Knights abashed returned the waye they came leauing the place merrye for the Ladies alowd did saie Wel befall so amorous Knights for it is Iust that such as they do loose their right to make the Ladies sport In this manner iested they when through one side of the place appeared a Knight of haughtie disposicion for besides the riches of his armour his gallant behauiour and braue constitution all the beholders admyred his armes were tauny of coulour with many greene Emeraldes that they seemed there to groe all the Ioynts were of a siluer colour and euery one Iudged him of valour on his sheeld in a tauny field was figured the picture of a Ladie whose beauty drew all eies vnto her Before her stood a Knight that gaue her his hart with this motto The Ladie being so faire Why do I compt it smart When that my pensiue heart Will killing greefe outdare It is not credible how the comming of the amorous venturer pleased who giuing his horse the spurres made him swiftly passe euen to the Ladies Theater where curuetting made him bend his head betweene his legges and himselfe bowed his own lower then his saddle pumell in such braue manner that no hart could more desire Some courtesie did the Ladies shew him resting verie fearfull that he woulde winne the prizes With fresh horse issued from the pauillion the couragious Persian and departing one against the other in the midst of their carrier they met with more power then euer Mars was maister of The aduēturers armor was of a Magicke temper therefore was the blow he receiued nothing seene but that which he gaue the Maintainer was such that piercing his shield armes with a little wounde he thrust him so hard that he cast him behinde the saddle plucking the Launce to him with the furie thereof the horse eleuated himselfe which was the cause though on feet that he went to the ground Great was the rumour in the place with the sight of the aduenturers braue blowe raging like a furious Lyon the iniuried French man entred the listes assured to reuenge his friend which issued otherwise then he thought for the Tawnie Knight in power exceeded him And so ending their course within their Speares length so mightie was the incounter that the French Prince and his horse with his Helme broken tumbled to the earth The aduenturer in the beginning seeing his stumbled forwards like to fall verie nimbly leapt from him and being quieted with like ligeritie remounted on his backe Oh God said the Empresse Claridiana what valour is this of yonder knight beleue me not if the prizes are not like to be his I thinke no lesse replyed the gallant Meridian that hard by her satt for in the managing of his courser I haue not seene a more brauer Knight From this talke were they driuen by the comming foorth of Troylus Nephew whose incounter was not of the worst for ouer along the saddle it layde the head of the valorous Lindoriano Prince of Nyquea which was he the Iusted who hauing heard of the Tryumphs ordained in Grecia came thither being departed from Rosabell Princes of Great Britanie and with that deuice of Rosiluira to whom in Tinacria he had yeilded his soule he there arriued winning eternall honor by ending that which seemed most hardest for that the valiant Troian although his leggs were lockt was forced to the grounde with the greatest clamours that euer yet the beholders made The challengers left their pauillion though sore against their wills But the haughtie louer went to them saying I intreate you Heroyick Knights to returne vnto your standing for I shall esteeme it a high and vndeserued fauor to be receaued as your companion friend Braue knight the valiantest in armes that we haue tryed sayd the courteous Prince of Persia since it hath pleased the gyddie blind commaundresse of chaunce to shew her mutabilities on vs wee will not otherwise but that you enioy the merits of your valour which considered well all this and farre much more you deserue Wee did maintaine the beautie gallantnes of the Gréeke Dames now hauing vanquisht vs you may alter the condicions of the Iustes In a matter that euerye one ought to acknowledge answered the gallant Lindoriano there resteth nothing more then to prosecute it And since it must bee done with the Ladies consent and leaue there is no more but to craue it Thereuppon he went vnto the heauenly windowes where they were and lyfting vp his Beuer shewing the admiration of hys face he sayd doing his humble duetie Soueraigne and deuine Ladies although my pretended demaund is more then audacious yet trusting more to the Nobilitie and bountie of your courtesie then any valour of mine vnlesse procéeding from you I beséech that since these Knights haue laboured in your seruices you will bee pleased vnder the same title to suffer me to proceede forward All the Ladies kept silence astonished at the Knights request But the great Emperour Trebatio that was not far of said It is both honorable and iust what this knight intreateth and therefore shall it be graunted him We haue seen how little our fauours haue pruailed replyed the frée Rosiluera and therefore we would not haue him loose with thē what hee hath without them won but since your Maiestie will haue it so there is none here that will gaine say it Pleased rested euery one with the Ladies answere but specially the Nyquean that on her all the while did gaze thinking that he saw his Mistres whome she did highly resemble as lowe as his knée he bowed his head in signe of thankfulnes for the exceding fauor returning vnto the listes where it was pitie to see how he vsed the Knights for he gaue no incounter which was not eyther of Death or of a mortall woūd Already would Apollo end his course beginning it with our Antipodes when through the place there entred a Knight in purple armour with many red Roses of fine orient rubies which admirably shewed no lesse did he himselfe In his shield was portrayed the picture of libertie placed vppon a world and a Knight that gaue her his hand saying None this way may arriue Except his hart be free Of loues sweete tyrannie Fewe Ladies there but desired the Knights ouerthrow for thinking there was no pleasure and content where loue raigned with this desire they stayed for euery one iudged the Iustes would be admirable so thought the Emperour Alphebo for the disposition of the Knight was no lesse then of the newe maintayner Euery one called him so knowing what he had required of the Ladies Who iudging his aduersarie of great valour with his owne hand choosed a bigg launce Seing him doe so the Princesse Oliuia sayd I beleeue that according to the will wherwith our Knight chooseth his launce he meaneth no good towardes the aduenturer who with all the strength that he posseste made against his enemie incountring with such furious blows that the farthest
heard amōg the bushes brake of his exclaimes he rose to sée what it was saw his dere squire Palisandro that in great hast came towards him who leapt from his horse and sayd Did you thinke souerainge Prince that you shold wander alone so lāguishing in paine through parts so remoted frō your Coūtry Parents friends wtout company of whom doth féele thy greife far more thē his proper sorow These causes are the tuch-stones to try your valour shewing it against fortunes disorders who to change her lowring countenāce requires nothing but the resistance of her frownes seming more coragious whē she is most fiercest Far more out of fauour was your Father yet neuer did hee loose the raignes of his patience which hath not a little grieued your Tutor Galtenor who brought me hither to waite vppon you which was the thing I only desired cōmanding me to tell you you should not for any thing diminish the haughtines of your mind for al wold be the more to eternize your glory Such hopes were neuer giuē to any louer therfore I wil but anger him longer to continue in these extremes for t is good since Archisilora must be yours you shold obtain the happines of hauing her with a more rigorous harm thē any you haue suffred that according to your pains you shold after esteme your glorious tryūphs And with no lesse griefe takes she your absēce thē you hers for nothing els procured I to know but this while I was there vntil your tutor saw how necessary my cōming to you was Is it possible friend Palisandro said the Prince that my lady gréeues to see me absent I cannot beléeue it for so great a good brings with it an incredulitie He imbrast him for neuer had any Prince a more discréeter squyre except Allirio that was borne according to Rosabells humor A thousand things demaunded he of the Court whose presence did adorne it Some griefe was to him hearing that all his kinsfolkes were there missing not knowing the cause therof Great comfort did hee conceaue by seeing him hee had made the Consistorie within whose secrecie he recorded his soules thoughts imagining his companie would be a lessening of his paines but that which most did mittigate it was the care his Foster-father Galtenor had to succour him By this it was time to trauaile so getting a horse-backe tooke their next way to the famouse Citie of Zantho aduertising Palisandro he should by no meanes discouer what they were more then that he was called the persecuted knight discourse they did of many things and the most of Archisilora when about two of the clocke after midday the rayes of the reuerberating sunne vpon the stony walles of the Cittie guilded their plumed toppes whose stupendious buildings made them amazed with admiration On the north side it hath Panonia on the west Istria on the East Mysia the greater and on the south the Adriaticke sea The wall was round moted with an arme of the famous Gersian riuer where it is beléeued that Iupiter first fell in Loue and therefore did the Kings heere neuer want most beautifull daughters as this now was accoumpted the worlds machlesse Paragon for gallantnes and beautie The path which they hadde taken brought them vnto the bridge whose passage the Siconians Son with his bretheren did defend It was admirable in workmanshippe for in the middest therof was edified a stately pallaice where the prince and his brothers lodged It reached vnto the Cittie wall ending with a large and great plaine payled in for the battailes which the Siconian had cōmanded there to be made because that way stood the Kings pallaice from whose windows might the second Venus behold all the cōbates though not with such affection as the warlike Lindauro so was the Prince named could wish because he was of himselfe proud and insolent being so mighty which is the chiefest thinge the Ladies doe abhorre A tumult there was in the place for the Gréeke heard the noise of blowes hee hastened his horse so did his Page to arriue in time to sée the cause Which was for that the Prince of Croatia with his two gyants had entred the bridge before him desirous to reuenge his Couzens disgrace with such fury did Claridiano crosse the same that euery one beholding the fight was moued to laughter seing him with so mornefull deuise Thrée of the brothers had Pollidolpho Prince of Croatia ouerthrowne returning against the fourth he encountred him so brauely that the launce slyding from his shielde to the right side which beeing of a knotty Oake ere it broke thrée pats thereof appeared at the other side tumbling his enemie dead at his féete to his Brothers extreme griefe There was none there but cōmended the azure knight for of this colour was his deuise who like an angry Lyon made towards the haughty Lindauro They met with more ferrocity then the roaring of raging waters beating within the cauers of hollow rocks Valiant were the louers but both were vnhorst Of the two falls the better was the Croatians because he held the bridle in his hāds Recouer would he his seate to end the rest of the battles but the Iudges on Lindauros behalfe did put him from it saying he was vanquisht Not I replyed the youth since we both fel on our féet That 's al one said they for you to wyn were bound not to leaue your saddle though your aduersary dyd loose his To that passe came the matter that the Prince of Croatias gyants stept among them saying that he in the azure was not ouercome but that he might prosecute his battle that they would maintayne it gainst all the world Least any dangerous tumult should happen the King descended to whom the Iudgement of the combate was remitted verie neere approched the Gréeke determined to take the Croatians part thought it shold cost him his life for his valor shewen in the Iustes had drawen his affection So did the Kinge greatly affect Lindauro because he was so great a Prince and so néere neighbour to him it had moued him in secret to giue him hope of his Daughter Venus that none but he shold haue her although the lady one day her father talked with hir about it made answere contrary to her sires expectations Neuerthelesse he would not openly disgrace the stranger but onely that hee could not procéede farther in fight loosing his horse and shield Forward came the angry Gréeke with furious rage shaking like an aspen leafe lifting vp his Beuer sayd Notwithstanding that against what so wise a king hath decréede nothing ought to be sayd neuerthelesse sauing the respect honor due to your imperiall Crowne state in my opinion the knight may continue his battailes to the end for this being the last it is certaine it went at al aduenture either procuring the maintenance of his owne fame If there any wanted to Iust yet were there in this difficulty resting in the thrée
by the Thespian land onely mentioned through her bordering on the Helliconian Mount the habitation of those sacred tryple Trinity of Sisters the diuine Muses Ioues-brayne-bred daughters Mothers of all learned Arts. To be short with incredible spéede delight he compassed the most part of the orbed earth for being acquited of Loues tributarie dueties his quiet mind had the more scope to subiugate his thoughts to admiration of these things So that now wearie of ease he wished an end vnto his trauaile that he might agayne exercise his often tryed forces to augment the perpetuitie of his glories which he thought were ecclipsed in the obscure cabbin of his honor-smothering bark yet he stil perswaded himselfe some great aduenture could not but awayt the end of this Nauigable toyle At length passing the Ilands Sygares in auncient times called Sydromades whose coastes to vnskilfull passengers is pitilesse death some fiue dayes after he sayled through the Mediterranean Sea where vpon a morne when glittering Phaebus mounted his fierie Carre the boate ran ashoare to the Princes great contentment who was almost tyred with this long nauigation Wherefore arming himselfe in his rich armour he leaped on land and mounting on his swift Tyrio accompanied onely with his good squier Fabio he tooke a narrow beaten path through which he went with great desire to know in what ayre he breathed So with an easie pace they trauailed not long that way but it brought them into a great wood whose vnknowen passage somewhat amazed the Dacian Lord. Yet was it no part to expell the great delight he did conceaue with the soft whistling murmure of the pleasant windes that seemed to daunce vpon the mouing of the shaken leaues on whome the whistling byrdes warbled their ditties in such accordant manner that agreeing in one consort of an inartificiall harmonie it arrested the amazed conceipt of the wandring Prince that continued his iourney along a Christal Riueret whose bending turnings brought him at last vnto his springing head whose purling brooke from a rockie quarie traced his continuall currant through a pibble paued channell that gathering in one a many runnings that from the naturall rocke did issue seemed so many spouts proceeding from an artificiall fount making the streame more great whose sweete noyse could not but remoue the Mellancholiest heart though neuer so much tormented with loue-oppressing passions euen from his deepest dispairing thoughts This pleasant spring was all