he would presently thrust him in with his rapier which accordingly took effect and so very villanously was Byndon murthered by his direction to coulor which diuilish practise and to the full consuming of his wicked intent he repaired forthwith to the King and infourmed him that he and some others passing through a strange gallery in his Highnesse Court had discouered a great crime committed in his royal Pallace which was no lesse then the deflowring of his owne natural daughter and shewed him further the manner of the apprehension and how Byndon being the offendor would haue made escape so that his man to saue his owne life was forced to kill him â—or that Byndon was so earnest to get away and had so prest vpon him that he could not otherwise remedy the same The King hearing what Delamure said so chaunged colour that he seemed rather a ghost then a liuing creture being at the first ouer-credulous induced so to thinke because Byndon was in such a place the secresie whereof was of sufficient authoritie to forbid any the entrance thereunto but to such as Modesta specially licensed griefe anger striuing for superiority in great rage without examining any further of the matter very vnnaturally did command his daughter to be imprisoned who finding the malice of her aduersary to haue ouercome her innocency submitted her selfe according to the necessity of the time to the stormy blastes of double faced fortune yet not ceasing to eâ—claime against such villanous and bloody murther executed vpon giltlesse Byndon whose innocent blood cryed to the heauens for reuenge of so great a treachery which iust and pitifull complaint increased the ielousie of suspition against her whose cleare conscience waighed not of any vniust disparagement so that in answering this false accusation she shewed so resolute a determination that argued a valarous and noble minde in one of the female sexe which had bene sufficient arguments to repulse this scandalous and false accution if the credite of her accuser had not bene of such great estimation yet neuerthelesse she was admitted to haue her champion so that any or as many as would come within three moneths should be lycensed out of what Countrey so euer he come to vndertake the defence of Modestas good name impeached by that tirannous County and in default of accomplishment thereof Modesta should according to the law suffer the paines of death This sentence pronounced she was carried againe to the same prison she was in before where she remaineth this fortie dayes without any hope of inlargement the mightinesse of Delamures countenance and his valiant exploytes as well at home as in forren countreyes doeth so terrifie aswell denizens as strangers that hetherto none durst presume to commit his person and honour to so great a daunger as to offer him the combat yea though neuer so confident of the equitie of the cause Ambideza seeing the matter to come to this predicament determined to conuay her selfe secretly out of the way nowe but too late remembring that many loue treason but none loue the Traitour making no other reckoning but that Delamure made her an instrument to bring to passe his bloody and inhumane reuenge against her mistresse and then haply he might worke some meanes to cut her off for feare his treason should come to light feeling also some remorse in her conscience of this bloody practise which thorow her meanes was like to prooue a dolefull tragedie here my sonne quoth the Hermite you heare the trueth of the cause for that Ambideza bequeathing her selfe to a Pilgrimes life thereby to endure some penance for her grieuous offence happened to light on this my Cell and because as it seemed vnto her I was a religious man in the way of deuotion she confessed the same vnto me Moderatus giuing attentiue eare vnto all this discourse was mooued with great commiseration of Modestas infortunate misery taking the murthering of Byndon his vnkle verie heauily yet like a braue minded warriour resoluing rather to reuenge an iniurie committed then to mourne for the losse of his friend meant to take opportunitie by the foote and either to free Modesta from the imminent daunger she was in or els to offer his carkasse as a sacrifice to finish the obsequies of his beloued kinsman and innocent Modesta and therefore made great moane to the Hermite for horse and armour to attempt this combate making no doubt but shortly to qualifie the arrogancie of that blood-sucking traitour The Hermite noting the honourable resolution of his minde iudged him to be a man of some great bountie And thereupon calling to memorie how that walking to take the benefite of the ayre he had espyed hanging vpon a Pine tree fine blacke armour and therefore nowe he brought Moderatus where the same was who beholding the same espyed this poesie ingrauen in the barke of the tree in Italian letters and to this effect None may this sharpe and cutting sword vncase But to redeeme the daughter of a King Nor any Knight this Armour bright vnlace Nor of his vertue bragge in any thing But he therewith that shall a Tigre tame For to defend a princely virgins name WHen he had well perused ouer the Poesie and told the Hermite the meaning who had small skill in the Italian tongue he assayed to take downe the armour yet fayled in effecting his desire for that all his strength was too weake to dissolue that inchauntment who perceiuing some misterie to be therein prooued another way to recouer the same and therefore he quickely griped the handle of the sworde which without any great difficultie he vnsheathed and then finding all other meanes insufficient to enioy so great a Iewell with the fine cutting sword he squared the inchaunted bandes which fixed the Armour to the Pine wherewith the same fell to the ground at the fall whereof very great and fearfull noyse was heard all there-abouts also a thicke myst and darknes so couered them that they could scant see one another great lights flashings of fire amid this darknes appeared Thus very miraculous and fearfull with great thunder earthquake this inchantment was dissolued by that light appeared againe the Pine-tree whereupon the inchanted armour hanged was missing and in the place where it had bene appeared a very faire horse wel richly furnished which mooued them to very great admiration Neuerthelesse Moderatus was very glad thereof hauing recouered such a goodly stead so sure strong armour hauing now an assured confidence in the successe of this enterprise by this the day was far spent it drew towards night therefore the olde Hermite very curteously offered Moderatus such simple lodging as his poore Tell could affoord who willingly accepted thereof and so both returned againe to the Hermites poore lodge and time of repast being not yet come the good old father to driue away the time began thus to parlie with Moderatus The Hermits exhortation to Moderatus and encouragement
and treacherous in his friendshippe oh rare and wonderfull great faith and worthie to bee had in great estimation amongest all men whome the force of loue could not mooue the displeasure of a Princesse coulde not feare tâ—e losse of kinde and naturall Parents coulde not cracke nor the hardnesse and daunger of a Pilgrimes life which euery moment is subiect to the storme of waywarde destinie could bend then Florida seeing that Moderatus preferred his friendes welfare before his owne and that he chose rather to preiudice his owne person then any way to hinder Priscus and desired in his last farewell that thou wouldest suppose him to be present in the habite of his friend for that they had but one minde to their two distinct bodies Thinke thâ—n of the worthines of Priscus who loueth thee as his owne life and hath sustained such hard penance for thy sake that more thou couldest not wish thine enemy lesse had bene too much for one that loued so faithfully now entertaine him with some comfort at his intreaty whom thou so tenderly didst loue but what Florida wilt thou so soone yeeld to fonde affection as to loue thy Fathers mortall foe hast thou none to fancie but the sonne of Lothus King of Aemulia that so often hath vexed thy father and his subiectes and haply vnder colour of professing loue vnto thee pretendeth some treason vnto thy father seeking rather to drawe some of his subiectes from their allegiance then to match with his daughter in marriage Ah but where rouest thou fond Florida thou doest measure his inwarde intencion by thy suspicious cogitation and is it not a Maxime in the Ciuill lawe that suspition is no proofe where it is said Factum consistit in externo corporali actu animus in tacito incorporali intellectu vnde in animi effectus non potest cadere facti euidentia thou deemest Priscus to circumuent treason who not onely assureth trueth in his wordes but also manifesteth the same in action for if he had thought to surprise thy father with treacherie he would not haue suffered him selfe to bee discouered vnto thee And what though his father and mine were and are still foes might we not neuerthelesse be friendes yea and our friendshippe be an occasion of amitie betweene our Parents seeing their hate is not deadly but growen of vnkindnesse and some ostentation and desire of superioritie And by this match both Prouinces might be vnited together that it might not onely preserue the liues of a number of their subiectes but also arme them selues with such strength that no stormie blast of sinister Fortune might shake the foundation of any of them both Loue then Florida for the worthines of the man willeth thee so to doe his birth and Parentage are sufficient pledges of honourable patrimonie and his personage and behauiour are liuelie portratures and perfect Mappes of true Nobilitie his merite is farre aboue thy desart and his faithful heart tryed with the touchstone of trueth excellethall so that I thinke nothing wanting in him that might be wished for in an honourable Gentleman or a loyall louer Heere fetching a deepe sigh Florida made a verie long Period Cupid nowe hauing founde her as a wanton playing the trewand had whipped her with nettles to requite all her former coynesse and therefore she began to forget her deerest Moderatus and to imprint in her thoughtes the liuely Idea of Priscus perfect shape verifying the olde Addage Qui procul ab oculis procul est a lumine cordis Thus making a vertue of necessitie hauing none other at this time worthie entertaining she resolued to frame her countenance so mildly towardes Priscus that if heretofore shee had giuen him a cooling carde for his hote desire which might driue him to despaire now hope might giue him comfort that opportunitie would be a good plea to further his action deuising with her selfe by what meanes she might best giue Priscus to vnderstand of her newe conceiued affection who being in this solemne meditation came in some of her gentlewomen with whome she passed the time away remaining in a kinde of longing desire till good fortune should bring them once together Priscus all this while kept his bed his ague being so extreeme that the report