onelie Daughter to the great Emperor of Turkie I neither can or will change my former opinion Happe then what shall and let my Father make an oblation of my blood to his secret Idoll I will not desist from louing him And thou my Fréend quoth she to Ptolome because thou hast not hid the truth from mée bee thou at this instant frée and vse thy libertie as thou pleasest for rather let me abide the death then the companion to my noble Lorde suffer shame by mee Ptolome falling on his knee humblie kissed her hande and began to reueale the knightly chiualrie that Palmerin and Treneus sometime did in England likewise howe they brought the Kings Daughter from thence who remained captiue among the Turks and her Husband giuen as slaue to the Admiralles Cozin It is enough said the Princesse talke to me no more héereof for by the great God the verie remembraunce of him is greater gréefe to me then the mercilesse seruitude a poore slaue endureth The loue he bare to you to the other knight and the yong English Princesse whose misfortune I cannot sufficiently bewayle calleth mée hence to trauaile in search of him and may I find him with them right gladsome will the iourney bee to mee because hee is thâ— onelie darling and fauorite of Fortune And now shall I tell you howe I meane to couller mine intent My Father not knowing your captiuitie to him shall I saye how you are the onelie companion to Palmerin and hither are you come to séeke him as hauing hearde before that hee remained in your seruice of this I dare assure you his Maiestie so déerelie loueth Palmerin that hee will deliuer you all things necessarie for his search be it by land or sea And if your God shall fauour you so much as in your trauaile you happen to finde him or else to send mée certaine tidings of him you shall doo me the greatest honor that euer Knight did to distressed Ladie So forwarde was the Princesse in her amorous desire and loth to waste time with tedious delaye as that daie shee acquainted her Father therewith and so cunningly shée plaid the Dratrix as the soldane gaue Ptolome Armour Horsses Seruants and fortie Knights to attend on him Beside he furnished him with two great Ships that he might enquire at all the Ports on the Sea for Palmerin The daye béeing come of his departure hée tooke his leaue of the Soldane the Princesse Alchidiana accompanying him to the Porte where for her adieu shee gaue him a swéet kisse saying Sir Knight if your fortune bee such as to bring mee the man who onelie hath power to mittigate my torments beside the continuall fauours of a Princesse I will make you one of the greatest Lordes in the Orient Madame quoth hée I will doo my diligence and till I returne let good hope perswade yee So hoâ—sing saile they set to Sea where we will leaue him till hee méets with Palmerin Chap. XLVII How Palmerin and the princesse Zephira departed from Elain towards Romata to seeke Muzabelino and what happened by the way in their iourney AFter that Maulerino was crowned King of Nabor the rebellious Subiects brought to obedience and the bodie of 〈◊〉 â—laine king Tireno enterred yâ— yong Princesse Zephira Palmerin thought long to set forwarde on their iourney wherefore the king allowing them a very honourable trayne bequeathing them to their desired fortune Hauing passed many regions and sundrie dangers incident in trauaile chiefely of a Basilisque whome Palmerin with the helpe of the dog Tryneus valiantly ouercame At length they entred yâ— realme of Romata where by commandement of the king Abimar their entertainment was according to their estates the occasion thereof being thus This king Abimar holding the greatest possessions in that region would neuer yéeld himself as subiect to the signorie of Persia wherat the soldan now growing offended sent an Ambassadour to commaund him presently to determine on his obedience or else he would ouer-run his Countrey with a mighty Armie and put both olde and yong to the Sworde Abimar â—bashed at this threatning Embassade demaunded counsell of the wise Muzabelino what answer hee should make the Ambassadour whereto the Magitian thus anuswered Feare not my Lord the threatning menaces of the Soldane for in that you haue two noble Sonnes so witte the Princes Tomano and Drumino knights of high and speciall account yet come there two others one whereof maye not be knowne with the Princesse Zephira Daughter to the King of Nabor who shall deliuer you from his tirannie and make him your Fréende therefore dismaie not to sende him a hardie answer as well beseemeth a Prince frée and not to be commaunded And though one of his knights that commeth with the Princesse shall a while bee vnknowne to you by the bountie of his companion with whom no other may well compare yet ere long you shall knowe him to your no little ioye and contentation Abimar giuing credit to Muzabelinos spéeches gaue charge in all the Citties where through the Princesse should passe that shée shoulde be entertained with honorable tryumphes as if himselfe had béene in companie And though the Prince Tâ—mano gréeued héereat who loued the yongest Daughter to the Soldane of Persia yet the King answered the Ambassadoâ— that hee woulde maintaine his right by the Sworde and if the Soldane came to assayle him he would defend his Coâ—ntrey so well as he could The Ambassadour dispatched with this answer Tomano came to Muzabelino saying Ah my déere Fréende Muzâ—belino what wrong haue you doone mee in perswading my Father to holde warre with the Soldane whose Daughter you know I loue in such sort as if I obtaine her not in mariage hardly can my life long endure Conteâ—t your slefe my Lord answered Muzabelino for if the two knights that come bring â—ortune for your father you must expect the like for your selfe But said the Prince maye I not knowe their names Let it suffise quoth Muzabelino what I haue saide yet héereof I daer asâ—ure you that they are Christians and extract of the greatest linage on the earth in bountie and valour incomparable whereof if you list to make experience and thereby to credit what I haue said beside I shall shewe you a meane auaylable for the purpose You shall cause two Tents to be erected by the Câ—dar Fountaine which is halfe a mile distant from this Cittie in the one of them let be your Brother Drumino and your selfe with tenne of the best Knightes in your Fathers Court and in the other let be your Sister accompanied with tenne of her chéefest Ladies and about a bowe shot from thence towards the high way side you shall sette vp a Marble Pillar whereâ—pon let these lines be engrauen Sir Knight in these pauillions doth remaine A Lady fayre kept by a Princes sonne Foyle him by Ioust and winne her hence againe Thou maist not passe before the deede be doone If it happen that they passe
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 〈◊〉
sorting vs so commodiouslie togeather that I may shewe you before I enter the Lystes royall the occasion why I left the Realme of Macedon to visite my Lord the Emperor I sweare to you vpon my knightlie faith that your gracious selfe was the onelie cause of my iourney and while I liue I shall euermore aduenture my selfe in ought that may stand with your fauour and liking and the first argument of my happinesse I should account if you would commaunde mee this daie to arme my selfe for your Knight otherwise I must be content to absent my selfe béeing assured that with out your regard it is vnpossible for me to doo any thing that can returne me estimation or honour And albeit I haue not as yet doone anie seruice to you whereby I shoulde deserue to be so accepted yet such is the hope I repose in your vertuous nature as you will not refuse my honest request beeing the first I euer desired of you and not the last I truste shall doo you honour Nowe as you haue heard before Griana earnestlie affected Florendos neuerthelesse as a modest and well aduised Princesse doubting leaste hee faigned those spéeches of course dissembling her selfe to be somwhat displeased returned this aunswere I did not thinke my Lord Florendos that you woulde so farre forget your selfe to holde mee with spéeches not beséeming the Daughter of so great an Emperour as I am neuerthelesse knowing you are a Stranger and ignoraunt it may be of the modestie which shoulde defende Knights deuising with Ladies I will not vse such rigour towards you as I ought yet must I tell you that I finde my selfe offended You desire that as my Knight you may enter the Tourney for that I graunt ye to the ende I may perceiue the effect of the prowesse which each one so much commendeth in you the rest it is my pleasure that you forbeare Madame quoth he if I haue vsed anie such spéeches as agree not with your patience for Gods sake in my excuse accuse my small compasse of libertie which remaineth onelie at your disposition What quoth she thinke you that I wil loue anie but he that must and ought be my Husbande Ah swéete Ladie said Florendos that is it I so earnestlie desire and thinke not that I sollicite you with anie other kind of loue but onelie to make you the Mistresse of my self and altogeather to dispose of me and mine for proofe whereof I will héereafter imploy my selfe in the Emperours seruice in such sorte as if you like it I hope to purchase his consent Truelie Sir quoth she that onelie appertaines to the Emperor and not to mée to whom you are to make known what you intende for hee hath authoritie