue to vse it when he should come to the top of the Rocke he bound himselfe about the middle with the Rope when presently hée was pulde vp with maruailous speede and when he was at the toppe he could not perceiue them that had drawne him vp Then he knew he was in the Field where the beasts were slaine and that euery thing the Enchauntment presented to him was for no other cause but to abate his courage where fore he addicted himselfe so aduenturous that all the feare in the world had not the power to dismay him CHAP. C. How Palmerin ended the Enchantment of the Princesse Leonarda FOr all that night Palmerin rested himselfe vnder a Trée and in the morning he beheld the Towers very brauely wherefore he walked on and at last espied his Horse tyed to a Trée in no worse case then when he left him So mounting vpon him he rode a little further where hee met with two Knights who without any words couched their speares against him the first receiued vpon his Shield and the Knights presently vanished away the second burst his Lance vpon him whervpon Palmerin followed him to requite him with a blow of his sword but he lost the sight of him in like maner as he did of the other knight Then Palmerin looking about espied a man readie to draw a Bridge which was the passage ouer a water which made him to gallop thither apace so that he entred the gate before he had the power to locke it When he-sawe himselfe in so faire a Castle he aduanced himselfe to sée the brauerie of the Chambers but two Giants came and laid at him with their Maces so that he was enforced to fall on the ground but recouering himselfe thinking to fasten halfe a good blowes on them they were gone nothing remaining before him but a great smoake This caused him to make the lesse estimation of any thing that chaunced and whatsoeuer resisted him hee would but little force of so comming into the Court of the Castell he perceiued a little gate on high in the wall whereto he must ascend by a paire of staires so narrow and dangerous that a man would haue hardly trusted himselfe on them Palmerin desirous to sée the ende of his labours aduentured to goe vp vpon them and when he was on the middle steppe all the walles about him beganne to shake very vehemently so that Palmerin doubted the whole Castell would fall vpon him and till came to the top of the staires the Enchantment lasted where he was no sooner come but a general terror did shew the Enchantment to be fully ended Palmerin entring through that little doore came into a darke entrie where there was a great gate made fast with great Lockes and boltes of Iron and hard by the gate lay a mightie Serpent whose horrible bignesse and oughly forme made the Prince to be greatly amazed about whose necke vpon a Chaine was hanged the Keyes that should open the gate The Prince knewe not how to passe this gate except he might winns the Keyes from so terrible a Porter whom hee charged with many noble strokes and the Serpent breathed such horrible veneme and smoke hauing the Princes Swoord in one of his nostrilles that with a terrible â—ore hee slewe through one of the windowes The people séeing it flye ouer the Cittie which made them iudge that Palmerin as then was in some painefull trauaile for whose good successe they prayed very often When he saw the Serpent was gone he found the Keyes on the ground wherewith he vnlocked and opened the gate entring into so faire a Hall that the Perilous Isle where Eutropa cast her selfe into the Lake nor the sumptuous Castle of the Sage Aliart Obscure Valley might compare with this rare and excellent Monument which was so engeniously deuised by the King of Thrace He walked all about and found all things new to bee in perfect estate for that the Enchantment was fully finished but at last he came to a Chamber where he perceiued certaine Damosels talking and by them stood an armed man who likewise tooke pleasure to conferre with the Damosels The Prince loth to trouble them entred into a verie faire Garden where on a gréene banke by a faire Fountaine he beheld diuers Ladies of excellent beautie but especially the faire young Princesse Leonarda who had no sooner espied him but she came to him very courteously in this manner Credite me Sir Knight I finde my selfe so largely beholding to you that I cannot recompence you so nobly as you haue deserued but in time I shall endeuour my selfe to requite the honourable bounty receiued at your hands meane while I shall request you to accept my good will in satisfaction of your noble déedes which are imprinted so déepe in my heart that I shall not faile to accomplish what your Prowesse hath bound me in My gratious Lady answered Palmerin the beauty which Nature hath aboundantly adorned you withall is sufficient to content the greatest trauailes attempted by the hardyest Knight in the world if so be Fortune had allowed him the lybertie to receiue so great a benefite of such a gratious Lady But séeing the aduenture here so wonderfull that these present put them past into darke obliuion I shall intreate you to tell me if I haue any greater danger to passe then this which it pleaseth you to present before me for trust me I shall dispaire to accomplish them knowing right well that the hope of so rich a Treasure as is your beautie ought to be reserued for the Knight who is indewed with greater Prewesse then my selfe These words procured a swéete blushing in the Princesse face whereof to be resoued she replyed thus I know not Sir Knight what danger you sustaine at this present because all the dangers and hazards of the Castle tooke end at such tune as you came into this Garden But then to breake off their talke there came in the Lords and Gouernours of the Citty who séeing the Serpent fly ouer the Citty which they knew very well to be the end of the Enchantment they came with great Maiesty riding to the Castle where comming into the Garden they humbled themselues on their knées before the Princesse Leonarda offering likewise to kisse the hand of the noble Palmerin which he would not suffer but receiued them courteously as
his friends and companions The Quéene Carmelia sent a Coach to the Castle wherein the Princesse Leonarda was brought to the Pallace of her Vnckle who receiued her as became her high estate and dignity and the Prince Palmerin likewise they vsed great honour and Princely obeysance but when he came to the Camber he found there Siluian who was not a little glad to sée his Lord so sauely returned CHAP. CI. Of that which Palmerin did while he remaineded in the Court of Thrace NOw at the request of the Quéen Carmelia Palmerin granted to stay in the court of Thrace for eight dayes in which time the Lords to fulfill the commandement of their deceassed King went to the Camber of the Queene Carmelia in whose presence they charged the Duke Rialdo to giue the English Prince to vnderstand what their King Sardamant had commanded to be fulfilled On this they all came to the Princes Chamber where they found him talking with Siluian as concerning his speedy departure from thence which they knewe he had appointed as the next day following but they making themselues ignorant therof at last the Duke Rialdo entred into these spéeches My Lord as I thinke you haue not forgotten what commandement our deceassed king Sardamant left to be performed in the marriage of the Princesse Leonarda his Néece So it is that willing to accomplish his straight and heauie charge as also not to suffer such a noble Prince who hath merited so graciously to be ingratefully recompenced likewise on our parts that we cannot esteeme for ourselues a more happy felicity then such a King to rule vs whose déeds rightly deserue to be Monarch of the whole world these causes considered and nominated we humbly desire you to accept your owne by right and our dutie to sée faithfully accomplished which is to be our gratious King and Seueraigne so that our happy and tranquill estate remaine feared of the stranger and beloued of our friends and neighbours Except the increase of wealth doe alter the noble mind which had alwaies hitherto continued vpright as to some it happeneth but falling into so great mishap your estimation would be the lesse accounted of So that the honourable pains you haue bestowed to restore vs the princesse Leonarda our Queene should be blotted with such obliuous reports as though they had béene neuer séene or done I assure you Sir answered Palmerin the refuse which I make to accept a reward so happie and fortunate is onely because I verily iudge the Princesse Leonarda ought to be kept for such a one as may better my estate in wealth and worthinesse The Damosel of Thrace who had brought him thither standing by and hearing the answere he made came vnto him in this manner Sir Palmerin I know right well that loue hindreth you to enioy what your déeds hath deserued and causeth you to muse on such a one as peraduēture thinketh not so well of you which is the onely cause that you refuse the recompence of your honorable and famous labours The words of the Damosell séemed very reason able to the Duke and his company but séeing they could obtaine no other answere of Palmerin they returned againe to the Quéene Carmelia concluding that he should giue a noble Lord to enioy the Princessé Leonarda according as the King Sardamant had so ordained whereto Palmerin gladly agréed saying I account this honour worthy Gentlemen the greatest that euer fortune could sent me in suffering your Princesse to ioyne in Marriage according to my minde and therefore thus assure yourselues that I shall bestew such a Prince vpon her as both she and you shall be contented to receiue The Lords of Thrace gaue him very harty thankes reporting his answere to the Queene Carmelia who made such acceptation thereof as it worthily deserued but Leonarda was somewhat offended and would haue fallen into anger had not the Damosell of Thrace vsed these words vnto her Faire Princesse me thinkes you should not thinke so ill of the constant faith and loyaltie of the Prince Palmerin who wil kéepe his vowe he hath made to her which perhaps is nothing inferior to you in beauty and wealth and this I can assure you that Palmerin hath a brother a Prince so saire and vertuous in all his déedes as if he ioyne you in marriage with him I know you will gladly held your selfe content The Damosell vsed her perswasions so well that the Princesse Leonarda was very well pleased of whom Palmerin tooke his leaue that night because he would be gone somewhat early in the morning which the Quéene Carmelia seeing she tooke him aside and thus charged him I pray you Sir to remember my Couzin Leonarda and to send her such a Lord as her birth and worthinesse hath continually deserued And if you thinke it good that I might cause her to be brought to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin I should estéeme it the greatest honour that in all my life time might happen vnto me For that I perswade me he would so wel entertaine her as the faire Polinarda who is his Néece with whom she would likewise greatly delight her selfe Furthermore because all the chiefe knights of the world be at the Court of Constantinople I would gladly this kingdome should be ruled by such a Prince as hath bin trained vp by that famous Emperour Madame saide Palmerin I assure you the Emperour will estéeme this honour highly and entertaine her according as she doeth deserue therefore I wish you to send her so soone as may be because the sooner she commeth the better shall she be welcome I pray you quoth the Quéene how estéeme you of the Damosell that brought the Cup thither Truely answered Palmerin I know no one so conuenient by reason of the good spirit and wit she hath which doeth greatly grace her in reporting her message Presently the Quéene called for the Damosell giuing her to vnderstand what was determined Wherevpon there were letters of credit made for her which done Palmerin tooke leaue of the Quéene and the Princesse Leonarda being accompanied with most of the nobles foorth of the Citie where after many circumstances of friendly departing they left him and returned againe to the Citie Palmerin being very well armed still vsing his Shield to be called the Knight of the Tiger trauailed on in his iourney accompanied with Siluian yéelding his body to trauaile and his heart to his Lady and Mistresse as in the second part you shall sée very gallantly discoursed FINIS THus Gentlemen you haue heard the first part of our English Princes labors wherin if you find the Translation altered or the true sence in some place of a matter impaired let this excuse answere his default in that case A worke so large is sufficient to tire so simple a workeman as himselfe and beside the Printer may in some place let an error escape So betweene these two reasons let the Author passe vncontrowled which will hasten him the sooner to send