thereof was publikely knowen and the absence of Moderatus vnderstoode which caused great heauinesse throughout al the Dukes Court in general for that he was verie curteous and bountifull vnto all and therefore greatly beloued of all his Parents and friendes greatly grieued therewith especially because they knewe not the cause of his departure nor where to send in quest of him The Duke and the Duchesse tooke it also very heauily for that they entirely loued Moderatus for his Gentlemanly qualities vertuous conditions sober life and diligent seruice Thus a good space was his departure greatly bewayled throughout the whole Citie of Albigena all comforting Priscus supposing the losse of his friend to be the cause of his disease the which Moderatus Parents noted in him presently for being verie often with him sometimes hee would raue and be as it were franticke and then he neuer ceased to call vpon his friend Moderatus the which being vnderstood they tooke verie great care of him and gaue in charge to Verosa tenderly to looke vnto him and to cherish him in his sickenesse which the Phisicians helde daungerous though not mortall Verosa for her brothers sake that was his friend his owne curteous and gentle behauiour deseruing no lesse willingly assented so to doe in perfourmance of her Parents commaunde and of good will vnto him and amongest other times Florida and Pandarina once did beare her companie for that both of them indeed could haue bene contented to haue comforted him in the best sort they could although in outward shewe they dissembled who being come to the Patients chamber they found him very sicke yet at the latter ende of his fitte which made them offer them selues a while to keepe him chat to beguile the tediousnesse of the time Priscus faynt as he was very heartily gaue them thankes who espying Florida being very neere his bed and taking him by the wrist to feele his pulse and asking him whether the day of his Crisis was past was almost in a sounde to beholde her that had thus wrought all his preiudice the which Florida perceiuing gaue him verie comfortable wordes and cherished him verie tenderly and bade him take heart for that a valiant minde is neuer knowen but in extremitie as the pure golde in the furnace Priscus well noted her wordes which somewhat did lighten his heart albeit hee much maruelled from whence this sudden kindnesse had proceeded after so cruell a sentence pronounced against him holding it for authenticall that naturally fire and water coulde not agree in one substance nor yet loue and hate so to concurre in one person that so suddenly the one should expulse the ether experience hauing taught him that the lowest shrubbe
paradice that he measured her maners after his owne minde and construed all to the best thinking that as she was Venus ouermatch in beautie so she might be Pallas superiour in vertue yet the Maiestie of her countenance furnished with coye disdaine brought him to a great doubt of the successe of this enterprise neuerthelesse he could not disswade himselfe from the same for as Ouid said Nitimur in vetitum semper cupimúsque negata Thus Priscus applying him selfe in his aptest habite to please his Mistresse counting that no conquest which might be easilie wonne and deeming the enterprise but base which had not in it some daunger beholding with the fish Mugra the bare hooke swallowed vp his owne bane and with the Hartes of Calabria fedde on Dictanum knowing it to bee deadly poyson for albeit that hee did perfectly ken the perill yet hee was so blinded with affection that hee coulde not auoyde the preiudice Hee was sober and wise yet all that was too slender a defence against the pearcing beames of beautie which had so benummed his spirites that hee seemed rather to bee a ghost then a liuing creature and no maruell though his wisedome could not withstande such a sweete encounter for euen as the fleetest fish swalloweth the delicatest bayte and the highest soring Hawke is soonest reclaimed to the lure so the sharpest witte hath his wanton will which verie often is inueagled with the poysoned sightes of alluring vanities And albeit he endeuoured all that euer he coulde to couer his passions with a merie countenance least anie of the Dukes Court espying his feruencie might ayme at his affection and so preuent his purpose yet hee could not hyde a padde in strawe nor so closelie couer his flame but that Moderatus well perceiued that there was some fire where so great a smoke appeared not a little marueiling that his friend concealed his griefe from him carrying a more ielous eye ouer him then before to the ende to discouer the cause of his passions that according to the duetie of a friende hee might minister a medicine to cure the Melancholie maladie of his friendes maie contented minde In this sorte Priscus a verie long time houered betweene hope and despaire fortune offering him no opportunitie nor yet daring though she had to make his griefes knowen vnto Florida the which albeit it pearced him to the quicke and strayned euery string of his heart to the highest note of sorrowe yet he dissembled the same in hope that the storme could not last so long but that in the ende it must needes present a calme thus embracing the shadowe of pleasure and fruite of vanitie he thought the weather verie good for his haruest if Phoebus graced him with the light of his countenance although the clowdes hauing vnlockt the closset of their moisture powred foorth aboundance of raine Wilie Venus nowe seeing her Champion thus patient yet almost tyred feared least any longer delaye would bee such a cooling carde to his queasie stomaâ—ke that hee would for euer despise and abiure Loue and all his Lawes wherefore resolued to frame a platte to procure his vaine hope which she brought to passe in this order Priscus coueting nothing so much as to be alone and in solitarie places whereby to feede his melancholie humour with friuolous and vaine thoughtes in a fayre graye morning walked foorth to the common garden adioyning to the Pallace in the vtter parte whereof there was an entrance to goe vnto a priuie Orchard wherein sprung a verie pleasant spring the delectable murmure of whose Christaline streame falling ouer the pebble stones made such musicall harmony that it might haue delighted a verie sorrowfull man and the whole platt couered with the pleasant shades of mightie Cedars Pine-apple trees greene Bay trees sine Cherrie trees the sweete Briar and the stalkes of Roses growing plentifully in the ende of euery Alley and on the side of euery banke the ground checkered all ouer with choyce of finest flowers as Uiolets and Camamell the one the more it is chafed the better sent it will yeelde and the other the more it is troden the thicker and finer it will growe There was also the Dasie Primrose Cowslippe and the rest euery flower hauing his secrete operation to procure delight and euery tree and plant growing in such order that there you might beholde the curious workemanship of Nature most liuely pourtrayed and set foorth for the flowers did yeelde a verie pleasant and sweete sent to comfort the braine and the tender grasse a soft pillowe to ease the wearyed bodie the mightie and braunch-spreading trees affoording shade to keepe off the parching beames of fierie Phoebus the musicall byrdes not omitting their partes to set out this earthlie Paradise accorded their notes with such daintie harmonie and sweetnesse that it might haue lulled a-sleepe the most wakefull and watching Argus in the worlde the fine order obserued with so artificiall a proportion in framing of this platt so rauished the minde of sorrowfull Priscus hauing espyed the same as he ascended a steppe or two to see by a horologe that was set vp vpon a pillar in a corner of the Garden what a clocke it was with desire of solacing him selfe in this place that he stood a long while deuising with him selfe howe to compasse an entrance thereto wherein to powre foorth his passionate complaintes supposing it to be the Bowre of pitie the sweetnesse thereof inducing him to beleeue that mercie lay lurking vnder euery flower in the ende seeing there was no other remedie left he skipt from the pillar where the horrologe was ouer a verie high wall of bricke vnto this priuie orchard hauing his Lute with him which he brought of purpose to solace himself with where being come he curiously surueyed ouer that pleasant platt not a litle wondering at the fine order of the trees which grew scituated diamond-wise keeping so good a decorum in their growth that one leafe was not seene to outgrow another and being wearyed in tracing vp and downe amongest the pleasant groues he rested him selfe in a fine Arbour seated in a close thicket neere that murmuring fountaine where he beganne to powre foorth his complaintes in this manner Oh infortunate Priscus whose Prime of youth is loaded with more sorrowes then yeeres what peeuish Planet was predominate ouer thy Natiuitie or what contrarie oppositions the heauens seemed to powre foorth at the time of thy byrth hath Cupid bewitched thee or Venus framed thee a foole in fancies forge or which is more the bare reporte of fading beautie so besotted thy sences and made such a Metamorphosis of thee that from a Prince of Aemulia thou art become a vassall and hireling to the Lord of Liguria a man nothing superiour to thy selfe and thy fathers mortall foe And what hath procured this if loue fond Priscus which as thou knowest is but a blaze like to a Bauine and therefore vnworthie to be lodged in Priscus if beautie that onely is the
