thirty paces broad in one corner wherof upon some stones raised in form of an altar was a fire burning making a stand to look about him he discovered two damsels comming one of the which kneeling down before him thus spake If it be by the order of that barbarous man who now desires to glut himself with my bloud as he hath heertofore done with my embraces if it be I say from Ormand that you come do not Sir make me languish any longer my bosome is ready to receive the blow of mercy and it will lesse grieve me to die by your hands then once more to come in the sight of so wicked and base a man Fortune hath brought me hither said Russian taking her by the hand to raise her from the ground not with an intent to shorten your daies and much lesse to put you into the power of a man that you have no cause to love Be not therfore afraid but rather be confident in my company and be assured Gentlewoman that I will have an account of the wrong that hath been done you if you will make use of my arms and let me know the occasion of your retirement to this desolate place so far remooved from all conversation of men Good Knight replied she my misery is past remedy and the aid you proffer me can no otherwise serve but only to oblige me unto you for your good will yet will I not be so little sensible of the favour you do me as to deny your curiosity the relation of my misfortunes Let us sit down then upon this bed of leaves that so you may with the more ease attend to my discourse Me thinks said Russian we should be much better abroad where the clear day will more content us then this darknes the rather for that a Gentleman my friend who staies without for guard of the entry of this darksome lodging may perhaps be discontented with our longer stay All places are to me indifferent said she and if I desired to stay you in this cave it was because I thought it a fitter place for the rehearsall of my woes then any other whatsoever But I am well contented to go out with you that the Sun which for these fowr and twenty daies hath not troubled my sight may let you behold in my face the signs of a most extream sorrow wherupon going forth they went and set them down in the shadow of certain trees where she began to speak in this maner Do not I beseech you expect a long discourse although the history of my misfortunes be infinit for I will not Sir abuse your patience but succinctly let you know the cause of my dispair I was not five weeks since Countesse of Haute fleur rich and beautifull enough at least as I thought to cause my self to be beloved of any now ugly and more likely to fright people with my looks then to beget the least affection in their hearts and deprived of all conveniences in the world but what these trees do yield me for my sustenance and that of this maid which keeps me company who not being ingratefull for some favours received of me in the time of my prosperity would needs bear a share in my miseries to comfort me This is a strange change and such as men might well wonder at if they did not know that fortune disposeth of all things and that she daily maketh greater metamorphosis but I will not lay the blame on her because I must confesse that all the fault was wholly in my self for if I had not given credit to the words of Ormand a yong Prince and one of my neighbours I might still have flourished amidst the delights which those of my condition daily enjoy This Knight valiant of his person and fully compleat in all those perfections that can render a Gentleman commendable if he had been sensible of a lawfull affection happening to be in a forrest where I intended to spend some daies in hunting was assailed by fowr Knights who pressed him very hard and without question would have laid him in his grave if I had not chanced to come in during their combat but unable to endure the sight of so unequall a party I went to his enemies and curteously desired them for my sake to forbear and to consider that they much wronged the order of Knighthood but they were so obstinatly bent as they would not give ear to me wherwithall being displeased I commanded three Knights of my followers to take the busines in hand which they did so fortunately as in lesse then half an howr these arrogants were cut in pieces That execution done I was going towards Ormand whom I had never seen before meaning to invite him home with me to have his wounds looked unto but he prevented me and lifting up his cask said unto me You have Madam nobly preserved my life which doubtlesse was otherwise in my enemies power but I desire you will be pleased to imploy it in your service and not to spare it whensoever you shall think me fit for any design of yours I am heer without all acquaintance and find my self constrained to presse yet once more upon your goodnesse beseeching you to spare me one of your servants for to guide me where I may have my bloud stanched which runs out at three or fowr wounds I should but half oblige you if I should leave you in the estate you are in but Sir I will make you see that I esteem more of your life then you think for wherfore go along with me and you shall find all that is needfull for you wherupon departing with all speed we got in lesse then an howr to Heautefleur where I put him into the hands of a Physician that within a month so recovered him as he was able to bear arms during which time I visited him daily and finding him to be of a most gentle cariage I conceived a certain kind of good will towards him which converted into a violent love assoon as he had told me who he was and that he had sworn to affect me more then all the world beside I will not heer tell you the pleasure I received in hearing him sigh nor the contentment I had in the praises he gave me for taking all his actions for testimonies of his love and my merit I felt such infinit sweetnes in his conversation as all other delights whatsoever were nothing to me in comparison therof To what end should I spin out this discourse any longer Opportunities being fit and our passions violent I yielded him up that which I ought to have held most dear under the assurance of a thousand oaths that he made me to marry me publikely when he had craved the consent and permission of his Father whose authority he held not fit to be contemned which seeming to me very reasonable I gave him leave to return into his Country after he had tarried five months with me hoping
woods where people live without ambition This designe contenting me best I took a good summe of money and with a wench in my company who was content to run my fortune I came and bought a cottage in this Hamlet taking care for nothing but to feed my sheep and by that imployment divert my self from more troublesome thoughts Living thus quietly and pleased with mine own profession I was at good ease till within these fowr dayes that Cloria having given Filismond some occasion of distate he came to crosse my content with his continuali importunities thinking that I will change my minde and consent as easily to his return as I did to his departure But he is deceived the resenting of my wrong will not let me endure his sight and his levity forbids me ever to accept of him again You now know Gentlemen the cause of his complaint and my displeasure which I think to be just and that also you will not condemn when you remember that nature and reason both forbid us ever to impose any trust in those which have once betrayed us I excuse not my fault answered Filismond when he saw that she had done speaking and will with you avow that I do not deserve the grace that I crave But Orisâ—ea I must say that it is yet due to my repentance that so you may avoid the name of being cruell and for that consideration I will never cease following you and perpetually powring out my teares before you in hope that they may one day mollifie your heart And if I cannot obtain that blisse I will gladly end my dayes in the acknowledgement of my errour and in my desire to do you service Time said Oristea may do that miracle but now because it is the hour of rest you shall retire your selfe with these Knights who if you please may lodge in your cottage With that making a courtsie to the Princes that were exceedingly delighted with her discourse she left them to go with Filismond who carried them home where they lay that night and the next morning very early getting to horse proceeded on their voyage which they finished without any news of Don Rogel to the exceeding griefe of Florisel for that it hapned in a time wherein Greece had such need of his presence CHAP. XXIX The Pagans arrivall at Constantinople with a cruell fight upon their landing THE return of these Princes having brought a generall discontent to the whole Court and in particular to Don Florisel who judged the Empire of Greece to be in bad case not being supported with those invincible courages which had rendered it every where redoubtable but having fortitude enough to endure the woâ—st of fortune he well resolved not to murmure against God and to receive his chastisements as an assured signe of his favour which was very mâ—ch confirmed by the arrivall of the forces of great Britain and Rome The last commanded by Sclarimond sonne to Florenio and the other by Garmâ—nt Ladazan of Numidia Don Sinaldâ— and Gâ—ciladâ—r This succour of twenty five thousand horse and ten thousand foot did somewhat encourage those which were before in feare of the multitude of the enemies and much cheered the Greek Princes But their contentment was compleat when the next day word was brought them that the two Empresses of Perfia and of the Parthians were in the Port with thirty thousand horse and Fifteen thousand foot Vpon this advertisement Florisel Spheramond and all the young Princes quickly madethem ready and presently went down to the shore where no sort of kindest entertainment or embraces were pretermitted Spheramond seemed as if he had been fastened to the lips of his beautifull wife But when he saw Râ—zalâ—â—â—â— of Greece his sonne who with Rozanel d' Astre presented themselves to do their duty to him he ran to embrace them with a world of joy to behold them so lovely and well made Florisel on the other side no lesse kindly entertained the Empresse Persea wondring at the goodly disposition of Persides and Floridan her sonnes whom she had brought with her But when he saw that she looked round about as if she demanded why her husband was not in the company he told her that he was a few dayes since gone abroad into the countrey with purpose not to make any long stay In the mean time Don Lucendus entertained the fair Infanta Rozaliana briefly there was nothing but complements and still were some armes stretched out to reiterate their embraces Those caresses being over Spheramond led the Empresse Persea Florisel and Silvan the fair Ricâ—arda and Lucendus and Dorigel the Infanta Rozaliana the young Knights tooke the charge of their women and Rozalmond with the three young Princes his companions putting themselves in the head of the troop marched with an admirable grace and were the first that came into the Palace where the caresses were by those Queenes renewed with so many expressions of love that not to be tedious I will passe them over in silence In the mean time Florizel to whose care all the affairs were left made these aids be landed which he joyned to those of great Britain and Rome And having given order for the making of strange trenches to lodge them in he returned to the Citie to continue the pleasures which the comming of so brave a company had begun But that lasted not long for the next morning they saw the sea covered with ships and the Princes were forced to arme and suddenly to marshall their Souldiers upon the shore to impeach the landing of the Pagans The Emperour Spheramond put himselfe first of all in the head of five and twenty thousand horse accompanied with the valiant Dorigel the Duke of Laiazza Quedragant of Sansueque and the brave Florestan of Sardinia The brave Alastraxerea had the second place assisted by Silvan the faire Savagesse his wise Florian with his brother Tristor and Dardanio King of Rhodes The third Squadron consisting onely of twenty thousand horse was led by Lucendus Prince of France accompanied by the gallant Esquilan of Poland Perion of Turkie Florizart of Taproban Agrian Abies of Ireland and Frizel of Arcadia And the last troop of the same number by the valorous Florizel of Niquea who was followed by the two Cenophales Armond of Bohemia Alteria Malford Leonidaâ— and Ladazan of Numidia The Infantery which were onely five and twenty thousand men remained in guard of the towne and camp under the charge of Garmant Sinaldo and Gucilador The shore thus covered with these Troops in good order it was presently discovered by the Pagans who came on with swelling sails whereupon Fulgoran and Prigmaleon who were joyned five dayes before gave order to their Fleet to make ready for fight Arriving then with incredible fury in an instant was heard a confusion of voyces mingled with a dreadfull noyse of trumpers and drums and the aire was presently darkned with millions of arrows The Pagans proud of their multitude and thrusting on with courage under
them to accompany these Lovers to Constantinople which they willingly undertook as they that were bound to publish unto all the world the grace they had received in his succour Taking the way then which would bring them thither they lef Rozalmond who returned to Melâ—anders Hâ—rinitage and related unto him all that past concerning the adventure of the grot for the which he could never commend him enough though he were somwhat discontented to hear that Argenia and Clidor were to live happily in the sweet fruition of one another CHAP. XXVII Clidor and Argenia arrive at Constantinople just at the same time when as the Knights senâ— by Alcâ—damant from the Castle of the Serpents came thâ—ther The mâ—rvellous contentment which those messages brought to the Princes of Greece CLidor and Argenia exceedingly desirous to see themselves in the liberty of their caresses used incredible speed to get to Constantinople and even then the steepls and towrs of that stately City appeared unto them when as they encountred thâ—ee Knights riding along with two covered chariots who beholding so many damsels with one unarmed man approached unto them and having saluted them with respect curteously entreated them to let them know whither they were bound To seek out the Princes of Greece answered one and acquaint them with the wonders which a Knight hath performed in the deliverance of these Lovers pointing to Clidor and Argenia whom ill fortune detained inchanted in a Cave which for that cause is to this day called The Lovers grot Will you be pleased said the Knight to render the way lâ—sse tedious by the recitâ—ll of this adventure Truly I am sorry answereâ— she that I am not able to satâ—sfiâ— your desire for having in charge to addresse my self only unto the beautifull Princesse of the Parthians I should think I did greâ—tly amisse if I should communicate it unto any other but if you be so desirous to hear it as you seem to be go with us to Constantinople and there you shall be fully satisfied Most willingly said he will I accompany you thither for indeed I have likewise in charge to wait upon not the Eâ—presse of the Parthians but the excellent Queen of France from a Knight who not long since hath done such marvellous acts as are of power to make him live for ever Why this is as it should be said the damsell for I shall have part in the content which you will bring to these Princes and you shall have your desire in the knowledge of those memorable things which the Knight of whom I spake to you of hath lately actâ—d come then let us make a little more haste that we may present our selves unto them before they rise from the Table Wherupon putting their horses to it they arrived not long after at the City went unto the palâ—ce and entred into the Hall where the presence of so many Princes and beautifull Ladies amazed them at the first but desiring to acquit themselves worthily of their charge they advanced forward and kneeling all down demanded at one instant for the fair Empresse of the Parthians and the beauteous Queen of France We cannot hear you all together said Florisel seeing you come upon severall occasions Speak damsell said he looking upon Argenia relate unto the Empresse of the Parthians the cause of your comming and then we will give the like audience unto these Knights Sovereign Princesse said Argenia then kissing Richarda's delicate hands the Knight of the Roses then whom I do not think there is a more valiant under heaven hath commanded me to wait upon you for to acquaint you with his glory and my fortunes which truly rather deserve pity then that you should inflict any new punishment upon me for that I did not acknowledge as I ought the affection of a Lord to whom I was greatly obliged Beginning then the discourse of her love with Meleander she delivered at large the good offices which she had received from his assistance protested that she had a full intention to recompence him with what was most dear unto her had she not been constrained by a sovereing power to love Clidor whose passions were no lesse violent then Meleanders spoke of her incounter with Orfuron of the subtlety which she used to get out of his hands of the revenge which he took of his disdain and falling upon her deliverance concluded with the praises of Rozalmond whom she placed in the highest degree of glory particularizing his combats against the invisible Knights the Lions and the Giants not forgetting the horrible blows which she had seen and discoursed in such sort for the advantage of this warriour that she made the Princes of Greece amazed and possessed them with an extream desire to know him better I should blame your ingratitude and bemone Meleander said the Empresse Richarda if I did not think him wise enough to lay this fault upon Love but knowing well that none can dispose of their will when that proud tirant of our minds holds them ingaged I will not ordain you any further penance then that which you suffered in the grot and for this Knights sake whom I know not and to whom I am much obliged without any desert at all I remit you to the rights of your freedome and do counsell you to follow the advice which he hath given you for the consummation of your mariage Madam answered Clidor That is it we desire and to effect the which we humbly receive that liberty your Majesty hath been so graciously pleased to grant us with a protestation to publish unto every one both your vertues and the acts of that most renowned Knight of the Roses Saying thus he bowed himself even to the ground for to kisse her hands and so gave place to the Knights that were to speak unto the Infanta Fortuna whereof one began for the rest and said Mighty Queen of France I acknowledge that Argenia's discourse hath given great content to this excellent presence and that the valour of that famous Knight whose praises she hath worthily published doth deserve one of the chiefest ranks amongst the best Knights of the world but I am addressed unto you by the commandement of another no lesse generous and valiant and that a few daies since hath done miracles able to astonish the whole earth and to fill this Court with all the joy that can be expected from good news He câ—me lately to the Castle of Serpents wherof it may be you have heard Yes answered Lucendus we understand that it is one of the most dangerous houses in the World Questionles there was reason to say so three weeks since said the Knight but the custome is well changed since that unmatchable Knight came thither Being neer to that Castle as I said before he met with two Squires that lamented the losse of fowr excellent Knights whom they had seen fall into certain fosses made of purpose to entrap such as came that way He was sensible of their
hand he had cleft him down to the teeth neuerthelesse the blow was so rude that he fell all along quite deprived of sense and casting out so great abundance of blood at his eyes mouth and ears as without doubt he had been quickly dead had he not been instantly succord Immortall gods said the Emperour what a blow was this Thunderbolts fall not with mightier force Ah Corazinda had Heaven made thee a man thou wouldest have been the prime Knight of the world Saying thus he abandoned the window to caresse the two Knights and his Amazon who keeling before the Princesses demanded their hands to kisse but they beholding them so besmeared with their own blood abated much of the joy which otherwise they would have had for so important a victory and not willing to entertain them longer they sent the Knight of the Flower De-luces so was Lucibel called into Floridans Chamber where Amplamira and Achesidella who held herself happy in meeting with our Frenchman would fain have been present for to have taken care of their wounds but knowing that such liberty was unfit for them they left the Physicians to visit them and followed Corazinda into Palmirenna's Chamber who not able to forbear weeping at the sight of the pretious blood which she saw flow from her hurts she had been lost with grief if the Chyrurgions had not assured her that there was no cause of fear comforting her self then with the hope of her speedy recovery she caused every one to voyd the room for to leave her to her rest and passing into her Fathers Chamber to discourse with him of the valour of the strange Knights and of her fair slave who had filled every one with admiration at the wonders she had performed she learn't that Don Rifantes being come again out of his swound had caused himself together with the bodies of the Kings of Alfanar and Corcutan to be carried aboard his Ship for to return into Cabilla with furious resolutions to be the death of an hundred thousand men in revenge of the affront which he had received Let us give him leisure then to arrive in his countrey to muster up his friends and subjects and our Princes time to recover of their hurts and entertain themselvs with their Mistresses who failed not to meet them every day and let us come to the excellent Knight of the Roses whom so long we have left CHAP. XII Rosalmond having quitted the combate with Alcidamant at Cassandrae's entreatie enters into the Dutchie of Bonnemar his adventures there THE combate between Rosalmond and Alcidamant receiving such an end as was delivered in the five and thirtieth Chapter of our second part The incomparable Knight of the Roses travelled on so vext to have met with a man that was able to arrest the fury of his arms as he was overtaken by the night before he had so much as thought of the place where he meant to lodge seeing it growne dark then and himself fast by a Shepherds cottage he resolved to alight and stay there till the next morning as he did with more rest and content then he expected for the Shepherd amidst the services which he did him ever and anon told one tale or another that insensibly he forgot the occasion of his displeasure and in that humour casting himself upon a bed he slept till such time as the sun being of a good height raised him to continue on his journey wherin he spent six hours and met not with one living soul that might informe him of the name of so desart a Countrey At last having discovered a Castle stately and fair enough to invite him to observe it neerer he made to it with a resolution to refresh himself there if the Master of it were so courteous as to give him entertainment Wherfore knocking at the gate it was a good while ere any one would speak to him but continuing still knocking he perceived a yong Mayd who looking out of the window asked him what he would have Gentlewoman sayd he I am a Knight errant that not knowing where I am would willingly learn it of you let me therfore obtain of you that the gate may be opened You may not hope for that answered she for we admit no body here Truly I shall have great cause then said he to publish the discurtesie of the place however let me know the name of it Herewith a very fair Gentlewoman in mourning shewed her self at a window hard by and said unto him Sir what is that you would have Madam answered he I would fain have been let in to refresh my self a while but being denied it I know not how to desire it of you again Sir said she very modestly be not offended at it for it is not done but upon great occasion howbeit you shall enter your demeanour doth forbid me to suspect any harm from you Saying so she caused the gate which instantly was shut again to be opened and descending into the Court for to receive him with more honour she shewed him so good a countenance that he could not forbear saying to her Madam to speak truth I find so much difference between this gracious entertainment and your Mayds answer that it much amazes me Sir answered she with tears and sighs I have not lived hitherto without knowing what is due to the honour and assistance of good Knights nor hath this house ever been shut against them but the strange misfortune which hath befaln me of late hath constrained me to seem lesse courteous then I am I le tell you the reason in few words This miserable beautie whereof you yet behold some reliques maugre the injuries of time and the discontents I have undergone having rendred me the Sun of this Dutchie of Bonnemar wherein we are adjacent to the great Kingdome of the Island of Silvana I saw all the great Lords of the Countrey sigh at my feet and amongst the rest two cousins of the Prince therof the most disloyoll man that lives Now the knowledge that I had of the many vices wherwithall they were infected noâ— permitting me to give them a good look I made choice of the Marquesse of Valombre so is this place called and finding him courteous valiant and handsome I married him publickly which begot so great a despight in the minds of those two cousins that from thenceforth they conspired his death and my undoing and indeed three years after our marriage they surprized him in a wood and taking him without other Arms then his sword they most inhumanely butchered him wherewithall not contented alas my hair stands an end to think of it they went to Marcandon Duke of Bonnemar a man apt to commit any kind of villany and perswaded him to take his pleasure of me in such sort as he arrived here with the two murtherers where to make short they mingled the complaints of seeing my self ravished by them with the tears which I shed for the losse of my Husband
boon I shall demand of you Valiant Warriour answered she discovering her face the more civilly to receive his submissions I am very glad that I have freed you from the pain of proceeding farther demand what you please it shall be easily granted you for I will deny your merit nothing wherfore get upon your horse and tell me what it is I must do for you Madam replyed Rozalmond vaulting into his saddle with much wonder at such rare beautie conducted lately by a young Squire to the execution of a very dangerous enterprize I met with a Magician of my acquaintance who stopping me in the midst of my way told me that I travelled in vain and that the end of this adventure would never be seen till such time as the most excellent Knight of the earth be accompanied with the strongest and fairest Lady of the world for the accomplishing of it I am not so vain to presume that the Destenies have made choyce of me for it but withall not distrusting my own forces and knowing that the earth beares not a more valourous and beautifull Princesse then your self I come most humbly to desire you that you will be pleased to assist my courage with yours and undertake with me to surmount the difficulties of this enterprize from whence if any glory redounds it shall be wholly yours if the successe be not such as it should be I will accuse any â—â—â—â—nesse for it Let us go let us go answered shee the danger shall be very great if we fall under it so taking the way Rozalmond directed they travelled five dayes without finding any adventure that might stay them but at the end therof they arrived at a terrible great rock whose bottom was bâ—â—hed with a little stream that ran along under the shadow of a great many fallowes Rozalmond alighted and taking his shield as if hee were going to fight he said unto Trasiclea Madam now is the time to shew our courage this is the place of danger and of our enterprize Herewith Trasiclea forsaking her Horse drew out her sword and following Rozalmond that went formost she came to a Tree at the foot wherof she beheld an Armour covered over with rust Behold Madam said he here it is where our first Combat must be these arms you must vanquish before you can passe further How these arms answered Trasiclea have they any force in them lying in this sort Do but advance Madam replyed Rozalmond and you will meet with greater difficulties then you think for Wherupon Trasiclea imagining that it was some Inchantment approched so neere unto them that she could discern three Palmes in the middest of the shield which so amazed her as she let her Sword drop out of her hand Madam what ayles you said Rozalmond unto her who well enough knew the cause of her distemper Alas answered she with a languishing voyce it was not without reason that you judged the danger of this enterprize to be great take me from hence I beseech you for the sight of these Arms in the state they are in will kill me with griese they belonged to the best Knight of the world whom my rigous without doubt hath layd in his grave but I will not long survive the losse of him and this desart which hides his bones shall be strewed with my ashes Brave Palmes continued she throwing her Helmet on the ground and unbuckling her Armour brave Palmes that never feared the tempest of blowes sustained by a Master so strong tell me if you can what is become of him And thou excellent Sword that foundst no temper hard enough to resist thy fury declare unto me where that mighty arm is which made thee do such wonders Thou makest me remember him but thou canst not represent unto me the grace wherwithall he made thee descend upon his Enemies he hath abandoned thee in these Desarts mine also will I leave with thee and joyn my arms to thine Saying so she layd her Armour by Alcidamants with so many tears and sighes as Rozalmond could not forbear weeping Madam said he unto her you must hope better let us search the Desart peradventure we may find this Knight alive Ah! I fear it answered she howsoever I will omit no means that may be used for to learn the truth therof Wherupon rising up with Rozalmonds help she went as far as the Grot where beholding her Picture erected with such honour shee fell into new complaints O! said she how well doth this testifie the injustice of my anger Alcidamant thou wouldst not have chosen such horrid Desarts for thy dwelling hadst thou not been the loyallest of all Knights living and had not my love been dearer to thee then all things els thou wouldst have been now amidst Mâ—rodiana's caresses or in the imbraces of her Sâ—â—â—er who loves thee no lesse Thou hast preferred my rigour before the pleasures thou mightest have enjoyed with them wherfore I will prefer death before the contentment of life I will dye to satisfie thee and since I could not possesse thee here I will go and present my selfe unto thee in the Eliziaâ— fieldâ— it may be thou wilt not be so cruell as I have been but pardon me and forgetting that thou didst through my default thou wilâ— leâ— our soules joynt though I have heretofore refused our bodyes should do so Herewith she swounâ—d in Rozalmonds arms who running speedily to the broâ—k took some water in his Helmet and sprinckled it so long on her face till she came to her self again Take courage Madam said he unto her and dispair not thus without cause the light which you see burning in this lamp this picture so well preserved and this bread that lyes here are mighty proofes for to perswade you that your Alcidamant lives let us seek him out I beseech you and stand no longer spending of tears in vain we have time enough still to afflict our selves when we are sure of a misfortune therfore we ought not to anticipate our sorrows before their being Your reasons answered she shall make me prolong my life yet a-while go then whither you please and I will follow you Wherupon leaving the Grot they walked towards the trees just at the time when as Alcidamant was returning to sigh according to his custome before the Picture of his Lady This poore Hermit comming softly along in regard of his weaknesse perceiving through the trees the glistering of Rozalmonds Arms knew him straight but seeing a woman in his company with her haire about her ears he was so moved that he began to tremble like the leaves of the boughs under which he was neverthelesse recollecting himself he advanced five or six paces but having discovered the beautifull face of Trasiclea his bloud instantly retyred into his veins and all pale and wan he tumbled in a trance to the ground Trasiclea seeing him fall ran suddenly to succour him and kneeling down for to help him up she was so amazed to see him in that
