it was hée which had passed the terrible kéepers of his murthered Daughter For you shall vnderstand that as soone as the Emperour was departed from the Ilande the wise Lyrgandeo commaunded that the bodie of the Ladie shoulde bée carried vnto Cimarra aduertising her Father that the long looked for reuengement was not farre of And lykewise how and in what manner the knight which did it shoulde come into his lande and also who that Knight shoulde bée Wherefore as soone as the king was giuen to vnderstande of his ariuall without anie more tarrying béeing accompanyed with all his noble men and leading in his hande a very fayre and young childe about twelue yeares olde the most best proportoined that euer nature coulde frame of whome you shall heare no more in this booke for that in the seconde booke it shall bée declared at large of him The king went forth till he came to the chiefe place of the Citie there to méet with the Emperour whereas likewise he met with this old and auncient King who boowing his knées to the earth and shedding of many teares with ioye receiued him saying O high and mightie Emperour giue me héere your hands that I may discharge the dutie that all humane creatures do owe vnto your highnesse how much more I that am bounde therevnto for that with so much firmenesse thou wouldest confirme thy oath and take the charge in thine owne person to worke my reuengement The Emperour was in a great confusion to heare himselfe named and neuer gaue anye in all that lande to vnderstand thereof but strayght waye hée suspected that Lirgandeo should aduise him of his comming And héerewith vsing of his accustomed bountie hée tooke him by the hand and lifted him from the grounde saying Good King the debt which thou sayst is due vnto me thou hast repayed in showing the noblenesse of thy heart and courage and otherwise I am constrained by y e order of knighthood and iustice to make reuengement of that cursed facte which was without all pitie committed vpon thy daughter And seeing that there can be no other remedy but onely reuengement héere of my part I doo offer thée to doo all that in my power is possible to be done desiring thée that thou restraine these teares and giue order that with great spéede there may be ioyned together all thy power to the end that we maye goe and conclude that which in me lyeth The King with a sad voyce aunswered High and mightie Emperour this hath bene prouided for before for all my people and shires are at an houres warning to goe to the ayding of so iust a cause and we tarryed for nothing but onely your royall person who must be the sword of my reuengement Thus with these and such like communications they went vnto the Kings pallaice which was hanged all with blacke clothes for others he would not consent to haue hanged since the death of his daughter Herea There was the Emperour vnarmed and serued with as great highnesse and honour as though he had bene in Grecia Notwithstanding the Emperour would not soiourne nor rest there much for the next daye in the morning he commaunded that all th◠people should march forwards vnto a hauen which was at the vttermost parts of all the Kingdome wheras they found ships and barkes of all sortes verye well furnished of all things that was néedfull There was thrée hundred ships one with another in the which there was imbarked fiftie thousand Moores meruailously well appointed and committing their sayles vnto the winde all this Nauie tooke theyr voyage towards Numidia So they nauigated and founds the winde fauourable which brought them vnto a porte or hauen which was but two leagues from the Kings house There with great ioy and pleasure they went a shore with out any resistaunce or gainsaying So when they were all out of the shippes a lande they displayed their ancients and in very good order they marched forwards And at such time as Apollo had made an ende of his iourney and that the darke night came on they came in sight of the Citie and without taking any rest towards the lande side they pitched their tents and fortified themselues in the best wise they could in such sort as their good Captaine which did gouerne them had commaunded without dooing any thing to the contrary So when all things was put in good order as they would haue it he commaunded that all the armie should go vnto the gate of the Citie that was most néerest the which was straight waye done and in thrée dayes after they did no other thing but ease and rest themselues for that the people were somewhat out of quiet with their great trauayle The fourth daye the Emperour séeing that there was no sturring in the Citie the which was done by pollicie tarying to sée what the enimies would doo the Emperour called for his armour and being armed there was brought a verye fayre and mightie horse vnto him and with his accustomed courage he issued out from amongst his companye and rode towards the wall of the Citie and put himselfe into a faire gréene playne nigh vnto the walls and lifting vp the visour of his healme he set his horne vnto his mouth and did sound it very strongly which was to warne them that were in the Citie to come to the walls and harken what he would saye and when he sawe that there was much people attending to heare him he began to saye O King Noraldino of Numidia how carelesse thou art in this thy strong countrey thinking that the strength thereof will defende thée that thou payest not the price of thy naughtie treason which thou didst vse with that vnfortunate Herea Take vnto thée thy armour and for that thou hadst a heart to commit this euill déede haue now likewise a courage to make thy defence come foorth of these thy walls thou traitour and destroyer of the royall bloud All they which were on the walls did heare the threatenings and straight waye went and tolde it vnto the king of Numidia who was at that time in communication of warres and of armyes and of all things that belonged therevnto and when he hearde these newes giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh ye Gods are not you content to sée me in this perplexitie and so much wronged but likewise with sound of trumpet suffer me to be outraged in calling me traytor These fayned griefes and sorrowfull words had so much force that it moued the harts of the Princes that were with him for to goe out into the field for his defence and in great hast they commaunded that their harnesse shuld be brought vnto them with determination to dye or to defend his cause And there was none that had any feare but onely the Gyant for that he would not giue any credit vnto the Kings words although he dissembled neuer so muuch but by reason that he had sworne therevnto hée was constrayned by his oath
which part this terrible blowe would fall determined not to receiue it but with a light leape did cléere himselfe from the fall thereof the which fell to the grounde with so greate and terrible hast that the halfe of it entred into the earth and by reason that the stroke was giuen more of anger then of cunning by the great strength that he put to it he could not keepe himselfe but was forced with the stroke to fall with his breast vpon the pommell of his sword He was no sooner downe but the Sonne of Trebatio gaue him another vpon his helme that it sounded as though he had stroke vpon a bell wherewith the Giant fell flat to the ground greatly astonished and almost beside himselfe This valiant Greeke when he sawe him in this traunce laide fast holde vpon his helme and with the excéeding strength that he set to it hée pulled it from his head The Giant which was then somewhat recouered caught holde vpon the skirt of his harnesse and pulled the Knight towards him with such strength that he was not able to make resistaunce but néedes he must go whether his strong arme carried him Then gladly woulde this noble Greeke haue defended himselfe from this perill but he in no wise could for stumbling vppon the Gyaunt he lighted on his breast in such tumbling sorte that he fell on the other side of him séeing himselfe so ouerthrowen w tout any power in himselfe to prouide for help he gaue a loude cry said O Iesu Christ the sonne of God deliuer mée from this daunger so incontinently as soone as he was at the grounde with a light and valiaunt courage hée rose vp againe pretending not to shew anie pittie or fauour in this fight and returned to the Gyaâ—t whom he found on foote and readie to defend himselfe and approching nigh him because he would shewe the greatnesse and valiaunt stomacke that hée had hée sayde Ualyaunt King take to thée thy holme for that I will not that for lacke thereof thou doest loose the surmounted valour of thy heart The Gyaunt which had prooued by experience the great prowesse of his surmounted strength and againe séeing his noble curtesie in offering him his helme with an humble and méeke voyce hée sayde Ualiant Prince I praie thée tell me if it be true that thou art he which at the beginning thou saydest thou wert or whether thou art the God Mars which is come downe from heauen to destroye mée and to make my strength of no estimation This worthie knight then placing the point of his swoorde vppon the grounde and leaning his arme vppon the crosse of the hilte not making anie outward apperaunce of wearinesse that he had in this battaile with an amiable countenaunce he sayd O king if thou wouldest acknowledge this greate crueltie which thou committest and the small reason which thou hast to execute it and howe greatly thou doest erre and art ouerséene in thinking that thou seruest thy Gods in maintaining and defending such extreame tyrannie thou shouldest do much better so returne vnto the knowledge of my God who is the true creator of heauen earth and all that therin is Then the Gyant replied vnto him sayd Of truth gentle Knight thou knowest well how to extoll thy God in whome thou dooest beléeue but howe shall I knowe that this thy God is of more goodnesse and vertue then my Gods Unto whom the Prince answered and sayde Oh king that is verie easie and apparant to be séene and perceiued Tell me I praie thée that if at anie time thy Gods haue in their owne causes had anie power or defence no surely for if they had then would not they haue suffered themselues to bée so ill intreated of them who should worship and serue them for if at anie time your Gods doe not graunt vnto your requests and performe that which you would haue them doo then you beginne to curse and to banne them and speake the worst that may be spoken of them and some of them you throwe into the fire and burne and other some you pull out of their Tabernacles and tread them vnder your féete and polute them and presently you leaue them and chaunge them for other new Gods and vnto them you doe your worshippe till such time as they likewise fulfill not what you aske of them and yet these poore and infortunate Gods are in no fault for that at anie time they cannot helpe themselues but doeth burne in the pit of hell So that it commeth of a great simplicitie y t thou wilt beléeue in the diuell who is the authour of all euill and forget the creator of all thinges who hath giuen thée this thy strength and prowesse and will deliuer thée in all thy necessities Oh king thou shouldest not néede any other proofe but onely that which thou thy selfe diddest vnto the image of Diana For in thy anger thou diddest throw it downe and cut it with thy swoord and diddest vnto it all the euill that thou couldest so that if they had had anie power thinkest thou then they woulde haue suffered that thou shouldest haue offered this outrage vnto them no I tell thée thou mightst not haue bene once so hardie as to haue moued against them The Gyant who then was somwhat touched with the truth sayd Worthie Prince I henceforth promise thée that I wil serue this thy God wil desire thy frieÌ„dship remaine thy friend for y t thou hast opened my eies giuen me the light of y e true life And for y t I may the better bring to passe and accomplish this my determined purpose I wil without tarrieng take my iourney to Constantinople to y e end to be instructed in y e doctrine of y e faith vnderstand perfectly y e power of thy god not doubting but to haue the aide and helpe of the valiant Emperour thy Father and by his meanes to be the better informed And noble Prince I do desire thée to declare vnto Tefereo my cousin and brothers sonne all this my pretended purpose and perswade him to leaue of this euil custome and not continue in it anie longer And moreouer to giue order vnto all his knights and Gentlemen that they followe no more this wicked race but commaund them to returne vnto theyr owne Countries and to remaine there in the good gouerning thereof with his brother Tramarando And the like words he spake vnto his owne knights that were there present at that time and when the valiant knight of the Sunne heard these words which procéeded from the Gyauntes heart without anye dissimulation he receiued so great pleasure therein that incontinent he threw his swoord to the ground and pulled off his helme from his head and ranne and caught the Gyant in his armes and with great loue imbraced him giuing him to vnderstand the great contentment that he receiued to heare that he would forsake his false Gods turne to the true and