of a well tempered bodie and then either your sickenesse was but fayned or your mirth nowe but dissembled Yet howsoeuer I see it is your pleasure to make a stale of me and to frame me your Instrument to argue of what you like best and I am well pleased it should be so rather then you should want of your will And therefore let vs go see whether there be any acte in preparing if not in playing abroad agreed vpon this point they left the solitarie chamber of desolate Florida and passing through a gallerie going towards the chaÌ„ber of presence they might see the yong prince Cornelius standing inâ—a Bay window which bounded vpon a very faire garden and in his company Priscus Moderatus and another yong gentlewoman which was of the house of Deualoyes called Pandarina a verie gay Dame she was and noted aboue all the Ladies and Gentlewomen in Court for her ripe wit and ready â—â—swers in all pleasant discourses Now was she in some earnest disputation with Priscus whereat Cornelius and Moderatus laughed a good to see them so heated crossing each other with pleasant and conceited quippes Florida perceiuing them to be at it indeed stood stil smiling said to Verosa we haue so long communed of comedie til at last by good hap we met with an act in playing therefore let vs draw nere the sport least the best parte be past before we come thus Florida with more desire to make a looking glasse of the amiable couÌ„tenance of her best beloued Moderatus then for any mind she had to heare their discourses approched to this merie company whereupon Pandarina glancing aside hapned to espie them first said well my lords I see now God hath so wel prouided for me knowing me too weake for one of you much more for three that all in good time he hath brought here my Ladie Florida and mistresse Verosa with whose ayde I doubt not but to make my partie good against you all Priscus hearing the Ladie and Mistresse of his thoughtes named stood as mute as if with Perseus shield he had bene turned into a stone and I doubt not if Pandarina had then followed the chase hard and taken the benefite of her good Fortune but she might easily haue ouercome Priscus at that instant But she rather desirous to make Florida acquainted with the matter tooke no heede to his countenauce which was verie pase feare hauing banished all the blood from his visage which Moderatus well noted and least his friend should be taken tardie being driuen to a non plus if he had bene enioyned to answere any demaund he interrupted Pandarina in her speeches and craued leaue to make report of their controuersie which being obtained he stood so long in opening the matter till Priscus had taken breath and somewhat recouered him selfe for in this sort Moderatus addressed his speech to Florida Madame you came in verie good season to succour a distressed Gentlewoman who being so hardie and valiant as it seemeth by this bolde enterprise in attempting alone to encounter with three who thinke them selues to be no cowardes at armes it were great pitie she should miscarrie being charged with an ouer-number But for my Lord Cornelius and my selfe Mistresse Pandarina alone shall be the Iudge if we played not fayre suffering her without interruption except it were a little laughing which we could not forbeare to see their eagernesse in the cause to combate it out with her first champion but she might hardly haue trusted vs to you I confesse if Priscus had lost the victorie And sith you are come in such good opportunitie you haue ransomed a worthie warriour with your onely presence for I thinke no man here so hardie as to enterprise the defence of this quarrell if you tooke the contrarie part But neuerthelesse sith it is mistresse Pandarinas pleasure that you should be acquainted with the question thus it was or so much in effect As my Lord Cornelius master Priscus and my selfe stood heere in this windowe viewing through these casements the fayre prospect of this delightfull and pleasant garden wondering at the excellencie of Nature the efficient of so goodly a thing welcomming in our thoughtes the flourishing Ladie of Spring that lately was arrriued from the boisterous stormes of sturdie Hyems delighted thus to see her spread abroad her ensigne so trimly garnished with littely greene we heartily wished to march vnder so worthie colours which be the tokens and badges of hope hope the onely refuge of amorous conceited Gentlemen as I say we stoode thus in a Dilemma as it were viewing these fayre flourishing flowers which yeelded foorth not only a sweete and odoriferous sent after a pleasant Aprill shower but also a rare and glorious sight when Phoebus hauing past the Equinoctial pearceth the breast of cholericke Aries with his shining beames beginning to drie vp the siluer dewe from the gentle Gilliflower and sweete Roses that it so rauished our mindes with contemplation thereof that I thinke had not mistresse Pandarina awaked vs of this sweete and delightfull vision we had at least-wise wished in desire to haue vnited our earthly bodies with our mindes that be of lighter substance and celestiall to the euer-beholding of that heauenly and diuine spectacle and there withall haue become humble peticioners to the Architector of that great engine that we might become attenders on the daughter of Inachus whome Iupiter after that he had committed an escape with placed a starre in the heauens to saue her from the wrath of Iuno Pandarina seeing vs thus to stand as stoode Niobe after the issue of Latona had reuenged him selfe vpon her children approaching neerer vnto vs she interrupted our Muses with this parley My Lordes it seemeth that you are either verie lazie or loosely giuen if you haue neither hawke on fist abroad to procure your delight nor Ladie in Court vnder whose fauour to shrowd your selues from these vncouth and melancholie passions for me thinketh it ill fitteth young Gentlemen to be thus like Anchorites still in contemplation altogether exempt from Uenerie and Chiualrie which be the two principall recreations for heroicall mindes both which doe so detest the idle liuers that as the Bees hunt the Drones from their hiue as vnfit members of their common wealth so Mars neuer accepteth for his souldier nor Venus for her seruant any one that knoweth not howe to finde him selfe occupyed either with warlike exercise or amorous dalliance wherefore plucke vp your spirites for time lost can not be had againe you may see the finest flower is but a day and your time can not be very long let no base thoughtes ouercome your Princely mindes and if Cupid be your Soueraigne and that the destinie haue decreed that he shall frowne vpon you yet beare valorous and resolute mindes and with Hannibal despise Fortune then shall you triumph ouer hâ—r with courage that so ouercroweth you being thus giuen ouer to idlenesse My Lord Cornelius awaked with
this hot skirmidge out of his pleasant meditation answered her thus Gentle Pandarina I pray you when you play with your little dogs for then you are not idle to whom do you bequeath your seruice to Mars or Venus whereat we all fell to such a laughter that we made mistres Pandarina verie angrie and because my Lord proceeded no further in this argument which I thinke was with that one word fully finished M. Priscus being a good tennise-player tooke it at a rebound then went forward with it thus I maruel very much mistres Pandarina that one of so good a iudgement as you be should be so farre ouershot in a matter so pertinent to your sex as the seruice of so honorable a Ladie as Venus is to coÌ„clude that because we were idle therfore we were not in loue when as onely in being idle we bequeath our selues wholly thereunto being then in contemplation of the hie mysteries of so great a Deitie imprinting in our thoughtes the Idea of our mistresse liuely countenance and reuoluing in our minds the happie successe of our desired amours where as otherwise being as you would haue vs occupied albeit in parling with our best beloued yet do not we loue so feruently for that then our eyes is occupied with that office which being absent and solitarie our minds hearts do execute therefore the fruitful effectes of loue being either in the eyes or heart I referre to your own iudgement in which of these two parts of the bodie true loue doeth consist If in the eies or tongue as it seemeth you would haue it I confesse I am in an error but if otherwise true loue lieth in the heart as it doeth indeed then in being solitarie the mind is most occupied and so the person exempt from labors or idle as you terme it is alwayes most in loue And if all this is not able to perswade you to beleeue a trueth yet reiect not Ouids principle who being Master of that Arte censured thus of idlenesse Ocia si tollas periêre Cupidinis arcus Contemptaeque iacent sine luce faces Pandarina could scarce suffer him to come to a Colon much lesse to a Period but fretting with great anger did roundly cut him off in the midst of his tale replying againe so effectually to the matter that I thinke if her cause had bene good she would haue ouer-matched vs all what her speaches were I can not remember both for that my memorie is verie short also because the substance of the cause grounded vpon an arte whereof I am altogether ignorant thus Madame you haue heard the cause of contention in such rude maner as I could best deliuer it And I dare be bold to speake thus much in the behalfe of Priscus that for his part he will referre the iudgement of this debate vnto your Ladiship albeit Nature doeth binde you to be partiall therein in respect his aduersarie and you be of the same sexe Moderatus hauing thus finished his speaches I referre to your iudgements amorous gentlemen who haue wel experienced the passions of languishing louers whether Florida was not in an extasie for ioy to heare him that she loued as her owne soule thus clarkly discyphering of the qualities and nature of Loue. hoping that he could not be so perfect in the arte but that experience had taught him his principles and that probatum est had bene his guide directing his compasse by so good a leuel being assured also that if euer he had tasted of the rinde of the tree he would reach at the fruite And therefore hoped that she should not need to be the plaintife in this sute wherein being a defendant she meant to suffer a recouerie before he could haue time to be non sute in his action And you must imagine gentlemen that Priscus was not idle all this while for albeit his tongue walked not yet his minde neuer eeased from thinking his heart from panting his eyes onely executing the office of the tongue so that I thinke no part of Floridas bodie was vnuiewed and looked ouer a million of times presenting euery looke with a sigh and euerie sigh ministring a thousand doubtfull Dilemmas what the sequell of his attempted enterprise would prooue so that thus bathing him selfe in a sea of confused thoughtes betweene hope and despaire he rested speechlesse for the time to attende the conclusion of their begunne talke Cornelius Pandarina and Verosa were not at this time altogether a sleepe for Cornelius had an eye to the gallant beautie of young Verosa who in respect thereof was matchlesse and almost of an incomparable excellencie her vertuous and modest conuersations being ornaments to decke the rest with a most gracious fauour that this young Saint endewed with all these qualities wanted her peere in all the Dukes Court. Pandarina narrowly surueying as well the goodly personage of Priscus as also his gentle disposition and readie sharpe wit commixt with modest grauitie had a great combate in her mind between Loue and Dâ—sdaine hammering in her braine a million of foolish fantasies to be resolued on the sequell thereof Thus while Moderatus was occupyed in speaking openly the rest were not exempt from secret and priuate thoughts Verosa onely excepted who spent the time onely in giuing attentiue eare to their talke being altogether eyther ignorant or carelesse of the fantasticall humours of dreaming louers And after that Moderatus had concluded his begunne speeches Florida sweetely smiling descanted somewhat vpon the matter allowing the venterous courage of Pandarina not disallowing the subtill reasonings of Priscus referring the equitie of the cause to them that had better skil in the arte then her selfe And hauing thus spent some part of time in reasoning pro contra at last they agreed betweene them selues to passe the rest of the time in some merie exercise to recreate their mindes withall Cornelius brake silence thus because we be three men and you so many women we will either of vs by lot see which of you will happen to be each of our Ladies and as it then falleth so shall it continue for this yeere that is the woman shall call the man seruant and the man shall call the woman Ladie and Mystresse And when they had all consented to this the three Gentlemen separated them selues from the rest of the companie and Cornelius chose to him selfe for a fained name to take his chaunce in this lotterie Troylus and Priscus named him selfe Hector and Moderatus tooke to name Vlysses and so returning againe to the companie they discouered their borrowed names and then Verosa because she was youngest was appointed to haue the first choyce who hauing heard their names she said thus vnto them My Lord Cornelius and the rest of the gentlemen you haue chosen names worthie your selues the first being the flower of all Knighthood in the world the second a perfect myrrour of a true and faithfull Louer and the third the true lantherne
