bridle they went downe the hill In comming into the plaine the right way towards the Hauen Poliphebus began after this maner I doe Soueraigne Princesse vnderstand of the great warres wherein my father now is and of the many enemies which beseege his Citie I neuer yet durst to make my selfe knowne vnto him without doing something whereby I might boldly vaunt my selfe to bee the sonne of the mightie Trebatius and for this purpose I take occasioÌ„ to goe in your company and hauing the equitie of your beautie on my side betwéene the two Campes I purpose to maintayne the same not against the Greeke Dames for the loue of my sisters and the rest of my kindred which liue enamoured which seeing my challenge of force must come to contradict it Fame hath reported that in the Moores Campe there are Ladies which for beautie are the Phenixes of their Countries and if I prosper well in this attempt I may make my selfe knowne for the sonne of the great Trebatius I would not valorous Prince sayd the Ladie the through my occasion you should lose that which your vertue doeth assure of for there want not Ladies whose brauery and beauty is to be preferred farre before mine I am not able to goe into Greece answered the gallant Louer without making it appeare what power your vertue hath within my brest So then answered the Ladie there is nothing to bee sayd against your resolution With swéete conuersation they came to the sea side where they past all that night with such contentment of either partie as can not bee expressed The next day at what time as the faire Phebus began to beautifie the earth with his presence the two beloued Louers embarked themselues in the ship which Poliphebus brought The Masters and Mariners entertaining them with great ioy and wondring at the beauty of the gallant Luzâ—la hoyseâ— their sailes directing their course towards Grecia sayling with so great pleasure content that they wished it had bene Vlisses voyage After supper lying vpon the hatches of the ship casting their eyes to behold the vast seas and the forme of the skies this Gallant sayd vnto the Ladie If it may be told without griefe vnto you I would gladly know the cause of your enchauntmeÌ„t Some it will be to me warlike Prince in renning the remembrance of what I there endured but to giue you satisfaction whatsoeuer you shall commaund shall be put in execution Then know valorous Knight that my father had an Aunt the wisest woman in all Egypt where it is an ordinarie matter to be giuen to the arte Magick My father comming to receyue the Crowne as Emperour of Egypt was defirous to learne that science and so brought that his Aunt to the Court of whom he learned the greatest part of all her cunning He married and the destinies would that there should be borne so infortunate a Damsell as am I to haue so many desastres Comming to the age that I now am of without any pardon as a father to his owne daughter he came to be so farre in loue with me that hee tooke no pleasure of the world seeing I would not yeeld to his desire I imagining that I should wrong my selfe to yéeld in such a case to my father This my iust disobedience made such an impression in his heart that from thenceforth his hatred was farre greater towards me then euer his loue had bene It did nothing grieue me to endure the troubles which he put me to for denying him a thing so vniust Wrath and blind affection so much preuayled ouer him that being in my garden little thinking of his paine although it did somewhat grieue me to see what hee endured considering that he was my father I saw him comming in a walke among Canes with a more vnstaied pace then his grauitie required In seeing him I arose with a fayned smile weÌ„t to méet him But he which came drowned in a deuillish determinatioÌ„ without regard of any thing more theÌ„ his passioÌ„ led him vnto with a strange furie tooke mee by the arme saying My Luzela if it may giue you no occasion to ease my paine in that I am thy father and to sée what I indure with the griefe and torment which thy beauty hath brought me vnto yet let the death which thou séest before thine eies moue thee to doe it And therewith he drew out his dagger which he set at my brest You may imagine gentle Knight what my soule felt betweene these two extremes and each of them so great In the end I chose rather to die then so to defile my body and answered him My Lord and dearely beloued Father the heauens beare record with me that if the losse of my life might doe you pleasure I would preseÌ„tly giue it and should take pleasure to lose it and therein should offend no body but rather ennoble the obedience which I owe you but to be obedient in this a thing so much against reason I am of opinion that therein I should doe iniurie both to you and my selfe Hee suffred mee not to proceede forwards for with a strange fury hee sheathed his cruell dagger in the tender brest of his louing daughter Few blowes suffised to stretch mee all along My father had not the power repenting himselfe of that he had done to take out his dagger I thinke the heauens would not that he should kill me to the end that I in him should sée sudden change O cruell destinies began he to say lifting his voyce to heauen in how many sorts haue you shewne your selues coniured against me O infortunate Emperour Alpatraphio to how small purpose serued the science wherewith I was indued O blind and vaine affection séeing that from thence is growne to sée before mine eyes a fact so inhumane O heauens if you heare me be attentiue that séeing that you are witnesses of my great crueltie so shall you likewise be of the reuenge which I will take of my rebellious heart He was a thousand times about to pluck out the dagger which hee had stuck in my brest I thinke hee let it alone because hee would not sée my bloud and I saw it was euen sâ—â— for comming vnto me he vttered these speaches Ah my Luzela sometimes beloued not as a daughter which is that which now 〈…〉 me if there from the heauens where without change treading them with 〈◊〉 immortall féete thou doest â—â—aunce to 〈◊〉 the alteration 〈…〉 I haue no eyes to â—caue pardon but thou wanting life which to me 〈◊〉 I giue mine it is not to bee sought for vpon earth seeing I haue sent it to the heauens neither will I enioy any because it will bee loathsome seeing I cannot forget to haue bene thy murtherer I doe proâ—ise thee my beloued daughter to accompanie thee in thy death seâ—ing I loued 〈◊〉 so dearely in thy life If for â—â—ented his soule to sée how still I lay imagining that I was dead and in pâ—lling out his
