his hands hee let flie a blow at Rosabel which lighted on his shield it pierced it not but draue it to his Helmet with such rigor as made him sencelesse ioyning with him hee cast his armes about his necke and within a little pluckt him out of his Saddle but recouering his sences setling his feete in his Stirrups wheeling most strongly about they fell both to the ground where betaking themselues to their weapons it was a world to sée their agilitie the proud onsets and couragious retreates Strong was he with the Starres but he had before him one which was borne with a brest-plate Some aduantage there was to bee séene in him but it was so little as could scarcely bee perceiued The night drue on for the Sun hastning his course hid his beames because he would not sée so cruell a battell Wherefore those warriours were constrained to repaire to their horses desirous to méete where they might haue time and place to end the battell which at that instant was so vehement as was wonderfull but the Moores had the worst because they had no succours this was the sorrowfullest day for them that they had during the warres For of one hundred and fiftie thousand men which entred into the Willow valley there neuer returned the third part with the losse of thrée Kings which died among the first The Gréekes did not wholly without losse enioy this victorie although it were the greatest that euer they had in all the warres for it grieued them to sée the Moores encamped within sight of the Citie in a most conuenient place the past all the night well content on both sides the one for hauing shewne that by land they were those which with their persons defended their Empire hauing shewne vnto the Moores with the price of many of their liues the valour of their persons The others notwithstanding that they had lost many people yet were verie glad that they were entrenched in so good a seate The warlike Bembo seeing the valour of the yong Knight with the Starres extremely loued him hee was no lesse accompted of by the Gréeke Princes esteeming him more then all the rest of the Campe. But the commendations which were giueÌ„ of the knight of the Ladies were such and so many that I am not able to recite them there is no reason but to beléeue them the first that beganne to publish his famous acts was the faire Archisilora Among the Pagans likewise his arme was much extolled the which in fortifying their Campe and burying their three Kings spent eight daies in the which there wanted no sightly skirmishes nor dangerous encounters wherein sometimes they were losers and sometimes were victorious a common matter to haue such aduentures in the warâ—es and while as they prepare themselues I cannot forbeare to goe thither where I left Poliphebus for it is expedient that in such a matter as this so famous a Prince bee not forgotten to whome and that with great reason is attributed the cause of the victorie of the Grecians and of atchiuing of their enterprises which otherwise were dangerous CHAP. XVI How the Prince Poliphebus of Tinacria entred the Castle of the golden Bough where hee deliuered the most faire Luzela daughter to the Emperour of Egypt from enchantment I Am so afraid faire dames to be lothsome to your delight with such warres as are past and are expected that I am enforced to entermixe some matters of loue with those of furious Mars because that if the one bee tedious the other may yéeld delight and so I will shake off the feare wherein I was in this behalfe for not to proceede with that sweete and pleasant stile as I would it is enough to be loathed without liuing in feare also you shall take my desire and not the fruite of my short witte in good part for thereof and of your daintinesse I am assured seeming to me to bee of gold the libertie of the Tinacrian Ageno and to haue it I acknowledge that it is a death to me and life to be estranged Hee enioyed little by being at libertie for that angrie passage being ended wherein we left him hee went directly to those Portes whose faire rich lustre made him to wonder comming to the Portes which seemed to bee of no worse then gold The sight of the faire Pictures and Paintings therein engrauen yeelded delight to the beholders hee came to the Pillar which stoode before the gate and without feare winding the rich horne for he much desired to know what was within hee had scarcely winded it when with a greater noyse then if the whole architecture of the house had fallen to the ground they opened The couragious young man put hand to his rich sword and imbracing his strong shield and séeing that no bodie came foorth hee went directly to the gates through them hee passed when suddainely hee was held backe for on either side stoode two deformed Giants hauing their huge waightie Clubs lifted vp The young man was aduenturous thinking with himselfe that what he had done was cowardice if he should now retire and so hee went forwards There was not a liuelier Knight in all the land and this aduaunced his valour for on foote few could match him Hee entred with his shield before him making a faire shew and with a leape he cast himselfe in but not without receiuing such a knocke