a spurre alwayes So fortune would did pricke my wounded minde But in her sight that no where ease I finde A combat straight within my selfe arose Of that I should yeeld vnto Queene desire Knowing that fame is partiall as she goes So I might fall in seeking to aspire Then Ladie Loue said that I must obey Which sentence past I durst not make delay Fortune thus fram'd the plot to mine annoy Fame blew the coales to kindle my desire Loue did command I should no rest enioy Till I were clens'd in Cupids purging fire Thus I doe range to seeke a remedie And though I liue yet liuing daily dye Seing Fame of beauties pride could me enforce What maruell is 't if beauty it selfe could moue But oh that beautie had not some remorce To yeeld me due that feruently do loue Or at the least to pitie mine estate And not for loue to yeeld me deadly hate The God is blinde that workes this mysterie And doeth not worke according to desart But yet I yeeld me to his Maiestie In hope at last he will regard my smart In the meane time I banish quite despaire Expecting him my wracke for to repaire Repaire if that he will long may he raigne Triumphing wise to gouerne both Gods and men If otherwise I can not griefe refraine But must seeke out a darke and dolefull den In deserts wilde to end my dismall dayes And Hermyte-like on rootes to liue alwayes WHen Priscus with a deepe sigh being now come to a perfect Period had concluded his song Florida hauing searched all her wittes to deuise meanes to haue some priuate conference with Moderatus after a competent time of silence each expecting other to speake said Be blythe Gentlemen and if as it seemes you haue cloyed your selues with musicke that it hath caused a surfet hauing in such sundrie formes vsed our tongues to refresh and recreate our selues me thinkes it could not be amisse to digest some of our fulsome stomackes a litle while to vse our feet least for want of exercise they should waxe more stiffe and we forget our measures but it is no maruell if we doe commit measures to obliuion being thus long in conference about a thing that is without measure for I doe thinke that there is no Arithmetician so perfect that can number it no Geometrician so cunning that can measure it no Mathematician so excellent that can proportion it no Rhetorician so eloquent that can describe it no Poet so conceited that can inuent a reason thereof no Astronomer so singuler that can iudge of it And to conclude no Courtier so fine that can exquisitely countenance it Wherefore Gentlemen and friendes all we haue yeelded our censures thereof and the wisest Philosopher could doe no more without a Metaphisicall meane to vnderstand more then Nature euer taught or the Goddes them selues had the gift to doe thus to be briefe in my opinion you haue done all well hauing diuersely yeelded your iudgements thereof the thing it selfe being of nature so diuerse And therefore I thinke it conuenient that seeing we haue for the most part spent this day in pleasant recreations that we should end the same with some exercise that would bring us to some naturall heate after this colde confection and tosome appetites to our supper again after our surfet in amorous discourses And therewithall the company with silence seeming to agree Florida called for musicke which being readie she willed her brother Cornelius and his Mistresse to lead the rest for as they had their turne first in other exercise so likewise to beginne with this and she and her seruant would censure of their good skill in Carpet trade and afterwardes yeelde their cunning therein to their iudgements So presently they fell all a-dauncing sauing Florida and Moderatus who withdrewe them selues to a Bay windowe where Moderatus thought it not best to slippe so good an opportunitie once to breake a staffe in his friends behalfe and so after a long preamble she attentiuely giuing eare thereunto supposing it had bene for him selfe imparted vnto her vpon a firme and sure promise of secrecie the whole circumstance of his friendes cause his birth Countrey and friendes his trauaile past and the continuance of his present care the worthinesse of the man and the feruencie of his loue omitting nothing which he thought might induce her to affect and fancie him But hereupon Florida perceiuing his drift could scant suffer him so long a Period for that very angerly and with bending browes she commanded him to proceede no further in that sute and quoth she if my friendly countenance hath made you so pieuish as to abuse my curcesie so much I will albeit much vnwilling plucke away from you the fauor of a friendly affection which peraduenture might haue kindled in me some fancie towards you if you had taken in hand that office for your selfe which so earnestly you prosecute for another Whereupon Moderatus excusing him selfe with his owne vnworthinesse neuerthelesse commending the desert of his friend and vrging for him all that he could was by Florida absolutely commanded to silence and no more to speake for Priscus nor to presume to enter her presence if he seemed to disdaine of her friendly curtesie so frankely offered him And therewithall not staying for a further replie flung away in great choller without any manner of salutation to the rest of the company whereupon they all dissolued not a little admiring the cause of Floridas so sudden departure Moderatus to auoide suspicion affirmed that Florida was not well at ease all seemed to holde them selues satisfied with this excuse poore Priscus onely excepted whose heart was wel-nie sundred for verie griefe misdeeming the verie true occasion of that accident yet dissembling his paine as much as he could with a merrie countenance in outward semblance past ouer the matter for that time till he might finde opportunitie to conferre with his friend therein Gentlemen here may you plainly behold a very actuall Stratagem of a confused Metamorphosis wherein Cupid sheweth the force of his power for first he so inflamed Priscus with the loue of Florida their Parents being mortall foes that he came from his Fathers kingdome a Countrey farre adiacent to Liguria to do her seruice this instimulation proceeding only vpon bare report of her rare beautie blazed by a silly shepheard in a song at a rurall feast and pastorall sporte obserued by a sorte of Countrey swaynes and shepheardes in honour of their God Pan and therefore might rather seeme a fabulous fiction then any demonstration of trueth whose credulitie therein to fallible fame may be an holesome admonition for you to auoyde the like being so erronious as Cicero verifieth saying Credulitas enim error est magis quam culpa and the more to wrappe this young nouice in a Laberinth of his owne fonde conceits he so fauoured his frowarde affection that causing him to forget the daunger of being continuallie in the handes of his fathers
with a Sunne-shine and end with a showre but Bountie is an ornament of the minde which like the Camomell the more it is trodden the thicker and better it groweth or to the pomander that yeeldeth the sweetest sent when it is most of all chafed Yet neuerthelesse was it not the Beautie of Helen that mooued Paris so to fancie her that he coulde not liue without her was it not likewise the comelinesse of Aeneas personage that caused Dido to loue him so much that she killed her selfe by reason of his absence and was it not also the Beautie of Cresed which made Troilus so to languish for her that he was at the point of death Infinite more examples I could produce where Beautie alone without the helpe of Bountie haue inueagled the beholders thereof vnaduisedly to intertaine fancie for as there is nothing more pleasing and precious to the eye so there is nothing more brittle and fading being but a pleasant bayte to intrappe the minde which well might be compared to a bauens blaze the which as it is violent can not be permanent or to the apples in Arabia which begin to rot before they be halfe ripe Wherefore by howe much the minde doeth excell and is of greater estimate then the bodie by so much is the vertue of the one to be preferred before the beautie of the other which made Diogenes to say to a beautifull youth much beloued for his faire complexion O fond yong man why doest thou not studie to conuert the louers of thy bodie to be louers of thy minde Aristotle being demaunded howe happened it that we held communication longer and more willing with a beautifull bodie then another answered that blinde persons vsed so to doe for that they perceiue not the brittlenesse of the beauty but the forme and grace of the colour Aristotle in another place calleth beautie the spurre of fame Diogenes said it to be a great gift of nature Socrates the violence of a short time Plato the prerogatiue of nature which happeneth but to a fewe Theophrastus tearmeth it a silent fraud which perswadeth without wordes Theocritus a glistering miserie which is plesant to the sight but the cause of many inconueniences Carneades a kingdome without gouernour for that the beautifull commaunde what they will without compulsion or force Thus you may see the opinion of diuerse philosophers touching beautie which neuerthelesse I will assure you is of great force to procure loue and that made Cineas the philosopher to say that the gods them selues in framing thereof went beyond their skill for that the maker was subiect to the thing made and true it is for what made Iupiter to transforme him-selfe into the likenesse of a Swanne to beguile Leda and into a Bull to rauish Europa what transformed Neptune vnto a horse and Mercurie vnto a Goate but beautie what meoued Apollo to be in loue with Daphne what caused Bacchus to fauour Gnosida but beautie well then if beautie was of such force to stirre the mindes of the Gaddes to affection what maruell is it if mortall wightes and humane creatures had not the power for to withstande the sharpe assaultes of his piercing beames for who so lookes vpon the Sunne if he be not Eagle eyed becommeth stone blinde and he that gazeth on beautie vnlesse his heart be as hard as Adamant will presently