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
ring that gaue so much light that he might plainely sée all that was in the hall the which was verie great and wide and vpon the walls were painted the figures of many fiends and diuells and on the one side of the hall he sawe a tombe all couered with blacke and vppon it there laie a man with a pale colour who at certaine times gaue a meruailous and gréeuous sigh caused by the burning flames that procéeded from vnder the tombe beeing such that it seemed his bodie should be conuerted therewith into burning coales the flame was so stinking that it made y e Prince somewhat to retire himselfe from the place where he sawe that horrible spectacle He which laie vpon the tombe casting his eyes a side sawe the Prince and knowing him to bée an humane creature with an afflicted voice he sayde Who art thou sir knight that art come vnto so sorrowfull a dwelling for that thou canst sée nothing in it but great torments Then the knight sayde but tell me who art thou that with so mâ—ch griefe doest demaund of me that which I stande in doubt to tel thée I am a king of Arabia answered he which without all consideration with my cruell hande did pearce through the white breast of my welbeloued daughter wo be to me for that she at once did paie her offence by death but I a miserable wretch w t many torments doe liue dying When this worthie knight was about to answere him he saw come forth from vnder the tombe a damsell who had a verie yeolow and wanne colour and by her face it séemed y t she should be verie sore afflicted and with a sorrowfull voice she sayd O Claridiano vnfortunate what dost thou séeke in this infernal lodging wheras cannot be giuen thée anie other pleasure but mortall torments for y t thou wert so bold as to kil my kéeper of y e doore there is but one thing that can cléere thée froÌ„ it this cannot be tolde thée by anie other but by me and yet I will not tell thée except thou doest graunt me one thing that I will aske of thée The Prince who was greatly amazed of all that he had séene and verie much beholding the countenaunce of the damsell that was verie leane and féeble aunswered and said The Gods who are gouernours of my libertie will doe their pleasures but in that touching the graunt of thy request I neuer to Ladie nor Gentlewoman denyed anie thing that they would demaund of me being a thing that I could put remedie in but with all my power and strength I was readie to fulfill the same therefore demaund what thy pleasure is for that I am readie in all things that toucheth thy remedie Then she sayde Claridiano looke well and haue a respect vnto y t which thou dost promise and sée y t thou dost performe thy promise for thou shalt vnderstaÌ„d that thou fulfilling the same doest giue libertie vnto thy selfe and vnto me Gentlewoman aske what thy pleasure is said y â— knight that which I demaund sayd the damsell is y t thou giuest mée the ring which thou hast vpon thy finger for thou shalt vnderstand that in it is my remedie In demaunding of that said the Prince thou doest rather procure my harme therfore it doth not behoue me to giue it thée To whom she said O euill and false knight that doest not performe that which thou hast promised sée that thou doest accomplish the same or else to the contrarie thou shalt liue dying Oh false Magitian cursed witch sayde Claridiano doest thou thinke by thy deceitfull threatnings to deceiue me It is not thy inchantments neither thy fained words y t shall get the ring froÌ„ my finger TheÌ„ she said thou shalt sée how little thy great streÌ„gth shal profit auaile thée against me if thou wilt tarry a while and therewith vpon a sodaine she laide holde vpon his hande with so great strength that it lacked but little of pulling the ring from his finger but this politike Gréeke helped his left hand with his right with so great strength that he put away that Magitian y t she could not pull it off This false inchanter did still stand in this contention to get the ring from him and contended in such sort that he forgot the respect that hee should haue vnto Ladyes and Gentlewomen and stroke her with his right hand that was armed such a buffet vpon the chéeke that her fantasticall bodie gaue a great fall vnto the ground shée was not so soone fallen when that with a timerous noise she threw her selfe into that dolefull Sepulcher making a terrible and wonderfull howling within and this vnhappie king bare her companie with his gréeuous lamentations of the which the Prince had great compassion and it séemed vnto him that he heard a voice which came forth of the tombe which did offer to talke vnto him that he might vnderstand his reasons he drew nigh vnto the tombe heard that he sayd these words Oh knight borne in Grecia nursed and brought vp in Trapobana if thou wilt go out of this place and make an end of my continual torments procure to giue thrée blowes vpon this my Sepulchar with the which thou shalt deliuer