farther resolution what shall be don with him woorthilie deseruing to bee tormented with a cruell death for his trecherie but do not so said the Emperour for he is a very good Knight and deserueth no euill vsage and therfore haue care he want nothing he shall néede for I would not for any thing he should miscarrie of him shall wee knowe the cause of â—â—eâ—â— trayterous designe which séeme is not without speciall occasion Hereupon the knight went straight and dressed his wounds who though hee had lost much bloud séemed couragious as if he were at libertie And after they had dressed him he was conuaied to a faire Chamber prouiding him with all necessaries as the Emperour had commaunded Who in this order remained tenne dayes in the cure of his wounds when remembring the taske hee had vndertooke determining to depart thence went first to visite the wounded Knight whom he found greatly amended of his woundes and approching to his bedde side asked him howe he felt himselfe Well enough aunswered hee though with no little greefe for my badde successe yet am I not sorie to bée ouercome séeing it was by him whose courage and valour the strength of mightie Giants could not abate But one thing I intreate of you sir Knight by the courtesie you haue shewen mee you woulde vouchsafe to tell mée your name that in those places where I shall come I may publish your hautie deedes It pleaseth mée replyed the Emperour conditionally you also let me knowe yours with the cause of your comming hither with the truth thereof whereto such a Knight as you is bound I am desirous to know you said the Knight that though it be agaynst the promise I haue made and you promising mée to kéepe it secrete I will not denie it Thereto I giue you my falth aunswered the Emperour and first knowe I am Don Bellaneo Emperour of Gréece that by certaine aduenture not farre from hence I parted from my traine the rest hauing happened as you haue séene Ho immortall Gods saide the Knight fetching a great sigh are you he whose name is so feared among all the Pagan nations and he that neuer refused to assault so terrible and fierce Giants And in bréefe he whose inuincible minde sheweth howe true the euerlasting fame of your perpetuall deeds is and through the world of you is spred Ho great Soldan now by this dayes successe thy determined purpose is vtterly made voide hauing so strong an aduersarie left thee in the world It therfore behoues thée no more to think of peace And turning to the Emperour who greatly amazed at his words stood gazing on him and dissembling his conceiued griefe Supposing renowmed Prince the matter I shall disclose to be of lesse consequence then it is I wil in few words vnfold the truth thereof though in the doing of it to my selfe more then to any resulteth greatest losse I know that your name so fearefull among all Gentiles beeing published in the Soldan of Siconias court with the great destruction by you made of his people and in all Paganisme moued him by promise to bind himselfe to giue the one halfe of his dominions with the mariage of his daughter to that knight by whose valour your head were brought him Also promising that if in the enterprise he died the halfe of his said dominions should notwithstanding be granted to his successiue heires So I vnderstanding the great promise the Soldan had made and greatlie louing his daughter resolutely resolued I departed to the kingdome of Antioch whereof I am Lord and with my selfe hauing determined what I ought to do I left my court accompanied with 500. knights and 30. giants purposing at your comming out of your palace either to kill or imprison you so shipping our selues and landed not farre from hence left our ships at anchor thither to returne with your conquest And that this we might better compasse vnknowne and vnséene we agréed to take this Castell and here remaine till occasion were offred vs to effect this pretence being informed of the state of all things by a man whom on the coast we tooke whereby wee hither came as you haue heard and easily thought to haue taken it being minded to let none suruiue to carry the newes abroad but your incomparable valour hath frustrated our intent Thus haue I declared vnto you all that in this case I can whereto your great bountie magnanimous clemencie forced me for notwithstanding I had so massacred your subiects you caused me thus to be cured My name is Don Gallaneo of Antioch if you euer heard of me before and so he made an ende to his spéech The Emperour rested wonderfull amazed séeing with what audacity don Gallaneo had discouered him a déed of such waight for which he might greatly fear his deserued punishment but iudged him of hauty courage considering how coÌ„fidently he had put himself in his hands hauing against him committed so high treacherie and shewing no maner of alteration made him this answer Truly Prince Don Gallaneo you haue plainly expressed the valiancie of your minde in so openly bewraying that which by any other meanes I could not haue knowne whereby you haue doubled the cause of my imaginarie thoughts séeing in such a knight so little shame that without