eie witnes of my wretchednesse or to saie the truth of my cruell death Understand you then that I am Don Eleno Prince of Dacia sonne to Cadislao brother to the high and mightie Emperour Trebatio your Father and to the beautifull Florisena Daughter to the king of Cypres and Nygroponte vnder whose winges I was nourished till I was eight yéeres of age and was trayned vp in y e regall sort as was incident to my parents estate Béeing of this age spightfull Fortune who is slipperie to all men and leuells commonly at the contented minde spun mée so course a thrid as I feare me in the weauing it will proue my vtter destruction This blinde Fortune I saie conuayed to the king my Father his court the beautifull Princesse Florisdama daughter to the king of Nygroponte brother to my Father she was equall to me in age and so indued with beutie that she séemed Angelicall While I was thus young the burning flames began to scorch me which now doo singe me and we were so allied that without anie suspition we walked where we would and most commonly we spent our time in a banquetting house which was halfe a mile from the Citie which was right faire compassed about with christalline streames and gréene meddowes furnished with swéete flowers we lead so pleasant princely a life y t wée bestowed all our care in catching chirping Birdes and young â—eauerets Our mutuall good wills was so greate as seldome did we forbeare each others companie mine procéeding of an inward desire to haue hir to my wiâ—e hers in regard of the affinitie which was betwéene vs. This â—ugured life continued vntill we were fouretéene yeares of age the which time we bestowed in hunting to the great comfort of my heart though in the ende not to the harts ease of my mind my Florisdama hauing a crossebowe in hir hand and a bugle horne about hir necke little mindfull of that sorrowe which galled me so much While she continued this vaine in hunting it begate a singular good will in me to sée hyr shoote hauing hir golden lockes somewhat layde forth and vpon hir head was knit a garlaÌ„d of all swéet smelling flowers she had a gowne of white Satten all laid ouer with gold lace which made her séeme so celestiall that she had bene able to haue quailed the heart of Cupid Beléeue me and doubt not of it valiant Prince that Venus in hir most brauerie did neuer excell hir Neither coulde the inchaunted Circâ—s with all her cunning frame so much beautie in her face to beguilde those whome she thought to entice My desire still increased to beholde so much beautie and the beautifull Ladie setled all her care in chasing the little Fawne which when she had gotten at anie aduauntage shée would surely shoot and spéed wherevpon I would speake softly vnto my selfe and say Alasse that arrowe weâ—e better bestowed in my heart for being once dead I should auoide an hourely death which pearceth me euerie daie Therfore be assured of this Knight that I sustained not so much ioy by her companie in the â—aie time but I endured as great torment in the night by her absence Béeing thus wasted in woe Florisdama hadde a narrow scantling at the cause of my passions and yet was she not fully resolued that it was for her sake and therefore with making shewes of loue she demaunded what wringed me in such sort either whether it was an imperfection in my selfe or a want of boldnesse to discouer it hauing as I haue alreadie declared attained to the age of fouretéene yeares I was dubbed Knight by my father God knowes how gréeuous it was to me to be separated from the thing wherin I ioyed so much The imagination whereof I referre to your discréete iudgement most worthie Grecian Prince sith that alreadie you haue tasted the same sauce of cruell loue and alas howe gréeuous were those thoughtes vnto me which brought vnto my minde the enter-course of spéech the kinde familiaritie the pleasant walks and the comely graces of my diuine Florisdama your passed miserie maye easily haue an ame at y e same my present estate may best discouer it what shall I say more right worthie knight but my passions were so bitter and my helpe so slender that I lost my coulour forbare my meate and grewe to be so weake that an inkling therof came vnto my ladyes eares who perceiuing in what poore and lowe estate I remained entreated mée most earnestly to disclose vnto her the cause which pinched mée so greatly promising mée that if my sorrowes might bée reléeued through the fauour of anie Gentlewoman shée woulde straine her selfe to release them if it were possible and would hazarde her selfe to procure her fauour which had so much enthralled me wherat with watrie eyes I thus answered her Alasse Florisdama loue hath layde such a corsiue to my heart such a flame vnto my lightes and such a sting vnto my breast as it hath reduced mée to this state wherein you sée mée Oh souereigne Ladie how much better had it bene for me that rather in my gréene yeares and in the middest of my hunting Atrapos had shredde in sunder the twist of my lyfe then nowe to continue in sorrowe without anye hope of release or delart of releefe The Angelicall Ladie seeing me wéep so heauily could not but distill some few teares from her christallin eies albeit she did not throughly féele the bottomâ— of my inwarde griefe and therevppon she sayde thus Ah my louing brother let me obtaine that fauour as to manifest vnto me the cause why you faile in sorrowe and as it séemes remodilesse graunting my request I promise you to procure with all diligence that there may be some salue that may cure that festering wound which seemes to cancur your hart impaire your ioyes for if you giue me credit I am perswaded there is no Ladie so vngratefull as to denie you her loue béeing so valiant a Knight as you séeme to bée and againe knowing the worthinesse of your progenie the disposition of your minde and those incomperable vertues which shine in you Alasse why shoulde not the courage of your minde suffice to kindle the affection of all the Ladyes in the worlde And for that it hath béene your course Fortune to yéeld and surrender the interest of your good will to the subiection of one Ladie relinquishing all other ioyes and pastimes I meane not as now to shrinke from you but with all my endeauour to reléeue and succour thine estate vntill such time as my care and practise maye haue light of her that hath brought so worthie a Knight into such a Laborinth and hath cleane bereaued him of his libertie and dispossest him of his former ioyes spare not therefore to imparte vnto mée what it is that wringes you thereby then shall you perceiue the willingnesse I haue to doe you good And the great care that I will execute to stay the ranckâ—ur of
