his absence to endure Yea when his dayes of promise quite were spent Yet still she lookt for him you may be sure And many a time that way she came and went Till by the way at last such news she hard That all the hope she had before was mard 28 For she by chance did meet a Cascoigne knight That in the warres of Africa was caught One that was taken captiue in that fight Then when fore Paris the great field was fought What she requires to know he could recite But carelesse of the other news he brought Of her Rogero chiefly she enquires To heare of him is all that she desires 29 Of whom the knight could let her vnderstand For in that Court he late his life had led How Mandricard and he fought hand to hand And how much blood on either part was shed And though by wounds himselfe in perrill stand That he subdewd his foe and left him ded Now if with this his storie he had ended Rogeros scuse had verie well bin mended 30 But he proceeds to tell how one was theare A Ladie hight Marfisa in the feeld Whose fame for martiall acts did shine most cleare Whose beautie rare to few or none did yeeld Rogero her she held Rogero deare They neuer were asunder or but seeld And that they two as eu'rie one there saith The tone the tother plighted haue their faith 31 And if Rogero once were whole and sound Their wedding should be celebrate with speed That such a paire as yet was neuer found And happie they should come of such a seed How much it ioy'd the Pagan Princes round To thinke vpon the race they two should breed Which likely were all others to excell In feats of arms that erst on earth did dwell 32 The Gascoigne knight of all that he had sed Himselfe had reason to beleeue was sooth So generall a fame thereof was spred There were but few but had it in their mouth Some little kindnesse she did vse had fed Their foolish humors of this false vntrowth Still fame will grow if once abrode it flie Although the ground be troth or be a lye 33 They came indeed together to this fight And many times together they were seene For he was warlike stout and worthy knight And she a gallant faire and daintie Queene By which suspition neuer iudging right Did gather straight they had assured beene And specially because when she departed To visite him she was so soone reuerted 34 Of iust suspect their reason was put slènder If they had weighed well their vertues rate Though of his wounds she seemd to be so tender And of his danger had so great a care Against bad tongues no goodnes can defend her For those most free from faults they least wil spare But prate of them whom they haue scantly knowne And iudge their humors to be like their owne 35 Now when the knight auowd the tale he told And yet in truth you know t' was but a tale The damsels heart was toucht with shiuering cold The little hope she had away it stale Almost in sound her seate she scarce could hold With mourning cheare and face both wan and pale She said no more but mad with griefe and ire Her horse she turnd and homeward did retire 36 And all in armour on her bed she lyes She wisht a thousand times she now were ded She bytes the sheets to dampe her sobs and cries The Gascoigns news still bearing in her hed Her heart is swolne and blubberd be her eyes With trickling teares bedewed is her bed When griefe would be no longer holden in Needs out it must and thus it doth begin 37 Ah wretched me whom might a maiden finde In whom she might be bold to put her trust Since you Rogero mine become vnkinde And tread your faith and promise in the durst You only you mine eye so farre did blinde I still esteemd you faithfull true and iust Ah neuer wench that loued so sincerely Was in requitall punisht so seuerely 38 Why my Rogero why do you forget Sith you in beautie passe each other knight And do in feats of armes such honor get As none can match your chiualrie in fight This golden vertue with the rest to set By which your glorious name wil shine more bright If as in other graces you abound So in your promise constancie were found 39 This is the vertue breeds most estimation By which all other vertues shew more cleare As things most faire do loose their commendation Which by the want of light can not appeare What glorie was it by false protestation Her to deceiue whose Saint and God you were Whom your fair speeches might haue made beleeue That water would be carride in a seeue 40 From any haynous act wouldst thou restraine That murdrest her who beares thee so good will How wouldst thou vse thy foe that thus in paine Dost let thy frend to be tormented still Thou that with breach of faith thy heart dost staine No doubt thou dost not care for doing ill Well this I know that God is euer iust He will er long reuenge my wrongs I trust 41 For why vnthankfulnesse is that great sin Which made the Diuell and his angels fall Lost him and them the ioyes that they were in And now in hell detaines them bound and thrall Then marke the guerdon thou art like to win For why like faults like punishment do call In being thus vnthankfull vnto me That alwayes was so faithfull vnto thee 42 Besides of theft thy selfe thou canst not quit If theft it be to take that is not thine The keeping of my heart no that 's not it That thou shouldst haue it I do not repine Thy selfe thou stalst which I can not remit Thy selfe thou knowst thou art or shouldst be mine Thou knowst damnation doth to them belong That do keepe backe anothers right by wrong 43 Though thou Rogero do forsake me so I can not will nor chuse but loue thee still And since there is no measure of my wo Death is the only way to end mine ill But thus to cut of life and thou my fo It makes me do it with a worser will Yet had I dyde when best I did thee please I should haue counted death no death but ease 44 When with these words she was resolu'd to dy She tooke her sword in hand for that intent And forst her selfe vpon the point to ly Her armour then her purpose did preuent A better spirit checkt her by and by And in her heart this secret reason went O noble Ladie borne to so great same Wilt thou thus end thy dayes with so great shame 45 Nay rather if thou beest resolu'd to dy Vnto the campe why dost thou not repaire Where bodies of braue knights in heaps do ly Lo there to honor the directest staire The losse of life with glorie thou mayst buy To die in thy Rogeros sight were faire And happily by him thou
