proportion of his members And placing his words with great discreation he answered and sayd I come to demand battaile of thée O King not for that thou hast at anie time gréeued mée or giuen mee cause but onelye to take awaye and frustrate if it bée possible this euill and diâ—ellish custome which thou maintainest or else to loose my lyfe in the quarrall therefore if thou doest thinke good to procéede in this thy hellish pretence take thy armour and arme thy selfe and come foorth and heere in this fielde I will abide thy comming where I hope by the fauour of almightie God that with thy death thou shalt paye héere the tribute of all this tyrannie which thou hast vsed The Gyaunt remained still at the windowe beholding this worthie Grecian Knight for that hée séemed vnto him to bée a Knight of greate valour and prowesse by his comelie proportion and by the deuises that hée had in his armour hee séemed to bée a straunger with a familiar countenance he sayd I would somewhat replie vnto these thy wordes but because thou shalt not saie I speake lyke a Thrush in a cage I will referre it till such time as I am with thée in the fielde if thou darest to abide my comming And so without anie more speaking he withdrewe himselfe from the windowe and with a terrible voice hée called for his armour in the meane time this noble Greeke did peruse his harnesse in all partes that it was well for it was néedfull as héereafter you shall heare ¶ Of the terrible battaile that this Grecian Prince had with the Gyant and of all the aduentures that chanced in the said battaile Chap. 6. THis worthie Grecian knight lifting vp his heart and eies vnto heauen craued fauour and helpe of almightie God requesting his aide against so great and terrible an aduersarie and being thus in his praier he sodeinly heard a great noise well consorted sound of Trumpets the which made melodious and swéet harmonie and not long after this the gate of the castle was opened where out issued the Gyant at all pointes armed with verie rich armour of fine stéele and vppon his right shoulder a great clubbe barred with yron of a huge weight and at his girdell a verie bigge and broade swoord and about his necke there hanged a rich and strong Shielde whereon was portratured the same deuise which he sawe on the Altar in the Chappell In his demeanour he showed himselfe to bée valiant and with a gentle countenaunce he came towardes the place whereas the Knight abode All this the noble and courteous Greeke did stedfastly beholde and prayed God that of his mercie he would abolish this euill custome that he did maintaine and that he would giue him grace to acknowledge his error wherein he had transgressed and that he might be conuerted vnto the knowledge of y e true faith for that it was great pitie to sée so much crueltie remaine in so noble worthie a personage as he was or in so well proportioned a bodie as he séemed to haue and thus this noble prince remained in beholding his personage till such time as the Gyaunt drew nigh vnto him who without shewing anie defiaunce or countenaunce of pride saide I beleeue gentle Knight that this my presence hath put thée in some feare of my force therfore for that thou séemest to be a knight well disposed of great valor I yeelde vnto thée the battaile And if so be thou mistrust thy power I giue thee lisence to return from whence thou camest or else if thou so please to remaine with me in my companie But this valyant Greeke as one nothing daunted without moouing of his countenaunce aunswered and sayd Doe not thou thinke O king that the bignesse of thy bodie although it shew thee to be of great strength maketh me in anie part either to meruaile or feare for that my swoord hath bene accustomed to abate the courage of diuerse such as thou art but that which maketh me most to muse is y â— god hath suffred thee so long time to exercise this crueltie And againe that thou being adorned with so gentle disposition and courage vnto my seeming conformable wouldest maintaine so cruell a custome without either feare of God or regard of his lawes Neuerthelesse considering thou hast no knowledge of the true God but of other fained Gods I doo not so greatly muse that thou hast followed thine owne appetite so much but take my counsaile and bestow not this thy great strength and force in the seruice of those euill Gods but turne vnto my God and in his defence and faith which is the right faith exercise these thy good giftes with the which he hath endowed thée and if thou wilt thus doo I will take thée for my friend and kéepe thy companie for that thou â—éemest vnto me to be of so good a disposition one y â— doth well deserue to be had in reputatioÌ„ For verely it is conuenient worthy King that thou leaue this crueltie which thou dost héere vse béeing so farre different from natures rule and to forget this seruice which thou doost vnto the Diuell which is the onelye willer of this damnable worke and so reforming thy life I would wish thée to become a christian For I promise thée it doth not a little gréeue me that so worthie a knight as thou art should through vnbeléefe perish and be dampned and if alreadie thou haue anie remorse in conscience or perseuerance of this my spéech accept my counsell I request thée which if thou doo I promise thée to be alwaies thine and by firme frindship to vnite my selfe vnto thy fellowshippe Contrariwise if thou persist in this thy pretended tyrannie prepare thy selfe and that spéedely vnto battaile whereby thou shalt perceiue how smally I feare thy force as thou doest fondly suppose The Gyaunt which was verie attentiue vnto all that the Prince had vttered replied in this wise Before we beginne our battaile sir Knight let me request this little sute of thée which is that thou vnfolde to me thy name forasmuch as by thy comly proportion thou séemest to descend from some noble progenie and by thy behauiour to be of no lesse prowesse then authoritie the one arguing in thée no small valour in fight the other no little eloquence to subuert thy foe The heroycall Prince discréetly marking with what sober aduisement he deliuered these speaches with no lesse mildensse returned vnto him this answere saying Forasmuch as I will not in anie respect be accounted either quarellous by concealing an answere or disdainful by denying thy request vnderstand then O King of Sardenna y t I am a Grecian borne named the Knight of the Sunne sonne vnto the renowmed Emperour Trebatio and brother vnto the inuincible Rosicleer whose courage as yet was neuer quailed in fight neyther hethertoo hath my heart bene vanquished by any force for although as yet I haue detracted time by meanes of this my
to goe foorth with the rest So in this order as I haue told you they went foorth of the Citie all sixe together and he which gaue the first onset was that valiant and amorous Eleno of Dacia brothers son vnto the Emperour who with a gentle behauiour when hée came nigh the Emperour sayd in the Saracen tongue It is not the part of good Knights to speake any villany especially against Kings whom they are bound to haue in reuerence honour To whom the Emperour aunswered in the same language Art thou Noraldino King of Numidia Don Eleno replyed No but I am a Knight and a very stranger in this countrey but yet by firme oath I determine to dye in the defence of his right The Emperor aunswered He hath neither iustice nor right on his side but it is most apparant wrong which he doth maintaine and there is no reason that such a traytor as he is shoulde be by anye other defended neither is it séemely that anie Knight of price should charge himselfe in his behalfe for that he is a traytor And likewise he that doth defend him and take his part in this that hee will sustaine and maintaine so great vniustice is pertaker of his treason and meriteth a traytors name And for that thou art his defender héere I giue thée to vnderstand that I care not for thée and lesse I doo estéeme thée for that hée which doth take vpon him to defend a traytor may well be accounted a traytor This valiaunt Eleno when hée sawe himselfe to be so ill intreated aunswered Thou lyest in so saying for that I was neuer traytor neither doo I procéede of the lynage where traytors euer were