further consideration should by treason séeke to spill my innocent blood which in so great a Prince as you séemeth more odious then in any other being by order of knighthoode bound to be vertuous and abhore all such detestable actions and to be an exaÌ„ple to your subiects least against your selfe they might commit the like Yet would I not for all my state you shoulde haue had such confidence in mee so to discouer my selfe that I might not knowing it let your owne selfe sée your selfe confounded in your own imaginations But séeing it is done here you shall remaine in this Castel till I further determin of your being Yet for all this said Don Gallaneo assure your person for not farre hence is the remainder of my power and easilie may you incurre some greater daunger though your person be such as I haue tried yet among them are so fierce and mightie Giants that will not thinke much to cleaue your bodie armed in two with one blow I haue thought said the Emperor what in this case shall be done and thereupon commanded his horse and Don Brianels to be sadled And Don Brianell foreséeing the perill that might ensue beséeched the Emperour on his knées to giue him the order of Knighthood to serue him in that enterprise which the Emperour denied promising to do it an other day But here we leaue them and returne to the Prince Don Bellianis and Arfileo whom we left with the Ladie in the Caue CHAP. V. Howe Don Bellianis with the Ladie departed from the Caue and by what strange aduenture he and Arsileo were knighted IT is recorded by Friston that the Prince Don Bellianis with his Coosen Arsileo remained ten
suffer Don Bellianis to enter in the combatte alleaging hee might better to his content bee reuenged that way for all his treacheries CHAP. XXIII How Don Bellianis disguised issued out of the Tower What happened him with Don Contumeliano of Phaenicia and how hee returned vnknowne into the Cittie ALl necessarie preparations béeing ordered against the day of the famous battell tenne dayes were paste of the appointed time and yet the Duke had not nor could finde any that would in his behalfe vndertake that combatte which extreamely gréeued him yet the magnanimitie of his coragious heart permitted no outward shewe thereof No lesse was the sorrowe of theÌ„ beauteous Persiana sustained continually beseeching her Gods not to suffer her honors wracke nor the downefall of her maidens fame through want of a Champion to maintaine the iustice of her cause On the otherside the greate anguish of minde that Don Bellianis conceiued cannot be exprest which was so gréeuous that his Damsels could by no meanes diminish nor himselfe could finde no comforte for his troubled fantasies but at length hée so recouered his weake strength that hee was able to walke about his chamber féeling himselfe in disposition to buckle on his armour And certainly had hée but it and his sword hée had broke foorth among the strongest watch that guarded him which in the day time were aboue 30. men and in the night that number was doubled In the meane time he vsed to send one of the Damsels to know if the duke had got any to sight in his quarrell wheÌ„ he heard of â—â—ne â—n whom he durst trust â—o weighty a charge though he had many good valiant knights by reason of the fiercenesse of the king of Cyprus and his brothers his gréeuous passions were redoubled One of his damsels y t accompanied him by name Floriana daughter to the duke of Tursia being Lord of many countries vnder the Soldan of Babylon which was the chiefest and best beloued of the Princesse Florisbella The other was daughter to the Earle of Cellanea named Persiana But the first said to Don Bellianis the sorrowe of my greeued hart is such renowmed sir to sée the course of these things that I cannot in words shew it as also seeing you cannot vse your valour to remedie them wheren your life honor doth depeÌ„d Wherfore reuoluing many things in my troubled thoughts haue in y e end affying on the rare courage of your admirable streÌ„gth thogh now made weak by trecherous desines and sinister occasions deuised this as the last refuge to redresse these wrongs and this it is You know that we oftentimes go forth vnsuspected or mistrusted of the guard Now may you disguised and attired in the apparell of one of vs hauing no haire on your face get abroad where you may easily procure horse and Armor do what you else think best returning vnknown vnto the pallace there vndertake the Combat and in meane time I will remaine in bed faining to be you suffering none to speak with me saying I am extreame sick Don Bellianis was so ioyfull with this vnlooked and vnthought remedie as hardly it may be expressed hoping therby not onely to assure his owne life but also his companions in that manifest danger though he nothing doubted their valour imbracing the damsel sayd Pray vnto the gods my good fréend Floriana that these troubles may haue their desired end and then I promise you this great care shall be fully gratefied to your content There is no reason replied she why you should binde your selfe to any such gratificatioÌ„ without desert séeing my dutie