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
such an exceeding cleerenes and light as dooth the Moone when she is in hir fullest perfection He sometimes wun it from a great and puissant king of Assiria whome he had conquered in combate that for the prize of victorie had set his kingdome against a part of Persia but after the conquest he released him and in recompence of such wonderfull courtesie the Assâ—â—ian gaue him this Helmet which he estéemed more then all his good Héere vpon the Sophie did vsuallie weare it when he went in any notable or signall expedition and especiallie when he had any occasion to trauaile by night about any affaires of importance as this which now he had vndertaken leauing his kingdome in weake and poore estate through diuersitie of religions which there he suffered And this oftentimes is cause of the intire ruine and desolation of the very greatest Monarchies and common-wealths yet left he the rule to one of his bretheren a young man voyd of experâ—â—nce in such high affayres And albeit hee was apt to armes and a good knight in triall of his person yet had hee not sence and vnderstanding to gouerne the helme of so huge a vessell as was the monarchie of Persia. Thus was the Sophie not assured of his suffiencie and but that his head was troubled with amorous conceits he would not haue reposed any such trust in him but let it be he did it by indisâ—retion or else for more assurance of his secret departure not thinking his voyage would be so long as afterward it prooued suffice it he did not wisely as you shall perceiue by the discourse following in the historie Hauing committed this poore kinde of order to his very greatest affaires he departed in equipage as ye haue heard riding many dayes and nights together vnder cléerenes of his meruailous shining helmet without finding any aduenture worthy the writing and passed thorow diuers Citties of his owne kingdom vnknowne of any one and made such quick expedition as he came to the vtmost merge of Persia where finding a Barque readie to depart in few dayes hee landed in the desert of Arabia and from thence by great trauayle not without enduring sundrie hazards and perrils on the way he reached the countrey of Palestine still carryed on with the inward remembrance of his loue as he little regarded whether he rode right or wrong Being thus arriued in this countrey he entred into a Forrest thick beset with trées which contained many miâ—es both in length and breadth wherein he had not ridden any long while but he met two pilgrimes conferring together the one of them being young of age and endued with very singuler beautie for his haire was yellow like wyers of gold and the prettie downe on his chéekes and chin was of the same couler in his face like wise stood the liuely couler of the Rose his stature was neither great nor smal but indifferent euery way his broad haâ— was garnished with Scallop shels round about and Medialles of gold and siluer intermingled with little pilgrime stones of Iuorie very artificially framed his Cassock and hose was of fine linnen cloth and at his girdle hung a little bottle wherein hee had both wine and water according as he had occasion to vse them and in his hand a staffe piked at both the ends The other pilgrime was an old man the haire of whose head and heard was of reddish couller grizâ—led among with many white haires his visage drie and withered and tand with blacknesse almost like a Moore flat nosed the tooth standing in his head very vgly to behold of very euill fauour was he and disposition his stature was grosse and short big bulkt before downe to the girdle and on his back arising mountaine his garments were of old besmered lether all ragged and torne and his hat in stéed of shels was garnished with skales of some young Tortoise his Medailles were of saffronned lead where among stood little staues of the bones of dead beasts The Sophie drawing néere them saluted them very courteouslie and addressing his spéech to the younger man demanded of whence he was whether he went and wherfore he was disguised in that sort considering that his countenance deliuered him to be a man of other qualitie then his garments made shew of and if I be not deceiued sayd the Sophie you are discended of some noble linage and are a man likewise of no meane valour Sir answered the pilgrime if ye will somewhat slack the pace of your horsse and withholding his bridle make him goe according as we do if likewise ye will vouchsafe such patience as to heare my discorsiue answere to all your questions I shall satisfie ye concerning the matters enquired and beside acquaint yee with other things whereat yee will not a little meruaile Beléeue me said the Persian king I am very well contented and I thinke my horsse would gladly ease his pace awhile then the pilgrime thus began My Lord because I perceiue both by your wordes and behauiour that you are a man more accustomed to commaund then obey I would intreat yee not to be offended if talking familiarlie with yee perhaps I haue indiscréetly said that to listen what I conceiue