charged each other with such pollitique behauiour in their fight that it was maruellous to heare what commendations were generally giuen When they had well wearied themselues on Horsebacke they alighted and endeuored to endanger each other with such rigorous blowes that it was thought the Combat would not long last ere one of them were slaine For their shéelds were shiuered all in péeces their Armour so broken that the blood trickled downe their sides then fell they to wrastling one with another their gripes made the blood to issue foorth aboundantly yet neither had the aduantage of the other in strength but both so equall that it could not be iudged who was likest of victorie The Princesse Flerida gréeuing at their great effusion of blood departed in such heauinesse as if she had known it to be the blood of her sonnes that was so cruelly spilt The king with all his Courtly attendaunts was stroken into such a maze when he saw them take their swords againe that he thought the flower of all Chiualrie was there present before him and was in great heauinesso for that they would not giue ouer by no meanes The knight of the Sauage man séeing himselfe destitute of Sword sheeld and Armour began somewhat to feare that his life would stand in great hazard but yet he contented himselfe that if as then his death were ordained he should sustaine the lesse reproch in that a knight of such honour had giuen him the ouerthrow wherefore at a pause he thus began Why should I discourage my selfe at the death séeing I shall depart in the flower and prime of mine age and end my dayes at his hande who is onely estéemed for good Fortune Yet the oath I haue made to the Princesse Flerida with the great duty I find in my selfe as her desert constrains mée to wish a longer time if it might be as well to exalt her honour as to trie the aduenture which hath endamaged so many good knights whereto I did euer bend mine affection as the onely enterprise in all my life to win me renowne But séeing I am falne into so great mishap as both Fortune doth deny me and mine owne manhood faile me I will yet so behaue my selfe vpon mine enemy as when he hath woon the vttermost he shall not boast of his Conquest and such a writ will I deliuer him to seale as I hope shall craue no other signet but his heart blood In like manner the knight of Fortune stood debating with himselfe as well vpon his present danger as also his passed dollour not forgetting his Ladie and Mistresse Polinarda to whom as had she bene present he began this complaint Madame behold now the time wherein your anger doth kill me and your fauour reuiue me which except you will beare the cruell mind to worke my Tragedy restore in wonted clemencie the encouragement of my haplesse labours which since it lyeth in your handes cast a friendly looke on the man that in all extremities is none but yours onely If you deny me this small request neither shall I aduenture the enterprises of great Brittaine nor doe that honour to you which my heart hath euer desired so shall the flower of Chiualrie remaine in their great misfortune and you through your obstinacie accounted the losse of them all This knight hath put mee in more danger then euer did any yet neither of vs both enioyeth the Conquest and if the infortunate death returne to my share I shall thinke my selfe honourably failed at his handes but my poore heart cruelly martyred through your hard dealing Then fell they to the Combate againe not able to charge one another so fiercely as at the first yet labouring earnestly to end their strife one way or other which mooued the king to discend accompanied with his Knights and fearing the losse of theyr liues sought to set them at vnitie But such was their desire of victorie and so couragious their mindes in middest of most doubt that the King was faine to returne because they would giue no eare to his perswasion Then went hee to the Chamber of the Princesse Flerida where in this manner he began to vse his spéech Fayre Daughter if my noble Sonne Don Edward your Lord be liuing and that he may be deliuered by the valour of any earthly creature I perswade my selfe that one of these Knights shall be the meane to relieue his aduerse estate But if in this Combate as I greatly feare they shall ende their liues vpon this hautie attempt then farewell all hope that I euer reposed for both you shall lose him and my selfe shall euer lacke him where by them I might assure my selfe both to heare of my Sonne and enioy him in my Court in his woonted estate againe Wherefore if you beare such loue to him as you haue alway protested and fauour me in this my earnest desire vouchsafe the paines to walke vnto them for that one word of of your mouth wil enfore them leaue the combate so shall you possesse what you haue long wished and I be honoured in so great a courtesie The Princesse who since the absence of her Lord had seldome come abroad but alway kept her Chamber in her wonted lamentations at the request of the aged king came walking downe with him and foure Damosels attired all in blacke attending on her her selfe apparrelled in the same manner sauing that the vaile on her head shadowed all her face so that none could haue full view to behold her beautie When she was entred the place of the Iust to the great amazement of all that were present she came to the Knight of Fortune and tooke him by the arme with these words Sir knight if either you make account of the honour of Ladies or will manifest in your déedes that you owe them any duty then at my request I intreate you to leaue off the Combate as well to auoyd the hazard of your liues as to content this noble company who are satisfied with your famous exployts The knight of Fortune wel eying the Princesse and perceiuing her to resemble the countenance of his faire Polinarda he humbled himselfe on his knée with these words Faire Lady my desire hath bene greatly bent to end this Combate and to render this Knight the victory as he hath well deserued but séeing you haue charged me with such a curteous command I rather desire the death then to yéeld any deny all Sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man if I should report the estimation I haue of your knighthood with the forceable charges I haue receiued at your hands I might say that iustly which you haue rightly deserued you are the onely knight to whom I will grant my Conquest But séeing you haue made grant to her whom in duty I must alway reuence and that her intreaty hath moued you to end our debate if I should contrary what she and you haue appointed I might worthily be reproched among all knights much more
minds They being in some doubt to gaine the ouerthrow suddenly entred the field Platir Floraman Francian Germaine of Orleance Vernar Polinard with others so that as then began the brauery of the fight which as it was well worthy past not without notable praise and the English Knights came still afresh to fiercely on them that the GreciaÌ„ Knights were through néere constraint vrged to retire But behold on a sudden to aide the Grecian Princes there entred thrée strange Knights very brauely mounted the first of them bearing in his shield on a grouÌ„d of sand the God Saturâ—us compassed about with Starres the second had for his deuise in a gréene field the Image of the House of Sadnes the â—hird would not haue his Shield knowne and therefore bare it couered These thrée séeing how the English Knights preuailed maruellously in their resistance couched their Speares and ran among the thickest of them whom to the great danger of both sides began a fierce battaile so that Vernar Tremoran Teneâ—rant and others were faine to be carried out of the field they were so sore wounded In like manner were diuerse of the English side till the Reâ—â—eite was sounded when the Prince Gracian with his company retired into his Campe and the English Knights conducted the Emperour and the King into the Pallace where sweet musicke and other delightfull exercises ioyned them all friends in their former vnity CHAP. XLVII How the three Knights that came to the Tournament were knowne to be the Knight of the Sauage man the Sage Aliart of the Obscure Valley and Blandidon And how Aliart discouered in the presence of all the Princes how Palmerin of England and Florian of the Forrest were the sonnes of the noble Don Edward and the Princes Flerida for proofe whereof he brought the Sauage man and his wife who had nourished the two young Princes so long in their Caue into their presence by whom this great ioy was fully confirmed WHen the Triumph was ended and the Emperour with King Fredericke returned into the Pallace the Tables were ready prepared when immediately they sate downe to take their repaste being seiâ—ed in such honorable and comely order as the princes were greatly in loue with the court of England Against supper was done the King gaue in charge that the Knights should prepare themselues to the dancing which done a sumptuous Banquet should presently be serued on the tables The Dancing and the Banquet finished and they sitting pleasantly ieasting one with another they entred the Hall the thrée Knights who had behaued themselues so brauely in the Tournament Many desired to come néere them because they would know of whence they were but to hinder their intents such a mist on a sudden arose in the Hall as the lights were dimmed the Torches burned very scarcely and the Ladies being dismaied caught their Knights in their Armes To put them out of this feare the mist departed and the Hall was as cleare as it was before when straight way they beheld in the middest a Lion and a Tiger enduring a great fight together and to set them at vnitie there entred a faire Damosell with a golden rod in her hand wherewith she touched them both and they humbled themselues at her féet This done shee departed and they arose againe in the forme of two fierce and vntamed Bulles which caused such an astonishment to all the beholders that they wished themselues to be foorth of the Hall But the Knights séeing their Ladies so greatly discouraged perswaded them that it was but some deuise artificially prouided for the delight of the Emperour but they would hardly beléeue them because the two Bulles fought so vehemently the one against the other and being ouercharged with wearines of fight fell to the ground breathing from their mouthes an horrible and ougly blacke smoke as was before The Hall auoided of all these accidents and in the same estate it was at first they might behold that thrée Knights with their heads vnarmed so that he who would not haue his shield known was found to be the gentle Knight of the Sauage man who presently went to the king and kneeling downe kissed his hand with these words My gracious Soueraigne I earnestly intreate at your hands this Knight may receiue the courteous entertainement your Grace will afford him at my request for this is the Sage Aliart your Maiesties most affectionate seruant to whom your griefe