thy beautie of such value that the Knight to whome my Father and I haue doone so great honours would leaue vs and depart with thée trust meâ— thou art farre from thine account for if thou vauntest to doo him such honor in thy Fathers Courte as his nobilitie deserueth it consisteth in my power to exalt him more in one howre then thou canst doo in a thousand yéeres mightest thou liue so long I did neuer thinke that such audacious and incontinent tempting a man could any way enter thy heart but if such bee thy disposition thou oughtest rather to abide in thy Fathers Courte where thou maist haue leysure to followe thy base affection with some of the 〈◊〉 or youthes attending on thy Father then to offer the 〈◊〉 héere in my Chamber Hence hence foorth of my presence for I will not kéepe company with such an intemperate Woman What regard hadst thou of thy great linage or the place from whence thou art discended Yea what comfort will it be to me when I shall heare that a Ladie issued of the blood royall should bée more shamelesse and impudent then a 〈◊〉 a villaine or an high way begger Many other such like hard spéeches vsed Alchidiana all which gréeued her not so much as to 〈…〉 of him whom she reputed as passionate for her loue as shée was for his These high words of the Princesse caused the Ladies attending on Ardemia to enter the Chamber which maâ—e her then breake off because she woulde not haue euerie one knowe the matter and they séeing their Mistresse so sad and discomforted brought her to her owne Chamber where on her bedde shee sorrowed so impatiently as each one 〈◊〉 she would 〈◊〉 her selfe and faine shée woulde but that their presence hindered her therefore shee deferred it till better opportunitie And because shee had spent the most part of her yonger yéeres in reading the workes of 〈◊〉 as wel Greekes as Arabians she remembred the mouâ—nfull Tragedie of Biblis which caused her to frame a Dittie that shée had translated from the Greeke 〈◊〉 of Sapho into her vulgar spéech and turning towardes her Ladies and Gentlewomen she began in this maner The lamentable Dittie of Ardemia dying for loue MVsenot fayre virgins at Ardemia Although her end be hard and dolorous For death is pleasant as mine elders say To any Ladie sometime amorous For as the Swan in cold Meander glide By mournfull notes foretelles her speedy death So my complaint doth bid me to prouide For sweetest loue makes hast to stop my breath The ill that endlesse and vncessantly Torments my heart is fayre and choysest beautie And this vnhappie awkwarde desteny Falles to my lot through spotlesse loyaltie For fond conceit that ouer-rulde my wit More wretched then fayre Biblis maketh me And he I loue more stony hard is knit Then Caunus who could ken no courtesie Yet Bibliâ— oftentimes could ease her heart By sweete deuising with her louely freend But he I honor recks not of my smart Nor will vouchsafe one gracious looke to lend And as her sorrowes cheefely did arise Because the secrets of her loue were knowne So I reueald each one will me despise VVhich death can stint ere it too farre be blowne Vnhappie wretch that could not this foresee And be more chary of so choyse a thing But all too late I wish the remedie Therefore my folly doth due guerdon bring if loue that is esteemde a power diuine Vnto his Seruaunts giue so sharpereward VVhat merit may vile hatred then resigne Vnto his vassayles that his Lawes regard Oft haue I heard mine auncient elders say That such as loue not are vnwoorthie life Yet doth my loue imagine my decay And throwes my hope into whole worlds of strife And yet the paynes I wish for my mischaunce May not be valued with my present woe For to compare them is meere dalliaunce And neither sence or reason should â— shoâ—e Life is to me lothsome and burdenous All pleasure seemes to mee tormenting hell Ah poore refused and abused thus Must thou needes die for louing all too well O sacred Venus patrâ—nesse of loue In this distresse wilt thou not pittie me And thy fayre Sonne that thus his shaft did proue VVill he forsake me in this ieopardie If you forsake me in this iust request And will not fauour what you did procure Giue leaue to him that bringeth all to rest And he will ease the torments I endure You fatall Sisters that haue spunne my thred And now thinke good it should be cut in twaine Fulfill the taske as you are destenied And let my heart abide no longer paine Come sweetest death expected too too long Ende all the euils vnhappie loue begun If thou delay I challenge thee of wrong Hast then good death that loue and life were done Her complaints thus finished shée commaunded her Ladies to depart the Chamber and being alone by her selfe shee againe began to consider the rigorous refusall of Palmerin the conceit whereof gréeued her so extreamely as also the reproachfull wordes of her Cozin that making a conscience of her sorrowes and raging with extreamitie of this despight brake the vaines of her heart in sunder and the artiries of her bodie as the bloud issued foorth at many places aboundantly and therewithall in short time she was strangled The nxet morning her chéefest Lady that attended on her and loued her excéedingly came to the bedde side to sée how shée fared but finding her dead and so 〈◊〉 with her owne bloud gaue such a loude shrieke as Alchidiana and her Dâ—moselles affrighted at the noyse ranne in all haste to the Chamber The Princesse knowing the cause of this mischaunce was maruellous sorrowfull assuring her selfe that the wordes shée spake in her anger occasioned this bloudie 〈◊〉 And the â—umor of this mishop was so soone spread through the Palace as all the Ladies Damoselles Knightes Squires and other câ—me to beholde the harde fortune of Ardemia What lamentation was made on all sides is not to be expressed especially the Ladies attendant on Ardemia and her Brothâ—r Guâ—â—haran who brought her with him thither but her Gouernesse not able to endure the burthen of her heauinesse without feare of dread of any thus openly complained Ah swéete Princesse Aâ—demia the flowre of beautie howe deare hast thou bought this precious gift for I knowe assuredly that for this cause onely thy death happened vnhappie was the houre when thou didst leaue thy Fathers Court to accompanie the Princesse Alchidiana After her mones and the funerall pompe accomplished the Soldane erected for her a most beautifull Tâ—mbe with a sumptuous Coronet on the toppe thereof being vpheld by two inestimable Pillâ—rs of engrauen and guilded Alablaster the like whereof were neuer séene since the first King of Greece Yet was hée ignorant in the cause of her death and Palmerin not imagining whence this inconuenience did arise was so sorrowfull for the death of the Princesse as day and night hee mourned for her and
and brought him into so weake estate as the learned Phisitions coulde not deliuer the cause of his sicknes to the no small gréefe of the Emperour but especiallie of Caniano yet for all this woulde not the Empresse at anie time visite him because shee woulde hinder the occasion of her Daughters séeing him remembring what spéeches had past betwéene him and the Emperour And albeit Griana made no outward shewe thereof yet in her harte shee was greatlie displeased at her Mothers dealings so that one day when her Brother Caniano came to sée her to recount vnto her in what extreamitie he had left his fréendlie coÌ„panion and what gréefe it would be to him if he died as he greatlie doubted What my Lord quoth she it is not so I hope Yes certainlie quoth he and I feare he will very hardlie escape this day At which wordes the water stoode in her eyes yet so well as she coulde shee dissembled her passions neuerthelesse she could not holde it in but said I meruayle much that the Empresse my Mother makes so slender account of him as since his sicknes shee woulde not vouchsafe once to visite him I feare she hath forgotten what good hée 〈◊〉 for vs that day when he valiantly slew the Turke Gamezio Beléeue me my good Lord and Brother I am harâ—â—lie sorrâ—e for his sicknes for if he die as heauen forbidde quoth shee secretlie the Emperour my Father shall loose more then hée thinketh on the great seruice hee hath doone for him already may giue instaunce of my words and more he béeing the Sonne of so great a Prince as he is By this time had such extreame gréefe ouerburdened her hart as she was constrained feigning to goe to the Empresse ChaÌ„ber to leaue her Brother that she might alone by her selfe bemoane her fréends hard fortune CHAP. V. Howe Griana sent a Ring to the Prince Florendos by Cardina her Mayde desiring him as he loued her to comfort himselfe and of the aunswere he sent her SO soone as Griana hadde left her Brother she went into her chaÌ„ber where more and more shee lamented for the sicknes of Florendos and with her teares shee coupled these discourses May it be that anie liuing creature can deserue so gréeuous punishment as I doo that endaunger the life of the woorthiest Knight in the worlde Unhappy that I am that loue yea the loue he beares to mee should bring so braue a Gentleman to so hard an exigent but if he die such iust vengeaunce will I take vpon my selfe as I wyl not remaine one howre aliue after him and let our ghostes seeke their owne quiet in death that Fortune would not affoorde vs in life Yet will I thus farre first aduenture and that before any sléepe enter these eies of mine try if it consist in my power to ease his extreamitie that buyes my loue at too déere a price And in this anguish of minde she called one of her Damoselles the Daughter of her Nurse named Cardina whom aboue the rest she trusted most and to her she began in manner following Cardina thou knowest the loue I alwaies bare thy Mother and for her sake howe well I haue thought of thée I haue knowne thée long time a true and faithfull Seruaunt but nowe Cardina is a time beyonde all other to make tryall of thy truth and to witnesse thy loyaltie to me onelie as thou art sure so to bee secrete and so secrete as I must put my life and honour into thy secrecie Cardina who was wise and of good gouernement hearing Griana vse such earnest spéeches imagined that she would commit no commoÌ„ matter to her trust with such coniuration whereuppon she modestlie returned thys aunswere Madame rather had I be torne péecemeale in sunder then anie thing you commaunde for secrete shoulde by me be reuealed without your licence and so assure your selfe that while I liue you shall finde mee as faithfull in déede as I promise in worde I neuer hitherto quoth the Princesse had other opinion of thée listen nowe therefore what I shall commaunde thée I haue vnderstoode for certaine Cardina that the gréeuous sicknes of the Prince Florendos is caused by verie earnest loue which hee beares to me for I account it great pittie to loose so good a Knight doo so much as take the paines to goe to him from me and saie I desire him to bee of good chéere and if there bee any thing in my power may doo him good I will gladlie accomplish it as she that loues him as her own selfe and to assure him thereof saie I sende him this Ring which I wyll him to kéepe as a pledge of my loue Madame answered Cardina Fortune spéede me so well as my paines may giue ease to both your passions and might my sentence like you Madame I knowe no Knight so worthy your loue as Florendos Goe then sayd Griana and returne againe so soone as thou canst So went Cardina straite to the lodging of the Prince Florendos at the entraunce whereof shee met the Prince Caniano so heauie and pensiue as might be because he perceiued his Fréend to consume awaie euerie day more and more But Cardina who had well learned her lesson stept aside and would not be séene of Caniano who beeing gone shee went vp to the Chamber where when shee was readie to enter she hearde the Prince coÌ„plaine in this sort Ah poore wretch must thou néedes die without anie hope of remedie And as he would haue procéeded on Cardina stepped to him and after she had saluted him said to him secretelie that the Princesse Griana had sent her to him to vnderstand of his health and beléeue me good Prince quoth she I neuer sawe Ladie so sorrowfull for your sicknes as she is She commendeth her selfe to your honour most hartilie and hath sent you this Ring as an earnest of the looue she beares you desiring you to bee of good chéere and comfort your selfe because she desires to sée you to confer with you of matters that concerne you bothe néerelie These wordes so rauished the spirit of Florendos as a good while he doubted whether he dreamed or that hee might giue credite to what he hearde for albeit he knewe the messenger so well as anie in the Courte yet coulde he not perswade himselfe that hee was so fortunate At length betwéene hope and dispayre he tooke the Ring which he entertained with manie deuoute kysses and embracing Cardina so well as hee coulde thus answered Alas my swéete fréende may it bee possible that my Ladie hath such regard of him who neuer was able to doo her anie seruice Doubt not thereof my Lorde aunswered Cardina and if you will declare your loue answerable to hers in vertue you must giue testimonie thereof by comforting your person that she may sée you so soone as may be Ah fayre Uirgin quoth he let my whole life be imployed in what shall like her diuine nature to coÌ„maunde
me and I assure you that these tydings hath breathed such newe life into my verie soule as alreadie I finde my selfe wonderfullie chaunged yea and that in such sorte as before thrée daies bee past I shall attende her gracious will with seruiceable dilligence In the meane while I shal desire you faire Fréend to let my soueraigne Mistresse vnderstand that I kisse her highnesse hande in humble duetie and had ere this giuen farewell to this life hadde not her swéete regard called me againe from death Thus parted Cardina from the Prince taking her way spéedily towards Griana who longed not a little to heare from Florendos whom she had made Lord of her gentle affections CHAP. VI. Howe Cardina recited to the Princesse Griana what speeches had past betweene her and Florendos and of the counsell shee gaue her Mistresse to conferre with him in the Garden so soone as he was recouered CArdina thus dispatched from Florendos made no little haste towardes the Princesse who remained all this while silent in her Chamber and no sooner perceiued she Cardina to enter but she demaunded if Florendos receiued her token in good part or no. Beléeue me Madame answered Cardina I thinke you neuer did anie thing in all your life whereby you coulde obtaine more honour and applause then by that you vouchsafed to doo at this instant for in my iudgment you haue performed a miracle in giuing him life that was in the very iawes of death Then from point to point shee recounted the talke passed betwéene them first howe she founde him in yâ— midst of his regrets and lastlie what message hee had sent by her Thus while Cardina continued her discourse euery worde tooke hold on the gentle hart of the Princesse and wounded her with such pittifull regarde of the Prince his torments as what she desired inwardlie shee shaddowed with modestie as lothe to receiue shame in her loue hauing caryed her selfe with such honour all her life quoth shee to Cardina Howe might I good Seruaunt ease this waightie oppression Uerie well said Cardina wheÌ„ Fortune alloweth opportunitie But thou knowest quoth Griana a Princesse as I am to be séene secrete with so braue a Gallant dooth greatlie hazard my life and honour As for that Madame saide Cardina my Sister can better aduise you then I or any that I know by her meanes may you speake with your Knight the brauest Gentleman in the world and one whoÌ„ I knowe is so farre deuoted yours as hee will rather loose his life then impeache your honour anie waie and otherwise then in loyaltie to make you his Ladie and wyfe I am well assured he loueth not which loue Madame you may well entertaine Returne then Cardina quoth the Princesse to my Lorde Florendos and assure him that so soone as he is recouered I wyll come and speake with him in such place where we may well aduenture and desire hym as he loueth me that it may bee with all conuenient spéede Cardina without anie further delay weÌ„t with this message to the Prince Florendos who hartened himselfe so well vpon these spéeches as within sixe dayes he found himselfe thorowlie amended whereof the Emperour and Caniano hys Sonne was not a little glad but Tarisius was scant well pleased thereat for he had coÌ„ceiued a secrete iealousie because he was so earnest in affection towards Griana who by her Mayd Cardina had warned Florendos that yâ— night following he should come into the Garden whereâ—nto her Chamber had a secrete entraunce and there woulde he and she conferre of their loue without suspicion of any Florendos séeing these affayres sort to so good ende purposed what euer happened not to fayle the time place which made him thinke this day a yéere in length so long hee looked and desired for the night But nowe the wished howre is come when Florendos with his Cozin â—renato who was priuie to the Princes secrete loue departed from their lodginges and comming to the Garden they sawe the wall was verie high and harde to climbe notwithstanding greater thinges are possible to Louers chéefely when a cause of such waight is in hand so that in short time Florendos had gotte the top of the Wall and afterward went to the place where Griana â—tayed his comming who had no bodie with her but Lerina Sister to Cardina to whom likewise she thorowly bewrayed her secrets He hauing espied them came and fell on his knee before the Princesse but she tooke him vppe in her armes embracing him so swéetlie as Lerina withdrew her selfe amongst the Trées not with anie intent of feare to displease them but with a certaine kinde of gréefe which ouercame her that shee wanted a Fréende to participate with her in loue as her Mistresse hadde before whâ—m Florendos béeing on his knée sayd Madâ—me by vertue of your commaundement I am thus bolde to enter your presence yéelding my whole abilitie to you as to the diuine Goddesse that hath shéelded me from death which grace séeing your princelie nature hath affoorded me my life for euer héereafter remaines at your soueraigne pleasure the vnfeigned promise whereof I binde to you by irrâ—uocable vowes but especiallie by my faith yâ— onelie ornament of a true Knight that I desire no longer to breathe this ayre then to honour your name with my continual seruice for life without yâ—ur grace and fauour is more yrkesome to me then a thousande deathes But by your fauour my Lorde answered Griana howe or from whence hath this hote loue sprunge let mee knowe I desire you Madame ê™ he as I haue heretofore so at this time I assure you that in my nature Countrie of Macedon I hearde the renowne of your excelling beauty at which verie instant I dedicated my selfe onelie yours and euer since continuing in this religious seruice I haue so confidentlie set downe my rest in gracious regard of your swéete selfe as béeing yours in seruice I liue if otherwise I die In sooth said said the Princesse I sée theÌ„ you haue giuen your selfe wholie mine and so I am well centented to accept you Then Madame quoth he to seale yâ— assuraunce of this diuine fauour you haue doone me 〈…〉 intreate to kisse those swéete lippes that deliuered the 〈◊〉 I haue long looked for Which to grant though for modesties sake at first she séemed daintie yet at length looue had so supprâ—zed her as he néeded not striue when no resistaunce was offered Thus with feares and solemne kysses they breathed into eache others soule the mute arguments of their loue and faire Cynthia amiablie fauouring this delicate encounter added such courage to the minde of this louâ—lie Champion as breaking his Launce in the face of Venus hee bequeathed the successe of his dâ—uoire to the gracious aspect of that Planet And among a number of soft and sweete loue spéeches he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour her Father howe he had requested her in marriage
Mother nor any of my kindred notwithstanding mine owne hart makes mee iudge no lesse of my selfe and more gladlie would I die then doo anie thing that were not vertuous and well woorthie the name of a Gentleman And trust me said Florendos I am of the same opinion this night therefore you must obserue the religious watch as is accustomed and to morrowe will I giue you your order and put the spurre on your héele my selfe Palmerin on his knée humblie kissed the Princes hand and continuing in talke togeather Florendos tooke a great delight in beholding him so that hee demaunded his name and Countrey My Lord quoth he they which found me amongst the Palme Trées on y◠Mountaine of Oliues not farre from Constantinople haue giuen me the name of Palmerin By mine honour said Florendos I ought wel to know the Cittie whereof you speake as the place wherein my déerest affections tooke their first life and not long since are bequeathed to death awaiting nowe but the howre to be discharged of the burden Thus hauing in his companie his vnknowne Sonne begotten by him on the Princesse Griana knew little that his loue had sorted to such effect neuerthelesse nature prouoked him to like so well of Palmerin as none in y◠Courte contented him more then he And longer woulde they haue continued their talke but that faire Arismena interrupted them asking Palmerin if he woulde discharge her of the request he demaunded That doo I Madame quoth hee and in requitall thereof dedicate the whole circuit of my life to your gracious seruice and to begin my deuoire on your be halfe so soone as I haue receiued my Knighthoode I wyll take my iourney towards the Serpent in hope to bring the water that must recouer the King your Fathers health Alas good Sir said she God forbidde that you should fall in such daunger by my meanes I know well aunswered Palmerin that I can die but once and if it be nowe then am I dispatched and if I escape I shall doo that whereof many other haue failed and this is my resolution faire Madame Beléeue me said Florendos me thinkes you are as yet too yong to finish an action wherein consists so great daunger I praie you therfore referre it vnto such as haue had more experience in Armes then as yet you haue My Lorde saide Palmerin in other matters I shall obey when you cōmand but this I must desire you not to disswade me from Well then quoth Florendos séeing you will néedes haue it so I am content you shall in the meane while kéepe mee companie as for Sworde and Armour trouble not you selfe to prouide ame because my selfe will furnish you sufficientlie Thus all daie Florendos accompanied Palmerin demaunding of him what things he had séene in Constantinople and falling from one discourse to another he asked him what Esquire he had to attēd on him Thē he shewed his Dwarffe called Vrbanillo such a deformed and euill fauoured felow as euerie one that saw him laughed hartilie whereuppon Palmerin said to Florendos By my faith my Lorde as vnséemelie as he is I thinke so well of him as I should be displeased if he were anie waie iniuried Assure your selfe said Florendos that he will stand you in great stedde when you haue no néede of him and looke y◠you leaue nothing behind you that you néede to fight against the Serpent and trust it in his discretion to bring after you When Vrbanillo perceiued euerie one test so with him he was halfe angrie and in some choller thus said to the Prince I can no waie my Lord better my shape or proportion but if I liue this little deformed bodie of mine shall giue you to vnderstande that I beare so good a minde as where my Maister leaues his life I meane to finish mine and though in meane while I can doo him no other seruice he shal be assured of my trueth and loyaltie But not offended Owarffe my good freende saide Florendos for I thinke well of thée and of thy behauiour And so because the Tables were couered for Supper they brake of talke Palmerin preparing himself to his watchfull deuoire in the Chappell CHAP. XV. Howe Florendos gaue to Palmerin the Armour and Sword of Gamezio whom hee slewe before Constantinople and afterwarde Knighted him and howe a Damosell came to the Court who presented him with a Helmet and a rich Sheelde THe time béeing come that Palmerin should performe his deuonte watch in the Chappel before hee receiued his Knighthoode according to the auncient custome Florendos gaue commaundement that the Armour of Gamezio should bee brought him which the Emperour had giuen him after his conquest of the Soldan of Babilons army on the Sea as you haue heard before and these he shewed to Palmerin saying My fréend this Armour sometimes belonged to the best Knight of his time whom neuerthelesse I conquered béeing then more pleasant ioyfull and at better content then I shal be while I haue a daie to liue And because I haue some speciall opinion of your prowesse and that these ornaments of defence you will better imploy then anie other on whom I shal bestowe them I praie you henceforth to weare them for my sake My Lorde saide Palmerin my desire is that my seruice towardes your honour maie be witnessed in my good imploying of this gentle gift Then Frenato and diuers other Knights did helpe to arme him and afterward accompanied him to the Chappell where all that night hee spent in sollemne orisons that God would endue him with strength to vanquish the Serpent that so the King might againe receiue his health At the breake of daie as Florendos went to the Chappell to giue him his order there entred among them on the suddaine a comelie Damosell bearing a Helmet a Shéeld of Azier the goodliest and most beautifull that euer was séene vpon the Shéelde béeing portraied a Ladies arme hauing her hande fast closed togeather the Damosell comming before the Prince Florendos began thus I pray you my Lord to pause a while till I haue conferred a little with Palmerin Florendos was greatlie amazed at this accident in that he had neuer séene the Damosell before notwithstanding he returned this answere Faire Damosell my Fréende good leaue haue you to saie what you please Then comming to Palmerin and falling on her knées before him she saide Sir Palmerin a Knight that hath authoritie to commaund me and whom as yet you doo not knowe hath sent you by me this Helment and Shéelde wherein you shall find the verie secretes of your hart And if you desire to know whence this honour procéedeth it commeth from him who hath prooued the effect héereof and that knowes more of you néerest affairest then you doo your selfe albeit as yet he hath neuer séene you Damosell saide Palmerin where maie I finde the learned man that hath thus honored mee whō I may remunerate with my chéefest endeuours heerafter You
as you can haue no priuiledge to aske nor I to graunt and therefore content ye This aunswere albeit it was sharpe and scant pleasing to the Prince yet loue so perswaded him that the Duchesse had another meaning then she bewrayed for nothing her countenaunce so full of change he gessed that sâ—me sparks had fallen among her affections wherefore he began againe I beséeche you Madame accuse Loue if I haue spoken to your dislyking yet hope I to sée the time when I shall make knowne howe great my affection is to doo you seruice and continuing this talke he brought her to the Quéenes lodging Loue following them bothe so narrowlie at the héeles as the Duchesse was no lesse affectionate then Lewes was passionate Which when he got some light of in hope to purchase hys his desire he sollicited her in more secrete manner then hee was wont so that being one day in place where they might familiarlie talke Lewes perseuering in his enterprise declared what torments he suffered for her loue whereuppon the Duchesse not onely by the Princes reasons which were perswasiue but as well to mittigate her owne oppressions thus aunswered Great is the force of your perswasions my Lord but greater is yâ— of looue which hath made me yours so that what you request I cannot denie and though it stand not with mine honour yet such is my fortune Let me intreate you therefore to conceale this loue so discréetlie as none may knowe of it especially my Lord the Duke and expect the day that shall yéelde you content and make mee happy This aunswere so highly pleased the Prince as neueâ— man thought himselfe in greater felicitie and rendering her manifold thankes sayd I sweare to you Madame by the diuine force of loue that gouerns vs bothe to bee for euer your Knight and neuer shall any other desire abide in me then you shall like and well allowe of for otherwise I were not worthy this speciall fauour The Duchesse thanking him departed and thenceforth so secretly shaddowed their loue as none suspected that the Prince loued the Duchesse CHAP. XXXII Of the enterprise of Lewes the Prince of Fraunce for the loue of the Duchesse of Burgundie LOng continued the King of Fraunce this state in all magnificence there méeting many noble personages as well Straungers as of the Realme that it was meruailous to behold as also the Ladies and Damosels that accompanyed the Quéene who on a day in the presence Chamber among many Knights conferred of the bountie and prowesse of the florishing braue yong Courtiers among whom the Prince Lewes making one eache one spake in behalfe of his Ladies beautie yet concealing their names to themselues till better occasions might cause theÌ„ deseruedly to be known Al this talke the Prince well marking who for the Duchesse loue was depriued of libertie threw many swéete glaunces at the Mistresse of his affections perswading himselfe that nature neuer made a more perfect creature and not able to make her like againe burst her molde whereupon hee said Lordes and Ladies who with such aduauntage haue chatted on beautie vnderstand that such as you haue yet spoken of or seuerally in your owne thoughts shall thinke vppon may not be equall with one that I knowe euen she that is Ladie and commaunder of my hart whose beautie is so far beyond all other as bright Cynthia from the goodliest star in the firmament And because that none shal imagine how being carried awaie with priuate opinion I vse these spéeches I will make good my words by deedes of Armes against anie Knight whatsoeuer that dare saie the câ—ntrarie Nowe in regard that none shall pleade ignoraunce I will aduertise all Knights howe the first daie of Maie next ensuing and seauen daies more immediatlie following I will be in open fielde in my Tent where I will eâ—ecte a statelie monument on the toppe whereof shall bee her figure whose Knight I am and there will I defende it in this honorable quarrell against such Knights as will Combat for the beautie of their Ladies I affirming mine to excell all other in perfections This condition must be obserued by such as enter the fielde that they bring the Ladies figure with them whom they honor most and if Fortune frowne on them in such sort as they be vanquished they shall there leaue their Ladies Image to be placed vnder my Mistresse as her subiect Nowe if my vnhappy Starres so crosse me as I loose the credite I would bee lothe the conquerer shall enter in my Tent and in my Ladies place shall his Mistresse bee mounted if he meane to maintaine her with such conditions as I doo mine And hee that last shall accomplishe these eyght daies shall beare away the honour with the portraitures of the Ladies which by him or anie other all the saide time haue béene gained And this libertie shall be granted that he which receiues the foyle with the Launce shall CoÌ„bat with the Sworde if he please before he yéelde Nowe that this mine enterprise may be openlie knowne and put in execution as the vertue requireth I will sende Horsemen through all the prouinces of Christendome that all Knights willing thus to aduenture shall be heere receiued His spéeches ended the Gentlemen present could not maruaile sufficiently at this great and high enterprise of the Prince Lewes and the daunger whereinto he thrust himselfe yet not knowing who was the Ladie he woulde thus aduenture for but she béeing present perceiued that the Prince in honour of her loue tooke in hande this perilloâ—s hazarde wherein she conceiued such secrete content as the passioÌ„s of loue hauing penetrated her hart made her feare his mis-fortune which she would not for her life In this assemblie was present the Duke of Sauoye a yong Prince braue hardie and couragious as might be and estéeming so well of himselfe as he thought no Knight in the world coulde vanquish him who to aunswere the Prince Lewes arose and thus spake My Lorde I would not willingly haue entered the Combat against you but that I heard you so farre outreache your selfe as shee whose beautie you maintaine is more perfecte then all other Ladies but shee that is the commaunder of my hart is such a braue accomplished Ladie as in trueth her beautie may not be matched through the whole worlde And to affirme what I saie I sweare by the order of my knighthoode that the morrowe after you haue finished your eight daies enterprise I will enter the same fielde and auerre against all Knights that the Goddesse to whom I am dedicated excelles all other Ladies in her heauenly gifts and he that dare maintaine the câ—ntrarie vnder my Sworde I will make him confesse it All such therefore as will make proofe of their valour shall find me there in my Tent at my appointed day and nine daies after to sustaine the same quarrell in plaine Combat either at the Launce the Maâ—e the Sworde on horsebacke or on foote at his choise
occasion I would gladlie knowe would you graunt it me what Ladie she is for whom you thus aduenture you néede not Palmerin hide it from mée My Lord ê™ he the Dame for whome I enter the Combat is such as none may or ought compare wâ—th so singuler 〈◊〉 and aboue all vertuous and neuer would I think my selfe worthy to beare Armes if feare of danger mis-fortune or death it selfe should haue power to pluck me from my duetie As for my staie she Ioustes ended within one Moneth or sooner will I returne to your Maiestie and let mee intreate you not to feare anie thing in my iourney because I goe for your honour and my sword shal ring on the stoutest Creast the euer continuing honours of the Emperour of Allemaigne The Emperor vnwilling to forgoe him and loth to hinder knightlie chiualrie said Without question Palmerin the Ladie is indebted to you and you declare vnspeakable loue that for her beautie you deliuer your selfe to so great hazard but as for your intent to my honor I rather delight to haue it by your presence then thirste after such applause with your absence But séeing you will néedes to Fraunce happie fortune goe with you and make you victorious in all your attempts which I doubt not but by your valour vertues of your Mistresse the French wil not braue so much on the seauentéene of Maie as perhaps they wil on the first Prouided that before you depart you demaund and haue all thinges for your iourneie as well for such as goe in your companie as for your owne necessarie prouision and some wil I appoint to trauaile with you that may preuent anie trecherous inconuenience Palmerin not refusing thys bountifull offer with great obeisaunce thanked the Emperour and taking his leaue for that night returned to his Chamber determining to depart with expedition because the daie of the Ioustes were at hande Nowe was Trâ—â—eus the Emperours Sonne a yong Prince and had not yet receiued his order of knighthoode hee hearing of Palmerins departure was meruailous desirous to beare him coÌ„pany whereuppon he knéeled before his Father intreating him not to denie him one request Demaunde what thou wilt my Sonne quoth he I graunt it thée Then I beséech you good Father saide he to suffer mee sée Fraunce with noble Palmerin that I may bee acquainted with the courtesie and ciuilitie of that nation not doubting but soone to deserue my knighthoode And yet if before I receiue my order I see these high and woorthie déedes of Armes happilie they may entice me to follow their vertues beside if nowe I loose so good an occasion offered I knowe not when I shal compasse the like commoditie therefore good Father let me not be denied The Emperor offended for his rashe promise to his Sonne laboured to change his minde but all woulde not serue for the Prince promised to goe so couertlie as none should knowe him Wherefore he called Palmerin who as yet was not departed the Hall saying I sée Sir Palmerin you shall not goe alone in your voyage for my Sonne Trineus desires to be your companion for which cause I commit him to you and desire you to conceiue so well of him as at your returne we maie be all merrie togeather Which Palmerin promised whereuppon the Emperour called for the Maister of his Horse commanding him that all things might bee in readines against their departure all which was doone with such diligence as the thirde daie following all thinges prepared they tooke their leaue of the Emperour and the Ladies who at their departure shedde manie teares a common matter with them wishing the victorie and honor to Palmerin Thus with Trineus and twentie other Knights a great number of Squires and seruants in good equipage they iourned towards Parris without anie hinderaunce by the waie or matter of memorie Nowe before we passe anie further you shall vnderstand that after the Heraldes of the Prince of Fraunce and Duke of Sauoie were departed and that Palmerin had obtained leaue of the Emperor the Princesse Polinarda aduertised heereof was greatlie displeased with this suddaine departure wherfore calling Vâ—banillo the Dwarffe to her she saide Vâ—banillo thou must goe to thy Maister and will him this night to meete me at our appointed place that I maie confer with him of a secrete néerelie concerning mee Which when Palmerin hearde the earth béeing couered with her blacke Mantle and euerie one in their dead sléepe he called Ptolome and Vâ—banillo who were well acquainted with this loue walke and béeing there in presence of their Ladies the Princesse with a great sigh thus began Alas my Lord what mind is this in you thus to voyage towardes Fraunce and leaue mee alone sad and sollitarie Alas not content to hazard so long a iourney but a daungerous Combat beside for my beautie which is of so slender estimation as may not parragon with the Ladies of Fraunce béeing péereles as I haue hearde among those of highest perfection Ah my Lorde more comfort and content is it to me to haue your companie then to be crowned Quéene of anie Realme conquered by your vertue prowesse Therefore swéete Fréende I intreate you with all my hart and by the vnfained loue you beare me to leaue such dangerous enterprises where death is commonlie more frequent then life These wordes came with such amiable coniurations from the Princesse as Palmerin though loth to be disswaded answered Let me preuaile with you so farre good Madame as not to mislike my enterprise for your gracious loue for the honour you haue doone me in making mee your Knight I prize at no lesse valew then my déerest blood and shoulde I be helde from these French exploits vnwoorthy were I to bee your Seruaunt in that as you knowe no Knight but caries the honour of his Ladie in such account as he preferres that before his owne life If then Madame in religion of this office I absent my selfe for a while I shal accomplish nothing but my duetie wherto your selfe bound me and I hope to execute with such successe as you shall beare the prize for beautie not onelie from the Ladies of Fraunce and Allemaigne but from all Christendome yea the whole worlde may I liue to trauaile it Doo not then swéete Mistresse mislike if I absent my selfe for a cause so reasonable and continue me still in your fauourable conceit as he that was borne to doo you seruice And albeit I can not depart without excéeding gréefe and anguish yet perswaded of your rare arguments I arme my selfe with patience and yéelde to reason béeing present with you alwaies in that I carrie your diuine Image in my soule and leaue hart life and all with you till I come These wordes were sealed with manie deuoute kisses and Ptolome had like paine in perswading Brionella yet this coÌ„tented them in the ende that the honor of their trauaile was the renowne of their beautie and so with forced content they louinglie departed The