bindeth me to your perpetual seruice and so thinke not much of this I couÌ„seld you And I intreat you to gouerne your selfe well abroad for being yet weak you might fall in some other greater danger Wherupon séeing the night approched he put on Florianas apparel wherwith he became so faire that the damzels not a little wondred to sée him so beautifull that Persiana cryed out Is it possible oh gods such beautie should be on earth you had bin better reserued it to glorifie your imperial thrones vnlesse heere you will inhabit to manifest your great powers among vs. And truely Sir knight such beauty was neuer séene but in the Princesse Florisbella our Lady Mistresse And well is it for all knights you are not of our sexe else so many would by you perish as by the Princesse our Mistresse whose onely sight killeth though not outright yet with liuing death like the murthering eyes of a slaying base iske Is her beautie so admirable to cause such alterations in men demanded hee you cannot beleeue nor wee set downe saide Floriana the greatnesse therof And because you may know I beare with me so greate a beauty as yours I will shewe it you which I continually carry with mee And so shee drewe it out of her pocket and gaue it him which hee straight knewe to bee the same that was portrayed on his shield though his was more liuely and for all hee viewed it continually did neuer aske whose it was imagining no such perfection could bée on the earth and that Bellona had onely set it there for a shewe Then suddenly was hée wounded to the heart with the vnresisted darte of all conquering Loue and not able to withstand it was inflamed with the fyre that lasted all the dayes of his life surprysed with so great desire to sée the substance of that shaddowe that straight hee would departe thither leauing al thinges hée then had in hand vnfinished In this newe accident was hée a good whyle not knowing how to resolue himselfe saue in fixing his longing eyes on that dainty picture hauing no more colour then in a dead man which the Damzels séeing and thinking his rysing had caused that alteration held him by the armes least hée should fall hee recouering and feeling himselfe touched through shamefacestnes dyed his face with such a vermilion blush y t hee redoubled his fairenesse to whom they sayd What extraordinary passion did you feele Which made vs feare some newe perill had befallen you in that strange chance Whereto hee replyed A suddaine gréefe surprysed me on my left side so strongly that it almost benumbd my vaines and reast mée of my vitall sences If any wound be the cause therof said they vncloath your self and we will see it It shall not néede answered Don Bellianis for I shall stay too long But I pray you giue me this picture that so much resembles another I haue It is at your command replyed the Ladies but take heede you loose it not for if you doo it shall cost you yours Then he taking his leaue of them leauing Floriana a bed in his stead went out of the Chamber to descend the Tower and by the way he met the Kings of Armenia and Tessifanty that came to visit the Knight of the golden Image whom he knowing said in presence of most of the guard Your Maiesties may
incurre great daunger being taken vnawares but at that instant the watchfull Prince Don Bellianiâ— perceiuing it being not farre from the King disturbed that his purpose pushing him on his breast so strongly that he recoyled backe thrée or foure steppes wherby they renewed their fight more fiercely and braue then in the whole day before But Don Bellianis perceiuing that if the Combatte long continued he was like to faint through the infinit blâ—â—d he had lost aduentured himselfe to receiue a blowe of the Gyant Which when he sawe descended on him commending himselfe from the bottome of his heart vnto the Almightie to deliuer him from that daunger and thrust at the Giant so brauely vnder his arme that being there vnarmed and with such excessiue force performed that the sworde ranne into his flesh vp to the hilts piercing his heart in the middle wherewith he fell downe dead But he was by the Gyant cruelly wounded on the head that he also fell downe in a trance which greeued euery one chiefly the Princesse Aurora that was forced to cry out Oh immortall Gods why haue you suffered so great an euill for without doubt the best knight that euer gyrded sword is sâ—aine But her sorrowe was turned to a generall gladnesse seeing him amazedly rise and was going to aide his companions if he had not séeue Arfileo at one blowe cut off one of the Gyants legges and with an other his head The like did Don Brianell not regarding the Souldanes cryes requiring him that hee woulde not do it for he yéelded him vanquished Which done they in theyr hearts rendred immortall thankes vnto the Almightie for their victorious deliuerie from so vnspeakeable perill and with great loue imbraced the Knight in the yelowe Armour whome they imagined to bee Don Contumeliano yéelding to him all the honor of the victorie Whereupon not expecting the Soldans commaund the generall assembly shouted out for ioy sounding a number numberlesse of all