ignorant of the Ladyes passions deliuered Ptolomes letter to chéere her but wheÌ„ the Princesse saw Vrbanillo comming with the teares in her eyes she ranne apace to méete him and casting her armes about his neck embraced him verie often saying Tell me Vrbanillo tell mee how fares my brother thy Maister Palmerin Madame quoth the Dwarfe so well as your owne heart can wish and will ere long be héere with you Then deliuered he yâ— letter froÌ„ Trineus which certified her of his short returne that hee would bring with him yâ— thing she most estéemed But the wag knowing she expected other matters and that her brothers medicine was not sufficient for her cure he gaue her his masters letter when she hastily breaking open yâ— seale found the ring which her loyal friend had sent her and after she had welcomd it with many deuout kisses she put it on hir finger with these words I charge thée kéepe this token safely in witnesse of the knights gentlenesse that sent it whome my heart hath made speciall choyse of aboue all other Then reading the letter and discréeâ—ly considering not without great eâ—fuse of teares the swéet words humble supplications entire excuses extreame passions that her friend continually suffered for her loue deliuering many bitter sighs she said Ah my true and loyall friend I beléeue wel and take in good part your cause of absence béeing assured that if possibly you could returne sooner nothing should stay you from the place where yâ— only remedie of your dolorous gréefes abideth But séeing for my loue you may not forsake my brother I pray you for your continuall safetie and spéedie conduction to your longing desires that mine eies ouerwatched with tedious expectation my hart néere tired with bootlesse wishings may by your presence be thorowly coÌ„forted Afterward Vrbanillo bréefely reported to her the noble actions of his Lord and maister the loue of Ttineus to the Princesse Agriola discribing her beautie and rare perfections whereupon Polinarda thus answered Beléeue mee Vrbaniâ—lo if the Princesse be so faire as thou saist she is her great vertues and firme loyaltie likewise comparable enuie false report shal not impeach her to be reckoned among the most happie Ladies of the world and her desires wil be as honorably effected as with vertuous thoughts she first began them The like I doubt not will happen to thy maister for fortune hath euermore so specially fauored him as now it were against reason shée should alter her countenance So departed the Dwarfe from the Princesse returning to the Emperor who by no meanes could get any other tidings of his son then what you haue heard which made him doubt the dwarfe iuggled with him The next day the Emperour sent his chéefest Lords and Barons to conduct the French ambassadors to the court which was sumptuously hanged with Tapistrie especially the great hall which was adorned with costly cloth of gold and rich purple as it had béene the Pallace of Salomon The Ambassadours entertained with maruailous royaltie hauing deliuered the summe of their embassage the Emperour answered that hée would conferre thereon with his councel in me any while they might returne to their lodgings After they were departed the hall the Emperour demanded of the princes electours and the rest of his nobilitie if these marriages of his sonne and daughter with the heire and princesse of Fraunce might not be granted as well for the vtilitie and honor of the Empire as for the generall benefit of Christendome commanding them to speake their iudgements without feare The Lords altogether answered that the mâ—tion was so good the aliance so honorable as it was no way to be misliked I will then quoth he talke with the empresse that she may vnderstand hir daughters opinion then my lords of France shal be answered So leauing them hee went to the Empresse chamber to whom he reported his agréement with his councel which pleased her likewise maruailous wel but when shâ— had a little considered on the matter she answered that but little could be said before Trineus returned home againe You reason well quoth the Emperour but in meane time I pray you â—ouÌ„d your daughters iudgement yâ— we may returne our brother of Fraunce some certain answer Which she promised to do so departing froÌ„ her lord she went to her daughters chaÌ„ber where hauing coÌ„manded her ladies aside she thus began Faire daughter it is the emperors pleasure and mine that you marrie with the eldest sonne and heire of Fraunce and your brother Trineus with his sister for hee is one of the most renowned kings in Europe his son recounted among the best knights of the world for which good fortune you may thanke the heauens that so great a prince offers his Sonne to be your husband Aduise your selfe of your answer for by your opinion must the ambassadors be dispatched hence who came to the court for nothing else but to conclude these honorable marriages Polinarda hearing yâ— words of her mother was surprized with such sodain heauines as she could not tel what to answer but fearing the Empresse should perceiue that her loue was already determined with sad countenance thus replied Madame you know what promise I made my brother the day when he departed from the Court in the presenâ—â— of you and all the nobility that I would not marry before his returne and me thinks I were greatly to be blamed and well worthy gréeuous reprehension if I shoulde so falsifie my word which I cannot do without impeach of myne honor And héerein shall I follow the laudable bertue of the Emperor my father who euermore estéemed his promise aboue al earthly possessions Beside I can assure you that my brother wil neuer marry with the princesse Lucemania for he loues one many degrées beyond her and may I speake it without offence one of the most beautifull Ladyes that euer nature framed Thus Madame my Father and you haue excuses sufficient auayleable wherewith to aunswere the king of France It may be quoth the empresse that your brother loues els where but I can tell ye that neyther hée nor you shall do any thing contrary to the Emperors commandement Polinarda séeing her mother persist in her opinyon bit in her sorrowes with many secret sighs yet knew she so wel how to dissemble her passions as the Empresse could not discerne her priuat meaning So returned she to the Emperor aduertising him of hir daughters answere wherat he was so offended as in great anger hee came himselfe to his Daughter saying Why howe now Daughter are you so bolde to disobey my commandemeÌ„t or dare you repugne against my wil al is to no end that you haue babled with your mother for will ye or no it shall bée as I haue appoynted I knowe right well dread Lord and father quoth she that I ought no way to deny your pleasure but rather wil I die a thousand deaths then consent
you faire sir to tell me howe the Quéene of Tharsus intreated you and what is your opinion of her In good faith Madam aunswered Palmerin shée is one of the most honest and vertuous Ladies that euer I came in companie withall and to whom I greatly desire to do any seruice You haue good reason quoth the Princesse in that she came so farre to sée you and discouer her loue which other coulde as well accomplish as good or rather in honor beyonde her if they might hope of anie ease in their passionate desires Palmerin feigning to vnderstand her meaning entred into other kinde of talke vntill supper time which finished each one returned to their Chamber when the Prince séeing himselfe alone with his Fréend thus sayd Ah my déere Fréende Palmeâ—in howe worthily may you be sayde to bee without coâ—pare in all perfections that a Knight ought to haue loue onely excepted yet héerein if I be not deceyued you doe for mée agaynst all reason for a thousand times are you more beloued then your selfe can loue anie Notwithstanding for this default if so it may bée named and for 〈◊〉 wordes this day vsed in my presence to Achidinia I remaine vowed to your seruice for in trueth you know not the good you did me supporting my imperfection of speech when I was before my Mistresse Yet know I not whence such imbecilitie should procéede if not by béeing rauished with regarde of her celestiall countenaunce my ouer laboured spiriâ—e forsooke me and béeing too much tormented in this languishing bodie abandoned all the partes sensatiue placing it selfe onely in mine eyes which neuer could imagine themselues satisfied contemplating beautie of so rare and especiall estimation And were it not that my hope onely consisteth in you comparing my small desert and the excellencie of my Ladie long ere this had my soule forsooke her infortunate habitation which so indiscreetlie fell into these oppressing passions And this I earnestly intreate you to let her vnderstand in that I feare least shée impute my happie alteration to want of wisedome and ciuilitie Trust me quoth Palmerin I promise you my vttermost abilitie and so much will I do as one Friend may for another to discharge my selfe of the promise which héeretofore I made you And let me intreate you on mine owne behalfe to remooue that opinion of speciall loue which you report the Princesse beares me béeing not such as you doe imagine for noble Prince and my deare Fréende you néede not despayre of the benefit whereof I haue so solemnely assured you After many other speeches they slept till the next morning when clothing themselues in their richest garments they went and gaue the good morrow to the Soldane who verie honourablie thanked them and Palmerin espying conuenient occasion thus began My Lord you haue sufficient experience that by the bountie and great fauour of the Gods you haue obteyned victory against your enemies to the no little content of your Subiects all which béeing so happily finished base were the thought to feare the perfection of higher enterprises Therefore my Lord I thinke it expedient so it may stand with your good liking considering your prouision for the sea is in such readinesse your people likewise acquainted with your intent before we meddle with the Brethren of Amarano came daily in troupes to offer their seruice that now you send your Armie to Constantinople for your answere once heard right soone will we embarke our selues and set forward on our voyage For the rest I pray you deliuer these prisoners to be vsed as your slaues but as for the Princes I thinke hauing séene the fortune of theyr Brethren and their owne badde successe in Armes that they will serue you with continuall loyaltie My Sonne quoth the Soldane let all bée doone as you haue appointed for such is my confidence in you that your intent cannot but sort to good ende wherefore my Gallies and al things readie furnished depart when you please hauing first sent your Souldiers abroad The Prince Olorico beeing present offered againe to go in this voyage with like number of men as he brought against the Brethren of Amarano for which the Soldane greatly thanked him promising him such satisfaction at his returne as should agrée with his owne content Alchidiana taking in ill part the words of Palmerin on the Prince Oloricos behalfe sent for him to come speake with her which hée did and finding her very sad and melancholy hée demaunded if any one had doone her displeasure and what the cause might bee of her pensiuenesse Ah my déere friend quoth shée how can I but be agréeued séeing no one Lady in the world hath so many contrarie fortunes as my selfe Alas my heart hath chosen you for my onely Lords and Friend thinking to finde place woorthy my conceite and that your loue would answere me with the like but in ought I can perceiue I am too much beguiled for you either as ingratefull or carelesse vse affecting spéeches to me importing no other ende but that in leauing you I should take the Prince Olorico for my Husband Do you imagine me so mutable and inconstant that I will or can loue anie other but you or that my affection intirely setled so high can brooke such a downefall as to like the man so much inferiour to mée And which most of all offendeth me not contented to mocke me in disdaining my knowne loue so discourteously would perswade me to choose another Let all our Gods be iudge if I haue not iust cause to complaine of you albeit I haue greater cause to hate and despise my owne selfe for in that I haue more then deserued your loue yet as too much vnwise I cannot consider that in the heart of an ingratefull person loue hath no place of certaine abyding But seeing our gods haue in such sort subiected mee as against my will I am constrained to loue mine enemie in vaine were it for me to resist against them that they beholding the vnspotted loue of the one may in the ende punish the ingratitude of the other Thâ—s thinking to continue longer spéech so many violent sighs intercepted her as she was not able to proffer one word more whereby Palmerin enforced thus answered I beséech you Madame crosse me not with these néedelesse words for although the Prince is so worthie to be loued as any man that euer I saw yet were I very much vnprouided of witte and a méere stranger of good consideration if I would refuse that speciall felicitie then which I can desire no greater I knowe swéete Lady that you loue mee intirely perswade your selfe then that my loyaltie is no lesse nor can death make mee gainesay the promises I haue made you and were it not to the great disaduantage of mine honour to leaue the honourable warre your Father hath intended which might procure each one to misconceiue of mee assure your selfe that I would forsake dignities Armes and all to do you the seruice you
howe he excused his consent by the promise he had made before to Tarisius through the dailie and earnest perswasions of the Empresse Notwithstanding quoth he in respect you haue not consented thereto I hope they shall finde themselues farre beyonde their reckoning Nowe for the Princesse she neuer knewe that Tarisius had laboured to haue her to hys Wife because she made so light account of him as she wold rather die then consent thereto whereuppon shee returned Florendos this aunswere The Emperour my Father hath reason to thinke hardlie of my Mother and great discredite will it be to her to procure my mariage against my wil for neuer shall I consent thereto and therefore my Lord I desire your aduise how I may preuent this ensuing daunger Madame answered Florendos my deuise is layd already so please you to accept thereof I will conuey you hence secretlie and before the Emperour or any one know of it into my Countrey of Macedon where I and mine shall entertaine you with great and reuerend honour and you shall be our gracious Lady and Princesse Beléeue me sayd she it is doubtfull in such a iourney what daungers may happen notwithstanding hauing vowed my selfe onlie yours be it to the lyking or dislyking of my Father and Mother I had rather breake through the straights of a greater hazarde then be forced to marrie him whome while I liue I can not like therefore doo you expecte the aduauntage of the time and I will aduenture with you whether you please Madame answered Florendos continue you this resolution and referre the rest to my charge which you shall see effected ere thrée daies be past in the meane while I entend to take my leaue of the Emperour your Father with this excuse that the King my Father commaundeth my returne home for which cause I will sende my traine before reseruing onelie but tenne of my best Knights to accompany me For that quoth Griana doo what you thinke best without anie further expecting me in this place certifie me how things happen by your Cozin Frenate or my Maide Cardina But nowe you sée the daie beginnes to breake wherfore let me desire you to depart that no sâ—andall or suspition arise of our méeting Florendos kissing the Princesse hand though longer hee woulde haue stayde humbly tooke hys leaue and by the helpe of Lerina hee got ouer the Wall againe where Fâ—enato stayed his comming to whâ—m when he was entred his lodging hee imparted the appointment betwéene him and the Princesse desiring him to discharge his trayne except ten of his best approoued Knights to help him if any hinderance preuented his intent as for the rest they should be going on before and stay his câ—mming at an appointed place thrée daies iourney from Constantinople In the morning he awaited the Emperours câ—mming abroad to whom he said that he had receiued Letters from yâ— King his Father with expresse commaundement to make spéedy returne home therefore my good Lord sayd hee I desire to depart with your fauourable lyking and in respect I may not contrary where I am bounde to obey I intend to morrow to set forward on my iourney assuring your highnesse that in what place I shall chaunce to come I am yours in loyall and faithfull seruice My good Cozin aunswered the Emperour I giue you thankes with all my hart for yâ— honour you haue doone me with your gentle presence and if you haue occasion to vse mâ—e in ought you shall perceiue howe highlie I loue and estéeme of you My Lord said Florendos I desire to deserue the great kindnes I haue found alreadie so taking his leaue the Emperour embraced him and as he issued forth of the Chamber he met the Prince Caniano of whom he tooke his leaue likewise who desired him to staie thrée or foure daies loÌ„ger In which time there came to the Courte certaine Ambassadours which yâ— Kinge of Hungaria had sent to the Emperour to conclude the mariage betwéene his Sonne Taâ—â—sius and the Princesse Griana the Duke of Gramay béeing chéefe in this Embassade who was accompanied with manie Knightes and Gentlemen of name and account to whom the Empresse gaue verie gracious welcome in that shee had priuatlie procured this their comming As these Ambassadours entred the great Chamber Caniano and Tarisius who accompanied them perceiued Griana to withdrawe her selfe aside very sad and mellanchollie whereupon Caniano came vnto her greatlie abashed at her angry countenaunce and thus hee began Fayre Sister at this time when you ought to shewe the moste cheerefull countenaunce you are more sadde then of long time I haue séene you me thinkes you haue good occasion to be merrie séeing the Emperour my Father hath prouided you so braue a Husbande as is my Cozin the Prince Tarisius who I am sure loues you as his owne life Ah brother quoth she I knowe not what should mooue him so to doo séeing I neuer thought so well of him and more gladlie could I entertaine mine owne death then bee constrained to loue where I cannot These words did Tarisius easily vnderstand notwithstanding he made shewe as though he did not but going to the Empresse he desired her to stay there with the Emperour séeing the Ambassadours were come from the King his Father that what was begun as concerning him and Griana might nowe be finished according to her promise Uppon this occasion the Empresse called Griana aside and with smoothe and swéete spéeches began to breake with her howe for her good shee had induced the Emperour to giue her in marriage to her Cozin Tarisius and what honourable aduantage she shoulde receiue thereby wherefore faire Daughter saide she resolue your selfe with childlike obedience to thinke well of that your Parents haue determined All these perswasions coulde not drawe one pleasing word from the Princesse but shee excused her selfe still by the desire shee had to remaine as sâ—ee was and rather then to marrie shee would take a religious life vpon her with which words she brake into such teares as the Empresse was constrained to leaue her alone not doubting to finde her the next time in better tune Griana then considering with her selfe how she shoulde be enforced at length to yéelde whether she woulde or no if Florendos did not the sooner accomplish his enterprise called Cardina vnto her and sent her with this charge to Florendos that that present night he shoulde not fayle to méete her in the Garden where she would be readie to depart with him otherwise he should neuer gaine the like opportunitie with which message Cardina departed CHAP. VII How Florendos came that night to the Garden to conclude what he and Griana had intended and what happened to them FLorendos vnderstanding the will of his Mistresse with great dilligence laboured to execute what they had intended and taking his leaue at yâ— Courte feigned he woulde returne no more but take his waie straight towards Macedon Tarisius whose iealousie increased
as Prince Lewes was throwne betwéene his horsses féete and he for England lost his stirrops but recouered himselfe well enough by the mayne of his Horse then he séeing his enemie not vppe againe cast himselfe out of his saddle to haue taken his aduauntage but Lewes preuented him and came marching against the Duke with his Sworde drawne who staied him thus Me thinks Prince of Fraunce before any worse befall thée thou wert best to yéelde thy selfe and remember that our Combatte beginnes for the excellencie of beautie By God man of England aunswered Lewes thou canst not perswade me to a thing so farre from my thought therfore goe too and he that hath the fairest Fréende shall soone be knowne In this great choller he reached the Duke such a stroke on the head as made him sette one knée to the ground but recouering himselfe quicklie and both thorowly angry they laid on eache other so cruellie as the very hardiest of the beholders feared the successe Thus fought they for matter of speciall value the defence of theyr owne reputations and honor of their Ladies whose loue was more precious in their harts then their owne lines So long these eager charges continued on bothe sides as Prince Lewes hauing receiued more then twentie woundes on his bodie feeling himselfe fainte fell downe before his enemie saying O noble hart of Fraunce the true succéeder of thy famous predecessours The victorious Englishman setting his foote vpon him saide Lorde Lewes if now thou declarest not my Lady to excel thine in beautie it câ—sts thée thy life a matter nothing pleasing to me in respect of the chiualry and singuler prowesse I haue founde in thée as also this magnaâ—â—â—ious enterprise of thine which in despight of thy foyle and death it self shall make thée liue for euer But Lewes made no aunswere eyther for his weakenes or sorowful conceite of his mis-fortune wherefore the Iudges came who granting the Duke victorie desired him to procéede no further which he honourably graunting was as ioyfull of the conquest as the Duchesse sad and pensiue thinking Prince Lewes had béene slaine outright wherfore the floong away to her lodging not tarrying for the King or any of the Ladies who likewise departed the fielde in maruailous sorow séeing theyr Sonne so pittifully wounded but aboue al the Duchesse made more lamentation then shee woulde haue doone for the death of her Husbande yet fearing what shee thought secretly shoulde by her gréefe bee openly suspected comforted herselfe so well as she coulde and béeing by herselfe with one of her trusty Gentlewomen shee thus breathed foorth her mones Ah trecherous Fortune enemye to all actions of regarde why hast thou suffered the man thou most fauoured thus to be vanquished and which is most to be pittied without hope of life Ah deceitfull tremperesse séeing thou hast offered him so much wrong doo mee the fauour to beare him company in death that liued and died so honourably for my loue Ah death let it suffise thée yâ— Loue hath wounded him and make not thou experience of thyâ—e ineuitable stroke vnlesse thou wilt doo as much for mee Ah false and flattering Sonne of Venus is this the guerdon thou rewardest them withall that serue thée faithfully So ceasing her complaint awhile in great impatience she thus began againe Alas neyther the one or other are cause héerof but my most vnhappy selfe when prouoked by my beautye he tooke in hand this enterprise but if it bee so déere Fréende that enuâ—ous fate deale so harde with thée soone mayst thou be reuenged on her that caused it And wyth these wordes she sell betwéene the armes of one of her Ladyes present whom she specially trusted who thus spake to her Why howe nowe Madame wâ—l you perswade your selfe no otherwise beléeue me there is no remedy but you must change this conceite What wyll you forgette your selfe it is no time if you remember your selfe well for if he whom you loue and endure these paynes for shoulde vnderstande héereof in stedde of séeking his health you wyll shorten hys dayes if as you say hee liue not without your welfare More requisite is it that you goe coÌ„fort him wyth your chéereful presence then thus to bee the argument of bothe your deathes Beside Madame if my Lord suruiue as no doubt he shall what may he presume trust me matter sufficient if you gouerne not your selfe better that you séeke to discouer what most of all beséemes you to conceale Alas my Fréende aunswered the Duchesse I knowe you speake the trueth but howe is it possible for me to content my selfe séeing what estate he is in onely for my loue But if he dye small reckoning will I make of my life for let my honour bee blamed or otherwise let all aduersities and mis-fortunes goâ— togeather Yet will I somewhat bee aduised by thee and I wyll goe sée if my presence wyl any thing comfort him To breake off this talke came an Esquire from the Queene to intreate her come to her Maiestie which she did and went with the Quéene to the Princes lodging who beholding the Duchesse so pale and full of greefe with this conceit his woundes opened and blâ—dde 〈◊〉 for which cause his Chirurgions who imagined the occasion to proceede by shame the Prince conceiued that any one should see what woundes he tooke by the Duke of Gaule wherfore they forbad any to enter his 〈◊〉 vntill the peril of death was better passed ouer which was within short time when the Duchesse by her ofteÌ„ visiting him coÌ„uerted his sorowes into many ioyful coÌ„ceits But because our History appertaines not onely to hys deedes or the loue of the Duchesse we will returne to the Duke of Gaule who after he had thus conquered Prince Lewes followed the conditions of the fielde taking the portraite of his Ladye Agriola and placed it where the Duchesse picture stoode setting it among the other conquered Ladyes That day dyuers other Knights came on behalfe of their Ladies whoÌ„ the valiant Englishman entertained with such valour as all his paines tourned to the honour of his Mistresse Agriola who nowe was seated as paragon of the fielde CHAP. XXXVI Of the Combatte betweene Palmerin and the Duke of Gaule with the successe thereof ON the same daie that the Prince of Fraunce was vanquished by the Duke of Gaule arriued at Paris Palmerin Trineus and theyr trayne but the Combat was first ended wherefore they commaunded their Squyres to prepare theyr Tent. Palmerin vnderstanding yâ— the Duke was conquerer greeued not a little in yâ— he came no sooner to winne the honour of the Prince yet knowing if nowe he coulde conquer the Duke more glory shoulde arise to him then by the Prince Lewes he contented himselfe passing that night in his Tent with the Prince Trineus in diuers arguments of the Combat between Lewes of Fraunce and the Duke yet was Lewes highly commended to Palmerin though he were ouercome because hee had so brauely doone the
yâ— olde Knight thanked him and as they went he discoursed to him howe these 〈◊〉 assâ—â—led him because he had enforced them to surrender certaine heritages which vniustly they detained froÌ„ poore Orphanes and for that cause set spyes to watch him that they might set vppon him and kill him which surelie they had doone quoth he without your succour In the continuaunce of these spéeches they arriued at his Castell where many of his Squires meruailed to sée him so sore wounded but especially his Lady and his two Sonnes to whome hee rehearsed the summe of his aduenture and the great fauour and helpe he founde by Frysol for which cause they entertained him with excéeding honour And so long aboade Frysol there with the Knight till béeing desirous to receiue the order of knighthoode hee came to the Knight in this manner May it please you Sir to bestow on me Horse and Armour I wyll goe to the Emperors Court of Allemaigne he beeing the most renowned Prince in the world The good Knight seeing him so forward to chiualry gaue him Horse Armour and money for his iourney whervpon he sette forwarde and the third daie after hee arriued at the Emperors Court from whence a little before Trineus and Palmerin were departed towards Fraunce which newes made Frisol earnestly desire his knighthood because he intended with all speede to trauaile thither likewise in respect of the honour was there to be wunne Frysol vnderstanding the Emperour was in the Chappell hearing diuine seruice went thither where beholding the Princesse Polinarda he reputed her the onely fayre Lady of yâ— world thinking hee could neuer glut his eyes with regarding her whereupon seruice beeing ended he fell on his knee before the Emperour in this manner Because I knowe inuincible Lorde that you are renowned beyonde all other potentates whatsoeuer and that you make no small accounte of Knights aduenturous I desire that by your hande I may be numbred among them The Emperour seeing him so yong and yet valiantly giuen aunswered I would be lothe my Freende to deny a request so reasonable but I wil first knowe if you be Gentle borne or no. My Lorde quoth he I sweare by the fayth I owe to God and your Maiestie that I am noble borne and of the bloode royall by my Fathers side God forbid then sayd the Emperour but you shoulde be Knight and Fortune sheelde you so well in chiualry as she hath indued you with comely shape and beautie Then was the Spurre put vpon hys right heele and the Emperour bad him ryse a Knight commaunding his Daughter Polmarda to gyrde hys Sworde to him which she did saying Worthily and with happines Sir Knight may you imploy the order you haue receiued Madame quoth Frysol if heereafter any vertue or valoure abyde in me it shal be imployed onely for you hauing thus honoured mee with my Sword wherewith I hope to accomplish such deeds of Armes as shall renowne her name that gaue me my weapon but Polinarda made him no aunswere because Palmerin was the onely Image of her thoughts After Frysol was thus Knighted taking his leaue of the Emperour and his Daughter he departed making no small hast till he arriued at the Ioustes at Parris where he determined for his first deed of chiualry to enter the Combat for the beauty of Polinarda But he could not get thither so soone as hee intended for hee was hindered by the way with an vnexpected aduenture which was in a fayre Forrest where hee behelde foure Knights carry away a Ladie perforce who seeing him cryed Ah good Knight for Gods sake succour â—ee whereuppon Frysol coutching his Launce sent one of the Knights headlong to the grounde and in short time wounded another in such sort as nowe hee had but two left to resist him on whom Frysol made tryall howe well he coulde unploy the gift of Polinarda The Knights seeing the hard fortune of their two other fellowes the one hauing broken 〈◊〉 necke in the fall and the other wounded past hope of recouerie tooke yâ— wisest way for themselues posting thence so fast as they coulde ride but Frysol would not folow least they had some other companie in ambush that might haue intrapped him wherefore he conducted the Ladie to her Mothers Castell where hee remained that night and the next daie set forwarde to Parris where hee arriued at the time he fought with Palmerin according as hath beene before rehearsed After the Knight of the Sunne who hencefoorth shall passe by the name of Frysol had left Palmerin and was departed the fielde the night was so obscure as hee knewe not which waie he rode so that the moysture of the â—uening dewe did great harme to his woundes as if God had not armed him with the better strength he was in daunger not to escape with life The verie same daie was the Duke of Gaule departed from Parris to goe ayde the King of England against yâ— Kings of Scots and Norvvay who was Nephewe to the Emperour of Allemaigne for that they molested him with troublesome warres and the Duke beeing benighted was glad to pitch his Tents in a faire fielde through which it fortuned Frysol to passe complayning of the daunger he felt himselfe in The Duke of Gaule beeing abroade foorth of hys Tent to recreate himselfe hearde this sorrowfull noyse which made him send his men to sée who it was and to bring him with them to the Tent whither when they had brought him the Duke pitting his estate demaunded whence he came and who had wounded him in that sort Then discoursed he the whole matter how hee had fought with the Knight that ouercame the Duke of Sauoye and so long their fight endured that the darke night and the King caused them to be parted neyther of them as yet conquered and because he woulde not returne into the Cittie sought some Uillage where he might conuenientlie lodge The Duke of Gaule hearing the wordes of Frysol estéemed him for a hardy and valiant Knight hauing so long endured against Palmerin vnuanquished wherefoâ—â— he saide Sir Knight you are very welcome to mee all the ayde and succour I can giue you you shall bee sure to finde with hartie good will assuring you that there is no Knight liuing to whom I wysh more euill then him whom you haue this daie fought withall So causing him to bee vnarmed willed him to rest himselfe vpon his owne bedde and made his woundes be dressed abyding there eyght dayes for the health of Frysol In which time the Duke had imparted to him the warres of the King of England which made him make more hast to be gone or els he would haue kept him company longer My Lord quoth Frysol so please you to accept my companie I hope to behaue my selfe so well as you shall not be discontented with me The Duke thanked him and reioyced yâ— by his meanes so good a Knight was preserued and did him all the honour hee could deuise taking him
King and Palmerin with fifty Knights more came to assist them for Palmerin hauing slayne the Giant mounted on his horse because it was one of the goodliest yâ— euer he saw and espying the King comming with his trainâ— set on with him and found Trineus in great danger because so many of his side were slaine but this fresh assistance brought by the king was the meane that all the Giants knightes were slaughtered and they knéeling down thanking God for their victory The king alighting came and embraced the quéene saying Now happy may we thinke our selues Madame hauing so well preuented this trecherous villaine for neuer did I thinke to sée you againe but that God these knights so highlie befréended vs. The Quéene and her Daughter were as yet so dismayed in remembraunce of theyr former daunger as beholding so many lye slaine before them and ioyfull beside béeing so fortunatelye deliuered as betwéene these extreames they knew not what to say but desired spéedilie to sâ—t forward thence which they presently did yâ— king commaunding his Nephew Cerides to sée Franarco and his men burned to ashes and honorable Sepulture to be prouided for the other When the Quéene heard that Eranarco was dead Tell me my Lord quoth she who hath doone such a gracious acte to kill that monstrous villaine Euen hee Madame said the king that was cause of my victorie in battell the knight héere in blacke Armour to whome I am so far indebted as I cannot imagine any recompence sufficient for him and this can I not speak without great maruaile séeing so rare valour performed with so little danger on his behalfe Long may the good knight liue saide the Quéene that hath so defended vs and may they all thrée prosper in their affaires for their knightly seruice to the Realme of England While these spéeches endured Trineus béeing sore wounded was brought betwéen two squires and set vpon his horse but the king the quéene and chéefely faire Agriola was glad when she heard there was no such danger but he might well escape it Wherefore mounting al on horsebacke they rode to sée the Giants bodie which made Agriola repute Palmerin for no lesse then his Dwarfe commended him Then the king commaunded to vnarme the body and one of his knightes should bring away his Helmet and Shéelde which would be tokens sufficient for him to recouer the Castle of Garbones which he seised on and all other things belonging to the Giant he sent the Count of Bonneroy with fiue hundred men to confiscate and return to his Maiesties vse The Count well knowing such matters would not easily be accomplished if they in the Castle should make resistance therefore politikely he sent the Giants Targe and Helmet before as sent from Franarco who was with the king and they should open the gates because they were comming thither for witnes wherof they shewed the giants signet of arms The guard too crâ—dulous and thinking it vnpossible for any man to conquere the giant opened the gates wherupoÌ„ the Count presently entred with his power putting all to the sword not sparing any not so much as the giants yonger brother who escaping aliue from the battel was the cause who Franarco dealt thus villanously Thus did the Count yéeld the Castle into the Kings obeysance remaining Captaine thereof vnder the Kings authoritie the like hee did in many other places where the people aduertised of the Giants rebellion and that the Castle of Garbones was taken there was nonâ— would resist the kings commandement whereof the Count was not a little glad returning as soone as he could with the glad tidings of his successe to the Court certifying the King how all things happened Chap. LII Of the conference Palmerin had with the Princesse Agriola after he had slaine the Giant Franarco BY this time the King was come to his Pauillion where he caused his Chirurgions dilligently to attend the thrée knights for the curing of their wounds who found that the prince of Allemaigne was worst of al hurt yet the king vnderstaÌ„ding he was in no danger of life was the better pacified because he loued him déerely and intended to honour him so much as lay in his power promising not to depart thence till hee recouered his health and because he would preuent like mischances he caused dilligent watch to be made euerie night as though he hadde lien in field encamped with the enemie During the Princes sicknesse â—ee was oftentimes visited by the Quéene and fayre Agriola not vnthankfull of the courtesie receiued by him and his companions and for which they requited him with manifold thankes Trineus estéeming himselfe worthily recompenced séeing that heauenly spectacle whose presence healed a greater wound then any hee had receiued in fight desiring the continuance of the outward hurts for comforting of his inward oppressions And while the quéene thus conferred wiâ—â— Tâ—ineus Palmerin came to the princesse Agriola seeing the time so lawfull and commoâ—â—â—â—s that hee might thorowly acquaint her with matter long enough before premeditated but because shee was desirous to talke with him she first began in manner following I know not sir Knigâ—t how the king my Father will satisfie the great seruice you haue doone him in so many hazards to his Realme and himselfe but for mine owne part I think my selfe so bounden that after life which he gaue me by generation my deuoted soule shall remaine to honour you And if these occasions passed doo giue mée iust cause to thinke my selfe happie what lesse account may I make of that vertuous Prince Trineus your companion who came into this Countrey onely for my loue as I am perswaded yet doubtfull to be lightly carried away with report I should accept it for more sound assurance so please you to speake the truth herein Madame quoth Palmerin if I haue doone any seruice to the King or you it is rewarded with much more theÌ„ sufficient séeing it pleaseth you to make such account thereof and I promise you you haue two knights wholly at commaund for the loue of the third who is so confidently â—owed your friend and seruant as no man in the world can bee more this is he that lieth wounded in his bed the princely sonne and heire of the Emperor of Allemaigne in which report my Dwarfe hath not deceiued you And giue my word this credit Madame that since the time hee first heard of your excellent beautie béeing then in Fraunce he neuer had other determination but to spend his life in your gracious seruice and making refusall of many faire Ladies especially of Lucemania daughter to the most christian king of Fraunce set downe this princely and commendable resolution neuer to espouse any other but you so it may stand with your liking to accept him for your husband think then aduisedly swéete madam of the incomparable happines ordaiâ—ed for â—ou and stand not in your owne light to loose so good fortune In truth my Lord quoth the princesse I
that he 〈◊〉 spâ—ken 〈◊〉 of her in the presente of the 〈…〉 with maruailous anger and disdaine returned him this aunswere Amarano the most rash and 〈◊〉 Knight that euer I sawe I wonder howe thy folly could make thée so audacious to come and accuse me of treason against all truth before my Father and his 〈◊〉 But thy spéeches well noted and considerâ—â— shew nothing but carelesse youth 〈◊〉 and too vaâ—nglorious conceit chiefly in this that thou armed 〈◊〉 and accompanied with so many well appoynted Knights commest in this sort to molest a poore maiden who neuer to thée or thine committed any offence but all seruiceable honour especially to her on whose behalfe than offerest the combat As for the valour thou reputest in thy selfe that 〈◊〉 which this slaunder doth encourage thée withall 〈◊〉 thy hartinesse and resolution of heart thou oughtest rather oppose against a Knight able to aunswere thée then a siely Uirgin who hath no weapon but her â—onour wherewith to defende her selfe I confesse I am a Ladie but not traiterous or false as thou auouchest yet of so noble courage as were I of thy sexe thou neuer shouldest depart this Hall before I had that conspyring head from thy shoulders to witnesse thy falshoode and maleuolent spirit Notwithstanding as I am so please my Lorde and Father with a Kitchin cudgell I shall let thée know that thou dotest in thy spéeches and against thine owne conscience chargest me with the murder of my Cozin Examine thy thoughts what likely reason might induce mée to such an offence If shée was fayre thanks to our Gods mine owne talent is so good as I néede not enuie her beautie If shée made account of her rich dowrie I béeing sole heyre to the Signories of the Soldane might iudge my selfe farre beyond her being desired in mariage by many Kings and Princes whereof I am well assured shée neuer had the like I knowe not then what cause should anie way induce me to request her death But what néede I make such prâ—â—estations to thée séeing that by some one of my Fathers 〈◊〉 thy pride will bee abated and I reuenged of the iniurie thou hast doone me Amarano not aunswering her a 〈◊〉 spake to the Soldane in this sort It is not decent my Lord that a Prince or Knight of qualitie should stay on the wordes of a Woman so little considerate who more by anger then vertue thinkes to reprooue and annihilate a 〈◊〉 accusation Wherefore according to the agréement 〈◊〉 determined cal for the knight that dare vndertake the quarrell of your daughter to whom I will manifest in plaine Combat that what I haue said is trueth and if hée bée vanquished your Daughter Alchidiana and he shall bée burned togither as the greatnesse of the offence well deserueth contrariwise if Fortune denie mée successe I will request no other iustice then what shall please you to appoynt for me Maulicus séeing that well he could not denie the Prince though to his gréefe pronouced the sentence that his Daughter that day shoulde present a Knight to sustaine her cause according to his conditions alleaged This hard prescription made neuer a Knight willing to aduenture the Combatte so much they feared Amarano for the great report they heard of his prowesse but stoode all silent as though themselues were condemned to death Alchidiana séeing the courage fayle of so manie Knights whom shée estéemed for men of great account knewe not to whom shée should haue recourse and therefore ouercome with excéeding sorrowe but that her Ladies assisted her had twise or thrise swouned before her Father Palmerin beholding her and knowing that his refusall was greater cause of Ardemiaes â—eath then the iniurious wordes of Alchidiana pityed her estate and hauing before his eyes the loue she bare him the great honours was done him for her sake and the pustillanimitie oâ— the Soldanes Knights was so mooued 〈◊〉 forgetting all daunger and his dissembled dumbnesse which hitherto hée had so cunningly obserued as though he had béene borne in that Countrey hée thus began in the Arabian tongue 〈…〉 vnwoorthie hencefoorth the name of Knights how can your hearts endure that a proude and presumptuous Prince shall come into your 〈…〉 to accuse your Ladie and Mistresse and not one of you daring to defende her right By the celestiall powers 〈◊〉 may you bee accounted heartlesse men and in suffering this wrong to be depriued of all noble titles and to bee solde in the market as slaues and villaines Thinke you the Prince Amarano is come hither for anie other intent then to make tryall of his great hardinesse Can you be destitute of reason and so easily abused as to thinke 〈…〉 Princesse Alchidiana whom nature hath so worthily 〈◊〉 with beautie and with whom no other may make comparison could be prouoked to murther Ardemia for this onely occasion because she was faire And you Lord Amarano for a matter so slender haue you enterprised to blame a Ladie so vertuous as is the Princesse Alchidiana I accept the Combat on her behalfe auouching that shamefully and without reason you haue accused her behold me readie likewise to maintaine in open fielde that falsely and maliciously thou lyest in thy throate in witnesse whereof there is my gage and I beseech your highnesse affoorde vs presently Iudges that may discerne the issue of our Combat I take thy offer quoth the Prince and before the Sun set will giue thée the payment that belongs to such a frollickâ— companion Who can nowe imagine the ioy of Maulicus and his Daughter séeing him whome they reputed 〈◊〉 by nature thus to recouer his spéech assuredly they were all so amazed that they thought Mahomet had come from the 〈◊〉 to performe this myracle The Soldane thus surprised with vnspeakeable comfort forgetting the maiestie of his person 〈◊〉 Palmerin in his armes saying Ah 〈◊〉 Knight hâ—we may this bée dreame I or dooth but my fancie delude me with your spéech O Mahoâ—et for euer bée thou praysed for this great grace By the highest God I am more ioyfull of this good fortune then 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 the fayrest Island in the Mediterâ—â—â—ean Sea Nowe will I dismay â—o longer 〈…〉 Daughters fortune séeing that you take her quarrel in hand and for her sake wil comâ—at with Amarano with all my heart I graunt you the Fielde and thinke that my Daughter will not denie it But tell mée noble Fréend howe you haue so happily recouered your speech Palmerin abashed that hee had so forgotten himselfe knewe not what excuse to make neuerthelesse â—éeing nowe there was no remedie and that the 〈◊〉 throwne could not bée recalled imagineâ— some likely â—â—militude of his suddaine spéech saying I promise you my Lord that the cerâ—itude of your Daughters iâ—â—ocencie and the great griefe I conceyued séeing your Knightes so cowardly and faint in courage mooued mée into such choâ—ler as the Catarrâ— which of long time hath hindâ—red my spéech dissolued it selfe and â—â—th giuen my tongue libertie
