was their sole auaile Not a little did the gallant Rosamond grieue to see her deare Prince in the battaile not for the daunger thereof for she well sawe the aduantage he had ouer his enemie but the true louer doth onely waigh the present ill of the thing loued admitting no entrance to the hope of any future good So resolued to accompany him in al things cloasing her Beuer with the best sword that the world contained she went towards Torisiano with these words It ill beseemes vs to see our friends in such egar warre and our selues in peace Neuer did the gallant youth see a more accomplished Knight then the Lady did represent being armed for which in many places shee was reputed to be Claridiano Notwithstanding accepting the combate for with Ioue he would not haue refused it he began to prepare himselfe Easely did the Dacian Prince heare the sweete name of friend which augmented such courage in his amorous brest that he began with fresh strength to bestow such him selfe receiuing mightie blowes that the Ladie clearely saw his aduantage But quickly were they put from this turning to gaze vpon the Knight with the white armour on whome his excellent disposition did drawe their affection This was our Knightly Lady that meeting with her enemie togither they laide on each other so puissant blowes that with their hands they were faine to sustaine themselues Of greater strength was the Lady for which cause shee rose soonest and with her good sword shee gaue him such a blowe on the Helme that shee made him see millions of starres shee seconded it somewhat lower which had it bene in the same place he could not but haue incurred mightie danger yet made she the blood flye through his eyes and nostrels which was but making the youth more furious who going towards her seemed to awaight her stroke which shee with eagernesse to bestowe regarded not his intent For in the discharge he stept to his left side fustrating her blowe at which time hauing opportunitie for taking her without shield there vnder her right arme he strucke with such strength that the Lady greatly felt the waight of her aduerse sword for it made her giue backe with such a stagger that shee had almost fell ouer-board And the haughtie Torisiano seeing her amaze would haue lept after her but she returned with such speede that she incountred him in his leaping and so thrust him that it was an admirable wonder how he fell not in the Sea yet he fell with a sore fall in the middle of his Barke Gladly would the Lady haue done what her Lord did but shee thought it would onely hinder him because the shippe was little So she stayed for his comming who returned like a rauenous Tyger renuing so fiercely their fight that it seemed of an hundred Knightes together so great was their noyse For the Lady reputed it to be dishonour to her reputation that her aduersary should indure so long against her specially in her Princes sight that being her first battaile With like immagination was her enemie troubled and so agreeing in one desire discharged on each other the mightie strēgth of their furious armes with such puisance that the Eccho of their sounding blowes made the valleyes in the firme land many myles off séeme to tremble with the shrill noyze By the force of the blow the royall Lady lost her Helme couering her white armour with thousand tressed tramels of hairie gold resting with some alteration through a litle blood that issued from her mouth But hers in a more lamentable sort had put the gallant Torisiano for with a great fall with blood bursting through his eyes she tumbled him at the enemies feete of her deare Knight who at the noyse with more care then the Princely Eagle gardeth her yonglings turned about and seeing his soules life in that amazment and without Helme thought her to be sore wounded that with a rigorous blowe driuing his enemie from him with a leape he returned to his owne shippe to know what danger she was in With great applause was this care of Don Eleno celebrated by the towred Ladies highly estimating the doubtfull regard he shewed of his Ladie Well did the louers heare it so she receiued him with these wordes It is no time now braue Prince to lose what with so much blood you haue wonne And seeing my daunger hath bene the cause thereof I will put on no Helme vntill my arme hath againe assured you what you vallour had obtained So ending her speech more nimbler then an Ounce shee lept into her aduersaries shipp at what time they had recouered them selues with more furie then angry Lyons hunted by their foes Betweene them fearelesse of her head did the Lady cast her selfe in her entrance meeting first with Don Argante vpon his shoulder shee grounded the waight of her furious rage whose paine was so extreame that he thought that side was opened to his middle and reaching Torisiano with a thrust she made his shield ioyne with his brest and himselfe almost loose his breath But this time was the inraged Dacian entred the barke florishing his rich sword whereby they could not but incur great perrill had not the most beauteous Princesse of Nyquea foreséen it who much pittying the twoo companions thus spake So admirable is the losse that this spacious Orbe will receiue with any of your deathes valiant and couragious Knights that it constraynes me to entreate you yf in you there be so much courtesie as courage for this time to giue ouer this combate for which these Ladies and I will worthely extoll your bounties The Princesse Rosamond enuious of so rich a sight quickly thus replyed first admyred Lady yt doth so aduance the honor of wādring knights that none can be more greater then to obay the commanded seruice of all Ladies insomuch that they accompt it a deuine felicitie to haue such occasions to shew it Wherefore I say that for the incredidle desire inexplicable wil I haue to serue them I doe on my behalfe giue ouer the fight not onely for this tyme but for euer because the Knight doth leaue so waued to my cost by this that I thinke it best to craue an assurance against all future accidents All the Princes greatly smyled at her spéech because they knew her to bee a woman by her hayre when shee lost her helme whereupon Lyriano replyed Brauely haue you defended your beauty most valerous Ladye bynding thereby all Knights to your perpetuall seruice And wee wish wee were them that you might know if we can intreate it is because we onely indeuored to be your dutyfull seruitors Notwithstanding we hope and so I doe beléeue there is no Knight but will do it soly to pleasure you to obtaine your fauour though our intreaties ceassed in that case With no lesse courtesie then valour were the Princes indewed and so the Phenician replyed when on our side the victorie were most
it againe but through the which proceeded from the galant English lady who with a new fauor fauored her louer The couragious Bariandell with his saddle betwéene his legges with all his gyrtes broken went to the grounde and drawing foorth his sworde demaunded battell therewith I desire not Sir Knight said Clarindo with you to haue newe quarrels this that Fortune hath giuen me fully contenteth me I am not vanquisht aunswered Bariandell and so may require my battell with the sworde That must be said the other as the Iudges please who seeing the controuersie went to them and adiudged the aduenturer vanquished Whereupon the shrill sound of Trumpets was so great that the one could not heare the other The smoke that issued from the Ordinance darkened the splendour of the Sunnes brightnesse that in the middest of his course stoode to beholde the Ioustes The pleasure of the Ladies cannot be expressed to see how brauely the Frenchman behaued himselfe To him went the Persian and intreated him awhile to giue him leaue which courteously he did For between them was such friendship as amōg their fathers The gallant youth prepared himselfe greatly contenting the Ladies with his presence iudging he woulde continue to the ende as his friends had happily begunne yet found they themselues agreeued with his libertie esteming themselues of little worth that any one should enter the listes without the name of alienated The which the great Matrone of Trabisound well noted therefore saide In faith braue Ladyes it greeues me to see the libertie of yonder Knight the looke to this window will not much lesse to your beauties Considering our nyce cōditions strāgenesse replyed the beauteous Archisilora I do not maruel at yonder Knights Not farre from her was Claridiano the afflictedst youth in the worlde seeing with what rigour his Lady vsed him depriuing him of that which by no meanes almost shee could deny for which cause he was so passionate pensatiue that none in the vniuerse could be more And seeing the good occasion to speak vnto his Lady he said I am glad soueraigne Queene of Lyra that you haue graunted what my Lady mother hath noted which is no small comfort to those that pyne to knowe that all the fault is not in the gallants but some also in their Ladies disfauours or disgrace It is not so great replyed the sharpe Quéene as it is iust towards those Knightes that without consideration place their hopes on that which yeeldeth soonest cause of dispaire And then this is rather a fauour for which Ladies ought to be gratified when so plainly they leaue their louer hopelesse that after they call it not a deceipt seeing their faith loue and loyaltie so ill repaide and so ought their complaints to be pittied and excused had not our strangenesse at first diswaded them Wherefore couragious Prince if any Ladye hath had more power ouer you then all we on the Prince of Percia thinke that your disfauours proceeds from this The wofull louer had not the strength to aunswere her seeing how openly she would not shewe him no hope of fauour From thence he went to his chamber ad vttering a thousand exclaims he cast him selfe vpon his bed cursing his Fortune that so was opposed against his content He durst not tarrie long because he knewe his mother would send for him so he returned placed himselfe next to Oliuea that loued him as her selfe this was at such time as through the place entred two Knights armed in Russet with barres of black that euery one enuyed their disposition but seeing they loued according to their deuises that it was in some high place it grieued them to know they liued vnbeloued Yet that was not the cause thereof but the losse of their deare Ladies For these were the valiant Princes of Celandia that hauing taken their leaues of Rosabell tooke their way towards Grecia Their deuise was a fierie Chariot wherin their Ladies were caried away they looking after them with this Motto For such a famous losse Still may we burne in fire Equall to our desire With great grace they passed forwarde but yet their strength was not so great as the Persians who taking a bigg launce incounted the one so rigorously that though on his feete he made him touch the ground he lost his stirrops for fewe blowes like that he had receiued and passed forwards Against him setled himselfe the elder brother This Knight was of more strength and so with more might they incountred shiuering their Launces in a thousand pieces The aduenturer lost one stirrope yet was it scarse discerned With new Launces they returned but in this second carrier the Celandian got but little for his length on the earth he left with the fall The Persian lost his raynes and the horse with the force of the incounter strucke his buttockes on the ground but spurring him he made him passe forwards prawnsing as he went The Instruments began their accustomed Musick with such harmonie that it seemed sent from heauen The Galleys discharged their ordinance with such noyes that the rebounding Eccho made all the Citie quake What say you now deare Lady saide Rosaluira to our Knights high deedes I beleeue our fauours giuen so willingly is that which so animates them Rightly haue you spoken said the Queene of Lyra but in the listes to shewe the freenesse of his hart this Knight deserued not so manifest a fauour She spake it to let Claridiano vnderstand that she desired to haue him Ioust but not seeing him there she straight supposed that her sharpe aunswere had driuen him thence It gréeued her for shee loued him dearer then her selfe But her grauitie was so great that she would by no meanes haue him imagine any such thing of her yet if to dissemble were to loue this Lady may be eternized for a famous louer and the greatest that euer was But at this time there entred some to proue themselues against the Persian to their cost for in short space he ouerthrew aboue 50 Knights None durst enter within the listes seeing how little there was to be got So that towardes the houre of foure through the place past two Knights of good semblance cladd in yallow that no small laughter caused the Ladies to see their dispayring deuise on their sheeldes had they a thousand distrustes all making against them they there pictured with this inscription T' is a vertue to distrust To him that will not Loue For feare of Ioyes remoue The Motto the ladyes entertained as was their custome when therein they will shewe their disdain equall to the cruelty that they show vnto their gallants The one of the yellow knights sett him selfe right against the couragious Persian who with his incountre laide him on the grounde the like he did by the second resting so brused by their strokes that he could scarce keepe a horse backe for those were the strongest incounters he had all that daie receaued The
towring Caedar he saw a Knight in azure armour all ouer crosse barred with Gold He was tall of personage and of well knit sinnewes betokning excesse of strength who was without helme with a hat vppon his head and laye pitiously lamenting to knowe the cause he stoode still Straight did the other giue it him which beeing the disease of loue none can hide it for with Millions of broken sighs that his soule sent foorth he began to sing as followeth Faire spreading Caedars that doe growe so high That you doe seeme to touch the vaultie skie Mount ye aloft and looke if you espie Prince Lindoriano in his owne teares lye Whose teares that trickle downe his louely face Your rootes will moysten and will doe them grace When heauens weat dewe Appollos heate shall drie Vppon your bowes I 'le graue my miserie And on your barkes in Carracters I 'le write My soules great griefe procurer of my spight My dangers cause my constancie procures With which I loue and will while life indures Though that it doe her crueltie increase Pyne may my hart till she my hart release For publishing my loue and her rare beautie To whome all knees may bow to doe her duetie I well doe knowe by'xperience to my cost The waightie griefe wherewith my soule is tost Which makes me thinke the nights for to seeme day And daies seeme night thus care with care I pay But yet in midst of my great griefe and paine This for my comfort onely doth remaine When as I thinke how sweet this warre will be Where yeelding I sustaine no infamie Happie Tynacria t is thou that doest containe Lindorianos blisse and chiefest gaine The Sunne of Heauen the comfort of this earth In whome I ioye for whome I drawe my breath Oh suffer not this Goddesse Natures ioye To be disgrast by being ouer coye To his complaintes that liuing her adore Constant and firme by fayth what would you more Loue her I will vntill I truely knowe From whence the cause of her disdaine doth growe Which loue after my death let her requite Not with like loue for that I neuer might But with her knowing that I haplesse die Refus'd of comfort from me that did flie The extremitie of passions were such and so many which surprized the louer that not onely hindered his songe but stopt his breath accompanied with a suddaine fainting that in a traunce leaft him spéechlesse leauing against the Caedar but being past he returned with a sighe that I knowe not whose hart it would not mollefie but hers oh pardon me that is the swéete insulting enemie of my life and sayd Oh loue how doest thou spare none from burning with thy vnconsuming fier Oh you mightie Princes by fortune exalted on the highest top of honor I nothing enuie your estates if once it be touched with loue Oh Gods how farre happier by enioyning a contented life where I yf I had the office of a laboring Countreyman and not the tytle of so great a Prince that my starres haue giuen mee But oh cruell passions more intollerable griefe what Oh yes thither would you follow me hauing as great a power in a poore cottage as in a Princes Court And therefore seeing I must loue and must liue thereby I will admit no comfort but what shall come from Rosaluyra for the swéetest otherwise is but hatefull sower and abortiue Oh despightfull chāce Oh hap vnhappie vnheard of that I should loue and not manifest it to the Empresse of beautie and of my Idolatrie the sole Goddesse and that I thus must languish without her knowledge Well it must be so she will haue her will deseruedly accomplisht and I will remaine adoring her more then euer was Lady loued But in recompence to demaund a thinge so small as Trebatios head is a diminishing of the high deserts of her incomparable merits By this way oh Gods to procure my content I am resolued to doe because hers consisteth therein But yet yf by my louing and wéeping experience she would be assured of my faith my death in this enterprize were eternall felicitie But oh slowe louer and more bashfull wooer why doest thou linger knowing there is no other meanes for thy happinesse Intollerable and more then may be imagined is the wrōg agaynst thy Lady thou cōmittest in this delay wherupon with a sudden hast that in such cases happens hee laced on his helme had tooke vp his weapons calling to his Squire for his horse But ere it was brought him Rosabell issued out of his ambush For knowing the Knight to bee sonne vnto the Souldan of Niquea and brother to his deare Ladie it grieued him because he had vndertaken such an enterprise against his Grandfather The occasion and the cause thereof hee had tould Oristoldo as hath been largly discoursed in the first of the second part And approching to the Knight with a gallant audacitie he sayd By that I haue heard sir Knight I haue vnderstood you are Lindoriano Prince of Niquea the Knight that I as my soule doe loue and euen to the same it grieues mee you haue vndertaken a demaunde so perrilous as that against the Emperour Trebatio for you must consider how that Lady and her Mother rather procéede through hate then with reason that bindes them to dissemble it And if Garrofilea complaines of the Emperour her selfe was the cause thereof procuring to her honours cost the accomplishing of her content And seing the Emperor did doe it hee might no farther passe because the sacred law of marriage did forbid yt whereof she was aduertized when she had him in prison so she might content he selfe with the children shee hath of so mightie a Prince and not topsey turuie turne and offend the world with her vanitie méere follie as to hope for hys head for hir reuenge and well doe wee knowe that a womans reuenge is but the aboundāce of feruent desire of things and things None more then she I am sure would grieue with his death because with reason the losse of such a person might iustly be lamented by his Daughter Rosaluira so she should cast her fame and honour on the dice being causer of so many deathes as haue already happened for the world doth wel know there is none therin that against his will is able to make that Prince leaue the listes A greater honour were it for her to dissemble her angrie loue as dooth her sonne Polliphebo who is reputed the flower Chiualrie glorying in nothing more then of such a Father not promise her selfe his head at whose countenance the very heauens tremble And so sir Knight the great loue I beare you hath forced me to this discourse because with more immortall honour by louing by your haughtie déeds shall you sooner obtaine your Ladies loue then by so doubtfull and vncertaine a meanes that can nothing yeild then a blot to your reputation Attentiuely did the Prince of Niquea heare him thinking he should
