willing to defend the truth whereof my owne heart onelye can beare witnesse another altogither ignorant thereof shoulde in my cause indaunger his swéete life Touching which I cannot sée nor yet conceiue on what foundation you shoulde builde your rash decrée to suffer the accusation of the Duke and the Princesse your Daughter who in no respect could bee partakers nor councellours in what is past For if I slewe Don Galfeo I did it because hee treacherously woulde haue doone the like by mée that was then altogither suspicionlesse of any such treason which fact made mee after verifie my suspicion séeing in what perill of theyr liues Don Galfeo indaungered my companions in the Turney that forced mee to shedde his bloud as hee woulde haue doone theyrs Of which action I should then rather haue hoped for a more larger guerdon for this good déede then nowe to procure newe Combattes For it were high dishonour to your high name that such as hee inuried to treasons treacheries and villanies shoulde be accounted the sonne of so great a Monarch Hauing not only vsed such as loue practises against strangers as the Emperour Don Bellaneo but also against his owne fréends Wherefore you maye most certainlye beléeue my selfe béeing nowe informed of the truth I haue vnderstoode that hee leâ—t all his Knights in the same fight whereby they were all â—laine whilest hee most cowardlye fledde with his Coozin Don Galfeo And moreouer hee was a Traytour against your selfe and dignitie in thus perswading you that the Emperour was dead or by him mortally wounded that hee coulde by no meanes escape death whom at this present both liueth and is in perfect health whereof fearing to be accused by me and my companions that were hereof assured by a certaine aduenture he procured our deathes mine in the Dukes Pallace by Don Galfeo while he so did of my companions in the Turnyes where if he receiued his condigne deserts through so pittilesse death his be the losse wherefore since there is none can better bear testimonie of this troath then my selfe not onely against the Knights heere present accusing me but also against all those which shall challenge me hereof I will tenne daies hence answere it them in fielde and approoue it on their steele plumed burgonetâ—es neyther will I héereupon whatsoeuer may befall me denie them the Combat wherein I will make them knowe the great trecheries which they would haue vsed against me And when you shuld refuse to doo me this iustice assure your selfe I am a man able more stricktly to require it at your hands For the eternall powers of the heauenly and earthly orbes haue not infused so litle courage in my vncoloured heart that any feare but theirs should daunt my minde where he ended his spéech not able to procéede any further The Souldane all this while stoode gazing on him with great admiratioÌ„ in his doubtful brest reuoluing many things saying to himselfe that his like for courage he neuer heard of and greatly woondred who he shuld be that in such open terms durst presume to defie him to his face and in his owne land But as a man not able to restraine the reignes of his passion wanting the chéefest thing well and iustly to iudge of matters shaped him this vnbeséeming answere holding the King of Cyrus by the hande that willingly woulde haue first replyed Thinke not Knight of the golden Image that in what is done you haue receiued any dishonour For it is not lawfull you should enter Combat in your proper cause For were it good or bad you would howsoeuer it might happen procure the good successe of your pretencion for I am perswaded you fight by inchantment séeing the knights of the vnhappy bridge were not able to indaunger you And therefore is it reason none be admitted in battell against you and concerning the rest of your threats you shal doo what you may if the time wil permit you For in vaine the Gods haue made me Arch-ruler ouer so many territories if I should not accomplish the vtmost of my will In which season I will haue you remaine in my Pallace vntill the good or bad successe of the Combat be by triall knowne that according thereunto my pleasure may be fulfilled to the full But the King of Cyprus being very big swolen with such extreame pride that he was readie to burst said to Don Bellianis with so hideous voice as he would swallowe him downe aliue Great is thy desperate madnesse Knight of the Golden Image that I know not where thou shouldest be borne For with my onely sight I was woont to terrifie others both mightier and in courage hardier then thou And now thinkest thou to escape vnpunished I assure thée that if the end of the battel consisted in nought else but with the first encounter of my Launce to bring thée to such extremitie that thou neuer shouldest be more able to enter any other fight whereby also wee should after eschew the Souldanes iudgement in this case thou shouldest thereunto be admitted But because thou being conuicted with the treasons thou hast committed hée determineth otherwise to chastice thy insolencie and so hath suspended