able to attempt any important action at your cōmand I haue neuer replied the Sophy whose dutious seruice loyaltie to me hath deserued such cōfidence as these affaires require specially since the absence of the prince my son And well may you sée the treason done against mee by the duke for I am sure it was both by his consent ◠my daughters cōmand done am certain that he which all these harmes hath wrought is the knight of the golden image so discoursed what he had vnderstood of the knights and how he was so sore wounded that his life was in suspence and also that he was the same that slue Don Galfeo All which was true for the distressed knight was in such case that all his companions greatly doubted his recouerie for which their sorrow was so great that they wished to disburden themselues therof they might be euen in their enemies chiefest troops For in readinesse willingnesse of mind they wanted nought but the beginning of the conflict The two kings not a litle maruailed at the Soldans discourse Whereupon the King of Armenia tooke occasion to speake as followeth The knight of the golden Image is not in that greatnesse of fault as you iudge him in most mighty Lord for if you would but in the equall ballance of right reason weigh the cause you may plainly sée how greatly Don Gallaneo laboured to kill the aduenterous knight and the Prince Arfileo against all the lawes and rights of Turney nought regarding your awfull clamours to the contrarie but then more procured their deaths whereat no maruell if the Knight of the golden Image and the Duke in thir owne defence did slay him And we know that the knight in the gréene armour was he of the golden Image for we learned it of some of them that fled when don Galfeo died that he which slue him and vanquished them was the same that returned victor of the Turney So that you may well thinke he determined to do by them what they did to him and his Of all which things you should better informe yourselfe before you come to these extreames But if notwithstanding you will perseuer in these rigorous determinations consider the many thousand deaths thereby like to ensue for the Duke will indure no wrong Remember also great Lord the knight of the golden Image is he though the chiefest cause of Don Gallaneos death that fréed you from two great inconueniences one from the aduenture of the vnhappie Bridge the other by the death of the Rypliean dragon and that hereof consisteth your owne honour in your daughters innocencie and that the Duke may plead his cause and we our selues will go with him and procure this matter to be tried by combat or by any other means by you thought fitter which if you grant you shall eternally bind vs to your allegiance If you cause the duke replied the Sophy to come and submit himselfe I promise you there shall be no wrong proffered him nor any thing contrarie to the right of law iustice which I onely do that if any of Don Gallaneos kindred should expect any reuenge at my hands for his death they may know what I haue done herein And hereupon I pawne my kingly faith and royall word vnto you Then said they vppon this order you may dismisse your men vnto their seuerall homes for we will performe what we haue promised Whereupon the Soldane commanded euerie man to retyre to his quarter he himselfe going to his Court to expect the kings returne who straight repayred to the Dukes Pallace where they greatly reioyced to see the good order and care by them kept insomuch that the Soldan was not there able to enter by force of armes though he brought all his forces redoubled They being their demaunded for the Duke and vnderstanding that he was in don Bellianis Chamber thither went to speake with him where they saw how the knight of the golden Image had his wounds by those Dumzels dressed The duke receiued them according to their state would haue led them into another roome but they would not looking on the kings wounds which they iudged the greatest y t euer they had séene wherat they much sorowed supposing he wold not scape them though they were greatly satisfied to sée with what nimblenes those ladies dressed him And hauing don they thus said with such surgeons sir knight you ought to féele halfe the paine inforced by your wounds wherto he answered It is so great lords for though I should féele neuer so much this is double cōfort vnto me for else I should not be made happie with the fruition of your royall presence ioyntly with the dutie you bind me to in vouchsafing the remembrance of so meane a knight being thus pitiously wounded not able to leaue my bed to imploy my self in these troublesom affaires of my lord y e duke Take no care for them Sir knight said the king of Tessifantie for we come to none other effect and hope we shall haue no great deniall about them and though we should find any contradiction yet the duke shal be so fauored as he shal reasonably doubt nothing that may to him happē And they declared y e maner of the appointment made with the Soldane so that the dukes iustice should be euidently séene and be at libertie to answere all obiections or else present his champion to trie it in the battell against whosoeuer should at his hands demaund the death of Don Gallaneo and that in meane space the duke would yéeld himselfe to prison or we for him all which was betwéene him and vs so agréed And know Sir knight it is certainely bruted abroad that he which vanquished the Tourney and was cause of Don Gallaneos death with his cosins Don Galfeo and that slew the Riphian Dragon and the Giants Filistones thrée knights is your self Don Bellianis somwhat altered his countenance hearing this yet séeing the Sophie and others knewe all his doings faintly made this replie First mightie Lordes haue a care in what they demaund of the Duke and after wée shall haue time if I escape these woūds to prouide for al things else And moreouer on my faith the Soldan deales vnaduisedly and vniustly in his demaunds against the Duke and should not make account of two such traitors as Don Gallaneo and Galfeo whom if in case I did stay I did verie well considering with what trecherie the one would haue murthered me in my bed and the other my companions in the Tourney and had I bin in that state at more ease I had better with my déeds shewen what I cannot so well now expresse in words They were all amazed to sée with what passion Don Bellianis pronounced these spéeches and they perceiuing hee had reason would procéed no further in that talke but turning to the duke prayed him to resolue with himselfe to do what they required I will do replied he neither
lodge in his pallace vntill the battell were paste The King easily condiscended thereto hauing already purposed that if he remayned victor of the fight to require the Soldan to pardon his daughter and giue her him with the kingdome of Antioche as his right being next Heire to Don Gallaneo for which cause hée remained there where the Soldan greatly honored him The Prince Arfileo Don Bryanell with the Kinges Dukes and Earles returned to the Dukes Pallace to tell Don Bellianis the order taken and entring where hee was they founde him nowe somewhat better then they before had left him to whome they then declared all that had passed betwéene them and the Soldon and how the day of battell was assigned and that the Duke had in Champion for himselfe and how they had accepted the combatte no his and the Princesse Persianis name expressing also the great fiercenes of the Gyants particularly descrybing y e deformed mishapen features of the King of Cyprus protesting they had neuer seene the like Don Belhanis conceiued an extreame rage hearing that discourse how the Soldane would not permit him to the combate at such time wherein hee was reputed a traytor wherewith beeing almoste besides himselfe with vnrestrained fary saide What thinkes the Soldane this shall be suffered that hee hath ordayned and that with so greate maliciousnâ—s against the law of armes his desire shall bée fulfilled No the powers diuine will not permit it And therewithall hee rose and sat vppon his bedde and in all haste called for his cloathes The Damsels séeing him thus determined intreated him not to doe it which hee would not but in all haste made himselfe ready resisting al their requestes also the Princesse Auroras and commanding that none should accompany him saue the Princes there present that led him by the armes least hée should fall But a little after the Princesse Florisbellas Damzells followed him in which manner they went through the Cittie vntill they came vnto the Soldanes Pallace who béeing séene and knowne by the common people said one to another viewing him so fainte and weake Beholde heere the knight which ouercame the knights of the vnhappybridge and that tooke the Dukes parte in the last turney Many followed him to knowe the cause of his so going in such ill disposition who being at the Pallace gate sent the Soldane word hee was come to speake with him WheÌ„ it was so told the Sophy he was at table accompanyed with the King of Cyprus his brothers who vnderstanding hée was there commaunded hee should bee admitted to his presence Is this the Knight of the golden Image demaunded the King whom I come both to accuse and challenge for the treachery he committed by the deathes of my deare Cosins This is he replyed the Soldan and doe assure you that his peere the sunne shines not on to equall him in strength and valour That may bee saide the King mong such as himselfe and it were a blotte to my honour to make any account of 100. such as hee You wrong your selfe to thinke so answered the Soldan for if hee should enter in the fight I would not for the world assure you of the victorie and therefore I ordered what I did Now you haue told me so said the Gyant it behoues me in any wise to craue the combatte against him for if I should not doe it I am for euer dishonoured I wil haue no more wordes héereon sayde the Sophy for in dooing otherwise I should not bee reuenged on him and the Duke as I desire The king disdainfully laughed at his wordes and said If the others that in this battell shallenter were as you make him yet should my will be accompliwed But since you wil haue it otherwise I yéelde vnto you Thereon sayde the Soldane giue mee your hand and word not to accept at this time any battell against him I promised you so to doe said y e Gyant though it bée to my lasting blame CHAP. XXII What speeches passed betweene the Knight of the golden Image and the Soldan and how hee was stayed in the Pallace till the end of the battell DON Bellianis beeing before the Sophies presence shewing no kinde of dutie thinking that one of his state and pretending such a challenge shuld rather seeme sterne and fierce theÌ„ humble and milde though his weakenes through the gréenousnes of his wounds was so great that no Knight vnder the cope of heauen was able with such patience to endure half the paine y t he perforce sustained which notwithstanding with a cleare voice that he might bee heard of all the assembly dissembling his sorrowe as much as he could said I am most mightie Lord forced to come to your presence in this manner that you sée by hearing certaine things that here haue bin debated in preiudice of my honor and reputation which most excéedingly haue augmented the pain and grief of my great sicknesse for which cause I feare I shall not be able to vtter the imaginations of my pensiue hart with so great decoram and reuereÌ„ce as appertaineth to so high a personage And I protest I had not hither come but presuming on y e equalnesse of thy iustice The Soldan séeing him in such distresse coÌ„manded him ere he further procéeded to sit downe a chaire being brought him he humbling himselfe for the courtesie sat him downe being in such case that he had like a thousand times to haue sounded as he stood through y e great debilitie of his bodie But drawing strength from his neuer fainting courage séeing Filistone that fierce gazed on him resting astonished at his great monstruositie turned to the Souldane with these words If according to the iustice of my cause most mightie lord committed to the administration of those men to that ende placed by the immortall gods on this terrestriall ball promising such large guerdons in their future life of euerlasting happinesse if with equitie and right they execute the function of so high commanding powers whereunto the spacious territories of your vaste Empery bindes you you looke into this whole matter searching y e true ground therof not suffering the vnbridled passion of base parcialitie to blinde the eyes of your admiring iudgement which most often is woont to obscure and vtterly with ignominy besmeares the magnanimitie of the Noblest mindes Then I cannot but greatlye meruaile for what reasons you haue so farre procéeded in my affaires séeing my selfe indeuoured with the vtmost of my strength to shewe my prostrate seruice to your highnesse whose gentle regarde might haue bene the cause that the least reason procéeding from your royall selfe should haue contentedly satisfied mee at your command And I vow by the high immortal gods no reproach shuld haue scandalizde your mightinesse nor any iniurious infamy stained the honour of your estate if my selfe had béene first heard and my consent graunted to the assigned Combatte For in my iudgement it is against all naturall reason that I béeing