nothing done he went to the Knights with these wordes Had I bene assured of so good helpes Sir Knights with more hope had I performed my combat Small neede had you of our ayd braue Knights said the amorous dame and if we came it was only to know you and the cause of your battel That was soly to right this Damsell answered Trebarios sonne the came in my demaund for certain businesse and so was she taken by these gyants that lyke vyllanes doe nothing else but robbe in the high wayes whose fame now your vallour hath liberated Touching the rest ther is no reasō I should disobey you I am called the Knight of the golden Branch and no other thing do I know of my stocke Euery one had heard wounders of him and so the ladie to bind him to asmuch a lighted frō her horse saying dismoūt braue warriors that we may rest To content her Don Celindo hauing some feeling of his sisters affection did so as much did the Tinacrian But the Dacian rather desiring to seeke his Rosamond excused him selfe the best that he could alleadging the necessity he had to part away but ere he went he tooke the vallorous Tinacrian aside and thus said I am sure Soueraigne Prince that you know me not but many daies a goe haue I had perfect knowledge of your hauty deedes and since our kindred bindes me to tell you whom I am knowe that my name is Don Eleno of Dacia your louing cosen he that for the liberty of your natiue soile imploied the vtmost of his power Immeasurable ioye receaued the Prince to knowe him and rendring him many thancks for it replied In faith none with more reason ought to liue contented but I seing my happie starrs so highly blest me as to create me kinsman vnto so mighty Princes though great is my bonde to procure by desert in something to resemble them and for this would not be knowen of the Emperor vntill my déeds might make me worthy to be estemed his Sonne Those are already so well knowen most valiant Prince replyed the Dacian that you maye deseruedly bee called the Sonne of such a Father and because it behooues me presently to depart I must commit you to God in me while life indures shal you be assured of a perpetuall friend his companye desired the Tynacrian but thinking it discourtesie so to leaue the knights that taryed for him woulde not admit it but taking his leaue of all he entred through the thickest of the Forrest leauing them in loue with his valour and gentlenes dismount did the Tynacrian and lifting vp his Beuer he went to the Lady that trembling expected him to whome she sayde I thinke sir Knight of the branch that yonder Knight in the Russet did knowe you considering how hee vsed you and I wonder not for some I knowe that only by hearing of your valour beare you no small good-will hauing left their farr remoted countries soly to enioy your sight That 's the conditiō of true magnanimety valiant knight replyed he that becomming affectionate in nothing doe they better shew the noblenes wherewith the Heauens haue inriched them then in honoring those in reputation inferior and in credit And therefore doe not I maruell that more to ingreten your fame then for any my deserts you haue vndertaken so great a toyle wherefore if gratefulnes there maye bee any for so great and vnderserued fauour or if the imployment of my person in your seruice be part of any payment I will doe it euen with my verye soule for of much more doe I iudge your worthines worthy of No lesse was hoped of you sir Knight of the branch aunswered the Ladye and you liue not deceaued in what is desired you This opportunitie looked Don Cellindo for to leaue his Sister alone who gaue him a Thousand blessings for it for taking occasion to stall their Horses went away frō them with such content of Floraliza to see her selfe so nere him she loued that she could not speake The gallant Tynacrian altogither toke of his helme for the Knights conuersatiō gretly pleased him but with such quicknes she put of hers that when he regazed on her the seemed to disgrace Venus in her pride a blow was it for the Tynacrian which he so sone forgot not for first it cost him much blood he was amazed and I maruell not for with more experience the like had befallen Apollo that did to the vnwarie youth Well did the Lady note it and was not sorrie for it but the ioyfullest in the world seing that occasiō said what haue you felt sir knight for as I thinke by your exterior signes you should not iudge amisse of the sight of Ladies Nay rather replyed the wounded youth so great is the ioy it giues me that the good was part to interrupt my sences as the thing that excéeded their dull conceipts More doth that astonish me sir Knight of the Branch replyed the Lady that you should make me belieue so difficult a thing yet I would credit it liued I not vndeceaued that the grieuous shewes of gallants many times prooues but conceipts by which they would obtaine their Ladies fauours onely due to those that truely loue Such as the former valyant Lady replied he do not with reason ponder how great good it is to liue alienated and for that cause fayning their losse demaunde a costly remedie And for them woulde I haue no other punishment then what a distrust doth cause them seing what fauors the true louers doe inioy Nay then sir Knight sayd the Lady the experience that you seeme to haue makes you condemne what others take for good A little is for that needefull sayde the sonne of Garrofilea hauing at hand the reason that shal confirme it Neuerthelesse sir Knight answered she you cannot perswade me but the thought of your good imploymēt makes you haue that opinion Neuer sayd he would fortune make me happie with so rich a fauour most soueraigne Ladie as to let mee taste of some good that by louing is obtained and so thinke I long for the hower to imploy my selfe that I may iudge thereof I say replyed she I would not haue for my gallāt a knight the onely procureth his owne pleasure As that must proceede from the Ladies hands answered he first should I measure my affection by her will and according to that proceede to her content and not mine Your purposes be not so ill said Floraliza but that if your deedes were correspondent to thē you might finde her that would loue you The Lady could speake no plainer nor he see euidenter tokens to be beloued but her beautie was so excellent that he thought all past but as chat to driue away the time Neuerthelesse he would once trie the fortune of his desire saying In these matters of loue most excellent Lady I haue often heard that Ladies are alwaies sharpe and coye towards their gallants and so this feare hath sometimes driuen me
daunger hauing such strong enemies The gallant of Argentaria returned her his aunswere with such strength that he made her see more starres then in the heauens were But who bewayled the blowes in their soules with sighes and pearled teares were the two wofull Ladies seeing their louers in such daunger For Artimio alreadie bewailed Florisartes death alreadie calles the Heauens vniust alreadie complaines on Loue calling him a tyrant that liued by honouring Cupid a pittifull God If this way there is such excesse of griefe what shall the beautifull Princesse of Rome do seeing her Don Eleno with Lisarte For though he had the better her loue disliked it making her beleue what easily she credited But her sorrow helped not nor her louing with such intiernes auailed to asswage her passions They could not deuise no meanes to make the battle cease for as they were flesht in it they thought it impossible that any thing lesse then the death of some should part them for at this time it semed that with more fiercenes it increased The Tharsians dexteritie was it that defended him agaynst the angry Dacian yet was it not so much but being reached euery time he set both hands and knees on the earth he passed not much better for his aduersarie neuer gaue him blow but brused and tormented his body so that if he gaue he receaued In no lesse danger was Rosamond for onely her armour was it that in this battle saued her life Euen whē the Sunne would set widdowing the earth of his light there arriued the valiant Mauritanian Brufaldoro that following the search of the Tynacrian and not finding he came thither iudging that for feare he had hiddē himselfe And seing the crueltie of that fight hee could not but say Oh Iupiter what Knightly valour is this The fierce Pagan was gentle and affable of condition and so pittied the faire Pages that wéeping stood speaking thus Can you tell me pretie Pages the cause of this battaile which should not be little considering the fiercenesse thereof It is so small sir Knight replyed Artimio that it is gret pitie it should be continued to the end for so slight a thing the cause being only that this Knight pointing to Florisarte weareth asword which he in the Russet challengeth for his saying he would not part without it vnlesse it cost him his life No longer stayed the mightie youth but drawing foorth his sword put himselfe betwene them that were on foote saying Heare me sir Knights that seing ye haue no other reason then what these Squiers haue told me it were to be reasōlesse to leaue the world Orphant for so small a cause of your valour and for a sword The vndertaken battailes all discréet Knights should be grounde vpon some suffitiēt reason for that is it which assureth the victorye making hym more famous that prosecutes it with Iustice and not with passion to procure to maintain their fame vntill death well did the Dacian know him iudging him of great vallor seing he sustained himselfe to his honour against his Cosen Pollephebo and so replied It is not so small Sir Knight as you thinke it for that knights sword is mine and I requested it with much courtesie which was enough for him to giue it me he not only denyed it but allso threatned me till death if I more demaunded it which you see is sufficient for a-thousand battles and I knew that in no cause you would haue left it That were answered the beautious Arbolinda with many teares had not you giuen it willingly vnconstrained and with it leaue to be giuen to any hauing no action to require it and if like a Knight you gaue it you should no more haue rememberd it The Dacian thought he should know that voice to be of the Princesse of Scotland and so with some a maze answered how know you good page that I did giue this sword I was brougt vp in Rome replied the disguised Artimio sure enough to be vnknowen where I saw that in recompence of an inprisonmēt by the gentlest Gaoler in the world you gaue it All this while the most beautious Roselea did nothing but weepe currents of sault teares vnable to speake on word yet thus replied Don Eleno So many requires a peace valiant Sir that he should not deserue to inioy any that would deny it and so for this time I remit the battle so pleaseth these Knightes They will saie the woefull distressed Roman were it but to be more pittifull then you that forgetfull of your owne honour and what you are bound to do wander vp and downe challanging battles of whom you know not and without any reason More a mazed then at first with these things remained the Datian for by their voices he thought he knew them both and thinking long till he spake with them said to Rosamond in her language that it behooueth him to leaue that battle She that was borne to loue him woulde not therein discontent him And so stepping apart left the battle leauing the Princes so brused that they could scarce stand The king of Mauritania seeing the matter ended demaunded for the Knight of the Branch of whome Don Eleno gaue him the newes he knew not knowing he was shipt to Sea after he departed from him No longer stayed the Moore but in all hast possible with his wife tooke the way that the Dacian directed him and no sooner was he departed but Rosamonds louer mounting on his Tirio went to the Pages saying your spéeches gentle pages haue so confounded one that I wold giue ouer a Thousand battles so I might intreat you to tell me whether you know me or if my name in Rome bee knowen Wherto Artimio answered you haue no reason prince of Dacia to conceale your name and yet wee wish wee had not knowne you were it but because wee would not haue had a Prince so great an as you renowned haue erred against such excellent Ladies as the Princesses Roselia and Arbolinda for the former is with reason wronged with the discourtesie and ingratitude or rather crueltie wherwith you departed from Court she hauing shewed you so manye fauors which were suffitient for one that had a clearer iudgment then you to make him leade all his life with content but I feare you were onely borne to mocke poore Ladyes Then consider the blot of your fame and reputatiōs staine and the greatnesse that in Rome you are loued and moreouer the toyle and labourous trauayle that I and my companyon haue suffered in our tedious voyage to séeke you all which well pondered may bee some cause that leauing the present state of all thinges you returne where by minutes you are expected by them that fill the ayre with sighes And that you maye see it signed receaue this her better whose tenor I knowe not whose obdurate harte it woulde not mollefie but Don Elenos Prince of Dacia who tooke it not to be moued to Loue for therein he had not where
Zoylos affaires inlarging himselfe out of measure in them that it hath made me more labour in the abreuiation of this inchantment then if my selfe had newely built it indeede fearing that though the matter of it selfe bee pleasing yet the tediousnes of a harshe stile might prooue displeasing The discréete breuitie with it bringeth the content so it arriue not to a point of extremitie for then with the newe name turnes it to discontent by loosing that good which by a safe mediocritie it had obtayned Procuring this in all thinges I dare almost say that your beauties haue tane some delight in reading it which by the other way had not been so for though the Iusts that past in Constantines great Cittie deserued a large admiration yet wil I striue to flie a delightlesse prolixitie procurer in some respect of heauie Melancholy rather sinning by being short then offending with a little superfluous length So at length the terme appoynted for them being come deuynest purities of Natures treasurie scarce had the gallant sheapheard of the Heauens displayde his goulden Tresses ouer the earth in company of his chast Sister when the couragious Prince of Niquea with his bright Sunne-shining armour presented himselfe in the place to no small ioy of the Princesses seing how well the stranger maintayned their beauties Need he had to inure his hāds in toyle for he had no soner leapt into the listes when against him did present himselfe a well proportioned Knight clad all in gréene armour with so many pretious stones that it dazled the beeholders sight in the place a more brauer thing there was not séene In his shielde was pictured the face of a beautious Lady closing her eyes to a Prince that gaue her his soule with these wordes What auailes it to be strange My true-loue to disdaine When neither faith nor it doth range But will for aye remaine There was none but fixed his eyes on his gallantnes hauing it as he that was no lesse then the valiant Don Clarisel Prince of Assiria who departing frō Nyquea had taken his way towards Grecia where it had been better he had not arriued for by the swiftnes of their horses at length meeting they gaue one another such fierce incounters that the Gréeke Ladies gretly feared the miscarying of their knight who was incountred so strongly that hee lost both bridle stirrops and also was it maruell hee did not forgoe his saddle too if warily he had not got hold of his horse necke But with it he did a little prolong his honor making his horse passe forwards At this time the Assarian got the worst for being hit on his inchanted shield he was so hard thrust that he was throwen out of his saddle t was his good fortune to fall on his féet and so with incredible spéede recouering his lost saddle hee went out of the place leauing it glad to see the valour of the Ladies knight A rumour arose in the place with the coming of another for with the brauerie that he crost it no maruaile if Mars had feared he was apparelled all in cleere bright steele more blacker than the finest Iet of the same colour was his Courser sauing that he had some roane spots which greatly beautified him the plumes of his head on his owne Crest were all yellow agréeing best to his greeued thoughts In the middle of his shield which was like his armes was portrayed a Heart incōpased about with many flames of fier that seemed to burne it beneath was this Motto Whilst in Loues burning fier My heart findes no reliefe Why should it prooue a lyer Not shewing foorth his greefe A brauer Knight was not seene in Greece nor that better managed his horse he entred the Lists and being exceeding courteous he first did his dutie to the Ladies a thing that in euery one is highly to be comended What thinkes your Maiestie said the Prince Meridian to the Emperoure Trebatio of the aduentures gallantnes I doubt the Ladies Knight will incurre some disgrace for such disposition few obtaine Of the like opinion was the Emperour the most of the Court it was not much for more deserued the knight who with admiring puissance spurred against Lindoriano that doubting some mischance had taken fresh horse but it preuailed not for he in the Blacke encountring him in the middest of his shield did cleerely pierce it staying in his brest-plate hee thrust him so mightily that cleane ouer his horse-backe he fetched him to the ground with the saddle betweene his legges for yet in that would Fortune seeme to fauor him that som partial fauorits he had might attribute his fall to his horses fourniture and not for want of strēgth which was so well knowne to the cost of so many His stirrops lost the distressed aduenturer but he recouered them so soone that fewe noted it not he returned with such brauery that most were affected to him except the Ladies that extremelie sorrowed for their Knights disgrace It no lesse grieued Rosicler who fayning some indisposition went to arme himselfe for he would not haue it sayd that in Greece the strangers had got the best and putting on his inchanted armor he cast ouer them a russet coate that he might not be knowne And in this manner vpon a mighty horse hee went forth of the Citie determined to enter in the listes in Ladies behalfe astonished at the Knights valour vnable to imagine who it should be bethinking himselfe it might bee the Mauritanian Brufaldoro hauing heard him highly praysed Hereupon he stayed to let the day be farther past that the Knight might get more honor who like a fleshed Lion with the anguish that for his Lady he sustained t was pitie to behold his lamentable blows for eyther slaine or sorely woūded none escaped his hands Well did the Mirrour of Chiualrie Claridiano see it and had the like desire that his Vncle but he so despaired to see the strangenesse wherewith his Ladie vsed him that hee would not arme himselfe vnles he were commaunded And to moue it he stept to the Princesse Oliuia for with her the Queene of Lyra Archisilora still accompanied and to her he said I belieue most excellent Princesse that he in the black will so well he haue himselfe that he will force many to trie their fortune although some are so without it that not going with some particuler fauour they are like to meete with some greater misfortune Well did she perceaue with what affection hee hadd eyed the Queene and as shee was skilfull in that art by the cause shee spyed the effect and desirous to speake for him shee sayde Greate reason haue you braue Prince to require so iust a thing and if myne may in any thing preuaile from henceforth I giue it you though seeing what is betweene vs it should be attributed onely to Rosicler But here is the Queene of Lyra that will giue it if it be by cōmanding you for otherwise against her is the
