them 78 Eu'n as the painfull husbandman doth thinke By care to keepe the riuer in his bounds That swels with raine readie to passe the brinke And ouerflow his mowd or sowed grounds He strengthens eu'ry place that seems to shrinke Yet more and more the water still abounds And while he stops one vent another groweth Till ouer all perforce at last it floweth 79 So when the dame of whom I last made mention Saw how Rogero stout and Mandricard With Rodomont continude in contention And each would seeme for tother two too hard She willing to compound this sharpe dissention Perswades them but they little it regard For still as one at her request forbeares The other two are at it by the eares 80 When as she saw their furie still increase Let either vs quoth she our Prince assist And in the meane time let all quarrels cease Or if you in this fury still persist Then I with Mandricard will haue no peace Do herein quoth Rogero as you list For I resolued am to haue my horse Although it be by faire meanes or by force 81 Then do said Rodomont your worst and best For with that horse to part I not agree But here before you all I do protest That if our King by this stay damag'd be And that for want of ayd he be distrest The cause thereof did not proceed of me Rogero little weyes his protestation But firmly holds his first determination 82 And at the Sarzan furiously he flies And with his shoulder gaue him such a thrust He lost his stirrops and so loosd his thies That hard he scaped lying in the dust What hold Rogero Mandricardo cries Either not fight or fight with me you must And in great rage as that same word he spake Rogeros beauer with great might he strake 83 The blow was such as made him forward leane And ere that he himselfe againe could reare Vpon him smote the sonne of Vlyen With so great strength as no strength might it beare That had his armor bene of temper meane No doubt they had an end made of him there Rogeros hands flie ope with senslesse paine The tone his sword the tother leaues his raine 84 His horse away beares him about the greene And Balisard his blade is left behind Marfisa that had to Rogero beene Fellow in armes that day was grieu'd in mind To see him vsd so hardly them betweene And being strong of limbes and stout by kind She smiteth Mandricardo on the crowne So hard as wants not much to fell him downe 85 After Rogero Rodomont doth get him And now Frontino had welnigh bin wonne But by the way stout Richardetto met him And with him ioynd his cousin Bouos sonne Tone iustles him and furder off doth set him The tother namely Vinian doth runne Vnto Rogero that by this was waked And lends his sword vnto his right hand naked 86 Now backe he doth returne enrag'd with scorne Minding to pay his damage home againe Eu'n as a Lion whom the Bull hath borne Vpon his head is full of fierce disdaine Flies at him still nor feares his cruell horne His anger making him forget his paine And on his beauer with such force he thundered As though he weld his head in twain haue sundered 87 And sure he had performd it very neare If Balisarda had bene in his hand Which he let fall as you before did heare Now when as Discord saw how things did stand She thinks no peace can possibly be here And taking Pride her sister by the hand Now sister let vs turne vs to our Friers For here quoth she are raisd sufficient fiers 88 And so away they went and let them go And let me tell you how Rogero sped Who gaue to Rodomont so fierce a blow That such a great amazement in him bred That twise or thrise he reeled to and fro Frontino with his senslesse master fled Also his sword had falne out of his fist But that a chaine did tie it to his wrist 89 This while Marfisa held the tother racke And yet on either side the conquest swayd Each had so good an armor on their backe Of piercing it they need not be afrayd Yet by a chance Marfisa hapt to lacke And likewise hapt to haue Rogeros ayd For in a turne she made her horse did trip And in the durt vpon one side did slip 90 And as againe he labourd vp to rise The cruell Tattar iustled him so crosse That on his side the horse constrained lies Foundring againe vpon the slimie mosâ—e Which when Rogero from aloofe espies How neare she was to danger great and losse He steps to Mandricard fiercely assailing him While Rodomont stands mazd his senses failing him 91 The Tartar doth as fiercely him resist But yet Rogero strake so great a blow Both to auenge himselfe and her assist Whom Mandricardo hapt to ouerthrow That sure I thinke that blow had little mist Quite to haue clou'n him to the saddle bow Saue that the Tartars armor was so hard And that