cause of them which shée by great importunitie declared which was no small comfort to her after woes But here wee leaue them till their time with the Soldane greatly doubting whether this was the Prince of Persia which hée confirmed to bee because he would not discouer himselfe But his Lords perswaded him to the contrarie saying This Knight better became his armour then he But now the storie turnes vnto the Prince don Brianell whom we left in his iourney towards Antioch CHAP. XLV What don Brianell did after hee was gone from Bollera and how he was informed of the state of Antioch WIth great desire to procure the good successe of his Ladies commaund deparded don Brianell to Antioche thinking that to effect so waightie a matter as that his foundation was weake But continuing his voyage meeting with no aduenture woorthie the rehearsall at length arriued at a Citie not aboue twelue miles from Antioch called Miriana where hee resolued to stay and learne the stâ—te of the kingdome And alighting at a house of good credit was verie well 〈…〉 by the owner of the house that was one of the best Knights in that Countrey So supper ended discoursing alone with him of diuerse matters he demaunded who was King of that Countrey â—eeing then troubled with ciuill mutâ—â—eâ— The hoasâ— with teares in his eyes thus answered You shall knowe siâ— Knight that after the King Pompeiano ouâ— soueraigne was siaâ—â— by the men of the Persian Soldan a kinsman of his called Don Gallaneo became our King who gouerned vs in peace maintaining law and iustice with all vprightnesse But since we haue vnderstood he was â—lame at Persepolis by soâ—â—e of the same Soldans subiects and in whâ—se absence there gouerned vs as Viceroy a noble man named Damartyno who with great wisdom and diâ—â—â—â—tion kept vs in quiet concord till a brother of the King of P 〈…〉 a by name the fearefull Tremolcano knowing y t in reuenge of the death of don Callaneo of Antioch the king of Cyrus with two more brethreÌ„ of his were slaine in Persia calling vs traâ—tors and rebâ—â—â— with a great power came vpon vs sâ—â—uâ—â—ng the Country Gariano which is a great Lord in his Countrey tooke our Gouernor saying he would haue rebelled with the land and hath imprisoned him in a castell taking possession of the whole kingdome saying Don Gallaneo hath no nigher allie then he and so executeth daily such tyrannies on the afflicted people that we desire rather to die then liue This is sir the truth of your demaund But tell me sayde Don Brianell left your King Pompeiano no issue to inherite his kingdome after him He did replied his hoast one daughter called the Princesse Aurora whome we thinke to bée dead for wée haue neuer since heard of her But if she be not dead sayde Don Brianell and comming hither will you not receyue her We will all die in her bâ—halâ—e replyed hee But these traytour are so stronglie fortifiâ—â— that wée shoulde hardly effect anie good vnlesse there were some to incourege the people of the Countrey and for this none better then she Gouernour Damartyno but that his imprisonment forbiddes it for euer Is his guard so great sayd Don Brianell that you thinke he may not be liberated The guarde replied he is not so great but that the Cittie is so nigh vnto the Castell that vpon the giuing of the watch-worde aboue thirtie thousand men would arme themselues And within the Castell there is a Mine that reacheth vnto the King Tramolcanos Pallace How know you this said don Brianell Because you seeme a man on whom I may repose greater trust I will tell you answered the hoast I was Lieutenant of the castell vnder Damartyno thrée yeares and then knew I it and that way went I often to speake with him which makes me the more pittie his imprisonment Don Brionell liked well of his hoasts wordes and perceiuing hée wished well to the affayres of the Princesse Aurora sayde Can you tell mée howe I might get vnto that Mine to go into the Castell I do replied hée but what dooth it concerne you that you will vndertake so daungerous an enterprise I am his nigh Aâ—â—â—â— sayde don Brianell and woulde willinglie put my selfe in hazarde to set him at libertie Although it seemes impossible to scape with life in this enterprize sayde the hoast because there is within a Cousen of the Giantes with tenne Knightes I will notwithstanding doe it and helpe herein while I liue and therefore will goe with you to Morrowe to Antioche béeing an honour to loose my life in companie of such a Knight Don Brianell thanked him for it promising that if their enterprize had a good successe his paynes shoulde bée well quitted The deedes doo bring with them theyr recompence sayde the hoast and more then this am I bounde to doo for Damartyno The next morning saying that hée must goe about certaine affayres to Antioche clad himselfe all in Armour For though he were poore yet was hee one of the valiantest Knights of that Countrey all his life trained vp in chiualdrous designes Which don Brianell séeing wondered at it not knowing hée was a Knight and so departed towards Antioch CHAP. XLVI What don Brianell and Palineo of the venture did arriuing at Antioch and the daunger they were in WIth intention aforesaid trauailed these two Knights till they came within sight of the citties of Antioch which was one of the best and well peopled Citie of the world for there was within aboue a hundred thousand great housholds Don Brianell highly admyred the Turrets and Towers of the same which were numberlesse and the Sunne reuerberating on them made the Citie séeme of a burning flame What thinke you sir of this noble Citie demaunded the hoast Well replied don Brianell for I haue not séene a more fayrer and that better contented me Not without reason doo you say so sayde his hoast for I assure you there is but thrée fayrer at this present which are Babylon Memphis and Constantinople which notwithstanding scant in fayrenesse equals this I pray you tell me your name said don Brianell for I greatly desire to know it séeing we shall be better acquainted hereafter My name is sayde he Palineo of the Venture and seeing this occasion requires it I woulde gladlie knowe yours before wee come to Antioche I am called the aduenturous Knight answered don Brianell and do beléeue you neuer heard me named hauing neuer trauelled this way before I haue no doubt of it sir replied Palineo but you must now chaunge that name here for it is said a knight so called was present at the King of Cyprus death Thus went they till they met a Knight sore wounded going in great haste Don Brianell staying him demaunded the cause of his hastie iourney in that manner You shall know sir replied the knight that the Countie Gariano to exercise his knights order yesterday a tourney of a thousande on each side so
him sorâ—lie but seeing himselfe in so immenent daunger was once againe forced to take the Piller for his defence whereon hée espied a Sworde fixed whose workemanship was such that the like in no tyme was euer seene wherein he more at that time reioyced then had hee béene inuested vniuersall Lorde of the whole earth or made a greater Monarch then his Father And without delay stepping to it verie easilie and lightlie drewe it foorth which hee had no sooner done but that there was heard a most horrible noyse as if the dissolution of the worlde were then that vnable to stande was faine to get holde of the Piller Yet scarce was the earthquake past but that deformed Giant prepared himselfe to fight which the Prince seeing and ioyfull with the obtained sword therewith thrust at his bodie with the vtmost strength of his arme that the Sworde appeared at his backe that straight the Giant fell to the grounde as dooth some mightie Oake rent with a Whirlewind by the rootes And looking for the Beare founde him also deade as thinges that had no longer tearme of life then the lasting of the inchauntment which ended with the drawing of the Swoorde from the Pillar And that noyse beeing heard of Don A sileo that remayned at the Caues mouth tryed if hee might againe enter it which without anie trouble hee did And taking his hunting Jaueline with him hee câ—st himselfe resolutelie into it and came to Don Belianis at the time hée ended the Giants life and was giuing thankes to God that hee had deliuered him from so great perill and daunger and with wonderous gladnesse to see themselues againe togither ranne to embrace each other and Arsileo thus sayde You haue not béene long deare Coosen though so sorâ—lie wounded as you were in 〈…〉 ng this so staunge and most maruaylous aduenture to your admyrable honour and blasing fame whereby I doo assuredlie beleeue you will terminate all others with like expedition So that the perpetuall recorde of your Fathers glorious name which hee in manie yeares with his great paine obtayned will bee with the neuer dying memorie of your famous déedes and the eternitie of your actes in short time extinguished and in obliuious darknesse ouerwhelmed No not so good Coosen replyed Don Belianis but let vs reade these Letters fixed vpdon this Pillar which cost mee nolesse bloud then if they contained some matter of great importaunce which they read to this effect A Prophecie and is fulfilled in the 37. Chapter In the time to come when the fiercenes of the couragious Lions by the greatnes of my skill shalbe put in greater feare by them that in valour had so great part the fearfull keepers of my caue being slain and the sword won wherwith the liuing shalbe lost and â—he dead put in possession of the reobtained with the greatest strangenesse of obtainers which vntil that time was euer heard of shalbe restored to theirroyall blooud and the true possessors know en Greatlie were the two Princes amazed hereby not vnderstanding those woordes though plainelie they were meant by Don Pelianis seeing hee had ended the aduenture Great is the â—eede sayde Don Biâ—ileâ— you seeme to haue of present care for your woundes which I see to bee so deepe that I feare you may fall into some notable daunger throngh the great quantitie of bloud you haue lost Which was true for though the Prince with the ioy of his good successe and in beholding his rich Swoorde thought not on his great and daungerous wounds which were such that if anie other of lesse and weaker constitution and couragiousnesse of minde had had them coulde not so haue sustained himselfe But while they were thus talking from a most sumptuous Chamber there issued forth a beautious Damsell cloathed in a Crimson sattin robe so great that the traine thereof trayled on the ground This Lady was led betwéene two Knights auncient and of great grauitie and on her attended twelue Damsels in the same liuerie all shewed by their faces some heauie cause of melancholike sorrow who beeing before the Prince prostrated themselues on the ground which hee seeing did also the like and intreated them to rise to which shee said I will not rise most excellent Prince vntill first you haue graunted mee my demaunde I doo graunt it gracious Ladie sayde the Prince and not onelye that but manye others for my desire is onelye for to serue such as your owne selfe I do render many infinit thanks replied she neither did I looke for lesse from so high and honoured a Prince as you guarded with such royall bountie and magnificent excellencie and rysing tooke him by the hand and entred the Chamber which though Don Belianis had séene manye verye fayre and rich in his Fathers Pallace yet iudged hée that to bée royallest hée might sée for the walles séemed of christall through which appeared such diuersitie of pictures as the whole Uniuerse coulde scarce containe more the floore séemed of Transparant Emeraldes which so amased their woondring sences that they stood a good while gazing on it till Don Bellianis turning to the Lady that held him by the hand saide Although fayre Ladie the entrance of this Caue séemed so timorous in sight yet the varietie of these raryties which it within containes presents more shewes to the outward fight theÌ„ the whole world besides without reason was it not made with such extreames as to be inhabited with so excellent beauty within and guarded with so great feare without to forbid the enteraÌ„ce to all attempters The Lady coÌ„ceiuing great pleasure at the Princes words answered I could not choose but blush most gracious Prince at your words though so honored by them knew I not your great courtesie that farre surpasseth all others of this time which causeth mée to prize my selfe more then I should or my merits deserue though I should not vnder your protection do it because all honoured prayses and deserued merits rest in your selfe But ouerpassing this which is so well knowne of euerie one let my intreaties now so preuaile with you that my maidens may cure your wounds I haue no wound replied the prince that so much needeth cure saue my desire to know the ende of this aduenture and also who shée is that so honoureth me Uerie quickly shall you know it faire Lord saith the Princesse but first must your woundes be cured least you incurre some greater danger and after shall you know the cause of your comming hither whom I am and what else you will all being doone by her will that keepes me heere Thereupon the Prince was vnclothed by those Ladies and one of them cured him most skilfully hauing great knowledge in that art and layde on a sumptuous bed they left him to his rest The Prince Arsileo remained in talke with the dâ—msell of many things specially of the aduenture of that day greatly admiring what Don Bellianis his cosin had atchieued beeing so yong of yeares Do not so wonder
