and filthie loue grounded vpon ribauldrie and continued with all fraudulent practises that may be in which also the fond affection and doting fancie of Griffino is to be pitied that could not see her trecherie til with notable shame and scorne he felt the fruits of it Another patterne of lewdnesse in all kindes is the tragicall life of the abhorninable Gabryna that for her filthie lust brake all the lawes of hospitalitie and humanitie First tempting Fylandro most impudentlie then accusing him most falselie lastlie circumuenting him most subtillie and making him with a most rare crueltie to kill her husband and marrie her selfe and finallie when she grew wearie of him she found the meanes to poyson both him and the Phisition and not resting there spent all her life after in working all kinde of treason and mischiefe euen to her last gaspe which she fetcht on the gallowes Such Gabrynas and Medeas as this perhaps there are in the world that to effect their diuellish purposes will not sticke to practise any kinde of trecherie and poysoning yea and take a pride and felicitie when they can ouerthrow noble houses set great men together by the eares cause bloudshed and ruine and hurlyburlie in Cities and common wealthes and cause brothers to cut off one anothers head whereupon that old verse may seeme to haue bene made vpon some ground Non audet Stigius Pluto tentare quod audet Presbiter effrenis planaque fraudis axus But now in recompence of these two passing lewd women we haue two excellent vertuous women Fiordeliege married to Brandimart and Isabell espoused to Zerbino Which I thinke mine author hath deuised to haue great aduersities and to haue lost their husbands most vnfortunatly to the end to lay before all chast and vertuous matrones an example how the troubles that happen to their husbands must be a meane to set foorth their praise the more And indeed to attribute to them the highest point of glorie in this kinde that may be you see how he maketh them leese their husbands euen in the prime of their owne yeares Zerbyno slaine in France and Brandimart in Barbarie and both of them naming their wiues at their last houre to shew how dearely they loued them which causeth them to breake into such piteous lamentations as would moue not onely a tender hearted Ladie but euen a valiant hearted man to shed teares with compassion Further the deathes of both these Ladies in sundry kindes are most admirable Fiordeliege builds her a little roome in the sepulcher of her husband and there becomes an Anchorite Isabella falling into the hand of the barbarous Rodomont and hauing no way to saue her chastitie from his violence deuised a meane to redeeme it with the price of her life Oh worthy Isabella that deseruest to be painted in Tables and set foorth in clothes of Arres for an example to all young Ladies of constant chastitie But now to goe forward we haue to consider likewise of the inchaunted Pallace in which as it were in an infinite laberinth so many braue young men of great vallour loose themselues in seeking their loues and when they would depart thence they heare themselues called backe and thinke they see their faces but when they come thinking to finde them they vanish out of their sights and turne to shadowes This inchantment is likewise referred to loue that painteth forth in our fancie the Image of the party loued representing to vs the sweete speech the seemely behauiour the gracious lookes of our Idol that we worship but neither can we finde it when we seeke for it neither doth the heart take any repose still labouring to attaine to the end which more do misse then hit and yet when they do attaine to it for the most part they grow as wearie as before they grew fond We may say that Dido was in this laberinth when as Virgil describeth her At Regina graui iamdudum saucia cura Vulnus alit vaenis caeco carpitur igni Multa viri virtus animo multusque recurrat Gentis honos haerent insixi peclore vultus Verbaque nec placidam membris dat cura quietem Wherefore this passion may well be called That tickling wound that flat'ring cruell foe as it is in the first booke And no maruell if Rogero once againe hauing lost his ring of reason he drawne into this inchaunted Pallace Onely Astolfo taught by a booke Logestilla gaue him to take away a fantasticall Image or some such witchcraft as lay vnder the threshold dissolued the inchauntment But whereas it is said that Atlanta did build it thereby to keepe Rogero in an idle life therein he toucheth the fond tendernes of diuers parents ouer their children who bringing them vp in wantonnesse ease and pride make them the more apt to fall into this inchanting laberinth Many more examples are alledged by mine author as that prettie Comicall tale of Ariodant and Genewra the fantasticall tale of Norandino and Lucyna that were lapt in goates skinnes the death