worthie of meruaile you should enforce your Stéed to a more gentle pace that happily would run so fast as he could according to the weightie affaires of importance you goe about which hardlie will permit yee to stay my discourse being in regard of your selfe not so worthie hearing as I estéemed but rather may yéeld yée more discontent then pleasure If then I haue offended héerein or shall do by ouer tedious circumstance I beséech yee imagine I was not well aduised which in respect of my submission may the more easily be pardoned Well well quoth the king vse no more words concerning me but answere what I haue demanded for were I not so desirous to knowe I would not shew my selfe so inquisitiue and if your discourse be worthie the hearing as you haue sayd it cannot be too long for me to listen or displeasing any way but verie acceptable First then quoth the Pilgrim you must vnderstand that albeit in this estate you behold me yet am I discended of noble linage for my father beares the title and crowne of a king and my mother was sister to the puissant Emperour of Constantinople a man that for his manifold vertues deserueth to be highly estéemed and accounted of In whose Court both in my youngest age and since the time of mine infancie I was carefully nourished and brought vp vntill the houre I receiued knighthood which is no long time since Notwithstanding after I began to enterprise my first exploites of good or bad fortune trusting more to the strength and dexteritie of my body then reason would I should for a proofe or triall what I could do I was so hardie one day to goe in person alone to aduenture on the Den or Caue of Rock Alpine and there assayled the horrible
and téeth of the Sauage was infected Heereby he became meruailouslie spent and ouercharged and euen readie to fall into a mortall feauer when suddenly he being in this paine heard the water which as I tolde yee before enuironed the dungeon to mooue with a great murmure as if some one had bathed himselfe therein Héerevpon he presently lifted vp himselfe as it were to knowe the cause thereof when hee beheld come foorth of the riuer the fayre Nimphe Olympia chamber maide to the Fayrie Ozyris She hauing oftentimes seene him was fresh in memorie and knowne immediatly when suddenly running to him embrasing him louiugly she entred into these spéeches My sweete friend within these two houres am I come hither guided by the channels of vnder-ground from whence these waters ascend to this place euen from the Pallace of the Nymphe Ozyris thy Nursse whome I serue and reuerence shee louing thee extreamly as well thou knowest Hither am I come from her to preserue thee and to tell thee withall that if thou suffer me not to embalme the wounds on thy body with this precious vnguent which she expressely commaunded me to bring in this golden bottel thou beholdest in my hand thou art in very great danger of thy life so that thou canst hardly escape the death if thou continue in this estate but till to morow morning Therfore disdaine not to discouer where thy wounds are that I may put in execution the command of my lady wherto I dare in no wise be disobedient I may not quoth he faire Olympia my friend refuse the succour of my most deare Oziris nor of thyselfe likewise for albeit the necessitie wherin I now am did not incite me to take it yet the obeisance which I owe both to the one and the other of ye marie more great to the mistres than to the seruant commands me to obey all that you can command in a knight So saying he discouered his woundes to the Nimphe who applyed to them the precious ointments in the golden bottell which was no sooner spread vpon them but presently he felt no paine at all and became immediatly as whole and sound as if he neuer had béene wounded Hereof was he not a little ioyfull when imbrasing colling and kissing the Nimphe more then a thousand times who was in part the cause of so great good to him he often enquired of the health of her Lady and the rest of the companie and chéefely if she had receiued any charge froÌ„ her to tell him what issue the combate should haue which he had begun whether he should be the conquerer or himself he brought vnder and vanquished Enquire not at all gentle knight answered the nimphe what shall happen to thée either in this combat or any other enterprises wherein thou art to hazard thy life for it is not lawful that mortall creatures should know things to come Only be thou of good courage and take no gréefe of the multitude of trauailes which thou must procéed in Let it suffice that I say to thée in generall howbeit I néed not specifie so much before hand to thée that thou art destined to vndertake finish before thou diest many hautie enterprises And of all them to behold the end it behooueth thee to endure much to expose thy self to a thousand thousand dangers and perilous hazards especially before thou canst know who is thy father or maist behold the place of thy birth or what thy cheefest desire is to see as oft times I haue heard the great princesse of the Fayries the high mightie Ozyris my mistres say