farther resolution what shall be don with him woorthilie deseruing to bee tormented with a cruell death for his trecherie but do not so said the Emperour for he is a very good Knight and deserueth no euill vsage and therfore haue care he want nothing he shall néede for I would not for any thing he should miscarrie of him shall wee knowe the cause of â—â—eâ—â— trayterous designe which séeme is not without speciall occasion Hereupon the knight went straight and dressed his wounds who though hee had lost much bloud séemed couragious as if he were at libertie And after they had dressed him he was conuaied to a faire Chamber prouiding him with all necessaries as the Emperour had commaunded Who in this order remained tenne dayes in the cure of his wounds when remembring the taske hee had vndertooke determining to depart thence went first to visite the wounded Knight whom he found greatly amended of his woundes and approching to his bedde side asked him howe he felt himselfe Well enough aunswered hee though with no little greefe for my badde successe yet am I not sorie to bée ouercome séeing it was by him whose courage and valour the strength of mightie Giants could not abate But one thing I intreate of you sir Knight by the courtesie you haue shewen mee you woulde vouchsafe to tell mée your name that in those places where I shall come I may publish your hautie deedes It pleaseth mée replyed the Emperour conditionally you also let me knowe yours with the cause of your comming hither with the truth thereof whereto such a Knight as you is bound I am desirous to know you said the Knight that though it be agaynst the promise I haue made and you promising mée to kéepe it secrete I will not denie it Thereto I giue you my falth aunswered the Emperour and first knowe I am Don Bellaneo Emperour of Gréece that by certaine aduenture not farre from hence I parted from my traine the rest hauing happened as you haue séene Ho immortall Gods saide the Knight fetching a great sigh are you he whose name is so feared among all the Pagan nations and he that neuer refused to assault so terrible and fierce Giants And in bréefe he whose inuincible minde sheweth howe true the euerlasting fame of your perpetuall deeds is and through the world of you is spred Ho great Soldan now by this dayes successe thy determined purpose is vtterly made voide hauing so strong an aduersarie left thee in the world It therfore behoues thée no more to think of peace And turning to the Emperour who greatly amazed at his words stood gazing on him and dissembling his conceiued griefe Supposing renowmed Prince the matter I shall disclose to be of lesse consequence then it is I wil in few words vnfold the truth thereof though in the doing of it to my selfe more then to any resulteth greatest losse I know that your name so fearefull among all Gentiles beeing published in the Soldan of Siconias court with the great destruction by you made of his people and in all Paganisme moued him by promise to bind himselfe to giue the one halfe of his dominions with the mariage of his daughter to that knight by whose valour your head were brought him Also promising that if in the enterprise he died the halfe of his said dominions should notwithstanding be granted to his successiue heires So I vnderstanding the great promise the Soldan had made and greatlie louing his daughter resolutely resolued I departed to the kingdome of Antioch whereof I am Lord and with my selfe hauing determined what I ought to do I left my court accompanied with 500. knights and 30. giants purposing at your comming out of your palace either to kill or imprison you so shipping our selues and landed not farre from hence left our ships at anchor thither to returne with your conquest And that this we might better compasse vnknowne and vnséene we agréed to take this Castell and here remaine till occasion were offred vs to effect this pretence being informed of the state of all things by a man whom on the coast we tooke whereby wee hither came as you haue heard and easily thought to haue taken it being minded to let none suruiue to carry the newes abroad but your incomparable valour hath frustrated our intent Thus haue I declared vnto you all that in this case I can whereto your great bountie magnanimous clemencie forced me for notwithstanding I had so massacred your subiects you caused me thus to be cured My name is Don Gallaneo of Antioch if you euer heard of me before and so he made an ende to his spéech The Emperour rested wonderfull amazed séeing with what audacity don Gallaneo had discouered him a déed of such waight for which he might greatly fear his deserued punishment but iudged him of hauty courage considering how coÌ„fidently he had put himself in his hands hauing against him committed so high treacherie and shewing no maner of alteration made him this answer Truly Prince Don Gallaneo you haue plainly expressed the valiancie of your minde in so openly bewraying that which by any other meanes I could not haue knowne whereby you haue doubled the cause of my imaginarie thoughts séeing in such a knight so little shame that without further consideration should by treason séeke to spill my innocent blood which in so great a Prince as you séemeth more odious then in any other being by order of knighthoode bound to be vertuous and abhore all such detestable actions and to be an exaÌ„ple to your subiects least against your selfe they might commit the like Yet would I not for all my state you shoulde haue had such confidence in mee so to discouer my selfe that I might not knowing it let your owne selfe sée your selfe confounded in your own imaginations But séeing it is done here you shall remaine in this Castel till I further determin of your being Yet for all this said Don Gallaneo assure your person for not farre hence is the remainder of my power and easilie may you incurre some greater daunger though your person be such as I haue tried yet among them are so fierce and mightie Giants that will not thinke much to cleaue your bodie armed in two with one blow I haue thought said the Emperor what in this case shall be done and thereupon commanded his horse and Don Brianels to be sadled And Don Brianell foreséeing the perill that might ensue beséeched the Emperour on his knées to giue him the order of Knighthood to serue him in that enterprise which the Emperour denied promising to do it an other day But here we leaue them and returne to the Prince Don Bellianis and Arfileo whom we left with the Ladie in the Caue CHAP. V. Howe Don Bellianis with the Ladie departed from the Caue and by what strange aduenture he and Arsileo were knighted IT is recorded by Friston that the Prince Don Bellianis with his Coosen Arsileo remained ten
dayes in the Damzels caue till the Prince was able to trauaile who gréeuing much for the sorrowe the Emperour and Empresse would sustaine and acknowledging how much bound he was to that Ladie determined to depart yet greatly desired to know the end of that aduenture Wherefore the prince Arsileo a day before their departure intreated her to declare vnto them the whole occasion of her being in the Caue and what she would require them to do in her seruice although they néeded not make many offers being as they were so bouÌ„d to her for so many fauors that at her coÌ„mand without intreaty they ought to do euen with the hazard of their liues The damzell with a sorowfull countenance as one that remembred her forepassed misfortunes could not withhold her teares but with watry chéeks eies like flowing springs with ruÌ„ning streams at last thus began I cannot excellent Princes so intirely expresse vnto you the cause of my griefe as I could desire for the great sorrow my gréeued heart sustaines suddenly suppressing me breaking into a salt shower of brinish teares will not giue place vnto the exact vtterance of my wordes yet as I may I will do it I was most noble Princes daughter vnto Pompeiano not long since king of Antioch and am called Aurora that being at the Soldan of Babylons court accompanying his daughter the most beautifull Florisbella whose perfected beauty absolute vertues so far surpasseth al other of her time as doth y e sun al lesser stars To this court came a knight whose name for a long time was not knowne sauing by certaine Images in his shéeld was called the knight of the thrée images who shewed himselfe so valiant that there was no ten knights in the whole Court so strong and hardie as durst maintaine the field against him This Knight throughout the Soldanes Empire performed such déedes of haughtie prowesse that in generall among all men he was accounted a second Mars and the Soldane did no lesse esteeme of him alwayes hauing him in his companie whereby he thought himselfe worthie of greater dignities and so became amorous of the diuine Florisbella for whose loue a long time he suffered great gréefe and much solitude not daring to manifest it to any at length seeing nothing preuaile to expell that desire when one day the Soldane with all his Court was gone a hunting he remained alone in the Pallace and after some pleasant discourses discouered vnto me the secrets of his loue intreating me that in his name I would intreate the princesse to accept him for her knight wherwith shée finding her selfe agreeued aunswered that by no meanes she would do it commanding him no more to imagine any such madnesse least the Soldane her father should by chaunce heare thereof which if he did it might cost him little lesse then his life But he nothing weighing this her answere found meanes that the Princesse might know the extreame anguish of his perplexed heart inthralled by her beautie so that I thinking that some harme might thereby insue declared it to the Soldane who thereupon commaunded him to depart his Empire but he not knowing the occasion very heauily before his departure told him that what he did was against reason in commanding him to leaue his Dominions for he was a prince able to shew him that such as he ought not to be so vsed And departing the Court towards the Soldane of Siconia called the great Sophi of Persia where suspecting I was cause of his exile beganne with fire and sword to enter the king my fathers territories in such sort wasting and spoyling them that slaying the king he tooke possession of the whole Kingdome giuing it to the knight of the kindred called the Prince Don Galaneo reputed a man of great vallor In which time not knowing of his successe I went from the Soldanes Court home to my fathers fearing to fall in their hands by counsell of a wise woman called Bellona entred in a boate with these Damsels you here sée togither with the sayde woman and by hir direction arriued in this countrey and was by her conducted to this caue where she bad me remain for I should quickly be deliuered by the Prince of Greece and his cosin of Hungarie foretelling me euery thing that hitherto hath happened and moreouer she bad me giue you armor and horses which here she left wherwith you shall be knighted by a strange aduenture but what it it was she would not tell Thus haue I declared the occasion of my being here and the fearefull Beare the wise woman here left was hither to bring the Prince Arfileo as you sawe and the mightie Giant which you slew remayned keeper of the caue who might not be slaine with any weapon but the sword which you drewe out of the Piller that hee guarded So that great Lord the remedie of my misfortune resteth in your handes and our departure may be when and so soone as you shall think good I am content answered he wonderous amazed at the Damsels discourse but I would willingly take with me an hoast of men that you may more easily recouer your kingdome I attend here no other hope but yours sayd she and as for any other I was informed we shall not néede Whereat the Prince séeing that was her will commanded straight prouision to be made for his departure so al necessaries being ready they mounted a horsback the damsels on their palfraies accompanied with the two ancieÌ„t knights that carried y t armor that the princesse Auroâ—a had spoken of which they séeing tooke it forth of y e cases which were as appertained to nouel knights The prince Don Belianis armor was of colour Orange-tawny with a sea waue so big that it séemed to ouerwhelme a ship there figured In his sheeld was pourtraide the picture of a most beautifull Lady with a knight knéeling before her as if he craued mercie at her hands from whom she turned her face in anger with an inscription to this effect Let him die for so departing At our first and sudden meeting Leauing thereby my deare sight dim Of his when I desired to see him Which was written in Arabian letters that the Prince well vnderstood The prince Arfileos wer murry in y e midst wherof was fighting a griffon with a most terible dragon which were parted by a damsel that made peace betwéen them which when they saw so faire became desirous to put them on causing the princesse and damsel to stay were armed with them which so wel fitted them as if of purpose they had béene forged for them wherwith being armed set forwards on their iourny hauing gone not far from the caue spied before theÌ„ a faire Castle which til then they had not séene nor yet when they entred the caue The princesse the Ladies masked themselues because y e heate of the sun was great the rest were disguised that they might not be knowne approaching the
not farre from thence that reached to another lodging of the same making that don Bellianis was in so curiously wrought and of so rare woorkmanshippe that the Ladyes greatly admired it and entering in another roome they founde the Prince Don Bryanell walking alone alreadie healed of his woundes yet hauing lost much bloud hee looked verie pale and wanne for the sage Matron greatly commiserating his daunger prouiuided as heretofore is specified For when shee went to cure the Emperour shee made one of her Damsels to enter another way vnséeue and fetching him thence brought him thither in a traunce and for all he was healed with the drinke that Bellona gaue him yet knewe hee not in what place nor in whose power hee was neither knewe hee whether he was in prison or at libertie nor in what state the battell remained in which hee lost the Emperour and séeing his woundes whole was in such a wonder that almost hee perswaded himselfe waking out of a dreame and séeing no bodye with whome hee might speake walked vp and downe the Chamber séeking and deuising howe by some meanes he might resolue his confused thoughts and when he sawe the Princesse Aurora and her Damsels with the olde woman leading her by the hande hee straight knewe her garments for as is sayde hee sawe her before hee and Arfileo hadde begunne theyr Combatte with whose sight hee thought that hee and the Emperour were imprisoned by the knights with whom they had commenced their battell and yet knew he not how that might be hauing after séene them ayded by the Emperour against Don Gallaneos knights but seeing them so nigh him thought that though hee were in the prison as he imagined yet ought he vse that behauiour that his state required and séeing they were Ladyes approached with that courtesie which might beséeme one accompanied with such knights And she hauing learned of the olde woman who he was humbled hir selfe at his féete which he vnable to disturbe did the like desiring her to graunt him her faire handes that he might kisse them but they so long striued to surpasse each other in courtesie that Bellona commanded them to rise for their state forbad such ceremonies betwéene them which they did though not so frée as at first for they rested greatly affectionate either of other and don Bryanell at last thus brake silence I do so wonder at the maruellous things y t since yesterday haue happened me that I know not if any such haue bin or no for being with the Emperour my soueraigne in battell wherein I remained sore wounded and not knowing the ende thereof I find my selfe