Those that were present did verie much extoll the fortitude of the pagan in that he could so long indure against the Prince for that they knewe by experience how farre the strength of his armes extended And the Prince vnto himselfe sought by what meanes he might ouercome hys Enemie without killing him for that he séemed to be one of the most valiantest that euer he prooued and still hee thought that he excéeded the dexteritie of the mighty Gran Campeon that was slaine in the Warres of Greece by the hand of the said Prince Likewise he remembred the manie and great affaires hee had to doo in other Partes but that which gréeued him most was that so long time he had not heard of his beloued Oliuia The which thought kindled in him such cholar that like vnto lightening hee went to the Pagan first demaunding whether he would yéeld himselfe for ouercome and leaue the Battell in the state it was But this blasphemous King with a voyce that feared them all said Uile creature is it possible that the Gods will consent being armed in the fielde so poore a Knight as thou for pure sorrow and gréefe should desire to leaue off the battell and yet wish me to yéeld as ouercome I do now perceiue that all your deities are vile and that your power is but small that one alone Knight dare attempt to doe this Come downe you théeues from those celestial houses that you haue stolen and vsurped and I will giue you to vnderstand that I am Fangomadan And therwith raging like a Tiger hee assalted that warlike Prince and gaue him such a violent blow vpon his helme that he made him stoope and put his handes to the grounde and doubling the same he stroke him ouerthwart that it descended on his left shoulder which the Prince felt verie gréeuous séeing himselfe so intreated considering withall that the force of his aduersarie was increased he beganne to hammer blowes on him in such sorte that hee made him séeme all bathed in bloud puffing and blowing like a bayted bull The Pagan would haue giuen him a down right blow purposing therewith to conclude the battle But the Prince beeing warned by that which before had passed made shewe as though hee woulde abide it yet when it did descend with all the lightnes in the world he auoided and made him strike vppon the stones so furiouslie that when the swoorde fell it broke off a great péece This louer of Oliuia was not iole on so good occasion but stroke the Giant such a blow and with such good order on his shoulder that he did not onely disarme the place but also made therein a great wound out of which began to flowe a great quantitie of blacke bloud And this victorious Gréeke withdrew himself when he saw the wound he had giuen him It cannot be imagined what great anger possessed the Giant for like vnto a wounded Lyon although somewhat wearie hee assalted Rosicleer who had no care to strike him but to delay him with his lightnes for that he knew well it would shortly tyre him And so vsing his wonted dexterity he onely auoided the blowes of his enimy Those that were beholders hereof did well perceiue the intention of this baptised knight but yet he could not still so auoide it but that the giant seazed on him such a blowe that he made him somewhat to loose his memorie and to voide bloud out at his mouth the which Rosicleer tooke to be perilous and let flie thrée or foure blowes on high to amaze his contrary and therewith thrust at him with his sword in such sort that hee hit him on the thigh and the point passed to the bone The Moore did not thinke it to be great till such time as assaying to follow him he fell-downe vpon his handes but he was not so soone downe as with the quicknesse of his thought he was a foote againe florishing with his vnmeasurable sword This valiant brother to the Knight of the sunne could very well haue ouercome him in thus detaining him but he sodainely conceaued it to bee cowardise and therefore determined to put the state of the battell in one blow and as the giant was striking at him a mighty stroke he entered within him thinking to ouerthrow him but he found him like a rocke therefore being together he gaue place to the Moore to benefit himselfe of time and occasion But the giant leauing his greate fauchion seazed on the Prince with his heauie armes rescused him in such sort that it séemed he would breake all his members so that they must needs returne againe to a perilous wrastling in so much that with the heate of the battell and with wearinesse they fell both on the grounde and inforcing one to get the other vnder they both lacked breath and the giant bloud through which faintnesse they both sounded the vnhappy giant neuer againe reuiuing And this is alwaies to be looked for of those who liued as hée did making his owne content a God and worshipping his onely pleasure All that were aboue woulde haue descended to them but there was none that could forsake the place where as they were For that incontinent the heauen was couered with a thicke and blacke cloude with such thundrings and lightnings that it seemed that all the firmament would fall to the earth in the which was hearde the bleating of beastes and other heauy groanes in the saide courte for the space of one houre till such time as the storme was past and the heauens became cleare as they were before Nowe looking for the warriours they onely sawe the Prince as one amazed new come to himselfe and as though his aduersary had béen before him he gaue assault till such time as he was wholy in his remembrance and saw not the giant But that which grieued him most was that he lacked his good sword which he woon with so deare experience as was said in the first booke And looking about for the giant he sawe on the one side of the court a sumptuous edifice like to a sepulcher which was sustained with foure deformed Lyons made of alablaster the Sepulcher it selfe was all of Christall so cleare that all might be very well séene which was within and marking it well he knewe that it was the bodies of the giants and their mother who laie as though they had beene aliue with their eies open and euery one a very long scrole or writing in their handes which declared the cause of their deathes but that which made the inuincible Prince Rosicleer most to maruell was to sée his good sword sent from Quéene Iulia smitten quite through one of the foure pillers that sustayned the couering of the sepulcher which piller séemed to be of very fine Iaspar stone And hauing desire with great ioy to pull it out hee no sooner layd hand on it but there came foorth so great a flame that it séemed to haue burned him till such time