Pagans much more vexed at the hardinesse of these incomparable Warriors which were able to represse their fury then at the losse of three and thirty thousand men slaughtered in their Camp were at the supremest degree of rage but desiring some way of revenge they assembled in Falanzars tent who demanding their advise upon the consequence of another Battail with a proposition to send for Artogant and his Army but Bravorant King of Morimont the most redoubted Pagan of the earth rising up with Gorgophon that bit his fingers for spight to have met with enemies able to resist him he said unto him with a carriage that testified his rage Great Monarch when I consider that our troops are lesse by halfe than they were at our arrivall here I cannot choose but marvell either at our misfortune or at our enemies well managing of their wars their cunning is more than their courage their men are better than ours and it is too evident that numbers have stood us in little stead in our enterprises wherefore I hold it not fit nor will I counsell you to hazard the honour of Paganisme and the greatnesse of our hopes any more on the weaknesse of the armes of such a multitude of souldiers as we have which ordinarily faile us in our occasions and are the means to make their Captains lose the glory which otherwise they might obtain knew they but how to obey and fight You have here two hundred Knights as valiant as any the earth doth bear the meanest of which would make the most valorous of our enemies to faint embrace this as the best course propound a combat of an hundred to an hundred and in that manner decide our differences The Grecians are rash enough to undertake it trusting in the force of thirty or forty amongst them whom they not a little valew but I am confident that you will this way obtaine the victory whereof we are else like to fayl if by past successe we may probably conjecture of that which is to come Your advice is such and so good answered Falanzar that I resolve to follow it if the rest of these Princes here are of our opinion Mighty Emperour said Gorgophon then proceed on boldly for I will undertake that not one of this assembly but is desirous to spare the blood of so many men as infallibly would be spilt if we should be so wilful as to meet the enemy once more in open field wherefore cause a challenge to be drawn as soon as you please and let the conditions of the combat be that you shall be Lord of this Empire if the victory be ours or that we will dislodge with all our troops and leave it still in their possession if fortune shall favour them This said all the Princes rising up as it were to authorise Gorgophons speech Falanzar sent this which followeth to be presented to the Grecian Princes by Gedereon King of Arginaria The great Emperour and Caliph of Siconiaes challenge to the Princes of Greece THE pitty which we have of our people and the horrour of so many dead bodies that we have seen lying in these fields inducing us to prefer their welfare before our own fafety doth oblige us to conserve it with the hazard of our lives In which regard we have sent to present you with a combat of an hundred Knights against alike number of ours so to determine all our differences with the victory of the one or the other party consult with your courages and forces and let us know whether the world doth commend you with reason The King of Arginaria our Embassadour having absolute power from us to dispose of the conditions of this fight you may take his ingagement for all our combattants and send us a like assurance of your parts The excellent King of great Britain unto whom all the rest of the Princes referred themselves having read this challenge turned him to Gedereon and said King of Arginaria you may behold the answer that is to be returned you in the countenances of these Warriors which are here assembled there is no need of further advising with them about it they testifie sufficiently that their desire and yours is one and the same wherefore not to hold you longer in suspence we say that we are contented with the number you have chosen and with the conditions you propound for the possession of this Empire though you have no right at all unto it but if our ill fortune takes it from us we have three or four others to recompence our Son Prigmaleon withall whereupon the Emperour of Aethiopia having protested to performe whatsoever Amadis had agreed unto the Secretary was called to write this The King of great Brittaines answer to Falanzar Emperour and Caliph of Siconia WEE are no lesse tender of our people than you and your resentment that way seems so just unto us that never sticking at the right you have to claim the Crown of the Empire wee are very well contented to set it upon the end of a Launce before the Judges of the Combat which you demand and wherunto We agree to be performed betwixt our two Camps five dayes hence with the same assurance as you have given us And because the election of the Arms is in Us We choose those which are usuall with Knights Errant and in the mean time Wee will make a truce for foure dayes The King of Arginaria returning with this answer all the Pagans were marvellously astonished at the name of Amadis of Gaule whom they thought had been dead long before and understanding that he was the chief of them that had made way thorow their Camp with so great a slaughter they beleeved that so many Princes were resussitated to torment them eternally neverthelesse their own pride perswading them that the earth could not contain men that could resist them Falanzar caused a List to be drawn up of those that were to Combat and never going about to give them reasons for to render them the more courageous he sent them away to their Tents there to take order that their Horses and Armes might be well fitted for this furious fight Let us give them time to make their preparations and recount the brave actions performed by the Martarians You may remember that the Emperour of Martaria being made a Christian departed from Corolandaya with Persides of Greece Floridan of Persia Lucibel of France his Sons-in-law and gentle Sestilian of Spain servant to the fairest Agiliana Princesse of Arbales to carry succours to the Princes of Greece This great Monarch desiring to manifest his zeale to the glory of the new God which he adored and the esteem that he made of the Princes of Constantinoples allyance being fortunately arrived in his own Empire made forth Commissions caused an hundred thousand Horse and threescore thousand Foot to be levyed bestowed most part of the Infantrie in five or six Frontier Towns and levying twenty thousand Horse and thirtie thousand Foot under
would comfort you in your losses and specially for that which hath this day befallen you But knowing you to be every way invincible and that you make little account of fortunes worst attempts against you I will not present you with reasons to mitigate your just resentments though I should be glad that you could reach unto the meaning of these obscure words The Prophecie When the strange Lion shall amaze the World with his roaring and shall meet with him of the Grecian Forrests the fourth of that name shall see the day for to render you presently after the lost Treasure If you did understand these words without doubt you would brave Princes perceive that the counsels of heaven are wonderfull and living with quieter minds give me means to continue my doing you service with more affection then ever See sayd Florisel how the Sunne shines againe after cloudy weather These good Magicians are still living and as far as I can perceive by this scroul though I do not fully understand it we shall not suffer so much as we imagined Let God that governs our actions be pleased to direct them to his Glory for I will neither murmur at his corrections nor grow insolent with his favors This said he went down the stairs mounted on horsback and better cheered then he had been in a long time before went to the forrest where he had not been long but he heard one that lamented not far from him which made him to gallop that way the voice directed him so that within a little while he arrived at a place where under a tree he found a good handsome woman which held in herlap a dead Knight over whom she made exceeding strange moan Gentlewoman said he being moved with pity if your sorrow be capable of comfort I would intreat you to consider that you afflict your self to no purpose that it were fit you should demonstrate your love to this Knight some other way rather then by your tears wherof he is now insensible That which he now is to expect from your hands is a grave Let us I beseech you bestow it upon him and that done we will think of what remains If he be slain by the treachery of any I will if it be in my power work your revenge otherwise it may be a comfort to you that you have seen him die like a good Knight which is the most honourable departure out of this life And if I shall not be troublesome to you I will beseech you to let me know his name and who it is that hath brought him into this estate For being ingaged by my word to revenge it I should be glad to understand if with reason I may do it This afflicted woman then lifting up her eies all drownd in tears beheld him a while without speaking a word but judging by his countenance that he was not a Knight of any mean quality at length she very modestly replied to him in this maner Do not beleeve noble Knight that my complaint is excessive for the valour and fidelity of him whose death I now lament deserves that my tears should be perpetuall and might justly perswade me to lend no ear to any comfort whatsoever But since with so much curtesie you make a tender to me of your assistance I will not be so ingratefull as to refuse you the satisfaction you desire Know then my Lord that this Knight whose head you see divided in two pieces was called Balard of Catabatmon grandchild to the good King Manely who in the time of the Emperour Esplandian was held in the esteem of a brave Knight he some moneths since left his fathers house to be at that great battell where the rest of all Christendome was set up but falling very sick in a Town of Macedon he could not bring his purpose to passe his malady still increasing there was little hope of his life when as his Squire the faithfullest that ever served in that kind remembring that there needed no more to cheer him up but only to speak of me assured him that I was upon the way to visit him having had advertisement of his sicknes as soon as he heard my name his love which yet in the extremity of his disease was still the same made him instantly rayse himself up imagining that I had been come But not seeing me he gently laid his head down again upon his pillow and began to take a little rest In the mean time his Squire not intending to lose the benefit of his invention instantly dispatched a post to me knowing full well that my love was powerfull enough to make me undertake more then a voyage of fowre daies journey And having gives me notice of the estate his master was in he put me in a strange perplexity for loving him to infinity I almost died at the first news of his sicknes but fortifying my self with a couragious resolution I wiped my eies and taking a good pacing nag I made such haste that three daies after I was by his bed side though wonderfully troubled to see him brought so low yet did my presence so work with him that his bloud returning to all the parts of his body he began to shew some signes of amendment To what end should I entertain you with longer discourse of his malady Time restored him to his health and when he found himself able to bear Armes he departed from thence with me who would by no means quit him For I lesse valued the opinion of the world then the obligation wherein I was tied to my affection Having travelled then twelve daies without meeting any adventure his courage coupled with his love made him undertake to guard this passage for my sake and to force all Knights that should passe this way to confesse that I was the fairest maiden in the world This his enterprise though full of danger passed with him very happily and divers were vanquished by him but alas Fortune forsook him this morning For a great Knight in flaming coloured armes arrived heer who not satisfied with the conditions of the combat proposed by him said unto him Knight there are two strong reasons that oblige me to sight with you One is the faith that I ow to my mistrisse much more beautifull then yours and the other an oath which I have taken never to spare any that are enemies to my Religion The device which I see painted in your shield is an infallible argument that you are a Christian and I know you have an unjust cause to maintain in affirming your Mistrisse to be the fairest living seeing then that you are in case to combat I am ready to follow your example Balard who wanted no courage not enduring the arrogance of this Knight presently set hand to his sword and a long time made his party good but alas not having a cask of proof sufficient to bear the furious and weighty blows of his adversary he was in the end brought
of his sight leaving our new Knight much astonished at that he had seen and extreamly pleased to understand that his parents were of such eminent quality although as yet he knew them not Going on then very joyfully he intertained his thoughts with infinite designs when as he heard a great clashing of arms in a forrest that was not far from him wherupon clapping spurs to his hors he entred the wood where at first he spied a Coach wherin were two Ladies wofully weeping and a little beside them three fearful Giants amongst fifteen or twenty Knights who as was easie to be conjectured disputed with them the liberty of those women Fulgoran having a while beheld them and seeing that as often as the Giants Curtelaxes lighted upon any of them some of those Knights fell dead to the earth couched his launce with so good both addresse and fortune against one of them that having pierced him clean through he laid him dead in the dust This happy blow the first essay of his chivalry having added to his courage he set hand to his sword which he emploied so gallantly that he staid the fury of the second leaving the third in the midst of fowrteen Knights who did extreamly trouble him But he was therwith so enraged that as many as he fully lighted upon he laid on the grasse so that having dispatched eight of them all the rest betook them to their heels saving one who being richly armed and obstinately pursuing his revenge received so furious a blow upon his helmet that he fell from his hors voiding bloud at his nose and ears That so cruell a blow having extreamly affrighted the women who were before somwhat cheered upon the comming in of the burning Knight made them shrike out so lowd that Fulgoran hearing it gave his opposit so forcible a thrust as having run him clean through the body he laid him on the ground in the same estate his companion was in Turning him then about he perceived that he which survived was going to unbuckle the Knights helmet whom he had overthrown which was the cause of the womens lamentations this put him in such choler as instantly running to him and not giving him leisure to rise for he had one knee upon the ground he strook him so just on the neck that he laid his head at his feet This execution done he drew to the Ladies and began to comfort them telling them that their enemies being dead they had now no more cause to fear But one of them who appeared beautifull in perfection although her sorrow and tears hindred in some sort the discerning of her excellencies interrupted him saying Good Knight the time doth not now give me leave to render you condign thanks for this happy relief you have given us for the fear I am in lest the King my Lord be dead doth so transport me as I scarce know what I speak Continue if you please your assisting me and help me presently to alight that if there be any remainder of life in him I may preserve it with such help as in this necessity I may give him Fulgoran who was naturally very curteous took her instantly in his arms out of the chariot and led her to him whom the last Giant would have killed and pulling off his helmet he used such means to him as he brought him to himself again being much amazed to find himself in that estate Clairangia for so was that beautifull Princesse called seeing her husband breathe recovered somwhat both her colour and courage so that perceiving a yong Squire whom the Giant had bound behind the chariot she presently caused him to be freed and commanded him with all diligence to seek out those Knights who by flying had sought their safety and will them to return unto her In the mean time Fulgoran held the King in his arms perswading him not to be dismaid with his wounds which would easily be cured The Squire having gladly undertaken this charge immediatly ran into the wood but meeting them returning with a resolution to lose themselves with their master since he would not save himself with them he staid his pace and having informed them of the issue of the businesse he brought them to the King where full of shame for the cowardise they had shewed they began to frame an arm litter in which they took up Dardanâ—r so was the King named Fulgoran going into the Coach with Clairâ—â—gia who much wondring to find such valour in a Knight so yong and lovely did gently enquire of him what good fortune had brought him into that Country for to bind her to him in so eternall an obligation That Madam said he which doth ordinarily bind such Knights as without defign do go about the world seeking strange adventures But if you marvell at my comming hither in so seasonable a time beleeve it I am no lesse amazed to have found you in so much danger For your beauty and the greatnes of your estate were in my opinion likely to have kept you from any sinister accideâ—t although I well know that fortune doth not alwaies consider either the merit or the quality of those with whom she means to make her self sport For this cause Madam I would gladly know of you provided my request heerin may not be offensive by what mischance you fell into this mischief I am too much engaged to your valour said she to refuse you any thing you shall desire Know then myâ—â—ord that Dardanâ—r and my self being possest of the Crown and Scepter of Romerie which is but two easie daies journey from hence did live happily together in our match for it is but two months since we were joined in mariage and had nothing to complain of but that we could not free our Court of one of these Giants which now you have slain for being passâ—onately in love with the Princesse Alixea my sister whom you see heer we were extreamly discontented at his pretension which yet we durst not but under hand oppose For knowing that his brothers were our neighbours and exceedingly redoubted by all the provinces thereabout we very much feared that a refusall would so enrage them as they would make a war upon us and so peradventure dispossesse us of the estate of Romerie And indeed we could by no means have avoided that misfortune without your aid considering the estate wherin you met with us for Bracandor my sisters amoroso not able longer to endure the violence of his desire one day took the boldnesse to move the King therein after this fashion Sir you are not ignorant of my descent and you also know for you have been a witnes of my valour that I am able to purchase Principalities to my self and when I please can set a roiall Crown upon my head I will not therfore fear to discover my intentions unto you wherof I make no doubt but you have had some conjecture already I have long loved your sister Alixea and
had not hitherto permitted him to ask Wherupon calling for pen and inck he wrot these lines to discover his love unto her not being confident enough to do it by word of mouth Fulgorans Letter to his Lady the faire Clairangia Madam I Beleeve you will think me very rash in acquainting you thus with my thoughts but when you shall consider your own power and my weaknesse without question you will hold me excused and say that I have reason being sick to seek for recovery which is in your hands and the content of my life depends upon your favour Do not I beseech you refuse it to the passion of a lover who never knew what it was to sigh but for you nor desires any greater felicity in the world then the honour of your service Your eies in which shines so much beauty promise me no lesse make not them then the authors of my despair as they have been of my captivity but let your sense of my suffering give me ease to blesse my good fortune so shall you put new life into my courage and my arms shall make all the earth to know that it is your beauty alone which deserves to command the burning Knight who doth not wish a condition more eminent then to be Your Servant This Letter being by the means of Silesia the trusty secretary of her privatest thoughts cunningly conveied into Clairangiaes hands was read with some perturbation but unresolved as yet to declare her self she returned no answer unto it leaving the burning Knight in such disquiet as his humor before so pleasing and sociable became altogether untractable he was seldome seen in the Court little in his chamber but commonly in the woods and unfrequented places where he entertained himself with the sad consideration of his miserable estate in which being denied the happinesse of knowing his parents he was now also refused the enjoying the first thing that ever he had loved Unfortunate Knight said he what dost thou now dream of or what canst thou think of that gives thee not occasion to complain Thou canst not be happy only because thou art not worthy of so much glory Retire then in time and rather blame thy boldnesse then the cruelty of thy Mistris she is not guilty of thy misery it is thy destiny that thou must accuse for it But alas what counsell is this thou harknest unto Is it likely that thou canst leave her and love her so dearly Thou must either die or vanquish this hard heart of hers women do not so easily yield themselves they will be entreated and do often times feign themselves cruell to trie our constancy If thou shouldst possesse her without pain her caresses would not be so sweet nor thy contentment so compleat Wherefore thou must not be weary of serving her since the recompence well deserves thy labour This Knight thus losing himself in his meditations made all the Court to wonder at this change of his The King was much troubled with it as admiring his vertue but Clairangia much more For knowing that she only was the cause therof she participated with him in her grief and suffering which much amazed Silesia who not approoving this reservednesse of hers did one day thus speak to her I wonder at you Madam and cannot imagine why you afflict your self in this maner when you may live contented You love Fulgoran he adores you and you have often told me that you would not be ingratefull to the good offices he hath done you His valour beauty love and the infinite respect that he serves you withall fill you full of desire why then do you not seek for the accomplishment therof and to what end is this modesty seeing it is so troublesome unto you Madam it is not well done you tyrannize your life to no purpose occasions are to be laid hold on when they present themselves This Knight hath too many perfections to be despised open your arms to him since he offers himself to you and as he hath not been spâ—ring of his bloud for your preservation deny him not your favour for the conservation of his life which cannot be long if you continue this course with him his death could be no pleasure to you but condemning your rigour you would say that you had committed an irreparable fault Ah! how dangerous it is to meet with one that will push us on when we have our foot upon the precipice Clairangia whom the respect of her greatnesse and the consideration of a husband did as yet contain beleeving that her weaknesse might be somwhat warranted by Silesiaes reasons soon yielding up her self promised this wench no longer to reject Fulgoran and permitted her to tell him that she would the next day go to Celâ—bana a house of pleasure that she had some three leagues from thence where she thought she might have more liberty to confer her favours on him then amongst a thousand observers which are ordinarily in Court This office Silesia willingly undertook for as soon as she had her commission she past three or fowre times before Fulgorans chamber door till she found an opportunity of meeting him to let him know how all things were disposed for his content how her Mistrisse desired to see him at Celibana that there she might give some asswagement to his sorrows and that he was happy if he could manage his fortune with discretion This advertisement made him to change his countenance as the fear of being ill used had altered his humour he became more jolly then he had been in a good while before and at last went to bed with lesse unquietnesse then before CHAP. X. The Queen Clairangia going to Celibana is twice surprised and rescued by Fulgoran THE Queen departing with the Kings consent under the guard of the Earl of Clina and twenty Knights Fulgoran who had not forgotten Silesiaes directions went out armed as he was accustomed to do and seeming to be caried by his ordinary fancies followed a way a little wide of that which the Queen with her train had taken meditating upon the good fortune he was to have in finding his Lady more gentle then she used to be to him She on the other side went with no lesse contentment thinking on the caresses she was to receive from a lover of such perfections But her joy was quickly turned into sorrow for she espied a Giant comming out of the wood of a goodly proportion and not of any monstrous greatnesse but every way so handsome that notwithstanding the trouble she was in by the appearance of such an object yet took she some pleasure in beholding his gallant demeanour howbeit considering that such kind of persons are for the most part cruell and uncurteous she began to say O ye Gods how much I doubt the meeting with this great Knight and I am much afraid that the death of our enemies will be revenged by this incounter Sister we are unfortunate and can expect nothing from
