her bathed chekeâ— and trimmeth vp her heare Doth so repaire vnto the king though with vnchaunged cheare To whome she is no sooner come but voydance then is made Of eche estate and then the king with trickling teares thus sayde They say that childe thrise cursed is whose vile and viciouâ— life Doth cause the louing parents dye consumde with carefull strife which endles grief god grant qd he thy actes force me not proue But that thy hoped vertues doo from such conceits me moue T is so qd he Ieneuora whylst in our Princely court We weard away our crooked age lyke to our wonted sort Before our presence doth appeare the stout Lurcanio Who of free will dyd iustifie and threw downe gage also To proue that thou hast don the déede that hath deserued fyre I meane that thou hast purchast deth through whordoms foule desire which déede him selfe did see he vowd at place anâ—time vnmeetâ— And iudgement he did craue also for such offence most fitte which iudgement I haue stayed yet to heare what thou canst saye why dreadful doome of present death should longer for thee staye This sayd the king complete with carâ— doth staye his choked breath And feeles the force of mortall ache and latest pangs of death But she whose wretched ghost hath felt the worst of all her smart With countnance fearse disdayning lyfe all feare doth set appart And answers thus vnto the king my â—ord and soueraigne Of catiues all she wretch is mâ—st she feeles most store of payne whose heauy hap doth rather â—idde the tongue for to confesse Untroth then by accusing tale to pleade for her redresse Oh king of whom this earthly shapâ— by â—ome I doo enioye Let not these latest woords of mine thy Princely mynde annoy But heare indifferently what cares thy childe doth now susteyne That rather seekes to suffer death then long to taste this payne My dread and soueraine Lord and kyng thy skilfull horie heares Know well how from the cradell vp vnto the latest yeares We subiect are to euery sinne and thrald of natures kinde By thought by woord by déede and sight vnto the fancies blynde Of worldly cares and nought there is within our sinfull hart But fancies fond which reason willes should tast a lasting smart Such thoughts such words such déedes and fights oh king haue rulde in me And doo and will tyll of the yokâ— of life my â—immâ—s he frée Amongst which sinfull passions one 〈◊〉 annoyed my minde One act ther 〈◊〉 wherin oh king I greatest griefe doo finde which fith both time present statâ— byds tâ—ll vnto your grace I will disclose from my hart all damps of feare displace wherby I shal driue dought I trust out from your doughtfull breast And make you priuie of such hapâ— as in me lurking reast Amongst the train of this your court and of your courtiers stout Amongst the worthy company of all the courtly rought There was your highnes knowes right wel one knight Ariodant In whom that should adorne a man no gift at all did want A seemely wight of spotles faith although an alien borne Whose shape with thousand comely gifteâ— dame nature did adorne His noblenes his grace and shape enforce my virgins hart LoÌ„g time to plunge in goulfs of care and tast of louers smart He turnd my chast disposed mynde from thoughtes of maydens life And taught me seke to salue y wound of Cupides fatall knife But sée the heuens I think it would that stroke which pearst my brest Did carue in him a griefly gashe and in his hart did rest Thimpoisned push which forced him to feele lyke fittes and payne And in like storms of troubled mind long time for to remayne Till y a means he found which way he mought disclose his loue To me and eke for to bewray that Cupides force did moue Which when I vnderstood no wight did euer tast like ioye As I glad soule that banisht then that earst did me annoy And waying long his vertues great and eke his good intent Which caused my affection at last I did consent Unto his loue and choosing then him as my dearest frend I did conclude in wedlocked band wâ—â—h him my life to spend But see the frâ—tes of this our blisse see here vnstable state See see oh King the end of all this our most happy â—ate Whylst we in linke of loyall loue thus led our restles life And whylst my careles hart did ioyâ— the chaunge of wonted strife I know not I what cruell fact inforst my hartes delight My frend myne own Ariodant to worke this cruell sâ—ight On me amidst the choking streameâ— oh fierse vntimely death He drownd him self to the waues