losse And to th' imperiall banner all do yeeld I see in spite of eu'rie thwart and crosse The house of Aragon still wins the feeld I see that fortune is disposd to lift Vp vnto heau'n the name of Charles the fift 16 It pleaseth God to keepe the wayes vnknowne Vnto these parts as they haue bene and are Vntill seuen hundred yeares be ouerblowne What time he meanes to raise an Emp'ror rare That shall both finde and make them all his owne And one that shall most worthily compare In warre for courage and in peace for iustice With Traian with Aurelius or Augustus 17 I see the will of heau'n doth so incline The house of Austria and of Arragon Shall linke togither in a happie line And be by match vnited both in one I see a braunch grow by the banke of Ryne Out of this house as like there hath bene none Whose match thus much to say I dare be bold May not be found in writers new or old 18 By him againe Astrea shall be brought And be restored from her long exile And vertues that haue long bene set at nought Shall raigne and banish fraud deceit and guile For which great works by him so nobly wrought God meanes to grant him all this earthly I le And vnder this wise Prince his deare annointed One shepheard and one flocke he hath appointed 19 Which that it may the better be effected He giues them Captaines both by sea and land That shall win places neuer yet detected And none shall dare their forces to withstand Cortese first by whom shall be erected The Emp'rors banner in the Indian sand Who by his valiant hand and wise direction Shall win and keepe those Indies in subiection 20 Loe with the noble Marques of Pescare Prosper Colonna prosperous in fight Loc him that may with both of them compare Or be preferred if you do him right I meane the Marques Vast whose vallew rare In tender youthfull yeares shall shine most bright Like to a horse that running swiftest pace Doth last set out and first doth win the race 21 In him shall faith and courage be so mixt That when his years shal seeme but young tēder As passing not the twentie yeare and fixt Yet shall his fame and forces not be slender On him shall eyes and hearts of men be fixt To him shall townes and forts and castels render As to a Captaine with such worth endewed As he alone the world might haue subdewed 22 What should I speake of famous Andrew D'Orie That to the pyrats so much terror breeds As Pompey so much praisd in Latin storie This Andrew either matches or exceeds What nobler name can be what greater glorie Then to roote out such hurtfull cursed weeds So as men may with safetie and with ease From Italy to Nylus passe the seas 23 By his assistance furtherance and his aide In Italy Caesar a crowne obtaines For which good seruice though he be well paid Yet for himselfe thereby he nothing gaines The paine is his ò noble mind well staid The profit to his country sole remaines And whereas some to rule their country sought By him his countries freedome shall be wrought 24 This loue by him vnto his country showne In honor true shall more his name aduance Then both the Caesars victories well knowne In England Spaine in Italy and France For thought their enemies were ouerthrowne By valour oft and oftentimes by chance Yet this did blot their praise and make it lesse That both their countries freedome did oppresse 25 Wherefore let them and others all beside That tyrannize their countries be ashamed And hanging downe their heads their faces hide When they shall heare this noble Andrew named By whose rare temperate and happie guide His countries peace and freedome shall be framed And thus Andronica the Duke foretold What men in future ages come there shold 26 The while with prosprous winds the vessels driued Came first within the view of Persian shore And then from thence their way they so contriued They past the gulfe so called long before And there to land so happily arriued Misdoubting of Alcynas might no more He thanks these guides the all the way defended him And humbly to their Ladie recommended him 27 More woods then one more fields then one he past More then one valley more then one high hill He meeteth the eues by night by dayes as fast That lie in wait poore trauellers to kill Of beasts of serpents huge he was agast That with their terror those wild deserts fill But when he blew his horne they fled away No man nor beast durst in the hearing stay 28 He trauels through the happie Arabie So called for the store of spices sweet There where the bird that burnes and doth not die To dwell of all the world hath thought most meet Thence went he to the sea that once was drie Which Iacobs sons went through vpon their feet Proud Pharao following them vnto his cost Himselfe and all his charets drownd and lost 29 Fast by the banks of Traians streame he rides There where as Nylus doth receiue the same An horse of passing swiftnesse he bestrides That was ingendred twixt the wind and flame Not such a beast in all the world besides And Rabycano is this horses name Now as along the riuers banke he past He saw a boate make toward him in hast 30 A simple hermit did the vessell steare Whose beard with age was ouergrowne and gray And when he came so nie that he might heare These words to him he fatherly doth say My sonne if you do hold your safetie deare Except you meane to die this present day Proceed no farther in the way you ride But terme ouer to the other side 31 For if you do that fatall way proceed You shall within a mile a giant meet Whole stature other men doth farre exceed For why his height is counted fourteene feet He makes a sport of eu'ry cruell deed The flesh of man vnto his tast is sweet He eateth some aliue and some he slayeth He quarters some and other some he slayeth 32 Amid this crueltie he hath great sport To vse the seruice of a certaine net Which in the common way in secret sort With dust and grauell couerd he doth set And then when strangers do that way resort First if he may behind them he doth get And then with hideous outcries he them scares Vntill they fall into his net vnwares 33 But hauing caught them once in such a cage Of birth or merit he hath no respect Of wealth nor sex of country nor of age No priuiledge from him can them protect Their carkases his hunger must asswage Their sculs like monuments he doth erect In posts and windowes hanging them on pins His chambers all are hanged with their skins 34 Take then my sonne take then this other way Where with more ease and safetie you may go
But here I cease to talke of Origill And of her mate with her as fitly met As knauish iacke could be for whorish gill Vnchast and false as euer water wet To flatter and dissemble passing skill And all was fish that came into her net Now here I leaue good Griffin in her armes And turne me to the Turkish men of armes 16 I left where Agramant assaulted hard A gate which he had hoped to haue found But weake and feeble naked vnprepard And easie to be beaten to the ground I told you how king Charles the place did gard Inuirond with selected souldiers round As namely Guydons strong and Angilero With Oton stout Ouolyo Berlingero 17 Thus either band in sight of either king Doth fight in hope of great reward and praise And thinks such honour backe that day to bring As should themselues and all their ofspring raise But such great store of darts the Christns fling As still the Turkes are foiled many wayes They die and by their deaths do others teach How hurtfull t is to roue beyond their reach 18 But ' Rodemont whose men consumd with fire Do fill their masters mind with double rage Yet to auenge theirs deaths doth so desire As nought but blood his thirst of blood can swage He spares not in the passion of his ire Nor men nor women order sex nor age Away do runne the silly people crying And leaue their children frends and wiues a dying 19 They happie were whose feet did serue them best The surie of this cruell Turke to shunne For some were killed in the flight the rest Vnto the Churches or strong houses runne And locke the gates against so fierce a guest That in the streetes had so great mischiefe done And of them all that had bene slaine in chase Not one of them was wounded in the face 20 But