thy hands from him that is conqnered and come deale with me who hopes to conquer thée and therewithall Primaleon being not fully prouided receiued such a cruell blowe on the head that it put him in some danger Primaleon séeing such a fearefull Enemie and what mighty blowes he still charged him withall he bethought him on his Friende Don Edoard whose helpe in this fierce assault might doe him no small pleasure Yet hee considered with himselfe that doubtlesse he was in some néede or so kept vnder that hee might not assist him else hee perswaded himselfe he would be as requisite to helpe him as hée ready to wish for him Then hee taking vp the Shielde of Pandare betwéene Alligan and himselfe began a hotteskirmish as the place where they fought altered in colour with theyr blood made manifest Yet Alligan for all his rough behauiour had little hope of any good successe because the hardinesse of Primaleon hadde both martyred his Shield and Armour in pieces so that he had no defence to beare off the blowes but by the fresh and eager Assaults of the Noble hearted Prince he brought him vnto such a lowe estate that he supposed he had quight slaine him Which mooued him to sitte downe to rest him for that faintnesse with losse of his blood and wearynesse in so long continuing Battell made him both glad and desirous of a little ease Dramusiande perceyuing the harde euent of this Combat and standing in doubt that Fortune by some sinister meanes or other would séeke his ouerthrowe and so depriue him of that he looked for and what his Aunte laboured for Armed himselfe presently and came foorth to Primaleon assailing him first with these wordes Syr Knight my Friend if you please my foe if you dare in the one you may finde comfort in your distresse in the other any incurable mischiefe to beare you companie in so great daunger Mee thinkesâ— it were more honour for you to yéelde with no blemish to your Knighthoode then to endure a fresh Assault which will be to your great hazarde So if you estéeme of my courteous offer I will sée your wounds cured at mine owne charge and your weake estate comforted as beséemeth a good Knight Primaleon well nothing the honest words of Dramusiande and fearing his faire talke might beare fauor of a shrewde meaning made him this answere If sir by the paine I haue bestowed sharpe encounters I haue eudured I might purchase yâ— deliuery of my dearest friend Don Ddward then would I not only make estimation of your courtesie but confesse my selfe during life yours euer bound by duty But as I iudge you meane nothing lesse and the reward of my trauaile desireth nothing more so my heart is bent vnto that hautie enterprise which if intreatie will not serue shall be gayned perforce and where courtesse is not estéemed compulsion may and shall command The oath I haue made my friend doeth discharge my heart of feare and the hope I haue of victorie bids me rather die then be vanquished so shall I award the reproch of the world and be true to my friend whose safetie I tender as my owne soule Dramusiande at this pause tooke occasion to reply in this manner Sir Knight for two causes I account it honour to vse thée courteously The first is that I greatly pittie the harme which may ensue to an vnuised heade which doth that in a brauerie for a fashion he is glad with bitter teares to bemoane in folly The second cause is that to conquer thée would rather discredite me then any honour were to be gotten by the victory considering thy vnfortunate and miserable estate with the Knightly puissance I shall bestowe on thee Neuerthelesse to charme the proud spéeches thou hast vsed correct the rash behauiour of thy vnstayed wit thou shalt know how I can tamâ— the mallepart bridle those that cannot rule their owne manhood Vpon these words he laid fiercely at Primaleon whose debility rather required quietnesse then such extreame strokes as hee must néedes suffer neuerthelesse hee employed himselfe to such nimble defence as his weary trauayle would permit him which mooued a great compassion in the minde of Dramusiande to sée the weakenesse of the body not agrée with the inuincible courage of the heart would not for any thing haue slaine him as very easily he might haue done but that hee once more would vse perswasioÌ„ which he discharged after this order Sir Knight thou maist sée I refuse the fight more for the griefe I sustaine in thy hurt then any feare I haue of thée to doe me harme in token whereof I set thée at libertie as one more willing to doe thée good theÌ„ any desire I haue to bereaue thée of life But if thou once more refuse my courtesie and desperately séeke thine owne destruction I promise thee that neither mercy may asswage my rygour nor any meane beside shall withhold me from reuenge for that he which is carelesse of his owâ—e life it were great pitie but he should loose it Primaleon casting his eyes vpon his armour which he perceiued al broken battered in pieces as also bathed in the blood which issued froÌ„ his wounds then calling to remembrance his Lady Gridonia whose heart might hardly brooke to heare any mischance of her best beloued walked a little by himselfe vsing these silent cogitatioÌ„s Madame behold the last day of our heauy departure my last farewell sent you in teares with a bléeding heart subiect to mine enemy whom I striue to conquere and yet rather desire the death then lose the honor of my name I know our next assault is the last Tragedie of my time which I must not refuse if I loue my friend and yet should forsake remembring your losse Wel hard is the hap wheÌ„ Fortune hath determined all to extremitie which if I should séeke to shunne would iustly repay me with deserued shame O famous Emperor and my renowned father whose thoughts are as far from my heauy case as my troubled heart is void of any comfort yet let this iust perswasion cut off the griefe you may sustaine that I liues for my friend whose fréedome was my felicity and now die for my fréend whose thraldome is my misery which I desire to finish ere I will shrinke one iot in the honour of knighthood Albeit the losse of my blood ouerchargeth mee with faintnesse and my long continuance in fight oppresseth me with wearines yet shall it neuer be reported Primaleon turned backe forgetting bounty or left the â—ield for one hauing already conquered twaine for the ioy I conceiue in finding my chiefest friend biddeth me die ere I leaue him so shall hee trie if I loue him And thinke not deare father nor my swéete Gridonâ—ia that I forget the duetie which law of nature willeth me to beare you or that I desperately run on mine owne death to increase your sorrowe and continuall mones But thinke as I haue ventured vpon
the honour of your loue so the estimation of my friend at this time commaunds mee to hazard my life Wherein I swerue not from you in obedience nor from my friend in amitie This pause had so hartened the noble Primaleon that he ran couragiously vpon Dramusiande with these words Defend thy selfe for either will I win what I haue promised or leaue my life as a gage in thy presence Whereupon they fell very fiercely to combate againe which made Dramusiande to muse to sée the noble courage of Primaleon the weake defence hée had for himselfe who at last through extreame faintnesse fell to the ground as though hée had beene quite bereaued of life which caused Dramusiande to beare him into the Chamber of Don Edoard coÌ„maunding his Chirurgions and Phisitions to vse great care and diligence in sauing his life if it might bée possible because hée was greatly affected to saue the life of such couragious Knights Don Edoard was very pensiue for the great daunger of Primaleon of whose health hee was no lesse carefull then hee had béene venterous to purchase his deliuerie And when he was somwhat receuered they had knowledge by Eutropa what great friendship and good will they should both of them in time to come sustaine at the handes of her nephew Dramusiande which should make a double amends for all mischances that had happened Thus leaue we Dramusiande vsing all meanes he might for the health of Primaleon as also the recouery of Pandare and Alligan whom at last he had brought to good constitution of body to his ioy and great comfort of the two faythfull Princes who liued loued and reioycâ—d in each others friendly company CHAP. XI How the Emperor of Constantinople made the noble young Prince Palmerin Knight with diuers other yong Princes and Lords that were in his Court whom hee honourably made Knight at Armes PPalmerin remaining long time with his father beloued of euery one for his princely behauiour and estéemed with the best through his gentle nature grew vnto such ripenesse of age that he greatly desired the order of Knighthood but the feare to loose the seruice of his Lady and Mystresse Polinarda to whom he had not only vowed the duty of his heart but the whole course of his life in Knightly aduentures withdrewe his minde from so bold an enterprise And shee likewise was ioyned with him in equal affection but that modestie caused her to couer it and maydenly demeanour did moue her to conceale it for that shée would not rashly run into the suspition of those who frame their whole endeuour to the reproach of Ladies neither regarding theyr honor nor theyr owne honestie The Emperor remayned somewhat pensiue for his two Sonnes seeing neuer a Knight returned that departed in theyr search which caused him to remember the Lady of the Lake and to comfort himselfe somwhat in her tydings as concerning the young Prince Palmerin by whose meanes he had good hope to vnderstand their estate albeit affection would hardly permit him that he should trauaile Wherefore he being willing to content his subiects who stood in doubt of their gouernment after the Emperours decease hée caused a Tryumph to bee proclaymed wherein hee would trie if the towardly beginning of Palmerin would encourage his minde to expect any good successe Vpon this determination he willed all the young Knights who should be Deâ—endants against the other Knights of his Court to bee readie prepared against the Easter holy daies so that the rumor of this famous triumph caused many Scaffoldes and Galleries by the Emperours consent to be built round about the Tiltyard which reioyced the Citizens that theyr long time of sorrowe should now obtatine a generall consent of established pleasure The knights marched in very gallant order before the Emperour of the Chappell where after diuine Seruice was accomplished he returned to his Pallace to make the young Prince Palmerin night Where first the Emperour embraced the noble young Prince then Frisol King of Hungaria fastened the spurre on his héele and the faire Polinarda by commandement of the Emperour did gird his sword about him Which gaue such an encouragement to the valiant Palmerin that for her sake he attempted such rare aduentures as increased the honor of his Fame and noblenesse of her beautie Then were the other young noble Gentlemen called forth to receiue likewise the order of knighthood As first Gracian Prince of France Nephew to the Emperor and sonne to the King Arnedes Berold Prince of Spaine and Sonne to the