as Prince Lewes was throwne betwéene his horsses féete and he for England lost his stirrops but recouered himselfe well enough by the mayne of his Horse then he séeing his enemie not vppe againe cast himselfe out of his saddle to haue taken his aduauntage but Lewes preuented him and came marching against the Duke with his Sworde drawne who staied him thus Me thinks Prince of Fraunce before any worse befall thée thou wert best to yéelde thy selfe and remember that our Combatte beginnes for the excellencie of beautie By God man of England aunswered Lewes thou canst not perswade me to a thing so farre from my thought therfore goe too and he that hath the fairest Fréende shall soone be knowne In this great choller he reached the Duke such a stroke on the head as made him sette one knée to the ground but recouering himselfe quicklie and both thorowly angry they laid on eache other so cruellie as the very hardiest of the beholders feared the successe Thus fought they for matter of speciall value the defence of theyr owne reputations and honor of their Ladies whose loue was more precious in their harts then their owne lines So long these eager charges continued on bothe sides as Prince Lewes hauing receiued more then twentie woundes on his bodie feeling himselfe fainte fell downe before his enemie saying O noble hart of Fraunce the true succéeder of thy famous predecessours The victorious Englishman setting his foote vpon him saide Lorde Lewes if now thou declarest not my Lady to excel thine in beautie it câ—sts thée thy life a matter nothing pleasing to me in respect of the chiualry and singuler prowesse I haue founde in thée as also this magnaâ—â—â—ious enterprise of thine which in despight of thy foyle and death it self shall make thée liue for euer But Lewes made no aunswere eyther for his weakenes or sorowful conceite of his mis-fortune wherefore the Iudges came who granting the Duke victorie desired him to procéede no further which he honourably graunting was as ioyfull of the conquest as the Duchesse sad and pensiue thinking Prince Lewes had béene slaine outright wherfore the floong away to her lodging not tarrying for the King or any of the Ladies who likewise departed the fielde in maruailous sorow séeing theyr Sonne so pittifully wounded but aboue al the Duchesse made more lamentation then shee woulde haue doone for the death of her Husbande yet fearing what shee thought secretly shoulde by her gréefe bee openly suspected comforted herselfe so well as she coulde and béeing by herselfe with one of her trusty Gentlewomen shee thus breathed foorth her mones Ah trecherous Fortune enemye to all actions of regarde why hast thou suffered the man thou most fauoured thus to be vanquished and which is most to be pittied without hope of life Ah deceitfull tremperesse séeing thou hast offered him so much wrong doo mee the fauour to beare him company in death that liued and died so honourably for my loue Ah death let it suffise thée yâ— Loue hath wounded him and make not thou experience of thyâ—e ineuitable stroke vnlesse thou wilt doo as much for mee Ah false and flattering Sonne of Venus is this the guerdon thou rewardest them withall that serue thée faithfully So ceasing her complaint awhile in great impatience she thus began againe Alas neyther the one or other are cause héerof but my most vnhappy selfe when prouoked by my beautye he tooke in hand this enterprise but if it bee so déere Fréende that enuâ—ous fate deale so harde with thée soone mayst thou be reuenged on her that caused it And wyth these wordes she sell betwéene the armes of one of her Ladyes present whom she specially trusted who thus spake to her Why howe nowe Madame wâ—l you perswade your selfe no otherwise beléeue me there is no remedy but you must change this conceite What wyll you forgette your selfe it is no time if you remember your selfe well for if he whom you loue and endure these paynes for shoulde vnderstande héereof in stedde of séeking his health you wyll shorten hys dayes if as you say hee liue not without your welfare More requisite is it that you goe coÌ„fort him wyth your chéereful presence then thus to bee the argument of bothe your deathes Beside Madame if my Lord suruiue as no doubt he shall what may he presume trust me matter sufficient if you gouerne not your selfe better that you séeke to discouer what most of all beséemes you to conceale Alas my Fréende aunswered the Duchesse I knowe you speake the trueth but howe is it possible for me to content my selfe séeing what estate he is in onely for my loue But if he dye small reckoning will I make of my life for let my honour bee blamed or otherwise let all aduersities and mis-fortunes goâ— togeather Yet will I somewhat bee aduised by thee and I wyll goe sée if my presence wyl any thing comfort him To breake off this talke came an Esquire from the Queene to intreate her come to her Maiestie which she did and went with the Quéene to the Princes lodging who beholding the Duchesse so pale and full of greefe with this conceit his woundes opened and blâ—dde 〈◊〉 for which cause his Chirurgions who imagined the occasion to proceede by shame the Prince conceiued that any one should see what woundes he tooke by the Duke of Gaule wherfore they forbad any to enter his 〈◊〉 vntill the peril of death was better passed ouer which was within short time when the Duchesse by her ofteÌ„ visiting him coÌ„uerted his sorowes into many ioyful coÌ„ceits But because our History appertaines not onely to hys deedes or the loue of the Duchesse we will returne to the Duke of Gaule who after he had thus conquered Prince Lewes followed the conditions of the fielde taking the portraite of his Ladye Agriola and placed it where the Duchesse picture stoode setting it among the other conquered Ladyes That day dyuers other Knights came on behalfe of their Ladies whoÌ„ the valiant Englishman entertained with such valour as all his paines tourned to the honour of his Mistresse Agriola who nowe was seated as paragon of the fielde CHAP. XXXVI Of the Combatte betweene Palmerin and the Duke of Gaule with the successe thereof ON the same daie that the Prince of Fraunce was vanquished by the Duke of Gaule arriued at Paris Palmerin Trineus and theyr trayne but the Combat was first ended wherefore they commaunded their Squyres to prepare theyr Tent. Palmerin vnderstanding yâ— the Duke was conquerer greeued not a little in yâ— he came no sooner to winne the honour of the Prince yet knowing if nowe he coulde conquer the Duke more glory shoulde arise to him then by the Prince Lewes he contented himselfe passing that night in his Tent with the Prince Trineus in diuers arguments of the Combat between Lewes of Fraunce and the Duke yet was Lewes highly commended to Palmerin though he were ouercome because hee had so brauely doone the
former promise not to râ—ueale the least matter that may be hurtfull to them Neuerthelesse in regard of the reuerent good will they beare you and that I would not haue you offended with such an abiect creature as I am I would gladly tell you some thing to your content so you will promise me on your princely worde that what I reueale shall neuer be disouered by you Perswade thy selfe thereof sayd the Princesse and looke what thou sayst by my honor shall neuer turne to thy after harme Then know fayre Madame quoth he that the gréene knight is of the most noble and illustrious house in Europe louing a Ladie as his proper life for whom he hath left his Countrey parents friends to come and do her seruice The blacke knight as I haue alreadie tolde you is my maister and further then this I may not tell you What am I the nearer my desire quoth shée by this aunswere eyther thou shouldest haue sayde nothing or else thorowly satisfyed mâ—e for now I can not bée quieted till thou tell me what Ladie it is that the gréene Knight loues so déerely let mée not make so many intreaties for I promise to thée againe by the faith of a Princesse that neuer shall any creature know it by my meanes You vrge me so farre quoth the Dwarffe and haue made mee such great promises as I am constrayned beyond yâ— charge giuen by my maister to acquaint you with the trueth in respect the fault wil be greater in you to make refusal then in yéelding Resolue your selfe therefore good Madame that the braue gréene Knight so rich in Armes but more in minde is the Prince Trineus Sonne to the Emperour of Allemaigne so passionate in loue and so depriued of liberty by deuout seruice to your excellent bountie as against both duetie and nature he hath deceiued his Father feigning to come ayde his Kinsman the King of Norway where contrariwise he hath shewed himselfe his mortall enemie And to no other ende hath he thus offended both Father and Cozin then to make known his long labourous desires to make you Lady and Mistresse of him and his and such is his fearâ— to be refused as he endures more torments then the martired bodye of poore Prometheus Bee not then the cause swéete Ladie that a Prince so famous and a Knight so gentle shall buy his great good seruice to your Father and CouÌ„trey yea the most loyal loue he beares to you with vntimelie vnfortunate and cruell death Thinke with your selfe is it not the highest among all honours to be Wife to such a Lord and Empresse in time of renowned Allemaigne Is it not perpetuall report to be Lady and commaundresse of the principall parte of Europe Let not him beare record that a bodie so adorned and countenaunce so milde and gracious can entertaine tirannie or crueltie yea Madam such crueltie as if you receiue him not into your fauourable conceit you shall procure the death of the truest Knight in loue that euer liued The blacke knight is the renowned Palmerin d'Oliua the wonder of the world for â—alour conquering in Fraunce the Duke of Sauoy in maintenaunce of his Ladies beautie fayre without compare conforming his Shéelde and Armour equall to his mourning thoughts for his absence from her that tryumphes in his loue The third knight so adorned with white Roses is called Ptolome loued by a Ladie well woorthy of him It now remaineth fayre Princesse that you make the Prince Trineus equall with them in felicitie for you haue the mayden heade of his loue which with honor you may entertaine into your chastâ— thoughtes Thus haue I acquainted you with such a secrete as no creature but your selfe could haue got of mée and the danger to fall into your misconceit hath made mée such a blab leauing all you haue heard to your gracious coÌ„struction Agriola méetelie farre enough in loue before but now vtterly denied of longer libertie hearing the wordes of Vrbanillo was surprised with such a strange alteration as a long time she was driuen to silence not able to vtter the secrete conceits of her minde yet al length to shadowe her suddaine change from the Dwarfe shée sayde Ah my Fréende thou acquaintest me with matter altogither incredible is it possible that Trineus Sonne to the Emperor of Allâ—â—â—aigne would venture into this Court considering the mortall enmitie betwéene our Fathers Trust mée my Fréende I cannot credit thée I renounce mine owne soule sâ—ide the Dwarfe if it be not as I haue told you then iudge Madame what acceptaunce shoulde be made of his seruice when loue to you excéedeth nature may it not bee termed loue surpassing all other eyther registred in antiquities or present memorie If it should be quoth she as then sayest it is beyonde my power to returne condigne recompence yet in respect of thy secrecie I dare assure thée mine owne opinion of him hath so ouer-maistered me as in honorable modestie he may commaund and I am not so well nurtured to disagrée But if eyther by my words thou hast gathered or by any chaunge of countenaunce perceiued the suddaine yéelding of a flexible nature interprete it in this good sort that Princes afflictions make each other melt as framed of one mettall which I charge thée conceale from him as thou regardest my word and his safetie Pardon mee Madame quoth the Dwarfe it standeth not with my allegeaunce to obey you héerein what a villaine might I bee accounted and vnworthy the name of a faithfull seruant if I shoulde â—ide these happy tydings from him to ease those torments that euerye houre threaten his death Yea Madame did my maister but thinke I would so abuse him well deserued I to be â—orne in péeces Well quoth she if thou findest time conuenient till him but no other I charge thée on thy life and withall certifie him that I woulde not for my Fathers Crowne he should be knowne Feare you not good Madame sayde the Dwarffe they are alreadie so well aduised as none but your selfe ran any way endaunger them It sufficeth that the Prince vnderstande your pleasure which I will impart to him when the King is returned so kissing her hande hée departed leauing her so highly contented in assurance of the loyall loue of Trineus as she neuer determined any other Husbande yet woulde shée not disclose her minde no not to Eufemia her secret companion thinking herselfe too much bewrayed because the Dwarffe knewe it Soone after the Quéene sent for her to walke in the coole shadowe of the Trées where not long they stayed before the King returned who reported what pastime they had all that morning The Knightes hauing saluted the Quéene and her Ladies Trineus saluting the Princesse Agriola was so transported as hée scant knewe where he was The Princesse likewise fixed with a stedfast eye on him as wounded both him and her selfe togither her complexion so aptly deciphering her sickenesse as the Prince perceyuing it sayd to
onelye excepted who euermore hath beene my most trustie Seruaunt and fetcheth my necessaries at a village néere adioyning and by his honest perswasions hath manie times with-helde mee from committing violence on my selfe Thus haue you heard in bréefe the cause of my sorrowe the depth whereof cannot bée considered or valued but by such as haue in like manner tryed and suffered the disdayne and ingratitude of vnconstant Ladies Palmerin hauing heard the fortunes of the Knight repeated to him the graces and fauours of his Ladye Polynarda what honour shée did him in her Fathers Court and how hee was in daunger to receiue the like rewarde as the Knight did of his Valerica and fearing indéede that his mishappe woulde sorte to that issue he fell down at the féete of this poore refused Louer The Knight perceiuing that the reputitioÌ„ of his misfortune was cause of this alteration breâ—thing foorth a vehement sighe hee sayde Alas wretched â—atife that I am hath my destâ—ny made mee so vnhappie that enduring an extreamitye worse then death I cannot dye and yet hée that did but heare my miserie hath lost his life I will not liue any longer to preiudice any other men but will now make waye to the ende of mine owne troubles So drewe â—ée foorth Palmerins Sworde and â—ffered to thrust it into his bodye but Palmerin receiued his former estate started suddainlye vppe and catching him in his armes sayde How now my Fréende will you bée so incâ—nsiderate that for a little temporall paine which your body endureth to condemne your soule to euerlasting perdition And though your passions touch you so seuerelye as you will affoorde no pittie to your selfe yet lâ—t trée intrâ—ate you to forbeare this humour For not without reason haue I sustained this suddaine motion remembring the vnspeakable comfort I receiued by one who by false suggestions or slaundreous reports which woundeth more déepe then the fatall weapon may in like sorte be chaunged into such conceit as her iudgement may excéede a hel of torments Yet canne I not denye your Lady hauing with such shame refused you but you haue great occasion to gréeue thereat yet not to stretch the extreamily so farre as to dispayre or worke iniurie to your â—elfe calling to memory how light the opinion of a Woman is how suddaine shée will alter and howe prompt shée is to iealousie especially where shee loueth effectually And if héeretofore shée loued you feruentlye it is impossible but shee should féele some part of your anguish and more violently I thinke then your selfe can Trust then in him that hath all hearts at commaunde repose your self constantly on his prouidence for hée will not leaue you frustrate of your honourable intent standing with iustlâ—e and perfect integritie As Palmerin continued these comfortable perswasions the Dwarfe couered the Table and sette before them such a small pittaâ—nce as he had prouided when they hadde refreshed themselues Palmerin tooke his leaue of the Knight promising him if hée coulde by anye meanes to giue some ease to his oppressions Varnan returned him many thankes commanding his Dwarfe to conduct him to the high waye béeing not a little sorrowfull to leaue his compaâ—ie who had so well aduised and comforted him Palmerin being come into his ready way sent backe the Dwarfe and rode on till he was gâ—t out of the Forrest intending to finde out the Castlâ— where Valerica remained because he would somewhat sollicite the cause of sollitarie Verman Ryding along in this determination hée espyed a Knight and two squires before him yâ— knight thus speaking to one of his squires I knowe not whether it be time as yet to enter the Garden or if Madame Valerica be as yet come thither Go sée if she be there and returne quickly to mée againe Palmerin hearing the name of Valerica knewe well it was shée for whome the solitarie Knight liued in such pensiuenes wherefore mooued with pitty of his miseries hee sayde to himselfe Sée héere the trecherie of a trothlesse Woman so vnhonorablie to forsake the man that loues her so déerely and preferre the villanie of this intercepting Traytour but I shall teach him ere I go what a penalty belongs to the preuenting of a loyall knight and so comming to the knight hee sayâ—e Art thou a man villaine that wouldest forest all the loue of the best Knights in England by my Sword thou shalt déerely pay for thy disloyalty With these words he gaue him such a stroake on the head as he cleft it therewith to the very téeth The Squires séeing theyr maister slaine beganne to haste away but Palmerin caught him that was sent to the Garden to whome he sayde Come on Sirra if thou louest thy life bring mée to the Lady if thou doost not thou shalt neuer followe thy trade any longer The Squire durst doo no otherwise so he brought him to the little gate where Valerica was wont to receiue in her louer and knocking with his finger as his Master was accustomed Valerica opened the doore and thinking it was her Fréend cast her armes about Palmerins necke who brought her in his armes forth of the Garden commanding the Squire presently to followe him Valerica abashed hereat sayde Howe nowe swéete fréende whether will you carry mee Knowe you not if my father heard héereof that neyther of vs durst approch before him Tush Madame sayde Palmerin these are but wordes there is no remedy but you must go with mée So neyther with teares nor requests would hee be intreated but mounting on horsebacke caused the Squire to helpe the Lady vppe before him because he would be sure shée should not escape from him and riding on towardes the Forrest because the night drew on he left the rode way séeking some place where they might coÌ„ueniently repose themselues for that night At length hee founde out a little thicket where they alighted and hee returning his Horse to pasture tooke off his Helmet and came to the Lady desiring her to bée content with such hard lodging for that night but when shée behelde that it was not her fréend wringing her handes she thus exclaimed Alas vnhappy wretch that I am how trecherously am I deceiued What mishappe may be comparable to mine hauing lost my fréende and abyding at his pleasure that hath cruelly murdered him Ah Fortune why art thou so inconstant to chaunge my former pleasure into this gréeuous stratageâ—â—e Palmerin hearing her so impatient sayde You must thinke Lady that what hath happened is by diuine permission who hath thus appoynted to punish your loosenesse and your excéeding disloyalty towardes him who loues you dearer then his owne soule and for your loue leades a most austere life in the very desolate and vncomfortable place of the worlde If hée haue thus long endured such hardnesse for your sake it is good reason that you should participate a little with his misery Feare not therefore for I speake nothing of him but what I haue séene and by great chaunce haue
at length remembring her wordes to him and doubting his vnkindnesse to be the cause of her death sayd within himselfe Alas faire Princesse must I at the first motion driue thée to dispaire had I dissembled a little or temporized the matter thou hadst not fallen into this extremitie but my onely wilfull indiscretion is cause of thy losse O Female sexe howe are you subiect to casuall passions Yet néede I not wonder at this present mishappe for from the beginning of the worlde the Woman hath béene so suddein and voluntarie to the effect of her desires were they good or euill but especially in the action of loue as neyther feare honor shame torments no nor death could diuert her from her vndiscreâ—te fantasies Hereof beare record Hypâ—â—mnestra Myrrha Deianira Scylla 〈…〉 Phyllis Salmacis Hero and Dydo whose deatheâ— were procured onely by lauish loue O diuine wisedome that hast suffered me to fall into this lucklesse accident protect mée from any further disaduauntage séeing thou hast taken her hence who gaue some ease to mine 〈…〉 that so liuely shée resembled my swéete Mistresse 〈…〉 desire to serue with continuall loyaltie I nâ—we 〈◊〉 my selfe that this loue was not accompanied with vertue and that for my good it hath so chaunced forgette 〈◊〉 not then but so enable me as in such badde occasions 〈…〉 not from my duetie And such is my confidence in thy promises as no teâ—ptation shall preuaile against mée but this â—aptiuitie once discharged I hope to direct my course pleasing in thy sight and to 〈◊〉 such gracious seruice as thy name 〈…〉 and glorified for euer So long continued he in this silent contemplation as Alchidiana perceiued him which greatlie displeased her but fearing any way to 〈◊〉 Palmerin shée durst not saye what shée thought liuing in hope that her Cozin being dead she should now compasse the effecte of her desires Ardemia enterred in her honourable Tombe Guilharan her Brother with his traine and the Ladies that attended on his Sister returned into Armenia where great sorrowe was made for the death of the Princesse and the renowne of her beautie blazed the report of her death through euery region Chap. IX How Amarano of Nigrea eldest son to the king of Phrygia vnderstanding the death of the faire Princesse Ardemia who was newly promised him in mariage made many greeuous lameÌ„tations for her losse And how Alchidiana discouered her amorous affections to Palmeâ—in SO farre was spread the reporte of the strange death of the Princesse Ardemia as 〈◊〉 came to the hearing of 〈◊〉 eldest sonne to the king of Phâ—ygia the most valiant redoubtâ—d knight of y◠〈…〉 as wel for his great 〈◊〉 and déedes of Armes which he before that time accompliâ—â—â—d in Asia as for his affable nature vertue and courtesie This yong Prince being in the King his fathers Court and hearing commended beyond al other Ladies of the East the faire Ardemia Daughter to the King of Armenia at the verye sounde of the Trompe of this blazing Goddesse and setting the newes downe for true from her affecting spéech he became so amorous of her as he had no content but in thinking on her Héereupon he sent his Ambassadours to her Father to request her in mariage wherto right willingly he condiscended and nowe at the instant when he intended to go visite her newes came to the Court of her admirable death which for a while was 〈◊〉 from him because each one doubted the conceit 〈◊〉 would cause his death For they knowing the loue he 〈◊〉 her to be so vehement as hée vnderstanding her strange kinde of death they thought it impossible but it would 〈◊〉 to very scandalous inconuenience yet in the ende he 〈◊〉 thereof but to sette downe héere the gréefe teares and complaints of this yong Prince is more then I am able 〈◊〉 it therefore suffise you that his sorrowes were such as euery houre his death was likewise expected It was likewise told him howe through the enuie of Alchidiana shée dyed and that for certaintie shee was one of the chéefest causes thereof which mooued him then into such an alteration as hée swore by the great Prophet Mahomet to reuenge her iniurie so that the Soldaâ—e shoulde for euer remember the daunger in suffering so great a treason In conclusion hée intended to take with him two hundred chosen Knights all clad in mourning for the gréefe of their Maister and â—oure of his Brethren Knights of great hardinesse and so well they iourneied as they â—ame within twentie miles of the 〈◊〉 Courte But that wée may not too farre 〈◊〉 from our intent Alchidiana ioyfull as you haue hearde for the departure of Guilharan and his 〈…〉 Palmerin 〈…〉 to all louers such account she made of her beautie and riches as she imagined that Palmerin would not disdaine her but rather would repute himselfe happy to haue that at his pleasure whereof so many Kings and great Lordes had béene denyed And in this opinion the next time that Palmerin came to her Chamber she beganne with him in this manner Now Syr Knight what thinke you of the death of Ardemâ—a who so falselye would haue seduced you to goe with her hence did shée not commit great treason against mee if shée had preuailed but right well is shée rewarded and as I desired Thinke then no more of her presumptuous follie or the ridiculous conceit of her vaine loue which shée made her pretence to cause you forsake my Fathers Court where you haue receiued so many speciall honours chéefelie of his Daughter who loues you déerelie and inâ—â—nds to make you Lord ouer all her possessions Beléeue mee Sir Knight if hitherto I deferred to acquaint you héerewith it was in respect I doubted her but now shée being gone estéeme henceforth of me as your owne and to begin this alliaunce I honour you with all that is mine and my selfe to be disposed at your pleasure For my heart which is onely subiect to you applyes it selfe to your lyking and can wish nothing but what you will 〈◊〉 How long haue I desired this happie day howe often haue I contemned and despised my selfe in not daring to breake the seale of my affections which nowe I 〈◊〉 aduentured to your knowledge As for that which now troubleth mee is the want of your spéech which the Gods haue depriued you off being enuious of your manifolde perfections Alas my Lord why did they not endue â—hée with that benifit that in declaring my desires thy answeres might returne reciprocall pleasure Some in their loue delight themselues with embracing kissing and such ceremoniall behauiour as for mée amoâ—rous priuate and 〈…〉 I repute a 〈◊〉 content Yet hath Loue one shaft in his 〈…〉 then all these béeing the onely argument of each others resolution in respect whereof I commit my honour into your protection prizing estéeming and chusing you aboue all men in the world beside Palmerin exceedingly abashed at these vnséemelye spéeches knewe what signes to make for his aunswere
pleasaunt Let them speake what please them quoth Brionella should you render them account of your behauiour yet thus I thinke that your discretion is so good when you haue séene the onelye comforts for your cares that you can so wel dissemble your thoughts as the most warie eye can hardly discerne you Well haue you said quoth the Princesse if loue could be gouerned by wisedome but the pleasure which the wisest haue receyued by his rules hath in the ende discouered 〈…〉 and folly Such were the speeche betwéene these two Ladies attending the night in good deuotion when each one thought to sée her Lorde and best beleued that their loâ—y sorrowes might somewhat be qualified The Dwarfe beeing gone on his message as you haue hearde the Knights repeted themselues on the greene 〈◊〉 till Sunne setting that they might the more 〈◊〉 enter the Cittie and the time béeing câ—me that they woulde sette forward Palmerin said to Olorico My Lorde 〈◊〉 will take this by waye which leadeth to the Cittie 〈◊〉 intende before I depart to heare same nâ—wes from my Mistresse Goe which way you please quoth the Prince yet muâ—â— I néedes meruaile at you that you woulde bee so long absent from such an excellent Princesse trust me Alchidiana is fayre yet may not shee be equalled with your lady The gréefes I haue endured said Palmerin by my long absence are not to be spoken off yet could I no way 〈◊〉 my returne sooner By this time they were come to the Cittie and to a lodging appointed them by Vibanillo who béeing now come to his Maister deliuered the message hée was commaunded Palmerin vnderstanding his Mistressâ— pleasure presently vnarmed himselfe and wrapped a scarlet Mantle about him taking his truâ—â—ie Sworde vnder his Arme hée intreated Olorico to staye there till hée returned or heard further tydings from him leauing Vrbanillo in his companie with charge to vse him as his owne person He béeing come to the walles of louelie Paradise sounde the Ladder reatie prepared for him whereby hée made a spéedie passage and finding Brionella there staying his comming embracing her sweetly saide Trust me Ladie the want of Sir Ptolome your Fréende dooth not a little gréeue me but by the grace of God ere it be long I hope to bring him with me Ah my Lord quoth the right happie is your comming for your presence hath béene héere most of all desired But albeit shee sette a good countenaunce on this aunswere yet were her secret sorâ—owes innumerable beeing deceiued of the comfort shée 〈◊〉 Palmerin who thought hée stayed too long from his desire woulde trifle no further time but entred his Ladies Chamber who angerly had throwne her selfe on a Pallet because hée staied to speake with Brionella then falling on his knee before her hée offered to 〈◊〉 her hande which with dissembling disdaine she would not suffer him saying Truelie you shall receiue no fauour of mée before I knowe certainlie who you are for I stand in doubt to bée deceiued and that you arâ— some other then my Palmerin seeing you haue béen so long time from me and which is more would neuer vouchsafe to send to me Then taking a light in her hand and 〈◊〉 beholding him hardlie coulde 〈◊〉 sette it from her againe when welcomming him with an infinite number of swéete kisses 〈◊〉 saide Now knowe I well 〈…〉 is my Palmerin what Countrey might be so 〈◊〉 or fortune so contrarie that could withholde you all this while from me O that it might haue stoode with mine honor for my selfe to séeke you foorth with good will could I haue endured the trauaile yea much more then you haue doone for mée How often considering the daungers of the Sea hath very death surprised meâ— and into how manie sundrie opinions haue I fallen sometime to disguisâ— my selfe into a mans attire to enter the eâ—tate of a Knight errant and begâ—â—ne a search which neuer shoulde bee ended till I founde you For this hath bene receiued as a generall rule that by 〈◊〉 long sufferance and expectation one may endure a thousand deaths and thinke not but the very least of my afflictions haue bene of force to depriue my life Consider that griefe desire remembrance languor sorrow hope suspition teares complaints and other such like passions common in loue continually beate vpon the heart with burning affection and to such inconuenience their issue growes as the vitall spirit is chased from the bodie For Gods sake Madame quoth Palmerin leaue these wounding spéeches and suffer me to take a litle life in bâ—holding that which is no lesse diuinâ— the humane for my offence deserues not these accusations TheÌ„ discouered he all his fortunes passed which droue the Princesse to no litle admiration when she said Beléeue me my Lord séeing that by your meanes my Brother Trineus is lost for my loue and to satisfie your promise to my Lord and Father you must néedes goe finde him againe That shall I Madame quoth Palmerin but before I begin this iourney let me intreate that fauourable regard which is the comfort in loue and vniteth life soule togither which heretofore you haue graunted and I hope will not now deny me What may I iudge quoth she of your constancie since your absence for not long since I was sollicited with a vision which tolde me that you commited breach of loyaltie with a Quéene to my no litle griefe although full often I reprooued you therefore to cause you forsake that sinns when me séemed the Quéene thus answered Be thou assured Polynarda that although Palmerin estéeme thée aboue all other yet shall he leaue some part of his loue with me Hearing these words I brake forth into tears wherewith you séemed to be moued and so forsaking her followed me and herewith I awaked finding indéed my face besprent with teares and my heart ouercome with insupportable griefe Palmerin abashed hereat remembred what entertainment the Quéene of Tharsus made him at the Banquet of her sundry delights and great fauours for his arriuall her piercing amorous and alluring spéeches wherewith incessantly shee did sollicite him and such was conceit as he verely perswaded himselfe that by enchaunted practises she had abused him wherupon he said I swearâ— to you Madame by the religious vowes of our loue that neuer did I commit such wrong against you if the Quéene of Tharsus of whome you haue spoken did not one night deceiue me by an enchaunted drinke which vnwittingly I receiued as I sate at supper causing me to loose both sence and vnderstanding and so acquainted her with his dreame that night likewise Doubtlesse my Lord quoth she considering the extremitie of her affection she practised some meanes to compasse her desire but séeing it fell out in that sort and beléeuing you would not willingly offend me I am contented to pardon that fault In these and such like spéeches they spent that night and foure more afterward all which time Palmerin was kept vnséene in her Chamber till