Rogero wanted Balisard 92 By this the Sarzan king againe did wake And seeing none but Richardetto neare He cals to minde how for Rogeros sake That youth to him was troublesome while eare Straight with great rage he toward him doth make Minding to make him buy that curtsie deare And sure good Richardetto had repented it But that his cosin with great art preuented it 93 His cofin Malagige whose skill was great In all that doth to magicke art pertaine With words that he without booke could repeat Did coniure vp a spryte of hellish traine And by this meanes he works a passing feat For though he namd no place he doth ordaine This sprite in Doralices horse to enter And beare her thence away at all aduenter 94 The sprite thus coniurd quickly doth his part Into the damsels gentle nag he crept And so his quiet nature did peruart That one the sudden thirtie foot he lept And ten foot high yet with so easie start That Doralicee still the sadle kept Yet cride she out in doubt to haue miscarried For in the diuels name she thence was carried 95 Forthwith to helpe her Rodomonte go'th Because she fled and cride to him for aid To stay behind the Tartar is as loth For feare betweene them he may be betraid He leaues Rogero and Marfisa both Nor in the place so little time he staid As to accord with them vpon some truce Or make at least some mannerly excuse 96 This while Marfisa was got vp againe And now she means to venge her on her so But he was gone at which in great disdaine She frets and chases that he had seru'd her so Rogero chases as much for all in vaine He knew it would be after them to go They know their steeds and this doth grieue them more Cannot out run Frontin Brighadore 97 Wherefore supposing as it was indeed That they were gone vnto the Turkish host To follow
Queene 59 When at all peeces she was armed round She vauteth nimbly vp into her seate And twise or thrise she makes her horse to bound To bate a little of his furious heate And makes a turne or two aboue the ground Then turnes she to her so to do her seate Such was â—iudge Pentheseleas fight Against Achilles famous Greekish knight 60 Thus each themselues vpon their horse aduances And with their couched speares forthwith they run Vp in a thousand splinters flies the lances But vnto them no hurt at all is done The Pagan greatly maruels how it chances That she should scape and curses Moone and Sun And she with her successe as ill content Blasphemeth eke the heau'ns and firmament 61 Then they assayd with swords most dreadfull dint To wound the tone the tother and to kill Their strokes were such as might haue pierst the flint And to their force was ioyned passing skill They lay on lode amaine and do not stint The sound doth all the place with eccho fill But neuer was it more for their behoose To haue their armour of to passing proofe 62 But while they now did most apply the fray Fierce Rodomont doth step them both betwixt And blames him much for making such delay Of that which late by him was firmely fixt And then with courteous speech he her doth pray With lowly words and lostie quaintly mixt That she would helpe to aid Traianos sonne Whose tents were in much danger to be wonne 63 To this request Marfisa doth assent As well to helpe king Agramant thereby As for she came to France with that intent The forces of the Palladines to try This while Rogero wroth and malcontent After the stealer of his horse doth hie And hauing found of him the perfect tracke He sends againe his guide Hippalca backe 64 And for he thought that none could do it better The messenger he makes her of his mind And sends by her his lately written letter Protesting he will still continue kind And that he doth himselfe acknowledge debter And would himselfe to her for euer bind He onely prayes her for a time excuse His absence which he would not might he chuse 65 With this dispatch Hippalca went her way And came to mount Albano that same night Rogero made but very little stay Vntill he had Frontino in his sight Which seen and known forthwith there was no way But he will haue his horse againe or fight With him that had with so vnnoble force The damsell robbed of the gallant horse 66 And straight in shew of warre he coucht his speare And to his face the Pagan he deside But Rodomont doth patiently forbeare Eu'n as a Iob and all his words abide Not that of him he had one sparke of feare For his great value often had bin tride But that the danger of his Lord and King Weyd more with him then any other thing 67 Wherefore he gently tels him for what cause He may not fight and him exhorted to What all diuine and what all humane lawes Vnto