hath been so displeasant that he thought himselfe not in perfect quietnesse till he might manifest his humble deuoite to your Grace King Fredericke who had often heard report of the Sage Aliart by reason of the renowne and fame was spred abroad of him stoode in a doubt how it should bee hée because his youthful yeeres was much vnlikely to embrace so great cunning and learning as was euery where famed of him neuerthelesse giuing credit to the Knight of the Sauadge man hée embraced him with these salutations Certainely sir Aliart I am bound in duty to make good account of you as well for your vertuous dealings which doth iustly deserue it as also for bringing me my Fatherlesse Knight inso sound and good disposition of health wherein you haue not onely honoured me but likewise approoued the vnspotted faith of your Knighthood My gracious Lord answered Aliart the desire I haue to manifest the loialtie of my seruice vrgeth me to this opinion that might I liue neuer so long I could not accomplish so much as duty doth require in me respecting the great friendship I haue found at your Graces hand vndeserued But maâ— I vnder your Soueraigne pardon presume to disclose so great a secrete as shall both content your Highnesse as also this illustrious assembly The King supposing some glad tydings toward requested all the Princes to vouchsafe their audience when being euery one quietly placed to their owne content Aliart humbling himselfe to the Princesse Flerida began as followeth Madame it were hard for me to distinguish betwéene your extreame griefes passed and the swéete solace you enioy at this present for albeit this is to be thought beyond comparison yet in time when you were heauie your wofull complaints were equally as vehement as they that were priuie to their aduerse case could easily beare with the vrgent cause But referring long discourse of matter you are to estéeme your selfe highly honoured by this no lesse hauty then happy and famous Knight of Fortune who for your sake hath suffered the annoiance of paine in recompence of the dangerous trauaile you sustained for him at such time as you were deliuered of two Children in the vnfortunate Forrest when your Lord had left you For when the Sauage man had taken him and this redoubted Knight your Sonne Florian his Brother to sacrifice them to the rauenous iawes of his gréedy Lions pittie so pierced the heart of his poore and louing wife that shée saued them from the bloody slaughter and nourished them as carefully as she did this other
Princesse Targiana and Miragarda was set at her féete in signe of being vanquished And because it was as then somwhat late the knights had not the oportunitie to trie themselues that night wherfore they referred their determination till the next morning CHAP. LXXXIII What happened to Albayzar at his first running at the Tilt. ON the morrow the Knights preaced apace to the Ioust when striuing who should bee first caused a murmure to arise amongst them wherefore the Emperour commanded the Iudges of the field that no one shuld approach the Tilt but first to be permitted by their appointment Then was Crispian of Macedon allowed the first Ioust but Albayzar would not receiue him because he brought not in his Shield the Portrayt of his Lady according to the order appointed in like case all the other Knights had failed in that point wherfore the Ioust was staied for foure daies in which time euery one had his Lady to be artificially figured On the fifth day Emerald the Faire who was reputed in the Court for a good and hardie Knight presented the Regardants a Shield wherein was pictured the faire Artezaura and hauing done his duty to the Courtly Attendants hee ran against Albayzar who met with such puissance that he sent him headlong to the ground Then Escarol entred the Field presenting his Shield wherein was engraued his Lady and Artinella bianca written vnder her whose ill fortune was such that he was sent to kéepe the Prince Emeralde company and their Shields placed vnder the faire Targiana The next were Altaris and Rugeralde both of them the seruants to Belliana daughter to the Duke of Constance each of them beating her Picture in his Shield whom Albayzar serued euen as he had done the other Wherfore the emperor commanded the Iust to cease for that day greatly estéeming that noble valour that he had séene accomplished by the Prince Albayxar The Emperor came to the Iusting place the second day a great deale sooner and the Ladies hied to the windows to sée which of their seruants should accomplish the best endeuour but Albayzar was on horseback attending him that shuld first come who was Sir Badiart the Knight to Lucenda but the slendernes of her beauty and simplenesse of her Knight made his Shielde be placed amongst the other After him came Ricardoze for his faire Adoreta Argolant friend to Poliphia Archanero of Sclauonia the knight of the faire Iuliana Leonardin Baruolant French knights and both affectionat to the Princesse Arnalte Alisban the seruant of Armenia and diuers others that I will not name to auoide prolixitie but Albayzar still remained victor to the little content of the Emperour who saw his Knights so foiled as also the noble Primaleon who determined if he remained stil conquerour to enter the combat against him Oftentimes would Albayzar frequent the Image of his Lady with his Amorous discourses being so blinded in Loue that the picture of Miragarda whom euery one commended he supposed inequall to his Lady Targiana The Retrait sounded euery one retyred the Emperour after supper required the Prince Albayzar to the dancing where the vanquished knights durst not shew themselues because they were ashamed to come before their Ladies The dancing done euery one betooke themselues to their Chamber the Prince Albayzar departed to his Tent enioying very litte rest because of the desire he had to bee at his pastime In the morning Albayzar was very earely in the Field rehearsing diuers purposes before his Lady Targiana no lesse proud and stately then like the franticke fittes of a Louers inuention And while he stood musing to his Lady the Iudges of the Field caused a Trée to be placed by the Pillar to hand the Shield vpon that Albayzar won and on the toppe they set the Shields of the Princesse Miragada in token that it had béen attained in Combate whereas the other was but the figure of his owne amorous loue Then entered the Field Bellizar the Sonne of the Prince Belcar very brauely Armed before him was carried the Picture of his Lady the faire Dionisia Daughter to the king of Sparta in his owne Shield he bare for his deuise a Scithian Artcher with his bow and quiuer of Arrowes But albeit he was a strong and hardy Knight at the secōd méeting he was dismounted Albayzar forced out of one of his Stirrops which he recouered againe quickly After Bellizart came Don Rosuel his brother presenting his Shield bearing the Portraite of Dramaciana the handmayde to the Princesse Polinarda but he was likewise dismounted at the second Iust Whereat the Emperour was greatly grieued and sory that he had granted the field to the Prince Albayzar for the Knights of the Court were almost dishartened because the two noble Brethren was ouercome so soone and their Shieldes placed among the vanquished Knights CHAP. LXXXIIII What happened on the sixt day of the Iust ALbayzar stayed very long the sixt day before any came to present themselues at the Tilt wherefore the Emperour went to the chamber of the Princesse Gridonia where he leaned in the window beholding Albayzar to sit in the gate of his Tent vsing many amorous cogitations to the Picture of Targiana as cōcerning the trauailes he had attempted onely for her loue and fauour But while he was busying his eyes and mind on this beautiful prospect a knight entred the fielde armed in blacke whereon was dispearsed little flames of fire bearing in his Shielde the like shew which hée presented to the Iudges and couched his Lance to doe his duty But Albayzar séeing he wanted the Image of his Lady refused to enter the Iust with him which the knight séeing to be denied for so small a matter came to Albayzar with these words Sir knight you aske much of him who wanteth to answere that which you séeme to craue for if the shield I haue presented lacke that you would haue and I as much wish it is onely to cōtinue it in resemblance to him that hath borne it many a day with grief but neuer a houre of ioy or gladnes Yet haue I séene the time I could haue presented you a picture which could haue enforced you to a great maruaile my selfe very little to estéeme of your might but so vnhappily hath Fortune frowued and my present hope sequestred from any good hap that I can presēt you with nothing but this dolefull apparance which in midst of my misfortunes I beare with an afflicted mind the onely image of him that sometime hath had and yet in time may a ioyful countenance of his Lady and Mistresse desiring you to excuse me for this is the best auailes that Fortune hath left me Sir Knight answered Albayzar I willingly would that the picture wherwith you threaten me were at this present in your gouernment for then would I make you knowe that I beare another whereto all Ladies liuing ought and must giue place Neuerthelesse séeing the Emperour hath stayed so long in
which are no other but shapes without substance for in the beholding these you do but mispend your time looking for that recompeÌ„ce which they haue not the power to giue you And therefore it shall be more necessary for you to goe to them whom the Pictures represent who in time will more sufficiently content your hearts then your eyes receiue pleasure in looking on these toyes which Vrganda giueth you to see at this prefent by her Enchauntment Palmerin hearing the words of his Brother the Sage Aliart returned to him with this answere Doe you maruaile Syr Aliart if they which behold the liuely presentations of so faire and beautifull Goddesses finde good cause to busie their braines and receiue their memories Credite me I thinke no man but would be rauished in delight to sée things of so rare and excellent importance Palmerin spake in this manner because he would not haue his friends suspect his amorous thoughts so departing thence they went againe to the Castle where prouision being made they sate downe to dinner which being ended they concluded to depart from the Island wherevpon Palmerin caused Satrafort to be called into his presence with the other Gentlemen that came in his company when Palmerin speaking to his Brother the Sage Aliart began to vse his spéeches thus If I should not consider with my selfe my noble friend and Brother which way Fortune might aduance me to such estate as I should be able to recompence the manifold courtesies I haue receiued at your handes you might repute mée of a most base and ignoble minde wherefore to witnesse to you the great feare I haue least I should be condemned amongst the vnthankefull I here frankely and fréely giue