puissant King Reciende with Onistalde and Dramian his two brethren Estrellant son to king Frisol of Hungaria Don Rosuell Bellizart the sonne of Bellar Bazilland sonne to king Tarnaes Luyman of BurgoÌ„dy the sonne of Duke Tryole Francian who was so expert in musicke sonne to Polendos king of Thessaly and the faire Francelina Polinarda sonne to the Emperor Trineus and brother to the Prince Vernar Adrian the sonne of Maiortes Germaine sonne to the Duke of Orleance Attenebrant son to the Duke Tirendos Attremoran sonne to the Duke Lecefin Frisol son to the Duke Drapos of Normandie Nephew to king Frisol beside many other who were brought vp in the Emperours Court being some of them well nurtured in vertuous educations which are chiefest required either in Princes or Noble mens children by which both their owne Fame is increased and a continuall renowne left to all their posteritie King Frisol by the Emperours commandement to all these gaue orders of knighthood as also to Florendos and Flatir both sonnes to the renowned Primaleon These matters thus dispatched they went vp into the Hall which was very sumptuously adorned with cloathes of Gold where euery Knight was placed at dinner according to their estate and noblenesse of birth The dinner ended and the Tables withdrawne the Emperor with the Empresse the Princesse Gridonia and the faire Polynarda walked to the place where they should beholde the Tryumphes And the knights hauing euery one appointed himselfe as the exercise required came râ—â—ing very brauely into the Tilt yard of whom Palmerin was chosen chiefe Defendant which what did stomacke the fonnes of Primaleon till perceiuing the whole day was ordained in his honour which mooued them to quietnesse submitting themselues vnder his puissance to shew their Prowesse and magnanimitie CHAP. XII How the Noble and couragious yong Knights beganne the Tornament each one behauing himselfe very valiantly And how two Knights arriued there among them attired in greene Armor who behaued themselues brauely in the presence of the Emperour THe Knights being all entred within the Lists and the Trumpets sounded to begin the triumph Palmerin who was appointed to begin the first Iust gaue curtesie to his Lady Polinarda and to himselfe thus opened his present thoughs My good Lady whose beautie is the prize that allureth me to the field whose curtesie is the honour I striue to attaine let but your fauour remaine assured and I dare warrant my selfe
charged each other with such pollitique behauiour in their fight that it was maruellous to heare what commendations were generally giuen When they had well wearied themselues on Horsebacke they alighted and endeuored to endanger each other with such rigorous blowes that it was thought the Combat would not long last ere one of them were slaine For their shéelds were shiuered all in péeces their Armour so broken that the blood trickled downe their sides then fell they to wrastling one with another their gripes made the blood to issue foorth aboundantly yet neither had the aduantage of the other in strength but both so equall that it could not be iudged who was likest of victorie The Princesse Flerida gréeuing at their great effusion of blood departed in such heauinesse as if she had known it to be the blood of her sonnes that was so cruelly spilt The king with all his Courtly attendaunts was stroken into such a maze when he saw them take their swords againe that he thought the flower of all Chiualrie was there present before him and was in great heauinesso for that they would not giue ouer by no meanes The knight of the Sauage man séeing himselfe destitute of Sword sheeld and Armour began somewhat to feare that his life would stand in great hazard but yet he contented himselfe that if as then his death were ordained he should sustaine the lesse reproch in that a knight of such honour had giuen him the ouerthrow wherefore at a pause he thus began Why should I discourage my selfe at the death séeing I shall depart in the flower and prime of mine age and end my dayes at his hande who is onely estéemed for good Fortune Yet the oath I haue made to the Princesse Flerida with the great duty I find in my selfe as her desert constrains mée to wish a longer time if it might be as well to exalt her honour as to trie the aduenture which hath endamaged so many good knights whereto I did euer bend mine affection as the onely enterprise in all my life to win me renowne But séeing I am falne into so great mishap as both Fortune doth deny me and mine owne manhood faile me I will yet so behaue my selfe vpon mine enemy as when he hath woon the vttermost he shall not boast of his Conquest and such a writ will I deliuer him to seale as I hope shall craue no other signet but his heart blood In like manner the knight of Fortune stood debating with himselfe as well vpon his present danger as also his passed dollour not forgetting his Ladie and Mistresse Polinarda to whom as had she bene present he began this complaint Madame behold now the time wherein your anger doth kill me and your fauour reuiue me which except you will beare the cruell mind to worke my Tragedy restore in wonted clemencie the encouragement of my haplesse labours which since it lyeth in your handes cast a friendly looke on the man that in all extremities is none but yours onely If you deny me this small request neither shall I aduenture the enterprises of great Brittaine nor doe that honour to you which my heart hath euer desired so shall the flower of Chiualrie remaine in their great misfortune and you through your obstinacie accounted the losse of them all This knight hath put mee in more danger then euer did any yet neither of vs both enioyeth the Conquest and if the infortunate death returne to my share I shall thinke my selfe honourably failed at his handes but my poore heart cruelly martyred through your hard dealing Then fell they to the Combate againe not able to charge one another so fiercely as at the first yet labouring earnestly to end their strife one way or other which mooued the king to discend accompanied with his Knights and fearing the losse of theyr liues sought to set them at vnitie But such was their desire of victorie and so couragious their mindes in middest of most doubt that the King was faine to returne because they would giue no eare to his perswasion Then went hee to the Chamber of the Princesse Flerida where in this manner he began to vse his spéech Fayre Daughter if my noble Sonne Don Edward your Lord be liuing and that he may be deliuered by the valour of any earthly creature I perswade my selfe that one of these Knights shall be the meane to relieue his aduerse estate But if in this Combate as I greatly feare they shall ende their liues vpon this hautie attempt then farewell all hope that I euer reposed for both you shall lose him and my selfe shall euer lacke him where by them I might assure my selfe both to heare of my Sonne and enioy him in my Court in his woonted estate againe Wherefore if you beare such loue to him as you haue alway protested and fauour me in this my earnest desire vouchsafe the paines to walke vnto them for that one word of of your mouth wil enfore them leaue the combate so shall you possesse what you haue long wished and I be honoured in so great a courtesie The Princesse who since the absence of her Lord had seldome come abroad but alway kept her Chamber in her wonted lamentations at the request of the aged king came walking downe with him and foure Damosels attired all in blacke attending on her her selfe apparrelled in the same manner sauing that the vaile on her head shadowed all her face so that none could haue full view to behold her beautie When she was entred the place of the Iust to the great amazement of all that were present she came to the Knight of Fortune and tooke him by the arme with these words Sir knight if either you make account of the honour of Ladies or will manifest in your déedes that you owe them any duty then at my request I intreate you to leaue off the Combate as well to auoyd the hazard of your liues as to content this noble company who are satisfied with your famous exployts The knight of Fortune wel eying the Princesse and perceiuing her to resemble the countenance of his faire Polinarda he humbled himselfe on his knée with these words Faire Lady my desire hath bene greatly bent to end this Combate and to render this Knight the victory as he hath well deserued but séeing you haue charged me with such a curteous command I rather desire the death then to yéeld any deny all Sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man if I should report the estimation I haue of your knighthood with the forceable charges I haue receiued at your hands I might say that iustly which you haue rightly deserued you are the onely knight to whom I will grant my Conquest But séeing you haue made grant to her whom in duty I must alway reuence and that her intreaty hath moued you to end our debate if I should contrary what she and you haue appointed I might worthily be reproched among all knights much more
noble Palmerin Then Siluian being not fully resolued what he were best to do tooke his way strait to great Brittaine where arriuing at the Castle of the Giant Dramusiande who entertained him with kinde and louing courtesie he discouered to him the losse of his Lord when presently Dramusiande clapping his armor on his backe promised neuer to returne vnto his Castle without he might attaine the good recouery of the famous Prince Siluian seeing the affection of the Giant to be so great to his masters welfare as himselfe could wish presented himselfe to serue him as his Esquire till he might be so happy as to finde the Prince againe thus leaue we them to the good fortune of their trauaile Returne we now to the noble Palmerin of England who enduring the sharpe brunts on the Seas too long as he thought at last the ship staying at the side of a Rocke where the Sea had left an Iland which was vnhabited and there he forsooke the ship being very glad that he had gained the shore Leauing the Sea side he betooke himselfe to trauaile in a little path right before him which in a little while brought him into a faire gréene Meddow in the middest whereof was placed a Marble Stone of the height of a man with an inscription vppon it Take heede thou goe this way no further When he had read this Posey the Stone being placed there as he supposed to cause all Passengers be afraide they knew not of what his minde was greatly moued to sée the end of this accident and being accompanied continually with a hauty courage he went on taking great pleasure to behold the high Rocks and the greene Trées which spread their boughs so brauely ouer the path as he went Palmerin séeing no aduenture would happen all this while the Marble Pillar giuing such a terrifying manner of words went on still without any feare till at last he was be nighted when laying him downe in the grasse to take his rest he made his Helmet his Pillow and so determined to sléepe there for that night But such were the motions in his mind that the more he thought to take quiet rest the farther off he was from