at this present well and strong and in this rich and sumptuous chamber with whose like the whole world cannot cōpare nor yet knew whether I be at libertie or captiue though vnder y e power of such kéepers I shuld imagine such restraint a greater comfort to my greefe then any I can desire Wherefore excellent Ladie I intreate you if you bee in the same case my selfe am in as one that I suppose was present at all that befell you would declare it me and that I may also with your fauour knowe the true successe of the battell and what is become of those most haughtie knights that accompanied you whose mighty strength I am sure the whole earth cannot equall and for what cause am I here kept whether with or without your will Whilst he vttered these words the Princesse earnestly viewed him and remained so greatly satisfied with his good disposition being a verie gallant knight and séeing reason willed her to answere all his demaunds thus replyed Not without cause may you be confounded in your own imaginations excellent Prince for I assure you if now you enioy your life it is by your being héere and though the battell was fought nigh Constantinople at this instant you are not so neare it as to the Ryphean mountaines ioyning vppon the great Cittie of Persepolis for all which you may thanke this graue Matron that here is with me seeing by her great knowledge you hither were conducted The knights with whom you in the beginning combatted and came in my companie are the Prince Arfileo that with you fought the other whose battell was with the Emperour is his sonne Don Bellianis Is it possible oh God sayd Don Bryanell that den Bellianis should with such glorie principate his haughtie deeds of Chiualrie Account these the least sayde Bellona for I tell you neither the Emperour his father nor any knight this day liuing may with him compare Certainely I thinke no lesse replied don Bryanell and more then you say dare I beleeue of that couragious Prince hauing séene him performe such surpassing wonders in that one fight But I beséech you let me know the ende thereof and how the Emperour and hee do The Emperour is well sayd she and the Princes both be in this house where you are though sore wounded Now I assure you answered don Bryanell I account my selfe most happie that after so many troubles I heare the most contentedst newes that my perplexed soule could wish after the tempestous passage of a boysterous storme with the calme approach of the al-comforting sunne Wherfore lette vs without longer stay go visit them and there may I knowe what else happened in this aduenture Euen when you please sayde Bellona for I know they will no lesse ioy with your sight then you with theirs So taking him betweene them they returned the way they came to the chamber where they left the Princes and entering it they found them talking togither of their last aduenture But when the Princes saw don Bryanell they would rise to reuerence him but hee running to don Bellianis beds side bended his knee to the grounde crauing he might kisse his hands The Prince tooke him vp and imbracing so held him a while and said I do greatly reioyce renowmed Prince to sée you so well though according to your great déedes in the battell whereby you got many dangerous wounds I thought we should not so soone sée you For which let vs thanke this Lady that with you comes seeing she tooke such care of our safetie which with all our states we cannot sufficiently recompence hauing next vnto God by her meanes recouered our lost times Therefore I thinke it reason said Don Bryanell séeing she is the instrumentall cause wee reposesse them we in her seruice to the death vse them that at least thereby we may seeme to satisfie some part of her many deserts and so do intreat her to commaund them as her owne Whereunto she thus answered It sufficeth me great Lords to haue done some seruice to such Princes which doth surpasse all satisfaction whatsoeuer I may of you receiue how much the more that will not be so little which you must vndertake in behalfe of this disinherited Princesse my Coozin wherewith this resteth fully recompenced which they againe replied with great courtesie and then Don Bryanell went to Arfileo
that on the earth doe breath all brothers Which in one battell that the Souldan had against the Souldan of Babylon performed in it such haughtie deedes that by their proper valour the victorie was obtained which got them such honour that till this day they are reputed the stroÌ„gest knights that may be found Wheruppon the Sophy to honour them bad them demand what they would and hée would graunt it They answered they would haue nothing but this Castle the Bridge that no Knights might go that way vnlesse hée should leaue his armour and horse or ouercomming them all in fight passe by The Sophy granted it with a great liuing be sides to mantaine their states So they béeing come to this bridge haue brought with them two mightie and strong Gyants whose fiercenesse no hundreth Knights dare abide in combate together And haue aboue thrée yeares defended this passage and not any knight hithertoo hath vanquished them For though they bee strong and valiant yet in their combate doe not procéede like good knights For if it happeneth that any knight vnhorseth any of them hee must Joust with the others till hee ouerthrowe them all but if hee bee by any blowe himselfe ouerturned he straight looseth his armes Or if hee should vnhorse them all hee must after combate with all six together beeing the vnreasonablest thing that euer was heard of And this is the cause why this bridge and way is no more vsed by reason of the mishappes that there befalls to wandring knights and therefore is called the Vnhappie bridge The Princes greatly wondred at this aduenture yet hauing greate desire to prooue it don Bellianis thus said Truely most honoured Lord wee neuer heard of the like aduenture but if so it please you we will trye the fauours of blinde Fortune therin So will it bee rather iudged madnesse then valour replyed the Duke For it lyeth not within the compasse of one mans strength to vanquish them For the least of them is able to withstand the famous Emperour of Constantinople that is the knight most feared in these partes whose sole name makes the Souldan himselfe tremble when hee heares it and also dares oppose and confronte the strength of our Prince that is no lesse famoused then hee Wherefore if you thinke good let vs leaue this way for I perceiue some of our company doe sée it will bee a perpetuall blotte to our names replyed Don Bellianis if through feare wee should not aduenture our persons héerein Therefore commaunde them to stay for I will not hence leauing this vnattempted While they were thus talking they saw on the other side of the bridge a greate number of Knights Ladies cloathed in triumphant robes that were comming thither to sporte themselues What faire assembly is yonder demaunded Don Bellianis It may bee said the Duke it is the Sophy and his daughter the Princesse Persiana that come to sée if there arriue any aduenturer to the bridge Although our falles were but to make them sporte said Don Bellianis wee will trye our fortunes Doe as you will said the Duke though more willinglye I would take another way Thereuppon they straight went towardes the bridge commandiâ—g all their knights to doe the like while they prooued the aduenture of the Castle which they did yet not with any good will The Prince Arfileo intreated don Bellianis to graunt him the first battell I will in no wise doe it said hée but because Don Gallaneo is yonder put on an vpper coate ouer your armour leste you bee knowne I will replyed hee but you must graunt mee this first combate In reason it longes to mée answered Don Bellianis séeing in this iourney I am the Conducter of these Ladies Wee haue said Arfileo as long accompanied them therefore shall you not so excuse your selfe Then let the battell bée his said don Brianell whom the Princesse shall command Striue not so about it said the Duke for you shall haue all ynough to doe Now I iudge saide the Princesse séeing Don Brianell by my sentence demaundeth the iouste that the first bée his and next your and the last bée his that would bé first being reason that his strength bee best tryed when the others faile Don Brianell gréeued much because hee should be laste but seeing it could no otherwise bée dissembled it and stepping to the Duke said I beleeue we shall haue the bridge freer then I thought The Duke smilde as one that supposed their labour should be but in vaine And at length arriuing at the bridge don Brianell began to be foremoste séeing on the other side all the coÌ„panye come also thither And stepping thereon a Knight armed in an armour of diuers colours mounted on a mightye horse approaching nigh him said What madnesse hath posseste this Knight to secke a passage ouer this bridge by me defended With mightier force was Hell defended aunswered hee yet the vniuersall Sauiour of the world did ouercome it In whose name I comming it will bee no greate matter for mee to abate thy swelling pride By thy speech replyed the Knight thou séemeâ—t a Christian That auayles not to our purpose saide Don Brianell therefore prepare thy selfe The Knight with great angerf thinking hee had him in little accompt turned his horse and tooke so much of the bridge as would suffice for his course while Don Brianell did the like All the men that came with the Duke and the people come from the cittie approached to see the battel and many said euery faire Horse and Armour shall the Knight giue vnto him of the bridge At which time the knights hauing turned their horses ranne one against the other and met so furiously that the Launces flewe in peeces the knight of the bridge went to the ground sorely bruzed Don Brianell so much bowed with his horse that hee had almost done the like but seeing what companye beheld him raised himselfe with great courage considering it was the first thing that y e Princesse had commanded him A great murmure arose among the beholders for they neuer had seene any of the Brethren leaue the saddle before Whereuppon the other three Knights the two Gyants beeing armed yssued all mounted on great and lustie horses who when they sawe their brother on the ground one of them made towardes Don Brianell that alreadie had tooke a Launce from his Dwarffe The Princesse Persiana that was she on the other side of the bridge and Don Gallaneo already called her Spouse with y e Sophy his father in law said to don Gallaneo I haue not séene gallanter knights then those on the further side especially you foure poynting to the two Princes the Duke and hée that Jousted on the bridge and greatly doe desire to knowe who they bee It is no other then the Duke Alfiron replyed don Gallaneo for I heard he slept not farre hence this last night The Princesse Persiana hearing the Duke named fetched a deepe sigh as one that loued
know it we shall easily knowe it by force of armes but seeing he hath promised me a boon this shall be it sayde hee turning to don Bellianis that you all take off your helmes and that we may knowe your names Don Belliani stood somewhat pensiue not knowing what to answere yet thinking that the longer he kept silence they wold the more suspect he at last thus replyed Truly excellent Lord you haue demanded me a thing that by my wil I neuer would discouer but séeing I can do no lesse there is no reason I shuld deny it therfore wil declare it with license of this my coÌ„panie We wil allow whatsoeuer you shal do sayd they The princesse Aurora was at this time in great feare least they shuld be knowne thinking y t don Gallaneo had séen them in the castle when don Brianell was caried thither but they deceiued themselues for he had not séen theÌ„ but armed when he was there taken Don Bellianis replying the Soldane said You shall know my good Lorde I am called the knight of the golden Image because I beare it on my sheeld and I assure you at this present I haue no other name neither may I haue it till I be commanded the contrarie This my companion poynting to don Brianell is nominated the venturous knight and this other is the Prince Arfileo if euer you heard him named before Prince and sole heire of the kingdom of Rasia This Ladie whome wee accompanie is the King of Carcasias Daughter with whome through a certaine aduenture we were al going to the king her fathers Court. This is almost noble Lord what in this case I can declare protesting by the fayth of a Knight I may not more discouer for I my selfe doo not knowe it You haue doone with me replyed the Soldane although I desired larger information and séeing there remaines no more to doo I pray you vnlace your hâ—lmes that my desire may further bee satisfied Arfileo and Don Bryanell straight way obeyed being verie glad to heare how well don Bellianis had answered which done they all highly commended theÌ„ for their braue disposition The Princesse Aurora till that time being sorowfull not knowing what replie don Bellianis would make with great ioy stepped vnto him vnlaced his helme whose fayre complection with the gallant constitution of his well knit members and strength of body was highly admired hauing his haire like thréed of massie gold disheueled hanging on his shoulders The sight of this his rare fauor with his haughtie exployts in armes made them amazedly think him the ofspring of the mighty god of war iudging it impossible that any mortall creature should possesse two such extreams wherin he surpassed al within y e compasse of the earth He was of stature higher theÌ„ any knight in that time his hands long and finowy betokening his excessiue strength his shoulders big and large whose breadth might mainely beare the puissant burthen of olde Atlas forces His face whiter then the purest Alabaster commixt with the Roseate colour of a naturall red Therein was placed his eagle-penetrating instruments of sight as bright as the resplendant rayes of the meridiall sunne and to conclude there was none afflicted with blacke heart oppressing melancholie but in examining his perfections would on a sodaine banish that enemie to quiet pleasure He had moreouer a certaine maner of milde grauitie that with it he drew vnto him the loue of the admirers for it being with anger moued there could be no