to whom it is necessarie that I quickly returne because shee so commanded me Therefore I say God be with thee to whom I recommend thée desiring him to guarde and preserue thée from all mortall daungers Hauing so sayd she kiss the Knight and then vanished suddenly before him he not séeing her till she came néere the Fountaine where he beheld her plange her golden tresses into the siluer waters whereinto likewise she diued her whole body being for this time séene no more notwithstanding the manifolde intreaties for returne that the knight made whereby he continued all the night so displeased that he could entertaine no thought of rest but when the vermillion blush of day breake began to showe his red locks and disperse his splendour ouer the earth hee put on his Armour againe and wenâ— before the Caue to attend the Polyppes comming to the combate whereout if hee would showe himselfe this day yet hee intended to speake with the Lady he saw the day before to enquire of her the cause of this aduenture as also for his Squire for whose losse which he imagined vnrecouerable hee remained full of gréefe and sorrow Long had he not stayed there before the Polyppe came foorth in the shape he had taken the night before which was like a mightie huge Lion fierce rauenous and very fearfull to behold farre differing from the naturall beasts of the same kinde which ordinarily are not so great hideous and monstrous in view which had terrified the Knight with feare but that hee remembred the last woordes of the Nymphe Olympia and as they began to quicken his memorie so they made him become more hardie fierce and terrible then the Lion himselfe who comming â—haâ—ing foorth of his den to run vpon him seeing him stand with such resolued hardinesse minded once to returne againe into his Caue But the fire of his rage was so violent for loosing the combate the day before as his heate could conteyâ—e no gouernement but that in all furie hee would flie vppon him and snatching at him stroue to teare away his shield that hung about his neck and with such vigour did he catch hold thereon as he brake the arme braces of strong brasse and the buckles of steele wherewith it was fastened in dooing whereof he well néere had ouerthrowne him in the place had not the worthie knight more braue then the Lion himselfe reached such a blow at his head as but it was quicklie defended hee had beene cleft therewith to the shoulders But the sturdie beast who the day before had made proofe of such like weightie strokes let goe his hold to make a step backward from the blowe Euen as a mallicious enraged dogge seeing a waffâ—ing man with an yron piked staffe passing before a doore in a village where he lay sleeping without any noyse or barking runneth suddenly vpon him tearing with his téeth the flesh from one of his legges wherewith the man being agréeued turneth the yron poynt of his staffe to strike and kill him which the dog fearing giueth back and turning againe vpon the man enforceth himselfe to runne againe vpon him to get a greater morsell from him and he still standing vppon his guarde threatnes the yron pointe more dangerouslie to the téeth of the Mastie who perseuering still in his rage constraines foorth himselfe still to giue him more woundes yet being constrayned to
hee vnderstood that I was named Pharisor a knight of some fame and Nephew to the Emperour most kindely hee came and embraced me suffering mee to doo the like to him by whom I had receiued so great a benefit Then began I to remember according as I had often times heard talked of before and that by no meane personages in times past that we should account the day of our desiuerance from any miserable bondage much more happie then the daye when first we were borne into this world because from the day of our birth we gâ— on still forward into diuersitie of misfortunes but on the day of our deliuerie wee were restored from such a feare as we neuer need to stand in doubt of any more thus are we no lesse bound to the cause of our deliuerance then to our parents from whom wee receiue life And beere vpon wee contracted together such an intire lâ—agne of amitie as death should not seperate or extinct our affections nor was the loue of the valorous Achilles to Patroclus Nysus to Eurialus or Pylades to Orâ—stes worthy to be compared with my affection to him For albeit by vngentle fortune wee are sundered the one from the other the greefe and sadnesse I endure for his absence hath constrained me to disguise my selfe in these habillements as yee sée thus barefooted as I am to goe and visit the holy Sepulthre wherein was buryed the precious body of the redeemer of the world to which place I am bound by a solemne vowe long since made to giue him hartie thankes for my deliuerance and with great deuotion and humilitie to intreat that it would please him I might soone recouer and sée againe my true Achilles to whom I owe not onely this office of freendship but an hundred liues if possiblie I could haue so many and this I doubt not but hee will permit me As thus the young Pilgrime continued his discourse