thy selfe and me likewise and all those that are héere put in this infernal lodging This inuincible young man sayd There is so little truth in this house that I stand in doubt whether I may beléeue thy words or not notwithstanding tell me who thou art then shall I know whether I may giue credit vnto thy wordes Then he sayd I am that vnhappie Merlin borne in Gallia and deceiued by her who would haue deceiued thée therfore thou â—â—ist beléeue me for that I doe tell thée the truth and if thou doest as I doe tell thée ther will come vnto both vs great profite Tell me Merlin sayd the Prince how doest thou know that I was borne in Grecia and brought vp in Trapobana if thou dost know I pray thée tell me who was my father and of what Empire or kingdome he is Lord. To whom Merlin said Trebatio is thy grandfather and thy father is the great Alfebo the excellent Claridiano is thy mother from whome Galtenor did steale thée in companie with thy sister the most fairest creature in all the world And in saying these words he helde his peace and with dolorous grones he began to curse himselfe and it was so gréeuous that the Prince withdrewe himselfe because he would not heare it without anie more tarrying he embraced his shéeld and laide hand vpon his good sword and with great violence he went vnto the Sepulcher and as he would haue stroke therat there appeared before him a giant the which the Prince tooke to be y e gyant that he slew in the mountaine Nabateos who stroke the Prince vpon y e brest with both his hands y t he made him to recoile backe a great way whether he
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
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
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
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
there at hand they sate downe and did eate of such as the Damosell had brought with her So in this sort they passed the time till they thought it to be the houre to goe vnto the defence pretended so when the time drew nigh they perused their armour in all pointes and armed themselues and leapt on horse backe Tefereo if it had not séemed vnto him to bée a point of cowardlinesse wold haue procured to haue disturbed this battaile for they against whome he shoulde fight were his kinsefolkes but yet he thought that he was more bound by the order of knighthoode to kéepe companie with him with whom he came and to resist such like wronges in the defence of truth and iustice then to haue anie respect to his kindred and especially in such like false accusations Hee therefore determined to dissemble it and say nothing so with these and such like thoughtes they went forwardes till they came into the citie vnto the place appointed for this battell whereas they found the Princesse set vpon a scaffolde all couered with mourning robes of great sadnesse which did declare and shew her great sorrowe and vndeserued trouble So likewise all the whole scaffolde and all the Ladyes and Damosells that came with the Princesse were couered and apparelled correspondent vnto her attire The king was at a windowe of his Pallaice with no lesse sorrowe and sadnesse to sée his honour put vnto that blemish as it was And that which gréeued him most was that not one knight in all his Court durst giue the enterprise yet was there present all the whole companie of the knightes of his Court. So these two Gyaunts and the other knightes came armed into the place with verie fayre and strong armour and mounted vpon greate and mightie strong horses sauing the greatest of the Gyauntes for that there was not any horse that coulde sustayne so mightie and huge a waight wherefore he was mounted vpon an Elephant So looking round about the Prince sawe on the other side of the fielde the Knight with the gréene armour which he had fought with all in the Barke béeing at the Sea as I haue tolde you who was in a readynesse to make the battaile in defence of the Princesse This knight there by had hanged vpon a péece of timber all the Images that he brought with him in such sorte as they were hanged in his Barke the which when the Prince saw that the Image of the Dutchesse was aboue that of the empresse his anger did so increase that he had cleane forgotte wherefore he came thether and spurred Cornerino his horse with so much furie that by his force he made the grounde whereas he came to tremble and shake And when he came vnto the place whereas the Images were hanging he with his strong arme laide holde vppon the deuice and brake the chaines wherewith they were made fast and swinged it about his head with such greate strength that hée made them flye to the highest partes of all the Pallaice the which was done in such great hast that when the knight with the greene armour was come to disturbe him it was too late for that his Ladye was â—lowen vp into the ayre whereat he receyued so much anger that without anie more adoe he threwe his shéelde at his backe and with both his handes