thée from the battell I haue no great néede to attempt it replied Don Bellianis for I am sure thou shalt hauâ— to doo with such Knights that when the Combatte is ended it shall bâ—e publicklye seene that I am not of condition lyke thy treacherous Cozins But I desired with my owne person to rid thée of the great doubt that thou art in And after to require account of the outrage thou offeredst to two damzels of my companie vppon whom thou didest shewe part of thy Consanguinitie with the Traytor Don Gallaneo All this Don Bellianis vttered the more to inrage the inraged Gyant to make him accept the combatte with him though hee néeded not to spurre a forwarde horse For hée was impatient to sée himselfe vpbrayded with such opprobrious tauntes in presence of that royall assembly but hee had as is afore mentioned promised the Soldan to the contrarie who fearing they should attempt more then wordes said to Don Bellianis Héereon knight talke no more for what is decreed shalbe executed Bée it as you haue said answered hée but by the way remember the greate iniustice you offer mée The furious Soldan would not answere him but by his commaundement hée was committed to a strange Tower and most surely guarded leauing with him the Damzels of the Princesse Florisbella to cure his woundes Arfileo Don Bryanell fearing by their spéeches to adde fewell to the kindled fyer said nothing but desiring the day of combatte were come returned to their lodgings sending straight wayes for the knights they before had sent to the wood whose helpe did afterwardes greatly auayle them The Soldan remained in his pallace very glad thinking to execute both the Duke and the knight of the golden Image and likewise quieted the king of Cyprus that much importuned him to
not farre from thence that reached to another lodging of the same making that don Bellianis was in so curiously wrought and of so rare woorkmanshippe that the Ladyes greatly admired it and entering in another roome they founde the Prince Don Bryanell walking alone alreadie healed of his woundes yet hauing lost much bloud hee looked verie pale and wanne for the sage Matron greatly commiserating his daunger prouiuided as heretofore is specified For when shee went to cure the Emperour shee made one of her Damsels to enter another way vnséeue and fetching him thence brought him thither in a traunce and for all he was healed with the drinke that Bellona gaue him yet knewe hee not in what place nor in whose power hee was neither knewe hee whether he was in prison or at libertie nor in what state the battell remained in which hee lost the Emperour and séeing his woundes whole was in such a wonder that almost hee perswaded himselfe waking out of a dreame and séeing no bodye with whome hee might speake walked vp and downe the Chamber séeking and deuising howe by some meanes he might resolue his confused thoughts and when he sawe the Princesse Aurora and her Damsels with the olde woman leading her by the hande hee straight knewe her garments for as is sayde hee sawe her before hee and Arfileo hadde begunne theyr Combatte with whose sight hee thought that hee and the Emperour were imprisoned by the knights with whom they had commenced their battell and yet knew he not how that might be hauing after séene them ayded by the Emperour against Don Gallaneos knights but seeing them so nigh him thought that though hee were in the prison as he imagined yet ought he vse that behauiour that his state required and séeing they were Ladyes approached with that courtesie which might beséeme one accompanied with such knights And she hauing learned of the olde woman who he was humbled hir selfe at his féete which he vnable to disturbe did the like desiring her to graunt him her faire handes that he might kisse them but they so long striued to surpasse each other in courtesie that Bellona commanded them to rise for their state forbad such ceremonies betwéene them which they did though not so frée as at first for they rested greatly affectionate either of other and don Bryanell at last thus brake silence I do so wonder at the maruellous things y t since yesterday haue happened me that I know not if any such haue bin or no for being with the Emperour my soueraigne in battell wherein I remained sore wounded and not knowing the ende thereof I find my selfe at this present well and strong and in this rich and sumptuous chamber with whose like the whole world cannot cōpare nor yet knew whether I be at libertie or captiue though vnder y e power of such kéepers I shuld imagine such restraint a greater comfort to my greefe then any I can desire Wherefore excellent Ladie I intreate you if you bee in the same case my selfe am in as one that I suppose was present at all that befell you would declare it me and that I may also with your fauour knowe the true successe of the battell and what is become of those most haughtie knights that accompanied you whose mighty strength I am sure the whole earth cannot equall and for what cause am I here kept whether with or without your will