his least that our enemies who are Pagans and in whome yet neuer appeared any sparke of loyaltie or fidelitie as well we knowe should intend some thing against our prisoner both hurtful vnto them and vs and I am of opinion that if vnbeléeuing men containe such good thoughts as to vse kindnes and benignitie towarde their enemies the like or more ought appeare in them that professe faith and loyaltie Wee then that follow the right path of a farre better religion should thinke on no fraude or trumperie whatsoeuer and much lesse in time of a kinde intreaty as we promise to our prisoned enemie vnder hope whereof they whom our enemies detaine of ours may receiue such fauour from them as they shall not be compelled to doo any thing hurtfull to themselues Let vs not then constraine him to any thing against his will much lesse let vs speake or once open our mouthes concerning any marriage in that it will seeme a matter incredible to our enemies that against the lawes of our religion wee would permit the marriage of a Pagan with a Christian this were but to make them veryly beléeue that we would altogether forsake our God and the conâ—idence we haue hitherto reposed in him to worship with them their false gods Iupiter Mahomet Mercurie Phoebus and such like idols as they reuerence as things celestiall so altogether to take their parte whereas we ought not shew them the least attaint of our thoughts but firmely to stand on our strong faithfull foundation toward God who euermore hitherto hath maintained and preserued vs by his exceeding mercie and inuincible dower And still in his goodnes we ought to resolue with our selues that all the Bethulians were in times past deliuered from the miserable and cruell siedge of cruell Holofernes onely by power diuine that for their deliuerance raised vp a woman who by vndauntable stomach cut off the head of their chéefest enemie we by the like or greater miracle by his supreame and diuine grace shall be deliuered from our proud enemy for whose destruction if our strength be two feeble or in any sort wanteth hee can by his will if we firmely trust in him make flye on them againe eyther the Sword of Gedeon or Aioth or else an other Iudeth to ouerthrow and exterminate theyr dayes altogether so to preserue and deliuer them that abide in faithfull obedience and trust continuing theyr firme hope and assurance onely in him We sée by many holy and sacred misteries and examples wherewith the diuine and holy Scriptures are plentifully stored and furnished from how many euils and mischiefes he deliuered and miraculouslie preferued the Children of Isaack and Israell that trusted in his goodnesse and mercie and did with hearts full of deuotion and penitence call for his helpe and succour in theyr calamities and afflictions let vs then altogether trust hope in him beleeuing that he is at this present euer hath beene and for euer will bee as gracious and mightie as then hee was and in this hope let vs take paine valiantlye and couragionslie to defend our selues for if we had this resolution in vs though we were as men without hart or power I am perswaded that fiue hundred of vs shall suffise to impeache the entrance of our enemie were they as many more in number as they are and so attend the arriuall of our hoped succour albeit they should tarry a moneth yet longer in comming when he had concluded in this sorte the wise and vertuous king Floridamant seeing by â—xteriour demonstration that the greater part of the assistants approoued and highly praysed the good councell of the valâ—ant olde Candior Duke of Normandie fastened on his words and thus began himselfe My good friends and faithfull companions if in this aduersâ—tie which hath not béene common with you or mee I haue some cause of greefe to sée my selfe in extreame danger of loosing my estate and Crowne which my predecessours by their prudence and vertue so long time happilie preserued in all flourishing ioy and prosperitie yet withall I haue now great reason to comfort my selfe séeing so manie vertuous and valiant persons embarqued in the same ship readie to run in like daunger of fortune with me who not onely by effects of their prowesse and valour lets mee apparantly behold what good will they beare to the conseruation of the christian weale publique but likewise do trauaile by their aduise and councell to acquaint both mine eyes and certaine experience with what zeale and affection they embrace the conduct of mine estate and howe forward they are for the preseruation of all Christendome which would bee meruaylously shaken if this wofull distressed kingdome at this instant the most flourishing estate of all where the name of Iesus Christ is knowne honored and glorified should fall as a praye to the enemie that séeke to take and vtterly ruinate it For which I ought chéefely to thanke my God as vnfaynedly I doo that he hath not altogether forsaken mee in this calamitie and miserie but not onely hath prouided me of such valiant knights and warriours as you all are but withall hath lent me men so skilfull and aduised It séemeth then good to me that according to the discréet councell of Duke Candior of Normandie that we should not séeke to delay but patiently endure the enemies assault when they shall againe with their great number giue the attempt and without any shew of feare eyther without or within the Cittie carrie no regard of our liues or goods but imploye our selues together manfully to defend so iust a quarrell as this for which we fight And let vs so behaue our selues that our enemies may know how the Lord God that assisteth vs and can if hee please take our caâ—se in hand is onely mightie and will by vs deliuer such testimonie of fortitude to the worlde as neither is in their power or the false idolatrous Gods which they worship to doo in vaine then shall they thinke to feare vs or worke such ruine to vs as they intended In this deliberation each of you take courage and he assured that whosoeâ—dr dyeth in hardie tryall of this fight it shall bee a perpetuall honor to him in this world and a glorious life to him in the endlesse world where he shall triumphe of the fayrest victorie Neuertheles I doo not reiect the good councell and aduise of the king Ferrand Grandilaor and others agréeing with them whereto if we sée vrgent necessitie constraine vs wee may vse them as we find cause to vphold our selues on our feete what euer betide vs marie yet we must not so slightlie condiscend thereto without further feeling of our enemies force then as yet we haue without any great disaduantage Hauing thus sayd ech commended and agréed on this resolution and so rysing from councell they went to prepare to withstand the assault as héereafter ye shall read because we must héere conclude this chapter CHAP. 18. How the Pagans prepared
