why lament you then séeing it is your pleasure to make her vnfortunate while she liues I hartelie desire the heauens to pardon you and that the first newes heereafter you shall heare of me maie be the true report of my death This said shee mounted on horsebacke and without anie semblaunce to take her leaue of her Father so béeing honourablie accompanied in short time she arriued in Hungaria with Tarisius whose loue to her so vehementlie increased as he reputed himselfe yâ— most fortunate Prince in Europe hauing gained the paragon among all Ladies Soone after the aged King died by which meanes Tarisius came to the Crowne Griana highlie esteeming such as shee brought with her from Constantinople to witt Lerina and Cardina but especiallie Tolomestra to whom she verie often imparted the whole secrets of her minde leading so strickt and constant a life as all the Court did wonder at her But the remorse of conscience which dailie touched her for the losse of her Sonne caused her to spende day and night in denout orisons that the heauens would forget her hainous offence CHAP. XI Howe Florendos vnderstoode by the Esquire hee sent to Constantinople the marriage of Griana and Tarisius whereat he conceiued such inward greefe as hée would haue died with extreame sorrow ALl this while continued Florendos on the Frontiers betwéene Constantinople and Macedon til at length he hearde that Griana was released of her imprisonment wherof he was so glad as nowe he thought to deale more surelie then he did before whervppon he dispatched Lyomenus one of his Esquires towardes her with a Letter of earnest and intire affection wherein he desired to knowe if he might compasse the meane to come and sée her and hee doubted not to bring her so secretlie on her iournete and with so good prouision as before they should be againe discouered they would be safelie arriued in Macedon But this hope was soone frustrate for Lyomenus béeing come to Constantinople founde the marriage betwéene Tarisius and Griana consumated which he tooke so displeasantlie as without giuing the Letter or speaking to the Princesse he returned hastilie againe to his Lorde and Maister Who béeing aduertised of his comming sent for him immediatlie vp into his Chamber at whose entrance the Prince discerned the newes by his conuntenance whervpon he demaunded if Griana were sicke or howe shee fared My Lord ê™ he happie had she béene if she had dyed tenne yeeres since for I doubt vnlesse you arme your self with wonderfull patience that what is doone will highlie endaunger your person Why quoth Florendos what is happened Trust me my Lord ê™ he the verie worst that can be for you Tarisius hath espoused her and despight of her the Emperour caused it to be doone No sooner had Lyomenus spoken the word but Florendos cast himselfe crueliâ—e against the grounde saying O my God take pittie on my soule for my bodie must needes suffer mis-fortune At which wordes he fell in a swoune when Lyomenus thinking him dead ran hastilie and called Frenato who knowing full well the cause of his passion laboured by all meanes he might to perswade him 〈◊〉 notwithstâ—â—ding all the intreaties he vsed in 〈◊〉 â—nd 〈…〉 hee coulde not get one word of hiâ— whereuppon hee sent for an auncient Hermit neere at hand whom Florendos made verie much account of who beeing come applying diuers soueraigne Hearbes to his temples whereof the olde Father â—nâ—we well the vertue at length Florendos recouered his sences and opening his eyes behâ—ld the olde Hermit to whoÌ„ with verie feeble voice he said Ah good Father praie for me for I féele mine ende nigh at hand Not so my Sâ—nne saide the Hermit what are you so vnprouided of diuine perswasion as you will loose bothe bodie and soule for matter of so meane consequence hast thou liued so long and yet ignâ—raunt of the inconstancie of Women which is no other thâ—Ì„ thou beholdest in Griana Knowest thou not that as the saile of the Shippe is subiecte to all windes so are their affections to continuall mutabilitie and knowest thou not that what they purpose to execute irreuocable in one moment they are suddainlie disswaded from My Sonne beléeue my counsell and with as much pleasure learne to forget this folly as with extreame paine thou diddesâ— first imprint it in thy thoughts Ah Father quoth Florendos neuer seeke in this sort to perswade me béeing assured if you knew how things haue past you wold not thus in fearmes disgrace my Ladie for shee is mine and Tarisius hath no right to her to whom the Emperour hath married her perforce els would she neuer haue broken her faith to me and while I liue