notwithstanding thou shalt pay me with thy head the great vncurtesie which thou hast vsed vnto me Therefore it doth stande thée in hand to looke vnto thy selfe and take that part of the fielde which thou thinkest best for thy purpose and leaue off these blazing words to ioyne with me in battaile that I maye sée if thou canst as well defend thy quarrell as thou canst handle thy tongue At which words there drew nigh them the Prince Clauerindo and as the Emperour woulde haue departed to put himselfe in battel he did behold him straight waye knew him And casting his eyes on the one side likewise knew the other thrée but he could not knowe who the Prince Eleno should be and for the great desire which hée had to know what he was he sayd Knight I doo desire thée for courtesies sake to tell me what thou art if thou wilt not grant me this then I pray thée to lift vp y ◠visor of thy helme y ◠I may sée thy face for héere I giue thée to vnderstād thy foure companions I dooe knowe which is the occasion that I haue no desire to enter into battaile with thée Then Don Eleno aunswered and sayd Pagan of the two things which thou doest aske of mée although there is no compulsion yet will I pleasure thée in fulfilling one of them and in saying these wordes he lift vp the visour of his healme and when the Emperour sawe him he beléeued that it had béene his sonne Rosicleer and with a loud voice he said Oh mightie God how can this be true that vnto knights of my lignage should chaunce so vile a spot who hetherto in all their dooings haue got great honour and praise and now are come to defend such apparaunt wickednesse and treason Thou shalt vnderstand knight that I am the Emperour Trebatio and would not willingly now be called thy Father for that thou art come to defend so apparaunt and knowen an euill for I knowing the vnreasonable naughtinesse that this king hath committed am come to take this conquest in hande for in all my life time I neuer tooke a more iuster cause in hand neither was there euer in all the worlde a thing more worthier of punishment then this and séeing that my fortune hath béen such that my first enimie that shuld come against me séemeth my sonne put thy selfe héere now before thy high progenitour from whence thou doest descend and for Gods loue doe not blot thy stock in defending traitours treason therwith in few words he told vnto them all the whole history as before I haue tolde you Then this excellent Dacian answered High mightie Emperour although by my name thou hast not knowen me yet in calling me sonne thou diddest happen on the truth For thou shalt vnderstand that I am called Eleno of Dacia sonne vnto the king of Dacia thy brother and in that which thou hast sayde that we doe maintaine treasons we are to the contrarie informed neuertheles I beséech your highnesse to tarrie héere a while and therewith he and the Prince in a great confusion returned to the place whereas the rest of his companions were and turning his talke vnto the king he sayd King of Numidia thou shalt vnderstand that yonder knight is the Emperour of Grecia my vnckle who in that small time which we haue ben with him hath told vnto vs all the effect of this thy matter cleane contrary vnto that which thou hast declared vnto vs. Therfore King there is no reason that Knights of so high bloud and name as we are should be set to defend lyes and treasons but if it be to the contrary of that which he hath told vnto me haue no doubt but tell vs the truth For héere I sweare by the loue that I beare vnto that vnlouing Lidia that I will trauayle so with my vnckle that greatly with thy honour thou shalt goe thorough with this conquest Then this false King aunswered O Knights which doo confesse your selues to be Christians and by the God whome you doo worship haue made a solemne oath to helpe and defend me by the strength of your armes how happeneth it now y ◠without any care of your oth which you haue sworn you will leaue me desolate and goe from your words béeing doubtfull of the very truth The couragious French man aunswered Doo thou not thinke King that our oathes and words shall be abrogated rather first we will léese our liues both I the prince all our companions but consider king that God will not that we shall imagine amisse of Trebatio who is a prince of great veritie and truth and agayne our verie nigh kinsman Therefore this and that which hée hath tolde vs hath moued vs to come and tell thée and doe saye that none of vs will goe from his word and oath if thy cause be iust Then the valyaunt Eleno did cut off his reasons and tourning vnto the King he sayd King of Numidia héere I do most humblye desire thée that with false illusions thou putte not vs vnto so great trauaile for that then it can not be but either wée must dye in the hands of him whome we doe desire to serue or els though farre vnlikely to kill him Is it possible king
Ladie béeing not able to speake anie more wrong her handes and stayed her selfe against a Pine apple trée which was behinde her backe at the view whereof the Mesopotamian knight in great sorrow layd himselfe downe againe vpon the gréene grasse And the Grecian Prince wondring at this straunge aduenture retourned very softly to that place wher he left his horse feeding with intent and purpose to encounter that Knight so soone as Titan shoulde appeare to lyght the world with his beames and for no other cause but only to deliuer his friend from that prepensed mallice And when as y e firie Phaëton began with his glancing beames to shine the Grecian Prince put on his armour laced his helmet mounted vpon his horse and with a soft pace made towards the Prince of Mesâ—potamia who was now prepared to vndertake his iourney with his companie After they had trauailed a while the Prince did espie them passing through a faire champain or field and was greatly abashed at the excéeding beautie of the Ladye whome hée viewed a long time and loue hauing tickeled him for that she was so rare a Phoenix he thought for her sake he coulde subdue all the worlde wherefore he tourned his eyes towarde that place where the Knight was and if before hée wondered at the Ladyes comely graces not much lesse was he now amased at the strong bodye of this knight and at his huge and well fashioned weapons whereby he reputed him to be some worthie noble champion After he had shaked off this imagination hée said vnto him Knight take thy weapons and armour for thy defence for I am desirous to haue some triall of thée before that thou doest proue thy valour with the Tartarian Prince thereby peraduenture to quite him if I canne from the like battaile which thou doest intend to haue with him at the request of this Ladie and therefore I meane to preuent that diuellish purpose which thou hast promised to accomplish The Moore heereat began to swell and verie scornfully and with a fearefull countenaunce replied What furie or diuell of hell hath placed so foolish a thought in thy brains to vndertake that exploit which the best of the Gods neuer durst enterprise and not able to speake anie more his cholar rage was so great he laide both his handes vpon his sword and therewithal let flie at the Grecian Prince such a blowe that he made his head redouble in his breast plate and vpon the necke of the same he discharged another vpon him which made him yéeld backward The Grecian Prince wondering at his incomperable strength and nimblenesse drewe out that straunge and vnknowen swoord which the Quéene Iulia did giue him and lifting it aboue his head with one of his accustomed blowes he did smite it vpon the pagan his helmet which made him bowe downe his head to his saddle Pomell so that his sences were almost benummed with the force of it but béeing recouered he began by little and little to smite and wounde the noble Prince yet his dexteritie in fighting coulde little preuaile for the Prince stoode not still but did so bâ—stur himselfe and with as great furie as the other that he did scarre his enimie in diuerse places which he felt not without greate paine although he made no semblaunce of the same wherevppon the battaile béeing before but kindled was now on a hot flame both of them burning in reuenge and therefore continued a good while furious and