as the Tyger kills the fearfull Doe That but by flight cannot it selfe defend Or as the Wolues do spoile the sheepe eu'n so This cruell Turke their guiltlesse blood doth spend They neither know to strike nor ward a blo To hurt their foe nor yet to help their frend Thus past the Pagan to S. Michels bridge And none there was his passage to abridge 21 He kills alike the sinner and the good The reuerend father and the harmelesse child He spils alike the young and aged blood With widowes wiues and virgines vndefild And though that all did yeeld and none withstood Yet mercie from his mind was so exild He shewd to such as things can truly valew Great signes of crueltie but none of valew 22 Nor doth the cruell rage and fury cease With seeing of so many people slaine But rather still it growes and doth increase Against those other that aliue remaine Nor graunts he to the Churches any peace But eu'n as though the walls could suffer paine He maketh furious warres against the walls And flings against them store of firie balls 23 Their houses all were built in Paris then Of timber and I iudge this present houre Of bricke and stone there are not sixe of ten Which made the Pagan then to bend his powre To burne the houses hauing kild the men And though that fire do of it selfe deuoure Yet he doth helpe the fire and ouerthrew them And those that lurkt within he spoyld and flue them 24 Had Agramant had like successe without As had within this wicked Rodomount The walls of Paris had not kept him out On which so oft he did assay to mount But now this while the Angell brought about Renaldo stout the flowre of Clarimount Both with the English and the Scots supplies As secretly as Silence could deuise 25 And that they might them more vnwares assaile They cast a bridge a league aboue the towne And passe the riuer to their best auaile And so in battle order comming downe Not doubting if their footing do not faile To get that day great glorie and renowne And still among the rankes Renaldo rides And for things needfull euermore prouides 26 Two thousand horse in good Duke Edmonds guide And thrise two thousand archers he doth send To get to Paris on the tother side To helpe within the citie to defend The cariages and other lets beside To leaue behind a while he doth intend These succors greatly helpe the towne within And at Saint Dennis gate they let them in 27 Renaldo takes the conduct of the rest Appointing each his office and his place As in his skill and iudgement seemeth best Seu'ring each band from other with a space And seeing eu'ry one was prone and prest As was to be required in such case He calleth all the Lords and Leaders chiefe And vsd to them this pithy speech and briefe 28 My Lords quoth he I need not to repeate Your weightie bisnesse vnto you at large I onely say you haue iust cause and great To giue God thankes your duties to discharge That here hath sent you where with little sweat But giuing on our foes one valiant charge You may obtaine true fame and glorie more Then all your auncestors obtaind before 29 God onely God that giues and guides good chance Hath offerd vnto you this good occasion Your names and glories highly to aduance Which is in noble minds a strong perswasion Behold the Kings of England and of France Endangerd greatly by the Turks inuasion Shut vp in trenches and in wals with shame You may set free to your immortall fame 30 The very law of nature and humanitie Wils noble hearts to helpe the weake distressed But more the lawes and state of Christianitie Without your helpe now like to be oppressed And right Religion turnd to Turkish vanitie Of which what harms wil grow may soon be guessed Our temples faire with their foule idols filled Our virgins chast by vow deflourd and killed 31 No meane no stay no end will be of slaughter Of rapes and rapines wicked and vniust No man shall keepe his sister wife or daughter From out the reach of their vnruly lust But now if you these sorrowes turne to laughter And raise their honor troden in the dust They must ow you the freedomes and the liues Of them their friends their children and their wiues 32 In auncient times a laurell Ciuick crowne To him that sau'd one citizen they gaue If then they had such honor and renowne How many crownes shall you deserue to haue If not a townsman but a noble towne And thousand innocents therein you saueâ— In you it lies them to preserue and cherish That but for you in wo should pine and perish 33 Which if they should as God forbid they should By these vile Saracens be ouerrunne Then were the Romaine Empire bought and sold The holy Church were spoyld and quite vndone In you it is these huge harmes to withhold By you alone must this exploit be done Tread then this path of praise so large and ample I le leade the way follow but mine example
band That oft in Christen blood their hands imbrewd And none almost but they did now withstand But destinie can neuer be eschewd As may by their successe be rightly scand Behold Renaldo comes and as he came It seem'd he carrid lightning fierce or flame 21 Nor long before Almontes valiant sonne Hight Dardanell had slaine a Christian knight And proud of that his glorie lately wonne And of this good successe he had in fight About the field he carelessely did runne Vntill he hapt to see a wofull sight He saw Alfeo yeelding vp the ghost A youth whom he esteem'd and loued most 22 Lurcanio was the man that did the deed And Dardanell to venge it doth intend Lurcanio followd on and tooke no heed The other all on him his force doth bend And with a waightie speare him and his steed Vnto the earth together he doth send And pierst his thigh and put him in such paine As scant he able was to rise againe 23 But Ariodant that deare his brother loued And sees him in such paine and danger lie Was there with all in wrath so greatly moued He meaneth to auenge his hurt or die But though that he attempted oft and proued Yet could he not to Dardanell come nie For still of other men the throng and number Did him in this attempt molest and cumber 24 No doubt the heau'ns had Dardanell ordained To perish by a more victorious hand Renaldos blade must with his blood be stained And was as after you shall vnderstand By him this praise and glorie must be gained The fame whereof must fill both sea and land But let these westerne warres a while remaine And of Griffino talke we now againe 25 Who taught those of Damasco to their harmes What wrong they did to cart him in such sort They fill the towne with vprores and alarmes Mens mouthes and eares were full of this report The King brings forth fiue hundred men in armes And sends fiue more to fortisie the fort For why this tumult brought him in perswasion That sure some host of men did make inuasion 26 But when he saw no men no host no band No troupes of horse the citie to inuade Onely one man well knowne that there did stand And of his people such a slaughter made Mou'd with remorce he stretcheth out his hand Naked in shew of peace as is the trade And openly his rashnesse he lamented That such a knight to harme he had consented 27 And Griffin when to find he now begunne The King was of so good an inclination And that the wrong to him before was done Not of his owne but others instigation To make a friendly