incompassed with high cressend trees proud Cedars and loftie Pynes whose height seemed to controll the firmament aloft and scorne the lower plants beneath whose humble growth was accompanied with greene Palmes fresh Oliues and odoriferous Orange trees that euer flourisheth with springing habits Through these vpon the dyaperd ground with flowered tapestrie ranne the sportful wanton yong Deare that in aboundance increased the pleasure of this wooddie fount for some scudded along to out-strip the others in running others nibled the tender growing sapplings and others togither butted in wrangling pastime their horned foreheads The Dacian wrapt in a suddein admiratiō with the vnhoped sight of such miracles rested confounded in pleasant imaginations that perswaded him in a land so wonderfull of Natures wonders he should not but expect some vnlooked vnconceaued and unmerited happinesse Here to ease himselfe awhile he alighted and washed his sweatie face hands in those coole refreshing waters and then sitting on the grasse satisfied his hungrie stomack with such prouision as Fabio his page had brought with him from his ship The collation ended they discoursed of many matters to beguyle the time withall especially touching the Romane Ladies whose affection towards him shewen by the Princesse Roselia was not of meane respect wherevpon Fabio tooke occasion thus to beginne I cannot deare Lord sufficiently conceaue the hidden reasons of your strange proceedings in Loue. For when I remēber your extreame passions for the first robber of your heart Florisdama your second doting on Lidea your last affection towards Roselia with the maner of your sudden departure from her without a farewell in recompence of her many fauors which her accepting you for hers condemnes you in the highest degree of ingratitude in Loue besides her many other merites which I list not now memorate deserued no such sleight esteeme The consideration of which things drownes my witts in vncertaine thoughts Do you thinke when shee shall record her courtesies and your discourtesies she will not call you a dissembling Dacian a flattering friend a wauering changing Louer Wil she not complaine of her ill aboading starres exclame on fortune and banne your remembrance Nay how can shee otherwise hauing so great cause thereto For shame my Lord awake your slumbring sences and rayze vp againe the broken ruynes of your decaying credit let not the honor of your byrth be tainted nor the royall blood of Dacia stayned with an infamous blott of thanklesse ingratitude Let not Roomes quarrell begunne in the fathers continue in the children and be ended God knowes in what posteritie But pardon me my Lord for thus passing the limits of duety and the duetie of a seruant which only loue and zeale to your reputation hath moued me vnto In deede Fabio replied the Prince first thanking thee for thy care I must confesse in some respect I stand guiltie in Roselias sight for departing without her consent But yet God knowes it was not either by negligent forgetting or vnthankfully reiecting her deserued merits or the sleight regarde of her kindnesse for which and for her infinite fauors I euer shall rest debtor But leauing this I am perswaded the heauens in their iust doome haue not allotted her to me although her perfection a greater Monarche do deserue then me which I do the more beleeue because my trusty friend Nabato did assure me it touched me as neare as my life not to speake to her at my departure which I with some vnwillingnesse agreed vnto hoping the Princesse knowing my power to be yoked vnder her commaund would not take any serious conceipt at so sleight a trespas Yea but quoth Fabio women are so grieued by euery small occasion that little offences wayghed in their feminine scales are found to be excuses of inconstancie and selfe wauering affection and therefore are taken in the worste part For commonly women conceiue whatsoeuer is done for them must for so reason requireth proceede of duetie chiefely if moued by any amorous inclination hers was not little if I may beleeue her exterior motions when you were fiercest in your combate For by no better meanes doth a louer expresse his loue towardes the thing loued then when it is seene in any perill how small soeuer which things adde such credit to my doubt that I certainly beleeue shee hath vttered a thousand complaints against you moued with that inward and entyre affection shee beares you And to conclude her rare beawtie deserueth more then I can or am able to expresse This conference was here abruptly broke
my proper blood But for this time I will no other reuenge but your departure from my company leauing me sufficiently assured of your cruelty to my cost and I will liue for my misfortune will haue it so with the only desire of a more full reuenge Wherefore from hencefoorth I straight doe banish you my sight for I will haue it so If I shall depart in your disgrace most beauteous Lady I will not haue my life with your disfauour to torment me replied the Prince but since you desire to be reuenged on him that only would liue to admire you take it with this sword cawser of your woes and my misfortune and therewith strike of my sacrifized head to appease your wrath for I willingly offer it on your pities altar with all I else possesse already subiect to your will and only this doe praie that after you haue done it you would rent forth my harte for none shall witnesse your crueltie but your selfe and there shall you see your selfe engrauen though not so naturally yet with rarer perfections reasons suffcient to force me to elect you sole patronesse thereof The which remaining in your handes being loues thrall may moue clemencie towardes his Lord to sturre your anger to pitie your captiue euen with his owne reliques Wherewith prostrated on his knees before her with his eies closed with water holding the sword by the point againe thus said If only in my death great Ladie there rests any small comforte for mee it will bee the greatest that I may imagine receiuing it with this blade by your hands for Guerdon of my rashe attempts although if I had knowne what this dead increaser of your griefes did concerne you my selfe had only been the procurer of his life with farr greater care then for my owne which wil be hatefull to mee if still you will insist in your conceaued wrath Knight said she more barbarous then the Sauages of Hircania and the cruellest that ere my eies beheld thus I will not execute my reuenge for it will not be so cal'd performed with the offenders liking and bycause you said it is life and the sweetest to bereaue you thereof with my handes neither will I therin so much content you but expect and sollicite the heauens to order my reuenge after some other sorte The afflicted Prince hearing so sower and bitter answere conceaued such extreame griefe which with sobbes and sighes so besieged his harte that it berest him of his senses falling at his Ladies feete which was another new kind of torment to afflict her for abandoning all crueltie she tooke him in her armes and sitting on the ground she laid his head on her lappe which had the grieued Dacian felt he would not so soone recouer himselfe and bewailed this lamentable spectacle with new laments that moued the tender Ladye to breake into these exclaymes Oh blind despightfull Fortune enemy to my rest how well hast thou manifested thy mutabilities hauing so well pleaded for the greatest enemie I had that I am forst to cōmiserate his woes and pitie his distresse Oh Goddesse who might certenly knowe if with my death she would end her rigorous changing courses execute at once against my tendernesse the whole power of thy despight for the wrongs past hauing been the greatest that might befall mee or thou do mee will I with ioy accept bycause I know they come from thee for she that was borne to no good can receaue no harme to hurt her and with this deceipt may she passe her life that in the beginning hath felt the vtmost of thy cruell power Oh cruell Goddesse vnworthie of a better name because in all thy actions thou performest the deedes of an Hircanian Tyger And being vnable to doe otherwise she cōmanded Fabio to bring her some water wherewith the distressed youth obtained his loste senses and with a sighe that seemed to burst his weake harte he saide Vnhappy stars that gouern'd my natiuitie and more vnhappie I to liue to see my woes to conquer death that dares not approche where he is onely wished with his crueltie to end a life oppressed with cares Oh vnfortunate hap who would haue thought so long and tedious a nauigation should anchor in so vnluckie a Port Oh valiant friends now must I for euer in absence with ayrie words take my latest leaue for my fates saye he shall neuer see you more that onely liued with your deare sights Oh valiant Princes of Grecia what balefull newes will it be when you shall heare of my death whose life alwaies and content soly delighted yee And seeing himselfe in the Ladies lappe a little lifting vp his eyes with so many sighes and throbbing sobbs that might haue mooued a Lions fiercenes to relent but to the extreamest point was this Ladies furie come that it would admit no Impression of any mercy vnlesse it should altogether yeeld to pittie which she thought was yet too soone to doe he sayd Since no pietie noe pittie nor no mercie that are the vertues which glorifies all your sexe maye sturr a litle compassion in your obdurate breast then at once cruell Lady end the tormenting of my poore soule with so long prolonging a despised life and take what reuenge you will on this weeping hart subiect to your Imanitie Knight answered the Lady ill would it beseeme me if by yeelding to your request and in that maner to worke your content I should become cruell against my selfe I wil not take any reuenge that may rather redowne to my dishonour then honour But for this time only I will haue you grant me two things Being all in all yours replied he there is no cause why by promise you should séeke to winne my will which so truely doth acknowiedge your souerainetie Why then said she my first demaund is you giue mee the order of Chiualry and as for my other request you shall after know it I doe sayd he esteeme my happinesse farre greater now then a little afore I esteemed my selfe vnhappie in that deare Soueraign of my soule you haue deygned to imploye me and in affayres more difficult farre would I haue had you hazarded my life but séeing this is your will I am content to obaie and bycause I perceaue you want armour I do beseech you to accept these which were giuen me for good and I shall be more glad thereof bycause they shall obtaine a worthier owner I thanke you for your offer replied she But these of Semyramis nothing inferiour to those I had not long since on yonder vallie giuen me and that with them I should end the greatest aduenture of the world And so casting off her hunting garments she discouered the rarest armes that the whole earth could afford for they were all of Pearles and Dyamonds with such arte vnited that it made them farre strōger then if they were of fine tempered steele on one side they bare a painted harte but made of inestimable orient Rubies whose glister alyenated the
horse and hurting none of vs through a sudden trance that surprized vs he had time to carrie away all the Ladies two by two and amōg them the Princesse except me and two other that are gone to beare these heauie newes vnto the citie Consider Sir Knights my distresse whether I haue not reason to bewaile it You haue it faire Lady aunswered Rosamond and so great that it had moued mee to such cōpassion that setting aside the duetie that al Knights are bound to in procuring her libertie I do here offer my person to raunsome her from bondage promising to be foremost therein Shee vttred it so quickly that the Prince could not showe his willingnesse in that case Yet did he hope that his Lady would commaund it him Within short time they arriued at the Temple which in their sights seemed no lesse gorgious then any they euer sawe For the stones so shined that they seemed of burnisht golde and so many Pyramides it had that the view thereof rauished the senses with pleasure So soone as the damzell saw it with teares she said That Sir Knights is the place that harbors him that stole the Princesse my Mistresse and her Ladies In a tryce dismounted the two gallant louers and leauing their horses to Fabio with their naked swords they went to the Temple which was with brazen barred gates fast shut on whome they read this inscription The entrance ef the auncient Temple of Hercules is granted but to one First swearing that he loueth and with a faith inuyolate for a house so amorous as this may not be allowed to any but such a one Forwards stept the Lady with whome nothing preuailed the Princes intreaties to make her leaue that dangerous enterprise but swearing what the entrance required and that so loud that the Prince might heare it so reioyced him that his senses with pleasure were bereft him For before shee knockt she said If my being in loue may any thing auaile then will I not loose what my constancie assures For I vow by my high thoughts that I liue by onely being so enuying none therein because I beleue I am the best bestowed of any that euer loued since it was knowen what loue did meane And so with a seld seene gallantnesse able to intrap the God of Loue shee rapt at the gates which were opened with no lesse noise then whē Theseus was entertained in hell bent to the rape of faire Proserpine She could perceiue nothing about the gates but flames of fire to defend them whose timerous sight was sufficient to affright the stoutest hart But shee that was borne to liue without it vnlesse it proceeded from a true loue entred wiihout feare of the fire Where not a little did she trye the vertue of het Babylonian armes whose inestimable stones did mittigate that heat Neuerthelesse that which entred through her Beuer was so extreame that it almost smoothered her Yet valiantly suffering it with much toyle shee passed forward till shee came before an Altar whereon they vsed to sacrifice to Hercules and leauing that shee went into a large yard free of the flames though not of the discontent shee conceiued when there shee sawe vpon the tarras of the same many Ladies lamentably bewailing ouer a Knight that shee supposed to be her deare Dacian who by foure was carried on a Hearse pearsed with many woundes saying O poore Prince how quickly haue the Fates conspired the ouerthrowe of thy content with so cruell death and turning to the Lady that in the yarde stoode dead with griefe they saide What auaileth thée Princesse of Callidonia to haue protested thou thou didst loue if so soone thou shouldest loose thy louer They gaue her no time to demaund the cause and manner of that sight For from a corner of the yarde there issued a most fierce Centaure bigger then the greatest horse who knowing her swifter then the Winde made towardes the Ladie with these wordes Stay captiue wretch and straight thou shalt knowe the gaines of thy presumption hauing vndertaken this enterprise accompting it an honorable act that Ioues-borne Hercules my greatest foe durst neuer imagine In his course he was an Eagle and so incountred her so mightily with his hayrie brest that with a grieuous fall he ouerthrew her on her backe Returne vpon her he desired but the furie that conducted him so farre did lead him that whē he turned the Lady was alreadie on her feete But here was she in the hands of death For the sauage monster brought with him foure mightie trees which he threwe in steede of darts whose force were able topsiturnie to ouerthrowe a well built edificie The Ladie was driuen to open her visar the better to see how to defend herselfe from the vnequall fight wherein shee did nothing amisse For the furious Centaure taking one with such puisance like to a small darte he hurled it Her nimblenesse saued her frō it which lighting on a stone of the wall in the yard it ranne vp to the middle ouerthrowing a great peece thereof So speedie was he in throwing that though shee freed her selfe of the second yet the thirde tooke her on the syde of her shield that it turned her three or foure times about that she was like to fall and so in this amaze he struck her on the Helme with the last that he laide her on the earth voiding much blood through her mouth and nostrels And herein is shee not to be blamed for the whole strength of all the Grecian Princes vnyted hadd not withstoode this furie In midst was his last tree broken so was he constrained to vse the strength of his armes and nayles that were longer then a spanne wherewith he embraced the tender Lady And because he could not penetrate her sure armor for that saued her life hee tumbled her vp and downe with such force that shee recouered her selfe in no small wonder to see her selfe in her enemies clawes She would not striue with him till shee tooke him at aduantage and so staying till hee turned her on her right side shee strained her selfe with such strength that shee scapte his nayles And not omitting that occasion before shee stept from him she wounded him on the brest so mightily with her so famous sword that the blood like spoutes burst from his vaines wherewith he stained the white paued yarde Hereat the Centaure beganne to rore so fiercely that the noise was heard of the Prince that was left without which so tormented him with feare of his Ladies daunger that without longer stay he cast himselfe through those fierie flames following the Eccho of the noise that stil increased for the the Heroyeke Lady had so wounded him on the legg that almost shee had cut it cleane asunder Admiration would the sight of this battaile breede for the nimblenesse and dexteritie that awayted on Rosamond cannot be imagined which had so tyred the Centaure as it had her selfe which he not able to suffer seeing his