on the way they came to a place in the Forrest which was very spatious and plaine in the midst whereof stood a great thicket of meruailous high trees and there they heard such a clanching of swordes vppon armour as all the whole forrest ecchoed therewith which caused the Sophie and the young pilgrime direct their course thither ward to see what it was but as for the olde pilgrime so soone as hee heard the noyse he set foote forward more speedie then the winde to seeke some corner where he might hide him And there will wee leaue him and proceed with the Sophie and the young pilgrime what happened to them shall bee declared in the other chapter for in this hath beene sufficient said alreadie Cap. 3. How the Sophie found in the forrest two strong and puissant Knightes that fought together at all extremities for a faire horsse and other things of great value exposed as guerdon to the conquerour And how the Sophie would haue taken and carryed away perforce the horsse for which the knights combatted which made them run violently vpon him and of the dissention that ensued betweene them three how it tooke end and what happened afterward Where out may be gathered how hurtfull a thing arrogancie is to such as inconsideratly will enterprise more then they are assured of power to effect and how in all affayres whatsoeuer it is necessarie to place aduise and knowledge in the forefront ere we vndertake to performe any matter of importance THe great King of Persia being come first to the plaine where the noyse caused him forsake his way to know the occasion of that hurly burly beheld two Knights of more then common stature being armed capape who fought very violently together to sley each other The one of them was more mightie of body then the other because hee was of monstrous and Giantlike composition but in dexteritie of armes and valour of courage he went not so farre beyond his enemie but that the greater part of the day was spent yet little aduantage was gained on eyther side For if the Giants shield were battered in pieces his body wounded and his strength much diminished the knight with whom he dealt had likewise his armour sore mangled and his bodie iniured in many places from whence the bloud issued in great aboundance and at the time of the Persians arriuall there they were vpon the point to pause a breathing while being vnable to withstand each other any longer so were they ouertrauailed with a sharpe and dangerous conflict which as it had so was it still to continue betweene them The Sophie without enquiring the cause of their debate or speaking any word to the knights for he was meruaylous proud and arrogant allighted from his horsse in great hast and went to vntie a goodlie faire horsse which he saw bound to a tree with great chaines of â—ron but as he was about to do it being somewhat to néere the horsse he smote him such a violent stroke with his héele vpon the shéeld as made him tumble along so amazedly that hee lay a good while ere he could recouer himselfe againe and had not his sheeld beene of some temper indéed he had not liued to complaine of his hurt But the goodnes of the mettall saued his life for this once when being risen againe from his astonishment he would not desist from his former enâ—erprise which was to take and beare the horsse that so highly liked him as well for the beautie and likelihood of goodnes to be in him as also for the necessitie he was in of one at that time his owne horsse being ouer much wearyed with trauaile When the two Combattants perceiued what he intended they cryed to him that he could not carry thence the horsse so easily without buying him more dearly with the price of the combate and that if he did not forbeare and let the horsse alone he should by them be well beaten as his boldnes did deserue no lesse The King of Persia hearing these hardie menaces was enraged with such choller that hauing fastened his Helmet on his head and gotten his sword in his handâ— he made presently toward them with resolution to deale with them both striking first at the Giants legge with such force as if he had not quickly clapt his shéeld before he had cut it quite off at that blowe But the Giant who was readie at armes as any man of his qualitie in those times to defend this stroake thrust forward his shéeld the greater part whereof was pared away with the blowe and laide on the ground which the other knight perceiuing to whome the Persian addressed him selfe aiming at a part of his body which he sawe was bare by losse of some of his armour but he escaping the thrust gaue the Sophie such a mightie stroke on the Creast as had it beene any other Helmet beside this meruailous one and not to bee equalled as before I haue told ye he had cleft his head downe to the shoulders but of such soundnesse was the helmet
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