your disease The pithie perswasions of this angelicall Ladie were so swéet and comfortable that they caused such bashfulnesse in my heart that it mooued mée to chaunge coulour and through modest shame I could not no nor I durst not open my lippes for to vntwist vnto her the bottome of my griefe but craued pardon promising her that at our next méeting I woulde bewraie who she was that galled mée so greatly shée béeing satisfied héerewith and my words carrieng some credite with her shée departed from me but the terrible night that I suffred what with visions dreadfulnesse of dreames mistrust of good Fortune I referre the tast of those pills to your sauâ—ury and mature iudgement noble Prince For sometimes I thought good to disclose and discouer the whole state of my paine And immediatly I would charme those thoughts preferring a cruell death before a perpetuall torment but yet in the ende I concluded with my selfe and thought it good to vnfolde the plaites of my sorrow to so good a Phisition whose skill I knew could helpe mée if disdaine did not let it I thought it good to entertaine hir courtesie as one that could enfraunchise my bondage but wanting abilitie to perfourme my desires by meanes of inwarde paynes which hourely griped mée I thought it not impertinent to vse a pollicie by Metaphora And hauing decréed with my selfe how to handle this practise I rose verie earlye in the morning and shoouing off all feare I apparelled my selfe more braue then I was accustomed and went out of my Chamber to present my selfe to her who had more authoritie ouer mée then my selfe And loe I found my mistresse attending for mee desirous to heare the exposition of that riddle which so darklye I had propounded vnto her The time was excéeding fauourable and the place most conuenient so that I had verye good opportunitie and leasure to disclose the secretes of my heart And surely shée hadde no sooner discouered a glimmering of me but shée came to encounter me immediatly whose Angelicall and braue beautie surpassed the twinkling Starres and heâ— greate desire remayning to knowe the cause of my sorrowe with a gratious and smiling countenaunce she approched to me and saide on this manner Louing Cousin the place is now so conuenient as y â— you néede not to make it strange to me wherein you are so grieued I beseech you blush not to rehearse your pangs which I knowe doo sting you and in so dooing I promise you I will aduenture my selfe in anie daunger howe greate so euer it bée to remooue those pinching passions which so greatly afflict you Then I séeing the houre so fit to make my market I tooke out of my bosome a faire bright Christall glasse and with a panting heart I sayd Faire Laie and the onely nourisher of my lyfe receiue this Glasse therein shall you see the Image of her who is the procurer of my martirdonie and encreaser of my woes marke well her countenaunce and then tell me I praie you whether it lyes in your power to vse anie authoritie ouer her I am perswaded she is so neere a friend of yours as you onely may dispose which being true I earnestly require you to fulfill that which you haue promised me euen for affinities sake and for promise made I am bolde to craue you to keepe the couenaunts which you haue made with me After I had thus spoken with greate hast and quicknesse she tooke the glasse out of my hande And drawing off the couer she looked therein wherevppon she coniectured straight that she was the bréeder of my woes which sodaine and straunge thought altering her coulour she remayned greatly gréeued staring on me with a stearne and wrathfull countenaunce beleeue me the memorie thereof as yet redoubles my sorrowe for considering then with my selfe how bitterly shée harped vppon this string and what a passionate minde did feede her melancholyke humour I woulde more willinglye haue spared my lyfe then to haue her wast her selfe in sorrowe through the greene imagination of that 〈◊〉 which not béeing applyed I hadde no comfort lefte me but death and yet with this straunge demeanour she was not contented but starte vp and rowling the beames of hir christalline eyes towardes me as though they were sparkes of fire kindled with malice she sayd Cousin hardly coulde I euer haue bene perswaded to haue found you so presumptuous as to haue giuen the onset to any thing which might preiudice mine honour or offend my minde partly for that you are bound to please all Ladies but principally for that you should not harme your friendes among whom albeit I haue bene least able yet haue I not bene most vnwilling to stande you in stéed sith therefore these considerations haue not preuayled to quench the firebrande of your foolish loue I enioyne you vppon the penaltie of my displeasure not to make me staine my credit by imbruing mine owne handes in mine owne bloud for in so dooing your villanie shall be published to the world and the losse of my life shall make your traiterous heart accessarie to my murther After she had ministred this corosiue vnto me she retourned into hir closet leauing me so benummed of my senses and so surfetted with this bankeâ— that not being able to disgest it I sonke presentlye to the grounde lying as it were in a traunce where I was founde by the maydens of honour which attended vppon the person of the Quéene my mother who séeing me in this pitifull plight bethought them immediatelye of those drugges which might awake my dulled senses and as it is séene commonlye that women are timerous in such tragedies they yelled and shriked in such sort that the Quéene my mother ouer-hearde them who wondring at the cause of this clamour and lesse thinking of my distressed estate repaired vnto the place whereas I laye thus martired and séeing mée lulde and rockte vppe and downe in the Ladies lappes so bathed in teares and so hopelesse of life she wringed hir handes and what with their chaâ—ing of me and pittiful noise they made I felte my selfe somewhat reuiued againe and when I opened mine eyes and sawe my selfe inclosed with so manye Ladyes and Damosells and she absent whose vnkindnesse hadde dragged mée to this miserie and torment I sodainlye fell againe into a traunce and after long trauayle and no lesse sorrowe they summoned together my vitall spirites When I was the second time brought from death to lyfe I founde they hadde stripte mée and layde mée in my naked bedde the same companie continued with mée which came first to visite me Likewise there came to comforte me certaine Knightes and Gentlemen who demaunded of me where I felt my greatest griefe and what was the cause of it I then considering with my selfe howe despaire did rule the stearne of my boate and howe frozen I founde my Mistresse hir fauour though vndeseruedly I was dispised I didde request them to bée quiet and to depart from me
came to a little Temple that was very curiously wrought erected to the vse of the greatest crueltie that euer was heard off Néere vnto that Temple he sawe foure dead bodies whose heads were cut of and as it appeared by theyr apparell two of them were Knights and the other two Damosells then casting his eyes a side towards a faire gréene field which was harde by he behelde a great number of heades which were the heades of those that had ben slaine amongst which were the foure heads of the newe slaine bodies that hée before found dead for the fresh bloud did as yet runne out vppon the ground This lamentable spectacle this noble Greek beheld with such surpassing sorrow as almost no heart can comprehend but béeing rauished as it were with desire to be resolued of the effect of this so monstrous inhumanitie he procéeded farther till at length he approched the Temple where he discouered a posterne dore to be open and incontinent alighting from his horse with a heroycall courage being incensed with anger he rushed in hoping there to haue found the homicide which was the chiefe auctor of this tragicall crueltie Béeing entred the first thing that appeared to his view was a verie faire Altar curiously wrought and vpon it the dead figure of a verie faire Ladie through whose bodie was thrust a terrible two edged sworde likewise at the foote of the same Altar was another figure of a huge and mightie Giant being ten