his intent For one while the remembrance of his fayre Polinarda presented it selfe as best worthy his memory because hée had béene so long absent from her yet durst not enterprise to come into her presence and thē the losse of Siluian whose counsell alway serued as an especial remedy to his amorous assaults and wanting his company now in this heauy case hee was forced to vtter diuers and sundry complaints Thus spent hée all that night in a Courtly debate betwéene reason his earnest desire the one to perswade him from that dangerous kinde of trauaile and to exclude from his mind the fond allarmes giuen by his fancy the other how continually it wrapped him in an intricate or endlesse vexation of his sences But as often we sée Reason is subiect to the amorous Desire so the prince not able to resist the aspiring drifts of his eger passions resigned both his will and wit to follow the loue and amitie he had begun to his Lady and Mistresse When hée had wasted the night in this small order of rest the chéerefull morning deliuered her faire countenance he went on still musing on the wordes he had read vpon the Pillar which he estéemed to be flat mockage because he could perceiue nothing that deserued such a forewarning But as he trauailed in a faire plaine field still vsing his minde with his former exercises hée came to a Fountaine of singular beautie the Pillars whereof was of fine wrought Azure the water issuing forth at the mouthes of diuers beasts very artificially made The Prince standing a good while in a muse at this Fountaine how so much water should ascend vp such a high Mountaine and why such a faire thing should stand in such a vacant place could not readily thinke with himselfe what he might iudge thereon for at the lower end of the aforesaid Pillars lay two cruell Tygers and two fierce Lions who as hée supposed kept Passengers that they should not drinke at this Fountaine This strange sight made him somewhat abashed and to stand in feare that it was some Enchantment practised to get him into some present danger because the beastes behaued themselues in such order as though they might easily be brought vnder subiectiō of the chaine which was of such bignes as was requisite to holde such furious beastes yet were they tyed at such shortnesse that they had very litle scope of walking Palmerin knew it was néedles to aske leaue to drinke at this Fountaine of those that had no reasō to make him answer albeit they were too strong in force to offer him resistance wherefore he attempted to try the friendlinesse of Fortune and to put his life in hazard vpon this aduenture Then aduancing himselfe to taste of the water vpon one of the Pillars in letters of Gold was engraued these words Behold here the Fountaine of the wished water And going a little farther he espied an other which was thus He that hath the courage to drinke of this Fountaine shall bring to ende any enterprise that belongeth to the aduancement of Honour and Fame so that he shall accomplish as much as may be comprehēded in the strength or prowesse of a man But ouer against it was written these words Passe and drinke not This made the Prince not a little astonied in that as the one gaue him encouragement to approach the fountaine so the other stood in the way to hinder his determination But yet he concluded to try the aduenture in that he iudged it was impossible to méete with an occasion of more hautie enterprise CHAP. LVII How Palmerin encouraged at this rare aduenture entred the sight against the Beasts that kept the Fountaine and at last albeit with great danger he vanquished them all then approched to drinke of the water Also when he departed from thence he arriued at a Castle whereon he sawe foure Shields placed and being vrged by the Poesies hee sawe written on them to try the ende of this vnlooked for accident hee entred the Combate against foure knights that came forth of the Castle whereof he slew three and saued the life of the fourth to discouer to him the ende of this strange aduenture MAny were the doubtes the Prince conceiued in his minde as concerning what might happen by this gorgeous spectacle because the poesies were placed in such vncertaine manner that he verilie supposed it was but some trappe or secret fetch to allure him to venture on his owne destruction Wherfore hee determined to depart from thence and not meddle with the Beasts because he saw their faire shew of gentlenesse was but onely to haue him approch the Fountaine When he had walked a little way from thence he began to accuse and blame himself that either seare should cause him
behâ—ld it but more griefe to him that hee had the patience to abide it For now he verily thought to consumate his daies and that the vexation of his life should end by this supportable meane which made him that he would not let go the Cup but kept it so constantly that euery one thought there was no remedy but death Trust me said the Damosell the vnfained loue of so true a knight deserueth not to be rewarded with so sharp a recoÌ„pence and with these words she offered to take the Cup from him but he gaue backe answering her thus Faire Ladie I desire you to suffer me abide the doome which my mishap hath alway ordeined for me and wherein I may end the troubles that are incident to a mourning and continual dispairing life The Emperor not able to abide so great crueltie executed in his presence arose caught the cup from him which was immediatly quenched as though it had neuer bin so violent whereat he receiued no small cause of amazemen Then the prince Florendos albeit he was weake yet desirous to be partner in constancy with the Knight of the Dragon receiued the Cuppe from the hand of the Emperour when presently the rigour that the Princes Miragarda vsed towards him caused him to suffer the selfe same torment as did the noble Prince Palmerin For the flame which arose out of the cup had so inuironed the body of the prince that he was séene sighing and lamenting in the midst thereof which mooued all the Ladies to shed aboundance of teares and to vse many extreame words against the cruelty of Miragarda which Florendos though he were in the midst of the flame could hardly suffer to hear her blamed for whose sake he was ready to make a sacrifice of himselfe The Emperor séeing many meanes applied to quench the flame yet none of them all had the power to preuaile put himselfe in the midst thereof and tooke the Cup from Florendos thinking that then it would presently bequenched but all their labor was to no effect for the flame continued about him as it did before The Empresse Gridonia with al the ladâ—es and knights fell into such rufull complaints that it was maruailous to heare the noyse that was made at which grieuous spectacle Polendos the king of Thessalie came to the Damosell of Thrace with these words I desire you faire Lady séeing you haue found the thing you sought for that you would vouchsafe the courtesie to succour the dangerous case of the Prince Florendos I am so agrieued quoth the damosel at this great tumult which is made wherein they wil not vouchsafe to heare me that I know not what to say but doe you giue order to appease this murmuring I wil work the meane to deliuer the Prince from danger By the Emperours commaundement the disturbance was quieted when the Damosell presented her selfe before the Emperor saying I aduertise you most dread and gratious Emperor that the adueÌ„ture of the Cup is already past and finished but the flame which doth compasse the prince Florendos can no way be extinguished but only by the vertue that consisteth in the teares which by the hand of the Knight who hath ended the Enchantment of the Cup must be sprinckled on the flame wherein he is enclosed and then I dare assure you the prince shall be brought into his former estate For the fire being ingendred by such a cruell woman as he loueth cannot be any way quenched but onely by the teares of such a pitiful Lady as was this constant and faithfull Brandisia Then she deliuered the Cup to the Knight of the Dragon who put his fingers therin and sprinckled a few of the teares vpon Florendos when presently the fire vanished away leauing Florendos whom all men thought verily to be dead aliue and in good estate to the great content of the Emperour and all the company CHAP. XCIII Of another aduenture that happened in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin and of that which after followed FLorendos being thus happily deliuered to the great ioy of the Courtty company wished that she who intreated his faithful Loue with so great cruelty had béene in place when she might haue séene the triall of his inuiolate faith The Emperor being desirous to know the Knight whose spotlesse loyaltie had ended this Enchantment but misdoubting that it was yâ— noble Palmerin of England desired very earnestly that he would make himselfe knowne vnto him when Palmerin putting his hand to his Helmet to discouer himselfe he was hindered by the aduenture which hereafter followeth On a sudden there entred the Hal a Lady accompanied with three mighty and ougly Giants whose Armour was of on colour and fashion their Helmets being carried after them by thrée men so that their swart and euill fauoured faces caused the Ladies to tremble as also many of the Knightes to change their colour These proud and stately Giants thronged through the middest of the Knightes aduancing themselues before the Emperour without shewing any courtesie or reuerence where they stayed for that the Damosell had in charge to declare who séeing so great Nobilitie about the Emperour was somewhat offended yet notwithstanding she seased her fury and began in this order I perceiue right noble Emperour that the renowne which is blazed all the world our of your Princely Court is too little respecting the honourable company I see at this present which vrgeth me to enter into due land therof as it hath rightly iustly deserueth so that I am of the opinion you might subdue gouern the whole world if you would distribute your force which as I iudge is no way able to be matched But yet fortune who in all your affaires hath hitherto prospered you may now vngently as enuious at your long quiet peaceable felicity turne her backe towards you so suddenly in her fury ouerturne your good Fortune that the glory you haue gained in the prime of your yeeres may now be defaced when your aged estate forbiddeth you to follow the trauaile of Armes and your long happinesse vnwilling to enter the warres wherewith I come to summon you from the Soldane of Persia principal Captaine of the Law of Mahomet as also from the great Turk and yâ— noble Gouernours of the CouÌ„trey belonging to the Soldane of Babilon named Albayzar who in strange aduentures hath put himselfe to make triall of his valour vpon hope of long expected good Fortune From all these before named I am to let you vnderstand that when time was there were certaine Heathen Princes here slaine before the walls of Constantinople whose death hath vrged them to great impatience and to séeke reuenge for the great wrong you haue offered them But the Gods the protectors and defendor of your welfare fauouring you beyond their expectation haue heretofore hindred the determination of these Princes for when they were prepared to the ruine of your kingdomes and vtterly to race out your fame