fortune had coÌ„passion of your griafe Thou hadst reason diuine Floriana to remaine doubtfull of séeing me at thy departure How ofteÌ„ didst thou vrge me with my plighted faith the which I will kéepe till such time as I am in thy estate without any feare to loose thée but to sée thée with these eies wherwith I now doe celebrate thy death Oh most happy land of Cantabria in times past pittifull to my lamentations how maiest thou from this day forwards begin to mourne for the lacke of such a Lady and Mistresse Now my louing father may you liue content with my fortune to see me liue without my Floriana who was so odious in your eies for that I loued her I am vexed still that you doe noâ— conceaue it was life to me to loue her and a swéete ease to suffer for her Nowe here I sweare by my high thoughts not to returne to Spaine but to destroy it once againe if any therein were the occasion of the death of my loues life although it were my naturall father Oh my Floriana what can I doe to liue content or who is able to giue it me but death onely the which if I suffer for thy sake I will receaue it gladly And hauing a desperate wil he pulled out his sword saying O happy sword being the sword of my Goddes with thée at her hands I receiued the order of knighthood I sweare by her beauty that none shal be able to disturbe me til this vnhappy body doth accompany her in death that did giue it so excellent a life At that instant he would haue lifted vp the skirt of his shirt of male to haue thrust his sword in thereat If the discréet Arsilo had not thrown himselfe before him and pulled it out of his murdring hands Then this grieued youth came to himselfe and saide Oh my Arsilo is this the loue you beare me to hinder me that I go not to accompany in death that which neuer departed from me liuing my friend permit it as thou wouldest the heauens to be more fauourable to thée then they haue béene vnto the sorrowfull Torismundo Worthy Prince and my Lord answered the discréete page I should offend much therein in the duety that I owe vnto you and your generous father and you offende more your owne discretion for that you cannot suffer that which the heauen doth ordaine the faire Dutchesse was not for you for that the commaunder of all beauty had chose her for himselfe Amongst worthy persons there is nothing more to be praised then to know how to beare and suffer the disgraces of fortune with such courage as they doe her fauours consider how little ease it should be to your griefe in killing your selfe Doest thou call it little said the grieued Knight that alone is sufficient to succour me wherewith should I end so many deaths which waited on me but in giuing my selfe one for the conclusion of all thys did euill agrée vnto the seruice that thou owest mee sith to die is onelye profitable At this time answered the page I will die ere you shed one droppe of bloud Heare me a little my beloued Lorde that I may set before your eies examples for your comfort The Phrigians had excéeding cause to bewaile the death of valiant Hector and they did fill the ayre with immeasurable lamentations yet not one of them no not his Andromache though being deare to all to him she was most deare not one of them I say despairingly slewe himselfe but armed their resolutions against their enemies Who could waile a louers losse more than Venus her swéete Adonis whom she found discoloured and dead his faire body rent by a foule Boare yet she despaired not amidst her lamentations Sorrow for seperated friends I deny not is necessary but to die because they die is diuelish and damnabâ—e Despaire depriueth al grace doubteth of immortality and let not your excellence wrong Floriana so much to make quâ—stion of her immortall being Suppose her gone vnto a Princely habitation hauing enioyned you to perfourme aduentures for her loue Let your little short span of life be the progresse to that house your iourny done you shall enioy her sight Therefore consider worthy Prince and besides these reasons remember the royall bloud from whence you descend and the harme you should doe to many by your death who haue néed of that life that you so little estéeme Celebrate the death of your Mistresse and let me be the first in death if it may be any comfort vnto you But I am sure that it is rather an anger to Floriana who enioyeth a better estate than ours Therefore returne vnto your reasonable senses beloued Prince and conâ—ider that it is the ordinance of heauen for that you against the will of your father woulde loue her and might haue sought an other equall vnto your estate This grieued youth receaued great comfort by the discreete reasons of his page but not in such sort that it caused him to forget the griefe he felt The page séeing that he was somewhat quieted and eased drew foorth a letter saying This is the last worke that came from the hands of your Lady This worthy Spaniard did take it 〈◊〉 kissed it a thousand times and bedewing it with teares he opened it and read as