he bee not singularly proportioned and of a passyng grace and also skilfull in so gallantly guidyng his couragious Horse verely Cousine answered the Maiden you saie well know you not whēce he is or what he would I promise you saied the Ladie I neuer sawe nor heard of hym till now These and suche other small communications had the twoo Maidens together so long till at the laste the Emperour ariued who commyng from out of his Chappel entered the greate Halle of his Pallace hauyng in his Traine many braue Knightes and Gentlemenen followyng hym Whiche thinges the gētle Youth of the Fairie beholdyng descendyng incontinent from his Horse whiche he deliuered to keepe to his Squire entered incontinently after the reste and apperceiuyng the Emperour placed in his Imperiall Seige to deliberate vpon certeine matters he kneelyng humbly before hym spake on this maner Moste puisaunte and moste vertuous Emperoure I deeme vndoubtedly that you and semblably all this noble Assistance do greatly merueile in that I haue so temerariously and vnrenerentely dared to presente my self poore soule before the highnesse of your Imperiall Maiestie doubtyng leaste this my audacitie and rashenesse whiche I haue vsed herein will tourne towarde me your displeasure and bee odious to all the reste if I had not suche confidence in the consideration bountie wisedome clemencie lenitie and other vertues wherewith as a riche and pompous Iewell is illustrified and pollished with Pearles and precions Stones so are you fraught and adorned that not onely you will willingly pardon mine indiscretion but also I truste in your great bountifulnesse and courtesie that you will in no wise denic mee of that which I am purposed to request of you that is to wit that I maie receiue the order of knighthoode by your handes for that I haue heard you aboue all others farre extolled I haue beene desirous thereof euer frō my Cradle The Emperour who whilest he thus spake had his eies eares bent to regard heare such witty wordes so good a grace taking him by the Armes caused hym to stande vp before him afore he had fully ended his speache knowyng euen by his pleasaunt grauitie that he could not choose but be come of a good house Princely race gaue vnto hym this gracious aunswere Faire sir frend of mine although it were not true that your youth could not excuse you if as contrarie it is you had vsed any rashnes or temeritie in makyng to mee the request whiche late you did yet neuerthelesse the great beauty and singuler coūtenance whiche I note in you and likewise the honest maners and behauour which you haue obserued in this point would constraine me not only to condiscende whiche I offer you as now to haue that which you demaūded but also if there had appeared auie indiscretion in you they woulde haue incited mee to remit and pardon it totally Assuryng my selfe although as yet you seeme too tender of age to be called to suche vocation that if the bountie of your harte bee correspondent to the beauty and appéeraunce of valure whiche I deeme and coniecture to be in you you are sufficient and capable to discharge such a charge as well as any other that now liueth whatsoeuer and for that cause there resteth no more as nowe but that you goe to prepare your selfe as the custome is for to receiue the order of knighthoode when as you shal please and be thervnto ready Then the Youth thanking hym humbly as well he could retyred secretly thence to goe make his praiers in the Chappell of the Pallace as the custome was where re remained till it was the next daie mornyng at what tyme hee came to present hymselfe to the Emperour who dubbyng hym with the Necke stroake put on his right Spurre and the Lady Porphyria who had scene hym come descendyng doune girt his Swerde about hym by the commaundement of her father Whiche to doe she was well pleased and the Youthe who whiles shee did her deuoyre in this behalfe muche marueiling at her miraculous beautie was not ill contented that the chiefest fairest beautifullest Princesse vnder Heauē did vnto him so great a seruice This done the Emperour who the more he beheld him and saw him so garnished in all pointes the more he was willyng to wit who he was he required and asked of hym his birthe and the estate of his race and progenie To whiche the youth made a most ciuile aunswere that he was of the Realme of greate Brittaine but of none of his Parentes had he any knowledge and that for this cause it might please him to excuse hym if he were constrained herein to kéepe silence true it is said he that I know well neither will I conceale it from you most noble Lorde that I was nourished by a Fairie who sent mee towardes you so furnished as ye see she is called Ozyris The Emperour who aforetime had heard talke of the Fairy deemed doubted that she had kept hym for some occasion as most certaine it was beyng proceeded frō the progeny of the noble kynges of Great Britaine as she had aforetime done by the vertuous king Moridant father to Brandismel which was the first extoller of that magnificent Realme and much marueiled thereat Neuerthelesse without more talke with hym he commaunded some of the Assistauntes that they should conduct hym into the Empresses Chamber to passe foorthe the tyme with her Damozelles and to discourse with theim of many an honeste amorous deuise as well it seemed he could But the Youth willyng to excuse him selfe herein praied hym humbly that it would please hym to geue him leaue to retourne into Greate Britaine there to seeke aduentures so to assaie if the order of knighthoode whiche he had obtained were well or euill employed vpon hym And also that he had greate desire to Juste and Combate with king Floridamant which as then was had in prise for the beste and valiauntest knight in the world The Emperour not well pleased in that he would so soone departe from his Courte saied to hym Why faire sir will you so soone abandon vs and our Court not in any wise feasted or cheared there as yet accordyng to your callyng I promise you that if you will remaine with vs but the space of fiftene daies that besides the good and honeste entertainement whiche I hope thereby to bestowe on you you shall here also finde knightes both braue and strong to make proofe of youre valour and prowesse seeyng your ardente desire is so to doe For I must one of these daies make a moste sumptuous Feaste duryng the whiche neither Iustis nor Tourneis shal be lackyng wherein you maie experiment your valiance in this behalf therby to prepare your self the better against the worthy knightes of greate Britain whiche are the flowers of chiualrie in the worlde and chiefly as you saie against kyng Floridamant who hath not his match vnder heauē And I suppose that otherwise
tymes more sharpe then the horrour of death it selfe And thus it chaunced that one daie as hee was in the queste and pursuite of straunge adueÌ„tures to make proofe of his force and valure also to get praise and honour the only Guerdon of Illustrious and gentle hartes as all wanderyng knightes accustomably doe passing by chaunce through a certaine Forrest he encountred a wilde Boare whiche beyng striken and wounded through the bodie with a Darte came and fell doune not farre from hym starke dead which he apperceiuyng tooke and charged vppon his horse to cary it away but as hee beganne to departe there came towardes hym another knight of so small stature that hee exceeded not the height of two or three cubites but therwith so strong and puissaunt that no knight nor Giaunte whatsoeuer might endure his force and for this cause so fearce and presumptuous that if he sawe any thing to hym not agreable were it wrong or right he would haue it This fellowe seeing the praie whiche my Lorde and Father caried said to him very stoutly that he either should deliuer geue to hym the wild Boare out right or otherwise he would let hym vnderstande that it was not for suche a one as hym to gainsaie any thyng to hym agreable My father which had his Hearte so fixed and settled and who was of so greate courage that he could in no wise suffer so presumptuous a bragge to hym answered that he shoulde not haue it without conquest made by the pointe of the Swerde Whereon the litle knight whiche had to name Nabot was so chaffed and enraged that putting without more wordes his hande vpon his Swerde he stroake my miserable father so rudely vppon the head that at the firste blowe hee brought hym doune all astonished from his Horse to the grounde whereon after he had laied the wilde Boare he tooke my Father betwixt his armes and caried hym into the moste straunge and Butcherous Prison that euer was hearde spoken of For besides that he hath clogged his feete with greate and weightie Giues of Yâ—on hee ne geueth hym all the day to eate ought elles but a Morsell of most salt Bacon without drinking more then once in twoo daies of the moste odious and corrupte Water that is to be founde and when as hee purposeth to take his iourney anye where on Horsebacke he causeth hym to bee brought foorth to crouche to the grounde that he setting his foote vpon his backe may make hym serue for a Stirrope to mounte on Horsebacke then sendyng him backe to his Prison againe causeth hym to bee scourged and tormented moste cruelly I knowyng this my Lorde haue been often before hym to entreate hym to haue my Father raunsomed at what he woulde require But hee therein hath alwaies gainsaide mee manafyng mee with like crueltie if in fixe Monethes I coulde not prepare and present a knight whiche should bee able in iustyng to bryng hym from of his Horse Whiche thyng I endeuouryng to doe haue brought hym already full many parte whereof he hath slaine and parte whereof he hath put in a prison farre more miserable then that of my poore Father In so muche that now ignoraunte of what woodde to frame myne Arrowes I haue enterprised to make this rashe request whiche you haue harde So muche hopyng in that bountie and prowes whiche aboue all others maketh you esteemed through eache coast of the vniuersall worlde that it shall bée you onely who shall haue power by puttyng to death the cruell and disloyall Nabot to deliuer me from the mortall and languishyng dolour whiche for long space hath made in me residence geuyng to hym libertie whiche hath begotten me The kyng hauing well heard the purpose of the Damofell and supposing her to haue said true deliberated to succour her aswell for the necessitie whiche she seemed to haue of ayde and assistaunce as to proue hymselfe againste that Nabot of whom hee had often hearde speake and for whom he had searched in many Countries to doe the same without euer findyng hym at all And seeyng than when he least thought thereof the occasion too bee ministred so to fit his purpose to make proofe of the force and valiauncie of hys person by encountring with that mightie Nabot he would not lette it slippe so Yea chiefly for so iuste an occasion as that of the Damoselles In suche wise that it was