proportion of his members And placing his words with great discreation he answered and sayd I come to demand battaile of thée O King not for that thou hast at anie time gréeued mée or giuen mee cause but onelye to take awaye and frustrate if it bée possible this euill and diâ—ellish custome which thou maintainest or else to loose my lyfe in the quarrall therefore if thou doest thinke good to procéede in this thy hellish pretence take thy armour and arme thy selfe and come foorth and heere in this fielde I will abide thy comming where I hope by the fauour of almightie God that with thy death thou shalt paye héere the tribute of all this tyrannie which thou hast vsed The Gyaunt remained still at the windowe beholding this worthie Grecian Knight for that hée séemed vnto him to bée a Knight of greate valour and prowesse by his comelie proportion and by the deuises that hée had in his armour hee séemed to bée a straunger with a familiar countenance he sayd I would somewhat replie vnto these thy wordes but because thou shalt not saie I speake lyke a Thrush in a cage I will referre it till such time as I am with thée in the fielde if thou darest to abide my comming And so without anie more speaking he withdrewe himselfe from the windowe and with a terrible voice hée called for his armour in the meane time this noble Greeke did peruse his harnesse in all partes that it was well for it was néedfull as héereafter you shall heare ¶ Of the terrible battaile that this Grecian Prince had with the Gyant and of all the aduentures that chanced in the said battaile Chap. 6. THis worthie Grecian knight lifting vp his heart and eies vnto heauen craued fauour and helpe of almightie God requesting his aide against so great and terrible an aduersarie and being thus in his praier he sodeinly heard a great noise well consorted sound of Trumpets the which made melodious and swéet harmonie and not long after this the gate of the castle was opened where out issued the Gyant at all pointes armed with verie rich armour of fine stéele and vppon his right shoulder a great clubbe barred with yron of a huge weight and at his girdell a verie bigge and broade swoord and about his necke there hanged a rich and strong Shielde whereon was portratured the same deuise which he sawe on the Altar in the Chappell In his demeanour he showed himselfe to bée valiant and with a gentle countenaunce he came towardes the place whereas the Knight abode All this the noble and courteous Greeke did stedfastly beholde and prayed God that of his mercie he would abolish this euill custome that he did maintaine and that he would giue him grace to acknowledge his error wherein he had transgressed and that he might be conuerted vnto the knowledge of y e true faith for that it was great pitie to sée so much crueltie remaine in so noble worthie a personage as he was or in so well proportioned a bodie as he séemed to haue and thus this noble prince remained in beholding his personage till such time as the Gyaunt drew nigh vnto him who without shewing anie defiaunce or countenaunce of pride saide I beleeue gentle Knight that this my presence hath put thée in some feare of my force therfore for that thou séemest to be a knight well disposed of great valor I yeelde vnto thée the battaile And if so be thou mistrust thy power I giue thee lisence to return from whence thou camest or else if thou so please to remaine with me in my companie But this valyant Greeke as one nothing daunted without moouing of his countenaunce aunswered and sayd Doe not thou thinke O king that the bignesse of thy bodie although it shew thee to be of great strength maketh me in anie part either to meruaile or feare for that my swoord hath bene accustomed to abate the courage of diuerse such as thou art but that which maketh me most to muse is y â— god hath suffred thee so long time to exercise this crueltie And againe that thou being adorned with so gentle disposition and courage vnto my seeming conformable wouldest maintaine so cruell a custome without either feare of God or regard of his lawes Neuerthelesse considering thou hast no knowledge of the true God but of other fained Gods I doo not so greatly muse that thou hast followed thine owne appetite so much but take my counsaile and bestow not this thy great strength and force in the seruice of those euill Gods but turne vnto my God and in his defence and faith which is the right faith exercise these thy good giftes with the which he hath endowed thée and if thou wilt thus doo I will take thée for my friend and kéepe thy companie for that thou â—éemest vnto me to be of so good a disposition one y â— doth well deserue to be had in reputatioÌ„ For verely it is conuenient worthy King that thou leaue this crueltie which thou dost héere vse béeing so farre different from natures rule and to forget this seruice which thou doost vnto the Diuell which is the onelye willer of this damnable worke and so reforming thy life I would wish thée to become a christian For I promise thée it doth not a little gréeue me that so worthie a knight as thou art should through vnbeléefe perish and be dampned and if alreadie thou haue anie remorse in conscience or perseuerance of this my spéech accept my counsell I request thée which if thou doo I promise thée to be alwaies thine and by firme frindship to vnite my selfe vnto thy fellowshippe Contrariwise if thou persist in this thy pretended tyrannie prepare thy selfe and that spéedely vnto battaile whereby thou shalt perceiue how smally I feare thy force as thou doest fondly suppose The Gyaunt which was verie attentiue vnto all that the Prince had vttered replied in this wise Before we beginne our battaile sir Knight let me request this little sute of thée which is that thou vnfolde to me thy name forasmuch as by thy comly proportion thou séemest to descend from some noble progenie and by thy behauiour to be of no lesse prowesse then authoritie the one arguing in thée no small valour in fight the other no little eloquence to subuert thy foe The heroycall Prince discréetly marking with what sober aduisement he deliuered these speaches with no lesse mildensse returned vnto him this answere saying Forasmuch as I will not in anie respect be accounted either quarellous by concealing an answere or disdainful by denying thy request vnderstand then O King of Sardenna y t I am a Grecian borne named the Knight of the Sunne sonne vnto the renowmed Emperour Trebatio and brother vnto the inuincible Rosicleer whose courage as yet was neuer quailed in fight neyther hethertoo hath my heart bene vanquished by any force for although as yet I haue detracted time by meanes of this my
doo returne it vnto you againe for with it I hope to be restored into the Kingdome of Lira And whiles she was saieng these words he girte himselfe therewith againe Then the Prince sayd Faire Lady I haue this sword nowe in such estimation that I doo beléeue no Knight maye estéeme more thereof nor haue it in greater price neither will I chaunge it for anie thing in all the worlde and héere I doo giue you great thankes for this your curtesie and desire of God spéedely to giue me occasion that I may pay this great debt in the which I am indebted And for that I maye the better satisfie my desire I doo request of you to graunt me a boone which vppon my faith I doo promise you is the very first that euer I did demaund of Ladie and that I protest by the honour I owe vnto the order of Knighthoode Uerilie sayde the Qéenne and it shall be the first that euer I graunted vnto anie Knight And beléeue me it is vnto mee no small pleasure and contentment that this my first grant should be giuen vnto a knight of so noble valour as you are let it be therfore what it shall be I will graunt it vnto you And being resoning in this manner they were cut off from their talke by the comming of the Empresse Claridiana who brought leading by the hand the Lady Oliuia who came from her closet whereas being together they heard of the newes of the arriuall of the Prince If Rosicleer did receiue great pleasure when he did sée Oliuia vnto them that haue reason and discretion of vnderstanding I leaue y e consideration so likewise he did much meruaile at the great leannesse of Claridiana for the which he was very sorrye and with some reasons he did comfort her as one y t knewe all the secreat of her heart All the whole Court receiued great ioye and pleasure for the comming of the Prince and all the Knights and Gentlemen came to visite him And being dinner time they sate downe at the table and at the end of the dinner when that all was taken vp they did determine and thought it good that out of hande they would procure to giue battaile to the Gyaunts vsurpers of the kingdome of Lira and that the Quéene and the Dutchesse should remaine in the Court and with this conclusion they commaunded that for the next daye should be made readie all that should be necessarie for their iourney In the Court was made great lamentation and sorow for that the prince wold so soone depart leaue it without anie knight of estimation or accompt to be made of for that they were all departed in the Quest and séeking of their Lord and Emperour whereas I will leaue them And the Princes Rosicleer Brandimardo going onwards in theyr voyage left y e Empresse with the gouernment of her Empire and in her company the Empresse Claridiana and the Quéene of Lira and the Princesse Oliuia Where let them rest and now I will tell you of the successe of the two children of the great Alphebo ¶ How the two children of the great Alphebo were stolne away by the Giant Galtenor and what afterward did succeede of the same robbery Cap. 16. WIthin the wide and déepe sea towardes the parts of India where the people are gouerned vnder the Pole antarticke and whereas the furious waters with their great waues terrible noyse with violent force doo make hollowe and vndermine the rockes strong defence of the port Palato and the sumptuous citie of Sina are two very faire Ilands the one of them is called Trapona a very great Iland and plentifull of all things wherein raigned a knight of great fame called Delfo which was not farre off from the other Iland named Arguinaria being like wise very aboundant of all kinde of vittailes very strong and was gouerned by a Giaunt called Gedereon Brandembul a very fierce man His power and strength was such that he was not onely feared of them of the Iland but also of all other Kings and Knights borderers and confines vppon his Iland He was fifteene cubites in height and his face very furious and wilde and his strength surpassed the power of men And aboue all he was very cruell and had vsurped that land of another Giant who by lineall descent should haue had the gouernment whose name was called Galtenor This was he which in a Serpentine figure entered into the chamber of the Empresse Claridiana and stole away her two children for that he did knowe by his arte Magicke in the which he was very cunning and expert that he could not recouer his Iland but by meanes of the young sonne whereof the Empresse shuld be deliuered For which cause he did steale them away in the forme as I haue tolds you I say two young children newly borne Then this Galtenor hauing these two young infants in his power trauailed onwarde his iourney and ouerpassed all Greece hée came vnto the vttermost partes and confines of Armenia And approching vnto a Castle by reason that the infants were out of quiet with hunger he vsed the effect of his arte and did inchaunt all them that were within the Castle and depriued them of their wits sauing onely one Lady that was newly brought a bedde whose childe straight dyed to whome he did commende the two infants And as at that time this faire Lady was not sufficient to giue them both suck for lacke of milke he did by his arte likewise prouide a Liones which had newly whelped and a she Goat which did helpe her with their milke to the nourishing of these two infants This Lady for the refreshing of the Infants did aske license to vnswaddle them which being graunted vnto her she vnswaddeled the young infant out of his ritch clothes wherein he was and in making cleane of his little bodie wiâ—h a fine linnen cloth she sawe on his breast a very fierie speare at the which she was greatly amazed for this occasion they gaue him to name Claridiano of y e speare and the other infant they called Rosaluira So in this order as I haue told you wer these infants nourished two yeres with these their nourses and euerye daye more then other their excéeding fairenesse and beautie increased so that they seemed to be heauenly creatures This Gyant did determin not to depart from that place til such time as they came vnto age for that the countrey did lyke them very well So they were there sixe yeres without remoouing from thence to any other place in the which time these Infantes were so great of body that they séemed to be of a dossen yeres of age Claridiano was of a meruailous and faire beautie but the infant Rosaluira was without comparison more then anie humane creature Then Galtenor seeing that it was time to carrie them vnto Trapobana he caused by his art to bée brought a Chariot which was drawen by two great Griphons and therein