displeasure without vsing any remembrance at all of the Prince Florian of the â—esart whom shée had now altogether thrust into forgetfulnesse and was so sore troubled for want of the presence of the Prince Florendos as she tooke her farewell of the restored prisoners to whom for griefe she could not vse such gratious behauior as she had done the day before Florendos rid certaine dayes in the company of Albayzar and Floraman when he concluded to trauell to the Castle of Almaroll to sée what entertainment the faire Miragarda would make to the Prince Albayzar and whether she could now â—nde contrary to her former custome his noble imployed seruice agréeable to her curious nature These thrée knights following their enterprise they perceiued after they were entred somewhat within the Realme of Spaine at the foote of a mountaine a knight standing very sadly betwéen two great Oakes he was armed in blacke Armour and bare in his Shield a white Bull in a fielde of Sable and mounted on a very gallant Courser so that these thrée Knights conceiued very good opinion of him and to him they would haue approached but that suddenly an Esquier stept before them who hauing saluted them very courteously deliuered his minde after this order Gentlemen the knight which standeth by these Dakes giueth you to vnderstand that he hath enterprised to guarde this passage in that he hath kept it a loÌ„g time against many knights not for that he hath desire to offer any knight discourtesie but onely to satisfie the will of a Lady to whom he remaineth affectionate loyal and obedient Therfore if it may stand with your liking to grant such things as he will demand the passage shall be at libertie for you but if you enterprise to doe the contrary he will put in triall to make you confesse perforce that which you cannot reasonably deny or refuse to grant Declare vnto vs quoth the Prince Florendos first the wil of thy Master and soone after we will make thée answere because very hardly can we determine of the matter whereof we are ignorant by reason that thou concealest it so closely Hee will cause you to confesse answered the Esquier that Arnalce the Princesse of Nauarre is the fayrest creature vnder heauen and most worthy of knightly seruice It séemes to me sayd Albayzar that we shall find this same knight who to shunne the Combate at her Castle hath accorded and promised to fulfill her impecious conditions Therefore I iudge it in mine opinion for good cause I know it assuredly that his enterprise is very dangerous and ought no longer to be maintained Let it happen what pleaseth Fortune sayd Florendos and afterward turning to the Esquire he answered him in this order My friend you may goe assure your maister of the Iouste While the Esquire was busie in spéech to the Prince Florendos Floraman no sooner perceiued him to returne to his maister but he desired Florendos that he would graunt him the Combate against the Knight that kept the passage which request he would not denie him wherevpon Floraman gaue the spurres to his horse and ran couragiously against the Knight of the princesse Arnalte they both encountring together with such great force that they were both dismounted to the earth with their héeles vpward but they recouered themselues promptly and like good knights set their hands to their swords wherewith they began to strike one another very daungerously vsing such knightly dexteritie as Florendos and Albayzar greatly delighted to behold them And for that Floraman was reputed for a good Knight they were abashed greatly that any aduantage should happen to the Knight of the Princesse Arnalte for the loue of whom hée fought very brauely But that which was most displeasant to Floraman who did his dutie like a good and vertuous knight was least the Princesse Florendos and Albayzar shoulde take any euill opinion of him On the other side the Knight of the passage thought on the bonde wherein the loue of the Princesse Arnalte had tyed him which did the more harten and encourage him These two knights continued Combate so long that being ouercome with extreame trauaile they were constrained to retire to take breath the straunge knight reioycing thereat began to vse this language towardes Floraman I know Sir knight that you might better breake your will and saue your life then be depriued of them both for when you shall come to confesse that the Princesse Arnalte is the fayrest Lady aliue you shall not be any iote spared by fauour alwayes considered that you shall but confesse the truth If I did consent to thy will answered Floraman I should maintaine a thing farre beyond any dutie for in how much Arnalte is faire and worthy to bée serued by so much the rather thou makest me to thinke that the world enioyeth some such to whom she is not in any thing to be compared for that diuine beautie hath made them so singular faire as the Princesse of Nauarre may in no wise be equalled with them And on the other side I haue in time past loued a Lady my selfe in respect of whom the whole world being filled with the report of her prayse I will rather die then accord to the presumption thou wouldest haue me confesse Floraman had no sooner concluded his spéech but they returned a fresh to yâ— Combat charging one another more suriously then they had done before so that it could not be iudged whether the one had any aduantage of the other or who was likelyest to win the victory they maintained the sight so brauely But in the end the Knight that kept the passage beganne by a little and a little to feele that feeblenesse somewhat assailed him and that stroke by stroke his word turned in his hand and his Armour was broken in many places and likewise the Armour of Floraman was in no better case then his enemies but he followed his strokes more wisely and dealt so gallantly at this second charge that once againe they were constrained to retire Floraman who was accompanied with such gratious gifts as imbraceth the heart of a vertuous Prince would proue if he might possible chaunge the Knight from his fonde opinion Whereupon he spake to the Knight in this maner Sir Knight you sée very well that your enterprise is not truth according as you haue iudged it in conceit wherefore I pray you to confesse that there are many Ladies in the world whose beautie the Princesse Arnalte may no way paragon I know well Sir sayd the Knight of the passage that the weakenesse where into you sée me brought giueth you the hardinesse to vse me with such perswasions of reproofe but so it is that I am so greatly affectionate towards the Princesse Arnalte as I haue deliberated with my selfe to sustaine yâ— death before I will graunt to that which you say When he had deliuered the end of his purpose he charged Floraman afresh who in short time laide
of so great danger and then shall I account my selfe then more highly beholding to you Lady quoth he I receiue so great pleasure in your courteous answer as I thinke my selfe the happiest man a liue to attaine such bountie wherewith he presently tooke his horse causing his Esquire to mount the Damosell who by the way recounted to the Prince Florian how by a tempest of the Sea she was cast on the coast of Ireland comming from Denmarke and carrying Letters of eâ—edise to Basilia the Empresse of Allemaigne And when I perceiued quoth she that I was in this countrey where my Couzins the Daughters of the Marques Baltamor remained I intended to bestow a little labour in séeing them but my â—ortune was so hard as I met with the Giant Brocalon who not contented with the murdering my two Esquires that bare me company pursued me to haue fulfild his villanous wil on me so it was your good hap to be my reskew for which I thinke my selfe more beholding to you then I can expresse the Prince taking her by the hand returned this answer I promise you faire Lady I reioyce that it was my fortune to do you such seruice and doubt not but you shall finde me so gentle a companion as will guard your person from any danger that may happen to you but I would either I were so happie or you so courteous as to giue liberty to the prisoner whom your singular beautie hath secretly fettered They continuing these pleasant purposes of spéech at last they came to a goodly Riuer the pleasant sight whereof inuited them to alight from their horses to ease themselues a little where sitting louingly together the Prince began amorâ—usly to dispose himselfe toward the sober and chasle Damosell in the meane while his Esquire went to a Castle néere at hand to prouide some viands for his Maister who had fasted since he came to Hermits Cell which he refused to haue the Damosels swéete company Many affable spéeches the Prince spent that the Damosell might the better entertaine him into his fauour at length he was so bold as to giue her a gréene gowne when I feare me she lost the flower of her chastity but whether it were so or no I know not but mine Authour saith that the Esquire at his departing left her a Maiden and at his comming againe he found her a woman CHAP. VI. What happened to the knight of the Sauage man before he had taken his farewell of the Damosell SVch and so great was the pleasure which the knight of the Sauage man conceiued by the presence of the Damosell as all that night they passed the time away by the riuers side till at length the Prince began to waxe heauy a sléepe like vnto those that entertaine Loue but for the present time rather to suffise their appetite then any thing else for he made so small account of a Louers passions as his humour once satisfied he had presently forgotten it The Damosell séeing the Prince to vse no more regard vnto her fell into extreame conceite of gréefe in that she had so lightly bestowne her honourable chastitie on the knight who she feared would commit her courtesie to vtter obliuion which if it shuld happen so vnkindly quoth she I being vnworthy to shew my face among persons of credite wish that the present losse of my life might falue vp the staine and blemish of my former riches A heauy and pittifull discourse she continued during the time the knight of the Sauage man slept soundly at last she looked about and espied two Esquires attending on a Knight of such huge stature as he séemed to her to exéede the Giant Brocalon And as he walked many times would he stand still and muse with himselfe then pull and rent his haire as one would haue iudged him depriued of his wits at last in his extreame passions he called his Esquiers and commanded them to wait ther neare vnto him for that he would repose himselfe vnder the Trees Hereat the Damosell was greatly abashed so that standing in some feare she awaked the Knight of the Sauageman with these wordes Good Knight forsake this drow sines for danger is nearer thée then thou art beware of here is another Brocalon come to iniure vs and therefore helpe now or neuer to defend vs. At these words the Prince suddenly started vp and when he had put himselfe in good regard for his enemie hee aduanced himselfe néerer vnto him and séeing his Esquires walking their horses and their Maister lying vnder a Trée in great griefe of minde he stayed himselfe in secret a while when he heard him breake foorth into these spéeches I sée it is great folly for me to repose any credite in the Gods who either want power or else are wilfully bent to euerthrow him that hath most trusted them and good cause haue I to thinke so for that my Brethren being vanquished by one onely Knight they make so small estimation of me in their fauour as they will not suffer me to meete with him that I might either beare my Brethren company or take that reuenge which both my griefe and nature compelleth me For how can I chuse but blaspheme your names and deny to giue you the honour I haue done in that you suffer the knight so much to dishonour vs If you haue altogither cast me into obliuion I wil honor your Altars with no more testimonies of my affection but that trust I had in you I will repose in my selfe and so for euer henceforth I despise you These heauy complaintes caused the Prince to iudge that he was Baleato The Brother to the Giant Brocalon who hauing intelligence of his Brothers death sought to finde him that had done the deede this good hap was very acceptable to the Prince in that he found him without any of his knights to aid him so walking aside Baleato at the last had espied him who made him to arise with these spéeches What is he that dare imagine himselfe so hardy as to trouble me in my silent purposes I assure thée that thou art but little beholding to fortune who is thy vtter enemy in conducting thée hither especially in the time of my fury which thou wilt find more gréeuous then thou art able to endure And for the Damosell that kéeps thée company as I haue good occasion receiuing part of my gâ—éefe by meanes of such a one as she I will appeare the anger of my Gods in offering her as a Sacrifice to them and so will I deale with all of that Sexe that I can méete for that Brocalon the best knight in the world was slaine in following such another as she is Baleato answered the Prince reserue these threatnings for those that are affraide of thee and prepare thy selfe to deale with him whom neither the words nor weapon can terrifie as for the Damosell assure thy selfe that I will not onely defend her but I will also humble that proud minâ—e which
in short time was so blazed as it mooued a generall consent of gladnes not so much for the recouery of the Castles as that they were woon by the prowesse of the Prince Florian. The good King Fredericke for ioy of this good happe sent sir Pridos the Duke of Galles in all the spéede that might be to sée if he could méete with his noble Nephew who taking a Galley presently in short time arriued in the Coast of Ireland not very farre from the Hermits Cell Where finding the Prince and declaring the sum of his message the Prince concluded to depart thence notwithstanding his wounds were not thorowly healed so taking leaue of the gentle Hermit and desiring the other Knights to accompany him they committed themselues to the Seas whereon they had not long sayled but they arriued at the Cittie of London thorow which they were honourably conducted to the Kings Pallace When tydings being come to the King that they were arriued in the Court accompanied with his Sonne Don Edward hée came to méete them when casting his armes about the necke of the Prince Florian the teares ran downe his white beard for the inward ioy he conceiued in his presence as for his Father Don Edward he would not hide his earnest affection but welcommed his sonne with very great kindnesse and his mother the Princesse Flerida pittying his hurts but glad of his company shewed her selfe a louing mother vnto him and would not depart day nor night from him till she perceiued him to be thorowly recouered The King of England did very honourably entertaine the Knights which came with his Nephew and for that he would show he made estimation of them he accepted them into offices according to their degrées in his Court for which great bountie they witnessed themselues not vnthankefull but so behaued themselues as they did great credit to the King in his Court. The Prince Florian being in good estate of health newes came vnto the English Court of the imprisonment of the king Polendos and his companie in the Court of the great Turke which vnhappy tidings moooed the king and his whole Court to great gréefe considering withall the state of sorrow wheren the Emperour of Constantinople remained and the more extreame did they take the cause in respect of the small hope was to be had of their liberty againe in that the great Turke had sworne to put them all to death except the Emperour would send him the knight who so boldly carryed away his daughter the Princesse Targiana These newes comming to the eares of the Prince Florian he began to fall into these spéeches Far better it is for me to go render my selfe and suffer the extrame rigour of that cruell Infidell then that for me so many good knights should liue in danger for séeing by my occasion the cause did first arise no better meane to salue it vp againe then my selfe I cannot beléeue sayd the Prince Don Edward that the Turke is so forgetfull of himselfe as to séeke the death of so many for so small a matter by reason Albayzar one of his owne kindred should then stand in hazard of his life but if it be as the report goeth the Emperour ought to be carefull in the kéeping of Albayzer to the end that the safegard of his life might redéeme the other their woonted liberty whereto the Prince Florian thus replied I am perswaded good Father that the Turke will hardly be remooued from his determination which maketh me the greater to misdoubt the safety of those knights the absence of whom I am assure so gréeuously offendeth the good Emperour that I am perfectly resolued to goe and comfort him considering it is a part of dutie on my behalf not to be so farre from him at this time séeing he is depriued of them that should defend him The aged king Fredericke his Father Don Edward nor his mother the Priucesse Flerida could disswade him from his determination but contrary to their wils he departed from the Court taking his iourney toward Constantinople being armed after his accustomed maner and bearing in his Sheeld his vsuall deuise Thus the happy successe which may fall vnto him at this time we