his Prince commands a man to do I said Rogero am content to pawse In this respect and make a truce with you So that this horse againe to me you render Which so to take your reason was but slender 68 Now while these two herein do square and braue The Tartar king doth vnto them approch And when he saw what armes Rogero gaue He set another brabble straight abroch Mine are quoth he these armes that now you haue How dare you on my titles thus incroch They cause why Mandricardo spake these words Was that Rogero gaue the King of burds 69 An Eagle argent in a field of blew Rogero gaue whilom the crest of Troy As one that thence deriu'd his pedegrew And did by due descent the same enioy But hereof Mandricardo nothing knew Or nought beleeu'd and calld it but a toy And tooke it as an iniury and scorne To see the same by any other worne 70 For he himselfe did giue as for his cote That bird that barevp Ganimed on hie Ere since he wan as I before did note Don Hectors armes and wan such praise thereby The good successe hereof makes him aflote So that he did Rogero straight defie I shall quoth he some better manners teach thee Then in such sawcie sort to ouer reach thee 71 As wood well dride will quickly fall on fire If so a man a little do it blow So was Rogero kindled now in ire To heare the Pagan reprehend him so Thou thinkst quoth he to haue thy fond desire By charging me now with a double so But know that I my partie good will make From him mine horse from thee mine arms to take 72 Did not we two about this matter boord And then to take thy life I did abstaine Because that by your side I saw no sword But now sith you begin this brawle againe This shall be fight in deed that was but word And that your crest shall turne you to much paine Which vnto me descent and propagation Hath left but you do hold by viurpation 73 Nay thou vsurpst the tother straight doth say And with that word he Durindana drew That sword that erst Orlando flang away And then a cruell fray was like ensew But straight the tother two did cause them stay And chiefly Rodomont did seeme to rew That Mandricard of lightnesse shewd such token That twise by him his promise had bin broken 74 First when to get Marfisa he had thought He had conflicted more then twise or thrise And now with tother quarrelled for nought About a bird or some such fond deuise Nay then quoth he if needs you wold haue fought We two should trie the title of our prise Which by consent should stand still vndecided Vntill our Princes safetie were prouided 75 Wherefore for shame do as you haue agreed And let vs cease and lay all quarrels by And when our Prince from danger shall be freed Then first betweene vs two the matter trie And after if you hue you may proceed To fight it out with him and so will I Though well I wot when I haue done with you But little will remaine for him to do 76 Tush saith the Tartar Prince for him nor thee Nor all the world beside I passe one straw For though you fight or though you do agree Of neither of you both I stand in aw As water in a spring so strength in me Shall still supply much more then you can draw I hope by that time I haue done my feate From head to foot with blood â—le make you sweate 77 Thus one ill word another doth draw on And wrathfull Mandricard them both defier Rodomont would haue peace but they would none If this speake sharpe then that more sharpe replies If one strife be compounded yet anon Another strife as bad or worse doth rise In vaine Marfisa labours to compound them For more and more vntoward still she found
English Duke as I did late rehearse Dissolued quite and causd like snow to melt These two likewise the Christen campe do pearce The forces of these two the Christens felt Rogero and Marfisa made lesse hast And so it happend they arriued last 12 The first two couple neare the Christens tents Did meet and then after long consultation Each vnto other shewing their intents They all conclude with on determination And all of them to this giue their consents In spite of all the Christen generation To succour Agramant their Lord and Liege And mauger Charls his might to raise the siege 13 Straight in one crew they foure togither knit Breake through the Christen watch by force amaine Neither in hugger mugger did they it But crying lowdly Affrica and Spaine They lay on lode and eu'rie one they hit Dead or astonished doth there remaine Alarum then all ore the campe was rung Though few could tel the cause fró whēce it sprung 14 Some thought the Gascoigns or the Switzers bold By mutiny had made some insurrection And their surmise vnto the Emp'ror told Who came with minde to