pittiful termes discouers his pure loue Lancelot du-Lake to the Soueraigne of his soule matchles faire Laura LAura pardon my rude proceeding in that I so barely begin with thy naked name for that thou dimmest all accents of fayre and exceedest all Epethites of wit the Poets thought Venus fayrest when she was naked for that her beautie being sufficient of it selfe scorned all the artificiall ornaments of rich apparell And so of thee whose shaddow fairer than her substance canst not bee fitted with any stile which thou doest not farre surmount Looke downe vppon the seruile estate of a subiect slaue that burning in the fierce flame of a neuer dying fire prostrates his sillie soule at thy perfections shrine so deepely imprinted in his hart as but the comfort of thy pleasing selfe no salue may ease his dying smart onely thou hast hurt mee and saue thy selfe none can heale mee Ah doo not then triumph in my tragedie because peculiarly from thee proceedes my remedie nor bee not proude of thine Art because thus piteouslie I implore thine aide but with gentle fauour intertaine what with humble submission I intreat and in requitall of that deede I will impose to my selfe a toile without rest a trauell without end and be a Conquerour without conquest till my ceaselesse paine may deserue thy pittie my toilesome trauell procure our truce and the Trophies of my victorie requite some part of thy curtesie Thus what I doe or what I suffer what I presently possesse or whatsoeuer I shall haue I sacrifice at thy Altar as propitiatorie offrings and with the sad sighes of a sorrowfull hart cense thy sacred shrine still intreating but this that thou wouldest gently accept these rude lines of a rude Louer and when discontented distance shall diuorce mee from thy Angelicall presence thou wouldest at the least pittie my sorrow though thou wilt not salue my sore Thine whilst his owne Lancelot du Lake THis Letter he deliuered to a Page attenâ—ant vpon him and whilst his seruant was gone to conuay it to her himselfe went in to take his leaue of the Duke and the rest of his Noble friends and fellow Knights where with a tedious discourse he discouers the cause of his so sodaine departure vowing his deuoted seruice wholly to her honor for whose loue he was now forced to leaue his Country anâ— séeke straunge Aduentures in forraine Coastes whom they all were sorry to forgoe yet séeing his importance solemnely commits him and his intended enterprises to the good fortune of his still fauourable starres except Sir Tristram du-Lyons who for loue of him and honourable care of his solemne order would néedes in despite of what euer contrarie perswations accompany him in his course whom wheÌ„ Sir Lancelot had with many perswasiue arguments of forceable friendship diswaded from his indeuour laying open vnto him the great cause of his delefull departure which so deuoutly hee had vowed to performe as also what discontent the absence of so many Knights would bréed in their King and Captaine Arthur of England whose royall furnished Table had ransacked the treasurie of the world for to supply his want yet all in vaine stroue his wordes to disswade the other from his will for not all the sugered wordes the others oratorie could afford would anie whit diswade him from his former purpose but in despite of what euer accident should ensue he would needs accompany him in his iournie vowing to sustaine what hardy stormes of abiect misfortune soeuer shoulde betide this thrice famous Lancelot hys vowed brother that neuer should the burning heate of all springing sommer nor the cruell colde of deade killing winter weale nor woe prosperous felicitie nor aduerse extreamitie sunder their soules whilst life did vphold their bodies Whom when Lancelot saw that by no meanes he could diswade hee gentlie admits his so long desired company and with as many thankes accepts it as the other with millions of offers had vrged it CHAP. III. How Lancelot du-Lake and Tristram du-Lions ariued in the French Kings Court how Lancelot du-Lake ouercame Roderigo Duke of Austria and wonne the chiefest prizes in the Turnament with other thinges that hapned THus these two aduenturers for honor after they had solemnly tane their leaues ioyfully set forwarde on their iournie with a prosperous winde quickly cuts ouer the calme consenting Seas vnto the bordering rockes that walles their countrie France from the furie of the sometime surging Sea and after their ariual being proudly mounted vpon stately Stéedes stout of courage able of limmes and beauteous in show attended onely with two Pages who for that purpose they had appointed takes vppon them the nearest and directest way that bordered vpon that coast where they lately landed spending the partching heate almost of a whole sommers day wandring through desart woods and manie vnpeopled plaines till when the sweating Horses of the weary sunne swiftly descending from the highest top of that heauenly hill whence in his glory hee ouerlookes the mightiest mountaines that the earth affordes by their fiery tract summoned the silent night vp to her wearie watch they began to looke out where they might espy any conuenient place for their purpose where that night they might repose themselues to rest At last after much curious search descending down into the pleasant bottome of a lowlie dale where by chance ran from forth the bowels of a mighty mountaine a coole fresh spring whose siluer current shadowed ouer with the heat expelling power of thicke tuffted trees