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
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
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
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
brought the fortunes of his loue to that passe that he manifested apparant tokens of the same loosing the roseat colour of his face shunning the conuersation of all his friends kinsfolkes who in nothing more than in pastimes busied themselues All the Court did note it and some that would shew themselues his friends required of him the cause of his discontent he denied it to them all for none loued with more secrecie A deede most meritorious for his Ladie to fauoure him But she was so free that to continue it for all shee loued him as her selfe she would neuer let him know it and so thence forwardes the opportunitie that occasion appointed him she would disappoint by choosing foorth some other companie which was a new kinde of tormenting martirdome for the afflicted Prince He tooke counsell vnable longer to dissemble with the Countie of Acantos sonne a youth wittie and discreet called Palisandro to whome he disclosed his griefes whose repetition séemed to encrease them his squire comforted him the best he could saying how in that age it was so common to be alienated that to be so meanes was found therein to suffer any crosse and willed him to consider with what troubles his Father had loued not noly to his cost but of al Greeces that he shold know there could be no pleasure with a desired end vnles the meanes thereto were difficult and vnpleasant for they are the reward of the thing procured making the end to be esteamed according to their value T is true good Palisandro answeared the Prince yet thou knowest with what sinceritie my Father was beloued And being the cause of such bloodie cruell warres in Grecia yet knew he not what it was to be in the Empresse my mothers disgrace And I am sure should I demaund her for my wife my Lord the Emperour being a mediator I should not be denied her But there are a thousand incōueniences and all to defame my Fame and stayne the honor and reputation of my hopes for it wil presently be sayd that the feare to attaine vnto the winter of my deedes to recoumpt an haruest of honourable actes accomplisht aduētures hath daūted the nonage of my glory mixt the springing of my yeres with ignoble slothfulnesse therefore since I must loue giue me some remedie to quyet my thoughts be it but in disguise or fayned I finde none other sayd the Page but that you wryte for when she sées by experience how constantly she is loued she cannot be so cruell but will be moued reading vnder so firme a firme what the soule hath most firme Oh Palisandro replyed he who may write being thus with woes tormented vnles hee should set downe he knoweth not what T is that sayd the Page which must with effect speake in your behalfe besides there is no carelessenes betwene louers but procéedes of care well seing t is so spake the Gréeke how wilt thou conuay it to her I shall sayd hee want no good occasion for the deliuery in the Court So they went to write with more feare in the louer then if hee went to combate with his father The page tooke the letter promising to deliuer it in her owne hands though hee indāgered his life therby fortune gaue him leaue to do it oh if she would effect as she giues occasion none would euer complaine of her For Rosamond and she being at a windowe that looked to the Sea discoursing of loue though Don Elenos were already knowen yet the Quéene delighted with the newe maner of woing in Calidonia Sometimes in their talke wold they stumble on the gallant Prince whose qualities the Princesse praysed aboue the skies without suspition of any thing else and sayd I doe not doubt sweete Quéene but some absent loues doe make him thus to languish for his sodaine change in so few dayes cannot come from any thing else Euery time deare Princesse replyed the Quéene that gallants will seeme so their Ladies are not bound to fauour them to their honours costs though they greatly loue Then Rosamond neuer did any liue by louing that woulde not remedie the thing loued seing it languish in paine for herein is the tryall of loue not to consent the languishing of the thinge loued although the louer in that remedie doe a Thousand times indanger his life And considering your highnesse words I now estéeme the Gréeke Ladies as cruell as they are beautifull for on that ground they built their crueltie a thinge that so much blemisheth the noblenesse the adornes them T is not so much answered the Quéene as is their small sufferance to dissemble their Ladies coynesse Then the wary Palisandro caused to passe that waye with slowe paces because he might be seene who straight knowing him they called to whom Rosamond spake .. Come hither gentle Page it hath been told vs that your Lord Prince Claridiano wil absent himselfe from Court because he cannot brooke so long absence and truly hee doth well if he thinke the sight of his Ladie will adde more content vnto his thoughts then now he sheweth heere flying from vs all publishing he liues best in solitude Of his departure I knowe nothing answered Palisandro sauing of his woes as he that dayly receaueth them no lesse to see how he pines away and I dare well affirme no Knight euer loued with a more constant faith nor none intreated with more crueltie a thing that would haue mooued a Tygre to pittie and so I thinke yf the Ladye continue in her rygor we shall very shortly see him dead Oh God forfend it sayd the dissembling Quéene but tell me hath not he manifested to his Lady the sorrow payne that norishes him His eyes replyed he are they that speak by signes Why then sayde Rosamond shee is in Gréece that is cause of his maladie So farre as I haue spoke replyed he knowe I of his departure life and loues for hee would not wrong his Lady as to tell me her name or who she is In faith answered the Princesse yf his loues agrée with his outward effectes he is iniustly vsed There is no doubt thereof sayd he for what the face expresseth procéedes from the aboundance that is inclosed in a little corner of his brest that yeildes assurance of the ouermuch the soule indures Thy Lord will loose nothing sayd the Quéene by aggrauating the little he doth suffer Then he I am so fearefull most excellent Quéene of his life that I cannot but acquaint euery one with his discontent which hath not been to small effect since it is a meanes to moue his Soueraigne Princesse to pittie him They could no lōger talk for the Empresse Briana called thē As they past they being so nigh the bould Page thrust the letter into the Queenes hand She could not choose but take it least the Princesse should perceaue it seing her somewhat moued Shee presently procured to withdrawe into her Chamber not to read it for a Thousand times shee was
