did it the rather because Plutarke in one place speaking of Homer partly lamenteth and partly blameth him that writing so much as he did yet in none of his workes there was any mention made or so much as inkling to be gathered of what stocke he was of what kindred of what towne nor saue for his language of what countrey Excuse me then if I in a worke that may perhaps last longer then a better thing and being not ashamed of my kindred name them here and there to no mans offence though I meant not to make euerie body so far of my counsell why I did it till I was told that some person of some reckening noted me of a little vanitie for it and thus much for that point For my omitting and abreuiating some things either in matters impertinent to vs or in some too tedious flatteries of persons that we neuer heard of if I haue done ill I craue pardon for sure I did it for the best But if any being studious of the Italian would for his better vnderstanding compare them the first sixe bookes saue a little of the third will stand him in steed But yet I would not haue any man except that I should obserue his phrase so strictly as an interpreter nor the matter so carefully as if it had bene a storie in which to varie were as great a sin as it were simplicitie in this to go word for word But now to conclude I shall pray you all that haue troubled your selues to read this my triple Apologie to accept my labors and to excuse my errors if with no other thing at least with the name of youth which commonly hath need of excuses and so presuming this pardon to be granted we shall part good frends Onely let me intreate you in reading the booke ensuing not to do me that iniurie that a Potter did to Artosto AN ADVERTISEMENT TO THE READER BEFORE HE READE THIS POEME OF SOME THINGS TO BE OBSERVED as vvell in the substance of this vvorkâ— as also in the setting forth thereof vvith the vse of the Pictures Table and annotations to the same annexed THere are peraduenture many men and some of those both graue and godly men that in respect they count all Poetrie as meerly tending to wantonnesle and vanitie will at the very first sight reiect this booke and not onely not allow but blame and reproue the trauel taken in letting forth the same in our mother tongue And surely for such censurers as will condemne without hearing the cause pleaded I can be well content to haue them spare the labor in reading which they thinke I haue lost in writing and appealing from them if not to higher at least to more indifferent iudges namely such as wil vouchsafe to heare what can be spoken in defence of the matter and then will yeeld as wise men euer should do to the stronger reason I do to them direct this my short aduertisement which because all that may reade this booke are not of equall capacities I will endeuor to explane more plainly then for the learned sort had haply bene requisite And first if any haue this scruple that it might be hurtfull for his soule or conscience to reade a booke of Poetry as though it might alien his mind from vertue and religion I referre him beside many other excellent mens writings both in defence and praise thereof to a litle briefe treatise in the beginning of this booke written by me generally in defence of Poemes and specially of this present worke which I dare affirme to be neither vicious nor profane but apt to breed the quite contrary effects if a great fault be not in the readers owne bad disposition Secondly I haue in the marginall notes quoted the apt similitudes and pithie sentences or adages with the best descriptions and the excellent imitations and the places and authors from whence they are taken Further where diuers stories in this worke seeme in many places abruptly broken off I haue set directions in the margent where to find the continuance of euery such storie though I would not wish any to reade them in that order at the first reading but if any thinke them worthy the twise reading then he may the second time not vnconueniently vse it if the meane matter betweene the so deuided stories vpon which commonly they depend be not quite out of his memorie Also according to the Italian maner I haue in a staffe of eight verses comprehended the contents of euery Book or Canto in the beginning thereof which hath two good vses one to vnderstand the picture the perfecter the other to remember the storie the better As for the pictures they are all cut in brasse and most of them by the best workmen in that kind that haue bin in this land this many yeares yet I will not praise them too much because I gaue direction for their making and in regard thereof I may be thought partiall but this I may truly say that for mine owne part I haue not seene any made in England better nor indeed any of this kind in any booke except it were a treatise set forth by that profound man master Broughton the list yeare vpon the Reuelation in which there are some three or foure pretie pictures in octauo cut in brasse very workmanly As for other bookes that I haue seene in this Realme either in Latine or English with pictures as Liuie Gesner Alciats emblemes a booke de Spectris in Latine and in our tongue the Chronicles the booke of Martyrs the booke of hauking and hunting and M. Whitneys excellent Emblemes yet all their figures are cut in wood and none in metall and in that respect inferiour to these at least by the old prouerbe the more cost the more worship The vse of the picture is euident which is that hauing read ouer the booke you may reade it as it were againe in the very picture and one thing is to be noted which euery one haply will not obserue namely the perspectiue in euery figure For the personages of men the shapes of horses and such like are made large at the bottome and lesser vpward as if you were to behold all the same in a plaine that which is nearest seemes greatest and the fardest shewes smallest which is the chiefe art in picture If the name of any man woman country towne horse or weapon seeme strange to any I haue made a table where to find it And in the same table a direction for the seuerall tales where to begin and end those that may conueniently be read single of which kind there are many and those not vnpleasant Lastly at the end of euery Book or Canto because the Reader may take not only delight but profit in reading I haue noted in all as occasion is offered the Morall the Historie the Allegorie and the Allusion The Morall that we may apply it to our owne manners
valiant seruice sticketh to him to the last but Agramants owne rashnesse and follie ouerthrowes all the good that could be done him Further these youthfull Counsellours on whom Agramant did so much relye did not onely hurt him by their fond perswasions to his ill succeeding warres but also in the middest of the heate thereof when their seruice should haue stood him in most steed annoyed him and in a manner quite confounded him with their continuall iarring and squaring among themselues about matters of small or no importance So that as Agamemnon was wont to wish for ten Nestors and could haue bene content to haue spared Achilles so Agramant had iust cause to haue wished for ten Sobrinos and to haue spared Rodomount and the other great champions And by the way it is to be noted how Poeticallie mine author sendeth Discord among them and where she was found as you might reade in the fourteenth booke Now to Agramant is on the other side opposed Charles a graue and well stayed Prince wise and valiant not parciall in doing iustice bountifull in rewarding seruices and which is all in all deuout without hypocrisie and putting indeed his affiance in God and consequently in his extremities is ayded by God and in the end obtaining a most happie victorie driuing both his enemies out of his countrie and gayning from them a great part of theirs Further my author hath set downe diuers formes as I may call it of valiant men though not all in a sort to be imitated but some rather greatlie to be reproued Mandricard is described to be exceeding full of courage and withall verie quarrelsome and yet with good successe He takes Doralyce from her guard he fights with Orlando with Rodomont with Marsisa and still he holds his owne But this good fortune is a cause to fooles of their ouerthrow for as our English Prouerb saith So oft goes the pitcher to the water at last it comes broke home Mandricard would needs quarrell with Rogero about their cognisaunce and by him is slaine after all his brauerie This is written for a warning to such as are of Mandricardos disposition to take heed of Mandricardos end Likewise in Rodomont there was exceeding strength of bodie as well as courage of minde but the same was gouerned with no deliberation which caused him to attempt and to giue ouer things attempted very sodainly which finally turned to be hurtfull to himselfe as well as to others On the other side Renaldo was a franke natured man valiant curteous Ferraw stout but too ful of cracking and therby procuring himselfe enmities Orlando ful of clemencie as well as courage Zerbino a patterne of a most noble thankful nature and though not fortunate yet most famous in despite of fortune Rogero the verie Idea and perfect example of a true knight that will by no meanes break his faith and his honour that seekes no aduantage of the inchanted sheeld that to be gratefull to Don Leon Augustus would leese both loue and life and finally that in defence of his honour killeth Rodomont Further as I haue often noted in the seuerall bookes it is a verie pleasing thing to see the due punishment of the wicked doers and the procurers of euill as besides those I haue noted you may see that none scapeth of the xxxij kings that came out of Affricke but Rogero and Sobrino the one a perswader to peace the other a iust warriour and true of his word Beside in Astolfo is a praise of learning who with his sounding horne by which is meant eloquence and with his booke betokening wisedome both the gifts of Logestilla becommeth a tamer of monsters as well as a conquerour of men and accomplisheth greater matters alone then all the rest do with their force and armes Further in the praise of learning and to moue Princes to fauour learning he shewes how onely the pen of the learned is that that preserues the good fame of Princes as for the common foolish Pamphlet-writers he condemneth them likening them to Vultures carren Crowes and chattering Pyes that are not able to saue their friends names from the lake of obliuion because their writings are not durable Thus much I thought good to note of the generall Allegorie of the whole worke to giue you occasion to ruminate as it were and better to disgest that which you before in reading did perhaps swallow downe whole without chewing Now me thinke it is euen high time to take away and bid much good do it you or at least no harme do it you or if you thinke it will for all this the best phisicke I can prescribe you is to take a leafe or two of S. Matthewes Gospell or of S. Paules Epistles and it shall restore you to your perfect health THE LIFE OF ARIOSTO BRIEFLY AND COMPENDIOVSLY GATHERED OVT OF SVNDRIE ITALIAN writers by IOHN HARINGTON THose that performed anie notable worke in their liues either for the profite of their countrey or for the aduancement of learning or in any other thing that hath made them worth the talking of after their deceasses haue for the most part both bene recorded in the Histories of their times and also had their names eternized by speciall Treatises written of their liues by which the ensuing ages might know their country their parentage their time of birth their education their disposition their actions and their end Whether it be that men are willing to prosecute their deserts with a thankfull remémbrance after their deaths as it were for a kind of recompence of their trauell in this life whether for the incouragement of those that liue to make them by vertue hunt after fame Neither onely haue men of good deserts bene praised for their vertues but also the wicked haue bene blazed for their faults that those whom desire of fame cannot allure to well doing yet feare of shame and ignominie may terrifie from leud actions In both which kinds diuerse haue employed their pennes both in former ages and now of late to the great good and delight of the studious reader Witnesse Plutarks liues called his Paralels comparing the notable men of Rome and Greece Suetonius booke of the twelue Caesars anothers after him of ten Emperours excellently written in Italian And of our owne countrie and in our owne language the Mirrour of Magistrates in which the life and fall of many great persons is very well set downe and in a good verse Now as I say this being a common custome and as it were a due reward to men of good desert no maruell if this Poet whose worke hath bene acceptable to so many thousands haue also found this fauour to haue his life written which hath bene done by three Italians that I haue read namely Gierolam Porro of Padoa Gierolamo Garofala of Ferrara and by Simon Fornari of Rheggio out of whose three reports I haue gathered this compendious treatise to satisfie such as are desirous to know who this
And thus much be said for Poesie Now for this Poeme of Orlando Furioso which as I haue heard hath bene disliked by some though by few of any wit or iudgement it followes that I say somewhat in defence thereof which I will do the more moderatly and coldly by how much the paines I haue taken in it rising as you may see to a good volume may make me seeme a more partiall praiser Wherefore I will make choise of some other Poeme that is allowed and approued by all men and a little compare them together and what worke can serue this turne so fitly as Virgils Aeneados whom aboue all other it seemeth my author doth follow as appeares both by his beginning and ending The one begins Arma virumque cano The other Le donne I cauallieri l' arme gli amori Le cortesie l' audace imprese io canto Virgil ends with the death of Turnus Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub vmbras Ariosto ends with the death of Rodomont Bestemiando fugi l' alma sdegnosa Che fu si altero al mondo e si orgogliosa Virgil extolleth Aeneas to please Augustus of whose race he was thought to come Ariosto praiseth Rogero to the honour of the house of Este. Aeneas hath his Dido that retaineth him Rogero hath his Alcina finally left I should note euery part there is nothing of any speciall obseruation in Virgil but my author hath with great felicitie imitated it so as whosoeuer will allow Uirgil must ipso facto as they say admit Ariosto Now of what account Virgil is reckned and worthily reckned for ancient times witnesseth Augustuâ— Caesars verse of him Ergone supremis potuit vox improba verbis Tam dirum mandare nefas c. Concluding thus Laudetur placeat vigeat relegatur ametur This is a great praise comming from so great a Prince For later times to omit Scaliger whom I recited before that affirmeth the reading of Virgil may make a man honest and vertuous that excellent Italian Poet Dant professeth plainly that when he wandred out of the right way meaning thereby when he liued fondly and loosly Virgil was the first that made him looke into himselfe and reclaime himselfe from that same dangerous and leud course But what need we further witnesse do we not make our children reade it commonly before they can vnderstand it as a testimonie that we do generally approue it and yet we see old men studie it as a proofe that they do specially admire it so as one writes very pretily that children do wade in Uirgil and yet strong men do swim in it Now to apply this to the praise of mine author as I said before so I say still whatsoeuer is praise-worthy in Virgil is plentifully to be found in Ariosto and some things that Virgil could not haue for the ignorance of the age he liued in you find in my author sprinkled ouer all his worke as I will very briefly note and referre you for the rest to the booke it selfe The deuout and Christian demeanor of Charlemaine in the 14. booke with his prayer Non vogliatua bonta per mio fallire Ch'l tuo popol fidele babbia a patire c. And in the beginning of the 17. booke that would be seeme any pulpit Il giusto Dio quando i peccati nostri But aboue all that in the 41. booke of the conuersion of Rogero to the Christian Religion where the Hermit speaketh to him containing in effect a ful instruction against presumption and despaire which I haue set downe thus in English Now as I said this wise that Hermit spoke And part doth comfort him and part doth checke He blameth him that in that pleasant yoke He had so long deferd to put his necke But did to wrath his maker still prouoke And did not come at his first call and becke But still did hide himselfe away from God Vntill he saw him comming with his rod. Then did he comfort him and make him know That grace is nere denide to such as aske As do the workmen in the Gospell show Receiuing pay alike for diuers taske And so after concluding How to Christ he must impute The pardon of his sinnes yet nere the later He told him he must be baptiz'd in water These and infinite places full of Christen exhortation doctrine and example I could quote out of the book saue that I hasten to an end and it would be needles to those that wil not read them in the booke it selfe and superfluous to those that will but most manifest it is and not to be denyed that in this point my author is to be preferred before all the ancient Poets in which are mentioned so many false Gods and of them so many fowle deeds their contentions their adulteries their incest as were both obscenous in recitall and hurtfull in example though indeed those whom they tearmed Gods were certaine great Princes that committed such enormous faults as great Princes in late ages that loue still to be cald Gods of the earth do often commit But now it may be and is by some obiected that although he write Christianly in some places yet in other some he is too lasciuious as in that of the baudy Frier in Alcina and Rogeros copulation in Anselmus his Giptian in Richardetto his metamorphosis in mine hosts tale of Astolfo and some few places beside alas if this be a fault pardon him this one fault though I doubt to many of you gentle readers will be too exorable in this point yea me thinks I see some of you searching already for these places of the book and you are halfe offended that I haue not made some directions that you might finde out and read them immediatly But I beseech you stay a while and as the Italian saith Pian piano fayre and softly and take this caueat with you to read them as my author meant them to breed detestation and not delectation remember when you read of the old lecherous Frier that a fornicator is one of the things that God hateth When you read of Alcina thinke how Ioseph fled from his intising mistres when you light on Anselmus tale learne to loath beastly couetousnes when on Richardetto know that sweet meate will haue sowre sawce when on mine hosts tale if you will follow my counsell turne ouer the leafe and let it alone although euen that lewd tale may bring some men profit and I haue heard that it is already and perhaps not vnfitly termed the comfort of cuckolds But as I say if this be a fault then Virgil committed the same fault in Dido and Aeneas entertainement if some will say he tels that mannerly and couertly how will they excuse that where Vulcan was inteated by Venus to make an armour for Aeneas Dixerat niuâ—s hinc atque hinc diua lacertis Cunctantem ample xu molli fouet ille repente Accepit solitam flammam notusque per artus Intrauit
In the great praise of Rogero and Bradamant his posterittie noblemen and gentlemen of good houses may take 〈…〉 father vertu us ancestors and thinke themselves beloved of God and blessed with great temporall blessings 〈…〉 not from their worthy sure fathers Also we may note that commonly good parents bring good children 〈…〉 Melyssa brings Bradamant by intricate wayes from the cave and instructs her how to confound Atlantes 〈…〉 good and godly counsel makes men overcome all troubles and enables them to withstand all wicâ—◠〈…〉 that Bradamant dissembles with Brunello we may gather a lesson which in this age we be too apt 〈…〉 nameâ— to dissimble with dissemblers 〈…〉 is diners it diuers and therefore I meane to note the principallest of them as far as my litle reading 〈…〉 and first for Merlin called the English Prophet I know many are hard of beleef and think it a meeresable that is written both of his birth of his life and chiefly of his death for his birth indeed I beleeue not that he 〈…〉 by an Incubus yet the possibilitie thereof might be proued by this place â—rather held with the great clerk Bellarmine that such birth is either impossible or teacher to the great Antichrist when he shall come But concerning his life that there was such a man a great 〈…〉 to King Arthur I hold it certaine that he had a castle in â—shire called after him Merlinsburie now Marl◠〈…〉 likely the old ruines whereof are yet seene in our highway from Bath to London Also the great stones of 〈…〉 and number that he scattered about the place have given occasion to some to report and others 〈…〉 wrought by his great spill in Magicke as likewise the great stones at Stonage on Salisâ—◠〈…〉 which the ignorant people beleeue be brought out of Ireland and indeed the wiser sort can rather maruel at 〈…〉 they were set there But for the manner of his death and place of his buriall it is so diuersly written 〈…〉 countreys chalienged as a man may be bolder to say that all of them are saise then that any of them 〈…〉 will have him buried in Cornewall some in Wales where they say he was borne Ariosto by Poeticall lisence 〈…〉 or him in France and the fiction of the tombe is taken of a former fiction in King Arthurs booke 〈…〉 that Merlin being exceedingly in loue with the Ladie of the Lake to brag of his cunning shewed her one day 〈…〉 deuices of his a 〈◊〉 that he had made of sufficient capacitie to hold him and his wife and withall 〈…〉 a charme which being pronounced in an order that he shewed her the toombe would close and neuer againe be opened She having no mind to him or rather indeed flatly hating him grew on the sodaine very gamesome with him 〈…〉 him some extraordinary kindnesse and in the end for want of better pastime would needs perswade him to 〈…〉 would hold them both and so offered her selfe to go in with him he suspecting nothing lesse then her malicious purpose went imply in and straight she shut him in with the couer and bound it so fast with the charme as it will neuer 〈…〉 This I thought good to set donne for expounding the II. Staffe of this booke the plainer not that any matter here 〈◊〉 worth the noting without it be to warne men not to tell such dangerous secrets to women except they 〈…〉 to imitate the wisedome of Cato in repenting it after And thus much for Merlin The rest of the booke 〈…〉 a true historie and is a repetition of the pedegrue of Alfonso Duke of Ferrara with some briefe touches 〈…〉 of their great exploits in Italie the exposition of all which I will not pursue at length as being 〈…〉 the learned this haue read those stories and not very pleasant to the ignorant nor familiar to our nation 〈…〉 some very few of them such as I thinke most necessary and omit the rest or referre those 〈…〉 to informe themselues to some authors where they may reade it more at large Rogero 〈…〉 Bradamant and this Rogero so much spoken of in this whole booke came with Charles the great into 〈…〉 where among other Venetian captaines that holpe to suppresse Desiderius king of Lombardie this Rogero 〈…〉 so good seruice that the Emperour in reward gaue him and his heires the honors of Calaon and Este neare 〈…〉 The â—râ—me came to be the crest of the Vicounts of Millaine by this occasion Otho a valiant man of that family in the 〈…〉 that Gedfrey of Bullen made to Ierusalem called the holy warres did fight at the siege of Ierusalem hand to hand with Voluce 〈…〉 of the 〈…〉 and sue him whose to make himselfe more terrible did carry on his crest a huge viper deucuring of a 〈…〉 Euer since in memory hereof that house carries the viper Betingats 〈◊〉 name there were three but the chiefe man meant here was nephew to the first and came after the death of 〈…〉 grandfather into Italie and preuailed so farre that he was proclaimed Augustus and made his sonne King of I 〈…〉 with title King of Romanes but Agapitus then Bishop of Rome called in Otho King of the Almaines I deliuer Italie from the â—â—ranny of the Beringars who ouercame them and used them after with great clemency till afterward the feeling bâ—heâ—â—e fan usurping Pope tâ—tâ—rannize as before the same Otho came againe and in fine desir 〈…〉 in which it seemes Albertazzo did some great seruice Of Fruderike Barbarossa Sabellicus a riteth that he maintained Octauius Antipapa or vsurping Pope against Alexander 〈◊〉 great in Italy in Italy and much bloodshed and that the Romanes were so crushed in one battel that he 〈…〉 they would neuer be able againe to hold up their heads But after this Barbarossa both prosecuted by his enemies and 〈…〉 with the plague in his camp was glad to fly into Germany and comming back with new forces 〈…〉 the confederats unquished and 〈…〉 and driuen in the end to craue Pope Alexanders fauour Of this Alexander 〈…〉 make great boâ—â—t how they restored him and haue the story ingrauen or painted in one of their 〈…〉 Churches for the Pope saying that her in disgussed aparell and lining closely in the towne like a poore Priest 〈…〉 Crano discouered him and made him be greatly honoured by the whole city by whom as is a aforesaid 〈…〉 〈…〉 Guelss and Ghebellines is spoken of though it would ask a long discourse to tel the original how it first grew yet somewhat I must needs say of it the faction first rose of a 〈…〉 between two Dutchman in Italie being naturall brothers though unnaturally falling out and either drawing parties it grew in the end to such a faâ—tion as neither Sylla and Marius or Caesar and Pompey in Rome nor ours of Lancaster and Yorke in England nor any other growne of religion or what cause soeuer besides hath bene more violent Essellino a notable tyrant whom one
bene counted a great signe of modestie and chast disposition in women to be rather cleanly then sumptuous in apparrell for the vaine expence therin hath bene often occasion both to corrupt the minds and manners of many not ill disposed And therefore that excellent verse of Sir Philip Sidney in his first Arcadia which I know not by what mishap is left out in the printed booke is in mine opinion worthie to be praised and followed to make a good and vertuous wife Who doth desire that chast his wife should bee First be he true for truth doth truth deserue Then be he such as she his worth may see And alwayes one credit with her preserue Not toying kind nor causlesly vnkind Not stirring thoughts nor yet denying right Not spying faults not in plaine errors blind Neuer hard hand nor euer rayns too light As far from want as far from vaine expence Tone doth enforce the tother doth entice Allow good companie but driue fro thence All filthie mouths that glorie in their vice This done thou hast no more but leaue the rest To nature fortune time and womans brest In which you see his opinion of the two extremities of want and vaine expence Of the inuention of gunnes as I somewhat touched two bookes before so here you see how he affirmath in a manner that they were inuented in Germanie And so I haue read that the first time they were vsed was in the yeare 1391. in the Venetians war against the Genoas but it is maruell that the inuentors name of so monstrous a thing is not knowne Baken the great English necromancer wrote many yeares before that time that he knew how to make an engin that with salt peter and brimstone wel tempered together should proue notable for batterie but he said he would not discouer it for feare it would be a meane to destroy all mankinde In the destruction of the I le of Ebuda and all that hath bene sayd of it before with the monsters that are said to deuoure women naked and forsaken this Allegoricall sence is to be picked out though to some perhaps it will seeme greatly strayned By the Iland is signified pride and loosnesse of life that they are brought to by pirats which signifie flatterers that go rouing about to tise them hither robbing them indeed of all their comely garments of modestie and sobrietie and at last leaue them naked vpon the shore despised and forsaken to be deuoured of most vgly and misshapen monsters signified by the Orke as filthie diseases ' deformities and all kinde of contemptiple things which monsters a good plaine friend with an anker of fidelitte will kill as Orlando did this and so cloth againe the nakednesse that before pride and flatterie made vs lay open to the world And whereas is it said that Neptune and Proteus fled from Orlando it is meant that a true Christian driues a-away all superstitious idolatrie where soeuer he commeth I finde no Allusion worth the noting THE TVVELFTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Orlando doth pursue with great disdaine One that did seeme his loue by force to carrie Rogero led by such another traine With him doth in the charmed pallace tarrie Orlando parting from the place againe He sees indeed her whom he faiâ—e would marrie Fights with Ferraw and foiles two Turkish bands And findes faire Isabell in outlawes hands 1 FAire Ceres when she hastned backe againe From great Ideahomward to returne There where Enceladus with endles paine Doth beare mount Aetna that doth ener burne When she had sought her daughter long in vaine Whose losse so strange did make the mother mourne She spoiles for spite her brest cheeks eyes and heare At last two boughs from Pyne tree she doth teare 2 In Vulcans forge slie sets on fire the brands And giues them powre for euer to be light And taking one a peece in both her hands And drawne in coach by yoked serpents might She searcheth woods and fields and seas and lands And brooks and streames and dens deuoyd of light And hearing here on earth no newes to like her At last she went to hell it selfe to seake her 3 Were good Orlandos powre to be compared As well with Ceres as his louing minde He would no paine no place nor time haue spared His deare belou'd Angelyca to finde To go to rocks and caues he would haue dared And place to saints and place to sends assignd He onely wanted one of Ceres waggons In which she carried was with flying draggons 4 How he did search all France before he told Now Italy to search is his intent And Germany and Castill new and old And then to Affrica to pasle he ment And as he thus determined behold He heard a voice that seemed to lament And drawing nye to vnderstand what tyding On a great horse he saw a horse man ryding 5 Perforce he bare vpon his saddle bow A Lady sorrowfull and sore afrayd That cryde a loud still making open show Of inward griefe and thus to him she said O worthy wight Lord of Anglante know I dye I dye without you bring me ayd And then he thought coming more nie to vew her It was Angelyca and that he knew her 6 I say not that it was but that it seemd To be Angelyca that thus was caryd But he that iustly great disgrace it deemd Thus in his sight to haue his mistresse haryd Whose loue aboue all treasures he esteemd To take reuenge hereof he nothing taryd But put his spurres to Brilâ—â—adores sides And in great hast to that same horseman rydes 7 With many bloodie words and cruell threts He bids that horseman to come backe againe But he at naught his wordes and speeches sets Reioycing in so rich a gotten gayne The vilen still ground of Orlando gets Vntill they came into a faire large plaine Wherein a house of great estate was built The gate hereof in gorgeous sort was gilt 8 The building all of marble faire was wrought Most costly caru'd and cunningly contriued To this faire house his pray the soule thief brought Straight after him Orlando there arriued Then he alights and all abcut he sought For him that had him of his ioy depriued He maketh search in chambers all about And galleries and halls to finde them out 9 Each roome he finds set forth with rich aray With beds of silke and gold of curious art But yet he finds not that desired pray The want whereof did sore torment his hart There might he finde with like affliction stray Gradassâ— Sacrapant and Brandimart And fearce Ferraw postest with strange confusion Procured in that place by strong illusion 10 They all complaine in anger and in rage How of this house the master them hath vsed One lost his horse another lost his page Another doubts his mistresse is abused Thus are they kept like birds within a cage And stand with sense and wits and words confused And manie with this strange deception carried