intend to leaue him because we will returne to the Prince Florendos who by his time is wel néere the castle of the giant Almarol hauing in his iourney done many noble déeds deseruing commendation but for that they are rehearsed in the English Chronicles it would séeme impertinent to this place to rehearse them neuerthelesse I must needs tell yée that Floraman the Prince of Sardignia in this iourney atchieued very great renowne and so continued till their arriuall at the City of Rioclaro which at this present is called Tamar Florendos séeing himselfe so neare the place where he had spent a great time in languishing afflictions entred into a thousand imaginations with himselfe first considering the beginning of his loue and then the happy continuance thereof enforced him to a number of sad coniectures wherein he passed that night as quietly as he could In the morning they rid on toward the Castle of Almaroll when Albayzar beganne to vse some doubt of his entertainement for that he iudged women were but slenderly acquainted with pittie especially hée looked for small fauour of the Princesse Miragarda who contrariwise was not so cruell towardes strangers as shée was toward her dearest and best beloued friendes Florendos had no sooner discouered the Trées which were planted about the Riuer Thesin and with all the walles of the Castle of Almaroll but his heart was immeasurably touched with suddaine feare remembring how many stormes he had endured and the perilles whereto he must now render himselfe againe afresh a spectacle certainely of woonderfull griefe wherein he somewhat bare the Prince Albayzar company who remembring that he was vanquished knew no other remedie for himselfe but to abide the mercy of Miragarda When they were come to the Castle they found all the gates fast locked wherevpon they went to the Trée where the Shieldes were hanging where well beholding them all Florendos at last espied his owne at the sight whereof he secretly sighed and imagined how he might be thankfull sufficient to his Esquire Armello who had since his departure so well garded it but in sooth he was not so much beholding to his Esquier as he did esteeme himselfe because Armello was fallen amorous of Lardemia the Damosell attendant on the faire Princesse Miragarda and stayed in that place to contemplate the beauty of his beloued Mistresse rather then for any care he had of his Maisters shéeld and Armor for he was gone so farre ouer shoes in loue as he had no other pleasure then the remembrance of the Damosell who tooke great delight to sée him so gréeuously attached for loue Armello shas so set on fire in affection as he could not know his Lord and Maister and some other cause there was to hinder him for that he was so
to requite your kindenesse Polynarda contented herselfe very well with the gentle aunswere of the fayre Princesse Leonarda as well to be resolued of the speciall entertainment which shee gaue to her Noble Couzin Florian as also to remooue the suspition shee had of her singular Beautie fearing least her most fauoured Friende the Prince Palmerin of England should fall into any lyking to matche with her because she reserued him altogether for her séemely selfe The Prince Florian was not a little prowd of his good fortune and the Emperor would haue called him to him but that he saw how familiar the two princesses were in talk with him whervpon he determined if good hap would so permit to make a marriage betwéene him and the Princesse of Thrace whom he gaue as bed fellow to his Néeâ—e Polinarda assuring you that these two vertuous Ladies liued and loued so intirely together as the one could neuer be without the others company and what occasions of secrete sorrow so euer hapned the one would not 〈…〉 of the other in reuealing their close conceits for they 〈◊〉 of this minde that it could not be called firme and faithful friendship when all kind of such causes should not passe common betweene them At length the Emperor accompanied with the Prince Florian withdrew himselfe into his Chamber where he quistioned with him about the prosperous estates of the King of England his Grandfather and his father the Prince Don Edward not forgetting his deare daughter the faire Princesse Flerida whom he desired if it might be possible to sée before he dyed and after he had communed with him about many matters hee caused the Prince to be brought into his Chamber where the good Knight could not â—â—sse the night so quietly as he was accustomed the 〈…〉 princesse Leonarda was so earnest in his thoughts as 〈◊〉 and tumbled but could not enioy any wished rest On the next day in the morning when the Emperour had béene at the Chappell to heare diuine Seruice the Table was couered in the Princesse Fleridaes Chamber where he dined in the company of the Empresse Gridonia Polinarda and the faire Princesse of Thrace but after that the Tables were withdrawne and they had â—â—tten a prettie while talking together there entered a Damosell attired all in blacke with two séemely Esquiers attending on her she humbled herselfe before the Emperour with kissing his hand and did the like to the Empresse Gridonia and Polinarda who very gently imbraced the Damosell for that she knewe her to be one of the wayting Gentlewomen vpon the Princesse Targiana at such time as she was there abiding in the Emperours Court and before the Empresse shee stayed still when the Emperor hauing knowledge of her came and demanded other as concerning the welfare of her Lady and Mistresse to which wordes she answered in this manner Dread Prince and my most gratious Lord I desire you that you will not receiue any displeasure for that you sée me rather inclined to the Empresse then to your excellencie because the Princesie Targiana commaunded me to addresse my selfe vnto her highnesse as to one whom she vnfainedly regardeth but for your grace desireth to vnderstand how the Princesse my good Lady â—aâ—eth it is so that she neuer came foorth of her Chamber since the day that the Prince Polendos your Sonne and the other Princes and Knights were committed to prison during all which time she hath not ceassed most gratiously to wéepe and lament insomuch as her faire beautie is maruellously altered and chaunged yet hath the Turke her Father laboured as much as may be to disâ—wade her from this mournefull kinde of life but all in vaine he wasteth his endeuor for she tooke her oath in his presence that she would neuer giue euer vexing her selfe with continuall waiting vntill your knights enioyed as frée libertie as they had when they came with her from Constantinople The Turke her father fearing lest her extreame griefe would be a cause of shortning her youthfull time hath promised to restore them for the libertie of the Prince Albayzar whom they of Babilon haue request of him that they may enioy him among them againe for this cause the great Turke hath sent hither an Ambassadour who will be here either this day or tomorrow morning when your Highnesse shall vnderstand the summe of the matter And for that the Princesse Targiana feareth least you should denie to graunt what he requireth which may mooue such an inconuenience as your Maiestie would repent the great honour you bestowed on her in your Court she put me faithfully in trust to bring these tydings vnto the Empresse in whose presence I haue made you acquainted with that I had in charge because it teâ—cheth you more then it doeth any other person Moreouer shee carefully pondering euery carâ—e with her selfe and doubting least the mallice which her father beareth to the Princesse of your Court will séeke a secrete reuenge some way as treason intended betwéene him and his Ambassadour towards your Highnesse to preuent the worst that may happen she desireth you to returne her Father good words but not forgoe the Prince Albayzar whom you know her lawfull husband before first your Knights be foorth of her fathers power and that they haue attained such a place of assurance as al deuises notwithstanding no harme may come vnto them but if after their libertie such misfortune happen them as she would be very loath your Maiestie may as you sée cause finde your selfe agrieued with the offenders Faire Damosell answered the Emperour I accept very gratefully the good aduice of the Princesse Targiana and I sée very well that the honour she receiued in my Court albeit it was but small is now double and double rewarded and perswade your selfe that I am determined to follow her counsell The Emperour concluding his minde the Damosell came againe to the Princesse Polinarda to present her with the gratious commendations of the faire Targiana but when she behelde the rare and singular beautie of the Princesse of Thrace which set by her the damosell tooke the hardinesse to demaund and if that Lady were not the Princesse Miragarda for whom and by whom the Prince Albayzar was vanquished In sooth faire Damosell answered Polinarda this is not the Princesse Miragarda but this is Leonarda the Princesse of Thrace whom the noble Palmerin of England deliuered out of the enchantment wherein she remained a long and tedious time at these wordes the Damosell tooke occasion to beginne thus By your fauour Madame I knowe now who this Lady is because I haue not forgotten the straunge aduenture of the Cuppe which was brought by a Damosel into his Court and I assure you that Palmerin of England was of a very strange nature that he could both make so small account of such a faire Princesse as also in refusing the stately gouernment of the Kingdome of Thrace Polinarda desirous to mooue the Damosell from talking in that matter willed that
she would report to her the welfare of the Princesse Targiana that had so friendly giuen them to vnderstand before of the tidings which were brought thither by the Ambassadour who beiug arriued at Constantinople the Emperour sent the chiefest Princes and knights of his Court to receiue him with very friendly and courteous entertainment but when the Damosell heard that the Ambassadour was come she presently departed thence towards Spaine to go find out the Prince Albayzar promising the Princesse Polinarda to returne by Constantinople before she made her returne into Turkie The Emperour dessred the Damosell to present the message of his good will to the king Recinde as also to the Prince Albayzar and after that he had bestowed diuers rich and costly giftes on her she betooke her selfe to trauaile being verie glad that she was espyed by none of them which came with the Ambassadour who as I haue already declared was receiued in very Princely order not as he were an enemie but as became best the estate of him to whom he was sent who in sooth was of such a noble and vertuous minde as when he should deale roughly and extreamely with his enemies hee would entertaine them as his vowed and professed friends and such was his courtesie to this Ambassadour To the Emperours pallace he was conducted very worthlie riding among the chiefest Princes and knights of the Court and the Emperour himselfe to doe him the greater honour came and receiued him at the gate of his Pallace but the proud Turke would not one vouchsafe to vaile his bonnet or offer any honourable signe to the Emperour such was his malicious stomacke towards him who had in no case offended the Turke his Lord. The Emperour perceiued well the small regard he had of him by the words which the Princesse Targiana had sent him by her Damosell but yet he suffred him to do what he thought best vsing still so great courtesie vnto him as at last he was constrained to shew more decent iesture when he presented the Emperour with a letter from his Lord the Turke the seale thereof was of pure Gold and fastened about with a sumptuous Chaine The Emperor receiued it at his hands very gratiously and hauing viewed the tenour thereof he desired the Turke to go take his rest in his Chamber and the next day he would satisfie him in the occasion of his Ambassage I desire your grace answered the Turk that it may so stand with your pleasure as to make me presently answer without deserâ—ing any furder time which when I haue receiued I will goe â—est my selfe in mine owne Tents which I haue commanded to be prouided for me without the walles of your citie for if I should do otherwise the great Turk my gratious Lord would find himselfe much offended with me the Emperour replyed in this fashion You shall doe what you imagine conuenient in your owne conceit neuerthelesse I should not be any whit agreeued if my Ambassadour did lodge in the Pallace of the great Turke that he might the better fulfill his dutie in the charge committed to him I beséech your grace said the Turk to let these néedlesse spéeches goe and remember your selfe of the hundred Knights of your Court which are held as prisoners by my Lord the Turke and sée that you make some prouision for them for my Lord hauing them in his power to reuenge diuers iniuries which he hath receiued by some of your Subiects he determined to put them to death but to witnesse his gratious and noble nature he is content at the earnest intreatis of his daughter the faire Princesse Targiana to giue them their liues and to restore them in change for the Prince Albayzar who is kept prisoner in the Court of the King of Spaine by the commandement of the Princesse Miragarda But trust me you are to thinke your selfe in no small fauour with the Princesse Targiana whose teares were of such power as to sâ—ue the liues of your knights whom my Lord the Turke had determined you should neuer sée againe vntill your Highnesse had sent him the knight of the Sauage man that he might reuenge the iniurie which he too forgetfull of himselfe committed in carrying away by Sea his daughter Targiana a deed truly worthy of sharpe punishment the Turke there pausing the Emperour tooke occasion to beginne thus Certainly I confesse my selfe greatly bound to the Princesse Targiana but farre more to the faire Princesse Miragarda in that had not her wise foresight beene the greater my Knights had suffered the extreame rigour of death but this I assure you that since cruell Fortune had so throwne the Dyce on mee I rather would haue loste twice so many more as they are then to send your Lord the Turke my Knight of the Sauadge man in the presence of whome here I faithfully promise to deliuer the Prince Albayzar prouided alwayes that you make me sufficient assurance of them whome the Turke holdeth in vnkinde seruitude whereof how I may be certainly perswaded I pray you vouchsafe me the knowledge how and in what manner the case must be ordered The course which you must take in this matter answered the Turke is thus your Maiestie must send vnto my Soueraigne and Lorde the Prince Albayzar vppon his inuiolable Oath which by mee he voweth to you and which you may account of so great and sufficient truth and he will not faile by so great a bond to send you the prince Polendos your sonne with the other Princes and Knightes that are in his companie and this you may be bolde of that my Lorde more willingly would loose his life then falsifie his faith towards your Excellencie The Emperour leaning vpon his arme and noting well the words of the Embassador paused a good space without making any answere which the Prince Florian perceiuing being better acquainted with the infidelitie of the Turkes then the Emperour was and fearing least hee would haue giuen credite to this subtill assurance presently started vp and began as thus Most worthy Emperour if you but consider the cause why the great Turke detayneth your Knights in Prison you shall well perceiue the smal trust you ought to repose in him in that the occasion was so little and the assurance of his troth is much lesse Againe if you suffer the Prince Albayzar to escape vpon his worde you may chaunce sooner then you would to repent your selfe For if you remember his vnfaithfull dealing to the Giant Dramusiande in the time hee kept the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda how contrary to his vowed promise he brought it from the Castle of Almaroll in the night and comming with it into the Court did brauely giue it foorth in speeches that he had woon it by his knightly endeuour which dishonourable dealing he found in the end too costly Therefore it is very necessarie that the King Recinde regard him more carefully then hitherto he hath done in that the libeâ—tle of his person will
