and must vntill One come that me with other nine can kill 9 Vnto the knights this seemd a maru'lous storie And much they wonderd at this gouernment They maruell that so great a territorie For want of men was not consum'd and spent They thought no lesse the women would be sorie For want of men to liue so continent T was strange one man sufficed ten of thease Sith one with vs can scant one woman please 10 And straight they were inquisitiue to know When first this foolish order there began And vpon what occasion it did grow That women in that countrie ruled man Then Guidon answerd thus I shall you show The whole discourse as briefely as I can According as my selfe haue heard the same Since by mishap into this realme I came 11 When as the Greekes had quite defaced Troy And after twise ten yeares returned home For ten whole years in danger and annoy Of surging seas they vp and downe did rome They found their wiues that had but little ioy So long a time to liue and lye alone Each one a lustie louer to haue chosen Lest with the cold they might be staru'd and frozen 12 Their houses full of bastard brats they see In fine they purpose after consultation To pardon all their wiues and let them free But for these boyes that bred some altercation To driue them out a doore they do agree And make them seeke a forraine habitation It was contrarie much to their desiers That others brats should warme thé at their fiers 13 Thus some thrown out some close their mothers keep In corners from their angrie husbands sight And when as elder years on them do creepe Each one betakes him to his most delight Some plow some get them heards of goats sheep Some sciences and some do learne to fight Thus eu'rie one betooke him to some trade As he assignes that all the world hath made 14 Among the rest that Art of war ensue Phalanto sonne of Clytemnestra Queene But eighteene yeares of age and â—resh of hue And in the floure of youths well pleasing greene This one to him an hundred gallants drue And getting ships and things that needfull beene With writs of Mart a thing that breeds much sorow He gets him to the sea in mind to borow 15 Now while Phalanto with his cursed fleet Abode at sea with that more cursed traine It fortund at that time that they of Creet Had Idumeo driu'n out of his raigne Wherfore for better strength they thought it meet Phalanto and his men to entertaine They giue to him great hire and great reward The citie of Ditea for to guard 16 Ditea was a towne of great estate Rich and frequented with no small resort And yeelds in plentie large betimes and late Of sundrie kinds of pleasures and of sport And as they all men vsd so in like rate They vsd their souldiers in so friendly sort As though they had agreed by sound accords To make them all their masters and their Lords 17 But chiefe they found with women so great grace As they wan most of them vnto their lure But when the warres were ended in short space And that their pay no longer did endure They all prepar'd to leaue this pleasant place Which to the damsels did great griefe procure To leese their husbands brother or their father Then these new louers eu'rie one had rather 18 And when they saw they could not make them stay By no deuice of theirs nor no request They do agree with them to steale away And take such things as were of value best Thus came these damsels loden with their pray And thence to sea and were now gone at left An hundred leagues with these new lawles louers Before Ditea this their flight discouers 19 The wind so good then for their purpose blew Phalanto quickly landed in this cost And here the amorous and wanton crew Vnto their loues of this their lewdnesse bost But now that saying was confirmed trew That pleasant things do often cloy the most And there can be a greater clog to no man Then to be wearie of a wanton woman 20 Wherefore like men that were and had bene euer Of gaine most greedie sparing of expence They secretly consulting do endeuer To take the goods and then to steale from thence Thus while the women still in loue perseuer They that regard not pleasure more then pence Lode with their wealth of which there was good store Stale to the sea left them on the shore 21 Sore were the damsels daunted and dismayd When once they saw their loues had the forsaken For what more spite can be then be betraid Of him to whom one hath her selfe betaken And fith they find that weeping doth nâ—t ayd They meane betime some order shal be taken What they shall do and how heareafter liue And eu'rie one doth straight her verdit giue 22 One home to turne againe doth thinke it best And to their kin and friends them to submit And with repentance pardon to request And vow the like fault neuer to commit Another that good motion doth detest And sweares it shewd the mouer had no wit And that with greater honestie or ease They might go drowne them headlong in the seas 23 Among the rest one Orontea hight That lineally of Mynos was descended And past the rest in beautie and good sprite And had lesse grieuously then they offended For to Phalanto she her troth did plight And to haue bene his honest spouse intended This one declareth thus her resolution And makes the rest put it in execution 24 She wishes them to tary in this land That had both fruitfull earth and pleasant aire And fountaines sweet and woods on eu'ry hand And medowes greene and pastures fresh and faire Beside large hau'us where ships at ease might stand To which the merchants often made repaire By tempest driuen well loden with good trafficke Of things that come from Egipt and from Affricke 25 Wherefore this place she minds not to forsake But that they may as chiefly they desire A sharpe reuenge on men for euer take They vow to put to sacke to sword and fire Such ships as to their hauen repaire do make And kill the men and this they all conspire And still when any come this trade they vse Nor left a man aliue to carry newes 26 But when this cruell law some yeares had lasted Which they had meant to haue confirmd for ay They find that they so fast consumd and wasted That this their barren kingdome would decay Except to find some remedy they hasted And hauing long consulted on the way They meane of this their law to bate some rigor Yet leaue the substance still in strength and vigor 27 And thus they do they chuse among such men As tempests driue to this their wicked nation Some few as were so lustie as with ten They could performe the act of generation All in one night
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