no Ladie may comparâ— her felicitie with mine Ah my sonne by thée are my sorrowes chaunged into ioy my dispaire into content and from death it selfe am I brought againe to life for if my husbands hard hap made me dâ—spise life now may you be assured how much I desire it Then declared shée how to saue the Prince Florendos life whose faithfull loue brought him to such extremitie by sicknesse she aduentured her honor for his safetie and entering the paradise of loue bestowed that iewel on him which she most of all estéemed And so maist thou quoth shée report to the Emperour yet in this manner that not by carâ—all impudicitie I so consented for God is my witnesse that notwithstanding the perill wherein I sawe him no perswasion could cause me yéeld him that especiall remedie before he had first solemnly vowed marriage to mée which against all right was broken by the Emperours commaundement Madame quoth Palmerin Florendos is of such valour and his honorable actions so well receiued among men that albeit he had made you no such promise yet reason may excuse you in this matter But if by promised faith and to saue the life of so gentle a Knight who happilie by your refusall might haue miscaried you honoured the Temple of Loue with so swéete an offering among people of good minde it ought rather to bée tearmed a vertue then anie bad affection or vnlawfull lust And therfore Madame comfort your selfe for shortly I hope to assure your peace with the Emperour and séeing I haue you for my mother and the Prince Florendos for my Father I féele my selfe frée from any gréefe or vexation assuring you that I will driue it to no further delay but this morning will I confer with his Maiestie The Quéene béeing fearefull that her long stay should cause anie bad opinion hauing kissed her sonne gaue him the good morrowe and so went to her Chamber where shée found Cardyna her Gentlewoman to wâ—om she shewed the Crucifixe her sonne had giuen her saying Tell me I pray thée Cardina doost thou remember that heeretofore thou hast séene this Crucifixe and in what place Beléeue me Madame quoth shée I thinke I haue seene it before nowe but in what place I am not certaine Why forgetfull creature knowest thou not that this is the Crucifixe which was tied about my sonnes necke when thy selfe did carrie him to the mountaine In gooâ— faith the Knight is hée who fought the Combate for my Lorde Florendos Nowe sée the great mercie and bountie of our God who preserued his life then and from infinite daungers hath defended him hitherto Notwithstanding bee thou secret and on perill of thy life reueale it to none vntill the Emperour my Father be acquainted therewith Cardyna was so ioyfull héereof as shée must néedes goe presently to sée Palmerin and finding the Chirugions with him visiting his woundes shée fetched a gorgious Mantle of purple Ueluet broydered round about with Pearles Diamonds and Rubies as wel might beséeme the greatest Monarch to weare As Cardina holpe him to put on this Mantle she noted the marke on his face which she remembred since thâ— time of his birth and in this maner goes Palmerin chéerefully to the Emperour whom he founde conferring with his Lords and Barons but his presence caused them breake off talke imagining him the comeliest person that euer they sawe The good olde Emperour Remicius reioycing to sée him in so good and able plight demaunded of him howe he fared Right well quoth he I thank God and your highnesse readie to aduenture on any occasion shal like you to commaund me and now am I come to aduertise your Maiestie of such matters as will not a little glad ye in the hearing so please your grace to vouchsafe me priuate audience Hereupon the Emperour commaunded euery one to depart the Hall and they béeing nowe alone Palmerin thus began Dreaâ— Lord and mighty Emperour till this time haue I frequented the Courts of manie Kings and Potentates without desire of requesting anie thing vntill this present when faine would I request one boone of your Maiestie the grant whereof shall returne you both profit and honor My noble Fréend Palmerin aunswered the Emperour what euer thou pleasest demaund and on my worde it shall bée graunted Palmerin with humble obeysaunce kissing the Emperours hand sayd In sooth my Lorde all that I haue to request is onely to desire your highnesse that all offences committed by the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter may not onely be forgotten but also forgiuen For thy sake Palmerin quoth the Emperour I forgiue all their offences whatsoeuer May it then please your Maiestie quoth he to remember howe when Florendos came to doo you seruice during your warres agaynst Gamezio because you denied to giuâ— him your Daughter hée was so sicke as euerie howre his death was expected It then so fortuned my Lord the Princesse your Daughter acquainted with the cause of his sicknesse to giue him some comfort as also to defend so good a Prince from death by gracious spéeches shée gaue him such hope of her loue and such for trueth as before they parted a solemne promise of marriage was concluded betwéene them I know not the conditions of their agréements but it séemed the Articles consisted on no difficult accorde for each receyued of other the swéete desires of loue in so much as that night was I begotten And for a trueth my Lord I am the Sonne to the Prince Florendos and Madame Griana your Daughter who as I vnderstand by the Empresse perswasion against all right you compelled to marrie with the Prince Tarisius Florendos notwithstanding my Mothers wrong was verye great hath continued so loyall as hée would neuer accept anie other for his Wife nor as yet will but onely her Nowe my Lord that this matter may not séeme a fantasticall inuention I can resolue you of the place of my byâ—â—h which was in the Tower where my Mother remained prisoner by your commaundement vnder the charge of a Ladie named Tolomestra who to defende your daughters honor caused me to be carried to a place not far hence which is called the Mâ—unt of Oliues from whence my surname is likewise deriued in that place was I â—ound by a Countrey pesant vnder a Palme Trée who in signe thereof named me Palmerin d'Oliua My sorrowfull Mother hoping one day to sée me againe diligently noted diuerse markeâ— I haue and hung about my necke a golden Crucifixe which this day I gaue her againe and by this marke 〈…〉 like a Crosse shée well remembers me to be her Sonne In this respect my Lord that your Daughters offence was occasioned by true and faithfull loue and hauing likewise promised to forgiue all causes of displeasure graunt my father nowe at length to enioy his lawfull Wife that I béeing their Sonne may not bée estéemed as illegitimate the dâ—â—ing whereof will renowme your name for euer and loue
their health quoth he how are they called The one said the Quéene is named Palmerin the other Trineus And I quoth he am Orzadine King of Galappa to whome fortune hath béene more fauourable in loue then in riches making me Fréende to the faire Oronia Daughter to the Calife of Siconia and Sister to the Prince Donadell who was slaine in the battaile against the King Abimar shée in my iudgement not hauing her second in beautie at whose request I haue trauailed the greatest part of Asia to spread her name and honorable reputation which I haue doone â—o her perpetuall fame and returning to her when my labours were finished in sted of ioy and pleasure I found her sad and pensiue for the death of her Brother These newes were worse to me then death and to comfort her I promised to reuenge her Brothers misfortune and this is the onelie cause of my comming for hauing Combatted with him that slâ—w the Prince her loue to mee will be the greater and mine honour shall be spread with more aduantage I belâ—eue well quoth the Quéene if you escape with life from the Combat but tell me Sir Knight why beare you such ill will to him that slâ—w the Prince considering that it was doon in plaine battaile and he his enemie who would haue doone as much to him if he could Not for this cause alonâ— will I enter the Combat said Orzodine but for I am desirous to let him knowe that I am more fauoured in loue then hee and as I am one of the most happie Louers so am I the best Knight in the world which I will maintaine against anie that dare gain-say it Happy louer Dieu Vous gard said Trineus If the Poets had hetherto spared the discription of Cupid Sonne to the Goddesse of loue now might they iustly haue sette him downe for blind yet is hée worthilie to be condemned that hee would vouchsafe anye fauour to the most foolish among men hée hauing dedicated me to the seruice of a Ladie to whom your gentle Ironia Oronia I should saye dooth not deserue the name of her seruant For the rest where you vaunt your selfe to bée the best Knight in the world your follie is too apparaunt for there are manie Knightes errant in the worlde who can giue you a braue caâ—uazado at the Launce and after they haue foyled you in the Ioust bestowe a little paines to take your gréene head from your grosse shoulders My selfe that flew the Brother to your Goddesse of beautie will doo you so much pleasure as to heale the incurable disease wherewith you are day and night tormented O diuine spirites cryed the Pagan fauour me so much that this Knight may but dare to enter the Fielde with mee Yes I dare sayde Tryneus and before we part I doubt not but to make thée quiet enough Ozodine presentlie threwe his Gauntlet as his gage and Tryneus a Golden bracelet which Aurecinda had giuen him entreating Zephiâ—a to kéepe them which she refused to doo fearing the daunger of the Prince Tryneus Héereupon the Soldane entred the Hall leading Palmerin by the hand but when they sawe the Armed Knight thus contend with Trineus they meruailed greatly what might be the occasion thereof When Orzadine sawe the Soldane was sette he entred into these spéeches Soldane I am hither come to accuse thée of a villainous act which thou hast committed harbouring in thy Court the man that â—lewe the the valiant Donadell whose murther thou canst not so cunningly couer but thy treacherie shall be openly discouered What art thou said the Soldane that darest speake thus presumptuously in our presence Orzodine King of Galappa quoth he of whom thou hast heard heretofore and now haue I presented my gage against this Knight which I will maintaine in despight of the proudest The Soldane abashed at this euent sought to disswade them from the Combatte because hée had heard great spéeches of the Kings prowesse but all was in vaine for Orzodine was so obstinate and Tryneus so earnest to reuenge the Turks proud blasphemie against his Ladie as they would not be pacified till the Fielde was graunted them Let vs haue Iudges presently quoth Orzodine and the Fielde assured for our Combat that I may discipline this glorious straunger Make not such haste sayd Tryneus for I feare thou wilt thinke thy comming too soone Immediately were the the two Combattants Armed the Iudges placed in their Tent when the Soldane and Palmerin with manie Princes went to beholde this exployt But such a mightie man was the King of Galappa as Palmerin feared his fréends successe The Trâ—mpets souâ—â—ding the Knights brake their Launces brauelie and mette togither so furiouslye with their bodies as they were both throwne out of their Saddles but they quickly recouering themselues drâ—we theyr swordes and marched against eache other with lyke courage as did Achilles against noble Hector Long continued the fight with danger on either side but the king of Galappa strooke such peasant strokes béeing a man of equall stature with a Giant as hée wounded Trineus in manie places and such was his ill fortune after long trauersing about hee sette his foote vnwarilye on the Trunchion of a Launce whereby he fell downe backward to the ground Orzodine taking aduauntage of this fall sette his foote on the Princes breast striuing to pull his Helmet from his head but God knowes in what agonie Palmerin was newe when he breathed foorth these spéeches to himselfe Ah Heauens quoth he haue I taken such paine and trauaile to finde my Fréend and must he now die among his enemies Aureeinda likewise readie to yéeld vp her ghost with gréefe seeing Palmerin readie to swoâ—ne as he stood Alas quoth she is it not enough that my Fréend must die but his noble câ—mpanion will beare him companie While this doubtfull feare was among the Courtiers Tryneus had so well scufled with Orzodine as he laye along by him likewise when drawing a pocket dagger he stabbed it through his Helmet into one of his eyes so that he nailed his head to the ground Orzodine féeling himselfe wounded to the death gaue a very loude cry when Tryneus hauing gotten his Helmet off presentlie smote his heade from his shoulders If the Knights of Galappa were now dismaide and the soldane Palmerin Zephira Tomano and all the rest ioyfull I leaue to your iudgements especially Palmerin who reioycing that Trineus had thus conquered his enemie entred the Lystes and embraced him and bringing him foorth of the Fielde â—he was welcommed to the Pallace with wonderfull honor The bodie of the dead King was giuen to them that came with him with meruailous reprehension of theyr Maisters audacious challenge and so with great heauinesse they returned home againe Nor would the Soldane longer stay in his Court the Assirian Ambassadour But excused himselfe to the Babylonian Mysos that he could not giue him anie assistaunce couering this aunswer vnder his vnfortunate battaile against the King Abimar Maucetto
addition vnder your highnesse correction that were she mine as I am wholie hers the faithfull seruice of a thankfull Sonne shoulde aunswere the genâ—lenes of so good a Father and the irreuocable vowes of holie loue assure Griana of her Florendos Right déerelie did the Emperour loue the Prince Florendos as had he béene his owne Sonne Caniano his knightlie valour and manifold other vertues iustlie inducing hym thereto and gladlie he would haue coÌ„sented to his request if his promise made vnto Tarisius did not binde him to the contrarie whereupon he returned him this aunswere Beléeue me good Cozin I am not a little agréeued that I cannot satis-fie your gentle request for that Tarisius Nephewe to the Empresse hath alreadie preuented mee to him haue I past my promise for my Daughter and dailie I expect the Ambassadours comming from Hungaria to finishe the mariage so that I had rather loose the best of my Citties then it should be said I falsified my worde Notwithstanding of one thing I can assure you that you are far higher in my grace and fauour then he yet necessitie is without lawe and the regarde of mine honour must intreate you to hold me excused Greatlie abashed was the Prince Florendos séeing in one instant that hope strooken dead that had maintayned his life since his comming to Constantinople and so nypt in the heade was he with the Emperours answere as hee stoode a good while in a studie not speaking a worde at last he began thus God forbidde that so great a Prince shoulde breake his promise by my occasion neuerthelesse my truth and loyaltie to your highnesse shall not any way diminishe but I shall remaine the most forward in duetie of any that owe seruice and alleageaunce to your Maiestie Neyther will I sayd the Emperour imagine the worse of you but loue you rather better then I did before Then entered diuers Noble men and Gentlemen which made them breake off from further spéeches and Florendos taking his leaue went to his Chamber so full of gréefe and extreame heauines as easilie he could haue béene induced to commit some violence vpon himselfe but casting himselfe vpon his bed he thus beganne to breath foorth the furie of his passions to ease the heauie burthen of his oppressed spirite Unhappy wretch that I am beyonde all other what hope of life canst thou flatter thy self withal séeing the meane that should maintaine the continuaunce thereof forbiddes thée sonde man to hope any longer What angry Planet gouerned thy natiuitie that he to whom thou gauest life should this day be the cause to ende thine owne Beléeue 〈◊〉 Tarisius had I made tryal of this inconuenience before hardlie shoulde I haue put my personne in such daunger amongst the Moores to shéelde thy life but in defending the sworde out of thy throate I haue deseruedlie thrust it in mine owne so that by lengthning thy daies I haue expyred mine owne date and that with a death so miserable and cruell as no enemie whatsoeuer would wish to another But were it not that my duetie to the good Emperour countermaundeth me thou couldest not with such ease either out-braue me in my looue or thus vsurpe the gracious fauoure of my Mistresse Griana were affection ballanced with desert or loue measured by vertue as it is by opinion Notwithstanding to die for her loue I shall account my selfe happie in that she cannot but pittie my vnluckie death and my spirite should passe with greater quiet to his ende if she knewe with what content I take my destenie but fayre Griana would God I had either not séene thée at al or Fortune had béene fauourable to me in choise At which words the extremitie of his passions tooke away the libertie of his spéeche so that he could not finish what hee woulde gladlie haue spoken but falling from his bedde to the grounde in a swoune amazed one of his Esquires that was in the nexte Chamber who hearing the fall ran in immediatlie where séeing his Maister lying deade in his iudgement ran and called Frenato who was Cozin to Florendos and one that knewe most of his priuate affayres notwithstanding hee was ignorant in the cause of this accident who taking him vppe in his armes with colde water and vinagre caste in his face at length he got life into him againe when Florendos opening his eyes and séeing his Cozin so busie about him breathing foorth two or thrée bitter sighes saide My déere fréende and Cozin I beséeche you hinder not the ende and issue of my life for béeing out of all hope to recouer my Ladie Griana there is no meane left to maintaine my life When Frenato heard these wordes hee doubted that the Prince had receiued some contrarie aunswere from yâ— Emperour as concerning the marriage betwéene him and his Daughter for whose loue onelie hee left the kingdome of Macedon wherfore he perceiuing that she must bee the onelie meane to ease his torment hee began thus roundlie to aunswere the Prince And what of this must you therefore dispaire Alas said Florendos what would yee haue me doo the Emperour hath long since past his promise for her to Tarisius as his highnes assured me by his own wordes Uerie well Sir answered Frenato but doo you know if she haue giuen her consent I promise you I am perswaded that she loues him not but that her fauourable regarde is much more towardes you then him and for you saye so much to morrow will I sounde the bottome of this matter so that if I can I will frustrate the Emperours intent towardes Tarisius Doo you in the meane time but learne to dissemble your gréefe and shewe not your selfe mal content for anie thing that hath béene saide but bee of good chéere and referre your fortune in this case to the successe of myne endeuours These and such like perswasions Frenato vsed to the Prince whom he thus left in his Chamber and returned to the Pallace as was his manner All this while the Emperour bethought himselfe on the spéeches that had passed betwéene him and Florendos which made him the night following to discourse theron with the Empresse perswading her that hee coulde more willinglie accept of hym for his Sonne then Tarisius But she who highlie fauoured her Nephewe reprooued his opinion with manie answers so that by importunate intreaties teares and other subtill fetches which Women are wont to vse to accomplish theyr desires she so farre disswaded the Emperour as hee promised her againe not to giue her to anie other then to him to whom he first past his worde Of which wordes the Empresse was not a little glad and therefore all that night shée deuised by what meanes she might froÌ„ that time forward so much as in her laie hinder Florendos from speaking to her Daughter whereupon she dailie kept the Chamber of presence and helde a more strickt looke on Griana then before shee had doone which greatlie increased the passions of Florendos
for Florendos could not finde him the bruite and rumor was qualified and the Emperour went againe to his Chamber till the morning when the Empresse hearing yâ— her daughter was in prison tooke it verie heauilie and knéeling be-before the Emperour desired him that she might fetch her foorth but he was so angrie as her wordes coulde doo nothing with him yet he graunted that shee shoulde goe see her and tooke her the Key when she entering the Tower founde her sitting on the ground so blubred with teares as was lamentable to beholde but when she behelde her Mother she arose and dooing her reuerence coulde not speake her teares so ouercame her The Empresse that loued her déerelie séeing her in this gréeuous estate had much a doo to dissemble what she thought how beit after a fewe light wordes passed betwéene them she said I am â—orie daughter that you haue so lightlie throwne your affection vpon a Straunger and that you forget your duetie in following your Fathers counsell and mine who well knâ—we the loue Tarisius beares you and no otherwise Daughter then to take you to his wife But you carried awaie with yâ— loosenes which ill agrées with your credite and calling haue rather thought best to grant Florendos enterance by your Garden at such a suspected howre as while you liue your honour will be hardlie thought on for two of Tarisius his Knights who thought to take the Traytour are slaine and my Nephew himselfe daungerouslie escaped Griana hearing him called Traitour whom shee so highlie looued and that shee herselfe was accused by that which ought to excuse her answered Madame and my gracious Mother as yet I am ignoraunt of the cause that hath mooued the Emperour in such choller against me and be it for this you speake of in soothe I am offered verie great iniurie for I knowe not whether Florendos or anie other haue entred my Garden well I am assured hee came not where I was These are straunge newes to me Madame I â—old rather haue thought him on his waie towards Macedon in respect of the solemne leaue he tooke in the Courtâ— For my part I would that the Traytour which was the cause hereof had long since béene buried in the bottome of the Sea then he should so abuse the honor of Florendoâ— with a matter of such villanie wherein I cannot iudge him faultie but were it he Madame I am at a point let him die yâ— death as he hath well deserued for my duetie to you my Parents hath taught me better nurture and loue canne be no priuiledge to me to offende Then good Mother twit not mee with impeache of honour in so innocent a cause for defence whereof were the death present before mine eyes I haue sorrowed as much as I would and am more readie to embrace then liue in suspecte so shall my Father and you bee eased of prouiding me a Husband As for the prison wherein I am I will not denie his fauoure when it shall please him to deliuer me but I coulde take it farre more contentedlie to spende the remainder of my following daies thus solitarie then to liue abroade misdéemed on by anie Faire Daughter said the Empresse doo not discomfort your selfe in this sort the Emperour had some reason in regarde of the loue he beares you and the outragious tumult which happened to doo as he hath doone but I hope in the end all will sort to the best and that you your selfe shall remaine contented Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them till at length the Empresse left her and departed for she thought long till she was with the Emperour to let him know the talke betwéene her and Griana which shee didde without omitting anie thing notwithstanding hee was more seuere to his Daughter euerie daie after Then sent hee for the Ambassadours and thus he began with them My Lordes at this time I am aduised that you shall returne to your King my Brother for in respect of the accidents which you haue séene to happen I will craue pardon for this tyme referring matters ouer till some other time when thinges shall fall in better disposition The Ambassadours vnderstanding the Emperours pleasure the next daie tooke their leaue towarde the King their Maister to whom they declared the whole in generall whereat hee conceiued such dyspleasure as he presentlie sent for his Sonne Tarisius who had not as yet recouered his health But he was so enamered on yâ— yong Princesse as he would not obey his Fathers commaund but so soone as he was indifferentlie amended he intreated the Emperour to pardon his Daughter accusing his owne men who vndiscreetlie had raised this false rumour of her and Florendos By this meanes the Empresse and her Ladies obtained libertie dailie to accompanie Griana but all the night time he caused her to bee locked vp as closelie as before committing her to the charge of an aged Gentlewoman named Tolomestra whom hee commaunded on paine of death not to bee a minute of an houre forth of her companie CHAP. VIII Howe Florendos arriuing on the frontiers of Macedon made manie sorrowfull complaints for not bringing Griana away according to his enterprise NO sooner had Florendos Frenato ouertane their companie but they rid on in such hast fearing to be followed as at length they got the Frontiers of Macedon And because Florendos imagined himselfe without life not hearing anie tydinges from his Mistresse Griana he concluded to rest at the first Towne he came too there to expect the returne of the Esquire he sent to Constantinople who returned towards his Maister sooner then he looked for by reason of the little aboad he made in the Emperours Court for he staied not when he hearde that Griana was imprisoned and that Tarisius was not slaine as his Maister was perswaded These newes did wonderfullie afflict the Prince as well for the harde vsage of his swéete Fréende as that he had fayled in killing him by whose death he well hoped to recouer his losse all the whole daie would he receiue no sustenance but locked himselfe close in his Chamber and tombled on his bedde as a man halfe desperate But Frenato who would not be long absent from him fearing least his furie woulde cause him worke some violence on himselfe made such meanes yâ— hee got into the Chamber at what time the Prince was thus lamenting Alas swéete Madame was I borne in such an vnhappie houre that without desert you must indure imprisonment for me What satis-faction maie your Florendos liue to make in requitall of this iniurie When didde you euer merit to be so hardlie intreated for him Beléeue me coulde you bee discharged so soone as I coulde wyshe it bolts locks nor walles coulde holde you a thought whyle yet wyshing is no action euerie thing is contrarie to me al helpes refuse me and death likewise denies me but by my sworde and therewith he started vp in spight of whatsoeuer I will deliuer you Frenato
why lament you then séeing it is your pleasure to make her vnfortunate while she liues I hartelie desire the heauens to pardon you and that the first newes heereafter you shall heare of me maie be the true report of my death This said shee mounted on horsebacke and without anie semblaunce to take her leaue of her Father so béeing honourablie accompanied in short time she arriued in Hungaria with Tarisius whose loue to her so vehementlie increased as he reputed himselfe yâ— most fortunate Prince in Europe hauing gained the paragon among all Ladies Soone after the aged King died by which meanes Tarisius came to the Crowne Griana highlie esteeming such as shee brought with her from Constantinople to witt Lerina and Cardina but especiallie Tolomestra to whom she verie often imparted the whole secrets of her minde leading so strickt and constant a life as all the Court did wonder at her But the remorse of conscience which dailie touched her for the losse of her Sonne caused her to spende day and night in denout orisons that the heauens would forget her hainous offence CHAP. XI Howe Florendos vnderstoode by the Esquire hee sent to Constantinople the marriage of Griana and Tarisius whereat he conceiued such inward greefe as hée would haue died with extreame sorrow ALl this while continued Florendos on the Frontiers betwéene Constantinople and Macedon til at length he hearde that Griana was released of her imprisonment wherof he was so glad as nowe he thought to deale more surelie then he did before whervppon he dispatched Lyomenus one of his Esquires towardes her with a Letter of earnest and intire affection wherein he desired to knowe if he might compasse the meane to come and sée her and hee doubted not to bring her so secretlie on her iournete and with so good prouision as before they should be againe discouered they would be safelie arriued in Macedon But this hope was soone frustrate for Lyomenus béeing come to Constantinople founde the marriage betwéene Tarisius and Griana consumated which he tooke so displeasantlie as without giuing the Letter or speaking to the Princesse he returned hastilie againe to his Lorde and Maister Who béeing aduertised of his comming sent for him immediatlie vp into his Chamber at whose entrance the Prince discerned the newes by his conuntenance whervpon he demaunded if Griana were sicke or howe shee fared My Lord ê™ he happie had she béene if she had dyed tenne yeeres since for I doubt vnlesse you arme your self with wonderfull patience that what is doone will highlie endaunger your person Why quoth Florendos what is happened Trust me my Lord ê™ he the verie worst that can be for you Tarisius hath espoused her and despight of her the Emperour caused it to be doone No sooner had Lyomenus spoken the word but Florendos cast himselfe crueliâ—e against the grounde saying O my God take pittie on my soule for my bodie must needes suffer mis-fortune At which wordes he fell in a swoune when Lyomenus thinking him dead ran hastilie and called Frenato who knowing full well the cause of his passion laboured by all meanes he might to perswade him 〈◊〉 notwithstâ—â—ding all the intreaties he vsed in 〈◊〉 â—nd 〈…〉 hee coulde not get one word of hiâ— whereuppon hee sent for an auncient Hermit neere at hand whom Florendos made verie much account of who beeing come applying diuers soueraigne Hearbes to his temples whereof the olde Father â—nâ—we well the vertue at length Florendos recouered his sences and opening his eyes behâ—ld the olde Hermit to whoÌ„ with verie feeble voice he said Ah good Father praie for me for I féele mine ende nigh at hand Not so my Sâ—nne saide the Hermit what are you so vnprouided of diuine perswasion as you will loose bothe bodie and soule for matter of so meane consequence hast thou liued so long and yet ignâ—raunt of the inconstancie of Women which is no other thâ—Ì„ thou beholdest in Griana Knowest thou not that as the saile of the Shippe is subiecte to all windes so are their affections to continuall mutabilitie and knowest thou not that what they purpose to execute irreuocable in one moment they are suddainlie disswaded from My Sonne beléeue my counsell and with as much pleasure learne to forget this folly as with extreame paine thou diddesâ— first imprint it in thy thoughts Ah Father quoth Florendos neuer seeke in this sort to perswade me béeing assured if you knew how things haue past you wold not thus in fearmes disgrace my Ladie for shee is mine and Tarisius hath no right to her to whom the Emperour hath married her perforce els would she neuer haue broken her faith to me and while I liue Father none but she can bee called the Wyfe of Florendos Sonne to the mighty King of Macedon The wise olde Father séeing him in choller beeing lothe likewise to offende the Prince would no longer crosse him in spéeches but fearing to mooue him too much mildlie thus spake May be my Sonne she hath beene deere to you and I would your consent in loue had aunswered your lyking but thus to dispaire and endaunger your owne life truste me it is not well doone therefore I desire you to perswade your selfe and by your constancie condemne her lightnes taking patientlie what haâ—h happened These and such like good words vsed the old Hermit but Florendos would take no sustenance neither be remooued froÌ„ this opinion for fiue daies while the old man staied with him neither would he looke chéerefully as he was wont but continued euermore sad melanchollique nor could the King his Father cause him like of anie Wife but onely Griana for whome continuallie he neuer left mourning CHAP. XII How yong Palmerin sleeping had a strange vision which prouoked him to know whose Son he was and of the talk which passed between him and Dyofâ—na the daughter of Gerrard PAlmerin being now come to the age of fifteene yeeres nourished in the Mountaine as the Childe of Gerrard his supposed Father well beloued of him and Marcella his wife as their own Sonne grewe in stature so tall comelie and wel nurtured as well might he be known of noble parentage For albeit he companyed with Gerrards Children who vsed him after their rusticall capacities yet hee desired more to passe the Mountaines with his long Bowe to chase the Beares and Bores thorowe thicke and thinne and to keepe Hawkes and dogges rather then Sheepe and Cattell as the other Children did In these sports he had such wonderfull delight as oftentimes he would come home verie late and sore wearied but one time among the rest he came home so ouerlaboured as he was glad to laie him downe to rest and he was no sooner fallen a sléepe but he was solicited with a meruailous visyon the effect whereof thus followeth Hee thought as hee was pursuing a goodlie Harte thorowe a Forrest hee met with the fairest Ladie that euer eye behelde who sat on the side of a
countenaunce to her then hee was accustomed but shee good Lady in his excuse conceiued better opinion then she had cause yet as it euermore falleth out in loue that when Ladies sée themselues but slenderly courted by their Fréendes they growe importunate in their amorous desires so came it to passe with Laurana who perceiuing herselfe not solicited by Palmerin as shee was wont one night somewhat late shee called the Dwarffe and thus began Howe comes it to passe my good Fréend that thy Maister is not of so pleasaunt disposition as heeretofore he hath béene it may be thou hast not let him vnderstand my last salutation or els feare with-holdes him from following his determination I pray thée doo the message of my earnest good will to him and tell him that I long to impart our affections togeather to the ful resolution of our desired thoughts which I haue found the way vnsuspected to accomplish so please him to come to my ChaÌ„ber to morrow at night where I shall not faile to expect his presence When the Dwarffe heard Laurana vse these words thinking his Maister was still in his former cogitations thus aunswered Trust me fayre Madame within these fewe dayes my Maister is become so mellanchollie as I haue manie times feared his death and I am sure hee hath no other cause to torment him so but onely the fury of the extreame loue he beares you yet séeing you haue promised him such gracious fauour let me alone to change this vnpleasaunt humour Fayle not then quoth shee to let him know my minde I goe presently said the Dwarffe to acquaint him with these long desired tydings So taking his leaue he went to his Maisters Chamber whom he founde fast a sleepe when not daring to awake him let stay hys message till the next morning and so laide him downe to rest at what time sleepe had thorowly possessed him he began to cry and complaine so loude as his Maister hearing him arose and demaunded of him the cause of his lament Alas my Lorde quoth he neuer in all my life was I so affrighted me thought that one of the fayrest Ladies that euer eye lookt on helde a naked sworde against my throate saying Uile and villainous creature as thou art darest thou presume so much to offende me as to make thy Lorde and Maister amorous of Lady Laurana and to forsake me iustly doost thou deserue to dye on this weapon for thy paillardise and if héereafter thou carry any message to preiudice my right assure thy selfe that I wil chastise thée in such sort as all deformed villaines shal receiue example by thée I tell thée Traytour Palmerin his fortunes climbes higher then the name of Laurana and where he is more looued for the royaltie of his linage then for his base and Pastoral education With which wordes shee gaue me such a stroke on the heade with her sworde as I fearefull of my life cryed so loude as you say you hearde me This motioÌ„ made Palmerin easily perceiue that Polinarda had made thys threatning to the Dwarffe for Laurana which concealing to himsâ—lfe he said in laughter I think thou diddest forget to drinke when thou 〈◊〉 to bed and so thy hart béeing drie conceiued this fonde vision I praie thée sléepe trouble me no more with such idle passions The Dwarffe betooke him to rest but Palmerins thoughts all night were hammering on this Dreame so that he resolued to departe thence the next morning and séeke els where his aduentures séeing hee was admonished by so manie aduertisements So at the daie rysing he called the Dwarffe and commaunded him to prepare his Armour for hee intended to take his leaue of the Duke Ptolome hearing this and hauing noted beside all that the Dwarffe tolde his Maister in the night Dissembling the matter as was his manner he came and bad Palmerin good morrowe who aunswered Ptolome in this manner My déere Fréend I haue concealed none of mine affaires froÌ„ thée since the time we receiued our knighthoode and parted togeather from the Courte of Macedon nowe therefore shall I impart to thée what I haue determined It is so that vrgent occasions constraines me presently to leaue this Countreie and henceforth to frame my course which way Fortune will direct me by which occasion I see we must be enforced to leaue each other notwithstanding let me intreate that our absence may no way impayre our fréendshippe not doubting but in good time we shall meete togeather againe In meane space if you sée the King or Prince Florendos forgette not the humble duety of theyr vowed Seruaunt I beséeche yée who dedicates his life and honour in all attempts to their gracious fauours By God said Ptolome let who will doo the message for me for neither death nor daunger shall seperate me from you but I wil beare you companie while life and soule hold together If you be so resolute said Palmerin shame were it for mee so to refuse you Set forward then when you please quoth Ptolome for we neither must nor will depart that 's flat So béeing bothe armed they came to the Duke who meruailed much to sée them so prepared and therefore demaunded whether they went My good Lord answered Palmerin in that your Countrey is nowe quieted wee must intreate you for our departure because waightie affaires in other places doo so commaunde vs. How happens it fayre Fréendes saide the Duke that you will so soone leaue mee My Lorde quoth Palmerin wee are so enforced and therfore we humblie intreate you not to be offended If your affaires bee such saide the Duke lothe am I to hinder you commaunde of me and mine what you please for all remaineth at your disposition Most humble thanks did Palmerin and Ptolome returne the Duke and ere they went to horseback they came to take their leaue of the Duchesse Laurana who was well nie deade séeing her hope deceiued for she expected the night comming when shée and Palmerin should conferre togeather of their loue but séeing him now departing she was out of all hope to sée him againe the extreame gréefe whereof so ouercame her as giuing a greate shrike shee fell in a swoune The Ladies and Gentlewomen in great amazement came about her ignoraunt of her euill but onelie Palmerin and his Dwarffe which hee likewise woulde not reueale to anie for the reason you hearde discoursed before and rather would she entertaine her own death then make knowne a secrete of such importaunce wherefore hauing somewhat recouered herselfe and not able to conceale her anguish with an extreame sigh she thus breathed foorth her sorrow Ah Palmerin easilie hast thou kindled the fire which with great shame thou leauest consuming vnquenched Who would haue thought such treason coulde harbour where faire conditions and honourable valour shined so brightlie Well may I condâ—mne al men of disloyaltie séeing thou hast failed resembling so excellent Beléeue me Knight thou hast doone mee great wrong and thy selfe much more
