I more disobay it The Father imbrast her with extreame ioy seing the thing effected which he thought impossible Presently was it published through the Cittie where many tryumphes were ordained by the Citizens The next day the King woulde haue it solemnized and inuited the chiefest of the Citie reioycing in his hart to haue as he thought the marriage sure and also to haue the despairing Knight in his Court to glad it wyth his haughty deeds He did it but with death and bitter lamentations of many The King would needs haue them all Dine in his great hall that ouer-looked the riuer but the Ladies apart At once together in that pallace was there neuer séen more nobility for besides the King there was Eleauen Princes some disguised some woūded with loue were come to sée the beauteous Venus imagining in their Countries that she which had such a name could not but in beauty be Venus her selfe This Lady bride came forth al in white of which coulor was the Prince also attired with all his pages with so costly rich ornaments that it was well séene loue was his instructer After dinner hauing sat to it something long yet ere their reuealing began they Cōmenst discourse of seuerall matters Very nere Lindauro sat the Gréeke prince only with his sword dagger cloathed in yellow black a deuise which wonderfully became him About that quarter being all youths in the May of their yeres Ladies seruitors that chose their argument euery one to prayse the beauty he had séen or most affected The Prince Pallidolpho knowing who the Gréeke was assured that the Gréekish beauty admitted no comparatiue with the world beside set a foote praysing the Ladies of Grecia the gretest tumult that euer there was séen for Lindauro with his accustomed pride thinking hee might there safest speake answered That may b◠to them that knowes not the good of Esclauonia nor cānot conceaue it but to them that liue without partiall affection there is nothing faire on the earth nor absolute but here The amorous Gréeke with the onely sight of Venus was so transported in the contemplation of his Lady that he had scarce vnderstoode what had bin discoursed but rather gaue occasion of a farther mischiefe by a sigh that burst from his hart which made euery one note the griefe that possest him Well did Lindauro perceaue it hauing the death of the brothers sticking in midst of his hart thought that with so many as there was to take his part hee coulde by no meanes scape his hands sayd to him What haue you felt despairing Knight for in such a place as this more lyke a Knight thē otherwise must the faith sacrificed to the Lady be approued The Prince had already vnderstood what had been ventilated and hearing himselfe so plainely taunted with cowardise was mightily incensed with wrath he refraynd it yet not so but he was forced to this reply My thoughts ending the imaginarie consideratiō of my Ladies perfections seing the wrong the world commits against her not yeilding to her the supremacie of all excellencies I acknowledged it with a sigh But least you shoulde thinke I haue no hands or dare not mainetaine my words I here defie thée to mortall battaile where thou shalt see that if I now here shew my selfe milde through the gallantnes of the loued obiect in field I am fiercer then an angred Lyon being toucht with her beautie Néere him was the Brother who with like confidence of being there spake thus In these parts and chiefly in this Kingdome any challenge is prohibited in time of peace and he is worthie of seuere punishment that led by an inordinate passion of selfe pride doth disturbe it The most in the hall agréed with him therein being also approued by the kings Nephew a king that but the night before was come thither The King himselfe did ratefie it whose Guard expected no more to lay violent hands on the twoo Princes to imprison them but it was to their euill for the Greeke like an Hyrcanean Tigre leapt from his place drawing foorth his swoord wounded Lindauro the Bridegroome most dangerously on the head he would haue made an end of him but that the Brother stept betwéen wounding the Prince a little on the arme but he thrust at his shoulder so furiously that sencelesse hee threw him at his féete At this time was not the Croatian idle hauing on the ground before him twoo of those Princes although himselfe were wounded well did the Greeke perceaue it banning his fortune to be without armour for in spight of them all he had scapte them he had no other remedie but taking his friend behind him betooke himselfe to the doore that went vnto the Ladies chamber They all succoured them especially the beauteous Venus that with teares of blood celebrated the wonders which the Prince perfourmed at the dore backt by her gallant Louer So great was the increased multitude which incompassed the Prince that his lyfe was in extreme dāger though at his féet there lay 10 dead All were not suffitient to defend Trebatios Nephews lyfe had not an Vncle of the Ladies her Mothers brother who greatly grieued at the marryage although he dissembled it by reason of the King that being affectionated to the Gréeke seeing his gallantnesse and valour thinking that with him though he were worth but one horse armor his cozen might with greater honour match then with the proude Lindauro He arose and went straight to the Kinge that in all hast cryed for more ayd In all thinges did the Kinge credit this his brother who thus spake Thy fame for Iustice most mighty King is spread ouer all the earth and therefore haue the Gods magnified thée making thée happy with such a Daughter as thou hast and Emperour of so large a Monarchy Let not then the conceite of rash wrath which by other meanes may be reuenged be at this time the occasion of the wracke of thy supreme honour till now euer increased for which thou art bound by Iustice to giue euerye one his due and therefore suffer not yonder Knight to be slaine with such vnequall aduantage hauing giuen no cause for it and thou oughtest to maintaine his right These wordes tooke such impression in the King that without more adoe he cast his warder in the hall that euery one might withdrawe and taking his brother in law by the hand went towards the Gréeke that was wounded in many places whose paine he felt not so gret was his conconceaued rage but seing the King comming he with-held his sword saying I had not thought mighty Prince in thy Pallace he should be suffered to indure any wrong that wished nothing more then to serue thée soly expecting this daye to doe it It behooued him to saye so séeing his manifest dāger being in place where he could not vse his own valor Come with me knight sayd the King I will doe you right