euer was inuented in the worlde and most shamefully imputed vnto that innocent Princesse and by the thirde you shall get to your selues greate honour which is the thing that all good and valyaunt knightes doeth procure and desire in this worlde The Knight of the Sunne aunswered Wée knowe well that these thrée are to bée estéemed therefore fayre Damsell for my selfe and for my companion I thus much say that we dooe offer our persons with the conditions aforesayd In the meane time y t he spake these words the damsell did behold him very much and it séemed vnto her y t he was of a great valour and séeing him of so good a proportion and so well armed she imagined in her minde that he should be the knight of the Sun by all likelyhoods according as she had heard talke and declared oâ—â—en times in the Court of the French king and was perswaded that it was none other as appeared by all tokens that she before had heard comforting her selfe with these new and ioyfull thoughts she desired them to alight from theyr horses and that if it pleased them to sit downe vnder a faire greene arbour which was there at hand she woulde declare vnto them the greatest treason that euer was inuented in the world to the which these knightes did condescend with a verie good will and béeing set downe amongst those gréene hearbes the Damsell with a verie dolorous complaint began and sayd Noble knights and Lords you shall vnderstand that you are in the kingdome of France vnto the king wherof it pleased God to giue a daughter of so great beautie fairenesse that it caused greate admiration vnto all them that behelde her the which fame was spread abroade which caused verie manie great and valerous knightes and Lordes of this and other kingdomes to repaire vnto the Court amongest them all there came one who was sonne vnto the Prince of Scotland and named Dalior a man of a verie good grace gentle disposition one indued with al feats of good knighthood Likewise there was another who was sonne vnto the duke of Guyan one of the greatest noble men that was in all Fraunce a strong and stout man and of great pride and by lignage of the most valyaunt and strongest knightes in the worldâ— called Lidiarte These two Princes had discord betwéene themselues did contend in the seruice of this faire lady Artalanda The great contentmeÌ„t the which they receiued and the great brauery they vsed in apparell in this their seruice I cannot héere expresse But this faire ladie did so gouerne her selfe with discreation who was indued with it as much as with hir beautie y t she made as though she vnderstood nothing of their desire although alwaies she had a better affection to the good will of the Prince of Scotland then to the loue of Lidiarte and for that loue doth not permit y t anie thing which appertaineth therevnto should bée kept secret this vnbeloued knight did apparantly perceiue it by which occasion the great griefe which he receiued abated his coâ—â—our and he waxed verie leane and his face became yelow and wan and did determine to chaunge his apparaile oâ— ioye and gladnesse and all pleasures and to apparell himselfe in such sort that she might well vnderstande his great sorowe and heauinesse And to the contrary Dalior did shew himselfe in his apparell the great contentment that he receiued for that he did perceiue that his Lady did showe him some fauour the which was vnto the young Earle the cause of great sorrow and griefe Then Loue who neuer resteth from finishing his effects but alwayes doth with great efficacie make perfect his workes did wound with firme and faithfull loue towards Lidiarte a damsell whose name was Tarfina being in the seruice of this beautifull Princesse before named who loued him so firmelye that this miserable Damosell could finde in her selfe no kinde of quietnes nor rest and most of all she now tormented her selfe for that she â—awe so sodaine a change in her louer This cruell paine did so much constraine hir y t she of necessitie was driuen to seeke all meanes pollicies to procure how she might at her ease talke with him and giue him to vnderstand with her own mouth all the paine and griefe that she did suffer and the onely cause thereof And putting this her determination in vre it chaunced on a daye as she might saye bitter and vnfortunate after dinner when the Table was taken vp she founde time conuenient to declare vnto him all that her heart desired for finding her louer leaning against a cupboord all alone shee came vnto him and saluted him with greate curtesie the Earle did receiue her with no lesse gentlenesse beléeuing for that she was a Damsell of his ladie the princesse that she had come from her of some message she seeing so good opportunitie spake vnto him in this manner Many times noble Lidiarte I haue bene mooued to demand of â—oâ— what thing it shuld be that hath so much strength and force which onely doth not cauâ—e you to chaunge your gorgeous braue apparell but also doth take away y e colour from your gentle face and in this manner weâ—ken all your members Where is now all your brauerie and contentment that you were wont to hauâ— discouer vnto me all your paine and griefe and the occasion of all this your sorrowe Noble Lord let me heere vnderstand of all and being knowen of this thy seruaunt I will procure the best and most assured remedies that may be for thy redresse conuenient Tell me Lidiarte if it be corporall griefe or whether it be a wound hurte by the cruell force of Cupides dart My louing Lord I doo desire you to declare vnto me the cause of all your sorrowe griefe and heere I doo protest and giue my faith to procure with all my power and strength by pollicie other meanes to finde remedie for this your tribulation These and other such reasons with hir words well placed spake this Damosell vnto the Earle with hope that he would declare vnto her the cause of all his sorrow and from whence it did procéede These swéete perswasions and louing reasons tooke such effect in the Earle Lidiarte that he discouered all that was in his heart and the whole occasion as héeretofore you haue heard This damosell when she vnderstood the whole effect thereof it grieued her to the very heart although shée did dissemble it and kept it secret to hir selfe and would not suffer him therein to know her minde and straight wayâ— for her remedy the diuell put into her head a meruaylous wicked inuention And for to giue contentment vnto the Earle she tolde him that she would declare vnto the Princesse all the whole estate of this his sorrowfull paines and passionate griefe willing him withall to remember that the next daye at that houre he should méete her againe at y e same place for
These foure knightes kept so good order in their fight against their enimies that they gaue ouer to fight with them and began to showte and crie against them so that they were constrayned to goe and séeke their enimies the which they founde to be no good remedie for that they did intreate them euilly at their backes and béeing verie angrie héerewith they determined to put themselues amongest the thickest of them which did not fall out well with them for that there was of them together more then ten thousand the which this valiant Eleno séeing he threw his shéeld at his backe fullye incensed with anger and with his swoorde in his hande all alofte hée pressed vnto that parte whereas most people were and the first he met withall hée parted him in the middest and the second hée cut off his head and so went forwardes cutting and wounding nowe one and then another with so greate furie that there was none that durst abide his blowes Is there anie doubt that whilest this Prince was thus troubling and molesting his enimies that the other thrée knights which were with him did stande by and looke on no not so but for to sociate his worthie actes they wrought such wonders in armes as the reporte woulde séeme almost increadible vnto the hearers in striking such terrible blowes that they séemed to be no humane creatures They did fight with so much courage that their enimies wer constrained to withdrawe theÌ„selues back it was a great trouble vnto these knights that they were a foote for if they had bene on horsebacke all foure together without doubt verie quickly they had made an end of the conquest so being in this conflict they â—awe come foorth of the citie a great number of knights and before them came a well proportioned Gyaunt armed with verie fayre and rich armour who with great hast came vnto the place whereas the knights were and when he sawe the great harme which was there done with a terrible and fearfull voice he sayd Oh immortall Gods is it possible that foure knights hath done all this harme that a thousand of very good knights are not able to doe and is their strength and pollicie such that not one of theÌ„ haue receiued anie hurt O wretched knights what had you rather to die in my power then to sweare vnto so iust a demaund as they haue asked of you in y e behalfe of the king Noraldino Then Lyriamandro who hearde the wordes which the Gyant had sayd aunswered There is not one of vs that for the feare death will sweare vnto anie thing but first we wil knowe if the cause be iust because we will not fall vnto anie crime of that which shall be contrarie vnto the order of knighthood So then I doo perceiue said the Gyaunt that you do not purpose to sweare in any thing except it be first declared vnto you what it is and the occasion thereof To the which aunswered Zoylo no. Well héere I sweare vnto you by the high Gods sayd the Gyaunt that I my selfe alone will bring you all to that staye that you woulde willingly sweare but then you shall haue no time And therewith he drewe out a broade and glistering swoord and flourishing therewith he pressed forwardes then the Prince Eleno stepped foorth and requested the other that they would let him alone with y e gyant the which although it were against their wills yet they consented to it and the other putting themselues all on the one side they beganne againe theyr mortall battaile The Gyaunt with the greate furie hée had did discharge his blowe but it was in vaine for that the Prince did let it slippe by in such sorte that hee coulde not strike him and in putting the blowe aside hée cut the sayde Gyaunt vppon one of his legges and made a wounde which although it were not greate yet there ranne out of it verie much bloud When the Gyaunt did féele himselfe hurt and that he sawe his bloud runne downe hee did so kindle in ire that he let his shéelde fall to the grounde and laying holde on his greate and broade swoorde with both his handes he lift it vp and stroke at the Dacian thinking with that one blowe to haue finished the battaile but the Prince for that he was nimble and light did procure straight waies to cleere himselfe from the force thereof the which he did in such sort that the swoorde fell downe to the ground and by reason of the great force and furie wherewith it was discharged the Gyant was constrained following his blowe to fall likewise downe vpon the earth Héere the Dacian was not idle but with both his hands stroke him vpon his strong helme with great courage and although he could not cut it at that time by reason of the hardnesse yet it astonished him brought him out of his remembraunce The Gyant which sawe himselfe in this perplexitie with great furie in the best manner he could tumbled himselfe on the one side and procured to arise vpon his feeâ—e but it was not possible for him for that he was tormented with greate and heauie blowes and forced to fall downe againe vpon the sande but yet as soone as he coulde he tourned once againe and forced himselfe to arise but he could not doo it with such spéed but first he must proue againe the sharpe edge of the Dacians swoord who stroke him such another terrible blow vpon the helme that it yéelded and he cut his flesh The Gyant did fâ—ele himselfe verie ill with that blowe and with the great furie and anger which he had he stroke at the knight a terrible blowe which was in such sorte that by anie meanes hee coulde not shift himselfe from it but must needes receiue it vppon his helme the which was with such force that it made him to fall down to the ground but this knight w t great lightnes tuÌ„bled himselfe awaie vppon the sands and in a trice he was on his feete againe and went towards the place whereas the Gyant was with full pretence to strike him such a blowe that hée should not be able to make anie more resistance The Gyant when he sawe him comming woulde haue stroken him for to disturbe him of his blow but he could not for that this Dacian stroke him such an ouerthwart blowe that lighting on his foote he cut it cleane off and the Gyant chaunced a blow on his helme that it made the knight to tumble on the sand the gyant seeing him downe would haue turned to haue striken him againe but he could not for the lacke of his foote for when he thought to firme his foote on the grounde to prease forwards he could not make a step but gaue a terrible fall to the ground and béeing sore troubled with the wound of his head and other wounds he yéelded vp the Ghost and sent his soule to whom it did appertaine The Pagan people when they sawe their stout Captaine