countenance more sterne then his yet he so refrained himself by forcing it from him that straight he would expell it He was a great maintainer and louer of iustice that if any did committe a fault or erred he himselfe would sée him punished None in his time could equall him in forces His spéech was rare but wise and neuer spake but premeditated vpon occasion When y e Soldane sawe such accomplished perfections compleate vallor in one knight hee again imbraced him conceiuing so great pleasure y t had not the marriage of his daughter bin so forward he would willingly without further knowledge what he was giuen hir him for his wife at last he brake their sileÌ„ce with these words Most glorious knight I impute it no fault in you in being so vnwilling to discouer vnto vs your rare parts which only to y e high immortall gods as things altogither proper and appertaining to theÌ„selues doo belong to whom I render recountlesse thanks that in my time they haue vouchsafed to send so great a wonder among vs in this our age At the time that Don Bellianis wold haue kissed his hands which he not consented arriued the Princesse Persiana with Don Gallaneo leading with them the Princesse Aurora Whereupon the Souldane and the Knight mounted on theyr horses and the Ladies on theyr Palfrayes and don Bellianis hauing his woundes first dressed by the Damsels who also did the like to the knights of the bridge they tooke their way towards Persepolis The Dukes traine was excéeding merrie to haue in their company so famous knights for those tryumphes don Bryanell that was called the aduenturous Knight stepped to the beautious Persiana and as one that in courtly courtesie and pleasant discourses was inferiour to none said vnto her Séeing faire Princesse my name is not opposite against any fauour I may receiue I beséech you make me thereby assured firme against all changes of al reuoluing chance in signe whereof grace me by your graunt with the leading of your palfray by the raynes whereby I may with the fruition of your diuine companie inioy all that I may desire which is to rest sole yours for euer since yonder knight meaning don Gallaneo hath taken on him my office with the Princesse my Lady This he said because don Gallaneo did lead the Princesse Auroraes palfraye which though she suffered was to dissemble that she knew him not rather desiring his death then at his hands any such fauour The like wish wished the Duke Alfyron The Princesse Persiana no lesse gallant in talke then rarenesse of beautie replyed I would not sir Knight that about your seruice the Princesse your Lady and I should â—arre but séeing she doth accept a stranger for her seruitor she shall receiue the guerdon of her change and therewith she gaue him the raines which he gladly tooke to whome the Princesse Aurora saide I know not sir aduenturous knight wherein I haue so much discontented you that you should so soone drowne mee in obliuion but if it were in commaunding you to prooue the aduenture of the bridge henceforth will I be more considerate and so you shall be lesse greeued yet notwithstanding all thinges haue so well befallen you that you haue no cause of gréeuance True said he if the Prince Arfileo had not got more by that proofe then I. What haue I obtained more demanded Arfileo The commaundement of my Lady the Princesse saide he besides the horse you haue vnder
owne Thinke not so much on the end replied Don Bellianis if you sée the matter happily begunne for there is nothing so surely grounded but the beginning will require great labour especially such enterprises as these Wherefore my opinion is seeing our time is so short that you send halfe of your men to attend our comming in the way we must take some ten miles hence taking with them double horsing that when we arriue with ours tired being ther forced to fight we may find fresh horses And this done 1000. chosen men wil serue to fetch her hence so that they perfectly kaow the way The duke liked well of this counsel where they broke of being aduertised how the Soldan the princesse Persiana with all the chief nobilitie except don Gallaneo that remained about another matter which straight shalbe declared came to visit him wherfore the duke hearing it wēt to méet him yet for al his hast he found him comming vp the staires talking with the princes Arfileo don Brianell Aurora that went forth to receiue them who when they saw the duke go towards thē the princesse Persiana said I feare great duke you are alreadie assured of the victorie of the iousts being in companie of such valiant knights which makes you thus kéepe your Chamber at this time a day notwithstanding I can tell you you haue many aduersaries therefore aduise your selfe and looke well what you haue to do and must in your own defence performe The duke knéeling before her demanded her beautious hands to kisse them for that fauor she did him by her good counsel that none might heare replied if your diuine fauor most excellent Lady doth not forsake me I may securely rest fearlesse of all dangers but I doubt I shall with your absence remaine altogither vnable thereto hauing lost the fruition of your diuine fauor possessed by a stranger in my sight The princesse made him rise and that she might more at her pleasure talke with him tooke him by the hand and that euery one might heare said Séeing you haue thus long bin idle I meane now to task you for your labor for you shalbe this day my gardian for that the aduenturous knight may not be both the princesses and mine therfore wil I renounce him hauing so soone forgotten me Then belike my selfe being desirous said don Brianell to obtaine both your fauors must now feare to loose all yet am I content that my Lord the duke may haue the inheritāce of my place Thus chatting they arriued at don Bellianis lodging who wold haue risen to receiue thē but the Soldan wold not suffer it And going to his beds side demaunded how he felt himselfe wherunto he replied I cannot but be well most dread Lord resting so bound to your imperiall maiestie that I know not how I may acknowledge satisfaction for y e Lest of these your royall fauors which forceth in me no lesse paine then the grief of my late receiued wounds While they were all earnestly talking the Princesse Persiana saide to the Duke What pretend you to do against to morrows turnamēt or will you not be there I will do no more answered he then you will cōmand me for I came with no other intent Then she said séeing you leaue it to my dispose I think because the knight of the golden image by reason of his woūds cannot be there that you faile not for you shall reap greater fauor at my hands then don Galleano in tokē wherof I present you this flag set it on the top of your creast which with my hands I wrought vnknowē to any which that none did see she tooke it out of her pocket and gaue it him The duke receiued it with wonderful content and kis◠her hand resting the ioyfullest man aliue Think not much of that I do for my father doth force it I would put my self in danger to auoid it and I haue greatly reioiced that you haue brought with you such valiant warriers as at the vnhappie bridge I saw For if the knight of the golden image were not as he is I would haue intreated him to procure to dissolue this match done contrarie to my hearts intent He and I haue cōferred about this matter saide the Duke yet speake you with him about it that he may knowe this to be with your consent whereupon she then went to his beds side while the Souldane talked apart with Arfileo whom he highly estéemed knowing him to be so great a Prince as Don Bellianis had sayde The princesse Persiana séeing so good occasion demaunding how he felt himself with his great wounds as much gréeuing for them as though he were the Prince her brother and the more being in time wherein she so much néeded the helpe of his vnconquered strength to the subuerting of her enemies whereto he answered I do féele my selfe most excellent Princesse verie wel especially to accomplish any thing appertaining to your high seruice wherefore assuredly commaund and imploy mee anie way wherein my worthinesse may preuaile for your behoofe It is no small promise replied she you offer me for as I do greatly neede it so shall I haue cause to employ the greatest part of your valour And therfore most glorious knight know as you alreadie haue vnderstood of the Duke that the Soldane my father hath determined to marrie me to the Prince Don Gallaneo which doth so torment my passion-broken heart that I here vow if al other meanes of my desired remedie do faile me my proper hand shall finish the tragicke scene of my afflicted life ere I will consent to this vnfortunate wedding though many nobles haue solicited my father to the contrarie yet will he not be satisfied answering them woordes vnbeséeming both his maiestie and their estates Wherefore if I haue cause so to complaine of my soule-consuming greefes if euer you felt the like you may easily iudge And to conclude I haue determined to marrie none but the Duke Alfyron the Courteous For when I sawe your high admired déedes in the battell I then assured my self of help But now through your gréeuous wounds it hath since so increased that had I not discouered my discontent vnto you I had to morrow wedded me to death rather then to him I so abhorre Therefore this onely I intreate you that commiserating the state of me the most vnhappiest Princesse liuing you would procure some redresse to terminate my woes that I may not fall in his hands whom mortally I hate I meane Don Gallaneo wherein you shall commit no error against my father whose decaying honour with his life will be augmented by his death For Don Gallaneo is not the man that merits his Daughter being a knight of the least faith at this time liuing And I cannot be perswaded that so famous and glorious a Prince as the Emperour of Greece could by him be assaulted vnlesse it were with treason and such like And the greatest corasiue
willing to defend the truth whereof my owne heart onelye can beare witnesse another altogither ignorant thereof shoulde in my cause indaunger his swéete life Touching which I cannot sée nor yet conceiue on what foundation you shoulde builde your rash decrée to suffer the accusation of the Duke and the Princesse your Daughter who in no respect could bee partakers nor councellours in what is past For if I slewe Don Galfeo I did it because hee treacherously woulde haue doone the like by mée that was then altogither suspicionlesse of any such treason which fact made mee after verifie my suspicion séeing in what perill of theyr liues Don Galfeo indaungered my companions in the Turney that forced mee to shedde his bloud as hee woulde haue doone theyrs Of which action I should then rather haue hoped for a more larger guerdon for this good déede then nowe to procure newe Combattes For it were high dishonour to your high name that such as hee inuried to treasons treacheries and villanies shoulde be accounted the sonne of so great a Monarch Hauing not only vsed such as loue practises against strangers as the Emperour Don Bellaneo but also against his owne fréends Wherefore you maye most certainlye beléeue my selfe béeing nowe informed of the truth I haue vnderstoode that hee leâ—t all his Knights in the same fight whereby they were all â—laine whilest hee most cowardlye fledde with his Coozin Don Galfeo And moreouer hee was a Traytour against your selfe and dignitie in thus perswading you that the Emperour was dead or by him mortally wounded that hee coulde by no meanes escape death whom at this present both liueth and is in perfect health whereof fearing to be accused by me and my companions that were hereof assured by a certaine aduenture he procured our deathes mine in the Dukes Pallace by Don Galfeo while he so did of my companions in the Turnyes where if he receiued his condigne deserts through so pittilesse death his be the losse wherefore since there is none can better bear testimonie of this troath then my selfe not onely against the Knights heere present accusing me but also against all those which shall challenge me hereof I will tenne daies hence answere it them in fielde and approoue it on their steele plumed burgonetâ—es neyther will I héereupon whatsoeuer may befall me denie them the Combat wherein I will make them knowe the great trecheries which they would haue vsed against me And when you shuld refuse to doo me this iustice assure your selfe I am a man able more stricktly to require it at your hands For the eternall powers of the heauenly and earthly orbes haue not infused so litle courage in my vncoloured heart that any feare but theirs should daunt my minde where he ended his spéech not able to procéede any further The Souldane all this while stoode gazing on him with great admiratioÌ„ in his doubtful brest reuoluing many things saying to himselfe that his like for courage he neuer heard of and greatly woondred who he shuld be that in such open terms durst presume to defie him to his face and in his owne land But as a man not able to restraine the reignes of his passion wanting the chéefest thing well and iustly to iudge of matters shaped him this vnbeséeming answere holding the King of Cyrus by the hande that willingly woulde haue first replyed Thinke not Knight of the golden Image that in what is done you haue receiued any dishonour For it is not lawfull you should enter Combat in your proper cause For were it good or bad you would howsoeuer it might happen procure the good successe of your pretencion for I am perswaded you fight by inchantment séeing the knights of the vnhappy bridge were not able to indaunger you And therefore is it reason none be admitted in battell against you and concerning the rest of your threats you shal doo what you may if the time wil permit you For in vaine the Gods haue made me Arch-ruler ouer so many territories if I should not accomplish the vtmost of my will In which season I will haue you remaine in my Pallace vntill the good or bad successe of the Combat be by triall knowne that according thereunto my pleasure may be fulfilled to the full But the King of Cyprus being very big swolen with such extreame pride that he was readie to burst said to Don Bellianis with so hideous voice as he would swallowe him downe aliue Great is thy desperate