manner of military instruments running about the field for gladnesse which cut the Soldane to the heart hauing no patience to endure it CHAP. XXV What the Knight of the Golden Image did after the battell ended And how the Soldan commanded the duke to be borne to prison SO soone as the Princesse Persiana did see the battell ended with such ioy as euery one may iudge descended the scaffold and going to the knights that yet were talking togither shee woulde haue knéeled before don Bellianis but he preuented it by dooing so himselfe very courteously saying You haue no cause most excellent Lady to thanke me being bound to doo more then this for the Duke Alfiron But if you will then royall Princesse gratifie these knights whose valour hath so wel defended your right and iâ—stice for my seruice is of no woorth but while it bee shadowed vnder their haughtie déedes I will not famous knight saide the Princesse extoll the honour you haue woon in this battel with such déere losse of your blood besides the ouerthrâ—we of such great treacherie as was ordained against vs being more then any hundred knights might attaine And since you will not haue me rest your debtor for this vncomparable fauour speake to him for whom you vndertooke the Combat who is no lesse bound to you then I So leauing him with the Duke and the princesse Aurora she imbraced the other knight vsing betwixt them words of great kindnesse according to their high estate Don Bellianis leauing the Duke whent to the Sophy that was returning to the Pallace hauing commanded his daughter and the duke to be returned to prison and being nigh hâ—â— and followed by many knights said vnto him â—â—ince mightie Lord the truth cannot be more cleare and manifest I beseecâ—e your highnesse coÌ„mand that the Princesse Persiana the knight of the golden image and the Duke Alfâ—â—on may beset at libâ—â—tie their innocencie being saued and confirmed by the happie successe of this battell which intreat to be forthwith respâ—â—ting the great necessitie we haue of â—are for our most daungerous wounds The Sophy that minded no such thing replied I do beléeue you know Sir knight I am not bound to what you said for if they be cleared of Don Gallaneos death as you wil haue it the Duke notwithstanding is not freed of his trespasse committed against mee hauing resisted my wil with hostile arms which being so plaine I had no cause to put it in trial of battel but reserue vnto my self the punishmeÌ„t of that fault according as it deserues therefore talke to me no more thereof for I will doo nothing more then I haue said Whereto Don Bellianis answered We expected no such vsage at the hands of so great a lord I vndertooke the fight for all matters concerning the Duke and if hee be cleare of Don Galleanos death it followes then that he is frâ—e of all other things whatsoeuer Replie no more said the Souldan for I will haue it so Whereuppon he commanded the Duke to be returned to prison who straight was there conducted himself going to his Pallace and would heare none speak wherat Don Bellianis was like to burst through rage Don Brâ—anell and Arâ—â—lâ—o disguised him to go with theÌ„ to their lodging to be cured to whom he aunswered I haue no néede of cure since the Duke remaineth imprisoned and so I humbly take my lâ—â—ue for I will departe â—ut of the Citâ—ie Wherewith he lâ—â—t them 〈◊〉 taking his way to the wood onely followed by don Contumeliano The knights and the Princesse Aurora returned to their lodging reasoning on nothing but on the Sollitarie knight whome they thought neuer enough praysed hauing by him receiued so great helpe in the battell I should not haue beléeued said Arfileo that the world contained such a knight as the Prince of Phenicia You did not sée his déedes so well as I replied don Brianell because you were busie in Combat and beléeue me he no more feared being without sword then if he had béene confronted with no foes which if it had not broken he néeded none of our helpe Thus talking togither they laide themselues in their seuerall beds where they were cured hauing many and dangerous wounds The Princesse Aurora leauing them went well accompanied to the pallace to sée what was done in the Dukes libertie where shee founde the Princesse Persiana that for the words spoken by the knight of the Golden Image was sette free who receiued each other as theyr great loue testified and after sent to sée what the Souldane did who brought them word he commaunded the Dukes guarde to bée doubled and that also he hadde sent the aduenterous knight word commaunding him that since he would not at his intreaties spare the King of Cyprus brothers life he should forthwith depart his Land or else his life should pay the forfit of his staye The Ladies greatly gréeued hearing this demaunded his aunswere which was that hee was contented to obey him within thrée daies but he should regarde that hee