he did resigne his breath whose death oh hart shal work thiwo and ende thy wonted ioye And force my heauy head to learne howe life I may destroy Yet know oh Syr in all this loue nought did offend but thought Nought trespased but that vnknown to thée oh King I sought To choose a feare of race vnfit vnto your Princely state Whose râ—ial tiâ—e coÌ„mauÌ„ds me choose a farre more firter mate But if this gayne by breach of lawe the death of scorching fyre Then do pronâ—uÌ„â—e the sentence stayd t is death I so desire Only let this perswade your mynde no eye did euer see This corpse of myne with whordoms blâ—e so spotted for to bee This long discourse of amours past and eke deâ—iall made That neuer cloud of shame could yet her honor iustly shade She stayd her wery iawes and ends her heauy panting breath And wonted woâ—s doo force herfall in sound downe to the earth The aged King that sees this fitte nye caught with like disease with shaking haÌ„ds her temples rubs and seekes eche way tappease These choking griefs but all in vain he rubs and chafes his childe For death hath nummed euery part and life is now exilde Til panting hart with strained might receiues his wonted force And lets in wholsome breath againâ— into the senceles corse which ioyful king with hart reuyud doth see and driueth feare Away and strayning then his sprites he thus the Princes doth cheare I was or this resolued long of thy vnspotted grace My sweete and deare Ieneuora wherfore in hart displace These cankerd cares froÌ„ tender brest feare not the paynes of death Let nâ—t the losse of desprate freend force thee resigne thy breath For I not only will prouide for sauegard of thy life But for a â—rend that shall thée please and gard thy hart from strife And kissing long her rubie lippes and wiping cleane her eyes He takes her by the christall hand and ceaseth to deuise Of former talke and then himself conueies her to her court Wher he once gone she doth renew her wonted carefull sport But pensiue king doth tract no tyme ne lengâ—r makes delay For to prouide a champion to helpe in this assay Wherfore with blast of trompets sound it is proclaymed eche wheâ—e That who so
list in mortall fight his speare and armour beare Against the stout Lurcanio and conquere him in fightâ— Shall haue to wife Ieneuora and all her Princely right now with this message pricâ— y postes the Herhautes trie their steades He rides to Brutus worthy realme he takes the way that leades To famouse Fraunce he both hiâ— vnto an other soylâ—â— In fine eche one for Princes doth by land and sea tâ—â—rmoyle But bootles do the Postes proclayme this booty daungerous For none list venter for the gayne a deed so perilous Wherfore coÌ„plet with cares they doo returne to court agayne And ther declare the ill successe of this their message vayne But see the hap one of these Postes returning voyd of ayde Rydes by the Hermitage wheras Ariodant stayd And meeting then the Hermit ould that sought for rootes abroade Their greetings don his hed he doth of message then vnloade And showes vnto the holy syre howe Prince Ieneuora For lacke of ayde should burned be vpon the second day Ensuing next and then be telles how she was first accusde By one that sayde by whordom vylâ— she had her selfe abusde Thus when they chatted had inough the Poste leaues of his tâ—lke And plies to court and Hermit he vnto his home doth walke Wher he no sooner iâ— arivde but like to wonted sort These nouels to his holy mate he doth forthwith report But who had seene y couÌ„tnaunce theÌ„ of this Ariodant And markt how colour went came and how his vaines did pant Moâ—ght wel haue deâ—de some present pange had vext his troubled minde And that by this report his hart some straâ—â—ge conceit did finde For troth this tale no sooner â—oulde and hard wâ—th open care but â—â—oarming thoghts in rauisht hed doo cluster now a reare Yet vertue ielously doth blame his fickell wauring minde And coÌ„stancie condems his thoughts that flie like dust in wynde But amours old prouokes his hartâ— to die in her defence Record of former amitie forgettes supposd offence The diyng sparâ—s of â—upides coales do now reuiue againe Her bâ—utie great and comelines inforseth former paâ—ne His youthfull yeares begin to scorne such pinching miserie This pining diet makes him loth such â—â—ly penurie Hope doth assure him to winne her true anâ— faithfull loue If for her sake in her defence he will this battell proue Now