reason of his good armour yet through diuers places there issued infinit blood But his aduersaries eager of reuenge procured nought but his death in so much that they would often close their eies and fall vppon him because they would not see his strokes and had not he leapt sometimes héere and sometimes there some one would haue got him faste which if they did hée greatly hazarded his life Yet could hee not so defend himselfe but that at last some 50. of them despising death fel vpon him together laying fast holde on his armes wherin it behooued him to vse his strength onely to get from them kicking and spurning with his féete that in the ende hée fell downe with aboue halfe of them vppon him and seeing himselfe in such daunger hauing there receiued aboue tenne woundes suddenly stept away rysing on his féete on the other side bestowing deablie woundes on all sides that heere arose such greate and mightie clamours and outcries that the rest of the battell was nothing to this fight incouraging one another onely to kill that Knight on whose death depended their victorie In this season arriued here the Prince of Phenicia with his company that came in pursuit of those that fledde and hearing there that great noyse so brauely set vpon them that they vnhorsed aboue 2000. Knights with which fury this Prince prest through them till he came where the Knight of the golden Image was whom he knew though he neuer sawe him by the deuise of his shield and séeing him do such wonders said to himselfe that not without cause he enioyed the name and deserued to be called the sole-worthie of admyred Chiualrie and being about to alight to giue his Horse vnto Don Bellianis the mightie Boraldo came thither to succour his men that here lost their gotten vantage which they did not on the otherside because he valiantly had withstood the force of the Princes Don Brianell and Arfileo And espying that Knight straight know him by his Armour thinking him to be he that had slaine the King of Cyprus and fearing his force durst not like a good Knight confront him face to face supposing that in a battell any thing was tollerable raised himself on his stirropes and with his hand behinde his backe gaue his so huge a blow that it made him bend his head lower then his Horses eares Which Don Bellianis perceiuing hauing knowne y e Prince and thinking he would haue fallen from his Horse ranne to helpe him But the Prince Don Contumelian losing no whit of his high valour at such blowes returned vpon him with his sword hoysted aloft determining at that blow to part his head in two The other with like intent came also vpon him and at one instant discharged their rage on each other that Contumeliano was like to fall But Boraldo lost his sences The Prince seconded another that therewith he tumbled from his Horse and alighting to cut off his head vnlaced his Helme and found it in such case that he iudging him dead let him lye though it had bene better for him there to haue made him sure then for his after harme to giue him his life as this Historie discourseth And going to the Knight of the golden Image with great courtesie thus saide Mount vpon this my Horse most hautie Knight vsurper of anothers heart and follow the victorie ordeined by the Gods to all your happie and glorious acts The Knight of the golden Image replied Leaue not your Horse forme high and renowmed Prince for though I in this battell doe miscarry there is nothing lost in respect of your royall person how much the more that this knights horse whom you haue slaine suffiseth me And so mounting on Beraldos horse the Phenician Prince did the like vpon his owne togither so ouerturned the fury of the fight that through want of an infinit number of the Soldans men his Captains began to yeeld the field Which their aduersaries séeing so hotely renewed their decaying forces that their enemies were constrained to saue their liues by giuing the rained libertie to their horses in which flight being brauely pursued there was an innumerable number slaine that after the fight it was found ethat of the Souldans men were slaine aboue 25. thousand With not aboue two thousand losse on the Dukes behalfe Which good successe being by those Kings and Princes woorthily attained euery one with immortal praises thanked him to whom their deuotion was most being in that whole Campe but onely thrée Christian Knights This done they went to meete the Princesses that were comming to them Betwéene whome their courteous gréetings and kinde salutes were such as if they neuer before had seene one another Euerie one greatly honoured the Princesse Contumeliano some for his aide in that great daunger newly past the others that knew no otherwise not only for the same thanked him but also for the ouerthrow he had giuen the fearefull Feliston King of Cyprus At which time arriued the Duke Alfiron who séeing the Phenician Prince would haue alighted being sorely wounded but he would by no meanes suffer it Giue me your royall white handes most excellent Prince that I may kisse them said the Duke in token that I twise haue receiued my despised life by your meanes Don Contumelian séeing the Dukes error would not longer séeme to robbe the glorie from the Uictor by ioying in anothers honour contenting himselfe with that he had wonne in that battell and the obtaining of such friends replied I will not Magnanimious Duke and you heroike Knights suffer your errour no farther to procéed nor longer vsurpe the honour of so high a victorie from him that vindeth all wandring Knightes in the orbed earth to his furie and seeing there is now no daunger in discouering it knowe great Lords that he which hath wonne the immortall glorie of the victory is your friend and Lord of vs all the neuer inogh praised the Knight of the golden Image to whom by a strange aduenture I lent my Armour wherewith he vndertooke the fight wherein befell all that you sawe and dylated the manner how he found him and in what habit concealing nothing but what hapned after the fight Which heard of the Duke Kings Princes and the Knights there present they highly wondred at his discourse whereto the Duke thus said Now am I not renowmed Prince so much indebted as I thought for hauing giuen all my selfe vnto the Knight of the golden Image he doeth in taking care for my matters busie himselfe in his owne wherby my dutie can be no greater then it was before You haue nothing so much cause saide Don Brianell to thanke him for what he did in that battell hauing therein as great a part as your selfe or else had he not bene there present very ill should we haue defended his honour Wherevppon they newly imbraced Don Bellianis saying he had not done well in not disclosing himselfe to them that they mought with more confidence haue vsed their
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
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
incurre great daunger being taken vnawares but at that instant the watchfull Prince Don Bellianiâ— perceiuing it being not farre from the King disturbed that his purpose pushing him on his breast so strongly that he recoyled backe thrée or foure steppes wherby they renewed their fight more fiercely and braue then in the whole day before But Don Bellianis perceiuing that if the Combatte long continued he was like to faint through the infinit blâ—â—d he had lost aduentured himselfe to receiue a blowe of the Gyant Which when he sawe descended on him commending himselfe from the bottome of his heart vnto the Almightie to deliuer him from that daunger and thrust at the Giant so brauely vnder his arme that being there vnarmed and with such excessiue force performed that the sworde ranne into his flesh vp to the hilts piercing his heart in the middle wherewith he fell downe dead But he was by the Gyant cruelly wounded on the head that he also fell downe in a trance which greeued euery one chiefly the Princesse Aurora that was forced to cry out Oh immortall Gods why haue you suffered so great an euill for without doubt the best knight that euer gyrded sword is sâ—aine But her sorrowe was turned to a generall gladnesse seeing him amazedly rise and was going to aide his companions if he had not séeue Arfileo at one blowe cut off one of the Gyants legges and with an other his head The like did Don Brianell not regarding the Souldanes cryes requiring him that hee woulde not do it for he yéelded him vanquished Which done they in theyr hearts rendred immortall thankes vnto the Almightie for their victorious deliuerie from so vnspeakeable perill and with great loue imbraced the Knight in the yelowe Armour whome they imagined to bee Don Contumeliano yéelding to him all the honor of the victorie Whereupon not expecting the Soldans commaund the generall assembly shouted out for ioy sounding a number numberlesse of all manner of military instruments running about the field for gladnesse which cut the Soldane to the heart hauing no patience to endure it CHAP. XXV What the Knight of the Golden Image did after the battell ended And how the Soldan commanded the duke to be borne to prison SO soone as the Princesse Persiana did see the battell ended with such ioy as euery one may iudge descended the scaffold and going to the knights that yet were talking togither shee woulde haue knéeled before don Bellianis but he preuented it by dooing so himselfe very courteously saying You haue no cause most excellent Lady to thanke me being bound to doo more then this for the Duke Alfiron But if you will then royall Princesse gratifie these knights whose valour hath so wel defended your right and iâ—stice for my seruice is of no woorth but while it bee shadowed vnder their haughtie déedes I will not famous knight saide the Princesse extoll the honour you haue woon in this battel with such déere losse of your blood besides the ouerthrâ—we of such great treacherie as was ordained against vs being more then any hundred knights might attaine And since you will not haue me rest your debtor for this vncomparable fauour speake to him for whom you vndertooke the Combat who is no lesse bound to you then I So leauing him with the Duke and the princesse Aurora she imbraced the other knight vsing betwixt them words of great kindnesse according to their high estate Don Bellianis leauing the Duke whent to the Sophy that was returning to the Pallace hauing commanded his daughter and the duke to be returned to prison and being nigh hâ—â— and followed by many knights said vnto him â—â—ince mightie Lord the truth cannot be more cleare and manifest I beseecâ—e your highnesse coÌ„mand that the Princesse Persiana the knight of the golden image and the Duke Alfâ—â—on may beset at libâ—â—tie their innocencie being saued and confirmed by the happie successe of this battell which intreat to be forthwith respâ—â—ting the great necessitie we haue of â—are for our most daungerous wounds The Sophy that minded no such thing replied I do beléeue you know Sir knight I am not bound to what you said for if they be cleared of Don Gallaneos death as you wil haue it the Duke notwithstanding is not freed of his trespasse committed against mee hauing resisted my wil with hostile arms which being so plaine I had no cause to put it in trial of battel but reserue vnto my self the punishmeÌ„t of that fault according as it deserues therefore talke to me no more thereof for I will doo nothing more then I haue said Whereto Don Bellianis answered We expected no such vsage at the hands of so great a lord I vndertooke the fight for all matters concerning the Duke and if hee be cleare of Don Galleanos death it followes then that he is frâ—e of all other things whatsoeuer Replie no more said the Souldan for I will haue it so Whereuppon he commanded the Duke to be returned to prison who straight was there conducted himself going to his Pallace and would heare none speak wherat Don Bellianis was like to burst through rage Don Brâ—anell and Arâ—â—lâ—o disguised him to go with theÌ„ to their lodging to be cured to whom he aunswered I haue no néede of cure since the Duke remaineth imprisoned and so I humbly take my lâ—â—ue for I will departe â—ut of the Citâ—ie Wherewith he lâ—â—t them 〈◊〉 taking his way to the wood onely followed by don Contumeliano The knights and the Princesse Aurora returned to their lodging reasoning on nothing but on the Sollitarie knight whome they thought neuer enough praysed hauing by him receiued so great helpe in the battell I should not haue beléeued said Arfileo that the world contained such a knight as the Prince of Phenicia You did not sée his déedes so well as I replied don Brianell because you were busie in Combat and beléeue me he no more feared being without sword then if he had béene confronted with no foes which if it had not broken he néeded none of our helpe Thus talking togither they laide themselues in their seuerall beds where they were cured hauing many and dangerous wounds The Princesse Aurora leauing them went well accompanied to the pallace to sée what was done in the Dukes libertie where shee founde the Princesse Persiana that for the words spoken by the knight of the Golden Image was sette free who receiued each other as theyr great loue testified and after sent to sée what the Souldane did who brought them word he commaunded the Dukes guarde to bée doubled and that also he hadde sent the aduenterous knight word commaunding him that since he would not at his intreaties spare the King of Cyprus brothers life he should forthwith depart his Land or else his life should pay the forfit of his staye The Ladies greatly gréeued hearing this demaunded his aunswere which was that hee was contented to obey him within thrée daies but he should regarde that hee
him sorâ—lie but seeing himselfe in so immenent daunger was once againe forced to take the Piller for his defence whereon hée espied a Sworde fixed whose workemanship was such that the like in no tyme was euer seene wherein he more at that time reioyced then had hee béene inuested vniuersall Lorde of the whole earth or made a greater Monarch then his Father And without delay stepping to it verie easilie and lightlie drewe it foorth which hee had no sooner done but that there was heard a most horrible noyse as if the dissolution of the worlde were then that vnable to stande was faine to get holde of the Piller Yet scarce was the earthquake past but that deformed Giant prepared himselfe to fight which the Prince seeing and ioyfull with the obtained sword therewith thrust at his bodie with the vtmost strength of his arme that the Sworde appeared at his backe that straight the Giant fell to the grounde as dooth some mightie Oake rent with a Whirlewind by the rootes And looking for the Beare founde him also deade as thinges that had no longer tearme of life then the lasting of the inchauntment which ended with the drawing of the Swoorde from the Pillar And that noyse beeing heard of Don A sileo that remayned at the Caues mouth tryed if hee might againe enter it which without anie trouble hee did And taking his hunting Jaueline with him hee câ—st himselfe resolutelie into it and came to Don Belianis at the time hée ended the Giants life and was giuing thankes to God that hee had deliuered him from so great perill and daunger and with wonderous gladnesse to see themselues againe togither ranne to embrace each other and Arsileo thus sayde You haue not béene long deare Coosen though so sorâ—lie wounded as you were in 〈…〉 ng this so staunge and most maruaylous aduenture to your admyrable honour and blasing fame whereby I doo assuredlie beleeue you will terminate all others with like expedition So that the perpetuall recorde of your Fathers glorious name which hee in manie yeares with his great paine obtayned will bee with the neuer dying memorie of your famous déedes and the eternitie of your actes in short time extinguished and in obliuious darknesse ouerwhelmed No not so good Coosen replyed Don Belianis but let vs reade these Letters fixed vpdon this Pillar which cost mee nolesse bloud then if they contained some matter of great importaunce which they read to this effect A Prophecie and is fulfilled in the 37. Chapter In the time to come when the fiercenes of the couragious Lions by the greatnes of my skill shalbe put in greater feare by them that in valour had so great part the fearfull keepers of my caue being slain and the sword won wherwith the liuing shalbe lost and â—he dead put in possession of the reobtained with the greatest strangenesse of obtainers which vntil that time was euer heard of shalbe restored to theirroyall blooud and the true possessors know en Greatlie were the two Princes amazed hereby not vnderstanding those woordes though plainelie they were meant by Don Pelianis seeing hee had ended the aduenture Great is the â—eede sayde Don Biâ—ileâ— you seeme to haue of present care for your woundes which I see to bee so deepe that I feare you may fall into some notable daunger throngh the great quantitie of bloud you haue lost Which was true for though the Prince with the ioy of his good successe and in beholding his rich Swoorde thought not on his great and daungerous wounds which were such that if anie other of lesse and weaker constitution and couragiousnesse of minde had had them coulde not so haue sustained himselfe But while they were thus talking from a most sumptuous Chamber there issued forth a beautious Damsell cloathed in a Crimson sattin robe so great that the traine thereof trayled on the ground This Lady was led betwéene two Knights auncient and of great grauitie and on her attended twelue Damsels in the same liuerie all shewed by their faces some heauie cause of melancholike sorrow who beeing before the Prince prostrated themselues on the ground which hee seeing did also the like and intreated them to rise to which shee said I will not rise most excellent Prince vntill first you haue graunted mee my demaunde I doo graunt it gracious Ladie sayde the Prince and not onelye that but manye others for my desire is onelye for to serue such as your owne selfe I do render many infinit thanks replied she neither did I looke for lesse from so high and honoured a Prince as you guarded with such royall bountie and magnificent excellencie and rysing tooke him by the hand and entred the Chamber which though Don Belianis had séene manye verye fayre and rich in his Fathers Pallace yet iudged hée that to bée royallest hée might sée for the walles séemed of christall through which appeared such diuersitie of pictures as the whole Uniuerse coulde scarce containe more the floore séemed of Transparant Emeraldes which so amased their woondring sences that they stood a good while gazing on it till Don Bellianis turning to the Lady that held him by the hand saide Although fayre Ladie the entrance of this Caue séemed so timorous in sight yet the varietie of these raryties which it within containes presents more shewes to the outward fight theÌ„ the whole world besides without reason was it not made with such extreames as to be inhabited with so excellent beauty within and guarded with so great feare without to forbid the enteraÌ„ce to all attempters The Lady coÌ„ceiuing great pleasure at the Princes words answered I could not choose but blush most gracious Prince at your words though so honored by them knew I not your great courtesie that farre surpasseth all others of this time which causeth mée to prize my selfe more then I should or my merits deserue though I should not vnder your protection do it because all honoured prayses and deserued merits rest in your selfe But ouerpassing this which is so well knowne of euerie one let my intreaties now so preuaile with you that my maidens may cure your wounds I haue no wound replied the prince that so much needeth cure saue my desire to know the ende of this aduenture and also who shée is that so honoureth me Uerie quickly shall you know it faire Lord saith the Princesse but first must your woundes be cured least you incurre some greater danger and after shall you know the cause of your comming hither whom I am and what else you will all being doone by her will that keepes me heere Thereupon the Prince was vnclothed by those Ladies and one of them cured him most skilfully hauing great knowledge in that art and layde on a sumptuous bed they left him to his rest The Prince Arsileo remained in talke with the dâ—msell of many things specially of the aduenture of that day greatly admiring what Don Bellianis his cosin had atchieued beeing so yong of yeares Do not so wonder