his heroicke thought could not harbour the least signe of pale trembling feare in which kinde of life hee more ioyed then if hee liued among all the delicious and delighting pleasures that any Monarches could yéelde in greatest plentie Whereby his all wondering fame was so vulgarde throughout the farre remoted Nations of the spacious Orbe which they accounted as a blazing comet presaging the future ruine that his bare name caused in them such agues of timerous feare as dooth the furious thunder renting the darkened welkin with mightie showers of earth drowning waters in the heartlesse multitude of rusticke countrey swaynes By which hée became so odious to all his enemies that they would often giue their owne bloud as a reward for his death foreiudging his life would bee their vtter desolation But hauing consumed the greatest parte of his youth in hostile armes by counsell and importunitie of his nobilitie and subiects beeing often thereto vrged though against his will hée returned with wreathes of immortall tryumph to the famous and euer-glorious Cittie of Constantinople from whence were dispatched in his behalfe to demaunde in marriage the Princesse Clarinda Daughter to Toloian King of Hesperia to whome in Embassy were sent personages sufficient to make knowne his high magnificence among whome went as cheefe the King of Hungaria cosin to the Emperour and the Prince of Macedon with many Dukes and Lords with the haughtiest pompe and royallest shew of Embassage that euer went to any Potentate This vnderstood by the Iberian king he in person came to meete them musing at the sodaine comming of such states to seeke him from so farre Countreyes who beeing seene of them with great courtesie that abounded in them alighted dooing him that dutie that might appertaine to such a King who perceiuing it with the like solemnitie entertained them where ouerpassing theyr gréetings they remounted a horsebacke and by the way breefely discoursed of many things vntill they arriued at the famous Cittie Hispalis where they were receiued againe with many verie sumptuous shewes prepared onely for that purpose to expresse the riches and greatnesse of his state and approaching the royall Pallace of Hispalia they alighted the King Toloian leading in one hande the King of Hungarie and Macedon in the other hande entred the great Hall where the Quéene and the Princesse Clarinda with diuers Péeres expected theyr arriuall and most maiestically receiued them anewe and the King of Hungarie knéeled to the Quéene desiring to kisse her hande but shee refraining it tooke him vp in her armes imbracing and honouring him as worthily as the dignitie of his estate merited dooing the like vnto the Macedonian Prince and other Nobles that also prostrated themselues before the Princesse who entertained them with such gallant grace that they greatly admired at her rare beautie and singular perfections thinking themselues verie happie to haue so absolute a Ladye for theyr Empresse No sooner ended theyr salutations but the Tables beeing layde they sate downe and were vsed according to their magnificence afterward they had appointed them large and rich lodgings by his maiesties command retaining in the pallace the more to honour them the two kings The next morning were summoned the chéefe Lords to parleament and their present audience to the Kingly Embassadors who being thither sent for to theyr Senate houses deliuered from their Lord and Emperour their Embassey for which the Spanish king rested highly contented and replied he was fully determined to accord with the Emperours request therwith remaining highly satisfied and so they might prepare themselues for in ten daies she and they should be prouided of al necessaries wherat they greatly reioyced so did the Quéene and Princesse with that marriage hauing before heard of the Emperors rare and absolute conditions At length all things ordered they departed leauing the Court in great solitude through the princesses absence who with her traine continued their daily iourneyes till they came to Constantinople where they were welcommed and the nuptials solemnized with most magnificent tryumphs torneyes and all manner of pastimes according to the greatnes of such estates CHAP. II. The birth of Don Bellianis of Greece and of a straunge aduenture did befall him a hunting by which he parted from the Emperour his father NOw the Historie doth record that in processe of time the Emperour Don Bellaneo had of the Empresse Clarinda thrée sonnes the eldest called Don Belianis of Greece that inherited the Empire after his fathers death the second Don Clarineo of Spaine the third Don Lucidamor of Thessalie who not onely in valour and Millitarie discipline equalled their Father but excelled all others of their tyme in all gallaunt and woorthie heroicall exercises insomuch that all men had them in high admiration specially the prince Don Bellianis that was educated according as his royall state merited and the heire of such an Empire required vntill hee came to the age of eight yéeres in which no Donzell in all the Court though he doubled his yéeres could excell him there being verie manie chiefly the Prince of Macedons sonne by name Don Brianell another of the King of Hungarie called Don Arsileo the strong through his excessiue strength for beeing knighted he would often betwéene his armes