their Launces without any further iniurie vnto him but hee had better successe for the first he met felt so soundly the sharpnes of his launce as piercing quite thorow his bodie layd him dead on the earth Two other that maâ—e out after these foure began very fiercely to assaile Taffinor but for all that they vnhorssed him not yet one of them receiued a deadly wound on his shoulder at his hand and so was forced to fall to the ground They that came after hauing their swordes naked in their handes couragiously aduentured on the Christian knights who being ready prepared receiued the valiant strokes of the Pagans on their sheelds without any hurt vnto their bodyes marie each of them stood so stiffely to the Pagans as Gerileon sent one of their heads roundlie from his shoulders and Taffinor slicing off an others arme from his bodye made both Gerileons stroke and his owne agree in an hermonie for the first Pagan dyed immediatly and the other caught such a sudden sicknes as his bloud abâ—undantly streaming foorth called his life soone after The rest of their companions were not a little amazed heereat especially at the puissant strokes of Gerileon with the exceeding vertue valiancie and addresse that they discerned in him so that sixe of theyr fellowes lying dead before theyr faces the other fearefully fled to the troupe of Adylas that they might to him declare theyr misfortune but they were followed euen thither by Gerileon and Taffinor at whose hardinesse Adylas stood greatly abashed and the rather because in his presence Gerileon ouertaking two of the tardyest fugitiues from one he lopt the eare cheeke and shoulder together and tooke off the others head so neatly as if the kéenest Rasor in the world had beene the instrument All the troupe standing affrighted heereat durst not boudge one foote but taryed to heare the pleasure of theyr king who was surprised with no common kinde of pensiuenes imagining that Gerileon was one of the Gods whom he adored to wit Mars the God of battailes and as they supposed that hee was highly displeased with them When hee beheld what hauock the Fayrie knight made of his people hee came foorth from the middest of his troupe to know for certaintie what he was and if he were one of theyr gods with praiers oblations and sacrifices he would appease his anger but Gerileon that made no regarde of such folly prepared to endure the braue against all the rest And for this cause hee entred further in among them with Taffinor where sundring themselues no one durst stirre to approach néere them for in Gerileons countenance they noted such high resolution as they reputed him alone able to foyle a farre greater hoste of men Euen as a lustie Mower in the haruest time in the middest of a well growne field with a sharpe Scithe in his hand cuts downe the grasse and hearbes about him in very great quantitie euen like â—eare had the Pagans of this noble warriour verily thinking him to be some celestiall deitie and many times had they béene brought into such errour for when they beheld any one who by his haughtie déedes séemed to surpasse the common valour of men and had some thing in him to out goe other in hardinesse they easily were induced to beléeue that this was one of their imaginarie Gods This false perswasion serued very well for these two Christians because if all the troupe had risen against them you quickly may conceiue their daunger but the good Angell that conducted them by the helpe of God assisted them in such sort as Adylas alone offered spéech to Gerileon and that in this manner I pray thée if thou bee one of the Gods whose habitations is in heauen tell or shew me by some signe if I haue offended theâ— and wherein I haue giuen cause that thou shouldst thus destroy me and my people assuring thée that if by prayers oblations and sacrifices thine anger is not to bee appeased and thy furie qualified thou shalt no sooner bee returned to thy celestiall mansion but presently thou shalt in aboundance feele the pleasant perfume and exquisite Sabeene odour with large gifts in thy Temple and offerings on thine Altar by me bestowed to thine honor and glory Or if thou be some mortall creature that hast reason thus to come and assayle me killing Argontes my faithfull Achates beside so many of my souldiours then onely tell to me the cause heereof and assure thy selfe that I will repaire whatsoeuer iniurie which thou pretendest to haue receiued by me neither shall any of my men once mooue to offend thée for the great valour and vertue I estéeme to be in thée But if without any reasonable occasion thou hast dared thus boldly to abuse me thou mayst be well assured that thou shalt be chastised according to thy deserts Knight answered Gerileon I imagine thée to be the most apparant man of al thy troope and as I haue heard thou art called Adylas king of Thunis a knight verye famous and of great reputation as I gather because I see thée affable and courteous Wherfore I fréely tell thée that I am none of the supposed Gods thou talkest of but credit me I am a knight errant ignorant of the place wher I was borne and the parents that gaue me life but trauayle thorow the worlde whether fortune and my deâ—â—â—â—e conducts me in search of such aduentures as merrit fame Not long since and not far hence I slew a cruell monster called the sauage Polyppe where I met this knight who told mee what causeles shame both thou and thy company being ods of too great aduantage offered a Christian prince called Ariodant one of whose traine he was thou hauing discomfited him and his men detainest some of them as prisoners which iniurie he intreated me to reuenge and I haue vndertaken it both vpon thée thine for well thou knowest that by the lawe of chiualrie inuiolably obserued among such as are woorthie to beare the title of knighthood all errant knights séeking aduentures are bound to reuenge the opprobrious wrongs that the ouerstrong offer to the ouer weake hauing no iust cause or reason therefore and to defend them against all forcible violence indirectly throwne vppon miserable and afflicted persons maintaining euermore the quarrell of the wronged that haue no helpe Beside the quarrell for which thou hast so hardly dealt with Ariodant and his people is publique touching all good Christians of which number I am one and for euer will be so by consequence it appertaineth to mee inciting mee to wreake reuenge for the iniurie doone to my confederates that are of selfe same religion as I am against all that are of the contrarye and aduersarie faith Because then thou hast nothing else now to do prouide thée presently to the combate with me if thou be so desirous as thou hast expressed for thou séest I haue reason to assaile thée and for whatsoeuer else I haue doone beside Hauing thus spoken