be inueagled therewith So that as I thinke beautie induceth the minde to affection and bountie bindeth vp the match with the consent of the heart Beautie winneth and Bountie conserueth but either of them by it selfe though for a small time it might procure liking yet in the ende it would growe to loathing wherefore that loue that should be founded vpon beautie alone without vertue would with that glorious hewe and fading gloze vanish away for what loue should remaine when the thing beloued were lost againe the loue grounded vpon bountie without beautie although for a season it might be conserued with the habite of vertue yet in the ende would it growe lothesome much like a feast stored with plentie of fine eates and daintie dishes and all these serued in vncleane vessels the place of repast being also a dungeon full of stentch and filthinesse finally Beauty might well be compared to the wieke of a candle and Bountie to the tallowe for the wieke by it selfe being lighted is but a flash and will presently out againe and the tallowe put in the fire will make a flame yet quench immediatly but the tallowe and the wieke wrought together will euer holde light while the substance doeth last Thus you may see that Beauty by it selfe is fading Bountie by it selfe is vnpleasant and so neither without other durable wherefore I thinke both very requisite to obtaine and preserue loue Thus to be briefe my conclusion is that Beautie is a rare gift but Bountie a singular vertue Beautie for a small time garnisheth the bodie but Bountie perpetually adorneth the minde Wherefore as Acops an hearbe not fayre to the sight nor pleasant to the smell yet of a singular and secret vertue is much preferred before the glorious yet infectious Aconitum so Bountie though in neuer so hard a complection being of such a precious operation is to be preferred before the royall apparicion of Beautie which is but fading and momentarie but this I allowe that Bountie and vertue by howe much as it is in the more beautifull complection by so much it is the more commendable And therefore to conclude I say that Beauty encreaseth fancie and Bounty nourisheth affection but both ioyned together be both rare and singular which may procure the most wauering Cresed and dissembling Aeneas to be faithfull and constant Cornelius and Verosas secrete fancies Floridas promise of fauour to PRISCV'S VEROSAS meditation vpon the sequel of her amours CORNELIVS conference with her and her ratifying of affection Chap. 8. HEre Cornelius finished his discourse and all allowed of his censure chiefely Verosa who hauing curiously surueyed in her mind the exquisite perfection of young Cornelius she seemed nowe to like of loue as the Hyperborei do of licorice wherwith at night they allay their thirst hauing in the morning spurned it with their feet yet for that hitherto her brest had not yelded to the stroke of the hammer wherewith Cupid did vse to forge fancie vpon the anduill of desire she manfully resisted the fresh alarums of incroching affection her meane birth and hard fortune disabling her nay rather putting her out of all hope that Cornelius meant to seeke her in the way of matrimonie thus striuing with her new passions and dissembling her new conceiued loue in outward apparance she made no semblance of alteration The sicke Gentleman readie to faint for wearinesse Florida standing close by his bed side all the rest of the companie being in conference something further off she gaue him very comfortable wordes assuring him when he would be able to walke abroade she would reward him with the due
towards this enterprise His departure from the forrest of Esina His arriuall to king LOTHVS Court vnder the name of the blacke Knight His combat with County Delamure the false accuser of innocent MODESTA and his victorie Chap. 11. MY sonne now maist thou see how fickle and transitorie the state of mortall men are neuer satisfied in making sufficient ostentation of their glories Dum flaueat velis aura secunda who giuing their barks a ful sayle are very often in the midst of a very pleasant â—alme ouerwhelmed with a most cruel storme who in sleede of a happy and quiet harbour meet with a fearefull and dangerous shipwracke Well also maist thou see that in danger which is the extremest of all extreames some escape this great perill with plankes boards rafters and other such like engines and instruments which good fortune yeeldeth vnto them at the time of their extreme need other being of greater feare lesse valour do like bruite beasts desperately perish their heartes failing any way to shift for the safegard of their owne liues such is the disposition of nature that she hath framed some bolde venterous others cowards fearful trembling at euery wind and ready to yeeld at euery puffe of aduerse fortune who like the shel-fish when the Moone waxeth do increase and in the waine thereof diminish so they depending vpon fortune one while are mighty puffed vp with ambition pride another while being crosâ— in their determinations are miserable stuffed vp with seruile care and feare euen as Ramunsia which is tearmed to be the goddesse of vengeance doth alter and change her copie for as the riuer Nylus is alledged of some writers to bring famine into Egipt when either it ouerflowed eighteene cubits or rise not so high as twelue so in like maner fortune being ouer-prosperous or too much malignant doeth blind and detect the good motions of the minde either with extreme griefe or inexcessiue ioy both which derogate from vertue so much as by the same they do arrogate vnto vice waigh this with thy selfe aduisedly that mortall creatures continually saile betweene Scilla and Charibdis where seeking to auoyd one danger they fall into another for if they couet to be valiaÌ„t famous in the world they must hazard many perils sustain many great labors be not then dismaid though fortune sometimes frown for she doth it of purpose wherby her fauors afterward may seeme more plesant thou intendest to incounter with strong mighty enemy much feared for his magnanimity dexterity at armes yet hast thou a good cause to hope of victory for the equity of the quarrel the defending of innoceÌ„t blood the reuenge of a cruell tirannous murther be I think sufficient motiues to animate the veriest coward to be desperate wel I do know gentle friend that this my exhortation is but to heape Athos vpon Etna or to powre water into the sea for thy disposition carrieth with it selfe sufficient warrantise of thy valiant resolute determination therefore coÌ„mitting the sequell hereof to fortune I wish thee a happie successe therein The hermit hauing thus concluded meaning to conceale no coÌ„modities which his poore cabin did affoord froÌ„ Moderatus brought him to an inner roome being very beautifully furnished with pictures and tables of sundry sorts which greatly he delighted to behold amongst them one seemed much to excell surpasse the rest in beautie wherin was liuely purtrayed out many histories ouer the which there was written in great Romane letters this sentence Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Moderatus was very inquisitiue of the hermite to knowe the meaning of the histories contained in that table whereupon fetching a deepe sigh casting his fight vpon the table he replied thus It is quoth he a table containing true discourses acted and euented in my countrey of great Brittane which for the zeale I bare to the parties it doeth represent and for a remembrance of mine owne miserie I haue brought with me rest thee contented with thus much knowledge thereof at this time for that to discourse thereof at large requireth longer time then at this time we may conueniently enioy so great a necessitie summoning you to offer your selfe in the defence of innocencie which opportunitie being neglected your trauaile might come too late either to enlarge Modestas desart or finish your owne desire And therefore relinquish that request for this time and when againe you happen to trauel this way which I wish and expect may be shortly with some good newes and happy end to these new begun tragedies I will cyte all the whole discourse thereof vnto you fully to satisfie your longing desire in the meane time you want not wherewith to imploy your selfe in and nowe for that it is requisite that you be stirring the next morning we will refresh our selues with such poore cates as many Hermitage will yeeld vnto vs. Well repast being ended they walked together to take the benefit of the ayre yet they stayed litle abroad for that the waightinesse of Moderatus charge gaue him gentle summons to take his rest and to make his helmet his pillow for that night which accordingly hauing reuerently saluted his gentle hoast he did and all this night could Moderatus take no naturall rest so that no sooner had Aurora put off her mourning mantle of darknesse and discouered her blushing countenance but that he with a kinde of longing desire to be doing with his new implements had forsaken the poore cowtch he lay in all night and busying him selfe very diligently to set him selfe in a readinesse the Hermites assistance was not wanting who seeing Moderatus so well fitted and furnished with horse and armour noting in him an honourable and bountifull disposition who mannaged his horse with such good grace that the olde Hermite who in his dayes had bene as much beholding to Mars for courage as to Pallas for wisedome conceiued that he was one alone worthie of so honourable an enterprise as that was which he went about and so commending him to his fortunes and him selfe to his Orisons he left Moderatus making some haste to recouer Spoletum who in short time arriued at a little village about halfe a league distant from the same there he began to be inquisitiue of newes from the Court where he was told that the contagiousnesse of the time affoorded none other then the very worst newes that euer Aemulia possessed which was the imprisonment of the Kings daughter vpon Delamures accusation which all seemed greatly to pitty accusing the County of too too great cruelty Here did he also learne of one County Pallamount which inhabited in this village who was Modestas vnkle vnto whom he repayred praying his aduise and shewing his whole intent vnto him Pallamount returned many kinde thankes vnto him for his good will albeit that the great prowesse of Delamure did forbid him as much as once to hope of any good speed therein yet accepting