free and out of Bondes because hee would neuer greatly hurt himselfe with affecting Ladyes With these Damosells the Prince entered into the Castle the Court whereof was paued with fayre and goodly Marble Stones and when they had passed through this Courte they came into a very great Hall which was builded with maruellous Artificiall Antique worke at the Entraunes wherof the Prince was receiued by a Damosell who had thrée more attending on her but she was of so great and huge stature as a Gyant albeeit shee was indeede a Woman and not past sixtéene yéeres of Age a very gentle and milde natured person who tooke the Prince Florian by the hand and lead him with her into an other fayre Hall which was hanged with Tapistry of inestimable value The Prince being come into the place where it pleased the Damosell to bring him he then tooke off his helmet when his beautie séemed so acceptable in the eyes of the Damosell as at that very instant shee gaue her whole affection vnto him yet was she somewhat abashed that she should esteeme so well of him whose dealings was not vnknowne to her neither of whence or what he was the consideration whereof turned her suddaine good liking into as suddaine hatred disdaine which she would gladly haue dissembled and therefore thus beganne to parly with him Sir knight my heart is at this time greatly supprised with sorow for a grieuous iniury which is offred me wherof I haue good hope to be reuenged in that so courteously you vouchsafed to come into my Castle to succâ—ur mée wherefore I pray you that you will goe rest your selfe for this night because your trauaile doth require some ease and to morrow morning I will recite the cause wherein you may doe me very much pleasure Madame answered the Knight of the Sauage man I imagine with my selfe how déeply I am indebted for this excéeding fauour and how much I am bound to him that conducted me to this place where I reioyce that it is my good fortune to doe you any seruice which I account of so great honour as were my life of greater value then it is I would hazard it in any extreame perill which your excellency did thinke well off to commaund me The Damosell who was not accustomed to be entertained with such Courtly language presently returned him this reply I thanke you Sir for your friendly offer I pray you that you would make a good Supper to night that you may in the better quietnesse of minde take your rest and tomorrow morning we wil discourse of that which I haue occasion to vse your aide in and so for this time I did you hartily good night then she tooke her leaue in such swéete and gratious manner as her secrete intent of treason could be no way discerned The knight the Sauage man remained greatly â—ontenâ—ed hoping to speede so well in the fauour of the Damosell as furder causes of friendship should arise betwéene them it may be he thought to spéed so well with her as he did of the Damosell which the Hermit rebuked him for but what haue I to doe with his secret intent The Prince is in his chamber set down to supper and there is very worthily serued by the Damosels who gaue him entertainment at the gate of the castle among them all he thought best of her which waited of the Cup for that in sooth she was very well adorned with perfect beautie which made him forget his former affection to the Lady of the Castle such you may perceiue was his constancie in loue Well in briefe he began very queintly to deuise with this Damosell and she likewise mooued conceit with her companions the Prince glanced at her in amorous toying and she iybed with him in double construing but Supper being ended he was brought by these Damosels into his bed Chamber where after he was in bed she who had bene so famialiar with him all his Supper time came to him with these amiable spéeches Sir knight if the time and place were so commodious vnto me as it is not you should well perceiue the good account I make of you but séeing Fortune is so aduerse to my determination and the burning Lamps of affection must be quenched with a déepe and sorrowfull sigh Iâ—pray you accept of this King whereof I make no small estimation as an earnest penny of further good will So concluding she left the King in his hand and not attending the Princes answer she departed after the other Damosells and he remained as well pleased as could be by the friendly language the Damosell had giuen him for the loue of whom he put the King on one of his fingers on his left hand but incontinent the Prince was so depriued of his power and brought so farre out of course with himselfe as he could not moue or stirre any part of him for there was a Stone in the King of such vertue as he had no sooner put it on his finger but presently all naturall féeling was taken from him The Damoselles were no sooner returned vnto their Lady who was named Arlencea but presently bringing them in her coÌ„pany she came into the chamber where the Prince Florian lay who was so maruailously enchanted as he had no power at all to discerne them then spake she vnto her Damosels in this manner I sée now my friends that our iourney is not imployed altogether in vaine and I iudge that my mother Colambia will now liue in great contentment hauing power to reuenge the death of her sons Brocalon Baleato Calfurnien and Camboldam all my Brethren but as shée pronounced these wordes she cast her eyes vpon the Prince and séeing how young and swéet his countenance was she entred into these termes I am greatly abashed in thinking how so noble and valiant force should consist in a knight of so young yeares and if all they had not the power to ouercome this one man surely I must néeds thinke good fortune was on his side this matter doth mooue me to a doubtfull opinion and as it seemeth to me his visage is somwhat comfortable vnto fortunes fauourites which makes me repute him as neare allied to her by supernaturall affinitie and I assure you I could very willingly remit the offences hée hath done if the death of my brethren did not prouoke mée to séeke sharpe reuengement on him who was the death of so many good and hardy Knightes Thus regard of her enuie and his amiable personage did mooue a secret contention within her willingly she would haue saued him for his Knightly proportion but the losse of her brethren was so grieuous vnto her as all fauourable pittie did quite and cleane forsake her so that she was presently minded to cutte off his head but as she was at the very instant to doe the déede the aged man who was sent to séeke Florian and had brought him thither arriued there before her who knowing how to fit her
by friendly counsell as much as in him lay to cause her forget this fearefull motion and Arlencea at the request of Alfernao came presently out of her Chamber but when she beheld yâ— furiousnesse of the water sometime listing the Ship vp as it were to heauen and then throwing it downe againe to the depth of hell the water likewise beating in aboundantly her heart would not serue her to kéepe the Mariners any longer company but she went in againe to her Chamber so full of dispaire and fearefull frightings as being not able to sustaine her selfe she laid her downe vpon a pillow betwéene two of her Damosels when wéeping very bitterly she entred into these spéeches I sée well Alfernao the small recompence they shall receiue which enterprise such déeds as are dishonourable and far from dutie and I beléeue certainely that the Diuine powers are determined to punish vs for the great iniury and disloyaltie we offer in séeking the death of this good and hardy knight who slue my brethren one after another in plaine fight not offering or taking any aduantage of them which hautie derds albeit I cannot let them passe without great maruell yet do they make me verily thinke that he fought in a good and a lawfull cause in that he despised the exceeding crueltie and tyranny wherein my proud and presumptuous brethren liued which disorder of life being rightly chastised by the prowesse of this Knight we set our selues against all reasonable regard in my iudgement to practise his death for well doing And we being forgetfull to sift the iustnesse of the cause goe about to depriue this good Knight of his life in the reuenge of whose innocencie the wrathfull anger of the Heauens is fallen vpon vs wherefore to auoyde and flie the extremitie betime least wee fall into a woorse inconuenience I am resolued to chaunge my angrie moode thinking it better to take the Ring from him which caused him to sléepe so soundly then thus to abide the sharpe countenance of the wreakefull powers whome whether I will or no I must obey Arlencea hauing spoken what pleased her commanded the Chamber doore to be opened where the knight of the Sauadge-man lay and when she had taken the Ring from him hee was in as good estate as hee was before yet not without great maruell in himselfe when he perceiued he was in a ship on the Sea and so compassed about with faire Damosells who wept verie grieuously to see themselues in so great daunger The Prince in this amazement came foorth of his Chamber when he saw how the furious waues of the Water did tosse and turmoyle their Barke and how the Pilot the Marriners and euery one in the Ship theyr harts were dead because â—hey knew no way how to helpe themselues Wherupon he beganne with noble words to chéere and encourage them but the extream feare they had generally conceyued caused them to make small estimation of his words Then was he more and more abashed but especially to sée himselfe in such a place where it was the least parte of his thought to haue come and how he came so Embarqued from the Castle where the Damosells came and entertained him so exceeding friendly at the Gate thereof This strange aduenturs made him oftentimes desirous to demund how and after what sort he chanced thither but the danger which hee saw imminent before his eyes would not affoord him so much leisure but compelled him to settle his thoughtes on that which was more necessarie The Marriners by the often intâ—eaty and friendly behauiour of the Prince began somewhat to comfort themselues which when as he beheld hee went into the Chamber to Arlencea where sitting downe by her hée beganne his spéeches after this order Madame I would I might intreate you to forsake those fearfull passions and to regarde him who estéemeth maruellous well of your diuine Beautie the tempest beginneth by little and little to loose his force and therefore let my perswasion somewhat appease you for these teares wherewith you offend your gratious countenance is as grieuous for me to beholde as it is bootlesse for you so much to hurt your selfe Arlencea hearing the courteous language of the Prince and noting withall his séemely countenance reioyced that shee had so spared his life at the intreatie of Alfernao and the malicious reuenge which she sought before was now changed againe into good opinion of Loue whereat the Knight of the Sauadge-man was very well pleased but Alfernao remained most grieuously passionate knowing well that his enterprise could come to no good ende The Night being spent at the breake of day the tempest calmed when the Pilote gaue them to vnderstand that they were arriued on the Coast of Spaine which words displeased Alfernao in the hearing and while he sate vttering silent complaints to himselfe the Pilote discouered the Cittie of Malaga which then was helde and kept by the Turkes then the Prince tooke Arlencea by the hand and led her foorth on the hatches to shew her the land when causing her to sit downe he desired her that she would report vnto him after what manner he was brought into the Shippe wherein he had slept so long without knowledge of himselfe Worthie Syr aunswered Arlencea so that it shall please you to let all former angrie occasions passe and pardon what I say in your Knightly courtesie you shall be resolued in your earnest desire and therewith assuring you that Loue hath brought mee into such estate and hath mooued such a forcible affection in mée towardes you so as I will not conceale any iote of the trueth from you Then shée recounted at large the whole enterprise of Collambra and the aged Knight Alfernao whose treason did so astonish the Prince as hee brake foorth into these spéeches Madame the desire wherewith I came to doe you seruice did not deserue the vnkinde dealing wherewith you haue vsed me but since it is so that my trauaile hath béene imployed in vaine I desire you to affoord me so much fauour as to report the guile whereby Alfarnao brought me hither who I knowe was perswaded to commit me to the cruelty of your Mother which should be so great towardes me as nothing would content her but my death And let it not offend you that I goe into my chamber to arme my selfe because I will compell all these in your company vnder my obeysance and this you may perswade your selfe that I will not forget your gentlenesse in any trauaile whatsoeuer but will maintaine your excellency being so bound by your good desertes whereto Arlencea thus replyed My Lord I desire you to consider that your singular courtesie ioyned with the vnfained good will I beare you caused mee to discouer this damnable treason intended against you which I thought too vnkind for him to whom I could find in my hart to submit my selfe in recompence whereof I desire you would remember that I shall not onely loose the presence of Collambra