farther resolution what shall be don with him woorthilie deseruing to bee tormented with a cruell death for his trecherie but do not so said the Emperour for he is a very good Knight and deserueth no euill vsage and therfore haue care he want nothing he shall néede for I would not for any thing he should miscarrie of him shall wee knowe the cause of â—â—eâ—â— trayterous designe which séeme is not without speciall occasion Hereupon the knight went straight and dressed his wounds who though hee had lost much bloud séemed couragious as if he were at libertie And after they had dressed him he was conuaied to a faire Chamber prouiding him with all necessaries as the Emperour had commaunded Who in this order remained tenne dayes in the cure of his wounds when remembring the taske hee had vndertooke determining to depart thence went first to visite the wounded Knight whom he found greatly amended of his woundes and approching to his bedde side asked him howe he felt himselfe Well enough aunswered hee though with no little greefe for my badde successe yet am I not sorie to bée ouercome séeing it was by him whose courage and valour the strength of mightie Giants could not abate But one thing I intreate of you sir Knight by the courtesie you haue shewen mee you woulde vouchsafe to tell mée your name that in those places where I shall come I may publish your hautie deedes It pleaseth mée replyed the Emperour conditionally you also let me knowe yours with the cause of your comming hither with the truth thereof whereto such a Knight as you is bound I am desirous to know you said the Knight that though it be agaynst the promise I haue made and you promising mée to kéepe it secrete I will not denie it Thereto I giue you my falth aunswered the Emperour and first knowe I am Don Bellaneo Emperour of Gréece that by certaine aduenture not farre from hence I parted from my traine the rest hauing happened as you haue séene Ho immortall Gods saide the Knight fetching a great sigh are you he whose name is so feared among all the Pagan nations and he that neuer refused to assault so terrible and fierce Giants And in bréefe he whose inuincible minde sheweth howe true the euerlasting fame of your perpetuall deeds is and through the world of you is spred Ho great Soldan now by this dayes successe thy determined purpose is vtterly made voide hauing so strong an aduersarie left thee in the world It therfore behoues thée no more to think of peace And turning to the Emperour who greatly amazed at his words stood gazing on him and dissembling his conceiued griefe Supposing renowmed Prince the matter I shall disclose to be of lesse consequence then it is I wil in few words vnfold the truth thereof though in the doing of it to my selfe more then to any resulteth greatest losse I know that your name so fearefull among all Gentiles beeing published in the Soldan of Siconias court with the great destruction by you made of his people and in all Paganisme moued him by promise to bind himselfe to giue the one halfe of his dominions with the mariage of his daughter to that knight by whose valour your head were brought him Also promising that if in the enterprise he died the halfe of his said dominions should notwithstanding be granted to his successiue heires So I vnderstanding the great promise the Soldan had made and greatlie louing his daughter resolutely resolued I departed to the kingdome of Antioch whereof I am Lord and with my selfe hauing determined what I ought to do I left my court accompanied with 500. knights and 30. giants purposing at your comming out of your palace either to kill or imprison you so shipping our selues and landed not farre from hence left our ships at anchor thither to returne with your conquest And that this we might better compasse vnknowne and vnséene we agréed to take this Castell and here remaine till occasion were offred vs to effect this pretence being informed of the state of all things by a man whom on the coast we tooke whereby wee hither came as you haue heard and easily thought to haue taken it being minded to let none suruiue to carry the newes abroad but your incomparable valour hath frustrated our intent Thus haue I declared vnto you all that in this case I can whereto your great bountie magnanimous clemencie forced me for notwithstanding I had so massacred your subiects you caused me thus to be cured My name is Don Gallaneo of Antioch if you euer heard of me before and so he made an ende to his spéech The Emperour rested wonderfull amazed séeing with what audacity don Gallaneo had discouered him a déed of such waight for which he might greatly fear his deserued punishment but iudged him of hauty courage considering how coÌ„fidently he had put himself in his hands hauing against him committed so high treacherie and shewing no maner of alteration made him this answer Truly Prince Don Gallaneo you haue plainly expressed the valiancie of your minde in so openly bewraying that which by any other meanes I could not haue knowne whereby you haue doubled the cause of my imaginarie thoughts séeing in such a knight so little shame that without further consideration should by treason séeke to spill my innocent blood which in so great a Prince as you séemeth more odious then in any other being by order of knighthoode bound to be vertuous and abhore all such detestable actions and to be an exaÌ„ple to your subiects least against your selfe they might commit the like Yet would I not for all my state you shoulde haue had such confidence in mee so to discouer my selfe that I might not knowing it let your owne selfe sée your selfe confounded in your own imaginations But séeing it is done here you shall remaine in this Castel till I further determin of your being Yet for all this said Don Gallaneo assure your person for not farre hence is the remainder of my power and easilie may you incurre some greater daunger though your person be such as I haue tried yet among them are so fierce and mightie Giants that will not thinke much to cleaue your bodie armed in two with one blow I haue thought said the Emperor what in this case shall be done and thereupon commanded his horse and Don Brianels to be sadled And Don Brianell foreséeing the perill that might ensue beséeched the Emperour on his knées to giue him the order of Knighthood to serue him in that enterprise which the Emperour denied promising to do it an other day But here we leaue them and returne to the Prince Don Bellianis and Arfileo whom we left with the Ladie in the Caue CHAP. V. Howe Don Bellianis with the Ladie departed from the Caue and by what strange aduenture he and Arsileo were knighted IT is recorded by Friston that the Prince Don Bellianis with his Coosen Arsileo remained ten
dayes in the Damzels caue till the Prince was able to trauaile who gréeuing much for the sorrowe the Emperour and Empresse would sustaine and acknowledging how much bound he was to that Ladie determined to depart yet greatly desired to know the end of that aduenture Wherefore the prince Arsileo a day before their departure intreated her to declare vnto them the whole occasion of her being in the Caue and what she would require them to do in her seruice although they néeded not make many offers being as they were so bouÌ„d to her for so many fauors that at her coÌ„mand without intreaty they ought to do euen with the hazard of their liues The damzell with a sorowfull countenance as one that remembred her forepassed misfortunes could not withhold her teares but with watry chéeks eies like flowing springs with ruÌ„ning streams at last thus began I cannot excellent Princes so intirely expresse vnto you the cause of my griefe as I could desire for the great sorrow my gréeued heart sustaines suddenly suppressing me breaking into a salt shower of brinish teares will not giue place vnto the exact vtterance of my wordes yet as I may I will do it I was most noble Princes daughter vnto Pompeiano not long since king of Antioch and am called Aurora that being at the Soldan of Babylons court accompanying his daughter the most beautifull Florisbella whose perfected beauty absolute vertues so far surpasseth al other of her time as doth y e sun al lesser stars To this court came a knight whose name for a long time was not knowne sauing by certaine Images in his shéeld was called the knight of the thrée images who shewed himselfe so valiant that there was no ten knights in the whole Court so strong and hardie as durst maintaine the field against him This Knight throughout the Soldanes Empire performed such déedes of haughtie prowesse that in generall among all men he was accounted a second Mars and the Soldane did no lesse esteeme of him alwayes hauing him in his companie whereby he thought himselfe worthie of greater dignities and so became amorous of the diuine Florisbella for whose loue a long time he suffered great gréefe and much solitude not daring to manifest it to any at length seeing nothing preuaile to expell that desire when one day the Soldane with all his Court was gone a hunting he remained alone in the Pallace and after some pleasant discourses discouered vnto me the secrets of his loue intreating me that in his name I would intreate the princesse to accept him for her knight wherwith shée finding her selfe agreeued aunswered that by no meanes she would do it commanding him no more to imagine any such madnesse least the Soldane her father should by chaunce heare thereof which if he did it might cost him little lesse then his life But he nothing weighing this her answere found meanes that the Princesse might know the extreame anguish of his perplexed heart inthralled by her beautie so that I thinking that some harme might thereby insue declared it to the Soldane who thereupon commaunded him to depart his Empire but he not knowing the occasion very heauily before his departure told him that what he did was against reason in commanding him to leaue his Dominions for he was a prince able to shew him that such as he ought not to be so vsed And departing the Court towards the Soldane of Siconia called the great Sophi of Persia where suspecting I was cause of his exile beganne with fire and sword to enter the king my fathers territories in such sort wasting and spoyling them that slaying the king he tooke possession of the whole Kingdome giuing it to the knight of the kindred called the Prince Don Galaneo reputed a man of great vallor In which time not knowing of his successe I went from the Soldanes Court home to my fathers fearing to fall in their hands by counsell of a wise woman called Bellona entred in a boate with these Damsels you here sée togither with the sayde woman and by hir direction arriued in this countrey and was by her conducted to this caue where she bad me remain for I should quickly be deliuered by the Prince of Greece and his cosin of Hungarie foretelling me euery thing that hitherto hath happened and moreouer she bad me giue you armor and horses which here she left wherwith you shall be knighted by a strange aduenture but what it it was she would not tell Thus haue I declared the occasion of my being here and the fearefull Beare the wise woman here left was hither to bring the Prince Arfileo as you sawe and the mightie Giant which you slew remayned keeper of the caue who might not be slaine with any weapon but the sword which you drewe out of the Piller that hee guarded So that great Lord the remedie of my misfortune resteth in your handes and our departure may be when and so soone as you shall think good I am content answered he wonderous amazed at the Damsels discourse but I would willingly take with me an hoast of men that you may more easily recouer your kingdome I attend here no other hope but yours sayd she and as for any other I was informed we shall not néede Whereat the Prince séeing that was her will commanded straight prouision to be made for his departure so al necessaries being ready they mounted a horsback the damsels on their palfraies accompanied with the two ancieÌ„t knights that carried y t armor that the princesse Auroâ—a had spoken of which they séeing tooke it forth of y e cases which were as appertained to nouel knights The prince Don Belianis armor was of colour Orange-tawny with a sea waue so big that it séemed to ouerwhelme a ship there figured In his sheeld was pourtraide the picture of a most beautifull Lady with a knight knéeling before her as if he craued mercie at her hands from whom she turned her face in anger with an inscription to this effect Let him die for so departing At our first and sudden meeting Leauing thereby my deare sight dim Of his when I desired to see him Which was written in Arabian letters that the Prince well vnderstood The prince Arfileos wer murry in y e midst wherof was fighting a griffon with a most terible dragon which were parted by a damsel that made peace betwéen them which when they saw so faire became desirous to put them on causing the princesse and damsel to stay were armed with them which so wel fitted them as if of purpose they had béene forged for them wherwith being armed set forwards on their iourny hauing gone not far from the caue spied before theÌ„ a faire Castle which til then they had not séene nor yet when they entred the caue The princesse the Ladies masked themselues because y e heate of the sun was great the rest were disguised that they might not be knowne approaching the
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
my guardian For so much as concerneth me sayd the Prince I will defende you agaynst all the worlde Thats not materiall quoth Don Brianell for on my side I haue the Prince Arfileo that will suffer none wronged in his presence I cannot helpe you in this demaund said hee least I should incurre such punishment as to my ill satisfaction and lesse reason I should defend CHAP. XI What hapned Don Bellianis and his companions with duke Alfyron the courteous and how they proued the aduenture of the vnhappie bridge IN this order trauelled these Princes with as much pleasure as their young yéeres could require fearing nothing that might anoy them taking their straight way towards a Castell some three miles distant from Antioch for the Princesse told them it was a strong fortresse and neuer woon by any forraine foes and that she and her Damzels would there remaine where also they might determine of their affayres For which cause they had a man to guide them thither whom they receiued of Bellona Which way they had not far gone but by the same they saw towardes them come the number of twentie thousand knights whereof the greatest part were verie sumptuously apparelled and manie clad with rich and bright armor insomuch that the Prince and his coÌ„panions tooke great delight in séeing theÌ„ Don Bellianis stepping to one of the formost that greatly admired him being so brauely armed and on so mightie a courser mounted and demanded thus I pray you in courtesie tell me sir knight to whom belongeth this faire companie of Knights he should be of no small account that such a traine maintaines They belong sir knight answered he vnto Duke A firon the Courteous that now goeth to the Citie of Persepolis because the great Sophy hath ordained great triumphes and iousts whervnto he hath inuited all the nobilitie of his Empire Why prepares he so great feasts demaunded the Prince Marie sir replied the other not long since hee promised to giue one onelie daughter that he hath to what Knight soeuer should slay the Emperour of Greece or take him prisoner which enterprise the Prince Don Gallaneo of Antioch vndertooke accompanied with manie Knights who is now returned with one coosen of his by whom and others that with them came the Sophie is certified how they left the Emperour so wounded that he could by no meanes scape For which cause he hath determined to giue him his daughter in marriage and therefore in these triumphes dooth he feast all his Nobles But demaunded Don Bellianis why doth the Sophy so béeing vncertaine of the truth He thinkes this sufficient aunswered the Knight that if it shoulde otherwise bée it is thought vnpossible euer to effect it for the Emperour béeing thereof forewarned will with greater regarde looke to himselfe and besides his Daughter will not bee euill matched hée béeing one of the best Knights in this lande Though to tell you trulie wée bée not well contented with this marriage for that the Duke our Maister was first greatly fauoured of the Princesse Persiana for so is the Sophies Daughter called and seeing nowe hée will marrie her to Don Gallaneo he goeth verie passionate I commit you to God said don Bellianis for you haue much pleased me