defendors So furious rested the Pagan that thorowe his mouth hee foamed lyke a Boare a thousand times intreating the King to permit the battaile to the Knight but hee so feared the Prince that by no meanes hee woulde agrée thereto perswading himselfe he had his reuenge more surer that way Neuer was gelded Bull nor mountaine Lyonesse nor hee himselfe in all his lyfe more madde then Claridiano was at that instant to sée himselfe inclosed within a stonye wall which made him roare like a chaffed Beare Lirgandeo saith that as hee hadde afore béene a Pagan hee so let his tongue passe the limittes of reason that forgetting his profession hee let slippe some blasphemies Galtenor no other mentioneth saue that he would not that night sup nor go to bed for all what the Phisitions and Chirurgions vrged it so behooued for his health All the night walked he imagining what remedie he might deuise to yssue foorth to be reuenged on those villaines he was about to cast himselfe downe the Tower but it was timeritie considering the heighth In no lesse anguish was Pollidolpho yet something more comforted with Alanios kindnes that reputed him a person both of valour and high estéeme In nothing could he better shew it then in that extremitie But the beauteous Venus a thousand plottes deuised mooued with pure loue to sée if anye woulde preuayle None was good nothing pleased her saue solitude that was her comfort and if merily she looked on her Father it was with dissembling her inward gréefe which was the greatest that euer Ladie did indure With Fausta her gentlewoman shee disburdened her heart for Thousand doubts perswaded her she should suffer some danger which she thought could be but little how great soeuer happening for remedie release of those Princes for whom she would hazard lyfe and honour Sixe dayes of the thirtie were past and no Knight appeared to accept the battle nor none in the Court durst doe it iudging madnesse to vndertake it against the Father and Sonne Verie fewe were in the Court but lamented the lamentable certaine death of the Knightes and aboue all Alanio not knowing what meanes to deuise to eschewe it because the King still insisted in his rygorous obstinacie vrged therto with continuall perswasions of that trecherous Lindauro of Syconia Her griefe did the fayre Venus smother outwardly but alone she shed more teares thē the first of that name did whē she bewayled the obsequies of her deare Adonis One after-noone with her discréete Fausta shee walked into a Garden where none but she and her Damozells vsed to sport them in tyme of solace to giue her thoughtes the lybertie of their vnbrydled pensiuenesse which by so manye wayes was assayled It was their good Fortune by the Fates appointed that those Princes should not so iniustly dye to leade them to a place where they satte downe hard by certaine thicke growen bushes and as Fausta pluckt vppe some of the rooted braunches to sit vpon she spyed a great hole like to a Caues mouth She was astonished thereat supposing some beast or Adder to bee in it that might hurt them the cause thereof demaunded the afflicted Venus and being tould yt the amorous Ladye sayd Oh I would to loue it were so that by taking away my lyfe it would end so many deaths which I indure for there is no hart longer able to tollerate so much She rose with more courage then her tendernesse allowed taking away the bushes to sée what it was they espied a Caue that towards the Pallace bended of such widenes that twoo armed men might easilie passe through it She expected no other resolution for couragiously and with great bouldnes for in the end she was in Loue she entred it commaunding Fausta to followe her for though shee lost her life shee would know what was in it and find the end therof your beautie will vnder-goe too great a bouldnes said she and I would not for any thing we should be spied There is no danger to bee feared nor yet that wee should be seene sayde Venus for considering the safetie of the Garden it is impossible that any should haue come hither They had not gone Fiftiepaces when they founde themselues at the foote of a stone wall yt was so darke that verie litle light they could sée but yet they felt what it was They went about hand in hand for let go they durst not to sée if they could finde any steps or stayres in the wall because the Caue there ended At length they met with their desire but it was so narrowe that one could scarce goe vp They put of their Pantoffles to doe it better the Princesse began to mount trembling like an Aspen leafe so did Fausta who though she helde her Mistres be her sléeue yet was not able to goe vpp a step which were aboue Fortie and with extreme feare hauing ascended them whē they came to the top they were so wearie they could not stirre They sate thē downe awhile to breath speaking so softly that they themselues could not almost heare one another what shall wée doe faire Princesse said Fausta if in the Pallaice our absence shal be found no doubt but it will be noted and iudged I feare for wantōnesse That the Caue would bring vs replied Venus to the tower of the despairing knight then would I not care what the world should say for he being set at libertie the same would he procure to vs all Such goodnes will not our hap abode vs said Fausta to let it be so for then who with a more iust title could bragge of felicitie let vs rize said Venus for my hart is passing light and let vs sée where we shall arriue They went softly féeling fearing to be heard till they met of the same stone one of the fashion of a doore that arteficially was set in the wall they were not able to stir it because it was to be opened on the inside of the tower though many hūdred yeres t was it had not bin opened the was the reason none of the Court neither knew it nor any such thing euer imagined Lirgandeo saith it was made by a Persian king that fell in loue with Licida daughter of Xātho who being lodged in the tower and séeing her walke in that garden with the force of his armes brake downe the wall till he came to the earth where with more facilitie he prosecuted his amorous intent making then that Caue as they found it by which meanes he obtayned the Ladies will bringing her that way vnto his chamber till he found time to steale her and conuay her to his Kingdome To this rape doth Astildo attribute the cause of Persias desolation by the Father of the stolen Ladie This was the dore that now the Ladies found where attentiuely hearkening because it was very nigh to the bedde of the despayring knight they might heare him with Millions of sighes complaine him in this manner O Quéene of
was before his deare Quéene of Lyra he replyed Much am I behoulding to my griefe most excellent Princesse since it is the cause that causeth me to acknowledge an eternall duety to your high seruice for this kinde remembrance the which being immerited by a Knight so vnfortunate as my selfe stopps me from binding my selfe any more then that I heretofore do owe nor can I beléeue there shold be strength to aduance mee in any thinge more then I haue promised Neuerthelesse of my life maye your beauteous selfe dispose which to lose wil be a happines perpetual procuring yours thereby to your content the which to mee would be excéeding to knowe what waye you found hither to bring you No other hath it béen replyed she but the desire I was to sée you at libertie ioyned with the griefe I cōceaued imagining howe greatly yours would be with my Fathers offerred wronges For this daye walking to take the ayre into my Garden with this my Damosell amonge certaine bushes wee founde a Caue that hitherto arriues I lost all feare with the will I had to haue you from hence that I past the same till wee mette with this dore deferring our comming against this time and we heard you so bitterly complaine that I knowe not what to saye of the Quéene of Lyra whether she be in fault or the Prince of Grecia It ioyes mee to sée you so well bestowed though to ill repayd Stormes are they to the Laberithian Seas of Louers incident still pretending a more happy calme If therefore in the meane time that your content is absent you will receaue it by hearing to whom these wrongs are done we will tell it Greatly disconted rested the Prince hearing that the Ladye knewe him but hee dissembled it replying Well doe you expresse the greatnes of your Nobilitie moste gracious Princesse hauing procured lyfe to him that incertaine hadde it your owne affaires haue you therein done for it shall not lesse be employed then in your seruice though to deserue so great an aduenture as you this day haue discouered a higher person should haue béen knowen to celebrate with her due honour that it merits Touching the rest highlye shall I rest satisfied in reuealing my name and estate to none the which I haue tould onelye to my friende the Prince Pollidolpho of Croatia which is hee that is in prison and yet that were pleasant hadde hee but promise of some remedy not of libertie but of comfort patiently to beare the bondes wherein your perfections haue inthrald him More liuelyer colours then the blushing Rose possest in her chiefe pride be-paynted the deuine heauen of the beauteous Lady hearing what the Prince had sayde shee would not displease him through want of hope and therefore thus replyed I would not haue had you despayring Knight that with such despaire and to my cost tell me the ametie twixt you and that Prince But because you shall not saye that in Esclauonia there raigneth crueltie equall to that in Greece let vs order your libertie for after it shall not want for your friende for I will neither nowe nor at anye time gaine-saie what you shall appoint mee because a Knight of your valour and qualitie will not procure but what may most glorifie my honour The ioyfullest in the worlde would the Prince kisse her hands accompting Pollidolpho the happyest in the vniuerse hauing with so fewe soules tormentes and heart oppressing passions of a despayring Melancholie loue obtayned the most rarest Iewell on the earth the purest fayrest and most immaculte You sée valyant Prince fayde the Ladies what the Kinge my Father hath ordayned and the danger that your lyfe incurres yf for all the weakenes and debilitie you now are in you will vndertake the battle to morrow at this time I will prouide you with the best armour that my Fathers whole Kingdome doth containe neuer of any séene and the rest I refer to your discretion and that you may not be mist I had imagined that Fausta my damozell should remayne in bed in your stéede for in more then this doth shee desire to pleasure you and we will giue forth that you lye at the point of death because the King my Father may not send for you neyther for the challenge nor to sée the battaile Now consider whether this counsell likes you if not we will seeke some other better There is none deare Princesse answered the Prince farr more estéeming her for her wit discretion why then sayd she take rest and courage for to morrowe we will be with you and commaunde your Squire to publish what I said of your infirmitie for I haue vnderstood that by your valour you haue obtayned manye friendes in Court that will helpe you with the vtmost of their powers and I will procure that your friend shall commit his title right of the battaile to your good fortune And thereupon she imbrast him which Ioue had thought a happier lyfe had it béene done to him then to bee God of Gods and returned with her belooued Fausta to her Chamber where they past the night with repetition of Knights qualities and courtesies The next daye Palizandro published with manye teares though fayned the great infirmitie of hys Maister the despairing Knight and how he would not be spoken to by any by reason he was on the exteamest moment of his life Some there were that greatly bewailed his supposed end Others blinded with a fawning flattery at euery slight occasion to shew it séemed then to insinuate with the Kinge by ioyning with his vniust acte cause of the others ruine But the Heroyke Prince reserued to accomplish more difficult attēps reioyced at their follies when hee knewe what credit was giuē to his counterfeiting squire neuer suffitiently praysing the excellent perfections of the Princesse Venus iudging the Fate to none other but to her selfe due Who with the greatest care possible past the day imagining in what imminent perrill she had put the Prince though the confidence she reposed in his valour made her more assured then the cause required When they sawe tyme the twoo Ladyes by little and little conuayed the armour into the Garden that the Prince might there arme him and also his swoord which she had demaunded of her Vncle onely that she desired to behould the brightnesse that being drawen it yéelded he gaue it her not thinking on the good hee did for had it béene with any other he could not but hardly escape in the battaile They ascended to the toppe of the tower where the lustie youth expected them in his apparell and so strong that in all his life he knew not when better he felt himselfe so great was his desire he had to be reuenged on those Traitors The Ladie embraced him with these words Sir Knight I so feared yeaster-days combate because I was armour-lesse that I durst not come vnto the second wtout them though in your presence mine will but little preuaile Wherefore I will
by the Thespian land onely mentioned through her bordering on the Helliconian Mount the habitation of those sacred tryple Trinity of Sisters the diuine Muses Ioues-brayne-bred daughters Mothers of all learned Arts. To be short with incredible spéede delight he compassed the most part of the orbed earth for being acquited of Loues tributarie dueties his quiet mind had the more scope to subiugate his thoughts to admiration of these things So that now wearie of ease he wished an end vnto his trauaile that he might agayne exercise his often tryed forces to augment the perpetuitie of his glories which he thought were ecclipsed in the obscure cabbin of his honor-smothering bark yet he stil perswaded himselfe some great aduenture could not but awayt the end of this Nauigable toyle At length passing the Ilands Sygares in auncient times called Sydromades whose coastes to vnskilfull passengers is pitilesse death some fiue dayes after he sayled through the Mediterranean Sea where vpon a morne when glittering Phaebus mounted his fierie Carre the boate ran ashoare to the Princes great contentment who was almost tyred with this long nauigation Wherefore arming himselfe in his rich armour he leaped on land and mounting on his swift Tyrio accompanied onely with his good squier Fabio he tooke a narrow beaten path through which he went with great desire to know in what ayre he breathed So with an easie pace they trauailed not long that way but it brought them into a great wood whose vnknowen passage somewhat amazed the Dacian Lord. Yet was it no part to expell the great delight he did conceaue with the soft whistling murmure of the pleasant windes that seemed to daunce vpon the mouing of the shaken leaues on whome the whistling byrdes warbled their ditties in such accordant manner that agreeing in one consort of an inartificiall harmonie it arrested the amazed conceipt of the wandring Prince that continued his iourney along a Christal Riueret whose bending turnings brought him at last vnto his springing head whose purling brooke from a rockie quarie traced his continuall currant through a pibble paued channell that gathering in one a many runnings that from the naturall rocke did issue seemed so many spouts proceeding from an artificiall fount making the streame more great whose sweete noyse could not but remoue the Mellancholiest heart though neuer so much tormented with loue-oppressing passions euen from his deepest dispairing thoughts This pleasant spring was all incompassed with high cressend trees proud Cedars and loftie Pynes whose height seemed to controll the firmament aloft and scorne the lower plants beneath whose humble growth was accompanied with greene Palmes fresh Oliues and odoriferous Orange trees that euer flourisheth with springing habits Through these vpon the dyaperd ground with flowered tapestrie ranne the sportful wanton yong Deare that in aboundance increased the pleasure of this wooddie fount for some scudded along to out-strip the others in running others nibled the tender growing sapplings and others togither butted in wrangling pastime their horned foreheads The Dacian wrapt in a suddein admiratiō with the vnhoped sight of such miracles rested confounded in pleasant imaginations that perswaded him in a land so wonderfull of Natures wonders he should not but expect some vnlooked vnconceaued and unmerited happinesse Here to ease himselfe awhile he alighted and washed his sweatie face hands in those coole refreshing waters and then sitting on the grasse satisfied his hungrie stomack with such prouision as Fabio his page had brought with him from his ship The collation ended they discoursed of many matters to beguyle the time withall especially touching the Romane Ladies whose affection towards him shewen by the Princesse Roselia was not of meane respect wherevpon Fabio tooke occasion thus to beginne I cannot deare Lord sufficiently conceaue the hidden reasons of your strange proceedings in Loue. For when I remēber your extreame passions for the first robber of your heart Florisdama your second doting on Lidea your last affection towards Roselia with the maner of your sudden departure from her without a farewell in recompence of her many fauors which her accepting you for hers condemnes you in the highest degree of ingratitude in Loue besides her many other merites which I list not now memorate deserued no such sleight esteeme The consideration of which things drownes my witts in vncertaine thoughts Do you thinke when shee shall record her courtesies and your discourtesies she will not call you a dissembling Dacian a flattering friend a wauering changing Louer Wil she not complaine of her ill aboading starres exclame on fortune and banne your remembrance Nay how can shee otherwise hauing so great cause thereto For shame my Lord awake your slumbring sences and rayze vp againe the broken ruynes of your decaying credit let not the honor of your byrth be tainted nor the royall blood of Dacia stayned with an infamous blott of thanklesse ingratitude Let not Roomes quarrell begunne in the fathers continue in the children and be ended God knowes in what posteritie But pardon me my Lord for thus passing the limits of duety and the duetie of a seruant which only loue and zeale to your reputation hath moued me vnto In deede Fabio replied the Prince first thanking thee for thy care I must confesse in some respect I stand guiltie in Roselias sight for departing without her consent But yet God knowes it was not either by negligent forgetting or vnthankfully reiecting her deserued merits or the sleight regarde of her kindnesse for which and for her infinite fauors I euer shall rest debtor But leauing this I am perswaded the heauens in their iust doome haue not allotted her to me although her perfection a greater Monarche do deserue then me which I do the more beleeue because my trusty friend Nabato did assure me it touched me as neare as my life not to speake to her at my departure which I with some vnwillingnesse agreed vnto hoping the Princesse knowing my power to be yoked vnder her commaund would not take any serious conceipt at so sleight a trespas Yea but quoth Fabio women are so grieued by euery small occasion that little offences wayghed in their feminine scales are found to be excuses of inconstancie and selfe wauering affection and therefore are taken in the worste part For commonly women conceiue whatsoeuer is done for them must for so reason requireth proceede of duetie chiefely if moued by any amorous inclination hers was not little if I may beleeue her exterior motions when you were fiercest in your combate For by no better meanes doth a louer expresse his loue towardes the thing loued then when it is seene in any perill how small soeuer which things adde such credit to my doubt that I certainly beleeue shee hath vttered a thousand complaints against you moued with that inward and entyre affection shee beares you And to conclude her rare beawtie deserueth more then I can or am able to expresse This conference was here abruptly broke
of your sight All that you haue saide braue Ladie answered he is armour to defend my cause seing none could neuer loue vnlesse he liued with feare for he that doth not feare his losse with thousand sighes and Ielousies is to make the world knowe he is not trulie esteamed because ielousie is the aboundance of the soule that loueth with that he feares to loose the obiect loued Wherunto she answered In all things will you remaine sole cōquerour Heroyke Prince and herein will I witnes your true fayth making it knowne vnto your Lady that according thereunto she may reward you with fauors or disfauors and for the first there is no reason they should be ymployed on any that lesse loueth then you If deare Lady of my life sayd hee I might liue assured thereof who like me should tryumph ouer Fortune whoe should force strength out of a drooping heart to loue but I or who would feare a tempestuous storme hauing the assurance of so swéete a calme That and what else you will braue Prince sayd she is in your hands quietly to possesse onely admitting no new change for if you doe you shal receaue no wronge to be depriued of the fauors that your loue deserueth But make you ready for I perceaue a well rygged shippe make towards vs and I will in the meane while goe knowe who it is Lyke to a nimble Deare leapt the galiant youth out of his bed extreame ioyed of his Ladies promise and with his Squiers helpe hee armed him with the most rich armour of the great Romaine Brutus and mounting on the hatches where his Ladie did expect him with a low amorous congie he said to her Happie is the Knight that immerited hath obtained who with such care supplieth the faultes of my carelesnesse It hath not been so little saide shee but it might need all and looke yonder for I thinke I see a Tower built vpon the Sea vnlesse her bygnesse doe deceaue me Their barke quickly ioyned to it that they well perceaued it was as the Lady sayd So soone as they aryued to the foot thereof for it was the same where Rosabell was inchaunted they saw certaine greene Emerald letters to this effect No lesse courage and valour then good Fortune requireth the entrāce of the marueilous Tower for regarding what is in it demanding this nothing is required For first the vniustly loued of the two Sisters shall loose his fortunute armour ere so much as hope be got to liberate from hence the treasure of Niquea Long did the two Louers stand guessing to vnderstand the darke inscriptiō purposing to try the aduenture euen at the time that to them ariued in another barke two Knights of no lesse disposition then any they euer sawe attyred wyth most rich abillements of warre who no lesse admired their gallantnes and hauing their visors open and shewing their deuine faces yet they coulde not imagine who so braue Knights should be They that aryued after a solemne courtesie sayd sir Knights we greatly desire to know what aduenture this is and the maner how we might proue it It is so little since we aryued replyed the loued Dacian that we cannot certifie you of any thinge For if we had knowen how to haue entred it we had not stayed for you Somewhat abashed were the newe commers and he that read the Inscription thus spake Vnlesse I be deceaued Knights cōsidering the conditions demanded although you had founde meanes to proue it it would be too difficult for you Promising so much as it doth answeared the Dacian though more troublesome we had tried it for without a thinge be proued it cannot be called difficult But you that such confidence doe repose in your valour tell me in how many dangers haue you hazarded your person for a man that feares is an euident signe he hath been in some action whose end should séeme to haue béen difficult although heere a promised hope doth lessen any feare and therefore doe desire that I and you might trie our Fortunes in this attempt That were answered the Knight for you to expect and receaue helpe and ayde from my arme if you needed the Dacian was not of such patience therefore his rashnesse was condemned as to suffer so broade ataunt and so replied Truly Knight I neuer thought that the offering you my person should haue moued you to such presumption But prepare your selfe for I will shew you I haue no néede of your helpe Wherewith he closed his Beuer and drew foorth his sword finding his aduersarie in no lesse readinesse being no lesse then the gallant Don Argante of Phenicia and his companion was the valiant Torisiano whoe hauing set from the defended Iland were driuen thither by the tempestuous waues and with his armour and valour did imagine quickly to terminate that busines But he met with him that admits no comparison but with the Grecian Péeres who with the murthering sword of Brutus with a florish in his first assault kept it aloft till hee spyed occasion which offered no knight like he could neuer with more spéed or in time better take it he crost his good sword and setling himselfe for the blow vnderneath his shield he layd it on so fiercely that he forst his aduersary to staggar thrée or foure stepts backward He had scarce executed this blowe when with an Eagles swiftnes he leapt into his boate encountring him with his shield in his entrance so strongly that ouerbearing him a little of one side he had quite ouerthrown him There wanted none with shrill voyces to solemnize the valour of the Russet Knight for with the opening of certaine windowes on the toppe of the Tower the Heauens séemed to vnlocke their casements setting their Celestiall dwellers to the view for all the Ladies that there were inchanted being the Princesse Lyriana her Couzens setled thēselues to behold the battle for onely this libertie hadd they to recreate themselues although they were not suffred to know any because of their great griefe they might cōceaue by the sight of some not enioying their louers company for so did the Magician order that made that inchantment Nothing was the braue Phenician amazed to sée his aduersarye in his barke but reioyced because he thought hee might so better make his battle And with this as also with séeing such beauteous Ladies did behold their fight he turned vpon his enemie and with his Tellamonian blade discharged so braue a blow vpon his head that it made him bende hys knées in recompence of his bould entrance Nymble was the youth and so would second another but the Dacian frustrated it with his celeritie for with a thrust he forced him backe with as much spéede as euer he came And so at lēgth setling themselues firmely on their féete they began the brauest combate that euer was fought vpon those Seas for vnable to penetrate their sure armes all the force of their fight consisted on their valour and nimblenes which