fierce slashing maine blowes betwéene them which sounded a terrible noise in the thicknesse of the wood as if manie Smithes had bene hammering vpon theyr Ansieldes But whosoeuer had then behelde the appalled countenance of the Ladie hée would no doubt haue taken her for no liuing creature so much did this desperate and fierce combat astonish her comelye face And thinking vppon the valiaunt enimie of her Knight who lyke a Beare that hath lost her yonglinges aâ—sailed him euermore on the one side she wished in her heart the victorye ouer him and on the other side fearing to sée her selfe all alone she desired greatly truce betwéene them and that they might parte friendly that which did most glad her minde was y t oftentimes she did imagine yet but doubting of y e matter if perhaps this should be the knight whome she did take so greate paines to finde out and that which did confirme her surmise was that she heard him at the first name y e Tartarian prince In such and other like thoughts and doubts the comfortlesse Ladie passed awaie her time In the meane while that the couragious Knights were busie how they might dispatch the one the other But y e crabbed Moore with both his hands gaue the stout Grecian such a blowe vppon his helmet y t he made his horse necke a pillow for his head wherewithall he began to thumpe beat all his féeling in this sencelesse sort was Rosicleer carried vp downe the plaine by his horse y e Moore pursuing him to cut off his head but as God would haue it he awaked as it were out of a dreame and furiously recouering his sworde hée tourned backe againe and repayed the Paganne with such a forcible blowe vppon his friendly helmet that his wonderfull strength made the well tempered stéele to yéeld and therewithall it made him fall backwardes vpon his horses buttocke casting out blood out of his mouth his horse carrieng him héere and there amidst the pleasaunt fields more then halfe dead but Rosicleer would not followe him but did attend whether and about what he went who tarried not long but y t he inioyed his former senses strength being once almost dispossessed of them and abashed to sée the Prince to haue surmounted him by lending him such a cruell blowe so extreamely did all the furies in hell conspire in his breasts that now hauing reared vp his swoorde which fell from him by force of that vnreasonable blow he broched his horse with his spurres amaine and with incredible swiftnesse he encountered with the Grecian Prince and hit him so mortall a stroke vpon one of his shoulders that it made his bones rattle within his skinne but he fayled not to leaue the print of his swoorde in some parte of the sinnowed flesh so that nowe the battaile seemed to bée but begunne such was the fiercenesse of both these stout champions And both of them imployed their forces in smiting of each other and also their wits were not idle how the one by some sâ—ight might sooner cut off his enimie because it gréeued them both that the battaile begunne two long houres since shoulde indure anie longer without aduauntage of anie parte wherefore both did their diligence to finish it by some waye or other And all this while it was verie harde to knowe whether of them had the better ouer the other béeing equiualent in prowesse and manhoode But the couragious and fierce Grecian béeing angrie in his minde to sée
horsemen as it appeared by the treading and noyse of their horses Wherefore to vnderstand what they were they staid their talk the prince issued out of y e chappell where he found sixe knights armed w t verie good strong armor who were alighting from their horses to enter into y e chappel but when these knightes espyed the Prince so well proportioned and of so good disposition with his armour of strange deuice contrarie vnto theirs then one of those sixe knightes which séemed to haue more authoritie then the rest sayd Oh Knight what infernall furie hath hardned thée to aduenture hether knowing the custome which is vsed héere But it séemeth vnto me that rather ignorance is the occasion héereof more then anie other thing wherefore I am content to let thée depart againe vpon condition that thou leauest with me thy armour and thy horse if it be thine to giue for that they doo greatly delight me This valiant Prince dissembling his anger with a very merrie and smiling countenance made answere You haue sayd true y e ignorance hath brought me hether for y t I am a straunger in this countrie and neuer vnderstood that anie such crueltie hath ben vsed héere till now that this good olde man hath tolde mée But to giue thée my armour I am not determined at this time for that I am not accustomed to trauaile without it And as for my horse I doo insure thée that he will let none take his backe but my selfe therefore it were best thou aske some other thing for that in this I pretend not to accomplish thy request They vnderstanding the wordes which the Prince aunswered vnto them one of the sixe knights pretending more hardinesse then all the rest replyed I will sée how thou canst defend thy horse and with that he went to laie hande on the horse bridle which he had not so soone proffered when the fierce horse opened his mouth and with great furie he caught him by the shoulder and lift him vp from the ground and in his fall he all to trampled troade him in péeces and so slew him At the which this noble Prince could not refraine from laughing and merrilye sayd In this sorte doth my horse rewarde them that bée so bolde and hardie of enterprise Then the Knight which did first speake vnto the Prince sayde vnto him with excéeding great anger I doo promise thée for certaintie that this great disorder and outrage which thy horse against my companion hath done shall cost thée thy lyfe And on a sodaine another of the fiue knightes which remained drew out his swoorde thinking to haue cut off the horse legs but this expert horse with great lightnesse shunned the blowe and on a sodaynâ— rose on his hinder féete and with his fore féete he played so with his helme that he broke it all to péeces and threwe the knight dead to the grounde the which fact did greatlye amase these knights of Sardenna TheÌ„ the noble Prince with a pleasant semblaunce said I am afraide that if in this sort you battayle with my horse he will in y e end deliuer me froÌ„ all danger of the losse of my armour Then this other knight hearing these wordes which he tooke to be a greate reproch vnto him béeing almost ouercom with anger in a great furie and rage he drew out his sword and flourishing it about his head he saide The greate outrage which thy horse hath héere done as I before said thou shalt spéedely repay with the losse of thy lyfe and vttering these words he smote the Prince vppon the helme so vehemently and with such courage that the very sparkes of fire sprong out fell burning to y e ground This noble prince féeling y â— blowe not looked for determined that that miserable knight should not go vnpaied for his good deede least he should praise himselfe for dooing it but with greatâ— anger and furie he stroke the knight such a blowe a little aboue the wast that it almost parted him in two péeces so that he fell downe dead to the ground Then the other thrée Knights séeing this terrible and vnmercifull blowe made no tarrâ—eng but all at once fell vpon y e prince doubling their blowes to bring him to his ende that it was wonderfull to sée but this worthie Knight who lyttle estéemed of such daungers stroke one of them so harde vppon the head that he cut him downe to the breast he fell downe dead vpon his other companion And tourning to another at one blowe he parted his shéeld in péeces cut off his arme froÌ„ his shulder Then the other knight which remained aliue séeing his coÌ„panions to be so ill intreated by one only knight thought it best to saue his life by trusting to his legs rather then to repose any confidence in his prowesse for that hée thought it would little preuaile him and betaking him to his feete he fledde awaie Of whome this noble Prince made small account but let him go the olde priest of whom we before spoke was present and beheld all that had happened and meruailed verie much at the great prowesse of the vnknowen Knight And this noble Prince