wherefore hast thou awaked me Listen a little my Lord quoth the Squire and you shall heare what it is Then the Knight heard the same voyce which his Squire had doone continuing the Song in this manner But causelesse blame I thee fayre looue that stayest my blisse Because Phynander feeles like fire as in my bosome is But cruell vnkinde fate that holdes me seruile so Infortunatâ— Orphyza when will time abridge thy woe Seauen yeares aduentures spent as bird and beast from me Is it not time then now at length my braue knight I should see The hardie Champion for my sake in dreame I did discerne Fighting in fire with Polyppe my libertie to yearne The knight hearing in a place so farre from the company of men and withall 〈◊〉 desert and barren a humaine voyce singing with such sweetnes and mellodie as the best singing birdes might â—ease their notes to listen and the harpe of Orpheus had beene but rude to the eares of such as first had heard the heauenly hermonie of this song was no lesse drouen into admiration then ouercome with pleasure in the hearing But when the squire tolde him that in the beginning of the song mention was made of the nymph Oziris he was sodainly prouoked with an extreame desire to knowe on what occasion the Ladie song and who conducted her into that place So putting on his armour except his helmet which he lefte as yet in the hand of the squire â—rauersing among the highest trées he went straight to the place where he heard the voyce and there hee found a great déepe dungeon which was round about enuironed with trées wherevnder he had before seated himselfe there he behâ—ld a huge hole into the earth the mouth whereof desâ—ended downe into the dungeon where he sawe a Ladie that sometime had bene of exquisite beautie as yet the feature of her countenance discouered but the long languishing solitude which as it séemed shee had no little while endured had so extenuated and chafed awaie her perfection as she séemed nothing in beautie to her former estate Besides her garmentes that whilome gaue her some fourme being now olde rent â—â—rne made her séeme lesse beautifull than indéede shee was notwithstanding men of iudgement may easily conceiue that were she reduced to her wonted plight shee would appeare more excellent than euer she did The knight beholding her began to reason and talke with her as thus Faire Ladie quoth he I wish that once more for my sake you would sing the song which not long since ye did for you haue a voice so swéete and agréeable that in hearing yee I conceined excéeding great pleasure Or if you thinke me not of such desert yet at the least doe me the fauour to sing it againe for the loue of Phynander him whom you haue so great desire to sée The Ladie was somewhat abashed when shee hearde the knight speake especially when shee behelde his wonderfull beautie then came to her memorie that this was he she had so many times séene in her sléep combatting against the cruell sauage Polyppe and of whom she had heard the faire Ozyris speake wherevpon she chaunged sodainly into a vermillion colour like a fragrant gilleflour when with a trembling voice she thus aunswered the knight If thou art not he that must bee the cause of my deliuerance I praie thée friendly knight for the youth and beautie which I beholde in thée and whereof I haue verie great compassion staie not héere to listen my singing For it may so fal out that if once more thou giuest eare to my song thou wilt receiue more displeasure than therein thou tookest delight and contentment But without further expence of time in questioning wherefore I pray thée whilest it is yet permitted thée to be gone spéedily and with the greatest diligence thou canst possibly vse out of this place assuring thy selfe that I would not refuse to graunt thy request as well 〈◊〉 the vertue as the beautie which I conceiue to be in thée 〈◊〉 also for the loue of him in whose name thou doest require the same For thou must knowe for certaine that if while I sing the sauage Polyppe ariue héere he will kill thée though thou hadst an hundred liues Therefore I counsell thée as thou louest thy life to get thée gone from hence as soone as thou canst I neuer feared quoth the knight the thing I neuer saw nor whereof I euer heard anie spéech therefore you labour in vaine in perswading me to flight I rather imagine that you vse these wordes to excuse your selfe in the request I made vnto you The Ladie would haue spoken something more to him but sodainely came a swift foule whistling with her wings and flying hard by where the knight stood pearched her selfe in one of the highest trées about the dungeon At the hearing whereof the Ladie was so ouercome with passion and feare that her tongue stood as fast bounde in her mouth in such sorte that shée not hauing the power to speak anie one worde was constrained to withdrawe her selfe farther into the denne tourning her backe towardes the knight Uppon this accident Gerileon hearde a greate and fearefull voyce which without customable order made a meruailous noise lyke vnto the bellowing of a Bull when he is strayed from the troupe of kine that he conducteth Then presently among the bushes entered the cruell and fierce sauage carrying a dead béefe vppon his shoulder and in one hand he helde two other deade béefes intending with this