preassed him very hard to haue his opinion of it aduised the partie to put it into verse the plaine meaning man in the best maner he could he did so and a twelue-month after at the least came with it to Sir Thomas who slightly perusing it gaue it this encomium that now there was rime in it but afore it had neither rime nor reason If any man had ment to serue me so yet I haue preuented him for sure I am he shal finde rime in mine if he be not voyd of reason he shal finde reason to Though for the matter I can challenge no praise hauing but borrowed it and for the verse I do challenge none being a thing that euery body that neuer scarce bayted their horse at the Vniuersitie take vpon them to make It is possible that if I would haue employed that time that I haue done vpon this vpon some inueption of mine owne I could haue by this made it haue risen to a iust volume and if I would haue done as many spare not to do flowne verie high with stolen fethers But I had rather men should see and know that I borrow all then that I steale any and I would wish to be called rather one of the not worst translators then one of the meaner makers Specially sith the Earle of Surrey and Sir Thomas Wiat that are yet called the first refiners of the English tong were both translators out of Italian Now for those that count it such a contemptible and trifling matter to translate I will but say to them as M. Bartholomew Ciarke an excellent learned man and a right good translator saith in manner of a prettie challenge in his Preface as I remember vpon the Courtier which booke he translated out of Italian into Latin You saith he that thinke it such a toy lay aside my booke and take my author in your hand and trie a leafe or such a matter and compare it with mine If I should say so there would be enow that would quickly put me downe perhaps but doubtlesse he might boldly say it for I thinke none could haue mended him But as our English prouerbe saith many talke of Robin Hood that neuer shot in his bow and some correct Magnificat that know not quid significat For my part I will thanke them that will amend any thing that I haue done amisse nor I haue no such great conceipt of that I haue done but that I thinke much in it is to be mended and hauing dealt playnly with some of my plaine dealing friends to tell me frankly what they heard spoken of it for indeed I suffered some part of the printed copies to go among my friends and some more perhaps went against my wil I was told that these in effect were the faults were found with it Some graue men misliked that I should spend so much good time on such a trifling worke as they deemed a Poeme to be Some more nicely found fault with so many two sillabled and three sillabled rimes Some not vndeseruedly reproued the fantasticalnes of my notes in which they say I haue strained my selfe to make mention of some of my kindred and friends that might verie well be left out And one fault more there is which I will tell my selfe though many would neuer finde it and that is I haue cut short some of his Cantos in leauing out many staues of them and sometimes put the matter of two or three staues into one To these reproofes I shall pray you gentle and noble Readers with patience heare my defence and then I will end For the first reproofe etiher it is alreadie excused or it will neuer be excused for I haue I thinke sufficiently proued both the art to be allowable and this worke to be commendable yet I will tell you an accident that happened vnto my selfe When I was entred a prettie way into the translation about the seuenth booke comming to write that where Melissa in the person of Rogeros Tutor comes and reproues Rogero in the 4. staffe Was it for this that I in youth thee fed With marrow c. And againe Is this a meanes or readie way you trow That other worthie men haue trod before A Caesar or a Scipio to grow c. Straight I began to thinke that my Tutor a graue and learned man and one of a verie austere life might say to me in like sort Was it for this that I read Aristotle and Plato to you and instructed you so carefully both in Greek and Latin to haue you now becom a translator of Italian toyes But while I thought thus I was aware that it was no toy that could put such an honest and serious consideration into my minde Now for them that finde fault with polysyllable meeter me thinke they are like those that blame men for putting suger in their wine and chide too bad about it and say they marre al but yet end with Gods blessing on their hearts For indeed if I had knowne their diets I could haue saued some of my cost at least some of my paine for when a verse ended with ciuillitie I could easier after the auncient manner of rime haue made see or flee or decree to answer it leauing the accent vpon the last syllable then hunt after three syllabled words to answer it with facillitie gentillitie tranquillitie hostillitie scurrillitie debillitie agillitie fragillitie nobillitie mobillitie which who mislike may tast lampe oyle with their eares And as for two syllabled meeters they be so approoued in other languages that the French call them the feminine rime as the sweeter and the one syllable the masculin But in a word to answer this and to make them for euer hold their peaces of this point Sir Philip Sidney not onely vseth them but affecteth them signifie dignifie shamed is named is blamed is hide away bide away Though if my many blotted papers that I haue made in this kinde might affoord me authoritie to giue a rule of it I would say that to part them with a one syllable meeter betweene them would giue it best grace For as men vse to sow with the hand and not with the whole sacke so I would haue the eare fed but not cloyed with these pleasing and sweet falling meeters For the third reproofe about the notes sure they were a worke as I may so call it of supererogation and I would wish sometimes they had bin left out and the rather if I be in such faire possibilitie to be thought a foole or fantasticall for my labour True it is I added some notes to the end of euery Canto euen as if some of my friends and my selfe reading it together and so it fell out indeed many times had after debated vpon them what had bene most worthie consideration in them and so oftimes immediatly i set it down And whereas I make mention here and there of some of mine owne frends and kin I
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
we can haue in this world to keepe vs from pleasures snares or violent assaults Also whereas Astolfo looks first in his booke ere he take vpon him the enterprise to fight with Orillus it is to be vnderstood that good aduice is to be taken before men vndertake dangerous exploits The house of Callygorant alludeth vnto the den of Cacus in the vij of the Aeneads in Virgill Semperque recenti Caede tenebat humus foribus affixa superbis Ora virum tristi pendebant pallida tabo Simon Fornatius thinks that in the person of Calligorant he meant a subtill sophister that became an heretike and corrupted many but after recanting did good seruice in the Church The fatall haire of Orillus though it be meerly fabulous yet hath it allusion to some truth for besides that diuers Poets haue written of some whose life lay in their haire as Nysus killed by his daughter and Alcest that could not die til Mercury cut off one haire and of Dido likewise is said that Iris was sent to cut her haire to rid her out of her paine besides these I say the Scripture testifies of the vertue of Samsons strength to haue bin in his haire which is as strange for reason as any of the rest Here end the notes of the xv booke THE SIXTEENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Stout Griffin finds his subtle mistres straying With vile Martano but is pacifi'd The Turks and Christians all their force displaying Do fight on both sides many thousands dyde Both man and house by sword and fire decaying Do make a wofull sight on either side Without the towne the Christians plague the Turkes Within fierce Rodomont much mischiefe workes 1 GReat paines