you the Perillous Isle which I haue conquered with great trauaile and losse of my blood desiring that you would accept thereof in that it ought rather to be vnder your gouernment then any other that I know Wherefore I pray you not refuse my gentle gift and I would it were of such estimation as I could finde in my heart to bestow vpon you for I perswade my selfe that it was the will of Vrganda it should be reserued for you And for Satrafort I perceiue he is as willing hereto as my selfe desiring you that you would account of him as his noblenesse and vertue requireth that you may discharge the duty wherein I am greatly bound to him My Lord answered the Sage Aliart they of this Island haue good occasion to be offended séeing you will commit it into the handes of him who is not worthy to come within it neuerthelesse the earnest desire I haue to doe you seruice willeth me not to make refusall of your gratious offer and I accept Satrafort not as my fubiect but as my louing friend and companion as well for the valour of his person as likewise to let you perfectly vnderstand that I am he who vowes himselfe alwayes at your commandement Thus concluding his spéeches he offered to take she Prince Palmerins hande to kisse it but the courteous Prince would not permitte him then taking the Sage Aliart in his armes he beganne againe as followeth My louing Brother if Fortune rayse me to any such preferment as I may finde somewhat worthie your good desertes you shall well peceiue the affection I beare you in the meane while imagiae the best of mee The Prince Berolde and Platir commended marueilously the liberalitie of Palmerin whose presence was more acceptable to Satrafort then the Sage Aliart so that he would gladly haue changed his maister neuerthelesse he concealed his mind closely to himselfe doubting least he should purchase the displeasure of his new Lord to whom he aduaunced himselfe to giue him his faith for his dutifull obedience praying the Knight of the Tiger that he would continue him in his woonted noble fauour Palmerin vsed such friendly behauiour towards him as he remained well content withall and hauing left the Sage Aliart to giue order about the customs of the Isle he imbarqued himselfe in the ship with Argentao being desirous to goe on firme land so soone as he could possible considered also that hee would haue Arganto returne to his gouernment And because he would the more commodiously rip vp his secret griefe to Siluian he tooke his leaue of the princes Berolde and Platir giuing theÌ„ to vnderstand that he must of necessitie goe alone by himselfe for that hee had an aduenture assigned him where he promised to be on the day ensuing These three thus parting Platir and Berolde being glad to please the Prince Palmerin in any thing he thought méete they entred the same Foyst wherein they were brought thither and so humbly taking their farewell of Palmerin they sayled towards Constantinople the wind and weather seruing them so commodious as in few dayes they attained the firme land In like manner did the Prince Palmerin in another Countrey after he had taken his leaue of Argentao who likewise returned into the Profound Isle where his Subiects receiued him very â—â—atiously accounting them highly bound to the Prince Palmerin in ordaining them such a Gouernour who would in no case suffer the people of that Island to be so cruelly dealt withall as they had béene before of the bloody Giants CHAP. XX. How Alfernao arriued at the Emperours Court of Constantinople and of that which happened to him NOt many dayes after the Knight of the Sauage man was departed from the Citie of Constantinople the Emperor was aduertised of his losse by the Prince Florians Esquire which caused no small griefe thorow the whole Court but it came so to passe that Alfernao arriued there vpon the sudden euen as the Emperour sate leauing on the Table lamenting for the want of his Nephew Florian and when he had caused him to come before him Alfernao fell downe at his féete with these words Illustrious and most gratious Emperour I humbly desire your maiesty that you would thinke of me in your woonted fauour clemency not remembring my passed transgressions for if your Grace looke into the depth of them I shall be found worthy of most grieuous punishment which your royall clemency hath power to moderate in that you are accustomed to vse mercy to them whose offences deserue rigorous intreating I am dread Prince that ancient man who came and requested your highnesse assistance and dissembling with teares and faint spéeches which were nothing else but méere deceite that I had great néede of the ayde of one of your Knightes wherevpon you granted licence to your noble Nephew that he should leaue your Court and goe in my company but I intending deceit was deceiued my selfe and could not execute on him what I had determined Then began Alfernao to discourse to the emperor the whole successe of his Nephewe Florian of the Forrest who had sent him to informe his Maiestie of all that hapned to him that the report of the Esquire might be the better belieued whereto the Emperour thus answered Certainly
not contained a much larger quantity to which demand the Hermite thus answered Good Sir when first I came to inhabite this place which by computatioÌ„ of time I gesse to be about 34. yéers since I found this ancient Sepulchre in the same estate you now behold it But as I haue heard of many and therefore may be hold to report it when the Infidels did inuade this Land they did ruinate and spoyle this Tombe aboue all the rest Not sparing these other by it as you may perceiue wherein are inferred Don Grumedan and Don Cuillan the Pensiue beside other personages of no lesse nobilitie then knightly behauiour The Hermits talke vrged him to remember the discourse of the life of this noble Don Guillan comparing his haplesse life with his heauy estate which was in like manner procured as his Lady Polynarda was the original of his sorowful mourning At this remembrance falling into a great agony of mind he was constrained to leane on the irons that compassed this auncient Sepulchre vttering such rufull complaints within himselfe as the gréefe thereof caused the teares to run down his chéekes Standing a great while as it were in amaze the Hermite supposed he occupyed his mind about some euill intent but Sriuian stepped vnto him declaring that it was his wont to be often incumbred with Melancholy and therefore willed him to vse no more doubt in this matter At length he hapned forth of this mute study turning his head to hide his extreame griefe when Siluian went vnto him desiring he would noc forget his enterprise with the knight of the Sauage man and to leaue â—ch thoughts as would draw his estate into such debility as might greatly hinder his former determination With these words he was somewhat displeased saying I more doubt of that which my late studying hath called into remembrance theÌ„ either the feare or force my enemy can vse to me So taking his leaue of the Hermit he rode toward the Citty where he met the Gentleman his Host and the Damosell on whose behalfe he had enterprised the Combate then because he would not enter the Citty as yet he sent Siluian to the Court to manifest before the King his Maisters challenge and to vse great circumspection what answer the King returned Siluian well noting his Maisters commandement departed and in short time arriued at the Pallace where going vp into the great Hall he perceiued the King was newly risen from Diuner walking with his knights among whom was the knight of the Sauage man being well and perfectly cured of the wounds he had receiued when he fought against Gracian Francian and Polynarda who were there also in his company Siluian came into the presence of the king where on his knée with such duty as is required in that respect he began as followeth Most puissant Prince the knight of Fortune my noble Lord and Master by me in humility of his owne person yéeldeth the homage of his heart and knightly Sword at your Graces command Such was his intent as in your Courts he bowed to make proofe of his seruice but Fortune not so agréeing in stead of aquiet entry vnder your Graces leaue he meaneth to come by way of a challenge For as he trauailed he met a Ladie whose cause of misfortune shée doeth attribute to the Knight of the Sauage man and my Lord taking her distressed case in hand by me giueth challenge to him of Combat to méet him if he dare so that your Grace will allowe my Lord a safe entrance and returns without the disturbance of any to hinder his determination the Knight of the Sauage man onely excepted The king who had heard the fame of the knight of Fortune to be such as was extolled in all Princes Courts was very sory that his arriuall should moue such a request and would willingly haue denied the Combate but that the Knight of the Sauage man came before his Maiestie and vsed these words My gracious Soueraigne the Knight of Fortune is of such reputation as neither may your Grace denie his request nor my selfe refuse to enter Combate with him And albeit his puissaÌ„ce hath vrged him to a Challenge and the aduantage gotten in other countries maketh him the more earnest to haue his déedes knowne here yet can neither his gréeting dismay my courage nor his presence compell me to leaue the fielde Wherefore I desire your Grace to grant his request that he may haue libertie of the Iust according as hée ought otherwise will I goe to him as well to satisfie his desire as to compasse the affection I haue of my selfe The King séeing all excuses would not serue to hinder this matter but that the Knight of the Sauage man would néedes take on him the fight returned Siluian with this answere My Friend tell thy Lord I am both pleased and offended at his request yet séeing his demand standeth with law of armes which I can no way iustly denie I graunt him free leaue without contradiction of any But better would I haue iudged of him had his challenge béene to any other Knight where being as it is he will not so lightly escape as perhaps hee maketh account of With this message Siluian returned to his Maister who hauing heard the pleasure of the king came prnsently to the place appointed for the combat where the king with the Quéen and the Princesse Flerida with all the nobility were ready placed to behold this noble attempt The Citizens likewise repaired thither to see this combate which was so suddenly noysed abroade so that the place was filled with abundance of people The knight of Fortune entred and made his obeysance to the king and passed by then came the knight of the Sauage man accompanied with many knights noble gentlemen among which company was Argolant who brought him his speare Don Rosiran de la Bronde deliuerd him his shéeld so marching on by the king they left him vsing this talke with the knight of Fortune I know not sir knight what should be the cause of your so great challenge without it be to iniurie him that neuer offended you Sir answered the knight of Fortune behold the Ladie here present to whom you haue offered no small abuse which I will sée you recompence or constraine you to abide the doome of my mercy Trust me sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man the Lady is altogether vnknowne of me neyther haue I offended her or any body beside that I should deserue to be thus vngently accused but I sée the good opinion you haue of your owne manhood causeth you to be so earnest in this matter which I will not denym albeit I could yet giue no spot to my honour So departing themselues to fetch their caréere at the sound of the Trumpetst hey met brauely together breaking halfe a dozen Staues a péece yet neither able to stirre the other When they saw they could not dismount one another they tooke their swords and