wherein I am all your medicines and drugges hauing no abilitie to giue me my former strength health and quietnes yet notwithstanding your knowledge might doe me great good seruice if you were so pleased Sagibell was not a little abashed at the woordes of the Princesse and knew not what to coniecture of them because they implyed such a contradiction for she said all his medicines and drugs could not helpe her and yet she might be highly benefited by his knowledge which made him to returne this answere Why Madame doe you thinke I haue made spare of my knowledge and that I haue not endeuoured my vttermost according to Art to set ye on your feet againe Thereof I am perswaded my good friend Sagibell quoth she but your art of medicine is not auailable for me in this case for were your God Appollo Aesculapius Hipocrates and Galen heere present to giue me remedie yet could they vnderstand no more of my disease then you doo But will yee promise to be faithfull and secret to me as I did neuer yet finde yee otherwise and I shall acquaint yee with the cause and originall of my greefe which when ye haue vnderstood easily by your knowledge may the effect be taken away The Phisition who was quick conceited began to waxe iealous of the cause gathering by hir wordes that loue had made a great breach into her tender hart yet making shewe as though he suspected no such matter he sayd to the Princesse Beléeue good Madame that I will be secret to yée and continue such fidelitie towards yée as the Emperour your father and your selfe haue alwayes found in me The Princesse being in bed caused her pillowes to be raysed to the end shee might deliuer her minde with the more ease and hauing heard the answer of her Phisition with voice faint and weake entermedled with a thousand sighes shee thus began My sicknes is caused by the loue I beare to the fairie youth if he liue not then thinke a speedie end will deliuer me from this anguish except you take pittie on mee and succour me in other sort then as yet you haue done I know you are skilfull in the Magique science and that by Art you can let me sée him aliue or dead he is the man whose onely remembrance giues life and content to my amorous passions Then let me sée in what estate he is for nothing else can ease my afflictions and all remedies else are vtterlie in vaine as by the applying and proofe you haue hitherto beheld I had not knowne aboue fourtéene or fiftéene yeeres when first his loue made seyzure on my hart euen amongst the Ladyes of the Empresse my mother where I was constrained to swoune in the publique assemblie he then that hath occasioned this hurt to me can take it away and giue me helpe but it consists in you to giue me some ease by your knowledge in shewing me my friend aliue wherein I desire to be resolued because I stand in doubt he is dead If I be assured of his end then mine hath no long date of continuance so shall I bee freed from these extreame passions which not alone wounds my hart but deuides in sunder my very soule leauing me so disconsolate as but I was comforted by one of my Ladyes long since had I pass out of this miserable life into a better Sagibell hauing attentiuely heard the Princesse thus answered Madame you haue well séene my faithfull seruicâ— towards yee till this present and be ye assured that though it valued the price of my life yet will I hazard all for the safetie of yours for so must I confesse my selfe bound to do in dutie in regard yee haue discouered to me such a secret as neuer could be gathered by the rules of phisick beside the many honors doone me in being toward the Emperour and you commaunds me to do my vttermost for your good Most gladly then doo I yeeld to satisfie you request but perhaps it cannot be so soone as you would because heere I may not make proofe of any such practise by arte for feare of being discouered it behooues vs then to finde out a place more proper and conuenient and it were not much amisse the better to couller our enterprise that the Emperour were giuen to vnderstand that it is needefull for your health to change this ayre otherwise your life will be in great hazard As for the place both faire delightfull and agreeing with your intent choose the Castell of pleasure which the Emperour hath hard at hand and there may yee commodiously without any suspition haue knowledge of him you loue so deerely and vnderstand likewise of whence he is The Princesse intreated him very earnestly that it might be so and foorthwith to mooue the matter to the Emperour which he hauing effected she would requite it with such liberalitie as hee should haue cause to extoll his good fortune The phiâ—ition hauing in this sort comforted her and giuen her hope of knowing what most she desired tooke his leaue promising very quickly to returne againe to tell her how he sped with the Emperour Before whom when he was come both he and the Empresse demanded of the phisition the estate of Porphiria their daughter when Sagibell answered that he thought it méete she should change the ayre to sée if that in any sort would amend her for hee was of opinion that the alteration of the ayre would do hir great good and bring her to her former health and strength next to the grace of God And whither were it best quoth the Emperour she should be remooued To some fayre and pleasant place replied Sagibell that her body finding ease by change of ayre her eye might likewise bee delighted with pleasing obiects It were good then said the Emperour to conuay her to my Castell néere at hand which is seatedmeruailous fitly for such a purpose There cannot be quoth Sagibell a place more conuenable but it were not expedient that any traine should accompanie her for disquieting her head with goers and commers to speake with her and I doubt not but by Gods helpe you shall shortly see her as well and merrie as euer she was albeit now she is more likely to die then liue God prosper your attempt then said the Emperour and turning toward the Empresse thus he proceeded Do you Madame cause all her equipage to be prouided and appoint such Ladyes for her companie as you shall thinke méete In this time of their conference Sagibell departed and aduertised the princesse how he had sped shewing likewise what resolution was set downe to transport her to the place himselfe before had named Whereof the princesse not a littlle ioyfull though weake yet hoping to receiue some comfort intreated the phisition to hasten this iourney Sagibell was scant departed the princesse chamber but the Empresse entred hauing her eyes full of teares and her hart cloyde with greefe accompanyed with hir Ladyes and Gentlewomen saying to