smoother puissant knights so that nexâ— the Prince he was accounted chiefest In which time they were instructed and taught those thinges as fitted such Princes wherein they so well profited but specially the prince Don Bellianis who much applied himselfe to Musicke that in those dayes none surpassed him that the Emperor séeing him so much giuen vnto it was not sâ—â—rke in prouiding for him the excellentest tutors that might be found to whom and those he had the Prince highly rewarded In which worthie exercise he busied himselfe till he perfected the age of twelue yeare with such forwardnesse that euerie one admired him assuredly imagining that within the compasse of the whole earth was not a more excellent and rarer spirit At this time hee was taught the science of Armes in which hee shewed himselfe so expert as it were a thing hee shoulde by inheritaunce possesse that he séemed to néede no teacher In this exercise he spent two yeares About which time the Emperour beeing desirous to hunt in a spacious Forrest thrée miles distant from the Cittie and beeing prouided of all necessaries hee departed to it with the Empresse his sonne Don Belianis leauing his two Brethren in Court that then desired not to go with them but there accompanied him Don Brianell and the Prince Arsileo with manie Knights and Lordes of high esteeme with so great and royall traine as they were going to pitch a battell The Prince Don Belianis did lead by the reynes the Empresse his mothers Palfrey and the Emperour went conforted with the Princes Aisileo and Don Brianell of wheme hee rested greatly satisfied In this equipage within a while they arriued at the place where straight theyr sport beganne that with the noyse of hounds and hornes
know it we shall easily knowe it by force of armes but seeing he hath promised me a boon this shall be it sayde hee turning to don Bellianis that you all take off your helmes and that we may knowe your names Don Belliani stood somewhat pensiue not knowing what to answere yet thinking that the longer he kept silence they wold the more suspect he at last thus replyed Truly excellent Lord you haue demanded me a thing that by my wil I neuer would discouer but séeing I can do no lesse there is no reason I shuld deny it therfore wil declare it with license of this my coÌ„panie We wil allow whatsoeuer you shal do sayd they The princesse Aurora was at this time in great feare least they shuld be knowne thinking y t don Gallaneo had séen them in the castle when don Brianell was caried thither but they deceiued themselues for he had not séen theÌ„ but armed when he was there taken Don Bellianis replying the Soldane said You shall know my good Lorde I am called the knight of the golden Image because I beare it on my sheeld and I assure you at this present I haue no other name neither may I haue it till I be commanded the contrarie This my companion poynting to don Brianell is nominated the venturous knight and this other is the Prince Arfileo if euer you heard him named before Prince and sole heire of the kingdom of Rasia This Ladie whome wee accompanie is the King of Carcasias Daughter with whome through a certaine aduenture we were al going to the king her fathers Court. This is almost noble Lord what in this case I can declare protesting by the fayth of a Knight I may not more discouer for I my selfe doo not knowe it You haue doone with me replyed the Soldane although I desired larger information and séeing there remaines no more to doo I pray you vnlace your hâ—lmes that my desire may further bee satisfied Arfileo and Don Bryanell straight way obeyed being verie glad to heare how well don Bellianis had answered which done they all highly commended theÌ„ for their braue disposition The Princesse Aurora till that time being sorowfull not knowing what replie don Bellianis would make with great ioy stepped vnto him vnlaced his helme whose fayre complection with the gallant constitution of his well knit members and strength of body was highly admired hauing his haire like thréed of massie gold disheueled hanging on his shoulders The sight of this his rare fauor with his haughtie exployts in armes made them amazedly think him the ofspring of the mighty god of war iudging it impossible that any mortall creature should possesse two such extreams wherin he surpassed al within y e compasse of the earth He was of stature higher theÌ„ any knight in that time his hands long and finowy betokening his excessiue strength his shoulders big and large whose breadth might mainely beare the puissant burthen of olde Atlas forces His face whiter then the purest Alabaster commixt with the Roseate colour of a naturall red Therein was placed his eagle-penetrating instruments of sight as bright as the resplendant rayes of the meridiall sunne and to conclude there was none afflicted with blacke heart oppressing melancholie but in examining his perfections would on a sodaine banish that enemie to quiet pleasure He had moreouer a certaine maner of milde grauitie that with it he drew vnto him the loue of the admirers for it being with anger moued there could be no countenance