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
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
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
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
of Knights and Squires who brought the portrait of his Ladie béeing a figure of rare beautie and hauing a Crowne on her heade where ouer was written in great Letters of Golde Thys is Polinarda exceedyng in beauty al Ladyes in the world which was read by manie who coulde not satis-fie their eyes in beholding so braue a spectacle and being sette on the Pillar appointed he came to the Duke of Sauoye saying Blasphemous Knight detractour of the beautie of Ladies héere may thine owne eyes witnes how thou hast belyed beautie in presuming to thinke any more fayre then this incomparable creature to whome thy Ladye may not worthilie be handmaide And if thou will not presently confesse what I commaunde thee shéelde thy head from my weapon which I meane to knocke well for thy great vndiscretion The Duke of Sauoy enraged with these words armed himselfe presently without any aunswere mounting on horsebacke with a strong Launce in his hande encountred his enemie so couragiouslye as breaking their staues brauely in thyuers to their verye Gauntlets passed on without any further harme The Duke of Sauoy angrie that he had not dismounted his enemie with hys Sworde drawne returned furiously vpon him laide on such strokes as the fire flew foorth of his Helmet yet the Duke of Lorrayne like a good and hardie Knight defended himselfe valiantly and reached the Duke of Sauoy many shrewd woundes so that bothe of them throughlie netled rent eache others Armour in such sort with their swords and mangled theyr flesh so vnmercifully as the Iudges coulde not imagine who had the better vauntage The Duke of Sauoye wondering to sée the Duke of Lorraine holde out so long began to storme more like a Fiend then a manne rayling on Fortune that in respect of his Ladies beautie shee asisted him no better and béeing at the very point of dispaire tooke hart a 〈◊〉 and redoubling his strokes vpon his aduersarie at length â—lewe his horse vnder him who falling downe and his Maister vnder him by reason he was so sore wearyed and beside had broken his thigh in the fall coulde not recouer himself before the Duke of Sauoie being alighted sette foote vpon him and in furye woulde haue parted hys heade from his shoulders but that the Iudges ran quicklie and stayed him Then was the Duke of Lorraine halfe deade carried into his Tent and the Duke of Sauoie caused Polinardas picture to be set at Lucemanias féete a thing verye strange in respect of their great difference Afterwarde hee was vnarmed to haue his woundes bounde vp which were so dangerous as gladlie he would haue béene excused from the Combat with any other Knight for that day didde not shame and the Lawe hée made himselfe prouoke him to the contrary But within an howre after he was defied by a Knight of Scicilie who woulde Combat on foote with the battel Axe in which conflicte the Duke was verye néere ouercome he had lost so much bloode before but in bréefe the Scicilian Knight lost the daie hys Ladyes picture was yeelded conquered and the Duke of Sauoie went to rest him in his Tent. CHAP. XXXVIII Howe the Duke of Sauoye entered the Combatte against Ptolome and howe he sped PAlmerin not as yet in perfecte health was aduertised how the Duke of Sauoie hadde conquered the Duke of Lorraine fighting for the beautie of the Princesse Polinarda the conceit whereof so gréeued him as nothing coulde more to sée her honour so badlie defended whom aboue all other he estéemed déerest which made him in great choller say before the Prince Trineus By God my Lorde Looue made a slender choyse of the Duke of Lorraine for his vassayle and Madame Polinarda scant wise to chuse him for her Champion in respect of the excellent beautie Nature hath bestowed on her And yet it could not be imagined howe the Duke of Lorraine shoulde gayne the victory without shame in séeking honor beyonde his desert because he is vnwoorthy such extraordinary fauoure which makes me repute it rather of a faynt hart then anie want of a iust quarrell Trineus hearing Palmerin so affectionate in his spéeches in a merry laughter sayd In good sooth Sir Palmerin the Duke of Lorraine was but ill councelled to enter the Combat for my Sisters beautie without her licence in that he once learned howe you coulde defend it much better then hee Palmerin fearing hee had spoken more then he ought because he discoursed his loue too openly excused the matter thus If it were not my Lorde that I doubt to offer wrong to a Lady on whome dependeth my lyfe and whom I loue more déere then my selfe I woulde cause the Frenchman well to vnderstand how Madame Polinarda your Sister surpasseth in all perfections eyther of grace or beauty all the Ladies of this Country yea I dare say of the whole world therefore one may easily coniecture that the Duke of Lorraine during the Combat had his mind fixed on baser occasions Then Trineus smyling to sée Palmerin so dilligent to shadowe his loue sayd It is no strange matter Fréende Palmerin to sée presuming mindes payde with selfe same coyne as the Duke is and yet I can not meruaile enough that my Sister Polinarda wold not commit this matter to your charge she hauing had so good knowledge of your valour and prowesse These speeches pleased not Palmerin a little and did in such sort encourage him as for the iniury doone his Ladie by the Duke of Sauoye in setting her figure at the féete of Lucemania as had not Trineus perswaded him wyth fayre spéeches all sicke and sore as he was he would haue gone to reuenge this dishonor Notwithstanding hee called Prolome secretly saying Thou knowest my déere Freende what shame is offered her to whom I was destenied before my byrth by the presumption of an ouer-bolde Knight and what greefe it is to mee that I cannot at this present reuenge this wrong my selfe I pray thee therefore supply my insufficiencie and enter the Combat with that vaine-glorious Duke of whom thou maist gaine honor and yéelde me content in giuing ease to my afflictions which els are insupportable I promise you my Lorde aunswered Ptolome before you made the moâ—â—on I intended it and I will accomplish it with such good will as I doubt not to ouercome the Duke of Sauoy And for my Miâ—â—â—esse Brionella will I enter the fielde whose beautie is sufficient to enriche me with the victory for in my conceit shee farre passeth Lucemania Therefore my Lorde let me request one courtesie which I am lothe you should denie me that if you shall be able to morrow but to accompanie me with your presence in the fielde If the ayre will suffer me quoth Palmerin I will in meane while I will pray that thy fortune may fall out to my harts desire Thus Trineus Palmerin and Ptolome were passing the time with other noble men of the valoure of the Duke of Sauoy against all strange Knights and how he
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
guarde giue you the hundred Knights I had of the King Maulerino and fiftie Knights naturally borne in Greece as able in Armes as any other whatsoeuer intreating you to holde me excused if I giue you not such estate as 〈◊〉 your nobilitie Woorthie Palmerin answered the Prince the greatest Lord that is might well content himselfe with the honourable companie you haue giuen mee And did not extreame passions ouer-rule me and call mée hence to her seruice whom I haue onely chosen I woulde renounce Arabia and the Lawe of Mahomet onely to liue in your companie But in what place my fortune guides me héereafter neither Parents or Friendes shall hinder mee to saie that I am your vowed and affectionate seruaunt The like doo you conceiue of me sayde Palmerin So with teares they left each other Olorico and all his companiâ— béeing aboord such fauourable winde and weather they had as without any danger they safely arriued where the Soldane lay and first the tenne knights went â—n shore they that were left of the companie which the Princesse Alchidiana gaue to Ptolome and comming before the Princesse saide Madame your Knight sir Ptolome humbly saluteth you by vs sending your excellencie this Letter Beside there is nowe arriued at the porte the Prince Oâ—orico and certaine Ambassadours from the valiant Palmerin Prince of Greece and Macedon who come on his behalfe to kissâ— your hand The Princesse hauing heard these newes and read the Letter which Ptolome sent containing the great 〈◊〉 fortunes of Palmerin was inwardly so rauished with delight as a long space she remained silent but at 〈◊〉 brake foorth into these spéeches Ah Fortune how well thou knowest to change matters which way thou pleaâ—est not according to the wil and desire of passionate minds but on the behalfe of the highest in perfections Ah Palmerin the man whom my heart shall euer loue howe may faire Polinarda iustly tearme her selfe happie hauing thee for her Lord and loue considering that the beautie and graces of so manie Ladies conquered with thy deserts nor the sumptuous riches continually offered thée could once diuerâ— thee from thy first affection Ah Alchidiana that which hath made so many Ladyes and knights fortunate in compassing the onely issue of their desires dooth now remaine for â—hy torment alone making thée the most vnhappie creature vnder the Sunne Agriola Griana Arismena Armida and Zeplura are they swéete Knight by thy meanes in assuraunce of theyr loues Trineus Frysoll the King of Sparta Maulerino Abimar Tomano and â—iuers other are their Realmes quieted and their Ladyes triumphing in their ioyes onely by the price of thy bloud and daunger 〈◊〉 thy life And must I alone remaine disgraced for euer 〈◊〉 hauing lost the knight I loued aâ— my soule While the princesse continued these complaints the prince Olorico and the Ambassadoures were come before the soldane and beâ—ng entertained by him with verie gracious 〈◊〉 they presented the Letters from Palmerin which béeing read in presence of all his Lords the Soladne thus answered My Friends I will impart these 〈◊〉 to my Counsell and my Daughter and afterwarde make you answere as I may Héereuppon the Duke of Mensa the Counteâ— of Redona and the Prince Olorico 〈…〉 and soone after the Soldane sent for his daughter thus speaking to her Daughter our Princes thinke good and haue counselled mee to make peace with Palmerin who at 〈…〉 of Greece and requireth in 〈◊〉 of our truce that I should giue you in marriage to the renowned Prince Olorico Aduise your selfe hereon for Palmerin hath earnestly intreated it by writing and héere I haue a letter for you I think to the same effect The Princesse hauing read the Letter returned this answere It is verie true my Lord his request to mee is for the selfe same cause séeing therefore it liketh you and the Princes of our Realme think it conuenient in respect of the common profit and good may ensue thereby it is not for me to make deniall Right glad was the Soldane of this aunswere wherefore he saide go then faire Daughter and 〈◊〉 your selfe accordingly for after Diâ—ner in the presence of the Ambassadours you shall be affiaunced to the Prince Olorico since his arriuall had talked but little with his Ladie wherefore hée nowe determined to go sée her and meeting her as she returned from the Soldane he saluted her with great reuerence but the Princesse â—eigâ—ing that she knew nothing yet of their marriage thus spake to him I vnderstand my Lorde that your companion Palmerin hath altogether forsaken vs. Madame quoth the Prince if hee haue abandoned your companie it is onely by the fauour of Fortune who hath béene a greater Friend to him then any man beside yet cannot the great honours and possessions he now enioyeth make him forgette you in that at my departure he said for eâ—er he would liue and die your knight God kéepe him said the Princesse where euer he is for still is my heart vowed to his remembrance and