of Marganorres two sonnes the tale of the Mantuan knight that had the married mens cup. All which haue good Moralities and may be fitlie applyed to this common place of loue Now the other common place is of armes which indeed is more pertinent to matters of state as tother is to priuate life and manners and in this mine author hath carried his inuention verie daintilie and well worth the marking For he propoundeth to vs the example of two mightie Emperours one of which directeth all his counsels by wisedome learning and Religion But the other being rash and vnexperienced ruined himselfe and his counttrie and in this storie though much of it be fayned yet are set downe the verie ordinarie causes and the vsuall sequels of all such garboyls and troubles It is almost an vsuall matter to reade of young Princes that being left in peace and prosperitie and hauing so much wealth they know not what to do withall straight follow their youthfull humour of reuenging some I know not what old iniuries and be put in hope by such hare-brayne Counsellours as Rodomont and his fellowes of great conquestes and in the end ouerthrow indeed great armies not of their enemies but of their owne as the Oracle mocked Craesus Craesus Halim penetrans magnam perueriet opum vim So did Hanniball in Italie though indeed he preuayled a great while led thereto by a dreame as some write Now in these matters of warres the chiefe fault commonly is in those Counsellors that put a sword into a mad-mans hand by putting such conceits into Princes heads Yet we see Agramant hath his graue Sobrino that aduised him at the first not to inuade other mens countryes but to keepe his owne that aduiseth him to preuent mischiefe in time and to sue for peace that aduiseth him to put the matter to a combat of one man and the partie ouercome to pay yearely tribute and finally that not onely with faithfull counsell but with
English Duke as I did late rehearse Dissolued quite and causd like snow to melt These two likewise the Christen campe do pearce The forces of these two the Christens felt Rogero and Marfisa made lesse hast And so it happend they arriued last 12 The first two couple neare the Christens tents Did meet and then after long consultation Each vnto other shewing their intents They all conclude with on determination And all of them to this giue their consents In spite of all the Christen generation To succour Agramant their Lord and Liege And mauger Charls his might to raise the siege 13 Straight in one crew they foure togither knit Breake through the Christen watch by force amaine Neither in hugger mugger did they it But crying lowdly Affrica and Spaine They lay on lode and eu'rie one they hit Dead or astonished doth there remaine Alarum then all ore the campe was rung Though few could tel the cause fró whēce it sprung 14 Some thought the Gascoigns or the Switzers bold By mutiny had made some insurrection And their surmise vnto the Emp'ror told Who came with minde to giue them due correction But when he did the bodies dead behold Incurable vntill the resurrection He standeth still like one with wonder mazed And on their wofull wounds long time he gazed 15 Eu'n as a man that with a bolt of thunder Hath seene his dwelling house smit vnaware Straight searcheth with no little feare nor wonder Which way the bolt did passe that cauld his care So Charles that saw mens bodies cut in sunder Inquires of so great wounds who authours are And when he knew how few they were that did it Did wish himselfe there present to forbid it 16 This while Marfisa on another side With good Rogero do them sore impeach And through the campe in spite of them they ride Killing or wounding all within their reach As in a migne that lies close vnespide With trayns of gunpowder men make a breach Or as a tempest goes along by coast So suddenly these two brake through the host 17 Many that scapt the tother foure by flight In flying fell vnwares vpon these twaine And felt by proofe that neither flight nor fight Can saue a man ordained to be slaine Eu'n as a Foxe whom smoke and fire doth fright So as he dare not in the ground remaine Bolts out and through both smoke fire she flieth Into the Tariers mouth and there he dieth 18 Thus last of all by this most noble paire The Christen armie once againe was sundred And then to Agramant they all repaire Who welcoms them and at their value wondred Now hope and courage driue away dispaire One Turke of Christens straight defide an hundred So great a boldnesse in their mind doth rise By helpe and succour of these new supplies 19 Straight way on both sides out their men were brought Their standerds and their banners all displaid And there that day a bloodie field was fought And neither side made shew to be dismaid For hopes alike in either armie wrought Tones passed conquests tothers present aid But fortune on the Christens