another but Madam you will not so much wonder at me when you shall well understand the reason I have to make this suit unto you Worthy Knights are alwaies obliged to lend succour indifferently to all afflicted persons what soever but yet I am assured that they go more willingly to the undertaking of the most difficile enterprises when as they are commanded so to do by some Lady of your merit I therfore thought it sitter to addresse my self to you then to importune them to quit this Court where their vertues are held in so high an esteem You know answered Clairangia extreamly sorry for the promise she had made that they being no subjects to the King we have no farther force over them then what their curtesie is pleased to afford us so that I should think it an abusing of their good will they bear us if I should lay any command upon them heerin but that I may not be wanting to my word I desire them to employ their valour in your service and to follow you for my sake Madam said Fulgoran then I receive no little content in the leave you give me to serve this Damsell to whom in truth both your Majesty and my self are much obliged for it was she that furnished me with the arms and horse which you saw me use the day of your deliverance I did not think said the Damsell smiling that so small a service as that which I rendred you then would have been so long remembred but now I see by experience that a good turn is never cast away since one way or other we alwaies meet with a recompence for it your kind acknowledgement pleaseth me so well that I am resolved to do more for you then ever I did and you shall one day find it In the mean time I pray you prepare your self to go with me to morow in company of this strange Knight for if we tary heer any longer my labour would be lost and we shall not find him alive whom we go to deliver The departure of these Knights being thus resolved on the Queen remained in a strange perplexity for the absence of Fulgoran afflicted her extreamly before it came and that which most vext her was that she durst not bring him into her chamber to take her last farewell of him which this strange Damsell knowing said unto her If I had not Madam a particular science for to penetrate into the secretest thoughts of men I would not offer to speak with such privacy to you but understanding both what they do and what they resolve to do before they communicate it to any one you may not wonder if I tell you that I know the pain you are in at this instant for the departure of this Knight whom I am to carry away with me I am the cause of your sorrow but I will now let you see that I have alwaies desired your contentment you long and blush not at it to enjoy the Knight Ardants company with the same liberty you have heertofore had I will procure it for you knowing full well that he disires it with no lesse passion then you but do not send for him before night for otherwise I should not have time enough for my conjurations and so you might be surprised you shall have the whole night at your dispose and him to continue safely with you till break of day These words mightily troubled the Queen for women would not have their counsels known and are well pleased that people should be blind in their affairs but being unable to help it and on the other side most contented with the promise was made her she very much blushing answered If you were ignorant of the weaknes of women of the power of that haughty deitie which triumphs over all men or of the merits of Fulgoran I would never confesse my error or would seek excuses to make it seem lesse distastfull to you but being assured that none of these things have escaped your consideration I will not trouble my self with studying for reasons to perswade you that I have not done much amisse and rendring you thanks for the assistance you proffer me which indeed I cannot refuse since you are so well read in my privatest intention I will wholly rest upon your promises for the execution wherof I will instantly go and send Silesia to my Knight to give him advertisement of our resolution This enamoured Queen retiring therupon to her Chamber with much impatience attended the evening which was no sooner come but she sent for her Knight whom she caressed more then ever she had done conjuring him by the infinity of her love to shorten his voiage as much as possibly he could and not to deprive her longer then of necessity he must of the pleasure she took in his company and the more to oblige him thereunto she informed him that their embraces at Celibana had left her with child The night then being insensibly slipt away amidst the sweetest delights that two lovers can enjoy they parted with tears and protestations to love one another eternally Having taken their leaves and bidden Grandimore farewell that lay of his wounds our Knights presently left the Town with the strange Damsell who seeing her self a great way distant from the Town made a stand and said thus to Fulgoran Valiant Knight marvell not if I speak somwhat freely to you they which love you and desire to have a share in the glory of your fame out of the interest that their affection doth chalenge therin have commanded me to tell you that a worthy and well bred Knight ought not to be caried away by any disordered love which never produceth but mischievous effects Your passion for the Queen of Romeria would infallibly have been your ruine and her imprisonment was no other then a presage oâ— the misfortune that ere long would have befallen you had not I retired you in this sort from the Court not with any purpose to conduct you to some enterprise as you have hitherto believed but only to shew you how you may clear your self of that obligation wherin you stand ingaged to your honor for without doubt you had not armour put on your back to let it hang rusting on a pin while you lie languishing at the feet of a Lady This which I give you is the advice of a friend for you may well imagine that it is more for your glory then for any profit I may reap therby And if you remember with what affection I received you lately in the palace of the inchanted rock you will judge that I rather did it to conceal you from them that sought for you and who would without doubt have taken away your life without any regard of your former services then for any hope of drawing assistance from you Weigh my reasons well I pray you and do not yield so much to your passion as to forget what you are Go seek abroad in the world the
touched answered him modestly Vertuous Knight I should be very sorry to lift my sword against a person to whom I am so exceedingly obliged but if for the quiet of your conscience you desire the combat I will not refuse you These words would without question have embarked them further if they had not at that instant spied a maid come riding towards them as fast as she could drive who without other ceremony said to Fulgoran Knight Ardant take this way presently with the Prince of Canabea your Cousin and by the command of the Lady of the inchanted rock follow three damsels that are in the hands of an horrible Giant and you gentle Silvan prepare your self for an affair no lesse dangerous then that and let the fair Savagesse accompany you for she will be of much use to you therin These Ladies shall in the mean time withdraw to this house which you see heer by and my self will watch for the safety of all The earnestnes of this woman having quickly put them in readines each one took the way that was shewed him and so they seperated themselves Being gone a little way Silvan heard a noise behind him which made him turn suddenly about thinking he had been among his enemies but seeing no body save that one woman whom he had lately left he staid and said unto her Gentlewoman you follow us I perceive wheras I thought you had been otherwhere imploied is it your pleasure that I take any other way No replied she I only come to salute you from the wise Vrganda who sends you word that you should not be troubled that you are not in combatting with the Knight Ardant for that could not have been done without an irreparable losse Keep on your way till you arrive in the Parthian Empire with this beautuous Queen your presence will shortly be necessary there In the mean time I will advise the other Knight to travell no further in vain for the adventure which I told him of proceeded wholly from my own invention Saying so she turned about her horse without tarrying for any answer and went to the Knight Ardant to whom she made the like discourse informing him that her Mistris would not for some reasons which she would one day let him know suffer him to fight with Silvan and giving him no time to speak a word she left him with such speed as Fulgoran presently lost sight of her infinitly grieved for that he had not asked her his fathers name But hoping to meet her again some other time he passed on with Florimond whilest the fair Savagesse and Silvan followed their way intertaining themselves with an infinity of pleasing discourses CHAP. XIV The adventures that befell Fulgoran and Florimond of Canabea after their departure from Silvan LOve is bred by occasions and a familiar conversation doth oftentimes force our inclinations Silvan did not believe he could possibly be enthralled again by the power of any beauty whatsoever after the losse of his dearest moiety and had taken a resolution to passe the rest of his daies in the exercise of arms but he was soon taught that our designs are ineffectuall when that proud deity will not authorise them and that the will of men doth alwaies depend on his power for being ordinarily in company with the fair Savagesse who had charms sufficient to make her be beloved he could not preserve his liberty but was constrained to revive the same flames wherwith he had been so sweetly consumed before in the love of his Licina evermore sighing then and becomming much sadder then he used to be he made this Lady wonder at it it who not thinking her self to be the cause of this change one day she spake thus to him My Lord I am much amazed to see you in this humour and cannot conceive how you should be transported with your passions in so weak a maner What are these sighs good for and to what end is this silence Do you still think of the losse you have endured Hath not time as yet wrought its due effect in you And have you not obeied the advice of your reason which ought to represent unto you that tears do no good at all in any misfortune and that we are not to make use of them but only to ease nature a little cast your eie upon me I pray you and you shall see that I have more courage you have lost a lovely and beloved wife it is true neither shall I any more behold a worthy Husband such as my Lord the King of Lidia was I have then as great cause to complain as you and in me it would be more pardonable to afflict my self in regard such strong resolutions are not expected from my sex as from yours yet I restrain my tears I smother my sighs and do cary the same countenance which I did in my prosperity Imitate then this patience and give me not occasion to say that my company displeaseth you I speak both for your content and mine own for seeing you lesse disquieted then before I shall be much the merrier Alas said he casting an amorous eie upon her now I perceive you have noâ— the gift of Prophecy or that you rightly understand my grief fair Queen I do not sigh for the dead althogh my losse be ever present before me for I know well how we ought to bear an affliction and that heaven forbids an excesse in our mourning but feeling a new grief I cannot forbear venting some part of my sorrow in sighs since my discretion forbids me to do it in words howbeit I might with reason condemn my self as long as I lived and ascribe all my misery to my own cowardise if the way to my preservation be opened I should not passe on for fear of meeting with thorns in it Madam I must unlock my bosom to you since your self hath given me the occasion to do it I have not been able to refuse that to your beauty which all the men in the world do render it and my grief proceeds from my not daring to hope that you will receive me in to your service for knowing that such an ambition becomes none but the prime Knights of the earth I have alwaies feared to beg that grace of you My ill humour doth not please you it is in your power to change it my sighs and tears are troublesome to you you may quickly stop the currant of them and if you have no lesse pity then you have attracting charms you will presently command me to live at more quiet heerafter by telling me that I shall not love ungratefully This fair Amazon that was not infensible of Loves power considering the merits the perfections and the birth of this Knight who had made no difficulty to expose himself to danger for her succour that she could hardly passe the rest of her daies in widowhood and that she knew not where to find a man more agreeable to her humour or better suited
to her condition answered him with much modesty See my Lord Silvan how our opinions do many times abuse us I had thought your discourse had been of another quality then it is nor did I believe that the little beauty which I have could have prevailed so much over you You love me and say that you breath not but for the honour of my favor I will grant it to your merit and not to be ingratefull do even now receive you not only for my Knight but for the lord of my affections assuring my self that you will not seek the possession of them but according to the laws of honour No certainly said Silvan all overjoid for it were a sacriledge to serve you with any hopes of a base alloy Madam I accept of the grace which you now do me with a true and pefect sence of the worth therof and do heer plight you that faith which another day I will tender to you with more solemnity in the presence of those upon whom I depend Saying so he disarmed his hand and giving it to her he pursued his discourse in this sort Now Madam it is in you to render me in effect the happiest Knight on the earth as already I am in hope Dear friend said she smiling time will give us leisure to think of that point in the mean space live in this belief that being perfectly beloved of me I will not passe by any occasion that may tend to your content and mine own Whilest these Lovers rode on with all the delights that two such persons might injoy Fulgoran and his Cousin on the other side were giving end to a number of brave adventures which made their name so glorious as the whole world was full of their renown And indeed there was no other talk but of the Knight Ardant and him of the Flowrets they were sought for every where and continually imploied in divers enterprises whereof they so worthily acquited themselves as the most excellent Knights of the earth were jealous of them Travelling up and down thus with a world of praises one morning at the entry into a forrest they met with two damsels each of which demanded a boon of them Those that resemble you answered Florimond are not to be refused say then what it is that you desire of us That you presently will follow us replied she that spake to him you to deliver my brother who is marked out for death with all the injustice that may be and this Knight to do the like office for the beautifull Princesse of Clodamira called Alixenna that with much reason fears to be ravisht of that which she ought above all things to hold most dear Wherupon these two Knights parted with some discontent Fulgoran entred into a wood where a while after he met with Balard of Catabatmon whom he slew as I have related in the eighth Chapter because he carried a red crosâ—e upon his shield which engaged Florisel of Niquea that found Lidora weeping over the body of Balard to pursue him in revenge of the death of so good a Knight CHAP. XV. Florisel of Niquea finding the Knight Ardant in an extream danger relieves him and after fights a cruell combat with him upon the death of Balard FLeâ—isel of Niquea extreamly desiring to meet with the Knight Ardant had travelled two daies without lighting upon any adventure worthy of his imploiment when as he saw a damsell comming towards him that grievously lamented did not spare the hair of her head which she tore off with much violence His good and sweet nature not permitting him to behold her in that plight without offering her his assistance he presently made to her and perceiving she took no heed of him he said unto her Gentlewoman do not afflict your self so excessively but tell me the cause of so violent a grief that I may do you some service if it lie in my power Yes said she looking up you may divert a great mischief by assisting one of the best Knights in the world whom a horrible Giant accompanied with thirty or forty of his men doth hold invested in that Castle which you see yonder before you and if your courage be answerable to your gallant aspect you will not suffer him to perish in that maner At these words Florisel without any further stay in regard the danger was pressing set spurs to his horse and finding the gate open entred into a large Court where he saw a Knight armed with a Cuirasse of the colour of fire who bestirring himself bravely did one while lay upon a Giant and another while send an arm or a head of a Knight to the earth His valour begetting in him no lesse wonder then it did desire to succour him although he knew him to be the Knight Ardant whom he sought he instantly couched his lance and aiming it at the bever of the Giants helmet he hit him with such force as he made him take three or fowr turns on the ground so that if the shame to see himself overthrown had not animated him with rage he had lien there longer but spite rendring him insensible of all pain he arose though with some difficulty and incountring Don Florisel who in the mean space had dispatched three of his followers he charging them with such violence as much amazed him howbeit not failing in courage and knowing full well how to carry a businesse as that was he avoided half of his blows and made him feel his so waighty that he had no cause to brag of his advantage Hammering upon one another in this sort they kept so close together that the Giant had no opportunity to assist his people of whom the Knight Ardant did in the interim make a strange slaughter whereat he was so enraged that he bestowed the most part of his blows in vain with horrible menaces to overthrow the altars which he had erected for the adoration of his Gods which gave him not powr to vanquish one single Knight His fury augmâ—nting with the sight of his bloud that ran down all along his armour he resolved either not to live or to determine this combat by the death of his enemy so that taking his curtleax in both his hands he let it fall with such force upon Don Florisels shield as he made him go staggering three or fowr steps back so astonied that he knew not where he was from thence flying to the Knight Ardant who by this time had not above ten or eleven enemies to deal with he advanced his arm to have given him a dangerous and weighty blow when as Florisel enraged for having been so rudely intreated struck him with such fury on the back as cutting through his armour he gave him a great wound on the shoulder this blow the sorest that ever he had felt making him turn head their combat began to be more cruell then before whilest Fulgoran having cut all those rascals in pieces went speedily up the stairs hearing
of his birth and that Florisel and Sidonia were extreamly afflâ—cted with sorrow for this losse These displeasing news caused great trouble in the Court all pastimes ceased complaints were renewed and every one grieved according to the measure of his love the new Knights desirous to shew their affection to the services of the house of Greece immediatly armed themselves and comming altogether before the Emperour they besought his permission to go in search both of this yong Prince and of the adventures of the World which request being granted them they departed the same day with a resolution to run over all Countries rather then to fail of their enterprise but their design was to no purpose for the Enchantresse Creonda in whose hands he was and that had not taken him away but only for that she foresaw by her Art that of her daughter Grisolita he should beget a Prince excelling all of his time had so enchanted him as by the sequel of this Discourse will appear that none but Alcander could know the place of his retreat or be able to contribute to his deliverance The Court being in mourning for this bad news and for the absence of so many Princes Spheramond had no contentment left him but in the conversation of Silvan who not willing to abandon him so soon endeavoured to make the time more pleasing and his losse lesse sensible unto him Howbeit forced by the necessity of his affairs he was constrained to depart together with his wife for to reduce the people of Lidia to their duties who seeing neither King nor Queen rendred but little obedience to their governours and began to rise in tumultuous maner Their departure made the Court very solitary but the Emperour knowing how to live every where with contentment never troubled himself with the consideration of so many losses as he had endured and began to attend the care of his subjects when a second advertisement gave him a fresh cause of discontent CHAP. XVIII The adventures of the new Knights after they had left the Court the Emperour Spheramond is advertised that the King of Canabea raised a mighty army to invade the Empire of Trebisond FOrtune is seldome satisfied with one attempt upon us she redoubles her assaults to see if she can overthrow us and never shews her face if we do not force her to it by the greatnes of our courage The losse of the little Clarisel of Guindaia not able to suffice her rage she would needs once again arm the Pagans for the ruine of those brave Princes who shewed still the same countenance in their afflictions as they had carried in their prosperity and were not troubled for being crost since it did but render their vertues the more eminent by ministring to them occasions of glory the new Knights going out at severall parts to seek adventures in the world Russian riding along with Esquilan on a plain hard by the Sea perceived a damsell flying from a tall old man that pursued her with a sword in his hand As I live said he at the view of so discurteous an act I would never have believed that a man so neer his grave could have done a thing so unworthy of himself Let us by no means leave this maid in this distresse wherfore put on I pray you that we may free her from the hands of this barbarous man which without doubt will never spare her being so inraged as he is Heerwith they set spurs to their horses but make what haste they could they were not able to overtake them before they came to the sea side where they saw the wench leap in a Bark and the old man after her who having taken her by the hair made as though he would have cut off her head The Knights much grieved for that they could not aid her in regard the Bark was put off a little from land they approached to them as neer as they could and thinking to alay his fury with intreaties began to conjure him to consider what he himself was and how little honour he should gain by dipping his hands in the bloud of a woman I know very well answered he what every man ows to his reputation but withall I am not ignorant of the content that revenge affoords This woman cannot escape death for satisfaction of the wrong I have received from her except you grant me one boon You shall have it said Esquilan whatever it be that you desire of us Come aboard this Bark then replied he and go with me I shall have time enough to let you know what I will require of you Wherupon not staying for further entreaty they presently lighted from their horses and by the advice of the old man leaving them upon the strand they entred that little Bark which without attending any more lading began to cut the waves with incredible speed The Knights much amazed to see themselves caried away in that sort looked round about them and seeing no Sailers for the steering and conducting this vessell they desired to be informed by what means it was done but they found no body to satisfie them therin the old man and the damsell no longer appearing nor any thing to be found in the Bark but two little Beds and a Table furnished with exquisit meat Verily said Esquilan this is one of the wise Alquifs or the unknown Vrganda's devices but never credit me if for fear of any inchantment I forbear now to eat of this meat wherwith he drew to the Table and finding a paper upon it he opened it and therin read these words Excellent Princes do not wonder at the novelties you have seen this day all is done for your glory and we have with Art disposed you to follow the influences of the Stars for which our care of you you will then give us thanks when as you shall with the hazard of your lives give us that you have this day promised us If I had not said Russian oftentimes heard of the like incounters I should be somwhat mistrustfull and could not touch this meat fearing the malice of some enemy but I entend not to be more cautelous then your self with that they sat down and finding the meat agreeable to their palâ—t they fell to with a good appetite and their repast being ended with thanks to heaven which never leaves his without relief in their necessities they saw a Dwarf come in to them who shewing a spirit much greater then his body thus spake unto them My Lords it is time for you to rowse up your selves and worthily to employ these arms you wear Heerwith they arose and looking about them they perceived two ships grapled together in one of the which were two Knights invironed with about twenty souldiers and two horrible Giants that charged them with such fury as they were amazed to see what resistance they made Their Bark laying them aboord just as they had laced on their helmets they leapt into that ship wherin
appeared but sparks of fire in the air and cantles of armour and shields on the ground If Fulgoran and Prigmaleon charged with violence they felt themselves so closely followed as they wondered at the valour of their enemies nothing was to be heard but horrible blows one part laid on load another was forced to set their knees to the ground In brief this sight might truly be tearmed the most furious that ever had been seen between eight persons Prigmaleon who had one of those of the gilt arms to deal with being mad at the resistance he found from him let his sword descend with such rage on his helmet as he made him recoil two or three paces with the sight of a million of stars at midday but he had not time to glory much of that advantage for his adversary recovering his spirits came and charged him with such force as his shield being divided in two pieces the sword fell so heavy on his shoulder that he was fain to set one knee to the ground to save himself from falling but quickly getting up again he rendered the combat far more cruell then ever it was In the mean time Fulgoran and his adversary intreated one another with the like fury Grandimorâ— and the unknown Knight disputed the victory with very much courage howbeit they were so pressed by their opposites as they had little leisure to think of their consciences neverthelesse desiring rather to die then to shew any signe of faintnesse they fought two howrs without any advantage to their enemies who still resolving to vanquish redoubled their blows and so sharply followed them that these two Pagan Knights after another hours combat fell almost both at one time to the ground to the great content of the conquerours who having made them confesse the victory helped them up and delivered them into the hands of two Chirurgians which Don Florisell had appointed to be ready for the relief of such as should chance to be wounded The misfortune of these two Knights augmented the rage of Prigmaleon and Fulgoran their blows became more weighty then before so as often times their enemies were forced to knocke their chins against their breasts and to set their knâ—es to the ground But they had so good a share in those courtesies that every one was amazed at the sight of so dangerous a combat which every one thought could never be ended but by the â—eath of them all And indeed they were so eager as they continued seven hours without taking of breath or that any one could discerne any the least signe of wearinesse or of advantage in them which so madded them as carried by an unusuall rage they all quitted their swords and grapled together hoping by meer strength to get the victory but little prevailing that way they were at length constrained after they had tumbled on the ground sometimes above and another while below to rise as by agreement and recommence their combat which lasted till night no man being able to attribute the honour of it more to the one then the other Don Rogell who infinitely admired the valour of these Knights perceiving them obstinately bent not to give over for all that it grew dark caused the retreat be sounded But their rage not permitting them to heare it they went on with their businesse and continued battering one another more cruelly then they had done all the day before so that Don Rogell was inforced to discend with Spheramond and intreat them to part for his sake shewing them hat the cause of their contention being so slight their enmity had no reason to be so bitter but they lent a deafe care to all that he could say so as at last he was constrained to put himselfe between them which so much displeased Prigmaleon as turning himselfe somewhat hastily to Don Rogell he said in some choller I would fain have intreated you to have let Fortune work her will but seeing your authority opposes the designe of those that combat before you remember that it shall not be able to hinder me when I shall visit you with an hundred thousand men to require an account of the distaste you now give me Neither will I said Fulgoran who was as much displeased promise them better dealing for I will once more cover your fields with brave and warlike Souldiers Wherefore Princes of Greece receive these words for a defiance and prepare for a war But that you may understand who are your enemies this Knight is Prigmaleon the great Emperour of Ethiopia whom you see in these gray Arms and I am the King of Canabea by which name you cannot chuse but know me Yes said Don Rogel without being any way distempered we have cause not to be ignorant of what you are but it may be time will qualifie this heat and that little you gained before our walls perhaps will keep you from pursuing the second designe But if you be so resolved we have friends enough not to care much for your Armes yet shall not that keep me from intreating you since it is now dark night to take a lodging in our Palace untill you have a little refreshed your selves after the great toyle you have this day endured That is ordinary with us answered Fulgoran so that your courtesie may well be spared wherewith somewhat coldly retiring they went to their friends who with more despight then paine quickly got to horse and notwithstanding they were shrewdly wounded travelled till about midnight that they came to a Gentlemans house where when they had stayed two dayes they left Grandimore and the unknown Knight to be cured of their hurts and the morrow after they parted with a promise of meeting at the end of two moneths in Natolia with each of them an hundred and fifty thousand men to be in one body transported to Constantinople In the mean time Don Rogel and Spheramond who were not much troubled with their menaces addrest themselves to the other Knights and with such curtesie intreated them to let themselves be known as they were content to satisfie them Having then unlaced their helmets they let them see that those two of the Crownes were Lucendus Prince of France and Dâ—rigel King of the fortunate Island The other in the gilt Armâ— were the valiant Russian of Media and the mighty Esquilan of Polonia You may well imagine the contentment which the Greek Princes and especially the Infanta Fortuna received by the comming of these Knights though I do not put my selfe to the trouble of relating it In summe a thousand caresses were not for born amongst so many friends nor any thing forgotten which might serve for the contentment of those Princes who for the present treading all care of their more important affairs under foot passed two or three dayes more in tourneys and all the delights that could be imagined At the end whereof that happened which in the next Chapter shall be related CHAP. XXVI The adventure of the