with your discoursiue newes and turning to the Prince and his companions tolde them all his talke with the knight and demaunded of them if they thought good to sée those iousts at Persepolis ere they passed forwarder It wil be well done said don Brianell yet how shall we do being vnprouided of a Tent What need you care for that aunswered Arfileo for it may be some will intertaine vs if not we must lie in the fields And thus vnresolued stoode still till that troupe past along At which time some of them went to the Duke that at that time was verie pensiuely imagining on the Princesse Perfiana and said to him Sée you not sir yonder thrée knights armed with the richest armour you haue this day séene whose gallant disposition cannot but content you and stande in the nâ—ddest of the way séeming to demaunde the breaking of some Lances and do also conduct with them about twelue Damzels as it séemes no lesse adorned with beautie then they with valour The Duke being desirous to sée them stepped forth being armed in a tawnie armour like Don Bellianis and ouer the same he had a coate of cloath of golde most richly embrodered with Pearles whose brightnesse being ouercast with beames of the shining Sunne dazeled the beholders sight On his shéeld was pictured the God of Loue of whom a Knight begged mercie he rigorously denied it And thus went he straight to the Princes while they gazed on him going like a valorous and well disposed Knight The Duke no lesse wondering to sée their gallant demeanour and riches of armour specially Don Bellianis whose sight surprized him with sudden admiration and béeing nigh them he kindly saluted them being of nature milde gentle and affable for which he had obtained the name of courteous and thus said I am so astonished braue and valiant knights in séeing the braue disposition of your persons and strange maner of trauelling that I haue receiued such content as the like I shall neuer obtaine chiefly at this time beeing subiect to a grieuous melancholie gréefe And because I suppose ye are going to the triumph at Persepolis I intreate you to employ me in this iourney for that you séeme straungers of some remote Countrey And although the valour of our owne persons may merite farre greater seruice yet I pray you denie me not this request for I hope herein to diminish part of my boysterous and troublesome sorrowe with your gentle conuersation The Princes intreating one another to answer Don Bellianis at last replied The offers most noble Duke which by your liberall bountie we receiue are so great as wee beeing no other then errant knights can no way deserue And though wee had not determined to bee at those triumphes yet to accomplish your request willingly doe condiscend thereto yeelding the accomptelesse thankes of duetifull seruitors at your commaund For which the Duke very ioyfully intertained theÌ„ with the Ladies in his owne company and so made to Persepolis discoursing by the way of pleasant matters till they came within a myle of the Cittie harde by a great riuer ouer which they must of necessitie passe by a bridge that there was Which the Duke seeing said Confounded in our owne discourses Sirs knights wee haue lost our way Don Bellianis seing the Cittie and not knowing to what ende the Duke spake it replyed If that bee the cittie I thinke this is the right way Tis answered the Duke But we may not passe this bridge for it will bée mightily defended Who bée they demanded hee that will defend it against such Knightes as bee with vs They that doe it will defend it against the whole worlde answered the Duke For in this kingdome are fower Knightes the valiantest
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
him with in the secrete of her heart but for feare to displease her father durst say nothing yet thought she by the riches of his armour it should bee hée stood and viewed him very attentiuely and séeing how the enraged knights with puisant force incountred each other in such sort that their Launces brake in a thousand shâ—uers and méeting with their horses shieldes and helmes both fell to the ground but if Don Brianells horse had beene so good as his aduersaries hee had passed without a fall which hée had seant done wheÌ„ the men of the Castle closed to vnarme him But the Prince Arfileo desirous to auoyde it with great choller entred the bridge so did another of the aduerse parte with such swiftnes as doth an arrow shotte from a bowe flye through the Ayre or a thunderbolt breaking from some swelling cloude with such mightynes incountred on the bridge that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a peece of y e launce sticking in his body If it procéedes as it begins said the Duke wée shall fréely passe So shall it bée answered don Bellianis for with your auspicious fauour they may bee brought to our wished ende The Sophy was astonished to sée the strong incounters of the knights and speaking to Don Gallaneo said I neuer thought there could bée better knights then those of the bridge but now I sée what aduantage these haue ouer them Wonder not thereat said don Gallaneo for in the battell wée had with the Emperour there was in his ayde one nouell knight whom hée there knighted that performed such haughtie deedes in armes that neither Hector nor Achilles euer did the like For beleeue me hée no more estéemed to bée assaulted by foure or by two Gyants then with one knight and with his owne handes in the battell hée slewe aboue 12. Gyants and 50 knights of mine But as for the Emperour I haue told you what happened mée with him in the Castle he béeing vnarmed so that you neede not wonder what these doe though any of them doe end this aduenture which I cannot beleeue and if they doe I will acknowledge it the greatest acte that euer I heard of by reason their swordfighting will bée so vnequall Which hauing said the eldest the greatest of the brethren came against Arfileo intending to reuenge his Brothers death whose incounters were so furious that their launces were made in little peeces and in such sorte met with their bodyes that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a great wound on his side And Arfilleos horse with the strong stroke recoyled backe thrée or four paces that at laste vnable to stay him with admirable lightnesse hée leapt from his backe beeing a little wounded on the breast The seruants of the castle went to him to doe as they would haue don with don Bryanell but the first that arryued for his boldnes lost his head For Arfileo thinking hee should not bee iudged ouerthrowne layd hand on his sword to defend himselfe wherewith hee would haue made them knowe his valour extended farther then thitherto hee had showen But the two brothers that Don Bryanell had vnhorsed arryued with their drawne swords the like did the Gyants And on the otherside Don Bellianis and the Duke did so that in short time among them all there began a terryble and fearefull battell For all the Dukes knights would passe ouer the Bridge But the Sophy the Princesse Persiana and Don Gallaneo went and parted them and demaunded the cause why they were so mingled togither did not proceede with their combate as they had begun which eyther they should doe or let them passe Wee are content to doe eyther said Don Bellianis but this knight fell not seeing by anothers strength hee left not the saddle and therefore ought not to loose his horse vntill the ioustes bee ended He may no more mount said they Who shall iudge it demaunded Don Bellianis Wee neede no iudge said they for it is our custome but if any must be let it bee the Souldan our Lord heere present Be it so said the Duke Then said the Sophy I awarde that since the knight was not by another vnhorsed hee loose not his horse nor armour but that hee bee vanquished séeing hee forsooke his horse so that hee may ioust no more Great profite doe they get by this sentence sayd a proude knight that on the Souldan attended and was a neere Alley to the Gyants that defended the Bridge It is well indged said Don Bellianis and beleeue me had not the Souldan done it no lesse wrong receiued wee then they But what art thou that shouldst not a little count thy selfe beeing more prouder then vallyant to speake against the Souldan thy Lords iudgement The knight inraged with desire to reuenge those words answered Let vs set aside the Souldans iudgement as a matter impertinent to vs But if thou wilt vppon whither of the knightes be ouercome accept this my gage I giue it thee I accept it aunswered don Bellianis on condition wee may not passe the bridge vnlesse by force wee doe it You deferre it too long said the knight and our fight will be voide if you meane to winne the bridge by strength for these knights earnestly desire your armour beeing so rich But I giue thee leaue to helpe them aunswered don Bellianis whereby thou shalt see howe little I account what thou so much esteemest All the beholders admired him to see with what courage hee spake but chiefly the Princesse Persiana that going to the Duke Alfiron whom shee did not know beeing among the knights and not knowing what end that enterprize would haue did not discouer himselfe and said I pray thee good knight tell mee who bee these knightes for I greatly desire to knowe it The Duke softly that none might heare answered No maruell most beautious Princesse and Lady of my heart you at this time knowe me not hauing imployed my seruice in your behalfe to so little regarde But if deare Lady you had determined I should by your crueltie dye why did you not commaund mee to bee my owne executioner and not permit my eyes to see the sight of my liuing death The Princesse by his speech straight knewe him whereuppon for very greefe her eyes flowed with pearled teares but dissembling least it should bee discerned replyed The Gods knowe great Duke my gréefe for this marryage my Father intendes is no lesse than yours and therefore must wee perforce haue patience The Duke would haue answered her but that he perceiued don Bellianis had ended the accepting of the battell against the proude knight that they of the bridge had graunted them the combate therin condicionally that if don Bellianis were ouercome his horse and armour should be theirs who greatly gréeued for their brothers death and more that they could not bée reuenged on him that had slaine him CHAP. XII What happened Don Bellianis in the battell with the Knights
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
owne Thinke not so much on the end replied Don Bellianis if you sée the matter happily begunne for there is nothing so surely grounded but the beginning will require great labour especially such enterprises as these Wherefore my opinion is seeing our time is so short that you send halfe of your men to attend our comming in the way we must take some ten miles hence taking with them double horsing that when we arriue with ours tired being ther forced to fight we may find fresh horses And this done 1000. chosen men wil serue to fetch her hence so that they perfectly kaow the way The duke liked well of this counsel where they broke of being aduertised how the Soldan the princesse Persiana with all the chief nobilitie except don Gallaneo that remained about another matter which straight shalbe declared came to visit him wherfore the duke hearing it wēt to méet him yet for al his hast he found him comming vp the staires talking with the princes Arfileo don Brianell Aurora that went forth to receiue them who when they saw the duke go towards thē the princesse Persiana said I feare great duke you are alreadie assured of the victorie of the iousts being in companie of such valiant knights which makes you thus kéepe your Chamber at this time a day notwithstanding I can tell you you haue many aduersaries therefore aduise your selfe and looke well what you haue to do and must in your own defence performe The duke knéeling before her demanded her beautious hands to kisse them for that fauor she did him by her good counsel that none might heare replied if your diuine fauor most excellent Lady doth not forsake me I may securely rest fearlesse of all dangers but I doubt I shall with your absence remaine altogither vnable thereto hauing lost the fruition of your diuine fauor possessed by a stranger in my sight The princesse made him rise and that she might more at her pleasure talke with him tooke him by the hand and that euery one might heare said Séeing you haue thus long bin idle I meane now to task you for your labor for you shalbe this day my gardian for that the aduenturous knight may not be both the princesses and mine therfore wil I renounce him hauing so soone forgotten me Then belike my selfe being desirous said don Brianell to obtaine both your fauors must now feare to loose all yet am I content that my Lord the duke may haue the inheritāce of my place Thus chatting they arriued at don Bellianis lodging who wold haue risen to receiue thē but the Soldan wold not suffer it And going to his beds side demaunded how he felt himselfe wherunto he replied I cannot but be well most dread Lord resting so bound to your imperiall maiestie that I know not how I may acknowledge satisfaction for y e Lest of these your royall fauors which forceth in me no lesse paine then the grief of my late receiued wounds While they were all earnestly talking the Princesse Persiana saide to the Duke What pretend you to do against to morrows turnamēt or will you not be there I will do no more answered he then you will cōmand me for I came with no other intent Then she said séeing you leaue it to my dispose I think because the knight of the golden image by reason of his woūds cannot be there that you faile not for you shall reap greater fauor at my hands then don Galleano in tokē wherof I present you this flag set it on the top of your creast which with my hands I wrought vnknowē to any which that none did see she tooke it out of her pocket and gaue it him The duke receiued it with wonderful content and kis◠her hand resting the ioyfullest man aliue Think not much of that I do for my father doth force it I would put my self in danger to auoid it and I haue greatly reioiced that you haue brought with you such valiant warriers as at the vnhappie bridge I saw For if the knight of the golden image were not as he is I would haue intreated him to procure to dissolue this match done contrarie to my hearts intent He and I haue cōferred about this matter saide the Duke yet speake you with him about it that he may knowe this to be with your consent whereupon she then went to his beds side while the Souldane talked apart with Arfileo whom he highly estéemed knowing him to be so great a Prince as Don Bellianis had sayde The princesse Persiana séeing so good occasion demaunding how he felt himself with his great wounds as much gréeuing for them as though he were the Prince her brother and the more being in time wherein she so much néeded the helpe of his vnconquered strength to the subuerting of her enemies whereto he answered I do féele my selfe most excellent Princesse verie wel especially to accomplish any thing appertaining to your high seruice wherefore assuredly commaund and imploy mee anie way wherein my worthinesse may preuaile for your behoofe It is no small promise replied she you offer me for as I do greatly neede it so shall I haue cause to employ the greatest part of your valour And therfore most glorious knight know as you alreadie haue vnderstood of the Duke that the Soldane my father hath determined to marrie me to the Prince Don Gallaneo which doth so torment my passion-broken heart that I here vow if al other meanes of my desired remedie do faile me my proper hand shall finish the tragicke scene of my afflicted life ere I will consent to this vnfortunate wedding though many nobles haue solicited my father to the contrarie yet will he not be satisfied answering them woordes vnbeséeming both his maiestie and their estates Wherefore if I haue cause so to complaine of my soule-consuming greefes if euer you felt the like you may easily iudge And to conclude I haue determined to marrie none but the Duke Alfyron the Courteous For when I sawe your high admired déedes in the battell I then assured my self of help But now through your gréeuous wounds it hath since so increased that had I not discouered my discontent vnto you I had to morrow wedded me to death rather then to him I so abhorre Therefore this onely I intreate you that commiserating the state of me the most vnhappiest Princesse liuing you would procure some redresse to terminate my woes that I may not fall in his hands whom mortally I hate I meane Don Gallaneo wherein you shall commit no error against my father whose decaying honour with his life will be augmented by his death For Don Gallaneo is not the man that merits his Daughter being a knight of the least faith at this time liuing And I cannot be perswaded that so famous and glorious a Prince as the Emperour of Greece could by him be assaulted vnlesse it were with treason and such like And the greatest corasiue
