to be conquered. And this onely content doth remaine to me of my prison, where∣vnto my misfortune hath now brought me. The Gouernour did not then marke the Moore his words so much, nor to what end he spake them, but vsing the mercy that the valiant conquerour is woont to vse to the forlorne man of Fortune, he helped him to rise vp, and to binde vp his woundes, which were not so great, but that he might get vpon his horse, and so all of them with their prisoner tooke the next way home to Alora. The Gouernour as he rode, did continually cast an eie vpon the
Moore whom he thought with himselfe, a goodly man of person, and gracious
of visage, remembring therewithall, howe stoutly he had defended himselfe; but
thought his sadnes too great for so braue a minde as he carried; and because he in∣
termixed his sorrow with sighes, which were tokens of greater greefe, then could be
imagined in so braue a man, and also desirous to knowe more of the matter, he said
vnto him. Behold Sir knight, how the prisoner that leeseth his hart & magnanimitie
for feare of imprisonment, doth hazard the law of his libertie, and that in Martiall
affaires, aduersitie must be entertayned with as merrie a countenance, as by this
greatnes of minde it may deserue to enioy prosperitie againe. And these sighes are
not (me thinkes) beseeming that valour and courage, which thou hast shewed by
tryall of thy person; neither are thy wounds so mortall, that thy life is in hazarde,
whereof besides thou hast shewed not to make so much account, but that thou
wouldest willingly haue left it for thine honours sake: If there be then any other oc∣
casion of thy heauines, tell it me: for by the faith of a gentleman, I sweare vnto thee, that I will vse as much curtesie and friendship towards thee, as thou shalt not haue occasion to repent thee, that thou hast tolde me it. The Moore hearing the Go∣
uernours gentle speech, whereby he argued in him a braue and noble minde, and
his curteous and friendly offer to helpe him, thought it no point of wisedome to
conceale the cause of his greefe from him, because by his milde wordes and graci∣
ous countenance he had such great hope of helpe and fauour, that lifting vp his face, which with the waight of sorrow he went carying in his bosome, he saide vnto
him. How art thou called Sir Knight, that dost thus comfort me in my sadnesse,
whereof thou seemest to haue some feeling, and the which thou dost enforce me
to tell thee. My name is Rodrigo of Naruaez, and Gouernour I am of Alora, and
Antiquera, of both which townes of garrison the King of Aragon my Lord and
Master, hath appointed me Chiefetaine. When the Moore heard this, with a mer∣
rier countenance then before, he said: I am glad that my misfortune hath beene so
fortunate, to make me fall into thy handes; of whose force and manhoode I haue
beene long since informed, the triall whereof though it had cost me deerer, coulde
not haue greatly greeued me, since it doth so greatly content me to see my selfe his
prisoner, whose vertues, valour, and dexteritie in armes doth importune euery ones
eares so much. And becauie the subduing of my person doth oblige me to esteeme
thee the more, and that thou maist not thinke it is any kinde of pusyllanimitie, or
feare in me (without some other great occasion, which lies not in my power to for∣
sake) that makes me so sad and pensiue, I praie thee gentle Knight, by that thou art, to cōmand thy gentlemen to ride on before, because thou maist know, that neither the paine of my greene woundes, nor the greefe of my present captiuitie is cause of my heauie thoughts. The Gouernour hearing these words, made greater reckoning of the Moore, and because he was verie desirous to be thorowly resolued what he was, he willed his gentlemen to ride on before: and they two comming on faire and softly behind, the Moore fetching a profound sigh from his soule, began thus to saie.