vnto him no answer he affords 7 Hoe saith Orlando fellow dost not heare I must thy curtall haue thon needst not laffe And with that word approching somewhat neare The crabbed herdman with a crabtree staffe Gaue him a bastinado on his care Which put the mad Erle into such a chafe That with his fist he made the herdman reele Till paine it selfe made him no paine to feele 8 This done he leapeth on the horses backe And at aduenture on he takes his way Where ere he comes he putteth all to wracke His horse tastes neither prouender nor hay But though this tyrd a horse he may not lacke The next he meets by force he takes away To striue with him it was but little boote He is resolued not to go a foote 9 He passeth to the straites of Zibeltar Or Zibelterra call it which you will And as he went with force of open war Townes he did burne and all the dwellers kill Ten yeares will hardly make that he would mar Within one houre and thus he traueld still Till on a day riding vpon the sand He saw a ship new loosed from the land 10 The aire was cleare and mild and calme the wether And certaine Gentlefolke had hyr'd the barke With mind to take their solace there together And to returne againe er it were darke The madman cries hoe sits let me come thither His deeds his words they neither marke nor harke Or if they did you may be sure they thought They would not comberd be with such a fraught 11 He hallows after them and whopes and hayles To haue them stay with faire words doth wo thÌ„e Glad might they be they went with oars and says For might he come he surely would vndoe them The soole that sees how small his speech preuayls Beats on his horse and meanes to ride vnto them In vaine his horse would shun this hard aduenter But he perforce makes him the sea to enter 12 First he his feete doth wet and then his knees And next his belly after that his backe Now scant his nose one in the water sees And full he layes him on poore horse alacke That either in these seas his life must leese Or swim to Affricke et he can turne backe At last with swimming tyrd with water cloyd His belly fild till limbs of life were void 13 The horse vnto the bottome quickly funke And had for company his buthern drownd If fortune that helpe frantike men and drunke Had not him safe conueyd to Affrike ground Orlando at the danger neuer shrunke But to the shore he swam both safe and sound It happie was the seas were then so still Else had the Erle bin drownd for all his skill 14 Now being safe arriued at the shore Neare Setta strayt he ranged ou'r the cost And did such deeds as he had done before On tother side to many poore mens cost At last he came where as he found great store Of warlike weapons and a mightie host But how with them this madman disagreed I may not in this booke to tell proceed 15 And further how Angelica the faire Did meet her loue againe and what a Lord He grew by matching with so great an haire And liu'd with her in loue and sweet accord Although in birth an vnsit matched paire I leaue for other Muses to record For now I must adresse my selfe to tell What haps in Agramantes campe besell 16 I told you two bookes past or there about How Mandricard was Doralices choice And how in face of all the Pagan rout She gaue that doome that made him much reioyce For she was deemd for beautie out of doubt The best in Europe by the common voices Now chiefe since faire Angelica was fled And worthy Isabella lost her hed 17 But yet this pleasure was not so entire But that it sawced was with some annoy For wrath and enuie set his heart on fire And much abated of his present ioy It spites him that Rogero dare aspire To giue his coat being a berdlesse boy And further that the king of Sericane Should openly lay claime to Durindane 18 And first Rogero will by no meanes yeeld By no intreatie nor by no request That Mandricard should carrie that same sheeld Which had the Argent Eagle on the crest Except he first could win it in the feeld On tother side Gradasso doth not rest But he will be the first to trie by fight Which of them two had to the sword most right 19 With Agramant Marsilio tooke great paine In all or part these quarrels to appease But when they saw their labour was in vaine To gouerne or perswade with one of these Thé chance quoth Agramant shal make that plain For which you striue and eu'n as fortune please So let it be and let some lots be cast Which two or three shall fight the first or last 20 And yet this iust request denie me not Before the matter any further goth Though now you be so violent and hot That speech of peace and all accord you loth To grant that who shall combat first by lot May leesing leese and winning win for both This motion most indifferent must seeme Sith both their vallews equall we esteeme 21 This motion neither of them do mislike And straight Gradassos and Rogeros name Vpon two scroles were writ so passing like You would haue iudgd them both to be the same A boy of fourteene yeare of age they pike To draw the lot and he that first out came Must fight with Mandricard and make it knowne He fights for tothers title and his owne 22 When on this order all parts were agreed The lot to fight vpon Rogero fell Which hap great griese did in Gradasso breed Although in shew he seemd to take it well Contrariwise it did all ioy exceed The ioy Rogero had it so befell So well of his owne vallew he belieued He ioyd at that at which the tother grieued 23 But yet Gradasso doth with great regard Both fauour and aduane Rogeros side And sheweth him how he must lie to ward A comming blow how he might slip a side How for a thrust he may be best prepard Which blowes be firme and which be falsiside When best time is to follow thrust or blow How one may best take vantage of his foe 24 The rest of that same day that did remaine Ensuing this same course of casting lots They spent as pleased each mans pleasing vaine In talke or banquetting or tossing pots To see this fight the people glad and faine Clammer the scaffolds gazing still like lots Some for desire do coâ—ne by breake of day And some all night within the place do stay 25 Thus as I say these simple fooles do long To see the combat these braue knights betwixt And blame the stay and thinke the time too long That for the same the Herralds had prefixt But sober men that knew what did belong To such exploits whose wiser heads were
cosin so much more presume Vpon his reconcilement and true loue And promist to assist him if he may And for his answer he prefixt a day 34 And straight from thence he go'th vnto the place Where he was wont the spirits to coniure A strong vast caue in which there was great space The precepts of his Art to put in vre One spright he calls that of each doubtfull case Of Cupids court could giue him notice sure Of him he askt what bred Renaldos change By him he heard of those two fountaines strange 35 And how Renaldo by misfortune led First happend of that hatefull spring to drinke Which his dislike of that faire Ladie bred And made her loue and profferd seruice stinke And how againe by some ill starre misled He drank of th' other spring which causd him thinke Her onely to be loued and admired Whom erst he hated more then cause required 36 Moreouer he to Malagigis showd How that same famous Indian Queene nay quean Had on a Pagan youth herselfe bestowd Of parentage of state of liuing meane And how from Spaine they in a galley rowd All Christendome and Spaine forsaking cleane And passing both with safetie and with ease In ventrous barks of Catalyn the seas 37 Now when Renaldo for his answer came His learned cosin seekes him to perswade Vnto some better thought his minde to frame Nor further in this gulfe of loue to wade Alledging what a slander and a shame It was to fancy one her selfe had made Not like a Queene but like a vile maide Marian A wife nay slaue vnto a base Barbarian 38 In fine he said she was to th' Indies gon With her Medoro and was welnie there Renaldo not a little musd thereon Yet all the rest he could with patience beare And for the paine he counts it small or none So he at last might finde her any where Wherefore of it he had no care not keepe Nor could that make him once to breake his sleepe 39 But when he heard that one of birth so base Had with his mistres laid his knife a boord It seemd this strake him speechles in the place He was not able to pronounce a word His heart did quake within his lips like case So trembled answer he could none afford But ouercome with anguish of the passion He flang away from thence in carelesse fashion 40 And much lamenting this her foule abuse He vowes to follow her what ere insue But yet to Charles he faineth this excuse That sith Gradasso of his word vntrue Had tane his horse contrary to the vse Of valiant Knights he meanes him to pursue Alledging that it were his great dishoner To let Bayardo haue a forren owner 41 And that a Turke should bost another day That he by fight did him thereof bereaue King Charles though loth yet could not say him nay To such an honest sute but gaue him leaue Which tane alone from thence he goes his way And all his frends in Paris he doth leaue With Guidon Dudon stout to him do proffer Their company but he refusd their offer 42 Away he goes alone yet not alone Griefs teares and plaints still his companions are And oft in heart he bitterly doth grone To thinke that erst he should so little care For her great loue which wilfully forgone He now esteemes at rate so high and rare He could haue wisht thus was his mind perplext But one day to enioy and die the next 43 Then he bethinkes with no lesse griefe nayrage How she could finde in that her lofty hart To set her loue on such a sorry page The merites all and seruice put apart Done vnto her eu'n from her tender age By men of high renowne and great desart Thus with a fired hart and watred eyne He rode vntill he toucht the bankes of Rhyne 44 Ere long into Ardenna woods he enters Soone after he Basylea quite had past Ardenna woods whence many come repenters And in that forrest haue bene sore agast To trauell through the same Renaldo venters When suddenly the skie did ouercast And there arose a blacke and hideous storme And then appeard a monster of strange forme 45 She seem'd of womans shape but in her hed A thousand eyes she had that watch did keepe As many eares with which she harkened Her eyes want lids and therefore neuer sleepe In steed of haire her crowne snakes ouerspred Thus marched she foorth of the darknesse deepe Her tayle one Serpent bigger then the rest Which she with knots had tyde about her brest 46 This fight Renaldos mind appald so sore He feeles his heart alreadie gan to fayle him And sith it neuer had done so before He maruels what the goody eare now should aile him Yet still his minde misgaue him more and more To see the monster comming to assaile him He nathlesse countersets his wonted boldnesse Though quaking hāds bewraid his inward coldnesse 47 The monster straight assaulted him much like To one that parfet was and skild in fence And when againe he with his sword did strike He misled and could doe her none offence Much doth Renaldo this ill match mislike And little wants to quite distract his sence Right blowes and reardemaine he striketh many But yet he cannot hit her right with any 48 The monster stickes a Serpent in his brest That strake his heart in to a freesing cold Another fixed is below his crest And on his necke and shoulders taketh hold Renaldo thinkes to get him gone is best And spurres away with all the speed he could But that vile monster was not lame to find him But ouertooke him and leapt vp behind him 49 And whether he go straight or go he wide The monster fitteth sure and holds him fast He knowes not how to be from her vntide Nor any meane within his mind can cast His heart eu'n quakes within him and beside That he was with this hideous plague agast He sorrowd so not knowing how to mend it He loth'd his life and did desire to end it 50 He spurres amaine and purposely he takes The rugged wayes the worst that he could find By craggie Rocks and hils through bryers brakes Through copsies thicke by narrow paths and blind But sure the knight the matter much mistakes He cannot from the monster him vnwind And like it was great harme had him betyded Had not for him bene helpe in time prouided 51 For loe a knight vnto his succour went All armd in shining steele and on his shield He bare a yoke in sundry peeces rent And flames of fire all in a yellow field So weaponed he was as if he ment To make all that encountred him to yeeld A sword and speare he had and to the same A Mace from whence he threw continuall flame 52 His Mace was stor'd with euerlasting fire That euer burned and did neuer wast No other weapon needed one desire To make good way with wheresoeu'r he past And sure
an earthquake or inundation had destroyed all the leuell ground The like reproofe had Virgil about the hauen of Mongibello which he describes at the roote of that hill where indeed there was none and the like excuse is made for him that it filled with the continuall casting vp of stones out of the burning hill Catalani are the chiefe house of Spaine alledged here by the Poet for their good successe in discouering the Indies though indeed the Portugals Lusitani not Catalani deserue the praise of it The monster that assaulted Renaldo signifies Iealousie that he had that another possest his loue the knight that deliuered him was Disdaine that with the heat of noble courage signified by the fierie Mace ouerthrew the monster and draue him quite away it is so plaine in the verse it needs no exposition The cup that Renaldo was offerd puts me in minde of the like fansie in the Historie of Herodotus in the second booke briefely it is thus Pharao King of Egypt hauing by ill hap lost his eiesight was aduised by some Oracle to bath his eyes in the vrine of a chast woman Wherefore first he proued his wiues and after diuers other great Ladies but he found none did him good but one poore gentelwoman wherefore being recouered of his fight he put all the other to death and married that one but because the matter of the cup is continued in the next booke I shall speake more to this effect in my notes vpon the same Here end the notes of the XLII booke THE XLIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Renaldo heares two tales to like effect Tone of a Bargeman tother of a knight Both prouing that rewards will soone infect The mindes of chastest dames and make them light To Lippaduse he doth his course direct But first Orlando finisht had his fight That Hermit that Rogero did baptise Heal'd Oliuer and Sobrine in likewise 1 O Curst ô greedie ô vnsaciable Desire of gaine I do not maruell sure If thou the base and filthy minds art able To cause to stoope vnto thy carren lure Sith oft we see some persons honorable Can scarce thy weake and base assaults endure Who if they could thy foule entisements shun No doubt but they great glory should haue won 2 Some men can measure earth and sea and sky And tell the change and cause of eu'ry season And wade so farre with wit or mount so hy They search both heau'n hel with depth of reason But when thou com'st in place then by and by Thou putst their daintie tasts so out of season They place their whole delight their hope their health In only scraping and in heaping wealth 3 Another man in warres hath great renowne And gets the conquest in each bloudie strife And wins this fortresse and that walled towne Opposing his stout brest to perils rife Thou onely conquerst him and thrusts him downe And keepest him thy prisner all his life Some men excelling in each art and studdie Thou doest obscure with base desires and muddie 4 What should I speake of dames of worth not small That hauing louers men of great desarts Oppose their honours as a brasen wall Against their suits with vnrelenting harts But come some miser base deformed squall That saue his riches hath no worthy parts They breake the wall and make therein a gap To take the showre that fell in Danaes lap 5 Nor without cause hereof complaine do I Take me that can for I do rightly take it Nor from my matter do I swarue awrie Or by a vaine digression do for sake it Yet to my former speach I not applie But tending to a future tale I spake it Now let me tell you of Renaldo first That with one draught wold swage his double thirst 6 But whether that his courage did him faile Or that on more aduise he changed minde He thought and said what should it one auaile To seeke a thing he would be loth to finde My wife a woman is their sex is fraile I yet am to beleeue the best enclinde I know I cannot better my beliefe And if I change it it will be my griefe 7 What good may come by such a straight espy all Into my sences surely cannot sinke Much hurt may come there can be no denyall Let nothing seuer those whom God doth linke Wherefore to make so vnaccustomd triall Were sinne and tempting God as I do thinke Then drinke this cup quoth he that lift not I I am not nor I minde not to be drie 8 God would such skill from mortall men be hid And eu'n as Adam wrought his ouerthrow By tasting fruit that God did him forbid So he that curiously will search to know All that his wife hath said or what she did May fortune at the last himselfe beshrow And shall confound himselfe this thinke I verily And liue in sorrow that did erst liue merily 9 Thus much said good Renaldo and withall He thrust away that hatefull cup of wine And then he saw of teares a streame not small Flow from the master of that house his eyne Which past he said now foule may them befall That first procurd this miserie of mine To proue which I shall sorrow all my life That which berest me of my dearest wife 10 Why was not I said he with you acquainted Ten yeares ere this to take aduise so sound Before my heart was thus with sorrow tainted Of which no ease can now nor end be found But that you may as in a table painted Behold my griefes I will to you expound What cauld this mine vncomparable woe And then you sure will pittie me I know 11 Not farre from hence you left a little towne About the which there runnes a prettie lake That fals into this streame of great renowne But from Banaco first his head doth take Erected when those walls were beaten downe That erst Agenors dragon there did make There was I borne of house and stocke not base Though of meane wealth inferiour to my race 12 But though to me dame Fortune was but spare That by my birth small wealth to me there grew Yet Nature did with bountie great and care Supply that want by faire and comely hew My seemly personage my beautie rare To me the liking of full many drew My qualities thereto were quaint and iollie Although I know to praise ones selfe is follie 13 Within this towne a great rich man did tarrie Well learnd and wise and old beyond all credit For ere he dide he on his backe did earrie Full sixscore yeares and eight at least he sed it An hundred yeares he liued solitarie But after that you know what humor bred it He lou'd a dame and with his wealth so wrought her That at the last he gat of her a daughter 14 And least the daughter should proue like the mother To sell her chastiue for filthie pelfe
And with his left hand takes the horses raine So as the Turke thereby no hurt hath done him The while he puts in vre his sword againe And with two thrusts he did the Pagan harme One in his thigh another in his arme 110 The Turke with whom a peece did yet remaine Of that same blade that was in peeces flowne Smote on Rogeros headpeece so againe As had wel-ny againe him ouerthrowne But good Rogero now perceiuing plaine His vantage that was erst to him vnknowne Takes him by his left arme with all his force And will he nill he puls him from his horse 111 Were it his strength or sleight I cannot tell But so he fell no ods was them betweene My meaning is that on his feete he fell For in the swords Rogeros odds was seene Rogero that did know his vantage well To keepe him now at bay his best doth weene It is not best for him he doth suppose With such a strong and big bon'd man to close 112 He further saw what store of blood he spilt So now he hopes by warily proceeding To force his foe to yeeld and leane the tilt Whose strength decaid stil more more with bleeding The Turke then takes the pomell and the hilt Of his owne sword and with force so exceeding Did hurle the same he smote the knight so sore He stund him more then eu'r he was before 113 It strake him twixt the shoulders aud the head And gaue to him a blow so firme and sound That good Rogero there with staggered And scant could keepe his feete vpon the ground The Turke to close with him then hast'ned But loe his foote did faile with former wound So that his too much hast as oft we see Did hurt and made him fall vpon his knee 114 Rogero lost no time in manfull wise To strike fierce Rodomont in brest or face And holds him short and so his force applies He laid him on the ground but in short space In spyte of him the Pagan doth arise And with small kindnes he doth him embrace And then they striue heaue shoue thrust to and fro And either seekes the tothers ouerthrow 115 Each striues with all his skill and his abilitie By force to lay the tother on the ground Now Rodomont was growne to some debilitie By meanes of more then one receiued wound Rogero had great practice and agilitie And vsdeto wrastle and he quickly found His vantage which he did not ouerslip But on his weakest side his foe doth trip 116 The Turke most full of wrath and of despight Vpon Rogeros necke tooke stedfast hold Now drawing toward him with all his might Now thrusting him backe from him all he could And by and by he heau'd him quite vpright As strong Antheus was in time of old Rogero notwithstanding sure doth stand And labord still to haue the vpper hand 117 Full ost the valiant knight his hold doth shift And with much prettie sleight the same did slippe In fine he doth applie one speciall drift Which was to get the Pagan on the hippe And hauing caught him right he doth him list By nymble sleight and in such wise doth trippe That downe he threw him and his fall was such His head-peece was the first that ground did tuch 118 The Turke with such an hard and heauie fall Was sore perplext and brused in such wise His wounds fell fresh on bleeding therewithall And make the place Vermillion where he lyes Rogero giues him respite verie small But keepe 's him downe and will not let him rise And presently presents his dagger point Vnto this throat and to his chiefest ioynt 119 As those that digge and search for golden ore Within Pannonian or Iberian hills Not vnderpropping sure the ground before Oft for a plague of their too greedie wills With sodaine ruine are surprisde so sore As to get forth againe doth passe their skills So was the Turke held downe and pressed so By braue Rogero his triumphant so 120 Who now his naked dagger did present Vnto the tothers vizer at his eye And with sharpe words he told him that he ment Except he yeeld to kill him by and by But Rodomont that rather then relent Or shew base mind a thousand deathes would dy No word doth speake but straue himselfe to sunder From him or if he could to get him vnder 121 Eu'n as a Mastiue fell whom Grewnd more fell Hath tyrde and in his throat now fastned hath His cruell fangs yet doth in vaine rebell Though vnder him and seekes to do some skath For still the Grewnd preuailes and doth excell In force of breath though not in rage and wrath So doth the cruell Pagan striue and straine To get from vnder him but all in vaine 122 But with long striuing and with wondrous paines He freed his better arme and void of aw His dagger that in his right hand remaines Which in this later bick'ring he did draw He seekes to stabbe into Rogeros raines But now the valiant youth the perill saw Then for his sasties sake he was constrained To kill the cruell Turke that grace disdained 123 And lifting his victorious hand on hie In that Turks face he stabd his dagger twise Vp to the hilts and quickly made him die And rid himselfe of trouble in a trise Downe to the lake where damned ghosts do lie Sunke his disdainful soule now cold as Ise Blaspheming as it went and cursing lowd That was on earth so lostie and so proud This last booke of Ariosto is so full of examples of courtesie as me thinke we should offer it great discourtesie if we should not â—ike out some good Morall from it to recommend to your considerations that haue perused and read ouer the booke the first and chiefest courtesie is in Leo that manageth the whole matter so well for Rogero knitting the consent of all parties like a well deuised Comedie then Marsisas kindnes is to be praised that would haue fought in defence of her brother honor Thirdly Ammon doth well to aske pardon of Rogero for his hard vsage then the Bulgars are to â—e allowed for their thank fulnes to make him king for his good seruice Further Charles the Emperor is to be extolled for 〈◊〉 Priâ—ely regard in honoring and feasting them so bountifully at the mariage Lastly Bradamant and the whole crew that would haue emerie one haue taken upon them Rogeros defence against Rodomont and Rogero not permitting it yet they disdained not to do him the seruice to helpe to arme him to put on his spurres to stay his horse to hold his â—â—rop in all which I doubt not but the noble minded readers will finde sufficient matter both to commend and to imitate without my further labouring to set forth the same Onely one note I may not omit yea though I were sure to be chidden by some of you faire Ladies for my labor namely the strong ambition of your sex which we call weake For you see
how my author in the 55. staffe of this Canto hath deliuered to vs that Beatrice the mother of Bradamant would neuer be wonneto accept Rogero for her sonne in-law neither for his gentrie nor his personage nor his vallew nor his wit no nor yet her daughters owne choice and affection till she heard he was chosen a king with which aspiring humour of women it seemed how that neuer too much praised Sir Philip Sidney was well acquainted with making in his Arcadia not onely the stately Pamela to reiect the naked vertue of Musidorus till she found it well clothed with the title to a seepter but euen Mistres Mopsa when she sate hooded in the tree to beg a boone of Apollo to aske nothing but to haue a king to her husband and a lusty one to and when her pitiful father Dametas for want of a better plaid Apollos part and told her she should haue husbands enough she praid donoutly they might be all kings and thus much for the Morall Aegeus king of Athens hauing no issue went to the Oracle of Apolio to know how he might do to haue a sone and receiuing a doubtfull answer asked counsell of Pythe◠〈◊〉 of Troezenes that was in those dayes counted a deepe wise man who scanning the meaning of the obscure verse which was this O time vir non ante pedem dissolueris vtri Exsertum claras quam tu remearis Athenas Good sir take heed how ear it falls what vessell you do broch Before vnto the cittie walls of Athens you approch I say Pytheus found out such a mysterie in these verses that he perswaded him ear he parted thence to take the paines or I might haue said the pleasure to lie with his daughter Ethra Aegeus hauing done the feat and being belike as many men are sorie when he had done tooke his leaue to be gone but ear he went he tooke Ethra aside and shewed her where he had hidden his sword and his shoes vnder a hollow stone of great weight charging her that if she bare a sonne so soone as he were of strength to remoue that stone she should send him with those tokens to him as priuily as may be In fine she bare that famous Theseus who comming to Athens as a stranger Medea then wise of Aegeus perswaded her husband to poyson him at a banquet to which the old man assented but while Theseus was readie to drinke Aegues saw the swors handle and calling it to mind ouerthrew the cup and saued the life of his sonne of which who so please better to enforme himselfe may reade more at large in the life of Theseus written by Plutarke In that mine author brings in for the conclusion of his whole worke that Rogero immediatly vpon his mariage to Bradamant killeth Rodomont this is the Allegoricall sence thereof that Rodomont which is to be vnderstood the vnbridled heat and courage of youth for in all Rodomonts actions you shall finde him described euer most furious hastie and impacient Rodomont I say is killed and quite vanquished by marriage and howsoeuer the vnrulinesse of youth is excusable in diners kinds yet after that holy state of matrimonie is entred into all youthfull wildnes of all kinds must be cast axay which the common saying doth proue distinquishing in ordinarie speech a bacheler from a married man by these names a good fellow and an honest man In Rodomonts punishing of himself by forswearing the vse of armor a yeare a month and a day he alludes I think to one Bucycaldo a Frenchman gouernor of Geneua who being a goodly tall man of personage was ouerthrowne and vanquished by Galeazzo Gonzaga a little man of stature but of great spirit and for that cause he vowed neuer to beare armes againe but in the death of Rodomont to shew himselfe a perfect imitator of Virgil he endethiust as Virgil ends his Aeneads with the death of Tumus Vitaque cum gemitu fugit indignata sub vmbras Here end the notes of the 45. and last Canto of Orlando Furioso A BRIEFE AND SVMMARIE ALLEGORIE OF ORLANDO FVRIOSO NOT VNPLEASANT NOR VNPROFITABLE for those that haue read the former Poeme WHen I had finished this translation of Orlando Furioso and being almost proud in mine owne conceit that I had in these my young yeares employed my idle houres to the good liking of many those of the better sort I happened to reade in a graue and godly booke these words So diuines do hold for examples sake that the glory of S. Paule is increased dayly in heauen and shal be to the worlds end by reason of them that dayly do profue by his writing and rare examplar life upon earth as also on the contrarie part that the torments of Arius Sabellius and other wicked heretickes are continually augmented by the numbers of them who from time to time are corrupted with their seditious and pestilent writings If it had stayed there it would neuer haue troubled me but immediatly followes The like they hold of dissolute Poets and other loose writers which haue lost behind them lasciuious wanton and carnall deuices as also of negligent parents masters teachers c. This saying gentle Reader was such a cooling card to me and did so cut the combe of that pleasing conceit of mine that I could not tel whether I should repent me or not of my former taken paine For this was not a malicious taunt of a wry-looking Zoylus but a graue reprehension and commination of a deuout and diuine writer Now though the Epithetons of Dissolute and Loose make me partly presume that mine author is out of the foresaid danger whose worke cannot iustly be deemed lasciuious wanton nor carnal and though I haue spoken as I thinke sufficiendy in my Apologie to satisfie all indifferent readers both for mine authors defence and mine owne excuse yet because I know in mine owne conscience that all the verses in this worke be not so full weight but if they shal be tryed in so seuere a ballance some will be found many graines too light I would endeuour all I might to supply that detect with the more weightie and sober consideration of the Allegorie which as I haue partly touched in euery seuerall booke so now I intend to present to your consideration the whole bodie of the same to make as it were a rehearsal Oration of it which I haue placed in the latter end and as it were for a farewell as men do at a great dinner in which they haue almost surfetted vpon sundrie sorts of meats more delicate then wholsome yet in the end close vp their stomakes with a peece of a Quince or strengthen and helpe their digestion with a cuppe of Sacke whereas to a temperate feeder vpon wholsome meats both of them are supersfluous Also I do the rather place it in the end of my booke because commonly that which men reade last stickes best in their memories and so I wish