concord doth not shunne Because hereby he lost no reputation And there he tarid at the kings request To cure his wounds and take a little rest 28 This while his brother Aquilant the blacke That with Astolfo still in Iewrie staid And sees his brother now so long did lacke Was in his mind all sad and ill apaid They heard no newes of him they found no tracke Though wait about in eu'ry place was laid Vntill the Greekish pilgrim they had met By whom of him some inkling they did get 29 He told them how a certaine wanton dame Hight Origilla with a ruffian knaue That kept her openly without all shame Yet going in apparell fine and braue These two the pilgrim said together came From Antioch as forth in speech they gaue And to Damasco then they meant to go But what became of them he did not know 30 And further vnto Aquilant he told How he Griffino met this other day And did to him the matter all vnfold And how forthwith Griffino went his way With chase enough and swearing that he would Kill this same vile adultrer if he may No sooner had his speech the pilgrim ended In post to follow Aquilant intended 31 In post he followd to Damasco ward And when he traueld had a day or twaine Behold that God that euer doth reward The good with blessings and the bad with paine That gracelesse couple that before you heard Betraid Griffino with that diuellish traine Into the hands of Aquilant did giue While they in pleasure most securely liue 32 I say that Aquilant by Gods permission Doth meet the vile Martano on the way His horse his coate and outward apparition So like vnto Griffino eu'ry way That Aquilant at first without suspition Went to embrace him and began to say Brother well met I ioy of your welfare Your absence bred in me much feare and care 33 But when he saw the tother not replide But shrunke away like one that were afraid Ah traitor villain yeeld thy selfe he cride Thou hast my brother spoiled and betraid Tell me thou wretch doth he in life abide To whom in humble sort Martano said With fainting hart with quaking voice trembling Yet in the midst of all his feare dissembling 34 Oh pardon sir your brother is aliue And like to liue and hath no hurt nor shall The truth is this I being loth to striue With him because I found him stout and tall Did with no ill intent this drift contriue To saue my selfe and do him hurt but small For this same womans sake that is my sister With open force not daring to assist her 35 It grieued me to see how he by lust Did her abuse whom nature made me loue And for I thought it was both meet and iust Her from this wicked custome to remoue And sith I did his valew great mistrust I thought it best by pollicie to proue I stale his horse and coate while he was sleeping And so conuaid her quite out of his keeping 36 Well might Martano beare away the bell Or else a whetstone challenge for his dew That on the sodaine such a tale could tell And not a word of all his tale was trew Put yet in shew it all agreed well Saue one which Aquilant most certaine knew Was false and he in vaine did seeke to smother He was her bedfellow and not her brother 37 With hand and tongue at once he doth replie And in one instant he both strake and spake I know quoth he vile villaine thou dost lie And on the face so fiercely him he strake He makes two teeth into his throate to flie Then with great violence he doth him take And him and her he binds in bitter bands Like captiues carrid into forren lands 38 And thus in hast vnto Damaseo riding He swears that he these bands would not vnbind Till of his brother he do heare some tiding Whom in Damasco after he did find Who now with cunning Phisicke and good guiding Was almost heald in body and in mind And when he saw his vnexpected brother They both saluted and embrac'd each other 39 And after they had made in speech some sport About full many a foolish accident For Aquilant had heard a large report Of Griffins carting and his punishment At last he asketh
are often ouermastered with loue The speech of Isabella to Zerbino wishing to die at the same instant with him alludes to the wish of good Baweis and Philemon Quomam concordes egimus annos Auferat hor a duos eadem nec coniugis vnquam Busta meae videam nee sim tumulandus ab illa Here end the notes of the xxiiij booke THE XXV BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Rogero saueth to his fame and glorie His spouses brother that had else bene ded Who doth recount to him the wofull storie That so great danger vnto him had bred His cousin cheares them though himselfe were sorie Next morne they arme them all from foote to hed Good Malagige and Vivian to releeue Whose thraldome did their kinsmen greatly greeue 1 THe strife is great that grows in youthfull minde When honor falls at variance with affection Nor could it yet be known or well definde Which passion keeps the tother in subiection For both allure both do our iudgements blinde And both corrupt the heart with strong infection Yet lo sometimes these hurts procure our weale Eu'n as one poyson doth another heale 2 For here you see these princes that of late Straue fiercely tone the tother to subdew Agreed to respit this their sharpe debate And to repaire vnto the Turkish crew To succour Agramants distressed state To whom thâ—y ought in dutie to be trew And vet herein loue claimeth halfe the praise For she commanded them to go their wayes 3 And on they went without more disagreeing Faire Doralice with these her seruants twaine The tone in suit one in possession being And yet as then in concord they remaine At last they came vnto a place where seeing Foure knights themselues did solace on a plaine Or which two were vnarmd two armour bare With them a Ladie was of beautie rare 4 With these a while they staid but who these weare And what they did and whither then they went A little while to tell I do forbeare For to Rogero now my tale is ment Who would no more the shield enchanted beare But in the well did drowne it with intent That men might know his valiant deeds of armes Were done by force of vertue not of charmes 5 He scant had gone a mile or little more From this same well but that he met a post From Agramant of which there went good store The Captaines to recall vnto the host He told him how the king besieged sore And like if succour come not to be lost Commanded him as his true Lord and leege To come without delay to raise the seege 6 Much was Rogero with the message moued And diuers passions straue within his minde He faine would haue his Princes seege remoued Yet loth he was to leaue his loue behinde But be his doing praised or reproued He was so to the present cause enclinde First with his guide he goes to stay the slaughter Of him that had deflowrd Marsilios daughter 7 They came vnto the place an houre er night Where this same execution should be done A castle that belongd to Charles of right But late the Spanish king the same had wonne And kept it in the mids of France by might By count'nance of the great Trainos sonne Rogero commeth in and none denyde him Because they knew the damsell that did guide him 8 There first he saw prepard a flaming fire In which they meant to burne the wofull youth He thought so small a sinne did not require Such punishment no more it doth in truth But when