oration The Oration IT hath pleased him valorous Princes and excellent Knights which hath formed the mould of the whole world this day to put the Greeke valour in these spacious fields to the end that the world may know the force of your armes In praise whereof I would spend some speaches but that the necessitie of the time doth force mee to be briefe Onely this I would call to memorie The royall blood from whence we are descended and that we haue a cause in hand which may be for our aduantage The lot is already cast and the destinies haue permitted it that at ease wee may see our selues not compassed with enemies for that your noble hearts could not endure But at the point to let vs vnderstand that wee defend our Countrie with the edge of our swords I speake to my Knights for to returne to our Countrie it is impossible except we ouercome or lose our liues And so seeing the Greekes themselues haue chosen and called vs to their aide consider that it is honour to die to aduance theirs our enemies exceed vs in number and we excell them in valour and courage equitie is on our side and we shall haue as firme ground to fight vpon as they There resteth nothing but to fight with discretion for that and readinesse to be commaunded maketh the most doubtfull enterprises easie neuer any nation made but one Generall vnder whose commaund an Armie be it neuer so great is to be gouerned attributing to him the glory of the conquest or the dishonour of being ouercome This I haue said in regard of mine honour and of the Office which you haue bestowed vpon mee for fighting in order and vpon firme land and the enemies in the water if they should get any thing vpon vs we should lose the hope of any good successe as for me it shall be glorie to liue or die in your seruice and there is no more to bee said but to march forwards whither victorie shall call vs. THe valorous young Gallant pulled downe his Beuer leauing them all much affected vnto him for the discrete Oration which hee had made vnto thē being al wel pleased to haue such a Captaine and so they drew néere to the shore spreading themselues at large ouer all those fields where it was a world to see the wauing of their ensignes the soundings of Drummes and Trumpets the neighing of horses the deuices of the Commanders which to describe requireth an eloquenter tongue and riper wit then mine All the Ladies were put into Venus Castell which stood towards the Sea from whence some with sighes beheld their Louers praying to God to saue their liues they which could doe it did publikely giue them skarfes and fauours the better to encourage them to aduenture their liues for them Already was the mightie Astrusio on the Shores side who leaping into a Friggot went to the Emperour reciting to him all that passed and how neere they were to the enemies Fléet Wherefore if your Maiestie please commaund what people you like of to enter into this Ship Royall with you for your Gard for wee are in readinesse for the most memorable battell that hath béene fought vpon the Sea where if fortune be our friend they shall dearely buy their comming although I assure you that Xerxes Fleete was but small in comparison to that which now commeth But I haue so great confidence in the valour of your souldiers and in mine owne desire to fight with them that I doubt not but that we shall ende it with honour Do valorous Captaine in all as to you shall seeme good answered the noble Emperour for neither now nor at any other time none shall resist your order Presently he embarked with the company aforesaid all the Princes which remained repaired to their Gallies where it was a thing worth the séeing to behold so many Gallies together so many standardes so many flagges streamers and penons such thundring of Ordinance the brightnesse of the armours did so glister that it beat backe Apolloes glistering beames the valiant Warriours made so faire a shew on the toppes of the poopes as gaue good hope of victorie and so being put in forme of a Crescent or halfe Moone they beganne to make towards the enemies Fleete the which they discouered in order veering in the wide Sea holding their direct course towards Constantinople with resolution although there were among them many opinions to winne the mayne Port with pure force of armes The desire which the Ladies had to be on land did moue them thereto and so the two Nauies came to encounter where they discharged sundry Cannon shotte in token that they should charge The mightie Astrusio had in the vauward of his Fléet fiftie great Brigandines which had no other commission but on the one and other side to discharge great Cannon shot which put the valorous Captaine in good hope The valorous Thebane with an hundred Gallies gaue many sudden assaults and was euer in readinesse to giue aid where néed was the battell being ioyned the Sea waxed calme Oh who had euer séene so vnhappy a day when almost all was betwéene the water and the flaming fire the noyse of the shotte bereaued many of their hearing with such furie that all the world séemed to shake for the smoke the fire the noise of prows and broken mastes the callings cryings and sundrie noises made a confusion Priamus his Citie did not make so great a fire neither were there so many braue swords drawne neyther with such spéed and noise as these two Nauies made the one shewing to the other the valour of their souldiers A thousand masts were broken in pieces their high carued workes swamme vpon the water it séemed that the water the fire and the winde had concluded a peace whose effect was so fearefull that the sea was on fire as if heauen and earth would come together the sundry deaths which were giuen that day my slender wit is not able to expresse neither would the great confusion which was therein giue place to a man although he had Argus eyes to see the particular encoūters for after the furie of the Ordinance was past they came so néere as to strike with their swords they were so néere on boord where with much shedding of blood and many deadly wounds were made many braue assaults In this most cruell battell death which daunteth the stoutest was not of power to discourage them or put them in feare for no man refused any labour or perill although he saw the Cānon bent against his brest they entred by the began to burne in a light flame Death was not there feared but yet séeing before their eyes so manifest danger they began to fly from her and to abandon the ship The great Astrutio his people followed so hard in chace who were most expert at sea that some of those Princes were almost in danger But there is no danger where Commaunders are diligent onely the