â— ipso sceâ— mens Toâ— ditur â— Simileâ— He followes this of Olympia wher Orlando found her naked in Ebuda booke xi staffe 43. Rogero Simile Simile 〈…〉 Flereâ— Alcyna The 〈◊〉 gestilles â— â—Palsus â—at â—famia â—uem â—sum â—cem â—teriam â— opus Sentence Sentence * Artosto cals vâ— ultima Ingleterra the vttermost countriy So in time past he old * Romances wrote Et penitus toto diuisos orlâ— Brigannos Ariosto doth but roue at thâ—se noble mens names and if any of vs should write of the noble men of that time we should do the like An 〈◊〉 â— O soâ—atenia â—inter â—anguÌ„ Sentence Simile Simile 〈◊〉 Morall Historie Allegorie Alâ—sioâ— Simile A notable Stâ—â—k Aâ— of 〈…〉 Orâ— â— to Anâ— the 12. â— staffe He comes to Rogero again in the 1â— book staff 14. Sentence Simile The 〈◊〉 deed 〈◊〉 â—ed 〈◊〉 the sâ— at the 〈◊〉 wakes 〈◊〉 Olympia Ouid. Mâ—tam 3. 〈…〉 The description of Olympias beautie Zeuces looke in the 〈◊〉 â—f the â—mpia Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion â—la duabus â—as p◠〈…〉 Spâ—â—undo 〈◊〉 â—er coach â—rpents Angelica â—-â—rasano 〈…〉 againâ— 27 book 15 staff 〈◊〉 shall come 〈◊〉 her againe in â— 19. booke â— staffee Simile Here you should begin â—â— read the â—ale of 〈◊〉 Simala This old 〈◊〉 was Gabrâ—â— whom you 〈◊〉 but a bad 〈◊〉 the xxi bookâ— Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sentence Ouid. Sentence Gratius â— chro 〈◊〉 corportâ—â— â—ntence Ouid. 〈◊〉 carâ—t effectu 〈◊〉 voluere duo 〈◊〉 Philip Sidâ— made it thus â— why no seloâ— can that preâ—nt to which â— parties once â— full consent Sentence Oud Mâ—temer 〈…〉 His 〈◊〉 â—umors Oust de 〈…〉 Prounbe This veriuous woman is spoken of againe in the 20 Canto aloue the 60. staffe In the 23 booke Staff 45. Bradamant Sentence or Prouerbe For there she 〈◊〉 as the men 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 3. Sentâ—â—â— He cals bar 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 kings daughter Soâ—ule Soâ—ule Sentence â—book â—ass 18 â—mile Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion 12. Met. â—n the 1. booke is â—s mentioned how Charlemaine left â—he field at Burâ—els since wâ—â—ch â—me they kept â—bet went and 〈◊〉 not come to 〈◊〉 battell This Alfonso was Duke of Ferrara 〈◊〉 whoÌ„ he speakes â—n the 3. book broâ—her to Hipolyto Of this battell â—k Guicciardâ—n * 〈…〉 By the honour of â—lded spurre and 〈◊〉 understood â—ighthood Pope 〈◊〉 gaue 〈◊〉 armes the 〈◊〉 with â—akâ—nes of gold * The king of A. â—goÌ„s colars was â—llow and red The laurel by the ancient Romans was giuen to him that had slaine or takeÌ„ aboue 5000 in battell Ciuica corona was his that saued a citizen of Rome In this battel the Spaniards deussed to haue men placed in carts drauing them violently on their enemies disordered them Foys was slaine as this battell Guâ—â—din sets downe the â— orders of the souldiors at the sack of Raâ—enâ—a The states of Spaine are here set down in 〈◊〉 â—â—stars If any be 〈◊〉 â—o vnderstand â—â—se names I refer him to the Table Ferraâ— Agrâ—â—â—ts 〈◊〉 ster of African Note that the word past in vsed 〈◊〉 there sundry â—â—ces downe in the Apologie Bruntâ—â—â— Of this look beâ—â— in the beginning of the â—◠〈◊〉 Sobrâ—â—â— * â—odâ—mont a 〈◊〉 Tâ—rzeâ—â—◠〈…〉 in the took â— was king of â—â—ier 〈…〉 A. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Canto 12. 〈◊〉 lâ—â—ter end 〈◊〉 Looke hereof is the Allusion A race of horses in Spaine called villan di Spagna interior to the Ginnes Simile Doralyâ—e Simile Simile 〈…〉 Mâ— â—gil Etiam â—ma procul â—arum culâ—â— sumant 〈◊〉 â— followes in â—xxij booke â—â— staffe â—rement The example of the Prince doth much with the people Charls his prayer Tâ—â— reproâ—â— is 〈◊〉 most if them 〈◊〉 Discord Discords 〈◊〉 and descripâ—â—â— Virgil. Exâ— gaudens was 〈◊〉 Fraud Descriptâ—â—â— of Fraud â—ihouse of 〈◊〉 â—ub â—nesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He returnes to Renaldo in the 16 Cant. 24 staf Virgâ—â— Oterque quater que beats 〈…〉 of Paris A description of the a 〈◊〉 of a 〈◊〉 well defended Rodomonts deâ—â—â— Herest 〈…〉 seale â— stratagem â—uch is now â—actised with gunpowder Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion 〈◊〉 â—he spake of 〈◊〉 the 3. 〈◊〉 you shall 〈◊〉 in Guyeâ—â— as large â—emant Charles In the xvi book in the xvi staff 〈◊〉 Look◠〈◊〉 the Allegorie There is a previous 〈◊〉 beyond 〈…〉 one would for that be 〈…〉 * Sir Francis 〈…〉 the suâ—nes 〈…〉 Charles the 〈…〉 It was 〈◊〉 that 〈…〉 to conquer 〈◊〉 world and 〈◊〉 to enter 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Pope and 〈◊〉 to enter 〈…〉 and becomes Pope and Emperor both so verse 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 but a 〈…〉 of some 〈…〉 Simile 〈…〉 â— great praise â—need of D'Oria 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 more then his 〈◊〉 â—henix Red sea Rabicano Astolfos horse of excellens swifines Caligorans Looke in the Allusion Sentence Atque aâ—â—qum 〈…〉 Peter 〈◊〉 proverb 〈◊〉 the great Pyramid 〈…〉 furlongs 〈◊〉 thereforth 〈◊〉 in compasse 〈…〉 more then in long of 〈◊〉 Oryllo 〈◊〉 and Aâ—â— â—ding as 〈◊〉 the poet 〈…〉 as 〈…〉 â—thor folâ— Sentence For in deede at a wise mans boord the smallest pleasure the guests haue is their cheare in comparison of the pleasing talke that happens either in mirth or grauity Tâ— have â—ard some 〈…〉 A â—spandâ— A true 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 George Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion â—f this looke in â—e morall more â— large 〈◊〉 Simile Diguâ—m patella operculum Or as the English Pr uerbe fasth Like will to like quoth the divell to the collâ—â— He followe 〈…〉 booke 〈◊〉 Simile 〈◊〉 â—ldos oration â—8 staf to the Ciuica corona Simile Leonida 〈◊〉 same being â— that the 〈◊〉 shot came 〈◊〉 as 〈…〉 see the 〈◊〉 them 〈◊〉 merely theâ— shall fight â— shade His 〈◊〉 deder at 〈◊〉 longin the â— express quas accepteâ— auras Oâ—â— Metâ—â— Renaldos encouragement of the Scots Simile Moral Master Edward Dier a 〈…〉 Master Edward Dier a 〈…〉 Historie Allegorie Allusion Of Syllâ— Marius cruelise read Plutark in their liues Helisgabalus sir named Varius for his monstrous lecherie and his 〈◊〉 therein Antoninus Bassianus slaine for his beast 〈◊〉 and â—rueltie for which his name 〈◊〉 so odious that none was euer after him so called Of Esselin I spake before in the notes of the third booke * He means herby Lodwickt 〈◊〉 that called in Charls the 8 out of France 〈◊〉 Italie Thraâ—â—â— bia and 〈◊〉 were the 〈◊〉 where 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 where 〈…〉 〈◊〉 â—he xviij staff 5 Horandine Here beginneth the tale of Lucina at this 20 ft. and endeth as the 50. Caesars word was vent 〈◊〉 vice 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 great was the first 〈◊〉 was called the most Christian King for â—â—ending the Church of Rome Ferdinands was the first 〈◊〉 was called Catholike for driuing the Moores out of Granaia This â—ras Lee the 〈◊〉 Prioris â—benes an â—ut Orator â—ames the â—are those â—the prinâ—e 〈◊〉 In Aesops fablos A fit counseller for a Prince Mâ—â—â—â— with a 〈◊〉 booke 31 〈◊〉 Morall â—â—â—â—â—orie â—â—â—sion 〈◊〉 exceellent â—use in a
prince He comes to Griffin the â—â—st of 〈◊〉 booke Simile Simile It follows in the 15â—â— of tâ—â— book Go â—deputies Simile It followeth the 23 booke 23. 〈◊〉 Ferraw 〈…〉 Ouid 〈◊〉 Hector 〈…〉 Follows in this 〈◊〉 68. staffe 〈◊〉 Marfisa Prouerbe Quid Me◠〈…〉 inter â—spamâ— Simile Simile The first 〈◊〉 similes 〈…〉 〈◊〉 That theefe was Bruneâ—o as is as large set downe 〈◊〉 Boyardos book Cypres an I le cosecrate to Venus 〈◊〉 He returne to them in the 〈◊〉 booke 34 〈◊〉 Renaldo Dardanello 〈…〉 Simile Hou◠〈…〉 of a Poppey Simile Sentence 〈◊〉 Froâ—e 〈◊〉 oft â—ost 〈◊〉 Occasus 〈◊〉 Cloridano Medore 〈…〉 both 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 such 〈…〉 â—stronomer â—â—unkard â—gamsters 〈…〉 Boccaccio hath the like concess to this Phoebe the name of the 〈◊〉 Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion Diuers haue 〈◊〉 to this offâ—ct of the fickle â—as of frends but specially 〈◊〉 Donecer is faâ—â— mâ—ltos numer abis aâ—â—â—cos Tempora tisue 〈…〉 Hâ—race Vulgâ—◠〈…〉 retro 〈◊〉 Simile 〈◊〉 account 〈◊〉 bene 〈◊〉 buriall 〈◊〉 so that forbid it ouer 〈◊〉 most deâ—â—â— tyrants â—â— of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This art at sir P. Sidney noteth in his Arcadia was in great estâ—mation in time past Of Dittamy Virgil speakes 8. Aenead Dâ—ttamum generax Cresca carpit ab â—da Ouid. 1. Metam Hermâ—â—â— quod nullâ—s 〈◊〉 est nâ—r 〈…〉 Ouid â—n Fedras 〈…〉 pomaria car pere raniu 〈◊〉 prâ—â—am delâ—gere vâ—gâ—â— vâ—sâ—m Virg 〈◊〉 Tâ—ere is not â—â—â—asure in pleaâ—ure it self of one may not â—vtter as as 〈…〉 in menâ— vp to 〈◊〉 were bound to say nothing of it as â—â—â— return he would be serve for it Of this 〈◊〉 find 〈◊〉 29. book 〈◊〉 Marfisa Griffin Aquilant Sansonet Astolfo 〈◊〉 was wort to â—â— manner in 〈◊〉 dangers â— countrey of Amazons a mad law 〈◊〉 Sibilla and Hecula very old women Cornelius Agrippa in the vanitie of scieÌ„ces writes that Hercules made fifty molds women in one night Alexander cut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in pâ—ec◠〈◊〉 ne cou'd 〈◊〉 called Goâ—â—dio◠〈◊〉 Simile Acâ—â—lch reserve 〈◊〉 and Gaâ—l◠〈◊〉 conceit tl at 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conceit that 〈◊〉 had of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion Harpalite and Camilla two no. table warriers Corinna and Saphos learned â—tuets Here beginneth the tale of the Amazons Renaldo brother to GuidoÌ„ but not by the same venter Guidon Seâ—ate looke in the table Looke in the Historâ—e of this booke Sentence Souenâ—â— The câ—mmoditieâ— of a gosâ—scats of a ciâ—e There were too mâ—â— speaâ—ers 〈◊〉 in their Parliamâ—â— wheÌ„ they made such a law as â—â—â—y â—ive driueâ—â—otâ—ange 〈…〉 The Romans did vse to build aulters to all the affections of the mind as feare â—ope and such like Progne and Medea two cruell bloody women Oronteas oration in Elbanios behalfe Artemias oratioÌ„ against Elbanio Sentence Non bonâ— yâ—â— fulâ—â— leberiâ— venduâ—r â—me Simile This Simile Taâ—◠〈…〉 The end of the Amazons tale Simile Simile Heâ—roceedâ—â—h to 〈…〉 22 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Simile Of thâ— he speaâ—es sardâ—r in the 22. booke 41 stasse Gabrinâ— In the second booke Zerbino Though it is nâ—â— set downe how Gabrina knew Marfisa to be a woman yet it is to be gathered that in 3. dayes companie thee might know it Simile Horace hath this sinulitude of aâ— asse Demitto auriculas vt â—â—ique mentis a sellus But this of a horse is more wortâ—â—â— He had heard newes that Isabella was dround by some flying report Simile Callet is a nick-name that they vse to a woman is signifies 〈◊〉 Irish a witch Moral Historie Allegorie Allusion 〈…〉 Real the moraâ— vpon uâ—â— the end of the booke Sentence Sentence Here beginneth the tale of Gabrina Simile Ouâ—â—ed il is 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 places Oâ—e in 〈◊〉 Tu◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cum sine pondere succi Mobâ—â—us ventis 〈◊〉 facâ—ia volani * Aâ—â— in the third of the â—â—tamor No â—◠〈◊〉 sroudes a 〈◊〉 I amâ— male hoe 〈◊〉 ventus â—Simile â—Simile Iuvenal in his 13. satyre Paena auâ—em vehemens as mulio 〈◊〉 illu Nocte dieâ— sâ—um portare in pectore â—estem Ouid. Paenisâ—s fa â—o â—quror â—pse 〈◊〉 Horace sâ— Marus 〈◊〉 esto nilco-â— sibâ— nulia 〈◊〉 scerâ— culpâ— Sentence Sentence Sentence Sentence Simile Tâ— one Sâ—s an Iâ— vsed in a 〈◊〉 poeme Non grauâ— mourns 〈◊〉 mole Horace â— ane pâ—us angâ—â— Orestes looks in the historie This of the Pâ— sition u 〈◊〉 word taken as of the x. booked Apulâ— giâ—â— Asse and â— hereâ—â—â—ther very apâ—ly suseried to â—eâ—tifie his tale â— and to paint foriâ—â— leudnesse of a vâ—ld woman Simile 〈◊〉 is a medâ—â— taken to 〈◊〉 sicknesse Sentence Morall Historie Allusion Ouid. Parcâ—te paucarum disfundere crimina in omnes Iudas Iscariot Hipermestra one of the 50 Sisters Looâ—â— in the Storie of this booke He come to that matter in the 25 Booke st 29. Sentence Mulâ—a cadune enter caelicem supremariâ— labra Atlantti casteâ—â— Rogero Bradamaâ—â— Simile Of this you shall see more in the 23. booke 7 staff Though Rogero in here willing to be baptized and after still deferred it you must note be knew not in what danger 〈◊〉 master was in â— afterwards in the xxv booke Sentence Sentence Simile It was 〈◊〉 her brother â—â— you 〈◊〉 seen 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 25. booke This was 〈…〉 Galâ—â—na 〈◊〉 you might reade before in the latter end of this 20. loâ—ke Pinnabels lâ—w Sentence Sentence Sentence Of this ye might made in the end of the â— booke Simile Ouid. Atque 〈◊〉 pasto pascaâ— antecibâ— Morall Historie Allegorie Sentence The Latine pro◠〈…〉 Sentence Looke in the moral of the former booke where this 〈◊〉 touched more largely Sentence Sentence Meaning the Planets Sentence Astolfo 〈…〉 seare called Lauced 〈…〉 He returnes to 〈◊〉 booke about the 88 staffe Simile One horse of Astolfa the other her owne that she tooke from Penabell In the fourth booke â—domene Sentence Sentence He comes to Rodoâ—â—â—t 24. book 78. staffe Zerbin Gabrina Quarrie is a word properly signifying the soule that the halke hath kold and sometime by metaphor is vsed for a dead bodie Altariua was Anselmus house father a Pinabell Sentence Orlando Isabell. Simile 〈◊〉 de fastis 〈◊〉 viri collo 〈◊〉 pependit 〈◊〉 Mandricardo In the 14. booke Simile Antheus Looke in the Historie Qui 〈…〉 Simia is 〈◊〉 the old 〈◊〉 He comes 〈◊〉 24. 〈◊〉 31. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vse of â—â—iting in trees good Poets 〈◊〉 testified â—â—opertied Vos 〈◊〉 testies si 〈◊〉 habet arbor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Eron 〈◊〉 serumatà 〈…〉 〈◊〉 caâ—◠〈◊〉 Sentence Sentence Simile Virgill â—th the like But 〈◊〉 described with more particulars Eâ—iam summa proâ—ul villâ—rum culmina sumat 〈…〉 Sentence A phrase of speech vsed in the Latin Inâ—â—â—â— securim Vulture is that bird that we call Râ—â—â—â—bus there are diuers kinds of them 〈◊〉 hath the 〈◊〉 〈…〉 ille 〈…〉 qui 〈…〉 Ouid deserting the death of 〈…〉 Sublâ—â—â—â—diâ—â— Soder 〈◊〉 〈…〉 capiliss Perg 〈◊〉 express 〈◊〉 cebeg Romanes 〈◊〉 christian 〈◊〉 〈…〉
serue for the credit of it yet let this serue that some part of the Scripture was written in verse as the Psalmes of Dauid and certaine other songs of Deborah of Salomon and others which the learnedest diuines do affirme to be verse and find that they are in meeter though the rule of the Hebrew verse they agree not on Sufficeth it me onely to proue that by the authoritie of sacred Scriptures both parts of Poesie inuention or imitation and verse are allowable and consequently that great obiection of lying is quite taken away and refuted Now the second obiection is pleasing of fooles I haue already showed how it displeaseth not wise men now if it haue this vertue to to please the fooles and ignorant I wold thinke this an article of prayse not of rebuke wherefore I confesse that it pleaseth fooles and so pleaseth them that if they marke it and obserue it well it will in time make them wise for in verse is both goodnesse and sweetnesse Rubarb and Sugercandie the pleasant and the profitable wherefore as Horace sayth Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit vtile dulci he that can mingle the sweete and wholsome the pleasant and the profitable he is indeed an absolute good writer such be Poets if any be such they present vnto vs a prettie tale able to keepe a childe from play and an old man from the chimnie corner Or as the same Horace saith to a couetous man Tantalus à labris sitiens fugientia captat Flumina quid rides mutato nomine de te Fabula narratur One tels a couetous man a tale of Tantalus that sits vp to the chinne in water and yet is plagued with thirst This signifies the selfesame man to whom the tale is told that wallows in plentie and yet his miserable minde barres him of the vse of it As my selfe knew and I am sure many remember Iustice Randall of London a man passing impotent in body but much more in mind that leauing behind him a thousand pounds of gold in a chest ful of old boots and shoes yet was so miserable that at my Lord Maiors dinner they say he would put vp a widgen for his supper and many a good meale he did take of his franke neighbour the widdow Penne but to come to the matter this same great sinne that is laide to Poetrie of pleasing fooles is fufficiently answered if it be worth the answering Now for the breeding of errours which is the third Obiection I see not why it should breed any when none is bound to beleeue that they write nor they looke not to haue their fictions beleeued in the literall sence aud therefore he that well examine whence errours spring shall finde the writers of prose not of verse the authors and maintainers of them and this point I count so manifest as it needes no proofe The last reproofe is lightnes and wantonnes this is indeed an Obiection of some importance sith as Sir Philip Sidney confesseth Cupido is crept euen into the Heroicall Poemes consequently maketh that also subiect to this reproofe I promised in the beginning not partially to praise Poesie but plainly and honestly to confesse that that might truely be obiected against it and if any thing may be sure it is this lasciuiousnesse yet this I will say that of all kinde of Poesie the Heroicall is least infected therewith The other kindes I will rather excuse then defend though of all the kindes of Poesie it may be sayd where any scurrilitie and lewdnesse is found there Poetrie doth not abuse vs but writers haue abused Poetrie And brieflie to examine all the kindes First the Tragicall is meerely free from it as representing onely the cruell and lawlesse proceedings of Princes mouing nothing but pitie or detestation The Comicall whatsoeuer foolish play makers make it offend in this kind yet being rightly vsed it represents them so as to make the vice scorned and not embraced The Satyrike is meerly free from it as being wholy occupied in mannerly and couertly reprouing of all vices The Elegie is stil mourning as for the Pastorall with the Sonnet or Epigramme though many times they sauour of wantonnesse and loue and toying and now and then breaking the rules of Poetrie go into plaine scurrilitie yet euen the worst of them may be not ill applied and are I must confesse too delightfull in so much as Martial saith Laudant illa sed ista legunt And in another place Erubuit posuitque meum Lucrecia librum Sed coram Bruto Brute recede leget Lucrecia by which he signifies any chast matron will blush and be ashamed to reade a lasciuious booke but how not except Brutus be by that is if any graue man should see her reade it but if Brutus turne his backe she will to it againe and reade it all But to end this part of my Apologie as I count and conclude Heroicall Poesie allowable and to be read and studied without all exception so may I boldly say that Tragedies well handled be a most worthy kind of Poesie that Comedies may make men see and shame at their owne faults that the rest may be so written and so read as much pleasure and some profite may be gathered out of them And for mine owne part as Scaliger writeth of Virgil so I beleeue that the reading of a good Heroicall Poeme may make a man both wiser and honester and for Tragedies to omit other famous Tragedies that that which was played at Saint Iohns in Cambridge of Richard the third would moue I thinke Phalaris the tyrant and terrifie all tyrannous minded men from following their foolish ambitious humors seeing how his ambition made him kill his brother his nephewes his wife beside infinite others and last of all after a short and troublesome raigne to end his miserable life and to haue his bodie harried after his death Then for Comedies how full of harmelesse mirth is our Cambridge Pedantius and the Oxford Bellum Grammaticale or to speake of a London Comedie how much good matter yea and matter of state is there in that Comedie called the play of the Cards in which it is shewed how foure Parasiticall knaues robbe the foure principall vocations of the Realme videl the vocation of Souldiers Schollers Merchants and Husbandmen Of which Comedie I cannot forget the saying of a notable wise counseller that is now dead who when some to sing Placebo aduised that it should be forbidden because it was somewhat too plaine and indeed as the old saying is sooth boord is no boord yet he would haue it allowed adding it was fit that they which do that they should not should heare that they wold not Finally if Comedies may be so made as the beholders may be bettered by them without all doubt all other sorts of Poetrie may bring their profite as they do bring delight and if all then much more the chiefe of all which by all mens consent is the Heroicall
and disposition to the amendment of the same The Historie both that the true ground of the poeme may appeare for learned men hold that a perfect poeme must ground of a truth as I shew more at large in another place as also to explane some things that are lightly touched by him as examples of all times either of old or of late The Allegorie of some things that are meerely fabulous yet haue an allegoricall sence which euery bodie at the first shew cannot perceiue The Allusion of fictions to be applied to some things done or written of in times past as also where it may be aâ—plied without offence to the time present But these happen in very few bookes And this is all that â— haue to aduertise the Reader for if any other notes happen to come after it is but for want of oome in the margent that they were faine to be put out of their due place It remaines onely to wish because I find it will be delightfull to many that it may be hurtfull to none lest if it should both they and I be called to account for it where not onely euill workes but idle words shall be punished THE FIRST BOOKE OR CANTO OF ORLANDO FVRIOSO THE ARGVMENT Charls hath the foyle Angelica flies thence Renaldos horse holpe him his Loue to find Ferraw with him doth fight in her defence She flies againe they stay not long behind Argalias ghost reproues Ferraws offence The Spaniard to new vow himselfe doth bind His mistris presence Sacrapant enioyeth With Bradamant Renaldo him annoyeth 1 OF Dames of Knights of armes of loues delight Of courtesies of high attempts I speake Then wheÌ„ the Moores transported all their might On Africke seas the force of France to breake Incited by the youthfull heate and spight Of Agramant their king that vowd to wreake The death of King Trayana lately slaine Vpon the Romane Emperour Charlemaine 2 I will no lesse Orlandos acts declare A tale in prose ne verse yet sung or sayd Who fell bestraught with loue a hap most rare To one that earst was counted wise and stayd If my sweet Saint that causeth my like care My slender muse affoord some gracious ayd I make no doubt but I shall haue the skill As much as I haue promist to fulfill 3 Vouchsafe O Prince of most renowmed race The ornament and hope of this our time T' accept this gift presented to your grace By me your seruant rudely here in rime And though I paper pay and inke in place Of deeper debt yet take it for no crime It may suffise a poore and humble debter To lay and if he could it should be better 4 Here shall you find among the worthy peeres Whose praises I prepare to tell in verse Rogero him from whom of auncient yeeres Your princely stems deriued I reherses Whose noble mind by princely acts appeeres Whose worthy fame euen to the skie doth perseâ— So you vouchsafe my lowly stile and base Among your high conceits a httle plase 5 Orlando who long time had loued deare Angeliâ—a the faire and for her sake About the world in nations far and neare Did high attempts performe and vndertake Returâ—d with her into the West that yeare That Charles his power against the Turks did make And with the force of Germanie and France Neare Pyron Alpes his standard did aduance 6 To make the Kings of Affrike and of Spaine Repent their rash attempts and foolish vaunts One hauing brought from Asâ—â—ike in his traine All able men to carry sword or launce The other mou'd the Spaniards now againe To ouerthrow the goodly Realme of Fraunce And hither as I said Orlando went But of his comming straight he did repent 7 For here behold how humane iudgements art And how the wiser sort are oft mistaken His Ladie whom he guarded had so farr Nor had in fights nor dangers great forsaken Without the dint of sword or open warr Amid his friends away from him was taken For Charles the great a valiant Prince and wise Did this to quench a broile that did arise 8 Betweene Orlando and Renaldo late There fell about Angelica some brall And each of them began the tother hate This Ladies loue had made them both so thrall But Charles who much mislikes that such debate Betweene such friends should rise on cause so small To Namus of Bauier in keeping gaue her And suffred neither of them both to haue her 9 But promist he would presently bestow The damsell faire on him that in that fight The plainest proofe should of his prowesse show And danger most the Pagans with his might But ay the while the Christens take the blow Their souldiers slaine their Captaines put to flight The Duke himselfe a prisner there was taken His tent was quite abandond and forsaken 10 Where when the damsell faire a while had stayd That for the victor pointed was a pray She tooke her horse ne farther time delayd But secretly conuayd her selfe away For she foresaw and was full sore afrayd That this to Charles would proue a dismall day And riding through a wood she hapt to meet A knight that came against her on his feet 11 His curats on his helmet not vndone His sword and target ready to the same And through the wood so swiftly he did runne As they that go halfe naked for a game But neuer did a shepheards daughter shunne More speedily a snake that on her came Then faire Angelica did take her flight When as she once had knowledge of the knight 12 This valiant knight was Lord of Clarimount Duke Ammons sonne as you shall vnderstand Who hauing lost his horse of good account That by mishap was slipt out of his hand He followd him in hope againe to mount Vntill this Ladies sight did make him stand Whose face and shape proportiond were so well They seeme the house where loue itselfe did dwell 13 But she that shuns Renaldo all she may Vpon her horses necke doth lay the raine Through thicke and thin she gallopeth away Ne makes she choise of beaten way or plaine But giues her palfrey leaue to chuse the way And being mou'd with feare and with disdaine Now vp now downe she neuer leaues to ride Till she arriued by a riuer side 14 Fast by the streame Ferravv she sees anone Who noyd in part with dust and part with sweat Out of the battell hither came alone With drinke his thirst with aire to swage his heat And minding backe againe to haue bene gone He was detaind with an vnlookt for let Into the streame by hap his helmet fell And how to get it out he cannot tell 15 And hearing now the noise and mournfull crie Of one with piteous voice demaunding ayd Seeing the damsell eke approching nie That nought but helpe against Renaldo prayd What wight it was he guessed by and by Though looking pale like one that had bene
him stand aboue and hold it fast And by the same intending to descend Vpon her armes her whole waight she doth cast But he that to destroy her did â—ntend Doth aske if she would learne to leape a cast And laughing loosd his hands that were together And wisht that all the race of them were with her 76 Yet great good hap the gentle damsell found As well deseru'd a miâ—d so innocent For why the polâ— strake first vpon the ground And though by force it shiuerd all and rent Yet were her limbes and life kept safe and sound For all his vile and traiterous intent Sore was the damsell mazed with the fall As in another booke declare I shall In thiâ— second booke in the combat betweene Renaldo and Sacrapant we may obserue how the passion of loue together with the termes that men stand vpon for their reputation credit are oftentimes occasions of bitter quarels and in their sodaâ—â—e parting and great perplexitie that both of them were stricken into by the false tale that the spirit told them of Orlando we may gather how very apt ielousie is to conceiue and beleeue euery false report By Renaldos obedience to Charles in going on embassage notwithstanding all his priuat affaires and affections we may take example of dutiful obedience to our lawfull Prince And in that Pinnabel seekes to betray Bradamant and to kill her by letting her fall into the caue into the which she trusted he would haue let her downe safely and friendly we may note two speciall things one that it is good to be warie into whose hands we commit the sauegard of our liues and state the other that base minded men being wickedly set on reuenge care not by what treason or villanie they worke the ouerthrow of their enemies For the Historie of this Canto I will not affirme too precisely for I find not in any credible author of Renaldos embassage into England neither is it very likely if the King of England were then in Paris as in another place of this worke is affirmed that a Peere of France should be sent hither and not rather some English noble man sent from the King to his other subiects in England with directions and instructions from him That Paris and Charles himselfe were in some distresse about that time is not vnprobable and that the Turkes at their first arriuall preuailed very farre against the Christians though it lasted but a while As for Rogero whom he toucheth in this booke and that is so much spoken of in this wâ—â—le worke as Aeneas is in Virgil though in both rather in fabulous and in Allegoricall sence then plainly and historicaly yet I find it in very good Authors that a man of that name was indeed the chiefe raiser of the house of Este the now Dukes of Perrara For the Allegorie as I noted in the first booke of Bayardo so the same is still continued or rather repeated namely that the horse by which is meant mans feruent and furious appetite which is more plainly signified where it is said of the horse His going onely was to this intent To shew his master where the damsell went So that still this vnbridled desire figured by Bayardo leades Renaldo on foote whereby is vnderstood sensualitie to pursue Angelica with a base desire of the most base pleasure In the shield whose light amazed the lookers on and made them fall downe astonied may be Allegorically meant the great pompes of the world that make shining shewes in the bleared eyes of vaine people and blind them and make them to admire and fall downe before them hauing indeed nothing but shining titles without vertue like painted sheaths with leaden weapons or like straw without the graine either else may be meant the flaring beauties of some gorgeous women that astonish the eyes of weake minded men apt to receiue such louing impressions as Atlantas shield did amaze their senses that beheld it For the Allegorie of the horse what is meant thereby I reserue to another place where I will follow it more at large then this little space will giue me leaue and in that booke where he is more treated of The Allusion to which this flying horse is referred and from whence it is taken is from Pegasus the flying horse that Pindar writes of bred of the bloud of Medusa on which beast Bellerophon was wont to ride flying the false accusation of Pretus wife Also the shield it selfe seemes to allude to the fable of Medusas head that turned men into stones THE THIRD BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant was falne in Marlins caue Melissa meetes her there her ancient friend And there to her she perfite notice gaue Of such braue men as should from her descend She told her where she should Rogero haue Whom old Atlanta had in prison pend And from Brunello how to take the ring That vnto libertie her deere might bring 1 OH that my head were so well storde with skill Of such a noble subiect fit to treat Oh that my wits were equall to my will To frame a phrase fit for so high conceat Ye muses that do hold the sacred hill Inspire my heart with flame of learned heat While I presume in base and lowly verse The names of glorious Princes to reherse 2 Such Princes as excell all Princes far In all the gifts of bodie and of mind Temprat in peace victorious eake in war Themselues most noble come of noble kind And such except my guesse do greatly arre As are by heau'ns eternall doome assignd In wealth in fame in rule and in prosperitie To liue themselues their children and posteritie 3 Nor can I now their seuerall actes most rare Atcheeud by eu'rie one of them recite No though my verse with Virgils might compare Or I as well as Homer could endite With their great praise great volumes filled are With large discourse by them that stories write I onely meane to show what was foreshowne Long er their persons or their deeds were knowne 4 But first of Pinnabel a word to speake Who as you heard with traiterous intent The bonds of all humanitie did break For which er long himselfe was after shent Thus while base minds their wroÌ„gs do basely wreak They do that once that often they repent And curse that time a thousand times too late When they pursude their vnreuenged hate 5 With fainting heart for sin is full of feare By stealing steps from hence he doth depart And as he goes he prieth here and there His fearefull looke bewrayes his guiltie hart Not yet his dread doth moue him to forbeare To heape more sin vpon this ill desart Appald with feare but toucht with no remorse Supposing she was slaine he takes her horse 6 But let him go vntill another time For I do meane hereafter you shall heare How he was dealt with when his double crime In secret wrought most open did appeare Now vnto