Father none but she can bee called the Wyfe of Florendos Sonne to the mighty King of Macedon The wise olde Father séeing him in choller beeing lothe likewise to offende the Prince would no longer crosse him in spéeches but fearing to mooue him too much mildlie thus spake May be my Sonne she hath beene deere to you and I would your consent in loue had aunswered your lyking but thus to dispaire and endaunger your owne life truste me it is not well doone therefore I desire you to perswade your selfe and by your constancie condemne her lightnes taking patientlie what haâ—h happened These and such like good words vsed the old Hermit but Florendos would take no sustenance neither be remooued froÌ„ this opinion for fiue daies while the old man staied with him neither would he looke chéerefully as he was wont but continued euermore sad melanchollique nor could the King his Father cause him like of anie Wife but onely Griana for whome continuallie he neuer left mourning CHAP. XII How yong Palmerin sleeping had a strange vision which prouoked him to know whose Son he was and of the talk which passed between him and Dyofâ—na the daughter of Gerrard PAlmerin being now come to the age of fifteene yeeres nourished in the Mountaine as the Childe of Gerrard his supposed Father well beloued of him and Marcella his wife as their own Sonne grewe in stature so tall comelie and wel nurtured as well might he be known of noble parentage For albeit he companyed with Gerrards Children who vsed him after their rusticall capacities yet hee desired more to passe the Mountaines with his long Bowe to chase the Beares and Bores thorowe thicke and thinne and to keepe Hawkes and dogges rather then Sheepe and Cattell as the other Children did In these sports he had such wonderfull delight as oftentimes he would come home verie late and sore wearied but one time among the rest he came home so ouerlaboured as he was glad to laie him downe to rest and he was no sooner fallen a sléepe but he was solicited with a meruailous visyon the effect whereof thus followeth Hee thought as hee was pursuing a goodlie Harte thorowe a Forrest hee met with the fairest Ladie that euer eye behelde who sat on the side of a
onelye excepted who euermore hath beene my most trustie Seruaunt and fetcheth my necessaries at a village néere adioyning and by his honest perswasions hath manie times with-helde mee from committing violence on my selfe Thus haue you heard in bréefe the cause of my sorrowe the depth whereof cannot bée considered or valued but by such as haue in like manner tryed and suffered the disdayne and ingratitude of vnconstant Ladies Palmerin hauing heard the fortunes of the Knight repeated to him the graces and fauours of his Ladye Polynarda what honour shée did him in her Fathers Court and how hee was in daunger to receiue the like rewarde as the Knight did of his Valerica and fearing indéede that his mishappe woulde sorte to that issue he fell down at the féete of this poore refused Louer The Knight perceiuing that the reputitioÌ„ of his misfortune was cause of this alteration breâ—thing foorth a vehement sighe hee sayde Alas wretched â—atife that I am hath my destâ—ny made mee so vnhappie that enduring an extreamitye worse then death I cannot dye and yet hée that did but heare my miserie hath lost his life I will not liue any longer to preiudice any other men but will now make waye to the ende of mine owne troubles So drewe â—ée foorth Palmerins Sworde and â—ffered to thrust it into his bodye but Palmerin receiued his former estate started suddainlye vppe and catching him in his armes sayde How now my Fréende will you bée so incâ—nsiderate that for a little temporall paine which your body endureth to condemne your soule to euerlasting perdition And though your passions touch you so seuerelye as you will affoorde no pittie to your selfe yet lâ—t trée intrâ—ate you to forbeare this humour For not without reason haue I sustained this suddaine motion remembring the vnspeakable comfort I receiued by one who by false suggestions or slaundreous reports which woundeth more déepe then the fatall weapon may in like sorte be chaunged into such conceit as her iudgement may excéede a hel of torments Yet canne I not denye your Lady hauing with such shame refused you but you haue great occasion to gréeue thereat yet not to stretch the extreamily so farre as to dispayre or worke iniurie to your â—elfe calling to memory how light the opinion of a Woman is how suddaine shée will alter and howe prompt shée is to iealousie especially where shee loueth effectually And if héeretofore shée loued