按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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； an