able to attempt any important action at your cōmand I haue neuer replied the Sophy whose dutious seruice loyaltie to me hath deserued such cōfidence as these affaires require specially since the absence of the prince my son And well may you sée the treason done against mee by the duke for I am sure it was both by his consent ◠my daughters cōmand done am certain that he which all these harmes hath wrought is the knight of the golden image so discoursed what he had vnderstood of the knights and how he was so sore wounded that his life was in suspence and also that he was the same that slue Don Galfeo All which was true for the distressed knight was in such case that all his companions greatly doubted his recouerie for which their sorrow was so great that they wished to disburden themselues therof they might be euen in their enemies chiefest troops For in readinesse willingnesse of mind they wanted nought but the beginning of the conflict The two kings not a litle maruailed at the Soldans discourse Whereupon the King of Armenia tooke occasion to speake as followeth The knight of the golden Image is not in that greatnesse of fault as you iudge him in most mighty Lord for if you would but in the equall ballance of right reason weigh the cause you may plainly sée how greatly Don Gallaneo laboured to kill the aduenterous knight and the Prince Arfileo against all the lawes and rights of Turney nought regarding your awfull clamours to the contrarie but then more procured their deaths whereat no maruell if the Knight of the golden Image and the Duke in thir owne defence did slay him And we know that the knight in the gréene armour was he of the golden Image for we learned it of some of them that fled when don Galfeo died that he which slue him and vanquished them was the same that returned victor of the Turney So that you may well thinke he determined to do by them what they did to him and his Of all which things you should better informe yourselfe before you come to these extreames But if notwithstanding you will perseuer in these rigorous determinations consider the many thousand deaths thereby like to ensue for the Duke will indure no wrong Remember also great Lord the knight of the golden Image is he though the chiefest cause of Don Gallaneos death that fréed you from two great inconueniences one from the aduenture of the vnhappie Bridge the other by the death of the Rypliean dragon and that hereof consisteth your owne honour in your daughters innocencie and that the Duke may plead his cause and we our selues will go with him and procure this matter to be tried by combat or by any other means by you thought fitter which if you grant you shall eternally bind vs to your allegiance If you cause the duke replied the Sophy to come and submit himselfe I promise you there shall be no wrong proffered him nor any thing contrarie to the right of law iustice which I onely do that if any of Don Gallaneos kindred should expect any reuenge at my hands for his death they may know what I haue done herein And hereupon I pawne my kingly faith and royall word vnto you Then said they vppon this order you may dismisse your men vnto their seuerall homes for we will performe what we haue promised Whereupon the Soldane commanded euerie man to retyre to his quarter he himselfe going to his Court to expect the kings returne who straight repayred to the Dukes Pallace where they greatly reioyced to see the good order and care by them kept insomuch that the Soldan was not there able to enter by force of armes though he brought all his forces redoubled They being their demaunded for the Duke and vnderstanding that he was in don Bellianis Chamber thither went to speake with him where they saw how the knight of the golden Image had his wounds by those Dumzels dressed The duke receiued them according to their state would haue led them into another roome but they would not looking on the kings wounds which they iudged the greatest y t euer they had séene wherat they much sorowed supposing he wold not scape them though they were greatly satisfied to sée with what nimblenes those ladies dressed him And hauing don they thus said with such surgeons sir knight you ought to féele halfe the paine inforced by your wounds wherto he answered It is so great lords for though I should féele neuer so much this is double cōfort vnto me for else I should not be made happie with the fruition of your royall presence ioyntly with the dutie you bind me to in vouchsafing the remembrance of so meane a knight being thus pitiously wounded not able to leaue my bed to imploy my self in these troublesom affaires of my lord y e duke Take no care for them Sir knight said the king of Tessifantie for we come to none other effect and hope we shall haue no great deniall about them and though we should find any contradiction yet the duke shal be so fauored as he shal reasonably doubt nothing that may to him happē And they declared y e maner of the appointment made with the Soldane so that the dukes iustice should be euidently séene and be at libertie to answere all obiections or else present his champion to trie it in the battell against whosoeuer should at his hands demaund the death of Don Gallaneo and that in meane space the duke would yéeld himselfe to prison or we for him all which was betwéene him and vs so agréed And know Sir knight it is certainely bruted abroad that he which vanquished the Tourney and was cause of Don Gallaneos death with his cosins Don Galfeo and that slew the Riphian Dragon and the Giants Filistones thrée knights is your self Don Bellianis somwhat altered his countenance hearing this yet séeing the Sophie and others knewe all his doings faintly made this replie First mightie Lordes haue a care in what they demaund of the Duke and after wée shall haue time if I escape these woūds to prouide for al things else And moreouer on my faith the Soldan deales vnaduisedly and vniustly in his demaunds against the Duke and should not make account of two such traitors as Don Gallaneo and Galfeo whom if in case I did stay I did verie well considering with what trecherie the one would haue murthered me in my bed and the other my companions in the Tourney and had I bin in that state at more ease I had better with my déeds shewen what I cannot so well now expresse in words They were all amazed to sée with what passion Don Bellianis pronounced these spéeches and they perceiuing hee had reason would procéed no further in that talke but turning to the duke prayed him to resolue with himselfe to do what they required I will do replied he neither
more nor lesse in any thing then what the knight of the golden Image shall commaund me I humbly kisse your hand sayde he for this your high fauour though in all things else it is well knowne that my dutie binds me to obey you But to our matter I am of opinion sauing better iudgement and repoâ—ing our confidence on the royall words of these great kings you may fearelesse present your selfe before the Soldane for I trust you shall haue no iniurie offered you Thereof be assured said the kings for so the Soldane hath vowed The damsels that came with don Bellianis after he killed the dragon stepping to him sayde Wee haue heard Sir knight the Princesse Persiana is in a strong tower imprisoned by the commandement of the Soldane her father wherefore consider what best in this case may be done talking as little as you may because of indangering your wounds and your selfe When the duke was departing don Bellianis called to him Don Bryanell and Arfileo and prayed them to accompanie the duke and answere for the Princesse Persiana and himselfe as occasion should be offered They being all readse straight tooke their way to the Soldanes Pallace leauing the knight of the golden Image in talke with the Princesse Aurora and Florisbellas damsels which were both beautifull and wittie greatly admiring his courage and magnanimitie froÌ„ whose presence they were not parted day nor night but had placed their beds a little from his the better to watch and help him at his néede who excepting the diuine powers of the omnipotent God were cause of his health beeing in that science both singular and excellent CHAP. XXI What happened to the Duke with the Soldane Howe the Knight of the golden Image and the Princesse Persiana were challenged for the deaths of don Gallaneo and Galfeo by the fearefull Felistone and his brethren and howe the challenge was accepted SO soone as the duke was arriued at the Soldanes pallace with the companie mentioned in the precedent Chapter and thinking it vnméet to aduertise him therof they al dismounted and on foot entred the great hall where the Sophy sat who when he saw him come with his blood changed in his face as being the man that mortally hated the duke which now being nigh him humbled himself on his knées requesting the kissing of his royall hands You néed them not Duke said the Sophy since you account your deserts so meritorious and of your self so highly that I sending for you to appeare before me vtterly denied it and with all your power resisted my commandes The Gods forbid I should haue committed any such offence replied the Duke And well do you know dread soueraigue that I neuer estéemed in any your affaires to hazard both life and my whole estate in your seruice But doubting your highnesse being full of ire wold not hear me according to the iustice of my cause I rather chose to withdraw my selfe vnto my lodging where to this instant I remained from whence I was now called bythese noble knights to appeare before your mightinesse So being in this conference there entred the hall thrée giants the greatest vgliest fiercest that any humane nature could produce they were al armed sauing y e heads whose helms and shéelds were borne by their squires on them attended 30. knights not much inferior to theÌ„ in bignesse all their outward garments were of mourning cloth who went directly to the soldan that throughly viewing them greatly woÌ„dred at their moÌ„strous fiercenesse Loe one that was most deformed and séemed to command the rest without dutie to the Soldan began thus with a voice whose hollow roring made all the hall resounde High mightie lord we beléeue that small is the notice come to your eares of vs hauing but little traced thy dominioÌ„s althogh we haue endeuored with all our power the vtmost of our desire the aduaÌ„cing of your house by our seruice wherof your son the prince Perianeo is a sufficient witnesse as the man in the wars of Antioch being tearmed the knight of the Image we ayded of him may you know I am king of Cyprus otherwise called Fellestone the fierce brother to these knigts here present that knowing you married the Princesse Persiana to our cosin don Gallaneo of Antioch we came to honor his nuptials and arriuing néere this citie two of my knights whoÌ„ I sent to seeke two damzels of my companie were slaine by one which I vnderstood is called the knight of the golden Image of whoÌ„ there are also many tales bruted of their valour Moreouer we were certified that he and the duke Alfiron slue in the turney most trecherously the prince don Gallaneo and his cosin don Galfeo And thogh we are assured you wil execute on them the punishment that so vile treason requires for wee haue vnderstood the imprisonment of your daughter the princesse Persiana consenter to their deaths Notwithstanding we being persons to whoÌ„ this aforesaid matter concernes do accuse as wel the duke as the knight of the golden Image with the princesse Persiana your daughter as authors actors of their deaths and therfore traitors and malefactors And I vow to approue it against theÌ„ both togither or with what knight soeuer the princesse shall appoint in her defence for I will not be couÌ„ted a giant nor king of the land where any of vs is knowne if I make theÌ„ not presently coÌ„fesse this their treason that you may chastise it as you shall better iudge and herewith ended his spéech The great rage conceiued by the knights hearing themselues called traitors cannot be sufficiently exprest The Soldan vnderstanding of the Giant what he was rose from his seate to intertain him as his state required intreating him to sit downe It bootes not said he but only that ye send for these traitors to answere my obiections for I haue sworne not to put off my armor till I be satisfied with my reuenge The Duke stepping euen where the Giant was talking whoÌ„ when he better saw his deformitie and bignesse for though himselfe were of a good stature yet reached not to his middle somewhat feared him but remembring by what valiant knights he was backt resolutely made this answer to the giants former spéeches If we had not heretofore heard now by experience seen thy great pride king of Ciprus we had reasoÌ„ to think no humane creature could haue procreated a thing so monstrous and to her selfe so contrarie though such as thou art are alwayes séene from the ofspring of so vilde a kinde whereby thou séemest to colour thy euill grounded reasons and arrogant pride in ioyning kindred with the Soldan our dread Soueraigne And if in case thou bee such a one as thy spéech declares thou more obscurest with thy euill deedes his his royall progenie then euer with wordes thou mayest amplifie it Moreouer know I am the Duke Alfyron whom thou commest to accuse and whereas thou sayest I and the Knight of the
golden Image haue trecherouslie slaine Don Gallaneo I replie thou most falsely lyest which my selfe am readie to approue in battell or present my Champion for the same The Prince Arfileo all this while readie to choake with extreame rage yet moderately sayde thus Since thou art altogether ouerwhelmed in the treasons thou speakest off Cyprus King know that touching the knight of the golden Image thou hast most falsely lied in thy throate and therefore bring with thée in field one of thy brothers or whom else thou wilt For if thou wilt not stay vntill his wounds bée whole my selfe in his place will approoue the vtmost of thy spéeches to be méerelie false for he is not a Prince nor knight that would haue procured Don Gallaneos death except forced thereunto through his great treasons and demerits yet his Coosen like a vilde traitour died treacherously going to murther him in his bed Don Brianell dissembling his anger with a scoffing laughter not suffring the King of Cyprus to roplie said to him I thinke King Knight or Giant or what thou wilt thou thoughtest thy challenge would returne vnaccepted because no knight might be here able in bignesse and deforme to answere thée And yet in my opinion thy pride is farre greater then thy bodie But passing this knowe that in the Princesse Persianaes name I will make the thirde in Combatte agaynst thy brothers or thy selfe to prooue with the helpe of the immortall Gods that in the great vntroth breathed forth by thée thou most treacherously liest And seeing we are all prepared to fight be it presently whiles the passion of thy furiousnes is hot least after thou doe excuse thy selfe by the weight of thy armour euerlong worne The fearefull Gyant séeing with what courage and audacitie of speech those knights spake to him was diuers times about to lay handes vppon his boysterous are thereby to punish the lauish of their tongues no more esteeming the combatte with a hundred of them then doth the furious Bull a troupe of little whelpes béeing ready to burst with fury vttered these words to the Soldane By the high powers of the Gods dread Lord if these sillye mad-men were not before thy sacred presence I would haue inflicted such heauie punishment on them that they should bee examples to all others as should presume to speake in such maner to any of my degree But I will this once restraine my selfe and expect the combate till the Knight of the golden image bée brought well of his woundes that my reuenge may bee the greater For I meane to wage the fight with all foure Nor would I haue you repute my wordes vaine for I haue diuers other times done the like against a hundred better then the best of them Whereunto Don Brianell made this answere Doest thou confirme my former speeches in so long prolonging this fight daring say thou wilt doe it against them all knowing vs to be such knights that will not suffer one another to enter the fight with any such aduantage Thâ—n the Seldan commaunded them all silence saying that the king of Cyprus accusing thrée knights the like number must bee against him to wit the king and his two brothren that shall agrée thereto Bée it as you shall command said the King and my two brothers shal accompany mée though more willing I would haue had this combate my selfe against thrée or foure or more that they might thereby sée how little I esteeme of them Then the Soldane againe commaunded silence to bée kept called the two Lords of Armenia Tessifantie with other Lordes to councell touching the confirmation of the challenge which béeing ended they returned and commanding the knightes and Gyants to attend he said Hauing consulted concerning the accusation made by the king of Cyprus against the Duke Alfiron the knight of the golden Image and my daughter wée haue found hee may lawfully doe it béeing as hee is the mightiest of kindred that Don Gallaneo hath And moreouer because the Duke himselfe is accused he may not in person enter the combatte and so much for the knight of the golden Image Therefore it behooues you Duke to finde a Champion to vndertake this battell for you séeing the Prince Arfileo doth it for the knight of the golden Image and his companion for my daughter and it must bee foorthwith Now though the Duke séemed outwardly displeased being forbidden the combatte in person yet was it not so for hee greatly feared the Gyants forces Neuerthelesse he answered the Soldan in this manner Séeing I must séeke a Champion to defend my right grant me some time dread soueraigne to doe it I giue you said the Soldan twelue dayes wherein looke to it consider on all thinges you shall néede that after you complaine not I haue done you iniustice Then was the Princesse Persiana sent for that she would agrée that the same knight should bée her defender On this message went the Kinges of Armenia Tessifontie and also to bring her who acquainted her with all they had therein laboured according to her request and how the king of Cyprus being come to the Courte had not accused her alone but also the knight of the golden Image and that the Soldan had sent for her to knowe if she would alowe the aduenturous knight for her Champion Whereuppon béeing conducted to her fathers presence she prostrated her selfe before him but hée sternely looking on her said Consider Princesse on the answere you must make to the king of Cyprus Shee answered shee knewe not his demaunde then had she it reiterated Whereunto she replied I knowe not what I should answere to such a false and vniust request and most vntrue suggestion But since you also ioyne with me the knight of the golden Image let him answere both for himselfe and me to whom I commit my life honor right and iustice We sent not for you to this end said the Sophy for the knight of the golden image must not combat himselfe but sée if you will haue the venturous knight defend your cause or no. I care not if he doe replyed she and yet I thinke hée would willingly accept it hauing all right and iustice on his behalf defending the innocencie of a distressed Princesse And I beséech the immortall Gods I may liue to acknowledge and gratifie this his great courtesie To this replyed Don Bryanell your selfe diuine Ladie hauing so great iustice to defence your innocencie maketh mée the debter for this high fauour whose grace hath decréede to lay the confidence of so great a charge on so meane and vndeseruing a knight whose seruice for this honor is in perpetuall bond to your gracious Highnesse Vpon the end of which spéeches the gages were on eyther side accepted and the day of battell assigned to bée twelue dayes after The Soldan commaunded both the Duke and Princesse to bée surely guarded in seuerall strong Towers and turning to the king of Cyprus instantly requested him to