his departing time being come when the Prince attiring her selfe in her wâ—nted mourning garments and shaping her countenance to her former sorrow throwded her pleasures past and thus we will leaue them returning to our Affirianâ— sayling on the Sea Chap. XXIIII How after the tempest was past the soldans Armie assembled togither came against Constantinople where by the Emperours power they were discomfited the King of Balisarca his sonne Gueresin and 〈◊〉 other great Lords of Turkie slaine THe tempest which had thrown Palmerin on Hercuâ—es pillars after many loÌ„g and contagious stormes began nâ—w to cease the Sea béeing faire and calme and the windes very quiet whereupon the king of Balisarca General of the Armie in short time assembled togither the most part of his Fléete and came vpon the Coast of Natolia where hée attended the rest of his Foystes and Galleyes And hauing there â—â—ayed about fifteene dayes among all the Shippes that came hée could heare no â—â—dings of Palmerins Carrick the long slay wherof caused him to doubt least he had vnhappily 〈◊〉 in the Sea and ouercome with excéeding gréefe hee thus began Ah gentle Palmerin the flower of all Chiualrie in lucklesse howre didst thon betalâ—e thy selfe to the Sea what answere shal I make the Soldane for the 〈…〉 the Prince Olorico béeing so especially committed to my trust Nowe cannot Fortune 〈◊〉 so fauourable to vs as she would for by thy losse I vtterlye despayre of expected victorie To cut off these 〈◊〉 complaints he was counselled by the Lords Knights and auncient Captaines to sette forward to CoÌ„stantinople to discharge themselues of their promise to the Soldane least in returning without dealing with the enemie they should be reputed for fearefull faint-harted â—owards Setting their sailes to the wind at length they came to the Bosphor Now was the Emperour veriâ— aged and sickly hauing altogither committed the superintendaunce of the Empire to his sonne Caniano who had a son aged â—eaurntéene yéeres named Cariteos And being aduertised of the comming of so manie Assiriâ—ns Turkes and Moores hée sent to all the Christian Princes for succour the greater parte whereof was there as nowe arriued with resolute determination to welcome these Infidels When the Emperours scoutes had espied the enemiâ— to enter the straight yong Cariteos beholding the Knightes on all sides some on the walles and other in the Fielde came and knéeled before his Graundfather earnesâ—lye desiring him to graunt him his Knighthood For my Lord quoth he a better time and occasion cannot be then newe The aged Emperour graunted his request and with the teares in his eyes said In the name of God my Sonne maist thou receiue thy order and to the glorious maintenaunce of the Christian faith albeit thy youth forbids thée to venture so soone Presentlye arose the yong Knight Cariteos and clasping on his Helmet was the first that went foorth of the Cittie accompanied with tenne thousand Horsemen and twentie thousand Footemen to hinder the landing of the enemies which a great while hee did with such valour as the Hauen was channged with the bloud of the slaughtred The King of Balisarca hearing thereof commaunded his Archers to their taske 〈◊〉 shafts 〈◊〉 so thicke in such multitude as it were the Hayle that falleth from the Cleudes and on the other side hée gotte thiâ—tie thousande men on land who assayled the Christians so 〈◊〉 as yong Cariteos was slaine and a great 〈◊〉 of noble personages which was the cause that the Christians retired to the verie Gates of the Citie The Prince Caniano aduertised of his sonnes death and the great daunger wherein the 〈◊〉 issued foorth of the Cittie with eight thousande Horsmen and foure thousand hardie Archers who like hungry Tygers ranne vpon the Turkes beating them to the earth in such heapes as twelue thousand of them were slain at this encounter and the rest repulsed backe to their ships where many entred for sauegard of their liues and a great number were miserably drownâ—d in the Sea At this mishap the King of Balisarca was greatly eâ—â—ged who with his power presently went on shore the fight enduring so cruell and bloudie thrée howres space as neyther side could be reputed likeliest of victorie In this encounter ended their liues the King of Balisarca his Sonne Gueresin and a great number of Cailiffes and Taborlanes of Turkie and of the Christians the Prince Caniano with diuers other great Princes and Lords whose deathes are to this day lamented in Greece yet were the Pagans and Christians so animated one against another as darke night was the cause of their seperation When the Emperour vnderstood the death of his Sonne and Nephew hée was readie to die with conceit of griefe but séeing the necessitie of the time required other matter then sorrowing teares and vnprofitable lamentations hée presently dispatched Postes and Messengers to hasteâ— the succour was comming from Christendome In short time arriued a mightie Christian power and despight of the Turkes entred the Cittie when the Emperour presently sent tenne thousand into the Field and prouided a signall for the other to set fire among the Turkishe Fléete at what time they receiued the signe from the Cittie The Infidelles séeing the Christians to sallie abroad left their Shippes and came to méete them whereupon the Christians diuided themselues into squadrons and running furiously on the Moores Arabies and Assirians made such hauocke and slaughter of them as happie was he coulde best defend himselfe Then suddainly was the signall of fire made on the highest stéeple in Constantinople to the Emperours power wasting on the Sea which immediately launching among the Turkish Fléete suncke the greater part of them and burned the rest with their wilde fire When the Turkes beheld this stratageme and that they were now destitute of any helpe they beganne to faint so that at the comming of the Emperour who came himself vpon them with a fresh sallie of fiue thousand men they were all slaine except a fewe that escaped into Galleyes that brake from the rest vpon fight of the pollicie Great was the spoyle gotten by this conquest which the Christians taking with them entred Constantinople where they gaue God thankes for their happie victorie But although the Emperour sawe his enemies vanquished after the Princes were departed that came to his succour right gréeueus was the losse of his Sonnes to him wherefore his Lordes aduised him to send for his daâ—ghter the Quéene Griana and King Tarisius her husband and to commit the gouernment of the Empire to him For the accomplishment of this generall determination the Duke of Pera was appointed Lord Ambassadour being one of the most auncient Princes of Greece who accompanied with many noble Gentlemen made such expedition in his iourney as hée arriued in Hungaria before the King and his Quéene Oriana whose sorrowes may not be expressed for the death of her brother When they vnderstood the Emperours pleasure they resolued on their obedience which caused the
them Namely that the King was murdered finding Griana committing adulteris with Florendos At which words the Emperour was so enraged that like a man depriued of reason he violently pulled himselfe by the heard saying Ah wreâ—ched and infortunate olde man haue the heauens suffered 〈◊〉 thus long life that after the death of thy sonnes Caniano and yong Cariteos thou must sée thy daughter conuicted of treason adulterie and murder If I haue had some comfort by my Sonnes lying now in the Hearse of honour for maintenance of the Christian faith doubtlesse this iniurie is so great and enorme as no ioy or comfort can now abide in mée Ah my louely Daughter Griana whom I had good hope would bee the onely support of mine age and for that cause sent to haue thy companie commest thou now with such shame and monstrous report Florendos if héeretofore against the Turke Gamezio thou didst me seruice with great wrong hast thou now reuenged thy selfe taking from mee that good which thou canst neuer restore againe But let it suffice that knowing the truth of thy disordered dealing such shall bee thy punishment as shall remaine for perpetuall memorie The Empresse likewise forsaking her Chamber came and knéeled before the Emperour desiring him to put Florendos to the first councell and be to be dispatched with dilligence At which words the choler of olde Remicius augmented hee answering Madame for Gods sake getâ—e you gone for you are the onely cause of my dishonour and then you beganne it when you would not suffer the Prince Florendos of Macedon to match with our daughter but gaue her to your Nephew perforce and contrarie to her owne liking The Prince séeing him so offended intreated her to depart perswading her that the accusers of Griana were her cheefest enemies and that might easily be gathered by their proude and maleuolent detractions which happily would proue false rather then truth For if they might heerein spéede of their purpose and theyr accusation passe for currant the princesse Armida should be disinherited and themselues be the onely heyres of the Kingdome This was their principall drift not any deuotion to reuenge their Uncles death as they in outward shew declared and hereupon all opinions were set aside vntill the next day when the prisoners arriued Chap. XXVII How Florendos and Griana were brought to Constantinople and there were appointed by the Emperours Councell to purge themselues of their accusation by the combate of two knights against their accusers Promptaleon and Oudin THe Duke being arriued at Constantiople immediately caused the Queene Griana and Armida her daughter to be conducted to the Pallace by manie noble Lords and Gentleman When Griana saw shée must néedes go before her father she began again her wonted pittifull complaints notwithstanding shee was so comforted by the Lordes of Greece by theyr solemne promise to defende her right as shee encouraged her selfe and comming before her Father fell on her knées and thus beganne My gracious Lord and father inconstant fortune euermore hath beene and still will continue a most cruell enemie of them of highest calling and no further néede I speake for proofe of my words then the History of your last warres against the Turks and the present slaunder of mine enemies against mée I cannot likewise forget that twentie yéeres and more are nowe expired since to my great gréefe I was seperated from you but with much more excéeding heauines am I now returned if by my misaduenture you receiue any impeach or I deserue to loose the name of your Daughter Therefore my Lord forgetting the name and office of a Father let naturall regarde be exempted from me and exercise on mée tyrannous â—orments with the greatest rigour that may be deâ—ised Yet all too little in respect of my deserts not for any offence in this matter as God is my witnesse but for the suspition of the common and vulgare people more credulous of the faults of Princes and noble Ladies then of their discréete and sober vertues Neuerthelesse receiuing death for a matter neuer committed and with patience despight of mine enemies it will redound to my immortall honour Upon these spéeches the Princesse Armida making great reuerence to the Emperor and with the teares trickling downe her chéekes saide Dread Lord my chéefest desires euermore haue béene to sée your maiestie but so it falleth out nowe that in stéede of ioy and pleasure it is with gréefe teares and tribulation Yet gracious Lord for the first request that euer I made to your highnesse I beséech you to credit me that my mother hath committed no treason or any dishonour to the deceased King my Father neither euer permitted any man entrance into her Chamber but hee whom now the question cencerneth and at that time I with these other Ladies were present and are credible witnesses of the whole action Such efficacie wrought her words in the Emperours minde as he beganne to defie the accusation perswading himselfe that it was nothing but falshood and louingly taking the yong Princesse vp by the hand addressed his spéeches in this manner to the Quéene Well hast thou sayde that Fortune hath béene too contrarie towards thee for when my whole hope remained in thée and that the Crowne of mine Empire should haue béene placed on thy head thou hast fallen into such wounding reproch as both thou and I shall be for euer dishonoured My Lorde quoth Griana vnder correction and sauing the reuerence of your imperiall Maiestie neuer imagine the case any thing to your defame if you credite not mine enemies or common report from whence is engendred all vntruth This speake I not to excâ—se my death which I know to be the refuge for the desolate and ende of al afflictions but to declare mine owne innocencie and that mine honour shall at length be founde vnspotted But now consider good Father with what violence you enforce mee to match with the King Tarisius my heart being still against it and the néerenesse of linage betwéene vs forbidding it Nor were you ignorant of my loue to the Prince Florendos the most gentle Knight of Greece and whose only trauaile hither was to make mee his Wife all this will I not denie nor can my heart permit to passe in silence Notwithstanding by your commaundement I was constrayned to forsake my best beloued and take the man I was not borne to fancie After I sawe it must néedes be so acknowledging him my Lord and Husband and my selfe his Wife and Subiect neither in word or déede nor so much as very thought did I dispose my selfe to any disobedience but liued in most loyall and hâ—nourable dutie Uerie truest is that he founde Florendos talking with mee but I protest before Heauen that it was with such chaste and modest regarde as the Sister might conferre with her Brother And so little time our talke endured as I had not the meane to answere the Prince for the King comming in and prâ—uoked with
frenzie or wicked iealousâ—ie woulde haue slaine him whereby such fortune fell out as the King receiued what he would haue giuen Nor can Florendos hée worthily blamed for comming to sée me in respect of the long time since our last companie beside hauing not forsaken his Pylgrims wéede wherein hee trauailed to the holie Lande he came to acquaint me with the maruailes in his iourney Sée héere in bréeâ—â— the whole truth of his Historie and if the Kings Nephewes auouch otherwise I say my Lord they lie falsely In this respect as well to proteâ—t mine owne honour as the Princes I humbly desire your Maiestie that our innocencie may be discided by Combate for such is my hope in a rightfull cause as I shall find some Knight to fight for me The Lords of the Empire were altogether of the same opinion and instantly desired the Emperour to graunt his Daughter her lawfull request whereto hee answered that he would take counsell thereon and iustice should be doone her as it ought Héereupon the Emperour went into his Chamber and the Quéene was brought to the Empresse her Mother where the poore Lady was assaulted afresh for shée was no sooner entred the Chamber but her Mother thus beganne I knowe not Daughter how badly thou hast béene counselled that since the day of thine espousall to the Prince Tarisius who loued thée so déerely thou hast continued such hatred against him that at length thou art become the onely cause of his death Madame quoth the Quéene you speake your pleasure but in regarde of my reuerence to you I aunswere that I neuer though it Wherefore I intreate you to forbeare such spéeches and if you consider all things well your selfe will be founde in greater fault then I. For conâ—rarie to my solemne promise which I had made to the Prince of Macedon you compelled mee to marrie with him and if Florendos had the opportunitie and in defence of his owne person hath slaine him ought you then to impute the crime to me With these words the Empresse held her peace and sate conferring with the yong Princesse Armida in meane while came the Duke of Pera who had the Quéene in charge and conducted her to her Chamber and afterward by the Emperours commandement he shut Florendos into a strong prison The next day Promptaleon and Oudin came to the Pallace where with great and audacious impudencie they came before the Emperour saying Why haue you not my Lord prouided the fire to burne your Daughter and her adulterer Florendos Soft and fayre aunswered the good Remicius bee not so hastie I finde them not so faultie as your accusation deliuereth for no other harme was committed then talking together and because Florendos was disguised is that a consequence my daughter must die Nor will I encurre with infamous report in putting such a Prince to death without hearing how he can answere for himselfe you therefore my Lord of Pera go fetch Florendos that hee may answere to their propositions The Duke obeyed his commandement and brought the Prince so spent with extreame gréefe because hee had caused the Quéene into such danger as hardly he could sustaine himselfe but after he had with great humilitie prostrated himselfe before the Emperour he began in this manner Most mightie Loed and Emperour of Greece maruaile not that with such heauinesse I come before your maiestie when in stéede of dooing you seruice according as my dutie commandeth me I bring you cause of offence and displeasure Neuerthelesse I repose my self on your benignitie and princely iustice wherein I must intreate you to haue regard on the Quéene your Daughters innocence for the fault that is committed if it deserue to be called a fault was doone without the Quéenes knowledge or so much as a thought of the matter on her part before it happened Moreouer there is none of so harsh iudgement or reason but will consider what familiaritie and friendship both passe betwéene Princes and Ladies in occasions of honour Which may serue to answere the cause of my comming to sée the Quéen being thereto bound by dutie and honest loue wherewith in my yonger yéeres I faithfully serued her And this I did without any iniurie to her honor much lesse occasion of offence to the King which hee would néedes interprete in that sort when with so good indiscretion hée came and assailed me These are fables quoth Promptaleon for the conspiracie and treason betwéene thée and the Quéene is so manifest as euerie one knowes it And if the Emperour doo not this day consumate your liues both together in one fire he offereth the greatest iniurie that euer Prince did and before the whole world wee will héereafter accuse him Darest thou maintaine by Combate in fielde saide Florendos what thou with such brauerie affirmest in this Hall that will I by mine honour quoth Promptaleon and let the Knight come that dares aduenture on this condition that if I be the conquerour the Quéene and thou may beâ— burned as ye haue deserued and the Princesse Armida declared not legitimate and so disinherited of the Kingdome Now hast thou reuealed thy villany saide Florendos and for the last condition doost thou follow the cause so earnestly rather then by any matter of truth and equitie but thou art deceiued in thine intent and thy death villaine shall deliuer assurance of her succession So please my Lord the Emperour of his grace to prolong the day of Combate till I haue recouered some health my selfe alone against thée and thy Brother will prooue ye false Traytours and that maliciously yée haue accused the Quéene The Emperour seeing the Prince so weake and sickly and yet with so good courage willing so defence his Daughters wrong resolued himselfe that shee was innocent Remembring then his noble seruices in defende of his Empire and how 's iniuriously he denied him his Daughter he was mooued in such sort as he could not refraine from teares thinking for vengeance of that offence that heauen had iustly permitted the death of Tarisius wherefore beholding Floâ—eâ—dos with pittifull lookes pronounced the sentence in this manner You Promptaleon and Oudin Nephewes to our deceased déere and beloued sonne the King of Hungaria shall mainteine your words in open Fielde against two such Knights as my Daughter and the Prince Florendos can deliuer on their behalfe and that within twelue dayes after this instant one of which the Prince himselfe shall bée if he be not furnished with another to his liking alwayes prouided that the vanquished shall be declared Traitors and attainted of the crime of Lese Maiestatis and so punished according to the exigence of the case The two Brothren accepted these conditions béeing so farre ouercome with their owne pride as they reputed themselues the most valiant Knights of the world Florendos féeling himselfe so weake of body would gladly haue demaunded a longer day but the sentence being giuen the Emperour likewise promising to appoint another knight in his
as in short time he arriued in Allemaigne where hee was graciously welcommed by the Emperour and especially by the Princesse his Daughter to whome he reported the honorable behauiour of Palmerin and howe he was sworne Prince of Greece and Macedon Héereof was she so ioyfull as neuer coulde shée be satisfied with the discourse making many demaunds to the Duke as well of the Tryumphes Tourney and disports as also of the marriage celebrated at Constantinople whereto the Duke returned such fitte aunswers as nothing wanted to extoll her Fréendes honor yet without anye occasion of iealouzie to the Princesse wherto amorous Ladies are commonlie subiect But nowe returning where wee left before you must note that Palmerin béeing departed the confines of the Empire entred his Fathers Realme where in euery Cittie he was entertained with great tryumphing especiallye in the Cittie of Hermida where the Merchaunt dwelt that was Palmerins Maister for whom he sent but hée was aduertised by his Wife that her Husband was gone to the Sea and his two Sonnes with him wherefore he gaue her manie rich gifts and Letters for his Maisters frée enfranchise and libertie At his departure from thence he came to the place where Vrbanillo his Dwarfe was borne whose father was there liuing a poore auncient Knight and his Sister of as tall stature as Vrbanillo whom Palmerin at her Brothers request sent to Constantinople to his Mother And for the honor of the order his Dwarfes Father had receiued hée gaue him the Uillage wherein he dwelt and in the presence of the Macedonians put him in possession thereof who not a little commended the discréete and liberal mind of the Prince From thence he iourneyed to the chéefe Cittie of Macedon where remained the aged King his Grandfather but how the Cittizens entertained him and what honorable Tryumphes were made at the Court I list not héere sette downe because it would be more tedious then benificiall As for his Aunt the Princesse Arismenia shée at his comming mette him in the base Court with all her Ladies and as Palmerin fell on his knée before her to kisse her hande she stayed him in her armes saying God forbid Sir Palmerin that the Knight of the greatest fame in the world should reuerence so simple a Damosell as my selfe but rather am I bound by duetie to honor you as the man by whose especiall vertues our linage is this daie crowned with perpetuall memorie Fayre Aunt answered Palmerin if before I knewe you to be my Fathers Sister I deuoted my selfe to your seruice with much more affection shall I desire to followe it nowe wherefore suffer me swéete Madame to kisse your hand as being the Ladie to whome I rest continually bounden I beséech you my Lord quoth the Princesse to pardon me for neuer shall Macedonian Maiden be so repâ—â—â—ued but that she well knowes her dutie to her betters At these spéeches came the King of Sparta the Dukes of Pontus and Mecaena and the Prince Eustace whom the Princesse welcommed with excéeding honor After all courtesies ended Palmerin said I vnderstand Madame that the king your Father is crazed and sicklie if it be so I am verie sorrie I praye you therefore let vs goe sée howe his Maiestie fareth When you please my Lord quoth the Princesse for I thinke if héeretofore hee receiued health by you Fortune may at this time affoord the like and yet as I haue read there is no remedie for troublesome age but onelie death it selfe which is the Gate to immortalitie and endeth all diseases whatsoeuer So entred they the Kings Chamber and the Princesse going to the bed side to her Father saide My Lorde sée héere the good Knight Palmerin your Nephew may it please you to speake to him and bid him welcome Well know I that he is right welcome to your Maiestie were there no other cause then the happye recouerie of your former health which his aduenturous trauaile héeretofore brought ye The good olde King whome the palsie caused to shake and tremble raysed himselfe vppe a little and beholding Palmerin with weake and féeble voice thus spake Come néere my noble Sonne that these armes halfe deade may embrace thée and my lips now drie and withered may once kisse thée before I die So holding him betwéene his armes and lifting his eyes to Heauen said O my God for euer be thy name honored and praysed in vouchsafing me to sée my Sonne before my death Ah swéete death the ende of all miseries and beginning of felicitie now art thou welcome forbeare not thy stroke in that I haue now séene the honorable defence of my Subiests héereafter yea such a worthie Fréende for them as neuer had they the like Ah my Son howe déerelie ought I to loue thée how gracious hath thy remembraunce béene of mee yet féele I my selfe so weake and feeble as nature cannot prolong my life thrée daies Alas I knowe not which of vs twaine hath greatest cause to reioyce eyther the Father seeing his Sonne euen when he is readie to leaue him or the Sonne finding his Father attending his comming before he giue vp the ghost I hope my good Lord said Palmerin that you shall not leaue vs so soone therefore take a good heart and that no doubt will prolong your life Alas my Sonne quoth the King vnweldie age hath so weakened my body and euen dried vp my vitall blood as longer I may not liue and had not hope to sée thée lengthened my languishing daies thou hadst found my bodie breathlesse which yet sustaineth féeble life onely by thy presence Now that I may leaue this worlde with content and trauaile with better quiet to mine ende tell mée good Sonne the whole matter concerning thy Father Florendos with the perfect discourse of thine owne fortunes Then Palmerin rehearsed euery circumstaunce both of his Fathers deliuerie howe hée had maried the Quéene Griana and in what estate he left them both at his departure Chap. XL. How the aged King Primaleon of Macedon graundfather to Palmerin dyed and how the King of Spaâ—ta espoused the faire Pâ—incesse Arismen Sister to the prince Florendos NOt two dayes had Palmerin stayed in the Court of his Graundfather but the aged king resined his life to the celistiall powers for which cause all the triumphes ceased and generall sorrow entertained for the losse of their good king Arismena who so reuerently loued her father as in his life time she would not match in mariage with any one because it was his will it should be so neuer shewed her selfe disconted therewith but her Father béeing now dead shee committed the whole affayres of the Realme to the Counte Roldin one appointed for that office by generall good liking With such honorable pompe was the funerall obsequies executed and the Princesse gracious behauiour therein so especially commended as the young King of Sparta became amorous of her discouered his mind to Palmerin intreating him so to fauour the cause as he might make
〈…〉 and they may come to kisse your 〈…〉 Florendos and the Ladies were 〈…〉 Long liue your Maiestie in health and happinesse here may you beholde the man for whom my Lorde Palmerin your Sonne hath endured such paine and trauaile The 〈◊〉 perceiuing by his spéeches that hée was Trineus the Prince of Allemaigne thus aunswered I hope my Lorde that you will beare with mine age and weakenesse which hinders me from entertaining you as fain I would but I beséech you to aryse for it ill beséemes so great a Prince to humble himselfe in such sort Florendos and Griana in this time welcommed their Sonne Arismena the King of Sparta Armida her Frysoll and the olde Emperour and Empresse graciously entertained Agriola and Laurana each absent Fréend so embraced and welcommed as all the day was spent onelie in those ceremonies The next morning Palmerin dispatched his Dwarffe Vrbanillo to the Emperour of Allemaigne that he and Polynarda might vnderstand these long expected newes and afterward comming to Sir Frysoll he sayd to him Brother our Mother hath eâ—riched vs with a Sister since our departure and my Sister Armida me with two Nephewes I pray you let vs go sée them Héereupon the Nurses brought the yong Princes the â—ldest of them being named Dytrius and the yongest Belear the yong Princesse Daughter to Florendos and Griana was called Denisa so faire and comely were the infants as if Nature had studied to make them most exquisite Beléeue me Sir Frysoll quoth Palmerin if my sister continu◠〈◊〉 she begins the Realme of Hungaria shall hardly want 〈◊〉 what two at a blow hir Ladie it is a â—â—gne of good 〈◊〉 And when you are entred the estate of wedlocke answered Frysoll if your linage increase according to the greatnesse of desire Madam Polynarda shall be as well sped 〈◊〉 her neighbors Thus iested the Princes togither attending â—ewes of 〈◊〉 courrier that went with Vrbanillo to the Emperor of Allemaigne 〈◊〉 at that time was at Vienna Chap. LIX How the Duke of Mensa and the Countie of Redona conducted the prince Olorico into Assiria where hee was espoused to the princesse Alchidiana FOr the space of a Moneth and morâ— Palmerin Trineus and Agriola soiourned at Constantinople till all thingâ— were prepared for them to 〈◊〉 towardes Allemaigne during which time Palmerin shewed such signes of loue to the Prince Olorico as he wold seldome be 〈…〉 that more and more his amourous passions encreased hée sayde Déere 〈…〉 Nor doo I this swéete Prince as enuious of your companie or that I stand in feare of the Soldane but onelie to kéepe my promise which was that I would ayde you to my â—ttermost to accomplish the marriage 〈…〉 for whom I see your 〈…〉 troubled My Lorde aunswered Olorico if euer perfect loue might be discerned in a Princes heart doubtlesse it is most amplie 〈◊〉 in yours Where you can finde in anie Historie seâ—blable affection or that a Christian would so fauour his enemie that is contrarie to him in law and 〈…〉 that so great â— Prince would 〈…〉 to accept as his companion in Armes the poore Sonne of the King of Arabia practising for his good not the suretie alone of the Christians but the alliance of the greatest Lord in Asia 〈…〉 Lorde since of your accustomed good 〈…〉 this offer of simple iudgement should I shewe my selfe to refuse it I accept your gracious kindnesse and assure your selfe of his readie seruice whom 〈…〉 to the Prince of Greece 〈…〉 the Soldane of Babylon in 〈…〉 The Letter of Prince Palmerin to the great Soldane of Babylon 〈…〉 〈…〉 against all your enemies Contrariwise if you will follow your former opinion wee must defende our selues so well as we may And for I can no more with 〈◊〉 forsake my Couâ—trey Parents and friendes to returne againe to your seruice I sende you the Prince Olorico a Knight both valiant and hardie as anie in all Turkie without exception of your Court the great Turks or the Soldane of Persia and he to serue you in my 〈◊〉 Desiring your highnes by that affection which you did beare me whâ—Ì„ the Prince 〈…〉 that you accept him as your Sonne and giue him in marriage your Daughter Alchidiana as the man that hath best deserued her if euer Prince might merit â— Ladies loue by bountie and choyse chiualrie So shall you performe an action of 〈◊〉 honour and 〈◊〉 me continually to acknowledge this kindnesse Your Palmerin d'Oliua Another Letter he wrote to the Princesse Alchidiana the tenure whereof was thus The Letter of Prince Palmerin to the Princesse of Assiria TO you Madam Alchidiana daughter to the great Soldane of Babilon Palmerin d'Oliua your knight sendeth health condigne to your magnificence Madame sending to your Father the Duke of Mensa and the Count 〈…〉 to the Crowne of Arabia You know faire Madame that neuer had he come to your Fathers Court had not the perillous battaile against the proude Brother of Amarano prouoked him nor would be haue aduentured the dangers of the Sea but in hope at length to purchase your gracious loue For these considerations good Madame entertaine him into your sober thoughts who hath no more feared to spend his bloud for your sake and thrust his life into infinite dangers then I haue doone to sette my hande and penne to this paper I know that your grace beautie and great 〈◊〉 commandeth the chéefest Prince on the earth for your Husband and to shéelde my selfe from blame I know that I promised you my seruice When I should returne from Constantinople but how hath it fallen out your Palmerin is knowne by them that haue like authoritie ouer him as your loue hath of the Prince Olorico I am a Christian a stranger Sonne to the simple king of Macedon and the Daughter to the Emperour of Greece beside of verie little or no desert at all Hee is of your Lawe your Neighbour sonne to the rich king of Arabia and a Prince of as high vertue as euer was in my companie witnesse whereof he made on the Phrigians and in an hundred places since in my presence Wherefore Madame if noblenesse of hart and loyall loue deserue so great an alliance I know no Prince this day liuing more worthie then he Assuring you withall that more gladly would I die thâ— death then sollicite the cause of him whome I would not imagine vnworthie my person Your Knight Palmerin d'Oliua When he had sealed these Letters hee gene them to to the 〈◊〉 who accompanied with fiftie Grecian 〈…〉 where their shippes was 〈◊〉 after them followed the King Maulerinos hundred Knights the number being supplied with other instead of them that were slaine and after them went the Knights that came with Ptolome then came the Prince Olorico and Palmerin deuising by the way on manie matters My Lord quoth Palmerin I imagine you nowe remember our taking by the Admirall Olimaell and feare that the like mishappe may againe befall you I therfore as your
no Knight whatsoeuer came into his Court without verie honourable receite and bountifull rewardes expressing the good nature of a vertuous Prince whose déedes were helde of no small reckoning amongst his verie enemies He maried with the King of Hungarias Daughter a Princesse for witte and beautie equall with any of her time which caused her to be so especiallie loued of her Lord the Emperour as hee altogeather gaue ouer y◠exercise of Armes notwithstanding his Court did not diminishe one lote of the former glorie for good and hardle Knights but dailie increased in such sort as he tooke great delight to haue yong Princes Knights and Gentlemen nurtured and educated from their verie infancie in his Pallace especiallie after the Empresse had brought him a Sonne which was named Caniano at whose birth was no little reioycing through the whole Empire Within two yéeres after she was likewise deliuered of a goodlie Daughter named Griana who growing to fourtéene yéeres of age was of such rare beautie and singuler good grace as those that behelde her estéemed her for the chiefest péece of workmanshippe that euer nature framed Héereupon it chaunced that Tarisius Sonne to the King of Hungaria who had béene brought vp in company with the yonge Prince Caniano fell into such amorous conceite of the yong Princesse as hee deuoted him selfe onelie to her seruice béeing vnable to conceale the obiect of his affections but that time made her acquainted with the cause of his alteration Manie meanes he founde to entise her good opinion towards him but she carrying a religious zeale to loue in some other climate made no reckoning of his imporunate and dilligent seruice which drewe a Hell of tormentinge thoughts vppon Tarisius séeing his sute and seruice so déeplie despised Neuerthelesse to compasse his intent he desired his Cozin Caniano to cause a Tryumphe bee published whereunto all Knights might be summoned as well straungers as others not doubting but hee should spéede so well in déedes of Armes as thereby hee might deserue the loue of the faire Griana and so afterwardes make meanes by the Empresse to demaunde her in mariage all which hée concealed from his Cozin Caniano who verie gladlie didde consent to what Tarisius had requested watching oportunitie to finde the Emperour his Father at leysure when he made his highnesse acquainted with the whole enterprise of himselfe and his Cozin Tarisius desiring him that all Knights might haue warning for preparation against a day the next Moneth appointed for the purpose The Emperour was verie well pleased with his Sonnes requeste accounting himselfe highlie honoured by his demaunde whereuppon he caused Heraulds of Armes presentlie to bée dispatched to signifie his intended Tournament through al Countries farre and néere In the meane while Tarisius coulde not rest daie nor night but still endeuoured to doo what he iudged might please the Princesse Griana to whō as yet he had not vttered the effect of his longing desire albeit by exteriour actions he dailie made shewe sufficient of his tormenting passions But it so fell out not long after that one daie in her walking he had sorted her alone from al the other Ladies Gentlewomen in a place commodious for a Louers discourses where falling from one argument to another the furie of his oppressions imboldened him so far that at length he brake with her in manner folowing Madame you are not ignoraunt of the honourable assembly that is appointed at the feaste ensuing when I hope to receiue the order of Knighthoode and if it shall like you to thinke so well of mee as to graunt mee one request easie enough for you to affoorde me perswade your selfe that I shal imagine my fortune equall with the happiest Knights that euer liued in that it may be the onelie meane whereby I shall enioy the prize and honour of the Triumphe Griana knowing assuredlie that Tarisius bare her great affection as I haue before rehearsed returned him this aunswere In sooth Cozin it would please me meruailous well to bee the meane of so good fortune as you promise your selfe Neuerthelesse I haue not learned so little modestie as to grant anie thing before I knowe what is desired When Tarisius vnderstoode her modest excuse he perswaded himself that he should nowe obtaine that of her whereof vntill that instant he had liued in despaire whereuppon the teares standing in his eyes he began in this manner I humblie beséech you good Madame to take in worth what I am to acquaint you with for when I determined to smoother my gréefe in secrete the extremitie of my affection grew to such a surplusage as it brake the stringes of my thoughts almost vowed for euer silent to reueale that to you which my selfe dare but reuerentlie thinke such is my feare to displease you otherwise I knowe no meane canne warrant me from suddaine and cruell death so setled is y◠vnspotted loue I bare you which when I striue to ouercome and my selfe also the more I would decrease it the more it augmenteth and that so strangelie as while you are in presence my spirite forsaketh euerie part of mée to liue in you onelie For which cause I haue determined if you thinke it good to request you of the Emperour your Father for my Wife and if he regarde me with so much honour the Realme of Hungaria may well challenge and my selfe likewise the highest roome in earthlie felicitie hauing a Mistresse of such vnspeakable qualitie In the meane time if you please to bestowe on me anie Iewell or fauoure commaunding mee to weare it as your Knight and Seruaunt you shall wel perceiue how aduenturous loue will be in defence of my right by the aduantage I shall recouer in the vertue of a gifte so acceptable Griana who made but slender account of his passions and béeing not well pleased that he held her with such vaine discourses modestlie returned him this aunswere If you had such regarde of me as I well deserue you woulde not attempt me with spéeches so vnfitting my hearing for if your desire be such as you giue me to vnderstand you ought to make it knowne to the Emperor or Empresse who haue greater authoritie ouer me then I haue my selfe Therfore I desire you hencefoorth not to aduenture the like on perill of your life otherwise I shall let you knowe howe highlie you offend me on which cōdition I am cōtent for this time to pardon your want of discretion in that I perceiue my selfe to be the onelie cause thereof in graunting you time and leysure thus priuatlie to assaile me for which ouersight I repent mee at the verie harte With which wordes shee floong away and left him alone declaring by her countenaunce to be offended with his request in that shee desired rather to die then accept him for her Husband or to allowe him the name of her fréende If then Tarisius was driuen into a quandarie wee néede not meruaile wherefore troubled as he was and not caring greatlie
addition vnder your highnesse correction that were she mine as I am wholie hers the faithfull seruice of a thankfull Sonne shoulde aunswere the genâ—lenes of so good a Father and the irreuocable vowes of holie loue assure Griana of her Florendos Right déerelie did the Emperour loue the Prince Florendos as had he béene his owne Sonne Caniano his knightlie valour and manifold other vertues iustlie inducing hym thereto and gladlie he would haue coÌ„sented to his request if his promise made vnto Tarisius did not binde him to the contrarie whereupon he returned him this aunswere Beléeue me good Cozin I am not a little agréeued that I cannot satis-fie your gentle request for that Tarisius Nephewe to the Empresse hath alreadie preuented mee to him haue I past my promise for my Daughter and dailie I expect the Ambassadours comming from Hungaria to finishe the mariage so that I had rather loose the best of my Citties then it should be said I falsified my worde Notwithstanding of one thing I can assure you that you are far higher in my grace and fauour then he yet necessitie is without lawe and the regarde of mine honour must intreate you to hold me excused Greatlie abashed was the Prince Florendos séeing in one instant that hope strooken dead that had maintayned his life since his comming to Constantinople and so nypt in the heade was he with the Emperours answere as hee stoode a good while in a studie not speaking a worde at last he began thus God forbidde that so great a Prince shoulde breake his promise by my occasion neuerthelesse my truth and loyaltie to your highnesse shall not any way diminishe but I shall remaine the most forward in duetie of any that owe seruice and alleageaunce to your Maiestie Neyther will I sayd the Emperour imagine the worse of you but loue you rather better then I did before Then entered diuers Noble men and Gentlemen which made them breake off from further spéeches and Florendos taking his leaue went to his Chamber so full of gréefe and extreame heauines as easilie he could haue béene induced to commit some violence vpon himselfe but casting himselfe vpon his bed he thus beganne to breath foorth the furie of his passions to ease the heauie burthen of his oppressed spirite Unhappy wretch that I am beyonde all other what hope of life canst thou flatter thy self withal séeing the meane that should maintaine the continuaunce thereof forbiddes thée sonde man to hope any longer What angry Planet gouerned thy natiuitie that he to whom thou gauest life should this day be the cause to ende thine owne Beléeue 〈◊〉 Tarisius had I made tryal of this inconuenience before hardlie shoulde I haue put my personne in such daunger amongst the Moores to shéelde thy life but in defending the sworde out of thy throate I haue deseruedlie thrust it in mine owne so that by lengthning thy daies I haue expyred mine owne date and that with a death so miserable and cruell as no enemie whatsoeuer would wish to another But were it not that my duetie to the good Emperour countermaundeth me thou couldest not with such ease either out-braue me in my looue or thus vsurpe the gracious fauoure of my Mistresse Griana were affection ballanced with desert or loue measured by vertue as it is by opinion Notwithstanding to die for her loue I shall account my selfe happie in that she cannot but pittie my vnluckie death and my spirite should passe with greater quiet to his ende if she knewe with what content I take my destenie but fayre Griana would God I had either not séene thée at al or Fortune had béene fauourable to me in choise At which words the extremitie of his passions tooke away the libertie of his spéeche so that he could not finish what hee woulde gladlie haue spoken but falling from his bedde to the grounde in a swoune amazed one of his Esquires that was in the nexte Chamber who hearing the fall ran in immediatlie where séeing his Maister lying deade in his iudgement ran and called Frenato who was Cozin to Florendos and one that knewe most of his priuate affayres notwithstanding hee was ignorant in the cause of this accident who taking him vppe in his armes with colde water and vinagre caste in his face at length he got life into him againe when Florendos opening his eyes and séeing his Cozin so busie about him breathing foorth two or thrée bitter sighes saide My déere fréende and Cozin I beséeche you hinder not the ende and issue of my life for béeing out of all hope to recouer my Ladie Griana there is no meane left to maintaine my life When Frenato heard these wordes hee doubted that the Prince had receiued some contrarie aunswere from yâ— Emperour as concerning the marriage betwéene him and his Daughter for whose loue onelie hee left the kingdome of Macedon wherfore he perceiuing that she must bee the onelie meane to ease his torment hee began thus roundlie to aunswere the Prince And what of this must you therefore dispaire Alas said Florendos what would yee haue me doo the Emperour hath long since past his promise for her to Tarisius as his highnes assured me by his own wordes Uerie well Sir answered Frenato but doo you know if she haue giuen her consent I promise you I am perswaded that she loues him not but that her fauourable regarde is much more towardes you then him and for you saye so much to morrow will I sounde the bottome of this matter so that if I can I will frustrate the Emperours intent towardes Tarisius Doo you in the meane time but learne to dissemble your gréefe and shewe not your selfe mal content for anie thing that hath béene saide but bee of good chéere and referre your fortune in this case to the successe of myne endeuours These and such like perswasions Frenato vsed to the Prince whom he thus left in his Chamber and returned to the Pallace as was his manner All this while the Emperour bethought himselfe on the spéeches that had passed betwéene him and Florendos which made him the night following to discourse theron with the Empresse perswading her that hee coulde more willinglie accept of hym for his Sonne then Tarisius But she who highlie fauoured her Nephewe reprooued his opinion with manie answers so that by importunate intreaties teares and other subtill fetches which Women are wont to vse to accomplish theyr desires she so farre disswaded the Emperour as hee promised her againe not to giue her to anie other then to him to whom he first past his worde Of which wordes the Empresse was not a little glad and therefore all that night shée deuised by what meanes she might froÌ„ that time forward so much as in her laie hinder Florendos from speaking to her Daughter whereupon she dailie kept the Chamber of presence and helde a more strickt looke on Griana then before shee had doone which greatlie increased the passions of Florendos