seeing himselfe cléere of them that would haue done him wrong retourned vnto the Priest and asked him if he hadde anie thing that he might eate and requested him to let him haue it for that he hungered and had great néede thereof Then this Priest gaue him such meate as he hadde for himselfe still perswading the Prince for to returne againe the same way hee came and not to put himselfe into that so daungerous and terrible an aduenture but this heroycal prince made little reckoning of his requests but giuing him great thanks for the good entertainment he gaue him he tooke his leaue of him went the same which lead way towards the castle where the giaunt dwelt trauailing by little little with an easie foote pace he anone had a sight thereof and perceiued that it was verie fayre to behold and walled about verie strongly which he beheld not long but that he harde a Trumpet sound with meruailous sweete melodie and at the sound thereof there looked out of a window a gyant being a yong man of great large bignes comely in all parts accordingly his face was verie ireâ—ull to looke on but not ill fauoured but rather séemed to be adorned with a senere kinde of grauitie This Gyant looking that way where this noble Gréeke was he asked him with a high and mightie huge voice Knight what doest thou héere so securely séeke and what wouldest thou haue not respecting this my vnfortunate and vnhappie custome but without anie feare thereof thou approchest hether presenting thy selfe of thy own free will to be sacrificed But this worthie Gréeke in the meane time that the Gyant spoke these wordes did contemplate himselfe in beholding the huge making and the greate strength that did appeare hée hadde by the
full of great ioy he fell vppon Rosicleer his necke and sayd Oh my sonne I did well vnderstand that in the time of my greatest necessitie that thou wouldest neuer deceiue me with greate reason I may call thée my fortunate sonne not for that thou wert borne in a good daie but also that loue did cause so greate affection to thy mother of whome hath procéeded such finite as thou and thy brother Nowe of this worthie Prince what shall I saye that with verie ioye he was almost beside himselfe when he heard his Father the Emperour speake for by the sounde of his voyce he did know him So straight waye the Emperour pulled of his helme wherewith this valiaunt Rosicleer was fully resolued and without all doubt When he sawe the maiestie of his regall countenaunce and his bearde adorned with some royall white haires his face somewhat high coloured by reson of the great trauaile he receiued in his late battailes in the which he showed his great power and the prowesse of the progenie from whence he did procéede his sonne bowed downe his knées to the earth and lifted vp the visour of his healme and kissed the Emperours hands bathing them with the teares that fell from his eyes which was forced by his heart for the great ioye which he receiued The Emperour tooke him by the hand raysed him from the ground with great loue If I should héere declare the rest of the extremities that passed in this their ioyfull méeting it should be very tedious vnto the hearers therfore I doo remit it vnto such a father whose lot it is to haue good children therwith their like helpe in necessitie So without making any more delay the Emperour would haue deliuered out of prison the Knight of this faire Lidia the which being vnderstoode by them of the Castle they straight waye brought him before the Emperour with many other moe which were pertakers with him in the succour of the Lady These Knightes altogether gaue great thankes vnto the Emperour for y e friendship he had shewed them in helping them out of this theyr terrible imprisonment And thus they remained in great ioy and pleasure as well the Emperour for the sight of his son as also all those which were prisoners for the good successe that they had but especially and aboue all the rest was the ioye of Lidia which with the contentment that she receiued to sée hir Brenio in hir companie so that she was almost rauished of hir wits but in the countenaunce of the Knight it appeared by his outward showe that he receiued no pleasure the which being vnderstoode by this faire Lidia not knowing the cause whereof it should procéede to mooue him therevnto all hir great ioye and delight was tourned into despaire Then the Emperour commaunded those of the Castle that they should giue him somewhat to eate and likewise to all the rest which were taken out of prison vnto him for the great trauaile which he had passed in this battaile and vnto the rest for that they had great néed thereof So it was straight way made ready and that in very good order and they all sate downe together at the Emperours table So when they had almost dined and that they were well refreshed the Emperour tolde vnto Rosicleer who that King was which he had séene in the waggon the occasion thereof for the which he desired him that no other aduenture should be the occasion to let him but to goe straight vnto Constantinople and to take in companie with him Brandimardo and procure that the Lady might be restored againe vnto her kingdome vsing all your diligence to giue hir him to wife for that the noble Prince is worthye of no small honour And héere my sonne I doo professe vnto thée that a more beautifull Ladie in all my life I haue not séene but onely the Empresse Claridiana Also if that fortune doo so serue that thy brother the Knight of the Sunne come to those parts thou shalt will him that he doo not mooue nor depart from those parts for any kinde of aduenture that shall succéede till such time as I doo retourne for that nowe at this present I cannot retourne for that I haue sworne and giuen my word So there he tolde vnto them all the historie of that infortunate Herea at the which all they present receiued great sorrowe sauing onely Brenio which séemed that he receiued neither pleasure nor ioy So when the boord was voyded Rosicleer tooke his leaue of the Emperour his father and leaped vp on his horse and tooke the way which led him whereas he left his boate He was no sooner entred into it but it began to make way and sailed with so great swiftnesse that the third day he arriued at Constantinople whereas at this present we will leaue him ¶ How the Ladie Lidia talked with her Knight Brenio who was verie sad demaunding of him the cause of his discōtentment of other accidents Cap. 14. HEere you haue heard of the great discontentment that Brenio did showe at such time as he came out of the prison and in how short time the ioye that Lidia receyued was tourned into sorrowe and sadnes and that she could not demaund to knowe the occasion by reason of the company that was there so she was driuen to passe all that daye with bitter sorrowes and anguish of minde and without all comfort till such time as the night approched thinking y t when she was alone with him whom she loued more then her selfe to aske of him the occasion of all his paine Thus hir desire being brought to passe this false Brenio did vncloath himselfe and the time that he was making vnreadie he neuer lefte wéeping till such time as he was layd in his bed This faire Ladie leaning with hir brest vpon the bolster ioyned her hands with his and said My swéete Brenio what thing hath caused thée thus against the firme loue that I haue towards thée to shewe thy selfe so sad as it doth appeare by thy heauie chéere turne my loue and showe a ioyfull face and giue me some comfort with thy smiling countenaunce let my troubled hart receiue some ease of that vnmeasurable sorrowe which I haue sustained during the time that these vnknowen and traiterous people haue kept thée in prison and absent from my sorowfull sight What is this my swéete Brenio hast thou seene in me any occasion to dissolue this faithfull loue which I beare thee Let the great trauaile sighs sorrowes mooue the which I receiued to finde out the Emperour and bring him to set thee at libertie and if this be not sufficient consider with what great loue I haue passed many sorrowfull wayes and terrible stormes for to attaine thy presence as now I doo And héere I doo sweare vnto thée by the true faithfull loue which caused me so sorowfully to wéepe being on the déepe sea that if I the infortunate Lidia be not