Whilst he vttered these words the Princesse earnestly viewed him and remained so greatly satisfied with his good disposition being a verie gallant knight and séeing reason willed her to answere all his demaunds thus replyed Not without cause may you be confounded in your own imaginations excellent Prince for I assure you if now you enioy your life it is by your being héere and though the battell was fought nigh Constantinople at this instant you are not so neare it as to the Ryphean mountaines ioyning vppon the great Cittie of Persepolis for all which you may thanke this graue Matron that here is with me seeing by her great knowledge you hither were conducted The knights with whom you in the beginning combatted and came in my companie are the Prince Arfileo that with you fought the other whose battell was with the Emperour is his sonne Don Bellianis Is it possible oh God sayd Don Bryanell that den Bellianis should with such glorie principate his haughtie deeds of Chiualrie Account these the least sayde Bellona for I tell you neither the Emperour his father nor any knight this day liuing may with him compare Certainely I thinke no lesse replied don Bryanell and more then you say dare I beleeue of that couragious Prince hauing séene him performe such surpassing wonders in that one fight But I beséech you let me know the ende thereof and how the Emperour and hee do The Emperour is well sayd she and the Princes both be in this house where you are though sore wounded Now I assure you answered don Bryanell I account my selfe most happie that after so many troubles I heare the most contentedst newes that my perplexed soule could wish after the tempestous passage of a boysterous storme with the calme approach of the al-comforting sunne Wherfore lette vs without longer stay go visit them and there may I knowe what else happened in this aduenture Euen when you please sayde Bellona for I know they will no lesse ioy with your sight then you with theirs So taking him betweene them they returned the way they came to the chamber where they left the Princes and entering it they found them talking togither of their last aduenture But when the Princes saw don Bryanell they would rise to reuerence him but hee running to don Bellianis beds side bended his knee to the grounde crauing he might kisse his hands The Prince tooke him vp and imbracing so held him a while and said I do greatly reioyce renowmed Prince to sée you so well though according to your great déedes in the battell whereby you got many dangerous wounds I thought we should not so soone sée you For which let vs thanke this Lady that with you comes seeing she tooke such care of our safetie which with all our states we cannot sufficiently recompence hauing next vnto God by her meanes recouered our lost times Therefore I thinke it reason said Don Bryanell séeing she is the instrumentall cause wee reposesse them we in her seruice to the death vse them that at least thereby we may seeme to satisfie some part of her many deserts and so do intreat her to commaund them as her owne Whereunto she thus answered It sufficeth me great Lords to haue done some seruice to such Princes which doth surpasse all satisfaction whatsoeuer I may of you receiue how much the more that will not be so little which you must vndertake in behalfe of this disinherited Princesse my Coozin wherewith this resteth fully recompenced which they againe replied with great courtesie and then Don Bryanell went to Arfileo
and imbracing him said We now haue time noble Prince to know the cause that mooued you without my leaue to enter within this place I am not so wearie of the last demaunde replied hee but that I may satisfie you now in this though your selfe be well and séeing that the last aduenture cost so deare it were no reason to leaue you in this vnsatisfied In these and such like spéeches continued they till supper time which come they all did eate togither because of the wounded Princes Héere they stayed fiftéene dayes till the Princes were well able to trauaile in which time and daye Bellona taking don Bellianis a part she said vnto him walking through those roomes I doo well knowe most excellent Prince and so iudge my selfe altogither vnwoorthy and it not necessarye to giue you counsaile concerning your most great actions Yet because you are a stranger in an vnknowne countrey and in a place where euerie one would wish your downfall with extreamest death and so many néedsome aduertisements I presume to tell you that though faithfully in heart and with good reason you obserue and vnfainedly keepe the lawe and religion of your profession yet must you conceale it and by no meanes manifest it for if in the least respect you doo it may cost you your dearest life And moreouer after that by the vertue of your inuincible arme you haue safely established the Princesse Aurora in her vsurped royaltyes you must procure and endeuour to arriue at the Soldane of Babilons Court where you must sustaine your neuer fainting heart with your accustomed courage for you shall