he loued so entirely her loue towardes him began to encrease so that in the ende vnable to conceale the extreme heate of her passions she confessed vnto Perio howe greatly she affected him earnestly intreating him to take the paines to returne againe in quest of the blacke Knight and she would well rewarde him for his trauell Perio well pleased with these newes willingly offered him selfe at her commaund especially therein for that he desired nothing so much as to shewe him selfe willing though not able to pleasure the blacke Knight so bountifull he had bene vnto him Well Modesta perceiuing the willing minde of Perio to carrie her message presently framed a letter and hauing sealed the same she deliuered it to Perio as being assured of his fidelitie whome she had often tryed to be faithfull requesting him with all speede to finde out the blacke Knight and to deliuer the same vnto him Perio presently departed whome wee will leaue preparing him selfe for his iourney to goe in quest of the blacke Knight which we left trauelling in great haste towardes the Hermites Cell in the Forrest of Esina who hauing at the last recouered the Forrest began to thinke of his forepassed daungerous aduentures and the remembrance of his dearest Modesta nowe penetrating his minde with fresh woundes which brought him to a great agonie tormenting him the more because he had bene but seldome acquainted with such strange motions being in a great rage with him selfe that his minde should be ouercome with such effeminate passions so that he thus striuing to suppresse the fire which was yet but a sparke it rather increased and waxed more and more that in the ende it did burst foorth into a vehement and outragious flame which so aggrauated his cares that if he had endured the torture of Perillus Bull he could not haue bene more mangled in his minde nor by any meanes racked to a higher note of sorrowe and griefe remembring howe vnpossible it was for him to enioy that vertuous and rare Parragon whose fauour he tendered more then his owne life And being thus metamorphosed from a free man to a thrawled captiue from a professed souldiour of warlicke Mars to a vowed seruant of wanton Venus taking no heede to his way these busie cogitations boyling so within his braine that almost the sence of vnderstanding was quite perished in him in so much that in this furie his horse carryed him farre out of his way before he came to him selfe againe In this sort the blacke Knight for so we will call him yet wandered these wilde desarts for tenne or twelue dayes till in the end wearyed with his day labours and his small nightes rest espying a fayre fountaine with fine greene banks round about diapered with the pride of Vestas choyse flowers and couered with the shade of a tall Beech tree Zephirus tenderly breathing foorth soft and coole winde which made a pleasant murmure amongest the parched leaues of that pleasant harbour and extinguished part of Phoebus extreme heate here he went and bathed himselfe in the fountaine and afterwardes reposed his wearie limmes vpon the tender grasse which was verie pleasing vnto him but notwithstanding his wonted passions still disquieting him that he could take no rest whereupon he warbled out this ensuing Dittie according with the notes of the musicall birdes that sweetely chattered vpon the hangings ouer that cleare and Christalline spring HOw can I sing and haue no ioy in heart In heart no ioy a heauy dolefull iest A iest God wote that still procures my smart A cruell smart that breedeth mine vnrest Shall I then sing and can not iest nor ioy Nay rather weepe thus liuing in annoy Why should I weepe or heauie lot bewayle Why should I sobbe and sigh with sobbing care For herein teares sighes nor sobbes can preuaile But hope may helpe to rid me from this snare The valiant minde condemnes such trifling toyes Though cruell loue bereaue his wished ioyes O balefull ioy reioysing in the sight Of beauties flowre a flowre like Cockeatrice Whose view doeth pearce the man of greatest might And doeth subuert the reason of the wise Such was the sight that did inthrawle my sight Such was the spight that wrought me deepe despight Haue I then pawn'd my credite to this end Haue I my life in ballance put therefore Her life to saue and credite to defend And brought my life to thraldome for euermore And may not hope this curtesie to haue Euen at her handes her champions life to saue Despaire not man thou hast not tryed her truth Doubt not before that she an answer giue Seeke first for fauour women be full of ruth Though she denie let no deniall grieue Women will say and will vnsay againe And oft refuse the thing they would obtaine The blacke Knights dreame His deliuering of a young man pursued by a Dragon whom he found to be the messenger that he had sent to MODESTA and receiued a letter from her again His returne with the messenger backe to the kings court The report of a great triumph there which was likewise to be perfourmed at Florence and the Victor to be rewarded with the Kings daughter Perduratus restored to his honour and liuing in Florence againe The gyant Bergamo his victori in Aemulia and his setting forward towardes Florence with MODESTA in a triumphant chariot The blacke Knight his combat with him in the forrest of Mountalto and his victory Chap. 13. BY this Morpheus had befriended him with a pleasant slumber yet the minde working still fedde it selfe so long vpon the bone that he left no marowe therein whereby so small moisture was left within his body to worke vpon that it could not intertaine and feede the ordinarie intercourse of descending humours which executed a friendly office within his body to disfraught the minde of cares and to nusâ—e it vp for the time in the bed of rest and ease Thus hauing but a weary sleepe as he was neither sleeping nor yet well waking he heard a pitifull outcrie and a great ruffling amongest the trees whereat he awaked and buckled on his helmet and by that he had recouered his feete and rushed a little into the thicket to learne the cause of the outcrie he might see a monstrous Dragon pursuing a handsome young man and being ready to cease vpon him the valiant blacke Knight vnsheathed his fine cutting sworde being nowe within reach of that ouglie feend and parted the fire-spitting head from that monstrous and diuelish carkasse and when his conquest was thus ended he called the young man vnto him who was yet scarce come vnto him selfe being so late in so great a perill and therefore could not speake one worde till the blacke Knight hauing narrowly marked him and knowing that he was the Page by whome he had sent his letter to Modesta spake thus vnto him My good Perio for so the Page was called what winde brought thee hither I am glad it was my good
of his Fathers happie returne to Florence againe with the great fame and renowne thereof and also to be offered so good an opportunitie once againe to combat for his Lady and withall that before his Father in Florence he shâ—uld aduance him selfe to shewe his skill in armes Well aâ—ter that he had discoursed a while with Calimacko vpon these newes he caused his Page to light him to his chamber where being come he began to commune with him thus Nowe Perio howe likest thou these tydings of thy Mistresse and of that handsome groome that must haue her very ill my Lord quoth he and worse will my Lady and Mistresse fare if she heare not shortly from you Nay Perio quoth the blacke Knight thou mistakest the matter for women be wilie cattell they can counterfet sorrowe when they are nothing sad and lowre when they haue list to laugh and smyle when they feele most smart dissimulation is a common practise amongest them yea and though they should loue entirely yet are they like the timely blossoms that are nipped with euery frost they change their hew with the Cameleon and alter their shapes with Proteus so voluble is the wheele of their vnsettled resolucion Quoth Perio you may assure you my Lord Modesta is none of those that is wonne with a Nut and lost with the shell for as without great desart she will not affect so without a manifest occasion she will not dislike and for you my Lord you may be well assured she will neuer be false vnto you and if you finde it otherwise neuer beleeue Perio againe Well quoth the black Knight I will trie if it be so let vs take our rest this night and in the morning you shall knowe more of my minde Little sleepe satisfied the blacke Knight deuising with him selfe in what sort he might attempt this enterprise vnknowen of any in the end he concluded with him selfe to send Perio the next morning to the Kinges Court to learne what time and which way Modesta should be carryed towardes Florence and gaue him great charge not to shewe him selfe vnto her before such time as he should put in practise what he had determined for the enlarging of her from the custodie of that great Giant Perio very readily and closely conuayed him selfe to Court and he stayed not long but he came to the knowledge of all the time of the Turnament being now expired and Bergamo for so the Gyant was called ready within those two dayes to set forwardes with Modesta towardes Florence whereby according to the kings Proclamation to finish his begun enterprise When Perio had heard this and had learned which way they would goe without any carrying he returned to his Master againe and when he had declared the whole circumstance vnto him the blacke Knight was very glad that they did so quickely set forwardes with Modesta and that Bergamo was to passe with her through the Forrest of Mountalto wherein was a very narrow passage at the issuing out thereof and adioyning thereunto a verie sine and plaine greene furnished with two rowes of Poplars which were sometimes the sisters of proud Phaeton so transformed because they sorrowed for their brothers fall along the same standing in such order as though they had taken their places there to behold the rare and strange sight which shortly was to passe that way Then he caused to be made a Cassocke and Basses of redde Satten to couer his blacke armour least he should be descryed before he had brought his purpose to some ende and caused also a straunge attire to be made for his Page and when he had giuen order howe thinges should be done he betooke him to his rest The next day when Aurora began to clothe her selfe with her gray gowne and to blush for shame that Phoebus should be seene to dislodge him selfe from her bower and that Titan had no sooner set foote in his charriot and his trampling steedes with foaming mouthes began to ascend and with their lightes to discouer such things that were in the inferiour regions obscured with the vale of darknesse but the blacke Knight armed at all assayes and couered with that red vesture his Crest plumed with a great bunch of white feathers mounted vpon his stately white courser Thus Perio carrying his Target and riding vpon a fine Iennet which he had bought for him trauelled a round pace towardes the Forrest of Mountalto and before Phoebus had passed in his course the meridionall line they had recouered the same and drawing neerer the plaine to the which the narrow Angle was adioyning the blacke Knight lighted off his horse gaue it vnto Perio and tooke Modestas picture that he had procured to be made for that purpose and hanged it on a mighty Poplar which stoode in the very nooke betweene the plaine and the Forrest where no bodie could passe but must needes see it vnderneath this picture he caused to be ingrauen in golden letters this sentence No Knight may passe this way but must needes either confesse that she whome this picture representeth is the fayrest Lady liuing and yeeld vp his