prouision to make his supper The aspect and forme of him at the first sight made the knight somewhat dismayed for hee was couered all the bodie and face with long shagge haire as black as a coale and no manner of white appeared about him but his téeth The eyes in his head were lyke fire hee was of a Gyants stature and right before his nauell he had the head of a dragon verie hideous and vgly with a greate mouth whereout appeared two mightie long hooked téeth sharply pointed and verie dangerous On his necke he bare a great staffe made in the fourme of a mase wherewith hee was wont to take and kill both men and beasts of all sortes So soone as he espied the knight he presently layde downe his load and taking his 〈◊〉 staffe from his shoulder beganne to laie at the knight who seeing the vnaccustomed furie of the monster quickly caught his helmet from his squire Geliaste which when his maister had hee ranne to hide himselfe in the hole where he had seene the Ladie The Sauage leaping to the dungeon which was as large as it was high first smote at the knightes head with the staffe from which to shield himselfe he turued with such dexteritie and lightnesse as he was not auie â—â—te hurt thereby Which the monster perceining redoubled another blowe on the other side so violently as the knightes shielde was thereby verie much brused and his armâ— stonnied greatly with the stroke
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
loyall companie As Gerileon spake these words and further would haue proceeded his purpose was preuented by the sudden course of a goodly horsse that trayled along a Knight well néere â—ead hanging by one foote in the stirrop and holding a Launce in his hand but the Fayrie knight catching the horsse by the bridle tooke of the knights Helmet where he found a very dangerous wound in his head then getting his foote foorth of the stirrop perceiuing some life yet remained in him and that hee was not but in an amazed â—raunce with the helpe of the prince Phynander and the Ladie Orphisa he was recouered againe Beeing come to himselfe he knew well the place where hee was which made him thus speake to Gerileon For Gods sake sir knight help vs and let vs quickly get vs hence for héere â—wels the most cruell and inhumaine monster of the world who as yet I hope hath not séene vs therefore I aduise ye presently to be gon as for my selfe I had rather bee dead then tarry in a place so daungerous as this is Feare not the monster you speake of quoth the Fayrie knight for if hee that hath thus shrewdly dealt with you had had no more power then the monster at this instant â—at you should be more healthfull and in better disposition then ye are I sée well sayd thâ— wounded knight that you haue not heard the inexpugnall force of the Sauage Polyppe for if ye had once experimented it yee would sorbeare to talke of him and tary in this place lesse while then yee doe I know more of him then you doe quoth the fayrie knight for you know nothing but by heare say and that which I knowe is by experience the mistresse of vertue and true discouerer of all things And to let yee sée that I speake not by hart I will giue ye some instance Then taking the knight by the hand he shewed him the Sauage monster dead which when he beheld hee trembled as full of feare and astonnishment as if he knew not whether this 〈◊〉 a dreame or a certainâ—ie and beholding well Gerillions countenance sayd Sir knight haue you then beene one that 〈◊〉 this monster to his death surely I beleeue that since you had the stomack to come so neere in vsing courage against him while hee â—ed and are one of the braue â—rmie that hath discomfited him you dare as boldly doo something for the Christians and I iudge if yee be a Christian and such a one as I imagine ye to be you will not refuse to reuenge the shame and outrage that hath beene offered me Beleeue me Sir quoth the Fayrie knight I am a true Christian and to any bee they Persians Arabians Syrians or Assirians I would giue succour according to my power and their necessitie wherefore I pray ye tell me in what affaires haue the christians need to vse my helps and who hath thus vnmanlie outraged yee to the end I may assuredly giue them assistance and also do my endeuour to auenge your wrong tell me the trueth without any further feare of the monster concerning both the one and other Sir answered the knight héerein will I gladly satisfie yee but because I haue verie much to discouer if I should recount each necessarie pointe therto belonging that ye may the more bréefely vnderstand these high affaires I wil shorten the discourse conueniently as I may reueling nothing but the very principal matters Know then sir that I am a knight my natiue countrey is the kingdome of Persia neere to the great cittie of Tauris and not long since was I sent in company of twelue other knights with the strong puissant Ariodant a knight of great reputation neere coosen to the mightie Mutiuell king of Persia who was elected and chosen by the greater part of the inhabitants of that countrey to goe to the great Emperour of