than hir selfe Thus his craftie and subtill perswasions so much preuayled by reason of the humilitie and loue he shewed in his wordes that I coulde not frame any excuse to the contrary he was so importunate but must néeds consent vnto his demaund O immortall Gods that in so secret wise ye made the heart of man that you onely can comprehende the good and euill that is hid in it Who would haue thought much lesse haue beleeued that this traiterous King by his swéete wordes and subtill speaches would haue robbed me of my onely daughter So straight waye when he had in his power y t which his soule so much desired he would not make any delay of his departure giuing me to vnderstande that he would not let any time but carrie hir vnto his wife for whose sight so much she had desired and at whose comming she would receiue great ioy contentment But what sorrow did I then féele nothing thinking of that which shoulde happen for that my heart was ignoraunt of the knowledge thereof but to see hir depart from me for whose absence my heart remained in so great sorrowe and heauinesse giuing to vnderstand by the outward showes by the teares that procéeded from my eyes the great paine and passion that the lacke thereof wold shortly procure in this sorrowfull sort I was forced almost without any remembraunce to retourne vnto y e pallaice And they were not so soone entred into his ships but as one very gelous to keepe close his treason he commaunded straight to hoyse vp sayles and commit them vnto the winde and hauing too good and prosperous a weather in a very short time he arriued in his owne Countrie whereas two leagues from the Citie he was receiued of his subiects with great maiestie who brought with them both horse and Palfrayes néedfull for the companie So beeing all in a readinesse he commaunded that they should beginne to martch forward towards the Citie This false King still persisting in his euill determined purpose commaunded as I sayde that all the company should procéed forwards and he with my sorrowfull daughter Herea remained a good waye behinde And when he sawe his company so farre before and they two alone together he stepped on the one side and ledde the waye into a little groue which was hard at hande fast by a Riuers side He without any more tarrieng carried hir into the thickest part therof and as it appeared he was well acquainted in the same and where he thought it most conuenient he alighted off from his horse and willed my most welbeloued daughter that she shoulde likewise alyght Shée in whose heart raigned no kinde of suspition alyghted and saâ—e hir downe by the Riuers side and washed hir fayre white handes and refreshed hir mouth with the same water Then this dissembling traytor could not refrayne but by some outward showes and darke sentences gaue hyr to vnderstande the kindeled fire of loue with the which he was tormented and in the ende he did wholy declare his diuelish pretence and determined purpose towards hir So my louing daughter Herea being â—ore troubled with his importunate and continuall requests with great anger yet not without aduisement she began to reprehende him giuing him to vnderstand all that was needfull against so diuelish a pretence This vncleane King when he heard that so earnestly and contrary to his expectation she aunswered and would haue rose vp from the place whereas she sate helde hir fast by hir apparayle and would not suffer hir to arise but began with softe and milde wordes to perswade hir to be quiet and sayde O my best beloued Ladie wherefore wilt thou consent that for thy cause I shoulde dye mayst now very well without being discouered of any giue mee remedie for the same Be not then obstinate to denye mée that which with so great loue I doo desire of thee Who is heere that can beare witnesse of this my priuie desire and bolde enterprise neither discouer thy gentle liberalitie shewed me not one surely but onely the immortall Gods Understande this for a certaintie my swéete Ladye that the God Iupiter doth receiue more griefe in this my sorrowe then in the paine which thou dost suffer This deceiued damosell when she sawe that he held hir so fast with his trecherous hande that she could not deliuer hir selfe with furious anger she sayde Traytor doo not thou thinke that these thy lecherous words haue power to moue my hearte to graunt and fulfill these thy filthie diuelish and lasciuious thoughts for héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the high and soueraigne Gods that first I will permit suffer my body to bée torne in péeces then to open my eares vnto the hearing of so great treason Therefore false King let me alone and consider with thy selfe that I am sister vnto thy wife whome I sée well thou hast forgotten by reason of this thy insatiable dronkennesse and greedye desire of fitâ—hye lust Therefore if it please thée determine to let mee alone and defile me not or else to the contrarie bee fully perswaded of this that I will rather dye the death in my defence Then this cursed king séeing that this shalt Ladye did defend her selfe he tooke fast holde by her necke and said Doe not thou thinke O cruell Herea that thou canst delyuer thy selfe out of my handes except first thou graunt vnto this my desired will and if not I doo promise thée in payment of this great pride which thou doest vse vnto me to put thee vnto the most cruell â—eath that euer was deuised for anie Damosell or maiâ—e This distressed Ladie was nothing dismaide to heare that shée shoulde die but without all feare she aunswered Thinke not false traitour that the feare of death shall cause mee to yéeld to thy filthie desire The which béeing well vnderstoode by the king he sayde Understande then and bée well perswaded that either liuing or dead I will performe my will and pretended purpose which so without measure and with vnquenchable fire doth burne in my heart Thus with great strength she did defend her selfe and with a manly courage she kepte her honour but this cruell and lasciuious king séeing that he coulde not fulfill his euill desire in a greate madnesse he cut off a greate parte of the traine of her gowne and bound it verie fast to the haire of her head in such sort that with the great strength he put thereto and the tendernesse of the same together with his euill intreating all the greene grasse was sprinkeled with the bloud that issued out whereat he beléeued that she would haue ben quiet and haue consented vnto him but she respected not the euill intreating but the more he procured to torment her the more angrie she shewed her selfe against him with continuall deniall When this cruell traitour sawe that all woulde not serue he beganne to forget all faith and loyaltie he ought â—nto knighthoode and the respect
retourne to the storie that is past whereas if you doo remember that the Prince Eleno of Dacia entered into that barke wherein the Knight was which would haue forced a Ladye and how that vpon a sodaine their gallyes did seperate themselues so that he lost the sight of his Cousin the Knight of the Sunne and of Tefereo and béeing entered he woulde haue made resistaunce against his aduersarie for to disturbe him that he should not commit the vyolence that he had offered But vppon a sodaine they were all vanished so that he sawe neyther Knight nor Ladye nor Marriners nor yet anye other person but onely himselfe in the Barke with his inchaunted Horse neither could he sée who brought him thether and thinking to reâ—ourne again into the galley whereas his cousin was he could not finde him but looking about he discerned no other thing but the Element the water When the Prince Eleno sawe himselfe absent from his beloued cousin his sorow was very great that he receiued and began to curse all the wise inchaunters and all those that doo permit suffer them for that they were the occasion that in the world ther was so much euill done When this Prince Eleno sawe himselfe all alone and not one with whom he might passe away the time there came vnto his minde his Florisdama which was the occasion that he tourned to his accustomed sadnesse and imagining that he was in her presence he said Oh cruell Ladie which dost now reioyce thy selfe and art at ease in the Kingdome of Dacia art thou fully pleased with these my paines Art thou now pacified y t thou hast brought me into this extremitie and trouble wherein I am in the power of I know not whom and doo nauigate I cannot tell vpon what Thy cruell heart I am sure is now content séeing that without desert for thée I doo suffer so many troubles which as yet I am not certaine whether thou hast pretended or procured it shuld be so or no. Oh cursed inchaunters how many euills haue you wrought by the help of diuells so that by reason of your inchauntments many worthye Knights are brought into such like troubles as I am Héere you may sée into what extremitie this Magicall arte hath brought me so y t I can by no meanes profite my selfe of the strength of these my young armes but am héere in the power of a diuel who wil ouerthrow this barke but that which doth most gréeue me is y t I am brought into a place to dye where of my death shall be lefte no memorie but must die disdained of that cruell Lady So with great sorrowe and trouble he passed thrée dayes in the end of which he discouered a very small Iland which was in the middest of the sea The barke made thether with great switnesse so that in a small time he was fast a ground vpon the sande It was not long after that the Prince leapt a shore when he found himselfe out of the barke he looked rounde aboute him on euery side And towards his right hand amongst a company of greene trees he sawe a small tent armed Toward which the prince directed his way with an easie pace and entring into the Tent he sawe no bodye although hee remayned a while and hearkened if he coulde heere any sâ—irring but he could neither heare nor see any thing but onely he found the print of a lyttle foote vpon the sand and hée had a great desire to know whose footesteps they were for that they seemed to be of some Lady or Damsell and finding the trace he followed them and the more he went it seemed vnto him that the more hast they made whosoeuer it was that had lefte that signe which made him more earnest in his desire to see the ende thereof So long he followed that trace that in the ende he came vnto a little mountaine whereas he found scattered about yeolow haire which seemed to be threds of golde and stooping for to gather them vp he perceiued that some of them were wet with spots of bloud whereby he well vnderstoode the great anger where with they were pulled of from the head Likewise he saw in diuers places how the earth was spotted with drops of liuely bloud Then with a more desire then he had before hée went vp to the top of that little mountaine and hauing lost the footsteps he recouered it by gathering vp y â— golden haire he had not trauailed farre vp the mountaine when that towards the water side he heard a great complaint which séemed to be the voice of a woman and by the faint sound ther of he might well perceiue that they waxed wearie for that a while they would rest and be still and straight way wold returne vnto their accustomed sorrow and complaint And the words which the Prince did well vnderstande were these Oh loue now shalt thou no more reioyce neither haue any longer dominion ouer me for that gentle death wil shew me so much fauour as to finish these my sorrowfull passioÌ„s and therewith vnloose and frustrate this string of loue with the which thou hast bounde me hauing a desire to aske reuengement of him which hath bene the occasion of all this euill I haue asked the same reuengement but it hath not pleased the Gods to heare my request nay rather they haue stopped their eares agaynst these my continual complaynts and with this she helde her peace giuing a very sorrowfull and terrrible sigh The Prince Eleno tourning his eyes towards that place from whence he heard this comylaint discouered amongst certaine gréene trées a Lady who was indued with maruailous great beautie It was so excellent that it depriued him of his heart which he neuer thought againe to haue lost She was with her haire all about her eares and meruailously ill intreated by the violence that she vsed against her selfe and leaning her chéeke vpon her delicate and white hand which was all to be spotted w t bloud in many places which was constrained by the scratching of her nayles The spots was the occasion to dissolue the great passion which the Prince did féele for his Florisdama representing in his heart the figure of this heauie and sorrowful Lady who seeing her of so great beautie and in such affliction was ouertaken and wounded with the demeanour of her faire face and gréeued to sée her so euill intreated in such sort that in a sound he leaned to a gréene trée amongst many other which were vpon that mountaine cleane without any remembraunce Oh Cupide thou béeing but a boye why doost thou vse these cruell kinde of feates Who hath taught thée to vse such deceits which is the occasion of great and endlesse vnquietnes Thou dost show thy selfe to be blind and yet thou art more quicke of sight then a Hawke How is it possible that thou doost make vs beléeue that without séeing thou canst hit so right with thy arrowes and that with so
with thy aunswere I woulde put in order that which I haue to doo concerning this my miserable life I doo well know my Lord and Emperour that this my bolde discouering of my selfe hath bene too much and beyond all reason but if at any time thou hast loued and doost know the great griefe that loue doth cause thou wilt not blame me nor put me in any fault I would y t I could show thée my woūded hart y t in séeing it so sore afflicted thou mightst take some compassion of me that which doth most torment me is that I haue yéelded my selfe vnto one y t hath so little pitie on me Who hath euer heard y t women shuld wooe require of men to loue them But I most vnfortunate Quéene haue broken that lawe and custome O immortal Gods what haue you conceiued against me Is not y e apparant which you vsed against my sister now wil you vse it also w t me I shuld be requested of Emperours Kings and now I come to request one that maketh no account of me neither dooth my present destruction mooue him to any pittie Go too Emperour make an ende and aunswere me that therewith I may receiue either life or death Héere may you which haue knowen what loue is iudge what the Emperour Trebatio might conceiue in himselfe in this cruell case One way he did consider the great loyaltie that he ought vnto the Empres his wife and this constrained him to deny her Another way the great desire that hée had to see himselfe at libertie and the great loue that he did know Garrofilea bare him caused his hart somewhat to yéeld Notwithstanding he did procure with faire and swéete wordes to sée if he could cause her to chaunge her thought and purpose saying Lady I doo sée very well that the force of loue is so cruell that whosoeuer he doth wound he leueth them in a manner without remedye except it come from them on whō they haue fixed their heart I doo not deny but that your amorous desire is such as he hath ordained it who spareth no creature But considering your highnesse and great estate the honour that all such as you are shoulde haue by your royall marriages I doo more reioyce that you suffer payne then you should take your ease with that vnto which sensuall loue doth constraine you Most souereigne Quéene héere I doo desire you to bridle your affection and restrayne your appetite that you fall not into that infamie which will bée the onely blemish of your estate séeing it appertaineth so much vnto your honour The quéene séeing y t his reasons did not incline vnto that which she desired shortened his talk said Emperour all that which thou hast sayde and all besides that thou canst tell me I doo already vnderstand and there is nothing that may be spoken héerein but I haue before this time considered of it Notwithstanding loue hath more force then any regard or consideration I should haue vnto my honour Therefore I am héere come fully determined to make a second sacrifice vnto my gods which afterwards shall be lamented by thée And in saying those words she tooke out the sworde which she brought in secret vnder her roabes and with great hast she set the pommell thereof vnto the ground and would haue throwen her self vpon the poynt thereof The worthy Trebatio seeing her in this desperate minde leapt quickly out of his bed and with a mightie courage caught holde of her and tooke the sword out of her hand saying Oh blinde quéene what diuelish determination is this The Lady answered Unlouing Lord◠〈◊〉 other thing but to ease my selfe by death for that I 〈◊〉 not longer liue as one dying And saying these words she fell in a sound in the armes of the Emperour Heere coulde not the stoutnesse of the Greeke heart make such resistance but that with great loue he tooke her and cast her vppon the bed shedding many teares with much compassion and considering the firmnesse of the loue that the Queene hadde showed him he was confoūded in his owne thought and inforced to haue done that which hee neuer thought to haue done and so purposed to giue her all her whole contentment and so ioyning his mouth to hers he remained kissing her till such time as this sorrowfull Lady came againe to her selfe But when she perceiued she was of him so louinglye imbraced being the thing she onely desired she straight-way recouered all the strength that she had lost and cast her armes about his necke with excéeding loue which grieued not the Emperour any thing at all in such sort they vsed themselues that the Queene was made Lady with great cōtentment vnto them both So with like sport they passed the rest of the night in great ioye and pleasure The Quéene Garrofilea when she saw that it was day returned vnto her chamber very pleasant merrie vntill such time as it was her accustomed houre of 〈◊〉 which was somewhat early y t day for that the two 〈◊〉 made very great hast that they might enter into the Citie the which was straight waye done And the Quéene brought with her the Emperour and made him to sweare to be her true prisoner and not to depart from thence without her will and leaue So the quéene tooke the Emperour by the hand in this order they went out of the Pallaice The Earle of Modique when he sawe this could not choose but receiue great griefe but he did dissemble it for that he considered that in such extremitie so valiant a Knight was néedfull and so altogether they entered into the Citie The Quéene was very gallant and pleasaunt whereat all her subiects receiued great delight and in the chiefe stréete of the Citie there was erected the Images of two Knights made all of stone of a maruelous good proportion and they had ouer them a couer like a Tabernacle very rich and well wrought because the water shoulde not fall vpon thē nor any other thing to hurt them As soone as the Emperour saw those figures he knew that the one was the Image of his sonne without reading of the supercription but when he came nigh vnto it he read the same which sayd This is the great Prince of Grecia called the Knight of the Sunne restorer of the auncient kingdome of Tinacria the abater and breaker of the strength of the most strongest Giants in all the world And going a little farther he sawe vpon the other Knight this title Prince Eleno of Dacia cousin vnto the most valiant sonnes of Trebatio the well-spring of all our quietnesse Upon this he looked with great affection and earnest desire to sée his perfect personage The Quéene did well vnderstand the great ioye that the Emperour receiued in beholding the figure of his sonne and of his brothers sonne for which cause she commanded that to be told publikely which was spoken in secret then entred into
entred into a faire large court were by the Lord of y e Castle receiued w t great loue wheÌ„ he saw y t Claridiano was of so goodly proportioÌ„ he greatly meruailed To whom Libernio sayd Lord friend from this daie forwards thou shalt not need to haue anie feare of this thy enâ—mie for that he will no more returne to trouble you for this knight whom thou seest before thée hath slain him made an end of his daies not this giant alone but also those furious gyants Tartaros Oh souereigne Gods sayd the olde knight of the Castell is this possible to be true which I doe heare and that my fortune is so good to receiue into my house the Knight that hath done so valyaunt actes We shall quickly sée whether it be true or not for y e euerie night this diuell commeth giuing terrible shrikes for that he should quickly depart I doo command to throw him prouision out at y e highest window of this Castle and yet he is not content therewith by reason of his great pride but he is so euill inclined that if he méet anie of our people he pardoneth none but killeth them You may from hence forth cease your feare sayd Claridiano for I promise you that he will neuer more trouble nor gréeâ—e you So with such reasonings they went vp into y e castle where they wer meruailously well receiued by a Gentlewoman wife vnto the knight of the Castle whose name was Marmariton likewise of two sons which he had proper young men So straight way the â—able was commaunded to be couered and that they should sitte downe to supper whereas they were serued very abundantly for the Knight of the Castle was a very rich man none richer in all the kingdome of Nabatea who could not satisfie himselfe in beholding the great grauitie and seuere countenaunce of the Prince and his faire and well proportioned body So when they had made an end of their supper for to passe away the time till they should goe to take theyr rest The Prince sayd vnto the Ladie which he released out of prison It shall be good faire Ladie now that you are at liberty and out of all daunger that you doe tell vs the occasion of your imprisonment and how it hath bene if so be that the declaring doth not trouble you The Damsell aunswered Of truth my Lord this will I doe with a verie good will and if it were but onely for to giue you contentment and it is great reason and iustice for that you did put your person in greate daunger for my deliueraunce You shall vnderstand gentle knight that along the huge and mightie riuer of Euphrates towards the Orientall partes there is a mightie Citie called Ierosolima the which is not far from the head of the said riuer on the other side of the riuer towards the Sunne setting is there another Citie called Sabiosa of these and of other cities and townes there about my Father is king and Lorde euer The Gods who were so pleased for to inrich mée not onely of goods but also of beautie fairenesse more then anie other in all the kingdome or in a great part there abouts the fame of my great beautie was published in all places which was the occasion that there repaired vnto my fathers Court many Lords knights of great estimation amongst whome there came one young knight and a straunger who was naturall of the kingdome of Tigliafa and Lord of the Citye of Zina and he béeing in loue with me and I lykewise of him and before that eyther of vs could manifest our loue the one vnto the other ther passed a long time but onely by our outwards showes we did declare each to other the abundance of our hearts and signes of loue the which indured many daies So it happened vpon a daie going to recreate my selfe in a Forrest there by amongest the swéete hearbes and odoriferous flowers harde by the riuer side of Euphrates which caused in my minde all kinde of amorous thoughts and I carrieng my yeolow golde haire all dispearsed behinde my cares couering my backe vpon a sodaine amongest the thicke trées I sawe a verie faire Pastora which was combing of her haire sitting vnder a faire and gréene Myrtlâ— trée And héere my Lord I doe certifie you of a truth that in all the worlde hath not bene séene the lyke she hadde féeding by hâ—r a fewe shéepe by her lay her shepheards hooke and her bagge hung vpon the Myrtle trée I know not what to saye but that the trées and hearbes did reioyce to sée her beautie I coulde not but staie and reioyce my selfe in beholding so goodly a creature with her yeolow golden haire dispearsed all abroade which did reach vnto her féet for that she was set down her golden haire did couer all the swéet hearbs there about her by reason of the great heat of the Sun she had her neckenger turned downe vpon her shoulders whereout did appeare her verie white and christalline necke my Ladyes and damsells were no lesse amazed to sée her great beautie beléeuing that she should be daughter vnto the Gods no earthly creature but fortune who is so mutable would not suffer me to inioy long so beautifull and ioyfull a sight but being without feare in this sort as I haue tolde you vppon a sodaine there came behinde me y e Prince of Nicea before y t I could make any meanes for to disturbe him in great hast he tooke me fast by the arme and with a trice he lift me vp and set me before him on the saddle bowe of his horse and in great hast he put himselfe into the thickest of the Forrest my Gentlewomen and maidens remained giuing great shrikes but it little profited for that the prince of Nicea made such diligent hast that in a verie short time he entered with me into a barke in the riuer of Euphrates who carried vs so far as we came wheras he ioyned vnto the riuer Tygris wheras we went a land and crossed ouer the mountaines of Libanos wheras we wer taken of that furious Gyant which was first slaine at one terrible blow he slew the Prince and me he carried vnto y e prison whereas you gentle knight did finde me heerewith she helde her peace giuing a great sigh in remembring her euill fortune and all the rest remained wich great sorrow griefe to heare this lamentable discourse but Claridiano was more attentiue vnto the report of the fairenesse beautie of the Pastora then vnto all the rest At this time was y e houre of the gyants comming past which made the Lord of the castle beléeue the death of his cruell enimie to be true receiuing great contentment thereat he declared vnto them of meruailous and great feasts triumphes y t were preparing to be made in the citie of Nabatea at the marriage of y e prince of Nabatea with
him to ride in his boate as alreadie hath bene recited vnto you ¶ The great sorrow that the knight of the Sunne receiued in thinking of his owne disloyaltie and that which happened vnto him Cap. 4. THE Knight of the Sunne with great furie and hast wandred through the Forrests of Greece as it hath ben alreadie declared vnto you kindling the aire with fire with that burning cholar wherin he was wrapped vnhappie had he bene which at that time durst haue vndertaken to haue resisted his purpose for while hée was in this moode there had bene no roeke so harde but hée would haue torne in péeces nor no hill so stéepe but he would haue pulled downe In this sort he went all the daie not finding anie print of that he sought for The darke night did ouertake him in the thickest of the Forrest whereby he was enforced to a light and ease his horse who fed vpon y e gréene grasse and he leaned himselfe vnder a high Pine trée the place being so solitarie it was a meane to drawe him in minde of many things which had alreadie happened vnto him and specially it renewed the fresh assaultes of that loue which passed betweene him and the Princesse Lyndabrides musing with himselfe what should mooue him so vnkindly to forget her and in comparing the beautie of the Princesse Lyndabrides with his beloued wife he found the Empresse did farre exceede her and heerevpon the knightes good will beganne to kindle and was inwardlye gladde of his owne choice but this affection was soone extinguished so firmely setteled was that good will bée bare vnto the Barbarian Ladie The impression whereof was so déepe that hée altogether forgot the auncient loue that he had borne vnto his beloued Empresse wherevppon with sorrowing sighes he sounded foorth his griefe and with brinish teares hée saide Is there in the world anie knight so little attainted with loue as I am or can there be anie one so vngratfull as I sith that I bestow no care vpon one so furnished with beautie and indued with so many excellent vertues Alasse Lyndabrydes right worthie doo I acknowledge my selfe to be chastised with loue sith that without reason I haue transgressed his boundes As there is nothing in me to merit your diuine beautie so am I altogether vnworthie béeing a disloyall Knight anie so vnderserued curtesie but I will promise you to execute vpon my selfe a more sharp reuenge then laie in you to giue me sith that I haue forfaited that bond wherein I was bound vnto you Oh miserable knight what sayst thou in thine owne defence how canst thou excuse thy folly hast thou blotted out of thy mind y t souereigne curtesie of thy Ladie or hast thou suspended the swéet memorie of her diuine beutie being so rare an Empres Oh traiterous hart why hast thou yéelded to this folly why dost thou not now repent this passed falt sith that loue which first enthralled thy minde doth now without ceasing tormeÌ„t thy heart Oh wretch that I am what condigne punishment may I bestow vpon my selfe O sacred Emperico thou gauest me frée possessioÌ„ of all without reseruing any thing thou didst surrender to me thine Empire thou didst yéeld to me thy libertie and I carelesse of my faith neglecting thy courtesie could not intertaine a good opinion of thee alone in my heart according to thy desert but haue ben preuented by the Tartarian ladie who hath made a breach in my affection Forgiue me I beséech thée Oh sorrow oh intollerable griefe no lesse sharp then death to sée my hart diuided in twaine Is it possible y t I can liue sustaine these nipping passions which assalt me with this the miserable knight seÌ„t forth a scalding sigh by his countenance appeared to be plunged in great sorrow insomuch y t the ecko of his bitter passions moued y e shiuering leaues to quietnes the percing aire to a certain calme stay only to heare y e plaints of this oppressed knight In this heauie plight woful cogitation y e afflicted Grecian spent y e wearie night vntil the glistring Sun w t his radiant beames did shine vpon the gréene grasse and swéete budding trées and moued the chirping birds with their golden layes to warble forth their sugered tunes At that present houre the knight of the Sunne brideled his horse and without setting his foot in the stirop he mounted vppon him leauing the raines on his necke to the end he might goe where best liked him hée had not long iourneied but he was come neere vnto a riuer which ranne through the Forrest his horse being verie drie entered into it altogether carelesse of the exceeding anguish wherin his Master was whose minde was so perplexed in considering his straunge mishap that he forgot where he was vntill the bubbeling of the Christal water awaked his benummed sences and then séeing himselfe in this golden streame and gasing on euerie side he espyed the armour of the valiant Moore which was chained for a monument vnto a Pine apple tree The Prince staied long in viewing them greatlye admiring at such an aduenture and approching more néere he might well discerne by the head péece that the armour belonged vnto the Moore whome he had sought with great labour and paine which sight did greatly trouble his minde And turning his horse to sée the straungnesse of this misfortune he sawe the bloudie alter where the Moore had committed this sacrifice néere vnto it was annexed a goodly graue closely couched by a loftie Pine wherin was engrauen certaine vearses which when he perused he might perceiue that they were compounded by his brother and when he â—ad by reading of them gathered the sorrowfull end that the valiant Moore made he could not so well gouerne his affection but y t his eyes distilled gushing streames of water greatly deploring with himselfe the froward fortune of so valiant a man where by imbruing his hands in his owne bloud had thereby eclipsed his former honour Then greatly exclaiming against the wretchednesse of this worlde and the loosenesse of the people he did note the solempne vowe his brother made and therewithall did remember the fruites of his vertue and therevpon desirous to ioyne with him in trauaile he did ingraue with his dagger somewhat vnder the other Epitaph these vearses that followe Whose trauaile strange shall leade him to this place to view this shield and strong Tartarians graue That man I warne that he doo not deface the same deuisde by Rosicle'er the braue Whose brothers bloud the quarrell shall maintaine Against such knights that would this armour gaine When he had written this he walked vp and downe by the graue by chance saw y e dagger wherewith y e Moore had killed himselfe and taking it in his hand he sayd Truly thou hast great cause to lament sith that thou hast bene the instrument to murther the best knight that euer ware armour and in memorie héereof thou shalt
eie witnes of my wretchednesse or to saie the truth of my cruell death Understand you then that I am Don Eleno Prince of Dacia sonne to Cadislao brother to the high and mightie Emperour Trebatio your Father and to the beautifull Florisena Daughter to the king of Cypres and Nygroponte vnder whose winges I was nourished till I was eight yéeres of age and was trayned vp in y e regall sort as was incident to my parents estate Béeing of this age spightfull Fortune who is slipperie to all men and leuells commonly at the contented minde spun mée so course a thrid as I feare me in the weauing it will proue my vtter destruction This blinde Fortune I saie conuayed to the king my Father his court the beautifull Princesse Florisdama daughter to the king of Nygroponte brother to my Father she was equall to me in age and so indued with beutie that she séemed Angelicall While I was thus young the burning flames began to scorch me which now doo singe me and we were so allied that without anie suspition we walked where we would and most commonly we spent our time in a banquetting house which was halfe a mile from the Citie which was right faire compassed about with christalline streames and gréene meddowes furnished with swéete flowers we lead so pleasant princely a life y t wée bestowed all our care in catching chirping Birdes and young â—eauerets Our mutuall good wills was so greate as seldome did we forbeare each others companie mine procéeding of an inward desire to haue hir to my wiâ—e hers in regard of the affinitie which was betwéene vs. This â—ugured life continued vntill we were fouretéene yeares of age the which time we bestowed in hunting to the great comfort of my heart though in the ende not to the harts ease of my mind my Florisdama hauing a crossebowe in hir hand and a bugle horne about hir necke little mindfull of that sorrowe which galled me so much While she continued this vaine in hunting it begate a singular good will in me to sée hyr shoote hauing hir golden lockes somewhat layde forth and vpon hir head was knit a garlaÌ„d of all swéet smelling flowers she had a gowne of white Satten all laid ouer with gold lace which made her séeme so celestiall that she had bene able to haue quailed the heart of Cupid Beléeue me and doubt not of it valiant Prince that Venus in hir most brauerie did neuer excell hir Neither coulde the inchaunted Circâ—s with all her cunning frame so much beautie in her face to beguilde those whome she thought to entice My desire still increased to beholde so much beautie and the beautifull Ladie setled all her care in chasing the little Fawne which when she had gotten at anie aduauntage shée would surely shoot and spéed wherevpon I would speake softly vnto my selfe and say Alasse that arrowe weâ—e better bestowed in my heart for being once dead I should auoide an hourely death which pearceth me euerie daie Therfore be assured of this Knight that I sustained not so much ioy by her companie in the â—aie time but I endured as great torment in the night by her absence Béeing thus wasted in woe Florisdama hadde a narrow scantling at the cause of my passions and yet was she not fully resolued that it was for her sake and therefore with making shewes of loue she demaunded what wringed me in such sort either whether it was an imperfection in my selfe or a want of boldnesse to discouer it hauing as I haue alreadie declared attained to the age of fouretéene yeares I was dubbed Knight by my father God knowes how gréeuous it was to me to be separated from the thing wherin I ioyed so much The imagination whereof I referre to your discréete iudgement most worthie Grecian Prince sith that alreadie you haue tasted the same sauce of cruell loue and alas howe gréeuous were those thoughtes vnto me which brought vnto my minde the enter-course of spéech the kinde familiaritie the pleasant walks and the comely graces of my diuine Florisdama your passed miserie maye easily haue an ame at y e same my present estate may best discouer it what shall I say more right worthie knight but my passions were so bitter and my helpe so slender that I lost my coulour forbare my meate and grewe to be so weake that an inkling therof came vnto my ladyes eares who perceiuing in what poore and lowe estate I remained entreated mée most earnestly to disclose vnto her the cause which pinched mée so greatly promising mée that if my sorrowes might bée reléeued through the fauour of anie Gentlewoman shée woulde straine her selfe to release them if it were possible and would hazarde her selfe to procure her fauour which had so much enthralled me wherat with watrie eyes I thus answered her Alasse Florisdama loue hath layde such a corsiue to my heart such a flame vnto my lightes and such a sting vnto my breast as it hath reduced mée to this state wherein you sée mée Oh souereigne Ladie how much better had it bene for me that rather in my gréene yeares and in the middest of my hunting Atrapos had shredde in sunder the twist of my lyfe then nowe to continue in sorrowe without anye hope of release or delart of releefe The Angelicall Ladie seeing me wéep so heauily could not but distill some few teares from her christallin eies albeit she did not throughly féele the bottomâ— of my inwarde griefe and therevppon she sayde thus Ah my louing brother let me obtaine that fauour as to manifest vnto me the cause why you faile in sorrowe and as it séemes remodilesse graunting my request I promise you to procure with all diligence that there may be some salue that may cure that festering wound which seemes to cancur your hart impaire your ioyes for if you giue me credit I am perswaded there is no Ladie so vngratefull as to denie you her loue béeing so valiant a Knight as you séeme to bée and againe knowing the worthinesse of your progenie the disposition of your minde and those incomperable vertues which shine in you Alasse why shoulde not the courage of your minde suffice to kindle the affection of all the Ladyes in the worlde And for that it hath béene your course Fortune to yéeld and surrender the interest of your good will to the subiection of one Ladie relinquishing all other ioyes and pastimes I meane not as now to shrinke from you but with all my endeauour to reléeue and succour thine estate vntill such time as my care and practise maye haue light of her that hath brought so worthie a Knight into such a Laborinth and hath cleane bereaued him of his libertie and dispossest him of his former ioyes spare not therefore to imparte vnto mée what it is that wringes you thereby then shall you perceiue the willingnesse I haue to doe you good And the great care that I will execute to stay the ranckâ—ur of
your disease The pithie perswasions of this angelicall Ladie were so swéet and comfortable that they caused such bashfulnesse in my heart that it mooued mée to chaunge coulour and through modest shame I could not no nor I durst not open my lippes for to vntwist vnto her the bottome of my griefe but craued pardon promising her that at our next méeting I woulde bewraie who she was that galled mée so greatly shée béeing satisfied héerewith and my words carrieng some credite with her shée departed from me but the terrible night that I suffred what with visions dreadfulnesse of dreames mistrust of good Fortune I referre the tast of those pills to your sauâ—ury and mature iudgement noble Prince For sometimes I thought good to disclose and discouer the whole state of my paine And immediatly I would charme those thoughts preferring a cruell death before a perpetuall torment but yet in the ende I concluded with my selfe and thought it good to vnfolde the plaites of my sorrow to so good a Phisition whose skill I knew could helpe mée if disdaine did not let it I thought it good to entertaine hir courtesie as one that could enfraunchise my bondage but wanting abilitie to perfourme my desires by meanes of inwarde paynes which hourely griped mée I thought it not impertinent to vse a pollicie by Metaphora And hauing decréed with my selfe how to handle this practise I rose verie earlye in the morning and shoouing off all feare I apparelled my selfe more braue then I was accustomed and went out of my Chamber to present my selfe to her who had more authoritie ouer mée then my selfe And loe I found my mistresse attending for mee desirous to heare the exposition of that riddle which so darklye I had propounded vnto her The time was excéeding fauourable and the place most conuenient so that I had verye good opportunitie and leasure to disclose the secretes of my heart And surely shée hadde no sooner discouered a glimmering of me but shée came to encounter me immediatly whose Angelicall and braue beautie surpassed the twinkling Starres and heâ— greate desire remayning to knowe the cause of my sorrowe with a gratious and smiling countenaunce she approched to me and saide on this manner Louing Cousin the place is now so conuenient as y â— you néede not to make it strange to me wherein you are so grieued I beseech you blush not to rehearse your pangs which I knowe doo sting you and in so dooing I promise you I will aduenture my selfe in anie daunger howe greate so euer it bée to remooue those pinching passions which so greatly afflict you Then I séeing the houre so fit to make my market I tooke out of my bosome a faire bright Christall glasse and with a panting heart I sayd Faire Laie and the onely nourisher of my lyfe receiue this Glasse therein shall you see the Image of her who is the procurer of my martirdonie and encreaser of my woes marke well her countenaunce and then tell me I praie you whether it lyes in your power to vse anie authoritie ouer her I am perswaded she is so neere a friend of yours as you onely may dispose which being true I earnestly require you to fulfill that which you haue promised me euen for affinities sake and for promise made I am bolde to craue you to keepe the couenaunts which you haue made with me After I had thus spoken with greate hast and quicknesse she tooke the glasse out of my hande And drawing off the couer she looked therein wherevppon she coniectured straight that she was the bréeder of my woes which sodaine and straunge thought altering her coulour she remayned greatly gréeued staring on me with a stearne and wrathfull countenaunce beleeue me the memorie thereof as yet redoubles my sorrowe for considering then with my selfe how bitterly shée harped vppon this string and what a passionate minde did feede her melancholyke humour I woulde more willinglye haue spared my lyfe then to haue her wast her selfe in sorrowe through the greene imagination of that 〈◊〉 which not béeing applyed I hadde no comfort lefte me but death and yet with this straunge demeanour she was not contented but starte vp and rowling the beames of hir christalline eyes towardes me as though they were sparkes of fire kindled with malice she sayd Cousin hardly coulde I euer haue bene perswaded to haue found you so presumptuous as to haue giuen the onset to any thing which might preiudice mine honour or offend my minde partly for that you are bound to please all Ladies but principally for that you should not harme your friendes among whom albeit I haue bene least able yet haue I not bene most vnwilling to stande you in stéed sith therefore these considerations haue not preuayled to quench the firebrande of your foolish loue I enioyne you vppon the penaltie of my displeasure not to make me staine my credit by imbruing mine owne handes in mine owne bloud for in so dooing your villanie shall be published to the world and the losse of my life shall make your traiterous heart accessarie to my murther After she had ministred this corosiue vnto me she retourned into hir closet leauing me so benummed of my senses and so surfetted with this bankeâ— that not being able to disgest it I sonke presentlye to the grounde lying as it were in a traunce where I was founde by the maydens of honour which attended vppon the person of the Quéene my mother who séeing me in this pitifull plight bethought them immediatelye of those drugges which might awake my dulled senses and as it is séene commonlye that women are timerous in such tragedies they yelled and shriked in such sort that the Quéene my mother ouer-hearde them who wondring at the cause of this clamour and lesse thinking of my distressed estate repaired vnto the place whereas I laye thus martired and séeing mée lulde and rockte vppe and downe in the Ladies lappes so bathed in teares and so hopelesse of life she wringed hir handes and what with their chaâ—ing of me and pittiful noise they made I felte my selfe somewhat reuiued againe and when I opened mine eyes and sawe my selfe inclosed with so manye Ladyes and Damosells and she absent whose vnkindnesse hadde dragged mée to this miserie and torment I sodainlye fell againe into a traunce and after long trauayle and no lesse sorrowe they summoned together my vitall spirites When I was the second time brought from death to lyfe I founde they hadde stripte mée and layde mée in my naked bedde the same companie continued with mée which came first to visite me Likewise there came to comforte me certaine Knightes and Gentlemen who demaunded of me where I felt my greatest griefe and what was the cause of it I then considering with my selfe howe despaire did rule the stearne of my boate and howe frozen I founde my Mistresse hir fauour though vndeseruedly I was dispised I didde request them to bée quiet and to depart from me
shée was verie sadde her haire â—littering all about her eares The sight of these strange deuises made the Dacian Prince verie pensiue and caused him to meruaile much at the great art that was vsed in the framing héereof it was so dainetely handeled But in the meane time that these two Princes were thus musing and beholding these straunge things the shippe slyst the Seas with a braue gale of winde and carried them so swiftly that when they called to minde the straungenesse héereof they were greatly astonished In this wise they sayled sixe dayes not knowing whether they went nor whether the shippe would carrie them neyther could they see anie lande but they were assured of this that they were directed by the will of the wise Lyrgandeo And sayled not towarde Dacia whereat the Prince Eleno was greatly discomforted but this griefe was somewhat stayed by the gentle perswasions which the knight of the Sunne vsed After the long and wearisome trauaile which these two noble Princes sustained one morning by the péepe of the daie they did discouer not farre from the place where they were the lande towardes which coast the Shippe sayled amaine the Knightes verye ioyfull héereof beganne to arme themselues with set purpose to land there Not long after the shippe came to the shoare with such a bottome rush sticking fast in the sandes that they thought shée had bene slit in sunder Which sodaine chaunce made them with all spéede to leape to the lande assuring themselues that the wise Lyrgandeo had ordeined the staie to be made there wherefore without tarrying anie longer they tooke theyr horses and mounted vppon them and presently after the Prince Eleno made proofe of the goodnesse of his horse which was sent him by the wise man and broching his sides with the Spurres hée founde him verye readye strong and light The noble and worthie Knight of the Sunne his Cousin stoode by and did beholde him wondring how comely he backt him and managed him the horâ—e in his iudgement seemed to be of great price and very swift in coursing imagining in this sort he alwayes thought that this young Prince was the very portrature of his louing brother Rosicleer These valiant knights not meaning to sléepe out the daie they vndertooke theyr iourny and in trauailing they came to a narrowe and straight lane which lead them by the foote of a huge and stéepe mountaine they had not long rid but they entered into a broade and rough path alwayes hoping that the countrey would prooue very pleasaunt and well shadowed to ride in but after they had tolde all their â—â—rds it fell out contrarie for it was a champaine soâ—le destitute of inhabitauntes and altogether vnprouided of victualles which discommodities galled these worthye Princes very greatly and that which gréeued them most was that they knew not whether they went neither could they méete anie one that might guide them in what place and Countrie they were Trauailing onwardes they found that this crooked waie was diuided into two broade lanes And then béeing in a doubt which waie they might take stood still and in the end they did determine betwéene them to make a diuision the one to take the right hand and the other the left And thus these two valiaunt knightes parted the waie betweene them both béeing right sorrowfull that theyr late acquaintance was so vntimely separated by a crooked lane The one hauing lost the sight of the other they rode very sadly and the Knight of the Sunne trauailed all that daye and could not happen vpon any path that might guide him to some towne or Uillage The night wrapping hir selfe in her browne Mantell made the Grecian alight from his Cornerino nigh vnto a faire Forrest and gréene meddowe adorned with all sweete and smelling flowers and pulling of his bridle he suffered him to féed in the gréene medow This valiant knight beeing somewhat wearie of the trauaile he had y e day before layde himselfe downe vppon the greene and pleasant grasse to ease his wearie limmes and to passe away the night wher he slept vntil such time as the graie morning with the notes of the swéet singing birds awaked him This valiant Prince béeing start vp returned vnto his new begun iourney trauailed so long that at the last he came to a verie faire and cleare riuer and going along by the brinke of the same hée beheld howe by reason of the calme winde that did blowe there did arise manye small bubbles in the water the sight whereof did greatly delight him vntil such time as he discried in the same certaine little streames and droppes of bloud at the view wherof he was striken into a meruaiolus admiration and the farther he went the streames did more plainly shew forth the skarlet coulour thereof in such sort y t the cléere and christalline water had lost his naturall coulour was changed into a crimosin which strange and vnacquainted case procured the noble knight of the Sunne to bée halfe amazed and meruailed greatly whereof should procéede such abundance of this bloudie water And hauing an earnest desire to knowe the head spring of the riuer and the occasion thereof he caused his horse to hast his pase somewhat more fast alwaies hauing an eie to the waie from whence y e bloudie streames descended but in the end he lost the sight thereof by reason of a little hill which was betwéene him and the riuer and there he was constrained to take another path which did leade him vnto the toppe of the saide hill which in truth was not farre distaunt from the brooke or Riuer And when he came to the toppe of this hill he beheld there a piller of Marble stone artificiallye wrought and firmelye fixed in the ground Upon the highest part of the piller there was fastened a chaine whereat hanged a very faire table of Cipers woode and therein was written certayne wordes which this noble Knight began to read the contents were as followeth TO the Knight or Damosell whose frowarde peruerse fortune shall lead this waye I desire thee not to proceede any farther but to retourne againe for true it is that heere thou canst finde no other fauour but death with oblation of thy bloud in memorie of that sacrifice which once Queene Arcalanda made who slewe hir selfe with hir owne proper hands and sharpe two edged sword vsing the greatest crueltie that euer was heard of both to hir selfe and to me Bramidoro King of Sardenna for she at once wrought hir owne hastie and vntimely death And I liue still yet for hir vnhappie end through exceeding sorrow euer dieng Little account did the valiant Knight of the sonne make of these threatning words which were there written but wayed them as winde and as one desirous to see the end of this so straunge an aduenture not regarding the perill thereof he tooke his iourney forwards determining to come againe to the waters side So long he trauailed y â— at last he
