of the content which to be beloued of so faire a Lady would yéelde kindled such a fire in his breast that he could in nothing delight saue in contemplation of Syrindas bewtie whose loue so opprest him as it bereft him of his best sences and diminished his health He resolued to passe vnto Tentoria and colourably procure alone what his father with so many men had mist He was not of shape and feature nothing so deformed as his Syre but certainly farre stronger and higher he is a handfull then any knight being no Giant Arriued in my Ladies countrey he brought in his company eight Knights his neare Allyes of no lesse force then himselfe Disguised he entred the Citie where the Quéene kept her Court and knowing that she vsed to walke abroade vnto a neare adioyning Groue he watcht his time and hauing opportunitie one day followed her tooke her and setting her before him on his horse carried her away not dooing nor offering her any discourtesie though she had most cruelly slaine his father he tolde her his desire desiring her not to refuse his marriage since all the world knew how much it honoured her to doo it Whereto she aunswered If like a good Knight most cruell Abstrusio thou haddest procured my good will it had not bene much I had yéelded to thy request but since thou hast imployed thy force vpon a poore weake Lady I will rather bee my owne murtherer then consent to any such thing Why then said the louer that thou mayest know what assured confidence you may repose on my strength and arme I le giue thée leaue for sixe moneths space to send and séeke about for that Knight whose Fame aboue al others shal memorise his déeds to be the greatest with whom hand to hand I le Combat about thée proouing that none but I merits thy bewtie so that if I prooue Conqueror thou take mee for thy husband with willing and blythe minde but if I be conquered I vow and protest by all I may to remit and release any action I may pretend of marriage towards thée for which cause and that the battle may be effected I le set thée frée with all pleasure to enioy thy libertie and this because thou shalt not doubt I wil deny the Combat or violate my word Somewhat pacified was the imprisoned Ladie hearing the Pagans offer and considering that was her best agreed thereto Which gladded the Pagans verie soule supposing himselfe sure of the Lady thinking none able to take her by that meanes from him While these things past newes were thither brought of the neuer dying honor ye had obtained in the Iousts of Grecia ending them to your immortal glorie Wherevpon my Ladie thought to none safer then to you this dangerous aduenture could be recommended because the strong Abstrusio is the valiantest in all those parts She put me in trust with this businesse being from a childe brought vp in her seruice which I promised to performe with all diligence and either loose my life or let you knowe the necessitie wherein I left her trusting that a knight so absolute in all excellencies would be pitiful lending his help bound by lawes of knighthood to a distressed Lady and let not my report of the Gyants strength put any doubt in your vnconquered brest for hauing on your part the strong shield of Iustice it wil be sufficient to giue you the eternal honor of so glorious a Conquest This is the cause braue knight that hath from such remoted countries brought me to séeke you and consider whether my iourney be not lawful and your liberal offer iust It is kind damzel and am much amazed at the Gyants tyrannie said the Prince to force the Lady against her wil to marry him and wold I were already with him that Lady you might know your Quéenes remedie if it lie in me is made voyde for want of power and not wil to hazard my person in her seruice and my life I wil aduenture in any danger to right the wrong and violence she doth sustaine Why then braue knight said she I may goe merry séeing you so willingly affected to my businesse and may the Goddes giue you the due merits your bounteous care deserueth and séeing that for my Lady you must vndertake such a fight she sends you Armor and Horse conuenient to cope with such an aduersary She drew forth the Armor which were indéed as she said and excepting his of Hector he neuer sawe better of colour they were purple crost with sanguine barres garnished with some flowers of rich glistring stones which more adorned them The Gréeke put them on which fitted him as they were made by his measure On his shield was brauely figured the pictures of Iustice and Chastitie embracing and ouer their heads this motto Vpon each other both relies Twinnes kil one the other dies This deuice greatly pleased the Prince because it iumpt with his businesse With these armes was gallant Rosabel armed in neither in these affaires nor the thought of his hoped battel forgetting his Lyriana whose absence not a litle gréeued him for none had lost such happinesse in loue as he with so many sighes obtained and so his sorrow was tollerable loosing so great good for none will gréeue at a losse if the cause be not respected Not méeting any aduenture worthy memory he arriued at