you feruentlye it is impossible but shee should féele some part of your anguish and more violently I thinke then your selfe can Trust then in him that hath all hearts at commaunde repose your self constantly on his prouidence for hée will not leaue you frustrate of your honourable intent standing with iustlâ—e and perfect integritie As Palmerin continued these comfortable perswasions the Dwarfe couered the Table and sette before them such a small pittaâ—nce as he had prouided when they hadde refreshed themselues Palmerin tooke his leaue of the Knight promising him if hée coulde by anye meanes to giue some ease to his oppressions Varnan returned him many thankes commanding his Dwarfe to conduct him to the high waye béeing not a little sorrowfull to leaue his compaâ—ie who had so well aduised and comforted him Palmerin being come into his ready way sent backe the Dwarfe and rode on till he was gâ—t out of the Forrest intending to finde out the Castlâ— where Valerica remained because he would somewhat sollicite the cause of sollitarie Verman Ryding along in this determination hée espyed a Knight and two squires before him yâ— knight thus speaking to one of his squires I knowe not whether it be time as yet to enter the Garden or if Madame Valerica be as yet come thither Go sée if she be there and returne quickly to mée againe Palmerin hearing the name of Valerica knewe well it was shée for whome the solitarie Knight liued in such pensiuenes wherefore mooued with pitty of his miseries hee sayde to himselfe Sée héere the trecherie of a trothlesse Woman so vnhonorablie to forsake the man that loues her so déerely and preferre the villanie of this intercepting Traytour but I shall teach him ere I go what a penalty belongs to the preuenting of a loyall knight and so comming to the knight hee sayâ—e Art thou a man villaine that wouldest forest all the loue of the best Knights in England by my Sword thou shalt déerely pay for thy disloyalty With these words he gaue him such a stroake on the head as he cleft it therewith to the very téeth The Squires séeing theyr maister slaine beganne to haste away but Palmerin caught him that was sent to the Garden to whome he sayde Come on Sirra if thou louest thy life bring mée to the Lady if thou doost not thou shalt neuer followe thy trade any longer The Squire durst doo no otherwise so he brought him to the little gate where Valerica was wont to receiue in her louer and knocking with his finger as his Master was accustomed Valerica opened the doore and thinking it was her Fréend cast her armes about Palmerins necke who brought her in his armes forth of the Garden commanding the Squire presently to followe him Valerica abashed hereat sayde Howe nowe swéete fréende whether will you carry mee Knowe you not if my father heard héereof that neyther of vs durst approch before him Tush Madame sayde Palmerin these are but wordes there is no remedy but you must go with mée So neyther with teares nor requests would hee be intreated but mounting on horsebacke caused the Squire to helpe the Lady vppe before him because he would be sure shée should not escape from him and riding on towardes the Forrest because the night drew on he left the rode way séeking some place where they might coÌ„ueniently repose themselues for that night At length hee founde out a little thicket where they alighted and hee returning his Horse to pasture tooke off his Helmet and came to the Lady desiring her to bée content with such hard lodging for that night but when shée behelde that it was not her fréend wringing her handes she thus exclaimed Alas vnhappy wretch that I am how trecherously am I deceiued What mishappe may be comparable to mine hauing lost my fréende and abyding at his pleasure that hath cruelly murdered him Ah Fortune why art thou so inconstant to chaunge my former pleasure into this gréeuous stratageâ—â—e Palmerin hearing her so impatient sayde You must thinke Lady that what hath happened is by diuine permission who hath thus appoynted to punish your loosenesse and your excéeding disloyalty towardes him who loues you dearer then his owne soule and for your loue leades a most austere life in the very desolate and vncomfortable place of the worlde If hée haue thus long endured such hardnesse for your sake it is good reason that you should participate a little with his misery Feare not therefore for I speake nothing of him but what I haue séene and by great chaunce haue