he layde hoâ—de on his sworde and stroke the Prince such a terrible blowe that he made him to fal backwards on his horse crouper without anie remembraunce and with the great strength wherewith he stroke him he made his horse to stoope vnder him Cornerino being somewhat amased at this terrible blowe carried his master rounde about the field but before that the knight with the gréene armor could double to strike him againe the Prince was come vnto himselfe and setling himselfe vppon his horse backe being firmed in his stirrops with greate furie he threw his shéelde to the grounde and tooke his swoorde in both his handes and pricked Cornerino towardes the place whereas his aduersarie was who was likewise in a readinesse to discharge his blowe so both of them together discharged each vppon the others helme with such furie and force that the Prince of the Sunne was constrained to fall vpon his horse necke as though hée hadde bene dead for that neuer blowe that euer he receiued before that time did bring him to the like perplexitie but onely one the which he receiued at the hands of Rosicleer when he had battaile with him Lykewise the knight with the gréene armour did nothing aduance himselfe of his déede for the blow which he receiued was so terrible that he fell from his horse to the ground and the bloud issued out at his month and nose with great abundaunce and he stretched his armes and legs vpon the sandie ground as though he hadde bene altogether dead The king and all that were with him were very much amased to sée that so cruell and sodaine a battell should happen without knowing the occasion wherfore And more they did meruaile imagining a little by the tokens of the horse who that knight should bée which hauing his enimie for so valiant a knight in so short time had brought him into such extremitie Now when Tefereo did sée the Prince thus put to his shiftes and in such great necessitie and howe that hée laie vpon his horse necke without anie remembrance hée began to crie out vppon fortune and with great furie he drew out his swoorde and went against the defenders of the euill accusation and called them traytours although they were his brothers children Héere you may sée what great force and strength the truth hath that although they were his brothers childen yet he did procure their deaths for that they came out of their owne Countrie into a straunge and forreine lande to defende treason The sonne of the Earle of Prouince was y e first that did offer to put himselfe forwards to whome Tefereo gaue such terrible and strong blowes vpon his helme that without remembraunce hée made him fall to the ground as one that were dead The Gyants when they sawe themselues so ill intreated both of them set spurs vnto theyr beastes and drawing out their great and sharpe cutting swoords they did procure to hurt him with theyr heauie and terrible blowes In this contention the valiaunt Sardenian did shewe his mightie and strong courage with greate pollicie and cunning nowe striking at the one and then at the other and alwayes prouiding to let their blowes slippe aside without receiuing anie harme and such was his pollicie and lightnesse that in a great while they coulde not fasten one full blowe vppon him Nowe was the knight of Prouince come to himselfe and séeing himselfe on the grounde and his enimie so couragious betwéene these two mightie Gyauntes he approched vppon the one side whereas Tefereo coulde not sée him and cut off one of the hinder legges of his horse the horse when hée felte himselfe
another way which did crosse ouerthwart the same way in which he was And studying with himselfe which waye to take it was tolde him that it was the waye which led strayght vnto Paris of y â— which he was very ioyfull and remained a while thinking which way he might take for to finde Tefereo And beeing in this muse he heard towards his right side a great rushing of armour and armed Knights and casting his head on the one side he saw that there was about a ten knights which came running towards him with their speares very low calling him traytor as soone as the Knight of the Sunne saw them he put downe the visor of his helme and layd hand on his sword and at the same time he beheld on the other side as many moe Knights armed which made towards him as the other did In the ende he was compassed rounde about on euery side with fortie Knights which all cried out saying kill the traytor let the traytor dye of the which the Prince did greatly meruayle So altogether they set vpon him and ranne at him with their speares and stroke him all at once yet for all that he mooued no more in his saddle then if they had made their incounter against a strong Tower but at the passing by he stroke one of them vpon the visour of his helme that he cut halfe his head a sunder and he fell dead to the ground All the rest retourned with their horses against the Prince some with their swords in their hands and other some whose speares