he markt his face and his attire And heard and saw the manner of his ruth Now sure I know quoth he I am not I Or this is Bradamant that here should die 9 T is certaine she I see which way it went Belike while I at yonder castle staid She hither came afore me with intent To bring vnto the prisner here some aid For which poore soule her self should now be shent Yet I am glad and very well apaid That I am hither come in so good season To saue her that should die against all reason 10 And euen with that most furiously he files With naked sword vpon the gazing rout Who ouer standeth in his way he dies With so great force he hurles his blade about Then straight the prisners fetters he vnties Nor was there one so hardie or so stout That once durst make resistance or forbid it No not so much as aske him why he did it 11 As fearfull fowle that in the sunshine bright Sit pruning of themselues vpon a banke When as a Faulcon doth among them light Flie without care of order or of ranke So when these caitiues saw this noble Knight Forthwith they from his manly presence shranke So did their fearfull hearts and courage faile them When as they felt Rogero once assaile them 12 No maruell tho for why Rogeros force Was not as mens that now borne later are The strength of Lion Beare or bull or horse Were nothing if with his they do compare And chiefe sith now he doth himselfe inforce To do as much as he or can or dare Hereby from danger thinking to recouer Her vnto whom he was professed louer 13 Now when the youth from danger quite was freed And all that sought his death away were fled He thanks the author of this worthy deed And thanketh her that had him thither led Then when of helpe he stood in greatest need When otherwise he doubtlesse had bin dead And executed like a malefactor Agnizing him his Lord and benefactor 14 And furthermore he doth Rogero pray To let him vnderstand his name and nation Rogero musing to himselfe doth say What meaneth this so strange congratulation In face in shape in gesture in array This is my loue I see no alteration Yet strange it is her voice should be so changed More strange that she from me is so estranged 15 It doubtlesse is not she for if it were Could she within three houres my name forget Wherefore to tell his name he doth forbeare Vntill he may more perfect notice get And thus he said I haue I know not where Seene you ere this and I bethinke me yet Where it might be for sure I know your face Though now I haue forgot the time and place 16 Most noble sir said tother I agree You may haue seene me though I know not when I rather iudge it should my sister be That fights and carries armes as well as men My mother at one birth bare her and me And we be both so like that now and then Our seruants yea our father and our mother Haue tane vs in exchange the tone for tother 17 Chiefly since in her head she had a wound For which she was constraind to cut her haire T were long the circumstances to expound How she was hurt and heald by whom and where Since that betweene vs diffrence none is found Saue sex and names that from our birth we beare She
desirous to know of whence they are Timagoras was a Calcydonian and was the first that is specially noted to haue compared his cunning with another of the same science and to haue had the glorie from him Parrhasius an Ephesian noted specially for his excellent shadowing and giuing good proportion to the countenance and in the outermost lines of the face which is a great point of that art Polygnotus I find no extraordinary thing to speake of onely I read that he vsed first to draw women in white garments and had a speciall grace in making the opening of the mouth Timant they praise his wit as much as his worke for making in a great table the picture of Iphigenia standing at the altar to be sacrificed and hauing drawne all the standers by very sad and with wofull countenances and specially her vnkle when he came to her father he made him with a scarce afore his face signifying thereby that his griefe was greater then could be seene in his countenance Protogenes was borne in Sycaunum a country subiect to the Rhodians he was noted for somewhat too much curiositie and tediousnesse a fault our countrimen be much noted of that they know not when their worke is well howbeit his worke was held in such price that Demetrius lying at the siege of Rhodes and hauing oportunitie offered him to haue fierd the towne on that side where a table of his drawing did hang he raised his siege rather then he would burne the table Appollodore was so excellent as Plinie writeth of him thus that he opened the doore of cunning in that art by which Zewces afterwards entred into it in the citie of Heraclia The story of the strife betweene Zewces and Parrhasius Zewces is well knowne I thinke to all but yet I will briefly set it downe Zewces to shew his workmanship brought a table wherein he had painted grapes so naturally that the birds came and peckt at them thinking them to be grapes indeede the other had drawne onely a curtaine such as they vse to haue before pictures to keepe them from the dust which curtaine looked so like a true curtaine that Zewces being proud of the iudgement of the birds bad him now to remoue his curtain to shew his picture but being quickly aware of his error with a kind of noble bashfulnesse granted the prise to his aduersarie confessing it was more to deceiue a workman then a bird Appelles borne at Coas was held in such reputation for his drawing that Alexander the great gaue commandement that none should make his picture but onely Appelles He began the image of Venus and died ere it was done leauing the imperfit worke so full of the perfection of his art that no man durst euer take vpon him to end it so as euen to this day if any begin a work in any kind with any felicitie and after leaue it vnfinisht they straight liken him to Appelles Now hauing spoken so much of all these famous men of old times it were an enuiouis part to say nothing of those of this age that haue bin famous and are named by mine author also wherefore I would touch one or two of them Leonard Vinci was a Florentine a goodly man of person and so excellent in the Idea or the conceiued forme of his worke that though he could finish but few workes yet those he did had great admiration Also there was Andrew Mantinea whom I forgot to put in by ouersight in his due place but I will make him amends here who being but of meane parentage and very poore yet his aptnesse to this kind being made knowne to the Marquis of Mantua and encouraged by his liberalitie the speciall nurse of all good arts grew most excellent in it and beside other rare workes that is seene and shewne of his in Rome and in Mantua he is said to be the first that deuised cutting in brasse which how curious a thing it is the pictures in this booke may partly testifie Gian Belline was a Venetian and was the more famous because Mahomet king of the Turkes was so farre in loue with a table of his drawing that he sent for him but the Venetians would not spare him mary they sent a brother of his a very good workman Now albert the Turkes are by their lawes forbidden images yet was this Prince so in loue with that picture I spake of that when the other drawer came