desired nothing more then the fight that hée might accomplish his promise to the Princesse Alchidiana when hee receiued of her his rich Shéelde and Launce perswaded the Generall that hée should the next morning summon the Bretheren of Amarano that within foure and twentie howres they should depart the Soldanes confines or else endure the daunger of the Sworde The King of Balisarca aduising héereon in counsaile founde it verie necessarie and expedient wherefore calling his Sonne Sir Paâ—merin and the Prince Olorico hee committed the charge thereof to theyr present dispatch They béeing come to the Armie of Gramieâ—l were immediatly conducted to the Princes Tent who was then deliberating with his Brethren and other Captaines of the Armie So soone as he vnderstoode the arriuall of these Ambassadours he caused them to come before him and their message béeing deliuered the Phrygian Princes who were of meruailous haughtie disposition aunswered that they would not obey any such commaundement Moreouer they intended to chase thence the Soldanes Lieuetenant euen to the verie Gates of his owne Cittie for that contrarie to all equitie hée withstoode the buriall of their Brothers bodie in his kingdome Gueresin Sonne to the King of Bâ—lisarca could not suffer such iniurie to his Lorde in his presence wherefore he said that the Soldane had doone them no wrong but receiued their Brother and his traine with greater honour then they deserued and that none of them should haue the like againe So went hée foorth of the Pauillion Gramiell and two of his Brethren following him whereof the one had béene in Asiria with his Brother Amarano who séeing Palmerin that all this while kept himselfe without the Tent and marking his Shéeld wherin mockage was painted his Brothers head he knew him immediatlie and in great rage pulling himselfe by the haire said Uillaine that I am how can I suffer in my presence the Traytour that murdered my Brother Bold and presumptuous catife how durst thou aduenture before mee thus to deride me with thy villainie Trust me saide Palmerin I dare come before thée with better assuraunce of my selfe Then thy Brother had when he entred Combat with me Whereore if thou be such a Gallant as thou wouldest haue me iudge thée by these brauadoes and likewise hast any stomacke to reuenge thy Brothers shame Arme thy selfe and an other of thy Brethren with thée and come to me in place conuenient where I my selfe will iustifie to you both that Amarano was woorthilye slaine and as such a false accusing Traytour well deserued I desire nothing more saide Orinella for so was hée called that gaue these hotte spéeches but my Brother shall not deale with thée till I haue tried my fortune alone and if I faile of my purpose then shall he afterwarde Combat with thée this prouided that thou assure mée from any in thy companie but thine owne person That will I vppon my Knighthoode said Palmerin thou perfourming as much on thy behalfe yet I thinke before the sport be doone that thou wilt wiâ—h thy fellow with thée Thus Palmeriu Olorico and Gueresin withdrewe themselues Orinello and his brother presently going to Arme them and accompanied with manie Knights came into the field Palmerin likewise as readie as the formost came in with a good traine of Souldiers hee had brought with him least any treason shoulde bée wrought against him Olorico shewed himselfe greatly discontented because hée might not accompanie his Fréende in the Combat but Palmerin perswaded him that more néedefull occasions were reserued for him which should returne him greater honour and whom he should court in better sort then euer he did the Ladies of Arabia Gramiell being verie richly armed woulde néedes come see his Brethrens Combat which hée had good hope would sort to theyr honor but Palmerin séeing Orinello readie to the carrire encountred his enemie with such puissance as his Launce passing through his boyd caused him fall dead from his horse without moouing eyther hand or foote Hauing performed his course hee returned to take his Launce out of his enemies body striking him with the great Trunchion ende on the stomacke to sée if any life was left in him but séeing his soule was departed to Lucifers Pallace hée coutched his stafe to receiue the other Brother who met him with such strength as he was well néere dismounted yet in the ende hée was sent after his Brother though manie hardie strokes first passed betwéene them Héereupon was such a suddaine crie on all sides some with ioy and other with sorrowe as made the ayre resound theyr voices And I thinke that the Greekes when they receiued their libertie by Quintus Elaminius made not the like clamour when as Valerius rehearseth the Byrds fell from the ayre with the furie of theyr cries In the meane