followeth The letter of Floriana the Dutches of Cantabria to Torismundo Prince of Spaine VNderstand from me welbeloued Prince that I draw nigh vnto a new estate being appointed by the heauens and remembring with what truth you answered my firmenesse almost life scarce suffering mee to write these fewe lines I tooke strength to write vnto thée only for to desire thée by the faith which thou plightedst to bee mine to passe thy life in my absence with discretion as is required and Torismundo let not my death bee occasion of thy indiscréet dealing I would welbeloued Prince that I might in this worlde call thee my owne but to thy comfort in the other world I will thither goeth thy beloued Floriana hoping to sée thée when as the powers of heauen will stande our friend I can say no more for that my senses faile To God I leaue my beloued Torismundo Dying Floriana This afflicted Gallant concluded the reading of the letter giuing a harty sigh saying Oh chance and is it possible that now should be shewed vnto me so much euill and that she commaunds me to liue and I must performe it Oh my deare Mistresse how can I liue who liued onely with your presence Oh Fortune with how much discontent doest thou giue a little contentment Oh vnhappy heart so cruelly vsed in the beginning of thy age and tormented with thy excessiue torments Ah Floriana to remaine with life will be death vnto me but séeing that you receaue content therein I will liue imploying the rest of my life to loue in absence in the â—ame degrée as when I triumphed in your soueraigne beautye Now you may worthy Spaniard saide the Page
comforter and I will giue you knowledge of that little loue I haue and I am so certain that it will be shortly that I shall not erre ere long to say God giue you ioy of your alteration Meane while let vs depart for feare we be too long mist. They gone the Tartare stood confounded at the grace of Grisanea at length he said vnto his Frends Of truth worthie Princes although I had verie earnestly iniurde you yet you could not haue taken better reuengement than to bring me to a place where I haue lost my libertie not knowing who hath tooke mee captiue The harme is so common sir Knight answered the Spaniard that it is estéemed as the most certainest thing among Gallants which professe the seruice of Ladies But it is so strange to me answered the Tartarian that I cannot iudge thereof but according to y e gréefe which it causeth Thus conferring and on the death of the Phrigian Lord they tarried the retourne of the Damsell who likewise gréeued that the Princes were forced to giue so long attendance At last they came both in their petticoates vnto y e window the princely Ladie trembling to sée her selfe before her beloued Knight imagining what offence she did vnto her fame in comming in such sort but the amorous passion did ouercome all so that they came vnto the window without feare and made a little noyse for a signe So the prince came vnto the window which was somwhat low and hauing no power to speake a word he knéeled on his knées demaunding her hands to kisse They both remained silent which thing is common betwéene them that loue well for when they méete their eyes onely speake their tungs are mute The Ladie séeing his dumbe passion making strength of weaknes said I would not sir Knight that my comming hether at so vnfit an hower should cause you to iudge it rather rashnes than the bond wherein I stand bound to you for the good you haue done me Besides Alcisaes perswasion is the greatest cause of this boldnes Deuine Princesse answered the fearefull Youth I sée well that your excellence intendeth euerlastingly to binde mee more and more by your manie fauours That I should conceiue either rashnes or lightnes in this your humble visitation of mee were agaynst my soule irreligious sacriledge and against your deuine curtesie vnpardonable blasphemie I rather blesse my Fates that haue reserued me to this happie hower honor your pittie that hath respected my passions and acknowledge my dutie to Alcisa for solliciting my sute so effectually Your owne deserts sir knight said Alcisa was onely the solliciter in your loues sute I for my life and precious honours preseruation am till my death your bounden hand maid And though vppon my soule I durst vndertake that neuer anie disloyall thought will enter into your couragious breast yet is my Mistres charie of thys loue bargaine for gentle knight manie knights haue dealt vngently with gentle Ladies Therefore ye must protest déeply ere she will beléeue and kéepe religiouslye what you doo protest Ah gentle Damsell said the Spanish Prince to myne harts sorrow your eyes haue béen the witnes And if yee doubt me I sweare by the religion of true knighthood by all the vnstained honour of rightfull armes by the famous remembrance of my thrice reuerent Predecessors if Grisalinda will be gracious to her vowed knight of a more constant seruant should no Lady in the whole world boast I doo confesse sir knight said the princesse that I am infinitely bound vnto you and your vowes I verely beléeue for true but you shall pardon me for setting my affection much more for plighting my faith to a knight whom I know not Souereigne princesse said the Spaniard after I had séene you and that this Damsell declared vnto mée your worthines I haue procured things that redound vnto your honour séeking the certainest meanes to performe the same and I haue not found any thing with more content than to put my life in your seruice and desire no other paiment but your acceptance Touching my birth I assure you I am the Sonne of a most royall king and sole Heire of a rich and populous kingdome all which hopes with my true hearts spotlesse loue I humbly offer at your féete The Princesse held her peace awhile pondering the weightines