not farre from thence that reached to another lodging of the same making that don Bellianis was in so curiously wrought and of so rare woorkmanshippe that the Ladyes greatly admired it and entering in another roome they founde the Prince Don Bryanell walking alone alreadie healed of his woundes yet hauing lost much bloud hee looked verie pale and wanne for the sage Matron greatly commiserating his daunger prouiuided as heretofore is specified For when shee went to cure the Emperour shee made one of her Damsels to enter another way vnséeue and fetching him thence brought him thither in a traunce and for all he was healed with the drinke that Bellona gaue him yet knewe hee not in what place nor in whose power hee was neither knewe hee whether he was in prison or at libertie nor in what state the battell remained in which hee lost the Emperour and séeing his woundes whole was in such a wonder that almost hee perswaded himselfe waking out of a dreame and séeing no bodye with whome hee might speake walked vp and downe the Chamber séeking and deuising howe by some meanes he might resolue his confused thoughts and when he sawe the Princesse Aurora and her Damsels with the olde woman leading her by the hande hee straight knewe her garments for as is sayde hee sawe her before hee and Arfileo hadde begunne theyr Combatte with whose sight hee thought that hee and the Emperour were imprisoned by the knights with whom they had commenced their battell and yet knew he not how that might be hauing after séene them ayded by the Emperour against Don Gallaneos knights but seeing them so nigh him thought that though hee were in the prison as he imagined yet ought he vse that behauiour that his state required and séeing they were Ladyes approached with that courtesie which might beséeme one accompanied with such knights And she hauing learned of the olde woman who he was humbled hir selfe at his féete which he vnable to disturbe did the like desiring her to graunt him her faire handes that he might kisse them but they so long striued to surpasse each other in courtesie that Bellona commanded them to rise for their state forbad such ceremonies betwéene them which they did though not so frée as at first for they rested greatly affectionate either of other and don Bryanell at last thus brake silence I do so wonder at the maruellous things y t since yesterday haue happened me that I know not if any such haue bin or no for being with the Emperour my soueraigne in battell wherein I remained sore wounded and not knowing the ende thereof I find my selfe at this present well and strong and in this rich and sumptuous chamber with whose like the whole world cannot cōpare nor yet knew whether I be at libertie or captiue though vnder y e power of such kéepers I shuld imagine such restraint a greater comfort to my greefe then any I can desire Wherefore excellent Ladie I intreate you if you bee in the same case my selfe am in as one that I suppose was present at all that befell you would declare it me and that I may also with your fauour knowe the true successe of the battell and what is become of those most haughtie knights that accompanied you whose mighty strength I am sure the whole earth cannot equall and for what cause am I here kept whether with or without your will Whilst he vttered these words the Princesse earnestly viewed him and remained so greatly satisfied with his good disposition being a verie gallant knight and séeing reason willed her to answere all his demaunds thus replyed Not without cause may you be confounded in your own imaginations excellent Prince for I assure you if now you enioy your life it is by your being héere and though the battell was fought nigh Constantinople at this instant you are not so neare it as to the Ryphean mountaines ioyning vppon the great Cittie of Persepolis for all which you may thanke this graue Matron that here is with me seeing by her great knowledge you hither were conducted The knights with whom you in the beginning combatted and came in my companie are the Prince Arfileo that with you fought the other whose battell was with the Emperour is his sonne Don Bellianis Is it possible oh God sayd Don Bryanell that den Bellianis should with such glorie principate his haughtie deeds of Chiualrie Account these the least sayde Bellona for I tell you neither the Emperour his father nor any knight this day liuing may with him compare Certainely I thinke no lesse replied don Bryanell and more then you say dare I beleeue of that couragious Prince hauing séene him performe such surpassing wonders in that one fight But I beséech you let me know the ende thereof and how the Emperour and hee do The Emperour is well sayd she and the Princes both be in this house where you are though sore wounded Now I assure you answered don Bryanell I account my selfe most happie that after so many troubles I heare the most contentedst newes that my perplexed soule could wish after the tempestous passage of a boysterous storme with the calme approach of the al-comforting sunne Wherfore lette vs without longer stay go visit them and there may I knowe what else happened in this aduenture Euen when you please sayde Bellona for I know they will no lesse ioy with your sight then you with theirs So taking him betweene them they returned the way they came to the chamber where they left the Princes and entering it they found them talking togither of their last aduenture But when the Princes saw don Bryanell they would rise to reuerence him but hee running to don Bellianis beds side bended his knee to the grounde crauing he might kisse his hands The Prince tooke him vp and imbracing so held him a while and said I do greatly reioyce renowmed Prince to sée you so well though according to your great déedes in the battell whereby you got many dangerous wounds I thought we should not so soone sée you For which let vs thanke this Lady that with you comes seeing she tooke such care of our safetie which with all our states we cannot sufficiently recompence hauing next vnto God by her meanes recouered our lost times Therefore I thinke it reason said Don Bryanell séeing she is the instrumentall cause wee reposesse them we in her seruice to the death vse them that at least thereby we may seeme to satisfie some part of her many deserts and so do intreat her to commaund them as her owne Whereunto she thus answered It sufficeth me great Lords to haue done some seruice to such Princes which doth surpasse all satisfaction whatsoeuer I may of you receiue how much the more that will not be so little which you must vndertake in behalfe of this disinherited Princesse my Coozin wherewith this resteth fully recompenced which they againe replied with great courtesie and then Don Bryanell went to Arfileo
willing to defend the truth whereof my owne heart onelye can beare witnesse another altogither ignorant thereof shoulde in my cause indaunger his swéete life Touching which I cannot sée nor yet conceiue on what foundation you shoulde builde your rash decrée to suffer the accusation of the Duke and the Princesse your Daughter who in no respect could bee partakers nor councellours in what is past For if I slewe Don Galfeo I did it because hee treacherously woulde haue doone the like by mée that was then altogither suspicionlesse of any such treason which fact made mee after verifie my suspicion séeing in what perill of theyr liues Don Galfeo indaungered my companions in the Turney that forced mee to shedde his bloud as hee woulde haue doone theyrs Of which action I should then rather haue hoped for a more larger guerdon for this good déede then nowe to procure newe Combattes For it were high dishonour to your high name that such as hee inuried to treasons treacheries and villanies shoulde be accounted the sonne of so great a Monarch Hauing not only vsed such as loue practises against strangers as the Emperour Don Bellaneo but also against his owne fréends Wherefore you maye most certainlye beléeue my selfe béeing nowe informed of the truth I haue vnderstoode that hee leâ—t all his Knights in the same fight whereby they were all â—laine whilest hee most cowardlye fledde with his Coozin Don Galfeo And moreouer hee was a Traytour against your selfe and dignitie in thus perswading you that the Emperour was dead or by him mortally wounded that hee coulde by no meanes escape death whom at this present both liueth and is in perfect health whereof fearing to be accused by me and my companions that were hereof assured by a certaine aduenture he procured our deathes mine in the Dukes Pallace by Don Galfeo while he so did of my companions in the Turnyes where if he receiued his condigne deserts through so pittilesse death his be the losse wherefore since there is none can better bear testimonie of this troath then my selfe not onely against the Knights heere present accusing me but also against all those which shall challenge me hereof I will tenne daies hence answere it them in fielde and approoue it on their steele plumed burgonetâ—es neyther will I héereupon whatsoeuer may befall me denie them the Combat wherein I will make them knowe the great trecheries which they would haue vsed against me And when you shuld refuse to doo me this iustice assure your selfe I am a man able more stricktly to require it at your hands For the eternall powers of the heauenly and earthly orbes haue not infused so litle courage in my vncoloured heart that any feare but theirs should daunt my minde where he ended his spéech not able to procéede any further The Souldane all this while stoode gazing on him with great admiratioÌ„ in his doubtful brest reuoluing many things saying to himselfe that his like for courage he neuer heard of and greatly woondred who he shuld be that in such open terms durst presume to defie him to his face and in his owne land But as a man not able to restraine the reignes of his passion wanting the chéefest thing well and iustly to iudge of matters shaped him this vnbeséeming answere holding the King of Cyrus by the hande that willingly woulde haue first replyed Thinke not Knight of the golden Image that in what is done you haue receiued any dishonour For it is not lawfull you should enter Combat in your proper cause For were it good or bad you would howsoeuer it might happen procure the good successe of your pretencion for I am perswaded you fight by inchantment séeing the knights of the vnhappy bridge were not able to indaunger you And therefore is it reason none be admitted in battell against you and concerning the rest of your threats you shal doo what you may if the time wil permit you For in vaine the Gods haue made me Arch-ruler ouer so many territories if I should not accomplish the vtmost of my will In which season I will haue you remaine in my Pallace vntill the good or bad successe of the Combat be by triall knowne that according thereunto my pleasure may be fulfilled to the full But the King of Cyprus being very big swolen with such extreame pride that he was readie to burst said to Don Bellianis with so hideous voice as he would swallowe him downe aliue Great is thy desperate madnesse Knight of the Golden Image that I know not where thou shouldest be borne For with my onely sight I was woont to terrifie others both mightier and in courage hardier then thou And now thinkest thou to escape vnpunished I assure thée that if the end of the battel consisted in nought else but with the first encounter of my Launce to bring thée to such extremitie that thou neuer shouldest be more able to enter any other fight whereby also wee should after eschew the Souldanes iudgement in this case thou shouldest thereunto be admitted But because thou being conuicted with the treasons thou hast committed hée determineth otherwise to chastice thy insolencie and so hath suspended thée from the battell I haue no great néede to attempt it replied Don Bellianis for I am sure thou shalt hauâ— to doo with such Knights that when the Combatte is ended it shall bâ—e publicklye seene that I am not of condition lyke thy treacherous Cozins But I desired with my owne person to rid thée of the great doubt that thou art in And after to require account of the outrage thou offeredst to two damzels of my companie vppon whom thou didest shewe part of thy Consanguinitie with the Traytor Don Gallaneo All this Don Bellianis vttered the more to inrage the inraged Gyant to make him accept the combatte with him though hee néeded not to spurre a forwarde horse For hée was impatient to sée himselfe vpbrayded with such opprobrious tauntes in presence of that royall assembly but hee had as is afore mentioned promised the Soldan to the contrarie who fearing they should attempt more then wordes said to Don Bellianis Héereon knight talke no more for what is decreed shalbe executed Bée it as you haue said answered hée but by the way remember the greate iniustice you offer mée The furious Soldan would not answere him but by his commaundement hée was committed to a strange Tower and most surely guarded leauing with him the Damzels of the Princesse Florisbella to cure his woundes Arfileo Don Bryanell fearing by their spéeches to adde fewell to the kindled fyer said nothing but desiring the day of combatte were come returned to their lodgings sending straight wayes for the knights they before had sent to the wood whose helpe did afterwardes greatly auayle them The Soldan remained in his pallace very glad thinking to execute both the Duke and the knight of the golden Image and likewise quieted the king of Cyprus that much importuned him to
farther resolution what shall be don with him woorthilie deseruing to bee tormented with a cruell death for his trecherie but do not so said the Emperour for he is a very good Knight and deserueth no euill vsage and therfore haue care he want nothing he shall néede for I would not for any thing he should miscarrie of him shall wee knowe the cause of â—â—eâ—â— trayterous designe which séeme is not without speciall occasion Hereupon the knight went straight and dressed his wounds who though hee had lost much bloud séemed couragious as if he were at libertie And after they had dressed him he was conuaied to a faire Chamber prouiding him with all necessaries as the Emperour had commaunded Who in this order remained tenne dayes in the cure of his wounds when remembring the taske hee had vndertooke determining to depart thence went first to visite the wounded Knight whom he found greatly amended of his woundes and approching to his bedde side asked him howe he felt himselfe Well enough aunswered hee though with no little greefe for my badde successe yet am I not sorie to bée ouercome séeing it was by him whose courage and valour the strength of mightie Giants could not abate But one thing I intreate of you sir Knight by the courtesie you haue shewen mee you woulde vouchsafe to tell mée your name that in those places where I shall come I may publish your hautie deedes It pleaseth mée replyed the Emperour conditionally you also let me knowe yours with the cause of your comming hither with the truth thereof whereto such a Knight as you is bound I am desirous to know you said the Knight that though it be agaynst the promise I haue made and you promising mée to kéepe it secrete I will not denie it Thereto I giue you my falth aunswered the Emperour and first knowe I am Don Bellaneo Emperour of Gréece that by certaine aduenture not farre from hence I parted from my traine the rest hauing happened as you haue séene Ho immortall Gods saide the Knight fetching a great sigh are you he whose name is so feared among all the Pagan nations and he that neuer refused to assault so terrible and fierce Giants And in bréefe he whose inuincible minde sheweth howe true the euerlasting fame of your perpetuall deeds is and through the world of you is spred Ho great Soldan now by this dayes successe thy determined purpose is vtterly made voide hauing so strong an aduersarie left thee in the world It therfore behoues thée no more to think of peace And turning to the Emperour who greatly amazed at his words stood gazing on him and dissembling his conceiued griefe Supposing renowmed Prince the matter I shall disclose to be of lesse consequence then it is I wil in few words vnfold the truth thereof though in the doing of it to my selfe more then to any resulteth greatest losse I know that your name so fearefull among all Gentiles beeing published in the Soldan of Siconias court with the great destruction by you made of his people and in all Paganisme moued him by promise to bind himselfe to giue the one halfe of his dominions with the mariage of his daughter to that knight by whose valour your head were brought him Also promising that if in the enterprise he died the halfe of his said dominions should notwithstanding be granted to his successiue heires So I vnderstanding the great promise the Soldan had made and greatlie louing his daughter resolutely resolued I departed to the kingdome of Antioch whereof I am Lord and with my selfe hauing determined what I ought to do I left my court accompanied with 500. knights and 30. giants purposing at your comming out of your palace either to kill or imprison you so shipping our selues and landed not farre from hence left our ships at anchor thither to returne with your conquest And that this we might better compasse vnknowne and vnséene we agréed to take this Castell and here remaine till occasion were offred vs to effect this pretence being informed of the state of all things by a man whom on the coast we tooke whereby wee hither came as you haue heard and easily thought to haue taken it being minded to let none suruiue to carry the newes abroad but your incomparable valour hath frustrated our intent Thus haue I declared vnto you all that in this case I can whereto your great bountie magnanimous clemencie forced me for notwithstanding I had so massacred your subiects you caused me thus to be cured My name is Don Gallaneo of Antioch if you euer heard of me before and so he made an ende to his spéech The Emperour rested wonderfull amazed séeing with what audacity don Gallaneo had discouered him a déed of such waight for which he might greatly fear his deserued punishment but iudged him of hauty courage considering how coÌ„fidently he had put himself in his hands hauing against him committed so high treacherie and shewing no maner of alteration made him this answer Truly Prince Don Gallaneo you haue plainly expressed the valiancie of your minde in so openly bewraying that which by any other meanes I could not haue knowne whereby you haue doubled the cause of my imaginarie thoughts séeing in such a knight so little shame that without further consideration should by treason séeke to spill my innocent blood which in so great a Prince as you séemeth more odious then in any other being by order of knighthoode bound to be vertuous and abhore all such detestable actions and to be an exaÌ„ple to your subiects least against your selfe they might commit the like Yet would I not for all my state you shoulde haue had such confidence in mee so to discouer my selfe that I might not knowing it let your owne selfe sée your selfe confounded in your own imaginations But séeing it is done here you shall remaine in this Castel till I further determin of your being Yet for all this said Don Gallaneo assure your person for not farre hence is the remainder of my power and easilie may you incurre some greater daunger though your person be such as I haue tried yet among them are so fierce and mightie Giants that will not thinke much to cleaue your bodie armed in two with one blow I haue thought said the Emperor what in this case shall be done and thereupon commanded his horse and Don Brianels to be sadled And Don Brianell foreséeing the perill that might ensue beséeched the Emperour on his knées to giue him the order of Knighthood to serue him in that enterprise which the Emperour denied promising to do it an other day But here we leaue them and returne to the Prince Don Bellianis and Arfileo whom we left with the Ladie in the Caue CHAP. V. Howe Don Bellianis with the Ladie departed from the Caue and by what strange aduenture he and Arsileo were knighted IT is recorded by Friston that the Prince Don Bellianis with his Coosen Arsileo remained ten