valour And so taking her leaue of all Polisander and shée mounted on horsebacke and with a swift pace they returned to the wood where they had left the Princes to whome for by little and little they drew néere to the Citie shée deliuered the message which she brought Much did Claridiano reioyce to vnderstand how well the Damsell had dispatched her businesse It might bee about two of the clocke in the afternoone when these valorous Princes came into the great Market place of the Citie of Troba leading betweene them the venturous Troiâ—a so well pleased to see the good which shée hoped for that shée was as it were ouerioyed There were none but did verie attentiuely behold the Princes the Ladie séeming to them no lesse faire then the Knights to be of a good constitution particularly he in the yellew whome by his deuice in his Shield they held to be the challenger and whome they déemed to bee the most gentle Knight that was in that place They ware their visors perced and bare their Launces in their hands All the place by this time was full of people by reason of the report of their comming and so they approached to the beholders where the King and all his daughters were the one doing that reuerence to the others as their estates did require The Gréeke a little lifting vp his Beuer said Ualorous King of Lucania notwithstanding that my comming to thy Court hath béene to doe thée pleasure yet my challenge I addresse to those which professe themselues not to be their owne Your comming Sir Knight is much estéemed aunswered the King and so at your pleasure you may begin to maintaine the beautie of this Ladie When they all intreated to come vp to the beholders in companie of Polinarda the two Princes desired no other thing accordingly as they had agréed and so alighting into the armes of him in the yellow they led her vp to the place wher Polinarda was who was very doubtfull that Astermo should not lose that which the other held for certaine All the courtly Ladyes iudged the fayre Troyla to be very beautifull Polinarda saying vnto her I now say gallant Lady that I maruaile not though your Knight beare the prize in all hard aduentures iustice beeing apparant on his side wherefore all good successe is due vnto him This noble Lady answered Troila will be through the reflection froÌ„ your beautie mine being very little O prince of Apulia who could helpe thee in the perplexitie wherein thou waâ—t It was so much most noble Prince as who so had noted him might well haue perceiued it They spent not long time in discourses for the Gréeke yet saw not the end of his businesse pricked forward with the necessitie wherein his parents were and so doing a short reuerence to the Ladyes giuing his hand to the carefull louer they came downe the â—aâ—es and mounting on their horses they rode to a most fayre tent which was in the middest of the place I would not valorous prince said the prince of Apulia that any euill successe should happen vnto Lisander my friend and brother to my Soueraigne Lady There shall not sayd the Greeke for I will so handle the matter in the battaile that he shall lose nothing but that he shall not ouercome By this time many were come into the place who with their Armes would yeld testimony of what they felt in their soules The first that tried their fortunes were two of the Kings nephewes yong knights and both much enamored but losing their saddles there rested no more action for battaile for at two encounters hee put them all the whole company out of doubt that he wanne the flower of cheualrie Right before him past the prince of Campania who was but newly come to the Court so enamored that hée made account trusting therein to beare the palme from the battaile his Armes were of the colour of the Lyon wrought ouer with gold and in his shield a skie wherein was a Lady and beneath Faith painted only with this Inscription That in heauen which is reserued Will try the due by loue reserued Heere below on earth His good gesture gaue contentment to all The sea beating against the rocks doth not make â—o great noyse as these two did at their encounter The Prince of Campania â—ell not although in déed he made an ill fauoured bending backwards in his saddle he returned towards the Greeke with his sword in his hand but the battaile was vnequall for he seconded not his blow and the valiant Greâ—ke with his sword shield making amends first ioyned with him and with both his hands smote vpon the top oâ— his shield there was no defence but hee cast the one halfe thereof to the ground the sword fighting on his helmet with such â—â—rce that it set him sencelesse on the arson of the saddle The Gréeke was very desirous to end the battaile and so spurring his furious horse he ran against him with his brest which cast them both to ground and the prince was so crazed with the fall that he could not get from his horse The Ladyes were much grieued that the prince of Campania should be ouercome and most of all his sister the gentle Solersia whose brauerie had encouraged the prince Lisander to come into the Lists so well armed disposed that the common people through affection openly gaue him the victorie He came armed in a reddish armour wrought all ouer with knots of gold and in the midst of his shield ContentmeÌ„t described after the maner as they depaint the Arabia Foelix set vpon a Globe ruling the world encompassed with this Mott Where hope is well assured And ioyn'd with stedfast constancie Fortunes mutabilitie Is nothing to be feared Great pleasure did his mistresse receiue in his deuice holding it done for her sake The prince of Apulia had giuen notice that that was his deare friend wherefore the Gréek with a soft pace went to him and said Ualorous prince of Lucania there resteth so little time to end so many battels as yet remaine that I thought good to demand battaile of you vpon condition that whether of vs that within two houres shall loose his Saddle through a stroke of his aduersarie shall remaine for ouercome Be it Sir Knight answered the prince as you shall thinke good presuming to haue the better of the battaile They managed their horses with so good a grace that Mars himselfe from his high throne tooke pleasure to behold it At what time as they should encounter in sight of the whole troupe the valorous Gréeke bare vp his lance There were few in that land that could so well behaue themselues and so gallantly as he which was before him who smote him with such force that it made him bend his body farther backwards then he would he past forwardes much estéeming of that Knight for his valour and hurled his lance with greater force then if a man had discharged a