of the cause but the discréet Alcisa said vnto her You néed not Madam make anie stay hereat but performe his sute although it be the greatest curtesie y t may be granted I will be his suretie he will be thankfull and neuer contradict your pleasure séeing with what plainnes you doo accept him And therewithall perforce shee tooke her hands and gaue them vnto the Prince who inclosed them in his not hauing anie power to speake till y e princesse said At my pleasure I make no question but I shal be reuenged for so manifest wrong done thus against my will The prince séeing her somewhat angrie sayd Faire Ladie if the righting of these wrongs must bee satisfied with my death let me now receiue it and I will account it welcomer than death And therefore answered the princesse will I not this time with deserued death punish you Doo not procéed anie farther said the Damsell but pardon vs and therewith he offered to kisse her hands Then she told him the next day she should goe to a house of pleasure charging him not to leaue France without her licēse Thus parted they he returning to his Frends the ioyfulst man liuing and so his passion led him that hee spake not to them till they came to their pages The princes markt it wel and laughed thereat and the Dacian though he were somwhat drowsie requested to be partner in his ioy He would haue answered but their desire to sléepe with another accident that happened which shall be handeled in the next chapter brake off his pleasant discourse at that time What chanced to the Princes by Brandarte King of Cyprus and his Knights and how they deliuered out of his power all the Queenes and Princesses that he had taken prisoners Chap. 9. THe worthie Torismundo rauished with ioy to sée himselfe so fauoured intended to pertake his ioy with two frends who being wearie were laid to sléepe and hée hauing as much néede meant to beare them companie but they wer scant asléep when a noyse of horses did disturb them yet they let them passe till by and by there followed others which disquieted thē in such sort that they prepared to take horse and followe them but on a sodain the Damsel who before had broght them their armour came foorth with a fardle and making her selfe knowen vnto them she said The Wiseman my master commendeth him to you and biddeth you to weare this armour to day and to you valiant Tartare for the ayde and helpe that one daye the Empire of Grecia shall haue of you he doth send these armes for with them shall happen the greatest first content
not for that loue did giue them alwaies abundance of assured hopes easing therein and lightning the excessiue paine which the disdained Louer doth receiue But the accustomable conceipt raigning among beloued ladies is self opinion of their own worth a souereigne desire to be faithfully serued a glorie and pride in their Knights valor but when the full payment of his deserts as a true fée for Knights seruice is requyred then is the Ladies beautie muffled with clowdy discontent If she speake she checkes his audaciousnes if she looke she darts vengeance from her eyes and all the reward the Louer hath is this that others pittie him and are eye-witnesses of his true seruice which she wil scarce vouchsafe to acknowledge This gréeueth mee more than the rest sayd the gracious French Ladie to sée how you are vtterly falne out with loue in that you cannot obtaine to be the onely chéefe in account for the seruice of Ladies Tell mee I praye you is it not a high reward for a Louer to haue one gracious looke from his beloued Ladie nay is it not a salue for manie sustained sorrowes if hee but once attaine her desired sight Yes it were well aunswered the Prince and excellently for a Louers contentment to passe the heate of the day priuately in such contemplation where the Gallant may without let salute his Mistres but when such audacious entrie is made without the ladies special license I doo iudge it to be one of the most errours which is committed in the ordinarie erring Schoole of Loue. But let vs reckon the best méede the Louer hath for all his mone Doth shee bestow a smile Oh then hee is a happie man that one false sunshine is a sufficient comfort against manie bitter showers but if shee vouchsafe a kinde word a gentle touch or some little idle conference our kind yong louer is transported beyond all compasse hee writes pure Castalian walkes no where but in Tempe dwells with the Muses sings with Apollo Io Paeans in Loues praise Anone in the midst of all this iollitie on goes his Ladies frowning kercher and then his Eulogies are turnde to Elegies his mirthes to moane an vncouth caue couers his disgraced head a darke and queachie groue his pleasant garden the aire his counsellour Eccho his scoffer teares his drinke care his food and such a deale of foolerie vâ—xes this louing foole that I must néeds conclude him to be either desperately mad or questionlesse a verie Ideot Therefore of Loue and Louers this is my absolute iudgement Loue is a busie troublous foolishnes Those that commend it mad and reasonles With this amorous conuersation they traueled toward Paris when vpon the right hand of the Forrest they heard the swift running of a horse who came in such hast that before the Prince could put on his inchaunted helmet the furious Rider was in sight who séemed rather a Diuell than a Knight The occasion thereof was the reflection of the Sunne vppon his armour which was of shining stéele and colored blacke and so was his horse who made no show of steps vpon the grasse whereas he trode by reason of his swiftnesse The gallant demeanor which this Knight showed did giue great content vnto the Dacian Prince And here we thinke it good to leaue him with earnest desire to knowe what that Knight was and wee will get before him to Paris where we lefâ— the