of this booke much might be said of Atlant of his horse and his shield but I will onely touch what I thinke will be thought most worth the noting and let passe the rest for each mans priuat conceit Atlant by many of his gestures and actions here specified may signifie Cupid or that fond fancie that we call loue and whereas he takes vp such braue captains and souldiers as well as women and weaklings it seemes consonant to that pretie fantastik verse of Ouid Militat omnis amans habet sua castra Cupido All louers warriers are and Cupid hath his campe Further the wings of this strange beast called the Griphith horse agree with Petrarks description of Cupids wings Sopra gli homeri hauea sol due grand'ali di color mille Vpon his shoulders were two mightie wings of thousand colours Atlant takes and imprisons those he takes Loue is as close and inextricable a prison as his The wayes to Atlants castle are described to be craggie headlong and vnpleasant Such be the wayes of that passion The castle is said to be placed in the middle of a rockie mountaine â—losseâ— in sunder by which is meant that this folly we speake of possesseth vs and dwels in vs most of all about the middle of our age as Dant saith Nel mezzo del camin di nostra vita Mi retrouai per vna selua oscura Che la dritta via era smarrita While yet my life was in her middle race I found I wandred in a darkesome wood The right way lost with mine vnstedy pace This is that wandring wood of which the dolefull Petrarke complaines so often in those his sweete mourning sonets in which he seemes to haue comprehended all the passions that all men of that humour haue felt And this he saith of it Ond ' Io son fatto vn ' animal siluestro Che co pie vaghi solitari e lassi Porto il cor graue e gli occhi humidi e bassi Al mondo che e per me vn deserto Thus I am growne a sauage beast and vyld That still with wandring steps and solitarie A heauy heart and watred eyes do carie About the world which is my forrest wyld Also whereas it is said what plentie of all pleasures they had in Atlantas castle it signifieth that delicious fare and such â—picuriall and idle life are the chiefe nurses of this fond affection according to that saying of Ouid Otia si tollas periere cupidinis arcus Contemptaeâ—ue iacent sine luce faces Take idlenesse away and out of dout Cupids bow breakes and all his lamps go out Finally the fortification of the castle the fuming pots of stone the situation and height and euery thing that is said of the man the horse the house the shield are so easie to vnderstand in allegoricall sence as I thinke it needlesse to proceed any further in this matter For allusions I find little to be said saâ—e of Geneura her selfe which I will reserue to the next books THE FIFT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Dalinda tels what sleights her Duke deuised To get with faire Geneura reputation Lurcanio of his brothers fall aduised Accus'th her publikely of fornication A Knight vnknowne in armour blacke disguised Comes and withstands Lurcanios accusation Vntill Renaldo made all matters plaine By whom the vniust Duke was iustly slaine 1 WE see the rest of liuing creatures all Both birds and beasts that on the earth do dwell Liue most in peace or if they hap to brall The male and female still agreeth well The fierce the faint the greater not the small Against the law of nature will rebell The â—auage Lions Beares and Buls most wyld Vnto their females shew themselues most myld 2 What fiend of hell what rage raignes here so rife Disturbing still the state of humane harts How comes it that we find twixt man and wife Continuall iarres bred by iniurious parts The vndefiled bed is filde by strife And teares that grow of words vnkind and thwarts Nay oft all care and feare is so exiled Their guiltie hands with blood haue bene defiled 3 No doubt they are accurst and past all grace And such aâ— haue of God nor man no feare That dare to strike a damsell in the face Or of her head to minish but a haire But who with knife or poison would vnlace Their line of life or flesh in peeces teare No man nor made of flesh and blood I deeme him But sure some hound of hell I do esteeme him 4 Such were these theeues that would the damsell kill That by Renaldos comming was recouered They secretly had brought her downe the hill In hope their fact could neuer be discouered Yet such is God so good his gracious will That when she looked least she was deliuered And with a chearfull heart that late was sorie She doth begin to tell the wofull storie 5 Good sir said she my conscience to discharge The greatest tyrannie I shall you tell That erst in Thebes in Athens or in Arge Was euer wrought or where worst tyrants dwell My voice and skill would faile to tell at large The filthy fact for I beleeue it well Vpon this countrey Phoebus shines more cold Because he doth such wicked acts behold 6 Men seeke we see and haue in euery age To foile their foes and tread them in the dust But there to wreake their rancoâ— and their rage Where they are lou'd is foule and too vniust Loue should preuaile iust anger to asswage If loue bring death whereto can women trust Yet loue did breed my danger and my feare As you shall heare if you will giue me eare 7 For entring first into my tender spring Of youthfull yeares vnto the court I came And serued there the daughter of our king And kept a place of honor with good fame Till loue alas that loue such care should bring Enuide my stare and sought to do me shame Loue made the Duke of Alban seeme to me The furest wight that erst mine eye did see 8 And for I thought he lou'd me all aboue I bent my selfe to hold and loue him best But now I find that hard it is to proue By sight or speech what bides in secret brest While I poore I did thus beleeue and loue He gets my bodie bed and all the rest Nor thinking this might breed my mistres danger I vsd this practise in Geneuras chamber 9 Where all the things of greatest value lay And whore Geneura sleepes her selfe so metime There at a window we did finde a way In secret sort to couer this our crime Here when my loue and I were bent to play I taught him by a scale of cord to clime And at the window I my selfe would stand And let the ladder downe into his hand 10 So oft we meete togither at this sport As faire Geneuras absence giues vs leaue Who vsd to other chambers to resort In summer time
forrain nations but yet we may note withall an inconuenience that comes many times with it to see some Angelicas naked that will tempt men of very stanch gouernment and staid yeares to that which they shall after repent as Rogero did this his wantonnesse as appears more plainly in the next booke where you shall find he lost both his horse and the ring by the vngratefulnesse of Angelica For the matter historicall of this tenth booke there is litle to be said and nothing to be affirmed for the succors sent to France from England Scotland Ireland and many places thereabouts though I cannot affirme precisely of the time yet sure it is that many have bin sent hence against the Turk to France and elsewhere And whereas he speakes of S. Patrick the Irish Saint I would haue them that would know the story of him to look in Surius de vitis Sanctorum and there they may see it at large for mine owne part at my being in Ireland where I taried a few moneths I was inquisitiue of their opinion of this Saint and I could learne nothing other then a reuerent conceit that they had of him as becomes all Christians to haue of deuout men and chiefly of those by whom they are first instructed in the Christian faith but for his purgatory I found neither any that affirmed it or beleeued it Logestillas castle the ornaments thereof the herbs of the garden all these figure the true magnificence glory comfort and vtilitie of vertue The foure Ladies sent to rescue Rogero are the foure Cardinall vertues which being well vnited together are able to ouerthrow whole nauies of vicious pleasures And so whatsoeuer else is spoken of Logestilla in Allegory is taken for vertue In Angelica tied to the rock and deliuered by Rogero he alludes manifestly to the tale in Ouid of Andromade and Perseus who with his shield turned the beholders into stones THE ELEVENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Angelica doth hide her selfe away By vertue of the ring Rogero lent her Rogero sees a gyant beare away His spouse halfe dead and greatly doth lament her Orlando at the I le of woe doth stay Where many women meete but hard aduenter Here be the monster kild Olympia freed To marrie whom Oberto soone agreed 1 THe galiant courser in his full carrire Is made by man to stop with slâ—nder raigne But man himselfe his lust and fond desire Is seldome drawn by reason to refraine T is hard to stop but harder to retire When youthfull course ensueth pleasure vaine As Bears do breake the hiues and weake defences When smell of honie commeth to their sences 2 No maruell if Rogero could not hold But that he would now take a little sport That naked did Angelica behold Within a groue alone from all resort His loue to Bradamant now waxeth cold Or at the least is temperd in such sort He meanes therewith at this time to dispence And not to let this go a maiden hence 3 Whose beautie was so rare as well it might Haue made Zenocrates an Epicure No maruell then if this same gentle knight Could not so great temptation well endure But while he hastend to his hopt delight Of which he thought him in possession sure There fell a strange and vnexpected thing By meanes Angelica did know the ring 4 This was the ring that she with her had brought To France the verie first time she was there What time by ayd thereof so well she wrought She holp her brother to th'inchanted speare By vertue of this ring she set at nought Those magicke arts that men so greatly feare With this Orlando Countie Palladine She did release from wicked Dragontine 5 By helpe of this inuisible she went Out of the towre where Atlant had her set For this same ring Brunello false was sent By Agramant who longd the same to get To tell that storie is not my intent For feare it might my other matter let But certaine t is that when this ring was lost In fortunes waues she had bene euer tost 6 Now when she saw this ring was on her hand She was so strooke with maruell and with ioy That scarce she could discerne and vnderstand If she were wake or if she dreamd sometoy But to make triall how the case doth stand And know if she this treasure doth inioy Into her mouth the ring she doth conuay And straight inuisible she goeth away 7 Rogero that each minute thought an howre His armour of and readie for the play Expecting now the damsell in a bowre Where he had pointed her for him to stay Found all to late that by the rings strange powre She had vnseene conuayd her selfe away He lent it her to saue her eyes from blindnesse And for reward she quits him with vnkindnesse 8 With which her act dipleasd and ill apaid He curst himselfe and chased in his mind O cruell and vnthankfull wench he said Is this the loue that I deseru'd to find Dost thou reward him thus that brought thee aid To thy preseruer art thou so vnkind Take ring and shield and flying horse and me This onely barre me not thy face to see 9 This said he goâ—th about where she had beene Still groping as the weather had bin darke Embracing oft the aire his armes betweene In steed of her then heedfull he doth harke To find her by the sound that was not seene And whence the same doth come he wel doth mark But on went she vntill it was her lote To come into a silly shepheards cote 10 And though this same were far from any towne Yet there she quickly did her selfe prouide Of meate and drinke and of a simple gowne Sufficient for the time her bare to hide Not suting for a Ladie of renowne That had bin euer clad in pompe and pride Had gownes of crimson purple and carnasion Of eu'ry colour and of eu'ry fashion 11 But yet no kind of weed so base or ill is Her of her princely beautie to bereaue They that so much extoll faire Amarillis Or Galate do but them themselues deceaue Cease Tyterus to praise thy golden Phillis Peace Melebe this passes by your leaue Ye souldiers all that serue in Cupids garrison May not presume with this to make comparison 12 Now here the damsell faire a palfrey hired With other things most needfull for her way And means to her owne home to haue retired From whence she had bin absent many a day The while Rogero now with trauell tired Lamenting he had lost so faire a pray Doth seeke his horse who had not long bin idle But in his masters absence brake his bridle 13 Which when he found the raines in peeces torne The horse soard far away with mightie wing How could such haps with patientnesse be borne Of one great losse to find a greater spring He sitteth in a dumpe like one forlorne For losse of her his horse and of his ring Whose vertue great did make
do sit and sing So that blind god whose force can no man shunne Sits in her eyes and thence his darts doth fling And bathes his wings in her cleare cristall streames And sunneth them in her rare beauties beames 52 In theâ—e he heates his golden headed dart In those he cooleth it and temperd so He leuels thence at good Obertos hart And to the head he drawth it in his bow Thus is he wounded deepe and feeles no smart Hâ—s armor cannot send to fierce a blow For while on her faire eyes and limbes he gaped The arrow came thet could not be escaped 53 And sure Olympias beauties were so rare As might well moue a man the same to note Her haire her eyes her cheeks most amorous are Her nose her mouth her shoulders and her throte As for her other parts that then were bare Which she was wont to couer with her cote Were made in such a mould as might haue moued The chast Hipolytus her to haue loued 54 A man would thinke them framd by Phydias arts Their colour and proportion good was such And vnto them her shamefastnesse imparts A greater grace to that before was much I cease to praise those other secret parts As not so fit to talke of as to tuch In generall all was as white as milke As smoth as iuory and as soft as silke 55 Had she in valley of Idea beene When Pastor Paru hap did to befall To be a iudge three goddesses betweene She should haue got and they forgone the ball Had she but once of him bene naked seene For Heâ—era he had not car'd at all Nor broke the bonds of sacred hospitalitie That bred his country warres and great mortalitie 56 Had she but then bene in Crotana towne When Zeuceâ— for the goddesse Iunos sake To paint a picture of most rare renowne Did many of the fairest damsels make To stand before him bare from foote to crowne A patterne of their perfect parts to take No doubt he would haue all the rest refused And her alone in steed of all haue chused 57 I doubtlesse deeme Byreno neuer vewd Her naked corps for certaine if he had He could not so all humane sence exclude To leaue her thus alone in state so bad But briefly all this matter to conclude It seemd Oberto would haue bin full glad In this her wo her misery and need To comfort her by either word or deed 58 And straight he promist that he would attend her And set her in her country if he may And mauger all her enemies defend her And take reuenge on him did her betray And that he might both men and money lend her He would to pawne his realme of Ireland lay Nor till she were restor'd aske no repayment And straight he sought about to get her raiment 59 They need not trauell farre to find a gowne For why immediatly they found good store By sending to the next adioyning towne The which his men of warre had spoild before Where many a worthy Ladie of renowne That had bene naked tide vnto the shore And many a tender virgin and vnfoiled Were of their raiment and their liues despoiled 60 And yet for all they were so richly gownd Oberto could not cloath her as he wold No not in Florence though it doth abound With rich embroderies of pearle and gold Could any peece of precious stuffe be found Of worth to serue to keepe her from the cold Whose shape was so exact in euery part Euen hard to match by nature or by art 61 Orlando with this loue was well content As one that hither came with other end For sith he mist Angelica he ment His iourney backe to France againe to bend With them by ship to Ireland first he went As in his way and with the king his frend Not hearing had his loue bin here or no For all were dead that could haue told him so 62 At both their sutes be scant staid there one day His passing loue such passions in him bred But ere he went he doth Oberto pray To do for her as much as he had sed And parting so from thence he tooke his way Eu'n as his fortune and his fancie led But good Oberto need not be desired To do as much or more then he required 63 For few dayes past but that with her he went To Holland where he raised such commotion That straight Byreno taken was and shent Receiuing on three trees a iust promotion And all those countries did forthwith consent To sweare them faith and be at their deuotion Thus of a Countesse she is made a Prince And liues in ioy and solace euer since 64 Orlando bends his course to Brittish shore Whence he not long before to ship did mount Where he had left his famous Brilliadore A goodly courser and of good account No doubt of valiant acts he did good store Though what they were I cannot here recount For such a minde he carride still vnto them He cared not to tell them but to do them 65 But in what fashion he did passe the rest Of that vnfortunate and fatall yeare I say by me it cannot be exprest Because thereof no record doth appeare But when the spring did ground with green inuest And sunne in Gemini made weather cleare Then did he acts both worthie of reciting And to be kept in euerlasting writing 66 From hils to dales from woods to pastures wide From waters fresh vnto the salt sea shore To seeke his loue he vp and downe doth ride The lesse he finds he seeketh still the more At last he heard a voice for helpe that cride He drawes his sword aud spurs his Brilliadore But to refresh the reader now t is reason And stay my storie to a better season In the beginning of this eleuenth booke is a notable morall of temperance with two comparisons one of the horse another of the Beare which I iudge fit for this place rather to be repeated then expounded If saith he a horse with a little snaffle may be stopt in his full carrire what a shame is it for a man not to bridle his disordinate affections with reason but to be like a Beare so greedie of honie that he breakes downe the hiues and deuoureth the combes till his tongue eyes and iawes be stong readie to make him runne mad so do young men deuoure with extreme greedinesse these sensuall pleasures of venerie surfetting drinking pride in apparrell and all intemperance till in the end they are plagued with sicknesse pouertie and many other inconueniences to their vtter ruine and confusion Wherefore in the person of Rogero young men may weigh the losses he had by following his present fancie to Angelica namely his ring and his horse by the tone is vnderstood reason by the other courage In Angelica whose beutie so exceedingly shined in her poore apparel you great Ladies may see that your true natural beauties becom you best beside that it hath euer
proue against them both that he had said 30 Sir said Orlando to the Pagan King Lend him your headpeece and er we go hence I will this beast in better order bring Or sharply punish him for his offence Nay soft said Sacrapant that were a thing The which to grant might shew I had no sence Lend you him yours for I le not go to schoole To know as well as you to bob a foole 31 Tush quoth Ferraw fooles to your faces both As though if I had bin disposd to weare one I would haue sufferd were you leiue or loth The best and proudest of you both to beare one The truth is this that I by solemne oth Vpon a certaine chance did once forsweare one That on my head no helmet should be donne Vntill I had Orlandos helmet wonne 32 What quoth the Earle then seems it vnto thee Thy force so much Orlandos doth surmount That thou couldst do the same to him that he Vnto Almonta did in Aspramount Rather I thinke if thou his face should see Thou wouldst so farre be wide of thine account That thou wouldst tremble ouer all thy body And yeeld thy selfe and armour like a nody 33 The Spanish vaunter like to all the nation Said he had often with Orlando met And had him at aduantage in such fashion That had he lift he might his helmet get But thus quoth he the time brings alteration That now I seeke I then at naught did set To take his helmet from him then I spared Because as then for it I little cared 34 Then straight Orlando mou'd in rightfull anger Made answer thus thou foole and murren lier I cannot now forbeare thee any longer I am whom thou to find doest to desier When met we two that thou didst part the stronger Thou thoughtst me farder thou shalt feele me nier Try now if thou beest able me to foyle Or I can thee of all thy armour spoyle 35 Nor do I seeke to take this ods of thee This said forthwith his helmet he vntide And hung the same fast by vpon a tree Then drew his Durindana from his side And in like sort you might the Spaniard see That was no whit abated of his pride How he his sword and target straight prepard And lay most manfully vnto his ward 36 And thus these champions do the fight begin Vpon their coursers fierce themselues more fierce And where the armour ioynes and is most thin There still they striue with sturdy strokes to pierce Search all the world and two such men therein Could not be found for as old bookes rehearse Their skins were such as had they bin vnarmed Yet could they not with weapons haue bin harmed 37 Ferraw had in his youth inchantment such That but his nauell hard was all the rest Vnto Orlando there was done as much By prayer of some saint as may be guest Saue in his feet which he let no man tuch Take it for truth or take it for a iest Thus I haue found it wrote that they indeed Ware armor more for shew then any need 38 Thus twixt them two the fight continues still Yet not so sharpe in substance as in show Ferraw imploying all his art and skill Sharpe thrusts vpon the tother to bestow Orlando that hath euer strength at will Layth on the Spaniard many a lustie blow Angelica doth stand fast by vnseene And sees alone the battell them betweene 39 For why the Pagan Prince was gone the while To find her out when they together fought And by their strife that he might both beguile He hopes and had conceiued in his thought He rides away and trauels many a mile And still his deare beloued mistris sought And thus it came to passe that she that day Was onely present at so great a fray 40 Which when she saw continue in such sort Not yet could guesse by ought that she did see Which was most like to cut the other short She takes away the helmet from the tree And thinks by this to make her selfe some sport Or they by this might sooner sundred be Not meaning in such sort away to set it But that the worthy Earle againe may get it 41 And with the same away from hence she goes The while they two with paine and trauell tired In giuing and in taking deadly bloes Ferraw that mist the headpeece first retired And for he did most certainly suppose That Sacrapant had tane it vndesired Good Lord said he what meane we here to do This other knight hath cousened vs two 42 And vnawares the helmet tane away Orlando hearing this doth looke aside And missing it he doth beleeue straightway As did Ferraw and after him they ride They came at last into a parted way That in two parts itselfe doth there deuide Fresh tracke in both of them was to be seene This of the Knight that of the Indian Queene 43 Orlando hap was to pursue the Knight Ferraw that was more luckie of the twaine Happend vpon Angelica to light Who to refresh her former taken paine Fast by a fountaine did before alight And seeing sodainly the knight of Spaine Straight like a shadow from his fight the past And on the ground the helmet left with hast 44 But as the fight of her did make him glad In hope by this good fortune her to get So thus againe to loose her made him sad And shewd that she did him at nothing set Then curst he as he had bin raging mad Blaspheming Tryuigant and Mahomet And all the Gods adord in Turks profession The griefe in him did make so deepe impression 45 Yet when he had Orlando helmet spide And knew it was by letters writ thereon The same for which Traianos brother dide He takes it quickly vp and puts it on And then in hast he after her doth ride That was out of his sight so strangely gone He takes the helmet thinking little shame Although he came not truly by the same 46 But seeing she away from him was fled Nor where she was he knew nor could not guesse Himselfe from hence to Paris ward he sped His hope to find her waxing lesse and lesse And yet the sorrow that her losse had bred Was part asswag'd the helmet to possesse Though afterward when as Orlando knew it He sware great othes that he would make him rew it 47 But how Orlando did againe it get And how Ferraw was plagued for that crime And how they two betweene two bridges met Whereas Ferraw was killed at that time My purpose is not to declare as yet But to another story turne my rime Now I must tell you of that Indian Queene By vertue of her ring that goeth vnseene 48 Who parted thence all had and discontented That by her meanes Ferraw his will had got That she with this vnlookt for hap preuented Left him the helmet though she meant it not And in her heart her act she sore repented And with her selfe she laid alas God wot I
leaue her in this charmed place I meane er long her trauell shall be eased And she shall see and know Rogeros face Eu'n as the tast with diuers meats is pleased So thinke I by this storie in like case The frendly reader shall be lesse annoyed If with one matter long he be not cloyed 66 With sundrie threds a man had need to weaue To make so large a web as I intend Wherfore all other matters I must leaue Of Agramant a little time to spend Who sorely at the flour deluce did heaue And all his might to mar the same did bend Sending for men to Affricke and to Spaine Those to supply that in the field were slaine 67 Thus all on war his heart was wholly fixt His new supplies with sundrie captaines led Were come with men of sundrie nations mixt With whom that no disorder may be bred A day forvews and musters was prefixt That eu'rie one might know his guide and hed Then fell they to their mustring and their vewing As shall be shewd you in the booke ensuing In this tragicall discourse of Isabella for it is in conclusion an excellent tragedie young Ladies might take this good lesson that though they make choise of most worthie men as Isabella did yet if it be without their parents good will it seldome prospers but is full of diuers misaduentures and hazards that many times be the cause of their vtter ruine In that Oderike giueth place to his disordinate lust forgetting all faith and loyalty we may note the frailtie of young men and what vnfit tutors they are for such charges who when they haue broken all the bands of faith and honestie they think notwithstading they haue made a sufficient excuse for the matter if they may lay the fault vpoÌ„ sauing your reuerence Cupid In Corebo that would not be wonne to consent to his frends desire in so foule a matter we may take good example of faith and loyaltie that must neither for frendship nor kindred yeeld to any dishonorable act In the execution of the theeues we may learne that such an end is fit for men that liue by robberie and spoile and will take no honest trauell for their liuing as fit to vse the old Prouerbe as a rope is for a theese The notable women that are so commended by Melissa in this booke were of the house of Ferrara many of them worthie this exquisite praise that is here giuen them The first he speakes of is the Duchesse of Mantua whose husband had a great victorie at Tare a riuer of Italie against Charles the right of France Ariosto therefore compares her chastitie with this victorie according to that excellent wise saying it is a greater vertue to conquer ones owne affections then to win cities Beatrice wife to Lodwick Sforze of whom in the three and thirtith booke there is more said only here he notes which was true indeed that during his wiues life he liued more happy then he did after for at her death began his miserie Hercules of Este married Alfonsos daughter of whom he had Alfonso Hippolito and Isabella Concerning Renata Lewis the xij king of France maried the Duchesse of Brittaine and had by her issue this Renata one of whose ofspring was after matched into the house of Austria so as that Dukedome is in great danger to be gotten by the Spaniards now that line of France that came of the elder sister is extinguished But this is beside the booke onely I thought good to touch the particular stocke of some of these famous women that my Author so much extolleth as I haue my selfe read of some of them in Guicciardin and Frances Vlloa that wrote the life of Charles the fist in Italian and this I will note withall that my author doth with great discretion commend three speciall vertues in the women of the house of Este. First deuotion for he alledgeth that many of them entred into religion and liued all their time denoutly which he praiseth chiefly though in the last place saying I passe all those that passe all these some deall Next chastitie Penelope in spending chast her dayes as worthie as Vlysses was of praise Thirdly education of children as is likewise touched before in another place The vertues that in women merit praise Are sober showes without chast thoughts within True faith and due obèdience to their make And of their children honest care to take Bradamant that after Melissas warning giuen vnto her of Atlantas illusion yet is caried away with the sight of Rogero falsly represented vnto her signifies by allegorie that a Christian hauing receiued ghostly counsell for the health of his soule and is instructed in true beliefe yet after when the world and his owne grosse sence represents vnto him some contrarie imaginations he thinkes Melissa that is the preacher or instructer doth but abuse him and tell him a tale of Robinhood and so they are caried into the diuels pallace where they find nothing but shadows and illusions Where Orlando takes vp a firebrand and killed one of the outlaws therwith it alludes to two like matters in Oui. Ecce rapit medijs slagrantem Rhetus ab aris Primitium torrem dextraque a parte Charaxi Tempora perfringit And in the xij of Virgil. Obuius ambustum torrem Corineus ab ara Corripit venienti ebuso plagamâ—que ferenti Occupat os flammis Illi ingens barba reluxit Nidoremque ambusta dedit THE FOVRTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Agramant mustring of his men doth misse Two bands that by Orlando late were slaine Mandricard vowes to be reuengd of this But by the way he haps to entertaine Dame Doralice whose beautie was his blisse An Angell brings Renaldo and his traine Vnseene there where the Pagan did encampe And sendéth discord to the Turkish campe 1 AMong the fierce assaults and cruell bloes That France hath felt from Affrick and from Spaine In which so many men fed Wolues and Croes That were on both sides in the battell slaine Although the French were foiled by their foes That long they came not to the field againe Yet was this foile sore to the Pagans cost For diuers Lords and Princes that they lost 2 So bloudie was the victorie they gate That scant this ioy did counteâ—uaile that wo And if we may compare things done or late Renownd Alfons to things done long ago Rauennas fall by fortune or by fate In which your vertue great did flourish so To win the field so bloudy and so hard With this of theirs may iustly be compard 3 For when the souldiers of the Spanish band Whom then the Pope retained in his pay Had almost got the victory in hand The Frenchmen ready now to runne away Thou camst to succor with that noble band Of valiant youths that merited that day The honor of the gilded spurre and hilt In recompence of blood so brauely spilt 4 So didst thou bruse the