out of great blowes the Gréeke gaue the Pagan such a blow on the shield that he cut the one halfe cleane away so tormenting his arme that hee could not lift vp the little which remained and so he flung it to the ground pursuing the Gréeks more fiercely then the hungrie Lyon doth the fearefull shéepe-flocke he reacht him vpon the toppe of the rich helmet a blow with such furie that although that he cut it not by reason of the good temper thereof yet for all that it made him to sée the twinckling starres of the skies within the helmet making him for a space to forget himselfe and taking benefite of the time he gaue him such a stabbe in his louing brest that it much grieued him they were come so close and so néere together that béeing vnable to strike and seeing him so néere he claspt him in his strong armes The Pagan refused not to wrestle neither would he if hee had béen Anteus There was neuer battell so fought for they were so lockt together that they stood more firmely fixed in the ground then the roots of a great and wel growne Oke All men wondred at this rigorous combat thinking with themselues that there neuer was the like séene in the world and so was the King saying to the Prince his sonne that hee was much beholding to the Knight of Cruelty séeing how he had dealt with him and the like to the Prince of Campania who maruelling much thereat said I doe certainely beléeue that this battell will be perpetually memorable and much it would grieue me that eyther of them should die séeing how great losse their death would bring to the world The sorrow would bee generall saide the gentle Lisander of Lucania who was of opinion that hee in the yellow would obtaine the victorie They turned to behold the battell which at that instant was maintained with much obstinacie but in the end they were of flesh and fell to the ground they gaue ouer their hold betaking themselues to their armes where with they afresh renewed the battell which was worth the séeing although with some aduantage to the Gréeke for as he was more nymble hee charged and retyred with agilitie both of body and minde The Pagan would haue relied himselfe who as hee was heauily armed and corpulent of body and the battell had lasted so long he was out of breath said thus If it please you Sir Knight let vs rest vs a little for there remaineth time inough to ende the battell I will take none answered the cruell yong man neither shall there be any thing to giue it me but to sée thy head in my hands for the ill maners which thou didst vse towards me There is no venimous Uiper but was to be accounted méeke and gentle in respect of the Moore who being perswaded that his spéeches had encouraged the enemie assailed him as fiercely as a Tyger said Stay and thou shalt sée to thy cost what the assurance of that good which I requested might haue done thée It had so stung him in minde to sée himselfe lightly regarded that with greater force then at the beginning he againe assailed the Gréeke giuing him with both his hands 〈◊〉 great a blow on the toppe of his Crest that it made him to set both his hands to the ground He hasted to him with another wherewith hee had wholy ouerthrowne him but that he holpe himselfe with his knées which were so strongly fastened in the earth that hee could not stretch himselfe out at length to giue further place to the Pagans furie Without all doubt the Gréeke had béene in great danger and the baâ—tell to him would haue beene much more costly but that rigorous furie béeing past at an instant appeared the aduantage on his side which was in the yellow There is no doubt to be made of that pleasure which the gentle Sir Florisiano of Apulia would haue receiued therin séeing how wel the Prince had perfourmed his promise if he had there with knowne how well the faire Troyla had negotiated for him no man would haue béene more glad then hee there was no reason but hee which had loued and did so effectually loue as he did but he should be so and so hee set himselfe to see the end of the warre which lasted not long for the Gréeke being exâ—remely angry for the blowes which hee had receiued arose more fierce then a Basiliske often giuing him such cruell blowes as put him cleane out of breath making him sometimes to set his hands and sometimes his knées to the ground which did much moue him séeing before his eyes the death wherewith the cruell Knight had threatned him who being desirous to end the warre defending himselfe with his shield closed with him and gaue him such an encounter that it made him giue backwards making shew of falling hee holpe him thereto with a strong stabbe which was the last that hee receiued for hee had not throughly vpon the ground spread his broad shoulders when through his visor he cut from him all hope of enioying Polinarda ending his life and his loue both at an instant with so much contentment to the louers that it shall bee fitter to bee left to consideration then any thing coÌ„cerning the matter here to be set down in writing The Gréeke entred into his tent to repose him embracing the Prince of Apulia who knew not what to do for ioy By this time the faire Titan had ended his iourney and the Ladie Lucina was to begin hers when the friendes of the dead Prince caried him from the place giuing according as to him did appertaine honourable buriall The Prince of Apulia went to the faire Troyla who with some sheweâ— although fayned of sorrow for the dead man said From this time forward I will take the word from my Knight if he please because he shall leaue so cruell a deuice as that which he beareth for my sake It was agréed betwéene them that on that side of the Ladies garden which Florisiano knew they should come where she would warrant his life and receiue him for her husband The young man went downe so troubled to sée himselfe in her presence and not to lead her by the hand which loued him as her selfe as it were impossible but that his alteration would be noted To auoid tediousnes I do not set downe how he felt himselfe when he knew what the Ladie determined Happie loue said the Prince séeing such hands haue dealth therein bringing it to that ende which the louer deserueth and happie Florisiano which shal enioy the same The contentment which I receyue with my mistresse fauour noble Princesse is no greater then that which to sée the effect of yours doth yéeld me and how carefully you haue procured it it is a fauour which I haue receiued which cannot yet bee requited for that bringeth the payment therewith séeing you haue accomplished it with your valour and my necessitie Those few