cubiâ—es in height all meruailous curiously wrought in Alabaster with straunge and subtil deuises who knéeled with both his knées on the earth This noble Knight was very much amazed at y e sight of so straÌ„ge a matter and yet not satisfied he went into a little Courtâ— there adioyning found that it was all hanged with blacke cloathes which represented great sadnesse and sorrowe and in those clothes was figured diuers dead men and women Hard at the foote of the foresaid Altar was made fast in the earth euen to the brimme thereof a sesterne of leade into which the bloud of those that were slaine and their heades cut off in sacrifice was poured and out of the same â—esterne it was conuayed vnder the earth by a gutter very secretely the which went vnto the Riuer whereof we spake before this was the same bloud which the valyant Prince did see in the channell of the riuer euen the bloud of the four headlesse bodies that he found newly slaine On the other side of the Altar he sawe an olde man with a faire white bearde sitting in a chaire who leaned his aged head vppon his lefte hand and his elbowe vppon the chaire side whose eyes wer shut and his countenaunce so sad that it appeared ther was in him no comfort but onely great sorow and mournings This valiant Greeke who greatlye desired to vnderstande the ende of this sorrowfull antecedent approched vnto the sléeping old man pulling him by his apparell for to awake him this carefull old man presently lifte vp his eyes with out any delay or farther demaund he said O gentle noble â—night what crooked fortune hath brought thée into this peruerse accursed place wherein is exercised so much sorrowfull impietie and wheras thou maist expect no other thing but death by the hands of the most cruell Giaunt that euer thou hast heard of take therefore my counsell returne the way thou camest that spéedely before thou be espied for otherwise it will be hard for thée to escape from death Then the worthie knight of the Sunne answered and said I giue thée great thankes for thy counsell good Father neuerthelesse I request thée to declare vnto me the cause for that as yet being ignoraÌ„t of farther peril thou séemest to perswade me to so great a feare To whom the olde man replied for y â— thou séemest vnto mee to be of an incomperable perfection exceeding force I will not let to declare vnto thée with as great breuitie as I may this tragicall matter whereby thou maist well perceiue the singular profit that thou shalt receiue in following this my counsell which I haue giuen thée and so with a sadde â—nd heauie countenaunce mixed with many salte and bitter teares distilling downe from his aged eyes he began in this wise and sayd This countrey wherein thou now art is that auncient and famous kingdome of Tinacria which not long since was gouerned by one of the most puissaunt Kings that euer raigned therein or in any Prouince héereabout but death by his accustomed furie depriued him of his life and all his loyall subiects of a vertuous and louing Lord leauing the guiding of the Kingdome in the power of two very fayre and Angelicall damosels his daughters who represented the former vertues of their noble late deceased father The eldest of theÌ„ was named Arcalanda the youngest Garasilea Not long after the death of the king their Father this fayre Arcalanda was requested of loue by the king of Sardenna whose name is Bramidoro a gyant of huge and mightie bignesse as by the stature which thou doest héere sée thou maist easily suppose but this vertuous quéene not onely denied her consent in marriage but also to heare the message of the embassadours and would in no wise sée them so that they returned without any answere Then this Giant séeing y e great disdaine and small account that the Quéene made of him and how little she estéemed of his loue béeing more inflamed with furie then any other reason and trusting in his incomperable strength with fiue hundred knightes he transported to Tinacria and landing in the Port of Saragosa he there beganne to make knowen his vnmercifull crueltie hoping that he shoulde obtaine that by force which by faire meanes he could not winne The Knights of Tinacria like true and faithfull subiectes obeied the commaundement of their noble Quéene and made diuerse and sundrie valiaunt skirmishes with the Knightes of the Gyant but by reason of his great force and surpassing strength they were alwaies constrained to retire to the Citie not without much losse for that this Gyant had in his companie to aide him a brothers sonne of his who in valiance force of armes equalled well néere his vnkle And in such sort they mainteined the wars y t in small time they put the citie in great perill to be lost and likewise the whole kingdome The knights subiects of this noble quéene Arcalanda not able long to resist y e Gyants forces seeling themselues meruailously oppressed in great distresse began to perswade with their quéene y t she should accept his demaund and graunt to marrie the aforesaid gyant Then this vnfortunate Ladie vnderstanding the feeblenesse of her subiects forces and the effect of that which they had declared vnto her and féeling in her selfe such impossibilitie to accomplish the demaund of the gyant that the accepting of it would be more gréeuous vnto her then to receiue y
to goe foorth with the rest So in this order as I haue told you they went foorth of the Citie all sixe together and he which gaue the first onset was that valiant and amorous Eleno of Dacia brothers son vnto the Emperour who with a gentle behauiour when hée came nigh the Emperour sayd in the Saracen tongue It is not the part of good Knights to speake any villany especially against Kings whom they are bound to haue in reuerence honour To whom the Emperour aunswered in the same language Art thou Noraldino King of Numidia Don Eleno replyed No but I am a Knight and a very stranger in this countrey but yet by firme oath I determine to dye in the defence of his right The Emperor aunswered He hath neither iustice nor right on his side but it is most apparant wrong which he doth maintaine and there is no reason that such a traytor as he is shoulde be by anye other defended neither is it séemely that anie Knight of price should charge himselfe in his behalfe for that he is a traytor And likewise he that doth defend him and take his part in this that hee will sustaine and maintaine so great vniustice is pertaker of his treason and meriteth a traytors name And for that thou art his defender héere I giue thée to vnderstand that I care not for thée and lesse I doo estéeme thée for that hée which doth take vpon him to defend a traytor may well be accounted a traytor This valiaunt Eleno when hée sawe himselfe to be so ill intreated aunswered Thou lyest in so saying for that I was neuer traytor neither doo I procéede of the lynage where traytors euer were notwithstanding thou shalt pay me with thy head the great vncurtesie which thou hast vsed vnto me Therefore it doth stande thée in hand to looke vnto thy selfe and take that part of the fielde which thou thinkest best for thy purpose and leaue off these blazing words to ioyne with me in battaile that I maye sée if thou canst as well defend thy quarrell as thou canst handle thy tongue At which words there drew nigh them the Prince Clauerindo and as the Emperour woulde haue departed to put himselfe in battel he did behold him straight waye knew him And casting his eyes on the one