his friends and companions The Quéene Carmelia sent a Coach to the Castle wherein the Princesse Leonarda was brought to the Pallace of her Vnckle who receiued her as became her high estate and dignity and the Prince Palmerin likewise they vsed great honour and Princely obeysance but when he came to the Camber he found there Siluian who was not a little glad to sée his Lord so sauely returned CHAP. CI. Of that which Palmerin did while he remaineded in the Court of Thrace NOw at the request of the Quéen Carmelia Palmerin granted to stay in the court of Thrace for eight dayes in which time the Lords to fulfill the commandement of their deceassed King went to the Camber of the Queene Carmelia in whose presence they charged the Duke Rialdo to giue the English Prince to vnderstand what their King Sardamant had commanded to be fulfilled On this they all came to the Princes Chamber where they found him talking with Siluian as concerning his speedy departure from thence which they knewe he had appointed as the next day following but they making themselues ignorant therof at last the Duke Rialdo entred into these spéeches My Lord as I thinke you haue not forgotten what commandement our deceassed king Sardamant left to be performed in the marriage of the Princesse Leonarda his Néece So it is that willing to accomplish his straight and heauie charge as also not to suffer such a noble Prince who hath merited so graciously to be ingratefully recompenced likewise on our parts that we cannot esteeme for ourselues a more happy felicity then such a King to rule vs whose déeds rightly deserue to be Monarch of the whole world these causes considered and nominated we humbly desire you to accept your owne by right and our dutie to sée faithfully accomplished which is to be our gratious King and Seueraigne so that our happy and tranquill estate remaine feared of the stranger and beloued of our friends and neighbours Except the increase of wealth doe alter the noble mind which had alwaies hitherto continued vpright as to some it happeneth but falling into so great mishap your estimation would be the lesse accounted of So that the honourable pains you haue bestowed to restore vs the princesse Leonarda our Queene should be blotted with such obliuous reports as though they had béene neuer séene or done I assure you Sir answered Palmerin the refuse which I make to accept a reward so happie and fortunate is onely because I verily iudge the Princesse Leonarda ought to be kept for such a one as may better my estate in wealth and worthinesse The Damosel of Thrace who had brought him thither standing by and hearing the answere he made came vnto him in this manner Sir Palmerin I know right well that loue hindreth you to enioy what your déeds hath deserued and causeth you to muse on such a one as peraduēture thinketh not so well of you which is the onely cause that you refuse the recompence of your honorable and famous labours The words of the Damosell séemed very reason able to the Duke and his company but séeing they could obtaine no other answere of Palmerin they returned againe to the Quéene Carmelia concluding that he should giue a noble Lord to enioy the Princessé Leonarda according as the King Sardamant had so ordained whereto Palmerin gladly agréed saying I account this honour worthy Gentlemen the greatest that euer fortune could sent me in suffering your Princesse to ioyne in Marriage according to my minde and therefore thus assure yourselues that I shall bestew such a Prince vpon her as both she and you shall be contented to receiue The Lords of Thrace gaue him very harty thankes reporting his answere to the Queene Carmelia who made such acceptation thereof as it worthily deserued but Leonarda was somewhat offended and would haue fallen into anger had not the Damosell of Thrace vsed these words vnto her Faire Princesse me thinkes you should not thinke so ill of the constant faith and loyaltie of the Prince Palmerin who wil kéepe his vowe he hath made to her which perhaps is nothing inferior to you in beauty and wealth and this I can assure you that Palmerin hath a brother a Prince so saire and vertuous in all his déedes as if he ioyne you in marriage with him I know you will gladly held your selfe content The Damosell vsed her perswasions so well that the Princesse Leonarda was very well pleased of whom Palmerin tooke his leaue that night because he would be gone somewhat early in the morning which the Quéene Carmelia seeing she tooke him aside and thus charged him I pray you Sir to remember my Couzin Leonarda and to send her such a Lord as her birth and worthinesse hath continually deserued And if you thinke it good that I might cause her to be brought to the Court of the Emperour Palmerin I should estéeme it the greatest honour that in all my life time might happen vnto me For that I perswade me he would so wel entertaine her as the faire Polinarda who is his Néece with whom she would likewise greatly delight her selfe Furthermore because all the chiefe knights of the world be at the Court of Constantinople I would gladly this kingdome should be ruled by such a Prince as hath bin trained vp by that famous Emperour Madame saide Palmerin I assure you the Emperour will estéeme this honour highly and entertaine her according as she doeth deserue therefore I wish you to send her so soone as may be because the sooner she commeth the better shall she be welcome I pray you quoth the Quéene how estéeme you of the Damosell that brought the Cup thither Truely answered Palmerin I know no one so conuenient by reason of the good spirit and wit she hath which doeth greatly grace her in reporting her message Presently the Quéene called for the Damosell giuing her to vnderstand what was determined Wherevpon there were letters of credit made for her which done Palmerin tooke leaue of the Quéene and the Princesse Leonarda being accompanied with most of the nobles foorth of the Citie where after many circumstances of friendly departing they left him and returned againe to the Citie Palmerin being very well armed still vsing his Shield to be called the Knight of the Tiger trauailed on in his iourney accompanied with Siluian yéelding his body to trauaile and his heart to his Lady and Mistresse as in the second part you shall sée very gallantly discoursed FINIS THus Gentlemen you haue heard the first part of our English Princes labors wherin if you find the Translation altered or the true sence in some place of a matter impaired let this excuse answere his default in that case A worke so large is sufficient to tire so simple a workeman as himselfe and beside the Printer may in some place let an error escape So betweene these two reasons let the Author passe vncontrowled which will hasten him the sooner to send
to it the walles whereof was round about decked with costly pictures of ladies manifesting most rare and singular beauty they being all in such rich Robes and deuises of apparell as one would haue iudged them liuing creatures such was the rare inuention of erte bestowed on these Images of Goddesses and diuers other beautifull Ladies The Princes gazing on these delicate figures attributed to them maruellous commendation wishing that their ladies were there present to sée such braue and sumptuous monumēts and they iudged that the sight of these beautifull Pictures did as well content their eyes as though they had séene their best beloued Ladies being the bett rupt in minde of them by these séemely shadowes All along one part of this chamber was the portraits of such kings and Queenes as liued in the time of this Sage Magitian Vrganda her owne picture likewise being in the middest of thē she sitting in a chaire of gold hauing her booke lying before her wheron she made semblance as though she read On the right side of her counterfeit was placed Oriana the daughter of king Lisuart king of great Brittaine and on the other side was Briolania the Quéene of Sobradisa then Leonorina the Princesse of Constantinople and with her the two faire princesses Melicia and Olenda each of them hauing their names impozed vnder them in letters of gold And such was the rare beauty of these ladies which I haue here named as not one of thē was etalted aboue the other but all of them equall together which maketh me to think that they which raigned had the cōmendation of beautie in the time of the valiant King Amadis had worthily the praise is vsed of them and their knights gained immortall renowne in aduenturing for them In another place was to be séen Yseul the faire Geneuera the Quéene to king Arthur and friend to sir Launcelot du Lake Yseul with the white hands was accompanied with many beautiful ladies which somtime florished in great Brittaine and of her Bracando was studious to leaue most worthy report because she was highly estéemed of him In another place stood the Empresse Polinarda and Agriola the Empresse of Allemain Gridonia Flerida and Francelina figured so néere their iust proportions as there wanted nothing but life it selfe all of them worthy high praise for their delicate swéete faces but Flerida was supposed to excéed them all In another place of the Chamber was placed their shaddowes who in the court of the Emperor of Greece caused many knights to take aduenturous trauails on them the first was Polinarda the Daughter of the vertuous and magnanimous prince Primaleon accōpanied with the faire Miragarda Leonarda the princesse of Thrace Altea Sidelia daughter to the king Tarnaes of Lacedemonia Arnalte the princesse of Nauarre as chiefest of these was placed the Princesse Polinarda who séemed in beauty to be aduantaged aboue the other And there was the prince Florendos pointed to sée if fortune wold respect him any more in that place and to speake indifferently such was the workmanship bestowed like wise on Miragarda as one could hardly iudge whether Polinarda did excell her or no. Oriana and Briolania were of such equalitie together as it would haue tried a sharpe wit to say which of thē was fairest but yet the portrait of the faire Oriana was set forth with more shew of grauity as wel beséemed the daughter of such a famous king assuring you that her ciuill and gratious countenance was able to haue woone the victory of the precisest eye But what if vpon these beautifull motions each one of these knights should haue fallen from affecting his best beloued for I promise you that nether Oriana Briolania Polinarda Flerida nor Miragarda was not to be cōpared to Yseul the faire yet notwithstanding no one of them could be moued to that opinion for each of them was so deceitfull in regard to his Saint as all other beside did but offend their eyes For thus they perswaded themselues that true and faithfull hope being grounded in the heart and firmely fixed in the eyes of any man could not be remoued by any sinister occasion in that their thoughts were setled and their liking satisfied but they that are changed with euery countenance and euery face