in loue full many men haue found Of which my selfe haue prou'd so great a part As by my skill some good may hap redound To such as are lesse skilfull in this art Wherefore what I affirme with iudgement found To breed iust cause of lesse or greater smart Beleeue what I set downe for your behoofe Probatum est I know t is trne by proofe 2 I do affirme and haue and euer shall That he that binds himselfe in worthy bands Although his mistres shew him grace but small Although he find no fauour at her hands Sharp words coy looks smal thanks hope none at al Though more and more aloofe from him she stands Yet so his heart and thoughts be highly paced He must not mourne no though he die disgraced 3 Let him lament let him mourne pine and die Whom wanton wandring eies whom staring heare Haue made a slaue when vnder them doth lie A heart corrupt a tongue that false will sweare Like wounded Deare in vaine he seekes to flie And in his thigh the shaft about doth beare And this aboue the rest torments him cheefe He is asham'd and dares not shew his greefe 4 Such was the hap such was the wofull state Of Griffin now possest with foolish loue He knew her mind and manners worthy hate Yet could not he this fancie fond remoue His reason faine his passion would abate But appetite is placed her aboue That be she near so false ingrate or nought Yet needs of him she must be lou'd and sought 5 Away he steales from hence in secret sort Nor to his brother once adew doth say For feare least that his brother would dehort Him from her loue as oft he did assay And that his iourney may be cut more short He coasts the countrie for the nearest way He trauels all the day and halfe the night Vntill Damasco came within his sight 6 Fast by this towne this trull he ouertooke That louingly with her new loue did ride And all old frends and louers all forsooke He was her Champion he her onely guide A man might boldly sweare it on a booke He were a husband fit for such a bride He false vnconstant trecherous so was she She had a modest looke and so had he 7 He rode all armd vpon a stamping steed With guilded barb that cost full many a crowne She ware no lesse magnificent a weed A rich embrodied purple veluet gowne Thus to Damasco ward they do proceed Where late there was proclaimed in the towne A solemne feast that should endure some dayes For iusts for tilt for turneyes and for playes 8 Now when the queane good Griffin had espide For whó she knew her squire would be to weake Though sore appald as scant she could it hide Least he his wrath on both at once should wreake Yet as the time permits she doth prouide Consulting with her guide before she speake And when they had agre'd how to deceiue him With open armes she runneth to receiue him 9 And framing then her speech with great regard To answer fit vnto her gestures kind Deare sir quoth she is this the due reward My loyall loue to you deserues to find That from your sight I should a yeare be bard Your sight that soly can content my mind You left me greeued with a burning feauer But burning more in loue of you for euer 10 Where I your comming lookt for long in vaine Each houre a day each month did seeme a yeare And of your absence long I did complaine Enquiring oft if I of you could heare Alas how full is carefull loue of paine So sad mine heart so heauie was my cheare As being in dispaire which way to mend it I loth'd my life and did desire to end it 11 But loe how fortune when I looked least Hath now prouided me of double aid And sent my brother this most welcome guest With whom I haue without dishonour staid And now your selfe whose presence makes me blest For had your comming longer bene delaid So was my heart and soule to you inclined That sure for greife I should haue dyde and pined 12 Thus flattring words where with her tongue abounds Holpe her in so good sort her tale to frame That new on him the greater fault redounds As glad he was to scuse himselfe fro blame And her strong reasons founded on weake ground◠Do cleare both her and him that with her came And makes him deemd a kinsman and a brother That did his best to make this maide a mother 13 So that he did not onely not reproue Her that so trech'rously had him betraid So that he did not wreake as did behoue Th 'ad alterer that false with her had plaid But thinkes it well if he the blame remoue Which to his charge so probablie she laid And as for him loue makes him see so blindly He calls him kinsman and salutes him kindly 14 Thus Griffin of his loue no whit abates But keepes her companie as with his owne Vntill they came within Damasco gates Where none of them were seene before or knowne The towne was full of Lords and greate states The rumor of the feast so far was blowne Which that they might haue more securely haunted The king to all that came sate conduct graunted 15
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
bed Found out the troth and tooke them both together Found him a man and found her belly sped Away they carred her I know not whether Away vnto the prison he was led And must be burnd this day or else to morow The thought whereof doth moue my mind to sorow 34 This made me purposely to come from thence And not to see one of so comely shape So sharply punisht for this small offence As if it were for murder or for rape Nor any hope could sinke into my sence How possible it were for him to scape And who could see or thinke without compassion A fine yong youth tormented in such fashion 35 T was strange to thinke how nie this tale did touch The noble Bradamants most tender hart It seemed she pittide this mans state as much As if her brother had playd such a part Some cause there was to make her fancie such As afterward at large I shall impart And straight she makes this motion that they twaine Might saue this wofull youth from being slaine 36 Rogero much commends her noble mind And to the mourning damsell thus they said We both are to this enterprise inclind If fortune serue we will the yong man aid But when they saw that still the mournd and whind Tush quoth Rogero cease to be afraid T is more then time that we were going hence Not teares but force must serue for his defence 37 These comfortable words Rogero spake With that his warlike looke and manly show Did cause her heart of grace forth with to take Yet still she doubts which way were best to go Not that she feard the right way to mistake For all the wayes she perfuly did know To turne the way she came she was afraid Lest in the way they haply might be staid 38 There are quoth she two waves vnto the place Of which the stone is easie faire and plaine The tother foule and farre the greater space Yet at this time the safer of the twaine But yet I feare except God send more grace That ere we thither come he may be slaine Thus stood this damsell still not little musing Betweene the nearer way and safer châ—sing 39 Rogero that was resolute and stout Did aske what reason mou'd her to perswade Them two to take the farther way about And straight way she to them this answer made Forsooth said she the cause that moues my doubt Is this I feare that some will you inuade By meanes that Pinnabell Anselmus sonne Hath here of late a custome leud begunne 40 As namely that who euer that way ride Of what estate soeuer or degree Must leese their horses