I am content that it shall be so according as your selues thinke best to order it The Giant went away as ioyfull as might be for he promised himselfe the victory and did verily make account to kill the knight of the Tiger before the knight of the Sauage man arriued there and in this ioy he came to his sister who sate wéeping and wringing her hands because her knights were so vanquished as also for the long tarryance of her daughter Arlencea fearing least some mischance should hinder them because they stayed so long the consideration hereof made her heart ouerwhelmed in extreame passions yet was she somewhat contented by her brothers presence who prouided such necessaries for himselfe as he should vse in the Combate in the day following against Palmerin of England The Giant being thus gone about his businesse the Prince Palmerin demanded of his friend for what cause the Giants Knights did enter fight with them whereto the Sage Aliart thus replied My Lord this Giant causeth a number of Spies for to lucke about this Countrey who seeing but any strangers to come on the land here or that any Ship do but once lie here at Anker they set vppon them with maine force presently in like manner chanced this misfortune to vs who comming on land in this place were no sooner offering to mount on horseback but we were assaulted with these knights from the Giant who came himselfe to encourage and animate them against vs we being ready to fall into extreame danger had not you so happily arriued being sent doubtlesse to succour vs that our enterprise might not come to an vnfortunate end which could not otherwise be in that the knight of the Sauage man is not yet brought hither Here making a pawse they went to séeke somewhat to sup withal and to prouide something to lay to a litle wound which Berolde had receiued on his arme for which cause Palmerin desired him that he would not aduenture the Combat the day following but Berolde would by no meanes be perswaded The Sage Aliarts Esquier tooke the Prince Palmerins horse he staying there all that day in his friends company all of them watching very diligently for the sight of any Shippe wherein the Prince Florian should be brought captiue into his enemies hands but when the darke night would not suffer them to looke any longer they entred all into the Shippe which had brought them thither for that they iudged themselues in more assurance there then to tarrie on the land all the darke night accounting them rather gouerned by arrogancy and folly then any wisedome or discretion that would trust them who made no account of their faith especially being their professed and sworne enemies CHAP. XVII Of the Combate betweene the Giant Espouuantable and the noble knight of the Tiger and of the battell betweene Berolde Platir and Sage Aliart and the three Couzins of the Giant CLeare Phebus had no sooner shewed his golden face on the earth the next morning but these foure Knights departed from the ship thrée of them being armed but badly by reason their armor had béene mangled very cruelly the day before but yet though they were so slenderly prouided they would not forsake the Combate against the Giants Couzins so leauing the Shippe in the custodie of the Marriners they rid on accompanied with their Esquiers who bare their Lances and their Shields vntill they came to the place where the Giant remained Being come thither they beheld before the Castle the place appointed for the combat which was paled round about very handsomly scaffolds made of very great height whereon was assembled an innumerable company of people who came onely to sée the Combat for that they iudged it would be the most famous that euer was fought in y◠Countrey wherein they heartily desired that the giant might be depriued of life for that he vsed the people with such extreame rigor and yet they durst not speake against him no not the chiefe nobles and gentlemen of the Country but they stood in awe of him for his cruell dealing being glad to honor him to his face though they scorned and disdained him behind his backe And thus he liued Lordly ouer euery one vsing all alike as slauishly as might be so that none durst displease or offend his rascall vassails least they should raise such a scandall among them as the tyrants punishment would be too hard for them to suffer so that many times they practised the death of the Giant that they might be discharged of his cruell oppressions but let vs come againe to the former matter The knights entred into this place which they knew was ordained for the combate and there they stood attending for the Giant who in short time after came to one of the windowes of the castle accompanied with his sister Collambra he being armed as he was the day before At last the Giant lifted vp the Beuer of his Helmet to the end the Christian knights might be dismaied beholding his sterne and vigorous countenance and I assure you albeit he was yong yet was he so mighty and tall of stature hauing such an vgly and fearefull face as was sufficient to terrifie the hearts of them who were not accustomed to sée such a hideous proportion For his face was alwayes bitterly frowning the skin whereof swart and wrinkled his lips bigge and boysterous and gaping so farre asunder as his téeth were séene very monstrously so that the Anatomie agréed well with his name he being called the Fearefull Giant The Giant stood leaning on a Cushion of blacke Veluet in the window and shewed to his sister the Knight of the Tiger desiring her to comfort her selfe for that he intended to reuenge y◠death of her sonnes on him because he that had slaine them was not as yet come this he spake because he would not let her know what talke had passed on the day before betwéene him and the knight of the Tiger lest she should chance to discorage her selfe or doubt of the sufficiency of his strength which both he and she estéemed equall to deale with ten good and hardy Knights In the meane while the Giant staied in the window there came an Esquire of his with men with him laden with armor into the place where the Combate should be fought and they comming before the prince and his company after that the Esquire had saluted them he entred into these spéeches Gentlemen my Lord the giant willed me to let you vnderstand that he is not accustomed to make a conquest of those knights who shal afterward excuse thēselues that their misfortune was for want of armor and because he will auoid such an impeachment he hath sent you here choice of armour willing you to take them which you shall thinke most conuenient for you And he willed me to bring him word whether you will rather yéeld to the mercy of his Sister Collambra or abide the triall of himselfe and his Couzins
with mine own poore house where it liked you to accept a lodging and whereof I pray you to dispose as your owne alwayes at commaundement and to thinke of me who during my life time vowe my selfe your humble vassaile and obedient Subiect The people hearing the wordes of Argentao who was a Christian Knight one of very good life and alwaies a great enemy to the Giants did very well allow to accept him for their gouernour promising generatly before the Prince that they would honour him with dutifull loue and obedience The Prince Palmerin sent to call the Sage Aliart commaunding Siluian to stay the meane while in the Shippe who being come thither and entred into the Ship he was presently taken with exceeding feare when he beheld the ougly frowning countenaunce of Collambra which he iudged as ill fauoured as the report went of Espouuantable her Brother whom the people of that countrey thought to be inuincible before they saw him so nobly conquered by the valiant Palmerin of England Siluian hauing declared the pleasure of his Lord the Sage Aliart presently departed to the Citie and being come to the Princes his friendes hee found them determining to send to Constantinople the Esqurer of the Prince Berolde who was named Albanis willing him to depart thence with the Ship and to present the Emperour of Greece with the newes of this happy victory in that Island also to deliuer to his Maiesty the Giantesse Collambra When they had concluded on the Esquiers message he departed from them to the Ship to Collambra when the Pilot hoysing his Sayles and the winde seruing them very gallantlie they rode on at pleasure and cut the Seas with maruellous expedition But the Prince Palmerin peceiuing that his thrée friends had written their mindes to them they best thought on he was sorry that he had done as much neuerthelesse he thought it not fit he should venture so boldly to commit his secrets to any one else sauing his friend Siluian Then to driue fancies out of his mind he desired his friends to beare him company in visiting the Isle whereto they willingly consented and Argentao caused two of the Giants Foists to be put in a readinesse wherein he and the principall Lords of the Island bare them company in riding about the Island After they had séene the most part of the Profound Isle they came to another which was called the Perillous Isle being very well peopled and fortified with a number of goodly Towers and Castles of no small riches that the noblest Prince in the world could not wish for a more stately gouernment Argentao who was very well acquainted with the customes and maners of that Island gaue them to vnderstand the rare singularities thereof desiring them not to thinke it strange that they saw the people so scant and they that were there so fearefull for it was the extreame cruelty of the Giant Brauorant that made them forsake their houses looking euery houre when they shold be put to the Sword These knights receiued great pleasure in beholding these two Islandes and so they rowed about vntill it was the next day in the morning when then came they to the place as you may reade in the first part of this History where Palmerin went on shore to end a strange aduenture there they landed and mounted on their Horses to get vp on the high Rocke but the way was so narrow and the Rocke so steepe as they were faine to alight againe and giuing their horses to their Esquires they went vp the Rocke on foote after one another But before they were come to the place where Palmerin found the Monument with these letters engrauen thereon Take heed thou passe no further they were so weary as they were glad to mount on their Horses againe and so in short time they attained the top of the rocke where they rested themselues being abashed to see such a huge mountaine But when Argentao and the thrée knights were come to the Fountaine they had then a greater cause of astonishment then any they had séene as yet for their they saw monstrous huge Beastes like vnto them which Palmerin flew when they would not suffer him to drinke of the water and I assure you that these Beasts were so cunningly and artificially framed as one wold haue iudged them to be aliue they made such a vigorons and fearefull shew being chained by the neckes with the selfe same chaines as they were whom Palmerin by his noble valour discomfited This rare and ingenious figure declared what great study and practise Vrganda compassed to leaue such a strange edifice in remembrance of her knowledge Palmerin seeing this rare monument to surpasse all that euer he had séene before suspected that the Sage Aliart had done it by his Art to cause them wonder at it Wherefore he desired that he would satisfie him whether it be so or no the Sage Aliart made this answer My Lord she which inuented the aduenture of this fountaine did will that he which was so happy to atchieue the honour thereof should be recompeuced according to his worthy deserts and to leaue to all postericies a perpetual remembrance of him she ordained that these cruell beasts which are framed in the naturall shapes of them which you slew should remaine still in this place to the end that they which chance to come into this Island may render continual laude and commendation to your worthy prowesse Yet thinking this not sufficient enough to your prayse she caused to be erected the portraitures of those knights which belonged to the Enchantnesse Eutropa and whom you worthily brought vnder your obeysance they being liuely carued in marble of the same height and proportiō as they were and here they are figured defending their shields which you may yet sée hanging on their seuerall Pillers euen in the same manner as they were when you fought for them before this Island was conquered And for the Isle it selfe it sometime belonged to the Sage Vrganda to whom you must thinke your selfe greatly beholding séeing that by her meanes your noble déedes remaine registred for perpetuall memorie Certainely answered Berolde I cannot deny but he must néedes iudge himselfe well fauoured of her yet ought we to regard him the more who had the power to end such a perillous aduenture and I may say to you that some would make them as fearefull as these Beastes made by Arte because they giue shewe of such rauenous crueltie as they would of them which were one here aliue Doe you not sée said Platir the poesie engrauen on this Piller which doth inuite vs to drinke at this Fountaine And then the letters which are within commaundeth vs to defend our selues trust me since the danger is awarranted by the Prince Palmerin I will yet sée further into this aduenture With these words he approached to the Fountaine and hauing drunke of the water commended the swéetenesse thereof aboue all other waters Argentao and they of the