Constantinople to intreate his succour for a multitude of good knights and christian souldiours whom the young prince Mauspasian brother to the great Sophie of Persia very straitlye besieged in the citties of Susa and Tauris beside diuers other places of the Persians kingdome And to the end ye may know wherefore we went ye must note that some while since the great Sophie a man worthie of great dignity for the high prowes where with he is indued hauing séene a portrait curiously drawn of the faire princes of Constantinople daughter to the Emperour became so carryed away with the loue of this most beautifull Ladie as he immediatly resolued to make her his wife what hazard or aduenture so euer stood thereon And to compasse the same he sent ambassadours to the Emperours to demaund her in marriage but the Emperour at that time made refusall because hee was contrary to him in religion and it was not lawfull for a Christian to marrie with a Pagan neither for a Christian to ioyne in any conuersation with a heathen Which was the cause to take away this difficultie which onely séemed to hinder the mariage that the great Sophie of Persia with all his people would become Christians and should be baptized And because the popular sort should frame their actions and fashion their manners answerable to their king himselfe was the first that receiued holy baptisme and commanded in all the countries of his kingdome that the Christian law should be anounced and preached Which being doone according to his will and commaund many willingly receiued the faith and religion others finding the alteration very strange withdrew themselues in displeasure some other that would not at all receiue it but were constrained thereto thought better to forsake their houses lands and possessions to liue in another kingdome with libertie of conscience and so continue the rest of their liues in the Pagan law After these things were thus ordered it chaunced that the king absented himselfe so that no one could tell what was become of him some sayd that as in former times hee had beene accustomed so now like a knight â—rrant he was gon in search of strange and perillous aduentures with especiall intent to make proofe and combate body to body with the puissant Nabot and Squamell who were counted the most hardie knights in the world Others sayd that being transported with this amourous passion hee was gon to the Emperour of Constantinople to demaund of him the Princesse his daughter for if he found her to be of such â—erfect beautie as the Painter by his art had discouered surely by force or fayre means he intended to haue her But which way so euer hee tooke very true it is that soone after his departure the Prince Mauspasian his brother whom hee had left to gouerne the Realme in his absence would by force of armes compell such as had abiured the pagan lawe and were become christians to take againe their former religion saying that what the king his brother had doone and intended to doo was but onely to induce the Christian Emperour with more
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
arrowes with poysonned heads the number of theyr men was fortie thousand By these meanes it seemed that God being angrie and displeased with his people would now thorowly scourge them suffering in so short time such a mightie power of enemies to be assembled whereof heere I purpose to speake no more but in the following Chapter you shall heare what happened CHAP. 15. How the Pagans reioysing for the succour that thus came daylye to them from all partes the prisoner Angrafolt had minde of nothing but the looue of the fayre Princesse Polydamie In meane while the olde Grandowin assembled his councell of sixteene puissant kings who concluded on an vniust resolution whereof king Floridamant made no account but minded to defend himselfe and withstand the furious assaultes of his enemies And howe hee heard tidings of helpe from Spaine and Fraunce ALl the Pagan Armâ—e being in this ioy and metriment for the newe supplyes that came to them as before yee haue heard some hoping to loade themselues with rich bootles and pillage others in the destruction of the Englishe Citties and townes which gréedie desire made them to vndertake this warre and this they would obtaine or die in pursuite thereof as at this day too many are found of like disposition others incited and enflamed with desire of honor but they were very fewe in number to the former sorte wishing for spéedie fight with king Floridamants hardie and valiant knights the conquest of whom would bring them immortall reputation and this desire especially made them be seene in this warre because many of their friends and kindred were slaine in the assault before the Cittie and for their deaths they had reason to séeke reuenge but aboue the rest the olde king Grandowin chéefe of this Armie the most ancient and malicious enemie in the troope appeasing his conceiued greefe for the imprisonment and captiuitie of Angrafolt his eldest sonne quicklye sent him woord of these good newes and how daye by day there came to him from