these warres with such desire to doe you seruice that I determined not to be cured for I am banished in most straÌ„ge maner being to accoÌ„plish my banishment in Grecia and but for her sake which ruleth my life I would take it for a fauour séeing the graces which the heauens haue imparted vnto all the Gréeke Dames which kindleth new fire in my sorrowfull heart séeing it selfe absent from that which my soueraigne inioyeth which in all respects is equall to her cruelty Now I say that he is worthy to be pardoned and we are sorry for him quoth Rosamundi seeing that if he desire to liue it is onely to doe vs seruice If it were not for that gallant dames said the Gréeke I would rid my selfe thereof but I haue therein setled this hope that I should here find some bodie which would bee sorie for my ill happe About this matter those faire Ladies rode discoursing well pleased with the Knight of Liuia his gentle conuersation and no lesse were all those high Princes for the valour which they had séene and experimented in him the night they passed with swéete discourses that although the thrée Ladies and their being in companie with their husbands did restraine them from discoursing of loue matters yet they delighted to refresh their memorie with talking of the most plesing time of their whole life For neuer man loued wel which liued not in loue for by louing knights are purified they become franke liberall valiant and hee which was the most carelesse becommeth most careful In no part discretion holdeth so due proportion as betwéene louers and neuer was there any honourable end of warres if loue were not the ground thereof For loue gallants attempt doubtfull enterprises making them easie with this saying My Ladie will take pleasure therein and to procure her contentment in exchange of his owne soule is to purchase a new life new Iewels of loue sufficient to giue life to him that so loueth and to conclude Plato saith that there is no good where is no loue The valorous Claridiano entertained the faire Ladies and gallant youthes with discreete discourses vntil the golden louer shewed himselfe beautifying the earth at whose comming all on horsebacke tooke their way towards the Citie highly extolling the valiancie of the two Pagans they all came to the place where they were which had the gard of the Towre in the sea the after-noones heate they past in a groue of Poplars againe taking their short way vntill about two of the clock in the night vnder a high Pine trée they saw a Knight laid all along on the ground whose constitution was pleasing to them all hee was armed with blew set with many Starres of gold with so many precious stones of such worth that they could not bee valued who séeing so many comming on horsebacke rose vp and buckling on a rich Helmet he lightly leapt vpon his horse being caparisoned of the same colour that his armour was on his Caske he wore a most faire plume set with Spangles of gold hee had one of the most rich shields of the world In the middest whereof which was of blew he bare god Mars and close by him his Venus with seuerall crownes in her hands as though shée gaue them to a Knight which knéeled at her féete with this Mot For thy worth and beautie Receiue this fauour Worthie thy valour They tooke great pleasure to behold his goodly personage and much more that with his Launce in his hand hee came towards them they all imagined that he would iust If it be no otherwise said Rosamundi it falleth to our lot to begin seeing we haue giuen the occasion to séek vs. No body gainsaid it séeing it was no great aduenture and so by that time that this gallant was come they had taken their weapons who shewing courtesie lifting vp his Beuer discouered the best fauoured face in all the Pagans countrie and said My lot valorous Knights hath béene so good to méet you in this place that I cannot complaine of fortune séeing shée hath set before mine eyes what I most desired to see I doe not tel you my Countrie valorous companie being so remote neither my name because there will be small notice of either for there are not two dayes since I receiued the order of Knighthood from the hands of a most mightie warriour who told me that if I made haste I should find here all the best of Greece I desired him to tell me his name in requitall of which fauour I would bee readie to doe him seruice all the dayes of my life for his valour deserueth it He told me that hee is called Bembo and that I should tell the Knights with whome hee here had fought the battell that they should pardon him for not ending it and that there should not want time nor place thereto Hee told mee so much of your force and made me so desirous that I purposed if it shall not be offensiue to desire to iust with some of those which here come I know it a great boldnesse being the first time yet is it a satisfaction although I lose to haue iusted with warriours of so great fame The discrete behauiour of him in the blew gaue great delight to all and so the gallant Rosamundi answered him thinking with her selfe that shée had neuer in all her life séene a gallanter Knight except the Gréeke Princes for they were borne to bee the wonder of the world I would that of your part some harder matter to be done had béen required to the end that you might haue séene of what power in Gréece the controuersie is which you haue vsed and séeing it is but to iust and to prooue the strength of your arme let be as it shall please you estéeming according to reason her courteâ—us answere The young gallant turned with so good a gesture that hee made the great Alphebus say Neuer beléeue me if these iusts be not worth the seeing for me thinketh that this stranger is locked fast in his Saddle Of the same opinion were all the rest expecting what would follow It is not to bee recounted most excellent and worthie Dames without hauing recourse for aide to your beauties for such a thing is not to bee solemnized but by him who hath twise borne the Lawrell for the Eagle flyeth no swifter after her pray then these two rare persons in valour departed The Ladie most excellent Lord had a better horse then any of those which compasse the heauens and so they ioyned swifter then thought neither of them mist in the incounter the Ladies was such as would haue ouerthrowne a rocke but could not the young man for on horsbacke few excelled him none among the Moores yet something hee bent backwards But the gallant Ladie losing both her stirrops and the reines was driuen to take hold of her swift horses neck they all doubted more then before of the successe séeing the faire Ladie in such