so did frowne That they againe were driu'n vnto the towne 20 The passing force of cruell Rodomount The strength and value great of Mandricard Rogeros vertue that doth all surmount Gradassos courage of no small regard Marfisas heart of principall account The skill of Sacrapant with best compard These were the causers of good Charls his losse And sent the Christens whom by weeping crosse 21 Great store were drownd in Sequana with hast The bridge so narrow was for to receiue them Wishing as Dedals sonne had in time past Some wings wherewith aloft in ayre to heaue them Some thrusting straue to get them in so fast That strength breath life at last did leaue them But that where by king Charls was chiefly shaken Was this that many Palladyns were taken 22 Thus fortune once againe did turne the wheele The good king Charles had her but could not hold her And of this foile this hurt he then did feele It fainter made his friends his foes the bolder The Marquis of Vienna true as steele Was at that seruice wounded in his shoulder And many hurt but none did play his part So well that day as valiant Brandimart 23 He stoutly bare it out no little space And when he saw there was no other way Then to the furie prudently gaue place And spard himselfe against another day Now once againe is Charls in wofull case Now once againe to Paris siege they lay Young Orphaus and old widdows prayre and cries Againe vnto Gods heau'nly throne arise 24 The Angell Michel was but ill appaid Finding the cause of those good Christens teares He thought his maker was but ill obaid And that he may be blamd therefore he feares He cals himselfe deceiued and betraid By her should set the Pagans by the eares From which it seemed now she did so vary As she had rather done the quite contrary 25 Eu'n as the Seruitor whose loue and zeale More then his memory may be commended Forgetting in some waightie cause to deale That by his Lord to him was recommended Would with new care his former fault conceale That er his master know it may be mended So this good Angel went not vp to God Till he had done as much as he was bod 26 To seeke dame Discord he doth leaue the skie And to the Abby he returnes againe Where her amid the monks he might espie That change old officers and new ordaine She laughes to see their portises to flie Readie to knocke out one anothers braine The Angel takes her by her painted locks And with great furie giues her many knocks 27 He brake a crosses handle on her crowne And grieuously doth beat her backe and side The wretch vpon her mary bones fals downe At th'Angels feet and mercie mercie cride Packe to the Pagans then that siege yon towne Quoth he and see that you among them bide For if this place againe thou euer trouble Assure thy selfe thy payment shal be double 28 Though Discords back and arms were sore with beating Yet thence with all the hast she could she went Sore terrifid with that great Angels threating Doubting againe in like sort to be shent Yet in this hast behind her not forgetting Bellows and coles in steed of those were spent By which in many minds and hearts inuincible She quickly kindle might a fire inquenchible 29 Rogero Mandricard and Rodomount Gan now their former quarrels to renew As making of the Christians small account That vnto Paris walls themselues withdrew Wherefore to Agramant they do recount Their quarrels the grounds of whence they grew Each one by challenge his iust cause auerring The combats order to the king referring 30 Also Marfisa doth the king intreat That she may end her combat first begunne With as great hast thereof and as
the rest into a den They cast and kill them in most cruell fashion And build vnto reuenge a solemne alter And ouer this they make them stretch a halter 28 Such men as liue are to this order sworne To kill all such as hither shall repaire And all men children that to them are borne They sell or change as in an open faire So when some die with age and weaknesse worne Then other women do the want repaire Their powre and number thus doth still increase Their wealth pomp augmented with long peace 29 But after many yeares it thus befell Elbanio one of Hercles noble race A comely tall strong man and fauord well And in his speech and manners passing grace Arriued where these homicids do dwell And ere he knew the fashion of the place The cruell sergeants tooke him as they found him And like a fellon hand and foote they bound him 30 It fortund as they carrid him to slaughter Among the rest that did the same behold Was Alessandra Oronteas daughter A fine yong girle about twise eight yeare old Elbanio humbly as he went besought her To be a meane this foule death to withhold That like a man he might be kild at least And not be drawne to slaughter like a beast 31 To beg my life quoth he it were a vanitie Which in your seruice I would gladly spend Where humane hearts