remayned whole ranne at him againe what on the one side and what on the other they made a very fierce and strong incounter as of those which were the whole choyce of them that were in the Citie onelye to kill him When the Prince sawe himselfe so inclosed on euerye side his wrath and anger began to kindle in him insomuch that he tooke his sword fast in his hand stroke such blowes that whosoeuer he chaunced to hitte was either slayne or maymed At this present time arriued in those partes at the Sea side as I haue tolde you Brufaldoro and this was the battayle wherein he sawe so many Knightes against one onely Knight This Moore did stande and beholde them and was verye much amazed to see the power of one Knight who brought so many as they were into such great distres which made them to repent and were verie sorrie that euer they began that enterprise but by reason that they were all chosen knightes they would not but assault him verie fiercely which was the occasion of their farther harme destruction for that the Princes ire did so much increase that it caused him to double his blowes in such sorte that some he killed out right and some he wounded that in a small time he left not one vpon his horse but all brought vnto the state that they could make no resistaunce and when the Prince â—awe himselfe at more libertie he demaunded what was the occasion of this so sodaine conflict so one of those knightes which was verie sore hurt tolde him how that they were knights belonging to the Earle of Prouince which laye in waite for him to be reuenged of the death of his sonne for y t the whole circumstance of the battaile came vnto his knowledge So the Prince left them and woulde not speake anye word more vnto them but his intent was to get him out of the Countrie for that he well vnderstood that neither he nor Tefereo should haue anie good intertainment at their hands and when he would haue departed there came vnto him Brufaldoro and did salute him verie curteously the Prince did returne him his salutation and had a great pleasure to beholde his good grace and gentilitie So the Mauritanian began first to speake and sayd Gentle and valiant knight the first boone or gift that euer I did demaund since the time that I was borne is this that I will aske of thée and the occasion which doeth driue me to aske it is constrained by the great valour and prowesse which I haue seene in thée sure it is an easie thing on thy part to be fulfilled and therefore I doo desire thée to graunt me my request The heroycall Grecian which had his eyes fixed vpon him with great pleasure that he receiued at his gentle disposition answered As yet I neuer denyed anie thing that was demaunded of mée being iustly demaunded and in a iust cause neither had I anie respect whether it be easie to be done or difficult therfore geÌ„tle knight aske whatsoeuer pleseth thée for if it stand with iustice and reason that I may graunt it thée I doe promise thée to accoÌ„plish it in very ample manner not onely oâ—e boon but so many as thou wilt aske of me That which I wil aske thée said y e pagan is not to put thy person in any periâ— no nor y t thou shalt mooue thy horse one foot out of the place where he standeth but that thou wilt with thy valiant hand giue me y e order of Knighthood arme me knight the which thou maist doo without any doubt or sâ—rupulositie For heere I doo sweare vnto thée by my mightie thoughts that I am a crowned King This noble Greeke did accept his demand and asked of him if that he had watched his armour The Moore aunswered I suppose I haue watched them inough for that it is now eighteene dayes since I haue hadde them continually on my backe And for me there needeth no ceremonyes for that I am no Christian neither Pagan nor Moore nor Iewe nor Gentile neither doo I worship nor beléeue in God For that the God of the Christians I take him for my enimie and as for Mahomet I knowe he is little worth and can doo lesse and the Gentiles haue for their Gods stockes and stones and as for the Iewes I hate theÌ„ as base and vile people Therefore I doo neither worshippe the one nor beléeue in the other but onely follow my own proper appetite The Knight of the sunne could not refrain from laughter at his words in séeing him to be a man of so much libertie and aunswered him saying By God King I doo sweare vnto thée that I haue séene fewe or none of thy Religion but whatsoeuer thou art I will héere accomplish thy desire and request Then the Prince asked him Wilt thou be a Knight The King aunswered This I doo desire and séeke no other thing and putting on his right spurre he kissed him on the chéeke in token of honour and taking a rich sword which a page of his carried with him hée stroke him a blowe with it vpon his shoulder and putting of it vp againe into his sheath he hung it about his necke sayd Now King thy desire is fulfilled for y t thou art a Knight With great good reason may it be sayd that in the fields of Prouince was giuen the order of Knighthood vnto the most