hir daughter that for recouerie of her health it was thought expedient shee should change the ayre and it she were so pleased she should be conducted to the Emperours Castell of pleasure which was not farre without the Cittie of Constantinople She answered with a spent and wearyed voyce that she submitted her selfe to their good pleasures and desired she might haue to kéepe hir companie her Coosin Harderina and the Lady Marcella You shall haue them quoth the Empresse with all things else shall stand with your liking in meane while then bee of good cheere that wee may â—ee yée well againe so soone as possible may be if ye regard the ioy of the Emperour and mee Hauing spoken these words the teares fell from her eyes in such aboundance gréeuing to sée the faire princesse of the world in this weake estate as being ouercome with sorrow she was constrained to depart the chamber not saying any thing but that shee should rest her selfe awhile and shee would go giue order for her departure Which accordingly she did and after all things were in a readinesse the day being still calme and cléere Sagibell aduised the Emperour and Empresse that now the time serued most fâ—tly for conuaying the princesse to the place appointed without making any longer stay least any contrarie accident should happen as â—ight crosse theyr determination so sound and profitable Wherefore the Empresse with consent of the princesse Porphiria who was pale wan and consumed with greefe as nothing was expected more then her â—uriall so woonderfully was she weakened and changed hauing lost hir vermillion blush the life and essence of her diuine beautie which made her loued and honoured of the most fayre and valiant Knight of the world to wit the man so farre renewmed by Ozyris caused a Litter to be brought couered with greene veluet and lined all through within with the same the nayles and frindges of beaâ—en gold and the arches ouer head richly embolished wherein was layd the languishing and amourous princesse who séemed therein as a bright shining Sunne such as chased Diana amongst the troope of hir fayre Nimphes and therein was placed with hir Harderina to entertaine the time of iourney with comfortable spéeches Each one may imagine without any setting downe in writing the wofull sighes and teares of the father and mother and the generall lamentations on euery side at this departure for they had neither heard or séene any cause of reioysing in long time before In this sort and very well accompanied especially with her phisition she was conducted to a very faire and pleasant Castell which the Emperour had caused to bee built fiue or sixe miles from the Cittie of Constantinople wherin because it was seated and builded so meruailous stronglie the Emperours treasure riches and most precious iewels were kept This Castell was erected very stately to beholde for the walles wherewith it was enuiâ—oned was of stoâ—e so white as â—ine Iuorie the inclosures and base courts were on the one side guarded with the maine Sea and on the other with ditches so large and deepe as the space contained thrée quarters of a mile rather more then lesse so saith the Historian that saw the measure thereof taken by a Geomatrician of that time when it was made It was bodyed with many beautifull lodgings in goodly faire Towers and Turrets euery chamber being in most swéete and wholsome ayre and backt with sundrie galleries of all sorts and fashions the couerings whereof were of lead wrought and cut into many curidus deuises of workmanship hauing standing aloft thereon fayre vaynes and weather cocks of golde and siluer The Gardens and Arbours were heâ—d in with swift runnings riuers and cleere fountaines and to say all in breefe there wanted not any thing that could be imagined both to strengthen the place as also beseeming such a dainâ—ie compassed Castell Heereinto was brought by the councell of her phisition the most faire princesse of the world for more assured commoditie of knowing and seeing what she most desired according to the promise of the wise Magitian in whom she reposed very great hope and trust and there happened to her what yee shall read heereafter for now we must borrow a little leaue to speake of other matters Chap. 2. Of the Sophie of Persiaes loue to the beautifull Porphiria and how he forsooke and left his kingdome to goe see if her exquisite perfections answered the report of her renowme And how on the way he met two Pilgrimes of diuers sorte the one whereof recounted to him the prowesse beautie and high chiualrie of the Fairie youth during which time they heard a great noise in a Forrest which caused them goe thither Wherein one may note how amorous passions do so maister the hearts of the greatest personages as leading them from the pathes of reason they forsake what is their dutie and all important affaires whatsoeuer cannot withdraw them from seruing their affections And by the Pilgrimes discourse wee may see how commendable true and sincere freendship is and that a good turne ought to bee greatlie esteemed and bindes him in no small bond that hath receiued it especially the heart addicted to noblenesse and vertue I Haue héereto fore declared as yee may read in the fourtéenth and sixtéenth chapters of the former Booke that the great and puissant king of Persia was wonderfully surprised with the loue of this faire princesse whom because we so latelie left yee cannot easilie forget and that by all meanes possible he could deuise he sought how he might attaine her to be his wife So that imagining the contrarietie of his religion might yéeld some reason of hinderance he caused himselfe to be baptized to the end all his people might become Christians he sent for diuers diuines into Christendome that they should come preach and do all the other seruices of good and faithfull Christians in his kingdome Notwithstanding this which he did was but counterfeit and dissimulation that so vnder this pretext he might the more easilie induce the good Emperour of Constantinople father to the maide without difficultie to grant his mariage And to this end sent he messengers and ambassadours expresselie to him to vnderstand his pleasure attending which time transported with impatience of so long delay one day he determined secretlie to depart himselfe that he might behold this so famous beautie by whose picture drawne to the life by some excellent painter of that time he had drunke this sweete sirrop of conceiued loue And as he had suddenlie thus determined as suddenlie did he put it in execution not hauing any companie with him but a Squire of his owne whose fidelitie he neuer called in question to him he gaue his Helmet and Launce to beare is Helmet I say which was beyond all other in temper and goodnes hauing on the Creast thereof a bright shining Carbuncle made in resemblance of the Sunne which an hundred paces euery way about him gaue in the night time