as none could bee better vpon earth In sight of the campe he was armed but by whom it was vnknowne There was a stately Theatre made for the Ladies to behold the battell Upon a great piller they hanged the Princes shield bringing an infinite many of Launces that those which would but onely iust should want no Launces for that purpose The Tinacrian paced ouer the field vpon his Rubican a betâ—er horse there was not in the world with such a grace as Mars could haue done no better There wanted not some in a readines to come into the lists for Lindauro who yet had not lost Venus loue would there shew it Ah he that had so excellent a wit as might be able to depaint with contentment to all those battels which were the best worth the séeing of any that euer were in the world for the Pagan which first presented himselfe in the lists was valiant and who without question was most enamoured although he neuer attained to any thing whereby he might perceyue that he was beloued He smote his furious horse with the spars but with the Tinacrian he got little for he made him with the encounter to take hold of the saddle pummell for feare of falling The young Gallant past forth with a braue countenance and turned his horse vpon the hand so lightly as could not bee thought The Prince came ashamed of his ill successe and desiring to amend what was past drawing his sword with both his handes hee smote the Tinacrian vpon the Helme it sounded like a bell and the enamoured youth well felt the blowe but seeing how many and how valiant Knights there yet remayned to come it behoued him to giue a good account of himselfe or not to bee called the sonne of the great Trebatius repaying him another were but small hope of victorie They encountred with Mars his might for it séemed that some great house was fallen when their lances brake they made such a noyse The Almaine lost his reynes and stirrops and was so besides himselfe that the Tinacrian perceyuing it trusting to his Rubican ranne vpon him with his horses brest and ouerbare them both to the ground wherein fortune was contrarie vnto him for as hee was taken so at vnawares he had no leisure to pull his foote out of the stirrop and so one leg was vnder his horse who with the force of the encounter died presently Trebatius his sonne alighted leauing the whole campe amazed at his valiancie and went to the Almaine holpe him to frée himselfe from his horse saying vnto him I will not sir Knight that you should lose that for want of a horse which your valor doth assure you and so you may end the battell on foote But he was in so ill taking with his fall yâ— he was enforced to giue ouer the battaile and to leaue his shield behind which much despited Bembo who loued him very much admiring at that which he with the Eagle had vsed towards him I beléeue quoth the fayre girle Rosabella that my Lord my brother Rosabel did better know this Knight then me that hee was so readie to bee his suretie séeing wee were scrupulous in giuing him this leaue it is reason that we should recompense him with something the better to encourage him against the Captaine of the Moores who they say is very valiant Her faire mother stood hard by laughed at the girles speaches who wel knew what Knight that was for her son Rosabel had told her vpoÌ„ which assurance she said Séeing you are so careful for the good of this Knight being challenged I am content that you shal send him a pledge from your hand that he may see how much his valour is estéemed Al the rest of the yong girles hâ—lpe to further what Oliuia had required In the end Rosabellaes faire sister was to take from her necke one of the most rich Iewels in the world It had beene her mothers which Rosabel had brought out of Astrutio his Countrey there was not a better piece in that field Shee gaue it to a Damsell of hers who with many Knights which held her companie came downe to the place where the Tinacrian with a nâ—w Launce in his hand was on horseback The Prince séeing her comming leapt from his horse receiuing her with much courtesie which he shewed to women more then any other Prince of the world The Damsel sayd vnto him Ualorous Knight with the Eagle my Lady the Princesse Rosabella daughter to the Prince Rosacler commendeth her to you séeing the valor which you haue shewne which shee imagineth to come from the Gréeke Ladies haÌ„ds which with such generosity gaue you leaue she sendeth froÌ„ them her selfe this Iewell to the end you should know of what credit your suite is how highly your valor is estéemed The Tinacrian smiling receiued it said Tel these soueraine Princesses faire Damsell that with such fauors such as the Gods are vnworthy of it shall bee easie to accomplish this enterprise againe a new to bind me to be theirs which this rich gift cannot do séeing I am so already shal be til I die And acknowledging how much I am bounden I find it to be so much that to lost my life it is too little to requiâ—e al of what I haue receiued He deliuered the message with so loud a voyce that the Ladies which stood about the â—ent heard him Luzela did assure her selfe of her Knight séeing the gift came from so neere a kinswoman He put it about his neck in sight of all the campe which was a wound to the Moores Ladies hearts to sée him so fauoured which was enemie to their beautie The Greeke Ladyes did celebrate the courteous answere of the Knight who séeing the place cleare tooke horse as light as a bird and taking his place expected the comming of some aduersarie desirous to make them know their errours There wanted not those who were so conceited of their Mistresses beautie that they opposed themselues against him although that there were some question about it for euerie one would be the first At length the lot fell to the mightie Brundusio who being armed with strong plankes of stéele made head against the Tinacrian whose battell and the rest deserueth a newe Chapter CHAP. XXIIII Of the cruell battell betweene Brundusio and Poliphebus with the comming of the couragious Lindoriano Prince of Niquea WIth Soueraigne praises most excellent Prince did all Grecia extoll the noble Tinacrian whose fame reached to the heauens for in lesse then thrée houres hee had ouercome thrée of the most famous Princes in the Moores Campe. And Brundusio Prince of Gibia desirous to reuenge their losses with a most gallant shew confronted Luzelaes louer there was neuer séene a more angrie onset for before the beholders could imagine it they were together making little splinters of their great Launces whose trunchions flew out of sight vp into the clouds The Pagan lost a