and imbracing him said We now haue time noble Prince to know the cause that mooued you without my leaue to enter within this place I am not so wearie of the last demaunde replied hee but that I may satisfie you now in this though your selfe be well and séeing that the last aduenture cost so deare it were no reason to leaue you in this vnsatisfied In these and such like spéeches continued they till supper time which come they all did eate togither because of the wounded Princes Héere they stayed fiftéene dayes till the Princes were well able to trauaile in which time and daye Bellona taking don Bellianis a part she said vnto him walking through those roomes I doo well knowe most excellent Prince and so iudge my selfe altogither vnwoorthy and it not necessarye to giue you counsaile concerning your most great actions Yet because you are a stranger in an vnknowne countrey and in a place where euerie one would wish your downfall with extreamest death and so many néedsome aduertisements I presume to tell you that though faithfully in heart and with good reason you obserue and vnfainedly keepe the lawe and religion of your profession yet must you conceale it and by no meanes manifest it for if in the least respect you doo it may cost you your dearest life And moreouer after that by the vertue of your inuincible arme you haue safely established the Princesse Aurora in her vsurped royaltyes you must procure and endeuour to arriue at the Soldane of Babilons Court where you must sustaine your neuer fainting heart with your accustomed courage for you shall there see your selfe in so many great perils that you shall a thousand times wish for death as a remedie for them But heereof take no thought for they are things ordained by the supremest powers yet alwayes beare on your sheeld the same deuise that you nowe haue though for her sake you shall be putte in great and suffer many and tedious passions yet shall you bee thereby knowne and your immortall fame blazed ouer the whole earths continent which you shall still weare till I aduertise you to the contrarie Wherewith she ended and the Prince thus replyed I will not render to you such thanks as this care and great courtesies deserue for euerie thing I possesse beeing at your commaund it is reason you guard and protect them as your owne Herewith they returned to theyr companie and don Brianell hauing séene them both together said I would not haue you be so long together neither that you should learn any thing wherby you might further excell vs in fight which if it be so it were no reason that I whose merites bee so inferiour to yours should learne them You may well doo it replied don Bellianis hauing in the last conflict reaped the profite fearelesse of any thing that might haue happened vnto vs. In all things you will seeme to yeelde vnto mee the vantage answered Don Bryanell though there be nothing in me that may any way please you or the Prince Arfileo since as you shewe you would haue mée hadde that carefull feare of you as well not knowing as knowing you yet doo not I knowe why I should feare you beeing accompanied with the diuine beautie of this most fayre and excellent Princesse You doo well to iest with vs all replyed shee yet is it no matter since your words expresse what small parte I haue thereof hauing beene vnable to expell the doubt you had of the Princes being here Don Bryanell beeing of nature pleasant and courteous kept them in pleasing chat the rest of the time of theyr beeing there which was some eight dayes which expired they béeing desirous to depart thence hadde an armour presented to each of them by Bellona the richest and fayrest that euer was seene That which Don Bellianis had was of a tawny colour with such naturall workes imbossed with pearles so bright that they yeelded as much light as tenne burning Torches in any darke place but cheefely the shéelde hauing the verie selfe same image it hadde before which was drawne with such perfection and curiositie of arte that if they had euer séene the substance they woulde haue iudged it the counterfeit or portrature of Florisbella the Soldane of Babilons Daughter which although the Princesse Aurora knewe yet sayde nothing imagining the wise woman had not without speciall cause set it there About it was written the aforesaide Motto so perfectly made with great Orient pearle that it forced admiration in each beholder Hee had also a scabbard giuen him for his sword made of massie gold with letters drawne thereon declaring the manner of the winning thereof Arfileos were like them hee hadde in the caue and Don Brianels were of diuers colours whose workmanship was woorth a great treasurie Did not I say I should in all things haue the aduantage that for a white armor of no value which I did weare in the battell haue giuen mee now so rich and faire It is not giuen you as a gift for your olde saide Arfileo but that you should pay for them Use not the office of a Marchant replied Don Brianell for who hath giuen me my armour vseth not to sell any If it be so sayd Arfile how payed you that which you weare Striue not about so small matter saide Don Bellianis for I will pay for all hauing greatest cause for it Then straight were they with them armed and taking leaue of the sage Matrone she sayd You will by the way néed Pages to attend on you therefore will I giue you thrée of mine and so presented them thrée dwarffes so little that they greatly delighted to sée their smalnesse specially that of Don Bellianis whose shortnesse reached not to the others middle though they were wonderfull lowe Where inhabite and are ingendred such gentle people as these sayd Don Brianell I should long remaine among them if I should stay there to be accounted nothing as euerie one of them is else where You shall not bée accounted nothing saide Don Bellianis dwarffe called Ordino for they would al so persecute you that séeing your bignesse to theirs they would wanting ground tread on you in steade of it That were woorse then the other replied Don Brianell But least we further procéede in talke it were good we set forwarde in our iourney Wherewith with most kinde courtesie taking their farewell of the Ladie of the Caue set forth of the same And béeing without hée seeing the Princesse and Ladies all cloathed in most rich cloath of Golde sayd with great laughter Let vs sirs make more haste for the destruction that these Damzels haue made will cause some vnséene wanderer demaund it at our handes But all that is left is yours said the Princesse therefore feare not If it bée so replied he I haue no lesse right to that which you carrie therefore were it not amisse you giue it mee The Prince Don Bellianis will not not suffer it answered shée hée being
you So haue you got your armor which you had lost answered Arfileo for which you are beholding to the knight of the golden Image I haue no reason to thank him for it replyed hee for he did it more to keepe his owne that are so excellent then because I should not loose mine Then were it good said don Bellianis since you wil not thanke me for them that you restore them backe to me We shall not so soone ende this quarrell as you did the other replied Don Bryanell for the knights looking for yours would to haue them willingly let me haue mine Let this passe saide Don Gallaneo for had you lost these your gallant dispositions you would haue gotten others In this manner at length they arriued at the Cittie euen at the dayes departing giuing place vnto the mighty glistering stars twinckling in the firmament where they founde the people attending for their comming with lights and torches who in troupes filled vp the stréetes that they had no way to passe for the newes being spread that one knight had vanquished the keepers of the vnhappie Bridge they all flocked to sée him as a wonder demaunding one of another which was hée neuer inough satisfied with his sight that all this while talked with Don Gallaneo till they all came to the pallace gate where they alighted The beatious Persiana was dismoūted by don Bellianis that said to don Brianell I haue at this time Sir aduenturous knight deceiued you of the reward of your labour hauing on foote obtayned more thē you in all this iourney You are all against me replyed hee but I may haue a time to crye quittance with you for it Don Gallaneo taking the Princesse Aurora in his armes they all entred the royall Hall whence all their companye departed The Souldan importuned the three knights to stay within the pallace which hee could not obtaine For they answered they would in no wise leaue the Duke till the triumphes were ended so said the Princesse Aurora that neuer woulde disassociate her knights so with leaue of the Souldan and his daughter they also departed Well did don Bellianis note when they were taking their leaue how the Duke Alfiron shewed no good will towardes Gallaneo wherefore hee was desirous to bee certified therof and beeing come to the Dukes Pallace that was one of the best and greatest in the citie Don Bellianis would not stay for supper but finding himselfe weake through the much bloode hee had lost cast himselfe on a bed that was made for him where his damzels did againe dresse his woundes whyle the Duke and the rest satte to supper where they were so well serued as they had beene in Constantinople and after went to visit Don Bellianis whence departing they went to repose their wearied bodies CHAP. XIIII The conference betweene the Princesse Persiana and the Duke Alfyron with the knight of the golden image THe next morning scarce had the sonne mounted on his fierie wayne to make his orbed course about the world but the Duke Alfyron went to visit the Knight of the Golden image for by no other name would hee bee knowne to them vnlesse it were to the Princesse and ladies and entring his chamber he found him rising though his wounds were great The Duke with a kinde congye gaue him the goodmorrow and said Trouble not your self to ryse sir knight for your wounds may put you in great pain Thinking you went to the tourney aunswered the Prince I would make me readie What shall wee doo there to daye replyed the Duke but I beléeue if the Souldane knewe you were so weake he would come to visit you Then were it not amisse sayde the Prince that I did rise to saue him that labour With this entred the Ladies also to visit him bidding him in no case rise till they further aduised him wherewith hée lay still and so the Ladies left him with the Duke But he hauing great desire to be auenged on don Gallaneo by reason of the promise he had made his father and perceiuing the Duke had like intent and desiring to knowe it said to him Tell me sir which of all those knightes was the Prince don Gallaneo of Antioch That was he replyed the Duke that led the Princesse Aurora by the raynes of her palfray borne to rob mee of my earthly ioyes What is the cause thereof demaunded he for so great a Lorde as you shoulde easily bee reuenged on any person whatsoeuer being mooued therto That is not the thing that may remedie my gréefe said the Duke yet I pray you let me know it sayde Don Belliani◠Then thus beganne the duke I was a long time captiuated in the loue of the beatious Princesse Persiana and of her so highly fauoured that with little labour I might haue obtained her for my wife if my reuoluing fates had not opposed themselues against my happinesse◠and so declared to him the whole processe of his loue with such sorrow that Don Bellianis could not restraine his teares taking great compassion of him though glad in that this might be a meanes to effect his owne intent and thus answered De not thinke your matter so happelesse but imagine you may by some meanes attaine the Princesse Persiana to your wife I cannot perswade my selfe replied the Duke there may bée any remedie for my gréefe For to morrow after dinner the iousts beginnes and the same morning the Princesse is married to Don Gallaneo wherby I sée no hope but death for anchorage and end of all my paines or to depriue my life of my vitall senses before my eies do view it Do not so afflict your soule sayd Don Bellianis for I haue thought vpon a meane which if you agrée thereto is that to morrow we all méet at the Tourney where if Don Gallaneo thinking himselfe the best Knight within this Court doth enter there also I meane to bee in an vnknowne armour and méeting with him will disappoint him of his new betrothed loue For I haue no lesse desire then you to sende him out of the world And to the end with more secrecie wee may do it you shall giue out I am so sore wounded that I rest vnable to rise and so Don Gallaneo shall not scape my handes and your intent shalbe at full accomplished If this faile you haue such knights that with thē maugre all the court I will conduct her where you will The duke hearing this knew not where he was with ioy imbrasing him said Not without great cause renowmed knight of the golden image did I from the first houre I saw you comprize such loue of you was so suddenly affected as the man in whom might consisted the remedie of my torments although we know not fully howe wee shall accomplish it by reason at this present there is aboue fiftie thousand knights in the court that I doubt we shall not so easily scape with our liues for all I little regard my
the Piller and tooke the letter which opening hee read to this effect To thee Supreme and excellent Prince of Greece The sage Bellona thy greate friend saluteth thee Knowing by my Arte and skill which I continually vse for thy fake the great and mortall duanger which through thy meanes should befall the Solitary knight also thy sorrow and languishment therefore mooued me to make thee know the manner of his recouerie Wherefore I send this letter by a messenger of mine that the Piller of wonders might be manifested to thee Within this Piller thou seest shalt thou finde his remedy and therefore leaue it not vntried Alwaies remembring what I told thee in my lodging as briefly as I could for therein all thy labour is assured thee I say no more but so rest thine as thy selfe mayst testifiing Don Bellianis hauing read the letter reioyced to see there was yet remedy for the distressed Prince and so resolutely was casting himselfe into the huge fyre to sée what therein he could finde But before he could effect his purpose there came towards him foure valiant knights against whom preparing himselfe there also at that time assaultes him foure Lyons big and fierce who with their wyde mouthes as though they cast fire imbraced him maugre all his strength and drew him into the same Hee séeing himselfe in such perill letting fall his axe would haue drawne his dagger which at his backe he had but his arme was held so faste that hee could not sturre it and turning to sée what did it saw it was a most beauteous Lady whereupon the Lyons and knightes vanshed Oh God said Don Bellianis is this possible I sée Maruell not knight at what you see replyed the Ladie letting go his arme for this is called the Piller of wonders though it be a long time since any thing hath beene seene wherein many haue founde remedy for their dispairing loue yet neuer ending the aduenture Wherefore with more reason it might bee named the dispaire of Loue. And so was it true as in the end of the second parte of this Historie shall bée seene for whose cause many dyed not tormented with that deadly wounde And séeing for your companyons remedy you heere haue entred though it could not bee séene but by a third person with you you notwithstanding enioy the secrete thereof and taking him by the hand went where Contumeliano lay at the laste poynt of life the Lady carryed a kindled cole of the same fyre of the Piller which she cast vpon the breast of the Phenician Prince wherwith hee straight returned out of his trance somewhat agaste to sée himselfe in that case and going to ryse Don Bellianis with much gladnesse imbraced him saying What is the matter excellent Prince for your infirmitie hath greatly gréeued vs My euill hath beene nothing in refpect of the greate gladnesse replyed he I conceiue in knowing you and since I am frée of the laste deceit I intreate you of your speciall fauour to manyfest it mée not hyding any of your actes I am content answered Don Bellianis to please you therein but thanke this Ladie for your liues libertie Which hee going to doe she returned suddenly through that fier leauing euery thing as afore What is this my good Lord demanded don Contumeliano Whereuppon Don Bellianis discoursed that aduenture and how hee being ready to breathe his last it appeared called the desperation of Loue and how he proued it with what else happened And procéeding said I knowe not soueraigne Prince the occasion of your extreame passion Let vs talke no more hereof replyed hee for I assure you assoone as I felt the cole of fyre sette vpon mee I loste all that vehement dolour and agony yet not so but that I shall alwayes remember the deceit done me hard by the Cittie of Persepolis And so was it true for still after when hee sawe the knight of the golden Image his pulses and spirits would beate with alteration like one strooke with an vncoueth feare And I pray you let me knowe your name with the causes of your other aduenture My name replyed Don Bellianis is the knight of the golden Image which I am sure you neuer heard and so recounted the rest how hee came out of prison in a Ladies garments to vndertake that combatte as is afore saide Don Contumeliano greatly wondred when he knew that was the knight of the golden Image of whom passing through the vnhappy bridge hee heard such wonders of and greatly reioycing to haue met with such a knight said I doe new sir knight of the golden Image altogether beléeue and confirme the high déedes published of you and dee render infinit thanks to our immortall Gods that haue brought mee to enioy the fruition of your company and so very leuingly imbraced together knitting twixt them the inuiolable knot of friendship which all their life lasted as the Historie mentioneth Don Bellionis was vnarmed by Contumelianos Page and his woundes by him dressed and attired in Florianaes garments which refreshed the dying flames in the heart of the amourous Prince and agréed togither that don Contumeliano should stay for it in a strong citie fortie miles from Persepolis belonging to the Duke Alfiron called Bollera appointing to be with him within thirtie dayes wherefore embracing againe each other and taking their leaues they went to sée the piller to read the letters thereon which by the light of the fire there don Bellianis thus read The Piller of the wonders for remedie of the dispairers in Loue shalbe henceforth manifested where euerie one shal be remedied according to their meede And if in Loue he neuer haue erred or in armes beene ouercome by the gardians here placed by the sage Medea hee that so hath not beene shall not proue himselfe therein Well might I haue hoped for remedie said don Contumeliano of the gard you here saw if you had not béene here But I desire to sée the end of so great an aduenture and howe it may be brought thereto for I thinke the letters do not shewe it A little lower I thinke it doth expresse the maner how answered Don Bellianis by him that through dispaire shall hither come Then good cause haue I to proue it replied don Contumeliano for I neuer hope for remedie Don Bellianis greatly laughed at what the Prince said And so taking leaue one of another departed Don Contumeliano putting on his owne armor taking the Giants Curtelax instead of his sword tooke his next way to Bollen where he found all the people verie sorrowfull for the Duke their Lordes imprisonment who was of them greatly loued Hee recounted to them what had happened in the battell and how the duke their Lord was alreadie at libertie whereat they were much ioyed and highlie honoured him who remained there till don Bellianis came as hereafter shall be expressed CHAP. XXVII How Don Bellianis returned to prison and what past betweene him and the Ladies of the Princesse
you will departe hence séeing hee will not let me go and stay for vs in the first Uillage that wee must passe beeing thither directed by some of the Dukes folkes which otherwise would greatly let vs and I will send these Ladies to accompany you least wee loose them in this attempt and so heerein let them not faile and as for mee let the Prince Arfileo Don Bryanell and the knights take no care for so soone as they shall assault the Pallace I will be with them You say well replyed the Princesse and if it please you I will aduertyse the Princesse Persiana thereof that against the time shée prepare her selfe and not hyde her at the noyse It will not bee amisse said Don Bellianis whereâ—ppon the Princesse Aurora after she had beene there a whyle departed leauing Don Bellianis in his that wish the Damzells and she her selfe went straight to the Princesse Persiana to aduise her of that which had beene determined which â—â— wâ—s highly contented her that she thought she was not able to distimble it in which content the Princesse Aurora left her and wâ—nt to the Lords of the faction with them partaking of the knight of the golden Images determination which greatly pleased them The kings aduertised the Souldiers how they would set the Duke Alfiron at libertie séeing the Soldan refused to doe it which they ought to doe being his subiects and true harted friendes Whereunto they yéelded making account that as in that hurley-burley they should sacke the Soldans Pallace so they might also vtterly subuert the Cittie putting it to spoyle and pillage Which made them thinke euery houre a moneth till they met with the Soldans power to bee reuenged on him for all his iniueies done them and for the breach of his word Many in meane time solicited the Soldan to quietnesse but nothing would preuaile with him determining to put the Duke to death which if hee did not was for that hee expected the dayly comming of the Prince Perianeo his sonne with whose presence he feared not the whole power of the whole vnyted power vniuerse thinking then more safely to effect his will Thus were fiue of the sixe dayes paste that Don Bellianis had appointed wherein hee was vppe and walked about and in a manner well and able to beare armour who séeing the determinate time approached sent the Damzels to accompany the Princesse Aurora who séeing it to bee requisit did accordingly telling the Sophy that the knight of the golden Image was wel and not néeded more their helpe He requested them to remaine in y e Pallace til they minded to depart They thanked him for that courtesie answering they would go attend the pleasure of the Princesse Aurora whom they found with all her Ladies in readinesse to depart and was comming to take her leaue of the Soldan but ere they went the Ladies were furnished with good palfrayes who returned to the Soldan with the Princesse that beeing before him thus began Great is the wrong most mightie Lord which in thy Land thou haste offered mee giuing me cause to complaine abroade of thy discourteous entertainment hauing against all right and kingly iustice imprisoned the knight of the golden Image that accompanied mee and to bannish from thy territories so braue a man as the aduenturous knight with what else thou knowest Wherfore séeing within thy house court and Pallace these iniuries I receiued I haue determined to returne vnto the King my Father though gréeued to the hart through want of the best company that euer Lady had And I do wish that with mildenesse you would cutte of the dangers that heereby may insue that I feare my heart denyeth which if you will not do at my intreates euery one wil repute it to procéede of your supreme vertues saluing thereby all thinges paste And remember the blood spilt by the Prince of Phenicia in the battel which through your ingratitude wil else disparage and scandalise your royall name beeing heeretofore reputed for so mighty a king now to defame and staine thy spotlesse state with the name oftyrannous crueltye and bloody barbarisme And so ended expecting the Soldans answere who a little stood in suspence whether hee should set at libertie Don Bellianis or no but being altogether blinded with a passionate rage and selfe-wil respecting no law made this reply I know not faire Princesse why you shuld thus cholerickly argue against me for the thing that if I did not weuld ruinate the honour of my vaste Emperie and make mee little feared of my subiects so that were it not for this I would willingly giue you the knight of the golden Image What committed or intended offence can you impute to the Knight of the golden Image said Don Arfileo that did come with her being none of your subiects or else doe you thinke there shall bee no other Judge of this matter but you which with your vniuste and blinde passion wil but badly be determinated Great is your pride Prince of Rasia replyed the Soldan to presume to giue me counsell that néede it not I command you to speake no more heereof and straight get you out of my Empyre doing me all the harme you can for I nothing estéeme you nor the greatnesse of your kingdomes whereo you and your companions so much vaunt of Arfileo became so full of choller that hee would haue replyed according to those spéeches but the Princesse stayed and required him notto do it dissembling his anger for that present for hee should haue time to be reuenged at full making him repent euery thing hee had done and so tooke their leaues of him expecting the next morrowe for their reuenge and for that time set forwards on their iourney The chiefest Nobilitie of the Cittie with an infinit number of Knights accompanyed the Princesse Aurora till they brought her to a little Uillage sixe myles from the Cittie where leauing her they all returned backe Arfileo séeming to go with the Princesse returned also so soone as it was night the better to passe vnknowne where he ordered what should be done the euening following commaunding all their men to go to the King of Armenias Pallace from whence they might the better march The Prince Don Bellianis not forgetting what hee had to doe expected the appointed houre very attentiuely as one that should passe through the Gates of death wanting his good armour The Soldan on the other side was not without great feare daring almost to trust none that he would in person visit his watch and cintinells Like a man that vnaduisedly and without sound counsell procureth with rage and vnlawfull meanes to effect a vaine opinion as at this present happened to the Soldan of Siconia a King most puissant and mightie of the Persians whom the ouermuch and arrogant pride of his large Gouernement Empyre with so bolde and valiant a sonne as the Prince Periâ—eo otherwise called the Knight of the Images whose equall the world could hardly