to commaunde and I am bounde by duetie to obey At which wordes the Empresse called her awaie when Florendos making her courteous reuerence departed to his Chamber to arme him selfe for manie Knights were entred the Lystes and he in short space came thether for companie where hee behaued himselfe with such valoure as he not onelie got the honour of the first daie but of the foure daies folowing while the Tourneie endured and wonne the prize which Caniano had prepared for him that best deserued it which made him bee greatlie estéemed of the Emperour and of the whole Court ingenerall espeâ—iallie of the faire Griana whose harte by little and little Loue brought in subiection to the no small content of Florendos which doubtlesse had the Prince Tarisius beheldâ— I imagine hee woulde haue hardlie liked it But nowe during the time of these great Feastes and Triumphes Fortune the sworne enemie to all quietnes presented the Emperor with other occasions to cut off these pastimes and courtlie deuises for after many of the Knights assembled at his Courte had taken leaue to returne into their Countries Gamezio Sonne to the Soldane of Babilon who was on the Seas with a mightie Armie intending to conquer Alexandria was by extreamitie of winde and weather driuen into the straights before Constantinople Which when the Pilots and Marriners perceiued not onâ— amongst theÌ„ but greatlie reioyced at this good fortune but chéefelie Gamezio who perswaded himself yâ— his Gods had sent him thether that the moste noble florishing Cittie of the world might fall into his handes whereupon the windes somewhat appeased and the Seas calmed he assembled the chiefe and principall Captaines of his Armie and thus began My good fréendes I beléeue assuredlie yâ— our great Gods would not suffer vs to arriue in Alexandria because wee went against them of our owne Law and Religion but rather it liked them better that we should addresse our selues to this Countrie of Christians either to ruinate it altogeather or at least to bring it vnder our obeysance Therefore I am determined for this time to defer the reuenge of the iniurie which the King Calameno did to the Soldane and as much as in me lyes imploy my forces in conquest of this Countrey for which cause I desire that each of you would particularlie encourage your people assuring them if wee can conquer this Cittie the riches thereof will counteruaile their paine and trauaile The Captaines failed not to accomplish their charge to the vttermost summoning euerie one presentlie to Armes so prouiding their Shippes their Ensignes all thinges els néedefull for their defence they hoysed their sailes making towards yâ— Shoare where with such prouision as they had they tooke landing making such a noyse with their Drummes Trumpets Clamors as was heard with no small feare in euerie part of the Cittie Neuertheles they were receiued with better resistance then they looked for as following the discourse of the Historie you shall at large vnderstand CHAP. III. Of the battayle fought before the Cittie of Constantinople betweene the Emperours power and the Armie of Gamezio IMmediatlie was this huge Armie on the Sea discouered by the Sentâ—rnelles of the Cittie whereupon the rumour arose so greate as the people ranne on heapes to defende the Hauen where the Moores thought to haue made their first entrie In the meane while Caniano Tarisius and the other principall Knights with their men of Armes put themselues in equipage doraynning their Armie in such warlike maner as nowe they marche forth of the Cittie to succour those places where the Moores gaue most eager assault The Prince Florendos béeing left behinde made no little haste to gather his companie and as he galloped with them by the Emperours Pallace hee espied the Princesse Griana standing at her Chamber windowe casting manie a ruefull looke towardes the 〈◊〉 of the Cittie which so déepelie peirced the gentle Princes harte as immediatlie hee saide within himselfe By Heauen swéete Ladie either will I die this day or remooue the gréefe that séemeth so néere to touche you And with this resolution he gaue the spurres to hys Horse when it was not long before hee got among the thickest of the Moores where he behelde the enemie so strong and the
Mother nor any of my kindred notwithstanding mine owne hart makes mee iudge no lesse of my selfe and more gladlie would I die then doo anie thing that were not vertuous and well woorthie the name of a Gentleman And trust me said Florendos I am of the same opinion this night therefore you must obserue the religious watch as is accustomed and to morrowe will I giue you your order and put the spurre on your héele my selfe Palmerin on his knée humblie kissed the Princes hand and continuing in talke togeather Florendos tooke a great delight in beholding him so that hee demaunded his name and Countrey My Lord quoth he they which found me amongst the Palme Trées on y◠Mountaine of Oliues not farre from Constantinople haue giuen me the name of Palmerin By mine honour said Florendos I ought wel to know the Cittie whereof you speake as the place wherein my déerest affections tooke their first life and not long since are bequeathed to death awaiting nowe but the howre to be discharged of the burden Thus hauing in his companie his vnknowne Sonne begotten by him on the Princesse Griana knew little that his loue had sorted to such effect neuerthelesse nature prouoked him to like so well of Palmerin as none in y◠Courte contented him more then he And longer woulde they haue continued their talke but that faire Arismena interrupted them asking Palmerin if he woulde discharge her of the request he demaunded That doo I Madame quoth hee and in requitall thereof dedicate the whole circuit of my life to your gracious seruice and to begin my deuoire on your be halfe so soone as I haue receiued my Knighthoode I wyll take my iourney towards the Serpent in hope to bring the water that must recouer the King your Fathers health Alas good Sir said she God forbidde that you should fall in such daunger by my meanes I know well aunswered Palmerin that I can die but once and if it be nowe then am I dispatched and if I escape I shall doo that whereof many other haue failed and this is my resolution faire Madame Beléeue me said Florendos me thinkes you are as yet too yong to finish an action wherein consists so great daunger I praie you therfore referre it vnto such as haue had more experience in Armes then as yet you haue My Lorde saide Palmerin in other matters I shall obey when you cōmand but this I must desire you not to disswade me from Well then quoth Florendos séeing you will néedes haue it so I am content you shall in the meane while kéepe mee companie as for Sworde and Armour trouble not you selfe to prouide ame because my selfe will furnish you sufficientlie Thus all daie Florendos accompanied Palmerin demaunding of him what things he had séene in Constantinople and falling from one discourse to another he asked him what Esquire he had to attēd on him Thē he shewed his Dwarffe called Vrbanillo such a deformed and euill fauoured felow as euerie one that saw him laughed hartilie whereuppon Palmerin said to Florendos By my faith my Lorde as vnséemelie as he is I thinke so well of him as I should be displeased if he were anie waie iniuried Assure your selfe said Florendos that he will stand you in great stedde when you haue no néede of him and looke y◠you leaue nothing behind you that you néede to fight against the Serpent and trust it in his discretion to bring after you When Vrbanillo perceiued euerie one test so with him he was halfe angrie and in some choller thus said to the Prince I can no waie my Lord better my shape or proportion but if I liue this little deformed bodie of mine shall giue you to vnderstande that I beare so good a minde as where my Maister leaues his life I meane to finish mine and though in meane while I can doo him no other seruice he shal be assured of my trueth and loyaltie But not offended Owarffe my good freende saide Florendos for I thinke well of thée and of thy behauiour And so because the Tables were couered for Supper they brake of talke Palmerin preparing himself to his watchfull deuoire in the Chappell CHAP. XV. Howe Florendos gaue to Palmerin the Armour and Sword of Gamezio whom hee slewe before Constantinople and afterwarde Knighted him and howe a Damosell came to the Court who presented him with a Helmet and a rich Sheelde THe time béeing come that Palmerin should performe his deuonte watch in the Chappel before hee receiued his Knighthoode according to the auncient custome Florendos gaue commaundement that the Armour of Gamezio should bee brought him which the Emperour had giuen him after his conquest of the Soldan of Babilons army on the Sea as you haue heard before and these he shewed to Palmerin saying My fréend this Armour sometimes belonged to the best Knight of his time whom neuerthelesse I conquered béeing then more pleasant ioyfull and at better content then I shal be while I haue a daie to liue And because I haue some speciall opinion of your prowesse and that these ornaments of defence you will better imploy then anie other on whom I shal bestowe them I praie you henceforth to weare them for my sake My Lorde saide Palmerin my desire is that my seruice towardes your honour maie be witnessed in my good imploying of this gentle gift Then Frenato and