it was hée which had passed the terrible kéepers of his murthered Daughter For you shall vnderstand that as soone as the Emperour was departed from the Ilande the wise Lyrgandeo commaunded that the bodie of the Ladie shoulde bée carried vnto Cimarra aduertising her Father that the long looked for reuengement was not farre of And lykewise how and in what manner the knight which did it shoulde come into his lande and also who that Knight shoulde bée Wherefore as soone as the king was giuen to vnderstande of his ariuall without anie more tarrying béeing accompanyed with all his noble men and leading in his hande a very fayre and young childe about twelue yeares olde the most best proportoined that euer nature coulde frame of whome you shall heare no more in this booke for that in the seconde booke it shall bée declared at large of him The king went forth till he came to the chiefe place of the Citie there to méet with the Emperour whereas likewise he met with this old and auncient King who boowing his knées to the earth and shedding of many teares with ioye receiued him saying O high and mightie Emperour giue me héere your hands that I may discharge the dutie that all humane creatures do owe vnto your highnesse how much more I that am bounde therevnto for that with so much firmenesse thou wouldest confirme thy oath and take the charge in thine owne person to worke my reuengement The Emperour was in a great confusion to heare himselfe named and neuer gaue anye in all that lande to vnderstand thereof but strayght waye hée suspected that Lirgandeo should aduise him of his comming And héerewith vsing of his accustomed bountie hée tooke him by the hand and lifted him from the grounde saying Good King the debt which thou sayst is due vnto me thou hast repayed in showing the noblenesse of thy heart and courage and otherwise I am constrained by y e order of knighthood and iustice to make reuengement of that cursed facte which was without all pitie committed vpon thy daughter And seeing that there can be no other remedy but onely reuengement héere of my part I doo offer thée to doo all that in my power is possible to be done desiring thée that thou restraine these teares and giue order that with great spéede there may be ioyned together all thy power to the end that we maye goe and conclude that which in me lyeth The King with a sad voyce aunswered High and mightie Emperour this hath bene prouided for before for all my people and shires are at an houres warning to goe to the ayding of so iust a cause and we tarryed for nothing but onely your royall person who must be the sword of my reuengement Thus with these and such like communications they went vnto the Kings pallaice which was hanged all with blacke clothes for others he would not consent to haue hanged since the death of his daughter Herea There was the Emperour vnarmed and serued with as great highnesse and honour as though he had bene in Grecia Notwithstanding the Emperour would not soiourne nor rest there much for the next daye in the morning he commaunded that all th◠people should march forwards vnto a hauen which was at the vttermost parts of all the Kingdome wheras they found ships and barkes of all sortes verye well furnished of all things that was néedfull There was thrée hundred ships one with another in the which there was imbarked fiftie thousand Moores meruailously well appointed and committing their sayles vnto the winde all this Nauie tooke theyr voyage towards Numidia So they nauigated and founds the winde fauourable which brought them vnto a porte or hauen which was but two leagues from the Kings house There with great ioy and pleasure they went a shore with out any resistaunce or gainsaying So when they were all out of the shippes a lande they displayed their ancients and in very good order they marched forwards And at such time as Apollo had made an ende of his iourney and that the darke night came on they came in sight of the Citie and without taking any rest towards the lande side they pitched their tents and fortified themselues in the best wise they could in such sort as their good Captaine which did gouerne them had commaunded without dooing any thing to the contrary So when all things was put in good order as they would haue it he commaunded that all the armie should go vnto the gate of the Citie that was most néerest the which was straight waye done and in thrée dayes after they did no other thing but ease and rest themselues for that the people were somewhat out of quiet with their great trauayle The fourth daye the Emperour séeing that there was no sturring in the Citie the which was done by pollicie tarying to sée what the enimies would doo the Emperour called for his armour and being armed there was brought a verye fayre and mightie horse vnto him and with his accustomed courage he issued out from amongst his companye and rode towards the wall of the Citie and put himselfe into a faire gréene playne nigh vnto the walls and lifting vp the visour of his healme he set his horne vnto his mouth and did sound it very strongly which was to warne them that were in the Citie to come to the walls and harken what he would saye and when he sawe that there was much people attending to heare him he began to saye O King Noraldino of Numidia how carelesse thou art in this thy strong countrey thinking that the strength thereof will defende thée that thou payest not the price of thy naughtie treason which thou didst vse with that vnfortunate Herea Take vnto thée thy armour and for that thou hadst a heart to commit this euill déede haue now likewise a courage to make thy defence come foorth of these thy walls thou traitour and destroyer of the royall bloud All they which were on the walls did heare the threatenings and straight waye went and tolde it vnto the king of Numidia who was at that time in communication of warres and of armyes and of all things that belonged therevnto and when he hearde these newes giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh ye Gods are not you content to sée me in this perplexitie and so much wronged but likewise with sound of trumpet suffer me to be outraged in calling me traytor These fayned griefes and sorrowfull words had so much force that it moued the harts of the Princes that were with him for to goe out into the field for his defence and in great hast they commaunded that their harnesse shuld be brought vnto them with determination to dye or to defend his cause And there was none that had any feare but onely the Gyant for that he would not giue any credit vnto the Kings words although he dissembled neuer so muuch but by reason that he had sworne therevnto hée was constrayned by his oath
that thou hast brought vs vnto this estate that crueltie should gouern our wills without hauing power to doe any other thing The King when he saw that the Knights were very earnest began to sweare with great oaths that his cause was iust and that he had tolde vnto them the truth of the matter and if so be that the Emperour had tolde them any other thing it was onely to deceiue them and to tourne them that they should not make his defence and charged them againe with their oath which they had made and how that they had giuen their words to be his vpholder and defender This worthy Dacian tourning vnto his companions sayd Knightes what doo you thinke in this matter what is it best that we doo héerein For well you doo sée that we are so bewrapte bound one against another and cousin against cousin yet for all that we cannot by any meanes excuse the battaile So they did all determine to retourne vnto the Emperour and to desire him for to accept it in good part and to leaue off that battaile to make theÌ„ beléeue that he was falsly informed when they came vnto him they said Worthy Emperour and our onely Lord looke well vnto this false information wherewith they haue informed you and hauing well considered thereof we doo all request you for the loue which vnto your sonnes and cousins and vnto all your friendes you doo owe that it may moue you to take no occasion to put vs into this extremitie for that by anie meanes we cannot goe from our