and brought him into so weake estate as the learned Phisitions coulde not deliuer the cause of his sicknes to the no small gréefe of the Emperour but especiallie of Caniano yet for all this woulde not the Empresse at anie time visite him because shee woulde hinder the occasion of her Daughters séeing him remembring what spéeches had past betwéene him and the Emperour And albeit Griana made no outward shewe thereof yet in her harte shee was greatlie displeased at her Mothers dealings so that one day when her Brother Caniano came to sée her to recount vnto her in what extreamitie he had left his fréendlie coÌ„panion and what gréefe it would be to him if he died as he greatlie doubted What my Lord quoth she it is not so I hope Yes certainlie quoth he and I feare he will very hardlie escape this day At which wordes the water stoode in her eyes yet so well as she coulde shee dissembled her passions neuerthelesse she could not holde it in but said I meruayle much that the Empresse my Mother makes so slender account of him as since his sicknes shee woulde not vouchsafe once to visite him I feare she hath forgotten what good hée 〈◊〉 for vs that day when he valiantly slew the Turke Gamezio Beléeue me my good Lord and Brother I am harâ—â—lie sorrâ—e for his sicknes for if he die as heauen forbidde quoth shee secretlie the Emperour my Father shall loose more then hée thinketh on the great seruice hee hath doone for him already may giue instaunce of my words and more he béeing the Sonne of so great a Prince as he is By this time had such extreame gréefe ouerburdened her hart as she was constrained feigning to goe to the Empresse ChaÌ„ber to leaue her Brother that she might alone by her selfe bemoane her fréends hard fortune CHAP. V. Howe Griana sent a Ring to the Prince Florendos by Cardina her Mayde desiring him as he loued her to comfort himselfe and of the aunswere he sent her SO soone as Griana hadde left her Brother she went into her chaÌ„ber where more and more shee lamented for the sicknes of Florendos and with her teares shee coupled these discourses May it be that anie liuing creature can deserue so gréeuous punishment as I doo that endaunger the life of the woorthiest Knight in the worlde Unhappy that I am that loue yea the loue he beares to mee should bring so braue a Gentleman to so hard an exigent but if he die such iust vengeaunce will I take vpon my selfe as I wyl not remaine one howre aliue after him and let our ghostes seeke their owne quiet in death that Fortune would not affoorde vs in life Yet will I thus farre first aduenture and that before any sléepe enter these eies of mine try if it consist in my power to ease his extreamitie that buyes my loue at too déere a price And in this anguish of minde she called one of her Damoselles the Daughter of her Nurse named Cardina whom aboue the rest she trusted most and to her she began in manner following Cardina thou knowest the loue I alwaies bare thy Mother and for her sake howe well I haue thought of thée I haue knowne thée long time a true and faithfull Seruaunt but nowe Cardina is a time beyonde all other to make tryall of thy truth and to witnesse thy loyaltie to me onelie as thou art sure so to bee secrete and so secrete as I must put my life and honour into thy secrecie Cardina who was wise and of good gouernement hearing Griana vse such earnest spéeches imagined that she would commit no commoÌ„ matter to her trust with such coniuration whereuppon she modestlie returned thys aunswere Madame rather had I be torne péecemeale in sunder then anie thing you commaunde for secrete shoulde by me be reuealed without your licence and so assure your selfe that while I liue you shall finde mee as faithfull in déede as I promise in worde I neuer hitherto quoth the Princesse had other opinion of thée listen nowe therefore what I shall commaunde thée I haue vnderstoode for certaine Cardina that the gréeuous sicknes of the Prince Florendos is caused by verie earnest loue which hee beares to me for I account it great pittie to loose so good a Knight doo so much as take the paines to goe to him from me and saie I desire him to bee of good chéere and if there bee any thing in my power may doo him good I will gladlie accomplish it as she that loues him as her own selfe and to assure him thereof saie I sende him this Ring which I wyll him to kéepe as a pledge of my loue Madame answered Cardina Fortune spéede me so well as my paines may giue ease to both your passions and might my sentence like you Madame I knowe no Knight so worthy your loue as Florendos Goe then sayd Griana and returne againe so soone as thou canst So went Cardina straite to the lodging of the Prince Florendos at the entraunce whereof shee met the Prince Caniano so heauie and pensiue as might be because he perceiued his Fréend to consume awaie euerie day more and more But Cardina who had well learned her lesson stept aside and would not be séene of Caniano who beeing gone shee went vp to the Chamber where when shee was readie to enter she hearde the Prince coÌ„plaine in this sort Ah poore wretch must thou néedes die without anie hope of remedie And as he would haue procéeded on Cardina stepped to him and after she had saluted him said to him secretelie that the Princesse Griana had sent her to him to vnderstand of his health and beléeue me good Prince quoth she I neuer sawe Ladie so sorrowfull for your sicknes as she is She commendeth her selfe to your honour most hartilie and hath sent you this Ring as an earnest of the looue she beares you desiring you to bee of good chéere and comfort your selfe because she desires to sée you to confer with you of matters that concerne you bothe néerelie These wordes so rauished the spirit of Florendos as a good while he doubted whether he dreamed or that hee might giue credite to what he hearde for albeit he knewe the messenger so well as anie in the Courte yet coulde he not perswade himselfe that hee was so fortunate At length betwéene hope and dispayre he tooke the Ring which he entertained with manie deuoute kysses and embracing Cardina so well as hee coulde thus answered Alas my swéete fréende may it bee possible that my Ladie hath such regard of him who neuer was able to doo her anie seruice Doubt not thereof my Lorde aunswered Cardina and if you will declare your loue answerable to hers in vertue you must giue testimonie thereof by comforting your person that she may sée you so soone as may be Ah fayre Uirgin quoth he let my whole life be imployed in what shall like her diuine nature to coÌ„maunde
me and I assure you that these tydings hath breathed such newe life into my verie soule as alreadie I finde my selfe wonderfullie chaunged yea and that in such sorte as before thrée daies bee past I shall attende her gracious will with seruiceable dilligence In the meane while I shal desire you faire Fréend to let my soueraigne Mistresse vnderstand that I kisse her highnesse hande in humble duetie and had ere this giuen farewell to this life hadde not her swéete regard called me againe from death Thus parted Cardina from the Prince taking her way spéedily towards Griana who longed not a little to heare from Florendos whom she had made Lord of her gentle affections CHAP. VI. Howe Cardina recited to the Princesse Griana what speeches had past betweene her and Florendos and of the counsell shee gaue her Mistresse to conferre with him in the Garden so soone as he was recouered CArdina thus dispatched from Florendos made no little haste towardes the Princesse who remained all this while silent in her Chamber and no sooner perceiued she Cardina to enter but she demaunded if Florendos receiued her token in good part or no. Beléeue me Madame answered Cardina I thinke you neuer did anie thing in all your life whereby you coulde obtaine more honour and applause then by that you vouchsafed to doo at this instant for in my iudgment you haue performed a miracle in giuing him life that was in the very iawes of death Then from point to point shee recounted the talke passed betwéene them first howe she founde him in yâ— midst of his regrets and lastlie what message hee had sent by her Thus while Cardina continued her discourse euery worde tooke hold on the gentle hart of the Princesse and wounded her with such pittifull regarde of the Prince his torments as what she desired inwardlie shee shaddowed with modestie as lothe to receiue shame in her loue hauing caryed her selfe with such honour all her life quoth shee to Cardina Howe might I good Seruaunt ease this waightie oppression Uerie well said Cardina wheÌ„ Fortune alloweth opportunitie But thou knowest quoth Griana a Princesse as I am to be séene secrete with so braue a Gallant dooth greatlie hazard my life and honour As for that Madame saide Cardina my Sister can better aduise you then I or any that I know by her meanes may you speake with your Knight the brauest Gentleman in the world and one whoÌ„ I knowe is so farre deuoted yours as hee will rather loose his life then impeache your honour anie waie and otherwise then in loyaltie to make you his Ladie and wyfe I am well assured he loueth not which loue Madame you may well entertaine Returne then Cardina quoth the Princesse to my Lorde Florendos and assure him that so soone as he is recouered I wyll come and speake with him in such place where we may well aduenture and desire hym as he loueth me that it may bee with all conuenient spéede Cardina without anie further delay weÌ„t with this message to the Prince Florendos who hartened himselfe so well vpon these spéeches as within sixe dayes he found himselfe thorowlie amended whereof the Emperour and Caniano hys Sonne was not a little glad but Tarisius was scant well pleased thereat for he had coÌ„ceiued a secrete iealousie because he was so earnest in affection towards Griana who by her Mayd Cardina had warned Florendos that yâ— night following he should come into the Garden whereâ—nto her Chamber had a secrete entraunce and there woulde he and she conferre of their loue without suspicion of any Florendos séeing these affayres sort to so good ende purposed what euer happened not to fayle the time place which made him thinke this day a yéere in length so long hee looked and desired for the night But nowe the wished howre is come when Florendos with his Cozin â—renato who was priuie to the Princes secrete loue departed from their lodginges and comming to the Garden they sawe the wall was verie high and harde to climbe notwithstanding greater thinges are possible to Louers chéefely when a cause of such waight is in hand so that in short time Florendos had gotte the top of the Wall and afterward went to the place where Griana â—tayed his comming who had no bodie with her but Lerina Sister to Cardina to whom likewise she thorowly bewrayed her secrets He hauing espied them came and fell on his knee before the Princesse but she tooke him vppe in her armes embracing him so swéetlie as Lerina withdrew her selfe amongst the Trées not with anie intent of feare to displease them but with a certaine kinde of gréefe which ouercame her that shee wanted a Fréende to participate with her in loue as her Mistresse hadde before whâ—m Florendos béeing on his knée sayd Madâ—me by vertue of your commaundement I am thus bolde to enter your presence yéelding my whole abilitie to you as to the diuine Goddesse that hath shéelded me from death which grace séeing your princelie nature hath affoorded me my life for euer héereafter remaines at your soueraigne pleasure the vnfeigned promise whereof I binde to you by irrâ—uocable vowes but especiallie by my faith yâ— onelie ornament of a true Knight that I desire no longer to breathe this ayre then to honour your name with my continual seruice for life without yâ—ur grace and fauour is more yrkesome to me then a thousande deathes But by your fauour my Lorde answered Griana howe or from whence hath this hote loue sprunge let mee knowe I desire you Madame ê™ he as I haue heretofore so at this time I assure you that in my nature Countrie of Macedon I hearde the renowne of your excelling beauty at which verie instant I dedicated my selfe onelie yours and euer since continuing in this religious seruice I haue so confidentlie set downe my rest in gracious regard of your swéete selfe as béeing yours in seruice I liue if otherwise I die In sooth said said the Princesse I sée theÌ„ you haue giuen your selfe wholie mine and so I am well centented to accept you Then Madame quoth he to seale yâ— assuraunce of this diuine fauour you haue doone me 〈…〉 intreate to kisse those swéete lippes that deliuered the 〈◊〉 I haue long looked for Which to grant though for modesties sake at first she séemed daintie yet at length looue had so supprâ—zed her as he néeded not striue when no resistaunce was offered Thus with feares and solemne kysses they breathed into eache others soule the mute arguments of their loue and faire Cynthia amiablie fauouring this delicate encounter added such courage to the minde of this louâ—lie Champion as breaking his Launce in the face of Venus hee bequeathed the successe of his dâ—uoire to the gracious aspect of that Planet And among a number of soft and sweete loue spéeches he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour her Father howe he had requested her in marriage
for your sake I may kéepe it while I liue Marcella woulde not denie his request but put it about his necke herselfe From which time forwarde Palmerin shewed himselfe of more cheereful disposition deuising how he might compasse the meane to goe seeke his fortune wherto his sundry apparitions had so often incited him And as none can shunne what is ordeined him by diuine prouidence not manye daies after as he was walking alone vppon the Mountain he heard a voice cry verie pittifullie for helpe and succour whereuppon Palmerin ranne that waie which hee hearde the voice where hee behelde a Lyon gréedilie deuouring a Horse and Palmerin hauing no weapon to defend himselfe withall but a staffe verie hardilie sette vpon the beast gyuing him such a stroake betwéene the eyes as he fell down dead to the grounde then comming to him hee hearde complaine saide I haue my Freende in some parte reuenged thy wrong Alas Sir ê™ he had you not béene my life had perished for as I trauailed on my iourney this Lion furiouslie sette vpon me to deuoure mee which the rest of my companie perceiuing tooke theÌ„selues to flight leauing mée as you founde mee The best is said Palmerin that you haue escaped with life and if you please to goe with mee not far hence where I haue béene nourished you shall haue the best entertainment that I can make you My Freende quoth the Straunger you haue alreadie doone so much for me as if you will goe with me into the Countrey where I dwell I haue wherewithall to reward your trauaile richlie Is it farre hence Sir said Palmerin In the Cittie of Hermida ê™ he in the Realme of Macedon I dwel from whence I parted a moneth since with my merchandise which I haue left at Constantinople froÌ„ whence returning homeward this vnlooked for mis-fortune befeil mee which had made an ende of me without your assistance As they were thus conferring togeather one of the Strangers seruaunts came to looke him and finding him so happilie escaped was not a little ioyfull reporting that he had left his companioÌ„s not farre off Returne then said his Maister and wil them come to me to the next Uillage where I meane to haue my wounds dressed which the seruaunt performed immediatlie and all this while stoode Palmerin in debating with himselfe if he should thus leaue his Father Gerrard or not at length after manie opinions fearing if hee returned home againe not to finde the like opportunitie concluded to depart with the Stranger So was hee sette on a verie good Palfray setting forwards to Macedon yâ— night they were entertained in a verie good lodging where the stranger caused his woundes to be searched reporting to eueriâ— one howe by the ayde of Palmerin his life was preserued for which cause he accounted of him as of his owne Sonne All this while Gerrard and his Wife little thought of this mishappe but expected Palmerins returne till darke night and séeing he came not as he was wont both he his wife the next daie searched the Mountaines but they could not finde him which made Gerrard to question in himself what euil he had offered him that should make him thus depart Nowe durst not his Wife Marcella tell him the talke betwéene her and Palmerin but accompanied her Husband in sorrow for their losse especially Dyofena and her Brother Colmelio were most sory Dyofena for losse as she thought of her Husband and Colmelio for the companie of his supposed Brother whose absence went so neere his hart as he intended neuer to giue ouer searche till he hadde founde him CHAP. XIII How Palmerin went with this Merchant named Estebon to the Cittie of Hermida who afterwarde gaue him Horse and Armour to be made Knight EStebon the Merchant thus conducting Palmerin on his way at length arriued at the Cittie of Hermida where he was louingly welcomed home by his Wife both yong and beautifull as anye in that Countrey to whom he reported his daungerous assault by the Lyon and without Palmerins help he had béene deuoured but quoth hee good fortune sent him at the verie instant that slewe him for which I shal be beholding to him while I haue a day to liue therefore good Wife entertaine him in the best sort you can deuise for he hath well deserued it This spéeche had the Merchant with his fayre Wife who embracing Palmerin said That nature had omitted nothing in her workmanship making him so amiable and ful of hardines Palmerin séeing himselfe so fauoured of so beautifull a woman hauing before spent his time among Shéep heards Swineheards and loutish Swaines of yâ— Country with modestie began to blushe and was so well stored with ciuilitie to make her this answere I desire Mistresse that 〈◊〉 behauiour may bee such as may continue my Maisters good liking and yours towards me So from that time hee followed Merchandise and profited so well in the course of traffique as Estebon committed all his affaires to Palmerins trust who rather gaue his mind to martiall exercises and followed Knightlie dispositions so much as verie nature declared the noblenes of his minde for he delighted to mannage great Horses to fight at al maner of weapons to sée daungerous Combats to frequent the assemblye of Knights to talke of Armes and honourable exployts and in bréefe to exercise all the braueries of a noble Courtier Whereat Estebon meruailed so much as faling in talke with him he said Me thinkes it is strange Palmerin that thou béeing the Sonne of a drudge and nourished on the Mountaine of Oliues as thy selfe hath often tolde me disdaynest the life of a Merchant frequenting the company of hardie Knights as though thou shouldest take Launce and shéelde to enter the Combat Sir said Palmerin I know not if my Father be such as I haue told you but I wot wel my heart so serues me as I can thinke of nothing but actions of honour and knighthoode The Merchant was contented to heare Palmerin in these terarmes because he perceiued that his Wife fauoured him greatlie wherat he became a little iealous and gladly would remooue the occasion wherfore he said Séeing it is so Palmerin that thou hast no mind to follow my affaires I am well contented yâ— shalt exercise chiualrie béeing the thing thou naturallie affectest and whereby thou mayst attaine to credite account For mine owne part because I will not hinder so good forwardnesse thou shalt haue of me money Horse and Armour that thou mayst goe to Macedon to the King where if thou request it of the Prince Florendos his Sonne he will not refuse to giue thée thy order Palmerin returned him verie hartie thanks and hauing prouided al things expedient for his iourney tooke his leaue of the Marchant Estebon and his wyfe hoping to speede well in his aduenturous enterprise CHAP. XIIII How Palmerin arriued at the Court of Macedon hoping to receiue the order of knighthood at the hande of the Prince Florendos Sonne
time on the other side Ptolome had so canuazed the Counties Brother as he sealed him a quittaunce with his sword for his life Then began the Counties Souldiours to dispayre of their successe and Palmerin with his traine to follow them so closelie as they were glad to take themselues to flight leauing theyr Maister ouerthrowne in the Armie where hee was troden to death with the trampling of the Horses Thus did the victorie remaine to the Duke his enemies scattering in flight gladde to saue their liues whom Palmerin commanded to follow no further least gathering themselues togeather againe and espying aduauntage they might so endanger them for oftentimes the vanquished too narrowly pursued recouer courage daunte the pride of the conquerers For this cause he returned with his men into the Citty the Duke vnderstanding the foyle of his enemie which made him with a great number of woorthy Cittizens to goe méet Palmerin and Ptolome whome embracing hee thus entertained Ah good Knights by you is my estate recouered and the death of my Sonnes reuenged on the murderer therefore dispose of me and myne as you shall thinke beste to which words Palmerin thus answered My Lord let heauen haue the honour of our victory as for me I haue doone and will héereafter what I can for the great kindnesse of the King of Macedon your Uncle who hath honored mee in sending me to you and other recompence I neuer did or will séeke As they thus parled togeather the Duke perceiued by the blood on Palmerins Armour that he was wounded in manie places wherefore quoth he I sée you are sore wounded let vs make haste to our Pallace where a Ladye attending on the Duchesse and well séene in chirurgeri◠shall giue attendaunce on you till you are recouered So mounting on horsebacke they rode to the Pallace where Palmerin was lodged Béeing brought into his Chamber the Duchesse and her Daughter holpe to vnarme him when the Ladie dressed his wounds perswading him there was no daunger in them to be feared Thus each one departing Laurana the Duchesse Daughter called Vrbanillo the Dwarsse saying to him My Fréende desire thy Mayster to make bolde of any thing he wants and that for my sake he will dispayre of nothing Madame said y◠Dwarffe you haue good reason to wish my Maister well as well for the good assistaunce he gaue the Duke your Father as also in respecte of his deserts which are as honourable as any that euer came in this Court These words Palmerin verie well hearde hauing his eye continually on her wherefore when shee and all the other were departed hee called Vrbanillo demaunding what talke he had with the Princesse which he reported and his answere also Gramercies said Palmerin I pray thée find the meane to let her knowe that I am her Seruaunt and Knight ready to accomplishe anie thing that she shal commaunde me Referre this matter to me Sir quoth the Dwarffe I knowe what Saint must patronize these affaires and what offering must bee layde on his Altar CHAP. XX. Howe Palmerin became highlie enamoured with the beautie of the Princesse Laurana thinking her to bee the Lady that sollicited him in his visions VRbanillo the Dwarffe not forgetfull of his Maisters commandement the next day when Laurana came with her Mother to visite Palmerin shee tooke the Dwarffe aside demaūding what reste his Maister tooke the night past Madame quoth he indifferent I thanke God and you for in you two consists the disposition of my Maisters health As howe quoth shee Thus Madame said Vrbanillo the first day that he behelde you hee gaue the whole possession of himselfe so firmely to you as day night he meditates on your diuine perfections doubting in requital of his seruice to my Lord your Father and his Countrey whose liues and yours he hath defended him selfe shal be repayed with suddaine and cruel death for had he not come for your safetie well had he escaped this daungerous extreamitie Then séeing fayre Madame that his valour hath béene the meane of your deliueraunce doo not so degenerate from gentle nature as to kill him that gaue you life Why my Freend quoth she what wouldest thou haue me doo To loue him swéete Madame quoth he as hée doth you Alas sayd she thou mayst assure thy selfe y◠none can wysh thy Maister better then I doo béeing my duetie and his desert with which wordes shee chaunged colour with such modest bashfulnes as it might be perceiued shee could hardly master her affectiōs Which when y◠Dwarffe behelde as one not to learne his lesson in this arte perswaded himselfe by the very lookes of Laurana that his Maysters loue would sort to happy ende and thereuppon he followed the matter thus I thinke Madame that you wysh my Maister as well as anie but that is not enough vnlesse your wysh agrée wyth his in this poynt that you graunt your selfe his onely Lady and Mistresse as hee hath vowed himselfe your Knight and Seruant If it may please you to wysh this good to my Maister vouchsafe this fauour as a president of your lyking that so soone as he shall finde himselfe better in health you wyll but consent to speake with him alone in some such conuenient and vnsuspected place as hee may haue liberty to acquaint you with the secrets of his thoughts Alas quoth she how should I so doo without offering too much impeache to mine owne honour Madame saide the Dwarffe the night giues fauour to loues swéete enterprises By this time the Duchesse was ready to depart which Laurana perceiuing sayd to the Dwarffe Assure thy Maister from me that I am more his thē myne owne and I will doo for his welfare what I may with modestie By reason of their departure the Dwarffe coulde not make her answere but shaddowing the matter as hee had doone before went about his Maisters busines till hee came and found him alone when he discoursed all that had past betwéene the Princesse and him which so well contented Palmerin as nothing coulde more because he perswaded himselfe as I haue saide alreadie that this was shee which the thrée Sisters promised him by whom he shoulde receiue the honour that destinie allowed him For thys cause thence forwarde he was verie desirous to knowe her name commaunding Vrbanillo very straightly to enquire it which hee did informing his maister that her name was Laurana whereupon he well sawe that hee was deceiued in that the Sisters had named his Mistresse Polinarda and therefore he resolued to withdraw his affection and to depart thence so soone as he should be able to beare Armor But it may be easilie presumed that when one hath so far ventured in loue that he perceiues himself beloued as the Dwarffe perswaded his Maister hardly can hee giue ouer so faire a beginning yet héere it fell out contrary as you shall well perceiue that the ende was more suddaine then the beginning Palmerin now knowing the Princesse name began to vse other
countenaunce to her then hee was accustomed but shee good Lady in his excuse conceiued better opinion then she had cause yet as it euermore falleth out in loue that when Ladies sée themselues but slenderly courted by their Fréendes they growe importunate in their amorous desires so came it to passe with Laurana who perceiuing herselfe not solicited by Palmerin as shee was wont one night somewhat late shee called the Dwarffe and thus began Howe comes it to passe my good Fréend that thy Maister is not of so pleasaunt disposition as heeretofore he hath béene it may be thou hast not let him vnderstand my last salutation or els feare with-holdes him from following his determination I pray thée doo the message of my earnest good will to him and tell him that I long to impart our affections togeather to the ful resolution of our desired thoughts which I haue found the way vnsuspected to accomplish so please him to come to my ChaÌ„ber to morrow at night where I shall not faile to expect his presence When the Dwarffe heard Laurana vse these words thinking his Maister was still in his former cogitations thus aunswered Trust me fayre Madame within these fewe dayes my Maister is become so mellanchollie as I haue manie times feared his death and I am sure hee hath no other cause to torment him so but onely the fury of the extreame loue he beares you yet séeing you haue promised him such gracious fauour let me alone to change this vnpleasaunt humour Fayle not then quoth shee to let him know my minde I goe presently said the Dwarffe to acquaint him with these long desired tydings So taking his leaue he went to his Maisters Chamber whom he founde fast a sleepe when not daring to awake him let stay hys message till the next morning and so laide him downe to rest at what time sleepe had thorowly possessed him he began to cry and complaine so loude as his Maister hearing him arose and demaunded of him the cause of his lament Alas my Lorde quoth he neuer in all my life was I so affrighted me thought that one of the fayrest Ladies that euer eye lookt on helde a naked sworde against my throate saying Uile and villainous creature as thou art darest thou presume so much to offende me as to make thy Lorde and Maister amorous of Lady Laurana and to forsake me iustly doost thou deserue to dye on this weapon for thy paillardise and if héereafter thou carry any message to preiudice my right assure thy selfe that I wil chastise thée in such sort as all deformed villaines shal receiue example by thée I tell thée Traytour Palmerin his fortunes climbes higher then the name of Laurana and where he is more looued for the royaltie of his linage then for his base and Pastoral education With which wordes shee gaue me such a stroke on the heade with her sworde as I fearefull of my life cryed so loude as you say you hearde me This motioÌ„ made Palmerin easily perceiue that Polinarda had made thys threatning to the Dwarffe for Laurana which concealing to himsâ—lfe he said in laughter I think thou diddest forget to drinke when thou 〈◊〉 to bed and so thy hart béeing drie conceiued this fonde vision I praie thée sléepe trouble me no more with such idle passions The Dwarffe betooke him to rest but Palmerins thoughts all night were hammering on this Dreame so that he resolued to departe thence the next morning and séeke els where his aduentures séeing hee was admonished by so manie aduertisements So at the daie rysing he called the Dwarffe and commaunded him to prepare his Armour for hee intended to take his leaue of the Duke Ptolome hearing this and hauing noted beside all that the Dwarffe tolde his Maister in the night Dissembling the matter as was his manner he came and bad Palmerin good morrowe who aunswered Ptolome in this manner My déere Fréend I haue concealed none of mine affaires froÌ„ thée since the time we receiued our knighthoode and parted togeather from the Courte of Macedon nowe therefore shall I impart to thée what I haue determined It is so that vrgent occasions constraines me presently to leaue this Countreie and henceforth to frame my course which way Fortune will direct me by which occasion I see we must be enforced to leaue each other notwithstanding let me intreate that our absence may no way impayre our fréendshippe not doubting but in good time we shall meete togeather againe In meane space if you sée the King or Prince Florendos forgette not the humble duety of theyr vowed Seruaunt I beséeche yée who dedicates his life and honour in all attempts to their gracious fauours By God said Ptolome let who will doo the message for me for neither death nor daunger shall seperate me from you but I wil beare you companie while life and soule hold together If you be so resolute said Palmerin shame were it for mee so to refuse you Set forward then when you please quoth Ptolome for we neither must nor will depart that 's flat So béeing bothe armed they came to the Duke who meruailed much to sée them so prepared and therefore demaunded whether they went My good Lord answered Palmerin in that your Countrey is nowe quieted wee must intreate you for our departure because waightie affaires in other places doo so commaunde vs. How happens it fayre Fréendes saide the Duke that you will so soone leaue mee My Lorde quoth Palmerin wee are so enforced and therfore we humblie intreate you not to be offended If your affaires bee such saide the Duke lothe am I to hinder you commaunde of me and mine what you please for all remaineth at your disposition Most humble thanks did Palmerin and Ptolome returne the Duke and ere they went to horseback they came to take their leaue of the Duchesse Laurana who was well nie deade séeing her hope deceiued for she expected the night comming when shée and Palmerin should conferre togeather of their loue but séeing him now departing she was out of all hope to sée him againe the extreame gréefe whereof so ouercame her as giuing a greate shrike shee fell in a swoune The Ladies and Gentlewomen in great amazement came about her ignoraunt of her euill but onelie Palmerin and his Dwarffe which hee likewise woulde not reueale to anie for the reason you hearde discoursed before and rather would she entertaine her own death then make knowne a secrete of such importaunce wherefore hauing somewhat recouered herselfe and not able to conceale her anguish with an extreame sigh she thus breathed foorth her sorrow Ah Palmerin easilie hast thou kindled the fire which with great shame thou leauest consuming vnquenched Who would haue thought such treason coulde harbour where faire conditions and honourable valour shined so brightlie Well may I condâ—mne al men of disloyaltie séeing thou hast failed resembling so excellent Beléeue me Knight thou hast doone mee great wrong and thy selfe much more
for which where euer thou câ—mmest be thou named the most vngrateful Knight that euer drew Sworde séeking her death so cruelly who loues thée deerer then her owne life These complaints made the sorrowful Laurana before the Duchesse not sparing to discharge the whole burthen of her oppressed hart her Mother not daring to gainesay her but expected when the shoulde depart this life wherefore perswading her from dispaire shee swéetelie promised to worke so with Palmerin as he should staie and enioy her to his wife But all was in vaine for he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with Ptolome and Vibanillo left the Cittie of Durace no one knowing which way they were ridden Palmerin coÌ„uerted into such heauines as nothing coulde torment him more so earnest was his desire to sée her whome fate and Fortune had appointed for him CHAP. XXI Howe Palmerin and Ptolome met with a Damosell who made great mone for a Casket which two Knights had forcibly taken from her and what happened to them BEeing thus departed from Durace these Knights rode along thinking in what heauines they had left the Dukes Daughter when Palmerin accusing himself as guiltie of this mischaunce within himselfe thus sadlie discoursed Unhappy man that euer thou cammest into this CouÌ„try where thou hast left so harde an opinion of thy selfe as while thou liuest thou shalt be the worse estéemed and well worthie for iustlie maist thou be accused of disloyaltie in making meanes to obtaine the loue of the faire Princesse Laurana and hauing conquered wher thou desiredst to make so light account of her as thou haste doone Had death preuented thée before shee had béene satis-fied thine honour defended and thy vnknowne Polinarda no way iniuried which spéeches made the teares to trickle down his chéekes when Ptolome looking aside espyed him and gessing the cause of his sadnes said Uerily I neuer thought to sée such womannishe behauiour in you nor that any gréefe or mis-fortune should haue teares so soone at commaundement Howe will you héereafter withstande so manie casualties hard aduentures and daungerous stratagems with manie sundrie narrowe brunts that you must passe thorow when I sée you vnable to ouercome your own selfe béeing supprized by her teares to whome you haue doone honour to affoorde a good countenaunce If you had receiued of her the swéetes of loue reason might then plead in your excuse but hauing no way misprised her honour or offered offence to modest chastitie what iniurie may shée saie that you haue doone her Forget I praie you these vnséemelie fashions hardly agréeing with a Knight of such report as you are let vs finde some thing els to talke on and tell me which way you intende to iourney By my life ê™ Palmerin I knowe not but let vs take which way Fortune shall please to conduct vs. I thinke it best then sayde Ptolome that we shape our course towarde Rome where we shall finde people of all Nations by whome we maie be instructed as concerning aduentures worthy our trauaile and guyding to honour On then chéerelie quoth Palmerin and so they trauailed eight daies togeather not méeting with any aduenture worthy to be spoken off till at length they met a Damosell heauily mourning who saide Alas what will shee saie whose trust was onelie in mee hauing lost the thing wherein consisted her hope to recouer yâ— highest of her noble desires Palmerin hearing these wordes and mooued with compassion rode to her demaunded the cause of her mourning Sir Knight quoth she I was sent by a Ladye with a Caskette wherein was one of the best Swordes in the whole worlde which is so enchaunted as none can drawe it out of the skabbard but hee that is esteemed the worthiest Knight liuing but before any be admitted to make proffe of this aduenture hee must graunt a request that I am to aske him With this Sword haue I trauailed many strange Countries as Fraunce Italie Sclauonye and diuerâ— other where many haue tryed but no one yet could finish the aduenture whereuppon I was thys daie trauailing towarde the Emperours Courte of Greece and heereby I met with two Knights who hauing hearde the cause of my long trauaile made proofe of their fortune one after another and bothe failed whereat they were so offended as they tooke the Casket from me perforce and are gone there with I knowe not whither which dooth so gréeue me in respect of her losse towards whom I am as death woulde be more welcome to mee then life Faire Uirgin saide Palmerin doo not discomfort your selfe but she we mee which way they rode that dealt with you so discourteouslie Gentle Knight quoth shee if your hap be to restore my losse againe you doo the most gracious acte that euer Knight did for a distressed Damosell These Traytors to honour whereof the one is in Crunson Armour bearing in his Shéelde thrée Lyons heades tooke this waie by the woode and as yet I am sure they canne not be farre hence Then Palmerin clasped his Helmet and taking his Sword and Launce desired Ptolome to garde the Damosell and follow him galloping that way which she had shewed him and by the time he had rid two miles he espied them he looked for talking with an other Knight they had mette and they thrée togeather were assaying to open the Casket to whom Palmerin cryed Trecherous villaines that can not méete with Ladies on the waie but must offer them iniurie deliuer the Casket or yee die One of the two turned presently and séeing him that thus threatned them to be alone not moouing a â—ote began to laughe and scornefullie returned this aunswere Softlie softlie good Sir God pardon their soules whome you kill so easilie but for all hys words Palmerin ran against them and they at him so that he receiued a small wounde on his shoulder in recompence whereof he gaue one of them a pasport into another world and laid so lustilie on the seconde as he set him quicklie beside his saddle When the third sawe his companions at so harde a reckoning he said to himselfe By my faith he spake not vnaduisedlie that said A safe escape is better then a bad tarrying And allowing this sentence for currant in his owne opinion gaue the spurs to his Horse making hast away with the Casket so fast as hee coulde but Palmerin béeing somewhat better mounted got such aduauntage of this runaway as with his sword he parted his right arme from his bodie whereuppon he fell to the grounde and the Casket with him Then Palmerin alighted and tooke it vp and leauing the Knight there returned which way he came when opening the Casket he tooke great pleasure in behelding the Sworde which was meruailous costlie yet would he not prooue to drawe it foorth because he knewe not her pleasure to whom it appertained At length he espied Ptolome comming who came apace if néede had béene to assist him but when he knewe how he had ouercome yâ— Knights and recouered the
death but that the Quéene and the Lordes of hys Counsel founde meanes to quallifie his displeasure declaring what discredite his highnes shold receiue if he did not suffer them to be openlie conuicted of their offences All this while good Princes were they ignoraunt of this detection till at length the King discoursed the whole matter to theÌ„ and likewise who was their accuser nor did the Countie faile to maintaine his wordes openlie offering to make it good in fight against any that durst say the contrary and because he had two Cozins hardie and valiant Knights conspirators likewise in this faction there could be none found that would enter the Combat against them Which when the noble Prince Adrian vnderstoode very gréefe had well néere slaine him in respect he had no Child but this Dyardo as also for yâ— hee was accused with yâ— hee neuer thought Héereupon he went presently to the King his Nephew and preuailed so well with him as he obtained the space of two Monethes to bring with him one or two that might maintaine the innocencie of him his Sonne Dyardo and the Princesse Cardonia against the Traytour Domarto and his Cozins And this is the cause he sent mee to seeke you foorth in hope that you are as much his Freende as hee is yours which you may somewhat perceiue by the freendlie presents he sent you by mee to Macedon So helpe mee God saide Palmerin you haue reported a most strange dyscourse and neuer did I think that such treason could enter the thoughts of any Knight or other inferior person All this is true quoth the Damosell and it is appointed yâ— the Prince Dyardo with his aged and crazed Father shal defend their owne causes without séeking helpe of anie other but he neuer as yet receiued the order of Knighthoode and therfore is constrained to desire your assistaunce And that shall I doo with all my hart saide Palmerin would God we were there where he expecteth vs for the desire I haue to sée him as also to vnderstande what he knowes of my following fortunes Those matters are hid from mee quoth shee yet this haue I hearde him say diuers times being in talk of you that he accounted you the most honorable Knight in the worlde and that if he euer chaunced to sée you he wold aduise you to goe to the Emperour of Allemaignes Courte to be the knightly Seruaunt to the Princesse Polinarda When Palmerin heard the name of Polinarda he remembred that it was her name whome hee had so manye times séene in his fraunces for which cause he asked of the Damosell what the Lady was of whom shee spake My Lord quoth the Polinarda is Daughter to the Emperour and Niece vnto my Lorde Adrian the most beautiful Princesse that euer eye behelde By my faith saide Palmerin yâ— more easily may I be induced to graunt her my seruice and thether intend I to trauaile when I haue finished your Lords busines So rode they with much more haste theÌ„ before tyl at length they came to the Cittie of Almedya where the King remained and the Prince Adrian expecting Palmerins comming which when he hearde hee came to meete him eache embracing other with meruailous courtesie and the good olde man with the teares in his eyes thus saide Ah good Knight what may counteruaile this your exceeding paines to maintaine the right of my Sonne and mee who are falselie accused of such villainous treason as on the perill of my soule we neuer did imagine Thereof am I certainlie perswaded aunswered Palmerin and therfore am I come to enter the Combat with him that dare affirme otherwise Mine olde age quoth Adrian might excuse mee henceforth from bearing Armes but béeing vnable to endure so vile a slaunder so long as life and soule will holde togeather shal I doo my deuoire so please your companion to make the second as olde as I am I will be the thirde for the trayterous CouÌ„tie hath two of his Cozins yâ— take part with him And if my fortune so fall out as I die in this tryall I shall receiue my lot very contentedlie if mine eyes might first beholde mine iniurie reuenged I pray you said Palmerin goe presently to the King to the ende that hys highnesse may graunt vs the fielde for my Freende and I thinke long till we haue made your accuser knowe his trecherie Adrian immediatly went to the King and on his knées thus began My Lorde you knowe that the Countie of Ormeque hath accused mee my Sonne Dyardo and Madame Cardonya of the cryme of Lesae Maiestatis and in that we all are innocent I am readie to maintaine that he hath falsely and malliciously belied vs which I my selfe will approoue vpon him or two more with me against him and his Cozins if they dare enter the fielde with him in this quarrell where we will either make known their villainie or receiue the reward belongs to disloyall Traitors As for the wrong which you my Lord haue doone me béeing your Uncle and my Sonne Dyardo your Cozin germaine that I referre to God to recompence and to the better knowledge you shall receiue of mee héereafter béeing â—owe too olde to bee a Traytour and my Sonne too louing to proue disloyall The King was abashed to heare his Uncle speake so audaciously doubting nowe whether he should giue credite to what had béene reported especially against him so neere his highnes in bloode who so liberally offered to enter the Combat notwithstanding his white heade and aged body made him vnfit for such actions wherefore hee thus aunswered Good Uncle impute not mee any thing faultie in your accusation and that the proofe shall manifest that must be made The Countie beeing present was strooken in a quandarie at these wordes and gladly he wold haue demed this former slaunder but he could find no waie cleanlie to doo it wherefore seeing of force he must néedes enter the Combat he boldly fell on his knées before the King with these wordes My Lorde what I haue saide is verie certaine and most true it is that by the counsell of Prince Adrian héere present his Sonne practised with Lady Cardonya to poison you that he might be King which to make good there is my gadge on the behalfe of my selfe and my Cozins Thou lyest Traytor in thy throate said olde Adrian I take thine offer and as he woulde haue gone on with further spéeches Palmerin stept before the King saying Worthy Lorde séeing the effect of the wordes must be put in execution which haue béene heere spoken on bothe sides before your Maiestie may it please you the Prince Dyardo and Lady Cardonya may be sent for to take with vs their oathes as in such cases is required and in meane time let eache one goe put himselfe in equipage for the Combat Good reason said the King and presently hee commaunded the Princes to be brought who beeing come Palmerin demaunded where they were that tooke part with the Countie whereupon he