to him he made him draw both his owne picture and the Turks and so after sent him backe againe both highly commended and rewarded Michael Agnolo we pronounce it Michel Angelo was the rare man of this age for drawing and caruing both attaining to the excellency of the art very yong and doing many notable works but three be most famous one was caruing of an Image of Pitie in Rome another was a Giant in Florence the third was a picture of certain naked men that went to wash themselues in Arno and hearing of a sudden alarme in the camp they made hast to put on their clothes in which picture were contained all the gestures lookes and motions that men could imagine would happen in such an accident his father sirnamed him Angelo in his cradle as a presage of some great excellencie aboue ordinary that he should grow to Raphael and Sebastian were but his schollers though both very perfect all which I haue the more willingly noted and at more length then I was wont in the former bookes in like matters so lightly touched both because my selfe I must confesse take great pleasure in such workes as pleasing ornaments of a house and good remembrances of our friends as also to shew in what great reckning that science hath bin with Emperors and great Princes and with Prelats and religious persons howsoeuer some austere or rather vnciuil persons will seeme either to condemne it or contemne it And though indeed this Realme hath not bred any Michel Angelos nor men of such rare perfection as may deserue his title Michel more then a man Angell diuine Yet I may say thus much without partialitie for the honor of my country as mine author hath done for the honour of his that we haue with vs at this day one that for limming which I take to be the very perfection of that art is comparable with any of any other countrey And for the praise that I told you of Parrhasius for taking the true lines of the face I thinke our countryman I meane M. Hilliard is inferiour to none that liues at this day as among other things of his doing my selfe haue seene him in white and black in foure lines only set downe the feature of the Queenes Maiesties countenance that it was euen thereby to be knowne and he is so perfect therein as I haue heard others tell that he can set it downe by the Idea he hath without any patterne which for
left aliue but my author here by Poeticall licence for I know no historicall ground of it saith that he was saued and a boy put in his steed and that thence forsooth are descended many houses of great account But this is not credible and the president thereof is perillous as I will shew in the Allusion By Atlants parting the fray betweene the brother and sister we may in Allegoricall sence vnderstand that when diuers that are neare of kin fall at variance there is nothing so auaileable for reconciling of them as the memory of some of their worthy auncestors which in well disposed minds will stirre a great reuerence and be a strong motiue vnto them to giue ouer their vnnaturall contentions Concerning the sauing of Astianax it puts me in mind of one or two perillous examples recorded in our Chronicles of the like deuice of one Perkin Warbecke who fained himselfe to be Richard the yonger sonne of Edward the fourth that was murdered in the Tower But what a trouble grew by that puppet for a time may there be seen which the Chronicles set out very largely Here end the annotations vpon the xxxvj booke THE XXXVII BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Rogero with his sister and his spouse Find Vllanie halfe stript and strangely vsed Straight each of them but chiefe Marfisa vowes To be aneng'd on him that her misused She heares the law that women none allowes She finds the man that hath the sexe refused She plagues the tyrant for his proud behauiour And makes another law in womens fauour 1 IF worthie Ladies would but take such paine In studies that immortall glorie raise As they do often take in matters vaine Deseruing none at all or little praise Which notwithstanding that they might obtain They haue employed many nights and dayes To haue thereby some trifling want supplied That niggard nature had to them denied 2 And further if they could with their owne pen Set forth the worthie praise of their owne kind And not to be beholding vnto men Whom hate and enuie often so doth blind To make vs heare the good but now and then But eu'rie place full of their ill we find Then sure I iudge their praises would be such As hardly men should haue attaind so much 3 For many writers do not onely striue Too highly to extoll our sexes fame But that they thinke they must withall contriue To publish womens blemish and their blame As fearing haply lest they might arriue By their most due desart to greater name And so they might thereby obscure our praise As doth a cloud the Sunnes bright shining rayes 4 But yet for all such sparing pens do write Or lauish toâ—gues can speake in their disgrace Enforcing eu'rie il report for spite That may their credits slander and deface We still shall find their glorie shining bright We still shall see it keepes a worthie place Though wanting of that height the greater part To which it should attaine to by desart 5 Harpalicé and Thomeris beside With those that Turnus did and Hector ayd Besides that dame that in an Oxes hide The first foundation of faire Carthage layd Zenobia eke and she that quayld the pride Of Assur and both Inde and Persia frayd I say there haue bin many more then thease That haue bin famous both by land and seas 6 Nor only Rome and Greece haue bred such store Of faithfull matrons chast and stout and wise But all the world beside some lesse some more From whence it sets to where the Sun doth rise Though now their names obscured are so sore That few or none are laid before our eys And all because that they in those dayes wrate Were enuious and false and full of hate 7 Yet cease not Ladies ye that vertue loue To follow that your course and so good way And let not feare your minds from it remoue That your great fame hereafter may decay For true it is as we do daylie proue No good nor ill can still stand at a stay Though writers in time past were not your frends The present time shall make you large amends 8 The worthie writers of this present time Haue set your worthie praises so to vew Some in graue prose and some in learned time As none shall need this want hereafter rew And though they were infected with this crime Yet in this age so learn'd are some of you So well acquainted with the noble muses You could your selues remedie such abuses 9 And if I should recite the names of those That by the writers of our times are praisd Or that themselues haue wrote in verse or prose And haue their owne aud others glorie raisd As I might please some few so I suppose I might be blam'd of others and dispraisd Or in omitting some to do them wrong Or reckning all too tedious wax and long 10 Shall I then all omit that were not well Sith that to please them all I do desire Then will I chuse some one that doth excell The rest so farre as none may dare enuie her Whose name doth in such height of honor dwell As hard it is for any to come nye her Whose learned pen such priuilegde can giue As it can make eu'n those are dead to