consideration of the two last words taught his scholler Parillus that laurea lingua sunt vtraque foemininae generis sed lingua potissimum and so consequently silence might not by any meanes haue bene of the feminine gender In Mandricardos rape of Doralice he alludes euidently to a notable villany in the like kind done by Caesar Borgia son to Pope Alexander the sixt For one Caraccio a captaine of Venice hauing bene lately contracted to a gentlewoman of good account she came with an honorable train neare to a citie called Cesenna in Romagna here Borgia with a band of men set vpon her company and took her away by force and neither by threats nor intreatie of the Venecian Ambassador would restore her again the allusion holds in many parts as first where he saith in the 29. staff That Marsilio had giuen Mandricardo an horse Of colour bay but blacke the taile and maine Of Frizland was the mare that did him breed The sier was a villan braue of Spaine This notes Borgia whose father was a Spaniard his mother a Flemming and he a mungrel bastard In the one an thirtith staffe in the simile of the Wolfe he noteth his crueltie in the eight and fortith staffe where he saith If state may stand insteed who can denie Onely to God our homage doth belong In that he alludes plainly to the Pope that is reputed Christs Vicar on earth THE FIFTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Paris is assaild on eur'ie part By those of Affricke and by those of Spaine From Logestill ' Astolfo doth depart And takes Calligorant in his owne traine Then slew Orillo that by Magicke art Reuiu'd when by the brothers he was slaine Stout Sansonet Astolfo kind doth vse But Gryphin of his mistres beares ill news 1 TO winne the field against our armed foes Is counted honorable anie wayes Although it be with policie or blowes Yet bloodie coÌ„quests stain the Captaines praise But chiefest honour doth belong to those Whom Fortune to such height of hap doth raise To haue their foe supprest and ouerthrowne With little losse and damage of their owne 2 Such was the victorie that you then gaind O stout Hyppolito you conquerd so When the Venetian Nauie had obtaind With armed vessels all the streame of Poe Your policie and vallue them constraind With losse inestimable thence to go Their marriners and souldiers all destroying Our marriners and souldiers not annoying 3 The Pagan ' Rodomont did want this skill That forst ten thousand men the trench to enter By his commandment sore against their will Vpon so perillous a place to venter Where straight the smother doth their bodies kill And send their sinfull soules beneath the center Himselfe in safetie sees them there a dying Still swearing cursing heau'n it selfe defying 4 Now Agramant an hot assault and fearce Gaue where he thought the same was lest exspected He striues the wals to batter break and pearce With engins strong and rams thereto erected Those kings whose names I did before rehearse Brought men some stout some with fear infected And such as rather wish to stand aloofe Then weare a corslet of the surest proofe 5 But Agramant herein was much deceaued For where he thought them weake and vnprepard He found that manfully he was receaued And that the king himselfe the place did guard With thousands more readie to be bereaued Of life and limbe and such as nought regard Before that they would take so great disgrace As in their masters sight to leese their place 6 But here I cease vntill another time To tell of these assaults the hard successe Of damage like to both sides now my rime Vnto the English Duke I must addresse Astolfo sonne of Oton whom sometime Alcynas witchcraft held in great distresse Who like another Cyrce men transformed To trees to beasts and soules of shapes deformed 7 You heard before how all her strange deceits Melyssa sage did with the ring discouer And how she gaue them also good receits As made them all their former shapes recouer How after hauing scaped all their sleights They did no longer in such fancies houer But to be surely able to resist her They fled vnto her vertuous elder sister 8 Where when they had with comfort great remained Desirous to their countries to retire They asked leaue of her and leaue obtained Of her that neuer hinders iust desire But er they went she frendly them constrained With precious gifts to be endowed by her Such gilts as were of precious price indeed And all their liues should stand them all in steed 9 But chiefly to this English Duke she gaue Of secret skill a little written booke Containing many a precept wise and graue The which of her most thankfully he tooke These teach a man from charmes himselfe to saue That in the same aduisedly doth looke And that to find them out he may be able The booke had in the end a perfit table 10 Beside this booke on him she doth bestow Another gift of as great price and more A horne in which if he do once but blow The noise thereof shall trouble men so sore That all both stout and faint shall flie therefro So strange a noise was neuer heard before When to the Duke these rare gifts were imparted He humblie tooke his leaue and thence departed 11 And least Alâ—â—na should by force attempt To bring him backe or worke him some disease Andronica was with a nauie sent To waste him sate till he were past those seas And vertuous Soâ—hrosina with him went To see him passe with safetie and with ease So good a condâ—cter so sure a guide As was not found in all the world beside 12 And thus she saild along that Indian shore And sees and â—eeâ—eth sight of sundrie Iles Those called fortunate and others more That distant are some few some many miles And for he neuer heard of them before He askt his guide some questions others whiles As whether from those Indian seas perchance A ship may saile to England Spaine and France 13 She answerd thus to put you out of doubt First know the earth itselfe it like an Iland In â—toned with waters round about That compasse in on eu'ry side their drie land And though to this day no man hath found out Nor thinks there can be any way but by land Because they iudge the lands length there is such That it the other Hemispher doth tuch 14 Yet I foresee et many ages passe Nâ—w in 〈◊〉 and masters new shall rise That shall find out that erst so hidden was And that discouer where the passage lies And all the men that went before surpasse To find new lands new starres new seas new skies And â—asse about the earth as doth the Sunne To search what with Antipodes is done 15 Behold I see the signe of holy crosse A signe within these quarters seene but seeld I see where ten a thousand put to
strake About he seekes and gropeth as he goes And in the dust to find his head doth take And finding it he takes it by the nose Or by the locks nor more ado doth make But sets it on as if it were but glewed And fights as if his forces were renewed 54 Stout Griffin at a blow cuts off his arme And takes it vp and flings it in the brooke But he like one that had receiu'd no harme Doth diue the same within the streame to looke Which found he ioynes I know notw t what charm Vnto the place it late before forsooke Two dames stood by in white and blacke attire The combat being fought at their desire 55 These were the courteous dames that with great care Had brought them vp eu'n froÌ„ their swathing bands For theâ—e two brothers did by fortune rate In their first childhood chance into their hands These two to Oliuer Gysmonda bare Though straight they were conuaid to forren lands Where these two Ladies kept them as their owne I need not tell at large a tale so knowne 56 Now was the time that neare approcht the night That makes each thing with shadow shew obscure So that not want of force but want of light Did cause the combat could no longer dure The Ladies clad in garments blacke and bright That as I said this conflict did procure On this condition did them all dismisse That to returne next day they do not missâ— 57 But when that English Duke both saw and knew The valiant youths Griffin and Aquilant Not onely by their armes he saw in vew But by their blowes of which they were not scant He doth acquaintance old with them renew And they no point of courtesie do want For straightway by the Ladies he was led To take with them a supper and a bed 58 Then in a garden sweet they did prouide Great store of daintie meats and costly wine Fast by a coole and pleasant fountaines side As best agreeth with the sommer time The while the giant with strong chaines they tide Vnto the bodie of an auncient Pine Lest he might hap to trouble and molest them While they determind to refresh and rest them 59 The boord with rich and costly fare was filled And yet their smallest pleasure was their meat The Knights in languages and learning skilled Talke of Oryllo and the wonder great To see one wounded so and yet not killed It seemd to them a dreame and strange conceat And eu'n the wisest and most learnd did wonder How he reioynd his members cut in sunder 60 Astolfo onely in his booke had read That booke that taught all charmes to ouerthrow How this Oryllo neuer could be dead While in his head one fatall haire did grow But hauing puld this haire from off his head He should be subiect vnto eu'ry blow Thus said the booke but precept there was none Among so many haires to find that one 61 Astolfo ioyfull of this good instruction Not doubting but by this to make him die First makes some circumstance of introduction And prayes the brothers giue him leaue to trie If he could bring Oryllo to destruction And they this friendly sure do not denie Not doubting he alone would striue in vaine With him that late resisted had them twaine 62 Now had the Sunne remou'd the nights darke vaile When as Oryllo turned to the field And then the English Duke did him assaile Both fought on horseback both with spear shield Eu'n then Oryllo felt his heart to faile A hap to him that hapned had but feeld Eu'n then some strange presage did him offend That shewd his dayes drew shortly to their end 63 Their speares now broke their naked swords they drew Astolfo layes on blowes on him a maine About the field Oryllos members flew But he together gathers them againe And straight his fight and forces doth renew The English Duke dismembring him in vaine Vntill at length one blow so luckie sped That by his shoulders he cut off his hed 64 And hauing headed him so eu'n and iust Straight with his head on horsebacke he doth mount And rides away Orillo in the dust Doth grope to find the same as he was wont But missing it and full of new mistrust To ouertake him yet he makes account He rideâ— and would haue cride ho tarrie tarrie But in his hand the Duke his tongue doth carrie 65 But though his head were lost he finds his heeles To â—purre and pricke he neuer doth forbeare The headlesse body neuer stirs nor reeles Put sits as sure as if the head were there The while the skull Astolfo puls and peeles Among such store to find th'inchanted haire For in the haires no diffrence was in sight To know if he did take the wrong or right 66 But sith to make sure worke he thought it best He makes his sword serue for a barbers knife To shaue the skull therewith he doth not rest Vntill he finisht had the bloudy strife He cuts that haire by chance among the rest That haue that hâ—ld Orillo in his life The face looks pale deuoid of liuely heate The body backward fals out of the seate 67 This done the Duke brought in his hand the head Returning to the companie againe And shewd them where he left the carkas dead Which when they saw with certain signes and plaine A kind of enuious ioy in them it bred For glad they were their enemie was slaine But inwardly they were displeasd and sorie That this saine Duke had got from them the glorie 68 The women also were not well content That he had slaine Orillo in the fight Because 〈◊〉 had their first intent Which was to stay these youths al means they might In hope thereby some mischiefes to preuent Which thâ—y foresaw should vnto them alight Straight all that country was with rumor filled How th' English Duke Orillo fierce had killed 69 For as in all those cities they dovse The keeper of the next adioyning fort Sent by a Doue a letter of the newes From Damiat vnto the nearest port By which deuice most rare they cannot chuse But heare and send with speed each true report And thus in eu'ry country and in towne They do extoll this English Dukes renowne 70 The worthy Duke the brothers doth perswade From thence their courses into France to bend To do the dutie for which man was made Gods honour and their countries to defend Which now the Turks and Pamims did inuade And neare had brought the same to wofull end Which counsell from so great a Prince proceeding They follow straight with forwardnesse exceeding 71 The women now with teares in watry eies Bid them farewell and so they parted thence And for they heard the holy citie lies Not passing sixe or seu'n dayes iourney thence To take it in their way they do deuise To see the place where for humane offence True God true man descending from aboue Did die for vs vnworthy of such
wicked hag haue slaine But yet he hated her like to ade or snake And in her companie small ioy did take 55 From that to this to laugh or once to smile He was not seene his words and looks were sad With often sighs and in a little while He grew much like Orestes when he had First slaine his father by his mothers guile Then her and last of all fell raging mad With spirits vext so was my brothers hed Still vext till sicknes made him keepe his bed 56 But when this cursed strumpet plainly saw How small delight in her my brother tooke She doth her seruent loue from him withdraw And in short space that fancie she forsooke And lastly she resolues against all law So soone as she can sit occasion looke To bring Filandros life to wofull end And after her first husband him to send 57 An old Phisition full of false deceit She findeth out most fit for such a feate That better knew to giue a poisond bait Then for to cure with herbs or wholsom meate Him that for gaine most greedily doth wait By profers large she quickly doth intreate To take vpon him this vngracious cure With poysond cup to make her husband sure 58 Now while my selfe was by and others more This old Phisition came to him ere long And brought a cup in which was poyson store And said it cordiall was to make him strong But lo Gabrina that deuisd before Eu'n in the prise of wrong to do some wrong Before Filandro of the cup did tast Stept twixt the leach and him in no small hast 59 And taking in her hand against his will The cup in which the poysond drinke was plast She said good Doctor do not take it ill That I require you first the drinke to tast I will not haue my husband drinke vntill You haue your selfe before him tane the tast I will said she be certaine by the rood That this you giue him wholsome is and good 60 Now in what pickle thinke you was the leach The time was short to take a sound aduice He might not vse perswasion now nor speach He durst not tell how she did him intice Nor could he guesse what was herein her reach To make him tast first of the poysond spice Wherefore to take a tast he thought it best And then he giues my brother all the rest 61 Euen as a hawke that hath a partridge trust In griping talents sits and plumes the same Oft by a dog whom she doth not mistrust Is kild her selfe and reaued of her game So this Phisition gracelesse and vniust While he to greedie gaine his mind doth frame Was vsd by her euen as he well deserued And so I wish all such Phisitions serued 62 The poore old man that felt his stomacke ake Began to take his leaue and homeward hasted He thinks some strong Antidoton to take Against the poysond cup he lately tasted She sweares his home returne he may not make While th' operation of the potion lasted And that she will see plainly ere he go If so it do her husband good or no. 63 By humble sure and offers he doth trie That with her licence he may thence depart But all in vaine his sute she doth denie Now had the liquor welnigh toucht his hart Wherefore perceiuing plainly he must die He doth the secret to vs all impart Thus to himselfe he did the same at last Which oft he did to others in time past 64 And straight in little space my brother dyde And after him dide this same false Phisition We that had heard and seene the matter tride Of which my selfe before had some suspition Both hand and foote we then this monster tyde And bring her vnto such as had commission Where her confession and our accusation Made them pronounce her doome of condēnation 65 Thus in the gaile in fetters she was laid Adiudged to be burned at a stake Thus said the knight and more he would haue said How she escapt and how she prison brake But so he fainted as they were affraid He would haue sounded as those words he spake Wherefore his page him to his horse doth lift And then to binde his wounds they make a shift 66 Then Zerbin tooke his leaue and made a skuse That he had hurt the knight in her defence Affirming he had done as is the vse To saue his charge from damage and offence And that thenceforth with him he would haue truce This said he tooke his leaue and parted thence And promist him with words of great ciuillitie To further him vnto his best abillitie 67 Sir said the knight for this I do you thanke And wish you of that woman to beware Left that she serue you some such slipper pranke As may procure your farther woe and care For hard shall any scape from danger franke That in her companie long season are Gabrina silent all the while stands by For hard it is to proue the truth a lye 68 Thus hence they part and for his promise sake At her commandment Zerbin doth attend And wisht in heart the diuell might her take Though with his hand he must her still defend And those last words the knight of Holland spake To giue him warning of the cursled send Do fill his mind with so great griefe and spight That now he scant could well abide her fight 69 And this same old and weather beaten trot Perceiuing how Zerbino was inclind Would not once yeeld or be behind a iot In spitefull wishing nor in euill mind Her eye and tongue and looke conceale it not Not yet her deeds as after he did finde Thus in this harmony and concord good It was their hap to trauell through the wood 70 Now when the time approched neare the night They heard a noise of bustling and of blowes Causd as they guessed by some brall or fight But where it was yet neither of them knowes Zerbino longed much to see the fight And thither wards in no small hast he goes And in no lesse Gabrina maketh after As shal be shewd you more at large hereafter A more necessarie morall as I thinke cannot be found for our age we now line in then that with which this booke begins namely of the keeping of faith and promise which euen among Turkes and heathen Philosophers hath bene religiously kept and yet among vs ' that call our selues Christians and boast of an extraordinarie light of the Gospell is often most irreligiously broken so that as Ouid faith of his time in ironicall manner Aurea nune verè sunt secula plutimus auro Venit honos auro conciliatur amor In Enlish thus This may indeed be call'd the age of gold For honour loue and all for it is sold. So may I say this is a notable time for credite for now generally euen with some of the better sort mens words be as good as their obligations namely neither of both worth the taking
all malcontent doth ride To haue this combat ended in such wise As might imputed be to Magicke art And not his prowesse or his valiant hart 71 Now while this thought such passions did him yeeld That though he had indeed most brauely donne Yet men would thinke the glorie of the field Not by his valiantnesse to haue bene wonne But by the force of that inchanted shield That cast a light more piercing then the Sunne I say as thus he thought he passed by A large deepe well that by the way did lie 72 A well at which the beasts in summers heate Did vse their thirstie drought to quench and coole And chew againe their vndigested meate And walke about the shallowes of the poole Here did Rogero oft these words repeate Thou shield that late didst make me such a foole To cause me get a conquest with such shame Lie there quoth he with thee go all my blame 73 With that he threw the shield into the well The well was deepe the shield of mightie weight That to the bottome suddenly it fell The water ouer it a monstrous height But lo dame Fame the thing abroade doth tell How he because he would not win by sleight But by meere value had his target drownd Where it should neuer afterward be found 74 Yet many that had heard the strange report Of those that dwelled thence some farre some nire To seeke the target thither did resort And to haue found it out had great desire But it was cast away in such a sort As none vnto their purpose did aspire For why the maid that onely did behold it And knew which well it was yet neuer told it 75 But when the knights came to themselues againe And were awake and one the other saw That late were vanquisht with so little paine As if to him they had bene men of straw They wondred much what troubled had their braine And all of them did thence themselues withdraw And all that day they argue and deuise How that same light should dazle so their eyes 76 This while came notice of the wofull fall Of Pinnabell whom Bradamant had killed With which they greatly were displeased all Not knowing why or who his blood had spilled His wife and sire that heard what was befall His sonne her spouse the place with outcries filled And curst and chafed with too late repentance That none on Pinnabell had giu'n attendance 77 Now when the damsell iustly had him slaine And tane away his horse sometime her owne She would haue turnd the way she came againe But that the same was vnto her vnknowne To purpose small she trauels with great paine To seeke it out as after shall be showne For here to stay is my determination And pawse a little for my recreation In the person of Bradamant that was so readily inclined to the ayd of a young man though then we vnknowne to her we may note how to a noble disposition a little perswasion suffiseth to moue them to the succour of such as are distressed in Pinabello and his wife that thought to reuenge the scorne they receiued with doing the like scorne to others we may see how base and dunghill dispositions follow not any course of value or true reputation but onely to wreake their malice on some bodie not caring whom as they are wont to tell of Will Sommer though otherwise a harmelesse foole that would euermore if one had angerd him strike him that was next him Lastly in Bradamant that met Pinabell by hap riding on the same horse that he had stolen from her long before what time he left her for dead and thereby now discouered him and killed him we may note a most notable example of diuine iustice in the like cases as many times it falleth out and in this Poet you shall find many of them as Polynessos death in the fift bookes Martanos punishment in the eighteenth booke Marganorres execution in the seuen and thirtith booke all which examples whether true or fained haue this chiefe scope and end to make men know that there is a diuine power that will iudge and punish the actions of men be they neuer so secure or so secret and onely the cleare conscience it is that assureth a man of his estate both in this world and in the world to come and he that feareth not that diuine power it is vnpossible that he can liue free of most wicked acts That wise and honorable counseller Sir Walter Mildmay as in all other things he shewed himselfe an vncorrupt man to his end so his writings and sayings were euer spiced with this reuerent feare of God for ex abundantia cordis os loquitur and among other of his worth the noting of which he himselfe gaue me a little volume when I was a boy of Eaton college the which since his death haue bene published in print but one speciall verse he had to that effect in Latin and was by me put into English at the request of that honorable Gentleman his sonne in law Master William Fitzwilliams Vltio peccatum sequitur delinquere noli Nam seelus admissum poena seuera premit Quod si fortè Deus patiendo differat iram Sera licet veniat certa venire solet Flie sinne for sharpe reuenge doth follow sinne And wicked deeds do wrathfull doomes procure If God stay long ear he to strike beginne Though long he stay at last he striketh sure A worthie saying of a most worthie man and thus much for the morall Hipermestra was daughter to Egittus this Egittus had fiftie daughters who caused them all to be maried to Danaos fifty sonnes and being commanded by their tyrannous father killed them all in one night only Hipermestra refused to obey so filthie a commandement and saued her husband whose name was Linus Astolfo that with helpe of his booke dissolues the inchanted pallace and with his horne draue away those that assaulted him and put him in great danger signifieth allegorically as I haue in part touched before how wisdome with the helpe of eloquence discouereth the craftiest and tameth the wildest Furder in that Rogero casteth away the inchanted shield and refuseth the vse thereof the Allegorie thereof signifieth that though a man for necessitie sake sometimes be driuen to take some helpes of no verie honorable sort and sometimes to reliue himselfe with policies scarce commendable yet one should when that vrgent necessitie is past hurle such conceipt from him where it may neuer be found again as Rogero flang his shield into that well and so fame shall blow abrode our noble mind in so doing as it did Rogeros for refusing an ayd of such force The end of the Annotations vpon xxij booke THE XXIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Astolfo on the Griffith horse doth mount To Zerbin Pinnabellos death is laid Orlando saueth him fierce Rodomount Frontyno takes from Bradamantes maid The Paladyn and Mandricard confront They part by chance and each from
Bradamant I Richardet am cald She sister and I brother to Ronald 18 And further if you please I shall you tell As we do onward on our iourney go A strange mishap that vnto me besell By being tane for her not long ago A hap that at the first I liked well But after wrought my danger great and wo Yes with good will Rogero said and than Yong Richardet to thus his tale began 19 It happend as in part I toucht before My valiant sister passing through a wood Was hurt with certaine Sarazins so sore As had her cost almost her vitall blood Which wound to cure her tresses short she wore For so as then her surgeon thought it good The wound once cur'd for which her head was pold Abroade to go againe she waxed bold 20 And hauing traueld till the heate of day All clad in armor as her manner was At noone she tooke occasion to make stay Fast by a watrie streame as cleare as glasse And putting off her helmet downe she lay Vpon a pleasant banke well clothd with grasse And steepe at last her heauie eyes did close The place inuiting her to take repose 21 Now while she did there fast asleepe remaine There happend to arriue vnto that place The daughter of Marsilio king of Spaine That there by chance was hunting in the chase And seeing signes of manhood very plaine With that her sweet and amiable face As horse and sword and target all of steele A little amorous passion she doth seele 22 And taking then my sister for a man As by all circumstances well she might She offers her all courtsie that she can And askt her if in hunting she delight And then to chuse a standing they began And finding one far off from others sight She opened more plainly that affection That had her heart already in subiection 23 And saue her maiden modestie forbad She would the same in words haue plainly told Howb'it with sighs with rufull looks and sad And silent signes she doth her griese vnfold And when she thus long time discoursed had Surpri'd with hope she could no longer hold But steps vnto her and giues her such a kisse As that alone shewes what her meaning is 24 My sister at the first doth thinke it strange That such a sute should vnto her be made And finding she had tane her in exchange She thinks it best before she further wade Or let the tothers humor further range Tell troth for thus she doth her selfe perswade T is better to be knowne a Ladie gentle Then to be deemd a base man and vngentle 25 For what could be more cullen-like or base Or fitter for a man were made of straw Then standing in a faire yong Ladies grace To shew himselfe a cuckow or a daw And leese occasion both of time and place My sister therefore that this ill foresaw And knew she wanted that that her should aid Told her by circumstance she was a maid 26 And thus she told her how the worthy same Hippolita and stout Camilla wonne In deeds of armes mou'd her her mind to frame To do the like while others sowd and sponne And that she thought it to her sex no shame To do as women of such worth had done She told her this in hope this would appease her But this alas did so much more disease her 27 For why the fancie was so firmly fixt That in her mind she had before conceiued By meanes of speech had passed them betwixt That sore it grieu'd her to be thus deceiued Before her feare with some good hope was mixt But now eu'n hope it selfe was her bereaued And this is one extremest point of griefe Still to despaire and hope for no reliefe 28 He that had heard her wofull plaint and mone Must needs haue greatly at the same bin grieued Ah wo is me she said that I alone Should liue in such despaire to be relieued In passed times I thinke there hath bene none In time to come it will not be beleeued That loue should make by such a strong infection One woman beare another such affection 29 O Cupid if thou didst my state enniâ— And that thou hadst a mind me to torment To send such paines as others more do trie At least me think thou shouldst haue bin content Shall in so many ages none but I Yeeld of so vncouth loue such president The female with the female doth not wish To couple nor in beast nor foule nor fish 30 I sole am found in earth aire sea or fire In whom to strange a wonder thou haft done On me thou shewst the power of thine ire And what a mightie conquest thou hast wonne The wife of Nynus had a strange desire To ioyne in copulation with her sonne Faire Myrrha by her fire was made a mother And made Adonis both her sonne and brother 31 Pasyphae except it be a tale Was buld inclosed in a woodden cow Yet in all these the female sought the male But nature doth my fancie disallow No Dedalus could remedie my bale Nor art can frame nor sense imagine how This knot dame nature hath so firmely knit It cannot be dissolu'd by any wit 32 This Fiordispina faire so was her name In piteous sort her wofull state doth waile My sister vnto her her speech doth frame As chiefly to her comfort might auaile And wisht her this vnbridled will to tame Sith nature could not suffer it preuaile And that she would let that desire be daunted Which possibly by no meanes could be graunted 33 All this but all in vaine my sister said To seeke that fancie from her mind to wrests She that for comfort car'd not but for aid Doth more and more her selfe vexe and molest Now night grew on as they together staid What time all creatures seeke repose and rest The Ladie prayes my sister for her sake A lodging at her castle then to take 34 To this request doth Bradamant assent And so together to that place they came Where I but that you did my harme preuent Should haue bene cast into the burning flame She that all kindnesse to my sister ment By many outward courtsies shewd the same And caused her to weare a womans weed That men might know that she was one indeed 35 For why the semblance false she saw before Of manly shape to her was so pernicious She would now see her in those weeds no more The rather eke left folke should be suspicious If she had bene ashewd the weed she wore Left that they two did liue together vicious She further was by phisick rules assured That contraries by contraries are cured 36 But nought could salue that fore nor swage her woes That night they lay together in one bed But sundry and vnlike was their repole One quiet slept the tothers troubled hâ—d Still waking or if she her eyes but close That little sleepe strange dreames and fancies bred She thought the gods and heau'n would so