and bemoue their estates more miserablie then did this Princesse of whom we haue made mention in the former Booke and whom ye now behold consounded with folly discheneled running about the fields hauing forsaken the king of high Misia her father to meet the strong and puissant Giant Squamell who thus badly recompenced the seruices she did him by manifold hazards wherein shee aduentured her life onely for his looue Let Ladyes then bee carefull least they fall into any such inconuenience and so making like proofe there ensue like punishment for they are better taught that learne to be wise by others harmes then they that fetch wisedome out of their owne follies So comming againe to our historie we will speake of the two knights whome wee left halfe wounded to death in the Forrest The Historie speaking of them saith that they both reuiued from their traunce the one so soone as the other and that the Giant was he who first espyed the Sophie to be gon hauing caried away the horsse with him wherefore all wounded as he was he ran presently as he had béene mad into the Forrest wherein when hee was but a little entred hee met the old pilgrime wee spake of before who ran thither to hide himselfe when hee heard the noyse of the combate betwéene the Giant and the Knight This was an old Necromancer that could foretell to passengers their good and euill fortune to come and knew by the lineature of theyr handes till what age they should liue and what day what houre by what aduenture and howe they should dye He knew by heart all the bookes of the Sibelles of Circes of Medea of all the old liuing Magitians and the Magitians of former times And because he knew that the Fairie Ozyris was his aduersaire and the greatest enemie in the world to his charmes and enchantments likewise that she had greater skill and knowledge then he and specially that for his ruine and such as he loued she had nourished the onlie knight the cause of our historie he had opposed by an anticharme this strong Giant Squamell and his brother who by theyr owne nature were endued with most high prowesse yet notwithstanding by deuillish subtiltie hee preserued them still from death and to them oft times he gaue admirable and supernaturall strength So that knowing him to be in quest of his horse his shéeld and other aduentures and chéefely that he earnestly desired to haue the enchaunted Cup whereof he sometime had heard great report hee had put them all into the custodie of this strong Giant hauing withall incited and perswaded him in a dreame that he should combate against the most puissant knight on the earth and so set downe as prizes for the conquerour the sheeld the horse and the Cup whereof wee haue spoken Heereupon hee should holde open Ioust to all commers and goers in the Forrest causing the Forrest to bee commonly called The Forrest of great Aduentures and alreadie had he performed many fayre exploits by meanes whereof he was much renowmed thorow the world and very â—arre were his deedes talked of wherevpon the knight so hardly handled came to combate with him of whom heereafter we will speake more liberallie as also by what aduenture and for what reason he was thither conducted But now let vs a little while speake of the Giant who séeing the olde man of whome hee had no more knowledge then if hee had neuer seene him because hee could disguise himselfe in diuers sortes as now he did in the habit of a pilgrime to deceiue such great numbers as passed that waye and as he had deceiued Pharisor if the meeting of the Sophie had not preuented it The Giant at the first sight of him began to be somewhat afrayd seeing him looke so vgly and hidious but the old Enchanter that very well knew him began to reason after this manner Most generous and puissant knight as this day liueth not thy like vnder heauen who now being mortally wounded doost trauerse this darke forrest of high aduentures stay thy selfe and forbeare if thou be wise to run thus as thou doost to finde and recouer what the destinies will not permit thée as yet And if thou art not enemie to thy selfe but hast regard of thine owne life heare and credit my councell and doo as I shall presently direct thée concerning what I say vnto thée who I am and for what cause I am so carefull of thée the effect shall acquaint thee withall Know then that I am the old and auncient Necromancian Charonifer father to great Minofoll of whom it may bee thou hast sometime heard some spéech such as thou nowe seestmee haue I liued and reigned more than a thousand yeeres It is in my power to make the black night a fayre and bright day and the fairest day againe to make the most darkesome night I can make the Moone and all the starres to discend from heauen downe to the earth by my charmes and enchauntments but a woman of great wisedome oftentimes hinders me from dooing what I would Iknew thy graundfathers who were great kings and Monarches on the earth I haue seene to my ioy the mightie Horfella thy mother who in her life time was very deere to me and whome I looued as mine owne life for of thy forefathers and great vnckles did I receiue my first nourriture and was brought vp from my very youngest yeeres in recompence whereof I haue euermore cherished and looued such as were discended of them especially thee and thy brother Nabot whom I esteeme as much as thee you twaine beeing the most hardie and valiant of all your linage and race So that for your aduancement I haue dayly preserued yee from infinite perrils and â—â—ortall dangers whereinto according to your destinies you were readie to fall but by mine arte I haue preuented all inconueniences which I perceiued were threatned against yée And namely let me remember thée of the deuillish spirits that were in the Castell of the Enchanteresse Melanda which could not be chased thence but by one of the best knights in the world likewise the Combate thou hadst with them by commaundement of the Lady whom thou seruest then maist thou likewise bee mindfull of the great sorrowe and vexation thou wert to endure before thou couldst vanquish them and from which for â—ertaine thou couldst not haue escaped without death but onely by mine arte and by my meanes which succoured and defended thee for there did I so handle the matter that in the end thou didst obtaine the victorie as thy selfe doost very well knowe and nowe againe thou art in farre greater daunger of death if thou doost not as I shall say vnto thee Goe then and follow the path which now thou treadest thorow the forrest vntill that hauing many times turned by my circle made in manner and forme of a Laborynth thou perceiuest thy selfe to be in the middest thereof where thou shalt see a great Trée straite as any Ceder