came to a little Temple that was very curiously wrought erected to the vse of the greatest crueltie that euer was heard off Néere vnto that Temple he sawe foure dead bodies whose heads were cut of and as it appeared by theyr apparell two of them were Knights and the other two Damosells then casting his eyes a side towards a faire gréene field which was harde by he behelde a great number of heades which were the heades of those that had ben slaine amongst which were the foure heads of the newe slaine bodies that hée before found dead for the fresh bloud did as yet runne out vppon the ground This lamentable spectacle this noble Greek beheld with such surpassing sorrow as almost no heart can comprehend but béeing rauished as it were with desire to be resolued of the effect of this so monstrous inhumanitie he procéeded farther till at length he approched the Temple where he discouered a posterne dore to be open and incontinent alighting from his horse with a heroycall courage being incensed with anger he rushed in hoping there to haue found the homicide which was the chiefe auctor of this tragicall crueltie Béeing entred the first thing that appeared to his view was a verie faire Altar curiously wrought and vpon it the dead figure of a verie faire Ladie through whose bodie was thrust a terrible two edged sworde likewise at the foote of the same Altar was another figure of a huge and mightie Giant being ten cubiâ—es in height all meruailous curiously wrought in Alabaster with straunge and subtil deuises who knéeled with both his knées on the earth This noble Knight was very much amazed at y e sight of so straÌ„ge a matter and yet not satisfied he went into a little Courtâ— there adioyning found that it was all hanged with blacke cloathes which represented great sadnesse and sorrowe and in those clothes was figured diuers dead men and women Hard at the foote of the foresaid Altar was made fast in the earth euen to the brimme thereof a sesterne of leade into which the bloud of those that were slaine and their heades cut off in sacrifice was poured and out of the same â—esterne it was conuayed vnder the earth by a gutter very secretely the which went vnto the Riuer whereof we spake before this was the same bloud which the valyant Prince did see in the channell of the riuer euen the bloud of the four headlesse bodies that he found newly slaine On the other side of the Altar he sawe an olde man with a faire white bearde sitting in a chaire who leaned his aged head vppon his lefte hand and his elbowe vppon the chaire side whose eyes wer shut and his countenaunce so sad that it appeared ther was in him no comfort but onely great sorow and mournings This valiant Greeke who greatlye desired to vnderstande the ende of this sorrowfull antecedent approched vnto the sléeping old man pulling him by his apparell for to awake him this carefull old man presently lifte vp his eyes with out any delay or farther demaund he said O gentle noble â—night what crooked fortune hath brought thée into this peruerse accursed place wherein is exercised so much sorrowfull impietie and wheras thou maist expect no other thing but death by the hands of the most cruell Giaunt that euer thou hast heard of take therefore my counsell returne the way thou camest that spéedely before thou be espied for otherwise it will be hard for thée to escape from death Then the worthie knight of the Sunne answered and said I giue thée great thankes for thy counsell good Father neuerthelesse I request thée to declare vnto me the cause for that as yet being ignoraÌ„t of farther peril thou séemest to perswade me to so great a feare To whom the olde man replied for y â— thou séemest vnto mee to be of an incomperable perfection exceeding force I will not let to declare vnto thée with as great breuitie as I may this tragicall matter whereby thou maist well perceiue the singular profit that thou shalt receiue in following this my counsell which I haue giuen thée and so with a sadde â—nd heauie countenaunce mixed with many salte and bitter teares distilling downe from his aged eyes he began in this wise and sayd This countrey wherein thou now art is that auncient and famous kingdome of Tinacria which not long since was gouerned by one of the most puissaunt Kings that euer raigned therein or in any Prouince héereabout but death by his accustomed furie depriued him of his life and all his loyall subiects of a vertuous and louing Lord leauing the guiding of the Kingdome in the power of two very fayre and Angelicall damosels his daughters who represented the former vertues of their noble late deceased father The eldest of theÌ„ was named Arcalanda the youngest Garasilea Not long after the death of the king their Father this fayre Arcalanda was requested of loue by the king of Sardenna whose name is Bramidoro a gyant of huge and mightie bignesse as by the stature which thou doest héere sée thou maist easily suppose but this vertuous quéene not onely denied her consent in marriage but also to heare the message of the embassadours and would in no wise sée them so that they returned without any answere Then this Giant séeing y e great disdaine and small account that the Quéene made of him and how little she estéemed of his loue béeing more inflamed with furie then any other reason and trusting in his incomperable strength with fiue hundred knightes he transported to Tinacria and landing in the Port of Saragosa he there beganne to make knowen his vnmercifull crueltie hoping that he shoulde obtaine that by force which by faire meanes he could not winne The Knights of Tinacria like true and faithfull subiectes obeied the commaundement of their noble Quéene and made diuerse and sundrie valiaunt skirmishes with the Knightes of the Gyant but by reason of his great force and surpassing strength they were alwaies constrained to retire to the Citie not without much losse for that this Gyant had in his companie to aide him a brothers sonne of his who in valiance force of armes equalled well néere his vnkle And in such sort they mainteined the wars y t in small time they put the citie in great perill to be lost and likewise the whole kingdome The knights subiects of this noble quéene Arcalanda not able long to resist y e Gyants forces seeling themselues meruailously oppressed in great distresse began to perswade with their quéene y t she should accept his demaund and graunt to marrie the aforesaid gyant Then this vnfortunate Ladie vnderstanding the feeblenesse of her subiects forces and the effect of that which they had declared vnto her and féeling in her selfe such impossibilitie to accomplish the demaund of the gyant that the accepting of it would be more gréeuous vnto her then to receiue y
proportion of his members And placing his words with great discreation he answered and sayd I come to demand battaile of thée O King not for that thou hast at anie time gréeued mée or giuen mee cause but onelye to take awaye and frustrate if it bée possible this euill and diâ—ellish custome which thou maintainest or else to loose my lyfe in the quarrall therefore if thou doest thinke good to procéede in this thy hellish pretence take thy armour and arme thy selfe and come foorth and heere in this fielde I will abide thy comming where I hope by the fauour of almightie God that with thy death thou shalt paye héere the tribute of all this tyrannie which thou hast vsed The Gyaunt remained still at the windowe beholding this worthie Grecian Knight for that hée séemed vnto him to bée a Knight of greate valour and prowesse by his comelie proportion and by the deuises that hée had in his armour hee séemed to bée a straunger with a familiar countenance he sayd I would somewhat replie vnto these thy wordes but because thou shalt not saie I speake lyke a Thrush in a cage I will referre it till such time as I am with thée in the fielde if thou darest to abide my comming And so without anie more speaking he withdrewe himselfe from the windowe and with a terrible voice hée called for his armour in the meane time this noble Greeke did peruse his harnesse in all partes that it was well for it was néedfull as héereafter you shall heare ¶ Of the terrible battaile that this Grecian Prince had with the Gyant and of all the aduentures that chanced in the said battaile Chap. 6. THis worthie Grecian knight lifting vp his heart and eies vnto heauen craued fauour and helpe of almightie God requesting his aide against so great and terrible an aduersarie and being thus in his praier he sodeinly heard a great noise well consorted sound of Trumpets the which made melodious and swéet harmonie and not long after this the gate of the castle was opened where out issued the Gyant at all pointes armed with verie rich armour of fine stéele and vppon his right shoulder a great clubbe barred with yron of a huge weight and at his girdell a verie bigge and broade swoord and about his necke there hanged a rich and strong Shielde whereon was portratured the same deuise which he sawe on the Altar in the Chappell In his demeanour he showed himselfe to bée valiant and with a gentle countenaunce he came towardes the place whereas the Knight abode All this the noble and courteous Greeke did stedfastly beholde and prayed God that of his mercie he would abolish this euill custome that he did maintaine and that he would giue him grace to acknowledge his error wherein he had transgressed and that he might be conuerted vnto the knowledge of y e true faith for that it was great pitie to sée so much crueltie remaine in so noble worthie a personage as he was or in so well proportioned a bodie as he séemed to haue and thus this noble prince remained in beholding his personage till such time as the Gyaunt drew nigh vnto him who without shewing anie defiaunce or countenaunce of pride saide I beleeue gentle Knight that this my presence hath put thée in some feare of my force therfore for that thou séemest to be a knight well disposed of great valor I yeelde vnto thée the battaile And if so be thou mistrust thy power I giue thee lisence to return from whence thou camest or else if thou so please to remaine with me in my companie But this valyant Greeke as one nothing daunted without moouing of his countenaunce aunswered and sayd Doe not thou thinke O king that the bignesse of thy bodie although it shew thee to be of great strength maketh me in anie part either to meruaile or feare for that my swoord hath bene accustomed to abate the courage of diuerse such as thou art but that which maketh me most to muse is y â— god hath suffred thee so long time to exercise this crueltie And againe that thou being adorned with so gentle disposition and courage vnto my seeming conformable wouldest maintaine so cruell a custome without either feare of God or regard of his lawes Neuerthelesse considering thou hast no knowledge of the true God but of other fained Gods I doo not so greatly muse that thou hast followed thine owne appetite so much but take my counsaile and bestow not this thy great strength and force in the seruice of those euill Gods but turne vnto my God and in his defence and faith which is the right faith exercise these thy good giftes with the which he hath endowed thée and if thou wilt thus doo I will take thée for my friend and kéepe thy companie for that thou â—éemest vnto me to be of so good a disposition one y â— doth well deserue to be had in reputatioÌ„ For verely it is conuenient worthy King that thou leaue this crueltie which thou dost héere vse béeing so farre different from natures rule and to forget this seruice which thou doost vnto the Diuell which is the onelye willer of this damnable worke and so reforming thy life I would wish thée to become a christian For I promise thée it doth not a little gréeue me that so worthie a knight as thou art should through vnbeléefe perish and be dampned and if alreadie thou haue anie remorse in conscience or perseuerance of this my spéech accept my counsell I request thée which if thou doo I promise thée to be alwaies thine and by firme frindship to vnite my selfe vnto thy fellowshippe Contrariwise if thou persist in this thy pretended tyrannie prepare thy selfe and that spéedely vnto battaile whereby thou shalt perceiue how smally I feare thy force as thou doest fondly suppose The Gyaunt which was verie attentiue vnto all that the Prince had vttered replied in this wise Before we beginne our battaile sir Knight let me request this little sute of thée which is that thou vnfolde to me thy name forasmuch as by thy comly proportion thou séemest to descend from some noble progenie and by thy behauiour to be of no lesse prowesse then authoritie the one arguing in thée no small valour in fight the other no little eloquence to subuert thy foe The heroycall Prince discréetly marking with what sober aduisement he deliuered these speaches with no lesse mildensse returned vnto him this answere saying Forasmuch as I will not in anie respect be accounted either quarellous by concealing an answere or disdainful by denying thy request vnderstand then O King of Sardenna y t I am a Grecian borne named the Knight of the Sunne sonne vnto the renowmed Emperour Trebatio and brother vnto the inuincible Rosicleer whose courage as yet was neuer quailed in fight neyther hethertoo hath my heart bene vanquished by any force for although as yet I haue detracted time by meanes of this my
left this knight alone Then the Prince Don Eleno séeing himselfe alone tooke the waie which the Gentlewoman shewed him wherein he had not trauailed farre but in the middest of a groaue amongest a companie of gréene trées he sawe a verie faire house and well wrought wherevnto when he approched he found that the gates were shut and closed verie fast And drawing nigh the gate he tooke the ring in his hand and gaue a greate stroke at the sounde whereof there looked a man out of a windowe of the same house and by the riches of the armour that the Knight ware he knew that he was none of their companie but said vnto him Who art thou that art so hardie béeing a straunger which without feare doest call at the gate whereas thou canst not escape but must of necessitie suffer death Friend aunswered this Dacian Knight goe thy wayes and tell thy Lorde Tefereo that héere is a knight of a straunge Countrie that hath a great desire to speake with him This man without anie aunswering went awaie from the windowe And not long after there was another window opened more lower then the first from whence there looked out a knight who seemed to be of a gentle disposition his face somewhat swart of coulour who with great curtesie said Knight what is it that thou wouldest haue for I am he whom thou doest séeke for that which I would haue aunswered Don Eleno is that thou doest leaue this diuellish custome which thou doest héere maintaine for that a knight of thy disposition and manner shuld rather occupie himselfe in breaking these euill customes then in maintaining them for these be not works of a knight the which thou doest but of an infernall diuell I therfore much maruell how thou vsing so much crueltie thou doest liue with so great ease and without care Come therefore thou tyrant and arme thy selfe and I hope thou shalt héere paie the tribute of all these euills which thou hast done for it is not reason that so diuellish and cruell a man as thou art shouldest liue These reasons did little trouble this Gyant neyther made hée anie reckoning of them but with his accustomed sobrietie he answered Miserable knight thou doest not knowe how héere thou doest seeke thy owne death in demaunding battaile of mée therefore returne againe the waie thou camest for thy teâ—der age and smooth face without a bearde doth moue me to vse this my vertue and curtesie with thée and considering that thou art a straunger and not of this Countrie Then this Dacian knight aunswered It is not this that I doe séeke but to accomplish this which I haue tolde thée and if my wordes are not sufficient to cause thée to leaue this which thou doest exercise I do beléeue that my swoord will ere long compell thée thereto for either I will die the death or else I will depriue thy bodie of that dampnable and accursed soule and send it whether as thou hast sent manie a better then thine is To these wordes this Tefereo aunswered nothing at all but withdrewe himselfe in great hast from the windowe and called for his armour the which was all blacke and of a verie faire and straunge making he was with a trice armed and being on horse backe the great and princely Pallaice gate was opened whereat issued out this Sardenian with a gentle and demure countenaunce and after him followed a page with two speares in his hand of the which Tefereo tooke the one and sent vnto the Prince the other who standing in néede accepted it and without farther reasoning they turned their horses about with such courage and quicknesse that the lyke hath béene seldome séene betwéene two knights And when each of them wer come into their appointed place they set spurres to their horses with as great force as the thunder in the aire and méeting together in the midde way with their speares their shockes were so terrible that it was wonder to sée so that not one of them failed of his blow but ioyned in such sort that the staues although they were verie strong brake and the shéeuers of them separated themselues in the aire with great violence and yet the valyaunt knights both remained in their saddles no more mooued then a rocke by the sea side But when either of them behelde the little harme they had done in this their iust they both with their swordes in their handes returned their horses and began to strike so extreamly the one vppon the other that their bodies felt the force of their armes and although their harnesse was not cut yet it could not be but their flesh shuld receiue damage In this sort trauailed these two knights more then an houre without knowledge of anie aduauntage but either of them were inflamed with anger to sée his aduersarie to indure so long and the knightly courage of each of them did more and more increase and their excéeding cholar was such that the battaile began to be more terrible then at the first But this furious Tefereo somewhat féeling and therefore by experience knowing the surpassing strength and valiant courage of his enimie although he did not greatlye meruaile at it yet it did cause him to be more furious and béeing incensed in such sorte that with both his handes hée tooke his swoord and strake at him such a stroke vppon the helme y t the blowe sounded through all the fields made an ecko in the mountaines that by y e waight thereof the Dacian knight was constrained somwhat to incline his head downwarde and remained a while without his remembrance but his horse being scarred with that terrible stroke gaue a great leape towards the one side by the which he deliuered his master from the seconde blowe which Tefereo thought to haue bestowed on him The Dacian Knight being againe recouered and not a little abashed at this blowe setteled himselfe in his saddle and throwing his shield from him to the ground he tooke his sword fast in his hand and stroke Tefereo so terribly vpon his helme with his sword some what flatling by reason whereof the force of the blow somwhat abated it slid downe vpon his lefte shoulder that it constrained him to stoupe forwards with all his bodie and if he had not clasped his armes about his horse necke hée had fallen downe to the ground and with the force of this great blowe the horse was constrained also to boow his fore féete who with a sodaine and furious force rose vp again wherat this noble Dacian warriour with great hast pricked his horse with the spurres pretending to make an ende of this cruell battaile with his second blowe but it fell out contrarie for that Tefereo comming againe to himselfe as fierce as a Lion thrust forwards against his aduersarie procuring if it passed not his power to repay againe with interest that which he had receiued Now héere began a newe their battaile and their forces multiplied in such
furious sort that all the mountaines and valleyes were occupyed with the noyse of their terrible strokes The courage was so great of these two Knights y t many times they lost theyr wits with the weight of the terrible raps which they receiued one of another Then this Prince Don Eleno sayde to himselfe that if all the rest of the Knights with whome hée shoulde haue battaile were of no lesse prowesse then this present Knight that he feared quickly to be disgraced and on the other side Tefereo found himselfe very sore troubled and saw that he was in so great distresse began to inuocate vpon his Gods for aid The prowes strength pollicie was such betwéene these two Princes y t whosoeuer had ben present to haue beheld y e same wold haue said y t there was betwéen them expressed all y e knighthood in y e world for it was wonderfull to sée how somtimes they pressed forwards and presently retired backwards as wel to bestow as to auoyde their terrible strokes It was ful thrée houres y t these noble knights thus contended together yet there appeared not in them any kind of faintnes but by their behauior ther streÌ„gth séemed stil more and more to encrease Then this heroycall Dacian not accustomed to find such resistance began to forget al patience as one ouercome w t anger clasped his sword fast in his hand being setled in his sadle he stroke y e giant so hard in y e midst of the helme y t with y e heuines of y e blow he was forced to fall backwards vpon y e crupper of his horse without any remeÌ„brance with y e great strengh the Prince put to this blow his sword flew out of his hand hanged by the wrist band which while he recouered Tefereo returned to himselfe and with outragious anger prouoked by y e great paine he felt with both his hands he strake such a blow vnlooked for at Don Eleno with the halfe swoord vpon the visour in such furious sort that it bereaued him of his sight glauncing wise it descended downe vpon the head péece of the horse but by reason of y e first blow y e last had small strength so y t it did but little harme notwithstanding it amazed the horse in such sort y t with his staggering the Prince was constrained to vse pollicie to kéep himselfe from falling from his backe but when his horse was recouered he returned againe so inflamed with anger as though sparks of fire had issued out of his mouth crushing his téeth together he vttered these words O thou infernal diuel is it possible y t by thy streÌ„gth so euil bestowed on thée thou shuldst in y e beginning of my knighthood put me in daunger to be ouercome by one only blow I protest by y e honor y t I owe vnto y e progeny froÌ„ wheÌ„ce I procéed y t if by this one blow I bring thée not to the point of death or ouercome thée y t I will neuer weare armor more against knight so with great rage he returned against his aduersary y t he did not only feare him but if ther had ben there a whole army of men considering his fury they would haue ben afraid pressing forwards y e prince raised himselfe in his stirrops and stroke the Giant so terrible and wonderfull a blowe that the bloud gushed out of his nose mouth and therewith he fell to the ground as though he had bene dead He was no sooner downe but with great lightnesse the Dacian Knight leapt from his horse and stept to the Giant to vnlace his healme which while hée was a dooing hée heard a voyce which sayd Doo not kill him knight doo not kill him and tourning his head about to sée who it was that so disturbed him he perceiued it to be his cousin the Knight of the Sunne This was the great noyse of harnesse that the Knight of the Sunne heard towards his left hand as before I haue tolde you So when Don Eleno had pulled of the Gyaunts helme he withdrew himselfe apart and his cosin alighted from his horse and presently came and imbraced him with excéeding ioye and no little loue which the more increased when he considered that the Knight which should vanquish so great a Giant could not be but of great valour as it appeared by that furious blowe by which the Giaunt was meruailously martyred for the astonishment was such that in a great while after Tefereo could not recouer himselfe till such time as they brought water from the house which was hard by and threw it in his face by which meanes he came to his remembraunce and séeing himselfe in such a pickle and the sworde of his conquerour prepared for his death I doo referre vnto your iudgemens what such a valiant Knight should thereof conceiue and with a verye great and sad sigh he said Oh thou that hast robbed me of my surmounted honor content thy selfe to inioye this my great and high glorie and suffer me not to sustaine any farther shame in sauing of my lyfe with the inioying of which I shall neuer héereafter receiue ioye but euerie daye yea euery houre thereof will represent vnto me a thousand deaths in remembring that one arme hath hadde so much strength as to bereaue me of that which so many with all their forces haue not had power to maintaine themselues against I knowe not wherefor thou detractest time make an ende of me for that thou hast had so much power to ouercome me I earnestly desire thée And neuer think that thou shalâ— be Lord of the thing which thou hast ouercome for otherwise I will not yéeld my selfe but onely to death For they may account him onely conquered which hauing strength to defend submitteth himselfe vnto the mercie of his enimie Therefore gentle Knight I doo beséech thée not to shewe any pittie towards me but to finish with my death this tragicall triumph which fortune time hath now bestowed on thée These two Knights and Cousins were very attentiue to the words that this mightie pagan vttered and liked excéedingly of hiâ— reasonings and in reply Don Eleno aunswered Although that Fortune naye rather God thus in the beginning of my glorie hath giuen me this victorie and libertie therewith either to extend crueltie or clemencie yet both â—or thy words which touch mée to the heart and for thy prowesse which I so much estéeme I protest vnto thée I wish rather neuer to haue ben borne then willingly vpon thée to execute this extremitie considering what a blot it is vnto noble Knights to haue the name of tyrants for that it depriueth them of all the honor glorie that strong armes can any way atchieue Therefore knowe worthy Knight that the royall bloud of Dacia desireth not the death of Tefereo neither was it my request to haue thee ouercome but onely to haue thée conuerted from thy cruell conditions to the ende
that I might enioye thy friendship Then the valiant Knight of the Sunne did cut off their talke to the ende he might declare vnto them all that happened with the other Giaunt Which when Tefereo heard he was sore abashed and with great sobrietie he saide Well séeing it is so that the flower of all Knighthood and the glorie of armes is possessed by you and your kinred I vowe that from this daye forwards I will not remain any longer my owne but nominate my selfe as onely yours and in deliuering these spéeches in the best manner be might he arose vp from the ground and with great loue imbraced them both And after salutations ended they entered altogether into the Pallaice whereas they remained all y â— night for to repose themselues considering the greate trauaile and paine which they had passed The next day in the morning although they hadde more néede to haue taken greater rest yet there altogether they mounted on their horse backs and tooke the way that lead them to Saragosa pretending to enter within the Citie and there with all humilite to craue pardon for all the iniurie that was past but their trauayle was all in vaine for that before time they of the towne hauing had sufficient triall of Tefereos crueltie would not by any meanes open the gates alwayes beleeuing the lamentable spectacle before their eyes and therefore fearing that they would deceiue them So that when these noble knights perceiued it was labour lost to stand long in contention these people though then causelesse being so incredible they returned backe againe towards the Castle and all the way they went being almost by the sea side these two Cousins sawe their ship comming towardes them in great hast and staieng their horses they saw that she was fast at y e waters side The knight of the Sunne perceiuing well that hir comming thether was for no other cause but to inuite them to come aboord hir which Eleno and Tefereo condescending vnto they presently did and sent word by a page of Tefereos to commaund all those of Sardenna that they should set at libertie all the Countrie and without farther delaye retourne vnto their owne houses These worthie Knights were no sooner entred into their Shippe but she beganne presentlye to spread her Sayles and shoouing from shoare in great hast shée launched in to the maine Sea wherein with prosperous windes they sailed two dayes but the thirde daye verie earlye in the morning they discouered a Galley gouerned with sixe Oares on a side which came rowing towardes them and béeing ioyned together they behelde that ther was in the same a verie faire Ladie whose haire of hir head was dispersed abroad and hir selfe very ill intreated by an vncourteous Knight This sad and distressed Lady with a sorrowfull voyce and pitifull lamentation cryed out for succour vnto the heauens at whose complaintes and vncourteous handling these Princes receiued great anger The valiant Dacian Don Eleno being in all poyntes prepared to fight layd fast holde on his sword and with great lightnesse leaped into the galley into the which he was not so soone entered but that these two vessells were loose and voyded the one from the other so that not one of his other friends had time to followe him the swiftnesse was such in the departure that in a small time either of them lost the sight of the other By reason of many accidents which are to be accounted in this historie it is conuenient I imitate the good musition who to content all those which attend to heare his melodie chaungeth into many tunes therefore now we will leaue these thrée knights and retourne vnto the Emperour to declare such things as chaunced in his Court. ¶ By what aduenture Floramonte was deliuered from the perill he was in and how the Princesse Claridiana was deliuered of childe and howe shee was comforted in all hir trouble by the wise Artemidoro Chapter 8. WIth great ioye and contentment departed the Pagans that carryed away the Inâ—ant Floramonte vnderstanding that Fortune hadde greatly fauoured them to bestowe on them so good a price Wherefore with great hast they got themselues to the Sea Wherein they had not trauayled long but that vppon a sodaine they discouered a shippe which was comming towards them all blacke and out of it procéeded verie fearefull and wonderfull lightenings accompanied lykewise with terrible Thunder seeming by the force thereof that the heauen opened and when the shippe drew nigh vnto the Gallie of the Pagans it was presently couered with the thicke and terrible lightenings in such sort that it depriued all them that were therein of their sight and with the great feare that they receiued they fell flat downe vppon the floore in the Gallie And when they came againe to themselues they looked about to sée if they coulde perceiue what it should be And then they coulde not finde the infant Floramonte for whose losse they lamented greatly You shall vnderstand that the wise Lyrgandeo by his learning had deliuered the infant from them to kéepe him close and in secret for that he vnderstood by his art of y e great warres that was pretended and made redie for in Grecia in the which warres shoulde be slaine the flower of all knighthoode and that it should be in greate daunger to be lost and vtterly destroied Also he did comprehend by his learning to knowe how this infant and one other that was then begotten but not yet borne should be the greatest help chiefe of this victorie comming by chaunce to the end of the conquest likewise he did knowe that if this childe should at anie time before this aduenture vse armour that he should be put in great perill of death This was the onely occasion that hée set him at libertie as you haue heard and did inchaunt him in such sorte that none other could cléere him of it but onely he which should be his companion and aide in the greate necessitie of these warres which was the sonne of the heroicall knight of the Sunne and of the Empresse Claridiana of whome thou shalt heare héereafter Thus this wise Lyrgandeo hauing deliuered this childe that none in all the Court knewe of it retourned thether againe and from that daye forwardes kept it secrete to himselfe not suffering anie to vnderstande thereof nor of anie other thing that hée foreknew in his heart by learning All those of the Court were verye sadde for that the Emperour was so sorrowfull forasmuch as hée coulde heare no newes of his sonnes as I haue before tolde you determined after hée hadde ended the hunting to retourne backe againe to the Citie And in the way as they shuld go they discouered comming towardes them a Wagon which did represent much dolor and this was that which Rosicleer did finde and there they remained to sée what it shoulde bée and when the Wagon drewe néere where the Emperour was they lyfted vp a cloth wherewith the wagon was
sharpe cutting sword raysed on high he discharged it with such excéeding force vpoÌ„ Bustrafo who receiued it vpon his shield that with y e great strength thereof it parted it in péeces and descended vpon his helme taking away with it all that it touched both of the harnesse flesh which fell together to the ground so that Bustrafo remained very sore hurt And when he sawe his owne bloud the battaile beganne a newe to kindle in such sort that in a very small time each of them were sore hurt in sundrie places wherout issued so much bloud that all y e hall was sprinkled therewith This fierce Bustrafo séeing himselfe so ill intreated his anger still more increased and gaue y e Sardenian such a blowe vnder the wast that it â—hewed his harde harnesse and parte of the swoorde was sheathed in the flesh wherewith he was very sore hurt so with the anguish and terrible paine that this Sardenian felt he gnashed his téeth together and with great furye he stroke at the head of Bustrafo who well knowing the waight of his blowes stepped a side which was the occasion that the whole force of the blowe could take no effect but with the poynt of his sword he cut him on the visor and it descended to his breast and so downwards insomuch that it diuided the harnesse and hurt him verye sore from toppe to toe by meanes of which wound he suffered great griefe especially being in the place where it was The déeds which in all this time chaunced vnto that valyant Rosicleer we will héere declare and leaue these two Giaunts with their perillous and well sought battaile till such time as occasion doo serue to to goe forwarde with the same You doo remember how that we lefte Rosicleer within his inchaunted boate sayling on the déepe seas vnder the protection of Neptune And so they trauailed for the space of fiue dayes and as many nights without séeing any thing but the starrie firmament and the furious waues of the sea with out knowing whether they did sayle In the sixt day of their nauigation they beheld comming towardes them another great Foyst who came with no lesse furie then their boate sayled and the course thereof was directed right with them So when they drewe nigh together the Foyst passed by so close that they might well sée and discouer who was therein and they perceiued within the same a damosell who séemed to be dead and by hir stoode a monstrous Giant and by the maste of the Foyst there was tyed a terrible Griffin which caused great feare in them that beheld it The Foyst made such great waye that Rosicleer hadde no time to leape into hir which caused him to be verye sorry and he was y e more inceÌ„sed for that he could not be throughly certified what this aduenture was and what the strangenesse thereof did signifie and with the anger that he hadde he began to curse all inchauntments and all them that vsed it but all this did profit him but little for that in a shorte time it sailed out of sight And looking about him he sawe two shippes which were in a great fight and very fiercely the one assaulted the other to whome the boate wherein the Prince was directed his waye with so swifte course that he almost had no time to put on his helme And with these two shippes was another boate which by the force of armes was brought in subiection and ouercome by y e other two shippes and all the people were slaine that was in her sauing a fewe which had withdrawen themselues into the poope of the barke for their defence amongst whome there was one of a verye great and excellent stature who with strong and mightie blowes caused all those that approached vnto the place where he was to withdraw themselues but by reason that they had bene very long in this battaile and that they had troubled him very much he could not choose but be very weake and wearie in such sort that if it had indured long he must néedes haue finished the sight with his death After that Rosicleer had well behelde and noted the great strength and fierce courage of the Knight it séemed vnto him to haue knowen him and viewing the deuice that hée hadde on his armour hée knewe that it was Zoylo the Tartarian and straight waie without anie more tarrying he leaped into the shippe and beganne to let them knowe the strength of his strong arme for in such sorte he besturred him that at the first blowe he cut off helme and head of one of his enimies and not being content with this he began againe to strike first on the one side and then on the other so that there was not one that was so hardie to abide his terrible blowes but when his aduersaryes sawe his furie there ioyned more then thirtie of them together pretending to assault him but amongst them there was one who séemed to bée the principall of them all sayde Returne you all backe againe and make an ende of that which weake and simple women would long since haue finished and let me alone with this knight that so rigorously doth behaue himselfe and with great furie he pressed forward and stroke the Prince such a blowe that hee made him astonyed but this miserable man little knewe that hée had to doo with the best Knight in the worlde for if he had he would neuer haue made resistaunce against him face to face And tourning to strike him once againe hée discouered the deuice that he had in his shéelde whereby he knew him and was verie much afraide of that which should succéede The Prince vnderstood by them that were in the shippe that this was he which did gouerne them he stroke such a blow at his right arme that he cut it cleane off so that arme and swoorde fell downe vpon the hatches of the shippe who séeing himselfe so ill intreated with a greate noise and pittifull shrike he entered in amongst his people and cryed for helpe and succour but all was in vaine for that the Nephew of Tiberio stroke him such another blow vpon the helme that he parted helme and head in two péeces so that he fell downe dead but when his companie sawe this they altogether fell vpon him with terrible furie thinking to make an ende of him but he receiued them in such order that quickly he made them to vnderstand the strength of his victorious arme for he neuer stroke blowe but either he slewe one or felled him to the grounde which was the occasion that their heartes fainted that not one of them which remained durst approch neuerthelesse they had so compassed him about that he could not neither on the one side nor on the other make anie waie for when he determined to put himselfe forwards one waie then the other began to laie on him behinde so that of necessitye hée was constrained in the end to set vpon them all at once
for that they did so trouble him In this time Zoilo had somewhat recouered his strength and was well eased of his wearynesse and séeing the valiauntnesse of his defender he went towards y e place where he was skirmishing with his sword in both his handes he beganne to make greate destruction amongst his enimies that the slaughter was so great and their enimies not able to make anie resistaunce but like miserable people determined rather to submit themselues to y e mercie of that newe come knight then to the force of theyr owne armes and falling all downe at the feete of Rosicleer they craued pardon of him for theyr offence and mercie for their liues the which he straight waye graunted and sayde It is great curtesie yea and no little charitie shewed toward the euill man in punishing him if that he pretende to goe forwardes and perseuer in his naughtie lyfe Neuerthelesse if you will promise me that from this daâ—e forwardes you will amend your liues and leaue this naughtinesse that you shall not alonely finde in me this which you doo aske but also true and perfect friendshippe at all times and in all things that you haue néede of to the which they did all willinglye sweare they woulde performe This béeing finished the Prince and the Tartarian embraced one another with great loue and friendshippe and Rosicleer asked of the Tartarian what was the occasion that brought him into so great perill and daunger of death The Tartarian sayde that by force of an aduenture he departed the Emperours Court but he did not declare the effect and how comming in that small shippe hée was taken with those rouers who brought him into that greate distresse that he had found him in Then Rosicleer againe threw his armes about his necke and with great loue he sayd Fortune dealt but frowardly to bring thée out of Constantinople in such a time for to leade thée vnto this perill and so beganne to tell him of all that he had passed in the Countrie of Greece And when he heard him name the Ladie Tetigliasa he shaked like the leaues of a trée and sayde Oh for Gods sake my Lorde let not my cares heare the name of that thing which my heart dooth so much abhorre and detest For heare I dooe sweare vnto thée that liuing I will burie my selfe in this Sea rather then to abide that speech At the which wordes the Prince was verie sore troubled but a certaine aduenture which chaunced him at that verie same time caused him to forgette this his troubled minde ¶ How the king of Tire gaue an assault to robbe the shippe where the Prince was and how the same king was ouercome Chap. 10. SOdeinly amongest the knightes of those rouers that had escaped from the handes of the Prince there arose a greate tumult and showting with terrible shrikes calling vppon their Gods for aide and succour and the Marriners in greate hast beganne to vngrapple and loose their shippes the one from the other and with as great hast as they coulde they hoised vp their sailes for to flye awaie and escape from the perill which they behelde verie néere at hande But when Rosicleer sawe this tumulteous crie with a verie angrie voyce he sayde What noyse is this amongest you captiue people What sodaine feare is this that is come vppon you that with so great hast you prepare your selues to runne awaye Lorde aunswered one of them greate reason wée haue to make all this hast which wée dooe for you shall vnderstand that there approcheth nigh vnto vs either dreadfull death or cruell imprisonment This noble and valyaunt Prince looked about on euerie side to sée what the occasion shoulde bée that shoulde cause them to worke this fact and straight wayes he discouered a verie faire and rich Gallie which came towardes the place where as they abode with theyr Sayles alofte and a prosperous winde so that the Gallie in a manner séemed to flye vppon the water Rosicleer without anie alteration asked them saieng Tell mée who is it that commeth in yonder Gallie that hath put you in so much feare Ualyaunt Knight sayde they there commeth in yonder Gallie the king of Tire a mightie and strong gyant being a rouer we are not able fullie to certifie you of his great strength and deformitie but of this wée are assured y t the verie Gods in heauen doo feare him his life custome is to rob all that euer he doth meete and if it so fall out that anie doe make resistaunce against him he straight commaundeth them to the point of the swoord with extreme crueltie so heere gentle knight iudge whether we haue cause or not to doo our indeauour for to auoide this great daunger The Prince hearing all this which they of the ship told him began to make himselfe readie to the battaile and laced on his helme and put all thinges in verie good order and when that all was readie he sayde vnto them that were with him O you people of little courage small strength I sée well you are all base minded and that there is no hardinesse in you but onely for vile matters get you downe and hide you in the pumpe of the shippe for I will not consent that anie of you shall runne awaie neither shal your cries excuse me of this battaile and so with a lowde voice he commaunded to beare vp the helme that the ship might runne right vpon the Gallie The Tartarian séeing that they pretended to giue the enterprise commaunded those that were with him straight waies to put his vessell in verie good order of the which it had greate néede so with as great hast and swiftnesse of saile as was possible they procured that the Shippe and Gallie might ioyne both together and in verie short time they were come so nigh each to other that anie man might well discouer and perceiue all that was in the Gallie of their aduersarie This valiaunt and worthie Rosicleer sawe the greate Gyaunt where hée sate in the middest of the poope of the Gallie in a Chaire where they verie plainely sawe his countenaunce was so terrible and his bodie so greate that all those which were present with Rosicleer were afraide to beholde him And when the Gyaunt vnderstoode that those which were in the ship would not alonely defend themselues but also offend their enimies his rage was such that in great hast he arose and with a mightie voice he called for his armour vttering these words O you people most vnfortunate froÌ„ whence hath come this hardinesse vnto you to offend the King of Tyre vnderstanding and knowing that I am not onely feared of men but also the Gods in the high heauens doo tremble at my name and desire to haue my friendship Then Rosicleer aunswered and sayd Make thy reckoning that thou hast sayd euen as much as nothing for of my selfe I speake that I am none of the Gods thou namest neither know I thée by
vnderstood that there he should goe aland wherefore he descended out of the barke and after him came his good horse and to the ende he would trauell in more safetie he mounted on his backe and looked round about him if hée coulde discouer any waye or path But not farre from the place whereas he was he beheld very faire and sumptuous buildings wherewith he tooke the way that led him thether and being nigh thervnto he saw y t it was old ancient building And as he went round about it a while for to beholde the same he saw y t ouer the principall gate was this superscription written This is the famous and auncient Temple of the goddes Venus from whence the noble Paris of Troy stole the faire Queene Helena this is the Iland of the mother of that cruell Cupide the greatest sower of discord in all the world This valiant Knight did very much content himselfe in beholding that olde and sumptuous Temple the name whereof was spred through all the world and lefte not any thing neither without nor within but behelde it fully to his contentment After that he had spent a little time in perusing this he put himselfe in a straight waye which was not farre from a foote path thereby whereas he sawe a man that was cutting of woode of whome he asked what countrie it was and who was Lord of it This man perceiuing that hée demaunded somwhat of him was not able to answere him but made signes vnto him that he was dumbe moreouer y t he should returne backe againe giuing him to vnderstande that if he did procéede forwards he should finde great peril This noble Rosicleer sayd then to himselfe I doo not know what shall chaunce or happen me notwithstanding if a thousand that had their tongues should tell me yet would I not doo it nor leaue off to follow this my pretended purpose much more thou whom I cannot vnderstand And so without any more tarrying he retourned vnto his new begun iourney and at the going vp of a hill he beheld a Castle of a mightie and straunge bignesse which was edified vpon another hills side He was a good myle from it when he discouered it and so iournying thetherward he hadde not trauailed farre when he found himselfe in a faire broad smooth way whereinto when he entred he sawe certaine footings of horses which appeared not to be made long before but that lately they had passed that way the which footings he followed although he found other fayre wayes and as much occupied as that wherein he was yet for all that because he would sée what footings they wer he would follow that way and none other so not very farre from that place where he was he heard although it was somwhat distaunt from him to his séeming a great rushing of harnesse and the more he trauailed forwards the more plainer his eares wer occupied with this martiall musicke Till in y e end drawing néerer he perceiued it was a notable well fought battaile for which cause he pricked his horse onwardes the faster in such sort y t at y t going down from a mountain into a faire broad plaine he behelde at the foot of the castle very much people and amongst them Giaunts all which were in battaile against one onely Knight of a maruailous great wel proportioned stature all armed in russet harnes without any other deuise thereon who with his swoord in both his hands made a meruailous and cruell slaughter for that at his féete there lay many of the knightes dead and also of the Gyants notwithstanding they did trouble him verie much so that hee was brought to a verie ill passe for he had hewing and striking on him more then â—ortie knights and two great gyants it was a thing of great admiration to sée how the knight did besturre himselfe beholding himselfe so beset yet for all that there was nothing looked for of him but death Somewhat on the one side a little distaunt from the battell he sawe a Damzell of a meruailous excellent beautie who with great sorrowe complained her selfe This valiaunt warriour seeing what this knight did for his defence and by his mightye prowesse appâ—ared to bee of high estate he descended and lefte hâ—s horse with a quick pace he proceeded forwards wiâ—h his swoord in his hand pretending to aide and helpe that one knight seeing he had such néede thereof Before I procéede anie farther in this battaile I will although it be somewhat troublesome to the reader declare the rest of the terrible battaile that was betwéene the two gyants in the great hall of the Court of the Emperour You haue heard how we lefte these two Gyaunts Bustrafo and Bramidoro in great coÌ„tention of the battell each one of them indeuouring themselues to winne the victory although of each parte they denyed to either other the same He that séemed to be most troubled in this battaile was the Sardenian King and with the thicke breath that proceeded from his vnpacient heart his face was inflamed with the heate thereof The which his aduersarie perceiued and like a terrible and outragious Tiger he lifte vp his mightie sword letting it fall w t such furie as though fire hadde fallen from heauen The King séeing that by no meanes he could escape it lifte vp likewise his sworde to ward that terrible blow but by reason that that of the Giaunt Bustrafos was of better stéele and of more strength hée cut the sword of the Kings in two péeces and the blowe descended vpon his shoulder and did a little hurt him When this King sawe that his sword was in two péeces hée was somewhat amazed yet for all that he lost not his knightlye courage but with a valiant heart pressed to his enimie and with that â—â—tle that remained of his sword he stroke Bustrafo vpon his helme such a blowe that if it had bene with the whole sword he had cleared himselfe at that time of this daunger yet it was not of so small force but it cut off one of his eares and carried away a péece of the iawe bone This Gyant Bustrafo féeling himselfe so sore hurt with this terrible blowe pretended to repaye him with double interest the which if it had chaunced to take effect it had made an ende of his dayes but this newe conuerted Knight ranne in vnder the blowe of Bustrafo saieng O Iesus kéepe and defend this thy newe conuerted seruaunt And so ioyning together they imbraced one another whereas began a maruailous strong wrastling wherein they continued a good while prouing their strengths and procuring the victorie the one ouer the other till at the last both being not a little wearie they fell downe to the ground tumbling héere and there from one place to another without loosing their holde in this striâ—e Bustrafo his helme fell from his head by reason that she laces wherewith it was made fast were cut in péeces
place they might discouer a great parte of the Ilande and more they discouered a great way from thence another smal moūtaine vpon the which there séemed to be a fire or light and making little account thereof they asked somewhat to eate which straight way was brought them by the marriners so they refreshed themselues They had scarce made an end of eating when that they heard a terrible shrike which was such that the faire Lady lost hir colour but the Emperour rose vp on his feete and looked round about him to sée if he could perceiue what it shuld be but he could sée no more thē than he sawe at the first and so retourned and sate down againe but he was not scant setled when he heard the lyke shrike again The Emperour turned and rose vp the second time and said Who art thou that dost thinke to make me afraide with these thy shrikes I tell thée that thou art verie much deceiued thou wilt rather giue me occasion thus in offending me to séeke what thou art that makest this terrible noyse And with these words he sayd vnto the Lady that she should returne vnto the galley for that he would goe sée what thing it should be the which she would not consent vnto but would néedes goe in the company of the Emperour And when the Emperour saw the determination of y ◠couragious Damosell he threwe his shield vpon his arme and laced and made fast his healme and so a foote they tooke their waye towards the place whereas the light was for that towardes that parte they heard the noyse And trauailing in the middest of the waye at the foote of a hill they found an Image of fine Christall which séemed to be wrought by the handes of some excellent workeman all to be spotted with bloud And it appeared by the woundes that were formed in the same figure that it was the Image of one that had suffered great torments as well with terrible cuttings of yrons as with cruell whippings The legs and the armes did seeme as though they had bene martired and wrong with cordes and about the necke as though it had bene strangled with a towell hard wrong and there was written vpon the breast with letters of liuely bloud this Epitath I am Herea the Kings daughter of Cimarra violated and slaine by Noraldino King of Numidia And thou knight that this present spectacle shalt viewe I doo desire thee that if thou dost goe forward this way let it be with great courage for to take vengeaunce on this crueltie for that I am not of my selfe able to seeke reuengement This Emperour who had wel considered y ◠great crueltie y t had bene vsed against that infortunate ladie being moued with great compassion he sayd I doo vow that if there be any meanes whereby to be reuenged of this thy death to procure it with all my power and with this determined purpose they proceeded on their waye and went so farre that they perceiued that the light which they hadde séene did procéede of two gates of fine Christall and there they sawe in the high way a great pillar whereon was hanged a written table with these contents Knight looke wel vnto the oath which thou hast taken for that this is a perilous enterprise and from this place thou hast license to retourne backe a gaine and not to fulfill thy promise for that the King of Cimarra will not constraine nor force any manner of Knight The Emperour said As well they maye raise from death to life all the famous Romanes which haue ben from the time of Romulus vnto Caesar and all the rest vnto this time as to perswade me to retourne from my promise which I haue made and if they were all present liuing they were not sufficient to cause me to leaue my oath Therfore héere now I doo sweare again neuer to returne into Greece till such time as I haue performed that which I haue sayd And thus burning with great desire to sée y e end of this sorrowfull aduenture he procéeded forwardes vntill such time as they came to the Christall gates the which they founde open and at the threshold◠of the entring there laye a long a greate and huge Gyaunt who when he saw this knight he arose on his féete and went vnto a place thereby whereas was made fast to a piller a verie furious griffon which with greate spéede he did vnloose out of his chaines and hée was no sooner at libertie but that with great furie he flew vp into the aire more swifter then an Eagle and as you dooe see a Hawke houering in the ayre till such time as the Hearn◠riseth out of the water and then with greate furie falleth downe right on her praie so likewise this furious Griffon when he sawe his time with a meruailous and infernall furie descended right downe but when the Emperour sawe that he descended with such furie hée caused the Ladie to shrowd her selfe vnder an olde house that was there at hand and hee couered himselfe with his shéelde and hauing his swoorde in his hande at that time as the Griffon descended with so great violence that it somewhat feared the Emperour notwithstanding hée lifted his shéelde for to receiue that terrible blowe of his clawes which fall was with so greate force that he pulled the shéeld cleane from his arme but this valiant warriour stroke him such a blowe with his swoord y ◠he thought hée had cut him in two péeces but yet he found his feathers to be so harde that he had done him no harme and although his hard feathers did defend him not to receiue anie hurt with the swoorde yet it could not bée but hée must néedes féele some griefe by the greatnesse of the blowe for that with a greeuous shrike he mounted vp into the ayre giuing a thousande tournings When the Emperour sawe himselfe without his shéelde which that infernall Bird had carryed with him into the aire and let it fall downe againe a great wayes distant from the same place where he was it made him to haue alwayes a verie good and diligent eie to y ◠griffon to marke when he would descend who straight way began to descende vnto his thinking with much more furie then at the first And looke euen as the Eagle when shée hath caught a Uiper dooth procure to pull off her skinne in striking her vppon a harde stone whereby to saue her selfe that she be not striken with that strong poison and so in safetie to deuour her praie euen so did this Griffon flying heere and there from one place to another to see where hee might laye holde on the Emperour without receiuing such lyke harme as before hée did And as by force of the water the Mill carryeth the stone about with greate furie euen so this worthie warriour bestowed himselfe for to defende him from this furious beast yet he coulde not doo so much but that he must néedes