I am yours The courteous speeches of the Tinacrian did greatly winne the hearts of all those which were in the field The yong man went forth of the Lists of whom was made great account for the valour of his person There was made a great noyse in the campe for Don Argante had taken the place with so angry a countenance that all men perceiued with how great furie hee came All this was nothing to mooue the Tinacrian For with greater mildenesse then in such a case was requisite hee went to the place where the Launces were and there hee chose a great Launce and putting vp his Beuer to take the ayre and to wipe away the bloudie sweate for neuer did any Knight endure so much in so little time hee encouraged his Rubican and giuing him the spurre hee became as fresh as the wind when it commeth foorth of his darke dungeons and then with a wonderfull and incredible swiftnesse hee made towards the disguised louer They met with so great noyse that if two great Carricks had met in a rough sea they could haue made no greater The Fenician with the force of the encounter lost his horse reynes but he quickly recouered them they turned their horses with such a grace that Mâ—rs could haue done it with no greater Trebatius his Sonne being mounted vpon his Rubican had the aduantage of all the world and with that strong armour for in it notwithstanding so many battailes there was not one scarre to be seene but as the Sunne went downe into the Spanish Seas there was no fayrer sight to be séene then the colours and reflection which it made which sufficeth to make Luzela to loue him which ioyfull to see him sayd to the fayre Rosoluia I doe beleeue that but for your beautie the Prince could neuer haue atchieued so many battailes with so much honour Nay from your beautie faire Princesse springeth his valour which he hath shewen quoth the Princesse and let vs see how he fareth with him in the gréen scarfe who in my opinion is valiant The one tooke his course more swift then thought against the other They met and made a fearefull noyse at the breaking of their Launces whose splinters flews out of sight they entred so farre into the region of the ayre They were both couragious and so they returned the Fenician hauing lost both his Stirrops which he so quickly recouered that it was scarcely perceiued The Tinacrian presuming of his Rubican would medes make a proude attempt but his hope failed him for this louer was one of the most readie men in the world in this case would rather dye then bee ouercome For as the Tinacrian approached putting his horse aside hee made him to lose his blow giuing meanes to Argante to smite him as he passed by a mightie blow backwards making him to lay his brest on the Saddle pummell He hastened after him and both together met with such force with their Shields and Helmets that both of them without any power to auoyde it fell together to the ground The Tinacrian fell vpon his feete although so troubled that whilst hee was in that passion the Fenician had time to rise again but so brused with the fall that hee much douted of the battaile But hee was so couragious that therewith he supplyed that imperfection and on foote held himselfe sufficient to giue battaile to Hercules The battaile was worthie to bee seene by such persons for both their dexterities were such as made all the beholders amazed But it was quickly seene that the Greeke had the better for as it hath beene alreadie sayd hee had the aduantage of all men His aduersarie would haue closed to haue wrestled with him hoping thereby to haue gotten ground The Tinacrian was well breathed and had his sword with the poynt forwards which the Greeke crossed meaning to beare by the blow but hee vnderstood his enemies meaning for hee was not well fitted to that ward when letting fall his Shield and Sword hee closed with him so suddenly that Poliphebus could not helpe himselfe with his armes This Louer tooke so good hold of him that he raysed him from the earth and had he bin any other then Garrofileaes sonne he had layd him all along vpon the ground getting great part of the Lists vpon him whereat the people made so great a noyse that the Tinacrian became as fierce as a Basiliske and taking footing hee recouered all that hee had lost Thus they struggled together ouer the field beating themselues out of breath vntill that at last the Tinacrian holding himselfe disgraced with a round wheeling about layd him all along vpon the ground where in despight of him although that hee therewith was more troubled then hee had beene all the day before he made him leaue his Shield for a remembrance of his ouerthrow which all men did so admire that they knew not what to say seeing that braue Knight ouercome who was more furious then a Lyon The Tinacrian went into his Tents to take something of the Nymphs to refresh him of his wearines which Luzelaes aunt had giuen them He stayed but a little for now the Sunne beganne to withdraw his light and already was come into the Lists No worse man then the Prince of Assyria Don Câ—aâ—â—el who desirous to be auenged for his two deare friends brandishing a great Launce came tâ—warde the Tinacrian The strong blowes which were giuen would haue cleft a Rocke and yet not them which bore Shields more hard then the hardest Diamond The Assyrian was borne backe in his Saddle with the force of the encounter although so little that it was scarcely perceiued but they rather sayd as it was true indeede that hee was the most valiant of them all which had entred into battaile with the Prince of â—inacria They returned with an excellent grace and with their strokes each of them bowed downe to the Saddle They seconded them with others which with their bloud bore witnesse of their valour The Assyrian was skilfull and wore an excellent Sword although that against the Greeke Lyons Armor the goodnesse thereof serued to small purpose And so the furie of the battaile was referred to the strength of the arme striking him so cruelly that all his flesh was blacke and blew The Assyrian escaped no better cheape for his armour could not defend him but that the bloud came forth in sundrie places not without some greefe to Floralisa who knowing how much that Prince loued her shee could not choose but loue him againe and bee sorie for his hurts the sight of his bloud did redouble his strength Wherefore taking his Sword in both hands he set vpon the Tinacrian who could not auoyde the blow which came with such furie that it made him set one hand to the ground hee ouertooke him with another which made him set the other to ground to keepe him from falling downe-right There was neuer Uâ—per troden vpon that returned like to this