like for the strength of the blowe did driue her much backwards And returning to her selfe she spread her armour with tramels of more yellow haire than Apollo's in his most pride and shewed the beawtie of her face more glorious than the spangled couert of the heauen yet hers shined with more excellencie because adorned with the splendor of twoo goulden Sunnes Astonished with a sudden admiration stood the Greeke resting so farre hers that the mortall stroake of all conquering death was not able to bereaue him of the glorie that there he wonne Well did the Lady note it at that instant recording the remembrance of the Knight she did see portrayed in the Castle where she obtayned the siluer branch yet shee let it passe though not without infinite rapping alterations at the gates of her all wondring breast But possest with rage she closed with the Greeke that was prepared to receiue accomptlesse accompt of such fauours catching at his helme shee pluckt it off discouering a more fairer face than Alexanders causer of the deadlie discordes between the Greekes and the destroyed Troians There had shee kild him with the dagger that in her handes she had if the Prince had not embraced her with more strength then doth the Iuie incompasse the straight towering Elme and staying her hand said Soft soueraigne Ladie doe not at once expresse so many extreames hauing soly with that of your more than deuine beautie carried away the palme of a triumphing victorie from the battaile of an euer conquering minde and as a trophie of so memorable a cōquest I present to you my swoord as the spoyles of my subiection let it suffice for it is no true Nobilitie to require more of a vanquisht Captiue that willingly submitteth to your cōmaund to the which not onely I but all that in the circled Orbe doe breath ought to acknowledge I will mainetaine against them all yf you vouchsafe my life the which can be but short longer continuing in your disgrace Well conceaued the Ladie to what end his speeches were directed whereat she nothing grieued bicause in her pensiue thoughts she iudged him one of the fairest and strongest Knights vnder the compasse of Phaebus daylie shining course And so letting him goe to the Princes no small griefe shee said sir Knight I would not by so many waies rest vanquished it sufficeth mee to haue knowen the valour that the heauens haue adorned you with to acquite you of this combate The Emperour stopt his replie running in hast vnto the warlike Queene for euerie one did know her saying why how now Heroicke Queene I neuer had thought that your armes were bent gainst this your Gretian Empyre and especially to bereaue me of my Nephew whome I more tender then my soule I will craue the amends of Claridiana bicause she may take it for her sonne Most mightie Emperor replyed the amorous Matrone the honor of a distressed Ladie is well defended in Grecia that it makes me thinke I haue most cause of complainte and thereof will I intreate one of these Princes present poynting to the Knight of the Sunne the care to defend my reputation on my behalfe We are all yours great Ladie answeared he and chiefly to obay your commaund by how much the more the glorie is so great which at your hands Claridiano hath receaued that he for himselfe and vs shall acknowledge the dutie that we all doe owe you There did the Tynacrian well know his father and brothers and perceiuing that he in the Purple was his cosen highly reioyced to haue such kindred Notwithstanding seeing what little honour he had gotten in that battaile he saide vnto the Moore Thou seest King of Mauritania that these Knights haue knowen each other whereby it is impossible we should end our combate and bycause the night approcheth as also for that among them I haue such kinsfolkes that knowing me would disturbe vs therfore while they be thus busie take vp thy Lady behind thee and stay for me in the forrest whither I will followe thee and their onely death shall part our fight the which for many causes I doe For no lesse doest thou gréeue me wearing that armour then the Grecian Princes that demaunds them of thee Be it as thou wilt haue it replyed the furious Pagan And so with the swiftest running of their horses taking the Lady they thrust themselues through the woods But with the nightes approche the Tynacrian lost his waye wandring farre from the place the Pagan did expect him To each of them befell things worthie the rehersall as shal be mentioned in his due time For now the battaile betweene Rosicler and Eleno must not be forgotten which seemed but then to begin For either had rather dye then in that presence to shewe want of valour Well did the Greeke Alphebo knowe both deuises and therefore did he cast himselfe betweene them saying Giue ouer braue Knights for twixt cosens there is no reason to terminate so fierce a sight Both withdrewe togither and perceiuing their deceipt they vnlaced their Helmes the Dacian hauing his beard wel growen they remained so like that by their face none could distinguish them They went to kisse the Emperours hands who with a Fathers loue imbraced them with these words Oh happie day wherein my sonne and deare cosen are come to me By the change of your armor I know not which is Rosicler yet neuerthelesse shall not Fortune make me thinke but that I haue Don Eleno of Dacia between my armes to whom I will now satisfie the displeasure I did him in the Citie of Cymarra It is I replyed he that there fell in the greatest error that euer Knight committed And therefore I doe beseech your Soueraigne Maiestie to pardon it me and in signe you haue done so grant me licence to part For the first braue Cousin answered the Emperor you haue you wish for I dare not thinke my selfe secure within Constantinople Don Eleno being displeased But touching the last there is no excuse must serue for now I haue you in my power I will not let you so depart I promise your Maiestie replied the Prince by the faith of a Knight it is in my power to doe no otherwise hauing left my companie behinde and so it will be discourtesie if I do not retourne But I pawne mine Honor to your Highnes not to depart your Empyre til I haue done my duty both to your selfe to my Ladie Aunt the Empresse On that Condition I let you goe answered the Emperor though I shal not be mercy till you accomplish it Thereuppon demaunding a Launce and taking his leaue of his Cousins he retourned with more furie then doth a Comet blaze through the ayre leauing them all contented with his gallant disposition who with griefe for want of his Ladie tormented brauely his inchaunted horse in such sort loozing his way that before hee met her hee shed manye teares meeting with no small dangers what they were
Princes but only procure to follow me for I being well acquainted with all the waies in the Cittie will without danger safe-conduct you through it As you will haue it Sir Knight said they so be it done though willingly we would let the Souldan know what iniustice he had done vs another time will serue for that sayd Rosabell And so loosing the raignes of his Bollador with both hands he cutt his passage through those troopes in such sorte that he which could faster flie thought himselfe most valiant It was admiration to see how higher then his owne elbowes ouer horse and all he was besmeard with blood With no lesse courage followed Oristoldo in some perill which was lessened by the kings companie In this order did they issue out of the Cittie leauing in it eternal memorie of their valour The Souldan would haue had them followed but the two Knights so handled the matter that they pacified him commanding the tumult to cease and perswaded him to forget his displeasure against the Kings which he the sooner did because Don Clarisell gaue him a letter from Lupercio to thss effecte High and mighty Monarch Emperor and puisant Soldan of Nyqueas vast Empire thy friend Lupercio wisheth thee eternall happines with Immortall quietnesse end of troubles Hauing by my art skill foreknowen all the successe happened together with the euent of this present combate haue thought it meete to aduertize thee that those Kinges are innocent hauing committed no faulte against thee but they that the victorie haue got by ending the battaile are those that haue dishonored thy mightinesse stealing away thy daughter and her cosens though both the one and the others were left without them because with my skill I haue helped thee inchaunting them in such a place where they liue with such Roialty as if they were within thy pallaice and for their libertie I cannot yet finde when or how it must be for that it is of such difficultie Of the successe thereof as of other things will I in due time aduertise thée all in all wishing the fulnesse of thy content the which the immortall Gods graunt thée as they canne and I doe procure The wise Lupercio Some what pleased rested the Souldan with the wise mans letter seing thereby that his Daughter was not in his enemies power Greatly did he honour the two Knights knowing them to be so great Princes and so valiant of their handes where leauing them we must a while returne to Rosabell CHAP. VII How the Kings departed from the Princes resting eternally bound vnto them and what happened vnto them with a Knight WIth incomparable ioy did the two Princely friendes issue out of the Cittie of Nyquea after they hadde to their euer-liuing Fames terminated their busines They ceast not till they came to the Sea-side where the Kings had their fleetes staying for them for the gouernors of their kingdomes being aduertised of their being there had made that prouision to fetch them So soone as from their horses they had dismounted the king of Garamantes ranne to imbrace the Princes and saide while the others did the like Magnificent and illustrious Knightes the worthiest that euer buckled on armour how may wee in parte shewe the thankfulnesse due for so many great perils that for our sakes you haue vndergone Wee can finde no satisfaction sufficient to equalize your merits but that ye will imploy and commaund our persons and states in any your seruice as patrons and defenders thereof which to vs will be immortal happinesse and yet shall we remaine indebted considering your deserts and our benefits receiued But to make our ioyes compleat let these Kinges and my selfe obtaine the fauour to knowe by whome wee haue our honours and our liues regained It hath most mightie Princes bene so little replyed Rosabell what this Knight and my selfe for you haue done that respecting your many merites no occasion may thereby be taken to fauour vs. But if you will do it you do perfourme the honour that shal inlarge your fames because the ayde that my companions and I receiued was of power ynough to binde our liues to your lasting commaund and so may you vse vs as the onely procurors of your content Touching your last request we are of such remoted coūtreys that though wee should reueale our names you cannot knowe vs. This Knight is of Antioche called the Knight of Fortune and my selfe the Knight of the groue of Loue because I did beginne so soone that I cannot remember when I was mine owne It pleased his Fortune so to fauour me as to minister occasion for our meeting wherby many yeares since wee contracted a firme league of inuiolated amitie which hitherto we haue maintained and because I made him partaker of my woes and how the cause of them was the Princesse of Niquea he promised me his ayd together with my other foure cōpanions my great friends with whose vnited valour and of your persons wee brought her away But oh despightfull fortune sayde he with his eyes full of water that scarcely did let me sée much lesse enioy the happines she gaue mee because with the extreamest crueltie she could deuise she did bereaue me of her Whereupon he tould them the maner of her taking away as is set down in the end of the first booke of this third part Greatly grieued the Kings for the Ladies losse chiefly for the Knights sorrowe but being vnable to redresse it they comforted them as became true friendes of their qualities And seing that the Kings longer staying in that land would bee daungerous they counselled them to depart vnto their owne countries From whence they might obtaine a peace from the Souldan They all liked well thereof and so they tooke their leaues of their friends taking their right course to their kingdoms where they got the Souldans fauor which prooued not a little costly to Grecia For these Kings were they that most persecuted her in her generall warres as in the Fourth part at large shal be related Somewhat from the Hauen did the two valiant Princes lye themselues downe to passe away the lingring passage of of the sullen night making their supper of such prouision as Allirio had brought with him which done after a litle chat they parted a sunder to sléepe vnder the shadows of pleasant smelling trées A little more towards the Sea did Rosabell cast himselfe who one while thinking on his Lady and another on his voyage vnto Greece not letting himselfe to be knowen vntill his déedes might declare the Royaltie of his discent lay tumbling on the grasse till he fell a sléepe which was so little that the Ecchoe of sighing groanes proceeding from some that cōplained were of force to waken him who being of nature bould and of nouelties desirous quickly set himselfe on foote and with his sword in hand went straite to the place whence he heard the plaintes and so going into a little Meddowe vnder the spreading of a