any Knight to passe without trying this adventure Now you know the losse that I have endured and the onely cause of my tears in regard whereof I demand some Knight who by punishing this offence may make me as joyfull as now you see me afflicted Your desire said Spheramond appears to me so just as I will gladly do you service in it if you will but give me time to take my arms Certainly it seems my Lord said Russian then that you intend to have all the glory of the world to your self alone Have you not honour enough already Or will a petty adventure adde any wâ—it to the praises that are now given you Not at all your name doth sufficiently fliâ— abroad iâ— every mans mouth noâ— is there any need that you should labour to purchase more fame Leave I beseech you the care of this affair to me and permit me to seek occasions to imitate your vertue You shall do as you will said Spheramond nor will I ever oppose so brave an ambition Go then when you please but remember to return I pray you and not suffering your self to be carried away with any new fansie think that ere long we shall have occasion to imploy you Be assured said Russian extreamly glad with the leave he had gotten I will not but upon necessity go far and that our enemies shall see me the first in the field with that doing reverence to all those Princes he leaped on horsback and left them all much grieved at his departure For remembring a number of surprises wherewith they had been otherwhiles caught themselves they with reason feared he might be carried somewhither where the danger might be greater then to incounter one Knight alone Neverthelesse retaining the same greatnesse of courage which they ever carried in all their actions they made no shew of any sadnesse but committing the care of his good fortune to heaven they setled themselves to behold the justs where Tristor shewed so much valour as he was commended of all men In the mean time Russian meditating more of his new passion which he felt for the fair Agriclea then of the affair wherein he waâ— imployed â—ravelled with some discontent to the Damsell who not approving that silence of his as if it had testified a kinde of faintnesse in him she thâ—â— said I will not condemn your humour before I know you better but I would gladly understand the occasion of your sadnesse to the end I might serve you with as much freenesse as you have shewed courage iâ— undertaking the revenge of my wrong You must impute it to time answered he which doth not give us leave to be alwayes of one temper and not to any ill disposition of nature It is a fault I confesse for you have enough to divert a troubled mind but I shall desire you not to be offended with it since I fail not out of malice and that I am ready to make aamends for my errour It was not to constrain your actions that I set this discourse on foot replied he but knowing that the withdrawing one from melancholy thoughts doth many times oblige a man I took the boldnesse to call you that you might do better to be merry then thus to lose your selfe in such cogitations Riding on then in this sort they past away the day with many pleasing discourses and the night in a sound sleep though they had no other covering then the trees But the Sun having waked them they pursued their former way and travelled till noon when as they came to the tree where the Damsell hoped to finde her gallant and to make him give an account of the Armes that he had taken from her howbeit she was extreamly amazed when she saw neither the sword nor the helmet hanging on the boughes I am most certain said she looking Russian in the face that my griefe as great as it was did not take my understanding from me and that this tree is the witnesse of the wrong which the robber did me of whom I now complain as well as of the oathes which he swore to tarry eight dayes for me here No I am not mistaken for see where the grasse is pressed down with the weight of his body This is the bough whereon that pretious sword hung and these the same stones upon which he sate down to try if the helmet would fit his head yet I wonder he should be gone considering how he boasted of his valour neverthâ—lesse to speak truth I have no great reason to think it strange for could I hope that a thiefe would stand upon respect of honor and that he would prize his faith above his profit people of that metall use to promise any thing and perpetually fail he is gotten away to hide his booty and keeping out of my sight beleeves that he shall never be forced to restore it again But I am resolved either to lose my selfe or to be revenged wherefore if you please let us go on and seke him so long till we heare some newes of him I am ready said Russian to do as you shall command me since your enemy is not heer let us go and learn what is become of him Being about then to depart they spied a Dwarse so little that the grasse whereon he lay covered half of his body It may be said the Damsell laughing that we may have some notice here of what we seek let us enquire sir of this little ugly fellow what is become of the Knight As I live said the Dwarf rising up in haste I would not so much as open my mouth to give you the satisfactâ—on you desire did not the worth of this Knight perswade me to it as much as your injuries disswade me from it wherupon turning to Russian Knight said he will you command me any service I desire answered Russian that you would be pleased to tell us where we are and if you have seen any Knight under this tree You are said the Dwars in the Kingdome of Macedon this Oke is called the tree of adventure because that ordinarily here falls out one novelty or other and the Knight after whom you enquire is this morning gone away at the request of a damsell who hath carried him to the guard of the castle of Love from hence I am said Russian satisfied in few words but my friend you may adde one greater obligation yet to that wherein I stand already indebted unto you by giving me information of the Castle you speake of I would replied he if it were in my power to satisfie you but truly sir my curiosity did never stretch so far onely my opinion is that it is called the Castle of Love because there is to be seen in an inchanted room there that proud Deity which triumphs over the hearts of lovers seated upon a throne of Marble at the end whereof are two Arches whereinto no living man could ever yet enter Now if you be not contented herewith and
a Shepherd which within these few dayes he hath assumed though with a purpose far different from mine for I wear it to exempt my self from the câ—res of the world and to seek for pleasures in these woods and he without doubt to make me beleeve that he loved me in this change of condition as that of his affection made me hold him inconstant and perfidious He was worthy of my love I do confesse for his fault shall not keep me from giving him his deserved commendations but his light and sickle humour hath made him incapable of so good a fortune He saw me and finding as he pretended charms in my eyes came to present his service to me with so good a grace that from that time forth it was impossible for me to approve of the resolution I had taken never to love again for fear of being once more in the danger of the misfortune which had made me complain so long howbeit good manners obliging me not to accept him at the first tender of himself nor my affection permitting me to reject him with too much rigour I made him an ordinary answer which yet might let him perceive that I had no inclination to neglect his good will To what end should I spin out my discourse with delivering the particulars of the beginning of our passions Our love did so increase that every body held our marriage for concluded and that it would be consummated as soon as the yeer was expired which the modesty of the world allows to the mourning for the dead and indeed I had resolved upon it â—â—s I told you but now had not his inconstancie put him by that fortune The faithlesse man seeing among the Ladies which my quality had made my friends and that often bestowed visits upon me a maid called Cloria beautifull indeed and of parts to make the most insensible feel the power of love could not refuse to yeeld her that which she was able to command from all those that looked on her and did in such sort become her slâ—ve as he scarce remembered that ever he had sighed for me If he came into my company it was with a ceremonious respectivenesse now he no longer besought me to quench that fire which I had â—indled in his soul his lips where unto he was wont to rivet me did no more meet with mine our looks no more incountered together I was no more acquainted with his minde though I did clearly let him see what was in my heart In brief his discourses being of a strain clean diffrent from what they had been before made me suspect not any ill in him for I was too full of love to think him a villain but that some mishâ—p had caused this change What â—il you Filismond said I to him and why do you appear so cold Hath any man told you tales to the prejudice of the good opinion which you had of me Or do you not think me as beautifull as for these three moneths past you have done If it be repentance that you have loved me which doth trouble you and that you hold me unworthy of your affâ—ction you are yet in your own power to make a fair retreat for I will never force your humour but rather do my best for your content nor will I be displeased with the liberty you shall take to ingage you other where so as the cause thereof may excuse this mutability in you Now if you have heard any mis-report in me give me leave to clear your minde of any doubts may be in it and I make no question but you shall finde me without â—aint or shame for any fault I have committed I should wrong my judgement as well as all theirs that know you answored he if I should think you other then discreet that is not the cause Orâ—stea of this change in me no more then my being sorry for that I have loved you for you deserve to be served by a more accomplished and eminent man then my self but I must accuse mine own weaknesse and by confessing my fault lâ—bour to obtain your parcton I love but alas it is not you 〈◊〉 posseâ—â—es me with an absolute power and that Deity which disposeth of our affections is not pleased that I shall have any content in this world but in enjoying her Iudge I beseech you what my misfortune is that cannot move but by the impulsion of another and that am constrained to crave favours of Cloria by your mediation Verily I blush for shame and know well that it were better for me to seek them in your imbraces but I have not power to dispose of my self and can think of nothing more conducing to my happinesse then your assistance which you promise me But alas I fear you are not so minded My promises are inviolable answered I without any shew of discontent for his bâ—sâ—nâ—sse and it may be Filismond Cloria will love you sooner at my intreaty then for your services wherefore I will go presently to her to begin the making good of my word Gâ—ing out thâ—n exceeding full of grief I went to Cloria unto whom I discovered the desires of my waverer praying her to have respect to his meâ—iâ— and to the advantage that his affection might bring her This discourse of mine sâ—emed a fiction to her at first for she was not ignorant with what passion Filismond had wooed me but seeing that I spake seriously and withall found some other pretences for cause of our separation she answered me that time and my advice should resolve her of this businesse and that in the mean while she would entertain Filismond at my request This good news I delivered to my Turn-coat and though displeasâ—d with the office the next moâ—nâ—ing carried him to his new Mist is to whom and in my presence he made the same protestation of love that at other times I had received of him O ye Gods said I when I heard him What traitours are men and what fools are we to give any credit to their promises Hark if these be not the very same speeches that Filismond hath used a thousand times to me all which the wind hath blown away as without doubt another puffe will do these he swears only that he may be perjured whereof I am to make my benefit grow wise with my losse never trust any but my self and draw my fuâ—ure content out of the knowledge of Filismonds treacherie Entertaining my self in this fashion whilst these lovers were laying the first foundations of their affâ—ctions the day insensibly slipt away and night comming on made me return home in a strange distâ—mper for not to dissemble all my resolutions could not keep me from wishing that these new fansies had never come into Filismonds Head but being as then fuller of despâ—ght then love I determined to live no more in the wâ—rld since the lives of those of quality were subject to so many mutations and from hence orth onely to frequent the
desires then not permitting him to think of his return he expected the issue of the businesse when as Fulgoran who amidst his excesse of joy could not forget him turning most kindly to him thus spake My worthy Lord and Companion I am extreamly afraid that the knowledge of my parents obliging me to be baptised wil make me lose the honour of your love and cause you to hate me as much as ever you affected me That is a thing answered Prigmaleon which you are not to doubt for your vertue onely having given birth to our friendship I cannot beleeve it can be so easily broken by any difference of religion on the contrary I think it good reason that you imitate your parents and that it is just in you to testifie the content you take in knowing them for these being the prime Princes in the world no man can descend from them without glory we have troubled them very much and our arms have caused great disorder in their States but we may amend that fault you shall serve them out of duty as I will out of affection for from henceforth I vow to hold a firm peace with them if they be pleased with it and am very willing to be their friend provided they judge me worthy of that favour Now on my soul said Fulgoran embracing him again this is that which most I could wish for in the world and your freenesse so obligeth me that not to be ingratefull I most heartily offer you all that lies in my power but come and let us go to these my Lords who for that they know you not have not rendered you that which your birth and valour deserve Repairing to Don Florisel he briefly acquainted him with the quality of Prigmaleon whereupon Florisel excusing himself on his ignorance caressed him in such manner as he held himself much indebted to his câ—â—tesie These ceremonies having lasted a good while the Princes would needs look into the inchanted Fountain and wondered at the secrets which it revealed to them but he that seemed to receive most satisfaction from it was Prigmaleon for seeing in it the fair Polixena with a smiling and cheerfulnesse countenance he conceived that his affection would not be paid with ingratitude and that this fair one had already harboured a good opinion of him which so delighted him that going with Florisel who would needs give him the upper hand to the palace where he was magnificently entertained he continued in all the contentment that might be desired till it was bed time when as he was by the greatest part of the young Knights conducted to a chamber that was prepared for him CHAP. XXXVI The Pagan Kings understanding that Prigmaleon and Fulgoran were become friends to the Greek Princes conspire to massacre their troops they are prevented and their Army defeated FVlgoran and Prigmaleon not suffering themselves to be so transported with pleasure the one by seeing his kinred of a quality so eminent and the other with those delights which his new fancies begat in him as not to think of that so much concerned them they arose early in the morning and with the approbation of the Greek Princes returned to their quarter where when they had called together all the principall Commanders of the Army Fulgoran began this discourse to them There is not My Lords any one heer so little experienced in affairs as by the revolution of things in the world hath not learned that often times our wills and our desires do not depend upon our selves and that the heavens and fortune have reserved a power to dispose of them either for our good or for a chastisement of our offences It is not long since that intending to arm for the glory of our Altars and to gain my self a reputation in the world I laboured to procure your assistance with a purpose that you should share with me in the honour as well as in the labour of my enterprise but now you see me heer with other inclinations my speech no longer demands bloud and revenge nor my heart wishes for the ruine of this Empire and lesse for the destruction of the Princes of Greece this makes you wonder and by your faces I see that you would willingly know from whence this change doth proceed My Lords it is most reasonable that I reveal it to you and that I now deliver you the cause of my amity as well as heertofore I did that of my hate Yesterday the Prince of Aethiopia and my self carried with a strong desire to see the rarities of a Fountain which the day before passed thorow our Army required that we might be admitted to the triall thereof which our enemies who are full of curtefie and truly generous freely granted not desiring to know us or otherwise to be informed of our condition so that we entered into Constantinople where in few words to come to the point we began a very dangerous combat with the Knight of the Fountain which having lasted eight howrs was ended by the greatest wonder in the world My sword flying in pieces by the violence of a blow which I gave my adversary on the helmet which also therewith fel from his head leaving him discovered I presently laid hold on a sword that hung upon the Arch and my enemy seeing himself without a head-peece took one that was fastened to the other Arch so being furnished with new arms we were about to renew our fight with more fury then before when as a clap of thunder laid us both on the ground deprived of all sense and with us the other two that then were still â—ighting together whereof one was the valiant Prince of Aethiopia heer present a thick mist so covering us for a while as none that were present could discern us but ere long we were seen all four without our helmets and these arms which I now have on me did in an instant re-assume their former colour whereat I confesse I was exceedingly amazed for not knowing how our combat ended I beleeved I was a prisoner but beholding certain Magicians whom I have long time known come toward me I was somewhat better assured and saluting them intreated them to tell me at what rate I should be quit for the folly I had committed in so rashly abandoning our trenches Oh how happy a fault said an old Wise-man to me is this you have done for you shall presently see the benefit that will arise to you out of it Requiring me then to deliver him this sword that you see heer laying his hand upon the hilt he shewed me these words which you also if you please may read upon the blade Fulgoran son of Regel of Greece and of Florella Queen of Canabea Seeing such good evidence of my extraction which may also be confirmed by the Prince Bruzinges heer my uncle and having consulted with the water of the Fountain that fains not remembring withall the words that a great Magician and my friend had spoken
call me ingratefull The service that I will do you with my arms shall make amends for this default in the mean time if you have a minde to tarry heere I will remove further that I may not trouble your repose Thus it is said shee in choler that poore spirits use to excuse themselves Sleep since you care more for a nap then you do for my life The Gods who are alwaies just will one time or other revenge your despising of me and make you thorowly feel the pain that I suffer by your ingratitude Saying so she withdrew under another tree with extream discontent leaving Prigmaleon in no lesse disquiet of mind for remembring his Polixena from whom he durst not assure himselfe a better entertainment then now he had given that amorous damsell he never could shut his eies and in that trouble he continued till the sun being risen made him get to horse where entring into a forrest that befell him which shall be deliverd to you in the next Chapter CHAP. XLI Prigmaleon meets with Melina she gives him an account of Griolanis his fortunes with the issue of the combat between him and the Knight of the Savage PRigmaleon travelling in the forrest under the shadow of the trees entertained himselfe with his ordinary fancies and thought of nothing lesse then the damsell which still followed him though it were with much discontent and ashamed for having been so refused when as on the sudden he heard the voice of a person who seemed to be much afflicted Those laments comming to his ear put him out of his musing and made him presently goe to a bush from whence the noise did come where at the foot of it he saw a Lady that holding a ponyard in her hand spake these words Melina it is time for thee to die since thy Knight is lost for thy dayes would be but anguish and every thought of him an insupportable torture when thou shalt remember that thou wert the cause of his death by putting him upon a busines which could no way conduce to thy content It had beene much better done to have kept him still in thy house amidst a thousand pleasures then to carry him abroad to the hazard of his life But since this mischief is not to be remedied thy desire to accompany him must be without fear neither must thou shrinke from death to follow him Lifting up then her hands she was ready to strike the dagger into her bosome if Prigmaleon who perceived her intent and therefore was lighted from his horse had not suddenly laid hold of her and remonstrated that despair was a greater offence then that for which she so much sorrowed Stay Madam said he stay your hand I beseech you and do not in this sort run headlong to perdition The shortest follies are the best and when you have well considered that the shedding of your bloud will not restore him to life whose death you lament you will without doubt preserve it and beleeve that it were better to appease his ghost with some other kind of duty then to incense the Gods with a new murther Alas answered she looking upon him if you knew the occasion I have to desire to die you would not now divert me from this designe I do not doubt said he but the cause of your grief is very important but yet I say that it ought not to transport you from your reason and if you could give your self some relaxation in imparting it to me you should doe much for my satisfaction and perhaps not a little for the ease of your mind I am content to do it answered she letting the poniard go but it shall be upon condition that you shall leave me at liberty to do what I please if you find the occasions that I have to be just Prigmaleon having promised her not to crosse her will provided hee might do it with reason she sat down upon the grasse and thus began her discourse Walking one evening in a wood neere the house in which I am ordinarily resident I met a Knight who being strayed out of his way did so curteously entreat me to grant him lodging for that night as beside the law of charity which doth bind us not to refuse our helpe to those that doe need it I felt my self also forced by the fair language and by the grace that he used in his request to give him my hand and to lead him to my house assuring him that there he should receive the best entertainmenâ—â—hat I could possibly give him As soon as we were come there and that by the light of the torches I had seen his face I found him so lovely and all hâ—â— actions so pleased me that not to dissemble I could not keep my self from falling in love with him I then made him to be served at the Table and sometimes serving him my self with the strength of my affection I so obliged him to my curtesie that assuredly hee did beare mee some good will which infinitely rejoiced me but fearing to lose him as soon as I had gotten him my contentment was thereby much weakened To remedy that doubt I resolved to arrest him with my caresses I mean to give my selfe wholly to him without any reservation at all Taking him then by the hand after he had supped I went and fate down with him upon the beds feet besought him to tell me his name his quality and passing from those ordinary tearms to those of love I made an ostentation not of my bounty for of that his eyes could be judge but of my birth and quality eminent enough for the ambition of any Knight that were not a Prince the conveniencies that I was Mistrisse of my estate my humour not unpleasing and briefly all that came in my head and which I beleeved might serve to make him to affect me but fearing all these charmes would not be able to stay him I entreated him to grant me one favour which I intended to desire of him The entertainment said he which I have heer received from you doth not permit me to be ingratefull in refusing you Madam you shall have of me all that you please to command As for the first point of your desire I will tell you freely that I am called Griolanis born in Macedon of parents unto whom fortune truly hath done wrong in not conferring scepters on them for a recompence of their vertue I travell thorow the world to purchase glory and raise my ambition beyond the limits of my birth and should reckon my self most happy if I might deserve the greatnesse of your fortune in possessing of you but not thinking it fit to aim so high before my valour hath made me worthy of so great a favour I will put off the further treating thereof till some other time and in the mean while beseech you to let me freely know what you desire of me To have you maintain a justs in favour of me answered I exceedingly
shield to it and for the most part avoided it with such agility as he gave most of his blows in vain wheras his never fell but to purpose so that having cut Narsanders shield in an hundred peeces he drew bloud from him in I know not how many places Having then a quick eie a confident judgement a strong arm and a resolute courage his addresse gave marvellous contentment to the people who beholding his youth prophecied that in time he would prove one of the most accomplished Knights of the world Narsander almost in despair to see himself reduced into so ill a plight and cursing his spirits for neglecting to advertise him of the force of this Knight verily beleeved that the justice of heaven was armed for to punish his wickednes nevertheles hoping yet to prevail he took his sword in both his hands and therwith struck Alcidamant so dangerously on the helmet that he made him knock his chin against his breast almost despairing of his sences and without doubt if he had quickly redoubled upon him he had been in perill but the Knight having time to resettle and come again to himself grew so furious that Narsander was exceedingly troubled with the apprehension of a most horrible blow which lighting on his head overthrew him in the place without moving either hand or foot wherewithall the Knight not being satisfied was going to disarm him for to take his head from his shoulders when as the Iudges declaring Melania to be innocent desired him to save his life So wicked a creature as this is answered he deserves no favour howbeit deliver this gentlewoman into the hands of her friends with the ceremonies requisit in such a case and then at your request I will spare him Heereupon they caused Melania to be conducted to the house where her friends were assembled into the which she was no sooner entred but she was presently restored to her former understanding free from the charms of her Unkle who being come to himself would not suffer his wounds though very dangerous to be looked unto the grief to see himself vanquished making him desire rather to die then to live CHAP. XVIII The loves of Alcidamant and Melania WHilest the people talked of the exceeding valour of Alcidamant and that Narsander infinitely enraged vowed to revenge his disgrace Melania suffered her self to be carried with the perfections which she found in her Knight his person was a wonder to her eie she admired such unmatchable force in an age so tender a matute and setled judgement in this youth an extraordinary prudence in his actions and briefly observing nothing in him that was not capable of love she felt the violence of certain desires that touched her to the quick and that seemed even to enform her to discover her thoughts unto him nevertheles retained by shame she resolved to suffer with silence and in the mean time to let him see that she loved him Emploied then whatsoever she had of charm and attraction in her and all the art that maidens use for the captivity of men she indevoured to gain and possesse him but there needed no great labour to bring her designs to passe for Alcidamant being naturally amorous seeing so beautifull a creature and occasion so favorable said unto her one day as they were walking alone under the trees of a fair and pleasant orchyard Madam I did not think that my ruine should have been drawn out of your preservation and that your deliverance should have been the cause of my thraldome but now I perceive to my grief that I have not freed you but to suffer the more my self unles you be as sensible of my pain as I was of your misfortune I do not know answered she exceedingly contented to hear him upon those terms which she so much desired what cause you have to complain of me for I have laboured to serve you and by all waies sought to give you that which your assistance hath deserved but if what I have done doth not suffice Sir you may dispose of all that is mine and there is nothing in my power that I do not most willingly make you the Master of that so at least I may not rest unthankfull And if so be this house be distastfull to you as indeed it is not very pleasing I am to be excused in regard I have not staid you heer but only to shew you how desirous I am to give you some entertainment befitting your merit Alas said he that is not the cause of my complaint for these pleasant walks these delicate gardens curious water works stately buildings and even this very orchard wherein we are set with a multitude of excellent trees might give content to the saddest disposition that could be much more to me that can never be enough satisfied of them but I will explane my self seeing it is your pleasure I said that I did not think my ruine would have been drawn out of your preservation Ah Madam will you not soon understand the meaning of these words when I shall tell you that your beauty hath left me nothing free but the will to do you service and a desire to enjoy you Yes and will think I have reason to complain if you should leave me in distresse from whence I have delivered you I did not know my power till now answered she with a smile nor could ever imagine that my eies had been of more force then the fury of the bravest Knights of the earth neither did I think of bringing any remedy to your disease because I was not acquainted with the cause but now that I am assured of it I will take time to resolve my self and let you see that I cannot be ingratefull You shall never meet with better opportunity to make me happy said Alcidamant and this place free as I conceive from all danger of discovery may invite you not to let me languâ—sh any longer Look now replied Melania how your impatience would wrong us would you have the Sun be a witnesse of my dishonour or would you have me espie some one peeping on us in the midst of our pleasures which could never taste well accompanied with such fear We will finde a more seasonable time and safer place till when I shall intreat you to rest contented with this assurance that I am won to your desire and withall that you will give me the satisfaction to look more merrily upon me Why this said he kissing her hand is as much as I can wish whereof I were most unworthy if my looks hereafter do not give you the content you require onely be mindfull of me and make the way to my felicity as short as possibly may be You shall not complain of me answered she and I shall hold my self most happy in your affection provided you be constant and do not forsake me to sigh for another Sigh for another said he Ah Madam never fear that for I have not the power so to