presently he marched towards his enemie who held in his hande a Persian Bowe with an arrow in it readie to shoote hauing a great sorte more at his backe in his Quiuer he was of vnreasonable stature yet with a countenaunce sterne and couragious all which could not dismay Palmerin but called to him in this maner Proud Knight that by the ayde of deuils and euill spirits hast committed monstrous cruelties it is nowe time that hee whom thou seruest should haue his pray which is thy soule into endlesse perdition And so without staying for any aunswer hee ran valiantly against him but the enchaunted Knight taking his aduauntage shot an arrowe at him so violently as if pierced through his Armour to the bare flesh Palmerin hauing broken his Launce with an yron Mace he had he reached such a stroke to the Knight as hee brake his Bowe in two peeces and the blowe falling on the head of his Horse made him therewithall fall deade to the grounde The Knight hauing recouered himselfe tooke a Mace that hung at his saddle Bowe and came against Palmerin who was nowe on foote likewise so layd they on loade terribly with their Maces that the Emperour and his Lordes and Ladies hearing the strokes came to the windowes to see the CoÌ„bat little thinking that any one durst presinne to meddle with his enemie yet all this while the Knights neuer breathed though theyr Sheeldes and Armour were very much mangled and their bodies wounded in many places And because Palmerin sawe the sight endure so long wyth the Mace he threw it downe and tooke him to his Sword wherewith he did so bumbaste him about the heade as hee could scant tell where to strike againe but the Knight on a suddaine lifting vp his Mace gaue Palmerin such a stroke betwéene the head and the shoulders as made him reele to and fro amazedly yet comming to himselfe and seeing the Knight faint with his great expence of bloode closed with him and casting his legge behinde him threw him to the grounde when setting his foote on his brest to kéepe him downe with his sworde he parted hys head from his bodie What question were it whether the Emperour reioysed hereat or noâ— who for his whole Empire wold not he were aliue againe béeing so well deliuered from his onely enemy in the worlde that coulde so molest him and his Countrey with such crueltie And to say sooth the enchaunted Knight was altogeather inuincible nor could Palmerin haue thus preuailed against his wonderfull enchauntments but that the thrée Magicall Sisters of the Mountaine Artifaeria highly fauoured him as you hearde before what promises they made him The Combat béeing thus ended and the enchaunted Knight dead the Emperour giuing thanks to God for this victory let open the Gates of the Castell and came foorth himselfe to welcome Palmerin who kneeling on his knee before the Emperour thus spake Mighty Prince such renowne haue I hearde through the worlde of your excéeding honour and bountie as I haue trauailed many straunge Countries to come offer you my seruice desiring your highnes if my sute may seeme reasonable to accept me hence forth amongst your Knightly Seruaunts Ah faire Knight aunswered the Emperour it is for me to know of you how I may reâ—â—â—erate this vnspeakable courtesie for but by you mine enemie had triumphed in my spoyle so much theÌ„ is my selfe my Children and Countrey bounde to you as no satis-faction is sufficient to regratiate So taking him by the hand and perceiuing his body wouÌ„ded in many places he conducted him into one of the fayrest Chambers in hys Castell where he was vnarmed commaunding his Chirurgions to take dilligent care of him because in truth they much doubted his life Wherfore getting him into his bed all néedefull things for his health were applyed to him and no cost was spared to saue his life that preserued the wholâ— Countrey CHAP. XXVII Howe the Empresse came to visite Palmerin who kept his Chamber because he had receiued such daungerous woundes in the Combat with the enchaunted Knight and of the speech he had with the fayre Princesse Polinarda THe Empresse with her fayre Daughter Polinarda gladde of the death of the enchaunted Knight came to Palmerins chaÌ„ber to visite him who hearing of their comming cast a night Mantle about him which the Emperor had sent him came with greate reuerence to welcome them so desirous was he to sée her for whom he had trauailed so manie strange Regions In this place it is necessary that you remeÌ„ber what gratious gifts the thrée fatall Sisters bestowed on him in the Mountaine Artifaeria one of them graunting him this speciall fauour that he should be highlie estéemed of her to whom he was destenied so soone as she behelde him which came tâ— passe as héere shall be declared Palmerin expecting the entrance of the Empresse her Daughter in his Chamber méeting them at the dore falling on his knée did with great humilitie kisse their handes but the Empresse taking him vppe in her armes saluted him with these spéeches Gentle Knight right happy may we count our selues by your comming hether the Realme béeing more desolate then it hath béene séene héeretofore and not without cause in respect of the great iniurie the Knight did vs whâ—m you haue slaine he hauing sworne the death of my children that neuer offended him but God bee thanked the lot hath fallen on himselfe which he determined to inflict on other for which great grace they stand so déepelie bound to you as to their Father that first gaue them life which by your prowesse you haue happilie preserued this second gift béeing of no lesse account then the first worthelie may you bee called their seconde Father Palmerin giuing eare to the Empresse salutations had his minde more busied in beholding Polinarda whose daintie regarde so maistred his opinions as heade hart thoughts and all were nowe sette to work yet couertly he shaped this answere to the Empresse Madame what I haue doone for you and yours is nothing in respecte of my great good will for since the time I first had knowledge of my selfe and before I receiued the order of knighthoode vnderstanding of my Lord the Emperour and what honourable entertainment was in his Court I dedicated my seruice to him onelie and for this cause Madame came I hither But howe is it possible Sir saide she that you can content your selfe to be one of his Knights your deserts bein so great Very well Madame quoth he and yours too so please your highnes to affoorde me such fauour With all my hart Sir said she shall I entertaine you towardes the Emperour and on mine owne behalfe will prouide better for you then I will speake of and did it like you I woulde accept you for a Uirgins Knight héere and none other Whereuppon shee called her Daughter Polinarda saying Faire Daughter this Knight as yet hath little acquaintance in the Court I praie you sée his entertainment
himselfe and tormented with so manie passions as euerie howre his death is expected What will ye Ladie that I say hee complaines hee sighes and daie by daie is in such dispaire for his Ladies loue as happie might I haue accounted him had he neuer séene her or that his daies were as short as his desires If then Polinarda were in doubt not iudging herselfe to bée shée it may easilie bee imagined and presently was shee brought into such perplexitie as the vermillion couller in her chéekes began to change such suddaine feares possessed her and so manie sundry opinions thwarted her conceite as faine she woulde haue spoken but coulde not of long time wherby the Dwarffe discerned the cause of her alteration yet he dissembled what he sawe and thus continued on his discourse Nowe considering faire Madame the high deserts of my Lorde may she be estéemed happy as you saie that shall cause the losse of the best Knight liuing this day Ah Mistresse if he die as God forbid farwell the flower of all noblenes and the most assured Freâ—nde to distressed Ladies Wherefore I beséeche you pardonâ— mee if I shall name her vnto you and let mee intreate you to dealé with her so farre that the courtesie wherein she is indebted to so gooâ— a Knight as my Master is may be shewed effectually as that she would loue and fauour him as he dooth hath verie well deserued Trust me Vrbanillo aunswered the Princesse when I knowe the Ladie I will and beside if she doo not regarde his passions as she ought I will intreate her at my request to be more pittifull These wordes procured a suddaine iealouzie in her that shee shoulde promise to another what she desired her selfe yet earnest to bee resolued she vowed to fulfill her promise and therefore desired him to tell her name So you will giue mee your worde Madame quoth the Dwarffe not to take in ill parte what I shall saie I will satis-fie your request presently Be léeue me saide the Princesse I will not rather perswade thy selfe that héerein thou doost me great pleasure Ah fayre Princesse quoth the Dwarff it is for you and no other that my Lord is thus tormented it is for you that heé liues and dies a hundred times a daie swéete Ladie haue pittie on him and séeke not the losse of so good a Knight who looues you déerer then his owne life At which aunswere shee was supprized with incredible pleasure yet feigning the contrarie she saide Is it I and howe long I praie you By my faith Madame quoth he that can I not well tell yee but I haue hearde him say of long time more then foure yeeres before he was Knighted hee vowed himselfe yours since which time all his honourable actions hath hee onely dedicated to your praise So that to finde you hee left the King of Macedon and his Sonne Florendos of whom hee was estéemed as no man the like yet that honour hée forsooke to doo you seruice and for your loue he yéelded himselfe as vassaile to the Emperour your Father and gaue himselfe your Knight if you deigne to accept him When Polynarda had well hearde the Dwarffe albeit her harte floted in ioyes yet could she so well commaunde her thoughts as shee seemed to make smal account of his words notwithstanding she returned him this aunswéere I promised thée Vrbanillo not to conceiue ill of ought thou shouldest tell me nor doo I yet wold I haue thee to regard my calling béeing daughter to so great a Prince as is the Emperour But if it bee so that Palmerin thy Lorde beares me such speciall affection I must let him knowe by thée that it would haue â—éene farre more séemelie himselfe to haue told me then to make thée Ambassadour in such secrete affaires neuerthelesse I not mislike his honourable loue and good will whereof I shall thinke better when I knowe the effecte is conformable to thy protestations Madame quoth the Dwarffe so you would please to vouchsafe him time and place hee will acquaint you with strange matter concerning bothe your destinies which courtesie can no waie impeache your honour Why tell him saide the Princesse he shall haue mee dailie héere in the Chamber of presence where he may saie his pleasure with safetie in meane space I accept him as my Knight charging him that he doo not depart the Court without my licence if hee desire to doo mee pleasure The Dwarffe well pleased with so good an aunswere on hys knee kissing the Princesse hande tooke leaue of her to returne towardes Palmerin who méeting him by the waie in place conuenient saide Howe nowe Vrbanillo what newes hast thou brought me life or death So good newes Maister aunswered the Dwarffe as you haue good occasion to repute your selfe the moste fortunate Knight that euer bare Armes Then Palmerin embracing him saide Ah tell me what they are hast thou spokeÌ„ with diuine Polinarda takes shee anie pittie on my consuming cares That dooth she my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe and commandes you by me if you be so vowed hers as I haue perswaded yâ— hence foorth you depart not the Emperours Courte without her leaue Then recited he the whole talke betwéene them and lastlie the pleasure she conceiued in so good tydings so that she accepted him onelie for her Knight While yâ— Dwarffe continued this discourse Palmerin was rauished with such inwarde ioy as with a great sigh he said Oh heauens how doo you fauour me nowe sée I well that my seuerall apparitions on the Mounts of Oliues and Artifaeria are predestinations ordeyned to mee by your gracious prescience I beséeche you therefore humblie that what you haue promised may soone come to effect for the regarde of incomparable Polinarda Then demaunded hee by what meanes he might attaine to speake with the Princesse She sayth ê™ he that you shall dailie haue her in the presence or in the Empresse Chamber and there may you safely impart your whole minde vnto her But I haue other newes to tel yee for I vnderstand certainlie that the Emperour intendes a matter greatlie for your aduauntage he minds to morrow to visite one of his Castelles neere at hande and there to passe the time in honour of the Ladies will haue a Tourney There better then any where els may you and Polinarda conferre togeather therfore courage your selfe and goe keepe comanie with my Lorde the Emperour it may bee himselfe will acquaint you with this enterprise Now credite me Vrbanillo saide Palmerin thou hast doone so much for mee as I shall neuer recompence thée while I liue but I pray thée tell mee did shee not at the first take my message strangelie That did she quoth the Dwarffe when I perswaded her that you loued a Lady in such sorte as hardlie coulde you liue without her fauourable regarde then she thinking it was some other and not herselfe changed couller meruailous passionatlie but let it suffise you that she is as deepe in loue as you
wyth vertues coullers God sende it to fall out so well arise and be it as your Cozin and you haue requested See in meane tune that you prouide all needfull occasions that when the daie comes nothing bee wanting Lewes humbly thanking his Father arose euery one present not a little reioycing because they feared all woulde be squandered Then began the Lordes and Ladies to conferre togeather and the Duchesse departing to her lodging béeing manned by the Prince did not as I thinke repent herselfe of her loue as a number of you martching vnder the same Ensigne wold doo the like in such a case In fine the Duchesse fearefull of the thwarts of Fortune that she would work her disgrace by some bad coniectures or wounding reports said I know well my Lorde the good will you beare me without anie further shewes or confirmations by actions so daungerous which I had rather die then beholde and therefore whatsoeuer you shall performe will condemne mee as vnwoorthy of so good deserts in this respect you shall therfore graunt me one thing which is that aboue all you haue care of your selfe els will perpetuall discontent cut short my date béeing bereaued of the honour of my greenâ— desires Nowe Madame quoth the Prince may I boast of my fortune not doubting to follow the deuise of a Ladie so vertuous for your swéete wordes prolong my life els ere this had death robd you of your Knight The Duchesse héereto with an amiable smile aunswered I muste not loose you yet good Prince for may I lengthen your life it shall bee for euer Many sollemne thankes the Prince returned and by this time had brought her to her Chamber wher hauing baise lâ—â— main departed CHAP. XXXIII Howe the Prince Lewes and the Duke of Sauoye sent theyr Heraldes and Horsemen into all parts to make knowne to all Knights their enterprises and the conditions of theyr Combats THe Prince Lewes ioyfull of the King his Fathers consent but of the gracious aunswere of the Duchesse most of all dispatched immediatlie his Heraldes into all the prouinces of Europe who executed their charge with such dilligeÌ„ce as there was no Court of Emperour King or Prince but they declared the enterprise of these two yong Princes So that one of the Princes Heraldes accompanied with the King of Armes belonging to the Duke of Sauoye came to the Emperors Court of Allemaigne which then was furnished with a great number of Lordes and Knights béeing there to sollemnize the day of hys byrth but especially Palmerin aboue all the rest tryumphing in the loue of his Mistresse Polinarda The Heralds béeing entred the great Hall founde the Emperour sitting in his chayre of estate with many Princes Barens and noble personages about him who graunting them libertie of spéeche the Heralde of Fraunce began first in this manner Illustrious and most redoubted Emperour the cause why we thus presume before your Maiestie is by the commaundement of the vertuous yong Prince Lewes Son to our dreade Lorde Agatiel King of Fraunce as also of the Duke of Sauoye his Cozin so good a Knight as may well commaunde what our message is so please your highnesse to call all your Knights in presence because it chéefelie concerneth them we with duetie will deliuer it The Emperour presentlie called for all Knights and Gentlemen of his Courte who desirous of the newes were not long in comming before whom he saide Dreade Lord the Prince Lewes of Fraunce my Maister commends him to your Maiestie with this Letter may it please your grace commande it to be read and you shall soone sée the effect of our Embassade The Emperour caused his Secretarie to reade it openlie and because it contained what you haue heard alreadie it shall be needelesse to wast longer time in talke thereof but the Letter béeing read the Heralde thus proceeded The Prince my Maister woorthie Emperour giues the Knights of your Court as els where to vnderstande that he intendes to prooue by deedes of Armes howe no Ladie in the worlde is comparable in beautie to the Lady he loues which he will bee readie to maintaine in Combat the first of Maie next and seauen daies following in his Tent before the Gates of Parris there will he verifie it against all commers that dare auerre the contrarie Afterwarde he rehearsed all the conditions to bee obserued in this Combat and the King of Armes to the Duke of Sauoie made known his Maisters challenge likewise as you haue hearde The Emperour meruailing at this message said Without doubt the Ladies had neede to be faire and my Cozins your Maisters valiant and hardie els it is doubtful howe such an enterprise will fall out for yâ— affections of persons are diuers and theyr fortunes daungerous neuerthelesse I desire the issue may sort to their honor These Lordes and Knights haue hearde your message and I iudge some of them will prouide to be there because they prize the beautie of theyr Ladies at as high a rate as your Masters doo estéeme their faire Freendes yet let them doo what they thinke most expedienâ— beâ—ause they are olde enough to make you answer As for me you may salutâ— on my behalfe the King my Brother and my Cozins to whom I sende thanks with all my hart that they thus acquainted me with their honourable endeuours All this while the Knights conferred together with diuers iudgments of these pretended Combats some were either fearefull or too forwarde others well aduised and prouoked with discréete courage Among whome repute we noble Palmerin all pensiue his eyes fixed on the groundâ— and not a wordâ— hauing in his spirite discoursed howe bitter the diuorcâ— would be of the eye from his swéete obiect in the ende concluded the Combat perswading him selfe not in Christendome nor in the other thrée habitable parts of the earth eyther Empresse Queene or Ladie was more accomplished with perfections then his gracious Mistresse Polinarda And in respect of this Embassage it seemed to him vituperous and a dishonour not sufferable if he should not iustifie the trueth haue so good occasion wheruppon he desired a thousande deathes rather then he would defer so braue a voyage and so on his knée before the Emperour thus began Gracious Lorde and my woorthy Patrone I intende with your good lyking leaue to depart with all spéede possible to the Ioustes and Combats of Fraunce and Sauoye let it not therefore displease for the honour of Chiualrie that I leaue your Courte a while but maie commit my selfe to this iourney with your fauourable opinion The Emperour verie lothe to let Palmerin goe aunswered In sooth Palmerin I greatly doubted so soone as I heard these newes from Fraunce that it would not passe without your presence which displeaseth mee not so much for their follie as your absence which is and wil be to mee greater gréefe then you iudge but let mee intreate that thy returne may be spéedie and stay no longer then thou hast good
Ladie to be this daie liuing then your owne for mine own part I am not so troubled in conceit as you are to quarrell for such a fabulous matter yet dare I tell yee that my Ladie is much more beautifull then yours which if you will denie I am readie by the strength of mine arme to make you confesse it Lewes féeling himselfe gréeued with these iniurious spéeches of the Countie answered Proude Knight I am ashamed to heare thy iudgment so simple as to thinke I am come hether for a matter of so light moment as though I would not iustifie against thée and all other what I haue promised but let that passe before we part I will cause thée know thy folly by that time thy pate and thy bodie is thorowly bumbasted looke to thy selfe for I intende to doo it So mounting on horseback and prepared as it had béene to a warre mortal encountred eache other with such furie as their Launces flying in shiuers vppe in the ayre they met together so terriblie with their bodies their Shéeldes their Horsses and their heads as they were bothe dismounted to the grounde But earnest desire to vanquish they béeing beside stronge and will disposed Knights made them quicklie beginne the second assault with their Swords which was so dangerous and handled with such dexteritie as it was harde to iudge who should haue the honour of the Combat Bâ—t Lewes beholding the representation of his Ladie and considering her so excellent and fauourable to him tooke hart a fresh and as it were inspired with newe vigor so laide on the Countie Dâ—â—cell as in short time he brought him vnder the mercie of his Sworde when holding it against his threate he said Peremptorie Knight if nowe thou confesse she not my Lady to 〈◊〉 thine in beautie thy vndiscréete heade shall raunsome thy sollâ—e The Countie for all this woulde not aunswere one worde by reason of the debilitie he felt himselfe in hauing lost so much of his blood as for the gréefe hee conceiued to be thus vanquished whereat Prince Lewes not content would haue taken his heade from his shoulders but the Iudges of the fielde canie to him saying My Lorde you ought to forbeare hauing brought your enemie beyonde his owne defence your victory â—éeing sufficient to content you forbids his death The Prince perswaded entred his Pauillion and ioyfull of his conquest commaunded two Gardants of the field to take the figure of the Princesse of Arragon and place it at the féete of the Duchesse counterfeit which was doone immediatlie and the Countie Durcell brought into his owne Tent where his Chirurgions tooke dilligent care for the curing of his woundes Soone after came a Knight of Myllaine who giuing such defiances as the other dyd was in the ende constrained with great shame to confesse vnder the conquering Sworde of Lewes the imperfections of his Ladie and her stature placed by the Princesse of Arragon The same daie were fiue great Lords of Italie brought in like subiection and so the tryumphe ended till the next daie when the first that came into the fielde was a braue Gallant of Spayne a Knight of good estimation and specially reputed who after a dain-glorious Oration made as the nature of the people is that way affected put hys fortune to the triall of his Launce where hee sped so ill as he was vnhorssed and in the following Combat likewise receiued the foile After him seauen other Knights of Castile prooued as vnfortunate their Ladies pictures all reuerencing the Duâ—hesse who béeing not a little proude of her Knight and the memorable renowne he witnessed of her beautie I leaue to your considerations both of her conceite that waie as also in loue towards the Prince who séeing no more readie to enter the quarrell returned thence to the Pallace to conferre with his swéete Mistresse of his high good fortunes CHAP. XXXV Of the Combat betweene Prince Lewes of Fraunce and Crenus the Duke of Gaule GReat pleasure did the King conceiue and all the nobilitie of the Court at the â—otten victories of Prince Lewes against so manie woorthie Knights so that they altogeather accounted him most fortunate And nowe the thirde daie when hee was entred his Tent an English Knight no lesse braue in termes then the former defied the Prince and betwéene them began a dangerous conflict in the midst whereof the King with manie Princes Barons and Lordes as also the Quéene and the Duchesse of Burgundie came to their standing and vnhappily behelde the foyle of the English Knight the Duchesse hearing him confesse her beautie and behelde his Ladyes portrait placed vnder hers But now the couragious Duke of Gaule named Crenus came brauelie mounted into the fielde dooing his duetie to the King Quéene and Ladies who not knowing him by his Armour iudged him some great Lorde in that no Knight before caused so good opinion generallie nor came with brauer countenaunce into the field he béeing indéede a Prince of wonderfull possessions and a Knight at Armes woorthilie approoued The Duke as all the other had doone caused his Ladies counterfeite to bee placed where it ought by his Squires to the no little admiration of all the beholders noting what rare and excellent beautie it was adorned withall the workman hauing performed such exquisite perfections as it had béene the Ladie herselfe naturallie liuing while the Squires were thus placing it on the monument the Duke aduaunced himselfe to Lewes in this manner The ouermuch selfe conceite Lorde Lewes of mindes but easily acquainted with matters of difficultie hath often béene and yet is the cause to plucke great personages more lowe then they expecte so that men haue séene them deceiued of their intents and rewarded with ridiculous shame and confusion This speake I to you hauing héere begun a busines the ende whereof will bee more harde to you then as yet the beginning hath béen for Europe is sufficientlie stored with hardy Knights to asswage your presumptuous opinion and Ladies much more faire and excellent then she whom you contende for And this by the fauour of Fortune gracious regarde of my Ladie and Mistresse and helpe of my good Sworde will I enforce you to confesse that incomparable Agriola daughter to the King of England for vertue for beautie and all diuine perfections excéedeth yours whatsoeuer she be Before such a leasing quoth the Prince shall passe the lippes of a Sonne of Fraunce rather will I consent to bee péecemeale torne in sunder and before fayre Phaebus haue paced one howres iourney I doubt not to make thée repent thy pride and arrogancie By the soule of King Arthur said the Duke looke thou garde thy selfe well for I haue with my courtelaâ— abated the pride of a brauer man then thy selfe and ere we two part I meane to trie if I can doo it againe therefore resolue thy selfe to thy best defence for by my life I will not fauour thee Without any further spéeches they encountred with such violence togeather
had not foyled the Duke of Lorraine had not his Horse fallen on him and maimed him otherwise hee brought the Combatte to so good a iudgment as he had wunne the honour of the fielde Wherat Palmerin was more offended then before because himselfe was not able to reuenge this mis-fortune héerewithall he conceiued a kind of iealousie of the Duke of Lorraine because hée hadde chosen his Ladie Polinarda for his Mistresse and on her behalfe had entred the Combatte and howe he durst place her picture on the Piller wyth her name without he had receiued some commandement from her which conceit so gréeued him as his woundes began to be as daungerous as at the first continually labouring in his thoughts nowe with the lightnes then againe with the constancie of Women neuerthelesse he could not iudge affecting earnestly the vertues of his Lady that she would be of such a double lyking and in this doubtful estate sayd Ah God I sée that Women winne lightly loose againe more easilie Then repenting his words followes on thus O heauens and what shall I say it is impossible that shee meaning Polinarda should be so forgetfull and neuer will I beléeue that a Princesse so wise and vertuous wold reward me with such treason which may not nay I dare sweare cannot once enter her thoughts Yet would not all opinions serue to allay thys newe iealousie but still it had power to confounde reason and al the night continued he in this variable conceit till the next morning when Ptolome so soone as the Sunne arose accoÌ„panyed with Trineus went to his Tent where béeing armed all sauing his Helmet hauing his Launce and Shéelde he came to the Duke saying Thou knowest Knight the cause of my comming stand vpon thy guarde for I sight for beautie The Duke suddainly at these words mounted on horseback and ranne against his enemie with such strength as Ptolome cast the Duke forth of his saddle and suddainly alighted wyth hys Sworde drawne but the Duke recouering himselfe entertained him in sharper sort then he expected Nowe beganne betwéene them a cruell and pittious Combat as their Armour sheeldes and swords â—lewe about in péeces and the blood trickling downe their bodies in manie places so that it was generally reputed how the fight could not end without the losse of both their liues Yet in the ende the Duke béeing of stronger constitution then Ptolome and gréedy of victory ouer his enemie ranne so violentlie vpon him as hée got him on the grounde and he béeing vppermost offered to take the aduauntage of his life but the Iudges forbidding it caused Ptolome to be carried into his Tent where the Prince Trineus staied not a little sorry for this great misfortune The Duke likewise sore wounded was carried into his Pauillion but first hee sawe the portrait of Brionella sette in the ranke of the conquered The same daie dyd the Duke fight with a Knight of Scotland at the Maâ—e who not nimble enough in vsing that weapon in the end had the foyle and thrée other Knights afterwarde at seuerall weapons so that it was admirable to beholde the exploits of Armes the Duke did in that no Knight as yet medled with him but departed with shame and their Ladies pictures placed as vanquished And nowe was Palmerins Combatte against the Duke of Gaule not talked on for the Duke of Sauoy was accounted the onely Knight in the world to the no small ioy of the Princesse Lucemania who perswaded herselfe now that her beautie was most excellent But she was not so pleasant as Palmerin was pensiue and â—nraged out of measure notwithstanding his weakenes and the often intreaties of Trineus he would néedes to the fielde saying Good my Lord perswade me not for I reckon not my life so I may take vengeaunce of the dishonour doone to my Ladie your Sister the manifolde courtesies of the Emperour your Father haue so bounde me to her and you as excéede my life farre and therfore I beséech you not to hinder me Trineus yet ouercame him by perswasions assuring him to haue time sufficient for his reuenge whereat greatlie displeased he feigned himselfe to be whole sooner then he was indéede for the great desire hee had to deale with the Duke And Prince Lewes angrie to sée the Duke hold the fielde longer then hee did not able to bee ouercome by anye Knight came to Palmerin saying I knowe not my Lorde whether you vnderstand the Duke of Sauoyes victories against so manie hardie Knights but belike his strength is much better then mine was or Fortune allowes him more fauour then she did to me In my conceit if you enter not the Combat you doo me wrong and your selfe too and if hee depart hence with victory then shall I haue cause to complaine of you in that his successe hath made him so braue and presumptuous as though no Knight is able to answere him in the field let me intreate you Sir Palmerin to abate his pride and as well hee deserues make him knowe his folly Palmerin hauing greater desire to execute this matter then thus to be intreated returned the Prince this answere My Lorde God giues honour and victory to whom he pleaseth without either regarde of the cause or the persons If according to bountie or nobilitie of minde he distributed such gifts then had you béene among the better sorte as furnished sufficientlie with valour and magnanimitie yet if your enterprise haue not sorted to your desire account this for certaine that it is for your good and for other reasons theÌ„ are to you known for such matters are his secrets and he dooth ballance them by his diuine wisedome Notwithstanding as well to satis-fie your request as ease mine owne minde to morrowe morning will I enter my Tent albeit my present estate would haue me stay awhile there will I Combat with the Duke not certaine how Fortune meanes to deale with me But happen what shall I goe with a minde to conquere and doubt not but the issue wyll be such as shall yéelde you content and me the victory so shall your sadnes mine be conuerted into pleasure With this aunswere the Prince satis-fied departed yet was hee ignoraunt of Palmerins intent which was farre otherwise then he imagined but pleased as he was he went into the presence Chamber where manie Knights were conferring of déedes of Armes past to whom hee opened the fantasie of Palmerin which caused a generall doubting of the Duke setting him downe for vanquished except Palmerins weaknes were his greater Fréende CHAP. XXXIX Of the perillous Combat between Palmerin and the Duke of Sauoye and the issue thereof SIxe daies togeather had yâ— Duke of Sauoye maintained this quarrell for the beautie of his Ladie Lucemania and no Knight as yet could get anie aduauntage of him vntil the seauenth daie when Palmerin prepared himselfe to the fielde and entred his Tent accoÌ„panied with Prince Lewes of Fraunce Trineus and many other Princes The King with
dishoneste request As for these stones of so rare and excellent qualiâ—ie you must note that they were preciselye chosen for you by my Sister and placed as you sée them by her superficiall knowledge in the Magicall sciences that in time to come they shall too such seruice as no Iewels of what value so euer they were might bee able to doo the like Beside these shee gaue him diuers other Iewels to carrie to his Ladye for which he humblye thanked her and taking his leaue of her aâ—d her Daughter who shed manye teares for his departure hee mounted on horsebacke and trauailing thorowe a great Forrest hée espyâ—d a Dwarfe whome hée iudging to bee his Seruaunt Vrbanillo because hee was of his stature and very much resembled him he called aloude Hearest thou â—all fellowe howe camest thou in this place so vnfrequented and inhabited The Dwarfe béeing in a great feare ranne so fast as hée coulde into a great Caue betwéene two Bushes which made Palmerin alight and followe him and very farre went hee into the Caue not séeing anye bodye till at length he came into a little roome as it had béene cut out of a quarrie which had light into it by a little chinke cutte through a Rocke and there hée founde a young Knigh layde vppon a bedde at whose féete lay the Dwarfe quaking and trembling with his late feare whome Palmerin nowe sawe that hee was not Vrbanillo wherefore he saluted the Knight saying I must intreate you Sir Knight to pardon mee because I entred so boldlye neyther knocking first or calling for any of your Seruaunts albeit I desired to speake with this little man but nothing coulde induce him to tarry my comming for hée fledde from mée as I hadde béene a deuill Whereuppon perswading my selfe to finde some other body héere more courteous I followed him at the harde héeles with no other intent but onelye to know howe I might possible gette foorth of this dissolate Forrest wherein by misaduenture I haue lost my way for I woulde not willinglye straye too farre least I should be forced to remaine héere as an holye Hermit considering my profession is cleane contrarye To preuent such chaunce I thinke it was Gods will I shoulde followe your Seruaunt let mee therefore intreate you to know what you are and wherefore you liue héere so solitarye shunning as it séemes the company of men protesting to you that if I may in ought assist you whereby to drawe you from this obscure life I wil with all my heart accomplishe it though it were matter that should concerne my life The Knight raysing vppe himselfe and sighing so bitterlye as life and soule woulde haue parted in sunder aunswered Alas noble Knight séeke not to vnderstand the depth of my sorrowe in respect the remedie is altogether impossible yet in that your demaund procéedeth from such a gentle spirite as pitieth the miseries of despised creatures I will acquaint you with some part of mine estate Knowe then gentle Knight that I am the most forlorne Varnan whose vnfortunate life excéedeth all mens whatsoeuer for this worlde affoordeth me nothing but mishappe disgrace contempt and all tormenting griefes as for delight and pleasure they are loathsome to mée my monethes wéekes dayes howres and minutes béeing continually accompanyed with all extreame passions My greatest ease consisteth in dolorous lamentations remembraunce of passed infortunes sad regrets and insupportable melancholie In bréefe I am onelie hee whose companions are a trauelled spirit thoughts confounded with frustrate hope hauing vtterly lost the light of those gladsome Sunnes whereof the one shined in my face the other in my heart that nowe nothing is left for me but a life despised yet welcome to me that am so disdayned These wordes were vttered with so many sighes such flouds of teares and haling his flesh with such impatience as woulde haue relented a heart of Adamant which mooued Palmerin by gentle perswasions to request of him the cause of his disquiet and so long he continued his importunate intreaties that the Knight at length thus answered Gentle Syr so well contenteth me the sorrowes which I suffer that in hope of any remedie I would not bewray them but séeing Fortune hath thus conducted you hither in respect of your gracious and affable nature as also that you shall not repute mée vndiscréete and misgouerned I will satisfie you in the cause of my sadnesse True it is Syr Knight that I haue hitherto and euer shall loue a Ladie Daughter to a Knight my neighbour shée béeing in my iudgement one of yâ— fayrest Ladyes in the whole worlde And perceyuing by her behauiour that shée loued me as well or rather more which indéede shée did not for her I accomplished all thinges that a Knight could for his Ladie aduenturing mine honour and my life in all daungers for her sake yea nothing might bee refused for the diuine Mistresse of my thoughts Perceyuing my selfe to bée so equally loued and my passions to growe beyonde my abilitie finding occasion to acquaint her with the secretes of my heart I desired her to pittie my oppressions which if shee refused to doo she should loose her louer and his life withall For I was so solemnely vowed to her seruice as she could not commaund any thing so hard or daungerous but by her fauourable regarde would be most easie to mee Thesâ— words could drawe no pittie from her but displeased and in great anger she answered That I might not bee reckoned among those Knights who deserued the loue of a Ladie of her calling and thenceforth I should not bee so hardie as to speake to her or come in her presence Goâ— quoth shâ—e and followe her loue that gaue thée thy Faulcon wherein thou takest such pleasure and neuer mayst thou â—urne againe to me With these wordes shée 〈◊〉 from mee to a Windowe where I was woont alwayes to stande and talke with her beguiling the time in no lesse contentation then those happy soules in the Elyâ—ian Fieldes such was the rare beautie good grace and singular courtesie of my sometime beloued Ladie Valerica I cannot denie but that a Ladie bestowed the Falcon on me but in any such respect as my Ladie imagined God knowes is most vntrue nor could death compell mee so much to abuse my chosen Mistresse Seeing my Ladie then so rigorous and her answere so seuere yet assured of mine owne innocencie and loyaltie I was surprised with such surpassing heauinesse as euerye houre expected when my féeble spirite wouldâ— forsake his long despyed habitation My Ladie béeing thus resolute in her owne opinion and disdayning all meanes I shewed to perswade her despayring likewise of any after hope I determined with my selfe to abandone all companye as vnwoorthie of theyr societye and then betooke my selfe to this brutish kind of life where I might without any impeach breathe forth my continuall complaints In this resolution I came to this place without the knowledge of my Lady or any other this Dwarffe
onelye excepted who euermore hath beene my most trustie Seruaunt and fetcheth my necessaries at a village néere adioyning and by his honest perswasions hath manie times with-helde mee from committing violence on my selfe Thus haue you heard in bréefe the cause of my sorrowe the depth whereof cannot bée considered or valued but by such as haue in like manner tryed and suffered the disdayne and ingratitude of vnconstant Ladies Palmerin hauing heard the fortunes of the Knight repeated to him the graces and fauours of his Ladye Polynarda what honour shée did him in her Fathers Court and how hee was in daunger to receiue the like rewarde as the Knight did of his Valerica and fearing indéede that his mishappe woulde sorte to that issue he fell down at the féete of this poore refused Louer The Knight perceiuing that the reputitioÌ„ of his misfortune was cause of this alteration breâ—thing foorth a vehement sighe hee sayde Alas wretched â—atife that I am hath my destâ—ny made mee so vnhappie that enduring an extreamitye worse then death I cannot dye and yet hée that did but heare my miserie hath lost his life I will not liue any longer to preiudice any other men but will now make waye to the ende of mine owne troubles So drewe â—ée foorth Palmerins Sworde and â—ffered to thrust it into his bodye but Palmerin receiued his former estate started suddainlye vppe and catching him in his armes sayde How now my Fréende will you bée so incâ—nsiderate that for a little temporall paine which your body endureth to condemne your soule to euerlasting perdition And though your passions touch you so seuerelye as you will affoorde no pittie to your selfe yet lâ—t trée intrâ—ate you to forbeare this humour For not without reason haue I sustained this suddaine motion remembring the vnspeakable comfort I receiued by one who by false suggestions or slaundreous reports which woundeth more déepe then the fatall weapon may in like sorte be chaunged into such conceit as her iudgement may excéede a hel of torments Yet canne I not denye your Lady hauing with such shame refused you but you haue great occasion to gréeue thereat yet not to stretch the extreamily so farre as to dispayre or worke iniurie to your â—elfe calling to memory how light the opinion of a Woman is how suddaine shée will alter and howe prompt shée is to iealousie especially where shee loueth effectually And if héeretofore shée loued you feruentlye it is impossible but shee should féele some part of your anguish and more violently I thinke then your selfe can Trust then in him that hath all hearts at commaunde repose your self constantly on his prouidence for hée will not leaue you frustrate of your honourable intent standing with iustlâ—e and perfect integritie As Palmerin continued these comfortable perswasions the Dwarfe couered the Table and sette before them such a small pittaâ—nce as he had prouided when they hadde refreshed themselues Palmerin tooke his leaue of the Knight promising him if hée coulde by anye meanes to giue some ease to his oppressions Varnan returned him many thankes commanding his Dwarfe to conduct him to the high waye béeing not a little sorrowfull to leaue his compaâ—ie who had so well aduised and comforted him Palmerin being come into his ready way sent backe the Dwarfe and rode on till he was gâ—t out of the Forrest intending to finde out the Castlâ— where Valerica remained because he would somewhat sollicite the cause of sollitarie Verman Ryding along in this determination hée espyed a Knight and two squires before him yâ— knight thus speaking to one of his squires I knowe not whether it be time as yet to enter the Garden or if Madame Valerica be as yet come thither Go sée if she be there and returne quickly to mée againe Palmerin hearing the name of Valerica knewe well it was shée for whome the solitarie Knight liued in such pensiuenes wherefore mooued with pitty of his miseries hee sayde to himselfe Sée héere the trecherie of a trothlesse Woman so vnhonorablie to forsake the man that loues her so déerely and preferre the villanie of this intercepting Traytour but I shall teach him ere I go what a penalty belongs to the preuenting of a loyall knight and so comming to the knight hee sayâ—e Art thou a man villaine that wouldest forest all the loue of the best Knights in England by my Sword thou shalt déerely pay for thy disloyalty With these words he gaue him such a stroake on the head as he cleft it therewith to the very téeth The Squires séeing theyr maister slaine beganne to haste away but Palmerin caught him that was sent to the Garden to whome he sayde Come on Sirra if thou louest thy life bring mée to the Lady if thou doost not thou shalt neuer followe thy trade any longer The Squire durst doo no otherwise so he brought him to the little gate where Valerica was wont to receiue in her louer and knocking with his finger as his Master was accustomed Valerica opened the doore and thinking it was her Fréend cast her armes about Palmerins necke who brought her in his armes forth of the Garden commanding the Squire presently to followe him Valerica abashed hereat sayde Howe nowe swéete fréende whether will you carry mee Knowe you not if my father heard héereof that neyther of vs durst approch before him Tush Madame sayde Palmerin these are but wordes there is no remedy but you must go with mée So neyther with teares nor requests would hee be intreated but mounting on horsebacke caused the Squire to helpe the Lady vppe before him because he would be sure shée should not escape from him and riding on towardes the Forrest because the night drew on he left the rode way séeking some place where they might coÌ„ueniently repose themselues for that night At length hee founde out a little thicket where they alighted and hee returning his Horse to pasture tooke off his Helmet and came to the Lady desiring her to bée content with such hard lodging for that night but when shée behelde that it was not her fréend wringing her handes she thus exclaimed Alas vnhappy wretch that I am how trecherously am I deceiued What mishappe may be comparable to mine hauing lost my fréende and abyding at his pleasure that hath cruelly murdered him Ah Fortune why art thou so inconstant to chaunge my former pleasure into this gréeuous stratageâ—â—e Palmerin hearing her so impatient sayde You must thinke Lady that what hath happened is by diuine permission who hath thus appoynted to punish your loosenesse and your excéeding disloyalty towardes him who loues you dearer then his owne soule and for your loue leades a most austere life in the very desolate and vncomfortable place of the worlde If hée haue thus long endured such hardnesse for your sake it is good reason that you should participate a little with his misery Feare not therefore for I speake nothing of him but what I haue séene and by great chaunce haue