this pittefull spectacle gauld the hawghtie Oristoldo to the harte yet durst he not helpe his frende being appointed Iudg. Notwithstanding was Lindoreanos dasht in his intent for ere he arriued the braue Greeke had recouerd himselfe and seing his aduersarie runne towards him gordged with desire of the blowe he staied for him and as he closed a little stept aside with his good courser that he was struck but on the side of his shoulder and all that quarter was brused Three howres is it since the battle begune and yet no aduantage betweene them was knowne The field was strewed with peeces of their armour that their blows did tare By this the streakes of light laced the vaullie heauens as messengers of the approching morne wherat Rosabell seeing the little he had done and how much it concerned him being a matter that so nearly towched his Grandfather a quarter of an hower before the sunne principiated his dyurnall course Iudging it weakenesse to lett a battle so long indure he warded a heauie blowe the youth let flie at him closed within him where might there besene one of the branest wrasles that the world euer sawe for their horses more firmely fixing their hoofes on the ground then the rooted rootes of strong oakes within the earth gaue leaue vnto the combatants to gaine aduantage in the loftie ayre New maner of warre was this for the two that in one daie were instalde in the honored order of armes and chiualrous desynes But the dexteritie the strong sallyes the braue closures and furious moouings made apparance of more experience then they had For both their ages co-united amounted not to xl yeares and notwithstanding shewed they ensamples of learning armes for Mars that on them gazed and documents for the proudest to emulate In kindled wroth was our amorous Champion on fier thinking his owne side had the worst of that wrasling So fayned he a new pollicie that altogether suffitiently contented the louer of Venus Vulcans competitor which was he made shewe to let him goe that hee might doe the like his hopes were effected for the Nyquean seing that way he got a litle aduantage loosd him but scarcely had he done it wheÌ„ with the strength of his legges he set spurres to his fierie Courser and taking hould of him with greater strength then before he snatcht him from his saddle bearing him in his armes to the grieued Iudge Oristoldo who the ioyfullest aliue adiudged the Prince of Nyquea vanquished Vnder the tytle Iâ—le not accept him sayd Rosabell but as a deare and my soules friend Let it suffice sir Knight replyed Lindoriano to haue conquered me in the battle of swoordes not to require a more coÌ„quest otherwise by bearing away the trophies of knightly courtesie which though it be due vnto you yet wil I not so slightly let it goe but seeing I am by you vanquisht coÌ„maunde me according to our agreement for I wil performe it The first that I intreate not command is that you receaue me as a friend which I will truely be vnto the extremest passage of my breath And the next that you continue still to loue your Lady with the firmenesse of an immoueable hart for there is no Lyon so fierce but will be mooued with the good done him But this will I haue performed without preiudice to the Greeke Emperour for otherwyse it will be rather an impouerishing then inriching of your honour And in signe that you doe so I must haue you shewe it in prohibiting any whatsoeuer that you shal méete with such an vniust demaunde Moreouer if for the gayning of your loue there is any neede of our companieit and our persons wee offer hencefoorth to be by you ymployed the which we will better doe by deedes then we speake it in wordes Magnanimous Knight replyed the Prince of Nyquea I am exceeding glad that since this chance was allotted me that it fell out by your handes being a Knight so well accomplisht in all vertues and so I thinke you haue counselled mee what most befitted myne honour And seing we haue no more to doe I promise by the fayth and honour of a Knight and Prince to accomplish it which he full-well did execute to the cost of som ones life as shal be remembred For no meane aduentures befell this Prince about his loues which were notable and that fully I may depart contented sayd he I beseech you tell me whome ye be We are of such remoted countries that if we should declare it you cannot knowe vs. At this time onely are we named the Knights of Fortune And this sayd Rosabell we accompt the worthyest that these many dayes hath happened vs. Thereupon they tooke their leaues parted the twoo friends taking their way to Grecia in which nauigation they met with many aduentures that the wise man here omitted which not a little grieues me for so famous a thinge as the winning of Hectors armes wherewith he did desie Achilles challenging him vnto the fight and Oristoldos getting those of Aeneas should not onely distinctly be set downe but at large particularized in a sole Historie He referres it vnto the Greeke Annales where Rosabells life is more copiously memorated There may these aduentures bee seene for at this time is onely sayd that with the best armour in the vniuerse they landed in the Port of Hircambella one of the chiefe citties of the Grecian Empire where they went a shoare onely with Allirios companie and seeing so many multitudes of strang Nations there arriued and euery minute still ariue they supposed some generall warre had been against it moued vntill they were certified of the cause to the Princes great contentment specially when they knewe their deare Fathers were in Greece In this manner mounted on the mightiest horses that the earth affoorded surpassing those that daylye drewe the burning Charriot of the Sunne they approached Constantinople walles where wee must leaue them through certaine aduentures which in that season did befall CHAP. VIII What happened in Grecia to Don Celindo and the beauteous Floraliza his sister with a Knight I Haue with such delight bene carryed away with the hawghtie deedes of Rosabell that had I not remembred what affection deare Saints and Venus votresses you shewed to the Scithian Princesse I had ouerpast them with obliuion did I not feare the rodde of your displeasure But now with your fauours for without them I dare not I do enter in the relation of their famous actes which were so memorable that Lirgandeo at large doth set them forth the which hauing lefte their inchaunted habitation entring within the Sea of Greece they had in sight the worthie Zasinthus Isle situated right opposite to the Corinthian gulffe where they learned how many trauailed to the Grecian Empyre against the solemnitie of the braue tryumphes that should be made in the famous Citie of Constantinople In millitarie actioÌ„s greatly delighted the two brothers thinking there better then in any other place
of thought not himselfe secure None séemed to haue any colour for the mighty stroake had suÌ„moned all the blood vnto their fearefull trembling hart Two well furnisht Gallies met not with such horror as did the warriors for breaking their launces without farther motion they gallantly past by each other the like did they by the second but at the third eyther of them wearie of delay with more furie then bayted Bulles they mette in middest of the place The maintainers blowe was venturous and that which gaue him the victorie which otherwise more deerer it hadd cost him for he chanced on the others visor which though it was not dangerous yet did it cause that the others was not as yt might haue been Notwithstanding they mâ—â—t with their shields and helmes that their horses iogging one another the maintayners fell downe dead and as hee was in better sence hauing receaued no hurtfull blow ere he fell he cast himselfe aside from him falling on his handes so amazed that on féete he knewe not where he was worse befell vnto the disgraced Astorildo of Callidonia that in search of his Sister Rosamond did goe as is afore mentioned who fell ouer his horse through the paine of his forehead Such noise and clamours of Instruments and people was heard that none knewe what the other sayde Sorrowfull departed the Prince of Callidonia thinking that the vnlucky blow had made him loose the Iust Little stayed the maintayner on foote for the Ladies sent him twentie Pages with so many horses brauely furnished and a messuage that a weake cripple with it would haue become more fierce then a hunted Lyon for one sayde The Gréeke Princesses braue Knight coÌ„mends theÌ„ to you intreating you since you labor in their seruices you would accept these horses which you shall not want requiring more seing your valour deedes far more do merit Good page tell those Ladies that on this messuage sent you replied the Prince that it well seemes they will attribute the good fortune of the Iustes onely to their beauties which seing they deserue so they may tryumph in their owne wishes and that it may bee so I will loose my life and a thousand if so many I had A retraite they were about to sound when in the place there entred a Knight of bodie bigge and great and well proportioned armed in gréene armour with many strawberries about theÌ„ his on shield there was an imperiall head cut off as if it freshly bléeded with this Motto Her beauty doth deserue it Though Mauors head it were And more yf t' were more deare Verie few Knights were there in the place but by the deuise knew for what the Knight came The Prine of Nyquea did not ignore it for remembring what he had promised Rosabell seing him approch vnto the Theater knowing his demaunde left his pauillion and went thither And the other being there come lifting vp his Beuer demaunded that euery one might heare Who is here the Emperor Tribatio for among so many no maruell if I know him not I am hee sir Knight replyed the Emperor therefore saye on what you require For what I come Emperor I am sure wil gretly grieue thée for only thy head hath brought me hither froÌ„ far countries which I must haue because thou wel knowest how thou hast wronged Garrofilea Quéene of Tynacria the which being so notorious thou hast no more to stay but fetch thy armor for here in her behalfe to mortall battle I defie thée Truly knight thou sayest well answered the Emperour for thy demaunde doth grieue me and verie verie much not to refuse the battaile for that shall straight bee perfourmed but because it is in time of such pleasures He that hath so manye enemies replyed the proude Pagan ought with feare to looke for none other Before him stepte the moste couragious Lyndoriano whoe praying lycense of the Emperour and obtayned turned to the Pagan with these woordes It ill beséemes thée Knight were it onely for the Ladies sakes at this time to come with such a demaunde which cannot but greatlye discontent them And so in their names I say you haue ill done and that you are vnworthie of what you doe procure vpon all which I doe defie you Like to an Hircanian Tyger the forayner replyed Were I not so sure of reueng I could not but rest displeased with thy discourteous wordes Thy battle I accept hauing finished the Emperours Why how now proude and insolent Knight sayd Lindoriano thinkest thou to vanquish him whom Iupiter dares not in Heauen confront our battle must bee straight for after thou shalt haue time for that vnlesse that hatefull of thy owne lyfe wilt presently loose it Be it as thou wilt answered the fierce Pagan for being so neare the fielde wee may eschewe vain ayrie wordes Returne they would into the listes but the Emperour commaunded the combate should be left till the morowe So they all departed leading their maintayner out of the place with great honour no lesse trayne who seing it to be time returned to his pauillion expecting the Sunnes vprise where what happened the next Chapter shall recompt CHAP. X. The cruell battaile that past betweene the Prince Linderiano and Asmaell King of Norwege THe dawning of the péeping day began the Royall Gallies on the Sea to welcome and the chirping birds to celebrate the approch of bright Auroras shining when in the middle of the great place of Constantinople the most valiant Prince of Nyquea Lindoriano presented himselfe clad in his rich glittering armour vpon his swift light Stéed expecting the Emperors coÌ„ming who about Ten of the Clocke yssued from his Royall pallace with all those Soueraigne Princesses and Ladies which no lesse séemed then a troope of so many heauenly Angels marching on the earth For those that yesterday were seene in gréene this day to assure their gallants hopes appeared all in red and the rest of the Ladies were so gorgiously attyred with so manye inestimable Iewells adorned that with reason it might well bee called the Paradice of deuine rarieties The warlike Quéene of Lyra came all armed desirous to breake some Launces and so would not mount on the Theater Her armour was no lesse wonderfull then her beautie adorned with many Carnation flowers of gold that so well semed as euery one blest her with many millions of benedictions so did the afflicted Claridiano that the sorrowfullest in the world did set himselfe where none might see him the better to ponder on the immaginarie causes of his griefe occasioned by her that ouer-ruled his desires There stayed he in silence sighing foorth his passions while his Ladie did the like but her feare was so great that it made her forget both her comforts by not succoring the distressed amorous youth with a pityfull remedie There was no Ladie in the place but desired a famous victory vnto the Princesses Knight so was he called by them all and yet not without great and excéeding feare
thereof because they saw the Moore at this instant appeare in place with innumerable tokēs of incomparable valour which made many hould the conquest in suspence not knowing on whether to decline But the Pagan being arriued sayd Now Knight seing the time for déedes is come there is no reason to delaye it but in naming of the Iudge Since the one of vs must of necessitie remaine for euer breathlesse in this fielde that question was néedelesse replyed the Nyquean Prince neuerthelesse I nominate that Lady whom thou procurest to content with a head so honorable I had not thought thy pride so great sayd the King of Norwege but seing the matter is in this estate I name the same Ladie for presenting her with thy head and the Emperors she shal be assured of the great reason she had to ymploy mee in her seruice Answere would not the furious youth thinking thereby he should too long prorogue the warre so they turned their horses which swifter then two light Gallies borne with the furie of their full winde blowen sayles met in the end of their course breaking in péeces their launces whose shiuers mounted higher then the raging region of the ayre Of stupendious strengtht were the warriors and so their launces no more mooued them then hadde they incountred seuerall rocks eyther returned to themselues swelling with poison and like rauening Lyons against their aduersarie drawing foorth their glittering blades at once they gaue each other such blows that euery one thought they were the last Gret abundāce of blood yssued through Lindorianos mouth which he thought would be a hinderance vnto his battle he layde the Pagan on the toppe of the helme that he made him and his horse staggar aboue Ten paces back from him Neuer was there seen a deuouring Harpie mory swift then did the louer of Rosaluira follow the amazed King giuing him thrée blowes one after another that at euery one he made him sée more starres then the Firmament contayned The best swoord of the fielde was the youthes for it belonged to Artarax the first Souldan of Nyquea he that in one day wold wyn thrée general pitched battailes for which cause he gaue no blow but threwe armour and sometimes flesh vnto the ground The better of the fight had not he for though the fynest of his armor defēded his flesh frō woūding yet was his body so tired brused that with great paine he staied himselfe wtin wis saddle The Pagan feared to bléede away therfore set hee his spurs to his horse thrusting at the Nyquean with a point that as he ran with the strength of his courser he layd him along vpon his saddle with such fury ioyning his shield with a great knock vnto his breast that almost he left him brethlesse Scarse was he thus cast when with Marses power hee strucke him al along vpon the belly that it caused him extreme paine With more rauening fury turnes not the raging Tygre vpō his foe thē now did Lindoriano for casting his shield at his back with both hāds