Miragarda she quite and cleane forsooke her former opinion and lauded Fortune in sending her so good 〈◊〉 for her seruant Polinarda perceiuing the troublesome thoughts of her especiall friend very softly gaue her this comfort Madame and my swéete friend suffer your Knight to frequent those places where his own affection serueth him for I dare assure you that the beautie of neuer a Princesse in the world can attaine the power to change his fancy and therefore I pray you be not discouraged by the beauty of the Princesse Miragarda your owne being so sufficient as I am perswaded she will not be hired to contend with you Madame answered Leonarda I am not able to iudge how much I am indebted for your gratious fauour and séeing loyall friendship commandeth nothing should be concealed betwéene vs I will let you vnderstand thus much that your present comfortable words hath brought me out of a tedious coÌ„ceit wherein my spirit was grieuously passioned The Emperor commanded the Magitian Alfernao to comfort Collambra and to assure her that for her daughter Arlenceas sake hée did affoord her his fauourable welcome into his Court and if shée would consent to be baptised euery one would so greatly honour her as she should quickely forget the death of her Children Collambra séeing Alfernao comming could not suffer him to declare what the Emperor had assigned him but as a woman mad and desperate spake vnto him in this order How dost thou Alfernao recompence the good déeds thou hast receiued at my husbands hands to render thy selfe so willingly on my enemies side and by the perswasion of them thou commest to will me forsake the law wherein I haue bene nourished and brought vp all my life time I promise thée I will both finish my life and thy treasons together to the end it may be an example to them who enterprise things against their dutie and specially dealing with me who rested my hope the fidelity whereof thou madest me assurance by promise With these words she ran to one of the great open windowes of the hall and before any one could get to her to succor her she threw her selfe headlong downe into the Court and Alfernao comming as though he would haue hindered her threw himselfe likewise downe after her Collambra sell so waightily on the stones which were sharpe as she was brused all in péeces not hauing the remembrance to speake one word afterward but Alfernao liued vntill the next morning The Emperor and Primaleon were sorry to sée such a desperate murder but the Emperor and the other Princesses reioyced that they were so well deliuered of the cruell Collambra yet did they gréeue to sée such a bloody stratagem and being not able to endure this pittifull sight they withdrew themselues into their Chambers The two yong Princesses Leonarda and Polinarda passed away the time in discoursing seuerally the valiant prowesse of their knights vntill such time as they were called to Supper CHAP. XXI How the Princes and Knights which were Prisoners to the great Turk arriued at the Court of Constantinople wherupon the King Recinde deliuered out of prison the Prince Albayzar ON the next day the bodies of Collambra and Alfernao were buried and the Emperour sitting conferring with Albanis the Prince Beroldes Esquire about many matters of the Profound Isle an ancient Knight whom his Maiestie had giuen charge to guard the Port of Constantinople entred the great Hall and being come into the Emperors presence he kneeled downe and spake as followeth Inuincible Emperour if these newes which hath béene rehearsed of your noble Nephewes did moue content amid your manifolds discontents the tidings which I bring you at this present will be no lesse welcome to you then the former for I aduertise your Highnes that within your hauen is entred foure Gallies from the great Turke wherein are Polendos Belcar and all the other Princes and Knights of our Court which haue bene kept thus long in prison by the Princesse Targianaes Father I came to let your Maiestie vnderstand hereof before they were landed because it is mâ—ete you should be acquainted therewith before any other The Emperour remained so ioyfull of these tidings as possible might be and without making any answer he departed forth of the Hall so rauished inwardly with ioy and gladnesse as he could not tell for a prettie while whither to goe in like manner it happened oftentimes to them who haue newes brought them of those things which they are most desirâ—us to haue At length he came downe the staires into the open court where he sate downe in a chaire vntill he might sée them come in at the gates in the meane while many knights of his Court came to tell him of the arriuall of his sonne Polendos but he did not make them any answer for that his minde was busied in remembring how many misfortunes had come to him one in another necke and yet notwithstanding they haue all come to a prosperous end whereupon he humbly desired the heauenly Powers to continue him still in their woonted fauourable protection for it is the nature of men of good iudgement to doubt of danger after they haue once receiued good successe for that it hath bene euermore séene that felicitie and miserie doe not equally happen but a dram of pleasure hath commonly a pound of paine In this maner the good Emperour discoursed secretly with himselfe and comparing euery cause ioyntly together the teares did plentifully run downe his white beard thinking how Fortune fauoured him in his Age when hee was worst able to witnesse his dutie to her Neuerthelesse he feared he should not long enioy the company of his Knights their imprisonment had gone so néere his heart as hee feared betwéene two extreames to be suddenly rapt away While the Emperor was thus winding vp the endlesse bottom of vncertain thoughts the prince Primaleon his soÌ„ne came and knéeled before him giuing him to vnderstand how the Galleys whre arriued wherevpon he commanded his Horse shuld be brought him so presently he tooke his way to the Port accompanied with his sonne all the Princes of the Court and the chiefest inhabitants of the Citie each one greatly desiring to sée the prisoners When the Emperor came to the port he saw on land Polendos Belcar Onistalde with diuers others that he might the better welcom them he alighted froÌ„ his Horse being very much abashed to sée his Knights in such order theyr Faces pale black their strength weakened and their boards and haire growne so long as they which sawe them when they departed froÌ„ Constantinople in the company of the Princesse Targiana began now scantly to know them when they were all come on shoare the Emperour contained them with the selfe same courtesie and his mild nature did dayly afford towards his especiall friends The Prince Belcar presented himselfe to the Emperour offering to kisse his highnesse hand but he receiued him in his armes imbracing him
to me and for that she would so kindly pledge her selfe vpon the assurance she reposeth in my fidelitie Moreouer I promise you Sir I haue written to the King Recinde that he should not faile to send me the Prince Albayzar and I beléeue certainly it will not belong before he come hither wherefore I pray you to stay here till he come and in the meane time I will vse the matter so as the Turke your Lord shall be rid of his doubt and the Princesse Targian a satisfied to her owne contentment I am of the opinion said the Ambassadour that the Prince Albayzar will be here and that quickly for the Damosel who was sometime sent in secret to your mistresse was dispatched with her message twenty dayes before my setting forth that she should let the King Recinde and the Prince Albayzar vnderstand of my coÌ„ming and certifie them likewise of the liberty of our knights by meanes whereof they will not faile to come hither to your Court vntill which time I am determined by your licence to soiourne here but I will not declare my Lord the Turkes minde before I sée the Prince Albayzar neuerthelesse I here present you with his gratious letter and after you haue well vnderstood the contents thereof I will declare what I haue in charge There pausing he tooke forth of his bosom a letter written in pâ—rchment and sealed with the Armes of the great Turke the which he humbly presented vnto the Emperour who presently caused it to be opened and perceyuing thereby that the Turke willed him to giue faithfull credit to what the Ambassador said he desired him to report the cause of his arriuall whereto the Ambassador thus replyed My gracious Lorde I knowe you haue not forgotten the day when the Princesse Targiana came vnto your Court neyther the subtiltie wherewith she was entised and brought forth of her Fathers Courte by the guilefull dealings of your Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man who was hindered in such sort in his iourney as he could not bring the Princesse Targiana vnto your Court but she being here was entertained by your Excellencie the Empresse and the Princesse Polinarda in such gratious manner as she estéemeth her selfe during life bound to you for your manifolde courtesies And my Lorde the Turke in regard of your Noble fauour toward his Daughter would gladly in any thing hee could witnesse his beneuolent minde to you forgetting all iniuryes past for his faire Daughter Targianaes sake but with this condition by the way that your Maiestie offer him nothing against right or reason for if you doâ— hée shall be constrained by forcible strength to reuenge the shame and iniurie he hath receyued by the Knight of the Sauadge-man And for the substance of his minde it is thus in briefe he desireth you to send vnto him the Knight your Nephew because he would chastise him for his haynous offence And if you refuse to satisfie his request he commaundeth me to let you vnderstand he is your enemie and will so reuenge that Knights abuse as all the world shall take example by him I cannot belieue said the Emperor that the Turke your lord will seem to threaten him at whose hands he requireth nothing but Iustice the which I being very willing to doo cannot thinke well of your present procéedings for that in sooth you demaund no Iustice Besides it is not reasonable to graunt what your lorde requireth for if Florian be accused for bringing away his Daughter I answer that he did it at the earnest intreatie and desire of her selfe So that your lorde I perceyue trauelleth in vain after my Nephew the Knight of the Sauadge-man whom I will not send vnto him if I wist he should be as welcome to him as to my selfe And if I should seeme to content the will of your lord I cannot send my Nephew except he please himselfe and I am perswaded he will not consent vnto it much lesse his Father who is a Prince of great authoritie If this reason I haue made you will not content the will of your lorde the Turke I am willing to receyue whatsoeuer he please eyther to bring or send me but I am sorie I am so farre spent with yéeres that I cannot shewe him what I haue beene sometime Neuerthelesse for a sufficient witnesse of my selfe I will sende him the Knight whome hee demaundeth that hee may tell him what I would doo my selfe and let him be bolde that Knight will doo his errand to the vttermost As for other aunswere I wish you not to looke for at my handes wherefore I thinke it good you goe to rest your selfe and when the Prince Albayzar commeth if you â—inde the time so conuenient for you you may departe when you please and in the meane time I will honor you with such courteous entertainment as you shall thinke well off I was assured before answered the Ambassadour of the answere you would make me wherefore hauing fulfilled my charge I néede not for this matter henceforward vse any more words When the Ambassadour had thus concluded Pâ—lendos desired the Emperour that he would suffer him to entertaine the Turkish Infidell while he stayed there wherevnto the Emperour gladly consented and Polendos bringing him into his Lodging failed not to let him see that enimies were better welcommed in the Emperours Court then Friendes were to his lorde the great Turke Primaleon remained very well contented hauing heard the answer of the Emperor his father as also for that he had so defâ—ded the cause of the Knight of the Sauage man for the loue of whom the Princesse Leonarda was diuersely mooued fearing least he should fal into the great Turkes hands who would appease the anger of his stomacke in sacrificing the good and hardy Knight to his Gods The sudden dumps of this yong Princesse was well perceiued by her swéete friend Polinarda who hid her knowledge thereof for the present time vntill they had brought the Empresse to her chamber then they two walking together to their Lodging Polinarda demanded the cause of her griefe wherevpon the Princesse Leonarda being ignorant that Targiana had béene brought to Canstantinople by the noble Florian of the Forrest or how else the matter stood but she desired Polinarda if so it were her pleasure to declare how these occasions had happened When the Princesse had herein satisfied her minde shée remained in sorrow without measure as well by occasion of suspecting the beautie of Targiana as also to thinke on the ingratitude of the Knight of the Sauage man so that at that very instant she reputed him as a man without faith loue or regard of loyaltie and she would gladly haue deuised the meane whereby to banish the remembrance of him forth of her heart Which the Princesse Polinarda perceiuing and willing to preuent any mischance that should happen to her Couzin she began to vse her talke in this manner Madame thinke you the Prince Florian will be the same man
imaginations Arlencea who was marnailously affected towards him seeing her companions were all fast asleepe went to the place where the Prince Florian was laid where sitting downe by his side she began to fall into these spéeches It séems to me most worthie knight of the Sauage man that the iniury which I heretofore haue done you doth as yet remain fresh in your memory in that you make no account of her who liueth and dieth onely for your loue And that I speake the truth you may be perfectly resolued in that without regard of mine owne honour I come to séeke you out the cause being this that my intreatie might moue you pittie her who preferreth the loue of none aliue but you which courtesie if you shall seeme to refuse my conceite of griefe will be so extreame as I must needs giue entertainment to my latest enemy who will set both soule and body in quietnesse when you that might haue comfort of both remaine dease and will make no account of me So breaking off she laid her head on the Princes breast fetching so many grieuous sighes and groanes as though the life would haue forsaken her body whereupon the Prince tooke her in his armes and with very amiable speeches though not such as she gladly looked for he began to comfort her thus Madame Arlencea I do not so little esteeme of you that I would willingly consent to doe the thing which should seeme displeasant or offensiue to your honour desiring you to thinke that before I was so much bound to you as now I am I inteÌ„ded to accomplish that which your selâ—e desireth but since the time that your great fauour deliuered me out of the daunger whereinto Alfernao brought me I forsooke altogether the folly of so vaine a humor being loath to reward her so vngently whose courtesie neither time nor death can make me forget And thus perswade your selfe that I haue prouided a husband for you according as your noble bountie doth well deserue yea he is so good a Knight as you will refuse to make choyse of the Knight of the Sauage man whom you may at all times vse as your friend and seruant There pausing he kissed her hand and brought her again to the place where the other Ladies sleyt and he departing againe to his owne lodging she began to be ashamed of her folly noting well the wittie words of the Knight of the Sauage man for whose loue she was so extreamely passioned as she was coÌ„strained to discouer the flame that did so torment her to one of her Damoselles the very same that gaue the fatall ring to the prince To her she ripped vp her whole discourse of the words which had passed that night desiring her earnestly with the teares trickling down her chéekes that she would giue her such assistance as she might enioy the loue of the Knight of the Sauage man the Damosell answered her Lady thus Trust me Madame you haue not any occasion to finde your selfe agréeued for by good reason the Knight ought not to satisfie your will in that such a Prince as he is ought not to trauell himselfe for Damoselles and then to receiue shame and dishonour by them but yet to content your minde and because you thinke me willing to doe you what pleasure I can I will goe to the knight and vse such friendly perswasions with him as I will vnderstand the depth of his intent Arlencea imbraced the Damosell for this genile answere and spake to her againe in this manner I know well my swéete wench that if I shall haue any remedie in this case I must enioy it by thy meanes wherefore I pray thée goe and fortune be with thée But if it come so to passe as neither perswasion nor any thing else will mooue him to loue me I pray thee intreate him