first and then beside Most of their clothes and raiment spoiled be Foure valiant youths of strength and courage tride Are sworne to this so that no he nor she Can passe that way without this euill paiment That he must weapons leese and she her raiment 41 The custome is as yet but three dayes old By Pinnabello and his wife deuised Who meeting haply as I heard it told A knight or one in knightly clothes disguised With whom a woman vgly to behold And by this couple scorned and despised This Pinnabell the worse had of the quarrell His wife was spoild of horse and of apparrell 42 This spite enraged so the womans mind That wishing to reuenge not knowing how Yet wrath and folly so her sence doth blind That straight she makes a foolish solemne vow And he that was to euill deeds inclind No lesse than she doth of the same allow The vow was this for anger of this foile A thousand others in like sort to spoile 43 That very night came to that house by chance Foure valiant knights as euer armor bare To fight on horse or foot with sword or lance But few many with the worst of them compare These foure I say were first that led this dance By night surprised ere they were aware Both Griffin Aquilant and Sansonet And Guidon Sauage scant a man as yet 44 These foure in shew he gently entertained And makes them friendly countenance and cheate With courteous speech and friendly manner fained As if he lou'd them well and held them deare But while secure they in their beds remained And when Sunne rising now approched neare He did beset the lodging where they lay And tooke their armor and their clothes away 45 And further bound them in that present place Both hand and foote as if they prisners were And ere he did those causlesse bonds vnlace He makes them solemnly to vow and sweare To keepe this order for a tweluemonths space That whosoeuer hapned to come there They foure endeuour should with all their forces To take away their raiment and their horses 46 To this by solemne oth are sworne they foure Constraind thereto by this their cruell host And though herewith they were offended sore Yet must they sweare for feare of farther cost Alreadie not so few as twise a score Their horses and their furniture haue lost And none as yet so able haue bene found But one of these haue laid him on the ground 47 But if some one do hap so strong to be To make his partie good with one of those Then straight the order is the other three Must him assist thus none vnconquerd goes Wherefore if you will be aduist by me T is best to shun this way as I suppose Sith each of these is such as I recited How great thinke you will be their force vnited 48 But presuppose that you their force withstand As your great courage makes me thinke you might Yet needs it hinder must the cause in hand And make you tarry here about all night Sith then this case so dangerously doth stand I would perswade you now to shun this fight Lest while you in this enterprise remaine The poore yong man may fortune to be slaine 49 Tush quoth Rogero haue no doubt at all Let vs endeuour still to do our best And then hap good or ill fall what may fall Let God and fortune gouerne all the rest I hope this enterprise I finish shall So well as I shall eke do your request And there arriue to saue him in good time That should be burned for so small a crime 50 This said he gets him on the nearest way Fast by the place where Pinnabell doth dwell And at the bridge they forced were to stay And straight a man whose name I know not well Came out in hast and stand to them doth say And then begins their order them to tell Perswading them if they will shunne the perell To yeeld in peace their horses and apparell 51 Peace quoth Rogero leaue thy foolish prating A tale alreadie knowne thou dost repeate Children with bugs and dogs are seard with rating With me it small auailes to brag or threate I leese but time with thee to stand debating Shew me the men that mind to do this feate My hast is such that long
turne he made Rescude his master sore to his owne cost Downe with the blow fals this vnluckie iade And with his starting he his life hath lost To ward his head he wanted Hectors shield And therefore dead he tumbleth on the field 88 Now came his master to himselfe againe Inflamd with greater anger then before To see his horse so pitifully slaine But Rodomont forbeares him neare the more But spurrs on him and thinks with furie maine To beare him downe but he so strongly bore The push and thrust withall Frontino backe He made his master glad to leaue his backe 89 Thus now with minds more aliend from all peace In eager sort the combat is renewed To strike to thrust each other doth not cease In hope with blood their swords to haue embrewed Fell rancor wrath and pride do still increase And death of one or both must haue ensewed Er either of them would from thence haue started Had not a certaine messenger them parted 90 One that had traueld all about the cost To seeke them out to aske their helpe and aid To raise the siege that by the Christen host Vnto the campe of Agramant was laid Yet though he came in peace and cake in post To speake to them at first he was affraid And though his office were sufficient warrant Yet to themselues he dares not do his arrant 91 But seeing Doralice to her he told How Agramant Marsilio Stordylan And others more like men pent vp in hold Were in great danger to be kild or tane Wherefore he wisheth her for to vnfold Thus much to them that sought each others bane And to perswade them to so good accord As they might go to helpe their soueraigne Lord. 92 She that a woman was of passing sprite And knew that neither of them would offend her Stept them between and chargd them stay the fight As they their honour and her loue did tender And helpe their king that is in wofull plight And end this fray begun of cause so slender At least defer so long to trie this quarrell Till Agramant their king were out of perrell 93 When she thus much to them declared had Then doth the messenger declare the rest And other strong perswasions he doth ad And doth expound to them their kings request Alledging that their absence made him sad That but they helpe the campe would be distrest And that if they to rescue him neglected A present ruine were to be expected 94 With his report and with her strong perswasion The hardie knights the combat do defar Till Agramant be freed from this inuasion And all the Christen forces moued ar Thus of this friendly truce she is occasion That first was causer of their deadly war To her they binde themselues by solemne oth That vntill then they will be quiet both 95 There Discord was and Pride and what they may They do this league to interrupt and breake But at that time Loue bare so great a sway That to withstand him they were both to weake In vaine it was to argue and gainsay When once dame Doralice the word did speake By her perswasion firmely they agreed Like friends vpon their iourney to proceed 96 One onely want there was that let them sore Which was that Mandricardos horse was ded But loe eu'n then came thither Brygliadore That since his masters madnes there had fed Full glad the Prince of Tartar was therefore Of such a horse so quickly to be sped But least my tale with tediousnes molest you I wish you lay aside the booke and