liue 11 For eu'n as Phebus shines on eu'rie star Yet on his sister casts his fairest light So eloquence and grace ay shining are Much more on her then any other wight And maketh her to passe the rest as farre As Phebé doth the other starrs in night Her light so splendent is and so diuine As makes another Sunne on earth to shine 12 Victoria is her name a most fit name For one in triumphs borne in triumphs bred That passeth Artimesia in the fame Of doing honor to her husband ded For though she did erect a wondrous frame For her Mausoleo with a Pyâ—amed Yet which is more to lay the dead in graue Or else from death with learned pen to saue 13 If Laodamie and if Brutus wife Argia Arria and Euadne chast Be to be praysed as they are so rise Because when as their husbands dayes were past They willingly forsooke this mortal life Then in what height must she of right be plast That such a gift vnto her spouse doth giue That being dead she still doth make him liue 14 And if the great Macedon enuie bare Vnto Achilles for Meonian Lyre Much more to noble Francis of Pescare He would haue borne whose praise is sounded hyre By such a wise so vertuous chast and rare As eu'n thy soule it selfe could not desire A louder trumpe thy prayses out to sound Sith hardly can a match to this be found 15 But to conclude both these and others prayse That I may follow on my present storie I say that both in these and former dayes Faire dames haue merited great fame and glorie Which though by writers enuie much decayes Yet need you not therefore now to be sorie Because amongst
opes pauperiemque simul Querenti causam respondit rex ego qui sum Sicaniae figulo sum genitore natus Fortunam reuerenter habe quicunque repente Diues ab exili progrediere loco Concerning the Owles of Athens Tully vseth the phrase Hoc est Athenas noctuam mittam But the saying rose not so much for the plentie of those birds as because they had a coigne stamped with the same as appeares in Plutarke in the life of Lysander where it was laid to the charge of a grèat officer named Gilippus that he roosted too many Owles in the penthouse of his house which was indeed money that he had stole in that kinde of coigne and hidden there The Crocodiles of Nilus are famous neither are any of those beasts in any other riuer but one in Affrica called Senega that falls into the Atlanticke Ce. amand because it hath Crocodiles some hold it for an arme of Nilus though in my opinion with as little reason as some say Lundy the Ile betweene Cornwall and Wales to be part of Ireland because it hath no snakes in it Of the Crocodile I count this worth the noting that being bred of an egge he groweth to be twelue or fourteene foot long which no creature doth beside Hanniball being ouercome by Scipio fled to Antiochus and doubting of by sickle disposition went to Prusia king of Bithinia who by his counsell and policie ouercame Eumenes in a sea fight which benefite and seruice notwithstanding the said Prusia would haue betrayed him to the Romanes but Hanniball seeing no meanes of escape tooke poyson which he carried about him of purpose in a ring and so made away himselfe Iugurth likewise betaking himselfe to the protection of Boccus king of Mauritania his sonne in law was by him taken and bound and deliuered to Sylla who caried him to Marius in whose triumph he was after led at Rome and forced as some write to leape off an high arch or as other will haue it starued after inprison Pompey being vanquished by Caesar fled to Egipt to Ptolomey whose father had bene much beholding in times past to Pompey but he for feare of Caesars displeasure made his head to be cut of In Rogero that notwithstanding all his oths and promises to marrie Bradamant and become a Christian yet with a regard of wordly reputation is caried away and taketh shipping into Affrica may be allegorically vnderstood how our sence and vnderstanding not hauing the helpe of grace to confirme it is carried away into the sea of errors and tâ—â—ssed with waues of divers passions and in the end suffers shipwracke as here Rogero did though after deliuered by prayer and faith as is shewed in the next booke The great perill that Brandimart was in leaping of the wall of Biserta into the towne alludes to the like fact of Alexander who was in the like perill at the Citie of Ossidracus in India where also as Iustin testifieth he receiued a very dangerous wound The end of the annotations vpon the 40. booke THE XLI BOOKE THE ARGVMENT His prisners Dudon to Rogero giues Who in a tempest all were drowned quite Rogero onely scapes the storme and liues And then is Christend and belleues aright Neare Lippadusas steepe and craggie clyues Sixe valiant knights a combat fierce do fight Where Sobrine hurt the Marquesse lame on ground Good Brandimart receiues a deadly wound 1 THat odor sweet wherewith an amorous youth Of either sexe their garments do perfume Or head or beard when full of louing ruth In flames of Cupids fire they do consume We say that odor perfect was in truth And of his goodnesse we do much presume If so a good while after it be felt And that the sweetnesse be long after smelt 2 That pleasant iuyce that Icarus vnwife Did cause his men to his great harme to tast And did the Gauls to Italie entise Where they commited so great spoile and wast Was doubtlesse perfect good and of great price If so at twelumonths end it pleasant last The tree that doth his leaues in winter nourish Without all question did in sommer florish 3 The bountie that so many hundred yeare In your most Princely stocke did euer shine Is to the world an open proofe and cleare That he from whom was first deriu'd your line Was sure a great and worthie minded Peare And had that noble vertue and deuine Which chiefly makes a man so rare and od As in that one they most resemble God 4 I shewd you in the booke that went before How good Rogero tooke great care and heed That as in other acts he shewd great store Of vertues rare that other men exceed So in this fight he shewd as much or more Then he had done in any other deed With noble mind ambitious to all good For glory thirsting still but not for blood 5 Good Dudon found for well discerne he might How that Rogero him to hurt forbare How though he had great vantage in the fight Yet that to vse the same he still did spare Wherefore though he were ouermatcht in might Yet therewithall he shewd this speciall care That though Rogero were in force superiour Himselfe in courtsie would not be inferiour 6 Perdie sir let saith he our combat cease Your courtsie hath alreadie conquerd me I cannot winne and therefore seeke I peace And I saith tother will to peace agree I onely craue this grace that you release Those seau'n whom standing there in bonds I see Those were the kings whom late near Affrike shore Had taken bene a day or two before 7 At his request thus Dudon gaue remission But ere they went he made them first to sweare That neither they nor none by their permission Gainst any Christen state should armour beare He gaue them also leaue on like condition To take the choisest vessell that was theare Who no conuenient season ouerslipping For Affrica immediately tooke shipping 8 Thus had those kings their ransomes all remitted And with Rogero shipt themselues that day And then to faithlesse winds themselues committed They weigh their ankers and their sayles display A frendly gale at first their iourney fitted And bare them from the shore full farre away But afterward within a little season The wind discouerd his deceipt and treason 9 First from the poop it changed to the side Then to the prore at last it wherled round In one place long it neuer would abide Which doth the Pilots wit and skill confound The surging waues swell still in higher pride While Proteus flocke did more and more abound And seeme to them as many deaths to threaten As that ships sides with diuers waues are beaten 10 Now in their face the wind straight in their backe And forward this and backward that it blowes Then on the side it makes the ship to cracke Among the Mariners confusion growes The Master ruine doubts and present wracke For none his will nor none his meaning knowes To