giue them due correction But when he did the bodies dead behold Incurable vntill the resurrection He standeth still like one with wonder mazed And on their wofull wounds long time he gazed 15 Eu'n as a man that with a bolt of thunder Hath seene his dwelling house smit vnaware Straight searcheth with no little feare nor wonder Which way the bolt did passe that cauld his care So Charles that saw mens bodies cut in sunder Inquires of so great wounds who authours are And when he knew how few they were that did it Did wish himselfe there present to forbid it 16 This while Marfisa on another side With good Rogero do them sore impeach And through the campe in spite of them they ride Killing or wounding all within their reach As in a migne that lies close vnespide With trayns of gunpowder men make a breach Or as a tempest goes along by coast So suddenly these two brake through the host 17 Many that scapt the tother foure by flight In flying fell vnwares vpon these twaine And felt by proofe that neither flight nor fight Can saue a man ordained to be slaine Eu'n as a Foxe whom smoke and fire doth fright So as he dare not in the ground remaine Bolts out and through both smoke fire she flieth Into the Tariers mouth and there he dieth 18 Thus last of all by this most noble paire The Christen armie once againe was sundred And then to Agramant they all repaire Who welcoms them and at their value wondred Now hope and courage driue away dispaire One Turke of Christens straight defide an hundred So great a boldnesse in their mind doth rise By helpe and succour of these new supplies 19 Straight way on both sides out their men were brought Their standerds and their banners all displaid And there that day a bloodie field was fought And neither side made shew to be dismaid For hopes alike in either armie wrought Tones passed conquests tothers present aid But fortune on the Christens so did frowne That they againe were driu'n vnto the towne 20 The passing force of cruell Rodomount The strength and value great of Mandricard Rogeros vertue that doth all surmount Gradassos courage of no small regard Marfisas heart of principall account The skill of Sacrapant with best compard These were the causers of good Charls his losse And sent the Christens whom by weeping crosse 21 Great store were drownd in Sequana with hast The bridge so narrow was for to receiue them Wishing as Dedals sonne had in time past Some wings wherewith aloft in ayre to heaue them Some thrusting straue to get them in so fast That strength breath life at last did leaue them But that where by king Charls was chiefly shaken Was this that many Palladyns were taken 22 Thus fortune once againe did turne the wheele The good king Charles had her but could not hold her And of this foile this hurt he then did feele It fainter made his friends his foes the bolder The Marquis of Vienna true as steele Was at that seruice wounded in his shoulder And many hurt but none did play his part So well that day as valiant Brandimart 23 He stoutly bare it out no little space And when he saw there was no other way Then to the furie prudently gaue place And spard himselfe against another day Now once againe is Charls in wofull case Now once againe to Paris siege they lay Young Orphaus and old widdows prayre and cries Againe vnto Gods heau'nly throne arise 24 The Angell Michel was but ill appaid Finding the cause of those good Christens teares He thought his maker was but ill obaid And that he may be blamd therefore he feares He cals himselfe deceiued and betraid By her should set the Pagans by the eares From which it seemed now she did so vary As she had rather done the quite contrary 25 Eu'n as the Seruitor whose loue and zeale More then his memory may be commended Forgetting in some waightie cause to deale That by his Lord to him was recommended Would with new care his former fault conceale That er his master know it may be mended So this good Angel went not vp to God Till he had done as much as he was bod 26 To seeke dame Discord he doth leaue the skie And to the Abby he returnes againe Where her amid the monks he might espie That change old officers and new ordaine She laughes to see their portises to flie Readie to knocke out one anothers braine The Angel takes her by her painted locks And with great furie giues her many knocks 27 He brake a crosses handle on her crowne And grieuously doth beat her backe and side The wretch vpon her mary bones fals downe At th'Angels feet and mercie mercie cride Packe to the Pagans then that siege yon towne Quoth he and see that you among them bide For if this place againe thou euer trouble