gladly can I doo as 〈◊〉 for him as for my Brother though his present 〈…〉 from my seruice Such is his trust 〈…〉 present you my heart that neuer since the day of our departure from Constantinople hath enioyed any rest béeing absent from the onely meane of my comfort If then I haue liued all this while in some hope by remembraunce of your excéeding graces and courtesies beyonde all other should I account my selfe in happinesse if now at length you receiue me as your Seruant I receiue you saide the Princesse for Palmerins sake and for your owne deserts which haue béene so worthie requiting you with equall affection so that you denie mée not one request Nothing shall you bée denied swéete Princesse quoth hée if by my life it may be compassed Nor will I demaunde any thing of so great value said she this is the fauour you shall graunt me héereafter when time shal serue that you wil conduct me to Constantinople there to behold the faire princesse Polynarda and the magnificent Court of noble Palmerin in recompence whereof I giue my selfe to be your wife and accept you as my Lord and Husband If Olorico was now well pleased I referre to your iudgements wherefore confirming their promises by kisses and embracings with solemne protestations and irreuocable vowes they departed thence to their Chambers After Dinner the Princesse attired in most sumptuous garments came into the Hall with her waiting Ladies when the Soldane sent for the Ambassadours and thus spake to them My Friendes I now perceiue the man to bee ouer foolish that trusteth in himselfe I thought by my power to destroy Greece where on the contrarie my people are destroyed I thought to continue vnquenchablâ— hatred toward your Maister and now I am constrained to graunt him peace yet not constrained but by the worke of the greatest God I am mooued so to doo which in the presence of all my Lordes I protest and with as good will as hée â—ooth dâ—maunde
me and I assure you that these tydings hath breathed such newe life into my verie soule as alreadie I finde my selfe wonderfullie chaunged yea and that in such sorte as before thrée daies bee past I shall attende her gracious will with seruiceable dilligence In the meane while I shal desire you faire Fréend to let my soueraigne Mistresse vnderstand that I kisse her highnesse hande in humble duetie and had ere this giuen farewell to this life hadde not her swéete regard called me againe from death Thus parted Cardina from the Prince taking her way spéedily towards Griana who longed not a little to heare from Florendos whom she had made Lord of her gentle affections CHAP. VI. Howe Cardina recited to the Princesse Griana what speeches had past betweene her and Florendos and of the counsell shee gaue her Mistresse to conferre with him in the Garden so soone as he was recouered CArdina thus dispatched from Florendos made no little haste towardes the Princesse who remained all this while silent in her Chamber and no sooner perceiued she Cardina to enter but she demaunded if Florendos receiued her token in good part or no. Beléeue me Madame answered Cardina I thinke you neuer did anie thing in all your life whereby you coulde obtaine more honour and applause then by that you vouchsafed to doo at this instant for in my iudgment you haue performed a miracle in giuing him life that was in the very iawes of death Then from point to point shee recounted the talke passed betwéene them first howe she founde him in yâ— midst of his regrets and lastlie what message hee had sent by her Thus while Cardina continued her discourse euery worde tooke hold on the gentle hart of the Princesse and wounded her with such pittifull regarde of the Prince his torments as what she desired inwardlie shee shaddowed with modestie as lothe to receiue shame in her loue hauing caryed her selfe with such honour all her life quoth shee to Cardina Howe might I good Seruaunt ease this waightie oppression Uerie well said Cardina wheÌ„ Fortune alloweth opportunitie But thou knowest quoth Griana a Princesse as I am to be séene secrete with so braue a Gallant dooth greatlie hazard my life and honour As for that Madame saide Cardina my Sister can better aduise you then I or any that I know by her meanes may you speake with your Knight the brauest Gentleman in the world and one whoÌ„ I knowe is so farre deuoted yours as hee will rather loose his life then impeache your honour anie waie and otherwise then in loyaltie to make you his Ladie and wyfe I am well assured he loueth not which loue Madame you may well entertaine Returne then Cardina quoth the Princesse to my Lorde Florendos and assure him that so soone as he is recouered I wyll come and speake with him in such place where we may well aduenture and desire hym as he loueth me that it may bee with all conuenient spéede Cardina without anie further delay weÌ„t with this message to the Prince Florendos who hartened himselfe so well vpon these spéeches as within sixe dayes he found himselfe thorowlie amended whereof the Emperour and Caniano hys Sonne was not a little glad but Tarisius was scant well pleased thereat for he had coÌ„ceiued a secrete iealousie because he was so earnest in affection towards Griana who by her Mayd Cardina had warned Florendos that yâ— night following he should come into the Garden whereâ—nto her Chamber had a secrete entraunce and there woulde he and she conferre of their loue without suspicion of any Florendos séeing these affayres sort to so good ende purposed what euer happened not to fayle the time place which made him thinke this day a yéere in length so long hee looked and desired for the night But nowe the wished howre is come when Florendos with his Cozin â—renato who was priuie to the Princes secrete loue departed from their lodginges and comming to the Garden they sawe the wall was verie high and harde to climbe notwithstanding greater thinges are possible to Louers chéefely when a cause of such waight is in hand so that in short time Florendos had gotte the top of the Wall and afterward went to the place where Griana â—tayed his comming who had no bodie with her but Lerina Sister to Cardina to whom likewise she thorowly bewrayed her secrets He hauing espied them came and fell on his knee before the Princesse but she tooke him vppe in her armes embracing him so swéetlie as Lerina withdrew her selfe amongst the Trées not with anie intent of feare to displease them but with a certaine kinde of gréefe which ouercame her that shee wanted a Fréende to participate with her in loue as her Mistresse hadde before whâ—m Florendos béeing on his knée sayd Madâ—me by vertue of your commaundement I am thus bolde to enter your presence yéelding my whole abilitie to you as to the diuine Goddesse that hath shéelded me from death which grace séeing your princelie nature hath affoorded me my life for euer héereafter remaines at your soueraigne pleasure the vnfeigned promise whereof I binde to you by irrâ—uocable vowes but especiallie by my faith yâ— onelie ornament of a true Knight that I desire no longer to breathe this ayre then to honour your name with my continual seruice for life without yâ—ur grace and fauour is more yrkesome to me then a thousande deathes But by your fauour my Lorde answered Griana howe or from whence hath this hote loue sprunge let mee knowe I desire you Madame ê™ he as I haue heretofore so at this time I assure you that in my nature Countrie of Macedon I hearde the renowne of your excelling beauty at which verie instant I dedicated my selfe onelie yours and euer since continuing in this religious seruice I haue so confidentlie set downe my rest in gracious regard of your swéete selfe as béeing yours in seruice I liue if otherwise I die In sooth said said the Princesse I sée theÌ„ you haue giuen your selfe wholie mine and so I am well centented to accept you Then Madame quoth he to seale yâ— assuraunce of this diuine fauour you haue doone me 〈…〉 intreate to kisse those swéete lippes that deliuered the 〈◊〉 I haue long looked for Which to grant though for modesties sake at first she séemed daintie yet at length looue had so supprâ—zed her as he néeded not striue when no resistaunce was offered Thus with feares and solemne kysses they breathed into eache others soule the mute arguments of their loue and faire Cynthia amiablie fauouring this delicate encounter added such courage to the minde of this louâ—lie Champion as breaking his Launce in the face of Venus hee bequeathed the successe of his dâ—uoire to the gracious aspect of that Planet And among a number of soft and sweete loue spéeches he discoursed to her his talke with the Emperour her Father howe he had requested her in marriage
for 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
cannot as yet know him saide the Damosell I praie you faire Uirgin quoth Palmerin that you will aunswere on my behalfe howe in anie place I shall come héereafter I remaine readie to doo what likes him to cōmaunde me It suffiseth quoth she looke that héereafter you remēber your promise then comming to the Prince Florendos she said My Lorde the same Man from whom I haue saluted Palmerin gaue me in charge to saie to you that you should not feare or doubt to dubbe him Knight but to perswade your selfe that both by Father and Mother hee is so noble as he dooth well deserue it and him héereafter you will loue beyond all other for by him you shall enioy the thing you most estéeme and desire Thus hauing no longer licence to staie with you I humbly desire you to excuse my departure Swéete Maide saide Florendos may your wordes sort to so good end as you haue promised So departed the Damosell leauing Palmerin on his knée before the Prince who taking the Sworde that sometimes belonged to Gamezio Knighted him saying And maist thou prooue as famous and fortunate as my hope perswades mee thou will Then was he honourablie conueyed to the Pallace where the faire Arismena vnarmed him and couered him with a rich Mantle of white Satten imbroydered all ouer with sumptuous flowers of Gold beside no one in y◠troupe but highlie reuerenced him for the woorthie report y◠Damosell made of him And albeit the Princesse Arismena disswaded him so well as she could that he should not endāger himselfe against the Serpent because by him her Brother should ouercome his melancholly and fearing his losse without hope of recouerie yet néedes would he be gone the same daie but that her importunate intreatie perswaded him to staie eight daies longer Palmerin béeing soone after alone by himselfe he remembred the wordes of the Damosell who promised him to finde the secrets of his hart in his Shéelde whereupon he well aduised himselfe and sawe that the hand portraied in the Shéelde had the same marke which the Ladie had that appeared to him in his sléepe whereat not a little maruailing he said within himselfe It must néedes be without all doubt that he which sent mee this present knoweth full wel the scope of my fortune for I am well assured that the Ladie which spake to mee in my sléepe when I abode in the house of my Father Gerrarde shewed me her hand with the selfe same marke I sée heere pictured by which I may perswade my selfe that she will not cease to follow and finde me out vntill such time as I maie speake with her Whereuppon he founde himselfe so suddainlie inueigled with her loue as he thus complained Ah Palmerin well maist thou sée that long thou canst not resist this impression but whence should this humour proséede to loue her thou neuer sawest nor knowest where is her abiding If it fall out that tho diest in thy pursuite these passions shall so haue a small ende and I gaine y◠greatest felicitie that I can desire By this time had he spent the eyght daies which he promised Arismena for Florendos companie when as well to begin the searche of her hee loued so well as to ende the aduenture he intended of the Serpent he prepared to depart prouiding himselfe a great huge Mace of yron which did him