oath and word Unto the which the Emperour answered and sayd My louing friends if that you haue giuen your word and oath to procure to make defence of so false a King doo you likewise indeuour to performe the same for the like will I doe to accomplish that which I haue promised for that there is no more reason for the one then for the other But this one thing I doe tell you that it is very apparant that you will maintaine the treason of this false King as it appereth plainly by many reasons which I haue told vnto you and the principall cause wherin you maye sée plainely his treason and falshoode is the little hast that hée doeth make himselfe vnto the battaile and if he knew that he dooâ—h maintaine the truth let him come forth and make his owne defence At the which reasons they all helde theyr peace considering the great reason which the Emperour had declared and determined that the next daie they woulde conclude what were best to bée done so these sixe knights returned vnto the Citie and the Emperour vnto the campe Of all this that happened he that receiued the most contentment was the Prince Eleno for he desired verye much to retourne vnto the Citie for that at his departure he left his Lady very sicke so that he thought not to finde her aliue and comming to the Citie hée was no sooner alighted from his horse but hée went straight vnto her Chamber whereas hée found her with a mightie burning ague and séeing her in that case he was as one that was beside himselfe and the more that her ague increased the more furious she did shew her selfe and farther out of quiet So this gréeuous and sicke Ladie did aske paper and inke for to write a few lines vnto him which was the causer of all this her harme and making an ende of her writing without power to doo any other thing with the great féeblenesse shée felt she fell downe vpon her pillowe speaking vnto Eleno she sayd Ualiant knight behold héere thy Lidia at her last ende for that there doth not remaine in me strength for to giue thée thankes for so great benefits as I haue receiued at thy handes yet I carrie one great comfort with me which is y â— although I dye yet thy great loyaltie doeth not dye neyther my firme faith and although I was vnloued of an vnfaythfull Knight yet am I beloued of the most couragious knight in the worlde This sorrowfull and troubled Prince woulde not suffer her to goe forwards with her talke but with shedding of manie teares from his eyes he sayd Oh my swéete Mistresse doe not giue me to vnderstande that thou wilt dye if that thou meane I shall remaine aliue Oh my loue I would rather that my heart shoulde be parted in twaine by the greatest enimie that I haue then to remaine without thée Oh my louing Mistres let this thy youthfull yeres and great beautie which thou hast incourage thée die not in this order this feeble Lidia for to shew with more feruentnesse the good will which she did owe vnto the Pâ—â—â—ce for his great curtesie forced her selfe to holde vp her head and he lifted it vp with such quicknesse as though her weake members had felt no griefe as though the furie of that burning ague was not able to resist her but with the force of loue she sate vp in her beâ— and with her face of a fiery colour she sayd My Lord time doth not giue me anye place that with words I might gratifie the great courtesie that of thée I haue receiued for that I doo feele that the hower is come and that the three fatall sisters haue the thred of my life betwéene the edges of their shéeres so that it lacketh nothing but to put them together insomuch that I miserable creature doo féele my soule tremble in my flesh at this my last hower But one thing oh my swéete and true louer I will desire thée before that I doo dye which is that thou wouldest procure that this letter maye bée giuen vnto that cruell Knight who hath brought me vnto this estate giuing him to vnderstande of this my troublesome death the occasion whereof was his vnreasonable crueltie And making an end of saying this this miserable Lady fell downe without hauing any more strength to sit vp but let the letter fall out of her hande before her true louer who tooke it vp and sayd Oh all my ioye what a cruell knife is this to my heart to heare thy complayntes in giuing me to vnderstande the great crueltie that loue hath vsed against thée without anye desert or reason and verely I doo beléeue that these thy great thoughts and griefes but most of all thy absence wil be the occasion of my death And if y â— my enimies are not of power to giue it me héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the great and true loue which I beare vnto thée that I my selfe with my owne hands will procure to pull this heart out of his place for that it knew not how to giue thée contentment paying therwith y e dutie y t I ow vnto thée O happy Brenio that didst obtaine so much grace fauour at Venus handes for to be beloued of the flower of all beautie The Clime in the which thou wert borne was not so happie as to the contrarie my
the Princesse of the mount Libano to the which there wer come manie Lords knights of all y e kingdome and from most parts of all the kingdomes héerabouts but in especial from Phoenicia Camogenia Palestina and Siria therefore gentle knight let your comming be to sée these feasts for that you shall vnderstand that there is put for the price to him who doth best a meruailous faire great horse such a one as is supposed in al y â— world not to be the like Claridiano had a great desire to goe thether he told it vnto the Ladies who were not discontent therewith So with that determination they went to bed into verie faire and well dressed chambers whereas they tooke their rest and ease for that they had great néede thereof so they soiourned rested themselues in this castle eight daies wheras y e olde knight Marmariton did make much of them and gaue vnto the Ladyes all things that was necessarie for to apparel themselues and likewise verie faire Palfraies also he did desire the Prince to take one of his sonnes to serue him that he might learne of him his good manners and accustomed conditions which were passing aboue all other the Prince did accept the offer with a verie good will his sonnes name was Fidelio whose doings were conformable and agréeable therevnto in all fidelitie and truth he had a verie good countenaunce and modest disposition verie gentle of spéech and when they saw that it was time to depart for Nabatea verie much against y e will of Marmariton they tooke their leaue and went the way towards Nabatea and what happened to them in the said iourney shall bée declared vnto you in the next Chapter following ¶ How Claridiano and his companie went vnto the triumph of Nabatea and of all that happened vnto them in the way Cap. 11. THE valiant and heroicall Prince after that he had taken leaue of the knight of y e castle w t all his companie they departed their way toward the citie of Nabatea for to sée y e great feasts and triumphs for that Claridiano had a great desire to finde himselfe therein So they trauailed through a narow and straight waye which brought them into a broad common beaten way which led them straight vnto one of the gates of the citie wherin much people many knightes trauailed and they thus trauailing sawe come forth of a narowe waye which entered into that broad way a company of Knights to the number of twentie who were all armed with very faire and riâ—che armour and in their company came a Ladye somewhat in yeares and with her a verie faire Damosell and very well apparailed who brought with them sixe Gentlewomen to beare them companye who were all apparailed in purple veluet all to be spotted with these two letters F.F. all of golde which did show and shine meruailous faire it did appeare that this ancient Ladie was Lady mistres ouer all y e companie it was true for that she was the Dutches of the valley and the Damsell was her daughter who went to the feasts and triumphs in companie of those knights and amongst them there was one a verie young man who was Earle of the Lake who was verie desirous to shew his valiantnesse this young knight was verie much in loue with y e young damsell that came in their companie his desire was to enter into the