the fauor of your mightie arme I maye recouer that felicitie that my teares and your valour shall purchase I would it were no more but so deare Rosabell replyed the Prince of Antioch for it should more easier be accomplisht then the busines wee goe about And because I thinke it fitte we returne to the Kings that so well ayded vs we may set forwards in our way and let me not see you no more so passionate for you will but grieue me And more torments and more paines indured your father in his louing pilgrimage yet neuer had the like fauour that yesterday you possest neuerthelesse he did not desist with content to prosecute his Chiualries let therefore his magnanimitie no lesse shine in the Sunne nor in mee no lesse loue and true amitie then my Fathers towards yours till in your behalfe I sacrifice my soules life to winne your happines But let vs goe for now your sorrow wil be iniust hauing one so to mittigate it and let vs take all aduantage in these affaires admitting no battle one without another though we both demand it we must suffer so many to vndertake yt on their part For this Souldan is verie subtle hauing many Gyants his frends certainly it is like he wil to some of them commit that battaile so his intent might be accomplished supposing that none wil dare to attempt it For the Kings through feare of them Thus discoursed these two deare friends till they approched so nigh the citie of Nyquea that her gates winked vpon them on the bank of whose riuer they alighted to passe the tediousnesse of the night in pleasing chat of that peerelesse Lady and of the great desire they had to passe into Grecia There he recompted the battaile he had with his Father in Lacedemonia vnknowen whereby he vnderstood he was his sonne In this prattle continued they till it was time to sleepe and so departing one a little from the other they made their shields their pillowes and so rested the greatest part of the night Whē they awaked togither either full of carefull thoughtes for the others griefe For therin is ciphered the true patterne of perfect friendship And seeing thus pensiuely they heard the grones of some Knight that complained togither they rose and taking their shieldes and Helmes without any worde they went softly to heare what he saide And being nigh him they saw by the reflecting light of Cinthias beames a well proportioned Knight clad all in blacke armour who lying vnder a bigg growen Oake complained against the skyes loue and Fortune Oh heauens said the afflicted More how long will you suffer him to liue from whome death doth fly Why giue ye me life that nothing thanke you for it because t is hatefull to me Why permitted ye my ofspring to be from thence if on the earth I shall liue dying Oh suffer not Bembo Prince of Achaya to liue with so many passions when you may end it with one gentle death that neuer better welcome may come then now Oh soueraigne Princesse of Niquea how iustly maist thou complain of me that louing thee so deerely haue bene so remisse to visite thee Oh forgetfull louer if thou didst liue in Achaya louing why didst thou then so long proroge thy comming knowing that Liriana was in Niquea whereby thy delay is the cause thou must dye not seeing her being thy only desire as the most happiest life and now Prince of misfortune behooues it thee to pilgrimage throughout the worlds vast continents to know her habitation which thou hadst saued comming in time then who would haue bene able or somuch as presumed to thinke in his trembling harte to take her from thy hāds Oh hawtie and presumptuous Knight who may know what thou art that I might make thee acknowledge the wrong thou hast done me taking what only to my worthinesse was due How maie I call my selfe Nephew to that mighty Bembo the scourge terror of all Greece suffering another to inioy whome thou dost loue neuer more would I haue put on armour if I did not make him confesse this fowle iniurie And yet there is no reason why for seing Liriana was of beautie Angelical it was like others would loue her and if fortune did fauour him to carry her away I haue no cause to lament bewaile but my slow hart and sluggish thoughts that spurd me not afore this to visit her Oh my friend Nicandro how maie I complaine of thee bycause it is thy fault for hadst thou by thy skill aduertized me of this successe who would haue deferd such a voiage though it had coste him a thousand liues and come were it only but to see her whom to me thou didst canonize for beautie as the sole meritor of my faith So pensiue rested the braue greeke Rosabell seing what that Knight did and hearing what he said against his reputation affecting that Ladie that more then his proper life he loued that he knew not how to resolue himselfe till Oristoldo perceauing his alteration stept to him saying Valiant Prince seing by delaie the Kings doe incurre so great danger it is not lawfull you should procure now new battels and especially he knowing they are prisoners about the stealing of the Princes it cannot be but he will offer himselfe in that demaund and thē in their defence will your combate be more iustified thē at this instant for though he loues whome you do the extremity of contrarie passions may excuse you but being assured of her loue towards you great reasō haue you to forgiue him Great is the wrong heerein I doe my Lade replyed Rosabell but your will be fulfilled for I am determined altogether to follow your coūsaile All that Oristoldo had said was true for Bembo was then thither come for no other purpose but to maintaine that the prisoners were consenting to the Princesse stealing And had not Rosabell and Oristoldo staied to defend it there had byn none able from him to beare away the victorie because he was one of the worthies of the world and he that most persecuted Greece in the great warres He was verie yong and the most courteous of all his Nation He would not suffer his subiects to crown him King till he had traueld the worlde and so created he gouernors ouer his kingdome and accompanied with his valour onely he departed from Achaya with that mornfull deuise that many thought it signified more then it did He was the amorousest that euer woman brought foorth and he that was most loyall to Liriana for after he knew her to be married he still doted on her alleaging that he did loue and had referd the guerdon of his loyaltie to the graciousnes of his Lady but if she reiected his true loue passions yet he would not forget her for it were to iniurie his faith that from the beginning he had consecrated to her beautie And had fortune but a little fauoured him he had bene one of
expect thy coÌ„ming to the place with the hoarse sound of a deuillish voice the Pagan cryed Oh Mars what mighty wrong is this to thy beloued Grantelmio permitting that one Knight maye looke me in the face much more stay for me in the field away Captiue as thou art thou shalt not thinke to haue so honorable a death as to die alone for neuer shall the heaueÌ„s suffer it to be said that thou didst singly combate with me in open listes Discourteous Giant farr more proude thaÌ„ valiant saide the bould Britanian take thy armes for I alone will giue thee so much worke that I will make thee wonder at the droppes of thy liues blood that I will make thee sweat O hellish furies answered the rauenous Tyger is it possible such words shold be spokeÌ„ wtout suffitieÌ„t reuenge And not respecting the Souldan but his infernall rage hee stopt to the gallant youth with his fift raised aloft saying stay for without armour I will terminate thy demaund Nothing did Rosabell feare him but as he was striking he parted aside with his hand he stroke him on the left chéeke so braue a buffet that hee tumbled at the Souldans feete at suche time as the valiant Bembo and the gallant Assirian entred the hall where séeing the hurlyburly went on forwards to knowe the cause and séeing the Giant casting blood through his mouth and fier froÌ„ his eies going against his aduersarie the Achayan with his couragious minde stept betwéen theÌ„ hauing his sword drawne and said kéepe foorth Knights for before the Souldan this is vnséemely He was already risen and coÌ„maunded the Giant to arme himselfe to end the battaile who went to do it more to reuenge himselfe than to obay a Lord whome he neuer acknowledged And so was the amorous Bembo left between the Souldan and the Greeke who being infourmed of the matter more guided with desire to fight with any of them than by reason said that the strangers had been ouer bould before the King The gallant Oristoldo could not endure it and therefore sayde Truly Knight yf of so great experience you are in arms as rash in iudging that you know not it were not much I refused your battle Neuerthelesse I affirme that not only we haue coÌ„mitted no misdemeanor before the King but also that the giaÌ„t you are disâ—oâ—all in ouer-boldly prating before the King and hereupon accept my gage He did accept it for on the earth he had not refused it to any and so all of them being armed they straight went to the field where there assembled so much people that they hindred the earth from the Sunnes warmth The Kings were set by themselues whereof the Gréeke reioyced hoping to giue them libertie and so hee sent his discréete Squire to aduertise the forreners to be in readinesse as the cause required wherein he vsed such diligence that hee quickly gathered aboue sixe Thousand men that setled themselues where easilye they might repaire to the Ladies scaffold because the kings were not far froÌ„ them that way could they better rescue them being requisite Sraight commaunded the Souldan that two Thousand men should garde the field and that vppon paine of death none should ayde or fauour anye of the combatantes The first that entred the listes was the valiant King of Achaya mounted on his mightie Courser and being a Knight of so braue disposition and armed in such mourning armour many at the sight did feare him chiefly when with more Maiestie then the Sunne in his fierie carre he traced round about the place in the aire shaking his launce in Thousand shiuers straight was he presented with another leauing the assembly admired with his gallantnes Presently entred the two gracious youths Rosabell Oristoldo with as much brauery as the world contayned They were attended with infinite forraine Nobles that because they were the Kinges Champions woulde néedes accompany him But the entrance of the Gyant considering the pride that ledd him a newe volume rather then a Chapter doth require CHAP. VI. The end of the daÌ„gerous battaile betweene the foure Knights about the libertie of the three Kings WIth nothing so great an honourable trayne did the mighty Emperor Titus passe through the stréetes of Roome natures rarest beautie when hee triumphed ouer that sarced land wherein the woorke of our saluation was wrought as that which attended on the proude King Grantelmio That of Alexander the great when he entred Babâ—lon was not comparable to this and because he had taken the Souldans part there was no Prince nor Lord but did accompanie him so gorgiously attired as it séemed only an immaginarie vision More people came with him then did guard the listes He himselfe came last in the middle of two youthes Nephewes to the Souldan yet neither carried his armes because he would delay no time in taking them thinking euerie minute a yeere He was mounted on the mightiest horse for strength that was knowne of colour he was roane and called Bollador because of his swiftnes that was such as he might passe his carries along the edge of a sharpe sword he came prauncing vp downe with such grace that a mans heart could desire no more for though the Giants heauinesse were extreame yet his strength sufficed for his weight had it been farre greater His armour was of a skie coloure with many srarres in an azure field in his shield foure Giants head-lesse himselfe in the middest without armes sauing his sword representing him that ended that aduenture as the true conqueror thereof for one day being without armour those foure Giants would haue stollen away his wife and hee with his sword alone rescued her from their villanies striking off their heads for recompence of their madnesse So soone as he entred the listes he closed his Beauer said to the Knights for he supposed they had been all three against him why now discourteous Knights come and you shall sée how far better it had béen not to haue angred me yet notwithstanding theÌ„ I had pardoned your liues which now the heauens shall no way saue from my handes cruell sword On his part stept the valiant Bembo and mildely to pacifie him said Most puissant King séeing this matter concerneth another and not our selues doe not refuse to fight with a single knight for it is well knowen this whole assembly is vnable otherwise to resist your mighty strength and so I am of your side against the Knight of the Lyons in the russet armour somewhat did the valerous Bembo quiet him with his gentle wordes neuerthelesse hee vttered the vaunts that such infernall fiends accustome which béeing heard of the Greeke to anger him said that all the place heard O sauage Monster why doest thou spend the time in such proude boasting when thou maist better employ it in déedes No longer stayed the furious Pagan but togither with his companion turned the best horses on the earth and al of theÌ„ with their
Princes but only procure to follow me for I being well acquainted with all the waies in the Cittie will without danger safe-conduct you through it As you will haue it Sir Knight said they so be it done though willingly we would let the Souldan know what iniustice he had done vs another time will serue for that sayd Rosabell And so loosing the raignes of his Bollador with both hands he cutt his passage through those troopes in such sorte that he which could faster flie thought himselfe most valiant It was admiration to see how higher then his owne elbowes ouer horse and all he was besmeard with blood With no lesse courage followed Oristoldo in some perill which was lessened by the kings companie In this order did they issue out of the Cittie leauing in it eternal memorie of their valour The Souldan would haue had them followed but the two Knights so handled the matter that they pacified him commanding the tumult to cease and perswaded him to forget his displeasure against the Kings which he the sooner did because Don Clarisell gaue him a letter from Lupercio to thss effecte High and mighty Monarch Emperor and puisant Soldan of Nyqueas vast Empire thy friend Lupercio wisheth thee eternall happines with Immortall quietnesse end of troubles Hauing by my art skill foreknowen all the successe happened together with the euent of this present combate haue thought it meete to aduertize thee that those Kinges are innocent hauing committed no faulte against thee but they that the victorie haue got by ending the battaile are those that haue dishonored thy mightinesse stealing away thy daughter and her cosens though both the one and the others were left without them because with my skill I haue helped thee inchaunting them in such a place where they liue with such Roialty as if they were within thy pallaice and for their libertie I cannot yet finde when or how it must be for that it is of such difficultie Of the successe thereof as of other things will I in due time aduertise thée all in all wishing the fulnesse of thy content the which the immortall Gods graunt thée as they canne and I doe procure The wise Lupercio Some what pleased rested the Souldan with the wise mans letter seing thereby that his Daughter was not in his enemies power Greatly did he honour the two Knights knowing them to be so great Princes and so valiant of their handes where leauing them we must a while returne to Rosabell CHAP. VII How the Kings departed from the Princes resting eternally bound vnto them and what happened vnto them with a Knight WIth incomparable ioy did the two Princely friendes issue out of the Cittie of Nyquea after they hadde to their euer-liuing Fames terminated their busines They ceast not till they came to the Sea-side where the Kings had their fleetes staying for them for the gouernors of their kingdomes being aduertised of their being there had made that prouision to fetch them So soone as from their horses they had dismounted the king of Garamantes ranne to imbrace the Princes and saide while the others did the like Magnificent and illustrious Knightes the worthiest that euer buckled on armour how may wee in parte shewe the thankfulnesse due for so many great perils that for our sakes you haue vndergone Wee can finde no satisfaction sufficient to equalize your merits but that ye will imploy and commaund our persons and states in any your seruice as patrons and defenders thereof which to vs will be immortal happinesse and yet shall we remaine indebted considering your deserts and our benefits receiued But to make our ioyes compleat let these Kinges and my selfe obtaine the fauour to knowe by whome wee haue our honours and our liues regained It hath most mightie Princes bene so little replyed Rosabell what this Knight and my selfe for you haue done that respecting your many merites no occasion may thereby be taken to fauour vs. But if you will do it you do perfourme the honour that shal inlarge your fames because the ayde that my companions and I receiued was of power ynough to binde our liues to your lasting commaund and so may you vse vs as the onely procurors of your content Touching your last request we are of such remoted coūtreys that though wee should reueale our names you cannot knowe vs. This Knight is of Antioche called the Knight of Fortune and my selfe the Knight of the groue of Loue because I did beginne so soone that I cannot remember when I was mine owne It pleased his Fortune so to fauour me as to minister occasion for our meeting wherby many yeares since wee contracted a firme league of inuiolated amitie which hitherto we haue maintained and because I made him partaker of my woes and how the cause of them was the Princesse of Niquea he promised me his ayd together with my other foure cōpanions my great friends with whose vnited valour and of your persons wee brought her away But oh despightfull fortune sayde he with his eyes full of water that scarcely did let me sée much lesse enioy the happines she gaue mee because with the extreamest crueltie she could deuise she did bereaue me of her Whereupon he tould them the maner of her taking away as is set down in the end of the first booke of this third part Greatly grieued the Kings for the Ladies losse chiefly for the Knights sorrowe but being vnable to redresse it they comforted them as became true friendes of their qualities And seing that the Kings longer staying in that land would bee daungerous they counselled them to depart vnto their owne countries From whence they might obtaine a peace from the Souldan They all liked well thereof and so they tooke their leaues of their friends taking their right course to their kingdoms where they got the Souldans fauor which prooued not a little costly to Grecia For these Kings were they that most persecuted her in her generall warres as in the Fourth part at large shal be related Somewhat from the Hauen did the two valiant Princes lye themselues downe to passe away the lingring passage of of the sullen night making their supper of such prouision as Allirio had brought with him which done after a litle chat they parted a sunder to sléepe vnder the shadows of pleasant smelling trées A little more towards the Sea did Rosabell cast himselfe who one while thinking on his Lady and another on his voyage vnto Greece not letting himselfe to be knowen vntill his déedes might declare the Royaltie of his discent lay tumbling on the grasse till he fell a sléepe which was so little that the Ecchoe of sighing groanes proceeding from some that cōplained were of force to waken him who being of nature bould and of nouelties desirous quickly set himselfe on foote and with his sword in hand went straite to the place whence he heard the plaintes and so going into a little Meddowe vnder the spreading of a