had of one of those Giants who switching them ever and anon with a wand said unto them with a terrible voice On on ye baggages or I will cut you in a thousand peeces These words and this action put Florimond into such a rage that immediatly he got into his lodging and finding his Squire by good fortune awake commanded him to saddle his horse with all expedition armed himself and never minding the Knight of the Palms who was fast asleep in an inner chamber mounted on his steed and straightway galloped after the Giants In the mean time Arnides having heard the noise was got forth to know the cause thereof where seeing Florimond depart in such haste and understanding part of this adventure by his Squire he suddenly returned in to Altidamantâ— chamber and pulling him by the arm for to awake him he said unto him Do you sleep Sir whilest others are upon brave emploiment For Gods sake arise and ride after Florimond who to succor certain damsels that are led away captive by three Giants hath put himself into a danger out of which he cannot escape unlesse he be generously assisted At these words Alcidamant leapt out of his bed and whilest Arnides was making ready his horses hastily armed himself vaulted into his saddle and spurred as hard as he could drive afâ—er Florimond who having made wonderfull speed had overtaken the Giants just as the Sun began to appear These three Colosses seeing themselves pursued but by one Knight alone fell a laughing outright and continued on their way as it were disdaining to draw their swords but one of them not able to endure this presumption turned him about and said unto the others This Woodcock will needs be taken in the net which we have not pitcht for him go you on I le soon give him his pâ—sport and be with you presently Wherupon drawing out his curtelax he attended Florimonds approach and seeing him come running at him with his lance in his rest he thought to have slipt aside and cut it in two howbeit he was not so quick but that he was surprized and encountred with such force as he was fain to recoil two or three steps back for to save himself from falling which put him into so great a fury that cursing his Gods he advanced to cleave him in twain But Florimond resolving to fight with judgement and not with passion lightly avoided the blow and letting it fall to no purpose gave his enemy so home a thrust under the left arm that it entred three fingers deep into his body When as the Giant beheld his armor all besmeared with bloud he was ready to burst with choler and rage and lifting up his heavy curtelax he laboured to let it descend on Florimond who knowing that death attended on that weapon somtimes leapt aside and somtimes slipt under his enemies arm so making it still to fall in vain This combat growing more cruell and furious through the force and dexterity of these warriors it continued so long till the incomparable Alcidamant came galloping to them who staying to behold the fight Florimonds Squire said unto him Alas Sir you see not the worst of the adventure in this combat two monsters like to this heer have carried away certain Ladies who are sure to be ravished by them without your assistance I will die said Alcidamant before that shal be and if their safety may depend on me no man els shall run the hazard of their deliverance but my self Heerwith he posted away and rode almost an howr without discovering that which he sought for wherupon beginning to fear lest he should fail of his enterprise in regard he was entring into a great and spacious forrest he heard the cries of a woman that sounded very brief amidst the silence of those woods turning then to that part whither the voice seemed to call him he approached to certain oaks under the which he saw a Giant that held five damsels bound with a cord and another more dreadfull then he who strove to violate a maid fair beyond excellence and which made those outcriâ—s he had heard By heaven said he aiming the point of his lance at this Giants throat I will be as good as thou art wicked this steell shall be the death of thee that art so base as to go about to ravish a woman that infinitely deserves to be served How now said this proud Giant darest thou offer to disturb me from enjoying a pleasure wherein I placed a sovereign happines By all my Gods I le teach thee better manners and respit thy death no longer then to the first blow I shall give thee whereupon drawing out his curtelax he thought to divide the Knight of the Palms in two peeces but he was turned aside to receive the encounter of the other who having tied those damsels to the foot of a tree ran furiously at him with his lance charged Their encounter was dangerous Alcidamant somwhat astonished had much ado to keep his saddle but he more fortunat past his lance quite through the body of his enemy who was overthrown dead in the place and that in good time for the first Giant arriving the mean while gave him so terrible a blow that it made his head bow to his saddle bowe great was the pain that he felt therby but raising up himself more furious then ever he had been in all his life he gave his enemy so dangerous a stroak on his shield that his arm being too weak to sustain the brunt of it carried it to his head with such violence that it made him knock his chin agâ—inst his breast and see a thousand stars more then ever he had beheld The Giant amâ—zed therewith advanced his heavy curtelax again but the Knight of the Palms not intending to abide the fury of it slipt aside and seeing that his choler made him to neglect the guarding of himself he discharged so mighty a blow on his left arm that it made way to the quick and gave him a great wound a little under the elbow Wherupon the Giant entring into extream rage would have closed with his enemy but the point of Alcidamants sword made another deep entrance into his body so that not able to get within him as he desired he had recourse again to his cimiter wherewith he laid about him more dangerously then before This while the damsell who had seen her self so neer to be ravished was got up and having unbound her companions was fallen on her knees heartily praying unto heaven to assist their Knight and beginning to be in some hope by the death of the first Giant and the bad estate whereinto the other was reduced she observed this valiant Knight of the Palms admired his addresse and force and comparing him to God Mars it begot a well willing in her towards him which by little and little converting into love made her wish him the victory that so she might be liable to a recompence
so favourable an occasion which is not to be recovered when it is once past This while Melita entertained Alcidamant and leading him by the hand she said unto him Sir I am carrying you to Claristea but remâ—mber that modestie is a reproach to lovers that it renders them unworthy of any favour whatsoever and that to be happy one must be somewhat bold this speech ended at the door she entered first and approaching to Claristea's bed she said unto her This prisoner demands grace Madam please you to grant it him whilst I go and draw up his pardon saying so she got her into the ward robe it may be with some grief for that she had not also a second and left our Knight upon his knees who holding one of his Mistrisses hands kissed it not being able to speak a word on the other side she was no lesse moved for seeing him so handsome with humility by the beds side and calling to minde how much she was obliged to him she felt her self provoked with mighty desire and was even upon the point to have joined her lips to his for to let him know her minde but desiring to appear more contained she forbare howbeit having too much love to leave him in that posture she said unto him Knight I pray arise for I am resolved not to hear you till you be at ease That shall I never be answered he but by the fruition of so many beauties as I behold Ah Madam take pity of my suffering opportunity speaks for me and seems to say that you are not to deny me this favour whereupon laying his mouth to hers he was fastned there for a while with such extream delight that he could not forbear putting his hand on her delicate breast with the exceeding smooth whitenesse whereof he was marvellously taken and finding himself in case not to stay there he slipt off a night-gown that he had on and getting into bed he made her feel incredible pleasures in loosing the name of maid The first course being finished she began to sigh and said Alas I was resolved to defend my self better but Sir accuse your merits for this weaknesse and take not occasion thereupon to make the lesse esteem of me I have given you that which was most dear to me preserve it I beseech you with as much love as discretion Assure your self Madam said he redoubling his courses that you shall never see me disobey so sweet a commandment and that I will never lose the memory of so powerfull an obligation but in the mean time permit me I pray you to visit you thus every night You shall alwaies have as much power of this chamber as my self answered she nor shall it be at any time shut against you onely remember to carry your self advisedly Continuing their kisses thus they perceived the day to appear whereat they were grieved but hoping to meet again ere long Alcidamant returned to his chamber and left Claristea who finding her self weary slept till dinner time when as she was wakened by her chamber maid who bidding her good morrow fell a laughing and said Madam is this Knight as couragious with women as he is valiant amongst Giants Come you are jeering now said she whereas you are guilty of that fault for if you had staid heer I should have had no cause to complain of his boldnesse That is no answer to my question replied Melita for you desired to be forced I know but do you hold him worthy of your favours Never seek to be so curiously informed I pray said she but give me my cloths since it is so late another time we will talk of that at â—easure Thereupon having quickly made her self ready she appeared in the dining room where her Knight was alone she blusht at first but seeing that the matter was past remedy she fell into discourse with him whilest meat was serving to the table which being taken away they withdrew into a cabinet where their kisses and caresses were renewed with a world of content Living thus in all the pleasure which can be enjoied by Lovers nineteen or twenty daies past sweetly away at the end wherof fortune that delights in change would needs separate them for being one evening at supper together and thinking of nothing lesse then any crosse that might arrive to their desires a lacky came in and told them that the Marchionesse of Monteclare was at the gate desiring accesse to Claristea At these woâ—ds Alcidamant changed colour which she perceiving asked him whether he were not well Yes said he but Madam this news displeases me for it concerns us much and if you will oblige me charge all your house that a word be not spoken of my being heer in the mean time so please it you I will reâ—iâ—e and shut my self up in my chamber You will be betâ—eâ— in my Cabinet said she for I will know the cause of such fear in you and beleeve me I should be jealous did not the age of the Marchionesse whose neer kinswoman I am retain me from imagining that you can have any affâ—ction for her Whereupon Alcidamant being past into his Ladies Cabinet and Arnides into his masters chamber Claristea went to receive her kinswoman giving her a thousand thanks for the pains she had taken to come and visit her and commanding the table to be covered again she gave her all the best entertainment she could Whilest she was at supper Claristea calling to mind her Lovers behaviour very attentively observed the Marchionesse and seeing some remains of beauty yet abiding in her she was not without some unquietnes insensibly suffering her self to be perswaded that she had some interest in her Knight and that the only cause of her journey thither was to see him so she wisht her far enough off and was vexed in her mind to hear her say that she would stay nine or ten daies in that plâ—ce but not to appear incivill she made no shew of it hoping to learn the truth from her Lovers own mouth desiring then to free her self of so weighty a care she conducted the Marchionesse to the chamber which she had caused to be made ready for her and telling her that the consideration of her health invited her to bid her good night she left her and went to find out her Knight whom she presently kift but in such a manner as testified some discontent which very much troubled Alcidamant who not induring to see her melancholy demanded of her why she was so sad Because I cannot wholly enjoy you answered she for the fear you are in to appear before the Marchionesse of Monteclare who makes shew of visiting me that she may the better without suspition see you hath to speak the truth much distasted me I love you too well for to let any other share with me I love you too well dear heart to possesse you by halfs seeing I am entirely yours If you will remember my caresses and call to
These ceremonies are to no purpose said the damsell that conducted Alcidamant you must defer them till another time and rejoice now at a secret you are ignorant of Do you know that gentleman pointing to him that Alcidamant had found lying on the tomb no surely answered Persides I doubt not of it said the damsell for he knows not himself nor hath not known hitherto that he is son to the puissant Amadis of Greece and the beautifull Empresse Niquea but it is time to acquaint him with it that the glory of his predecessors may render him desirous to be such as they have been and greater too if it may be He was taken away as you have heard when he was in his cradle and the intent of his ravisher who is this Giant heer named Dorion was to prevent the destruction of the altars of his Gods which must be overthrown by the valour of this gentleman how beit they that have taken upon them the protection of the house of Greece have not only preserved him in the midst of his enemies but have changed their minds and have purposely brought hither this famous Knight casting her â—iâ— on Alcidamant for whom this adventure was reserved and have given me in charge to declare unto him that his name is Amadis of Trebisond that he must now acknowledge one only God denying them whom his foster father hath made him to worship untill now and be presently made Knight to give a happy beginning to the wonders which shall be performed by him Heerwith those fowr Knights went and saluted Amadis who exceedingly well satisfied with the knowledge of his estate very kindly returned their complements with the like Whereupon Amadis who would lose no time leaving all the rest of the company went and kneeled before Alcidamant and desired him to remember the boon which he had promised him Ask said Alcidamant and you shall not be denied Make me then instantly Knight said Amadis and give me leave to depart to morrow for to begin to imitate you Most willingly said Alcidamant and beleeve it I may boast then that I have made one of the best Knights in the world But how will you do for arms We shall find some in the tomb said the Giant which are worthy of so generous a Knight and though I give them somewhat unwillingly at this present yet I am perswaded that one day they will much avail me howbeit Sir we shal have need of your assistance for to get them out Whereupon Alcidamant breaking the christall of the tomb with the pomell of his rich sword Amadis drew forth of it certain blew arms covered all over with ciphers of gold in the midst wherof appeared a P. where withall he presently armed himself and kneeling down at the feet of Alcidamant who gave him his oath and afterwards blessed and imbraced him he then received the sword from Persides his Unkle the helmet from Lucibel of France and the rest of his arms from Prigmaleon and Russian which being done they saw a charior descend from the clouds drawn by fowr furious Griffons whereinto the damsell Inchantresse having taken leave of Alcidâ—mant and the Princes of Greece caused Amadis to enter with her and immediatly they were carled out of sight to the great amazement of those Knights who forth with separated themselves Alcidamant went his way attended only by Arnides Persides and Lucibel tooke a clean contrary way Prigmaleon and Russian another and all the strange Knights directed their courle towards Coâ—stâ—nâ—inople with the skins of the Serpents which they had caused to be stuffed with straw to acquit themselves of the promise wherein they were ingaged to Alcidamant whom heer we will leave for to speak again of the Knight of the Roses CHAP. XXV Rozalmond following after the fantesms of Alcander arrives at an Hermitage understands the loves of Argenia with Meliander and Clidor and departs for to combat Orfuron THE Knight of the Roses having all night followed the fantosms which represented Armazia unto him in the arms of a horrible and cruell Giant as you have formerly read found himself at break of day upon a wild vast plain where being much troubled for that he had no hope in so desert a place to meet with any body that might tell him any news of that he sought for he was much amazed perceiving his horse upon a sodain to make a stand when looking all about he espâ—ed a dwarf holding him by the bridle and saying thus Knight coorse not up and down in this maner for thou art in an error to think that Armazia is in the power of an enemy that which thou hast seen is but an illusion and they which have practised it upon thee did it but to prevent a mischief which would have given thee cause to repent all tâ—e daies of thy life Keep the way thou art in since fortune hath presented it unto thee and heerafter be better armed against the crosses of the world Heerwith the dwarf vanished leaving the Knight more contented then amazed who giving his horse a little breath rode on fair and softly till about two of the clock in the afternoon he discovered an Hermitage towards the which he directed his course with a purpose to refresh himself there if he found any body in it Alighting then and knocking at the door it was opened unto him by one in a gray gown who seemed by his countenance and speâ—ch to be a man that had not been long exercised in praier and austerity Father said the Knight pardon me I pray you if constrained by necessity I do thus interrupt your devotions it is now full two daies since I have eaten wherefore let me intreat you to supplie me with a bit of something God doth not give us that which we have only for our selves answered the Hermit but to impart it to such as want in regard whereof you may be assured to command whatsoever this desert place doth furnish me withall which it is liâ—ely that at this time you will find more favoury then the delicate meats you are every day cloied withall Saying so he laid a clean napkin by a fountains side and setting him bread and apples upon it he went and tied his steed unto a bush Rozalmond observing somthing in this man more then ordinary in Hermits could not forbear saying unto him Father I must beseech you not to be offended with the desire I have to know somewhat of you your youth and fair demeanor will not suffer me to beleeve that devotion hath brought you into this desert now if it be otherwise do me the favour to discover the cause which hath made you to change your life and what have been your fortunes whilest you were in the world Your judgement is not amisse answered the Hermit for indeed I never was inclined to this solitude and he that would have told me two or three months since that I should have lived as now I do and clad with this
incensed the Knight of the Roses that taking his sword in both his hands he discharged it with such fury on the Knight of the Savages his head that he overturned him on the crupper of his horse so far from himself as it was a quarter of an hour before he could recover his senses from thence putting himself in the front of the Greeks he overthrew all that he met withall in such sort that with the aid of the valiant Knights of â—â—e Serpents the strangers began to recoil and then did every one expect to 〈◊〉 them chased out of the field when as the incomparable Knight 〈…〉 Palms set spurs to his horse and came against Esquilan of Poland 〈…〉 he cast out of his saddle do what he could to keep in it The Princ◠〈◊〉 Greece who were much distasted to behold him stand still whilst the 〈◊〉 were in action were exceeding glad to see him enter into the combat and of his valour by the first incounter having so easily overthrown a Knight whom they lightly esteemed they all bent their eyes upon him and perceived how having drawn forth his sword he seemed a thunderbolt that drives all into ruine This glorious warrior conceiving that the honour of the turnament consisted not in the multitude of men but in the courage of the Chieftains made head against the Knights of the Serpents whose valour he had admired and knowing that great trees are not overturned with a little wind or with one silly blow of an aâ— he displayed the force of his arm and gave one of them such a violent blow that he laid him in the dust senslâ—sse and instantly with the like fury redoubling another he overthrew the second on the cruppet of his horse casting bloud out of his eyes and ears Hereupon the strangerâ— re-assumed new courage and laboured to imitate so valiant a leader who in the mean time pursuing his victory made such open way wheresoever he went that the Princes of Greece were constrained to acknowledge they had never beheld the like The Knight of the Roses who was then in fight with Brandimanda that had set upon him for to revenge her lover perceiving the disorder whereinto this Knight had brought his troops became wonderfully enâ—aged and gnashing his teeth for anger to see himself now in dispute for the honour of the turnament which all mens opinion had given him before he left Brandimanda astonied with a blow and calling for a strong lance to be brought him he cryed to the Knight of the Palms to defend himself whereat â—urning him about he sheathed up his sword and withall took the staffe which his Squire carried after him infinitely contented to hear himself called upon by a man whom he held to be one of the bravest and valiantest Knights of the earth and whose gallant demeanour had filled him with wonder settling himself then sure in his saddle and desiring to display all the valour and addresse that he had he set spâ—rs to his horse perceiving his enemy comming on and met him in the midst of the course with such marvellous fury that their lances shivering into a thousand pieces their horses recoiled three or four paces back unable to support so terrible a shock the Knights remaining firm in their saddles without any shew of amazement upon so violent a carriere O me said Florisel then what an incounter was this If two towers had met with such force together we should have seen theâ—â—oâ—h ruined and yet these Champions appear no more moved then if they had carried glasses in their hands It is marvellous indeed said Spheramond but let us see unto which of them Fortune will give the honour of the combat for they are going to it with their swords Whereupon these valorous Knights began to charge one another not as in a turnament but as two whose hatred would be the death of each other The Knight of the Roses considering that he fought before his friends who had alwayes shewed themselves insensible did wonders imployed his sword with fury and used all the sleights that are practised in combats but his adversary was so cunning that if he reached him one blow he was sure to receive another as dangerous and weighty â—â—â—â—antly if the one shewed himself ready and nimble the other expressed 〈…〉 esse agility their blows were dreadfull they joyned anger to force â—â—d time so kindled their courage that in stead of being weary their swords were seen to descend with more violence then at the beginning of the fight that every minute began more terrible to the great astonishment of the two troops which had withdrawn themselves apart the better to judge of this combat The valiant Prince of Greece who had never seen a fight maintained with like fury held thâ—se two warriors for the most redoubted that either their times or antiquity had produced Fowr hours being spent without any shew of desiring to rest themselves the ground was strewed with their armour the bloud flowed from divers parts of their bodies millions of sparkles flew about their ears and as every one conceived their forces to be alike nothing could be expected from their rage but dangerous and mortall blows The Knight of the Roses mad to finde such resistance in one man set both his hands to his sword and stretching himself forth upon his stirrups discharged it so manly on his shield that he divided it in two the point thereof falling with such fury on his casque that he was constrained to strike his head against the crupper of his horse so far from himself that the most part of the assistants beleeved he was dead neverthelesse he was seen quickly to re-settle himself up and clasping his sword fast in his haÌ„nd he gave his enemy such a terrible blow that it struck the Princes of Greece into admiration making the Knight to bow with his head to the pommell of the saddle so astonied that the bloud gushed out of his mouth and eyes every one thought him to be neer dead By my life said Spheramond this is one of the dreadfullest blows that ever I saw given and if the Knight of the Roses receives many such without all doubt he is not far from his end I do not know said Rogel what wil become of this combat I see no cause the one hath to brag more then the other for if the Knight of the Palms shews strength he of the Roses manifests but little weaknesse As he thus spake Rozalmond traÌ„sported with rage to see himself in the state he was in flew at his enemy wherupon they charged one another more furiously then before insomuch that six hours was past they never spake of resting themselves the more they fought the more courage and force they shewed Neverthelesse seeing the night approach they redoubled their blows and little regarding the trumpets that sounded a retreat they continued labouring to kill one another Don Rogel perceiving them to be so wilfully bent descended with