The Emperour was verie sore troubled when he perceiued y t he was knowen the which this faire Ladie marking went forwardes in her talke and sayd Doe not vexe your selfe neither bée anye whit troubled most mightie Prince for that you are knowen considering that of such a one as thou art it is reason we doo estéeme according to thy desert neither can my captiue heart consent vnto anie other thing but the exalting of thy honour Alasse what shall I saie who hath receiued most wrong for their imprisonment it hath bene onely my christal breast and captiued heart they haue wronged thy bodie but for a time but me loue hath bereaued of my former libertie in wounding my hart so that it is almost vncurable In this my good Lord you may vnderstand that I a lone am shée which hath the greatest wrong Thou valiaunt Emperour hast taken awaie from the Earle of Modique his sonne but thou hast robbed me most infortunate of my heart Oh how much better had it bene for me to haue bene pertaker with him of death then now to liue not knowing what cruel loue will doo Oh immortall Gods how is it that you haue permitted that the tender hart of a poore damsell béeing alwaies willing to offer vnto you sacrifices and exercising of my self daily in your seruice and now in payment of all this you haue permitted it to be sacrificed vnto the cruell will of Cupide who hath forcibly pearced my feeble heart with his furious darts I beseech thée O Emperour doe not denie mée this my vnreasonable demaund although thou séest it so far to exceed the meane Oh virginitie thou maist well be compared vnto a rose which so long as the leaues are reserued w tin the bud it kéepeth the naturall coulour but when it once begins to blow then doth it quickly change euen so the flourishing beautie of virgins doth no sooner bloome but Cupide blotteth it with his despiteful blemish O foolish quéene what caused thée to depart out of the Pallaice whereas thou werâ— at libertie and without griefe didst thou it for to do honour vnto the Emperour yet not knowing him Well for what cause so euer it were see now what is become of it for that fréely thou hast yéelded thy selfe vnto him without reseruing anie thing in thy owne power All this the quéene deliuered with such sorrow and lamentation that it would haue caused a stonie heart to haue relented But the emperour who with a single heart did loue the Empresse Briana and moreouer béeing a verie good christian was not moued with one of these lamentable words neither made he anie shew of loue vnto the quéene but wishing rather to haue had battaile with one of the hardiest knightes in all the world then to haue found himselfe so sodainly assailed by this amorous woman wherfore when this faire Ladie had plainly declared all the whole secret of her heart the Emperour vsing his accustomed discreation did shew himselfe to be verie heauie and â—ad for that which the quéene had heard and taking her by the hand they sate downe together vpon the corner of the bed and beganne to answere vnto her amorous reasons although not so much vnto her purpose as she desired saying 〈…〉 Ladie and quéene I am fully certified that from so 〈…〉 and beautie there can procéed nothing without 〈◊〉 and therefore I did now loose the confidence of your â—â—uour when I was vnknowen much more nowe that you 〈◊〉 know me to be the Emperour of Greece the truth wherof I doo héere confesse And although I finde my selfe in the land where all the people be my mortall enimyes yet for all that I will not denie who I am because my heart wheresoeuer it becomes cannot but vse manifestly his noble courage Heere this Quéene did cut off his answere saying Oh Emperour I doo not aske of thée anie recompence neither doe I demaund of thée whether thou be our enimie or our friend but the thing which I alone desire of thée is this to giue a remedie vnto this my paine a plaister for my sore for that the viewe of thée hath béene the onely occasion therof Oh Emperour what trifling is this to talk of that which is not aunswerable vnto that which I demaunde Oh worthie Emperour haue compassion on me for that thou alone maist remedie this my euill for thou séest apparauntlye the néede I haue of thy helpe Oh that it had pleased the Gods that my remedie were as sure as thy libertie restore vnto me I beséech thée that wherof thou hast bereaued me by beholding thée yéeld vnto me O swéet Emperor séeing that I am alreadie yéelded vnto thée insomuch that there is no doubt but to put into thy handes the spoyle of my royall marryage The Emperour did leane his chéeke vpon his hande verie pensiue all the time that this Ladie was declaring her complaintes not for that he was without pittie but for that he was mooued with greate compassion and yet not with determination to satisfie her disordinate appetite but with faire words to put her in good hope of remedie And verye faine she woulde haue aunswered but that shée was cut off by a Damosell which called her The Quéene dissembling her heauinesse in the best wise she coulde went out of the chamber to sée what they would haue vnto whom the Damsell saide Ladie there is a messenger come from the king of Mauritania which dooth tarrie for you belowe in the pallaice wherat this faire quéene did féele her selfe troubled the occasion was for that this king was in loue with her who was verie valiaunt and of great force and began to gouerne his kingdome verie young with another brother of his who at that time was not knighted neuerthelesse to heare him named in all Africa it made the people to tremble with feare therefore manie times by reason of his greate pride his fame was much abated This king did determine with himselfe to marrie with the Quéene eyther by fayre meanes or else by force and for to put this his pretence in practise hée sent vnto her his messengers and for a more maiestie hée made his owne brother Lord Embassodour And séeing this historie will most intreate of this young man who was called Brufaldoro y e wise author wold discouer his customes and manners he saith y t he was in the stature of his bodie well néere a leauen foote high and all his members conformable vnto his height béeing indued with incredible strength he had his countenaunce verie graue and of great beautie without anie anger verie tractable and a gentleman of great curtesie hée detested to doo anie thing that was vnseemely he was verie readie to correct where it was néedfull and farre from anie vnhumane crueltie all which vertues were extinguished when he was angered for that then in all Africa and Asia there was no wild beast so fierce and cruell And many times it hath ben séene when his anger had ben
I doo not retourne againe into her Citie for I was so ill receiued the first time that I haue no will to retourne the second And more I desire her of my part that she doo intreate better and giue better intertainment vnto such Knights as I am then she gaue vnto me least she get vnto her selfe the name of a wrathfull Quéene and be accounted as one subiect vnto hir own opinion of all other things if any thing doo chaunce let her thanke none but her selfe for that she hath bene the onely cause therof And moreouer I doo desire her not to trouble her selfe in sending to séeke me for that I say not her power alone but all the power in Africa is not sufficient to retourne me againe into so great straights as once she had me in And so without any more speaking he spurred his horse and rode a reasonable pace towards the sea side which was not farre from that place and when he came thether he sought to sée if he could finde by chance any barke or galley to carry him whether he wold with his good will or els by force He had not gone farre when that he sawe a very faire and great barke at the sea side hard aboord the shoare The Emperour entered into it to sée if there were anye marriners his horse which was hard by him without being constrained by the Emperour very lightly leapt into the Barke He was not so soone with in when that the Barke began to make waye in such sorte that in a small time they were very farre at sea At y â— which the Emperour was greatly amazed but there was a voice which did satisfie him that sayd Mightie Trebatio Lyrgandeo doth gouerne thee at the which the Emperour was very ioyfull So he put his horse in a place by himselfe in the bark wheras he found sufficient of all things néedefull Likewise hée found all that was conuenient for his owne person which was ready vpon a table in very good order all kinde of dressed meates and béeing set downe to eate he was serued so bountifully and with so great diligence and care as though he had bene in Greece In this sort the emperour went sailing eight dayes in y e end of which he discouered land which had belonging vnto it a faire hauen or port and nigh vnto it a very faire and great Citie The Barke went straight into the hauen and brought her selfe to the shore Héere we will leaue y e Emperour in his barke in y e hauen and will tell you of the great lamentation y t the faire Garrofilea made for that the Emperour departed in such sort ¶ How the faire Queene Garrofilea made great lamentation for the departure of the Emperour and how at their last being together she remained with childe by the Emperour Trebatio Cap. 23. AFter that all the Knights of Tinacria haâ— ioyned themselues together and had made an ende of their battaile and trauaile they repaired vnto the citie with great ioy and gladnesse for their good successe Rubio of Yscla went to declare vnto the Quéene his message y t the Emperor had commanded him at y â— which the Quéene was so troubled that she could not in any wise dissemble it but in a great sound strayght way she fell downe as though she had bene dead This couragious knight when he saw her in this trance tooke her vp in his armes caryed her vnto her Strado or seate straight waies when the Ladies heard the noyse they all came forth to sée what the matter was when they saw their Quéene in that traunce they began to vse all meanes and remedies till such time as she came again vnto her remembrance And although it was with great trouble the quéene lifted vp her â—yes séeing that she was coâ—â—â—assed about with Ladies and others shee shut her eyes againe and gaue a great sigh which came from the bottome of her heart and in this sort she remained a greate while and her Ladies and Damosells seeing that she was so troubled determined to vncloath her and to carrie her to her bed Then she made signes with her hands that they should depart and leaue her all alone whose commandement they straight wayes obeyed not without great sorrow of all them that did beholde her for that the quéene was meruailouslye well beloued of her subiects There was not one that could vnderstand the cause of this sodaine euill but onely the earle of Modique who discréetly did imagine what it might bée who kept it close to himselfe at time vntil such time as time the matter it selfe shuld declare whether his imagination or thought should fall out true or no. This afflicted quéene when she saw that she was alone began to exclaime against her fortune putting forth these sorrowfull reasons When wilt thou be content thou peruerse enimie and without all reason Thou which hast warped such strange webbes in this Kingdome Thou gauest me into my power the Gréeke Emperour very poore and without all comfort of thée and absent from all his Empire This thou didst for that with his sight I should be wounded with the cruell dart of loue that without all remedie of anie comfort I most vnfortunate damosell shoulde be constrained to set my life to sale and to sell my honour as it were with the common cryar compelling me to doo vnto my selfe that which I onely did being made blinde by him which would y t all others were as blind as he himselfe is And although me life were set at libertie by him which without anie weapon bereaued me thereof yet am I not at so much libertie nor so frâ—e but that wheresoeuer he goeth my heart doth followe him Woe is me for my virginitie which my parents gaue me such great charge to haue a respect vnto that it hath bene so euill kept and so lightly regarded me I will so chastise my selfe for thus forgetting of my selfe and be so reuenged for the little regard that I haue had of my honour that it shall be an example to all others which be of high estate Oh miserable Quéene Oh vnhappie Lady thy spéech is too too foolish for although this thy desperate hand should pull out the despised heart of this miserable and afflicted bodie yet shouldest not thou make satisfaction of the dishonour which thou hast committed against thy selfe Oh cruell death why doest thou not with thy sodaine furie set at libertie me most vnfortunate from these gréeuous paines Oh Emperour of Greece those louing and amorous wordes which thou spakest vnto me I would they had neuer ben spoken O false and deceiuing Lorde thou shouldest haue suffered me to haue tasted death when with so great good will mine owne hand would haue ministred it to me and not now to cause me to indure a thousand deaths only by thy departure With these other like lamentations this afflicted Ladie passed awaie the time till at last she found