they would be found by reason of the triumphes cōmaunded their ship to be guided to Arrissa a hauen some thing remote from the Citie where the eight day they arriued and taking land they entred through the grene Forestes taking the next waye to Constantinople but first determined to linger thereaboutes the time that wanted for the feastes which might be some vii or viii dayes So their Fortune led them to passe away the night hard by the place where the iealous Sarmatia bewailed her woes For after she had parted from Brandafidell she cast her selfe from her horse lamenting her misfortuns supposing that her beloued Oristides had forsaken her to Loue Floralinda wife to the Prince Meridean And they arriued at such time that forced by a Ielous spleene she said Oh rauning experience that before I can begin to Loue I must with Ielousie be tormented Oh Cupid if this be one of thy blowes established in all harts how is it possible thou shouldest be honored or to thee appeale why shold any as to the Soueraine Prince and Iudge of the earth how wilt thou haue that Ladies shall worshippe and adore thee if with such extreames thou plaguest their tender harts Apparent signes did I see in that valiant Prince to loue me but more certainer haue I met in Greece that he abhorrs me Oh happie Land only to me vnappie I blame not thee but curse my starres that doe oppose their influences to ruinate my glory who would haue tould me thou shouldest be a sepulcher to her that to thee came to seeke her life O Gods how farre better had I done to split my hart in Lacedemon with my deare friends swoord then to come to so great miserie in Greece mightie will be the wrong I doe to Ladies when my death shall be published to haue been because I was not beloued But wretch that I am why impute I in him the sin of disloyaltie hauing to his owne cost assured mée by militarie déedes his soule to be soly thine then rather procuring thy victorie then the conquest for himselfe And séeing it is yet doubtfull I will cherish my selfe till I know it and finding it so not that I loued him without hope of like but for the dishonor I did thereby commit against my puritie I will vpon my life execute the cruellest death that ere the world was guiltie of in recompence of my rash foolishnes and affection so ill repaied So somewhat quieted she could not so continue long remembring what the Lady had tould her whereuppon a little to prorogue her griefes shee tuned her voice with this Dittie to her Lute with a more melodious harmonie than Mercury did sound whē Iupiter did send him to bewitch with musick the hundred eies of watching Argos charge Perswaded still maye be My sowle and pensiue hart That If I liue in smart It is by louing thee His life was neuer sweete That euer learnt to loue Vnlesse his minde did meete With what his Loue did moue There doth he striue to liue Both with his soule and hart That If he die with smart His death his loue might giue The acte that most is praised And worthie of most renowne Is I Loues heauenly crowne That makes dispaire amazed Which when it shall assure The soule and amorous harte Then is a life no smart To Loue if it indure With so short a winded hay me ended the warrelicke Dame that the Princesse which ouer hard it could not but greatly pittie her hauing begun to tread thē inextricable maze of Loue not a little wondring to see how general that passion was where with they cheefely liued So afflicted remained the beautious Sarmacia that she could passe no farther giuing occasion to the Brother and Sister their beuers closed because they would not be knowne to go to her and the Ladie being naturally more tender to the other said What haue you felt Sir Knight to expresse parte of your hearts aboundance to the aire and part to these harde and sencelesse Oakes which is but to increase your smart the which if in any thing we may diminish we will effectually accomplish it At the noise did the Ladye start for being drowned in imagination shee did not remember her selfe and hauing her thoughts dispearsed abroad had giuen no eare to the Princesse wordes and so seeing those Knightes in that place shee said Greatly may you fauour me Sir Knight to leaue me to my solitude for that onely hath the power to ease my paine and strengthen my mynde to suffer it add greater if greater may be imagined And this I intreat vnlesse any necessitie requires my person which I will vse most willingly in either of your behalfes Braue Knight replyed Floraliza the sight of your present state so penetrated our harts that it caused this Knight and my selfe to come and demaund the reason of it offering our persons at your neede I doe highly esteeme your offer renowmed Knight aunswered Sarmacia which could not proceede but from you But my infirmitie is of such condition that the remedie on your partes will augment it and for mee to relate it were a griefe past griefe and a newe kinde of torment For I haue no leaue to publish it to any much more to you because it will but serue to refresh the memorie of passed griefes and present euils And therefore I praye you either to goe from mee or giue me leaue that I may doe it For the verie sight of companie is to mee troublesome I neuer sawe a Knight saide Floraliza so deepely possest with Loue but would delight to communicate his paynes and ioyes For the one he mittigates by communication and the other he encreaseth by relation And so I thinke you are a Nouice in Loue seeing you knowe not there is no griefe how great so euer but will by company be asswaged Rather replyed the Lacedemon Ladye this proues you a fresh Scholler in Cupids schoole seeing you ignorant what wrong is offered to the Ladye loued publishing her secretes For to immagine them is secrete treason committed against her And nowe I saye I woulde not keepe companie with a Knight that so quickely desyres to blabbe the thoughtes cloased in an amourous soule being soly to be imagined and not made common to euery voyce Oh how braue a louer woulde you make gyuing place in your hart for euery loue tale Oh that I knew your Mistres be assured she should not longer liue deceaued in her hopes although I thinke she doth not yf this be not to her vnknowen you speake more then befits you said the hastie Floraliza and with more bouldnesse then you should which belike our simple well meaning spéeches did cause that rather is answered Sarmacia the truest testimony that any can haue of his Fortitude and not the vaunting beasts that many vse and commonly bragge of And seing this way you haue brought it about restore me the honour I did you esteeming you in the degrée of a good Knight
attributing due glorie to your seming merits and when you haue so done then doe what you wil for I giue you leaue What I will haue sayd the angry Ladie is to let you vndestand the discourtesie you haue committed which is greater then the strength you boast of Then stay replyed Oristides Lady and you shall sée how well I can shew the one when the other dependes thereof and so leaping on her light horse hee turned him about defying her to mortall battle In matters of warre woulde not the Macedonian Princesse dissemble with her brother much more with whom she knewe not and did challenge her Oh Appollo the desire to see so braue a combate made thée hasten Auroras splendor to her wonted light because without thy presēce none could witnesse their hawghtie déedes or was it because forgetfull of thy Alcestes loue thou wouldest surfeite on this beautie Which séeing it so why doest thou not dippe my dull penne in the Nectar of thy Diuinetie for if they each other wouunde this and my tongue must memorize it Now is the season thy liberall influence to impart with mee when the whole worldes beautie is here like to perish There was left no Cittie in the first Heauen to guard their habitations onely to be spectators of so rich a fight for euery of them would willingly loose their liues to bee wounded by such beautie They met by the swiftnes of their nimble Coursers in such manner that the strength of their incounters made the Brother shrinke at the viewe No harme happened betwéen the Ladies most gallantly passing by ech other their méetings serued but in shéeuers to sende their launces through the emptie ayre to Phaebus middle Mantion At once drewe they the two admirable swords the one of Camilla and the second of Pyrrhus by succession Come to Oristides who gaue it to his deare Sarmacia in Lacedemon as the president booke reported With them hoysted on high together did they ground them on their helms resting either alike assured of the others strength for the Heauens had in fortitude and beautie in euerie respect equald them They began one of the fiercest battailes that the world did euer recorde for being Ladies increasing in wrath their blowes were able to dissolue a Rocke But such were their strong armours that it assured them from all perils Neuerthelesse with such furious strength they layd vppon each other that the flesh more fairer then Venus in her chiefe pride they mangled The desperate Sarmacia gaue her gallant enemie a dangerous blow a little belowe her Beuer it was to no small effect for it made her bend her head below her Horse maine She would not omit the aduantage for sieldome like to this there happens none and so with both hands she layd on the circuite of her helme that shee struck her from all féeling made her blood run through her visor and mouth loosing the guiding of her horse which sencelesse bare her about the fielde a good while till recouering her selfe the rage that with furie ioyned to settle her firmly againe in her saddle is not set downe for casting her Romaine shielde at her faire backe she let flie at her helme with such strength that had she carried her arme stiffe that blow had terminated the controuersie Notwithstanding the blad vnable to penetrate the magick temper it went slyding downe the same falling on the shoulder lighting so heauily that shee thought all that quarter had been beate asunder She fell with her brest on her saddle pummell and with the weyght of the stroake the horse set both his knées on the earth Scarse had she executed this blow when worthy with admiration to be celebrated at the wounded Sarmacias rysing shee helped her with two thrustes one after the other with such force that her owne handes trembled therewith casting her aduersaries head vpon the horse croopper shee would close with her to ouerthrowe her with her Steede but with this desire she spurd hers with more force then néeded for it made him furiously passe further then she would that stumbling on her aduersarie she had like to fall which to preuent she nimbly leapt from her owne to the ground It was aduisedly done for the Lacedemon Ladye arriued with a stroake in such blinde furie that had she met her she could not but haue incurred certaine danger For not méeting her the blowe fell in middle of the saddle deuiding it the horse in two Tremble did the Prince with the sight of this blowe iudging the Knight of mightie valour in no lesse reputation did the aduerse Ladie accompt him that seing him in some amaze lying along the horse necke following the winde of the blowe with a leape she stept thyther casting her strong armes on her shee snatcht her from the saddle and séeing her in some confusion therby because one foote hung in the stirrope which shee could not take foorth shee so striued that shee pluckt her dagger from her backe Hereat the hawghtie dame séeing her disgrace feared a sudden death dishonourable and so shee had no other remedie but loosing her sworde with all her strength to drawe her to her and strongly setling her selfe on one foote she did in sight of her aduersaries brother a thing worthy her beautie for casting her arme at Floralizas dagger shee drewe it out of the sheath and with it hadd slaine Alicandros vnknowne Neece yf she had not stept away with feare seeing her owne weapons in her aduersaries handes It was no little good fortune for the valerous Sarmacia hauing thereby time to drawe her foote out of the stirrope and with hard plucking shee had almost disioynted which founde to her griefe for going to follow her enemie she could not treade thereon which was the cause she had almost fallen on her She dissembling yt as much as possible she might expecting her enemies comming which was not longe for like a chaffed Lyonesse seeing that was her first battle and what little honor vnlesse she spéedily did finish it she should get she flung against Sarmacia and with both handes she layde on her so thicke and so quicke that breathlesse shee hadde almost tyred her and yet she hawghtlie defended her selfe often making Floralindas daughter rest on the grounde both wyth handes and féete till the paine of her foote was paste and then she seemed but newly to begyn the combate for the ligeritie wherewith shee entred and salyed deserued admiration With a florish they crossed aloft their putting swordes procuring that way to conclude their warre But it lasted not long for Alicandros Néece thrusting her somewhat more inwards stepping in with her right foote and with imagined swiftnes she gaue her a venturous blowe for taking her vnder the skirt it wounded her though little on the thigh It was no newe matter for the Ladye to receaue such blowes it made her loose her patience and like a rauenous Vulture did shee become with the sight of her owne blood
wrong cōmitted it is well she may haue such a defender The haughtie dame hereby suspected somewhat and so gloryfiing her beautie with a heauenly tincture she replyed Little can a Ladies graunted fauour auaile for the valour of the Prince of the Greece most excellent Lady and rather there are some so happilesse in cōmanding that they put in doubt what the gallants with their fortitude haue assured Among these I accompt my selfe and in so much that I know not when I could call my selfe happie And this is the cause I dare not require any to goe forth in my name but beeing dryuen to that necessitye beeing able to doe it my selfe I neede not intreate it of any And because shee would not be more importuned shee turned to him in the blacke that more furious then a hungry Beare ran vpp and downe It was no small vertue in the Prince to indure with patience this bitter answere a Thousand cries would hee haue giuen publishing the iniustice done to hys faith vsing it with such cruelty he departed from thence for his sighes gaue him not leaue not so much as to take leaue of the sweete enemie of his tormented soule Who with attētion gazed on the amorous Knight that at this time with his owne hand had chosen a strong launce for at a corner of the place there entred two Knights no lesse to be wondred at then the former at the same instant entred two other no lesse gallant then the first These last were armed in Murrey armour with barrs of azure and gold on their shieldes he that seemed bigger of body had a Sunne in middle of a cleare heauen with these wordes Not any though neuer fauored And in his proofes hauing done But ioyeth in the Sunne His companion that a better disposition shewed had another Sunne ecclipsed with this Motto about it It changeth effect in me For gazing on his fier It augments griefe and desire These two Knights posies greatly delighted euerye one for if yee bee remembred they bee none other but Lysarte the mighty King of Tarsis and his sonne Florisarte Prince of Argentaria that came accōpanied with the two disguised Princesses they past the place with more grace then Achilles had done The like did the twoo first for both were armed in most rich armour hee on the right hand that was Don Argante of Fenicia had a siluer armor full of Lillies on his shield a Pyne tree and hee himselfe leauing against it with this posie In sollitude delights He that on loue doth dote But most he that 's remote That Knight is not like to want battailes that to ympeach the Ladies worthes shewes himselfe so free for as euery one liueth by being alienated they will presently put it to triall Now am I very glad sayd the beauteous Lindaraza that so free a Knight maye meete with him in the blacke that is so constant in his alienation No lesse dyd his companion shew himselfe vn-yoaked being the gallant Torisiano who was all in Carnation armour quartered with golde and azure a brauer temper was not seene in the place In the middle of his shield was set a knight languishing in loue accompanied with all his troubles with these words How sweet is that same sight That gazeth on his woes It doth his hart delight Though it with griefe vndoes Hauing approched they entred the Listes None of the behoulders durst take their eyes from them thinking in the meane time they should loose them so furiously they past forward The first that in Greece met with ill fortune was he of Phenicia that quicker then an Eagle spurerd against him in black he got little for the sorrowfull louer incountred him with the vtmost of his strength which only merited comparison with the Greeke Princes lightly fetching him frō his saddle threw him to the ground he receaued no small encounter for Don Argante was one of the strongest in the world he made him loose his raynes and forwardes passe more slowly then he would Great was the noyse that rose in the place as also among the Ladies that celebrated the fall with accustomed disdaine which well maye bee called death And that 's but little considering howe t is taken I almost speake by experience I maruell not at the Knights disgraces deare Ladies sayd the old King of Bohemia entring with your disfauour Your highnes speaketh with great reason answered the Princesse Oliuia to supplye which want I intreated the Quéene of Lyra that to shewe howe she loues me she would haue bestowed one fauor vpō a gallant that from it he might haue drawen valour to assure our busines that so goeth to wracke hee replyed There is no reason any thing should be denyed to so iust a demaund the which if my age did not disturbe I would haue béen he that should haue craued it A Thousand should your highnes haue obtayned replyed Archisilora But there wants not them that without any may returne the Grecian honor to their owners Their that was broken off by the peoples rumor for the mourning Knight with more strength thē Hector had did ouerthrow the braue Torisiano which displeased the Ladies Many suppositions past there who the blacke knight shoulde bee for some Ladies were affected to him And so with some pittie the Empresse Claridiana sayde to them that were with her Greatly doe I commisserate this Knight to sée with what crueltie his loue his repayd And if his fauors were equall to his strength none might more bragge of valour then hee Those that on a sudden begyn to loue answered the beauteous Rosiluera that in the secret of her soule had portrayed the knight with such coulors that none but death could wipe away any little occasion ministers vnto thē cause of Loue but le ts sée what shall become of the Knights of the Sunnes that séeme of a valiant disposition his Carrier had the braue King Lisarte taken incountring with the blacke knight so fiercely that he thought he had béen broken in pieces either past by the other without any moouing Of the valiantest was the Tarsian but he there met with Bembo then whom the Pagan nation neuer knewe more hawghtier and couragious knight who taking another launce incountred hym so mightily that hee brought him to the ground himselfe had almost accompanied him for loosing brydle and stirrops was fayne to stay himselfe by his horse neck Like to a fiery Dragon his amorous sonne ran with him thrée launces vnable to mooue eyther of them from the saddle to both theyr extreme griefes that like to bloodie Lyons they with their owne handes choosed their launces with the excessiuenesse of their forces incountred so puissantly that the beleued Argentariā came to the ground with his horse slaine betweene his leggs he leapt from him for feare of some disgrace The Achayan with the strong shocke staggering backwards lost his saddle falling on his féete but with so small féeling that though the couragious youth stept to him