the I le wherereof Abstrusio was King Straight leapt he on shore mounting a mightie roane courser which the néedy Dame had sent him then which he neuer bestridde a better his Bollador excepted The Damozel masked her selfe for feare of being knowne by any of those that brought her away when the Princesse was stolen They approched very neare the Citie where the fierce king made his abode It was admirable chiefly the Castle where the King kept his court which séemed inexpugnable both by nature and scituation of the place About it were many pleasant Groues and Meades where the Pagan often recreated himselfe with Syrinda who by continuall conuersing with the Pagan his valour and gallant disposition had excéedingly mollified her obduracy And Lyrgandeo saith shee had repented her selfe for sending her damozel to séeke any by force to plead her cause being to her honor to take him for her husband that was able to protect both kingdomes that vnited was one of the mightiest in the world The like imagination had stirred the Gréekes thoghts thinking that he being so far different from the condition of others his marriage much aduanced her On this considered he along the Christal Current of a bubling streame when the mightie Abstrusio walked on the other side armed in strong plates of stéele bare headed without helme to take the coolenesse of the fresh ayre onely two knights without armor attended him bearing his who was horsed on a furious Courser his sight greatly pleased the Prince for his damozel knowing him told it Rosabel At his right hand rode the beautious Syrinda on a milke-white Palfrey
to intreate what by commaunding makes me happie in obedience I am called Brauorant sonne to that famous Bramarant which in Greece was deathes man to himselfe and Nephewe to that Campeon which lost his life by the hands of a Gréeke Prince although I cannot beléeue it and therefore haue I left my countrie of purpose to be reuenged on the Gréeks and the Mauritanian king whose land we now tread because hee tooke away my fathers armour and also I come to know the Prince Meridian whose vassaile I am and greatest friend in respect of the loue that he and the mightie Midinaro his Grandfather did beare vnto my kindred And this is all I can say praying the like not in regard of my relation but that I may know my Soueraigne bound thereto was the Ladie replying thus I greatly desire to knowe my stocke and whom I am that I might therein satisfie your content braue Brauorant and I assure you that the most I knowe is that I knowe not whom I am more then that a brother of mine and my selfe were brought vppe togither in a wood without other conuersation then of a wise man that did instruct vs in all vertues whom wee reputed our father till hee assured vs the contrarie and through the accidents befallen some haue tolde vs wee are the children of that so loued Prince Meridian More I knowe not I beléeue no lesse but that those which are the earths chief lights aunswered the amorous Scythian deriue their diuine discent from the heauens whence your sacred Grandfather procéeds As they were in this conuersation they sawe him comming whom they soght mounted on a mightie Courser he wore not then the armour of that Mars and mightie Bramarant kéeping them onely to weare in Grecia the more to despight her Princes The Ladie knewe him and tolde it the fierce Pagan that cried out for ioy saying This aduenture excellent Ladie admits comparison solely with that of your knowledge Now am I certaine of all good fortune since the heauens haue set before mine eyes with so smal toyle the thing I most desired He arose with angrie paces and called for his fierce horse The like did the Ladie lightly vawting into the saddle The Scythian was nothing enuious thereat for in lightnesse the Orientall nations affoorded not his péere and brandishing his lance made against the Mauritanian but what happeneth describeth the next Chapter CHAP. III. What befell vnto the mightie Bramorant with the warrelike Brufaldoro the most cruell battell betweene them and how they were parted by Floraliza SOme content may the angrie aspect of the two warrtours mooue that representing Mars either to the other approached The Mauritanian with his accustomed pride spake first saying What vnexpected motion of suddaine alteration knights hath my comming sturde in yée If you stand in any néede speake for in the vttering consists the remiede Of nothing haue we néede replied Campeons fierce Nephew for if any had wrongd vs we haue hands not to remit our remedie to others That which hath mooued this knight and my selfe with hastie paces to méete you is onely to know what cause the Mauritanian king had to take away the armes of that glorious Bramarant knowing how thereby he angred the Gréeke Princes yet no matter for this I séeke not their contents but thou shouldst imagine that a senne of his liuing greater was the wrong to take them since they were his right guiding thy selfe thereto more by insolencie then the dutie of a knight Neuer did the barbarous Sarazin nation know a more prouder Pagan then the king of Mauritania