they drowned the Eccho of theyr owne voyces A while after from that side the Empresse sâ—t there issued foorth a Lion and a Beare with so swift a course that though they would haue hidde themselues they could not find anie place The Lion ranne straight against the Prince who although it somewhat scarde him did not therefore feare him but with an vndaunted heart set himselfe before him with his sworde in hande which at his side he wore But the Lion ioyned with him so suddainlie that he wounded him sorelie in the foreheade and griping him betwéene his armes thrust one of his pawes into his flesh making a déepe wounde but the Prince not dismaied thereat nor loosing his couragious minde gaue such a thrust from his armes downewardes right to his heart that the Lion through extreame paine left him Then looking towardes the Empresse sawe that the Beare with diuelish furie hauing ouerthrowne the Prince his Coosen agaynst which his great strength nought preuailing dragged ouer the Mountaine toppes which hée seeing although grieuouslie wounded and the Lion not styrring straight tooke his horse and with all speede sollowed the way the Beare had taken not respecting the many Knights that want in his rescue nor the Empresse outcries forbidding his enterprise fearing hee shoulde faint through the murh blood hée had lost by his woundes but counterpoysing all these thinges with the great loue hée bare his Coosen stayed not but in all haste thrust himselfe into those greate and thicke Groaues through which hee left groat quantitie of his blood that it was no little ease vnto him beeing on foote For the way was so thicke and naught that it was vnpossible for him to ride therein For else the running of his Horse woulde haue putte him in extreame daunger But continuing his way through that fearefull Groaue following the noyse of a lamentable and pittifull crie which hée hearde and beeing vnable to passe further through wearie fayntnesse set him downe and seeing howe much bloud hee had lost by his woundes and the daunger which hee knewe his louing Coosen to bée in put him into a melancholie sorrowe But long was he not so by reason of a great noyse that suddanly arose out of the Thicket thereby whereat hee faintlie beganne to rise And looking what might bée the cause thereof sawe the most horrible and fearefull Beare hasting to the place where hee was but hee setting himselfe before him to hinder his further hurting his Coosen The Beare espying him furiouslie ranne to assault him but by the Lions experience hée cast himselfe aside and so let him passe with his diuelish furie and turning about to strike him perceyued the Beare to runne in a Caue that was at the foote of a stéepie Mountaine there adioyning whereat verie ioyfull of such a mischaunce went to his coâ—sen who amazed at that hée had séene was likewise comming to him with great loue embracing him and séeing his wounds bléede verie fast said without doubt good c 〈…〉 you are sore wounded wherefore I pray you rest here while I seek out our companie and sée your wounds dressed I am no 〈…〉 s present replied Don Belianis in such necessitie but may accompanie you yet would I gladlie knowe what straunge aduenture is in you hollowe Caue For as God shall helpe me we hither are not come without some speciall secret It behooues not you now sayd Arsileo for your wounds will not suffer you to knowe the ende of this straunge aduenture For in the lingring of your cure you may endaunger your selfe greatly Neuer may it be said replied Don Belianis that I hence part and not know it Whereupon hand in hand they went till they came to the Caue whose obscure darknesse was able to baunt the stoutest heart But those hautie Princes arriued there fearlesse of any thing and had scarce entred the same ten paces but Don Arsileo vnable to passe further was mauger his strength thrust forth and though hee assayed to reenter yet could hee not but was with greater force still rebated backe which extreamly gréeued him séeing he could not enter to helpe his coosen Meanewhile hee heard within a rumour of great blowes as if many Knights were in fight togither For after the Prince parted from his coosen he went forwards through the Caue beating his head against the walles on euery side till he had passed that great darknesse that hee founde himselfe in a Hall where he sawe a huge Piller with certaine Arabian letters which hee going to reade by the light that procéeded from a Window thereby was forbidden it by a most deformed Giant that séeing himselfe before hauing in his hande bounde with a mightie Chaine the monstrous Beare causer of his comming thither with a terrible ecchoing sound of his hearse voyce thus spake Thou art not permitted poore captiue donzell to reade the Letters of the brazen Piller for I will hinder thée thereof béeing héere placed for the same purpose vntill the Prophecie bee fulfilled which it containeth The Prince rested greatly amazed to sée so misshapen a Monster that hee supposed him some infernall shadowe sooner then a mortall substaunce But hee with a neuer daunted minde made this replie I maye not enter battell with thée thou fearefull beast hauing not yet receyued the order of Knighthoode which if I had although thou shouldest neuer so much gainesay it yet I woulde not go hence vntil such time as I had read them No reason shall serue thee replied the Giant to kéepe thée from death by my handes for here was I set for that purpose to welcome him with it that shoulde presume to enter this my forbidden habitation And so ending his spéech hée let loose the furious Beare which with his diuelish pawes ranne agaynst the Prince and the Giant laying hand to a great smiter hanging at his side did the like and beeing nigh him reached him a mightie blowe on the heade but hee that feared more the Giants Smiter then the Beares strength though bigge and ougly got betwéene the Giants armes that hee coulde not hurt him making the blowe vaine and the Smyter with the swifte force it carried lighted on the grounde and flewe out of hande Meanewhile the Prince strooke the Gyant vppon the thigh that no more hurt him then had it fallen on an Adamant which hee perceyuing turned to the Beare yet coulde no more wounde him then the Gyant which vered him to the heart and â—seeing the Giant returned vppon him got behinde the Piller whereon the Letters were vsing it as a Shéelde But the Giant at this time suddainly came vppon him that hee coulde scarce effect it who raysing his steeled Smyter with both his handes gaue such a mightie blowe on the heade that hee thought it parted in two yet it did him no harme saue that the strength thereof forced him backewardes two or thrée steppes At this time the Beare looke holde of his arme with his pawes that renting his hunting Jacket wounded
him sorâ—lie but seeing himselfe in so immenent daunger was once againe forced to take the Piller for his defence whereon hée espied a Sworde fixed whose workemanship was such that the like in no tyme was euer seene wherein he more at that time reioyced then had hee béene inuested vniuersall Lorde of the whole earth or made a greater Monarch then his Father And without delay stepping to it verie easilie and lightlie drewe it foorth which hee had no sooner done but that there was heard a most horrible noyse as if the dissolution of the worlde were then that vnable to stande was faine to get holde of the Piller Yet scarce was the earthquake past but that deformed Giant prepared himselfe to fight which the Prince seeing and ioyfull with the obtained sword therewith thrust at his bodie with the vtmost strength of his arme that the Sworde appeared at his backe that straight the Giant fell to the grounde as dooth some mightie Oake rent with a Whirlewind by the rootes And looking for the Beare founde him also deade as thinges that had no longer tearme of life then the lasting of the inchauntment which ended with the drawing of the Swoorde from the Pillar And that noyse beeing heard of Don A sileo that remayned at the Caues mouth tryed if hee might againe enter it which without anie trouble hee did And taking his hunting Jaueline with him hee câ—st himselfe resolutelie into it and came to Don Belianis at the time hée ended the Giants life and was giuing thankes to God that hee had deliuered him from so great perill and daunger and with wonderous gladnesse to see themselues againe togither ranne to embrace each other and Arsileo thus sayde You haue not béene long deare Coosen though so sorâ—lie wounded as you were in 〈…〉 ng this so staunge and most maruaylous aduenture to your admyrable honour and blasing fame whereby I doo assuredlie beleeue you will terminate all others with like expedition So that the perpetuall recorde of your Fathers glorious name which hee in manie yeares with his great paine obtayned will bee with the neuer dying memorie of your famous déedes and the eternitie of your actes in short time extinguished and in obliuious darknesse ouerwhelmed No not so good Coosen replyed Don Belianis but let vs reade these Letters fixed vpdon this Pillar which cost mee nolesse bloud then if they contained some matter of great importaunce which they read to this effect A Prophecie and is fulfilled in the 37. Chapter In the time to come when the fiercenes of the couragious Lions by the greatnes of my skill shalbe put in greater feare by them that in valour had so great part the fearfull keepers of my caue being slain and the sword won wherwith the liuing shalbe lost and â—he dead put in possession of the reobtained with the greatest strangenesse of obtainers which vntil that time was euer heard of shalbe restored to theirroyall blooud and the true possessors know en Greatlie were the two Princes amazed hereby not vnderstanding those woordes though plainelie they were meant by Don Pelianis seeing hee had ended the aduenture Great is the â—eede sayde Don Biâ—ileâ— you seeme to haue of present care for your woundes which I see to bee so deepe that I feare you may fall into some notable daunger throngh the great quantitie of bloud you haue lost Which was true for though the Prince with the ioy of his good successe and in beholding his rich Swoorde thought not on his great and daungerous wounds which were such that if anie other of lesse and weaker constitution and couragiousnesse of minde had had them coulde not so haue sustained himselfe But while they were thus talking from a most sumptuous Chamber there issued forth a beautious Damsell cloathed in a Crimson sattin robe so great that the traine thereof trayled on the ground This Lady was led betwéene two Knights auncient and of great grauitie and on her attended twelue Damsels in the same liuerie all shewed by their faces some heauie cause of melancholike sorrow who beeing before the Prince prostrated themselues on the ground which hee seeing did also the like and intreated them to rise to which shee said I will not rise most excellent Prince vntill first you haue graunted mee my demaunde I doo graunt it gracious Ladie sayde the Prince and not onelye that but manye others for my desire is onelye for to serue such as your owne selfe I do render many infinit thanks replied she neither did I looke for lesse from so high and honoured a Prince as you guarded with such royall bountie and magnificent excellencie and rysing tooke him by the hand and entred the Chamber which though Don Belianis had séene manye verye fayre and rich in his Fathers Pallace yet iudged hée that to bée royallest hée might sée for the walles séemed of christall through which appeared such diuersitie of pictures as the whole Uniuerse coulde scarce containe more the floore séemed of Transparant Emeraldes which so amased their woondring sences that they stood a good while gazing on it till Don Bellianis turning to the Lady that held him by the hand saide Although fayre Ladie the entrance of this Caue séemed so timorous in sight yet the varietie of these raryties which it within containes presents more shewes to the outward fight theÌ„ the whole world besides without reason was it not made with such extreames as to be inhabited with so excellent beauty within and guarded with so great feare without to forbid the enteraÌ„ce to all attempters The Lady coÌ„ceiuing great pleasure at the Princes words answered I could not choose but blush most gracious Prince at your words though so honored by them knew I not your great courtesie that farre surpasseth all others of this time which causeth mée to prize my selfe more then I should or my merits deserue though I should not vnder your protection do it because all honoured prayses and deserued merits rest in your selfe But ouerpassing this which is so well knowne of euerie one let my intreaties now so preuaile with you that my maidens may cure your wounds I haue no wound replied the prince that so much needeth cure saue my desire to know the ende of this aduenture and also who shée is that so honoureth me Uerie quickly shall you know it faire Lord saith the Princesse but first must your woundes be cured least you incurre some greater danger and after shall you know the cause of your comming hither whom I am and what else you will all being doone by her will that keepes me heere Thereupon the Prince was vnclothed by those Ladies and one of them cured him most skilfully hauing great knowledge in that art and layde on a sumptuous bed they left him to his rest The Prince Arsileo remained in talke with the dâ—msell of many things specially of the aduenture of that day greatly admiring what Don Bellianis his cosin had atchieued beeing so yong of yeares Do not so wonder
somewhat long or they set foorth And in their way we leaue them till we haue shewen what in the meane season befell the Emperour and the Princes CHAP. VII The ende of the fight betweene the Emperour and Princes against Don Gallaneo and his men AS soone as the Emperour had dispatched the Messenger to Constantinople he determined to ayde the Knights that maintained a terrible battell with the Giants and their troupes beeing most cruellie wounded by reson of the remorcelesie forces of those pitilesse flends the Prince Don Bellaneo séeing his Knightes were deceyued with great outcries vncouering his face called to them who when they heard his voice saw his face straight knew him greatly amazed at such a chaunce and leauing their fight against the Princes ranne to imbrace him not knowing the cause why that Knight should be then armed with his arrnour And though the Emperour sée him go towardes them yet could he not stay him And Don Gallaneo séeing that oportunitie which Fortune offered him and not minding to spende his time in spéeches with his men sayde Nowe is it requisite oh Knights that you reuenge mee on him that weareth my armour For knowe if you take him or slay him our enterprice therewith is ended for he is the Emperour of Constantinople whom we came from far Countries to seeke béeing hée that hath slaine my Knights and tooke mee prisoner vsing me as you haue séene The Knights that aymed at no other marke togither in a troupe set vpon the Emperour and Don Brianell of Macedon that was with him But when Don Bellianis and Arfileo heald that he was the Emperour his Father greatly grieued for what with him befell them and with eager furie they set vpon those traiterous Knights But those damned Giants that came before the rest opposed themselues against them striking strong and mightie blowes And one of them raysing aloft a huge iron mace betwéene his handes strooke the Emperour therewith that if hee had not warded it on his shéelde it had shiuered his head in péeces yet it rested not there but descenced on his horses necke felling him deade to the ground with his matster on his backe The Emperour for all this strooke him on both his armes that he threwe them to the earth with the mace betwéene them Nowe heere was the Emperour in great daunger of his life For when his horse fell he tooke one of his legges vnder him and don Gallaneo that had alreadie put on one of the dead Knightes armour comming thither at that time with two other Giants all the thrée alighted from theyr Horses intending there to strike off his head The Prince don Bellianis that sawe his father in that extremitie dismounting in all haste went to succour him but ere hee came don Gallaneo as hee whome his death woulde highlie aduauntage wounded him on the head and the two Giants with their Maces raised aloft with mightie strength woulde discharge them on his heade so that he for that time not able to drawe him from vnder his horse with one blow ouerthâ—â—we don Gallaneo cutting asunder his shéeld and helme and gréeuously wounded him on the head And being about to auoyde those Giants blowes could by no meanes shunne them but both discharging their hellish furie on his heade made him bowe to the earth and so staggard him that hee coulde scarce stande And though the spacious worlde contained not his like for admirable strength yet with séeing his Father in that case and himselfe so handled by such infernall Monsters glorying in nothing but in bloudie crueltie abhorring all good and decent order of equall Martiall discipline so doubled his vndaunted courage in himselfe stroke at one of the Giants heades who thinking to defende it by crossing his Mace ouer his Helme had it cutte cleane in two hard by the handle and the furious Sword lighted on the horse gyrts that lay on the Emperour that cutting them of on both sides hee gaue his Father libertie to drawe his legge away pushing the Horse from him quickelie arose yet verie wearie And seeing howe Don Bellianis with one side howe hee reached one of the deformed Giants with great strength vpon his shigh he felled him to the ground and howe with an other hee maintained a hote fight And hee also sawe that Don Brianell and Arsileo with eight Knights that came out of the Castell to succour them were in a fierce battell with the other Giant and Knights And that Arfileo beeing busied with the Giant the other Knightes béeing in number greatlie inferiour to their enemies were by them put to the woorse wherefore the Emperour went to ayde them but ere he arriued the Giant and Arsileo hauing closed dismounted each other that the Giant leauing his feete in the stirrop Arfileo spurred his Horse backewarde making him runne away and dragge his master after him who within a while breathed his last And so he turned with the Emperour couragiously to helpe their companions and arriued when their aduersaries were little able to make them longer resistaunce specially because don Bellianis had slaine the other Giant At which instant arriuing where he was scarce tenne of them remained with life which to saue themselues fledde into the wooddes Whereupon they alighted not minding to pursue them to binde their woundes But scant had the Emperour time to render due thankes for their great helpe much admiring theyr exceeding valour when the rest of don Gallineos Knightes issued from the thickest of the Groue who being aduertised of the successe of their enterprise and not of their losse came in great haste to participate of the glorie they should obtaine by the Emperours death Before them came those sterne and vgly Giants with their lannces seeming huge pine trees with such tempeâ—â—ous furie that they had not leysure to bind their déepe wounds Great was the sorrow the Emperour hereby sustained séeing the stay of the King of Hungarie But as neither hee nor the other Knights could by death-seeming terror be daunted with a couragious heart thus he saide Now is the time braue knights that you must shew y e magnanimitie of your inuincible minds since in your first aduenture fortune hath so directed you that the glorie of the forepassed worthies by the victorie of this one battell shall be ertinguished though herein we yéeld the tribute of our liues to al-conquering death which being naturall to all men should least be feared But in the omnipotent powers of him that this circled vniuerse did frame do I trust he will not permit the valour of such Knights in such short time to perish but so stregthen them that the perpetuall fame of their royall acts may remaine eternized to all succeeding ages Little néede we to be incouraged to suffer the fearefull strooke of death replied Arfileo for where the person of so victorious an emperor is indangered ours can be but the least of all most little losses I thought no lesse answered the Emperour but