Lucendus and Spheramond desiring them to part and become friends for his sake but their rage being uncapable of reason they made as though they did not hear him intreating one another more cruelly then before howbeit considering that at length they should be obliged to yeeld unto him they stood up in their stirrups and taking their swords in both their hands they discharged them both at one time with such wonderfull fury that they overthrew one another to the ground at the same instant giving great appearance of death in their fall This accident infinitely displeased the Princes of Greece who held the losse of those Knights to be irrepairable and therefore went in all haste to succour them Spheramond to the Knight of the Roses unto whom he bore a particular inclination not knowing wherefore Lucendus to him of the Palms unto whom he thought he was obliged when as a damsell appeared amongst them that addressing her self unto Spheramond said thus unto him Excellent Prince you do well to seek the safety of this Knight for â—â—deed he is your son cause him presently to be caried in and use all meaâ—â— necessary to bring him to himself again I le take care for the other and wilâ— render him ere it be long in as good case to fight as ever he was Gentlewoman said Spheramond much amazed to hear that he held his son Rozalmond in his arms give us I beseech you the same remedy which you have promised to that Knight His vertue deserves it said she and therefore I may not deny you anoint his face and wounds with that which you shall find heer said she giving him a little glasse viall and then let time work Saying thus she caused Alcidamant to be laid upon a blanket which two Dwarfs carried between them who retiring out of the prease went with him towards the wood and entred into a shepherds cottage where she looked so carefully to him that within two howrs he came to himself again but so infinitely grieved in that he had not vanquished his enemy for he did not know that he was in as bad a state as himself that it is likely he would have advanced his own death had not the damsell assured him of the truth Suffering himself then to be drest he sâ—ept till the next day when he found himself perfectly healed and as able to ride as ever he was which so amazed him that if he had not certainly remembred his former actions he might well have been perswaded that all had been but a dream This while some of the Princes of Greece were imploied in caressing the brave Knights of the Serpents which were Persides Lucibel and Russian and the rest laboured to bring Rozalmond to himself again who within two howrs being some what recovered and finding himself between a pair of sheets and not knowing how he came there he began to detest his wicked fortune that had not permitted him to triumph over his enemy Shall I live said he with the shame of one vanquished and that which is more shall I dare to appear before Princes which never learnt so base a lesson No I will never survive the losse of mine honour and the glory of the combat which mine adversary hath carried from me Adiâ—u my fairest Armazia thou hast as just cause to abhor such a recreant as he hath reason never to present himself more before thee Whereupon throwing off the cloths he leapt furiously out of bed took his sword which he found lying upon the table and having drawn it forth continued on his speech in this manner It is fit that this blade should deprive me of life which could not take it away from a better Knight then my self howsoever my friends shall know that I did not want courage There with he was running himself upon it when as he perceived his Father comming in unto whom his Squire had discovered this fury His presence staid him and falling on his knees he said Ah Sir Come you to see a wretch that doth not merit the honour to be called your son you have alwaies triumphed over all the enemies that euer have presented themselves before you whereas I could not vanquish one single Knight in the presence of so many Princes that command the Empire of Arms. Oh! what a hell and vexation is this to me and that I might be permitted to revenge upon my self the wrong I do you Son said Spheramond I know not what cause you have to complain but you have this day got more honour by combatting the Knight of the Palms then ever I did by all my past adventures you have not prevailed over your adversary I confâ—sse but he hath no advantage of you and the estate into which you have put him is no lesse pitifull then that wherein you are you were overthrown both at one instant and the Iudges have pronounced your honour to be equall as your forces are alike comfort your self then and without passion which much abates of your judgement consider that the destinies have not promised to let all things succeed according to our desire Rozalmond weighing his fathers reasons understanding that he was not overcome as he imagined was somewhat pacified and returning to his bed promised to afflict himself no further but calling to mind that this Knight had deprived him of the honour of the turnament he conceived such hatred against him that it was a long time before it could be rooted out of his mind so that laying himself to rest with a resolution to be revenged on him and rather to travell over all the World then not to meet with him once again he fell into so sound a sleep that he waked not till eight of the clock the next morning at which time he arose without any pains at all of his wounds that were so well healed as the scars of them were hardly to be discerned whereat all the company exceedingly rejoiced and were resolved to renew their sports in testimony of the content they received at the return of this Prince so valorous in arms if his departure had not prevented them as shall be related by and by CHAP. XXXI Rozalmond departs secretly out of Constantinople to pursue and onâ—e more to combat the Knight of the Palms and the strange adventure that he incountred ROzalmonds displeasure continuing still amidst the caresses which he received all that day from an infinity of Lords and Ladies he withdrew himself somewhat betimes to his chamber where he called to him a yong gentleman the son of the Duke of Arbamont whose carriage and disposition he liked well and said unto him Artander so was he named hast thou any mind to my service Yes more answered the yong gentleman then to any others in the world wherefore my Lord you may absolutely command of me Be secret then said Rozalmond and be sure that I will largely recompence thy services the night favours the resolution I have taken to be gone from hence
and not to go so far we see our own times full of accidents which the madnes of women in that kind hath rendred most tragicall This incensed Queen seeing her Knight gone at first had recourse unto her tears but thinking that unprofitable and unfit for the resentment of an offence so great she wiped her eies and walking up and down very fast in her chamber she said Shall I be so simple as to afflict my self thus for one that is ingratefull Nay rather let me remember that his refusall obliges me to greater matters I must seek his death with more passion then ever I have done his caresses shew that it is not a Queen intreating but revenging a Lover languishing in expectation of her desire but a woman that receives not an affront without a home resentment of it and that will make it appear that dispite hath more power in her soul then all the flames of a childish God Whereupon causing one to be sent for whose wicked disposition she very well knew she gave him a round sum of money and enjoined him to surprise and stab the Knight of the Roses the next day wheresoever he could meet with him Madam said this cursed wretch I do not desire to know what cause of displeasure you have against him sufficeth it that I go upon your commandment his last howr is at hand and I assure your Majesty that you shall have the satisfaction you require I the glory of serving you faithfully and he the punishment which he hath deserved for I have those that will help to do the feat Heerwith he departed the chamber leaving the Queen ready to go to bed wherein she was no sooner laid but the Secretary of her affections who more advisedly considered the event of things went directly to Rozalmonds chamber where finding his Squire at the door she advertised him of the mischief was preparing for his Master Gentlewoman answered Artander softly my master is very much indebted to your pity and his condition is not so poor but that you may expect more good from him in a day then your mistris can do you in all your life but beleeve it if any man dare attempt him upon this occasion he shall not so easily escape as he imagins I shall acquaint him with the busines and take my word it shall never be known that you discovered it Saying so he went into his chamber after he had made the outter door sure and arising by break of day he laid his masters arms upon the table which observed by Rozalmond that slept not he asked him what he did Why preparing answered he for your departure because you cannot stay longer heer without apparant danger of your life Then he declared how the Queen would have him killed and that the Captain of her Guard had undertaken to do it Now by my life said Rozalmond I could never have beleeved that a woman could have been so â—urious and that neglect could have carried her to such tragicall actions but since it is so I must prevent it as I may Come help me up and then go and see my horses be ready against such time as I have taken my leave of the King Whereupon being wholly armed and descending into the Palace Court-yard for to bid Clerastes and his beautifull Carinda farewell he met with him that sought for him and seconded by threescore men assailed our Knight who having drawn his sword discharged his first blow upon the Captain knowing him to be the authour of the disorder and he struck him so dangerously that he divided his head in twain and from thence putting himself amongst the rest he scattered them in a strange manner The noise increasing the whole Court was in an uproar and every man rose to see what the matter was Clerastes whose lodging was not far off looked also out of his window and perceiving his friend in such danger he presently armed himself and went forth with diligence to his succour where finding this troop to be the Queens Guard he cryed to them Rogues how dare you assault this Knight By my life I le have you all hanged but they neither regarding him nor his words he joined himself to the valiant Knight of the Roses that seemed a thunderbolt amongst these rascals whereof he laid twenty three dead on the ground and seconding him with a marvellous courage three parts of this multitude was diminished when as the King being advertised of this hurly burly descended in his night-gown and commanded a surcease At his presence every one withdrew and he going to the Knight of the Roses demanded of him the cause of this quarrell Sir said he you may well imagine that I could not be the authour of it being a stranger who durst not be so hardy as foolishly to fight with your subjects had it not been to defend my life but the Law permitting us without any respect to kill such as endeavour to murder us I hope your majestie wil not be offended at their deaths I never saw them before to my knowledge so that having done them no displeasure I wonder what should move them to go about to take away my life I remembered the last night that I had ingaged my self for the execution of an adventure to the performance whereof being resolved to go and making account to depart assoon as your Majestie had been stirring and that I had received the honour of your commandments as I was to take my leave of Clerastes all these folks invironed me with their swords drawn charged me most furiously without saying wherefore Sir we bear arms for our own preservation and am sorry that I have made use of them against such as appertain unto you but your Highnesse knows as I said even now that it is lawfull to repell force with force in which regard I hope your Majestie will not take it ill that I have saved my self by their losse Not I said the King but by the faith of a Prince am well pleased with that you have done and to make this good to you I will hang up all those which your fury hath left alive for I will have your person as much respected heer as mine own nor hath Clerastes ever done me such service as now in succouring you though you had no great no need of it Sir said Clerastes being so infinitely obliged to this Knight and knowing that your Majestie loves him I armed my self in this sort for to run his fortune wherein if I have done any thing against the respect which I ow to your service by laying hands on such as belong to the Queen I humbly beseech your pardon No no said the King you have done me a singular pleasure in it but come let us go to my chamber in the mean time let these gallants be carried to prison for to teach them not to undertake any thing but by order Sir said Rozalmond I am ready to depart please it your Majestie to
from whence she took her way directly to the Court where finding Merodiana in her chamber she fell on her knees before her and beseeching her to be of good chear desired her hands to kisse for the good news she brought her Alas Cistenia said she with a sorrowfull countenance I know not what thou wilt say but the state whereunto I am reduced will not permit me to hope for much howsoever tell me I prethee wherein consist these good news In the arrivall of two Knights answered Cistenia the bravest and most valiant in my opinion upon the earth and that taking pitty of the wrong which this tyrant does you are come with a resolution to sucâ—our you How knowest thou that they are valiant said Merodiana since thou never sawst them fight I judge so by their brave carriage answered she and I may well say that you never beheld Knights of so gallant a disposition especially one of them that bears three Palms on his Shield He hath a marvelous good face an excellent shape and a brave warlicke countenance These are parts indeed common to many men said Merodiana and if the effect be answerable to the commendations thou givest him it may be I shall find some consolation in his presence But where hast thou left them Cistenia Fast by the enemies Camp answered she resolved to make way through it with their swords and give you some proof of their valour before they enter the towne and therefore do desire you to favour their retreat by sending forth four hundred Knights when the alarm shall begin among the the enemies Good gods said she make way through the enemies camp why thou amazest me Cistenia either they are mad men or valiant beyond expression Do not think answered she that this resolution of theirs proceeds from any rashnesse among all the qualities which recommend the Knight of the Palmes I have alwayes found him to be very discreet and advised wherefore I imagine that he hath undertaken this onely out of greatnesse of courage which makes him despise all common and inglorious designes I know not what will become of this enterprise said Merodiana but I will be most carefull to secure their retreat wherefore cause some of my Commanders to come hither Whereupon five or six of the chief of her Court presenting themselves before her she related unto them how two stranger Knights purposed to assail the enemies camp and therefore having commanded them to sally forth with the number they had required and to charge the enemy at such time as they should perceive any uprore in their camp she retired into her cabinet where she began to think of the speech which Cistenia had used concerning the Knight of the Palms Sometimes shâ— figured unto herselfe the beauty of his person and then again presently imagined that she saw him thundring amidst a squadron of armed forces and found herself possessed with I know not what kinde of good will towards him which converting into love made her infinitely desire the presence of this gallant Knight If he be worthy of me said she I am ready resolved to love him and his services are to attend their recompence in my favours But what if the eminence of his race should be responsible to my condition without doubt I would marry him and say he should be poor of means his vertue would supply that great default of fortune Well he must be seene and then time shall advise Saying thus she called Cistenia to help her to bed when as news was brought her that the enemies camp was all in a tumult She trembled at this report for she feared that her Knight would not bring his enterprizes to passe howbeit taking better heart she commanded her Câ—ptains to fally forth and put her head out of the window to see whether the Moon would discover her lover amongst a world of fighting men The noyse increased the camp was up in Arms the souldiers ran confusedly up and down Some asked what quarter it was that the enemy had assailed and with what numbers but no man could return any answer they knew not from whence their destruction came and their terrour was no lesse then if twenty thousand men had fallen upon their trenches The most part notwithstanding being advertised that two Knights only were the cause of this hurly-burly they returned into their tents laughing at their own fear and thinking themselves dishonoured for having been frighted by the temerity of two men In the mean time the two invincible Knights bestowed their blows with such fury that all passed under the edge of their blades they overthrew as many enemies as presented themselves before them cut off the arms of some divided the heads of others in pieces made so great a havock amongst them that every one feared their swords as if they had been thunderbolts the wayes were free none opposed their rage and if any one durst stand before them he was sure to be slain but with one blow Alcidamant many times observed that great Knight of the Lions so was Troilus named and seeing with what grace he massacred his enemies put the most confident to flight commended him as one of the valiantâ—st Gentlemen on the earth but the other wondred at Alcidamants dreadfull blows and thinking no mortall man was capable of so much force beheld him as a prodigie and worthy of all marvell The slaughter having endured above two howrs Merodiana's Knights appeared and gave so furiously on the enemy that with the feare they were in they layd above three hundred on the earth But the Gyant who would not stir forth upon the first bruit arriving thereupon Alcidamant and the Knight of the Lions put themselves in the Rear and causing a retreat to be sounded sustained the brunt of his troops untill such time as they had gotten to the walls from whence a thousand Crosse-bows discharged such a multitude of shot upon the enemy that he was constrained to retire extreamly vexed to have been so beaten by two Knights who seeing themselves within the gates demanded whether Merodiana were withdrawn to bed No answered Cistenia that came forth to receive them amidst the troops she attends you in her chamber for to begin the thankes which she owes to your valour So taking them by the hand she conducted them to the Court where Alcidamant finding Merodiana much fairer then Cistenia had described her would have saluted her upon his knees but she that through this warlicke countenance was strucken with the flashes of an unresistable beauty stayed him from doing so and said Valiant Knight in all right I ow that respect unto you if you would receive it from me for being come to the succour of an Orphan maid which expected nothing but death to avoid the violence of a wicked man I cannot use too much submission for to honour you but being fully resolved to shew my self more sensible of benefits then officious in my complements I will leave it to
so bravely that he made him quit his saddle and cast him four or five paces of I knew well enough said he rising lesse hurt then was imagined that I should give my fellows occasion to laugh and that I should not resist that incomparable force which is dreadfull to the stronggest Giants upon the earth but I will be more charitable then they for I will let you know that this Princesse which you see is sister to the beautifull Merodiana to the end you may not employ your Lance against her Knights You have reason said Alcidamant to beleeve that I will not run against them and if I had known you I had not justed with you and that you may not complain of your fall I am ready to repair that fault when you please Whereupon advancing towards the fair Silvana he saluted her as though he had never seen her before and riding along by her they took the way to Alfarta where the fairest Merodiana received them at the first very heartily never doubting of the prank which was plaid to her prejudice but who can blind the eyes of a lover This Lady calling to mind the absence of her Knight led away as she was informed by a Damsell which was shewed to her a little after presently suspected not the matter as it was but something near unto it insomuch that she observed their actions and therein finding but too much proof of their love she grew so jealous that she could not rest On the other side Silvana was in the like perplexity for seeing how coldly her Knight spake to her in the presence of Merodiana and marking the amorous looks they gave one another it madded her neverthelesse they concealed their thoughts and watched for more pregnant testimonies to complain upon a sure ground but Alcidamant was so discreet that he deceived them both My dearest Knight said Merodiana sighing when she had him in bed take it not ill I pray you if the extremity of my passion constrains me to be a little jealous of you you look upon my sister with too affectionate an eye and the care which you seem to have of her service appears to me more then good will she is amiable you deserve to be sought unto what may I then think of your familiarity Too much I fear for my content but if you will consider what you owe to so many carresses which you have received from me how I undo my self to oblige you that regard no slanderous tongue to give you satisfaction and how I have freely bestowed on you what was most dear unto me for to please you I hope you will not be my ruine nor impart your imbraces to another seeing no man partakes of my kisses but will be pleased to let me onely enjoy you that seeks for nothing save occasion how to delight you These words finishing with tears made our Frenchman somewhat to repent who seeking to excuse his fault covered it with the name of respect represented that in regard she was her sister he was to carry himself fairly towards her protesting that he had never so much as a thought of that which she imagined he somewhat pacified her and interrupted the course of her complaints after which he was sure to have the like of the fair Silvana Dearest love said she when she could speak particularly to him I have great cause to complain my sister hath all your caresses she hath dayes to enjoy your company whereas I have not minutes your eyes are alwayes fixed on her and I but a few glances if you speak to me it is with too much respect and too little love what have I done to deserve so cold an entertainment or what have I not done to be more kindly intreated I have freely given my self to you but alas it may be your neglect proceeds from thence I have left my countrey for to see you and yet I cannot enjoy that but anothers caresses makes you find no delight in my embraces Now I would fain know what is the cause of it she hath no advantage of me we are sisters her beauty exceeds not mine at leastwise I think so I accompany my kisses with as much Art as a woman can use to render them more pleasing love you as much or rather more then she doth for I know that all the affections of the earth do not equall the violence of my flames yet I must suffer whilst another lives contented and reaps the reward of my travels Ah this is great injustice carry lesse respect to persons and be more equall If you think your self obliged by the consideration of your being here with her shall not I give you in the Iland oâ— Silvana the same pleasures which you find here Yes my dearest I will find out if it be possible far greater delights and so behave my self that you shall not repent your abandoning her for to follow me He that beholds a rock between two seas sometimes beaten with the one and then again with the other may figure out this Knight between these two sisters equally importuned with either of their complaints He loved Merodiana very much Silvana's kisses were of no lesse power with him her reasons moved him the others sighes found him not insensible his heart was divided betwixt them and taking pleasure in Merodiana's caresses he met with as much content in those of her beautifull sister At length this last speech which Silvana made had prevailed with him had he not called to mind the resolution he had taken to carry himself in such manner as he would lose neither the one nor the other of them Returning then the same reasons the same excuses the same dissembling the same oathes and the same caresses which he had used to Merodiana he somewhat appeased her displeasure neverthelesse he could not so â—emean himself but that there remained so powerfull a suspition in the minds of these sisters as converting into jealousie it made them odious one to another though they laboured wisely â—o disguise their thoughts If Merodiana was alone she presently imagined that her Knight was in her sisters arms If Silvana saw him not she beleeved he was in private with her sister they went to one anothers chamber and met oftentimes in the mid-way they were sisters love made them secretly rivals Merodiana observed all Silvanas actions Silvana had a continuall desire to understand what her sister did briefly all their motions were suspitions their suspitions strong jealousies and their jealousies insupportable griefs It is not a care of my honour said Merodiana that induces my sister to watch me in this fashion much lesse any excesse of affection to me for I know her thoughts but too well it must be then the spite she bears me for crossing her desire but why should I give entertainment to a controller of my actions she is amorous of my Knight she loves him passionatly and would fain deprive me of him but I will not endure her boldnesse
vertue render you worthy of that honour your valour that carries your name over all the earth hath made me desire to see and try you that so I might know whether the effect be answerable to the praises which the world gives you but beleeve me you have wrong in that you have not altars erected unto you and your glory placed where it deserves howsoever it sufficeth that you are esteemed of me as you ought to be and that I have such an opinion of you as obliges me not to pardon you because you have never offended but to grant you the favour to be my Knight Wherefore I receive your service and your vowes and do further promise to give you one day that place in my bed which I had reserved for some one of the Gods being hitherto perswaded that the earth had not a man worthy of that fortune Madam answered he trembling with joy to hear the sentence of his felicity pronounced in so sweet a promise Be sure that to merit such grace I will do things above the power of man and that in my services you shall finde all that can be expected from an obliged soule protesting neverthelesse never to dispence with my self for the respect which I owe to your greatnesse No no said she love will endure no constraint and I desire we may live together without ceremony that we may with the more sweetnesse enjoy out conversation I will submit to such lawes as you shall prescribe me said Alcidamant and you shall see me eternally disposed never to fail against the obedience of your commandments That is it which I desire said Trasielea in the mean time get you to horse and follow me to the Emperour my father unto whom I will present you for to be admitted into the number of his Knights Whereupon Alcidamant mounting on horseback after he had very humbly kist her hands in some acknowledgement of the grace she did him rode along with her and entertained her with the best discourse his troubled minde would permit him to use CHAP. XLV Alcidamant entertains amorous discourse with the beautifull Trasiclea and encounters Rozanel d' Astre in the midst of a wood who relates unto him his love with Angelea of Sâ—pradisa ALcidamant thinking no glory in the world equall to that which he had in the sight of his Lady rode on so contented that he esteemed himself the happiest man living he often fixed his eyes on her and finding her incomparably fair whether he considered the delicate features of a perfect visage or thought upon the â—orce which she had shewed in justing he conceived her to be that Pallas whom the Ancients had worshipped She on the other side observing a most extraordinary grace in his actions an amorous face a lovely eye a sweet disposition a warlike and majesticall countenance imagined him to be the God of battels whose power and arms the whole universe adored in such sort that their content was recâ—procall their glory alike and their desires common Trasiclea beheld the letters which in gold were embossed upon her Knights Armour with a great minde to know the mystery thereof Alciâ—amant many times considered the figurâ— which he saw in the middest of his Ladies Shield musing at the cause that moved her to affect that bird both of them carried by the same desire were opening their mouthes to inform themselves of it and retained by a like consideration would not seem too curious At last Trasiclea lesse â—ashâ—ull or more amorous said unto him Since you are my Knight you may not refuse to impart your adventures unto me to tell me freely who you are and for the love of what Lady you have câ—used those characters to be put upon your Armour It is more then fit said he that I should satisfie you herein I am a Knight errant native of the kingdome of France having no better fortune then that of my hope and most unworthy of your greatnesse if you measure not my merit by my love strangers call me the Knight of the Palms and my friends know me better by the name of Alcidamant As for my parents they are noble but in truth not furnished with great estates though I mâ—y say without vanity that Crowns are unjustly wanting to their worth Touching these Arms which were given me by a learned Inchantresse when I was to combat Fangomadan I conceive they were made upon the occurrence of our loves for heer are the first letters of our names interlaced a T which signifies Trasiclea and an A which is as much to say as Alcidamant so that I presume with reason that all this hath been governed by the providence of heaven But Madam I have been long meditating on the device you bear in your Shield and do therein finde no lesse a mystery then in these characters for bearing two birds which never meet together as being unique in their kinde I am perswaded that you would thereby figure your merit and my love which separately or together can receive no comparison in the world nor ever can be incountred in one and the same affection for your beauties which take their originall from heaven and my love which is derived from your divine perfections seem to make but one person of our two bodies as these birds are united in such a fashion that you think them to be but one were it not for the difference of the heads I do beleeve with you said she that there is a great deal of mystery in our incounter for these arms were given me by a woman who having told me that with them I should receive a wound whereof I should never be cured and yet that the steel of no enemy should ever pierce them it had disswaded me from ever using them but that she added withall how this wound should no way indanger my life but contrarily I should finde so much delight in it that I should blesse the time wherein I got it all which is manifestly made good at this instant my hurt being no other then the love wherewithall I am strucken which shall not diminish by the knowledge I have of your mean fortune for being a Gentleman vertuous and valiant I shall affect you far more then if you had Empires without vertue courage and glory onely live with me as I have told you and I shall prize your valour above all the Kingdoms of the earth seeing riches and crowns ought not to be the object of a generous spirit These lovers entertaining one another in this manner travelled with such content that whole dayes past away insensibly so that being not above five leagues from Tarsipolis the Capitall City of the Empire of Tramazond Trasiclea sent Cesarina such was the Damsels name that conducted Alcidamant for to see whether any adventure was befallen at the Court worthy a couragious undertaking that their apparance there might be so much the more remarkable The Damsell bâ—ing departed then these lovers transported with the excesse
