of this matter fortune was her friend desiring to doe that Princesse some new fauour and there being no fit companie to stay with the Prince if hee would haue anie thing shee offered her selfe to stay for that purpose which the young man much esteemed and more would haue done if hee had knowne the occasion thereof And seeing her selfe alone with him shee came to his beddes side saying I would valorous Knight that you could impart your paine to her who feeleth the same as much as your selfe Your visiting me faire Damsell answered the yong man is a sufficient ease for all that I feele being from my Ladie the Princesse Eufronisa which in conclusion doth that which is annexed to her valour which is to remember them which are in need as I am And to remedie it with losse of her owne contentment answered the Damsell I doe beleeue that shee gladly would doe it And for my part I should take it for much fauour to know what marke that is vpon your brest which I saw when you were a dressing I know not the cause thereof answered the young man but that I was borne with this face and my brother Claribel with an heart crossed and hitherto we knew no other but that we were the sonnes of the discreet Sergio for hee brought vs vp but within these two dayes hee hath put vs out of doubt telling vs that we be not his children but that in Silepsia néere vnto the Citie of Golbergt he found vs newly borne and his mother brought vs vp in stead of her owne children wherein as I say we haue continued vntill now that hee hath otherwise assured vs. The pleasure which this Damsell conceiued was such that shée presently taking her leaue of him went into her Ladies Chamber and without speaking one word shee imbraced her The Princesse maruailing at the newes asked her the cause thereof which should not be little So great answered the the Damsell is the good which the heauens deare Ladie this day haue done you that you may liue merrie and contented all the dayes of your life for know that the two famous youthes are your two lost sonnes The Princesse could giue no answere shée was so surprised with suddaine ioy which was then the greatest that could happen vnto her Ah my Selia I cannot beléeue that so great a good as this can happen vnto so vnluckie a woman no way deseruing it and therefore it cannot be possibly Without doubt it is as I tel you for I haue seene the verie markes wherewith they were borne and that which Cleobulo hath I saw this night when hee was a dressing and then shée told her what had passed betwéene the Prince and her whereof the Princesse was not able to containe the pleasure and being vnable to make an end of renewing her delight she said It behooueth me to see it to the end to make me liue cōtented That shal be an easie matter to doe answered the Damsell for now euerie body being at rest I wil leade you thither without discouerie but why will you not beléeue that I haue told you of him She presently came forth with her for the hope to sée him did encourage her in such sort that she would aduenture to come to the Princes lodging to whome at her comming she said My Damsell Sir Knight hath told me so many and so rare things of you and your brother that being somewhat hard of beléefe although it may be noted for lightnesse that I in exchange to see it haue put my selfe in danger to be noted It is to me Soueraigne Princesse a great fauour that which you doe and the cause being manifest bringeth therewith the defence as for the rest seeing it is your pleasure there is no more to be done but to sée it with your eies and so putting his shirt a little by he shewed that faire face The Princesse had so imprinted it in her heart that shee presently knew it She had almost discouered her selfe but considering what might ensue thereof and to publish her contentment shee tooke her leaue of him the most ioyfull of any woman in the world Well did shee deserue it hauing recouered two such sonnes as shee had being in all so accomplished Shee was now of opinion that fortune could doe her no greater pleasure then that which shee had receyued with the sight of her two sonnes They withdrew them to their lodging with determination neuer to marry seeing she had two such children neyther to make them knowne to the Greeke their father for feare that they would stay with him in Greece Heerewith they passed the seuen dayes which remayned shee in one campe and be in another vntill that that wished day did come wherein should be the generall death of him or of his enemies It seemed that Apollo this day hastened his course to the end that there should want no time for this bloudie warre he appeared of a bloudie colour and Mars with his armed Trident appeared low wherewith he touched Vulcans Shield There was neither Faune Satyre nor god in the woods which came not to the top of the Mountaines to sée the battell In the Campe before the Captaine Bemboes Tent was pitcht vp a blacke standard the sides being of colours a signe that the warres should be made with fire and sword and bloud and that he should die for it which tooke a prisoner he drue forth his Infanterie which was innumerable making thereof his maine battell lyning it with the fierce Parthians which were aboue a hundred thousand men al Archers with their bowes and quiuers wherewith they did notable harme for being on horsebacke before they came to charge their Launces they wrought great hurt in the head of the Cauallerie which were diuided into twelue mightie squadrons Foorth came those two mightie Princes the Soldan of Niquea and the Emperour of the Romanes whose persons compassed with huge Giants were garded with no lesse care then Achilles was with the Mirmidons With the rest of the people he made 2. Battaliōs one of which he tooke for himself leading them to the right hand At one side of him went those two braue competitors Brauorante and Brufaldoro with the most principal troups of Achaia In the Arrere gard with the Africanes came those thrée mightie young men he with the starres Claribel and Leobello whose comly personages were pleasing to al. The Duke Ferrer bare the Standard royall with all the fierce Almaines hauing twentie foure Giants for his gard On the other side went the mightie Soldan of Egypt bearing downe towards the valley of willowes in whose companie went the fiue of the faire wood with the flowre of Giant land which séemed as high as Pine-trées The King of Fenicia and the mightie Assyrian had in charge the gard of the Campe the charge of battering the Citie with all the Chariots with Sithes and the strong Castles vpon the mightie Elephants wherewith they thought it an easie matter to