one another about the strange conceyts they perceiued in this Caue which made them to iudge that in times past it had béene the solitary dwelling of some noble man exiled from his Countrey but therein they were greatly deceyued For this ancient edifice was erected by the Enchantresse Mellia who kept that place a great while during the raigne of the king Armace her Brother Vrganda and she liued both at one time as it is rehearsed in the History of the Emperour Splandian Sonne to the valiant most magnificient king Amadis and the Princes Oriana his Wife Quéene of the great Brittaine When the Princes and knights had satisfied their mindes in beholding this place they returned to the Pauillions to their Ladies who welcommed them all very louingly and Primaleon sitting downe by his sister Flerida rehearsed to her the manner of the Caue where the two Princes were nourished which did not a little content her minde in that the place was not ruinated and put into obliuion This night they reposed themselues in the Forrest as honourably serued as if they had béene in the English Court and in the morning they prepared themselues towards the Castle being all the way delighted with such fiue deuises sent by the cunning of the Sage Aliart that euery one tooke great pleasure in this Princely iourney There were Hunters who pursued wilde Bores Harts Bucks and all such noble game and came wearily falling downe at the Ladies feete but when they offered to touch them they were presently skipping on the farder side of the Riuer these deuises so pleased the Emperor with all the company that they gaue great thankes to Aliart who frequented them with such pleasant pastime al the way as they rode At last they arriued at the Valley of Perdition where they had a sight of the Castle of Dramusiande which went somewhat to the heart of the Princesse Flerida séeing the prison wherein her louing Don Edward had so long remained The Emperour Trineus king Frederick fel into great commendation of the sumptuous building of the Castle then which they had not often séene a fayrer which mooued theÌ„ to intreate Dramusiande who was the founder of such a singular péece of workmanship to which demand Dramusiande presently gaue this reply My gratious Lords this Castle was first builded by mine Aunt Eutropa through her meanes it hath remayned thus long out of knowledge Trust me said the Emperour Trineus a Fortresse of such strength and beautie ought not to be in the hands of one who could imploy it to such great abuse but commonly we sée the wicked do thriue as well as the good and enioyas great account in this world as they that maintaine all their actions by iustice and equitie So riding on at last Dramusiande willed them to a suddaine stay where he began in this manuer to vnfold the cause Me thinks I sée at the entrance of the Bridge a séemly Knight ready appointed to the Ioust but I can perceiue no body that offereth him resistance which maketh me supose that he hath attempted to kéepe this passage At this vnlooked for accident they stayed to behold the Knight who was very well mounted on a gray Courser his Armour spotted with white and blacke which greatly pleased the eyes of the beholders In his shéeld he baâ—e the naked body of a Lady the beauty of whose countenance was so excellently figured that Altea for whom Floraman accomplished such chiualricus déeds at Constantinople might not séeme to offer comparison to this beautifull spectacle neither the faire Princesse Polinarda might not presume to equall her selfe with the braue shape of this Lady and at the lower end of this shéeld in letters of Gold was written Miragarda While Princes occupied their eyes in beholding the singular forme compacted in his shéeld they perceiued his Esquire come towards them who after he had done his dutie to them all began to salute them with these protestations Faire Lords and Ladies the noble knight my Maister whom you behold on the Bridge by me giueth you to vnderstand the cause of his trauailes vnto this place He is of a far countrey from whence he had aduentured himselfe in honour of his good fortune and at the command of his Lady whose humble seruant he remayneth at this houre to try his knighthood at this Castle which hath béene blazed abroad to be most infortunate But being here arriued he is aduertised how the Enchantment is fully finished and the strength of the Giant Dramusiande with all his retinew conquered by the valour and hautie Prowes of a knight named Palmerin of England who hath deliuered the Princes that were kept Captiue by the cruell meanes of the disloyall Eutropa which newes are most welcome vnto him in that he desired nothing more Yet for that he is loth to returne to his Lady being at the place where knighthood hath bene tryed and he to passe backe againe not approued of any he craueth to enter the Ioust with such as are disposed referring the Combate of the Sword because he will aduenture for pleasure This challenge encreased such courage in the knights that they entred into strife who should first runne with the strange knight which the king perceuing returned the Esquire with this answer My friend tell thy Lord his enterprise is worthy perpetuall renowne if he containe such courage in proofe as both his Message and himselfe giueth in show his Lady shall haue occasion to vse him according as his valiant attempt deserueth The Esquire receiuing the kings pleasure returned to his Lord to whom he had no sooner made it knowne but Tremoran shewed himselfe before the bridge inuiting the strange knight to the Ioust who stayed not to accomplish his desire but encountring him with such a pleasant charge that Tremoran was forced to leaue his saddle This chance somewhat displeased Luyman of Burgondie who thinking to reuenge the repulse of Tremoran was sent himselfe to kéepe him company Belcar being desirous to shew his prowesse among the young Knights couched his Speare against the strange Knight who sent both Horse and man to the ground when presently Don Rosuell tooke the cause in hand and was made pertaker of the same mishap In like manner Guerin Frisol Blandidon Floraman diuers other were serued which moued the King Polendos vnto such choller that he would haue ventured against the strange Knight had not the prince Don Edward perswaded him to the contrary Then there went a great murmuring amongst the knightes who supposed the Sage Aliart had brought this Champion by his Art to be a disgrace vnto all their attempts and that he had vsed such meanes vnto him as he might not be vanquished but herein they greatly deceiue themselues for it was onely the noble force of the knight which was continually animated by beholding the faire face of his Ladie which was so brauely proportioned in his shield Floraman being greatly bent against the Knight and
good Lord that at such time as I imbarqued my selfe from Greece the tempest ouer-reacht me with such a violent meane that our Ship attained the Coast of Ireland where I would needes goe on land albeit both the Master and all in the Ship perswaded me to the contrary Being then on land such was my Fortune that I met with the Giant Calfurnien whose strength although it was redoubted indeede yet good hap gaue me the honour of his death In this bloody fight I receiued so many grieuous and dangerous woundes that I could no way haue escaped the death my selfe had not three Ladies Daughters to the Marquesse Beltamor whome this cruell Giant kept there perforce vsed such honourable and goodly prouision that to their no small labour and trauaile I recouered a sound and perfect estate Assuring you my Lord that I not onely maste high estimation of their friendly courtesie but also confesse my selfe indebted to them for euer to spend my heart blood in their gratious seruice Wherefore remembring their infortune that for their Fathers offence they are disherited I promised to vse such intercession to your Grace as they should be restored to their lost patrimonies In the meane time they liue in hope and I expect your wonted noble forgiuenesse on their behalfe The King perceiuing the desire of Florian with the great friendship he had receiued by these Ladies returned him presently this auswere Indéede I confesse the Marquesse their Father both intended and accomplished a treasonable enterprise against me and my state yet would I not that his daughters being ignorant and innocent of their Fathers crime shall suffer punishment for his offence And since he hath sustained Law according to desert and his whole possessions are fallen into our hands we returne them to the vse and profite of the Damosels in recompence of the friendly fauour you haue receiued at their hands And for their more honour I will that the eldest of them be married to Don Rosiran my Cousin and your great friend Argolant shal not refuse to marry the second as for the third we restore her to the Marquisate of her father and will ioyne her in marriage with Beltamor Brother to the forenamed Don Rosiran Don Florian kissing his highnesse hand in token of the vnspeakable pleasure hée receiued at the Kings wordes by the meanes of Don Edward his noble Father sent a poast with al spéede to bring the Ladies to the Court as wel to sée the Kings will accomplished in effect as to make proofe of his good will habare to the Ladies When these Ladies were come end euery thing in due and decent order finished Don Florian tooke leaue of the King his vncle and also Don Edward the Princesse Flerida because he would try the aduentures at the Castle of Miragarda whose beautie was so renowned thorow the whose world With great griefe they suffered him to depart so that when in trauaile he had passed the Court of the King Redinde hee arriued at the Castel of Almarol when Dramusiande had euen then vanquished thrée Knights whereof one was the valiant Pompides which made Florian somewhat abashed because he was ignorant that it was the gentle Dramusiande Wherefore being desirous to hazard himselfe in the Combate he prepared his Speare to encounter with him which Dramusiande seeing not knowing him to be Florian of the Desart the son of his deare and louing friend