Assure thy selfe thy payment shal be double 28 Though Discords back and arms were sore with beating Yet thence with all the hast she could she went Sore terrifid with that great Angels threating Doubting againe in like sort to be shent Yet in this hast behind her not forgetting Bellows and coles in steed of those were spent By which in many minds and hearts inuincible She quickly kindle might a fire inquenchible 29 Rogero Mandricard and Rodomount Gan now their former quarrels to renew As making of the Christians small account That vnto Paris walls themselues withdrew Wherefore to Agramant they do recount Their quarrels the grounds of whence they grew Each one by challenge his iust cause auerring The combats order to the king referring 30 Also Marfisa doth the king intreat That she may end her combat first begunne With as great hast thereof and as
Agramant receiu'd an ouerthrow 65 Who was welâ—ye abandond of his men Eu'n in the verie furie of the fight For why Marsilio and Sobrino then Were gone in minde to saue themselues by flight In walled townes they feard themselues to pen But went to sea with all the hast they might And many Princes of the Turkish trayne The sample follow giu'n them by these twayne 66 Yet Agramant did beare it out a space But when he saw there was no other shift Then from his enemies he turnd his face To get into the towne was all his drift Him Bradamant pursewd a wondrous pace Still spurring Rabican that ran full swift She wisht vpon his corps to venge the wrong In keeping of her deare from her so long 67 On tother side Marsisa rode as fast To venge though late her fathers wofull end She makes her horse to feele she is in hast But each of them doth misse that they intend He got within the gates and made them fast And then to sea he doth himselfe commend He sees he was not able to withstand The forces of his enemies by land 68 As two coragious Pards that held in chase An Hart or bearded Goat vpon a plaine That scaped then by swiftnesse of his pace With no small wrath and chase turne backe againe As though they thought they had a great disgrace In that they followd had the prey in vaine So did the damsels chase and sigh and fret That they to Agramant no neare could get 69 But though he scapt their hands yet sure the rest Escaped not full dearely then abuying Some wounded in the side in backe and brest Some slaine out right some worse theÌ„ dead a dying How sorily pooresoules had they bene drest Whose safetie was not wrought no not by flying For Agramant himselfe more sure to saue To shut the Citie gates commandment gaue 70 He made the bridges cake to be cut downe On Rodon streame that was both large and deepe Ah wofull subiects vnto tyrants crowne Who that they may their persons safely keepe Regard not if their people swim or drowne But deeme of them like beasts or silly sheepe That so themselues they pamper may and cherish They care not if their men in millions perish 71 T was infinite the number that was slaine In this same last conflict nor fewer drownd While they attempted despratly in vaine To passe the streame so brode and so profound Of which great slaughter yet the signes remaine For dayly neare to Arlie walls are found Huge heaps of dead mens bones and of their sculls Whose flesh was then deuourd by crows and gulls 72 Now Agramant made speedie preparation And causd his ships forth in the deepe to lanch Prouiding all that longs to nauigation In mind for ay to bid farewell to France Two dayes the winde stopt his determination The third it seru'd and then he did aduance His sayles and eu'rie one did ship his ore And so away they parted from the shore 73 Marsilio doubting least his Realme of Spaine Should now be driu'n to pay this costly shot And fearing to be forced to sustaine That storme alone which fell in France so hot Doth land at Valence where he did ordaine All furniture that might for warre be got Repairing all his townes against that warre That after him and all his frends did marre 74 But Agramant his ships to Affrike bent Ill armd halfe void of men but full of griefe For most of them were sad and malcontent Three parts of foure were lost past all reliese And though for feare perhaps of being shent None dare in publike speake to his repriese Yet secretly their burning hate to coole Some cald him proud some cruell some a foole 75 But as I say they speake this in their sleeues For feare of blame except some two or three That each to other open dare their greeues Yet wretched Agramant he doth not see How he is scorned but he still beleeues That he is lou'd and why because that he Saw neuer lookes but fawningly