rest and ease him 51 But if you will vnto my counsell harke And that you haue as you pretend such hast I will appoint for you a little barke That shall with oares conuey you safe and fast There may you sleepe the while you find it darke And when your stomake serues you take repast Thus may you downe the streame in safety sliding Win one whole night saue a whole daies riding 52 Renaldo this good offer doth accept And gaue him heartie thankes then tooke his barge He found his host with him had promise kept And makes of needfull things prouision large No sooner was he setled but he slept But yet before he gaue the stearman charge If that to sleepe too long it did befall him When he came neare Ferrara then to call him 53 Now did the knight of France in quiet sleepe And past by diuers townes of count the whiles And still the barge a pace most swift doth keepe Vpon that hand where Poe make diuers Iles And now the Rosie colour gan to creepe To th'Esterne skie when hauing past some miles Bandano then the stearsman wakt Renaldo When they discouerd both rocks of Tealdo 54 Whereon when as the knight his eye had fixt He saith O happie place that I behold Of which by vew of wandring starres and fixt My cosin Malagigis oft foretold How that by heau'nly doome it was prefixt On thee to lay such blessings manifold As that thy glorie to such height should rise Of Italie to hold the chiefest prise 55 Thus good Renaldo spake the while his bote Downe that same streame did swim or rather fly And when the knight came nearer he did note The place that seemed then all wast to ly And with a moorish water all on flote Yet did he much reioice thereof for why He knew that that same towne in future time Ordained was to great renowne to clime 56 His cosin Malagige and he whileare Had past that way what time his cosin told That when the Ram had tane the golden spheare That fourth is plast in height seau'n hundred fold Then should there be the brauest Iland theare That euer sea or streame or lake did hold So well replenished that none should dare With this Nausicas Iland to compare 57 And that it should for building faire disgrace Tiberius I le that Capry they do call And that th'Helperides should giue it place For passing fruits and sundrie sorts with all Beside more store of beasts for vse or chase Then Circes erst did keepe in field or stall That Venus with her sonne and all the Graces Should chuse this seat and leaue all other places 58 And that a certaine Prince should this fulfill So prouident so stout so wise so stayd As hauing powre vnited to his will Should with strong Rampires fence the town he said That foes should haue no force to worke her ill Nor she should neuer need of forraine aid And that the man by whom this must be donne Should be both Hercles Site and Hercles sonne 59 Thus while the knight of France with great delight Did call to mind what should another day Vpon that happie Citie there alight His water-men did giue so lustie way That of the place he soone had left the sight And keeping on the right hand all the way They went beyond Saint Georges in an howre And passed by Giabanas ditch and Towre 60 And now Renaldo as doth oft befall That one conceipt another out doth driue Began the knight to memorie to call That last did him kind entertainment giue That had iust cause this City more then all To hate and should haue still while he did liue The cursed cup he further cald to minde In which men may their spouses falshood finde 61 And last of his hosts later speech he thought Concerning that same cup and how they sped I meane his guests that that same triall sought Into their bosoms still the liquor shed Now he doth halfe repent he mist the draught Yet was he glad thereof for why he sed Had it falne well what had I got thereby If not in what a case had then benel 62 I now beleeue so well as hauing tried With good successe beleeue I better should not So that I might haue well bene damnified But by my triall mend my state I could not But what griefe had it bene if I had spied By my most deare Clarice that I would not Much may they leese but gains get small or none That will in play a thousand lay to one 63 These later words so lowd and plaine he â—pake Though to himselfe that he that steard the bote Who to his speech and gestures heed did take The words and meaning of his words did note Wherefore a further cause of speech to make As one that though he ware a hu'rie cote Yet was well spoken and of good bold sprite He straight doth fall to reason with the knight 64 In fine the summe of all their argument Was that his wit was much to be controld That sought to make too great experiment Of womens truths more then their force can hold For she that can with chast and firme intent Maintaine her truth against assault of gold Might eu'n as easilie defend the same Against a thousand swords in midst of flame 65 To this the Bargeman said you sure may sweare it They must not be assayld with darts so fierce For their solt brests too tender are to beare it Sith coats of sounder proofe such shot will pierce And sure a prettie tale if you would heare it I could saith he to this effect rehearse Of one who though his wife had sore offended By her in greater sinne was apprehended 66 I meane the tale of that Adonio which The great grift gaue vnto the Iudges wife A little dogge that made his owner rich A thing that in these parts is knowne so rife The knight replide mine eares to heare it ich For neuer yet I heard it in my life Then if it please you heare it now you shall The stears-man said and thus began his tale 67 There was a learned Lawyer cald by name Anselmus borne here in our neighbour towne That so long studied Vlpian till he came To be a Iudge and weare a scarlet gowne And hauing won great wealth he woo'd a dame For bewtie and for state of great renowne They wedded were for better and for worse So he her person lik't so she his purse 68 Her qualities and hauiour past the rest She seemed all of louelynes composed Not fit indeed for him that was to rest And to his bookes more then to sports disposed Wherefore foule iealous thoughts his mind possest And that his wife plaid false he still supposed Yet cause was none of her so to misdeeme Saue that too faire and wittie she did seeme 69 Now in the selfe same Citie dwelt a knight Too neare a neighbour to this man of law That was