Don Edward against whom he would not haue entred the fight in any case to satisfie the will of his Lady Miragarda he met so strongly with him that they were both dismounted to the earth Vp againe they rose and fell to it very violently with their Swordes in so much as Dramusiande would not beast of his bargaine nor Florian bragge of the choise he had made for that the Combate was so dangerous between them as it was not to be iudged who was likest of victory Miragarda leaning in her window extolled maruelously the hautie valure of them both so that excepting the Combate of the Tristfull Knight with Palmerin she gaue the onely commendation to this singular fight which continued with such outrage betweene them that they were constrained to retire to take a little breathing Dramusiande féeling the Prowesse of his aduersary supposed him to be Florian of the Desart and therefore concluded many times to discouer himselfe without bringing their Combat to any ende But fearing least it should be reported that he gaue ouer for want of courage to maintain his quarrell changed his opinion in that hée was so desirous to finish the intent of the faire Miragarda to whom secretly he began in this manner My déere Mistresse I know that the merite of my trauailes shall bée to burie their commendation in the piâ—te of obliuion by you that little regard them yet is it great and insupportable griefe to him that is so vnkindly requited Neuerthelesse so great a conquest haue you gained of me and my whole endeuours lincked to fulfil your good liking that I can no waies contrary what you haue ordained but remaine more affectioned to doe you honour then al my actions can merite your fauour Regard then the Knight against whom I maintaine your cause and the foreâ— of his deliuerer attempts will witnesse in what neede I stand of your friendly furtherance which I beséech you not to denie him at this presence who in faith and loyaltie is more yours then his owne lest my enemie winning the victorie cast in my téeth that he hath brought me vnder in beholding your beautie Don Florian desirous to finish his enterprise came and charged Dramusiande the second time so that Almarol debating with Miragarda and Lardemia estéemed maruellously the valour of the Giant in kéeping the Shield as also the knight that offered him resistance Siluian standing in doubt that Dramusiande would be slaine which would be great griefe to his Lord and master came to the Esquire of Don Florian whom hee presently knew which made him very ioyfull beléeuing now verily that he should saue the liues of them both wherefore he came to Florian with these wordes I desire you Sir to passe no further in this doubtfull fight for he whom you labour against is Dramusiande your trustie and loyall friend Siluian had no sooner spoken these wordes but that they presentlie threw downe their Swords embracing one another with such gentle salutations as though they had been the greatest fâ—iends in the world Florian was greatly amazed to sée Siluian there without his master wherefore hee demaunded of him how all things had hapned but when he vnderstood the losse of his brother hee remained in griefe beyond all perswasion so that he determined to goe straight to Constantinople and if he failed of him there he would séeke all the world ouer but he would find him againe So taking leaue of Dramusiande accompanied with Siluian he departed from thence not desiring to sée the faire Miragarda least he should be brought into like
voyage of Palmerin whom aboue all I loue and in heart giue most honour yet will I not make him so priuy to my thoughts albeit I sustained the hazard of death because perhaps the beauty of Leoâ—arna Princesse of Thrace may alter the affection he hath vowed to me I beléeue quoth Dramaciana that inconstancy cannot harbour in the heart of him who proued himselfe so loyal in the aduenture of the cup but to preuent the worst if you will vouchsafe me the leaue I will in priuate talke vse such meanes with him as I shall quickly sound the depth of his intent Polinarda estéeming this deuiâ—e returned presently this aunswere I thinke so well Dramiciana of this pretty inuention that I am very well content that you procéed therein but of all Loues I pray you vse the circumstance of your matter in such sort that he perceiue nothing therein to be done with my will Polinarda thus concluding her speeches went and sate down by the Princesse Gridonia her mother mean while the English Prince remembring his hasty iourney as also the small kindnesse he perceiued in his Lady passed all the day in many silent thoughts But wheâ—â— the euening came he went to the Empres Chamber where the Knights and Ladies danced and doing his duty to them all he came and sate downe by Dramaciana with whom being very familiar he entred into these spéeches Swéet friend if I either might or could vtter my complaints to any by whom I had opinion to receiue redresse with verie glad consent I would but séeing my sorrowes grow to a greater extreame and to none but you I dare bewray them I will request so much courtesie at your hands as to resolue me in one or two questions and thus they are What is the cause my Lady Polinarda dealeth so hardly with me as to driue me to the vtter despaire and contempt of my life if she thinke me to deserue no greater fauour trust me I may iudge her ouermuch vnkind for that all my care is by what meane or motion to lay my heart at her foote in loyall serucice But she séeth full well my griefe and couereth her selfe with such a close conceit that she will not séeme to know it onely because she is either daintie of her courtesie or else thinketh scorne to recompence my trauell I desire you to beare witnesse with my faith which neither forceth paine torment or any miserie so that she would not forget the knight who suffreth al for her sake and cannot expresse what he would suffer so that it might but please her to estéeme thereof And trust me swéete friend I neuer in all my life entered so farre in spéech hereof to any person nor would I haue gone so farre at this present but that the proofe of your fidelitie hath constrained me to speake what you haue heard knowing very well that with a trustie friend a secret is buried in the bottome of the sea Sir Palmerin answerd Dramaciana the long time you haue absented your selfe from hence hath mooued me to thinke that your mind was addicted to some other purpose so that I iudge you rather complaine for custom then cause as you are al wont to do when you hold the fish with the baire which you greatly â—are not for whether you were best to take it or let it goe And now I am aduertised that you go to end the Enchantment of Leonarda the heire and princes of Thrace whose loue I feare me will cause you forget your old friends wherefore you may with greater ease beare so small a burthen Trust me answered Palmerin the beautie of Leonarda nor all the rich proffers of preferment in the world shal haue power to alter any qualitie in me by which I might be iudged either inconstant of faith or negligent in promise for which cause I haue the greater desire to speake with the princesse Polinarda that she may be assured of the loyaltie which this poore heart of mine shall continue to her to the death Well quoth she if your constancie be such as you report I thinke in so small a matter it will not be changed But as for speaking with my Lady I know at this time it is vnpossible wherfore for a further triall of your truth prepare your selfe to depart with the Damosell of Thrace and in your absence I wil so manifest your constancie that at your return you shall speake with her at your pleasure So that in yâ— mean time you wil promise me that no occasion be moued to offend so good a Princes To these words Palmerin thought to haue made answer but the Dancing being done he was hindered of his purpose so that Dramaciana and he were constrained to part company he being very glad that he had disclosed part of his griefe to her that would sollicite his sute in ample manner and this night he tooke better rest then he had done since his departure out of England The next morning he rose very early when a faire new armour was presented him and in his shield he bare a man torne in péeces by a Tiger Then went he with the Damosel to take leaue of the Emperor who brought him to the Empresse chamber to whom he humbly did his duty as also to Gridonia Bazilia and all the Ladies but such was his heauy farewell to the Princesse Polinarda as al the Ladies present could not refrain from teares Thuâ— left he the Emperour in great sorrow Primaleon Dramusiande and his brother Florian were very sorry to leaue them whom he most loued but notwithstanding all intreaty he departed with the Damosell and Siluian towards the kingdome of Thrace Soone after two Allemaigne Ambassadours arriued at the Court yéelding the seate and gouernment of the ancient Emperour Trineus deceassed to the Prince Vernar his sonne these newes were great griefe to the Emperour as also the Prince Vernar who left the Court accompanied with his Lady Bazilia being great with child and soone after deliuered of a goodly young Prince named Trineus after his Grandfather To accoÌ„pany these princes there went Florian of the desart Floraman Dramusiand Albanis of Freece Gracian PoÌ„pides and many other and when they came to the Citie of Cullen there was the prince Vernar chosen Emperor with such magnificiall Triumphs as neuer were séene the like in the dayes of â—is Predecessours Then sent he for his Brother Polinard to enioy such titles as were fallen vnto him and Florian with the other Princes and Knights stayed a while in the Court of the Emperor Vernar when soone after they departed to seeke aduentures as you shall at large perceiue in the second Volum of this History CHAP. XCVI Of the daungers which the King Polendos and the Princes passed conueying the Princesse Targiana by Sea And what happened to the Prince Florendos in the Fort of Astribor THe King Polendos the hundred knights that bare him company to conduct the princesse Targiana home againe sayling at their pleasure