more sterne then his yet he so refrained himself by forcing it from him that straight he would expell it He was a great maintainer and louer of iustice that if any did committe a fault or erred he himselfe would sée him punished None in his time could equall him in forces His spéech was rare but wise and neuer spake but premeditated vpon occasion When y e Soldane sawe such accomplished perfections compleate vallor in one knight hee again imbraced him conceiuing so great pleasure y t had not the marriage of his daughter bin so forward he would willingly without further knowledge what he was giuen hir him for his wife at last he brake their sileÌ„ce with these words Most glorious knight I impute it no fault in you in being so vnwilling to discouer vnto vs your rare parts which only to y e high immortall gods as things altogither proper and appertaining to theÌ„selues doo belong to whom I render recountlesse thanks that in my time they haue vouchsafed to send so great a wonder among vs in this our age At the time that Don Bellianis wold haue kissed his hands which he not consented arriued the Princesse Persiana with Don Gallaneo leading with them the Princesse Aurora Whereupon the Souldane and the Knight mounted on theyr horses and the Ladies on theyr Palfrayes and don Bellianis hauing his woundes first dressed by the Damsels who also did the like to the knights of the bridge they tooke their way towards Persepolis The Dukes traine was excéeding merrie to haue in their company so famous knights for those tryumphes don Bryanell that was called the aduenturous Knight stepped to the beautious Persiana and as one that in courtly courtesie and pleasant discourses was inferiour to none said vnto her Séeing faire Princesse my name is not opposite against any fauour I may receiue I beséech you make me thereby assured firme against all changes of al reuoluing chance in signe whereof grace me by your graunt with the leading of your palfray by the raynes whereby I may with the fruition of your diuine companie inioy all that I may desire which is to rest sole yours for euer since yonder knight meaning don Gallaneo hath taken on him my office with the Princesse my Lady This he said because don Gallaneo did lead the Princesse Auroraes palfraye which though she suffered was to dissemble that she knew him not rather desiring his death then at his hands any such fauour The like wish wished the Duke Alfyron The Princesse Persiana no lesse gallant in talke then rarenesse of beautie replyed I would not sir Knight that about your seruice the Princesse your Lady and I should â—arre but séeing she doth accept a stranger for her seruitor she shall receiue the guerdon of her change and therewith she gaue him the raines which he gladly tooke to whome the Princesse Aurora saide I know not sir aduenturous knight wherein I haue so much discontented you that you should so soone drowne mee in obliuion but if it were in commaunding you to prooue the aduenture of the bridge henceforth will I be more considerate and so you shall be lesse greeued yet notwithstanding all thinges haue so well befallen you that you haue no cause of gréeuance True said he if the Prince Arfileo had not got more by that proofe then I. What haue I obtained more demanded Arfileo The commaundement of my Lady the Princesse saide he besides the horse you haue vnder
those parts For within one moneth there were arrided in that Cittie aboue thrée hundreth thousand valiant horsmen and well appointed The Souldane sent to many places as well abroad as at home to seeke for his sonne the Prince Perianeo to leade those troupes against his aduersaries with whose comming he so assured himselfe to be reuenged as if it were alreadie executed For he not only thought to destroy the Duke Alfiron and the Prince of Phenicia but also thought to subuert the kingdom and King of Rasia whom he imagined to be father vnto Arfilio and if those warres happily succéeded to passe against the Grecian Emperour whom he knew to be frée of the daunger that Don Galaneo of Antioch had put him in So that these imaginations made him longerstaie then he had purposed preparing all necessaries for those warres CHAP. XXXII How don Brianell required by the Prince don Bellianis departed towards the Kingdome of Antioch How the duke Alfiron married the Princes Persiana and what straunge things happened in the Iousts vnto the Princes Contumeliano Arfileo and Florispiano THe Knight as is said being within the Citie of Bollera made famous by their being there were within fiftéene dayes throughly whole of their woundes though not of that which the amorous Prince don Bellianis had in his hart for the loue of the bewteous Princesse Florisbella which had so penetrated his tender breast that he determined vpon the good successe of those affaires neuer to cease till his eyes might enioy her happie sight thinking therewith to mitigate the crueil passions of his tormented heart Thus continuing there vpon a day taking apart the Princesse Persiana told her that he thought it not amisse if she desired the accomplishing of her desires she should forthwith wed the