while the King of Balisarca hauing hearde héereof came into the Fielde accompanied with maniâ— Lords and conducted Palmerin with great honour and tryumphe backe to his Tent especiallie the Prince Olorico who excéeding ioyfull for the good fortune of his companion embracing him saide Ah gentle Palmerin how brauelie haue you accomplished your promise to the Princesse the like successe heauen graunt you in labouring my cause Beléeue me good Prince quoth Palmerin so well will I imploye my selfe in that action as I hope you shall haue cause to thanke me Now to returne to Gramiell he caused his Brethrens bodyes to be conuaied thence and embalmed them in two Chests of leade referring their Funerall till his returne and with the teares in his eyes he thus began to encite his people Not knowing howe my louing Freendes and Countreymen to animate your mindes sufficiently with remembraunce of the tirannie exercised by the Soldane on the bodye of my Brother and your Prince vnhappie occasion presents you with a fresh memory of reuenge séeing these two yong Princes the beloued Sonnes of your King so shamefullye slaine in your presence For this cause déere Fréendes that each of you may take a newe couragious spirite to morrowe to encounter these effeminate Assirians let vs all be resolute togither and cause them to vnderstand that you who haue lead your liues in the Deserts of Affrica much better know how to mannage Armes then such loyterers in theyr Mistresses Chambers who can doo nothing but before theyr Ladies Héerevpon two hundred Knightes aduaunsed themselues before him swearing and vndertaking to bring Palmerins bodie to him the day following and therefore all that might they prepared themselues strengthening theyr Shéeldes and Armour and all other things necessarie for the fight thinking the next morning by Sunne rysing to bid them battaile these knightes inuenting to ambush thâ—mselues as you shall heare Palmerin beeing brought thus honorablye to his Tent called for the Chirurgions to visit his woundes which they founde so easie to bee cured as they assured him of spéedie recouerie Hée then â—mmoning the whole Counsaile togither aduised them that in his opinion hée thought it expedient to dislodge that place
for which where euer thou câ—mmest be thou named the most vngrateful Knight that euer drew Sworde séeking her death so cruelly who loues thée deerer then her owne life These complaints made the sorrowful Laurana before the Duchesse not sparing to discharge the whole burthen of her oppressed hart her Mother not daring to gainesay her but expected when the shoulde depart this life wherefore perswading her from dispaire shee swéetelie promised to worke so with Palmerin as he should staie and enioy her to his wife But all was in vaine for he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with Ptolome and Vibanillo left the Cittie of Durace no one knowing which way they were ridden Palmerin coÌ„uerted into such heauines as nothing coulde torment him more so earnest was his desire to sée her whome fate and Fortune had appointed for him CHAP. XXI Howe Palmerin and Ptolome met with a Damosell who made great mone for a Casket which two Knights had forcibly taken from her and what happened to them BEeing thus departed from Durace these Knights rode along thinking in what heauines they had left the Dukes Daughter when Palmerin accusing himself as guiltie of this mischaunce within himselfe thus sadlie discoursed Unhappy man that euer thou cammest into this CouÌ„try where thou hast left so harde an opinion of thy selfe as while thou liuest thou shalt be the worse estéemed and well worthie for iustlie maist thou be accused of disloyaltie in making meanes to obtaine the loue of the faire Princesse Laurana and hauing conquered wher thou desiredst to make so light account of her as thou haste doone Had death preuented thée before shee had béene satis-fied thine honour defended and thy vnknowne Polinarda no way iniuried which spéeches made the teares to trickle down his chéekes when Ptolome looking aside espyed him and gessing the cause of his sadnes said Uerily I neuer thought to sée such womannishe behauiour in you nor that any gréefe or mis-fortune should haue teares so soone at commaundement Howe will you héereafter withstande so manie casualties hard aduentures and daungerous stratagems with manie sundrie narrowe brunts that you must passe thorow when I sée you vnable to ouercome your own selfe béeing supprized by her teares to whome you haue doone honour to affoorde a good countenaunce If you had receiued of her the swéetes of loue reason