he would haue turned anotherway but one of the Knightes called to him Returne cowarde returne thou shalt not escape without tryall of thy manhoode for we must make proofe if there bee anye in thée Palmerin not knowing where to set his Hauke and very loth to loose it was not desirous to Iouste but séeing that with honour he could not refuse it aunswered It is small courtesie Sir Knight to challenge the man that hath no wil to your sporte but if there be no remedye your will be fulfilled albeit I hope you will first repent it I sée thou canst prate well quâ—th the Knight and beléeue mee thou wert wise if thou couldest so escape but séeing thou art so long before thou art readye I le bring thee to such a place where haukes shal not hinder thee and in one yéere thou shalt spare the wearing of Bâ—â—tes and spurres in such a comfortable place as the Sunne nor day light shall â—ffend thine eyes I hope I haue learned sayd Palmerin to kéepe my selfe from such places but I would faine knowe the gentle Chamber Page that is so skilfull in waiting with his Pantofies as he can teach Knights errant how to weare them The knight being angry called foorth the rest of his companiâ—â—s among whome he espied Hermes prisoner his Helmet lying by him and his armes pinniâ—nd therefore to reuenge his wrâ—nge he called his Squire saying I pray thée my Fréend looke to my Hauke a while for I am come to defendâ— thy Maisters honour and calling to the dukes Knight saying Come Sir let vs dispatch quickly for I haue earnest busines in another place the Knight laughing at him answered Why how now Captaine thinke you to passe hence so easilye Héere are sufficient to stay your hasty iourney eleuen more must talke with you the wâ—orst of them able to abate your pride for your horsse lackes a stable and wee will prouide him one So couching theyr Launces they mette togither with such force as the Dukes knight was throwne from his Horâ—â—e his shoulder béeing broken with the weight of his fall Palmerin arresting the Knightes horâ—â—e for his â—wnâ— gaue him to Hermes squire in kéeping saying Because the Knight is not willing to get on horse-backe againe hâ—ld this for mee and he maye lie at ease to sée the fortune of his fellowes Then came another Knight from the tent whom Palmerin welcommed in so fréendlye manner as he lay not able to stirre hand or foote with this one Launce hée vnhorssed foure more and brake it so valiantlye on the seauenth Knight as while he liued he meant to ioust no more With a fresh Launce hée dismounted all the rest none of them being willing to deale with him any further wherefore Palmerin came to Hermes saying What doo you 〈◊〉 Knight Why take you not the best Horse among all the 〈◊〉 That â—â—all I Sir séeing you commaund me albeit not loâ—◠〈◊〉 you serue me as thâ—se Knights are yet God be thanked that by your meanes I am deliuered from imprisonment wherein these knights intended to kéepe me because I vnhorsed foure of them and at the fift encounter my horse was killed which was the cause of my foyle and taking The knights quoth Palmerin haue nowe leysure to resâ— them for they were troubled before with watching for passengers I doubt not now but we may quietly passe the bridge for I sée none of them offer to hinder vs. Hermes mounting on horse backe commauded his squire to take a fresh one for him likewise and so they rode on together reioycing at this good fortune They had not ridden the space of a mile but Hermes demauded Palmerins name which when hee knewe in great reioysing he saide Ah worthy knight now is my trauel ended in search of you trust me I would refuse the best citie in England in respect of the great friendship I haue found at your hands as also for the comfort your presence will bring to our dread Lord and your noble companions who long time haue expected your desired returne As they rode on in these spéeches they came to a fayre fountaine where Palmerin would alight to refresh himselfe and to bind vp such smal wounds as he had taken in iousting against the knights of Gaule Chap. LIX ¶ How Frisol was deliuered out of Palmerins handes by the meanes of Colmelio his Squire THe same day that Palmerin â—ousted with the knights of Gaule the duke himselfe was gone on hunting by meanes whereof he lost the sight of the pastime which afterward hée repented because he had with him the most part of his knights so that no one was left in his Castle but Frisol that might bee counted of any value who beholding so many knights â—oyled by one maruailed not a little what be might bee and after long consideration of his haughtie exploits hée saide to himselfe I cannot thinke this knight to be the man against whom I combatted sometime in Fraunce yet know I no man liuing but 〈◊〉 that could performe such rare chiualrie Now because Palmerin had changed his armor he verily imagined that it was not he yet was he desirous to know but doubtfull to follow him by reason of his former experience againe if he should suffer him to passe without some triall he iudged it would returne to his great dishonour wherefore he resolued to aduenture his fortune And in this determination he came to the dukes sister who loued him intirely as you heard before she beginning with him in this manner I cannot sufficiently maruell 〈◊〉 Frisol how you haue suffered in your own view my brothers knights to be so shamefully conâ—â—unded by one passenger I deâ—â—re you swéet friend if euer you brake launce for a Ladies loue that for my sake you will deale with that proude knight and make him know that you can abate his courage were his head framed of yâ— hardest hammered brasse If you fulfill my request you shal do an acceptable déed to my brother to me such seruice as I shal hereafter requite to your own content Madame quoth Frisol I did intende to fight with him but séeing it pleaseth you so graciously to coÌ„mand me no danger can withhold me because the world can witnes what great auaile so honorable a Ladyes fauor is to the knight that liues to renowne her name So departing from his lady he presently armed himselfe mounting on a lustie Courser followed the way that Palmerin was gone the 12. knights not a little glad therof wel hoping yâ— he wold reuenge theyr dishonour Frisol continued his trauaile so long til at length he came to the fountaine where Palmerin refreshed himselfe who had no sooner espied him but surprisâ—â— with great ioy sayd to Hermes I am sure this knight comes hither is to seek me wherfore I intreat you by the reuerend loue you beare to your best beloued not any way to hinder yâ— fight betwéene vs til the end deliuer victorie to one 〈◊〉 or other for
Tharsus and the other sporting in the Court at Constantinople not daring to sette foote in the stirroppe after Knightly exercises til they heare how their Father speedes If he haue that fauour his deedes deserued then on goes their Armor and in the cheefest places of Christendome wil they shewe themselues with repetition to the world of wonderfull aduentures But while they expect good newes or bad I will hasten on the translation of the third part of this most famous Historie which beeing of some great quaâ—titie wil aske the longer time eâ—e hee can enioy the benefit thereof bee therefore kind to these two former Bookes and that will be the better meanes of hastening the third Yours to his vttermost Anthony Mundy The second part of the auncient and honourable Historie of Palmerin D'Oliua Continuing his rare fortunes Knigâ—tly deedes of Chiualrie happie successe in loue and how he was crowned Emperour of Constantinople Herein is likewise concluded the variable troubles of Trineus and faire Agriola of England with their fortunate mariage c. Chap. I. How Olimael presented the Princesse Agriola to the greaâ— Turke who immediately became amorous of her and what rewardes and preferment the Pyrate receiued for his gift Aâ— yet I am sure you remember in the first part how the Pyrate Olimael 〈◊〉 his prisoners reseruinâ— for 〈◊〉 none but the King of Englandes daughter hopâ—ng in time to 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 An béeing alone 〈…〉 in the fayrest Cabin in the 〈…〉 hée could to comfort her but 〈…〉 were bestowed in vaine for shée woulde receyue no kinde of sustenaunce desyring euerie houre to die hauing so lost her Lord Trineus He séeing that fayre spéeches offers gifts and other inticements proper to perswasion could not compasse the thing he desired he grewe into choler intending to gaine his pleasure perforce so that after manie threatnings with rough violence hée woulde néedes rauish her Agriola séeing that her féeble strength coulde not long withstand the Turke albeit she stroue and resisted so well as shée coulde therefore with deuout prayer shee called on God desiring him to take pittie on her and not to suffer that villainous Ruffian to dishonour her Her prayer béeing ended Olimael beganne in such sort to tremble as hée staggered backe warde foure or fiue times and so excéedingly was hée surprised with feare as hée was constrayned to leaue her and withdraw himselfe into another place The Princesse though shée were amazed at this suddaine chaunge noting with what terrour the Captaine departed yet was she greatly comforted by her deliuerance imputing the whole worke thereof to the Almightie prouidence and the vertue of the Ring that Palmerin gaue her wherefore with thankfull heart and eleuated eyes to heauen shée sayd O celestiall Father howe great and infinite is thy goodnesse howe happie is the creature whom thou regardest with the eye of pittie assurdly I nowe perceyue that such as in extremitie haue recourse to thee shall no waie perish Then taking the vertuous Ring and kissing it many times sayd Unualuable Iewell giuen me by the best Knight in the worlde howe carefully will I kéepe thée howe true is that saying That great persons giue great presents Hencefoorth shalt 〈…〉 bee kept for the loue of him that gaue thée and for thy singular vertue in the place where I vsually store things of greatest price So taking a little Chayne of Golde which serued her as a Bracelet shée fastened this 〈◊〉 Iewell thereto and put it about her necke so that the sumptuous Stone laye glistering betwéene her 〈◊〉 white breasts a prospect so rare and delicate and of no lesse power to drawe the beholders eyes then the Aâ—amant the Amber or the Ieate can by their vertue beside so woonderfully repleat with swéete regard as I dare affirme that the most cruell Tyrant in Turkie would stand amazed at those two daintie Mountaines more mortifyed and humbled then the aged Hermits of Thebaida Olimael yet quaking at his suddaine aâ—teration durst presume no more to offer her villaynie but by rich gifts and presents sought to perswade her all which auailed not for as hée got but little profit by his violence so wonne he much lesse by his trecherous offerings So sayled they eight dayes togither Olimael not able to compasse Agriolas loue nor hearing anie tydings of the vessels that were lost neyther of his Cozin who had Trineus captiue which grieued him as nothing could do more in that he was so vnprouided as well he could not present himselfe before his Lord to whom hée had promised to bring store of Christian prisoners and now hée had in his bootelesse loue so lost his time as either the tempest or shipwracke had spoyled him of his owne companie In this doubtfull opinion he debated with himselfe that the great Turke did earnestly affect fayre Ladyes so by the meane of his beautifull prisoner he imagined to bée entertained with good countenaunce and his losse woulde be past ouer with forgetfulnesse wherefore hee commaunded the Pilot to make toward the port of Ottobant where as then the great Emperour of Turkie soiourned and 〈◊〉 they came in short time after Notwithstanding as a Seruant well instructed not daring to abuse the familiaritie of his Lorde hée sent one of his Knights to excuse his cause and to report that by casuall mischaunce he had lost his men and Gallies but if his Maiestie pleased to forget his misfortune and receyue him into his accustomed fauour he would bring him one of the fayrest Ladies in Chriâ—endome and discended of most royall percentage The Emperour béeing lasâ—iuions and more addicted to vnchaste desires then any in his Realme hearing this message was so supprised with the onely report of her beautie as immediately he became passionate for her loue sending the Pyrate worde that hee could not bring a more desired present 〈◊〉 therfore remitted all his offences promising him greatter fauour then euer he had And because no contrarie occasion may hinder his comming quoth the Emperour thou shalt carrie him this Letter sealed with mine owne signet that hée may no way â—oubt of his assurance The Knight taking the Letter and kissing the Emperours feete according to the cuâ—â—ome returnâ—d to his Maister deliuering him the aunswere hée had receiueâ— Olimael ioyfull thereof caused Agriola to cloath her selfe in her most sumptuous garments and so with alâ— his men sâ—t forwarde towarde the Court. Nowe although the Prinâ—esse was all blubbered with teares and halfe deade to see her selfe in the power of these Straungers professed anâ— sworne enemies to hâ—r faith and religion yet could not the rare perfections of her beautie be shadowed but the glimse thereof set euery eye to wonder And as she lookes about her to sée if any of her companie were landed with her she espied Ptolome whom they minded secretly to conuey from her but shee beholding him so sad and sorrowfull stept towards him saying Ah my déere fréend Ptolome what wreakfull chaunce hath Fortune throwne vppon vs
not be woon by such a mightie Emperor considâ—â—ing her youth and beautie and the wonderfull riches incessantly offered her Yet the highest Lord so protected her that the more liberall the Turke was in honors and perswasions the more loyall continued her loue to Trineus whose perfect image was engrauen in her heart And not fearing torments or death she boldly answered the Emperor that he trauailed in vain for she might not loue him in that she was married to an husband more noble euery way then he and none but him shée would loue while she liued yet made he no great account of her words considering what frailtie commoâ—ly is in women The day being come of this great preparatioÌ„ and al the Princes present to vnderstand their soueraigneâ— will he béeing placed in his imperiall seate said That hée intended to take to wife one of the most beautifull Ladyes in the world for that cause he sent for them to vnderstand 〈◊〉 they liked thereof Their aunswere was that they liked well thereof and would gladly honour her as wel beseemed them Then sent he for Agriola and before them all saide vnto her that it was his pleasure to accept her for 〈◊〉 wife and therefore shee should prepare her selfe on the 〈◊〉 to be married The Princesse abashed at these spéeches fell downe before him in a dead traunce where vpon by the Quéenes and Ladies present shée was conuayed into her Chamber where béeing againe reuiued she began most pitifull and dolorous lamentations so when all the companie had left her that shée was alone with Hippolita falling downe on her knées at her beds â—â—ete shée thus began O my God and benigne Father pittie thy poore distressed creature and forget the offences I haue heretofore committed for what is a sinner vnlesse thou in mercie suffer her to come before thée Wilt thou then vouchsafe O wonderfull wordeman of the whole worlde one eye of pittie vpon thy humble forsaken seruantâ— and suffer her not to fall into subiection to the vewed enemie of thy holy worde arming me so strongly in this temptation that I no way iniurie my Lord and husbande Trineus but rather graunt this desolate spirit may leaue this bodie and the worlde togither Ah my honourable Lord Trineus where art thou nowe that thou art not héere so defenâ—e the shamâ— and wrong this Tyrant offers thée What art thou dead or hast thou forgâ—tten me No no so well am I assured of thy fidelitie as no forment can diuert thée from mée Yet if I knewe directly that thou art not liuing the lesse woulde â—ée my feare to follow thée for then the greatest pleasure this Pagan could doe 〈◊〉 were to make mée happie onely by death But for the matter is vncertaine and that I liue in hope once more to see thée I will patiently endure all afflictions whatsoeuer for so swéete a reward as is thy louâ— These sorrowes of the Princesse so gréeued Hippolita as one coulde hardly iudge who was most passionate yet at length shée thus spake to Agriola I beséech you good Lady to leaue these gréeuous lamentations and regarde the high estate honour and dignitie that you shall haue in marrying with my Lord. Neuer perswade me quoth the Princesse to manifest disloyaltie for such preâ—erments if they bée not gotten iustly and by vertue they ought not to bée coueted but to be shunned as diuelish Serpents Thus spent they the whole night and in the morning came the Quéenes and Ladies newlie come to the Court to bid the sorrowfull Bride good morrow in her Chamber attyring her in wonderfull gorgious vestures after their Country maner farre beyonde the royaltie of Helena after her arriuall at Troy Betwéene foure Kings shée was brought into the greate Hall and from thence conducted to the Temple where they were espoused by the Mosti To recount here thy royall solemnitie in the temple the Maiestie and vnspeakable dignitie at the pallace the excellent Comedies rare triumphs Maskes Momeries Moriscoes and such like courtly pleasures would bée a matter too prolixious for they are not to our purpose Let it then suffice yee that after they were magnificently entreated at Dinner and Supper the daunâ—ing began and God knowes how the Turks Moores Arabes and Medes set foorth themselues in thâ—ir dâ—uises and sports before their Ladies much lyke the Satyres and â—orned Faunes giuing new inuasions on the Nimphes of Diana But all these maruayles ioyes and follies coulde not chaunge the Princesse countenaunce for shée continuing in her penâ—â—uenesse these sports were worsse to her then the tormentâ— of death aboue all fearing the losse of her chastitie which was a Iewell neuer to be recouered The Pastimes ended by the Quéenes and Ladies shée was conducted to the nuptiall 〈◊〉 so braue and â—â—ately as the Prince Aeneas when he came to Quéene Dido of Carthage and there was the vnfortunate Bride committed to her rest Soone after came the hastie Bridegroome calling for Torches that hée might be holde the Goddesse hée honoured and as hée was preparing himselfe to bed he was troubled with such feares passions and apâ—plexie as nowe he séemed more lyke a ghost then a man Perforce hée was constrained to forsake the Chamber when the extremitie of the fit somewhat asswaging and his former louepassions freshly assayling him comming to the Princesse againe heauily hée thus spake Ah Agriola Ladie and sole Mistresse of my heart I thinke thou art some Goddesse or at least excéeding all humanitie so strange is this aduenture as neuer any man I thinke heard of the like Alas cannot thy anger be appeased nor thou induced to loue him who for thy sake endures most horrible torments I pray thée bée not the cause of my death or if thou néedes wilt suffer mée first to eniâ—y the fruites so my desires Know my Lord answered Agriola that with my will yoâ— neuer shall enioy it and if perforce you séeke to dishonour me assure your selfe I am resolued rather to suffer endlesse miseries then to violate my faith to my loyall Husbande for such is my trust in God that hée will not forget such as call on him But in respect thou hast not béene cruell to mée nor hast exercised mée with any tyrannie I shall suffer thée to lye vpon the bed by mée as my Brother might doo and sometime though it be more then modestie embrace thée in mine armes but if fartheâ— thou presumest thou mayst not bée permitted but shall loose that fauour thy selfe and mee togither Madame quoth hée in graunting mée that courtesie you saue my life for I haue many Concubines to qualifie those passions and neuer will I attempt your dishonour while I liue if I but offâ—r the motion refuse mée foreuer I shall therefore account of you as my Sister and death shall not make me doo contrarie to your appoyntment The yong Princesse glad of this solemne promise gaue him a kisse or twaine and suffered him to embrace her but other kindnesse could be neuer obtaine
escaped valiantly PAlmerin béeing brought to his Chamber which was one of the most sumptuous in all the Pallace accoridng as the Princesse had appoynted he made signe to the Gentlman that attended on him to withdrawe himselfe for he was accustomed to bee alone in his chamber which he immediatly did being loath to offend him Palmerin béeing alone by himselfe gaâ—e thanks to the God of heauen who in midst of his misfortunes caused such a gracious Ladie to fauour him so kindly as defended his life when hee was in daunger and by whose means hée conceyued good hope to escape his enemies hands and to returne safely toward Allemaigne His meditations ended he betooke himselfe to rest and in the morning Linus the Gentleman that had him in charge came and presented him before the Soldane who commaunded him to bée carryed presently to the Lions Alchidiana vnderstanding that the dumbe Knight was with her Father sent him a rich Mantle of scarlet desiring him to weare it for her sake which hee putting about him went frankely with his kéeper to the Lions Denne where the doore béeing opened hée boldly entered desiring God to assist him in this perill Palmerin being in the Denne because none of the Lions should get forth to hurt any other howe euer God disposed of him made fast the doore after him and with his sworde drawne his Mantle wrapped about his arme went to sée how the beasts would deale with him The Lions comming about him smelling on his cloathes woulde not touch him but as it were knowing the bloud royall lay downe at his féete and licked him and afterward went to their places againe But there were among them thrée Leopards that furiouslie came and assayled him the formost where of hée paunched with his Sworde that hée was able to doo no more harme The other two although they had torne his Mantle and put him in verie great daunger as they that looked in at the windowes and creuises perceyued yet to their no little admiration in the end hée slue them both and so went forth of the Denne againe to whom Linus came and louingly taking him by the hand brought him to the Soldane to whom hee discoursed his fight with the Leopardes and howe gentle the Lions had beene to him The Soldane greatly astonished hereat made more estimation of him then hée did before and because the Lions refused to touch him reputed him of royall parentage Whereupon he sent for his Daughter praying her to intreate him not as a Knight but as a noble and vertuous Prince considering his behauiour so well deserued The Princesse entertayned him very graciously and hearing the successe of his happy fortune spake thus in the hearing of them all Because euery one shall know Sir knight how much I honour your good gifts I will cause my Father so well to loue you as hée shall repent himselfe a thousande tymes of the â—aunger hée put you to and so veriâ— louingly embracing him desired paâ—don on her own behalfe because she suffered him to be thrust to the Lions Palmerin in signe of attonement that hee was nothing displeased kissed her hand and sitting downe in a Chaire by her behelde Aâ—demia who resembled his Mistresse so equall in beautie and could not holde his eye from her so that hée conceiued such pleasure in his regard as he iudged it sustenance enough to maintaine life But she that was ignorant of the cause presumed that he loued her wherfore thenceforwart she began so amorously to affect him as shee enioyed no rest but in his presence Thus were these two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia touched with one disease and that so sharpely to the quicke that the least torment they endured séeing hée could neither speake nor vnderstand their language was woorse to them then death And so it fell out that each of them thinking her selfe best beloued concealed her thoughts from the other and would in no case be reputed amorous least so her desires should be discouered Alchidiana for arguments of her loue gaue him horses esquires seruants and pages so that the greatest Prince in the Court was no better equipped then he and in this fortune such was his mind that for all the honor and fauour the Soldane and his daughter bare him he did not outreach himselfe in behauiour but was benigne and full of courtesie that each one loued and desired to be familiar with him And if any enterprise of Ioustes or Tourneyes were in hand Palmerin was the formost in the field and carried the prize away from all whatsoeuer which incited Maulicus to loue him in such sort that he entertained him into such speciall credite as he would neuer resolue on any matter of importance without his shew of good liking And albeit the Princes of the Court shewed him good countenance yet Enuy that neuer can rest in ambitious hearts caused them in the ende to raise slaunder against him which Palmerin perceiued but being vnable to remedie awaited conuenient time for his departure notwithstanding the earnest affection Alchidiana bare him He knew likewise so well to disguise his matters that so often as the Princesse would hold him in talke he still feigned not to vnderstand her which made her iealous towards Ardemia her Cozin who by Alchidianaes iniuries and Palmerins refusall of her loue lost her life as you shall read in the chapters folowing Chap. VI. How the Prince Maurice sent his Ambassadors to the Soldane to desire safe conduct for his comming to the Court to trie if he could find any Knight there able to deliuer him of an extreame trouble that hee dured by enchauntment DUring the time that Palmerin was thus estéemed and beloued in the Court of the great Monarch of Assiria vpon a Sunday after dinner as the Soldane was in the great Hall conferring with his Daughter and many other great Princes and Lordes present there entred a Moore Knight armed except his Helmet and Gauntlets which were carried after him by two Squires and making his solemne reuerence humbled himselfe at Maulicus féete saying Most high and redoubted Monarch my soueraigne Lord Maurice sworne Prince of whole Pasmeria kisseth your highnesse hand sending to require your gracious safe conduct that himselfe may come to your Court to trie among all your knights if there bee any one so loyal and valiant as can deliuer him from a torment he endures the most cruell and straunge that euer was heard of and happened to him in this sort The King of Pasmeria great gouernour of the Moorâ—s and father to my Lord béeing vnable through extreme age to weilde the gouernment of his Realme gaue the administration thereof and made his Lieutenant generall my Lord Maurice a Knight so hardy and puissant as any of his time and so renowned for his beautie sagacitie and braue lineaments of body as there is none of the Kings of Iudea Egypt Ethiopia and neighbour Countreyes round about but gladly desire his 〈◊〉 and friendshippe So that
many haue sent their Ambassadours to him presenting their Daughters and Kingdomes to him the greater part whereof he hath hitherto refused â—xcusing himselfe by his fathers age and his owne youth But as often times it happeneth Fortune enemie to all good endeuours not suffering him to remaine in quiet permitted that the quéene of Tharsus the fayrest of the Orientall paâ—ts a young Widdow and rich as is very well knowne after shee had sent him many presents of incomparable value intreated him to come and sée her shaddowing in this message the great desire shée had to matâ—h with him The Prince being benigne and courteous would not denie her but in short time after iourneyed to her The Quéene entertaining him with great royaltie and séeing in him farre more gracious and beautifull gifts then before she heard reported was so surprised with loue as in stéede of looking to be wooâ—d her selfe was constrained to demaund knowing so wâ—ll to declare her desirous and affectionate passions as the Prince mooued with amorous pittie granted what she requested without any further condition or promise presuming on himselfe in respect of her great and fauorable entertainment that hee would not leaue her for any other But herein was she deceiued for the yong Prince hauing staied with her tâ—nne or twelue dayes desired leaue to departe saying that hée had receiued Letters from his Father which commaunded his spéedy returne home againe promising her if so his father consented to take her in marriage and that with such expeâ—ition as might bée The Queene somewhat contented with this answere thinking hee would performe what hée promised let him depart He being come home into his owne Countrey forgot his loue to his newe Fréend and by his Fathers commaundement marryed with a yong Princesse Daughter to the King Lycomedes The Quéene hearing these newes was almost dead with conceit of gréefe and conceiued such hatred against my Lord Maurice as she determindd to be reuenged on him whatsoeuer came after And the better to compasse her intent shée sent to search out one of her knights a learned Magitian promising him if he would help her to be reuenged on him that so deceiued her shée would make him one of the chéefest in her Realme The Magitian who euermore was desirous to please her promised her to worke such a deuise that Maurice should endure such cruel torments as her selfe should be constrayned to pittie him And to accomplish this practise hée onely desired the King her Fathers Crowne which was one of the richest in the whole world which Crowne he coniured in such sort as the diuell himself could not imagine the like and comming therwith to the Quéen said Madame you must sende this Crowne to the Prince of Pasmeria desiring him for your sake hée will weare it on his head in the chéefest affayres of his estate which hée immediatly will accomplish but this I dare assure you that hereby hée shall suffer so many vexations as hee would endure a thousand deaths if hee could possible to be deliuered from this torment which he neuer shall be till the most loyall louer in the world take it from his head The Quéene so ioyfull hereof as could be sent the Crowne to the prince who receiued it thankfully and beholding it sumptuous sodainely put it on his head but presently flew out of his head such a flame of fire as it had béene the blaze that commeth from a discharged Cannon Then called hee for ayde and succour making the greatest lamentations that euer were heard but all was to no ende for no Knight or Lady there could do him any good and so all the whole day hée remained in this cruell martirdome burning aline yet not perishing resembling the Salamander in the extreame fire When his people saw that they could procure him no ease they sent two of the greatest Lords of the Realme to the Quéene who humbly intreated her to pittie the Prince and to recompence the fault he had committed hée should take her to his Wife and endow her with those honourable possessions belonging to him The Quéene entertained them very nobly and after she had vnderstood their message answered My Lordâ— the marriage betwéene your maister and me is intollerable and no way can hée nowe contract himselfe againe for I remembring his disloyaltie and hée the torments hée suffers by my meanes it were impossible that wée should louingly liue togither therefore in this matter you shall excuse me And let him know that séeing hée was so presumptuous contrarie to his faith and promise to refuse me for his Wife I now so much disdain and contemne him as my heart by no meanes can be induced to loue him And no other remedie is there for his torments but that hée séeke through Asia Europe and Affrica a louer so perfect who by his loyaltie may cease the paines he suffers for trecherie and treason With this short answere depart my Countrey for your Maister is so worthie of fauour as for his sake I hate his people The Ambassadours maruailing at this fatall destenie returned to their Lord to whom they reported the Quéenes answere and what remained to ease his affliction which more and more encreased his gréefe wherfore séeing what he was enioyned to doo the next day hée left the Court entending not to stay a day in any place till he should finde a Knight so vertuous and loyall Thus hath he trauailed Ethiopia India Tartaria the greater part of your realmes but as yet hee hath founde none to remedie his misfortune but if any other disloyall Knight in triall touch the crowne his vexations are far more greater then before For this cause most mighty Lord haâ—ing heard the great fame of valiant knights in your Court especiall of a stranger Knight being dumbe who came hither but of very late time he desires your maiestie his assurance graunted to suffer him trie his fortune heere if in your presence â—e may finde any helpe or else to seeke further in other Princes Courts These are the principall points of my charge may it please your highnesse to consider of mine answere how I shall returne and certifie my Maister that you may like wise sée an aduenture maruailous Chap. VII How the Prince Maurice came to the Court of the Soldâ—ne of Babilon where he was deliuered of his burning Crowne that tormented him by the loyaltie of Palmerin MAulicus wondering at this strange discourse thus answered the Moore You may my friend returne to your maister when you please and say from vs that hee shall be welcome to our court with as safe aâ—â—urance as our own pâ—rson as well for his valour and bountie which I haue heard greatly esteemed as for that wee are desirous to see so strange an aduenture ended in our presence And wee cannot sufficiently maruaile howe he could bee so forgâ—tfull of himselfe that after his faith so broken hee could extinguish her remembraâ—ce that loued him so vnâ—eigneâ—ly but heeâ—ein
crauing 〈…〉 〈…〉 well be coniectured prostrated himselfe at Palmerins féete and with vnspeakable ioy thus said Most noble and fortunate Knight how much am I bound and indebted to thée right happie was the howre of thy byrth but much more happie my iourney to see thée let my word suffise I so far deliuer my selfe yours as my selfe my Subiects my possessions or whatsoeuer else is mine I fréely offer to your disposition Palmerin who euer bare the most noble minde of a Knight was displeased that so great a Prince shoulde honour him with such reuerence wherefore with great humilitie hée tooke him vppe in his armes causing him to sit downe where before hée did but the Soldane and all his Lords greatly amazed not so much at his courtesie as his 〈…〉 Chap. VIII How the â—ayre Princesse Ardemia enduring extreame passions and torments in loue made offer of her affections to Palmerin which he refused wherewith the Princesse through extreame conceit of greefe and despight suddainly died EAâ—â—â—ye may be coÌ„iectured the great pleasure of the two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia beholding the man 〈◊〉 they loued as their liues to haue the honour of the enchaunted 〈◊〉 for eacâ— of them seuerally perswaded her selfe that he had thus aduentured in hoâ—or of heâ— loue And as they returned from the Hall to their chambers Alchidiana came and tooke Palmerin by the hand and walking on with him thus spake Ah gentle knight how are you to bee regarded aboue all other I knowe not why the 〈◊〉 should depriue you of speeche except that in all things this onâ—lie excepted you should be perfectly resembled to theÌ„ Oh how happie is shee that might aduenture to make you her Seruant doubtlesse if in her appeare so singuler perfections as apparantly shew themselues in you well might it be reputed a rare coniunction when the celeâ—tiall 〈◊〉 gouerning 〈…〉 affections hath vnited you in â—o amiable alliaunce The Gentlemen that attended on the Princesse greatâ—â—â— murmured at this priuate familiaritie but shée 〈…〉 in her affections as virginall 〈…〉 now forgotten and earelesse of regarde openly shewed her desires Thus were these two Ladies now much more amorous of the dumbe Knight then before so that they were not well but eyther in his companyâ— or thinking on him Alchidiana remaining iealous of her Cozin seemed not to loue her as she was woont but deuised all the meanes shée could that she might be sent to her Fathers Court againe yet she that little made account thereof sought opportunitie to bewraye her loue to Palmerin and by hap séeing Alchidiana in the Gallerie conferring with two of her Ladies shée entred alone into her Cozins Chamber where sitting downe on the bedde shée compassed many imaginations howe she might discouer to the dumbe Knight the secrete fire that was kindled in her breâ—â— So long shée staied there till Palmerin came because about that time hée was woont to visite the Prinâ—esse Alchidiana Ardemia so glad héereof as could be possible suddainlie started vppe and saluting him with more then common reuerâ—nce taking him by the hand and causing him to fit downe by her vpon the bedde Then enflamed with wonderfull passions surpassing Pasiphaes desire to the brutish Bull when shée mette him in the wood made by Dedalus shée beheld him with such a piercing countunaunce as the least glimse whereof was able to confounde the reason of the most constant person as the aspect of the Sunne in the 〈◊〉 of Leo dooth the eyes of the beholders and of force to warme the coldest complexion although it were an 〈◊〉 himselfe in her presence Then deliuering thrée or foure bitter sighes fetcht from the verye bottome of her heart as cruell as y◠〈…〉 she tooke a rich Diamond from her finger and put it on Palmerins with these words Swéete Fréends and onely comforte of my soule let me intreate you to weare this as an argument of my loue thereby to knowe howe well you estéeme of mée assuring you that I am so deuoted yours as if you vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 me the fauour and honour by iournying to the Court of my Father with mee I neuer will haue any Husband but you and there shall such account be made of you as wel beséemes a Knight so noble and vertuous Ah diuine defence of my life and more woorthie to bee loued then Loue himselfe misdéeme not of these spéeches so aduenturouslye vttered by a yong Ladie and vnmaried for the loue I beare you is such as I am constrained forgetting the decent regard of a bashfull Uirgin who naturallie is shamefasâ—e to estéeme of you honestlye and as is conuenable to 〈◊〉 estate Then séeing the Gods the place the occasion and the time permits me to bewraye that which I dare not otherwise manifest haue then faire Knight some pittie on mee and let mée enioy assuraunce of grace for which I 〈◊〉 in ceaselesse torments With which wordes shée embraced him and sealed so many swéete kisses on his hand as apparantly deciphered her earnest affection Palmerin amazed at this strange accident because shée was a Pagan and contrary to him in faith that making 〈◊〉 aunswere but following the example of chaste Ioseph who refused Zephira Wife to Putiphar great prouâ—st to the King of Aegipt started from her suddainlie and mooued with displeasure departed the Chamber thinking in himselfe that such occasions more ouer-rule the hearts of men then all other matters that might bée deuised and 〈◊〉 the practises of â—ellish Pâ—uto Then calling to his Ladie for assistance said to himselfe Ah swéete Mistresse succour now your seruant for I rather desire a thousand deathes then to violate the chaste honor of my loue or to giue that fauour to this Lady which is onelye yours Alchidiana by chanceâ— séeing Palmerin when he entred her Chamber and 〈◊〉 him now to depart againe imagined presentlie the 〈◊〉 of the cause wherefore entring the guarderobe which was adioyning to her Chamber shée closely stood and 〈◊〉 all that had passed and at his comming foorth staied him in this maner Notwithout great cause good Knight 〈◊〉 thou take the fatall Crowne from the head of Maurice for in thée is more â—â—rmnesse and continencie then is in the disloyall Ardemia vnchaste desires and villainie but in vnfitte nine did shée rip open her vnmaidenlike affections for I will publish her shame to euery one and cause her to be lesse estéemed then a knowne offender Palmerin fearing that in her choller she would doo no lesse then she said fell on his knée before her intreating her by signes to forbeare otherwise it would be his death She seeing him so faire and gracious and thus to humble himselfe at her feete quallified her displeasure promising to kéepe it in secret So Palmerin withdrewe himselfe to his Chamber leauing the two Ladies nowe togither but Ardemia agréeued at the dumbe Knights refusall woulde not reueale her wrong to Alchidiana who so soone as Palmerin was out of hearing thus began Why shamelesse Ardemia thinkest thou