Gréekes were in such readines that as he left they marched as swift as the fresh wind A sorrowfull day for a great many for there they met with their deaths in a thousand maners The earth shrâ—nk it was so oppressed The Sunne hid his beames because he would not sée so many deaths The noyse wherewith the battel 's ioyned was so terrible that rebounding vp to the skies it made there also a great slaughter for the flying soules wanting ayre to maintayne their flight came dead to ground The 2. Nauies at sea although they had already ioyned heard the noise which was at land In came the mighty Trebatius accoÌ„panied with his sons so furious that he séemed like death it selfe they did so well gard him that he neuer receyued blow The famous Tinacrian was the best armed and mounted of any man in the world and so earnest that sometimes his kinsmen could not follow him notwithstanding that they wrought miracles But the Pagans were so many that although that they where they went had the aduantage yet the Moores had it in the rest of the campe fighting sometimes foure against one and sometimes at more ease On that side where the Souldan of Egypt was there the Gréekes had the better because on that side happened to fight the inuincible Alphebus with the no lesse furious then redoubted Knight Oristides who séemed no other then as Hercules among the Giants in the plaines of Egypt or as Samson among the Philistims Lirgandeo reporteth that before that hee had euer drawne his sword hee had felled ten Giants those with that in his hand he sought and not the weake simple Knights They made a broad stréet for him but Don Celindo taketh him in hand with his sister friends he rushed in among them vpon a sudden seized vpon Thorisiano he made him lose his reynes and almost his saddle and therewith his life had not Don Argante come at one side who with his rich sword when as this braue Emperour would haue seconded his blowe there with haue stinted the strife entred with a strong thrust which he made at him hitting him in the brest shrinking vp his sword arme with the paine and so he could not strike the yong man but turned against the Fenician more fierce then a Leopard smote his plumes from his head had he borne his hand a little lower he had endangered him he returned a thrust at the Assyrian who séeing what the knight did which knew him not for he would neuer enter into any battell but as a priuate soldier had aduauÌ„ced himselfe forwards with a desire to strike him he hit him in the middest of the brest and vnable to pierce it for the goodnesse of the mettall hee pushed him so farre backe that hee tumbled him out of his saddle There was neuer a better blowe giuen in all the battell Claridiana was glad to sée it who had taken Floralisa to taske Their battell was apart for the high heauens in valour although not in beautie had made them equals No man came to their ayd séeing their equalitie in fight But Don Celindo who was of greater force then the Troiane sorry for his friends blowe parted from him and assayled the TrapisondaÌ„ Lord. He was neuer weary with fighting for therewith he was refreshed he let him enter and with all his might stepping aside as he was more nimble valiant seizing vpon him with his armes he pluckt him out of his saddle and but for feare to bee ouerborne by the beasts which the Giants rode on he had kild him hee let him goe spurning him with his feete but he was presently remouÌ„ted The Souldan of Egypt was extreamely sorry to sée that of his side they had the worst of the battell and therefore he fought not but did more in giuing directions for by turnes he brought new succours where they were ready to fly Those in the middest charged with all possible force Rosabel his sonnes and the vnknowne young man with the starres had desceÌ„ded more lower into the valley They séemed like the bright Sun beames amidst the black clowds and amazed all the army to see how they plaid the deuils They resembled Auteus in strength and Cesar in fighting They left not a Knight wounded for they strake them all starke dead The orchard kéepers beat not downe fruite so fast with their long poles as they did the Gréekes with their sharpe swords No man durst abide them and so climing vp a little hils side and séeing that in all the rest of the battell their friends as fast as they could goe did get ground although that they saw them fall by heaps yet they were so many that there was no man mist leauing the staÌ„dard in his hands who well knew how to defend it they came downe the hils side The two brothers wore seuerall coloured Scarfes which their mother had giuen them although not by that name but as their country woman they were séene by both armies Hee which went to méete them was no lesse then the fierce Don Heleno with his beloued Ladie who was knowne to haue the aduantage of all men with those cruell Armes which sometime did belong to Semiramis on his left side went that valiant Spaniard Thorismundo to whose trust might be committed any charge although not this for without doubt Claribel was more valiant who fel to his lot who as this was the first battell that hee had séene so would he therein purchase fame Hee suffered the Spaniard to enter vpon a faire horse of the race of Corduba in whome he did put too much trust to his valor giuing the young man a great blow who was nothing mooued therewith and preparing a second hee entred striking him vpon the rich Helmet which then gaue him his life but for all that it set him vpon his Saddle bow casting bloud out at his Uisor and with another hee would haue ended the warre and had done it had not his sonne come running who séeing his father in such case drawing force out of feare with both his hands tooke reuenge it was enough to make him to lose his â—â—ow for thereby hee recouered his Fathers life who with the helpe of his sonne set vpon the young youth who was glad thereof the better to make them to know the strength of his arme which tired him more then they knew for This was nothing to the battell betwéene Don Heleno and Rosamundi with his brother and the Knight with the starres Shée reposed great trust as there was reason in her rich weapons and for that cause shée ioyned euerie foote with the youth cutting both his armour and his flesh he went more enraged then a chafed Bull to see himselfe so hurt for before that hee could cleare himselfe from this Ladies hands he had receiued foure wounds which were the first that he had receiued in all that battell The Ladie was no lesse tyred and endangered then if she