Your reason is good Cosin â—…aunswered Palmendos wherfore presently we will go séeke for the prison wherin my Lord the King hath béene kept so long After they had searched a good while in vaine at length they found him in a stong Tower bound with huge barres of yron he being so leane wrinckled pale and wâ—…n as they marueiled to sée him so withered away Palmendos beholding him in this gréeuous plight remembring this was the father to his best beloued Francelina compassion caused the teares to trickle down hys chéekes but the King not perceiuing this humanitie rather amazed to sée their Swordes so bloodie thought they were come to end his miserable distressed life wherfore he willingly prepared himselfe therto saying Soueraign redéemer of humain nature to thée I commend my soule which must now leaue this loathsome prison be thou then my intercessour to thy mercifull Father hauing so paciently for my sinnes suffered punishment in this wretched place And séeing hee â— hath reputed my bodie vnworthy longer being in this life be thou my gracious mediatour for my soule that in his iudgement it bee not bannished from eternall felicitie promised to the good This prayer hauing stopt the passage of Palmendos spéech Ozalio vsed these wordes to the King My Lord bee not dismayed wée come not hither to offer yee anie outrage but to deliuer you from this thraldome and cary yee with vs to Constantinople where you shall finde your Queene and faire Daughter Francelina by whose means your troubles haue nowe taken end and there they stayâ—… onely for your comming Afterward he declared the whole successe of the action and breaking the barres of the little wicket tooke him foorth of that darke prison wherein hee had remained twentie yéeres such marueilous hatred did the great Turke beare him Yet could hee not bee certainelye resolued of his libertie till hee sawe the Captaine and the rest that were slaine when embracing the Knightes hee thanked GOD and them for his happie deliuerance Palmendos thought it necessary to make no longer stay there wherfore coÌ„manding onâ—… of their Squires to fetch a good horsse out of the Captains â—…able they caused the king to mount thereon then remembring the former spéeches of Iffida he would not suffer any thing els to bee carried from the Caâ—…ell CHAP. XXIX How the King of Thessalie departing with Palmendos from the Castel of Albayzo they met the great Turks Daughter by the way whome the Prince carried thence by the vertue of his Sworde And how Ripole hauing taken order for the bâ—…riall of theâ—… that were slaine hee went to complaine thereof to the great Turke PAlmendos remembring his returne to Constantinople and deuisâ—…ng how hee might safeliâ—… get awaye from the Castell of Albayzo he caused all the gentlewomen that were left aliue to bee locked in one Chamber and so soone as it waâ—…ed darke leauing the great Oates wide open and the Bridges downe they all rode away Orycano being their guide as he was before About midnight they came to the Pages mothers house where among the trées in the Garden they espiâ—… diâ—…ers lighted Torches and a sumptuoâ—… bed in the middeâ—…t of the Arbour at which â—…ight not marueiling a little they â—…aied there awhile but Palmendos destrous to bee further satiâ—…ed heerein gaue his horsse to Orycano and drawing his vertucus Sworde charmed all that were in the Garden faâ—…t aâ—…léepe by which meaneâ—… hee came to the rich beds â—…de wherin he saw a very beautifull Ladie Her name was Marencida eldest daughter to y e great Turke and wife to the King Ocurites of Culaquin whom Palmendos found néere the Gulfe of Tanais Meotides she nowe iournying to recreate herselfe with her Mother at a fayre Castell not farre from this place whether she went three daies before in great anger from the Courte because the great Turke loued another of his concubines better then her Marencida mourning for the taking of the King her Husband craued leaue of the great Turke her father that she might goe visite her Mother for seauen or eight daies where with her she might beare a share of her greefe and heauines so parting from the Courte honourably accompanied and alighting at this pleasant bower to refeshe her selfe because the night suddainly preuented her shee commaunded the Groomes to prepare her bed for that night in the Arbour her Ladies Gentlewomen and Guard béeing all there about her Palmendos hauing charmed with his Sword all her attendants a sleepe approched néere the beddes side when the Princesse thinking on her Husbands imprisonment gaue many gréeuous sighes from the depth of her hart cursing the Knight that tookâ—… him as also Constantinople for vniustly detayning him and to these mournfull regrets added these speeches My noble Lord Oh that I had some sure loyall person that might conduct me to the place where thou art to the ende my longing mind might be satis-â—…ed with sight of thée and these two sources of teares stayed from further streaming ouer for liuing here my greefes grow intollerable and I abide y e most desolate Ladie in all Asia Other lamentable speeches she vttered till nature no longer able to