Notwithstanding he stood firmely against him and entered into such coler against the monster that his face and bodie became all red and his eyes â—parkled as fire so that the sauage who neuer before feared anie man and imagined that this was but a signe of feare in him sodainly thought that he beheld the knightes ladie enuironed in a flame of fire that séemed as it were to issue out of him This happened not to him of himselfe but by the succor and aide of his nurse Oziris who made him appeare in this fearefull resemblance thereby to weaken the vntonquetable strength of the sauage against whome the knight so abuanced himselfe with his broade brandishing swoord in his hand and reached in furie such a stroake at him that had it met with the head of the monster as it 〈◊〉 with his staffe which was as great as the most of a shippe he had 〈◊〉 it in two partes But the vnâ—â—nted sauage hauing quickly aduaâ—ced his staffe before was not hurt by the stroke only his staffe was néere cut in sunder although it was very hard wood and beset round about with knagges and knottes which lifting vp againe he 〈◊〉 so rigorously vpon the knightes helmet as it was broken through the middest Gerileon likewise beeing so aâ—â—â—nied as hee knewe not whether it was daie or night and staggering therewith he was readie to fall to the earth yet he fell not but recouering fresh courage smote with his swoord to cut off the monsters head who espying the blowe comming ranne fiercely vpon him and grasping him about the bodie stroue to ouerthrowe him or by his fast holde to strangle him Then forcing him to the Dragons head which naturally was fixed right against his nauell most cruelly he bit him by the vpper parte of his thighes his armour for that part not auailing him but the two crooked téeth entered quite thorowe The knight felâ—e verie greate paine hereby and entered into such excéeding fury when by strong wrastling he had gotten forth of the monsters armes and withdrawing himselfe thrée or foure paces backe hee smote fiue or sixe terrible blowes at his bodie all thicke together not one â—arrying for another With one of them hee cut off his arme albeit it was couered with rough and harde haire which was of great defence for his bodie but that the knights strength was meruailous and incomparable By the other blowes the sauage receiued fiue great wounds as well on his head as on other partes of his bodie which iniured him more then the losse of his arme because in stead thereof immediatly sprang forth of the same place a Lyons clawe of meruailous greatnes so that he felt no defect of the other losse but the paine of his other woundes made him â—rie and roare so horribly that the knight saued from shipwracke and the marriners in the shippe at the sea side not knowing what it was trembled with feare some of them swouning and falling into trances especially when by this â—oise they beheld the sea moued with so great a tempest as the cables that held the anchors were almost broken in the middest and Gerilcon himselfe beeing amazed yet not that he minded to giue ouer the fight though immediatly he felt himselfe caught by the shoulders with the Lions clawe so â—ately risen vppon the Polyppe as therewith hee was verie grieuously wounded euen to the losse of verie much bloud But being by meruailoâ—â— force and vinacitie gotten once more out of the monsters hold he doubled many strokes vppon him slicing the haire and skinne awaie by greate gobbets notwithstanding the extreame hardnes thereof And the sauage defended himselfe couragiously wounding and offending with his clawe and téeth the vertuous nurse child of the faire Ozyris who in this manner combatted all the rest of the daie vntill such time as the night being come the sauage hauing lost great store of his bloud and with the losse thereof féeling great weakning of his forces chaunged himselfe from his first forme into the shape of a huge meruailous roaring lyon which so soone as hee had giuen the knight to beholde he fled into the obscure caue where the Ladie and Geliaste were hidden whereby Gerileon remayned verie greatly perplexed CHAP. 8. How Gerileon being in great trouble feeliâ—g mortall paine of the wounds which he had in combat against the Sauage Polyppe was succoured by the Nymph Olympia of the talke likewise they had together And howe afterwarde hee fought againe with the same monster hee beeing in the shape of a Lyon and beeing vanguished by him the second time was constrained to hide himselfe againe Whereout may bee gathered that a vertuous man feeling himselfe iniured and wounded by sinne being in great griefe and displeasure with himselfe is euermore succoured by the good Angell that comforts him so that by such good and speedie remedies which giueth him courage to resist it manfully he proceede vntill hee haue altogether vanquished and chased it awaie By the diuerse mutation of the monster into the forme of cruell beastes is signified nothing else but sinne what sundrie shapes so euer it receiueth yet it is alwaies cruell onely to trie the consciences of such good men as itassaileth WHen Gerileon sawe that the sauage had changed his shape and was departed from the combat he knewe that hee shoulde haue somewhat to doe to vanquish him and withal hee considered that if hee could escape this vnexpected danger he shoulde deserue praise and reputation for euer which was the greatest guerdon and â—â—compence that all his aduenturous 〈◊〉 aimed at for which he not at all dreaded the hazard of his life There vpon hee determined to abide in that place yet not in the caue or dungeon but aboue vnder the trées where he had rested himselfe the daie before attending when the Polyppe should come forth againe in his new receiued forme to finish the combat he had begun yet hee not knowing the originall or behauiour of the monster nor for what cause he abode in that place but in this determination hee went from the caue and layde him downe to rest for that night vntill the cleere light of a new day should shew it selfe to the world But it was not possible for him to take anie rest hauing as one sayth thrée tinglinges in his eare that hindeâ—ed him The principall whereof was the continuall thoughts whereby he was rauished in contemplation of his Mistresse The second was his feare of his squire least he was slaine or outraged by the monster for he loued him so deerely as he could not sleepe vnlesse he were assured that his Squire was as well as himselfe such was the care he had of him The third which was no lesse hurtfull to his body then these other twaine were to his minde was the great paine he felt in his thighes and shoulders by the téeth and clawes of the monster by meanes whereof all his body became enflamed by reason of the venim wherewith the nailes