side likewise knew the other thrée but he could not knowe who the Prince Eleno should be and for the great desire which hée had to know what he was he sayd Knight I doo desire thée for courtesies sake to tell me what thou art if thou wilt not grant me this then I pray thée to lift vp y ◠visor of thy helme y ◠I may sée thy face for héere I giue thée to vnderstād thy foure companions I dooe knowe which is the occasion that I haue no desire to enter into battaile with thée Then Don Eleno aunswered and sayd Pagan of the two things which thou doest aske of mée although there is no compulsion yet will I pleasure thée in fulfilling one of them and in saying these wordes he lift vp the visour of his healme and when the Emperour sawe him he beléeued that it had béene his sonne Rosicleer and with a loud voice he said Oh mightie God how can this be true that vnto knights of my lignage should chaunce so vile a spot who hetherto in all their dooings haue got great honour and praise and now are come to defend such apparaunt wickednesse and treason Thou shalt vnderstand knight that I am the Emperour Trebatio and would not willingly now be called thy Father for that thou art come to defend so apparaunt and knowen an euill for I knowing the vnreasonable naughtinesse that this king hath committed am come to take this conquest in hande for in all my life time I neuer tooke a more iuster cause in hand neither was there euer in all the worlde a thing more worthier of punishment then this and séeing that my fortune hath béen such that my first enimie that shuld come against me séemeth my sonne put thy selfe héere now before thy high progenitour from whence thou doest descend and for Gods loue doe not blot thy stock in defending traitours treason therwith in few words he told vnto them all the whole history as before I haue tolde you Then this excellent Dacian answered High mightie Emperour although by my name thou hast not knowen me yet in calling me sonne thou diddest happen on the truth For thou shalt vnderstand that I am called Eleno of Dacia sonne vnto the king of Dacia thy brother and in that which thou hast sayde that we doe maintaine treasons we are to the contrarie informed neuertheles I beséech your highnesse to tarrie héere a while and therewith he and the Prince in a great confusion returned to the place whereas the rest of his companions were and turning his talke vnto the king he sayd King of Numidia thou shalt vnderstand that yonder knight is the Emperour of Grecia my vnckle who in that small time which we haue ben with him hath told vnto vs all the effect of this thy matter cleane contrary vnto that which thou hast declared vnto vs. Therfore King there is no reason that Knights of so high bloud and name as we are should be set to defend lyes and treasons but if it be to the contrary of that which he hath told vnto me haue no doubt but tell vs the truth For héere I sweare by the loue that I beare vnto that vnlouing Lidia that I will trauayle so with my vnckle that greatly with thy honour thou shalt goe thorough with this conquest Then this false King aunswered O Knights which doo confesse your selues to be Christians and by the God whome you doo worship haue made a solemne oath to helpe and defend me by the strength of your armes how happeneth it now y ◠without any care of your oth which you haue sworn you will leaue me desolate and goe from your words béeing doubtfull of the very truth The couragious French man aunswered Doo thou not thinke King that our oathes and words shall be abrogated rather first we will léese our liues both I the prince all our companions but consider king that God will not that we shall imagine amisse of Trebatio who is a prince of great veritie and truth and agayne our verie nigh kinsman Therefore this and that which hée hath tolde vs hath moued vs to come and tell thée and doe saye that none of vs will goe from his word and oath if thy cause be iust Then the valyaunt Eleno did cut off his reasons and tourning vnto the King he sayd King of Numidia héere I do most humblye desire thée that with false illusions thou putte not vs vnto so great trauaile for that then it can not be but either wée must dye in the hands of him whome we doe desire to serue or els though farre vnlikely to kill him Is it possible king
Fathers name was Cosdros he was one of them that was slaine by the handes of Bramarandus whom afterwardes the Emperour Trebatio slew in battaile So I remained all alone very much made off well beloued of the widdowe my mother and we kepte our selues in a very faire castle of ours not far from this place whereas we did passe our solitary liues So I was required of loue of a Gentleman more richer in goodes and landes than in linage or vertue and I vnderstanding his litle estimation did alwayes esteeme him as little and neuer made any reckoning of his messages the which was the occasion that his desire was the more stronger in such sorte that he séeing himselfe by me not estéemed but put off with the great griefe that he receiued for my loue he dyed and at the houre of his death he neuer left naming of Felina the cause of all my harme At such time as he dyed there was a brother of his present and hearing him to declare the causer of his death there kindeled in him so much anger and wrath that he bare vnto me a perpetuall hatred and did procure to haue amends for the death of his brother So it hapned on a time that I went out of the Castle without any mistrust in the company of other two damsells at which time I was stole away by him and other foure Knightes who broughte me vnto this place which is to my great sorrow and gréefe whereas they bound me in that sort as thou hast found me gentle Knight and not content héerewith but for my more paine and sorrow they left me naked with greater desire to die then to liue This Ladye coulde not let but to associaâ—â— her tale with great lamentations wherein this Dacian did beare her company and sayd Of truth sorowfull Lady fortune hath vsed with me great liberalitie to bring me hether in this time for to set you at libertie from this great captiuitie and to make reuengement of thy honour and héere I doo offer my selfe and doo giue vnto thée my fayth of knighthood to perfourme it or to loose my lyfe This faire Ladye was somewhat comforted with the offer of the Knight and gaue him great thanks for the fauor which he did offer her In this sort they passed the rest of the night that remained till such time as the Sunne of Tona did shew his glistering face spreading all abroad his golden beames accompanyed with y e swéet and rosalyke Aurora at which time they were all readie a foote for to goe onwards on their waie straight wayes they heard amongest the thickest of those trées a still sound The Prince being verie desirous to knowe what it was and comming thether he saw that it was his horse the which was brought thether by the order of the wise Lyrgandeo from the place whereas he lefte him at such time as hée did imbarke himselfe The Prince receiued great delight at the sight of him and taking him by the bridle he leaped on his back and went to séeke the Ladyes Palfraie which was let loose amongst those thicke trées and they found him feeding in a faire and gréene medowe adorned with many fresh and swéete flowers So his page leapt on his backe tooke the Ladie behinde him and trauailed through a narow and well beaten path which brought them into a broad waie that carried