of their joy which made them think of nothing else lost themselves in a forrest where they rode so long till they were overtaken by the night and forced to rest under the tree till morning eating in the mean time of such provâ—sions as Arâ—ides carried along with him having no other light then that which reciprocally shone from their eyes they supped with more content then if they had been separated in the richest palace of the world with the best and most exquisite meats that possibly could be had This small repast being done they began to renew their discourse when as they heard the voice of one that complained hard by them Their curiosity thereupon causing them to arise they took one another by the hand and with their helmets on went softly to the place from whence the voice came and heard one speak in this sort Wretch that I am To what extremity doth fortune reduce me bereaving me of the means to free my Lady and reserving her deliverance to the valour of some Knight who finding her endued with such excellent beauty may with reason demand her for the recompence of his labours and deprive me of that happinesse which I had promised my self in the fruition of her What shall I survive then the grief of her losse Never if I were once assured of it but my hope in the goodnesse of heaven doth perswade some relief unto my miserie upon that then Rozanel depend and let no way be left unsought to succour thy distressed Angelea This complaint closing with a world of sighs exceedingly moved both Trasiclea and Alcidamant who advancing three or fowr paces presently heard the Knight ask Who goes there We are Knights answered he who would willingly bring some remedy to your grief and that desire you consider how complaints do not be seem a valiant and magnanimous man seeing there is more glory in suffering then in such weak expressions The darknesse and silence of these woods are very proper I confesse to represent your sorrows unto you but I shall desire you to divert them with our company to relate unto us the cause of your misfortune and afterwards to make use of us if you think us able to succour you I know not who you are replied he but your pity of my affliction doth testifie that you are noble and curteous wherefore I shall gladly obey you and recounting unto you my fortunes iâ—brace the generous offers you have made me I am called Rozanel d'Astre son to the valiant Amadis d'Astre and to the beautifull Rozaliana the Emperours daughter of the Parthians I went out of Constantinople certain moneths since with an intent to make my self famous in the world in imitation of my father who in his younger yeers never met but with one equall to him in valour namely Spheramond of Greece his Cousin I traversed many Christian Kingdoms giving an end to divers strange adventures which I will not here particularize to avoid ostentation and travelled thus glorious without any other aim then honour when as that proud tyrant of our soules Love conducted me into the Kingdom of Sopradisa to triumph over me by the soveraigne beauty of Angelea Grandchilde to the invincible Amadis of Gaul I obtained her favour by killing a furious Giant who knowing this Countrey to be destitute of good Knights ever since the losse which the Christians received at the battell of Aleppo committed marvellous insolencies and would have married this fair Princesse in despight of her self and her subjects who would by no means dispose of her without the authority of their Prince named Florian then abroad in travell This victory having given me all interest in her which a modest virgin may accord unto her lover I lived so contented that I did not think fortune was able to crosse me But alas I was not fully a moneth in this felicity when as to my infinite grief I perceived that our happinesse or unhappinesse depend altogether on her For one morning I saw three women enter into the hall of Sâ—pâ—adisa with their hair about their ears each of them bearing a torch in their left hand a guilt truncheon in the right and viols on their heads which tumbling down at such time as they had made a circle in the midst of the hall there arose such a thick fog that it was two howrs before one could discern any thing at the end whereof the beauteous Angelea was not to be found only neer to the Royall Throne a pillar was seen whereon hung a table of brasse with these words In revenge of the bloud of Alifernes so was the Giant named whom I killed Angele shaâ—â— continually burn in a cruell fire and shâ—ll not be freed from thonce till the pair without peer deliver her the beauty of the valourous Serpent having no lesse power therein then the strength of the brave Lion Imagine now what case I was in when I mist the object of my glory and desires verily I was ready to die for grief and had it not been for the ease I found in my tears and sighs it had stifled me but fortune that reserved me for greater miseries would not suffer me to end so happily I remained then lying altogether in affliction unable to taste the comforts which the people of Sopradisa offered unto me and arming my self I resolved to traverse all the earth and seek her even in the very jaws of hell and accordingly I have past I know not how many countreys continually inquiring after the cause of my mishap neverthelesse being arrived in these unknown Kingdoms whither I was brought by as long and furious a tempest as ever was without any news at all thereof I began to be in despair when as a Damsell overtook me at the entry of this wood and told me that the deliverance of Angelea was neerer then I imagined but that the glory of it should not fall upon me it being reserved for the best Knight of the world wherefore she bade me stay some time in this Countrey and follow such as shewed themselves sensible of my sufferings in which regard I will leave off afflicting my self and if you please to accept of my company I will wait upon you and see how propitious heaven will be unto me in your assistance Why this is nobly resolved said Alcidamant and I assure you we shall be any way glad of your fair conversation and therefore betaking your self quietly to your rest this night to morrow assoon as the day shall appear we will set forth together and peradventure we may finde that which you have so much sought with all the content you can wish for Whereupon laying themselves down under the trees Alcidamant caused Arnides to keep watch and amorously kissing his Ladies hand he slept till morning CHAP. XLVI Alcidamant Rozanel and Trasiclea leave the wood Rozanel delivers Cesarinâ— whom three Knights pursued Alcidamant slayes the King of Dramir valiantly gives end to the adventure of the burning Rock
behold so fair a Princesse bear Arms they arrived at Tarsipolis where the first thing they did was to go straight way to the Camp to combat the King of Dramir whereof the Emperour being advertised betooke him presently to the windows as much admiring the gallant carriage of the Knights as satisfied with his daughters return whom he easily knew by her Arms and that having espied him went up instantly to him to do her dutie Your long stay abroad said he hath extreamly discontented me but your safe return makes a full amends for it You will have more cause to rejoyce Sir answered she when you understand how I have brought you that famous Knight who hath filled all the regions hereabout with wonder he that slew the mighty King of Licagena that with a handfull of men cut his Army in pieces that killed the monster of the Island of Silvana and in my presence three furious Giants with fingle might had made the greatest Estate of the world to tremble What a rich booty hast thou got my daughter said the Emperour if thou canst keep him here He comes with an intent to be of the number of your Knights answered she wherefore may it please you to affoord him as gracious entertainment as possibly may be for I assure you Sir he merits it more than any other Knight whatsoever Be confident daughter said he that I will give him very much cause to abide in my court for all my treasures shall be upon him and my chiefest Princes shall yeild him place But let us see how he will carry himself against the King of Dramir which would prefer a common beauty far before yours whose excellencie onely deserves the title of Divine Whereupon going to the windowes they saw Brandamar flye over the crupper of his horse and the valiant Knight of the Palms passe on with an admirable grace Behold an encounter of the Lance said the Emperour that does not belye the fame which this Knight hath acquired in the world and if he can manage a Sword as well our Amoroso shall misse of the content he expects here Trasiclea was about to reply but was retained by hearkening to her lover who was alighted because he would not fight with advantage and said to his enemy that made but little haste in rising having been shrewdly shaken with his fall Why how now King of Dramir are you no forwarder in defendidg the beauty of your Mistresse questionlesse she will have but little reason to caresse you up up it may be you shall rest in another fashion by and by These words which made all the people fall a laughing at him having put him into an extream rage he rose as if he had received no hurt and drawing out his Sword went and struck at Alcidamant in a most violent manner but he wifely avoyding it with admirable agility discharged a full blow on his left arm cutting it off sheer from his body Whereat this lame lover being strangely incensed returned another with all his force on the Frenchmans Shield which proving impenetrable it recoiled in vain howbeit nothing abashed therewith he laid about him most furiously and rendred the combat very doubtfull but Alcidamant confidering that he fought before the Father and for the glory of his Lady and disdaining to have the victory any longer disputed he advanced his Sword and let it descend in such a terrible manner on Brandamar that it divided him to the very girdle wherwith all the assistants were so amazed as they could not beleeve that this blow could proceed from any other then the great God of Battles and for such would have adored him would he have endured such vanity but sheathing up his Sword and going to the Palace he presented himself to the Emperour who received him with all the testimonies of a most extraordinary respect Sir said he kneeling down before him the report which runs of the worthy esteem your Majesty makes of good Knights hath given me the confidence thus to become an humble suitor that you wil be graciously pleased to accept of my service I am more contented with your presence said the Emperour then with the addition of another Empire whatsoever you desire in my Court shall be yours and my people shall honour you no lesse then mine own person I shall never be worthy of this favour said the Knight But Sir I will perform such deeds of Arms for your service that you shall never repent any grace you have conferred on me Then turning himself to his fair Princesse and kissing her hands with incredible delight he assured her of the continuance of his vowes This done the Emperour would have had him conducted to his chamber but being moved with the complaints of that beauteous Infanta which he saw in the middest of the flames of the burning rock he besought the Emperour that he would vouchsafe to entertain himselfe a while with beholding the triall of this adventure and desiring the same from his Lady he was drawing out his Sword when as he perceived Rozanel advancing towards the rock with the countenance of a man half bestraught My noble friend said he unto him whither run you thus Either to dye with my Angelea said hee whom I see in that fire or deliver her out of her pains Herewith the Emperour being advertised by Alcidamant of the love between this Knight a great Prince among the Christians and that beautifull Infanta which he beheld in the rock he stood to observe the success of this enterprise saw that having touched the rock with his Sword a Knight came forth of it whose armour was covered all over with great flames and that shewing a confident look began one of the roughest combats with Rozanel that could be between two Knights their blows were mighty and according to the extream fury which Rozanel expressed in his fight every stroke he struck gave an expectation of the end of this combat howbeit the glory being reserved for another he remained a little after extended in the place with an opinion that he should be consumed in his armour neverthelesse the heat allayed as soon as he touched the ground nor was he further tormented therewith when he was once unarmed but such was his grief and displeasure that he would have thrown himself into the Rock for to die with Angelea had he not been restrained by Alcidamant who staying him by the arm declared unto him the fault he had committed by shewing himself so weak Wherewithall being somewhat pacified Alcidamant drew his sword and seeing a man all in flames issue forth as before he charged him with such fury that all the hall was full of sparkles The combat growing terrible gave a world of expectation to the beholders every one looked with passion upon the Knight of the Palms who preferring death before the shame of not vanquishing in the presence of his Mistris prest the inchanted Knight so hard that ever and 〈…〉 made him set his knoâ—s
he concealed his mind hoping that Corazinda had more judgement then to suffer her self to be carried by such an ill favoured and ugly beast Whilst all these gallants dyed for the love of her she felt the same passions for the Lady and because shee durst not sigh but in secret shee spent much of her time alone in the Gardens where shee entertained her self in this manner To what end serves this borrowed disguise if I have not an heart to crave a remedy for the extremity of my grief I see Palmirenna it is true I kisse her hands and by an excesse of good fortune shee sometimes joynes her lips unto mine but what doth that avayl mee seeing she does it in regard of the habit that I were not of the love that I beaâ— her Nothing questionlesse but to increase my torment these are winds which in stead of extinguishing my flame make it burn with the more violence and if I take not a stronger resolution I have laboured in vain to get the possession of so invaluable a gâ—mme I must then either quit this habit or make another and better use of it then hitherto I have done womens hearts are not without pitty and when Palmirenna shall know that I am a Knight shee will not advance my death by manifesting it to another But what is this I say will shee not have just cause to blame this deceit and to banish me from her sight for a punishment of so hainous a crime yes no doubt and wheras the good will shee bore mee whilst she thought me to be of her sex might counsell her to do otherwise honour and decencie will fence her to it I do therfore ill to yield to my desires I am more happy then I deserve for the longer I suffer the greater will be my glory So resolving to be silent and leave her remedy untâ— time shee sate her down one day under a tree upon whose bark she had graven a thousand characters where shee began to renew her complaints when as Palmirenna arriving there by chance with three of her Ladies caught her by the arm and said What Corazinda are you still weeping cannot all our caresses make you forget our countrey Truly I have reason to complain of you and will never beleeve that you love mee so much as you say since you continue so sad here Think not answered she some what amazed to see her self so surprised that I bestow these tears on the remembrance of my countrey or friends their absence is the least of my cares but I grieve for that I cannot profit you by my service nor advance my self a whit in the honour of your savour for loving you farre more and that beyond all comparison as I may truly say then all the Knights of the world put together can possibly do I could wish that your eyes should rest no where but on mee as my thoughts have no other object then the excellencie of your beauty I wonder said Palmirenna that you should complain thus of me without a cause doth not my womens jealousie who are vexed for that they cannot be so free with mee as you are make it evidently appear how infinitly I love you clear your self of this sinister impression and be confident dear Corazinda that if your content depends on me you shall live as happily as your own heart can wish being resolved to give you and that most willingly all that you can desire of mee provided I may see you no more thus afflicted Now are all my sorrows at an end answered Corazinda for all the good of my future life is tyed to the effect of this promise which I hope you will never forget and to make my happinesse compleat there wants nothing but this that whereas herein the Court I am called the fair slave you will be pleased that hereafter I may bee called Palmirenna's fair slave Here at the Princesse fell a laughing and embracing her said that it pleased her very well Some houres being sweetly spent in such like discourse which testifying more and more an extream love that gave the Ladies great occasion to marvell from whence the heat of so powerfull an affection should proceed these two incomparable beauties retired into the Palace where the Emperour meeting with them began on a sudden to feel that fire burn which the first sight of our fair slâ—ve bad kindled in his brest Pretty one said hee â—nto her having withdrawn her to a window doe not you thinke is time yet to case my pain and shall the discretion which you have sound in my carriage leave you insensible of my sufferings consider that my love can make you the happiest Woman of the world and that your good fortuâ—e depends on the pitty which you shall have of me and that if you be inexorable you will give mee just occasion to accuse your in gretitude and to retrench you of those favours which you receivehere Sir answered she knowing full well that â—hee was to flatter his grief rather than incense his choller my judgement is not so weak as to make me neglect the contentment and advantages which the honour of your affection doth promise mee but do you think that having yet sighes in my mouth and tears in my eyes to be wayl my captivity my esloignment from my countrey and the losse of my friends I can resolve for any pleasure verely I cannot time the common Physician of our miseries may alter this peevish humour and furnish mee with other devises bee pleased I beseech you Sir to attend your remedy from thence your delight will be the greater when I shall give it you without grudging and not forcing my will you shall oblige mee to commâ—nd your gentlenesse in the mean while let mee obrain of you that you will not afflict yourself and giving mee leave to retyre from hence for to avoid the suspicion which may bee had of your intent leave me so to manage my sorrows with time as I may be ableere it be long to satisfie your hopes Go my dearest Cornkinds said be insinitly contented with this answer the gods which have made you to â—air make you as true Palmirennaes fair slave having got off in this manner went to find on her Lady but understanding that shee was laid down to sleep shee returned into the Garden where having made afewturns she peceiveda man lying on the grasse under the shadow of certain trees who thinking hee was not over-heand spake thus Wretched Knight what canst thou expect from thy enterprise but insuppottabletonments thou imaginest that time and thy services will beget a liking of thee in this Princesse but thou wilt be deceived shee will receive them from thee as from an ordinary Knight obliged by the liberality of her father what wilt thou doe then wilt thou discoverthy self for to serve her openly thou wilt not be believed but say thou wert difference of religion would serve for a cause to refuse thee now to
a flame which your fair eyes have kindled his little merit and your greatnesse make incessant was upon him hee hath no relief but in his sighes in the which too hee finds a great deale of misery Leave him not Madam in the midst of so many Enemies that oppresse him hee will not live but for you prolong his dayes for your service and because all his felicity depends thereupon permit in the mean time that hee may be named Your KNIGHT Is it possible said 〈◊〉 that there should be so much temerity in a man an ordinary Knight addresse himselfe to me motion love to me and be a Suitor to me for some favour This is an unpardonable insolence hee must bee relieved Almerina but in an other manner then hee hopes for return preseâ—â—ly to him and tell him that I am acquainted with his intent and that it lies in me to have him most rigorously punished for it howbeit being more mercifull then hee deserves I will let him live upon condition that hee speedily void the Countrey and never present himself again before me Madam answered Almerina pardon me I beseech you if J doe nor approve of this your displeasure and justly you cannot lay so grievous a command upon me hee is one of the greatest Princes now living upon the earth and to intreat him so unworthily is against all reason How doe you know said Amplamira that hee is such as you deliver him I learned it by his discourse answered 〈◊〉 but without that the brave carriage of himself his fair parts and the confidence out of which hee hath dared to addresse himself unto you and most assured demonstrations of an extraordinary and high 〈…〉 Permit him Madam to love you for I doe not thinke thâ—â— iâ— whâ—â—â— world you can meet with one that is so handsome and so 〈◊〉 of you That hee is valiant you cannot doubt the death of the Aâ—â—â—◠〈…〉 whom he slew in your presence being armed but with a single sword make it good what can you wish for more in a man verely one of his merit is not easily sound and if you let this occasion slip you will be the first that will repent it Thou pleadest so well for him said Amplanira who hegan to feele the first assaults of love that I am resolved to over come my self for to affect him but at any hand I will not have him know so much Pish said Almerina what good can this affection doe him if he must be ignorant of it would his sorrows be asswaged would hee have lesse cause to complain and afflict himself No Madam hee must bee made acquainted with his good fortune or else you must not love him Why said Amplamira wouldest thou have mee contrary to all order bee a Suitor and demand that of him which hee ought not to obtain of mee without a world of service and suffering I doe not mean so neither said Almerina I only say that hee is to be received favourably when hee shall presenâ— himself before you and that you do not refuse him the favour â—e desires which is to employ his Armes as your Knight This cannot bet conveniently done said Amplamira for to speak openly with him would not become me since he is not known what he is for him to come heâ—her is far more unfit for so I might not only give my women occasion to talk but peradventure all the Court what course shall we hold then that it may be affected A little thing troubles you said Almerina well take you no care I le bring it to a good issue so as you will leave it to me and follow my counsell only be mindfull to know of him who hee is when you see him that you doe not ingage your self inconsiderately nor repent the losse of your liberty This discourse ended by the arrivall of Palmirenna and her fair slave who could not endure to be asunder Almerina get her presently forth and found out Floridan to whom having delivered in few words that hee was to hope well and that hee should not fail to be the next day at the same place and time where she had met with him in the Garden shee returned leaving him more contented then ever hee was in all his life CHAP. VII Amadis unable to endure the violence of his desires discovers himselfe to Palmirenna her answer Floridan is presented to Amplamira by Almerina THe day beginning to break Floridan to whom minutes had been unsupportable hours got him out of bed and having apparelled himself in the bravest fashion hee could devise to appear the more pleasing in the eyes of Amplamira went down into the Garden where hee walked up and down earnestly beseeching in his heart that proud divinitie which triumphâ—d over his desires that hee would direct his tongue at his incounter with his Lady and render her sensible of his pain but imagining that she could not come so soon he laid him down under certain trees and fel into so deep a muse of his expected happinesse that three hours past insensibly away at the end whereof his passion making him beleeve that the leaves driven by a sweet and gentle breath of wind proceeded from Amplamira's steps he suddenly rose and looked a thousand times about him howbeit seeing no body appear hee got into an arbour covered with Iasemine where the fear of meeting with new difficulties in his enterprise assailing him he said In vain I attend a felicity that I have never deserved Amplamira will not come and the sweetnesse of those hopes which had already placed me in the supremest degree of glory will I doubt be changed into bitternesse the houre prescribed me is past Almerina appears not what shal I think then of so grievous a retardment but that which hath always accompanied the evill fortune of my actions I see there is no way for me but to resolve for death which yet would bee better then a life so full of crosses at least wise Amplamira being the cause of it I shall indure it without grief Herewith going out of the Arbour as if hee would have sought for the end of his days hee perceived that Sun to appear whose approach he had attended with so much impatience which so transported him with the excesse of a sudden joy as notable to sustain himselfe hee fell on his knees but so oportunely that Amplamira arriving thereupon by the cunning of Almerina who had gotten her down into the Garden under colour of conferring privately with her about the last nights Affair shee beleeved that it was purposely done to obtain that of her which hee had sued for by his Letter Their amazement being great they beheld one another a good while without speaking a word Floridan trembled Amplamira found her selfe surprised by so unexpected an incounter and knew not how to speak to this Lover doubting to shew her selfe either too free or too reserved howbeit receiving incredible content to see him at her feet in such