madnesse Knight of the Golden Image that I know not where thou shouldest be borne For with my onely sight I was woont to terrifie others both mightier and in courage hardier then thou And now thinkest thou to escape vnpunished I assure thée that if the end of the battel consisted in nought else but with the first encounter of my Launce to bring thée to such extremitie that thou neuer shouldest be more able to enter any other fight whereby also wee should after eschew the Souldanes iudgement in this case thou shouldest thereunto be admitted But because thou being conuicted with the treasons thou hast committed hée determineth otherwise to chastice thy insolencie and so hath suspended thée from the battell I haue no great néede to attempt it replied Don Bellianis for I am sure thou shalt hauâ— to doo with such Knights that when the Combatte is ended it shall bâ—e publicklye seene that I am not of condition lyke thy treacherous Cozins But I desired with my owne person to rid thée of the great doubt that thou art in And after to require account of the outrage thou offeredst to two damzels of my companie vppon whom thou didest shewe part of thy Consanguinitie with the Traytor Don Gallaneo All this Don Bellianis vttered the more to inrage the inraged Gyant to make him accept the combatte with him though hee néeded not to spurre a forwarde horse For hée was impatient to sée himselfe vpbrayded with such opprobrious tauntes in presence of that royall assembly but hee had as is afore mentioned promised the Soldan to the contrarie who fearing they should attempt more then wordes said to Don Bellianis Héereon knight talke no more for what is decreed shalbe executed Bée it as you haue said answered hée but by the way remember the greate iniustice you offer mée The furious Soldan would not answere him but by his commaundement hée was committed to a strange Tower and most surely guarded leauing with him the Damzels of the Princesse Florisbella to cure his woundes Arfileo Don Bryanell fearing by their spéeches to adde fewell to the kindled fyer said nothing but desiring the day of combatte were come returned to their lodgings sending straight wayes for the knights they before had sent to the wood whose helpe did afterwardes greatly auayle them The Soldan remained in his pallace very glad thinking to execute both the Duke and the knight of the golden Image and likewise quieted the king of Cyprus that much importuned him to
another name am called the solitarie Knight because I possesse nothing that better agrées with my conditions then to wander through solitarie and vnknowne places shunning the habitation of populated Cities and townes thinking therby that the blind God of Loue should haue no power ouer me and therefore would I not this night lie in Persepolis but he hath at his pleasure reuenged himselfe on me with your gracious sight whose speedie remedie if I want will leaue me altogither breathlesse The hearing of your state most noble Prince hath highly contented mee saide Don Be 〈…〉 I discontent suffring the like torments that you through such a passion for procuring to auoyde the cause of such effect haue béen this night so plagued with Loues all conquering power that now I féele the force of his tributarie paines In this chat they spent the better two parts of the night which don Bellianis séeing resolued to demaunde of the Prince what he wanted for the combat desiring that by no meanes his Companions should know his intent for he durst not trust them with a battell of such import hoping also to obtain his request said I do desire you most honored prince that you will performe the promise you made me which is this I left not farre hence a Knight in an extreame daungerous aduenture destitute of an armour weapons and horse to performe a most notable combat and were it not sir knight that I also promised to procure it him I would not now presume so much to iniurie you as to request them But beléeue me if I liue I will to your content gratifie this good turne For at this time can I not do otherwise béeing requested by that knight to get him them And séeing it hath béene my happe to méete with you I do beséech you to make me so happie by your gracious graunt promising if I reuiue to morrow at this time to returne them and this is my boone and your promise The knight was verie ioyfull to haue occasion to pleasure his mistresse especially expecting so great a benefite as she promised cared not whether he neuer should haue them although they were the richest in the world sauing don Bellianis They were of colour yellow rarely ingrauen with curious workes and set with rich Orient Pearles whose inestimable woorth cannot be vallued In his shéeld was pictured a mightie mountaine with a knight lying vnder an Oke with his hand vnder his chéeke leaning vpon the sheeld staring and gazing on the cruell god of Loue sitting on the top with his bow arrowes drawne so naturally that euery looker on might easily beléeue it to be aliue And he said to don Bellianis Faire mistresse séeing all my heart is yours what néed you more saue command all I else possesse as your owne for my aâ—mor and 〈◊〉 rest Tr 〈…〉 at your desposing more desiring to vndertake that combat vnder your seruice then with my armor to pleasure you But séeing you will haue it so stay while I call my page that is not farre hence knowing I would not go into the Citie this night whereupon he sounded a horne whose value was more then might be thought The force of which blast was heard through all the citie wherewith he made a certaine signe at which the page straight came who séeing his maister accompanied with that lady greatly maruelled knowing it to be against his condition and alighting off his palfray said What wonder is this sir to sée you in such a place with so faire a Goddesse in your companie I feare she hath of purpose descended the heauens to penetrate the flintie wars of your adamant heart séeing on earth there is none that could do it It greatly pleased the knight to heare his page praise his mistresse so highly and commanded him saying Giue me my other apparell Bruneo for this Goddesse thou speakest off staieth for me Whereupon the page drew forth of a male the richest suite of apparell that euer Don Bellianis sawe It was all of a Rubie colour imbrodered with many of those stones and other of vnualued price and vnbuckling his armour gaue them him and put on those garments Don Bellianis admired and highly commended the knights gallant liberalitie and the more that deceitfull loue should make him so kind desirous to requite his bountie said Most noble and renowmed Prince I do accept the gift of your lent armor for the same do promise ere 20. dayes do passe to remedie your gréefe to your great profit so require no more of me For this promise the prince knéeled to kisse his hands Don Bellianis wold not suffer it taking him vp in his arms embraced him kindly which excéedingly gladded his hart And therwith did help him to mouÌ„t on his horse saying You may swéet mistresse sit without feare for though my horse séemeth as hee doth yet is he so gentle and tractable as may be desired I beléeue no lesse my good lord replied don Bellianis and taking his armor bound in a cloath before him don Contumelianos sword in his hand who tooke his pages saide I intreate you to enter the Citie to day where you shall sée your armour vsed and after follow the Knight for you shall find me in this place and so taking leaue departed through the thicke Groaue leauing him as a man that firmely gazeth on some woonder and rapt with admiring contemplation thereof suddainlie looseth the sight of his delightfull obiect So rested Don Contumeliano who not knowing what to doo lay him downe to sleepe till it shoulde bée time to enter the Cittie which hée did mounted on his Pages Horse in which Cittie hée neuer had béene where taking his Inne expected the houre to go to Court where we leaue him to returne to Don Bellianis trauailing through the wood as aforesaid CHAP. XXIIII What happened to Don Bellianis in the Court armed in Don Contumelias armour How he accepted the battell His talke with the Princesse Persiana before the fight and what befell him in the same DOn Bellianis going through the wood as is said came at last to a Caue where in Winter the Shepheardes vsed to withdrawe themselues which hée seeing to fitte his turne alighted more easier then Don Contumeliano did mount him a horsebacke and so went in and straight put off Florianaes garments and armed him as well as hee might hauing no helpe which done hee hid his female Robes couering them with some bowes which he cut with his sword that none that there should arriue might thinke them otherwise and so tooke his way towards Persepolis at such time as the giuer of all light began with his resplendent rayes to cleare the duskie â—â—â—e and chase the darkened cloudes from the ayrie Region when the chirping birdes with their melodious harmonie saluted the mornings vprise whose varying notes and pleasing musick strook such thoughts into the passionate Prince of his contemplatiue mistresse that he regarded not his way nor knew not where he
the Piller and tooke the letter which opening hee read to this effect To thee Supreme and excellent Prince of Greece The sage Bellona thy greate friend saluteth thee Knowing by my Arte and skill which I continually vse for thy fake the great and mortall duanger which through thy meanes should befall the Solitary knight also thy sorrow and languishment therefore mooued me to make thee know the manner of his recouerie Wherefore I send this letter by a messenger of mine that the Piller of wonders might be manifested to thee Within this Piller thou seest shalt thou finde his remedy and therefore leaue it not vntried Alwaies remembring what I told thee in my lodging as briefly as I could for therein all thy labour is assured thee I say no more but so rest thine as thy selfe mayst testifiing Don Bellianis hauing read the letter reioyced to see there was yet remedy for the distressed Prince and so resolutely was casting himselfe into the huge fyre to sée what therein he could finde But before he could effect his purpose there came towards him foure valiant knights against whom preparing himselfe there also at that time assaultes him foure Lyons big and fierce who with their wyde mouthes as though they cast fire imbraced him maugre all his strength and drew him into the same Hee séeing himselfe in such perill letting fall his axe would haue drawne his dagger which at his backe he had but his arme was held so faste that hee could not sturre it and turning to sée what did it saw it was a most beauteous Lady whereupon the Lyons and knightes vanshed Oh God said Don Bellianis is this possible I sée Maruell not knight at what you see replyed the Ladie letting go his arme for this is called the Piller of wonders though it be a long time since any thing hath beene seene wherein many haue founde remedy for their dispairing loue yet neuer ending the aduenture Wherefore with more reason it might bee named the dispaire of Loue. And so was it true as in the end of the second parte of this Historie shall bée seene for whose cause many dyed not tormented with that deadly wounde And séeing for your companyons remedy you heere haue entred though it could not bee séene but by a third person with you you notwithstanding enioy the secrete thereof and taking him by the hand went where Contumeliano lay at the laste poynt of life the Lady carryed a kindled cole of the same fyre of the Piller which she cast vpon the breast of the Phenician Prince wherwith hee straight returned out of his trance somewhat agaste to sée himselfe in that case and going to ryse Don Bellianis with much gladnesse imbraced him saying What is the matter excellent Prince for your infirmitie hath greatly gréeued vs My euill hath beene nothing in refpect of the greate gladnesse replyed he I conceiue in knowing you and since I am frée of the laste deceit I intreate you of your speciall fauour to manyfest it mée not hyding any of your actes I am content answered Don Bellianis to please you therein but thanke this Ladie for your liues libertie Which hee going to doe she returned suddenly through that fier leauing euery thing as afore What is this my good Lord demanded don Contumeliano Whereuppon Don Bellianis discoursed that aduenture and how hee being ready to breathe his last it appeared called the desperation of Loue and how he proued it with what else happened And procéeding said I knowe not soueraigne Prince the occasion of your extreame passion Let vs talke no more hereof replyed hee for I assure you assoone as I felt the cole of fyre sette vpon mee I loste all that vehement dolour and agony yet not so but that I shall alwayes remember the deceit done me hard by the Cittie of Persepolis And so was it true for still after when hee sawe the knight of the golden Image his pulses and spirits would beate with alteration like one strooke with an vncoueth feare And I pray you let me knowe your name with the causes of your other aduenture My name replyed Don Bellianis is the knight of the golden Image which I am sure you neuer heard and so recounted the rest how hee came out of prison in a Ladies garments to vndertake that combatte as is afore saide Don Contumeliano greatly wondred when he knew that was the knight of the golden Image of whom passing through the vnhappy bridge hee heard such wonders of and greatly reioycing to haue met with such a knight said I doe new sir knight of the golden Image altogether beléeue and confirme the high déedes published of you and dee render infinit thanks to our immortall Gods that haue brought mee to enioy the fruition of your company and so very leuingly imbraced together knitting twixt them the inuiolable knot of friendship which all their life lasted as the Historie mentioneth Don Bellionis was vnarmed by Contumelianos Page and his woundes by him dressed and attired in Florianaes garments which refreshed the dying flames in the heart of the amourous Prince and agréed togither that don Contumeliano should stay for it in a strong citie fortie miles from Persepolis belonging to the Duke Alfiron called Bollera appointing to be with him within thirtie dayes wherefore embracing againe each other and taking their leaues they went to sée the piller to read the letters thereon which by the light of the fire there don Bellianis thus read The Piller of the wonders for remedie of the dispairers in Loue shalbe henceforth manifested where euerie one shal be remedied according to their meede And if in Loue he neuer haue erred or in armes beene ouercome by the gardians here placed by the sage Medea hee that so hath not beene shall not proue himselfe therein Well might I haue hoped for remedie said don Contumeliano of the gard you here saw if you had not béene here But I desire to sée the end of so great an aduenture and howe it may be brought thereto for I thinke the letters do not shewe it A little lower I thinke it doth expresse the maner how answered Don Bellianis by him that through dispaire shall hither come Then good cause haue I to proue it replied don Contumeliano for I neuer hope for remedie Don Bellianis greatly laughed at what the Prince said And so taking leaue one of another departed Don Contumeliano putting on his owne armor taking the Giants Curtelax instead of his sword tooke his next way to Bollen where he found all the people verie sorrowfull for the Duke their Lordes imprisonment who was of them greatly loued Hee recounted to them what had happened in the battell and how the duke their Lord was alreadie at libertie whereat they were much ioyed and highlie honoured him who remained there till don Bellianis came as hereafter shall be expressed CHAP. XXVII How Don Bellianis returned to prison and what past betweene him and the Ladies of the Princesse