valiantest Moore in all the worlde and by the hands of the best Knight that euer was The King was very glad to sée himselfe a Knight and gaue great thankes vnto the Prince for the same requesting him very earnestly that hee woulde tell him his name for that he might know at whose hands he receiued the order of Knighthood the which the Prince with a good will declared And when he knew that he was sonne vnto the Emperor Trebatio whom he accounted for his mortall enemie altering his voyce he sayd Oh Mahomet thou vile God and full of all treasons thou hast not lefâ— to persecute me euen vnto this present time for thou hast brought me to receiue the order of Knighthoode which was the thing that I most desired at the hands of him which is sonne vnto my mortall enimie Héere I doo say vnto thée valyant prince that I would it had cost me my kingdome that I had not receiued knighthood at thy hand for that thou art sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio the falâ—est traytor that euer hath bene séene The prince somewhat angry aunswered him saying King it is not séemely in such as thou art to speak words which be so false It is very true that the Emperour is my father and the mightiest Prince in the vniuersall worlde And not as thou doest account him a traytour For the which cause I doo tell thée that thou doost falsly lye like the most vilest Pagan in all thy kingdome and in the defence thereof I will driue thée out of the field and depriue thée of this order which I haue giuen thée that thou shalte not excercise it by taking from thée thy life This miserable Pagan who straight way was subiect vnto his furye with great alteration sayd Oh wretched and vnfortunate knight doost thou thinke that I am one of those Knights that will be tamed by the strength of thy arme I wish thée not to beléeue it For if thou doost proue my strength thou shalt bée sure to finde another manner of rigor and force then thou hast found in those with whom thou hast got thy honour the prince whose patience could not suffer such great pride but as wrathfull as a Lyon replyed Thou proud Pagan arme thy head and prepare thée to the battaile for by God I doo sweare that I will doo my best to cut of such an enimie from the Emperour my father The Pagan without any more replying caused his helme to be â—ased on and layd hande on his sworde And the Prince likewise was readie to discharge his blowe who raysing himselfe vp in his stirrops stroke so strong a blowe vpon the pagans helme that the sound was heard a great way in the fieldes and it inforced him whether he would or not to make reuerence to holde downe his head béeing so astonyed that it séemed a great tower had fallen vpon him and as he woulde haue setteled himselfe againe in his saddle he stroke him such another vpon his shield that he droue it vnto his head which made him to tourne vp the white of his eyes with the great griefe which he receiued and to kéepe himselfe vp from falling both he and his horse staggered on the one side which made the Prince to loose many a blow notwithstanding he pressed on him so fast that he had no time to tourne him to strike againe This Moore was verye much amazed at his great force and strength and strake at the prince so furious and strong a blow that he made him to loose his vnderstanding and almost to stoope with all his body vpon his horse necke The prince came straight way to himselfe and returned vnto y e Moore with so much furie striking such a blow vpon his shield which although it séemed to be as hard as a Diamond yet for all that he cut it in two péeces and the blow descended vpon his sholder with such a great waight that the mountaines eckoed with the noyse which made the pagan for feare of falling to hold himselfe fast by the Horse mane very much marueling y t in one Knight there shuld be so much strength Then he threw from him the rest of his shield which was left and tooke his broad sword in both his hands and droue such a blowe at the Prince that lighting vpon his visor it depriued him of his sight forced him to fall vpon his horse necke without any remembrance This stout Pagan would haue retourned to strike him again but he could not for that his horse béeing skarred with y e blow lept on y e one side which saued him froÌ„ it Yet y e pagan folowed to accomplish his will which he could not doo so spéedely but that the Prince did settle himselfe in his saddle and recouered againe his sword and committing himselfe to God as he alwayes was accustomed to doo he sayd Oh holy Iesu for thy names sake ayde and helpe me And therwith he spurred his Cornerino with great furie that he made him runne like the winde and in his course he sayd Tarry tarry thou man without faith and doo not thinke that thy blowes hath done any other thing on me but onely caused my yre anger to increase the more for to procure to bring thée to thy ende and to sende that excommunicated soule of thine to the diuell and in the running of his horse when he drew nigh him he threatened him with his sword shaking of it in such sort that he gaue him to vnderstand that at the next blowe he would make an ende of the battaile and therewith he stroke him such a blow on his helme that the bloud ranne out at the visor thereof and he fell downe backwards vpon his horse crouper almost dead The great force that the Prince gaue to strike him was the cause that he brake the lether of his right stirrop and therewith he fell to y e ground from his horse But strayght way with great lightnesse he arose vp againe and in the best manner he could he made it fast and leaping into the saddle he retourned towardes his enemie who was with great trouble setling himselfe in his saddle and looking vp to the heauen he showed a pittifull countenaunce as though he had bene very sore hurte as in truth he was And when he sawe himselfe so ill intreated and all his head bathed in bloud he beganne to crye out agaynst Mahomet saying Oh Mahomet thou art the falsest God amongst all the Gods cursed be all they that doo trust in thée and beléeue in thée And of this be thou sure that I doo not beléeue now in thée neither will I so long as I liue and this I doo promise thée that wheresoeuer I finde anye Temple or Image of thine to breake them downe with the strength of mine owne hande and furious arme And with this anger he lifte vp his sword alofte going towards the Prince who was tarrying for him in the same manner and with like furie
to goe foorth with the rest So in this order as I haue told you they went foorth of the Citie all sixe together and he which gaue the first onset was that valiant and amorous Eleno of Dacia brothers son vnto the Emperour who with a gentle behauiour when hée came nigh the Emperour sayd in the Saracen tongue It is not the part of good Knights to speake any villany especially against Kings whom they are bound to haue in reuerence honour To whom the Emperour aunswered in the same language Art thou Noraldino King of Numidia Don Eleno replyed No but I am a Knight and a very stranger in this countrey but yet by firme oath I determine to dye in the defence of his right The Emperor aunswered He hath neither iustice nor right on his side but it is most apparant wrong which he doth maintaine and there is no reason that such a traytor as he is shoulde be by anye other defended neither is it séemely that anie Knight of price should charge himselfe in his behalfe for that he is a traytor And likewise he that doth defend him and take his part in this that hee will sustaine and maintaine so great vniustice is pertaker of his treason and meriteth a traytors name And for that thou art his defender héere I giue thée to vnderstand that I care not for thée and lesse I doo estéeme thée for that hée which doth take vpon him to defend a traytor may well be accounted a traytor This valiaunt Eleno when hée sawe himselfe to be so ill intreated aunswered Thou lyest in so saying for that I was neuer traytor neither doo I procéede of the lynage where traytors euer were notwithstanding thou shalt pay me with thy head the great vncurtesie which thou hast vsed vnto me Therefore it doth stande thée in hand to looke vnto thy selfe and take that part of the fielde which thou thinkest best for thy purpose and leaue off these blazing words to ioyne with me in battaile that I maye sée if thou canst as well defend thy quarrell as thou canst handle thy tongue At which words there drew nigh them the Prince Clauerindo and as the Emperour woulde haue departed to put himselfe in battel he did behold him straight waye knew him And casting his eyes on the one side likewise knew the other thrée but he could not knowe who the Prince Eleno should be and for the great desire which hée had to know what he was he sayd Knight I doo desire thée for courtesies sake to tell me what thou art if thou wilt not grant me this then I pray thée to lift vp y ◠visor of thy helme y ◠I may sée thy face for héere I giue thée to vnderstād thy foure companions I dooe knowe which is the occasion that I haue no desire to enter into battaile with thée Then Don Eleno aunswered and sayd Pagan of the two things which thou doest aske of mée although there is no compulsion yet will I pleasure thée in fulfilling one of them and in saying these wordes he lift vp the visour of his healme and when the Emperour sawe him he beléeued that it had béene his sonne Rosicleer and with a loud voice he said Oh mightie God how can this be true that vnto knights of my lignage should chaunce so vile a spot who hetherto in all their dooings haue got great honour and praise and now are come to defend such apparaunt wickednesse and treason Thou shalt vnderstand knight that I am the Emperour Trebatio and would not willingly now be called thy Father for that thou art come to defend so apparaunt and knowen an euill for I knowing the vnreasonable naughtinesse that this king hath committed am come to take this conquest in hande for in all my life time I neuer tooke a more iuster cause in hand neither was there euer in all the worlde a thing more worthier of punishment then this and séeing that my fortune hath béen such that my first enimie that shuld come against me séemeth my sonne put thy selfe héere now before thy high progenitour from whence thou doest descend and for Gods loue doe not blot thy stock in defending traitours treason therwith in few words he told vnto them all the whole history as before I haue tolde you Then this excellent Dacian answered High mightie Emperour although by my name thou hast not knowen me yet in calling me sonne thou diddest happen on the truth For thou shalt vnderstand that I am called Eleno of Dacia sonne vnto the king of Dacia thy brother and in that which thou hast sayde that we doe maintaine treasons we are to the contrarie informed neuertheles I beséech your highnesse to tarrie héere a while and therewith he and the Prince in a great confusion returned to the place whereas the rest of his companions were and turning his talke vnto the king he sayd King of Numidia thou shalt vnderstand that yonder knight is the Emperour of Grecia my vnckle who in that small time which we haue ben with him hath told vnto vs all the effect of this thy matter cleane contrary vnto that which thou hast declared vnto vs. Therfore King there is no reason that Knights of so high bloud and name as we are should be set to defend lyes and treasons but if it be to the contrary of that which he hath told vnto me haue no doubt but tell vs the truth For héere I sweare by the loue that I beare vnto that vnlouing Lidia that I will trauayle so with my vnckle that greatly with thy honour thou shalt goe thorough with this conquest Then this false King aunswered O Knights which doo confesse your selues to be Christians and by the God whome you doo worship haue made a solemne oath to helpe and defend me by the strength of your armes how happeneth it now y ◠without any care of your oth which you haue sworn you will leaue me desolate and goe from your words béeing doubtfull of the very truth The couragious French man aunswered Doo thou not thinke King that our oathes and words shall be abrogated rather first we will léese our liues both I the prince all our companions but consider king that God will not that we shall imagine amisse of Trebatio who is a prince of great veritie and truth and agayne our verie nigh kinsman Therefore this and that which hée hath tolde vs hath moued vs to come and tell thée and doe saye that none of vs will goe from his word and oath if thy cause be iust Then the valyaunt Eleno did cut off his reasons and tourning vnto the King he sayd King of Numidia héere I do most humblye desire thée that with false illusions thou putte not vs vnto so great trauaile for that then it can not be but either wée must dye in the hands of him whome we doe desire to serue or els though farre vnlikely to kill him Is it possible king