saying Sir Knight doo you not knowe mee No in good sooth aunswered Palmerin Beléeue mee quoth the Damosell then hath my seruice béene euil imployed which sâ—metime I did you and whereof I am sure you haue heard good account Then Palmerin knewe her she bringing the Shéelde and the Helmet when Florendos knighted him whereuppon he rose from the Table and embracing her said Faire Damosell and my fréende I pray you pardon me for the length of time since I first saw you did quite exempt you from my remembrance pleaseth it you to commaunde me anie seruice Sir Knight said the Damosell when I presented you the Helmet and Shéelde wherwith you tooke your order of Knighthoode you promised mee if you remember that you would vse it with right good will in anie affaires the Knight had that sent it you and when he should require such performaunce nowe is the time to confirme your déede with your worde for hee hath sent mée to you with humble intreatie that without anie staie you goe where I shall conduct you otherwise you are the onelie cause of his death God shéelde me froÌ„ such mis-fortune said Palmerin rather woulde I goe with you presently from the Table So doo I pray you quoth she for I haue hast Then he called for his Armour and the table withdrawne he went into his Chamber to arme himselfe and so dyd Ptolome also returning they tooke their leaue of the Ladies and mounted on horsebacke the whole companie béeing so sorrie for their departure as Esmerinda came to the Damosell saying I promise you Damosell you haue doone vs wrong in mine opinion to hinder vs of the presence of so good a Knight Ladie aunswered the Damosell thinke you he was borne for you onelie content your selfe with the good you haue receiued by him and suffer such as haue néed of his prowesse to receiue his assistaunce as you haue doone And good reason saide Esmerinda if it be to so good an end that no resistaunce bee offered when helpe is required So departed the two Knights with the Damosell which waie she guided them and verie desirous was Palmerin to bee with the Knight that sent to seeke him because hee would gladlie know of whence hee was that wyshed him so wel as his message declared by the Damosell the same daie hee was Knighted CHAP. XXIIII Howe Palmerin and Ptolome arriued at the Courte of the King of Bohemia where they entred Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his two Cozins who accused the Knight and his Son of treason that sent to seeke Palmerin MAnie miles had these Knightes ridde with the Damosell when Palmerin at length desired her to tell him what hee was that sent him yâ— Helmet the Shéeld whereto she aunswered that séeing he was so desirous to knowe listen ê™ she and I shall report the whole vnto you The Knight we speake of is disceÌ„ded of verie royall bloode béeing Uncle to the King of Bohemia that raignes at this present as also to the Empresse of Allemaigne the verie best séene in Nigromancie this daie liuing This noble man is named Prince Adrian who neuer liked to liue in the Court of the King his Brother but contented with what patrimonie his Father left him at length maried with a verie beautifull Ladie of whom in time hee begat a Sonne named Dyardo which Sonne his Brother the King of Bohemia nourished vppe in his Court with his owne Sonne So mutually in loue agréed these two yong Princes as after the death of the aged King the yong Dyardo should ioyn the rule with his Cozin the King who tooke to Wife the Daughter to the Duke of Lorayne bringing her with him into this Countrey in companie of her Sister a Princesse so wise and vertuous as euer liued It so came to passe that Dyardo my Lords most noble Sonne framing his thoughts to the inspirations of loue affected so highlie the other Sister as he determined neuer to haue anie other to his Wife if he might compasse what he intended For her good Ladie he coulde not be deceiued in his amorous desires he found her loue so equall with his yet did they shaddow their affections so discreetlie as none coulde perceiue them but Domarto the traiterous Countie of Ormeque one of the best Knights in all this Country were he as familiar with vertue and honestie as he is with mallice and disloyaltie This Traytour enterprised to match with the Queenes Sister beloued as you haue hearde by my Lordes worthy Sonne and thereuppon after manie sollicitings made knowne his intent vnto her whereof she made so slender account as shee forbad him any more to trouble her Domarto séeing my Lorde Dyardo his onely hinderaunce in loue intended a mallicious villainie and on a suddaine accused the Prince that he intended to poyson the King so to obtaine the Crowne as discended of a neerer coÌ„sanguinitie And as it often falleth out in such cases when one séekes to crosse an others fortune there is no time flacked in following such drifts euen so this Traytor finding the yonge King alone began his matter in this coullorable sort My gracious Lord the faith and allegeaunce I owe to you highnesse bindes me to make your princelie cares acquainted with such newes as God is my witnes said the Traitour lifting his eyes and hands to heauen mine own death were more welcome to me such is the loue I beare them whom it concernes béeing al so neere allied to you in birth as sorie I am they shoulde bee detected but in your regarde my gracious Lorde the action touching you in such sort as it dooth let me die rather then spare any liuing creature no not mine owne Sonne had nature giuen mee anie This néedelesse exordium haue I made to so foule an occasion albeit truth néedes no coullers or eloquent figures and therefore in bréefe my Lord this is the summe I am crediblie enformed that your highnesse Cozin the Prince Dyardo and Madame Cardonia Sister to the Quéene haue laid the platforme to poyson your Maiestie and this haue they attempted by the procurement of olde Adrian your Uncle who pretends that the Crowne of Bohemia is his I knowe not whether it be for want of discretion or no but howsoeuer it be my Lorde you shoulde not leaue such a villainie vnpunished The King began greatlie to meruaile at these newes and knewe not well what to think whervpon he aunswered the Countie that he coulde not beleeue this accusation But the Traytour set so smoothe a countenaunce on the matter and did auerre it still with such stout protestations as hee induced the King to beleeue him so that a daie or two after the King béeing walking in hys Garden séeing Dyardo Cardonya at the Quéenes chamber windowe secretlie conferring of their amorous affections commaunded them bothe to be carried to prison The Countie glad thereof prouoked the King still with such anger against them as immediatlie he woulde haue theÌ„ bothe doone to
presented his Cozins the one named Edron proude and arrogant and the other Edward of selfe same qualitie These two tooke their oathes with the Countie that the Princes accused conspired the Kinges death in such sort as hath béene before declared and olde Adrian Dyardo and fayre Cardonya sware the contrary But it is true and I wil not denie it said the Prince Dyardo that I haue and doo loue Ladie Cardonya as much or rather more then mine owne selfe yet neuer did I cary any other intent but to request her in holie wedlocke so pleased the King and Quéene to like so well thereof as we coulde But that euer I intended treason or villainie it is most false and Countie thou liest in thy throate and thy copartners that haue sworne with thee It is sufficient said Palmerin but my Lord ê™ he to the King if wee be conquerers the accused shall bee deliuered and the accusers hanged What saie you Countie quoth the King Good reason Sir the like doo we request if we be victors Will you saide Palmerin that eache shall helpe his fellow as he findes it conuenient What els said the Countie that is expedient While this talke endured Edron regarded so well Palmerin that hee espied the Sworde which the Damosell carried in the Casket and brought to that Courte as she did to others which shewing the Countie he saide out aloude Where did the deuils finde this Knight to giue him this Sworde Belike they gaue him strength to drawe it out els he might haue failed as manie other did the Damosell was vnwise to bestowe it in such bad sorte At which wordes Palmerin beeing angry returned Edron this rounde auâ—swere I see Knight there is in thee more brauery and foolishe glorie then manlie action thou blamest mee before thou knowest me but ere you and I part I le finde better reason to bestowe on you and beate better gouernment into your pate with this sword that likes you not This caused euery one wishlie to beholde Palmerin the King remembring that he had séene the Sworde which none in his Court coulde deserue to conquere whereuppon he estéemed so well of Palmerin as he commaunded Edron to silence and all to goe arme themselues because hee intended that day to see the Combat fought CHAP. XXV Howe Palmerin Adrian Ptolome entered the Combat against the Countie of Ormeque and his Cozins whom they honorably vanquished AFter the King had commaunded the Knights to goe arme themselues he gaue charge to foure of his auncientest Knights to see the fielde prouided and there to place the Iudges according to the wonted custome in Bohemia the Knights béeing careful of the Kinges commaunde had soone prepared all things in readines wherefore the King his Lords Ladies and Gentlewomen went to sée the issue of this valiant enterprise Then was the Prince Dyardo and faire Cardonya brought into the fielde before whom was made a very great fire wherein they should be burned if the Countie conquered Soone after came the sixe Combatants who entered at two places appointed one against the other the Challengers beeing conducted by two of the Iudges to their place and the Defendants by the other two where they were appointed so the Iudges beeing placed the Marshal summoned the fielde and the Heraldes bid the Champions doo their deuoâ—re Palmerin had good regard to Edron whose words sticking on his stomacke called now for reuenge wherefore couching his Launce he encountered him with such a full carrire as his Launce passed through his bodie and Edron tombled dead to the ground In the meane while the Countie and Prince Adrian had vnhorssed eache other Adrian so sore wounded as he could hardlie helpe himselfe as for Ptolome and Edward they had astonied each other with falles from their Horsses but they recouered themselues quicklie and with sharpe strokes beganne to charge eache other valiantly Greatlie ashamed was the Countie to bee vnhorssed and therfore to recouer his honour he came with great furie towardes his enemie which Palmerin perceiuing stept betwéene them saying To me Countie to mee who wil bid more for thy heade then anie in the field With which wordes he reached him such a sure stroke on the head as made the fire flie foorth of his eyes notwithstanding as a man of good courage he stept aside thrusting his sword into Palmerins Horse throate enforced him quickly to take him to his féete but all the worse for him as it fell out afterwarde for Palmerin hauing beaten him out of breath he flong away his weapon and caught him about the middle where they tugged so long togeather that Palmerin getting him downe and his knées on his belly with his sword soone tooke his heade from his shoulders All this while Ptolome had good play with his enemie and after manie daungerous woundes receiued on either side at length hee had the better of the daie by killing his aduersarie Then he and Palmerin went to the Iudges who giuing theÌ„ sentence of honourable victory they tooke of their Helmets came to sée in what estate the Prince Adrian was Euill enough quoth he my noble good Fréends but the lesse account doo I make of my life in that mine eyes haue séene due vengeaunce on mine enemies Then was he nobly borne forth of the fielde the King commaunding to lodge him in his owne Pallace and the Chirurgions searching his wounds founde them mortall which newes did gréeue the whole Court ingenerall the good olde Prince yet béeing of some courage was ioyfull to die in so good sorte hauing defended his owne honour and his Sonnes whâ—me he sent for and in the presence of all the standers by saâ—d My Son séeing it hath pleased God thus to sende for me good reason is it that his will bee fulfilled but ere I depart this I commaunde thée that next God thou truely serue and loue my Lorde the King bearing towards him a hart so faithfull as I haue doone to the hower of my death and conceiue no essence at what hath passed against thée and me hauing come to passe as I iudge more by euill counsel then any setled perswasion against vs. For the rest to thy vttermost remeÌ„ber the good thou hast this daie receiued by yâ— noble Knight who is called Palmerin then calling Palmerin to him hee saide Sir Palmerin death hath seized so surelie on me as I cannot let you know a number of things that concerne you very néerelie I counsell you therefore to trauaile to yâ— Emperours Court of Allemaigne where you shal heare tidings of that you séeke so earnestlie with which wordes hee deliuered vppe his ghost And because it seemeth good â—re I passe any further to let you knowe how the Prince Adrian came by the knowledge of Palmerin thus it is I haue heretofore reported that he was a notable Cabalist or Magitian by meanes whereof fewe secrets were concealed from him so casting the Callender of most honourable byrthes he haâ—pened on Palmerin and
maie be good because his desire is to make staie with vs and for your owne part looke that you intreate him well with this request that you accept him for your seruaunt and he shall be your Knight And are you bothe agréed Ladies said Palmerin Heauen forsake me if I refuse honour of so high account And as they woulde haue procéeded on the Emperor came in and brake off their talke and comming to the Empresse saide Madame I beséeche you haue good regarde to the health of this Knight and let our Chirurgions not trifle the time with him for I perswade my selfe that the enchaunted Knight with his venomed arrowes hath wounded him with great daunger inwardlie and hath besides sore brused his bodie with the weight of his Mace But Palmerin hauing Polinarda so néere him neither minded his woundes or what the Emperour had spoken his obiect more delighted then his woundes gréeued him then the Emperour taking him by the hande saide I pray you my déere Freende to bee of good comfort dispayre not for anie thing I beseeche you and bee aduised by them y◠haue care of your health for you shall want nothing if my Crowne will purchase it So departed hee and the Empresse with their Daughter Polinarda whome loue had already so inueigled that she béeing yet but tender of yéeres found her selfe so restrained of her libertie as scant she knewe howe to dissemble this suddaine affection and from that time forward she became so sadde and pensiue as one of her Ladies the most fauoured and familiar with her named Brionella Daughter to the Duke of Saxon well perceiued it yet durst shee not presume to demaunde whence procéeded this strange alteration but so circumspectly did she regarde the Princesse as she well noted the grounde of her gréefes Whereuppon it happened that one time amongst other they two béeing alone togeather Brionella iudging that her Ladie delighted to heare spéeche of Palmerin nowe to hitte the nayl◠on the heade she thus began What say you Madame by your fauour of the newe come Knight did you euer sée a brauer and more accomplisht Gentleman Upon my faith Madame in mine opinion I thinke that nature hath wrought all her perfections in him and fauoured him aboue all other Knights in manhoode and Chiualrie Ah Brionella aunswered the Princesse thou art not alone of this opinion for I euer thought as much though I kept it in silence would God I had as great authoritie ouer him as he alreadie hath gotten ouer me Is the matter so with you saide Brionella it shoulde séeme you are in looue with him then To tell thée the trueth Brionella quoth shee I am and did I not doubt foure other hath preuented mee I would aduenture to make him mine In good sooth Madam said Brionella you two béeing vnited togeather in one reciprocall league of loue well might it bee reported the most honourable match and of the two noblest yong Princes through the whole worlde and séeing you haue made a choyse so worthie dismay not good Madame but proceede in your determination Thus deuised the two Ladies together on Palmerin who was no lesse in affliction for the looue of Polinarda whom hee had searched with so gréat payne and trauaile and had nowe founde with so high good fortune If loue was so earnest with him before in his sléeping visions hauing not séene her much more vehement was the impression nowe hauing her in presence Whereupon the day folowing he called for his garments and as he was making himselfe readie the Emperour by one of his Gentlemen sent him the good morrow desirous to vnderstande in what plight he felt himselfe Good Sir aunswered Palmerin to the Gentleman I beséeche you doo my humble dutie to the Emperour for this great courtesie and you may thus assure him that heauen be praised I féele my selfe in so good estate as euer I did Which the Emperour hearing was highlie contented and sent to desire his companie to the Chappell where Palmerin neuer before so throughlie touched with the forcible assaults of looue glaunced so manie swéete lookes on the Princesse Polinarda and breathed so many sighes the secrete Ambassadours of his harte as it was a heauen to him to be in these passions The Emperour and all the traine returned from the Chappell they went to meate and Palmerin beeing placed right against Polinarda was in such fits as hee knewe not what countenaunce to vse for his couller went and came in such manner as the Princesse might easilie iudge the cause of his dolour wherupon she presentlie presumed that she had more interrest in his thoughts then ere she looked for The like opinion conceiued he of her yet was no other testimony deliuered on either side then sad countenances the reuealers of a tormented spirite Thus continued these two louers till the Tables were withdrawne and then the Lords and Ladies fel to dauncing in which delight and diuers other the whole day was spent till the Empresse and her Ladies departing to their Chambers the good night on all sides was reuerently giuen when Palmerin went to his lodging in such an agonie as more likelie to die then liue hee threwe himselfe on his bedde where hauing sighed and sorrowed long time gréeuously at length hee brake foorth into these tearmes Ah Palmerin vnhappy wretched and moste miserable nowe art thou entred into such a Laborinth as impossible is it for thée to get out again with life but what shoulde mooue thee to so high an enterprise béeing no way able to equall her that is second to none Alas nowe doo I plainlie sée the small credite is to bee reposed in Dreames and that the visions I saw in my Father Gerrards house on the Mountaine Artifaeria and els where are friuolous illusions and of no account with them may I ioyne the promise made mee by olde Adrian who boasted to knowe so much of my fortunes for looue is not of such power on my behalfe that faire Polinarda either can or will make anie reckoning of me Then Palmerin resolue thy selfe suddainlie to die that this inuisible and consuming fire which by little and little melts thée away may bee extinguished and thy selfe eased With these wordes he breathed foorth such an extreame sighe as Vrbanillo the Dwarffe being néere hearde him who doubting least any newe mischaunce had happened by the priuie woundes she enchaunted Archer gaue him made hast to know the cause of this euill Ah Vrbanillo quoth Palmerin I finde my selfe farre worse then deade What my Lorde sayd the Dwarffe now you ought to be of best disposition will you deceiue vs with this alteration The Emperour neuer gaue you bad countenaunce since your comming whence then shoulde procéede thys straunge conceit No no Vrbanillo quoth hee it is not the Emperor but a Lorde of greater power then his Maiestie It is Looue my Lad the strickt commaunder of the stoutest mindes he hath conquered mee and well I knowe I shall die if thou
himselfe and tormented with so manie passions as euerie howre his death is expected What will ye Ladie that I say hee complaines hee sighes and daie by daie is in such dispaire for his Ladies loue as happie might I haue accounted him had he neuer séene her or that his daies were as short as his desires If then Polinarda were in doubt not iudging herselfe to bée shée it may easilie bee imagined and presently was shee brought into such perplexitie as the vermillion couller in her chéekes began to change such suddaine feares possessed her and so manie sundry opinions thwarted her conceite as faine she woulde haue spoken but coulde not of long time wherby the Dwarffe discerned the cause of her alteration yet he dissembled what he sawe and thus continued on his discourse Nowe considering faire Madame the high deserts of my Lorde may she be estéemed happy as you saie that shall cause the losse of the best Knight liuing this day Ah Mistresse if he die as God forbid farwell the flower of all noblenes and the most assured Freâ—nde to distressed Ladies Wherefore I beséeche you pardonâ— mee if I shall name her vnto you and let mee intreate you to dealé with her so farre that the courtesie wherein she is indebted to so gooâ— a Knight as my Master is may be shewed effectually as that she would loue and fauour him as he dooth hath verie well deserued Trust me Vrbanillo aunswered the Princesse when I knowe the Ladie I will and beside if she doo not regarde his passions as she ought I will intreate her at my request to be more pittifull These wordes procured a suddaine iealouzie in her that shee shoulde promise to another what she desired her selfe yet earnest to bee resolued she vowed to fulfill her promise and therefore desired him to tell her name So you will giue mee your worde Madame quoth the Dwarffe not to take in ill parte what I shall saie I will satis-fie your request presently Be léeue me saide the Princesse I will not rather perswade thy selfe that héerein thou doost me great pleasure Ah fayre Princesse quoth the Dwarff it is for you and no other that my Lord is thus tormented it is for you that heé liues and dies a hundred times a daie swéete Ladie haue pittie on him and séeke not the losse of so good a Knight who looues you déerer then his owne life At which aunswere shee was supprized with incredible pleasure yet feigning the contrarie she saide Is it I and howe long I praie you By my faith Madame quoth he that can I not well tell yee but I haue hearde him say of long time more then foure yeeres before he was Knighted hee vowed himselfe yours since which time all his honourable actions hath hee onely dedicated to your praise So that to finde you hee left the King of Macedon and his Sonne Florendos of whom hee was estéemed as no man the like yet that honour hée forsooke to doo you seruice and for your loue he yéelded himselfe as vassaile to the Emperour your Father and gaue himselfe your Knight if you deigne to accept him When Polynarda had well hearde the Dwarffe albeit her harte floted in ioyes yet could she so well commaunde her thoughts as shee seemed to make smal account of his words notwithstanding she returned him this aunswéere I promised thée Vrbanillo not to conceiue ill of ought thou shouldest tell me nor doo I yet wold I haue thee to regard my calling béeing daughter to so great a Prince as is the Emperour But if it bee so that Palmerin thy Lorde beares me such speciall affection I must let him knowe by thée that it would haue â—éene farre more séemelie himselfe to haue told me then to make thée Ambassadour in such secrete affaires neuerthelesse I not mislike his honourable loue and good will whereof I shall thinke better when I knowe the effecte is conformable to thy protestations Madame quoth the Dwarffe so you would please to vouchsafe him time and place hee will acquaint you with strange matter concerning bothe your destinies which courtesie can no waie impeache your honour Why tell him saide the Princesse he shall haue mee dailie héere in the Chamber of presence where he may saie his pleasure with safetie in meane space I accept him as my Knight charging him that he doo not depart the Court without my licence if hee desire to doo mee pleasure The Dwarffe well pleased with so good an aunswere on hys knee kissing the Princesse hande tooke leaue of her to returne towardes Palmerin who méeting him by the waie in place conuenient saide Howe nowe Vrbanillo what newes hast thou brought me life or death So good newes Maister aunswered the Dwarffe as you haue good occasion to repute your selfe the moste fortunate Knight that euer bare Armes Then Palmerin embracing him saide Ah tell me what they are hast thou spokeÌ„ with diuine Polinarda takes shee anie pittie on my consuming cares That dooth she my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe and commandes you by me if you be so vowed hers as I haue perswaded yâ— hence foorth you depart not the Emperours Courte without her leaue Then recited he the whole talke betwéene them and lastlie the pleasure she conceiued in so good tydings so that she accepted him onelie for her Knight While yâ— Dwarffe continued this discourse Palmerin was rauished with such inwarde ioy as with a great sigh he said Oh heauens how doo you fauour me nowe sée I well that my seuerall apparitions on the Mounts of Oliues and Artifaeria are predestinations ordeyned to mee by your gracious prescience I beséeche you therefore humblie that what you haue promised may soone come to effect for the regarde of incomparable Polinarda Then demaunded hee by what meanes he might attaine to speake with the Princesse She sayth ê™ he that you shall dailie haue her in the presence or in the Empresse Chamber and there may you safely impart your whole minde vnto her But I haue other newes to tel yee for I vnderstand certainlie that the Emperour intendes a matter greatlie for your aduauntage he minds to morrow to visite one of his Castelles neere at hande and there to passe the time in honour of the Ladies will haue a Tourney There better then any where els may you and Polinarda conferre togeather therfore courage your selfe and goe keepe comanie with my Lorde the Emperour it may bee himselfe will acquaint you with this enterprise Now credite me Vrbanillo saide Palmerin thou hast doone so much for mee as I shall neuer recompence thée while I liue but I pray thée tell mee did shee not at the first take my message strangelie That did she quoth the Dwarffe when I perswaded her that you loued a Lady in such sorte as hardlie coulde you liue without her fauourable regarde then she thinking it was some other and not herselfe changed couller meruailous passionatlie but let it suffise you that she is as deepe in loue as you
in such sort as you may neuer depart from the Emperours seruice Palmerin with excéeding contentment receiued the Chaine and on his knée huÌ„bly thanked the Empresse and the Princesse to whom hee spake as followeth Madame I am well contented to abide in such a pryson and neuer will I desire any other libertie but still will bee his vassaile that hath power to commaunde mee This aunswere pleased the Emperour excéedinglie in that he desired to haue Palmerin still abide in his Court Wherfore he said to Polinarda you haue doone well Daughter thus to binde Palmerin for nowe he can not escape awaie when he list So the Tables béeing couered the Emperour and all the Knights of the Tourney satte downe to meate where much talke was speâ—t as concerning y◠〈◊〉 on al sides but Palmerin Polinarda had enough to doo to view eache other their eyes dooing their office and carrying betwéene them the mâ—ssage of their passions yet so discreetlie shaddowed as none could perceiue them Supper ended the Knights and Ladiâ—s went to dauncing and afterwarde to their Chambers because the Emperour had commaunded the next daie an other Tournament a breefe report wherof may very wel serue in that you can imagine there wanted no braue chiualrie What Palmerin did that daie it were in 〈◊〉 to tell because the former daâ—e makes knowne his woorthines and Ptolome behaued himselfe in so good sort that Brionella was as proude of him as the Princesse of her Knight and therfore presented him with a very rich Diamond as a token of his desert her loue Thus while the Ioustes endured the Duke of Lorrayne had great familiaritie with Palmerin because he had deliuered his Sister Cardonya from the false treason of the CouÌ„ty of Ormequâ— All pastimes thus finished the Emperour returned to Gaunt where Palmerin intreated his Mistresse to appoint him time place where they might more priuatlie discourse on their loue the which the promised and awaited oportunity CHAP. XXX Howe Polinarda disclosed her secrets to Brionella and of the talke she had with Palmerin POlinarda not forgetting the promise she made her Fréend to meete him in some place where they might argue on theyr loue determined to discouer her affections to Brionella the beloued of Ptolome well perceiuing that without her helpe she could not attaine the end of her desires wherefore without any longer stay shee thus began with her My chosen Freende I would make known one thing vnto thée which death can compell me discouer to no other wherefore thou must haue care to keepe secret my speeches in respect of my calling not doubting but in time to recompence any paine thou takest for me Fayre Princesse said Brionella in that you doo me such honor as to impart your thoughts to me rather will I die then fayle one iote of your commaundement and therefore assure your selfe that what you declare shall neuer be discouered Then Polinarda reuealed to her the loue she bare Palmerin what passions did torment her and in what extreamitie her desires had driuen her and therefore swéete Fréende quoth she with a déepe sigh find thou the meane that I may priuatlie talke with him Brionella admiring the earnest loue of the Princesse knewe not readilie what to aunswere but séeing that by these meanes she might more easily conferre with Ptolome whom shee likewise intirelie loued thus spake It is no wonder Madame you béeing so incomparable as I knowe no Prince liuing of whoÌ„ you are not woorthie if you haue resolued your loue on noble Palmerin in that there is no Knight in the worlde better deserues you his rare chiualrie beeing such as it cannot otherwise bee but that he is discended of royall linage béeing accomplished with so many speciall perfections Therefore Madam so like you I haue deuised well for your purpose as thus You knowe my Chamber window standes so commodious as you may with safetie confer with him at pleasure which you may let him vnderstande by his Dwarffe and appoint him time as you shall thinke conuenient This counsel did not a little content yâ— Princesse because she longed to chatte with her louer and therefore concluded at his departure to appoint Palmerin his time Nowe was the Chamber of Brionella ioyning to the Cittie wall and had a goodly prospect into the fieldes and Palmerins lodging was néere vnto it facing the wall as the other did so that one might easilie passe betwéene the lodgings nothing béeing betwixt them but a little Garden brauelie decked with flowres and goodlie fruite Trées The time appointed Polinarda called the Dwarffe to her saying Vrbanillo thou shalt goe to thy Maister from me and after thou hast saluted hym with my manifolde well wishinges wil him this night to come secretlie to Lady Brionellas Chamber where at the windowe we may safelie talke togeather and bid him not misdoubt my Lady Brionella for I haue made her acquainted with all my secrets And because thy selfe maist conduct him to the place come and I will presently she we it thee So went the Dwarffe with Polinarda to Brionellas chamber where hauing séene the windowe and gladde to carrie such tydings to his Maister beeing well assured howe they woulde content him he departed and tarried not long on his message because Palmerin thought each howre a yeere to heare from his Mistresse wherefore hee beholding the Dwarffe comming tooke him in his armes and demaunded what newes he had brought him The Dwarffe with a cheerefull countenaunce thus aunswered My Lord Fortune speede you as luckilie as the newes that I bring you doo well deserue By this beginning Palmerin perceiued that he brought such tydings as he long looked for which was howe he might speake with the Princesse wherfore embracing him againe he commaunded him to make report of that his sweete Mistresse had giuen him charge Then the Dwarffe deliuered howe the Princesse had great desire to see him and where shee did intende to speake with him Which wheÌ„ Palmerin heard â—illed with vnspeakable ioyes he recorded the words to himselfe with many itterations and the more often he spake the words the more his delights increased But tell me quoth he to the Dwarffe didst thou marke the place well where I must talke with my Goddesse Thereof doubt you not my Lorde sayde the Dwarffe for I shall not faile to bring you surely thither if it be your pleasure I shall goe with you because yâ— Princesse her selfe in company of Lady Brionella shewed it me How am I beholding to her said Palmerin for this high fauour which els were my death if I had beene denyed Uppon this he called Ptolome to whom he imparted euery circumstaunce which Ptolome reputed for his great auaile thys offering the meane for him to visite Brionella and therfore they concluded to goe togeather the night â—nsuing to the place appointed for this louing encounter The howre of rest beeing come and euery one in theyr Chambers as best beséemed Palmeâ—in Ptolome and the Dwarffe remayned
togeather and séeing the time readie to countenaunce theyr enterprise tooke eache of them a rich Mantle and wyth theyr Swordes vnder their armes went out at a windowe vppon the walles and albeit the passage was somewhat daungerous yet loue had so encouraged them as without regarde of daunger or fortune they came to the windowe which the Dwarffe shewed them not séene by any Polinarda who was most attentiue hearing the trampling of theyr feete sayde to Brionella Is not this Palmerin So opening the Casements they sawe Palmerin and Ptolome attending like dilligent Seruants If then bothe parties were pleased it is not to be doubted nothing in the worlde more contenting them then the sight of each other And truelye Palmerin and the Princesse had great reason for beside that their fatall destenies did so prouoke them theyr equal natures were so commendable and correspondent as though they had neuer séene yet were they borne to loue togeather Now was Polinarda very brauely accoâ—stred in a gorgious night Mantle and such soft white silkes as the shewed more bright then the morning Starre her firie pointed lookes so wounding Palmerin as rapt vppe as it were into a second heauen he remayned silent a long time not able to speake a worde The Princesse was likewise in the selfe same conceit and so ouercome with regarde of her Paramour as she continued mute and was loth to giue the onsette Palmerin ashamed to accompany his Ladie with such silence beganne thus mildlie to courte his Mistresse I did neuer thinke faire Madame that Fortune woulde honour mee with such extraordinarie fauour directing my course to your noble Fathers Courte to bee thus entertayned into your gracious seruice hauing no deserts in mee to induce you to your choyse but it may be in respect of some good report by such to whom I account my selfe highlie beholding hauing thus founde the place where I was prâ—ordained to loue my Starre hath appointed it and withall to make me the happiest man liuing And it may be Madame that such as enâ—ie not my happines haue acquainted you with some of my exterior actions which God not I hath brought to passe but they ignoraunt of the intire and feruent loue I beare you coulde make no iust report therof to you béeing a secret so speciall and not to be comprehended beside the depth and wonderfull nature thereof not to bee measured therefore to be buried in your heauenly opinion which howe ample so euer you please to graunt me the more am I bounde both in duetie and affection which in despight of enâ—ie and his confederates shall remaine immooueable and pleade the continuall loyaltie of your Knight and Seruaunt And if I shoulde reporte howe manie times your diuine personne hath béene presented me in sléepe I shoulde therewithall discourse infinite passions which I endured séeing my selfe frustrate of that I nowe beholde How many Countries and Citties what perrils and daâ—ngers haue I past to finde you prouoked on still with neuer chaunging loue If this then were sufficient to make me run through a worlde of daungers I leaue it to your iudgment sweete Madame what it may doo nowe séeing with myhâ—â—yes what I dreamed on before and may with â—â—fetie saie incomparable beautie Héerehence proceedeth that my extreame affections haue ouercome all other parts in mâ— not able to imagine howe manie reuerende opinions I vse of you which must intreate you on my behalfe that your accustomed clemencie will pardon my preiudicate conceiâ—e because béeing not mine owne but yours onelie I may easilie offende These spéeches moistened with the teares of his eies and like-warme blood of his hart deliuered manifest euidence how truelie he loued the Princesse who bearing him companie in all arguments of loue thus answered I doubt not Sir Palmerin but the looue you beare mee is excéeding great noting your earnest affections and the great trauaile you haue sustained in searche of me and no other certaintie doo I request to be perswaded by béeing as vehement in affection towards you as you are to me for proofe whereof this attempt maie suffise that against my duetie I should be séene thus secretlie in a place so suspicious and time so vnnecessarie But if I haue offended héerein accuse those séemelie perfections which I haue regarded in you and the confidence I repose in your good conceit coupled with the honourable estimation yâ— is generallie reputed in your vertues Pardon me swéete Ladie saide Palmerin if by my longing desire to speake with you I haue in anye thing displeased for earnest good will to doo you seruice constrained me to be thus importunate The matter is far from anie desert of offence quoth the Princesse for hither are you come by my commaundement to the ende that wee might sée one another and talke of such thinges as neerest concerne vs and therefore resolue your selfe good Knight that I esteeme you aboue all other and promise you by the faith of a Princesse and loyall Fréende to die rather then anie other shall be Lorde of me Which verie words so rauished his sences as verie hardlie he could sustaine himself whereuppon Polinarda put her hande out at the windowe which he in often kissing well marking behelde the Charracter thereon as you haue hearde before Ah Madame ê™ hee this is the token that makes me the happiest man liuing As howe I pray you saide she what know you héereof Then Palmerin discoursed all his dreames and visions and bréefely ranne thorow repetition of his whole life how the wise Adrian had sent him the Shéelde of Sable wherin in was figured a hand fast closed togeather signifying the same hand I holde at this present because this hath the same marke the other had in figure In trueth said the Princesse I was desirous to know the meaning of that Sheeld wherin I sawe a Siluer hand closed which you bare the first day of the Tournament béeing nowe not a little glad that you haue so satis-fied me Afterwarde Palmerin made knowne to her the marke himselfe had on his face which agreed with hers in perfect likelihoode O God quoth she happie be the time of this meeting blame me not my Lorde to bee thus supprised with your loue séeing our fatall desteâ—ies haue so appointed this will cause mee to liue in more hope of good successe then before I did and that our amitie will sorte to such ende as our two harts shall bee combined in one yet let mee sée I beséeche you the marke on your face howe neere it resembles this on my hand She fetching a Taper which burned in the Chamber lifted vp his comelie locks of hayre and sawe them bothe shaped in one forme wherefore suddainly setting awaie the light shee embraced Palmerins heade in her armes and sealed many swéete kisses on his amiable Charracter The like louing salutation passed betwéene Ptolome and Brionella at another Casement of the Windowe with sollemne vowes and protestations neuer to faile in their loue and this to