there see your selfe in so many great perils that you shall a thousand times wish for death as a remedie for them But heereof take no thought for they are things ordained by the supremest powers yet alwayes beare on your sheeld the same deuise that you nowe haue though for her sake you shall be putte in great and suffer many and tedious passions yet shall you bee thereby knowne and your immortall fame blazed ouer the whole earths continent which you shall still weare till I aduertise you to the contrarie Wherewith she ended and the Prince thus replyed I will not render to you such thanks as this care and great courtesies deserue for euerie thing I possesse beeing at your commaund it is reason you guard and protect them as your owne Herewith they returned to theyr companie and don Brianell hauing séene them both together said I would not haue you be so long together neither that you should learn any thing wherby you might further excell vs in fight which if it be so it were no reason that I whose merites bee so inferiour to yours should learne them You may well doo it replied don Bellianis hauing in the last conflict reaped the profite fearelesse of any thing that might haue happened vnto vs. In all things you will seeme to yeelde vnto mee the vantage answered Don Bryanell though there be nothing in me that may any way please you or the Prince Arfileo since as you shewe you would haue mée hadde that carefull feare of you as well not knowing as knowing you yet doo not I knowe why I should feare you beeing accompanied with the diuine beautie of this most fayre and excellent Princesse You doo well to iest with vs all replyed shee yet is it no matter since your words expresse what small parte I haue thereof hauing beene vnable to expell the doubt you had of the Princes being here Don Bryanell beeing of nature pleasant and courteous kept them in pleasing chat the rest of the time of theyr beeing there which was some eight dayes which expired they béeing desirous to depart thence hadde an armour presented to each of them by Bellona the richest and fayrest that euer was seene That which Don Bellianis had was of a tawny colour with such naturall workes imbossed with pearles so bright that they yeelded as much light as tenne burning Torches in any darke place but cheefely the shéelde hauing the verie selfe same image it hadde before which was drawne with such perfection and curiositie of arte that if they had euer séene the substance they woulde haue iudged it the counterfeit or portrature of Florisbella the Soldane of Babilons Daughter which although the Princesse Aurora knewe yet sayde nothing imagining the wise woman had not without speciall cause set it there About it was written the aforesaide Motto so perfectly made with great Orient pearle that it forced admiration in each beholder Hee had also a scabbard giuen him for his sword made of massie gold with letters drawne thereon declaring the manner of the winning thereof Arfileos were like them hee hadde in the caue and Don Brianels were of diuers colours whose workmanship was woorth a great treasurie Did not I say I should in all things haue the aduantage that for a white armor of no value which I did weare in the battell haue giuen mee now so rich and faire It is not giuen you as a gift for your olde saide Arfileo but that you should pay for them Use not the office of a Marchant replied Don Brianell for who hath giuen me my armour vseth not to sell any If it be so sayd Arfile how payed you that which you weare Striue not about so small matter saide Don Bellianis for I will pay for all hauing greatest cause for it Then straight were they with them armed and taking leaue of the sage Matrone she sayd You will by the way néed Pages to attend on you therefore will I giue you thrée of mine and so presented them thrée dwarffes so little that they greatly delighted to sée their smalnesse specially that of Don Bellianis whose shortnesse reached not to the others middle though they were wonderfull lowe Where inhabite and are ingendred such gentle people as these sayd Don Brianell I should long remaine among them if I should stay there to be accounted nothing as euerie one of them is else where You shall not bée accounted nothing saide Don Bellianis dwarffe called Ordino for they would al so persecute you that séeing your bignesse to theirs they would wanting ground tread on you in steade of it That were woorse then the other replied Don Brianell But least we further procéede in talke it were good we set forwarde in our iourney Wherewith with most kinde courtesie taking their farewell of the Ladie of the Caue set forth of the same And béeing without hée seeing the Princesse and Ladies all cloathed in most rich cloath of Golde sayd with great laughter Let vs sirs make more haste for the destruction that these Damzels haue made will cause some vnséene wanderer demaund it at our handes But all that is left is yours said the Princesse therefore feare not If it bée so replied he I haue no lesse right to that which you carrie therefore were it not amisse you giue it mee The Prince Don Bellianis will not not suffer it answered shée hée being