and supposing him like to others he had tried with a fearefull voyce hee replied What cowarde knight thinkest thou that méeting with those armes I would through feare leaue them although I did incense the heauens and anger euery one the earth contained Oh I wish I had them here to weare them in triumph of my valours victorie making the powers of heauen knowe to thy cost no terrene merits better deserues to weare them then Brufaldoro Milde in the beginning was the Scythian but being mooued to rage no Basseliske is like to him so roring like a bull and turning his horse casting his eyes vp to the skie said Is it possible that I liuing sole sonne to Bramarant should suffer this and that any other but he should threaten me permitting sithens thou haste his armour and detaines them not to procure them or loose my life in the enterprise So great was their rage that the one could neither prosecute his spéech nor the other make reply leauing to their handes what their tongues could not vtter Now would I here but I know not how I may againe implore your sacred helps admired Ladies of vnspotted purities but the importunate tōgue euermore tuned with this one vocal note dasht my thoghts in their expected hopes I dare oh I dare not presume least I should waken your slumbering displeasures they are woorse then then thousand wo-languishing deaths to pray the comfort of a smile the soules nourishment and hearts incourager to tread the difficultie of Dedalus inextricable laborinth or as Hercules to vndergo so many labors But being repulst in selfe conceit shall I flie to those chaste diuine Nimphs of that euerflowing fountaine of tongue inspiring musicke that some one not busied in the laies of loue would inchaunt my rusticke penne with a delicious method according to the two mightie warriours deserts They did refuse my plaints referring my Orizons to your desiding doom submitting their wils to your greater cōmanding powers whose fauours in my behalf they promised to solicit With trembling feare doo I once againe awaite your censures Oh in regard of their immaculate triple trinitie graunt it be it but vnder the couert of a fained smile whose obtained imagination swifter then the winde brought the sterne combattants to incounter with more noyse then Vulcans thunderboltes do rent the clowdie ayre amidst their furious passage or fiercer then the tempesteous waues raised by the vnbridled rage of a sea-oreturning whirlewinde beate on the flintie rockes yet was it nothing in respect of the horrour that these two rare in armes committed with their launces Of knottie Oake were they but arriuing at the brest brake as they were of weake cane or small reedes either past by the other without motion although the Moore at his turning about throgh the astonishment of the shocke lost his right stirrope Aloft with their swords raised togither they discharged them on their helms with more force then doth a waterie current descending from a stéepie hill breake through a riuers locke Venturous was the Mauritanians blowe for it lighted on the toppe of his plumed crest striking away all the stéeled circuite with part of the maled gorget on his shoulder praide the furious sword falling so heauily that he bowed belowe his horse necke On the shield did the fierce youth strike the Mauritanian it is no defence against the rigorous arme for the
thought he was able with them to subdue all the world For most of the Princes were accompanied with furious Giants and many Sagitaries especially the Soldane of Egypt because his country affoorded most With such noyse they arriued at the Tower as if heauen and earth had met Yet for all this did not the two Combattants desist from the cruell sight vntill the strange knight saw how great a Fléete made thitherward and then thinking it no wit longer to stay with a cruel point thrust the sturdie Brauorant from him and turning his barke put foorth into the sea leauing the inraged Pagan so furious that hee was about to follow him Hée was nothing daunted with the sight of so huge a Nauie but rather wished they would assault him that hee might execute on them the wrath that the knight had put him in who was none other but the bewtious Archysilora who séeing the flames came to the Tower Within sight she stood and so did the sixe Gallies to sée what order they tooke With soueraigne prayses did Lupersio extoll the merits of the Knight of the Tower so euery one called him They all reioyced knowing whose sonne he was and how he would take their part He aduertised his friend Bembo to honour him for in him consisted the sure hopes of that doubtfull victorie The Prince did so sending a Galley to salute him in his name A little did not the Pagan estéeme the account that was made of him much honoured Bembo being acquainted with him By Lupercios counsell the thrée most mightie Pagans Bembo Brauorant and Brufaldoro his competitor placed themselues before the Arches for he â—…red what after did insue and there had it not beene in respect of Bembo would Brauorant haue had assaulted the Mauritanian There was neuer a Prince in all the Fléet but