Lords of greatest account, and three light under-wearing Cassocks or
Mandillions, of Carnatian Sattin, richly Imbroidred with Gold and
Pearles, and lined thorow with White Taffata, presenting these gifts
to him, she sayd. I desire you Gentlemen to receive these meane
trifies, such as you see my Husband weares the like, and these other
beside, considering you are so far from your Wives, having travailed a
long way already, and many miles more yet to overtake; also
Marchants (being excellent men) affect to be comely and handsome in
their habits; although these are of slender value, yet (in
necessity) they may do you service.
Now was Saladine and his Baschaes halfe astonyed with admiration, at
the magnificent minde of Signiour Thorello, who would not forget the
least part of courtesie towardes them, and greatly doubted (seeing the
beauty and riches of the Garments) least they were discovered by
Thorello. Neverthelesse, one of them thus answered the Lady. Beleeve
me Madame, these are rich guiftes, not lightly either to be given,
rich or receyved: but in regard of your strict imposition, we are
not able to deny them. This being done, with most gracious and
courteous demeanour, she departed from them, leaving her Husband to
keepe them still companie; who furnished their servants also, with
divers worthy necessaries fitting for their journey.
Afterward, Thorello (by very much importunitie) wonne them to stay
with him all the rest of the day; wherefore, when they had rested
themselves awhile, being attyred in their newly given robes; they rode
on Horsebacke thorow the Citty. When supper time came, they supt in
most honourable and worthy company, beeing afterwards Lodged in most
faire and sumptuous Chambers, and being risen in the morning, in
exchange of their horses (over-wearied with Travaile) they found three
other very richly furnished, and their men also in like manner
provided. Which when Saladine had perceyved, he tooke his Baschaes
aside, and spake in this manner.
By our greatest Gods, I never met with any man, more compleat in all
noble perfections, more courteous and kinde then Thorello is. If all
the Christian Kings, in the true and heroicall nature of Kings, do
deale as honourably as I see this Knight doeth, the Soldane of Babylon
is not able to endure the comming of one of them, much lesse so
many, as wee see preparing to make head against us. But beholding,
that both refusall and acceptation, was all one in the minde of
Thorello: after much kinde Language had bin intercoursed betweene
them, Saladine (with his Attendants) mounted on horsebacke.
Signiour Thorello, with a number of his honourable Friends (to the
number of an hundred Horsse) accompanied them a great distance from
the Citie, and although it greeved Saladine exceedingly, to leave
the company of Thorello, so dearely he was affected to him: but
necessity (which controlleth the power of all lawes whatsoever) must
needs divide them: yet requesting his returne agayne that way, if
possibly it might be granted; which Saladine promised but did not
performe. Well Gentlemen (quoth Thorello at parting) I know not what
you are, neither (against your will) do I desire it: but whether you
be Marchants or no remember me in your kindnesse, and so to the
heavenly powers I commend you. Saladine, having taken his leave of all
them that were with Thorello, returned him this answer. Sir, it may
one day hereafter so happen, as we shal let you see some of our
Marchandises, for the better confirmation of your beleefe, and our
profession.
Thus parted Signior Thorello and his friends, from Saladine and
his company, who verily determined in the heighth of his minde, if
he should be spared with life, and the warre (which he expected)
concluded: to requite Thorello with no lesse courtesie, then hee had
already declared to him; conferring a long while after with his
Baschaes, both of him and his beauteous Lady, not forgetting any of
their courteous actions, but gracing them all with deserved
commendation. But after they had (with very laborious paines) surveyed
most of the Westerne parts, they all tooke Shipping, and returned into
Alexandria: sufficiently informed, what preparation was to be made for
their owne defence. And Signior Thorello being come backe againe to
Pavia, consulted with his privat thoughts (many times after) what
these three travailers should be, but came farre short of knowing
the truth, till (by experience) hee became better informed.