good seruice as you shall reade héereafter CHAP. XVI Howe Palmerin fought with the horrible Serpent on the Mountaine Artaeferia and slewe him bringing the glasse filled with the water of the Fountaine whereby King Primaleon of Macedon recouered his health EIght daies had Palmerin stayed with Florendos and in companye of the fayre Princesse Arismena who fearing that hee woulde neuer returne from the Mountaine Artifaeria was very pensiue and sad and oftentimes she intreated him not to hazard himselfe against those cruell rauenous and supernaturall Monsters but rather to witnesse his valour against Knights of account like himselfe but all her spéeches profited not for he was resolute to depart I shall yet desire you sayde the Princesse that for my sake you will take with you thrée Esquires which I will giue you who may lend you succour if anie inconuenience should befall you Then she called the Esquires and presented them vnto him with the glasse that he should bring the water in from the Fountaine if Fortune stoode with him to finish the aduenture Palmerin moūting on horsebacke and Florendos accompanying him halfe a daies iourney on the way left him on his iourney towardes the Mountaine Artifaeria where he arriued on the last daie of April Thē he commanded the Esquires his Dwarffe Vrbanillo to expect his returne at the foote of the Mountain for he would suffer none of thē to goe vp with him so ascended he the Hyll by a little trackt footepath with hys yron Mace on his necke and the Glasse for the water fastened at his gyrdle Hauing thus trauailed vppe till about midday he founde the passage so thicke set with Trées and brakes as he was constrained to alight frō his Horse whō he vnbrideled and left there féeding and much further had he not gone but the night ouertooke him yet did the Moone shine bright and cléere which made him still trauaile onwarde till he beheld the Rocke where the water was and the Serpents Den who was come somewhat lower to recreate himselfe among the swéete Hearbes where he hadde closelie couched himselfe But when he heard Palmerin cōming he began to swell and writhe his taile togeather verie strangely all which could not dismay this aduenturous Knight but commending himselfe to God sette downe his 〈◊〉 and with his Mace marched stoutlie against his enemie saying Why Palmerin didst thou so often request of Florendos the Princesse his Sister to try thy strength against thys deuill and now thou art come in sight of hym wylt thou faint Dooth it not beséeme thée better to die with honour then to liue with shame let the one encourage thée to follow thy enterprise and the other kill thee when thou offerest to retire And with these wordes he aduaunced him to the Serpent and the Serpent fiercelye began to assaile him and with his taile had smote him down but that hee nimblie preuented the stroke deliuering the Serpent so sore a blowe on the head with his Mace as made him reele and stagger and cry so terribly as the whole Mountaine resounded with a meruailous Eccho and to reuengo himselfe with his tallants he got hold on Palmerins Armour which hee rent violentlie in two or thrée places wounding his bodie verie daungerouslie When Palmerin perceiued in what hard plight he was he tooke hart a fresh and watching his aduauntage strooke the Serpent wyth his Mace so stronglie on the necke as he fell to the grounde in a manner dead and Palmerin plied him with so manie strokes one after another as he left him not while any life was in him After this happy victory for
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
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
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
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
No permission of breathing was suffered betwéene them but blood and death earnestly desired on either part so that the King the Lordes and the Iudges reputed this for the strangest Combat that euer they sawe nor could they say who was likest to winne the fielde but if the one died the other could not escape so that the King mooued with compassion caused them to be seuered and commaunded them to enter theyr Tents Which motion liked well the Knight of the Sun for long he perswaded himselfe he could not hold out wherfore he mounted on horsebacke so well as he coulde withdrewe himselfe Palmerin béeing wonderfully displeased that he could not obtayne the victory of thys Knight Soone after the King and the Prince Lewes came into his Tent and séeing him very sore wounded woulde not let him staye there but sayd Beléeue me Sir Palmerin you haue great néede of rest and your wouÌ„ds I sée are very dangerous you shall therefore be conueyed to my Pallace where all helps that may be deuised shall be giuen assuring you that greater honour could neuer Knight purchase then you haue doone And though this last Combat were not ended you néede not be displeased the issue thereof importing yâ— death of the one or the other and perhaps of both which I would not haue séene for two of the best prouinces in my Realme And me thinks you should content your selfe hauing receiued before such honour ouer so many Lords and Knights of name come you therfore with me and Lord Trineus beare vs company Great thanks receiued the King of them for this honourable courtesie and Palmerin went with him to the Pallace where the Kinges Chirurgions tooke care of his woundes he béeing lodged in the most stately Chamber in the Courte Nowe the Prince Lewes beganne to loue Palmerin so déerely as he coulde not be an howre foorth of his coÌ„panie desiring his health as his owne welfare wherfore all thinges that he imagined Palmerin tooke pleasure in would he performe with his vttermost endeuours and would suffer none to hold him talk but only of matter that might yéeld pleasure and delight Notwithstanding diuers Knights conferring with him that euening as concerning the Knight of the Sunne Palmerin aunswered them that his mind should neuer be thorowly quieted vntil such time as he fought with him againe The Prince who still endeuoured to kéepe him from sadnes saide I beléeue my Lord that he will not easilie be induced to deale with you again for you brought him into such estate as hee will kéepe himselfe héereafter out of your handes and well I am assured that had you continued but a little longer the victorye had béene yours for the Knight was so weakened that he did nothing but defend your blowes It pleaseth you my Lord to say so quoth Palmerin but had he felt such valour in me or such courage as beséemes a vertuous Combatant hardlie coulde he escape as he hath doone neuerthelesse I hope with the fauour of Fortune to méete him once more and then we will trie who is the strongest Much other talke they had but Palmerin intreated the Prince that all the portraits of the conquered Ladies might bee brought him which were aboue an hundred of diuers beauties most strange fashions and among them all could be founde none seconde to Polinarda but as we haue said already that of Agriola the Princesse of England who by the report of a Gentleman present that had séene her was much more beautifull then her figure presented Such spéeches they continued so long of the Englih Uirgin as Trineus albeit he neuer sawe her became amorous of her and at yâ— instant he so solemnly vowed himselfe hers as thence forwarde he swore neuer to loue any but her so yâ— for her sake he thrust himselfe into manie perrillous fortunes as in the folowing discourse of the History you shall reade more at large From whom let vs returne to the Prince Lewes who seeing so many portraitures of Princesses and Ladies would dailie congratulate Palmerins good fortune and embracing him said So helpe me God my noble companion I woulde neuer desire greater riches in the world theÌ„ to resemble you especially in chiualry which in you is so surpassing al other as you haue ended to your honor what a number haue fayled in Oh howe happy may the Ladie account herselfe that hath such a Knight and were not the condition too cruell towards my selfe I could wish I were a Woman in her place to haue so high rule and commande ouer you At which words all present began to smile yet shewing good countenaunce to Palmerin for the affection they sawe the Prince beare him which is yet to this day a common vsage and practise among Courtiers but Palmerin somewhat ashamed of such superstitious prayses aunswered Trust me my Lorde I account my happines the greater that I haue doone seruice to so high a personage and so good a Knight as you are desiring to méete you in such place héerafter where you may perceiue the good wil I beare you not only for this high entertainement which is more then I can deserue as for the pleasure I haue to honour so good a Prince which if the occasion happen you shall perceiue the experience I haue spoken nothing quoth the Prince but what is more acquainted to others then my selfe and if I would conceale them then will they be most openly knowne because vertue doth so apparantlie shine in them Manie other spéeches passed betwéene them and longer had continued but that manie Lords which came to sée the Ioustes were now vpon departing and therefore woulde take their leaue of the King whereuppon they were constrained to breake off the Prince going to the Chamber of presence where hee gaue thanks to a number that honoured the Courte with theyr presence and so one after another all departed the Duke of Sauoye béeing one of the first ashamed God knowes to be so conquered by Palmerin and not bidding his Lady Lucemania farewell But Lewes did not serue the Duchesse so for her loue continued as resolute as before and shee loued him as wel conquered as had he béene the conquerour whereof she assured him by many amorous méetinges by which meanes the Prince stayed the Duke at the Courte longer then himselfe would haue doone Lewes thus loâ—ing Palmerin as you haue hearde intreated the Duchesse to come and visite him which she accomplished the day folowing when Palmerin spent manie discourses with her rather of loue then entring into religion for he perceiued by her countenaunce that she had no will to become a Nunne where we will leaue them togeather to tell you who the Knight of the Sunne was that fought the last Combat with Palmerin CHAP. XL. VVho the Knight of the Sunne was and of his strange aduentures THe King of Hungaria Father to the Prince Tarisius that maried the faire Griana Mother to Palmerin had in his latter yéeres a Sonne named Netrides