he discharged a blow on his aduersaries that frō the top quite asunder it was cleft cutting away a great péece of his skirt he would close with him with like desire did the Pagan with his spurs animate his horse in such maner met that all foure tumbled to the groūd yet had they not fallen whē they rose on foot eyther setting aside all feare that for such a battle was vnfit With fresh breath entred the Moore crossing aloft his sword more quicker then imagination he thrust him with a point so strongly that a little he droue him from him yet not so much but he could reach him with a counterbuffe vpō the knée that it fetcht blod tremble did the blowe make him but abandoning all feare as also of his life hee reclosed with him as his sword had no fault he laid on his left shoulder sliding frō thence it cut away al his elbow armor with his male sléeue drawing much blood Quick was the youth so wold he second it but t was to his cost for the More was skilfull letting him enter he stept aside laying vpon his shield the tormenting his arme he was glad to let it fall Oh who hadd at that instant séene the two warriors wtout shields receauing their furious blows without warding They began with cunning to procéed for the Pagan as from death shunning the cutting blade would against it shew his nymblens so well firming his leggs assaulted his enemy but his stāding did not continue for the Nyquean entring with both his driued him from it yet not so but the other might giue him so grieuous a stroake that it made him set his hāds on the earth This cōtented not the Pagan that with both hands giuing him another it was a miracle it kild him not outright for taking him on the waff where the armor is buckled it cut his skirt euen to the flesh and a little more strengthning his arme that place being the weakest he had slaine him without paiment would he goe his waies but it was not possible for the Nyquean already inflamed with rage as he past desirous to make himselfe amēds thrust at him with his point he could not misse him for lighting on his right thigh he māde him stagger foure or fiue paces backe he could not giue it with force for otherwise hee had cut it They returned as they but thē begā the fight with such admition of the behoulders that as a dreame they iudged it for foure howers continued their combate without anye rest Affectionated to the Knight of the Ladies were they themselues and therefore greater was their feare of him Alwayes the thing loued Beauties miracles is respected with most care They parted a little to breath and the Nyquean hauing time began to recompt with how many things hee discharged the duetie that his honor had bound him to ending wel that battle and thinking that he had the worst he loked towards the Theater confirming his doubt by the pittifull sorrow that the Princesses shewed and calling himselfe coward that a battle shoulde so long last him not respecting how little he had breathed furiously he resaulted him at the instant that the other left his standing to doe the like and togither through the mightines of their armes the one layde his hands and the other his knées on the ground They were so nighe that they could not but cast their armes about their bodies pressing them with such force that they came to the earth where who vp and who downe they striued a good while in a stronge and dangerous wrastle The King nothing gained thereby for he was wounded mortally in many places and so lost much bloode whereby his faintnesse was plainely perceaued the which was not in Lindoriano for though he was brused weake yet was it not for want of blood They returned vnto their swords but euidently was the maintayners
from my bouldnes It is reason sir Knight sayd she that Ladies should be rather loued and wooed then gallants by thē sued too for so they should disparage their fame though not with desire they shew oftentimes some disfauour but for that cause must the louer be discréete which is what in him is first required that he may note the one and take the other in good part attributing it to her feare and not to her desire and this consideration swéetenesse what is most sower Thus spunne they the webbe of their amorous liues whē the Damsell here cut off their discourse saying with some anger You Knight of the branch seeme to haue forgotten your promise and seing the night approcheth there is no more to doe but straight with me you enter in your Barke without any companie it behooues vs to goe Vnderstanding swéete damsell sayde Polliphebo that wee shoulde so manye dayes together Nauigate by Sea thought you woulde let mee enioy some on land but seeing it must bee so let ts away though great is the wronge you doo mee Greater is that which is suffered by whom néedeth and sent me for your person hauing power to request others that with more willingnesse would haue done it for though our stay here hath been but little not so small is the stayne that thereby your fame receaueth and my necessitie increaseth with a sorrowfull looke the Prince turned to the Ladie saying You see deare Lady my vnhappie chance expelling mee from inioying your swéete conuersation for which all my life I shall lead in griefe hauing not some assurance of hope to resee you againe for till thē the anguish I shall suffer wil be so great as to debarre me from alpleasure for I onely haue and shall haue in being yours Valiant Knight replyed she no lesse doe I féele it seing you thus to depart from me and my brother which is yonder Knight and as for the rest you may liue assured I tender you as my owne soule And if this picture may be any cause of your cōtēt take it for I will haue your coūterfeite for the same The gladdest on the earth he tooke it and falling on his knées a Thousand times kissing her handes hee intreated her to take him for her Knight The Ladye denied it not for loue had made her liberall and none did it euer touch but made him become an Alexander vpō paine of not knowing how to loue seing that one of the chiefest condition that yf requires is Magnanimetie And so seing with how great the Ladie had fauoured him he againe kist her handes and taking his leaue of them knowing who they were they entred the Barke which swifter then a towring Eagle ingulffed it selfe in the swelling Ocean Straight did they loose his sight leauing Floraliza greatly discontented the which her brother nothing demaunded the cause and relating it she ended with a sigh saying I greatly feare deare brother that this Knight will put me in mortall dangers for I iudge his libertie to be great and being Sonne and Brother to our deadly foes it will be difficult for him to consider if any pyne for him Let not the grieue you good Sister replyed Don Cellindo for if he loues he will easily doe it how much the more in my iudgement he departed captiue enough So thought I answered she but here is my vnhappinesse that trauelling through strāge countries he may see some one fayrer and being toucht with this infirmitie he will be apt to decline and so must be faine to wander in his search Let the feasts first passe sayd Don Cellindo and so I hope will this humor chang into cōtent Thus determined they stayed till the next mornings Suns vprising who knowing that Rosamond the Dacian should méete hastened his shining presence to see what happened in the next related CHAP. XII How the Prince Don Eleno of Dacia met with his deare Rosamond and what more befell them in their way towards the Cittie WIth as many teares as hast departed the Dacian louer from his beloued cozen of Tynacria entring within the Forrest where ouertaken with the night he past it with extreame anguish of his soule seeing the ympossibilitie of his content hauing it onely with the presence of his Ladie His foode was soly the fruit of those wilde trées and some of what Fabio had prouided but his conuersation was it which most pleased this woefull louer For memorating the troubles he had vndergone and the passions and violent sorrowes he had resisted animated him to tollerate this present accident Most part of the night spent they in this intermingling it with diuersity of matter to make him diuert from his pensiuenesse till yf was time to rest which made either part aside to sleepe yet small was the while that the Prince reposed Neuer yeilded this infirmitie any quiet till throughly possest Well may many speake it by experience though with a newe estate they be remoued from it with a Thousand sighes began the Dacian Lord to sing for onely in that he thought he founde pleasure And I my selfe neuer founde him otherwise while alone he trauelled with this passion If a remedie for loue be dayly to liue instrife come death and end my lyfe by my sweete ioyes remoue My payne and hard mischance makes fearelesse any death so I might loose my breath vntreading my woes daunce Whilst a remedie for loue is dayly to liue in strife come death and end my life from this my ioyes remoue The soule with paine opprest canne nere obtaine renowne come loue and treade it downe while t is in woes vnrest I tell thee t is no loue which dayly liues in strife come death and end his life that sees his ioyes remoue With some small comfort ended the Prince caused with his song and being day broade mounting vpon the earths best horse hee began to leaue that thicket delighting hys eares with Philomelas complaints making him a witnes of Tereus rape crueltie against her committed no lesse ioyed he with the others conceipts for though the Musitions were naturall yet kept they a wonderfull harmonie of an vnnaturall consort In this maner wondered he till about Nine a clocke of the Morning at the end of the groue hee sawe a Knight come toward him brauely mounted hee coulde not see his armour for ouer thē he wore a blewe coate ouer his shield a case of the same coulor Presently the disguised knight knew Don Eleno and hauing purposed what he ment to do vnbuckled but tooke not of his helme with extreme ioye to see him for no lesse had he suffered in his looking him arriuing sayd Sir knight my Lady hath tane my oath the méeting in Grecia with anye Knight that shoulde denie her beautie to be the greatest in the vniuerse I should defie him to the battle but this prouided that you bee in loue though your deuise sheweth the contrarie and therefore to mortall fight I challenge you for with
daunger hauing such strong enemies The gallant of Argentaria returned her his aunswere with such strength that he made her see more starres then in the heauens were But who bewayled the blowes in their soules with sighes and pearled teares were the two wofull Ladies seeing their louers in such daunger For Artimio alreadie bewailed Florisartes death alreadie calles the Heauens vniust alreadie complaines on Loue calling him a tyrant that liued by honouring Cupid a pittifull God If this way there is such excesse of griefe what shall the beautifull Princesse of Rome do seeing her Don Eleno with Lisarte For though he had the better her loue disliked it making her beleue what easily she credited But her sorrow helped not nor her louing with such intiernes auailed to asswage her passions They could not deuise no meanes to make the battle cease for as they were flesht in it they thought it impossible that any thing lesse then the death of some should part them for at this time it semed that with more fiercenes it increased The Tharsians dexteritie was it that defended him agaynst the angry Dacian yet was it not so much but being reached euery time he set both hands and knees on the earth he passed not much better for his aduersarie neuer gaue him blow but brused and tormented his body so that if he gaue he receaued In no lesse danger was Rosamond for onely her armour was it that in this battle saued her life Euen whē the Sunne would set widdowing the earth of his light there arriued the valiant Mauritanian Brufaldoro that following the search of the Tynacrian and not finding he came thither iudging that for feare he had hiddē himselfe And seing the crueltie of that fight hee could not but say Oh Iupiter what Knightly valour is this The fierce Pagan was gentle and affable of condition and so pittied the faire Pages that wéeping stood speaking thus Can you tell me pretie Pages the cause of this battaile which should not be little considering the fiercenesse thereof It is so small sir Knight replyed Artimio that it is gret pitie it should be continued to the end for so slight a thing the cause being only that this Knight pointing to Florisarte weareth asword which he in the Russet challengeth for his saying he would not part without it vnlesse it cost him his life No longer stayed the mightie youth but drawing foorth his sword put himselfe betwene them that were on foote saying Heare me sir Knights that seing ye haue no other reason then what these Squiers haue told me it were to be reasōlesse to leaue the world Orphant for so small a cause of your valour and for a sword The vndertaken battailes all discréet Knights should be grounde vpon some suffitiēt reason for that is it which assureth the victorye making hym more famous that prosecutes it with Iustice and not with passion to procure to maintain their fame vntill death well did the Dacian know him iudging him of great vallor seing he sustained himselfe to his honour against his Cosen Pollephebo and so replied It is not so small Sir Knight as you thinke it for that knights sword is mine and I requested it with much courtesie which was enough for him to giue it me he not only denyed it but allso threatned me till death if I more demaunded it which you see is sufficient for a-thousand battles and I knew that in no cause you would haue left it That were answered the beautious Arbolinda with many teares had not you giuen it willingly vnconstrained and with it leaue to be giuen to any hauing no action to require it and if like a Knight you gaue it you should no more haue rememberd it The Dacian thought he should know that voice to be of the Princesse of Scotland and so with some a maze answered how know you good page that I did giue this sword I was brougt vp in Rome replied the disguised Artimio sure enough to be vnknowen where I saw that in recompence of an inprisonmēt by the gentlest Gaoler in the world you gaue it All this while the most beautious Roselea did nothing but weepe currents of sault teares vnable to speake on word yet thus replied Don Eleno So many requires a peace valiant Sir that he should not deserue to inioy any that would deny it and so for this time I remit the battle so pleaseth these Knightes They will saie the woefull distressed Roman were it but to be more pittifull then you that forgetfull of your owne honour and what you are bound to do wander vp and downe challanging battles of whom you know not and without any reason More a mazed then at first with these things remained the Datian for by their voices he thought he knew them both and thinking long till he spake with them said to Rosamond in her language that it behooueth him to leaue that battle She that was borne to loue him woulde not therein discontent him And so stepping apart left the battle leauing the Princes so brused that they could scarce stand The king of Mauritania seeing the matter ended demaunded for the Knight of the Branch of whome Don Eleno gaue him the newes he knew not knowing he was shipt to Sea after he departed from him No longer stayed the Moore but in all hast possible with his wife tooke the way that the Dacian directed him and no sooner was he departed but Rosamonds louer mounting on his Tirio went to the Pages saying your spéeches gentle pages haue so confounded one that I wold giue ouer a Thousand battles so I might intreat you to tell me whether you know me or if my name in Rome bee knowen Wherto Artimio answered you haue no reason prince of Dacia to conceale your name and yet wee wish wee had not knowne you were it but because wee would not haue had a Prince so great an as you renowned haue erred against such excellent Ladies as the Princesses Roselia and Arbolinda for the former is with reason wronged with the discourtesie and ingratitude or rather crueltie wherwith you departed from Court she hauing shewed you so manye fauors which were suffitient for one that had a clearer iudgment then you to make him leade all his life with content but I feare you were onely borne to mocke poore Ladyes Then consider the blot of your fame and reputatiōs staine and the greatnesse that in Rome you are loued and moreouer the toyle and labourous trauayle that I and my companyon haue suffered in our tedious voyage to séeke you all which well pondered may bee some cause that leauing the present state of all thinges you returne where by minutes you are expected by them that fill the ayre with sighes And that you maye see it signed receaue this her better whose tenor I knowe not whose obdurate harte it woulde not mollefie but Don Elenos Prince of Dacia who tooke it not to be moued to Loue for therein he had not where