life The Prince Palmerin very well liked of the intent of the Queene Caemelia by meanes whereof she doth humbly desire that it might so stand with your Highnesse pleasure as not to make deniall of this request to her seeing you haue not hitherto reâ—â—â—ed the entertainement of any in the fulfilling whereof she shall estéeme herselfe and her whole Kingdome perpetually bound to your excellency And because your highnes may esteem of the greater truth what I haue made report of she commanded me to present your Maiesty with this her letter of credite wherein full well you shall perceiue the residue of her pleasure may it like your highnesse to pardon this blunt discourse of an vneloquent maiden The Emperour very gratiously receiued the letter which when he had perused he thus framed his answer to the Damosell Vertuous and sage Lady I not onely pittie the great paiue you haue suffered in trauelling thus farre but also giue you thanks for such a good endeuour not forgetting to honour you with bountifull courtesie for the good newes you haue brought me of my Nephew Palmerin in regard of whom both his Princely deserts and my vttermost requitall which is but his duty I desire of God my power may stretch so farre to requite you according as you haue worthily merited And for the Lady the regard of whom caused my nephew to hold so small estimation of the Princesse Leonarda I know her care is beyond iudgement in deuising by what meanes she might gaine the power to requite a cause of so great honour And where you desire I would yéeld my consent that the princesse Leonarda might come to remaine in my Court assure your selfe that I am well contented and thinke my selfe highly honoured by such a request And the better to declare how gratefull I accept her comming hither and how thankfull I would be for your great trauaile I giue to you the countie of Salin which by reason of the death of the county Arlae remaineth vacant he not hauing left any heirs to repossesse the same The Damosell presently threw her selfe at the Emperors féet offering to kisse his hand in signe of her thankfull mind but he sustained her in his armes very graciously which he was not accustomed to do to any stranger yet such was the estimation he had of her The damosell behaued her selfe in the same manner of duty to the Empresse as also toward the Prince Primaleon and Gridonia but they to witnesse their beneuolent mindes and the honour wherewith they would entertaine such a fréendly guest by their great intreaty and courtesie made stay of her humble offer whereupon she returned to the Emperour and deliuered her mind these words I can hardly withhold my selfe at this instant my gratious Lord being so desirous as I am to vnderstand of the couragious mind of the Prince Palmerin both in dealing and escaping from a Tiger so hideous and fearefull as also being so happy to end such an aduenture but your gracious fauour is so agréeable to my desirous thoughts and so plentifull in measure beyond my poore demerits that I shall leaue the report thereof in your highnesse memory till such time as I returne with the Princesse Leonarda for I assure your Maiesty that my heart is vnspeakeably satisfied with pleasure in that I shall spéede so well as to be resolued by your excellencie in the thing I haue so long time wished for Wherefore most humbly I desire you that I may depart for the desire I haue to enforme the Princesse Leonarda of your gratious fauour causeth me to iudge euery day a yeare till I haue in this cause fulfilled my dutie Faire Damosell answered the Emperour it should like me very well if you made your abode here still with me in my Court but for that I perceiue your great desire to returne with answer of your thankfull message I wish to you as to my selfe in the whole course of your iourney The Damosell humbly tooke her leaue of the Emperour and all his company and came to the Chamber of the Princesse Polinarda who had secretly withdrawne her selfe to reueale to Dramaciana her waiting Gentlewoman the good opinion her hart had suddenly conceiued of those ioyfull tidings so then with her a while the damosell kept company when presently she beganne to coniecture that it was the beautie of this Princesse which had caused the Prince Palmerin to refuse the gouernement of Thrace The Princesse Polinarda very modestly began to question with the Damosell of euery particular chance that had happened to the knight of the Tiger for whose sake she honoured the Damosel with very Princely courtesie and she desired her that shee would bee the Messenger of her vnfayned good will to the Princesse Leonarda whome shee would not willingly should stay but come vnto the Court presently The Damosell made promise to performe euery thing to the vttermost so departing from the Princesse she went through the palace to her ledging where she locked vp the honourable Presents which the Empresse and Gridonia had since her comming sent vnto her so hauing all things in readinesse shee departed farre more Rich and more ioyfull then she was before The Damosell wee intend to leaue in her iourney because we will returne to the Noble and renowmed Knight of the Tiger who after hée departed from the kingdome of Thrace tooke the straightest way that hee could possibly chuse to bring him vnto Constantinople wherto when he drew somewhat neare by chance one day hee arriued in a very great Forrest which was farre from any houses or resort of people and likewise the Trées much defaced and spoyled so that it séemed a wast and desolate wildernesse Ryding along very sad and pensiue in minde he heard the trampling of a great many horses and casting his eye that way where he heard the noyse he espied ten or twelue Knights very well armed crossing ouerthwart the Forrest Wherevpon he gaue his horse the spurres being desirous to doe them seruice if so be they had néede to vse his aide and followed them that way they rode when in short time he ouertooke one of their company who could not so spéedily iourney as the other did by reason that his horse had receiued an attaint in one of his legges with this Knight Palmerin desired friendly to conferre which made him vse his spéeches in this maner I desire you Sir if I may demand so bold a request of you as to report vnto me the cause why these Knights iourney so spéedily and whither they goe through this vnfrequented Forrest I know well Sir answeeed the strange Knight that their enterprise doeth not concerne you in any thing therefore is it as néedelesse to tell you as you haue small occasion to demand of their purpose but for that I sée your acquaintance with the cause can neither impeach them with your mallice nor pleasure them with your aide I am content to resolue you in what you request You shall
she would report to her the welfare of the Princesse Targiana that had so friendly giuen them to vnderstand before of the tidings which were brought thither by the Ambassadour who beiug arriued at Constantinople the Emperour sent the chiefest Princes and knights of his Court to receiue him with very friendly and courteous entertainment but when the Damosell heard that the Ambassadour was come she presently departed thence towards Spaine to go find out the Prince Albayzar promising the Princesse Polinarda to returne by Constantinople before she made her returne into Turkie The Emperour dessred the Damosell to present the message of his good will to the king Recinde as also to the Prince Albayzar and after that he had bestowed diuers rich and costly giftes on her she betooke her selfe to trauaile being verie glad that she was espyed by none of them which came with the Ambassadour who as I haue already declared was receiued in very Princely order not as he were an enemie but as became best the estate of him to whom he was sent who in sooth was of such a noble and vertuous minde as when he should deale roughly and extreamely with his enemies hee would entertaine them as his vowed and professed friends and such was his courtesie to this Ambassadour To the Emperours pallace he was conducted very worthlie riding among the chiefest Princes and knights of the Court and the Emperour himselfe to doe him the greater honour came and receiued him at the gate of his Pallace but the proud Turke would not one vouchsafe to vaile his bonnet or offer any honourable signe to the Emperour such was his malicious stomacke towards him who had in no case offended the Turke his Lord. The Emperour perceiued well the small regard he had of him by the words which the Princesse Targiana had sent him by her Damosell but yet he suffred him to do what he thought best vsing still so great courtesie vnto him as at last he was constrained to shew more decent iesture when he presented the Emperour with a letter from his Lord the Turke the seale thereof was of pure Gold and fastened about with a sumptuous Chaine The Emperor receiued it at his hands very gratiously and hauing viewed the tenour thereof he desired the Turke to go take his rest in his Chamber and the next day he would satisfie him in the occasion of his Ambassage I desire your grace answered the Turk that it may so stand with your pleasure as to make me presently answer without deserâ—ing any furder time which when I haue receiued I will goe â—est my selfe in mine owne Tents which I haue commanded to be prouided for me without the walles of your citie for if I should do otherwise the great Turk my gratious Lord would find himselfe much offended with me the Emperour replyed in this fashion You shall doe what you imagine conuenient in your owne conceit neuerthelesse I should not be any whit agreeued if my Ambassadour did lodge in the Pallace of the great Turke that he might the better fulfill his dutie in the charge committed to him I beséech your grace said the Turk to let these néedlesse spéeches goe and remember your selfe of the hundred Knights of your Court which are held as prisoners by my Lord the Turke and sée that you make some prouision for them for my Lord hauing them in his power to reuenge diuers iniuries which he hath receiued by some of your Subiects he determined to put them to death but to witnesse his gratious and noble nature he is content at the earnest intreatis of his daughter the faire Princesse Targiana to giue them their liues and to restore them in change for the Prince Albayzar who is kept prisoner in the Court of the King of Spaine by the commandement of the Princesse Miragarda But trust me you are to thinke your selfe in no small fauour with the Princesse Targiana whose teares were of such power as to sâ—ue the liues of your knights whom my Lord the Turke had determined you should neuer sée againe vntill your Highnesse had sent him the knight of the Sauage man that he might reuenge the iniurie which he too forgetfull of himselfe committed in carrying away by Sea his daughter Targiana a deed truly worthy of sharpe punishment the Turke there pausing the Emperour tooke occasion to beginne thus Certainly I confesse my selfe greatly bound to the Princesse Targiana but farre more to the faire Princesse Miragarda in that had not her wise foresight beene the greater my Knights had suffered the extreame rigour of death but this I assure you that since cruell Fortune had so throwne the Dyce on mee I rather would haue loste twice so many more as they are then to send your Lord the Turke my Knight of the Sauadge man in the presence of whome here I faithfully promise to deliuer the Prince Albayzar prouided alwayes that you make me sufficient assurance of them whome the Turke holdeth in vnkinde seruitude whereof how I may be certainly perswaded I pray you vouchsafe me the knowledge how and in what manner the case must be ordered The course which you must take in this matter answered the Turke is thus your Maiestie must send vnto my Soueraigne and Lorde