might then plead in your excuse but hauing no way misprised her honour or offered offence to modest chastitie what iniurie may shée saie that you haue doone her Forget I praie you these vnséemelie fashions hardly agréeing with a Knight of such report as you are let vs finde some thing els to talke on and tell me which way you intende to iourney By my life ê™ Palmerin I knowe not but let vs take which way Fortune shall please to conduct vs. I thinke it best then sayde Ptolome that we shape our course towarde Rome where we shall finde people of all Nations by whome we maie be instructed as concerning aduentures worthy our trauaile and guyding to honour On then chéerelie quoth Palmerin and so they trauailed eight daies togeather not méeting with any aduenture worthy to be spoken off till at length they met a Damosell heauily mourning who saide Alas what will shee saie whose trust was onelie in mee hauing lost the thing wherein consisted her hope to recouer yâ— highest of her noble desires Palmerin hearing these wordes and mooued with compassion rode to her demaunded the cause of her mourning Sir Knight quoth she I was sent by a Ladye with a Caskette wherein was one of the best Swordes in the whole worlde which is so enchaunted as none can drawe it out of the skabbard but hee that is esteemed the worthiest Knight liuing but before any be admitted to make proffe of this aduenture hee must graunt a request that I am to aske him With this Sword haue I trauailed many strange Countries as Fraunce Italie Sclauonye and diuerâ— other where many haue tryed but no one yet could finish the aduenture whereuppon I was thys daie trauailing towarde the Emperours Courte of Greece and heereby I met with two Knights who hauing hearde the cause of my long trauaile made proofe of their fortune one after another and bothe failed whereat they were so offended as they tooke the Casket from me perforce and are gone there with I knowe not whither which dooth so gréeue me in respect of her losse towards whom I am as death woulde be more welcome to mee then life Faire Uirgin saide Palmerin doo not discomfort your selfe but she we mee which way they rode that dealt with you so discourteouslie Gentle Knight quoth shee if your hap be to restore my losse againe you doo the most gracious acte that euer Knight did for a distressed Damosell These Traytors to honour whereof the one is in Crunson Armour bearing in his Shéelde thrée Lyons heades tooke this waie by the woode and as yet I am sure they canne not be farre hence Then Palmerin clasped his Helmet and taking his Sword and Launce desired Ptolome to garde the Damosell and follow him galloping that way which she had shewed him and by the time he had rid two miles he espied them he looked for talking with an other Knight they had mette and they thrée togeather were assaying to open the Casket to whom Palmerin cryed Trecherous villaines that can not méete with Ladies on the waie but must offer them iniurie deliuer the Casket or yee die One of the two turned presently and séeing him that thus threatned them to be alone not moouing a â—ote began to laughe and scornefullie returned this aunswere Softlie softlie good Sir God pardon their soules whome you kill so easilie but for all hys words Palmerin ran against them and they at him so that he receiued a small wounde on his shoulder in recompence whereof he gaue one of them a pasport into another world and laid so lustilie on the seconde as he set him quicklie beside his saddle When the third sawe his companions at so harde a reckoning he said to himselfe By my faith he spake not vnaduisedlie that said A safe escape is better then a bad tarrying And allowing this sentence for currant in his owne opinion gaue the spurs to his Horse making hast away with the Casket so fast as hee coulde but Palmerin béeing somewhat better mounted got such aduauntage of this runaway as with his sword he parted his right arme from his bodie whereuppon he fell to the grounde and the Casket with him Then Palmerin alighted and tooke it vp and leauing the Knight there returned which way he came when opening the Casket he tooke great pleasure in behelding the Sworde which was meruailous costlie yet would he not prooue to drawe it foorth because he knewe not her pleasure to whom it appertained At length he espied Ptolome comming who came apace if néede had béene to assist him but when he knewe how he had ouercome yâ— Knights and recouered the
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
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
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