Zoylos affaires inlarging himselfe out of measure in them that it hath made me more labour in the abreuiation of this inchantment then if my selfe had newely built it indeede fearing that though the matter of it selfe bee pleasing yet the tediousnes of a harshe stile might prooue displeasing The discréete breuitie with it bringeth the content so it arriue not to a point of extremitie for then with the newe name turnes it to discontent by loosing that good which by a safe mediocritie it had obtayned Procuring this in all thinges I dare almost say that your beauties haue tane some delight in reading it which by the other way had not been so for though the Iusts that past in Constantines great Cittie deserued a large admiration yet wil I striue to flie a delightlesse prolixitie procurer in some respect of heauie Melancholy rather sinning by being short then offending with a little superfluous length So at length the terme appoynted for them being come deuynest purities of Natures treasurie scarce had the gallant sheapheard of the Heauens displayde his goulden Tresses ouer the earth in company of his chast Sister when the couragious Prince of Niquea with his bright Sunne-shining armour presented himselfe in the place to no small ioy of the Princesses seing how well the stranger maintayned their beauties Need he had to inure his hāds in toyle for he had no soner leapt into the listes when against him did present himselfe a well proportioned Knight clad all in gréene armour with so many pretious stones that it dazled the beeholders sight in the place a more brauer thing there was not séene In his shielde was pictured the face of a beautious Lady closing her eyes to a Prince that gaue her his soule with these wordes What auailes it to be strange My true-loue to disdaine When neither faith nor it doth range But will for aye remaine There was none but fixed his eyes on his gallantnes hauing it as he that was no lesse then the valiant Don Clarisel Prince of Assiria who departing frō Nyquea had taken his way towards Grecia where it had been better he had not arriued for by the swiftnes of their horses at length meeting they gaue one another such fierce incounters that the Gréeke Ladies gretly feared the miscarying of their knight who was incountred so strongly that hee lost both bridle stirrops and also was it maruell hee did not forgoe his saddle too if warily he had not got hold of his horse necke But with it he did a little prolong his honor making his horse passe forwards At this time the Assarian got the worst for being hit on his inchanted shield he was so hard thrust that he was throwen out of his saddle t was his good fortune to fall on his féet and so with incredible spéede recouering his lost saddle hee went out of the place leauing it glad to see the valour of the Ladies knight A rumour arose in the place with the coming of another for with the brauerie that he crost it no maruaile if Mars had feared he was apparelled all in cleere bright steele more blacker than the finest Iet of the same colour was his Courser sauing that he had some roane spots which greatly beautified him the plumes of his head on his owne Crest were all yellow agréeing best to his greeued thoughts In the middle of his shield which was like his armes was portrayed a Heart incōpased about with many flames of fier that seemed to burne it beneath was this Motto Whilst in Loues burning fier My heart findes no reliefe Why should it prooue a lyer Not shewing foorth his greefe A brauer Knight was not seene in Greece nor that better managed his horse he entred the Lists and being exceeding courteous he first did his dutie to the Ladies a thing that in euery one is highly to be comended What thinkes your Maiestie said the Prince Meridian to the Emperoure Trebatio of the aduentures gallantnes I doubt the Ladies Knight will incurre some disgrace for such disposition few obtaine Of the like opinion was the Emperour the most of the Court it was not much for more deserued the knight who with admiring puissance spurred against Lindoriano that doubting some mischance had taken fresh horse but it preuailed not for he in the Blacke encountring him in the middest of his shield did cleerely pierce it staying in his brest-plate hee thrust him so mightily that cleane ouer his horse-backe he fetched him to the ground with the saddle betweene his legges for yet in that would Fortune seeme to fauor him that som partial fauorits he had might attribute his fall to his horses fourniture and not for want of strēgth which was so well knowne to the cost of so many His stirrops lost the distressed aduenturer but he recouered them so soone that fewe noted it not he returned with such brauery that most were affected to him except the Ladies that extremelie sorrowed for their Knights disgrace It no lesse grieued Rosicler who fayning some indisposition went to arme himselfe for he would not haue it sayd that in Greece the strangers had got the best and putting on his inchanted armor he cast ouer them a russet coate that he might not be knowne And in this manner vpon a mighty horse hee went forth of the Citie determined to enter in the listes in Ladies behalfe astonished at the Knights valour vnable to imagine who it should be bethinking himselfe it might bee the Mauritanian Brufaldoro hauing heard him highly praysed Hereupon he stayed to let the day be farther past that the Knight might get more honor who like a fleshed Lion with the anguish that for his Lady he sustained t was pitie to behold his lamentable blows for eyther slaine or sorely woūded none escaped his hands Well did the Mirrour of Chiualrie Claridiano see it and had the like desire that his Vncle but he so despaired to see the strangenesse wherewith his Ladie vsed him that hee would not arme himselfe vnles he were commaunded And to moue it he stept to the Princesse Oliuia for with her the Queene of Lyra Archisilora still accompanied and to her he said I belieue most excellent Princesse that he in the black will so well he haue himselfe that he will force many to trie their fortune although some are so without it that not going with some particuler fauour they are like to meete with some greater misfortune Well did she perceaue with what affection hee hadd eyed the Queene and as shee was skilfull in that art by the cause shee spyed the effect and desirous to speake for him shee sayde Greate reason haue you braue Prince to require so iust a thing and if myne may in any thing preuaile from henceforth I giue it you though seeing what is betweene vs it should be attributed onely to Rosicler But here is the Queene of Lyra that will giue it if it be by cōmanding you for otherwise against her is the
these Knightes for in my opinion I haue not seene the like and hee of the deuise with the Gyants greatly resembleth a Pagan that I knighted who after about the armour of Bramarante bereft of life our deare friend the Tartarian Zoylo for by his sudden assayling and the liberall domination he hath ouer himselfe in the battaile I iudge him to be hee he will neede all helpes replied the Scythian Prince for his aduersarie differs not in shew from that youth we met in Lacedemon whome wée left with opinion to be your cousin and if it be he the victorie will be his for the Prince Rosicler as he himselfe said was with twoo blowes by him feld The noise that in the place did suddenly arise broke off their talke for if any of them obtained any aduantage straight some fauourite of his would celebrate the blow of his affected as now some the Greeke and some the Mauritanian would praise aboue the heauens Somewhat a wearie were they and séeing the sunnes declining with the nights beginning to approch with the vtmost of their forces they discharged their furie in such sort that they struck each other frō their horses to the astonishment of all the beholders His Mace dyd the Greeke loose out of his hands first executing a braue blow which wrunge his aduersaries helme about his head greatly blinding his sight they had not fallen when quicker then immagination they rose The Greeke drew foorth that good swoord which Brandafidell did giue him when he lost his of Queene Iulias and with it before the Pagan setled himselfe he strucke him about the toppe of his shield he cut away a peece therof with all the brimme of his helme on that side he made him stand trembling like a leafe shaken by a Northren blast he well noted his amaze and so lost not the occasion for with a loftie florish ouer-head hee made him there repaire his warde leauing his legs without defence Whereuppon the Prince stept more in with his left foote and standing strongly thereon withdrawing his swoord with both handes executed his blow on his left thigh cutting it to the bone This wound was it that gaue him some aduantage ouer the Mauritanian and also the victorie if the battaile to the end continued For the Pagan began to loose much blood and to shrincke through faintnesse on that side euery time he was there charged They parted to breath for foure houres without rest had they combated since they began The Greeke as he walked cast vp his eyes towards the windowes where he spied his deare Oliuia and with a sighe breaking from the middest of his heart he began I know not why thou shouldst esteeme thy selfe Prince of Grecia to haue obtained thy Lady by force of armes Thou art wronged and not in the least degree so to be praised for it hauing no reason for it seing that before al thy Parents freinds and kinsfolkes their presence must beare witnesse of all thy former honors wracke in this sole battle Where in this particuler Combate with a single knight thou loosest in one minute all the glorie in so many yeares with dere experience and losse of thy dearest blood thou diddest atchiue No lesse exclaimes did the furious Pagan breath into the aire blaspheming gainst his Gods saying Why now none néed feare the name of Brufaldoro nor is there any cause his Ladye should estéeme him since before his greatest enemies so ill he doth defend her beautie reason hast thou to cōplaine deare Ladie of thy Gallant that in sight of thy rare perfections he hath not the power to beate his aduersarie from the field but see himselfe to be brought vnto the point of a shamefull ouerthrow he ended turning to his enemie that like a raging whirlewind marcht against him To meete him went the haughtie Pagan being the first that executed such a blow vpon the Greeke that he made him set one knee to the earth discharge he would another but Rosicler being more actiue in that Art before the Pagan strucke setling himselfe on his right legge he stept aside not making hym loose his blowe but staggering seeme to fall with a thrust did the louer of Oliuia reach him it pierst his armor and he felt it within his flesh like to the winde he rose with both hands did strike at him Little preuailed the defence of the strong shield for frō the one end to the other it was cleane cut and so ouer-charged him that both handes hee set on the ground He thought to surprize him as hee fell and so entred within him more then he should insomuch that he could not wound him For the Pagan cast his mightie armes about him beginning with aduise an admirable wrastle He raysed him from the ground and had almost cast him down if the Greeke had not withall his power held him fast and in that occasion with a trip got from him strongly swinging him about hee hurled him well nighe foure paces from him both falling downe But scarce had they fallen when with such courage they rose that all the behoulders were amazed to see so cruell a battle Nyne woundes hath the Pagan and the one exceeding troublesome on the thigh The Greeke hath foure all about the buckling of his armor two of them dangerous and hys body brused and tyred that his legges coulde scant sustayne him A windie noyse began to sound throughout the place who the Moore of the Moones was iudging him the valiantest that ere was seen in Greece for by this time the Pagan began to faint by reason of his wounded Thighe whereby his aduersarie knewe his aduantage ouer him So long it was argued who it might bee that euerye one happened rightly on whome in deede it was For the Emperor Trebatio himselfe commaunded all the Pages to tell the truth At last it was known that the valiant Moore was Rosicler It could not be kept so close but it came to Oliuias hearing who liuing by louing him began to bewaile the battle with millions of pearled teares that ran down the current of her rosed chéekes seing in what cruell combate her deare Lorde had put himselfe and so besmeared with blood With many out-cries she had descended but that the Ladyes stayed her As much griefe for it tormented the good Trebatio that no longer able to with-hould tooke his horse when Phaebus light was altogether drencht wtin the Cauers of the western Ocean at what time the two famous warriors cried out for lights From out the Tent were presently brought aboue 1000 torches so wearie were either of the aduersaries that scarcely they were able to stand on their féete Neuer a steppe made the Moore but with his blood hee left it printed on the grasse and the Greeke sturd not but hee felt a bloody sweate ouer all his bodye Great was the aduantage he had ouer the Pagan because of the troublesome wound of his thigh At length disparing of the long fight the Moore closed