Target in honour of her name or combat for his passage with the Knight of the Forrest who watcheth here for that purpose And when he had placed the same to his liking he walked aside to watch the comming of Bergamo who within three howers after was come within kenne of the blacke knight who tearmeth him selfe the Knight of the Forrest then presently he called to his Page for his horse and mounting to his saddle with a trice did ride a soft pace till he came to the entrance of the plaine and there he stayed still till the charriot came right against him and then stepped foth and wished the charriot man to stay who maruelling to see one alone man so boldly will him to stay thought skorne thereof and held on his course The knight of the Forrest full of choller to see the skornfull demeanor of that proud cartesman spurred his horse till he came within reach of him then with his armed fist he lent him such a blow vpon his face that he crushed his skull in pieces at the noyse of whose fal those which were already past turned backe againe those which followed hastened forwards Bergamo being within glutting himself with the view of the faire Modesta hard al this busâ—ing because the chariot stood he stepped out seeing the knight all armed before him his chariot man slaine asked the knight of the forrest why he had done so and reuiled him with great insolency assuring him if he did not answer him to his liking he should taste the weight of his mighty faulchon The knight of the forrest smiling answered I haue vowed to keepe this passage here thou maist see the cause pointing to the picture and I wished thy man to stay that I might speake with thee who would not and this is the cause now reade this
him selfe if his fortunes in his enterprise would prooue happie otherwise he meant not to make himselfe knowen at all Modesta at the first seemed very vnwilling to holde on this iourney to Florence least her champion in perfourming so many exploytes should at last miscarrie and so verifie the old saw So often goeth the pot to the water that at last it commeth broken home or halfe crazed but in the ende ouercome with his earnest perperswasion she yeelded her selfe to his will and then they trauelled on merrily till they came within a dayes iourney of Florence in all which time no aduenture worth the reciting happened and being come so neere their iourneyes end they thought it conuenient to send a messenger before to giue notice of their comming and to rest and repaire them selues in a fine village that was in the way called Albania which tooke the name of one Albanus a monstrous great Gyant which had built part of the Towne and a great castle which stood in the frontier or entrance of the same wherein he lodged a crewe of thieuish monsters like him selfe that spoyled and robbed all the countrey abouts till such time as the noble Florentine Perduratus who was nowe restored to his former place and liuing againe hauing knowledge of the great villanies of this Albanus came to apprehend him with a great number of valiant men at armes the which was not so closely determined but this fowle beast had knowledge thereof and fled to the wildernesse of Apenninus that ioyned hard vpon this village where together with the rest of his companions he remained robbing and spoyling all the countrey abouts This village of Albania was about twentie leagues distant from Florence where they continued foure or fiue dayes and there we wil leaue them till other occasions doe concurre to bring them forwards to the proofe of this aduenture The report of this solemne triumph alreadie finished in the Court of Lothus King of Aemulia and nowe to be perfourmed at Florence was so spred abroad in all countreyes that it came to Deualco his Court and hauing tickled the mindes of the luâ—te gallants that had any confidence in their skill in martiall discipline and dexteritie at armes with emulation and desire of honour so that Cornelius the Duke his sonne accompanied with his couzen Deualoyes and diuerse other noble and valiant Knightes prepared them selues for Florence both to trie their manhoodes in this honourable assemblie where triumphing with victorie they were to enioy so rich a bootie And also to visite Perduratus whose kindnesse they were assured would affoord vnto them many thousand welcomes with the best manner of entertainement the time and place would yeeld And amongs the rest young Cornelius was more forward then any other herein because since Perduratus departure from his Fathers Court he had receiued no tidings from the vertuous Verosa who was the onely Mistresse of his thoughtes and the Saint at whose shrine he offered the sacrifice of his fancie and therefore was in a very longing desire to visite her at her fathers Court being nowe in good hope sith her father was so fortunately restored to his former dignities again that with the consent of both their Parents he should nowe at length finish his long prolonged suite with the consummation of a marriage betweene him and his dearest Verosa Priscus loue with Florida her inconstancie and chaunge of his departure from Albigena in quest of his friend His trauell in the wildernesse of Apenninus and his great extremitie for foode his discouering of Poems engraued in the barke of trees and comfort thereby His parley with an aged Father and the olde mans report of a fayre shepheardesse which the sillie swaynes courted with those Pastorall exercises His discouerie of the fayre shepheardesse MERSA Her song His salutation vnto her and her replie The Swaynes songs ALBANVS his interrupting of their Rurall pastime PRISCVS combate with him and victorie PRISCVS search for CALFVRNIO the Gyants sonne His ayding of the blacke Knight who fought with CALEVRNIO and all his crewe Their victorie knowledge one of another and ioye The blacke Knight declared of his loue to his sister MODESTA and the triumph he was to perfourme for her in his owne Fathers presence though vnknowen of any there Chap. 15. LEaue wee them readie in their way towardes Florence and let vs not altogether forget Priscus whome wee haue not remembred all this while who after his friend Moderatus departure from Albigena vowing Pilgrimage to effect his friendes desired purpose which indeede procured him the friendly countenance of faire Florida for whose sake he long languished in extreme miserie so that nowe Moderatus being gone loue quickly increased betweene Priscus and Florida to his full ripenesse and continued not long in that estate for womens mindes will waxe with the Moone and ebbe with the Sea not vnlike to the flower in Sommer that to day is glorious in the pride of his blossomes and to morrowe withereth with the least blast of Boreas nipping breath These coye Minions be such libidinous libertines that they are both hote and colde and all in a moment and will both rashly choose and still couer to chaunge with this blemish Florida was fowly attainted for not long after this firme league of euer promised friendship had passed betweene her and Priscus it was not thorowly warme before Florida as women are euer desirous of nouelties had pitched her fancie vpon the young Lord Deualoyes who omitted no agglets bracelets ouches browches Gems Iewels Feathers nor fangles to feede her proude humour and loftie minde and also wanted no Pandars that for coyne painted him in his colours and that did set him foorth with their flatteries in his best habite who derogated Priscus praise-worthie desartes and arrogated the same wholly to Deualoyes as alone worthy of such a Parragon as she was there needed but small batterie when the Captaine was readie to yeeld for these pestilent and deuouring Harpies were not driuen to spend any long time in perswading of Florida to neglect Priscus and affect Deualoyes the which when Priscus vnderstoode what thinke you was he sorie for her ficklenesse no surely but hauing a little exclaymed against her inconstancie he reioyced rather that he might so quickely be ridde from the infectious breath of such a painted Panther sorrowing in nothing so much as in the losse of his deare friend Moderatus in quest of whome he determined to trauell And so consequently when opportunitie gaue him leaue and that he had furnished him selfe with all things for his purpose he departed from the Dukes Court acquainting onely Verosa with his determination praying her not to discouer either his departure or the cause thereof to any who at parting shed a nomber of kinde teares for that she loued him entirely both for her brothers sake also for his owne curtesie and gentle disposition Priscus hauing nowe taken his leaue of Albigena being well armed and mounted went forwardes
fell downe vpon the saddle bowe his horse carrying him all about the field as dead Delamure receiued small dammage by this incounter but onely the disgrace of his fall wherein his horse shoulder was broken which was very good hap to the blacke Knight for if Delamure had had his horse to followe him when he was in this traunce he had quickely ended the battell and albeit he was a-foote and his body corpulent he made so great haste to follow him that he came within reach of him and as he was ready to handfast a blow vpon to finish that labour the blacke Knight recouered him selfe and perceiuing that he was so disgraced before the Prince of Aemulia where he well hoped to gaine honour not knowing of the fall of his aduersarie he turned his horse with great furie where espying Delamure and on foote so nigh him with a trice he lighted from his horse and drewe out his sworde which was one of the best that euer had bene forged of steele for that it had bene wrought by wisedome and arte and so the County did the like then began the battell very bloody and stout either endeauouring with all his force to endammage his foe The good Lady Modesta nowe somewhat recouered of a traunce although she was yet doubtfull of the successe of the battell wherein she had fallen in this great danger of her champion whose death had bene a small iudgement of her life In this sort they continued the space of a good howre without any aduantage perceiued of any side to the great wonder of all the beholders who iudged it impossible for any humane strength to sustaine so long and hard a trauell all greatly admiring at the great bountie of the blacke Knight for that as it grew further in the day the heat of his choller being kindled his force and strength also increased and his aduersary was perceiued to become more slowe and fainty yet for his credite sake he encouraged him selfe and redoubled his blowes with such force that he had greatly endaungered the blacke Knight had it not bene for the goodnesse of his armour which no weapon could pearce yet the blowes lighting vpon his armour as thicke as vpon an anduill in a Smythes forge greatly bruised his body the blood issuing out at his Beuer and in many other places through the ioyntes of his armour the which the blacke Knight perceiuing and seeing that it grewe late thought it not his best course so to trifle the time and no good done least a