that on the earth doe breath all brothers Which in one battell that the Souldan had against the Souldan of Babylon performed in it such haughtie deedes that by their proper valour the victorie was obtained which got them such honour that till this day they are reputed the stroÌ„gest knights that may be found Wheruppon the Sophy to honour them bad them demand what they would and hée would graunt it They answered they would haue nothing but this Castle the Bridge that no Knights might go that way vnlesse hée should leaue his armour and horse or ouercomming them all in fight passe by The Sophy granted it with a great liuing be sides to mantaine their states So they béeing come to this bridge haue brought with them two mightie and strong Gyants whose fiercenesse no hundreth Knights dare abide in combate together And haue aboue thrée yeares defended this passage and not any knight hithertoo hath vanquished them For though they bee strong and valiant yet in their combate doe not procéede like good knights For if it happeneth that any knight vnhorseth any of them hee must Joust with the others till hee ouerthrowe them all but if hee bee by any blowe himselfe ouerturned he straight looseth his armes Or if hee should vnhorse them all hee must after combate with all six together beeing the vnreasonablest thing that euer was heard of And this is the cause why this bridge and way is no more vsed by reason of the mishappes that there befalls to wandring knights and therefore is called the Vnhappie bridge The Princes greatly wondred at this aduenture yet hauing greate desire to prooue it don Bellianis thus said Truely most honoured Lord wee neuer heard of the like aduenture but if so it please you we will trye the fauours of blinde Fortune therin So will it bee rather iudged madnesse then valour replyed the Duke For it lyeth not within the compasse of one mans strength to vanquish them For the least of them is able to withstand the famous Emperour of Constantinople that is the knight most feared in these partes whose sole name makes the Souldan himselfe tremble when hee heares it and also dares oppose and confronte the strength of our Prince that is no lesse famoused then hee Wherefore if you thinke good let vs leaue this way for I perceiue some of our company doe sée it will bee a perpetuall blotte to our names replyed Don Bellianis if through feare wee should not aduenture our persons héerein Therefore commaunde them to stay for I will not hence leauing this vnattempted While they were thus talking they saw on the other side of the bridge a greate number of Knights Ladies cloathed in triumphant robes that were comming thither to sporte themselues What faire assembly is yonder demaunded Don Bellianis It may bee said the Duke it is the Sophy and his daughter the Princesse Persiana that come to sée if there arriue any aduenturer to the bridge Although our falles were but to make them sporte said Don Bellianis wee will trye our fortunes Doe as you will said the Duke though more willinglye I would take another way Thereuppon they straight went towardes the bridge commandiâ—g all their knights to doe the like while they prooued the aduenture of the Castle which they did yet not with any good will The Prince Arfileo intreated don Bellianis to graunt him the first battell I will in no wise doe it said hée but because Don Gallaneo is yonder put on an vpper coate ouer your armour leste you bee knowne I will replyed hee but you must graunt mee this first combate In reason it longes to mée answered Don Bellianis séeing in this iourney I am the Conducter of these Ladies Wee haue said Arfileo as long accompanied them therefore shall you not so excuse your selfe Then let the battell bée his said don Brianell whom the Princesse shall command Striue not so about it said the Duke for you shall haue all ynough to doe Now I iudge saide the Princesse séeing Don Brianell by my sentence demaundeth the iouste that the first bée his and next your and the last bée his that would bé first being reason that his strength bee best tryed when the others faile Don Brianell gréeued much because hee should be laste but seeing it could no otherwise bée dissembled it and stepping to the Duke said I beleeue we shall haue the bridge freer then I thought The Duke smilde as one that supposed their labour should be but in vaine And at length arriuing at the bridge don Brianell began to be foremoste séeing on the other side all the coÌ„panye come also thither And stepping thereon a Knight armed in an armour of diuers colours mounted on a mightye horse approaching nigh him said What madnesse hath posseste this Knight to secke a passage ouer this bridge by me defended With mightier force was Hell defended aunswered hee yet the vniuersall Sauiour of the world did ouercome it In whose name I comming it will bee no greate matter for mee to abate thy swelling pride By thy speech replyed the Knight thou séemeâ—t