rest you In the great offence of Oderike and the notable clemencie of Zerbino in pardoning the same we may note in the one the great frailtie of men in offending specially in this kinde of fleshly concupiscene in the other a notable magnanimitie as well as mercie in forgiuing him For that indeed is true clemencie in a Prince to forgiue that offence that is committed against his priuat as they call it that is against his owne person rather then that which is done against the law for that is rather parcialitie and iniustice then clemencie Secondly we may obserue both in Zerbino and Isabella a notable example of gratitude toward Orlando first in gathering his dispersed armour next in that Zerbino fought with Mandricardo in defence of Orlandos sword in which conflict he receives his deaths wound and though indeed all that is told of this couple tendeth to a tragicall end yet is it withall set downe by my author in a sort to moue so great compassion that it seemes all that read it are as it were in loue with them and lament their so vnfortunate end which hath made me say sometimes in sport to some of mine honorable frends that if I could without wronging mine author I would surely have saned their liues or giuen them a more fortunate end though to say true sith an end is of necessitie due to all mankind what more honorable death can a Prince have then by a wound in fight specially for a good quarrell what more sweet death then in her beloued armes whom he was bethrothed to and intended to marrie what more happie reward then same and loue in this world and heaven in the next Further though Isabella were after slain by Rodomont in hâ—â— drunkennues as is noted in the xxix booke yet that notable title that is there given her the martir of chastitie makes her so famous and her vertue so admirable as she could never have wisht a better end if she had lived as long as Hecuba Wherefore if it be true that Ouid said of Cadmus Scilicet vltima semper Expect and a dies homini dicique beatus Anteobitum nemo supremaque funera debet In English thus Our onely dying day and end doth show If that a man haue happie beene or no. Then I say by the death of these two though in shew vnfortunate yet in deed most glorious they may be called happie Lastly for the end of this morall we may take one speciall obseruation of great integritie in the religious man that converted her to the faith and yet afterward would not trust himselfe alone with her for in the fleshly conflicts and temptations the onely way to conquer is to play the coward and runne away and thus much for the morall The examples of the vertuous women that are praised by the hermit though not named in the 72. Staffe of this booke are many recited in the Scripture it selfe as namely the blessed virgin Marie Anne and Magdalen all which be tooke themselues most deuoutly to the seruice of God and therefore are worthy to be canonized for examples of chastitie and zeale of religion In the sodaine parting of the fray betweene the two famous riuals onely vpon the commandement of Doralice with whom they were both exceedingly in loue thus allegorically is supposed to be meant that the strongest passions that are as anger and revenge or what else soeuer
pitch The poore beasts brused members to annoynt Though he might see with this fall he had mard her Yet faine he would she should haue borne him farder 67 At last on his owne shoulder her he laid And bare her so about an arrow shoot But feeling then that she too heauie waid He leadeth her and lets her go on foot She limping follows him and still he said Come on come on but little did it bâ—â—t At last to make her her flow pace to alter About his right leg he doth her halter 68 And tels her now with ease she follow may And so to harry her he doth begin The sharpe stones lying in the rugged way Fret of her haire and afterward the skin The beast misused thus liues searse a day Orlando hath her tyde vnto his shinne He sees not nor he knows not she is ded But on he draws her as his furie led 69 And sure he would haue seru'd her such a tuch I meane his mistres if he could haue caught her Had not the vertue of that ring beene such As how to walke inuisible it taught her Ah curled be that ring and curst as much Be he that so vnluckily it brought her Else sure Orlando had reuenged then Her often wrongs to him and other men 70 Yet why wish I this curse on her alone I would the like might hap to all the kinde For in a thousand good there is not one All be so proud vnthankfull and vnkinde With flintie hearts carelesse of others mone In their owne lusts carrid most headlong blinde But more herein to speake I am forbidden Some time for saying truth one may be chidden In the death of Isabella is a not able example of chastitie which I must confesse I haue indeuoured to set foorth to the vttermost of my poore skill of a speciall loue and reuerence I bare to the name hauing had an Isabell to my mother and such an Isabell as if nature did not make me to partiall a praiser I would boldly affirme both for the honorable place she liued in and for the vertuous sort she dyed in to be worthie to whom the prophecie in the 31. staffe of this 29. booke may be worthily applyed As a better pen then mine approued by this made Epitaph and intiled in this sort A true report of mistres Isabell Harington sometime of her Maiesties-priute chamber written by a credible person that was well acquainted with her conditions A body chast a vertuous mind a temperat tongue an humble hart Secret and wise faithfull and kind true without guile milde without art A frend to peace a foe to strife a spotlesse maid a matchlesse wife And thus much for the name of Isabella In Rodomont we may see effects of incoustancie sensualitie and drunkennes all which end for the most part in fruitles repentance Whereas this fact of Isabella is preferred before that of Lucretia who killed herselfe after she was destoured I thinke that no man can instly make any comparison betweene them for the storie I will not stand long vpon to recite it being so well knowne but refer the studious reader either to Liuie who writes it in prose very faithfully or to Ouid de Fallis where it is also recorded verie Poetically and passionatly Quidfaciat pugneâ— vincetur foemina pugnans Clamet at in dextra qui vetet ensis erat Aufigiat positis vrgentur pectora palmis Tum primum externa pectora tacta manu Some perhaps will picke a prettie Allegorie in the confection that Isablla made and in deed it is a prettie receit if it be well marked It is in the 15. staffe an herbe which she named not suppose it to be trettifollie or prettifolly mingled with elder berries and rew which may signifie sage counsel and repentance and strained between harmles hands which betokens innocencie boyled on a fire of Cypres which the ancient Romanes vsed at funerals and therefore may be taken either for death or persecution or martyrdome this confection vsed in due order will be a good Antidoroner medicine against fire and sword vnder which is signified all the perils and aduersities of the world The death of Isabella alludeth or in deed is meerly taken from the like example of one Brasilla of Durazzo that in the selfe same sort deceiued a souldier and was killed her selfe as Fornarius no eth at large