be voyd of all humanitie But all the sute that I to make intend Which to denie were too too much immanitie Is this that thus my life I may not end But with my sword in hand to fight with men With seu'n at once or eight or nine or ten 32 This he to her thus she to him replies Though to mankind we all professe hostilitie Yet thinke not this she spake with watrie eyes That all our hearts are void of all gentilitie What Progne or Medea could despise Your passing beautie courage and nobilitie And were my fellowes all so ill inclind Yet I my selfe would beare a better mind 33 Aud though the rigor of our law be such That no man can obtaine a pardon free And eu'n this small you aske to graunt is much If our law strictly should obserued bee Yet such remorse I feele my heart doth tuch To graunt thy sute if others will agree Although I feare thou wilt in such a strife Prolong thy paine and not preserue thy life 34 Oh said Elbanio blest were such a day That in the field my manhood I might trie Could but your credit carry such a sway Not ten but ten times ten I would defie This said she causd the execution stay And to her mother goes she by and by With thousand stings of Cupid in her brest And vnto her expoundeth his request 35 Straight Orontea doth her counsell call And in such sort thereof to them she spake In guarding of our hau'n and citie wall T is good that of the strongest men we take Therefore to know who be most stout and tall I thinke it very good some proofe to make For else we shall vnto our selues do wrong To saue the weaker men and kill the strong 36 And who can wish to make a better triall Then for one man to fight with fiue and fiue And if he vanquish them and make them die all T were certes meet he should be kept aliue Thus Orontea said and they replie all That in this point with her they cannot striue Saue old Artemia carren witherd iade Mislikt the motion and this answer made 37 The cause that first we did some men admit Was not to keepe our hau'ns or citie wall For we our selues haue strength enough and wit To keepe our towne I trust and euer shall Were we as well for procreation fit Without mans helpe not one should liue at all Now for necessitie some few we spare Such as most able for that seruice are 38 This motion quite gainsaith our auncient law To keepe one man as strong as halfe a score How many women would he keepe in aw Had we ten such we should beare rule no more And further t is an old and certaine saw Both vsed and proued many yeares before That they that giue a weapon to their stronger Are like themselues to carry rule no longer 39 But put the case this one by our consent And his good hap ten of the others kill How shall an hundred widowes then lament That long must he alone against their will If he an hundred women would content Then him to saue I should not thinke it â—ll Then were he to be lou'd admir'd and wonderd If he alone could satisfie an hunderd 40 This cruell speech did all the rest displease And loth they were Elbanio should be slaine His comely shap their sharpnesse did appease And chiefly she that ouer all did raigne Doth seeke herein her daughters mind to please With many reasons answring her againe And point by point did all her speech confute And in the end obtaind her daughters sute 41 Thus to Elbanio pardon they impart Prouided if he ouercome the men And after brauely play the husbands part Not with an hundred women but with ten Elbanio thanketh them with chearfull hart Then was he freely loosed from the den In fine when all things ready were ordained In both exploits the conquest he obtained 42 Then Allessandra in whose tender mind Loue had alreadie made so deepe impression With other nine were vnto him assignd And princely mace was put in his possession But first by solemne vow they do him bind To hold this law for euer by succession To sacrifice all men saue such as trie To kill ten men and with ten women lie 43 And though that many haue in ages past Attempted both yet few haue had successe To scape the first exploit and trie the last In which to faile the danger were no lesse But he that both performes forthwith is plast In princely seate and free from all distresse And this their law as by records appeares Alreadie lasted hath two thousand yeares 44 The last but I that held this cursed place Argillon hight whom I in combat killed And him and his thereby I did displace And then their roomes with me and mine I filled Where we haue tarrid now a tweluemoneths space Among these wights of goodnesse all vnskilled And leade a life full of disdaine and scorne As better had bene neuer to be borne 45 For why these dallyings and wanton toyes That wonted are to please our foolish youth With costly fare gay clothes and Venus ioyes Of which repentance is the frute ensewth Doth breed to me but anguish and annoyes And pensiue cares and euer during ruth And chiefly when vnto my mind I call My libertie is lost and I a thrall 46 To loose my lustie time in this vile place Remou'd from kin and friends and countrey farre A wofull and remedilesse disgrace Mou'd by some ill aspect of angry starre Eu'n as