suffer Don Bellianis to enter in the combatte alleaging hee might better to his content bee reuenged that way for all his treacheries CHAP. XXIII How Don Bellianis disguised issued out of the Tower What happened him with Don Contumeliano of Phaenicia and how hee returned vnknowne into the Cittie ALl necessarie preparations béeing ordered against the day of the famous battell tenne dayes were paste of the appointed time and yet the Duke had not nor could finde any that would in his behalfe vndertake that combatte which extreamely gréeued him yet the magnanimitie of his coragious heart permitted no outward shewe thereof No lesse was the sorrowe of theÌ„ beauteous Persiana sustained continually beseeching her Gods not to suffer her honors wracke nor the downefall of her maidens fame through want of a Champion to maintaine the iustice of her cause On the otherside the greate anguish of minde that Don Bellianis conceiued cannot be exprest which was so gréeuous that his Damsels could by no meanes diminish nor himselfe could finde no comforte for his troubled fantasies but at length hée so recouered his weake strength that hee was able to walke about his chamber féeling himselfe in disposition to buckle on his armour And certainly had hée but it and his sword hée had broke foorth among the strongest watch that guarded him which in the day time were aboue 30. men and in the night that number was doubled In the meane time he vsed to send one of the Damsels to know if the duke had got any to sight in his quarrell wheÌ„ he heard of â—â—ne â—n whom he durst trust â—o weighty a charge though he had many good valiant knights by reason of the fiercenesse of the king of Cyprus and his brothers his gréeuous passions were redoubled One of his damsels y t accompanied him by name Floriana daughter to the duke of Tursia being Lord of many countries vnder the Soldan of Babylon which was the chiefest and best beloued of the Princesse Florisbella The other was daughter to the Earle of Cellanea named Persiana But the first said to Don Bellianis the sorrowe of my greeued hart is such renowmed sir to sée the course of these things that I cannot in words shew it as also seeing you cannot vse your valour to remedie them wheren your life honor doth depeÌ„d Wherfore reuoluing many things in my troubled thoughts haue in y e end affying on the rare courage of your admirable streÌ„gth thogh now made weak by trecherous desines and sinister occasions deuised this as the last refuge to redresse these wrongs and this it is You know that we oftentimes go forth vnsuspected or mistrusted of the guard Now may you disguised and attired in the apparell of one of vs hauing no haire on your face get abroad where you may easily procure horse and Armor do what you else think best returning vnknown vnto the pallace there vndertake the Combat and in meane time I will remaine in bed faining to be you suffering none to speak with me saying I am extreame sick Don Bellianis was so ioyfull with this vnlooked and vnthought remedie as hardly it may be expressed hoping therby not onely to assure his owne life but also his companions in that manifest danger though he nothing doubted their valour imbracing the damsel sayd Pray vnto the gods my good fréend Floriana that these troubles may haue their desired end and then I promise you this great care shall be fully gratefied to your content There is no reason replied she why you should binde your selfe to any such gratificatioÌ„ without desert séeing my dutie bindeth me to your perpetual seruice and so thinke not much of this I couÌ„seld you And I intreat you to gouerne your selfe well abroad for being yet weak you might fall in some other greater danger Wherupon séeing the night approched he put on Florianas apparel wherwith he became so faire that the damzels not a little wondred to sée him so beautifull that Persiana cryed out Is it possible oh gods such beautie should be on earth you had bin better reserued it to glorifie your imperial thrones vnlesse heere you will inhabit to manifest your great powers among vs. And truely Sir knight such beauty was neuer séene but in the Princesse Florisbella our Lady Mistresse And well is it for all knights you are not of our sexe else so many would by you perish as by the Princesse our Mistresse whose onely sight killeth though not outright yet with liuing death like the murthering eyes of a slaying base iske Is her beautie so admirable to cause such alterations in men demanded hee you cannot beleeue nor wee set downe saide Floriana the greatnesse therof And because you may know I beare with me so greate a beauty as yours I will shewe it you which I continually carry with mee And so shee drewe it out of her pocket and gaue it him which hee straight knewe to bee the same that was portrayed on his shield though his was more liuely and for all hee viewed it continually did neuer aske whose it was imagining no such perfection could bée on the earth and that Bellona had onely set it there for a shewe Then suddenly was hée wounded to the heart with the vnresisted darte of all conquering Loue and not able to withstand it was inflamed with the fyre that lasted all the dayes of his life surprysed with so great desire to sée the substance of that shaddowe that straight hee would departe thither leauing al thinges hée then had in hand vnfinished In this newe accident was hée a good whyle not knowing how to resolue himselfe saue in fixing his longing eyes on that dainty picture hauing no more colour then in a dead man which the Damzels séeing and thinking his rysing had caused that alteration held him by the armes least hée should fall hee recouering and feeling himselfe touched through shamefacestnes dyed his face with such a vermilion blush y t hee redoubled his fairenesse to whom they sayd What extraordinary passion did you feele Which made vs feare some newe perill had befallen you in that strange chance Whereto hee replyed A suddaine gréefe surprysed me on my left side so strongly that it almost benumbd my vaines and reast mée of my vitall sences If any wound be the cause therof said they vncloath your self and we will see it It shall not néede answered Don Bellianis for I shall stay too long But I pray you giue me this picture that so much resembles another I haue It is at your command replyed the Ladies but take heede you loose it not for if you doo it shall cost you yours Then he taking his leaue of them leauing Floriana a bed in his stead went out of the Chamber to descend the Tower and by the way he met the Kings of Armenia and Tessifanty that came to visit the Knight of the golden Image whom he knowing said in presence of most of the guard Your Maiesties may
not enter for the Knight of the golden Image is a sléepe and so sicke that I feare he will hardly escape the danger of these wounds and I come to tell these knights that for a fewe daies they should suffer none to visit him for it woulde be very troublesome to him and now I will go to know what the Duke determineth about his cause The Kings hearing this would goe no further but charging the guarde to let none enter his Chamber returned back leading Don Bellianis with them whom they knewe not through the obscuritie of the night and had it not béene his pensiue sullen melancholie they could not but haue knowne him by the tallnesse of his body although he stooped as much as he could and being all without the pallace the Kings would accompanie him to the Dukes Tower but he thanking them for that courtesie would not suffer them and so parted going alone and being nigh the Dukes Pallace hee espied his companions talking with many knights and because hee would not be knowne he tooke an other by way which led him without the Cittie gate through which hee went till hee came to a fayre groue of trees somewhat out of the high waye where vnder a spreading beech hee lay till the Moone began with her light to shewe her selfe there washe surprised with the remembraunce of the beautie of the most honourable Princesse Florisbella which he so contemplated that hee was caryed away with the déepe imaginations of her diuine persections that hee knewe not whether hee was in Heauen or in earth and drawing foorth the picture that the Damzells hadde giuen him with heart-breaking sighes he vttered these words procéeding from the bottome of his loue sicke soule Oh diuine and most Angelicall beautie of the absolutest Princesse liuing on this mossey orbe vnhappie was the houre wherein I heard thée named and more vnfortunate when my eyes were captiuated in the admyred sight of thy pictured beautie for séeing the sole shaddawe of thy nominated rarenesse hath the power to drowne mee in heauie soule-tormented passions what then will the substance of thy immortall deitie doo when the fruition of that sight shall robbe mee of my ioying sences Then must I onely call and continually crie for death as chéefest anchorage and remedie of my wound and with my life to end these my extreame and intollerable sorrewes But foole that I am where may I obtaine more glorie then to norish such conceits or what happie fortune then possessing this sight burthening torment if I do not altogither dispaire of y ◠curing salue for my mortall wound Oh wise Bellona not without cause didst thou bid me come to the Soldanes Court and remember me I should not there in my greatest affections loose the reignes of my high courage But who is he that is able to do so hauing no strength to counterpoyz◠my greefes nor cure for my oppressed heart being so far remooued from the causer of my torments whose supreme thoughts cannot deigne to bēd their fauors on so mean a knight if they did how shuld I merit deserue them by conioyning both desires in one when the large continents of the spacious world doth not containe two greater enemies then hers and my father or where is there a greater difference of lawes and religion then betwixt them whereby I maye not onely dispayre of remedie but liue perpetually the disgracest Knight that in this age suruiueth Oh Floriana when or wherein did I so much iniurie thee that thou shouldest on mee so cruelly be reuenged and herewith fixing his eees on his imaginary sorrowes and vnable to resist the violence of the suddain pasion fell in a trance Wherin he continued till a knight arriued there which trauailed that way by the light of the then shyning Moone who séeing that Lady lye with the picture in manner rehearsed alighted and tyed his horse to a trée and going to her tooke her in his armes vsing those remedies that he knewe to recouer her if she were not dead which he feared séeing her stur neither hand nor foote Don Bellianis with what was done vnto him returned to himselfe greatly amazed to see that Knight there thinking he had heard his complaint But the Knight rested no lesse astonished to see his excellent beantie that he could not vtter one word yet with a trembling voice caused by the suddaine fyēt of loue that burnt his heart said What great misfortune hath befallen you most fayre Ladye that in this sollitarie place should put you in such extreame And I sweare by the order of knighthood I receiued that with the vttermost of my power euen with my death to procure your present remedie Therefore I beseech you courteous damsel to tell it me for I shall account my selfe more happie to be imployed in your seruice then to bee created Emperour of Constantinople séeing your rare beautie bindes all the world to your seruice no more being therein to desire then to liue and dye at your command The Prince Don Bellianis hearde his spéech to the end and smiled in himselfe to sée the Knights deceit although those words added a greater flame to his burning fier with remembrance of his mistresse And he determined to answere him according to his opinion that his owne purpose might not bee discouered though he should thereby more torment the knight greatly delighting with such discourses hoping himselfe to vse them if at any time he saw the Princesse Florisbella and therfore replyed thus Truly sir knight although my misfortune were not for no other cause then now to ioy your presence I should haue taken it for my greatest consolation And I think my self most happie that the Gods haue permitted me to arriue in this place to inioy the promise which you of your méere bountie and courtesie haue so liberallie made For my chaunce is the strangest that euer you heard and therefore it behooues me that you graunt me a boone nothing disaduantaging your selfe thereby The Knight ioying more thereat then at any thing in all his life answered Command me what you will faire Ladie for you néede not demaund any thing by intreatie Then before wée procéede any thing further said Don Bellianis vnclaspe your helme and after you shall know what I require The knight straight did it and sitting down hauing thitherto stood discoursed togiter of diuerse things chiefly touching amourous matters Don Bellianis was greatly pleased with his talke and the more to ease his owne gréefe It is néedlesse to describe the features of the Knight béeing of a gallant disposition and yong not aboue fiue and twentie yeares of age of whom don Bellianis demaunded his name whereto he said he would do it if she would accept him for hers Don Bellianis said I will if that will please you and so forwarde with your discourse Then my deare Ladie know my name is Don Contumeliano of Phenicia sonne and heyre vnto the King of that countrey and by
was till he found himselfe at the citie gate which entring he came to the lodging that Don Contumeliano had taken who being at the doore presently knew each other yet spake neuer a worde whereupon he tooke another horse and followed Don Bellianis to the Pallace to know the ende of that aduenture and by the way were greatly admyred of all men the one for the richnesse of his armour and the other for the sumptuousnesse of his apparell as afore is mentioned Don Bellianis lighted at the Court gate and hauing none to hold his horse Don Contumeliano said giue your horse to my Page who shall looke vnto him For though you know me not yet am I bound to do you any seruice Don Bellianis requiting his courtesie did as he requested and sayde Such fauours sir Knight cannot but presage a happie successe to my enterprise And taking him by the hand passed into a long Gallery where they sent the Soldane word of their comming crauing accesse to his presence which graunted they entred and found him talking with the King of Cyprus who then with his brothers began to arme themselues for the fight highly reioycing imagining their enterprize ended assuring themselues that fiue huÌ„dred good knights were not able to withstande them in field And when they sawe those Knights enter in so royall armour and apparell with such gallant disposition they much praysed them They being before the Soldan knéeled on the ground demaunding his princely hands to kisse them who courteously tooke them vp and imbraced them and saide they might vtter what they would and what they came for whereto don Bellianis replied Commaund dread Lord the duke Alfiron to be sent for and then you shall know what we require The Soldan sent for him straight who came garded with a thousand armed men And not knowing the cause of his sending for was verie sorrowfull séeing that day to bee the last of his prefixed time for the tryall of his cause and that he had got no Champion to defend his right by fight Don Bellianis séeing him with an audible voice that al might heare him said Most mightie Sophy of Syconia and imperious Soldane of this great Persian Monarchie know I am called the Solitarie knight if my name haue euer penetrated your eares sonne vnto the king of Phenicia who wandring about the worlde in search of strange aduentures haue by chance arriued in this your kingdome where I heard the occasion that the King of Cyprus otherwise named the Giant Filistone the fierce hath made agaynst duke Alfiron the courteous and other Knights of his company as also against thy daughter the beautious Persiana touching the death of the prince of Antioch who he saith they trechâ—rously â—â—ue I do well know the duke Alfiron although his memorie doth not comprehend any remembrance of his fauors towards me am assured he wold do nothing against the lawes and duties of a good knight But to be briefe I am resolued to vndertake fight the coÌ„bat for him if he hath none to do it I intreat him to grant it me For though I deserue not he should trust me with so great a charge yet my indeuor and his iustice herein shall supply my want The whole assembly much admired him iudging he was of no little valor that durst coÌ„bat with so terrible and deformed Giants though they mightilie doubted his victorie The Soldan was sore gréeued thinking eueâ—â—â— small let to be great according to his desire to sée y â— matter ended as he wold willingly wold he giue that citie to be fully reuenged of the duke Yet dissembling his inward thoughts said You may trie sir knight whether the duke will grant you the fight then do what you therin best may Notwithstanding I know not why you shuld procure this coÌ„bat getting nothing but the losing of your life Al shalbe as pleaseth the gods replied don Bellianis The duke hearing these spéeches said I cannot hitherto call to mind most excellent prince wherein my deserts should so bind you to succor me in this my greatest néed But I do assuredly beléeue the immortall gods hath sent you because they will not suffer so great villanie procéede further And with this as an auspicious tokeÌ„ assuring me of your victory through your incomparable countesie and more valor I grant you the fight and perswade your selfe that all right and iustice you this day defend I am so perswaded answered don Bellianis and therefore say no more But who is your accuser The king of Cyprus stepped forth saying I am he Wherfore sée if still thou be so resolued More assuredly will I now maintaine it then at first said don Bellianis for thy presence sheweth there can bee no reasou nor iustice in any thing thou attemptest The Giant inraged with these words séeming through choller to spit fire in treated the Soldan to command the prisoner to be brought into the field for being all armed they had nothing to stay for Hereat don Bellianis was somwhat moued thinking it would be knoweÌ„ he was not in y e tower Many of those knights went for the prisoners entring don Bellianis lodging they â—ound Floriana a bed in his place but her felow was vp had closed the curtains so close that none could sée who was a bed Who when she saw the gard come in said very softly to them Go no further good knights for the knight of the golded Image lyeth in the extream paine of his life The Sophy said they hath sent vs for him to cary him to the field See said she where he lieth but I beséech you stir him not I will go with you to the Soldan and sée what he will command Wherupon they went to the Sophy with her who declared vnto him in what case don Bellianis was The Soldan coÌ„manded he should not be molested and that she should sée him want nothing He now néedeth nothing but this said she and séeing the knight y t had vndertaken the coÌ„bat she knew him to be don Bellianis by his gallant demeanor and the talnesse of his body and wondred to sée him fâ—rnished with so rich armor and returning to the tower told it Floriana who with her greatly râ—ioyced assuring themselues that don Bellianis would obtaine the victorie reasoning together that he séemed to be yoked in the amorous bonds of their Ladie by that which beâ—ell him when they named her At this time was the Princesse and the Duke conducted to the field séeming verie pleasant The Princes don Brianel and Arfileo were aduertised how the duke had gotten a champion They were glad therof because the imprisoned knights might rest more contented and secure of their good succâ—sse and so they mounted on their horses The King of Arminia did beare Don Brianels shéeld and Arfileos was borne by the king of Tessifantie The Duke Gariano did beare one helme and the Prince of Brandalia the other and in this maner they were