refreshes the increase of all adioyning vallies who weary with wandering and willing no thing more than such pleasure as there was plentifully promised they alighted and rayning all their horses to the big bowes of an aged neighboring Oake gins with the fresh coole current of that plesant spring to alay the thirst of their hot stomackes where they had not long solicited themselues in the shade after their great trauaile but that an auncient Hermite inhabiting the desart roomes of that unaccquainted corner walking his accustomed iournie by chaunce lightes vpon these wearie knights as they were cooling their weake limmes in the delightsome depth of that pleasant spring who as ioyfull to see some creature of whome they might be better directed for the furderance of their affaires as the other was willing to supplie their wants with that poore prouision that himselfe wanted not they with curteous salutation entertaine him and hee curteously regréeting them with the like wishes of good lucke requires what whence and who they were that had so farre wandred from the beaten wayes of those wide Desarts to whome Lancelot with reuerent regard to his olde age mildely answers that they were two Knights of the round Table aduenterers in Armes that had for the honor of their order the credit of their countrie the loue of their loue worthy Ladyes vndertaken to trauaile euen as far as sunne and seas the one would giue them light and the other afford
encounters they were both dung downe to the grounde where Ferdinand his horse vnhappily falling vppon his Masters leg so brused it as hee was not able againe to recouer his saddle but was conueyed thence which when the young Soldan perceaued stoutlye triumphing in his valiant victory gins saucely to proclaime aproud challenge against all Christians for the reuenge of those fore punished Pagans which vaine glorious vaunt so stirred vp the neuer vaâ—â—quished valour of valiant Lancelot as that addressing him to the fight gins shew himselfe at the other ende of the Listes as ready to recouer the almost lost Honor of his Christian Countrie whome so soone as the Soldan had espied spreading his winges like a gréedy Goshauke houering ouer a fearéfull â—ouie of cowardly Fowles gins addresse himselfe to his former demeanor whome Lancelot with such courage encountred as bearing downe both horse and man to the ground astonished the vnchristned slaue with so fearefull a fall as almost quite expelled the vitall spirits from his bigge swollen breasts But yet féeling himselfe in so great a daunger of deuouring death out of all hope of the pittifull compassion of his eager enemie beganne againe to rouse himselfe and spéedily preparing his strong fencing furniture so assay the fortune of a furious fight casting ouer his shoulder a large sheltering shield and brandishing in hys hand a kéene edged Turtle-axe gins no we a foote to assayle him that before on Horse backe hee did assault When Lancelot perceaued it he prouided himselfe for the like purpose and couragiously encounters this harme hammering Heathem where betwixt them againe beganne a farre more fiercer fray on foote then was cruell encounters before with their Horse which continuing very long on both sides confirmed with the fierce falles of their vnwildie weapons makes at length Sir Lancelot du-Lakes armes weakned with the issue of much blood that the Pagan had spilt with his blowes almost to faile of his former forces which béeing espied of the Christians and especially of the King who aboue all other despised a Pagan should possesse so Princely a Prize as they had there prouided gins euery where to enquire of that Knight on whose strength almost nowe depended their whole estate to whom at length word was brought that it was a Knight of King Arthurs round Table whose name was Sir Lancelot du-Lake to whome all the Confines of Christendome hardly in Chiualrie afforded a fellow which stroke such a dismall dumpe into the moodie minde of this discontented King to sée the Champion of Christendome so néere vanquished vnder the pittilesse power of a most hellish heathen as almost driues the bright Rosiall colour from his afore well coloured Chéekes Till when this still triumphant Knight shakeing himselfe as from a sluggish slumber reaches at the Pagan with such power as that at one blow with his well tempered sword hee quite cuts a sunder the strong turret that hemmed in his head settling further downe to his harmefull head batters a sunder the siluer wall that shieldes the principall partes of soule seruing sence and the rest remayning remnants of that little world wanting the direction of their greatest guide altogether faile any further to sence their fainting fellowes from his battring blowes which sight bred no small content to the almost sickly soule of the King who expected nothing lesse then the so spéedy death of his spitefull foe who béeing by the conquered disarmed of his rich habilliaments was by the rest of his company quickly conuaied to his curions Tent and all his attendants sent home with sorrow that whilome flourished in such hope for felicitie After this approached many other Knights to trie their fortunes in that fight from whence Sir Tristram du-Lions won the honor of that day still working for greater glorie with more manlike demeanor Till when the nights blacke shadow ginâ— set an end to that dayes bright showes and so euery one expecting the end of their aduentures thronged to heare the iust iudgement of that sure censuring Senate