went to know him all whom he receiued with singular courtesie But how he tendred Floraliza requires a new storie hers was the third voyce in counsel of war for that dignitie had Lupercio procured her by whose direction all the armie was gouerned Neuerthelesse greatly sorrowed the Soldane of Nyquea for his sonnes absence thinking his presence would haue assured his hopes Scarce had that mightie Nauie cast about the Tower when another no lesse puissant then it appeared Eastward froÌ„ the coast of Grecia the which but stripping the windes purposed to get the aduantage of his enemies It was the Emperour Trebatios that with fiue hundreth shippes and galleyes made towards the highst part of the Tower somewhat a farre off and from the toppes of their masts they could descrie the Fléete at the Tower which they iudged to be their enemies Neuer did Neptune on the seas behold a thing more stupendious for both armies seemed two populous Citties In the royall Admiral all the Princes were met to consult on the giuing of the battel The Emperor brought with him the best men in all his Empire and in his guard his sonne Rosicler the warlike Rosamond with famous Brandafidel and the stout Bramidoro king of CerdenaÌ„ For the Ladie perswading her selfe that in so renowmed an enterprise her beloued Dacian would surely be would not stay in Grecia but rather clad in her rich armour was one that wonne most honour both on sea and land With him also came the sonnes of the mightie Croanto Lord of the Carmenian Iles knights whose like the world contained fewe No lesse guarded was the Emperor Alphebos Admiral within which there was besides himselfe his deare Empresse Teffereo and the two valiant Spanish brothers for his more safetie he had with him twelue Gyants his neighbours then who in all the aduerse armie there was none valianter nor that with more trust and care defended their Prince The Spanish Admirall was one of the brauest and best furnisht shippe in eithers Fleet for therein would Torismundo shewe his magnifisence with his brother in lawe Clauerindo and both their sonnes that were in her and at their guard fiftie Spanish knights that against Mars neither of them would refuse the combat The new King of Thessaly would néeds manifest how much he was bound vnto the Greekes to whom with his Sarmatia the first onset was committed and to be seconded by the Spanish and French as meÌ„ most hardiest at the first assaults The Emperor Trebatio like a wise Captaine shewed himselfe in sanguine coloured armor for this deuice pleased him best and mounted the hatches of his ship that euery one might sée him With him came the two wise men Lyrgandeo Aâ—tomidoro who as yet knew not the end of the aduenture for it was in Medeas bookes and he that had them was their friend Nabato that in a Cloude houered ouer the Tower for his deare Don Elenos sake least Lupercio with his exercismes might deuise some newe treason against the Lady enchaunted there The counsell was ended with resolution straight to begin the battel although there wanted the Kings of Antioch Babylon and Persia whose presence was greatly missed Euery Prince and commaunder passed to his owne ship to order theyr necessarie affaires And while the quiet waues with gentle calme hore their vesselles the great Emperour of Greece leaped into a Frigat wtth his Helme off on the one side went his sonne Rosicler and on the other Don Elenos faire Lady and hauing gone round about his Nauy encouraging his souldiers set himselfe in middest of them all and thus began Come is the time most valiant knights wherein déeds will be more requiset then words hauing such multitudes of strong enemies to cope withall if I be mooued to speake thus beléeue me it is but to renew the memorie of the royall blood from whence we descend the glory the our predecessors froÌ„ age to age haue maintained eternizing their fames therby to all posterities intreating you as friends that none would fight otherwise then to make their enemies confesse the worth of their persons not for desire of spoyle or gaine and to expresse his duty loue fidelitie towards his God Prince and country for this nothing but this will assure his victorie And let not their ouermatching numbers daunt our couragious mindes but still vphold our woonted valor wherewith in despite of foes we made our names to be feared There can be no greater honor then with glory here like good knights to die if sates haue so appointed And since euery one of you knowes the right and iustice of our cause let vs confidently trusting thereto make them know how vniustly they haue topsey-turuey turned the world Here ended the braue Emperour and with amiable Maiestie commaunded his frigate to his former place leauing his souldiers so animated with his words that they thought euery minute long till they met with their enemies Straight he ordered his battels diuiding his Fléete into thrée parts The middle most he himselfe conducted being all the Gréekes and Macedones whose Generall was Meridian The right squadron guided the Emperour Alphebo with all