alwaies this fayre and beautifull Lidia till at the last lifting vp his eyes he sawe a Table which hanged vppon a beame whereon was written these wordes which followeth O thou knight which hast passed by the kéepers of this my pittifull daughter if thou wilt confirme the oath which thou hast made lift vp the pillowe whereas her wreâ—ched head doth lye and vnder it thou shalt finde written in a scrowle of Parchment all the successe of her heauie and sorrowfull death for that in vnderstanding it thou shalt be the more prouoked to incourage thy selfe to procure her reuengement seeing that so much without fault or desert she suffered it The Emperour did as was there declared and ratified and confirmed there a new his oath and lifting vp the pillowe he found a shéete of Parchment rolled vp together which he opened Héere will I make an ende of this Chapter to receiue some ease in telling of this that is past turne vnto the other to declare vnto you the most dolorus and gréeuous historie that euer hath bene heard or séene ¶ How the Emperour did open the scrowle of Parchment and therein read the cause why this dead Ladie was slaine with such cruell tyrannie and of the great sorrow that hee receiued for the same Cap. 12. YE faire Ladies and Damosells for that ther be some which without hauing anye knowledge of your deseruings that take great plesure with their venemous words poysoned pennes to intreate euill of your honors and fame publishing vniustly that which with iust reason and by nature they are bound with all their abilitie to restraine Likewise all valyaunt Knights are bound either by force of armes or els by sufficient conclusions to defend your fame from such false detractors So heere therfore I doo request all you bountifull and beautifull Ladies to pardon this my ouer much hardinesse for that heere I presume to declare that which should be of all vnderstood in especiall of your firme loyaltie hauing for a mirrour before your eyes this faire Lady who hath not deserued to suffer so cruell a death So as I haue tolde you the Emperor tooke from vnder the pillowe the scroll of parchment and opening it he read it ouer which contained these sorowfull words I the heauie and vnhappie King of Cimarra which in times past haue bene much estéemed by reason of my great estate wherein Fortune sauoured me very much as also for two faire daughters in all poynts so exquisite as Nature could possibly frame in whom I tooke much delight but yet in the end that which I thought shuld most content me the very same was the occasion y t I receiued this great torment which is such y t no humane creature can suffer it My two daughters as before I said were indued with wonderfull beautie accompanied with no lesse honestie then was conuenient for their high estate whose great fame was blazed all the world ouer by reason wherof my court was honored w t diuers strange princes knights specially with those of Africa so y t it grew to be y e most noblest court that euer king had Some came to see y e worthy knights â—thers with great desire to marrie with my daughters but aboue all the king of Numidia called Noraldino who being absent by y e â—ame of their surmounted beauties was taken prisoner for the loue of them by force whereof he sent vnto mée his Embassadours desiring me that I would thinke wel of him and to giue him one of my daughters in marriage so not respecting his accustomed treason but rather considering the great honour that might redound thereof for that hée was a mightie Prince I thought it good to conclude with his Embassadours and to fulfil his desire and graunted him in marriage my eldest daughter Then I ordeining all things that were necessarie and needfull for the same in all respects conuenient for her estate and my honour I sent her with all the pompe y t was possible to the kingdome of Numidia I retained and kept in my companie the youngest who was named Herea béeing of farre more beautie then her sister of which this traiterous and vnnaturall king was informed by them which he sent to companie with my daughter they did so much exalt her for her surpassing beautie that there was not in him power to make anie resistaunce against that cruell and mortall wound of Cupide but it constrained him to forget his new married wife swéete companion surrendering himselfe wholy vnto the power of y e absent Ladie without anie consideratioÌ„ that she was sister vnto her that he had alreadie taken for wife So this disordinate loue kindled and increased in him euerie daie more and more and he was so troubled with this new desire that he daily deuised with him selfe what meanes he might procure to obtaine her in such sort that no man might haue power to withstand him In the ende he thought by pollicie and deceit to get her home to his kingdome and sent vnto me requesting that I would let her to come vnto her sister Melinda to beare her companye for that therein shée shoulde receiue great ioye and comfort to passe awaie the troublesome time of her Sisters béeing with childe for that shée sayde with her companye shée shoulde thinke the time farre more shorter and shoulde passe it ouer with much more ease especially for that the loue she bare her sister was so much as to her owne selfe and although I was not aduertised of the euill euent which might happen in sending her yet did I make excuse that by reason I was an olde man and had no other comâ—orte but hir I durst not send hir neither suffer hir to vnderstand thereof for that as I did suppose she would receiue greâ—â— griefe to leaue me alone and desolate of comfort At y ◠〈◊〉 aunswere this inhumane King thought very much and was greatly grieued notwithstanding with meruailous 〈◊〉 and subtiltie he did dissemble it till such time as my daughter Melinda his wife should be brought to bed and deliuered and then thinking that with the great ioye and pleasure I should receiue for the birth of the new born infant that I woulde not denye the sending of hir So the â—ime expired he sent to me againe for hir but I was alwayes firme béeing resolued not to let hir goe from me but still denied it for that she was the whole ioye and sâ—affe of my olde age Then this trayterous King séeing that by no meanes he could get hir from me straight way ordayned a mightie and strong armie and came himselfe to fetche her And when I vnderstood of his comming I went to receiue him with great pompe as was néedefull for our Estates and at our meeting he requested me with very faire and louing wordes that I would let my daughter goe vnto her sister to giue her that contentment which she desired for that she did loue hir more
he shoulde haue vnto such as she was but blasphemed against heauen and tearing her clothes all to péeces he stripped her starke naked and with the raines of the bridle of his palfraie hée all to be whipped and scourged her white and tender backe that it was full of viewe spottes with such horrible crueltie that it was a verie greeuous and sorrowfull â—ight to beholde And yet thâ—â— did proâ—it him nothing at all hee séeing that this damosell did still perseuer and continue in her defence hée straight wayes lyke a bloudie monster heaped crueltie vppon crueltie and tooke and bounde her well proportioned and christalline armes and legges with cordes and made them fast verie strongly vnto a trée saying O cruell and more cruell then euer anie woman in all the worlde hath béene wherefore hast thou béene the occasion to bring thy selfe to bée thus so euill and mischieuously intreated and onely for not giuing consent vnto him which alwayes woulde haue procured thy ease What dooest thou thinke is it better to suffer to be thus martyred then to liue a most louing sweeâ—e and contented lyfe Then this euill intreated Ladie with a hoarse voyce aunswered and sayde vnto him Oh wicked traytour more harde hearted then euer knight hath béene wherefore dooest thou make anie delaye tell mée thou enimie to the Gods why dooest thou not finish thy crueltie and take the soule from this my miserable and wofull bodie Doest thou not doo it because it shall not goe and complaine whereas thou shalt receiue the rewarde of this thy mercilesse inhumanitie O you Gods denie mée not my right iustice against this false and traiterous king Let not to be true executioners of iustice in reuenging so dampnable a deede And thus beeing wearâ—ed with the cruell and terrible torments shée held her peace and sayde no more But for all this the king did not let to prosecute his crueltie and with great anger he looked on her hauing his accursed eyes fixed in such sorte that he coulde not withdrawe them backe Then this tormented Ladie séeing him and béeing verie desirous of the death with a furious voyce she sayde What dooest thou thinke thou traitour the greatest traitour that euer was in the world wherein dost thou contemplate thy selfe thou fleshly Butcher thou vnmercifull Tyger thou lecherous hogge and dishonourer of the royall crowne make an ende of these thy tormentes for it is nowe too late to repent thée giue mée the death and sende mée into the bosome of Diana This vnpittifull king seeing the stedfastnesse that shee hadde in the defence of her honour with a cruell and infernall heart hée tooke a towell which this Damosell had girded at her wast and with a brutall anger doubled it about hir neck and pinched it so straight that the soule departed from the bodie O thou knight that by thy prowesse doest come to read this Harchment consider the greate constancie and chastitye of this vnfortunate Damosell and let the griefe thereof moue thee to take vengeaunce of this greate crueltie shewed without anie desert So when this infernall king sawe that shée was dead hee tooke his horse and returned from whence hee came and in a short time he ouertooke his companie and looked with so furious and irefull a countenaunce that there was not one that wae so hardie to aske him where my daughter was but one of the knightes of my Court which I sent to beare companie with my daughter hauing a suspition by the great alteration that appeared in the king and béeing verie desirous to knowe what was become of the Princesse for that he came alone without bringing her with him neither coulde he haue anie sight of her hee then presentlye withdrewe himselfe backe and following the footings of the horse he ceased not vntill he came vnto the place whereas this crueltie was wrought whereas hée found this miserable Ladie lie dead in the same sorte as I haue declared at the viewe whereof he remained almost beside himselfe in such sorte that he had almost fallen to the grounde This Knight remained a good while before he could speake so when he was come againe to himselfe hée beganne with a dolorous complaint crying out against the Gods and fortune because they had suffered so greate crueltie to bée committed vnto this damosell and making this sorrowfull complaint hée vnloosed her from the trée and layde her vppon parte of her apparell and couered her with the rest and sayde on this wise O cruell handes what an infernall heart was that which did beare thée companie to doe this vncharitable sacrifice Was it not sufficient that this surmounted beautie should haue mooued thée to more pittie So with these and other lyke sorrowfull wordes that this knight spake vnto the dead corps he cut downe braunches from the trées for to couer the bodie and left it lying so that it séemed to be a mountaine of gréene trées then determined with himselfe in the best manner that he coulde to dissemble the knowledge of this fact done hée tooke his horse and went the waie towardes the Citie which lead to the kings Court in which he rode so fast that he ouertooke the king and his companie at the entering into the Citie whereas the king alighted and without speaking to anie person he entered into his closeâ— by reason whereof this my knight had time to declare vnto the Quéene all that he had seene and the dolorous ende of the Damosell Herea her sister The sodayne and vnlooked for sorrowe mixed with great anger and wrath was such in this quéene that she commaunded the knight not to depart the court vntill such time as more occasion did serue and she her selfe remained making meruailous and great lamentations to her selfe all in secret for that she woulde not be perceiued yet with a soft voice she sayd O vnfortunate queene and borne in a sorrowfull houre oh vnhappie destinie which madest me to be subiect vnto the most cruellest king amongst all kings I suppose y â— fortune cannot be so much against me but y t she will procure to take reuengement of thee Oh immortall Gods reueÌ„gâ—◠〈◊〉 this so great and horrible an homicide and if not I 〈◊〉 â—eare vnto you that I will with my owne hands put in practise such an enterprise that you looking downe from the heauens shall tremble for the feare thereof What doo ye you deafe Gods altogether without iustice will you not hearken vnto this my gréeuous complaint wel séeing you regard me not I wil sée if y t you haue power to withdrawe me from executing of mine own will This saying she â—ooke in her hand a dagger of the kings and in her armes her youngest sonne saying I do not wish so much euill vnto the world y t I will leaue the sonne of so wicked a father to soiourne in it in this order she entered into the chamber wheras the king was and there she founde him tumbling vppon his bedde from the
sound like a bell and he without anie remembraunce fell downe backwards vppon his horse crouper the blowe was so terrible and deliuered with so greate strength that the bloud started out both at his eies and at his nose And as the Emperour would haue turned to haue stroken him againe he heard one with a great noise that called aloude and sayd Stand still vile knight and hold thy hands except thou wilt die the death The Emperour lifting vp his head to see who it was that with so great arrogancie threatned him beheld another Giant which descended downe from the Castell of a greater stature and séeming to be of more strength and furie then the other two which by reason of his greatnesse was faine to goe on foote for that there was no horse able to beare him When the Emperour sawe a thing so monstrous comming towards him he said with an angry voice Cursed he that euill and diuellish generation from whence such monsters doth procéede if it please God I will doe my best to abate this thy courage and in this time the Gyaunt was come to himselfe and rose vp againe and was prepared against the Emperour who seeing him so nigh with purpose to strike him tooke the aduauntage and stroke first with such an ouerthwart blowe that by the force therof it cut his throate necke and all so that the head fell downe to the earth and the bodie also like the corner of a great castell This other Gyant seeing his brother dead in such sort cryed out reuiling his Gods and with blaspheming of all creatures hee descended downe the hill and drew out his huge and mightie sworde pressing towards the Emperour with such furie as commonly the fierce Lyon doth after his praie which béeing wel perceiued by the Emperour he auoided a little on the one side with his horse lighted in greate hast and with his accustomed courage hee went to méete the Gyant who was readie with his sword in his hand came stroke at the Emperour a mightie blow which he receiued vpon his shéeld that did then deceiue him and by reason therof it fell downe vpon his healme and made him sâ—oope with both his knees to the grounde loosing somewhat of his sight by force of that furious blowe The Emperour seeing that it was not then time to sléepe and that the Gyaunt had his swoord ouer him to strike him againe he béeing somewhat troubled stepped aside and cléered himselfe from the fall therof and therwith preased to the Gyant before he could againe recouer his terrible swoorde to bestow on him a blow corespondent to his rage and stroke him vpon the arme but by reason that the Emperour was not wholy come to himselfe of the former blow he receiued he could not repaie him with his whole strength as his heart desired or as he would if hee had ben come to himselfe notwithstanding it was not so little but that his sword cut his arme to the bone wherwith he was so sore hurt that he could not lift his sworde from the ground with the paine whereof the Gyant did feele himselfe verie ill and was constrained to chaunge his sword into his left hand with the which he stroke blowes verie much out of order In this time the Emperour stroke at him so terryble and thicke that it did almost amaze him when the Giant sawe himselfe so ill intreated he began with a terryble voice to call for helpe of his people from the Castell The which béeing vnderstoode by the valyaunt and heroycall Emperour he sayd no thou traitour for neither thy strength nor thy Gods nor thy people shall deliuer thée but thou shalt die by my handes and therewith hée stroke at him the faster and with more courage but within a small time after he sawe descending from the Castell another mightie gyant and in his company more then fortie knights who with greate showting descended downe the hill the which beeing séene by the worthie Trebatio he was perswaded certainly that there hee shoulde dye And although he was somewhat wearie of y e great trauaile which had passed yet hée purposed to sell his lyfe verie déere determining that they should paie well for it before he lost it Then all they which descended from the Castell did compasse the Emperour rounde about and stroke him on euerie side without mercie or pittie whosoeuer had bene there to haue séene this worthie warriour should haue had iust occasion to saie that there was the valiant Emperour Trebatio the flower of all knighthoode for that he alone defended himselfe against his enimies in that great extremitie and if those gyants had not so pressed vpon him he had estéemed y e other knights verie little but it were the gyants that did most trouble and molest him neuerthelesse he that did come in the daunger of his blowes might thinke himselfe bewitched or to haue euill fortune for either he was slaine or else maimed or beaten downe to the grounde but yet all this valour that he vsed little profited him except hée did first procure to destroie these two diuellish Gyauntes who through their might brought him into great perplexitie making him sometimes to decline with his handes to the earth and at other times also to stagger heere and there And these shamelesse people by the importunate noise of their Lordes procured on euerie side to hurt and molest the Emperour and with the same noyse there descended from the Castell more then thrée score persons besides them that were there before But when the Emperour Trebatio sawe himselfe so euill intreated and beset on euery side round about he called vppon the name of God and desired him of pardon for all his sinnes and that he would haue mercie on his soule for that he thought verily there to end his life and therwith he encouraged himselfe a new and gathered such strength to his heart that what with the iust quarrell he had and the great anger he conceiued hee gaue vnto that Gyant who had called for succour such a terrible blowe vpon the wast that for all the greate force of his armour it had almost parted him in two péeces wherewith hée fell dead at his féet And at the verie same instaunt hée stroke one of the knightes such another blowe vpon the helme that he diuided both it and his head downe to the shoulders The other Gyant when he sawe such meruailous blowes began to exclaime out against Mars reuiling him that he had bestowed so much strength and force on one knight to declare such prowesse as there the Emperour shewed The rest of the knightes were somwhat afraide of that which they had séene done and durst not prease so nigh as before they did yet by reason of the great feare they had of the Gyant they did not let greatly to molest and trouble him and they preased vpon him in such wise that he waxed wearie so that his good heart and noble courage wold
little preuaile him but that he must néedes be ouercome and slaine The sad and sorrowfull Ladie Lidia when she sawe the Emperour in such great perplexitie with crossing and wringing her hands and with bitter wéepings she sayd O most vnhappie and vnfortunate wretch that I am it had bene much better that I alone had suffered these my paines and passions then that this noble Emperour should loose his life in my quarrell which will be the occasion of verie much sorrowe and great tribulation vnto the most high and noblest ladie in the world O famous knight of the Sun oh renowmed Rosicleer what may you saie when you shall heare that for my cause your father that worthie Emperour should be slaine it had ben better for me miserable as I am to haue bene transported into a plant as Daphne was not to haue caused that for my comfort so much harme should be done vnlesse it had pleased y e Goddesse Iuno to make an euerlasting memory of this my true and perfect loue as she did by Celos in so many Nymphs of whom vnto this daie their memorie doth surmount the high Throne of their celestiall seates Oh noble Emperour who by thy surpassing excellencie hast brought thy selfe to die amongst barbarous people whereas without all hope of anie helpe or anie respect of thy mightie estate thou must receiue the death Héere I do make a vowe that before death doth depriue thée of this great valour and strength to destroye my selfe in recompence of the great wrong that I haue committed against thée The valiaunt Rosicleer which at that time God and good fortune had brought into y e place did cause hir to cease this hir sorrowful lamentation If you do remember this is the battell I tolde you of whereas I lefte Rosicleer beholding the great wrong and outrage that so many did against one onely knight And likewise he did consider the surmounted prowesse which that one knight vsed and because he was armed with contrarie armour he could not know who it was and much meruailing at that he sawe without anie more tarrying he lighted from his horse and laide hand on his swoord with great furie and anger he pressed in amongst these false knights and the first that he did encounter with was y e disordinate Gyant to whom he lent such a blow vpon the legge that he cut it a sunder and with the force thereof he hurt the other legge by the knée in such sort that he must néedes fall to the ground not being able by any strength to sustaine or helpe himselfe The Gyant séeing to his paine féeling so furious a blow cryed with a loude voice saying Upon them valiant warriours for they are of no force nor abilitie to resist at which noyse the Emperour tourned his head aside and sawe whereas the Gyaunt laye all along on the earth by force of that most terrible and cruell blowe Also hée sawe howe this noble knight besturred himselfe amongest the rest of the Gyauntes knightes which was a valyaunt sight to bée séene wherfore he remained a good while in beholding and viewing him till at the last he knewe him to bée his worthie sonne euen that renowmed and inuincible Rosicleer I néede not héere to declare the excéeding great ioye and comfort which this worthie Emperour receiued in seeing him and especially at such a time beeing in great neede and necessitie for of long time before that hée had not seene him neither had he thought euer to haue séene him after that time anie more if at that instant hee had not come vnlooked for in y t he coulde not choose but to haue bene slaine by those barbarous and vnciuile people Then gathering vnto himselfe newe strength and courage he pressed in amongst those false and wicked knightes in such sorte that they beganne to runne awaie as well because they sawe their Lordes and Captaines slaine as also for that they coulde not in anie wise abide the terrible blowes of the Prince So these two valiaunt warriours besturred themselues that they were constrained in hope to saue theyr liues to tourne their backes and tooke the waie vp the hill towardes the Castell but this valiaunt Rosicleer followed them with so greate lightnesse that before they came halfe waie vp the hill hée had slaine the greater parte of them Then the rest which sawe themselues so euill intreated tourned altogether and pressed on him in such sorte that by theyr force they hadde almost constrained him to tumble backwarde downe the hill at which hée was meruailously wroth and therewith like a couragious Knight hée pressed amongest them with so much furie that with cutting off armes and heads hée made them lesse then they were by the one halfe The Emperour by reason of his great wearinesse and trauaile which he sustained remained at the foote of the hill whereas the first incounter was but when he heard the moouing and rushing of the people hée tooke the waye vp the hill with so great lightnesse as though the battaile had but then begun and after him followed the fayre and beautifull Lidia but when the Emperour came in sight he beheld how the Prince with great courage followed after those wretched people euē to the gate of the Castle for they thought to saue themselues if they might by anie meanes get in at the gates pretending to make it fast vnto them but this valiant Greeke pursued them with so great swiftnesse that they had no time to fulfill that which they hadde determined for at such time as they would haue shut the gates he approched them and disturbed their desire with cutting and hewing them in such sort that he entered into the Castell in spite of their heartes and those that were within would haue made resistaunce at such time as he was in the great Court but this valiaunt Prince did threaten them saying O you wicked contentious villains yéeld your selues prisoners for be certainly perswaded you shall finde more in me by humilitie thē by making resistaunce There was one knight which remained and hauing more ciuilitie then the rest aunswered and sayd Ualyaunt Knight if we hadde thought euer to haue found in thée so much mercifull clemencie as wée haue found mightie courage verily long since we wold haue yéelded our selues now therefore we doe desire thée if there bée in thée anie iot of pittie to manifest thy clemencie vnto vs for considering wée were seruauntes vnto those Gyauntes we were by duetie bound to defend them and on the contrarie to our powers offend you Then this noble prince promised them their liues conditionally that they should yéeld and surrender themselues In this time the Emperour letted not to inlarge his pace for to come to the aide and defence of the Prince but when he came thether he found that he was in quiet that all those that were left in the Castle requested peace and when the Emperour sawe that it was then time to discouer himselfe
at her comming thether she found neither him nor any other person neither the galley which brought them thether Then she looked to sea wards to sée if she could disouer any thing but she could see nothing but water which was the occasion that she made great lamentation And being verye hoarce with the terrible shrike which she gaue shée went vp vpon a little rock which was nigh the waters side from whence she did discouer the galley in the which was her vnlouing Brenio whereby she perceiued plainly how she was deceiued how she bestowed her affection whereas was nothing but falshoode although before time she could not perswade w t her selfe that so great treason remained in his heart The great sorrowes and lamentations which this forsaken Lady made was sufficient to mooue the stones vnto compassion Thus being wearie with lamenting she sate her downe vpon the little rocke and leaning her chéeke vpon her white hande she fell in a great sound in such sorte that in a longe space shée moued neither hande nor foote but when she came againe vnto her selfe she bagan a new to make great lamentation and did publish her paine with terrible shrikes saying Why was I not drowned in the Sea that the fishes thereof might haue torne my bodie in péeces or else to haue bene deliuered into the handes of tyrauntes to haue vsed their tyrannie against me that my heart might not haue felte this sorrowe neither my eies haue séene this crueltie O vnhappie chaunce oh cruell fortune why diddest thou not make mée to passe this bitter and sorrowfull life in my childhoode in such sorte that it hadde consumed me Wherefore did the Gods permit and suffer mée to liue so long it had béene farre better that I had dyed in my Cradell and not to liue to sée my selfe in this greate affliction without all helpe O you mountaines O you wilde beastes O you déepe sea there is not in you anie sence to hinder me but that I maye publish heere the greate disloyaltie of that traytor who is the cause of all this my harme O cruell and ingratefull fortune I sée that héere plainly without all pittie thou doost driue me to the death and although y e fault be others yet thou doost apply the paine to be mine And in this sort with great griefe the sorrowfull and vnfortunate Lady did torment hir selfe So likewise by reason of the great tempest and torment of the sea whereof we before spake there arriued nigh the same place a Knight with no lesse daunger then the others that landed there before The Pilot séeing that Aeolus had shut vp his windes and made fast the gates in such sorte that the sayle beate against the maste of the galley that they were constrained by the force of oares to retourne againe to sea For that they did sée by all sea-faring tokens that the weather would be troublesome they did perceiue it also by the Cornesa also by séeing the Dolphins leaping and plunging in the sea more then they were accustomed to doo These and such like tokens the wise Pilot did consider off who desired to take part where as hee might defend himselfe from that terrible weather looked for So with this great desire they stroke the water with their Oares with great furie they tormented their armes to get to the lande but the fatall Quéene Atrapos would not consent therevnto for that at the houre when the troubled Moone did extend hir beames vppon the face of the earth and vppon the large and déepe Sea then the winde Boreas began to blowe his blast so that it constrained them of the galley to bring their saile to a bowe line and to strike it very lowe which made the vessell to tumble and roll from the one parte to the other in such sort that euerie time of hir tourning all they that were in hir thought to be drowned Then the marriners thought good to strike and amaine their sayle the which they did in great hast and laboured to profite themselues with their oares and by the strength of their armes But in the ende when they sawe that neither sayle nor oares would profite them they committed themselues vnto God and lefte the Galley and all their goods vnto his gracious will and the furie of water which beganne presently to intreate them in such sort that it gaue them plainly to vnderstand of their destruction This was the Galley in which the Emperour departed in at such time as the Ladie Lidia did take her leaue wherein he tooke but small rest alwayes labouring to aide and helpe whereas most necessitie required in throwing out water which troubled them verie much being driuen by those mightie waues into the Galley Thus were they tossed and tumbled all the night looking euerie houre for death at length the Sun appeared and shewed his golden face whereby he did declare the cruell stormes tempests which was past and likewise gaue shew of that which was to come by reason that it was darkned vpon a sodaine and shewed a heauie chéere so the windes began to arise blew more and more and the waues increased and rose of a great and huge height beating vpon the galley with such violent force that being taken betwéene two billowes the galley brake a sunder in the middest These sorrowfull marryners which vntill that time had trauailed and fought with the wind and sea to defend their galley to saue their liues were now constrained to striue with death and indeauour with all their strengths by swimming for to come to the shoare but all would not serue for theyr defence for waxing wearie by the great force of the waters béeing able no longer to indure they yéelded themselues into the handes of God and their bodies to the furie of the sea wherein they finished theyr liues the Emperour Trebatio being holpen by y e mightie hand of God vppon whom he alwaies called in his heart desiring to deliuer him from so terrible a death praieng him for the merits of that mightie mediator Iesus Christ that he would succour and defend him who of his wonted mercie heard him would not permit that he should perish for y t he laid hold of a boord which was broken from the galley and made himselfe fast therto though it were with some labour neuertheles this distressed Emperour thought y t the ende of his daies were at hand for y t the mightie waues kept him a great while vnder the water when hee discouered himselfe aloft there came another great waue which stroke him with such violence y t it threw him vpon the shore almost without any remembraunce whereas I will leaue him amongest the shingles which were at the sea side and of all that happened I will tell you héereafter ¶ How the Emperour when he was recouered of the wearinesse which he receiued by the great trouble of the sea he trauailed in the same Iland and how he met with certaine
knights with whom he had battaile and what happened Cap. 15. O Mightie princes valiant knights and you excellent barons all you which finde your selues mounted vp in the triumph of felicitie haue all the contentments pleasures of this worlde euen all you together I dooe héere admonish y t you stand not too much in your owne conceits neither be you negligent nor forgetfull for y t you know or at the least you haue heard say of the sodaine and variable changes of peruerse fortune who respecteth no man for vnto them which be most mounted are in greatest prosperitie vnto them she giueth y e mightiest fall let none shew himselfe proud nor vse anie crueltie because he is in high estate but rather in y e authoritie let him vse all humilitie for héere you haue séene y e great surmounted quietnesse peaceable estate in which the Emperour hath indured vntill this present now you may sée vnto what an ebbe fortune hath brought him there he lay along vpon the sands a great while vntil such time as the Sun had almost run thrée parts of his daily course before he came to himselfe at which time he rather desired to die then to liue coÌ„mitting his soule vnto almightie God whose only it was The night drew on when y t w t his black mantell he procured to couer the brightnesse of Apollo at which time this emperour was somwhat refreshed of his passed trauaile and arose vp but he was all to be mired full of sand whereof he made himselfe cleane in the best manner y t he could began to take his way thorough a very narrow path but he could not trauaile far for that the night came so fast it waxed verie darke so that hée was constrained to seeke a place where he might rest himselfe for that he wold not loose the path wherinto he had entered so he laide himselfe down vnder a broad pine trée wher as he passed the most sorrowfull and afflicted night that euer knight indured next vnto God he had great coÌ„fort by means of his mightie courage for to passe ouer all his aduersities thus he passed all the night with great desire y t the day wold come when the daie brake it séemed very faire calme and the aire appeared quiet he trauailed out onwards his way in that straight path vntill such time as he came to a verye faire delectable forrest whereas sundrie chirping birds had gathered themselues together to refresh and shrowde themselues from the parching of the Sun yéelding verie delectably diuers swéet notes In this forrest he trauailed wel nigh two houres then he went vp to a small mountaine which was at hand from the which he discouered a very faire wel towred citie vpon the farther side whereof the sea beate against the faire high walls towards that part wherevnto the narrow way did lead without y e citie there was built a princely pallace very sumptuous to behold moted round about which moat made a separation betwéene the citie and y e pallace there he receiued great pleasure to finde himselfe in a peopled country and of so goodly building for that before he thought he had ben in a desart likewise he discouered from y e hill a faire fountaine all wrought of Marble piller like with a great bowle in the middest also of marble out of which did procéed foure spouts running with water which fell into a great sesterne comming vnto it he washed his hands and refreshed his face and sate him downe by it vppon the gréene grasse with a great desire to eat somewhat but ther was no body to giue him any thing so he rested himselfe vpon his elbow what with the wearinesse of his way with his hunger being very pensiue for his troublesome sorow he fell a sléepe Not long after ther came out of that faire pallaice certaine knightes which rode abroade to solace themselues and by chaunce they came to the place whereas the Emperour was and when they sawe him of so faire a fauour and of so goodly a stature and to their thinking he slept without all feare or care one of them sayde Out of all doubt this is a knight of a straunge Countrie and by his countenaunce and proportion it seemeth that he is of some high lignage that peruerse fortune which alwayes is fickle vnto mankinde hath caused him to come hether brought him to be in this estate To the which aunswere one that was in companie who séemed to be of greater estate then all the rest sayde that he doth rather séeme to bée some robber and théefe and one that doth lead an ill life more then a knight of prowesse and that the sword which he weareth he hath stollen from some trauailing knight let me come and I will awake him out of his sound sléepe and I will take this sword from him which doth not become him to weare for it is not to be bestowed on him and without anie more delay he alighted off from his horse to séeke his owne death as it fell out for when he came to the Emperour he pulled him by the beard with so much strength that spite of his heart he did awake him but when the Emperour awaked and sawe the hands of that villanous knight fast vpon his beard which was full of haires he with his left hand stroke him such a blowe vppon the breast that he made him to recoile backe and whether he would or no he fell to the ground with the force thereof and with great anger he rose vp not making anie outward appearance of the great and incomperable trauaile that he had passed he laide hand on his sword and without tarrying till the other did arise he stroke him such a blow vpon the head that he cut him downe to the breast so that he fell downe dead to the ground in this sort he gaue him his paiment for his great and vnseemely pride these knights that came together were eight in number but when the rest sawe y t which the Emperour did they prepared theÌ„selues to fight lighting from their horses they laid hands on their swords wrapped their cloaks about their armes then began a cruell battel but when this mightie Trebatio sawe himselfe so beset with the other seauen knights he determined to sell his death verie deere or else to kill them all and as you doo see the greedie Lyon ranging the Countrie with his haire bristeled and raging with great hunger to finde his praie euen so the valiant Emperour began to strike with his strong arme flourishing with it in such sort that on whom it chaunced to light he had no néede of a Surgion to heale him In a little space of the eight that were of them there were foure of theÌ„ sâ—aine and the rest were so scarred with his terrible and mortall blowes that they durst not come nigh
him There was a lackie that came with them which when he sawe this great destruction of the knights tooke the horse of one of them that was slaine and in great hast he gallopped with him towards the pallace crieng with a loude voice Armour armour come knightes quickly and helpe for that there is slaine the Earle of Modique his sonne and all the rest that were with him the quéene and Ladie of that Countrie when she heard that great noise she looked out of her closet and asked who had done that murther to whome the Lackie answered that one onely knight vnarmed whom they found a slape at the marble fountaine hath slaine them These wordes caused great alteration amongest all them in the pallace and in great hast they called for theyr armour to arme themselues but this faire quéene asked farther of the Lackie what was the occasion which these eight knightes offered to cause that knight to attempt so hard an enterprise who tolde and declared vnto her all that you haue hearde and when shée vnderstoode the whole circumstaunce she commaunded straight that vproare to cease and that there should other eight knights goe and procure to take and bring him prisoner without dooing him anie harme for that she was desirous to know what hee should be that was of so valiaunt courage and so greate a strength So straight waie at the commaundement of the quéene these eight knights were readie and armed and went to the place whereas they were still in battaile and at such time as they approched there was but two left of the eyght that were first against him And when those two sawe the other eight knightes comming they stepped on the one side with a loude voice cried Knightes kill this diuell kill this diuell who in this sort hath intreated vs. When the Emperour sawe that there came other eight armed knightes against him he could not but iudge himself to be in great danger of death for that he was vnarmed and without anie defence yet for all that his accustomed courage did not fayle him one â—ot but he put himselfe in defence with so great hardinesse as though he had ben armed with all his accustomed armour Then one of the eight armed knights who would shew himselfe to be of a more courage then the rest pressed forwards with his swoord in his hand and his shéelde on his arme making shewe as though he woulde strike him the Emperour did ward that blow on his swoord wheron it fell and with his left hand he tooke so fast holde on his shéeld and with so great strength that he pulled it from 〈◊〉 arme and with great speede he couered himselfe therewith and with a valiaunt stomacke sayd Doo not thinke you disloyall and cowardly knightes to take me prisoner or doo me anie outrage first I hope to put you all to the point of any sword or to die in my iust defence but by reason that he spake to them in the Greeke tongue they coulde not vnderstande him one word wherefore forgetting that which the quéene had commanded them they striued with all their strength to kil him the Emperour by reason of the fountaine had his backe defended so that they were constrained to fight with him face to face but he which by his hardinesse did seeme to prease forwards more then the other was straight sâ—aine or verie sore hurt Amongst these knights there was another which was of a more hardier courage then any of the rest who manye times did prease forwards had hurt this valiant Trebatio in two places although the wounds were not very great yet it caused his aduersaries to haue the better stomack to assault him This knight which had hurt the Emperour sawe well y t if euery one of the rest had done as much as he y t this vnarmed knight had ben sâ—aine with a loud voice he said O ye Knights of Tinacria how is it possible that one only knight without armour hath brought vs into this ieopardie and great extremitie the which wordes he spake in the Tuscan tongue and so with great hardinesse mightie courage he pressed forwards but the Emperour who well vnderstoode his wordes stepped forwardes to receiue him two steps more theÌ„ he did before the which was done with great lightnesse and followed his blow so hard that y e knight was constrained to receiue the blow vpon his healme the which was giuen with so much strength and furie that iâ— parted it in twaine with the head before that he could returne back againe into his standing they hurt him in two or thrée places but it was not much but the Emperour as he recoiled stroke two of them that with so much furie that they fell dead to the ground the rest of the Knightes which remained were meruailously afraid for that they had felt his mightie blowes and â—gaine with the sight of those that were sâ—aine before the â—herefore they withdrew themselues backe so y t his blows might not reach them The Emperour séeing himselfe at more quietnesse retired to the place where hée fiâ—st was by the fountaine and there he remained in more safety beeing better able to make his defence so there was left of all those sixtéene Knights but seauen of the which thrée of them were more importunate then the rest and dealte with him euen as a companie of small spaniels with a great mastiefe who with their barking runne round about him both before and behinde yet not daring to touch anie haire but when they come before him the mastiefe maketh theÌ„ afraid and forceth them to runne awaie so in the same sorte was the Emperour amongst his enimies and béeing in this conflict they heard a great noise in the citie of making hast vnto armour and anon they perceiued how y e olde Earle did know of the death of his sonne who by reason of the great sorrow passion that he receiued was almost beside himselfe commaunded to bring him his armour and his horse on whom he mounted and tooke in his hande a greate and mightie Speare and rode foorth towardes the Fountaine whereas the Emperour was and after this olde Earle issued out manie of the people of the Citie as well knightes as other Citizens The quéene vnderstanding all this vproare tumult fearing that by force of all those people there should be slaine that knight who amongst all other was worthie to liue for his great valour and knighthood she determined to goe forth accompanied with all the nobilitie of her court with many faire Ladies and Damsells to aide and deliuer him from perill but before the quéene could come thether the olde Earle was there whereas the Emperour was but when he saw so many men there dead and all by the force of one vnarmed knight if it had not bene for griefe to sée his sonne lie slaine amongst the rest and also the fatherly loue which did prouoke him to wrath I
commaunded him to be hanged out of one of the windowes of the Towre and commaunded publikely to be proclaimed all the whole treason where as to all men was seene his sodaine sorrowfull death Then he commaunded the Prince to be buried with great honour as vnto such a person did appertaine After this the sorrowfull Tarsina seeing that she was the onely occasion of all this euill not remembring the losse of her virginitie nor respecting anie shame which such as she was ought to haue and keepe began to teare her haire and to scratch her face gaue meruailous shrikes that all the Pallaice did found thereof and with greate furie she went vp vnto the place whereas her welbeloued Lidiarte was hanged and when shee sawe him dead with so shamefull and dishonourable a death shee beganne with great lamentation to publish the occasion of all this euill saying Oh souereigne God now will I acknowledge this great errour which I haue committed and done for the which I doo not deserue one but a thousand deaths Oh miserable creature that I am and vnhappie bodie that hath committed so great harme and villanie and onely because thou couldest not refraine thy disordinate appetite thy soule must nowe paye that which thou diddest consent vnto Oh cursed delight that for a little transitorie pleasure I would loose my virginitie therby causing him whom I loued more then my selfe to receiue so miserable a death euil end haue likewise brought in great suspition the honour of my Lady the Princesse therfore I will giue my selfe the correction that so worthilye I doe deserue paying with my life and honour the prise of my great lasciuâ—ousnesse and diuellish hardinesse And with this she leapt into the windowe with great furie and layde holde on the roape whereby the Earle was hanged and slipped downe by it till she came and imbraced her armes aboute the necke of the Earle and ioyning her mouth vnto his mouth which was then verie colde and blacke with the bloud and holding her selfe fast with the one of her handes with the other hand she drewe out a little knife which shée had wherwâ—th she cut the rope a sunder which he hanged by so that both of them fell to the grounde whereas they were all broken to péeces and there she dyed The greate alteration which was in the Court when they vnderstoode of all this that had past was straunge and without comparison And although manie did heare her complaint yet there was not one that coulde tell wherefore it was till such time as a Lackie which was nigh her declared all that you haue heard tolde for that he had heard it worde for worde but when the king did knowe the effect thereof hée was verye much amased at it And for that he woulde there shoulde be a perpetuall memorie thereof presently hée commaunded that they should bée buryed both together in a Sepulchre without the Citie of Paris declaring in it the effect of this dolorous act the which was forthwith published throughout all the whole kingdome So when that this vnhappie death of the Earle came vnto the eares of his Father and all his kinsfolkes they were verie sorrowfull and receiued for it great griefe and waxed verie wrathfull and determined if it were possible to reuenge the death of the Earle and deuised continually in secrete what order might best bee taken to bring it to effect So in the ende of manie inuentions they concluded to accuse the Princesse that shee should be the onely occasion of all this euill And the better for to compasse and bring this accusation to passe they did commit it to the vsing of the brothers sonne of the olde Earle and cousin vnto Lidiarte who was sonne vnto the Earle of Prouince an excellent and valiaunt Knight The which accusation he did accept with a verie good will and for to make their determination of more strength they agréed to sende vnto the kingdome of Sardenia vnto a brother of the king Bramidoro with whome they had at that time greate friendshippe requesting him that hée woulde sende them some one of his lignage to fauour them héerein the which he graunted with verie greate good will and for that they shoulde the better vnderstand the greate desire that hée hadde to pleasure them in this matter he sent them two of his lignage and by reason that they were Gyauntes and of a meruailous huge bignesse although all the world did knowe that the Princesse is without fault and not culpable yet they dare not put their persons in aduenture with those two horrible and disordinate monsters So after they hadde made this their traiterous and false accusation after manye and great contentions they grew in the end to this conclusion that the Princesse should within the tearme of fiftéene dayes bring three knightes that with these other thrée shoulde make and maintaine battaile in the fielde for the defence of this false accused Princesse and if so be that she coulde within that time prefired finde but two knightes then it shall be at their curtesie to take vppon them the enterprise and neither more nor lesse then they thrée if shee did finde but one knight Now there is twelue of these fiftéene daies past so that within these thrée dayes the full time is expired therefore noble Lordes and knightes let me bée resolued what you will determine heerein To loose our liues for to set at libertie this wronged Ladie aunswered the Knight of the Sunne therefore it is conuenient without anie more delaye that wee take our iourney thether-ward Then the Damosell sayd how is it that you will take the enterprise in hand and bee but two and they bée thrée and besides almost inuincible Then Tefereo aunswered the iustice on the Princesse parte shall be the thirde person take you no care fayre Damosell for that for although we are but two we doe little esteeme them When the Damosell sawe their liberall proffer and determination she was verie gladde and content and straight wayes she leaped vpon her palfraie and they on their horses and so rode towards the Citie without making anie farther delaie or tarrieng ¶ How the Prince met in Paris the knight of the Images and of the battaile he had with him and howe they ouercame the three knightes which did accuse the Princesse afterward how Tefereo knew who the knight of the Images was of all that happened besides Cap. 17. WIth great hast the Prince and all that were with him trauailed that daie and the next in the kingdome of Fraunce vntill they came within two leagues of Paris so the next daie verie early in the morning they arose trauailed againe till they came within the sight of the Citie and for that it was verie early to enter into the same they alighted amongst a companie of trées wheras by the great thicknesse they might not bée séene of anie and refreshing themselues by a cléere fountaine of water that was