knights choice to assault him on foote or otherwise but to remaine vanquished at least wtout his horse your maiestie hath iudged it it may be the best yet in my countrey it is not vsed This highly gladded the beauteous Venus who séeing Pollidolphos haughty déedes was visited by the Embassadors of the blinde God There stood a Knight that was accompted the strongest in all Slauonia a kinseman of the kings who hearing the Gréeks spéeches stept forth with these words It ill beséemes thée knight to repugne what my Lorde the Kinge hath iudged Incompassed round about with knights and others was the mighty Alphebos sonne which was some cause that he replyed with more méekenes then he would so answered What the king hath decréede sir Knight I approue allowe for good but if vpon thy proude arrogant wordes spoken thou darest accept this my gage I le teach thée that strangers comming to serue kings ought to bee intreated with more courtesie In this kingdome sayd the third Brother she valiantest must not be admitted so vniust a battle as you demaunde but rather such as you ought to bee punished as troublers of the Court The limits of patience did the Prince passe hee presumed on more then Mars or Iupiter durst answering Discourteous insolent art thou knight thereupon that thou mayst knowe how little I esteme thée thou mayst enter to the battle with this knight in company of thy bretheren for the proude wordes vttered cannot be amended with lesse thē all your heads The haughty challeng admired eury one iudging it a meere madnesse in fayth any other vndertaking it but the Gréeke prince it could not but be called wil-ful temeritie for either of the 4 might haue copt with Milo The king allowed the challeng greatly desyring to be reuenged on the knight but the 4 Knights would not accompting it cowardise to assault one rather euerye one for himselfe would vndertake the battle thinking not knowing the challenger it was suffitient But hee to disgrace them sayde Knights it befits you not with effeminated reasons to refuse the battle séeming thereby more cowardlyke then valiant This altogether blinded thē so all 4 vpon mighty horses set thēselues against the Grecian Mars Now Mercury would I faine sée thée here to draw the perfect lineaments of this braue battle Orpheus tonge in this effect were but blunt for either is abashed of the other to haue help against one sole aduersary with greater horror prickt forth the fiue warriours then the racking cloudes rent with a fierie Thunder-bolt The earth neuer saw a stronger nor fiercer incounter for euery one thinking to end the battle with his blowe met him with such fiercenes that none mist his stroke To bee hit by so many was a help to stay him in his saddle They tormēnted his body with the strength of their seueral launces for few greater incounters had he receaued He helde himselfe valiantly wtout making any shamefull motion in his seate he met the first brother with such puissance that he made him fly from his saddle with his proude brest pierced side through side he turned vpon the thrée that with some feare staid for him seeing how mighty he had shewē himselfe against thē All in the place were struck as in a traunce with admiratiō especially whē they saw him in the yellow how with his sword in one hand shield in another he thrust himselfe amōg his enemies with far greater courage then if he had to doe but with one In his charge with that good sword that Galtenor had giuen him he struck the Kings couzen vppon his helme All his plumes he cut away with the top thereof wounding him most dangerously on the head he could not defend himselfe of them all for the brothers at once laid vpon his impenetrable helme the which although they could not rase yet forst they him to make an vnpleasing musike with his téeth bowing his head below his brest Through rage the Elclauonian cōceaued to be woūded he discharged on the Gréeks left shoulder al his strength it so tormēted him that he could scarce hold his shield The other two second it with seuerall thrusts T was their aduantage for the second brother quickly repaired againe stryking him vnder the right arme The swoord chanst to light outwardly els it had mortally wounded him for it fell betwene the buckling of the armor nere the brest It wounded him though but little yet altogether to set the Greeke on the spurs of furie Being once at this point Galtenor saith being he the Cronicled his acts he was feareful to be beheld Hee manifested it for not regarding the other thrust which put him to great paine he florished his sword among the thrée He could not misse the Kinges couzen cutting away al his armor on the side with a piece of the shield forward past the blowe lighting on the second brothers Beuer woūding him there very dāgerously also the blod the issued hindred his eie-sight He turnd with a counterbuffe vpon the third this was the strongest of them it beate him vpon hys horse without féeling The king seing it cried out amazedly O Saturne what haughty corage is this of one knight wherin oh mighty Ioue haue I offended thée that thou shouldest send him hithirto shame disgrace my Court for al that no iot of fayntnes shewed the other twoo beating on his helme like an anuell which seemed to be of a light fier so many sparkes flue from it Seing with what valour that knight defēded the azures part the second Venus shewed her selfe more faire then did the first when shee Courted young Adonis in the wood from the window she looked glad that the azure knight withdrew not his eyes from her casement perswading her selfe she might be sure of his faith In a wonderfull fight were the twoe with the Gréeke louer when the third brother recouering himselfe casting his shield at his backe went to him He assailed him on the sodaine therfore stryking him at his pleasure executing the brauest blowe he did in all his life for he tooke him on the very top of hys helme with such strength that he fell on his horse necke All of thē followed the chase laying on him most cruell blows The new-come would faine haue closed within the Gréeke so offered it It had byn very ill for Claridiano because of the others so he auoyded it by spurring his swift Courser making him leape from them After him followed the two reaching him together on his swords arme T was a venturous blowe for it so paind it that he could not stir it There was none in the place but perceaued it nor anye but exceedingly grieued thereat especially Pollidolpho in his soule who gazed on the battle with such affection as if he were his brother Their good fortune did his enemies imbrace wtout feare entring and salying hammering his soule more then his body so great was the
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