that thou hast brought vs vnto this estate that crueltie should gouern our wills without hauing power to doe any other thing The King when he saw that the Knights were very earnest began to sweare with great oaths that his cause was iust and that he had tolde vnto them the truth of the matter and if so be that the Emperour had tolde them any other thing it was onely to deceiue them and to tourne them that they should not make his defence and charged them againe with their oath which they had made and how that they had giuen their words to be his vpholder and defender This worthy Dacian tourning vnto his companions sayd Knightes what doo you thinke in this matter what is it best that we doo héerein For well you doo sée that we are so bewrapte bound one against another and cousin against cousin yet for all that we cannot by any meanes excuse the battaile So they did all determine to retourne vnto the Emperour and to desire him for to accept it in good part and to leaue off that battaile to make theÌ„ beléeue that he was falsly informed when they came vnto him they said Worthy Emperour and our onely Lord looke well vnto this false information wherewith they haue informed you and hauing well considered thereof we doo all request you for the loue which vnto your sonnes and cousins and vnto all your friendes you doo owe that it may moue you to take no occasion to put vs into this extremitie for that by anie meanes we cannot goe from our oath and word Unto the which the Emperour answered and sayd My louing friends if that you haue giuen your word and oath to procure to make defence of so false a King doo you likewise indeuour to performe the same for the like will I doe to accomplish that which I haue promised for that there is no more reason for the one then for the other But this one thing I doe tell you that it is very apparant that you will maintaine the treason of this false King as it appereth plainly by many reasons which I haue told vnto you and the principall cause wherin you maye sée plainely his treason and falshoode is the little hast that hée doeth make himselfe vnto the battaile and if he knew that he dooâ—h maintaine the truth let him come forth and make his owne defence At the which reasons they all helde theyr peace considering the great reason which the Emperour had declared and determined that the next daie they woulde conclude what were best to bée done so these sixe knights returned vnto the Citie and the Emperour vnto the campe Of all this that happened he that receiued the most contentment was the Prince Eleno for he desired verye much to retourne vnto the Citie for that at his departure he left his Lady very sicke so that he thought not to finde her aliue and comming to the Citie hée was no sooner alighted from his horse but hée went straight vnto her Chamber whereas hée found her with a mightie burning ague and séeing her in that case he was as one that was beside himselfe and the more that her ague increased the more furious she did shew her selfe and farther out of quiet So this gréeuous and sicke Ladie did aske paper and inke for to write a few lines vnto him which was the causer of all this her harme and making an ende of her writing without power to doo any other thing with the great féeblenesse shée felt she fell downe vpon her pillowe speaking vnto Eleno she sayd Ualiant knight behold héere thy Lidia at her last ende for that there doth not remaine in me strength for to giue thée thankes for so great benefits as I haue receiued at thy handes yet I carrie one great comfort with me which is y â— although I dye yet thy great loyaltie doeth not dye neyther my firme faith and although I was vnloued of an vnfaythfull Knight yet am I beloued of the most couragious knight in the worlde This sorrowfull and troubled Prince woulde not suffer her to goe forwards with her talke but with shedding of manie teares from his eyes he sayd Oh my swéete Mistresse doe not giue me to vnderstande that thou wilt dye if that thou meane I shall remaine aliue Oh my loue I would rather that my heart shoulde be parted in twaine by the greatest enimie that I haue then to remaine without thée Oh my louing Mistres let this thy youthfull yeres and great beautie which thou hast incourage thée die not in this order this feeble Lidia for to shew with more feruentnesse the good will which she did owe vnto the Pâ—â—â—ce for his great curtesie forced her selfe to holde vp her head and he lifted it vp with such quicknesse as though her weake members had felt no griefe as though the furie of that burning ague was not able to resist her but with the force of loue she sate vp in her beâ— and with her face of a fiery colour she sayd My Lord time doth not giue me anye place that with words I might gratifie the great courtesie that of thée I haue receiued for that I doo feele that the hower is come and that the three fatall sisters haue the thred of my life betwéene the edges of their shéeres so that it lacketh nothing but to put them together insomuch that I miserable creature doo féele my soule tremble in my flesh at this my last hower But one thing oh my swéete and true louer I will desire thée before that I doo dye which is that thou wouldest procure that this letter maye bée giuen vnto that cruell Knight who hath brought me vnto this estate giuing him to vnderstande of this my troublesome death the occasion whereof was his vnreasonable crueltie And making an end of saying this this miserable Lady fell downe without hauing any more strength to sit vp but let the letter fall out of her hande before her true louer who tooke it vp and sayd Oh all my ioye what a cruell knife is this to my heart to heare thy complayntes in giuing me to vnderstande the great crueltie that loue hath vsed against thée without anye desert or reason and verely I doo beléeue that these thy great thoughts and griefes but most of all thy absence wil be the occasion of my death And if y â— my enimies are not of power to giue it me héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the great and true loue which I beare vnto thée that I my selfe with my owne hands will procure to pull this heart out of his place for that it knew not how to giue thée contentment paying therwith y e dutie y t I ow vnto thée O happy Brenio that didst obtaine so much grace fauour at Venus handes for to be beloued of the flower of all beautie The Clime in the which thou wert borne was not so happie as to the contrarie my
him but with great fury they met together with their speares yet not one of thē was moued in their saddles but remained as though they hadde bene two towers and straight way with no lesse force they began to lay hold on their swordes and for that the knight of the Sunne had a respect vnto him he did rather procure to make his defence then in anie thing to offend him but Don Eleno stroke such a blowe at his cousin that he made him to stoope with all his bodie to the horse necke The knight of the Sun would haue taken reuengement of the same blowe but hée considered that he was his cousin and that he was ignorant of the cause that should moue him to commit this folly for the which consideration he did suffer him and would make no reuengement Tefereo who sawe all that had passed remained in his first place without remouing til time did serue him to accomplish that which he had determined in his mind to doo and when he sawe occasion for the same he threw his shéeld vpon his arme and put his speare in his rest made a shew y t he would be doing with y e gyant y t which he perceiued he put himself in a readinesse but more to giue him to vnderstand what he was then to hurt him This furious Sardenian stroke his horse with the spurs y t he made him run like the commet which falleth from the side of Trion whē he came in the middest of his course he turned his horse toward the place whereas the king of Numidia was who had put himselfe a part from the rest with so great swiftnesse y t by no meanes he could kéepe or defend himselfe from y t incounter but by reason of the strength wherwith it was giuē he threw them to the ground very euill intreated He was no sooner fallen when that this couragious Sardenian leapt from his horse verie lightly and found that the king of Numidia was on foote readie for to defend himselfe and crying out Knightes succour succour or else I am but dead At the which noise all the other fiue knights looked about and when they sawe the king in the power of that valiant knight they would haue rescued him but the light of all knighthoode which was the father and the sonne did disturbe them and put themselues before them and would not suffer them to giue anie such aide but did there great wonders striking on euerie side in such sort that now one and then the other they made them to recoile backe The strong and furious Eleno did but little harme with his swoorde neither made he anie great resistaunce the Gyant with as little hast as might bée went to helpe the Numidian king with a reasonable pace he went towards the place whereas the king was but for that reason would not consent that such as he is should bée holpen with the hast that he made his horse stumbled in such sort that horse and master fell to the ground of the which he was verie sore hurt and brused as it appeared by his slow rising vp againe The valiant Sardenian with great pollicie procured to bring to an end his desire before that anie did come to disturbe him and béeing lighted of his horse he made hast to the King and sayde Thou traytour it shal little profit or plesure thée to call for help for y t in my hands thou shalt leaue this thy traiterous soule who doeth deserue to suffer all the euills that may bée and therwith hée stroke him such a blowe vppon his healme and with so greate furie that he made him in spite of his heart to knéele with both his knées vppon the earth So when the Sardenian perceiued him to bée in this case with greate valyauntnesse he straight wayes layde holde of his healme with his lefte hande and pulled it cleane from his head and with his right hande he smote him such a blowe vppon the head that hée parted it in two péeces and immediatly hée fell downe dead to the ground and looking about to sée whether his horse wer gone or no he found that he was nigh at hande Then hée tooke the dead king and made him fast vnto the stiroppes of the Saddle and with a trice hée leapt vpon his horse and so without anie helpe of his stiroppes hee made his horse to runne and so drew the king after him throughout all the fielde The Gyaunt would haue succoured him but all was in vaine In this sorte went Tefereo drawing the king after him before all the knightes that were there present and sayde Knightes what doe you meane to bée so still Why doe you not vpholde and defend this trayterous king in whose strength was all his confidence Beholde now where he hath receiued the payment that such euill workes as his deserued and therewith he rode round about the fielde as hée did before The Emperour when hée sawe that this fact was ended would that his cousin Don Eleno and the Prince his sonne shoulde leaue theyr battaile which was betweene them begunne a newe and they were giuing one another terrible blowes but not with such great furie for that they did knowe the one the other otherwise it woulde haue gone ill on both parts The Emperour put himself betwéene them and said Oh Knights cease your battaile and hearken vnto my wordes Eleno which was still kindled in wrath hadde no respect vnto those wordes neyther woulde hée part but lyke a man distraught from himselfe hée doubled such a blowe vpon the visour of the Emperour that hée made him loose the sight of his eyes The Emperour who was verie angry and not a lyttle grieued at the small regarde that he had of his wordes woulde presently haue reuenged the blowe but that hée was disturbed by the Gyaunt who pulling off his healme went towards the place whereas these thrée worthie warriours were and with a heauie and troubled voyce he sayde Heare mée O noble Emperour and you worthie knights cease this your controuersie and staye your vnweakened armes till such time as I haue vttered that which I will saye Then the Emperour with his accustomed méekenesse sayd Noble King what is it that thou canst demaund of me that I would not willingly accomplish To whome he aunswered Well séeing it is so my Lord I doo desire you to returne vnto your Tent and take your ease and to leaue off this and such like controuersies for that the cause therof my cousin and brothers sonne hath taken away from betwéene you And when he had sayd these such like words he retourned vnto his companions and perswaded them altogether to retourne vnto the Citie to the which they all consented although it was cleane contrary vnto the will of Don Eleno So when they were entered into the Citie they found that all the people and burgesses thereof were in great lamentation for the losse of their king and Lord
