The famous, pleasant, and variable historie, of Palladine of England Discoursing of honorable aduentures, of knightly deedes of armes and chiualrie: enterlaced likewise with the loue of sundrie noble personages, as time and affection limited their desires. ... Translated out of French by A.M. one of the messengers of her Maiesties Chamber.

CHAP. XXXI.

¶ How the Princesse Nonparelia came to visit the Knight without rest, what talke they had together. And how the wise Orbiconte came to the Court, who healed the Prin∣ces woundes he receiued in the Combate.

VErie dangerous were the woundes of the knight without rest and there∣fore he was constrained to keepe his chamber eight dayes together, in which time, the Princesse Nonpare∣lia sent often to vnderstand of his health, and went her selfe (as oppor∣tunitie serued) to see how he did. But that which most of all gréeued these two louers, was, that they could not conferre toge∣ther so secretly as they would: for she neuer went to him without companie of her Ladyes, whome she was loth to acquaint with her amorous desires. At length, as one desi∣rous to be resolued of his affection towards her, one day she withdrew her selfe into her chamber, feigning to repose her selfe there all the after noone, hauing but two of her wayting Gentlewomen with her, the rest were sporting in the Garden and Orchard: and from her chamber she could goe to the Princes lodging, through the great Gal∣leries

vnséene of any, wherefore, accompanyed with her two Damosels, she came to the knight without rest, finding no bodie with him but Liboran, who generally through the Court was reputed dumbe, he seeing the Princesse, pre∣sently gaue place, walking to the windowe with the two Gentlewomen, where with signes and gestures he deuised with them, they taking great pleasure to behold him, pit∣tying his imperfection, because he was of stature comely, and gentle in conditions.

While they thus beguiled the time with Liboran, their mistresse seeing she might safely conferre with the knight without rest, sate downe in a chaire by his bed side, and taking his hand to feele his pulses, giuing a great sigh, thus spake.

Alas my Lord, pitie it is that honorable kindnes should be so hardly requited, and though your comming hither hath benefited the King and vs all, yet may you cursse our acquaintance, being bought at a price so déere and dan∣gerous.

Not so good Madame, answered the knight without rest, I rather thinke the heauens specially fauoured me, in di∣recting my trauaile to this happie countrie: were it onely but to sée you swéete Lady, that mine eyes might behold the rare perfections, wherewith mine eares could neuer be glutted.

You speake your pleasure of me my Lord, answered the Princesse, but were I endued with those titles which you giue me, yet are they farre inferiour to your noble desarts. But leaue this talke my Lord, and tell me how ye fare? and how you féele your wounds recouered? for nothing do I more desire, then to sée you well and frée from danger. Alas Madame, quoth he, the wounds I receiued in the combate against Sulberne, are nothing in respect of that I tooke when I sawe you first.

The Princesse well vnderstanding his meaning, yet feigning the contrarie, thus replied.

Why doo you not then acquaint the Kings Chirurgions therewith, who are reputed the most skilfull in all this Countrey? tell them your paine, and feare not, for all diseases are easily healed when they be soone taken in hand, and not suffered to enter the bodie too farre▪ Or if you will not declare it to them, thinking (perhaps) they can giue you no remedie, boldly may you reueale it to me, as to the most secret fréend you haue in the world. And this I dare assure ye, that if your gréefe may be cured by humane ca∣pacitie, my Aunt the wise Orbiconte can doo it effectually: and for her will I presently send a messenger, who will not faile to make all possible speede hither.

The knight without rest well noting y^e Princesse words, was so rauished in conceite, as he was not able to make any answere: but deliuering many a bitter sigh from the bottome of his hart, he lay as one confounded in a traunce. Why my Lord? quoth she, what think you on? dare you not discouer your disease to me? if you distrust me, I will binde my selfe to you by a sollenme othe, neuer to reueale it to any liuing creature: but will kéepe it as secret as your dumbe fréende that cannot speake, nor shall the ri∣ches of the worlde make me breake my promise.

The Knight without rest would yet make no answere, but still sighing, with wonderfull affection behelde the Princesse: who now changing her cullour, and with the teares trikling downe her chéekes, continued her speeches thus. Beléeue me my Lord, me thinkes (vnder correcti∣on) you doo me wronge, in fearing to bewraye your gréefe to me, I beséeche ye (if you beare me any good will at all) not to make your harme vncurable by defaulte of vtte∣raunce to your freende, and consider that silence is the Nursse of many malladies: where contrariwise, disclo∣sing the same in time, the danger is with ease preuented. The woordes of the Princesse, deliuered with such zealous protestations, and with so many gracious offers: caused the Knight without rest (setting all doubtfull feares aside)