disguised Heard neuer words but fainingly deuised 76 Now he was fully purposd in his landing To leaue Biserta and seeke harbour nyer Because he late had perfect vnderstanding The Nubians spoyld those parts with sword and fier Wherefore for doubt of dangerous withstanding He meant to shun that port and land farre hyer And thence withall vnto his parts addicted To bring reliefe vnto the towne afflicted 77 But loe his cruell fate doth ouerthrow His counsell sage and quite his hope deceaues For while scant winde did make him sayle but slow Stout Dudon with that nauie made of leaues Met him full butt that no such thing did know And with a fierce assault him there receaues Enforcing him to vnexpected fight In that darke cloudie and tempestuous night 78 For Agramant no spy all had till now Of these same ships and would haue deemd a fable If one had told him of a little bow To make a hundred ships a man was able Wherefore he sayled on he car'd not how And doubts no foe but waue and wind vnstable And not expecting such strange sodaine stops He neuer let his watchmen in his tops 79 On tother side our men that had espyde Their enemies at sea an houre ere night Came with great speed although all vndeseride For cu'tie ship kept close their fire and light At last when as they saw their time they tryde Their vtmost force and with full sayles they light On their toes shipping that at first did shrinke And many did vnto the bottome sinke 80 Now Dudons men began to play their parts Some vsing fire some heauie stones some steele Vpon the Turks fell such a storme of darts As they before the like did neuer feele On our side God with courage fill'd their harts On their side each mans hart was in his heele They stood amazd with feare and quite astonished The time now come their old sins should be punished 81 Thus Agramant is closd on eu'rie side With many a pike and sword and hooke and axe The stones that fell from high made breaches wide And much sea enterd at the new made cracks But most the fire which they could least abide That takes in pitched boords and wreathed flax To kindle verie quicke but slow to quench Annoyd them sore with heat smoke stench 82 Some ouer boord do fall in water cold And there are drownd some take theÌ„ to their swimming But on another bark while they take hold They now full fraught and fearing ouertrimming With cruell sword a foule sight to behold Cut of their bands with which they now were climing The bleeding stumps all mangled there remained And with fresh blood the water salt was stained 83 Some few to saue their liues that had desier Or at the least to leese them with least paine Do leape in water to escape the fier Till with new seare of drowning they againe Vnto the flaming shipwracks do retier And
there with much a do are glad and faine To catch some burning boord and being loth To dye of either death they dye of both 84 Some one for feare of sword or axe or pike Doth all in vaine vnto the sea betake him For why some stone or arrow or such like Ere he be farre from thence doth ouertake him But least the reader haply may mislike My too long tale this motion I would make him That to another season he defarre To heare the sequell of this bloudy warre In Rogeros irresolute fighting may be noted how necessary it is for a man before he go to fight to put on a good and firme resolution and chiefly of the goodnes of his cause In Agramants breach of the oth and promise we may see how odious a thing it is before God and man to be Foedifragi Truce-breakers which maketh them indeed to be forsaken of their frends prosecuted with great malice of their enemies lothed detested and scorned of their owne subiects and in the end breeds their vtter confusion In that Agramants souldiers do mutine against him and reuile him secretly and he notwithstanding thinkes himselfe to be well beloued of them and well thought of we may see in what a lamentable case those Princes are that as is said of them Neuer see lookes but fawningly disguised Neuer heare words but fayningly deuised Of the Historie of this booke first for Sileno that was Virgils Schoolemaster it is written of him he was one day laid to sleep after he had bene made drunke with wine and his schollers merily bound him wherupon he waking said that verse Soluite me pueri satis est potuisse videri Concerning this great battell at Arlie certaine it is as diuers Historiographers haue noted it that there remaine to this home great heapes of bones betokening some great slaughter of men in that place but when it should be done I cannot precisely affirme In that Mehsla by the helpe of the deuill taking