such great admiration and excéeding ioye to sée his Lady had almost fowned to the ground Thereupon Don Bellianis commaunded the Trumpets to sound the retrait to withdrawe the souldiers and nâ—éeting with the Kings of Armenia and Feâ—â—ifanty led them to theyr owne quarters which they could hardly do beeing so giuen to the spoile But being vnited togither don Bellianis charged the Dukes Captaines to conduct their men to their maisters Cittie that was in the Kingdome of Persia which they did with great hast séeing their enterprise so happâ—ly succéeded and also because there was aboue 40. thousand men armed there And theÌ„selues hauing no guides staied within y e citie til y e morrow least they shuld loose theÌ„selues in the night But the dukes men kept on their way so well that at the appearing of the Sunne they were hard by the place where the daye beâ—ore they left the Princesse Aurora whither also came the Princes and there they all alighted to rest them where the Princesse Aurora welcommed them with the duke Alâ—iron whose gladnesse was as great as his sorrow had bene before rendring togither with the other Princesse innumerable thankes vnto the two Kings for their aide promising and confirming an euerlaâ—â—ing inâ—iolable bond of amitie â—that lasted all their liues as the course of this great Historie amply dilatâ—th And not staying in this place departed thence where we leaue them to set downe what the Soldane did CHAP. IIII. What the Soldane did hauing vnderstood his daughters losse And how Coroliano and Boraldo his brother followed the Dukes power with great troupes with the successe of a most cruell battell that passed betweene them WHat tongue is able to expresse the many and loude laments and lamentable cries made in the Pallace by the popularitie and others which also the Ladies and damoselles with their great clamours augmented for the losse of the Princesse Persiana Now the Knights that escaped the deadly fury of the lost battell séeing their aduersaries gone went to séeke the Soldan whom they found in the Garden as before is mentioned they tooke him and did beare him thence to his Chamber and laide him in his bedde and hearing the pittious shréekes of the damosels enquired the cause which was told him to be for that their aduersaries had taken with them the Princesse Persiana his daughter and had set at libertie the Duke Alfiron and all that more he had not séene which when he knew the extreame anguish and sorrow of these euils almost bereft him of his liuing breath But therevpon he called a cousin of his a lustie and couragious Knight called Coroliano and commaunded him to follow the enemy wiâ—h all the people in the Citie to rescue his stolen Daughter and that he should spare no mans life that fell into his hands Which he vttered with such â—â—raged greet that the â—eares triâ—kled downe his face Coroliano did all like the man accustonâ—â—d in such dangers assuring himselfe â—o be auâ—nged on their foes for all their losses Wherefore at his command the citie straight â—â—choâ—d with the sound of all manner of millitarie instrumeÌ„ts and all that were able to beare armes armed themselues and wâ—nt to the pallace so that in litle time there were gathered aboue 40. thâ—usand men which in all haste hee lâ—d â—ut of Perâ—â—pâ—lis keeping no order iâ— their march y t their enemies might not get far before them who then were aboue 15. miles aâ—ore In this maner they went till they came to a Cittie belonging to the Souldane where they that night rested and vnderstanding there howe the enemie determined to dyne the next morrow at Bolleâ—a thought if hee staied hee should not ouertake them as he would Wherfore about mid-night he set forwards with all his men making such haste that by brâ—ake of day hee espied them desâ—â—nâ—ing a hill in good order which much ioyed him that he presently commaunded his Trâ—â—pets to sâ—â—â—de which Don â—ellianis hearing looked backe and sawe so â—â—any men make towards them that they couered the plaine it sâ—mewhat troubled him wanting meanes to guarde the Princesse Yet with as much câ—lâ—ritie as the time afâ—oorded hee whéeled his companies about setting the Princesse at one side of the mountaine guarded with fiue hundred knights and séeing his men began to â—aint with the sight of such multitudes he incouraged them repraying and â—â—treating them to consider that those troupes were of little moment and lesse valoâ—r comming halfe vanquished beeing onely ledde by the eagerâ—â—sse of râ—â—â—nge for the late slaughter was made of them which like blinde men brought them to theyr vttâ—r distruction This saiâ—â— hee tooke with him the aduâ—nterous Knight the Prince Arfileo the two knightes and the Duke and placing themselues before theyr men expected theyr aduersaries Coroliano being descended on the plaine deuided his Souldiers in two Squadrons the one hee committed to his Brother Boraldo and the other he ledde himselfe and imagining what they had done he commandâ—d two thousand chosen knights to assault the corner of the mounte certainly supposing that the Princesse Persiana was there and so with great clamours they furiously ranne vppon the Dukes men who with their valiaunt guides were to receiue thâ—m and so terrible were their incounters on that plaine that aboue foure thousand of Corolianos knights were vnhorsed by reason that their horses were wearie and tyred with the haste they had made that they could scant holde out thitherto Don Bellianis and his companions on their side ouerthrewe aboue sixtie to the grounde dead and thrusting themselues among their enemies that they séemed so many furies sent for theyr vtter desolation But the aduerse numbers were so many that the dead nothing discouraged the liuing especially for that Coroliano so animated them that it may be be saide hee onely vpheld the battell Which Arfileo seeing tooke a Launce from one of his companie and made against him Coroliano did the like and met so furiously that theyr shéeldes and Armour were piersed and themselues rested on horsebacke sorely wounded then drawing theyr strong swordes forced each other at euery blowe to bowâ— theyr heads to the Saddle pummell While they were thus in fight Don Bellianis men through his strength and their enemies hauing no other Captaine but the other beganne to win some ground with such slaughter of both sides that neyther parte might well boast of the victorie in the ende Which thing when Boraldo perceiued woulde no longer staye nor expect any woorde from his Brother but like an arrowe sent from a stéeled bowe maketh his swift way through their airie passage so he with his fresh Battalion sette against his aduersaries and looking on whom hâ— might with most honour breake his Launce espâ—â—â— the King of Armenia that with diuellish rage â—â—aâ—sacred his meâ— against whom resting his speare ouerturned him there with doing the like to the King of Tessifantie on whom he brake his speare Whereat with a loude voyce he incouraged his fainting
handes that hee was faine to set him downe not being able to stand on his legges looking like a man readie to breathe his last Don Bellianis thinking his woundes were the cause of it sat him downe lamenting that vnhappie chaunce loosing their blood so fast that it had made two Chanells as if they proceeded from two rising springs and ouertaken by the darksome night were put into so great feare that they dispaired of remedie Especially Don Bellianis doubting thereby his fathers life who because the suddaine amazement more troubled him then the daunger of his woundes quickly recouered himselfe and imbracing the Prince his sonne said Oh deare sonne tell me I pray you why come you armed in the Armour of the Knight of Fortune Did he peraduenture diâ— by your hands or how is it for I cannot expresse the alteration I suffer till I know it I weare the Armes of Sabian of Trebento and no others for those of the Persian Prince your selfe weares I haue not chaunged mine said the Emperour But tel me what hath befallen you since you lest me for surely we haue bn wondrously deceiued Don Bellianis tolde it him Whereupon the Emperour spake Surely Prince we haue bene inchaunted and yet cannot deuise by what meanes but this is the straungest case I euer heard of that both should séeme to weare one kinde of armour and not perceiue it each of vs imagining the other to be the Persian Prince And it may bee that Lady that cryed to you for helpe was she that so deceiued vs. But let vs part from hence for we loose much blood When they were vppon going they espied comming towards them an auncient Matrone conducted by foure monstrous Gyants before them was carried a Piller of fire which lighted them their way they came with such haste that ere they could rise she was vpon them whom presently the Gyants tooke from her Palfray and knéeling before the Emperour she required his royall hands to kisse them The Emperour refusing to do it tooke her vp and she vnmasking her selfe was straight knowne of Don Bellianis to be the sage Bellona his deare friend Whereat conceiuing as much pleasure as before displeasure and accounting all his daunger none imbracing her said What chaunce hath brought you hither my good friend at such a time which is not without some speciall cause The great loue I beare you and the Emperour your father replied she is the cause thereof But for you incurre great perill through your wounds eate this which I will giue you for with the like medicine you were afore cured They did so and were therewith presently so well as if they had had no ill at all and their armour returned vnto their former colour and deuises The Emperour imbracing her said For Gods sake Ladie tell me this aduenture for it doth more amaze me then any thing in all my life I will replyed shée and hardly shall you know it of any but of me You well remember the Combatte you had agreed with the Persian Prince now know he hath to his friend a great Magician in that Art the skilfullest in all the world this man knowing the great daunger his friend should passe with the Prince your sonne did ordaine all that which you haue séene changing both your armours that you might staie one another each of you thinking you fought with the valourous Prince Perianeo And trust me his desire had taken effect had it not bene for Don Bellianis sword which for that purpose the wise Medea many yeares before kept in the Caue where Don Bellianis woune it being the man she wished might haue it alwayes desiring to benefit the house of Greece as often heretofore she hath done For so was it written where your sonne found the sword if he doth remember the words I doo well remember them replied Don Bellianis for thus they said This Prophecie is mentioned in the seeond Chapter and here explained with effect That with this Sword the liuing should be lost and the dead put in possession of the recouered and they restored to their royall blood with knowledge of their possessors You see now how it hath come to passe and moreouer they said this should be At the time when the fiercenesse of the couragious Lyons which are you two by the greatnesse of his skill which is that of the wise man called Fristone that in knowledge equals her because he hath all her â—ookes should be put in greater feare but this know not he for he did not looke whether thâ— Sword were wonne or no or whether the valorous Prince your sonne did weare it Then the liuing which were lost that arâ— you two that being liuing were lost by the alteration of your Armour and supposing you alreadie dead which would haue happened if the fight had bene ended with the blowe of this Sword that cut the laces of your Helme were put in possession of your recouered selues being restored to your royall bloods which was at the point vtterly to haue bene lost And the true possessors knowne which are both you taking one another for the Persian Prince Now I hope you vnderstand the aduenture you haue past which not without cause you haue accounted straunge Greatly wondred the knights at these Ladies words who againe said But for another cause hath my comming bene which is to haue with me the Prince Don Bellianis your deare sonne whome I must presently vse in a deare imploy that ne lesse concernes him then his life Take vs both with you saide the Emperour I would willingly doo it replied shée but that the braue Duke Alsiron greatly néedeth your helpe and therefore it is no reason to leaue him alone and your sonne shall quickly returne againe And here doo as I counsell you for I well knew this woulde happen which made me write vnto you that you should by no meanes depart from the Cittie of Constantinople but you would not do it wherein it had not bene much if you had lost your life I will not go against your counsell replied the Emperour but tell me if my sonne shall quickly returne He shal said she and therefore go to the Citie the soonest that you may and so making Don Bellianis mount on horseback who had taken the Emperours blessing which with many teares did giue it him departed as swift as the winde leauing the Emperour so occupied with imaginations whither his sonne might be carried that he knew not how to resolue himselfe CHAP. XXXVIII How the Emperour returned to the Cittie of Bollera and what happened him in the Souldanes Campe before hee entred into the Citie THe Emperour remembring the Sages words tooke his Launce and mounted on horsbacke approching the Cittie of Bollera almost by breake of day which he founde begyt with so many multitudes that he greatly wondred at their suddaine arriuall and not knowing on which side the Duke laie intrenched because the Citie was round about besieged he rushed among those Tentes
weares them can not bée molested by anie inchauntment whatsoeuer nor be knowne vnlesse he will himselfe You haue tolde mée wonders sayde Don Bellianis and is this mans skill so great that hée may force the Princesse Florisbella agaynst her will and giue her to the Prince of Persia Doubt it not replyed Bellona for more then this can hee performe and beléeue mée you shall sustaine for this cause great trauaile and therefore let vs not deferre the passing time Héere I commit you to God leauing you to the valour of your heart to finish what you haue to do and take this way which will bring you to the place for I must goe no further with you Don Bellianis taking his leaue of her descended downe that way in such haste that hée quickely sawe before him a strong and well towred Castell and looking about coulde finde no Porche nor Portall to enter into it But going to the other side of it hée espyed a little mouth of an obscure Caue and looking downe into it hee thought that it descended to the infernall Pitte And also before it he sawe a greate Piller of fine Christall so transparaunt that it séemed to take his light from the sunnes owne light that then shined on it were set certain letters made with rich Rubies to this effect The inscription of the first Piller The straunge lodgings of Brandezar in remembrance of Nycaons great euenge chief in the Magicke Ault shalbe conceaâ—ed â—rom all men till the strâ—ngest Lyon conducted by the litâ—le wolâ—e shal wiâ—h extreame nâ—cestitie in search of my skill h 〈…〉 her arriue Whose valâ—ur must excell the foâ—ce of my monstrouâ— guardiants leauing all his fine tempered armor at the entrance of my caue if he be adorned with Vertue and Fortitude And thou couragious knight that â—iâ—t this aduenture try must arme thy self with nought but the war like vertue of thy magnanimious hart Don Bellianis hauing read the letters made no other account then if he had séene none but animating his resolution drewe forth his sword and would haue entred the caue but ere he was aware it vanished from his sight Oh God saide hee what strange things be these Is it possible I must without Armour passe through so fearefull a place And thinking it cowardize to lingur so long presently vnarmed himself resting in his hose and doublet and hauing his sword in his hand kist it and laid it downe and recommended his safetie to the Almightie as a man that had beene going to buckle with death And considering with himselfe that in the accomplishment of that aduenture consisted the vtter losse or lasting libertie of his Lady fearelesse hee cast himselfe into the Caue wherein he scant had set his feete but hee thought he descended into the most lowest Center of the earth sometimes stryking his head sometimes his féete against the sides thereof that hee was so bruised he felt not himselfe and when he came to the bottome he lighted with so great a fall that hee verily thought hee was beaten all to peeces And rysing with no small paine thereof looked to sée where he was but could deserue no more then if he were in the darkest night closed within an obscure Dungeon and searching on all sides for light at last he espied a little hole from whence there issued so very little that he could not almost see his hands But he was srant at it when hee felt himselfe drawne backwards with such force that hee had almost tumbled with his shoulders on the earth and