their small valour although it followed a most cruell nauall warre as that which passed betwéene them and the Soldan of Egypt which would giue them notice that they were daily to expect them Herewith was there made a most proud defyance signed by xii kings which were ioyned in that confederacie with the mightie Romane who of himselfe and of his adherents had leuied aboue foure hundred thousand most ready and expert Souldiers for amongst them went the fierce Almaines a people through all the world held for valiant Commandement was giueÌ„ for the making of many engines for the waâ—res and prouiding of munitions because they would not euery day lend for prouisions In such sort was the Romane furnished that not of Grecia but of all the world he made smal reckoning promising his daughter to crown her Eâ—presse of Constantinople in despite of all the Grecians And with this preparation they spéedily sent foâ—re Gyants in company with a cousin germane of Brundusio called Coriando a most valiant Knight held in the second degrée after his strong cousin with a Damsell called Sabina which knew Don Heleno for that she had invited him to the Iusts who caried the defyance signed and sealed knowing what she had to say as shee which was one of the most discrat women of the world The messengers were about to depart when in the great Palace entred those which were sent by the Soldan of Niquea aduertised by Lupercio of that which the infernall Furies had gayned vpon the Romane Prince There came the brother of the Prince of the Garamants subiect to the Soldan and two other Princes which were of Media and of Armenia who although they had beene in disgrace with the Soldan about the stealing of Lâ—riana as is said in the first booke the trueth being knowne that they had not beâ—n the cause nor acquainted therewith he receyued them into his friendship binding them by new fauours which was to send them for his Ambassadours to the Court of Rome They went with such company as was fit for so great Princes as they were The King knowing of their comming with the most principal that were with him went forth to receyue them taking the King of the Garamants by the hand to do him the greater honour they al let them down to heare the Ambassade of so mightie a Monarch as the Soldan of Niquea As they all expected the Ambassade of the Soldan the valiant King of the Garamants making a little reuerence drew out a sealed Letter of credence and giuing it to the great Emperour of Rome Constantius looke it and with a loude voyce a king of Armes read it which said thus was therein The valorous Coriandro who went in company with the foure Gyants the Damsell answered him that therein went certaine Knights of Rome into Grecia to defie the Gréekes Much were they pleased with the answere of those Princes and séeing they held that course hauing so good occasion they said they would accompany them for no lesser displeasures had they also receiued of the Gréeks It appeared what they were by their Armes and so those of Rome also reioyced in their soules to haue so valiant Knights as they séemed to be in their company not seeing the houre to méet theÌ„ in Grecia where we wil leaue them vntill their time for they will bring in matter inough to talke of CHAP. II. Of that which happened vnto the Prince Poliphebus of Tinacria with the Damsell which caried him into the kingdome of Samogacia ALl those which haue weighed the great trauell of Imagination with such sound consideration and so aduisedly as is requisite most noble Prince haue iudged it very great and not without much reason for he who will please many must seeke out matter different for that which to one is loathsome another holdeth for pleasant and swéet and to hit right to please many is impossible for euen betwéene thrée that are inuited there is great difference in tasts as he said who had wel experimented the same Horace I say so because it is not possible in so large an historie as this which I now haue in hand but to bee tedious with the diuersitie of Chapters although that if men impassionate should be Iudges therein this is the most certaine meane to entertaine that can be But of force séeing I take this way I must haue recourse to pardon and to treat somewhat leauing so many defiances of the noble Tinacrian who with some amorous griefe tooke his leaue of Rosabel both woondring at what they saw the one in the other but it made it the lighter to sée the valorous kinsemen which he had and what it behooued him to doe to be called brother to so great Princes and Unkle to such a Knight for yet to Claridiano he was vnknowne With this conceit he retyred to embarke him where his Damsel attended his comming feareful that his long staying might be the occasion that he should not come in time with his succours for the most accomplished Lady in all Samogacia had grounded her hopes vpon him At his coÌ„ming she told him what paine she endured and the cause thereof Great griefe would it be to me faire Damsel said the resolute yong man if my staying should giue occasion of any defect and I should be very glad if you would shew me your necessitie for since our comming out of Gréece we haue had no place for it and séeing that now the Seas and fortune haue giuen it I should bee very glad thereof All shall be perfourmed valorous Prince of Tinacria séeing the life of her which sent me to séeke resteth in your hands and because you shall be the more willing to procure her remedie harken and you shall heare the greatest and most vnreasonable that euer was vsed to Lady for if you be sworne to the lawes of loue you shall vnderstand how vniustly my Lady is condemned to an infamous death and vnderstand that in the great and populous kingdome of Samogacia there is a King who for his valour and person is worthie to be King of the vniuersall world it pleased the Heauens to giue him sonnes and daughters which is the greatest pleasure in the world and fortune willing to try his valour with taking them all away from him leauing him one onely daughter of whom it is said that the summe and ful perfection of beautie and accomplishment of qualities is included in her shape and goodly proportion for in her beautie is no hinderance to her discretion with both which graces she is adorned in the highest degrée that may be and so haue they giuen her a name conformable to her constitution calling her Celibella for her beautie séemeth rather heauenly then of the earth where if ought be excellent yet it bringeth with it some ill-fauoured abatement With this Lady the Princes of Podolia fell in loue Knights to whom nature had shewed her selfe very bountifull endowing them with what is most desired she
would draw his comfort for the lesse of the two princes brothers from the death of a lady whom to be hold I know not who but would haue veÌ„tured his life for her It hapned most valiant prince that one day the king being despised for that he could not be certified concerning the death of these princes as he had newly dined the fierce Furâ—ander armed at al pieces in blacke of bright and shining stéele armour without any deuice sauing onely in the midst of his shielde hee bare reuenge most liuely painted Being thus furnished his comming into the Hall made al those which beheld him change countenances who with the fiercenesse wherewith nature had endowed him making a little reuerence and a litle lifting vp his visor said with a hoarse voyce for yet I haue not forgotten what feare I was in to heare him Mightie king of Samogacia not withstanding that I am of opinion that my comming in this maner will not a little offend you the great griefe which I endure to sée the most dearely beloued princes of the world slaine in the palace doth enforce me a thing euen the heauens should lament for so vniust a death that gods doe know how much it grieueth me to come in this maner considering howe much my deare brothers were boundeÌ„ vnto thée but the feare that I am in to returne again to Pâ—dolia to the king my father who sent me to séeke theÌ„ hath forced me séeing that nothing can be done against that which the heauens haue decréed and to the end that the common people shall not say that they dyed and that no man would reuenge their death and séeing the many certaine signes which in their life