a Christian That auayles not to our purpose saide Don Brianell therefore prepare thy selfe The Knight with great angerf thinking hee had him in little accompt turned his horse and tooke so much of the bridge as would suffice for his course while Don Brianell did the like All the men that came with the Duke and the people come from the cittie approached to see the battel and many said euery faire Horse and Armour shall the Knight giue vnto him of the bridge At which time the knights hauing turned their horses ranne one against the other and met so furiously that the Launces flewe in peeces the knight of the bridge went to the ground sorely bruzed Don Brianell so much bowed with his horse that hee had almost done the like but seeing what companye beheld him raised himselfe with great courage considering it was the first thing that y e Princesse had commanded him A great murmure arose among the beholders for they neuer had seene any of the Brethren leaue the saddle before Whereuppon the other three Knights the two Gyants beeing armed yssued all mounted on great and lustie horses who when they sawe their brother on the ground one of them made towardes Don Brianell that alreadie had tooke a Launce from his Dwarffe The Princesse Persiana that was she on the other side of the bridge and Don Gallaneo already called her Spouse with y e Sophy his father in law said to don Gallaneo I haue not séene gallanter knights then those on the further side especially you foure poynting to the two Princes the Duke and hée that Jousted on the bridge and greatly doe desire to knowe who they bee It is no other then the Duke Alfiron replyed don Gallaneo for I heard he slept not farre hence this last night The Princesse Persiana hearing the Duke named fetched a deepe sigh as one that loued
you So haue you got your armor which you had lost answered Arfileo for which you are beholding to the knight of the golden Image I haue no reason to thank him for it replyed hee for he did it more to keepe his owne that are so excellent then because I should not loose mine Then were it good said don Bellianis since you wil not thanke me for them that you restore them backe to me We shall not so soone ende this quarrell as you did the other replied Don Bryanell for the knights looking for yours would to haue them willingly let me haue mine Let this passe saide Don Gallaneo for had you lost these your gallant dispositions you would haue gotten others In this manner at length they arriued at the Cittie euen at the dayes departing giuing place vnto the mighty glistering stars twinckling in the firmament where they founde the people attending for their comming with lights and torches who in troupes filled vp the stréetes that they had no way to passe for the newes being spread that one knight had vanquished the keepers of the vnhappie Bridge they all flocked to sée him as a wonder demaunding one of another which was hée neuer inough satisfied with his sight that all this while talked with Don Gallaneo till they all came to the pallace gate where they alighted The beatious Persiana was dismoūted by don Bellianis that said to don Brianell I haue at this time Sir aduenturous knight deceiued you of the reward of your labour hauing on foote obtayned more thē you in all this iourney You are all against me replyed hee but I may haue a time to crye quittance with you for it Don Gallaneo taking the Princesse Aurora in his armes they all entred the royall Hall whence all their companye departed The Souldan importuned the three knights to stay within the pallace which hee could not obtaine For they answered they would in no wise leaue the Duke till the triumphes were ended so said the Princesse Aurora that neuer woulde disassociate her knights so with leaue of the Souldan and his daughter they also departed Well did don Bellianis note when they were taking their leaue how the Duke Alfiron shewed no good will towardes Gallaneo wherefore hee was desirous to bee certified therof and beeing come to the Dukes Pallace that was one of the best and greatest in the citie Don Bellianis would not stay for supper but finding himselfe weake through the much bloode hee had lost cast himselfe on a bed that was made for him where his damzels did againe dresse his woundes whyle the Duke and the rest satte to supper where they were so well serued as they had beene in Constantinople and after went to visit Don Bellianis whence departing they went to repose their wearied bodies CHAP. XIIII The conference betweene the Princesse Persiana and the Duke Alfyron with the knight of the golden image THe next morning scarce had the sonne mounted on his fierie wayne to make his orbed course about the world but the Duke Alfyron went to visit the Knight of the Golden image for by no other name would hee bee knowne to them vnlesse it were to the Princesse and ladies and entring his chamber he found him rising though his wounds were great The Duke with a kinde congye gaue him the goodmorrow and said Trouble not your self to ryse sir knight for your