my guardian For so much as concerneth me sayd the Prince I will defende you agaynst all the worlde Thats not materiall quoth Don Brianell for on my side I haue the Prince Arfileo that will suffer none wronged in his presence I cannot helpe you in this demaund said hee least I should incurre such punishment as to my ill satisfaction and lesse reason I should defend CHAP. XI What hapned Don Bellianis and his companions with duke Alfyron the courteous and how they proued the aduenture of the vnhappie bridge IN this order trauelled these Princes with as much pleasure as their young yéeres could require fearing nothing that might anoy them taking their straight way towards a Castell some three miles distant from Antioch for the Princesse told them it was a strong fortresse and neuer woon by any forraine foes and that she and her Damzels would there remaine where also they might determine of their affayres For which cause they had a man to guide them thither whom they receiued of Bellona Which way they had not far gone but by the same they saw towardes them come the number of twentie thousand knights whereof the greatest part were verie sumptuously apparelled and manie clad with rich and bright armor insomuch that the Prince and his coÌ„panions tooke great delight in séeing theÌ„ Don Bellianis stepping to one of the formost that greatly admired him being so brauely armed and on so mightie a courser mounted and demanded thus I pray you in courtesie tell me sir knight to whom belongeth this faire companie of Knights he should be of no small account that such a traine maintaines They belong sir knight answered he vnto Duke A firon the Courteous that now goeth to the Citie of Persepolis because the great Sophy hath ordained great triumphes and iousts whervnto he hath inuited all the nobilitie of his Empire Why prepares he so great feasts demaunded the Prince Marie sir replied the other not long since hee promised to giue one onelie daughter that he hath to what Knight soeuer should slay the Emperour of Greece or take him prisoner which enterprise the Prince Don Gallaneo of Antioch vndertooke accompanied with manie Knights who is now returned with one coosen of his by whom and others that with them came the Sophie is certified how they left the Emperour so wounded that he could by no meanes scape For which cause he hath determined to giue him his daughter in marriage and therefore in these triumphes dooth he feast all his Nobles But demaunded Don Bellianis why doth the Sophy so béeing vncertaine of the truth He thinkes this sufficient aunswered the Knight that if it shoulde otherwise bée it is thought vnpossible euer to effect it for the Emperour béeing thereof forewarned will with greater regarde looke to himselfe and besides his Daughter will not bee euill matched hée béeing one of the best Knights in this lande Though to tell you trulie wée bée not well contented with this marriage for that the Duke our Maister was first greatly fauoured of the Princesse Persiana for so is the Sophies Daughter called and seeing nowe hée will marrie her to Don Gallaneo he goeth verie passionate I commit you to God said don Bellianis for you haue much pleased me with your discoursiue newes and turning to the Prince and his companions tolde them all his talke with the knight and demaunded of them if they thought good to sée those iousts at Persepolis ere they passed forwarder It wil be well done said don Brianell yet how shall we do being vnprouided of a Tent What need you care for that aunswered Arfileo for it may be some will intertaine vs if not we must lie in the fields And thus vnresolued stoode still till that troupe past along At which time some of them went to the Duke that at that time was verie pensiuely imagining on the Princesse Perfiana and said to him Sée you not sir yonder thrée knights armed with the richest armour you haue this day séene whose gallant disposition cannot but content you and stande in the nâ—ddest of the way séeming to demaunde the breaking of some Lances and do also conduct with them about twelue Damzels as it séemes no lesse adorned with beautie then they with valour The Duke being desirous to sée them stepped forth being armed in a tawnie armour like Don Bellianis and ouer the same he had a coate of cloath of golde most richly embrodered with Pearles whose brightnesse being ouercast with beames of the shining Sunne dazeled the beholders sight On his shéeld was pictured the God of Loue of whom a Knight begged mercie he rigorously denied it And thus went he straight to the Princes while they gazed on him going like a valorous and well disposed Knight The Duke no lesse wondering to sée their gallant demeanour and riches of armour specially Don Bellianis whose sight surprized him with sudden admiration and béeing nigh them he kindly saluted them being of nature milde gentle and affable for which he had obtained the name of courteous and thus said I am so astonished braue and valiant knights in séeing the braue disposition of your persons and strange maner of trauelling that I haue receiued such content as the like I shall neuer obtaine chiefly at this time beeing subiect to a grieuous melancholie gréefe And because I suppose ye are going to the triumph at Persepolis I intreate you to employ me in this iourney for that you séeme straungers of some remote Countrey And although the valour of our owne persons may merite farre greater seruice yet I pray you denie me not this request for I hope herein to diminish part of my boysterous and troublesome sorrowe with your gentle conuersation The Princes intreating one another to answer Don Bellianis at last replied The offers most noble Duke which by your liberall bountie we receiue are so great as wee beeing no other then errant knights can no way deserue And though wee had not determined to bee at those triumphes yet to accomplish your request willingly doe condiscend thereto yeelding the accomptelesse thankes of duetifull seruitors at your commaund For which the Duke very ioyfully intertained theÌ„ with the Ladies in his owne company and so made to Persepolis discoursing by the way of pleasant matters till they came within a myle of the Cittie harde by a great riuer ouer which they must of necessitie passe by a bridge that there was Which the Duke seeing said Confounded in our owne discourses Sirs knights wee haue lost our way Don Bellianis seing the Cittie and not knowing to what ende the Duke spake it replyed If that bee the cittie I thinke this is the right way Tis answered the Duke But we may not passe this bridge for it will bée mightily defended Who bée they demanded hee that will defend it against such Knightes as bee with vs They that doe it will defend it against the whole worlde answered the Duke For in this kingdome are fower Knightes the valiantest
him with in the secrete of her heart but for feare to displease her father durst say nothing yet thought she by the riches of his armour it should bee hée stood and viewed him very attentiuely and séeing how the enraged knights with puisant force incountred each other in such sort that their Launces brake in a thousand shâ—uers and méeting with their horses shieldes and helmes both fell to the ground but if Don Brianells horse had beene so good as his aduersaries hee had passed without a fall which hée had seant done wheÌ„ the men of the Castle closed to vnarme him But the Prince Arfileo desirous to auoyde it with great choller entred the bridge so did another of the aduerse parte with such swiftnes as doth an arrow shotte from a bowe flye through the Ayre or a thunderbolt breaking from some swelling cloude with such mightynes incountred on the bridge that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a peece of y e launce sticking in his body If it procéedes as it begins said the Duke wée shall fréely passe So shall it bée answered don Bellianis for with your auspicious fauour they may bee brought to our wished ende The Sophy was astonished to sée the strong incounters of the knights and speaking to Don Gallaneo said I neuer thought there could bée better knights then those of the bridge but now I sée what aduantage these haue ouer them Wonder not thereat said don Gallaneo for in the battell wée had with the Emperour there was in his ayde one nouell knight whom hée there knighted that performed such haughtie deedes in armes that neither Hector nor Achilles euer did the like For beleeue me hée no more estéemed to bée assaulted by foure or by two Gyants then with one knight and with his owne handes in the battell hée slewe aboue 12. Gyants and 50 knights of mine But as for the Emperour I haue told you what happened mée with him in the Castle he béeing vnarmed so that you neede not wonder what these doe though any of them doe end this aduenture which I cannot beleeue and if they doe I will acknowledge it the greatest acte that euer I heard of by reason their swordfighting will bée so vnequall Which hauing said the eldest the greatest of the brethren came against Arfileo intending to reuenge his Brothers death whose incounters were so furious that their launces were made in little peeces and in such sorte met with their bodyes that the knight of the Castle was ouerthrowne with a great wound on his side And Arfilleos horse with the strong stroke recoyled backe thrée or four paces that at laste vnable to stay him with admirable lightnesse hée leapt from his backe beeing a little wounded on the breast The seruants of the castle went to him to doe as they would haue don with don Bryanell but the first that arryued for his boldnes lost his head For Arfileo thinking hee should not bee iudged ouerthrowne layd hand on his sword to defend himselfe wherewith hee would haue made them knowe his valour extended farther then thitherto hee had showen But the two brothers that Don Bryanell had vnhorsed arryued with their drawne swords the like did the Gyants And on the otherside Don Bellianis and the Duke did so that in short time among them all there began a terryble and fearefull battell For all the Dukes knights would passe ouer the Bridge But the Sophy the Princesse Persiana and Don Gallaneo went and parted them and demaunded the cause why they were so mingled togither did not proceede with their combate as they had begun which eyther they should doe or let them passe Wee are content to doe eyther said Don Bellianis but this knight fell not seeing by anothers strength hee left not the saddle and therefore ought not to loose his horse vntill the ioustes bee ended He may no more mount said they Who shall iudge it demaunded Don Bellianis Wee neede no iudge said they for it is our custome but if any must be let it bee the Souldan our Lord heere present Be it so said the Duke Then said the Sophy I awarde that since the knight was not by another vnhorsed hee loose not his horse nor armour but that hee bee vanquished séeing hee forsooke his horse so that hee may ioust no more Great profite doe they get by this sentence sayd a proude knight that on the Souldan attended and was a neere Alley to the Gyants that defended the Bridge It is well indged said Don Bellianis and beleeue me had not the Souldan done it no lesse wrong receiued wee then they But what art thou that shouldst not a little count thy selfe beeing more prouder then vallyant to speake against the Souldan thy Lords iudgement The knight inraged with desire to reuenge those words answered Let vs set aside the Souldans iudgement as a matter impertinent to vs But if thou wilt vppon whither of the knightes be ouercome accept this my gage I giue it thee I accept it aunswered don Bellianis on condition wee may not passe the bridge vnlesse by force wee doe it You deferre it too long said the knight and our fight will be voide if you meane to winne the bridge by strength for these knights earnestly desire your armour beeing so rich But I giue thee leaue to helpe them aunswered don Bellianis whereby thou shalt see howe little I account what thou so much esteemest All the beholders admired him to see with what courage hee spake but chiefly the Princesse Persiana that going to the Duke Alfiron whom shee did not know beeing among the knights and not knowing what end that enterprize would haue did not discouer himselfe and said I pray thee good knight tell mee who bee these knightes for I greatly desire to knowe it The Duke softly that none might heare answered No maruell most beautious Princesse and Lady of my heart you at this time knowe me not hauing imployed my seruice in your behalfe to so little regarde But if deare Lady you had determined I should by your crueltie dye why did you not commaund mee to bee my owne executioner and not permit my eyes to see the sight of my liuing death The Princesse by his speech straight knewe him whereuppon for very greefe her eyes flowed with pearled teares but dissembling least it should bee discerned replyed The Gods knowe great Duke my gréefe for this marryage my Father intendes is no lesse than yours and therefore must wee perforce haue patience The Duke would haue answered her but that he perceiued don Bellianis had ended the accepting of the battell against the proude knight that they of the bridge had graunted them the combate therin condicionally that if don Bellianis were ouercome his horse and armour should be theirs who greatly gréeued for their brothers death and more that they could not bée reuenged on him that had slaine him CHAP. XII What happened Don Bellianis in the battell with the Knights
owne Thinke not so much on the end replied Don Bellianis if you sée the matter happily begunne for there is nothing so surely grounded but the beginning will require great labour especially such enterprises as these Wherefore my opinion is seeing our time is so short that you send halfe of your men to attend our comming in the way we must take some ten miles hence taking with them double horsing that when we arriue with ours tired being ther forced to fight we may find fresh horses And this done 1000. chosen men wil serue to fetch her hence so that they perfectly kaow the way The duke liked well of this counsel where they broke of being aduertised how the Soldan the princesse Persiana with all the chief nobilitie except don Gallaneo that remained about another matter which straight shalbe declared came to visit him wherfore the duke hearing it wēt to méet him yet for al his hast he found him comming vp the staires talking with the princes Arfileo don Brianell Aurora that went forth to receiue them who when they saw the duke go towards thē the princesse Persiana said I feare great duke you are alreadie assured of the victorie of the iousts being in companie of such valiant knights which makes you thus kéepe your Chamber at this time a day notwithstanding I can tell you you haue many aduersaries therefore aduise your selfe and looke well what you haue to do and must in your own defence performe The duke knéeling before her demanded her beautious hands to kisse them for that fauor she did him by her good counsel that none might heare replied if your diuine fauor most excellent Lady doth not forsake me I may securely rest fearlesse of all dangers but I doubt I shall with your absence remaine altogither vnable thereto hauing lost the fruition of your diuine fauor possessed by a stranger in my sight The princesse made him rise and that she might more at her pleasure talke with him tooke him by the hand and that euery one might heare said Séeing you haue thus long bin idle I meane now to task you for your labor for you shalbe this day my gardian for that the aduenturous knight may not be both the princesses and mine therfore wil I renounce him hauing so soone forgotten me Then belike my selfe being desirous said don Brianell to obtaine both your fauors must now feare to loose all yet am I content that my Lord the duke may haue the inheritāce of my place Thus chatting they arriued at don Bellianis lodging who wold haue risen to receiue thē but the Soldan wold not suffer it And going to his beds side demaunded how he felt himselfe wherunto he replied I cannot but be well most dread Lord resting so bound to your imperiall maiestie that I know not how I may acknowledge satisfaction for y e Lest of these your royall fauors which forceth in me no lesse paine then the grief of my late receiued wounds While they were all earnestly talking the Princesse Persiana saide to the Duke What pretend you to do against to morrows turnamēt or will you not be there I will do no more answered he then you will cōmand me for I came with no other intent Then she said séeing you leaue it to my dispose I think because the knight of the golden image by reason of his woūds cannot be there that you faile not for you shall reap greater fauor at my hands then don Galleano in tokē wherof I present you this flag set it on the top of your creast which with my hands I wrought vnknowē to any which that none did see she tooke it out of her pocket and gaue it him The duke receiued it with wonderful content and kis◠her hand resting the ioyfullest man aliue Think not much of that I do for my father doth force it I would put my self in danger to auoid it and I haue greatly reioiced that you haue brought with you such valiant warriers as at the vnhappie bridge I saw For if the knight of the golden image were not as he is I would haue intreated him to procure to dissolue this match done contrarie to my hearts intent He and I haue cōferred about this matter saide the Duke yet speake you with him about it that he may knowe this to be with your consent whereupon she then went to his beds side while the Souldane talked apart with Arfileo whom he highly estéemed knowing him to be so great a Prince as Don Bellianis had sayde The princesse Persiana séeing so good occasion demaunding how he felt himself with his great wounds as much gréeuing for them as though he were the Prince her brother and the more being in time wherein she so much néeded the helpe of his vnconquered strength to the subuerting of her enemies whereto he answered I do féele my selfe most excellent Princesse verie wel especially to accomplish any thing appertaining to your high seruice wherefore assuredly commaund and imploy mee anie way wherein my worthinesse may preuaile for your behoofe It is no small promise replied she you offer me for as I do greatly neede it so shall I haue cause to employ the greatest part of your valour And therfore most glorious knight know as you alreadie haue vnderstood of the Duke that the Soldane my father hath determined to marrie me to the Prince Don Gallaneo which doth so torment my passion-broken heart that I here vow if al other meanes of my desired remedie do faile me my proper hand shall finish the tragicke scene of my afflicted life ere I will consent to this vnfortunate wedding though many nobles haue solicited my father to the contrarie yet will he not be satisfied answering them woordes vnbeséeming both his maiestie and their estates Wherefore if I haue cause so to complaine of my soule-consuming greefes if euer you felt the like you may easily iudge And to conclude I haue determined to marrie none but the Duke Alfyron the Courteous For when I sawe your high admired déedes in the battell I then assured my self of help But now through your gréeuous wounds it hath since so increased that had I not discouered my discontent vnto you I had to morrow wedded me to death rather then to him I so abhorre Therefore this onely I intreate you that commiserating the state of me the most vnhappiest Princesse liuing you would procure some redresse to terminate my woes that I may not fall in his hands whom mortally I hate I meane Don Gallaneo wherein you shall commit no error against my father whose decaying honour with his life will be augmented by his death For Don Gallaneo is not the man that merits his Daughter being a knight of the least faith at this time liuing And I cannot be perswaded that so famous and glorious a Prince as the Emperour of Greece could by him be assaulted vnlesse it were with treason and such like And the greatest corasiue
the tourney Don Galfeo looked vp and séeing him in that armour knew him not and dissembling his intent sayd Good knight I pray you shew vs him of the golden Image for we must needes speake with him You may not enter here sayde hee for the Duke my maister hath so commanded And hauing so sayde went towards the staires in great hast wher hefouÌ„d don Galfeo entering the gallerie and drawing foorth his Sword sayd It is in vaine knight whatsoeuer thou art to passe further here thou or anie else without the Duke my Maisters leaue Don Galfeo hereat conceiued such ire by these wordes that also drawing foorth his Sword sayde Downe with the treacher that will denie vs the entrie But Don Bellianis with his sword put himself among them that in little space with great furie and force he slew aboue thirtie of them which so amazed the rest that they began to retire backe as farre as the staires But with the furie that possessed Don Bellianis hee so handled them that in an euill houre they came to séeke him séeing don Galfeo aboue the rest troubled him strooke him such a blow on the sword arme that cut in two it fel on the earth after he gaue him another on she head that he cleft it down to his eies Neuer was there séene a knight behaue himselfe better among so many But they preased on him in such sort that he had like to haue bin greatly indaÌ„gered yet he driuing them all before him down staires made such distraction of them that for verie hast they tumbled one vpon another he séeing them giue backe followed them out of the pallace in their despight did beate them into a broade yarde thinking better to defend himselfe there then in so close a roome where he so vsed the strength of his mighty armes that he got a horse of many that ran loose wherwith he renewed his massacring of them There was alreadie gathered much people of the Citie with their weapons not knowing y e cause why so many were assembled in the dukes pallace when they saw them all vppon one knight they helped him Don Gallaneos knights with more theÌ„ the third part of their fellowes dead and séeing Don Gaifeo slaine and how their treason for that time could not be effected by the extreame valour of that knight fled away Don Bellianis not willing to follow them turned towards the Dukes pallace where taking one of them he set his sword to his throate threatned to kil him if he denied y e cause of their comming in that maner to séeke the knight of the goldeÌ„ image in presence of many of the city he confessed how commanded by their Lord Don Gallaneo they came to murther him What meant your Lord by doing so said don Bellianis I know no more then I haue said replied the man God â—ée praised said don Bellianis that your Lords trecherie hath not taken effect Then mounting his horse he rid â—o the tilt-yard where he looked on euerie side sawe how the dukes men retired back séeking for the Princes Arfileo and Don Bryanel and not séeing them he tooke a big launce put himself against don Gallaneos knights the first he met he ouerthrew to the ground doing the like by aboue thirtie before he brake it and incouraging the Dukes fayling troupes renewed their fight so fiercely vpon the Courtiers that they feared to loose what they had before woonne And like a man distract not seeing his companions so wounded his aduersaries that happie was hee that furthest could get from him wherby euerie one made him ample passage to go by for neuer a blow he gaue either with sword or lance but he ouerthrow a knight Which the Sophie séeing cryed out Oh mightie Mahomet what admirable strength is this of your knight But all this while Don Gallaneo and his knights had so roundly beset Don Brianell and Arfileo that it was impossible they should escape aliue though most valiantly they defended themselues When there arriued a knight to Don Gallaneo and in his eare told him all that befell his cosin Don Galfeo with Don Bellianis who being not far off from them he poynted to him and sayd This is the knight that so hath massacred your men Don Gallaneo turning to sée him sawe how with an incredible furie hee assayled his knights that had incompassed the Princes and that with foure blowes hee strooke downe foure knights and making little account of the rest alighted and seeing they woulde not suffer the Princes to mount a horsebacke sayde that euerie one might heare Gette vppon this my horse Prince Arsileo for since with so great trecherous cowardize you are vsed make it knowne euen on theyr dearest liues They knowing his voyce conceiued such ioy that almost they knewe not what they did who â—oing about to take a fresh horse so manie knights layde on them that they could not doo it Which Don Bellianis seeing and howe it wared late to be reuenged on Don Gallaneo taking Don Brianell in his armes in despight of all the knights sette him on his horse and beeing on his owne with rage and thirstie furie of long desired reuenâ—e beganne such destruction on them that hee made wide passage for himselfe and his companions And séeing two Gyants come against him of foure which Don Gallaneo hadde brought to the Joustes for the purpose aforesayde hee prspared for them and receiuing one of theyr blowes on his sheeld that was so cruell that it cutte it in péeces hée so wounded the other with like strength that falling on his fingers it cutte them off cleane with the mace hee helde but the other did second so huge a stroke that hee was forced to holde by his horse necke There was neuer Tiger séene more fierce nor Lion more furious then Don Bellianis séemed who raysing himselfe on the stirrops and holding his sword with both hands gaue him such a terrible blow on his thigh that it entered as far as the bone wherewith he shortly after died What knight so valiant may this be replied the Soldane y t doth such wonders I would willingly haue had the knight of the golden Image here y t he might trie his force with this That knights deeds be not comparable to these said the princesse Persiana to her father the more to couer her intent of any thing that might after happen for wel she knew that Don Bellianis would be in that battell so iudged that was he But he following in search of Don Gallaneo founde him at last not farre from the Soldanes scaffolde where likewise the Princesse was and as a swift hounde that hath his game on foote fearing to loose it so did he against Don Gallaneo whâ— also made towards him and méeting strooke each other such puissant blowes that the sparkles of fire flewe from their armour But don Gallaneo tumbled to the grounde sore wounded When