and since I haue perceiued I say that I will maintaine against any one two thrée or foure knights together with my horse and armes that they were slaine by order from your daughter the princesse Celibella which from this day to the end of 4. moneths I will maintaine because the princesse shall vnderstand that I desire not to preuaile by reason of the shortnes of the time but that she may haue time to send whither for whom she wil to defend her honour so as shee may not be accounted murtheresse of princes The diuilish knight held his peace and there was no man so valiant that durst so much as moue The king stood some what in a doubt pondering on the waight of the case and at length resolued and I beléeue hee was forced â—eeing how much Furiander was feared to admit the challenge and so he caused the princesse to be called which God knowes was sorowfull ynough for their deaths shée imagined straight what the matter was and so halfe amazed foorth she came The king propounded vnto her the Pagans occasion she could not answere for I thinke no body could vntill the qualme was past which had almost bereaued her of her life and then she answered with so great stomake as made mee wonder it was the equitie of the cause and the great wrong that was done her did thus animate her thereto saying that it was a lye that she would take such order as should be requisite to recouer the honor whereof she was thus robbed with so great trechery she being innocent of the death of those Princes but séeing the one failed she was to séeke who might giue account of her honour Her father the king commanded her presently to be committed to prison because he would shew himself a Iuâ—â—icer notwithstanding it was against his owne daughter whom he so dearely loued and of whose life depeÌ„ded his own for it was yâ— kings law held inuiolably although very rigorous that whatsoeuer person were accused of an offence coÌ„mitted within the palace that doeth not either of himself or some knight for him answere the challenge within the time lymitted in the challenge shall be condemned to be burnt the most cruell thing that euer was heard Then came your fame valorous prince flying through Samogacia with the highest pitch that euer knight enioyed The poore distressed Lady was of opinion as in deed it is true that she could not repaire with more reason and assurance vnto any then to you and so shee sent mee to seeke you I came from the citie with that care which a matier of such importance as this is doeth require and vnderstanding of the great feasts which were in Grecia I was of opinion to finde you there among your brothers for by the way I vnderstood that you are sonne to the great Emperour Trebatius with whose fame the whole world is replenished seing it was my hap to méet you in so good coÌ„pany I am the gladdest womaÌ„ in the world assuring my self that bringing you I bring life to the princesse although that we haue bin hindred in our sayling with tempests yet the wind being fauourable wee shall I doubt not come in time to Samogatia for there yet remaine twentie daies before the challenge bée expired and this is Sir Knight the cause that hath mooued me to take the paines to seeke you and I beléeue it shal not bee in vaine for seeing the wrong that is done to the Princes you will not suffer it to proceede for the fame of your valour importeth no lesse but that you imploy it in fauour of those which are distressed as is this Ladie The lady hauing ended her story with some teares which fell from her eyes remembring how much it would grieue the Princesse seeing her long stay that valorous Tinacria was verie pittifull especially in the behalfe of women holding it for no honour which was gotten against them and so he answered I would that the heauens had giuen me farre greater force faire damsell to the end that your businesse might be the better assured although hauing so much equitie on her behalfe I hope that it shall suffice to yéeld that contentment as such an excellent Ladie as shée is doth deserue against any that without reason shall procure her griefe and I refuse not the houre to méete that Knight of so little discretion Great comfort did those couragious spéeches yéeld to the Damsell which the Prince vsed the weather was fauourable vnto them for foure daies before the time was expired they landed néere the Citie of Adibia for so is it called with great pleasure to them both to sée themselues so neere shée to her soueraigne Ladie bringing so good a returne and he which much desired to shew all his valour in defence of the Princesse and but that it was onely his it had neuer béene accomplished with that good hap for the Pagan was one of the most strong men in the world One day and a halfe did they spend in comming to the Citie which was full of strangers although neuer a one so valorous as to answere the challenge notwithstanding that Furiander came daily to the lists They passed the night in a groue of poplar trées where what happened vnto them
in his determination he saw néere at hand the certaine death of his déerely beloued daughter for hee continued so obstinate in his vniust challenge that nothing could withdraw him from his damned resolution The two Princes came in whose presence gaue no small ioy to all that were in the hall principally the Tinacrian for no man had a greater grace in his countenance In ouer-looking the hall with iudiciall eyes the sonne of great Trebatius doing some reuerence said God saue the great King of Samogacia and graunt thée that peace which thy personage deserueth this Knight and I come from farre countries onely to defend the wrong as we haue vnderstood which is done by a certaine Knight vnto thy Daughter and casting lots whether of vs should first enter into battell for her it fell to me which gaue mee no small content to doe thy daughter this seruice and performe that whereto by the law of Knighthood I am bounden and therefore you may commaund her to be called and wee shall sée whether shee will commit the equitie of her cause into my hands The Gods requite thée the band Sir Knight wherein you haue bound me with offring your person to such danger as this present which is one of the greatest that you haue séene which might be ended by some other meanes if this Knight would who is the defendâ—nt to the challenge but séeing it must goe as fortune will appoint there is no more to be done but to come to the battell which the Gods graunt may end according to the equitie of the cause To be of the Princesses part mightie King hath compelled me to come answered the Tinacrian The fierce Pagan being somewhat moued rose vp saying I would not Sir Knight that you should haue so great confidence in the Ladies innocencie but that you should come so well furnished with forces as are needfull for the battel and so you may take this Knight to helpe you for my challenge doth extend to foure It shall not néed said the sonne of Trebacius to haue any more companie theÌ„ the equity of my cause doth giue me for if I be in the right my person will sufâ—ice for a greater matter if in the wrong little will great forces preuaile against iustice and I much desire that such a Knight which is so famous as you are before so many people should not make shew to trust more in the strength of your arme then in the equitie of your cause which most commonly fayling valour is of little effect The furious Pagan beeing there with â—ffended answered saying I thought