her comming for they intierly loued Then the Emperor sent for Venus and Layssa who brought with them their two litle daughters whose bewtie euery one admyred There also the graund Trebatio greatly thanked Pollidolpho for his good aide And euery one in generall were busied in the entertainment of so woorthie a successe Through all the Fléete the Emperour commaunded the two knights to be sought for that had ended the aduenture but not finding them he was aduertised how they departed in the greatest haste possible After them had the Emperor sent but that Nabato staied him that would not depart without visiting his Dacian and speake to the Emperor who entertained him as his déeds and merites deserued He made reply according to his wisedome perswading them not to gréeue for the two knights absence whom they should sée in other new contents which the one should conceiue vntil death although the other is so tormented with amorous cares that the earth can affoord him no pleasure because the giuer thereof is in this shippe None could directly suspect who he was yet some iudged him to be Claridiano and they were the two gallant Ladies Rosamond and Archysilora who was comforted with hope to sée him in Grecia where she would assure him of his glorie and how that if she were beloued he was no lesse It was presently knowne by spies how their enemies were withdrawne homewards It nothing gréeued them in that for Lyrianas sake they willingly would haue accorded to any good motion Before that Nabato departed he aduertised them they should not dissolue theyr Hostes for that they would returne vpon Crecia with the greatest powers on the earth against which the fierce Lyonesse would rise stirred vp by the Russet Lyon With this he tooke his leaue of the Gréekes leauing them much bound vnto him A great while he conferd with Don Eleno to whome he declared the cause of the future warre and that since he was the greatest cause thereof he should procure to make knowne the vtmost of his vallor because that partie which should most respect him would most oppresse him and would many times put him in imminent daungers of his life yet all should honorably ende to his lasting fame and Rosamonds So he imbraced him vanishing far from thence The next morning the victorious Gréekes in tryumphant manner made towards Constantinople hauing finished the famousest nauall fight that was heard or read of Forewards did King Sacridoro put forth to be the first should beare those happy tydings vnto the Empresse which he accordingly performed And with prosperous windes not long after they arriued all at Constantinople in whose welcome there happened what the next Chapter shall declare CHAP. XXIIII How the Emperour Trebatio with all his Fleete arriued at Constantinople His welcome with what else happened NO sooner were the furious horses of the Sun harnest in theyr bright Caparisons of shining light readie to drawe the golden Charriot of heauens glittering eye through the Christal paued wayes of the Azure skies expelling thence the duskie Cloudes of leaden melancholy darkenesse when the Gréekes gallant Fléete containing so many Princes and braue Knights appeared in sight of the famous Citie of Constantinople sounding so many millitary Instruments as if that were the instant of the earths generall desolation Such thicke smoake of smothering fiery mysts raised the discharged ordinance in wel ordred peales that one vessel could not discerne the other Which past the Gallies and Shippes beganne to showe themselues daring the windes with their proude streamers and all their toppes with dauncing Banners made of silke whose méeting displayed in the aire rauished the beholding sences with ioy which on the other side was a corsiue to the hearts of the afflicted prisoners séeing theirs as trophies of the victorie set vp among their aduersaries The eccho on the water of mellodious harmony of concordant Musicke was a comfort to the poore wounded souldiers who were all committed to the warlike Troians charge The discréet Citizens were not all this while carelesse but rather in preparations to feast their Prince had bene most carefull All the Castles in the Citie welcommed them according to their vsuall custome placing on the highest of euery one the Emperours Imperiall standards To the sea side came all the gallant youthes brauely Armed and euery one a blew scarfe and in their hands swords and daggers wherwith they skirmiged as they went In two parts they diuided themselues to take the Princes in the middle that then were comming forth of Abstrusios Admirall A most faire Bridge they set vp from the Galleon to the shore with many stately Arches all couered with gréen cloth of golde and they with many curious Pictures containing all the Gréeke Princes Battles and aduentures Who issued foorth in this manner First marched the Emperor Trebatio betwéene his two sonnes representing such Maiestie and chearfull semblance that therewith his subiects were much gladded A little behinde them appeared those thrée Myrrors of beawtie Lyriana Archysilora and Rosamond who to please the Princesse of Nyquea had put off their strong abillements