good an aime thou dost wound wheras thou wilt Thou subtill boy doo not so plainly showe thy selfe what thou art if thou dooest thinke to deceiue me with thy fained innocencie It is sufficient thou showest thy selfe naked for that thou art void of all pitie Oh ye Gods giue me vnderstanding that I may declare the subtilties and deceits of this false Cupide for that I care not for him neither haue I any feare of him Héere this noble Dacian did feele himselfe cleare of the loue of Florisdama and his heart was new set on fire with the sight of the faire Lidia vnto whom he had subiected himselfe and remained more without hope of helpe for his last wounâ—e then he was of the first And when he came vnto himseâ—â—e and â—elt that he was freshly wounded he did delight himâ—â—lf with the yeolow haire the which hee had in his hande and considering with what yre it was pulled of and also calling to remembrance her complaint he did plainly perceâ—â—e that the occasion of all this her sorrow was loue So with these considerations he lifted vp his eyes and did behold the great beautie of Lidia gazed on her faire face which was disfâ—gured with the wounds y t she had made with her naâ—les in scratching it and it was all to be spotted with the bloud that procéeded from the same wounds likewise he did meditate in the great and thicke teares that distilled from her sorrowfull eyes All these was the occasion wholly to confirme his new griefe and with a sorrowfull sigh looking on the yeolow haire he sayd Oh haire if with the great â—urye of loue thou wert torne off with how much more force is thy owner graffed in my heart It hadde bene farre better haire that thou hadst still remained to haue garnished that gallant face which as it doth appeare at other times didde much esteeme of thee then héere to be scattered abroad vpon this mountaine and hauing lost a mistresse of so great valor thou doost giue occasion of death vnto him which neuer offended thee But in recoÌ„pence of this euill which thou hast caused vnto me héere I doo promise to make much of thee to put thée within my bosome lament with teares thy desolatenes And héerwith he went towards y e place where she was at which noyse y e Lady did lift vp her eyes séeing the Prince with a soft voyce she sayd A my friend is my Brenio come back again doth he take anie griefe for his dâ—stressed Lidia This new louer whose hart yerned to sée her pain replied w t weeping eyes Faire Lady I cannot answere vnto this which you doo aske me for that I am a strange knight brought by fortune to beare thée coÌ„pany to be partaker of thy sorrowe and paine and to wound my selfe in beholding 〈◊〉 This faire Ladye gaue eare vnto the wordes of this Knight beléeuing that he woulde haue giuen her some good newes for the mitigating of her sadnesse but she perceiued that he was a straunge Knight she lifted vp her head and with wéeping eyes she said Gentle Knight if my loue haue bene the occasion of this thy sorrow which thou dost show I doo desire thee to depart for in me thou shalt find no other thing but that which only I desire that is death For what loue can they haue that so cruelly are forgotten what possibilitie is there of helpe in them that are without all hope Wiâ—h so great griefe Lidia deliuered these and such like reasons that the ouer much anger she had caused her to retain her words so that she could not speake but gaue a maruailous and sorrowfull shrike that the stoniest heart that euer was would haue bene mooued with compassion This good Dacian séeing that at that time there was no remedy for his euill by reason of the great paine and griefe that the fayre Damosell séemed to sustaine coÌ„strained himselfe by discretion to suffer a while considering y e time did giue ease vnto all things so hoping in time to haue helpe of his disease and turning to talke vnto Lidia he requested her that shée would shew him so much fauour as to declare vnto him the cause of all this her sorrow and paine So this Ladye did declare it vnto him in so sorrowful a sort and with such pitifull sighes that the tempestuous sea being mooued with coÌ„passion contrarie vnto his accustomed noyse made a newe straunge rumour in the caues néere vnto the shore The Prince with no lesse paine attended vnto her sorrowfull â—ale so that it was euen a tragedie to beholde the heauie lamentable prospects of either of them Then in the end of relating this heauie historie the faire Lidia held her peace and remained silent with wonderfull sadnesse This troubled Dacian wholly yeelded vnto his new griefe replyed What furie what cruell and what a hardened and stonye heart had he that a beautie so farre surpassing coulde not mooue him to yéelde Then the faire Lidia who well vnderstoode from whence these gréeuous and sorrowfull spéeches which the knight had spoken procéeded yet not giuing him to vnderstand that she had anie knowledge thereof sayd Sir knight I render you great thankes for the sorrowe which you séeme to receiue at my griefe but if you be a knight of estimation as by your personage it doth appeare you should be héere I doo desire you by the honour you owe vnto the order of knighthoode to performe two requests which I shall desire thée The valiaunt Eleno aunswered I doo not onely Ladie graunt vnto this which you doo demaund but I am wholy subiect to your seruice and will not refuse to doo anie thing that you will commaund me Well séeing it is so sayde this faire Ladie I first request thée to carrie me from this solitarie land wherin I haue receiued so much wrong and therewith shee arose vp and beganne to descend from that little mountaine towards the waters side at such time as Phoebus finished his accustomed course ¶ Of all that happened vnto this faire Lidia and to the Prince Eleno after they departed from the little mountaine whereas they met Chap. 19. BY reason of the great darknesse of the night and againe for that they woulde take somâ— rest they woulde not enter into the Barke at that present The Damosell Lidia that night entered into the Tent somewhat to rest her wearie limmes but the Prince remained without whereas he walked vp and downe all the night And as the solitarie night is an enimie vnto quietnesse so béeing alone there came to his remembraunce manie thinges past which caused him to sustaine sundrie passions wherefore to comfort himselfe hée went vnto his Galley for his Lute and retourning a lande he sate him downe behinde the Tent and beganne to put his Lute in consort although the force of loue bée more full of discord then concorde So when his Lute was in right tune hâ—â— beganne foorthwith to play vpon it
the Quéenes pallaice and the Emperour was carryed into a verie faire and rich lodging whereas by force hée must be shut in to make as if he were prisoner for that the nobles of the Realme would not consent that he shoulde goe abroade at his will The third daie following this braue Bramarando with all his Knights came before the walls of the Citie and spred abroad their Ancients and he himselfe vpon a fierce horse drew towards the walls of the Citie in great hast He was armed with very strong armour and had at his necke hanging a verie rich horne of Iuorie and when he came to the gate of the Citie he lifte vp the visour of his helme and set his horne vnto his mouth began to sound it very strongly to the end that the knights of the Citie shuld come thether to heare what he would say So when y e some of them such as were néere at hand approched he sayd O you Knights of Tinacria whom the souereigne Gods confound that according as I am informed by your counsell I cannot inioy as mine owne that faire Garrofilea What doo you that you come not forth with your armor agaynst me and show your selues if you be as valiant to ouercome as politike to giue counsel Some of the nobles of the court did well heare what this Pagan did say and straight waye they went vnto the Quéene for to sée what was to be done in this case to whome she aunswered My friends you dooe well sée and vnderstand how little knowledge I haue in such matters béeing but a weake and fraile woman in such a case as this is vnto you it belongeth to take counsell for that you are knights and together you may establish that which is conuenient for héerin I haue little knowledge and can say almost nothing and with this she held her peace These Earles séeing that with great reason the Quéene had answered them they would argue no farther with her but called a counsell At which time the King the second time did sound his horne to call them again to hearken vnto his speach and being attendant vnto that which he would say he vttered these wordes O vile Tinacrians what doo you why come you not forth with your armour How is it y t you are not ashamed to hide your selues from one onely knight which calleth you Héere I doo promise you that your high walls and déepe dithes which you haue about your Cittie shall litle profit you but y t you shal all dye in my hands lyke vile knights And if amongst you ther be not one that is able to make his partie good in the field with mée alone Then come forth two or three or foure or ten for that altogether I will driue you out of the field and if these teâ—ne be not sufficient then come you all forth together such as are able to beare armour for héere I doo sweare vnto you to make you dye like cowards but I take you to be such y t you will not put me to this trouble but kéep your selues in your citie The Earles did heare all that was spoken at which wordâ— they were very much grieued but because they knewe the strength of the African they feared much his furie but yet shame would not suffer them to beare the force of these wordes but did determine to goe out and take the aduauntage which the Pagan did offer them So amongst them al they chose ten of them that were most estéemed who wer the Earle of Modique and a sonne of the Earles a valyant young man being of fewer yeares then he which the Emperour slewe at the marble fountaine and Fabiniano of Hena and Robio of Yscla and other sixe chosen Knights So when they were armed and vpon horsebacke they opened the gate of the Citie and they went out into the fielde all very well horsed So when this King of Mauritania sawe them he let goe his horne and putte downe the visour of his healme called for a great speare which strayght waye was giuen him by a Knight of his and with great arrogancie he went towards the place whereas this faire companie of the ten Knights abode and with a loude voyce he sayde that they might heare him Who gaue you counsel to make resistaunce against my furie for that you can finde no other thing therein but death Then Don Rubio aunswered none other but onely to abate thy pride therefore take thy choyce of the fielde for héere I defie thée to the death All this while Bramarando stood and beheld him with a terrible looke and séeing him vse so great nimblenesse he thought him to be a good Knight giuing a tourne vnto his horse he put himselfe into his place and béeing both readye they spurred their horses together ranne one against the other in the midst of their course they met neither of them missed their blow in the which incounnter this gentle Rubio fell downe to the ground and the Pagan somwhat stooped in his saddle and his speare remained whole and strayght waye he put himselfe in good order But when he saw that all the rest which remained did prepare themselues to make resistaunce he could not refrayne but with a loude voyce he sayde O vile cowards and defamers of the order of knighthood come hether vnto me euen all of you for I doo no more estéeme of you then of one onely Knight and so spurring his horse he ranne against them and they did the like and at one time he receiued the encounter of fiue speares albeit he mooued nothing at all in his saddle but he did incounter the Baron of Monflet in such sort that the speare passing thorough his body he fell downe dead to the ground and there with he tourned about his horse with wonderfull lightnes and drew out his sharpe cutting sword and pressed amongst the rest whereas began a meruailous and terrible battaile Then the Knights of Tinacria perceiuing that they must either die or ouercom they began to lay about them on euery side with so much furie y t it was sufficient to haue hewed an anfield in peeces Yet for all their force they did not séeme to molest him any whit But he which did shew him selfe most valyant amongst them all was the Marques of Modique his sonne and next vnto him was the Marques of Mondeli and Don Fabinio But this strong African layd about him so valiantly and with so great furie that he astonied theÌ„ insomuch y t with the great furie he had out of the visour of his helme proceeded a thicke smoke At this time he threw his shéeld on his backe and tooke his sworde in both his hands that whosoeuer he met he stroke him with such terrible strength and furie that helme and head hée cut in two parts The Earle of Mondeli was not at this instant vnoccupied but with his sword fast in both his hands he stroke him on the
I doo not retourne againe into her Citie for I was so ill receiued the first time that I haue no will to retourne the second And more I desire her of my part that she doo intreate better and giue better intertainment vnto such Knights as I am then she gaue vnto me least she get vnto her selfe the name of a wrathfull Quéene and be accounted as one subiect vnto hir own opinion of all other things if any thing doo chaunce let her thanke none but her selfe for that she hath bene the onely cause therof And moreouer I doo desire her not to trouble her selfe in sending to séeke me for that I say not her power alone but all the power in Africa is not sufficient to retourne me againe into so great straights as once she had me in And so without any more speaking he spurred his horse and rode a reasonable pace towards the sea side which was not farre from that place and when he came thether he sought to sée if he could finde by chance any barke or galley to carry him whether he wold with his good will or els by force He had not gone farre when that he sawe a very faire and great barke at the sea side hard aboord the shoare The Emperour entered into it to sée if there were anye marriners his horse which was hard by him without being constrained by the Emperour very lightly leapt into the Barke He was not so soone with in when that the Barke began to make waye in such sorte that in a small time they were very farre at sea At y â— which the Emperour was greatly amazed but there was a voice which did satisfie him that sayd Mightie Trebatio Lyrgandeo doth gouerne thee at the which the Emperour was very ioyfull So he put his horse in a place by himselfe in the bark wheras he found sufficient of all things néedefull Likewise hée found all that was conuenient for his owne person which was ready vpon a table in very good order all kinde of dressed meates and béeing set downe to eate he was serued so bountifully and with so great diligence and care as though he had bene in Greece In this sort the emperour went sailing eight dayes in y e end of which he discouered land which had belonging vnto it a faire hauen or port and nigh vnto it a very faire and great Citie The Barke went straight into the hauen and brought her selfe to the shore Héere we will leaue y e Emperour in his barke in y e hauen and will tell you of the great lamentation y t the faire Garrofilea made for that the Emperour departed in such sort ¶ How the faire Queene Garrofilea made great lamentation for the departure of the Emperour and how at their last being together she remained with childe by the Emperour Trebatio Cap. 23. AFter that all the Knights of Tinacria haâ— ioyned themselues together and had made an ende of their battaile and trauaile they repaired vnto the citie with great ioy and gladnesse for their good successe Rubio of Yscla went to declare vnto the Quéene his message y t the Emperor had commanded him at y â— which the Quéene was so troubled that she could not in any wise dissemble it but in a great sound strayght way she fell downe as though she had bene dead This couragious knight when he saw her in this trance tooke her vp in his armes caryed her vnto her Strado or seate straight waies when the Ladies heard the noyse they all came forth to sée what the matter was when they saw their Quéene in that traunce they began to vse all meanes and remedies till such time as she came again vnto her remembrance And although it was with great trouble the quéene lifted vp her â—yes séeing that she was coâ—â—â—assed about with Ladies and others shee shut her eyes againe and gaue a great sigh which came from the bottome of her heart and in this sort she remained a greate while and her Ladies and Damosells seeing that she was so troubled determined to vncloath her and to carrie her to her bed Then she made signes with her hands that they should depart and leaue her all alone whose commandement they straight wayes obeyed not without great sorrow of all them that did beholde her for that the quéene was meruailouslye well beloued of her subiects There was not one that could vnderstand the cause of this sodaine euill but onely the earle of Modique who discréetly did imagine what it might bée who kept it close to himselfe at time vntil such time as time the matter it selfe shuld declare whether his imagination or thought should fall out true or no. This afflicted quéene when she saw that she was alone began to exclaime against her fortune putting forth these sorrowfull reasons When wilt thou be content thou peruerse enimie and without all reason Thou which hast warped such strange webbes in this Kingdome Thou gauest me into my power the Gréeke Emperour very poore and without all comfort of thée and absent from all his Empire This thou didst for that with his sight I should be wounded with the cruell dart of loue that without all remedie of anie comfort I most vnfortunate damosell shoulde be constrained to set my life to sale and to sell my honour as it were with the common cryar compelling me to doo vnto my selfe that which I onely did being made blinde by him which would y t all others were as blind as he himselfe is And although me life were set at libertie by him which without anie weapon bereaued me thereof yet am I not at so much libertie nor so frâ—e but that wheresoeuer he goeth my heart doth followe him Woe is me for my virginitie which my parents gaue me such great charge to haue a respect vnto that it hath bene so euill kept and so lightly regarded me I will so chastise my selfe for thus forgetting of my selfe and be so reuenged for the little regard that I haue had of my honour that it shall be an example to all others which be of high estate Oh miserable Quéene Oh vnhappie Lady thy spéech is too too foolish for although this thy desperate hand should pull out the despised heart of this miserable and afflicted bodie yet shouldest not thou make satisfaction of the dishonour which thou hast committed against thy selfe Oh cruell death why doest thou not with thy sodaine furie set at libertie me most vnfortunate from these gréeuous paines Oh Emperour of Greece those louing and amorous wordes which thou spakest vnto me I would they had neuer ben spoken O false and deceiuing Lorde thou shouldest haue suffered me to haue tasted death when with so great good will mine owne hand would haue ministred it to me and not now to cause me to indure a thousand deaths only by thy departure With these other like lamentations this afflicted Ladie passed awaie the time till at last she found
goe and séeke thée to giue thée to vnderstand that my furie is more then thy power And when he had concluded with this he went foorth of the chamber and with a terrible noise he called for his armour the which was straight waie brought vnto him and without tarrying to bée made knight he commaunded to arme him with armour that was all white made by art Magick thē he commanded a ship to be made readie furnished entred into it with intent to go to Grecia and there to aske the order of knighthoode of the Emperour when he had receiued it to defie him to mortall battaile but it chaunced not vnto him as he thought it would for y e the sea with some of his accustomed torments carried him vnto the coast of France by reason of his small patience once béeing a land he would not retourne to imbarke himselfe in his ship but remained with onely two lackeyes and commaunded the vessell to returne backe againe and so went traueling whether his fortune would carrie him two dayes The third day very early in the morning he heard a great rushing of armour amongst a company of trées going towards the same noise he saw a Knight of a very good proportion agaynst a great◠number of other Knights in a very fierce and vnreasonable battaile And for to tell you who it was it is requisite that we begin another chapter in the which I will declare the whole matter vnto you ¶ How that the Knight of the Sunne would haue tarried for Tefereo in the place whereas he appointed him and how he lost himselfe in a thick mountaine and of all that happened vnto him after that Cap. 24. THe knight of the Sunne who was purposed to tarrie for Tefereo whereas he appointed him put himselfe into the wildernes of Ardenia with a reasonable quicke pace but because of the great thicknesse of trées bushes being amongst them and againe troubled with thoughts wherewith his minde was occupied hée lost his way and in such sorte that although he tourned his horse euery way from one place to another yet could he not finde any way but rather did so intangle himself that when the night came he found himselfe so far from the place wher as he thought to haue remained that he was in doubt to recouer his waye and his company he knewe not when for the which he receiued great griefe which was the occasion that he died very euill words against himselfe So beeing in this cholar the night drew on which constrayned him to alight from his horse and sate him downe vnder a greene tree hauing set his horse to feede in the gréene grasse of the which there was abundaunce at hande and so in the best wise he could he laid him downe vpon the ground to take some rest for a while and towards his right hand he hard a great noyse of the running of water and being very drye he was constrayned to arise againe And so he went féeling following that pittering sound of water vntill such time as he found a little fountaine of very faire and cléere water and by reason of the great drought that he had without any more tarrying he knéeled downe to drinke thereof till such time as he had mitigated his great thirst and remayned there a while to refresh himselfe for that the place was very pleasaunt so after a while he returned vnto the place whereas he was before and layd himselfe downe to rest He had not remained there long but he felt the water to begin to worke in him For you shall vnderstand that this was one of the fountaines of Marlin which he made in that wildernesse and brought the water from the high mountayne of Olympo But this fountaine whereof the Knight of the Sunne did drinke was that of Disamore or without loue In such sort it did worke in him that he did not onely loose and forget the loue which he had to Lindabrides but also if it had not bene for the great force of matrimonye and for the pawne that he receiued of Claridiana he hadde likewise forgot her and had brought her as far out of remembrance as he did the Lady of Tartaria And this water did not onely cause forgetfulnesse but also it forced him to reprehende himselfe saieng Oh foole without any vnderstanding that so long hast had thy heart subiected vnto a Ladye that is a straunger vnto thy Religion intreating thée not as a man that dooth procéede from a high and noble generation but lyke the most basest and vilest wretch in al the world Tel me thou lost man who hath bene affectioned vnto a Moore without faith but onely thy selfe Who would haue left his naturall wife for to loue a stranger Barbarian but thou Who would giue so many sighes in vaine but I most miserable giuing occasion of euerlasting death and damnation vnto my soule Oh base and grose vnderstanding in what didst thou set thy loue What beautie didst thou see in her that thou wouldst follow her as one lost for her loue What blindnesse hath constrained thée considering the great valour of the royall Empresse and with what liberalitie she hath surrendred all her Kingdomes and her owne person into thy hands These and other like complaints he made against himselfe without taking any sleepe or rest but was sore troubled with this thought till such time as the morning came and that Phoebus with his golden beames couered all the earth then hée tooke his horse with a more lighter heart and cléerer of all thoughts then at the time he came thether for that he had as cleane forgot Lindabrides as though he had neuer séene her So all that daye he trauelled in that wildernesse not knowing which way to take and had eaten nothing neither had he any thing to eate the which did trouble him very much So when night drewe on he discouered a heard of cattell which were there féeding in the wildernesse and determined to goe towards that place whereas the heard men were who receiued him very well This Knight did aske of them if they had any thing to giue him to eate for that hée was very hungrie the heard men bad him that he should alight and that they would giue him of such as they had for themselues So he alighted did eate with a very good will and so good a stomacke as one which had not his heart nor minde occupied with the cares of loue and there with those heard men he passed all that night till it was morning So when it was daye one of the heard men did bring him into a very great occupied way to whom he gaue great thanks Then the Knight tooke that waye forwards which led him towards Prouince intending to sée if he could méet with his friend and did determine to trauaile thereabouts to sée if Fortune would bring him that waye he had not trauailed farre when that he discouered
it was hée which had passed the terrible kéepers of his murthered Daughter For you shall vnderstand that as soone as the Emperour was departed from the Ilande the wise Lyrgandeo commaunded that the bodie of the Ladie shoulde bée carried vnto Cimarra aduertising her Father that the long looked for reuengement was not farre of And lykewise how and in what manner the knight which did it shoulde come into his lande and also who that Knight shoulde bée Wherefore as soone as the king was giuen to vnderstande of his ariuall without anie more tarrying béeing accompanyed with all his noble men and leading in his hande a very fayre and young childe about twelue yeares olde the most best proportoined that euer nature coulde frame of whome you shall heare no more in this booke for that in the seconde booke it shall bée declared at large of him The king went forth till he came to the chiefe place of the Citie there to méet with the Emperour whereas likewise he met with this old and auncient King who boowing his knées to the earth and shedding of many teares with ioye receiued him saying O high and mightie Emperour giue me héere your hands that I may discharge the dutie that all humane creatures do owe vnto your highnesse how much more I that am bounde therevnto for that with so much firmenesse thou wouldest confirme thy oath and take the charge in thine owne person to worke my reuengement The Emperour was in a great confusion to heare himselfe named and neuer gaue anye in all that lande to vnderstand thereof but strayght waye hée suspected that Lirgandeo should aduise him of his comming And héerewith vsing of his accustomed bountie hée tooke him by the hand and lifted him from the grounde saying Good King the debt which thou sayst is due vnto me thou hast repayed in showing the noblenesse of thy heart and courage and otherwise I am constrained by y e order of knighthood and iustice to make reuengement of that cursed facte which was without all pitie committed vpon thy daughter And seeing that there can be no other remedy but onely reuengement héere of my part I doo offer thée to doo all that in my power is possible to be done desiring thée that thou restraine these teares and giue order that with great spéede there may be ioyned together all thy power to the end that we maye goe and conclude that which in me lyeth The King with a sad voyce aunswered High and mightie Emperour this hath bene prouided for before for all my people and shires are at an houres warning to goe to the ayding of so iust a cause and we tarryed for nothing but onely your royall person who must be the sword of my reuengement Thus with these and such like communications they went vnto the Kings pallaice which was hanged all with blacke clothes for others he would not consent to haue hanged since the death of his daughter Herea There was the Emperour vnarmed and serued with as great highnesse and honour as though he had bene in Grecia Notwithstanding the Emperour would not soiourne nor rest there much for the next daye in the morning he commaunded that all th◠people should march forwards vnto a hauen which was at the vttermost parts of all the Kingdome wheras they found ships and barkes of all sortes verye well furnished of all things that was néedfull There was thrée hundred ships one with another in the which there was imbarked fiftie thousand Moores meruailously well appointed and committing their sayles vnto the winde all this Nauie tooke theyr voyage towards Numidia So they nauigated and founds the winde fauourable which brought them vnto a porte or hauen which was but two leagues from the Kings house There with great ioy and pleasure they went a shore with out any resistaunce or gainsaying So when they were all out of the shippes a lande they displayed their ancients and in very good order they marched forwards And at such time as Apollo had made an ende of his iourney and that the darke night came on they came in sight of the Citie and without taking any rest towards the lande side they pitched their tents and fortified themselues in the best wise they could in such sort as their good Captaine which did gouerne them had commaunded without dooing any thing to the contrary So when all things was put in good order as they would haue it he commaunded that all the armie should go vnto the gate of the Citie that was most néerest the which was straight waye done and in thrée dayes after they did no other thing but ease and rest themselues for that the people were somewhat out of quiet with their great trauayle The fourth daye the Emperour séeing that there was no sturring in the Citie the which was done by pollicie tarying to sée what the enimies would doo the Emperour called for his armour and being armed there was brought a verye fayre and mightie horse vnto him and with his accustomed courage he issued out from amongst his companye and rode towards the wall of the Citie and put himselfe into a faire gréene playne nigh vnto the walls and lifting vp the visour of his healme he set his horne vnto his mouth and did sound it very strongly which was to warne them that were in the Citie to come to the walls and harken what he would saye and when he sawe that there was much people attending to heare him he began to saye O King Noraldino of Numidia how carelesse thou art in this thy strong countrey thinking that the strength thereof will defende thée that thou payest not the price of thy naughtie treason which thou didst vse with that vnfortunate Herea Take vnto thée thy armour and for that thou hadst a heart to commit this euill déede haue now likewise a courage to make thy defence come foorth of these thy walls thou traitour and destroyer of the royall bloud All they which were on the walls did heare the threatenings and straight waye went and tolde it vnto the king of Numidia who was at that time in communication of warres and of armyes and of all things that belonged therevnto and when he hearde these newes giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh ye Gods are not you content to sée me in this perplexitie and so much wronged but likewise with sound of trumpet suffer me to be outraged in calling me traytor These fayned griefes and sorrowfull words had so much force that it moued the harts of the Princes that were with him for to goe out into the field for his defence and in great hast they commaunded that their harnesse shuld be brought vnto them with determination to dye or to defend his cause And there was none that had any feare but onely the Gyant for that he would not giue any credit vnto the Kings words although he dissembled neuer so muuch but by reason that he had sworne therevnto hée was constrayned by his oath
that thou hast brought vs vnto this estate that crueltie should gouern our wills without hauing power to doe any other thing The King when he saw that the Knights were very earnest began to sweare with great oaths that his cause was iust and that he had tolde vnto them the truth of the matter and if so be that the Emperour had tolde them any other thing it was onely to deceiue them and to tourne them that they should not make his defence and charged them againe with their oath which they had made and how that they had giuen their words to be his vpholder and defender This worthy Dacian tourning vnto his companions sayd Knightes what doo you thinke in this matter what is it best that we doo héerein For well you doo sée that we are so bewrapte bound one against another and cousin against cousin yet for all that we cannot by any meanes excuse the battaile So they did all determine to retourne vnto the Emperour and to desire him for to accept it in good part and to leaue off that battaile to make theÌ„ beléeue that he was falsly informed when they came vnto him they said Worthy Emperour and our onely Lord looke well vnto this false information wherewith they haue informed you and hauing well considered thereof we doo all request you for the loue which vnto your sonnes and cousins and vnto all your friendes you doo owe that it may moue you to take no occasion to put vs into this extremitie for that by anie meanes we cannot goe from our oath and word Unto the which the Emperour answered and sayd My louing friends if that you haue giuen your word and oath to procure to make defence of so false a King doo you likewise indeuour to performe the same for the like will I doe to accomplish that which I haue promised for that there is no more reason for the one then for the other But this one thing I doe tell you that it is very apparant that you will maintaine the treason of this false King as it appereth plainly by many reasons which I haue told vnto you and the principall cause wherin you maye sée plainely his treason and falshoode is the little hast that hée doeth make himselfe vnto the battaile and if he knew that he dooâ—h maintaine the truth let him come forth and make his owne defence At the which reasons they all helde theyr peace considering the great reason which the Emperour had declared and determined that the next daie they woulde conclude what were best to bée done so these sixe knights returned vnto the Citie and the Emperour vnto the campe Of all this that happened he that receiued the most contentment was the Prince Eleno for he desired verye much to retourne vnto the Citie for that at his departure he left his Lady very sicke so that he thought not to finde her aliue and comming to the Citie hée was no sooner alighted from his horse but hée went straight vnto her Chamber whereas hée found her with a mightie burning ague and séeing her in that case he was as one that was beside himselfe and the more that her ague increased the more furious she did shew her selfe and farther out of quiet So this gréeuous and sicke Ladie did aske paper and inke for to write a few lines vnto him which was the causer of all this her harme and making an ende of her writing without power to doo any other thing with the great féeblenesse shée felt she fell downe vpon her pillowe speaking vnto Eleno she sayd Ualiant knight behold héere thy Lidia at her last ende for that there doth not remaine in me strength for to giue thée thankes for so great benefits as I haue receiued at thy handes yet I carrie one great comfort with me which is y â— although I dye yet thy great loyaltie doeth not dye neyther my firme faith and although I was vnloued of an vnfaythfull Knight yet am I beloued of the most couragious knight in the worlde This sorrowfull and troubled Prince woulde not suffer her to goe forwards with her talke but with shedding of manie teares from his eyes he sayd Oh my swéete Mistresse doe not giue me to vnderstande that thou wilt dye if that thou meane I shall remaine aliue Oh my loue I would rather that my heart shoulde be parted in twaine by the greatest enimie that I haue then to remaine without thée Oh my louing Mistres let this thy youthfull yeres and great beautie which thou hast incourage thée die not in this order this feeble Lidia for to shew with more feruentnesse the good will which she did owe vnto the Pâ—â—â—ce for his great curtesie forced her selfe to holde vp her head and he lifted it vp with such quicknesse as though her weake members had felt no griefe as though the furie of that burning ague was not able to resist her but with the force of loue she sate vp in her beâ— and with her face of a fiery colour she sayd My Lord time doth not giue me anye place that with words I might gratifie the great courtesie that of thée I haue receiued for that I doo feele that the hower is come and that the three fatall sisters haue the thred of my life betwéene the edges of their shéeres so that it lacketh nothing but to put them together insomuch that I miserable creature doo féele my soule tremble in my flesh at this my last hower But one thing oh my swéete and true louer I will desire thée before that I doo dye which is that thou wouldest procure that this letter maye bée giuen vnto that cruell Knight who hath brought me vnto this estate giuing him to vnderstande of this my troublesome death the occasion whereof was his vnreasonable crueltie And making an end of saying this this miserable Lady fell downe without hauing any more strength to sit vp but let the letter fall out of her hande before her true louer who tooke it vp and sayd Oh all my ioye what a cruell knife is this to my heart to heare thy complayntes in giuing me to vnderstande the great crueltie that loue hath vsed against thée without anye desert or reason and verely I doo beléeue that these thy great thoughts and griefes but most of all thy absence wil be the occasion of my death And if y â— my enimies are not of power to giue it me héere I doo sweare vnto thee by the great and true loue which I beare vnto thée that I my selfe with my owne hands will procure to pull this heart out of his place for that it knew not how to giue thée contentment paying therwith y e dutie y t I ow vnto thée O happy Brenio that didst obtaine so much grace fauour at Venus handes for to be beloued of the flower of all beautie The Clime in the which thou wert borne was not so happie as to the contrarie my
griefe at these my lamentations it may giue place that I may sée thee let this my anguish gréeue thée my Lidia likewise let this my misfortune gréeue thée But alasse what shall I say is it not sufficient that the great paine that I doe sustaine for thy death but I must bewaile my owne sorrowe Oh mistres at thy death thou madest an end of all thy paines and mine doth more and more increase And in saying these and such like lamentations he drew out his Dagger and with the point he wrote an Epitaph which was as followeth HEere Lidia lou'de and vnbelou'de doth lie Whose great good will to her small good did bring She loue did feele which causelesse did applie to her perforce of death the bitter sting And though her corps inclosed heere doth lie her lucklesse fate and fame will neuer die So when he had made this Epitaph he arose vp saying héere I doe promise thée Lidia since my fortune is such that I haue lost thée there is no other that shall enter into this my heart and hard breast But how can I saie that it is hard did it not open at the houre when it felt thy absence and so without saying anie more he went out of the temple with all the rest of his companions and taking their horses they altogether issued out of the citie at such time as the Emperor was arming himselfe in his rich tent The fierce king of Sardenia when he sawe that they returned againe vnto y â— which the daie before they did intreate of he could not bée in quiet but sayde O king that for the defence of thy person wée must contende with that man whome we most estéeme and thou must remaine in the field onely for the shew of a knight and we inforced to finish the harme wherof thou art the occasion Well doo not thou thinke that it shall be so but perswade thy selfe that thou shalt be the first in the incounter that thou maist proue how euill it is to suffer the â—urie of the Emperour of Grecia O worthie king of Sardenia answered the king of Numidia how the great affection which thou hast vnto the Emperour doth cause thée not to giue credit vnto this my iustice and right Héere I doe require thée by the oath which thou madest vnto me that thou be the first to put thy selfe in the defence of my person To which the Sardenian aunswered First the heauen and the earth shall ioyne together before that I wil consent that my arme shal mooue it selfe against him whom I take for my Lord and master And héere I saye vnto thée oh king that if thou dooest but once againe will me héereto I sweare to thée by the soueraigne God that neither thy power nor all thy subiects shall be able to deliuer thée out of my hands So their communication was cut off by séeing the Emperour to come towards them vpon a very faire horse who showed so greate furie that it was a wonder to sée At this present time there appeared comming from those parts which was towardes the sea two Knights who were very well armed If you do remember these were the two valiant warriours the prince of the Sunne and the strong Sardenian The great desire that the Emperour had to sée himselfe with the Numidian was the occasion that he little estéemed the tarrying for those two knights for that he thought the houre was come of the battaile and that the defender should be as he had demaunded that false King and traitour he put himselfe forwardes towards the place wheras the Princes and the king came And when they wer together these Princes with very faire and amorous wordes and of great fidelitie indeuoured so perswade the Emperour for to leaue the battaile and that therein they should receiue meruailous great contentment if he would accept it The knight of y â— sunne stood did behold their reasonings did looke for no other thing but furious battaile by all tokens y t they shewed with their handes and other demeanors of their bodies knowing fiue of the knightes he very much meruailed what shoulde be the occasion and with this desire he had to knowe what should moue them to this controuersie he sawe a Lackie which passed by and he called him asked of him in the Saracen tongue saieng Friend tell me if thou cannest what is the occason that doth cause them to make this cruell and furious battaile and who they be that doo make it This Lackie by the riches of his armour and by his good proportion iudged him to bée a knight of estimation he saide Gentle Knight the cause of this controuersie and defence if I should stand to tell you it all it would be verie tedious but of all the rest that thou doest aske me I will giue thée to vnderstand that which I dooe knowe You shall vnderstand that the knight which is alone is the mightie Emperour Trebatio of Greece and that which hée doth maintaine is great iustice and right and will giue great punishment for the same which is that that the others doe defend The knight of the Sunne was very much amazed at that which he hearde and therewith he went towardes them before they had made an end of their reasoning and so without anie shew of trouble he sayd vnto the Prince of Dacia who was still sore troubled with the sorrowe as you haue heard Art thou Don Eleno of Dacia my cousin and brothers sonne vnto the Emperour my Lord and Father I am he aunswered the Dacian who ought not for to dye before I giue thée thy death for that thou hast caused so much euill to come vpon me that liuing I doe now die The knight of the Sunne béeing almost in a confusion to beare his drie reasons answered Louing cousin I féele my selfe somewhat troubled at these thy wordes and greatly amazed that thou art fallen into so great pride to lift vp thy armed hand against thy naturall parents and more béeing informed that which thou doest pretend to defend is apparant treason The Prince Eleno did cut of his talke and said Oh my cousin héere I doe tell thée that I doe séeke no other thing but death therefore procure to giue it mée for that I shal thinke my selfe happie to die in thy hands notwithstanding defend thy selfe as thou wert wont to do for that thou knowest it doth so behooue thée With this furie and forgetfull vnderstanding speking no more words he turned about his horse crying out and saying I will liue no longer seeing I haue lost that beside which to me can be no greater losse The knight of the Sun verie much meruailed at these his short reasons not knowing of anie thing that had happened vnto him wondering that his true heart should commit or maintain such wrongs he turned about his horse for to make his defence in such sort that all the knights that were there were not sufficient to disturbe
the colde earth With no lesse complaint this excellent Queene did celebrate that of the Emperour And if at that present she had seene that which afterwarde she did see as shall be tolde you in the third booke of this historie much more she woulde haue complained Then she went vnto the other side of the hall to knowe the occasion of that grieuous complaint she saw likewise y t they mourned ouer other two knights plainely she did know one of them to be Rosicleer but the other she did not know for that it was the king Sacridoro whom she had neuer seene for at such time as the queene came to Grecia he was gone to his owne kingdome to take his ease and the chiefe of those which did lament mourne ouer Rosicleer she knew to be his mother the Empresse of Grecia who with deadly griefe and anguish sayd Oh my sonne the cause of all this my bitter torment thou my sonne art in continuall rest and hast left thy sorrowfull mother in continuall lamentation Oh wounded heart what sorrowfull and bitter dayes shalt thou passe without anie contentment ah my Rosicleer wherefore wâ—rt thou so cruel that thou wouldest not call me thy sorrowfull mother that in this tâ—aunce she might haue borne thee companie The valiaunt Queene felt no lesse sorrowe and griefe to see this second companie then at the sight of the first but the lamentable and sorrowful words which the Empresse vttered did moue her to beare her companie if that at that time shée had not séene come forth at a doore which was in the hall a Ladie séeming to bée of great authoritie accompanyed with two faire Nymphs all apparelled in russet Satten pinked cut and lined with gréene Satten which coulours were verie pleasant and greatly delighted the sight And when shée came nigh vnto the quéene she sayd Knight whosoeuer thou art and doest shew thy selfe to be so furious why doest thou hearken and giue eare vnto this lamentation tell mée out of hande without anie farther delaie who thou art wherefore thou commest hether for that thou shalt vnderstand that this place is prohibited to all knightes except he first bring with him some signe or token of the braunch of y e trée wheras he who was murtherer to his owne daughter is inchanted so y t if it hath ben thy fortune to atchieue y e cutting either of the braunch of gold or siluer shew it me forthwith if not vnderstand that thou shalt die a terrible death This worthie Quéene who with a sober countenaunce gaue eare vnto the sayings of the Ladie and beholding much her great sobrietie likewise the beautie of those which bare her companie held vp the braunch of siluer in her hande and with a high voyce she sayd Ladie I woulde not haue ben so bolde to haue approched hether except I had brought with me the token which you speake off therefore I ought not to incurre the paine prouided beholde is this it which you sée and therwith shée shewed her braunch The Ladie when she knew that to be the braunch of the trée that she spake of did abate her anger that she before had and shewed a merrie countenaunce and taking her right hand from the shoulder of the Nymph she laide holde on the armed hand of the quéene and holding it verie fast she sayd Excellent Ladie many dayes past I was giuen to vnderstand of thy great worthinesse and that thou shouldest giue some contentment vnto y e afflicted hearts wherefore come with me and I will shew thée my habitation for that vnto thée the sight hath bene graunted and not vnto anie other come on Ladie and reioyce the selfe in the sight of that which héereafter shall come to passe without all doubt And in saying these wordes she carried her in at the same doore whereas shée came forth in great hast for that shée did knowe the tendernesse of her heart which was mooued by the lamentation shée heard and there shewed vnto her greate riches and verie faire buildinges but especiallye shée carryed her into a verie faire and foure square Court which had at euerie corner foure pillers and vpon the toppe of eyther of them an Image meruailously wrought and euerie one of them had his title written what it did signifie and shée tolde her that those which shée had shewed her were kings and Princes and famous Lordes that were there inchaunted And how that all that should be made frustrate by one of the best knightes in all the world who shall bring for his deuice blased on his shéelde a braunch of golde signifieng the same which she sawe in the first Court in the which was inchaunted the Emperour of Aegypt Likewise he shall deliuer the daughter of the sayd Emperour whome hée supposeth he hath murthered and shée was the fayrest Damosell in the whole world And for that in the end of the third booke of this historie shall be declared the rest where you shall receiue more contentment in the reading Lyrgandeo will now goe no farther héerein And telling vnto her these and many other thinges they went farther and passed through verie manie and fayre halls the which were adorned with the stories of the notable actes of worthie knights but in one hall in the middest of a Cloth shée sawe the Picture of a knight of a greate stature who was nine foote in height and armed with Purple armour and his shéelde of the same coulour without hauing anie deuice and his face was verie fayre The Quéene coulde not by any meanes but by sight thereof staie a while and beholde his greate beautie and felt within her heart a new and strange wrastling of loue which tourned afterwarde into an amorous fire This Ladie did well perceiue her newe imaginations and with a gracious smiling shée tooke her by the hande and carried her out of that Chamber although shée coulde not bring her out of her newe conceit shée went out so troubled that all which the Ladie shewed her afterwardes shée little respected and when she thought least shée found her selfe out of the Pallaice betweene the déepe Moate and the fayre and rich walles euen as one that had béene newe awaked out of his sléepe and tourning her selfe vnto the Ladie dissembling her newe paine she sayde Ladie I dooe not desire héere to haue gotten more honour then in that I haue obtayned the knowledge and secreate of so notable a thing as this which you haue discouered vnto mée and more to haue atchieued the desert of this braunch so that by you it be graunted that I maye carrye it with mée So the Ladie tooke the siluer braunch in her hande and made it verie small to the bignesse of a sâ—anne in length and put it vppon her healme and made it so fast and firme as though it had bene wrought in by force of workmanshippe and made it to extend the siluer leaues on the one side and on the other with great subtiltâ—e that it