wounds may put you in great pain Thinking you went to the tourney aunswered the Prince I would make me readie What shall wee doo there to daye replyed the Duke but I beléeue if the Souldane knewe you were so weake he would come to visit you Then were it not amisse sayde the Prince that I did rise to saue him that labour With this entred the Ladies also to visit him bidding him in no case rise till they further aduised him wherewith hée lay still and so the Ladies left him with the Duke But he hauing great desire to be auenged on don Gallaneo by reason of the promise he had made his father and perceiuing the Duke had like intent and desiring to knowe it said to him Tell me sir which of all those knightes was the Prince don Gallaneo of Antioch That was he replyed the Duke that led the Princesse Aurora by the raynes of her palfray borne to rob mee of my earthly ioyes What is the cause thereof demaunded he for so great a Lorde as you shoulde easily bee reuenged on any person whatsoeuer being mooued therto That is not the thing that may remedie my gréefe said the Duke yet I pray you let me know it sayde Don Belliani◠Then thus beganne the duke I was a long time captiuated in the loue of the beatious Princesse Persiana and of her so highly fauoured that with little labour I might haue obtained her for my wife if my reuoluing fates had not opposed themselues against my happinesse◠and so declared to him the whole processe of his loue with such sorrow that Don Bellianis could not restraine his teares taking great compassion of him though glad in that this might be a meanes to effect his owne intent and thus answered De not thinke your matter so happelesse but imagine you may by some meanes attaine the Princesse Persiana to your wife I cannot perswade my selfe replied the Duke there may bée any remedie for my gréefe For to morrow after dinner the iousts beginnes and the same morning the Princesse is married to Don Gallaneo wherby I sée no hope but death for anchorage and end of all my paines or to depriue my life of my vitall senses before my eies do view it Do not so afflict your soule sayd Don Bellianis for I haue thought vpon a meane which if you agrée thereto is that to morrow we all méet at the Tourney where if Don Gallaneo thinking himselfe the best Knight within this Court doth enter there also I meane to bee in an vnknowne armour and méeting with him will disappoint him of his new betrothed loue For I haue no lesse desire then you to sende him out of the world And to the end with more secrecie wee may do it you shall giue out I am so sore wounded that I rest vnable to rise and so Don Gallaneo shall not scape my handes and your intent shalbe at full accomplished If this faile you haue such knights that with thē maugre all the court I will conduct her where you will The duke hearing this knew not where he was with ioy imbrasing him said Not without great cause renowmed knight of the golden image did I from the first houre I saw you comprize such loue of you was so suddenly affected as the man in whom might consisted the remedie of my torments although we know not fully howe wee shall accomplish it by reason at this present there is aboue fiftie thousand knights in the court that I doubt we shall not so easily scape with our liues for all I little regard my
lodge in his pallace vntill the battell were paste The King easily condiscended thereto hauing already purposed that if he remayned victor of the fight to require the Soldan to pardon his daughter and giue her him with the kingdome of Antioche as his right being next Heire to Don Gallaneo for which cause hée remained there where the Soldan greatly honored him The Prince Arfileo Don Bryanell with the Kinges Dukes and Earles returned to the Dukes Pallace to tell Don Bellianis the order taken and entring where hee was they founde him nowe somewhat better then they before had left him to whome they then declared all that had passed betwéene them and the Soldon and how the day of battell was assigned and that the Duke had in Champion for himselfe and how they had accepted the combatte no his and the Princesse Persianis name expressing also the great fiercenes of the Gyants particularly descrybing y e deformed mishapen features of the King of Cyprus protesting they had neuer seene the like Don Belhanis conceiued an extreame rage hearing that discourse how the Soldane would not permit him to the combate at such time wherein hee was reputed a traytor wherewith beeing almoste besides himselfe with vnrestrained fary saide What thinkes the Soldane this shall be suffered that hee hath ordayned and that with so greate maliciousnâ—s against the law of armes his desire shall bée fulfilled No the powers diuine will not permit it And therewithall hee rose and sat vppon his bedde and in all haste called for his cloathes The Damsels séeing him thus determined intreated him not to doe it which hee would not but in all haste made himselfe ready resisting al their requestes also the Princesse Auroras and commanding that none should accompany