new day must be taken and to end the fame and so his labour but then beginne and thus resolued at this time as it is said to winne the spurres or loose the horse he tooke his sworde in both his handes and lent Delamure such a mightie blowe vpon the visor of his helmet that he brought him quite out of his remembrance and doubling the same with more force afore he recouered out of his traunce he ouerthrewe him to the ground and then laid his foote vpon his breast and vnlaced his helmet to see if there were any hope of life in him and perceiuing by the moouing of his carkasse that he was not yet dead in a litle space he brought him to him selfe againe and thereupon the blacke Knight began to discourse with him thus Nowe treacherous murtherer and false accuser of innocencie thou maist see the iust reward of falshood and treason is to receiue a defamed death for so vicious a life or rather a perpetuall torment for so villanous an intent Nowe thy life is in my handes and in me lyeth either to giue thee that which thou hast not deserued that is to depart hence with thy head or els in executing of Iustice to present the same to the innocent Modesta which is too slender a recompence for so great a villenie And assuredly in case thou doe not here publikely confesse the trueth to auoyd the ielousie which might be conceiued of Modestas honour vpon my Knighthood I will euen execute the very vttermost extremitie that honour and armes will allowe to be done against thee County Delamures confession of his intended treason to towardes MODESTA and the cause thereof The Kings ioy of her deliuerie The blacke Knight his sudden departure from the Kings Court his letter he sent to MODESTA being greatly in loue with her The generall sorrowe in the Court for the absence of the blacke Knight MODESTAS receit of his letter and her returning of answere thereof by the same messenger her great affâ—ction vnto him The blacke knightes trauell in the forrest Esina his madrigals Chap. 12. COunty Delamure being nowe at the doore of death partly in hope to haue his life pardoned and partly for discharge of conscience the burthen whereof was verie heauie to his minde disclosed the whole circumstance the manner of his drift and the reason which induced him so to doe particularly as before is recited by the Hermite to the great admiration of all them that heard it howe such outragious villeny could be harboured in any humane heart who hauing from point to point thorowly discoursed thereof great was the ioy that was made in generall for the clearing of Modesta from that false accusation but specially her aged and carefull father the King who was much rauished in minde with that vnexpected good happe that for a long time he thought he had bene transported into a new world In this meane time Modesta with all her traine of Ladyes and Gentlewomen were not meanly glad hope hauing cleane banished away feare yet feare but newly defaced with hope in so much that the vertue of the one rooting out the infection of the other caused such a sudden alteration in her body that her wan and pale countenance was conuerted to a very faire and beautifull complection and to be briefe so louely and amiable she was that the people had bene like to haue runne into an heresie in derogating the dignitie and honour due vnto the Queene of Loue and arrogating the same vnto her as a new Venus more worthie then the olde goddesse supposing that by her there might be borne a young Cupid in whome the want of the former who was blinde might be supplyed who being full furnished with all his senses would no doubt be more gentle and lesse cruell Great reason they had to haue this opinion of her for that in maiestie she excelled Iuno in beautie Helen in modestie Diana in wisdome and pollicie Cassandra so that hereafter none meant to goe a pilgrimage to Citharea nor yet to adorne Aphrodite her shrine at Paphos with flowers where now might be found only the dead cynders where old sacrifices had bene but no signe of fresh fires and new burnt offerings Venus perceiuing the people in such an heresie in making an earthly creature copartner of her Deitie began to be very angrie deuising with her selfe howe she might vtterly subuert and bring in obliuion the great fame of
this newe Goddesse in the ende perceiuing no way to compasse the same but onely in extinguishing the very cause it selfe and as all desperate causes require desperate remedies so vpon the sudden Venus be thought her of a drift to requite this iniurie which was thus First she sollicited her deare darling Cupid to vndertake the reuenge of his mothers wrong shewing him that there was no meane to effect the same but onely to insinuate her with the loue of this newe Champion wherewith she was already something mooued and being once skortched therewith no doubt their purpose would take good effect for that the blacke Knight meant presently to depart to the Forrest of Esina to bring according to his promes tydings to the Hermite of his good successe in his late atchieued enterprise and then his sudden departure would be so great a griefe to her heart that in a short space her languishing loue would so alter her heauenly hew for the absence of louers breedeth such a corrasiue vnto the minde that it impayreth the beautie of the bodie that the multitude would nowe thinke it but a blaze which vanisheth away with euery blast and by this meane conuert the heate and feruencie of their desires honouring her nowe as a Goddesse to a loathsome and colde disdaine then despising her as an abiect in the meane time while Venus schooled her little wanton wagge to worke a reuenge against the vertuous and fayre Modesta the blacke knight hauing obtained the victorie thought it would be more honourable if he vsed it with clemencie and nowe after that County Delamure had confessed all the matter and circumstance thereof the blacke Knight lifted vp the beuer of his helme whose countenance garnished with the excellencie of beauty his long trauell hauing added a singular grace to his louely and amiable complection offering with great reuerence to the vertuous Modesta the disposing of County Delamures life or death for hers was the wrong and in her hand should the sword of Iustice nowe remaine therefore he heartily requested her to pronounce the sentence against him Modesta rauished as well with ioy of her sudden deliuerie as also with delight in beholding the beauty of him that now had taken fast roote in her minde refused to accept of the blacke Knights offer excusing her selfe with a kinde of care least in being a Iudge in her owne cause she might runne into the ignominie of the popular speaches and so either be condempned of follie for sauing his life that sought her death or otherwise be accounted cruell in not pardoning vpon the offendours submission for that it is a great inhumanitie to deny compassion to a man in miserie Upon these reasons she desired the blacke Knight to hold her excused giuing him innumerable thankes aswell for her safe deliuerie by his valour and bounty as also for this his curteous offer which to satisfie his minde she would willingly haue accepted of but feare of disparragement to her honour commaunding her to the contrary Yet the blacke Knight who was wholly resolued not to take her deniall very earnestly intreated her againe to satisfie his request herein which he would account a full recompence for all his trauels Then Modesta finding her selfe already ouercome with his strange and rare curtesie and desirous to make a kinde of emulation thereof in graunting him any reasonable request and therefore hauing deliberated vpon the matter and considering that a life full of infamie should be a greater torment to a valiant minde then a death full of martirdome pronounced a sentence of banishment against Delamure Hereupon all was finished and the clamour of the people was so exceeding great and wonderfull that the blacke Knight intending secretly to steale away from thence to perfourme his promes with the olde Hermite who was his good hoast in the wilde forrest of Esina with an intent neuerthelesse to returne in some vnknowen sort to knowledge his obeysance to the faire Modesta vnto whome his heart was prisoner on this determination hauing conueyed him selfe out of the presse of people and nowe being part in his way towardes the Forrest Perio ouertooke him who had eyed him so narrowly that presently perceiuing him to depart followed him with all the speede he could The black Knight perceiuing so conuenient a messenger and one he had also bound vnto him in some sort with friendly rewardes in recompence of his seruice he allighted from his horse and stept into a house in a little village hard by willing Perio to walke his horse till he returned againe and there calling for pen Inke and paper he deuised this fancie THe Ocean seas for euery calme present A thousand stormes so howerly doeth my minde While that I doe excogitate the euent Of things wherein great mysterie I finde With paine I prooue a treble dammage losse Sith Fate my heart in waues of griefe doeth tosse The wonder late I sawe wherein I thought A strange and rare effect for to containe Was when I view'd your face which in me wrought Such deepe desire euer yours for to remaine That when I finde that hope forbids to prooue To seeke redresse I languish for your loue But froward Fate too cruell dealt with me To ruminate vnto mine eares your fame Yet glad thereby that you redeemed be Though I do pine when thoughtes present your name In that I can not still possesse the sight Of your sweete selfe that sole may me delight THe blacke Knight hauing finished this Poeme he closed it vp and sent it by Perio to Modesta wishing him further to signifie vnto her that he trauelled to the Forrest of Esina to lead a hermites life vntill that he might either hope of her fauour to returne againe or dispaire thereof to bequeath him selfe perpetually to deuocion and after he had thus instructed Perio what he should doe and had well rewarded him to make him the more willing to effect the same he hastened him towardes the Forrest and Perio although more willing to followe his newe Master returned to the Court where he founde a great tumult the King being very inquisitiue of the blacke Knight which could not be heard of the which when it came to the Ladie Modestas eares she was very much grieued and disquieted for that she was nowe out of hope euer to haue any sight of him that she so entirely beloued and as she was in this meditation came in Perio who hauing reuerently saluted her presented her with that skrowle from the blacke Knight which when she had perused she was verie well pleased hoping he would not be long absent being sicke from the Phisitian which could cure his disease yet she questioned with Perio about him who vpon her demaund deliuered her his message by worde of mouth whose entire and faithfull affection choosing rather to wander in vnknowen desartes in great miserie then to stay in her fathers Court to reueale his fancie vnto her for feare of offending her which