turning to see who pluckt him backe sawe him to be a mightie giant hauing in his hand a most sharpe and puissant battell-axe whith him came two Centaures on eyther side each of them led a Lyon the fiercest that euer he saw They all came towards him to discharge their puissant blowes vppon his head but hee stepping backe escaped them all Héereuppon the Centaures vnchained theyr Lyons which presently ranne vppon him and one thinking to rent his body with his sharp pawes leapt at him But he stretching forth his strong armes catcht him by the necke and choked him At this time receiued he two such cruel blowes that he was constrained to set his knees on the grouÌ„d shedding much blood And hee séeing the Gyant hard by him closed within him to wring his are out of his hands whereon he cast his mightie strength the Gyant perceiuing his intent did also laye fast hold on him héere the Centaures incempassed him procuring both to drawe him from the Gyant where there was seene the most vnequallest wrastling that euer was heard of Don Bellianis still persisting in his purpose was so oppressed with their seuerall inchaunted forces that he often lost his breath and they making the caue to tremble cuen with the whorse eccho of their resounding Clamors But heere the Prince setting the vtmost of his sirength wrencht the Fawchen out of his hand with whith goâ—â—g to strike the centaures he sawe them all at that instant vaâ—tsh from his sight which more amazed him then anything else and seeing a little pain of stayres before him mounted vp with as great courage hauing that Fawchen as if with all his Armour he had béene Armed And hauing ascended the stayres he sawe a faire Hall so which he should passe by so straight a way that vnarmed hee could haroly go through it where there was many Armed Knights that kept the passâ—ge with their naked swords These were of thosâ— knights that were inchanted with Brandezar being of the strongest then â—uing whom Nycaon left for the Emperors guarde with no other thought then to loose their liues ere he should be taken away or kild him that there wold enter Which Don Bellianis seeing and that he must â—éeds of necessitie pâ—sse through with an inuincible heart with the fawthen in his hand cast himselfe among them where hee no sooner came but two of them sâ—tting thâ—ir shoulders against him most branely made him go three or foure steps back weunding him greeuously on the leg on his head and beeing vnarmed had almost kild him Don Bellianis feeling the strength of the Knights to be so great determined to bâ—haue himselfe otherwise with him and returning againe to the doore strooke at them diuers times thinking they wold giue back but they had no other care but to offend and defend not stirring any way Hereat the Prince warding their blowes with his Fawchen drewe one of them vnto him by his sheeld with such haughtie strength made him headlong tumble at his feete and tooke his sheelde from him and with it about his arme he rusht among all these Knights in such a cruell fight leaping on all sides to shâ—n their blewes In this manner lasted their fight aboue three houres that in the end the Prince so bâ—haued himselfe that he ouercame them all which were aboue thirtie leauing them all breathlesse in the Hall He entred into another lodging that was nert that being wounded in
Castle nor Caue But before him laydead the Emperor Brandezar and his knights which greatly gréeued him there also he found his armour he had left and putting of those he had on armed himselfe with them of the Emperour which were the richest till that houre séene They were all gréene guarnished with many Bassiliskes of gould and Azure with many vnualuable pearles of excéeding brightnesse and gyrding his good sword went to the Emperour for the ring the wise man haâ— tolde him of which he tooke from a finger of his right hand the preciousnesse of which Jemme much amazed him the stone of it was a little Carbuncle yéelding as great light as feure burning torches But scarce had he taken the ring when hard by he sawe a Tâ—â—be as faire as euer he sawe any set vpon twelue Pillers of Christall which sustained an Altar made of the richest Emeraldes in all the Orientall regions Upon euerie Piller stoode soure Angelles holding foure burning torches that neuer wasted Uppon the Sepulcher was a shield held vppe by two greate â—reeffions with the Armes of the Emperour Brandezar and about them were written these wordes The Incription on the shield vppon the Emperours Sepulcher Nycaon King of Egypte chiefe Magician of his time in perpetuall memorie of his reuenge for the distruction made of 〈…〉 kingdome by Brandezar Emperour of Babylon Persia Trebizond hath erected this monument wherein after the many torments sustained by his skill beeing vanquished hee lyeth dead by his handes that in valour excelleth all Knights in the vniuerse Heere shall hee lye buiryed in this lasting monument till the Sonne of the braue Lyon with his force shal ouercome the power of my Art obtaining the sight heerein inclosed not vsing the rare valour of his heart On the other side of the Tombe was set another shield expressing the manner of the Emperours inchauntment and for what cause Nycaon had so donc with the manner of his libertie by Don Bellianis who attentiuely beholding that wondrous worke with great ioy for the obtained ring he â—pted Bellona in great haste come to him in manner as hâ—e left her and demanded of him how he did Very well replyed hee for I haue accomplisht what you commaunded mee yet am much amazed at what here is for hauing séene none to do it Heere lyeth buryed the Emperour Brandezar and do greatly desire to see what is within That may not be answered shee for our staying may much preiudice vs. Yet I long to trye it said hee But I will leaue it seeing you will haue it so And one of the Gyants that came with her gaue him a shield according to his armour but in the middle of it was his accustoined deuise Don Bellianis greatly â—oyâ—d to see the picture of his Ladie And so departed in the manner that they came in little time posting in any myles But heere wee leaue them returning to the great Magician Historie CHAP. XLII What Fristone wâ—ouâ—ht after the two Princes battell to get into his power the Princesse Florisbella and how she was succoured by the Knight of the golden Image THe battell béeing ended betwéene the two Princes aâ— before is mentioned the sage Fristone hauing cured the Prince Persiano of his woundes returned to his habitatien in the desart of death where cailing to his remembrance the loue that Persiano did beare the Princesle Florisbella which she so little regarded and wherein she contiuually languished He cast about with his coÌ„iurations by which he came to know that if vnder the domination of the Plannet Marcury that then raigned he got not to his hands the beauteous Princesse Florisbella he should after suffer mortall torments for her sake yet coulde he not learne whether the Persian prince should marrie her or no. And in these tumultuous times thinking easily to get and present her to the Perfian Prince before the end of those warres taking the necessaries to imploy his Art arriued in little time within the superbeous Babylonian walles Where he raysed a Tent the richest and most stateliest that euer was séene with so many gallant deuises that it admyred euery beholder Which no sooner was seen but it was presently tolde the Souldane who with the Empresse Siluiana his wife and the princesse Florisbella his daughter came forth to sée it greatly woondring at the fayrenesse and riches thereof from whence they heard so swéete a mellodious consort of musicke that it rauished their delicate sences and after so many Trumpets sounded as if some pitcht fielde were to be fought Which being done there issued out of the tent foure beautious Ladies cloathed in long rich robes of imbrodered worke they were led by their hands by foure valiant Knights clad all in gréene Armour with many golden starres thereon with theyr helmes laced on their heads Which troupe went towards the gallant princesse Florisbella y t was discoursing with her father about the tent and being before her they all kneeled refusing to rise both at her and the Emperors intreaties And one of the ladies with a cleare voice that all might heare her thus began High and mightie Potentate Emperor of Babilon Souereigne Monarch of the orientall regions and most renowmed Souloan to whose supreme command the Vniuersall globe of all the orbed earth might deseruedlie owe tributary dutie excelling all mortall Kings in honour and in bountie by maintaining equall and vpright iustice through his vaste Empery with the continuall glorie of haughtie Chiualrie daily honoured in his Courts whose magnificent estate the immortall Gods doo emmulate through the incomparable beautie of his excellent Daughter for whose sake his Empyre shall still augment with eternall happinesse to perpetuall ages Know that the deare hope to finde redresse for our troubled thoughts hath brought vs to this imperiall Cittie where if our hopes bee frustrated of theyr desires we will returne dispayring of future remedie for our gréefes wanting it here where neuer any was denied Wherefore of thée and of this glorious Princesse wee must obtaine a boone before we do explayne the cause of our comming Require what you will said the Souldane for my desire is so great to knowe this aduenture that not onely one but twentie I doo graunt you and therefore make vs partakers of your gréeuances Whereuppon they rose and the Damozell returning to her former purpose thus saide In yonder Tent most dread Lord is the valiaunt King Gorgiana of Soria théefe Lord of that Land whome you well knowe béeing your néere Ally that being in his peacefull kingdome ordering of certaine Tryumphs wherein himselfe with most of his best knights shoulde bee in thyther came many straungers and forreiners brought by the fame of his beautious Daughter then thought the fayrest Lady liuing And among many that there arriued shee was demaunded of her father for wife by the great Magician Herodiano king of the Ile of pearles one of the brauest Gyants hitherto séene But he being informed what he was returned him that his daughter
depart for so Bellona would haue him do but perceiuing the Souldane comming towards him he thought it discurtesie to part without speaking staid and séeing he was come nigh him setting his hand on his saddle alighted with admirable lightnesse and prostrating himselfe demanded his hands to 〈…〉 sse them The Soldan against all intreaties did also dismount shewing the like curtesie that the knight did for he was a prince absolute in all Courtly behauiour had not Don Bellianis staied to whom the Souldan thus saide I cannot comprehend the cause excellent knight that hauing broght to end the greatest and no lesse strange aduenture hitherio seene liberating vs from such daunger you should depart bereauing vs of your defined conuersatioÌ„ by so sedain departure from our court which I would vnwillingly haue you do though you were newly put in as great daunger as the last you vndertooke in our behalfes which notwithstanding the Gods defend And farther I say if at my request you deny to do it withstanding my authoritie you shal be conuicted by her for whose remedie our immortall Gods I thinke brought you hither Where he imbraced him with loue as the benefit receiued bound him to Don Bellianis was strooke into such an amaze that he knew not how to be resolued thinking if he did not obey the Souldan the vnkindnesse would be greater then the seruice he had done him And on the other side he considered that he might incurre no lesse daunger by discouering himself not knowing Bellonaes intent in so concealing him But to salue all the best he might made this reply It doth not a litle gréeue me most mightie Lord that I cannot do you the seruice my heart desires because it lyeth not in my power being hither brought by yonder Lady that you sée without whose leaue I may dispose of nothing but binding my dutie to your seruice for euer as the person that most honour on the earth deserueth While they were thus talking the Sage Bellona came to them and with her the two sole excellencies of beautie the Princesses Florisbella and Matarosa with such rare brightnesse that it would obscure the midday Sun in all his pride shining in the middle heauen where he dwelles The aboue all fairest the faire Princesse Florisbella sole diuine perfection of an earthly obiect came with such a gallant semblance that no humane heart could haue bene so obdurate but would haue melted at her sight she was cladde in a white sattiâ— gowne with a peticoate of the same all cut vppon most rich cleth of Golde and euery cut tacked with a great Orient Pearle which were so many and so well set that they made so straunge a worke that the curiousnesse thereof could not be discerned the sléeues were long and large hanging to the ground closed with wyer of massiue gold set with the same Pearles and lyned with the same cloth of golde hung out with many vnualuable Jewels her Amber haire disheuelled ouer her shoulders hung backwards gathered togither behinde her eares vppon which shée had a Coronet garnished with Dyamonds Rubies Saffyres and pearles of more woorth then that whole Cittie before on her Carkanet pended a Carbunckle as bigge as two Walnuttes that yeelded so much light as foure great Torches burning in the darke Her Gorget was so open that plainly might be discerned the rare excellency of the Creator of all thinges in the pure wonder of the Sunne-out clearing whitenesse of her brest adorned with inâ—stimable Gemmes And although she thus came attired more beautie did glorifie her garments from the diuine naturall of her face then was hir beautie graced by the brightnesse of those stones such sole supremacie did make her absolute for no artificiall woorke could diminish nor augment her fauour The stately passage of her féete no more séemed to moue then the gentle blast of the milde blowing winde The Princesse Matarosa was attired in that maner whose perfection had no equall in the absence of her faire Cosin In this maner arriued they where the Souldan was talking with the Princesse don Bellianis who seeing the excellency of his Lady that farre excelled the portrayture of his shield rested so confounded with admiration that his braue heart vnable to resist so fierce an assault all couered with a cold sweat as if that were the last moment of his life lost his sences that had not the Souldane who thought some mortall wounde had caused it held him fast about the necke he had fallen to the ground yet notwithstanding he was in such a traunce that he felt nothing that was done vnto him Whereat the Princesse Florisbella being verie sorrowfull stepped to him to vnlace his helme But the Sage Bellona quickly running thither cryed out she should not doo it and imbracing the Prince said that euery one heard What is the matter knight that in time that we most néede your helpe you shewe such weaknesse The Prince at her words recouered himselfe and greatly ashamed at the accident replied You know deare Lady that I came no otherwise seeing the hand of cruell death knocked at my heart vnlesse I be succoured with present remedie Our immortall Gods will not permit it Sir Knight said Florisbella that we hauing receiued so absolute remedie by the helpe of your vallourous arme your life should be bereâ—t you to depart vngratified for your deare merits Whereto he answered In all humble dutie lower then lowly earth I kisse your beauteous handes sole excellent Princesse for the vndeserued fauour of your words whose power hath only power to cure my decaying life dispairing of â—ll remedie and deare comfort in the whole vniuerse but by this While they were thus talking the Soldan knew Bellona whom with great ioy he imbraced she would haue kissed his and the Empresse hands but the Soldan wold not suffer it saying Why haue your deare friend kept your selfe away so long time not visiting vs for I know no cause you had for it but now shal you pay for al not departing so easily as you thinke And I pray you tell who is this valorous knight y t comes with you for I am sure you knew of our distresse séeing you came in so great time of need The wise woman made this reply You say true dread Lord for knowing your danger and that surely you had lost the princesse your daughter I vndertooke this iourny imposing so great a danger vpon this knight as he vnderwent by our comming And beléeue me his equall liues not this day in the world and without him my comming had bene in vaine and hitherto I did not visit you because you had no néed of me I beléeue it replied the Souldane and now that our ioy may be compleat I pray you make this knight vnlace his helme and remaine here some fewe dayes for it would greatly vex me if such a knight shuld go from my Court vnknowne This must be pardoned said she for he must depart vnknown and therfore I pray you