nature doth forbid him fight against Lurcanio For he it is he knows right well that was the Princes so Loue telles him that his brother hath deserued death by right In that he hath accused her that is the lampe of light Thus fansiâ—s rule within his head as motionâ— moue the minde And changing thoughts do alter still as reason right doth finde But to conclude deuotion droups poore penury is past youth likes not now to purchase heueÌ„ with faint and feeble â—ast The ciuill fight with brother he regardes nâ—owhit at all His loye his care his 〈◊〉 his death he cares not what befall Wherfore as he vnknowen did come vnto the Hermitage So he departs by stealth without farewell to father age And wanders in the fieldes till that the mantell blacke did hide The gladsome day and then he â—yes vnto the towne vnsyide Wher secretly he comes vnto his well approued host Whose frendship stood him in great stéeâ— when cares annoyd him most To whom wheÌ„ long he had discourst of his aduentures all He doth disclose what he intends and sayes what so befall He will against his brother fight to saue his Ladies life Or els before her end his dayes on point of brothers knife Wherfore he willes him to prouide a complet armour sure That he the better may against his brothers force indure And sturdy speare shield as stiffe he willes him to prouide And barbed steed both strong light that tempest like will glyde All these he willes him to prepare and all of colour black For Sables shall bewray quoth he oâ— wanted ioyes my wrack Thus leaue I now the busy hoste and eke coragious gest Prepaâ—ing armour such as may desend the straunger best And to the court complet with care My pen and I must plie To tel their dole their grief their wo and mones of miserie The wery Postes are nowe returnâ— vnto the heauy court Wher euery one his seurall hap doth dolefully report But when the aged king perceiues no ayde is to be found His weake and feeble limmes do fall for sorow to the ground His counsell eke that see the cares of their vnhappy king Doo féele welnie his griefe and smart and wéepe and wayle and wring Their fingers with drowned eyes lament his wretched state And with a thousand doles plaints they rew his ruthfull fate Yet seyng him so sunke in grief and fearing present death They seeke to banish diyng panges by reasons wholesome breath But sooner mought y mouÌ„tain moue or sea forsake his tide TheÌ„ gnawing fits to want the forcs that through eche part do slide Of wythord age and crooked lymmes and styng so â—eble hart That ioye is gone and blisse resingde care turnes good happe to smart This is the sely Syers state the Ladies leade like life With whome nought els but teares cries and heauines is ryfe For when they heare no helpe is founde to ayde the Lady deare Eche chamber sounds of solom tunes and cares bring dreadfull feare So much that see in clustring heapes whylst trembling maydens keepe And there whylst with one perfect voyce they wayle they wo and weepe This fearful soule doth see she thinkes the shape of ouâ—ly sprightes She heares in rynging care the sounde of clamâ—â—s loud and skrykes The outmost of the prease doth feale a pullâ—ng hand to straine Her slender arme and shrinkes away and couldly sweates for payne Thus feare thus care lamenting long and spring of brackish teares With drouping dreade and freating fittes in hart opâ—rest appeares But she for whome was all this care that had most cause to wayle Is voyde of carefulnes for death ne griefe doth her assayle Saue death of her Ariodant that was thâ—n corsies bayne More worse wherfore for preseÌ„t deth the wisheth still in vaine Yeâ— beaâ—es she with aduised myndâ— the Prelates sage aduise That wils her to forget the world and wonted ioyes despise And biddes her call to mind the blisse that neuer shall haue ende Wherâ—o by faith and stedfast troth she shortly shal assend He byddes her cast the feare of death from bounds of godly brest For he can shâ—elde her hart he sâ—â—â—s from payne that bringeth rest He voucheth sacred scriptures now to stâ—blish her beliefe He tels what ioy the soule receiues when flesh doth suffer griefe And lastly he perswades her that she gaines by giltles death A seate amongst the martyrd saints that seede on heauenly breath As Abell dothâ— whose cruell death the cursed Cayn doth rewe Who moud with indignation his natiue brother slew With these deâ—out perswasions the Prince is mortifide Who doth for latest brunt