thought Which though he would forget spite of his hart He thinks on still so strong the fancie wrought The standers by are not so malypart To talke to him till he occasion sought Which hauing found vp from his chaire he started And salutations to them all imparted 107 Then askt he many questions of them all And as occasion seru'd discourses varid But still we finde and euer finde we shall By thought of heart the speech of tongue is carid For last to treat of marridge he doth fall And asketh of the men if they be marrid And if they be he prayth them to declare Of their wiues truthes what their opinions are 108 Straight all of them made answer they had wiues And but mine host all praisd the happie state And said they were the comforts of their liues That draw a happie yoke without debate A playfellow that farre off all griefe driues A steward early that prouides and late Both faithfull chast and sober mild and trustie Nurse to weake age and pleasure to the lustie 109 Tush quoth mine host vnder your good correction Most noble guest these fellows say not right But either with fond loue or foule subiection So blinded are they take the blacke for white I once my selfe was toucht with this infection But now I see that then I wanted sight And now I know as being better taught That theirs and mine be all vnchast and naught 110 For as the Phoenix is a bird alone And of that kind the whole world hath no more So thinke I of all wiues there is but one That liueth chast in loue and vertues lore He blest may be that lighteth her vpon Small hope thinke I there is in so scant store That many should haue one of such a kind Of which in all the world but one I finde 111 I once so blinded was as now be thease Till by good hap vnto my house there came A Gentleman of Venice from the seas Francis Valerio was he cald by name He knew and could declare them all with ease All womens wiles and stories to the same He had of old and of the later times To shew both wiues and single womens crimes 112 He said and bad me hold it as my creed That all of them are false if they be trides If some seemd chast it did of this proceed They had the wit to do and not be spide And knew by deepe dissembling and good heed With sober looks their wanton lusts to hide And this to proue he told me such a tale As while I liue I still remember shall 113 And if it like you sir to lend me eare In my rude fashion I shall it recite Right glad quoth Rodomont by heau'ns I sweare For thou hast hit my present humor right Wherefore said he sit downe I pray thee theare For in thy speech alreadie I delight But heare I end this booke for doubt I haue That in his tale mine host will play the knaue In this booke we may obserue how important a thing it is in an army to haue store of good leaders as Liuie noteth of the old Remaines Fortiorem rem Romanam ducibus esse quam militibus That the strength of the Romaines consisted more in Captaines then in souldiers In quarrels that grew in the campe vpon trifling causes we may note a fault that many of English Seruitors though otherwise braue men haue many times bene noted of in their forren seruice where they verie seldome agree togither but seeke to disgrace one another In Agramant we may note a princely maiestie in compounding such controuersies In Rodomonts bitter inuective against women we may see how passionate extreames loue and hate be In mine Host we note how such base fellows are still readie to feed the humors of Princes though it be in shamefull vices or manifest errors Hippolita to whom Marfisa is compared as also the whole countrie of Amazons and their lawes I haue spoken of elsewhere this is that Hippolita that was brought by Theseus to Athens and there had a sonne called Hippolitus In that he faineth that the spright entring into Doralices horse conueyed her into the campe of the Pagans to the great damage of the Christians we may thereby note how that ghostly enemie doth indeed watch as the scripture saith like a roring Lion whom he may deuour to do mankind all the hurt that may be and therefore we must not giue him an inch least as the prouerbe saith he take an ell In the solemnitie of their combats and preparation Fornarius noteth that he alludes to a ' policie vsed by Isabella wife to Ferdinando king of Spaine She to make her men of armes more valiant and couragious caused them to fight with the Moors in the verie sight of their Ladies and Mistresses and partly thereby expulsed the Moores out of Granata But for Doralices reiecting of Rodomont and chusing Mandricard it alludes to a like thing written by Plutarch in his loue discourses where Calysto was taken and Strato refused of which afterward insued the death of al three Here end the notes of the xxvij booke THE XXVIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Fierce Rodomont hears of his prating Host A lying tale to womens great disgrace Vnto Algier he minds to passe in post But by the way he finds more pleasing place Faire Isabell passeth by that cost The Pagan changeth mind and sues for grace The Hermit warnes her keepe her vow and oth At which the Pagan Prince is passing wroth 1 YOu Ladies yee that Ladies hold in prise Giue not perdie your eare to this same tale The which to telll mine Host doth here deuise To make men think your vertues are but small Though from so base a tongue there can arise To your sweete sexe no iust disgrace at all Fooles will find fault without the cause discerning And argue most of that they haue no lerning 2 Turne ou'r the leaf and let this tale alone If any thinke the sex by this disgraced I write it for no spite nor mallice none But in my Authors booke I finde it placed My loyall loue to Ladies all is knowne In whom I see such worth to be imbraced That theirs I am and glad would be therefore To shew thereof a thousand proofes and more 3 Peruse it not or if you do it reed Esteeme it not but as an idle table Regard it not or if you take some heed Belieue it not but as a foolish fable But to the matter thus it was indeed When all the guests were cheared at the table Neare Rodomont so was the Pagan named Downe sate mine Host and thus his tale he framed 4 Astolfo whilom king of Lombardy To whom his elder brother left his rayne Was in his youth so fresh and faire to see As few to such perfection could attaine Appelles match or Zeuces he might be That such a shape could paint without much paine Great was his grace and all
not appeared at the day appointed 81 Belike you thought I should haue met you neuer But now said he you here are met right well Assure your selfe I will pursue you euer Were you tane vp to heau'n or downe to hell No height nor depth should hinder mine endeuer I meane to finde you out where eare you dwell To shunne the fight with meit doth not boote Vntill you leaue your horse and go on foote 82 At this his speech were diuers standing by As Guidon Richarder and others more Who would haue slaine Gradasso by and by Had not Renaldo stepped them before And said in wrath what masters am not I Well able wreake my priuate wrongs therefore Then to the Pagan gently thus he spake And wisht him marke the answer he did make 83 Who euer faith that I did fight eschew Or â—hew defect of vallew any way I say and do auouch he faith vntrue And I will proue by combat what I say I came vnto the place to meete with you No â— cuses I did seeke not no delay And frankly here to you I offer fight But first I wish you were informed right 84 Then tooke he him aside and more at large He told what hapned him and how by art His cosin Malagige into a barge Conuayed him and forst him to depart In fine himselfe of blame quite to discharge He brought him out to witnes eu'rie part And then to proue that this was true indeed He offerd in the combat to proceed 85 Gradasso that both curteous was and stout Gaue eare vnto the tale Renaldo told And though it seemd he stood thereof in doubt Yet him in all his speech he not controld But in conclusion hauing heard it out He doth his former purpose firmely hold Which was by combat fierce to try and know If so he could Bayardo win or no. 86 The Palladine that passed not a point Of no mans force to meet him gaue his word The place in which to meet they did appoint Was neare a wood and by a pleasant foord There only added was a further point Which was that Duriudan Orlandos sword Should to Renaldo as of right accrew If he the Pagan ouercame or slew 87 Thus for the present time departed they Vntill the time approcht of pointed fight Although Renaldo frendly did him pray To rest him in his tent that day and night And offerd franke safe conduit for his stay So curteous was this same couragious knight Gradasso greatly praisd the noble offer But yet refusd the courtsie he did profer 88 The feare was great that secretly did lurke In all the minds of all Renaldos kin Who knew the strength and cunning of this Turke Was such as doubt it was which side should win Faine Malagigi by his art would worke To end this fray before it should begin Saue that he feard Renaldos vtter enmity In so base sort for working his indemnity 89 But though his frends did feare more then was meet Himselfe assurde himselfe of good successe Now at the pointed time and place they meet Both at one verie instant as I guesse And first they kindly do embrace and greet The tone the tother with all gentlenesse But how sweet words did turne to bitter blowes The next booke sauing one the sequell showes In the xxxi Canto I finde little worth any speciall noting but that which in the beginning of the booke is said against 〈◊〉 which is one of thethree incurable diseases noted in our old English Prouerbe From Heresie Phrenesie and Icalsousie good Lord deliuer me The rest of the booke hath no new matter but such as hath bin noted before and therfore I will end this little space with this short note Here end the Notes of the xxxj THE XXXII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Good Bradamant Rogero long expecteth But heareth newes that touch her verie nie How he all other loues beside neglecteth To wed Marfisa thus the farne doth flie To Arly Bradamant her course directeth To kill Marfisa or her selfe to die Three kings and Vllany she doth subdew Those with her speare and this with passing hew 1 I Now remember how by promise bound Before this time I should haue made you know Vpon what cause faire Bradamant did ground The realouse humors ouer charg'd her so She neuer tooke before so fore a wound She neuer felt before such bitter wo No not the tale which Richardett told her In such a fit and so great pangs did hold her 2 To tell you first when I should haue begonne Renaldo call'd my tale another way No sooner with Renaldo had I done But straight with Guidon I was forst to stay From this to that thus vnawares I tonne That I forgot of Bradamant to say But now I meane to speake of her before I speake of those two champions any more 3 Yet needs I borrow must a word or twaine How Agramant to Arly d d retyre And gatherd there the few that did remaine Escaped from the furie of the fire Where not farre off from Affrica nor Spaine He plants as fit as he could we I desire For lying on a flood so neare the seas Both men and vitell were supplyde at ease 4 To muster men Marsilio had commission That may supply the place of them were lost Of ships of warre there was no small prouision Soone had he gatherd vp a mightie host There was no want of armour and munition Ther was no spare of labour nor of cost That with such taxes Affrica was sessed That all the Cities were full sore oppressed 5 And further Agramant that he might win Fierce Rodomont to aid him with his power Did offer him a match of his neare kin King Almonts daughter with a Realme in dower But he his profer weys not worth a pin But keepes the bridge and doth the passage scower That with his spoiles the place was welny filled Of those he had dismounted tane and killed 6 But faire Marfisa tooke another way For when she heard how long the siege had lasted How Agramant his campe at Arly lay How both his men were slaine and store was wasted She sought no cause of any more delay But thither straight without inuiting hasted Her purse and person offring in the fight In iust defending of his crowne and right 7 She brings Brunello and the king she gaue him Who had giu'n cause of very iust offence Ten dayes and ten she did of courtsie saue him To see who durst to stand in his defence But when y s no man made the meanes to haue him Though she to kill him had so good pretence She thought it base her noble hands to file Vpon an abiect dastard and a vile 8 She will deferre reuenge of all his wrong And vnto Arly brought him to the king Whose ioy to tell would aske a learned tongue Both for the aid and present she did bring For shew whereof before it should be long He offerd her to make Brunello wring And at what
all Apelles priuiledge was more I beleeue then he could haue done for Alexander But I am entred so far into pictures that I know not how to get out againe and though there be so much other story in this xxxiij booke as wil aske some time yet I thought better to set downe this of these not able men here altogether for those that haue a mind to reade it then to haue turned them ouer to the Table where they must looke one in one place and another in another according as the names would fall out in order of Alphabet But now to the French storie Clodoueus was the first king of France after that Clodoueus that first receaued the Christian Religion This Prince what time Grimoaldo Duke of Beneuent had ciuill warres in Lombardy with Perderite and Gondiberto two brothers taking this oportunity made warre on Grimoaldo but Grimoaldo doubting his strength to meet them in the field with a notable stratagem vanquished them he fained as if he fled and forsook his tents leauing them ful of vittall and strong wines which the French men so eagerly deuoured and dranke so deuoutly of the wine that it made them sleepe more soundly that night then was for their safetie for the Duke of Beneuent set on them in the dead of the night and so more by force of his wine then of his weapons vanquished them In the time of Pope Vrban the fourth mentioned couertly in the 18. staffe one Charles Duke of Aniou was called into Italy by the said Pope and pronounced King of Sicily But in a short time hauing done many great feats the Sicilians conspired against him by the meanes of one Iohn of Procida and murdered them all with great crueltie at the sound of an euensong belleso as it is to this day a by-word vsed in Italy if any notable crueltie be done that is withall sodainly executed they call it the Sicilians euensong for they did at one euensong kill not onely all the Frenchmen but also all the women they thought to be with child by them The Earle of Marca mentioned in the 21 staffe maried Queene Ioan of Naples the matter for the strangenes of the president I thought worth the noting this Ioan being sister to Charles the third and heire generall to the Crowne of Naples was contented for auoiding the foule infamie that she had by her ouer great familiaritie and the too much inward acquaintance of one Pandolfo a meane man to marry with one Iames Earle of Marca and of the bloud royall of France but first she indented with him that he should onely haue the bare title of King but she would haue the gouernement wholly in her hands he being once in possession brake his couenant and would needs gouerne all but she by the help of Francis sforse in the end depriued him of the whole and sent him backe into his country againe where the poore Gentleman was glad to make himselfe an Hermit Lodwike Sforse spoken of in the 28. staffe for emulation of the king of Naples first brought Charles the eight into Italy and made him so strong that in the end he was not able to get him out againe This Lodwike his manner was still to be plotting of new deuices to set other Princes at variance now taking part with one side openly and feeding the other with money secretly neuer fast friend to any neuer so proud as when with his smooth tongue and faire promises he had beguiled some plaine and open man not so fine headed as himselfe Now though we might perhaps note some men of our time held for notable wise men and leaning much to this kind of course yet I see small incouragement either by his beginning or proceeding or ending why any should thinke him worth the following he began an vsurper he liued a dissembler he died a begger and which is worse a prisoner Further it is noted in Guichiardine that he spent as I remember eight hundred thousand Duckets in that kind I spake of setting Princes together by the eares and he gat this for his labour that no Prince loued him as appeared when being ten yeares a prisoner in France no man euer made sute in a manner for his libertie Wherefore Tully saith to Anthonie in one of his Phillippiks Te miror Antone quorum acta imiteris corum exitus non perhorrescere I maruell saith he friend Anthonie that you are not afraid of their ends whose euill acts you do follow So surely I would wish none of my frends neither in print not publike affaires to follow those halting courses but hold it for a maxim that he that is not a true frend shall not haue a true frend The Marquis of Pescara touched in the xxix staffe at the assault of Castellnouo in Naples being impatient of all stay bargained with an Ethiopian slaue to burne the French nauie and to let him in at the Church called Santa Croce but the slaue hauing greater rewards giuen him of the Frenchmen betrayed him and shot him in with a forked arrow and so killed him In the xxxiij staffe where he speakes of Geriadad where Liuiano the Venetian Captaine was taken I will refer the reader to Guicciardine for the whole discourse of the matter beginning at the league of Cambray But the substance of the matter briefly is this Maximillian the Emperour Lewes king of â—rance and all the kings of Europe in effect together with Pope Iulio made a league at Cambray combining themselues against the Venetians and indeed preuailed so farre against them that they left them almost nothing in terra firma as they call it deuiding all their townes some to the king of Spaine some of the Pope some to Lewes himselfe diuers to the Emperour and two or three to the Duke of Ferrara But in the end as commonly in songs of so many parts they cannot long keepe perfect harmony but that some song out of tune so it fell out that in parting the spoiles they of the league could not well agree among themselues and so gaue breath to the Venetians who thereby recouered much of their state againe In the xxxvij staffe he speakes of the ouerthrow of the Swizzers that had beene before wonderfull prowd of their glorious title giuen them by the Pope who sent them the Pontificall banner with this title vnto it Deâ—enders of the libertie of the Church against the pride of Princes But after that king Francis came into Italie and besieged Millan the Swizzers that were in the towne refusing to make a peace with him which he offered them comming after to battell were ouercome and seuen thousand of them slaine In the xliiij staffe and so forward for three or foure more he mentions the battell of Pauia where the king of France was taken a thing so generally known as I need not stand long on it onely mine author touches one chiefe ouersight of this kings which was that
wit was theare But yet ere backe their iourny they disposed The holy Prophet brought Astolfo wheare A pallace seldome seene by mortall man Was plast by which a thicke darke riuer ran 87 Each roome therein was full of diuers fleesis Of woll of lint of silke or else of cotten An aged woman spun the diuers peecis Whole looke and hew did shew her old and rotten Not much vnlike vnto that labour this is By which in Sommer new made silke is gotten Where frō the silke worme his fine garment taking They reaue him of the clothes of his owne making 88 For first in one large roome a woman span Threds infinite of diuers stuffe and hew Another doth with all the speed she can With other stuffe the distanes still renew The third in feature like and pale and wan Doth seuer faire from foule and old from new Now who be these the Duke demands his guide These be the fatall sisters he replide 89 The Parcees that the thred of life do spin To mortall men hence death and nature know When life must end and when it must begin Now she that doth deuide them and bestow The course from finer and the thicke from thin To that end works that those that finest grow For ornaments in Paradise may dwell The course are curst to be consum'd in hell 90 The Duke did further in the place behold That when the threds were spent that had bin spun Their names in brasse in siluer or in gold Were wrote and so into great heaps were donn From which a man that seemed wondrous old With whole loads of those names away did run And turn'd againe as fast the way he went Nor neuer wearie was not euer spent 91 This aged man did hold his pase so swift As though to runne he onely had bin borne Or had it giu'n him as a speciall gift And in the lappet of his cloke were borne The names of men with which he made such shift But now a while I craue to be forborne For in the booke ensewing shal be showed How this old sire his cariage ill bestowed In this xxxiiij booke is to be noted in the tale of Lydia the punishment of ingratitude and what an odious sin the same is in the sight of God and the world also here are to be obserued many kinds of ingratitudes as first of her despising of Alcestes long seruice and approued good will and secondly of the fathers ingrate recompences for his great deserts by seruices in the wars in which kind it is not onely slanderous but dangerous for a Prince to show a niggardly mind and much more a contemptuous disposition For though indeed no subiect rightly considering his duety ought to be moued by any ingratitude or iniury of his seueraigne to forget his allegeance yet seeing the nature of most men and specially of braue and resolute minded men is subiect to the passion of reuenge and can hardly bridle the same when they shall find themselues as they thinke disdained or their seruices not well regarded therefore the wisest and safest way and sittest for the Maiestie of a Prince is to be liberall in rewarding or at least thankfull in accepting such mens seruices and to consider that loue and bountie are stronger bands of allegeance then feare and dutie Concerning the Historie of this booke I have quoted some briefly by the side and some is so plaine it expounds it selfe onely I meane to ad a word or two what at I have read concerning that which is here deliuered by mine author about the Assumption of S. Iohn First how far the Scripture toucheth the same in the Gospell euerie one knoweth and how vpon the speech of our Sauiour if I will be tary till I come what is that to thee it was noysed among the Disciples that that Disciple should neuer see death After this as other of good credit haue deliuered S. Iohn liued till he was an hundred yeare old and then made himselfe a tombe and entred thereinto aliue in presense of many and on the sodaine a light shone all about the place and tooke the tombe for the time quite from their sights but the light being gone the coffin was found empty and the body of that Saint was no more seene vpon the earth Whereupon it was certainly thoughtthat he was taken vp into heauen or Paradise as Enoch and Elias were Though this of S. Iohn be not recorded in the Scripture nor no more is the assumption of the blessed virgin and consequently no man is bound to beleeue it as an article of our Creed Yet for mine owne opinion I thinke it may be verie true and I would in such cases beleeue a great deale more then I need rather then anything lesse them I ought for the tone if it be a sinne is surely pardonable but the other doubtles is verye damnable But I will briefly note the Allegorie that is meant hereby First whereas Astolfo washeth himselfe in a christ all well of cleare water before he can fly vp to Paradise it signifieth that after a man shall by remorse and deuout consideration weigh and behold the filthinesse of his sinne he must then wash himselfe with the cleare spring water of prayer and repentance and then and not before be may mount to Paradise which may here be vnderstood the comfortable peace of conscience the onely true Paradise of this world And whereas Astolfo commeth to S. Iohn whose name signifieth grace to receiue by his helpe Orlandos lost witts for so it is set downe that that was the secret cause why he was guided thither though vnawares to himselfe thereby it is to be vnderstood that no hope nor means is left for any man that hath lost his wit with following the vanities and pleasures of this world as diners carelesse christians do in forgetting and omitting their duties to God which is the verie highest point of follie I say there is no meane for them to recouer their wit againe but onely by the helpe of this S. Iohn that is this grace of God which can miraculously restore it againe In the description of S. Iohns apparell His gowne was white but yet his Iacket red The tone was snow the tother lookr as blood c by the red is signified charitie which burneth with Zeale and seruentinesse of loue by the white is meant virginitie and purenesse of life All those things that he saines to have beene showed Astolfo in the circle of the Moone are but similitudes and likenesse of such follies as he that will marke them well shall easily discerne The old man that ran away so fast with the Printed names of men and flang them in the darke streame figureth time as in the next booke mine author verie artificially explanet bit affirming in the person of S. Iohn as if it were as our prouerbe faith as true as the Gospell that the onely defence against the malice of time is the pen of
three warriers had ado not small To keepe him now from killing in the place Not that they car'd to haue his life preserued But vnto greater paines they him reserued 92 They gaue him bound vnto that woman aged That erst vpon Drusilla did attend And to those three whose minds were yet inraged Whom whipt and stript he lately thence did send These with sharp goads and kniues his body gaged And to torment him all their wits did bend Now some cast stones and some with needels pricke him Some scratch some bite with feet some spurn kick him 93 Eu'n as a brooke new swolne with rage of raine Or with a sodaine thaw of melting snow Ort bears down rocks and trees with force so maine As heards do'h drowne and houses ouerthrow A drouth doth come and then that brooke againe Abates his pride and is at last so low A woman yea a child with small adoe May passe the same and neuer wet their shoe 94 So Marganor that erst in pompe and pride Made hearts of men to quake when he was named To lowest ebb now turned sees his tyde His combe now cut his furie now is tamed Now kennel-rakers scorne him and deride To looke men in the face he is ashamed Small children yea the babes be not afteard To pill away his haire from head and beard 95 The while Rogero with those champions twaine The castle summond that did gladly yeeld Here Vllanie recouered againe Which lately she had lost her golden shield Here met they those three kings which to their pain Dame Bradamant had twise ou'rthrowne in field At the same castle where before I told She wan their lodging and made them lie cold 96 Since which on foote vnarmd they vowd to go Which want faire Vllanie from death did saue For all that went with armd men garded so Were sacrificed on Tanacros graue Yet better of the twaine it was to show The parts that modestie conceald would haue For why both this and eu'ry other shame Is halfe excusd if force procure the same 97 Marfisa straight a Parlament did call Of all the towne and made them take an oth Of high and low rich poore and great and small Although they were content or else were loth That to their wiues they should be subiect all That in their houses and the Citie both The women should haue rule such powre such graces As men are wont to haue in other places 98 She further made this notable decree That lodging meate and drinke should be forbode To trauellers of whatsoere degree Admit they go on foote or that they rode Within that towne except they first agree To sweare by some great Saint or else by God That they should euermore be womens frends And foe vnto their foes to their liues ends 99 And whatsoever stranger there arriues Must further sweare before they go their way If or they haue or meane to marry wiues That euermore they shall their wils obay This must they keepe on perill of their liues For why she vowes to come ere twelue-months day And if she find her law broke in that Citie To lacke and burne the same without all pitie 100 This done the warriers three did hasten hence But yet their going they so long deferred Vntil Drusillas corse was tane from thence Where as it seemd it was but homely berred And order tane with cost and good expence Her spouse and she might nobly be interred With Epitaphs by which was signified In how great honour they both liu'd and died 101 Marfisa made her law in marble faire Vpon a pillar to be written downe And then Rogero with the warlike paire Of damsels tooke their leaues of all the towne But Vllanie her garments doth repaire And stayes to make some new and costly gowne She thinks to come to Court were great dishoner Except she had some sumptuous clothing on her 102 Therefore she staid behind and in her powre Was Marganor by those same warriers giuen Who had new torments taught him eu'ry howre And was at last by his sharpe iudges driuen To leape downe headlong from a mightie towre Where all his bones and flesh were broke and riuen Of him nor these I haue no more to say But of those three that went the tother way 103 The rest of that same day together riding And halfe the next in companie they spent Vntill they found a way in twaine diuiding One to the campe tother to Arlie went Here oft they take their leaues yet still abiding For euer parting makes friends ill content In fine the knight the way to Arlie tooke They to the campe and thus I end this booke In this xxxv ij booke the praises of women are set downe to the encouragement of all vertuous minded yong Ladies and likewise the miserable end of Marganor and his two sonnes for their vnbridled lust and crueltie to the terrifying of all great men that dispose themselues to lawlesse and tyrannous behauiour Lastly in the law made for women we may see that that sex is capable of rule and gouernement and not to be excluded from the highest degree thereof as a noble learned and learned noble man hath most amply and excellently proued in a discourse of his which I happened by fortune to light vpon though as yet I thinke imparted to few Concerning the historie of this booke first it should seeme that the whole booke it selfe was incerted into the rest of the worke by mine author to take occasion thereby to speake in praise of women and specially of the Ladie Vittoria wife to the famous Francis of Pescard but concerning the famous women by him briefly touched I will here set downe as briefly as I can their storie Arpalice or Harpalice a woman of Thrace whose father being taken prisoner by the Geties a nation of Scythia with great courage and expedition recovered him from their hands of whom Virgil speakes in his Aeneads Vel qualis equos Threissa fatgat Harpalice volucremâ— suga prâ—euertitur Haebrum Tomeris Queene of the Massagetians Cyrus became a suter to her to marry her but she thinking as it was most likely he wooed not her but her kingdome refused him hereupon Cyrus made warre on her Tomeris sent her son against him who was taken by Cyrus with an ambushment and slaine But she faining as though she fled for feare drew Cyrus to the straits of the hils where they write she slue his whole army being two hundred thousand men and left not a man aliue to carry newes and after in reuenge of her son she put Cyrus head into a great boule of bloud vsing that wel knowne speech Satia te sanguine quisanguinem sitijsti Fill thy selfe with bloud that didst thirst for bloud In the 5. staffe With those that did Turnios and Hector ayd Those two were Camilla and Pentheselea of both which Virgil writes in the Aeneads Pentheselea surens medijsque in millibus ardet Bellatrix ardétque viris