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
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
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
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
delyuer them from the rauening Wolues And by reason that shée doth knowe that her beautie is so great shée is so proude that shee doth make them all equall in her estimation although not all equall in suffering I doo promise thée of a truth gallant shephearde that this Riuer dooth seeme to be no other thing but the habitation of Venus and Cupide Coridon did cut off the words of Galismena and sayd Ah sister Galismena the little accompt that thou doest make of loue doth cause thée to speake of that which thy sorrowfull brother doth féele What doost thou thinke Galismena that of this my contentious passion I shall reape anye other benefitte but that I haue put my loue vppon the most excellentest Pastora that euer Nature did forme Tell me I praye thée Pastora what shephearde haue you belonging vnto this Riuer of Euphrates vnto whome shée dooth extend her thought more then vnto me Hold thy peace Coridon sayd Galismena doo not exalt Cayserlinga so much for in her respecte thou doost not onelye put from thée all other Pastoras but thou dost likewise disable all shepheards alongst this Riuer Truth it is although that Cayserlinga doth deserue much yet for that she is a woman she doth not deserue so much as the worst Shephearde in all this our habitation for that this onelye is sufficient that he is a man Then said Coridon with great anger I would it were not thy selfe but some other that should speake such words for y t I promise thée with y e force of my arme I wold make him to know that his words were not true but very false Then Claridiano did interrupt their communication and sayd Gentle shepheards let these your contentions cease for that there commeth nothing of them but anger and falling out but I doo desire you that you would shew vnto me this Pastora for that her fame doeth giue me a desire to sée her Héere by the riuer of Euphrates sayd Coridon in an arbour which is made of very faire and gréene sallowes gallantlye wrought there euerye morning she doth combe her yeolow golden hayre thether maist thou goe very earlye in the morning whereas thou maist recreate thy selfe of that new sight And in the meane tune before that thou dost depart we doo desire thée to tell vs thy name and what countriman thou art This new shepheard aunswered and said My name is Filipensio and am naturally of Siria and of the plaines of Caniphia a kingdome of Chaldea and the great desire of these greene fieldes and fresh feeding which is héere growing about this cleere riuer hath brought me hether for to feede a little Cattle the which the Gods hath made mée Lord and gouernour of Ah shepheard sayd Coridon with a dolorous sigh doest thou come to féede thy shéepe in fresh gréene medowes and dost not know that in séeing that Pastora thou shalt féede loue within thy delicate and tender breast So with this and other such like pleasaunt communication they passed all that night till the next morning and when it was time for to departe they tooke their waye to the accustomed abiding of the beautifull Pastora and they met in the waye manye shepheardes who complained very much against the fury of loue So vnder a greate Sallowe Trée they sawe two shepheards the one did complaine of loue very grieuously and laye all alongst vppon the ground and the other was playing vppon a Rebecke and sung verye swéetelye wherewith Filipensio did staye and heard that he sung as followeth STraunge is my griefe yet count I it a gaine and great my smart but small I it esteeme In that for her I suffer all this paine whose beautie rare celestiall I doo deeme The pangs I feele oppresse my fainting hart the hope I haue reuiues the same againe Tormenting loue afflicts me still with smart yet for her sake I force not to be slaine My cause is good whereby my care is great both cause and care I vnto thee replye And though with rigor still thou me intreat yet will I ioye that I for thee must dye And giuing a dolorous sigh he ended his song The shepheard Filipensio and his company went forwards on their waye and passed the time in amorous and swéete communications not staying in any place till they came wheras this Pastora had her abiding and there they put themselues amongst a companie of thicke trées vnder one of the which they saw where was a shepheard of a meruailous disposition so that Filipensio did very much behold him and thought in his imagination by the demeanour of that shepheard that he should not séeme to be of the lignage of shepheards and turning vnto Coridon he asked him what he was They all safe themselues downe vnder a high mightie sallow trée nigh vnto the place whereas the other shepheard was at his rest and Coridon aunswering vnto that which was asked him sayd This is a