my Lord Palmerin well and in good health but chéefely my Lorde who since you sawe him hath wunne the greatest honour that euer Knight did Afterward he reported the manner of the Combats to her and what gréefe his Maister sustained in his sicknes when he coulde not be reuenged on the Knight that lost her counterfeit which the Duke of Sauoye placed at the féete of Lucemania and last of all the perillous Combat betwéene his Maister the Knight of the Sun Which she tooke such delight to heare as she made him repeate one thing manie times and could not satis-fie herselfe sufficientlie with these worthy reports Which the Squire perceiuing delighted as much to itterate euerie thing and said Beléeue me Madame the loue my Maister beares to her for whose beautie he entered the Combat in my opinion is incredible for he is much more hers then his owne and I haue séene him in such sort thinking on her as one coulde hardlie iudge him aliue or deade fearing least anie other shold rob him of his loue such is the iealousie of his vnspotted affection albeit my Maister reputes his Ladie immouable Polinarda changing countenance oftentimes at yâ— Squires wordes aunswered The Ladie shoulde be very ill councelled béeing honoured with the looue of so good a Knight as Palmerin to make refusall of his worthie seruice and I promise thée by the faith of a Princesse that if I knew her for the vnwillingnes I haue to heare him coÌ„plaine I wold endeuour to cause her like none but him and therein to thinke herselfe the most happie among Ladies Wherfore if thou maist bee so bolde tell thy Maister at his returne that I will be a meane to aide him towardes her he loues and therewithall present him my fauourable salutations in that I euermore desired the fortunate ende of his enterprise not so much for the lyking of his Ladie béeing beloued of the best as for the renowned chiualrie that harbours in his hart These spéeches ended the Squire returned to méet the Prince Trineus and his Maister to whom he reported his talke with Polynarda which Palmerin reioycing at let fall all iealousie estéeming her nowe the truest Lady liuing The men of Gaunt for ioy of his returne that so worthilie deliuered them from the oppressions of the enchaunted Knight went foorth in seuerall companies according as honor yéeres and office directed them to méete him and so conueied him with signes of ioy to the Pallace where the Emperour so much abased himselfe as he came downe into the open Court to entertaine him and glad likewise to see the safe returne of his Sonne Tryneus saying My Sonne right happie is thy returne you Sir Palmerin perswade your selfe so welcome as hart can deuise assuring you that your successe hath not a little pleased me And needes must I account the Ladie especially bounden to you for whose loue you haue past so manie dangerous Combats good reason hath she to loue you in respect of your trauailes for her renowning her so much by your knightlie chiualrie so that if she recompence you not according to your merits woorthilie may she be condemned of ingratitude Alas my Lords quoth he her beautie commaundeth higher matters then all my labours Polynarda béeing in presence remembred well her Fathers words and therfore she intended to shun that condemnation saying to herselfe He that deserues honour ought to were it and he that commaundes the soule may easilie ouer-rule the passions of the minde let my Knight then be rewarded as he hath rightly deserued All this while the eyes of these two louers so well discharged their office as Palmerin wished that Iuno had graunted him so much as she did somtime to Argus her shéepehearde that he might haue more ease in his afflictioÌ„ for he thought it not enough onelie to behold the beautie of so rare and excellent perfection Againe he was not a little tormented because Polynarda to couer what she woulde gladlie none should discerne cast her lookes on the ground which sometimes shee likewise compelled him to doo but her presence whom he estéemed aboue all other things would not allow him that consideration The Emperour at length commanded that all the figures of the Ladies which he had wunne in CoÌ„bat should be brought before him but when hée sawe so manie and of so contrarie qualitie hee coulde not but coÌ„mâ—ndâ— Sir Palmerins victorie Then were diuers iudgments giuen of the beauty of the portraits eache one of the beholders after their seuerall opinions Ptolome made description of whom they were and who did enter Combatte on their behalfe omitting at no tune the honour of Palmerin whereat they all admired some commending their complexions others their swéete yong yéeres and altogeather the prowesse of him that brought the conquest with him whereupon the Emperour said In good faith Sir Palmerio I blesse the time that Fortune sent me so good a Knight and thinke not to carrie awaie all the glory of your victorie your selfe for I meane to haue part because you gaue your selfe mine And woulde the Ladie you loue were in thys Courte or in my Realme to the ende I might so assist you in your sute as you might both be mine My Lord quoth Palmerin the victorie is wholie yours béeing gotten by your Knight and if the Ladie I loue were not vnder your regiment then shoulde I complaine of a greater matter then abyding with you béeing obedient to your highnes as your humble subiect and Seruaunt With which aunswere the Emperour was highlie contented and Tryneus comming to his Sister Polynarda saide Trust mee faire Sister you are more indebted to Palmerin then to anie other Knight in the worlde beside and rather accept of him then of the Duke of Lorrayne who maintaining your beautie was ouercome by the Duke of Sauoy and your picture placed at the féete of Lucemania where yet it had remained but that Palmerin conquering the Duke remooued the figure of the French Princesse in obeysaunce to you Polynarda not content with the vndiscréete enterprise of the Duke of Lorrayne aunswered In sooth good Brother the Duke of Lorrayne is none of my Knight and I repute Palmerin to haue more bountie and valour then the Duke can haue of wit or courage therefore great meruaile that hee was not slaine The Emperour seeing Polynarda was offended with the Duke of Lorrayne aunswered You cannot Daughter forbid men to execute their owne pleasure and if the Duke liked to enter the Combat for your beautie it was for the honourable good will he bare you and albeit hée could not reache his desire yet haue you no cause to thinke the worsse of him Polynarda béeing a Princesse of rare wit and iudgment as anie of her time would multiply no more words but continued silent neuerthelesse Palmerin remembring her aunswere to Tryneus intreated her to kéepe all the portraits of the Ladies determining to sende them to whom they belonged according to their degrées in birth and honor
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
himselfe Ah loue hast thou wrought so happily for mée as my Ladie knowes my secrete afflictions shall I be so fortunate as she will 〈◊〉 remorse on my passions swéete hope perswades mee so for the often change of her diuince countenaunce tels me there is some mercie in working The King and Quéene departing into their Pauilion Trineus and Palmerin did the like into theirs the Prince taking Vrbanillo aside demaunded if he had any good newes for him If you will graunt mée one thing said the Dwarffe I will tell you such tydings as cannot but content you Demaunde what thou wilt quoth Trineus and by the faith of a Prince thou shalt not bee denied Then beganne the whole discourse hee had with the Princesse and what deuotion shée had for the recouerie of his health Iudge you in what rare humour the Prince now felt himselfe without question he imagined himselfe in a more beautifull paradise then euer was inuented by Epicurus himselfe and embracing the Dwarfe he said Ah my good fréend what wilt thou yâ— I giue thée tell mée what thou demaundest thou hast my whole life so much at thy command as thou maist liberally share out thine owne recompence but séeing the beginning is so good no doubt much better remaineth behind Why my Lord ê™ the Dwarfe you know I was borne to doo you seruice commaund what you please and I will accomplish it Then shalt thou said the Prince returne to my Mistresse againe and kissing her hande present her from me this Emerald desiring her to weare it for my sake with remembrance to pittie his painfull miseries whose life and death is onely in her hand Vâ—banillo taking the ring Trineus and Palmerin went to passe the time with the King and the Princesse at their entraunce regarding Trineus perceiued by his countenance that he vnderstoode her message for his blood was now risen chéerely in his face which before was suncke downe with too much langushing so that she imagined her selfe more happie in béeing so be loued then to loue and knew not well how to dissemble her ioy Ah poore Trineus the paine thou endurest attending the wished houre to speake with her far surmouneth the torments of Leander awaighting when Phoebus would go bathe himself with Thetis and the Marine Goddesses that he might afterward swim to his affianced Heroe and had not shée giuen thée a better signe by her eye to aduenture I would haue reckoned thée more infortunate then the beâ—râ—thed spouse to the prisoner of Abydos Now had Trineus bashfully taken the Princesse by the hand when vnhappily one came to aduertise the king that the hart he had â—hased the day before was now againe gotten within yâ— toylâ—â— that if it pleased him to hunt in the morning hee should no doubt kill him with little labor These newes were so welcome to the King that because he would the next morning more earlie go to his pastâ—ne hée withdrewe himselfe for that night the Quéene and Agriola likewise departing to their Pauillion so that Trineus encounter was thus preuented and he with Palmerin returned to their Tâ—nt trusting still on the Dwarfes diligence that he should perfect all things to his hearts desire to perswade him the more Palmerin thus began I haue this hope my Lord séeing alreadie so manie good signes that you cannot any way â—ée deceiued in your loue and this I would aduise you Fortune béeing so fauourable assisting you to her very vttermost you should nâ—t hence-foorth shewe your selfe so feminine but in hardie manner reueale to the Princesse when you shall find her at conuenient leysure both howe you loue her and what fauourable grace you expect at her hands I must confesse that Letters and messages are able to doo much but the person béeing present and knowing how to request and how to be answered is more auailable a thousand times and in bréefe no Messenger can bée like himselfe I speake not this as though my Dwarfe were not faithfull but to this ende that shée should receiue no occasion of displeasure In how manie dangers haue Gentlemen béene only by the bad construction of their seruants message the readiest wit that it cannot number them therefore if you find oportunitie attend no other suter but your selfe This councell wel liked the Prince Trineus wherfore he determined to speak to her himselfe so soone as time and leysure woulde permit him and in this resolution they went to take theyr rest but the remembrance of Polinarda would not suffer Palmerin to sléepe comparing his ioy in her presence with his tormeÌ„ting passions nowe in her absence breathed foorth maâ—iâ— sighes â—hed manie teares till at length hee began to slumber wherin he thought he discerned this sight Béeing in coÌ„panie with the King he sawe come foorth of a darke caue a dreadful Lyon who with open throat set vpon him and assayled him in such maner as with his nailes téeth he rent his Armor and put him in verie great daunger of his life so that he stroue in such sort in his sleepe as Trineus béeing in bed with him awaked him deemaunding why he strugled so earnestly Palmerin thus awaked desired God to withstand all his euils and afterward recounted to Trineus the whole effect of his dreame and said It will not bée amisse my Lord that to morrow we ride armed in the Kings companie for such illusions albeit they commonly fall out vntrue yet can presage no good to follow I like your counsell well aunswered Trineus and that Ptolome go armed as well as we In the morning they arose and armed themselues all saue their Helmets and Launces which their Squires caried and in this sort came to bid the King good-morrow who meruailed much to sée them so prepared and doubting they had receiued some occasion of offence demanded what mooued them so to be armed You know my Lord quoth Palmerin that a Knight ought euermore to be ready for all aduentures and not knowing what inconuenience or danger may happen before such time we shall returne againe we haue armed our selues to preuent the worst The King not discontented with this answer mounted on horsebacke comming to the chase had excellent game at Déere Hart Bore and wilde Buffell wherein hée tooke such excéeding pleasure as he determined to stay there fiue or sixe daies longer But in the place where he supposed himselfe safe and frée from all hazard suddainly hée was solicited with the chaunges of fortune for the Quéen and her daughter Agriola were in meruailous danger as you shall reade in the discourse following Chap. LI. How the Queen of England and Agriola her daughter were in danger to be rauished by the giant Franarco and of the succour they had by Trineus Palmerin and Ptolome THe king returning from the chase with his companie little minding any infortunate euent and conferring with Palmerin til they drew néere vnto their Tents at length they heard a great tumult and beheld a Squire making