cause of them which shée by great importunitie declared which was no small comfort to her after woes But here wee leaue them till their time with the Soldane greatly doubting whether this was the Prince of Persia which hée confirmed to bee because he would not discouer himselfe But his Lords perswaded him to the contrarie saying This Knight better became his armour then he But now the storie turnes vnto the Prince don Brianell whom we left in his iourney towards Antioch CHAP. XLV What don Brianell did after hee was gone from Bollera and how he was informed of the state of Antioch WIth great desire to procure the good successe of his Ladies commaund deparded don Brianell to Antioche thinking that to effect so waightie a matter as that his foundation was weake But continuing his voyage meeting with no aduenture woorthie the rehearsall at length arriued at a Citie not aboue twelue miles from Antioch called Miriana where hee resolued to stay and learne the stâ—te of the kingdome And alighting at a house of good credit was verie well 〈…〉 by the owner of the house that was one of the best Knights in that Countrey So supper ended discoursing alone with him of diuerse matters he demaunded who was King of that Countrey â—eeing then troubled with ciuill mutâ—â—eâ— The hoasâ— with teares in his eyes thus answered You shall knowe siâ— Knight that after the King Pompeiano ouâ— soueraigne was siaâ—â— by the men of the Persian Soldan a kinsman of his called Don Gallaneo became our King who gouerned vs in peace maintaining law and iustice with all vprightnesse But since we haue vnderstood he was â—lame at Persepolis by soâ—â—e of the same Soldans subiects and in whâ—se absence there gouerned vs as Viceroy a noble man named Damartyno who with great wisdom and diâ—â—â—â—tion kept vs in quiet concord till a brother of the King of P 〈…〉 a by name the fearefull Tremolcano knowing y t in reuenge of the death of don Callaneo of Antioch the king of Cyrus with two more brethreÌ„ of his were slaine in Persia calling vs traâ—tors and rebâ—â—â— with a great power came vpon vs sâ—â—uâ—â—ng the Country Gariano which is a great Lord in his Countrey tooke our Gouernor saying he would haue rebelled with the land and hath imprisoned him in a castell taking possession of the whole kingdome saying Don Gallaneo hath no nigher allie then he and so executeth daily such tyrannies on the afflicted people that we desire rather to die then liue This is sir the truth of your demaund But tell me sayde Don Brianell left your King Pompeiano no issue to inherite his kingdome after him He did replied his hoast one daughter called the Princesse Aurora whome we thinke to bée dead for wée haue neuer since heard of her But if she be not dead sayde Don Brianell and comming hither will you not receyue her We will all die in her bâ—halâ—e replyed hee But these traytour are so stronglie fortifiâ—â— that wée shoulde hardly effect anie good vnlesse there were some to incourege the people of the Countrey and for this none better then she Gouernour Damartyno but that his imprisonment forbiddes it for euer Is his guard so great sayd Don Brianell that you thinke he may not be liberated The guarde replied he is not so great but that the Cittie is so nigh vnto the Castell that vpon the giuing of the watch-worde aboue thirtie thousand men would arme themselues And within the Castell there is a Mine that reacheth vnto the King Tramolcanos Pallace How know you this said don Brianell Because you seeme a man on whom I may repose greater trust I will tell you answered the hoast I was Lieutenant of the castell vnder Damartyno thrée yeares and then knew I it and that way went I often to speake with him which makes me the more pittie his imprisonment Don Brionell liked well of his hoasts wordes and perceiuing hée wished well to the affayres of the Princesse Aurora sayde Can you tell mée howe I might get vnto that Mine to go into the Castell I do replied hée but what dooth it concerne you that you will vndertake so daungerous an enterprise I am his nigh Aâ—â—â—â— sayde don Brianell and woulde willinglie put my selfe in hazarde to set him at libertie Although it seemes impossible to scape with life in this enterprize sayde the hoast because there is within a Cousen of the Giantes with tenne Knightes I will notwithstanding doe it and helpe herein while I liue and therefore will goe with you to Morrowe to Antioche béeing an honour to loose my life in companie of such a Knight Don Brianell thanked him for it promising that if their enterprize had a good successe his paynes shoulde bée well quitted The deedes doo bring with them theyr recompence sayde the hoast and more then this am I bounde to doo for Damartyno The next morning saying that hée must goe about certaine affayres to Antioche clad himselfe all in Armour For though he were poore yet was hee one of the valiantest Knights of that Countrey all his life trained vp in chiualdrous designes Which don Brianell séeing wondered at it not knowing hée was a Knight and so departed towards Antioch CHAP. XLVI What don Brianell and Palineo of the venture did arriuing at Antioch and the daunger they were in WIth intention aforesaid trauailed these two Knights till they came within sight of the citties of Antioch which was one of the best and well peopled Citie of the world for there was within aboue a hundred thousand great housholds Don Brianell highly admyred the Turrets and Towers of the same which were numberlesse and the Sunne reuerberating on them made the Citie séeme of a burning flame What thinke you sir of this noble Citie demaunded the hoast Well replied don Brianell for I haue not séene a more fayrer and that better contented me Not without reason doo you say so sayde his hoast for I assure you there is but thrée fayrer at this present which are Babylon Memphis and Constantinople which notwithstanding scant in fayrenesse equals this I pray you tell me your name said don Brianell for I greatly desire to know it séeing we shall be better acquainted hereafter My name is sayde he Palineo of the Venture and seeing this occasion requires it I woulde gladlie knowe yours before wee come to Antioche I am called the aduenturous Knight answered don Brianell and do beléeue you neuer heard me named hauing neuer trauelled this way before I haue no doubt of it sir replied Palineo but you must now chaunge that name here for it is said a knight so called was present at the King of Cyprus death Thus went they till they met a Knight sore wounded going in great haste Don Brianell staying him demaunded the cause of his hastie iourney in that manner You shall know sir replied the knight that the Countie Gariano to exercise his knights order yesterday a tourney of a thousande on each side so
buisinesse nor néede more seruice then I can doe being not so déepely wounded that we should require any such helpe You saye well aunswered don Bryanell but vnlesse I be deceiued you are sore wounded and my selfe am in like case and before we loose more blood let vs set Damartyno at libertie Be it so replyed Palineo and so tooke the keyes of the Prison from the Porters side and opened it where they found him ouerladen with boultes and Irons pale megre and weake for want of sustenance tasting no foode sometime in two nor three dayes whom the knights séeing could not stay the teares in their eyes knawing him to be one of the loyalest Knights liuing in those dayes Damarâ—yno séeing those Knightes enter in that manner said What would you with mee Knightes is your Lord now contented to end my life which would bee no little comforte to my many torments Palineo no longer able to conceale himselfe vnlacing his helme with great ioy to sée him aliue said thus You haue no cause to feare vs most loyall Knight being now at length set at libertie by the handes of this valiant Knight to whome you are no lesse bopnd then for your life And by yours said Don Brianel for without you mine had little auailed Wheruppon taking away his irons with great gladnesse he imbraced Palineo saying I did assure my selfe my mesâ— deare fréend you would not faile me in my necessitie for in such times true friends are knowne more then in prosperitie and humbling himselfe to Don Brianell craued to kisse his hands seeing his person that good deede required his dutie Don Brianel shewed him the like courtesie and taking him vp saying Thaâ— for that litle hee had don he deserued no such thanks being bound to more theÌ„ that for him for her sake that sent him Sir knights said Damartyno I haue certaine seruants in prison some where about this Castle for I know they were brought in with me them I pray you let vs frée so they went to séeke them and Damartyno greatly woondred to sée so great slaughter by two Knights And after they had found the seruants Don Brianel and Palineo they were laid in two beds in the Castle and were cured by one of Damartynos seruants that were very skilfull in that science and there they continued certaine daies till they were wel giuing order that if any came from the king they should be admitted to them But Don Bryanell the first day required one of the seruants secretly to fetch their horses where they had left them which so soone as it was darke was done that not a little contented Don Bryanel for he highly prysed his horse being neuer a better in that whole kingdome and through the hurly burly in that Cittie none remembred they within the castle But after they were through well Don Bryanell said to Damartyno and Palineo being altotogither Hitherto sir knight you haue not knowne the occasion of my comming nor knowne what I am hauing neuer séene mee before but to assure you of both read this letter from the honourable Princesse Aurora by which you shall know the beginning and the ende of my trauaile Damartyno taking it opened it and read it to this effect THe disinherited Queene of Antioch Aurora Princesse of Miriana to thee the most loyalest of all creatures her louing Knight Damartyno of the Valley gouernour of our Kingdome by our will though by a strangers hand health I knowe the vnhappie chances ouerthrowes and vnfortunate misaduentures haue not beene vnknowne to thee as the man that hath sustained the like which haue by the prouision of our immortall Gods befallen the King Pompeiano thy Lord and my deare Father as also the feared absence of my person so necessarie to escape the furie of the Prince Perianeo of Persia and Dou Gallaneo of Antioch And now reposing my confidence on the high estate of thy descent in the great loyalty I haue known in thee by the loue my father bare thee whose death partly on some of them is reuenged as this knight will more at large tell thee I hope the like shall also be seene in thy presence through thy meanes and order eyther by my comming in person to these or with an hoast of men sufficient to regaine our rights for which cause I send thee this valourous knight excellent not onely in armes but in al things else required in a noble maÌ„ With him shalt thou determine the best and the speediest meanes for these assaires we mooue but the Gods protect thee and preserue thee in that state of loialtie which thou euer gloriest in So soone as Damartino had read this letter did again imbrace Don Brianell saying I could not haue or desire better newes theÌ„ these sir knight to comfort my afflicted hart ioying to know of the welfare of my soueragne But how shal we do for this tyrant and vsurping king Tramoscano is so mightie and strongly fortified in this land that we may hardly oppose our selues against his forces I am of opinion said Palineo seeing we are to begin so great an enterprise we make it knowne vnto the Duke of Siluania to whom hauing Don Gallanco granted all his liuings the vsurper hath now for some causes disconsented hee I am assured séeing you at libertie will not denie all his aid assisting you to reobtaine that which he hath lost or else loose what he hath new I doo very well like what you haue said replied Damartyno and therefore you and I will to morrow go to him leauing this Knight in the castle to answere any that comes from the Cittie It were better we all goe togither said Palineo and if any come we will leaue order with these seruants what they shall do Be it so said don Brianell and I thinke best we goe ere it be day that we be not séen putting on some of the armor of the giants knights So resolued on this went to rest themselues and about midnight they rose and changed their armonr Damartyno and Palineo taking the best horses in the Castle departed commanding their seruants if any came from the Cittie they should tell them the Gyant had commanded none should enter to speak with him because he was not well And that they should make them answer according to their demand in the Gyants behalfe CHAP XLVIII What befell Don Brianell and his companions with the Knights of the Lions and how knowing one another they all returned to the Castle TWo parts of the night were ouerpast wheÌ„ the dazeling light of pale shyning Dyana would giue place vnto the easterne rising of the mornings sunne whose clear approach excelleth from the heauens the obscure darknesse of the gloomie night when these thrée knights issued forth of the castle vpon mighty câ—ursers with strong and knotty lances in their hands and onely with two pages to carry their shéelds taking the right way to the citie of Siluania where they thought to finde the duke Now
you And presently opening the doore softly hee went foorth How like you this Knight said Don Bryanell What shoulde I saye of him aunswered Clarianeo but that I neuer sawe a more brâ—uer Knight I meane of more pollicie in all my life before Hereuppon don Bryanel recounted vnto him all that in his companie he had done which greatly contented Don Clarineo at which time he returned saying Sir knight the Gyant is gone with all his companie let vs now followe him doing as the time shall minister occasion They did so thrusting themselues among those that were going to the walles where arriuing they saw the gate faste shutte which they had determined to open and that the Gyant hauing paste a Garison there was going to speake with the County Gariano I beléeue said Palineo wee shall haue more adoo to open the Gate then wée had thought I haue aunswered don Clarineo considered how we may doo it which is that your Cousen meaning don Bryanell shall kéepe the passage from the Mine letting no more passe hither and that you Sir Palineo shall by force take the keyes from the Porter and with them procure to open the gate and I will defend you from these that are alreadie here And this must be with the spéede that the valour of our courageous hearts and their charge we haue enterprised doth binde vs to Whereupon don Brianell setled himselfe in the passage which being narrowe he could scarce defend himselfe Palineo with greate courage by the light of many torches that were kindled stepped to the Porter and with his sword cleaning his head in two at one blowe snatcht the keyes from his side but ere he did it many knightes assaulted him to giue him his death The valiant Prince don Clarineo not forgetting what he had to do stept before to defend him bestowing so mightie and mortall blowes on euery one which approched that they fledde from him as from the presence of death By this time had Palineo through his spéedie diligence opened the gate had not the fearefull Tramoleano hearing that suddaine accident thrre with an infinit number of knights returned with his heauie Mace tamming w t such a furie that if don Clarineo had not stepped behinde the dead horses and knightes that he had slaine he had wondrously scaped his life at that first fury of the horses incounters but dooing as is said he wounded the mightie Gyants horse thrusting his sword quite through his head that the furious beast in such manner raised himselfe that he ouerthrewe his Maister The treachereus Countie Galliano would haue done the like by Palineo but hée stepping aside tumbled him from his horse with one blowe And certainely they could not haue giuen two better blows then these that more might helpe them For when the Gyants knights that were about a hundred sawe their maisters downe alighted also because the narrownesse of the place might not be a cause to hurt them with their horses The fearefull Gyant being very heauie with great gaine raysed himselfe and foming through his mouth blaspheming all his Gods went against Clarineo who being ioyned with Don Brianell were both in a fierce skermidge giuing and receiuing mightie blowes whose eecho rezounded in y e campe without the cittie And the gyant seeing him there resht in to hold him whyle his men did kill him but hauing no aduantage in strength ouer him don Clarineo to scape from his handes brauelie pluckt him to him that both fell downe where hee was pittiously wounded and had not his strong armour defended him he there had left his life And getting from the Gyant he began with them a most cruell fight with such danger as any may imagine Whom Palineo séeing so fore wounded woÌ„dred how he breathed Don Bryanell was in no lesse perill for so many layd on him with haste to passe by that he bléeded as fast as any of them In this daunger were they all thrée looking for nothing but death though the King and Trapter County were wounded no lesse then they For Don Clarineo minding to leaue his life reuenged so laide on them and others that all were imbrues in their owne bloods And whosoeuer then had séene them would haue rather iudged them so many raging Tigers or hungrie Lions then knights hoping of no succor of theÌ„ without for thogh they procured to enter could not approch the gates being defended by y e gyants garison While this thus paste at such time as the giuer of the bright light illuminated the darke night there came downe a valley not farre from the cittie a mightie piller of fire after it followed a knight with two of the vgliest gyants that euer were séene who with such furious spéede as doth a thunderbolt breake through the aire approached to the Wall and sette a Ladder against it The knight that came with them whose armor was all garnished with Basilisks alighted from his horse and without let of any that were below he mounted thereon to the top of the wall where he bestowed such deadly blowes that ere they were aware of him he had tumbled aboue fiftie ouer it dead Don Lucidamore that such haughtie prowesse saw in one Knight leauing his armie to Damartynos charge quickly climed the ladder and scarcely was he on the top when the giants taking it returned the way and in the maner they did come leauing the beholders amazed with wonder The knight of the Basiliske comming instructed in what he should do descended certaine steps of stone that were in the wall beating downe on both sides many knights before him clearing the way for don Lucidamore that followed him making no lesse slaughter then he on that rebellious people At length he arriued at the gate where don Brianell was wearie and tyred who seeing the Knight of the Basiliskes thinking him to be one of his enemies strooke him a mightie blow but he knowing him defended it with his sheeld and rusht in where he was there spied he Clarineo that had before him aboue thirtie Kinges slaine and then with one blowe threwe the Countie Gariano dead to the earth but was in extreame daunger because he looked to the trusty Palineo who through the much blood he had lost was in a trance that he was faine to beare him close to the wall where he kept him before himselfe making stupendious déedes And there arriuing thr knight of the Basilisks in the Gréekish tongue he sayde Courage braue knight for you are alreadie succoured At the ende of which words with one mightie blowe he cut off the Giants leg that he fell downe where he breathed his last and beating away all the knights about him he quickly freed that Gate stepping both vnto the Portall thereof where Lucidamore and don Brianell were And the troopes that were without séeing they could not enter in had ouerthrowne all that side making a great breach in the wall through which ten knights might easily passe togither with such furie pressing in