couragious Knight of the Images Torismondo Prince of Spaine who was healed of his wounds but not of the gréefe he receiued in the battel with the mightie Alpbebo This Torismond went out of Paris with purpose to séek some of his owne people and till he met them to trauaile a few dayes in those mountaines and to conclude manye aduentures so that in Paris there was no other talke but of the Knight of the Images As he trauelled he oftentimes sent vnto the Court to know and learne some newes of his Ladie by the Postes that came from Spaine and oftentimes he tarried for hys Pages returne at the Fountaine of Merlin being the resting place for Knights aduenturers trauelling in that Forrest One day as he was expecting newes from Spaine hee saw his Page comming with a countenance different from that he was wont to haue for that he came making of great lamentation which caused some suspition in the amorous Spaniard For alwayes a timerous heart touching a mans owne euill doth prophecie as it were insuing mischiefe as to affrighted Torismond at this time it prooued who gazing stedfastly on Arsilo thus questioned him What meaneth thy sadnes Arsilo haue the heauens depriued me of all my good and left poore Torismond to â—ament his Ladies absence This youth did confirme his suspition in that he did not answere one word The Prince as one wholy beside him selfe said ah fortune thou hast now shewed thy selfe who thou art nowe I feare not thy strength for that which I most feared with all thy malice is certainly befalne me Conclude Arsilo declare vnto me these newes that must redowne vnto my death What should I say soueraigne Prince answered the page but that it is as you suspect death pale meager death hath seazed oâ— your soules content This amorous and afflicted youth did not heare the rest for that he fel vpon the grasse without any sense or féeling til such time as his page brought him to himselfe againe Who in recompence said vnto him Oh vnfaithfull why hast thou called me from my ease what doest thou imagine that there is strength in me to liue without the life of her whom rigorous death hath taken from me I cannot nor I will not although I may liue being without that good which was my comfort How can he liue that only did sustaine his life in yéelding it into the handes of her who did receaue it with equal comfort Oh my chiefe good because I should know the despight of fortune she hath taken thée from me Oh déere déere loue how I doe number my wants excéeding all number with the onely lacke of thy soueraigne beauty Oh mournfull earth wherfore beginst thou not to lament thy lost ornament for my losse reacheth farther then the griefe of vnhappy Torismondo Oh warlike Spaine how maiest thou from this time forwards leaue off thy glorious name for that she who was the cause of al your courage is now conquered by al deuouring death Oh worthy knightes with what reason may you from this day forwards liue without courage since she who with her beauty did recreate you all faire heauen hath tooke away that heauen might be onely faire Oh deuine Floriana thou art a creature ordained to extoll the cunning worke of humane nature but the dieties enuying that earth should beare such perfect excellence found meanes for to vndoe so perfect a figure carrying with it all the grace beauty and perfection of the worlde ioyntly with the soule of this vnhappy body You ladies that were enuious at the brauery of mine
that he remembred he should wrong the Troyan vnto whom was leaue giuen to answere all But the Grecian néeded not to meddle for the Nephew of Priamus with great mildnesse that better shewed his valour did answere Of truth sir knight you loue your Ladie verie much and it séemeth to mée that she ill rewardeth so great affection to put you in a demaund so perillous for the Gréeke Princes and their Frends will defend the same although they had no Ladies And séeing it is her will it were better that she did come with you that in séeing her beautie without anie strife may be graunted that which you doo publish of her For I doo know two and the chéefe Ladies of the Grecian Empire that will not consent to anie such thing neither wil their princes in whose name I say that I am readie for the battell This amorous Moore aunswered not for that with the swiftnesse of an Eagle imbracing his shield he lept into the Barke of the Troyan who at his entrie with his Sword in both his hands gaue him such a blowe that by reason hee was but young to receiue such buffets it made his téeth chatter one against another till such time as he firmed himselfe well and made him readie without drawing his sword for the battell The Troyan was not a Knight for to assault anie vpon aduantage but séeing that hee drew not out his sword he said What sir Knight wil you conclude the battell without sword if you had the weapon of the furious Achilles it would be somewhat difficult much more without it and you also being without experience Worthie Knight answered the curteous Pagan I doo wel conceiue it to be as you say but this is the meanes which I was commaunded to vse so that there rests no more for you but that you attempt to doo your best and I will defend my selfe The boldnes and courage of the Youth caused admiration in the princes that he would make battell without sword with the Troyan who said vnto him Sir knight either let vs leaue off the battell or séeke somewhat to defend thée for that the Frends of the Grecian Princes doo not accustome to fight with anie except it bee with great equalitie It is not in my power answered the Moore therefore thou néedest not obserue with mée these respects I knowe they are good but for this battell it is enough for me to go thorough with it so as I may perfourme the commaundement of my Mistres The Troyan was kindled