that he would pardon the fault I committed in disturbing him of his quiet ease Madame said the Damosell repose yourselfe altogether on me and so she went to the Knight of the Sauage man whom she found in a slumber when sitting downe by him she began in this manner Me thinkes that he which enforceth Ladies to liue in sorrow because he wil vse no more regard vnto them ought not so easily to take his rest The Knight of the Sauage man hearing the voyce of a woman opened his eyes and séeing it was not Arlencea but the Damosell whom he loued best amongst them all he beganne friendly to embrace her giuing her better words then he did to the Giantesse her Lady whervpon the Damosell beganne to him thus againe Syr Knight I desire that you would vouchsafe to tell me what is the cause you make no more account of my Ladies loue séeing she hath for your sake forsaken her mother forgotten the cruell murdering her Brother and likewise hath lost the libertie of her selfe Madame answered the prince I feare I shall not haue time enough to discourse the whole matter to you because it is now vpon this point of day wherefore I intend to set Madame Arlencea a part a while and demaund of you for what occasion you haue forgotteÌ„ me séeing I remaine yours in affection since the day that Alfernao deliuered me into the power of your Lady Arlencea I pray you Syr said the Damosel that you would not be offended at my nicenesse all this while it was but onely to auoid the malice of my Lady in her abscence I pray you thinke so wel on me as you may be pleased for my displeasing you and I haue the better will to come to mooue my Ladies sute againe The Knight of the Sauage man hearing her courteous answer and that he might now breake a Launce in the face of Venus he tooke her in his armes but because the day came on apace and they vnwilling that any should sée their secret pleasure I durst not sée what they did for feare I should be shent for my labour CHAP. XXIIII Of that which happened to the Damosels Knight in going to the Castle of Almaroll VPon the point of day breaking the Damosell gaue her Ladie Arlencea to vnderstand the answere of the K. of the Sauage man the prince séeing the Ladies walking came and gaue them all the mornings courtesie afterward when they were all mounted on horseback they beganne to set forward on their iourney and because Arlencea was somewhat mooued with her euill Fortune that night past which the P. perceiued very well he came vnto her and vsed such kinde and gentle language to her as in a while she forgot the cares which had troubled her so much The Prince began to deuise pleasantly with the foure Damosels he woonne in the Forrest and iested with them in such merry conceites as the iourney séemed nothing troublesome vnto them but this pleased not Polyphemia who was the Damosell that Arlencea sent to mooue her sute to the Prince for she thought that shée deserued better countenance at his hands then all the
content to depart hence euen as they came hither and being once gone from hence they will visite most of the Princes Courts in Christendome to trie if Fortune will be so fauourable to them as to knit vp their earnest desires to their contentment The king Recinde was greatly abashed at these sudden newes and the knights were moued much at this aduenture especially regarding the estates of them that would Combate for their Ladyes and for them thus much I can say that there were many among them who would gladly haue forsaken their old fauoured seruants on condition they might marrie with these three noble Princes The King and the Quéene allowing well their worthy enterprise they stayed a great while looking when some one knight or other of the court would be so venterous as to deale with them but séeing none would come they prepared themselues to depart at the very instant as the Damosels Knight arriued there This valiant and renowmed Knight was no sooner espyed but they that knew him came and met him letting him vnderstand the enterprise of the thrée strange Knights which being rehearsed to him the Damosels receiued very much ioy thereat for that they being wearie of him and hope to depart with these thrée knights and the Prince vnderstanding their intens said vnto them You shall now do what your selues imagine expedient and I will recempence my selfe by these meanes on these thrée knights for the great trauaile I haue taken dayly in your seruice I haue béene so greatly deceiued in your loue sayd Artesia as I am content to change your company And we are of the same minde said they whom he had woone from the Knights in the Forrest vpon this he sent them to the thrée knights who were preparing themselâ—es to the Ioust and willed them to come and deliuer them out of his handes who would compell them to stay in his company I â—â—are me quoth the King that these Knights wil not attaine the cheefe of their enterprise against the hardy Damoâ—sels Knight Artesia and her companions forsooke the company of Arlencea and put themselues apart from them which the Ladies of the Court perceiuing they could not chuse but maruell thereat knowing very wel the prowesse of the knight that had conducted them Some iudged the occasion to be the Damosels desire of themselues that they might be at their owne libertie others reputed the cause to some vnfaithfulnes they had found in their Knight Gradian séeing the day wast apace tooke the hardinesse to aduance himselfe foorth first making show of the Ioust which the Damosels Knight beholding he gaue his horse the spurs and encountred Gradian with so great force as he made him fetch an errand on the ground then hee came to Artesia with these words It is necessarie that once againe you come and obey that I shall command you Then he receiued another Launce which one of the Kings Pages brought him and with it he vnhorsed Arpian because he had not learned to sit fast in his Sadle Lustramar was very angry at the misfortune of his friends wherfore he encountred the Damosels Knight so nobly as he caused him to forsake one of his Stirrops but himselfe was sent to kéepe his fellowes company These thrée knights séeing the dishonour they had receiued in the Ioust offered to trie the Combate with the Sword and chiefly Lustramar did séeme most desirous of it but the Damosels knight excused himselfe séeing the day departing so spéedily and the darke night ready to ouercharge them yet would not Lustramar be content with his answere which when Poliphemia perceiued she came vnto him with these words I pray you Sir knight content your selfe and séeke no â—urther occasions at this time for I assure you that our guide is so litle woont to be conquered as they that deale with him are very well contented hauing felt him indéede to put vp the soyle of a fall I haue found so small assurance answered Lustramar in Womens words as for your counsell I will not forbeare to follow my enterprise Then I promise you said Artesia you will not boast of your bargaine in the end While these two knights prepared themselues to the Combate the king Recinde who was desirous to know the Damoselles knight came himselfe to the place where these two knights were offering to charge one another when hee caâ—sed them to be parted and they all â—oure were very honourably brought into the Pallace The Damoselles Knight humbly saluted the Quéene and hauing taken off his Helmet hée kneeled downe to kisse her hand but the King who knew him presently imbraced him very louingly speaking thus to the Queene Madame I pray you to make good account of the deedes of honour you haue receiued by this Knight for he hath finished as rare aduentures as euer did any assuring you that he is the prince Florian of the Forrest otherwise called the knight of the Sauage man Sonne to the Prince Don Edward and the Princesse Flerida your great friends The Queene hearing these wordes tooke him vp in her armes and imbracing him very gratiously charged him with his great discourtesie when he passed by the Court and would not suffer himselfe to be knowne Lustramar and his companions knowing that he which had vanquished them was the noble knight of the Sauage man they made no account of the foyle they had receiued but on the next morning when they had departed thence they desired the Prince to esteeme of them as his vnfeined friends Two dayes after the Knight of the Sauage man was desirous to leaue the Court of Spaine whervpon he tooke his leaue of the King and the Quéene leauing Siluian there in the court because she was well knowne as also Artesia and her companions who wept at their parting for the losse of that they could not recouer againe The Queene tooke her leaue friendly of the Giantesse Arlencea because the Prince Florian did make so good account of her and the King Recinde brought them foorth of the Citie where taking a courteous farewell on all sides with charging him to doe his commendations to the Emperor and his children in the Emperours Court the King returned againe into the Citie and the Prince rode on his iourney CHAP. XXIX Of that which happened to the knight of the Sauage man when he came to the Castle where Arnalte the Princesse of Nauarre made her abode FLorian of the Forrest not forgetting to take new armour when he departed from the King of Spaines Court yet kéeping his deuise in his shield of the Sauage man still because he had greater delight therein then in any other in this manner he trauelled atchieuing many rare and singular aduentures which for breuities sake I let passe because they were not of such importance as to be placed among his other knightly déeds After he had coasted along through diuers Countries it was his fortune at length to arriue in a very pleasant valley euen there
me Thou hast reason said Floraman to vse thy selfe thus for that one ought not to be knowne in these affaires especially hauing receiued his shame in the presence of one of these Ladies So taking his leaue of the other Knights he rid away presently they being very desirous to haue knowne what and who he was CHAP. XXXVII Of that which hapned to certaine other knights who would proue the aduenture of these foure Ladies IN the mean while the French Court kept at the Cittie of Parris many knights tooke pleasure to come thither the most part whereof were the affectionate seruants of these foure Ladyes and there they would practise Iousts combats and other honest pastimes such as amorous persons are wont to take delight in But I assure you the French men themselues were not so forward in affectioÌ„ for that they were dayly in the presence of these Ladies neuerthelesse the strange knights whom loue conducted thither to see them felt those secret and sundry assaults which he enforceth them to endure who yéeld themselues obedient to his lawes These foure Ladies were not a little prowde to see themselues so estéemed but the knights gaue themselues most on Torsiaes side because she was not in the Company of the other who vsed with their beautie very gratious entertainement towards their knights that they might vse them with the greater regard But Torsia who iudged her selfe more worthy then the other she was very squemish and disdainefull not making account of the trauailes which the Knightes endured for her sake thereby to make her beautie the more honoured and extolled for her selfe made so great estimation thereof as she iudged that those knights who aduentured on her behalfe were greatly honoured by making proofe of their valor in defence of her beautie and this was the cause she was lesse serued of the French knights then of other But the strange knights they gaue themselues altogether to her seruice desiring to trie fortune and knowing there was no victorie more noble then that which was most doubtfull in the obtaining While the knights of the French Court delighted themselues to behold these newcome louers Albayzar who came to the castle of Almaroll where he robbed Dramusiande of the Princesse Miragardaes sheeld passed by Paris desiring to soiorne there for the space of two dayes at the end whereof he departed thence for he would not enter the Combate with such as would praise these Ladies aboue the Princesse of Targiana Yet he returned againe to the Court and would sée these foure Ladies before she went he not estéeming the knights two Daughters Florenda and Graciana whose courtesie did well deserue that the knight should enterprise something to their honour for they were as beautifull as these other foure Ladies among whom Albayzar gaue the praise to Torsia so that her beautie best contented him which was the cause that in all places where he came he praysed her aboue the other thrée Albeit séeing the French knight were so affected to these ladies as they made no occount of his swéete friend Targiana he trauailed thence to Constantinople where he enterprised to maintaine against the knights of the Emperours Court that tge Princesse Targiana excelled in beautie all the Ladyep and Damosels in the world At the same time Palmerin of England and the prince Florendos passed by the French Court and staying there they had so great desire to approoue themselues against Albayzar Dramusiande likewise passed by soone after being very willing to sée these foure Ladies i but the intent he had against Albayzar would not suffer him to goe hither And I assure you had it not beene for the enterprise of Albayzar this aduenture in France had bene as worthy of commendation as the noble prowesse shewen at the Castle of Dramusiande in England and that of Miragarda in Spaine While many Knight trauailed to sée the Prince Albayzar Pompides and Blandidon who iudged themselues to be Brethren came to the Court of France where they thought so well of the beautie of these Ladies as setting all other remembrance of loue aside they tâ—ied the Combate wherein their liues were brought to great danger These two knights renowned among them that stayed in the French Court were both of them so inueigled with the beautie of Torsia as they discoursed to each other their intents beganne to mallice one another cruelly whereby they shewed the small iudgement of them who called Loue by the 〈…〉 seeing that so many misfortunes tooke their originall by him Pompides conquered with the onely regard of Torsia séeing that Blandidon would not giue him place by entreatance concluded to trie the Combate with him agréeing thus betwéene themselues that hee that was the conquerer should remaine there to defend the Ladies beautie Blandidon who was as desirous as he could to purchase the acceptable fauour of Torsia agréed to enter the Combate vnder the same condition which Pompides opposed and that these two Knights might the sooner execute their willes they came and humbled themselues before the Quéene in whose presence Pompides spake in this manner to Torsia Madame this knight and I who are brethren and so conquered by the grace and beautie wherewith you are accompanied as notwithstanding both nature and friendship we intend to make proofe at armes which of vs twaine shall be iudged worthy to be receiued in your seruice desiring you humbly not to be offended at what we haue enterprised and that you would vouchsafe to entertaine him for your seruant whom fortune shall fauour in atchieuing the victory Great and sudden admiration was among them all hearing the braue attempts of these two Knights but especially the other thrée Ladies who séeing Torsia so highly preferred beganne to be dismayed and changed their colour which Torsia dissembling although shee had no knowledge of their secret enuie was iocond and pleasant to her selfe as could be then casting her eyes on the Quéene to whom she made signe as though she would answer she spake to Pompides and Blandidon in this manner It may be séene by you Gentlemen that the merits of these thrée Ladies hath not as yet gained any knowledge of your valour séeing you enterprise to hazard your selues together for one selfe-thing wherefore I admonish you that it is méete you should defend the cause one after another for otherwise you goe contrary to our determinations and then he that can be so happy to vanquish the knights that come on the behalfe of these other Ladies shall be iudged worthy of that honourable reward méete for such a famous and noble conquerour These two Knightes were indifferently satisfied with the answere of Torsiâ— wherevpon many knights that desired to sée her went and presented themselues in the field The first of them was Rupert Rosselin a knight of good estimation who maintained the quarrell of Telancia Brician of Rochfort who loued Mansia and the Countie Brialte the affectionate seruant to Latrania Pomdides and Blandidon came no sooner