them into a verie great and large plaine at 〈◊〉 the ende thereof there was a verie faire Castell and in the middest of the plaine they sawe foure knightes which came towards them and when they were nigh together the one of them sayd Tell me knight who made thée so bolde as for to vnloose this Ladie from thée place whereas she was made fast What is this that thou askest sayd Eleno is it possible that thou art hée that forgetting all the honour that thou doest owe vnto the order of knighthood madest fast this Ladie The knight anâ—wered sayd I am he that did it hée that will take awaie thy life from thée in recompence of thy great boldnesse to vnloose her So without anie more tarrying the Prince Eleno turned about his horse towards him When this sorrowful Ladie â—awe him y t was the occasion of all her euill she leapt downe from her Palfray began with a new sorow her gréeuous lamentation Those foure knights came all against y e prince some with their speares he y t had none came w t his swoord in his hand with great furie one of the foure who thought himselfe to be more valiant theÌ„ all y e rest came formost with his sword in his hand all a high stroke him a mightie blow vpon his helme with all his strength but this Dacian Prince made little account thereof and passing by he stroke him a blow vpon his shield and for that his blow could extend no farther he remained with his life otherwise it had cost him the price thereof for it parted his shield in two péeces The Knight returned and gaue him another blow that it made the sparks of fire to fly out of his healme Then the Dacian full of yre let goe his shield and clasped fast his sword in both his hands and stroke him so terrible a blow vpon his helme that he cut helme and heade in two péeces and he fell down dead to the earth The other seeing their companion dead all thrée together set vpon him but this valiant Dacian who in such like aduentures neuer had any feare did receiue them with his accustomed furye striking on them both on the right and lefte hand with mortall blowes In the meane time this afflicted Lady when she sawe the Knight dead which caused her dishonour lyke a furious Lionesse she went towards him and sayd Oh howe the gods haue giuen thée thy paiment for the dishonor which thou hast done me yet she said O heauie Felina what doth this reuengement profite thy honour being lost it were very great riches vnto me that by the death of him which hath robbed me of it it might be restored me again Oh my gods I am in no falt in the loosing of my chastitie for that it was violently taken from me in the thicke forrest There shall be none able to disturbe but that I will execute my fury vppon my selfe although I doo not deserue the same and in saying these words she tooke the sword of that dead knight and put the poynt to her breast and threw her selfe thereon in such sort that Fabio could not succour her although with great hast he would haue done it The Dacian Knight casting his head on the one side and saw the harme done he pressed forwards with great furie and yrefull wrath and lifte vp his sword and stroke such a blow at one of them vppon his right arme that arme and sworde together fell to the ground and strayght tourned vnto another and with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke him on the making
These foure knightes kept so good order in their fight against their enimies that they gaue ouer to fight with them and began to showte and crie against them so that they were constrayned to goe and séeke their enimies the which they founde to be no good remedie for that they did intreate them euilly at their backes and béeing verie angrie héerewith they determined to put themselues amongest the thickest of them which did not fall out well with them for that there was of them together more then ten thousand the which this valiant Eleno séeing he threw his shéeld at his backe fullye incensed with anger and with his swoorde in his hande all alofte hée pressed vnto that parte whereas most people were and the first he met withall hée parted him in the middest and the second hée cut off his head and so went forwardes cutting and wounding nowe one and then another with so greate furie that there was none that durst abide his blowes Is there anie doubt that whilest this Prince was thus troubling and molesting his enimies that the other thrée knights which were with him did stande by and looke on no not so but for to sociate his worthie actes they wrought such wonders in armes as the reporte woulde séeme almost increadible vnto the hearers in striking such terrible blowes that they séemed to be no humane creatures They did fight with so much courage that their enimies wer constrained to withdrawe theÌ„selues back it was a great trouble vnto these knights that they were a foote for if they had bene on horsebacke all foure together without doubt verie quickly they had made an end of the conquest so being in this conflict they â—awe come foorth of the citie a great number of knights and before them came a well proportioned Gyaunt armed with verie fayre and rich armour who with great hast came vnto the place whereas the knights were and when he sawe the great harme which was there done with a terrible and fearfull voice he sayd Oh immortall Gods is it possible that foure knights hath done all this harme that a thousand of very good knights are not able to doe and is their strength and pollicie such that not one of theÌ„ haue receiued anie hurt O wretched knights what had you rather to die in my power then to sweare vnto so iust a demaund as they haue asked of you in y e behalfe of the king Noraldino Then Lyriamandro who hearde the wordes which the Gyant had sayd aunswered There is not one of vs that for the feare death will sweare vnto anie thing but first we wil knowe if the cause be iust because we will not fall vnto anie crime of that which shall be contrarie vnto the order of knighthood So then I doo perceiue said the Gyaunt that you do not purpose to sweare in any thing except it be first declared vnto you what it is and the occasion thereof To the which aunswered Zoylo no. Well héere I sweare vnto you by the high Gods sayd the Gyaunt that I my selfe alone will bring you all to that staye that you woulde willingly sweare but then you shall haue no time And therewith he drewe out a broade and glistering swoord and flourishing therewith he pressed forwardes then the Prince Eleno stepped foorth and requested the other that they would let him alone with y e gyant the which although it were against their wills yet they consented to it and the other putting themselues all on the one side they beganne againe theyr mortall battaile The Gyaunt with the greate furie hée had did discharge his blowe but it was in vaine for that the Prince did let it slippe by in such sorte that hee coulde not strike him and in putting the blowe aside hée cut the sayde Gyaunt vppon one of his legges and made a wounde which although it were not greate yet there ranne out of it verie much bloud When the Gyaunt did féele himselfe hurt and that he sawe his bloud runne downe hee did so kindle in ire that he let his shéelde fall to the grounde and laying holde on his greate and broade swoorde with both his handes he lift it vp and stroke at the Dacian thinking with that one blowe to haue finished the battaile but the Prince for that he was nimble and light did procure straight waies to cleere