diuers other Knights did helpe to arme him and afterward accompanied him to the Chappell where all that night hee spent in sollemne orisons that God would endue him with strength to vanquish the Serpent that so the King might againe receiue his health At the breake of daie as Florendos went to the Chappell to giue him his order there entred among them on the suddaine a comelie Damosell bearing a Helmet a Shéeld of Azier the goodliest and most beautifull that euer was séene vpon the Shéelde béeing portraied a Ladies arme hauing her hande fast closed togeather the Damosell comming before the Prince Florendos began thus I pray you my Lord to pause a while till I haue conferred a little with Palmerin Florendos was greatlie amazed at this accident in that he had neuer séene the Damosell before notwithstanding he returned this answere Faire Damosell my Fréende good leaue haue you to saie what you please Then comming to Palmerin and falling on her knées before him she saide Sir Palmerin a Knight that hath authoritie to commaund me and whom as yet you doo not knowe hath sent you by me this Helment and Shéelde wherein you shall find the verie secretes of your hart And if you desire to know whence this honour procéedeth it commeth from him who hath prooued the effect héereof and that knowes more of you néerest affairest then you doo your selfe albeit as yet he hath neuer séene you Damosell saide Palmerin where maie I finde the learned man that hath thus honored mee whō I may remunerate with my chéefest endeuours heerafter You
former promise not to râ—ueale the least matter that may be hurtfull to them Neuerthelesse in regard of the reuerent good will they beare you and that I would not haue you offended with such an abiect creature as I am I would gladly tell you some thing to your content so you will promise me on your princely worde that what I reueale shall neuer be disouered by you Perswade thy selfe thereof sayd the Princesse and looke what thou sayst by my honor shall neuer turne to thy after harme Then know fayre Madame quoth he that the gréene knight is of the most noble and illustrious house in Europe louing a Ladie as his proper life for whom he hath left his Countrey parents friends to come and do her seruice The blacke knight as I haue alreadie tolde you is my maister and further then this I may not tell you What am I the nearer my desire quoth shée by this aunswere eyther thou shouldest haue sayde nothing or else thorowly satisfyed mâ—e for now I can not bée quieted till thou tell me what Ladie it is that the gréene Knight loues so déerely let mée not make so many intreaties for I promise to thée againe by the faith of a Princesse that neuer shall any creature know it by my meanes You vrge me so farre quoth the Dwarffe and haue made mee such great promises as I am constrayned beyond yâ— charge giuen by my maister to acquaint you with the trueth in respect the fault wil be greater in you to make refusal then in yéelding Resolue your selfe therefore good Madame that the braue gréene Knight so rich in Armes but more in minde is the Prince Trineus Sonne to the Emperour of Allemaigne so passionate in loue and so depriued of liberty by deuout seruice to your excellent bountie as against both duetie and nature he hath deceiued his Father feigning to come ayde his Kinsman the King of Norway where contrariwise he hath shewed himselfe his mortall enemie And to no other ende hath he thus offended both Father and Cozin then to make known his long labourous desires to make you Lady and Mistresse of him and his and such is his fearâ— to be refused as he endures more torments then the martired bodye of poore Prometheus Bee not then the cause swéete Ladie that a Prince so famous and a Knight so gentle shall buy his great good seruice to your Father and CouÌ„trey yea the most loyal loue he beares to you with vntimelie vnfortunate and cruell death Thinke with your selfe is it not the highest among all honours to be Wife to such a Lord and Empresse in time of renowned Allemaigne Is it not perpetuall report to be Lady and commaundresse of the principall parte of Europe Let not him beare record that a bodie so adorned and countenaunce so milde and gracious can entertaine tirannie or crueltie yea Madam such crueltie as if you receiue him not into your fauourable conceit you shall procure the death of the truest Knight in loue that euer liued The blacke knight is the renowned Palmerin d'Oliua the wonder of the world for â—alour conquering in Fraunce the Duke of Sauoy in maintenaunce of his Ladies beautie fayre without compare conforming his Shéelde and Armour equall to his mourning thoughts for his absence from her that tryumphes in his loue The third knight so adorned with white Roses is called Ptolome loued by a Ladie well woorthy of him It now remaineth fayre Princesse that you make the Prince Trineus equall with them in felicitie for you haue the mayden heade of his loue which with honor you may entertaine into your chastâ— thoughtes Thus haue I acquainted you with such a secrete as no creature but your selfe could haue got of mée and the danger to fall into your misconceit hath made mée such a blab leauing all you haue heard to your gracious coÌ„struction Agriola méetelie farre enough in loue before but now vtterly denied of longer libertie hearing the wordes of Vrbanillo was surprised with such a strange alteration as a long time she was driuen to silence not able to vtter the secrete conceits of her minde yet al length to shadowe her suddaine change from the Dwarfe shée sayde Ah my Fréende thou acquaintest me with matter altogither incredible is it possible that Trineus Sonne to the Emperor of Allâ—â—â—aigne would venture into this Court considering the mortall enmitie betwéene our Fathers Trust mée my Fréende I cannot credit thée I renounce mine owne soule sâ—ide the Dwarfe if it be not as I haue told you then iudge Madame what acceptaunce shoulde be made of his seruice when loue to you excéedeth nature may it not bee termed loue surpassing all other eyther registred in antiquities or present memorie If it should be quoth she as then sayest it is beyonde my power to returne condigne recompence yet in respect of thy secrecie I dare assure thée mine owne opinion of him hath so ouer-maistered me as in honorable modestie he may commaund and I am not so well nurtured to disagrée But if eyther by my words thou hast gathered or by any chaunge of countenaunce perceiued the suddaine yéelding of a flexible nature interprete it in this good sort that Princes afflictions make each other melt as framed of one mettall which I charge thée conceale from him as thou regardest my word and his safetie Pardon mee Madame quoth the Dwarfe it standeth not with my allegeaunce to obey you héerein what a villaine might I bee accounted and vnworthy the name of a faithfull seruant if I shoulde â—ide these happy tydings from him to ease those torments that euerye houre threaten his death Yea Madame did my maister but thinke I would so abuse him well deserued I to be â—orne in péeces Well quoth she if thou findest time conuenient till him but no other I charge thée on thy life and withall certifie him that I woulde not for my Fathers Crowne he should be knowne Feare you not good Madame sayde the Dwarffe they are alreadie so well aduised as none but your selfe ran any way endaunger them It sufficeth that the Prince vnderstande your pleasure which I will impart to him when the King is returned so kissing her hande hée departed leauing her so highly contented in assurance of the loyall loue of Trineus as she neuer determined any other Husbande yet woulde shée not disclose her minde no not to Eufemia her secret companion thinking herselfe too much bewrayed because the Dwarffe knewe it Soone after the Quéene sent for her to walke in the coole shadowe of the Trées where not long they stayed before the King returned who reported what pastime they had all that morning The Knightes hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladies Trineus saluting the Princesse Agriola was so transported as hée scant knewe where he was The Princesse likewise fixed with a stedfast eye on him as wounded both him and her selfe togither her complexion so aptly deciphering her sickenesse as the Prince perceyuing it sayd to