citie of Nabatea with only foure knights who pretended and beléeued to do such feats of armes y t the young Ladie should haue great reason to requite him his loue Don Claridiano when he saw theÌ„ so wel apparelled proportioned he put himselfe apart to giue them way y t they might passe by but yet he could not doo it so secretly but y t he must néeds be séene of y â— other for y e Claridiano was well proportioned armed with purple armor hauing also in his company two faire ladies all y e other coÌ„pany did much behold him meruailing much who it shuld be the like did the Dutchesse and her daughter And when they were all past by the prince Claridiano turned vnto his former iourney it was not long after that there came a Damsell towards him with as great hast as euer she could make her palfraie to goe and when she came nigh vnto him she did salute him verie curteously saying Knight of the Ladyes Don Petildo Earle of the déepe Lake doth send me vnto thée to aske thée what was the occasion that thou diddest apart thy selfe out of the waie considering they were men which did passe by whether thou diddest it for that thou wouldest not iust with them he sayth y t thou maist goe whether thy pleasure is neuerthelesse if that there be in thée so much valour as doth appeare by thy disposition he would be verie glad to breake a speare with thée in the seruice of his Ladie To whom the Prince sayd Fayre Damsell and friend I woulde be verie gladde to satisfie this his request if that I did finde my selfe subiect to loue as it doth appeare that he is therefore tell vnto this knight that I haue no will to iust neyther to be in loue Then the Damosell sayd I doe well beléeue that it is more thy will to take thy ease and rest then to take anie paines and this is y e cause that thou wilt be cléere from amorous delights and so she returned with this aunswere and when she hadde tolde them ther was a great laughter amongst them in mocking of Claridiano determined amongst themselues to send the damosell backe againe to tell him for that he was not determined to iust in the seruice of his Ladyes y t he would iust with one of those knights for y â— it doth touch much the order of knighthoode and is also his dutie with condition that if he be ouerthrowen onely to loose his armour for that it séemeth vnto vs to be verie good if y e other be ouercome likewise to loose his armour when the damsel had declared her message Claridiano answered Faire damsel tel those knights y t I am not determined to iust neither with condition nor without for if I shuld loose my armor I shuld not so quickly get other if they haue such a desire to iust in Nabatea they shal find them y t will accomplish their desire by iustice Cursed be these thy excuses sayd the damsell which are so much to thy dishonor how ill is y e rich armour bestowed on thée it is not without cause I perceiue that they are so whole vppon thy bodie for thou doest shew that thy warre is more with wordes then with armes and feates of knighthood Let it be what it will be sayd Claridiano for I will not meddle in this iust Well adew knight of small reputation said the Damsell happie be those Ladies that doth trauaile with such a kéeper and defender and therewith she returned backe to
At this time the battaile began a new to be very terrible increasing double their fury and likewise augmenting their blowes in such sort that with the least blow that was stroken it séemed to haue cut the other all to péeces which made all them that did behold the battaile very much to meruaile At this time there appeared to come foorth out of the Forrest a Knight all armed in white armor edged and wrought about with an excellent worke of fine golde his healme on his head and his shield at his necke and gyrte with a veryâ— ritch sword and of so gentle a disposition that ther was none equall vnto him and séeing the battaile betwixte the two Knights he did stand and behold them and straight waies he knew the Emperour but he could not iudge who y e other should be but greatly meruailed at their strength and with the great desire he had to know who it was he demaunded of an old Knight that stood by him the occasion of their controuersie and who the Knights were The olde Knight for that he seemed to be a Knighte of high estate sayde The name of one of them I can tell thée the which is the knight with the straunge and rich armour who is the excellent and mightie Emperour Alphebo of Trapisond but the Knight with the Sunne héere is not one that doth know him This Knight began the controuersie first with certaine knights of Grecia who killing of some of them and other some verye sore wounded and following other two which ranne away the Emperour put himself before him for to know the occasion of his great furye and that Knight did aunswere him with great pride and arrogancie which was the occasion of this their controuersie and it is more then sixe houres since they haue bene martring one anothers flesh without all pitie and this is all which I can tell you of that which you haue demaunded of me The Knight with the white armor was very much amazed when he knew that the controuersie indured so long and could not iudge who it should be of so great power and strength that was able to resist the fury of the mightie Alphebo In all this time these two valiant warriours were not idle but still their battaile went forwards in such sort that either of them did doubt of the victorye finding their aduersarie so mightie and strong So in this extremitie they indured more then sixe houres not resting one moment but still plagning the due the other making of their bodies euen Anfields which continually are beaten on with hammers and as the trauaile was great and could not be chosen but that they must 〈…〉 be weary and show some kinde of faintnesse vpon a sodaine both at one time did withdrawe themselues to take some rest either of them very much meruailing at the great power and strength of his aduersarie This inuincible Emperour could not by any meanes iudge who the Knight should be that had brought him into that extremitie for vntill that daye was there neuer knight that euer before that time did the like and being full of yre wrath he sayd What is now become of thée Alphebo Where is now thy great valour that hath bene so much spoken of in all the worlâ— What is become of thy surmounted strength wherewith thou didsâ— quaile the power of Lindaraza and that with which thou didst breake those inchaunted helmes What is become of thy terrible yre wherewith thou diddest subdue mountaines newe in sunder Diamond armour and brought all thing vnder thy subiection nowe I sée that all is forgotten and nothing worth for that one alone knight and a Pagan hath brought thée inâ—o this extremitie O holy God to thée I inuocate and desire thée to helpe me doe not permit that my fame be robbed and taken away by a Pagan and an enemie vnto our Christian lawe These and such like reasons pronounced this â—holarick Mars and neither more nor lesse the mightie and strong Prince casting vp his eyes and looking vnto the heuens and reprehending his Gods he said Why are you so contrary vnto me for that as yet I neuer had victorie but it hath bene by the strength of mine owne armes What recompence haue I receiued for all y t I haue done as yet I neuer had any fauour at your hands for my owne power hethertoo hath bene valuable vnto me and not yours for that I do beléeue is nothing as it doth appeare very plainly in the little fauour that you shew me against this furious Christian. What are you angrie that I am come into this Countrey and are anie of you come downe to take reuengement of me therefore Well séeing it is so let it be Iupiter or Mars or whosoeuer it be of you be it a God or a Diuell first before I receiue the death I will make you to call for aide of all the rest of the Gods and if it be a diuel to call likewie for aide of the rest of the diuells And without any more tarrying he retourned againe vnto the battailâ— the like did the Emperour made their assault with so great furie that they onelyâ—punc which did behold them were not a little amazed but also the heauen and earth did meruaile at their force the Eccho was weary in answering of