Here end the notes of the xxix booke THE XXX BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Strange feats by mad Orlando are atchieued Fierce Mandricard is by Rogero slaine Himselfe so hurt that all the campe belieued He had bin dead the formost of the twaine His loue with his long absence sore is grieued To breake his word his wounds do him constraine Renaldo with his kinsfolke and his frends To set his Prince at libertie intends 1 WHen men with wrath and sodaine pangs of ire Permit themselues to be orewhelmd drownd And hot reueÌ„ge that burns like flaming fire Moues hearts to hurt or tongs or hadÌ„s to wound Though after to amend it they desire Yet place of pardon seldome can be found Ah worthy Ladies I do you beseech To pardon that my former foolish speech 2 For I am growne like a diseased man That when he finds by phisicke no reliefe And now no more with patience suffer can The burning torture of his lingring griefe Doth fall to raue and rage and curse and bau Blaspheming God renouncing his beliefe But when that fit is past then would he faine But ah he cannot call it backe againe 3 Yet Ladies of your clemencie I hope I pittie shall not onely pardon finde Although I somewhat swarue from reasons scope And rash words flow from vnaduised minde She onely beare the blame that slayes my hope And for true seruice shews her selfe vnkinde That I did speake was partly of compassion With simpathy mou'd of Orlandos passion 4 Who as I partly did before declare In monstrous sort suruayd Marsilios raigne And wrought great wo great danger and great care To all the then inhabitants of Spaine I told you how he drew the silly Mare Tide to his leg till she was dead with paine And how he had so small sence in his head He drew her after him when she was dead 5 But comming to a great deepe running water He was constraind to let her there abide And for he swimmes as perfect as an Atter He quickly passed to the tother side Where then a herdman came his beasts to water And on a curtall he himselfe did ride And though he saw the madman and did view him Yet being naked he would not elchew him 6 The madman prayeth him that he would spare His horâ—e that they two might together cope I left quoth he on tother â—â—de my Mare And fast about her necke I left a rope I left her dead but yet with heed and care Of her recouerie there is good hope The herdman laugheth at his sencelesse words And
parched flowre Doth fade and is as t were of life depriued But if in season come a fruitfull showre It riseth vp and is againe reuiued So when the damsell this defence did heare She waxed faire againe of better cheate 102 And thus at last they fell vnto their feast In quiet sort for none did come that night To challenge any of them or molest No traueller nor any wandring knight All merry were but Bradamante least Fell iealousie bard her of all delight Her stomacke so distempting and her tast She tooke no pleasure of that sweet repast 103 When supper ended was they all arise Although perhaps they would haue longer sate Saue for desire they had to feed their eyes And now the night was spent and waxed late The master of the house in seemly wise Doth call for torches to set out his state And straight with torch light filled was the hall But what they saw hereafter shew I shall The first fiftie staues of this booke I may call mine as the Poet Martiall saiâ—â— in a little Epigram of his of a Gentlewomans periwig fifteene huâ—dred yeares since I thinke the verse was this or such another Esse suos iurat quos emit Galla capillos Dic sodes numquid peierat illa mihi To this effect in English The goodly haire that Galla weares Is hers who would haue thought it She sweares it is and true she sweares For I know where she bought it And so may I as truly sweare these are mine for they were giuen me by my brother Francis Harington who made them for a proofe of his veine in this kind and if his sloth had not bin as blame-worthy as his skill is praise-worthy he had eased me of much of the paine that I tooke with the rest and me thinks when I reade his and mine owne together the phrase agrees so well as it were two brothers Though he in his modestie would needs giue his elder brother leaue to take all the paines and praise if there were any following herein the example of diuers indeed studious and learned Gentlemen that haue either disdained to bestow so much paines on another mans worke or at least would not leese so much time from more graue or more profitable studies or which perhaps is the chiefest reason because they feele that though it is but a sport to write now and then a little odde sonet yet it is some labour to write a long and setled stile as Tullie saith of writing in prose Stilus est optimus dicendi magister sed laboris magni est quem plerique fugimus Writing is the best schoolmaster for eloquence but saith he it is a painfull thing and that most of vs cannot away withall And yet I find hauing written in both kinds now and then as my slender capacitie would serue me that prose is like a faire greene way wherein a man may trauel a great iourney and not be weary but verse us a miry lane in which a mans horse puls out one leg after another with much ado and often driues his master to light to help him out but I shall trauell anon so far in this greene way that I shal be out of my right way or at least beside my matter and therfore I now come to the moral In the Morall of this xxxij booke in the person of Agramant we may note how a Generall must not vpon one foyle or one ill day as they call it despaire of his affaires or abandon his enterprise but betake him to some strong place of aduantage till they may make head againe In which kind the old Romanes conquerors of the world aboue all other things showed their vnconquered minds and specially then when Terentius Varro had receaued that great foile and ouerthrow by Hannibal as Liuie noteth in the end of the xxij booke Quo in tempore ipso adeò magno animo ciuitas fuit vt Consuli ex tanta clade cuius ipse magna causa fuisset redeunti obuiam itum frequenter ab omnibus ordinibus sit gratiae actae quòd de republica non desperasset Cui si Carthaginiensium ductor fuisset nihil recusandum supplicij foret What time saith Liuie the citie was of so great courage that the Consull returning from so mightie an ouerthrow of which himselfe had bin a great occasion yet was publikly and solemnly met by all the companies and had speciall thanks giuen him because he despaired not of the common state who had he bin captain of the Carthaginians no punishment had bin too much for him Further in Brunello that had somtimes bin Agramants secretary and yet now was hanged for iustice sake we may note that wicked meÌ„ thought they be somtime aduanced by their Princes to great honors and wealth yet when their oppressions and thefts shal be plainly boulted out and manifestly proued law will haue his course and iustice must be done And yet wee see also in this booke in Bradamants defence of Vllany against the law of sir Tristrams lodge that for the most part lawes are but like Spiders webs taking the small Gnats or perhaps sometime the fat flesh flies but Hornets that haue sharpe stings and greater strength breake through them Of Iosuas day which he toucheth in the xi staffe the holy Scripture