houre and time which now is come when y I shuld performe his filthy cryme Comes to this most vnhappy man and biddes him folow fast If that he list to sée the thing wherof he tould him last Ariodant that lâ—ng had stayd to see the carefull ende Obeys the Duke and after them Lurcanio doth wend. To desert houses they are come the Duke hath brought his mate Unto a place direct against the window which of late I tould you of wher Princes lyke Dalinda should appeare before y Duke dect with those robes their Prince that day did weare Ariodant thus plaste the Duke doth bid him cast his eye Upon that window wher quoth he thou shalt thy Lady spy â—urraâ—o that longs to sée the sequell of this iest Is come within ten féete wheras Ariodant doth rest Wher he vnséene may vew likewises that window at his will Ther secretly the straunger standes that doughtes some present 〈◊〉 Duke Polinesse no sooner leaues the penciue louers place But tâ— th appointed window he directes his féete apase Wher he had not remayned long but see with glistring light Of gould Dalinda doth appeare lyke angell to the sight and as the Duke had geuen in charge so she in brauest wyse with shining robes with Diamonds set that glemâ— before the eyes Lyke burning torch in winter night is come into this place Wher Polinesse like Iud as doth her scorned limmes imbrace And to the end the straunger should more perfectly behould His louing toyes her kisses eke and how his armes do fould Her griped wast he doth approch as nere as windowe will geue leaue to him to straungers sight that he mought vew his fill Therof how she â—lâ—spes her armes about his stretched necke Whose store of kisses do declare her mynd voyd of suspect Lurcaniâ— whose glasingeyes are not vnoccupied Upon the window stating stands wher he hath now espied Ieneuora as he did déeme because of Iuels bright And eke the golden roabes did shine so liuely in his sight But for to know who so did tosse the Princes rich attyre Pis staring eyes and greedy lookeâ— by no meanes could aspire This sight thus séene Lurcanio accompting brothers health As life to him in secret wise vnknown is come by stealth Wher most vnhappy louer stayes who seing all this iest As man distraught his rapiere he in hastie hand hath prest And scorning lenger life hath set the hilts vpon the ground In minde by falling on the point to carue his fatall wound And as he did on groning blade his desperate body bend Behold the mercie great of God his brother doth defend His trembling hart froÌ„ deadly pushe by holâ—ing in his armes His falling brest and that once done he thus his brothers charmes What deulish act annoieâ—h thus thy head bereud of witte What desperate ioy hath taunted thée what foule and lothsome fitte Hath so beguile thy sences al that thus vnhappy wight Thou sekst by this vntimely death thy passions vile to quite In this the ende of all our toyle is this our trauels gayne Is lothsome death thy iust desert and is an endles payne A gwardon fit for me thinkst thou that leauing natiue soyle Like banish slaue shaâ— liue in court consumd with cares tourmoyle For losse of thée whom as my life thou knowst I hould as deare And shall I liue to sée the day the heauie newes to beare Unto our carefull pensiue friendes that by his own consent Their wreâ—ched friend Ariodant his latest dayes hath spent Oâ— reckles friend of brothers life and could thy hart agree To leaue thy brother destitute of friend in straunge countrée Or if thou hadst nowhit esteemd thy faithfull brothers life Could Ladies falshod force thée run on point of persing knife What sure hath inchanted tell thy skill in wisedomes lore What madnes hath intoricate thy pleasant thoughtes so sore That neither losse or ioyfull lyfe no feare of dampned ghost Can change my mynd froÌ„ this intent oâ— wretch of wretches most Can bewtie bleare thy wilfull eye and forcy thée for to loue And cannot sight of â—oule deceit from amours force thee moue Can fansie frame that amâ—â—tit by sight of seemely grace Which present guile and filthy fact by no meanes can displace And canst thou wreake such sharpe reuengâ— vpon thy giltles hart And see her loue that is the grâ—und of this thy present smart â—ooâ—e out I say such vgly thoughtes â—rom bounds or troubled minde And seke by reasons sweete aduise some holsome salue to finde If eye did chuse a faithfull friend and fansie did agrée If hope intiste thy drowned hartâ— to serue assuredly Let