not Knight that my curtesie had animated thee to be so proud but because thou maist know that I will not passe the time in words being more fit to vse deeds we wil no longer deferre the battell As he had ended his answere came the most faire Celibella all clad in mourning attire which did greatly encrease her beautie The Tinacrian had neuer séene greater beautie for there were few in the world that did excell her Her father told her at her comming how that Knight vndertooke the battell for her The faire Princesse knew him straight by his deuice of a bough which he bare in his shield that hee was the man for whom she had sent She presently gaue him authoritie with greater contentment then can be spokeÌ„ although that when she remeÌ„bred the infortunate Princes her most pleasing thoughts were watred with teares These two valiant Warriours made no delay for the fierce TinacriaÌ„ taking his leaue of the King went into the lists taking with him the Prince of Prussia who stood to looke on On the other side of the lists presently came in the valorous Furiander much people accompanying him although there was no bodie that would he should winne the palme or weare those armes wherein hee had accused the Princesse who was set vpon a scaffold with a sufficient gard where she prayed to her false Gods that her Knight might obtaine the victorie séeing the in so iust a cause he vndertooke the battell Face to face stood these two warriours whose lookes and gestures were such that he which stood farthest off did scarcely account himselfe in safetie at the giuing of the fearefull signe they drew with more swiftnesse then an arrow flieth In the middest of the place was appointed the course of their Carriere making a greater sound in their meeting then if two hils had runne together they bowed not in their â—addles with the force of the lances which brake like Kâ—xes whose splinters flew so high that they were out of sight These two rare men in valour turned their horses with their swords in their hands approching the one iust to the other they gaue so fearefull blowes as would haue beaten a rocke in pieces eche of them could testifie his aduersaries force they redoubled the second with greater courage then dexteritie either of them féeling his owne blood in his mouth they began to make benefite of the nymblenesse wherewith they were endued closing and beating by the blowes in such exquisite maner that Mars himselfe could not haue done the like The valiant Moore spurring his horse thinking by swiftnesse to get aduantage charged carrying his sword firme with the point forwardes The great Tinacrian was well aware thereof there was neuer seene any Eagle more swift then hee in giuing blowes and making his horse to giue a bound hée passed before the Moore and turned him so sodainly that hee wondred at the Sonne of Trebacio they came to ioyne and the Moore would giue the first blow hee did it which was more swift then the wind and strake him vpon the rich Helmet whose finenesse warranted his life for otherwise hee had clouen him to the saddle it sounded like a bell and therein the Tinacrian saw a thousand starres in the skies he fell vpon his horse necke and the Moore doubled his blow but if hee had giuen the third the battell had béen ended for it came with such force that he was quite senselesse he had closed with him if he had not séene that more furious then a Basiliske hee returned with his sword aloft There was no man in that place that yeelded not the victorie for the Pagan the Ladies fainting confirmed the same for losing her Rosiall colour it became like snow séeing the blowes which her Knight had receyued who was nothing discouraged therewith but casting his shielde at his backe grinding his téeth against the other he assayled the Moore giuing him so mightie a blow vpon his helme that he left him al that part vnarmed charging him so vehemently that there mist but little to haue laid him in the dust hee tooke hold of his horse necke The Tinacrian ioyned with him accounting the victorie for his owne and with both his handes gaue him another blow which imprinted his sword in his flesh wounding him in the shoulder as the Moore setled him selfe losing no occasion he gaue him two thrusts one
it be determined that you become loueâ— vassâ—ls flye crueltie which is that which doth most blemish and dishonour those that denâ—e therein In the rest I would haue you resemble your warlike father but not in crueltie who doeth tyrannize ouer her who bare in her wombe Oh my Selia I am of opinion séeing the strangenesse which this prince sheweth vnto mée that to sée me in his countrey will yeelde him new cause of lothing which to imagine there is no death comparable to it Soueraigne Lady answered the Damsell you liuing so assured whereof would you more then to loue him with your soule which maketh shew to abhorre you But I am of opinion that your going into Grecia should ease you of your sorow and yéeld you much content I shall neuer be so happy my Selia as to attaine to the â—ight of a thing so pleasing as that might be and the greatest that fortune could giue me to sée him acknowledging how much I haue loued him This shall bee some ease to my paine séeing the heauens haue made all other impossible that he is husband of the Infanta of Niquea Herein did this Lady passe her wearisome dayes taking no other pleasure as I haue said but to walke abroad in the fresh shadow in a groue of poplar trées It hapned one day that walking abroad somewhat early euen when the sunne from the highest heauens sent his heate into the world being somewhat annoyed there with they came to the fountaine to refresh them where they saw the valorous Tinacrian who to passe the afternoones heat was come to this fountaine This frée yong Batchelour was washing his fayre face when they approched beeing somewhat out of countenance for that they had left their company behind them and also to finde him so alone hand in hand they came thither at the instant when the sonne of Garrofilea lifted vp his head to behold them The TinacriaÌ„ did some what resemble Rosabel and so the new and sudden sight caused so great alteration in the enamoured Princesse that she certainely beléeued that he was her beloued prince Ioy so much suprized her amourous heart that shee therewith fell breathlesse into a swoone giuing an amourous scritch saying Oh my Rosabel This could not so be coloured but that the frée Tinacrian might well vnderstand that his deare cousin-germane had trauailed into those countries that this Lady much loued him he spéedily came to the place where Selia held her in her lap with so great heauinesse that it caused the prince to accompany her therein What sudden mishap is happened to this Lady said the sonne of Trebacius If it be anything wherein I with the hazard of my life may procure her remedy I will performe it so farre foorth as it to me shall be possible The cause of this disease is so inueterate answered Selia maruayling to sée a man so fayre assuring herself also that it was not Rosabel for that he was more strongly set that notwithstanding that many haue attempted to remedy it being men of much worth yet all that they could doe hath béen but to remoue the humours The faire Ladie giuing a déepe sigh came againe to her selfe sheadding many bitter teares which vpon her faire chéekes shewed like Orientall pearles she fixed her deceiued eyes vpon the faire yong man vntill that at yâ— last she