himselfe from the force thereof the which he did in such sort that the swoorde fell downe to the ground and by reason of the great force and furie wherewith it was discharged the Gyant was constrained following his blowe to fall likewise downe vpon the earth Héere the Dacian was not idle but with both his hands stroke him vpon his strong helme with great courage and although he could not cut it at that time by reason of the hardnesse yet it astonished him brought him out of his remembraunce The Gyant which sawe himselfe in this perplexitie with great furie in the best manner he could tumbled himselfe on the one side and procured to arise vpon his feeâ—e but it was not possible for him for that he was tormented with greate and heauie blowes and forced to fall downe againe vpon the sande but yet as soone as he coulde he tourned once againe and forced himselfe to arise but he could not doo it with such spéed but first he must proue againe the sharpe edge of the Dacians swoord who stroke him such another terrible blow vpon the helme that it yéelded and he cut his flesh The Gyant did fâ—ele himselfe verie ill with that blowe and with the great furie and anger which he had he stroke at the knight a terrible blowe which was in such sorte that by anie meanes hee coulde not shift himselfe from it but must needes receiue it vppon his helme the which was with such force that it made him to fall down to the ground but this knight w t great lightnes tuÌ„bled himselfe awaie vppon the sands and in a trice he was on his feete againe and went towards the place whereas the Gyant was with full pretence to strike him such a blowe that hée should not be able to make anie more resistance The Gyant when he sawe him comming woulde haue stroken him for to disturbe him of his blow but he could not for that this Dacian stroke him such an ouerthwart blowe that lighting on his foote he cut it cleane off and the Gyant chaunced a blow on his helme that it made the knight to tumble on the sand the gyant seeing him downe would haue turned to haue striken him againe but he could not for the lacke of his foote for when he thought to firme his foote on the grounde to prease forwards he could not make a step but gaue a terrible fall to the ground and béeing sore troubled with the wound of his head and other wounds he yéelded vp the Ghost and sent his soule to whom it did appertaine The Pagan people when they sawe their stout Captaine
it was hée which had passed the terrible kéepers of his murthered Daughter For you shall vnderstand that as soone as the Emperour was departed from the Ilande the wise Lyrgandeo commaunded that the bodie of the Ladie shoulde bée carried vnto Cimarra aduertising her Father that the long looked for reuengement was not farre of And lykewise how and in what manner the knight which did it shoulde come into his lande and also who that Knight shoulde bée Wherefore as soone as the king was giuen to vnderstande of his ariuall without anie more tarrying béeing accompanyed with all his noble men and leading in his hande a very fayre and young childe about twelue yeares olde the most best proportoined that euer nature coulde frame of whome you shall heare no more in this booke for that in the seconde booke it shall bée declared at large of him The king went forth till he came to the chiefe place of the Citie there to méet with the Emperour whereas likewise he met with this old and auncient King who boowing his knées to the earth and shedding of many teares with ioye receiued him saying O high and mightie Emperour giue me héere your hands that I may discharge the dutie that all humane creatures do owe vnto your highnesse how much more I that am bounde therevnto for that with so much firmenesse thou wouldest confirme thy oath and take the charge in thine owne person to worke my reuengement The Emperour was in a great confusion to heare himselfe named and neuer gaue anye in all that lande to vnderstand thereof but strayght waye hée suspected that Lirgandeo should aduise him of his comming And héerewith vsing of his accustomed bountie hée tooke him by the hand and lifted him from the grounde saying Good King the debt which thou sayst is due vnto me thou hast repayed in showing the noblenesse of thy heart and courage and otherwise I am constrained by y e order of knighthood and iustice to make reuengement of that cursed facte which was without all pitie committed vpon thy daughter And seeing that there can be no other remedy but onely reuengement héere of my part I doo offer thée to doo all that in my power is possible to be done desiring thée that thou restraine these teares and giue order that with great spéede there may be ioyned together all thy power to the end that we maye goe and conclude that which in me lyeth The King with a sad voyce aunswered High and mightie Emperour this hath bene prouided for before for all my people and shires are at an houres warning to goe to the ayding of so iust a cause and we tarryed for nothing but onely your royall person who must be the sword of my reuengement Thus with these and such like communications they went vnto the Kings pallaice which was hanged all with blacke clothes for others he would not consent to haue hanged since the death of his daughter Herea There was the Emperour vnarmed and serued with as great highnesse and honour as though he had bene in Grecia Notwithstanding the Emperour would not soiourne nor rest there much for the next daye in the morning he commaunded that all th◠people should march forwards vnto a hauen which was at the vttermost parts of all the Kingdome wheras they found ships and barkes of all sortes verye well furnished of all things that was néedfull There was thrée hundred ships one with another in the which there was imbarked fiftie thousand Moores meruailously well appointed and committing their sayles vnto the winde all this Nauie tooke theyr voyage towards Numidia So they nauigated and founds the winde fauourable which brought them vnto a porte or hauen which was but two leagues from the Kings house There with great ioy and pleasure they went a shore with out any resistaunce or gainsaying So when they were all out of the shippes a lande they displayed their ancients and in very good order they marched forwards And at such time as Apollo had made an ende of his iourney and that the darke night came on they came in sight of the Citie and without taking any rest towards the lande side they pitched their tents and fortified themselues in the best wise they could in such sort as their good Captaine which did gouerne them had commaunded without dooing any thing to the contrary So when all things was put in good order as they would haue it he commaunded that all the armie should go vnto the gate of the Citie that was most néerest the which was straight waye done and in thrée dayes after they did no other thing but ease and rest themselues for that the people were somewhat out of quiet with their great trauayle The fourth daye the Emperour séeing that there was no sturring in the Citie the which was done by pollicie tarying to sée what the enimies would doo the Emperour called for his armour and being armed there was brought a verye fayre and mightie horse vnto him and with his accustomed courage he issued out from amongst his companye and rode towards the wall of the Citie and put himselfe into a faire gréene playne nigh vnto the walls and lifting vp the visour of his healme