outstand the charges of drowsines caused her to fall fast a sleepe and Palmendos hauing heard what had passed imagined her to be the great Turks Daughter Wife to the King Ocurites whoÌ„ he sent to Constantinople Wherfore seeing all her Guarde soundly sléeping he folded down the bed clothes and because the precious Calamite in hys Sword by nature draweth the body of man or woman to it as the Adamant dooth the yron the Ladie presently arose into his Armes so béeing kept a sleepe by his enchanted Sworde lay as quiet in his armes as fayre Daphne did with Phaebus when Iupiâ—…er conuerted her into a Baye trée Wrapping her costly Mantle about her hee departed safely from the Guarde comming where Oricano stayed with his horse made such shift as he mounted into the saâ—…le and so galloped to the rest of his company who meruailed not a little that he had got so good a bootie Great hast they made till they got on ship-boord when Palmendos laying her vpon his bed and vsing her reuerently because she was of such honor he put vp his vertuous sword into the sheathe when very soone after Marencida awaked and seeing herselfe in the company of straungers crying out with feare she said Alas where am I what haue I no one about me that I know how came I so strangely into this place why Fortune hast thou not yet afflicted me enough are my starres grown into such hatred towarde mee as in my sleepe to seeke my destruction And what are you y â— haue béene so bolde as to take me out of my bed this audacious behauiour will returne you no other guâ—…rdon then the very sharpest death that can be deâ—…ised Madame answered Palmendos from that wee shall keepe our selues so well as we may as for
minde I mâ—… giue ouer the exercise of Armes which Fortune I see â—…ies I should follow Longer would he haue continued in these pensiue mones but the Hermit interrupted him in this manner My Soâ—…e giue thankes to him that deliuered thee out of the Knights hands and hath not suffered both bodie and soule to perrish let idle and vndecent thoughtes bee nowe abandoned and â—…ft thy minde to the place of eternall comfort With these wordes he bound vp his wounds â—…o well as he could minding to lead him to his Hermitage but as one mischaunce happenâ—…th not alone so â—…ell it out at this instant for hee was no sooner gotten â—…n foote but Lecefin his mortall enemie arriued and knowing him to be his riual in loue drawing his Sword thus spake Now shall I teache thee my capitall 〈◊〉 what it is to looâ—… her whom thâ—… aâ—…t â—…t wâ—…thy to serue and that shall I make thee presently 〈◊〉 or bâ—…y thy 〈◊〉 with the price of thy bloode for a Ladie of so rare perfections standeth too farre out of a Frenclomans reaâ—…e Héer with he violentlie strooke at Arnedes whom the good olde Hermit seeing in â—…ch daungerous case tooke 〈◊〉 in his Armes desiring Leceâ—…n not to seeke his death that had of late escaped it so néere But Lecefin beeing a Moore and therefore the more inexorable wold giue no eare to his words but cruelly gaue the olde man such a stroke on the head as therewith he fell downe dead to the grounde Ah dogged and distoyall Traytour said Arnedes when he beheld this tragicall act why hast thou 〈◊〉 this religious Father that neuer offended thee the heauens I hope will not let thee passe vnpunished but plague thee as such a damnable déede requireth So taking his Sword as well as he might by reason of his former hurtes he séekes to defende himselfe and reuenge the Hermits death but all was in vaine for with out a meruailous chaunce Arnedes death was nowe ordayned In a happy howre arriued there Pernedin sonne to the Duke of Pera one of them that departed in y â— search of Palmendos who knowing both the Combatants stepped betweene them saying Why how now Gentlemen are courtly freendes become enemies in Field Arnedes who was no longer able to holde out falling downe to the earth sayd Ah Pernedin reuenge my wrong on this inhumaine wretche who seeing mee cruellie wounded before by the Knight that bare away the honour of the Tourney without any cause sette violently vpon me and this villainous Moore not content to wronge mee alone hath â—…layne this holie Hermit because he disswaded him from dealing with me that had béene so hardlie intreated before What tyrannie is thiâ—… in a â—…night aunswered Pernedin by my Sworde did not my 〈◊〉 to Rifarano ouer-tule mce the gentle Prince that brought thee to y â— Court heere I wolâ—… make thee to breathe thy last but I shall declare thiâ—… treason before the Emperor his Barons what manhood thou hast vsed to a wounded man whom y â— durst not deale with had he béenâ—… in health wherefore gette thee gone I â—…duise thee or I shall sende thine accursed soule to hel At these worâ—… Lecefin was so ashameâ—… of himselfe as moun ting presentlie on Arnedes Horse he rode away not speaking to eyther of them knowing hee haâ—… notoriously blemished his honour wherefore he went to a Monasterie of Nunnes neere at hande to haue his woundes bounde vp that he had receined by Arnedes When the Sisâ—…ers knewe that hee was of the Emperours Court they entertayned him very courteously