was assured that he was not Rosabel It grieued her very soule that shee had giuen so manifest a signe of her being another mans and not her owne in presence of that gentle Knight who although that he had no experience in loue yet he might neuerthelesse wel perceiue that shee was in loue Hee againe reiterated the offer of his life to be employed in her seruice for the recouerie of her delight The Gods requite you gentle Knight answered the Lady for your noble offer which is correspondent to the great valour which your personage doth represent My annoy is so rooted in my soule that any remedie whatsoeuer to be applied will but double my sorrow onely sometime as now it yéeldeth me some ease to make shew of the euil which I endure and it hath not béen to any smal purpose séeing I find that it hath moued those to pitie mée which neuer knew me The dutie faire Ladie which I acknowlege to owe to al those which please to vse my seruice is so generall that it forced me séeing the great extremitie whereunto this euill as you say had brought you to offer my life in quest of some meanes to bréed your rest It may be well perceiued valorous Knight said the Ladie that if we should entreat you to shew your valour to purchase our contentment you would doe it as he which best might The amorous reasons of the faire Ladie could no further procéed for that they heard a most terrible great noise This yong gallant betooke him to his weapons because that to be found without them it should not put in doubt that which his valour did assure he had hardly laced his Helmet and embraced his strong shield when through the thickest of the wood he saw approch two most â—â—erce Gyants and with them a Knight of a gallant resemblance richly armed hée would not remayne on fâ—â—t but getting to his gallant courser skipt into the Saddle and with his lance in his hand stayed to sée what they would willing the Ladies to draw néere to the fountaine for the maner of their comming seemed not to bee to doe them any pleasure By this they were all thrée ariued and the Knight putting vp his beuer somewhat more discouering his face said Many dayes soueraigne Princesse Silepsia with costly experience to my heart I haue made shewe of my sacrificed faith to your beautie procuring to my cost by all possible meanes your content and yet could neuer obtaine any the least hope not that I would be beloued for that were to renue my life but you would not so much as once regard my paine not withstaÌ„ding that you were the cause thereof The heuens haue now permitted me to come so in the nick to vnderstaÌ„d how little you shal lose to answere to my payne knowing this maruell not though I procure that by force which I deserue should be fréely bestowed on me and so you are to haue patience for you shall be mine in despite of all the world Well haue I vnderstood Prince of Libonia answered the Lady the affection which you haue euer showed me and to be such as deserued worthy correspondence but neuer faithfull louer which delighted in the renowme of a worthy Knight tooke pleasure to winne affection which was already setled for therein he should rather resemble a rigorous louer then a man of that faith which you say you haue borne vnto me and so séeing the impossibility in my behalfe I haue procured by all possible meanes to let you vnderstand how small meanes I had to yéeld you remedie Such affection as is mine said the
name and behalfe of those things which you loue best in the world to tell me your name and of what countrey you are for I am of opinion that I shall yet loue you better for some other reason then for all that you haue now done for mee Well did this yong gallant vnderstand her and so desiring throughly to satisfie her hee said Worthy Lady the Gods do beare me record how great ioy I conceiue for my comming into your Kingdome in time to do you some seruice and know that my Countrey is Tinacria and I am sonne to the Emperour Trebacius and hee among all my whole kindred whom I loue best is the Prince of the great Britany Afresh returned the most faire Eufronisa to embrace him saying Now valorous Prince I say that I wil not rest beholding vnto you séeing that in giuing me life it hath béen to the ende I should encrease my loue towards that cruell Prince whom you say you loue so much And as we leâ—t speaking streames of teares flowed froÌ„ her faire eies she considered her ouersight saying Maruell not noble Prince to sée the many shewes of my indiscretion for the â—eruent affection wherewith Rosabel is beloued in this Countrey is such and the crueltie which hee sheweth towards me is so rigorous that it forceth me to complaine of him séeing I haue so déerely loued him I would not for any thing in the world most worthy Lady answered the Prince that I should giue you any cause of discontent for I receyue so much herein that I know not ought that may frée me thereof although that if it may be held for an excuse that he haue not equalled your affection his being elsewhere deuoted yet a sufficient reason it yéeldeth to cause you to shew your selfe lesse passionate I neuer desired most valiant Knight that he should wholy requite my loue séeing it impossible for him to doe I onely desired that he should consider that I loued him and how swéet a life I held it and how much I ioyed to bee his But Oh extreme dolor it appeareth that if I did liue but to loue him he in good earnest tooke pleasure to abhorre me Here did I furnish him with horse and armes and here did I shew him the most faithfull sincere affection that euer was contained in any humane brest In my Palace did I cure him of his wounds hoping that that would haue moued him to haue cured those which he had giuen me but to my greater griefe I sent him hence whole and sound and he left me here so as you sée me Let it not noble Prince offend you to heare my passionate complaint for I would not haue spoken it to any man in the world but to such a one as were so néere a kinseman and deare friend as are you to that cruell Knight and know that my constancie shall serue for an example to the world for first shall my soule forsake my body before I leaue to be his Behold and sée vnto what estate affection hath brought me for in hope to sée him it doth not grieue me to sée my father in the behalfe of the Souldan of Niquea to goe against him And I beseech you valorous Prince séeing you meane to serue in those famous wars to remember some day to tell him that Eufronisa is in the Campe not in shew of an enemy but as a tributarie Much did the crueltie of his kinseman grieue the Prince of Tinacria wherefore to comfort this noble Ladie he said Be not dismaide noble Lady for I promise you on my faith and as I am a Knight that I will so bring it to passe that in Grecia the prince Rosabel shall visit you and acknowledge the fauor which in this countrie he hath receiued at your hands I desire no greater ioy for my whole life time answered the Ladie but only to sée him and that that with some acknowledgement he may vnderstaÌ„d how much I haue loued him and herewith let vs go for that Ladie staieth for vs who is a witnesse of what I endure Upon the dead Princesse horse the Tinacrian set the Ladie and himselfe mounted vpon his own they returneâ— so pleasant and merry that but for the remembrance of the losse of her sonnes nothing could yéeld her so great ioy of loue was all their discourse although this Youth had small skill therein But fortune determined to