be the place for conuersing on their desires till Fortune affoorded theÌ„ better opportunitie and longer would they haue there coÌ„tinued but that the Dwarffe came to his Maister in this manner My Lorde I thinke you can neuer finde time to make an ende will you haue the day light preuent yee and so discredite you all in sooth it is time you were in your Chamber Palmerin who was lothe to depart from the pleasure of his thoughts made small account of the dwarffes words and continued on in amorous deuises but the Princesse a litle more fearefull then he seeing the Dwarffe said true and lothe to be séene suspitiously said My Lord it is time to breake off but I pray you faile not of your promise let vs visite one another now you knowe the way and place So Palmerin and Ptolome tooke leaue of their Ladies passed to their Chambers without suspition the successe of their loue you shall vnderstande héereafter as time place shall fitte for the purpose but nowe to satis-fie you with choyse of delights wee will returne a while to another discourse CHAP. XXXI Howe the King of Fraunce kept a royall and magnificent Courte and howe his Sonne Lewes became enamored of the Duchesse of Burgundie DUring the time that the Emperour of Allemaigne liued in this happines accompanied as you haue hearde with manie hardie Knightes there raigned in Fraunce a mightie Prince named Agariell valiant wise and vertuous hauing thrée Sonnes whereof the second was the hardiest Knight at Armes being named Lewes This King Agariell the more to honour hys Knights and noble Gentlemen abyding in his Realme determined to keepe open Court for all â—â—mmers as none of his predecessors euer did the like before him and therefore sent abroade his Heraldes Gentlemen of his escuyrie and others to summon his Lords and Barrons of Fraunce that on a day appointed they would all méete at the Court. And because none shoulde be ignoraunt what hee intended he requested that all Gentlemen professing Armes at the feaste of Easter following shoulde repaire to Parris beeing the heade and cheefest Cittie of his Realme The Queene likewise aduertised al Ladies and Gentlewomen at whose commaunde euery one obeyed so that in fewe dayes the Courte was furnished with Lordes and Lâ—dies nothing nowe intended but delights and courtlie pastimes which made the Duke of Burgunâ—â—â— likewise repaiâ—â— thither Now was the Duke aged a man of good prouidence and a tryed Knight hauing matched in marriage with the King of Denmarks Sister a yong beautiful Ladie and of vertuous education the Duke hoping to haue issue by her because by his first Wife he could not haue any The King aduertised of the Dukes comming commaunded his Son Lewes with an honourable traine to goe entertayne him which he did so that many solemne reuerences passed betweene the Duke and him as also to the Duchesse whom as he welcomed with manie salutations so did he earnestle coÌ„template her excellent beautie reputing her fairer then the fayrest and on a suddaine became amorous of her such a violent breach made loue into his hart at the very first sight of her In this great and vnlooked for vexation hee conducted her to the lodging was prepared for the Duke dissembling so well as hee coulde his newe desire but so vehement was his oppression as without returning againe to the King he went to his Chamber Prince Lewes béeing thus alone by himselfe Loue not a little tryumphing of his new pray tormented his thoughts with so manie conceits as all the night he spent in sighes and dolorous laments his mind stil trauailing by what meanes he might compasse his intent Sometimes he thought it vnpossible in respectet of yâ— Duke then againe as easie because of his age a contrarie too yâ—ksome in his eyes for the sweete florishing youth of the Dâ—chesse all which imaginations wrought so diuersly in him as his spirite forsaking counsell reason made him breake foorth into these exclaimes Ah heauens haue you beautie with such excellencie as to cause me endure a torment more then mortall Ah mine eyes too lauishe were you in beholding her who cannot chuse but vtterly disdaine thée thou hast no acquaintaunce with her and therefore let thy death chastise thy boldnes Yet mayst thou bee deceiued in thine opinion foolish man perhappes in offering her thy seruice she may accept it for the Duke is old and likelie to die howe happy were it for thee to be his executor for his Ladie Dispayre not then man for things thought impossible are easiest oftentimes in performance In these and such like tearmes hee spent the night and séeing the fayre morning salute him at his Chamber windowe he arose intending that day to bewray his passions to the Duchesse and knowing that the Duke would goe visite the Quéene accompanied with many Knights he came to bid him good-morrow which the Duke taking very kindly requited him with many thankes ignoraunt that for the faire Wyfe he was so courteous to the olde Husband The Duke hauing taken his way to the Queene Lewes kept company wyth the Duchesse very mannerlie wayting oportunitie to dyscouer his affections and reuiewing her beautie so perfecte and rare not able longer to hold beganne thus It is maruaile Madam if fayre beautie should be so bitter as a man cannot surfette but hee must néedes die The Duchesse not knowing of whom the Prince spake nor as yet regarding that he was in loue aunswered In sooth my Lord the Ladie hath small reason that shee shoulde vse you so hardlie yf you meane it by your selfe In bréefe Madame quoth hée it is you haue wounded me and none but you can ease my afflictions if then swéete Lady you retaine such pittie as all your other excellencies shewe you to haue you wyll not disdaine to giue me remedie which if you doo for euer I remaine your Knight and loyall Fréende And in mine opinion Madame you can not well refuse me séeing Fortune hath béene such an enemie to you in marriage the Duke beeing olde and full of mellanchollie you yong tender and daintie as may be hee more méete to kéepe companye wyth Atropos the mortall Goddesse then liue with a Saint of so rare perfections But had my luck beene such before you were espoused to haue knowne you I woulde with valoure haue hindered your briding so or Fortune should haue foullie denied me for such is my religion in looue as better death then discontent and had I béene Lord of Europe you had béene Ladie Notwithstanding Madame so like it you I may be your Freende and knightly seruaunt for Loue wants no wyles to compasse desire and my sute is modest if you count it not vnséemely The Duchesse whom swéete loue could easilie entice to folly hardly might resist a present conquest wherefore chaunging countenaunce and not daring to reueale what she gladly would sayd Trust mee my Lorde your speeches are not comely to violate chaste wedlocke is so monstrous
And though I vanquish one Knight it shall not be lawfull for me to rest a minute space but presentlie take him in hande that shall followe and bee it my fortune to bâ—â—oyled by him he shall kéepe the fielde in manner as you my Lord deuised And to the ende all may be the better executed pleaseth you yâ— in such places where your intelligencâ—rs shall come my enterprise may likewise bee declared in respect I hope to behaue my selfe so well as my Ladie will make speciall account of me The Lady for whoÌ„ the Duke of Sauoye thus attempted was Daughter to the King and Sister to Lewes named Lucemania whom he loued intirelie and aboue all thinges desired in marriage which to compasse and to honour his Ladie he thus offered the Combat against all Knights These Princes intending to goe thorow with their intent concluded betwéene them that the Duke of Sauoye shoulde breake it to the King to gaine his good-will whereuppon the Duke departing towards the Quéenes Chamber to finde the King espyed him aâ— very good leysure walking in his Garden to whome hee went in all haste and on his knee thus began So please it your highnes to graunt me oneâ—boone I shall be bounde to continue the â—oue I haue borne your Maiestie which is to prolong my life in your seruice as the most forwarde Knight in your royall Court The King who had long time fauoured the Duke 〈◊〉 him by the hande thus aunswered Demaâ—nde my good Cozin what you please and it shall bée graunted Then the Duke deliberatelie discoursed what the Prince Lewes and he had intended for the loue of theyr Ladies wherwith the King scant content and mâ—ruailing at this hastie enterprise said Why Cozin do you imagine your selues able to maintaine so hard a taske in resâ—â—â—ance of so manie hardie Knights wherewith the worlde is now plentifullie stored Beléeue me in maine Countries are Ladies of greater beautie I doubt then is at this 〈◊〉 in our Realme of Fraunce I promise you I hardly like what my Sonne and you attempt but seeing my worde is paste you shall not nowe be hindered doo â—herefore what your thinke expedient with this consideration alwaies that the ending of matters is greater then the beginning The Duke humbly thanking the King aunswered Wee doubt not my Lorde but by the hope of God and fauour of our Ladies to ende our affaires with fortunate successe but if nowe we should giue ouer and not goe forward with our promise we might woorthily be reprooued of shame cowardise the most villainous reproches that can be to any noble hart The King perceiuing the earnest affection of these two yong Princes and that to denie their request would be more hurtfull then to graunt commaunded him againe to procéede with their intent with such suretie against all strange Knights as what losse or victory happened to them they must be content with all that fell out The Duke not a little ioyfull kissing his highnes hande departed and immediatly acquainted Prince Lewes therewith but nowe the Queene vnderstanding her Sonnes enterprise sent for him and with sad countenance thus spake I would my Son that the intent of you and the Duke of Sauoye were eyther awhile deferred or vtterly forgotten because I greatlie doubt that the ende will bring a further consequence then you expect For thinke you that by all your forces and Chiualries the beauties of your Ladies shal be any iote increased no beléeue me but if they loue you as loyall Freendes ought to doo as greatlie wil they dislike your enterprise as feare the daunger whereinto you may fall a matter causing other desire then you thinke on more offensiue perhaps to them then anie honor you may winne can please them Lewes who by no meanes would be disswaded from his conceit aunswered Good Mother if for no other feare this matter shal not be reuoked in regard of the shame neuer dying dishonor I shall gaine thereby which makes mee desire a thousande deathes then not to bee so good as my worde therefore perswade your selfe good Mother that albeit her beautie for whom I enter the Combat cannot bee more perfect hereby in that it is without imperfection yet such is my resolution in a matter so certaine as her sweete lookes shall deliuer me strength enough to ende my taske without dreade of any inconuenience yâ— may happen The Duchesse enflamed with loue hearing these wordes on her behalfe must needes speake and thus began I knowe not my Lorde who is the Ladie you loue nor what are her vertues but heereof I can assure you that she is highlie beholding to you and except great reason to the contrarie ought to loue you considering what perill you thruste your selfe into for her beautie Madame quoth the Prince the trauaile I shall take and the bad fortunes may befall mee are little of no account in respect of her gracious deserts therefore for her honour I will beare my inwarde paines with secrete content and attempt these outwarde actions with the greatest courage I can possible desiring no other recompence then her fauourable conceit whereof once assured nothing can seeme difficult to me no were it to dye in her diuine seruice And as he would haue continued longer the King not yet thorowlie content with his promise past to the Duke of Sauoye entered the Chamber by whose countenaunce Lewes wel knewe he was mal content wyth him wherefore falling on his knée hee saide My Lorde no one is ignoraunt how all my welfare and reputation consisteth onelie in your Maiestie as a Prince and Father the most vertuous that I know which great good in some part to recompence I haue enterprised a matter vnwoorthie of dislike so please your highnes of your accustomed bountie to excuse accept it in good part in respect that such as are borne to the highest places of dignitie ought to bee more prompt and readie to all magnanimious actions then theyr inferiors chéefelie in prowesse chiualry and deedes of estimation What brought such renowne to Horatius Mutius Scaeuola Marcus Curtius Manlius Torquatus and a number more of Romaine Knights if not the couragious folowing of occasions offered What made for euer immortall the fame of Marius the Romaine Cittizen Hanniball the Carthaginian and Agesilaâ—â— the Greeke if not the vndaunted valour of their minds deliuered in their déedes of kinglie consequence Assuredly I beleeue that their Fathers Uncles and auncient progenitours neuer made them noble or ought renowmed what then onely vertue the very formatrix of all nobilitie For this cause my good Lorde and Father hauing now oportunitie as my Cozin yâ— Duke of Sauoye hath informed you may it please your grace to permit my endeuours with fauour to the ende I may deliuer perfect testimonie that I no whit degenerate froÌ„ your heroycall and kingly vertues The King somewhat moderating his former opinion answered Trust me Sonne full well you know howe to disguise and couer your follye
all his trayne taking theyr standing to behold the Combat Palmerin came armed foorth of his Tent sauing his Helmet which was carryed before him by two Squires with his Sheeld and Mace and next to them came two Princes who bare the portraiture of his Ladie Polinarda which béeing sette on the Piller hee clasped on his Helmet and taking his Mace in his hande martched to the Dukes Tent and thus summoned him Knight thou hast long enough defended the field and to my great gréefe that it hath béene so long my turne is nowe come and it is good reason I shoulde kéepe it the rest of the time for the Ladie whom I loue is not onely much more beautifull then thine but beside excelleth all other whatsoeuer and if thou wilt not confesse the same I wil not leaue thée with this Mace till I haue forced thée to doo it I know not saide the Duke what thou canst doo but I am of the minde that I shall soone quallifie thy ouer bolde brauing At these words the Duke taking his Mace deliuered Palmerin so sounde a stroke on the heade as made him to stagger but Palmerin requited him well againe for it and long had they fought togeather and brused eache other very pittifully till at length Palmerin gaue the Duke such a cruell stroke betwéene the heade and the shoulders as he fell to the grounde cleane bereft of sence when Palmerin taking off his Helmet would not offer him any further violence but setting his sworde against his brest said Now am I sufficiently reuenged on him that so ill intreated the figure of the most fayrest among Ladies The Iudges of the fielde thinking Palmerin would haue slaine the Duke came running to him with these words Content you Sir he is vanquished and hath no power to defende himselfe Whereupon Palmerin put vppe his Sword againe and leauing the Duke went presently to the Piller where his Ladies portrait stoode which embracing in his armes he placed highest and Lucemania at her féete saying I beséeche you Madame to pardon your Knight in that he did no sooner repell the famous iniurie offered you and impute it not to feare or want of courage but debility of bodie which once a little recouered I came to maintaine your honor and héere confirme you for the most beautifull Ladie liuing While Palâ—â—erin thus contemplated his Mistresse figure the Iudges commaunded the Duke to be carried into his Pauillion where with soueraigne drinks life was got into him again but when he knowe himselfe to be vanquished and that in one howre hee lost the greatest honour of all his life time very conceit of gréefe had well néere slaine him No lesse was the sorrowe of Madame Lucemania but she and her Knight were not so much discontented as Palmerin Trineus and Ptolome were ioyfull but aboue all other Prince Lewes of Fraunce more pleasant then if himselfe had tryumphed in victory thinking he could not sufficiently extoll the renowne of Palmerin calling him yâ— onely puller downe of the proude That day did Palmerin encounter with seauen other Knights in his conquests shewed himselfe not onely magnanimious but mercifull sauing their liues and honoring his Mistresse with the humilitie of theirs The next day likewise after many braue exployts béeing readie to leaue fielde because none came to resist him on a suddain there entred a Knight in blacke Armour stripte all ouer with Golde and bearing in hys sheelde of Azur the Golden Sunne whose braue order of entraunce declared him to be a hardie Knight at Armes who aduauncing him selfe to Palmerin said My intent of comming hether Sir Knight is to let thée vnderstand that I am the Seruaunt and beloued of a Ladie who may not bee equalled with any other and because I am enformed that yâ— maintainest thy Fâ—éend to excell all Ladies whatsoeuer I offer to prooue the contrary and will make thée confesse it I neuer spoke wordes more true aunswered Palmerin and heere abide to iustifie them but this place is ordeyned to no other ende then to make thée and thy like know what vnaduised enterprises you take in hande And one thing is required of â—hée that before thou begin the Combat thou sette vppon thys Pyller the counterfeite of her whom thou perswadest thy selfe to excell my Lady in beautie according to the conditions of this field published through all Europe That cannot I doo answered the Knight of the Sunne for I haue no other picture of her then is imprinted in my hart where loue hath so liuely figured her person as she is daily presented to mee by her incomparable beautie which cannot be taken from me but onely by death And if loue follow the soule as diuers holde opinion whole worldes cannot seperate mee froÌ„ her And therefore are all men vnworthy to receiue fruition by their regard of a thing so precious which makes me imagine none but my selfe woorthy to looke on her diuine figure Prepare thee therefore to thy Horse and defende thy selfe Palmerin desirous to know the name of this fayre Ladie sayd I sée Sir Knight that thou art meruailous proude and surlie which make mee desire rather to Combat wyth thee then any other to abate this hote humour albeit this is contrarie to his conditions who was the principall Author of this enterprise which is that thou shouldest set on this Piller her portrait whom thou so estéemest yet thys exception shall be graunted thee for the desire I haue to knowe what thou canst doo as also her name if thou darest reueale it To tell thée her name aunswered the Knight of the Sunne I will not sticke with thee and because in concealing it I shall offer her wrong nature hauing in her set downe the onely worke of beautie know therfore that her name is Polinarda Daughter to the mighty Emperor of Allemaigne These wordes were so yrkesome to Palmerin and troubled his thoughts in such sort that hee knewe not readily what to aunswere notwithstanding in midst of his choller thus spake By God Knight thou hast made a good choyse for against her beautie will not I contende hauing it in greater estimation and reuerence then thou canst haue but I am ready to prooue that thou deseruest not to be named her Knight no not so much as her meanest Seruaunt That shall we try said the Knight of the Sunne before we part and albeit her excellencie deserue farre greater seruice then mine yet so it is that for the looue I beare her and the affection I haue to obey her by some agreeable seruice I may by good reason name my selfe hers At these spéeches Palmerin conceiued such iealousie as without attending any further matter mounted in great anger on horsebacke and met the Knight of the Sunne so forcibly as bothe of them were sent to the ground whereuppon they drewe their Swordes and charged eache other with such furie as their Armour and Shéeldes were hacked in péeces and the ground coullered with their expence of blood
Court that hée is one of the wisest and best gouerned Princes that euer I heard of Wherefore bee it spoken vnder correction your Maiestie should forget this light offence and consider if the like had béene towards you you would haue done no lâ—sse When the King heard him to support the Emperors cause he presently iudged him to be of his Course and therefore sayd Are you he Sir that woonne such honor and renowne in Fraunce at the combat maintained by the Prince Lewes for the loue of his Ladie If you be so I pray you do not denie it for I shall henceforth thinke my Court most happie to harbour the most excellent among all Knights and I promise you I am so iealous of mine owne conceyte as you can hardly pâ—â—swade mee otherwise such experience haue I made of your bountie and vertue Palmerin blushing at thâ—se worâ—es and doubting he should nowe be certainlye knowne answered Wee humbly intreate your Maiestie héeretofore and so we doo now againe that you would not enquire whence we are sufficeth your highnesse that wee are his humble Seruants in any thing that shall like him to commaunde vs. The King this hearing repented himselfe that hee had béene so importunate for hée feared least his spéeches would make them forsake his company wherfore by this time béeing come neere his Pallace hée sayde What I haue sayd Gentlemen I hope shall not offend you in my excuse admit my earnest desire to know you By and by ouertooke them the Duke of Tintriel who went to restore the Crowne as you haue heard what the Scots vsurped and he aduertised the King that the Quéene and her Ladies were ridden to a Castle foure miles from London to sollace themselues whereupon the king resolued to rydâ— thither Whereof the Prince Trineus was not sorie such was his desire to sée his faire Fréend whose loue still crossed him with so many passions as hée séemed a man of another world and did not his woundes sâ—rue somewhat to couer his disease hardly could he haue sounde any shift to conceale it so closely wherefore he beganne with Palmerin thus You knowe my chosen friend that the hope of my loue made me leaue my fathers court and to preuent my meaning consists onely in you now in respect of my forcible captiuitie béeing vnprouided of strength sence or any meane to discouer my loue to her who only can helpe mée I intreate you by the inuiolable league of our amitie that when you chaunce to speake with the Goddesse of my life my paines and anguishes may serue for my salutations and imparting to her the extreamitie of my sorrowes shee may perceiue in what estate I am and what néede I haue of her gracious pittie These wordes were deliuered with such sighs and teares as Paâ—merin was amazed thereat albeit hee knewe howe heauy the burthen was and howe it excéeded patience in suffering comparing his absence from his mistresse Polinarda to be as insupportable as the presence of Agriola not daring to speake to her was to Trineus whereupon he answered My Lord repose your trust in this matter on me which I doubt not to handle in such sort as you shall haue no cause to be mal content or the Princesse any reason to be ingratefull But what thinke you if my Dwarfe did carrie this message in my opinion through the whole world you could not finde a more fitte fellow such is his subtile and present inuention as hee wil prooue the onely string to your bowe Alas sayd the prince I care not who were imployed héerein so I were sure of comfort Then was the dwarfe called to whom Palmerin in this sort began It is wel knowne to thée Vâ—banilâ—o with what good will I would do any seruice I could to my Lord Trineus as well for the incomparable kindnes I haue receiued of my Ladie his Sister as for the affiâ—â—tie I hope shall one day be betwéene vs by his meanes So â—ften haue I made experience of my loyall seruice and fidelitie in my chiefest and very nâ—erâ—st affayres as well may I impart to thée the secrets of my noble companion pâ—rswading my self of thy suretie and secrecie It now remaines that thou pleasure the Prince Trineus in breaking his loue to the Princessâ— Agriola as thou diddest for me to my Mistresse Polynarda but aboue all things haue regard that thou bewray not of whence or what we are yet must thou assure her that the Prince is one of the greatest Lords in Europe My Lord quoth the Dwarffe I was neuer yet disobedient to you in all my time and very loath were I now to beginne but because I am such a little writhen fellowe you make me your Broker in these perillous loue matters Notwithstanding I will doo it though I died for it esteeming my life well bestowed to pleasure such Princes There can no inconuenience arise hereby to thee quoth Palmerin but profite euerie way be not enemie then to thine owne good That will I neuer sayd the Dwarffe and well might the Ladie be iudged vnprouided of reason and verie farre from vnderstanding if she make refusall of the Princes honourable offer the King himselfe if he knew it woulde imagine his dayâ—s blessed the issue then of this enterprise can not but sort to good The Dwarffes wordes pleased so well Trineus as he tooke him in his armes saying I commend my selfe and my happinesse to thée Let me alone quoth Vâ—banillo if I bring you not hearbes that shall coole this hote feuer then let me neuer bee counted for a tall man so went he about it as you shall vnderstand hereafter Chap L. How the King of England went to the Castle to the Queene and her Ladies and of the honourable entertainment made to the three strange Knights NEwes béeing brought to the Quéene â—hat the King was not farre off shée sent a verie honourable traine to méete him and with them his sonne the yong Prince Fredericke ten yéeres olde but beautifull and of such perfection as promised great hope in time to come Hée hauing made reuerence to his Father and the other Princes demaunâ—ed for the straunge Knightes and saluting them with such kindnesse as was rare in a Childe he rode betwéene Trineus and Palmerin giuing them harty thanks for theyr fréendly succour to his Father without which sayd hée as the Quéene my Mother tolde mee hée had dyed and wée all béene distressed By this tyme they were come to the Castell all the way so thicke pâ—stered with people as there was no roome to stirre among them euerie one crying Happie be the Knights that foyled our enemyes So entring the Castell in the vttermost Court they mette the Quéene and her Ladyes among whom fayre Agriola shyned as beautifull Venus among the other starres wherewith the Prince of Allemaigne was so nipt in the head as an offâ—nâ—our with his guilt before a Iudge so that not regarding what yong Fredericke or the other Lords courteouslie sayd to him he
King and Palmerin with fifty Knights more came to assist them for Palmerin hauing slayne the Giant mounted on his horse because it was one of the goodliest yâ— euer he saw and espying the King comming with his trainâ— set on with him and found Trineus in great danger because so many of his side were slaine but this fresh assistance brought by the king was the meane that all the Giants knightes were slaughtered and they knéeling down thanking God for their victory The king alighting came and embraced the quéene saying Now happy may we thinke our selues Madame hauing so well preuented this trecherous villaine for neuer did I thinke to sée you againe but that God these knights so highlie befréended vs. The Quéene and her Daughter were as yet so dismayed in remembraunce of theyr former daunger as beholding so many lye slaine before them and ioyfull beside béeing so fortunatelye deliuered as betwéene these extreames they knew not what to say but desired spéedilie to sâ—t forward thence which they presently did yâ— king commaunding his Nephew Cerides to sée Franarco and his men burned to ashes and honorable Sepulture to be prouided for the other When the Quéene heard that Eranarco was dead Tell me my Lord quoth she who hath doone such a gracious acte to kill that monstrous villaine Euen hee Madame said the king that was cause of my victorie in battell the knight héere in blacke Armour to whome I am so far indebted as I cannot imagine any recompence sufficient for him and this can I not speak without great maruaile séeing so rare valour performed with so little danger on his behalfe Long may the good knight liue saide the Quéene that hath so defended vs and may they all thrée prosper in their affaires for their knightly seruice to the Realme of England While these spéeches endured Trineus béeing sore wounded was brought betwéen two squires and set vpon his horse but the king the quéene and chéefely faire Agriola was glad when she heard there was no such danger but he might well escape it Wherefore mounting al on horsebacke they rode to sée the Giants bodie which made Agriola repute Palmerin for no lesse then his Dwarfe commended him Then the king commaunded to vnarme the body and one of his knightes should bring away his Helmet and Shéelde which would be tokens sufficient for him to recouer the Castle of Garbones which he seised on and all other things belonging to the Giant he sent the Count of Bonneroy with fiue hundred men to confiscate and return to his Maiesties vse The Count well knowing such matters would not easily be accomplished if they in the Castle should make resistance therefore politikely he sent the Giants Targe and Helmet before as sent from Franarco who was with the king and they should open the gates because they were comming thither for witnes wherof they shewed the giants signet of arms The guard too crâ—dulous and thinking it vnpossible for any man to conquere the giant opened the gates wherupoÌ„ the Count presently entred with his power putting all to the sword not sparing any not so much as the giants yonger brother who escaping aliue from the battel was the cause who Franarco dealt thus villanously Thus did the Count yéeld the Castle into the Kings obeysance remaining Captaine thereof vnder the Kings authoritie the like hee did in many other places where the people aduertised of the Giants rebellion and that the Castle of Garbones was taken there was nonâ— would resist the kings commandement whereof the Count was not a little glad returning as soone as he could with the glad tidings of his successe to the Court certifying the King how all things happened Chap. LII Of the conference Palmerin had with the Princesse Agriola after he had slaine the Giant Franarco BY this time the King was come to his Pauillion where he caused his Chirurgions dilligently to attend the thrée knights for the curing of their wounds who found that the prince of Allemaigne was worst of al hurt yet the king vnderstaÌ„ding he was in no danger of life was the better pacified because he loued him déerely and intended to honour him so much as lay in his power promising not to depart thence till hee recouered his health and because he would preuent like mischances he caused dilligent watch to be made euerie night as though he hadde lien in field encamped with the enemie During the Princes sicknesse â—ee was oftentimes visited by the Quéene and fayre Agriola not vnthankfull of the courtesie receiued by him and his companions and for which they requited him with manifold thankes Trineus estéeming himselfe worthily recompenced séeing that heauenly spectacle whose presence healed a greater wound then any hee had receiued in fight desiring the continuance of the outward hurts for comforting of his inward oppressions And while the quéene thus conferred wiâ—â— Tâ—ineus Palmerin came to the princesse Agriola seeing the time so lawfull and commoâ—â—â—â—s that hee might thorowly acquaint her with matter long enough before premeditated but because shee was desirous to talke with him she first began in manner following I know not sir Knigâ—t how the king my Father will satisfie the great seruice you haue doone him in so many hazards to his Realme and himselfe but for mine owne part I think my selfe so bounden that after life which he gaue me by generation my deuoted soule shall remaine to honour you And if these occasions passed doo giue mée iust cause to thinke my selfe happie what lesse account may I make of that vertuous Prince Trineus your companion who came into this Countrey onely for my loue as I am perswaded yet doubtfull to be lightly carried away with report I should accept it for more sound assurance so please you to speake the truth herein Madame quoth Palmerin if I haue doone any seruice to the King or you it is rewarded with much more theÌ„ sufficient séeing it pleaseth you to make such account thereof and I promise you you haue two knights wholly at commaund for the loue of the third who is so confidently â—owed your friend and seruant as no man in the world can bee more this is he that lieth wounded in his bed the princely sonne and heire of the Emperor of Allemaigne in which report my Dwarfe hath not deceiued you And giue my word this credit Madame that since the time hee first heard of your excellent beautie béeing then in Fraunce he neuer had other determination but to spend his life in your gracious seruice and making refusall of many faire Ladies especially of Lucemania daughter to the most christian king of Fraunce set downe this princely and commendable resolution neuer to espouse any other but you so it may stand with your liking to accept him for your husband think then aduisedly swéete madam of the incomparable happines ordaiâ—ed for â—ou and stand not in your owne light to loose so good fortune In truth my Lord quoth the princesse I