not possible what pithy reasons socuer one alledged to distourne and staye hym from going alone into Thrace there to combate for so iuste a Quarell Whereof the Queene Bellizenne was much grieued and discomforted praiyng moste instauntlie the valiaunt and hardie Prince Hubert of Scotlande her brother to beare hym company whiche thing hee promised her to doe Yet the king in no wise would suffer nor permit it but deepely vowed and sware to trauell solelie with the Damsell to geue accomplishment to his promise whereof she was much inyous who instauntlie putting her selfe in waie spurryng her Palfrey in the flancke with all diligence possible And the kyng whiche was furnished of all Armour necessarie for the Combate and eke well Horsed pursued her as fast as his Horse would runne a grande gallop After whose departure al the Worthies whiche as then were resident in his Court retired home abandoning the same in suche sort that of the xij couragious Péeres of the said Britaine the Greate there remained but the kyng Ferrande of Norwaye onely whiche because of his faithfulnes and bountie was appointed Gouernour of the Realme in the absence of king Floridamant and the prudent prince Candior Duke of Normandie the whiche because of the sodaine absence of their kyng were greatly sorrowfull and astonished Notwithstanding takyng it paciently they made of necessitie a vertue for lettyng ceasse their late dolours they betooke themselues to coÌ„forte in best wise they could the desolate Princes Bellizenne whiche for sorrowe and yrksomnes tare her haires coÌ„mitted many suche foolishe actes of a fraÌ„ticke woman one without sense Which thyng the prudent Prince Ferrande of Norwaye seeyng counsailed her thereby the better to forget her griefe to goe sport her selfe at Myrandol as she did where chaunced to her that which you may perceaue in the Chapters followyng For we there muste now leaue her to make recount of that whiche hapened too the kinge after his departure with the Damosell Who was the Damosell whiche led awaie the Kyng Floridamant and who was the Necromancian Minofoll which had builded by his enchauntments the superbious and sumptuous edifice of the red Castell And also how the king lost the Damsell in a thicke wood replenished with wilde and sauage beastes where his Horse beyng dead vnder hym he hard the lamentable voyce of a certaine Damsell whiche complained most bitterly Towardes whom as he marched to succour her he recountered a Knight whom after a fierce and tedious Combate he slewe ¶ The seconde Chapter WHEN once the desire of vengeaunce hath taken roote in
it would soner turne to your dishonour then aduauncement and that it should rather be imputed to your rashnesse then courage The Youth hearyng the Emperour speake with so greate modestie and charinesse cōceiued a certain singular loue of his prudencie and suche a one as forced hym with a reuerēt feare not to offende his hestes neither to doe any thyng disagreable vnto his mynde knewe that he had erred in willyng to departe hauyng receiued farre aboue his desertes so muche honour of so greate a lorde as he was without doyng hym any deede of duetie of seruice Wherefore to couer his fault he said vnto him Seing it pleaseth your Maiestie to doe me so muche honour as to reteine mee in your court it shal be then my dutie to go about to do you the best seruice I canne Assuryng you that no worldlie felicitie could happen as now more greater nor more agreable to my mind then to haue the meane hereby to satisfie your hestes and desires And ouer that I shall thinke my self moste happie it I maie gratifie your contentment in dooyng you ought whiche male bée to you pleasaunt and agreable that I maie ridde my self out the bandes of foule Ingratitude wherein I were faste linked if I did not putte in practise to atchiue your commaundementees and accomplishe your desires Seyng you haue alreadie so bounde and made me yours that it is paste my power euer to shewe you so muche seruice but that still I shall bee farre in your debte and daunger Wherfore I am not of power since so it pleaseth you to passe the limites of your will. The Emperour well contente and satiffied with the gracious aunswere of the Youthe of the Faieries commaunded againe a Damozell whiche was there presente that she should conducte hym to sée the Empresse Chamber Whereto she promptly obeyed And takyng hym by the hande she ledde hym neere where she was accompanied with so many faire Ladies and Damozelles that at his entraunce within the Chamber he semed to se so many Angelles in Paradise as there were Ladies waityng aboute the Empresse who talkyng with certaine Princes there with her she made theim stande somewhat a side the better to see the Youthe of the Faieries who enteryng into the Chamber saluted her humblie to whom when she had vsed like curtesie seeyng hym so faire and courteous she could not sticke being muche astonished to see a young manne so comely to saie to them whiche were about her I beleue that if this Youth haue the bountie and prowesse of the minde equal and matchable to the makyng and proportion of his body he will be the best and worthiest knight vnder the Skies And whiles she saied these woordes the Youthe beyng approched more nere she beganne to aske hym of his birthe and why he was come into a coūtrie so farre to receiue the Order of knighthoode seeyng there was in Great Britaigne King Floridamant who was reputed the moste royall Kyng and valiaunt Knight of the whole Earth and suche other odde talke whereto he aunswered so aptly that she remained well satisfied But after that she had ended her speache her Damozelles which still attended when she would leaue him for them beganne here and there to enforce theim selues to please hym the beste thei could bothe in woordes and other thinges to eche of whom hee answered well and honestly accordyng to their demaunde assuring you that none gaue hym a quippe in any cause but that he requited her againe quicklie with the lyke coyne But hee whiche well knewe howe to shifte betweene two walles was scarce contented to be conuersant with them for that there he could not see one sparke of the beautie of her which girded his Sworde about hym wherwith hee was somewhat attached for that she whiche had caste her eyes on hym so attentiuely beganne alreadie to haue her senses troubled through the loue of hym wherevpon she was retired secretly into her chamber much pensiue at whose issuyng foorthe that chaunced vnto hym whiche you shall heare The Ladie Porphyria beyng come out of her Closet to enter into her mother the Empresse Chamber seeyng the Youth so faire and comely was so attainted with his Loue that she fell in a sound before the Empresse her mother and the rest of her companie who thereat beeyng muche astonished and abashed conueyed her as well as thei could into her Chamber againe where she hauyng recouered her late loste senses the Princesse Harderine her cousin whiche would haue knowen the cause of her desease went also out of the chamber for that the Lady made deniall to tell it vnto her listenyng at the doore heard her cōplain of the of the Youthe of the Faierie Wherefore goyng into the Hall and findyng the Damozell Marcelle she recounted to her the Ladies woordes who goyng thither to visite her had with her suche communication as I will recoumpte vnto you ¶ The. x. Chapter FAtall desteny daughter to God almightie hauyng once by the cōmaundement of her Father purchased some misfortune to any mortall wight what prudence pollicy or humaine deuise so euer a man applieth to euite and shunne this eternall decrée of thinges yet is it so still that shee rageth and hath swaye ouer all oure dooges I say this for that what meanes soeuer the Lady Porphyrie could inuent to eschue and flee the loue of the Youthe of the Faierie whiche as now began to weaken the strongest yea the soundest of her inner partes yet notwithstanding was it vnpassible Destenie so apointyng to exempte her self from any parte of those amourous cogitations whiche through their violence tooke still encrease within her clogged harte with this want of senses which you shall heare Wherin it is to be noted that whiles the wise gentle Youthe of the Faieries conuersaunt emongest the Damozelles of the Empresse did hold them in with many a merie ieste and honest deuise though therein hee tooke no great pleasure because he sawe not her whose Idea of perfection he had somewhat imprinted in his harte to witte the faire Ladie Porphyrie who as then was of the age of fowertene or fiftene yeres an age without doubte capable enough of the contagious scorchinges of cruell Loue beholde where she came halfe sadde and sorrowfull into the Halle of purpose to see hym Neuerthelesse feignyng that she came not for other occasion then to solace and sporte her self accordyngly as sometymes she had accustomed with the Maides of the Empresse her Mother Emongst whom in euill tyme apperceiuyng the fostered sonne of the noble Faierie Oziris and hauyng espied her commyng did his endeuour to salute her and she reciprocally also rendered the like seyng hym I saie so faire and beautifull that it was vnpossible to saie ought more she was so ententiue to entertaine hym in salutations with semblaunce of likyng as no lesse he did to her that the sweete denime of Loue whiche on this wise is supped beganne to inebriate the hartes of the one and of