Renaldos danger did require Quicke remedie wherefore the knight doth hast And when he saw this monster and did vew her With his stiffe speare forthwith he ouerthrew her 53 But this same fall did her no whit annoy Wherefore to vse his speare he now misliketh He onely will his fierie Mace imploy And with that same the monster foule he striketh Then she no longer could her force enioy Renaldo while she fled occasion piketh To scape away as him that knight perswaded While he this monster more and more inuaded 54 Now when the knight had with his fierie Mace Driu'n backe this monster to her darksome den Where she for spite doth beat her head and face Repining at the good of other men Then to Renaldo he doth ride apace And when he had soone ouertane him then He offerd in kind sort with him to ride From out the darksome places him to guide 55 But when Renaldo was from danger free And that same knight by whom his safetie came So courteously to come to him did see His speech to him in kind words he did frame And gaue him many thanks in hye degree And then besought him he might know his name That th' Emperor and all his court might know What knight did so great grace on him bestow 56 The knight in courteous manner thus replide I would not you should take it in displeasure That I my name from you a while shall hide But ere the shadow grow a yard by measure I shall you tell thus onward still they ride Renaldo being pleasd to stay his leasure So long they went together till they found A christall spring that ran along the ground 57 At which full oft the herdmen that did dwell Neare those same woods haue in their louing fits Drunke loue away with tasting of that well And of those passions purged cleane their wits Now for the knight that rode with him could tell That for Renaldos ill this Phisicke fits He doth aduise him there to stay a space And make that well their baite and resting place 58 Renaldo of the motion well allowth And lighteth straight and to the well doth go Both for that heat and trauell bred his drowth And that the monster had disturbd him so Vnto the christall well he puts his mouth And greedily drinks downe fiue gulps or mo And from his brest doth with one draught remoue His burning thirst and his more burning loue 59 Now when that other knight that with him went Saw him lift vp himselfe from that same brooke And found he did his foolish loue repent And that he now that humor quite forsooke Then to declare his name he was content And looking with a graue and loftie looke He said Renaldo know I hight Disdaine That came to loose thee from loues foolish chaine 60 This said he vanisht from Renaldo quite His horse nor him he could not after see Renaldo maruels at this wondrous sight And lookes about and saith what where is he At last he thinks t is some familiar spright That by good Malagigis sent might be To rid him of that tedious care and wo That many months had him afflicted so 61 Or else that God to him this helpe did lend Of his especiall grace and louing kindness As erst he did vnto Tobias send His Angel to deliuer him from blindnes But let it Angel be or be it send Renaldo takes against him no vnkindnes He thanks and praises it and doth acknowledge To haue receiu'd of him grace wit and knowledge 62 Now that same great mislike and hate retorned Of faire Angelica whom late he loued Now he despised her and greatly scorned To thinke that he for her one foote had moued Yet onward into India ward he iourned As for Bayardos sake it him behoued Because both honor did compell him to it And to his Prince he vndertooke to do it 63 He rides to Basile next ensuing night Where verie late before some newes were hard How that Orlando challeng'd was to fight And for that fight how he himselfe prepard Not that Orlando newes here of did write But one that came from Sycill thitherward Affirmed he had heard the same reported By many that to Sycily resorted 64 These newes do set on edge Renaldos hart He faine would present be at this conflict He faine would take therein Orlandos part To whom he bounden was in bands most strikt Of friendship of allyance and desart Wherefore he takes post horse and spurd and prickt And changd both beasts guides each teÌ„ miles end And toward Italy he still doth bend 65 At Constance he did passe the streame of Rhine And then beyond the Alpes he soone doth goe To Mantoa and ere the Sun decline He passed ore the stately streame of Poe Here he did doubt and did not soone designe If he should trauell all the night or noe Till at the last a well behauourd knight And full of curtesie came in his sight 66 This knight forthwith vnto Renaldo went And askt him if he were a marride man Renaldo maruels what the question ment But answerd yea then tother straight began And praid him that he would be then content To be his guest at such cheare as he can Offring to show him while with him he tarride A sight well pleasing vnto all were marride 67 Renaldo glad so good a bait to make And no lesse willing haps most rare to heare Would not the offer of this knight forsake Of entertainment good and friendly cheare But onward with him doth his iourny take Vntill he saw a goodly place appeare So well set forth both for the shew and sence As seemd not for a priuat mans expence 68 The porch was all of Porpherie and Tutâ—h On which the sumptuous building raised was With Images that seemd to moue see tuch Some hewd in stone â—ome caru'd and cut in brasse Likewise within the beautie was asmuch Beneath a stateâ—y arch they straight did passe Vnto a court that good proportion bare And was each way one hundred cubites square 69 And either side a Porch had passing faire That with an arch is on two cullomns placed Of equall sise they seemed euerie paire Yet sundrie works which them the better graced At each of these a wide large easie staire Without the which all buildings are defaced And those same staires so stately mounting led Each to a chamber richly furnished 70 The cullomns hie the chapters guilt with gold The cornishes enricht with things of cost The Marbles set from farre and dearely sold By cunning workmen carued and imbost With Images and antikes new and old Though now the night thereof concealed most Shew that that worke so rich beyond all measure Could â—cant be builded with a Princes treasure 71 But nothing did so much the fight enrich As did the plenteous fountaine that did stand Iust placed in the middle vnder which The Pages spred a table out of hand And brought forth napry rich and plate
more rich And meates the choisest of the sea or land For though the house had stately roomes full many In summer season this was best of any 72 This fountaine was by curious workmen brought To answer to the rest with double square Eight femall statues of white marble wrought With their left hands an azure skie vp bare Which raining still expelled heat and drought From all that vnder it or neare it are In their right hands was Amaltheas horne By eu'rie one of those eight statues borne 73 Each of these statues rested both their feete Vpon two Images of men below That seemd delighted with the noise so sweete That from the water came that there did flow They also seemd the Ladies low to greete As though they did their names and vertues know And in their haÌ„ds they hold long scroles of writings Of their owne pennings and their owne enditings 74 And in faire golden letters were the names Both of the women wrote and of the men The women were eight chast and sober dames That now do liue but were vnborne as then The men were Poets that their worthie fames In time to come should praise with learned pens These Images bare vp a brasen tressell On which there stood a large white Marble vessell 75 This tooke the water from the azure skie From whence with turning of some cocke or vice Great store of water would mount vp on hie And wet all that same court eu'n in a trice With sight of these Renaldo fed his eye So that his host could scarcely him entice To feed his stomacke yet he oft him told His meate would marre and sallets would be cold 76 Then downe at last they sat them at the boord And pleasant talke did helpe disgest their meate His host that was no niggard did affoord Great store of delicates to drinke and eate And all this while Renaldo spake no word Although he did it oft in mind repeate And though his tongue did itch to pray him tell What t was that would please marride men so well 77 At last he put him mannerly in minde Of that he first did promise him to show Eu'n then he plainely saw his host incliude To inward griefe and did more pensiue grow With secret sighs and leauing halfe behinde At last a Page came in with curtsie low And beares a standing cup of gold most fine Without of gemmes and full within of wine 77 With this the Master of the feast did smile And on Renaldo lookt with pleasant cheare But one that well had marked him that while Might see more griefe then mirth in him appeare Now noble guest quoth he within a while You shall see prou'd a strange conclusion heare That needs must be full welcome to be tried By all that are in bonds of wedlocke tied 78 For sure I thinke he said each husband ought Make search if so his wife esteeme him dearly If same or shame by her to him be brought If man or beast he be reputed mearly The burthen of the horne though it be thought To weigh so heauie and to touch so nearly No doubt but many get them in their marriage Yet feele them not they be so light in carriage 79 But if a man by certaine signes may know How that his wife to him is true and iust He hath more cause more kindnes her to show Then he that liues in right or wrong mistrust For some without a cause do iealous grow Whose wiues are chast and free-from lawlesse lust And some that for their wiues truth durst haue sworne Haue for their labours in their head a horne 80 Now sir if you beleeue your wife is true As sure till one do finde contrarie proofe I thinke both you and all men ought of dew For that no doubt is best for their behoose Here you shall see it tride within your vew For which I prayd you harbour in my roofe This cup said he if you desire to know it By drinking in the lame will clearely show it 81 Now drinke hereof and proue this passing skill For if Acteons armes be on your crest Do what you can you shall the liquor spill Beside your mouth vpon your lappe and brest But if your wife be chast then drinke your fill No such mischance your draught will then molest Thus much he said and fixt on him his eyne And thinkes Renaldo sure would spill the wine 82 Renaldo halfe allured to assay To finde a thing which found he might repent Did take in hand the golden cup straight way As if to quasse it off were his intent Yet first he doth the certaine danger way To which by tasting such a cup he went But giue me leaue a while some breath to take Before you heare what answer he did make This booke begins with a Morall against wrath and reuenge excusing rather then allowing them that yeeld to that bloodie passion but let all noble minded men I speake to men of the sword if they do as Orlando did reuenge the death of their deere friend yet after take example of Orlandos clemencie towards Sobrino whom after the furie of the combat was past he made to be cured Tully in his Oration pro Marcello hath many excellent sayings to this effect to â—raise Caesar and all such as being able to reuenge yet rather chuse to forgiue as in one place he saith verum animum vincere iracundiam cohibere victoriam temperare c. Haec quifaciat non ego eum summis viris comparo sed simillimum Deo iudico To ouercome the passions of the minde to bridle ones anger to moderate the victorie c. who doth these things I compare not him to the best sort of men but I liken him to God himselfe Further in the same oration he cals wrath an enemie to wisedome and our common English prouerbe saith the hastie man neuer wanteth woe all which I alledge rather to proue mine authours saying true that it is hard to bridle wrath and to temper revenge and consequently the more commendable for those that can do it according to the saying pulchra quae difficilia and therefore the more noble and great a man is either in byrth or fortune the more honorable it is for him to be spare and not bloodie in reuenge Posse nolle nobile And euen in this last booke you read how hurtfull desire of reuenge â—alleth of time to him that desireth it for Agramant came of purpose into France to be reuenged vpon Charles and was as you see first expelled out of that Realme and after bereft of his life Of Alfonsoes hurt you may reade in Guycchardin and how his men recouered the Bastia from the Spaniards who had certaine Moores with them at that time and therefore he saith of men whose greater part were circumcised Fulgoso or Fregoso was Archbishop of Salerne and as it seemes had carped at Ariostos verse of Lyppadusa but he defends the matter prettily alledging that
state Although to him it was apparent cleare For God that night had sent his Angell late To tell the Saint thereof Orlando sayd His arrant was to get his kinsman ayd 182 Who had a great and grieuous mayme receaued In fighting for the Empire and the saith And was of hope and comfort quite bereaued Be of good cheare the godly Hermit saith Who trust in God shall neuer be deceaued Yet oyntment none vnto his hurt he layth But first to Church he go'th and makes his prayre Then with great boldnesse doth to them repayre 183 And calling on that trebble sou'raigne name Of God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost He blest the knight that maymed was and lame Oh wódrous grace of which Gods saints may bost Straight to his vse each vaine and sinew came No part of all his former strength was lost And as it pleased God of his great grace Sobrino present was then in the place 184 And being now so weake with bleeding brought That eu'n his vitall sprites were almost spent And seeing plainly such a wonder wrought So great so gracious and so euident To leaue his Macon he thereby was taught And to confesse our Christ omnipotent He prayd in most contrite and humble manner To be a souldier vnder Christian banner 185 The iust old man did grant him his request And Christend him and did his health restore At which Orlando stout and all the rest Reioyced much and praysed God therefore Rogero eke as ioyfull as the best Increased in deuotion more and more To see those mysteries deuine and Oracles Confirmed so by plaine apparent miracles 186 Thus all this companie in sweet confort In this same blessed Hermits house do stay Who doth them all most fatherly exhort To bend their whole endeuours all they may That in this Inne where mans abode is short They seeke to wash away the dirt and clay That some call life and greatly do commend And sole to heau'n their eyes and hearts to bend 187 Then sent Orlando to his ship in hast For bread and wine and other daintie dishes And this old man whom abstinence and fast Had made forget the tast of beasts or fishes Of charitie they prayd some flesh to tast And he therein consented to their wishes And when they all had eate to their contents They found discourse of sundry arguments 188 And as in speech it often doth be fall That one thing doth another bring to light Rogero was at last knowne to them all For that Rogero that exceld in fight The first that him to memorie did call Was Sobrin who did know him well by sight The next that knew his louely looke and stately Was good Renaldo that fought with him lately 189 They all do come to him with frendly face When of his Christendome they vnderstand And some do kisse him others him embrace In kindest sort some take him by the hand But chiefe Renaldo striues to do him grace Yet if that you desire to vnderstand Why more then all the rest Renaldo sought it Turne ore the leafe and there you shal be taught it In the tale of the Mantuan knight may be gathered this good morall that it is no wisedome to search for that a man would not find and how the first breach commonly of the sweet concord of matrimonie groweth of iealousie I must confesse these be two knauish tales that be here in this booke and yet the Bee will picke out hony out of the worst of them For mine owne part I haue euer bene of opinion that this tale of the Mantuan knight is simply the worst against women in all the booke or rather indeed that euer was written The hosts tale in the xx viij booke of this worke is a bad one M. Spencers take of the squire of Dames in his excellent Poem of the Faery Queene in the end of the vij Canto of the third booke is to the like effect sharpe and well conceited in substance thus that his Squire of Dames could in three yeares trauell find but three women that denyed his lewed desire of which three one was a courtesan that reiected him because he wanted coyne for her the second a Nun who refused him because he would not swear secreacie the third a plain countrey Gentlewoman that of good honest simplicitie denyed him which also hath some liknes with that of Pharao I spake of in the notes vpon the 42. book but this of the Mantuan knight passeth thē all if you marke the secret drift of it shewing how a woman of so excellent education so great learning so rare beautie so fine wit so choise qualities so sweet behauiour so aboundant wealth so dearly beloued by her husband could so easily be conquerd with the sight of three or four iewels and then for his comfort how for ten yeares after he being a great house keeper all his married guests that came to him spilt the drinke in their bosomes This tale admitting it to be true or probable would argue women to be of exceeding couetousnes but loe how easily all this is not onely to be excused for them but retorted vpon men for assuredly it is onely the couetouseness of men that maketh women as we interpret it to sell their chastities for women indeed care for nothing but to be loued where they assure themselues they are loued there of their kind and sweet dispositions they bestow loue againe Now because men can protest and sweare and vow that which they thinke not therefore no maruel if women are hard of beliefe and thicke listed to heare them but when they come to giue things that cost money and that the coyn begin to walke which they are sure men esteeme so dearly as they venter both body and soule for it many times then no maruell if they belieue them and thinke them to be in good earnest and consequently yeeld to that they denyed before But to go forward with the rest of the morall both men and women may gather this morall out of both these tales that as all vice is odious and base so that which a bodie is hired vnto is most shamefull and detestable Of the Faery Manto I cannot affirme any thing of truth whether she were a Faery or a Prophetesse but this I finde wrtiten of her that when Thebs was razed by Alexander this Manto daughter of Tyresia being learned in Magike as well as her father came vnto that part of Italy where Mantua is now and there her sonne Ocnus as Virgil will haue it built that Citie and called it after his mothers name Ille etiam patrijs ignem ciet Ocnus ab oris Fatidicae Mantus Thusei filius amnis Qui muros matrisque dedit tibi Mantua nomen Concerning those braue men with whom Orlando compareth Brandimart the Decij M. Curtius and Codrus of the Decij one of them had a dreame or vision that told him how in the battel which he was to fight next day with
and by that Ring which signifieth reason he discouereth the odious filthinesse of that which seemed to him before most pleasant and amiable Therefore not without verie good cause doth the notable writer I recited in the beginning of this treatise lay downe in the very first chapter of his booke the daunger and inconueniences that grow to men for lacke of consideration vsing also in another place among many his diuine similitudes this one that men are caried by inconsideration to their euerlasting ruine without any striuing euen as Hawkes are caried hooded verie quietly which if their sight were free would neuer leaue bating till they had broken their lines or vtterly tyred themselues but notwithstanding that the Ring of Reason maketh him discerne these foule deformities of Alcyna yet it is maruellous to see what wonderfull impediments be set in his way ere he can discharge himselfe of his late received mistresse The Faulkner the horse the hawke the dogge that do all assaile him after a strange fashion the particular Allegorie whereof I touched in the eight booke though to say truth I needed not so curiously to haue sought for such a hidden meaning in them when as the verie things themselues are so vntemperatly vsed by many that they keepe them from vertues and more honorable actions How many men giue themselues so extreamely to these hunters haukes hounds and horses that they cannot scarse affoord an houre to the studie of wisedome and temperance though I do not vtterly condemne the honorable vse of them all for recreation so as a man would remember Ne quid nimis or as our English Prouerbe saith Too much of one thing is good for nothing Now when these difficulties be ouercome then yet for a great while the way is painefull the weather is hot the Sunne parcheth Rogero rideth solitarie without companie or good fellowship and by and by another temptation assailes him Three Ladies sporting themselves by the seaside would stay him one offers him wine increasing his thirst with the sight of it another inuites him to alight the third railes vpon him for his inciuilitie The first of these is our concupisence that with a perpetuall thirst still maketh vs couet things hurtfull for our selues the second is ease that is loth to sustaine too much labour but is still perswading vs to giue ouer vertuous workes because they are painfull the third is the mockerie and lewd vse of the world as I haue also noted in his place to â—eft at such as liue austerely and vertuously as though it were a toké of a base mind whereas indeed it is the onely noble disposition that may be to follow vertue and to despise pleasure These three women though Rogero fled away yet they followed him which signifieth that our owne imperfections euermore follow vs neither can we be ridde of them and it suffiseth not to ouercome them once but that we must wage continuall battell with them Now against this perpetuall miserie we are strengthened by discipline made able to withstand them which is signified by the wise and graue Pilot that transports Rogero by sea from Alcyna to Logestilla and in sooth it may well be called a sea in which euerie waue is readie to ouerwhelme vs and euerie storme able vtterly to discourage vs if we had not a good Pilot both safely to guide vs and chearfully to encourage vs by telling vs what entertainment we shall finde if we come once into her harbour 40 There is the food that fills and neuer cloyeth There is the loue the beautie and the grace That maketh him most blest that them enioyeth To which compar'd all other ioyes are base There hope nor feare nor care the minde annoyeth Respect of persons nor regard of place The minde still finding perfect contentation Resting it selfe in vertuous contemplation 41 There are saith he some better lessons taught There dancings dallying and daintie dyet There shall you learne to frame your minde and thought From will to wit to temperance from ryet This is the path by which you may be brought Into the perfect paradice of quiet This tale the Pilot to Rogero told And all the while their course they forward hold This encouragement and comfort was somewhat but by and by they discouered a great nauie sent from Alcyna which vndoubtedly had surprised them had not Logestilla which drawne from the Greeke is to say wisedome sent a whole armie in their ayde which signifieth writings exhortations instructions examples and precepts that haue power in them both to confound Alcyna and to recouer all that had bene wonne by force in former times from Logestilla The foure vertuous Ladies that are sent to guard Rogero as appeareth by their names and by their Epithetons giuen them by mine author are the foure cardinall vertues iustice prudence temperance and fortitude Which though it be well described in the foresaid x. book yet in my fancie that in the last booke where he prayseth a Cardinals vertues I meane Hippolito where also he ads a fift vnto them and makes them fiue it doth much better 77 Then on another part was to be vewd His vertues each one by themselves distinct Prudence and temperance and fortitude And Iustice and a fift so nearely linkt To these that who with it is not endude The rest may seeme blotted or quite extinct Bountie imployd in giuing and in spending A speciall grace to all the other lending These be the Captaines of that Armie Royall that can ouercome legions nay millions of vices and sure if you will not allow the last of them for a principall leader yet you must at least make him treasurer and paymaster or else it is great doubt that for lacke of pay you will be driuen to Cassyre your bands But to proceede perhaps it will seeme strange to some as it did to my selfe at the first reading how it comes to passe that Logestilla and Alcyna are sisters the one legitimate the other a bastard and that the bastard hath vsurped vpon the others state and hath scarce left her aboue one strong hold The exposition is this The nature of man by which is vnderstood our appetite or affection which ought to be subiect to reason and to be gouerned thereby this nature I say was at the first a lawfull child of God and was by the spirite of God framed to his owne likenesse there to gouerne and rule by reason and wisedome so that afore nature was corrupted all the partes of our minde were in a perfect accord and harmonie vnder the gouernement of reason or rather euerie one setting forward itselfe to vertuous actions but when this first perfection was lost and that same great rebellion was made to the ouerthrow of that quiet and setled state the heart became so weake as it was not able to endure the continuall assaults of the passions that assayled it and in the end was content to take part with them against the reasonable part of the
which he did with so fit phrases of speech and so agreeable to the Italian tongue that it was not counted among the least of his praises and as for all the others Comedies of his making they were of such estimation that they were often represented vpon the stage and for the most part by Gentlemen in so much that Don Francesco of Este that was after Marques of Massa the first time that the Lena was plaid to grace it the more rehearsed the Prologue thereof himselfe in publike One of his Comedies called Casseria he beganne in the life time of his father though he intermitted it many yeares after and one prettie accident they haue noted about it which shewes his notable gift that he had to apply to imitation in his Poetrie all that might with good iudgement be vsed in it It fortuned his father one day grew into some choler with him and rebuked him verie sharpely and with a long speech and many words for some matter that he laid to his charge imputing to him verie great blame for it and all the while he made him no answer but gaue him full scope and libertie to take his pleasure with him soone after his brother Gabriel when his father had turned his backe began to reason with him vpon the same subiect and to lay to his charge the same arguments but he easily resuted him and with verie good and sound reasons rustified his doing Why then quoth his brother what ment you you did not satisfie my father at the first as you might easily haue done with so reasonable an answere In troth said Lodowike Ariosto to tell you true I was thinking of Erofilos part in my Comedie I haue begunne of Casseria and me thought my fathers speech to me was so fit to be assigned to that part of an old man chiding his sonne that I forgat while I was thinking to make such a part in sport that I heard such a part plaid in earnest In making his Furioso he would rise sometime at one or two of the clocke in the morning when he lay at his friendes houses as well as when he was at home and then he would cause an old seruant of his one Iohn de Pescia to bring him pen and inke and so would write many verses when he found himselfe well disposed to it and then he had a great pleasure to reade them to his friends both Gentlemen and faire Ladies among whom by the pleasantnesse of his wit and his good grace he was euer well accepted The Duke of Ferrara tooke him for so good a companion that when he rode any iourney he would desire to haue him with him and atidle times he tooke great pleasure to haue him reade to him as well other bookes as his own he had so good a grace in reading and so sweete a pronunciation and yet not delighting to heare himselfe a fault that many other haue bene noted of but alwayes giuing a spirite to that which he read whether it were his owne writing or other mens and as he himselfe could pronounce verie well so was it a great penance to him to heare other pronounce ill that which himselfe had written excellent well In so much as they tell of him how comming one day by a Potters shoppe that had many earthen vessels readie made to sell on his stall the Potter fortuned at that time to sing some staffe or other out of Orlando Furioso I thinke that where Renaldo requesteth his horse to carrie for him in the first booke the 32. staffe Ferma Baiardo mio Deh ferma il piede Che l'esser senza te troppo minuoce Or some such graue matter fit for a Potter but he plotted the verses out so ilfauouredly as might well beseeme his dustie occupation that Ariosto being or at least making semblance to be in a great rage withall with a little walking sticke he had in his hand brake diuers of the pots the poore Potter put quite beside his song and almost beside himselfe to see his market halfe mard before it was a quarter done in a pitifull sowre manner between railing and whining asked what he meant to wrong a poore man that had neuer done him iniury in all his life yes Varlet quoth Ariosto I am yet scarce euen with thee for the wrong thou hast done me here afore my face for I haue broken but halfe a dozen base pots of thine that are not worth so many halfe pence but thou hast broken and mangled a fine stanza of mine worth a marke of gold He built as I partly touched before a pretie couvenient house and being demaunded why he did not build it in more stately manner considering what sumptuous pallaces what stately porches what goodly fountaines he described in his Furioso he answered that words were cheaper layd together then stones Vpon the front of his doore he wrote a verse that few of the builders of this latter age can truly write or at least if they could I would say their houses were strongly built indeed for more then the third heire Parna sed apta mihi sed nulli obnoxia sed non Sordida parta meo sedtamen are domus That is to say This house is small bâ—t sit for me but hurtfull vnto none But yet not sluttish as you see yet payd for with mine owne One fault in his building was he would often set vp and pull downe many parts thereof and he would say of himselfe that he vsed his house as he did his verses mend them so much that he mard them quite For indeed as a tree planted in an orchard if it be once or twise well pickt and pruned it doth further the growing of it but if a man be euer sidling about it it will leese the naturall beautie and hardly keepe life so is it with one of his stanzes or staues as we call them at the first conceiuing of it one may mend that which he shall sodainly set downe but if one will still be turning and wresting of it he may make it leese the grace it had at the first But what fault soeuer himselfe did finde with his owne Verses certaine it is that to all the great Princes of Italie they were most acceptable as witnesseth the diuers great and honourable gifts they gaue him as namely a pension of twentie pound by the yeare in Millan with an office to it giuen him by Hyppolyto many sutes graunted him by the Duke of Ferrara with great rewards from Pope Leo the tenth from Cardinall Farnese from Cardinall Bybiena and chiefty from Marquesse Vasto and diuers other meaner stares that for breauities sake are omitted And because now I would also draw to an end I will a little runne ouer that the hath bene sayd with somewhat that hath bene forgotten and so conclude beginning from his birth He was borne the yeare 1474 in the Castle of Rheggio his father being then gouernour of
hunter and a cuckold and for that cause seyned to haue had hornes for the latter of the two properties and to haue bene deuoured with his own dogs for the former because he was beggered and consumed by them Aglaure 307. daughter of Erictheus king of Athens she is said to haue bene turned to a stone and her fault was this because she presumed to looked vpon Ericthonius that was committed to her custodie by Pallas with charge not to presume to open the basket he was kept in Agramant Emperour of the Turkes sonne of Trai mo alias king of Affricke alias the Southern king He came into Fraunce to auenge his fathers death pag. 1. He besiegeth Parish very straightly 61 musters his men 103. assaulteth Paris 110. continueth his assault 113.122 is repulsed and besieged in his tents 142. is rescued 217. is troubled with the contention of his Princes and labours to compound them ibid. is discomfited by Renaldo 254. slieth to Arly 255. heares of the siege of Biserta 320. his Oration to Marsilio Sobrino and the other Princes ibidem his challenge on Rogeros head 322. takes an oth of truce 323. breakes the truce 326. discomfited by land 331. flies to sea ibidem his men mutinous ibidem discomfited at sea by Dudon 332. flyes and would kill himselfe 336. meets Gradasso 337. sends a chalenge to Orlando three to three 337. his stout answers to Brandimart 345. sights and is disarmed by Brandimart 348. is slaine by Orlando 352. Agricane king of Tartane and father to Mandricard pag. 7. Albracca a towne in the East Indies pag. 7. Alcyna a famous witch or Faerie She tooke Astolso and transformed him to a mirtle pag. 44. entertaines Rogero 50. the discription of her beauty ib. the description of her deformitie 53. she pursues Roger by land 58. by sea 59 she is discomfited by Logestilla ibid. Aldiger bastard sonne of Bono entertaineth Rogero the 35. booke staffe 63. hurt by Mandricard pag. 210. Almonio a Scot seruant to Zerbium saued in the tempest with Isabella 96. goes to Rochell 97. findes Zerbino 194. brings Odericke prisoner ibidem executes him and Gabrina booke 24. staffe 36. Alzird a gallant young man king of Tremisen kild by Orlando 93. Amalthea was Iupiters nurse By Amaltheas horne is signified plentie Amazons looke tales 153. Amazons a nation of warlike women so named of â— and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to say without papps or of â— and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without bread because they feed on flesh onely Angelica called also the Indian Queene daughter of Galafron came from India with Orlando and is taken from him by the Emperour Charles pag. 2. giuen to the Duke of Bauier to keep and scapeth out of his tent ib. meets with Renaldo and runnes from him ibidem she meets Sacrapant and goes with him pag. 5. helpes him to take Bayardo pag. 6. meets Renaldo againe pag. 7. leaues Renaldo and Sacrapant and meets with an Hermit pag. 10. flyes from him and is pursued by him pag. 59. her horse possest with a spirit caries her into the sea and after to land ibidem her lamentation ibidem she is cast into a sleepe by the Hermit but yet he is not able to winne her maidenhead pag. 60. She is caried to the I le of Ebuda 61. tyed naked at the shore ibid. is found by Rogero and deliuered 79. vanisheth from him by helpe of the ring 82. her beautie 83. she comes to Atlants enchaunted Pallace and by the ring would disclose her selfe onely to Sacrapant 90. she is seene followed by Orlando and Ferraw 91. vanisheth from them ibid. takes away Orlandos helmet 92. she is sory because Ferraw gat it ibidem she findes Medore wounded 147. heales him woes him weds him 148. giues her host the bracelet Orlando had giuen her ibidem meets with Orlando in his madnesse 238. scapes from him and goes to the Indies and giues her whole state to Medore 242. Anglant the place of Orlandos Earldome Anselmus Earle of Maganza father of Pinabelle buries his son 179. condemnes Zerbino wrongfully 180. Anselmus a Doct. of law looke tales p. 364. staffe 67. Antheus a giant of great strength and statute sonne of Neptune and the earth looke in the historie of the 23. booke Aquilant brother to Griffino sonnes of Marques Oliuero the elder fights with Orillo 117. goes to Ierusalem 11â—â— meets with Martano 139. beats him brings him and Origille to Damalco 140. goes towards France 142. is in a tempest ibidem came to the country of the Amazons 149. Icapeth thence 157. taken prisoner by Pinabell 172. goes with Renaldo to rescue Charles 252. is at Bradamants mariage 402. Arachme an excellent women in needle worke and weauing and is sayned to haue compared with Pallas in that kinde and therefore to be turned to a spyder Ardenna a huge forrest or thicket in France where he fayneth the two fountaines of loue and disdaine pag. 7. Arethusa daughter of Nereus and Doris one of Dianes companions till Alphcus rauished her and gather with child whereupon Diana turned her into a riuer bearing her name Argalia sonne of Galafron brother to Angelica slaine by Ferraw his ghost appeares to him pag. 3. Argia wife of Polinyse her husband being killed the tyrant Creon forbidding one payne of death to bury him yet she buried him and liued euer after a widdow 307. Argia looke tales 164. Ariodant a Gentleman of Italie a louer of Genewra 33 fight with Lurcanio and is parted 38. is knowne to the king of Scots 41. is married to Genewra 42. rescues Zerâ—ino in France 125. and is no more spoken of by the author Arria wife of Peto of Padon her husband and being condemned kild her selfe in his fight protecting that death was pleasâ—nt to her so long as she left him aliue 307. Artimesia wife of Mansoleus she built that famous sepulcher for her husband that was counted one of the wonders of the world in honor of which all sumptuous tombes since are called Mausolea Astolfo king of Lombardie looke tales 225. Astolfo called the English Duke sonne of Oton king of England turned into a mittle 43. warnes Rogero of Alcina ibid. comes to Logestilla 58. goes from Logestilla 114. receiues a booke of her and a borne ibidem takes Calligorant 116. ouercomes Orillo 118. goes to Damasco 140 meets Martisa 141. takes her part ibid. goes toward France 142. is in a tempest ibidem comes to the Amazons countrey 149. with his horne seareth the Amazons 157 turnes to England 169. dislolues the inchanted Pallace 170. gets the Griffith horse 171. meets Bradamant 177. leaues his horse Rabican his armour and the inchanted speare with her 178. goes about the world 274. comes to Senapo 275. driues away the Harpias 281. heares the wosull tale of Lidia ibid. stops vp the mouth of the caue 284. washes himselfe at a well ibidem goes vp to Paradise 285. conferres with S. Iohn ibid. receiues by his meanes Orlandos wit 287. sees