the Prince Albayzar vppon his inuiolable Oath which by mee he voweth to you and which you may account of so great and sufficient truth and he will not faile by so great a bond to send you the prince Polendos your sonne with the other Princes and Knightes that are in his companie and this you may be bolde of that my Lorde more willingly would loose his life then falsifie his faith towards your Excellencie The Emperour leaning vpon his arme and noting well the words of the Embassador paused a good space without making any answere which the Prince Florian perceiuing being better acquainted with the infidelitie of the Turkes then the Emperour was and fearing least hee would haue giuen credite to this subtill assurance presently started vp and began as thus Most worthy Emperour if you but consider the cause why the great Turke detayneth your Knights in Prison you shall well perceiue the smal trust you ought to repose in him in that the occasion was so little and the assurance of his troth is much lesse Againe if you suffer the Prince Albayzar to escape vpon his worde you may chaunce sooner then you would to repent your selfe For if you remember his vnfaithfull dealing to the Giant Dramusiande in the time hee kept the Shield of the Princesse Miragarda how contrary to his vowed promise he brought it from the Castle of Almaroll in the night and comming with it into the Court did brauely giue it foorth in speeches that he had woon it by his knightly endeuour which dishonourable dealing he found in the end too costly Therefore it is very necessarie that the King Recinde regard him more carefully then hitherto he hath done in that the libeâ—tle of his person will
they concluded to haue her brought where their ship lay at Anchor to carry her with them to Constantinople because the Emperour should dispose of her as he thought méete and they stayed not long to put their intent in execution but caused her to be conueied in a Chariot to the Port where their ship rode leauing her there in the company of the Sage Aliart vntill they had determined further for the state of the Island CHAP. XVIII Of that which happened to the noble Prince Palmerin of England before he departed from the Profound Isle IT so fell out out as the Historie reporteth that Collambra ouercome with excéeding griefe and anguish of minde was brought into such a weake and féeble estate as she fell on the ground in a trance being no otherwise reputed theÌ„ for a dead body Then the Prince Platir who desired the ruine of her whole progeny commaunded his Esquire to take her vp but shée was so heauie and weightie as they hauing no other helpe could scantly lift her so bringing her downe the staires conueyed her into a Chariot with certaine Damoselles that attended on her and so she was caried away from her Castle to the ship being followed all the way by a number of men and women on foote who made such woefull and bitter lamentations as it mooued them to pitie who had béene greatly iniured by her crueltie When they were come to the ship they conueyed her thereinto with two damosels of hers who would by no meanes depart from her but determined to beare her company take part of the ill fortune that might happen to her such so great was the amity they bare vnto Collambra who séeing her selfe in the ship and in the custodie of them that were her enemies being depriued of al hope to come backe againe she determined to cast her selfe into the sea iudging that to be the onely way to end her sorrowes so to be frée from the practises of her foes Berolde Platir the Sage Aliart being in yâ— ship with her but Palmerin by no meanes would come where she was endeuoured to coÌ„fort her as much as they could come where she was endeuoured to comfort her as much as they could but she made no account of their perswasions for she said without he might sée her daughter Arlencea againe she should neuer giue euer her sorrowfull wailing which she continued in the company of those Knights who knew very wel that nothing was such a soueraigne remedy to desperate folkes as death it selfe wherefore they concluded to leaue her in the company of the Sage Aliart to preuent any crueltie she might offer on her selfe as for Platir and Berolde they went on shoare and comming agaâ—ne to the Citie they found the Prince Palmerin among the people who desired him to accept their faithfull homage as to their onely Prince and soueraigne in respect of the great and insupportable tryanny from which they were deliuered by his noble prowesse Palmerin receiued their courtesie in very gratious and gentle manner but in no case would he accept the gouernment of the Isle for that quoth he it appertaineth to my brother Florian of the Forrest otherwise called the Knight of the Sauage man hée hauing aduentured his life to destroy those tyrannous Rulers which sometime did possesse the same as for me and these my friendes we came hither onely but to finde him But if so be my brother Florian refused to be your gouernor I will not faile to satisfie your iust and reasonable request whereto reason commaundeth mee to condiscend and till the time I vnderst and my brothers minde in his name I will receiue and make account of your homage and assure your selues I will sée you haue a gouernour that shall like you all in the meane time I pray you makes account of me and behaue your selues as good and obedient subiects to him who with great danger of his life and losse of his blood hath bought and redéemed your quiet libertie The principall Lords of the Island who were there present before the prince made answere that they would in all things fulfill his commaundement as those that honoured him with vnfained reuerence in sight whereof they resigned vp to him all their Castles and Fortresses the keyes whereof they humbly deliuered him Palmerin in hauing visited their Castles and set all things in due and necessarie order for the better encouragement of the inhabitants of the Island hée gaue the Forts and Castles into their hands againe who had the custodie of them before commaunding them to be very carefull and respectiue in the well guarding and ordering them vntill such time as his brother arriued there The Prince Palmerin was entertained by the people of this Isle very honourably and he caused the treasure which belonged to Collambra to bée locked vp within her Castle that it might bée deliuered to his Brother Florian but as he was about to appoint a Porter at the place of most assurance in this Castle he perceiued Siluian to enter accompanied with the ancient Knight who had béene the Hoste to the Prince at his first arriuall in the Isle for he being enformed of the victory which Palmerin had atchieued against the Giant Espouuantable would néedes come with Siluian to the Cittie the sight of whom did not a little reioyce the heart of the Prince Palmerin The ancient Knight being come into his presence humbled himselfe at his féete with these words My gratious Lord in that I haue not vsed you with such entertainement as your nobilitie deserued I humbly desire that you would vouchsafe to pardon me Palmerin arose and tooke him vp and imbracing him very gratiously spake thus vnto him I haue not forgotten the excéeding friendship wherewith you vsed me when I was in your house for the which I account my selfe greatly beholding to you and for that at this present my power will not stretch to make you any sufficient amends I pray you to accept the gouernment of this Island the Lord thereof I know will be very well contented therewithall for if Fortune vouchsafe to call me to any dignitie I will not faile to remember your great kindnesse Doe you thinke my Lord answered Argentao which was the name of this ancient Knight that the people here will admit any other gouernor then your selfe Yea truely answered Palmerin for that he which is the Lord hereof is my brother to whom this Island doth appertaine by duty I feare me my Lord saide Argentao that some harme hath happened to him by them of the stocke and Image of the Giant Brauorant but since it standeth so with your gracious pleasure to call mée vnworthy wretch to so great credite and honour which I knowe it is your will I should not refuse I estéeme my selfe the most happiest man aliue desiring you to vnderstand the will of the people for if they doe not imagine well of me preferment it were better for me to content my selfe
of her whereupon he made her this answer Madame if you were as firme and constant as you are both kinde and beautifull which is a thing most necessarie in you I durst awarrant you that your Knights could not be conuicted in this manner beside there is no knight but would willingly ioyne with them in doing you seruice and I assure you that had you not offred to compell me against my will I would willingly haue granted your owne desire so desirous I am to doe faire Ladies seruice remembring alwayes that such as you are ought to be well estéemed and not forgotten And you shall vnderstand that I haue béene both in the Court of England and Spaine which are not a little renowned by the beauty of the faire Ladies that there are nourished Likewise I haue séene Florenda daughter to Arnedes the king of Fraunce whose beautie is honoured of a great many but shée whom your Champion named and those that I haue rehearsed to you my selfe may not compare with the Ladies of the Emperour Palmerins Court. There haue I séene Gridonia Polinarda Leonarda the princesse of Thrace and Sidelia Daughter to the King Tarnaes of Lacedemonia I haue séene also the Princesse Targiana daughter to the great Turke for whose loue Albayzar the Soldane of Babilon hath suffered very dangerous trauailes all these in my iudgement are highly aduanced in beauty beyond you and so it will be granted of any that is not wedded in affection towards you But let it not offend you that I speake more plainely it is your crueltie and pride together that doeth much deface your title of beautie which you cannot deny your selfe making so light account as you doe of sir Dragonalt not remembring that he is a worthy Knight and Sonne to one of the most valiant Princes on the earth And if this triall is not sufficient to cause you loue him faithfully trust me I must needes say that he hath put himselfe in danger for an vnfaithfull person whom neither knightly bountie nor regard of her owne duty hath power to mooue In respect therefore that you made me promise to grant what I requested my desire is that in recompence of his noble deserts you would accept of him as your Lord and Husband so shall you both fulfill your promise to me and accomplish the commandement which the King your Father charged you should fulfill I now respect your answere to see if a man should build any assurance of your word Sir Knight answered Arnalte do me the fauour to tel me first who you are and afterward I will doe my good will to satisfie your request The knowledge of me faire Lady saide the Knight of the Sauage man shall be no hinderance to