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 famous Princes of the worlde but seeing himselfe so cruelly by loue persecuted did often make him loose part of his high valour From him departed the two friendes returning where they had left their horses expecting the mornings approch which scarce appeared saluting the brightnesse of the Sunnes vprising when mounted on their coursers they had not galloped farre but the glittering of Nyqueas gates reflected on their armours Not long after did the valiant competitor do the like vpon a great mightie Bay Courser without any spot and of the best broode that euer was seene for as such a one it was giuen him by his louing friend the wise Nycandro So soone as he sawe the two Knightes before him with a little more then ordinarie speede he ouertooke them being nigh them he demauÌ„ded in the Arabian tongue the better to dissemble what countrey that was It is so little sir Knight since we ariued here answered Rosabell that we are altogether ignorant of your demaund hauing not met any of whome wee might knowe what you desire The ariuing of another Knight of as braue apparances as any of them interrupted his replie This was Don Clarisell that guyded by Lupercio Gellasios maister was come in the Souldans behalfe though he ariued too late for he had already sent to that purpose for a subiect of his the fiercest of many Gyants that he knewe being come to them with great courtesie he requested what Bembo had done before But as euerye one dissembled their knowledge they stayde till they might meete with some of whome they might learne their doubt Long stayed they not but they saw a Page in great hast come weeping from the Cittie and méeting with the foure Princes sayde Ah me braue Knights if in you there be what your gallantnes doth manifest now you may approue it by succouring of three Kinges that vniustly are accused of the rape made of the Princesse and her couzen by the deformedst giant in the vniuerse I am sure they are in no fault Leade the way good Page sayd the couragious Rosabell for I wil for them hazard my person in any danger and I will mine if it be néedfull sayd Oristoldo The Assirian that was somewhat bould would no longer forbeare but sayde I woulde not haue on my part Knights so resolute Then be you of the other sayd Oristoldo and you shall see that our resolution is grounded on our armes and not on our tongues without more stay they rayned about their Horses and with their swiftest pace they straight went to the Cittie The lyke did the other two remayning with great desire to combate with such confident Knights specially he in the black whome Rosabells behauiour highly pleased hee had reason for on horse-backe fewe were like him At length the first two arriued at the pallaice after the Souldan had Dyned being accompanyed with his chiefe Nobilitie because he would haue the Kinge of Garamantes cause tryed before them for he would not beléeue but he had consented to the rape And that he might be more sure of his reuenge he had called the proude Grantelâ—rio Lorde of the Altana Isles and subiect vnto him though like a friend he vsed him because of hys power There were no 20 Knights so hardy as one houre to withstand him in the fielde This Gyant was also in the great hall for the Souldan to honour him more had inuited him And straight he commanded the three Kings to be brought with suffitient garde to whome the Souldan sayd Knights you see what all my subiects doe obiect against you that you were confederates in my deare Daughters rape but I because I woulde in some respect beléeue the contrarie haue put it to the tryall of a battell and so within foure days may you present your Champion to combate against him that my counsell hath assigned who is the King of the Altana Isles that is here The King of Garamantes thus replyed Greatly are we wronged mighty Lord to haue this battle taken from our armes knowing none in thy Kingdome on whom we might repose so waightie a charge I haue already vrged that sayd the Gyant and intreated the Souldan that you three might be admitted thereunto but seeing hee sayth there is a law inuiolate that forbids it take no care for that for I giue leaue and will admit Ten Knights in your behalfe against all whom together I alone will maintaine you were confederates in the rape of the gracious Liriana Princesse of Niquea As the fearefull King was about to answere the couragious Greekes stopped foorth backe with his friend Oristoldo who doing his humble obeysance vnto the Souldan sayd vnto him in the Assirian tongue the which he knewe he could well speake In the entring of thy great Cittie great Monarch of this faire Empire comming to séek for the King of Garamantes my Lord and soueraigne I vnderstoode what on thy behalfe was against his honour obiected And my selfe being assured of his vertues relying thereon I am resolued to vndertake the battle for him and for the rest to the extremest hazard of my life because I am certaine of his right Greatly reioyced the imprisoned Princes seeing him come in such opportunitie for they straight knewe him by his azure deuise to whome the Souldan replyed The tryall sir Knight is already remitted to bee arbitrated by combate and so there remaines no more then that these Kinges doe graunt it and then may you straight performe it Braue couzen sayd the King of Garamantes to Rosabell I for my part giue you all my power thereto resting not a little assured of the good successe hauing so great iustice on my side and so braue a knight to defend it We graunt the like sayd the other Kinges Seing this is done sayde the Gréeke humbling himselfe for the imposed charg command mightie Souldan turned to him the apparance of the chalenger and I beseech you that the prisoners may bee set in place that the battle ended they may without impediment depart Like a deuillish furie did the furious Pagan steppe foorth saying Why how now Knight so sure art thou of the end that before thou séest me thou darest demaunde the prize of the battle But now consider knowing what thou hast to doe against whom whether thou wilt yet affirme thy spéeches Not only doe I it sayd the hawghty youth but sayd it waxeth late till it be done Then I aduise thee Knight replyed the Gyant that if thou wilt thou mayest chose to ayd thée besides thy companion eight knights more for to that nuÌ„ber haue I chalenged Gyant replyed the couragious Gréeke all your broode thinks that with soly the outward shew you may end any aduenture therefore presume you to vtter such blasphemies not vnderstaÌ„ding that he which estéemes himselfe a knight wil admit nothing with aduaÌ„tage And so maist thou go arme thy selfe for onely with these armor weapoÌ„s that I haue the iustice of my cause I
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