prepare him with those shewes of loue meaning shortly to subiect him thereto holding it for base séeing he was not yet subdued Some horsemen they met vpon the way of her gard which in a great troope came galloping fearing that they had lost the Kings daughter Here would the Prince haue taken his leaue without comming to the Citie of Goltuerg where the King made preparation for his departure but at the instant request of the Princesse and the discreet Silia he could not refuse to goe with them vpon condition that by no meanes they should discouer who he was Being ariued at the Citie it nothing amazed him to sée it in armes and the great number of Knights which hourely ariued there among which were many most fierce Gyants neither the great abundance of warlike instruments which were prepared in that Citie for well hee knew in what readinesse his father would be Eight dayes remained hee there with the greatest entertainement in the world for the king knowing in what maner he had rescued his daughter knew not how to requite it him At the end of which time with a determination to goe into Tinacria and there to leuie the mighttest Armie that possibly he should be able in the behalfe of his father hee tooke his leaue of that gallant Ladie with such a farewell as made him sorrowfull She likewise within foure dayes after tooke her way towards Grecia with her fathers Armie with so great a desire to bee there that she imagined that the heauens could yéeld her no greater content The words of the Tinacrian did much hearten her who in a well rigd Galley directed his course towards his Countrey with his aforesaid determination But the third day after his being at sea the sea began to worke in such sort that he lost his voyage casting him by diuine prouidence into a streight of the Mediterranean sea where he wandred 3. daies the fourth tooke land in the most swéet and pleasant countrey that euer he had séene in his life Hée leapt ashore desirous to know in what countrey he was ariued commanding the Marriners there to attend him and with his Squire onely he began to enter a most pleasant shadow of Poplar trées where hee tooke pleasure in the fresh ayre thereof séeming vnto him that there industrious nature had taken great care to excéed all humane arte When hee had trauailed about a mile therein busying his eyes in beholding the stately Poplars and lofty Cedars at the end of this wood in the midst of a fayre field he beheld the stateliest Palace
himselfe and holding such company as the Gréeke Prince who desirous to returne into Grecia to the aid of his parents taking leaue of these Knights thanking them for the newes which they had told them he said Ualorous Princes the best most certaine meane that I know to deale in this busines is to remit it to the fortune of my valor so to bereaue this Prince which procureth your spoiles of the meane therto here fréeing vs froÌ„ any successe that may happeÌ„ to send a messenger to the King of Lucania that I wil maintaine the beauty of this Lady against any Knight that shal say the contrary at al assaies to be the fairest that is in this kingdoÌ„ which shall giue occasion to this Knight if he loue and be valiant as he is reported to be to take it in ill part that any should bee preferred before his Ladie and comming to blowes with him for nothing in the world will I giue ouer the battell and if the heauens grant vs victorie as I hope they will it shall bee an easie matter for you to carie the Ladie away shee bearing you such good will as you say she doth and being in your Countrey you may defend her against all the world or otherwise make your returne into Grecia in company with this Ladie wherein you shall do the king of Argel great seruice deliuering her into his hands They all agréed to this which the Knight of Cruelty had deuised and so in conclusion they dispatcht a Damsell in company with Polisandro to deliuer the message to the King they remayning in a wood expecting answere which shal be declared in the next Chapter CHAP. VI. How the Damsell deliuered the ambassade to the King of Lucania in the behalfe of the Knight of Crueltie who admitting the same the matter came to triall AS Polisandro and the Damsell as saith Galtenor were departed from the Princes with the Gréeke Princes message and were come within two miles of the great Citie of Troba at what time as the King was newly risen froÌ„ dinner accompanied with many principal knights among which was the most strong Astrenio which was now respected of euery body as the Kings sonne they desired leaue to enter which was granted in the presence of many Ladies the faire Polinarda with Solesia the Princesse of Campania and her valorous louer Lisander The Damsell doing such reuerence as in such cases is accustomed the King willing her to deliuer her ambassade shee began in this maner Thou shalt vnderstand mighty King of Lucania that in the confines of the red Sea in that part which boundeth vpon Media there lyeth a most populous and rich Iland called the I le of plate for the great abundance which the earth there bringeth forth of which Iland is Quéene one of the most accomplished Ladies of the world called Troyla with whom the mightie Prince of Cumagena trauelling through the world to seeke his aduentures seeing her rare beautie fell in loue and that with such feruencie that according to the shew which hee hath made thereof nothing but death onely may suffice to diuert him from his amorous conceit hee hath perfourmed most Soueraigne King so many and so great matters in the seruice of this Ladie that of very dutie and considering with her selfe that it was no disgrace to her to accept him for her Knight thee resolued to admit his seruice and him for her seruant With the fauours which she bestowed on him he beganne againe anew to make triumphs for ioy in such maner that she consented and promised to be wholy his She valorous King standeth so assured on her selfe and her beautie that she requested him in requitall of the faith which she vowed vnto him to carie her to the Courts of the most famous Kings for the space of two yéeres to maintaine her beautie A small request seemed vnto her louer that which she required and to all others that knew him seeing by experience the great valour which the heauens had infused into him And now they goe accomplishing the two yeeres quest performing such aduentures therin with so much honour to them both that hee is held for one of the most valorous Knights of the world and hearing the fame of this Court of the gallantrie of the Ladies of the same he would not passe by into Grecia before he had here made proofe of what power his aduenture might bee he yéeldeth to the battell at all perils for some hauing procéeded to the Iusts onely haue remained throughly grieued bringing the battell to no perfection wherefore he hate sent to entreat thée if it shall so please thée to send him safe conduct to the ende he may maintaine the cause for which he commeth Here ended the Damsell her Oration leauing not one in all the hall which did not wonder at her bold demaund Some rumour beganne among the young Knights making a scoffe thereof auouching that the Ladies whom they serued had attained to the highest of all beautie Wel did the King vnderstand it and dissembling the same answered the Damsell which comming in the name of an Ambassadour was to be honourably entertained I doe thankefully accept faire Damsell of the pleasure which this Knight