Mistresse if you continue in this obstinacie I am sorie that I haue met with one so blinded with heresie Verosa blushing with modest shamefastnesse said pardon mee my Lord in that I haue spoken my minde as by your commaundement and the rest of the companie I was appointed and surely I thinke what I haue spoken to be rather an errour then an heresie if it be any offence at all but though it were neither and that all I spake should be an vndoubted trueth yet would I recant therein rather then loose so honourable a Seruant And syth you haue thus like a ghostly father giuen me a spirituall counsell you haue heard my confession and I am ready to perfourme any penance that you will enioyne vpon me for my sinnes By this Cornelius Lute being come the company requested that a good concord of his instrument might perfect that conformitie which was in his Mistresse whereat Cornelius being nothing displeased hauing tuned his Lute warbled out this ensuing Dittie CONELIVS song WHo aymes at honours worthy name And coueteith renowmed fame In no wise can thereto aspyre Without the ayde of Queene desire Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy She sits triumphant in her seat And foes with furious lookes doeth threat Which do blaspheme with wordes vnmild Against her selfe and bonny child Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy A child whose force and mighty hand The great God Mars could not withstand That burneth like a lampe of sire In fleeyng thoughtes wing'd with desire Oh mighty Cupid c. Whose shining beames doeth plainly show The ready way for them I trow For to aspyre to dignitie If loyall Louers they will be Oh mighty Cupid c. Lo here behold the honours due To amorous hearts that will be true But who dislodgeth from his bowre Shall soone perceiue his rodde is sowre O mighty Cupid c. And that he may with force confound Each liuing wyght that goeth on ground All you that doe this God despise Flye from his reach if you be wise O mighty Cupid c. But he that mean'th not to disdaine For pleasures sake to take some paine Ioyne with the rest that amorous be And to his Court to gaine your fee. Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfained ioy COrnelius hauing warbled out this Dittie with a smiling countenance bade them all bee merrie and Florida whose course was next called for an Instrument and in the meane time spake thus to Cornelius My Lord you haue pleaded so cunningly for your great Master Cupid that sure you deserue a double fee and no maruell for as it is said Animo volenti nihil est difficile and least we should spend so much time in reasoning that we should want day to finish our begun exercise I beseech Clio to be mine ayde and therewithall hauing stretched the strings of her Instrument to the highest note she sweetely chirped out this Ode FLORIDAES song LAtely when Aurora drewe Curtayne which was darke of hewe Which vnspred shewed light That couered was by Lady nyght And blushingly discouered ay Her loues bed wherein she lay Then Titan lordly-n his seate Dryed vp moysture with his heate And chased hath the vayle darke Of racking clowdes for his parke Fishes swamme in siluer streame And I vnripped seame by seame Circumstance of natures mould Which rare seemed to behold Gazing thus with eyes of minde There I could nothing finde Which pleased not curious eye And therewithall I gan to spye Narcissus that was so fayre With his golden lockes of hayre Which of late had scorned all That were bent to Cupids call Viewing there the water cleere Where his beautie did appeare He thought it had another beene Whose like before he neuer had seene Thinking to embrace a shade That of a substance scorne had made He consum'd in loues desire Of such force is Cupids Ire That prepares the bed of woes To all such as be his foes And to intrap he snares doeth lay Such as doe him disobey When I sawe his doome so dyre To such as despis'd his fire At his flame I thought to warme Least I catch'd the greater harme Then in haste I came away Like aspyne leafe quaking ay For feare of the mighty God That all threatned with his rod That euer would disloyall be To his Mothers progenie His iudgement pronounced was With such terrour that alas I heare it sound in mine eare Moouing body to pale feare Least I should incurre his Ire Which might yeeld me chiefe desire FLorida hauing warbled ouer this Ode very demurely sate silent and Moderatus who was to follow hauing his Lute ready for the purpose first boarded his Lady and Mistresse with this preamble Sapho was neuer more poeticall in her Muses nor cunning in her musical Instruments then you Madame prooued your selfe by this so rare demonstration of an excellent Poet and exquisite Musician And albeit that it is a greater discommendation then praise to bee commended of an ill Oratour yet pardon me for that I do my good will and trueth neuer deserueth blame and therewithall not staying for any replie he began with a slow and soft voyce to measure ouer this Cansong Moderatus song WHen