brought the fortunes of his loue to that passe that he manifested apparant tokens of the same loosing the roseat colour of his face shunning the conuersation of all his friends kinsfolkes who in nothing more than in pastimes busied themselues All the Court did note it and some that would shew themselues his friends required of him the cause of his discontent he denied it to them all for none loued with more secrecie A deede most meritorious for his Ladie to fauoure him But she was so free that to continue it for all shee loued him as her selfe she would neuer let him know it and so thence forwardes the opportunitie that occasion appointed him she would disappoint by choosing foorth some other companie which was a new kinde of tormenting martirdome for the afflicted Prince He tooke counsell vnable longer to dissemble with the Countie of Acantos sonne a youth wittie and discreet called Palisandro to whome he disclosed his griefes whose repetition séemed to encrease them his squire comforted him the best he could saying how in that age it was so common to be alienated that to be so meanes was found therein to suffer any crosse and willed him to consider with what troubles his Father had loued not noly to his cost but of al Greeces that he shold know there could be no pleasure with a desired end vnles the meanes thereto were difficult and vnpleasant for they are the reward of the thing procured making the end to be esteamed according to their value T is true good Palisandro answeared the Prince yet thou knowest with what sinceritie my Father was beloued And being the cause of such bloodie cruell warres in Grecia yet knew he not what it was to be in the Empresse my mothers disgrace And I am sure should I demaund her for my wife my Lord the Emperour being a mediator I should not be denied her But there are a thousand incōueniences and all to defame my Fame and stayne the honor and reputation of my hopes for it wil presently be sayd that the feare to attaine vnto the winter of my deedes to recoumpt an haruest of honourable actes accomplisht aduētures hath daūted the nonage of my glory mixt the springing of my yeres with ignoble slothfulnesse therefore since I must loue giue me some remedie to quyet my thoughts be it but in disguise or fayned I finde none other sayd the Page but that you wryte for when she sées by experience how constantly she is loued she cannot be so cruell but will be moued reading vnder so firme a firme what the soule hath most firme Oh Palisandro replyed he who may write being thus with woes tormented vnles hee should set downe he knoweth not what T is that sayd the Page which must with effect speake in your behalfe besides there is no carelessenes betwene louers but procéedes of care well seing t is so spake the Gréeke how wilt thou conuay it to her I shall sayd hee want no good occasion for the deliuery in the Court So they went to write with more feare in the louer then if hee went to combate with his father The page tooke the letter promising to deliuer it in her owne hands though hee indāgered his life therby fortune gaue him leaue to do it oh if she would effect as she giues occasion none would euer complaine of her For Rosamond and she being at a windowe that looked to the Sea discoursing of loue though Don Elenos were already knowen yet the Quéene delighted with the newe maner of woing in Calidonia Sometimes in their talke wold they stumble on the gallant Prince whose qualities the Princesse praysed aboue the skies without suspition of any thing else and sayd I doe not doubt sweete Quéene but some absent loues doe make him thus to languish for his sodaine change in so few dayes cannot come from any thing else Euery time deare Princesse replyed the Quéene that gallants will seeme so their Ladies are not bound to fauour them to their honours costs though they greatly loue Then Rosamond neuer did any liue by louing that woulde not remedie the thing loued seing it languish in paine for herein is the tryall of loue not to consent the languishing of the thinge loued although the louer in that remedie doe a Thousand times indanger his life And considering your highnesse words I now estéeme the Gréeke Ladies as cruell as they are beautifull for on that ground they built their crueltie a thinge that so much blemisheth the noblenesse the adornes them T is not so much answered the Quéene as is their small sufferance to dissemble their Ladies coynesse Then the wary Palisandro caused to passe that waye with slowe paces because he might be seene who straight knowing him they called to whom Rosamond spake .. Come hither gentle Page it hath been told vs that your Lord Prince Claridiano wil absent himselfe from Court because he cannot brooke so long absence and truly hee doth well if he thinke the sight of his Ladie will adde more content vnto his thoughts then now he sheweth heere flying from vs all publishing he liues best in solitude Of his departure I knowe nothing answered Palisandro sauing of his woes as he that dayly receaueth them no lesse to see how he pines away and I dare well affirme no Knight euer loued with a more constant faith nor none intreated with more crueltie a thing that would haue mooued a Tygre to pittie and so I thinke yf the Ladye continue in her rygor we shall very shortly see him dead Oh God forfend it sayd the dissembling Quéene but tell me hath not he manifested to his Lady the sorrow payne that norishes him His eyes replyed he are they that speak by signes Why then sayde Rosamond shee is in Gréece that is cause of his maladie So farre as I haue spoke replyed he knowe I of his departure life and loues for hee would not wrong his Lady as to tell me her name or who she is In faith answered the Princesse yf his loues agrée with his outward effectes he is iniustly vsed There is no doubt thereof sayd he for what the face expresseth procéedes from the aboundance that is inclosed in a little corner of his brest that yeildes assurance of the ouermuch the soule indures Thy Lord will loose nothing sayd the Quéene by aggrauating the little he doth suffer Then he I am so fearefull most excellent Quéene of his life that I cannot but acquaint euery one with his discontent which hath not been to small effect since it is a meanes to moue his Soueraigne Princesse to pittie him They could no lōger talk for the Empresse Briana called thē As they past they being so nigh the bould Page thrust the letter into the Queenes hand She could not choose but take it least the Princesse should perceaue it seing her somewhat moued Shee presently procured to withdrawe into her Chamber not to read it for a Thousand times shee was
about to rent it without seing the contents but considering it was no salue for the euill done she opened it whose effect was thus Claridianos Letter to Archisilora TO the Soueraigne Archisilora excellent Queene of Lyra Claridiano of Grecia health A thousand meanes most hawghtie Queene haue I sought by some one to make known part of my cares but seing with what certaintie hourely swanlike I singe the approching cōming of my death and that the malady which mine eyes expresse wold not assure thee thou onely art the cause of my danger I resolued to imboulden my selfe to my harts deare coste to this whose imagination she thought it must come to those mighty and all-wondring hāds my soule feares to haue thus presumed to speak for the harts it trembles with doubt of remedie not obtayning it in lyfe which admitting no mittigation of griefe will bee short I intreate you not deuine Ladye to loue mee this merits not so meane deserts I onely craue if a remorcelesse cruelty is not altogether possest of that rarest beauty you wil be pleased to admit me as a knight attēdāt on your seruice suffering my lāguishment I require no pardon for louing thee since thou by woūding the body gauest the soule leaue to idolatrize the Instrument but if thou wilt altogether seeme displeased in kindled wrath my selfe will bee the executioner of the punishment I merit killing that life the heauens gaue me to adore thee vntill death the which is sure in me shutting the gates of pittie clemēcie wherto thou art bound As manye teares as the distressed Greeke hadde shedde wryting of the Letter didde the Ladye poure downe when shee read it for shee extreamely loued him but her libertie so rested her and imagining it diminisht her Fame not shewing her selfe grieued she so not onely determined it but also to write it lest her silence might giue him occasion to thinke the glory of his high thoughts was allowed Shee writ her answere not without manye teares and taking it with her put it twixt her brests a place where Phoebus wisht to rest so without any shew of alteration she went vnto the hall for one of her Damozels had told her how an aduēturre was come to the Pallaice which in deede was so For when they were all in pleasing conuersation one with another there entred a Dwarfe thorowe the hall so little that hee was scarce seene because hee brought a shielde bigger then himselfe and the richest in the world he went directly to Don Eleno and kissing his hands hee gaue him a letter from Nabato with his commendations bydding him straight read that Letter for it behooued him to depart with some alteration the Dacian tooke it and read it thus Nabatos Letter to Don Eleno of Dacia TO the excellent Prince of Dacia Nabato his faythfull friend and in the Magicke artes most skilfull health As all my studie is directed for thy content I haue founde that it behooues thee for the reasons I shall giue presently to depart from that Court least thy delay be the cause of the deare Lyons death It must bee onely with thy Page and that my seruaunt that shall guyde thee leauing thy be trothed Loue in pallaice where shee shal be well intreated vntill the heauens shal otherwise appoint The like must the King of Argentaria doe with the Kings of Antioche France and Hungarie and the valiant Persian for after so great pleasures and on the necke of such Tryumphes no maruell if there happens the most cruellest warre that euer mortalls heard off for the enuious Basiliske with all his skill doth procure it The Gods preserue and protect thee as thy faith deserueth This Letter amazed euery one for Don Eleno tould thē who he was and seing with what spéed he was commaunded away he went to his chamber where his Ladie helpt him on with his rich armour with many millions of sighes bewayling her Loues departure she tould him softly shee was with Childe which newes nothing discontented the Dacian but rather said it therefore befitted her to stay in his Vncles Court. They brought him his swift Tirio and the Dwarfe gaue him his shield bidding him take none other he would suffer none to goe with him out of the Citie he intreated the Emperour to eare for his Rosamond who esteamed her as his daughter for the great loue hee bare to the Dacian Arryuing at the sea he found his inchanted Barke whereinto he leapt which with his accustomed velocitie began to rent the waues where we must leaue him to shew what happened in Constantinople CHAP. XVIII Howe one night the Greeke Prince diguised absented himselfe from the Court and what else happened WIth great care sweete Mistres of beauty leaft wee the faire Queene of Lyra to deliuer her angry Letter to him shee most loues Presently shall she bewaile with eternall teares and yet shall it bee no comfort to her the rash resolution she had to write so seuerely being assured with what faith she was beloued Shee mist not occasion for the carefull Palisandro quickly crost the hall shee called him saying Good Squire I beléeue you erred in deliuering your letter for it was written to some other Lady So I bring it you againe that she may not loose what from the same doth procéede he well perceaued the drift and therefore answered Why then most excellent Quéene I haue committed the greatest fault in the world publishing the secrets of my Lord the Prince There is no such fault for though I knowe his loues I will keepe them secret and as for the rest neither thou nor hee hast lost any thinge with me for t is verye common in his youth to ymploy it in some Ladies seruice She would staye no longer because of them that too and fro did passe which pleased the Page thinking hee carried good newes vnto his Lord hee found him in his Chamber for he went not from him and sayd That you may know with what affection your matters are handled reade this Letter written with your Ladies hande hee tooke it and whyle he ouerpast the feare of reading a thing so doubtfull with attention heard all that happened betwene the two Ladies at length he rent open the seales and a Thousand times kissing the firme the contents were these Archisiloras Letter to Claridiano ARchisilora of Lyra to the Prince Claridiano health If the anger griefe I did receaue with thy Letter bold Prince I shoulde expresse in this I shoulde rather want paper for it then reason to complayne mee of thy presumption behauing thy selfe not as a Knight but as one that liues by insinuating deluding those Ladies that altogether thinke not of thee With my owne hāds I wil not procure my reuēg for that were to worke thy content but I aduise thee to do so again thou do not so much as imagine it for that bee the cause to driue me to my kingdome only to depart frō the Knight that hath
mee with what I neuer imagined I am more soryer for that replyed she then for any other thinge you should haue cōmitted For there nothing is more offensiue to their Fames that hath it like you then forgetfulnes of that which so much concernes them because I thinke I speake with the Troyan Oristides see here his sword which was giuē me there that I might come to séek him here make you know it had been better you had shewed your selfe careful in returning thither then to wander through these wods in search of other Knights Shee spake it so high that hee presently knewe it was she his hart had choosen for his soueraigne He leapt from his horse with more Maiesty then Mars could and sayd So euill entreated did I remaine of that battle sir Knight that I haue no strength to ende it now so is it my surest way to render the glorie of the victorie to your all-conquering hand Then he put off his helme shewing his faire face and holding the sword by the poynte he knéeled before the Lady Shee could not suffer it for she loued him as her life Shee also put of hers resting more faire then Apollo and with that loue as louers receaue the loued obiect shee imbraced him saying Seeing your forgetfulnesse braue Oristides t was not much that I ventured my life to seeke you He answered Deeds are these most Soueraigne Princesse nothing differing from your magnanimitie and I intreate you if anye offence your beauty hath receaued on my behalfe which cannot be little you wil with your owne hand take your reuenge then replyed the Ladie There is no such offence gallant Lord but thinking I remayned indebted for your comming to Lacedemon onely to combate with me I thought to require it by coming to Grecia not with warre but to craue peace of the Knight that vanquisht me I am and euer will be yours vanquished said the Troyan moste beauteous Ladie as one that onlye winnes therein Leaue this replied the amorous Ladie speake to the Prince of Achaya that is this Knight which comes with me who is not a little affected to you whereto the Troian spake All the worlde deare Ladie knowing how dearely I loue you is bound to doe me fauour Thereupon they receaued one another as befitted their Royalties In their that he vnderstood he was Cousin to his Ladie for with no smalle alteration was he till then supposing he loued her well did the haughtie Moore perceaue the affection that his Cousin bare to that Knight this passion can neuer be inclosed where t is well rooted It came to be so manifest that Bembo would winne the gallant Oristides by merrits assuring his glorie betrothing them there in his presence to all their high contents The two warriors contracted perpetuall ametie which in particuler they solemnly obserued for in generall in the Greeke warres Oristides could not forsake the great Trebatio hauing receaued so ma-many fauours at his handes The newe betrothed louers intreated the Prince of Achaya to goe and bee acquainted with the Gréeke Emperour but as hee liued in continuall woes he could not condiscend to their intreaties answering there would not want occasion to doe it another time hee tooke his leaue of them to all their griefes And mounting on his fierie Courser hee spurd through the thickest of the Forrest till he came to the Sea coast where hee shipt himselfe not directing his iourney to any certaine place more thē where fortune and the waues would conduct him The two louers desirous to see themselues alone past all the day in the Forrest which they thought but a minute where if the Troyan were couragious hee would not defer the end of their amorous desires It was not knowen for the trées kept silence but her time being expyred the Lady was deliuered of a Daughter whose beauty was imcomparable They named her Polixena at the Troyans request desirous to leaue some memorie of his antient stocke Lesse discords then the first did not this cause as the Fourth part doth recorde for a Gréeke did loue her to the death They returned to Constantinople where the Emperour receaued them with great ioy estéeming the Troyan as one of his children and knowing they were betrothed hee gaue them the Tytle and Crowned him Kinge of Thessalie an Acte that through the world was applauded with high prayses All the Lordes and Ladies celebrated his Coronation Festiualles