thought Which though he would forget spite of his hart He thinks on still so strong the fancie wrought The standers by are not so malypart To talke to him till he occasion sought Which hauing found vp from his chaire he started And salutations to them all imparted 107 Then askt he many questions of them all And as occasion seru'd discourses varid But still we finde and euer finde we shall By thought of heart the speech of tongue is carid For last to treat of marridge he doth fall And asketh of the men if they be marrid And if they be he prayth them to declare Of their wiues truthes what their opinions are 108 Straight all of them made answer they had wiues And but mine host all praisd the happie state And said they were the comforts of their liues That draw a happie yoke without debate A playfellow that farre off all griefe driues A steward early that prouides and late Both faithfull chast and sober mild and trustie Nurse to weake age and pleasure to the lustie 109 Tush quoth mine host vnder your good correction Most noble guest these fellows say not right But either with fond loue or foule subiection So blinded are they take the blacke for white I once my selfe was toucht with this infection But now I see that then I wanted sight And now I know as being better taught That theirs and mine be all vnchast and naught 110 For as the Phoenix is a bird alone And of that kind the whole world hath no more So thinke I of all wiues there is but one That liueth chast in loue and vertues lore He blest may be that lighteth her vpon Small hope thinke I there is in so scant store That many should haue one of such a kind Of which in all the world but one I finde 111 I once so blinded was as now be thease Till by good hap vnto my house there came A Gentleman of Venice from the seas Francis Valerio was he cald by name He knew and could declare them all with ease All womens wiles and stories to the same He had of old and of the later times To shew both wiues and single womens crimes 112 He said and bad me hold it as my creed That all of them are false if they be trides If some seemd chast it did of this proceed They had the wit to do and not be spide And knew by deepe dissembling and good heed With sober looks their wanton lusts to hide And this to proue he told me such a tale As while I liue I still remember shall 113 And if it like you sir to lend me eare In my rude fashion I shall it recite Right glad quoth Rodomont by heau'ns I sweare For thou hast hit my present humor right Wherefore said he sit downe I pray thee theare For in thy speech alreadie I delight But heare I end this booke for doubt I haue That in his tale mine host will play the knaue In this booke we may obserue how important a thing it is in an army to haue store of good leaders as Liuie noteth of the old Remaines Fortiorem rem Romanam ducibus esse quam militibus That the strength of the Romaines consisted more in Captaines then in souldiers In quarrels that grew in the campe vpon trifling causes we may note a fault that many of English Seruitors though otherwise braue men haue many times bene noted of in their forren seruice where they verie seldome agree togither but seeke to disgrace one another In Agramant we may note a princely maiestie in compounding such controuersies In Rodomonts bitter inuective against women we may see how passionate extreames loue and hate be In mine Host we note how such base fellows are still readie to feed the humors of Princes though it be in shamefull vices or manifest errors Hippolita to whom Marfisa is compared as also the whole countrie of Amazons and their lawes I haue spoken of elsewhere this is that Hippolita that was brought by Theseus to Athens and there had a sonne called Hippolitus In that he faineth that the spright entring into Doralices horse conueyed her into the campe of the Pagans to the great damage of the Christians we may thereby note how that ghostly enemie doth indeed watch as the scripture saith like a roring Lion whom he may deuour to do mankind all the hurt that may be and therefore we must not giue him an inch least as the prouerbe saith he take an ell In the solemnitie of their combats and preparation Fornarius noteth that he alludes to a ' policie vsed by Isabella wife to Ferdinando king of Spaine She to make her men of armes more valiant and couragious caused them to fight with the Moors in the verie sight of their Ladies and Mistresses and partly thereby expulsed the Moores out of Granata But for Doralices reiecting of Rodomont and chusing Mandricard it alludes to a like thing written by Plutarch in his loue discourses