golden Titan did the Ram forsake And warmed the Bull with force of greater heate Then foorth I walked the pleasant ayre to take Glad when I heard the silly Lambes to bleate Pleas'd to behold the stormes of winters ire With quiet calme at last for to expire As thus I mused vnder the silent shade The chirping birdes chattering their harmonie Pleasant slumber my sences did inuade And then I heard a voyce that lowd did crie Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I do repent The golden shaft that pearst my panting breast Came from the quiuer hang'd at blind Cupids side Which hath so full bereaued me of rest And therewithall againe he lowdly cryde Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I doe repent Phoebus reflecting beames from polished glasse Yeeldes not more liuely shewes then doeth her face That is the cause of this my harme alas Well may I say being hopelesse in her grace Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent Whereat I wak't but nothing could I viewe Which made me thinke a vision it should be And straight I rose to see what would ensue And then a nouell strange appeared to me A frozen man being in a fierie flame Another fryed in frost woe worth the same Afore I could the meaning vnderstand This strange Aenigma vanished quite away Whereat amazed much I then did stand Thinking that wofull wyght did lately say Wo worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent PAndarina being readie to take her turne in this musical pastime would not seeme to let Moderatus skill in Musicke and Poetrie vncensured and
of his Fathers happie returne to Florence againe with the great fame and renowne thereof and also to be offered so good an opportunitie once againe to combat for his Lady and withall that before his Father in Florence he shâ—uld aduance him selfe to shewe his skill in armes Well aâ—ter that he had discoursed a while with Calimacko vpon these newes he caused his Page to light him to his chamber where being come he began to commune with him thus Nowe Perio howe likest thou these tydings of thy Mistresse and of that handsome groome that must haue her very ill my Lord quoth he and worse will my Lady and Mistresse fare if she heare not shortly from you Nay Perio quoth the blacke Knight thou mistakest the matter for women be wilie cattell they can counterfet sorrowe when they are nothing sad and lowre when they haue list to laugh and smyle when they feele most smart dissimulation is a common practise amongest them yea and though they should loue entirely yet are they like the timely blossoms that are nipped with euery frost they change their hew with the Cameleon and alter their shapes with Proteus so voluble is the wheele of their vnsettled resolucion Quoth Perio you may assure you my Lord Modesta is none of those that is wonne with a Nut and lost with the shell for as without great desart she will not affect so without a manifest occasion she will not dislike and for you my Lord you may be well assured she will neuer be false vnto you and if you finde it otherwise neuer beleeue Perio againe Well quoth the black Knight I will trie if it be so let vs take our rest this night and in the morning you shall knowe more of my minde Little sleepe satisfied the blacke Knight deuising with him selfe in what sort he might attempt this enterprise vnknowen of any in the end he concluded with him selfe to send Perio the next morning to the Kinges Court to learne what time and which way Modesta should be carryed towardes Florence and gaue him great charge not to shewe him selfe vnto her before such time as he should put in practise what he had determined for the enlarging of her from the custodie of that great Giant Perio very readily and closely conuayed him selfe to Court and he stayed not long but he came to the knowledge of all the time of the Turnament being now expired and Bergamo for so the Gyant was called ready within those two dayes to set forwardes with Modesta towardes Florence whereby according to the kings Proclamation to finish his begun enterprise When Perio had heard this and had learned which way they would goe without any carrying he returned to his Master againe and when he had declared the whole circumstance vnto him the blacke Knight was very glad that they did so quickely set forwardes with Modesta and that Bergamo was to passe with her through the Forrest of Mountalto wherein was a very narrow passage at the issuing out thereof and adioyning thereunto a verie sine and plaine greene furnished with two rowes of Poplars which were sometimes the sisters of proud Phaeton so transformed because they sorrowed for their brothers fall along the same standing in such order as though they had taken their places there to behold the rare and strange sight which shortly was to passe that way Then he caused to be made a Cassocke and Basses of redde Satten to couer his blacke armour least he should be descryed before he had brought his purpose to some ende and caused also a straunge attire