these Knightes for in my opinion I haue not seene the like and hee of the deuise with the Gyants greatly resembleth a Pagan that I knighted who after about the armour of Bramarante bereft of life our deare friend the Tartarian Zoylo for by his sudden assayling and the liberall domination he hath ouer himselfe in the battaile I iudge him to be hee he will neede all helpes replied the Scythian Prince for his aduersarie differs not in shew from that youth we met in Lacedemon whome wée left with opinion to be your cousin and if it be he the victorie will be his for the Prince Rosicler as he himselfe said was with twoo blowes by him feld The noise that in the place did suddenly arise broke off their talke for if any of them obtained any aduantage straight some fauourite of his would celebrate the blow of his affected as now some the Greeke and some the Mauritanian would praise aboue the heauens Somewhat a wearie were they and séeing the sunnes declining with the nights beginning to approch with the vtmost of their forces they discharged their furie in such sort that they struck each other frō their horses to the astonishment of all the beholders His Mace dyd the Greeke loose out of his hands first executing a braue blow which wrunge his aduersaries helme about his head greatly blinding his sight they had not fallen when quicker then immagination they rose The Greeke drew foorth that good swoord which Brandafidell did giue him when he lost his of Queene Iulias and with it before the Pagan setled himselfe he strucke him about the toppe of his shield he cut away a peece therof with all the brimme of his helme on that side he made him stand trembling like a leafe shaken by a Northren blast he well noted his amaze and so lost not the occasion for with a loftie florish ouer-head hee made him there repaire his warde leauing his legs without defence Whereuppon the Prince stept more in with his left foote and standing strongly thereon withdrawing his swoord with both handes executed his blow on his left thigh cutting it to the bone This wound was it that gaue him some aduantage ouer the Mauritanian and also the victorie if the battaile to the end continued For the Pagan began to loose much blood and to shrincke through faintnesse on that side euery time he was there charged They parted to breath for foure houres without rest had they combated since they began The Greeke as he walked cast vp his eyes towards the windowes where he spied his deare Oliuia and with a sighe breaking from the middest of his heart he began I know not why thou shouldst esteeme thy selfe Prince of Grecia to haue obtained thy Lady by force of armes Thou art wronged and not in the least degree so to be praised for it hauing no reason for it seing that before al thy Parents freinds and kinsfolkes their presence must beare witnesse of all thy former honors wracke in this sole battle Where in this particuler Combate with a single knight thou loosest in one minute all the glorie in so many yeares with dere experience and losse of thy dearest blood thou diddest atchiue No lesse exclaimes did the furious Pagan breath into the aire blaspheming gainst his Gods saying Why now none néed feare the name of Brufaldoro nor is there any cause his Ladye should estéeme him since before his greatest enemies so ill he doth defend her beautie reason hast thou to cōplaine deare Ladie of thy Gallant that in sight of thy rare perfections he hath not the power to beate his aduersarie from the field but see himselfe to be brought vnto the point of a shamefull ouerthrow he ended turning to his enemie that like a raging whirlewind marcht against him To meete him went the haughtie Pagan being the first that executed such a blow vpon the Greeke that he made him set one knee to the earth discharge he would another but Rosicler being more actiue in that Art before the Pagan strucke setling himselfe on his right legge he stept aside not making hym loose his blowe but staggering seeme to fall with a thrust did the louer of Oliuia reach him it pierst his armor and he felt it within his flesh like to the winde he rose with both hands did strike at him Little preuailed the defence of the strong shield for frō the one end to the other it was cleane cut and so ouer-charged him that both handes hee set on the ground He thought to surprize him as hee fell and so entred within him more then he should insomuch that he could not wound him For the Pagan cast his mightie armes about him beginning with aduise an admirable wrastle He raysed him from the ground and had almost cast him down if the Greeke had not withall his power held him fast and in that occasion with a trip got from him strongly swinging him about hee hurled him well nighe foure paces from him both falling downe But scarce had they fallen when with such courage they rose that all the behoulders were amazed to see so cruell a battle Nyne woundes hath the Pagan and the one exceeding troublesome on the thigh The Greeke hath foure all about the buckling of his armor two of them dangerous and hys body brused and tyred that his legges coulde scant sustayne him A windie noyse began to sound throughout the place who the Moore of the Moones was iudging him the valiantest that ere was seen in Greece for by this time the Pagan began to faint by reason of his wounded Thighe whereby his aduersarie knewe his aduantage ouer him So long it was argued who it might bee that euerye one happened rightly on whome in deede it was For the Emperor Trebatio himselfe commaunded all the Pages to tell the truth At last it was known that the valiant Moore was Rosicler It could not be kept so close but it came to Oliuias hearing who liuing by louing him began to bewaile the battle with millions of pearled teares that ran down the current of her rosed chéekes seing in what cruell combate her deare Lorde had put himselfe and so besmeared with blood With many out-cries she had descended but that the Ladyes stayed her As much griefe for it tormented the good Trebatio that no longer able to with-hould tooke his horse when Phaebus light was altogether drencht wtin the Cauers of the western Ocean at what time the two famous warriors cried out for lights From out the Tent were presently brought aboue 1000 torches so wearie were either of the aduersaries that scarcely they were able to stand on their féete Neuer a steppe made the Moore but with his blood hee left it printed on the grasse and the Greeke sturd not but hee felt a bloody sweate ouer all his bodye Great was the aduantage he had ouer the Pagan because of the troublesome wound of his thigh At length disparing of the long fight the Moore closed
foorth her shield whereon it lighted being a wonder she let it not fall so tormented remained her arme Shee entred againe with a point which Rosamond extreamely felt so sure was her reuenge that ere she retired she strucke her on the side of the helme she somewhat slackned her arme for else she had mortally wounded her but to the cruell swoord the hardest steele seemes softest waxe The imperious guider of the highest Orbes protected them to be instruments of his miracles in defence of his afflicted people for else with athrust the Gallidonian let fly she had ended that businesse On the out side she cut away all the harnesse vnder the arme making the furious blade appeare on the other part All the place had thought her to be slaine the like imagined Rosamond whereupon spurring her Courser shee would haue parted without payment but she thought it too late for the Quéene séeing her chance and amazed at the cutting edge of her aduersaries sword with all her strength she gaue her a blow that made her make a thousand signes of falling and altogether she had ouerthrowne her but that she feared the cruell slicing blade She procured to helpe her selfe with her dexteritie but it little auailes her for though the Calidonian Ladie be short winded her face within her helme besmeared with blood yet euery time she reacht her she cut both the armour and the most fairest skinne that the world did know O Claridiano who should approch thee with such newes that the blood which thou most adorest doth enamell the smallest grasse Ouerwhelmed in the studie of confused thoughts was the Loue-burning youth to see with what crueltie hee was entreated by his Ladie that hee neither heard nor saw what in the field was done Hard by him sat the beauteous English Artemisa who seeing him in such pensiuenes pluckt him by the arme with these wordes why how now excellent Prince is it possible there should be any loue should so estrange you if you please to participate your greefe with me receauing it to ease you therof it will be my content and in faith it is no small paine what I conceaue to sée you in these passions As froÌ„ a slepe newly awaked did the afflicted youth looke vp and hearing what that beauteous Lady had offered made this replie I doe most humblie kisse your Soueraigne handes most Soueraigne Princesse for the fauour done me in pittying what I indure yet is it but a small comfort for in the strangest maner hath crueltie plaste it selfe to my more plague in our place and my thoughts in another laboured in their striuing dutie setting apart all other things to procure at once one death a momentarie remedie for a long and painâ—full life Why then be assured said the Lady that this frensie of Loue is made gentle being tollerated and communicated with one that will like my selfe ridde you of it In all things replied the woefull Louer hath Fortune fauoured me animating my weakenes by so on high sublimating my hopes only it hath giuen me as a Crosse to this glorie the greatest euill that could be séeing I am comaunded bound by a constant faith to reueale my griefes to none I féele it though well considered it is my peace For discouering the cause thereof the present answere canne be no other then that my torments are too easie waighed with her merites So haue I chose in my bargaine to suffer and be silent although your noble offer shall not want his due regard in the duties of my loue why then said the Ladie I shall not anye more neede to importune you about the procéeder of your griefes But for this tyme leaue wee it to looke on the battaile of you foure Knights for valianter the earth doth not containe Your highnes hath reason for it replyed he for they that are newe come especially he of the flowers is the soonest in assaulting that I haue seene and it behooues him combating with a Knight that so warylie maks his battle as hee in the Russet And beléeue me I would gladly knowe his companion whose armor doth assure him what the others strenghth cannot loose FroÌ„ this were they interrupted for Rosabell thinking it towardise that a battle shoulde so longe last in presence of his Fathers lyke stormes of hayle threwe his blowes vppon his aduersarie which breathlesse made him almost goe vp and downe A wrastling would the Dacian verie faine haue been at thinking thereby to get more aduantage but the Gréeke that perceaued his intent suffered him to enter and in his closing with all his strength thrust at him betweene the ioynts of his armes harnesse he wounded him and with a litle more he had toucht the harts side but turning about he cast it outwards and becomming more fierce then a Bazeliske casting his shield at his backe with his handes he mounted his sword and discharged it on the Burgonet of Lirianas gallant louer it strucke him sencelesse vpon his horse filling his helme full of blood which ran froÌ„ his Beuer nostrels A better blow was not giuen in all the battle Well was it noted by the gallant Quéene that not a litle affected the knight of the Flowers both for his valour and courtesie She would needes helpe him so driuing Rosamond with a point apart sideling with her horse shee assaulted Don Eleno to wound him She got little by it for the Dacian was nimbler and stronger than shee and mounted on that Courser it was nothing to make her bow vnto his brest with the blowe hee gaue her at her entring and as she arose he still hauing the sword between his hands did let it flie at her the powers of heauen defended her for else so rigorous was the blow she had been parted in two All the corner of the shéeld was struck away he wounded her on the shoulder and cut the great band of her helme with part of her necke péece and made her tremble like an aspen leafe Then arriued the Callidonian Ladie and betweene them they hadde surely slaine her but she staied her sword thinking it cowardise to offend any with aduantage By this was the furious youth come to himselfe making against them Before him stept the Lady but with him shee could get nothing for in all thinges they were vnequall he let flye at the toppe of her burgonet such a blow that she thought she sawe the starrie firmament Like to a rauening Tygre she raysed her auntient sword whose inchauntment being made long afore any other there is no defence in Hectors shield for a peece therof she cast to the earth She came with another at his head he warded it fearing the swoord else had he fared ill neuerthelesse it extreamely opprest him In himselfe was not the amorous Lord séeing so mightie enemies impatient is hee of delaie his shield he hurles at his backe and with both handes hee reacht her though not at full vppon her rich helme it next to the
to the death wronged me where I will spend my life in wishing thine that thou mayest confesse thy fault and acknowledge my much wrong Out of his hand did the woefull Prince let the Letter fail with a thousand cries would he publish his griefe but hee feared to be heard he would not suppe but lay tossing on his bedde till the middle of the night were past which he wasted with teares then called he for Palisandro to helpe him on with his armour and to make his horse readie hee did it not demanding him the cause thereof because he saw him so discontēted he requested him to stay in Constantinople with his Father for he would guerdon his good seruice towards him to no other thing then this would the Prince be perswaded So he tooke his Iourney through those desert woodes Complayning to the heauens with what crueltie he was intreated not knowing whether nor which way to goe he trauailed all night vntill by the appearing of the day he could decerue his armour whose sight amazed him seeing their murrey colour turned to yellow blacke with many red flames which though it were a pittifull deuise yet made it a gallant shew In the middest of his shield was the picture of Crueltie as the Achayans were woont to paint her with foure punniards sharpe edged on all sides a Knight lying at her féete with many woundes The word this Oh happie one amonge so many That would his poore hart pierse In steade of ioy that craues his hearse He straight imagined that his father the wise Galtenor had byn doing there which was some cōfort to the sorowful youth for he thought the since he knew his griefes the cause of thē that he would procure their remedies with that good will he had thitherto wisht his welfare he came to the sea-side where hee shipt himselfe for Alexādria not remēbring how his father kinsfolks wold lamēt his departure who knowing he was not there cōmanded him to bee loked for but his page came declaring the manner of his going not suffering him to goe in his company alleadging he went in search of his Vncle Don Eleno This somewhat quieted them yet not in such maner that being knowen vnto the Quéene of Lyra and how through her meanes he was absented but that her sorrowe excéeded the boundes of comfort A thousand times was she about to follow him had shee not feared to haue béen noted for it She left it for another time passing her life in continuall laments deseruedly seing she would not only to shew her selfe cruell liue a sweet and pleasant life in her Louers companie She could not so close couer her griefe but Rosamond at length plainely perceaued it and séeing she knewe it did confesse it She would requite it disclosing vnto her that shee was great with childe which something gréeued speciallie with her Dacians absence That day in the afternoone to sport themselues and expell that heauinesse the Emperour with all his Court went a hunting for euery one desired it On the beginning of the game the gallant Rosabell and his friend Oristoldo straied so farre that they came to the Sea coast by the way rowsing a Hart whiche they in the plaine kild they alighted to gaze on the calmenes of the quiet waues of the still sea They had not long staied there when they sawe come towardes them a little boate more swifter then the racking clowdes euen to the place where they sate talking of Lirianas losse Out of it there came foorth a womā of strange behauiour all clad in mourning wéedes accompanied with an old man so soone as she sawe them of such gallant disposition she went to thē and doing her dutie in the woefullest manner shee could with many teares said Braue Knights so the diuine powers comfort you tell me if lately you haue seene the knight that last of all entred the Iusts in Grecia or else where I might finde him for it concernes me to meete with him no lesse then my life and others that iniustly are like to loose them Well perceaued the Prince of great Britaine that she enquired for him so he made himselfe knowen saying Gallant Lady I am he you seeke Shee suffered him to speake no more but falling at his feete proceeded Oh most excellent Knight now is the time you must shew your valour for theron depends the life of the fayrest Princesse liuing who against all equitie is like to perish And yf thou wilt not loose thy propagated Fame blazoned thorowe the worldes vast regions then enter my barke for my time limited is short I am cōtent replyed the resolute youth the like sayd Oristoldo but to him the Lady sayd how without cōpanie it behoued the Knight to goe alone for in the secretnesse of one alone consisted the good euent of her businesse It grieued the two friends to part yet being necessary they imbraced one another The Gréeke intreated him to excuse him with his Parents and kindred that he departed wtout their leaue And entring the barke it cut away with incredible celeritie Greatly desired Rosabell to haue his owne armour and horse but seing it could not bee hee contented himselfe with his good sword hee had with him Oristoldo returned where he had left the Ladies that were redie to goe backe to the Pallaice being all there sauing Rosabell and the Troyan Oristides They demaunded for them whereupon Oristoldo declared the aduenture that befell his friend It greatly grieued Oliuia but the wisemen did cōfort her intreating her not to thinke on him for fortune did leade him where he should be the most esteemed though to the cost of his cōstancie of any in the whole vniuerse Thervpon they went to the Cittie whence euery one ordered his departure to their owne Kingdomes So did the Emperor and Empresse of Trebizound taking with thē their daughter Rosiluera with the beauteous English Artemisa and euery one aduertised of what the wise man had writ vnto Don Eleno Onely was left in Court the Gracious Tartarian Zoylo with his louing Tigliaffa to whome they tould howe the mighty Andronio his couzen did come to seeke him and knowing he was dead returned whome the Tartares hadd Crowned their King A better thinge could not they haue done answered Zoylo then that And so because I will not take from them the Prince the Heauens hath giuen them I am contented with what my deare wife hath For Andronios valour a farre greater recompence deserues with soueraigne prayses euery one applauded that haughty deede of the Tartares proceeding from the magnanimitie of a Noble minde where we leaue them hauing much to dilate CHAP. XIX What in the woods of Grecia happened to the valiant Sarmacia with her beloued Oristides and how she stayed there SO small is not the faith and beautye of the faire Sarmacia swéete Ladies but her perticuler affection maye deserue a particuler Chapter who though she had wonne little in the Iustes yet estéemed