many places fresh supplyes whereof if I should héere make report it would require a very large discourse neuerthelesse in running thorow the progresse of these affayres and state of this warre he may gather some breefe perticularitie heereafter And to admit comparison not Alexander Darius Xerxes no not the Romaines nor the Greekes before Troye assembled so many fighting men together at one instant as now was before the Cittie of London so that according to generall oppinion especially of the besteged it was held for certainty that all the kingdom of great Brittaine was ruined and lost Of all these things was Angrafolt aduertised and exhorted to worke some meanâ— of secret commotion within the Cittie if he could deuise any way whereby to compasse it but this two-folde taken prisoner made full reckoning of all these newes and aduertisements his thoughts onely at some secret cogitation howe or which way hee might most commodiouslie steale away the young princesse Polydamie or otherwise gaine some amourous iouissance the onely medicine for his languishing passions which continually maistred his wunted humours making sometime a courteous and affable knight contrary to his nature and sometime againe so drowned in melancholly as the sight of any one but his fayre mistresse offended him A thing questionlesse very strange that he who was such a sauage and cruell enemie to all humanitie not to bee conquered by anye kinde meanes whose former desires aymed at nothing but to sée himselfe in the middest of a battayle holding his bloodie Launce or Courtlaâ—e in his hand burning with enflamed affection of fighting without measure should now bee so subiected to the lookes of a soft and delicate maiden carying him dayly as it were bound after her without thinking eyther on battayle armour swoord shield horse or 〈◊〉 his minde was howe to conferre familiarly with Polydamie or counting it a cheefe felicitie to bee in sight of her for all things else were death to his amourous desires Grandowin in meane while being ignorant of this vnexspected accident one day called an assembly of his kings and such as were the chéefe of his armie to the Pauillion where councell was accustomed to be holden to the end they might deligently deliberate on their present affaires and by what meanes they were likeliest to gaine home againe their prisoned friends At this councell there met about fiftéene or sixteene puissant kings all wearing Crownes and were placed according to their auncient honor and degrées The first was king Brandissant next the puissant Tryphon king of Scythia king Tauladas king Guittard of Baccaleos king Marton of Cantabres king Phoas of Alger Orontes king of Marocco king Grimoaldo king Pagotroff king Salazard king Kambarell the strong king Zorlet Borant king of Carybe Maurus king of Bohemia with the proud and arrogant king Phorban of Moeotides a braue Pagan and a worthie knight All these being assembled to set downe some resolution touching their busines after they had long debated on diuersitie of opinions such as were seuerally deliuered in councell they concluded in the end to write to king Floridamant that within three dayes following he should come vnto them and bring with him the two prisoners Angrafolt and Mycrophon commaunding him to bee guide to the prisoners himselfe accompanyed with the best knights that then were in the Cittie six in number Likewise to bring two hundred of the fayrest maidens all Uirgins and of mariageable yeeres not excéeding fifteene or sixteenâ— at the most that they might vse theyr pleasure with them In meane while to sende all the riches and treasure which both himselfe and his Cittizens had in their most secret coÌ„fers or cabinets for search whereof they would send fiue hundred of theyr Souldiers into the Cittie and euer after it should continue as a yeerely tribute to the chéefe of theyr Armie twenty Uirgins of noble familie and exquisit beautie beside two Millions of Golde Moreouer he and his knights should come bare headed and without any armour to aske parden of great king Grandowin for the death of his sonnes in reuenge whereof this warre was commenced withall that hee and his knights should voluntarily submit themselues to his mercie that hee might dispose of their liues and goods as seemed best to him when peraduenture he would take pittie on them not putting them to death so cruelly nor race the Cittie nor murther all the rest of his people as otherwise he intended to doo if he denied theyr demaund with such ruine and desolation as neuer was mention made of the like To carrie these newes of this fayre resolution was immediatly dispatched a messenger towarde king Floridamant to whome the gate of the Cittie was presently opened to vnderstand the cause of his comming and hauing performed what hee imagined concerning his deuoyre deliuering the before named Letters to the king wherevpon his maiestie grewe presently into excéeding great anger and rage yet cunninglye shaddowing his conceiued displeasure hee made no other answere to
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