to be made for his Page and when he had giuen order howe thinges should be done he betooke him to his rest The next day when Aurora began to clothe her selfe with her gray gowne and to blush for shame that Phoebus should be seene to dislodge him selfe from her bower and that Titan had no sooner set foote in his charriot and his trampling steedes with foaming mouthes began to ascend and with their lightes to discouer such things that were in the inferiour regions obscured with the vale of darknesse but the blacke Knight armed at all assayes and couered with that red vesture his Crest plumed with a great bunch of white feathers mounted vpon his stately white courser Thus Perio carrying his Target and riding vpon a fine Iennet which he had bought for him trauelled a round pace towardes the Forrest of Mountalto and before Phoebus had passed in his course the meridionall line they had recouered the same and drawing neerer the plaine to the which the narrow Angle was adioyning the blacke Knight lighted off his horse gaue it vnto Perio and tooke Modestas picture that he had procured to be made for that purpose and hanged it on a mighty Poplar which stoode in the very nooke betweene the plaine and the Forrest where no bodie could passe but must needes see it vnderneath this picture he caused to be ingrauen in golden letters this sentence No Knight may passe this way but must needes either confesse that she whome this picture representeth is the fayrest Lady liuing and yeeld vp his Target in honour of her name or combat for his passage with the Knight of the Forrest who watcheth here for that purpose And when he had placed the same to his liking he walked aside to watch the comming of Bergamo who within three howers after was come within kenne of the blacke knight who tearmeth him selfe the Knight of the Forrest then presently he called to his Page for his horse and mounting to his saddle with a trice did ride a soft pace till he came to the entrance of the plaine and there he stayed still till the charriot came right against him and then stepped foth and wished the charriot man to stay who maruelling to see one alone man so boldly will him to stay thought skorne thereof and held on his course The knight of the Forrest full of choller to see the skornfull demeanor of that proud cartesman spurred his horse till he came within reach of him then with his armed fist he lent him such a blow vpon his face that he crushed his skull in pieces at the noyse of whose fal those which were already past turned backe againe those which followed hastened forwards Bergamo being within glutting himself with the view of the faire Modesta hard al this busâ—ing because the chariot stood he stepped out seeing the knight all armed before him his chariot man slaine asked the knight of the forrest why he had done so and reuiled him with great insolency assuring him if he did not answer him to his liking he should taste the weight of his mighty faulchon The knight of the forrest smiling answered I haue vowed to keepe this passage here thou maist see the cause pointing to the picture and I wished thy man to stay that I might speake with thee who would not and this is the cause now reade this
inscription and answere my demaund Bergamo kindled with wrath was readie to runne vpon him with his Faulchion but remembring him selfe better he looked towardes the picture yet tooke small heede thereunto but reade ouer the skrowle which was vnderwritten then foaming at his mouth like a Bore and fretting with a deadly furie that any should presume to braue him in such order he thundered out with his hollowe and bellowing voyce his eyes burning like a flashing torch as followeth Proud stripling and foolish yonker howe darest thou presume to challenge me the combat that haue terrified so many braue and resolute Knightes with the maiestie of my sterne countenance and thou sawcie Princkockes art so arrogant to set vp skrowles of challenge to me or arrogate to any woman liuing the beautie incomparable of my Lady yea and though the trueth were of thy side yet would I not confesse the same being so peremptorily required thereunto for resolute men at armes are sooner wonne with entreaty then ouercome with force But I pray thee whose picture doest thou carrie abroad thus to her defame and thy dishonour Quoth the Knight of the Forrest care thou not arrogant Monster whose it is onely knowe she is the Lady of my loue and Mistresse of my thoughtes in defending of whose right I hope to disinherite thee of thy rest and therefore make thee readie to the combate if I ouercome thee I must be master of thy prize more fitter for a man then a monster if thou doest ouercome me I will be thy prisoner and confesse that which I can not denie that she for whome thou doest vndertake this enterprise is the very pride of beautie and flowre of all the worlde Although Bergamo might well haue vnderstood by his wordes that his pretence was to winne his praye yet he neither tooke any heed to what he said