mee with what I neuer imagined I am more soryer for that replyed she then for any other thinge you should haue cōmitted For there nothing is more offensiue to their Fames that hath it like you then forgetfulnes of that which so much concernes them because I thinke I speake with the Troyan Oristides see here his sword which was giuē me there that I might come to séek him here make you know it had been better you had shewed your selfe careful in returning thither then to wander through these wods in search of other Knights Shee spake it so high that hee presently knewe it was she his hart had choosen for his soueraigne He leapt from his horse with more Maiesty then Mars could and sayd So euill entreated did I remaine of that battle sir Knight that I haue no strength to ende it now so is it my surest way to render the glorie of the victorie to your all-conquering hand Then he put off his helme shewing his faire face and holding the sword by the poynte he knéeled before the Lady Shee could not suffer it for she loued him as her life Shee also put of hers resting more faire then Apollo and with that loue as louers receaue the loued obiect shee imbraced him saying Seeing your forgetfulnesse braue Oristides t was not much that I ventured my life to seeke you He answered Deeds are these most Soueraigne Princesse nothing differing from your magnanimitie and I intreate you if anye offence your beauty hath receaued on my behalfe which cannot be little you wil with your owne hand take your reuenge then replyed the Ladie There is no such offence gallant Lord but thinking I remayned indebted for your comming to Lacedemon onely to combate with me I thought to require it by coming to Grecia not with warre but to craue peace of the Knight that vanquisht me I am and euer will be yours vanquished said the Troyan moste beauteous Ladie as one that onlye winnes therein Leaue this replied the amorous Ladie speake to the Prince of Achaya that is this Knight which comes with me who is not a little affected to you whereto the Troian spake All the worlde deare Ladie knowing how dearely I loue you is bound to doe me fauour Thereupon they receaued one another as befitted their Royalties In their that he vnderstood he was Cousin to his Ladie for with no smalle alteration was he till then supposing he loued her well did the haughtie Moore perceaue the affection that his Cousin bare to that Knight this passion can neuer be inclosed where t is well rooted It came to be so manifest that Bembo would winne the gallant Oristides by merrits assuring his glorie betrothing them there in his presence to all their high contents The two warriors contracted perpetuall ametie which in particuler they solemnly obserued for in generall in the Greeke warres Oristides could not forsake the great Trebatio hauing receaued so ma-many fauours at his handes The newe betrothed louers intreated the Prince of Achaya to goe and bee acquainted with the Gréeke Emperour but as hee liued in continuall woes he could not condiscend to their intreaties answering there would not want occasion to doe it another time hee tooke his leaue of them to all their griefes And mounting on his fierie Courser hee spurd through the thickest of the Forrest till he came to the Sea coast where hee shipt himselfe not directing his iourney to any certaine place more thē where fortune and the waues would conduct him The two louers desirous to see themselues alone past all the day in the Forrest which they thought but a minute where if the Troyan were couragious hee would not defer the end of their amorous desires It was not knowen for the trées kept silence but her time being expyred the Lady was deliuered of a Daughter whose beauty was imcomparable They named her Polixena at the Troyans request desirous to leaue some memorie of his antient stocke Lesse discords then the first did not this cause as the Fourth part doth recorde for a Gréeke did loue her to the death They returned to Constantinople where the Emperour receaued them with great ioy estéeming the Troyan as one of his children and knowing they were betrothed hee gaue them the Tytle and Crowned him Kinge of Thessalie an Acte that through the world was applauded with high prayses All the Lordes and Ladies celebrated his Coronation Festiualles with stately shewes and reuealings And the time of her deliuerie being come she and Rosamond were deliuered both in one day Sarmacias being publique but the beauteous Rosamond was deliuered in the handes of Archisilora to whome she disclosed this secret of a Boy the fairest that his age did knowe Both Ladies gaue his name according to his beautie he was borne with a most bright Starre in the middle of his brest they called him Roselindo A little they enioyed him for through the wall there entred a graue wise man that toulde them that the life of the Child consisted to be deliuered in his handes the Mother would by no meanes doe it But the Quéene would and so perswaded her to it They charged the wise man to instruct him in all thinges belonging to a good Christian This traytor Lupercio promised but did not accomplish it and rather conuayed him to the Kingdomes of Prusia farr remoted from Gréece where hee was brought vp with the Kinges Daughter shee from that time louing him as her life It shall be hereafter declared for Lyrgandeo is nothing briefe in describing the actes of this haughtie Prince equall in valour to all his kindered and a horse-backe he exceld them for a better Gennet neuer did the world containe where we must leaue these on the land returning to Bembo on the Seas CHAP. XX. What befell to Warlike Bembo Prince of Achaya with a Knight vpon the Sea at the Tower where Lyriana was inchaunted WIth some consolation did the Heroyck Bembo Prince of Achaya depart from his deare cozen Sarmacia Princesse of Lacedemon thinking he wronged his hawghty corage not to shew the magnanimitie of his mind against the rigorous causes of blinde Fortune with this desire he entred the first barke he found on the Sea shore desirous a while to Nauigate by sea seeyng how he languished on land The Maister and all the Marriners receaued him with great content iudging him of high accompt and deseruer of farre more courtesie He put of his helme discouering his faire and sturdy visage which more astonisht them binding thē more vnto more kindnesse His haires were of a darke yellow color verie thick curled a manifest token of his approoued strength His colour was white and his face full flesht well proportioned his eies séemed cherefull but being inraged they amazed the looker on with trembling feare he was double brested insomuch that no armour except purposely made woulde fit him hee was an enemie to effeminate men Neuer did fighting weary him nor neuer
began battle but assuredly thought the Iustice on his side Being Conquerour hee would more plainely shewe the generositie of his minde attracting the wills of the conquered with singuler clemencie saying that so rare a vertue ought not to be extinguished by the honour of a bloody victory and so would take the conquest on hymselfe as the conquered Finally Lirgandeo sayth that exceping his Competitors the world had not a better Prince his loues distracted him of his best sences for imagining that another loued his Lady and was of her beloued he lost the raignes of patience with sighes publishing what his soule indured vrged thereto by the aboundance of his swelling hart as nowe hee did with in the shippe he went For the fourth day of his Nauigation seeing himselfe more ouerwhelmed in his imaginarie thoughts then in the waters whose furious billowes his barke plowed hee rose about midnight sitting on the hatches to ease his moanes hee sighed forth these loose rymes Hart without ioy and woes with woes opprest The power of loue is with more force adrest To make me slaue to vylde captiuitie Loosing all hope of hoped libertie There is no sweete vnlesse from her it comes That Lillies white and Roses red still shames What ioy without Liriana can be pleasant In absence of her beauty nothing's decent But if she send the ioy it is past ioye A buckler gainst all paines and dyre annoy It yeeldes in torment pleasure and content And when t is worst t is voyde of discontent I must nor not I dare not hope for any Since loue my woes procures by waies so many Bereauing me by stealing her of rest Changing my ioy to paine my peace t'vnrest Oh thou vast sea through which was no man dryuen Oh watrie waues clere skie and brightest heauen If any pittie you on earth bestowe Shew it on me that am by loue trodde lowe Maistred with woes inchain'd without all pittie Made poore in hope but rich in miserie Acknowledging content in discontent Calling that ioye where no ioy ere was ment She 's faire but coy excuse me in dispaire For all my ioy is in desire made bare There wanted no louing sighes wherewith the valyant youth bemoaned his paines and the glorie that from them he conceaued calling the Sea Gods and Goddesses to witnes his passions who hearing what the gentle Louer published could not but pittie him So past he the night till about the bright lacing of the high heauens he sawe a barke more swifter then the winde passe by his along thereon lay a Knight all armed no lesse lamenting his griefes then he and yet with more reason he went saying Oh loue may it bee thou shouldst by all meanes seeke to ruinate my onely hopes being so long since assured that if I liue t is but to loue yeilding to thée the awefull tribute of my tributarie selfe as liedge man to thy deitie and that for all these spoyles hauing my hart as hostage of my faith thou shouldst delight to permit the enemie of my death to vse mee thus giuing me life to liue in such distresse No more could the amorous Pagan heare by reason of the celeritie it carryed though by it he vnderstoode the wrong he suffered and seing howe generall it was sayde Oh woefull Prince what little remedie is there left thée seeing t is denyed to euery one there is no hoping for it by liuing Oh pestiferous plague how much art thou wrapt within the poyson of thy torments and yet how wished is it to the dire cost of louers poore soules that with such bitter lamēts doe celebrate their swéete woes By this did he sée that the bark was stayed not farre from the foot of a stately edefice builded vppon the sea The Achayan Lord rested amazed with the sight and to knowe what it was commanded his to bee dirrected thither he entred by the side of the inscriptions in sight of the Knight that was already ryzen resembling Mars himselfe by his magnificence with the first scrowle that Bembo mett with was this The entrance of the marueilous Tower is granted to none not bringing the armor of the ingratest Louer of the earth Naturally bould was the furious youth and not respecting the contents of the scrowle hee flunge at one of the pillers thinking that way was the ascending to the Tower But he had scarce taken it with his handes when sodainely there arose so much fier that the Knight seemed all of a kindled coale and certainely he had incurred mightie daunger of his life had he not had on the armes of Saturne whose nature resisted that element Notwithstanding he parted frō it almost stifled with the heate that entred through his visor Well did the other Knight sée it that not farre from thence gazed on those that looked towardes the occident seeing the fier that had risen though more ready he seemed for his graue then to smile yet he laughed so high that the fierce Pagan heard it that not a little was abashed thereat and not able to dissemble it sayd I would gladly knowe sir Knight the cause of your content since with such exterior signes you haue shewen it None other replyed hee in the yellowe of this colour was his armour but to haue séene sir Knight with what vehemencie that flame would haue imbrast you within your armour It cannot bee exprest what rage entred within the Pagan by the aunswere he turned to the dispayrer saying It had been farre better since you haue séene armour to haue tryed the sauor of the fier of the pillers in that the scorching flames of Loue you haue already published along the sea in your Nauigation and now I dare affirme you are with reason thus suffred to liue considering how much you flie from labour Wise and aduised is the Ladye that from so cowarde a Knight detaines her fauors But since you haue séene with what audacitie I embrace yonder fier prepare your selfe for to your cost will I make you know how I can defend the inclosed in my hart There was no need to aduise him therof for with Mars would he haue fought touching what Bembo there had vrged Neuer vpon the doubtfull seas nor on the certaine Lande was there euer séene of a single fight a more fiercer cōbate For the warriors are the flower of Christendome and Paganisme and the dispayrer was no lesse then the Greeke Prince Claridiano who out of hope in loue as Lirgandeo hath related departed from Grecia None of the waterie Gods woulde loose such a battle for neyther Faune nor Nymphe but came to behold it And not so much but the amorous Trytones lifted vp their heads to looke on the twoo sole rare in the world In sight did the angry swelling waues neuer séeme more milde then nowe Peace did Eolus and Neptune make together with all their seuerall attending traynes raynging along the gréene azured waters till they came to the place where the battle was to be fought The gentle
knew them to be Spaniards as indeed they were being those two valiant brothers that went to the Grecian warres for the Emperoure Alphebo would not suffer them to retourne accoumpting greatly of them so they were entertayened with name and Charge of Captaines of the Empyre The other that séemed of a bigger constitution although so well proportioned that the Prince highly reputed him was that warlike and gallant Teferreo great friend to the Emperour and Don Eleno his armour was russet set with many riche stones which with curious knots wonderfully adorned his strong brest-plate Neuer did the Prince see so bigge comely a knight and though he himselfe was not much lesse than ix féete in height yet with his hand could he not reach the others head So soone as they sawe the Prince with so lamentable a deuise they did with admiration view him séeing his Maiestie on horse-backe only by this in many places when he would not he was knowen The Ladies being verie yonge entertained hys deuise with some smiles which made the English Lady thus say I am besides my selfe when I consider what power a Ladies disfauoure hath ouer any Knight for presentlye as if they were slaine they bewaile in mourning the life they liue iudging it tenne times worse then death It is common among Knights answered Rosiluera to expresse the paine of the soule caused by the sight of the ordresse And belieue me not if our kéepers bee not like to incurre some disgrace with him in the blacke for he seemes valiant Where Teferreo is said Artemisa there is no reason to feare that Neuerthelesse answered the Princesse shall you see I speake true Shee alreadie began to speake partially for in Greece did shee see the woonders of Bembos deedes imprinting his portraiture so truly in her heart that séeing him she knew to whome she had giuen entrance to the most secret and dearest lodging of the same The Knightes sent to the Pagan a Page with this message Sir Knight In yonder Charriot rydes the Princesse of Trebizound Rosiluera and to woorke her content the three Knightes are determined to demaunde the Iustes of al they shall méete by the waye and thinking vnder such deuise there cannot want any loue they sende me to intreate you that in seruice of yonder Ladye you would Iuste with euery one of them and your guerdon yf you vanquish shal be the greatest that can be for you must accompany them as their keeper defending them gainst all aduentures that shall happen and they themselues to loose what the Ladies to fauour them had graunted This demande gladded the furious youth and so replyed Good page I had rather in any other thing then by Iustes serue those Ladies for alwaies by them redounds perpetual enmitie Notwithstānding if therew t they be pleased barbarous rude were I to disobay thē so tell those knights I am content to doe it but that I will admitte no more then the Iusts With this answer returned the Page vnto the Ladies which greatly pleased them to see him so courteous for the Iusts the chollerick Spanyard prepared himselfe but here got he little for Lirianas louer encountred him so strongly that he threw him frō his saddle he lost one stirrop but he recouered it so quicke that none perceaued it To reuenge his brother prickt forth the elder finding like gaine although this encounter was stronger yet not to lette him from passing forwards on his swift Courser vntill the Ladies Charriot who to enioy better of his sight had cōmaunded it to be opened on all sides he had not séene out of Grecia greater nor rarer beautie then there was Some alteration in his brest did it cause remedies are they that though they doe not altogether salue yet dispose of cure for the deceipt of his blindnesse placing his loue where hope of redresse was méere despaire To gaze on them he stood still to whome Rosiluera said we knowe not wherein we haue offended you sir Knight that with such crueltie you should depriue vs of our kéepers he replied Most excellent Ladies as I was requested be them to doe it I presumed so to doe your pleasure since that haue matters happened so to my Honor that I know not wherto I should attribute it saue that Fortune alredie wearie in persecuting me would begin to shew some fauour Neuerthelesse if I haue displeased I am readie to make satisfaction rendring the victorie vnto these knights and leaue the Iusts with him that expects me So let he his launce fall to the ground wee will not accept this excuse said the Princesse but wil haue you follow the auspiousnesse of your fortune Not I faire Ladie answered he except your beautie do commaund me sufficeth we are pleased therby replied Artemisa that you may fearelesse doe it sir knight and as for the other that doth remaine against your winning of the thrée knights place to aduenture my life for it is nothing answered the gallant louer and therfore will I trie whether my Fortune be changed or no. He humbled himselfe to them with such gallantnesse that both Ladies wisht him victorie hee tooke vp his launce himselfe more quicker then a birde returning to his Carrier To the Iuste spurd the couragious Gyant with more horror then a flashe of Lightning renteth through the Clowdes vanishing in them The shieuers of their Launces mounted so high that they were neuer more séene Fiue launces did they breake without knowen losse Abashed was Teferreo thereat seing his hap before the Princesses therefore he sayd Sir Knight if you thinke good le ts end the battle at all aduentures seeing wee cannot bee vnhorst The Prince feared to displease the Ladies so made this answere I would sir Knight gladly content you herein but that I come with such hast that I may not stay so long but I accept it to be performed this day foure moneths in Achaya It pleaseth me replyed the Gyant and bearing this deuise you shall not now néede to tell your name With such crueltie replyed he doth fortune persecute mee that I intend all my life to weare this empreze so wheresoeuer you shal séeke me demaunding in Achaya for the vnfortunate knight shall you heare newes of me They turned their horses with more furie then Mars hadde done and with an vnthought spéede they met with such force that all the Forrest ecchoed Out of the saddle did Teferreo finde himselfe newes to him since Don Elenos battaile yet was his fall good by carrying his raygnes in his hande though the Horse helpt him little for eleuating himselfe made him that hee could not recouer his seate The valerous Bembo that stronger bare his legs remayned on horsebacke but with such disorder without brydle and stirropps that to shunne some disgrace hee was fayne to leape from his Courser Courteous was the gyant so he sayd Yours is the prize of the Iustes sir Knight hauing wyth such honour obtayned it so may you take our place in guard