able to attempt any important action at your cōmand I haue neuer replied the Sophy whose dutious seruice loyaltie to me hath deserued such cōfidence as these affaires require specially since the absence of the prince my son And well may you sée the treason done against mee by the duke for I am sure it was both by his consent ◠my daughters cōmand done am certain that he which all these harmes hath wrought is the knight of the golden image so discoursed what he had vnderstood of the knights and how he was so sore wounded that his life was in suspence and also that he was the same that slue Don Galfeo All which was true for the distressed knight was in such case that all his companions greatly doubted his recouerie for which their sorrow was so great that they wished to disburden themselues therof they might be euen in their enemies chiefest troops For in readinesse willingnesse of mind they wanted nought but the beginning of the conflict The two kings not a litle maruailed at the Soldans discourse Whereupon the King of Armenia tooke occasion to speake as followeth The knight of the golden Image is not in that greatnesse of fault as you iudge him in most mighty Lord for if you would but in the equall ballance of right reason weigh the cause you may plainly sée how greatly Don Gallaneo laboured to kill the aduenterous knight and the Prince Arfileo against all the lawes and rights of Turney nought regarding your awfull clamours to the contrarie but then more procured their deaths whereat no maruell if the Knight of the golden Image and the Duke in thir owne defence did slay him And we know that the knight in the gréene armour was he of the golden Image for we learned it of some of them that fled when don Galfeo died that he which slue him and vanquished them was the same that returned victor of the Turney So that you may well thinke he determined to do by them what they did to him and his Of all which things you should better informe yourselfe before you come to these extreames But if notwithstanding you will perseuer in these rigorous determinations consider the many thousand deaths thereby like to ensue for the Duke will indure no wrong Remember also great Lord the knight of the golden Image is he though the chiefest cause of Don Gallaneos death that fréed you from two great inconueniences one from the aduenture of the vnhappie Bridge the other by the death of the Rypliean dragon and that hereof consisteth your owne honour in your daughters innocencie and that the Duke may plead his cause and we our selues will go with him and procure this matter to be tried by combat or by any other means by you thought fitter which if you grant you shall eternally bind vs to your allegiance If you cause the duke replied the Sophy to come and submit himselfe I promise you there shall be no wrong proffered him nor any thing contrarie to the right of law iustice which I onely do that if any of Don Gallaneos kindred should expect any reuenge at my hands for his death they may know what I haue done herein And hereupon I pawne my kingly faith and royall word vnto you Then said they vppon this order you may dismisse your men vnto their seuerall homes for we will performe what we haue promised Whereupon the Soldane commanded euerie man to retyre to his quarter he himselfe going to his Court to expect the kings returne who straight repayred to the Dukes Pallace where they greatly reioyced to see the good order and care by them kept insomuch that the Soldan was not there able to enter by force of armes though he brought all his forces redoubled They being their demaunded for the Duke and vnderstanding that he was in don Bellianis Chamber thither went to speake with him where they saw how the knight of the golden Image had his wounds by those Dumzels dressed The duke receiued them according to their state would haue led them into another roome but they would not looking on the kings wounds which they iudged the greatest y t euer they had séene wherat they much sorowed supposing he wold not scape them though they were greatly satisfied to sée with what nimblenes those ladies dressed him And hauing don they thus said with such surgeons sir knight you ought to féele halfe the paine inforced by your wounds wherto he answered It is so great lords for though I should féele neuer so much this is double cōfort vnto me for else I should not be made happie with the fruition of your royall presence ioyntly with the dutie you bind me to in vouchsafing the remembrance of so meane a knight being thus pitiously wounded not able to leaue my bed to imploy my self in these troublesom affaires of my lord y e duke Take no care for them Sir knight said the king of Tessifantie for we come to none other effect and hope we shall haue no great deniall about them and though we should find any contradiction yet the duke shal be so fauored as he shal reasonably doubt nothing that may to him happē And they declared y e maner of the appointment made with the Soldane so that the dukes iustice should be euidently séene and be at libertie to answere all obiections or else present his champion to trie it in the battell against whosoeuer should at his hands demaund the death of Don Gallaneo and that in meane space the duke would yéeld himselfe to prison or we for him all which was betwéene him and vs so agréed And know Sir knight it is certainely bruted abroad that he which vanquished the Tourney and was cause of Don Gallaneos death with his cosins Don Galfeo and that slew the Riphian Dragon and the Giants Filistones thrée knights is your self Don Bellianis somwhat altered his countenance hearing this yet séeing the Sophie and others knewe all his doings faintly made this replie First mightie Lordes haue a care in what they demaund of the Duke and after wée shall haue time if I escape these woūds to prouide for al things else And moreouer on my faith the Soldan deales vnaduisedly and vniustly in his demaunds against the Duke and should not make account of two such traitors as Don Gallaneo and Galfeo whom if in case I did stay I did verie well considering with what trecherie the one would haue murthered me in my bed and the other my companions in the Tourney and had I bin in that state at more ease I had better with my déeds shewen what I cannot so well now expresse in words They were all amazed to sée with what passion Don Bellianis pronounced these spéeches and they perceiuing hee had reason would procéed no further in that talke but turning to the duke prayed him to resolue with himselfe to do what they required I will do replied he neither
lodge in his pallace vntill the battell were paste The King easily condiscended thereto hauing already purposed that if he remayned victor of the fight to require the Soldan to pardon his daughter and giue her him with the kingdome of Antioche as his right being next Heire to Don Gallaneo for which cause hée remained there where the Soldan greatly honored him The Prince Arfileo Don Bryanell with the Kinges Dukes and Earles returned to the Dukes Pallace to tell Don Bellianis the order taken and entring where hee was they founde him nowe somewhat better then they before had left him to whome they then declared all that had passed betwéene them and the Soldon and how the day of battell was assigned and that the Duke had in Champion for himselfe and how they had accepted the combatte no his and the Princesse Persianis name expressing also the great fiercenes of the Gyants particularly descrybing y e deformed mishapen features of the King of Cyprus protesting they had neuer seene the like Don Belhanis conceiued an extreame rage hearing that discourse how the Soldane would not permit him to the combate at such time wherein hee was reputed a traytor wherewith beeing almoste besides himselfe with vnrestrained fary saide What thinkes the Soldane this shall be suffered that hee hath ordayned and that with so greate maliciousnâ—s against the law of armes his desire shall bée fulfilled No the powers diuine will not permit it And therewithall hee rose and sat vppon his bedde and in all haste called for his cloathes The Damsels séeing him thus determined intreated him not to doe it which hee would not but in all haste made himselfe ready resisting al their requestes also the Princesse Auroras and commanding that none should accompany him saue the Princes there present that led him by the armes least hée should fall But a little after the Princesse Florisbellas Damzells followed him in which manner they went through the Cittie vntill they came vnto the Soldanes Pallace who béeing séene and knowne by the common people said one to another viewing him so fainte and weake Beholde heere the knight which ouercame the knights of the vnhappybridge and that tooke the Dukes parte in the last turney Many followed him to knowe the cause of his so going in such ill disposition who being at the Pallace gate sent the Soldane word hee was come to speake with him WheÌ„ it was so told the Sophy he was at table accompanyed with the King of Cyprus his brothers who vnderstanding hée was there commaunded hee should bee admitted to his presence Is this the Knight of the golden Image demaunded the King whom I come both to accuse and challenge for the treachery he committed by the deathes of my deare Cosins This is he replyed the Soldan and doe assure you that his peere the sunne shines not on to equall him in strength and valour That may bee saide the King mong such as himselfe and it were a blotte to my honour to make any account of 100. such as hee You wrong your selfe to thinke so answered the Soldan for if hee should enter in the fight I would not for the world assure you of the victorie and therefore I ordered what I did Now you haue told me so said the Gyant it behoues me in any wise to craue the combatte against him for if I should not doe it I am for euer dishonoured I wil haue no more wordes héereon sayde the Sophy for in dooing otherwise I should not bee reuenged on him and the Duke as I desire The king disdainfully laughed at his wordes and said If the others that in this battell shallenter were as you make him yet should my will be accompliwed But since you wil haue it otherwise I yéelde vnto you Thereon sayde the Soldane giue mee your hand and word not to accept at this time any battell against him I promised you so to doe said y e Gyant though it bée to my lasting blame CHAP. XXII What speeches passed betweene the Knight of the golden Image and the Soldan and how hee was stayed in the Pallace till the end of the battell DON Bellianis beeing before the Sophies presence shewing no kinde of dutie thinking that one of his state and pretending such a challenge shuld rather seeme sterne and fierce theÌ„ humble and milde though his weakenes through the gréenousnes of his wounds was so great that no Knight vnder the cope of heauen was able with such patience to endure half the paine y t he perforce sustained which notwithstanding with a cleare voice that he might bee heard of all the assembly dissembling his sorrowe as much as he could said I am most mightie Lord forced to come to your presence in this manner that you sée by hearing certaine things that here haue bin debated in preiudice of my honor and reputation which most excéedingly haue augmented the pain and grief of my great sicknesse for which cause I feare I shall not be able to vtter the imaginations of my pensiue hart with so great decoram and reuereÌ„ce as appertaineth to so high a personage And I protest I had not hither come but presuming on y e equalnesse of thy iustice The Soldan séeing him in such distresse coÌ„manded him ere he further procéeded to sit downe a chaire being brought him he humbling himselfe for the courtesie sat him downe being in such case that he had like a thousand times to haue sounded as he stood through y e great debilitie of his bodie But drawing strength from his neuer fainting courage séeing Filistone that fierce gazed on him resting astonished at his great monstruositie turned to the Souldane with these words If according to the iustice of my cause most mightie lord committed to the administration of those men to that ende placed by the immortall gods on this terrestriall ball promising such large guerdons in their future life of euerlasting happinesse if with equitie and right they execute the function of so high commanding powers whereunto the spacious territories of your vaste Empery bindes you you looke into this whole matter searching y e true ground therof not suffering the vnbridled passion of base parcialitie to blinde the eyes of your admiring iudgement which most often is woont to obscure and vtterly with ignominy besmeares the magnanimitie of the Noblest mindes Then I cannot but greatlye meruaile for what reasons you haue so farre procéeded in my affaires séeing my selfe indeuoured with the vtmost of my strength to shewe my prostrate seruice to your highnesse whose gentle regarde might haue bene the cause that the least reason procéeding from your royall selfe should haue contentedly satisfied mee at your command And I vow by the high immortal gods no reproach shuld haue scandalizde your mightinesse nor any iniurious infamy stained the honour of your estate if my selfe had béene first heard and my consent graunted to the assigned Combatte For in my iudgement it is against all naturall reason that I béeing
suffer Don Bellianis to enter in the combatte alleaging hee might better to his content bee reuenged that way for all his treacheries CHAP. XXIII How Don Bellianis disguised issued out of the Tower What happened him with Don Contumeliano of Phaenicia and how hee returned vnknowne into the Cittie ALl necessarie preparations béeing ordered against the day of the famous battell tenne dayes were paste of the appointed time and yet the Duke had not nor could finde any that would in his behalfe vndertake that combatte which extreamely gréeued him yet the magnanimitie of his coragious heart permitted no outward shewe thereof No lesse was the sorrowe of theÌ„ beauteous Persiana sustained continually beseeching her Gods not to suffer her honors wracke nor the downefall of her maidens fame through want of a Champion to maintaine the iustice of her cause On the otherside the greate anguish of minde that Don Bellianis conceiued cannot be exprest which was so gréeuous that his Damsels could by no meanes diminish nor himselfe could finde no comforte for his troubled fantasies but at length hée so recouered his weake strength that hee was able to walke about his chamber féeling himselfe in disposition to buckle on his armour And certainly had hée but it and his sword hée had broke foorth among the strongest watch that guarded him which in the day time were aboue 30. men and in the night that number was doubled In the meane time he vsed to send one of the Damsels to know if the duke had got any to sight in his quarrell wheÌ„ he heard of â—â—ne â—n whom he durst trust â—o weighty a charge though he had many good valiant knights by reason of the fiercenesse of the king of Cyprus and his brothers his gréeuous passions were redoubled One of his damsels y t accompanied him by name Floriana daughter to the duke of Tursia being Lord of many countries vnder the Soldan of Babylon which was the chiefest and best beloued of the Princesse Florisbella The other was daughter to the Earle of Cellanea named Persiana But the first said to Don Bellianis the sorrowe of my greeued hart is such renowmed sir to sée the course of these things that I cannot in words shew it as also seeing you cannot vse your valour to remedie them wheren your life honor doth depeÌ„d Wherfore reuoluing many things in my troubled thoughts haue in y e end affying on the rare courage of your admirable streÌ„gth thogh now made weak by trecherous desines and sinister occasions deuised this as the last refuge to redresse these wrongs and this it is You know that we oftentimes go forth vnsuspected or mistrusted of the guard Now may you disguised and attired in the apparell of one of vs hauing no haire on your face get abroad where you may easily procure horse and Armor do what you else think best returning vnknown vnto the pallace there vndertake the Combat and in meane time I will remaine in bed faining to be you suffering none to speak with me saying I am extreame sick Don Bellianis was so ioyfull with this vnlooked and vnthought remedie as hardly it may be expressed hoping therby not onely to assure his owne life but also his companions in that manifest danger though he nothing doubted their valour imbracing the damsel sayd Pray vnto the gods my good fréend Floriana that these troubles may haue their desired end and then I promise you this great care shall be fully gratefied to your content There is no reason replied she why you should binde your selfe to any such gratificatioÌ„ without desert séeing my dutie bindeth me to your perpetual seruice and so thinke not much of this I couÌ„seld you And I intreat you to gouerne your selfe well abroad for being yet weak you might fall in some other greater danger Wherupon séeing the night approched he put on Florianas apparel wherwith he became so faire that the damzels not a little wondred to sée him so beautifull that Persiana cryed out Is it possible oh gods such beautie should be on earth you had bin better reserued it to glorifie your imperial thrones vnlesse heere you will inhabit to manifest your great powers among vs. And truely Sir knight such beauty was neuer séene but in the Princesse Florisbella our Lady Mistresse And well is it for all knights you are not of our sexe else so many would by you perish as by the Princesse our Mistresse whose onely sight killeth though not outright yet with liuing death like the murthering eyes of a slaying base iske Is her beautie so admirable to cause such alterations in men demanded hee you cannot beleeue nor wee set downe saide Floriana the greatnesse therof And because you may know I beare with me so greate a beauty as yours I will shewe it you which I continually carry with mee And so shee drewe it out of her pocket and gaue it him which hee straight knewe to bee the same that was portrayed on his shield though his was more liuely and for all hee viewed it continually did neuer aske whose it was imagining no such perfection could bée on the earth and that Bellona had onely set it there for a shewe Then suddenly was hée wounded to the heart with the vnresisted darte of all conquering Loue and not able to withstand it was inflamed with the fyre that lasted all the dayes of his life surprysed with so great desire to sée the substance of that shaddowe that straight hee would departe thither leauing al thinges hée then had in hand vnfinished In this newe accident was hée a good whyle not knowing how to resolue himselfe saue in fixing his longing eyes on that dainty picture hauing no more colour then in a dead man which the Damzels séeing and thinking his rysing had caused that alteration held him by the armes least hée should fall hee recouering and feeling himselfe touched through shamefacestnes dyed his face with such a vermilion blush y t hee redoubled his fairenesse to whom they sayd What extraordinary passion did you feele Which made vs feare some newe perill had befallen you in that strange chance Whereto hee replyed A suddaine gréefe surprysed me on my left side so strongly that it almost benumbd my vaines and reast mée of my vitall sences If any wound be the cause therof said they vncloath your self and we will see it It shall not néede answered Don Bellianis for I shall stay too long But I pray you giue me this picture that so much resembles another I haue It is at your command replyed the Ladies but take heede you loose it not for if you doo it shall cost you yours Then he taking his leaue of them leauing Floriana a bed in his stead went out of the Chamber to descend the Tower and by the way he met the Kings of Armenia and Tessifanty that came to visit the Knight of the golden Image whom he knowing said in presence of most of the guard Your Maiesties may
another name am called the solitarie Knight because I possesse nothing that better agrées with my conditions then to wander through solitarie and vnknowne places shunning the habitation of populated Cities and townes thinking therby that the blind God of Loue should haue no power ouer me and therefore would I not this night lie in Persepolis but he hath at his pleasure reuenged himselfe on me with your gracious sight whose speedie remedie if I want will leaue me altogither breathlesse The hearing of your state most noble Prince hath highly contented mee saide Don Be 〈…〉 I discontent suffring the like torments that you through such a passion for procuring to auoyde the cause of such effect haue béen this night so plagued with Loues all conquering power that now I féele the force of his tributarie paines In this chat they spent the better two parts of the night which don Bellianis séeing resolued to demaunde of the Prince what he wanted for the combat desiring that by no meanes his Companions should know his intent for he durst not trust them with a battell of such import hoping also to obtain his request said I do desire you most honored prince that you will performe the promise you made me which is this I left not farre hence a Knight in an extreame daungerous aduenture destitute of an armour weapons and horse to performe a most notable combat and were it not sir knight that I also promised to procure it him I would not now presume so much to iniurie you as to request them But beléeue me if I liue I will to your content gratifie this good turne For at this time can I not do otherwise béeing requested by that knight to get him them And séeing it hath béene my happe to méete with you I do beséech you to make me so happie by your gracious graunt promising if I reuiue to morrow at this time to returne them and this is my boone and your promise The knight was verie ioyfull to haue occasion to pleasure his mistresse especially expecting so great a benefite as she promised cared not whether he neuer should haue them although they were the richest in the world sauing don Bellianis They were of colour yellow rarely ingrauen with curious workes and set with rich Orient Pearles whose inestimable woorth cannot be vallued In his shéeld was pictured a mightie mountaine with a knight lying vnder an Oke with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon the sheeld staring and gazing on the cruell god of Loue sitting on the top with his bow arrowes drawne so naturally that euery looker on might easily beléeue it to be aliue And he said to don Bellianis Faire mistresse séeing all my heart is yours what néed you more saue command all I else possesse as your owne for my aâ—mor and 〈◊〉 rest Tr 〈…〉 at your desposing more desiring to vndertake that combat vnder your seruice then with my armor to pleasure you But séeing you will haue it so stay while I call my page that is not farre hence knowing I would not go into the Citie this night whereupon he sounded a horne whose value was more then might be thought The force of which blast was heard through all the citie wherewith he made a certaine signe at which the page straight came who séeing his maister accompanied with that lady greatly maruelled knowing it to be against his condition and alighting off his palfray said What wonder is this sir to sée you in such a place with so faire a Goddesse in your companie I feare she hath of purpose descended the heauens to penetrate the flintie wars of your adamant heart séeing on earth there is none that could do it It greatly pleased the knight to heare his page praise his mistresse so highly and commanded him saying Giue me my other apparell Bruneo for this Goddesse thou speakest off staieth for me Whereupon the page drew forth of a male the richest suite of apparell that euer Don Bellianis sawe It was all of a Rubie colour imbrodered with many of those stones and other of vnualued price and vnbuckling his armour gaue them him and put on those garments Don Bellianis admired and highly commended the knights gallant liberalitie and the more that deceitfull loue should make him so kind desirous to requite his bountie said Most noble and renowmed Prince I do accept the gift of your lent armor for the same do promise ere 20. dayes do passe to remedie your gréefe to your great profit so require no more of me For this promise the prince knéeled to kisse his hands Don Bellianis wold not suffer it taking him vp in his arms embraced him kindly which excéedingly gladded his hart And therwith did help him to mouÌ„t on his horse saying You may swéet mistresse sit without feare for though my horse séemeth as hee doth yet is he so gentle and tractable as may be desired I beléeue no lesse my good lord replied don Bellianis and taking his armor bound in a cloath before him don Contumelianos sword in his hand who tooke his pages saide I intreate you to enter the Citie to day where you shall sée your armour vsed and after follow the Knight for you shall find me in this place and so taking leaue departed through the thicke Groaue leauing him as a man that firmely gazeth on some woonder and rapt with admiring contemplation thereof suddainlie looseth the sight of his delightfull obiect So rested Don Contumeliano who not knowing what to doo lay him downe to sleepe till it shoulde bée time to enter the Cittie which hée did mounted on his Pages Horse in which Cittie hée neuer had béene where taking his Inne expected the houre to go to Court where we leaue him to returne to Don Bellianis trauailing through the wood as aforesaid CHAP. XXIIII What happened to Don Bellianis in the Court armed in Don Contumelias armour How he accepted the battell His talke with the Princesse Persiana before the fight and what befell him in the same DOn Bellianis going through the wood as is said came at last to a Caue where in Winter the Shepheardes vsed to withdrawe themselues which hée seeing to fitte his turne alighted more easier then Don Contumeliano did mount him a horsebacke and so went in and straight put off Florianaes garments and armed him as well as hee might hauing no helpe which done hee hid his female Robes couering them with some bowes which he cut with his sword that none that there should arriue might thinke them otherwise and so tooke his way towards Persepolis at such time as the giuer of all light began with his resplendent rayes to cleare the duskie â—â—â—e and chase the darkened cloudes from the ayrie Region when the chirping birdes with their melodious harmonie saluted the mornings vprise whose varying notes and pleasing musick strook such thoughts into the passionate Prince of his contemplatiue mistresse that he regarded not his way nor knew not where he