a gift of long life Traiano father of Agramant slaine by Pypin king of France as is mentioned in the fift page Tripoly a citie in Affrica so called because three sundry people did ioyne in the inhabiting of it the Tirians Sidonians and Arabians Tristrams lodge looke Tales 103. Turpin Archbishop of France alledged often by mine Author an ancient Historiographer V Virgil called the Prince of the Latine Poets Vlysses son of Laertes the famous Grecian captaine a notable traueller Qui mores hominum multorum vidit vrbes a man of great policie passing eloquent the notable exploits that are attributed to him would be too long to set downe but in his Oration in Ouids Metamorphosis they be repeated by him Si mea cuÌ„ vestris valuissent vota Pelasgi c. Vllany sent by the queene of Island with the golden shield 262. defended by Bradamant 265. is found by Bradamant balte stripped and goes to Marganors town with her 308. puts Marganor to death 313. Vulcan 10. is fained by the Poets to keepe a shop in the hollownes of the mount Aetna and there to worke thunderbolts for Iupiter Z Zenocrates a Stoike a man of no great wit but of wonderfull contiâ—ncie for when some youths of Athens had couenanted with a harlot to tempt him to her companie and the sâ—â—d Zenocrates hauing supped with them and drunke well that night which is a prouoking to venerie yet the harlot was not able to tempt him notwithstanding that she was her crafts master or at least mistres wherefore they demaunded their money againe but she auoyded them thus that her bargaine was to tempt a man and not an image Zerbin Prince of Scotland musters his men by the Theams 78. his armes the Lyon ibid. his comely shape ibid. loues Isabella 97. sends Odericke for her ibid. gouerns the vaward of Renaldos battell 124. fights valiantly ibid. kils two Spaniards 125. in perill to be slaine is rescued by Ariodant 125. after by Renaldo ibidem chaseth his enemies all night 144. spares Medoro and pursueth him that did hurt him 146. 147. takes old Gabrina into protection 159. heares newes of Isabella by Gabrina 160. fights with Hermonide for her 162. is betrayed by her 180. deliuered by Orlando ibidem findes Isabella 181. pardoneth Odericke with singular clemencie 194. commits Gabrina to his keeping lib. 24. st 35 gathers Orlandos armour lib. eodem st 47. fights with Mandricard in defence of Durindan eodem st 51. deadly hurt st 56. his last lamentation 67. dies 69. his stately tombé made by Rodomont where Isabella and he are laid pag. 236. Zeuxes of him I haue spoken in the Notes of the 33. Booke onely I will adde this that I spake not of there how he painted a boy bearing a bunch of grapes and the birdâ— pecking at the grapes he found fault with his owne worke saying the boy was not well drawne for if he had the birds would haue bene affraid to haue come so neere THE PRINCIPAL TALES IN ORLANDO FVRIOSO THAT MAY BE READ BY THEMSELVES 1 Tale of Genewra begins pag. 28. staffe 42. 2 Tale of Astolfos turning to a tree pag. 43. staffe 26. 3 Tale of Rogeros comming to Alcina pag. 45. staffe 54. 4 Tale of Proteus and the Orke pag. 60. staffe 46. 5 Tale of Olimpia pag. 66. staffe 16. 6 Tale of Isabella pag. 94. staffe 67. 7 Tale of sending Discord and Silence pag. 107. staffe 59. 8 Tale of Calligorant pag. 115. staffe 30. 9 Tale of Orillo pag. 116. staffe 49. 10 Tale of Origille pag. 121. st 11 Tale of Lucina and Norandino pag. 129. staffe 20. 12 Tale of the Amazons pag. 153. staffe 5. 13 Tale of Gabrina pag. 162. st 14 Tale of Orlandos madnes pag. 183. staffe 78. 15 Tale of Fiordespina pag. 199. st 16 Tale of mine Host with Rodomonts inuectiue against women pag. 222. staffe 93. 17 Tale of Tristrams lodge pag. 263. staffe 77. 18 Tale of Senapo pag. 275. staffe 93. 19 Tale of Lidia pag. 281. staffe 6. 20 Tale of Astolfo going to Paradice and finding Orlandos wit pag. 284. staffe 49. 21 Tale of Marganor pag. 308. staffe 26. 22 Tale of the Mantuan knight pag. 356. staffe 66. 23 Tale of Adonio called the Stears mans tale pag. 364. staffe 66. 24 Tale of Leons courtesie to Rogero pag. 385. staffe 11. For other things as Orations Letters complaints and the like you shall finde them in the Table in the name of those whom they do most concerne FINIS Imprinted at London by Richard Field for Iohn Norton and Simon VVaterson 1607. The diuision of the Apologie 〈◊〉 three parts Of Poetrie Plutarch de audiendis Poetis Tasso Canto 1. staffe 3. Agrippa de vanitate scientiarum cap. 4. Foure obiectioÌ„s against Poetry Answer to the first of lying Ouids Metaâ—â—orph 4. Two parts of Poetrâ—e Imitation or inuention and Verse Answâ—re to the sâ—â—ond obiection A 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Sir Frances VValsingham The second part of the Apology The third part of the Apologie Foure faults found in this worke Answer to the first Samuel Flâ—mming of kings colledge in Cambridge The second The third The fourth 〈◊〉 the life of Ariosto Of the matter of the book tending to vertue The marginall notes Direction for continuing the diuers storiâ—s The contents of euery booke The pictures The vse of the picture and the perspectiue The Table The Tales Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion a The â—â—â—inning is 〈◊〉 by imitation â—â—â—n Virgil 〈◊〉 1. of his 〈◊〉 Arma 〈◊〉 cano b 〈◊〉 bere 〈…〉 mistresse 〈◊〉 speakes 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 staffe c 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 intended 〈◊〉 Hip 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 to a 〈◊〉 more d Imitatiâ— of Vâ—gel to Octaâ—iâ—s Atque hauâ— sinâ— tempora circum â—nter felaces hedetam â—ibâ— sâ—rpere laures e This hath reference to a former treatise called Orlandos loues written by one Boyardus f The hilles that part France and Spaâ—â—e Namâ—s Dâ—ke of Baâ—er Simâ—le Imitatió of Virgil 2. Aeâ—ead Improussuâ—â— assirus vâ—luse qua sentibus angue Renaldo his horses name was Lisardo Ferrawâ—â— nisb Knighâ— Riuals are those that be â—â—strs to one 〈◊〉 as are competitors to 〈…〉 Ferraâ— Pepler 〈◊〉 a tree that groweth by the water like a Willow The ghost of Argaâ— This is a fit deeâ—rum so to make Ferrâ—nv to swetâ— by his mothers life which is the Spanish manner He finds OrlaÌ„do the 12. booke in Atlantes inchaÌ„ted pallace the 28. staffe He finds his horse tâ—u book 77. staff Eimilâ— The lamentation of Sacrapâ—â— Simile This is 〈◊〉 of Catuliâ— greatly 〈◊〉 Vâ— flos is secretus 〈◊〉 hortis c. The flour deâ— taken for Fiâ— it selfe beâ—â— armes of Fiâ— Simile This is the phrase of the cast countrie people peace be to you * Such 〈◊〉 respect of his 〈…〉 that he discouered afore Simile Sâ—ntence Orlando was Lord of Anglant Ouid. vim licet appelles grata est vis illa puellu quod tuuas inuita sape dedisse toiuâ— t Bradamam Simile Simile 7 â—â—ke is in
where be dwele end to 〈◊〉 his going 〈◊〉 son 〈…〉 Sentence Marfisas oration She means the voice out of the 〈◊〉 in the later end of the 26. booke 〈◊〉 It was the 〈◊〉 in the old time for 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 or of 〈◊〉 in the 〈…〉 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 booke 10. â—he vnstable 〈◊〉 looke in the 〈◊〉 Looke in the Allusion Because the wind â— as wont to 〈◊〉 the sand sometimes in such sort as it 〈◊〉 the men that went in it â—uid Metam 7. Saâ— a quu hoc credat 〈◊〉 protests 〈◊〉 He turnes to Astolfo in the next booke 18 staffe Agramants Oration Marsâ—â—n 〈◊〉 to perswade 〈◊〉 to 〈…〉 warrs in 〈◊〉 Looke in the stone 〈◊〉 Thâ—â—â— how strongly be 〈◊〉 forced 〈◊〉 reasons 〈◊〉 or 〈…〉 made him 〈◊〉 France 〈…〉 to his 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Antagonist is deriued from a Greeke word signifying the aduersarie that fights hand to hand Sentence Dulce bellum the â—pertu Looke in the Table 〈◊〉 Hoâ—â—â—â— Virgels 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 challeges â—â—â—ade the 〈◊〉 appoints 〈◊〉 th parte 〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉 and bring 〈◊〉 weapons and the challenger 〈◊〉 choise 〈…〉 Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion Renaldo Melissa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 or huâ—â—â—â—â—â—cauâ—e he 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Or vie A prase to say 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 go faster Simile He turnes to Agramant in this â—ooke the 64. st Those two Ilands haue store of good sailers Simile Simile Virgiâ— Imâ—â—â—sum 〈◊〉 qui sentious â—â—guim Pressie humi mitens c. 〈…〉 Simiâ—e 〈…〉 a long 〈…〉 Simiâ—e 〈◊〉 Looke in the storie Sentence 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of Biâ—eria 〈◊〉 booke 〈◊〉 Looke in the Morall Description of a 〈◊〉 eâ— fight Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion Looke in the History of the similitudes Ariofso was sent post to Rome to pacifie Pope Iulio the second which he toucheth in one of his Satyres The Lions teeth and pawes meaning the Venccians called the Lyons of the sea Three of the name of An◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Terms of 〈◊〉 Priest 〈…〉 Helme is the best of the straw with which they thatch houses Prouerbs Looke in the Allusion Similâ— Simile Poâ— called king of 〈◊〉 Agramant Sobrinâ—s Oretâ—â— to Agramanâ— perswade him not to kill himselfe 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Gradasso Pompey berraied in Aegypt The Arabian horse is of great account Looke in the Morall of this Oâ—â—uero cosin to Orlando He comes to 〈◊〉 againe in the next booke 〈◊〉 24. staffe Roger◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion Simile Simile The Icarus was not sonne of Dedilus but of Bacchus Simile Horace sauh 〈…〉 forsibus Est in lunencis est in equis patris 〈◊〉 c. That vertue is clemencie and gratefulnesse 〈…〉 〈…〉 Vir. 1. Aenead Praeseniemque 〈…〉 omnia moriem They that haue bene at the sea do understand these phrases He turnes to Rogero againe in the 47 staffe of 〈◊〉 booke Orlando All this hath reference to Bâ—â—â—â— dos booke Looke in the 〈◊〉 Fiordeliege 〈…〉 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Rogero In the Acts of the Apostles Sentence Of age and deuotion â—ooâ—e in the Morall Iugum Christi suaâ—e The house of 〈◊〉 He turnes 〈◊〉 to Rogero in the 43. booke 188â— The combat of the sixe knight 〈…〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 the house 〈◊〉 Morall Historie Allusion â—word 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of this book Simile A true praise a noble mind Looke in the story 〈◊〉 to Or. 〈◊〉 43. 〈◊〉 144. 〈◊〉 Looke in the story Looke in the Allegory 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 in the 〈…〉 this book 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Of this Well you heard in the first booke Hâ—ere you must begin to reade the tale of the Manâ—â— in knight that had the married mans â—uppe That 〈◊〉 nifieth pleaâ—â—â—â— copâ—a cornuâ— Of Amaltâ—â— looke in the 〈◊〉 Il Salaâ—◠〈◊〉 the Italian 〈◊〉 Acteons armes were horneâ— giuen him by Diana wherupon a pleasant fellow wrote this deslicke of one that had married a light huswife Thâ—â—da â—e crediâ— dâ—â—isse sed illa Dâ—ana est Namque Acteoneum da◠〈◊〉 Gauâ—â— caput Historie Allegorie Allusion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men 〈◊〉 men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 professions 〈…〉 Omid Aureanuns verâ—â—unt seculapâ—urimus 〈◊〉 Venit hones 〈◊〉 amor Danaâ— had a 〈◊〉 of gold fell in her lap Looke in the Table One thirst was for were the tother to know his wiues câ—â—stâ—â—e Sentence 〈◊〉 to that 〈◊〉 Mâ—lutâ— bene posiâ—um ne moue as Sentence Sentence Simile This was well considered of Renaldo Bâ—naco Cadmus sonne of Agenor turned into a Dragon bult the towne of â—â—â—bs Sentence Take such Laus prâ—prio sordescit â—re and Catovold verse Nec te collcudes nec te culpaueris ipse Sentence Chast old 〈◊〉 for if they 〈◊〉 bene unchast 〈◊〉 their youth be but ill â—â—â—nesses These eight 〈◊〉 those that supported the sound in the xlij book It was a faire demaine Pallas was excelleÌ„nt on 〈◊〉 works Look in the Table Sentence Looke in the Allusion 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 broâ—â— king 〈◊〉 of Câ—nâ—â—ll 〈…〉 Giabana it is to be pronounced Iabana a 〈◊〉 vpon the riuer of Dae Looke in the Allusion Sentence Sentence 〈…〉 Sentence it is 〈◊〉 Latin 〈…〉 Horace 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 dios are satellite perrâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 〈…〉 Of these you may looke the table if you be not instructed in the historie This is said to the praise of Alfonso Duke of Ferrara In this Citie 〈◊〉 he that kept his wife Clarice wife to Renaldo Sentence Here begins the Stearsman â—ale Vlpian wrote of the 〈◊〉 law Of Manto looke in the Historie This Tiberius was a ruft and a Câ—â—â—â—â—aÌ„ Prince looke in the Table Ouid in the third of the 〈◊〉 hath a tale of 〈◊〉 vesias that 〈◊〉 smiâ—ing of two snakes changed his shape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selum 〈◊〉 est Of Fayries looke on the Historie Thence comes the saying cane peâ—â—â— angue Looke in the Allusion This was plâ—â—â— dealing Sentence Proverb Mâ— master was the knight of Mantos at whose houâ—e Renaide supped 〈◊〉 used for 〈◊〉 reckonings 〈◊〉 used 〈◊〉 'T is lake is Pa â—â— of which 〈◊〉 speakes 〈◊〉 the store 〈◊〉 but now 〈◊〉 almost dry * You is called 〈◊〉 of Lonâ—â—â—â—â— Filo 〈◊〉 Poe runs 〈◊〉 six myle 〈◊〉 * The standing 〈◊〉 to Raâ—â—â—â— 12. myle 〈◊〉 has now it is 〈◊〉 navigable * â—panâ— writes of 〈◊〉 cals it 〈◊〉 Mâ—ssanisa That Cisie is called Trapania Orlando Fiordeliege her dreame Menades were they that sacrificed to Bacthus Damagyre the Realme of which BraÌ„damart was King The mount Aetna in Scicilie 〈◊〉 faâ—â— Orat. oâ—â—â—â—â—mart 〈◊〉 leoke 〈…〉 Orlandos mother Morall Historie Allusion Allegorie Of friendship Looke in the Allegorie of myracles Renaldo motio\Ì„s the marriage for Bradamant Sentence The common opinion of the people Looke of this in the Moral Sentence 〈◊〉 meliora 〈◊〉 Deseâ—â—â—a Siquâ—r Simile Sentence Sentence Sentence Of the comâ—â—â—â— opâ—on of makâ—â—â— marriage 〈◊〉 〈…〉 the slory Bradamants lettâ—r Rogier qual sempre fui tal esser voglia Sentence Fard ' Augâ—dius for mâ— the Emperâ— were dead deified them called them which imporâ— much as sâ—â— Simile This was a true noble nature Morall Historie Allegorie Allusion The unstablines of Foriune Looke in the Allusion Looke in the slorie 〈◊〉 Simile Simile Simile Simile Simile 〈◊〉 Simile The same Lanâ—a d'oro was sometime king Galafrons father of Angelica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simile Simile Sentence Pegasus lockesâ— the Table 〈◊〉 Nocturâ—â—â— farnâ—â— to be the god of the night Simile Outd Qusha succincts vbi truxinsibilat Eurus Murmura piâ—atu 〈◊〉 veâ—qualia â—luâ—tus 〈◊〉 quâ—eâ—acâ—â—â— si quu procul audâ—at illos A wonder lasts nine â—ayâ—s Morall Historie This little booke was given to her Maiestie Allegorie Allusion Sentence Sentence Sentence Sentence Smile looke in the historie Smile This section of pauillion is to take occasion to praise 〈◊〉 Rogero Nepheâ— to Atlans Ura deâ— russunÌ„o unquarn creaira Tâ—â—â—â— Hippolito of Hectors race Proteus looke in the 〈◊〉 That was he that gaue Rome to the Pope The first age gold The 2 siluer The 3 brasse The 4 Iron These were Ambassadors sent by Coruine to bring Hippolito to Hungarie Fusco 〈◊〉 ster to Hippoli When he was made a Cardiâ— Of his activities Of his studie 〈◊〉 companie His virtues His bountie 〈◊〉 frend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 That was in the 35. booke Simile Sentence Sentence Ed res sollicui plena 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Simile Simile Simile The like is as London bridge Simile Simi'e and a ve 〈◊〉 apl comparison for a gâ—hoâ—d will ouâ—râ—some a mâ—lliue in continuaÌ„ce of tight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene tried Morall Historie In English not verie cleanly thus Allegorie Allusion In the Resolution of the accounting day Simile of a surset Armes Lâ—â—â— Orlando Rogero Alcyna the court of pleasure Idlenes captaine of all other filthie vices Logestilla betokens vertue Erifila Consideration Simile In the tenth booke Of armes Who are worthie to haue their liues written Plutarksliues The xij Cesars The x. Emperours The Mirour of Magistrats Ariosto his parentage His father His mother His brothers His towardnes in his childhood His seruice of Cardinall Hippolito Why he wrote not in Latine So did Virgil by Homer for the same cause His imployments His ambassage His seruice by sea His second ambassage His danger to haue bene put to death His troubles His sauour credit with disâ—â—so His Comedies he made His felicitie in translating out of Spanish other tongs His reperance in diet His mariage doubtfull His sonnes bastards Another peece of seruice in Grassignana Loue of the people of all sorts Menecmi of Plantus A prety chÌ„ace An early riser A good copanion vpon the way His good pronunciation A prettie tale how he vsed a Potter His manner of building He was borne 1474. His writings do shew he had great skill in Cosmography
for a farthing Secondly in Filandro we may note a speciall good nature and inclination that would rather abandon a place which he liked very well then either breake the lawes of frendship and hospitalitie or accuse the wife to her husband In his killing Argeo and all the tragicall proceedings of the wicked Gabrina we may note the mōstrous effects of an vnbridled affectiō in a mischieuous woman that killed both her husbands and lastly the Phisition and stil continued working fresh mischief til her death as after foloweth Orestes whom he spake of in the 55. staffe of this 21. booke was sonne of Agamemnon who being slaine by the trecherie of his wife Clytemnestra Orestes in reuenge there of killed his mother and after that was himselfe tormented with furies or rather with his conscience for so horrible an act and so fell mad and was healed againe and after that notable accident of Pilades and him fell out Simon Fornarie affirmeth that in this tale of Gabrina my authour doth allude to a woman of like lewdnesse liuing in his time and by Argeo and Filandro to be ment two Gentlemen of Naples but the truth is the tale is almost verbatim taken out of Apuleius golden Asse Specially for that part of the Phisition Sed vxor quae iampridem nomen vxoris cum fide perdiderat medicum conuenit quendam norae persidie qui iam multarum palmarum spectatus praelijs magna dextrae suae trophoea numerabit as I before noted on the 57. staffe The end of the notes vpon the xxj booke THE XXII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Astolfo doth dissolue the charmed place And spite of Atlant sets his prisners free Then Bradamant doth see Rogeros face To helpe an unknowne knight they craued be But by the way Rogero in short space Subdewd foure knights of worth and good degree That were by Pinabell in prison hild Whom Bradamant with iust reuengment kild 1 YE courtly dames that are both kind and true Vnto your loues if kinde and true be any As sure I am in all your louely crue Of so chast minde there are not ouer many Be not displeasd with this that doth ensue For neither must I leaue it neither can I And beare with me for that I said before When on Gabrina I did raile so sore 2 Mine ernest words nor yet her great offence Cannot obscure in honour and cleare fame Those few whose spotlesse liues want no defence Whom hate nor enuie no way can defame He that his master sold for thirtie pence To Iohn nor Peter breeds no blot nor blame Nor men of Hipermestra worse haue thought Although her sisters were vnchast and nought 3 For one that in this verse I shall dispraise As driu'n by course of this my present storie Whole hundreds are whom I intend to praise And magnifie their well deserued glorie If this then be offensiue any wayes To all or any I can be but sorie Now of the Scottish Prince a word or two That heard a noise and went forthwith thereto 4 Betweene two mountaines in a shadie dale He doth descend that way the noise him led But when he came he saw vpon the vale A Baron lately slaine and newly ded But er I enter further in this tale I first must tell you how Astolfo sped Whom late I left in that most cursed cittie Where women murther men without all pittie 5 I told you how his horne with mightie blast Not onely all his foes had driuen away But also made his friends so sore agast As not the stowtest of them there durst stay Wherefore I said he was constraind at last Alone to get him homward on his way Forthwith on Rabicano he doth mount An horse of which he makes no small account 6 His horne that serues him still at all assayes He carries with him and his learned booke First by Armenia he goes his wayes Then Brusia and the way of Thrase he tooke So that within the space of twentie dayes The streame Danubio he quite forsooke Then from Boemia ward he doth decline Vnto Franconia and the streame of Rhyne 7 Then through Ardennas wood to Aquis graue And thence to Flanders where he shipping found What time a Northeast winde did blow to braue As set him soone in sight of English ground So that no whit annoyd with winde nor waue His natiue soile receiu'd him safe and sound He taketh horse and er the Sunne was downe At London he arriu'd the chiefest towne 8 Here at his first arriuall straight he heares How that the Turkes faire Paris did beseege And how his sire a man well stroke in yeares Was there and sent for ayd to raise the seege And how of late the Lords and chiefest peares Were gone with new supplies to helpe their leege But little stay he makes these words once hard But taketh ship againe to Callice ward 9 And for the winde seru'd then not very well They were by force thereof borne quite aside So that the master scant himselfe could tell What course he held they were borne downe so wide Yet at the last so luckie it besell Within a kenning they some land had spide And drawing neare they found the towne of Roan Where presently the Duke tooke land alone 10 And crossing through a wood when time drew neare That neither day could well be cald nor night He hapt to finde a christall spring and cleare And by the side thereof he did alight With mind to quench his thirst and rest him heare As in a place of pleasure and delight He ties his horse vnto a tree and thinketh To have him tarrie safe there while he drinketh 11 Strange things may fall betweene the lip and cup For scant Astolfo yet had wet his lip But from a bush a villaine started vp Vntide the horse and on his backe doth skip The Duke that scant had tasted yet a sup And finds himselfe thus tane in such a trip Forgets to drinke and followes in a rage For wrath not water doth his thirst asswage 12 The little villaine that the horse had got Like one that did in knauish pranks delight Although he might haue run yet did it not Because Astolfo should not leese his sight But with false gallop or a gentle trot He leads the Duke vnto that place aright Where many knights and Lords of high degree Without a prison more then prisners be 13 Astolfo though his armour doth him cumber Yet fearing least he might arriue too late In following the villaine doth nor slumber Vntill he came within the pallace gate Where as I said of Lords no little number Were wandring vp and downe in strange estate Astolfo of their presence doth not force But runneth vp and downe to finde his horse 14 The craftie villaine was in no place found Though many a homely place for him was sought Yet still the Duke doth search the pallace round And for his beast he takes no little thought
At last he guest it was enchaunted ground And as by Logestilla he was tought He tooke his booke and searcheth in the table How to dissolue the place he might be able 15 And straight in th'index for it he doth looke Of pallaces fram'd by such strange illusion Among the rest of this so saith the booke That it should neuer come vnto confusion Vntill a certaine stone away were tooke In which a sprite was kept by strange inclusion And if he did but lift the threshold stone The goodly house would vanish and be gone 16 The Duke not doubting now of good successe Go'th to the threshold where the stone was laid And which it was he presently doth guesse And then by force to moue it he aslaid But Atlant that expected nothing lesse And sees his bold attempt was sore affraid And straight an hundred meanes he doth deuise To hinder him from this bold enterprise 17 He makes the Duke by this his diuellish skill To seeme of diuers shapes vnto the rest To one a darse of face and faucurill To one a gyant to a third a beast And all their hearts with hatred he doth fill He thinkes by them the Duke should be distrest By seeming vnto eu'rie one the same For which each one into the pallace came 18 Behold Rogero stout and Brandimart Prasildo Bradamant and others moe Vpon Astolfo set with cruell hart As to reuenge themselues vpon their foe But with his horne the Duke then plaid his part And brought their loftie stomackes somwhat low But had not th'horne procur'd him this exemption No doubt the Duke had dyde without redemption 19 For when they heard the strange and fearfull blast They forced were for feare away to runne As fearefull Pigeons flie away agast When men do ring a bell or shoot a gunne The Sorcerer himselfe was not the last That sought by flight the fearfull noise to shunne Yea such it was that neither rat nor mouse Durst tarrie in the circuit of the house 20 Among the horses that did breake their bands Was Rabican of whom before I told Who by good hap came to Astolfos hands Who was full glad when of him he had hold Also Rogeros Griffith horse there stands Fast tyed in a chaine of beaten gold The Duke as by his booke he had bene tought Destroyed quite the house by magike wrought 21 I do not doubt but you can call to minde How good Rogero lost this stately beast What time Angelica his eyes did blinde Denying most vnkindly his request The horse that sored swifter then the winde Went backe to Atlant whom he loued best By whom he had bene of a young one bred And diligently taught and costly fed 22 This English Duke was glad of such a pray As one that was to trauell greatly bent And in the world was not a better way For him to serue his purpose and intent Wherefore he meaneth not to let him stray But takes him as a thing from heau'n him sent For long ere this he had of him such proofe As well he knew what was for his behoofe 23 Now being full resolu'd to take in hand To trauell round about the world so wide And visite many a sea and many a land As none had done nor euer should beside One onely care his purpose did withstand Which causd him yet a little time to bide He doth bethink him oft yet doth not know On whom his Rabicano to bestow 24 He would be loth that such a stately steed Should by a peasant be possest or found And though of him he stood then in no need Yet had he care to haue him safe and sound In hands of such as would him keepe and feed While thus he thought and lookt about him round Next day a while before the Sunne was set A champion all in armes vowares he met 25 But first I meane to tell you what became Of good Rogero and his Bradamant Who when againe vnto themselues they came The pallace quite destroyd of old Atlant Each knew and cald the other by their name And of all courtesies they were not scant Lamenting much that this inchanted pallace Had hinderd them so long such ioy and sollace 26 The noble maid to shew her selfe as kind As might become a virgin wise and sage Doth in plaine termes as plaine declare her mind As thus that she his loues heare will asswage And vnto him her selfe in wedlocke bind And spend with him all her ensuing age If to be christned first he were content And afterwards to aske her friends consent 27 But he that would not onely not refuse To change his life for his beloueds sake But also if the choise were his to chuse To leese his life and all the world forsake Did answer thus my deare what ere ensues I will performe what ere I vndertake To be baptizd in water or in fire I will consent if it be your desire 28 This said he goes from thence with full intent To take vpon him christend state of life Which done he most sincerely after ment To aske her of her father for a wife Vnto an Abbey straight their course they bent As in those dayes were in those places rise Where men deuout did liue with great frugalitie And yet for strangers kept good hospitalitie 29 But ere they came to that religious place They met a damsell full of beauty cheare That had with teares bedewed all her face Yet in those teares great beautie did appeare Rogero that had euer speciall grace In courteous acts and â—peech when she came neare Doth aske other what dangers or what feares Did moue her so to make her shed such teares 30 She thus replies the cause of this my griefe Is not for feare or danger of mine owne But for good will and for compassion chiefe Of one yong knight whose name is yet vnknowne Who if he haue not great and quicke reliefe Is iudgd into the fier to be throwne So great a fault they say he hath committed That doubt it is it will not be remitted 31 The fault was this there was good will betweene Him and the daughter of the King of Spaine And left his loue should be descride and seene He finely doth himselfe a woman saine And went and spake as if he had so beene And thus he plaid to tell the matter plaine The maid in shew the man in deed so well That in a while he made her belly swell 32 But out alas what can so secret be But out it will when we do least suspect For posts haue eares and walls haue eyes to see Dumbe beast and birds haue tongues ill to detect First one had found it out then two or three And looke how fire doth creepe that men neglect So this report from mouth to mouth did spring Till at the last it came vnto the king 33 The King straight sends a trustie seruant thether Who making search when they two were in