O thou Serpentine Youth replete with poyson how lucklesse and vnfortunate for me the daie was wherin thou diddest here arriue and come in presence for since first I sawe thee I knowe not how nor whither myne affectioÌ„ is transported I know not where my teÌ„der hart is become I know not what rage what furie hath surprised and holdeÌ„ my sencés raison so captiuated that I caÌ„not alas I cannot see nor knowe how nor by what meanes I may deliuer my self from this mischaunce and miserie without greate losse and blemish of mine honour Ah cruellâ—â—â— felonious pitilesse Is it possible that as well it appeareth thou art come to this Coast for no other occasion then to cause me to pine in this dolour distresse by thy beauty and behauour whiche I well beléeue thou haste bought or borrowed by Charmes and Enchauntementes of some skilfull Fairie yea rather Sorceresse whiche hath sente thee expressely hither so to captiuate and depriue mée of my pristinate and auncient liberties â–ª But alas sot sencelesse foole that I am sufficeth it not mee enough to be vexed tormented but that therevppon I must also curse hym who neuer in his life either wrought or thought my displeasure and who perchaunce if I required hym thereto would not seme to denie mée his seruice For if he knewe that for his loue I languished as I doe I am ascertained by the affabilitie bountie courtesie wherewith as I surely coniecture he is complete and furnished that he would be muche vexed and agreeued at mine infortunate encombraunce not hauyng as I suppose giuen any attempt either in thought woorde or deede to procure or worke neuer so little woe or displeasure whereof I may iustlie accuse hym I can not therefore imagine from whence it is that this traunce now troublyng my Soule proceedeth if it be not from the fountaine of frettyng loue The which beyng naturall as ofteÌ„ I haue heard say now in some parte haue proued it is great iniurie that I should blame hym so yea rather I ought to reprehend mine owne nature or the cruell desteny guider of my yeres which yea and possiblie for my prefermente hath ordeined that hee shall one daie be the Lorde and true Maister of my hart and bodie likewise For the which cause I will enforce my selfe yet still cloakyng the coulour of myne ill chaunce the beste that I can to bring hym if he yet be not so muche to obaye me as I am at his commaundemente in that hee can not chuse but that I may loue hym hauyng his perfections imprinted in me with so sure a Seale that the processe of time is in no wise able to deface it Seyng that the loue whiche I entende to vse is a thing holy and constituted of God on hie And thereon let come what will let the Emperour my Father fret and fume hereat at his pleasure let all thinges herein tourne vpsidedoune if it may chaunce that in anie wise I maie vnderstande that hee is atteinted and caught with the same sicknesse that I am But seeyng that I my selfe can not bryng this to passe and because also that my Maladie whiche proceedeth from loue hath this particularitie in it selfe that it may receiue no redresse if it bee conceiled and kept secret I am in mynde to discouer and make it knowen to my Cosin Harderine and to the Ladie Marcella who not bewraiyng mee shall gene mee counsaile in this myne harde affaire When she had ended her speach to this purpose the Maiden Harderine whiche was at the scoute watch hearyng this resolution went awaie thence making the smallest noise she could so passed through the Gallerie into the Empresses chamber where hauyng found the lady Marcella who was a woman right wise and honest widow to the late Duke of Chalcyde to whom because of her modestie and demeaner was giuen the custodie of the young ladie Porpharia she recompted to her all the complaintes whiche of her Cousin she had lately heard Whereat she not greately marueiled as one whiche doubted by the countenaunces behauors of louers in doyng the duetie of courtesie of that whiche was veritable true in deede Wherefore â–ª she and Harderine hande in hande went into the young ladies chamber whoÌ„ thei found sadly walkyng vp doune who discriyng them died her face with a more ioyfull hewe and showe then her harte had of contentment and adressyng her speache to Harderine she saied My swéete cosin is it not true that wheÌ„ I told you I had slept I should be better Aha said the other whiche knewe the greatest secretes of her harte you haue not as yet the meane to bee so whole as to vs ye make semblance for the desease whereof I heard you not long since coÌ„plaine receiueth not so soone recure without apliyng of an other remedy theÌ„ you haue yet had What Cousine saied the yong Ladie of what Maladie haue you heard me make my moane whereof I am not yet ridde and deliuered of Of the feuer whiche proceedeth of the heate of Cupids burnyng infections saied she Porphirie seeyng that her Pot was discouered and her Secretes knowne caused them both to sit by her and saide Although it should bee so that you had in no wise knowne my misfortune yet in no wise could it so continue that you beyng the persons onely in whom I haue confidence more then in any others whatsoeuer I would haue hiddeÌ„ from you any of my sinister fortunes and distresses knowyng you euer to haue continued loyall faithfull towardes me and so that I haue no cause to complaine my self sith I haue neuer concealed and couered from your so laudable taciturnitie all that although of greate importauÌ„ce whiche I haue stil made you partakers of whiche maketh me hope that not to purchase my anoyaunce or displeasure but rather to succour me in this my so vrgente affaire you would not beginne at this tyme consideryng the consequence of the deede from whence the question cometh and what dauÌ„ger I haue vsed at the first to discouer it vnto you I praie you deere Cosin be not thereat displeased For though I was loath to make you priuie of it yet it is not good so to doe thinges rashely without premeditatyng what issue it may haue and consultyng therof which was the chief cause that assured of your loyaltie which neuer yet failed me I was of purpose to imparte my secretes to you bothe I knowe it well saied Harderine for if I had not heard your resolution whiche did manifest vnto vs the cause of your Maladie whereof wee neede not now to trouble you with talke seeing we are sufficiently enformed of the matter it self I would haue had regarde not to haue so manifested it to Maistres Marcella and to bryng her hither for feare of doyng a thyng displeasaunte vnto you But intendyng that wherof you were tailkng and the confideÌ„ce whiche you haue in her beyng to me not vnknowen I pray you take no
Faieries Yea forsoothe saied he But not of these greate howers whiche you thinke not but of these shorte howers whiche passe in so small season as you maie employe in callyng you thrise at the leaste Aha saied the Youth I beleue ye well For I haue my mynde so busied otherwise that it maie well be that not thinkyng on thee I haue ne seen nor heard thee What Sir And whereon maie you haue your thought so fixed Vnlesse it should bee that you were striken with the loue of the Emperours doughter who is estemed the moste perfecte in beautie that is knowen presentlie to bee in the worlde Verelie if you haue seen her I thinke you haue tasted enough whereon so to occupy your thoughtes O Geliaste saied he for Gods loue speake no more to me of that For I haue neuer seen her but to my greate damage Wherefore I praie thee that incontinentlie after dinner my Horse Harnesse be ready for I meane without making any prynie to my determination to absent my self hence so to banish defeate this opiniō I willingly wil Sir said the Squire but by mine honesty since you haue so farre gone I feare you halfe loste if you vse none other remedy but absence And what thing more expediēt may I vse replied the Youth I would wishe you saide he to finde meanes to speake to her and to lett her vnderstande youre Passions possiblie she will take some pitifull compassion vppon you or at leaste wise ye shall receiue by discouery of your euill some recure and helpe For so would I deale if I were in your case Hence Sotte that thou arte thinkest thou mee so ill trained by that I should seeme to giue the leaste suspition possible of my Sorrowes either to her or to any other person againste all reason Naye take thou also good heede from giuyng out anye aduerse speaches I warne thee consideryng the greate reproaches whiche I maie incurre by my foly in that such a simple Knight as I not wittyng my selfe from whence I am ne euer haue atchiued feate worthy of the fauour of the worst Damozell in the worlde dare aspire to seeke the acquaintaunce of one so greate a Princesse who if I shoulde doe as thou saiest shee worchely scorning mee would not I feare deigne to take mee for the worste of her seruauntes hauing many my hetters in worse place of seruice than that Wherefore neuer moue mee more of so manifest a folly And what my Lorde saide again Geliaste how is it that your heart is so base pusillanunous that ye beare not your self in worth alwaies aboue a woman Not aboue suche a one as she said he Verelie aunswered the other if euer one had seen mée breake a couple of Launces against a doūghill which is easie you know that I were horsed at aduauntage as you are also if I had your beautie personage I know not so gallaunt a Girle in all this Towne but shee would thinke her selfe happie to haue mee for her frende Therefore Maister my best aduise and counsell is that to morrow you shewe your selfe valiaunt and couragious in the Iustes whiche shal be for surelie by that meanes ye shall winne her heart Thou speakest now better then thou diddest erewhile said the Youth And I will not onelie proue my selfe to morrow at the Iustes but also if I liue will to make my selfe more renowmed goe search straunge aduentures in Greate Britaine and Combate with the best Knightes that there be yea not exceptyng King Floridamant who hath so greate renoume of valiauncie before I will assure my selfe to obtaine the good grace and fauour of my newe Maistresse whom I am determined to serue and honour in mine hearte as long as life shal be resident in my bodie and to her onely will I vow my loue Wherfore remēber that which I haue said to thée that after dinner my Harnesse be readie for I will not bee knowen to morrowe when I shal come to the Iustes Maister saide Geliaste trouble your selfe no more about that for eche thing shall be prest at your pleasure So secretlie deuising together they arriued in the Emperours Halle where the Tables were couered againste dinner And the Emperour being set doune caused the youth to be placed next vnto hym so to doe hym the more honour and all his Knightes Barons after hym in order who at dinner time were all armed with their Sweardes by their sides and Helmets on their heades did eate hauing their Beuers put vp the Gates of the Pallace being all shut and many Souldiers about the same to be their guardes Wherat the Youthe of the Fairies muche merueiling could not but enquire whether it were the custome of the Countrie so to dine Armed thereby to honour the Emperour the more who onelie was vnharnized or if there were anie déeper occasion which draue them so to doe Know Youth saide the Emperour that accordyng to your opinion this is not doen without cause For againste suche a daie as to morow which is the daie of my natiuitie I haue annually accustomed to make a moste sumptuous Feast whereunto I call all my moste priuate frendes and grande Princes of mine Empire as you sée here present appoint Iustes and Tournmentes and all other sortes of pastime But whiles we are in mirthe and feasting we alwaies feele our selues troubled in some sort by the inuasions of a monstruous and vnreasanable higge Giante called Ferclaste who kéepes an Houlde not paste fower of fiue Miles hence in a certeine Rocky caue commonly called Rocke Alpine who with his twoo Breethren who are neither better nor lesser then hee and another rauenous kenell of Dogges whiche hee keepeth neuer faileth as to morowe to come and doe some outrage to some of the Citie as to rauishe some maide or murther some Knight In so muche that the last yere hee came hither euen into this Hall and with his greate Club euen in my presence hee cutte of the Dukes head of Chalcyde who was a Knight righte wise and valiaunt And furthermore this night last past word was brought vnto mee that he had rauished a gentlemans daughter of my Court called Florenges who nowe is not here for the greate dolour hee hath of the losse of his daughter And doeth me so many other outrages against which I can finde no remedie nor order for that hee still keepeth hym selfe encloased in his Rockie Cabin that I can not well declare theym Manie worthy Knightes there haue beene as well of this Empire as els where that haue fought with him hande to hand but neuer was seen any to retourne for either he quicklie killeth thē or elles quietly keepeth theim in Prison and amongest the rest he hath one if happlie he be not dead who was the beste of all my retinewe and for whom as well therefore as that he is my Neuewe I am muche sorowfull and hee is called Pharisor And thus ye now knowe why my folkes not of their