onely thus much he replyed vnto him Thou vnfortunate wretch I will not sticke to graunt thee the honour of a combate because I would be thorowly reuenged on thee and then mayest thou thinke thy selfe happy to haue so honourable an end as to perish by my weapons but tell who thou art that I may knowe the spoyle of whose honour I shall gaine by the conquest I am the Knight of the Forrest quoth he that will shortly quallifie those insolent bragges of thine but as the Beetle nestleth her selfe in the Sunne all day and descending thence with a murmuring noyse is contented with a Cowshard for shelter in the night so thy proude and mighty threates which nowe is stretched aboue Ela will ere long be contented to decline and to deskant vpon Solfa Hereupon Bergamo called for his horse and armour and while two of his squiers made him readie the Knight of the Forrest turned his horse round and mannaged him with very good grace and the rest of the company which gaue their attendance on the charriot did set them selues in order in two rowes the followers of Bergamo on the one side and those which were Modestas seruants on the other side they all mused vpon the successe of this stratageme All Modestas followers heartily wishing the Knight of the Forrest to preuaile that their deare Ladie and Mistresse should not be combred with such a diuilish Hell-hound the sight of whome tormented her more then Hell it selfe Thus all being attentiue and standing in good order Bergamo hauing armed him selfe and being mounted vpon a huge and mightie courser carrying a speare in his hand as bigge in a manner as a Pine tree and stretching his vnweldy limmes in his saddle that one would haue thought it had bene a mountaine that miraculously mooued towardes him but neuerthelesse it daunted nothing of the courage of that good Knight but rather encreased his force and doubled his desire to be dealing with him And thus both parties being ready to the battell the angrie sounding trumpets summoned them to that bloody conflict the which no sooner being heard then these two champions turned about their neighing horses and pacing them till they were a competent distance one from another then giuing them the libertie of the raynes spurred them on to runne like the whirlewinde and meeting in the middest of the race they shiuered both their speares so that the encounter was very dangerous for the Knight of the Forrest was so shaken therewith that he was glad to embrace his horse necke to saue him selfe from falling and Bergamo with the force of his enemies launce was pushed vpon his horse crupper so that he had much a doe to recouer his saddle againe And both of them hauing well settled them selues drewe out their swordes and then the battell began to be bloodie on both sides but to be short long and perillous was the fight betweene them yet in the end the Knight of the Forrest with great losse of his blood and daunger of his life was Master of the field for no humane power could endure the terrible and deadly strokes of that good Knight so that being nowe in the presence of Modesta whole legions of monsters could not haue vanquished his inuincible minde Bergamo nowe left groning his last breath and blaspheming against Goddes and men renting the bowels of the ayre with his clamorous and hollowe bellowing his owne seruants flocked about him to lend him such succour as they could all the rest ranne to the Knight of the Forrest and submitted them selues vnto him who hauing dismounted from his horse entertained them all very louingly and wished one of them which seemed vnto him to be chiefe of all the rest to conduct him to their Ladie and Mistresse for that nowe it stood him vpon to perfourme the enterprise begun by Bergamo the Gentleman verie willingly did leade him towardes the charriot Modesta all this while stood viewing of this stratageme and was very glad to be rid of that diuelish monster although she knew not who it was that had ventured so farre to gaine an interest in her and to whome she must yeeld a possession in her selfe but whosoeuer he was she liked well the chaunge and therefore stood readie with a chearefull countenance to entertaine him who hauing ascended to the charriot lifted vp the beuer of his helmet and humbly prayed her handes to kisse Whereupon Modesta narrowly beholding her Champion partly gessing he should be the blacke Knight by the complexion of his face and by the valorous disposition of his minde embraced him with great kindnesse and wished him to tell her presently if it was not he that had vanquished Countie Delamure in defence of her life and honour Moderatus desiring nothing so much as to satisfie any request that Modesta should make and specially to discouer him selfe where he aboue all others was the welcommest man in the world wherefore he made no bone of the matter but thus framed his salutation vnto her The blacke Knightes salutation to Modesta. Her curteous replie and ioyning in true league of amitie Their going forwards towards