he thinking to reueÌ„ge the reproch of his felow hath followed me to performe what they were not able Then Palmerin sodainly clasping on his helmet mounted on horsback and taking aduantage of the plaine field because it was most conuenient for the combat which Frisol perceiuing scornefully sayd I think Sir knight you are some kinde of prophet because you deuine so wel the cause of my comming vnhappie was it for you to preuaile in such sort against the duke of Gaules knights which you must now pay for with too late repentance If I did them any harme sayd Palmerin it was their owne séeking and by your arrogant spéeches it may be presumed you are one of the same company but yâ— loue of the Dukes sister cannot shéelde you from your deserued recompence At these words Frisol well perceiued that this was the knight he so much doubted Neuerthelesse his courage was so good as remembring the promise he made to his Lady gaue spurres to his Hose and they encountred with such braue chiualry as yâ— shiuers of their Launces flew vp into the aire and then they assaulted each other so roughly with their Swordes as well they might bée estéemed right valiant Champions No mercy was intended on either side for Frysol was determined to die or conquere and Palmerin held the same resolution so that the ground was coloured with their bloud their armour and shéeldes battered in péeces and no hope left on either side of life But as alwaies some mischance or other followes a noble mind so fel it out with Frisol for in their close buckling togither Palmerin had got sure hold on his shéeld which Frisol striuing forcibly to recouer the bucklâ— brake in sunder and with the sodaine breach therof he fel down backward when Palmerin leaping from his horse said And let me neuer hereafter bee called Palmerin if now I do not reuenge my selfe sufficiently Which words when Frisols squire heard he came hastily and fell at his féete saying Noble knight I beséech you for the honour you beare to arms to pause a while tel me if you be Palmerin D'Oliua for if you be I am your brother who haue suffered great paine and trauaile to finds you out Palmerin presently knew Colmelio the sonne of Gerrard his foster father whose sight was so ioyfull to his as casting away his sword he ran and embraced him about the neck saying My déere friend Colmelio the most welcome man in the world to me How happie may I account my selfe quoth Colmelio to finde you when all hope was past hauing trauailed so many countryes and al 〈◊〉 â—aiâ—e if then you loue me as you make protestation let me intreate one fauour at your hand that you forget your anger towards my maister Frysol and giue ouer your fight for long time haue I serued him as my Lord and well hath hee deserued much better seruice then mine Colmelio sayde Palmerin the thing thou demandest is meruailous great neuerthelesse such is my comfort hauing met with thée as I graunt thy request and happily hath he now escaped with life coÌ„sidering what occasions haue past vs héertofore So taking Colmelio by the hand he said to Frisol Sir knight at your squires intreatie I suffer you quietly to departe and méete with me againe at any time you thinke good but you shall go looke another Squire for Colmelio at this time goes with me Frisol who was wouâ—ded in many places very faint with losse of his bloud might eaâ—â—ly be induced to this agréement of peace but coÌ„ming to Colmelio he said Wilt thou forsake thy master and go with his enemy Trust me sir quoth Colmelio you must néeds pardon me if in this matter I chance to offend you for to séeke him I forsooke my fathers house haue continued a verie laboursome search If thou wilt néeds go said Frisol and that my intreaties may not dissawde thée I will pray for the successe of thy desires and thy aduancement to honour and while I liue will I account of thée as my fréend and brother So returning as he came he began in this manner to exclaime against Fortune Ah cruell inconstant Lady sufficed not thée to dishonour mee before mine enemie but thou must rob me of my squire I loued â—o deerely but so hast thou dealt with them of highest calâ—â—â—g for infinit kings and potentates hast thou deceiued â—nd before their very chéefest enemies dishonoured such hath beene thy trecherye to me at this instant that I may iustly coÌ„plaine of thée while I liue As he continued these complaints he met diuers armed Knightes that came to assist him and the duke himself in company among them who demanded of Frisol whither his enemie were slaine or sent away vanquished Uanquished sayd Frysol thinke you so good a knight may be so easily vanquished Then he dâ—â—â—â—â—rsed his whole successe which the duke hearing exclaimed on his huÌ„ting that he was not present when Palmerin passed wherefore he would néeds followe him but that Frisol intreated him to the coÌ„trary because the night approched so néere as it was impossible for him to ouertake Palmerin The duke in a maruellous rage for yâ— his enterprise fell out no better returned with Frisol and an houre within night they came to his Castell where hee called for his chirurgiâ—â—s charging them to giue diligent attendance â—n Frisol When the Dukes sister heard the misfortune of her friend she came hastily to him in his chamber after many swéet kisses said I beséech you my lord fâ—rget my folly for I was yâ— cause of your mischance Madame said Frisol where no offence is coÌ„mitted what néeds any remission If my fortune haue béene ill it is not for mée to complaine on you for your request tended to mine owne honour but I must be content with my hap though it hath sorted to so bad effect and this doth yet comfort me that I receiued my foile by the onely Knight in the worlde And if the heauens please to lengthen my dayes I shall be desirous to do him seruice for there is no man liuing to whom I could better affoord it Now néede I not mislike hauing tried him so often if he be worthy the loue of diuine Polinarda for he beyond all other doth best deserue it Why how now quoth the Lady are you so vnwise to honour him so much that hath so iniuried you and which is most childish to desire his seruice Goâ— then and séeke him whom thou so louest for by mine hâ—nour I more despise thée now then any man in the world thou making such reputation of him whom thou oughtest to pursue with mortall hatred Frisol smiling hereat said Madame I must néeds say so séeing no ill wordes can amend my mischaunce so without any aunswer she â—â—oong foorth of his Chamber The next day the Duke called all his Knights commanding them to restraine the passage â—o longer at the bridge intending to go to the Court sâ— soone as
not be woon by such a mightie Emperor considâ—â—ing her youth and beautie and the wonderfull riches incessantly offered her Yet the highest Lord so protected her that the more liberall the Turke was in honors and perswasions the more loyall continued her loue to Trineus whose perfect image was engrauen in her heart And not fearing torments or death she boldly answered the Emperor that he trauailed in vain for she might not loue him in that she was married to an husband more noble euery way then he and none but him shée would loue while she liued yet made he no great account of her words considering what frailtie commoâ—ly is in women The day being come of this great preparatioÌ„ and al the Princes present to vnderstand their soueraigneâ— will he béeing placed in his imperiall seate said That hée intended to take to wife one of the most beautifull Ladyes in the world for that cause he sent for them to vnderstand 〈◊〉 they liked thereof Their aunswere was that they liked well thereof and would gladly honour her as wel beseemed them Then sent he for Agriola and before them all saide vnto her that it was his pleasure to accept her for 〈◊〉 wife and therefore shee should prepare her selfe on the 〈◊〉 to be married The Princesse abashed at these spéeches fell downe before him in a dead traunce where vpon by the Quéenes and Ladies present shée was conuayed into her Chamber where béeing againe reuiued she began most pitifull and dolorous lamentations so when all the companie had left her that shée was alone with Hippolita falling downe on her knées at her beds â—â—ete shée thus began O my God and benigne Father pittie thy poore distressed creature and forget the offences I haue heretofore committed for what is a sinner vnlesse thou in mercie suffer her to come before thée Wilt thou then vouchsafe O wonderfull wordeman of the whole worlde one eye of pittie vpon thy humble forsaken seruantâ— and suffer her not to fall into subiection to the vewed enemie of thy holy worde arming me so strongly in this temptation that I no way iniurie my Lord and husbande Trineus but rather graunt this desolate spirit may leaue this bodie and the worlde togither Ah my honourable Lord Trineus where art thou nowe that thou art not héere so defenâ—e the shamâ— and wrong this Tyrant offers thée What art thou dead or hast thou forgâ—tten me No no so well am I assured of thy fidelitie as no forment can diuert thée from mée Yet if I knewe directly that thou art not liuing the lesse woulde â—ée my feare to follow thée for then the greatest pleasure this Pagan could doe 〈◊〉 were to make mée happie onely by death But for the matter is vncertaine and that I liue in hope once more to see thée I will patiently endure all afflictions whatsoeuer for so swéete a reward as is thy louâ— These sorrowes of the Princesse so gréeued Hippolita as one coulde hardly iudge who was most passionate yet at length shée thus spake to Agriola I beséech you good Lady to leaue these gréeuous lamentations and regarde the high estate honour and dignitie that you shall haue in marrying with my Lord. Neuer perswade me quoth the Princesse to manifest disloyaltie for such preâ—erments if they bée not gotten iustly and by vertue they ought not to bée coueted but to be shunned as diuelish Serpents Thus spent they the whole night and in the morning came the Quéenes and Ladies newlie come to the Court to bid the sorrowfull Bride good morrow in her Chamber attyring her in wonderfull gorgious vestures after their Country maner farre beyonde the royaltie of Helena after her arriuall at Troy Betwéene foure Kings shée was brought into the greate Hall and from thence conducted to the Temple where they were espoused by the Mosti To recount here thy royall solemnitie in the temple the Maiestie and vnspeakable dignitie at the pallace the excellent Comedies rare triumphs Maskes Momeries Moriscoes and such like courtly pleasures would bée a matter too prolixious for they are not to our purpose Let it then suffice yee that after they were magnificently entreated at Dinner and Supper the daunâ—ing began and God knowes how the Turks Moores Arabes and Medes set foorth themselues in thâ—ir dâ—uises and sports before their Ladies much lyke the Satyres and â—orned Faunes giuing new inuasions on the Nimphes of Diana But all these maruayles ioyes and follies coulde not chaunge the Princesse countenaunce for shée continuing in her penâ—â—uenesse these sports were worsse to her then the tormentâ— of death aboue all fearing the losse of her chastitie which was a Iewell neuer to be recouered The Pastimes ended by the Quéenes and Ladies shée was conducted to the nuptiall 〈◊〉 so braue and â—â—ately as the Prince Aeneas when he came to Quéene Dido of Carthage and there was the vnfortunate Bride committed to her rest Soone after came the hastie Bridegroome calling for Torches that hée might be holde the Goddesse hée honoured and as hée was preparing himselfe to bed he was troubled with such feares passions and apâ—plexie as nowe he séemed more lyke a ghost then a man Perforce hée was constrained to forsake the Chamber when the extremitie of the fit somewhat asswaging and his former louepassions freshly assayling him comming to the Princesse againe heauily hée thus spake Ah Agriola Ladie and sole Mistresse of my heart I thinke thou art some Goddesse or at least excéeding all humanitie so strange is this aduenture as neuer any man I thinke heard of the like Alas cannot thy anger be appeased nor thou induced to loue him who for thy sake endures most horrible torments I pray thée bée not the cause of my death or if thou néedes wilt suffer mée first to eniâ—y the fruites so my desires Know my Lord answered Agriola that with my will yoâ— neuer shall enioy it and if perforce you séeke to dishonour me assure your selfe I am resolued rather to suffer endlesse miseries then to violate my faith to my loyall Husbande for such is my trust in God that hée will not forget such as call on him But in respect thou hast not béene cruell to mée nor hast exercised mée with any tyrannie I shall suffer thée to lye vpon the bed by mée as my Brother might doo and sometime though it be more then modestie embrace thée in mine armes but if fartheâ— thou presumest thou mayst not bée permitted but shall loose that fauour thy selfe and mee togither Madame quoth hée in graunting mée that courtesie you saue my life for I haue many Concubines to qualifie those passions and neuer will I attempt your dishonour while I liue if I but offâ—r the motion refuse mée foreuer I shall therefore account of you as my Sister and death shall not make me doo contrarie to your appoyntment The yong Princesse glad of this solemne promise gaue him a kisse or twaine and suffered him to embrace her but other kindnesse could be neuer obtaine