pittilesse and dangerous stormes THe skilfull Ladie Orphisa began then to recounte her aduenture to the Fayrie Knight in this manner You must vnderstand sir Knight that I am daughter to the wise and vertuous king of Lusitania a man by reason of his prudence and valour sufficiently knowne to all the world as hauing doone many things worthie of memorie the â—ame whereof is bruted euery where He being named Diegonde was in his younger yeares a most accomplished knight euen in the time of king Dorino father to the king of Spaine at this instant reigning who had a daughter in yeares mariageable called Pollyda This Ladie beside her excellencie of beautie could cunningly twist spin sowe as is most proper to women likewise she was well instructed in good letters and the liberall Artes in such sort as she was able to disgrace the most wise and studious Philosophers of those times so subtillie could shee dispute of matters depending in Morrall and Naturall Philosophie concerning her selfe By reason héere of shee became so proud and audacious as shee imagined no man then liuing in the world was worthie to ioyne with her in mariage and therefore despised all so that there was no one how woorthie so euer that durst enterprise to demaund the question no not the great King of England who in those dayes was the most fayre and accomplished knight in the world and highly loued of King Dorino because of his valour But the King my Father who was become amorous of her would put it in aduenture either to gaine her in marriage or be altogether refused And in this resolution hee wente to the king of Spaines Court where within short time after his arriuall the Daughter hauing heard the cause of his comming thither gaue him to vnderstand by one of her Pages that he could win nothing but losse of time by séeking to ioyne in marriage with her and therefore he should do much better to imploy his purpose about other occasions Héereat although the king my father was extreamly offended yet left he not for all that to pursue the cause and made his request to the king of Spaine who would not marrie her against her will with such importunitie as in the end the Father and the daughter were constrained to graunt the pretended marriage yet vnder this condition That eight dayes before the nuptials my Father should be bound to hold open Ioust a whole day together against all knights that should present themselues at this generall tourney which expresselie was there appointed for honour of that day and if hee were vnhorsed by any knight hee should desist from his importunate sute and request of mariage But if fortune smiled so fauourablie on him as that he went away conqueror in this enterprise then eight dayes afterward the desired mariage should be accomplished My father who was caryed away with ouer hot and â—urious heat of marrying this faâ—re and skilfull Pollyda accounting no danger to be in the enterprise willingly yéelded to the mariage vnder the condition proposed although he knew right well that those times affoorded great number of most hardie and braue knights that knew how to behaue themselues in the Ioust and could dismount such as carryed better estéeme then themselues But amongst all and beyond all the rest was reckoned as most strong and valiant in each point of chiualâ—ie the young knight Floridamant sonne to the great king Brandismell of England and him onely my Father doubted as sundry times before hee acquainted me withall Weighing then aduisedly the valour of this young knight he began somwhat to dispayre of the issue of his attempt and as in this thought he stood pensiue and troubled he concluded to put in practise what heretofore was sayd by the great Lacedemonian Admirall Lysander to wit that where the Lyons skinnâ— fell out to short to peece it out with the Foxes case minding to vse industrie and cunning in these affayres where hee thought strength and manhood might happen to fayle hauing to deale with such mightie and puissant aduersaries In this determination vnderstanding that the great king Belligande of Gaule had a Launce the yron poynte whereof was so inchanted as all such as were touched therwith should bee dismounted eyther by sleight or force hee resolued to be possessed thereof imagining which of these meanes were lykest to speed and to aduenture both rather then fayle of his intent To bring about this stratageme he went with all speed into the realme of Gaule where beeing hee heard that in a Forrest appertayning to that kingdome dwelt a certaine man which termed himselfe a knight but commonly hee was called the cunning Théefe and so subtill was hee in robbing as nothing could escape his fingering and all his attempts were so artificially compassed as such as had lost any thing or were otherwise robbed presently the blame of their losse was imputed to him he likewise séeing each one estéeme him such a famous théeâ—e and so admire his sleights and pollicies tooke great pleasure therein and oftentimes would sit solemnly smiling thereat To this man the king my father foorthwith trauailed and promised him very large summes of money if he could rob the king of this enchaunted Launce which he so safelie kept in his Cabinet as it was thought impossible to get it thence The cause why hee held it with such vigilant care was for the loue of a fayrie named Oziris who thereof had made a present to him hoping withall hereafter to leaue it to a sonne of his which as yet was but a very yong infant Notwithstanding the great difficultie consisting in this busines yet in respect of the large summe of money the théefe promised to deliuer this Launce into my fathers hand as he did the day after my father had this conference with him but first he thus bespake him Knight quoth he to the king my father in that hee had no other knowledge of him it is necessarie if yee would haue this Launce that to morrow you goe with me to the great Cittie of Poictiers where the king of Gaule at this present maketh his abode and where hee is determined to holde a generall tourney because as to morrow is the day when he wan the victorie against the Giant Perceuall who had long time before greatly trauayled and molested him with warre I will stay for ye néere the place where the Torney is to bee kept and you shall go to the king telling him that I am the Knight Lorgolio Cosen to the Giant Perceuall whom hee slew by treason wherefore I am come to defie him in combate man to man to reuenge the death of the Giant my Cosen with which reuenge I should thinke my selfe satisfied might I but breake a couple of Launces with himselfe no other in his defence to offer me iniurie beside hee shall not strengthen himselfe with his enchaunted Launce whereby my Cosen receiued his death and for better assurance heereof he shall deliuer that