where Calysto was taken and Strato refused of which afterward insued the death of al three Here end the notes of the xxvij booke THE XXVIII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Fierce Rodomont hears of his prating Host A lying tale to womens great disgrace Vnto Algier he minds to passe in post But by the way he finds more pleasing place Faire Isabell passeth by that cost The Pagan changeth mind and sues for grace The Hermit warnes her keepe her vow and oth At which the Pagan Prince is passing wroth 1 YOu Ladies yee that Ladies hold in prise Giue not perdie your eare to this same tale The which to telll mine Host doth here deuise To make men think your vertues are but small Though from so base a tongue there can arise To your sweete sexe no iust disgrace at all Fooles will find fault without the cause discerning And argue most of that they haue no lerning 2 Turne ou'r the leaf and let this tale alone If any thinke the sex by this disgraced I write it for no spite nor mallice none But in my Authors booke I finde it placed My loyall loue to Ladies all is knowne In whom I see such worth to be imbraced That theirs I am and glad would be therefore To shew thereof a thousand proofes and more 3 Peruse it not or if you do it reed Esteeme it not but as an idle table Regard it not or if you take some heed Belieue it not but as a foolish fable But to the matter thus it was indeed When all the guests were cheared at the table Neare Rodomont so was the Pagan named Downe sate mine Host and thus his tale he framed 4 Astolfo whilom king of Lombardy To whom his elder brother left his rayne Was in his youth so fresh and faire to see As few to such perfection could attaine Appelles match or Zeuces he might be That such a shape could paint without much paine Great was his grace and all
many mouthes shall make report 44 And I beleeue each tale so much the lesse By how much more from likelihood it doth arre Now in this present cause let any guesse It like it be a king that dwels so farre Could come with such an host as they expresse To Africa so often vsd to warre And passe those parlous sands where to his cost Cambises erst did leese his mightie host 45 But they be Nubians let it be allowd By miracle come in a showre of raine Or closely carrid thither in some clowd Sith by the way none saw so large a traine Hath Affrike euer to such people bowd Must they haue aide to driue them home againe I sure may think you kept a sorie garison If them and yours betweene there be comparison 46 I rather thinke th' Arabians are come downe From those their hils and done some spoile or wast And tane some men burnt some baggage towne But small resistance finding as they past And that Bransardo for his owne renowne Whom as your deputie you there had plast For one sets downe one hundred in his letter To th' end that his excuse may seeme the better 47 But if you will but send some ship or twaine That but your standard may therein appeare No doubt but they will hie them home againe By that time these but weigh their ankers here If they Arabians that can bide no paine Or if they Nubians be the case is cleare Who onely taken haue this heart of grace To know your person absent from the place 48 This therefore is the summe of my perswasion Make sure the conquest here ere you go hence Charles can no more endure your sharpe euasion Now that his nephew is distraught of sence Now by the forehead let vs take Occasion Least after all our trauell and expence He hide away his haire and turne his bald And we vnprouident be thought and cald 49 With these so warie words and such as these The subtle Spaniard labourd to perswade The king of Affrike not to passe the seas Till of the warres in France and end were made But sage Sobrino that espide with ease How deepe he seemd in shallow streames to wade Respecting priuat more then publike cause Did answer thus after a little pause 50 My Liege when first to peace I counseld you I would I had not bin so true a Prophet Or if my sayings needs must proue so true I would you had beleeu'd them for your profit Not Rodomont with that rash youthfull crue Of Alcyrd Marbalust that then did scoffe it Whom now I wish here present face to face But chiefly ' Rodomont I wish in place 51 He that then vndertooke to make all France But like the dust that flies before the wind He that did vow in heau'n or hell your lance To follow nay to leaue it farre behind Now when he should the matter most aduance Vnprofitably lurkes in corners blind And I that then because I told you true Was cald a coward still abide with you 52 And still I will abide what ere ensuth During this life which though made weak with age I will not feare against the strongest youth That liues in France in your defence to gage Nor yet can any charge me with vntruth Not from the proudest Prince to poorest page And well I wot I haue