now to sâ—er signes of hate let proufs of lyke disdayne Lodge scornefulnes in careles hart for loue long vowde in vayne So shalt thou dryue these dreadfull â—â—nges out from thy panting brest And to thyne owne Lurcanio bring lasting ioy and rest Sayd carefull soule Lurcanio vnto Ariodant That hath as many â—ares to heare as hath the Adamant So altred hath this sight his wittes and eke his stayd intent That sage aduise was bootles geuen the sequell to preuent Yet lest his brother mought perceiue his changeles will to die And least by striuing with his force be mought his purpose spie Thogh ouercome with mortal â—angs he mute and dombe doth stand In signe of grace he puts his blade into his brothers hand That don from that vnhappy place to chamber close they hie And as the time of night did craue to bed they both do plâ—e Lurcanio in hope his wordes had changd his brothers mynd Nought doughting of the present iâ— a quiet sleape doth finde But he surprisd 〈◊〉 dreadful thoughtâ— with visage pale and wanne In stead of sleape in frantike mind a thousand tymes doth banne The day which first gaue light to him â—e curseth eke the teate That in his fansie did geue to him his sucking meate As oft he bannes his damned eyes that so could 〈◊〉 their sight And eke his tongue y sude for grace of one so false a wight He curseth now his open eare that so did marke her guyle And hastie hart that trusted so her lippes so fraught with wile What shuld I say both head hand and all he could inuent In steed of blisse and wishes good he doth with curse torment So in this wise eche night is spent and day renues agayne His wonted course but night ne day can chaunge this louers paine But still vpon some present death he gladly doth deuise As one that only findes that salue to ease his scorchiâ—â—â—iâ—s Wherfore to driue susâ— on the more from brothers â—rest He cloaks his care and risâ—th when Lurcanio leaues his rest And finding then occasion to leauâ— his companie He hies in hast by wilfâ—ll death to ende his miserie As stroken hart whose bleading wound declares a present death With reckles feete climmes hill and vale whilst he hath life and breath As greadie Beare that is berevd whilest she doâ—â— raunge for
to taste the fire Then prostrate on the ground she falleâ— and with a cherefull voyce She prayes to God with whom she hopes shortly for to reioyce But who had seene the waylings then of all the lookers on And how ech eye is drowned w â—t cars and euery month doth mone mought wel haue seen y mothers grief for death of loued childe And fathers plaint for natiâ—e sonne whose life feares death exilde Whilst thus the Princesse prepares her selfe vnto her heauy feast And whilst ech on lamenting stayes with ruthfull sighyng breast Sée wher a Knight stands houering clad all in armour blacke And mounted on a barbed stéede with sheeld behind his backe A mighty speare in hand he helde and swoord gyrt by his side His visar close before his face least that he weare discride The Marshall spyes this Knight vnknownâ— and as he sayd before So now he doth demaund also of him the cause wherfore He is arivd in that aray amydst that worthy presse To whom Ariodant doth these knightlike wordes expresse To saue qd he from fyry flames this false accused wight Though Scots do feare I do intenâ— to venter life and might Nought doughting but as giltles she condempned is to die So this my spear and sword I trust her truth right well shall trie The straunger enters thus the listeâ— wher stoutly he doth sweare That of that fowle supposed crime Ieneuora is cleare This don without a lenger stay the Heraultes crie to fight Now do your best god him shéelâ— that drawes his sword in right Lurcaniâ— leaues now to muse his speare is coucht in rest He forward like the winde doth 〈◊〉 with sheld before his brest Ariodant not ignorant with whom he is to fight Sets forward to with thundring pase and meetes his brother right â— he spears all crusht do mount aloft eche keepes his saddell sure Ariodant against his so doth mightely indure Then leaue they foming steades 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they draw their shining blades Wherwith ech one his enemy with courage stout inuades He smytes a carâ—ing blowe vpon his aduersaries shelde And he doth send a cantell from his helmet to the feelde Lurcanio is nothing nice of his approued might Ne yet Ariodant behinde his almes for to requight But farre vnegall is the match