was till he found himselfe at the citie gate which entring he came to the lodging that Don Contumeliano had taken who being at the doore presently knew each other yet spake neuer a worde whereupon he tooke another horse and followed Don Bellianis to the Pallace to know the ende of that aduenture and by the way were greatly admyred of all men the one for the richnesse of his armour and the other for the sumptuousnesse of his apparell as afore is mentioned Don Bellianis lighted at the Court gate and hauing none to hold his horse Don Contumeliano said giue your horse to my Page who shall looke vnto him For though you know me not yet am I bound to do you any seruice Don Bellianis requiting his courtesie did as he requested and sayde Such fauours sir Knight cannot but presage a happie successe to my enterprise And taking him by the hand passed into a long Gallery where they sent the Soldane word of their comming crauing accesse to his presence which graunted they entred and found him talking with the King of Cyprus who then with his brothers began to arme themselues for the fight highly reioycing imagining their enterprize ended assuring themselues that fiue huÌ„dred good knights were not able to withstande them in field And when they sawe those Knights enter in so royall armour and apparell with such gallant disposition they much praysed them They being before the Soldan knéeled on the ground demaunding his princely hands to kisse them who courteously tooke them vp and imbraced them and saide they might vtter what they would and what they came for whereto don Bellianis replied Commaund dread Lord the duke Alfiron to be sent for and then you shall know what we require The Soldan sent for him straight who came garded with a thousand armed men And not knowing the cause of his sending for was verie sorrowfull séeing that day to bee the last of his prefixed time for the tryall of his cause and that he had got no Champion to defend his right by fight Don Bellianis séeing him with an audible voice that al might heare him said Most mightie Sophy of Syconia and imperious Soldane of this great Persian Monarchie know I am called the Solitarie knight if my name haue euer penetrated your eares sonne vnto the king of Phenicia who wandring about the worlde in search of strange aduentures haue by chance arriued in this your kingdome where I heard the occasion that the King of Cyprus otherwise named the Giant Filistone the fierce hath made agaynst duke Alfiron the courteous and other Knights of his company as also against thy daughter the beautious Persiana touching the death of the prince of Antioch who he saith they trechâ—rously â—â—ue I do well know the duke Alfiron although his memorie doth not comprehend any remembrance of his fauors towards me am assured he wold do nothing against the lawes and duties of a good knight But to be briefe I am resolued to vndertake fight the coÌ„bat for him if he hath none to do it I intreat him to grant it me For though I deserue not he should trust me with so great a charge yet my indeuor and his iustice herein shall supply my want The whole assembly much admired him iudging he was of no little valor that durst coÌ„bat with so terrible and deformed Giants though they mightilie doubted his victorie The Soldan was sore gréeued thinking eueâ—â—â— small let to be great according to his desire to sée y â— matter ended as he wold willingly wold he giue that citie to be fully reuenged of the duke Yet dissembling his inward thoughts said You may trie sir knight whether the duke will grant you the fight then do what you therin best may Notwithstanding I know not why you shuld procure this coÌ„bat getting nothing but the losing of your life Al shalbe as pleaseth the gods replied don Bellianis The duke hearing these spéeches said I cannot hitherto call to mind most excellent prince wherein my deserts should so bind you to succor me in this my greatest néed But I do assuredly beléeue the immortall gods hath sent you because they will not suffer so great villanie procéede further And with this as an auspicious tokeÌ„ assuring me of your victory through your incomparable countesie and more valor I grant you the fight and perswade your selfe that all right and iustice you this day defend I am so perswaded answered don Bellianis and therefore say no more But who is your accuser The king of Cyprus stepped forth saying I am he Wherfore sée if still thou be so resolued More assuredly will I now maintaine it then at first said don Bellianis for thy presence sheweth there can bee no reasou nor iustice in any thing thou attemptest The Giant inraged with these words séeming through choller to spit fire in treated the Soldan to command the prisoner to be brought into the field for being all armed they had nothing to stay for Hereat don Bellianis was somwhat moued thinking it would be knoweÌ„ he was not in y e tower Many of those knights went for the prisoners entring don Bellianis lodging they â—ound Floriana a bed in his place but her felow was vp had closed the curtains so close that none could sée who was a bed Who when she saw the gard come in said very softly to them Go no further good knights for the knight of the golded Image lyeth in the extream paine of his life The Sophy said they hath sent vs for him to cary him to the field See said she where he lieth but I beséech you stir him not I will go with you to the Soldan and sée what he will command Wherupon they went to the Sophy with her who declared vnto him in what case don Bellianis was The Soldan coÌ„manded he should not be molested and that she should sée him want nothing He now néedeth nothing but this said she and séeing the knight y t had vndertaken the coÌ„bat she knew him to be don Bellianis by his gallant demeanor and the talnesse of his body and wondred to sée him fâ—rnished with so rich armor and returning to the tower told it Floriana who with her greatly râ—ioyced assuring themselues that don Bellianis would obtaine the victorie reasoning together that he séemed to be yoked in the amorous bonds of their Ladie by that which beâ—ell him when they named her At this time was the Princesse and the Duke conducted to the field séeming verie pleasant The Princes don Brianel and Arfileo were aduertised how the duke had gotten a champion They were glad therof because the imprisoned knights might rest more contented and secure of their good succâ—sse and so they mounted on their horses The King of Arminia did beare Don Brianels shéeld and Arfileos was borne by the king of Tessifantie The Duke Gariano did beare one helme and the Prince of Brandalia the other and in this maner they were
accompanied to the field with the sound of many militarie instruments where at that time they met the knight of the golden Image whose launce and shéeld was borne by Don Contumeliano whose gallant disposition euerie one admired thinking he should be whom in effect he was and al they ioining togither most louingly saluted each other and entred the lists where they alighted within a Pauilion prepared for them till the Soldans comming where Don Bellianis had the buckles of his armor closer guirt There then also entred aboue tenne thousand armed men and in the middest of them they brought the Princesse Persiana and the Duke The Princesse was mounted vpon a scaffold richly appointed for her but the Duke remained among the gard who spred themselues round about the yard for the better assurance both of the prisoners and combattants When suddenly the earth séemed to tremble and quake with the noyse and sound of drums and trumpets that the knights could not heare one another The knights came forth of their Pauilion which was heard by the Princesse and mounted a horsebacke to eâ—pect the comming of the Giants who then appeared in â—ight But Don Bellianis séeing so many eyes fixed on him desirous to do nâ— lesse then he was woont set one hand on the pummell of his Saddle and lept therein not setting foote in the stirrop and with the force hee put therâ—â—â— the blood issued out of his armour from the wounds that were not yet whole which séene of many they counselled him to leaue the the combat being â—o sore wounded The Princesse Persiana sent him word that hee should come to her for shée should speake with him which he did where she intreated him to mount aloft The guard seing him goe alone did not let him Which was at such time that the Princesse Aurora arryued well accompanied who was conducted to that scaffold These two Ladies intertained each other with such courtâ—sâ—e as belonged to their high states And the Princesse Aurora séeing that knight there demaunded why hee was called To whome the Princesse Persiana replyed shee should straight know why and so softly that neâ—e but they three might heare said to him By the life of that thing which you must loue in this world most noble knight so the immortall Gods may blâ—sse you with the euerliuing glorie of a famous victorie at this present and most happy suâ—â—â—sâ—e to all enterpryses and aduentures you shall vndertake I dâ—e intreate you to declare your name for either I am new â—â—inde or I doe certainely knowe you hauing dreamed this â—ight that I was deliuered by the handes of a knight I greatly affected and so would I knowe it though I thinke it impossible you should bee hée which you may assuredly doe knowing how it behooues 〈◊〉 to kéepe it secrete And héere the Historie saith that shee in déede did dreame that night shee was deliuered by Don Bellianiâ— who made this answere I cannot conceiue faire Princesse wherefore you should desire my name hauing nothing lesse therein but to increase your sorrâ—w yet knowe I am your kâ—â—ght of the golden Image and so pardon me for you shall knâ—w the rest heereafter Wherewith hee descended leaste he were suspected though euery one thought the Princesse did but incourage him with the iustice of her cause who was aduertised by don Bellianis shee should not disclose that secrete by no 〈◊〉 neither to his â—ellowes nor to any other liuing and mounting a horsebacke the Gyants entred the liâ—tes with their 〈◊〉 an whereat the Ladies were much asâ—onished in seeing 〈◊〉 and in knowing him to be the knight of the goldeÌ„ image something feared his life because of the blood that issued from his old 〈◊〉 yet rested assured of the victorie maruelling howe hee should get out of prison and â—e furnished with so rich armour and turning to the knights hee saw the Soldan marshâ—lling the â—â—eld being himselfe iudge of the fight and placing the knights one against the other and comming to the knight of the golden Image he said séeing him bloody through his armor How wil you enter in fight â—iâ— knight being thus wounded It is no matter said hée for this onely am I knighted The Soldan vrged it no more but withdrawing himselfe commaunded the signall of the fight to be giuen by the Trumpets at whose sound the knightes with armed fury in such â—orte made against each other that they rather seemed so many suddain flashes of lightnings renting through the Ayriâ— passage of the heauens then men and met in the middest of the field with so mighty incounters as if so many péeces of Ordinance had béene discharged Arfileo and Don Bryanell incountred the king of Cyprus two brothers that all foure measured their lengthes on the earth sore wounded Don Bryanell hauing one foote hanging in the stirrope that hee could by no meanes ryse Don Bellianiâ— and the fearefull Feliston so cruelly met that Don Bellianis shield was pierced together with his arme and the furious launce not resting there penetrated both armour and coate of male where his arme was nayled with a péece of the speare to his breast making there a wyde wouÌ„d from whence issued infinit blood But Don Bellianis incountred the Gyant in the middle of his stéeled shield which also was pearced with his breast plate and the shocke was so strong that the launce guided by so braue an arme and the fury of so good a horse that therewith the king of Cyprus loste his stirropes and méeting body with body and breast with breast the diuelâ—ish Gyant hauing nothing to stay his féete fell to the ground Don Bellianis had done the like if hee had not gotten hold by his horse necke Who is able to expresse the amazed wonder of the beholders at that braue incounter hauing neuer séene the like that they raysed a murmurre among themselues with high praise honoring the extreame valour of that knight who séeing that it behâ—â—ued him to loose no time was alighting off his horse when the king made towards him more inraged then a fierce baited â—ul But first looking to his companions perceiued the veÌ„turous knight to haue one leg still in his stirrâ—pe and in great danger because his aduersarie was going vppon him intending to end his life which easilie without disturbance he might haue done wherefore séeing his friendes sure periâ—l set aparte his woonted courtesie and ranne with his horse against the Gyant that hee returned to the ground and himselfe lepping from his saddle went to helpe Don Bryanell which purpose was leted by the kings coÌ„ming that thereby he was faine to stay to repaire himselfe from the Gyants sudden blowe who raysing his battell aâ—e would haue discharged it on his head But the knight of the golden Image séeing hee could not helpe himselfe with â—is left arme by reason of the péece of lance that was in it stepped aside that the axe strooke on the earth and therein ranne aboue a yarde and going
vppon the King was vnawars surprysed by his brother that hee ouerthrâ—we who gaue him so cruell a blâ—we on his Hâ—lme that it made him to bowe to the grounde which made the rage to kindle in the Knightes breast that very â—yer sparkled from his eyes and like a hotte chafed Boare or hungrye Lyan bent to his praye wounded the Gyant that had strooke him with so puissant a bâ—â—we on the Hâ—lme that hee cut it in two as if it had beene of paper sorely wounding his head that hee was like to fall yet with the force of the blowe his semitor fell out of his handes resting so astonished that hee knewe not whether he were aliue or dead But the knights sword flewe in two péeces that onely the hiltes remained in his handes to defend himselfe in such extreame danger and of so puisant enemies as those Who at that time had beheld the two Princesse Persiana and Aurora with the good Duke Alfiron and the towreâ— Dâ—mzâ—ls of the beauteous Princesse Floriâ—bellâ— that thence beheld the fight had no néede to seeke else where the proall colour of timerous death For in their fâ—câ—s was it so perfect to be seene that no Painter euer did better drawe it in varity of colours which sight did so terrifie the dolorous Ladies that they desired no longer life then it might bee guarded by the knight of the golden Images safetie But the good Prince of Phaenicia was there like to dye for very sorrow and anguish of minde seeing all that euill had happened through the weaknesse of his defectiue sworde and cursing of himselfe thought his Mistresse would for euer abhorre him for that cause which would bee the losse of the best knight that euer put on armour Yet hitherto Don Bryanell could by no meanes get his foote loose but with the strength that he set drewe his horse vppon all his legge that the very paine thereof had almost killed him onely the Soldan reioyced at this dissastrous accident thinking hereby to effect his desire The Cyprus king was so highly glad that hoysting his axe aloâ—te cryed aloude this blowe shall execute my will The Prince Arfileo that in such state sawe his companions would haue gone to helpe them but his aduersarie perceiuing it let fall his semitor and slung himselfe vppon him whereat vnable to shunne it did the like stryuing with their excessiue strength to ouerthrowe one another Don Bellianis though hée saw himselfe without sworde and not able to helpe him with one arme was not therefore daunted with the fearefull sight of present death that hee before him sawe but séeing the most fierce Gyant come towardes him flung with all his strength the péece of sword remaining in his hande that lighting on his helme the force thereof threwe him backwardes to the grounde and before his brother could remedie it with admirable quicknesse which the present danger did augment he tooke vp the semitor that he let fall as is already said leauing the fight at that stay stâ—pped to Don Brianell and cutting the horse girts set him on his féete The â—ierce â—ing that then came vpon him gaue him a blow on the head which if it had not bin giuen him vnaduisedly it had clouen it in the middle but not staying there it descended on the sheeld cutting it all ouerthwart falling on his thigh parting all the Armour â—â— opened his flesh most â—itâ—ously Don Bellianiâ— féeling his wound strooke the King sideling with the heauie semitor y t if he had not warded y â— blow with his sheeld it had cleane cut of his leg yet it threw the sheeld in two peeces to the ground togither with his hand and being close one to another the King would haue cast his armes vppon him but the Knight leapt aside vnwilling to wrastle whereupon they wounded themselues most greeuously that with their mightiâ— stroakes they sometime bowed their heades to theyr breast sometime they bended theyr knées and sette their haâ—ds to the ground and the King wanting his left arme it made him to rore like a chased Bull that hee scantly felt any of the knights blowes Don Brianell séeing himselfe rid from his horse drew his sworde making against the king but he was stayed by his brâ—ther whâ— met him with a heauie Mace which he had on his saddle pummel vsing it in stead of his loose semitor and so piteously wounded one another that the vnterous knight was fain to helpe himself with his â—imblenesse to auoide the gyants intollerable blowes hauing wounded him in many places The like did â—he Prince Arfileo who hauing let loose his aduersarie layde close to it with their sharpe swordes with such admiration of the beholders as if the vniuersall iudgement consisted in the victorie of that battell and none durst vtter one word but with amazed gaze stared in one anothers faces to to sée those knights escaped that great danger who a little before they accounted dead by the meere courage and valour of the knight of the golden Image might not compare for haughty déeds of honoured Chiualrie and whome they so much estéemed And returning to the gréeued Princesse they knâ—w not what to say through conceiued gladnesse and had much to do to dissemble it in time of sorrow no lesse glad were the Ladies of the Princesse Florisbella who for ioy embraced each other especially Floriana that with teares in her eyes said Oh most vnhappie maiden that I am for I neuer gaue woorse counsaile in all my life to any then I did to this knight if hee héere had dyed But his death should not haue béene without company For in the instant my eyes had seene such a thing I would headlong haue tumbled my selfe from of this Tower that it might be knowne with what sinceritie and faithfulnesse I counpelled him Peace said the other for we shall sée him straight victoriously tryumphe ouer his enemies and therefore lette vs procure all necessaries for to cure his wounds At this time all the knights and Gyants were besmeared in their owne blood that where they sette their féete they left theyr signes printed with the same and so tyred with wearinesse hauing fought almost fiue houres that they couldâ—â—â—arce hold their swordes in their hands The feareful Filâ—ston almost with sweatie furie choaked and tyred withdrâ—we himselfe a part to breathe which gréeued not Don Bellianis who dooing so drew forth the péece of speare from his arme that embrued in his blood it stucke so fast that it put him in extream paine and walking vppe and downe because their woundes should coole they looked on their fellowes and sawe the venterous knight reduoble his strength throgh anger of the pause wherewith he had brought the Gyant with whom he fought hauing a mortall wounde giuen him before by the Solitarie Knight to such passe that hee coulde not long defend himselfe Which when the king of Cyprus did sée he woulde with his Courâ—leaâ—e wound the knight that then he might