poynt almost a finger within the flesh The Knight of the Crownes féeling himselfe so wounded and séeing his aduersarie so nigh him wold not strike him with his sworde but with one of his hands got helde of his sheelde and so strongly pluckt him thereby that he had not time to second any more blowes vppon him and letting his sword hang downe drew his dagger and therewith gaue him two such blowes that penetrating his harnesse they déepely opened his flesh that any other but he could no more haue fought The knight of Fortune seeing his enemie so vse him tooke his body ouerthwart in his armes with such furie that both had like to haue fallen The knight of the Crownes did the like and so strongly pressed each other that through diuers places they lost much blood in which manner they continued halfe an houre neuer able to ouerthrowe one another and so parting asunder withdrew a while to breathe but with their fight they coulde scarce stand on their feete yet walked the best they might because theyr woundes might not close with cold blood least they should not after end their fight Who may expresse the wonder of the gazing multitude to see so fierce a fight whose like none euer heard of and with that the night so suddainly came vppon them that they could by no meanes end their Combat The Princesse Persiana that very well knew her brother saide to Don Bellianis Suffer not deare sir that such knights here dye with out cause for if you do the whole world will blame you for us besides that our royall vertues will therby be scandalized with reproach to my euerlasting gréefe if it should happen Don Bellianis buckled on his Helme and mounted vpon his horse accompanied with all those Kings Princes and Lords who shewed him as great honour as in the Emperour his Fathers Court he could not haue a greater and togither they went to the field in the place where those knights were fighting who for all their approach would presecute theyr Combatte calling for knights to ende the same But the Knight of the Golden Image then stepping betweene them thus began and said These Jousres renowined knights were begunne onely for pleasure that our Knights might shewe their vâ—lour and not that any controuersie should bee desided in iâ— by the vncertaine ende of so cruell a battell especially betweene two so braue knights Wherefore séeing the heroyke vertues of your vntamed hearts needes no farther experience hauing amply shewed the rare strengths of your strong bodies leauing no time for others to doo the like since your comming In the behalfe of this roiall company and knightly presence and for my owne sake I do intreat you to be pleased to leaue this Combat in the state it is procuring on neither side the end thereof since neither side may tollerate it giuing no more honour nor adiudging more praises to the one then to the other The knights being as courteous as valiant adorned with no leâ—e vertue and bounty theÌ„ courage and fortitude intreating each other to answere thinking that he which first replied should be lesse accounted in leauing of the battell which neither of them wold do which and so stood answering neuer a word the knight of the Crownes séeing requested Don Beiliants to suffer them to â—â—â—â—sh theyr worke I may not do so replied he and therefore doo againe intreat you to leaue it for I should be reputed of little woorth if my intreaties might not so much preuâ—â—â— with you The knight of the Crownes requested him to stand a while aside till 〈…〉 spoken with his aduersarie which Don Belhanis dooing the other thus said to the knight of Fortune You see sir Knight what great discourtesie â—â—â—s were to discontent such Knights therefore let vs leaue our battell at this time as it is and we will ende it thirtie daics hence where you will I am content so to doo aunswered the Knight of Fortune and let our meeting be in the Vâ—â—ley of the three tountaines which is thrée miles from this Cittie where you shall finde mee onely with my Page This agreed betwéene both the knight of Fortune turned to Don Bellianis saying Remember sir knight how against our wills you disturbe our tembat for this present time which makes me rest discoâ—tented of you You haue no reason to say so replted Don Belliaâ—s for as I haue perceiued what hath beene done is to your aduantage and if you so think stay with vs where you shall haue your wounds cured to your content and after will I answere you as you will I may not stay answered the Knight of Fortune but heereafter wâ—â— may meete when all this shall be seeâ—e and so awayting no other answere mounted vpon a horse which don Beâ—liaâ—s presented him and taking his leaue went out of the way he came And here the Historâ—e saith this knight of Fortune was the valiant â—rince Perâ—aneo who hauing vnderstood the estate of these affayres came with intent to doo by thâ— Dâ—ke if he entred in the icusts what he had done by Don Gallaneo but seeing his purpose to sort otherwise went so out of the Cittie causing his knights to binde his wounds which done he neuer rested accompanied with them which were his nigh Allyes the one called Don Fermoseâ—â— of Solshâ—â—a the Prince of that Iland and the others were Brothers named Don Câ—â—salaneo and Don Gâ—amalâ—s of Thâ—â—ce till he came to Persepolis Where to bee breefe we leaue out the great â—oye that the Souldane coâ—câ—iued with their arrwall That straight many prepared themselues to march forwards thinking euery houre a yeare til they might constent their enemies And the generall â—oy of all was so great or the arriuall or their Prince that it very hardly can bee â—â—to downe CHAP. XXXIIII How the Knights with the imperiall Crowns were knowne to bee the Emperour Don Bellaneo and Fabâ—â—â— of Trebento And how the Emperour went to the Valley of the three fountaines to Combat with the Prince Peâ—iano of Persia DOn Bellianis rested something maleconâ—ent after the departing of the Prince Peâ—aneâ— thinking he had made little acâ—ount of him and was dâ—uers times about to followe him but that her membred hée was sorely wou ded and so lâ—t him goe hoping to méete with him ere those wâ—ts ended greatly commending his high valour remaining greatly satisfied of the manner of his fight hauing neuer seene any knight that therâ— in more contâ—nted him except the same that with him combatted whose admirable courage and supreme excellencie he not a little admyred and going to him that was going away with his compaâ—â—ons said You shall not so much discontent me magnanimious knight as hee did that with you fought and therefore I earnestly intreat you both to tell mee your name and to remayne with vs vntill your most daungerous woundes bee very well cured The knowing of my name is needâ—lâ—sse Syr Knight for I shall not any way bee knowne hauing
neuer satisfying himself with asking al that had befallen them in that Kingdome The Prince Don Bellianis discoursed vnto him euery thing at large telling him hée greatly wondred that hée had vndertaken so great toyle as to come to seeke them To discharge the debt I was in replyed the Emperour for the succour I receiued at the vnknowne Castle both of you and of your Cosin for our manner as you knowe is to make satisfaction in the same Coyne And yet your dutie was net to go awâ—i not making your selues knowne But letting it passe What was the reason you did so Wée could do no otherwise replyed Arfileo hauing promised so to do They had thus chatted till the next morrowe if the Emperour had not sent them to bedde Which they did lying in that chamber and slept til the Sun had the following morning dryed the could deawe on the moyst earth And rysing out of their beddes made them ready and went altogether into the field where the ioustes were kept whose pryze the good Knight Sabian of Trebento obtained with immortall honor by his braue deedes In this manner rested they a moneth vnmolested of any by reason of the boysterous colde winter which kept the Soldane from incamping his Hoaste In which time the Prince Don Bellianis though hée greatly delighted in the Empereur his Fathers presence whom all the rest called the Knight of the Crownes sustained such gréeuous passions and torments of weart for the absence of his deare Ladie that hée often sounned to the death nothing with him preuailing the consolating wordes of his Damzels nor the Princesse Aurora to whome he made knowen his griefe But euery day grewe worse and worse which the Emperour his Father séeing armed himself vppon a day though hée could hardly doe it béeing not altogether well walked with him out of the Cittie and inquired of him very earnestly the cause of his melancholie gréefes charging him not to conceale if by any meanes The Prince don Bellianis tolde him he knewe not whence procéeded his gréefe but that he felt extreame anguish of minde and coulde not conceiue the cause thereof The Emperour perceiuing some loue passion tormented him hauing many times séene him sighe without cause ouerpaste that talke and saide Tel me where abouts is the valley of the thrée fountaines for I must néedes go thither It is some thrée myles hence said Don Bellianis whither wée may make an easie walke Whereuppon the Emperour tooke his launce from his sonnes Dwarffe and sending him with his owne Page backe to the Cittie they went towards the valley The Prince demaunded of his Father why hée went thither You shall knowe replyed hee I haue ingaged my selfe to the Combatte there with the Persian Prince this day and I am determined to méete him there alone without any company for so wée agreed and therefore here wée must part for wée must not go together Don Bellianis gréeued that the Emperour had vndertaken so dangerous a fight and the more because he might not go to ayde him if any sinister chaunce should befall But seeming to feare nothing said I will obey your commauede deare Lord séeing you will haue it so and will returne vnto the Cittie and excuse you till you come backe And so shewed him the valley and departed something better satisfied to see what little account the Emperour made of the battell yet he resolued to frustrate it as hereafter shall be shewen But here we leaue them till wée haue sette downe the matter contained in the ensuing Chapter which greatly auaileth this Historie CHAP. XXXV Who the sage Fristone was and what hee did that the battell betweene those Princes might not bee effected IN the Kingdome of Persia where then al those knights were dwelt a Wiseman which was hée that writte this great Historie called Fristone whose equall in the Magicke-art the world contained not excelling therein all those of his time for they procured to learne of him This rare Magician was so greate a friend to the Persian Prince Perianco that all his labour and studie was to no â—ther office but for the good successe of his affaires consunting the greatest part of his time to that end For which purpose hée had giuen him a most excellent rich and wel tempered sword that the like was not within y e earthly continent except that of Don Bellianis which before times appertained vnto that valorous Knight Iason the which that excellent Inchauntresse Medea had giuen him when they enioyed their Loues which she forged vnder the constillation and predominance of such Plannets that no iuchauntment might against it preuaill This sword procured the sage Fristone for the vse of the Prince Perianeo but he neuer could obtaine it because Medea by her Prophecies had bequeathd it to the successiue heires of the House of Greece placing it where Don Bellianis woon it by the meanes of the sage Bellona But this wise Fristone béeing in the desart of death where he made his habitation hee there calling to minde his friend the Persian Prince came to know that for all his valour was so excellent and very felve that might equall him in strength he notwithstanding might incurre wonderous danger And casting about with his Arte to know the end of that battell the almightie God would not suffer him to finde out the successe thereof reseruing to his diuine Maiestie the knowledge of the euent of thinges which to none others might bee permitted and the more hee sought to know it the farther he was from it Which thing so confounded him in his imagination that hée could not thinke what it might bée Wherefore he resolued by all meanes to disturbe the fight iudging that afterwards the Persian Prince might better reuenge himselfe vpon the Duke Alfiron for the iniurie he had done his Father and therefore deuised what you shall know in the next Chapter CHAP. XXXVI What Don Bellianis did beeing gone from the Emperour and how hee combatted with the Persian Prince and were parted by the means of the sage Fristone And how the Soldanes Hoste besieged the Cittie of Bollera DOn Bellianis béeing departed from the Emperour his Father so spurred his Horse that quickly he returned to the cittie wherein he entred very quict shewing no manner of alteration but telling euery one that by the way inquired of him for he Knight of theÌ„ Crownes y t he stayed not farre thence for Sabian of Trebento his companion Hée entred the Pallace where méeting with Sabian requested him to lend him his armour to supply his present néede May not I accompanie you said hee No replied Don Bellianis besides I will presently returne Where left you my Lord the Emperour demaunded hee Hard by replyed the Prince staying for me Which said he buckled on Sabians armour which nothing differed from his fathers and mounting a horsebacke he tooke his way to the valley of the thrée fountaines to méete with the Persian Prince and comming to a large plaine â—he spied