the battaile with the Quéene of Lyra with a sober countenaunce he sayd Knight although my fame be not such as you haue héere published yet demanding any of this with equitie as you doe certifie me you will I cannot but graunt it vnto thée And therefore héere I doe giue thée lisence that thou maist propone all that thy pleasure is although it be against my selfe The Knight who was very attendaunt to all that the Emperour sayd and saw that license was granted him to aske at his pleasure he sayd O mightie Prince I would to God that my demaund were not that which it is that without it I might inioye and comfort my selfe in beeing in your company and the more that I doo certifie my selfe of thy vertue I doo finde my selfe the more troubled meruailing how that in so noble a person should remaine so great naughtinesse as that which thou didst vse with the Quéene of Tinacria who comforting refreshing thée when thou arriuedst there in great pouertie and distresse in the ende thou didst leaue her very sorrowfull and made a mock of her Looke well vnto it Emperour for that thou canst not make satisfaction for so great a fault neyther will shée take any of thée except it be with sending thy head I will not that thou makest any amends but that for her I doo defie thée to mortall battaile onely thy person and mine together that I may fulfill the promise that I haue made vnto her and if it so fall out that Fortune be to me contrary I will remaine for the payment of my fullye with my heade out from my shoulders And with this he helde his peace and looking on the one side and on the other very ioyfull to sée so goodly a company of Knights as was at y e time with the Emperour he expected his aunswere The Emperour who well vnderstoode his reasons without showing any alteration in his countenaunce aunswered I doo not knowe whether my aunswere shall be sufficient for to excuse the fault which the Queene without all reason doth burden me with For the which valiant Knight I wold as the Quéene hath tolde you the little reason that I had so she shuld haue tolde you the great reason I had to doo that which I did Héere I doo certefie thée that my thought doth not deserue that she should be vnto me so cruell nor extend so farre for to desire my death And certainly in this the Quéene hath no reason for that the head of Trebatio maye doo her more seruice liuing then it can doo being dead but séeing it is her will Héere I doo tell thée that so long as I doo liue I will practise no other thing but onely to pacifie her and so lykewise will I procure to keepe and defende my head and not onely mine owne but also the heads of those which at her commaundement doo come thinking to take away mine in this she shal vnderstand how much I am desirous to serue her The battaile heere I doe graunt it vnto thee and if thou wilt let it be out of hand and heere I doe promise thee Knight to procure to keâ—pe my head and likewise to keepe thine Oh how the Moore found himselfe troubled when hee heard the Emperours answere and the little reckoning that he made of the battaile and somewhat touched in pride hee replyed and sayd I know well Emperour that the greate coÌ„fidence which thou hast in thy self maketh thee to esteeme little of the King of the Garamantes whom thou hast in thy presence but I doe hope and trust in Mahomet that before one hower when we are in the field to make thee to lose thy confidence And in saying these words he went downe out of the Pallaice and leapt vp vpon his horse and went into the fielde which was right agaynst the Pallaice ordayned for such like occasions The Emperour demaunded for his armour and called for that with the starres the same which the Queene Garrofilea gaue him So in a trice he was armed not without many teares of the Empresse who sayd Ah my Lord I do well vnderstand that of so long absence there can grow nothing but great troubles as doth appeare by this sodaine battaile The Emperor not letting her to go forwards with her talke but casting both his armes about her necke and with shewe of great loue he sayd Thou my Lady and Empresse wert the occasion of all that euill for if it had not bene onely for the losse of thy sight I vowe that thy Emperour would first haue dyed the death then merited the name to be disloyall And that in not fulfilling her intent there should not onelye haue happened one euill but a great number So it was Gods will that I shuld escape out of the battaile as more at large I will tell you hauing more leasure And in this manner hée departed from the Empresse leauing her verie sadde and sorrowfull And the Emperour went to take his horse carrying with him the king of Lacedemonia who carryed his healme and the Prince Claueryndo who carryed his shéeld his speare the Prince of Hungaria carryed And when they went forth of the gates of the Pallaice they beganne to sound a greate number of instruments which indured till such time as they were entered into the field whereas he put on his healme and the rest of his armour giuen him which those Princes did carrie So with a gallant demeanour he put himselfe on the one part of the field awaiting a token or signe that shuld be giuen them So it was not long after that the Prince Bargandel did sound a Clarion the which he had in his hand at the sound whereof they ranne one against another with great furie and in the middest of their course they gaue such incounters with their Speares not missing of their blowes but it was with so great force that they brake all to small pâ—eces and without doing anie harme the one vnto the other they passed along and straight wayes turned their horses about with their swords in their handes The Moore when he sawe that the Emperour remained in his saddle hée was ashamed for that he did beléeue that onely with one blowe with his Speare to make an end of all that worke his force and strength was such And as you doo see a fierce Lyâ—n constraineâ— by hunger to goe out of her caue and followeth her praie with great desire to fill her paunch euen so and rather with more furie went this Pagan casting his sheeld at his backe he griped his sword in both his hands raising himselfe in his stirrops he strâ—ke such a blowe that whether he would or not he made the Emperour to fall downe vpon his horse necke and was so without remembraunce that he made his sword fall out of his hands and hang by y e chaine and his armes hung so loose as though he had bene dead and his horse was so afraide that a while he
The giant stood did behold him very much with a fearful countenance his eies turned into a sanguin coulour laughing or smiling in manner of mocking he said I sée without anie outward proofe but onely by thy foolish wordes that thou art but a young and new made knight as such a one I wil estéeme intreate thée if my comming hether were not more for a messenger then for a warriour for this thy boldnesse which thou dost shew I would vse thée in such sort y t thy answere shuld little auaile thée yet I should remaine satisfied of all y e anger which thou hast caused me to haue The prince Claridiano when he heard that with so great disdaine he was rauiled with as much anger he went towards him and with an altered voice he sayd By all the Gods that are in heauen I sweare vnto thée if I did not consider respect the curtesie which is due and ought to be shewed to Embassadours I would bereaue thée of this thy brauerie in such sort y t when thou art before such a king as now thou art thou shouldest bridle thy tongue euer after haue in remembraunce y e punishment y t I would giue thée but not respecting thy follie but onely my estate I will stay my selfe from correcting of this thy ouermuch pride The wrath of this Gyant was so much wheÌ„ he heard himself so reuiled y t he could not by anie meanes refraine himselfe but layd hand on his sword and went towards the Prince Claridiano and threatened him with a very mightie and strong blow striking at his head The prince when he saw the blow comming retired with a light leape which was y e occasion y t he failed of his blowe by reâ—son of the great strength wherwith it was stroke the sword fell out of his hands and flew along the floore of the great hall the Prince without drawing his sworde with a trice ioyned with him entering in at his left side with his fist he stroke him so strong and mightie a blow vpon y e mouth that if his hand had ben armed it had ben the last which the Gyant should haue receiued yet for all that it did so much harme that his téeth fell out leauing his mouth all bloudie with the great strength of the blow it made him to fall backwards on his backe and with the great paine which he felt he scantly knew where he was The Prince when hée sawe this stayed without doing anie more harme for y t hée would not disgrace the king but put himself on the one side the king did shew himselfe verie much gréeued for y t he was an Embassadour for if it had not ben done by him which did it who so euer els should haue done it would hardly haue escaped w tout punishment And for to appease y e messenger he arose out of his seat and did helpe to take vp the Gyaunt looking toward Claridiano he sayd Brother I would y t this thing had not chaunced by thy hands for that all this harme which you haue done vnto Bruno is done vnto me not vnto him TheÌ„ this valiant Prince sayd Hold your peace my Lord for those vâ—â—urteous messengers such as do digresse goe from that which they are commaunded should not alonely be intreated in this sort but also loose their liues and haue their tongues cut out Bruno did complaine him verie much of the griefe seeing himselfe without téeth and so dishonoured he blasphemed against his Gods but this inuinsible Gréeke made little account of any such thing but turned himselfe toward Bruno sayd Now maist thou returne in the diuells name tel thy brother the Prince of pride that he doth commaund to plaister and cure thy téeth for that from hence thou goest well cured of thy great folly Also thou shalt tell him of my parte that as I haue hurt thée with the strength of my fist so I will vse him with the sharpe edge of my sworde gouerned with the selfe same arme that vnto thée hath done this damage And I doe héere hope in such sort to search that proude bodie of his that all the worlde may take an ensample by him and his pride Bruno who was at the point of death with the great paine he felt vnderstood all that was spoken and without making anie aunswere hee went out of the kings Pallaice and returned vnto his Galleyes where hée was cured and put his Sailes into the power of the winde and in a verie short time he ariued at Arginaria and went a shoare carrying all his face wrapt and bound with bondes and rowles of linnen cloth and his mouth all to be plaistred In this sorte he went and presented himselfe before his brother and sayd I haue giuen thy Embassage vnto king Delfo as thou hast commaunded me and to giue me aunswere there arose vp a new and young knight whom I doe beleeue and as I haue proued the same that he hath in his bodie all the infernall strength and in his fistes all the Legyons of diuells that are in hell as it did appeare by the greate furye wherewith he hurt mée that he did not onely strike out my téeth but also threw me to the ground as though I had bene a child This proud Gyant the king of Arginaria when hée heard all that his brother had sayd with a terrible blaring noise that he made all the Pallaice to shake sayde O vile coward and is it possible that with fistes lyke a vile vilaine he made thée to fall in such sorte that thou diddest kisse the ground with thy mouth Bruno answered Brother I dooe sweare vnto thée by the high Iupiter that if thou hadst proued as I haue done the strength of his â—istes thou wouldest not reuile me in this sort And héere I do giue thée to vnderstand that he sayd and bad me in his parte to tell thée that if from me he hath taken awaie my fore téeth that he will not onelye take awaie thine but also thy double téeth and thy life But when this Arginarian king heard this hee arose vp and went from him with so much wrath and anger that he séemed rather a Diuell then a man and without taking anie farther counsell he commaunded to assemble all his people together and that they should bée called with all the spéed that possible might bée and when they were come all together he found that there were two thousand horse men and sixe thousand foote men made Captaine generall ouer them two Gyants brothers y t were Lordes of one Iland ioyning vnto his Iland called Bisperia And he commaunded them to imbarke themselues with great furie and when they wer all imbarked he commanded to hoyse vp anker and to commit their sayles vnto the winde y t which they found prosperous and brought them vnto the Iland of Trapobana and without any impediment or disturbaunce
striking of him but wheÌ„ the Prince felt himselfe cléere of the paine and that hée was able to lift vp his arme hée tooke the mase in both his hands and setled his féet verie strong on the ground and kept in his breath that he might with more strength discarge his blow detayning it till such time as the Gyants blow was stroke which was with so great strength that falling on y e ground the sword entered into the earth more then halfe of it and it was the occasion that the Prince had better time for to execute his mightie and determined blowe and discharging it with two of the balls of stéele which hung at the mases end he let driue such a blowe on the Gyaunt that he made him to stoope with both his knées to the ground and séeing him in that plight he stroke at him another blowe which was vppon his helme which gaue such a sound as though it had ben stroke vpon a bell wherewith he fell with all his bodie to the ground and stretched out his huge members making no more mouing and when this new knight sawe that he mooued not he pulled of his healme and perceiued that the blowe was such that it beate out his eyes and the braines out of his head Then the young Prince gaue thankes vnto the Gods for that he had no perfect knowledge of his descent nor anie lyght that he was a christian taking vp the mase he layd it on his shoulder and with great quietnesse he went vnto the Citie and straight way there came vnto him Galtenor the king Delfo with a great number more of knights that had bene beholding the furious battaile who did imbrase him with so great ioy and loue that I am not héere able to expresse it and did request him that he woulde goe and lye downe for that they iudged he should be verie weary He was so much importunated by so many knights that he could doo no otherwise but goe take his rest and lie downe wheras he was cured healed of such blowes as he had receiued which was black and blew and there was ministred vnto him such ointments as did mitigate the painâ—s and griefes which hée had receiued So all those which came with the Gyant when that they sawe their Lord was dead they receiued no sorrow nor griefe thereat for they could not 〈◊〉 his great pride euill conditions for they did not onely 〈◊〉 him but they did desire that he might die a naughtie death make a short and euill end And in this sort as you do sée the intreating of this Gyant of his subiects so are all them that be of so great priâ—e intreated in all the world he was scarce dead when y t all those of the kingdome of Arginaria were very ioyfull to sée it so come to passe and were verie desirous to yéeld vp vnto Galtenor his right and inheritance and sent straight waies Embassadours to the Citie whereas he was promising to giue him peaceable entring into the kingdome as vnto their naturall king Lord and iustly discharging themselues of all wherein they were found guiltie The messengers were meruailously well receiued of Galtenor and with great loue and he did accept their offer So it fell out that in one daye was the Gyant Geredeon king and Lord of Arginaria and in the selfe same daie was Galtenor with great contentment vnto all the people of the Ilande And when he sawe himselfe that he was Lorde of that which he so greatly desired he straight wayes dispatched messengers for his kingdome in giuing them to vnderstande of all that passed in the which they did reioyce verye much and with excéeding greate good will they receiued all the newes which was sent and were as glad of the death of Geredeon as they were of restoring of the kingdome vnto Galtenor In few dayes after was Claridiano come againe to his strength and made whole which was so great ioye and pleasure vnto the King Delfo that vnto his iudgement he needed not to desire anye other thing So when the messengers were retourned y t they sent vnto Arginaria they did determine for that all the countrey should â—e put in good order that Galtenor shoulde depart for that part out of hand who did procure to cary with him Claridiano but the King Delfo would not consent vnto it by any meanes for the which the king Galtenor went away greatly discontented And when he came vnto his kingdome they receiued him with great pompe and honour and with great delight to sâ—â— their naturall Lord and there was nonâ— that made any resistaunce against the receiuing of his possession for that one sonne which the Giaunt left and his brother Bruno were gone into the Iland of Vespeâ—a of whom in the third part of this historie shall be tolde vnto you And now it is necessarie to leaue the King Delfo and the King of Arginaria with the great delight of their victorie and to retourne vnto the noble Emperour whome we lefâ—e with his furious and well foughten battaile in the first part of this booke with the King of the Garamantes who had giuen the Emperour so great a blow that he left him without fâ—eling But when the Emperour was come again vnto him selfe he tourned about his horse with more fury then the Lioâ—s in the wayne of the mother Idea when that with a furious rage they moued against that sorrowfull Atis in y â— desart mountaines of Phrigia In such sort went this fierce Emperour with his sword all a lofte and stroke him such a terrible blow vpon his shield that parting it in two peeces ioyntly with his helme and head he fell downe dead to the ground the which did grieue the Emperour very much for that he could not performe that which he had promised vnto him So when this was finished the Emperour retourned vnto his pallaice whereas he was receiued with great soâ—â—â—nitie of instruments and vnarmed by the Empresse betwéene whom there passed many swéete and amorous spéâ—ches touching the communication that they had before the battaile began And the next day openly they returned vnto the same talke but they were cut off by a straunge aduenture which entered into the hall as shall be declared vnto you in this chapter following How a Damosell messenger from the Queene of Tinacria brought a letter vnto the Emperor of Grecia and of all that passed about the same Cap. 3. ALthough I alwayes purpose to seperate my selfe in my discourses froÌ„ y e fraudes which that most cruell Venus doth manye times vse accompanyed with the deceiptes of hir sonne yet am I constrained to speake some thing therof and to leaue the stout strong Mars with his sword in his hande tourning my pen for to tell vnto you her cruelties and disordinate customes You doo well remember of the amorous wrath that the Quéene of Tinacria had against the Emperour of Grecia and what in that furious rage
she did ordayn and how that she commaunded a faithfull damsell of hers to carry a letter vnto the Emperour of Grecia who made so much hast that shée ariued at Constantinople at such time as the battel betwéen the Emperour and the king of the Garamantes began And when she saw the vnhappy ende of the King she receiued great griefe being informed of the occasion of all the battell and wherefore it was made So with this griefe for that night she went and tooke her lodging whereas she remained till y e next day in y e morning at such time as y e Emperour was with the Empresse and many other Knights in great ioy pastimes talking of the occasion of the battaile that was y e day before At that time entred the quéenes damsel with a seuere countenance and without making any reuerence she went vnto the Emperour said Emperour much more valiant and mightie than loyall and faithfull the vnhappy quéene of Tinacria doth send me vnto thée that thou maist read this letter and thereby vnderstand the great tyranny without all reason that thou didst vse against her The Emperour with an amorous smiling did receiue it sayd Thou art welcome and for the letter of the quéene the receipt thereof doth giue me great delight to know and vnderstand of her highnes And therewith he opened the letter and reading it found that that therein was contained that which followeth The vnhappy and vnfortunate Quéene of Tinacria vnto the disloyall Emperour of Grecia can send nor wish no saâ—utation for hauing no health my selfe I cannot send it vnto him that so much without loue by crueltie hath forgotten me I cannot but lament and complain me of thée vnto the Gods considering that without any refuge thou camst vnto my kingdome whereas thou hadst no other hope but of death and I procured to delyuer thée from it and sought it for my selfe what occasion hadst thou O Emperor that thou wouldest not retourne to sée me In me thou foundest so much fidelitie that I did furnish thée with armour and horse that with them thou shouldst delyuer me from those which did séeke to haue me against my will But I with my good will did yéeld my selfe I say my selfe vnto him which now doth séeke my death Ah Emperour remember that I sawe thée depriued of all helpe an vnhappy day for me for y t in making much of thée and giuing thée ioye I bereaued my selfe of all and lost the possession of my libertie and honour and although thou hadst not estéemed nor tooke any care of the sorrowfull Quéene of Tinacria yet thou shouldest not haue moued thy selfe to haue made a mocke of the perfecte loue which I did shew thée and the great desire that I had to serue thée Thou shouldest haue had some care and griefe séeing that I defended thée from all my Nobles Knights who sought thy death thou hauing depriued so manye of my knights of their liues thou shouldest haue had pitie of theÌ„ that had pitie on thée O loue that so quickly diddest make me blinde depriuedst me of the knowledge which I should haue had vnto my royall highnesse O Emperour of Grecia I being blinde with the loue of thée did deny my honestie which I ought to haue kepte If thou hadst pretended to mocke me thou shouldst haue put me out of all doubt and not haue suffered me to loose so much as I haue lost for thy sake but haue procured that I might haue eschewed all this harme whereof thou hast bene the occasion Tell me why didst thou not suffer me to execute my will y t I might haue opened my white breast with that sharpe sword it had ben better for me to haue dyed then than now for now liuing for thée I dayly dye Remember thy selfe Emperour and behold the harme that will come héerof and doo not vse so much crueltie with them that haue not deserued it at thy handes Haue thou a care vnto the pawn which thou didst leaue behinde thée let it be an occasion that thou dost retourne to sée me Do not giue an occasioÌ„ y t my children remain motherles in y e power of them for thou doest not knowe what my subiects will doo O Emperour of Grecia I doo still tarry looke for thée y t which hope doth cause me to suffer this cruell paine if thou dost send my trustie messenger without it I shall be driuen to do y t of which thou hadst ben better thou hadst not disturbed me at the first But now it shal be in this manner that if thou dost giue ease vnto me I will procure thine in such sort as possibly I may So that Emperour I doo tarie thy comming or els answere of my death And doo not iudge this which I doo to be of great boldenesse for that Loue doth commaund it By her which without all regard or any foresight did yeeld vnto thee her libertie When he had made an ende of reading y e letter he could not haue so much sufferance with himselfe but with y e teares which distilled from his eyes he must néedes shewe the paine which his hearte indured for the sorrowfull complaintes which that lamentable and complaining Letter did vtter The Damosell which brought the Letter all the time that the Emperour was reading of it she neuer withdrewe her eyes from looking on him and when she sawe that he had made an ende of reading it she sayde Wherefore wilt thou giue me to vnderstand O cruell Trebatio that thou doest receiue great sorrow of that which wheÌ„ thou mightest haue redressed thou wouldest not and doe not make me beléeue that these outward shewes do procéed from thy heart Dost thou thinke that it is sufficient to excuse thee from the paine that is pretended to be giuen thée Dost thou not sée that when thou couldest giue remedie thou wouldest not vnto them who now are without all hope and tarryeth for no other satisfaction but w t thy head O false Emperour diddest thou not sée that she was not a ladie to be thus mocked and deceiued Surely thou hast recouered to thy selfe a verie good name for the exalting of thy lygnage Thy sonne whom we honour there for a God may well praise himselfe for his descent in hauing thée for his father O false and cruell is this the inheritaunce which thou diddest inherit of thy most famous bloud Is this the great loyaltie which thou doest shew vnto thy sonnes O vile Greeke how doe the Gods consent that so disloyall a knight should liue in the world Is it not possible that these sorrowfull continuall complaints of Tinacria doe not open your eares and cause you to sende downe punishment for this greate offence O ingratefull Gods receiue the sacrifice of my chastitie in paiment of the reuengement which from your high heauens I hope shall bée done vpon this counterfait without all fayth and make that my bloud héere shed vpon this
stoore maye shewe the singlenesse and cleane loue of Garofilâ—a and that with the lyke solemâ—nitie may be broken in péeces the heart of him which was the causer of her dishonour And in vttering of these such like sorrowes she tooke forth a naked sword which shée brought readie for the same effect and put the pomell to the ground and cast her breast vpon the point the which she did with so great hast that the Emperour nor anie of all y t were there present could not succour her nor take her from doing that fact All that were present remained verie much amazed to see so sodaine a mischaunce The Emperour verie full â—â— griefe of this successe withdrew himselfe into his closet would not consent that any one should speake a word vnto him The couragious Empresse with a royall stomacke great discretion dissembling her griefe in the best wise shée could commaunded her body to be caried out of the pallaice and in the Court of the pallaice she commanned to be made a rich tombe in the which she was buried there was made her proportion which did shew what chaunced vnto y e damsell and about the tombe was written an Epitaph which did declare the occasion of her death All the time that this damsell was a burying the Emperour neuer came forth out of his closet neither would he haue come forth when hée did and if it had not bene by the great importance of y e Empresse Whereas now we will leaue them for to tell you of the chaunces and aduentures which hapned vnto y e Prince Eleno the time that he trauailed in the world the which for that he was as noble as warlyke and of great strength it is not reason that he should passe so long without making any mention of him You doo well remember how he wente out of Numidia with one onely Page putting himselfe to sea in that inchaunted barke of the Knight of the Sunne He was so heauie and sorrowfull for the death of his Ladie and Mistresse that he was cleane changed and appeared not to be him that he was woont neither had he so great wisedome to gouerne himselfe In this manner he trauayled almost a whole yeare and neuer could méete with Brenio vnto whom he was commaunded to giue the letter from Lydia neither could he heare in any place whersoeuer he came where he might goe to séeke him in which his trauaile he did not let but to méete with some aduentures the which with great honour to his person be finished Yet for all this he could haue no ease of his sorrow griefe which brought him in such perplexitie that if he had not considered y e great losse of his soule many times he would haue slain himselfe So it happened y t one morning very early the barke had put her selfe a ground giuing him to vnderstand that it was requisite there for him to goe a lande The Prince who was very desirous thereof quickly went a shore and after him his page who as you haue heard that by reason of the great hast that the barke made he coulde not retourne a lande to Numidia His name was called Fabio who was to his master such companye that many times he would comforte the Prince when he was most troubled with very comfortable words and perswasions and did serue him with great loue and fidelitie The Prince and his Page began to trauayle a foote with an easie pace through a narow and straight path and with a meruailous and diligent eye he did beholde that countrey and it séemed vnto him that he should know it that before that time he had passed by that waye but the firme loue that he had to Lidia was the occasion that it was out of his remembraunce So with this sorrowe he trauayled till such time as Phoebus had passed the fourth parte of his iourney when that being wery with the long way the great waight of his armor he was forced to take some rest ease vnder the fresh gréene mirtle trées whose leaues did hath themselues in a faire cléere fountaine whereas he began a new to haue in remembrance his former paine complaining of Fortune he published his great griefe making thow of the great sorrow that he felt although he was wery of complaining seeing himselfe so without all remedye he called for his lute for that Fabio did alwayes carry with him taking it in his hands onely to giue some ease vnto his tormented hart he began to sing these verses following SInce heauens accord for to increase my care what hope haue I for to enioy delight Sith Fates and Fortune doo themselues prepare fully to worke gainst me their worst despight I know no meanes that may yeeld me reliefe But onely Death which can dissolue my griefe I muse and may my sorrowes being such that my poore heart can longer life sustaine For that God wot I finde my griefe so much as euerie day I feele a dying paine But yet alas I liue afflicted still And haue no helpe to heale me of my ill When as I minde my paine and pleasure past together mixt it makes me mone my state And since my weale with woe is ouercast O Death giue ende to my vnhappie fate For onely death will lasting life prouide Where liuing thus I sundry deaths abide His Page Fabio did cause him to leaue off his singing for with the great attention that he gaue to heare his Master he likewise heard a lamentable sound which séemed to be of a Lady Likewise the Prince when he had ended his swéete musicke did hearken to heare it and giuing a very attentiue eare that although she did complaine with a lowe voyce yet he might heare that the sound of the voice came forth of the thickest from amongst those trées and without any more tarrying he left his lute with his Page and went that way from which he thought the voyce came and the farther he went the better he might heare that weake and féeble voyce Still he went forwards til such time as he might see who it was that made that lamentation And he saw that it was a very faire Lady that was bound vnto a trée all naked to the skin she had all her haire spred abroad vppon her naked backe The Prince came vnto her and before that he sayd any word he did vntie her and cut the cordes wherewith she was bound and tooke a gowne which was there of the Ladyes and couered her delicate and white bodye The Ladie was very much ashamed to sée her selfe loose and at libertie and sitting downe vnder a gréene Oake the Prince asked of her who he was that without respect of his owne honestie and honour had lefte her in that sort This fayre Lady sayd Knight thou shalt vnderstand that I am Daughter vnto a verye good Knight and Gentleman who was Lorde ouer thrée Castles of the best in all this Countrey My
Fathers name was Cosdros he was one of them that was slaine by the handes of Bramarandus whom afterwardes the Emperour Trebatio slew in battaile So I remained all alone very much made off well beloued of the widdowe my mother and we kepte our selues in a very faire castle of ours not far from this place whereas we did passe our solitary liues So I was required of loue of a Gentleman more richer in goodes and landes than in linage or vertue and I vnderstanding his litle estimation did alwayes esteeme him as little and neuer made any reckoning of his messages the which was the occasion that his desire was the more stronger in such sorte that he séeing himselfe by me not estéemed but put off with the great griefe that he receiued for my loue he dyed and at the houre of his death he neuer left naming of Felina the cause of all my harme At such time as he dyed there was a brother of his present and hearing him to declare the causer of his death there kindeled in him so much anger and wrath that he bare vnto me a perpetuall hatred and did procure to haue amends for the death of his brother So it hapned on a time that I went out of the Castle without any mistrust in the company of other two damsells at which time I was stole away by him and other foure Knightes who broughte me vnto this place which is to my great sorrow and gréefe whereas they bound me in that sort as thou hast found me gentle Knight and not content héerewith but for my more paine and sorrow they left me naked with greater desire to die then to liue This Ladye coulde not let but to associaâ—â— her tale with great lamentations wherein this Dacian did beare her company and sayd Of truth sorowfull Lady fortune hath vsed with me great liberalitie to bring me hether in this time for to set you at libertie from this great captiuitie and to make reuengement of thy honour and héere I doo offer my selfe and doo giue vnto thée my fayth of knighthood to perfourme it or to loose my lyfe This faire Ladye was somewhat comforted with the offer of the Knight and gaue him great thanks for the fauor which he did offer her In this sort they passed the rest of the night that remained till such time as the Sunne of Tona did shew his glistering face spreading all abroad his golden beames accompanyed with y e swéet and rosalyke Aurora at which time they were all readie a foote for to goe onwards on their waie straight wayes they heard amongest the thickest of those trées a still sound The Prince being verie desirous to knowe what it was and comming thether he saw that it was his horse the which was brought thether by the order of the wise Lyrgandeo from the place whereas he lefte him at such time as hée did imbarke himselfe The Prince receiued great delight at the sight of him and taking him by the bridle he leaped on his back and went to séeke the Ladyes Palfraie which was let loose amongst those thicke trées and they found him feeding in a faire and gréene medowe adorned with many fresh and swéete flowers So his page leapt on his backe tooke the Ladie behinde him and trauailed through a narow and well beaten path which brought them into a broad waie that carried them into a verie great and large plaine at 〈◊〉 the ende thereof there was a verie faire Castell and in the middest of the plaine they sawe foure knightes which came towards them and when they were nigh together the one of them sayd Tell me knight who made thée so bolde as for to vnloose this Ladie from thée place whereas she was made fast What is this that thou askest sayd Eleno is it possible that thou art hée that forgetting all the honour that thou doest owe vnto the order of knighthood madest fast this Ladie The knight anâ—wered sayd I am he that did it hée that will take awaie thy life from thée in recompence of thy great boldnesse to vnloose her So without anie more tarrying the Prince Eleno turned about his horse towards him When this sorrowful Ladie â—awe him y t was the occasion of all her euill she leapt downe from her Palfray began with a new sorow her gréeuous lamentation Those foure knights came all against y e prince some with their speares he y t had none came w t his swoord in his hand with great furie one of the foure who thought himselfe to be more valiant theÌ„ all y e rest came formost with his sword in his hand all a high stroke him a mightie blow vpon his helme with all his strength but this Dacian Prince made little account thereof and passing by he stroke him a blow vpon his shield and for that his blow could extend no farther he remained with his life otherwise it had cost him the price thereof for it parted his shield in two péeces The Knight returned and gaue him another blow that it made the sparks of fire to fly out of his healme Then the Dacian full of yre let goe his shield and clasped fast his sword in both his hands and stroke him so terrible a blow vpon his helme that he cut helme and heade in two péeces and he fell down dead to the earth The other seeing their companion dead all thrée together set vpon him but this valiant Dacian who in such like aduentures neuer had any feare did receiue them with his accustomed furye striking on them both on the right and lefte hand with mortall blowes In the meane time this afflicted Lady when she sawe the Knight dead which caused her dishonour lyke a furious Lionesse she went towards him and sayd Oh howe the gods haue giuen thée thy paiment for the dishonor which thou hast done me yet she said O heauie Felina what doth this reuengement profite thy honour being lost it were very great riches vnto me that by the death of him which hath robbed me of it it might be restored me again Oh my gods I am in no falt in the loosing of my chastitie for that it was violently taken from me in the thicke forrest There shall be none able to disturbe but that I will execute my fury vppon my selfe although I doo not deserue the same and in saying these words she tooke the sword of that dead knight and put the poynt to her breast and threw her selfe thereon in such sort that Fabio could not succour her although with great hast he would haue done it The Dacian Knight casting his head on the one side and saw the harme done he pressed forwards with great furie and yrefull wrath and lifte vp his sword and stroke such a blow at one of them vppon his right arme that arme and sworde together fell to the ground and strayght tourned vnto another and with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke him on the making
wounded hart in sunder torne fith thou no gaine canst get Cease off thy sute thou art forlorne by thee she naught doth set Let Death dissolue thy bitter griefe and glory in the same For therein thou shalt finde reliefe and blaze thy Faith by Fame This louing shepheard when he had made an ende of his song giuing a great and sorrowfull sigh let the Rebeck fall out of his hande The third shephearde with a dissembling laughter arose vpon his féete and sayd Oh soueraigne gods that this Loue might be séene whom all you doo account to be a God Lord that you might at your ease reioyce in his simplenes know him that hath brought you out of all vnderstanding remeÌ„brance as it doth appeare by your variable resons ill placed words which without anye order be vttered so y t I promise you if we shuld turne make rehersall at night of all y t which you do talk on in y t day you shal not finde y t ther is any agréement therein as by their songs gentle Knight you may know with what Philosphie they wold giue vs to vnderstand y t two bodies haue but one hart And héere I sweare vnto you by y t might power of Alfebo y e restorer of our Countryes by the great valor of the Dacian Prince y t in what sort soeuer you will tumble and tosse these variable reasons ther is no vnderstanding of man can cause me to beléeue y e two bodies are gouerned by one heart alone at least wayes I would not be he that should be without a heart Likewise heare the reasons of my other companion who tumbleth together and maketh a mixture of glorie and paine and paine and glorie as though we should mixe honnie and gall together and if I should let them contend much they woulde goe about to make me beléeue that which neuer chanced but remaine you with these your amorous thoughtes or as I might better saie with your foolish conceits and let me haue continually my cattell well fed and gouerned and in as good plight as now they are béeing so fat as the skinne may holde and not to be as you are that hath lost all your owne reason and vnderstanding and therewith forget and loose the care that you should haue of yours who for lacke of looking vnto be so leane And making an end in saying these words he sate himselfe downe and séemed to bée verie angrie to sée his coÌ„panions so without reason vnderstanding and blinded with loue The which words was the occasion that the Prince Eleno was constrained to doe that which since his departure out of Dacia he did not which was that he laughed to heare the simplicitie of this shepheard and taking in hand to aunswere him he sayd Friend I doe tell thée that thy resistaunce is great likewise thy vnderstanding is verie much that being conuersant dayly and hearing the great complaints and communication of so amorous sheapheards thou art not intangled with the same And héere I do desire thée that thou hold thy selfe firme in the same and kéep thy selfe still as thou art least peraduenture that which thou doest now call follie héereafter thou wilt call discreation and wisedome Thou mayst now well account thy selfe happie for that without all care and sorrow thou mayst reuile them who doth complaine of so manie miseries With a greate laughter this shepheard aunswered and sayd Nowe gentle Knight I doe tell thée that I will as little contend with thée as with thy companions for that it séemeth vnto mée that thou art also a vassall vnto that foolish loue and I doe more estéeme my libertie thus simple as thou doest sée mée then all the wisedome which thou dost presume to haue it is much better for the shepheard to haue care and kéepe of his cattell to guide them in good féeding and not euerie small time to call for his crowde and singing two thousand songes the which the Diuell cannot vnderstand and although they sing them yet I thinke they vnderstand them not themselues So one of his companions cut off his reasons and sayde Tarido doest thou not know how at mine owne libertie in times past I did gouerne my selfe and mocking and iesting at them who did publish the lyke complaintes Héere I dooe desire the Gods to maintaine thée in this estate and to kéepe thee y â— loue doo not extend his furie vpon thée for if hée do he will make thée repent a thousand times these wordes which thou hast sayde And héere gentle Knight without giuing anye attension vnto this Rusticall shephearde â—éere I dooe desire you for that I sée you bring that which is necessarye that you would plaie and sing for that the manifesting of thy sorrowe in some vearse may be an occasion to mitigate somewhat of our paine The Prince to shew pleasure vnto the shepheards and vsing his accustomed magnificence tooke his Lute in his hande and played and song these vearses following CAliope from Pernasse hill proceede and shew thy sacred face with teares bedewd Let Gods and Nymphes prepare themselues with speed to heare my plaints that are by loue renewd And with thy moanes O mournfull Muse assist My wailing song which doth on woe consist And then may I at large paint out my paine amongst these pastors which desire the same And after I haue ended to complaine gainst him whom iustly I haue cause to blame Except these shepheards too vnciuill be They will with sobs assist the sighs of me Time weares out loue it is reported so and so it may I will it not denie Yet I haue tride long time and this I know Time giues no ease vnto my miserie But rather Fortune Time and Loue agree With cruell paines ceaslesse to punish me O rare report yet too too common found that Loue should murther man with such despight Thou blinded boie which dost so aimelesse wound and in the griefe of louers hast delight Cease off to shoote and though thy eyes be blinde Let mercie now at last possesse thy minde I neuer heard of anie yet so praisde for constantnesse that might thy force gainsaie I cannot shew the mischiefe thou hast raisde nor bring one proofe my passions to allay For by thy furie kingdomes are subdude And trenchant blades in peoples blouds imbrude Wherefore all you that heare my mournfull song and tasted haue the griefe that I sustaine Complaine with me gainst cruell Cupids wrong whose slights almost my louing heart hath slaine Shunne his deceipts so subtill false and slie His poisoned baits for euer seeke to flie With the great paine and sorrow that Eleno felt he was not able to goe forwardes with his song for that there came to his remembraunce the sodaine departure of Lidia which constrained him to leaue it of and one of the shepheards that was there sayd Oh gentle knight how the queene our Lady would reioyce to heare you for that she is likewise afflicted
perfect true loue which I bare to thée shuld bée accounted vaine and wouldest not performe the faith which without asking in a verie short time thou diddest grant vnto me oh cruell Brenio oh hard heart is this the firme loue that so fainedly thou diddest professe to me what is he that hath ben more vnmercifull then thou hast bene There is no furious beast Tiger nor Lyon vnto whom at theyr will thou diddest deliuer me that with theyr vnmercifull nailes they might cruellye intreat my flesh but would haue accompanied me with more pittie and haue holpen me to lament my cruell destinie Ah Brenio the great paine which I suffer will not consent to declare the vnreasonable torments troubles and sorrowes the which for thée I haue passed so that I néede not to referre it vnto them who doth know it very well but of one thing alone I will giue thée to vnderstand that in the ende when thou diddest leaue all alone and at my waking I could not finde thée my dolorous paine was so great y t I did not think to escape with my life But my mishap which hath bene alwaies vnto me contrarie and the more to increase my paine was such that my lamentation was heard by a knight who béeing moued with compassion did aske of me the occasion of all this my harme and griefe and when y t I had told him whether it was by motion of loue the which I had wholy giuen vnto thée or by the ouermuch compassion which he had of my paine he brought me out of that solitarie place wheras thou diddest leaue me and carried me wheras I made an end of all my great paines and passions Ah Brenio when I wrote these few lines my body was almost colde and without all strength redie to yéeld vp my soule which is I know to thée great contentment and for that thou shouldest bée satisfied of thy desire I did determine to aduertise thée in giuing thée to vnderstand of my desired death thou béeing the onely occasion thereof Oh Brenio now are the Faâ—es cutting of the thrid of my life asunder I can giue thee knowledge of no more But yet I doo desire thée by the true loue which I bare thée y t thou wilt read these fewe lines w t some sorrow héere of y e Gods I do desire y t they do make thée to passe the â—ame euill which thou hast ben the occasion of vnto me till such time as it bringeth thée to die the like death that for thée I now die And if thou doest desire to know any farther of this matter he which bringeth thee this can informe thée of the whole state thereof for that now I haue no more time neither my strength will consent vnto it The teares were in so great abundance which this sad heauy knight did shed in the time that he was a reading this dolorous letter that he all to wet the same y e messenger likewise did not let to beare him companie and to solempne his heauinesse with so many more teares distilling froÌ„ his eyes The great sorrow lamentation was such so much that in a great space the one could not speake vnto the other but afterward their paine being somewhat appeased Brenio began to speake say Oh messenger from her with the remeÌ„brance of whose wrong my soule is wounded being vndeseruedly of me euill rewarded Tell me for Gods loue if thou doest know where she is shew vnto me her abiding place that I may go thether giue a discharge of this my great fault in yéelding my selfe to death Oh cruell without all loue answered Don Eleno what discharge canst thou giue vnto her y t already through thy crueltie is dead buried thou shalt do much better to arise take vnto thée thy armor defend thy selfe from him that will procure thy death to make satisfaction of the debt y t she without anie dutie did pay Is it possible answered Brenio that Lidia is dead it is possible answered Eleno and she is dead by the occasion of such a forsworne knight as thou art This penitent pained knight when he vnderstood the certaintie of all this euill with a sodaine and hastie furie stroke himselfe on the breast a great stroke with his fist and lifting his eyes vnto the heauens in manner of exclamation against his Gods giuing déepe and sorrowfull sighes he threw himselfe to the ground and tumbled wallowed from the one part vnto the other without taking anie ease or hauing anie power or strength to declare his inwarde paine and griefe the which at that time he felte but with an inward lamentatioÌ„ which did torment his hart he called continually vpon Lidia and with that diuellish fury wherin he was he drew out his dagger and lifting vp the skirte of his shirt of mayle he thrust it into his body and giuing himself this vnhappy death with calling vpon Lidia he finished his life The Dacian knight remained in a great confusion to see this sodayne chaunce and that in such sort that he could put no remedy therein but with the great heauines and sorrow that he receiued he fell downe in a sounde without any remembraunce of himselfe The Page which Eleno brought with him did then procure all remedies that were possible for to bring him againe vnto his remembrance and laboured to doe it with great loue but yet for all y t he could do or procure ther was no possibilitie of his recouery til such time as Phoebus had made an end of his iourney that Diana had begun hir gouernment theÌ„ he began to come a litle to himselfe looking on the one side and sawe that Brenio lay dead by his side with a dolorous voice he said vnto his page Ah Fabio wherefore hast thou procured to put remedy vnto my bodye and consented that it shoulde indure so terrible paine and euill thou shouldest haue sufferd me to haue dyed and not to haue ben the occasion that now I liue dying and hauing no more power to speake he held his peace At this time he had great néede of the force and strength of his christian courage for to assist him that he did not that which should cause him to beare company with this dead Brenio His Page Fabio did very much comfort him and did procure by all meanes to giue him ease but all that euer he could doo did profit very little or giue any contentment vnto his paine till such time as he hearde a greate noyse of armed knights which was the occasion that he came vnto himselfe and for that he would not be discouered he put him selfe into the thickest of the bushes with the helpe of Fabio he carryed Brenio drawing him from the place wher he was and couered him with boughes and leaues till such time as they might haue opportunitie to burie him as héereafter you shall vnderstand So there he continued all that night
mightie blowes so many together he was constrained to fall downe to the earth but when he saw himselfe in this great perill he did procure to kill all that euer he could of them that put themselues before him which was the occasion that he had space to arise vp againe on foote and séeing himselfe in this great daunger he began to call vpon Iesus Christ committing vnto him his soule and besought him that he would take mercie on it and therwith he pressed vnto his enimies and with double force he laide on them on euerie side but all was in vaine for him to make resistance for that the companie was so great that did compasse him about striking at him as though they were desperate men so that this good knight was constrained to retire vnto the sea side and to put himselfe into the water vp to the wast whereas he made his backe sure that they could not come behind him there hée made his defence somewhat with lesse trauaile against them that did procure to offend him the Gyant which sawe so great a slaughter of men committed by one knight with a furious voyce retourned vnto the people and reuiled them calling them cowardes and cursing himselfe for that hée woulde accompanie himselfe with so naughtie and vile a generation and sayde vnto them Enter into the water and followe him for it is but one knight that is before you And therewith he put himselfe into the water then all the rest for verie shame were constrayned to doe the lyke At this time this valiant knight sawe himselfe in the greatest daunger that euer before that time in all his life he had bene in and made not anie reckoning to liue longer yet neuerthelesse he thought to sell his lyfe verie déere with the death of all such as hée might possiblie fasten one blowe vppon But at this instant came vnto his minde his beloued Lidia and he sayd with a déepe and profound sigh Ah my Lidia what great delight doo I féele in my selfe héere to make my ende and to set me at libertie of so great sorrow and care which I doo suffer in not séeing thée but therewith remembring himselfe he sayd O Lord what is this what haue I sayd I doo finde my selfe at the poynt to be slaine and doo I now call to remembrance her that I know is in the depth of the earth Am not I a Christian It is better for me to returne vnto thée my God vnto whom I doo commit my soule and Lord for thy mercies sake doo not looke vpon this my weaknesse but according vnto thy great mercie take pitie vpon me And although he was weary yet was not his valiant armes at this time vnoccupied but rather with a more strength he did procure to defende himselfe working such wondrous feates that séemed euen impossible but vnto them that sawe it And he recouered vnto himselfe a newe courage and force in such sort that the water of the Sea did giue testimoniall of his great prowesse for that vnto more then ten of them which did pursue him hée gaue the sea for their sepulchar and if it had not bene for the Gyaunt that did trouble him very much he would before he hadde bene slaine made that very few of the rest should haue remained for to brag themselues of their victory But I promise you he was in such plight that of very féeblenesse he was forced to make his strength This wearied Eleno was in this sorte as you haue heard in great weaknesse and voyde of all humane strength although he lacked no courage in his heart At which time there arriued in great hast a barke at y e shore side in the which came one alone Knight armed with verye rich armor who if you doo remember was the valiant Rosicleer that after he had made an ende of that perillous battaile at Lira in the which he lost the company of that good Knight Brandimardo he full of sorrow and griefe retourned vnto the sea whereas by fortune he found his light and inchaunted barke which with her accustomed swiftnes did cary him whereas he saw was made a fearefull battaile the which was this that héere before I haue tolde you that the afflicted Prince did make So that when Rosileer sawe that one alone Knight with so great courage did make resistance against so many who did molest him without all pitie it mooued in him a desire to helpe him which straight way he put in vre and leping a shore with his accustomed courage he went towards the place whereas they were in battaile and hauing his sword fast in both his hands he pressed in amongst those vile people and when he saw that he which did most trouble the Knight was that furious and diuelish Giant he stroke him such a blow vpon his left shoulder y e harnesse and body altogether he cut downe to the wast made him fall dead into the water where he was Yet his fury rested not with this but striking about him at foure blowes he brought foure Knights to their end And as the watered hearbes or flowers doth recreate themselues when they are couered with the beames of the sonne of Tona in such sort did the Prince Don Eleno reioyce at the comming of this new succour vnlooked for and therewith recouering newe strength with one leape he sprong out of the water and put himselfe by the side of Rosicleer and layd vpon his enimies with great and mightie blowes The worthy Rosicleer being moued with the great outrage that those vile people did wrought such valiant wonders that it was to be meruailed at and vnhappy might he account himselfe who chaunced to receiue a blow at his hande They made so great hast in cutting wounding and killing of those vile people that leauing some dead and other sore wounded others running away to deliuer themselues from the furie of their vnmercifull blowes these knights wer frée at libertie of all their former perill This valyant Eleno would haue gratified the Prince for his good sucour and ayde and went towards him for the same effect and when he woulde haue spoken hée knewe that it was Rosicleer his Cousin by the deuice that he had in his shielde which was Cupide painted in it and therewith in greate hast hée pulled off his healme and sayd Worthy Lord and cousin if the deuice of your shielde and the great strength of your person doo not deceiue me you are Rosicleer sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio my good vncle The Greeke was very attentiue vnto the wordes that Eleno spake and when he sawe his face discouered and his his helme off it séemed vnto him that he saw the proportion of his owne naturall face as though he were looking of him selfe in a glasse and he receiued great contentment at y e sight of him although he did very much meruaile to sée him in that place and therewith he pulled off his healme and discouered that