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
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
you faire sir to tell me howe the Quéene of Tharsus intreated you and what is your opinion of her In good faith Madam aunswered Palmerin shée is one of the most honest and vertuous Ladies that euer I came in companie withall and to whom I greatly desire to do any seruice You haue good reason quoth the Princesse in that she came so farre to sée you and discouer her loue which other coulde as well accomplish as good or rather in honor beyonde her if they might hope of anie ease in their passionate desires Palmerin feigning to vnderstand her meaning entred into other kinde of talke vntill supper time which finished each one returned to their Chamber when the Prince séeing himselfe alone with his Fréend thus sayd Ah my déere Fréende Palmeâ—in howe worthily may you be sayde to bee without coâ—pare in all perfections that a Knight ought to haue loue onely excepted yet héerein if I be not deceyued you doe for mée agaynst all reason for a thousand times are you more beloued then your selfe can loue anie Notwithstanding for this default if so it may bée named and for 〈◊〉 wordes this day vsed in my presence to Achidinia I remaine vowed to your seruice for in trueth you know not the good you did me supporting my imperfection of speech when I was before my Mistresse Yet know I not whence such imbecilitie should procéede if not by béeing rauished with regarde of her celestiall countenaunce my ouer laboured spiriâ—e forsooke me and béeing too much tormented in this languishing bodie abandoned all the partes sensatiue placing it selfe onely in mine eyes which neuer could imagine themselues satisfied contemplating beautie of so rare and especiall estimation And were it not that my hope onely consisteth in you comparing my small desert and the excellencie of my Ladie long ere this had my soule forsooke her infortunate habitation which so indiscreetlie fell into these oppressing passions And this I earnestly intreate you to let her vnderstand in that I feare least shée impute my happie alteration to want of wisedome and ciuilitie Trust me quoth Palmerin I promise you my vttermost abilitie and so much will I do as one Friend may for another to discharge my selfe of the promise which héeretofore I made you And let me intreate you on mine owne behalfe to remooue that opinion of speciall loue which you report the Princesse beares me béeing not such as you doe imagine for noble Prince and my deare Fréende you néede not despayre of the benefit whereof I haue so solemnely assured you After many other speeches they slept till the next morning when clothing themselues in their richest garments they went and gaue the good morrow to the Soldane who verie honourablie thanked them and Palmerin espying conuenient occasion thus began My Lord you haue sufficient experience that by the bountie and great fauour of the Gods you haue obteyned victory against your enemies to the no little content of your Subiects all which béeing so happily finished base were the thought to feare the perfection of higher enterprises Therefore my Lord I thinke it expedient so it may stand with your good liking considering your prouision for the sea is in such readinesse your people likewise acquainted with your intent before we meddle with the Brethren of Amarano came daily in troupes to offer their seruice that now you send your Armie to Constantinople for your answere once heard right soone will we embarke our selues and set forward on our voyage For the rest I pray you deliuer these prisoners to be vsed as your slaues but as for the Princes I thinke hauing séene the fortune of theyr Brethren and their owne badde successe in Armes that they will serue you with continuall loyaltie My Sonne quoth the Soldane let all bée doone as you haue appointed for such is my confidence in you that your intent cannot but sort to good ende wherefore my Gallies and al things readie furnished depart when you please hauing first sent your Souldiers abroad The Prince Olorico beeing present offered againe to go in this voyage with like number of men as he brought against the Brethren of Amarano for which the Soldane greatly thanked him promising him such satisfaction at his returne as should agrée with his owne content Alchidiana taking in ill part the words of Palmerin on the Prince Oloricos behalfe sent for him to come speake with her which hée did and finding her very sad and melancholy hée demaunded if any one had doone her displeasure and what the cause might bee of her pensiuenesse Ah my déere friend quoth shée how can I but be agréeued séeing no one Lady in the world hath so many contrarie fortunes as my selfe Alas my heart hath chosen you for my onely Lords and Friend thinking to finde place woorthy my conceite and that your loue would answere me with the like but in ought I can perceiue I am too much beguiled for you either as ingratefull or carelesse vse affecting spéeches to me importing no other ende but that in leauing you I should take the Prince Olorico for my Husband Do you imagine me so mutable and inconstant that I will or can loue anie other but you or that my affection intirely setled so high can brooke such a downefall as to like the man so much inferiour to mée And which most of all offendeth me not contented to mocke me in disdaining my knowne loue so discourteously would perswade me to choose another Let all our Gods be iudge if I haue not iust cause to complaine of you albeit I haue greater cause to hate and despise my owne selfe for in that I haue more then deserued your loue yet as too much vnwise I cannot consider that in the heart of an ingratefull person loue hath no place of certaine abyding But seeing our gods haue in such sort subiected mee as against my will I am constrained to loue mine enemie in vaine were it for me to resist against them that they beholding the vnspotted loue of the one may in the ende punish the ingratitude of the other Thâ—s thinking to continue longer spéech so many violent sighs intercepted her as she was not able to proffer one word more whereby Palmerin enforced thus answered I beséech you Madame crosse me not with these néedelesse words for although the Prince is so worthie to be loued as any man that euer I saw yet were I very much vnprouided of witte and a méere stranger of good consideration if I would refuse that speciall felicitie then which I can desire no greater I knowe swéete Lady that you loue mee intirely perswade your selfe then that my loyaltie is no lesse nor can death make mee gainesay the promises I haue made you and were it not to the great disaduantage of mine honour to leaue the honourable warre your Father hath intended which might procure each one to misconceiue of mee assure your selfe that I would forsake dignities Armes and all to do you the seruice you
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
Palmerin hearing either fearing to offend them or induced by modest bashfulnes he went to his Sister the Princesse Armida whose thoughts hée sounded by such subtilties and dissimulations as he found the effect of her desires which was to enioy Sir Frysoll to her Husband He not a little contented héerewith confirmed her choyse to be commendable sealing the assurance thereof with an honourable report of his knightly déedes of Armes Then the Emperour called for the Duke of Mecaena and the Counte of Reâ—foâ—t as also his principall Secretarie whom hee commaunded to write to the Emperour of Allemaigne touching the marriage of the Princesse Polinarda and his sonne Paâ—merin shadowing the secret agréement betwâ—ene themselues and committed tâ—e rest to the discreâ—ion of the Ambassadours The Letters sealed with his great Signet was deliuered to them that had the charge of this message who could not so spéedily departe from Constantinople because the winde and weather was not nauigable Now had Palmerin promised Frysoll that he would speake to the Princesse his sister and solemnely resolue vpon their marriage wherefore méeting with this earnest Lâ—uer hee thus laboured to please him Trust me Cozin I haue so surely imprinted your especiall generositie in my Sisters minde as the carracters can neuer be defaced but remaine more perfect by your spéedie marriage Frysoll reuiued with these newes as all pretenders of loue may well imagine offered to kisse his hande which Palmerin would not suffer whereupon hée thus procéeded Ah my Lorde howe am I more and more indebted to you right wise was hee which saide that affabilitie and liberalitie are continuall companions with noblenesse and magnanimitie And though by al my seruices I cannot deserue the honour you do mee in accepting me for your Brother yet am I so faithfully vowed yours as the honours of my Father nor loue of the Princesse your Sister can seperate mee from your companie vntill you haue founde your long desired Friende Trineus And for this cause my Lord I earnestly intreate you to hasten Apolonio towards my Father for I will sende him to 〈◊〉 place where he shall be assured to finde him Palmerin accorded thereto immediatly and so labored with the Emperour that the Letters were deliuered and the oathes taken of all the Hungarians they were sent home into theyr Countrey with a Lieutenant appointed to gouerne them vntill the comming of Netrides to whom Frysoll wrote the truth of all his fortunes with earnest request of his spéedie presence And to enduce him to the greater haste hée feigned that many Princes laboured for the Crowne of Hungaria and were in likelihood to obtaine it all which was but to enioy the faire princesse Armida The same day Florendos sent to the King his Father at Macedon that hée should send the cheefest states of his Realme against the day that Palmerin should be sworne the Prince of Greece Chap. XXXIIII How Câ—tdyna the Gentlewoman attending on the Queene accompanied with her Brother and diuers other Squires brought Gerrard his wiâ—e and daughter to the Court and what entertainment Palmerin made them CArdyna with those that were commaâ—ded to kéepe her company in short time came to Gerrards house whom shee found sitting