their terrible blowes so that there was almost no hope of remedy in their controuersie for that each one feared his aduersarie there was not anie aduauntage of either part This conflict continued so long betwéene them that they were almost out of breath at y e time bath together they lyfted vp theyr HerculiaÌ„ armes hauing them aloft they ioyned together w t such fury that their horses met and stroke their heads the one against the other in such sort that although they were both good yet they fell downe to the ground with their Knights but they were not so soone fallen as they wer straight on foote again without receiuing any harme and there began betwixt them a new contention There was shewed the greate lyghtnesse of the Prince and likewise that of the Emperour was apparant in that either of them did so valiauntly defend himselfe from his contrarie although at that time their strong armes were more gouerned with ire and wrath then with pollicie or experience which was the occasion that the battaile was the more perillous terrible This mightie Alphebo thought much that in the presence of the Emperour his Father the battaile shuld so long indure and that with one alone knight and not béeing his brother The like did the Prince consider of that by reason that the great reuerence and respect that the people had he knew that there shuld be present the Emperour of Grecia who tooke him for his graundfather as the furie of Merlin had tolde him All these considerations dyd cause betwixt the two warriours the more wrath yet for all that they which did beholde them could iudge no
aduantage of either part at the which they greatly meruailed but in especially aboue all the rest the king of Sardenia was most amazed who from the beginning of their controuersie was beholding of them and sawe in what great perill and daunger both of them were and the great resistaunce which the vnknowen knight made against the Emperour Alphebo wherfore he returned vnto the Emperour of Grecia and with a light voice he sayd O holy God is it possible that this knight doth resist so long against him that a Porter of hell within a rocke hidden could not make his defence against The Emperour of Grecia would haue made him aunswere but that he was disturbed by a mightie and terrible blowe which hée sawe giuen his sonne vpon his healme that it made him to boowe both his knées to the grounde and by reason that the sword did lay no holde on the hard stéele it descended downe vppon his left shoulder and cutting a sunder all the buckles and lacing of his healme he made it to flie from his head discouering that fayre and magnanimous countenaunce adorned with great maiestie The Knight when he sawe him in that sort would haue stroke him againe but yet this warlyke Mars although he sawe himselfe in that great perplexitie hee wanted nothing of the accustomed courage which he was vsed to haue at other times in such like necessities but with a light leape he cléered himselfe from that blowe and 〈◊〉 his contrarie another with so great furie that hée 〈…〉 and put one of his hands to the ground to stay 〈◊〉 that he might not fall and with an incredible 〈…〉 holde on his healme pulled at it with so 〈…〉 he pulled it from his head and did discouer 〈…〉 and faire face so that all they who did 〈…〉 to he the verie â—igure of the 〈…〉 This valiant young knight séeing 〈…〉 vnto the Emperour caught 〈…〉 like did the Emperour vnto him 〈…〉 a dangerous pâ—rilious wrastling 〈…〉 vppon a sodaine all the heauen 〈…〉 and thick clowde which fel 〈…〉 for a space that they 〈…〉 but it â—â—â—ished 〈…〉 who before were 〈…〉 now put a part the one from the 〈…〉 betwixt theÌ„ was there an old◠〈…〉 stature and gentle dispositiost adorned with garâ—ents of great estate the which were wrought with 〈…〉 and pearle that neuer Emperour nor king had 〈…〉 and vpon his head he had a crowne of golde of such meruailous maâ—â—ing that no humane tongue is able to declare the riches thereof and on the one side of him there was a mightie Gyant adorned in the same manner guise And Claridiano did straight waies knowe them who knéeling downe before them he sayd Excellent king Delfo my Lord what sodain comming is this in leauing your maiesties kingdome The king went towards him with his armes abroad and sayd Ah my sonne wherefore should my comming be but to recreate and reioyce my selfe in séeing of thée and to disturbe this cruell battaile that thou hast with him whom thou oughtest to honour and reuerence as it is thy duetie Then Galtenor did cause them to holde their peâ—ce for that with a lâ—â—de voyce he beganne to speake vnto the Emperour Trebatio and sayd Soueraigne Emperour long time past without anye knowledge vnto thée I came into thy Empire and my comming was the occasion of great heauinesse and sorrowe vnto the Empresse Claridiana whome I doe sée there armed with that white armour The Emperour when he heard that wold not staie anie more reasonings but went towardes her who pulling off her healme likewise came towards him to kisse his handes so there the one imbraced and receiued the other with great loue The king Galtenor did cut of theyr talke and addressed his wordes vnto the Empresse Claridiana and sayde Soueraigne Ladie do you remember when that you did contemplate your selfe vpon the beautie of your children which you wer deliuered off begotten by the Emperour Alphebo at which time a wall did open whereat did enter a Serpent who at two mouthfulls did burie them in his bowells You shall vnderstand Empresse and Ladie that I was the Serpent being compelled and constrained by greate necessitie of the strong arme of your mightie sonne to doe that which at that time I did and I did bring them vp in the maiestie as vnto such persons was necessarie and dutifull In the end of sixe yeares when I determined to make an ende of my iourney resting our selues by the riuers side of Euphrates I lost the maiden childe wher all the time past vnto this present she hath bene publishing abroade her extreame beautie till such time as the valour of her brother did bring her from thence who is the same that is talking with y e king Delfo of Trapobana and knowe this of a certaintie Ladie that it is thy sonne Claridiano of the Speare Thou diddest giue him that name by reason of a Speare that he hath on his breast from his birth and that faire Pastora whoÌ„ you do sée there is your proper daughter and I am he that did rob and take them from you and héere I doe make restitution of them againe so that I do deserue pardon of all the sorrow and griefe which I haue béene the occasion of onely with this present which I do present you withall And likewise of you Emperour of Trabisond I doe desire the same pardon and ioyntly therewith to forget the anger that you haue against your owne sonne Great was the ioy contentment of the Empresse being almost beside her selfe to sée that she had recouered her two children which she thought had bene lost long agoe and going to imbrace Claridiano she found him vpon his knées asking pardon of his Father of all that before had passed What shall I heere saie of the good Trebatio who when he knew that the Pastora was his nephew that his desire was of a daughter and neuer had anie with his armes al abroad he went vnto her who vnderstanding their communication did alight from her Palfraie at which time the Emperour came and tooke her in his armes almost wéeping for ioy and with verye amorous wordes he did imbrace her receiued so great contentment of their recouerie as euer he did in all his life for anie thing ¶ How the Emperour did verie much reioyce himselfe with his nephewes but in especiall with the Pastora of the great tempest which came vpon them at supper time and of all that happened afterward Chap. 30. WIth this great ioy and pleasure which I haue tolde you they retourned vnto Constantinople the Emperour Trebatio carried with him the Pastora and wold not one moment a part himselfe from her and the Empresse went talking with Claridiano The Emperour Alphebo was not a little ioyfull who went in the companie of the king Delfo and Galtenor went beside the Empresse who knewe not howe to giue him sufficient thankes for his comming And at that instaunt béeing all present they alighted at the