forepointed by the King to determine of this doubt who with one assent after they had highly commended the many valerous déedes of diuers couragious Cauiléers did aboue all wholly attribute the honor of that dayes dutie to Sir Lancelot du-Lake as one that had best deserued it of them all and so putting him to the King at whose hands he was to receaue this renowned reward he there with no lesse pleasure to heare the murmering noyse of the muttering multitud buzsing the report of his valerous déedes then with the hope of those rich rewardes appointed for the Conquerours méed receaued at his Kingly hands al those robes of more than estimable estate and whatsoeuer by due was sitting his desert Amongst which was that more than faire Celestina for whom rather than the rest was assembled such and so many mightie men euen from the furthiest Coasts of al the Esterne Kingdomes to the Westerne Iles bound vp in the Oceans bosome but for that himselfe had before setled his seruice to honour that Saint whose Idea grauen with the Diamond points of Christall caruing eyes in the impregnable table of his secret heart whence no furie of newe assaulting force can euer wash it away determines in this to winne to himselfe the report of more worth than by his former acts he had fully atchieued and therefore with many thankes to his Maiestie receauing the rewardes of his honour which nowe lay all in hys power to dispose after some conference such as to like affaires are most fit calling for Sir Tryamore of whome we before told you that he was sonne heire to the Brittaine Duke gins thus discourse his honorable intent Since quoth he the vnmerited mercy of euer helping heauen from the great attemptes of many more mightier than my selfe hath attributed the honour of this day to the vndeserued dutie of my deedse By the censure of which sentence I am to enioy the possession of all this pleasure whose especiall good rests in the glorie of this more than a Goddesse yet since my minde not cappiable of her loues impression because alrerady it retaineth the beautie of another in such sure possession as that no time can trie it no beutie blot it nor other loue with languishment lauish it away to thée will I giue what I might by right take away and so gaine more honour by the voluntary release of her loue to thee then I should get fame by the forceable detayning of her affections to my selfe In which I shall binde thy loue to me as to a friend her liking as to a fauorer of her fortunes and further the faire fruite of a yet scarce blooming bud in the blessed bosome of anothers beautie so deliuering her fréely ouer to Sir Triamore twixt whome there had béene afore such settled likeing of likely loue to the Kinges great content the louers full consent and his owne more furthered intent he disposed of the greatest part
vppon Gorgons heade coulde hardly beléeue in their mindes what was so liuely presented to their eyes till Chinon perceiuing their passion gins thus to waken them from their drowsie and sluggishe dreame Fellowes in Armes quoth hee the very reporte of whose valour hath from the heauy weight of obscure follie rowsed my deade drooping thoughtes to the liuely remembrance of a higher mounting mind not happier shall you be in this your release than I in bringing you reliefe in that the succession of after growing ages shall eternize my name for the opening of this worse than hellish mouth and for the vanquishing of that more than miraculous Monster for that by the one I againe restored to the world two such valiant Knights and by the other rid them of a pestilent plague Stand not in a maze for I am the man that lately you left in a world of follie but now by the power of prouident heauen raised from that deiection At last Lancelot ouercloied with ioy to sée him thus fortunate that whilome was so foolish regréetes his good hap with many ioyfull wordes such as commonlie passe betwixt long parted friends at their vnexpected méeting and then sir Tristram likewise salutes hys honorable aduenture with the many great thankes and good wishes of like future good fortune then sir Triamore for that he â—â—mselfe altogether vnacquainted with Chinon although hee had often heard hys friendes and then followers in Armes with mickle griefe to relate the wofull case wherein they left such a Prince as there they named in England yet hee begins to enquire of sir Lancelot the whole passed storie of hys friendes estate who with ioy repeaâ—iâ—g what oft with sorrow hee had seene performed gins certesse him in euery point according to hs asking which when sir Triamore vnderstoode that hée was a Knight of comely carriage and curteous demeanor he forthwith with many gentle gréetings and more thankes to heauen and him for their happy deliuerie vowed vnto him all the honor of his actions Who long professing kindly friendshippe and duteous indeuor to deserue this more then common curtesie they were presented with a troope of Fairies mongst whome was Oboram there King who especially choosing Chinon from the rest began with many wordes of woonder to commend his Cheualry for that last being his first Combate he had so valiantly behaued himself as had all the chiefe choise of powerfull Christendome stroue with themselues to haue excéeded his worth their Forces all ioyned in one in respect of him had béene none And then turning to the rest of the Knights tolde them that the Monster by whose deuise they were there deceaued was no other than himselfe who for the desire he had to