were well worthy to be reputed among the number of most harâ— harted and ingratefull Ladies if I shuld not loue the prince Trineus were it but for the danger he remaines in for me and the vnfaigned loue which you say he heares mâ—e And thus farre I presume my Lorde on your credit that if it were otherwise you would not disguise the 〈…〉 this â—â—ner much lesse deceiue such a Lady as I am which notwithstanding would bee to you but a slender conquest Therefore you may assure him on my behalfe that the loue I beare him is more then he thinks and very far excéedeth his iudgement as the proofe hereof in time shall deliuer true testimonie Madame quoth Palmerin his onely desire in this world you haue faithfully vnderstoode in you then it consisteth to preuent the contrarie by mercifull regarde of his afflictions and your presence will appease the anger of the Emperour your father in that so nobly he would enterpriseâ— though against his will to ayde the King your Father onely for your loue And this will be the meane that the conceiued pleasure of the Fathers shall concluâ—e in the happie coniunction of their Children My Lorde quoth the Princesse I wil do what shall please my father and mother to command me and no otherwise considering the danger I may fall into by yéelding my honour to any preiudiciall occasion Palmerin who had no other feare but to bee knowne what himselfe was thus answered I am perswaded madame that your iudgement is so perfect that to attaine a place of such dignitie and a husband so royall as the Prince Trineus you will not stand 〈◊〉 friuolous tearmes nor be carried away with any light or feminine feares séeing that setting apart these doubts you shall worthily accoÌ„plish the thing which shall make you the most renowned Lady vnder the Occident I pray you Sir Palmerin quoth she referre this talke to some other time for the answere of such a high and weightie matter deserueth to be excogitated with leysure for oftentimes we sée that such actions sodainely and slightly performed causeth more repentaunce afterward then is expected Yet thus farre I venture and so faithfully perswade him that he is the onely Prince in the world I would accept for my husband if they were so agréed to whom God nature and dutie hath bounde mée and to let him vnderstand my wiliing desire towardes him I will speake to him my selfe as soone as the Quéene is departed Not long after the Quéene returned to the King leauing her Daughter with two of her Ladyes to comfort the prince whereupon Palmerin taking her by the hande brought her to the bedde side where Trineus lay to whome she made very curteous reuerence trembling with modest bashfulnesse said How fare ye gentle knight trust mee your hard fortune doth greatly displease mee and if I could beare part therein beléeue me I would gladly endure the paine for it is good reason that the caâ—ser of the harme should haue a portion of the torment gratifying you with a Maidens thankes for your good assistance without any desert Trineus was so rauished with her presence and hearing her speake so friendly in whom consisted the safetie of his life as hee could not vtter the ioy hee conceiued which the Princesse well noted and Palmerin likewise who aunswered her in this manner It cannot be madame but my Lord Trineus will soone amend hauing the sodaine medecine so néere him that is onely able to helpe him and with these wordes he left them both together to acquaint each other with their secret afflictions when the Prince giuing a gréeuous sigh saide Faire madame to accomplish what you commanded the first day I sawe you I did my beuoire to execute the effect of the charge albeit not so sufficiently as I could wish yet since that time I neuer enioyed one minute of rest till this instant when mine eyes delighted with your swéete presence gaue hope to my heart of further comfort For this onely cause faire mistresse haue I forsaken my Parents and countrey regarding nothing more then this present happinesse whereby my woundes are cured my spirit contented and my heart from all daungers sufficiently recouerâ—d so that no gréefe can now molest me when your gracious fauour thorowly confoundeth all And nowe might I imagine my misfortune beyonde all other were not this fearefull doubt left to crosse it that scanning disdaine should be hid in such rare perfections as oftentimes it commeth so to passe therefore I beséech you Madame may it stand with your liking to resolue all doubts by your direct opinion and héerein shall I account my selfe more honoured then were I monarch of the whole worlde Loue hauing then so wounded the princesse as for a while she was driueÌ„ to silence at length withdrew the passioâ— and caused her returne this answere Alas my Lord I was ere this so certaine of your affection towardes me in respect of the dangerous trauailes endured for my sake as you néede not séeke any other prooues then what mine owne hart was fully resolued on and so I continue still expecting the day to make vs both fortunate which I would haue you as yet dissemble least crooked mishap any way preuent vs. As she was procéeding in her discourse the Quéene entred the tent againe by which occasion Trineus could not say what he intended wherefore taking her secretly by the hand wrong her fingers with such a trembling passion as all the night following he lay meditating on his gooddesse Agriola and the comfortable answere shee gaue him If the young prince were in such torments his Lady beare him companie thinking on the spéeches past betwéene her and Palmerin and this euening the Dwarfe not compassing before to speake with Agriola presented her with the Emeralde from the Prince which she kindly receiuing in recompence thereof sent him a fayre Diamond rewarding the Dwarfe liberally for his paines who among the rest of his talke highly commended the vertues of the Prince which increased her loue so confidently as she assured him of the Princesse loue that death could not change her setled affection Trineus fully resoluing héereon gaue such chéerefull phisicke to his heart and the Chururgions such dilligence to his woundes as within seauen or eight daies he was able to beare armor whereupon the King departed thence towardes London where the strange knights were entertained with meruailous honor the Lords Knights Burgesses Officers and other Citizens welcomming them with great â—ampe and royaltie saying Welcome are the knights that deliuered the Quéene and her Daughter from the cruell Giant Franarco with diuers other salutations whereat Paâ—merin and his friendes were greatly abashed Passing on to the Pallace all the way they were still presented with rare shewes and deuises and the Knights lodgings were appointed in very stately Chambers in the Court causing open Court to be kept for eight dayes space for the honour of these knights and entertainement of all
to match with the Sonne of Fraunce considering what promise I haue made my brother and if I should so farre dishonour my selfe as not to regarde what I haue promised I were not worthy hereafter to be called your daughter Thus stoode she resolute in her answere and therewith shedde such aboundance of teares as the Emperour was constrayned to tell the Ambassadours that the marriages could not be concluded till the returne of Trineus notwithstanding he granted all the articles of their embassage The princesse qualliâ—â—ing her gréefe as well as shee could sent for the Dwarfe and taking him by the hand sayde Alas my freend I am now in yâ— greatest perplexity in the world neuerthelesse one thing comforts me that thou be holdest the true loue and loyaltie I beare thy maister which neuer shal be broken what euer become of me And would to God he were now heere then would I speake it openly without feare of any that I am â—is and he myne Madame quoth the Dwarfe if you continue faithfull to my maister perswade your selfe of his assurance for he building on your constancie takes such continual pleasure in remembring you that it is the onely meane that preserues his life and you may be bâ—lde to credit me that if your brothers loue did not with-hold him he would haue bin here long ere this but he wil come soone inough I hope to end this doubt As for me I am of the opinion that heauen wil not suffer so good a knight to die but first wil permit him to sée his mistris Die quoth the princesse sooner let all the knights in the world ende theyr dayes and the eldest Sonne of Francâ— likewise though hée loue mée so déerely so might I be rid of these importunate Ambassadours The Emperour séeing hée could get no other answer of his daughter concluded with the French ambassadors that so soone as his son was returned he should be aduertized and so for that time they might depart but the empresse and he first bestowed on them many rich presents and so in short time they arriued againe in Fraunce where great ioye was made in hope of these marriages albeit they little thought the Prince Trineus would tarrie so long Aboue all other the French prince was most ioyfull hearing the Countie of Armignac report the wonderfull beauty of Polinarda but â—he good Lady was of another mind for she had rather bâ— take her self to a Cloister then to breake her faith to Palmerin whom shée loued so constantly Thus leaue we her conferring with Vrbanillo returning to Palmerin and the Prince Trineus Chap. LXIIII. ¶ How Palmerin beeing thus on the Sea caused Trineus there to marrie the Princesse Agriola THis noble company being thus on the Sea hauing winde at will sayled with such expedition as in fourâ— dayes they had gotten farre enough from England and the prince séeing Agriola very pensiue and sad comforting her with many swéete kisses and taking her by the hande thus spake O soueraigne Creatour how shal I render sufficient thanks and praise to thée in graunting me the onely thing I desired Aâ— swéete madame and my onely mistresse Agriola howâ— much is your seruant indebâ—ed to you hath any knight more cause to honour extol his lady then I Beléeue me fayre Princesse such are the rare effects of your gracious nature and I so ioyfull of my happie fortune as neither friend or father shall fetch you againe from mée Iâ— my life might endure the length of tenne menâ— and euery day I shuld accomplish wonders in your seruice yet could I not remunerate the least part of your Princely deserts But if your loue be such to me as I am right wel assured â—t is let me intreat you forbeare this heauines and banish from your thoughts your melancholy humours for seeing you so sad pensiue I suffer a torment worser then death it selfe Fâ—r lâ—t me perceiue how little soeuer it be yâ— my presence may be to your lyking our present enterprise somwhat more pleasing I fly to the heauens with conceit of happines and value my fortune aboue the reach of humane capacity In stéede of teares let vs vse quaint tearmes and for these dumps pleasant imaginations perswade your selfe Madam you are now in his custody that honours you for your vertues reuerenceth you for your diuine perfections extols you for incomparable merits and liues for you with his very vttermost endeuors Thinke not though you haue left your parents the fault is not pardonable for the new alyance wherein you haue combyned your self shal one day glad you with such speciall content that what you do imagine nowe a dangerous offence will bee reputed on act of prouidâ—nt and princely discretion Then shall you finde true what Palmerin hath spoken and his promises of preferment and imperial dignity shall be both rightly sufficiently perfoâ—rmed Let these perswasions if not my intreatyes excell these passions and procure better comfort Madam quoth Palmerin though you haue left your country consider the occasion yâ— loue of a mighty prince and the heauenly appoyntment that your noble vertues should be coupled together hath brought you from England to sit on the imperyal seate in Allemaigne How carefull we haue béene of your honor your selfe can witnes no motion béeing offered to preiudice your lyking That you are contracted before the only immortall witnes you wil not deny therfore to preuent all ensuing dangers the actual ceremony shal be héere celebrated and the royaltie thereof solemnized when we come into Allemaigne So if Himen claimes his due you may graunt it without reproch and Iuno will as well smile at her sacred offering here as if it were in bower or hall The credite of Princes are charie and angry parentâ—â— may hinder what heauen dooth further but the déede doon it cannot be recalled nor can you be diuorced but onelye by death and pittie were it loue so well begun but shouldâ— continue therefore so please you let it bée perfourmed The Princes both agreed they were there maried requiting theyr chast loue with a simpathie of vertuous desires but this time of delight and pleasure hadde small continuaunce for Fortune enemie to prosperitie accompanied with her eldest sonne Mischaunce conuerted their ioyes into sorrowe teares and paynes vnspeakeable as you shall reade héereafter These Louers thus ryding merilye on the streame suddenlye the Sea began to swell the winde chaunged roughly the Skyes were troubled and such a daungerous tempest beate vppon theyr Ship as the Pilot Maister and Mariners knewe not what to say and fiue dayes togither they were in this perplexitie sometime forwarde then againâ— backward that no hope of life was expected but euerye onâ— prepared themselues for death the implacable messenger of God for they could discerne no other remedie Agriola not accustomed to these daungers was meruailously discomforted but Trineus perswaded her with many examples in that such stratagems were vsuall on the Sea albeit shâ—â— to ende the feare
but well may I content my selfe for this is a iust scourge for mine offence and vndutifull obedience to the King my father Ah my Lord and loyall husband Trineus neuer shall I sée thée againe for God dooth know whither these villaines hath sâ—nt thee Ah noble Palmerin who was woont héeretofore to comfort me too much hast thou failed vs all thy former promises are nowe altered for in steede of imperiall soueraigntie pleasure anâ— honor I am requited with pouerue greefe shame and mockerie Ah death sweet death too long desired â—rath why commest thou not to end all these miseries But God will not permit thée because by my torments and afflictions I may féele the weightie burthen of my offences and large bountie of his mercies Ptolome séeing her in this mournfull vexation sayde It is no time nowe Madame thus to offende your selfe but rather as wise and well gouerned is beare these aduersities euen with as great content as your former prosperities taking in good part whatsoeuer shall happen for I am in good hope and my minde perswades me that wée shall be deliuered by noble Palmerin who I am sure endureth greater gréefe in his libertie hauing left vs 〈◊〉 wee can doo in our imprisonment Olimael excéeding angry to 〈◊〉 Agriola wéepe violently puld Ptolome from her charging his men not to suffer him once to come in her sight which he suffered patiently because he saw it was in vaine to kicke against the pricke When they were come to the Pallace and admitted to the Emperours presence Olimael knéeling downe and kissing his foote presented Agriola to his maiestie who séeing her of such rare and wonderfull beautie said to Olimael This present my Fréende is of such surpassing value as thou couldest neuer honour me with the like good reason is it therefore that a gift so precious should be rewarded with like recompence and so perswade thy selfe I will and thou shalt say the Emperouâ— is bountifull As for the Ladie thou hast giuen me I â—â—â—ceiue her so faire and gracious as I inteâ—d neuer to haue any other wiâ—e and that I may espouse her with the 〈◊〉 magnificence I will stay till the hallowed day 〈…〉 â—â—ronation when all my Princes Barons and 〈◊〉 wil be héere assembled and then in their prsence shal our nuptialles be solemnized Nowe had the Emperour a Woman captiue named Hippolita who was a Marchantâ— Daughter of Scicile and better skilled in all languages then anie Ladie in the Court for which he made speciall account of her reposing great confidence in her and acquainting her with his chéefest secrets wherefore hee sent for her before Agriola and sayd Hippolita I giue you this Ladie in kéeping commanding you to intreat her as our owne person and that all meanes may be practised to cause her forsake this sad mellancholy In conference you may shewe her what honour and happinesse she shall receiue by falling into our hanâ—es and what incomparable fortune it is to her whom we shall please to accept for our Wife All which Hippoâ—ita with great humilitie promised to accomplish and so conducted her into a maruailous princely Chamber the floore couered all ouer with cloth of Tissue and hung about with such sumptuous Tapistrie and bloth of Golâ— as hardly might the richnesse thereof be valued There Hippolita caused the Princesse to fitte downe in a Chayre of state which was purposely prouided for her demaunding her name and of what countrey shee was The Princesse answered that shee was of England but further of her state shee would not bewray Hippolita speaking perfectly the English tongue tooke great delight daily to commune with her and because Agriola should the better like of her conuersation she tolde her that she was like wise a Christian but by constraint she followed the Law of Mahomet and his Alchoran In further spéeches shée acquainted her with the estate of the Sultanes in the Court of the great Emperour of Asia which communication serued well to weare away the time albeit the Princesse tooke small pleasure therein Olimael in consideration his noble present was created high Admirall of the Mediterranean sea and furnished with greater store of Foystes and Gallies then 〈◊〉 before Chap. II. How the great Turke summoned all the Kings and Princes his Subiects because hee minded to hold open Court and howe he married with the Princesse Agriola his prisoner HIppolita daily conuersing with Agriola â—ecause shee could not so well speake her language at length the Emperor came to her chamber and because he might the better behold the princesse hee sate downe in a Chaire opposite to her anâ— there he sate a long time not able to coÌ„tent his eyes with looking on her for speake to her he could not because shee vnderstood not the Turkish language Wherefore he commanded Hâ—ppolita to request her name and what her Parents were which to satisfie his maiâ—stie shee did Agriola thus answering her In vaine Lady séeke you to know of me the thing which death cannot force mée bewray let this suffice you that I am a poore Gentlewoman the most infortunate that euer liued with which words shee wept very greeuously The Emperour moued with pittie departed to his Chamber so surprised and enflamed with her loue as hée could take no â—est one minute 〈◊〉 the night considering with himself that seeing she estéemed so little of the riches she sawe in his Pallace and refuseâ— the offers made her by Hippolita that doubtlesse shee was extract of sâ—me noble Image The next morning he called his foure Secretaries commaunding them to write to all the Princes of his Empire that they should not fayle to honour the day of his coronation with their presence and to bring with them theyr Quéenes and Daughters and this they should do on paine of displeasure all which was performed with present expedition In the meane time hee caused sundrie sumptuous ornaments to bee prepared with all manner of precious Iewels could be deuised and these he daily sent to Agriola but all these presents promises and munificent entertainment could no way mooue her not so much as to grant him a gracious countenance He likewise sent for the brauest Ladies in his Court that they should kéepe the Princesse companie but she would be conuersant with none but Hippolita of whom she had so prettily learned the Arabian tongue as many times she could indifferently answere the Emperour But when he behelde her continually so pensiue and that by no meanes shee would bee comforted hée doubted least his presence did offende her and therefore hée forbare so often to visit her For so déerely he loued her as for the halfe of his Empire hee would giue her no occasion of discontent hoping in time which is the Lorde and conquerour of all things to alter that humour and purchase her loue which he desired with earnest affection But now at this day where may we find a Lady so vertuousand wel gouerned being captiue as Agriola was that could
escaped valiantly PAlmerin béeing brought to his Chamber which was one of the most sumptuous in all the Pallace accoridng as the Princesse had appoynted he made signe to the Gentlman that attended on him to withdrawe himselfe for he was accustomed to bee alone in his chamber which he immediatly did being loath to offend him Palmerin béeing alone by himselfe gaâ—e thanks to the God of heauen who in midst of his misfortunes caused such a gracious Ladie to fauour him so kindly as defended his life when hee was in daunger and by whose means hée conceyued good hope to escape his enemies hands and to returne safely toward Allemaigne His meditations ended he betooke himselfe to rest and in the morning Linus the Gentleman that had him in charge came and presented him before the Soldane who commaunded him to bée carryed presently to the Lions Alchidiana vnderstanding that the dumbe Knight was with her Father sent him a rich Mantle of scarlet desiring him to weare it for her sake which hee putting about him went frankely with his kéeper to the Lions Denne where the doore béeing opened hée boldly entered desiring God to assist him in this perill Palmerin being in the Denne because none of the Lions should get forth to hurt any other howe euer God disposed of him made fast the doore after him and with his sworde drawne his Mantle wrapped about his arme went to sée how the beasts would deale with him The Lions comming about him smelling on his cloathes woulde not touch him but as it were knowing the bloud royall lay downe at his féete and licked him and afterward went to their places againe But there were among them thrée Leopards that furiouslie came and assayled him the formost where of hée paunched with his Sworde that hée was able to doo no more harme The other two although they had torne his Mantle and put him in verie great daunger as they that looked in at the windowes and creuises perceyued yet to their no little admiration in the end hée slue them both and so went forth of the Denne againe to whom Linus came and louingly taking him by the hand brought him to the Soldane to whom hee discoursed his fight with the Leopardes and howe gentle the Lions had beene to him The Soldane greatly astonished hereat made more estimation of him then hée did before and because the Lions refused to touch him reputed him of royall parentage Whereupon he sent for his Daughter praying her to intreate him not as a Knight but as a noble and vertuous Prince considering his behauiour so well deserued The Princesse entertayned him very graciously and hearing the successe of his happy fortune spake thus in the hearing of them all Because euery one shall know Sir knight how much I honour your good gifts I will cause my Father so well to loue you as hée shall repent himselfe a thousande tymes of the â—aunger hée put you to and so veriâ— louingly embracing him desired paâ—don on her own behalfe because she suffered him to be thrust to the Lions Palmerin in signe of attonement that hee was nothing displeased kissed her hand and sitting downe in a Chaire by her behelde Aâ—demia who resembled his Mistresse so equall in beautie and could not holde his eye from her so that hée conceiued such pleasure in his regard as he iudged it sustenance enough to maintaine life But she that was ignorant of the cause presumed that he loued her wherfore thenceforwart she began so amorously to affect him as shee enioyed no rest but in his presence Thus were these two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia touched with one disease and that so sharpely to the quicke that the least torment they endured séeing hée could neither speake nor vnderstand their language was woorse to them then death And so it fell out that each of them thinking her selfe best beloued concealed her thoughts from the other and would in no case be reputed amorous least so her desires should be discouered Alchidiana for arguments of her loue gaue him horses esquires seruants and pages so that the greatest Prince in the Court was no better equipped then he and in this fortune such was his mind that for all the honor and fauour the Soldane and his daughter bare him he did not outreach himselfe in behauiour but was benigne and full of courtesie that each one loued and desired to be familiar with him And if any enterprise of Ioustes or Tourneyes were in hand Palmerin was the formost in the field and carried the prize away from all whatsoeuer which incited Maulicus to loue him in such sort that he entertained him into such speciall credite as he would neuer resolue on any matter of importance without his shew of good liking And albeit the Princes of the Court shewed him good countenance yet Enuy that neuer can rest in ambitious hearts caused them in the ende to raise slaunder against him which Palmerin perceiued but being vnable to remedie awaited conuenient time for his departure notwithstanding the earnest affection Alchidiana bare him He knew likewise so well to disguise his matters that so often as the Princesse would hold him in talke he still feigned not to vnderstand her which made her iealous towards Ardemia her Cozin who by Alchidianaes iniuries and Palmerins refusall of her loue lost her life as you shall read in the chapters folowing Chap. VI. How the Prince Maurice sent his Ambassadors to the Soldane to desire safe conduct for his comming to the Court to trie if he could find any Knight there able to deliuer him of an extreame trouble that hee dured by enchauntment DUring the time that Palmerin was thus estéemed and beloued in the Court of the great Monarch of Assiria vpon a Sunday after dinner as the Soldane was in the great Hall conferring with his Daughter and many other great Princes and Lordes present there entred a Moore Knight armed except his Helmet and Gauntlets which were carried after him by two Squires and making his solemne reuerence humbled himselfe at Maulicus féete saying Most high and redoubted Monarch my soueraigne Lord Maurice sworne Prince of whole Pasmeria kisseth your highnesse hand sending to require your gracious safe conduct that himselfe may come to your Court to trie among all your knights if there bee any one so loyal and valiant as can deliuer him from a torment he endures the most cruell and straunge that euer was heard of and happened to him in this sort The King of Pasmeria great gouernour of the Moorâ—s and father to my Lord béeing vnable through extreme age to weilde the gouernment of his Realme gaue the administration thereof and made his Lieutenant generall my Lord Maurice a Knight so hardy and puissant as any of his time and so renowned for his beautie sagacitie and braue lineaments of body as there is none of the Kings of Iudea Egypt Ethiopia and neighbour Countreyes round about but gladly desire his 〈◊〉 and friendshippe So that
crauing 〈…〉 〈…〉 well be coniectured prostrated himselfe at Palmerins féete and with vnspeakable ioy thus said Most noble and fortunate Knight how much am I bound and indebted to thée right happie was the howre of thy byrth but much more happie my iourney to see thée let my word suffise I so far deliuer my selfe yours as my selfe my Subiects my possessions or whatsoeuer else is mine I fréely offer to your disposition Palmerin who euer bare the most noble minde of a Knight was displeased that so great a Prince shoulde honour him with such reuerence wherefore with great humilitie hée tooke him vppe in his armes causing him to sit downe where before hée did but the Soldane and all his Lords greatly amazed not so much at his courtesie as his 〈…〉 Chap. VIII How the â—ayre Princesse Ardemia enduring extreame passions and torments in loue made offer of her affections to Palmerin which he refused wherewith the Princesse through extreame conceit of greefe and despight suddainly died EAâ—â—â—ye may be coÌ„iectured the great pleasure of the two Ladies Alchidiana and Ardemia beholding the man 〈◊〉 they loued as their liues to haue the honour of the enchaunted 〈◊〉 for eacâ— of them seuerally perswaded her selfe that he had thus aduentured in hoâ—or of heâ— loue And as they returned from the Hall to their chambers Alchidiana came and tooke Palmerin by the hand and walking on with him thus spake Ah gentle knight how are you to bee regarded aboue all other I knowe not why the 〈◊〉 should depriue you of speeche except that in all things this onâ—lie excepted you should be perfectly resembled to theÌ„ Oh how happie is shee that might aduenture to make you her Seruant doubtlesse if in her appeare so singuler perfections as apparantly shew themselues in you well might it be reputed a rare coniunction when the celeâ—tiall 〈◊〉 gouerning 〈…〉 affections hath vnited you in â—o amiable alliaunce The Gentlemen that attended on the Princesse greatâ—â—â— murmured at this priuate familiaritie but shée 〈…〉 in her affections as virginall 〈…〉 now forgotten and earelesse of regarde openly shewed her desires Thus were these two Ladies now much more amorous of the dumbe Knight then before so that they were not well but eyther in his companyâ— or thinking on him Alchidiana remaining iealous of her Cozin seemed not to loue her as she was woont but deuised all the meanes shée could that she might be sent to her Fathers Court againe yet she that little made account thereof sought opportunitie to bewraye her loue to Palmerin and by hap séeing Alchidiana in the Gallerie conferring with two of her Ladies shée entred alone into her Cozins Chamber where sitting downe on the bedde shée compassed many imaginations howe she might discouer to the dumbe Knight the secrete fire that was kindled in her breâ—â— So long shée staied there till Palmerin came because about that time hée was woont to visite the Prinâ—esse Alchidiana Ardemia so glad héereof as could be possible suddainlie started vppe and saluting him with more then common reuerâ—nce taking him by the hand and causing him to fit downe by her vpon the bedde Then enflamed with wonderfull passions surpassing Pasiphaes desire to the brutish Bull when shée mette him in the wood made by Dedalus shée beheld him with such a piercing countunaunce as the least glimse whereof was able to confounde the reason of the most constant person as the aspect of the Sunne in the 〈◊〉 of Leo dooth the eyes of the beholders and of force to warme the coldest complexion although it were an 〈◊〉 himselfe in her presence Then deliuering thrée or foure bitter sighes fetcht from the verye bottome of her heart as cruell as y◠〈…〉 she tooke a rich Diamond from her finger and put it on Palmerins with these words Swéete Fréends and onely comforte of my soule let me intreate you to weare this as an argument of my loue thereby to knowe howe well you estéeme of mée assuring you that I am so deuoted yours as if you vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 me the fauour and honour by iournying to the Court of my Father with mee I neuer will haue any Husband but you and there shall such account be made of you as wel beséemes a Knight so noble and vertuous Ah diuine defence of my life and more woorthie to bee loued then Loue himselfe misdéeme not of these spéeches so aduenturouslye vttered by a yong Ladie and vnmaried for the loue I beare you is such as I am constrained forgetting the decent regard of a bashfull Uirgin who naturallie is shamefasâ—e to estéeme of you honestlye and as is conuenable to 〈◊〉 estate Then séeing the Gods the place the occasion and the time permits me to bewraye that which I dare not otherwise manifest haue then faire Knight some pittie on mee and let mée enioy assuraunce of grace for which I 〈◊〉 in ceaselesse torments With which wordes shée embraced him and sealed so many swéete kisses on his hand as apparantly deciphered her earnest affection Palmerin amazed at this strange accident because shée was a Pagan and contrary to him in faith that making 〈◊〉 aunswere but following the example of chaste Ioseph who refused Zephira Wife to Putiphar great prouâ—st to the King of Aegipt started from her suddainlie and mooued with displeasure departed the Chamber thinking in himselfe that such occasions more ouer-rule the hearts of men then all other matters that might bée deuised and 〈◊〉 the practises of â—ellish Pâ—uto Then calling to his Ladie for assistance said to himselfe Ah swéete Mistresse succour now your seruant for I rather desire a thousand deathes then to violate the chaste honor of my loue or to giue that fauour to this Lady which is onelye yours Alchidiana by chanceâ— séeing Palmerin when he entred her Chamber and 〈◊〉 him now to depart againe imagined presentlie the 〈◊〉 of the cause wherefore entring the guarderobe which was adioyning to her Chamber shée closely stood and 〈◊〉 all that had passed and at his comming foorth staied him in this maner Notwithout great cause good Knight 〈◊〉 thou take the fatall Crowne from the head of Maurice for in thée is more â—â—rmnesse and continencie then is in the disloyall Ardemia vnchaste desires and villainie but in vnfitte nine did shée rip open her vnmaidenlike affections for I will publish her shame to euery one and cause her to be lesse estéemed then a knowne offender Palmerin fearing that in her choller she would doo no lesse then she said fell on his knée before her intreating her by signes to forbeare otherwise it would be his death She seeing him so faire and gracious and thus to humble himselfe at her feete quallified her displeasure promising to kéepe it in secret So Palmerin withdrewe himselfe to his Chamber leauing the two Ladies nowe togither but Ardemia agréeued at the dumbe Knights refusall woulde not reueale her wrong to Alchidiana who so soone as Palmerin was out of hearing thus began Why shamelesse Ardemia thinkest thou
Ladyes eares Neyther can you in my iudgement honour him sufficiently because my Daughter and mée hee hath shéelded from death expulsed our ignominious slaunder and slaine our false accusing enemy to make vs liue in perpetuall fame and memory The most part of them well 〈◊〉 his words and confounded with the remembrance 〈◊〉 theyr shame when they 〈◊〉 not enterprise the Combat for their Lady knew not what to answere but fearing to grow in further offence sought how to change his minde to some other talke Alchidiana béeing all this while in her Chamber prepared her selfe to goe visite 〈◊〉 not knowing how to shape her 〈◊〉 for fresh bewraying of 〈…〉 for the Goddesse Iuno when shée stoode before Syr Paris for sentence of her beautie was not more sumptuously adorned then the Princesse Nowe be 〈◊〉 shée to dispute in her thoughts the honourable graceâ— of Palmerin his nobilitie so farre renowmed his knightly prowesse and magnanimitie whereof herselfe had so good experience as shée resolued neuer to haue any other Husband Then 〈◊〉 she of her Ladies how she might 〈◊〉 her Knight if her head â—yre 〈◊〉 orderly if her 〈…〉 were tressed as they ought and if her garments were braue enough For conclusion the louely Mayden knew not how to dispose of herselfe to gaine his loue shée so earnestly longed for In this equipage she goes to sée her Friend and in his Chamber shée findes her Mother who hindered her languishing Daughter from discouering her sicknesse to him that onely had the power to helpe her wherefore liuing in hope of some better oportunitie for this time she smothered her gréefes so wel as she could finding other talke with her Ladies least her mother should suspect her Chap. XIII How the brethren of Amarano would haue buried his bodie in the Tombe with Ardemia which Alchidiana would not suffer but constrained them to carrie him home againe into his Countrey AMarano thus slaine his Brethren according to his charge thus giuen them before hée entred the Combat tooke his bodie and with great mourning they brought it to the Princesse Ardemiaes Tombe thinking to burie him there with her but Alchidmia aduertised héereof came presently and intreated her Father that hée woulde sende an Herauld to the Brethren of the vanquished Prince to charge them not to leaue the bodie of Amarano in his Dominions for if they did he would cause it to be burned as a Traytor deserued Moreouer that they themselues should depart within foure and twentie hours on paine of the daunger should ensue by their default For good Father quoth she if you should permitte their boldnesse it will be great blame and dishonour to you in that it is commonly knowne with what great pride and arrogancie he came to your Court thinking to iniurie your good report and eyther to shut mée from your presence for euer or else with open scandale to ende my life The Soldane well regarding her wordes willingly graunted her request whereupon the Princesse Brethren were certified of the Soldanes pleasure by a Trumpet whereat they maruailed not a little but séeing they could no way remedie it they said Herauld it is reason that your Lord should bée obeied within his owne territories neuerthelesse you may say vnto him that the crueltie he shewes to a dead bodie is verie great and against all equitie which he héereafter happilie may repent So opening the Tombe againe they tooke foorth their Brothers bodie and the Princesse Ardemiaes likewise conuaying them into a Litter of Cipres to kéepe them from corrupting and thus returned with them to Phrygia where the Princes death was greatly lamented but chéefly by the aged King his Father who séeing his Sonne dead before him after many dolorous passions thus complained Ah Fortune howe cruell doost thou shew thy selfe to the mightie as well as the meanest Ah my Sonne Amarano too déere hast thou bought thy loue to Ardemia Wretched and dispised olde man howe vnfortunate art thou among all other For when thou perswadest thy selfe to haue ioy and comfort by thy Sonnes thou findest the chéefe cause of sorrowe and discontent O death thou sufferest me too importunate Yet if the Soldane had graunted thée buriall where thou diddest desire it before thy death the lesse had béene my gréefe But soone shall I cause him repent his hard dealing and reuenge thy death with sufficient requitall The second brother to Amarano named Gramiel séeing his father in such extreame heauinesse assayed by all meanes he coulde to comfort him promising in the presence of all his Knights with all possible spéede to reuenge his Brothers death and so did all the sixe Brethren solemnly vowe togither Which spéeches did somewhat comfort the aged King who commaunded the bodies of the two louers to be taken from his presence and for a perpetuall memorie of his Sonnes death he caused a sumptuous monument to be made of marble and Porphire whereon was grauen the cause of their vnhappie death All this while Gramiell who vndertooke his Brothers reuenge gaue charge to the people round about him as also to the Kinges and Princes of Suria who were then enemies to the Soldane to prepare themselues in readinesse so that within a Moneths space hée had assembled a power of fiue thousand hardie Soldiers himselfe béeing appointed leader and generall ouer them In this sort they tooke themselues to the Feelde hoping to ruinate the Soldanes Countrey with fire and sworde but they were better entertained then they expected as hereafter shall bée largely discoursed Chap. XIIII Howe Alchidiana ouercome by vehemencie of her loue offered her selfe to Palmerin as his wife and of the aunswere he made her REmembring what hath past in the chapters before we may not forget how by the message of the Quéene of Tharsus sent to the Soldanes Court Alchidiana who began as it were to despise Palmerin was coÌ„strained to renue her loue thus conferring with her selfe that if so great a person as the Quéene of Tharsus commended estéemed and honoured him hauing neuer séene him the better meane had she béeing dayly in his companie to practise the furtheraunce of her earnest desires Shée therefore continually awayted oportunitie to discouer the fire newly raked from the embers and which day and night consumed her with languishing but so well it came to passe that not many dayes after the Combat with Amarano hee came to visite her in her Chamber right ioyfull of the talke hee had with the Soldan as coÌ„cerning the prouision of his strength to goe ruinate the Citie of Constantinople which gaue him hope of his returne to Allemaigne Alchidiana hauing courteously saluted him and shewing better countenaunce then before shée did caused him to sit downe by her and soone after began in this sort I desire you Sir Knight by the reuerence you beare our Godâ— and the â—ayth you owe to her for whose loue you tooke the enchaunted Crowne from the Prince Maurice to tell me your name what your Parents be and of whence