liketh them but none contenteth them they are such recreants from Loue as they are not worthy to come within his court The Princes commended the beauty of Yseul as it worthily descrued but yet they thought their owne Ladies fairer then she and so they stood maruailing at these delectable inuentions whereon they could not gaze sufficient their desires were coursing in such an endlesse Laborinth Beyond them all the Prince Palmerin was rauished in affection séeing the counterfeite of her that did so much torment him she being attired in the same manner as she was when he took his farewell of her whereupon he fell into such an arrogant conceite as though it were his Lady Polinarda indéed and fearing he had moued her to any offence he began in this manner to speake to the Picture Madame I know you are she who onely hath the power to command me but what profite do I receiue in vsing such spéeches to her who maketh her selfe deafe and will not heare me And yet do I couet y◠you would but respect my words which fauour would but strengthen my loue and lengthen my life But I sée wel madam you make no accoūt of the words which may and can preuent my vnhappy destinie wherefore by how much I vtter them to my great detriment and grief by so much the sooner shall I knit vp my small lamentations and this I assure you that I am he who onely liues to die for your sake Platir vsed the like language towards Sidelia the Daughter to king Tarnaes of Lacedemonia to whom he was shortly after espoused Berolde the Prince of Spaine finding not his Lady and Mistres in this place failed not to praise her as though she had bene in presence for it is the custome of a true and faithfull louer who delighteth in her he made his choise of whether she be absent or present yet to commend extoll his only felicitie and so did the Prince Berolde thinke it a great iniurie that any should commend their Ladies aboue his best beloued Onistalda who in sooth did well deserue her place among the other And if the Sage Vrganda forgot to place her in her Study it was for no other occasion then because the place was so furnished with them who were esteemed the most soueraigne in beautie through the whole world When they had sufficiently contented their eyes with these braue showes the Sage Aliart spake vnto them in this manner I perceiue my Lordes that these images haue depriued you of naturall vnderstanding in that they cause you to forget them whom your duty commandeth you to vse with honour wherefore I pray you doe not séeme so fond in praysing these figures
to you as he was to the Princesse Targiana You must not thinke so for their loue as it was then was not to be allowed among persons of honour and that which made him so ready to thinke well on her was for no other occasion but that he might finde the meanes to get out of the hands of the great Turke her Father and from that Court he could neuer haue escaped had it not béene by the aide of the princesse Targiana so that to satisfie her will helpe his own necessity he made himselfe so hardy to bring her into Greece where being arriued he left her knowing that it was no honorable signe that a christian Knight should make loue to an Infidell Moore Now therfore it is not for you to ground your iudgement on that which is done and past for that your beauty farre excelleth the blacke hew of the Princesse Targiana and you being accounted as one of the most renowned Ladies through the whole world must iudge thus with your selfe that he will not a little boast of his good fortune being entertained into your gratious seruice And on my word you may assuredly build the Knight of the Sauage man is onely yours and he would not follow the aduentures he hath enterprised but onely in hope to gaine your fauourable acceptation wherefore I pray you let the consideration of that I haue spoken cause you to forsake the conceit you haue of my Couzin Madame answered Leonarda you haue woon such power ouer me by your friendly words as I am forced to forget my former imaginations but yet it is to be doubted that your Couzin will be inueigled séeing be hath the conducting of so many Ladies through the Realme of Spaine Good swéete Lady saide Polinarda I pray you let not your spirits be troubled with these suspitious passions for your Knight is not of so weake iudgement as any other should make him to forget you for such aduentures happen commonly to trauelling Knights to méet in many places with Ladies and Damoselles the company of whom maketh them to haue the better remembrance of those who ruleth their thoughts by the soueraigntie of loue as for my Couzin I dare giue you my faith that he is none but yours and thereof on my word you may assure your selfe These spéeches that Polinarda vsed did so perswade the yong Princesse of Thrace as she quite forsooke her iealous thoughts which before was caried with so many contraries as there was hardly any place for reason to harbour As it often happeneth to them who play the wantons with the little blind boy of the Goddesse Cytherea CHAP. XXII How the Knight of the Sauage man accompanied with the Damosels arriued in the King of Spaines Court and of that which happened to him there against the Prince Albayzar THe Ambassador from the great Turke staied certaine dayes in the Court of the Emperour in the company of the Prince Polendos who made better account of him there then his entertainement in Turkie deserued and many along looke made the Ambassador waighting the cōming of the Prince Albayzar the Emperour and Primaleon could not sufficiently commend the courtesie of the Princesse Targiana in that her teares ransommed the Christian prisoners foorth of their trouble Here wée must come againe to the Knight of the Sauage man who iournied so spéedily after he had vanquished the foure Knights in the Valley and gotten the Damosels as he arriued in the Citie of Brusia which at this time is called Tolledo where the King Recinde as then made his aboad who was not a little glad when tydings came to him of the libertie of his sonne and the other Knights which were held in captiuitie by the great Turke So seene as Florian was come to the kings Pallace he called his Esquire to him desiring him to goe let the Quéene and her Ladies vnderstand that a strange Knight was come thither who enterprised if her maiestie thought it so conuenient to approue himselfe against the King Recindes Knights The Esquire being acquainted with the will of his Lord presently went into the Pallace where he was brought to the Quéenes Chamber the King himselfe being there for that he had dyned there in the company of the Quéene and her Ladies whom the Esquire beholding iudged them very faire and beautifull marry he found a great difference betwéene them and the Ladies he had seene in the Court of the Emperour Palmerin The Esquire aduancing himselfe into their presence went first and humbled himselfe to the king Recinde then comming to the Quéene he knéeled downe and spake as followeth Madame a strange knight in whose company I came vnto your Court hauing passed thorow your Realme is now desirous to try himselfe in Armes against the Knights of your royall Court for the great desire he had to doe seruice to the King your husband but such is your intent as he procéedeth on the request of certaine Ladies he hath brought in his company which preuaileth so much with this good knight as if your Maiestie so accept of it he would venture the Ioust with the Knights of your Court who wil maintaine the beauty of their Ladies to excell them he hath brought with him And that he might procéede in his enterprise he rather intended to aske leaue of you then of the King because he knowes he shall not any way offend his excellency The King and the Quéene were verie glad of these newes in that Fortune had sent them the tryall of those matters they most desired which was in a manner very dainty there for that the Emperours Court of Greece carryed such a braue report as all the noble Knights in the world went thither to try their valour Beside if any aduenture were approued in the Realme of Spaine they were altogether done at the Castle of Almaroll so that these two aforenamed places had the generall triall of famous knights The King of Spaine séeing the Quéen returned the Esquire no answer he spake to her in this manner Trust me Madame you ought not to refuse the gentle offer of the knight as wel to satisfie their minds which haue desired to sée such hauty exployts as also to auoyd the secret hard iudgment of your ladies who I am sure would gladly sée y◠courage of their fauoured knights the Quéene mildly returned this answer Since it liketh you so wel my gratious Lord that the request is to be alowed thou mayst Esquire say vnto the knight that the King and I do◠thinke very well of his comming to our Court and that we do◠permit him the libertie of the Ioust against any that will enter the fielde with him whether it be for the Ioust or Combate that is as the occasions shall happen but howsoeuer it be the King alloweth him the fréedome of the fielde and if the Knight desire to resist himselfe hée shall be most hartely welcome then to morrow morning he may put his intent in execution The
imaginations Arlencea who was marnailously affected towards him seeing her companions were all fast asleepe went to the place where the Prince Florian was laid where sitting downe by his side she began to fall into these spéeches It séems to me most worthie knight of the Sauage man that the iniury which I heretofore haue done you doth as yet remain fresh in your memory in that you make no account of her who liueth and dieth onely for your loue And that I speake the truth you may be perfectly resolued in that without regard of mine owne honour I come to séeke you out the cause being this that my intreatie might moue you pittie her who preferreth the loue of none aliue but you which courtesie if you shall seeme to refuse my conceite of griefe will be so extreame as I must needs giue entertainment to my latest enemy who will set both soule and body in quietnesse when you that might haue comfort of both remaine dease and will make no account of me So breaking off she laid her head on the Princes breast fetching so many grieuous sighes and groanes as though the life would haue forsaken her body whereupon the Prince tooke her in his armes and with very amiable speeches though not such as she gladly looked for he began to comfort her thus Madame Arlencea I do not so little esteeme of you that I would willingly consent to doe the thing which should seeme displeasant or offensiue to your honour desiring you to thinke that before I was so much bound to you as now I am I inteÌ„ded to accomplish that which your selâ—e desireth but since the time that your great fauour deliuered me out of the daunger whereinto Alfernao brought me I forsooke altogether the folly of so vaine a humor being loath to reward her so vngently whose courtesie neither time nor death can make me forget And thus perswade your selfe that I haue prouided a husband for you according as your noble bountie doth well deserue yea he is so good a Knight as you will refuse to make choyse