and pleasant to beholde and then was no more heard either voyce or Clarion Wherefore the Youth was excéedyng sory for in her voyce and sound of the Instrumente he tooke so greate pleasure that seeyng hym selfe depriued thereof a sadnesse equall in contrarietie to all his former ioye bechaunced hym But as wretched and vnfortunate persons haue naturally a custome to comforte them selues in others harmes semblable to theirs so this Damozel séeming to him to be tutched with the same disease that hee was he was therby somewhat reuiued and determined takyng compassion of the Damozell to goe to the Castle and if it were possible to recomfort her But consideryng well that suche as are of perfect eyesight muste leade the blinde and the frée from affliction likewise comfort the desolate hee channged his opinion In fine considering that he tâ—at is blind in his doynges leaueth not yet of to comfort othâ—rs in their affaires though nere so like As those sicke Phisitions who can giue to their Pacientes better councell theÌ„ they can take for them selues In like sorte doe Aduocates in other mens causes although moste ignoraunt in their owne proper affaires hee wholy resolued with hym selfe seeyng also that as well he as his Horse had neede of harbourough to go to the Castle to see if they would lodge hym for that night And being approached nere therto he knocked mightely at the Gate whereat there came a Page well appointed Who was in a little Gallery ouer the Portall and puttyng his head out at a Windowe and seeyng the Knight in suche araye hee had so greate feare of hym that hee ranne out of the Gallerie through another which stretched along the walles of the Castle euen to the Chamber where the Lady made her residence Whether he beyng come in post haste hid hym selfe tremblingly vnder a Bed. Whereof the Dame beyng aduertised demaunded of him what he meant Wherto he with greate solemnes aunswered Alas Madame we are all dead for there is a great and monstrous Deuill at the Gate who would gladly enter and come in whiche if he doe wee are all but dead Goe fonde coward said the Ladye doe Deuilles now abandon Hell to come hither And makyng him to depart froÌ„ wheÌ„ce hee was hid she sent him to call another Squire out of the next chamber whom she commaunded to go sée who it was that knocked at the Gate whereto he obeied But hauyng once seen the Knight no lesse affrighted theÌ„ the Page he came and could to the Ladie the like Tale whereupon shee called a Knight who somewhat more bould then the other spake to the Youth who because he had seen the other asaied of his Skinnes put them of and with his Helmet vnlaced stoode vncouered whiche more encouraged the knight to speake and to aske what hee lacked I would said he enter in if so it please the Lady to lodge mee for this tyme Tary there a little saied the Knight to ease your selfe take the â—ire while I goe to see what she will therein doe and being departed from hym at laste he came to open hym the doore which through with his Horse he entered into a large and spatious Court where he alighted And the Knight hauing deliuered his Horse to the Horsekeeper to cary to the Stable much marueilyng at the growth and goodlinesse of the same and no lesse at his Maister ledde hym into the Ladies Chamber who receiued hym moste honourably And findyng Supper ready with good appetite he tooke his refection order duryng whiche she demaunded whence he was and also what his name was Whereto he aunswered that he was borne in the Realme of Greate Britaine And to set the Lady déeper in matters of loue he said he could cal hymselfe by none other name but Beauties Slaue At whiche worde the Ladie fetched a greeuous sigh which the Youth well notyng and seeyng the waie nowe open to attaine to his intended purpose whiche was to knowe the cause why she chauÌ„ted so dolorous a Song as she did in his hearyng hee asked why she sighed soe Ha courtuous Knight saied she it is not without cause as well you mee deeme for by your name you haue reopened all my Woundes bringing mee in memorie and minde of hym whiche by imitatyng you I may to my selfe vsurpe For seyng you saie that you are Beauties Slaue it can not be but that in seeyng some infectiue semblance you haue dronke of the same Licour that I most vnhappely haue supped vp whiche maketh mée to be in equality of il ease with you who as I iudge by your gesture and countenaunce if I be not to much thereby deceiued are neither lesse nor as well it may not be greater then mine I may name my selfe from hence forward rightly the same beyng correspondent to my miserable condition as well as yours the Slaue of Loue for so hath he tied fettered me vnder the Yoake of his seruitude as none liuing being able to surpasse me I will not hope of my selfe beyng in dispeire from which I beleue you are exempte euer to franchise my selfe from his seruitude thereto seing neither waie nor Pathe whiche may conduct and leade mee out of this Labyrinth of laÌ„ guishyng thoughtes of Loue in deepth where of I am plunged and drowned I doubt not Lady saied the Youth but that it is possible that you haue some greate feeling in your selfe of the ardent fire whiche Cupide coÌ„monly kindleth but to say that it approacheth which GOD forbid to the vehemencie of that whiche I feele to consume mee I can not bee thereof perswaded seeing that as you faigne youres it is my Mallady that is incurable and not that whiche afflicteth you as far as I can perceiue For womens amourous coÌ„ceites are resembled to the biting of the venomous Scorpion whiche hath remedy againe of the woundmaker Wherfore I conclude of your disease being vnequall in painefulnes to mine that this name which you seeke to vsurpe is not so fittyng or cönuenient to you as mine is to mee being perchaunce contrary to that which you haue declared of hauing any power to reape redresse of hym who hath fowen you those seedes of sorrowe but I am not so Worthy Knight my deere frende replied the Lady I confesse in veritie that those laste whoroes ye spake touching your alledgment that an amorous in flitence may be queÌ„ched by hym that kindled it is a trueth But also I say that whiche is fatally in men beeyng of the same nature as you saied at the beginning that is that my malady is vnmatchable to youres I ought not to name my selfe by a name as I haue doone to imitate youres not groundyng ought on trueth For why may I sooner attaine that remedie whereof ye spake then you sithens it is muche more vnpossible For that saied the You the that Ladies beeyng surprised with the loue of some Knight by their onely counte naunces and beckes whiche they well knowe howe to contriue when they would
as bloud thei heard suche a terrible and vnaccustomed thuÌ„derclappe that one would haue saied that Sathan with all the wicked spirites of the infernall Mansion had been assembled to ruinate and plucke doune the Castell vnto the verie foundation whiche straightewaies after hauyng brought there a terrible-feare vpon them all vanished And beeyng ceassed the ayre became in lesse then an howre as cleare and bright as afore But those that were assembled in a troupe fouÌ„d theÌ„ selues farre dispersed eche froÌ„ others raunged scattered here there more then a Bow shoote because their horses beeyng afraied of the greate brute whiche thei had heard did separate theim selues the one froÌ„ the other on euery parte But seyng an olde Towre whiche was at the ende of the old walles of the Castel parke ouercouered more then twoo Foote thicke with Juie some greene some withered to bee no more there gatheryng theÌ„ them selues together thei ran hastely towardes that parte to see where it was become And beeyng there ariued thei found it all couered with ashes plucked in peeces smaller then duste as also thei perceiued before the gate of the Castell twoo greate pillars of Marble white and graie cutte and pight fower square the moste faire that might be seen susteinyng theim selues aboue by an arche moste magnificentlie embossed and grauen with woorkes Damaskinne vnder the whiche was the purtrature of a Maiden richely-apparelled like a Nymphe and so faire that Beautie her self might not bee named but by her name hauyng a smilyng countenaunce wherein sparcled and shined so linely the glimsyng clearnesse of twoo faire eyes that it was sufficiente to lighten the night before the gate of the Castell as though there had beene twoo greate Torches for that purpose and the residue so like a liuyng creature that nothyng but onely speache was in her wantyng And moreouer this Maiden had aboute her necke a greate chaine of gold more of waight then a thousande talentes the which hanged doune a whole mannes height before her feete And at the ende therof hanged a Tablet wrought all about and in the middest thereof were written these verses folowyng in letters of golde The Lions whelpe beyng stolne awaie once by the Doue The royall Egle would with his becke cruelly Pearce through his harte but yet tholde Lion then set free Beyng puissante shall hym gard that no mischaunce he proue And in her right hande she had a little scrole wherein was written this woorde Oziris and in her lefte hande she had a braunche of Oliue and vppon one of the Pillars sixe foote heigh from the grounde was engrauen in Greeke letters the substannce of these verses Once enter did the Wolues the Forest thicke into With hunger to deuoure the flocke moste fraile and weake Likewise the Pastours of the tender yonglynges eke Whereof full many fell whom preasse did ouerthrowe And in the other after the same maner were these here whiche did depende vpon the others and made perfecte the sense thereof But the Dragon of whom the Pastour greate is father Them chasyng hym beforne shall rest as conquerour Then shall he bee reknowne for sonne to the Pastour Whom from extreme mischaunce he shall helpe and deliuer But it neuer rested in any of the knightes powers who read and reuised it many tymes whereof there was many that were well leâ—â—ered and cunnyng to know rightly how to enterprete it Whiche was cause that remainyng marueilously astonished at this noueltie thei retired all toward the place where the Listes were prepared for to finish their enterprised Tourney wherein was many a launce