CHAPTER XX
The fourth and last
When Wagner seeing him grieved, came and kneeled down before him, declaring that he would undertake to heal all his wounds and other grievances whatsoever, yea and make him utterly forget all that was passed as if it had never been, and promised more to carry him home himself safe and sound, which the Emperor thanked him highly for, requesting him to perform it presently, for he would not for half his revenues that his Foe should have any occasion to allege against him, for to excuse the Combat. Then went Wagner up into his chamber, and apparelled himself in white taffeta made close to his body, and there where they use to wear round hose half a foot deep, stuck with swans’ feathers, like the skirts of a horseman’s coat, his hose, shoes (for all were together) of the same white taffeta, and within with white leather, at his heels two fine silver wings, and on his shoulders two marvellous large bright silvery wings, and on his head an upright little steeple hat (with a white feather of two or three ranges) of white taffeta, and in his hand a Caduceus or a Mercurial Rod in the same white silver colour, he entered into the Presence Chamber afore all the assembly to their singular contentation, for in his Personated garments he seemed to be a very Angel, for it was in doubt whether Mercury was half so beautiful or no. And there opening a large casement (as there they are very large) with a brave R’ingratio[78] departed from them taking up his flight in the view of them all into the air, as if he would have beaten the Azure firmament with his vast wings. Thus he carried him lower and lower till he did light upon a great Elm, and there he opened his sight to see in what plight he was. The Turk seeing in what a trance he had been, began to swear, to ban and curse, and was even then ready to have thrown himself down headlong, but Mercury he stepped to him and bade him be of good cheer, for it had pleased the great God Jupiter, whose servant Mahomet was, to shew him those great abuses, to the intent he should be more wary in his actions, and take heed how to tempt the Christians with vain battles and such-like speech, but now (quoth he) come and give me thy hand, and then will I lead thee to thy Pavilion, where as yet thou art not missed of the Nobles, for in the place where thou wast taken away, hath Jove sent one to bear thy shape. Then again he took his flight and all the way as he went he rapped his heels against the tops of the high trees, and beat him pitifully upon the shins all the journey, upon the tents’ tops. Now they arrived in the same place from whence he was taken, and there he laid himself down who presently recovered his former strength in full perfectness, and not only not felt it but utterly forgot it. Then he continued his wonted solace and prepared himself to the battle, whilst he was made a laughing-stock of the world, Wagner returned through ye same path which he had made in the air before, came not yet to the Court before they had done laughing, for there the matter from the beginning to the end was rehearsed.
Footnotes
[78] Ringrazio (Ital.) = I thank.