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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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