with his presence will doe vnto this court although as I am perswaded he shall here purchase more enemies then friends for here being Princes which delight in Ladies seruice they will neuer yeeld to so generall an offence as is this The most strong Astermo could not dissemble his discontentment déeming that therein was great disgrace done to his Polinarda who said thus I doe rather wiâ—h faire Damsell that this Knight had first séene the Ladies of this Palace that he might haue perceiued the errour which he maintaineth before he had with such ouerboldnesse defyed their gallants I am of opinion Sir Knight answered the disâ—reet Damsell that you haue not yet made proofe of the power of loue seeing that you know not that hee which admireth the beautie of his beloued speaketh according to his affection I am of opinion that both of the one and the other the Prince will put you out of doubt if it shall please the King to giue him leaue thereto I graunt it quoth the King if he will to the end wee may see the effect of your hopes The Lady would haue kist the Kings hand for the sauour which he granted returning she said As these Princes mightie King haue trauelled a long iourney so come they vnfurnished of prouision necessary wherefore they pray thee to commaund a Tent to be lent theÌ„ seeing that the challenger is to make his abode therein Whatsoeuer shall please him answered the King I will coÌ„mand to be carefully prouided In this maner said the Ladie with a high voice begin you that are enamoured to set vp your armes for betwéene this and to morrow wil come to the Lists the Prince of Comagena with costly experience to make shew of his great
and faine I would without offending your office make you know how ill informed you come But men haue patience with those which bring a message The Duke of Thebes tooke the defiance and with a high voyce read it that all might vnderstand it which was thus The defiance Constantius Emperour of Rome Lord of all the MediterraneaÌ„ and Brunduso Prince of Gibia and of the confines of the Indian sea with the mightie Arsiano Prince of Almaine the rest of the Kings Friends and Vassals to the prince of Dacia greeting For that in feare thou maist see the cruell vengeance which I meane to take of thee and of those which haue declared themselues for thy partakers in requitall of the breach of thy word not as a Knight giuen to my deare daughter to be her husband a thing although thou hadst entreated it had bene very well for thee and hauing done so guiding thy selfe not with reason as was requisite but with passion it is told me that thou art married whereat I am nothing sory but should haue bene to haue had so faithlesse a sonne This shall serue for a warning to thee seeing the reuenge which the heauens will giue me vpon thee which graunt thee life AS all Gréece daily expected the comming of so mighty a Prince as the Soldan of Niquea so was there no man troubled with this defiance except the Prince of Dacia whose colour waxing as red as a liue coale said Well did I imagine Knight that with your prowd ambassade there should come some Knight which should not weigh whether iustice were on his side or not for although that now there be no time to make excuses admitting the defiance I say that all that wherewith thou doest charge mee is false for although that I tried the adueÌ„ture of Bruto in the name of that Princesse yet there was neuer any speach of her part that I should be hers and in prouoking such Princes against me they haue done it disloyally séeing in persoÌ„ they might haue come and requested mée this that without any other occasion they will trouble the world led by their blind passion as for the rest I hope that the life which they wish me to sée their reuenge but I beléeue I shall sée it first on them and to the end it shall not happen I with my parents and friends will séeke them at home in their owne countryes He said no more for he well remembred that he had bene more cholericke then is vsuall with Embassadours But the faire Rosamundi could not dissemble her griefe séeing her louer defied of whom she had vnderstood all that which had passed at Rome and taking occasion of what Coriander had said she said Me thinketh Knight you haue offended many with your presumptuous maner of procéeding in scoffing in disdaine at the Gréeke Ladies for to value the Dacian Prince to be of lesse worth for being in our company Hereby the iustnesse of the cause for which you come is the more plainely to be perceiued and because you shall vnderstand that the comming from Kings doth not warrant you when you haue receyued your answere I wil make you know that there are Ladies in Gréece whose coÌ„panie yéeldeth honour to Knights which frequent the same There will not waÌ„t those which will maintaine the challenge quoth the faire Archisilora burning with anger for such a disgrace as this shall not passe vnpunished For a mediator answered the gallaÌ„t Empresse Claridiana here is mine arme which in fauour of the Ladies shall shew their equitie In so iust a cause sayd the faire Sarmatia there is none that will refuse the combate against any of the fiue I would I had Mars his strength quoth the faire Liriana to let these Knights know that it had bene better for them to haue taken some other course Let not that offend you sayd the faire Rosamundi for I as most iniuried doe in challenge defie this Knight and one of his companions to the ende they may sée how little they are estéemed All which was done with such a sudden that the Emperour although hee would yet he could not haue enter medled therein Somewhat milder than before the furious Coriandro answered Faire Ladies where the victorie is so apparantly due to your beauties the Knights of Gibea do not vse to enter into battels but against sterne Knights where the valour of the persons may appeare I am very sorie the whereas so many Knights are they haue yéelded to the Ladies to maintaine the honour of Grecia This did somewhat nettle the Greeke Princes that together arose thrée which well shewed what they were They were no lesse then Rosabel the warlike Claramante and the furious Dacian who being armed without all doubt would haue had them by the eares But to auoid the hurly burly the old King of Macedonia arose willing the Ambassadours to goe with him while the Greekes gaue answere a thousand times was Bembo about to deâ—e Rosabel in his Mistresse quarrel and had done it but that he saw it would cause him to stay longer then Lupercio had appointed All was left to the field battell where wanted no occasion and euery man had his handes full as you shall heare The defiance being accepted they dispatched the Messengers which did not a little wonder at the Ladies and much more at the great Nauie which they saw at sea and the innumerable armie which they saw on land and because that in the Citie there was not roome enough the Captaine generall had commanded many tents to be erected compassed about with deepe trenches which seemed another Citie Some dayes they stayed because that thither came the wise Lord of Achaia who before he would goe forth of Gréece desired to be informed of the state of his enemies but finding many contrarieties he much doubted of the good successe according to most mens opinion seeing the great and mightie armies leuied against the Gréekes The foure Ladies were so displeased with the Pagans answere that in the night with their Armes they went to séeke them They were quickly mist and for feare that any disgrace should happen vnto them armed at all pieces with most assured Armes there went after them Don Heleno and Rosabel with Captaine Arâ—â—toldo and the mightie Bransiniano the valorous Brandafidel was none of the last and the gentle Teâ—feo with his Uncle Bramidoâ—o in company of the noble Alphebo onely Rosacler stayed behind for that euening he felt himselfe not well and the trauaile of the faire Oliuia did much trouble him which that night was deliuered of a daughter no lesse faire then her mother neither did she cost lesse blood as with the fauour of the Muses I will declare in the fourth part of this Historie where her loues shal be described the beginning whereof shall be declared in this fourth booke The new enamored Claramante with his most rich and assured armes would goe alone and notwithstanding that he knew not the country