like fire and said Well looke to thy selfe yong Knight since it must be done without swords O Muses might I now wet my tongue in your sacred Fountain then should I artificially declare the rigorousnes of this battell For as though they had had swords in their hands or their hands had bin swords they began to strike in such sort that quickly both the one and the other were assured of their aduersaries strength But at the assault for that the Moore was of bigger bodie than the Troyan he might at his ease strike him vpon his magicall helmet beating out so manie sparkles as though it had béen with his sword and made him to decline on both his knées but the Troyan rose vp verie furiously and being nigh he grapled with him and in entring he stroke him vpon the breast of the harnesse such a blow with hys fist that by reason the place is there most perillous for his breath it lacked but little that he had not stroken out hys life and found time by reason of his amazednes to lay his strong hands on him with so great force that if he had wrested a little more to the left side he had ouerthrowne him With this the couragious Pagan came to himselfe and returned more furious than the lion on his pray and caught his Contrarie by the middle so that he carried him thrée or foure paces without putting his foote on the ground leauing him brused and the Princes satisfied of his strength Then they returned vnto their contentious battell with so great a noyse that it seemed to bee an hundred Knights It was a thing worthie to note the dexteritie with discréet retyring and bold entring in of these rare Warriers strange it was and more brused theyr bodies than if it had béen with swords At this time the Moore stroke his Contrarie such a blow with his fist vppon his arme nigh to his elbow with so great force that he had thought he had broken it and the gréefe was so great that he could not returne his payment The Pagan did not let passe the occasion séeing that it did behooue him but doubled another blow vpon his shoulder as if a rocke had falne vpon him They were wonderfully amazed to sée the furie of the pagan saying within themselues that he was one of the most valiantest in all the world and that if he shuld come to haue the experience and vse of armes he would prooue therein most excellent It was great reason they should so thinke for of thys pagan Lyrgandeo speaketh manie things making manie times mention of him in this great Historie of his déedes that were diuers for the loue of his Flora. And séeing this battell was for her and the first that hee fought for the reward so much expected it was without comparison to remember the courage wherewith he executed it which made the victorie to be doubtfull and the Troyan amazed to sée how well his Contrarie defended himselfe and offended him Being therefore ashamed that one alone Pagan should hold him so he set vpon him and strooke him so straunge a blow vpon the forhead that he made him to loose the sight of his eyes wherewith he clasped him in his armes but thereby the Troyan could get nothing for that the Moore was bigger of bodie and yonger so that what the one did by dextertie and experience the other did with youthfull courage In this manner they came sometimes aboue and sometimes vnder in the Boate procuring on both parts to conclude the Battell and it had béen ended with both their deaths if the Scythian Prince had not put himselfe betwéene and parted them to heare him speake knowing with himselfe that his Frend should doo much better with his sword He then said Sorrie I am sir Knights that in this sort you giue the world to vnderstand your valour and not as they that intend to ende their battell with an honorable conclusion I speake not this to haue it quyte left but request you that you would not now ende it tyll such time as this knight may doo it with the sword They being both as well indued with curtesie as with force and strength at one instaunt parted and the Troyan sayd Most valiant knight I am content to leaue it off with the condition you haue named for to giue you content if my competitor be so agréed The worthie Pagan answered I would be verie glad to doo that
eares Then passing forwards hee came vnto the two Moores said Away with the ladies you like while my fellowes kéepe these diuelish Knights busied So the king of Cyprus his Cousin and the Giant went vnto the Chariot and tooke each of them a ladie lamenting could not auaile them Yet in this hast the king of Cyprus tooke not his beloued Dutches but the princesse of France with whom like an Eagle spurring his furious horse he went directly towards the sea side The mightie Giant tooke for his lot her whom Apollo would haue chosen for himselfe for with him he carried the beauteous princesse of Holland and his Cousin the faire Orosia at whose shrikes the Tartar recouering his sense followed the Giant as fast as his horse could runne thorough a bushie way vnto a great plain where he ouertooke him two howers before day and ere the Giant could â—et down â—he Ladie he smit him so rash a blow that the princesse was in perill to be troden vnder the horse féete and the Giant remained without sense Andronio gaue a second blowe that wounded the Giant in the necke which caused hym to come to himselfe and like an infernall furie with hys dreadfull fawchion he came against the Tartar and both together stroke such blowes vpon their helmes that they quickly made show of their great force The noyse was such that it caused the trembling Ladie to come the sooner to her selfe and beholding the battell shee perceiued the Knight fought for her libertie against that monstrous Giant wherfore on her knées she desired the giuer of streÌ„gth to strengthen him When the Tartarian saw the pearly teares distill from her sun-bright