of the Knight of the Sauage man whom you may at all times vse as your friend and seruant There pausing he kissed her hand and brought her again to the place where the other Ladies sleyt and he departing againe to his owne lodging she began to be ashamed of her folly noting well the wittie words of the Knight of the Sauage man for whose loue she was so extreamely passioned as she was coÌ„strained to discouer the flame that did so torment her to one of her Damoselles the very same that gaue the fatall ring to the prince To her she ripped vp her whole discourse of the words which had passed that night desiring her earnestly with the teares trickling down her chéekes that she would giue her such assistance as she might enioy the loue of the Knight of the Sauage man the Damosell answered her Lady thus Trust me Madame you haue not any occasion to finde your selfe agréeued for by good reason the Knight ought not to satisfie your will in that such a Prince as he is ought not to trauell himselfe for Damoselles and then to receiue shame and dishonour by them but yet to content your minde and because you thinke me willing to doe you what pleasure I can I will goe to the knight and vse such friendly perswasions with him as I will vnderstand the depth of his intent Arlencea imbraced the Damosell for this genile answere and spake to her againe in this manner I know well my swéete wench that if I shall haue any remedie in this case I must enioy it by thy meanes wherefore I pray thée goe and fortune be with thée But if it come so to passe as neither perswasion nor any thing else will mooue him to loue me I pray thee intreate him that he would pardon the fault I committed in disturbing him of his quiet ease Madame said the Damosell repose yourselfe altogether on me and so she went to the Knight of the Sauage man whom she found in a slumber when sitting downe by him she began in this manner Me thinkes that he which enforceth Ladies to liue in sorrow because he wil vse no more regard vnto them ought not so easily to take his rest The Knight of the Sauage man hearing the voyce of a woman opened his eyes and séeing it was not Arlencea but the Damosell whom he loued best amongst them all he beganne friendly to embrace her giuing her better words then he did to the Giantesse her Lady whervpon the Damosell beganne to him thus againe Syr Knight I desire that you would vouchsafe to tell me what is the cause you make no more account of my Ladies loue séeing she hath for your sake forsaken her mother forgotten the cruell murdering her Brother and likewise hath lost the libertie of her selfe Madame answered the prince I feare I shall not haue time enough to discourse the whole matter to you because it is now vpon this point of day wherefore I intend to set Madame Arlencea a part a while and demaund of you for what occasion you haue forgotteÌ„ me séeing I remaine yours in affection since the day that Alfernao deliuered me into the power of your Lady Arlencea I pray you Syr said the Damosel that you would not be offended at my nicenesse all this while it was but onely to auoid the malice of my Lady in her abscence I pray you thinke so wel on me as you may be pleased for my displeasing you and I haue the better will to come to mooue my Ladies sute againe The Knight of the Sauage man hearing her courteous answer and that he might now breake a Launce in the face of Venus he tooke her in his armes but because the day came on apace and they vnwilling that any should sée their secret pleasure I durst not sée what they did for feare I should be shent for my labour CHAP. XXIIII Of that which happened to the Damosels Knight in going to the Castle of Almaroll VPon the point of day breaking the Damosell gaue her Ladie Arlencea to vnderstand the answere of the K. of the Sauage man the prince séeing the Ladies walking came and gaue them all the mornings courtesie afterward when they were all mounted on horseback they beganne to set forward on their iourney and because Arlencea was somewhat mooued with her euill Fortune that night past which the P. perceiued very well he came vnto her and vsed such kinde and gentle language to her as in a while she forgot the cares which had troubled her so much The Prince began to deuise pleasantly with the foure Damosels he woonne in the Forrest and iested with them in such merry conceites as the iourney séemed nothing troublesome vnto them but this pleased not Polyphemia who was the Damosell that Arlencea sent to mooue her sute to the Prince for she thought that shée deserued better countenance at his hands then all the
content to giue thée thy life on condition thou wilt fulfill what I command thée I know no aduenture sayd the Knight so perillous which I would make any account off for sauegard of my life Thou shalt first then quoth the Damosels Knight tell me what and who thou art and afterward thou shalt take one of the Horses whereon thy Esquires rides and take thy way presently to the Court of the King Recinde and there before the Quéene thou shalt say on my behalfe that the Damosels knight who Iousted in their presence against the prince Albayzar saluteth them with his humble duty and desireth such fauour at the kings hands that he will thinke no ill because I made not my selfe knowne to him but thou maist assure his Highnesse that I will not faile to make my selfe knowne at my returne from the Castle of the Giant Almarol And because I may get thither the sooner I will take thy horse in recompence of mine which I haue lost in iousting against thée the knight arose and made this answere Worthy Sir since Fortunes great vnkindes hath brought me iato this extremitie I shall not faile to obey whatsoeuer you commaund me and for my name I am called Trofolant the Feareful of whom you haue heard sometime if you remember Very true quoth the damosels knight but I pray you not to make me knowne in any case but declare what I haue said to you and so you may now depart on your way to accomplish your promise Then the Prince mounted on Trofolants horse so tooke his leaue of him setting forward on his iourney with the damosels till he came to the end of his pleasant Valley where he leaned himselfe against the stump of a trée because he espied before him thrée knights very richly Armed and one of them cryed aloude to him that he should stay till they came to him The Damosels knight hearing these words would goe no further but staied to heare what they had to say to him When they were come néerer the same knight spake againe in this manner Sir knight I would gladly haue one of the ladies which are in your company wherefore I pray you bestowe her on me to whom you beare most affection your selfe Trust me Sir answered the Damosels knight they doe all like me so well as he which dare be so bolde to take one of them from me I iudge will put his life in great daunger My fancy saide the second knight doth best estéeme her that excéedeth them all in stature meaning Arlencea And I will content my selfe quoth the third knight with her that rideth next the tall Lady meaning Polyphemia because me thinkes her beautie excéedeth all the other wherefore I pray you sir knight content your selfe with the other Ladies and sticke not with vs for these three for we will so well behaue our selues to them as they shall haue no occasion to complaine on vs. I perceiue then answered the Damosels Knight that you would gladly haue these Ladies whom I am determined to defend against you if any of you therefore haue such minde to them there is but a little Riuer betweene vs which you may easily passe and if your Fortune be so good you shall carry them with you when you go backe againe With a good will answered the first knight and séeing your stomacke serues you so wel I will shewe you the small aduantage you shall get in dealing with vs. Vpon these wordes he passed the Riuer and hauing placed his Launce in his rest ran valiantly against the Damoselles knight who entertained him with such a puissant stroake as he was compeld to fetch an errant in the dust being so greatly amazed with the fall as he had not the power to stir himselfe a great while When the other two Knights saw their fellowe foyled they came ouer the riuer together and being abashed at the valour of the Damosels knight they durst not venter to try it one after another but ranne both together against him who though they offered him wrong would not refuse them but breaking his staffe nobly vpon one of them he â—ent him to kéepe the first knight company hauing his arme broken by the force of his fall Then drew he foorth his swoord and welcommed the third so friendly as in a little while he tumbles downe before him The Damosels Knight after this victorie commaunded his Esquier to alight tooke off the knights helmet that he might take aire and when they were all before him he commaunded them to shew obeysance to the three Damoselles whome they would néeds haue had before they knew the price of them and if they did not as he willed them he sware they should all loose their liues The Knights perceiuing they had reckoned with a wrong Hoste promised they would not doe any thing contrary to his will whereuppon one of them came to Arlencea with these words Madame in that you are she whom I make most account of I beséech you command me in any thing my poore power can do you seruice I haue so little neede saide Arlencea of your seruice as it would gréeue me to vse your assistance in any thing whatsoeuer neuerthelesse that you may be an example to such who following your qualities commit many outragious facts to Damosels and to encrease his renowne who hath now nobly vanquished you and deliuered me and my company from you I command you to go to the King of Spaines Court and there on my behalfe let all the Ladies vnderstand what desert is come to you for your wretched dealing and say that I aduertise them no one of them presume to trauaile abroad without the company of some such knight as is able to defend them against all vnlawfull actions And you Madame said the second knight to Polyphemia what shall it like you for to command me Marie quoth she that you take the same course that your commpanion doth not forgetting to tell the Ladies that I pray they may liue in safetie without hauing affiance in any Knight whatsoeuer for that such as enterprise to conduct them in their trauails whom they put in trust with their honourable loue and euen bow their soules to them in loyall affection yet haue they most néede to shunne their company rather then any other and let them not doubt of it for if they proue they shall find my words true The Damosels knight vnderstood well enough the couert speeches of Polyphemia but yet he dissembled as though he knew not what they meant And you Lady said the third knight will you be so cruell as to commit a greater taske to me then these two Ladies before you haue done to my companion I am quoth she so cruell as I would haue thée banished the company of thy very dearest friends then the Damoselles Knight himselfe began thus to them againe Since it is the will of these thrée Ladies that you shall carry these messages of the King of Spaines Court.