him saue the Princes there present that led him by the armes least hée should fall But a little after the Princesse Florisbellas Damzells followed him in which manner they went through the Cittie vntill they came vnto the Soldanes Pallace who béeing séene and knowne by the common people said one to another viewing him so fainte and weake Beholde heere the knight which ouercame the knights of the vnhappybridge and that tooke the Dukes parte in the last turney Many followed him to knowe the cause of his so going in such ill disposition who being at the Pallace gate sent the Soldane word hee was come to speake with him WheÌ„ it was so told the Sophy he was at table accompanyed with the King of Cyprus his brothers who vnderstanding hée was there commaunded hee should bee admitted to his presence Is this the Knight of the golden Image demaunded the King whom I come both to accuse and challenge for the treachery he committed by the deathes of my deare Cosins This is he replyed the Soldan and doe assure you that his peere the sunne shines not on to equall him in strength and valour That may bee saide the King mong such as himselfe and it were a blotte to my honour to make any account of 100. such as hee You wrong your selfe to thinke so answered the Soldan for if hee should enter in the fight I would not for the world assure you of the victorie and therefore I ordered what I did Now you haue told me so said the Gyant it behoues me in any wise to craue the combatte against him for if I should not doe it I am for euer dishonoured I wil haue no more wordes héereon sayde the Sophy for in dooing otherwise I should not bee reuenged on him and the Duke as I desire The king disdainfully laughed at his wordes and said If the others that in this battell shallenter were as you make him yet should my will be accompliwed But since you wil haue it otherwise I yéelde vnto you Thereon sayde the Soldane giue mee your hand and word not to accept at this time any battell against him I promised you so to doe said y e Gyant though it bée to my lasting blame CHAP. XXII What speeches passed betweene the Knight of the golden Image and the Soldan and how hee was stayed in the Pallace till the end of the battell DON Bellianis beeing before the Sophies presence shewing no kinde of dutie thinking that one of his state and pretending such a challenge shuld rather seeme sterne and fierce theÌ„ humble and milde though his weakenes through the gréenousnes of his wounds was so great that no Knight vnder the cope of heauen was able with such patience to endure half the paine y t he perforce sustained which notwithstanding with a cleare voice that he might bee heard of all the assembly dissembling his sorrowe as much as he could said I am most mightie Lord forced to come to your presence in this manner that you sée by hearing certaine things that here haue bin debated in preiudice of my honor and reputation which most excéedingly haue augmented the pain and grief of my great sicknesse for which cause I feare I shall not be able to vtter the imaginations of my pensiue hart with so great decoram and reuereÌ„ce as appertaineth to so high a personage And I protest I had not hither come but presuming on y e equalnesse of thy iustice The Soldan séeing him in such distresse coÌ„manded him ere he further procéeded to sit downe a chaire being brought him he humbling himselfe for the courtesie sat him downe being in such case that he had like a thousand times to haue sounded as he stood through y e great debilitie of his bodie But drawing strength from his neuer fainting courage séeing Filistone that fierce gazed on him resting astonished at his great monstruositie turned to the Souldane with these words If according to the iustice of my cause most mightie lord committed to the administration of those men to that ende placed by the immortall gods on this terrestriall ball promising such large guerdons in their future life of euerlasting happinesse if with equitie and right they execute the function of so high commanding powers whereunto the spacious territories of your vaste Empery bindes you you looke into this whole matter searching y e true ground therof not suffering the vnbridled passion of base parcialitie to blinde the eyes of your admiring iudgement which most often is woont to obscure and vtterly with ignominy besmeares the magnanimitie of the Noblest mindes Then I cannot but greatlye meruaile for what reasons you haue so farre procéeded in my affaires séeing my selfe indeuoured with the vtmost of my strength to shewe my prostrate seruice to your highnesse whose gentle regarde might haue bene the cause that the least reason procéeding from your royall selfe should haue contentedly satisfied mee at your command And I vow by the high immortal gods no reproach shuld haue scandalizde your mightinesse nor any iniurious infamy stained the honour of your estate if my selfe had béene first heard and my consent graunted to the assigned Combatte For in my iudgement it is against all naturall reason that I béeing