Lurcanio seemes to play When as Ariodant is forst to ward or els decay yet as he can he lendes a blowe and then he shiftes againe From dint of brothers stroke whose forse would well requite his payne Thus he doth strike and he the blow receiues vpon his shelde And he againe the vantage spyde a buffet byg doth yelde Lurcanio thinks of brothers death and fightes like Lyon fierse Ariodant his Ladie spied both steele and male doth pearse with bluddy blads thei prick thrust the ground is dydâ— with blouâ—e Now breath they both now againe they rage like Tigers wood In this conflict I must them leaue eche seeking others ende And to Dalinda once againe my pen and I must bende Who once aryvde within the wood wher she must yeld her life In steed of solâ—m mariage on edge of Ruffyns knyfe They bid her light of from her horse and with a countnance fieâ—s The sum of that they haâ— in charge to her they do rehears which wheÌ„ she knew froÌ„ wonted talk her closed lippes refrayne And feare of death do force her féele the panges of deadly payne Her careles head late occupidâ— with blissed wedlockâ—s bandes Is comefortles now poore wretch as stone in wall she standes So farre her present thoughts be od as hope of â—uertie And now to sure signes of smart and stormes of miserie But making of necessitie a present vertue she Decrees as time did serue to make her soule from bondage frée And kneling then vpon the ground betwixt these ghostly mates That mynd by caruing of her head to ende â—er latest fates She prayes vnto the Creator to pardon her offence And that he would forget her sinne and way her penitence Then with a streame of tears she rews her Ladies giltles death For whom the anguish of her hart doth choke welny her breath What should I say for thousand sins which she did neuer know To length y time she praies to God that he will mercy show but see how in most dauÌ„gerous tydes oft times doth happen blisse Sée how in present stroke of death the hart releeued is whilst thus she prays adueÌ„ture droue through search of nearest way To Scottish court vpon the place wher she deuout doth pray The famous knight Raynaldo who beholding with his eye betwixt two Ruffians naked swords a Lady prest to die He spurs his Stéed draws his blade and driues vnto them twoo In mynde to reseue if he could that carefull wight from woo The tormenters that saw him come dispayring of their might Forsake y mayd mount on Steeds and saue them selues by fight which when Dalinda vews she thus vnto Raynald gan say Yet let me craue this curtesâ—e or thou depart away Oh worthy Knight that is y thou wilt be my guyde vnto The most vnhapiest Scottish court and most complete with woe Wher I shal bring the ioyfulst news that euer came to kyng And tell the gladdest tale that earst a messenger did bring Raynaldo grauntes to her desire she is now horst againe They forward poste and as they ride she greatly doth complaine Of false Duke Polinessos guyle she blames his subtill wilte And for reuenge to god she cries for such offence most fitte Thus weary time is spent and now they are within the vewe of flaming bronds of glistring swords and of the Scottish crewe TheÌ„ with a strayneâ— balowing voice stay how Raynaldo cries Depart the Knightes with y word â—â—ne casteth vp his eyes To see from whence proceeds y voice that ringes so in their eares And therwithall Raynaldo and Dalinda do appeare who passing throgh y mightie prease at last approche the seate Of Scottish King wheras Dalind beginnes for to intreate Of all the treason which the Duke and she did late deuise But crying first staye Polinesse thus to her tale she plies Why shuld I lenger stay oh wretch why should my lippes refrayn From sounding out the perfect troth which hidden séekes to stayne The giltles Imphe of vertues schoole whose spotlesse troth doth crie For iust reuenge for such offence to him that rules skie Oh king let dought of daughters crime no more dismaye thy mynde Ne let thy hart to feareful thoughts for princes be inclinde For this thryse cursed tongue of myne shall plainly show to thee Who did offende who gaind this fire from which the prince is frée And though mine own reproch I must blase here amidst this presse Yet gnawing thoughts of gilty minde inforce me troth confesse This Duke oh king this Polinesse this false disceitful Knight And I vnhappiest wretch it was that gaynd these flames of right For sée disceit whilst in the court I led a rechles