shepheard of Babylonia who for to féede his cattell in the companie of other well proportioned shepheards came â—ether and with the sight of that Pastora he felt himselfe full of passions and griefes by the sight of her beutie The companion of this who is called Tarsides was hée which did most followe and importunate the Pastora but she who is the honestest in all the worlde not onelye with sharpe and bitter words did put him from it but also with publike disdaine and hatred for the which aâ— one hated not set by he did determine to leaue this valley reporting that his departure would shorten his dayes Alphesiueo for so is this shepheard called as one that was more stronglyer wounded with loue determined to remaine and to perseuer in his sute At this time Alphesiueo did awake and tooke an instrument in his hand which he had and began to play on it very swéetely singing these verses following THe drops of raine in time the Marble pierce Submission makes the Lyons hart relent But Loue thy cruell torments are so fierce That mischiefes new thou daily dost inuent For she whose sight my heart in sunder rent Regardeth neither of my faith nor griefe Nor yet yeelds death which is my sole reliefe This song he sung so dolefully that it gaue plainely to vnderstand his grieuous paine and by his words that he was not of the lignage of shepheards At this time the sonne of Tona did begin to appeare out of his golden Horizon to shew himselfe vpon the face of the earth glistering with his beames vppon the cléere waters of Euphrates likewise Fauonius and Zephyrus did very swéetely and softlye blowe vpon the grâ—en leaues and made a delicate harmonie at such time as the most fairest Cayserlinga accompanied with high thoughts and with her shéepe that she had in charge for her recreation came foorth and a great companye of shepheardes following her who were as full of sorrowes and thoughtes for her loue as she cleane voyd and without regard of them and when she
same héere I do deny al your powers I do determine to honor y e God my father doth who wil not reward me so ill as you do and I doe acknowledge and confesse him to be the true God and you all full of mockings liberall in promising and slow in giuing from this daie forwards be assured y t I will not aske you of anie thing neither wil I accept any thing from your vile hands These and such like wordes sayd this new knight was in such anger that neither Page nor Marriners durst speake vnto him but to giue him contentment they rowed a pace towards y e bark whereas that dolorous woman went So in this â—ort they trauailed all the rest of the night that remained till such time as the daie began to be cléere and straight waie they discried land to which place with great hast they rowed till such time as the barke was a ground so this angrie young knight presently leapt a shore Masedonio carried his healme but hée tooke neither speare nor shéeld with him the Marriners folfowed him carried such victualls as they had they found no vsed way but one narow path the which they kept and it brought them vnto a mightie greate déepe riuer wheras he sate downe did refresh himselfe washed his hands face called for to eate of that which they had brought when he had eaten without anie more tarrying he begaÌ„ to trauaile alongst the riuer side he had not trauailed long when y â— they met with a poore countrie man with a great hatchet in his hand he was going to cut fire woode from those high mightie trées of whom they asked what countrie land it was he told them y t it was the land of Almania but yet sir knight thou must pardon me for y t I doe request thée to returne againe procéed no farther this way if thou dost estéeme thy life for in going on this way there is nothing to be had but death for y t the Lord of this riuer is a furious giant is called Marmoraton the riuers name is Ospriz this giant is y e most furious in all the world is of such might y t our Emperour doth feare him he hath also two sons who are no lesse furious then he is although they are now very sad for certaine news which were brought them how y t a brother of his who was Lord of an Iland in Spaine called Corsa was destroied and all his people slaine by sword none left aliue by force of cruell warre and in part of reuengement of all this harme done no longer then yesterdaye he brought hether a Ladie prisoner and they say that she was the occasion of the death of them all as I haue tolde you and straight way wheÌ„ he came a shore with a diuelish crueltie he did all to bewhip and beate her that it was very pitifull to beholde swearing that euery day he would so torment her till such time as her life and body did make their seperation and he hath all his Castle compassed round about with mightie strong and armed Knights and with them his two sonnes who doth kéep watch and ward for to defend the Castle for that they saye that the King of Mauritania doth followe and pursue them in a galley for to cléere