of warre They were all thrée attyred in gréene cut vpon cloth of siluer and tackte with knottes of Pearle and betwéene euery cut a button of rich Dyamonds on whose sparkeling light the reuerberating sun dazeling thereon depriued the beholders of the Ladies sight Large wide were their garments with long sléeues hanging to the ground all richly Embrodered euen much like the fashion now vsed in France Other shorter they woare on their arms laced ouer with great Orient Pearles with cuts drawne through with finest cloath of Golde faced with white and crimson according to the vsance of the Parthians Their disheueld hayre dangled downe in tramels whereon there is not any but would haue hung thereon a thousand soules and iudge them too fewe for their merits To conclude they were so excéeding absolute in all perfections that Apollo blushed to bee excelled in bewtie by humane creatures who to enioy the contemplation of their excellencies and surfet in imaginary conceits of their rarieties curbed with his raignes the hastie galloping of his fierce and vnstayed stéeds A little after them followed other thrée no lesse bewtifull then they These wer the gallant Venus the braue Layssa with the faire Syrinda They would not change colour and therefore were all in Crimson cut vpon Golde Next to them the excellent Empresse Claridiana attired according to her Maiesticke state and grauitie yet with such exquisit bewty that the former sixe became enuious of her faire She passed on with the mightie Abstrusio whom all the Gréekes much affected The rest of the ladies were al richly apparelled At the end of the bridge vpon a tryumphant arch stood thrée images most liuely representing the first thrée ladies Not far from them thrée Syrens with Amber tresses dangling to the ground came forth and playing on seuerall Harpes sung seuerall notes one after the other thus From the Lillies is she
she was gallantly attyred for being well intreated by the king she by dooing the like did more allure him and he lost nothing by vsing her in that manner forcing her to doo nothing against her will which to his soueraigne gentlenesse may be attributed Comming more neare the Lady knew the Armor and horse which she sent vnto the Knight shuld combat for her She was so amazed though his disposition greatly contented her that the stoute Pagan noted it and demaunding the cause halfe trembling told it Oh Iupiter said the Pagan how doest thou shew thy immortall power to honour me sending him at such time hither whom I heartily expected Now shal you sée faire Lady whether my valour deserue not some estimation in thy brest beeing so neare to sée it by experience So daunted was the Lady that she could not answere reuoluing many things in her thoughts against her selfe for if she should stay the battel from procéeding it were to dishonour the knight hauing sent for him so far onely to that and if she suffered it then she imagined she wronged her Louer towards the Pagan so that she was set betwéen two contraries altogither opposed against her happinesse and which shee might iudge the least to lay hands on she knew not The hastie comming of the Gréeke suffered her not to chuse for crossing the riuer ouer a bridge brandishing his Launce went towards the Louers that greatly admired his comely grace The Pagan nothing doubting his hoped victorie expected him in a faire plain ioyning to a thicket of tall Pynes called the Groue of Aduentures for neuer any entred it but found something to try the valour of his person The Gréeke being come to him raised his Beauer and saluted him thus God saue the valiant Abstrusio I thinke I shall not néede to relate the cause of my comming because it was with thy consent neuerthelesse if without battell thou wilt remit the sute thou doest pretend thou shalt obtaine a sure vnconstant friend for I doubt not but thou knowest how it staines a Noble minde by force to force a Ladies will for it neither belongeth to a good knight nor a true Louer yet for all this if thou wilt insist in thy enterprise let vs no longer deferre the combat which instantly to be done will bee too too long While he spake the Pagan stedfastly gazed on him and iudging him of great strength because his constitution was not much lesse then his owne and this imagination he confirmed noting the libertie of his words which he said procéeded of valour for others at his sole sight were ready to tremble So he answered In faith Syr knight I sée no reason but any thing should be done to obtain your friendship which oght not be litle estéemed by him that hath it But you sée if I leaue the battell it redounds to my dishonor for it will be said I did it for feare which could neuer yet be reported since I knew what armor ment so now to giue occasion of such spéech he wil not permit that knowes the estimation of true honour and how it ought to be embraced So let our battle be presently although I assure you more then this I neuer doubted the ende of any witnesses we shall néed none for my promise past to this faire Princesse shall be sufficient It is so replyed the Gréek for since the one must