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
（drowned in teares） she returned denyall； till in the end； when no
contradiction could prevaile； to satisfie her parents； and the
importunate pursuers： she was constrained to reveale； the charge
imposed on her by her Husband； which shee had vowed infallibly to
keepe； and till that very time； she would in no wise consent。
While wooing for a second wedding with Adalietta； proceeded in
this manner at Pavia； it chanced on a day； that Signior Thorello had
espied a man in Alexandria whom he saw with the Geneway
Ambassadours； when they set thence towards Geneway with their Gallies。
And causing him to be sent for； he demaunded of him； the successe of
the voyage； and when the Gallies arrived at Geneway； whereto he
returned him this answere。 My Lord； our Gallies made a very fatall
voyage； as it is （already） too well knowne in Creete； where my
dwelling is。 For when we drew neere Sicilie； there suddenly arose a
very dangerous North…West…winde； which drove us on the quicke…Sands of
Barbarie； where not any man escaped with life； onely my selfe
excepted； but （in the wracke） two of my brethren perished。
Signior Thorello； giving credit to the mans words； because they were
most true indeed； and remembring also； that the time limitted to his
Wife； drew neere expiring within very few dayes； and no newes now
possibly to be sent thither of his life； his Wife would
questionlesse be marryed againe： he fell into such a deepe conceited
melancholly； as food and sleepe forsooke him； whereupon； he kept his
bed； setting downe his peremptory resolution for death。 When
Saladine （who dearely loved him） heard thereof； he came in all haste
to see him； and having （by many earnest perswasions and entreaties）
understood the cause of his melancholly and sickenesse： he very
severely reproved him； because he could no sooner acquaint him
therewith。 Many kind and comfortable speeches； he gave him； with
constant assurance； that （if he were so minded） he would so order
the businesse for him； as he should be at Pavia； by the same time as
he had appointed to his Wife； and revealed to him also the manner how。
Thorello verily beleeved the Soldanes promise； because he had
often heard the possibility of performance； and others had effected as
much； divers times else…where： whereupon he began to comfort himselfe；
soliciting the Soldan earnestly that it might be accomplished。
Saladine sent for one of his Sorcerers （of whose skill he had formerly
made experience） to take a direct course； how Signior Thorello
should be carryed （in one night） to Pavia； and being in his bed。 The
Magitian undertooke to doe it； but； for the Gentlemans more ease； he
must first be possessed with an entraunced dead sleep。 Saladine
being thus assured of the deeds full effecting； he came againe to
Thorello； and finding him to be setled for Pavia （if possibly it might
be accomplished by the determined time； or else no other expectation
but death） he said unto him as followeth。
Signior Thorello； if with true affection you love your Wife； and
misdoubt her marriage to some other man： I protest unto you； by the
supreme powers； that you deserve no reprehension in any manner
whatsoever。 For； of all the Ladyes that ever I have seene； she is
the onely woman； whose carriage； vertues； and civile speaking （setting
aside beauty； which is but a fading flowre） deserveth most
graciously to be respected； much more to be affected in the highest
degree。 It were to me no meane favour of our Gods； （seeing Fortune
directed your course so happily hither） that for the short or long
time we have to live； we might reigne equally together in these
Kingdomes under my subjection。 But if such grace may not be granted
me； yet； seeing it stands mainly upon the perill of your life； to be
at Pavia againe by your own limitted time； it is my chiefest
comfort； that I am therewith acquainted； because I intended to have
you conveighed thither； yea； even into your owne house； in such
honourable order as your vertues doe justly merit； which in regard
it cannot be so conveniently performed； but as I have already informed
you； and as the necessity of the case urgently commandeth； accept it
as it may be best accomplished。
Great Saladine （answered Thorella） effects （without words） have
already sufficiently warranted your Gracious disposition towards me；
farre beyond any requitall remayning in me； your word onely being
enough for my comfort in this case； either dying or living。 But in
regard you have taken such order for my departure hence； I desire to
have it done with all possible expedition； because to morrow is the
very last day； that I am to be absent。 Saladine protested that it
should be done； and the same evening in the great Hall of his Pallace；
commanded a rich and costly Bedde to be set up； the mattras formed
after the Alexandrian manner； of Velvet and cloth Gold； the Quilts；
counterpoints and coverings； sumptuously imbroydered with Orient
Pearles and Precious Stones； supposed to be of inestimable value；
and two rarely wrought Pillowes； such as best beseemed so stately a
Bedde； the Curtaines and Vallans every way equall to the other pompe。
Which being done； he commanded that Thorello （who was
indifferently recovered） should be attyred in one of his owne
sumptuous Saracine Roabes； the very fairest and richest that ever
was seene； and on his head a Majesticall Turbant； after the manner
of his owne wearing； and the houre appearing to be somewhat late； he
with many of his best Baschaes； went to the Chamber where Thorello
was； and sitting downe a while by him； in teares thus he spake。
Signior Thorello； the houre for sundering you and me； is now very
neere； and because I cannot beare you company； in regard of the
businesse you goe about； and which by no meanes will admit it： I am to
take my leave of you in this Chamber； and therefore am purposely
come to doe it。 But before I bid you farewell； let me entreat you；
by the love and friendship confirmed betweene us； to be mindfull of