in a fayre Medow neare a Bridge and there placed twelue knights the most hardie and valiant men in all his Dukedome who should maintaine this order that no Knight shoulde passe ouer the Bridge vnlesse hée entred Combate with those twelue Knightes one after another and such as were vanquished shoulde submitte themselues to the Dukes mercy eyther for their deliueraunce or to remaine his prysoners and the horsse of the partie foyled should belong to the conquerer but if they were dismounted the passenger shoulde go on his iourney and take theyr Horsses with him Thys aduenture thus established many good Knights were ouer come because it was a verye harde matter to vanquishe twelue Knights and yet escape But the Duke tooke no little pleasure heerein who detained Frysol more by constraint then otherwise for his anger so vehemently encreased against Palmerin as no delight or pleasure coulde expiate his reuenging desires Chap. LV. How Palmerin went with the Damosell to accomplish the promise he made her and what befell him PAlmerin as you haue heard departed from the Damosell in a rage because he coulde not execute what he intended wherefore hee deuised to deale some other way and to single foorth Frisol in such conuenient place as one of them should dye before they departed And as he was imagining some other way to ouertake Frysol the Damosel had now againe recouered his company saying I pray you Sir Knight conceiue no il opinion of me for hindering you from killing your enemie whome you haue left in very great ieoperdy considering what bountie and courage is in him and which your selfe perhaps will bee sorye for Wherefore I pray you forget this displeasure determinâ— to fulfill what you haue promised which if you will doo you must go with me Beléeue me Damosell saide Palmerin you shewed but little courtesie so often hindering me from the thing which aboue all other in this worlde most tormenteth mée What vnhappye bodye are you but more vnhappye the houre I mette with you but séeing it is reason I shoulde kéepe my promise leade the way and I will not faile to follow you So rode they on and for foure dayes space hée woulde not speake one word to her and fayne he would haue left her company but that he could not with honor forsake her The next daye as they rode by a Riuers side Palmerin espyed a Knight standing with a Bowe and arrow in his hand which he let flye at his Horse killed him Palmerin impacient by remembraunce of Frysol and angrye that the Knight had thus killed his Horse made towardes him so fast as hee coulde but the Knight was suddainlye gotte on the further site of the Lake and Palmerin vppe to the middle in Water before hée was ware of it and nowe hee could neyther sée the Knight that slewe his Horse nor the Damosell that came in his companie Palmerin béeing in great perplexity when he sawe nothing but water rounde about him and féeling he was vpon a Bridge behelde a meruailous déepe streame running vnder it and at the ende thereof a goodly Castle Walking along the Bridge toward the Castle amazed at this contrary aduenture hée espyed a Knight on the battlements of thÌ„ Castle who sayde Staye a while Syr Knight one shall come presentlye and open the Gate Palmerin knewe not what to say but determined to defende himselfe if any came to assaulte him so the Castle Gate béeing opened hée entred with his sword drawne yet was there no man that displeased him but euery one made him humble reuerence with very good wordes and gentle countenaunce declaring by their behauiour that hée was more then welcome thither Thus walking on to the inner Court there came towardes him a Ladie accompanied with manie Damosels and Knights all shewing chéerefull gestures and the Ladie taking Palmerin by the hande sayde Ah gentle knight right welcome are you to this place and heauen bée praysed for the good it dooth mée to sée you here that is able to aâ—complish the thing which no other as yet coulde bée able to finish enter hardily in good assuraunce for you will wee make all the honour wée are able Palmerin beléeuing the Ladie was brought into a maruailous goodly Chamber where certaine Squires holpe to vnarme him bringing him a gorgeous Mantle to wrap about him This done he was conducted into a large Hall where the Table was couered the Ladie entertaining him so nobly as in the King of Englands Court hée coulde not be better The feast ended and the Tables withdrawne the Ladie beganne to deuise with Palmerin saying Long time my Lord haue we desired your comming as the man in whome our onely helpe consisteth for by your valour we are perswaded to be deliuered from the miserie wherin I and mine haue too long time béene detained I beséech you Madame quoth Palmerin to tell mée your affayres as also what the Knight meant to kill my Horse and why you entertaine mée with so great kindnesse If you wil promise mee saide the Ladie to accomplish a néedfull occasion and which I thinke is destinied to you I will resolue you otherwise I shall but loose my labour If it bée a matter reasonable quoth Palmerin and that a knight may compasse spare not to tell mee for I will do my endeuour therein Gramercies gentle knight sayde the Ladie the circuÌ„stance of the occasion followeth in this sort This Castel my Lord sometime belonged to my noble Father a Knight so hardie and valiant as any in these parts in whose yonger yeares loue so ouerruled him aa he affâ—cted a lady of no lesse quanlitie and condition then himselfe by whom he had a â—aughter at whose birth his Lady and Wife deceased My Father being yet in the flower of his youth matched the second time with a Lady of very honourable and auncient discent by whom he had me the first Childe My Sister come to fourtéene yéeres of age my father oftentimes would haue richly married her whereto she béeing vnwilling by my Fathers consent shée remained with her mothers Sister whose skill was very great in all sciences by whose counsel my sister caused a goodly Pallace to be edified and a strong Lower in an Isle on the other side of this Castle where afterwarde they made their continuall abiding During this time my father louing mee déerely matched me with a wealthie and noble knight excelling in all perfections but chéefely in chiualrie by whom I had a Daughter a yéere after our espousall but the more my gréefe my Husband and Father both died within little space after my Childs birth My Daughter being come to the yeeres of marriage her beautie made her desired of many noble Lords but because I still reputed her too yong I denied all her suteâ—s which afterwarde turned me to verie great detriment For my Sisters aunt had a sonne the most mishapped deformed and worst conditioned knight as all the Countrey could not shew such another yet became he
contenting himselfe with this because hée loued her so specially At fiftéene dayes end the feastes béeing ended the Princes tooke their leaue of the great Sultane who with many rich presents sent them home into their Countryes Thus remained Agriola with the great Turke and the Knight to whom Olimael had giuen Ptolome and Colmelio sailed with his prisoners into Aethiopia and thenceforward vsed them not as slaues but as Gentlemen of good qualitie especially Ptolome whom hée reputed a hardie Knight and a man borne to great enterprises Chap. III. How Palmerin after his recreation returned to the sea side and seeing the Ship and his companie gone made great lamentation and what after followed BEfore in this Historie you haue heard how Palmerin walking on shore with his Faulcon on his fist desired to see the pleasantnesse of the Isle and finding so manie delights to with-holde him returned not towarde the Ship till it was néere night but when hée came thither againe and could not sée the Shippe nor anie one to question withall he was greatly amazed running héere and there yet all to no purpose Sometime 〈◊〉 imagined that Trineus had betrayed him because he had acquainted him with his loue toward his Sister and then againe resolued himselfe on the contrarie All about hee looked for his companions not knowing what to think whether they were carried away by Pirats or taken prisoners by the Inhabitants of the Island In the end hauing compassed in his minde all imaginations hee could and séeing that by his regard of pleasure he had lost his Friendes hee entred into many sorrowfull lamentations farre 〈…〉 Cadmus when hee lost his Souldiers by the horrible Serpent cursing and exclaiming on himselfe as he had béene guiltie of the death of his father Alas quoth hee why did I not remember these wretched misfortunes by poore Varnan whose sorrowes was likewise procured by a Hawke in haplâ—sse houre was this wicked Byrde giuen me Ah trecherous and deceiuing strumpet I thinke thou art some incorporate Fiende sent from Hell to iniurie the most constant Louers and therefore gentle Oâ—le or rather enchanted Diuell thou shalt neuer hereafter displeâ—â—â— any other so taking her by the necke hée pulled her in 〈◊〉 and said Ah sweete Lady Polynarda how contrarie is Fortuneâ— and howe vnhappily our desirâ—s preuented well am I assured if Trineus come to the Court without me it will endanger your life and the onely thing that sheeldes mée from death is comfortable hope to sée you once again Therfore diuine mistresse I call for your succour that by your gracious assistante I may endure these vehement occasions Ah gentle Princesse Agriola howe haue I deceiued you but in requitall of your wrong no rest nor ease shall possesse my soule till I haue brought Trineus and you 〈◊〉 as great ioy as by my meanes you haue receiued discomfort In these complaints 〈◊〉 laide him downe 〈…〉 and so wasted the time till morning camâ— when 〈◊〉 no treatures to speake withall nor any meane for his to pâ—sse the Sea hee determined to passe through the Island till hee might méete some body to â—oâ—ferre with Thus hauing no defence but his sword vnder his arme hee walked along and at length he met a Moore with foure Spanielles and a Marlin on his fist whome hee humbly saluting demaunded the name of the Countrey and if there were any shipping neere for his passage The Moore perceiuing by his language that he was a Christian in great anger answered Art thou come so farre to séeke thine owne misfortune by Mahomet I shall welcome thee hither with a vengeance So laying hande on his Semitary Palmerin perceiuing by his gesture though hee vnderstood not his talk that he wished him no good wherefore drawing his sword hee gaue the Moore such a stroke on the head as he cleaued