broken and many a knight cast to the grounde by the valiauncie of the two couragious knightes Dom Ferrand of Norwaie his cosin Dom Grandilaor wheron many did penaunce and that greate for thrée daies space after And the two Defendauntes gained muche fauour of many knightes whiche there acquired hate and disdaine in recompence of their Dames For there was founde but one whiche was not amourous and in Loue called Dom Gillant of Bartage who was of the number of the twelue couragious knightes of Greate Britain moste hardie and cunnyng in his weapon but in Iustes hee was caste doune to the yearth by Dom Grandilaor after the breakyng of fower Staues without remouyng himselfe but at the fifte he was dishorsed wherewith hee was so chaffed and angred that hee woulde not performe the decrees of the game Whiche thyng Grandilaor seeyng saied to hym Knight will ye not goe kisse the Rynges and feete of the Ladies as it was accorded before wée came to the Justes the one againste the other No aunswered Dom Gillant for I am not bouÌ„de to doe that against my will. And presently through the greate displeasure he there tooke he abandoned the Realme of Greate Britaine to searche for straunge aduentures Whiche thyng Geliaste the ioyly séeing who was there to deliuer Launces to theim that lacked saied to Grandilaor For as muche as I can see sir this knight wil kéepe promise for he wil not let it goe as yet Truely he will keepe it long saied Grandilaor smilynglie for if he frame not hym self to accomplishe otherwise he should haue no power to escape from hym But whiles he discoursed thus with the mery ioyly Geliaste he tooke of hym a Speare whiche he had in his hande for that Dom Haroalt whiche also was one of the xij couragious knightes of the Realme approached to runne against him who seeyng hym with Speare in reste pricked his Horse with the spurres and came runnyng vpoÌ„ hym who did the like so rightly that makyng their Speres flie in shiuers whiche had touched both their Shieldes thei perfourmed brauely their Course without any maner mouing from the Sadles Wherefore takyng newe Speares more bigge and strong then the firste they came to the shocke againe so fiercely vpoÌ„ their Shieldes that their Trunchions fliyng on high in the ayre their Steedes mette with suche a furie breast against breast that that of couragious Heroalt was constrained as not beeyng so strong as the other to fall there doune and his Maister by hym Assuring you that if Dom Grandilaor had not strongly reined the heade of his Horse he had measured hymselfe also on the Earth But he hare hym self there so valiauntly that his Cousen Ferrand and he remained all the daie victorious and so well couÌ„tergarded them selues from beeyng caste to the grounde that none had the puissaunce to winne of them the twoo white Steedes Wherof after that the Sunne was gone doune and euerie one retired home the valiaunt Grandilaor made a present to his Mistres Antiziliane who thereof thankyng hym humbly felte her selfe well content and satisfied of so greate a fauour for they loued one an other greatlie because that the saied Antiziliane was the fairest Damozell in all Britaine the Greate and Dom Grandilaor one of the moste fine valiaunt and hardie knightes as his deedes shall geue you to vnderstande hereafter How the Queene Bellizenne caused the yong
Gerileon to be nourished and taught and of his childishe gentilitie and noble actes in youthe Duryng whiche tyme Prince DORIAN of Spaigne which was gone to seeke after Kyng Floridamant his frende was driuen by Tempeste into the Greene I le where he vnderstoode that the Traitour Mynofoll did leuie an Armie too inuade the Realme of Greate Britaine Wherefore beeyng gone thether he slewe the say de Minofoll at one stroke with a Speare and with the ayde of the couragious Knightes of greate Britaine discomfited all his Hoast Duryng whiche while the yong Gerileō lost hymself in the Forest by pursuyng a Phaisaunte whereby the Queene through grieues and sorrow outraged had slaine her selfe but for the sodaine arriuall of kyng Floridamant who disturbed her in the Acte ¶ The fift Chapter THE Iustynges and Tourneys solemnized in the Citty of London for ioye of the late child birth of the Queene Bellizenne dured the space of fiue daies In which season the Princes Ferrand and Grandilaor made suche proofe of their valiaunt prowesse haughtie chiualrie that they still rested victours to the great cōtentment of the faire Antiziliane To whom Grandilaor gaue all the Iewels by hym conquered whiche he had wonne of the vanquished knightes But at th ende thereof the vertuous Quene hauyng abandoned and lefte her childbed caused them to cease not able wholie to forget the sorrow and anguishe whiche the long absence of her loyall spouse brought vnto her but onely at suche tymes as she takyng her little Infant betwene her armes to yelde some release to her dolour she embraced hym with a multitude of beholdinges kisses coming of natural loue Not knowing whether she ought to waile the long and yrkesome absence of her Husband although not wholy voyde of hope to see hym once againe or rather to reioyce and content her selfe with so luckie a burthen And in this perplexitie she remained more then twoo yeres now sad nowe somewhat merie liuyng still and sustainyng her self by the foode of a certein hope whiche yet sometyme fed her with some consolatiō During whiche tyme she was so curious and tooke so great hede well to nourishe brauely to bring vp the yong Gerileon that at two yeres endes he was so big and ioyly that already he could both goe and run and prattled so pretily that he could demaund and aske for what ere he would haue In so muche that eche one cōiectured muche of his future boūtie and valour by his yong childishe actes accompagnied with such a naturall gentilitie and magnanimitie whiche in hym within processe of tyme had suche an encreasement that they seemed to surpasse the selfe same course of his tender and yong yeres For scarsely had he arriued to the fourth yere of his age but that if by chaunce he sawe any one beyng dolefull and sad to lament he had therof so greate compassion that knowing the cause of his dolour he endeuoured to recomfort him the best that he could offering him all that he had for his contentmente and especiallie to the Queene his Mother to whom on a daie when she heald hym on her Lappe hearing her geue a profounde sigh he spake moste gentlie on this sorte and saied Madam what ayleth you I praie you tell mee why you sigh Is there any that hath geuen you occasiō of being angrie For if it bee so I assure you it shall not bee vnreuenged The Queene hearyng hym speake with so good a grace began to smile at his childishe wordes who with suche and other like matters yelded often most great lightnyng to her passions and distresses Moreouer he neuer remained idle and moste commonly one should finde hym either neere to some horse wherevpō leadyng him to some blocke or suche like thing he set him self with so good a grace that at sight thereof a man would haue iudged hym to haue been the moste dexterious squire or knight of all greate Britaine or els takyng a Staffe he wente to assaile some one or other to trie hym self that wayes againste hym to whom albeit he surpassed hym in bignesse of bodie yet he raught hym some tymes by his nimblenesse and actiuitie suche harde blowes that commonly he was forced to plaie double or quitte with hym For in the science of Defence thei trained and brought hym vp so curiouslie that at laste he was therein as experte not onely as his teachers but also as any other in the world in his tyme Then againe with a Darte in hande he wente tracyng through the Forest to finde some wilde beastes without feare of the whiche no more then if thei had been Dogges if perchaunce he recountred any he pursued theim so faste in the Forest that often tymes the Quene whiche neuer was at ease he beyng out of sight sette and sent folkes euery waie to seeke hym But what should I thus muche striue to discourse vpon this point seyng that as it is found by the writinges of the Chronicler Galarx one can not recite any thyng fitte and cōuenient to an harte fraight with noblenesse and generositie to whiche this little prince applied not his minde and behaued hym self so well in all his childly enterprises that makyng them tende to some gentle ende he semed rather a man of ripe iudgemente then a skillesse Child and Infant Duryng the tyme that the yonge boye Gerileon thus encreased bothe in ago vertue strengthe and gentlenesse of Spirite the Queene his mother had made enquirie on all partes as well for her brother Hubert of Scotlande whose losse brought muche annoye to many as also for the good knightes Candior Grandilaor Acciall of Surrye Sylban of Flanders Melcior and many others of the couragious of Greate Britaine to knowe the cause of the long abode which so muche anoied her of king Floridamant who being sent out to seke him towardes al partes of the earth could in nowise heare any newes of him Whiche thing beyng come to the eares of Prince Dorian of Spain he was by reason of the feruent loue he had to him so distressed for his losse that he vowed and sware neuer to slepe quietly or in good reste vntill suche tyme as he might heare some newes of hym in so muche that makyng inquirie for hym he wēt first into Thrace where hauyng heard nothyng of hym he put hym self on the sea to returne to Greate Britaine or to some other countrie farther of But he was surprised by a marueilous and horrible tempeste whose blastes after a while caused his Barke to be cast on shore in the Grene Ile where by a Cloune of the same coast he was assured that for certaintie the traitour Necromancien Minofol helde and had hym in his prison of the Redde Castle enchaunted and caused hym daiely to bee whipped and beaten by fiue or sixe villaines with greate and bigge coardes all to make hym miserably languishe till the ende of his daies and he knew moreouer that he addressed a greate Armie by Sea traitorously to