Emperour in all the world but more light then this hée would not giue him neither the place wheras his sister was lost and therwith he tooke out from vnder the hatches of the barke a fardle which was bound vp the which he did delyuer vnto the Marriners that they should laye it vp safe and imbrace him againe with great loue and put vpon the finger of the heart on his left hand a King which had in it a precious Diamond that was of so great cléernesse that in a darke night it gaue as great a light wher it was as though a torch were lighted This did he straightly charge him to kéepe for that it was of so great vertue that so long time as he had it about him there was no inchauntment that should hurt him This excellent young Knight woulde haue surrendered greate thankes for his precious giftes but at such time as he wold haue giuen it Galtenor was departed vpon a sodaine a greate space from them who made so much hast that in a verie small time he lost the sight of him This young knight remayned with greate contentment in knowing that hée did descende from so high a generation and lykewise for the succour he receiued in the armour hée had brought him the which he commaunded to bée very well kept till such time as occasion shoulde serue that he had néede of them in this sort he passed away all the nighte thinking vpon the wordes of Galtenor So the next morning this young knight sitting on the poope of the Foyst with this faire Lady he requested her to tell him the whole occasion of her comming to séeke for him The which this Lady with great lamentation began to tell him saying Gentle Knight you shall vnderstand that I am daughter vnto the King of Mesapotamia which is a prouince scituated betwéen the two great riuers Euphrates and Tigris Of long time was I of him welbeloued and made very much on till such time as my fathers Court was in great heauinesse for y t they could not heare any newes of a brother of mine who was prince of that kingdome whose absence at this time is verye grieuous vnto me There came from the other side of the riuer Euphrates a prince whose dominion was ouer the Prouince Palestina He was the proudest and arrogantest Knight that euer hath bene séene in such sort that by reason of his fiercenesse he was not onely feared of them who of dutie did owe it him but also of all the Prouinces that ioyned with his kingdome which extended from that riuer vnto the mayne sea of Phoenicia the mount Libano Gamogenia and the high and mightie cragged rockes and mountaines Nabateos To conclude almost all Asia did trēble at his furie This knight at the great fame which was vttered of my beautie came vnto the famous and large Prouince of Mesapotamia vnto the great citie of Mesos whereas I was of him meruailously intreated and requested of loue but yet all that euer hée did or could doo did little profit him for that by any meanes I coulde not admit him into my seruice and the occasion was because of his great and vnmeasurable pride So like wise came thether the Prince of Chaldaea a Knight of great price and adorned with many vertues vnto whom I alwayes showed a better countenaunce and made acceptation of his seruice Then Brandemoran the Prince of Palestina who was so called when he vnderstood thereof was in a great confusion and receiued greate griefe in such sort that he determined no other thing but with his mischieuous heart to persecute mée it so fell out that the Prince of Chaldea whose name was Gelerosio béeing ouercome and forced by loue hauing opportunitie and place conuenient with dolorous reasons he did discouer vnto me all his whole heart but whether it was his ill hap or my froward fortune I knowe not but at such time as he vttered vnto me his minde it chaunced that Brandemoran had his eares attentiue vnto all that was spoken betwixt vs and when he heard that my answere was such that it caused great ioye and comfort vnto Gelerosio vnto him great paine and torment with a mischieuous heart he went vnto my Father the king and before him he did accuse mée of whooredome When the king my father heard it the great ire and wrath which he receiued was so farre out of reason that without taking anie farther counsell he caused mée to be apprehended and lykewise the Prince Gelerosia and both of vs to be put in prison but after a while when his cholar and anger waxed colder he commaunded to call together all the nobles of his counsell and men of honour who did perswade with my father that by reason of the greate pride and mischieuous stomacke of the Prince Brandemoran he might doo it of presumption or else by the greate ill will which he bare vnto his contrarie Gelerosio he had raised vp this slaunder that they thought it good to be put into the triall of armes with condition that in the space of thirtie dayes I shoulde bring a knight that would defend my honour and by reason the valour of my cruell enimie is so mightie there is not one in all the kingdome that dares take in hande to defend my cause and I seeing that the time passed awaie with a loude voice I began to complaine against fortune and reuiled Brandemoran calling him coward and wretch y t against a Damsell he hath raised so great treason and falsehoode who hearing me to reuile him he answered and sayd Princesse for that thou shalt sée how little I do estéeme all the knights of the worlde I will giue thée one whole yeares space that thou thy selfe in thine owne person goe and séeke him who hath the best fame in armes that may be found and bring him hether to defend this accusation which I haue laide against thée and so lykewise I desire the king thy Father to consent and graunt vnto the same of whome it was graunted and consented and lykewise of all the knights that were counselers of my cause beléeuing that it might be the occasion of some remedie And therewith I tooke leaue and 〈◊〉 and departed from Mesos with onely these two Squires committing my selfe into the great riuer Euphrates in this Foist and so long we sayled that we entered into the Mediterraneo sea wheras was giuen vnto vs knowledge of your great valour and mightie force which was the cause y t made vs take our waie towards the place of your abode somtimes with great torments and sometimes with faire weather in such sort that in the ende we ariued whereas you were in so good time and order as mine owne desire coulde not haue wished better Héere you may sée and vnderstand worthie knight the extremitie of my euil and the cause of my séeking for you At the which relation of this sorrowfull Ladie the Prince remained verie pensiue and had great pittie on
but it fell out better with him then hée thought for that falling he rowled a good waye from the place whereas the Gyant fell and straight waie with a trice hée arose vp againe and found himselfe all to be compassed againe with the seruants who battered at him with staues and stones as many times a wall is battered with Artillerie Some of them woulde haue runne and embrased themselues with him thinking that he had not beene so nimble as he was but when they sawe him on foote they retyred backe againe with greate feare At this time the Gyaunt beganne to arise although it was with great trouble but the Gréeke who was verie angrie to see himselfe so intreated with boies and seruants with a trice he was with the Gyant and before that he could put himselfe on foote he stroke him so terrible a blow with both his hands vpon the head that he cut it in two péeces and he fell dead to the ground These seruantes when they sawe that their Lord was slaine they all ranne awaie making a great noise This worthie Greeke when he saw that the fierce giant was dead and that he was cleere from that conflict hee went towards that place whereas he left the first Gyant when he came vnto him he pulled off his healme at which time he heard one which from 〈◊〉 windowes made a greate noise and sayd O cruell knight let this suffice thee cease thy furie with the great harme which thou hast done and do not shew thy wrath vpon that Gyant who hath no power for to make his defence and if that his valour is not sufficient for to abate thy ire let this sorrowfull infant moue thee to compassion whom thou hast caused to suffer great paine griefe The Prince looked vp and procured to sée who it was that spake vnto him and he perceiued that it was a maide of a meruailous great disposition of bodie and verie faire of face and wéeping vnto whom he sayd Faire Gentlewoman the cause of my crueltie hath bene for to disturbe the great crueltie which you haue vsed with the sonnes of the Emperour Alicandro within this Castell and touching this knight you may beléeue me that his death will be as much griefe vnto me as vnto you for the great curtesie which I haue seene in him At that time the Gyant was somewhat come to himselfe for by reason that the aire had catched him he had some remembraunce of the which the Prince was verie gladde and turning vnto the Ladie he sayd Faire Gentlewoman if there be anie seruants in this castell commaund them to put this knight into some place that he maye be cured of his woundes and therewith he heard great knocking at y e gate and for to see who it was he left the Gyaunt and went thether and asking who was there that with such hast did call he did vnderstand by his wordes that it was Orislides the Troyan who could not come thether anie sooner for that â—ée went a foote To whome the Gréeke did open the gate with great reioycing and shutting the gatâ— againe they 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Couâ—t When the Troyan sawâ—â—o greate â—â—aughter which was done there he straight waie vnâ—erstoode that the knight was not come thether for nothing This Gentlewoman was with her brother and did greatly wéepe bewaâ—le his vnhappie misfortune who althoâ—gh he was somâ—what come to his remembraunce 〈…〉 to arise vpon his 〈◊〉 The Prince commaunded that with great discretion â—e sâ—old â—e taken vp by 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and so carryed vnto his chamber whereas without causing him for to recâ—iue grief he sâ—uld be vnarmed y t which was done with great diligence and he was cured by the hands of his sister who made great lamentatiâ—n 〈◊〉 him whom Brandâ—fidel for so was the Gyaunt called did comfort with â—â—â—ye swéete and amorous words the which caused the Prince to haue a great affection towards him and it was with greate reason for that the gyant was adorned with very much vertue Oristides séeing all things in so good order left y e Prince who was seeking of the Princesse and tooke a horse of the Giants and a palfray and returned to fetch Meridian So after that Brandafidel was â—â—red the Prince demaunded in great hast for the Princesse and the Giants sister was constrained to go with him to bring him whereas she was So they entred into a faire large hal which led them into a parler whereas was an old giantesse of a maruailous good proportion who made great lamentation for that it was tolde her of all that had passed in the Castle who had in her company more then thirtie Ladyes and Gentlewomen which did comfort her to whom the sister of the Giant sayd Lady this Knight to whom the Gods hath giuen so much power doth demaund the Princesse of the Scitas our prisoner for whose cause all this harme and euill happened vnto vs. This Lady with a grieuous sigh beholding the Prince said O cruell murderer of my welbeloued sonnes and faithfull seruaunts make an ende to execute thy crueltie showing the same and like vpon this vnfortunate Quéene whose power hath profited her very little This good Gréeke béeing tender harted when he heard so great lamentation he sayde Quéene doe not meruaile for those which doo offend God doo hope of no other thing but punishment for their sinnes so those that liue with pride cannot let but to be payed with the like I doo desire thée to commaund the Princesse to bée giuen vnto me whom thou hast in prison for that she doth not deserue to be intreated amongest you as a prisoner but as a Lady The Quéene without giuing him any aunswer threw vnto him two keyes which she had tied at her girdle and afterward sayd vnto him Under these thou shalt finde that which thou seekest and enioye the glory which thou hast got by this occasion til such time as he doth come who with his mightie arme will reuenge the great wrong which thy good fortune hath brought to passe The Gréek tooke y e keies and being led by that Gentlewoman who wold neuer leaue him they went out of that parler and went vp a payre of staires which brought them vnto another hall of no lesse bignesse then the first and with the keye she opened a doore and sayd Enter O Knight which hast as much crueltie as prowesse and strength and there thou shalt finde her whome thou séekest Faire Gentlewoman sayd Rosicleer I doo not determine to enter but that your highnesse shall goe before This Princesse giuing a grieuous sigh entered in first and brought him into a faire chamber and then opened another doore wherin they entred into another hall very well garnished with many and faire windowes which was towardes the Sea at one of the which there sate the Princesse who was combing of her faire haire and with her there was a Damsell the which helde the glasse in her hands before her