it to his very téeth and sayd By God villaine thou shalt not take me prisoner or send me into the sea to séeke my raunsome and so may all discourteous varlets be serued as resemble thée in conditions Thus leauing the Moore dead hée tooke another way least if he should bée followed hée might fall into danger but séeing hee was vnarmed and could not speake the Arabian tongue hée imagined that at length he must néedes be taken Hereupon he returned backe to the Moore and taking his garments left his own there and thence forward determined to counterfeit himselfe dumbe by which subtiltie he thought to escape vnknowne and preuent his imprisonment till hee founde meanes to returne to wards Allemaigne againe The day stealling on apace and darke night approching he came to a fayre Fountaine of the cleerest water in his opinion that euer hee sawe where laying him downe to rest consumed the night as quietly as he could On the morrow he began to remember his miseries his dangers past and such as 〈◊〉 imminent the conceit whereof made him very melancholy so after hée hadde eaten a little bread which hee â—ound in the Moores budget according to the maner of Diogenes he layd him downe againe and slept Chap. IIII. How Palmerin counterfeiting himselfe dumbe in the Isle of Calpha was found by certaine Turkes as he lay a sleepe by the Fountaine and howe hee was receiued into the seruice of Alchidiana Daughter to the Soldane of Babilon NOw that you may the more easily vnderstand in that which followeth the full intent of our discourse you must call to memorie how Gamezio who was slaine before Constantinople by the Prince Florendos as you haue heard in the first parte of this Historie was Sonne to the Soldane of Babilon named Mysos and brother to Maulicus who at his death was a verie yong prince Mysos vnderstanding by his Subiects that Gamezio the hope of his declining age was gone by the summons of Atropos to the habitation of the Gods could not afterward enioy the health of body or quiet in minde and therefore ere a yeere was fully expired hée went to séeke his sonne among his equalles in the fields of Elysium Before hée tooke his iourney wherein no creature returneth againe hée charged his succéeding Sonne Maulicus to reuenge his brothers death béeing perswaded that himselfe should not be discharged of his infortunate remembrance in the other world if hée failed to accomplish his latest commaundement Maulicus not to hinder his departure promised he would yet could hee not fulfill it beeing troubled in his own Kingdoms more then 20 yeeres after But after he had reduced the rebellious Prouinces into obedience he married with the King of Armeniaes Daughter by whom he had the Princesse Alchidiana one of the most beautifull and gracious Laâ—ies of her time who beeing come to age of experience was so loued of her fathâ—r as he would neuer suffer her out of his sight so that he made 〈◊〉 to all such as requested her in marriage Alchidiana when shee vnderstood her owne singularitie desired the 〈◊〉 of the most beautifull Ladies in Asia because she held this
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
about midnight with bag and baggadge and so to coast the Mountain feigning a fearefull departure For quoth hée the enemie aduertised of our retyre will imagine that we despayre of our successe by reason of the death of the two slaine Princes Thus our dissembled flight will cause them disorderlie to pursue vs which we will suffer till espying our aduantage when returning valiantly vpon them I dare gadge my life we shall eyther kill them downe right before vs or at least driue them to a shamefull foyle This deuise was generallie allowed for good and at the howre appointed was executed By chaunce this morning Gramiell came among his menne verie earlie and vnderstanding the Soldans power was departed with such silence presentlye cryed alarme charging all his men to followe them for he doubted they woulde enter a Cittie néere at hande which was so stronglye fortefied as they should neuer entise them foorth to skirmish therefore he desired to preuent them of that helpe Héereupon the Horsemen galloped after them amaine crying vpon them my Fréendes vpon them the day is ours Palmerin the Prince Olorico the King of Balisarca Gueresin his Sonne with a thousande men at Armes séeing howe they were disordered returned vppon them and made such a slaughter among the Phrygians as the Field was couered all ouer with their bodies Gramiell séeing that of the first sallie not one came backe againe sette forward with his battaile wherein hée had a thousand Horsemen and furiouslye runnning on the Soldans power by misfortune hée mette with the Prince Olorico to whome he gaue such a cruell stroke on the head as had almost sette him beside his Saddle Olorico greatly discontented héereat turned valiantlie towards his eneme and betwéene them continued a very daungerous fight but in the ende Gramiells Helmet béeing cutte from his heade hee beganne to despayre when Olorico following his intent noblie at one blowe smote his heade from his shoulders This mishap was séene by one of his yonger Brethren who running fiercelie with his Launce against Olorico was suddainlye preuented by Palmerin in that hée stroke him beside his Horse where hee was troden to death with the trampling of the Horsses Then came foorth the two hundred swoorne Knightes from their ambush who had vndertaken Palmerins death and him they hemde in so subtillie as hée was brought into very great daunger Which the Prince of Arabia beholding made way through the thickest to assist his Fréende after whom followed Gueresin with an hundred Knights without which supply both Palmerin and Olorico had béen slayne for theyr Horsses were killed vnder them and they enforced to fight on foote But when they beheld this fortunate succour theyr courage nobly increased and then beganne the sharpest encounter for the winges on eyther side approched the Archers and Crossebowes likewise sending their Arrowes as thicke as hayle among them so that the battaile endured till darke night Then the Brethren sounded the retraite for which the King of Balisarca was not sorrie hauing so ouertrauailed himselfe that day as he could no longer â—itte on Horsebacke notwithstanding before hée woulde enter his Tent he sawe the Fieldâ— assured the watch placed and all the Souldiours planted in good order Chap. XIX How the Brethren of Gramiell with all their traine tooke themselues to flight and how Palmerin suddainly pursued them with his power and tooke them prisoners IMmediatlie after that these two Phrigian princes had thus souÌ„ded the retrait and considered how they had lost fiue of theyr brethren thrée in single fight with Palmerin and the other in the battaile the greatest part of their power likewise almost vtterly dismaid to know the certaintie of their strength they commaunded a deuision to bee made of the whole and wounded and séeing how small their number was they concluded not to stay in any place til they came to the Realme of Pasmeria whereof Maurice was King and their kiseman from whom Palmerin tooke the enchaunted Crowne where they thought to supply their want with men actiue and able to Armes The next day the king of Balisarca raunged a thousand men in order to giue a fresh assault on the enemie but he was suddainlie aduertised by his espiall how the Phrygians were fledde He not a little glad of these newes sent word to Palmerin thereof who though he was sore wounded Armed himselfe commaunding his Captaines to prouide sixe thousand men presently to goe sée the certaintie of these tydings With this strength he ioyned the Kings power and so went to the ememies Campe where they found no resistanuce nor any but such as laye gréeuonslye wounded of whome hee enquired which way the cowards were fled which the poore Souldiours reporting to him hée vowed to followe till hée ouertooke them The resolution agréede vpon betwéene the King of Balisarca and him with tenne thousand light Horsemen hée determined to pursue them and the King to staye there with the rest of the Armie to recouer the Townes againe to the Soldane which before had béene taken of the enemie and to bee in readines with assistaunce if he shoulde happen to stande in any néede While Palmerin made election of his company a horseman was dispatched with these newes to the Soldane how the enemies had béene foyled and of their flight The messenger béeing come before Maulicus and the Letter open and read how valiantly Palmerin dealt with his enemies before all his nobility the Soldane sayde By all the Oracles of Delphos I may well perswade my selfe that whersoeuer Palmerin is for vs wee are assured of the victorie The Princesse hauing heard these newes sent for the messenger and after shee vnderstoode by him howe Palmerin bare her Shéelde in the face of her enemies and had slaine in Combat two of Amaranos Brethren shée was meruailous ioyfull and rewarded the Messenger so well for his paynes as for euer hée might extoll the bountie of the Princesse The Messenger dispatched againe with the Soldans Letters brought spéedie aunswere to the King of Balisarca and Palmerin of their packet wherein the Soldane hartylie thanked them desiring them to followe theyr fortune Palmerin vnderstanding the will of the Soldane and Alchidiana and howe they desired him to pursue the Brethren of Gramiell determined to set forwarde next morning aduertising the Prince Olorico thereof that hée might put himselfe in readines But notwithstanding all theyr dilligence their enemies gotte before them into Pasmeria where they rested theÌ„selues in hope to be assisted by their Cozin Maurice And he was giuen to vnderstand how the dumbe Knight named Palmerin followed them wherfore he commaunded them to depart his Realme for hee would not ayde them against his déerest Fréende This repulse droue them into great dispayre yet séeing they coulde not helpe it they were constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and so secretly as they coulde deuise by little and little stole toward their owne Countrey Maurice hearing how Palmerin was come into his Realme rode thrée or