the Quéene Arnalte that her presence was very agreeable to him Dramusiande was so conquered with the loue Arlencea as he could rest in no place neither enioy any quietnesse Palmerin who liued now in more content then he had of long time before did not yet thinke all things sound and sure for that Lone presenteth daily some occasions of feare to amorous persons vntill such time as their desires are perfectly contented In the meane while this great ioy continued Pompides King of Scottes with his Queene arriued at the Emperors Cour who were receiued with maruellous great pompe and honour The Prince Primaleon desirous to shewe himselfe thankefull for diuerse occasions had passed betweene the Prince Don Edward and himselfe ledde the Queene of Scottes Palfray by the bridle till she came to the Pallace Gate notwithstanding the intreatie of Pompides and her selfe very often to the contrarie The Quéene of Scottes was lodged with the princesse Polinarda who held her selfe greatly contented because shee was so neere in alliance to her most fauoured friend Palmerin and Pomp des went to comfort the Knight of the Sauage man in his chamber where he kept and would not as yet goe abroad so heauily he tooke the death of King Fredericke his Grandfather The Court of Constantinople was in short time so well furnished with Princes and noble Knights as they were iudged more then needed to entertaine the whole puissance of the Pagan Kings CHAP. XLVIII How Arnedes King of Fraunce and his Queene Recinde King of Spaine and his Queene accompanied with the Princesse Miragarda and the Giant Almaroll arriued at the Emperours Court of Constantinople THe Emperour séeing himselfe brought into the extremity of age thought good to enioyn his Nephewe in marriage and also the other Princes and Knights that had béene nourished in his court and that he might mooue a generall good liking by so doing he imparted his intent to the Empresse and his sonne Primaleon When hee vnderstood how well they thought of the matter hée writ presently to Arnedes King of France his sonne in lawe that he would doe him so much honour as to come with the Quéene to his Court. In like manner his Maiestie dispatched letters to Don Edward King of England and Flerida his daughter to Recinde king of Spaine desiring him and his Quéene to come to his Court and bring the Princesse Miragarda in their company The Emperour Vernar was sent for likewise and Tarnaes King of Lacedemonia with his Daughter Sidelia whose beautie caried some credit at that time and the Soldane Bellagris with Maiortes and many others the Emperour by his Letters inuited to his Court But the first that came to Constantinople were the Emperour Vernar and King Edward of England soone after came the Soldane Bellagris and Maiortes their entertainement being according as their noble estates deserued Then came the King Tarnaes with his Quéene Sidelia his Daughter and the sorrowfull Lady Pandricia whom the Empresse lodged in her owne Chamber The two Kings Arnedes and Recinde arriued with their Shippes at the Port of Constantinople and sounded their Trumpets and Drummes so gallantly as the people were afraide in the Cittie fearing left their enemies were come but the Princesse came to receiue them with great ioy where they might behold the King of France in a sumptuous Galley couered with cloath of Golde of great value wherein was himselfe his Quéene Florenda and Graciana his two Daughters with many Ladies and Knightes beside In another Galion was the King Recinde and the Quéene with a number of Knights for his Guarde Before them in another Galion was the fairest Princesse Miragarda the Giant Almaroll the Prince Florendos and many other knights The King Recinde being aduertised that the Emperour intended to marry the Princesse to his Nephewe Florendos with the King Arnedes consent to doe them the more honour caused their Galion to march formost as the Captaine ouer all the other Vesselles The Emperour was so glad of these tydings as hée forsooke his Coatch and was brought in a chayre to the place where these Princes should land and the Empresse with the Quéenes Princesses and Ladies mounted on their horses which were clad in most rich and costly harnesse and so they ridde to the Port of the Citie very stately There was the Emperour accompanied with his Sonne Primaleon king Edward of England the Emperour Vernar of Allemaigne Soldane Bellagris Maiortes Ternaes the king of Lacedemonia Polendos Estrelant Pompides and Dragonalt and no little ioy it was to him in his aged yéeres to see himselfe so beloued of the most puissant Princes that were in the whole world but albeit the presence of these great personages was veâ—y pleasant to him yet could hee not choose but take it heauily séeing the preasse so fore vppon him as long hée could not bée a companion for them The kings Arnedes and Recinde and the Prince Florendos being all come on land they knéeled downe to kisse the Emperours hand but he imbracing them in his armes would not suffer him to honour him so much then came the Quéene of Spaine and the Quéene of France with her two daughters whom his Maiestie welcomed very familiarly And when the Princesse Miragarda came into his presence he accepted of her maruellous graciously entring into these spéeches to her I am very glad Madame that you would vouchsafe to come hither where I may requite the great gentlenesse I haue found at your hands in prouiding to detaine the Prince Albayzar in so good securitie The Princesse Miragarda made no other answere but with a milde and Princely courtesie made showe how well shee tooke the Emperours words and I assure you her presence abashed the iudgements of a number in whose eyes she seemed the faicest creature on the earth The Giant Almaroll was likewise very welcome to the Emperour and when the Princesse Polinarda had courteously saluted Miragarda she shrunke aside to her Brother Florendos entertaining him with this language I perceiue new wel my Lord and Brother that you haue good cause to thinke your labour well bestowed in that you haue trauelled for a Lady of so singular beautie I would with all my heart good Sister answered Florendo that I had the due recompence my labour hath deserued so might I be in the better assurance Oh Brother said Polinarda the Giant Almaroll hath no authoritie to shut the doore against you here therefore I promise you the Princesse of Thrace and I will not â—orget to enterprise the meanes whereby you shall no doubt finde fauour The Emperour would delay the time no longer but to the Pallace they rode altogether the Prince Primalcon leading the Queene of Spaines horse by the bridle albeit the King Recinde was very loth to suffer him The King Polendos did as much honour to the Queene of Fraunce and King Edward of England afforded the like to the faire Princesse Miragarda as well to content the aged Emperor as to honour his
be the cause of sending home againe your Knights And if this Ambassador will take vpon him to maintaine that this message which he presenteth you from the Turke his soueraigne is onely with regard of royall clemency I will defend the contrary against him yea and I will enforce him to confesse that this proceedeth on the earnest instance made by the subiects of the Prince Albâ—yzar who are importune in sute to haue their Lord and gouernour at libertie for if it so fall out that the Turke doe not satisfie this their continuall request he shall be constrained to guard himselfe from them who were wont to defend him with their especiall aide Knight answered the Ambassadour thou shalt assuredly vnderstand and I promise thee by the authoritie of my ambassage which alloweth me to enter in armes against thée that I will not faile to make thée know with what reuerence thou oughtest to entertaine the vnreproueable word of my Lord and Soueraigne and I doubt not beside but to giue due recompence to thy disloyall and vnseemely dealing whereto the Prince Florian thus replyed It is the most acceptable thing I make account of for thée to enter the Combatte with me in respect of good encouragement I haue thereto and of the small honor that will fall to thy share The Emperour perceiuing his Nephew in so great chollere touched him with the Scepter which he held in his hand to the ende he should procéed no further and he was somewhat inwardly offended that he did giue so hard and rough spéeches but neuerthelesse hee estéemed well of his good Counsell which to maintaine hee came to the Embassadour in this manner You ought not to be offended when my knights assist me with their good and carefull aduise and especially for the Prince Florian my Nephew who is not ignorant long since of the custome maners vsed in the Turkes court And for the great Turke himselfe I haue that opinion of his faith and promise as he hath himselfe beleeuing well that he would not for all the honour he professeth violate or breake his word in any thing but yet I dare not build or assure my selfe thereon lest they who now are prisoners take occasion to complaine of my fond dealing remembring the hard vsage they haue all this while suffered Moreouer if I should presume so venture so rashly the King Recinde I know would not so willingly consent with me whose sonne is amongst the Princes as a prisoner til he haue him in his owne assurance he will not grant libertie to the Prince Albayzar wherefore you may thus giue your Lord to vnderstand that if he will send me home my prisoned knights I will not faile to send him the Prince Albayzar this request is but lawfull and I promise on my honor to performe it But if it so chance that he doubt of any faithfull dealing herein I will giue him a pledge of assurance his owne daughter the Princesse Targiana who I am sure will make answere for me as well for the perfect knowledge she hath of my fidelitie as also for the desire she hath to recouer home her husband the Ambassadour standing a while musing at last replyed thus to the Emperour I see well that by the knowledge of ill doing men attaine to follow that which is good and lawfull and so I take my leaue of your excellency assuring you that the Princesse Targiana wil aduenture her life onely vpon your word and promise in that you withhold him who is her onely felicitie and who hath done such noble seruice to my Lord her Father In so doing said the Emperour she shall very highly please me and for the good will I beare her I pray you on my behalfe and with my heartie commendations to kisse her Princely hand for such is the estimation I haue to her as she hath power to dispose of me in anything she taketh pleasure to imploy me The Ambassadour made promise to fulfill his commandement when with a courteous obeysance he tooke his leaue and departed from the Emperor who after his departure sate and conferred with his Knights commending greatly the wisdome of the Princesse Miragarda in sending the Prince Albayzar to the King Recinde for whome it would so come to passe that he should yet againe recouer his Sonne Polendos and the other Knights CHAP. XII ¶ Of an Aduenture which happened in the Courr of the Emperour Palmerin and of that which followed afterward THe next Day after the Embassadour from the great Turke was departed the Emperours Court the same day in the afternoon as the Emperour sate accompanyed with diuerse and sundrie of his Princes Lords and Knights he perceiued to enter the great Hall a bigge and goodly Aged man so much weakened and ouer-spent with yéeres as it séemed hee was ready to fall to the Earth The Emperour iudged him a person of some Authoritie by reason of his goodly gray-locks and his faire long-milk-white beard for he thought that such a séemely and Fatherlike man would not deceiue the World with falshood and dissembling The Princes and others that kept the Emperour company desired very earnestly to vnderstand what he would say oftentimes beholding him very aduisedly who when he was come before the Emperour offered to stoupe downe to kisse his Highnesse hand but he taking pittie on him would not suffer him so to doo then did he make such humble Salutations as he could when the Emperour demaunded of him for what occasion he was come My gratious Lord said this Aged man with a voyce so fainte and lowe as very hardly he could be vnderstood for that your Court is alwayes so fortunate as to entertaine Noble and aduenturous Knightes who are euer ready to succour them that be destitute of their aide and assistance I had good hope that they would not refuse to affoorde mée theyr fauourable refuge in deliuering me out of the great daunger whereinto by misfortune I am suddenly brought These heauy and sadde spéeches he accompanyed with such aboundance of teares as hee mooued the heart of the Emperour to great compassion then pawsing a prettie space with a déepe and dolourous sigh hee began thus againe I most humbly beséeche your Maiestie that you would at this time comfort me with your gratious aide to reuenge the iniurie that is extreamly offered mee which in sooth is so great and grieuous and commenced by such personages as I cannot reporte the summe thereof without excéeding sorrowe which might much offend your Highnesse Wherefore I pray you to bestow on mée such a Knight on whose good Fortune I may liue in some hope of ease and I will bring him into the place where hee may atchieue such rare Renowne as in all his life time he can neuer attaine the like to which wordes the Emperour replyed thus Albeit in such perillous affaires it is not necessarie to sende a Knight without I were first acquainted with the cause yet such is the great and