eyes with the poynt of his sword hee went against the furious Giant who wyth his fawchion aloft came towards him but by reason of the swiftnes of his horse he thrust his sword into the Giaunts bodie and drawing it backe drew â—oorth his life withall the Giant falling to the ground with so fearfull a crie that the princesse trembled though she were fréeed by the Giants death With no smal ioy the prince alighted comforted her when he beheld it was his beloued Ladie and pulling off his helme he discouered his faâ—e beeing high coloured with the heate of the battell No lesse ioyfull was the faire princesse in séeing him so well proportioned a Knight who when he came vnto her kneeled downe said Receiue faire princesse this smal seruice with more intire good wil than my tung can expresse Then answered the affected Ladie Ualiant Knight so much haue ye done that I can no way reward ye but by publishing â—our force which is the mightiest that I haue séene for that I should estéeme tell mee your name and withall carrie me where the Quéene my Mother is whom I beléeue remaineth sorrowfull for my absence Madam answered the ioyfull Tartar I haue no will but to accomplish your will and receiue great ioy that you wil imploy me in any thing I am Andronio the Prince of Tartarie and in telling you this I doo discharge my promise to you yesterday when I left my dagger in pawne and receiued this rich iewell in place thereof which because it hath been on that faire necke added abilitie to my weake strength and boldens me to request ye that I may wear it as your knight in whose name I wil execute all my dooings The Lady was verie ioyous in séeing him she loued to bée the Knight that succoured her said I craue pardon worthie prince in that I haue not intreated you according to your desert but I am excusable by reason I knew you not All is satisfied said the Prince if you accept me into your seruice You aske quicke payment replied the Princesse but lest you should condemne me of ingratitude let it be according to your wish This ioyfull Youth did perforce kisse her hands washing them with teares through the content he receiued which nothing gréeued the Princesse when she saw with what affection he did it accompting her self happie to be beloued of such a prince The which this couragious Youth perceiuing and incited by their solitarie béeing he said vnto her halfe trembling Faire princesse after all this happines it would gréeue me if Fortune enuying â—ny good should tread downe my glorie and bestow it on another you might if you please time and place so fitting assure mee of happines and rid nice of all doubt Your spéech is strange to meâ— said the vexed princesse to my reason it séemeth conuenient being intertained wyth this gentlenes you should consent your selfe Nothing is more certaine faire Ladie answered this fearefull Youth than the curtesie which you alreadie haue shewed me in receiuing me for the knight of your seruice is sufâ—icient reward for more than all my worth yet to assure my good make me happie by a husbands name Sir Knight said she you are too forward and if I thought anie misbehauiour in me caused this boldnes in you I would let out that lightnes with my life These words and the sharpenes of their deliuerie so wounded the Tartarian that he fell sensles on the princesses lap who séeing him in y e case was readie to beare him companie but with teares cryings she recalled him and he reuiuing said Ah haplesse Tartarie twice bereft of thy natural Lord who by disdaine in France is seazed on by death Oh my valiant and new Frends no more shall I contentedly reioyce wyth you And you cruell Ladie may triumph in his death that hath defended your honor and life Ah worthie knight said she God knowes what sorrow I suffer for that with my honour I cannot worke your content there being such difference in our Religions yet rather than you shal thus afflict your self sweare to me to be bapâ—isde and I do yéeld my whole estate into your hands Expresse I cannot the Tartarians ioy he vowd to be baptisde possest his wish and with his betrothed wife rid toward the house of pleasure and on the way she told him how the Giants first set vpon them by the riuers side We will leaue these Louers on the way and declare the end of the battell betwéene the two princes the Giants who held them so hard that they could not preuent the carrying away of the Ladie The valiant Dacian to conclude the battell stroke the Giant such a blow that it tooke away his sight and at that time had the Spaniard made his aduersarie stoop on his saddle bow And beeing nigh the Dacian he stroke him so surely on the buckling of the helme that head and all fell to the ground and then with two blowes they both together dispatched the other Giant Then without any stay they folowed those that carried away the Princesses and ouertaking them at the edge of the mountaine they cried False Knights leaue your pray the same will cost you your heads And therewithall they smit two such blowes that they made them leaue their Ladies