foure daies iourney to méete him and entertaining him with excéeding honor offered himselfe his people and substance to his seruice Palmerin verie thankfull for the Princes kindnessâ— woulde nothing but certaine Horsses of him because diuers of his owne had miscaried By this time were the Brethren entred the confines which belonged to the Admirall of Tharsus where they had doone verye much harme by exactions and great misusing of the people This Admirall was a verie gentle Knight and named Alfarano which seeing what iniurie they did him and vnderstanding that they had béene conquered and now flâ—dde without anie place of assuraunce leueyed an hoste of hardie Souldiours wherewith he intended to kéepe a straite through which they must of necessitie passe béeing so narrowe as they could passe but two togither and no way else couldâ— they escape him except they woulde climbe the tops of the Mountaines In this place lay the Admirall ambushed with so manie men as he thought conuenient and within thrée dayes after Paâ—merin with his power came to assist them The Phrygians hauing heard héereof were greatlie amazed at this vnexpected aduenture and had no other helpe but to climbe the Mountaine where in wholes Caues they were glad to hide themselues and there they continued fiue or sixe daies in safetie albeit they were readie to die for want of sustenaunce Palmerin foreséeing the incommoditie of the place and that they could not escape him nor néeded hée anie further to followe them caused the Mountaine to be enuironed on all sides thinking the ende heereof woulde bée such as indéede it afterward prooued to be For these poore distressed menne hauing neyther foode or other prouision came foorth of their Caues and assembled togither on the side of the Mountaine where entering into conference of their estate some gaue counsaile to goe fight it out but other better aduised would not consent thereto for better is it quoth they to yéelde our selues to the mercy of our enemies then to aduenture our fortune where no hope of successe is to be expected Héereuppon they concluded and the two Brethren of Gramiell were the first that vnarmed themselues and comming in this manner to Palmerins Tent thus they began Noble Knight Palmerin more fortunate then any man in the world we Brethren to the renowmed Prince Amarano whom thou hast with thine owne hand slaine and thrée other of our brethren likewise whereof the noble Orinello deserueth spéeche all sonnes to a King and themselues héeretofore worthy accomplished Princes though nowe â—oyled and consorted with the deade we noble Lord more certaine of thy clemencie and courtesie then any successiue ende of a battaile so vnreasonable and desperate come to yéelde our bodies and goods to thy disposing desiring thee to pittie our estate and regarde the works of Fortune so whom thou art Subiect as well as we Beside that the more shall greater persons bée praised for honorable fauour then by vsing rigour and vnnaturall crueltie which maketh them euery where hated and despised When Palmerin sawe them so humble considering his owne estate and how time might frowne on him returned them this aunswere Now my Lords haue you doone wiselie to laye by Armes and submit your selues for otherwise your destruction was at hande Notwithstanding in respect you haue thus yéelded your selues to me I entertaine you into my safe defence assuring you peace with the Soldane so that you sweare your faithfull loue and doo him homage So gaue hée them in kéeping to one of his Knights whome hée especially trusted returning to Alfarano in recompence of his wrongs and losse sustained by the Phrygians gaue him all theyr spoyle and the â—aunâ—â—me of all the Knightes taken prysoners The Admirall humblye kissing his hand desireâ— him to rest himselfe in one of his Citties which was within fiue or sixe miles of the place which gentle offer Palmerin would not refuse because he was sore wearied with trauaile wherefore by the Admiralles appointment the Pallace was prouided for Palmerin and his Fréende Olorico Chap. XX. How the Queene of Tharsus came to see Palmerin in the Citie belonging to Alfarano her Admiral where by the meane of an enchaunted drinke shee accomplished her pleasure with him HHere our History willeth vs to remember how in our former discourse was mentioned that the Quéene of Tharsus sent a rich Helmet to Palmerin and at the Damoselles returne was acquainted with his singular composed feature rare courtesse and Knightly chiualrie the reporte whereof caused her amorously to affeâ—t him and in such vehemeÌ„t maner as she determined her onwn death vnlesse she might enioy his louelie company Which the better to compasse shee discouered her desires to a cunning Magitian hée by whose meanes she 〈◊〉 the Helmet to Palmerin who gaue her such an 〈◊〉 powder as Palmerin drinking it in wine or otherwise should soone after become so forgetfull of himselfe as the Quéene might accomplish whatsoeuer shée desired He likewise did reueale to her the seuerall loues of Palmerin and Olorico which tale made her more earnest in following her intent And vnderstanding his arriuall in the Realme of Paâ—meria concluded in person to goe sée him furnishing her selfe with all things necessary both rich Tapestry and great store of Gold and Siluer plate habillements precious stones rings and vnualuable Iewels With thesâ— shée adorned her Knights Ladies and Gentlewomen to the vttermost and when she had finished her traine to her own liking shée sette forward with such expedition as within thrée dayes shée arriued at the Cittie where hée was but first shée aduertised her Admirall of her comming that hée shoulde imagine nothing by her suddaine presence The Admirall so ioyfull héereof as could be deuised in that by this meane hee shoulde the more honourably entertaine his guestes acquainted Palmerin and the Prince Olorico therwith who likewise were excéeding glad of the newes especially Palmerin desirous to know by her his offspring Therefore in most magnificent order with theyr men at Armes and the Admirall Alfarano they rode to méete the Quéene for her greater honour who by the speciall intelligence was giuen her knewe Palmerin among them all in that hee marched formost with the Prince Olorico and the Admirall of Tharsus Shee regarding in him farre more singularities then sparing report had acquainted her withall after that Palmerin had saluted her with very great reuerâ—nce as he was not to learne courtlyâ— courtesie the Quéene requited him with a swéete kisse and thus began Sir Knight the fayrest beyond all other that euer I sawe well woorthie are you to be esteemed among the most happie béeing able to winne the loue of Ladies that neuer sawe you Aduise your selfe well of this great fauour and what a precious Iewell you receiue of them in requitall of your seruice or acceptaunce of any amorous contentment Then wonder not not Gentle Knight if to sée you I haue left my Country for beside your great valour bountie and loyalâ—ie which neuer can be
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
offended yée By our Gods if I knew him presently shoulde he die the death The Princesse trembling with feare séeing Hippolyta was not present spake thus in English What will my Lorde and Husband Trineus say if hee be in this companie séeing I haue so dissloyally forsaken him and thus though God knowes perforce in stéed of him haue taken the enemie to him and our faith Yet one comfort haue I that this Infidell hath not carnally knowne me for which perfection I thanke the heauenly maiestie At these spéeches Palmerin was so glad as the feare of death could not withholde him but in the same language he thus answered Feare not good Madame Trineus is not in our companie but so please you to say I am your Brother you may happily saue my life and practise your deliuerance The Turke misdoubting by Palmerins perswading that hée had caused this sodaine alteration imagining him to be her husband of whom he had heard her talke so often in a great rage said Knight how durst thou presume my Ladies presence knowing the sight of thée would any way displease her By the Prophet Mahomet thou shalt immediately die that all such audacious villaines may take an example by thée Agriola knowing the Turks censures were very peremptorie and commonly no sooner saide then excuted embracing him thus replied Ah my Lorde do not the thing in haste for which afterwarde you will be sorrie for I assure you on my honor the Knight that spake to mée is my Brother and hath left his Countrey onely to finde me and him I do loue so effectually as if you put him to death impossible is it for me to liue afterward