refresh himselfe he pulled off his healme and tooke water with his handes and washed his face and dronke thereof refreshing himselfe and as he found himselfe all alone there came vnto him manye thoughts amongst all he was greatly gréeued at the remembraunce of that which had past and the more for that a woman was the cause of all that harme and with great anger giuing terrible sighs he began to curse not alone the houre of his birth but also the quéene of Tinacria accounting women to be all the occasion therof lykewise he considered the great trauaile and sorrow that most knights doe passe for their respects At that time Phoebus began to withdrawe himselfe into his accustomed lodging and hiding himselfe in the occidentall partes and therewith drewe on the darke and tenebrous night which was the occasion that his paine did the more increase and caused him to saie Oh cruell and vile women the causers and authors of all euill what doo you sée in your selues that you doe make so much thereof I sée that you are good for no other thing but to cause murthers and great treasons It is possible that you doe estéeme so of your selues and the occasion of your high lookes is for that wée men be borne of you if you doe well consideâ— thereof for the verie same occasion you shoulde abate your greate pride and pranking iestures for that we doe plainely sée and perfectly know that from and out of an vnprofitable pricking â—â—â—lke doth spring and grow a faire and plesant rose Also from that venimous Basiliske doe they not take a stone of 〈◊〉 innumerable value and this beléeue of a certeintie that the euyllest men doth all procéede from you Oh wretches when you sée your opportunitie what is the knight that canne make resistaunce but is straight ouercome by you so vile and base creatures héere I doe sweare to you by all the Gods that I do not honour you neyther wil I reuerence you although that Mahomet doe commaund me for that I haue him in estimation as vile and base and of no value and for the great hatred which I doe beare vnto you if I did thinke that my heart should be subiect vnto you I woulde pull it out of my bodie with great crueltie to punish my selfe and it for committing so great foolishnesse The sighs of this Moore were so great terrible that all the woodes and mountaines did sound thereof O thou outragious and hardie Pagan how strong and stout doest thou shew thy selfe thou shalt quickly know and haue thy payment for these thy reuiling wordes in subiecting thy selfe vnto them that nowe thou doest publish for false O Ladyes and Damsells aske reuengement of so cruell an enimie that with so many reasons doth reuile you all to naught So with these lamentations the which I haue tolde you the Pagan passed awaie the night till the morning that Apollo began with his glistering beames to couer all the earth the which béeing séene by the Pagan with a trise he arose vp and tooke his horse for to prosecute his iourney begun and lifting vp his eyes towardes the heauens he did discouer hanging vpon a high and mightie pine apple trée which was nigh him the armour of Bramarant which was put there for a remembraunce as hath bene tolde you in the first part of this historie The armour had all lost their coulour yet for all that it did shewe the great value of them and looking about he sawe the Epitaph which the two bretheren had made there And vnderstanding the reason thereof it gaue him a farther desire to take them downe without respecting the harme that might thereof procéed not making anie reckoning of y e words that were there manifested And for that he might the better bring to passe his pretence he vnarmed himselfe and climbed vpon the trée and tooke them from the place where they wer and brought them downe and when he was below and saw the armour to be so good he armed himselfe with them and when he lacked no more to put on but his healme he hearde y e voyce of a knight which sayd Be not so hardie thou knight as to vndoo this Tropheo erected by the Gréeke Princes and looke well to thy selfe for thou shalt die for the same The Moore at the noise which he made east his head on the one side and sawe that he that spake those words was a well set and armed knight but for all this he did not let to make an ende of arming himselfe and without setting his foote into the stirop he leapt into the saddle and setteling himselfe therein hée went towards the demaunder with his sword in his hande You shall vnderstand that he which did threaten him was the Tartarian Zoylo who if you do remeÌ„ber departed in great hast from the amorous Tigliafa and vnawares entered into this wildernesse and by reason of his wearinesse in making so great hast in his trauaile it caused him to be verie drie and hauing great desire to drinke he crossed héere and ther in the forrest at last there appeared before him a verie auncient old man who had his beard and haire all white with age who did succour him with water and gaue him a great cup full with the great thirst that Zoylo had he dranke well thereof till such time as he felt himselfe satisfied and returned the cup againe vnto him and when he thought to haue giuen thanks for his curtesie shewed he was vanished cleane out of his sight so that he sawe him no more For you shall vnderstand that it was y e wise Lirgandeo which brought y e cup ful of water from y e fountain of Merlin who vnderstanding by his inchantments y e thirst Zoilo had brought him of y e water for so mitigate his drinesse increasing in him a new desire to the loue of Tigliafa He had scant made an ende of drinking when that he felt in himselfe a new thought of loue and repenting himselfe of all hatred past béeing ouercome by y e water and fixed in that new loue he determined to retourne againe vnto Constantinople and craue pardon of the Princesse but that cruell Atropos who had his blow readie wold not graunt vnto him anie time for the same neither was the wise Lyrgandeo able to deliuer him from the death And so it fell out that when he woulde haue made his retourne to Constantinople he chaunced to come to that place whereas Bramarant did kill himselfe and whereas Brufaldoro did disarme himselfe and armed himselfe againe with the armour of the Tropheo And the valiaunt Tartarian knowing the great harme that would procéede vnto them which did procure to come vnto the Tropheo he woulde giue aduisement vnto him that was so bolde to giue the attempt y t hée might vnderstand that it would be demaunded at his hand And so he did aduise Brufaldoro in that sort as you haue heard who without anie aunswering came against him
with his sword in his hand inuiting him to mortall battaile Zoylo who sawe his determination did procure to defend himselfe and offend his enimie Oh my Muse that nowe I had so much discreation and eloquence for to set out and declare the greate harme that this daie happened in this vnfortunate Forrest This valiant Tartarian when his enimie came vnto him stroke him so terrible a blowe vpon the visour of his helme that with the furie thereof he made sparkles of fire to issue out thereof with great abundaunce and to bowe downe his head vpon his breast The Pagan did returne vnto him his salutation and stroke him such a blowe vpon his helme that with the great noise therof it made a sound in all the mountaines Now began betweene them a meruailous and fearefull battaile at the great noise whereof Fortune willing to vse her extremitie for to amplifie a farther euill caused the Princesse Tigliafa in the companie of her Ladyes and Damsells to come vnto that place whereas these knightes were in â—attaile and straight waie she did knowe her welbeloued Tartarian and séeing him in so dangerous a battaile she was in great anguish with her selfe These Knights thought on no other thing but either of them procured to bring his aduersarie to his ende striking at eache other suche terrible blows and with so great fury that many times it made eyther of them to loose his féeling and both séeing the greate force of one another were meruailously incensed with anger This fierce Tartarian threw his shield at his backe that with more force he might strike and hurt his enemie and therewith gaue him so strong a blow vpon his helme that all astonied he forced him to fall vpon the crupper of his horse who carried him a great space round about the fielde without any féeling But when he came againe vnto himselfe this fierce Mauritanian setling himselfe in his saddle stroke at y e Tartarian so terrible a blow that if it had chanced on him it would haue turned him to much griefe but with great discretion he cléered himselfe therof in such sort that it was stroken in vaine and with great lightnesse hee retourned and stroke the Mauritanian so that he made him once againe to fall vpon the crouper of his horse all astonyed and there appeared by the visour of his helme the abundaunce of bloud that issued out of his mouth and his horse béeing gréuéd with that blow stooped with his forefeete to the ground and being amazed with great fury he rose vp with his great kicking and flinging backwards he did defend that the Tartarian could not come nigh to hurt y e Mauritanian which was the occasion that he could not haue any time for to giue him the second blowe although he neuer left to follow him to see if he could make an end of y e enterprise which would haue made much of his part not to haue giuen way that this fierce Mauritanian should haue retourned to himselfe so quickly which was in so short time and with so great anger that the smoake which came from his mouth seemed like a myst about his helme so that almost it could not be seene Then this furious diuell set spurres to his horse blaspheming against his Gods hauing his mortall sword very fast in his hande he ranne towards his enimie who without any feare of his fury went forth to receiue him and when they met together they discharged their blowes at once but it fortuned that the Mauritanians blow did first fasten with so great strength that for all the helme which Zoylo had was so good it was not sufficient to make defence but that with the diuellish furie wherwith it was discharged it bended in such sorte that it brake all to péeces the scalpe of that vnhappie Tartarian wherewith he gaue a terrible fall to the ground So when the Pagon sawe his enimie on the earth with a loude voyce he sayde Nowe shalt not thou bée he that shall disturbe mée that I carrie not this armour with mée This sadde and heauie Princesse when she sawe her swéete and welbeloued friende on the earth with great suspition what was happened beganne to wéepe bitterly And as a Lyon who séeing before her her young Lyon euill intreated of the hunter euen so she leapt from her Palfraie and ranne vnto her welbeloued Zoylo and with greate spéed shée pulled off the healme from that wounded head and with a fayre linnen cloth she wiped of the bloud from his mortall face and when she was certaine that it was hée that cost her so déere the séeking and that he was without lyfe with furious madnesse she tore her attire from her head and all to rent her golden haire tearing it in péeces and retourned againe and wiped that infernall face making such sorrowfull lamentation that whosoeuer had seene her woulde haue bene moued to haue had compassion Then shée tooke the head betwéene her handes and did procure without dooing it anie harme to lifte it vp and to put it vppon her lappe and séeing for all this that there was no moouing in him she ioyned her face vnto the face of that vnfortunate Zoylo and with sorowfull wordes shée sayd Oh my loue open thine eyes and beholde me open them I saie and looke vppon this thy Ladie most vnfortunate and while lyfe remaineth giue mée some contentment if fortune be so fauourable Oh my Lorde strengthen thy selfe to looke vpon me wherein I shall receiue such delight that willinglye I will beare thée companie Ah Zoylo and my onely loue séeing that in former time my teares were not sufficient to reclaime thée in anie parte make me satisfaction for the greate trauaile which I haue taken in séeking thée out come nowe in death and inioye this thy vnfortunate louer and dye not without séeing me open these eyes and beholde mée giue me I praie thée some comfort Ah my Lorde I know not whether in séeing me thou shalt receiue paine or no for that at anie time thou neuer delightedst in anie thing that was mine but now I will gratifie thée in dying with thée and séeing that in thy lyfe time I coulde not reioyce in thée nor haue anie companie with thée I will now in thy death séeke thée and peraduenture thou wilt nowe haue more pittie on mée The Princesse sorrowfull lamentations and greate weepings were such that she almost sounded But this discomforted Ladie comming to her selfe and sawe that her loue made no appearaunce of lyfe shée beganne againe to wipe his face for that it was againe all to bée bathed with bloud and with her white hande she felt his eyes and mouth and all his face and his head till such time as shée chaunced to put her hande on the mortall wounde and when shée knew that there was all the harme she held her hand still and looking on him whether he mooued or no with the greate feare which she had that he woulde die
without giuing her anye comfort to speake vnto her she made a meruailous and great lamentation and cryed out with terrible shrikes the which did augement much heauinesse and sorrowe in them which were in companye with the Princesse and she sayd Ah my loue how many troubles and great trauailes haue I passed in seeking thee by mountaines and hils by vallies wilde fields and high wayes watering them with my amorous teares alwayes demaunding for thee and alwayes in vaine calling thée yet was I neuer desolate of the true loue which I bare vnto thée Oh howe many times in calling for thée haue I bene answered by the ecko which was vnto me great dolor and griefe and nowe that fortune hath brought me into the same place whereas thou art for to recreate and reioyce my selfe with thy beutie the same fortune would that it should be for the more increasing of my dolour and griefe in finding thée in this sort as now thou art Oh cruell Fortune I haue not deserued to be thus ingratefully vsed at thy hands for when I thought to be cléere of all sorrow and trouble now I finde my selfe most afflicted therewith Ah my Lord séeing that in thy lyfe time thou gauest me so bitter and euill a life for that thou didst hate abhorre me now in thy death giue me some comfort Open these swéete eyes and behold me lift vp this wounded head and giue me some comfort before thou dyest Ah Zoylo my ioye if euer thou didst beare me any loue it is now time to giue me to vnderstand thereof before thy soule depart from thy body and in saying these lamentable words she was constrained to hold her peace for that she saw that this woūded Tartarian recouered some strength who opened his eyes and when he sawe himselfe in the armes of her who at that time he so much loued before by force of inchauntment he hated he sodainly arose vp and recouering strength he sate himselfe on the ground and cast his armes aboute the white necke of the Princesse and they ioyned theyr faces the one with the other distilling betwixt them manye salt and bitter teares in such sort that it would haue moued the wilde beasts vnto compassion and with a féeble weake voice this vnfortunate Prince sayde Ah my Ladie and mistres let me recreate and comfort my selfe in inioyeng this thy mouth the time that I shall remaine aliue and before that my soule doth depart the company of this my body giue me my Lady some comfort doe not make any excuse although without all reason I haue bene pitilesse vnto thée in making thee to trauaile with great sorow séeking him y t because he would not see thée fled alwaies in shunning thée now I come to desire thée Héere must you shew me in what estimation you had me in in giuing me succour before that I do leaue thée in this wildernesse alone with my dead bodie colde and wan Oh my loue giue me a thousand kisses let me onely haue this delight for the little time I haue to tary afterward I desire thée to giue my body his sepulchar This sad and discomforted Ladie answered Ah Zoilo what doest aske of me what wouldest that I shuld giue thée I alwayes was thine I haue nothing of mine owne I am all thine it were now a straunge thing to beginne a new to loue thée for all that euer I could giue thée I gaue it thee long ere this oh my loue why doest thou not vnderstand this alasse what shall I saie I that am without all good fortune for now I sée that thy time draweth on that my contentment ioy and comfort is verie short Ah my Lord dost thou request of me to giue thy bodie a Sepulchre well I see that it is requisite to séeke some to giue it vnto vs both And without strēgth to procéede anie farther in spéeches she kissed the face of her welbeloued so long desired Zoilo with great sobbing sighs making within her selfe a terrible conflict tarrying for the answere of her welbeloued friend who with no lesse paine anguish of death sayd Ah my Ladie and mistres I do know that thou wert alwaies mine I thine That which I will now desire of thée is for that I was beloued of thée in my life time that now in my death I may be fauoured of thée Oh cruell loue oh what a wish is this a case neuer the like heard of before that I shuld desire the death of her that so long time hath trauailed and taken paines and sorrowes with terrible wéepings and sighs for my sake Ah my mistres how happie shoulde I be that thus imbracing one in the others armes we might depart together Oh what a happie death would it be oh swéete Fortune I haue no other griefe with me but to leaue thée behinde me Oh vnhappie that I am I neuer determined to desire thy death but nowe and onely for that I woulde not leaue thy companie The Princesse béeing very much troubled with griefe and sorrowe aunswered him and sayde Oh my loue therein take thou neyther griefe nor care for héere I dooe promise thée by the greate loue that I doe beare vnto thee that if death doe shew himselfe any thing contrarie vnto mée that I will procure it with mine owne handes for that the Gods will not consent that I should liue and thou die therefore I saye that if hée doe contrarie mée I will giue thee this contentment for that without thée I shall finde héere no ioye nor comfort at all for me neyther yet any ease of this my great griefe so that I shall thinke it for the best to loose all my ioye and now I doe finde in my selfe that death will be my friend Ah my swéet loue and Lord ioyne thy face vnto mine let vs kisse together and let vs make our departure both together The Prince béeing troubled with the anguish of his hastie death sayd Héere I doo desire thée my Tigliafa by y e firme faithfull loue which thou doest beare me not to consent that I be the occasion that with a cruell death thou doest finish thy life but to sustaine maintaine it so long as the Gods doth permit the same and when that I am dead which shall be verie quickly let me receiue this fauour at thy handes that thou wouldest vouchsafe to giue a Sepulchre vnto this my bodie for with great ease and comfort shall I depart séeing that I die in the armes of my Ladie and mistres and a greate deale more comfort shall I receiue if I knew of a certaintie that thou woldest performe this that I doe craue and desire at thy hands Oh my loue doe not denie this my supplication and for that I am certified that thou wilt performe the same héere I take my leaue of thée farewell the Gods preserue thée and take me to theyr mercies And when he sayde these wordes he inclined his necke vpon
the face of the Princesse When this sorrowfull Ladie sawe that the soule had got the victorie and departed from the bodie she kissed the mouth of the dead bodie and giuing déepe and dolorous sighes she beganne a meruailous and heauie lamentation calling her selfe vnhappie and vnfortunate and laide her selfe vppon the dead bodie cursing her selfe so that it was lamentable to â—eare All her Damosells who did beare her companie in that great sorrowe when they sawe theyr Ladie in a sound they tooke the healme of the dead knight brought water in it from the Riuer side and in throwing of it in her face and all to be bathed her therewith they brought her againe vnto her remembraunce who beganne a newe to make greate lamentation and to bewaile her ill fortune vttering wordes of greate dolor and griefe which procéeded from the bottome of her heart and sayde Ah my good friend what small benefite haue I receyued for all my trauaile and paine the which I haue suffered in séeking of thée and nowe in finding of thée it is the more for my griefe for that I came to sée thée die Ah most vnhappie that I am where was I when I sawe descend vpon thée that mortall sworde Whereon was my thought Wherefore did I stand still and did not with great lightnesse make resistaunce against that terrible blowe And if my strength woulde not haue serued me yet at the least I shoulde haue borne thée companie Ah you furious beastes that now are hidde in your dennes and déepe caues where are you nowe Why doe you not come and take pittie of my griefe and put remedie therein in taking awaie my life for in so doing you shall shewe your selues pittifull for that I doe abhorre this dolorous lyfe Yet she did not forget the promise the which she made vnto her welbeloued Zoylo which was the occasion that she did somewhat cease her lamentation And taking vnto her selfe more courage then her dolorous griefe did consent vnto With the helpe of her Damselles she put the dead bodie vnder that greate and mightie Pine apple trée where the armour did hang commanding some of those that were with her that they should goe vnto those villages that wer nigh at hand to cause some people to come thether â—hat they might with as greate spéede as was possible make a verie sumptuous péece of worke in the which they shoulde burie the dead bodie of Zoylo the which was the occasion that in Constantinople they did knowe of the death of this vnhappie knight and when the Emperour and all those that were in the court did knowe of it they were meruaylous sorrowful for the same for that hée was welbeloued of them all That same daie came likewise newes to the Court of the restoring againe of the kingdome of Lyra which cost the lyfe of the Prince Brandimardo which was the occasion that they made no triumph nor reioycing of that greate victorie but rather a double lamentation for the death of the Prince The Dutchesse did then prouide for her departure as it was determined leauing the Court in great heauines The death of the Prince Zoylo was published all about and the occasion thereof insomuch that it came vnto the knowledge of the Emperour Alphebo of Trapisond which was the occasion of great griefe in the Emperour but he did dissemble it in the best wise he could with intent to reuenge the same Whereas we will leaue them vntill time shall serue and I will also omit at this time the great worke which y e princes Tigliafa caused to be made for that héere I will tell you what the Pagan Brufaldoro did ¶ How the fierce Brufaldoro hauing spoken euill of women and of them that are louers was taken in the snares of loue with a Ladye that hee met after that he finished the battaile with Zoylo Cap. 7. ALl the day after that Brufaldoro had finished the battaile with Zoylo he trauailed through the thickest of the forrest being very wearye of the troublesome iourney till such time as the darke night drew on and what with werines and with the great desire he had to eate which did trouble him very much he was constrained to alight from his horse by the riuers side whereas he remayned till such time as the morning came and rising on foote for to begin to take his iourney being halfe amazed in beholding the great calme and quietnesse which was in the riuer and the little noyse which it made by reson of y e great depth thereof in that part vpon a sodaine in the midst of the riuer he saw that the waues did increase arise vp like as though it had bene taken with a whirlwinde or tempest which caused the water to make a great noyse and being verye desirous to sée what was the occasion of that great and sodaine change in the water he beheld that it was a Nymph which appeared in his sight from vnder the water who did showe her selfe to the breasts in discouring them vnto him and her face was so faire that in his life he had not séene the like and the whitenesse of her flesh was such that the snowe in comparison to her was obscure and darke The Pagan receiued no alteration at this sodaine sight but the Nymph with a meruailous swéete and delicate voyce began to sing these few verses following WHo thinks himselfe at freedome most of all and least esteemes of Lady Venus fire Let him not boast for he may soonest fall and quickly feele the furie of her ire Her blinded sonne such sodaine shafts lets fly That freest hearts are first inthrald thereby There is not one which may himselfe defend by strength nor wit from mightie Cupides dart For that vnseene he doth his arrowes send and vperceiude with paine doth pearce the hart Bereauing wholly all delight and ioye Leauing behinde distresse and great annoye The wonted weale He into woe doth turne of him that once despised hath his power His cold affection He doth cause to burne and turnes his sweete to most detested sower Triumphing most with terror to torment The man that earst against his will was bent When she had made an ende of her song without anye more tarrying with a furious force she threw her selfe into the water againe from whence she came leauing the Pagan much amazed but by reason that the force of his stomacke was such he determined to let it passe to thinke no more thereof beléeuing that it was some inchauntment and hauing his heart at libertie with a light courage without putting his foote in the stirrop he leapt vpon his light horse and laying the bridle vpon his necke he let him goe at his owne libertie whether he would without gouerning him So his horse brought him into a great plaine where a farre off he discouered an armed Tent pitched which séemed to be faire and rich and by it vpon the gréene grasse ther lay foure great Gyants who had in
the midst among them a verye faire Damsell who was very heauie and sorrowfull leaning her chéeke vpon her hand The Pagan being nothing afraid of the Giants did kéepe his way till such time as hée came whereas the Giants were laid and he came so nigh that he might sée the face of the Damsell which séemed not to be any humane creature by reason of her excellent beautie with hir golde yeolow haire dispersed all vpon her backe and her Lilly white hand whereon she leaned her chéeke discouering her faire face with her eyes shut which showed her well set browes from vnder which distilled many toares which séemed to be orientall pearles dispersed vpon her faire and white face and sundry times giuing déep and sorrowfull sighes which declared the great paine and griefe that she did suffer The Pagan when he saw her great beautie and fairnesse vpon a sodaine his hart wounded with the cruell dart of Cupide in such sort and with so great fury that nothing could giue him ease thereof but onely death wherewith hée straight remembred that which of late he heard the Nimph to sing and considered within himselfe how her words and threatenings chaunced to fall out true which caused him to giue a terrible sigh whereat one of the Giants did awake setting himselfe vppon the grounde he sayd How hast thou bene so hardie that thou darest to put thy selfe before vs without any feare of our great strength thou â—ast shewed signes and tokens of loue At these words which the Giant spake this Lady did open her eyes and when she saw y e Pagan she coulde not refraine her selfe so much to holde her peace but that she must néedes giue a sigh wherat this fierce Moore was fully certified that she was forced by those Gyants and with that thought he sayd Gyaunt my déedes shall beare witnesse of these thy proud words therefore for that the time shall not passe away and be spent in reasonings one thing I doo demaund of thée whether this sorrowfull and wéeping Lady goeth with you of her owne proper good will or els constrained by your force and violence The Gyaunt with greate pride put himselfe on foote and in lacing and making fast his helme he sayd My sword shall wholly and fully certifie thée of all that which thou dost demaund and in speaking these words the one pressed towards the other But the Pagan for that he would not that he should kill his horse was constrained to put himselfe somewhat on the one side and lighting from the saddle he lefte his horse alone and layde hold vppon his sword wherewith his enimie stroke at him a mightie terrible blow who with a strange lightnesse caused it to be stroken in vaine in stepping on the one side and therewith hée closed with the Giant and threw at his breast so terrible strong a foyne that his armour was not sufficient for to make resistaunce but that the fury thereof must be executed and pearced him thorough vnto the backe wherewith y e Giant gaue a terrible fal to the ground at which noyse y e other thrée Giants did awake and one of them put himself quickly on foote and without tarrying for to put on his healme or to take his shield but blaspheming against his Gods he ran against the Pagan who abode his comming with such like courage as his presumption did require The Giaunt with both his hands stroke at him so monstrous a blow that if it had chaunced on him it would haue put his life in great ieopardie But this valiant Brufaldoro with his accustomed pollicie did cléere himselfe from the same The great broad sword of y e Giant had not so soone passed downe when y e Pagan pressed vnto the Giant before he had any leasure to lift it vp again with an ouerthwart blow he stroke him with so great strength vpon the head that all from the eares vpwardes he brought vnto the earth wherewith the Gyaunt fell downe dead to the ground whose fall was so terrible and made so great a noyse that it séemed a mightye towre had tumbled downe whosoeuer at that time hadde some that faire Ladie might verie wellâ—haue discouered the great ioy that her heart receiued to sée two of those of her enimes dead before her and did not let to praie vnto her Gods for the accomplishment of the whole victorie against y e other two which remained And therewith the other Gyant lyke a furious Lyon blaspheming against his cursed Gods not tarrying to arme himselfe with more armour then at that present he had for that there they were all with their healmes vnlased and from their heads he tooke holde of a great heauie club that was there with both his hands and pressed forwards with a large pace against the Pagan with determination to take reuengement of the others death but this young furious Brufaldoro did tarrie and receiue him with his accustomed courage and valiauntnesse the fearefull Gyaunt did strike at him so terrible a blow with his club that swinging with it in the aire it made a fearefull sounde but the Pagan who without all feare did abide the comming of the blowe determined with himselfe to let it passe in vaine as hee hadde all the rest before and so it fell out that when he sawe the blowe descend he stepped on the one side in such sort that the club fell to the ground with so terrible a waight strength that the blowe made all the trées that were nigh at hande to tremble This terrible blowe was no sooner passed to y e earth when that this valiant Mauritanian stroke a blowe at his armes which was with so great strength that he cut them both off by the wristes and his hands béeing fast to y e club they fell all to y e ground The Gyant who felt himselfe wounded lame would haue imbraced with the Pagan thinking by his great strength to haue crushed him to death but this Mauritanian with great valiantnesse did put himselfe before him his sword in his hand with the point forwardes so that the Gyant with the great paine that he felt of his wounds and the great anger he had in his heart without anie consideration he pressed himselfe forwardes the Pagan followed in his determination in such sort that the sword entered into the Gyants bodie vp to the hard hilts falling downe dead to the ground with no lesse noise then the rest Then y e fourth Gyant which remained did put himselfe on foote who was of a greater and huger stature and bignesse then the other which were dead and taking in his hand a great and mighty speare which laie on the ground by him with a terrible and fearefull voice he sayd O thou infernall diuell for that thou canst not be other séeing thou hast slaine my three companions for I tell thée that the Gods in the heauens did tremble for feare of them Héere I doe promise
theiâ— arose vp from the ground a mightie Gyant of so great height that he séemed to be a great tree and when he saw the knight he layde hand on a mightie great club which he had by him and with great lightnesse he went towardes him and sayd in the Chaldaean tongue O vnhappie trauailer what didâ—â—st thinke that héere was no bodie for to defend thée this way What was it the smell of the roasted Deere in thy nose which caused thée to make so greate hast hether The Prince when he sawe him stayed his horse and sayde Holde thy hand thou furious Gyant and staie for that I haue not procured thée anie euill but rather I doe desire thée that of thine owne free will thou wouldest giue vs whatsoeuer thy pleasure is to bestow vpon vs O man of small valour aunswered the Gyant what dost thou thinke by craft and subtiltie to aduantage thy selfe of me Well for that thou shalt sée how little I doe estéeme thee tarrie a while for with my fists and buffets I will beate out thy braines without the helpe of my club And in saying these wordes he threwe his heauie club from him and came towardes the Prince with his fist bent for to strike him in the like sorte did this noble warriour and for to strike him at his ease he was constrained to raise vp himselfe in his stirops otherwise he could not reach his head but yet he lent him so terrible a blowe vpon the forehad that he droue the bone to the braines and beeing therewith amazed he fell downe to the ground and with the great force and strength that he put to strike that blowe it lacked little that he fell not from his horse but incontinent he stroke him againe the second blowe wherewith he made an end to beate out his braines and there remayned dead The Prince was greatly amazed in beholding him for as he lay along vpon the ground he séemed to be a greate Oake blowen downe with the winde the knight could not refraine himselfe but that he must néedes laugh and sayd Of truth I am a notable guest for that before I doe enter into my lodging I doo paye the shot At this instant the Ladies came to that place with as much ioy at that present as before they were sad and sorrowfull When the Princes Antemisca did see the greatnesse of the Gyant and the deformitie of his body she sayd vnto the Prince If thou shouldest giue like payment worthy Trapobanian vnto all them that should receiue thée for guest I doo not know nor I cannot beléeue that they woulde take the paine to serue them that shoulde come after thée I know not what will happen aunswered Claridiano but I am sure that I haue giuen this his payment according vnto the intertainment he gaue me somewhat better cheape then that Gyant which was in y e mountaine who thought with his owne body to haue quéesed mée to the death but yet I doo certefie you that after his death I receiued greater battaile then when he was a liue Then sayd the Gentlewoman that was released out of prison if I had not feared a farther perill with the great ioye which I receiued when I sawe him fall downe I promise you I could haue laughed hartely to sée how he trauailed to catch holde of you Tush all this was nothing sayd Antemisca neyther did I estéeme of it but had it not bene for the great sorow which I receiued when I saw him fast in his clawes tumbling and tossing from one place to another I promise you if the perill had not bene so great I could not but haue reioyced ioy to sée how he rowled him vp down and by reason that the armour was very iust vnto his body and lykewise very hard it was a pleasure to sée him biting at it with his téeth and when he sawe that all his greate labour was lost he tourned vnto his first office rolling and tumbling our Knight as though he wold haue rocked him a sléep I doo promise you of my faith Ladies sayd Libernio with greate feare that I had to haue receiued some knocke or blowe I neither receiued pleasure in the one nor griefe in the other Then the Princesse said vnto the Gentlewoman her companion it shall be better for vs to goe and sée what victualles our host hath prepared for vs to eate for the good hope that I haue to prooue of that which he hath ordayned for vs hath taken from me the great care and sorrow which I had as you may sée and in this sorte as they were they went towards theyr hostes house the Gyant and they sawe that it was a great barne cut out of the hard stone and wrought of the rocke And entring therein they saw that he had put to rost a whole Déere which was a very great one and séeing that which should giue them comfort euery one of them fell to worke hoping for their trauaile to eate part of that déere The olde Squire tourned the spit and the Ladyes made the fire and the Prince pulled out coales so that there was none idle in hope of the benefit to come and with the great hunger they had and desire to eate that when the déere was scant hot on the spit they thought it ouer rosted and halfe burned likewise they procured to sée if they could finde any breade Claridiano descended into a roome he had vnder the caue whereas he found two great loues so great in compasse as the cyrbe of a well and two great flagons full of béere with great ioy and pleasure the Prince came forth out of the caue and for to giue contentment vnto the Ladyes he brought it forth shewed them what he had found And when the Ladies saw so good prouision they made hast of the déere and hauing nothing wherewith to cut their victualls the Prince vsed his sword at that time in stéed of a knife So y e Prince and the Ladies began to cut and to eate at their will but Libernio by reason that he was occupied in tourning and rosting he could not profit himselfe with his hands for to eate and when he saw that the déere was almost halfe eaten hée sayd Of truth if I make long tarrying I shalbe made Lord ouer the bones and not of any flesh if you goe forwards in eating as you doo begin Tarrie a while longer sayd Antemisca and then you shall see how it will fall out for y â— nowe in this time of hunger we doo not remember any curtesie therefore procure to catch and eate whereas thou canst or maist for thou didst very well shift to hide thy selfe amongst the bushes when as thou didst see the Gyant to whom Libernio sayd I would this morning you had giuen vs some counsell and not now that you are so liuely and liberall in eating Then Claridiano sayd Good olde man it shall be better that thou doest put thy iawes to worke and
new to plague them with his strong and furyous arme in such sort that in a small time he made that the halfe of them had lost their strength for to strike at him the rest which remained when they sawe that there they should looke for no other but death except they made theyr defence better or else procure to kill him y t which straight way they did put in vre Then the Prince when he perceiued that stil with great furie they did persecute him he let slip his shéelde and threw it on his backe and tooke fast holde of his sword in both his handes and stroke so terrible a blowe at him which came first to hand that hitting him on the shoulder he cut him downe vnto the wast and he fell dead to the ground then casting his sword about with an ouerthwart blowe he stroke another on the throate that he made his head to flye from his shoulders in that furie he brought other two dead to the ground the other sixe which remained séeing his diuellish furie began to withdrawe themselues Then the daughter of the Dutchesse séeing the other knights to retire came vnto the Prince and with great grace and curtesie she said Valiant knight of the Ladies I doe desire thée for curtesies sake to cease thy furie let not the force of thy strong arme procéede farther but let this my desire and request moue thée to that which twentie knightes of valour could not obtaine This noble warriour although he was blind and ouercome with anger and wrath yet could he not but pacifie himselfe seeing with what humilitie this faire Gentlewoman did desire him and without anie more replying he did withdrawe himselfe and leapt vpon the horse of the knight of the passage for that Fidelio did take and brought after that y e horse of his master was slaine and therewith he passed ouer the bridge and began to take his iourney forwards leauing all them which saw the battaile very much amazed at his great prowesse So they trauailed with great haste because they would come vnto their lodging before night making hast they came vnto a mans house who did lodge them being in great feare the occasion shall be told you in the next chapter following ¶ How that Claridiano was assaulted with two furious Gyants and with xv Knightes that came with them and of the battaile that he had with them all Cap. 12. AT such time as the bright Apollo woulde spread abroad his beames vpon the cold and moyst earth was that valiaunt knight Claridiano on horseback with all his company for to prosecute his iourney and vppon a sodaine he heard with a great noyse rushing that they shut the gates of the house Then the Prince asked what was the occasion of that great noyse and it was told him by his hoast how that it was for to kéepe out two great Gyants which of late dayes did vse all those wayes fields dooing all the harme possible in taking and killing all that euer they might and they doo carrye with them fifteene Knights for to help them to doo all this euill for which cause all this Countrey standeth in great feare and dare not trauaile by the wayes and vnderstanding that many doe come this way to goe sée the triumphs and feasts at Nabatea they doo vse héere great pride and arrogancie carrying away with them many prisoners as well men as women So when the Prince heard this as one that did procure no other thing but to augment his honour and increase his fame he sayd Commaund that the gates may be open for that I will neuer accompt my selfe in the number of Knights but that I will cause them to leaue off dooing such harme and also set them at libertie whom they doo carry captiues and ease thée of this great feare in the which thou art O for the loue thou dost beare vnto the Gods gentle Knight sayd the Hoste of the house doo not put these thy tender yeares in perill to bee slaine or carried away prisoner by those furious beasts To whom Claridiano aunswered It will be rather a shamefull reproch vnto my fame if there shuld lack in me that which I am bound by the order of Knighthood to performe Therefore my good Host let this suffice that neither your request nor any others peticions shall perswade me to the contrarie but that I will goe forth and procure to abate so greate pride and harme for that in making an ende of my dayes in defence against these cruell people then haue I performed that I am bound to haue promised to doo therfore I pray thée comnaund that the gates may be opened When the Host saw his determined purpose and will he commaunded the gates to be opened The two Ladyes receiued great sorrowe and griefe for that which the Knight did but much more was the griefe of Fidelio although he was throughlie certified of y e valour of his Lord yet he letted not but greatly to feare his returne for y t the enterprise was very daungerous and doubtfull and would very faine haue gone with his Lord but he wold in no case consent thervnto but wold alone goe forth vpon this enterprise So this noble warrior rode forth with the visor of his helme vp and his shield on his arme and a mightie cutting sword in his hand and put himselfe in the middest of the high waye and in a smal time after he saw a chariot which was drawen with sixe â—orses in the which they brought the Dutchesse of the Ualley and all the company y t remained with her who by reason y t they wer euill intreted in y e battaile before â—hey â—ad not strength to make resistaunce but y t they were taken prisoners by the Giants and bound very fast and put into that Chariot The Prince at y t time did greatly reioice for y t he had so good opportunitie for to make satisfaction vnto the Dutchesse and her knights of the great harme the which by him they had receiued and being ready to the battaile he put himselfe in the high waye tarrying their comming When the Giants saw his great hardines one of them which by reason of his deformed members trauailed on a mightie great horse came foorth before all the rest whereas this Gréeke was and when he came nigh him he sayde in the Chaldean tongue Thou Knight what diuell hath caused thée to commit so great folly for to abide my fury arte thou so certefied of thy great valor y t thou wilt sée the proofe therof Then the valiant sonne of the great Alphebo answered Neither my folly nor yet the trust which thou saist I haue hath moued me but onely this thy crueltie euill customes which thou dost vse for that the immortall Gods are verye angry that they haue indued you with so mightie members and strength and you thus imploye them exercising nothing but vilenesse and crueltie and therefore they doo
in a short time it brought them to the waters side And being a land he saw that it was an Iland and very fragrant for that towards the Occident there appeared but little playne ground and towards the Orient a verye high sharpe Mountaine So when the Barcke had fyxed it selfe a shore he vnderstode that there he must go a land and taking his horse with great lightnesse he leapt into the saddle and Argolio folowed him And they trauailed into a narrow way which led them vp vnto that croked Mountaine followed that way till they came to the height thereof whereas they alighted for to refresh themselues with that which the squire brought And for that I haue great néede of fauour helpe to go forwardes with this historie here I doe desire the Muses to graunt it vnto me that I may with more courage declare that which followeth in the other Chapter ¶ How that Rosicleer founde in that Iland the sonne of Aliâ—andro leading a troublesome lyfe with his faire and welbeloued wyfe who was set at libertie by Rosicleer Cap. 16. AFter the noble Rosicleer had somewhat refreâ—hed himselfe he toke his horse and by little and little he began to go vp that fragrant hill till such time as night came vpon them and for the great darknesse therof they wer constrained to stay not to trauaile any farther But in a little plain place that they found they alighted whereas they found a caue and in it the manner of a bedde declaring that some body had bene ther so ther they remained all y e night till y e morning The day being come they retourned to prosecute their new begun iourney neuer rested till such time as they came to the top of the mountaine from wheÌ„ce they did discouer a very great delectable plaine in y â— midst therof ther was two great an high Pine trées towards which place they went But they had not gon far wher they saw a pillar in the which was grauen certain letters which said The glory of Fangamadan vpon the subiection of the Prince sonne vnto the mightie Emperor of the Scitas of the couragious Troyan Let none be so hardie as to loke vpon it for that for so doing he shal lose his lyfe Rosicleer was in a great coÌ„fusion not vnderstaÌ„ding what shold be ment there-by but trauailing in y e path forwards he had scaÌ„t passed y e place when y t he hard a terrible fearful shryke of a beast such that his horse was scared began to struggle in such sort y t he was constrained to retourne againe and to lyght on foot gaue him vnto Argolio the knight did prosecute his way on foote Within a small while after he heard y t they tourned gaue such an other shrike y t it made him for to stay And as you do sée y e feareful Hart when he doth heare the noyse of the hunters doth hold vp his head deuising on euery side to heare from which part the noyse should come euen so dyd this knight but he coulde not deuise nor sée any creature but went forwardes on his way in the same path till he came vnto a little mountaine whereas he founde an other piller such a one as the same before in the which was written a tytle w t these words He who doth fynde himselfe of so great courage strength doth procure to passe forwards for to deliuer the worthy Meridian the mighty Troyan vnderstaÌ„d that in payment of his folly hardinesse he shall lose his lyfe Let ther chaunce what will happen sayde Rosicleer for this feare shall not cause me to staye the vsing of all my power strength for so high a prince And so without any staying he went forwards He had not gon far wheÌ„ he came to y e sight of a thing of great coÌ„passion grief wher as was done the greatest crueltie y t euer was hard done to any person which was that in y e middest of y e plaine ther was two high mightie trées a little distaÌ„ce the one from y e other in the midst betwen them ther was hanged a man hauing each arme tyed vnto one of the trees by the wrystes and the cords wherwith he was bouÌ„d was two long small serpeÌ„ts the which did not onely serue for to tye his wrists but also w t their heads they reached vnto his neck breasts whereas they dyd byte him in such sort y t they made him ful of holes His féete likwise was tyed vnto those trées w t other two serpents who entreated him as y e others did Likewise ther was vpon one of those trées a Uulter who at sundry times desceÌ„ded down w t hir sharp hard bill she picked his belly opened it vnto y e guts whereon she fed which was y e occasion y t this vnhappy man gaue this terrible shrikes w t out resting At the foote of those trées ther was a fierce serpent w t wings who was the keper of y e tormented man The which serpent was of more then .xv. foote of leÌ„gth had but two féete which was in y e midst of hir body eche foote had fiue clawes which were great sharp She had on hir head two great hornes sharp gored with them as a Bull doth out of hir mouth she had two great tusks hir wings shewed hir to be of great lightnesse And about .xxx. paces froÌ„ hir was an armed knight of a large high stature he lacked no armour from the head vnto y e foote He had hanging at his neck by a string of gold a very rich and wel garnished sword who when he saw Rosicleer with a hasty large pase he came towards him and when he came nigh him he sayde Tell me gentle knight what doest thou séeke here in this place of great harme and daunger therefore retourne backe againe for that thou canst not finde here any other thinge but death Rosicleer in the meane tyme that he was saying these wordes he was beholding his face for by reason that he brought the visor of his Helme vp he might well perceiue and dyd playnely sée and perfectly know him to be the couragious Prince Oristedes and Rosicleer aunswered him sayde Thy words are not agreable vnto thy person and estate worthy Troyan neither is it for such a knight as thou arte to perswade me to â—ake this counsell and to leaue to show my selfe of what lynage and bloud I doe defend likewise what I am bound by order of Knighthood to doe The feare of death shall not cause me to moue backe one foote This Troyan dyd laugh at that which Rosicleer dyd saye sayde well seing that thou dost esteme thy selfe of so great valoure procure to ouercome me And in saying these wordes with great lightnesse this Troyan leapt in with Rosicleer and with his strong armes he clasped him about the