to thanke you for it These two French knights were as glad as might be that their Combat ended in so good order neuerthelesse because their Ladies should not iudge them to be so fainte heart to they made as though they gaue ouer very vnwillingly Which the strange Knight beholding he desired Mansia to suffer him to begin again for he doubted not to make them better contented when hee brought theÌ„ into a little more danger Such is the pride answered Torsia as you will not be contented till some knight may haue the power to qualifie your lustinesse Your beauty faira Madam said the strange knight doth so torment mee as you cannot wish me any greater punishment yet will I take it thankfully comming from no bodies hand but yours Arnar was so sore wounded as the Ladyes were constâ—ained to vnarme him to dresse his woundes which were very dangerous Torsia tooke paine to binde them vp with his shyrt sléeues The straÌ„ge knight séeing the gracious courtesie these Ladies vsed to Arnar begaâ—ne to pittie him very much especially beholding Torsia to shew teares but they were not very many for French Ladyes doo not vse to wéepe much while these Ladies were thus busie about Arnar a Knight arriued in the place where the Combate was fought bearing in his shield in a field of siluer a Speare broken in pieces whereby was to be vnderstood that his hope was altogether lost after the knight a pretie space beheld the beautie of these Ladies he made his rest vpon Latrania and being very desirous to doe her seruice he came to her with these spéeches You shall vnderstand Madame that I haue sometime staied my hope in the place where I could purchase but slender aduantage as you may behold by the deuise I beare in my shield and I assure you I will once againe venture my fortune on your behalfe for I perswade my selfe I shall not endure any great torment for your sake hauing the fauour of your diuine beautie before mine eyes Menelao of Clermont being so amorous of Latrania as he iudged none ought to loue her but himselfe could not suffer the words of the Knight of the Speare but returned him this answere If you doe attempt sir knight to fight on foote against me albeit you sée me sore wounded yet will I giue you to vnderstand that the fauour of this Lady is reserued for him that hath suffered thus much in her seruice and thinketh himselfe worthy of her gracious recompence I perceiue Sir said the K. of the Speare that you are ignorant of me who could wish for the loue I beare this Lady and you were in good estate end armed double against me for as you be now I iudge you farre vnable to make resiastance against me The strange knight hearing the proud words of the knight of the Speare mounted on horsebacke and taking a Lance from his Esquire came vnto him with theses words Sir Knight I haue promised these foure Ladies to guarde the passage of this Valley for eight dayes space the two first dayes in the seruice of Mansia the Lady that sitteth on your left hand the third and fourth for Telansia the fift and sixt for the Lady whom you like called Latrania and the two last dayes shall be altogether imployed in the honourable seruice of Madame Torsia And I assure you I am as greatly affectionate to the one as the other except the especiall opinion I haue of Torsia for that I saw her wéepe for the harme of her knight yet will she not pitty the ceaslesse gréefe I endure for her sake Notwithstanding all this sir knight if you can thinke so well of your selfe as to trie the Aduenture you shall finde me verie willing to entertaine you It is ten dayes since aunswered the knight of the Sphere that I did arriue in any place where I could be more desirous to trye my valour then I am this present but séeing these daies are limitted by course I will awaite till they come which are appointed for the honor of Latrania for on her behalfe I meane to aduenture my selfe In troth sayde Clermont I sée the Knight beginneth to dismay himselfe and can finde no better meanes to excuse himselfe then to put off the triall of his manhood If you thinke so answered the Knight of the Sphere make your returne hither at the appointed time and I will not fayle to let you know what small account I make of your Choller So leauing Clermont he approched to the Ladyes who demanded of him if he had bene at the Castle of the Gyant Almaroll He being willing to shewe himselfe obedient to them courteously shaped them this aunswere I haue bene not long since fayre Ladyes at the aforenamed Castle and I haue séene the Princesse Miragarda yet not entring the Combate with him that kéepes the Shielde for that Albayzar set himselfe against me and vanquished me Thinke you saide Mansia any more beautie to consist in Miragarda then in Madam Latrania You driue me to a harde point Lady quoth the Knight of the Sphere for I iudge him of simple vnderstanding that wil reproue them absent to content the humours of them present and I thinke it expedient that eache of you should be content with your seuerall Giftes not grudging nor repining at that which is in another Sir saide the straunge knight you witnesse very well your badde entertainement at the Castle of Almorall which hindreth your iudgement of the beautie of Miragarda these foure Ladies in whose defence I will stand that no Ladies beautie may compare with theirs The knight of the Sphere suspected that it should be the Knight of the Sauage man whervpon he behold his shield which he could not perceiue because it was couered but he knew his Esquire so that he was assured with whom he would deale Neuerthelesse the affection hee bare to Latrania made him forget the friendship of the knight of the Sauage man so he tooke his leaue of the Ladies intending to lodge not farre from the Forrest vntill the dayes came for him to aduenture with the strange knight on the behalfe of his beloued Latrania Clermont and Arnar departed heauily and the strange knight went with the Ladies to the Monasterie againe where he caused Arlenâ—ea to remaine till he and the knight of the Sphere had Iousted together fearing least in her company he should be knowne and because he reserued her to be married to his friend Dramusiande CHAP. XLI The complaints which the strange knight made in the night time vnder the window of the Chamber where the foure Ladies were lodged THese ladies were brought againe into their Chamber where out at the windowes because the knightes were quiet calme and faire they might discerne the most part of the Valley The strange knight was so vehemently surprised with their loue as the great trauaile hee had sustained that day was not of force sufficient to cause him giue his mind to rest for it is euermore
Launce addressed himselfe to Alter of Amiens who being very timerous and fearefull yet to shewe some good countenance to his Ladie gaue his Horse the spurres against the straunge Knight who could not méete with him according as he would Neuerthelesse Alter of Amiens brake his Launce in such sorte as the péeces flewe about the strange Knights horse head whereat the horse so fumed as he gallopped with his maister violently through the field wherevpon the strange Knight cast himselfe beside him commaunding his Esquire to ride after to take him againe Alter of Armiens séeing that Fortune more faudured him then his other companions was very desirous to enter the combat with the sword for which cause he alighted from his horse then Gualter put himselfe before him because he had Iousted first but the strange knight handled him in such order as in short time his companion was glad to come helpe him whereupon the strange knight entred into these words You come sir euen as well as heart can wish for I am determined to lay claime to your horse because mine is runne away from me Then he charged him so furiously as the knight of the Sphere was constraided pittying the estate wherin they were brought to desire Mansia to giue them some succour but before she could well perswade her selfe to doe so these two knights came and rendred themselues at her féet desiring her to pitty their present case not doubting but they would apply their liues many other wayes in her seruice The straunge knight desirous to sée what estimation Mansia would make of them came vnto them with these words You shall vnderstand sir knights that I am not determined to giue you ouer without the Lady intreate on your behalfe her selfe or else she shall promise to graunt me one request which I entend to vtter to her I assure you sir knight aunswered Mansia I doe not intende to make you any such promise giuing you to vnderstand that you ought to beware how you passe any further your selfe for the hope which you haue in me who by this meanes shall haue perfect knowledge of the loue and good will you séeme to beare me I sée well quoth the strange knight that you are desirous to let me know how your nature is bent towardes them that aduenture themselues in your seruice which is that they shall receiue better entertainment then that which you vse towards me whereat I haue some occasion to gréeue for I would be he that should onely receyue your fauour in that I practise all meanes possible to please you But I sée your intent is to vse me with rigour which I would wish you should vse to these knights whose liues are of so little profite to you so that I count my selfe happy because my life is farre from your power When he had thus sayd he offered to mount on Gualters horse but the Ladies gaue him to vnderstand that he did much abuse the knight to offer him such iniurie by which meanes these two knights rid presently away to the King of France his Court where they made knowne the misfortune that had happened vnto them The knight of the Sphere tooke his way vnto his lodging and the Ladies to their Monastery Mansia being greatly contented that the strange knight had so well acquitted himselfe towards her as the other thrée did very much maruell at the noble behauiour of this braue Champion CHAP. XLIII Of that which happened to the strange Knight the third and fourth day AFter the sight of these Iousts the Ladies hauing withdrawne themselues into the Monastery