with stately shewes and reuealings And the time of her deliuerie being come she and Rosamond were deliuered both in one day Sarmacias being publique but the beauteous Rosamond was deliuered in the handes of Archisilora to whome she disclosed this secret of a Boy the fairest that his age did knowe Both Ladies gaue his name according to his beautie he was borne with a most bright Starre in the middle of his brest they called him Roselindo A little they enioyed him for through the wall there entred a graue wise man that toulde them that the life of the Child consisted to be deliuered in his handes the Mother would by no meanes doe it But the Quéene would and so perswaded her to it They charged the wise man to instruct him in all thinges belonging to a good Christian This traytor Lupercio promised but did not accomplish it and rather conuayed him to the Kingdomes of Prusia farr remoted from Gréece where hee was brought vp with the Kinges Daughter shee from that time louing him as her life It shall be hereafter declared for Lyrgandeo is nothing briefe in describing the actes of this haughtie Prince equall in valour to all his kindered and a horse-backe he exceld them for a better Gennet neuer did the world containe where we must leaue these on the land returning to Bembo on the Seas CHAP. XX. What befell to Warlike Bembo Prince of Achaya with a Knight vpon the Sea at the Tower where Lyriana was inchaunted WIth some consolation did the Heroyck Bembo Prince of Achaya depart from his deare cozen Sarmacia Princesse of Lacedemon thinking he wronged his hawghty corage not to shew the magnanimitie of his mind against the rigorous causes of blinde Fortune with this desire he entred the first barke he found on the Sea shore desirous a while to Nauigate by sea seeyng how he languished on land The Maister and all the Marriners receaued him with great content iudging him of high accompt and deseruer of farre more courtesie He put of his helme discouering his faire and sturdy visage which more astonisht them binding thē more vnto more kindnesse His haires were of a darke yellow color verie thick curled a manifest token of his approoued strength His colour was white and his face full flesht well proportioned his eies séemed cherefull but being inraged they amazed the looker on with trembling feare he was double brested insomuch that no armour except purposely made woulde fit him hee was an enemie to effeminate men Neuer did fighting weary him nor neuer
of the Princesse whose aduantage in not small by the exchange None in kindnesse went beyond Bembo and therefore made this reply Most Heroyke Knight the Gods defend that through my meanes you loose the merits deserued by your person and worthy to these Knights for if I must attend on the Ladies it shal bee as your friend in your companie or otherwise I will returne the way I came Wee will not haue you sayd one of the Spanyards to vanquish vs in all thinges and since the condition was ours there is no cause why we should not suffer it and so le ts speake to the Ladies for t is time they were going Be it as you wil haue it sir Knight answered Bembo seing I must not diobay Already approched the Charriote with the Princesses who in respect of the Knights séemed sorrowfull though the beauteous Rosiluera was the ioyfullest in the world seing how wel the Knight in the blacke had defended himselfe so she spake I beléeue Knights we must impute to our small merits and lesse good fortune the cause of our changing new guard which being so henceforth sir Knight begin to execute your new charge which I feare you will thinke painefull procuring better lucke now then our kéepers had before Abashed were the vanquished with Rosilueras words who accompted him in the blacke the sole owner of her hart who made her this reply I doe rather remaine so fearefull of my Crosse fortune most excellent Princesse that seeing howe aduerse she hath still shewen her selfe will now with newe paynes discharge her selfe of this my present so I feare momentary good which last if it be equall to the former no hart is able to indure the griefe though mine hath had the power to promise it selfe to be yours vntill the latest minute O God how great was the ioy the Lady receaued with the answere thinking t is common amongst them that loue he vttered it with the firmenesse of his soules truth and not as words of course tending on the ceremonious dutie that her kindnes bound him too They toke their way to the purling of a clere bubling brooke that sprung somewhat more within the thicket minding there to passe the heate of the afternoone where the Princesse séemed the ioyfullest in the world seeing him goe close to her stirrop whom shee had pictured in her hart whose silence she thus brake How fare you Sir Knight with your new office I am in doubt it makes you already repent to haue it vndertaken T were so most soueraigne Lady replyed the gallant Achayan Did I not cōsider the supremacie of the high glorie wherin my thoughts haue placed me combinde thereto stopping al passage to my imagination of hoping other happines loosing the present I do enioy Hereupon the beauteous Artemisa tooke occasion thus We would not sir Knight you shold so soone haue acknowledgd it onely passing with the imagined glory of the Princesse commaund he made answere As my hart beauteous Lady hath alwaies byn full of continuall miseries torments now feling it selfe discharged of his heauy oppressing loade it straight iudged that fortune prepared greater paines yeilding mee this present extenuation in middest of which thought to expell the worse from remēbrance made me breake into that passion I call it so for though I séeme being not continuall as such a one but litle to féele it publishing it with such rudenesse how should I doe were it perpetuall but oh inconstant chance why name I a perpetuitie when I know this good more then felicity is but the prologue to an vnterminate end of greater paines by bringing me to the accōplishing of your commaund whose greatnes excéeds all worth of happines cōpared here Artemisa replyed Why sir Knight we required not to know more thē the princesse demanded for whosoeuer doth guard our chariot must haue his hart so exempt of imaginary thoughts that his care may be only busied on the present obiect of his eie with these and such like spéeches they arriued to the fount where the ladies descended ioying to refresh their heated beauties in the coolenes of the water or to speake more aptly to purifie it with their presence The like did the foure Princes the Achayan discouering his louely countenance Newe amorous launces to pierce the tender brest of the all wounded Lady though not knowing who he was she would not disclose it to any willing rather to suffer liue with her maidē honor but with paine then to blemish it by other meanes yet the eyes wherewith she gazed on him with such particuler care were euident ynough of her affection had the Prince noted it Together hand in hand the two Ladies walked into the thicket alone to enioy the freshnes of the aire which was so pleasant that it made them go further then they would and being thicke without pathes they could not when they would returne which not a little grieued thē Wherupon the Princesse said What shall become of vs Lady if we shold remaine in this remoted place great hath béen our carelessenes to part so far without the companie of our Knights for we might vnhappily miscarrie if any wilde beast should yssue out of these woods I maye goe secure replyed Artemisa for seeing you I shal be left to repaire vnto the fayrest Hay me sayd she I pray thee saye not so for my flesh trembles to heare it In these Feminine feares were they busied when frō the wood there came a mighty bigge Knight in bignes like a gyant all in armor with foure Knights with him of no lesse force then the Maister who was Lord of the famous Isle of Rhodes situate in the Carpatian Sea not far disioynd from the Frōtiers of Egypt and Lycia he was called Valdanio the stronge who inamored by heare say of Rosiluera came to Trebizoūd with 16 Knights whome hee disperst foure seuerall wayes for this intent which was by anye meanes to steale her away for once in safety set in his Isle gainst all the vniuerse he would defend her In seing the Ladies he knew whom he loued and with extreame ioy hee cryed out Oh Ioue may it be thou hast kept for me such good fortune I wil acknowledge it with rich sacrifices vntil the death He would not deferre it supposing there might bee thereabouts her attendance so went he to the Ladies that séemed more like dead coarses then liuing creatures She whome he loued did she barbarous Gyant take in his armes a better prize neuer any made had Fortune fauored him to the end The English Lady had more courage so she ran into the thicket whether the Knights would not followe her but seing their good occasion spurring with greatest spéede their horses toke their way to the Sea coast where their Galley expected thē with her sayles ready spread This while had Artemisa time to send her clamors through the emptie aire kéeping on her slight whose eccho broght her where their knights expected thē to whom
for it hath not a litle greued me this tumult shold haue befallen on this day which I hoped for my gretest content vnder your royall woord I will doe it replied Claridiano trusting that if I haue any excuse it shall auaile me Feare not that sir knight said Venus Vncle for on my perill here shal you not receaue any more wrong To him comaunded the King he and Pollidolpho should deliuer their swords who through his wounds was not able to stirre Of him had the Kings brother in law charge to the Princes extreame sorrow thinking his sundring from the Greeke would be his vntimely death Hee was deceaued for the Ladie had as much care of him as if he were in her chamber shewing her Vncle manifest tokens that shée loued the Croatian which nothing displeased him thinking he was a knight of great accompt excéedingly reioyced when afterwards he knew how great a Prince hee was The Greeke they committed to a strong tower not farre from the Ladies lodging whose custodie a Couzen of the Kings had that like a good knight caused him to be well cured though he was so weake of his lost blood that he could not arize from his bed yet his anger and rage more tormented him then his wounds arryuing a thowsand times at the point of death only for that he could not come to be reuenged on the trecherous Lindauro Who for all he was wounded thought it well imployed imagining they could not from thence escape without death or euerlasting infamie For which intent he one day secretly sent for the King of the Cremonian Isle the mightiest Pagan that was knowen on the earth for with one sonne whome a little before he had knighted he had vanquished twoo great Hoasts He was in peace and had contracted league with them and aduertising them the necessitie he had of their helpes with foure Knights of their kindred they came thether in poast and sending Lindauro word of their arryuall they did what the ensuing Chapter doth relate CHAP. XXIIII How the Princes were by some strange Knights challenged to the battaile and what about it happened SVch is the power sole wonders of heauens beauties and onely admirations of earthly miracles of an amorous passion rooted in the tender soule of a blind louer that it forceth him respecting no respect of proper honour to attempt those things manifestly against it for once fully possest of the louer it tramples with disdaine on the gouernment of reason guiding the affection with the loose raignes of a selfe-will the which hauing obtayned an vncontrolled regiment doth commaund as absolute Empresse of the minde this is that which only guides Lindauro who because hee was a louer in presence of hys Lady to sée himselfe wounded his thrée Brothers slayne yet vnreuenged conceaued so great a passionate desire of vēgeance that not regarding the laws of Knight-hood he procured against thē his Royal reputation an vniust reuenge vpon the Gréeke louer a thing that redounded to his euerlasting shame and dishonour eternall He conferred it with the King who being determined to obserue and by Iustice and right to determine that controuersie inclyned to his indiscréete sonne in lawes perswasions animated thereto by the arryuall of the two Gyants on whose valour the prince so firmely builded because he thought none wold dare to enter combate with them Being thus determined one daye dissembling his knowledge they entred the great hall clad in resplending rich abilliments of warre There was none but only with their sight did tremble for though they were not of deformed proportion yet were they of so stronge composed ioynts and bigge timbered sinewes that plainely they demonstrated the strength of their armes The Father raysing his visor with a hollowe voyce thus sayd Mighty Potentate of Esclauonia in our Land of Syconia we heard of some brawles thou hast had with certaine strange Knights and this daye was it toulde vs their insolence committed in thy presence killing some of thy Nobilitie and wounding our Prince Lindauro and moreouer howe thou hast promised to deale with them by lawe agaynst offendors to Princes states no such respecte is due but to execute the power of consuming wrath vppon them And so vppon the one and the other wee defie two Knights whatsoeuer that will vndertake the battaile by the same will I defende they worthely deserue a cruell death Hee made them sit downe knowing who they were saying I would not braue Gyants for any thinge haue it sayd that in my Court Iustice is lesse obserued then in anye other of the vniuerse and therfore did I referre this cause vnto my Counsell but séeing you haue challenged them there is no more but to admitte your challenge aduertising them thereof Well did Alanio the Princesse Vncle vnderstoode the drift and by whome that complotte was ordayned gréeuing that so great iniustice shoulde bee permitted The beauteous Venus did nothing but wéepe purposing wyth her owne handes rather to sacrifice her life then to wedde so false a Knight At length came the twoo Princes so weake and faint that they were not able to stande verye fewe there were in the Hall but greatly did pittie them Straight was it toulde them the cause why they were sent for and what those Knights demaunded Somewhat was the Prince mooued with their sight but that being past as long it lasted not hee sayde with his accustomed animositie that it pleased him straight without any further delaye to enter the battaile affying onelye on his Iustice That maye not bee aunswered the Kinges counsell who all were agréed against him for there is an inuiolate law in this Kingdome since Xantho the first King thereof was challenged that none challenged maye combate his propper cause but present his Champion within the limitted time prefixt to finde him that he for him may right him or else fayling in eyther or in both to remayne subiect to the Lawes inflicting punishment But we being strangers of such remoted Countries sayde the inraged Gréeke and the finding a friend to hazard for vs his life being so difficult great is the wronge herein you doe vs and on both I will enter the battaile Afore him stept the furious King of Cremania with these wordes Well doest thou knowe Knight howe impossible it is for thy sake to vyolate the lawes for the common good established and so because thou shalt not bee permitted to it makes thée so vehemently insist in thy request That mooues mee not to it replyed the angry Gréeke but onely to sée the insolēt pride that hither hath brought thée not like a Knight but a barking rauening Curre of Assyria that liue by howling against the splendor of the bright Moone So furious was the Pagan that hee would haue flung at him which had not gréeued the Prince for hee so spake purposelye to vexe him Betwene thē stept the King commanding them to be conuayed to prison first lymiting them a Moneth to séeke their