that foolishly restraineth us you assure me that I have more interest in your heart then all the men besides in the world I have sworn a thousand times that I never adored any but you and that I wil never sigh for an other I will reiterate the same oathes give me the same assurance render the effects conformable to your words and making me partaker of the glory of your bed as your husband disdain not to be my wife upon the promise which now I make you before Heaven and your faithfull Crestia to espouse you solemnly at Constantinople or as soon as wee shall have disposed your father thereunto Why dearest Lord said Palmireâ—â—â— that was possest with no lesse powerfull desire then hee I have as much affection as you to wish our present content but pardon me if I tell you freely that I am to bee more carefull of my selfe I have heard of a thousand misfortunes occasioned by the inconstancie of men I may fear the like and when you were absent from me as the fortune of war might many times carry you abroad I should still be in doubt that you were in the power of some other beauty Ah Madam said Amadis shedding tears and deeply sighing which hee knew was of marvellous force to constrain the heart of a Woman have I not cause to be exceedingly grieved that you will ranke me thus amongst the worst of men Vnworthy and dishonourable spirits may offend so basely but a man whose aym is reputation will never fall into so soule a fault I may fail but never so much and say I should be tempted with some such desire have not you wherwithall to make mee sure look but only on your eyes and there you shall find charms able to arrest the most fickle humour in the world and to assure your fear These considerations Madam are cruell and if you desire to see an end of me doe but continue firm in the mind you seem to be in Your griefe doth much afflict me answered she nor will my love indure to see you suffer thus any longer wherfore I am contented to espouse you this evening but I will have my sister Amplamira whom I hold most dear to be present with Crestia at the vowes and oathes you shall make never to have any other Wife but me Madam answered he infinitly transported with joy I am not able to give you thanks worthy enough for the greatnesse of this grace but I will serve you so faithfully that you shall never repent the conferring of it on me I am wonderfully well contented that the Princesse Amplamira may be with you for I hope ere it be long to do her the like good office Why said Palmirenna will you give her an husband Madam answered Amadis the excesse of my happinesse will not permit me to conceale any thing how important soever from you I will acquaint you with a very great secret but with condition that you will be pleased to assist me to bring it to passe The Knight of the Flowers whom you know is my Nephew sonne to Rogel of Greece Emperour of Persia he is passionately in love with your sister Amplamira and by the means of Almerina he hath lately had accesse unto her in such sort as I beleeve she will not refuse him if you will present him unto her for a husband let one and the same time consummate these mariages the knowledge you have of a Lovers pains together with my intreaties may perswade you unto it but when you shall consider that it is for your sisters good you will be carried to it with more affection Verely this is strange said Palmirenna and sure this day is fatall for the happinesse of our house my Lord let us send for this Knight and know of him how farre hee hath proceeded with Amplamira afterwards we will dispose of the rest Crestia having order then to seek out Floridan these Lovers remained alone to Amadis unspeakable content who feeling himself much pressed by his desires would fain have entred into the possession of his felicity but Palmirenna she wing him how neer it was to night hee was constrained to command over his appetite and have a little patience the rather because Crestia arrived then with Floridan who going to Amadis after hee had kissed Palmirenna's fair hands he said unto him what occasion Corazinda keeps you thus in your bed Nay said Palmirenna smiling call him boldly by his name we have found out his tricks and which is more we know your greatest secrets does Amplamira love you and can you hope for any thing from your services Hereat Floridan blushed and was so dismayed that he could not return her a word he beheld Amadis laughing and perceiving Palmirenna take no lesse pleasure in seeing him so transported he could not tell whether it were a dream or no At last gathering his wits together and concluding with himself that all was discovered he answered her thus Madam you have so surprised me that in good faith I scarce know yet wher I am for that which you desire to understand of me concerns me so neer that I could rather dye a thousand times then confesse it any other where but desiring to give all obedience to your commandements and satisfaction to the friendship of this Knight I will not stick to acknowledge unto you that the Princesse Amplamira wishes me well and that she hath declared how she is pleased with my servitude That is enough said Palmirenna our danger will be brought to a good port Sir follow me and be not troubled with the captivity wherinto I will put you it shall not be but to make you relish your liberty the better Going forth then with Amadis who had made himself ready she went into her Cabinet wher she shut up Floridan and seeing her sister come she caused all her women to leave the Chamber retaining none but Almerina and her trusty Crestia that done she took Amadis by the hand and addressing her speech to Amplamira she said Sister I have prepared you for the marvels you shall behold for being most assured how much you love me and that I may trust to you in all occasions I hold it unnecessary to use many Ceremonies with you Love whose power is unresistable unable to put me into passion for any of those many Princes which heretofore have sighed for me hath possest me with so much for this slave that not to lye I was reduced to the uttermost of dispair thinking that my affections was mad and impossible but my good Genius having opened mine eyes I came this morning to know that the habit she wore was usurped for the love of me and that it covered the body of the valiant Knight who cleared this Province of the danger it was in by the death of that dreadfull Monster which would have rendred it desolate this hath induced me to resolve after I had learned of him that he was the sonne of the renowned
pleased that I may be your Physician since you are so sick and accept of the good counsell I give you for your better remedy Why now we are come just to the point I desired said Alcidamant for setting aside the reasons I could oppose yours with touching my purpose to dye here clear me in that particular where you say you never loved me till to day I beleeve indeed said Rozalmond that you doe not know me yet because I want my Shield but if you call to mind the combat we had together at Constantinople and afterwards upon the frontiers of Florertan when we were parted by Cassandra you will quickly understand the meaning of the speeches I have used to you then you were the object of all the anger that a man could have against another which disputed the glory of Arms with him but finding you in so miserable an estate I was so sensible of your misfortunes as I could not be more for any that should arrive unto my self so that now I love you far more then I hated you before and doe also humbly beseech you to change your mind in like manner and to esteem of me no less then of the faithfullest servant you can have O me said Alcidamant what a happiness is this in the middest of my unhappiness to have my pains thus aslayed by the presence of the excellentest Knight of the earth Ah Sir I will no longer complain of my misfortune and the content of this incounter is so dear unto me that I wil pass by all remembrance of the cause of my sorrow for to caress you if not asmuch as I would yet as much as I can Herewith embracing one another with a great deal of affection they contracâ—ed a friendship which never ended but with their lives and some other 〈◊〉 having past betwixt them they both returned into the Grot where Rozalmond desiring to speak of the cause of â—is retyrement for to withdraw him from it demanded of him whether that which he saw there was the picture of that rigorous beautie for whom he suffered so You behold indeed answered he the pleasing features of her face you may here likwise judge of the delicacie of her complexion but not of the grace she gives to her motions nor of the powerfull charms of her eyes for there nature far surpasseth the art of the Painter Whereupon without further intreatie he discoursed unto him his whol life and especially all that had past at Tarsipolis after he met with Trasiclea which was very acceptable to the Knight of the Roses who alledged all the reasons he could any way devise to diswade him from so sad a retyrement but perceiving that he spaâ—e to no purpose and that his resolution was as firm as the rock wherin he lived he bethought him of another course to be held with him You are too wilfully set said he upon your own misery nevertheless being perswaded that you do all things with judgement I intend because I wil enjoy your company which I hold so dear to pass my dayes here with you and never to return again into the world after I have dispatched one voyage for an enterprize wherunto my faith hath ingaged me I may not limit my return in regard we cannot dispose of time nor of accidents that befall us but I swear unto you by the order of Knighthood to come hither again assoon as possibly I can so as you likewise promise me not to depart from hence upon any occasion whatsoever Dear Sir said Alcidamant it were most unreasonable to confine you so without cause continue stil in the world wherof you are now the wonder for it would be far more content unto me to know you in delights absented from me then to have you here leade a languishing life as for me I am accustomed therunto and be assured I wil never abandon it for any cause whatsoever since I doe it not at your request This is asmuch as I desire said Rozalmond you shal see me again sooner then you are aware to which end I will be gon to morrow by break of day that I may give the speedier dispatch to the business I have undertaken So calling Artander who was all this while with the horses they sate them down to supper with no other delicasies then a little bread and afterward laid them to rest upon a few leaves where they remained til the next morning when taking their leaves of one another with tears Rozalmond rode away towards Tarsipolis from whence how he was diverted shal be related hereafter CHAP. XV. The Adventures of Rozanel and Florisbel after their departure out of Tramazond ROzanel departing from Tramaxond with Florisbel and the beautiful Angeles of Sopradisa sayled fifteen dayes with all the content that a Lover could have in the company of his Lady not meeting any adventure worthy of his courage but on the sixteenth day they discovered two Ships fast grapled together in one of the which was a Gyant with some thirtie or fourtie souldiers and in the other one Knight alone of a reasonable big statuâ—e who with his Sword in his hand defending the entrance into his Vessel sometimes charged the Gyant and sometimes the Souldiers wherof ever and anon he overthrew one or other of them into the Sea the valour of this Knight giving them great satisfaction and being moved with a Gentlewoman that called upon the Gods for succour they joyned the force of their Oares to the wind and in a little time caused their Barque to board the Knights whereinto entring with furie they presently dispatched seven or eight of the most confident of the troup and in regard the Knight had received three or four deep wounds from whence he had lost much bloud Florisbel desired him to retyre and leave him to combat the Gyant whilst his companion dealt with the rest of that â—â—bble but his heart was so good that he made no other answer but gave his enemie two such cruel blowes as with the one he wounded him very dangerously in one of his thighs and with the other made a great gash in his shield arm which Florisbel observing and unwilling to stand idle he drew to his friend who never let fall his Sword without killing a man and making no less havock in a short time layd all that remained at his feet mean while the Combat between the Gyant and the Knight continued with marvellous rage howbeit with so much advantage on the Knights part that they looked every minute to see that Colossus tumble into the water when as Rozanel casting his eye aside espyed a Knight very little less then the Gyant rush out of the Hold who leaping into the Barque where Angelea was cut the Cables that fastned â—it to the other Vessels and was putting to Sea with so rich a prize had not he suddenly advanced skipping in then almost assoon as he and carryed with extream cholor he gave him so strong a blow upon his Helmet
couragiously enough for to reduce six more that combatted with him into the like estate he layd hand on his sword and discharging with choller upon the first that presented himselfe he cleft him to the teeth so as he fell down close by Rozalmond who being not a little glad of such seasonable succour took new heart and hit another of them so dangerously on the shield that he made it together with his arm fly to the ground The remayning four rather more incouraged then terrified with the death of their fellows discharged their heavie Scimitars all at one instant two on the Knight of the Eagles whole armour was easily pierced and two on Rozalmond whereby he received another hurt on the Shield arm which so incensed these two valiant Warriours that Rozalmond ran the next to him upto the hilts and the Knight of the Eagles cut the leg of him that had hurt him sheer off These dreadfull blows having layd two Gyants on the earth gave the Knights assured hope of victory but six other Gyants more deformed and greater then the former making towards them under the conduct of Bramartan Gorgophons Lievtenant rendred their deaths most inevitable when on the other side a Bark suddenly arrived out of which two knights the one bearing a burning Rock on his shield the other a Phaenix with two heads lept a shore and withall celerity opposing these new enemies they charged them with such fury that they layd two of them stark dead at their feet the first divided into two parts by the Knight of the burning Rock and the other run through the body by him of the Phenix Rozalmond observing the violence of these blows perceived this succour proceeded from his friend the brave Alcidamant and the beautious Princesse of Tramazond which so revived his courage that accompanied with this Knight he did not beleeve it was possible for all the world to defeat him flying upon them then with no lesse force then at the beginning of the combat he cleft one of them to the teeth whilst Alcidamant desirous to shew his valour unto this great Warriour having discharged again on the mighty Bramartan he divided his body in twain with one of the most dreadfull stroaks that ever parted from the hand of a man the four that remayned beholding such a prodigious execution would fain have retyred but the fury of our Champions was such as after equartâ—r of an hours resistance they were all cut in peices to the infinit coment of Rozalmond who went and imbracing Alcidamant said unto him Dear Brother could I hope for safety from any but you unto whom all glory is due Ah! how well have you now recompensed the pleasure I did you heretofore And what doe I not owe to the incomparable valour of your Mistris you have given me life but I will employ it whensoever you please in acknowledgement of so great a benefit And you brave Warriour continued he turning him to the Knight of the Eagles who looked upon them with wonder for that he did not think the world could shew three such again being no lesse obliged unto you let me desire you to take the same assurances of my service Whereupon putting off his Helmet a little to refresh himself the Knighs of the Eagleâ— presently lift up his Bever and kneeâ—ing down before him said O! how happy doe I account my self for comming hither thus seasonably to doe you some service My Lord give me your hands to kisse in satisfaction of the bloud I have so gloriously shed for you I am Russian of Media the humblest of all your servants At these words Rozalmond remembring that he had seen him in the Grecian Court where he was esteemed every way as good a Knight as the Emperour Spheramond his Father caressed him anew in a most loving manner Now Alcidamant and Trasiclea comming by this meaâ—â— to understand the qualitie of Rozalmond would have shewed fâ—r â—ore 〈…〉 unto him then before but embracing them again with 〈…〉 he refused the honour they would have done him and 〈…〉 intreated Alcidamant whom he valewed more than all the 〈…〉 world besides to live with him like a Brother Some time beâ—â—g 〈◊〉 in the pleasure of this incounter Alcidamant would have 〈…〉 and the gallant Russian of Media unto whom â—â—e protested much service to the care of Ormelinda for the looking to their wounds whilst he and Trasiclea went to the Castle to learn some newes of Armazia but Rozalmond by no means would stay behind wherefore they walked all foure thither where finding none but certain servants who assured them that Gorgophon was not in the Island they returned to the Sea side and getting aboard the Ship of the Sunne which instantly sayled away as swiftly as before they all admired those rare and excellent things they beheld there especially Trasiclea who was wonderfully taken with her own and the other five Pictutes of those incomparable Ladyes so perfectly represented to the life In the mean time Rozalmond and Russian being unarmed had their wounds visited by Ormelinda who being very skilfull in Chyrurgerie and carrying alwayes about her such things as were necessarie for the like purpose dressed them incontinently and promised them by the help of God to make them sound again in twenty dayes CHAP. XXXI Alcidamant and Trasiclea meets with Parmelina who relates unto them the historie of her strange love with Clarismond WHilst Rozalmonds and Russians wounds were inhealing twelve dayes past insensibly away at the end whereof the Vessell of the Sun staying close to a rock on whose top a great smoak appeared Alcidamant and Trasiclea armed at all points leapt on shore and passing under certain trees they travelled above an houre without incountring any thing but a very great silence over all wherupon concluding that this was some Desart they turned towards the ascent of the rock and began to mount it with pain in regard of the weight of their Arms when as they perceived a huge fire from whence that smoak which they had seen proceeded The curiositie that had made them leave the Ship carrying them on they saw a woman on her knees before the fire who lifting up her hands to heaven seemed to beg for something with her prayers they would fain have heard her complaints before she should have discovered them howbeit they could not approch to her so softly but that she discryed them wherupon rising up she was going to run away when as Alcidamant catching her by the arme said unto her Gentlewoman be not frighted with our presence for we are come hither rather to doe you service than any hurt Knights answered she having been a twelve moneth or more in this Desart without seeing any body truly I was affraid at the sight of your Armes but since you have so well confirmed me let me know I pray you what you would have with me to the end I may give you satisfaction therin if it lye in my power That which we desire
neverthelesse insensible of feare he gave him with all his force â— most terrible blow that cutting his shield in two constrained him to recoile five or six paces backward howbeit this Collossus quickly recollected himselfe and with a mighty Fauchion began to deale such horrible blowes as the least of them had been able to have cleft him down to the teeth if ever he had stood them but avoiding them all with admirable addresse he so mightily charged him both with point and edge as it had been a matter of great wonder to any that had beheld the precedent labours which he had undergone all the day before The Gyant stormed for that he could not fasten a stroak on him and casting forth a thick smoak at the visier of his Helmet hindred himselfe from seeing where his blows should light so that his Curtelas falling incessantly on the ground had cleft it in fourteen or fifteen places which put him into such infinite excess of rage that every thing about them trembled with the very sound of his horrible roaring Three long houres being spent in the first fury of this Combat the Gyant began to grow weary and weak and our Champion perceiving his advantage over him charged him afresh but seeing him dispute the victory still with him he took his sword in both his hands and struck his enemy so dangerously as he gave him a great wound in the arme making him to reele withall whereat he was so mad that resolving to determine the Combat he also tooke his heavy Scimiter in both his hands and making as though he would strike on the one side discharged with such violence on the other that Amadis being surprized therewith fell tumbling five or six paces off voyding a great deale of blood at his mouth This dreadfull blow having shewed our Warriour how dangerous it was to receive the like he arose so strangely transported with rage that this Colossus who did not think any thing in the world was able to strike him with the least touch of fear began to apprehend the fury of his enemies sword which descended with such a tempest on him as it opened him to the very wast sending him starke dead to the earth Having performed this to his infinite content he lift up his eyes to heaven to give thanks for the assistance he had received and wondring much at the strangenesse of those things he had lately seen he approached to the Gate which being open permitted him to behold a stately Court all plastered with Porphyrie â—â—per black Maâ—ble and Chryâ—â—all whereinto let us leâ—ve him with an extream desire to enter and let us speak of the 〈◊〉 which befell Griâ—â— the Salvage and Griâ—lâ—nis CHAP. XLVIII The Mervails which hapned to Griolanis and the Knight of the Salvage before their entrance into the Castle of Trâ—asure THe griefe wherin Griâ—lanis and Grian the Salvage were having made them travell six houres with incredible payn they met together comming out of athicket exceedingly vext for that they could not learn any news of the losse they had made hereupon having rested themselves a little they took the first way that presented it selfe unto them in which they went so long till they encountred certain very high wals at the fight whereof they were wonderfull glad hoping to hear somewhat of that they sought for having walked then about halfe an houre they perceived two Damosels upon the battlements of the wals unto whom Griolanis addressing himselfe spake in this sort Gentle-women if you be as courteous as faire tell us whether you saw any Ladies which were forceably carried away from us the last night in a Forest hereby Knights answered one of them we could soon let you see them you aske for if you were in this Garden but the way to come hither is so difficult that you shall not be able to obtayn that contentment if you be not the prime Knights of the earth Gentlewomen said Grain it were a vanity for us to be perswaded that we were any of those the best in the world but thus much we will promise that we wil with courage undertake that which a Knight may performe to come where you are though we should passe through hel to it wherfore we desire that you wil be pleased to shew us the way I know not said the Damosel whether your actions will be answerable to your words but to give you cause to adventure your selves look here said she shewing Penamonda of Greece and the gentle Adelazia at one of the cranies tyed with cords these I think are those you seek for they shall continue in this estate untill you free them from their bonds and save them from greater punishment which they are to suffer if your valour be wanting to them at this present What said the King of Corolandaya equally seized with joy and griefe shall we want courage in such an Enterprise Be assured Gentle-woman that we will be chopt into a thousand peeces rather then fayle in their need onely doe but tell us where we may get in Through a gate faid the Damosel which you shall find about an hundred paces from hence the same shall shew you two wayes let each of you take that where into his fortune shall direct him without returning for my consideration what soever Here upon these two valiant Champions advancing forward met with the Gate the Damosel spoke of and couragiously entring into it they discryed two little pathes the right Griolanis took and Grian the Salvage the left which lead him to a cave where a number of lighted torches hanging on the top of the roofe plainly discovered the ground unto him so covered with the poynts of swords pikes halbards and partizans standing upright that was impossible to make a step without treading on the sharpe steel which somewhat troubled him at the first neverthelesse being ashamed to make a stop at any difficulty having been so charged to the contrary by the Damosel he stoopst down to pull them up as the best meane to passe along but just as hee took hold of an Halberd it sprung out of the earth and hit him with such violence on the brest that it turned him over and over where withall being much incensed he arose set his foot in the voyd place where the halberd had stood and feixing with each hand the poynt of a sword felt himselfe hit as before with so great force that he had again been overthrown had he not stood stifly to it Having then room enough to place both his feet he was going on to doe as he had begun when as a mighty noyse suddenly rising he beheld all those poynts to come out of the ground the torches in an instant exringuished and without seeing any body felt himselfe charged with such a tempest as he was a long quarter of an hour on his knees being inforced to bow under an infirmity of heavie blows layd upon his shield his shoulders and his head but choosing death
said Trasiclea to her is that you would tell us why you kneele thus before this flame what is the cause of your complaints and of your retreat into this Desart place That were to renew my sorrows answered she but I take such delight in the rehearsall of my miserie that I shall be as ready to relate as you are willing to heare it This fire which but testifies the same that hath long consumed my heart serues for a sacrifice to the ghost of noble ClarismonÌ„d one of the loveliest Knights that was in all the Kingdome of Filamon whose body is buried under the ashes of this fire that every day is renewed by me just at this hour his death is as strange as the history of our loves which not to abuse your patience I will recount unto you as briefly as I can This Knight a great friend to one named Martander being taken with that little beautie wherwith it pleased heaven to indue me shewed himself so desirous to be in all places and companies where I had occasion to be present that by his looks and cariage I easily came to know he was in love with me howbeit being then I may well say blind because I did not consider his merit I could not by any means affect him but contrarily carrying some particular good liking to Martander that cared not for me the sight of him did very much displease me I found fault with all that he did and the more he laboured to serve me the more was I incensed against him His suit then being troublesome unto me I resolved to let him understand that he much dis-obliged me by soliciting me in that manner and accordingly taking occasion on a time when he besought me to carry a gentler mind and to have some compassion of his suffering I told him how my actions were the images of my thoughts how I had shewed sufficiently that I did not love him and how in vain he expected reliefe from me for if I would give my self to any one Martander should have more power over me then all the Knights on the earth Hereat Martander who was then present with Clarismond gave me many humble thanks for the election I was willing to make of him but Madam said he being Clarismonds friend I may not receive the honour of your favour which would be better conferred where it is due then on me Some moneths passing away Clarismond obstinate in his suit I in my hate to him and affection to Martander these two friends plotted together how to deceive me You may doe me a most friendly part said Clarismond one day to Martander Parmolina so is this miserable called that speaks to you loves you with passion and when you please you can prevaile with her to grant you any thing serve me faithfully I beseech you feigne as much love to her as she bears you and labour to obtain of her that she will spend one night with you upon promise you may make her of rendring her kisses legitimate the dark keeps all things unknown I wil goe to her in your stead and so by this means you shal save my life which otherwise cannot long continue Martander who to help his friend would have made no difficultie to have gone even into Hell most willingly undertakes this affaire comes to me and craving my pardon for his so long neglect of my affection in such manner counterfeits the motions of a man transported with love and impatience that I verely believed he was throughly taken his sighes very much grieved me the vows that he made never to adore any but my self exceedingly contented me I was sensible of his passions what should I say more There was nought resting to render us the happiest Lovers in the world but the fruition of our desires wherunto he laboured to arrive for the satisfaction of his friend but finding dangerous obstacles therein by reason I lay alwayes in my Mothers chamber in a bed apart by my self I could not resolve to run such hazard neverthelesse what could not the tears of a Lover or of one that seemed so effect in the heart of an amorous Girle At length I past by all respects and promising him to leave all our dores open I sent him away so contented as he seemed not to envy any felicitie whatsoever Midnight then being come I received Clarismond in mine arms thinking it was Martander and losing my self in his embraces I little thought of this change of persons insomuch that the next day I spake to Martander as thinking I had acted that with him which I had done with Clarismond and as for him he carryed the countenance of a man so infinitely pleased as it was a fortnight before I knew by what cunning I was deceived because we durst not speak but very softly in regard of my Mother howbeit Clarismond not induring to tast his delight any longer under the coverture of another discovered himself one night as we were in the middest of our pleasure and freely confest to me that he was constrained to have recourse unto wiles since he could not other wayes prevaile I will not tell you how much I was astonished at this discourse nor what errour I was then about to have run into by crying out as though I had been ravished by force but to proceed I will assure you how instantly changing my mind with the consideration that the matter was past remedy I loved Clarismond a thousand times more than ever I had done Martander and began to haâ—e Martander far more than ever I had done Clarismond unto whom excusing my self upon the weaknesse of my judgement which had not permitted me to choose the better partie I protested so much love and gave him such testimony therof by my most kind usage of him and caressing of him anew as he thought himself happy in disclosing this trick unto me But now see what sport love makes with men Martander hearing Clarismond continually talk of the unspeakable delight he enjoyed with me began to love me most passionatly and preferring his affection before his friendship he began to vow and protest that truly unto me which he had dissembled before hoping that the passion I had been in for him was not yet quite extinct I am not able to expresse what infinite content I received to behold him sigh at my feet and rejoyeing to see him languish through his own fault I told him that my Mothers in-disposition detained me from receiving him a-nights as I was wont but at length no longer to abuse him I plainly said unto him how I very much wondered to heare him desire a treasure which belonged unto Clarismond and knowing well enough that he possest it I could hardly beleeve he could be so wicked as to seek to bereave him of it At this speech he was so confounded that he was ready to dye with griefe and indeed he lay three weeks sick upon it at the end wherof being unable any longer