When the Turke heard her speake with such affection qualifying his anger saide I promise ye Madame for your sake hée shall haue no harme but bee entertained with loue and honour conditionally that you forgette this melancholy and hencefoorth shewe your selfe more pleasant for in séeing you sad I am more gréeued then if I had lost the moitie of dominions In sooth my Lorde answered Agriola now shall I be merrie séeing you intende to loue my Brother for greater good cannot happen to me then this gentle entertainment and hencefoorth shall I tread vnder foote the sad remembraunce of my Countrey and Parents hauing him with me by whom I hope to gaine my greatest comfort So the Turke arising from his Chayre caused Palmerin and Laurana to accompanie Agriola and the other fiue Knights hauing kissed his hande hee went to his Chamber commaunding Olimaell for his greater honor to vsher Agrola who as she went thus spake Beléeue me Admirall if I was offended when thou broughtest me prisoners hither thou hast now made mée sufficient amendes in that by thée I enioy my Brother whom I was out of all hope to sée againe Alas Madame quoth he little did I thinke him to be such a one for had I his vsage should haue béene much better which fault I hope heereafter to recompence I commend him to thy countesie sayde Agriola let him and his friendes haue all things they want according as my Lorde hath appointed So taking her leaue of them she entred her chamber where she and Hyppolita conferred with Laurana of all her fortunes passed and the aduentures of her Brother Nowe was Palmerin and his companions by the Turks commaundement lodged néere the Pallace and to each of them he sent a goodly Horse with costly furniture thinking by these meanes to conquere Agriola and purchase that of her which he long had desired and talking with Palmerin sayde Right well may you be Brother to my Lady Agriola in that your beautie and complexion deliuers great likelihood séeing then our Gods haue permitted that for her comfort you shoulde be brought hither perswade her I pray yée that she be no longer repugnant to my will for could I haue a Child by her I would thinke my selfe the happiest Lord on the earth Beside I would haue you forsake the follie of your Christianotie and yéelâ— your selfe to our Law which is much better then yours and you shall sée how our Gods will fauour you likewise what great good you shall receiue therby My Lord quoth Palmerin I will labour with my Sister so much as lies in me to doâ— as for your Law as yet I am vnacquainted therwith but when I shall find it to be such as you assure mee easily may I bee drawen thereto and to serue you with such loyaltie as so great an estate doth worthily deserue I confesse my selfe likewise greatly bâ—unden to your maiestie in that you haue accepted my Sister as your Wife and to mee a poore slaue giuen life and libertie which I beséech you also graunt to the Marriners in whose Uessell it was my chaunce to bée taken in so dooing she may be greatly mooued by your magnificent libertie and mercie The great Turke presently gaue his consent causing their safe conduct to bee openly proclaimed so Palmerin and his Friendes humbly departing to their lâ—dging the Turke went to Agriolaes Chamber where sitting downe by her he thus began Now shall I perceiue Madame how much your Brother may preuaile with you for hée hath promised me so to order the matter as you shall graunt my long desired sute My Lord quoth shée my Brother shall command me nothing but I will doo it with all my heart as for your request it is not in my power but in the hande of God who defendeth me as best him pleaseth Nor can I change the opinion I haue held so long though by hauing my Brother with me I enioy farre greater content then I did before It sufficeth me saide the Turke to sée you so well pleased and as for your Brother that you may perceiue howe well I loue him before one moneth be expired I will make him the chéefest Lord in my Court next mine owne person so kissing the Princesse he departed to his Chamber The day following Palmerin saide to his companions You sée my friendes how friendly Fortune smileth on vs but least shee change as euermore she is wont wée must practise some meanes to escape from these Turkish infidels Beside séeing wée haue founde the Princesse Agriola I hope Trineus is not so secretly hidden but we shall heare some tydingâ— of him Of her will I therefore enquire if she know what became of him and Ptolome wheÌ„ we left them in meane while you may closely conclude with our Marriners that they be euer readie at an howres warning for I hope we shall set hence before eight dayes be past Palmerin went to Agriolaes Chamber and there by good hap hée â—ound her alone whome after he had humbly saluted the Princesse thus spake to him My noble friende you must be carefull howe you speake to me especially before the aged Lady you sawe héere yesterday for shee vnderstandeth all languages and if we be discouered there is no way but death therefore when you sée her with me conferre rather with Laurana
happened to Palmerin and his companions being on the sea Chap. XLIIII How Palmerin and his companions metre two Turkish Ships from whom they deliuered Estebon the Merchant and his Sonnes and came to the Isle of Malfada where Palmerin lost them all and of the sorrow hee made for his mishap LAurana was so ioyfull that shee had so fortunately escaped the Turks hands beside was so reuenged of hir chéefest enemie as nothing could yéeld her greater contentation but howe much more would shee haue reioyced if shee had known the slaughter at the Pallace As she sat discoursing heereon with Palmerin and the Duke of Pontus Frysoll béeing aloft on the deâ—ke espied foure ships comming towards them with full saile whereupon hée called to his companions that they shoulde presently arme themselues For quoth he I see two 〈◊〉 Shippes and they haue taken two other or els my iudgement fayleth let vs therefore labour to withstand them least we 〈◊〉 a further danger No sooner had he spoken these words but they all puâ— themselues in readinesse so that when the enemie closeâ— with them and many entred the shippe thinking it was yéelded they had a sharper entertainment then they expected for not one escaped aliue that came aboord but either were slaine or thrown into the Sea In bréefe they ouercame both the Pirates and left not one aliue to carrie tydings hereof into Turkie Afterward as Palmerin searched the Cabins to sée what prisoners the Moores had taken he espied his maister Estebon the Merchant of Hermida and his two sonnes by him with two other Merchants chained by the handes and necks in like sort as the poore slaues are in the Gallies whereupon he saide Trust mée Maister hee that put this coller about your necke was little acquainted with your honest humanitie So looking vp and downe for the 〈◊〉 that opened the locks of the chaines hee â—spied a Turkish marriner who fearefull of his life had hid himselfe to whom he said By God villaine it thou she west me not quickly where the Keyes are I will sende thy soule after thy fellowes Spare my life most noble Knight cryed the Turke and I will giue ye not onely the Keyes but also shew you such secrets héere within as no other now but my selfe can shew ye wherein is infinite wealth and riches Dispatch then sayde Palmerin The Moore fetching the Keyes opened the locks tooke off their chaines and brake the manacles bounde about their handes when Palmerin lifting vp his eyes to Heauen saide Thanks to my God that so happily sent mee â—o succour Estebon by whose meanes I came to the knowledge of my Friendes and Parents and who first gaue me horse and armour for knightly seruice Estebon hearing Palmerins words maruailing not a little fell on his 〈◊〉 saying I beséech you my Lorde to tell me your name to the ende I may be thankfull to him by whom I haue escaped the cruell Infidels and receiued such an vnspeakeable benefit Why maister quoth Palmerin know ye not me I am your seruant Palmerin who you first prouoked to follow armes by your liberalitie and euer since haue I followed that profession and nowe haue requited some parte of your kindnesse Ah my noble Friende Palmerin said old Estebon suffer me to kisse thy hande for if heeretofore thou didst deliuer me from the Lions throat what may I say of the daunger from which I am nowe defended In happie houre was that knightly furniture giuen and with successefull fortune haue you imployed them but may it please ye to goe with mée I will prouide you of all things necessarie and giue you my Sonnes héere to be your Seruant The King of Sparta séeing Estebon vse such zealous spéeches saide to him Father you are very much deceiued imagine you the sonne to the Emperour of Constantinople a simble Souldier your age Father makes you forgette your selfe At these words the good olde man somewhat astonied excused himselfe to the King and turning to Palmerin saide Alas my Lord in not knowing you otherwise then one of my seruants I haue offered your excellencie very great wrong and great hath béene my desert of punishment vsing the great Lorde of Greece so vnreuerently But pardon my boldnesse noble Lorde and let mine ignoraunce excuse the offence committed for vnwittingly did I fall into this error Content thy selfe good maister quoth Palmerin in nothing hast thou offended mée but it thou wilt returne to thy Countrey these