Pallaice and the Emperour Trebatio carryed the Pastora vnto her graundmother committing her vnto her custodie for to make much of her And hée tooke the king of Trapobana by the hande and rendered vnto him verie much courtesie and therewith entered into a fayre hall whereas they found the Tables couered and sate downe to supper whereas they were with great ioy and pleasure such as neuer was séene the like in the Court The Emperour the two Kings were set together then the Emperour Alphebo and the Empresses and by them Claridiano and the Pastora who was beheld of all them that were there present much meruailing at her great beautie Coridon did serue them at y e table very much delighted with that he had séene The Supper indured so long that Diana did extende her beames at this time they tooke vp the tables and Galtenor with a loude voyce sayd One of the high glories of my Esclarisido sonne Claridiano shall appeare in this great Citie before the day doo come He had no sooner made an ende of these words when that the heauens beganne to waxe darke with a very thicke clowde and it came with great thunderings and lightenings with so terrible a noyse as though the earth would haue sunke and the longer it indured the more was the fury thereof in such sorte that they all fell vpon their knées and with great humilitie they desired god to deliuer them from the fury of that great tempest So with this sodaine chaunce they passed away the night till y e morning and although the tempest in some part ceased yet the heauens remained all cloudie When the morning was come there appeared before the pallaice nigh vnto y e inchantment of Lindabrides a very strange aduenture which made them all to meruaile and straight way they gaue the Emperour to vnderstand thereof who went out of the Pallayce with all his Knightes with great desire to knowe what it was so likewise went foorth his sonnes and nephewes And when they came into the Courte they sawe that there was fiâ—ed foure pillers euery one of a very fine Rubie vppon the which was placed a Sepulchar of Christall and within the sepulchâ—r there séemed to be a verye faire Ladye her breast pearced thorough with a sword and vpon the Sâ—pulcher there â—aye a man all a long with his face looking vp to the heauens and apparailed with robes of estate with a Crowne of golde vpon his head And vnder the Sepulcher was there spread abroad a great Carpet a cloth of gold and vpon it two pillowes of the same and vpon them lay a knight armed with verie rich armour and his sword laie at his féete his eyes were shut and out of them distilled verie great teares at euerie piller there was a Gentlewoman which séemed to be without anie remembraunce although they wept verie bitterly and nigh vnto the Sepulcher there â—aie a terrible great beast of the verie same making of that which Claridiano slew for to set at libertye the king of Arabia Lapetra This was the spectacle y t Claridiano sawe comming in the aire The Sepulcher was coÌ„passed round about with a strong wall with foure gates for to enter in thereat the gates were after the manner and coulour of fine Diamonds néere vnto the gate which was ouer against the Pallaice was there a Marble piller at the which hung a Bugle horne and an Epitaph written with red Letters the which the Prince Rodolpho did reade with a high voice that all that were there might heare him and it said as followeth At such time as the crueltie of the king of Arabia Lepetra shall be at liberiie and the valour of that worthye Claridiano knowen then they which hath not ben wounded w t loue shall know both the reason the rage of loue for the which cause I doe aduise him that doth not know what loue is not to proue this aduenture if he will not fall into greate misfortune for that cause he must passe by pure force all the force that Claridiano made plaine And this shall indure till such time as the bastard Lyon sonne vnto the Emperiall lion be borne of the rauening Ounce Then he who hath loue in his brest and passed through that vnhappie Ladie daughter vnto the king of Arabia shall sée the great rage without reason of loue The Emperour when he heard that it were things which touched his nephew sayd Oh excellent aduenture of my Claridiano this daie is shewed vnto vs his great valour Galtenor told vnto those knights all that had passed in y e aduenture vntil that day which caused in them great admiration and more at the making of that strange beast who they did behold very atentiuely with this they passed away all that day the Pastora did chaunge her accustomed apparell into robes of silke cloth of gold shewing y e great estate beautie in all points which was in her All the whole court receiued great pleasure sauing onely the Princesse Oliuia who for the absence of her Rosicleer all things did séeme coÌ„trarie vnto her farre different from the iudgementeâ— of all other So the time drew on for to go to rest Then Galtenor tooke Claridiano by the hand and lead him a part on the one side of the hall and sayd vnto him I will carrie thée with me into a place whereas thy heart a new shall be wounded and shall forget the loue which before thou hast had and therwith he commaunded him to arme himselfe in great secret y e successe of the same shall be tolde you héereafter The next daie in the morning when they were all readie to go to heare seruice with the Emperour there entered into the hall a knight of a great stature and proportion of his members and was armed with verie rich armour his face and his handes were vnarmed and shewed by his demeanour a great maiestie and seuere countenance he was of his face somewhat browne of coulour but the proportion thereof was verie well fauoured his beard began to bud he brought after him thrée squires and Pages the one of them brought his Speare which was bigge and short and the other brought his healme the third brought his shéeld with an Emperiall deuice straight waie it was knowen wherefore his comming was and although conformable to reason we haue not spoken anie thing of the faire matrone the quéene of Lyra who with prosperous weather and great pleasure did nauigate by the sea holpen by the furie of Borias which with a fresh winde did continually fill those stiffe sailes and cutting the seas with that sharp steme leauing behinde them the token of their great swift way by the froth of the water and in short time discouering land they tooke port vpon the shore of Almaine wheras this faire Ladie went a land and with her two Nymphes tooke theyr iourney towardes the Court of Almaine So she trauailed two daies and nothing chaunced worth
whereas he shal end this his new begun battaile Therfore I doo request thée gentle Reader that if in these two books thou hast receiued any contentment to desire thée Muses to aide helpe and succour me and not to leaue me that I may bring vnto lyght â—he deedes and glorious end of these Princes and Knightes with the loue of Claridiano and Rosaluira O Calliope with thy aide and helpe I will not staye my hande till such time as I haue declared all the whole déeds and pollicie vsed in these their feates of armes for that by all reason I am bound to conclude the same FINIS THe cruell battaile that past between the Knight of the sunne and y e fierce Giant Bramarant in which bickering the Giant perceiuing that he must needes haue the worst murthered himselfe Cap 1. fol. 1. a. The worthy knight Rosicleer finding Bramarant giuing vp the ghost after he was dead did intombe his corpes neere vnto a Pine apple tree wherein he did ingraue an Epitaph Cap. 2. fol. 4. b. Prince Rosicleer trauailing on his way hauing alreadie taken leaue of the Princesses Ladies did chaunce vpon a certain aduenture and of the successe he had therein Cap. 3. fol. 1â— a The great sorrow that the knight of the Sunne receiued in thinking of his owne disloyaltie that which happened vnto him Cap. 4. fol. 23. b How the Grecian knight perswaded his vnckle the Prince of Dacia to accompanie him and leaue that sorrowful and desolate life and of that which after happened to him Cap. 5. fol. 26. b. Of the terrible battaile y t this Grecian Prince had with the Giant and of all the aduentures that chaunced in the said battaile Cap. 6. fol. 32. a. How the knight Eleno had battayle with Tefereo the giants cousin and the successe that was therein and howe the Prince Eleno by a straunge aduenture was separated from his cousin and Tefereo Chap. 7. fol. 37. a. By what aduenture â—loramont was deliuered from the perill hee was in and how the Princesse Claridiana was deliuered of child and how she was comforted in all her trouble by the wise Artemidoro Chap â— fol. 44. a How that when the king of Hungarie was taking his leaue to departe there came a Gyant hauing a cruell and furious countenance who defied the Emperour and his sonnes of al that chanced therein Chap. 9. fol. 49. a How the king of Tyre gaue an asâ—alt to rob the ship where Rosicleer was how the same king was come Ca. 10. fo 53. b How the king of Sardenia was baptised and how a Ladie demaunded a promise of the Emperour which he graunted for the which all the court was very sad Chap. 11. fol. 58. b. How y e Emperour vndid a scrowle of parchment therein read the cause why a certaine dead Ladie was slaine with cruell tyrannie and of the great sorrowe he receiued for the same Cap. 12. fo 65. b How y e Emperour Trebatio did land at the Iland Citarea of all that happened there Chap. 13. fo 71. a. How the Ladie Lidia talked with her knight Brenio demaunding the cause of his discontinent and of other accidents Chap. 14. fol. 74. a. How the Emperour when he was recouered of the werinesse which he receiued at the sea trauailed in the same Iland where he was cast a lande and how he met with certaine knights with whoÌ„ he had battaile Chap 1â— fol. 81. b. How the two children of the great Alphebo were stolne awaie by the Gyaunt Galtenor and what succeeded of y e same Chap 16. fo 87. a. Of the great paine that the Prince sustained for the absence of his cousin and how he had battaile w t a certaine knight that was afflicted with loue and of all that chaunced therein Chap. 17. fo 90. b. How the Prince met in Paris with the knight of the Images and of the battel he had with him how they ouercame the three knightes that did accuse the Princesse and of all that happened besides Chap. 18. fol. 99. a. Of all that happened vnto the farre Lidia and to the Prince Eleno after they departed the mountaine where as they met Chap. 19. fol. 105. 〈◊〉 and of that which passed in y e battaile which he had with y e Earle of Modique Chap. 20. fol. 111. a. How the queene being in loue with the Emperour and seeing that he wold giue her no remedie woulde haue slaine her selfe and how the Emperour was constrained to consent vnto her will Cap. 21 fol. 123. b. How the Emperour went into y e field against the Pagan Bramarandus and of all that happned in the battell betweene them Chap. 22. fol 125. a. How the faire Queene Garrofilea made great lamentation for the departure of y e Emperour and how at their last beeing together she remained w t childe by him Chap. 23. fol. 130. a How the knight of the Sunne would haue taryed for Tefereo in y e place wher as he appointed him and how he lost his way in a thick mountaine and of all that happened after that Chap. 24. fo 132. b. How the Greeke Emperour did disimbarke himselfe at the Citie of Cimarra and what happened vnto him there Chap. 25. fo 139. a. How Eleno before he would go into the field would see the Sepulcher of Lidia and what chanced in the battaile appointed with the Emperour his kinsemen friends Chap. 26. fol. 146. a. How the two Empresses went to recreate themselues vnto a house of pleasure and howe the king of Mauritania found them in their pastimes and knowing who they were would haue laid hold vpon the Empresse Briana Chap. 27. fol 151. How the worthie Queene Archisilora went to pursue the Pagan what happened to her in the way cap. 28. fo 158. b How the famous Rosicleer and Brandimardo went to the kingdome of Lyra and of all which passed in the battayle fol 164. b. The end of the Table of the first booke The Table of the second booke OF the Prince Claridiano and how the king of Arginaria sent to y e king of Trapobana and of all that happened to the messenger Chap. 1. fol. 169. How Claridiano went vnto the campe of the king of Arginaria and demaunded of him battaile and of all that succeeded in the same Chap. 2. fol. 174. b. Howe a Damsell messenger from the queene of Tinacria and came brought a Letter vnto the Emperour of Grecia and of all that passed about the same Chap. 3. fol. â—81 a. Howe the Dacian Prince did meete with Brenio to whome he gaue the Letter of Lidia and of Brenios death Chap. 4. fo 186. b How Eleno went out of the forrest to see the aduenture of those knightes which passed by of the battaile he had with them Chap. 5. fol 193 a. How when the valiant Mauritanian had slaine the Tartarian Zoylo he put on the armour of Bramarant for that hee woulde not bee knowen and of all