anâ—… one of them beeing a cunning Chirurgion vndertooke in shorte time to heale his woundes Nowe was Pernedin both offended and greeued to see the olde Hermitte slaine and Arnedes in such daunger wherefore calling the Noâ—…ice that alwaies attended on the olde Father they leadâ—… the wounded Prince into the Hermitage and after warde â—…etching the dead bodie buryed it as they coulde conuenientlie applying soueraigne salues whereof the good olde man was neuer vnprouided to Arnedes woundes But Pernedin seeing there was no more helpe and they likewise ignorant in those kind of vnguents thought it more meete they should goe straite to the Cittie of Constantinople There may ye quoth he sooner recouer your health because men of skill and knowledge shall take special care of you and for my parte I will willinglie accompany you thether albeit I haue not sped in y â— cause of my departure It will be to my shame answered Arnedes that the â—…perour should seâ—… me in this daungerous plight notwithstanding I will at this present be councelled by you beâ—…ing neuer able to recompence thys honourable kindnes CHAP. XVIII How Pernedin brought Arnedes to Constantinople where the Emperour the Empresse with theyr Daughters Philocrista and Melicia came to visite him and what talke the two Dwarffes had together Pâ—…esently after that Arnedes was brought by the meanes of Pernedin to Constantinople in a Litter because he could not endure to sit on horsebacke newes of this mischance was brought to the Emperour who growing into extreme anger against the Moore said Well may Lecefin resemble the Solâ—…ane his Father a man full of trecherous and ignoble practises but he must not thus thinke to wrong a Prince of Fraunce So stepping frowninglie from his Chayre hee went to the Princes Chamber to see him charging his Phisâ—…tions and Chirurgions to tende him so well as if they had his owne person in cure Then Arnedes reuealed the whole discourse of that which happened between Palmendos and him at the end whereof the Emperour thus aunswered I wonder that the â—…night should be so desirous to doo me seruice and yet dooth flye in this sort from mee doubtlesse hee is gone to prooue the aduenture of Francelina if hee rode that way you say he did and it may be his fortune to ende it I hopâ—… except our Nephewe Belcar excéede him in valour that I can 〈◊〉 beleene he will When the Emperor departed hâ—… commaunded that the Empresse and hâ—…r Daughters should goe visite the Prince which shee accordinglie did taking Philocrista and Melicia with her shee beeing greatly offended at the iniurie doone to Arnedes And Philocrista very much bemoned his mishappe yet wiselie and discreetlie as became a sober â—…irgin for the looue shee bare him was deriued from gentlenes and vertue which shee noted him to preferre in all his actions and nothing hadde 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 re especiall account then to conferue her chastitie pure and vnspâ—…tted Arnedes was ioyfull to sée hâ—…r hee loued so deerelie how she sorowed his hard fortune and blamed Lecefin as a diâ—…oyall Traytor which gentle spéeches did more comfort his hart then all the phisâ—…ck or cunning in the world could doo While the Empresse and her Daughters beguiled the time with him Amenada a woman Dwarffe that attended on Philocrista Risdeno her Nephewe came to Bruquell Arnedes Dwarffe who vsed sundry lamentations for the great mishappe had befallen
you are mine which makes mee thinke all my labours nothing in respect of you therefore demaunâ—… what you please for I beeing your professed seruaâ—…nt muâ—… with all reuerence obey your commaunde A thousande thankes good Knight quoth shée albeit such spéeches agree not with your calling I béeing onely in your subiection and ready to attend as your â—…and-mayden but me thinkes it were necessarie you should take a little rest béeing good to regard the ende and periode of all thinges let me therfore humbly intreatâ—… yee to come refreshe your selfe for the better conseruation of your health So went they both together to the Fountaine where Palmendos was vnarmed by y â— Princesse Francelina and her Damoselles and a costly Mantle was brought to wrap about him then sate he down by hys Ladie in another Chayre couered all ouer with Gold and as if Herâ—…bus had sent his Daughter to hide the day light spreading darke night all ouer the Hemisphere so were great store of Torches and Tapers alighted There was â—…elt the odoriâ—…ferous smell of Roses Uiolets al the swéet flowers of the Garden beâ—…de the incomparable beauty of Francelina her Maydens beguiled the time with 〈◊〉 sorts of Inâ—…umentes and thereto sung many dainty canzâ—…nets as if Apollo Orpheus Arion aâ—…d all the other fathers of heauenly Musiquâ—… had béene present which so attracted the sences of the Prince as his memory began to wexe drowâ—…e and forgetful imagining himselfe in a very beatitude where he séemed to sée not onely y â— perfect beautie of a Goddesse but a diuine shadow which caried 〈◊〉 both his hart and eyes in contemplation Of like opinion was the young Princesse meruailing at the braue constitution