done more then some That promist much ere they were hither come 53 Thus much I say thereby more plaine to proue That what I then did say or now impart Came from true seruice and of loyall loue And not of faint much lesse of hollow hart Now I aduise you hence with speed remoue And that you homeward in all hast depart For well you wot that wisedome it is none In winning other mens to leese ones owne 54 Yet know not I why we should call it winning If of our losses iust account we yeeld Thirtie two kings we were at the beginning A third part now scarce tarries in the field And we our selues here vp in corners pinning Scant safe within these rampiers can vs shield We so decay except in time we cease At last we shall be driu'n to sue for peace 55 Orlando is not there t is true what tho Had he bin there we had all dide ere this His want doth but prolong our ouerthrow By other men our state in danger is They haue Renaldo there that plaine doth show His force and courage not much lesse then his There are his cousins all the Palladins Eternall terror to our Sarazins 56 They further haue a man in strength and hart I needs must praise my foe against my will A second Mars I meane king Brandimart Whose great puissance ioynd to actiue skill My selfe in single fight haue found in part And further proofe haue seene by others ill Besides Orlando wanted long ago Since which we more haue lost then won you know 57 Now if we sped no better in time past We shall speed worse hereafter I do dread We see Gradasso ouer sea is past And that the valiant Mandricard is dead Marfisa hath forsaken vs at last And Rodomont of whom it may be sed Were but his faith with force to be compared The rest might in a manner haue bin spared 58 Now when as so great helpes and succors faile vs So many thousands of our souldiers slaine And all supplies that should at all auaile vs Alreadie come from Affrike and from Spaine They haue of late got foure new knights to quaile vs Compard with any of the Christen traine Foure knights that if you search from hence to Inde Foure knights to match these foure you shal not find 59 I know not if you euer heard before Of Oliueros sons and Sansonet With Guidon sauage whom I value more Then all their other succors that they get From Almanie the higher or the lower Although such aids at nought we cannot set And we do plainly see before our eyes That eu'ry day they may haue fresh supplies 60 We may assure our selues if any more We take the field our side goes to the pot For if when we were two for one before Yet we must needs confesse we gained not Now they so much increased haue their store With forraine powre both English Dutch and Scot What can we hope but after all our toyle To haue bad recompence of shame and toyle 61 Yet all is well if you will part betime And hie you home before it proue too late But if you tarry any longer time You here will leese your men at home your state Now if to leaue Marsilio seeme a crime For feare the world condemne you for vngrate To saue him harmlesse you for peace must sue Which they will so accept if so will you 62 But if you thinke such motion may not stand With honour of your state and high degree And hope by sight to make a surer hand Which yet how it succeeded hath your see Yet seeke at least
furie of the surging waue Eu'n so this well experienc't Turke began Himselfe in this great danger to behaue With sword and shield his best defence he made Against the fearfull edge of that same blade 68 Which blade of such an edge in such an arme No maruell if to pierce it seldome faile Against the which in vaine was any charme For though his shield was steeld his cote of maile Yet quite through shield and armour it did harme To saue his shoulder all could not auaile But he to wound Orlando was not able For God had made his skinne impenetrable 69 The valiant Earle redoubled still his blow And thinks from shoulders off to cut his head He that the force of Clarimont did know Gaue backward or his ground still trauersed But in his trauersing he was so slow That with one blow he laid him downe for dead The blow fell flatling but with force so maine As crusht his helmet and amazd his braine 70 Downe fell Sobrino backward on the ground From whence long time it was er he arose Orlando thinks that he was safe and sound And that he was starke dead he doth suppose Wherefore since single foe he no where found Vnto Gradasso presently he goes To whom king Brandimart in armes and horse In sword inferiour was perhaps in force 71 But yet the noble minded Brandimart Vpon Rogeros horse Frontino mounted With that same Sarasin so plaid his part As if his forces he but little counted And sure Gradasso not in skill not hart But in his sword and armour him surmounted Enforcing him ofttimes to stand aloofe Because his armour was of no good proofe 72 But good Frontino bare away the bell