intreated of a proude Giant aunswering him he sayde In truth I haue defyed thy brother who semeth to haue more discresion then thou hast And in y e same demaund I doe defie thée to mortall battaile In the which I think to make thée know the vylenesse of thy reasons the basenesse vsed in thy wordes And take from that huge membred body thy head with the force of this my stronge arme At which wordes the Gyant who first apeared and was putting on his armour sayde vnto his brother This knight of his owne vertue and bountie doth come to be slayne or els procure lybertie to the Princes and he semeth to haue souerayne hardinesse and strength and there is no reason to shew thy valour in speaking so proudly vnsemely words but with the fury of thy vntamed arme And if the Gods doe graunt vnto him to haue the victory ouer me there shal remayne time for thée to showe thy valoure And there with he made him to withdrawe himselfe from the windowe leauing Rosicleer verie well satisfied with his courtesie So within a lyttle while after he heard them opening the gates of the Castle letting downe the draw bridge Then the couragious Gréeke tooke the bridge and put himself within the castel into a very faire large court all adorned round about with rich windowes and on the one side a verie faire Orchard accompanied with verie sweete odoriferous flowers all manner of sweete hearbs in the which were many that were drossing those trées and hearbes putting them in order some were occupyed in making of fine hedges and arbours others in husbanding the trees and cutting of them others in digging of the ground others in setting of hearbes who when they sawe Rosicleer they all stayed from their worke imputed that knight to be verie vnwise to giue that enterprise and amongst them was the Gyant who last of all spake vnto Rosicleer at the window with a mightie great club in his hand and for the defence of his bodie a simple harnesse who sayde vnto Rosicleer Come in come in thou hardie foole for that thou shalt receiue the paiment of thy vndiscréet foolish boldnesse The Prince without making anie aunswere went on forwards entering in at the other gate he came into a very faire and paued Court the which was compassed about with three faire galleries one aboue another the Prince receiued great delight to sée the excellent worke of them So not long after there descended downe a paire of staires the first giant armed with strong armour his shéelde on his arme and a great broad cutting sword in his hand who without speaking anie word assaulted him with mortall battaile The worthie Gréeke was in a readinesse for to make his defence with his sword in his hand The Gyant stroke at him a terrible blow right down but the Gréeke with a light leap made him to misse his blow and his swoord fell downe vpon the pauement in such sort that it made a great number of sparkes of fire to flie out as soone as the blowe was passed the Greeke stroke him vpon the arme which blow was not verie great for that he could not verie well reach him vnto his contentment yet for all that it did not let to cut his armour flesh and all vnto the hard bone and although the Gyant did feele the wound somewhat greeuous yet did he procure to dissemble the feeling of the paine and griefe and with the great anger he had to feele himselfe hurt he threwe his sheelde from him to the ground and tooke his greate sworde fast in both his handes and returned thinking to haue stroke the Gréeke with double force more thē before but he did procure to cléere himselfe as he did at the first striking a blow at the Gyant thinking to haue stroke him againe on his armes but hee could not reach him but it lighted vpon the Gyants sword and the blowe was such that the force of the steelie blade was not sufficient to make resistaunce but that the swoorde of the Gréeke did enter in and made a great gappe but the Gyauntes third blowe was such that without resistaunce it chaunced vppon the Greekes shéelde and all that euer it hit it carryed to the grounde and parte of it lyghted on his healme in such sort that Rosicleer was constrained to stoope with his knées to the grounde but with greate lyghtnesse he arose vp againe and béeing verie wrathfull that he had receyued such a blowe hée let loose his shéelde and stepped to the Gyaunt with his sworde in both his handes and stroke him vpon his left shoulder and the blowe glaunced but if it had chaunced to haue stroke him full at that blowe hee had made an ende of the battaile but for all that hée remayned verie sore hurt and his swoorde fell to the grounde and raised manye sparkes of fire The Gyaunt was verye much amazed at the power and strength of his enimie but not in such sorte that it shoulde cause in him anie weaknesse but rather with a newe courage hée retourned vnto his begunne battaile with so greate courage as though he had receiued no hurt at all at that time both of them stroke the one at the other with great strength power although the Gyaunt was verie much disturbed by reason of his wounds but yet for all that he shewed greate prowesse This battayle and contencion betwéene them continued more then two long houres in which time there went from his wounds great aboundance of bloud so in the ende whether with werinesse of the long contempt or with the losse of so much bloud the Gyaunt could not kéepe himself on foote but fell downe vnto the ground as one y t were dead The prince who had thought he had bene dead did not receue much delight for that he was a reasonable Gyant and of much vertue and courtesie But yet in great hast he went to pul of his helme and then he hard that out of the Castel they began to crye out and sayde holde thy hande euill knight and doe not make an ende to kill our naturall Lord for in doing it thou shalt dye the death And loking about him to sée who it was that spake vnto him those threatning wordes he saw desending downe at a broade payre of stayres to the number of fiftene knights who with a great rushing and noyse being all very well armed and semed to be very good knights for that they were of a good disposition And as he saw them cōming with a furious courage he encountred them and sayde The name which you haue giuen me I will make that hereafter you shall vse it no more or els I will lose my lyfe And therwith he put himselfe amongst them with so great furye as the cruell and hongery Wolfe doeth amongst a company of simple sheepe and stroke the first with so great strength that with the fury of his arme he
but it fell out better with him then hée thought for that falling he rowled a good waye from the place whereas the Gyant fell and straight waie with a trice hée arose vp againe and found himselfe all to be compassed againe with the seruants who battered at him with staues and stones as many times a wall is battered with Artillerie Some of them woulde haue runne and embrased themselues with him thinking that he had not beene so nimble as he was but when they sawe him on foote they retyred backe againe with greate feare At this time the Gyaunt beganne to arise although it was with great trouble but the Gréeke who was verie angrie to see himselfe so intreated with boies and seruants with a trice he was with the Gyant and before that he could put himselfe on foote he stroke him so terrible a blow with both his hands vpon the head that he cut it in two péeces and he fell dead to the ground These seruantes when they sawe that their Lord was slaine they all ranne awaie making a great noise This worthie Greeke when he saw that the fierce giant was dead and that he was cleere from that conflict hee went towards that place whereas he left the first Gyant when he came vnto him he pulled off his healme at which time he heard one which from 〈◊〉 windowes made a greate noise and sayd O cruell knight let this suffice thee cease thy furie with the great harme which thou hast done and do not shew thy wrath vpon that Gyant who hath no power for to make his defence and if that his valour is not sufficient for to abate thy ire let this sorrowfull infant moue thee to compassion whom thou hast caused to suffer great paine griefe The Prince looked vp and procured to sée who it was that spake vnto him and he perceiued that it was a maide of a meruailous great disposition of bodie and verie faire of face and wéeping vnto whom he sayd Faire Gentlewoman the cause of my crueltie hath bene for to disturbe the great crueltie which you haue vsed with the sonnes of the Emperour Alicandro within this Castell and touching this knight you may beléeue me that his death will be as much griefe vnto me as vnto you for the great curtesie which I haue seene in him At that time the Gyant was somewhat come to himselfe for by reason that the aire had catched him he had some remembraunce of the which the Prince was verie gladde and turning vnto the Ladie he sayd Faire Gentlewoman if there be anie seruants in this castell commaund them to put this knight into some place that he maye be cured of his woundes and therewith he heard great knocking at y e gate and for to see who it was he left the Gyaunt and went thether and asking who was there that with such hast did call he did vnderstand by his wordes that it was Orislides the Troyan who could not come thether anie sooner for that â—ée went a foote To whome the Gréeke did open the gate with great reioycing and shutting the gatâ— againe they 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the Couâ—t When the Troyan sawâ—â—o greate â—â—aughter which was done there he straight waie vnâ—erstoode that the knight was not come thether for nothing This Gentlewoman was with her brother and did greatly wéepe bewaâ—le his vnhappie misfortune who althoâ—gh he was somâ—what come to his remembraunce 〈…〉 to arise vpon his 〈◊〉 The Prince commaunded that with great discretion â—e sâ—old â—e taken vp by 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and so carryed vnto his chamber whereas without causing him for to recâ—iue grief he sâ—uld be vnarmed y t which was done with great diligence and he was cured by the hands of his sister who made great lamentatiâ—n 〈◊〉 him whom Brandâ—fidel for so was the Gyaunt called did comfort with â—â—â—ye swéete and amorous words the which caused the Prince to haue a great affection towards him and it was with greate reason for that the gyant was adorned with very much vertue Oristides séeing all things in so good order left y e Prince who was seeking of the Princesse and tooke a horse of the Giants and a palfray and returned to fetch Meridian So after that Brandafidel was â—â—red the Prince demaunded in great hast for the Princesse and the Giants sister was constrained to go with him to bring him whereas she was So they entred into a faire large hal which led them into a parler whereas was an old giantesse of a maruailous good proportion who made great lamentation for that it was tolde her of all that had passed in the Castle who had in her company more then thirtie Ladyes and Gentlewomen which did comfort her to whom the sister of the Giant sayd Lady this Knight to whom the Gods hath giuen so much power doth demaund the Princesse of the Scitas our prisoner for whose cause all this harme and euill happened vnto vs. This Lady with a grieuous sigh beholding the Prince said O cruell murderer of my welbeloued sonnes and faithfull seruaunts make an ende to execute thy crueltie showing the same and like vpon this vnfortunate Quéene whose power hath profited her very little This good Gréeke béeing tender harted when he heard so great lamentation he sayde Quéene doe not meruaile for those which doo offend God doo hope of no other thing but punishment for their sinnes so those that liue with pride cannot let but to be payed with the like I doo desire thée to commaund the Princesse to bée giuen vnto me whom thou hast in prison for that she doth not deserue to be intreated amongest you as a prisoner but as a Lady The Quéene without giuing him any aunswer threw vnto him two keyes which she had tied at her girdle and afterward sayd vnto him Under these thou shalt finde that which thou seekest and enioye the glory which thou hast got by this occasion til such time as he doth come who with his mightie arme will reuenge the great wrong which thy good fortune hath brought to passe The Gréek tooke y e keies and being led by that Gentlewoman who wold neuer leaue him they went out of that parler and went vp a payre of staires which brought them vnto another hall of no lesse bignesse then the first and with the keye she opened a doore and sayd Enter O Knight which hast as much crueltie as prowesse and strength and there thou shalt finde her whome thou séekest Faire Gentlewoman sayd Rosicleer I doo not determine to enter but that your highnesse shall goe before This Princesse giuing a grieuous sigh entered in first and brought him into a faire chamber and then opened another doore wherin they entred into another hall very well garnished with many and faire windowes which was towardes the Sea at one of the which there sate the Princesse who was combing of her faire haire and with her there was a Damsell the which helde the glasse in her hands before her
When Rosicleer saw her he receiued great pleasure and delyght and for that the Princesse shoulde knowe him he pulled off his healme and straight waye she knewe him and with great alteration she arose vp against him and sayde Oh Gréeke Prince the flower of all Knighthoode in the worlde hath Fortune so much fauoured me that all my griefes and sorrowes be finished and likewise those of the prince my spouse to whom y e Prince aunswered with great reioycing and sayd Most mightie Princesse God of his bouÌ„tifull mercie hath deliuered thée from so great care and trouble wherefore know that you are cléere of all thraldome for this present The sister of the Gyant when she heard that the Knight was one of the Gréeke Princes whose valour was blazed throughout all the world her paine griefe was so much the more hauing before her so worthy an aduersarie greatly fearing the comming of her father lest ther shuld happen vnto him some inconuenience So Rosicleer and the Princesses went out of that chamber the faire Giantesse folowed them the Princesse had great desire to sée Meridian but it was not long after that in the case as before was told you he came I cannot héere declare â—he great delight which the two receiued when they saw themselues together Wherfore I doo leaue the consideration thereof vnto them that firmly and truly doo loue and hath bene absent with like succession of troubles and sorrow The Gréeke was not forgetfull to command that the Prince Meridian should be put into a faire bed and when he had ordayned that which was necessarie for all things he asked for somewhat to eate the which straight way was done and the Tables layde in the chamber where Meridian laye and all them of the Castle were very much amazed at the lybertie of Meridian farre much more then of all that which happened before in the Castle The Gréeke Prince with amorous words and swéete perswasions caused the Quéene and her Daughter to sit downe at the Table to eate béeing somewhat comforted for that they knewe howe that Brandafidel was without daunger of death for that of them and of all the rest that were in the Castle he was verye well beloued for his great vertue ¶ How the King Fangomadan came without knowing of any thing that had happened in the Castle and how he found the entrie closed of the battaile that was betweene him Rosicleer Cap. 18. EXcéeding was the sorrow care the Quéene and her daughter passed that night alwaies looking for the comming of the king Fangomadan the Princesse likewise was not with out some feare mistrusting some other inconuenience The Gréeke alone was he that tooke no care of those matters The next day following wheÌ„ they wer at dinner there came vnto them one of y e seruants that were in the Castle and sayd vnto the Prince Famous Knight the King Fangomadan is at the Castle gate showe vnto vs thy pleasure what we doe There was not one that were there present but lost their colours at those words sauing onely the Gréeke and the Troyan who rising vp from the table they commaunded that the draw bridge should be let downe and Argolio to bring them their armour which with a trice was brought vnto them and they armed them selues The Gréeke Prince looked out at one of the windowes which was ouer the gate of the Castle to see howe 〈◊〉 people he brought with him and he sawe that he had with him but twentie Knights and certaine foote men And the King was mounted vpon a mightie Elephant who seeing that the bridge was not let downe neither the gates open he began to tell out aloud making a meruailous noise and commaunded his people to knocke verye harde at the ring of the gate The Gréeke Prince although his monstrous greatnesse did seeme to him terrible yet he estéemed no more his furie then as though he had bene very humble and milde neither forced 〈◊〉 anye thing of his greate pride but with a high voyce he sayde What a knocking makest thou there thou monstrous Gyaunt What haste hast thou to reuenge thy anger vpon the ring of the gate thou must vnderstand that thou canst not enter in heere but thou must make thy conquest of the entrie with the force of thy strong arme The Gyant being greatly amazed of that he heard caâ—t vp his eies to see who he was that was so bolde and without curtesie spake vnto him those words and he saw that he was a well set knight of him vnknowen and sayde vnto him What is this that thou sayest am not I king of this Iland and ouer all this land Thou wert sayd Rosicleer but now for thy great pride and foolish hardinesse thou hast lost it and it is now in my power Where be my sonnes that kept it sayd the Gyant what is become of them The Grake sayd one of them is slaine by the strength of my arme the other yeelded fulfilling that which he doth owe vnto the order of knighthoode as it becommeth a good knight Oh immortall Gods sayd the king is it possible to be true that I doe beare that so vile a wretch as thou art should be the occasion of so much harme O thou traitor and false knight command the gates to be opened for that thy great strength shall little auaile thee if they be opened vnto mee And if thou doest not command them to be open I will so vse the matter that neither the deapth of the meate nor towers of the castell shal be able to make anie resistance against me for thy defence And with the great madnesse which he had he drew out his great and broad cutting sword and with both his hands be stroke at the gate as though he woulde cut it in peeces but all his labour was in vaine for that the gates were verie strong and therewith the Prince Rosicleer determined to descende downe into the Court and commaunded the Troyan that in the meane time that the battaile endured that he should haue great care of the keeping of the gate and tooke his healme of Argolio and laced it on and also a strong and well steeled sheeld and when he came vnto the gate he saw that the king was a foote beating at the gate with all his strength to whom the Prince sayd Tarrie a while and I will open the gate vnto thée make not so much hast And in saying these words he opened a wicket the Gyaunt when he sawe it with an earnest furye hée thrust himselfe in thereat The worthy Prince séeing him so hastie with both his hands he thrust at him and made him to recoyle backe a good way and sayd Kéepe thée backe thou furious beast for heere thou hast no entring without my lycense To whom the Gyant sayd What dost thou thinke or pretend to doo To make battaile with thée sayd y e prince therfore if thou wilt enter into the battaile thou must come in
vertue which doth remaine in thée to frustrate al iniuries past This I do desire you to consent vnto in that you are bounde vnto it by your high estate and not for anie desert dew vnto such a poore knight as I am Poore sayde Antemisca héere I doe sweare vnto you by that which I owe vnto all vertue due vnto mine owne person that I doe determine in seruing of you to doe as much as in the seruice of Iupiter for y t I take thée to be one of the Gods as it hath appeared by the greate valour which I haue seene shâ—wed by thée And whatsoeuer your pleasure is to commaund to be dâ—oâ— vnto this dead bodie although he doth not deserue it it shall be wholy accomplished and straight waie it was put in vre This valyaunt knight remained there certaine dayes whereas he was serued with great maiestie in which time the two louers weâ—e married wheras was made meruailous great 〈◊〉 and triumphs the which for auoiding tediousnesse I doe on it aâ—d will make no mention thereof for that this valiant knight was prisoner to the Pastora he neither receiued contentment nor ioy in his heart in so long â—arrying which was the occasion y t Claridiano tooke his leaue for to depart of y â— Princesse of Chaldea which was cleane contrarie â—â—to the good-will of Antemisca for that she loued him merâ—ailousâ—y for his great vertue and with many teares she tooke her leauâ— of him giuing him certaine presents and gifts necessarie for his trauaile so he departed taking his iourney onely with Fidelio his squire towardes the plaines of Ierosolima and pâ—sâ—ed by Armenia the great whereas happened vnto him many straunge aduentures ¶ How that Claridiano trauailed by Armenia and of the straunge aduentures which hapned him in that countrie Cap. 20. THE valiaunt Gréeke Claridiano trauailed through Armenia the greate with no companie but his Squire although his thought was not solitarie but alwayes represented in his heart the cause of all his griefe and sorrow So in this sort he trauailed a while till it chanced one morning at such time as the Sun began his accustomed iourney that he must passe a great mightie riuer ouer a bridge and at the end thereof there was a fortresse wrought after the fashion of a Bulwarke for that below at the beginning it was verie bigge hauing in the midst of it a great tower with a louer hole and vpon the same was put a standard which with the winde was mooued from the one side to the other The Prince following his iourney ouer the bridge without anie impediment would haue passed forwards on his waie but by anie meanes he could not by reason of a great broade and déepe ditch which was made on the other side beginning from the Riuer and making a compasse lyke a whoope which inuironed all the whole fortresse and came againe and ioyned vnto the sayde Riuer on the one side so that the fortresse remayned in the middiest and there was no other waye to take but that they must néedes passe through the fortresse So when the Prince came vnto a verie strong gate of yron hée tooke the King in his hande and gaue three greate blowes at the noise wherof there was a windowe opened whereat there appeared a Gentlewoman of a middle age who séemed to haue her eyes swollen with wéepings who said Knight what is it that thou doest séeke héere in this infernall Castell if thou wilt haue passage séeke it by some other waye and it shall bée better for thée for in procuring to passe this waie thou shalt get no other thing but death but and if thou wilt not turne backe by reason of the good opinion which thou hast in thy great valour and strength take and â—ound that horne which hangeth ther vpon that piller on the right hand which béeing heard the entrie shall bée fréely giuen vnto thée but the going out is vnpossible And in saying those words she shut the windowe in greate hast and went in The Prince cast about his horse towards the right hand whereas he sawe a piller of the height of a man therat hanged a rich horne and by it a péech of parchment rowled vp and laying hand vpon the horne he could not moue it although he did striue mightely to doe it and vnderstanding y e first he must vndoe the Parchment and read that which was written in it he tooke it and vnrowled it and saw that it constained that which followeth At this present raigneth a King in Arabia and although he bee a Pagan yet hée is adorned with noble and vertuous customes and had onely one daughter that was verie fayre humble and chast and was beloued of the Duke of Fedra vassall vnto the same king the Dukes name was Velegrato a young man with a seuere and graue countenaunce who deserued better the gouernment then anie other Pagan hée was verie well estéemed in all the Kingdome almost equally with the king for the which there ingendered in the kings heart a secreat rancour and hatred This Duke did loue the Princesse who was called Damelis and it was the Gods will that shée should repaie him with the same loue â—o that both theyr heartes beeing wounded with loue the one to the other the fire kindled dayly more and more in such sort that neither the one nor the other had anie imagination but onely to loue and not knowing how to manifest theyr griefes they indured sundrie greate passions Then loue which continually seeketh occasions did on a time set before this duke a Gentlewoman which thing seemed to be wrought by the order of y e Goddesse Venus Oh what great feare this knight had for to discouer vnto her all his heart but in the end by the great industrie of this Gentlewoman there was order giuen that these two louers should meete together Heere I will not detaine them that shall read this in telling of the great delight which both of them receiued to sée themselues together but such it was that she was made a Ladye This faire Damelis for that she coulde not at her ease enioye her Velegrato she did determine to leaue her own natural countrey father and with this intention one night being with her louer she cast her armes about his necke and sayde Oh my sweete and welbeloued friend séeing that the soueraigne Gods haue bene to me so grateful that I doo deserue to haue a louer let me not finde in thée ingratitude for that I cannot passe my time except continually I enioye thy fight and doo not muse my Lord at this that I doo say for that the ouermuch loue that I haue to you doth constrayne me to make it manifest and this beléeue of a certaintie that if thy sight be absent from me if will be the occasion that my hart shal lacke his vitall recreation And you doo well know how that the King my father doth beare you no good
will which will be the occasion that we cannot enioye the one the other as my heart desireth for the which I haue determined if you doo thinke well thereof to leaue both my father and Countrey and to goe and liue with you alone in a straunge Countrey And if you doo denie me this verye quickly you shall see your welbeloued Ladye without life but I doo beleeue you wil not denie me this thing the which I doo so much desire and in whom doth consist so much vertue and therwith shedding a few teares from her eyes she helde her peace The Duke beeing halfe amased aunswered and sayde Oh my loue and sweete Mistresse wherfore haue you any doubt that I wil not fulfill accomplish your desire in all things therefore out of hand put all things in order that your will is to haue done for what more benefite and contentment can I receiue then to enioye you continually in such sorte that neither of vs may depart the one from the other and if it so fall out that Fortune will be so contrary against vs that we be spied and we be taken and suffer death together what more glory can ther be vnto me then to die with thâ—â— Therefore doo not trouble your selfe my sweete Lady Mistresse but giue me time that I may goe into my Country and to giue order in such sort that your whole will may bee accomplished and in the meane time make your selfe in a redinesse for your departure and so with this conclusion they tooke their leaue the one of the other and the Duke wente into his Countrey giuing order for to accomplish his determined thought So when that all thing was put in good order the Duke with as much secrecie as might be reâ—ourned vnto the place whereas Damelis was very well armed aduertising her how he was come for to carry her away who was in a readinesse for to accomplish her desire and had in her company the Gentlewoman her secretarie that was called Floria and so in great secret and without making anye noyse they departed out of the Kings Pallaice her father went vnto the place whereas the Duke was tarrying their comming who when he saw them without any more tarrying he mounted her vpon an ambling Palfray and her gentlewoman vpon another and tooke the waie towards Mesapotamia with all hast possible They vsed such diligence that without beeing perceiued they went out of the kingdome came to a place whereas the Duke had lefte cerâ—aine dâ—msells and squires for to beare Damelis company whom they found all in a readinesse for to take their iourney and for that they were mistrustfull they would not tarrie there but passed through Mesapotamia till they came vnto Armenia whereas without anie misfortune they came vnto the riuer Derraus vnto a place whereas the déepe and cléere waters doo strike continually vpon a mightie Rocke vpon the which was an olde and auncient building and in some partes it was verye strong and in other partes by reason of the antiquitie it was fallen downe And for to enter into it they must of force goe vp certayne stayres and beeing aloft they thought it a conuenient place for theyr dwelling whereas they might without all feare of béeing found liue peaceably enioying the one y â— others loue not farre from that place there was a small village from whence they might make their prouision of all that was nessarie for the maintaining of their bodies Great ioye and pleasure these two louers receiued when they found themselues in such a place whereas they might take their ease enioye their loues The Duke delighted in no other thing but to goe a hunting with his Squires and Pages leauing his sweete Damelis accompanied with her damosells in that strong house aduising them alwayes not to open the gates except they should aunswere vnto a watch word and many times for her contentment Damelis would goe and méete with the Duke at the gates So in this order they liued together foure yeares but in the ende Time who neuer resteth in one degrée did take from them their rest giuing them double trauaile and sorrow For that when the King her father found her missing the sorrow and griefe was so much that he receiued that he kept his chamber a long time and would not come foorth of it and if it had not bene for speciall businesse necessarie for his kingdome he wold as I say neuer haue come forth and although he was occupied very much therein yet could he not forget his great griefe calling many times vpon his welbeloued daughter All this foure yeares he passed the time in great heauinesse which euerie day increased more his sorrow and griefe Of all which sorow a great Magitian whose name was Demofronte by his learning came to the knowledge off and strayght waye by his science he made a chariot to be brought that was gouerned by two flying Dragons and put himselfe therein who in a very short space was carryed whereas this sorrowfull King dwelt and he chaunced to come at such time as he was alone in his chamber with his accustomed sorrowe and lamenting the losse of his Daughter and without béeing séene of any person he entred whereas this afflicted King was and sayd King leaue off this sorrowe and great lamentation and prepare thy selfe to séeke some other remedye and if thou wilt doo that which I wil tell thée I wil not delay but bring thée into the place whereas thy daughter is with this condition that thou shalt not giue her nor hers any punishment for that she hath not offended in any other thing but in lack of acknowledging her dutie The King being greatly troubled when he sawe him arose from the chaire wherin he was set and sayd If I might see my Daughter I could not but vse the clemencie of a father This word onely doth suffice me sayd Demofionte without speaking any more words vsing of his learning Arte he put the King into his Chariot gouerned by those â—liing Dragons and in a small time he was caried and put in to the place whereas his daughter was at such time as the Duke was about his accustomed hunting This Magitian called at the gate and gaue the watch word that the Duke was accustomed to giue and when Damelis heard it she her selfe went vnto the gate and did open it and when she went to imbrace him thinking it to be her louer she sawe that it was her father with a sodayne alteration she gaue a great shrike and retourned and put her selfe within the house The King her father somewhat angry did folow her saying It doth little auaile thée Damelis to run away for that thou shalt dye in my power paying me with thy death the greate dishonour which my royall crowne hath receiued So he fofollowed her till he came vnto the chamber whereas her damosells were amongst whome this fearefull Lady did hide her selfe who séeing
her to enter in that sort they arose to sée what was the occasion of so great chaunge and trouble Floria straight way did know the King who had a wrathfull countenaunce she fearing the harme which shuld happen vnto her Lady put her selfe ouer her gaue terrible and loud shrikes The King as one kindeled in great wrath forgetting that which hée had promised vnto the Magitian laide hande on his sword saying It doth not profite thee Damelis to flie from the death for thy desert is such y t thou canst not escape it for héere my owne arme shall be the killer of mine owne flesh Then Damelis answered and sayd Ah my Lord and father will you be now as cruell vnto me as you were wont to be pittifull appease your wrath and withdrawe your vnmercifull sword and harken vnto this which I will saie in discharging my selfe in that you charge mée with all You shall vnderstand my Lord and father that I was ouercome and constrained by loue for to loue forgetting thy fatherly loue and my duetie yet for all that hauing power to accomplish the same it was not vnto your dishonour for that therwith I doe liue honourablie with my husband Then the king sayd oh false traitor and without faith holde thy peace what reason hast thou to make this excuse hauing committed so great an errour And in saying this he lifte vp his sword for to strike her the foure damsells y t were there with terrible shrikes they threw themselues vpon that vnhappie Damelis offring their bodies vnto y e furie of that cutâ—ing sword for to set at libertie their Ladie mistresse The king who sawe them in this sort make her defence with his left hand he pulled them off from her some by the haire of y e head and some by the shoulders for to make waie that hee might execute his determined purpose and none to make anie resistaunce against him Floria when she sawe the King determined to kil his daughter like vnto a Lionesse she hung about his necke and sayd Oh mad dogge what determination is this that thou doest bring for to do euill vnto y e most chast and loyall Ladie in all the world is it a new thing for loue to vse such like déedes vnto thy selfe may be attributed the occasion of all this euill and thou art in the fault thereof for that thou wert so malitious and so full of mischiefe that she durst not giue thee to vnderstand of her sodaine loue The words and teares of Floria did little profit with the king but rather like a wilde Boare in the wildernesse béeing compassed with a companie of dogges doth shake himselfe euen so the king did shake his members and threw Floria from him and with double wrath he did procure to execute his furie out the damsells with terrible shrikes sometimes one and sometimes another did disturbe him till such time as with his cruell hande betwéene the Damosells he thrust in the poynt of his sharpe sword and with the force of his wretched arme he thrust it till it passed through her breast came forth at her backe The wise Democrites when that he receiued the greatest contentment in his heart would weepe to thinke vpon the great vnquietnesse and discontentment that should followe euen so this vnhappie Damelis when shée was most at quiet and delight with her prosperous life then fortune did turne it vnto her sodaine death At this time the Magitian came into the chamber and when he saw the king contrary vnto that which he promised him had done y e wilfull act he began to blaspheme against himselfe for that hée had bene the occasion of all that euill and with an yrefull voyce he sayd O cruell murderer that in this sort hast deceiued me I will giue thée thy paiment according vnto thy deserts in placing thy cruell body whereas thou shalt continually lament this thy daughters death leauing a lyue the fame of her with thy lameÌ„tation And in saying these words he drew a booke out of his bosome and reading on it hee made a great cloud to appeare in the skyes very black which was brought by terrible and hastie windes the which came with a very great tempest and storme and when the skies waxed cléere then was there séene héere this fortresse where in this cruell King of Arabia is inchanted and this sorrowfull Velegrato and his Damsells and he that is desirous to sée how and in what sort let him blowe this horne and straight waye the gates shall be open but heere I doo aduertise him that the going out will be doubtfull And héerewith be made an ende of this lamentable Historie the rest you shall vnderstand in the chapter that followeth ¶ How that Claridiano after he had read the historie in the parchment blew the horne wherewith the gates wer opened and how resistaunce was made at the entrie of all that passed about the same Cap. 21. THe Gréeke with great strength did blow the inchaunted horne in such sort that all along the riuer the sound was harde At the verye same instaunt they began to open the gate with so great noyse as when they opened y e hundred gates of the Temple of Appollo at the sight of the couragious Troyan So when this valâ—ant Claridiano saw the gate open he looked in thereat to sée if he could sée any thing and he saw that it was very darke and for to enter in thereat he saw that it was requisite to leaue his horse and with great lightnesse he left the saddle and deliuered him vnto Fidelio for to kéepe him and without any care whatsoeuer shuld happen he shrowded himselfe with his shield and his sword in his hand he thrust himselfe into that darkenesse and when he was tenne paces within without séeing of any he receiued a blow the thing y t stroke him howling like vnto a Wolfe which is all night alone in the wildernes and with the blow which he receiued it was so furious that it made him almost recoyle so farre backe as he had entered which caused in y e Prince a great deale more courage and as a man beside himselfe he began to lay about him striking on the one side and on the other not knowing where he did strike and in this sort he went forwards his way through that great darkenesse till such time as he sawe light and going farther in he came into a great court in the which he could sée but one little doore towards the which hée went but he could not come nigh it for that he was disturbed by a furious beast which arose out of the court went towards the doore whether y e Prince went with great swiftnesse This couragious Gréeke did not let to féele some alteration to sée a beast so deformed It was of body bigger theÌ„ an Elephant and was all couered with hard partie couloured shells and scales the taile was very long and somwhat bigge and it
man with him to bée his guide he tooke his leaue of the Princesse did commend Fidelio vnto her kéeping So he departed out of the Citie without any tarrieng till he came vnto the principall house of the Kings cattell whereas he was receiued of all the shepheardes that were there present who showed him great courtesie and the basenesse of the apparayle wherewith he was clad was not sufficient to take away the iealousie that they had in him to be of some noble bloud as appeared by his person stature and graue countenaunce and although they had not bene commaunded by the Princesse to respect him yet they coulde not but doo all reuerence and curtesie vnto him This new shepheard after that he had giuen them thankes for the entertainment which they gaue him he went foorth all alone ranging the fields and in his hand a shepheards crooke Also hée carried with him a little lute which he vsed at times for to ease and recreate himselfe This new shepheard neuer tooke anye rest till such time as he came vnto the cléere running riuer Where vnder a great and mightie Myrtle trée he laid himselfe downe and remembring his welbeloued Pastora he lifted vp his eyes towards the heauens and giuing a great sigh he sayd Oh Venus séeing that it is thy pleasure that this thy new vassaile should take his first sitting place vnder a Myrtle trée so much of thée estéemed and made of let thy sweete voyce so occupy the eares of thy sonne Cupid that he may vnderstand how that in his blindnesse he had litle respect vnto the highnes of my person in causing me to place my affection so baselye Oh Gods is it possible that any base attempt should come vnto light but with the authoritie that belongeth vnto your highnesse vpon you I doo call and vnto you I doo offer this my wounded breast that you make sacrifice thereof for this my boldnesse if therein I haue offended and therwith he leaned his backe vnto the Myrtle trée and tooke his Lute and began to play as swéetely as euer did Orpheus when with his lute he made the infernall furyes to sleepe Claridiano with his lute did not onely bring the furies but also the Queene Proserpina and the auncient Pluto he brought into a greate perplexitie So likewise at times he vttered his swéete voice that they which did heare it did iudge it to be some celestiall thing and not terrenal and by reason that his songs did procéede from his heart it did in double wise séeme the better This newe shephearde thought no body had hearde him but there were other two shepheards who were very attentiue and hearde that he sung this song which héereafter followeth O Yeelded heart how free and voyde of care wert thou of late from this oppressing paine What lucklesse fate allotted thee this share that hopelesse thou dost voyde of helpe remaine Yea so past hope that might may naught auaile The burning flames of Cupides coales to quaile But fie fond foole thou dost complaine of ease and faultlesse Fortune thou beginst to blame Venus her selfe doth seeke thy heart to please in that she mooues thee loue so rare a Dame Oh Pastora if I enioye thy sight My very death will bring to me delight Disdaine not then beloued for to be of him that needes thy beautie must adore So long as Fates affoord my life to me which ended once I can lament no more And then will chaunce a ioyfull death to me If so I hap to die by hand of thee And when he had made an end of his song he helde his peace for that his wery voyce could not giue him any more time but he let his lute fall out of his handes and crossing his fingers the one with the other he was very pensiue till such time as he heard a shepheards voyce accompanied with a Rebecke sweetely sounding whom he heard sing this song as followeth WIthin this vale there doth a Pastor dwell that bringeth vp a Pastora full braue Which from her breast doth loue all times expell she no regard of louers paines will haue Nature her like as yet did neuer forme Venus her selfe is dashed at her view Hir breast like snow throwne downe by Hiems storme her hart stone hard for all her gallant hiew Great is his griefe that vnto her is thrall and hard his hap that sues to win her grace Gainst him she vseth greatest hate of all for as I said loue hath in her no place Cupide himselfe within his snare is caught yet voyd of helpe for all hir subtill shifts His words his wyles his wrath auaile him naught she scornes his darts and all his double drifts And thus she shuns the thing that sundry seeke and scapes vnscorcht where others burned be Her beautie showes her humble milde and meeke but yet her heart is stainde with crueltie This new shepheard was very attentiue vnto that gracious song of the other shepheard and when he hearde that he helde his peace he would haue returned and sung againe but he was disturbed by hearing a noyse of people This gentle shepheard when he heard it arose vp vpon his féete and went out from vnder the shadowe of the Tree farther into the Sunne and sawe that it was a shephearde and a Pastora which were comming into the place whereas hée was and when they came vnto him they did salute him very courteously So they sate downe altogether and put the new shepheard in the midst very much meruayling at his gracious countenaunce and with a very good grace gentle disposition the Pastora began first to speake and sayde Your swéete Musicke brother shepheard did awake me and my brother Coridon out of our sléep and we doo rather choose to lose our naturall rest then thy conuersation accompanied with thy delicate song We doo not know whether that the faire beautie of Cayserlinga a Pastora brought vp by this delightfull riuer hath bene the occasion thereof or any other griefe which doth raigne in thy heart but if it be so gentle shepheard that your eyes haue not behelde nor séene y e beautie of our Pastora doo you procure not to sée her that your hart be not taken captiue with the sight of her for you shal vnderstand y t there is nothing to be hoped for at her hands but death her disdaine is such This sorrowfull brother of mine one day did sing before her with his Rebecke and remained so imprisoned with her as euer was shepheard with Pastora And if it be thy Fortune to abide long time in these partes thou shalt knowe the greate power that her face and countenaunce hath and the greate crueltye that she vseth Thou shalt see no other thing alongst all this riuer but shepheardes who haue forgot to gouerne and feede theyr shéepe sitting vnder trées wounded with her greate beautie and fayrenesse and hauing more care to make their Rebeckes fayre and trimme then to call together their cattle and to
great furie offend his enimie this new knight had no lesse wrath to sée that the first with whom he made his triall shoulde intreate him so euill iudgeing himselfe to be weake and of little valour not knowing that he dealt with the flower of all knighthoode amongst the Pagans and with like furie he thickened his blowes in such sort that many times he was amazed In this sort they indured all that daie and when they sawe that the darke and tenebrous night came vpon them they did procure with more courage and strength for to finish their battaile This strong and stout knight with the blacke armour puffing and blowing like a bull lifting vp his sword with both his hands did discharge it vpon the new knight who did receiue that blowe vpon his shéeld and cutting it in two parts the sword descended vpon his healme with so great furye that he made him to bowe his knées to the ground and was faine to helpe himselfe with his left hand because he shoulde not fall when the blacke knight sawe him in that order hée would haue laide hold on his healme for to haue pulled it off from his head but this new warriour was not so far from himselfe but that he put for his defence the point of his sword vnto his breast with so great strength that he made him to recoile backe and for lacke of sight he put his foote vnder the end of an Oare that without anie remedie to saue himselfe he fell vpon his backe but with great lightnesse he arose againe in which space the new knight had time to settle himselfe and to take his sword in both his hands and stroke him such a blowe that being constrained by the great force thereof to retire backe two steps he had fallen downe if hée had not laide holde vpon one of the bankes of the Gallie by the which he did sustaine himselfe therewith this new knight entered in with him and with his handes he stroke him on the breast that perforce be made him to fall downe and in y e fall of the Moore he reached forth his arme and laide holde vpon his shirt of maile and caused him by force to fall downe with him and when he sawe himselfe in that sort he threw his sheeld from him and verie strongly he threw his armes ouer his necke and held him fast héere the new knight was constrained to doe the like so that betwéene them beganne a mightie and terrible wrastling tumbling and wallowing vp and downe the gallie breaking their banks and oares that it was straunge to sée They indured long in this contention without knowing any aduantage either of the one part or of the other in such sort y t for verie wearinesse they were constrained to leaue y e wrastling arose vp againe betooke thē selues againe vnto their swords at y t time the night was very darke but the blacke knight with a loude voice called for lights which presently we◠brought them by y e marriners in the meane time these knights did somwhat breath thēselues although it was not much So when y e lights were brought they returned vnto their late contention with new force and strength Oh Gods of little valour said the Pagan I cannot beléeue to the contrarie but that this is Mars y t doth contend in battaile with me for the great enuie y t he hath at me he goeth about to dishonour me Let it be who it may be of all you for y ◠I will heare giue you to vnderstand that you haue brought vp one y t will make you know y t he is of more force strength then all you together and with these thoughts hée thickned his blowes with great desperatnesse although 〈◊〉 this last assault they wer more then two houres in their battaile yet neither of them did faint but with new force both together they lift vp their swords discharged thē together the one vpon the others helme with so great strength y t both of them together fell downe vpon the hatches of the gallie w tout anie remembrance those which did looke vpon them did beléeue verily that they wer both dead by reason of the great abundance of bloud which came forth of the beauers of their helmes but quickly it was perceiued y t ther was life in them then was there an agréement made betwixt the marriners of the gallie the barke that they should take Poliphebo into his Barke and either of them to prosecute his iourney not to tarrie till such time as they came to themselues suspecting y t the contention would not be ended without y e death of one of them which would be great pittie So straight way they put their deuice in vre Macedonio with the helpe of the marriners got his Lord into their barke they of the gally straight way began to folow their voiage striking the water with their long oares with great violence so either of them departed and followed his voiage ¶ How the worthie Tinacrian did prosecute his voiage and chaunced whereas he found the Queene of Mauritania euill intreated of a gyant and of the battaile he had with him Chap. 24. IN the order as you haue heard they carried the new knight without anie remembrance and when he came vnto himselfe and found himselfe in y e order with a loude voice he said Oh Gods is it possible to be true that I am ouercome in the first encounter and assault of my knighthood that you haue consented therevnto héere I do curse the day in which I began to honour you séeing that my sacrifices doth so little profit me Then Macedonio did 〈◊〉 of his sayings and said My Lord thou wert not ouercome neither had thy contrarie so much power for y t he was rather more worse intreated then you in such sorte that I know not whether he be aliue or dead This new knight turned his head looked on him with so much wrath anger y t Macedonio durst not looke him in the face and with great ire he said Oh traitor was it so why didst thou cōsent to bring me from thence till such time as fortune had ben fauourable vnto me Oh vile creature thou dost not shew thy selfe to be y e son of noble parents in doing so bace a déede I knowe not how I haue patience y t I throw thée not into the sea for this great dishonour which thou hast done vnto me Ah heauie knight of Tinacria of little valour I knowe not how thou canst name thy selfe to be y e sonne of y e most mightiest knight in the world for y t thou hast made so ill a proofe of thy selfe in thy first assalt Oh Gods how haue you suffred so vilanous an act it is not possible but y e knight with whō I had combat is of more power then all you descend into this barke I will make you to know y e
she not let to perseuer in her sorrowfull lamentation said Ah knight the defender of my corporall death wherby liuing I do passe a thousand deaths I say that my sorrow and euill was such y t with more reason I may bewaile the life which thou hast giuen me then the death which I am deliuered frō And in saying these wordes she all to tare rent her golden haire which she had This pittifull knight did procure to disturbe her from doing to her selfe such violence in offering vnto her all his power and strength for to remedie her euill if it were possible to be remedied This sorrowfull ladie said If thou wert such a knight that with they great valour and strength couldest set at libertie my hart from sorrow as thou hast deliuered my bodie from death I woulde declare vnto thée the greatest mishap that euer happened vnto woman thereby thou shuldest vnderstand whether I haue reason rather to desire the death then to liue therefore gentle knight I doe desire thée to sit downe and to hearken vnto me with attentiue eare for that my iustice will moue and constraine thee to take my defence as thine owne so they sat down vnder a great Pine trée which was harde by whereas she was bound and with great abundance of teares she sayd After the losse of the Princesse Graualesa they tooke out of the monestarie of Basilea the Princesse Dondelaria and amongst all them that were chosen to be at her seruice commandement I was takē for one for y t I was daughter vnto parents of whom they made great reckoning and againe for y t I was verie diligent in my seruice my father is y e Earle of Bura so it fell out y t it had ben better to y e contrarie Ther came to the court the daughter of y e Earle of Tirol who was of a meruailous and extreame beautie who was at her entrie accompanied with many worthy Knightes for that all did respect the Earle verye much because he was a very noble man At the great fame and reporte of this daughter of the Earle of Tirol for that she was of so excellent beautie came many young Knights out of diuers countreyes to sée her amongst whom came two bretheren iolly young gentlemen and sonnes vnto the Earle of Olanda and a cousin of theirs a valiant Knight sonne vnto the Duke of Brabant There was no great friendship betwixt these two brethren as it appeared because they were of different condition the one from the other likewise great difference in their persons for that the eldest had a very fierce countenaunce and ill fauoured and of great pride and the youngest of a seuere and gentle countenaunce and very humble of person and was well beloued of all them in the Court Both of them set their eyes vpon Clarentina daughter vnto the Earle of Tirol and for a farther euill that false Cupide would not but that she shuld likewise set her eyes on one of them bringing her heart into captiuitie with the loue of Pinorante the youngest of the two bretheren Firidefonte who was the eldest hauing vnderstanding thereof being gouerned by his great pride and seeing the small accompt that Clarentina made of him the diuell straight wayes put into his heade with the great ieelousie that he had for to kill his brother but many dayes after he went meruailously troubled with great alterations in his thought about the dooing of y e wicked déede sometimes ouercome by brotherly loue to leaue that enterprise and at other times counsailed by his owne cholar to the contrarie And in this sort he continued a long time till in the end Clarentina did vtter more at large her good wil vnto his brother and vpon a time he saw them talking together which was the occasion to confirm in him that damnable intent Wherfore vpon a night as Pinorante was walking on the backe side of the Court his euill brother did kill him with great crueltie leauing him vpon the ground he returned vnto his lodging and it was neuer knowen who was the murtherer of him and for that the fraternall bloud could not let but to wound verie much his heart considering the euill fact which he had done he straight way repented himselfe thereof which was afterward a farther euill and forsomuch as the diuell was lodged in his heart this his euill pretence did not rest with the death of his brother but gathered in his thought to do a fact farre worser and the occasion was for that Clarentina made so great lamentation for the death of that vnhappie Pinaronte and this was the presumption that he would vse ordeined by the diuell and it so fell out that I was wounded by that false Cupide with the loue of Firidefonte not hauing anie respect vnto the ill fauorednesse of his face and being constrained by the gréeuousnes of my wound I gaue him cléerly to vnderstand therof which was the occasion y t he was the bolder to doe that which hée did seeing me so captiue in loue of him he was in no doubt to discouer vnto me his whole heart all the which he tolde me being in place where boldly he might speake And he said Ah Clarentina my verie friend I haue had greate desire to haue had this opportunitie for to talke with thée and to discouer my whole heart Thou hast well séene this vnhappie and cruell death of my vnfortunate brother thou shalt vnderstand that Clarentina was the occasion of his death but and if thou wilt doe that which now I will desire thée I do héere sweare vnto thée by the high and mightie God y t there shall none be Ladie of my heart but alonely thy beautie then I vnhappie and without all good fortune being wholy yéelded and so ouercome with his loue did offer my selfe to doe all that which his pleasure was to commaunde mée Then this traitour with dissembling wordes sayde I alwayes had this good opinion in you my loue that you woulde accomplish my request Well thou shalt nowe vnderstande that I doe pretende to accuse Clarentina for the murther of my brother and the better to bring to passe my desire I will saye that thou art witnesse therevnto and doest knowe the certaintie thereof Then I thinking to obtaine that which so long time I had desired did promise him to doe it as by the proofe it shoulde plainely appeare And with this conclusion he departed from me and went and gaue his cousin Rodelando to vnderstand of it who is one of the strongest and valyauntest knightes in all this Countrie and Rodelando beléeuing that it should bée true did offer himselfe to be the seconde in the defence in helping of his cousin and so both of them went and made their accusation before the Emperour the Emperour commaunded mée to bée called before him for to declare what I did knowe therein and did accomplish and performe all that I had promised Then this