handes that hee was faine to set him downe not being able to stand on his legges looking like a man readie to breathe his last Don Bellianis thinking his woundes were the cause of it sat him downe lamenting that vnhappie chaunce loosing their blood so fast that it had made two Chanells as if they proceeded from two rising springs and ouertaken by the darksome night were put into so great feare that they dispaired of remedie Especially Don Bellianis doubting thereby his fathers life who because the suddaine amazement more troubled him then the daunger of his woundes quickly recouered himselfe and imbracing the Prince his sonne said Oh deare sonne tell me I pray you why come you armed in the Armour of the Knight of Fortune Did he peraduenture diâ— by your hands or how is it for I cannot expresse the alteration I suffer till I know it I weare the Armes of Sabian of Trebento and no others for those of the Persian Prince your selfe weares I haue not chaunged mine said the Emperour But tel me what hath befallen you since you lest me for surely we haue bn wondrously deceiued Don Bellianis tolde it him Whereupon the Emperour spake Surely Prince we haue bene inchaunted and yet cannot deuise by what meanes but this is the straungest case I euer heard of that both should séeme to weare one kinde of armour and not perceiue it each of vs imagining the other to be the Persian Prince And it may bee that Lady that cryed to you for helpe was she that so deceiued vs. But let vs part from hence for we loose much blood When they were vppon going they espied comming towards them an auncient Matrone conducted by foure monstrous Gyants before them was carried a Piller of fire which lighted them their way they came with such haste that ere they could rise she was vpon them whom presently the Gyants tooke from her Palfray and knéeling before the Emperour she required his royall hands to kisse them The Emperour refusing to do it tooke her vp and she vnmasking her selfe was straight knowne of Don Bellianis to be the sage Bellona his deare friend Whereat conceiuing as much pleasure as before displeasure and accounting all his daunger none imbracing her said What chaunce hath brought you hither my good friend at such a time which is not without some speciall cause The great loue I beare you and the Emperour your father replied she is the cause thereof But for you incurre great perill through your wounds eate this which I will giue you for with the like medicine you were afore cured They did so and were therewith presently so well as if they had had no ill at all and their armour returned vnto their former colour and deuises The Emperour imbracing her said For Gods sake Ladie tell me this aduenture for it doth more amaze me then any thing in all my life I will replyed shée and hardly shall you know it of any but of me You well remember the Combatte you had agreed with the Persian Prince now know he hath to his friend a great Magician in that Art the skilfullest in all the world this man knowing the great daunger his friend should passe with the Prince your sonne did ordaine all that which you haue séene changing both your armours that you might staie one another each of you thinking you fought with the valourous Prince Perianeo And trust me his desire had taken effect had it not bene for Don Bellianis sword which for that purpose the wise Medea many yeares before kept in the Caue where Don Bellianis woune it being the man she wished might haue it alwayes desiring to benefit the house of Greece as often heretofore she hath done For so was it written where your sonne found the sword if he doth remember the words I doo well remember them replied Don Bellianis for thus they said This Prophecie is mentioned in the seeond Chapter and here explained with effect That with this Sword the liuing should be lost and the dead put in possession of the recouered and they restored to their royall blood with knowledge of their possessors You see now how it hath come to passe and moreouer they said this should be At the time when the fiercenesse of the couragious Lyons which are you two by the greatnesse of his skill which is that of the wise man called Fristone that in knowledge equals her because he hath all her â—ookes should be put in greater feare but this know not he for he did not looke whether thâ— Sword were wonne or no or whether the valorous Prince your sonne did weare it Then the liuing which were lost that arâ— you two that being liuing were lost by the alteration of your Armour and supposing you alreadie dead which would haue happened if the fight had bene ended with the blowe of this Sword that cut the laces of your Helme were put in possession of your recouered selues being restored to your royall bloods which was at the point vtterly to haue bene lost And the true possessors knowne which are both you taking one another for the Persian Prince Now I hope you vnderstand the aduenture you haue past which not without cause you haue accounted straunge Greatly wondred the knights at these Ladies words who againe said But for another cause hath my comming bene which is to haue with me the Prince Don Bellianis your deare sonne whome I must presently vse in a deare imploy that ne lesse concernes him then his life Take vs both with you saide the Emperour I would willingly doo it replied shée but that the braue Duke Alsiron greatly néedeth your helpe and therefore it is no reason to leaue him alone and your sonne shall quickly returne againe And here doo as I counsell you for I well knew this woulde happen which made me write vnto you that you should by no meanes depart from the Cittie of Constantinople but you would not do it wherein it had not bene much if you had lost your life I will not go against your counsell replied the Emperour but tell me if my sonne shall quickly returne He shal said she and therefore go to the Citie the soonest that you may and so making Don Bellianis mount on horseback who had taken the Emperours blessing which with many teares did giue it him departed as swift as the winde leauing the Emperour so occupied with imaginations whither his sonne might be carried that he knew not how to resolue himselfe CHAP. XXXVIII How the Emperour returned to the Cittie of Bollera and what happened him in the Souldanes Campe before hee entred into the Citie THe Emperour remembring the Sages words tooke his Launce and mounted on horsbacke approching the Cittie of Bollera almost by breake of day which he founde begyt with so many multitudes that he greatly wondred at their suddaine arriuall and not knowing on which side the Duke laie intrenched because the Citie was round about besieged he rushed among those Tentes
many of his agaynst the like number of the fierce king Tramolcanos which on either part this day was begunne verie bloodie but in the meane time entring there in two of the kings cousens haue made such a massacre of the Counties knights that none dare confront them and my selfe being wounded as you sée am thus going to be cured in a Castell not far from hence and so past away What were we best to do sir Palineo demaunded don Brianell That we go to the iousts answered he and there we shall sée what we haue to do And thus resolued arriued at the Tilt-yard where but 500. of the counties knights were left and they so wounded that they could no longer withstand their aduersaries by reason of the cruell strokes of the kings causes Which don Brianell perceiuing and his valiant heart abhorring to be idle saide to Palineo Let vs succour those almost vanquished Be it so replied he Whereupon â—â—wching their Launces entred the listes and at the first encounters ouerthrow two of the Giants knights and don Brianell before his Launce broke vnhorsed more then sixe Palineo with a loude voyce cried out thus Courage courage knights of Antioch and shew the valour of your mindes least now you bee reputed vanquished which neuer hitherto hath happened Who â—â—boldned with this speech seeing the haughtie deedes of don Brianell couragiously renued the bloodie skirmish The two Giants séeing that noueltie in the Cities knights and how the Prince don Brianell like a bloodie Dragon persecuted their men did both togither assaile him to giue him his death But he that in greater perils had beene in awaited them couragiously well couered with his sheeld and they arriuing both at one time with their slycing semilers discharged two mightie blowes vpon him But don Bryanell spurred his horse â—orward within them that the blowes lighted not full on him notwithstanding his sheelde was cleft cleane in two and he wounded one with a mightie thrust that the sword appeared at his backe 〈…〉 g dead on the ground And seeing an other furious blowe from the other gyant descend vppon his head and being destitute of a shéeld câ—â—st the sâ—â—itor with his sword which beeing of a better temper then the Gyants it cut it in two and straight thereupon strooke the Giant on his arme which from his shoulder fel to the earth Who seeing himselfe maimed of his lims turned his horse and roaring fled away Who were able to expresse the greefe and rage of Tramolcano to sée one Cousin slaine and the other wounded to death Thereupon calling out to his mâ—n to take that Knight that had committed so great treason whereat many incompassed Don Brianell wherfore Palineo went to help him amazed at his haughty déedes The count Garianos men brauly defended him yet had hee remained prisoner for the diuellish Tramolcano descended with all his men had not Palineo that foresawe the daunger pluckt him by the arme and said to him Follow me sir knight if you wil saue your life for it will be reputed no lesse valour to saue it thus then sâ—aying to kill all this company Don Bryanell allowing his counsaile rained his horse backwards went away in despight of all that looked after him So soone as the king was come downe froÌ„ his window the tourney was parted and he commanded of those and other knights aboue 4000. to follow the murtherers as hee called them of his Cousins and dead or aliue they should bring theÌ„ to him and he taking with him the dead bodies of his slaine Cousins returned to his pallace to arme himselfe minding in person to follow the search all which was but in vaine for Palineo knowing all those wayes nookes and lanes that was thereabout issued out of the Cittie in sight of all the knights spurring without â—â—â—gring till they came into a litle Groaue turning on the right hand entred into a garden vnséene of any and passed to the farther side thereof vnto a house where shepheards in stormy weather withdrew themselues and there staying don Brianell said séeing they were not séene of anie Let vs light here if you please that our horses may rest and from hence may we well sée if any followes vs. Wherevpon looking from the high Mountaine and espying none dismounted from their horses and put them in a stable that there was giuing them hay and prouender they there found And with great ioy of their good successe discoursed of their late aduenture greatly pleased with the death of these two giants whoÌ„ Palineo sayd did great outrages in that land I hope said don Brianell we shall easily enter the castell Hardly shall we do it replied Palineo yet we will trie it séeing we are come to that effect In the meane time were it good we had somewhat to supper That were not amisse replied don Brianell if our prouision were better Let me alone for that said Palineo so soone as it is night for I also greatly desire to sée what is done in the Pallace the better to order our affayres And thereupon expected the approach of the couerer of nightly actions CHAP. XLVII What don Brianell and Palineo did going out of the Cittie of Antioch how they entred the Mine and of their fight withthe Castell about the libertie of Damartyno THe darke night béeing come so obscure as they wished Palineo vnarmed himselfe and leauing don Brianell behinde put on a cloake he found in the house which the day before a shepheard had there left and muffling his face went to the Citie where taken for a shepheard he passed vnknowne till he came to the Kings Pallace where he found many armed knights that returned from the search among whom was the King himselfe mad with anger that hée could not heare of the two knights that slue his Cousens Among this troupe had Palineo occasion to go in and so went vnto the Mynes mouth whose doore was shut and seeling whether it might bée opened hée found the Locke verie weake for the doore vsed onelie to bée shutte because that secret might not bée discouered And so returned to the Citie and brought some victualles for himselfe and his companion wherewith béeing almost tenne a clocke he came to Don Bryanell where with a good stomacke they supt hauing eaten nothing since their comming from Miriana and hauing done Palineo said Let vs be gone for if longer wée staye the King and the Countie may haue supt and so wée bee locke out of the Pallace But what shall we do with our horses said Don Bryanell for I would not willinglie loose mine because this Cittie containes none so good If replyed Palineo wée dye in this enterprize wée shall not néede our Horses but if wée scape liberating according to our desire our friend Damartyno the matter will be lesse in loosing them Don Bryanell replying neuer a word armed himselfe and carrying his Helme in his hand put on the shepheards cloake which Palineo had before woorne who said vnto