nature framed or brought forthe into the worlde Thou makest me to abandon the one and depriuest mee of both the other by thy false treacherie and Treason the more to tosse and torment mee in the middest of these Mundane Motions and terreine enticementes wherein thou sufferest nothyng to be durable and permanent No no I assure thee that thou shalt no more abuse mée by thy subtile and deceitfull alterations in this worlde For I goe in despite of thee to receiue in celestiall thinges more ioye and gladnesse then in terreine and mundane influences thou hast made mée tast of forrowe and sadnesse deliueryng mee by this meanes from the Snares whiche thou layest from daye to daye to make mee languishe hoping that there I maie yet somewhat reioyce in the felicitie of seeing my deere Mate Floridamant and my litle Infaunt Gerileon who vpon his Fathers losse yet gaue me some allegeaunce But alas what is it that I will doe and if peraduenture my deere Spowse deliuered from the pernitious prisons wherin the accursed and traiterous enchaunter Mynofol hath caused him liue so miserably retorne and my Sonne be found by some one who nourishing garding him more charely thē I haue done come in processe of tyme as possible it is that he may what will they say if I miscary descāting my incōueniences Do I doubt but that besides that they shall be outraged in greeuous dolor and distresse thei wil not haue mee in reputation of a foole franticke and voyde of wit But wretche that I am saide she next scriching and groning bitterlie and taking in her right hand the Glaine whiche she kept couertly vnder her kirtell why delay I so long from keeping of them companie slackyng the aduauncement of my trespasse by certaine friuolous fantasies and trifling thoughtes bee they in the vtter profounditie of Hell or in a Mansion more hie eleuate of the Elisian Fieldes Seeing that if they were aliue they would not protract so muche tyme to come see mee Wherefore that whiche euen now I thought not beeyng possible to be true receiue O God pitifull mercifull receiue with hartie praier I beseech thee after that I shal haue pearced my breast with this Blade dying my delicate and tender handes in mine owne warme blood my spirite into thy power And as she raught her arme backe to giue the deadlie dinte she felte one who forced her to staie the same and looking backe she beheld a knight all armed who taking from her cruell handes the knife couragiously embraced her betweene his armes saiyng O my good Ladie what is this that you will doe both to your owne great damage and my great discōtentmēt Ah knight said she of al loues if thou bee desirous of lucke and felicitie of Ladies and Damoselles afflicted distourbe me not frō myne enterprise But for all that the Knight holdyng and embracyng still her necke with his tender armes staied not from kissyng her whiche caused her castyng her sight on hym to knowe that he was her deare and loial spouse Floridamant whom she embraced incontinently by the middle of the body kissyng and rekissing him aboue an hundreth times and to be so danted with the chaunce and rauished with ioye that she semed to sounde for gladsomnesse And not well knowyng whether she dreamed or whether it were true that she held betwene her handes the thyng whiche aboue all other she had so long desired attended for she could not bring for the one word insomuch that the kyng much marueiled at so straunge aduenture demaunding of her the cause of her doloure distresse which she could not conceale from him but made him partaker of all her fortune frō pointe to pointe with the losse of her little Infante wherof he was marueilously displeased and sorie Neuerthelesse as one to whom the valiaunce and magnanimitie of courage neuer failed he framed hymselfe to cōforte her in the best fashion he could saiyng And well my derlyng seyng that it hath pleased God to take the Infant whom he hath lent to you thereby as it seemed to reserue pour life till my retourne it standes you vpon with paciēce to thanke his highnesse humblie seyng wee haue nought in this worlde whiche is not all to hym appertainyng and whiche hee maie not distribute at his diuine pleasure and will And also that you shoulde thinke that thankes bee to hym wee haue the tooles and instrumentes whiche neither are worne nor wasted to woorke an other withall whē it shall please hym to imparte that grace vpon vs At these laste woordes the Quene was readie to laugh and smilyngly takyng hym by the hande lead hym towarde the Castell whiche was not farre distaunte from thence where we will leaue hym for a while to tel you what hapened to the young Gerileon whom wee haue lefte a sleepe vnder a Tree in the Foreste Oziris a Ladie of the Fayries who hauyng taken the forme of a Phaisante had ledde astraie the little Gerileon in the Forreste sente twoo faire Nymphes Naiades to seeke hym who kepte their residence in a goodly Fountain which was in the wooddes of Cypres the whiche Nymphes brought hym within a gorgeous palaice where she remained and laied him to rest vpon a bed from the whiche after that he was arisen the Faierie sent hym by her Damozelles into a gaie garden wherein was the fountaine of the Naiades who seyng hym so faire made hym greate entertainment and with this pleasure and contentmente she nourished hym long ¶ The vj. Chapiter WHo so shall chaunce to reade the contentes of the Chapiter aforegoyng perchaunce maie be much amazed in that the yong Gerileon remained so long a sleape within the Foreste where we lefte hym whereof thei might haue iuste occasion if so it had stoode that he had been there resident vntill the next daie when as the Quéene Bellizenne would haue slaine her self But the historie saieth that after he had remained there the space of an hower surpassed with a profounde and forgetfull sleape there were twoo faire Nymphes of those commonly called Naiades which dwelled and had their habitations within a faire Fountaine which was in the middest of a little woodde of Ciprus at the side of the Foreste wherein none durste enter whatsoeuer For that that those whiche therein entred were transformed into saluage beastes by the enchauntmente of a Faierie named Oziris who was Dame and Mistresse aswell of the woodde of Ciprus and of the Fountaine as also of the Nymphes whereof wee spake whiche by her commaundemente came quickly to take the little youth in place where he slept and without awakyng brought hym into the fairest Castell that euer one could name wherein the Fairie Ozaris had her residence and when thei had brought hym on this sorte they put hym in a chamber the moste faire that might bee imagined and couched hym vppon the fairest and costliest bedde of the worlde if wee maie saie so For the Faierie had with her owne handes wrought and
of theim For that the dearlyng of the Faierie staieth too long in the Castle of the woodd of Cipres whiche vrgeth vs to produce hym for the into the fieldes The Youth Gerileon being come to the age of fiftene or sixtene yeres the Fairie Ozyris gaue hym an Harnis enchaunted so and in suche sorte that there was neither Iron nor Stele how sharpe soeuer which could in any wise pearce it also she gaue hym the braue Horse Lycocephal and a good Sworde and hauyng tourned the Lyon whiche he had taken in the Forest into his firste forme she gaue hym also vnto hym for his Squire And thus apointed she sent him towardes the Emperour of Constantinople to receiue the Order of knighthoode and of the communication she had with hym before his departure ¶ The eight Chapter NOw refteth hereafter noble lordinges and illustrious knightes whiche willynglie take pleasure to reade the worthy deedes and memorable enterprises of those which haue adorned and aduaunced our world that I let you sée a yong Warriour the brauest and best skild in armes the worthiest puisauntest and moste magnanimious of any other wherof euer mention was made It is also for you other faire and gracious ladies who are pricked with the pleasant assaultes whiche loue accustomably assigneth to theim whiche humbly liue languishing in the prisons of cruell desire tormentyng their hartes with a cōtinuall amorous thought that I shewe you of a yong Princesse accōplished in al perfections of beautie rather diuine then humane the liueliest attaynted and dispiteouslye enflamed by the ardent and burning stroakes which procéeded from the persone of the young Ciprian Infaunt aboue any other vnder the celestial vaute since the creation of oure firste Fathers if you will haue pacience to reade and peruse this fine and delectable Historie Wherefore ye must vnderstande that the gentill Youth Gerileon remained so long at Ozyris Pallace in the wood of Cypres with suche pleasure and contentment as is aforesaide that he attained the xv yere of his age At what tyme hee was so sage gentie modest and courteous puisaunt and vertuous that there was as then none in the worlde that in giftes whiche either Arte or Nature doeth by the diuine prouidence of God bestowe vpon man could in any poynt match hym muche lesse surpasse hym For hee was so ta◠well made and proportioned in al his lymmes mēbers that one could scarce finde any which in largenesse of bodie or pregnantnes of wit could at that time be his equall and at that tyme say I for that when he was come to mans age he far surpassed excelled the stature of other men For which cause the Fairie Ozyris leeyng hym already so great puisaunt thought that it was not for his profite but rather to degenerate from the Noblenesse of the Place where hee tooke his originall Wherefore desiryng nought but his profite and aduauncement seeyng that if he taried long in that state and continued any more in that voluptuous and delicate trade of life the prowesse and valour which were in hym should be so vnprofitable that they should helpe no more then a Treasure whiche liyng hid in the entrailes of the Earth serueth not the vse of any she would not hinder the honour and fame which he afterward atchiued to abide buried in the profound darkenes of a perpetuall silence Wherefore one daie when hee was alone in his Chamber readyng in a booke in which kinde of exercise hee tooke inestimable delight she entered in at whose comming the Youth which was set arose saiuted her with an humble reuerence and she also vsed towardes him a reciprocall obeisaūce contrary to her acustomed fashion Then takyng hym by the hande wherwith as yet he held his Hat whiche she put on his head she led hym to sit in a Chaire couered with Damaske whiche stoode neere to her Bed side wheron she leanyng vsed to him these or such like wordes My soune for so she calde him still séeyng you are alreadie come to suche ripenes and encreasement of age for the whiche I praise the almightie God whiche hath made and doth gouerne all thynges that as it semeth you shall from henceforth be sufficient forcible strōg to toile in the field with a cracklyng Corsselet vpon your valiaunt shoulders I am in opinion that it should be most good and profitable for you and no lesse conueniente and fitte that you were made knight by the handes of some good Prince not to let here stippe or rather steape the graūd prowesse valiancie that is in you emong the chambers gardens and wooddes of this Pallaice rather thā to remaine still to take your recreations and pastymes in a place full of delites and mundane vanities which are so alluring entice and flatter so with the swéetenes of their bitter baites the hartes myndes of yong and youthful wightes wherby thei entangle blinde them in such sort that thei make them forgette their duetie although both noble gentle they hold them so wel hampered that with great difficulty thei haue no power most commonlie to dispatche theim of the same Neither yelde thei ought els in the ende but a perpetuall dishonour accompaignied with a too late repentaunce whiche after all this hath to feede vpon an