the messenger but that his intent was not to accomplish and performe anie of those seuerall demaundes in that they were ouer iniurious and vnreasonable and not to bee allowed of in any wise Beside that hee said if his enemies eyther had or should set downe such a resolution concerning his ruine and destruction hee with his councell and Nobles were concluded to stande on theyr defence in resistance of the least euill that might â—e For the rest each one should doe their vttermost endeuour according as himselfe hither to had doone and neuer yet could any enemy compell him to matters against his will wherefore it was too late for him now to begin and so quoth he to the messenger yee may returne with this answere Which presently he did whereat the Pagans greatly meruayled that a man hauing so few to helpe him should containe such hardinesse as to talke to them of resistance aboue all the rest old Grandowin was extreamely eâ—raged saying that this was not the first act wherein appeared the effects of king Floridamants oure-wéening wherefore he would spéedily take such order with his people as should sharpely make him repent his follie and rashnesse Wherevppon within thrée daies following at the most each one should prepare himselfe readie to armes when such an assault should be made against the cittie as not one stone should be left standing vppon another but bee rased and extermined altogether In regard whereof euery one should withdraw himselfe to his quarter and giue order for all things needfull against the day of assault Heereof the Christian king being aduertised commaunded the Pagan Mycrophon to bee closely locked vp to the end that during this troublesome time hee might compasse no meane of working any treacherie or treason But as for the king of Corse hee restrayned not him of libertie which hee had to walke within the walles of the Pallace royall where was roome sufficient and verye spacious well perceiuing that he was so carryed away with the loue of his daughter with whom and the Queene Bellizene he still kept company assuring them that he would expose himselfe rather for theyr defence then offence and in respect of the conuersation he had had with them no iniurie should bee offered to theyr honor In which spéeches the Queene reposing some confidence but the mayden especially the more willingly they would conuerse with him and among other familiar conferences the Quéene made him recount the number of straunge nations the diuersitie of kings and great captaines that were in theyr Armie their estate forces and deedes of chiuaâ—rie by them in former times performed By which reports they cunningly gleaned from this imprudent Pagan what best might serue for the defence of the Cittie and thorow ouermuch talke he discouered how on which side and by what secret meanes the enemyes had concluded to assaile and seaze on the Cittie withall hee declared to them the manner and custome that those nations were wunt to obserue and vse in such warre which was most likelyest and which not By these meanes king Floridamant had knowledge of many things that serued as speciall rules of discipline to his Court of guard and therfore appointed his men in readines against the threatned daye continually trauayling day and night with Grandilaor Fertand Candior Sylban and other hardie knights of name that were in the Cittie with him who according to his commaund busied themselues very carefully letting nothing flip that any way concerned theyr change During which time one night secretly arriued at the Cittie wall the two valiant knights Andregon Duke of Suffolke and Lampridion Countie of Norffolke both Cosens germaine and highly belooued of king Floridamant The first came from demaunding helpe for the Christians of Dorian king of Spayne and the other from the like affaires in the kingdome of Gaule whether they were sent before the Pagan armie had engirt the Cittie with siedge and both returning at one selfe same time after many aduentures befalling them in the expedition of theyr voyages met together on the way and so trauailing in company arriued there about the houre of midnight not being espyed by any of the enemies Campe who then were in their dead sleepe and comming to the foote of the wall on that side where the king of the Suitzers had charge and where as then a good Cittizens was Sentinell one of the richest and best Souldiours of the Cittie being called Hoaster that knew them very well because he had familiarlie frequented the houses of these two Christian knights and and they well perceiuing that Hoaster knew them by their spéech sent presently woord of their arriuall to king Floridamant who caused the neerest gate of the cittie to them to be opened when they safely entred not being at all discouered by the enemie Hee that came from Spaine aduertised his maiestie how king Dorian vnderstanding his war against the Pagans concluded immediatly to come himselfe in person attended on by a strong and puissant armie to assist king Floridamant his old companion and the christian people that inhabited great Brittaine for which cause he summoned a méeting of his subiects promising to be in England in very short time These tidings brought Andregon and Lamprydion deliuered the like from king Belligand of Gaule how forward hee was in deuoire to send him succour his armie being leueyed and readie to depart and had â—re then set forward but that the king daylye expected the Prince Diodamas his sonne a man of great valour who had not long before receiued his order of knighthood being gon in quest of an other knight that had in his keeping a Fayrie Launce where of hee had robd the king his father which Launce hee heard was againe recouered by the young prince and he returning home ward when being come hee should away to England with the armie For these glad tidings king Floridamant thanked God trusting in him and to the speeding supplie each houre expected resoluing to defend himselfe if he should be assayled without any issuing foorth to the enemie neither to sight except he should be enforced there vnto vntill these Armies were ioyned with him Attending which time he thought good to prolong day of the assault kéeping their enemies in breath and these affayres in good foresight which to compâ—sse he thought on euery likely and expedient remedie as yee may perceiue in the Chapters following CHAP. 16. Howe the Princesse Polydamie beholding from the height of a Tower the Campe and countenance of the Pagans was shewen by Angrafolt who were the cheefe commaunders in so great a multitude And the Princesse seeing the Scythian monster swouned with conceit of feare when Angrafolt conueyed her thence into the Queenes chamber MEane while to finde some meane of deferring the generall assault which the Pagans in their councell had determined against the Cittie of London king Floridamant consulted with the hardie knights of his councell and other noble personages that then were in the Cittie with