of her Knight and estéeming her selfe beyond all other in happines that Fortune had sorted her out such a Husbande and in sooth these Louers were the fayrest couple that euer were ioyned in mâ—…riage together not vnâ—…tly compared â—…s Leander and Hero the two goodliest starres that were in their times In this surpasâ—…ng contentation they continued till a Damosell vnderstanding that supper was prepared there set before them a Table readie couered the wood whereof was very precious deliuering a sauour much like to Balme and theron was sette all sorts of costly viands hard by stood a Cupboorde richlie adorned with Basons and Cups of Golde which were embellished with such precious stones as thâ—… value of them was reputed inestimable But these louerâ—… coulde eate verie little because they had worke enough to regard eche other for there is nothing in the worlde morâ—… agréeable to one enamoured then to contemplate the obiect of his thoughts because loue making a breach into the bodie and planting his siege against y â— very soule â—…nders the passage of nourishing mâ—…ates and makes them â—…éed on his louely deuises which are such as euery one of you that haue tasted thereof can distinguish whether they be bitter or swéet Hence procéedeth the pleasure conceiued by behol ding when the eye takes his course to the hart carrying with it the liuelie draught and effigies of the thing séene making so sound impression therof in the spirit as nothing els may be represented therto in y â— end this Idea passing through the penetrailes secret râ—…yons of the stomack engraues on the hart the perfect portrait of y â— thing beloued And what morsel more delicious what wine more plesant or licquor more ambrosius can one find wher with to satisfie the soule esprised with the brandon of Venus then the exact contemplation and secret discourse which the spirit maketh to his onlie choise when he beholdeth himselfe riciprocally bèloued of her whom hee loueth doubtles none at al happily some other might be spoken of which séeme to yéeld more content but then they are transitory of no continuaunce In this sort supped Palmendos Francelina when the Damosels withdrawing the Table went to take their own refection leauing these twaine to deuise together then approching the Knight to the Mistres of hys hart said Madame how happy may I name the howre of my natiuity séeing the celestiall bodies appointed me such a planet as made me gaine y â— honor of your loue now find I that for truth which you told me in the Temple at Delphos y â— in short time I should sée you at mine own pleasure Comâ—…aund then I beséech you what you would heue niee dâ—… and â—…ew me the way to gather some fruit by the perpetual sernice I haue vowed to your diuine beauty that I â—…ay giue some cooling to the vnquenchable flame wher in â—…y hart is more more tormented And if the artificiall â—…re which we receiue froÌ„ betwéen two stones for our vse is lesse then nothing in respecte of the naturall as naâ—…clie the most noble of the foure elements lodged néere the celestial region I dare and by experience can affirme that the violence of the diuine surpasseth the action of y â— other two because if they light on any body they may quickly be extinguished but much more contrary is the other the vehemence wherof euery way increaseth paine without lymitting the life of the sufferer as the very least of y â— other doth My Lord answered Francelina in regarde of the fire which happily you now féele estéeme the same to procéede from the spark that equally hath taken hold on me wherof I make no such admiration considering the disposition of the destentes as to heare you say y â— you haue séene mee in an other place in sooth at y â— age of thrée yeeres I was fatally enclosed in this Castell where neuer snâ—…e entred Knight or anie other straunger but onely you As for my request whereto you haue promised thus it is that you attempt not against my chastitie vntill our mariage be sollemnly performed which may not be til you first haue rescued the king of Thessalie my father from the long imprysonment wherein the Turke hath kept him This aduenture you must néedes vndertake which doubtles yee shall worthilie effect and so be Lorde of me and the Realme of Thessalie wherto I am lawful heire after my Fathers decease for performaunce whereof I commit my selfe into â—… your custody prouided you kéepe your former promise Pal mendos attentiuely noted her words and afterwarde remained a while silent imagining whether he should sendâ—… or accoÌ„panie his Ladie to the Emperor or in meane space kéepe himselfe vnknowne to anie till he had ended the aduenture in Turkie bringing at his returne the King of Thessalie with him if the heauens fauoured him in his deliueraunce at length breaking off this silent determination he answered in this sort Madame so feruent and in expuisable is the loue I â—…eare ye as to gaine the Monarchie of the whole world I woulde not offende the very least of your vertuous thoughtes and albeit I had not promisâ—…d what you required mine own regard shoulde haue taught me better gouernment For I account my selfe