and set at libertie this Lady This new Knight was very attentiue vnto the words which the countriman told him and although he spake in the Tuscan tongue yet he did vnderstand him for that he was broughte vp to vnderstand and speake all languages and thought verely that he with whom he had battaile in the galley was the King of Mruritania and thinking thereon it caused him to be more furious in his heart for that as you haue hearde he had the experience of his force and strength and thought by him he was ouercome and without saying anye word he followed on his way and did determine that if fortune did so fauour him to rescue and set at libertie this Ladie not for to let her passe till such time as the King did come in her demaund and if it were he with whom he had the battaile he would not deliuer her but with mortall battaile So trauailing with this thought the night came on it was so darke that he was constrained to seâ—ke some place to take his rest and laying himselfe downe vnder a mightie Pine trée he passed that night speaking a thousande blasphemies against the Gods Artemidoro declaring the acts and déeds of this Knight saith that he was the most furious in all the world and a very friend to aide and succour all those that could doo little for themselues and if he chaunced at any time to begin an enterprise that he could not wel compasse with double force he would prosecute it In such sort that many times he made resistaunce against inchantments for y t he had more strength and force than euer Knight or Giant had at any time before and did surmount very much his bretheren and Cousins He made no reckoning of loue in his youth by which he was iudged to be the Emperours sonne as in the third parte of this booke shall be tolde you So when y e morning was come this young Mars was not slothfull but arose vp and followed his iourney and his Page followed him with his helme he had not trauailed scarce halfe a mile when that he heard a pitifull lamentation of a woman who by reason of her great wéeping her voyce was very hoarce So he stayed to heare from whence that lamentable noyse should come and went towards that place whereas it was and saw a far off a high piller of stone out of the which there came foorthe a spoute of very faire and cléere water and thereat was bound a woman all naked her backe fastened to the piller and her armes backward imbracing the piller and there her handes fast bound Her skin was so faire and white that if it had not bene that he heard her lamentation he would haue iudged her to haue bene an image made artificially of Alabaster ioyned vnto the piller This warlike young Knight laced on his helme and came vnto the place whereas she was and when he saw her he thought verely that it was the Quéene of Mauritania of whom the countrey man told him and by reason of the coldnesse of the darke night and with her great lamentation and wéepings she was so full of sorow and affliction that she could scarce speake Likewise the Knightes heart so yerned at the sight of that vnhappie Lady that almost he could not looke on her for wéeping but with a sorrowfull sigh he sayd O cruell hands is it possible that there should remaine in you so much mischiefe that whereas there is â—o great beautie and fairenesse you should vse such basenes and villanie she doth more deserue to be beloued and serued then to
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
Then Don Florisarte sayd Your excellent and beautifull face and your high and mightie déedes gentle Knight dâ—eth make vs beléeue two things the one that thou werâ— borne to remedie and aide those that can doo little the other we doo beleeue that thou art brother or some kinsman vnto that â—aire Poliphebo Prince of Tinacria sonne vnto the Emperour Trebatio who now is called the Knight of the Braunch by reason of a golde Braunch that he carrieth on his shield for his deuice as you doo vpon your healme and heere I doo desire you to tell vs whether you are his brother or not for that we are much bound vnto him and there they declared vnto her all y t was done for them as before you haue heard The which was the occasion that ther kindeled in y e quéene a great desire to knowe him and informing her selfe howe that he was gone towards Grecia she did determine to follow him to sée if she might méete with him to proue her selfe on him And béeing in this thought she made answere vnto that they demaunded and sayd This Knight whom you do speak off I doo not knowe him neither haue I séene him at anye time but haue heard newes of his heroycall déeds of armes and I am very glad that you haue taken this seruice as a déede done by him Then the faire Clarentina sayd Ah flower of all Knighthoode wherefore will you thus hide your selfe from them who are so much bound vnto your seruice I know not vnto whom I should attribute it but vnto my vnhappie and ill fortune for that I doo wel see that thou art Poliphebo the flower of all those that doo