he set his horne vnto his mouth and did sound it very strongly which was to warne them that were in the Citie to come to the walls and harken what he would saye and when he sawe that there was much people attending to heare him he began to saye O King Noraldino of Numidia how carelesse thou art in this thy strong countrey thinking that the strength thereof will defende thée that thou payest not the price of thy naughtie treason which thou didst vse with that vnfortunate Herea Take vnto thée thy armour and for that thou hadst a heart to commit this euill déede haue now likewise a courage to make thy defence come foorth of these thy walls thou traitour and destroyer of the royall bloud All they which were on the walls did heare the threatenings and straight waye went and tolde it vnto the king of Numidia who was at that time in communication of warres and of armyes and of all things that belonged therevnto and when he hearde these newes giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh ye Gods are not you content to sée me in this perplexitie and so much wronged but likewise with sound of trumpet suffer me to be outraged in calling me traytor These fayned griefes and sorrowfull words had so much force that it moued the harts of the Princes that were with him for to goe out into the field for his defence and in great hast they commaunded that their harnesse shuld be brought vnto them with determination to dye or to defend his cause And there was none that had any feare but onely the Gyant for that he would not giue any credit vnto the Kings words although he dissembled neuer so muuch but by reason that he had sworne therevnto hée was constrayned by his oath
At this time the battaile began a new to be very terrible increasing double their fury and likewise augmenting their blowes in such sort that with the least blow that was stroken it séemed to haue cut the other all to péeces which made all them that did behold the battaile very much to meruaile At this time there appeared to come foorth out of the Forrest a Knight all armed in white armor edged and wrought about with an excellent worke of fine golde his healme on his head and his shield at his necke and gyrte with a veryâ— ritch sword and of so gentle a disposition that ther was none equall vnto him and séeing the battaile betwixte the two Knights he did stand and behold them and straight waies he knew the Emperour but he could not iudge who y e other should be but greatly meruailed at their strength and with the great desire he had to know who it was he demaunded of an old Knight that stood by him the occasion of their controuersie and who the Knights were The olde Knight for that he seemed to be a Knighte of high estate sayde The name of one of them I can tell thée the which is the knight with the straunge and rich armour who is the excellent and mightie Emperour Alphebo of Trapisond but the Knight with the Sunne héere is not one that doth know him This Knight began the controuersie first with certaine knights of Grecia who killing of some of them and other some verye sore wounded and following other two which ranne away the Emperour put himself before him for to know the occasion of his great furye and that Knight did aunswere him with great pride and arrogancie which was the occasion of this their controuersie and it is more then sixe houres since they haue bene martring one anothers flesh without all pitie and this is all which I can tell you of that which you haue demaunded of me The Knight with the white armor was very much amazed when he knew that the controuersie indured so long and could not iudge who it should be of so great power and strength that was able to resist the fury of the mightie Alphebo In all this time these two valiant warriours were not idle but still their battaile went forwards in such sort that either of them did doubt of the victorye finding their aduersarie so mightie and strong So in this extremitie they indured more then sixe houres not resting one moment but still plagning the due the other making of their bodies euen Anfields which continually are beaten on with hammers and as the trauaile was great and could not be chosen but that they must 〈…〉 be weary and show some kinde of faintnesse vpon a sodaine both at one time did withdrawe themselues to take some rest either of them very much meruailing at the great power and strength of his aduersarie This inuincible Emperour could not by any meanes iudge who the Knight should be that had brought him into that extremitie for vntill that daye was there neuer knight that euer before that time did the like and being full of yre wrath he sayd What is now become of thée Alphebo Where is now thy great valour that hath bene so much spoken of in all the worlâ— What is become of thy surmounted strength wherewith thou didsâ— quaile the power of Lindaraza and that with which thou didst breake those inchaunted helmes What is become of thy terrible yre wherewith thou diddest subdue mountaines newe in sunder Diamond armour and brought all thing vnder thy subiection nowe I sée that all is forgotten and nothing worth for that one alone knight and a Pagan hath brought thée inâ—o this extremitie O holy God to thée I inuocate and desire thée to helpe me doe not permit that my fame be robbed and taken away by a Pagan and an enemie vnto our Christian lawe These and such like reasons pronounced this â—holarick Mars and neither more nor lesse the mightie and strong Prince casting vp his eyes and looking vnto the heuens and reprehending his Gods he said Why are you so contrary vnto me for that as yet I neuer had victorie but it hath bene by the strength of mine owne armes What recompence haue I receiued for all y t I haue done as yet I neuer had any fauour at your hands for my owne power hethertoo hath bene valuable vnto me and not yours for that I do beléeue is nothing as it doth appeare very plainly in the little fauour that you shew me against this furious Christian. What are you angrie that I am come into this Countrey and are anie of you come downe to take reuengement of me therefore Well séeing it is so let it be Iupiter or Mars or whosoeuer it be of you be it a God or a Diuell first before I receiue the death I will make you to call for aide of all the rest of the Gods and if it be a diuel to call likewie for aide of the rest of the diuells And without any more tarrying he retourned againe vnto the battailâ— the like did the Emperour made their assault with so great furie that they onelyâ—punc which did behold them were not a little amazed but also the heauen and earth did meruaile at their force the Eccho was weary in answering of their terrible blowes so that there was almost no hope of remedy in their controuersie for that each one feared his aduersarie there was not anie aduauntage of either part This conflict continued so long betwéene them that they were almost out of breath at y e time bath together they lyfted vp theyr HerculiaÌ„ armes hauing them aloft they ioyned together w t such fury that their horses met and stroke their heads the one against the other in such sort that although they were both good yet they fell downe to the ground with their Knights but they were not so soone fallen as they wer straight on foote again without receiuing any harme and there began betwixt them a new contention There was shewed the greate lyghtnesse of the Prince and likewise that of the Emperour was apparant in that either of them did so valiauntly defend himselfe from his contrarie although at that time their strong armes were more gouerned with ire and wrath then with pollicie or experience which was the occasion that the battaile was the more perillous terrible This mightie Alphebo thought much that in the presence of the Emperour his Father the battaile shuld so long indure and that with one alone knight and not béeing his brother The like did the Prince consider of that by reason that the great reuerence and respect that the people had he knew that there shuld be present the Emperour of Grecia who tooke him for his graundfather as the furie of Merlin had tolde him All these considerations dyd cause betwixt the two warriours the more wrath yet for all that they which did beholde them could iudge no