approue the Prowesse of this newe come Knight vndertooke that shape in requitall of which wrong he had prouided a costly sword which by his Art was fastned within the close binding body of a strong Rocke and he of them that should stoutly pull it out should for his paines inioy a Jewell of rich price which sword was artificially framed for Julius Caesar by the cunning craft of a mighâ—y Magitian inhabiting within the desolate places of those darke vallies and for that it so pleased the great Director of all mens dealinges that that worke should come to naught for that the valiant Romane was before the perfection thereof vnluckily slaine in the Senate hée had closely reserued it to another vse But who that should be of al them foure of which by necessity 〈◊〉 néeds bee one that as yet was not knowne to himselfe and then leading them through the darke shades of many light lacking vaultes she wing them the seacrets of his close couched Kingdome bound vp within the bowels of the earth whether when they were a little descended they might partly sée armies of many little Elues come posting towards him as speciall attendants on his traine whose busie fingers woulde gladly haue béene pinching theyr wearie legges for higher they coulde not reach but that forbidden by the great charge of their commaunding King they durst not aduenture it againe Thus after their long walke in those close kept countries hee brought them at length into a broade vale in midst whereof was grauen vp a mighty ragged Rocke wherein was a faire fashioned sword curiously contriued of many sundry mettals which should seeme by some or other meanes to haue béene stroken thereinto where this fairie King told them they were all to approue their forces at the pulling of it and he whose lot it should be to win it for his pains should alwaies were it whose temperature was so good as would clearely cut a sunder what euer stone mettall or any harder obiect was opposed against it the vertue this that whosoeuer wore it shoulde neuer be assailed by base crosbiting of anie slie deceitful Inchanter And thus with many words extolling the excellencie of the thing and promising good fortune to them whosoeuer should attaine it Hee first appoints Syr Lancelot who as gréedie of this goodly weapon as a hungrie hauke of her pray stoutly steps foorth and laying hold of the sword with a maine force offering to vnsheath it could nothing at all remoue it The next was sir Tristram and he also offering to doe his endevour therein was also at the first expelled Next him steps Tâ—iamore but his force as féeble as the rest let stand still that for which they also stroue till Chinon taking sure hold vpon the hilt with one hand did more than they were able to effect with all their power which when he had done brandishing it about hys head as promising therewith to worke some extraordinarie wonders he â—traight waies by Oborams direction was presented with a rich Armour and all necessarie furniture thereunto belonging borne by two little Elues which he straight put on and then girding himselfe with his new got sword makes all possibe spéede to returne as one longing to approue what those rich habilliments did promise to whome Oboram after a long oration of much prefiguring valour and valiant exploytes by him to bee performed with many offered assurances of what readie helpe rested in his power to performe whereof quoth he thou shalt ere long stand in need giues him further a faire shield composed by the cunning of a famous Inchantres wherein was in rich mettall curiouslye engraven a statelye flintie Rocke shiuered iâ— péeces by the power of a naked man vnder which in letters of gold was ingrauen this posie Nihil dâ—fficile appointing him a Page of his owne bringing vp a little ill fauored Eluish Dwarffe but trusty it all assayes commits him to the kéeping of good â—uoring fortune till time and his necessity shall agaiâ—e bring them together CHAP. V. How Chinon and Tiamore redeemed Celestina from the Soldan of Babilon after a most strange maner with other Noble atchiuementes that they performed in the same exploit THus in a sodaine trance they being back againe conueyed to the
place whence he first led them where they then beginne to acquaint him with all the manner of their triumph in France the losse of their Lady the victory of the Pagan what els ill hap had betyded them since theyr departure from the King of Frances Court which tragick tale so whetted the longing lust of this pearelesse Prince to reuenge the iniuries of those his so happy met mates as that he straight gins to deuise how hée might best worke some spéedy meanes for her deliliuerie that nowe was closelie pent vp in delights farre more worse vnto her than darke Dungeons which with many hammering plots At length hee thus purposed to bring to passe Thou Triamore quoth hee for that by thy default this Lady so vnluckely lost her libertie shalt venture with me thus to recouer her and these my friendes shall in a nother sort employ themselues as I will direct them then seeing thy yeares are yet young thy face louely and euery well fashioned part of thy body fit to further our intent thou shalt take vpoÌ„ thee the shape of some inchantres I my dwarffe trimmed vp in other apparrell will attend vppon thée as dilligent seruants which thou shalt pretend thou imployest in such secret a â—aires as none saue such simple slaues will abide to beare where thou shalt vndertake to procure the likeing of faire Celestina to affect him which