weare armour doo not denie me beeing so well knowen Gentle Lady said the Quéene by that which I owe vnto my highnesse I protest vnto you that I am not the partie that you doo speake off and héere I doe sweare vnto you that I am a woman as you are and I am called Archisilora Quéene of Lyra and this Prince whome you haue in so great price I neuer saw Then Clarentina did beleeue that which the quéene had said and in beholding her she did plainly perceiue by the delicatenesse of her face that shée was a woman There the Quâ—ene of Lira did take her leaue of them and returned the way from whence she came and came into a village in the countie of Tirol whereas she did take her rest all that night When the morning was come and she in a readinesse to trauaile she tooke her way towards Hungary with determination not to make any stay till she came into Grecia whether as she came in the ende of her great trauaile without any other aduenture happening and alwayes hauing in remembraunce the Knight of the Braunch So one day very early in the morning at the breake of the daye she entered into a very faire forrest very nigh vnto Constantinople and at such time as the Sunne would extend his golden beames she saw lying vnder a tree a very big and well made knight who was a slâ—epe and his shield did hang vpon a trée and thereon she saw the deuise of the knight of the Braunch the which bâ—eing well marked by the Quéene she vnderstoode that he which lay ther a sléepe was the owner of that shield and the Knight whom she sought for And nigh vnto the shield was his speare set vp against a trée and looking about her to see if he had anye companie she sawe within a small distaunce from him a Ladie likewise a sléepe and by her a Page and therewith she was fully certified that he was the same Knight that shée looked for So there shee was a good while beholding his gentle disposition and stature and graue countenaunce till such time as she did determine to doe that which in the chapter following shall be tolde you ¶ How the Knight Poliphebo and the Queene of Lira had cruell battaile and of all that happened therein Cap. 31. AFter that this faire Matron had with great deliberation beheld this warlike Tinacrian vpon the gréene grasse a sleepe she determined with the great ende of her speare to touch him vppon his armed breast y t which was no sooner done but he awaked started with the sodayne calling of him out of his sléepe but opening his eyes and séeing before him that bigge and well set Knight with a trice he arose vpon his féete and in great hast he laced on his healme and tooke his shield from the place wheras it hung he did well show in the great hast he made in besturring himselfe the great liuelinesse of his courage The Quéene when she sawe him all in a readinesse to the battaile with a gracious laughter sayd I would neuer haue thought that there had bene so great an ouersight in a knight and especiallye of such fame that so without all feare of a great number that cannot abide them but procure all euill possible against them that without all care in the high way doth put himselfe to sléep The Tinacrian answered and said There was not in me so great ouersight as in you care to venture your selfe whereas you shall receiue little profite of the same And doth it séeme vnto thée that I was ouerséene therein Possibly thou wilt iudge the contrary if thou wilte proue the strength of my arme It cannot but be very much if it be conformable vnto thy ouersight saide this faire Ladie and beléeue me that it woulde gréeue me to make anye proofe if there be in thée so great vertue as thy fame dooth beare the report Therefore take to thée thy horse and let either of vs procure to make his defence and héere I doo aduise thée that I am none of the Knights that hethertoo thou hast proued in Grecia In the mean time that she was saying these words the Tinacrian did very much behold her and although he was verie angrie at the wordes which she had spoken yet he sayde Well séeing it is so that thy follye doth so much constraine thée to make a controuersie without any occasion tarrie and thou shalt sée howe I was wont to punish such foolish people as thou arte and so in great hast hée called for his horse which was straight waye brought vnto him by Macedonio and without putting foote into the stirroppe he leaped into the saddle and tooke his speare in his hand without replying any other thing that valiant Tinacrian presently withdrew himselfe backe and tooke of the field that part which was néedfull for him The lyke did the Quéene and at one time returned their light horses and in great hast they stroke their horses with the spurs without all pitie and with extreame furie they made the incounter vpon their shéelds that their speares shiuered all to péeces and passed along with their course without any stay of their bodies or mouing in their saddles and turned aboute their horse with great lightnes with their swords in their hands