vesselles belonging to the Moores and all the treasure in them will I frankely bestow on thée Ah my Lorde answered Estebon since Fortune hath so happily brought me into your companie so please you to lisence me loth am I to departe from yâ—u for such store of Théeues and Robbers are on the Seas as hardly can I escape their handes aliue And sorrie would I be saide Palmerin that you or these merchaunts should any way miscarrie though perhaps your Wiues would gladly haue ye at home but this I must tell ye that I cannot retuâ—ne to Constantinople I shall be contented saide Estebon to stay your good leysure for a poore life is better to mée in this companie then welthie possessions among mine enemies Héereuppon Palmerin commaunding all the riches in the Moores Shippes to bee conuayed into the other sette are on the vessels and hoising sayle rode on merrily Within thrée daies after arose a mightie winde at Northeast which carried them with such violence as the Pilots â—old Palmerin they were nowe come on the borders of Persia and very néere the Isle of Malfada where they arriued before the Sunne setting They séeing the Countrey so faire and delectable would néedes goe on shore to refresh themselues for the Ladies were so distempered with the rough storme as they were very desirous to recreate themselues a little Palmerin not able to shun this fatall chaunce went on shore with his friendes and the two Princesses all the other likewise spéedily followed them where they had not long stayde but they were all diuersly enchaunted The two Ladyes were transformed into the shape of Hindes the other to Dogges Wolues and Leopards all of them running with such swiftnesse as though the furies had stood to chase them but Palmerin could not be enchaunted by reason of the gift hee receiued of the thrée wise Sisters on the Mountaine Artifaeria whereat hee greatly gréeued for such was his impatience thus to loose his friendes as hee entred into these lamentations Ah peruerse and vnconstant fortune how diuers and daungerous are thy trecheries Ah stepmother too cruell why dost thou not exercise thy rage on simple and forsaken soules but on such as excéede in honour and vertue Doubtlesse my sinne hath caused this mishap when I perswaded my Friendes to goe against their Christian Brethren onely by feare of my wretched life As he stoode thus complayning hee behelde the Ladie of the Isle with her Seruants comming to take the spoyle of their bootie whereof béeing ioyfull and thinking by
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
found so good â—ase and my louing Brother Trineus hath wonne this Sword I thinke it best that wee set forwards to Romata which after they had séene the sumptuous buildings in the Castle the rich Tombe the beautifull Garden and all other mounments worthie view they did Béeing come to Romata and there receiued with speciall signes of honor the wise Muzabelino caused the fatall Bird to féede of the flowers which Palmerin hadde brought from the Castle of the tenne Rocks No sooner had the Bird tasted the flowers but presently shee deliuered such melodious notes as swéeter harmonie was neuer heard before and during the time of her singing fell so many droppes of precious water from her beake as before Dinner time the Cuppe was well néere filled Which when the wise Nigromancer perceiued hee brought a verie faire Lute to Palmerin saying I beséech you my Lorde play some exquisite péece of Musique that the Bird listening to your melodie may cease her owne recordes els shal we loose the soueraigne vertue contained in the Water Palmeâ—in taking the Lute plaide thereon so artificially that the Princesse of Romata whom he woonne in the Ioâ—st was enforced to vse these spéeches How can wee sufficiently maruaile at the perfections of Palmerin for if in prowesse he surpasse Hercules of Libia who ouercame Tyrants and Monsters at his pleasure well may wee name him another Amphion or Orpheus of Thrace who with theyr melodie â—amed the Fishes Beasts and Birâ—s Trineus taking the Cup brought it to the Princesse Zephira who dipping her handkercher therein bathed her face therewith the precious vertue whereof was such as all the enuenomed scarres the wormes had made were presently washed away and her face so delicate as euer it was before whereupon the Princesse falling at Palmerins féete ioyfully thus spake Doubtlesse my Lord I am greatly beholding to the Prince Trineus who saued my life when the Traytour would haue slaine mee in my bedde but I must confesse my selfe much more indebted to your worthinesse by whose paines the venomous putrefaction is extinguished whereby I endured torments farre excéeding death Madame answered Palmerin your happie recouerie must not be imputed to me but to the soueraigne Lorde that so prouided for you and seeing your health is so worthily restored I thiâ—ke best that wee sette forward to morrow on our iourney that we may finish the Magicall coniurations of Malfada as wee haue alreadie doone those at the tenne Rocks The Princesse of Romata hearing these words preuented the answere of Zephira and comming to Palmerin said I beséech you Sir Knight in honour of that God which you reuerence that you will not refuse me one demaund according to your promise made me when you ouercame my Brother and his Knights in the Ioâ—st Aske Lady saide Palmerin what you will and you shall not bee denied so that the matter consist in my power to performe Well may you performe it quoth she and to your endlesse honour I hope The summe of my request is that you wil not forsake the King my Father till his warre against the Soldane of Persia be finished And that you would entreate your Friende to accompanie you therein Denie mée not good Sir for no greater shame is to a Knight then breach of promise nor will I stirre from your foote vntill you haue graunted what I request In sooth Madame answered Palmerin although my Friendes and I haue great affaires in our Countrey yet in respect of my promise we will assist your Father let vs in meane while intreate you to pardon our returne with the Princesse Zephira who thinks the time long before shee come to Nabor Doubtlesse my Lorde quoth Zephira rather then you and my Lorde Trineus shall breake your promise to the Princesse in giuing succour to the King Arbimar her Father I can content my selfe to stay héere more willingly then to returne to the King my Brother Madame saide Muzabelino assure your selfe that Palmerin is the onely meane whereby you haue attained your present felicitie and by him shall you with honour sée your Countrey againe In sooth my Lord saide the Princesse full well I know his owne gracious nature induced him first to aduenture his life for the safetie of my Countrey then to passe strange Countreyes with daunger onely to finde you and lastly his rare fortune at the Castle of the tenne Rocks from whence hée brought those precious flowers and the fatall Byrd wherby my long infirmitie hath béene cured To offâ—r him fauour or all my possessions in way of recompence of so great paines they are not comparable for though I made him Lorde of my selfe and all those territories my father left me yet doth my conscience tell mée they are too base In bréeâ—e I know his deserts so excéeding my reach as well may I sitte downe to imagine but neuer bee able to contriue a sufficient rewarde Beleeue me Madame aunswered Muzabelino you haue spoken truth and his noble magnanimitie must onely helpe my Lorde and this I assure you that were it not the daunger of his kingly honour and hazard of the whole Monarchie of Asia hardâ—y might the knight be stayed héere of such waight and importance are his other affaires Then calling Palmerin to him whose inward thoughts were busied with the remembrance of his Lady he said Let not your stay héere my Lorde offende you though well I knowe the waight of your gréefe for that God who hath called you to this present estate hath forepoynted things that you cannot shunne in recompence whereof before your departure from this countrey great victorious honours are appoynted you Beside for a perfect resolution in your further doubts take you no care for nourishing your Birde for when your Musique made her cease singing at that instant I threw such a charme on her as hencefoorth shée shall liue without taking any foode And when you returne to your Citie of Constantinople let her bée pearched in some conuenient place in the great hall of your Pallace and there shall she remaine as a certaine Oracle vntill the day of your death to deliuer tydings of good or bad If anâ—e Knight or Ladie shall enter your Court either with intent of treason or bringing ill newes the Birde shall giue such fearefull shrikes as she did at the time when you tooke her in the Arbour but if the newes be of ioy and for your good then shall she sing more swéetly then when the souereigne water fell from her beake wherewith the Princesse Zephira was cured In bréefe my Lorde at the time when you must leaue this life for the glorious habitation among the blessed shée shall foretel such strange occasions as shall dismay the most resolute courage By this meane shall you be guarded from all inconueniences and your good fortune continued in such sort as you shall bee the most peaceable Emperour that euer liued in Greece Certes my Lord answered Palmerin not by any desert in me am I thus
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