infinite number of anguishes forrowes I saie not these thynges my dearlyng for any desire that I haue contrary to your stomacke to sende you hence assuryng you that I esteeme my selfe verie happie in hauyng ministred vnto you so good entertainment But forasmuch as I see ye haue not had yet vntill this present occasion of any miscontentmente And this your absence shall bee to me farre more yrkesome then all other dolours that maie in any wise betide me But because I foresee by my Artes and Sciences that it should bee greater losse and damage that the haughtie and illustrious feates of armes whiche you are to bryng to passe by your valiauncie should remaine any longer in darcknesse without enioiyng their future clearenesse and apparente light Furthermore if you should otherwise deale or dooe therein you should degenerate greatly frō the generositie of the place whence you proceaded whiche by your vertue and valiauncie you ought to illustrate and adorne yet more then euer it was If you will beleue me and followe my counsaile I praise you in your presence because I know your nature so good that for any laude that I can giue you you would not as in deede it is nothyng decente puffe vp your courage and stuffe your self with pride no more then you would endure wrong and vilanie dooen vnto you by any other you not seekyng perforce to resiste it And knowe that too no other entent I haue brought you vp and nourished you with so greate care and diligence as I haue dooen nor taken you from the handes of your freindes in your Infancie for other occasion then to eschew the misfortunes and miserable destenies whiche before hande I haue
the other so muche that the Vermilion red whiche retired from the middle of their visages gaue coniecture to some of the Damozelles who were more skilled and conuersaunt in the case then others of that whiche was happened For there wanted not much but that the Youth transported with a beautie vnmatchable and neuer hauing felt suche impressions of loue in his phantasie afore had almost fallen doune in a slumber but takyng harte to him he dissembled his dolour the best he could But the ladie were it that she was charged with more matter of this Marrowe then he or that she was lesse couragious and able to beare out these bruntes bestowed by the little God on thē whom he inwrappeth in his nettes was through phansie forced to fall in a soūde sodainly in the place where she stoode Wherof wée neede not doubte if the Empresse her Damozels who sawe her fall were afraied and marueiled for thei thinkyng that she was deade with an infinite number of cries and lamentations moste pitifull ran speedely on this side and on that to lifte and raise her vp stil tremblyng astonished for feare which thei had leaste she were deade But after thei had felte her poulces findyng her yet a liue thei appeised and moderated the vehemencie of their dolours to recomforte the Empresse who hauyng her harte cloied with distresse could not speake a woorde saiyng one to an other that some defaulte of harte had surprised her or els that not hauyng eaten any meate that Mornyng her senses and stomacke failed her some other saied that possiblie it was her goune beeyng to straight for her And thus these women Philosophatyng vpon her sodaine sounynges thei tooke and caried her charelie into her chamber where beyng laied vpon her bedde thei caste certaine droppes of colde water in her visage and then she beganne to reuerte and come again to her self and openyng her eyes she was altogether amazed to se so many people busied about her and chieflie to heare her cousine Harderine wéepyng so bitterly that kissyng her she watred her cheekes with teares to call her with a loude voyce Wherefore with a feeble and lowe voyce the Ladie badde her that she should shutte all the windowes of the chamber and then cause all the rest of the Damozelles to depart because she had great desire to slepe Then the ladie Harderine asked her saiyng Will you not that I tary here with you Madame that if in case any necessitie perturbe you I maie preuent it to my power That is as it shall please you cousin saied she and incontinently all the Damozelles wēt out and made reporte to the Empresse how her daughter was somwhat better amended then afore and that this sounyng proceeded not of any other cause then of the quaisinesse of her stomacke whiche had surprised her in that she had not rested the Nighte before because of the Alarmes whiche the Giaunte Ferclaste and his twoo brethren made nightly to the Citie wherewith the Empresse was somewhat satisfied and ceassed her teares The Ladie Harderine who remainyng solie in the Lady Porphyria her Chamber willyng to knowe the cause of her dolour beganne to fetche her in with these woordes I am greately astonished and abashed Madame whence or how you should haue this greate default of harte that so sodain lie you should fall doune soundyng before the Empresse doe you feele your self euill Is there any interiour maladie or secrete sorrowe within your corps whiche through his violence hath caused this auoydance of senses I praie you not to conceale it but rather to communicate it fréelie to me so that it maie be amēded For if you secretly shroude and shadowe it I assure you your self shall bee the speedie procurer and seker of your owne decaie whiche if it should once chaunce I should not long after liue Wherefore I praie you once again my swete Mistres saied she in kissing her vouchsafe to make me knowe your maladie Ah cosine saied she to her thinke you me so sottishe vndiscrete and suche an enemie to my self that if I felte any euill to anoye me whereto the Phisicions might apply the order of amendement that I would conceale it from you hauyng heretofore manifested to you all the motions of my mynde and secret thoughtes that I euer suffred The Ladie Harderine hearyng her so speake had at the firste greate feare least she had felte some corporall maladie within her self daungerous and incurable but hauyng pondered somewhat apart vpon her speaches she doubted sodainly that perchaunce she was pricked with the perillous darte of Loue whiche onely is vncurable either with Hearbes or Siropes Wherefore to lighten her doubte she thought good to trie the watche further saiyng on this sorte And how then Madame doeth the cause of your doloure and sounyng procede from any maladie whiche the Phisicions by no meanes can cure I can not rightly deeme what desease paineth you seyng there is no sicknesse so sore that Sir Sagibell your father the Emperours Phisicion who is the moste skilfull and tried man in his Arte can not by his medicines giue some recure and helpe vnto Cosin replied the faire Ladie you knowe well that I neuer concealed from you any of my secretes though verie priuate were thei neuer of so greate importaunce And therefore I will not now hide from you my langour seeyng you are so destrous to knowe it and that whiche I aunswere proceedeth not from ought els but of the greate desire I haue to slepe Wherfore since ye knowe it presently I praie you no more to disquiet me but do so muche as depart the chamber that then I maie slepe the more at my ease And an hower hence you maie returne to awake me at what tyme you shall perceiue my maladie muche amended I se wel said Harderine doubtyng more now then asore of an eele vnder the stone that the case standeth not so that you maye hide it well enough For the Fire was neuer yet in a place so secrete neither hid in a denne so déepe but that some smoke thereof appeared and was seen at whiche woordes she went for the of the chāber shuttyng the doore after her and feining to goe along the Gallerie correspondente to the issue of the same she went not farre but retourned softely againe to harken at the doore if in any pointe she could heare the distressed Ladie complain who as sone as she sawe her departed had begonne her plotte to this purpose drawyng moste sorowfull sighes from the bottome of her harte Woe is me what passiō of mynde might this be that I fele O miserable and desolate that I am what straunge dolour what vnknowen alteration dde I feele to martire and crucifie my hart with suche outrage that I attende nought els but the arriuall of that cruell and inhumain death to ende my doleful daies and to deliuer me from the passions and anguishes wherewith like friyng fire I now still feele my bowels to burne Beholde
as I vnderstande wherat all the best knightes of Constantinople wil bee as Assistauntes and Don Gillant de Burtage of Create Britaine who is merueilous valiaunt will bee there also against whom we shall see howe he can beare hym selfe and what he will doe moreouer if he haue any affection towardes you For if it bee so I assure my selfe that if hee maie vanquishe any he will sende hym to bee your Prisoner or will vse some suche gentlenesse or courtesie in your behalfe for verelie it seemeth mee that if hee bee of so hie linage or if he bee so valiaunte as in appearaunce he seemeth certes he is worthy to bee beeloued of some greate and beautifull Princesse Wherefore Ladie I praie you ceasse your Teares that you giue not out any suspicion of your distresse be temperate till to morow and then I promise to giue you counsell vpon further deliberation more wholsome and agreeable then presently I can For now we must goe towardes the Empresse to deliuer her of the dolour wherein shee yet resteth supposing that by this time you are neere hande dead And keepe the best countenaunce you can therby to cloake your care so God will aide you soone you shall see in some sorte Then taking her by the left hand and Harderine by the right who saied vnto her good God Cosin I would not for any thing in the world be so amourous as you and for this cause will I keepe my selfe quiet from blaspheming of loue euer hereafter seeyng that his puissaunce punisheth so pitifully those whom he once taketh in hande And then they ariued in the Empresses Chamber who was exceedyng glad when she vnderstoode that her daughter seemed as nowe to haue no further malady where wee nowe will leaue them and tell what chaunced to the Youth of the Fairies Of the perplexitie of the Youthe of the Fairies after the sight of Porphyria her surpassing beauty and how the Emperour sente to seeke hym by his Squire Geliaste who came and founde hym beeyng all sad and pensiue and lettyng hym vnderstande howe the Emperour had asked for him he went into the Hall where the Table was couered for dinner where he being set with him in the coÌ„paignie of his Barons Knightes much marueiled to see them dyne in their Harnesse whereof he makyng enquirie the Emperour recompted to hym the aduenture of three matueilous Gyantes Ferclaste Androfort and Ergoferant whiche caused that shortly after hee departed secretly from the Courte to goe fight with theym and of the aduentures whiche he found by the waie ¶ The xi Chapter AND on the other side was the Youth of the Faieries who hauyng seen the incomparable