speakes of how he made the Sunne stand still But for the false Amphittios night though it seeme meere fabulous as it is told that Iupiter made the night three nights long to take the more pleasure of Alcmene yet me thinke it is worth the obseruation how the very prophane and vaine writings of old times do concurre with the sacred Scriptures for whensoeuer the birth of Hercules was which I dare not affirme to haue bin at that time and yet by computation il wil not fall long after For Hercules was a great while before the last Troian warres and many old writers agree that Priamus liued in Dauids time and sent to him for succor but howsoeuer that may be proued for the certaine time of his birth certain it is when the Sunne stood still in one part of the world then in reason at their Antipodes and in the other Hemispheare it must needs be night all that while And if the Sunne were almost downe when Iosua spake as it may be coniectured because he would not feare want of light to pursue his enemies vntill the Sunne were neare setting then it might be euen in the same Hemispheare within a few degrees As for example it is night one hundred miles Eastward sooner then it is so farre Westward by a good while as they that are Astronomers can easily resolue the simplest that is But to be short it is verified by many writers that there was one night obserued to be longer then her fellowes which night either Hercules was borne vpon or else was fained to be begotten vpon and therefore they sirnamed him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of that night that was as long
as three nights But this I submit to the iudgement of learned Diuines The colour and embrodery of Bradamants bases in the 47. staffe betokening desperation is there shewed I need not long to stand vpon for as for those hidden misteries of colours with their applications of blue to constancie twanie forsaken white to virginitie and the rest they are very well knowne to all our gallant Gentlemen who often haue more cost in their clothes and wit in their colours then coyne in their coffers or learning in their heads Of the Island Queene that sent the shield of gold to France which Bradamant thought would but breed quarrels Fornarius noteth that mine Author did therein couertly allude to a matter betweene England and France for Ariosto liued in Henry the eight his time and maketh very honorable mention of him But thus it was After the death of Lewes of France Marie the younger sister of K. Henrie the eight remaining his Dowager our King sent for his sister to come into England but Francis the first loth she should go out of France in respect of the great dower she should carry with her which by the custome of that country was a third part of the reuenue of the Crowne and yet fearing to have warres with king Henrie made this offer that if he would send some braue man at armes that could win her in the field he should haue her our King made no dainties to accept the offer and making it knowne to his Court Sir Charles Brandon tooke the matter on him and in fine ouercomming foure French men with the franke consent of both Kings married the Queene Dowager and was here in England as we all know made Duke of Suffolk of whose offspring there remaine yet some most worthy branches but the like to him for armes and cauallary as we terme it is my noble good Lord the Lord Strange whose value and vertue need not this my barren and briefe testimonie The end of the annotations vpon the xxxij booke THE XXXIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Faire Bradamant sees grau'n by passing art The future wars of France vpon a screene Bayardos flight the combat fierce doth part Renaldo and the Serican beweene Astolso hauing past the greater part Of all the world and many countries seene Vnto Senapos kingdome last arriues And from his boord the foule Harpias driues 1 TYmagoras Parrhasius Polignote Timant Protogenes Apollodore With Zewces one for skill of special note Apelles eke plast all the rest before Whose skill in drawing all the world doth note And talke of still to writers thanks therefore Whose works and bodies time and death did wast Yet spite of time and death their fames doth last 2 With others that in these our later dayes Haue liu'd as Leonard and Iohn Belline And he that carues and drawes with equall praise Michell more then a man Angell diuine And Flores whom the Flemmings greatly praise And Raphael and Titian passing fine With diuers others that by due desart Do ment in this praise to haue a part 3 Yet all these cunning drawers with their skill Could not attaine by picture to expresse What strange euents should happen well or ill In future times no not so much as guesse This art is proper vnto Magike still Or to a Prophet or a Prophetesse By this rare art the Brittish Merlin painted Strange things with which our age hath bin acquainted 4 He made by Magike art that stately hall And by the selfe same art he could to be Strange histories ingraued on the wall Which as I said the guests desir'd to see Now when they were from supper risen all The pages lighted torches two or three Making the roome to shine as bright as day When to his guests the owner thus did say 5 I would quoth he my guests that you should know That these same stories that here painted are Of future warres the sequels sad do show That shall to Italie bring wo and care Whereas the French full many a bloodie blow Shall take while others they to harme prepare As Merlin here hath layd downe being sent From English Arthur chiefe for this intent 6 King Feramont that was the first that past The streame of Rhine with armie great of France And being in possession quiet plast Of all those parts sturd with so luckie chance Straight in ambitious thought began to cast His rule and scepter higher to aduance Which that he might to passe the better bring He made a league with Arthur English king 7 Informing him how that his meaning was Of Italie the rule and crowne to get And askt his ayd to bring the same to passe Which neuer had atchieued bin as yet Now Merlin that did all men far surpasse In Magike art his purpose sought to let For Merlin had with Arthur so great credit He thought all Gospell was if once he sed it 8 This Merlin then did first to Arthur show And then by Arthur was of purpose sent To Fieramont of France to let him know The cause why he misliked his intent As namely many mischiefs that would grow To all that now or that hereafter ment The like attempt aduising him abstaine From certaine trouble for vncertaine gaine 9 And that he might his courage more appall And quite remoue him from this enterprise He made by Magicke this so stately hall Adorned as you see in sumptuous wise And drew these histories vpon the wall That what he saw in mind they might with eyes And thereby know that in Italian ground The Flour de luce can near take root profound 10 And how as often as the French shall come As frends to aid and free them from distresse So oft they shall their foes all ouercome And fight with honor great and good successe But be they sure to haue that place their toome If so they come their freedome to oppresse Thus much the owner of the house them told And so went on the storie to vntold 11 Lo first how Sigisbert in hope of gaine And promises of Emperour Mauricius Doth passe the mountaines with a mightie traine With mind to Lombardie to be pernicious But Ewtar driues him backe by force againe When he of such attempt is least suspicious So that his enterprise is quite reuersed Himselfe doth flie and leaue his men dispersed 12 Next after him the proud Clodoueus went And had with him one hundred thousand men But him doth meet the Duke of Beneuent With searse for eu'rie hundred souldiers ten Who doth intrap him in an ambushment So as the French might well be lik'ned then While Lombard wines too greedily they tooke To fish beguiled with a baited hooke 13 Straight Childibertus with a mightie host Doth come with mind to wipe away this blot But of his gainings he may make small bost For of his purpose he preuailed not His enterprise by heau'nly sword is croft The plague doth grow among his men so hot What with the