and hauing recourse to his onely comforter liâ—ting his eyes to heauen thus priuately inuocated My God deliuer me from this enemie and suffer me not to fall in consent to this temptation for I thinke her a Deuill incarnate and sent to deceiue me Impossible is it that a maiden by nature modest and bashfull would let slip such effronted wordes and audacious The conceit héereof so vexed and offended him as the Princesse feared he would haue dyed not with conceit that like hap might come to Alchidiana as did to Ardemia but because he shuld so wickedly sin against his owne soule and falsefie his loue to his swéetest Mistresse Yet knowing that this sadnesse would not satisfie the Princesse he feigned to swoune his colour changing in such sort as one would haue iudged him past recouerie Alchidiana was so gréeued héereat as wée could not imagine what to saye but séeing that Palmerin séemed nowe not to vnderstand her and before had by signes 〈◊〉 reuealed his meaning saide By our great God it may well beâ— said that this man is a huge lumpe of flesh which the deuil hath enchaunted to torment me withall or else some other shaddowe and resemblaunce for hée refuseth what all men desire yea and often despayre because they cannot 〈◊〉 it But fearing least her ende would imitate her Cozins or that the dumbe Knight should die in her presence shée 〈◊〉 presume no further but threwe her selfe downe vppon a Pallet not able to speake her stomacke was so enraged Which Palmerin perceiuing arose out of his feigned traunce and giuing a great sighe departed the Chamber 〈…〉 owne The Princesse séeing him gone 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 and lament very gréeuouslye and in midst of her nâ—elancholy fell into these spéeches You Gods how can you suffer one so contrary to nature as is this dumbe Knight â—o liue among men Can you behold that he whom I deliuered froÌ„ death brought into yâ— grace of my father and to whom I haue doone more honour then had hée béene mine owne Brother will not regarde me but against all reason disdaineth refuseth maketh no reckoning of my dolours and setteth at nought my earnest intreaties Ah vndiscréete and carelesse Girle thy folly at this time too much ouerruled thée that knowing thine owne estate and high linage wouldest submit thy selfe to loue one vnknowne to thée and of whom thou canst haue no answere more then of a sencelesse stocke or stone If I can now learne to hate thée it will be some comfort to me but the more he iniurieth mee the more am I deuoted to his loue Then againe she contraryed her selfe in this sort Yet séeing it is so ingratefull wretch that thou aâ—t I will cause thée ere it be long to repent thy 〈◊〉 In this anger she continued all the day not 〈◊〉 foorth of her Chamber intending 〈◊〉 vtterly to despise him but the first time shée sawe him againe shee reputed him so louely faire and gracious that to dye shée could not with him any harme but loued him much better then before Yet to couer her owne inconstancie shee sent him no more presents nor did him such 〈◊〉 as she was accustomed which Palmerin well perceiued but hee could dissemble it in such sort as the Princesse hardly might decipher him For hée 〈…〉 had made to his deceased Father to sende his Brethren to Constantinople in whose company hee might trauaile thither and so escape the Turks and Moorish 〈◊〉 Chap. X. How Amarano Prince of Nigrea came to the Soldans court to accuse Aâ—chidiana as causer of the death of the fayre Princesse Ardemia her Cozin DUring the time that the Princeâ—â—â— Aâ—chidiana 〈…〉 the Princesse Ardemia and if hée made such lamentatâ—ons when hée but heard of her death what iudgement may bée set downe of his moâ—â—s béeing nowe at the Sepulchre of his best beloued Ah inconstant Fortune quoth hée why wouldest thou not permit mée to sée her liuing Ah Ardemia accomplished with admirable beautie great was her sinne whâ— enuying thy perfections procured thy cruell death yet this is my comfort that I shall come time inough to reuenge thy vndeserued 〈◊〉 and he that dare gainesay mée with her the authour of thy tragedie shall receyuâ— such condigne punishment as shall remaine for euer in memâ—ri These complaintâ— deliuered with excéeding sorrowe his Brethren perswaded him that such behauiour 〈…〉 〈…〉 I haue left my Countrey and aduentured into your presence to accuse your Daughter Alchidiana whom â—o please you to call before this assemblie I will charge 〈◊〉 she by false and spightfull hatred as a most cruell and disloyall Ladie trayterously murthered her Cozin the Princesse Ardemia And because this vâ—â—lainie hath hitherto béene concealed verie secret in respect it could not easily bée verified I am héere readie to proue in open 〈◊〉 agaynst any of your Knights that dare maintaine her cause howe the treason before rehearsed was committed by her in reueâ—ge whereof she ought to bée rewarded with sharpe and shamefull death 〈…〉 part whereof séeing the pride of the Prince of Nigâ—â—a woâ—ld furiously haue runne vpon him saying that hée should repent his follie but the Soldane offended thereat caused a Herauld presently to proclayme that on paine of death no one should harme or offende the Prince nor anie in his companie and whosoeuer did otherwise shoulde presentlie die for breaking his commaundement then â—raming his speeches to the Prince sayde Amarano nowe maist thou behold my Daughter before thée disburden the greefe of thy minde to her and iustice shall bée doone thée to thine owne desire Imagine quoth the Prince that such as knowe you Madame Aldhidiana will not a little maruaile séeing you accomplished with such gracious beautie that you should so farre forget your selfe as to commit treason But because a matter so vnlikely demaundeth as hard a proofe I will auerre with mine owne person in Combat agaynst any one that dare support your quarell that you are guiltie in the accusation alreadie alleaged and principall cause of the death of the Arminian Princesse your Cozin To reuenge such famous wrong I haue forsaken my countrey trauelling night and day and haue presented my accusation before your Father with this condition that if your Knight shall bee vanquished you are to bee punished as a cause of such weight requireth If it he may fortune to bée foyled and your Champion victor I shall yéeld my selfe as conquered and demaund no better recompence for it can not gréeue mee to remaine with her bodie whose verie remembraunce 〈…〉 in this maner Alchidiana you haue heard the spéeches of the Prince aduise your selfe well of your answerâ— for which of you both shall be sound attainted in the cryme be it Leâ—e Maiestaris or other 〈…〉 Chap. XI Howe Paâ—merin seeing that none of the Soldans Knights would aduenture for Alchidiana against Amarano eaterprised himself her cause in combat And how the Queene of Tharsus sent him a sumptuous helmet ALchidiana hauing heard the 〈◊〉 of Amarano and
againe which this day shee could not compasse because hee was continually with the Souldane But when Palmerin tooke his leaue for that night the Princesse had a little leysure to thanke him for his honorable kindnes and how glad she was that the Gods had restored his speech againe Soone after she sent him a most sumptuous golden Armour desiring him for her sake to weare it in the Combate which Palmerin thankfully accepting assureâ— the messenger that hee would sufficiently reuenge his Ladies iniurie In meane time the Soldane commanded his Knight Marshall to see the field prepared in readinesse and the Scaffolds for the Ladies prouided and to haue two thousand Armed men in place for defencâ— of his owne person All which the next morning was duely executed the Soldane appointed two Kings and Amarano his two brethren Iudges of the field who going to their teâ—t and all the nobilitie to their appointed places expected nowe the issue of the fight The Ladies came to their standing among whom Alchidiana shewed like fayre Vesper among the other stars and soone after came the two Combattants so brauely and richly appointed as nothing wanted that could â—e imagined especially Palmerin before whom a King bare his Helmet and the great Admiral of Assiria his Sword and so brauely did hee mannage his Horse with such sightly behauiour and gallant countenance that each one iudged hee had learned his knowledge before he came thither into Turkie and cause Maulicus to perswade himselfe that the victorie was destenied to him In the ende that they might the sooner begin the Combat the Iudges tooke their seates commaunding silence through the field which was pestered with wonderfull resort of people and then the Heralds fulfilling their charge gaue liberty to the Champions to doo their deuoire Palmerin clasping his Helmet gaue the Spurres to his Horse and encountred Amarano with such furie as they were 〈◊〉 dismounted headlong to the grounde but Palmerin 〈◊〉 to be so â—oyled before the Soldane recouered himselfe quickly and aduaunting his shéeld gaue Amarano such a found stroke on the head with his Sword as made him stagger in great amazednes Notwithstanding his courage 〈…〉 as well declared hee had 〈…〉 â—â—rokes Which when the Polâ—â—ces two Brethren be helde they were marâ—ailously â—bashed for they imagined that through the East parts 〈◊〉 Knight might bee sounde to equall him wherefore one of them sayde I thought my brother would haue dispatched this companion at the first encounter but séeing he hath held out so long no doubt beâ— is more expert in Armes then wée at first made account of him The two Kings were somewhat mooued with these words willing him to be silent vntill such time as the end was determined Amarano hearing what his brother had spoken offended with himselfe because hee could not ouercome Palmerin began to encourage himselfe and albeit hée was sore wounded in many places on his body yet he followed his intent so nobly as taking his sword in both his handes hée stroke Palmerin so violently on the Helmet as made him set one of his knées to the ground to saue himselfe But hee perceiuing that if he had many such blowes it would returne his disaduantage intended to play double or quitte and remembring the honour of his Mistresse Polynarda he ranne with such valour on Amarano as cleaâ—ing his Shéelde in two péecâ—s cut away a great parte of his arme The Prince féeling himselfe so maimed begaâ— to faint hardly enduring to defende his enemies strokes which Palmerin perceyued and chased him about which way him listed first héere then there where best the Prince had hope of safetie but all these delayes little auayled him for Palmerin left not till he got him downe when Amarano thinking to helâ—e himselfe drewe a little packet Dagger and therewith thurst Palmerin vnder the short ribbes which wound so mooued him as renting his Helmet from his head immediatly smote it from his shoulders Paâ—merin beeing then so gladde and well disposed as though hee haâ— but no wâ—â—e entred the fielde tooke the heade of his enemis by the haire and presented it to the Princesse Alchidiana 〈◊〉 Madame I nowe thinke my selfe acquiteâ— of the promise which I made to my gracious Lord your Father for héere is that conspyring head that first accused you bethinke your selfe therefore if there be anything else to bee 〈◊〉 for you because I remaine heere readie to accomplish it The Princesse excéeding ioyfull for this worthie victory aunswered Truely my Lord you haue doone so much for mée that although my Father my selfe and all my friendes should bequeath our liues to your seruice yet could wee not recompence the very least of your noble courtesies chéefely this one surpassing all the other and beyonde our abilities to remunerate Yet let me intreate you to carrie the Traytours head to the Iudges that they may censure my innocencie in this slaunder and whether the accuser hath not receiued condigne punishment Which he did and threw the head before the Princes brethren whose gréefâ— excéeded measure for their brothers ill fortune and taking â—ppe the head with the body likewise they caused it to bee sorrowfully conueied foorth of the fielde Immediatly was Palmerins Horse brought him whereon he mounted and was conducted with great pompe by the two Kings that were the Iudges and other mightie Princes as well Caâ—â—ffes Agaz as Taborlanes to the gate of the Pallace where the Soldane to doo him the greater honour attended in person his comming the like hee neuer did before to any king or Prince how mightie soeuer hee was and therefore his Subiects maruailed not a little hereat Palmerin would haue 〈◊〉 him reuerence on his knee but he would not suffer him for taking him in his armes he thus sayd For euer geâ—tle Knight be the honour of thy victorie against our 〈◊〉 and thâ— false accuser of our Daughter for which I 〈…〉 so bound to thee that all the dignities 〈…〉 I am able to giue thée may not counteruaile 〈…〉 desâ—rts therefore I will remaine so much at thy disposition as I and mine shall be at your command So 〈◊〉 him by the 〈◊〉 he conducted him to his Chamber 〈◊〉 where himselfe hâ—lpe to vâ—arme him commaunding his Chirurgioâ—s to be so carefull of him as of his owne person Thus leauing him to haue his wounds dressed he returned to the great Hall where hee found his nobility attending his comming to whom he sayd What think you my Lords of our state if our Champion had béene foyled I had béene the most forlorne and abiect Lorde in all Assiria to haue béene forced to do iustice on myne owne Daughter But thanks to our Gods hee deliuered mée from that â—aunger therefore maruaile not if beyonde my custome I welcommed him with reuerence and honour for one that renowmeth himselfe by vertue and prowesse through the whole world ought to bée so entertained rather then such as liue in vayne pompe and glory whispering deceitfull tales into
Palmerin was the better more richly prouided of all things necessarie for the field Olorico was the more glad of his companie so the day béeing spent and the Tents pitched in a goodly plaine Palmerin inuited the Prince of Arabia to suppe with him for the Souldane had appointed him such honourable prouision as better hée could not for his owne sonne The Tables withdrawne and spending the time a while at Chesse play they went to bed where Olorico not able to sléepe beganne in this manner to his friendly companion Most fortunate Palmerin howe much more could I wish to resemble you then the greatest King or Lorde in the world to be likewise beloued of her who in beautie good grace and swéete spéech hath not her like And because my good Friend and Brother I haue noted the speciaâ—â— loue of the Princesse Alchidiana towardes you let me intreate you to tell me who shée is you aboue all other loue and intend to make your espoused Wife vowing to you on the word of a Prince whosoeuer it bee to conceale it with secrecie and to disswade my selfe from my loue newly begunne for your sake albeit I died therefore For your noble minde and braue gentilitie hath gained such soueraigntie ouer me as all other pleasures whatsoeuer I despise onely to haue your companye and fauour Thus quallifying the passions which day and night doo secretly torment mée I will sette downe such order as my Father shall not néede to send his Ambassadours nor imploy any of my Fréendes to demaunde her for mee albeit for this onelye cause I left my Countrey in such sort as you haue seene Palmerin hearing the wordes of the yoong Prince and perceiuing him wounded with her loue whom he desired to be furthest from smyling said My Lorde Oloriâ—o I sweare to you by the honour of my Knighthoode I neuer thought of the loue which you demaunde nor haue I any desire to followe that humour But true it is that I would doo so much for her as a Knight may for his Ladie for so shée well deserues her fauour and gentle behauiour woorthye farre better abilitie wherefore my déere Fréende if you will beléeue me giue not ouer your intent but practise to gaine her to your Wife and I promise you that I will so mooue the matter to the Soldane and her as happilie maye effect the end of your desires Yet let me intreate you to continue so iust a Fréende to her as her high calling well deserueth otherwise I had rather die the death then once to speake a word on your behalfe These newes so cheered the Prince as embracing him manie times and returning him manifold thanks he said Assuredlie my noble Freend I am greatly beholding to my father who gaue me my present being but much more owe I to you because my estate had now ended but that your gracious spéeches called me againe to 〈◊〉 My second selfe hauing thus lost my libertie I despaire of attaining what you haue promised and endure a death more then mortall but that you breath hope of successe into me assuring mée of immediate felicitie and ioyfull dayes héereafter which no father but so good a fréende was able to doo After other such like spéeches the Prince slept but Palmerin touched in another sort was solliced with the remembraunce of his lost fréendes and perceiuing his companion slept soundlie he began thus to deliuer his sorrowes Ah vnfortunate and wretched Palmerin how can thy mind so long beare this yoke of seruitude onely standing in feare of death Hast thou so forgot those two perfect louers Trineus and Agriola with thy true fréend Ptolome not knowing whether they bee aliue or deade what wilt thou not searche for them The Emperour of Allemaigne hath not hée good cause to complaine of thée yea and to blame thée if his sonne be not returned Darest thou present thy selfe before him Ah touch of loyaltie faire Agriola how iustlye mayst thou call mée thine enemie inuenter and fiâ—st motion of thy misfortunes O wretched and miserable that I am for leauing thée so discourteouslye I well deserue a million of torments farre worse then those exercised by the cruell Dyonise on the Scicilians Nor coulde they be sufficient to expiate my hainous guilt in that forgetting thée fayre Princesse I liue in daylie delights among these Moores and Tartars But were I such as I ought to bee mindfull of a fault so foullie committed I shoulde not liue one houre in rest or quiet till I had found my déerest Fréendes againe Ah disloyall Traytour how canst thou thus waste thy time héere slothfullie knowing the great and continuall trauails thy Ladye and Mistresse endureth for thée But I vowe to God this warre finished I will not abide in the Soldanes Courte tenne dayes but intende to sette forwarde to sée the Iewell of of my welfare And were it not to my perpetuall discredit as also that I should be iudged a faynting coward I would begin my iourney presently Thus all the night continued Palmerin such like coâ—plaints considering his Fréendes misfortune and his owne with such déepe impressions as thence forward hee liued in meruailous melancholie and would not delight himselfe 〈◊〉 before hee was accustomed Chap. XVIII Of the Combat betweene Palmerin and two of Aâ—aranoes Brethren whom he valiantly ouercame and killed FOllowing the true discourse of our historie the King of Balisarca Lieuetenant generall of the whole Armie caused the next morning to bée proclaimed by souÌ„d of Trompet that euery man should attend on his Ensigne and not go robbing and forraging the Uillages on paine of death to be inflicted on the offender So marching on in good array in short time after they encamped themselues before a citie where the enemies kept themselues in garison and planting themselues there for their aduantage the next morning they determined to giue the assault All yâ— night they were ordering the maner of their batterie the Pyoners making Trenches and such defences as are requisit in warlike occasions Euery thing in due and perfect order at Sun rysing they beganne to assaile the Cittie rounde about following their intent with such courage and alacritie as with scaling Ladders and other Engines in lesse then two hâ—wres they gotte vpon the walles and in despight of their enemies entred the Cittie murdering and expulsing the Phrygians and sharing the spoyle among themselues All other Citties Townes and Uillages that were taken by the enemie within sixe dayes after were recouered they not daring to withstand the Soldans power Gramiell Amaranoes eldest Brother amazed héereat hauing vndertaken to reuenge his Brothers death with his men betooke himselfe to open Fielde determining to giue the Assirians battaile and that way to make triall of their fortune in which resolution they came within halfe a dayes iourney of theyr enemies The King of Balisarca aduertised héereof dislodged immediatlie taking aduauntage of a little Mountaine which was in the open sight of the enemie And Palmerin who
desired nothing more then the fight that hée might accomplish his promise to the Princesse Alchidiana when hee receiued of her his rich Shéelde and Launce perswaded the Generall that hée should the next morning summon the Bretheren of Amarano that within foure and twentie howres they should depart the Soldanes confines or else endure the daunger of the Sworde The King of Balisarca aduising héereon in counsaile founde it verie necessarie and expedient wherefore calling his Sonne Sir Paâ—merin and the Prince Olorico hee committed the charge thereof to theyr present dispatch They béeing come to the Armie of Gramieâ—l were immediatly conducted to the Princes Tent who was then deliberating with his Brethren and other Captaines of the Armie So soone as he vnderstoode the arriuall of these Ambassadours he caused them to come before him and their message béeing deliuered the Phrygian Princes who were of meruailous haughtie disposition aunswered that they would not obey any such commaundement Moreouer they intended to chase thence the Soldanes Lieuetenant euen to the verie Gates of his owne Cittie for that contrarie to all equitie hée withstoode the buriall of their Brothers bodie in his kingdome Gueresin Sonne to the King of Bâ—lisarca could not suffer such iniurie to his Lorde in his presence wherefore he said that the Soldane had doone them no wrong but receiued their Brother and his traine with greater honour then they deserued and that none of them should haue the like againe So went hée foorth of the Pauillion Gramiell and two of his Brethren following him whereof the one had béene in Asiria with his Brother Amarano who séeing Palmerin that all this while kept himselfe without the Tent and marking his Shéeld wherin mockage was painted his Brothers head he knew him immediatlie and in great rage pulling himselfe by the haire said Uillaine that I am how can I suffer in my presence the Traytour that murdered my Brother Bold and presumptuous catife how durst thou aduenture before mee thus to deride me with thy villainie Trust me saide Palmerin I dare come before thée with better assuraunce of my selfe Then thy Brother had when he entred Combat with me Whereore if thou be such a Gallant as thou wouldest haue me iudge thée by these brauadoes and likewise hast any stomacke to reuenge thy Brothers shame Arme thy selfe and an other of thy Brethren with thée and come to me in place conuenient where I my selfe will iustifie to you both that Amarano was woorthilye slaine and as such a false accusing Traytour well deserued I desire nothing more saide Orinella for so was hée called that gaue these hotte spéeches but my Brother shall not deale with thée till I haue tried my fortune alone and if I faile of my purpose then shall he afterwarde Combat with thée this prouided that thou assure mée from any in thy companie but thine owne person That will I vppon my Knighthoode said Palmerin thou perfourming as much on thy behalfe yet I thinke before the sport be doone that thou wilt wiâ—h thy fellow with thée Thus Palmeriu Olorico and Gueresin withdrewe themselues Orinello and his brother presently going to Arme them and accompanied with manie Knights came into the field Palmerin likewise as readie as the formost came in with a good traine of Souldiers hee had brought with him least any treason shoulde bée wrought against him Olorico shewed himselfe greatly discontented because hée might not accompanie his Fréende in the Combat but Palmerin perswaded him that more néedefull occasions were reserued for him which should returne him greater honour and whom he should court in better sort then euer he did the Ladies of Arabia Gramiell being verie richly armed woulde néedes come see his Brethrens Combat which hée had good hope would sort to theyr honor but Palmerin séeing Orinello readie to the carrire encountred his enemie with such puissance as his Launce passing through his boyd caused him fall dead from his horse without moouing eyther hand or foote Hauing performed his course hee returned to take his Launce out of his enemies body striking him with the great Trunchion ende on the stomacke to sée if any life was left in him but séeing his soule was departed to Lucifers Pallace hée coutched his stafe to receiue the other Brother who met him with such strength as he was well néere dismounted yet in the ende hée was sent after his Brother though manie hardie strokes first passed betwéene them Héereupon was such a suddaine crie on all sides some with ioy and other with sorrowe as made the ayre resound theyr voices And I thinke that the Greekes when they receiued their libertie by Quintus Elaminius made not the like clamour when as Valerius rehearseth the Byrds fell from the ayre with the furie of theyr cries In the meane while the King of Balisarca hauing hearde héereof came into the Fielde accompanied with maniâ— Lords and conducted Palmerin with great honour and tryumphe backe to his Tent especiallie the Prince Olorico who excéeding ioyfull for the good fortune of his companion embracing him saide Ah gentle Palmerin how brauelie haue you accomplished your promise to the Princesse the like successe heauen graunt you in labouring my cause Beléeue me good Prince quoth Palmerin so well will I imploye my selfe in that action as I hope you shall haue cause to thanke me Now to returne to Gramiell he caused his Brethrens bodyes to be conuaied thence and embalmed them in two Chests of leade referring their Funerall till his returne and with the teares in his eyes he thus began to encite his people Not knowing howe my louing Freendes and Countreymen to animate your mindes sufficiently with remembraunce of the tirannie exercised by the Soldane on the bodye of my Brother and your Prince vnhappie occasion presents you with a fresh memory of reuenge séeing these two yong Princes the beloued Sonnes of your King so shamefullye slaine in your presence For this cause déere Fréendes that each of you may take a newe couragious spirite to morrowe to encounter these effeminate Assirians let vs all be resolute togither and cause them to vnderstand that you who haue lead your liues in the Deserts of Affrica much better know how to mannage Armes then such loyterers in theyr Mistresses Chambers who can doo nothing but before theyr Ladies Héerevpon two hundred Knightes aduaunsed themselues before him swearing and vndertaking to bring Palmerins bodie to him the day following and therefore all that might they prepared themselues strengthening theyr Shéeldes and Armour and all other things necessarie for the fight thinking the next morning by Sunne rysing to bid them battaile these knightes inuenting to ambush thâ—mselues as you shall heare Palmerin beeing brought thus honorablye to his Tent called for the Chirurgions to visit his woundes which they founde so easie to bee cured as they assured him of spéedie recouerie Hée then â—mmoning the whole Counsaile togither aduised them that in his opinion hée thought it expedient to dislodge that place
thou not consider thy great offence committed against the God of heauen medling with a Woman more brute then brutishnesse it selfe and thy disloyall treason agaynst my selfe Be assured that if thou presently forsake not her companie I will neuer forget thy fault but chastise thée continually as a dissembling reprobate So she departed Palmerin intreating her to pardon this iuiurie which she would not heare but floong away in great anger and he awaking brake foorth into these spéeches Ah vnhappie wretch that I am thus to loose the gracious fauour of my Mistresse These wordes awaked the Prince Olorico who embracing him in his armes demauâ—ed the cause of his sorrow but Palmerin was so surprised wish 〈◊〉 he would make no answere but fell from the Bedde in a swoune Olorico fearing he was dead cried out for helpe whereat the Quéene arose and casting her night Mantle about her came to know the occasion of this clamour and finding Palmerin breathlesse shée called for so many present remedyes as extinguished the passionate fitte Palmerin séeing the Quéene so néere him clothed himselfe immediately and departed the Chamber commaunding all his people to prouide themselues for he would depart thence within an howres space Neither could the earnest intreaties of the Quéene nor courteous perswasions of Alfarano cause him to stay till Dinner time but his carriage béeing sent before and his men attending him hée came to take his leaue of the Quéene who verie sorrowfull for this straunge accident said to him at his departure Noble Palmerin my heart attainted with such extreame gréefe as the sight of you doth somewhat remedie expected further hope of ease by your presence but séeing your departure may not bée withstoode I pray you vouchsafe to weare this King for my sake and kéepe it safely till my messenger bring you another like vnto it Madame quoth Palmerin beeing vnable to remunerate the great honours you haue done me I will not denie you so small a request that I may the better fulfill the bond of allegiaunce wherin I stande bound to you while I liue Go then in the safe protection of the Gods quoth shée for thou hast left me such a recompence as all my life time will be ioyfull to mée Palmerin not vnderstanding â—er darke spéeches departed putting the King on his finger béeing the most rich and curious péece of worke that euer was séene for in it was a goodly great Rubie cutte in faces so liuely as could be deâ—ised which shone so brightly as in the night time it sparckled great light The Quéene like wise 〈◊〉 shée had giuen great riches to the Admirall returned to her Countrey leading thenceforwarde a verie chaste and continent life â—nely for his sake by whom 〈…〉 selfe conceyued with Childe And at the time appointed bâ— nature shee was deliuered of a goodlie Sonne resembling his Father in braue constitution whome the mother caused to bée named Palmendos as well in memorie of his father Palmerin as also of his Graundsire Florendos from them deriuing his name as béeing the onlie flower of Chiualrie And as Palmerin was vertuous so did his Sonne follow him in all bountie prudence magnanimitie loyalty liberalitie courtesse and humanitie in briefe he had all the noble vertues that a Child might receiue from his father as you may at large perceyue in his Historie But because his deeds as yet serue not to our purpose we will leaue him growing vnder his mothers charge and returne to them whom lately we left Chap. XXI Howe Palmerin to colour his intended and desirous voyage into Christendome perswaded the Soldane to sende his Armie to Constantinople and what followed thereon GReatlie desirous was Palmerin to returne towards the Soldane and therefore would not make his way by Pasmeria but iourneyed thitherwarde where the King of Balisarca staied his comming who came to méet him with all the Lordes and Captaines of his Armie Thus hauing brought the Countrey in quiet obeysaunce of the Soldane with theyr prisoners they returned towardes his Maiestie sending worde before of their spéedie comming The Soldane was not a little ioyfull of these tydings as also of the fortunate victorie against his enemies wherefore he left the Cittie of Calpha and determined to méete them at a Castell of pleasure which hee had lately edifyed chéefely because hée would sée the good order of his Armie which was now conducted in better equipage then before was woont to bée séene in Assiria The King of Balisarca caused the captiues to be ledde before who by his commaundement when they came in the Soldanes presence threw their Armour to the ground and thrée times fell on their knées kissing the ground prostrating themselues before him with great reuerence All these ceremonies finished Palmerin the Prince Olorico with the other Gouernours of the Féelde came and kissing his highnesse hande hée intertained them verie graciously and after he had embraced Palmerin he woulde néedes ryde betwéene him and the King of Balisarca In this order rode thy on to the Pallace Gate where his Ladie Lethea and Alchidinia her Daughter trickt vp in vestures of surpassing value attended their comming and after the accustomed reuerences on all sides entered the great Hall where the Princesse taking Palmerin by the hande before her Father and all his Barons thus spake Sir Palmerin so well is your prowesse and haughtie déedes of Armes knowne to euery one as my prayse cannot extoll them to aduauntage notwithstanding I dare say before my Father and all his Lords héere present that hée is so much indebted to you as he can nâ—uer returne sufficient recompence These words vttered with such affection were noted by euery one especially the Prince Olorico when Palmerin made this answere to the Princesse Madame héere may you behold the Prince of Arabia one of the best Knights that euer I knewe and who hath doone more seruice to your Father and you in this warre then any other beside for with his owne hande he slue Gramiell who was chiefe leader of the Phrygian Armie Beside such and so many haue béene his rare exploytes as no one that I knowe may be equalled with him And all this hée admitteh to your fauour wherein hée earnestly desireth to continue so please you to accept him for your Knight deliuering this assurance before hand that héereafter hée will aduenture his life in your cause whersoeuer it shal like you to commaund him For this cause Madame you may not refuse him being the man that among all the Assirians dooth best deserue to be your seruaunt Alchidinia who well vnderstoode to what ende his spéeches tended and the occasion why Palmerin thus spake aduised her selfe well and returned this answere So helpe me our Gods I know well that the Prince Olorico is so puyssant and renowmed as any man of whom I yet heard notwithstanding I hope the Soldane my Father will not be ingratefull in the knowledge thereof and that sufficiently I dare awarrant yée But I desire
shee could vnderstand no tydings albeit she had trauailed her verie vttermost endeuours which forced her to so manie extreame imaginations as the very least was worse then death it selfe The Emperours trayne lodging each way about the Castle hindered our two Knights from any good hostage so that they were constrained to abide in a little simple house where they demaunded of a Courtier that lay there what time the Emperour would depart thence who aunswered that his highnesse was minded that day to returne to Gaunt to conferre with the Princes electours of speciall affaires concerning the Empire Palmerin ioyfull heereof caused his Horse to bée brideled and accompanied with Olorico went and ambushed themselues in a little thicket néere the high way where the Emperour must needes passe to the ende he might beholde his Ladie Polynarda Palmerin attending her comming who was the onely support of his life his heart leapt with conceite of his ioy to come yet trembled likewise because hee durst not present himselfe before the imperiall maiestie without the noble Trineus Soone after by the Guarde of Archers that came formost hee well perceiued the Emperour was at hand when remembring the honors and faâ—ours he had receiued in his Court the teares trickled downe his chéekes chéefely for want of his highnesse sonne who was so especially committed to his trust then followed the Empresse and with her the faire Princesse Polynarda clothed all in black witnessing by her outwarde habit the secret sorrowes of her heart Her thoughts still hammering on her priuat gréefes yet assailed with a sodaine motion shee gaue such a sigh as Palmerin easily heard it which troubled him in such sort as without the assurance of Olorico hee had fallen downe from his Horse Polynarda beholding his sodaine alteration without any regarde of her Mother called Vrbanillo the Dwarfe to her who since his comming from England neuer boudged from her and to him she sayd Hast thou héeretofore Vrbanillo séene these two Knights which shaddow themselues in the wood side while wee passe by No trust mee Madame quoth the Dwarfe I neuer sawe them to my remembrance I pray thee said she ride to them so fast as thou canst and demaunde of thâ—m from me of whence they are and if they can tell any tydings of thy maister and my Brother Trineus The Dwarfe who was more then a Doctor in such affaires dissembling that his Horse would stale suffered the traine to passe by and then rode towards the knights who were deuising on the Princesse beautie Palmerin well knowing Vrbanillo and séeing him come in such hast was not a little glad thinking now he should heare some newes of his Mistresse wherefore he saide is Olorico I pray you let vs goe méete this Horseman for I thinke his returne is onely to vs. Nowe was the Dwarffe come to them and hauing humbly saluted them said I beséech you faire Knights to tell me whether you belong to the Emperour or are straungers for the Ladie whome I serue is verie desirous to knowe and that for matters néerely concerning her whereof if you can any way truely resolue her your rewarde shall aunswere your owne contentment What Vrbanillo quoth Palmerin lifting vp his Beuer didst thou not knowe thy Maister Oh Heauen quoth the Dwarffe praised by thy maker for euer for this aduenture And moued with extreame ioy he fell at this Maisters féete saying Ah my Lord what comfort will this be to the Princesse Polynarda when shée shall vnderstande your presenâ—â— and not without iuste cause for by this meane is shée deliuered from the greatest torments in the worlde And that nothing may want to furnish this long expected ioy tell me if the Knight in your companie be the Prince Trineus or no It is not hée quoth Palmerin for it is more then a year since that of him and faire English Agriola after that I vnfortunate lost them heard anie certaine report For this cause Vrbanillo it behooues thée to be faithfull and secrete not discouering my béeing héere to any but my Ladie of whome thou must learne by what meanes I may best come to sée her The Dwarffe taking his leaue of his Maister turned his Horse to be gone but comming backe suddainlie againe saide Is this Sir Ptolome that is with you Madame Brionella will not be a litle glad to hear of him likewise Nor is it he quoth Palmerin I lost him in company with the rest God will restore them one day againe saide the Dwarffe so giuing the spurres to his horse he galloped till he came to the Princesse who séeing him returned in such haste knew not well what to think 〈◊〉 fearing to be discouered by a kâ—ight that accompanied her determined not to request his tidings vntill shée came home into her Chamber But neuer was poore Louer in greater agony when she expected her friend in some priuat place then was the faire Princesse at this present wherefore so soone as shée came to her Chamber shée called for the Dwarffe who being come shée said I pray thée Vrbanillo by the reuerend dutie thou owest mée whence are the two Knights and what answere did they make thée They are such swéet Madam quoth the Dwarffe as when all the men in the world could tell no tydings of my selfe by happie fortune haue found for by them I bring you the Key of Paradise if your self wil but find the meane to enter Tush I pray thée quoth the Princesse iest not with me in this sort for now is no time of sport or meriment tell mée who they are I desire thée Know then fair Madam quoth he that one of them is my Maister Palmerin who thus concealeth him because he hath not brought the Prince your brother with him and he humbly kissing your hand commends him to your gracious fauour desiring you to send him answer how he may secretly speak with you because he wold not be knowne to the Emperor or any other of yâ— Court How welcome these long expected newes were to the Princesse I leaue to the opinion of long absent friends O heauens quoth she doth Palmerin liue and is so near at hand now hath my hart his only desired comfort and such is my hope that séeing he is come my brother by his meanes shall not be long hence to such good fortune are all his actions destenied Presently she ran to tell Brionella these newes who likewise was excéeding ioyfull because she imagined Palmerins companion to be her Ptolome Whereupon they concluded togither that Palmerin should the night following come to the Gardein where first his swéet Amours were sollicited and by a Lâ—dder of Cords he should ascend their Chamber This resolution set downe the Dwarffe departed to execute his charge when Polinarda thus began to Brionella Ah my deare friend how impossible is it for me to hide the ioy my heart conceiueth that was so late in such surpassing heauinesse What will my Ladies now thinke when they behold their Mistresse so
stéede hée was contented and committing all to the Emperors pleasure was carried backe againe to prison in such pensiuenesse as he was iudged not able to liue til the combat day The Quéene likewise was kept in sure guarde despayring howe she shoulde finde a Knight that would aduenture on her behalfe in fight because the strength and prowesse of the Challenger was so renowmed Leauing thus these two louers in doubts and feares let vs returne where we left before to noble Palmerin that hee may bring them some better comfort Chap. XXVIII How Palmerin hauing staid with his Ladie fiue dayes in so great pleasure as his heart could desire fearing to be discouered to the Emperour tooke his leaue of her promising to begin the search of Trineus and Ptolome POlynarda hauing her Fréend in her custodie would not presume so farre vpon her selfe or the faithfulnesse of her Ladies as shée would suffer him to stay there in the day time and doubting likewise least his comming in the night should be espyed committed the whole matter in such trust to Bryonella as they performed their ioyes without any impeachment During these delights and amourous contentments which these timorous Louers passed togither the Princesse among other talke rehearsed to her Fréend how the King of Fraunce sent his Ambassadours to the Emperour to treate on the marriage betwéene her and his eldest Sonne as also her Brother Trineus with his Daughter Lucemania And howe importunate the Empresse had béene with her discouering what honour and felicitie it should bée to her to bée Quéene of so great a Kingdome as Fraunce is And trust mée my Lord quoth shée I know my Parents are so affected to this alliaunce as if my Brother Trineus were come I know no meane whereby to excuse my selfe Alas Madame quoth Palmerin herein you may consider if the Emperour by violent force constraine you héereto what continuall gréefe it will bée to your Seruaunt Palmerin What torment What tyrannous paines of strange conceit may equall themselues with the verie least of my passions nor can I any way bee able to endure them The doubtfull feares of this misfortune strooke to his heart with such an impression as hee fell in a swoune betwéene his Ladies armes shée embracing him with such ardent affection as the soule of the poore tormented Louer séeling with what equall desire his Ladie requited him receiued fresh strēgth into his languishing bodie and béeing come to his former estate the Princesse said Alas my Lord at the time I supposed to be in assuraunce with you and to thinke on no imaginations but new pleasures and delights forgetting the regarde you haue long continued in expectation of the wished fortunate houre will yée bée nowe the cause of my death Thinke you that if loue bée so violent on your behalfe it excéedeth not a thousand times more in mée Beléeue me you men make your vaunts of the great passions feares and doubts you haue to offende your Ladyes whom to serue loyally you haue especially chosen but in no wise may these oppressions be compared to ours Where is hée among ye who hath experimented howe great the paine of dishonor is and can couer his extreame loue with dissimulation What a death is it to constraine violence agaynst it selfe to containe the piercing eye and subdue an heart so affectionate as bringeth death to the rest of the bodie if shee shewe not some part of her desire by lookes the faithfull and secrete messengers to him she hath chosen loueth and wisheth The torment of the will like wise when one dare not come in presence nor behold her fauoured to languish and yet may séeke no meane of helpe all these insupportable miscries we poore Ladies must endure béeing giuen by nature or forced for a custome Wherefore my Lorde present not me with your passions considering each thing as it ought they may not be compared to the least of mine for loue who hath ouermaistred me reigueth with such resolute authoritie as I must sooner die then offer you anie wrong séeing that as my Lord and Husband I haue elected you and bestowed those fauours on you which are most desired to wit willing obedience and that then which nothing is more precious Hauing then made you soueraigne of my selfe the Prince of Fraunce cannot enioy an other mans right And if my Father vsing his authoritie shall enforce mée although it be gréeuous to mée I will tell him what hath happened and no menaces whatsoeuer shall alter mine opinion Palmerin séeing his Ladie so firme and loyall was not a little ioyfull thus answering Doubtlesse my deare and most gracious Mistresse hitherto I durst presume on my selfe that by my manifolde loyall seruices I shoulde one day deliuer recompence for some part of the honours you haue done mée but nowe I perceiue that abounding in your graces you depriue me of all meanes to acknowledge your bountie which commonly men desire to shew by their obedience nor shall I be able to deserue the inestimable value contained in the simplest worde of your last most honorable promise Nowe the Princesse discerning by the Window that Aurora Phoebus his faire Porter began to let foorth the morning light and prouide way for his Maisters iourney withdrew her selfe to her Chamber and quicklie layde her downe by Brionella who the better to hide her Ladies affayres dissembled that she had a feuer Quotidian by which meaue shée compassed to kéepe her Chamber and entertained Palmerin as her selfe desired All this while Vrbanillo brought newes from the Prince Olorico who was so desirous to sée the Princesse againe as hée vowed not to depart the Cittie before hée accomplished what hée intended Palmerin who loued him as his Brother was in great doubt howe hée shoulde safelye bring it to passe till Bryonella whose deuises were euer readyest sayde My Lord the man béeing no way able to hurt you of the lesse importance néede you make the matter will yée sée howe we will a little iuggle with the Emperour Let it be sayd that the Prince is Cozin to Vrbanillo and the cause of his comming into his Countrey was to séeke you then because he vnderstandes how my Ladie loues the Dwarffe 〈◊〉 Maiestie without anie doubt will suffer the two Cozins to take their leaue of her will not this deuise then shadow his séeing the Princesse Without question quoth Palmerin I shoulde neuer haue inuented such a subtiltie be it then as you haue determined but with great politie that the Emperour misdoubt nothing for if he discouer vs we are shamed for euer Referre it to me sayd Brionella if I discribe not their kindred cunningly neuer beléeue that a Woman can inuent a lie without studie Brinella conferring with the Dwarffe layde downe the platforme in such order as the next day the Prince came before the Emperour when Vrbanillo on his knée desired leaue that hée might depart with his Cozin there present to séeke his Maister in whose search he woulde