For being readie to the riders hand It seemd where euer Durindana fell Frontino had such wit to vnderstand That euer more he did escape it well But all this while it hardly could be scand In tother twaine on which side fortune works In Oliuero or the king of Turks 73 Orlando had as late before I told Left good Sobrino on the gound for ded Wherefore on foot he goes with courage bold To succour Brandimart if ill he sped But in the way by hap he did behold Sobrinos horse that without rider fled Orlando straight into the saddle valted Not looking if he went vpright or halted 74 One hand his sword the tother holds his raine And so he rideth to Gradasso ward Who when he saw him come did not refraine But to encounter with him straight prepard To fight with one of them or else with twaine It seemd he little reckoned nor car'd He minds and hopeth to effect it soone To make them both to thinke it night ere noone 75 Yet for a while king Brandimart he leaues And turnes him to the Earle and with a thrust Whereas his armour weakest he perceaues There doth the fierce Gradasso hit him iust And enterd but his cunning him deceaues Orlandos skin be pierced neuer must But when with Ballisard Orlando strake His helmet coate of maile and shield he brake 76 So that both in his face his breast and side He wounded sore the king of Sericane Who maruels much what strange chance did betide For neuer erst such sore hurt he had tane He thought there could not be a blade beside To pierce his coate he hauing Durindane And sure that blow had him dispatched clearly If it had had more strength or come more nearly 77 He sees that now he must take better heed And not trust armour but a surer ward To seeke to saue himselfe he now hath need And looke vnto his limbs with more regard Now while twixt them the fight did thus proceed Good Brandimart did see he might be spard Wherefore to breath himselfe he then retired Still ready t'ayd each part if cause required 78 Now had Sobrino long laine in a trance With that same bruse and with that bloody wound Giu'n him by that great Palladine of France That at two blowes had laid him on the ground With much a do he doth himselfe aduance And standing on his feet and looking round He thought his Master was in weakest case And to his aid he moues his silent pace 79 At Oliueros backe he comes vnspide Who sole on Agramant did fixe his eyes And that same horse that Oliuer did ride He hought behind in such despitefull wise That wanting strength he fell downe on his side And was not able any more to rise And which was worse then his vnlookt for fall His foot hung in the stirop therewithall 80 Sobrino doubled then his blowes againe Thinking from shoulders off his head to pare But yet the steele made that attempt but vaine That Vulcan temperd erst and Hector ware King Brandimart at Sobrin runnes amaine When of his doings he was well aware And ouerthrew him quite and stoutly smote him But th' old fierce man soone on his feet vp got him 81 And once againe at Oliuer he flies And once againe he thinketh him to kill Or at the least cause him he shall not rise But he that had his better arme at will Layd with his sword about him in such wise As that he kept himselfe from further ill And made his foe that was of no great strength Stand distant from him almost twise his length 82 The Marquesse hopes ere long to ease his paine If he can cause Sobrino stand aloofe Who bled so fast as now from fight t' abstaine He thought it would be best for his behoofe Now Oliuero all his force doth straine And to get loose he maketh manie a proofe But still his foot was fast to his great hurt And still the horse lay tumbling in the durt 83 This while king Brandimart doth go to find Traianos sonne and now he hath him found Frontino now before and straight behind That good Frontino that can turne so round The horse was sure and of a passing kind The Sotherne kings was readie strong and sound He had that famous courser Brigliadore The which Rogero gaue him late before 84 But sure the Turke great ods in armour had For he had one of proofe well tride and sure And Brandimartés was indeed but bad Such as he could in warning short procure Wherefore to change it now he would be glad And that he shall his heart doth him assure So that he waxed stouter still and bolder Though Agramant had hurt him in the shoulder 85 Gradasso further had about his thye Him giu'n a blow not to be tane in sport But yet the king did so the fight apply And laid on loade in so couragious sort As that he wounded his left arme thereby And pricked his right hand thus they report But all this was but May game and delight Vnto Gradassos and Orlandos fight 86 Gradasso hath Orlando halfe disarmd And made him with one blow his shield forsake He could not wound him for his skin was charmd But yet his headpeece on both sides he brake But him Orlando hath in