where Chinon casting off his disfiguring maske begins now to shew himselfe in his owne likenes and with a watch word calling for his fellowes brauely sets vpon these their enemies where in short time they had sent to hell all the rest saue the Soldan himselfe and taking him prisoner carries him away bounde when Triamore now once againe reuelling in the treasury of his loue gins with all humble submission attribute to the honour of Chinon all the fore passed proofe of this their fortunate seâ—uice which they had performed But Celestina that nowe like the Thracian Damosell returned with the Lorde of her loue from the dismall Gates of Hell beginnes with the teares of true ioy to prostrate her selfe at his honorable féete whose force had againe restored her from the tedious slauerie of loathsome captiuitie to the pleasant presence of life féeding libertie vowing deuoted seruice for this her second life But Chinon disdayning that the foule faced earth shoulde enioy so much as touch of her heauenly hew with gentle intreatie rayses her vp and thus replied to her suppliant spéech Fairer quoth he than is the common composition of earthly creatures and therfore of more worth than millions if I haue ought done in this that hath bred thy content it is no more than the beséemeth the dutie of my degrée Then doe not thus attribute more honor for my méede than is due by deserts to my deed more is thy smile towards the reward of a well deseruing worke than the rich rewards of many millions of an others vowes more pleasant is the sight of an houres sunne than the show of twenty shadowed daies but thy sight excéeding the brightest shining sunne that day is at the mid dayes height the pearcing beames of euery bright eyes sight more welcome to vs than day to the wearie watch or the repose of a quiet Inne to a tyred trauailer gracest our paines with thy presence More worth is his worke that rifles in the rich bowels of the gold growne earth than hee that drudges in the bottome of a dunghill ditch and yet the last labor is more than the first but that the subiect excéeding in worth excels the reward of his work more than the trauaile graces the thing but the worth of the subiect dignifies the desert of the déede whereby our credit by thee is maintayned and not thy matchles selfe by our might magnified Looke on hym that for thy loue aduentured his life and the rewarde of my paynes is this that they redound to thy pleasure and for thée Triamore fish â—ew againe thou hast thy hearts content remember the estate of thy old father as thou toldest mee is compassed within the circle of yonder beséedged walles still expecting the spéedy help of his forward friends but yet hath this nights worke so weakned hysfues as that there is no doubt of further danger By this with such like that had they chased awaie the sable show of this silent night and next the sunne gins with chearefull countenance to looke vpon the honorable actes of their thrise prayse worthy exployts when by this time they were wandred farre from the place where they first gaue the onset to atchiue this honour where Chinon calling to him his two countrymen giues this carefull charge You two quoth he whose honors accents is euerie where blayed for your valours shal hencefoorth leaue these wandring wayes and returne with me into our Countrie where I will present to my longing Father this Pagan Prince the first frints of my Mayden manhood dooing all my humble dutie to hys Honorable age but first in safety let vs conueye these Fayre friends to their fathers Court and set them there safe from further sorrow at home that haue sustained the hard brunt of fell misfortune abroad where may as many pleasures attend them there in peace as honorable accidents happen to me in warres CHAP. VI. Of Chinons returne into England accompanied with Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram with their most honorable entertainment there AFter that hee had thus aduentured for the recouerie of beauteous Celestina from the handes of the Soldan that had traiterously tane her away from Syr Triamore sent them home to her fathers Court to solemnize their marriage Lancelot Tristram and himselfe tooke the direct way that led then home into theyr own country that there they might in quiet tell those thinges with pleasure amongst theyr friendes which they had in trouble performed with lâ—bour amongst their foes In which iâ—uâ—nie no occasion of further let encountered them anie more but as fareth with ordinary trauailers they peaceablie passe ouer their iournie till they came home into Corne wall to Earle Cadors Court that was not a little glad to sée the returne of his sonne with good hap to answere the long expectation of hys faire hope he entertaines them with such curtesie as commonly passe betwixt lost friends at theyr vnacquainted méetings Chinon discoursing to hys old father the storie of their trauailes whose very wordes bréedes new life in the dryed sinnowes of hys old limmes as deeth the approaching sunne cherrish the decayed winter worne strength of the earths increase Lancelot hee presents to hys loue the Trophies of his victorie with many perswasions how for her loue hee had aduentured his life in winning those Princely Prizes the chiefe wherof whose worth exceeded all except herselfe he had bounteously bestowed vppon sir Triamore Tristram he followes on his friends with the praises of them both first how by their meanes the Lady was atchieued then how by Chinoâ—s deuise she was secondly attained with all the whole History of their former fortunes where what ioy was generally receaued as well of the King himselfe and her that whose life still lasts in the euerliuing acts of succéeding ages famoused as much for the renowne of his round table as Alcides for his twelue labors Iason for hys iournie to Caicos or the Gréekes for theyr triumphes at Troy Hee now in the winter of hys waning age affecting to heare that now of others which before in his youth he had effected the like himselfe welcomes home all these wearie wanderers that had béene so long abroad writing in the Registers of other realmes the courage of their own country as also the poore inhabitants of this pappy Kingdome that ioyed to sée their neighboring lands dispoyled of such riche rewardes as was brought home by their countrymen Thus when euery man had filled his eares with tâ—â— report Aâ—thur willing also to further the courage of this young Caualéer summons a solemne méeting of all the Nobles and Péeres of his country to his Court where when at the time apointed all were gathered together the King at a Royall banket gins to declare the cause of this their calling together that themselues should sée how Princely he had and would still pay the rewards of such deserts as by the aduentures of their yong countryman Chinon had béene prosperously performed and
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