When the time was come, that the Christians were to make their
passage, and wonderfull great preparations, in all places performed:
Signiour Thorello, notwithstanding the teares and intreaties of his
Wife, determined to be one in so woorthy and honourable a voyage:
and having made his provision ready, nothing wanting but mounting on
Horsebacke, to go where he should take shipping; to his Wife (whom
he most intirely affected) thus hee spake. Madame, I goe as thou seest
in this famous Voyage, as well for mine Honour, as also the benefite
of my soule; all our goodes and possessions, I commit to thy
vertuous care. And because I am not certaine of my returning backe
againe, in regard of a thousand accidents which may happen, in such
a Countrey as I goe unto: I desire onely but one favour of thee,
whatsoever daunger shall befall mee; Namely, when any certaine tydings
shall be brought you of my death; to stay no longer before thy
second marriage, but one yeare, one month, and one day; to begin on
this day of my departing from thee.
The Lady, who wept exceedingly, thus answered. Alas Sir: I know
not how to carry my selfe, in such extremity of greefe, as now you
leave me; but if my life surmount the fortitude of sorrow, and
whatsoever shall happen to you for certainty, either life or death:
I will live and dye the Wife of Signiour Thorello, and make my
obsequies in his memory onely. so Madame (replyed her Husband) not so;
Be not overrash in promising any thing, albeit I am well assured, that
so much as consisteth in thy strength, I make no question of thy
performance. But consider withall (deare heart) thou art a yong woman,
beautifull, of great parentage, and no way thereto inferior in the
blessings of Fortune.
Thy Vertues are many, and universally both divulged and knowen, in
which respect, I make no doubt; but divers and sundrie great Lords and
Gentlemen (if but the least rumor of my death be noysed) will make
sulte for thee to thy parents and brethren, from whose violent
solicitings, wouldst thou never so resolutely make resistance, yet
thou canst not be able to defend thy selfe; but whether thou wilt or
no, thou must yeeld to please them; and this is the only reason, why I
would tie thee to this limited time, and not one day or minute longer.
Adalietta, sweetly hugging him in her armes, and melting her selfe
in kisses, sighes, and teares on his face, said. Well Sir, I will do
so much as I am able, in this your most kinde and loving imposition:
and when I shall bee compelled to the contrary: yet rest thus
constantly assured, that I will not breake this your charge, so much
as in thought. Praying ever heartily to the heavenly powers, that they
will direct your course home againe to me, before your prefixed
date, or else I shall live in continual languishing. In the knitting
up of this woful parting, embracing and kissing either infinit
times, the Lady tooke a Ring from off her finger, and giving it to her
husband, said. If I chaunce to die before I see you againe, remember
me when you looke on this. He receiving the Ring, and bidding all
the rest of his Friends farewell, mounted on horsebacke, and rode away
wel attended.
Being come unto Geneway, he and his company boorded a Galley, and
(in few dayes after) arrived at Acres, where they joyned themselves
with the Christian Army, wherein there happened a verie dangerous
mortality: During which time of so sharpe visitation (the cause
unknowne whence it proceeded) whether thorough the industrie, or
rather the good Fortune of Saladine, well-neere all the rest of the
Christians (which escaped death) were surprized his prisoner
(without a blow strucken) and sundred and imprisoned in divers
Townes and Citties. Amongest the which number of prisoners, it was
Signior Thorelloes chaunce to be one, and walked in bonds to
Alexandria, where being unknowne, and fearing least he should be
discovered: constrained thereto meerly by necessity, hee shewed
himselfe in the condition of a Faulconer; wherein he was very
excellently experienced, and by which means his profession was made
knowne to Saladine, hee delivered out of prison, and created the
Soldans Faulconer.
Thorello (whom the Soldane called by no other name, then the
Christian, neyther of them knowing the other) sadly now remembred
his departure from Pavia, devising and practising many times, how he
might escape thence, but could not compasse it by any possible meanes.
Wherefore, certaine Ambassadours beeing sent by the Genewayes, to
redeeme divers Cittizens of theirs, there detained as prisoners, and
being ready to returne home againe: he purposed to write to his
Wife, that he was living, and wold repaire to her so soone as he
could, desiring the still continued rememberance of her limited
time. By close and cunning meanes hee wrote the Letter, earnestly
intreating one of the Ambassadors (who knew him perfectly, but made no
outward apparance thereof) to deale in such sort for him, that the
Letter might be delivered to the handes of the Abbot Di San Pietro
in Ciel d'Oro, who was (indeede) his Unckle.