of necessitie sacrifice his bloold in this field let the suruiuer be Conqueror Iudge to carrie away the Lady Who came to speake vnto the knight so amazed that the Gréeke conceiued the cause and quickly assured himselfe thereof It gladded him purposing if he vanquisht to marrie her to the Pagan Defied eache other had these combatants and sought for a conuenient place to make the battell when from the thicket issued a knight vpon a nimble Coueser he did no more but take viewe of the number that was there and returned Euery one noted him and mused what he intended by such haste But the desire the two had of their Combat made them forget him They turned their fierce horses about whose successe an other Chapter must vnfold for it deserueth much more CHAP. XI The aduenture that befell vnto the two most mightie warriors being in their combat and what else happened VVIth a thousand amorous doubtes the bewteous Syrinda expected the two braue warriors encounters greatly fearing the Gréeke because she sent for him and the Pagans successe good or badde shee felt in middest of her soule and eythers blowes shee receiued on her brest So that deare Ladies neuer had Combattants a more suspitious Iudge because she through loue pleades the merits of the one and the Gréekes worthinesse the bountie wherwith he vndertooke her cause inforced her to defend him Oh sacred Damzels Natures chéefest bewties lend me some litle fauour that I may woorthily relate the rarest single Combat fought vppon the earth for the one is Rosabel of whom the world alreadie trembles the other the haughtie Abstrusio mirror of the Pagan Nations The nimble swiftnesse of their horses was occasion of their quicker méeting making more noyse in their carrier then Vulcans forged fire ratling through the skies renteth his passage flashing among the darkened Clowdes Big and knottie were their Launces but incountring with their stéeled shields they séemed of slender willowes Whose shiuers mounted so high that their sight gaue notice of that Combat aboue the fourth spheare Neither miscarried by the shocke though both warriours were assured of the others strength Amazed was the Pagan séeing his aduersary in his saddle for in all his life til then he neuer incountred any but he ouerthrew him to the hard ground The Greeke drew foorth the Troyan Hectors sword glad to sée the Pagans valour And flourishing it aloft with that celeritie he vsed in all his hattles let flie at the Pagan who turned to warde it yet his diligence preuailed not for he had not scarce offered his defence when the skilful Gréeke redoubled the strength of his proffered blowe and brauely discharged it on his aduersaries shielde it bootes not to be of fine tempered stéele for all it reached was throwne to the grassy plaine Sometimes would they proffer aduantages as in a schoole of Fence is accustomed which would redownd vnto the offerers disaduantage as now it befel the Gréek Prince For spurring his horse he wold haue giuen the Sarracen another blow before he setled himselfe he did so but the vnbrideled fury of the horse most fiercely ranne beyond the Pagan whose course Rosabell on a sudden staying the plaine being wet his hinder féete slipt so that both headlong stumbled downe Galtenor saith the Gréeke lost not his saddle but Lirgandeo affirmeth it adding that his fall was the cause he performed one of his vsual acts for being on his féete in a drie place he awaited The Pagan comming that eagerly ranne to ouerthrow him his Horse he would not kil but méeting brest with brest with no
giuing it the shadow and her heart the substance which being so tender and vnacquainted with change tooke such impression that neuer Lady yéelded more to loue then Eufronisa Now she desires to speake to him then feares she Already becomes she suspicious that neuer learned to loue Before she knew who he was she became so skilfull in the Art that she feared whether he loued whether he could loue or acknowledge anies soueraigntie Now she that staines the blushing of the mornings Sunne becomes enuious of her owne thoughts and doth distrust her owne worths séeking new deuises and inuented meanes to be beloued deseruing for her owne bewtie Ioues immortal worship Oh Cupids blind snares happinesse in misery a plague in pleasure and grief without remedy found vnsought for and yet a torment that contains a most swéete life By her amazednesse perceiued the damzel her Ladies maladie wherefore she merily said Let vs awake this knight and try whether his bewtie haue more force waking or sléeping Doo what you wil replied she although it be no modestie considering who we be Rather waighing that I thinke it best to do it said the wittie Selia to sée what he is that hath such power ouer Ladies for if his merits equals all other parts requisite in a good knight he may call himselfe one of the happiest in the world So long continued the Ladies in their amourous chat that the Prince awaked with these words Oh fortune how doest thou flatter my hopes for if thou giuest me any good t is only dreaming that when I wake to see it I finde it but an illusion He