at dinner with his familie The good man was at first amazed séeing such courtly personages enter his house a matter estéemed rare among yâ— persons dwelling on the mountaine but séeing they came in decent and modest sort not proffering any discourtesie he entertained them very friendly when Cardyna taking him by the hande said Good Father are you the man that is called Gerrard I am the same quoth he gentle mistresse You are then the man aunswered Cardyna that I séeke and therefore I pray thée tell me what thou didst with a Childe that twentie yéeres and more since thou foundest in swadling clothes vnder a Palm Trée on this Mountaine for certaine I am that thou didst take him home with thée to thy house Ah mistresse quoth the good old man you haue killed my heart in remembring me of him whom I loued déerer then any of mine owne The infant of whom you speake I founde not farre hence vnder a Palme Trée for which cause at his Baptisme I named him Palmerin From that time forwarde I nourished him as hée had béene mine owne Sonne till hée rame to tall stature and as he grew in yéeres so did hee in vertuous and noble qualities which made him not a little beloued in these parts for when hee attended my Cattell he tooke pleasure to course the Wolfe Hart Beare Bore and Lion and oftentimes would kill them when him listed which none of mine owne Children durst at any time aduenture Ah swéete Mistresse when I remember his many seruices the dutifull reuerence and loue hee bare mée I am readie to die with conceite of gréefe that it was my ill hap so soone to loose him Yet came not this misfortune alone for mine eldest Sonne who loued him as he had béene his owne Brother immediately went after him and yet could I neuer heare any tidings of them Notwithstanding Mistresse if you know of whence hée was I can shewe you all the clothes wherein I founde him I shall be contented to sée them quoth Cardyna but what will ye giue the partie that can tell ye whee he is Cerrard at these wordes fell on his knée before her and with the teares trickling downe his graie beard saide By my troth mistresse if it shall like you to doo me so great pleasure of all my substance I will giue yée the one halfe or all my heard of Beastes which ye saw féeding on the Mountain as ye came beside my continuall seruice while I liue Gramercies Father sayd Cardyna but call for your Wife and Daughter and then shall I tell ye newes that well content you As for him whose friendly Parentes you were so long time hée is nowe at Constantinople and is the Sonne of Madam Griana daughter to the Emperour who commaundeth you thrée to come to the Court that she may content ye for nourishing so well the noble young Prince The olde man excéeding ioyfull without ordering his affaires or appointing his Seruaunts their course of labour saide to his Wife and Dyofena his Daughter Make ye readie presently in your best garments and let vs goe sée that noble Gentleman for all the Golde in the world cannot make me staie nowe I haue heard so happie tidings The good woman and her daughter trickt vp themselues in their countrey fines and taking the rich swadling clothes sette forward to Constantinople so merely as sometime did the foster Father of Paris Alexander his Wife and their Daughter Pegasis when they brought the Cradle and acoustrements of the infant royall to the Cittie of Troy after he was knowne by his Father King Priam and Quéene Hecuba his Mother Palmerin being aduertised by one of the Ladies of Honour attending on the Empresse that Cardyna had brought Gerrard to prouoke greater contentation he would
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
was slaine and Agriola deliuered PAlmerin being vpon a day in his Chamber with his Companions practising some meane for the deliuerance of Agriola the Princesse Laurana of Durace came to them framing her spéeches in this maner Gentlemen if any of you be desirous to deliuer vs from this cruell enemie who holdes vs in this thrall and bondage I haue deuised the best meanes that may be and thus it is The Turke the most luxurious and vnchast man in the worlde not contented with infinite number of Concubines hath many times made loue to me so that to compasse mine intent I haue made him promise within thrée dayes to graunt his request In this time I haue intreated the Princesse Agriola to shewe him the most disdamefull countenaunce that may bée which shée hath faythfully promised and for this cause hath sent mee to you to conuay hence all the riches he hath giuen yée and which shée herselfe will likewise send ye so that when the houre is come for me to fulfill his pleasure one of you béeing priuilie armed shall in my place murther him in reuenge of the ill Christendome hath sustained by the last vnhappie voyage of Olimaell who determineth verie shortly as I vnderstand to goe spoyle to Isle of Rhodes Palmerin very glad of the Princesse notable inuention thus answered Because Madame I lately promised the Turke not to depart his Court but to kéepe him companie when he denied his Admirall that I and my companions shoulde go with him to the Rhodes I cannot be the man to ende this woorthie reuenge therefore one of you my Fréendes must resolue to performe it In meane while you Madame Laurana may returne to the Turke pleasing him with faire and fréendly spéeches for if neeuer so little suspition bée gathered not one of vs can escape with life Feare not sayde the Princesse I will vse the matter so carefully as you can desire right well knowe howe to enflame his heart with â—ueint lookes coy disdaines faint dealings aud other such like ceremonies vsed in loue as feare not you to prosecute the stratageme in that a beginning so good must néedes sort to a successiue ende The yong Duke of Pontus who began to growe affectionate towards the Princesse Laurana sayd In sooth my Lord so please you to commit the charge héereof to me so well hope I to execute the same for her sake that did so woorthily inuent it as I dare warrant to deserue no reproch thereby For my first earnest to gentle Loue shall be so gracious as in qualifying the vnlawfull heate of our enemie I will binde my selfe neuer to loue anie other and her faith receyued if I bring not his head to Madame Laurana let mée bée accounted as one of the most slothfull Knights that euer bare Armes Aduertise mée therefore of the place and houre and doubt not of my faithfull performance At this pleasant answer they all be ganne to smile whereupon Palmerin thus spake Beléeue mee noble Duke considering your youth and braue disposition I knowe no one in this â—â—mpanie more méete for the Princesse Laurana then you are but I thinke when the appoynted houre shall come you will bée a little more angrie with the Turke then her if she haue you in that subiâ—ction as it séemes she hath Yet let vs not nowe trifle the time in vaine when such waightie occasions commaundeth our diligence So returned Laurana to the Princesse Agriola acquainting her with the Knights determination when not long after the great Turke entred the Chamber accompanied with Palmerin and the King of Sparta that he might the better speake to her hée so earnestly desired hée caused Palmorin to sit betwéene him and Agriola then turning to Laurana he began to deuise familiarlie with her Which wheâ— Palmerin and Agriola perceiued the better to beguile him hée made a signe to the King of Sparta that hée should enter into some talke of hunting wherat the Turke presently arose and taking Laurana by the hand led her to the window with these spéeches Mistresse of my heart and the very fairest creature that euer mine eyes behelde will ye graunt the request I made to you yesterday Sée you not what great honour I haue done to Madame Agriola Notwithstanding if you will loue me I will make you my Wife that I may haue issue by you to succéede in my kingdome and your honours shall be nothing inferiour to hers And though she still denie me the fauour which with long and continuall pursuite I haue desired yet doe you consider my gréefe and if in short time you vouchsafe me no pitti the extreame afflictions I endure for your loue are rated at the price of my life God forbid quoth Laurana that so great a losse shoulde come to the Orientall Empyre by me rather will I forget the accustomed regard of mine honour to bée accepted in your grace and fauour And the cause that made me deferre so long from this answere was the feare I haue of Madame Agriola and her Brother to whome I was giuen by your Admirall after my Fathers decease But to the ende my Lorde that none of them may suspect our loue I thinke it conuenient that Hyppolita who alway lyeth in your Chamber remoue her selfe to the Ladies attending on Agriola and her shall you commaunde to giue me the Key of my Ladies Chamber which hitherto shée hath vsed to carrie By this meane may I the more safely and without suspition of any one come in the night to fulfill your desire The Turke imagining he had gayned the Princesse loue indéede was not a little ioyfull wherefore he said Swéete Ladie you shall haue the Key as you request nor shall she longer lodge in my Chamber whom you feare so much Moreouer this night will I perswade Agriola that I féele my selfe not halfe currant and therefore to kéepe her selfe in her owne Chamber and so may you come boldlie to me this night If any man chaunce to méete yée say that I sent for you and if they dare bee so bolde as to hinder your comming in the morning shall my Ianizaries put them to death whatsoeuer they be So taking a King from his finger wherein was a stone of inestimable value hée gaue it to the Princesse saying Holde Madame take this as a pledge of my promise for which Laurana humblie thanking him thus replied My Lord I sée Agriola hath foure or fiue times earnestlie noted you I thinke it good therefore that we breake off talke assuring you that I will not faile at midnight when euerie one is fast a sléepe to kéepe my worde and in the Mantle which you sent mée yesterday I will couertly enter your Chamber conditionallie that you kéepe your promise to mée afterwarde Doubt not thereof said the Turke and so taking his leaue of heâ— went presently to his Chamber where finding Hyppolâ—ta he commaunded her to take thence her bed and â—arrie it to the Ladies Chamber likewise taking the Key from