for that no welcommer newes can come to his besotted minde than the sound of such seruice he will easily condiscend to doe any thing that thou shalt direct him to which béeing done leaue the rest to my disposition and in the meane time these my ancient friends shall whilest we worke within attende here without and the next night when the Quéene of shades gin in her quiet rule to dimme the glimering show of lesser lights in some secret place that thou for that the best cannot direct vs in this cuntrie shalt appoint to attend our comming where for the next dayes arise we will worke a déede of such worth as shall eternize our honour in all ages and make vnborne Children hereafter to repeat what excéeding valour we for our Christian Countrie ouerloaden with the hatefull burden of barbarous Pagans performed and then instructing them throughly in euery point of his purpose and carefully prouiding to take away euery obstacle of aduerse suspition that might any waies be a hindrance to their well intended purpose they méeting all againe on their sturdie Stéedes rides foorth till they came neare to the place whereas the Pagan with all his Armie lay and there in the same place wherby treason they were surprised staies Lancelot and Tristram in a thicke Castell couered ouer with thicke leaued hollie where they might eaâ—â—y shrowd themselues from the sight of all passengâ—â—s whilest Chinon Triamore hys Dwarffe sets boldly forward to execute the fore plotted purpose who comming into the Campe made it straight knowne to some of the Soldans nearest attendantes what they were Triamore pretending himselfe to be as afore we told an Inchauntresse that was come from far to further the loue of the great Soldan to faire Celestina Which newes when it was told him sounded no lesse pleasant in hys eares than Ane Caesar at his Coronation where charging them straight to be brought to hys presence he gins to question with Triamore of his skill posing him in the relation of kings past as how when and where he first surprised that Lady which Triamore for that himselfe was an vnfortunate acter in that dolefull Tragedy could in euery point â—â—tly answere him which the Pagan simply attributing to hys great skill giues thankes to hys gods that in so good time had thither directed the skilfull Inchantresse by whose meanes he hoped not onely to enioy hys new ioyles loue but also to performe such prodigious exployts as should redound to the eternal dishonour of all Christtan Countries and then begins to question with him about the recouerie of his loue Triamore with a fine forged tale gins tell him that if he would but practise such meanes as he should apprint he would so Inchaunt the louely minde of that fayre Christian Princesse to assert hym as mangeral the mallice of whatsoeuer opposing power she should forsake father and friends kinsfolks and Countrie only bind herselfe to tarrie with him Which soule pleasing sound did ring such swéete musicke in his rude eares as that he with all spéede willed her but to determine what was herein to bee dâ—â—e and he with asmuch expedition would fully effect if it were to the losse euen of halfe his Kingdome Then quoth Triamore this night hath Cinthia filled fullie vp her emptie hornes whose fauorable aspects will fitly futher our purpose when therefore the silent night hath shut the eyes of euery watchfull creature thou thy loue and my selfe must by some such meanes as thou shalt best appoint be conueyed secretly from the Campe into the bosome of a neare bordering wood where wee may clearly sée all the coarse of the ceasles frames of neuer resting heauen where I with my inuocations and sorcesiue Magick spels will so Inchaunt the minde of thy beauteous loue as hence foorth shee shall neuer affect any other saue thy selfe and then pretending to prepare such necessarie furniture as should fit her purpose she desired that her selfe and her seruants might a while bée remooued into some secret place where they might prouide all thinges fit for their purpose and where they might haue some speech with the Damsel which was spéedily done for a secret seruant nerely belongâ— to the Soldan was appointed to direct them where by themselues they had frée talk with faire Celestina to whome Triamore begins to relate al that had hapned them since their inforcesiue departure with the happie aduenture of Chinon for their deliuerie and what els had befallen them in that trauel and then comforts her with the hope of escape by theyr thus plotted purpose where long they were repeting their ouerpassed paines and reioycing in their hoped happines till time approached of their departure when the Soldan not vnmindefull of this matter sent to the Sorcerer to sée if all thinges were readie for their purpose which affirmed that shee was orderly pâ—ouided At last the latest houre is come when he calling together all the chiefest of his Captaines acquaints them with the cause which tended so much to the furtherance of his desire intreating the most of them that they would walke with him out into the next adioyning wood to be witnesses of this work to whom they willingly condescended then gathering themselues together after the watch was set they secretly departed where the Soldan stil thinking on the inioying of his loue neuer dreampt of any pretendâ—d treason that might thereby insue but gréedily catching like a foolish fish at the golden baite they still followe on theyr way till they were come to the place where Lancelot and Tristram lay hid