bridle they went downe the hill In comming into the plaine the right way towards the Hauen Poliphebus began after this maner I doe Soueraigne Princesse vnderstand of the great warres wherein my father now is and of the many enemies which beseege his Citie I neuer yet durst to make my selfe knowne vnto him without doing something whereby I might boldly vaunt my selfe to bee the sonne of the mightie Trebatius and for this purpose I take occasioÌ„ to goe in your company and hauing the equitie of your beautie on my side betwéene the two Campes I purpose to maintayne the same not against the Greeke Dames for the loue of my sisters and the rest of my kindred which liue enamoured which seeing my challenge of force must come to contradict it Fame hath reported that in the Moores Campe there are Ladies which for beautie are the Phenixes of their Countries and if I prosper well in this attempt I may make my selfe knowne for the sonne of the great Trebatius I would not valorous Prince sayd the Ladie the through my occasion you should lose that which your vertue doeth assure of for there want not Ladies whose brauery and beauty is to be preferred farre before mine I am not able to goe into Greece answered the gallant Louer without making it appeare what power your vertue hath within my brest So then answered the Ladie there is nothing to bee sayd against your resolution With swéete conuersation they came to the sea side where they past all that night with such contentment of either partie as can not bee expressed The next day at what time as the faire Phebus began to beautifie the earth with his presence the two beloued Louers embarked themselues in the ship which Poliphebus brought The Masters and Mariners entertaining them with great ioy and wondring at the beauty of the gallant Luzâ—la hoyseâ— their sailes directing their course towards Grecia sayling with so great pleasure content that they wished it had bene Vlisses voyage After supper lying vpon the hatches of the ship casting their eyes to behold the vast seas and the forme of the skies this Gallant sayd vnto the Ladie If it may be told without griefe vnto you I would gladly know the cause of your enchauntmeÌ„t Some it will be to me warlike Prince in renning the remembrance of what I there endured but to giue you satisfaction whatsoeuer you shall commaund shall be put in execution Then know valorous Knight that my father had an Aunt the wisest woman in all Egypt where it is an ordinarie matter to be giuen to the arte Magick My father comming to receyue the Crowne as Emperour of Egypt was defirous to learne that science and so brought that his Aunt to the Court of whom he learned the greatest part of all her cunning He married and the destinies would that there should be borne so infortunate a Damsell as am I to haue so many desastres Comming to the age that I now am of without any pardon as a father to his owne daughter he came to be so farre in loue with me that hee tooke no pleasure of the world seeing I would not yeeld to his desire I imagining that I should wrong my selfe to yéeld in such a case to my father This my iust disobedience made such an impression in his heart that from thenceforth his hatred was farre greater towards me then euer his loue had bene It did nothing grieue me to endure the troubles which he put me to for denying him a thing so vniust Wrath and blind affection so much preuayled ouer him that being in my garden little thinking of his paine although it did somewhat grieue me to see what hee endured considering that he was my father I saw him comming in a walke among Canes with a more vnstaied pace then his grauitie required In seeing him I arose with a fayned smile weÌ„t to méet him But he which came drowned in a deuillish determinatioÌ„ without regard of any thing more theÌ„ his passioÌ„ led him vnto with a strange furie tooke mee by the arme saying My Luzela if it may giue you no occasion to ease my paine in that I am thy father and to sée what I indure with the griefe and torment which thy beauty hath brought me vnto yet let the death which thou séest before thine eies moue thee to doe it And therewith he drew out his dagger which he set at my brest You may imagine gentle Knight what my soule felt betweene these two extremes and each of them so great In the end I chose rather to die then so to defile my body and answered him My Lord and dearely beloued Father the heauens beare record with me that if the losse of my life might doe you pleasure I would preseÌ„tly giue it and should take pleasure to lose it and therein should offend no body but rather ennoble the obedience which I owe you but to be obedient in this a thing so much against reason I am of opinion that therein I should doe iniurie both to you and my selfe Hee suffred mee not to proceede forwards for with a strange fury hee sheathed his cruell dagger in the tender brest of his louing daughter Few blowes suffised to stretch mee all along My father had not the power repenting himselfe of that he had done to take out his dagger I thinke the heauens would not that he should kill me to the end that I in him should sée sudden change O cruell destinies began he to say lifting his voyce to heauen in how many sorts haue you shewne your selues coniured against me O infortunate Emperour Alpatraphio to how small purpose serued the science wherewith I was indued O blind and vaine affection séeing that from thence is growne to sée before mine eyes a fact so inhumane O heauens if you heare me be attentiue that séeing that you are witnesses of my great crueltie so shall you likewise be of the reuenge which I will take of my rebellious heart He was a thousand times about to pluck out the dagger which hee had stuck in my brest I thinke hee let it alone because hee would not sée my bloud and I saw it was euen sâ—â— for comming vnto me he vttered these speaches Ah my Luzela sometimes beloued not as a daughter which is that which now 〈…〉 me if there from the heauens where without change treading them with 〈◊〉 immortall féete thou doest â—â—aunce to 〈◊〉 the alteration 〈…〉 I haue no eyes to â—caue pardon but thou wanting life which to me 〈◊〉 I giue mine it is not to bee sought for vpon earth seeing I haue sent it to the heauens neither will I enioy any because it will bee loathsome seeing I cannot forget to haue bene thy murtherer I doe proâ—ise thee my beloued daughter to accompanie thee in thy death seâ—ing I loued 〈◊〉 so dearely in thy life If for â—â—ented his soule to sée how still I lay imagining that I was dead and in pâ—lling out his