While Thorello remayned in this his Faulconers condition, it
fortuned uppon a day, that Saladine, conversing with him about his
Hawkes: Thorello chanced to smile, and used such a kinde of gesture or
motion with his Lippes, which Saladine (when he was in his house at
Pavia) had heedfully observed, and by this note, instantly he
remembred Signior Thorello, and began to eye him very respectively,
perswading himselfe that he was the same man. And therefore falling
from their former kinde of discoursing: Tell me: Christian (quoth
Saladine) what Country-man art thou of the West? Sir, answered
Signiour Thorello, I am by Country a Lombard, borne in a Citty
called Pavia, a poore man, and of as poore condition.
So soone as Saladine had heard these Words; becomming assured in
that which (but now) he doubted, he saide within himselfe. Now the
Gods have given me time, wherein I may make knowne to this man, how
thankefully I accepted his kinde courtesie, and cannot easily forget
it. Then, without saying any thing else, causing his Guard-robe to
be set open, he tooke him with him thither, and sayde. Christian,
observe well all these Garments, and quicken thy remembrance, in
telling mee truly, whether thou hast seene any of them before now,
or no. Signiour Thorello looked on them all advisedly, and espyed
those two especiall Garments, which his Wife had given one of the
strange Merchants; yet he durst not credit it, or that possibly it
could be the same, neverthelesse he said. Sir, I doe not know any of
them, but true it is, that these two doe resemble two such Robes, as I
was wont to weare my selfe, and these (or the like) were given to
three Merchants, that happened to visite my poore house.
Now could Saladine containe no longer, but embracing him joyfully in
his armes, he said. You are Signior Thorello d'Istria, and I am one of
those three Merchants to whom your Wife gave these Roabes: and now the
time is come to give you credible intelligence of my Merchandise, as I
promised at my departing from you, for such a time (I told you)
would come at length. Thorello, was both glad, and bashfull
together: glad, that he had entertained such a Guest, and bashfully
ashamed, that his welcome had not exceeded in more bountifull
manner. Thorello, replyed Saladine, seeing the Gods have sent you so
happily to me: account your selfe to be soly Lord here, for I am now
no more then a private man.
I am not able to expresse their counterchanges of courtesie,
Saladine commanding him to be cloathed in Royall garments, and
brought into the presence of his very greatest Lords, where having
spoken liberally in his due commendation, he commanded them to
honour him as himselfe, if they expected any grace or favour from him,
which every one did immediatly, but (above all the rest) those two
Baschaes, which accompanied Saladine at his house. The greatnesse of
this pompe and glory, so suddenly throwne on Signior Thorello, made
him halfe forget all matters of Lomberdie; and so much the rather,
because he had no doubt at all, but that his letters, were safely come
to the hands of his Uncle.
Here I am to tell you, that in the Campe or Army of the
Christians, on the day when Saladine made his surprizal, there was a
Provinciall Gentleman dead and buried, who was Signior Thorello de
Dignes, a man of very honourable and great esteeme, in which respect
(Signior Thorello d'Istria, knowne throughout the Army, by his
Nobility and valour) whosoever heard that Signior Thorello was dead:
beleeved it to be Thorello d'Istria, and not he of Dignes, so that
Thorello d'Istriaes unknowne surprizall and thraldome, made it also to
passe for an assured truth.
Beside, many Italians returning home, and carrying this report for
credible; some were so audaciously presumptuous, as they avouched upon
their oathes, that not onely they saw him dead, but were present at
his buriall likewise. Which rumour comming to the eare of his Wife,
and likewise to his kinred and hers: procured a great and grievous
mourning among them, and all that happened to heare thereof.
Over-tedious time it would require, to relate at large, the publique
griefe and sorrow, with the continuall lamentations of his Wife, who
(within some few moneths after) became tormented with new marriage
solicitings, before she had halfe sighed for the first: the very
greatest persons of Lomberdie making the motion, being daily
followed and furthered by her owne brothers and friends. Still