said no more for the Ladies sight staied him both from the publishing his woes as of the cause of them He rose admiring the Ladies bewtie who first spake thus You should séeme to haue fewe enemies sir knight séeing so carelesly you lye and sléepe in passages so open that any by you offended may at his pleasure right himselfe He answered So crosse and austere hath my fortune alwaies bene most bewteous Ladie that it did neuer let me knowe the state wherin I might say I had a friend for euen my owne thoughts doo most within my brest make warre against my rest wherefore hauing none to trust vnto forceth me to set my selfe in the hands of euery one that one in this generalitie would shewe the office of a friend by taking away my despised life then as such a one I should account him for by the déed giuing me one death he riddes me of a thousand that I suffer in continuall languishment and it might I wel call life for he liues well that féeles no more pain Great is your griefe answered the Ladie and of force to drawe commiseration from the hardest heart and greater it is séeing that none pities you were it but with a counterfeit remedie noting the waight of your complaints In faith faire Ladie said the Prince so mightie are my oppressions that although I know them and the paine I endure by them yet I must suffer them for if I liue it is by liuing in paine so that should I but neuer so litle ease this paine it would be séene in the want of my health If it doth so please you replied the Ladie vniustly you complaine and I thinke you greatly wrong your Ladie terming her cruel My complaints most soueraigne Ladie are not so much ment against my lifes directnesse as against my vnhappie starres that make me infortunate in fauours but not in my imployment for neuer was any better but in such a place where my griefs be scorned Some reason you haue said the Lady hauing this occasion to bewaile for where sorrow is not regarded there is a double griefe and gladly would I know who you are and where borne for you séeme a straunger in these parts I cannot but obey your soueraigne commaund most excellent Lady answered the Gréeke I was borne in the farthest Confines of great Tartaria and am called Corolano cast by fowle weather and tempest of the sea on this Countrey passing so many troubles that had I not receiued such vnexpected comfort with your faire sight no doubt but that my soule séeing the bodie drenched in misery and as vnworthie to containe it had it forsaken me but to enioy within it the view of your happie sight gaue life to her liuelesse habitation And that I may commit no error for it is impossible but I haue incurred some suffer my prayers by your admittance to make me deseruer to know the name of the land so happie in the possession of such admirable brauery Quickly doo you require a payment for the discouery of your name Sir knight replied Selia for the Princesse could not busied in her new and painfull businesse but because you shall not altogither iudge your selfe vnfortunate in your pretences know this land is called Sylepsia whereof this Lady is Princesse and going on hunting we lost our company and our selues yet wee haue not hunted ill hauing founde the amourousest knight in the world and so according to your showes none like you haue better assuraunce of the Louers Tent whose aduenture was newly brought into this Cittie and the proofe thereof shall within these foure daies be begunne and little shall you not please vs to hazard your person in the tryall I am so ill prouided of Armor and other necessaries faire damzell answered the tender Prince that though I were vnwilling to do it yet to content your bewties with them I would try it assured that for louing and being vnfortunate to me the glory is onely due This want shall not hinder you said Eufronisa for I will furnish you with the best armor that euer you saw earst belonging to the first king that raigned in this countrey named Tersio equall in soueraigntie of Fortitude and Wisedome strengthened by Art and skill wherewith he forged them and neuer were séene by any These I le send you by this damzell first swearing you shall not absent your selfe from this Kingdome without my leaue and in our Pallace shall you be cherished The amorous Lady spake so plainly as the Prince could perceiue Loues new wound There is none so destitute of iudgement but wold haue weighed what he obtained to be beloued of so faire a dame for if the Prince had euer séene pure bewtie she was the perfect stampe therof in whose creation Nature the olde Mars of liuing forme had shewed the vtmost of her skill modeling her liniaments more absolute then thought could wish Among so fewe yeares as they both had was neuer seene completer excellencies so he answered Who dares most soueraigne Lady shew himselfe so vngratefull to the fauours imparted by your rare bewty as to commit a fault so hainous to depart from you without your license I am so long since captiue to anothers wil as now to acknowledge it anew is no pain but rather chéefest happines knowing to whom I owe seruice Why then said she we may be gon