sorrow hée conceiued for his Ladie knowing him to bée the same man indéede was so excéeding ioyfull as infinit embracings and kissings woulde not serue to bewraye his comfort for such gracious welcomes reuerence and courtesie he vsed as Palmerin bashfull to bee vsed with such honour said Unseemelie is it my Lord that you should thus much abase your selfe to mee for vnder correction it ill agrees that the Maister should honour the Seruaunt The poore Prince could not but still holde him in his armes and with teares and meruailous affection thus aunswered Ah Palmerin mine onelie hope and comfort in trouble where hast thou beene what fortune hath kept thee so long from mee My déere Fréende howe manie yrkesome thoughts haue I endured expecting thy comming so that when I saw thou didst not returne and I could no way heare what was become of thée the verye conceite of thy absence had néerâ—â—laine me Then carelesse what became of my selfe being depriued of my loue and honour of my life I am fallen into these miseries farre excéeding death which Fortune I sée hath permitted because I am perswaded that thou must deliuer me from all mishappes and by thée shall I attaine my chéefest desires Ah happie and fortunate hower well worthie for euer to be celebrated with tryumphâ—s finding thée the onely cause of my good whome long since I feared was consorted with the dead but séeing thou art now so happilie come acquaint me with the fortunes that â—raied thée thus long for very desirous am I to knowe them Palmerin was so gréeued to sée him in such weake sicklie estate as hée could hardlie make any aunswere yet striuing with himselfe said My noble Lord the time requireth now other occasions héereafter shall I tell you the whole discourse Graunt mée I beséeche you without further intreating that I may enter the Combat in your name against one of those Traitours who haue accused you for such is my hope in God that I shall spéede luckilie and bring him to the end such a villaine deserues With all my heart quoth the Prince I am contented assuring my successe so well in your vertues as if fiue hundred of my Knights did enter the fielde for mée And to the ende that without feare or doubt you maye take my cause in hand I sweare to you by the liuing God that since Tarsius espoused Griana I neuer sawe her till when the King came and found me with her which was so short a time as she had not the leysure to make mée any answer True it is that I kild the King but howe I did it in respect hée was mine enemie and abused my Lady and lawful wife What though they were espoused togither the mariage was not to be allowed in that it was doone against her will she béeing as I haue said my Wife by solemne spéeches before God married to me It suffiseth said Palmerin I haue enough You shall likewise vnderstande my Lord that I haue brought with me another Knight who will gladlie aduenture the Combate on the Quéenes behalfe and such a one he is as the other accuser will scant dare to stande against him wherefore let mée intreate you to comfort your selfe expecting our happy and fortunate successe Florendos falling on his knée gaue thanks to Heauen for this luckie euent and hauing an indifferent while conferred togither after Palmerin had aduertised Frenato of his Sonne Ptolomes health and that in short time hee had good hope to finde him he returned to the Emperour to whome making great reuerence he saide Now my gracious Lorde I come to vnderstand your answer I pray you sir Knight quoth the Emperour holde me excused if I haue not welcommed you as your nobilitie bountie and highe Chiualrie deserueth but after the Combat is ended which for my part I graunt ye what hath wanted now shall bée supplyed so that your selfe shall rest contented I thanke your Maiestie for this extraordinarie fauour said Palmerin and séeing the Prince hath committed his cause to my fortune I beséech you send for the Kings Nephewes that the appointed daye may not bee preuented by any further delayes And if the Quéene your Daughter be not prouided of a Champion this Knight poynting to Frysoll my vowed Fréende and companion shall vndertake her cause in that he came hither for no other businesse and such good experience haue I made of his valour and hardinesse as if by knightlie Chiualrie her right may be defended assure your selfe my Lord this is the man I thinke said the Emperor she is not as yet determined of anie one albeit full manie haue made offer of themselues and for wee will expect no further this Knight shall be preferred before all that come I humbly thanke your Maiestie for this fauour aunswered Frysoll yet would I bee loth to presume too farre before I vnderstand the Quéenes pleasure The Emperour caused him to be conducted to the Quéenes Chamber and his two companions with him who desired to sée the Ladies where béeing entred Frysoll humbly vpon his knée began in this manner Right noble and excellent Quéene so far through Christendome is spread the report of your rare vertuous and integritie of life especially your innocencie in the crime wherewith you are accused as from farre Countreyes I am come to be your Knight if you will vouchsafe me such honour as to accept me Assuring you that vnder your commaundement and in the companie of my noble Fréend who vndertakes the Combat for my Lord Florendos right willing am I to aduenture life and credit Alas Gentle Knight quoth the Quéene this offer procéedeth from your courtesie and bountie not by any vertue on my parte deseruing for too contrarie hath Fortune euermore sette her selfe against me But verie ingratefull might I bee accounted and neuer be reckoned among Ladies of regard if hauing taken such paines for me I shoulde not accept you for my Knight especiallie in so vrgent occasion Therefore I entertaine you into this seruice and I desire of God that you may be as easilie deliuered from the charge you take in hand for me as my conscience is cléere from the faulte wherwith I am accused I hope Madame quoth Frysoll that my Lord your Father shall ere long perceiue your loyall perfect and pure nobilite which neuer can kéepe companie with seruile anâ— detestable treason All this while Palmerin beholding the Quéene séeing her swéete face so stained and blubbered with teares mooued with naturall remorse was constrained to turne his head aside to hide the teares that trickled down his chéekes The Quéene likewise regarded him so earnestlye as when â—he behelde him wéepe she imagined that one gaue a violent pull at her heart which shee dissembled so well as she could determining not to demand the cause thereof vntill such time as the Combatte were finished So taking their leaue of the Quéene and the Princesse Armida they returned to their lodging till the next morning when the Emperour
should be maried to one of the best Knights of the world Wée néede not doubt that the Quéene was héereat amazed yet the loue of the Mother to her infant cannot conquer the loue of the Wife to her Husbande which among all loues is the most honest and loyall so that in hope to frée him againe on whom depended her health and welfare shée gaue her Childe to the Damosell intreating that shée might be vsed as beséemed the Daughter of a King and as the swéete beautie of the infant deserued Shée returning to Carderia with the Childe made her Sisters verie ioyful by her comming who there nourished the infant till shée was three yéeres olde when the beautie of the yong Princesse beganne to shewe it selfe as fayre Cynthia dooth among the Starres Nowe did the Sisters inclose her in a strong Tower made of purpose for young Francelina wherein was the most goodly Garden in the worlde there was shee attended by her Nursses and sixe waiting Gentlewomen and such enchauntments were imposed on the Tower as no man should euer sée her vnlesse he were the best Knight of his time The entraunce into the Tower was verie strayte and narrowe barred vppe with a great Gate of yron and guarded with two furious Lyons Ouer the gate stoode a huge Image of Copper holding a mightie Mace of Stéele wrought by such cunning as if anie Knight but he that was destenied to end the aduenture should assay to enter hardly might he escape to returne againe Moreouer the conquerour should not demaund the first demaund of the princesse which was the deliuerance of her Father and for this cause the Sisters enchaunted the faire Francelina whose Historie wée must yet forbeare procéeding where wee leâ—t before Olimaell béeing thus on the Sea laden with Christian spoyles and prisoners at length entred the port of the great Cittie of Tubant where hée made such a chéerefull noyse of Droms Trumpets Clarions and Cornets as though the greatest Monarch in the worlde had come to take landing The great Turke maruailing at this sodaine melodie sent one of his Knights to vnderstand the cause who béeing certified by Olimaell what great victories hee had obtained against the Christians and the number of prysoners he brought with him returned to the Pallace where he told his Lord that the Admirall Olimaell was come and had brought with him great spoyles from the Christians where among quoth hee is a Christian King in person many worthy Knights and Gentlemen and a young Princesse of incomparable beautie Not a little ioyfull was the Turke at these newes wherefore comming into his great Hall where the imperiall seates of maiestie were erected himselfe fate downe in the â—one and faire Agriola of England in the other expecting the comming of Olimaell who in tryumphant manner set forward with his prize brauely mounted on a lustie Coâ—rser sumptuously caparasoned and aduauncing his sword drawne in signe of victorie Béeing come to the Pallace Olimaell saluted his Lorde with great reuerence standing by him to make report of his conquest and make present of his prisoners after their estate and calling First he caused all the riches to be brought and all the meanest captiues one after another to kisse the great Turks foote then commaunding them to be carried thence he began in this manner It is not to be doubted most high and mightie Monarch that this victorie gotten on the Christians enemies to our Gods hath beene obtained onely by your fauour therefore it is good reason that the principall head of this enterprise the great and chéefest honour should be doone The witnesse héereof are the treasures present and these prisoners abyding your mercie who from the very meanest to the highest shall humble themselues at your maiesties fâ—â—te When very many had doone theyr reuerence and the King of Thessaly shoulde next follow who though his handes were pinniond behinde him yet had a Crowne of Gold on his head to shewe what hée was although he sawe himselfe in the Traitours power and Olimaell had commaunded him to kisse his Maisters foote boldly made this answere Nor will I so much displease my God vncircumcized Tirant as thou art in such sort to abase my self being a king and administratour of iustice to faithfull Christians to kisse the foote of the mostâ—nastie and vncleane creature in the world profaning the worship which I onely owe to my maker It is in thy power to take my life from mee but not to constraine me do the thing wherein consists my damnation and a thousand deathes I will endure before I yéelde so much as in thought to thée Uillaine quoth the Admirall darest thou speake so vnreuerently in the presence of my Lorde did not my regarde of him withholde mée soone should I seperate thy cursed heâ—d from thy shoulders With these words he gaue the King such a blow on the face as made him fall on his knées to the ground Ah Traytour quoth the King well hast thou shewen the nature of a villaine that without commaunde strykest a King captiue and vnprouided of Armes but might it so please thy Lorde in open Fielde will I prooue thée a disloyall and vnchristened Curre that thus abusest the bloud royall The great Turke séeing the King so moued and angrie the bloud likewise trickling from his nose and mouth commaunded him to be carried thence to one of the strongest Castles in Nacolia where he should be enclosed without any companie that his captiuitie might be the more gréenous to him When the King of Thessaly was departed Palmerin approched leading the Princesse Laurana by the hande hée and his fiue companions beeing Armed except theyr Helmets Gantlets and swords whereat the great Turke maruailing demaunded of Olimaell why hée suffered them to be armed My Lord quoth hee these sixe Knights were the first prize I tooke who after they had giuen me theyr oathes haue done such seruice to your Maiestie especially this poynting to Palmâ—rin one of the best knights that euer I saw as full well do they deserue libertie which in recompeÌ„ce of aduenturing their liues in your seruice vnder your highnesse correction I promised them By Mahomet answered the great Turk for thy sake I likewise confirmâ— it and if héereafter they will abide with mée I will make them greater then euer they were While the Turke was making these promises Agriola hauing well noted Palmerin knew him and with the sodaine conceit thereof was readie to swoune but staying her selfe on her Chayre said O sole bountie who is this are not mine eyes deluded and my thoughts be guiled At these wordes Palmerin knewe her which before hee did not by reason of her strange disguysed apparrell yet thought hee best to conceale his inward ioy least crooked fortune should now againe preuent him The great Turke séeing Agriola looke so pale and wan started from his Chayre and taking her in his Armes said Alas Madame hath any sodaine ill befallen yée hath any one in this companie
was slaine and Agriola deliuered PAlmerin being vpon a day in his Chamber with his Companions practising some meane for the deliuerance of Agriola the Princesse Laurana of Durace came to them framing her spéeches in this maner Gentlemen if any of you be desirous to deliuer vs from this cruell enemie who holdes vs in this thrall and bondage I haue deuised the best meanes that may be and thus it is The Turke the most luxurious and vnchast man in the worlde not contented with infinite number of Concubines hath many times made loue to me so that to compasse mine intent I haue made him promise within thrée dayes to graunt his request In this time I haue intreated the Princesse Agriola to shewe him the most disdamefull countenaunce that may bée which shée hath faythfully promised and for this cause hath sent mee to you to conuay hence all the riches he hath giuen yée and which shée herselfe will likewise send ye so that when the houre is come for me to fulfill his pleasure one of you béeing priuilie armed shall in my place murther him in reuenge of the ill Christendome hath sustained by the last vnhappie voyage of Olimaell who determineth verie shortly as I vnderstand to goe spoyle to Isle of Rhodes Palmerin very glad of the Princesse notable inuention thus answered Because Madame I lately promised the Turke not to depart his Court but to kéepe him companie when he denied his Admirall that I and my companions shoulde go with him to the Rhodes I cannot be the man to ende this woorthie reuenge therefore one of you my Fréendes must resolue to performe it In meane while you Madame Laurana may returne to the Turke pleasing him with faire and fréendly spéeches for if neeuer so little suspition bée gathered not one of vs can escape with life Feare not sayde the Princesse I will vse the matter so carefully as you can desire right well knowe howe to enflame his heart with â—ueint lookes coy disdaines faint dealings aud other such like ceremonies vsed in loue as feare not you to prosecute the stratageme in that a beginning so good must néedes sort to a successiue ende The yong Duke of Pontus who began to growe affectionate towards the Princesse Laurana sayd In sooth my Lord so please you to commit the charge héereof to me so well hope I to execute the same for her sake that did so woorthily inuent it as I dare warrant to deserue no reproch thereby For my first earnest to gentle Loue shall be so gracious as in qualifying the vnlawfull heate of our enemie I will binde my selfe neuer to loue anie other and her faith receyued if I bring not his head to Madame Laurana let mée bée accounted as one of the most slothfull Knights that euer bare Armes Aduertise mée therefore of the place and houre and doubt not of my faithfull performance At this pleasant answer they all be ganne to smile whereupon Palmerin thus spake Beléeue mee noble Duke considering your youth and braue disposition I knowe no one in this â—â—mpanie more méete for the Princesse Laurana then you are but I thinke when the appoynted houre shall come you will bée a little more angrie with the Turke then her if she haue you in that subiâ—ction as it séemes she hath Yet let vs not nowe trifle the time in vaine when such waightie occasions commaundeth our diligence So returned Laurana to the Princesse Agriola acquainting her with the Knights determination when not long after the great Turke entred the Chamber accompanied with Palmerin and the King of Sparta that he might the better speake to her hée so earnestly desired hée caused Palmorin to sit betwéene him and Agriola then turning to Laurana he began to deuise familiarlie with her Which wheâ— Palmerin and Agriola perceiued the better to beguile him hée made a signe to the King of Sparta that hée should enter into some talke of hunting wherat the Turke presently arose and taking Laurana by the hand led her to the window with these spéeches Mistresse of my heart and the very fairest creature that euer mine eyes behelde will ye graunt the request I made to you yesterday Sée you not what great honour I haue done to Madame Agriola Notwithstanding if you will loue me I will make you my Wife that I may haue issue by you to succéede in my kingdome and your honours shall be nothing inferiour to hers And though she still denie me the fauour which with long and continuall pursuite I haue desired yet doe you consider my gréefe and if in short time you vouchsafe me no pitti the extreame afflictions I endure for your loue are rated at the price of my life God forbid quoth Laurana that so great a losse shoulde come to the Orientall Empyre by me rather will I forget the accustomed regard of mine honour to bée accepted in your grace and fauour And the cause that made me deferre so long from this answere was the feare I haue of Madame Agriola and her Brother to whome I was giuen by your Admirall after my Fathers decease But to the ende my Lorde that none of them may suspect our loue I thinke it conuenient that Hyppolita who alway lyeth in your Chamber remoue her selfe to the Ladies attending on Agriola and her shall you commaunde to giue me the Key of my Ladies Chamber which hitherto shée hath vsed to carrie By this meane may I the more safely and without suspition of any one come in the night to fulfill your desire The Turke imagining he had gayned the Princesse loue indéede was not a little ioyfull wherefore he said Swéete Ladie you shall haue the Key as you request nor shall she longer lodge in my Chamber whom you feare so much Moreouer this night will I perswade Agriola that I féele my selfe not halfe currant and therefore to kéepe her selfe in her owne Chamber and so may you come boldlie to me this night If any man chaunce to méete yée say that I sent for you and if they dare bee so bolde as to hinder your comming in the morning shall my Ianizaries put them to death whatsoeuer they be So taking a King from his finger wherein was a stone of inestimable value hée gaue it to the Princesse saying Holde Madame take this as a pledge of my promise for which Laurana humblie thanking him thus replied My Lord I sée Agriola hath foure or fiue times earnestlie noted you I thinke it good therefore that we breake off talke assuring you that I will not faile at midnight when euerie one is fast a sléepe to kéepe my worde and in the Mantle which you sent mée yesterday I will couertly enter your Chamber conditionallie that you kéepe your promise to mée afterwarde Doubt not thereof said the Turke and so taking his leaue of heâ— went presently to his Chamber where finding Hyppolâ—ta he commaunded her to take thence her bed and â—arrie it to the Ladies Chamber likewise taking the Key from
by and sée not the Pillar send one of the Ladies to them to let them vnderstande that they may not passe before one of them haue 〈◊〉 with the Prince and his Knights If they be vnhorssed by him the Ladie must be deliuered to him yet with this condition that he refuse not to graunt her one demaunde By Mahomet sâ—yd Drumino husband to the Lady I will not meddle in this matter he may be such a one as if he hap to winne my Wife he will be loth to restore her backe againe Feare not that quoth the Magitian hee is so courteous and hath so faire a Fréend himselfe as he neyther may or will with-holde her By heauen said Tomano I will cope with him and to morrowe let the Pillâ—r and Pauillions bée erected there will I with my companions stay his comming Sée heere the cause why the King Aâ—imar commaunded the Princesse Zephira and her Knights to be so honourablie entertained By this time is the Princesse come within a daies iourney of Romata and Tomano with his Brother Sister Ladies and knightes betake themselues to â—he pauillions hearing that Zephira was come so neere and being themselues Armed their sister decked likewise in most sumptuous ornaments they vowed to breake many launces for her sake Chap. XLVIII How Palmerin Iousâ—ed against Tomano Drumino and their knights whome he all dismounted and what entertainment the king Abimar and the wise Nigromancer Muzabelino made them BY this time is the princesse with Palmerin and her companie come to the place where the pauillions were erected and not séeing the Piller they passed on wherefore Tomano sent a Damosell to declare the conditions of the passage Palmerin feigning himselfe somewhat wearie made this answer Damosell you may saye to the Prince and his knights that the Princesse Zephira is not in our guarde as the Lady he fights for abideth with him Nor comes she hither to he fought for rather doth she intreat him to spare vs the Ioust in that it will be small honor to him to conquer knights ouerlaboured in trauaile and whose horses are not able for that exercise The Damosell certifying the Prince of this aunswer he grew into anger swearing they should not passe before they tryed their fortune wherefore hee sent the Damosell againe who thus spake to Palmerin Sir knight your excuses may not serue you you must eyther Ioust or leaue the Princesse behind you Trust me Damosell answered Palmerin sorrie woulde I be to accompanie her so far and leaue her in the custody of one I know not did your Prince shewe more courtesie if woulde agrée much better with his order but because he shall not think that we refuse the Iouste through feare or cowardise say hee shall haue his desire both he and all his shall try their fortune ere wee passe further This answer returned to the Prince Drumino first shewed himselfe in the Fielde and by importunate intreatie certaine of the Princesses Knights would first try their valour but such was their ill fortune as Drumino vnhorsed them one after another Zephira somewhat offended heereat intreated Palmerin eyther to win them passage or else with his successe she was content to staye Prisoner I goe Madame quoth Palmerin and Fortune spéede mee as I regard the safetie of your honor Muzabelino hauing acquainted the King with this pastime they came in habits disguised to beholde it at what time the Prince Drumino encountred Palmerin But not to hold you with tedious discourse considering which way the victorie is intended the twe Princes and all their knights were manfullye foyled by Palmerin The Ioust béeing ended and the king returned again to the Cittie Muzabelino came to Palmerin and hauing saluted him with great reuerence thus spake Woorthie Lord who onelie deseruest the name of chiualrie let mee intreate you to excuse the kings Son who to make proofe of your valour by my meanes attempted this noble aduenture from which you haue escaped with great honour and to their shame that made the challenge What are you Syr said Palmeiin that know me so well and the cause why I came into this Countrey Your Fréend Muzabelino quoth he whome you haue taken such paines to finde and who knowing you to be a Christian will kéepe you from all dangers among these Mahumetistes Palmerin suddainlie allighting from his Horsse came and embraced him saying Noble Fréend suffer mée to kisse your hand as a witnesse of my reuerence to your honourable age Not so my Lord answered Muzabelino rather suffer me to doo my dutie to that incomparable person by whose meanes ere sixe Monethes be past the greatest nobilitie in the world shall receyue incredible honour While these courteous ceremonies endured the conquered Princesse with her Ladies came from the Pauillion and saluting Palmerin with great courtesie sayde Sée héere Sir Knight the Lady who trusting in your honourable benignitie commeth to submit her selfe at your disposition béeing woonne with more choyse chiualrie then euer any other Ladie was Notwithstanding I hope that you will not refuse to graunt me one demaund according to the conditions agréed in the Ioust Palmerin séeing her so discréet and modest so sumptuous in apparell and accompanied with so manie Ladies iudged that she was the Kings Daughter and Wife to the Prince Drumino wherefore entertaining her verie graciously hée thus replyed Unfitting it is faire Ladie that a Princesse of so high and speciall qualitie shoulde bée subiect to a poore and vnknowne Knight and though the agréement of the Ioust bee such yet do I humblie thanke you for this honour bequeathing you to your former libertie and restoring you to him that hath best right to you A thousand thankes worthie Lorde said the Princesse now I se'e the words of Muzabelino to my father are true that the Knight who conducted Madame Zephira as in chiâ—alrie hée surpasseth all other so in sranke ininde and ltberalitic hée hath not his seconde which was the chéefest cause why I aduentured my selfe in this hazarde of Fortune Madame quoth Palmerin if the wise Muzabelino hath vsed any speach of mée in mine absence and to my honor it procéeded not by my vertue but his good will in so â—â—â—ing which if I liue I will one day acknowledge Right welcome are you saide the Princesse and faire Zephira the rather for your sake and such be the houre of your arriuall héere as you may obtaine the ende of your desires Zephira humblie thanked the Princesse Tomano Drumino and all the rest embracing Palmerin thinking it no dishonour to bâ— conquered by him they mouâ—ted all on horsebacke and comming to the Cittie founde the King there readie with an honorable traine to receiue them who saluting the princesse Zephira verie kindly said No maruell Madame if you durst vndertake so long a iourney hauing yâ— only knight of Fortune in your companie as my Sonnes haue good occasion to witnesse and shée that ommits her selfe to his charge may bée well assured of 〈◊〉
defence Zephira with humble thanks requiting the Kâ—â—g Palmerin and all the rest graciously welcommed they rode all to the Pallace where being intertained in choysest sorâ— Muzabelino still accompanied Palmerin who forgot not his woonted kindnes to his louing Dogge Chap. XLIX The talke that the princesse Zephira and Palmerin had with the wise Muzabelino and how Palmerin departed from Romato to the Castell of the ten Rocks THe Princesse Zephira who had not yet talked with Muzabelino in the morning sent for him and Palmerin shée causing them to sit downe by her began in this manner My Lord if your great iudgement haue acquainted you with the cause of my comming and that you will doe anie thing for the loue of Sir Palmerin let pittie perswade you for in you onely consisteth my remedie Madame quoth Muzabelino vse not such speaches for what my studie and practise hath taught me you must make no account of but referre your selfe to the supreame Creator who by the meanes of noble Palmerin will restore your health and him will I acquaint with the manner how it must be compassed Your disease happened by smelling to a flower and by the smell of another it must be recouered The flower appoynted to giue you health groweth in an Arbour in the Castell of the tenne Rocks and kept by the enchauntment of a Ladie more skilfull in all artes then euer was the skilfull Medea This Ladie deceasing an hundred yeares since and more Shée séeing before her death the vertue of this flower and of a Bird which is kept there by the selfe same meanes hauing inchaunted them in a Garden the must sumptuous in the world raysed ten Rocks of Marble without the Castell each one ascending higher then an other and by these Rocks was the Castle named Such enchauntment did the Ladie exorcise on them as when anie one thinketh to passe them presently starteth out of each Rocke an armed Knight who returneth the aduenturer so forciblie as to to this day they haue not béene passed by any Couragious therefore must he be that passeth these Rocks which if Palmerin by his bountie and prowesse doo not accomplish no man liuing can ende the aduenture for by force not cunning must the enchauntment be ended When the Princesse heard that by the daungerous trauaile of noble Palmerin her health must be restored she thus sorâ—owfully complained Ah Gods suffiseth it not that héeretofore this good Knight aduentured his life in the daungerous battell when my Brother was slaine but nowe he must abide the diuellish coniurations where death is dayly and hourelie expeâ—â—â—ed shall I consent to offer him such wrong and bée guiltie of his blood who surpasseth all other in chiualrie rather let my death be a warrant for his safetie then noble Palmerin shoulde endure such perrill for me Lament not Madame quoth Muzabelino before you haue cause hée that slewe Malfada and her Seruaunts is so specially fauoured of the heauenlie powers as no enchauntment whatsoeuer hath power to hurt him Why Madame said Palmerin thinke you my good will is lesse to doo you seruice then when I was first brought to your Court Forbeare these teares I pray you and offend not your selfe for such is my hope in God that what is done by man shall bée destroyed by man besides it will bée great reproach to mée if comming into straunge Countries to séeke aduentures I shall depart without triall of my fortune Muzabelino hearing him speake so couragiouslie tooke him aside saying Noble and hardie Knight whom feare of death cannot dismay happie shall I account my selfe to doo thée anie seruice And to the ende thou mayst with better affection followe this enterprise assure thyselfe to passe the Rockes and enter the Castell with happie victorie where ending all the aduentures therein contained thou shalt finde a part of remedie for recouering thy companions but not all for the rest is in the Tower of Malfada where as yet thou canst not enter but at thy returne shalt easily open and in the ende ioyfully finde all thy Companions and Fréendes For the rest feare not my discouerie of thy secrete loue and parentage which is the most noble in all Christendome for rather will I bée torne in a thousand péeces then so good a Knight shall bée iniuried by mée Séeing you know so much quoth Palmerin I commit all to God and you let me therefore right soone craue leaue of the King for my departure because I long that the Princesse were eased Right sorie was the King to part with him so soone yet the hope of his short returne somewhat pacified him And when the newes were spreade abroade that Palmerin should trauaile to the Castell of the tenne Rockes Tomano Drumino and the Princesse Zephira woulde néedes beare him companie which hée being not able to gaine-say because they were importunate on him gaue his consent So departing from Romata they made such haste in their iourney as within fewe dayes after they arriued at the Castell and comming to the first Rocke they behelde a goodly Sworde encloseâ— therein hp to the crosse The two yong Psinces maruailing thereat allighted from their Horsses and assailed by strength to pull it out Which they were not able to doe wherefore Tomano entreated Palmerin to trie his fortune who after many courteous refusals offered to pull it foorth but a fearefâ—ll flame of fire suddenly issued foorth of the Rocke which compelled them to retyre back wherfore Palmerin said to the Princes This Sword I sée must be none of ours therefore it is in vaine to striue any further Chap. L. Howe Palmerin passed the tenne Rockes vanquished the tenne enchaunted Knightes and entered the Castell where hee finished all the enchauntments Triâ—eus returning to his former shape and what happened to them afterward PAlmerin when hee had failed in drawing the Sworde out of the Rocke hée prepared himselfe to the Combat with the enchaunted Knights whome as yet hée coulde not anie way discerne but first he began his orisons in this manner O soueraigne Creator who euermore hath succâ—ure◠〈…〉 aduersities and fortunes this day giue mée strength to confound these diuelries and enchauntments and let thy name haue the honour of a glorious victorie Then giuing his horse the spurres gallopped onward saying Sweete Mistresse Polynarda if euer your remembraunce gaue mée ayde and fauour now let your diuine regard comfort your seruaunt Béeing then betwéene the two foremost Rocks a mightie Knight mounted on a lustie Courser with a huge Launce in his hande called to him saying Turne Sir Knight you may passe no further then furiouslie encoâ—ntering one another they met so roughlie togither with their bodyes as they were both cast foorth of their saddles The Dog that still followed Palmerin séeing his Fréendâ— horse offered to stray caught the bridle by the raignes with his téeth and would not let him passe anie further In the meane while Palmerin hauing fought with the Knight and after a long and cruell combat smote
his head from his shoulders In bréefe he was so fauoured of Fortune as hauing vanquished all the tenne Knights he passed the tenne Rocks and no sooner was he mounted on the foremost but a darke Clowde compassed him about so that the two Princes Zephira and their Knights to theyr great amazement lost the sight of him yet his former victorie exempted all feare from them of bad successe There 〈…〉 Palmerins returne till Sunne setting when the two Princes demaunded of Zephira if shée woulde depart thence or stay there all night Depart quoth shée no by my life héere will I abide the good knights returne from the Castell wherupon her seruants hauing erected theyr pauillions they there tooke vp their lodging for that night By this time Palmerin was come to the Castell Gate where looking on his Armour which was â—acked in péeces his flesh cut and mangled in manie places breathing foorth a bitter sigh sayd If yet this trauaile may availe the Prinâ—esse and my noble companions that are enchauâ—ted let happe to mée what please the Heauens for theyr libertie is more déere to mée then life Then looking on his Dog who all his while held the Horses bridle in his mouth hée remembred that he had not demaunded of Muzabelino anie thing concerning him wherefore he said Ah gentle dog yet no Dog I thinke but rather some Knight thus transformed howe forgetfull haue I béene of thy seruice in my necessitie why did I not demaund the trueth of Muzabelino what thou art But mayst thou prooue to be my good Fréend Trineus when all the enchauntments of this Castell shall bée ended thy former shape I hope shall bee restored So striking at the Castell Gate to sée if anie way hée could get it open at length hée looked vppe to the battlements and beheld an auncient Knight with a long beard so white as snowe who furiously thus spake to him Proude Knight who made thée so bolde thus to beate on the Gate enter vnto thy further ill I hope with these wordes the Gates opened of themselues when presently Palmerin with his Dog entred and the olde man who séemed ouer-spent with yéeres and weaknesse méeting him in the Gate taking him by the arme threw him violently agaynst the ground saying Thou that hast ouercome the ten Knights yong and armed what canst thou doo to an olde man without defence Wretched villaine aunswered Palmerin wherefore hast thou strooken me by the liuing God did not thine age excuse thée soone should I lay the breathlesse at my foote Soft and faire said the olde man thou shalt haue work enough to defend thy selfe So catching Palmerin about the middle he wroong him so cruelly as one might heare his bones cracke O my God cried Palmerin defend me against this cursed diuell At length hee forced the olde man to let goe his holde when began such a furious fight betwéene them as neuer was Palmerin in such daunger in that eueriâ— blowe was giuen him hée thought did breake all his bones in péeces The â—og séeing his Maister in such extremitie caught the olde man by the throate and neuer left tugging till he got him downe when suddenly he vanished away and was no more séene afterward For this victorie Palmerin thanked God and hauing cherished his Dog entred further into the Castell Where he behelde most stately Galleries erected on great colombes of Porpherie and Alabaster as neuer did hée beholde a more sumptuous spectacle In the middest of the Court was a goodly Tombe enclosed with barrâ—s of beaten Golde and ouer it stoode a goodly Table of Christal vphelde by foure Satyrs of Agatha and on the Table was pictured the personages of a Ladie drawne by such curious arte and woorkmanship as hardly could it bée equalled through the world Palmerin approched to behold the counterfeit which helde in the one hande a Booke fast shutte and in the other a Key of Golde poynting with the Key towarde the Gate of the Pallace whereupon he imagined that this was the Tombe of the Ladie Enchauntresse whereof Muzabelino had told him before and putting his hand betwéene the golden Barres the Image presently offered him the Key Héereat béeing some what abashed he iudged that this happened not without great cause wherefore taking the Key hée went and opened the Pallace Gate and entering the great Hall hée founde it so richlie paued and garnished rounde about with such costly Tapistrie as the greatest Monarch in the world had not the like Looking behinde him for his Dog he beheld him suddainlie chaunged to his former shape and running to embrace Palmerin said Happie be the houre of thy comming déere Fréend to whom I remaine for euer bounde in acknowledging the speciall graces and fauours receiued But Palmerin deceiued with so manie illusions before woulde hardlie giue credite to what he now behelde reputing him rather sâ—me he 〈◊〉 furie so disguised onely to entrap him with further danger which Trineus perceiuing spake againe Ah my noble Friend Palmerin for Gods sake doubt no more I am thy Brother Tryneus who since thy comming from Elain followed thée in the enchaunted forme of a Dogge reioyce then with me for since thy long desired hope hath now so good an ende doubt not but the residue of thine affaires will prooue as fortunate Palmerin béeing nowe thorowly resolued I leaue to your iudgements the kinde gratulations betwéene them who well can conceiue the wonderfull ioy of longabsent Friendes especally of such as liue and die for each other Ah my Lord quoth Palmerin why did I not sooner acknowledge thee the great succour thou gauest me by theâ—way might well haue perswaded me yet though I still imagined thee my friend transformed hardly could I resolue thereon till further experience Aâ— fortune if héeretofore thou hast béene enuious towardes mée yet now hast thou recompenced me in such sort as now I haue no cause to exclaime on thée So sitting downe together Trineus reuealed the manner of his taking and all that befell him till his transformation Which Palmerin to requite discoursed the knowledge of his Parents how he was betrothed to his Lady Polynarda and howe he recouered the Princesse Agriola who afterwardâ— was likewise enchaunted in the Isle of Malfada 〈◊〉 at these newes was readie to die with gréefe but Palmerin perswaded him of the wise Muzabelinos promise that shortly hee should returne againe to the Isle and there finish all the enchauntments whatsoeuer While they thus conferred together they sawe sodainely sette before them a Table furnished with all kinde of meates and a hand holding two great Golden Candlesticks wherein burned two faire waxe Tapers beside they heard a trambling of their féete that brought the meate to the Table but they could not discerne any liuing creature Trust mee quoth Palmerin I thinke some bodie knowes I haue an hungrie appetite â—itte downe with me good friend for these two moneths had I not a better stomacke After they had well refreshed themselues the table was
all his enemies Moreouer within two Moneths hée would deliuer tenne thousand talents of Golde and two millions of Seraphes in recompence of his wrong doone to the King Abimar All this my Lord quoth the Soldane will I faythfullie performe and all the Kinges my Subiects shall subscribe thereto on this condition that you accompanie the Princesse to the Cittie of Harano there to honor with your presence our espousall where your sonne Tomano shall likewise match with our Daughter To this the King willingly consented whereupon the Soldane sent his Seneshall to cause his Armie march homewardes into Persia except sixe thousand men at Armes to guard to Soldanes person then openly in the field was the peace proclaimed and the Captaines on either side fréendly embracing each other Afterward the soldane comming to the king Abimar and in the presence of Palmerin and Trineus thus spake Néedlesse were it now my Lord to remember our passed displeasures but generally to conferre of warre and peace yet hereof I can assure you that the Princesse Zephira and these two strange Knights preuailed more agaynst me then all the rest of your Armie But least your people should thinke that our concluded peace is not thorowlie grounded to morrowe will I bée openlie affianâ—ed to the Princesse Zephira and afterward set forward to Harano that my Sisters may bée present at our nuptials in the meane while our Seneshall and sixe other noble Lordes shall remaine with you as our hostages These determinations fulfilled the Soldane passed to Harano where hée heard of the death of the Prince Donadel and the Kinges sonne of Rosillia with diuerse other Princes of his kindred â—â—aine in the battell but the heate of his newe loue caused him to make small account therof preparing all things readie for the solemnitie of his marriage Chap. LIII The conference that the Soldane of Persia had with his Sisters thinking by theyr meanes to stay Palmerin and Tryneus in his Court and the honourable entertainement hee made them at the arriuall of the Princesse Zephira And how by good fortune Palmerin recouered his Squire Colmelio from the Ambassadour Maucetto NO sooner was the soldane come to Harano but hée presently dispatched Messengers to his sisters that they might bée present at his honourable marriage and calling for his Daughter the yong Princesse Belsina he thus began Faire Daughter I thinke you are not ignorant for report fâ—â—eth quicklie fâ—r that I haue promised you in mariage to the Prince Tomano therefore I account it verie requisitie that your solemnitie bee done on the same day when I shall espouse the Princesse Zephira My gracious Lorde and Father quoth shée I remaine altogither at your highnesse direction and if for conclusion of peace you match with so faire a Princesse as is Zephira it were agaynst reason I should refuse the worthie Prince Tomano of Romata When hée perceyued the readie good-will of his Daughter and his two sisters by this time were come to the Court. After hée had welcommed them in most gracious manner hée entred into these spéeches I thought it verie expedient fayre sisters since you vnderstand the peace concluded betwéene the King of Grisca and my selfe to acquaint you with other matters greatly concerning you There commeth hither in the companie of the Princesse Zephira two strange knights of very rare perfections to whom I would willingly haue you vse such especiall behauiour as wée might purchase the meanes to enioy them continually in our Court for no other intent I promise you but onely that they may match with you in marriage You sister Lyzanda quoth hée to the eldest I commit to the cheefest Knight the verie same man that most valiantlie tooke mée prisoner in the battaile and you Arecinda for so was the yongest named I bequeath to the other who is one of the goodliest personages that euer Nature framed Héereunto they were right soone entreated especiallie Aurecinda who though her elder sister were graue and well aduised yet was shée pleasant quaint and so subtile as easily could shee practise the meane to deceiue the wisest man whereof she made some experience as you shal hereafter perceiue in the Chapters following The Soldane hauing sent for all the Kings Princes and Lordes his subiects to bée present on the day of this great solemnitie the Prince Tomano earnestlie desâ—ring to sée his best beloued desired Palmerin Trineus and the Princesse Zephira that they might set forwardes to Harano But Muzabelino who knew what troubles would succéede the marriage aduised the King Abimar not to goe and counsailed the two Princes Trineus and Palmerin to kéepe themselues continuallie Armed because the Soldane was a man continually subiect to incertaine chaunces So giuing of each of them a Cote of Armes of Crimson Ueluet most curiousâ—ie embroidered with Pearles hee departed from them returning backe againe to the Citie of Grisca Nowe ride these Princes ioyfully to Harano where they were receiued by the soldane with wonderfull pompe and honor each one admiring the rare beaâ—tie of the Princesse Zephira who was conducted with such a royall traine as neuer was the like séene before in Harano At the Cittie Gate the Soldane mette them and in a sumptuous Câ—â—che accompanied them to the Pallace where after many solemne curtesies on each side deliuered and such magnifical royaltie beséeming the time and place the Soldane came to his Sisters who had not yet talked with the two strange Knights and thus spake Sisters to the eâ—de that héereafter you shall not be beguiled the Knights that accompanie my Ladie the Princesse and whome I haue so much commended to you are Christians notwithstanding they bee such as they twaine deserue greater honor then I am any way able to expresse As for their comely stature after that your â—ye hath conferred with your heart I referre my opinion to your iudgement regarde then that they bee loued and estéemed as their perfections doo worthily deserue Aurecinda the yongest and most voluntarie Sister hauing her eye continually fixed on the Prince Trineus thus conferred with herselfe My Brother verie lightly commaundeth vs to loue these strange Knights I knowe not what my Sisters opinion is as for mine owne the beginning alreadie of my loue is such that if I do not quickly obtaine my desire I feare that my affection is rated at the price of my life The time is passed ouer with many delights and daily pastimes after the Persian manner but all this while Lizanda and Aurecinda are tormented with loue so that all patience was vtterly denied them yet bearing this waightie burden so well as they coulde at length the two Sisters came to the Princesse Zephiraâ—s Chamber where they founde Palmerin and Trineus conferring together feigning the cause of their comming to bid the Princesse good morrow Palmerin perceiuing that Lizanda sodainely chaunged her colour imagined the cause of her secret disease and béeing loth to bée tempted with anie such occasion dissembling that he sawe her not tooke