the matter wherefore I aduertise you that I am called Florian of the Forrest Sonne to Don Edward the English Prince and Flerida the Daughter to the Emperor Palmerin Dâ—agonalt hearing these words spake thus If in the victory you haue obtained Sir Knight I should loose nothing else but the reputation of a good Knight I could not be any iote offended being vanquished at his handes who alwayes returneth from the Combat conquerour but seeing I am frustrate of the hope that should yéeld me content I cannot chuse but complaine on Fortune who hath caused me fall into so great perplexitie Arnalte vnderstanding that the knight of the Sauage man was the Sonne of the noble Prince Don Edward she began to blush remembring what had passed betwéene her and him and very desirous she was to match with him in mariage but seeing she might not doe as she would she contented her selfe with his request declaring her minde in this manner I did not thinke Sir Knight that he which could so nobly vanquish the enterprise of knights would study and practise how to deceiue poore simple women neuerthelesse the behauiour of the Prince Dragonalt enforceth me to obey your desire Vpon this condition that within one yéere you and hee shall bring mee to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin as well for the vnfained reuerence I beare to his Maiestie as also to be acquainted with those gratious Ladies which you haue named God forbid Madame saide the Knight of the Sauage man but I should agrée to this lawfull request and the rather because I knowe your presence will greatly honour the Emperâ—urs Court Then Florian offered to kisse the Princesse Arnaltes hand but she imbraced him very courteously and Dragonalt would haue humbled himselfe at his féete but he would not suffer him to rise from his bed for he made such estimation of him as hee sent for the chiefe gouernours of the Realme who hauing knowledge of the Knight of the Sauage man iudged the mariage of Dragonalt and the Princesse to be according as it ought and to do them the greater honour the Prince Florian caused the marriage to be solemnized presently in the Castle On the next morning he came to take his leaue of the prince Dragonalt and the Quéene Arnalte to whom hauing made promise that he would not faile to accompany them to the Emperours Court he tooke his way on his iourney where we will forsake him a while and speake somewhat of the Prince Albayzar CHAP. XXX How the Prince Albayzar embarqued himselfe to saile into Turkie after that he had presented himselfe to the Princes of Thrace ALbayzar the Soldane of Babylon was desirous to leaue the King of Spaines court thrée dayes after he had tried the Ioust against the noble Prince Florian of the Forrest and taking his farewell of the King the Quéene the Ladies and those knights of the Court who were his friends he set forward on his way accompanied with two Esquires making such spéedy haste as it was not long before he attained to the Cittie of Constantinople Then comming to the Pallace with a very proude and stately iesture he entred the Chamber of Presence where he found the Emperour the Empresse and her Ladies beside the chéefe Princes and Knights of Court he making no reuerence to any stood viewing among the Ladies whom he had séene before which of them he might repute for the Princesse of Thrace At last iudging her to be the Princes that sate next vnto the faire Polinarda he came before her and knéeling down saluted her with these spéeches Madame at the very instant I was about to depart from the King of Spaines court a knight arriued there being accompanied with nine Damosels and he trying the Iousts with the most redoubted Knight of the Court vnhorsed them brauely one after another The sight hereof made me desirous to hazard my fortune but such was my ill hap that he serued me as he had done the other knights and hauing thus conquered me he enforced me to make my faithfull promise that I would come and submit my self before you and declare the message he would command me for the condition was so made on either part when we began the Ioust This Knight charged me to
me quoth yâ— prince Gracian I haue in times past both extolled verily belieued that my faire Claritia might be equall with any for her beautie but hauing now behâ—ld this admirable Miragarda I exempt from minde all other desiring to accomplish the meane that I might doe her seruice And credite me said Don Rosuel I haue so forgotten the loue I bare to my Lady that if I depart not the sooner from hence I shall fall into contempt both of her and all other Ladies giuing the onely laud to this péerelesse Miragarda Then mounting on Horsebacke he ridde away so fast as possible he could in like maner the Prince Gracian possed presently after him neither of them vsing any friendly departing to the Giant Dramusiande who could not refrain from laughter to think on the weake stomacks of these two Princes CHAP. LXIIII. How Palmerin of England trauailing toward Constantinople laid him downe to sleepe hard by a faire Castle from whence came foure Ladies who carried him into the Castle And how one of the Ladies bearing him louing affection but he disdaining her great good will vrged her to keepe him there as her prisoner PAlmerin of England after he had left the Castle of the Giant Almarol happened on the frontiers of Nauarre in the Dominion of France which he perceiued altogether to be inhabited and gouerned by mighty Giants whose vnciuility of life wrought many cruel spoiles and villanous deeds in these parts among whom Palmerin behaued himselfe so worthily that the effect of his déeds returned his due commendation CoÌ„tinuing his trauaile along the Coast at last in a faire gréen valley he espied a goodly and well fortified Castle and neere vnto it was a faire largs Poole well stored with choice of fish where the Prince alighted from his Horse to let him feede a while in the pasture In the meane time he looking all about and could sée no body that on a suddaine might come to endanger him sat downe by the water side the beholding wherof droue many solemne fancies out of his remembrance As he was about to take a little nap his Mistres Polinarda approached his thoughtes as also the remembrance of his manifold courtesies which he receiued while he remained at Constantinople so that some of these motions prouoked him to good opinion of ioy but other some to a number of heauie lamentations as especially the sharp command of his mistres which being loath to breake mad him to absent himselfe from Constantinople longer then otherwise hee would gladly haue done In these thoughts hee fell into a sound sleepe when foure Damosels came walking foorth of the Castell who beholding the Prince his chéekes all dewed with teares and his eye lids very redde with ouermuch wéeping were all constrained to great compassion Then one of the Damosels being of rare and excellent beautie called for certaine of her seruants who with their helpe caried the Prince into a faire Chamber in the castel causing his armes to be fastened together with a chaine to the ende he might vse no resistance against them When he awaked and found himselfe in this great alteration he was so ouercome with griefe that he knew not what to say but the Ladie bearing great affection to him at euery instant changed colour which witnessed the ardent loue shée had conceiued in her minde at last made manifest the sum of her desire whereto Palmerin by no meanes would giue consent For being desirous to shunne any occasion whereby hée might bée thought disloyal to his Lady determined to depart from thence without Horse or Armour onely to auoide her importunate sute This moued the Lady to such extreame griefe that she violated the bondes of Reason whose limits duty had alwaies warned her to kéep within and séeing that neither tears nor intreatis might mollifie the heart she commanded him to be brought into her Chamber where irons were made fast about his legs and great spéeches giuen forth to terrifie him because he would vse no pittie to her outragious passions Palmerin not estéeming either her selfe or her words bare greater affection to clogging irons then to all the amorous spéeches the Lady could vse who at last turned hee hot loue into extreame hatred so that absenting her selfe out of his companie caused him to bée vsed in very rigorous manner But her crueltie had no long time of lasting for her woonted affectioÌ„ caused her to repent her hasty fury and in her mind she thought to discharge the Prince séeking all meanes possible to banish him out of her memorie for which cause she inclosed her selfe in her Chamber labouring both by examples and present proofe to extinguish the furious flames of her continuall Passions But when she saw nothing would serue but her griefe was driuen to an impossible cure she concluded to kéepe the Prince in Prison so long that at length shee would glut her selfe with his remembrance Or else at last the Prine would be so wearie that he not able any longer to endure the cruell practises she vsed would repent him of his so long deniall and so bee enforced to accomplish her amorous dessre But Palmerin hauing already made faithful vowe of his loue by no torment or cruelty would be perswaded to violate his promise to the no small griefe of the Lady who frequented himselfe still with her woonted sute as also for his obstinacy encreased her seuerall deuises of cruelty CHAP. LXV How Don Florian remaining in the Court of England made such entreatie on the behalfe of Orianda and her sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor remaining in the Castle of the Giant Calfurnien that they were restored into Kings fauour and married to three noble Gentlemen of his Court. And Don Florian departing out of England arriued at the Castle of the Giant Almarol where he entred the Combate with Dramusiande where ending their strife with great friendship he departed accompanied with Siluian desirous to finde his brother the noble Palmerin of England DOn Florian of the Forrest of whome no mention hath béene made since the Prince Palmerin departed out of England stayed a certaine time in the Court of the King his Vncle to intreate fauour for Orianda and her Sisters the Daughters of the Marquesse Beltamor For remembring the great seruice they had done to him at such time as the giant Calfurnien had wounded him so sore willing to discharge the promise he made them at his departure which might manifest his honour and redéeme them from that misery wherin they remained approached the presence of the King in this manner I haue alwayes heard my Soueraigne Lord and Vncle that laudable déedes ought to be recompenced with the like and that ingratitude and vnkinde dealing should euer be banished from the heartes of Princes wherefore fearing least my selfe should be found faulty in such a hainous crime I shall desire your gratious furtherance in a cause as shall present my duty and your owne honour It is so my