the strange knight entred into his Tent where he refreshed himselfe with such viands as the Nuns had sent him And for that he was somewhat sore trauailed hee was the more desirous to rest in the meane time his Esquire returned from the search of his horse which he could hardly take all that day but his master was â—â—ad when he saw him Then the strange Knight thinking the Ladies would walk abroade as they had done the Night before he tooke his way to the gréene Trées againe but they came not abroad vntill the Morning when being mounted on theyr Palfrayes Mansia ridde foremost hauing a Garland of Flowers on her heade in signe of Victorie Telansia followed next her beeing in good hope to attaine the selfe same honour Latrania and Torsia came somewhat behinde vsing such a maiestie in theyr countenance as the Knight was more and more enflamed towardes them When Mansia was come somewhat neere the strange knight she spake vnto him in this manner Trust me Syr we are so weary of your company as we haue concluded to returnâ— to the kings Court not doubting but we shall be aduertised what things happen to you in our absence whereto the strange knight thus replied These words good Madame which you vse to me cannot be thought welcome to me and I am perswaded that the lawe which these Ladies of France hath set downe being first begun by their owne good willes cannot be thus broken without their great impeachment Good Syr answered Torsia doe not thus grieue and offend your selfe for Mansia did speake but onely to trie you and she will not be gone so soone from you I warrant you as for vs we will not breake our promise to you till the eight dayes be fully compleate except some other knight come whose power shall be sufficient to cut off your determination Me thinke Lady saide the strange knight you should not wish him more misfortune who endureth too much alreadie for your sweete sakes but me thinkes you should rather wish the victorie to fall on my side then on any others for the laudable commendation you shall get thereby While the strange Knight behaued himselfe amiably in the entertaining these gallant Ladies the Knight of the Spere arriued there on a suddaine who shewing his obeysance to Madame Latrania spake to her as followeth Faire Mistresse neuer were any dayes so troublesome vnto mee as these which I endure at this present earnestly thirsting and desiring for the time when your swéete selfe may allow me some fauour Neuerthelesse I am very well perswaded that the Knight who honoureth you with his seruice cannot be easily vanquished for that he beares as great good will to you as I doo adioyning hereto that he imagineth himselfe worthy your loue But you may assure your selfe that I am so highly affected to you as this Knight may no way equall Neuerthelesse I cannot chuse but take it heauily fearing you will allow the like ingratitude which I perceiue you vse to him To these words Latrania replyed thus Your spéech Syr Knight is farre different from the offer you made me when you first arriued in this place when you were so liberall in promise that you would not sticke for my sake to conquer the whole World The strange Knight being desirous to make one with them offered to aduaunce himselfe to them but he was hindred by a
kinseman the Prince Florendos Palmerin of England did the like to the faire Florenda and Florian of the Forrest to the Princesse Graciaâ—a in briefe the Princesse and Knights led all the Lades Palfraâ—es till they came to the Pallace The Emperour was caried in his Chayre by foure Knights communing with the Princesse Miragarda all the way desiring her to fauour his Nephew Florendos and to thinke of him as one that had well deserued at her hands CHAP. XLIX Of the Conference which the Emperour had with the Princes And how the Marriages that he appointed were now accomplished in effect WHen the Princes that were thus arriued Constantinople had rested themselues for certaine dayes the Emperour desirous to content euery one before he died who had bestowed their seruice in honouring him reuealed his intent to the Emperor Vernar king Edward Arnedes Recinde and Primaleon how he would gladly sée his Nephewes married and the other Princes that had béene nourished in his court whom he would see all matched according as their affections serued them The Princes liked maruaellously the Emperours intent whereupon he caused the Sunday following a great feast to be ordained in the Quéene Fleridaes Chamber which place was the most conuenient in all the Pallace for their courtly disports and there the Ladies were euery one regarded in their degrées being more pleasant in the Ladyes of their sauoured seruants then all the costly iunckets prouided for the banquet Palmerin was so earnest in affection towards his Lady as he iudged her to surpasse all the other in beautie Florendos held the same opinion to the faire Miragarda and Florian made such estimation of the Princesse of Thrace as he feared not to Combate against any whatsoeuer that her beautie might carrie the credite aboue all the rest and the Prince Platir was not behinde him in conceite towards his swéete Ladie Sidelia daughter to the King Tarnaes The Empresse Bazilia Gridonia Flâ—rida Francellina because of their high estates were chéefe next the Empresse 〈…〉 the Quéene Flerida bare the price of beautie amongst them all because she was in the most swéete and delicate time of her yeares After the Tables were wishdraâ—e and all the 〈◊〉 departed the place the Emperour being weake and sickely 〈◊〉 King Edward to expresse before all the company what he had giuen him in charge King Edward willing to obey the Emperors commandement arose from the Table theâ—â— taking off his Hat and kissing the Emperours hand he saluted all there present and began thus Most gratious Empres as each of vs for his benefit honor hath receiued such Ladies in marriage as the Emperour from his owne Court hath pleased to bestow on vs some that are allied to his Excellency and others to the Princes and lords of his Empire wherby the renowme of Christendom is worthyly maintained and all causes expressing good nature continued in their florishing estate It may therefore séeme good to you at this present that I publickely open his gracious and Princely determination whereby may be knowne if your Highnesse with these Quéenes and Princesses in your company shall thinke well of that which by the aduice of his honourable councell he seeketh to put in practise It is so that his Maiesty hath set it downe for a decree that these young Princes and knights shal ioyne in mariage in â—ecompence of all their noble trauels with those to whom they are most affectionate And as for theÌ„ that are as yet vnprouided of Ladies his Maiesty will allow them continuance in his Court whereby no 〈◊〉 shall grew on any side but euery one shall be contented to their owne desires Here pausing a while he attended what the Empresse with the other Quéenes and Ladyes would say as also â—o bethinke himselfe on the names of the persons whom the Emperour had appointed to many but the young Princes and knights were somewhat abashed doubting whether they might giue credite to the kings words for their was not any of them but iudged his labors sufficiently rewarded if he might enioy his sweet Saint and Mistresse The Ladies that were in presence began to blush change their amiable countenance whereby they bewrayed the secret sudden ioy of their hearts which they receiued by the spéeches King Edward had vttered Polinarda very often cast her eyes on the Prince Palmerin being in as great feare as the offender that awaiteth the senteÌ„ce of the Iudge for she doubted least her Grandfather would bestow on her some other and not let her enioy him whom her heart desired And Palmerin was afflicted in the same manner such and so great was the vehemency of his sundry passions which betwéene hope feare he was constrained to suffer but while his thoughts were in this infinite deale of trouble his Father King Edward following his former intent began againe in this manner You shall vnderstand Sir Florendos that my gratious Lord the Emperour with the consent of the King Recinde enioyneth you to espowse the Princesse Miragarda who in my iudgement will not bée any thing offended to bee so matched and so shall you Syr Florendos thinke your selfe fully satisfied for all the trauailes you haue endured for her sake All the prince there present looked on Florendos when they might well perceiue that the words of king Edward had giuen him more ioy then if the richest Realme in the world were in his own possession but the princesse Miragarda kept her countenance so demurely as one could hardly iudge whether the loue of Florendos were acceptable to him or no. And for thée my sonne Palmerin said king Edward the emperour the prince Primaleon being very willing thou shouldest knowe the loue they beare thee doe giue thée to wife the Princesse Polinarda not doubting but thou shalt imagine all thy passed trauailes to be fully recompenced in so sweet a reward The Princesse Polinarda no sooner heard these wordes but the delicate Rosiall colour that dyed her daintie countenance witnessed the loue and good will she bare to the Prince Palmerin of England who likewise now abandoned all his former feare seeing he should enioy the felicitie hee had so long wished for Which when his Father King Edward perceiued he made as though he did not espie and procéeded on with his former determination giuing the Prince Gracian Sonne to the king of France to vnderstand that the Emperour did bestowe on him his Niece Claricias the Daughter to the King Polendos And you Syr Berolde for your vertuous behauiour must enioy the Iewel of your heart the faire Onistalda Daughter to the Duke Drapos of Normandie and Niece to the renowned King Frisoll whereof your Father I am sure will be very well contented And you sir Francian shall match with Bernada Daughter to the valiant Prince Belcar And you noble Prince Platir in that your déedes are worthy of perpetuall memorie you shall possesse the faire Sidelia Daughter to the King Tarnaes of Lacedemoniâ— who will