of the Princesse whose aduantage in not small by the exchange None in kindnesse went beyond Bembo and therefore made this reply Most Heroyke Knight the Gods defend that through my meanes you loose the merits deserued by your person and worthy to these Knights for if I must attend on the Ladies it shal bee as your friend in your companie or otherwise I will returne the way I came Wee will not haue you sayd one of the Spanyards to vanquish vs in all thinges and since the condition was ours there is no cause why we should not suffer it and so le ts speake to the Ladies for t is time they were going Be it as you wil haue it sir Knight answered Bembo seing I must not diobay Already approched the Charriote with the Princesses who in respect of the Knights séemed sorrowfull though the beauteous Rosiluera was the ioyfullest in the world seing how wel the Knight in the blacke had defended himselfe so she spake I beléeue Knights we must impute to our small merits and lesse good fortune the cause of our changing new guard which being so henceforth sir Knight begin to execute your new charge which I feare you will thinke painefull procuring better lucke now then our kéepers had before Abashed were the vanquished with Rosilueras words who accompted him in the blacke the sole owner of her hart who made her this reply I doe rather remaine so fearefull of my Crosse fortune most excellent Princesse that seeing howe aduerse she hath still shewen her selfe will now with newe paynes discharge her selfe of this my present so I feare momentary good which last if it be equall to the former no hart is able to indure the griefe though mine hath had the power to promise it selfe to be yours vntill the latest minute O God how great was the ioy the Lady receaued with the answere thinking t is common amongst them that loue he vttered it with the firmenesse of his soules truth and not as words of course tending on the ceremonious dutie that her kindnes bound him too They toke their way to the purling of a clere bubling brooke that sprung somewhat more within the thicket minding there to passe the heate of the afternoone where the Princesse séemed the ioyfullest in the world seeing him goe close to her stirrop whom shee had pictured in her hart whose silence she thus brake How fare you Sir Knight with your new office I am in doubt it makes you already repent to haue it vndertaken T were so most soueraigne Lady replyed the gallant Achayan Did I not cōsider the supremacie of the high glorie wherin my thoughts haue placed me combinde thereto stopping al passage to my imagination of hoping other happines loosing the present I do enioy Hereupon the beauteous Artemisa tooke occasion thus We would not sir Knight you shold so soone haue acknowledgd it onely passing with the imagined glory of the Princesse commaund he made answere As my hart beauteous Lady hath alwaies byn full of continuall miseries torments now feling it selfe discharged of his heauy oppressing loade it straight iudged that fortune prepared greater paines yeilding mee this present extenuation in middest of which thought to expell the worse from remēbrance made me breake into that passion I call it so for though I séeme being not continuall as such a one but litle to féele it publishing it with such rudenesse how should I doe were it perpetuall but oh inconstant chance why name I a perpetuitie when I know this good more then felicity is but the prologue to an vnterminate end of greater paines by bringing me to the accōplishing of your commaund whose greatnes excéeds all worth of happines cōpared here Artemisa replyed Why sir Knight we required not to know more thē the princesse demanded for whosoeuer doth guard our chariot must haue his hart so exempt of imaginary thoughts that his care may be only busied on the present obiect of his eie with these and such like spéeches they arriued to the fount where the ladies descended ioying to refresh their heated beauties in the coolenes of the water or to speake more aptly to purifie it with their presence The like did the foure Princes the Achayan discouering his louely countenance Newe amorous launces to pierce the tender brest of the all wounded Lady though not knowing who he was she would not disclose it to any willing rather to suffer liue with her maidē honor but with paine then to blemish it by other meanes yet the eyes wherewith she gazed on him with such particuler care were euident ynough of her affection had the Prince noted it Together hand in hand the two Ladies walked into the thicket alone to enioy the freshnes of the aire which was so pleasant that it made them go further then they would and being thicke without pathes they could not when they would returne which not a little grieued thē Wherupon the Princesse said What shall become of vs Lady if we shold remaine in this remoted place great hath béen our carelessenes to part so far without the companie of our Knights for we might vnhappily miscarrie if any wilde beast should yssue out of these woods I maye goe secure replyed Artemisa for seeing you I shal be left to repaire vnto the fayrest Hay me sayd she I pray thee saye not so for my flesh trembles to heare it In these Feminine feares were they busied when frō the wood there came a mighty bigge Knight in bignes like a gyant all in armor with foure Knights with him of no lesse force then the Maister who was Lord of the famous Isle of Rhodes situate in the Carpatian Sea not far disioynd from the Frōtiers of Egypt and Lycia he was called Valdanio the stronge who inamored by heare say of Rosiluera came to Trebizoūd with 16 Knights whome hee disperst foure seuerall wayes for this intent which was by anye meanes to steale her away for once in safety set in his Isle gainst all the vniuerse he would defend her In seing the Ladies he knew whom he loued and with extreame ioy hee cryed out Oh Ioue may it be thou hast kept for me such good fortune I wil acknowledge it with rich sacrifices vntil the death He would not deferre it supposing there might bee thereabouts her attendance so went he to the Ladies that séemed more like dead coarses then liuing creatures She whome he loued did she barbarous Gyant take in his armes a better prize neuer any made had Fortune fauored him to the end The English Lady had more courage so she ran into the thicket whether the Knights would not followe her but seing their good occasion spurring with greatest spéede their horses toke their way to the Sea coast where their Galley expected thē with her sayles ready spread This while had Artemisa time to send her clamors through the emptie aire kéeping on her slight whose eccho broght her where their knights expected thē to whom
heard amōg the bushes brake of his exclaimes he rose to sée what it was saw his dere squire Palisandro that in great hast came towards him who leapt from his horse and sayd Did you thinke souerainge Prince that you shold wander alone so lāguishing in paine through parts so remoted frō your Coūtry Parents friends wtout company of whom doth féele thy greife far more thē his proper sorow These causes are the tuch-stones to try your valour shewing it against fortunes disorders who to change her lowring countenāce requires nothing but the resistance of her frownes seming more coragious whē she is most fiercest Far more out of fauour was your Father yet neuer did hee loose the raignes of his patience which hath not a little grieued your Tutor Galtenor who brought me hither to waite vppon you which was the thing I only desired cōmanding me to tell you you should not for any thing diminish the haughtines of your mind for al wold be the more to eternize your glory Such hopes were neuer giuē to any louer therfore I wil but anger him longer to continue in these extremes for t is good since Archisilora must be yours you shold obtain the happines of hauing her with a more rigorous harm thē any you haue suffred that according to your pains you shold after esteme your glorious tryūphs And with no lesse griefe takes she your absēce thē you hers for nothing els procured I to know but this while I was there vntil your tutor saw how necessary my cōming to you was Is it possible friend Palisandro said the Prince that my lady gréeues to see me absent I cannot beléeue it for so great a good brings with it an incredulitie He imbrast him for neuer had any Prince a more discréeter squyre except Allirio that was borne according to Rosabells humor A thousand things demaunded he of the Court whose presence did adorne it Some griefe was to him hearing that all his kinsfolkes were there missing not knowing the cause therof Great comfort did hee conceaue by seeing him hee had made the Consistorie within whose secrecie he recorded his soules thoughts imagining his companie would be a lessening of his paines but that which most did mittigate it was the care his Foster-father Galtenor had to succour him By this it was time to trauaile so getting a horse-backe tooke their next way to the famouse Citie of Zantho aduertising Palisandro he should by no meanes discouer what they were more then that he was called the persecuted knight discourse they did of many things and the most of Archisilora when about two of the clocke after midday the rayes of the reuerberating sunne vpon the stony walles of the Cittie guilded their plumed toppes whose stupendious buildings made them amazed with admiration On the north side it hath Panonia on the west Istria on the East Mysia the greater and on the south the Adriaticke sea The wall was round moted with an arme of the famous Gersian riuer where it is beléeued that Iupiter first fell in Loue and therefore did the Kings heere neuer want most beautifull daughters as this now was accoumpted the worlds machlesse Paragon for gallantnes and beautie The path which they hadde taken brought them vnto the bridge whose passage the Siconians Son with his bretheren did defend It was admirable in workmanshippe for in the middest therof was edified a stately pallaice where the prince and his brothers lodged It reached vnto the Cittie wall ending with a large and great plaine payled in for the battailes which the Siconian had cōmanded there to be made because that way stood the Kings pallaice from whose windows might the second Venus behold all the cōbates though not with such affection as the warlike Lindauro so was the Prince named could wish because he was of himselfe proud and insolent being so mighty which is the chiefest thinge the Ladies doe abhorre A tumult there was in the place for the Gréeke heard the noise of blowes hee hastened his horse so did his Page to arriue in time to sée the cause Which was for that the Prince of Croatia with his two gyants had entred the bridge before him desirous to reuenge his Couzens disgrace with such fury did Claridiano crosse the same that euery one beholding the fight was moued to laughter seing him with so mornefull deuise Thrée of the brothers had Pollidolpho Prince of Croatia ouerthrowne returning against the fourth he encountred him so brauely that the launce slyding from his shielde to the right side which beeing of a knotty Oake ere it broke thrée pats thereof appeared at the other side tumbling his enemie dead at his féete to his Brothers extreme griefe There was none there but cōmended the azure knight for of this colour was his deuise who like an angry Lyon made towards the haughty Lindauro They met with more ferrocity then the roaring of raging waters beating within the cauers of hollow rocks Valiant were the louers but both were vnhorst Of the two falls the better was the Croatians because he held the bridle in his hāds Recouer would he his seate to end the rest of the battles but the Iudges on Lindauros behalfe did put him from it saying he was vanquisht Not I replyed the youth since we both fel on our féet That 's al one said they for you to wyn were bound not to leaue your saddle though your aduersary dyd loose his To that passe came the matter that the Prince of Croatias gyants stept among them saying that he in the azure was not ouercome but that he might prosecute his battle that they would maintayne it gainst all the world Least any dangerous tumult should happen the King descended to whom the Iudgement of the combate was remitted verie neere approched the Gréeke determined to take the Croatians part thought it shold cost him his life for his valor shewen in the Iustes had drawen his affection So did the Kinge greatly affect Lindauro because he was so great a Prince and so néere neighbour to him it had moued him in secret to giue him hope of his Daughter Venus that none but he shold haue her although the lady one day her father talked with hir about it made answere contrary to her sires expectations Neuerthelesse he would not openly disgrace the stranger but onely that hee could not procéede farther in fight loosing his horse and shield Forward came the angry Gréeke with furious rage shaking like an aspen leafe lifting vp his Beuer sayd Notwithstanding that against what so wise a king hath decréede nothing ought to be sayd neuerthelesse sauing the respect honor due to your imperiall Crowne state in my opinion the knight may continue his battailes to the end for this being the last it is certaine it went at al aduenture either procuring the maintenance of his owne fame If there any wanted to Iust yet were there in this difficulty resting in the thrée
for it hath not a litle greued me this tumult shold haue befallen on this day which I hoped for my gretest content vnder your royall woord I will doe it replied Claridiano trusting that if I haue any excuse it shall auaile me Feare not that sir knight said Venus Vncle for on my perill here shal you not receaue any more wrong To him comaunded the King he and Pollidolpho should deliuer their swords who through his wounds was not able to stirre Of him had the Kings brother in law charge to the Princes extreame sorrow thinking his sundring from the Greeke would be his vntimely death Hee was deceaued for the Ladie had as much care of him as if he were in her chamber shewing her Vncle manifest tokens that shée loued the Croatian which nothing displeased him thinking he was a knight of great accompt excéedingly reioyced when afterwards he knew how great a Prince hee was The Greeke they committed to a strong tower not farre from the Ladies lodging whose custodie a Couzen of the Kings had that like a good knight caused him to be well cured though he was so weake of his lost blood that he could not arize from his bed yet his anger and rage more tormented him then his wounds arryuing a thowsand times at the point of death only for that he could not come to be reuenged on the trecherous Lindauro Who for all he was wounded thought it well imployed imagining they could not from thence escape without death or euerlasting infamie For which intent he one day secretly sent for the King of the Cremonian Isle the mightiest Pagan that was knowen on the earth for with one sonne whome a little before he had knighted he had vanquished twoo great Hoasts He was in peace and had contracted league with them and aduertising them the necessitie he had of their helpes with foure Knights of their kindred they came thether in poast and sending Lindauro word of their arryuall they did what the ensuing Chapter doth relate CHAP. XXIIII How the Princes were by some strange Knights challenged to the battaile and what about it happened SVch is the power sole wonders of heauens beauties and onely admirations of earthly miracles of an amorous passion rooted in the tender soule of a blind louer that it forceth him respecting no respect of proper honour to attempt those things manifestly against it for once fully possest of the louer it tramples with disdaine on the gouernment of reason guiding the affection with the loose raignes of a selfe-will the which hauing obtayned an vncontrolled regiment doth commaund as absolute Empresse of the minde this is that which only guides Lindauro who because hee was a louer in presence of hys Lady to sée himselfe wounded his thrée Brothers slayne yet vnreuenged conceaued so great a passionate desire of vēgeance that not regarding the laws of Knight-hood he procured against thē his Royal reputation an vniust reuenge vpon the Gréeke louer a thing that redounded to his euerlasting shame and dishonour eternall He conferred it with the King who being determined to obserue and by Iustice and right to determine that controuersie inclyned to his indiscréete sonne in lawes perswasions animated thereto by the arryuall of the two Gyants on whose valour the prince so firmely builded because he thought none wold dare to enter combate with them Being thus determined one daye dissembling his knowledge they entred the great hall clad in resplending rich abilliments of warre There was none but only with their sight did tremble for though they were not of deformed proportion yet were they of so stronge composed ioynts and bigge timbered sinewes that plainely they demonstrated the strength of their armes The Father raysing his visor with a hollowe voyce thus sayd Mighty Potentate of Esclauonia in our Land of Syconia we heard of some brawles thou hast had with certaine strange Knights and this daye was it toulde vs their insolence committed in thy presence killing some of thy Nobilitie and wounding our Prince Lindauro and moreouer howe thou hast promised to deale with them by lawe agaynst offendors to Princes states no such respecte is due but to execute the power of consuming wrath vppon them And so vppon the one and the other wee defie two Knights whatsoeuer that will vndertake the battaile by the same will I defende they worthely deserue a cruell death Hee made them sit downe knowing who they were saying I would not braue Gyants for any thinge haue it sayd that in my Court Iustice is lesse obserued then in anye other of the vniuerse and therfore did I referre this cause vnto my Counsell but séeing you haue challenged them there is no more but to admitte your challenge aduertising them thereof Well did Alanio the Princesse Vncle vnderstoode the drift and by whome that complotte was ordayned gréeuing that so great iniustice shoulde bee permitted The beauteous Venus did nothing but wéepe purposing wyth her owne handes rather to sacrifice her life then to wedde so false a Knight At length came the twoo Princes so weake and faint that they were not able to stande verye fewe there were in the Hall but greatly did pittie them Straight was it toulde them the cause why they were sent for and what those Knights demaunded Somewhat was the Prince mooued with their sight but that being past as long it lasted not hee sayde with his accustomed animositie that it pleased him straight without any further delaye to enter the battaile affying onelye on his Iustice That maye not bee aunswered the Kinges counsell who all were agréed against him for there is an inuiolate law in this Kingdome since Xantho the first King thereof was challenged that none challenged maye combate his propper cause but present his Champion within the limitted time prefixt to finde him that he for him may right him or else fayling in eyther or in both to remayne subiect to the Lawes inflicting punishment But we being strangers of such remoted Countries sayde the inraged Gréeke and the finding a friend to hazard for vs his life being so difficult great is the wronge herein you doe vs and on both I will enter the battaile Afore him stept the furious King of Cremania with these wordes Well doest thou knowe Knight howe impossible it is for thy sake to vyolate the lawes for the common good established and so because thou shalt not bee permitted to it makes thée so vehemently insist in thy request That mooues mee not to it replyed the angry Gréeke but onely to sée the insolēt pride that hither hath brought thée not like a Knight but a barking rauening Curre of Assyria that liue by howling against the splendor of the bright Moone So furious was the Pagan that hee would haue flung at him which had not gréeued the Prince for hee so spake purposelye to vexe him Betwene thē stept the King commanding them to be conuayed to prison first lymiting them a Moneth to séeke their
the ground following that aduantage with like kinde of death that the Father suffered he was bereft of life Which Don Eleno made cleane his sword and dagger praising him that deserueth all praises from whome procéedeth strength and victorie He mounted vppon his light horse that straigght came to him giuing cause of no lesse admiration at that then what the Gréeke did do for finding hard by him Ballurdanos stéed that was both mightie and strong not setting foote in stirrop he nimbly leapt into his saddle as if that day he had done nothing which euery one amazedly admired seing him so sore wounded They demaunded of the Iudges if about the Prisoners libertie there remayned any more to do They replyed No more valiant Warriours for what is done is more thē suffitient the memorie of whose fame while the world doth last shall euermore indure Frō thence as they were they rode vnto the window where the King was to whome they made a low obeysance vnworthy of his imagination To him the Dacian thus spake Though in our soules most mighty King wee gréeue to haue discontented thée yet considering by thy commaunde and consent wee were admitted to this battaile we maye stand excused And so your Royall Maiestie wee beséech that because we haue hast of businesse that in another place doth sumon vs you will commaunde the prisoners to bee deliuered vs which to vs will bee newe fauours Knight answered the King though to your honour you haue accomplished the performance of the challenge the offence was committed agaynst my Royall Crowne and state and so it remaynes to be determined by my Counsell wherefore to stay a few dayes will bee no great matter For all sayd the Dacian was the battle made and you commanded the prisoners to bee sent for that they might giue vs their consent so that by this meanes all is cleared nothing remayning to be remitted to any Counsell It is true replyed the Kinge but the kinsfolkes of those dead anew demaunde of me Iustice agaynst them which must bee obserued especially required by this valerous Prince With his person it were more honourable for him to doe it sayde the Gréeke a Thousand times about to followe them vp stayres and not in this maner which is more for a woman then a Knight and a Prince Be not so bould replyed Lindauro before my Lord the Kinge for else I will haue you well chastised according to your insolēce For what I wil procure by my selfe I haue arms and ffrength to doe it which I haue not because I knewe it was to base and dishonourable for my person and so I leaue it in the Kings hands for he will maintayne Iustice law and right Well did the Dacian note his alteration perceauing with what rage his Companiō mēt to answer he stayd him because hee would not giue occcasion of newe brawles and sayd In faith Prince I neuer saw a knight that while he might obtayn fame reputation by his owne sword wold procure it by anothers hand But seing it is thus vsed in Esclauonia wee shall not want meanes more cruell and rygorous ere long to liberate the Prisoners Hauing thus said the twoo couragious Warriours turned about their horses went their waies leauing behind them ynough for many yéeres to be talked off Where breathlesse and of sences tyred I am forced to cast anchor in an vncertaine Port till the ioyfull calme of new expected fauours hauing disperst the boysterous tempest of contrarious thoughtes shall increase strength by adding courage to a faynting minde to gratefie your kinde acceptances with another part Dum lumen solari tenebo Seruiet officio spiritus iste tuo FINIS