such great admiration and excéeding ioye to sée his Lady had almost fowned to the ground Thereupon Don Bellianis commaunded the Trumpets to sound the retrait to withdrawe the souldiers and nâ—éeting with the Kings of Armenia and Feâ—â—ifanty led them to theyr owne quarters which they could hardly do beeing so giuen to the spoile But being vnited togither don Bellianis charged the Dukes Captaines to conduct their men to their maisters Cittie that was in the Kingdome of Persia which they did with great hast séeing their enterprise so happâ—ly succéeded and also because there was aboue 40. thousand men armed there And theÌ„selues hauing no guides staied within y e citie til y e morrow least they shuld loose theÌ„selues in the night But the dukes men kept on their way so well that at the appearing of the Sunne they were hard by the place where the daye beâ—ore they left the Princesse Aurora whither also came the Princes and there they all alighted to rest them where the Princesse Aurora welcommed them with the duke Alâ—iron whose gladnesse was as great as his sorrow had bene before rendring togither with the other Princesse innumerable thankes vnto the two Kings for their aide promising and confirming an euerlaâ—â—ing inâ—iolable bond of amitie â—that lasted all their liues as the course of this great Historie amply dilatâ—th And not staying in this place departed thence where we leaue them to set downe what the Soldane did CHAP. IIII. What the Soldane did hauing vnderstood his daughters losse And how Coroliano and Boraldo his brother followed the Dukes power with great troupes with the successe of a most cruell battell that passed betweene them WHat tongue is able to expresse the many and loude laments and lamentable cries made in the Pallace by the popularitie and others which also the Ladies and damoselles with their great clamours augmented for the losse of the Princesse Persiana Now the Knights that escaped the deadly fury of the lost battell séeing their aduersaries gone went to séeke the Soldan whom they found in the Garden as before is mentioned they tooke him and did beare him thence to his Chamber and laide him in his bedde and hearing the pittious shréekes of the damosels enquired the cause which was told him to be for that their aduersaries had taken with them the Princesse Persiana his daughter and had set at libertie the Duke Alfiron and all that more he had not séene which when he knew the extreame anguish and sorrow of these euils almost bereft him of his liuing breath But therevpon he called a cousin of his a lustie and couragious Knight called Coroliano and commaunded him to follow the enemy wiâ—h all the people in the Citie to rescue his stolen Daughter and that he should spare no mans life that fell into his hands Which he vttered with such â—â—raged greet that the â—eares triâ—kled downe his face Coroliano did all like the man accustonâ—â—d in such dangers assuring himselfe â—o be auâ—nged on their foes for all their losses Wherefore at his command the citie straight â—â—choâ—d with the sound of all manner of millitarie instrumeÌ„ts and all that were able to beare armes armed themselues and wâ—nt to the pallace so that in litle time there were gathered aboue 40. thâ—usand men which in all haste hee lâ—d â—ut of Perâ—â—pâ—lis keeping no order iâ— their march y t their enemies might not get far before them who then were aboue 15. miles aâ—ore In this maner they went till they came to a Cittie belonging to the Souldane where they that night rested and vnderstanding there howe the enemie determined to dyne the next morrow at Bolleâ—a thought if hee staied hee should not ouertake them as he would Wherfore about mid-night he set forwards with all his men making such haste that by brâ—ake of day hee espied them desâ—â—nâ—ing a hill in good order which much ioyed him that he presently commaunded his Trâ—â—pets to sâ—â—â—de which Don â—ellianis hearing looked backe and sawe so â—â—any men make towards them that they couered the plaine it sâ—mewhat troubled him wanting meanes to guarde the Princesse Yet with as much câ—lâ—ritie as the time afâ—oorded hee whéeled his companies about setting the Princesse at one side of the mountaine guarded with fiue hundred knights and séeing his men began to â—aint with the sight of such multitudes he incouraged them repraying and â—â—treating them to consider that those troupes were of little moment and lesse valoâ—r comming halfe vanquished beeing onely ledde by the eagerâ—â—sse of râ—â—â—nge for the late slaughter was made of them which like blinde men brought them to theyr vttâ—r distruction This saiâ—â— hee tooke with him the aduâ—nterous Knight the Prince Arfileo the two knightes and the Duke and placing themselues before theyr men expected theyr aduersaries Coroliano being descended on the plaine deuided his Souldiers in two Squadrons the one hee committed to his Brother Boraldo and the other he ledde himselfe and imagining what they had done he commandâ—d two thousand chosen knights to assault the corner of the mounte certainly supposing that the Princesse Persiana was there and so with great clamours they furiously ranne vppon the Dukes men who with their valiaunt guides were to receiue thâ—m and so terrible were their incounters on that plaine that aboue foure thousand of Corolianos knights were vnhorsed by reason that their horses were wearie and tyred with the haste they had made that they could scant holde out thitherto Don Bellianis and his companions on their side ouerthrewe aboue sixtie to the grounde dead and thrusting themselues among their enemies that they séemed so many furies sent for theyr vtter desolation But the aduerse numbers were so many that the dead nothing discouraged the liuing especially for that Coroliano so animated them that it may be be saide hee onely vpheld the battell Which Arfileo seeing tooke a Launce from one of his companie and made against him Coroliano did the like and met so furiously that theyr shéeldes and Armour were piersed and themselues rested on horsebacke sorely wounded then drawing theyr strong swordes forced each other at euery blowe to bowâ— theyr heads to the Saddle pummell While they were thus in fight Don Bellianis men through his strength and their enemies hauing no other Captaine but the other beganne to win some ground with such slaughter of both sides that neyther parte might well boast of the victorie in the ende Which thing when Boraldo perceiued woulde no longer staye nor expect any woorde from his Brother but like an arrowe sent from a stéeled bowe maketh his swift way through their airie passage so he with his fresh Battalion sette against his aduersaries and looking on whom hâ— might with most honour breake his Launce espâ—â—â— the King of Armenia that with diuellish rage â—â—aâ—sacred his meâ— against whom resting his speare ouerturned him there with doing the like to the King of Tessifantie on whom he brake his speare Whereat with a loude voyce he incouraged his fainting
Armes in that battell Speake no more of this said Don Bellianis for it is euident if any honour I haue or any thing performed therein it onely procéedes from you Wherefore it is I that am onely bound to you all Marry if that were so replied Don Brianell I had there lost my life being vnable to defend it The Prince Arfileo and the Princesses disturbed this conference comming to gréete Don Bellianis where they renewed their thankes Which done their men hauing ransackt their enemies campe the two Kings the Princesses Don Bellianis with the Prince Arfileo the Phenician Prince and the venterous Knight directed their way towards Bollera by the same discoursing of many things Don Bellianis being of opinion they should returne and sacke Persepolis which they might easily haue don being left without any Garrison But the Princesse Persiana with the other Princes put himselfe from it alleadging their men to be weake and weary of their last trauell And so at last arriued in the Citie where well ordering their troupes and other businesse went to the Dukes Pallace to repose themselues where their woundes were dressed The Prince Don Contumeliano lodged with Don Bellianis at his intreatie who greatly ioyed with his company being a Knight of pleasant discourse Where we leaue them till we haue set downe what the Souldans men did after they were ouerthrowne and put to flight CHAP. XXXI What the Souldanes men did after the battell And howe they carried newes of their discomfiture to the Souldan THe battel being ended in maner aforesaid part of the Soldans men I suruiued tooke their way to Persepolis and hid themselues in the woods and some that were more hardie closely mingled themselues with their aduersaries hauing left behind them those things that might discouer them who heard Don Contume lianos discourse how the Knight of the golden Image was he that had slaine the fearefull King of Cyprus These Knights hauing closely hid themselues expected the darke nights approach and the closest that they might departed thence hauing not entred into the Citie and by the pale reflect of the shining Moone looking about the field for the bodies of Coroliano and Boraldo to carry them to Persepolis did at last finde them Coroliano being in perfect sence but Beraldo yet laie in his traunce being piteously wounded and extreame faint with the losse of much more blood then his brother and setting them on horsebacke with two Knights behind to guide them came the next day to Persepolis where incomparable was the lamentable griefe generally of all all participating of the present losse and certainly according to their greeued clamours and languishing cries their aduersaries had they come vpon them might easily haue taken and sacked the Cittie for being ouerwhelmed in bloodie teares breaking from their hearts that they knew not one another But aboue all the rest the distressed Souldane of Persia with madding rage renting his cloathes tearing the auncient haires off his graue beard and blaspheming and defying his Goddes with hideous shrikes cryed out Oh vnhappie Souldane of Persia Is it possible the Goddes should honour thée with so large an Empire to disgrace thy glorie with this shame and that thou arâ— not able to reuenge thée on thy rebellious subiect that hath slaine thy sonne in lawe and in despight of thée stolne thy onely daughter But thrise happie are you Coroliano and Boraldo that haue in defence of your deare Prince and Countrey wrastled with all conquering death leauing your liues for an immortall trophy of your true loyaltie And vnhappie am I that is not able to die when and where my fame and glorie is drowned in the lasting Center of blacke obliuion But let Fortune doo her worst as she alreadie hath in times past For I vowe by the immortall Gods neuer to cease till I haue put to vtter desolation he and his accomplices that hath bene cause of al these my euils Thus as hee was most bitterly raging and erâ—layming against his cruell hate there entred the hall gate the horses that as it is said brought his Cousens who though piteously wounded as may be beléeued spake vnto the Souldane that somewhat comforted himselfe to sée them not altogither dead and commaunded them to be laid in a bed in his owne Chamber where they were cured And the other knight beginning to discrye their ouerthrowe said that hauing almost vtterly defeated their enemies there arriued the Prince Contumeliano of Phenicia with foure thousand men with whome after a bloody conflict we rested thus vanquished and defeated Oh me disgraced that I am said the Souldane and was that diuellish Knight there that slue the mightie King of Cyptus I doo not now thinke much of your defeature seeing he and the knight of the Golden Image were against you yet I assure you I reioyce to knowe they are both there that our reuenge may be greater We haue béene greatly deceiued herein dread souereigne said the knights for that Knight that depriued the King of Cyprus of his life is not the Prince of Phenicia bâ—t is the inuincible Knight of the Golden Image that onely for the same effect came forth of prison disguised in habit of one of his Damzels and repeated all Contumelianoâ— report Is it possible Oh immortall Gods that such a thing should bee which I yet dare not beléeue and surely there was not in the world a man blynder to knowe him then I. For séeing him so wounded and bléeding through his armour shuld haue imagined it could be none but he But tell me what is Don Contumeliano Which should be no bad knight seeing the knight of the Golden Image tooke his name and Armes One of the valiantest knights in that whole Campe is that Prince sayde they for at two blowes did hee bring your Cousin Boraldo to this passe you sée with many other worthy déedes that in the battell he performed These newes much discomforted the Souldane in which state he continued eight daies till he was altogither well of his fall in which time he heard by report of many Knights of the aduenture that was not farre from the Citie Who greatly desiring to see went thither accompanied with many Knights Where being come and reading the Letters of the Piller diuers would proue it but in a little space as many as did were ouercome and yet could sée no bodie I haue many yeares ago heard of this aduenture said the Souldan and how it was here and I know that in the Souldan my graund-fathers time many auncient Knights proued it And so from that time it was published abroad that many wandring knights from diuers places came to prooue themselues in it The Souldane after this returned to the Citie and caused his commaund to be proclaimed throughout his large Empire that euery one able to beare Armes should within two moneths be at Persepolis Whereby he beganne to order the mightiest and strongest Army by lande that vntill that time was euer séene in
neuer satisfying himself with asking al that had befallen them in that Kingdome The Prince Don Bellianis discoursed vnto him euery thing at large telling him hée greatly wondred that hée had vndertaken so great toyle as to come to seeke them To discharge the debt I was in replyed the Emperour for the succour I receiued at the vnknowne Castle both of you and of your Cosin for our manner as you knowe is to make satisfaction in the same Coyne And yet your dutie was net to go awâ—i not making your selues knowne But letting it passe What was the reason you did so Wée could do no otherwise replyed Arfileo hauing promised so to do They had thus chatted till the next morrowe if the Emperour had not sent them to bedde Which they did lying in that chamber and slept til the Sun had the following morning dryed the could deawe on the moyst earth And rysing out of their beddes made them ready and went altogether into the field where the ioustes were kept whose pryze the good Knight Sabian of Trebento obtained with immortall honor by his braue deedes In this manner rested they a moneth vnmolested of any by reason of the boysterous colde winter which kept the Soldane from incamping his Hoaste In which time the Prince Don Bellianis though hée greatly delighted in the Empereur his Fathers presence whom all the rest called the Knight of the Crownes sustained such gréeuous passions and torments of weart for the absence of his deare Ladie that hée often sounned to the death nothing with him preuailing the consolating wordes of his Damzels nor the Princesse Aurora to whome he made knowen his griefe But euery day grewe worse and worse which the Emperour his Father séeing armed himself vppon a day though hée could hardly doe it béeing not altogether well walked with him out of the Cittie and inquired of him very earnestly the cause of his melancholie gréefes charging him not to conceale if by any meanes The Prince don Bellianis tolde him he knewe not whence procéeded his gréefe but that he felt extreame anguish of minde and coulde not conceiue the cause thereof The Emperour perceiuing some loue passion tormented him hauing many times séene him sighe without cause ouerpaste that talke and saide Tel me where abouts is the valley of the thrée fountaines for I must néedes go thither It is some thrée myles hence said Don Bellianis whither wée may make an easie walke Whereuppon the Emperour tooke his launce from his sonnes Dwarffe and sending him with his owne Page backe to the Cittie they went towards the valley The Prince demaunded of his Father why hée went thither You shall knowe replyed hee I haue ingaged my selfe to the Combatte there with the Persian Prince this day and I am determined to méete him there alone without any company for so wée agreed and therefore here wée must part for wée must not go together Don Bellianis gréeued that the Emperour had vndertaken so dangerous a fight and the more because he might not go to ayde him if any sinister chaunce should befall But seeming to feare nothing said I will obey your commauede deare Lord séeing you will haue it so and will returne vnto the Cittie and excuse you till you come backe And so shewed him the valley and departed something better satisfied to see what little account the Emperour made of the battell yet he resolued to frustrate it as hereafter shall be shewen But here we leaue them till wée haue sette downe the matter contained in the ensuing Chapter which greatly auaileth this Historie CHAP. XXXV Who the sage Fristone was and what hee did that the battell betweene those Princes might not bee effected IN the Kingdome of Persia where then al those knights were dwelt a Wiseman which was hée that writte this great Historie called Fristone whose equall in the Magicke-art the world contained not excelling therein all those of his time for they procured to learne of him This rare Magician was so greate a friend to the Persian Prince Perianco that all his labour and studie was to no â—ther office but for the good successe of his affaires consunting the greatest part of his time to that end For which purpose hée had giuen him a most excellent rich and wel tempered sword that the like was not within y e earthly continent except that of Don Bellianis which before times appertained vnto that valorous Knight Iason the which that excellent Inchauntresse Medea had giuen him when they enioyed their Loues which she forged vnder the constillation and predominance of such Plannets that no iuchauntment might against it preuaill This sword procured the sage Fristone for the vse of the Prince Perianeo but he neuer could obtaine it because Medea by her Prophecies had bequeathd it to the successiue heires of the House of Greece placing it where Don Bellianis woon it by the meanes of the sage Bellona But this wise Fristone béeing in the desart of death where he made his habitation hee there calling to minde his friend the Persian Prince came to know that for all his valour was so excellent and very felve that might equall him in strength he notwithstanding might incurre wonderous danger And casting about with his Arte to know the end of that battell the almightie God would not suffer him to finde out the successe thereof reseruing to his diuine Maiestie the knowledge of the euent of thinges which to none others might bee permitted and the more hee sought to know it the farther he was from it Which thing so confounded him in his imagination that hée could not thinke what it might bée Wherefore he resolued by all meanes to disturbe the fight iudging that afterwards the Persian Prince might better reuenge himselfe vpon the Duke Alfiron for the iniurie he had done his Father and therefore deuised what you shall know in the next Chapter CHAP. XXXVI What Don Bellianis did beeing gone from the Emperour and how hee combatted with the Persian Prince and were parted by the means of the sage Fristone And how the Soldanes Hoste besieged the Cittie of Bollera DOn Bellianis béeing departed from the Emperour his Father so spurred his Horse that quickly he returned to the cittie wherein he entred very quict shewing no manner of alteration but telling euery one that by the way inquired of him for he Knight of theÌ„ Crownes y t he stayed not farre thence for Sabian of Trebento his companion Hée entred the Pallace where méeting with Sabian requested him to lend him his armour to supply his present néede May not I accompanie you said hee No replied Don Bellianis besides I will presently returne Where left you my Lord the Emperour demaunded hee Hard by replyed the Prince staying for me Which said he buckled on Sabians armour which nothing differed from his fathers and mounting a horsebacke he tooke his way to the valley of the thrée fountaines to méete with the Persian Prince and comming to a large plaine â—he spied