Duke Alfiron lest the chaunges of Fortune might héereafter disturbe it and that the Souldan her father would not be so cruell that hearing it would not reioyce to sée her marryed to her content Shée that nothing else desired said she would in euery thing accord to his will derogating in no respect from it Wherefore thanking her for that honour he conferred of it with the Duke who thereto agreed appoynting the nuptialls to be solemnized tenne dayes after which was the time they celebrated a feast dedicated to their Mahomet All the Knights greatly reioyced at that don Bellianis had done preparing themselues very sumpteously against the mariage day ordering a most stately Tourney in honour of the nuptialls And in the meane time hearing of the Souldanes preparations and innumerable multitudes neglected not to demaund the aide of all her friends and Allies And the kings sent to their kingdomes that all their help might there with speede be vnited And so these great enemies béeing thus nigh one to the other were by their spyalls still aduertised of eythers dooings The knight of the Golden Image much gréeued to see these delayes because they hindred and kept him there from prosecuting his attended iourney dispayring of hoped ioyes wanting the presence of the causer of his gréefe which he somewhat lightned by daily conuersing with the damsels of his mistresse else otherwise he hardly could haue staied there all that while which he beguiled with pleasant discourses with those Princes and Ladies and one day talking with the Princesse Aurora about her affayres in Antioch she said to him it wold not bee vnnecessarie shee should write vnto the Gouernour of that kingdome placed by the Prince Don Gallaneo on whom she reposed great trust I thinke it not amisse answered Don Bellianis if you suppose it will not disaduantage you But who shall carrie it when it is made I shall want no knight to doo it replied shee or if I doo one of my Damzels shall vndertake the troublesome toyle Whereupon Don Bellianis taking pen yncke and paper writ the letter and when it was done called the Prince Don Brianell whom as is said greatly desired to be imploied in that Princesse seruice said to him hee should bee the bearer of that letter being a matter to be trusted on none but he There is no reason my good Lord said the Princesse that you should vndergo such trouble hauing alreadie hitherto taken so much for my sake you neede not now farther indanger your self in these new such seldom seen toiles hauing at my hands receiued no fauour for any It is no trouble déere lady said he which is vndertakeÌ„ in your behalf especially in y e aduancing of your glory and therefore I am incouraged straight to depart heÌ„ce I gladly wold haue accompanied you replied she if this present war did not hinder me wher don Bellianis is also necessarily staied It is better that you remaine here said Don Bellianis for the Prince Don Brianell will quickely returne with answere And thus they agreed that the next day he should depart telling those knights that he went about an earnest matter of his owne which forced him so to leaue them assuring them his returne shoulde bee with spéede And so taking his parting leaue the insuing morning he went forwards on his voyage continuing his dayly iourneyes till hee arriued at Antioch where there be fell him great aduentures as shall be set downe in his due place So leauing him and returning to our former purpose the day was at length come wherein the royall nuptials of the Princesse Persiana with the Duke Alfiron should be celebrated against which time euery one prouided theÌ„selues according to their estate in such tumultuous times wherein they dayly expected the arriuall of their enemies for which cause least they should suddenly be surprised they kept in armour aboue eight thousand men which they had within the Cittie besides their campe they had without the walles intrencht about the furthest place of the citie because one should not trouble the other in their salue Which multitudes were equally diuided in squadrons and battalions as they were readie to fight some pitched battell The day come the Princesse Persiana issued foorth the contentedst Ladie liuing shee was ledde by the arme by Don Bellianis going all a foote because they would be the better seene with a soft pace When they were seene by their armed troopes they all showted out aloud saying It is a iust thing that we all spend our dearest liues for the safetie of such Lords or impall their heads with the imperiall Diaâ—â—m which they so well deserue and therewith discharged so many peeces of Ordinance and sounded so manie Instruments of all sorts as it seemed the totall subuersion of the vniuersall world in which maner they arriued in the temple where they were married which done they returned with like triumph to the Pallace where the Tables being couered they diâ—ed the Bride and Bridegroome at one Table with the two Kings and the thrée Princes at another dined many of their Nobisitie The dinner done they daunced according to theyr maner while the knights maintainers of the iousts entred the lystes