Palmerins féete so that hée demaunded of the Princesse if shée brought him from the Isle of Malfada for doubtlesse quoth he I thinke it is some Knight transformed by that cruell woman who héeretofore belike hath knowne me At which words the dog howled excéedingly when Paâ—merin tooke an oath that hée would searche all the worlde ouer to finde some meane to bring him to his former shâ—pe that hée might know from whence this loue procéededed The next day the king Tyreno assaulted the Cittie who was slaine in the battaile by Palmerin so afterward was Maulerino crowned king of Nabor and all the Countrey enioyed their former quiet whereupon the Princesse Zephira gaue Palmerin her dogge who requited her with many gracious thanks because he greatlie suspected that it was his fréend Trineus transformed into that shape but now let vs returne to the soldane of Babilon vnderstanding how his Armie was discomfited at Constantinople Chap. XLVI Howe one of the Nephewes to the King of Balisarca brought newes to the Soldane of his vncles death the foyle of his Armie the losse of Palmerin and Olorico And how the Princesse Alchidiana bought Ptolome whom she greatly honored for Palmerins sake THe King of Balisarca as you haue heard before being slaine his Armie discomfited and al his Galleys burnt before Constantinople one of his Nephewes that kept the straight of yâ— Bosphor with two foysts least any succour should come that way to the Christians by one Galley that escaped hearde all this misfortune wherefore making haste backe againe fearing to be taken at length arriued in the Soldans Kingdome where not staying long hée posted to the Courte and to the Soldane reuealed all that had happened When the Soldane heard how his Armie was thus ouerthrowne Palmerin whom he loued so well and the Prince Olorico lost in the storme on the sea vexed with greefe and rage hee called his Lorde Ambassadour Mauce to to him saying Haste thée good Maucâ—â—to to my Brother the Soldane of Persia and desire him to leuâ—y me a strong Armie against the Moneth of March next ensuing to encounter with the Emperour of Greece promising him the spoyle whatsoeuer it bee reseruing for my selfe nothing but the â—â—me of reuenge Maucetto departed presentlie on his iourney and by the way mette sixe Moores leading two Christians to the Soldans Court to sell which were Ptolome and Colmelio of whome hee demaunded why they were so bounde in chaines My Lord quoth one of the Moores they be Christian slaues who not long since were taken at the Sea by Olimaell Admirall to the great Turke And how came you by them said Maucetto The Admirall quoth the Moore gaue them to one of his Cozins who now is deade and his wife béeing loth to kéepe them anie longer sendes them to the Court to be solde for money Maucetto bought Colmelio of them refusing Ptolome because he was somewhat sâ—cklie and so passed on his Embassade The Moores comming to the Court with poore Ptolome and placing him among other slaues that stoode to bee solde there came a deformed Moore farre worsse mishapen then was Thersites yâ— Greek and he would néedes buy Ptolome of the Merchaunt but Ptolome disdaining to be subiect to so vile a creature gaue him such a stroke on the stomacke with his fiste as made him tumble ouer backward saying Thou monstrous Uillaine let me rather die then come into thy subiection At this instant passed by the Princesse Alchidiana smiling is sée the Moore lie along but when shée behelde the good personage of Ptolome shée remembred her louer Palmerin and was therewith mooued thus to speake Nowe durst thou take such hardinesse vpon thee béeing a bondslaue and a captiue thus to strike a Moore frée of this Countrey Ptolome perceiuing by the Ladies attending on her that shee was the Soldanes Daughter falling on his knée thus aunswered Assuredlie Madame rather desire I death then to liâ—â— at such an ill fauoured villaines controll my selfe beeing a Knight at Armes Are you then a knight said the Princesse I am good Madaine quoth he although my seruitude hath very much altered mée Alchidiana withâ—ut any further questions deliuered the Merchant two hundred Seraphes and by two of her Squires caused him to bee conducted to her Chamber where he was presentlie disroabed of his vnséemelie garments and cloathed in such as well became a knight to weare afterwarde she commaunded her attendants to depart the chamber and comming to Ptolome she thus began Nowe Syr Knight I intreate you by the holy faith you owe to your best beloued that you will truelie tell mee by what misfortune you happened first into thraldome Madame quoth he séeing of your owne grace and bountie you haue deliuered mee from these villaines that made sale of my life I will not fable with you in any one point but tell you a Historie repleat with wonderfull sorrowe Hauing reuealed the manner of his taking and all the mishaps hée endured euer since the teares trickling downe his chéekes he said And yet sweete Ladie all these passed miseries and still abiding your slaue gréeues me not so much as the losse of my déerest Fréende the best knight in the worlde who went to sée his Falcon flie when the Pirates came and vnhappilie tooke vs. Tell me good freende quoth the Princesse what may the knight bee called of whom you make such estimation Quoth Ptolome he nameth himselfe Palmerin d'Oliua O soueraigne Gods said Alchidiana haue you béenâ— companion to the noble Palmerin That haue I in truth Madame quoth he and knowe more of his affayres then anie other man doth Unhappie that I am said the Princesse nowe sée I well that I am deceiued in all my hope Saye good knight naie more I coniure thee by thy faith to the soueraigne Creator of all things to tell mee if he bee of our Lawe and hath béene dumbe of long or no By God Madame answered Ptolome your adiuration is such as rather will I make a sacrifice of my selfe then bee found vntrue to you in any thing Hée is a Christian borne in Greece and neuer had defect in his spéech if discréet consideration of following euents eyther to escape captiuitie or death did not inforce him to feigne such a deceite for hée is most expert among all other in dissembling anye matter may turne him aduauntage Then such hath béene my fortune quoth Alchidiana as his vertue bountie wise foresight vsed for the space of a yéere and more in my Fathers Court made me so religiously vowed to him in loue as neuer intend I to make other choise and I sweare by all our Gods that if I heare not the better tydings of him by thée my spirit will forsake this wretched bodye and except better fortune among the soules in Elisium Ah imperious loue how wonderfull is thy strooke My fréende is contrarie to me in lawe and profession a Knight errant vnknowne absent from mee and loues me not for these occasions were I the
their Captaine brauely encouraging them At length they buâ—keled togither and a daungerous fight began betwéene them so that seuen of the King Maulerinos Knights were slaine the King of Sparta sore wounded by Ptolome and Dyardo in great perill of his life When Palmerin saw the King of Sparta fall and that the Moores had daungerouslie hurt diuerse of his Fréends fearing the King was slaine hée came to Ptolome and after manie sharpe strokes on either side at last got him downe when pulling his Helmet furiouslie from him thinking to haue smitten off his head Ptolome cried Kill me not sir Knight for I yéelde my selfe to thée Palmerin knowing his fréend sayd to his companions and the rest Giue ouer my fréends and fight no longer for false fortune hath too much deluded vs. Ah worthiâ— Ptolome why haue I dealt so hardly with thée is it possible that any man may bee likened to mée in mishap no sooner am I out of one but presently I fall into another by heauen déere Fréende if I had slame thée right soone woulde I haue béene reuenged on my selfe Sée then swéet Ptolome how Palmerin gréeues for his offence more then if he had lost the best limme on his bodie When Ptolome behelde his Friend Palmerin and by him the noble Prince Tryneus embracing them he said O Sauiour of the world howe highly hast thou this day fauoured mée permitting mée to finde my déerest Fréendes then they brought him to the Princesse Agriola in her Cabin who was not a little glad to beholde the man that endured with her some part of miserie and Colmelio was ioyfull to behold Sir Ptolome in that their hap was to bée parted when they were ledde to be solde as â—laues but Agriola woulde néedes heare all his fortunes since the first time of their separation which hée and Colmelio trulie recounted Beléeue me Ptolome said Palmerin I sée wée all haue had our shares in aduersitie and hardlie can we iudge whose wrong hath béene greatest but howe came you thus to bée Captaine among the Turks My Lord quoth he the Princesse Alchidiana bought me and charged mée to séeke you both by Sea and Lande and for my defence gaue mee fortie Knights of whom there nowe remaines but ten aliue That Ladie am I highlie beholâ—ing to sayde Palmerin and for the wrong I haue done her by the death of her Knights I will excuse my selfe by an honourable Ambassade when I shall send the Prince Olorico to her againe And that thou Ptolome maist knowe some of my good happe vnderstande that I haue founde my Father and Mother who are Florendos the King of Macedon and Grâ—ana the Daughter and â—eyre to the Emperour of Greece I did euer perswade my selfe quoth Polome that your discent was of royall linage but I intreate you for my sake that these Knights which your men haue taken may be gentlie vsed and enioy their libertie Palmerin calling them to him said For Ptolome his sake that was your Captaine and her loue that commaunded you to trauaile with him I wish to you as to my selfe yet shall you all go with mée to Constantinople that you may helpe to conduct the Prince Olorico backe againe whom I meane to send with you to your Mistresse We abide my Lord quoth they at your direction and willingly obey your will in that wée haue knowne howe déerelie the Soldane loued you and better fortune coulde not befall vs then so luckilie to méete with you and the Prince Olorico as for our Companions that are sâ—aine there is no remedie for such mishaps are common where Fortune â—rowneth So sailed they on fréendlie togither and on the Sea we will leaue them to tell you of the return of the Ambassadour Maucetto to the Soldane of Babylon who hearing that the Persian had refused to assist him was somewhat offended thereat but when he saw that Palmerin had written he pacified himselfe saying Ah gentle Palmerin hadst thou béene in the battell at Constantinople I had not néeded to demaunde helpe of him whom I iudged my Fréend but séeing Fortune hath showne her selfe so contrarie I will not attempt anie thing from which thou disswadest me Maucetto declared that Palmerin had likewise sent a Letter to the Princesse Alchidiana which hee commaunâ—â—â— him presentlie to carrie her no sooner had she read the Letter and thereby vnderstoode his knightly déedes of 〈◊〉 but embracing the Ambassadour thus spake Maucetto neuer couldest thou haue brought mee better newes thou of the man whose name flourisheth in all 〈…〉 Letter written by the hand of the most perfect Knight liuing full charâ—e and choisly will I kéepe thée Ah Ptolome whom my noble Fréend loues so déerely thée haue I sent in daungerous hazarde of thy life but may I once sée thée againe thou shalt perceiue my loue for Palmerins sake Happie art thou Princesse Zephira hauing with thée the myrror of mankinde My Lord quoth shée as though Palmerin had béene present willt thou wrong thy selfe so much as to tarrie with her Dare the Soldans Sisters vaunt that they loue thée They be faire as I vnderstand but not so faire that thou shouldest refuse me for theÌ„ What haue I said doubtlesse matter to mine owne reproach for if thou wouldest the kingly offers of my Father and my importunate intreattes could no way mooue thée hardlie may the Persians preuaile with thée especiallie in such a weightie cause as loue is Maucetto what sayest thou is Lord Palmerin like to stay long in Persia with the Soldans Sisters No Madame quoth he I heard him 〈◊〉 verie often that he woulde depart thence before a Moneth was expired In these and such like spéeches they continued wherin wee purpose to leaue them for by this time is Palmerin and his Fréendes arriued in the Hauen of Constantinople and Colmelio is sent before to the Pallace to aduertise the Emperour of these ioyfull tydings As Colmelio entered the great Hall the 〈◊〉 man he mette was his Father Gerrard who was newly made Lord Chamberlaine to the King Florendos wherefore falling on his knée before him he said Father â—ittle did I thinke to finde you exalted to such honouâ— happie was the day when you 〈◊〉 Prince Palmerin and much more 〈…〉 you shall heare matter of maruaile 〈…〉 the Emperour with the King Florendos 〈…〉 Hall anâ— all the Ladies going to heare 〈…〉 Gerrard thus spake to his highnesse My Lord sée héere my Sonne Colmelio who long time hath trauailed in seare of Prince Palmerin hee hath some 〈…〉 to deliuer to your Maiestie Right welcome is 〈…〉 the Emperour say what thou 〈◊〉 my fréend 〈…〉 libertie Mightie Emperour sayd Colmelio your Son Prince Palmerin 〈◊〉 arriued in the Hauen and with 〈…〉 Prince Tryneus Sonne to the Emperour of 〈◊〉 the good Knight Sir Ptolome the fiue Princes which went with him from Macedon the two Princesses of England and Durace with diuerse other vnknowne to me and saluting your Maiestie with his humble dutie intreateth that
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—