handes that hee was faine to set him downe not being able to stand on his legges looking like a man readie to breathe his last Don Bellianis thinking his woundes were the cause of it sat him downe lamenting that vnhappie chaunce loosing their blood so fast that it had made two Chanells as if they proceeded from two rising springs and ouertaken by the darksome night were put into so great feare that they dispaired of remedie Especially Don Bellianis doubting thereby his fathers life who because the suddaine amazement more troubled him then the daunger of his woundes quickly recouered himselfe and imbracing the Prince his sonne said Oh deare sonne tell me I pray you why come you armed in the Armour of the Knight of Fortune Did he peraduenture diâ— by your hands or how is it for I cannot expresse the alteration I suffer till I know it I weare the Armes of Sabian of Trebento and no others for those of the Persian Prince your selfe weares I haue not chaunged mine said the Emperour But tel me what hath befallen you since you lest me for surely we haue bn wondrously deceiued Don Bellianis tolde it him Whereupon the Emperour spake Surely Prince we haue bene inchaunted and yet cannot deuise by what meanes but this is the straungest case I euer heard of that both should séeme to weare one kinde of armour and not perceiue it each of vs imagining the other to be the Persian Prince And it may bee that Lady that cryed to you for helpe was she that so deceiued vs. But let vs part from hence for we loose much blood When they were vppon going they espied comming towards them an auncient Matrone conducted by foure monstrous Gyants before them was carried a Piller of fire which lighted them their way they came with such haste that ere they could rise she was vpon them whom presently the Gyants tooke from her Palfray and knéeling before the Emperour she required his royall hands to kisse them The Emperour refusing to do it tooke her vp and she vnmasking her selfe was straight knowne of Don Bellianis to be the sage Bellona his deare friend Whereat conceiuing as much pleasure as before displeasure and accounting all his daunger none imbracing her said What chaunce hath brought you hither my good friend at such a time which is not without some speciall cause The great loue I beare you and the Emperour your father replied she is the cause thereof But for you incurre great perill through your wounds eate this which I will giue you for with the like medicine you were afore cured They did so and were therewith presently so well as if they had had no ill at all and their armour returned vnto their former colour and deuises The Emperour imbracing her said For Gods sake Ladie tell me this aduenture for it doth more amaze me then any thing in all my life I will replyed shée and hardly shall you know it of any but of me You well remember the Combatte you had agreed with the Persian Prince now know he hath to his friend a great Magician in that Art the skilfullest in all the world this man knowing the great daunger his friend should passe with the Prince your sonne did ordaine all that which you haue séene changing both your armours that you might staie one another each of you thinking you fought with the valourous Prince Perianeo And trust me his desire had taken effect had it not bene for Don Bellianis sword which for that purpose the wise Medea many yeares before kept in the Caue where Don Bellianis woune it being the man she wished might haue it alwayes desiring to benefit the house of Greece as often heretofore she hath done For so was it written where your sonne found the sword if he doth remember the words I doo well remember them replied Don Bellianis for thus they said This Prophecie is mentioned in the seeond Chapter and here explained with effect That with this Sword the liuing should be lost and the dead put in possession of the recouered and they restored to their royall blood with knowledge of their possessors You see now how it hath come to passe and moreouer they said this should be At the time when the fiercenesse of the couragious Lyons which are you two by the greatnesse of his skill which is that of the wise man called Fristone that in knowledge equals her because he hath all her â—ookes should be put in greater feare but this know not he for he did not looke whether thâ— Sword were wonne or no or whether the valorous Prince your sonne did weare it Then the liuing which were lost that arâ— you two that being liuing were lost by the alteration of your Armour and supposing you alreadie dead which would haue happened if the fight had bene ended with the blowe of this Sword that cut the laces of your Helme were put in possession of your recouered selues being restored to your royall bloods which was at the point vtterly to haue bene lost And the true possessors knowne which are both you taking one another for the Persian Prince Now I hope you vnderstand the aduenture you haue past which not without cause you haue accounted straunge Greatly wondred the knights at these Ladies words who againe said But for another cause hath my comming bene which is to haue with me the Prince Don Bellianis your deare sonne whome I must presently vse in a deare imploy that ne lesse concernes him then his life Take vs both with you saide the Emperour I would willingly doo it replied shée but that the braue Duke Alsiron greatly néedeth your helpe and therefore it is no reason to leaue him alone and your sonne shall quickly returne againe And here doo as I counsell you for I well knew this woulde happen which made me write vnto you that you should by no meanes depart from the Cittie of Constantinople but you would not do it wherein it had not bene much if you had lost your life I will not go against your counsell replied the Emperour but tell me if my sonne shall quickly returne He shal said she and therefore go to the Citie the soonest that you may and so making Don Bellianis mount on horseback who had taken the Emperours blessing which with many teares did giue it him departed as swift as the winde leauing the Emperour so occupied with imaginations whither his sonne might be carried that he knew not how to resolue himselfe CHAP. XXXVIII How the Emperour returned to the Cittie of Bollera and what happened him in the Souldanes Campe before hee entred into the Citie THe Emperour remembring the Sages words tooke his Launce and mounted on horsbacke approching the Cittie of Bollera almost by breake of day which he founde begyt with so many multitudes that he greatly wondred at their suddaine arriuall and not knowing on which side the Duke laie intrenched because the Citie was round about besieged he rushed among those Tentes
depart for so Bellona would haue him do but perceiuing the Souldane comming towards him he thought it discurtesie to part without speaking staid and séeing he was come nigh him setting his hand on his saddle alighted with admirable lightnesse and prostrating himselfe demanded his hands to 〈…〉 sse them The Soldan against all intreaties did also dismount shewing the like curtesie that the knight did for he was a prince absolute in all Courtly behauiour had not Don Bellianis staied to whom the Souldan thus saide I cannot comprehend the cause excellent knight that hauing broght to end the greatest and no lesse strange aduenture hitherio seene liberating vs from such daunger you should depart bereauing vs of your defined conuersatioÌ„ by so sedain departure from our court which I would vnwillingly haue you do though you were newly put in as great daunger as the last you vndertooke in our behalfes which notwithstanding the Gods defend And farther I say if at my request you deny to do it withstanding my authoritie you shal be conuicted by her for whose remedie our immortall Gods I thinke brought you hither Where he imbraced him with loue as the benefit receiued bound him to Don Bellianis was strooke into such an amaze that he knew not how to be resolued thinking if he did not obey the Souldan the vnkindnesse would be greater then the seruice he had done him And on the other side he considered that he might incurre no lesse daunger by discouering himself not knowing Bellonaes intent in so concealing him But to salue all the best he might made this reply It doth not a litle gréeue me most mightie Lord that I cannot do you the seruice my heart desires because it lyeth not in my power being hither brought by yonder Lady that you sée without whose leaue I may dispose of nothing but binding my dutie to your seruice for euer as the person that most honour on the earth deserueth While they were thus talking the Sage Bellona came to them and with her the two sole excellencies of beautie the Princesses Florisbella and Matarosa with such rare brightnesse that it would obscure the midday Sun in all his pride shining in the middle heauen where he dwelles The aboue all fairest the faire Princesse Florisbella sole diuine perfection of an earthly obiect came with such a gallant semblance that no humane heart could haue bene so obdurate but would haue melted at her sight she was cladde in a white sattiâ— gowne with a peticoate of the same all cut vppon most rich cleth of Golde and euery cut tacked with a great Orient Pearle which were so many and so well set that they made so straunge a worke that the curiousnesse thereof could not be discerned the sléeues were long and large hanging to the ground closed with wyer of massiue gold set with the same Pearles and lyned with the same cloth of golde hung out with many vnualuable Jewels her Amber haire disheuelled ouer her shoulders hung backwards gathered togither behinde her eares vppon which shée had a Coronet garnished with Dyamonds Rubies Saffyres and pearles of more woorth then that whole Cittie before on her Carkanet pended a Carbunckle as bigge as two Walnuttes that yeelded so much light as foure great Torches burning in the darke Her Gorget was so open that plainly might be discerned the rare excellency of the Creator of all thinges in the pure wonder of the Sunne-out clearing whitenesse of her brest adorned with inâ—stimable Gemmes And although she thus came attired more beautie did glorifie her garments from the diuine naturall of her face then was hir beautie graced by the brightnesse of those stones such sole supremacie did make her absolute for no artificiall woorke could diminish nor augment her fauour The stately passage of her féete no more séemed to moue then the gentle blast of the milde blowing winde The Princesse Matarosa was attired in that maner whose perfection had no equall in the absence of her faire Cosin In this maner arriued they where the Souldan was talking with the Princesse don Bellianis who seeing the excellency of his Lady that farre excelled the portrayture of his shield rested so confounded with admiration that his braue heart vnable to resist so fierce an assault all couered with a cold sweat as if that were the last moment of his life lost his sences that had not the Souldane who thought some mortall wounde had caused it held him fast about the necke he had fallen to the ground yet notwithstanding he was in such a traunce that he felt nothing that was done vnto him Whereat the Princesse Florisbella being verie sorrowfull stepped to him to vnlace his helme But the Sage Bellona quickly running thither cryed out she should not doo it and imbracing the Prince said that euery one heard What is the matter knight that in time that we most néede your helpe you shewe such weaknesse The Prince at her words recouered himselfe and greatly ashamed at the accident replied You know deare Lady that I came no otherwise seeing the hand of cruell death knocked at my heart vnlesse I be succoured with present remedie Our immortall Gods will not permit it Sir Knight said Florisbella that we hauing receiued so absolute remedie by the helpe of your vallourous arme your life should be bereâ—t you to depart vngratified for your deare merits Whereto he answered In all humble dutie lower then lowly earth I kisse your beauteous handes sole excellent Princesse for the vndeserued fauour of your words whose power hath only power to cure my decaying life dispairing of â—ll remedie and deare comfort in the whole vniuerse but by this While they were thus talking the Soldan knew Bellona whom with great ioy he imbraced she would haue kissed his and the Empresse hands but the Soldan wold not suffer it saying Why haue your deare friend kept your selfe away so long time not visiting vs for I know no cause you had for it but now shal you pay for al not departing so easily as you thinke And I pray you tell who is this valorous knight y t comes with you for I am sure you knew of our distresse séeing you came in so great time of need The wise woman made this reply You say true dread Lord for knowing your danger and that surely you had lost the princesse your daughter I vndertooke this iourny imposing so great a danger vpon this knight as he vnderwent by our comming And beléeue me his equall liues not this day in the world and without him my comming had bene in vaine and hitherto I did not visit you because you had no néed of me I beléeue it replied the Souldane and now that our ioy may be compleat I pray you make this knight vnlace his helme and remaine here some fewe dayes for it would greatly vex me if such a knight shuld go from my Court vnknowne This must be pardoned said she for he must depart vnknown and therfore I pray you
do not importune him about it for it cannot be otherwise Hereupon they went where the two Princesses Florisbella Matarosa were chatting with Don Bellianis intreating him to put off his helme Wherupon the Souldan said If you obtain no more then hitherto you haue done of this knight I beléeue he will depart vnknowne He will not so much wrong vs said the Princesse vnlesse he will haue vs make litle account of his ayd we receiued And seeing he faith he will do what this Lady doth commaund him I hope she will not leaue vs so vnsatisfied in recompence of her long absence I do beséech your excellency said Bellona not to vexe your selfe for I assure you if he now discouer himselfe it will cost him no lesse then his life in lieu of the pleasure he should do you therein And let this suffise which according to our power we haue done But yet in respect of this displeasure I doo certifie you that your cousin the Princesse Aurora is wel though sorrowfull wanting your company she we left in Persia with the Ladies you sent to séeke her and thither must we goe shortly This hath greatly comforted me said she yet rest not altogither satisfied wanting the effect of this my desire I cannot expresse the oppression of my gréeued heart most excellent and supreme Lady said Don Bellianis to haue so yoked the libertie of my condition to a stranger power that I cannot now though it were with the certaine daunger of my life satisfie the deare obedience of your high commaund for I haue so tyed my selfe to anothers will that I must not do more then what this Lady here shall appoint me But I do protest and promise you by our high immortall Gods hauing freed my libertie to returne with all spéede to serue you and the Souldan your father whence I will not part but by your commaund in token whereof I do beseech you accept this King which cost me no litle labour with abundant losse of my blood to obtaine it Wherewith you shall be safe and sure of any such accident as this last And taking off his Gaunlets discouered the Alablaster whitenesse of his hands The Princesse heart was somewhat abashed adding more beautie to her beautie by the roseat tincture of a vermillion blush not knowing whether she should take the King which the knight presented her thinking shée should thereby do him a greater fauour then she would Which the Infant Matarosa perceiuing being greatly satisfied with the knights behauiour said vnto her What doth your highnesse doubt why do you not accept the precious gift of this valourous knight wold you sée vs euery day in like daunger which if you desire I assure you we shall not euery day haue so good helpe for though I sustained some perill yet was there none that succoured me Receiue this gift daughter said the Souldane for it is no small thing to kéepe the pledge of so valiant a knight All this while the discréete Princesse holding downe her eyes gazed on don Bellianis hand thinking with her selfe that if his face with the disposition of his bodie did agree with it the whole world could not affoord a gallanter not better knight of whose valour she was sufficient witnesse And séeing her Image on his shield imagined this was the knight whose praises her cousin had so inhoused Whereupon the subtill God of Loue on a suddain tooke his tributary vâ—ties by the possession of her heart and with such a violent stroake penetrated it that hauing no defensiue proofe nor the shielde of reason to withstand it but vnprouided assaulted by his subtiltie yéelded at the first encounter resting so vanquished that she neuer had the power to recouer the former libertie of her heart And the more shée thought on him the more she did insnare her selfe as the disccurse of this present booke mentioneth for no small forments this vnséen sight of don Bellianis Cousin here and with a suddaine ioy conceiued by her thoughts dying her beautie to make it more faire with the colour of an Orient Ruby First thinking that her Fathers commaund and her Cousins perswasions were sufficient armour to shield her from after scandall with lowly courtesie on both parts she tooke the King saying I do receiue Sir Knight this present at your hands lest it be saide I do deny the gratesulnesse I owe for the good turne you did and taking possession of this which is the least you shall remaine bounde to that which is the most I meane your speedie returne to attend the Souldane my dread Soueraigne and because you shall not forget it I will kéepe this as a pledge left me by you as also in remembrance of her that against my will doth lead you away before you haue receiued any signe of guerdon of my father Yet before you goe I pray you let vs know the daungerous deceit we had like to fall in I do most humbly beséech you sole president of diuine excellency said Don Bellianis to let me kisse the wonder of your handes that I may thereby enioy the fruition of so high a fauour as you haue done in the acceptance of the small gift of so meane a Knight as I am in respect of your highnesse Againe promising my returne shall be so shortly as the obedience of your commaund requireth vnlesse my hopes be frustrated by death and turning to Bellona intreated her séeing she knew the beginning and end of that aduenture she wold fully satisfie the Princesse therin Which she did in manner alreadie set downe And hauing done craued leaue to depart And so kissing the Souldans hands and the Empresse Siluiana bad them and the Princesses farewell Don Bellianis did the like with such griefe as any in his case may imagine leauing his heart with the Princesse and for it carrying away hers The Princesse Matarosa pleasantly said thus vnto the Prince I do beleeue sir Knight that the Sage Bellona hath so maistered you that you speake not but when it pleaseth her and if it be so tell it me for I presume to obtaine leaue of her for your tongue to play Don Bellianis that through his great amazement had net seene her but seeing her replied This hath not bene the cause of my silent ouersight courteous and pleasant Lady but the imaginations of the sight there séene which with my suddaine departure hath so increased my admiration and so intrapt me in my owne thoughts that they haue suffered me not to regard the deserued merits of your worthie person robbing the power of my spéech to consound me more in the déep consideration of my harts subiection Then belike the fault is very litle answered she by the spéedie redressing of our daunger wearing so good an armour as that The present blindnesse deare Lady said he is better to preserue my future sight At your returne you shall explaine me this said she for now I do not vnderstand it Whereupon the braue Prince don Bellianis mounted
buisinesse nor néede more seruice then I can doe being not so déepely wounded that we should require any such helpe You saye well aunswered don Bryanell but vnlesse I be deceiued you are sore wounded and my selfe am in like case and before we loose more blood let vs set Damartyno at libertie Be it so replyed Palineo and so tooke the keyes of the Prison from the Porters side and opened it where they found him ouerladen with boultes and Irons pale megre and weake for want of sustenance tasting no foode sometime in two nor three dayes whom the knights séeing could not stay the teares in their eyes knawing him to be one of the loyalest Knights liuing in those dayes Damarâ—yno séeing those Knightes enter in that manner said What would you with mee Knightes is your Lord now contented to end my life which would bee no little comforte to my many torments Palineo no longer able to conceale himselfe vnlacing his helme with great ioy to sée him aliue said thus You haue no cause to feare vs most loyall Knight being now at length set at libertie by the handes of this valiant Knight to whome you are no lesse bopnd then for your life And by yours said Don Brianel for without you mine had little auailed Wheruppon taking away his irons with great gladnesse he imbraced Palineo saying I did assure my selfe my mesâ— deare fréend you would not faile me in my necessitie for in such times true friends are knowne more then in prosperitie and humbling himselfe to Don Brianell craued to kisse his hands seeing his person that good deede required his dutie Don Brianel shewed him the like courtesie and taking him vp saying Thaâ— for that litle hee had don he deserued no such thanks being bound to more theÌ„ that for him for her sake that sent him Sir knights said Damartyno I haue certaine seruants in prison some where about this Castle for I know they were brought in with me them I pray you let vs frée so they went to séeke them and Damartyno greatly woondred to sée so great slaughter by two Knights And after they had found the seruants Don Brianel and Palineo they were laid in two beds in the Castle and were cured by one of Damartynos seruants that were very skilfull in that science and there they continued certaine daies till they were wel giuing order that if any came from the king they should be admitted to them But Don Bryanell the first day required one of the seruants secretly to fetch their horses where they had left them which so soone as it was darke was done that not a little contented Don Bryanel for he highly prysed his horse being neuer a better in that whole kingdome and through the hurly burly in that Cittie none remembred they within the castle But after they were through well Don Bryanell said to Damartyno and Palineo being altotogither Hitherto sir knight you haue not knowne the occasion of my comming nor knowne what I am hauing neuer séene mee before but to assure you of both read this letter from the honourable Princesse Aurora by which you shall know the beginning and the ende of my trauaile Damartyno taking it opened it and read it to this effect THe disinherited Queene of Antioch Aurora Princesse of Miriana to thee the most loyalest of all creatures her louing Knight Damartyno of the Valley gouernour of our Kingdome by our will though by a strangers hand health I knowe the vnhappie chances ouerthrowes and vnfortunate misaduentures haue not beene vnknowne to thee as the man that hath sustained the like which haue by the prouision of our immortall Gods befallen the King Pompeiano thy Lord and my deare Father as also the feared absence of my person so necessarie to escape the furie of the Prince Perianeo of Persia and Dou Gallaneo of Antioch And now reposing my confidence on the high estate of thy descent in the great loyalty I haue known in thee by the loue my father bare thee whose death partly on some of them is reuenged as this knight will more at large tell thee I hope the like shall also be seene in thy presence through thy meanes and order eyther by my comming in person to these or with an hoast of men sufficient to regaine our rights for which cause I send thee this valourous knight excellent not onely in armes but in al things else required in a noble maÌ„ With him shalt thou determine the best and the speediest meanes for these assaires we mooue but the Gods protect thee and preserue thee in that state of loialtie which thou euer gloriest in So soone as Damartino had read this letter did again imbrace Don Brianell saying I could not haue or desire better newes theÌ„ these sir knight to comfort my afflicted hart ioying to know of the welfare of my soueragne But how shal we do for this tyrant and vsurping king Tramoscano is so mightie and strongly fortified in this land that we may hardly oppose our selues against his forces I am of opinion said Palineo seeing we are to begin so great an enterprise we make it knowne vnto the Duke of Siluania to whom hauing Don Gallanco granted all his liuings the vsurper hath now for some causes disconsented hee I am assured séeing you at libertie will not denie all his aid assisting you to reobtaine that which he hath lost or else loose what he hath new I doo very well like what you haue said replied Damartyno and therefore you and I will to morrow go to him leauing this Knight in the castle to answere any that comes from the Cittie It were better we all goe togither said Palineo and if any come we will leaue order with these seruants what they shall do Be it so said don Brianell and I thinke best we goe ere it be day that we be not séen putting on some of the armor of the giants knights So resolued on this went to rest themselues and about midnight they rose and changed their armonr Damartyno and Palineo taking the best horses in the Castle departed commanding their seruants if any came from the Cittie they should tell them the Gyant had commanded none should enter to speak with him because he was not well And that they should make them answer according to their demand in the Gyants behalfe CHAP XLVIII What befell Don Brianell and his companions with the Knights of the Lions and how knowing one another they all returned to the Castle TWo parts of the night were ouerpast wheÌ„ the dazeling light of pale shyning Dyana would giue place vnto the easterne rising of the mornings sunne whose clear approach excelleth from the heauens the obscure darknesse of the gloomie night when these thrée knights issued forth of the castle vpon mighty câ—ursers with strong and knotty lances in their hands and onely with two pages to carry their shéelds taking the right way to the citie of Siluania where they thought to finde the duke Now