you are For I sweare to you by the honour of a Princesse that the guerdon you shall receyue in so dooing is my heart hauing once conquered those desires that long haue tormented me intending to make you Lorde of my selfe and all the possessions of the Soldane my Father without anie sinister meaning you may beléeue mée Consider therefore good Knight that without feare or dissimulation I haue tolde you what néerest concerneth mee if then you desire not my present death make aunswere as honourable dutie requireth ballancing in your owne thoughts howe vehemently the impressions 〈◊〉 loue haue touched me in respect that now I haue twise for your sake excéeded the limits of mine owne regar◠〈…〉 of my passions But séeing our Gods haue béene so fauourable as to restore the thing was earst taken from you and likewise hath brought you into her companie who loues you dearer then her owne life shew not your selfe so hard of nature to flie the howre that Loue and Fortune presents you withall Therefore â—y onely beloued Lorde in recompence of your sharpe Combat with proud Amarano receyue me as your wife whom you haue woorthily deserued Palmerin séeing himselfe assayled by so faire an enemie who coulde sooner bring in subiection an other Hercules then euer did Iole and as easily giue life to a statue of Marble as Venus sometime did at thâ— request of Pigmalion the Caruer was in maruellous affliction hauing before him on the one side feare to offende God on the other the loyaltie he ought his Mistresse and then the 〈◊〉 death of Alchidiana if he denied her In the ende remembring what the Soldan had spoken concerning his voyage to Constantinople hée deuised by this meane to 〈◊〉 her such aunswere as she should rest contented and neither God nor his Mistresse be offended he thus began 〈◊〉 and most excellent Princesse 〈◊〉 I am assuredly peâ—waded that there is not any Monâ—rce or Prinâ—h so noble in all Asia but might reckon himselfe among the happiest in respect of your perfections and vnualuable riches to espouse you as his wife By farre greater reason I that am poore a Knight errant vnknowne and whose life you haue saued may say and name my selfe aboue all other in fortune But knowing my selfe to simple and of so slender deseruing towardes you I estéeme it impossible for the Gods and nature likewise to lift mée to so wonderfull 〈◊〉 of happinesse Wherefore séeing the cause such and greater then I can desire or imagine likewise that it is 〈◊〉 to your commaundement 〈◊〉 I were 〈◊〉 any fauour of Fortune and to bée 〈◊〉 among the most vngratefull Knights in the worlde iâ— may any thing I should disobey your pleasure My reason is that you béeing reckoned as chéefe among the most perfect and accomplished Ladies deigne so much to abase your selfe as to make mée Lord of your loue which hath béene desired by so many worthie personages For these causes most gracious Mistresse I am bound to loue you aboue all other Ladies liuing which henceforth I hope to doo and loyally to serue you with my vttermost endeuours And as I ought swéete Madame to loue none but you so is my dutie to hold your regard in chéefest commendation therefore will I with such secrecie as so honourable a conquest will permit conceale this extraordinarie graâ—e And had I not this morning made promise to your Father to accompanie his power Constantinople there to reuenge the death of your deceassed vncle Gamezio soone should our loue sort to wished effect and I gather that swéet flower which aboue all other would beautifie my Garland Notwithstanding my hope is such that in this voyage I shall do such seruice to the Soldane your Father as at my returne hée will recompence mee to your content and good lyking of his Princes and Subiects which may no way nowe bee mooued least his minde otherwayes busied should conceyue displeasure against me and so all our fortune for euer squandered In this respect swéete Madame if euer hereafter I shall doo you seruice let me intreate you to patience till my returne resoluing your selfe in the meane while that I am more yours then mine owne and dedicate my life to your gracious seruice As concerning the rest of 〈◊〉 demaund my name is Palmerin d'Oliua and what my Parents are the Quéene of Tharsus within these thrée daies will tell me more then hitherto I could vnderstand by any when you shall vnderstand more of my estate and Country also but so farre as I yet gather by mine owne knowledge my â—iscent is from Persia. This excuse hée made because Alchidiana should not suspect him to bée a Christian and with this aunswere shée was so ioyfull and contented as nothing was able to inspyre more chéerefull life into her languishing soule which Palmerin perceyuing and the better to continue her in this opinion verie often he kissed her hande in signe of his affectionate obeysaunce and in this sort hee departed to his owne Chamber leauing the Princesse triumphing of her conquest He was no sooner come into his Chamber but solicited with the remembraunce of his Ladie Polinarda hee imagined how she blamed him with mournfull complaintâ— for his late promises which thought so diuersly afflicted him as he spent all the rest of the day in teares and as shée had béene present humblie requesting her to pardon what had past him in respect hée did it not willingly nor gaue anie consent with his heart thereto but dissembled the matter least the Princes by his deniall shoulde fall into despayre and rather then he would violate his solemne vow to his gracious Goddesse hée woulde aduenture on infinitâ— dangers Yet did this feigned answere to Alchidiana greatlie auaile him and caused him to bée more honoured then euen hée was before as also to bée continually accompanied with her presence whose onely delight was in dayly beholding him Chap. XV. Howe the Soldane hauing determined to send his armie to Constantinople would elect Palmerin his Lieutenant generall which he refused intreating him to giue the charge to the olde King of Balisarca NOw was the Soldan continually mindfull of the promise hée made to his deceassed Father Misos to reuenge the death of his Brother Gamezio wherefore séeing all his dominions in peace and that hée had with him the valiaunt Palmerin hee concluded to leuie a mightie Armie to 〈◊〉 that which dutie daylie called for And hauing prouided a huge number of Galions 〈◊〉 Gallyes and other vâ—ssels hée sent abroade to aduertise all the Kinges Princes Califfes and Toborlanes his Subiects of his will and pleasure who likewise gathering their forces togither were numbred to bée aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand fighting men All this while the Soldane so fauoured Palmerin as he had bestowed on him 〈…〉 which he made but slender account of 〈…〉 continually expected time to sée his Polynarda Alchidinia likewise building on his passed promises daylie presented him with many rich gifts and practised all
giue the better credite to the Princes wordes Yet notwithstanding all their excuses these two Pilgrims were taken into sure custodie and shut vp both togither in a strong Towre which was verie long before they could accomplish because in leading them thither many sought meanes to kill them and they had done it but that the Duke verie strongly defended them Chap. XXVI The sorowfull complaints made by the Queene Griana seeing her Huâ—band dead and her friend taken And howe the Duke of Pera conueyed her to Constantinople causing Florendos and Frenato to be brought thither by fiue hundred armed Knights VErie sorrowfull was the Quéene Griana séeing so manie misfortunes succéede one another as euerie houre her death was expected and saâ—s she woulde haue committed violence on her selfe but that Cardyno with diuerse Knights attended on her that none of the Kinges kindred shoulde offend her while the Duke of Pera led Florendos and Frenato to the Tower At whose return as he thought to comfort her shée fell on her knées before him saying Ah noble Duke of Pera if euer pittie had place within your heart for Gods sake make an end of my vnfortunate life and execute on me without any fauour the sharpest rigour of equall iustice not suffering longer life to a woman so dispised and miserable O God doost thou permit a happie life to enioy so bad an end Thou that onely knowest the inward secrets of the heart séeing I stand suspected in this treason let my spéedie death deliuer mine innocencie Ah inconstant Fortune that in my yonger yéeres was so aduerse to mee how might I credite thy continuall mallice but by this strange and vnexpected accident Ah gentle Prince Florendos it was not for loue that thou camest to sée mée but for a secret hatred more then deadly séeing that by thée and that with great shame I shall remaine for euer defamed Where was that loyaltie and the great feare to offend mée which sometime thou séemedst to haue Knowest thou not that in a royall and noble minde one onely note of infamie is an extreame torment Doubtlesse if thou wouldest well consider the wrong thou hast done me thou shalt finde it to excéede all other worldly iniuries But I may perswade my selfe that my destinie was such for being long since by thée dishonoured it must fall out for a finall conclusion that by thée also I shall receiue death In this maner the Quéene complained with such effuse of teares and bitter sighes as the Duke pitying her case sayd I beséech you Madame to endure this mishap paciently séeing now it cannot be recalled and consider that these teares and lamentations can yéelde yée no amendes but rather threaten daunger and will in the ende not onely weaken your bodie but hazard desperation The King is dead he must be buried Florendos hath offended hée shall be punished your people are wounded they must be cured Offende not then your selfe with these bootlesse regrâ—â—tes but commaund that the proofe of your innocencie be followed Hereupon the Duke caused preparation for the funerall pompe and brought the king to the bed of honor not without many teares and lamentations of his Subiects When the obsequies were finished Promptaleon and Oudin came and exclaimed on the Duke because hée brought not the Quéene and Florendos to open punishment My friends quoth the Duke haue I not heretofore tolde you that wée must not inconsiderateâ—y put such persons to death let the Councell bee called togither and as they determine I will procéede Then were all the Princes and Lordes assembled among whome the Duke was intreated to speake his opinion which hée did in this maner I thinke it conâ—enient vnder correction of you my noble Lords that the Prince Florendos and the Queene ought to bée sent to my Lord the Emperour and there to haue iustice extended on them as well for the sureâ—ie of your owne persons as for the conseruation of the Realme For except iustice and by probable causes you condemne the Prince Florendos hardly may you perswade the Macedonian Princes beside the Lordes may say that without hearing hee was cut off and likewise by his open enemies Againe thinke you that the Emperour will let passe in silence so great a wrong to punish his Daughter and not arquaint him with her offence Considering this indifferently you shall finâ— your selues on eyther side endangered your goods will be spoyled your liues endamaged for hardly can you resist agaynst such power So well coulde the Duke sette foorth his discourse with confirmation of Hystories both auncient and moderne that in despight of the Kings Nephewes it was concluded how the prisoners should be sent to Constantiople If they were hereat offended it is not to bee doubted but hearing the Counsuâ—les resolution prepared themselues to goe to the Emperour determining a sharpe and seuere accusation trusting so much in their strength and prowesse that if the Emperour for proofe of the cause shoulde committe it is the Combat they easily thought to compasse their intent So were the two Pilgryms committed to the Dukes Nephew with an hundred Knights of Greece for their guard and foure hundred Hungarians who would néedes followe for the loue they bare the Quéene she béeing maruellousâ—â—â— fauoured in her countrey for her many vertues and chiefly charitie The Quéene her selfe with the yong Princesse Armida her Daughter and all her Ladyes and Gentlewomen were committed to the Duke of Pera his charge and the rest of the traine that came with him in the Ambassade When the Quéene vnderstoode shée should be caried to the Emperour shée 〈◊〉 further out of pacience then shée was before rather desiring a thousand deaths then is come with this reproach before her Father yet notwithstanding all her intreaties shee was conueyed into a Litter and not so much as a pinne left about her for feare of inconuenience To comfort her her Daughter Armida was placed in the Litter without whose companie such was her gréets to come before her Parents as shée was diuerse times in daunger of death by the way But the yong Princesse béeing twelue or thirtéene yeares of age coulde so well comfort her sorrowfull mother as her talke expelled many bitter imaginations If the Quéene was in heauinesse wée must thinke Florendos griefes nothing inferiour séeing his Ladie led in such sort and accused of a crime wherein none but himselfe was culpable yet made hee no account béeing reuenged of his auncient enemie so the Quéene were deliuered though himselfe endured the death But nowe are they come to Constantinople yet not so soone but the Nephewes of the deceassed King were before them where they had blazed a false and most shamefull reporte And but for the aduise of certaine noble Princesse that fauoured Florendos and the Quéene Griana vpon the trothlesse spéeches of these twaine the Emperour had concluded to burne his Daughter and the Prince so soone as they came such horrible slaunders had these traytours spread of
permitted my course this way without all doubt you had lost your life But since it hath béene my good happe to preuent your ominous fortune I must aduise yée heereafter to beware of like hazard and may it please you to accompanie me to a Castle within two miles distance your entertainment shall be good and your wounds cured by a Ladie very expert in Châ—â—urgâ—rie I accept your offer gentle Sir quoth Palmerin with right good will as well to haue your friendly companie as to shéelde you from any other such like villanies who happily may séeke your harme for this noble fauour So they rode on altogether Palmerin remembring the wordes of the Fairie Ladie and could not imagine who the knight should be that had so honourably preserued his life this made him more to maruaile that hée should be his enemie whom to his remembrance hee had neuer séene in any place before To put him from these cogitations Olorico ashamed of his absence in such a néedfull time came to Palmerin with these words Certes my noble Friende I am henceforth vnworthie to beare armes séeing that in such daunger I left your companie vnhappie that I am might not former experience teach me what sodaine aduentures doo often happen to Knights errant what punishment may be sufficient for my hainous offence Leaue such spéeches to Women quoth Palmerin for if we knâ—we before what would happen afterward neuer should we fall into any inconueniences but it is sufficient that we haue so well escaped and let God haue the glorie for so happie deliuerance By this time they were come to the Castle and entring the base Court the Seruants came to take their Horses to the stable meane while the Knight himselfe went to aduertise the lady of the other knights arriual saying Faire Leonarda I pray you vouchsafe the best honour and entertainment you can deuise to two Gentlemen I haue héere brought with me for I imagine by their rich armes and courtly behauiour that either they are Princes or discended of very honorable parentage Trust me my Lord quoth she for your sake I will endeuor my selfe to welcome them as they ought And comming into the hall to salute them after many courtesies deliuered on either side the Lady séeing Palmerins armour besmeared with bloud by reason of the wound he receiued on his heaâ— saide I feare my Lord you are very sore hurt therefore the sooner it be séene to the better ease you shall finde Héereupon her selfe holpe to vnarme him and afterward brought him into a goodly Chamber where when shee had staunched his bléeding and bound vp the wound he was laide in a maruailous rich bedde prouided for him she promising within ten dayes and lesse to restore him so well as he would at pleasure trauaile without any danger For this kindnesse Palmerin returned her many thanks and because hee might the better rest without disturbance shée caused euerie one to depart the Chamber her selfe likewise courteously bidding him good night Palmerin béeing alone looked rounde about the Chamer to sée if by any armes of deuise hée might knowe the Knight that so happily deliuered him at length hard by his bed side he espied the Shéeld of Frysol with the Sunne painted therein which hee well remembred to be his deuise whom for Polynardaes loue he hated according as you haue heard in the former part of this Historie which when he beheld the teares trickling down his chéekes he thus began to himself I perceiue that the lady which saluted me on the mountaine is of excellent knowledge for though the Knight bee my chéefest enemie yet for the honorable kindnesse he hath this day shewed me I wil forget all former iniuries and loue him henceforth as hée were my brother and what I could neuer compasse by rigour and force of Armes I will nowe séeke to conquer by loue and courtesie While he continued these priuat spéeches Frysoll opened the Chamber doore and entred to bid Sir Palmerin good night who not a little glad of his comming said I pray you Sir knight by the honourable loue you beare to Chiualrie to tell me your name and if héeretofore you were neuer in the Realme of England My name quoth the Knight which hitherto I neuer hid from any man is Frysoll and two yéeres I remained in the Realme you speake of with the Duke of Gaule in his Court You remembâ—â— then a Knight saide Palmerin with whom in lesse space then twelue dayes together you had two seuerall Combats Uery true quoth Frysoll and some good reason I haue to remember it for the fight on my behalfe was so dangerous as but by the fauour of a Lady and a Squire I neuer had escaped with life Nowe hast thou in thy custodie saide Palmerin the man that did thée such wrong no more an enemie but for euer thy vowed true and trustie Friend and by the order I haue receiued there is no man this day liuing that shall withdraw me from thy friendshippe because thou better deseruest it then any Knight in the world And hath by my meanes quoth Frysoll the onely flower of Chiualrie béene deliuered from death and the resolute hatred betwéene vs vnited nowe with loue more then brotherlike in happie howre went I on hunting this day and fortune could neuer honour mée with more desired successe For confirmation of this new alliance hee ranne and called Leonarda Olorico and the rest and before them all kissed Palmerin in the Bedde to seale the perpetuall league of amitie betwéene them Then was recounted their aduentures and hatred past whereat euery one greatly maruailed séeing this sodaine change to such surpassing loue Frysoll also rehearsed how after the rape of Agriola the Duke Crenus his Lord went to the Court where hée aduised the King to pursue his Daughter or to sende him in search of her whereto he could not any way perswade the King Moreouer howe his Maiestie would haue kept him still in his seruice whereto he might not graunt for the promise he made the Ladie that came thither whome after hée had brought to her Castle hee trauailed by the Emperour of Allemaignes Court where hée certainely vnderstood that Trineus and Agriola were not as yet there arriued nor could any newes bee heard what became of them Yet during all these spéeches he concealed all his owne noble déeds of chiualrie in England Allemaigne and other places so vertuous and vebonarie was this gentle knight coueting in nothing to extoll himselfe He forgot not likewise to report how that Lady cured him of a long and gréeuous disease for which hée had so giuen himselfe to her seruice as for euer he vowed himself her knight Palmerin not a little contented with this discourse said I thinke the King of England would not sennde his Shippes after his daughter remembring her happinesse to come béeing nowe the espoused wife to Lord Trineus and the honour thereof haâ— béene alreadie séene but that the tempest of the Sea was
him for the paines hée had taken putting his life in daunger for the conseruation of their honors Not to mée Ladie answered Frysol ought you giue these thanks but to him that onelye giueth strength to man and if from my byrth I had continually trauailed in your seruice yet your graces are such as I shoulde neuer deserue to bee reckoned among your meanest fauorites The yong Princesse thinking her selfe greatlie bounde to him woulde not giue him good morrowe with so little talke but sitting downe on the bedde by him taking him by the hand began againe thus I knowe not Sir Knight how the Quéene my Mother will procéede in requitaâ—â— of your noble seruice for mine owne parte not forgetting howe the Traytours threatned me whom to their endlesse shame you haue vanquished and slaine I find my selfe so indebted to you as it far excéedeth my power to guerdon you with answerable recompence Frysol perceiuing the yong princesse affection whom Loue had caught somewhat within his reache knewe immediatlie by her sober bashfull lookes the cause why so manie sighes were coupled with her words himselfe likewise suddainlie sicke of the same disease returned this aunswere Madame if Fortune the Fréend to your happinesse would fauour mée so much as the enterprise doone by your commanding might sorte to an ende fitting my desire I shoulde then accounte my selfe more then sufficientlie gratefied in this that the act is agréeable to your liking and the fauâ—urable countenaunce of such a Ladie is more then so meane a Knight as my selfe can merit Beside from the daye that the high renowme of your prudence and gracious beautie assured me of those exquisite gifts wherewith nature hath plentifullie enriched you I tooke such a religious vowe of bâ—ndage on mée as considering your high calling and my selfe so far inferiour I shall neuer obtaine the fauour of libertie if your â—enignitie excéeding all things else graunt me not that speciall grace The Quéene loth to trouble this forme of confession withdrewe her selfe into Palmerins Chamber where as it fell out shee founde no bodye but himselfe by which occasion remembring the loue she bare to Florendos after shée had humblie saluted him shée thus began Beléeue me gentle Sir your knightlie Chiuâ—lrie hath shewed it selfe of such desert as the Prince Florendos for defence of whose honor you haue not feared to aduenture your life your daungerous woundes well witnessing the same shall neuer deuise sufficient satisfaction For in my iudgement it may well bee said that goods honor and life hath beene restored him by your noble magnanimitie Madam quoth Palmerin these wounds that for thâ—se two daies haue made me keepe my Chamber thankâ—s bâ— to God are not so daungerous as if occasion were offered either for you or my Lord Florendos but full well could I bee seene therein to purchase entertainment into your gracious conceite The Quéene then sitting downe in a Chaire by him and viewing him verie earnestly his lockes of haire kept down by a gorgious wrought Cap embroidered with Saphires and small Emeralds shée behelde the mole on his face like a Crosse which made her remember that her Son had the like and in the selfe same place when Cardyna tooke him from her and caried him to the Mountaine Héereupon she tooke greater occasion to regard his countenaunce and imagining him verie much to resemble the Prince Florendos immediatlie shée perswaded her selfe that hee was her Son Which conceit mooued her to such alterations as of long â—he continued silent though Palmerin in meanâ— while demaunded manie questions of her These changes ouer-ruled by reason and discretion shée commaunded her Ladies to depart the Chamber and to goe accompanie the yong Princesse Armida they béeing no sooner gone but shée began in this maner Let me request Sir Palmerin to know your Parents and the name of the Countrey where you were borne Palmerin somewhat amazed at this demaund was nowe in the midst of his onely desire verilie perswading himselfe that the Quéene was his mother wherefore he thus aunswered Madame I sweare to you by my faith that I knowe no Ladie this day liuing to whom I woulde willinglie reueale more then to your selfe but so contrarie was Fortune to mée in mine infancie that as yet I could not get anie knowledge either of my Father or Mother nor of the Countrey where I was borne Yet thus I haue beene certified that I was nourished on a Mountaine not farre from this Citie which is called the Mount of Oliues where as I haue béene many times tolde my Foster-father founde mée in rich swadling cloathes and more then this so please you to credite mée cannot I bewray of whence or what I am O heauens quoth the Quéene how greatly am I bound to prayse your infinite bountie and pittie for so safe protecting mine infant whom I forsooke so cruelly Ah gentle Knight sée héere thy Mother euen shee that commaunded thou shouldest bée caried to the Mountaine and the Prince Florendos whom so lately thou diddest deliuer from death hée noble Palmerin is thy Father Norwithstanding my Sonne I desire thee by the reuerent loue thou bearest mée to conceale secretlie what I haue sayde vntill I gaine the meane to discouer my shame to the Emperour yet such a shame as neuer came greater good to thy Mother nor can I nowe account the déede sinfull in that my fortune hath brought mée such an honourable Sonne So rauished with ioy was both the Mother and the Sonne as neither coulde expresse their inward contentation for such was their alteration as they reputed for an illusion or dreame what was most certaine indéed such wonderfull comfort brought this vnexpected chaunce wherewith the greatest indowments of honour or riches may not bee compared Béeing in this extasie the Mother for her Sonne and the Sonne for his Mother Palmerin hauing now againe recouered his forces sayd My God I render thy name immortall thanks in that I drewe my breath from so noble and vertuous persons as also for graunting mée knowledge of them in a time so fortunate forbeare then good Mother to misâ—éeme of any thing for I will discourse the matter in such sort to the Emperour as forgetting all things past hée shall receiue both the mother and sonne with greater ioy then you can imagine But to the ende Madame you may be more certaine of your sonne see héere a Crucifixe of Golde which was tied about my necke when I was founde and hath of long time béene kept by the most perfect Lady in the world The Quéene knowing it right well after shee had kissed it manie times answered Assuredly my sonne it is the veriâ— same that my selfe tied about thy necke when I was in the greatest gréefe that euer distressed mother might bée to sée her infant violatelie rapt from her so soone as Nature had brought him into the world But if my mishap as then surpassed all other womens yet now is it recompenced with such a fortunate houre as
offended yée By our Gods if I knew him presently shoulde he die the death The Princesse trembling with feare séeing Hippolyta was not present spake thus in English What will my Lorde and Husband Trineus say if hee be in this companie séeing I haue so dissloyally forsaken him and thus though God knowes perforce in stéed of him haue taken the enemie to him and our faith Yet one comfort haue I that this Infidell hath not carnally knowne me for which perfection I thanke the heauenly maiestie At these spéeches Palmerin was so glad as the feare of death could not withholde him but in the same language he thus answered Feare not good Madame Trineus is not in our companie but so please you to say I am your Brother you may happily saue my life and practise your deliuerance The Turke misdoubting by Palmerins perswading that hée had caused this sodaine alteration imagining him to be her husband of whom he had heard her talke so often in a great rage said Knight how durst thou presume my Ladies presence knowing the sight of thée would any way displease her By the Prophet Mahomet thou shalt immediately die that all such audacious villaines may take an example by thée Agriola knowing the Turks censures were very peremptorie and commonly no sooner saide then excuted embracing him thus replied Ah my Lorde do not the thing in haste for which afterwarde you will be sorrie for I assure you on my honor the Knight that spake to mée is my Brother and hath left his Countrey onely to finde me and him I do loue so effectually as if you put him to death impossible is it for me to liue afterward When the Turke heard her speake with such affection qualifying his anger saide I promise ye Madame for your sake hée shall haue no harme but bee entertained with loue and honour conditionally that you forgette this melancholy and hencefoorth shewe your selfe more pleasant for in séeing you sad I am more gréeued then if I had lost the moitie of dominions In sooth my Lorde answered Agriola now shall I be merrie séeing you intende to loue my Brother for greater good cannot happen to me then this gentle entertainment and hencefoorth shall I tread vnder foote the sad remembraunce of my Countrey and Parents hauing him with me by whom I hope to gaine my greatest comfort So the Turke arising from his Chayre caused Palmerin and Laurana to accompanie Agriola and the other fiue Knights hauing kissed his hande hee went to his Chamber commaunding Olimaell for his greater honor to vsher Agrola who as she went thus spake Beléeue me Admirall if I was offended when thou broughtest me prisoners hither thou hast now made mée sufficient amendes in that by thée I enioy my Brother whom I was out of all hope to sée againe Alas Madame quoth he little did I thinke him to be such a one for had I his vsage should haue béene much better which fault I hope heereafter to recompence I commend him to thy countesie sayde Agriola let him and his friendes haue all things they want according as my Lorde hath appointed So taking her leaue of them she entred her chamber where she and Hyppolita conferred with Laurana of all her fortunes passed and the aduentures of her Brother Nowe was Palmerin and his companions by the Turks commaundement lodged néere the Pallace and to each of them he sent a goodly Horse with costly furniture thinking by these meanes to conquere Agriola and purchase that of her which he long had desired and talking with Palmerin sayde Right well may you be Brother to my Lady Agriola in that your beautie and complexion deliuers great likelihood séeing then our Gods haue permitted that for her comfort you shoulde be brought hither perswade her I pray yée that she be no longer repugnant to my will for could I haue a Child by her I would thinke my selfe the happiest Lord on the earth Beside I would haue you forsake the follie of your Christianotie and yéelâ— your selfe to our Law which is much better then yours and you shall sée how our Gods will fauour you likewise what great good you shall receiue therby My Lord quoth Palmerin I will labour with my Sister so much as lies in me to doâ— as for your Law as yet I am vnacquainted therwith but when I shall find it to be such as you assure mee easily may I bee drawen thereto and to serue you with such loyaltie as so great an estate doth worthily deserue I confesse my selfe likewise greatly bâ—unden to your maiestie in that you haue accepted my Sister as your Wife and to mee a poore slaue giuen life and libertie which I beséech you also graunt to the Marriners in whose Uessell it was my chaunce to bée taken in so dooing she may be greatly mooued by your magnificent libertie and mercie The great Turke presently gaue his consent causing their safe conduct to bee openly proclaimed so Palmerin and his Friendes humbly departing to their lâ—dging the Turke went to Agriolaes Chamber where sitting downe by her he thus began Now shall I perceiue Madame how much your Brother may preuaile with you for hée hath promised me so to order the matter as you shall graunt my long desired sute My Lord quoth shée my Brother shall command me nothing but I will doo it with all my heart as for your request it is not in my power but in the hande of God who defendeth me as best him pleaseth Nor can I change the opinion I haue held so long though by hauing my Brother with me I enioy farre greater content then I did before It sufficeth me saide the Turke to sée you so well pleased and as for your Brother that you may perceiue howe well I loue him before one moneth be expired I will make him the chéefest Lord in my Court next mine owne person so kissing the Princesse he departed to his Chamber The day following Palmerin saide to his companions You sée my friendes how friendly Fortune smileth on vs but least shee change as euermore she is wont wée must practise some meanes to escape from these Turkish infidels Beside séeing wée haue founde the Princesse Agriola I hope Trineus is not so secretly hidden but we shall heare some tydingâ— of him Of her will I therefore enquire if she know what became of him and Ptolome wheÌ„ we left them in meane while you may closely conclude with our Marriners that they be euer readie at an howres warning for I hope we shall set hence before eight dayes be past Palmerin went to Agriolaes Chamber and there by good hap hée â—ound her alone whome after he had humbly saluted the Princesse thus spake to him My noble friende you must be carefull howe you speake to me especially before the aged Lady you sawe héere yesterday for shee vnderstandeth all languages and if we be discouered there is no way but death therefore when you sée her with me conferre rather with Laurana