aduantage of either part at the which they greatly meruailed but in especially aboue all the rest the king of Sardenia was most amazed who from the beginning of their controuersie was beholding of them and sawe in what great perill and daunger both of them were and the great resistaunce which the vnknowen knight made against the Emperour Alphebo wherfore he returned vnto the Emperour of Grecia and with a light voice he sayd O holy God is it possible that this knight doth resist so long against him that a Porter of hell within a rocke hidden could not make his defence against The Emperour of Grecia would haue made him aunswere but that he was disturbed by a mightie and terrible blowe which hée sawe giuen his sonne vpon his healme that it made him to boowe both his knées to the grounde and by reason that the sword did lay no holde on the hard stéele it descended downe vppon his left shoulder and cutting a sunder all the buckles and lacing of his healme he made it to flie from his head discouering that fayre and magnanimous countenaunce adorned with great maiestie The Knight when he sawe him in that sort would haue stroke him againe but yet this warlyke Mars although he sawe himselfe in that great perplexitie hee wanted nothing of the accustomed courage which he was vsed to haue at other times in such like necessities but with a light leape he cléered himselfe from that blowe and 〈◊〉 his contrarie another with so great furie that hée 〈…〉 and put one of his hands to the ground to stay 〈◊〉 that he might not fall and with an incredible 〈…〉 holde on his healme pulled at it with so 〈…〉 he pulled it from his head and did discouer 〈…〉 and faire face so that all they who did 〈…〉 to he the verie â—igure of the 〈…〉 This valiant young knight séeing 〈…〉 vnto the Emperour caught 〈…〉 like did the Emperour vnto him 〈…〉 a dangerous pâ—rilious wrastling 〈…〉 vppon a sodaine all the heauen 〈…〉 and thick clowde which fel 〈…〉 for a space that they 〈…〉 but it â—â—â—ished 〈…〉 who before were 〈…〉 now put a part the one from the 〈…〉 betwixt theÌ„ was there an old◠〈…〉 stature and gentle dispositiost adorned with garâ—ents of great estate the which were wrought with 〈…〉 and pearle that neuer Emperour nor king had 〈…〉 and vpon his head he had a crowne of golde of such meruailous maâ—â—ing that no humane tongue is able to declare the riches thereof and on the one side of him there was a mightie Gyant adorned in the same manner guise And Claridiano did straight waies knowe them who knéeling downe before them he sayd Excellent king Delfo my Lord what sodain comming is this in leauing your maiesties kingdome The king went towards him with his armes abroad and sayd Ah my sonne wherefore should my comming be but to recreate and reioyce my selfe in séeing of thée and to disturbe this cruell battaile that thou hast with him whom thou oughtest to honour and reuerence as it is thy duetie Then Galtenor did cause them to holde their peâ—ce for that with a lâ—â—de voyce he beganne to speake vnto the Emperour Trebatio and sayd Soueraigne Emperour long time past without anye knowledge vnto thée I came into thy Empire and my comming was the occasion of great heauinesse and sorrowe vnto the Empresse Claridiana whome I doe sée there armed with that white armour The Emperour when he heard that wold not staie anie more reasonings but went towardes her who pulling off her healme likewise came towards him to kisse his handes so there the one imbraced and receiued the other with great loue The king Galtenor did cut of theyr talke and addressed his wordes vnto the Empresse Claridiana and sayde Soueraigne Ladie do you remember when that you did contemplate your selfe vpon the beautie of your children which you wer deliuered off begotten by the Emperour Alphebo at which time a wall did open whereat did enter a Serpent who at two mouthfulls did burie them in his bowells You shall vnderstand Empresse and Ladie that I was the Serpent being compelled and constrained by greate necessitie of the strong arme of your mightie sonne to doe that which at that time I did and I did bring them vp in the maiestie as vnto such persons was necessarie and dutifull In the end of sixe yeares when I determined to make an ende of my iourney resting our selues by the riuers side of Euphrates I lost the maiden childe wher all the time past vnto this present she hath bene publishing abroade her extreame beautie till such time as the valour of her brother did bring her from thence who is the same that is talking with y e king Delfo of Trapobana and knowe this of a certaintie Ladie that it is thy sonne Claridiano of the Speare Thou diddest giue him that name by reason of a Speare that he hath on his breast from his birth and that faire Pastora whoÌ„ you do sée there is your proper daughter and I am he that did rob and take them from you and héere I doe make restitution of them againe so that I do deserue pardon of all the sorrow and griefe which I haue béene the occasion of onely with this present which I do present you withall And likewise of you Emperour of Trabisond I doe desire the same pardon and ioyntly therewith to forget the anger that you haue against your owne sonne Great was the ioy contentment of the Empresse being almost beside her selfe to sée that she had recouered her two children which she thought had bene lost long agoe and going to imbrace Claridiano she found him vpon his knées asking pardon of his Father of all that before had passed What shall I heere saie of the good Trebatio who when he knew that the Pastora was his nephew that his desire was of a daughter and neuer had anie with his armes al abroad he went vnto her who vnderstanding their communication did alight from her Palfraie at which time the Emperour came and tooke her in his armes almost wéeping for ioy and with verye amorous wordes he did imbrace her receiued so great contentment of their recouerie as euer he did in all his life for anie thing ¶ How the Emperour did verie much reioyce himselfe with his nephewes but in especiall with the Pastora of the great tempest which came vpon them at supper time and of all that happened afterward Chap. 30. WIth this great ioy and pleasure which I haue tolde you they retourned vnto Constantinople the Emperour Trebatio carried with him the Pastora and wold not one moment a part himselfe from her and the Empresse went talking with Claridiano The Emperour Alphebo was not a little ioyfull who went in the companie of the king Delfo and Galtenor went beside the Empresse who knewe not howe to giue him sufficient thankes for his comming And at that instaunt béeing all present they alighted at the