faultlesse Ladie séeing her selfe so falsely accused did wéepe verie gréeuously desiring the Emperour to appoint a time that shée might seeke one for to make aunswere in her defence and for to prooue that it was all false that was layde against her So it was agréed that in the space of two moneths shée should bring a knight that shoulde defend her honour and if so be that shée coulde not that then shée shoulde be condempned according vnto the lawe that is to burne her quicke and in the meane time that shée should be put into a tower and there well and strongly kept not forbidding anie whosoeuer hée were naturall or straunger but that hée might lawfully make battaile in her defence So likewise they commaunded that I should be put in another tower that if it were so that I should be found a liar that I shoulde bée punished with her prouided death So I when I vnderstood it was in a great feare and went priuelye vnto the lodging of Firidefonte of whome I was verie well receiued and faining that he would send me into his Countrie he put all thinges in order for my iourney and gaue me these two villaines whom thou hast slain to be my keepers who brought me hether and brought me vnto the point as you found me And as I do beleeue it came determined from thence for that his euill pretence should not be discouered Heere you maye vnderstand sir knight wherefore I sayd that it had ben better to haue let me ben slaine then to liue with so great griefe And now that I haue told you all the matter and the truth heere I doo desire you that if there be in you any bountie as it doth appeare and shewe by your presence that thou wilt take vppon thy owne charge this battaile and defence for that I would séeing that I haue bene the occasion of all this euill and trouble happened vnto this guiltlesse Lady in giuing false euidence be the meanes whereby she might receiue remedie for the same This Tinacrian was very much amazed to heare of such an intangled and false forged matter and for that he was one that did procure to aide and helpe the afflicted he did very fréely offer himselfe to procure to make her defence At this instant the dawning of the day appeared and the Prince tooke the Gentlewoman and went whereas the Knight of Bauier was and did awake him and gaue him to vnderstand of all that the Gentlewoman hadde tolde him who incontinent did offer himself to be the second in the battaile for her defence When the Quéene was all in a readinesse to trauaile on their iourney and all the rest they made great hast and tooke the way which led them vnto Espira and carried the Gentlewoman with her face couered that she might not be knowen So when they came with in a mile of the Citie of Espira they must néedes passe a great and mightie broad riuer whereas they lefte Candisea in a dayrie house giuing great charge that she shuld be well looked vnto and the Quéene and all the rest passed the Riuer in a barke and neuer staid till they entered into the citie and had their helmes on and their shields at their backs This strong and stout Tinacrian rode mounted vppon his temerous beast with so great and goodly a demeanour that all which did behold him greatly meruailed what knight it shuld be of so great and comely stature and when they saw the deuise of the trée and broken braunch on his shielde they straight wayes know that he was the Knight that had slaine the Gyaunts for that they had heard the newes there of in the Court which was the occasion that much people did folow him to behold his face if he did put off his helm to see if they could know him So these two knightes and the Quéene with all the people that followed him came vnto the Emperours pallaice whereas the Prince did alight taking the Quéene in his armes he tooke her from her Palfraie and lead her by the right hand so with a verie gentle comely grace they went vp into a royall hall and Macedonio remained belowe and kept their horses When they entered they found the Emperour accompanied with all his nobilitie the knight was knowen vnto theÌ„ al by the deuice of his shéeld therfore al people did approch to know wherfore his comming was greatly meruailed at his bigge stature gentle disposition and they all kept silence to heare what the knight of the Braunch woulde saie who when he was before the Emperour made a shewe of his high lignage from whence he did descend in making of his dutifull reuerence The Emperour hauing knowledge of his person by y e report which he had heard did returne his salutation in equall maÌ„ner when the Emperour would haue spoken the valiaunt knight of the branch did disturbe him and sayd High mightie Lord the fame which I haue heard of your great vertue hath incouraged me to come into thy kingdome with intent to yéeld my selfe into your seruice if that your highnesse be content therwith which if you wil not permit yet at least to suffer me according to equitie to shewe the strength of my arme vpon certaine thy subiects at the which I do desire thée not to receiue any displeasure for y t thou art accounted to be verie right iust for such is the fame that is reported of thee through the world I vnderstanding y t thâ—u wilt reioyce in all y t which is true also for that the truth might be iustified as it is reason although the one part hath shewed with witnesse words his matter to be of truth yet for all that at all times they ought not to be beléeued but that the contrarie partie must likewise be hearde for that thereby rightly may be shewed and declared the equitie of iustice I doe not speake this for that your highnesse hath determined anie thing without hearing of both partyes but for that it is brought vnto another tryall and referred by your maiestie to the tryall of armes to iustifie the right of eyther part and named a space in the which that faultlesse Gentlewoman daughter vnto the Duke of Tirol should séeke one for to defend her honour and right beeing falsely accused for a murtherer partly for this thing also am I come before thy high presence to make them vnderstand their wicked pretence false accusation which they haue raised on her without desert and if they be héere present let them marke what I saie and if not let your highnesse command that they may be aduertised héereof for that I wil make them to know that it is great falsehoode and treason in that they haue accused Clarentina These two cosins were there present and heard very wel his words and Rodelando without anie respect vnto the emperour taking his cosin Firidefonte by the hand stepped forth with a furious
countenance and said Héere thou hast before thée they whom thou dost demaund for beholde vs well and let not thy youthfull courage deceiue thée giuing enterprise vpon that of which the sonnes of the Emperour Trebatio would make doubtfull therefore looke what thou doest determine and giue vs our aunswere and that quicklye The Knight of the Braunch in the meane time that Rodelando was saying these wordes did verie much beholde and viewe him and it séemed vnto him that hée was a Knight of greate valour but yet for all that his strong members did not dismaie him but with a graue spéech and seuere countenaunce he aunswered If thou hast so much haste to knowe my determination héere I doe saye that in the accusation that thou hast put against Clarentina thou doest lye lyke a false Knight and that thy cosin lyke a cruell murtherer doth deserue the death for killing of his owne Brother committed by his owne handes who was more worthie in all respects then he is Then Firidefonte with great fury answered and sayd O vile ribalde howe can I suffer so greate euill to bée charged with that which that naughtie woman hath committed and caused to be done if thou wert not before the Emperour it should cost thâ—e full déere and out of hand thou shouldest haue thy payment for this great lie but yet I doe comfort my selfe for that verie quickly I will bée reuenged on thée I cannot declare the great anger which the knight of the Braunch receiued for that he tourned vp the white of his eyes and all his face waxed wanne and blacke and trembling with very anger moouing his pace he sayd I doe promise thée thou traitour that I will make thée with thy owne mouth confesse this great treason which thou hast committed and if it were not but that I am before so high an Emperour héere in this place without going anie farther with my fists like a vile traitour I would make thée to confesse it Héere Firidefonte had no patience to heare these things spoken to his face but like a tyger he leapt vnto him and wrapped his cloake about his arme and drew out his sword and went against the knight of the Braunch This worthy warriour thereat made no kinde of mouing but did abide his coÌ„ming making an outward shewe of the greate valour of his heart Firidefonte did strike at him with his sworde but the knight of the Braunch stepped on the one side and made him to loose his blow so that his sword stroke on the ground and like vnto the winde he closed with him and stroke him with his hands on the breast with so great furie and strength that without hauing anie power to saue himselfe he gaue a great fall backwards to the ground Rodelando séeing that on the best side entered to him and did imbrace him and held him verie strongly betwéene his armes Then this gentle knight drew out his swoorde and hauing his arme aloft he stroke a blowe the which chaunced vpon a young man called Polio of Velduque sonne vnto the Duke of Velduque and that cruell sword did light vppon his head and cutting it in two parts the young man fell downe dead to the ground Nowe was it not requisite that the Tinacrian should remaine in the armes of Rodelando but with great strength he did ruste him selfe threw him from him At y t time the whole Court was in a tumult for the death of Polio and euerie one drewe out his sworde and did verie sore assalt the knight of y e Branch but he with his sworde made such a slaughter amongest them that they did verie well feele and vnderstand the valiantnesse of his heart the great noise crieng out of the Emperour neither his emperiall presence was sufficient to appease them At this time the Emperours gard came into the hall who were coÌ„manded that with their halberts they shuld indeuour to part them then the Emperour went to lay hand on Firidefonte the beginner of all this tumult but he putting himselfe in defence went forth of the hall so likewise did Rodelando y e Emperour séeing that laide hand on the Bauiero who with great humilitie did obey his Lord he would haue done y t like vnto Poliphebo but he put the point of his sword before him said Kéepe your highnesse backe for that I am none of them that so lightly wil be taken prisoner take put in prison thy owne vassalles such as hath had little respect vnto thy presence let not them which are not of thy kingdome pay for this thy anger The emperour very angry said If my vassalls are in the fault they shall haue theyr punishment thou also if thou dost deserue it therfore yéeld thy self to prison if not vnderstand that it wil be to thy cost I know not what will fall out héerein said the Tinacrian but w t my good will neither you nor all yours shall triumph of my imprisonment before that this doth come to passe I wil make more then one thousand of them that do pretend to take me prisoner loose their liues Then the Emperour with a loude voice commaunded to fake him at which wordes all the whole gard together pressed at him but this valiaunt knight did determine that in spite of them all he woulde cléere and set himselfe at libertie there did he begin to doe wonderfull feates of armes breaking and cutting a sunder those sharpe Halberts and killing and wounding that it was terrible to beholde All the people feeling and séeing the effect of his rigorous arme did giue him waye and let him goe tyll hée came to the stayres there they beganne to assault him a newe with verye much people and amongest them some armed knightes The Knight when he sawe that he coulde not passe in quiet he was cleane without anye patience and not fearing death but forgetting pollicie he firmed himselfe and throwing his shield at his backe he tooke his sword in both his hands and layd about him on euerye side lyke vnto a furious Lion he pressed amongst the people cutting killing and wounding for to haue way to descend y e staires At that time was the Knight in great perill for that those which were before him did persecute him with the sharpe poynts of their halberds and likewise those which were behinde him did the like in such sorte that the Knight béeing on the staires could not tourne himselfe at his pleasure but yet all that euer they did did little auaile or profite them for that with the great furie which he had he pressed vpon them that were before him and what with killing and wounding he forced them to giue him way to descend downe y e staires where hée founde many people fallen downe with the great hast they had to flye from him And when he saw that hée could not passe by reason of the people he gaue a great leap with wonderfull lightnesse he passed ouer the
people that were fallen and went vnto the place whereas Macedonio did abide his comming with his great beast with strange lightnes he lept vpon his back and rode into the great court whereas he was assaulted of very much people for that the Emperour at the windowes cryed out vppon them to take him The knight of the branch when he found himself moūted vpon his great and light beast then he feared nothing and pricking him with the spurres incouraging him with a showte he passed downe the stréete and neuer stayd till he came vnto the riuers side and passed in the barke vnto the other side and determined not to depart from thence till such time as he had séene an end of that which touched the iustice of Clarentina and also to recouer againe his Lady the quéene who with great affliction as a woman all alone put her self out of the prease of Knightes and abode in a corner of the great Hall to kéepe her selfe from harme The people of the Emperour which followed the Knight of the Branch when they sawe him passe with his great beast so swiftly they retourned backe againe whereas the Emperour was whome they found verie much amazed at the great prowesse of this knight The Earle of Maguntia who likewise followed the knight at his returning againe he found Macedonio tooke him and carryed him before the Emperour and said This is Page vnto that diuell who to our cost and spite of our téeth is gone awaye The Emperour did beholde him and sawe that he was of a good disposition had a faire face he asked of him and said Tell me my friend howe doest thou call thy Lord is he by fortune some diuell for that according as hée hath shewed himselfe vnto vs it cannot be but that he is some infernall creature This young Gentleman with great deliberation sayd My Lord is a humane creature and sonne vnto a humane man and more mightier then your highnesse for you shall vnderstand that he is sonne vnto the Emperor Trebatio Emperour of Grecia and his mother is the quéene Garrofilea Quéene of Tinacria and your highnesse shall vnderstand that he is a knight that will reward and that verye well all the harme and griefe which is done vnto him with whatsoeuer knight he be in all the world the Ladie which he brought with him is of high estate for you shall vnderstand that she is a great Ladie and a quéene The Emperour whē he heard this he looked about for her and sawe her in a corner of the hall verie sore afflicted and commaunded that shée should be carried with great honour and reuerence whereas y e Empres was with great anger he returned vnto Macedonio and said I will sée how farre the power will extend of this diuell for that he shall not haue thée neither his Ladie till such time as I haue him in my power All that the Emperour sayd was heard by a brother of Clarentinas who was called Laurentino that came vnto the court that present day being verie much moued he said Your highnesse doth very ill in intreating my sister so euill is this the rewarde for the great seruice which I my father haue done for you to procure for to destroy kill him who respecting our honour doth put his person in aduenture to deliuer my sister from that false accusation laide against her and the other which came in his companie thou hast put in prison and not content héerewith but dost kéepe in thy power from him a Ladie and his Page it shoulde suffice thée to knowe who they are and the highnesse of their linage and not in such sort to doe them wrong my Lord moderate your selfe and doe iustice for that hetherto you haue bene a friend in dooing iustice and right doe not blemish this daie with thy great pride the high fame which in so manie yeares thou hast gotten The Emperour who was blind ouercome with anger verie wrathfull he sayd Get thée hence in an euill houre vnto thy lodging for that thy sister shall neither winne nor loose for thy speach This valiant young man did answere For that you are my Emperour Lord you may intreat me in this order but if that reason did now gouerne your breast you would do more iustice then by your outward shewe you doe meane to doe therefore now I doe saie let them take héede who is in the fault for that with my person and goods I doe determine to make my defence and to aide and succour him who for my sister doth put his life in aduēture And in saying these words he departed out of the great hall leauing the Emperour full of cholar and wrath who commaunded to burie the dead bodies and Polio with great honour His death was verie sore lamented of many for that he was wel beloued of all y e court Then they gaue the Emperour to vnderstand how that the knight whom he had in prison was sonne vnto the Duke of Bauiera for the which he receiued great griefe for that he was sonne vnto one of the mightyest Lordes that was in all Almaine his power was so greate that hée and the power of Laurentino were able to maintaine warres agaynst the Emperour So considering all things the Emperour in his owne person went and tooke the Knight out of prison of whome he vnderstoode all that happened in the Castell of the Rocke and likewise the truth of the treason of Firidefonte and béeing in this communication they hearde in the Court a greate rumour and going to sée what was the occasion thereof they sawe that there was brought two dead Knightes vppon two horses and hadde on eyther of them a meruailous greate and cruell wound◠which was as it appeared the occasion of their deaths whereas we wil leaue them for that the furie of this Tinacrian doth compell me to declare the end of this conflict as in the Chapter following you shall vnderstand ¶ How the Tinacrian was tarrying to see if anie would come forth against him for that which was past and howe that Rodelando and his cosin made battaile with him and how he ouercame them both Chap. 26. EUen as the furious Faunus in the mountaines of Tartarie doth couer his great brutall members with the braunches of y e mightie Pine trées working pollicies to get his praie for y t he cannot finde wheron to execute his anger for to satisfie his capitall enimie hunger euen so rather more furious was this Tinacrian abiding the comming of Macedonio or anie other y t peraduenture might follow him he blasphemed against the Gods looked vp vnto the heauens said So long as I beléeue in them there will nothing prosper with me nor in anie thing will my honour increase And being in this spéech he sawe cōming y e waie which he came two well proportioned knights mounted vpon two mightie horses who when the came vnto the waters side in
an aduenture which for to declare in order I must returne vnto the Knight of the Sunne whereas wee lefte him and as you haue hearde he was beholding the ceremonies of the Princes Tigliafa which she vsed ouer the body of Zoylo vpon her knées with a sorrowfull lamentation The Knight of the Sunne the better to vnderstand what she sayd pulled off his helme and then he heard that she said as followeth I doo not know wherfore I doo loose so much time in this sorrowfull lamentation for that it is not sufficient for to deliuer me from the sorrow and griefe which continuallye I am afflicted with Uery heauie I am for thée my Zoylo being without thy company I knewe not how I liue It were better for me at once to ende my sorrow procuring w t my owne hands to goe and beare thée company Oh sorrowfull Lady how dost thou liue without thy welbeloued How dost thou sustaine thy self without thy life That day in the which thou didst lose him that daye it had happened well vnto thee if thou hadst lost thine owne life but in the end wil come an end that thou shalt goe to séeke him in giuing thy selfe cruell death And with this she made an ende of her lamentation for that lifting vp her eyes she saw how the two knights were very attentiue vnto that which she said And giuing a terrible and grieuous sigh she arose vp in great hast and entered into the chamber whereas she came foorth and with greate wrath she shut the doore making within the chamber meruailous lamentations The Emperour Alphebo went thether to see if he coulde open the doore but he found it verye fast shut as one who had the Fortresse made by the wise Lyrgandeo and so likewise did he bring that monster for to keepe her that she might be troubled of no body The Emperour Alphebo séeing that his calling was in vaine departed and went out w t his company and mounting vppon theyr Beastes they did prosecute theyr iourney So all the rest of the daye almost they trauayled in the same Forrest And when it was towards night they founde themselues in the broad and beaten way of Pyreo which went vnto Constantinople of the which they were very ioyfull and he did determine to goe vnto the Emperour his father for to kisse his hands and so they directed their waye vnto Constantinople They had not ridden long when that they hearde a great noyse of hunters which followed their game and they came towards the place where as they wer for that the night drew on and they vnderstood by some of the huntsmen that the Emperour was in that hunt who for his recreation at that time came forth and had in his company the Empresse and the faire Oliuia who was very sorrowful for the absence of Rosicleer When the Emperour Alphebo knew that they were there he went vnto their tents and there did not lack them which did aduertise the Emperour and the Empresse who with much ioye went out to receiue him as he would haue entred And when Alphebo was before her he fel down vpon his knées then the Empresse with teares of great ioy did imbrace him and spake words of maternall loue Then was he receiued of the faire Oliuia and of all the Princes Ladyes that were there Likewise they receiued and gaue great intertainment vnto the King of Sardenia for that hée was welbeloued of them al from the time that he made battaile with the Giant in the Emperiall Pallaice And being in this pleasure the Emperour came with as much spéede as he could and there beganne a newe the welcomming of Alphebo and the king with so much ioye and pleasure vnto al that I cannot expresse it So there they passed that night till the morning and when all things was put in order they heard diuine seruice and went to breakfast with pretence to retourne againe vnto their hunting So when they were a taking vp of the tables they heard a great rumour of Seruaunts and of the running and coursing of horses The Emperour Alphebo arose from the Table and putting on his helme he went out of the Tent whereas he found in a readinesse his horse and with great lightnesse he mounted on him and rode towards the place from whence y e noyse came and vpon a sodaine he sawe come riding two knightes and after them followed one knight of a meruailous disposition with Purple armour all to be spotted with starres of golde likewise his shéeld was purple vpon the which was put for the deuice a knight who séemed to haue the same deuice his eyes shut by reason that certaine Sunne beames did strike on them the which séemed to procéede out of the face of another knight This Purple knight brought his sword in his hand all naked in manner as though he would strike y e other two which ranne awaie The Emperour Alfebo did reprehend the two knights for their running awaie and put himselfe before them At this instant we must leaue the Emperour and his knights for to returne vnto the Pastor Claridiano whom we left with his swéete musicke and his Lute in his hand compassed round about with a companie of shepheards hauing her before him whose beautie did make him to disguise himselfe in that base apparell and she was set vppon the gréene grasse whereas she might with good attention heare the delicate swéetnesse of this new shepheards musicke Also all the rest of the shepheards had no small admiration as well therat as at the sweet melodie he vsed in singing and at sundrie-times he sent forth déepe sighs so that it made all the shepheards hearts to melt and the verie birdes which did flie in the forrest did staye were astonied at his swéete musicke So when he was wearie of playing singing the amorous sight of the Pastora did graunt him no farther lisence but that with a fewe teares he cast downe his humbled eies and began to wring his hands The Pastora did very much behold him it séemed vnto her that in all her life she had not séene so much fairenesse in a man imagining with her selfe that he was some worthie knight So straight way she tooke Galismena by the hand and arose vp from the place whereas she was set and did â—ooke vpon the shepheard giuing him to vnderstand that her sight shoulde be vnto him more at commaundement then to all the rest of y e shepheards there a long the riuer and with great maiestie she turned her back as though she had perfectly known whose daughter she had bene leauing all them in a greate confusion at the first who did separate themselues euerie one to his waie for wheÌ„ they sawe that they could haue no longer sight of that fayre Pastora â—hey all departed and none remained but Filepensio Coridon and Alphesiuio This Filepensio was brought into that perplexitie that although he had the vauntage of all the campanie in brauery
of Euphrates this knight trauailed with great sorrow for the small newes that he heard of his Pastora and the anger was verie great of the Prince for that he was so carelesse in such sorte that neither Coridon nor Fidelio durst speake a worde vnto him and diuerse times lifting vp his eyes vnto heauen with an heauie voice he said Oh high and mightie God Iupiter how is it possible that I hauing done my duetie vnto thy Deitie in all respects and almost vsing a quotidian sacrifice thou doest yet suffer thy power to bée contrarie vnto me in this giue me now some light to happe on that waie by which that traitour and disloyall knight doth carrie the Goddesse of all shepheardes that I maye deliuer her that shee be not scorned nor ill intreated of that false knight Oh Diana chast Goddesse hide thy breast and send some kéeper of thine to defende her let that reuenger Camilia be her garde and with her Bowe send a sharpe arrowe to passe through the heart of him that doth all this euill In this sorte with greate anger the Prince trauailed and the thirde daie of his iourney somewhat early in the morning he sawe vppon a rocke a verie faire and great castell which séemed to be verie strong The Prince determined to goe thether he had not trauailed long when he came into another greate and broade waie in the which there was a man which came towardes them when he drew nigh they asked of him if he coulde tell anie newes of the Pastora The man lift vp his eies and séeing the proportion of him that demaunded the question he saide For thy profit sir knight for that thou séemest vnto me to be of estimation I will not tell thée thy demaund The valiant knight with more humilitie then his passionate heart would abide desired him to giue him to vnderstand if he knew anie thing of her The man said Sir knight I knowe not wherefore you will know of that thing that by séeking of remedie for her deliuerie will procure thy selfe death Notwithstanding séeing that with so great courtesie you doe request me I will tell you although it were better for you not to knowe it neuerthelesse you shall vnderstande that yesternight a knight brought her vnto yonder Castell which you sée before you put her vnder so strong kéeping that there is no power able to deliuer her except the power of the high Gods The contentment was great that the Prince receiued when he heard newes of her the which he so much desired and giuing great thankes vnto the man he went towards the Castle when he came thether he found the drawe bridge downe and the gate open and no gard there to kéepe it And without all feare he entered in at the gate and left Coridon and Fidelio without And being within he came into a very great and broad Court the which was paued with very faire and wel wrought stones and the walls were full of windowes with yron grates very faire but he saw no body and discouering a broad and well made paire of staires he alighted from his horse and went vp and being halfe waye vp ther was a dore open and looking in thereat he sawe it was a greate Hall and that verye darke sauing at the farther ende thereof there was a little louer hole which gaue a small light wher by he perceiued a little dore which séemed to be at the foote of a payre of winding staires at which dore the knight entered and went vp the staires And when he came aloft hée entred into very great and broad chambers all furnished w t beds and it séemed to be a place for the houshold seruaunts and going from thence he entred into a very faire hall in the which was a well wrought windowe and looking out therat he sawe that it was ouer the gate of that ill kept Castle by which he entered and looking for Coridon and Fidelio he could not sée them but beléeued that they had put themselues apart in some place because they would not be séene Then this valiant knight looking downe againe to the gate sawe a mightie great Gyant of a huge stature who called with a great loude voice and sayde Runne quickly and séeke out that bolde knight who without anie lisence entered into the Castell and put him into the most cruellest prison in all the house These wordes caused little feare in the knight but rather going from the windowe he went out of the hall where was a payre of stayres and as he beganne to descend downe by them he sawe comming vp thereat in great hast fiue armed knightes and after them eight clownes who séing him to be the knight they sought with theyr swordes drawne verie rigorously they did assault him This valyant warriour drew out his sword and stroke two of them two such terrible blowes y t he made their heads to tumble downe the stayres and in the fall of them they chaunced to hit two of the clownes that they made them to fall backwards vpon the stayres but his furie stayed not in this but he stroke another knight such a blowe that he ouerthrewe him deade the same waye the other two knightes which remained séeing that slaughter so quickly done they put themselues the one on the one side of the stayres and the other on the other and hauing theyr shéeldes before them they layde on the Knight with great and thicke blowes but by reason of the desire which the knight had to sée his Pastora and being very much troubled therewith hée determined with spéede to cléere himselfe of those two knightes and therewith he stroke at each of them a mightie blow and sent them with the rest downe the stayres the like did he vnto foure of the clownes that were so hardie as to assault him the other with a great noise ranne downe the stayres this valyant knight hasted downe the stayres after them till he came into a great court whereas he found the Gyant vnarmed with a shéelde on his arme and a great broade fauchen in his hande The knight made shew vnto him that he woulde not fight nor strike him but put his sworde vp into his sheath and said Holde thy hand Gyaunt and strike not but put on thy armour for to make thy defence for this vnderstande of a truth that I will not drawe out my sword so long as thou art vnarmed The Giaunt when he sawe howe lyttle hée did estéeme him stoode still and did beholde him and noted the greate riches of his armour and by the deuice of his shéelde he knewe him to be the knight that wonne the prise and honour in the iustes at Nabatea for you shall vnderstande that all these Gyauntes were of the kingdome of Cilicia and the king thereof if you remember was the first with whome the knight did iust which in that triumph was ouerthrowen when that to reuenge that quarrell came forth a brother of his
and the kingdome of Prisopoli and all the way that he trauailed he left behinde great fame of wonderful aduentures which happened They trauailed in a skirt of Armenia whereas chaunced vnto him that which in the next chapter shall be told you ¶ How Claridiano by chance had battaile with his owne father which being knowen vnto Galtenor and fearing the great harme that would come thereof hee remedied the same Chap. 29. BY a Mountaine of Armenia verie much inhabited this warrelike knight trauailed in companie with his faire Pastora with so great delight and pleasure that I cannot héere signifie it vnto you and with Coridon they had good pastime for that he was verie pleasant who againe séeing that he might so at quiet and familiarly talke with the Pastora was almost in an extasie for ioye So the second day that they trauailed by that mountaine by reason that it was so fragrant they lost their waie in such sort that when they remembred themselues they wer entered into the thickest of the wildernesse and procured to finde the waie againe which by no meanes they coulde for that they were so farre entered into the thicket So with great trouble they trauailed till mid daie at which time they heard a noise of the running of water the which they followed it was the occasion y t they brought themselues out of y e thick wood and came into a mightie great plaine through the midst of the which there passed a déepe riuer There they looked about them to sée if they coulde discouer any towne village or dwelling places but they could sée no other thing but high and mightie Pine trées the which gréeued much the Pastora much more the Gréeke for that the Pastora should be so sorrowfull againe for that they had no victualls to comfort her So they staied a while not knowing which way they might take to bring themselues out of y e distresse but vppon a sodaine they espied towards their right hande a man who trauailed a foot being somwhat farre off from them that they could not discerne what he should be So in greate hast they went towards him and comming nigh him they sawe that it was an olde man who had his head and beard very white by reason of his great age and the better for to trauaile hée hadde a staffe whereon he might leaue shewing that he trauailed with greate paine in that he mooued himselfe so heauily Then came vnto the Princes remembraunce the question that the furious beast did aske him in the inchanted castle of the king of Arabia So when they came vnto the olde man they saluted him the olde man returned their salutation with a faint and wearie voice The Prince asked him what aduenture had brought him into that solitarie place This olde man for to make him answere was constrained to sit downe vpon the ground and sayd Gentle knight I knowe not what to saie nor what I shall tell you but onely my destinie hath brought me into this misfortune being mocked w t great falsehood by a Page y t I brought with me who left me all alone and on foote in this solitarie wildernesse These two daies haue I not eaten any thing but onely dronke of y e water of Euphrates with the which I haue borne out my hunger the head of which riuer is not far from hence And héere I doe desire thée gentle knight if thou hast anie pittie of this my wearie age for to succour me in carrying me vpon thy horse or vpon the horse of anie of thy seruants The Prince taking great pittie on the olde man sayd Feare not good Father of this thy misfortune for séeing y e fortune hath brought vs hether I will not leaue thée alone in this solitarye place The Prince leaped from his horse and tooke the olde man in his armes and put him in the saddle and helped to settle him well that by reason of his weaknesse he might not fal that he being well set he himselfe might y e better without all feare leap vp behind him This false olde man séeing himselfe master of the horse stroke him with his héeles in so great hast y t he made the horse to flie Oh how the knight was amazed at this act although he beleeued that he did it to make him go a little on foote but when he sawe that his mocking proceeded forwards on he returned that waie which his Squire came calling out vnto him to bring his horse on the which he trauailed who in great hast accomplished his demaund When the knight was on horsebacke he began to call vnto the olde man for to tarrie The which the olde man did till such time as he came nigh him and with a great laughter he sayd Pittiful knight what dost thou thinke to recouer thy horse and to giue me my payment for that I haue mocked thée Wouldest thou so quickly loose the name to be pittifull I doe not meane to loose it sayde the Knight neither did I giue thée my horse for to carrie thée alone but both of vs for it is a horse which can doe it verie well I shall be counted for a more foole then thou said the olde man hauing now opportunitie to goe whether I list all alone and being in thy companie I shall be constrained to goe whether thy pleasure is The Prince hearing these wordes went by little and little towards the olde man but he with a quicke course did apart himselfe from him making with his mouth and eyes a thousand gâ—stures for to make him to be angrie The Prince being astonied said Thou false olde villaine more worse then the stinking Foxe tarrie thou mocker of knights and do not thinke that the lightnesse of thy horse shall deliuer thée out of my hands The olde man shewed as though he esteemed lyttle his words and threatnings but ran with the horse from one place vnto another making a thousand gestures and faces with his mouth and eyes which was euen death vnto y e Prince who said Oh Gods is it possible that you do permit that this naughtie olde man should thus scorne me with his iestures Coridon and the Pastora came behinde had great pastime to see how the knight was mocked and beguiled of an olde man who séemed as though he could not moue himselfe with age With the great anger and rage that the prince had to see himselfe so mocked he pricked his horse with the spurres for to ouertake the olde man who was a good wayâ— off from him and made his horse to runne so swift a course that it seemed he flew and the olde man with the like lyght course came running towards and against the Prince comming nigh vnto him he sayd What is this my sonne wherfore is all this furie for thou doest well knowe that I came not for to cause in you anie anger The Prince hearing this stayed his horse and did beholde him and knewe
caused al them that were ther to be greatly amazed but yet their wonder was much more to sée that the knight was at libertie cléere from that vgly beast who they thought had ben dead and deuoured by her but when they sawe him they all procured to hide themselues and to runne away so that the Gyant remained all alone in that place rising vp from the boord stretching himselfe on his féet he said O my Gods I do giue thanks for y ◠you haue deliuered this vile knight frō y e power of y t furious beast that I with my hands may take reuengment of him And in saying these wordes hée drew out a mightie sword which he had hanging at his side went towards the prince striking at him a terrible blow from y t which this Gréek did cléere himselfe with his accustomed lightnesse being past y t blow he sayd Gyant goe arme thy selfe and héere I will tarrie for thee by which meanes thou maist defend thy selfe and make thy reuengement as thy heart desireth and do not thou thinke that I will glorie in the abating of thy courage but with the great valour the which my high minde doth demaund The Gyant when he sawe himselfe derided and that the knight made little account of him was with the greate anger which he receiued almost beside himselfe and sayd Oh vile and miserable creature is it possible that the Gods will doo me so great outrage as to consent that I shall take armour against thée and that thou hast so much force as to driue me vnto that necessitie And in saying these words he lift vp againe his broad mightie sword against the prince who lykewise cléered himselfe of that blow as he did of the first Then the Prince sayd vnto him Thou deformed beast without any humane reason doo not procure by thy greate pride to spot or staine the nobilitie of my person to cause me to strike thée without hauing any armour to make thy defence The Giant made little accompt of y e counsell he gaue him but rather assalted him with more terrible blowes But all that euer he did was in vaine for that the Prince with great experience and lightnesse cleered himselfe from them and tarried y e time that he might haue opportunitie to close with him for to shew him the fruites of his fists for at that time he had not drawen his sword A good while they were in this contention till such time as those Knights which ran away which was to the number of ten had time to arme themselues and to returne againe into that place whereas they were eating who came all in a readinesse with theyr swords in their hands When the Prince saw the great perill which was towards him he was constrained to drawe out his sword for to make his defence against that wicked company The olde Witch called with a mightie voyce vnto her sonne that he should enter in and arme himselfe for that she suspected as a Deuine what should happen O cursed heart that is so great a friend vnto cruell reuengment how dost thou procure to heape vpon thy selfe such shame reproch seeking without all Iustice to doo that which it wer better for thee to haue left vndone Full little did it profit this olde Witch her great crying out and inchauntments for that the Giant would not hearken vnto her but followed his pretēce vnarmed as he was against him who although he had bene armed his furie would little haue profited him so by reson that y e other armed Knights did so much trouble him with their blowes it was the occasion that the Giant did the more molest him causing him many times with the fury of their blowes to boow his knées to the grounde the which did constraine him to vse all his power against them striking about him on the one side and on the other that in a small time he ouerthrew fiue of them dead to the ground yet for all that the other fiue which remained did not let to vse all the extremitie they could against the Gréeke and likewise that furious Gyant whom the knight would neuer offer to strike with his cutting sword but alwayes waiting opportunitie that he might close with him for to giue him one blowe with the pomell therof and when time did serue he would not loose it but being verie nigh him he stroke him so mightie a blow with the pomell of his sword vnder his eare that he droue it into his braines wherewith the Gyant fell dead to y e ground The other fiue knights when they sawe that terrible blowe they threw their swords vnto the ground and yéelded themselues vnto the curtesie of y e Gréeke knight The olde Gyantesse when she sawe her sonne dead and those knights yeelded with a great furie and terrible shriking she put her selfe before the knight and sayd O cruell Butcher the destroyer of my welbeloued sonnes make now an end of her who doth more deserue the death then they and doe not thinke that thou shalt obtaine so much victorie as to carrie me awaie with thée aliue and if that with thy cruell hand thou wilt not make an end of her that is without all good fortune I promise thée that I will procure to giue it my selfe with my owne hands And in saying these wordes shée went vnto the place whereas he sonne lay dead and layde holde on his sharpe sword and with a trice she thrust it into her bodie that none that were there present had anie time to withdraw her from doing it which béeing done her miserable soule was scant out of y e vnhappie bodie when y t all the Castell began to shake and with the noise of a terrible thunder clap it vanished awaie in such sort that all those y t were there present remained in the plaine field without anie signe or token of castel to be there or anie other kind of buildings for that you shall vnderstand that this Castle was made by Art of inchauntment by that olde Witch Surely it caused great admiration to all them that remained a liue but much more was the griefe of the Ladies which tarried for y e comming of y e Prince when they saw y t he tarried so long also afterward when they heard that great noyse of thunder at the breaking vp of that inchaunted Castle It was no lesse to be wondred at to sée the huge and mightie Serpent the great giant with his mother and the fiue knights that were slaine vnderstanding that the Prince had made all that destruction So the fiue Knights which yéelded thēselues gaue the Prince to vnderstand who the Giants wer and how the olde Giantesse had ordained that Castle for to take reuengement on him for the death of her two sonnes The Greeke Prince gaue thankes vnto his Gods for that they had deliuered him out of that terrible snare and gaue the Knightes frée libertie to departe
and goe whether they would Then the Prince and his company retourned onwards to their iourney making greate hast in their trauaylyng that they might get out of that great Woode before that the night shoulde come vpon them whereby they might get to some towne nigh at hand And at such time as the glistering Apollo began to hide his face and to couer himselfe according to his accustomed order they came vnto a fayre Castle which was a little without the woode whereas of the Lorde thereof they were verye well receiued yet much more royal was their entertainment and farre greater was his affection towards them when he knew of y e destruction of that inchaunted Castle for that he had felte and knowen the inconuenience of that ill neighbour ¶ How that the king of Nabatea had vnderstanding of the great destruction that the Greeke Prince made in the castle and how he commaunded that the serpent and the heads of the Gyants should be set at the entrie of the gate of the Pallaice for a perpetuall memorie and how that the triumph began that was ordeined and of all that passed in the time of the feasts Cap. 14. THE fame of the valiant knight Claridiano with his accustomed gentillitie was noised throughout all those Prouinces of Nabatea publishing his heroicall actes and feates of armes naming him to be the knight of the damsells and when he drew nigh vnto Nabatea there did not lacke them which gaue the king to vnderstand of all that passed When the king heard of so mightie and valiant déedes and in speciall of that which was done in the inchaunted castell and of the furiousnesse of the serpent he commanded straight y t men shuld be sent thether for to bring them vnto his presence which straight way was accomplished and when the King saw so great worthinesse he commaunded that forthwith for a perpetuall memory of y e knight they shuld be hanged at y e pallaice gate desirous to know y e knight to haue him in his court for to do him honor but they which had more desire to sée him wer y e Dutchesse of the valley and her Daughter Who were at that time come so the Court and declared the greate prowesse of the Prince and thought long for the daye of the Triumphes for as then hée promised without faile to be at Nabatea so the daie of the feastes were come at the fame wherof resorted thether a great number of great valour and strength Amongst whom was the prince of Phoenicia with a goodly company of noble persone and the Prince of Camogenia with many and very well proprtioned Knightes Likewise came thether the King of Arabia with greate maiestie and with no lesse maiestie came the king of Silicia and a brother of his who were both Gyants So likewise came thether the king of Cappadocia all these be Prouinces that doth border the one with the other the most part of these Princes are vassalls vnto the Prince of Palestino all these Princes came thether for to honour that good king of Nabatea for that he was very well estéemed of them all and as they came to honour the King so likewise they came to proue themselues and to get fame and name the praise that belongeth therevnto It was supposed of all the companie the king of Silicia would haue the prowesse and praise of all the rest for that he was a gyant of verie bigge members although his brother was taken to be more furious who determined not to iust for that his brother shuld get the honour praise but it fell out otherwise as heereafter you shal vnderstand So when the daie was come all the Ladies and Damsells put themselues in places for to beholde y e feasts and euerie one procured to set out her selfe with the greatest brauerie y t might be and the great court full of people which came thether for to see the feasts and triumphs What shall I saie heere of the daughter of the Dutchesse of the valley who was of so great beautie y t she was noted amongst them all So the knights began to enter into the place of iust and he which was the first that entered was the Prince of Camogenia who was mounted vpon a verie faire and well adorned courser he was armed with blacke armour all to bée spotted full of Martines brought with him fiftie knightes all apparelled with the same liuerey and with great◠maiestie he went round about the place making obedience vnto all the Ladyes and Damsells after him entered a Pagan knight who was Lord of Siria and armed with armour of a Lyons coulour accompanied with an hundreth knights all apparelled in veluet of the same coulour and passed round about the place shewing great curtesie as the other did which being done he sawe that the Prince of Camogenia was tarying to receiue him at the iust and straight way they began to sound the instruments giuing to vnderstand that they must make themselues ready These Knights were nothing vnwilling but spurred their coursers with great fury The Prince of Camogenia made his encounter whole stroke the Pagan without missing any poynt but the pagan stroke the other in such sort that he heaued him out of the saddle he fell to the ground wherewith the Pagan Knight remayned with great pride and gladnesse In the meane time that these two wer in the Iust there entred in a Knight of Phenicia who entred in with great pompe and pride who when he saw that the Prince of Camogenia was ouerthrowen he put himselfe vnto the Iust. Little did profite him his great pride and arrogancie outward show to be a strong knight against him of Siria for that at the first encounter he ouerthrew him to the ground in like sort did he vse other fiftéene Knights of diuers Prouinces So straight way entred the Prince of Phoenicia who was a meruailous well proportioned knight armed all in white armour wrought with excellent knots of gold and he brought in his companye an hundred Knights all apparailed in white satten and riding about the place he shewed his obedience vnto the King and all the Ladies Then he put himselfe at his standing for at that time ther was not a knight to iust withall So straight way they sounded the trumpets at which noyse the Knights mooued themselues to the Iust with their horses and made their encounter so strong with so great fury y t the strong Pagan was cast to the grounde and the like he did to other sixe ventrous Knights which entred into the place Straight way entred the braue King of Silicia who was armed with glistering armour of very fine stéele and was mounted vppon a very mightie and rich courser and brought in his cōpany two hundred Knights all apparailed with rich cloth of golde accompanied with greate musicke of minstrelles which was a pleasaunt noyse to be heard and after that hée had made the accustomed compasse and