all his enemies Moreouer within two Moneths hée would deliuer tenne thousand talents of Golde and two millions of Seraphes in recompence of his wrong doone to the King Abimar All this my Lord quoth the Soldane will I faythfullie performe and all the Kinges my Subiects shall subscribe thereto on this condition that you accompanie the Princesse to the Cittie of Harano there to honor with your presence our espousall where your sonne Tomano shall likewise match with our Daughter To this the King willingly consented whereupon the Soldane sent his Seneshall to cause his Armie march homewardes into Persia except sixe thousand men at Armes to guard to Soldanes person then openly in the field was the peace proclaimed and the Captaines on either side fréendly embracing each other Afterward the soldane comming to the king Abimar and in the presence of Palmerin and Trineus thus spake Néedlesse were it now my Lord to remember our passed displeasures but generally to conferre of warre and peace yet hereof I can assure you that the Princesse Zephira and these two strange Knights preuailed more agaynst me then all the rest of your Armie But least your people should thinke that our concluded peace is not thorowlie grounded to morrowe will I bée openlie affianâ—ed to the Princesse Zephira and afterward set forward to Harano that my Sisters may bée present at our nuptials in the meane while our Seneshall and sixe other noble Lordes shall remaine with you as our hostages These determinations fulfilled the Soldane passed to Harano where hée heard of the death of the Prince Donadel and the Kinges sonne of Rosillia with diuerse other Princes of his kindred â—â—aine in the battell but the heate of his newe loue caused him to make small account therof preparing all things readie for the solemnitie of his marriage Chap. LIII The conference that the Soldane of Persia had with his Sisters thinking by theyr meanes to stay Palmerin and Tryneus in his Court and the honourable entertainement hee made them at the arriuall of the Princesse Zephira And how by good fortune Palmerin recouered his Squire Colmelio from the Ambassadour Maucetto NO sooner was the soldane come to Harano but hée presently dispatched Messengers to his sisters that they might bée present at his honourable marriage and calling for his Daughter the yong Princesse Belsina he thus began Faire Daughter I thinke you are not ignorant for report fâ—â—eth quicklie fâ—r that I haue promised you in mariage to the Prince Tomano therefore I account it verie requisitie that your solemnitie bee done on the same day when I shall espouse the Princesse Zephira My gracious Lorde and Father quoth shée I remaine altogither at your highnesse direction and if for conclusion of peace you match with so faire a Princesse as is Zephira it were agaynst reason I should refuse the worthie Prince Tomano of Romata When hée perceyued the readie good-will of his Daughter and his two sisters by this time were come to the Court. After hée had welcommed them in most gracious manner hée entred into these spéeches I thought it verie expedient fayre sisters since you vnderstand the peace concluded betwéene the King of Grisca and my selfe to acquaint you with other matters greatly concerning you There commeth hither in the companie of the Princesse Zephira two strange knights of very rare perfections to whom I would willingly haue you vse such especiall behauiour as wée might purchase the meanes to enioy them continually in our Court for no other intent I promise you but onely that they may match with you in marriage You sister Lyzanda quoth hée to the eldest I commit to the cheefest Knight the verie same man that most valiantlie tooke mée prisoner in the battaile and you Arecinda for so was the yongest named I bequeath to the other who is one of the goodliest personages that euer Nature framed Héereunto they were right soone entreated especiallie Aurecinda who though her elder sister were graue and well aduised yet was shée pleasant quaint and so subtile as easily could shee practise the meane to deceiue the wisest man whereof she made some experience as you shal hereafter perceiue in the Chapters following The Soldane hauing sent for all the Kings Princes and Lordes his subiects to bée present on the day of this great solemnitie the Prince Tomano earnestlie desâ—ring to sée his best beloued desired Palmerin Trineus and the Princesse Zephira that they might set forwardes to Harano But Muzabelino who knew what troubles would succéede the marriage aduised the King Abimar not to goe and counsailed the two Princes Trineus and Palmerin to kéepe themselues continuallie Armed because the Soldane was a man continually subiect to incertaine chaunces So giuing of each of them a Cote of Armes of Crimson Ueluet most curiousâ—ie embroidered with Pearles hee departed from them returning backe againe to the Citie of Grisca Nowe ride these Princes ioyfully to Harano where they were receiued by the soldane with wonderfull pompe and honor each one admiring the rare beaâ—tie of the Princesse Zephira who was conducted with such a royall traine as neuer was the like séene before in Harano At the Cittie Gate the Soldane mette them and in a sumptuous Câ—â—che accompanied them to the Pallace where after many solemne curtesies on each side deliuered and such magnifical royaltie beséeming the time and place the Soldane came to his Sisters who had not yet talked with the two strange Knights and thus spake Sisters to the eâ—de that héereafter you shall not be beguiled the Knights that accompanie my Ladie the Princesse and whome I haue so much commended to you are Christians notwithstanding they bee such as they twaine deserue greater honor then I am any way able to expresse As for their comely stature after that your â—ye hath conferred with your heart I referre my opinion to your iudgement regarde then that they bee loued and estéemed as their perfections doo worthily deserue Aurecinda the yongest and most voluntarie Sister hauing her eye continually fixed on the Prince Trineus thus conferred with herselfe My Brother verie lightly commaundeth vs to loue these strange Knights I knowe not what my Sisters opinion is as for mine owne the beginning alreadie of my loue is such that if I do not quickly obtaine my desire I feare that my affection is rated at the price of my life The time is passed ouer with many delights and daily pastimes after the Persian manner but all this while Lizanda and Aurecinda are tormented with loue so that all patience was vtterly denied them yet bearing this waightie burden so well as they coulde at length the two Sisters came to the Princesse Zephiraâ—s Chamber where they founde Palmerin and Trineus conferring together feigning the cause of their comming to bid the Princesse good morrow Palmerin perceiuing that Lizanda sodainely chaunged her colour imagined the cause of her secret disease and béeing loth to bée tempted with anie such occasion dissembling that he sawe her not tooke
séeing that to staye longer would not auaile him tooke his leaue of the Soldane saying Albeit my Lorde you cannot giue my Maister anie assistance yet let Palmerin returne to him at his departure from your Court What I can doo héerein aunswered the Soldane your Lord shall be assured to finde although I thinke his minde bee otherwise adicted but you were best to knowe his minde your selfe because I heard him saye he would write to Madame Alchidiana Maucetto departing to Palmerins lodging the Soldane went to see his Sisters of whome hée demaunded if they had as yet practised anie thing with the Knights My Lord aunswered Aurecinda who in all things was more prompt then her eldest Sister I haue fixed my loue on the knight Trineus with full resolution neuer to loue anie other yet dooth not he intend to staye héere in your Courte much lesse I feare to make me his wife As for my Sister shée cannot compasse the meane howe to impart her loue to Sir Palmerin Right strange is it quoth the Soldanen that the promises you haue made them and so apparant signes of ardent affection cannot disswade them to make choyse of you Doubtlesse they bée some great Princes who to sée the fashions of the worlde haue thus disguised themselues Continue your loue as you haue begunne and if by other meanes you cannot stay them aduenture your honors as a meane to entrappe them And now dooth occasion well serue you Sister Aurecinda for by courteous intreating Tryneus now he is wounded you maye more profit in one houre then you haue doone during this tedious pursuit Néedlesse was it for the Soldane thus to perswade her in that she laboured for no other matter kéeping Trineus companie both day and night but Palmerin offended thereat secretlye thus rebuked the Prince What meane you my Lord If you mend not this order I must be angry with you You sée this Princesse excéedes in her desire and you giue her occasion to continue it I know not what will happen héereon but my mind perswades mee that you will hardlie depart hence with honour Be aduised I desire you and take this of me that if the wisest man will lende his eares to loose persons and followe theyr affections hée shall become more vnreasonable then a bruite Beaste regarding nothing but what is obiect to his eyes and what the flesh the onelie mortall enemie to the spirit shall soonest perswade him Chap. LV. How Aurâ—cinda Sister to the Soldane of Persia pursued the Prince Tryneus so neere as in the end she had her desire and what followed thereon PAlmerin hauing thus schooled yâ— prince Trineus that he should giue no eare to the enticements of Aurecinda Lyzanda came to his chamber and feigning vrgent businesse with him tooke him aside deliuering her affections in this maner Right happie wold I think my selfe Sir Palmerin so you would deigne to continue in the Soldans Court who doubtlesse would aduance you to the highest step of honor and giue me to you in mariage that am his Sister and a Lady worthie some reckoning Palmerin offred to depart the Chamber but Lyzanda stayed him procéeding thus Alas my Lord will you neuer vouchsafe to speake to mee nowe see I well that you are the most disâ—oyall Knight in the worlde Madame aunswered Palmerin rather will I die then one iote of diâ—â—oyaltie shall be found in me nor can I graunt your importunate requests without committing notorious treason to my Ladie and offending my God whom foolish loue shall neuer make me to displease So without any further spéeches he went to the Prince Tomano leauing the poore Ladie well-néere dead with this vnkinde refusall who going to her owne cabbanet thus began to breath foorth her sorrowes Ah Loue the most cruell passion that euer entred the hart of anie Ladie how great and meruailous is thy power Some thou enforcest to desire and intreat without being heard or regarded others thou causest to be happily fauoured estéemed of their Fréends Seruaunts and louers Unhappie that I am but much more vnhappie Brother accursed be the houre when thou didest commaund mee to loue the most cruell and vnkinde among men Can there be anie Ladie in the worlde more disgraced then I am had I not reuealed my loue to him some comfort I might thereby enioy among my sorrowes but the frozen minde knowing my loue dooth holde mée in the greater contempt My Sister tolde me that by too long concealement of loue many haue lost them they most estéemed but I alas doo finde it cleane contrary Now was Aurecinda by chaunce in the Chamber next her Sisters Cabinette and hearing her thus sorrowfully complaine shée came to her and thus spake Good Sister discomfort not your selfe by your friendes refusall I would not thinke my selfe woorthie the name of a woman if I could not winne you the man that thus torments you As for me I haue founde the meane to compasse mine owne desire Yet could not all these spéeches appease her wherfore shée left her and vnderstanding by one of her Ladies that Tryneus should this night suppe in the Soldans Chamber whereuppon shée went to the Ladies hote house amd there prepared his bed and such swéete delicate bathes as might mooue the spirits of a verie staied Gentleman This doone she came to one of the Pages of honor Brother to the Ladie whome shee most of all trusted saying I praye thée good Page goe to the Prince Trineus his Chamber and there attende till he come foorth then feigning that some one hath doone thée iniurie thou shalt intreat him to helpe thée against him that abused thée If hée condiscende as doubtlesse he will bring him to the bathe where I will stay his comming with thy Sister and so soone as he is entred make fast the doore on him and gette thée gone but in anie case be secret héerein and I will recompence thée to thine owne content The wagge was so well instructed in his arte as he failed not in any one point oâ— his charge But as the Prince Tryneus came alone from his Chamber he fell on his knées before him saying My Lord if euer you pittie a Gentleman abused let mee intreate you to reuenge my cause on a villaine that hath too much wronged me Tryneus who had often séene the Page in his Chamber with Aurecinda answered Beléeue me Page it were pittie to denie thy request considering thou doost demaunde it so courteously shall I néede to bee better prouided then I am No my Lord quoth he your sword is sufficient So was he conducted by the Page along the Gallery and béeing come to the appointed place he opened the doore thus speaking to the Prince My Lord the partie you must deale withall is in this Chamber accompanied but with one Ladie wherefore you may enter secure from daunger Hee was no sooner in but the Page clapt to the doore and departed Now was Tryneus not a little amazed when he saw no bodie but the
Princesse with her Ladie shée being come thither to bathe her selfe and layd in her bed but in such surpassing brauerye as Iupiter with his lightning Neptune with his thrée forked Mace and Pluto with his Cerberus would stand and wonder thereat So â—inâ—lie had she tressed the golden wyres of her hayre and her heade attyre embellished with such goodlie Orientall Pearles as made her séeme a beautifull Angell béeing couered with a gorgious Canapie resemblingng the Sunne vnder a faire cloud Betwéene her daintie Breastes hung a precious Carbunckle which supplied the office of Venus her firebrand when she sawe Tryneus stand so agast she said Why my Lord are you more afraide of a naked Ladie then of the most puissaunt Knight in Persia armed cap ape I can iudge no lesse séeing you dare approch no néerer In sooth my Lord quoth the Pages Sister you may thinke your selfe happy to be desired of such a ladie whome mightie kings and princes haue earnestly sought and woulde gladly haue had the least fauour shée bestowes on you So taking him by the hand shee caused him to sit down in a Chayre by the beds side and giuing her Mistresse her Harpe she departed leauig them together Ah page quoth Trinens howe hast thou deceiued mee What saide the princesse you forgette where you are you must at this time somewhat pittie my sorrowes and heare a dittie which I haue made for your sake Then taking her Harpe shee thus beganne to sing as followeth The Dittie sung by Aurecinda to the Prince Trineus THe God of warre fierce stearne and rigorous when he beheld faire Venus heauenly beautie Made small account of her disloyalay But suddainlie became full amorous Beautie had thâ—n hâ—r power vigorous Chaunging rough lookes to sweetest secrecie But he I loue incenst with crueltie Doth not regard my torments langourous VVhy should I then pursue that stubborne minde That with excuses kils my hope out-right Yet if he helpe not death must me acquite Ah mightie loue in nature most vnkinde Thou doost constraine me to affect the man That neither fauour loue nor kindnes can VVhat haue I sayd the Knight of my desire Is meere diuine and furthest from compare VVhose Eagles eyes can well discerne my care Vnd with sweete pitties droppes â—lay this fire The little Cod hath made him gracious His Mother mild to rue the Ladies smart That shrines his liuely Image in her hart Then to despaire beseemes no vertuous Regard sweet freend the passions of thy Freend VVhom God and nature hath appointed thine Giue loue his due and then thou must be mine So shall long sorrow haue a happie ende The Persian mayd say boldly thou hast wonne That Monarches Kings and Princes neere could donne With excellent cunning did shée handle her instrument but with farre better grace and affection deliuered her dittie gracing it with such sadde countenaunce mournfull lookes and renting sighes as forced the Prince Tryneus to become excéeding amorous And burning in this newe fierie impression beheld the singuler beautie of Auredinda which rauished his sences in such sort as trembling like the Aspen leafe hee satte downe by her on the beddes side The Princesse laying her Harpe from her embraced him very louinglie with these spéeches Alas my Lord will you still continue in this rigour and cruell inhumanitie your heart is more harde then Adamant that will not bee mollified with so manie intreaties I sweare to you by the Sunne that lightneth the worlde vnlesse you graunt me one request before your face will I presentlye sâ—eye my selfe Full well doo I perceiue quoth Tryneus that hardlie can I escape mis-fortune the Seruaunt hath deceiued mee and now the Mistresse séekes my death Ah Madam quoth he how can I graunt your request considering mine offence to God and he that loueth me loyallie Eyther bée as good as thy worde quoth she else stand to the danger that may befall thée Why Syr Knight is my beautie of so slender account as I am not woorthie to bee helde betwéene thine armes wilt thou 〈◊〉 me to consume in this violent flame which thou maist with such ease and honor extinguish hadst thou rather sée a Ladie split her heart before thée then thou wilt vouchsafe to preserue her life Come come swéet Fréende sée how loue and his Mother hath made waye for thée refuse not opportunitie so fauourablie offered What blemish is on this bodie that shoulde deserue disdaine If the King of Gods would thinke himselfe honored with this conquest much more estimation shouldest thou make héereof In bréefe she was so perfect in her subtiltie and knâ—we so well how to inueigle the Prince with queint spéeches and swéete embracings that she made him forget God his Ladie loyaltie and himselfe so that of a Maiden he made her the fayrest woman in Persia. When the time came that hee should depart the Princesse saide to him Yet haue I a further request my Lord you must promise to mâ—ete mee in this place at timesâ— conuenient and endeuour with your companion that he may likewise loue my Sister Trineus made promise hee would but rather hee desired to stab himselfe with his weapon then that Palmerin shoulde knowe this great abuse so heinous did his offence séeme to himselfe Aurecinda perswaded her Sister still to pursue Palmerin with her loue and what had passed betwéene her and the Prince Trineus she declared whereupon her desire grewe the greater yet all was in vaine for Palmerin would giue no eare to her complaints which was the cause of this mishap following Lyzanda aduertised by her Sister that Tryneus still thus vsed her companie in the Bath euious of her Sisters benefit and despightfull at Palmerins obstinate refusall she went to the Soldane and with manie teares thus deliuered her gréefe Ah my Lorde how much better had it béene that wee had neuer knowne these cruell Christian Knightes whose ingratitude will bee the cause of my death for the yonger of them is meruailouslie beloued of my Sister who forgetting her faith honor and her obedience to your Maiestie hath dishonored both her selfe and you onelie to make proofe of the other knights Crueltie to me The Soldane admiring his Sisters report answered I did not will my Sister to abuse her selfe without promise of marriage but séeing it hath so fallen out by my Fathers soule they shall both repent it Durst the Traytour abuse me so much in mine owne Courte Why my Lord quoth Lyzanda you are the onelie cause thereof and therefore you must bee angrie with no bodie but your selfe Let me not liue an houre sayde the Soldane if I be not sufficiently reuenged on him Sister be you but secrete and referre the rest to my direction Then calling for the Captaine of his Guard willing him to take fiftie Knights and when his Maiestie was at Supper they shoulde goe take his Sister and the Knight with her in the Bathe and afterwarde carrie them to strong pryson But sée it doone secretlye quoth he for if
it Sée then the power of that Maiestie which can 〈◊〉 and conquerâ— where he lift and I swearâ— to you by my Crowne that the good fortune of Palmeriâ— contenteth me as well as if he were mine owne sonne Mightie Soldane answered the Duke of Mensa if you resolue to loue the worthie Prince Palmerin both hée and his will performe the like to you and on his behalfe we promise faithfully that against all your enemies Christendome excepted you shall be assured of his succour and assistance I request no better assurance quoth the Soldane then this that he hath sent and that you may witnesse I am his faithfull Friendes at this instant shall the peace be ratified by all the Lordes and Princes here present and to seale the same as he requested I giue my daughter to the Prince Olorico Great ioy was generally made for this good agréement and the two louers were espoused together within few dayes after and the time being come for the Ambassadours returne to Constantinople Alchidiana sent diuerâ— rich gifts to Palmerin and Polinarda the like did the Soldane and the Prince Olorico Chap. LX. How Palmerin Trineus and Agriola accompanied with many great Lords and princes went to the Emperor of Allemaigne at Vienna where great triumphs were made at the celebrating of the marriage between Trineus and the princesse Agriola SOone after the Prince Olorico and the Ambassadours of Greece were gone towardes Assiria Palmerin although the aged Emperour very much disswaded him made prouision for his spéedy voyage to Allemaigne and hauing conducted the King of Sparta and his Aunt Arismena some parte of their way homeward at their returne to the Cittie of Constantinople hée came to the Duke of Pontus saying I remember the time when you did cutte off the great Turks head an acte deseruing good and especiall recompence and that you thereby deliuered vs and performed it at the motion of the Princesse Laurana her haue you loued euer since both on lande and Sea and her Countrey is not farre hence will ye now make her your Ladie and Wife I promise ye my assistance so farre as I can My Lord aunswered the Duke fearing to offend you I still deferred to mooue you in this cause but seeing wee are nowe so happily fallen into these tearmes I will not conceale the truth from you In sooth my Lorde when first I sawe her I loued her and haue euer since continued in this hope that time at length would fauour my intent It sufficeth saide Palmerin and presently hée acquainted the Emperour therewith who thinking the match very méete and conuenient they were the next day married by the Achbishop of Constantinople and in short time after went to take possession of their Duchie of Durace where they were receiued very honourably and the whole state yéelded vp into the Dukes hande When Palmerin sawe that the most parte of his companions were departed at the earnest intreataunce of the Prince Trineus and Agriola he set forward to Allemaigne accompanied with Frysoll and Armida whome hée conducted into the Realme of Hungaria where Frysoll was crowned King by reason of his Fathers decease there went with him like wise Diardo of Bohemia the Prince Eustace Ptolome and other Lords of great account 〈◊〉 good speed they made in theyr iourney as in short time they arriued at Vienna where the Emperour béeing aduertised of their comming by the Dwarfe came with his courtly trayne to méete them and taking his Sonne Tryneus in his armes said I sée it is the will of God my Sonne that héere after I shall haue as great ioy by thée as in thy long absence I haue had gréefe and sorrow all which I patiently put vp for the loue of thy brother the noble Prince Palmerin and faire Agriola of England that well deserues it But in good â—â—â—th my Children had you not come in so happie time I should haue bene driuen to meruailous fears For the King of Fraunce perceiuing that I would not giue my daughter in marriage to his eldest sonne demaunded the King Recinde of Spaine his daughter who graunted his request so that they twaine with the aide of the King of England haue leueyed such an Armie on the Sea as neuer was the like séene to passe the Rheine But séeing you returned in so good disposition the lesse account I make of their angrie menaces yet are they the thrée principall Kings of Christendome My Lord answered Palmerin be not you dismaide at their enterprise for ere manie dayes bee expired I hope to sée all matters quietly pacified and that without anie effusion of blood The lesse is my doubt quoth the Emperour in that with such good fortune you haue finished your intentions for nothing you begin but comes to luckie ende Witnesse héerof appeareth in the search of my Sonne Tryneus whom the best Knights in Christendome haue laboured to finde but all their trauaile I sée hath béene spent in vaine By this time they were come to the Pallace where they were graciously receiued by the Ladies Alas my Fréendes said the Empresse which of you shall I first embrace Ah my Sonne Tryneus howe sorrowfull hast thou made mée since thy departure from England iust cause hast thou to thanke the Heauens who protected thée still in so manie daungers and forget not thy Brother Palmerin who hath endured such trouble for thy sake Faire Daughter quoth she to the Princesse Agriola welcome are you indeed God send you better fortune héereafter then you haue had alreadie which yet hath bene a Touch-stone of your loyaltie But while these spéeches continued howe the other two Louers with piercing regard beheld eache other and how many gracious signes passed as secrete Ambassadours betweene them Polynarda was clad in such costly 〈◊〉 for the pleasure she conceiued since the Dwarffes 〈◊〉 at the Court as shee seemed anothâ—r Iuno when shée stood to abide the arbitrâ—ment of 〈◊〉 or like Voluptas fâ—llowing her Mother Venus But fearing least this amiable encounter should decipher some part of her former courtesies to her friend which as yet was vnknowne to any but Bryonella she locked vp all secrets with so swéet a kisse as would haue contented the rudest of the Gods had it bâ—ne Vulcan or Neptune themselues And comming to salute the Princesse Agriaâ—a sayd No meruaile faire sister if your loue wrought wonders in my brothers minde for vnfainedly I speake it your exquisite graces deserue the greatest seruice in the world Alas Madame aunswered Agriola if nature or they that had the charge of me in my youth could haue painted me with such beautie as I see in you or enriched me with wisedome able to deuise with my Lord when he came to sée mee then could I haue said somewhat of the paines he hath taken for mée but I know my selfe so full of imperfections as the loue hée beares me procéedeth of his owne good nature not by any merit he can behold me Then Palmerin kneeling before the
haue heard how Olorico promised the Princesse Alchidiana that he would bring her to the Emperor Palmerins Court which she imprinted to déepe in her fancie as but for the common malladie incident to yong Ladies which is to become great soone after they are espoused she would haue betaken her selfe to trauaile within thrée Moneths after her mariage Notwithstanding within short time after that trouble was past she came to begge a bone of the Soldane which he would not denie her thinking shée would demaund no matter of weight Father quoth shée you must néeds giue leaue to the Prince Olorico that hée may accompanie me to Constantinople for I desire to sée the Emperour Palmerin Daughter saide the Soldane the trauaile on the Sea is verie perillous and oftentimes great estates pâ—riâ—â— by shipwracke but séeing you are so desirous and I â—naduisedly haue past my promise you shall not in ought be 〈◊〉 by mée Hâ—ereuppon was presently prepared terme Shippes and Galleyes the greater part whereof was laden with Horses riche Tapistry and other things of great vâ—â—â—lue which should be giuen to Palmerin and his Polinarda In the rest were embarqued chosen Knightes for her defence with Ladies and Gentlewomen to attende on her and all néedefull necessaries thinking to shewe her sumptuous magnificence in the Emperous Courte which in conclusion fell out otherwise For Fortune who is euer variable and neuer permanent at the instant when Olorico and Alchidiana builded most on her fauour and were come within tenne dayes sayling of Constantinople she altered their opinions in most doubtfull manner as they expected nothing but the ende of their liues The winde now ariseth contrary to them a suddaine and terrible tempest ouertaketh them and with such rough billowes their Shippes were beaten as in their sight fire of their Galleyes were drowned the residue were verie farre scattered from them and the great Carricke wherein themselues were against a Rocke was spilt in the middest Nowe are they left to the mercie of the waters and Alchidiana wasting on a plancke for safegarde of her life and had not one of the Pylots by swimming recouered a little Squiffe wherewith he presently made to her and got her in otherwise there had the Princesse vnhappily perished This Pylot was so expert cunning as cutting through the vnmercifull waues hée gained landing at a Porte distant from Constantinople about thirtie miles The Inhabitants where they came on shoare wondred to sée her so gorgiously attired and had not the Pylot friendly perswaded them that shée was a Princesse trauailing to the Emperours Court and by mishap had lost all her companie on the Sea they would haue dealt with her verie hardly But when they vnderstoode the cause of her comming they entertained her with fauour and ciuilitie causing her to be lodged at a very welthy Merchaunts house where she wanted nothing shée could desire Alchidiana séeing shée had escaped the daunger of the Sea and was nowe in better assuraunce then before comforted her selfe with this good fortune but when shée remembred her losse into what want pouertie shee was now brought and that through her foolish desire her Husband was drowned as shée thought shée was so ouercome with griefe that neither her owne noble minde nor the daily presence of the Greekes that came to sée her could disswade her from ceaselesse lamentations Ah wrâ—tch that I am quoth she how well haue I deserued this wreakefull aduenture Ah ill aduised Alchidiana what moued thée to crosse the Seas if not an inordinate desire to see him of whome thou maist expect no remedie for thy sorrow or else to sée her that is Mistresse of his heart and so make thine owne conceites more languishing My Lord and Husband Olorico I am the vnhappie cause of thy death thy loue hath euer béene to mée sounde and perfect Why could it not then make thée forgette the man who alwayes disdained my passions and neuer loued mée but with dissimulation If thou escape death as I haue done iust cause hast thou to hast mée continually Coulde not I remember howe thy people spent their blood for me onely to witnesse thy neuer daâ—nted affection and I haue requited thy loue with monstrous ingratitude Why then did not our Gods make me alone to suffer the desert of my folly but take reuenge on them that neuer offended Ah noble Ladies howe heard is your recompence in my seruice that your tender and delicate bodies should be foode for the Fishes And you worthie Knights and Gentlemen in â—léed of purchasing honour and renowne with your Maister you are lost for euer to my no little gréefe and vexation The Merchaunt in whose house shée was lodged hearing her heauie and lamentable complaintes thus comforted her Be of good cheare Madame your Husband by the grace of God will well enough escape this daunger As for your treasure it is a matter soone gotten and soone lost and to mourne for your Ladies and Gentlemen it is to purpose because it can no way benefit them When wee poorâ— men loose our goods wiues and Children wée must with patience please our selues you then hauing knowledge of vertue and that we are all subiect to the transitorie chaunges of the worlde to despaire is farre vnseemelye your estate My Lord the Emperour is bountifull and liberall and the most vertuous Prince that euer raigned in Greece hee will so well recompence your losse as you shall not complaine of your comming With these perswasioâ—s shee was somewhat pacified and hauing stayed there nine or tenne daies to see if anie other of the Galleyes would arriue there séeing none came shée sold diuers of her precious Iewells that was about her for halfe the value they were worthe and prouided her selfe of fixe Horses for her selfe her Hostesse and her two Daughters the Pilot that had saued her from drowning and one of the Merchants Seruants with which companie shée rode toward Constantinople hauing chaunged her rich attire into mourning wéedes As they were in a great Forrest 〈◊〉 miles from the Cittie the Princesse calling to remembrounce howe poore and simple she should come before the Emperour hauing beene one of the welthiest Ladies in the world was so ouercome with this conceit as hardly could her hostesse kéepe her 〈…〉 wherefore séeing they were néere a goodlie Fountaine there they alighted to rest her a little And after shee hadde walked in the coole shaddowe of the Trées shee founde her selâ—e in better disposition preparing to mount on horsebacke againe but it came so to passe that the Emperour Palmerin hauing béene hunting in that Forrest and by earnest pursuit of the game lost all his companie so that at length he came to the Fountaine where Alchidiana walked His arriuall greatly amazed the women and before hee would demaund what they were hee alighted and dranke of the Fountaine water Alchidiana earnestly beholding him and â—â—eling inwardlie a strange alteration presenâ—â—ye 〈◊〉 againe in her Hostesse Armes Alas said the Emperouâ—
doo not finde the meane to helpe mee By my fayth my Lorde quoth the Dwarffe so please you to tell me howe and wherein I may helpe you let me die a thousande deathes if I doo it not Understande then my good Vrbanillo sayd Palmerin that this strange alteration procéedes froÌ„ the diuine lookes of my péerelesse Mistresse Polinarda whose fiery beames haue searched so narowly euery corner of my thoughts as I must die because I loue too déerlie But couldest thou make knowne to her the least parte of my insupportable vexations may bee shee woulde haue some pittifull remorse of my martirdome for well may it be iudged that a Lady accomplished with so many vertuous perfections must néedes bee stored with sweetnes fauour and pittie Not vnlike my good Lord said Vrbanillo but doo not you remember how I was punished when in the like case I ventured to sollicite your looue to Laurana Daughter to the Duke of Durace by my fayth my Lorde I shall not forget it while I haue a day to liue and am afrayde to fall againe into the like daunger And this spake Vrbanillo with such a grace as Palmerin coulde not but laugh noting with what feare the deformed felow gaue it foorth whereupon he sayd Thou needest not be dismaid if she that smote thée in thy sléepe bee that Polinarda for whose loue I am thus tormeÌ„ted for whom I was borne as many haue enformed me I pray thée therefore speake to her and dreade no coullers It is good saide Vrbanillo that you woulde haue mee more hardie then you are your selfe speake to her your selfe if you dare for I dare not aduenture it for feare of my life If thou doost it not quoth Palmerin assure thy selfe thou shalt neuer henceforth serue me Nay then quoth the Dwarffe I will rather put my selfe in ieoperdy to be better beaten then I was the last time before I will loose so good a Maister I pray thée doo sayde Palmerin in respect thou séest the earnestnes of mine affections Feare not quoth the Dwarffe albeit you were a great deale more fit to breake the matter then I but I wil gadge my life to gaine you the Ladie and héereupon they rested till the next morning CHAP. XXVIII Howe Polinarda desired Palmerin to giue her his Dwarffe and of the speeche which she and Vrbanillo had afterward togeather EArly the next morning Palmerin arose and hauing walked abroade to contemplate his desires returned into the Chamber of presence where he founde Trineus the Emperors Sonne conferring with the Ladies at which very instant the Dwarff entred whose badde shaped body and face made them all fall a laughing so that Trineus came to his Sister Polinarda saying Sister did you euer beholde a more proper Page to attende on Ladies then this gaunt Squire that serues my Lorde Palmerin In good â—ooth Brother quoth she hee is farre vnlike his noble maister yet wold I like well enough if he were mine I beséech you Sir Palmerin said Trineus bestowe your Seruaunt on my Sister Polinarda Madame quoth Palmerin were he better hee is yours and his Maister likewise then called hee Vrbanillo who knéeling to vnderstand his Maisters pleasure hee saide Vrbanillo I haue giuen you to my Ladie Polinarda as her man will you not serue her honourablie and truelie aboue all other Yea my Lorde quoth he next after you but you will I not leaue while I liue although you woulde disdaine my seruice Good reason hast thou said the Princesse and wel am I pleased it shold be so yet during the time of his stay heere you shall forsake him and abide with mee For yâ— Madame quoth the Dwarffe I am well contented Then looke you faile not said the Princesse hencefoorth to giue your attendaunce These spéeches were thus vsed as it were for pastime that shee might thereby deceiue the iudgments of other but her whole intent was to know of Vrbanillo if his Maister were affected to any other Ladie by whose meanes her loue might be frustrate For as you haue heard a little before that loue had brought her vnder such obeysaunce as did not the regarde of honour with-holde her her selfe would first breake the Ise of her vexations rather theÌ„ Sâ—aie too long and not be solicited Many other deuises had the Ladies with Vrbanillo who knewe so well howe to behaue himselfe as from thence forward he grew so familiar amongst them as he woulde enter their Chambers when himselfe pleased vnder couller of attendaunce on the Princesse Polinarda from time to time to mooue his Maisters messages But at length she preuented him in this sort for béeing alone at a windowe in the presence Chamber shee called the Dwarffe and making her entraunce by other occasions she asked him whose Sonne Palmerin was God knowes Madame quoth hee for I doo not nor himselfe neither but of this I can assure you yâ— neuer was Knightlie Chiualrie better imployed by any then by him for since the time of my knowledge he hath doone such noble acts as it is not remembred that â—uer Knight in this age did the like And then from point to point he discoursed all yâ— Palmerin had doone since he came to him and can you thinke then Madame quoth the Dwarffe that he is not dâ—sceded of noble linage Trust me Ladie I haue my self heard by manie learned Magitians and other that their diuinations were no lesse then I saie When Polinarda heard the Dwarffe thus speake on his Maisters behalfe if before his loue had kindled her liking no meruaile if hart and spirite were nowe enflamed so that nowe she could no longer coÌ„ceale what she had hetherto couered and therefore sayde to the Dwarffe I beséech thée Vrbanillo by the faith and duetie thou bearest to thy Maister tâ—l me one thing that I desire to knowe of him which shall bee nothing but to his honour and aduantage You haue so coniured mee faire Madame quoth the Dwarffe as death shall not make me hide what you please to command if it lye in me to resolue you Knowe then Vrbanillo said the Princesse that I looue thy Maister as well as my Brother Trineus and am desirous to knowe of thee what Ladie it is hee estéemes aboue all other because when I knowe her I may loue her the better for his sake withall that I may commend the Ladies happines whose fortune is to be loued of so braue a Gallant Well perceiued the Dwarffe that now or neuer was the time to bestirre himselfe according to the promise he made his Maister wherefore hee aunswered the Princesse in this manner Beléeue me Madame were it to anie other I would not reueale such secrets of my Lorde as you desire to knowe but to you that are his Lady Mistresse I am content to bewraie the whole Suffiseth then Madame that he loueth in such sorte as if the heauens sende him not remedie the sooner vnpossible is it that his life should long endure for I sée him so far beside