vpon her a false image of Rodomont moued Agramant to breake truce the Allegorie thereof is that they be diuels or diuellish persons that will moue Princes to breake their word and their promise Of Orlandos restoring to his wit which indeed is the chiefe Allegorie of all the booke and where-upon the booke taketh thâ— name Orlando Furioso this in briefe is the meaning thereof Orlando a man of noble birth Erle of Auglant nephew to Charles the great falls so farre in loue with Angelica by which as I haue often noted is meant pleasure or honor that he leeseth his wits and becomes mad by which may be meant any sâ—lly that young men fall into with loue with prodigalitie with ambition or vaine studies which are at large recited in the 34. booke Astolfo with the receit he had of S. Iohn makes him wise againe that is by the grace of God and by the Gospell which teacheth vs how to despise all these worldly things and either quite leaue them or turne them to our good and benefite The sea fight which is in the later end of this booke described is like that which Lucan sets forth in the ciuil wars between Caesar and Pompey or rather indeed to that he speaks of in the next book of Cardinal Hippolito against the Venetians Here end the annotations vpon the 39. booke THE XL. BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Great Agramant doth fly and in his flight Would kill himselfe but Sobrin him forbode Biserta being fir'd a wofull sight At last they meet Gradasso in a rode They send a challenge three to three to fight Vnto Orlando where he then abode Rogero fights with Dudon to set free Seu'n kings whom bound in chaines he chaunst to see 1 T Were long my Lord to tell of all that fought In that sea fight and certes all the while That I should tell it you I should be thought To beare pots as they say to Samos I le Where earthen vessels in great store are wrought Or Owles to Athens Crocodils to Nyle For more then can of this by me be told Your selfe haue caused many to behold 2 Your faithfull people had a long prospect When all a day vpon the streame of Poe Your men as your great vallew did direct The shipping of your foes assaulted so That with their blood the streame they did infect And brought vpon them all a world of woe Then both your selfe and others plaine did see How sundry deaths in fights of sea there be 3 It was not then indeed my hap to see 't Sent then to Rome six dayes before in post To craue then at the holy fathers feet Reliefe and aid against so great an host And in that time your grace with them did meet In such a sort so sorely to their cost And so you par'd the Lyons teeth and pawes That since that time to feare we had no cause 4 But Aifonsin and Mâ—ore that saw the same Aâ—sranio Anniball and Lerbinet Albert and Baygn and three that beare my name Declar'd to me the conquest you did get Also their banners monuments of fame Which offerd in the Churches you did set With fifteene Gallies tane a thousand botes Of that rich conquest giue vs open notes 5 He that had seene the fire and wondrous wreake That at that time was wrought vpon your foes When for your few their many were too weake He might describe the deaths and diuers woes Of Agramantés host of which I speake And of their great and grieuous ouerthrowes Then when amids the surging waues and salt Stout Dudon in the night did them assault 6 When first the fight began the night was darke But when the flame vpon the pitch tooke hold The fire gaue light and did so clearly sparke That Agramant might plainly now behold His enemies and their great number marke Incredible if any had it told Wherefore in season to preuent the worst He changd the course he had intended furst 7 And chusing out a vessell swift of sayle And placing there his things of greatest price With Brigliadore sith all hope now doth fayle To steale from thence he closlie doth deuise And while that Dudon doth his men assayle In all the hast he can away he flyes His men the sword the sea the fire destroyes And he is fled that caused their annoyes 8 And in that Barke with him Sobrino fled Who much complaind and was not little greeued That that which he before so truly sed Yet then by Agramant was not beleeued But tell we now how good Astolfo sped And what exploits Orlando had atcheeued Who counseld so to raze Biserta towne That it might neuer noy th' Imperiall crowne 9 And so it was in publicke sort proclaymd That the third day th' assault they should expect Astolfo had some ships before ordaynd For Dudon had not all for this effect And these same ships with Sansonet remaynd A man that could by sea and land direct Who rode at