the Castle it stands in Lombardie he was tall of person of complexion melancholy giuen much to studie and musing and would therewith sometime forget himselfe he was of colour like an Oliue somewhat townie in his face but faire skinned otherwise his haire was blacke but he quickly grew bold his forehead was large his eye-browes thinne his eye a little hollow but very full of life and very blacke his nose was lar ge and hooked as they say the Kings of Persia were his teeth passing euen and white his cheeks but leane his beard very thin his necke well proportioned his shoulders square and well made but somewhat stopping as almost all that looke much on bookes in their youth are inclined to be his hand somewhat drie and a little bow-legged His counterfeit was taken by Tytiano that excellent drawer so well to the life that a man would thinke yet it were aliue he was honoured with the Lawrell by the hands of the renowned Emperour Charles the fist in the yeare 1532 which was a yeare before hee dyed Now for his disposition as we haue partly touched before he was of nature assable not proud taking lesse vpon him then others did yeeld vnto him yet putting vp no knowne iniurie not of his betters somewhat amorous in his youth very secret passing studious by nature fearefull vpon the water and therefore when hee went out of a shippe at any time he would see others go before him vsing that saying De puppo neunssimus exi though for mine owne part I see no great reason for it Further he was not very venturous on horse-backe for they say he would light at every place of danger though others rode ouer it He loued not to go much abroad out of his owne countrey in so much as he writes in one of his Satyres Che vuol Andare a torne a torne vada Vegga Ingleterra Vngheria Francia e Spagna Ame piace habitar lamia contrada Vista ho Thosana Lombardia Romagna Quel monte che diuide e quel che serra Italia e vn mare e l'altro che la bagna Questo mi basta il resto della terra Senza mai pagar l'hoste andro cercando Con tolomeo sia il mondo in pace e in guerra To this effect in English Who list to ride about about may â—ide See England Vughery and France and Spaine I loue in mine owne country still to bide In viewing which I sure haue taune some paine Thoscan Romagna Lombardie beside The hils that Italie close and diuide Suffiseth me the rest of all the maine With Tolomey to search and eu'ry cost In peace or warre and neuer pay mine host For his workes I haue touched them before as for the fiue Cantoes that follow Furioso I am partly of opinion they were not his both because me thinke they differ in sweetnesse of slile from the other and beside it is not likely that a man of his iudgement hauing made so absolute a peece of worke as his Furioso is and hauing brought euery matter to a good and well pleasing conclusion would as it were marre all againe and sent them all by the eares and bring Rogero into the Whales bellie and Astolfo with him for companie that a little before were conquerours of the world and vumatchable for courage and learning but to proceed to his end he liued til he was 59 yeares old and toward his latter end he grew sickly and by much Physicke marred his stomacke his sicknesse grew first as they write by meanes of ill digestion he being a grosse feeder and not chewing his meate well so that in the end it weakned him very much That very night that he sickned and tooke his bed there happened a great mischance that was in the opinion of most men a presage of his death The goodly Hall that Alfonso had beautified with the most sumptuous Stage that had bene seene in Ferrara purposely for Ariostes Comedies was fiered by mischance and consumed a great part of the Dukes pallace beside Now if fire as one Artimedorus writeth betokeneth same and greatnesse then this vnfortunate fire fortuning at such a time as it did may yet serue as a meane to enoble the more this famous mans death and as Comets are said to foreshew the death of Princes so this terrible fire lasting so many dayes as it did might be thought to foretell his death chiefly since it consumed that worke that was built for his great same and honour He tooke his sicknesse not onely patiently but euen chearfully affirming that he was willing to die and so much the rather because he heard that the greatest Diuines were of opinion that after this life we should k now one another affirming to his friends that were by that many his friends were departed whom he had a very great desire to visite and that euery houre seemed to him a yeare till he might see them In fine he dyed in Ferrara the eight of Iuly 1533 and though he were worthy of all honor yet this was all the honour he had done at that time that the Monkes of S. Benet buried him in their Church and contrary to their custome which is neuer to go to burials went with him to his buriall and that there was scarce a man that could write but did honor him with an Epitaph his bones were after taken vp by one Sygnor Augustino and layd in a very faite tombe with his statue from the girdle vpward in the forenamed Church of S. Benet And now to close vp this whole discourse of his life with the greatest prayse hee was a most charitable and honest man as appeared both by his great care he had of his aged mother whom also he speakes of often in his Satyrs and other writings saying in one place L'eta di cara madre mi percuote De pieta il cuore And also by this example that is recited of him of an aged Priest that hauing three or foure fat benefices was in great doubt to be poysoned for greedinesse of them by some that had the next Aduowsons and in respect of the great honestie of M. Lodowike Ariosto he chose him before all his owne kinne or friends with whom he would soiorne as himselfe bosteth and indeed it was a good boost Mane di voi ne de pui giunti a lui D'amicitia fidar unqua sivolle Io di fuor cutti scielto vinco fui To conclude his learning his good behauiour his honestie made him both beloued of all good men in his life and bewayled of all honest men in his death so as me thinke reading ouer his life I could find in my heart to wish sauing for some very few things Sie mihi countingat viuere fisq mori AN EXACT AND NECESSARIE TABLE IN ORDER OF ALPHABET VVHEREIN YOV MAY READILIE FINDE THE NAMES of the principall persons treated in this work with the chiefe matters that concerne them A ACteon pag. 85. a notable