him in péeces but he arose againe brused with the fal he gaue him on his backe and was striking at the Giant but the Grecian put the poynt of his sword betwéene and stayed the execution thereof And for that the Sonne oâ— Trebatio would not haue of them anie vantage he again said take your armour furious beasts for therewith you shall haue enough to doo to deliuer your selues out of our hands Yet ceased they not to strike and they with great lightnes auoyded till one of the Giaunts with a hoarce voyce said Stay foolish Knights and you shal sée me stay longer in arming my self thaÌ„ in taking away your liues So they descended the staires making a great noyse and at their comming into the Court they met foure or fiue of the Tartarians knights and slew them offring as much to the princes at the gates who letting slip their blowes entred within them and with their armed fists feld them to the ground wold haue cut off their heads At which the Grecian came downe hauing left the Tartarian aboue to keepe the tower and would in no case let them be smitten vnarmed commaunding a Page of the Castle to fetch their armour and in the meane time they came to themselues And considering they were by two knights ouerthrowne they blasphemed their Gods and hasting to arme one another the eldest said Tarrie a little ye captiue people and you shall sée how déere I will make you buy this treason When they were armed shaking their bright fawchions they came against them all Rosicleer was a Knight of great patience but the prowd words of the Giant had so earnestly angred him that it made him say thus For that you shal vnderstand how I estéeme ye come both ioyntly to me and you shall finde my déeds differ from my words and therwith he let flye thrée or foure blowes aloft which made them séeke defence for theyr heads When he saw them looke aside he gaue the yonger Giant such an ouerthwart blow on his thigh that hee cut him to the boane but the other Giaunt reached hym with the poynt of his fawchion vpon his shoulder that it made him stoop with his hands to the ground The principall hall was toward the court so that from thence the Tartarian and his Wife saw the valour of the Grecian who at this time was more couraâ—ius thaÌ„ if he had fought with one alone Knight The Tartarian being amazed to sée his valiantnes could not chuse but say Uerely it séemeth all the Gods did ioyne together at the birth of thys inuincible Warrier and put in him more strength than remaineth in them all A happie country is it y e eniâ—â—th such Lords happie Zoylo that amongst such frends hast found a sepulcher and happie Andronio that hath séene with his eyes what els he would not haue beléeued Of truth worthy husband said Grisanea I would gladlye some of those Knights would helpe the Grecian Prince not that his valor hath néed thereof but that we should be the sooner rid of thâ—se people for I am not yet frée of the feare I receiued Oristides had no néed to be intreated for with a light leape hee stept in receiued on his shield the second blow that the Giant Tembloso stroke at the Grecian which made him bow to the ground As he arose to reuenge it the Grecian said vnto him Stand away Oristides and staine not your sword in so euill blood And in so saying he gaue a thrust at the furious Tembloso and returned vnto the other Giant striking him so mightie a blow vpon the helme that hee made him almost senslesse At the same time had the Troyan stroke such a blowe at his hands that almost he had parted them asunder which made him giue a fearfull shréeke where with his Brother stroke the Gréeke Prince such a blow on the helme that if Artemidoroes vertue had not béâ—n therein his lyfe had béen in great perill The Giant was nimble and would not loose any occasion therefore hee entred desirous for to strike him another blow but the Troyan did breake the execution thereof which gaue the Grecian time to recouer himselfe The other Giant by reason of the first wound Rosicleer gaue him fell vppon his knées blaspheming hys Goâ—s The Ladies of the Princesse receiued great content to sée him fall and said It séemeth to vs that one of them doth come by little and little to the ground The gentle Troyan did verie well heare those words went against the hurt Giant but comming nigh him the Gâ—ant with his left hand laid hold on the skirt of his habâ—reâ—on and drew him within his armes The Troyan knew well in what perill he was and to be more at libertie and the better to helpe himselfe he let his shield fall from hys arme The Giant séeing that so crushed him that â—e verely thought his armour would haue entred into his flâ—sh his gréefe was so much yet for all that hee did not forgâ—t his dagger which he thrice stabbed into the Giant and as often drew it foorth with his blood and the fourth time he thrust it in vnder the skirt of his habergion vpwards with so much force that the murdring blade came to his heart Which caused the Giant with y e pangs of death to squéeze him so strongly that if it should long haue indured it had not béen possible but hee should haue béen in great perill but his breath failing him he opened his armes and committed his soule to the diuell and his bodie to the senslesse earth the Troyan being so faint and wearie that he was forced in great hast to pull off his helme to take the benefite of the coole ayre and sate him downe vppon the dead bodie of the Giant with great contentment vnto them al. And being a little refresht hee busied his eyâ—s in beholding the battell betwéene the inuincible Rosicleer and the furious Tembloso which séemed but then to begin Yet the Giant shewed himselfe to be somwhat â—eaâ—â—e by reason of the weight of his strong armour the great lightnes of the Prince who entring in and out made him verie wearie which was the occasion that the Prince assaulted him the oftner wounding him so on the legs that all the Court was stained with his brutall blood Our valiant Grecian séeing his aduersarie began to faint layd hold vâ—on his shield with so great strength that he pulled him perforce vnto the ground with so great a fall that hée was almost without sense or moouing and before hee had anie memorâ—e to recouer himself he stept to him with his left hand pulled off his helme and cloaue his head to the necke Then he sat down to rest himselfe and asked the Troyan how he fared Well said he though almost out of breath but let vs méete the Tartarian and his Wife who are comming to visit vs. With that the faire Princesse came and said Thus farre worthie Princes extendeth the