séeing that to staye longer would not auaile him tooke his leaue of the Soldane saying Albeit my Lorde you cannot giue my Maister anie assistance yet let Palmerin returne to him at his departure from your Court What I can doo héerein aunswered the Soldane your Lord shall be assured to finde although I thinke his minde bee otherwise adicted but you were best to knowe his minde your selfe because I heard him saye he would write to Madame Alchidiana Maucetto departing to Palmerins lodging the Soldane went to see his Sisters of whome hée demaunded if they had as yet practised anie thing with the Knights My Lord aunswered Aurecinda who in all things was more prompt then her eldest Sister I haue fixed my loue on the knight Trineus with full resolution neuer to loue anie other yet dooth not he intend to staye héere in your Courte much lesse I feare to make me his wife As for my Sister shée cannot compasse the meane howe to impart her loue to Sir Palmerin Right strange is it quoth the Soldanen that the promises you haue made them and so apparant signes of ardent affection cannot disswade them to make choyse of you Doubtlesse they bée some great Princes who to sée the fashions of the worlde haue thus disguised themselues Continue your loue as you haue begunne and if by other meanes you cannot stay them aduenture your honors as a meane to entrappe them And now dooth occasion well serue you Sister Aurecinda for by courteous intreating Tryneus now he is wounded you maye more profit in one houre then you haue doone during this tedious pursuit Néedlesse was it for the Soldane thus to perswade her in that she laboured for no other matter kéeping Trineus companie both day and night but Palmerin offended thereat secretlye thus rebuked the Prince What meane you my Lord If you mend not this order I must be angry with you You sée this Princesse excéedes in her desire and you giue her occasion to continue it I know not what will happen héereon but my mind perswades mee that you will hardlie depart hence with honour Be aduised I desire you and take this of me that if the wisest man will lende his eares to loose persons and followe theyr affections hée shall become more vnreasonable then a bruite Beaste regarding nothing but what is obiect to his eyes and what the flesh the onelie mortall enemie to the spirit shall soonest perswade him Chap. LV. How Aurâ—cinda Sister to the Soldane of Persia pursued the Prince Tryneus so neere as in the end she had her desire and what followed thereon PAlmerin hauing thus schooled yâ— prince Trineus that he should giue no eare to the enticements of Aurecinda Lyzanda came to his chamber and feigning vrgent businesse with him tooke him aside deliuering her affections in this maner Right happie wold I think my selfe Sir Palmerin so you would deigne to continue in the Soldans Court who doubtlesse would aduance you to the highest step of honor and giue me to you in mariage that am his Sister and a Lady worthie some reckoning Palmerin offred to depart the Chamber but Lyzanda stayed him procéeding thus Alas my Lord will you neuer vouchsafe to speake to mee nowe see I well that you are the most disâ—oyall Knight in the worlde Madame aunswered Palmerin rather will I die then one iote of diâ—â—oyaltie shall be found in me nor can I graunt your importunate requests without committing notorious treason to my Ladie and offending my God whom foolish loue shall neuer make me to displease So without any further spéeches he went to the Prince Tomano leauing the poore Ladie well-néere dead with this vnkinde refusall who going to her owne cabbanet thus began to breath foorth her sorrowes Ah Loue the most cruell passion that euer entred the hart of anie Ladie how great and meruailous is thy power Some thou enforcest to desire and intreat without being heard or regarded others thou causest to be happily fauoured estéemed of their Fréends Seruaunts and louers Unhappie that I am but much more vnhappie Brother accursed be the houre when thou didest commaund mee to loue the most cruell and vnkinde among men Can there be anie Ladie in the worlde more disgraced then I am had I not reuealed my loue to him some comfort I might thereby enioy among my sorrowes but the frozen minde knowing my loue dooth holde mée in the greater contempt My Sister tolde me that by too long concealement of loue many haue lost them they most estéemed but I alas doo finde it cleane contrary Now was Aurecinda by chaunce in the Chamber next her Sisters Cabinette and hearing her thus sorrowfully complaine shée came to her and thus spake Good Sister discomfort not your selfe by your friendes refusall I would not thinke my selfe woorthie the name of a woman if I could not winne you the man that thus torments you As for me I haue founde the meane to compasse mine owne desire Yet could not all these spéeches appease her wherfore shée left her and vnderstanding by one of her Ladies that Tryneus should this night suppe in the Soldans Chamber whereuppon shée went to the Ladies hote house amd there prepared his bed and such swéete delicate bathes as might mooue the spirits of a verie staied Gentleman This doone she came to one of the Pages of honor Brother to the Ladie whome shee most of all trusted saying I praye thée good Page goe to the Prince Trineus his Chamber and there attende till he come foorth then feigning that some one hath doone thée iniurie thou shalt intreat him to helpe thée against him that abused thée If hée condiscende as doubtlesse he will bring him to the bathe where I will stay his comming with thy Sister and so soone as he is entred make fast the doore on him and gette thée gone but in anie case be secret héerein and I will recompence thée to thine owne content The wagge was so well instructed in his arte as he failed not in any one point oâ— his charge But as the Prince Tryneus came alone from his Chamber he fell on his knées before him saying My Lord if euer you pittie a Gentleman abused let mee intreate you to reuenge my cause on a villaine that hath too much wronged me Tryneus who had often séene the Page in his Chamber with Aurecinda answered Beléeue me Page it were pittie to denie thy request considering thou doost demaunde it so courteously shall I néede to bee better prouided then I am No my Lord quoth he your sword is sufficient So was he conducted by the Page along the Gallery and béeing come to the appointed place he opened the doore thus speaking to the Prince My Lord the partie you must deale withall is in this Chamber accompanied but with one Ladie wherefore you may enter secure from daunger Hee was no sooner in but the Page clapt to the doore and departed Now was Tryneus not a little amazed when he saw no bodie but the
Princesse with her Ladie shée being come thither to bathe her selfe and layd in her bed but in such surpassing brauerye as Iupiter with his lightning Neptune with his thrée forked Mace and Pluto with his Cerberus would stand and wonder thereat So â—inâ—lie had she tressed the golden wyres of her hayre and her heade attyre embellished with such goodlie Orientall Pearles as made her séeme a beautifull Angell béeing couered with a gorgious Canapie resemblingng the Sunne vnder a faire cloud Betwéene her daintie Breastes hung a precious Carbunckle which supplied the office of Venus her firebrand when she sawe Tryneus stand so agast she said Why my Lord are you more afraide of a naked Ladie then of the most puissaunt Knight in Persia armed cap ape I can iudge no lesse séeing you dare approch no néerer In sooth my Lord quoth the Pages Sister you may thinke your selfe happy to be desired of such a ladie whome mightie kings and princes haue earnestly sought and woulde gladly haue had the least fauour shée bestowes on you So taking him by the hand shee caused him to sit down in a Chayre by the beds side and giuing her Mistresse her Harpe she departed leauig them together Ah page quoth Trinens howe hast thou deceiued mee What saide the princesse you forgette where you are you must at this time somewhat pittie my sorrowes and heare a dittie which I haue made for your sake Then taking her Harpe shee thus beganne to sing as followeth The Dittie sung by Aurecinda to the Prince Trineus THe God of warre fierce stearne and rigorous when he beheld faire Venus heauenly beautie Made small account of her disloyalay But suddainlie became full amorous Beautie had thâ—n hâ—r power vigorous Chaunging rough lookes to sweetest secrecie But he I loue incenst with crueltie Doth not regard my torments langourous VVhy should I then pursue that stubborne minde That with excuses kils my hope out-right Yet if he helpe not death must me acquite Ah mightie loue in nature most vnkinde Thou doost constraine me to affect the man That neither fauour loue nor kindnes can VVhat haue I sayd the Knight of my desire Is meere diuine and furthest from compare VVhose Eagles eyes can well discerne my care Vnd with sweete pitties droppes â—lay this fire The little Cod hath made him gracious His Mother mild to rue the Ladies smart That shrines his liuely Image in her hart Then to despaire beseemes no vertuous Regard sweet freend the passions of thy Freend VVhom God and nature hath appointed thine Giue loue his due and then thou must be mine So shall long sorrow haue a happie ende The Persian mayd say boldly thou hast wonne That Monarches Kings and Princes neere could donne With excellent cunning did shée handle her instrument but with farre better grace and affection deliuered her dittie gracing it with such sadde countenaunce mournfull lookes and renting sighes as forced the Prince Tryneus to become excéeding amorous And burning in this newe fierie impression beheld the singuler beautie of Auredinda which rauished his sences in such sort as trembling like the Aspen leafe hee satte downe by her on the beddes side The Princesse laying her Harpe from her embraced him very louinglie with these spéeches Alas my Lord will you still continue in this rigour and cruell inhumanitie your heart is more harde then Adamant that will not bee mollified with so manie intreaties I sweare to you by the Sunne that lightneth the worlde vnlesse you graunt me one request before your face will I presentlye sâ—eye my selfe Full well doo I perceiue quoth Tryneus that hardlie can I escape mis-fortune the Seruaunt hath deceiued mee and now the Mistresse séekes my death Ah Madam quoth he how can I graunt your request considering mine offence to God and he that loueth me loyallie Eyther bée as good as thy worde quoth she else stand to the danger that may befall thée Why Syr Knight is my beautie of so slender account as I am not woorthie to bee helde betwéene thine armes wilt thou 〈◊〉 me to consume in this violent flame which thou maist with such ease and honor extinguish hadst thou rather sée a Ladie split her heart before thée then thou wilt vouchsafe to preserue her life Come come swéet Fréende sée how loue and his Mother hath made waye for thée refuse not opportunitie so fauourablie offered What blemish is on this bodie that shoulde deserue disdaine If the King of Gods would thinke himselfe honored with this conquest much more estimation shouldest thou make héereof In bréefe she was so perfect in her subtiltie and knâ—we so well how to inueigle the Prince with queint spéeches and swéete embracings that she made him forget God his Ladie loyaltie and himselfe so that of a Maiden he made her the fayrest woman in Persia. When the time came that hee should depart the Princesse saide to him Yet haue I a further request my Lord you must promise to mâ—ete mee in this place at timesâ— conuenient and endeuour with your companion that he may likewise loue my Sister Trineus made promise hee would but rather hee desired to stab himselfe with his weapon then that Palmerin shoulde knowe this great abuse so heinous did his offence séeme to himselfe Aurecinda perswaded her Sister still to pursue Palmerin with her loue and what had passed betwéene her and the Prince Trineus she declared whereupon her desire grewe the greater yet all was in vaine for Palmerin would giue no eare to her complaints which was the cause of this mishap following Lyzanda aduertised by her Sister that Tryneus still thus vsed her companie in the Bath euious of her Sisters benefit and despightfull at Palmerins obstinate refusall she went to the Soldane and with manie teares thus deliuered her gréefe Ah my Lorde how much better had it béene that wee had neuer knowne these cruell Christian Knightes whose ingratitude will bee the cause of my death for the yonger of them is meruailouslie beloued of my Sister who forgetting her faith honor and her obedience to your Maiestie hath dishonored both her selfe and you onelie to make proofe of the other knights Crueltie to me The Soldane admiring his Sisters report answered I did not will my Sister to abuse her selfe without promise of marriage but séeing it hath so fallen out by my Fathers soule they shall both repent it Durst the Traytour abuse me so much in mine owne Courte Why my Lord quoth Lyzanda you are the onelie cause thereof and therefore you must bee angrie with no bodie but your selfe Let me not liue an houre sayde the Soldane if I be not sufficiently reuenged on him Sister be you but secrete and referre the rest to my direction Then calling for the Captaine of his Guard willing him to take fiftie Knights and when his Maiestie was at Supper they shoulde goe take his Sister and the Knight with her in the Bathe and afterwarde carrie them to strong pryson But sée it doone secretlye quoth he for if
guarde giue you the hundred Knights I had of the King Maulerino and fiftie Knights naturally borne in Greece as able in Armes as any other whatsoeuer intreating you to holde me excused if I giue you not such estate as 〈◊〉 your nobilitie Woorthie Palmerin answered the Prince the greatest Lord that is might well content himselfe with the honourable companie you haue giuen mee And did not extreame passions ouer-rule me and call mée hence to her seruice whom I haue onely chosen I woulde renounce Arabia and the Lawe of Mahomet onely to liue in your companie But in what place my fortune guides me héereafter neither Parents or Friendes shall hinder mee to saie that I am your vowed and affectionate seruaunt The like doo you conceiue of me sayde Palmerin So with teares they left each other Olorico and all his companiâ— béeing aboord such fauourable winde and weather they had as without any danger they safely arriued where the Soldane lay and first the tenne knights went â—n shore they that were left of the companie which the Princesse Alchidiana gaue to Ptolome and comming before the Princesse saide Madame your Knight sir Ptolome humbly saluteth you by vs sending your excellencie this Letter Beside there is nowe arriued at the porte the Prince Oâ—orico and certaine Ambassadours from the valiant Palmerin Prince of Greece and Macedon who come on his behalfe to kissâ— your hand The Princesse hauing heard these newes and read the Letter which Ptolome sent containing the great 〈◊〉 fortunes of Palmerin was inwardly so rauished with delight as a long space she remained silent but at 〈◊〉 brake foorth into these spéeches Ah Fortune how well thou knowest to change matters which way thou pleaâ—est not according to the wil and desire of passionate minds but on the behalfe of the highest in perfections Ah Palmerin the man whom my heart shall euer loue howe may faire Polinarda iustly tearme her selfe happie hauing thee for her Lord and loue considering that the beautie and graces of so manie Ladies conquered with thy deserts nor the sumptuous riches continually offered thée could once diuerâ— thee from thy first affection Ah Alchidiana that which hath made so many Ladyes and knights fortunate in compassing the onely issue of their desires dooth now remaine for â—hy torment alone making thée the most vnhappie creature vnder the Sunne Agriola Griana Arismena Armida and Zeplura are they swéete Knight by thy meanes in assuraunce of theyr loues Trineus Frysoll the King of Sparta Maulerino Abimar Tomano and â—iuers other are their Realmes quieted and their Ladyes triumphing in their ioyes onely by the price of thy bloud and daunger 〈◊〉 thy life And must I alone remaine disgraced for euer 〈◊〉 hauing lost the knight I loued aâ— my soule While the princesse continued these complaints the prince Olorico and the Ambassadoures were come before the soldane and beâ—ng entertained by him with verie gracious 〈◊〉 they presented the Letters from Palmerin which béeing read in presence of all his Lords the Soladne thus answered My Friends I will impart these 〈◊〉 to my Counsell and my Daughter and afterwarde make you answere as I may Héereuppon the Duke of Mensa the Counteâ— of Redona and the Prince Olorico 〈…〉 and soone after the Soldane sent for his daughter thus speaking to her Daughter our Princes thinke good and haue counselled mee to make peace with Palmerin who at 〈…〉 of Greece and requireth in 〈◊〉 of our truce that I should giue you in marriage to the renowned Prince Olorico Aduise your selfe hereon for Palmerin hath earnestly intreated it by writing and héere I haue a letter for you I think to the same effect The Princesse hauing read the Letter returned this answere It is verie true my Lord his request to mee is for the selfe same cause séeing therefore it liketh you and the Princes of our Realme think it conuenient in respect of the common profit and good may ensue thereby it is not for me to make deniall Right glad was the Soldane of this aunswere wherefore he saide go then faire Daughter and 〈◊〉 your selfe accordingly for after Diâ—ner in the presence of the Ambassadours you shall be affiaunced to the Prince Olorico since his arriuall had talked but little with his Ladie wherefore hée nowe determined to go sée her and meeting her as she returned from the Soldane he saluted her with great reuerence but the Princesse â—eigâ—ing that she knew nothing yet of their marriage thus spake to him I vnderstand my Lorde that your companion Palmerin hath altogether forsaken vs. Madame quoth the Prince if hee haue abandoned your companie it is onely by the fauour of Fortune who hath béene a greater Friend to him then any man beside yet cannot the great honours and possessions he now enioyeth make him forgette you in that at my departure he said for eâ—er he would liue and die your knight God kéepe him said the Princesse where euer he is for still is my heart vowed to his remembrance and gladly can I doo as 〈◊〉 for him as for my Brother though his present 〈…〉 from my seruice Such is his trust 〈…〉 present you my heart that neuer since the day of our departure from Constantinople hath enioyed any rest béeing absent from the onely meane of my comfort If then I haue liued all this while in some hope by remembraunce of your excéeding graces and courtesies beyonde all other should I account my selfe in happinesse if now at length you receiue me as your Seruant I receiue you saide the Princesse for Palmerins sake and for your owne deserts which haue béene so worthie requiting you with equall affection so that you denie mée not one request Nothing shall you bée denied swéete Princesse quoth hée if by my life it may be compassed Nor will I demaunde any thing of so great value said she this is the fauour you shall graunt me héereafter when time shal serue that you wil conduct me to Constantinople there to behold the faire princesse Polynarda and the magnificent Court of noble Palmerin in recompence whereof I giue my selfe to be your wife and accept you as my Lord and Husband If Olorico was now well pleased I referre to your iudgements wherefore confirming their promises by kisses and embracings with solemne protestations and irreuocable vowes they departed thence to their Chambers After Dinner the Princesse attired in most sumptuous garments came into the Hall with her waiting Ladies when the Soldane sent for the Ambassadours and thus spake to them My Friendes I now perceiue the man to bee ouer foolish that trusteth in himselfe I thought by my power to destroy Greece where on the contrarie my people are destroyed I thought to continue vnquenchablâ— hatred toward your Maister and now I am constrained to graunt him peace yet not constrained but by the worke of the greatest God I am mooued so to doo which in the presence of all my Lordes I protest and with as good will as hée â—ooth dâ—maunde
it Sée then the power of that Maiestie which can 〈◊〉 and conquerâ— where he lift and I swearâ— to you by my Crowne that the good fortune of Palmeriâ— contenteth me as well as if he were mine owne sonne Mightie Soldane answered the Duke of Mensa if you resolue to loue the worthie Prince Palmerin both hée and his will performe the like to you and on his behalfe we promise faithfully that against all your enemies Christendome excepted you shall be assured of his succour and assistance I request no better assurance quoth the Soldane then this that he hath sent and that you may witnesse I am his faithfull Friendes at this instant shall the peace be ratified by all the Lordes and Princes here present and to seale the same as he requested I giue my daughter to the Prince Olorico Great ioy was generally made for this good agréement and the two louers were espoused together within few dayes after and the time being come for the Ambassadours returne to Constantinople Alchidiana sent diuerâ— rich gifts to Palmerin and Polinarda the like did the Soldane and the Prince Olorico Chap. LX. How Palmerin Trineus and Agriola accompanied with many great Lords and princes went to the Emperor of Allemaigne at Vienna where great triumphs were made at the celebrating of the marriage between Trineus and the princesse Agriola SOone after the Prince Olorico and the Ambassadours of Greece were gone towardes Assiria Palmerin although the aged Emperour very much disswaded him made prouision for his spéedy voyage to Allemaigne and hauing conducted the King of Sparta and his Aunt Arismena some parte of their way homeward at their returne to the Cittie of Constantinople hée came to the Duke of Pontus saying I remember the time when you did cutte off the great Turks head an acte deseruing good and especiall recompence and that you thereby deliuered vs and performed it at the motion of the Princesse Laurana her haue you loued euer since both on lande and Sea and her Countrey is not farre hence will ye now make her your Ladie and Wife I promise ye my assistance so farre as I can My Lord aunswered the Duke fearing to offend you I still deferred to mooue you in this cause but seeing wee are nowe so happily fallen into these tearmes I will not conceale the truth from you In sooth my Lorde when first I sawe her I loued her and haue euer since continued in this hope that time at length would fauour my intent It sufficeth saide Palmerin and presently hée acquainted the Emperour therewith who thinking the match very méete and conuenient they were the next day married by the Achbishop of Constantinople and in short time after went to take possession of their Duchie of Durace where they were receiued very honourably and the whole state yéelded vp into the Dukes hande When Palmerin sawe that the most parte of his companions were departed at the earnest intreataunce of the Prince Trineus and Agriola he set forward to Allemaigne accompanied with Frysoll and Armida whome hée conducted into the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll was crowned King by reason of his Fathers decease there went with him like wise Diardo of Bohemia the Prince Eustace Ptolome and other Lords of great account 〈◊〉 good speed they made in theyr iourney as in short time they arriued at Vienna where the Emperour béeing aduertised of their comming by the Dwarfe came with his courtly trayne to méete them and taking his Sonne Tryneus in his armes said I sée it is the will of God my Sonne that héere after I shall haue as great ioy by thée as in thy long absence I haue had gréefe and sorrow all which I patiently put vp for the loue of thy brother the noble Prince Palmerin and faire Agriola of England that well deserues it But in good â—â—â—th my Children had you not come in so happie time I should haue bene driuen to meruailous fears For the King of Fraunce perceiuing that I would not giue my daughter in marriage to his eldest sonne demaunded the King Recinde of Spaine his daughter who graunted his request so that they twaine with the aide of the King of England haue leueyed such an Armie on the Sea as neuer was the like séene to passe the Rheine But séeing you returned in so good disposition the lesse account I make of their angrie menaces yet are they the thrée principall Kings of Christendome My Lord answered Palmerin be not you dismaide at their enterprise for ere manie dayes bee expired I hope to sée all matters quietly pacified and that without anie effusion of blood The lesse is my doubt quoth the Emperour in that with such good fortune you haue finished your intentions for nothing you begin but comes to luckie ende Witnesse héerof appeareth in the search of my Sonne Tryneus whom the best Knights in Christendome haue laboured to finde but all their trauaile I sée hath béene spent in vaine By this time they were come to the Pallace where they were graciously receiued by the Ladies Alas my Fréendes said the Empresse which of you shall I first embrace Ah my Sonne Tryneus howe sorrowfull hast thou made mée since thy departure from England iust cause hast thou to thanke the Heauens who protected thée still in so manie daungers and forget not thy Brother Palmerin who hath endured such trouble for thy sake Faire Daughter quoth she to the Princesse Agriola welcome are you indeed God send you better fortune héereafter then you haue had alreadie which yet hath bene a Touch-stone of your loyaltie But while these spéeches continued howe the other two Louers with piercing regard beheld eache other and how many gracious signes passed as secrete Ambassadours betweene them Polynarda was clad in such costly 〈◊〉 for the pleasure she conceiued since the Dwarffes 〈◊〉 at the Court as shee seemed anothâ—r Iuno when shée stood to abide the arbitrâ—ment of 〈◊〉 or like Voluptas fâ—llowing her Mother Venus But fearing least this amiable encounter should decipher some part of her former courtesies to her friend which as yet was vnknowne to any but Bryonella she locked vp all secrets with so swéet a kisse as would haue contented the rudest of the Gods had it bâ—ne Vulcan or Neptune themselues And comming to salute the Princesse Agriaâ—a sayd No meruaile faire sister if your loue wrought wonders in my brothers minde for vnfainedly I speake it your exquisite graces deserue the greatest seruice in the world Alas Madame aunswered Agriola if nature or they that had the charge of me in my youth could haue painted me with such beautie as I see in you or enriched me with wisedome able to deuise with my Lord when he came to sée mee then could I haue said somewhat of the paines he hath taken for mée but I know my selfe so full of imperfections as the loue hée beares me procéedeth of his owne good nature not by any merit he can behold me Then Palmerin kneeling before the
of so straunge and variable fortunes said I thought my Daughter had learned more modestie then leauing her Fathers Court to followe a Knight vnknowne to her in straunge Countries but séeing the ende hath fallen out so well hencefoorth I shall remaine in better contentment séeing a Prince of so great renowne hath now espoused her While this conference endured the Duke earnestly beheld the Princesse Sabinda Daughter to the Prince of Sansuega and Néece to the Quéene and of such excellent grace and beautie he estéemed her as forgetting the death of his Father who deceased since his departure from Allemaigne hée became so amourous of her that he demaunded of the Quéene if shée were her Daughter Shée is not my Daughter quoth the Quéene but the Daughter of my Brother the Princes of Sansuega Right glad was the Duke thereof and resolued to request her of the King in marriage who knowing the honourable place he held among the Prince of Greece and what account Palmerin made of him consented thereto so that within fewe dayes after they were espoused togither Herevpon to accompany the Princesse and to confirm the peace the King sent the Duke of Gaule and another great Lorde with them into Allemaigne the Quéen likewise sent twelue English Ladies to attend on her Daughter Thus returned the Duke of Mecaena to Vienna where 〈◊〉 was worthily welcommed by the Emperour Palmerin and Tryneus especially the yong Duchesse and the Ambassadours of England by whom the peace was faithfully ratified and confirmed Chap. LXII How Palmerin and Polinarda departed from Vienna toward Constantinople where after the decease of the aged Emperour Remicius Palmerin was crowned Emperour of Greece and what ioy was made at the byrth of Polinarda her first sonne AFâ—â—er the Ambassadours of England were returned home Palmerin pereciuing the Empire of Allemaigne was in quiet tooke his leaue of the Emperor minding to conduct his Polinarda to Constantinople not without manie sorrowfull lamentations of the mother to forgo her daughter and faire Agriola her new acquainted sister yet the Emperour pacified them well inough by shewing what benefit this contract would be to Christendome and so procéeded to his daughter in this maner Thou goest Polinarda to the séate of a great Empire but more pleaseth mée the péerelesse name of Palmerin d'Oliua thy husbands then the regiment of such a mightie Monarche Farewell faire Daughter continue in faithfull loue and obedience remembring the reuerende honour a Wife oweth to her Husband Polinarda hearing with what earnest affection her Father spake was so ouercome with modest duetie of a Childe to her Father as shée was not able to aunswere one word which Palmerin beholding kissed the Emperours hande embraced Tryneus and tooke a courteous farewell of all the Ladies commaunding the Pages presently to bring away the Princesse 〈◊〉 saying to her Madame the longer you staie héere the greater will be your conceit of sorrow by absence the griefe will be forgotten let vs then merely iourney to the Cittie of Constantinople where they that neuer sawe you wil reioyce more at your comming then all the Allemaignes can sorrow for your departure With like comfortable spéeches Palmerin frequented his Ladie by the way till at length they entred the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll with his chéefest Lords attended their comming to whom Palmerin in iesting said Brother I haue aduentured to bring your Sister Polinarda into your Kingdome take héede if you laie claime to her now as sometime yée did for I am readie to defende her against whosoeuer dare I perceiue my Lorde quoth Frysoll that you will haue my follie generally knowne I pray 〈◊〉 let no such youthfull pranckes be nowe remembred for as you are the chéefest in chiualrie so haue the destenie giuen you a Ladie whome no one in the whole world may paragon Well may it be said that God and Nature fore-pointed this match nothing inferiour to louelie Paris and faire Helena or puissaunt Hector and wise Andromacha Frysoll accompanied them so farre as Alba where courteously parting from each other Frysoll returned to his Kingdome and Palmerin soone after came to Constantinople where no litle ioy was made for his safe arriual especially for the Princesse Polinarda who was a right welcome Ladie into Greece the olde Emperour prouiding such deuises and tryumphes as the Chronicles to this daye recorde the memorie thereof About tenne or twelue Monethes after Polynarda was deliuered of a goodly Sonne who was named Primaleon whereat the good olde Emperour so inwardly reioyced as his spirit onely comforted in the good fortune of his Sonnes and fearing afterwarde to sée anie sinister chaunce fall to them departed this fraile and transitorie life whose death was signified thrée dayes before by the enchaunted Bird. His Funerall was performed as beséemed so great an estate and faine woulde Palmerin haue had his Father the King Florendos crowned Emperour earnestly labouring the Princes in the cause But he desiring them to holde him excused returned them this answere Great offence were it to God my Friendes that the honour due to him who gaue me libertie defended my renowne and saued my life shoulde bee taken from him and giuen mée for if vertue authoritie and good fortune are the properties whereby to make choyse of an Emperour Palmerin is verie many degrées before me As for his generositie it is so well knowne to you that it were but lost labour to make report thereof For his authoritie the â—arbarous nations among whome hée hath liued and conqueringly controlled deliuer sufficient testimonie And for his high good fortune in all his enterprises where is the man that may bee equalled with him or what hath hée at anie time attempted but he hath finished the same with wonderfull honour I could name Kings and Princes that raign onely by his meanes To speake of the victories he hath obtained either in battell or single Combate your eyes haue beheld and the whole worlde apparantly witnesseth This dare I boldly say and some of you doo know it better then I that his onely name will be more feared in Greece then all your fore-passed Emperours haue bene by their greatest puissance So well did the people like what the King Florendos had sayd as immediately was the Prince Palmerin proclaimed Emperour of Constantinople and the same day he was crowned according to the accustomed rites and ceremonies Not long afterward did the King Florendos stay with his Sonne but returned with his Quéene to Macedon where hée goueâ—ned in loue and iustice among his Subiects daily sending Messengers to Constantinople as well to vnderstand the health of the Emperour and Empresse as also of yong Prymaleon who daily increased in strength and beautie Chap. LXIII How the Prince Olorico and Alchidiana thinking to trauaile to Constantinople to see the Emperour Palmerin and the Empresse Polinarda strayed on the Sea And what sorrowful mone she made and how she was found by Palmerin IN one of the Chapters before you
haue heard how Olorico promised the Princesse Alchidiana that he would bring her to the Emperor Palmerins Court which she imprinted to déepe in her fancie as but for the common malladie incident to yong Ladies which is to become great soone after they are espoused she would haue betaken her selfe to trauaile within thrée Moneths after her mariage Notwithstanding within short time after that trouble was past she came to begge a bone of the Soldane which he would not denie her thinking shée would demaund no matter of weight Father quoth shée you must néeds giue leaue to the Prince Olorico that hée may accompanie me to Constantinople for I desire to sée the Emperour Palmerin Daughter saide the Soldane the trauaile on the Sea is verie perillous and oftentimes great estates pâ—riâ—â— by shipwracke but séeing you are so desirous and I â—naduisedly haue past my promise you shall not in ought be 〈◊〉 by mée Hâ—ereuppon was presently prepared terme Shippes and Galleyes the greater part whereof was laden with Horses riche Tapistry and other things of great vâ—â—â—lue which should be giuen to Palmerin and his Polinarda In the rest were embarqued chosen Knightes for her defence with Ladies and Gentlewomen to attende on her and all néedefull necessaries thinking to shewe her sumptuous magnificence in the Emperous Courte which in conclusion fell out otherwise For Fortune who is euer variable and neuer permanent at the instant when Olorico and Alchidiana builded most on her fauour and were come within tenne dayes sayling of Constantinople she altered their opinions in most doubtfull manner as they expected nothing but the ende of their liues The winde now ariseth contrary to them a suddaine and terrible tempest ouertaketh them and with such rough billowes their Shippes were beaten as in their sight fire of their Galleyes were drowned the residue were verie farre scattered from them and the great Carricke wherein themselues were against a Rocke was spilt in the middest Nowe are they left to the mercie of the waters and Alchidiana wasting on a plancke for safegarde of her life and had not one of the Pylots by swimming recouered a little Squiffe wherewith he presently made to her and got her in otherwise there had the Princesse vnhappily perished This Pylot was so expert cunning as cutting through the vnmercifull waues hée gained landing at a Porte distant from Constantinople about thirtie miles The Inhabitants where they came on shoare wondred to sée her so gorgiously attired and had not the Pylot friendly perswaded them that shée was a Princesse trauailing to the Emperours Court and by mishap had lost all her companie on the Sea they would haue dealt with her verie hardly But when they vnderstoode the cause of her comming they entertained her with fauour and ciuilitie causing her to be lodged at a very welthy Merchaunts house where she wanted nothing shée could desire Alchidiana séeing shée had escaped the daunger of the Sea and was nowe in better assuraunce then before comforted her selfe with this good fortune but when shée remembred her losse into what want pouertie shee was now brought and that through her foolish desire her Husband was drowned as shée thought shée was so ouercome with griefe that neither her owne noble minde nor the daily presence of the Greekes that came to sée her could disswade her from ceaselesse lamentations Ah wrâ—tch that I am quoth she how well haue I deserued this wreakefull aduenture Ah ill aduised Alchidiana what moued thée to crosse the Seas if not an inordinate desire to see him of whome thou maist expect no remedie for thy sorrow or else to sée her that is Mistresse of his heart and so make thine owne conceites more languishing My Lord and Husband Olorico I am the vnhappie cause of thy death thy loue hath euer béene to mée sounde and perfect Why could it not then make thée forgette the man who alwayes disdained my passions and neuer loued mée but with dissimulation If thou escape death as I haue done iust cause hast thou to hast mée continually Coulde not I remember howe thy people spent their blood for me onely to witnesse thy neuer daâ—nted affection and I haue requited thy loue with monstrous ingratitude Why then did not our Gods make me alone to suffer the desert of my folly but take reuenge on them that neuer offended Ah noble Ladies howe heard is your recompence in my seruice that your tender and delicate bodies should be foode for the Fishes And you worthie Knights and Gentlemen in â—léed of purchasing honour and renowne with your Maister you are lost for euer to my no little gréefe and vexation The Merchaunt in whose house shée was lodged hearing her heauie and lamentable complaintes thus comforted her Be of good cheare Madame your Husband by the grace of God will well enough escape this daunger As for your treasure it is a matter soone gotten and soone lost and to mourne for your Ladies and Gentlemen it is to purpose because it can no way benefit them When wee poorâ— men loose our goods wiues and Children wée must with patience please our selues you then hauing knowledge of vertue and that we are all subiect to the transitorie chaunges of the worlde to despaire is farre vnseemelye your estate My Lord the Emperour is bountifull and liberall and the most vertuous Prince that euer raigned in Greece hee will so well recompence your losse as you shall not complaine of your comming With these perswasioâ—s shee was somewhat pacified and hauing stayed there nine or tenne daies to see if anie other of the Galleyes would arriue there séeing none came shée sold diuers of her precious Iewells that was about her for halfe the value they were worthe and prouided her selfe of fixe Horses for her selfe her Hostesse and her two Daughters the Pilot that had saued her from drowning and one of the Merchants Seruants with which companie shée rode toward Constantinople hauing chaunged her rich attire into mourning wéedes As they were in a great Forrest 〈◊〉 miles from the Cittie the Princesse calling to remembrounce howe poore and simple she should come before the Emperour hauing beene one of the welthiest Ladies in the world was so ouercome with this conceit as hardly could her hostesse kéepe her 〈…〉 wherefore séeing they were néere a goodlie Fountaine there they alighted to rest her a little And after shee hadde walked in the coole shaddowe of the Trées shee founde her selâ—e in better disposition preparing to mount on horsebacke againe but it came so to passe that the Emperour Palmerin hauing béene hunting in that Forrest and by earnest pursuit of the game lost all his companie so that at length he came to the Fountaine where Alchidiana walked His arriuall greatly amazed the women and before hee would demaund what they were hee alighted and dranke of the Fountaine water Alchidiana earnestly beholding him and â—â—eling inwardlie a strange alteration presenâ—â—ye 〈◊〉 againe in her Hostesse Armes Alas said the Emperouâ—
to the King Tarisius of Hungaria whome Paâ—merin and Frysoll slew at Constantinople hée was their Brother and Sonne to the Duchesse of Ormeda Shée vnderstanding the death of her two Sonnes could not conceale it from the Duke her Husband who presently died with very conceit of gréefe whereuppon shée to reuenge this mishappe caused by her report as also the death of her twâ— Sonnes made promise to Nardides then béeing eightéene yeeres olde that so soone as hée was knighted hee should go to Constantinople and there if it were possible to murder the Emperour and Frysoll All this he â—owed to performe and two or thrée dayes after hauing married the Kings Daughter of Polonia hee embarqued himselfe with â—orty Knights determining by a Combat for treason to compasse his intent These wreakfull aymers at reuenge landed all in one instant at Constantinople when the old Magitian calling to Nardydes sayde hee would gladly sprake with him in secret as concerning matters greatly for his auaâ—le Hereupon they went all closely together into one of the Cabins and the olde man entred into theâ—e spéeches Sir Nardides néedelâ—sie is it for you to hide your affaires from mee for I knowe that you depart from Poloma with fortie Knights disguised like Merchants onely with this determination to destroy the Emperour in reuenge of certaine iniuryes done to your Brethren But if you will giue credit to mée and go to worke in such sort as I shall aduise yée yée shall happily obtayne the end of your desire By God sayd Nardides you 〈◊〉 mée wonders there is not one in the shippe that knowes mine intent yet you haue sayde the truth whereat I cannot maruaâ—le sufficiently Seeing then you know so much it were but follâ—e to dissemble say then your minde and I will heare yée This night sayd the old man the Emperour wil suppe in the great Hall with the Prince Olorico and the Princesse Alchidiana the King of Sparta and his Queene with many other great Princes and Lordes so that such store of people are in the Pallace as little regarde will bee had of strangers or housholde sâ—ruants You then with my Sonne Mâ—nadeno beeing Armed as beseeâ—es a cause so 〈◊〉 shall sodainely enter and â—ill the Emperour my Sonne Lycado and I will stay your returne heere and I that can commaunde the winde and weather will carrie ye hence without danger of following And true it is that there is a Bird pearched in the Hall which the wise Muzabelino hath so enchaunted as neither good or ill tydings can come to the Emperour but she bewrayes the same by her song or fearefull crie yet doubt not you thereof strike boldly there will be none Armed so that you departe againe at your owne pleasure My Friend said Nardides happie be the houre I â—ette with thée assure thy selfe that if I can kill the Emperour and thou afterwarde deliuer me safely such recompence will I bestow on thée as both thou and thine shall for euer remember me Other recompence I demaund not sayde the olde man then the death of the Emperour prepare thy selfe therefore so follow thine intent The night béeing come these Traytors Armed themselues and casting their mantles about them entred the Pallace were among the Pages and seruants without suspition they came into the Hall leauing Lycado and his Father at the Port where hée threwe abroade such enchauntments that all such as came foorth of their houses presently fell downe a sleepe in the stréetes No sooner were the Traytours entred the Hall but the Bird gaue a horrible and fearefull crie beating her beake against her breast with such furie as though shee would haue rent foorth her heart My God sayd the Emperour in mercie behold mée for the cry of this Birde dooth foretell great misfortune Looke about my friendes quoth he to his Guard and sée if any Stranger or vnknowne body is entred our presence Nardides by these spéeches knew hée was the Emperour wherefore drawing his Sword hée thought to haue cleaued his head yet hée fayled of his intent for the Emperour séeing the blow comming with a great Golden Cuppe awarded it indifferently notwithstanding the Sword in slipping from the Cuppe gaue him a â—ore wound vpon the head Olorico sitting on the other side the Table ranne at the Traitour but the Emperour had receiued two strokes more ere he could come at him so that his maiestie fell from his Chaire as he had béene dead As the Prince Olorico held the Traytor Nardides by the armes Menadeno strâ—oke at him so rigorously as if Ptolome had not borne off the blowes with a great siluer plate Olorico there had lost his life Duke Eustace séeing this shamefull outrage wrong the Sword out of Nardides hande and gaue him such a sounde stroke therewith on the head as made him tomble his héeles vpwarde and by the helpe of Bellechino who founde the meanes to gette off his Helmet hée smote his head from his shoulders Bellechino who had béene newly baptised loued the Emperour as hée had béene his Father and comming to Menadeno whome Duke Ptolome strongly helde in his armes gaue him so many stabs on his throate that he likewise fell downe at his féete The Empresse séeing her Lord so wounded rent her garments tore her comely locks of hayre and smote her faire face with maruailous violence Ah my Lord quoth shée thou art not wounded alone for if thou die as God forbid right soone will my ghost follow thée Cease Madam your complaints saide the Emperour and comfort your selfe so wel as you may for this is the houre wherin I must leaue you I haue lost such aboundance of my bloud as longer may I not liue with you O my God forgiue my sins and receiue my soule In vttering these words he swouned againe and the Empresse with him for companie to the no little amazement of all the Lords and Ladies who were well néeâ—e at their wits ende to be holde this vnexpected alteration Alchidiana likewise was in wonderfull perplexitie fearing also that her Lord was wounded to the death but to comfort this sorrowfull and desolate Court good fortune sent this helpe ensuing CHAP. LXVI How the wise Muzabelino knowing by his arte the cruell treason doone to the Emperour came to succour him and of that which followed MVzabelino the Nigramanâ—er of whom we haue alreadie spoken by chaunce this day was turning ouer his Booke and â—ound the dangerous stratâ—gâ—me deuised by these Traitours and calling his familiars together demaunded the danger that would ensue by this treason whereto one of them replied that if hée went not spéedily to Constantinople the Emperour the Prince Olorico and their Ladies would hardly escape that day with life Then armed he himselfe in the selfe same maner as he was when he succoured the Prince Tryneus and calling two spirits of the ayre resembling Giants their faces so vglie and fearefull as no humane creature durst beholde them them hee commanded to carrie him to