thus to answere. Madame séeing you haue coniured me in such sorte, and haue sollemnelye promised withall, to conceale the greefe that torments me, and cannot be séene: I will make known my harme vnto you. And as he would haue procéeded, a Gentleman entred the Chamber, to aduertise the Princesse that the wise Orbiconte was new∣ly ariued, and that she came to visit the Knight without rest. As the Princesse was going to welcome her Aunt, she met her at the Chamber doore, and comming in againe with her, after she had humblye saluted her, she brought her to the Beds side, the Knight without rest being not a little glad to sée her, in consideration of the promise she made him at her Pallaice. Courage my Sonne quoth Orbiconte, for ere thrée dayes be past, I will make your woundes whole and sound, especially that which touch∣eth your heart. It is not to be asked, whether these woordes pleased him or no, and she looking on his wounds, annointed them with a precious ointement, which healed them in suche sorte, as in foure and twentye howers the skarres could hardly be séene: then merilye to her Niece she thus spake. Doo not you hate this Knight, faire Niece, that hath kept you from marying with the King of Panopia? Beléeue me good Aunt, answered the Princesse, I am more beholding to this Knight then to any man els liuing, for he hath saued my life and honor: and may I any way recompence his gentlenes, he shall perceiue that I will not be ingratefull. But while the King my Father laboureth to requite his paines, let him be perswaded of my good will toward him.

Madame quoth the Prince, so you continue me in your good grace, I thinke my selfe better recompenced, if I haue deserued any recompence at all: then were I presentlye created Emperour of the worlde. To breake off their con∣ference, a Squire came, who saide that the Tables were couered for Supper, wherfore Orbiconte and the Prin∣cesse tooke their leaue, and went into the great hall, where

the King and the Quéene stayed their comming, who wel∣commed their Sister with meruailous kindenes, spending the time of Supper with repetition of many matters. The Tables were no sooner with-drawen, but Orbiconte ta∣king her Niece aside to one of the windowes, began with her in this manner.

Since my comming hither faire Niece, I haue percei∣ued that some thing tormentes ye excéedingly: reueale the occasion thereof to me, and if I may stand ye in any stéede for your helpe, be well assured I will doo it right willingly. The Princesse at these woordes was so astonyed, as she was not able to shape any answere: but shaking like a leafe on the trée, her cullour went and came very strange∣lye, such was her feare that her loue should be discouered. And hauing stayed in this quandarie a good while, at last she perswaded her selfe, that her Aunt by her secret know∣ledge vnderstood her gréefe, wherefore with the teares in her eyes, she thus replied.

Let me intreate you good Aunt, to suffer me endure my mishap in silence, without constraining me to tell ye, from whence my great alteration procéedeth: it is vertue in a maiden to suffer patiently, and shame to bewraye her owne thoughtes, though euery hower addeth a worlde of miserie, and burdeneth her minde with more then com∣mon cares. Yet this I would haue ye to thinke, that my extremities (as yet) haue not stretched so farre, but to make me skilfull in iudging of a passion: from which heere∣tofore I haue defended my selfe indifferently, accounting it an offence to modestie, to heare so much as spéech therof. Orbiconte desirous rather to encrease her passion then any way to diminishe it, thus recomforted her.

You doo well (good Niece) in respect of your calling, to conceale the tormentes you endure, and which my arte ac∣quainted me withall ere I came hither, for it is a signe of speciall gouernement, to be carefull of disclosing such a se∣cret, as carieth greatest regard among all women. But if

you are so liuely touched with loue, as your gentle hart may be empaired therby, by meanes of the woorthy Knight without rest, who hath doone more for you, then all your Fathers subiectes could without him: you must vnder∣stand, that this is a disease common to euery one nor are you alone, or the first that hath felte the furie of this passi∣on, but many noble Ladies (bashefull and right modestlye gouerned) haue felt the power of the God of Loue, who ruleth and commaundeth when and where him pleaseth. For this cause expect the good houre, and before your infir∣mitie ranckle too farre, giue order and remedie thereto in the best sorte you can. I think it not amisse, that you make some experience of Loues authoritie, but you haue let him enter too farre within your hart that euen your very soule is penitrated therwith: the best and most auayling coun∣saile I can giue ye, is to practise some chaste and honest meane, wherby to enioy the summe of your desire, and so shall you preuent infamie and dishonor, which euery crea∣ture ought carefully to auoide.

Alas Madame, quoth the Princesse, I know no mean more honest then the mariage of him and I togeather, but how can that be compassed? or what honor is it to me to moue any spéeche therof? he is a stranger, vnknowen to me of whence or what he is, I am not acquainted with so much as his name. Assure your selfe faire Niece asnwe∣red Orbiconte, that he is Sonne to a most vertuous King, as greatly renowmed as any one in the world: and fur∣ther I will tell ye as concerning him, so you will promise and sweare to me to kéep it secret, for otherwise you shall put him in great danger of his life.

Ah good Aunt, quoth Nonparelia, rather let me dye ten thousand deathes, then be the cause of any displeasure to him: therfore acquainte me with his estate, and I will be directed by you in all my after opinions. But by reason that the King arose and went to his Chamber, their talke drake off, the Quéene and her daughter conducting Orbi∣conte

to her lodging: so remained the Princesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all that night, and earnestly longing for the morning, that she might end the talke betwéene her Aunt and her, for further knowledge of the Knight without rest: who like∣wise was no lesse forward in desire, because after Supper he had not séene the Princesse and Orbiconte.