beautie of Porphyria felte hym self when as he firste sette his eyes uppon her wounded and smitten by the same shaft seniblable prickes of loue True it is that his passion was not at the first shewe so violence that like her he should presently sounde in that he was more manly and strong to suffer assaultes or perchaunce to speake more plainly he was not burthened so muche as she then presently but longe it was not ere their passions were equall For seeing her to fall into a traunce emongest her Maides and Damozelles who bare her vp and brought her into her Chamber he all astonished passed by a Portall from out of the Hall into a Gallerie whiche bordred on a faire and pleasaunte Gardein at the ende whereof hee founde certaine steppes to descende doune and so walked long time solely descantyng vpon the newe cogitations of his loue And herein he imagined so well and called so curioussy to remembraunce that Angelicall shape which he had seen and which helde hym so rauished and wherein he had entred so far that becommyng ardently amourous he felt for certainty the finall losse of his late power and libertie But worte ye how Frsooth this impression imaginatiue tooke suche encrease in hym that he knew not where he was for his harte yet tender yonge and easie to receiue suche like violente impressions did nought but imagine how to finde meanes to let her vnderstande his griefe and to wynne her fauour Well daryng although hee knewe not of whence hee was to aspire so farre as too promyse hym selfe the Alliaunce of as greate a Lorde as the Emperour of Constantinople as well as if he had been assured of the house whereout he was descended so magnanimous an harte had hee and in suche forte was his haughtie mynde settled But moreouer considering the impossibilitie of the facte be chauÌ„ged soone his opinion and became astonied as once was the lame Smith of Iupiter at what time through Choller he was cast doune headlong from heauen For he tormented hym self through the vehemencie that he felte broiling in the fire which continually encreasing in flames made him to suffer more torment and affâ—tition when sagely he considered the inequalitie of his louyng Ladie and hym Finally all these thynges considered seyng his affaires fell out so ill and that the fire encreased in his breaste by the imagination of his Miffresses feature and beautie whiche in beholdyng had dimmed and darkened his eyes and senses also with their dulcet venime whereof feelyng the alteration and violence more vehemente seeyng he durst not to make semblante thereof to his Dame hee resolued to separate hym selfe from that pleasaunte infection to the ende that being absent from the Coales he might rake the reste of the Fire vnder the Cinders of his Cogitation And verelie this his counsaill was verie good and wholesome if the bodie beeyng absent hee could also haue estraunged his thoughtes forgotten the obiecte of his tormente On the other side he waied the promesse whiche he had made to the Emperour which was to remaine in his seruice whiche thing for any worldes good seyng hym selfe so bounde and vowed vnto hym he would not breake nor violate In this perplexitie rested he more then two long howers still walking vp and doune the Cardeine while the Princesse Porphyria who drewe with hym the yoke of equall tormentes was in counsaill with her Damozelles as you haue heard in the Chapiter precedent And I deeme he might haue remained so longer had it not been for his Squire who sought hym on all sides by the commaundement of the Emperour to come to Dine with hym who wente so farre from chamber to chamber and in suche order that in fine he founde hym dreamyng and musing in the Cardeine in suche wise that he called hym twise or thrise beyng verie nere vnto hym before he heard or apperceiued hym who approchyng more neere to hym called out on this sorte Hola Maister what meane you are you become deaffe or blinde For now it is a whole hower since I haue been here with you to tell you how you muste come to the Emperour to Diner in all whiche while ye haue not made semblante either to heare or see me And how In Gods name more then an hower Saied the Youthe of the
there was one amongest theim in that Arte most excellent whiche accustomably did heale all those knightes whom the Giantes hauing wounded would not kill but famishe to death in Prison whiche person had one kinde of Oyntmente of suche vertue that there was neuer so greate a wound but therewith in three daies it would be well healed throughly cured as though it had neuer been And how is he called saide the Knighte he hath to name maister Rabalon aunswered they againe Then saide the Knight needes muste I haue hym for my seruaunt seeing he is so skilful is in case he will like thereof For against his will I meane not to constraine hym to doe any thing I thinke well said one of the companie that he would rather bee with you then with the Giantes for they tooke hym perforce from the Emperour beecause of his greate cunning and haue dealt with hym verie vncourteously And in so saiyng they arriued in the Rocke whiche was finely cut carued within like vnto a Pallace whereat the Youth was greatly astonied For there were Halles ChaÌ„bers Wardropes both hie lowe made by great skill and industrie whiche the Giantes had founded not longe afore when with their huyge force they had hollowed the Rocke which was meruellous hard to kéepe them in more safetie and therein none entred but by one onely Gate although within were more then sixtie as well of Chambers as prisons which all were shut vp with mighty keies The whiche the knight tooke as soone as he was entered hauyng found them vppon a Table tyed all together with an huyge Chaine of yron which the Porter had left there fearing that the knight asking for him and being informed of his wickednesse and crueltie towardes the Prisoners woulde rewarde hym according to his desertes like as his Maisters were and therefore hid he himself in a Vaste and darkesome caue vnder a Tunne where he was smothered and so hee ended his wicked life But hee soone founde the good Chirurgian Maister Rabalon who at the entrie of the doore crooched doune humbly on his knée to desire him of Pardon The Youth taking him by the hande made him stande vp saiyng I will not pardon thee for why thou neuer offendedst mee and therefore thou hast no neede to aske mercie but for this that I heare saie that thou hast appertained to the good Emperour of Constantinople towardes whom it is expedient that thou goe to impertrate that whiche thou requirest of mee for the offence that thou hast wrought in beeyng so long absent from his companie to serue suche mischiuous Tyrauntes as thou hast doen here and I will that from mee thou do present shew these dead Giauntes and knightes beyng layde vppon some Chariot to his Maiestie For I wotte well that knowing of their destruction he will be muche ioyous consideryng the manifolde annoyes whiche they haue still wrought hym in thy companie shall goe all the Prisoners whiche are within to thanke for their deliuerie the faire Princesse Porphyrie his Daughter after humble salutations to her done on my behalfe for she alone is the cause hereof And if she do enquire who hath done it tell thou her that it was the Youthe of the Fairies the leaste of her Seruitours if for one she will accepte hym though farre vnworthy of suche preferment Then gaue he him the keyes to go deliuer the prisoners but seeing hym to be somewhat wounded firste hee gaue him some of his Oyntmentes to his sore whiche had suche speedy operation because the wound was not greate that the next mornyng it was whole and sounde But whyles he was thus appliyng his Medicine hee sawe the Giantes whom he had pardoned and who stoode without enter fearefully tremblyng and quaking to hyde them selues here and there with greate diligence Whereat the Youth lacing his Helmet and taking his Shield and Swerde set forwarde out of the Gate to see what was happened and he apperceiued the Giaunte Ergoferant to come that waie for he had not quite killed hym as the others were but onelie amazed hym with a blow vppon his head who beyng come againe to hym selfe hauing cast awaie his Battell Axe and left of his Helmet Shield Iacke seeyng his brethren dead came and prostrated hymselfe at the Knightes feete whom he founde with Swerde and Target in hande readie crauing hym humbly of Pardon The Youth who was right mercifull seeyng hym contrary to those of his kind so meeke fréely pardoned hym conditionally notwithstandyng that he should goe with the rest of the Prisoners the morow followyng to aske Pardon of the Emperour for the harmes which he had done him and to thanke the Princesse Porphyria for his life so saued to presente to her his seruice doyng still what she should appoint hym wherto he gladly condiscended and thereupon hee commaunded hym to set free the Prisoners and to aske theim forgeuenes for the damage whiche hee had long done vnto theim whiche thing he did Immediatly he tooke the keyes whiche Maister Rabalon had in his hande and went to deliuer the Prisoners who seing him thought what he had come for some other purpose But much were they amerueiled when they saw hym kneele doune before them askyng theim forgiuenes praiyng that for the loue of hym which was cause of their deliueraunce and who had pardoned hym it would please them also to vse the like courtesie towardes hym whereto they willingly agreed for that this same Giant as it were quite contrarie in nature and disposition to his brethren had afore tyme bene cause that they were well vsed and entreated for he was full courteous and pitifull wherefore he ledde them towardes the Youthe whom they humbly thanked for suche a good tourne offering hym their seruice perpetually from that daie forwarde especially the Knight Pharisor who greatly requested hym that he would vouchesafe to take him into his company proteâ—ting that he would bee to hym a true and loyall frende and that nought but death should haue force to ende their amitie All whiche the Youth was well pleased of And for that night with the Giant Ergoferant who shewed him selfe full humble and diligent to doe hym honour and seruice and the Prisoners likewise he rested in the Rocke till the next morowe The Giant Ergoferant beyng departed from Rocke Alpine to accomplishe his promise towardes the Emperour of Constantinople mette by the waie the villaine whom the Youthe of the Faieries had caste into the Ditche whom he left there because he heard certaine Outlawes in the Forrest who would misuse the Damozell whom the Knight of the Fairies had deliuered out of the Sacke and cruelly did beate the Squire Geliaste both whoÌ„ he deliuered after he had slaine the Thieues And finally how after his arriual in Constantinople hee spake to the Emperour who courteously pardoned him of the faultes he had done to hym and made him promise to marry the Maiden Dinamia Sister to Pharisor and of the