as made him set his knées to the ground it was then no time to bee idle for at an instant the most strong Giants were with him who attended their comming with determination with discretion to maintaine the battell As hee was skilfull in fencing so he tooke his ground in the pauement which was vnder the Port vpon the which were the two rich Pinacles the Giants were in hand with him by fits it was not ill for him to goe flourishing and to charge when he saw time but if he were light and quicke they were Pards yet notwithstanding his nimblenesse did auaile him for they both together being about to strike him with a skip couering himselfe well with his shield hee put himselfe iust betwéene them making them to lose their blowes but he not his for with a blow backwards in entring hee smote him which was on his right hand iust aboue the knee there was no defence against his arme for his sword entred into the bone The Giant féeling himselfe sore burt would haue closed with him but his thigh failing him he fell vpon his face to the ground he did not let slippe the occasion which fortune gaue him for before that the other Giant could assaile him with a great blow he tooke him on the top of his huge Helmet it was thrée inches thicke but yet hee pierced him to the skull The Tinacrian was so gréedy of ending the battel that it was like to haue cost him deare for hee gaue oportunitie to the Giant to strike him those blowes were not such as that a man should stand toward
such fury hee had not smitten him but hauing no respect of any he smote him such a blow vpon the head that although it was the first if he had taken such another as that it had made an end of him for it gaue such a thunderclappe that hee knewe not not where hee was They had aide at hand for by the woods side came Don Celindo and his sister with Argante and Thorisiano who séeing their brother Don Clarisel for so was he called they all came a gallop Poliphebus was in feare of their horse brests but drawing force out of the danger a thing worthy his valour they were troubled in such sort with their haste that Don Celindo and the Ladie were like to fall on their faces and to auoyd it it behooued theÌ„ to leap from their horses but Don Argante and Thorisiano who reiued their horses encountred them with their horses brests and made them to set one hand to ground but to their damage for there is no Uiper that sheweth it selfe so furious as Luzelaes louer It was the Fenicians fortune to returne first The Tinacrian made roome standing firme on his féete with his sword in both hands atteÌ„ded his coÌ„ming with al his might he gaue him a sudden blow fortune was his friend for the blow lighted on the horse it was stricken by the hand of Garrofileaes sonne for deuiding the horse into 2. péeces setting Don Argante on the grouÌ„d so amazed that before that Thorisiano came he gaue him a thrust Gualtenor saith that he ouerthrew him but the Prince stuÌ„bled it made all their blouds to freese to sée 2. such blowes Thorisiano woâ—ld end the battell on foote but he was deceiued for the Spanyard set vpon him before he could turne had giuen him a blow which much troubled him The combats were well deuided for now were they so many to so many but they which met with the two youthes gat little for within three blowes they were ouerthrowne The like happened where Poliphebus went who although hee were somewhat weary yet hee put Don Celindo with his haste out of breath this order lasted not loÌ„g for of the Pagans thither came Bembo the two emulators Brauorante Brufaldoro who especially the Achaian as he knew Rosabel had a desire as hath bin declared in this historie as a hungry Lion followed him holding in his conceit the battel for ended himself reueÌ„ged of the Prince He with the stars defeÌ„ded him from being trodeÌ„ vnder foote fearing they would doe him some harme so the braue BeÌ„bo lightly passed by By another meanes the 2. famous men sought reuenge and victorie for standing strongly on their stirrops they hurled their Launces with greater might theÌ„ if Mars had done it Brauorante his Launce for that it came from a better arme lighted first smote him on one side of the shield and being insufficient to breake it the temper being so old made it to turne twise about and therefore Brufaldoro could not by any meanes hit it but smote against a rocke pierced it the third part of the launce in depth The Knight with the sâ—ars iudged it for great cowardise for three so famous as they to set vpon one alone it was more then basenesse and seeing them returne hee leapt to one side saying It séemeth to mee Knights that you come with greater passion then discretion which hath made you to commit so great an error as is this These words did so winne the heart and animate the sonne of the great Trebatius séeming to him that they were spokeÌ„ with such generositie that as if he had had wings at 2. leaps he gat his horse who neuer parted from the battell and with another leap lighter then an Eagle he recouered the saddle saying to him with the starres Pardon me valorous warriour that I doe not end this battell with you there shall not want time whensoeuer you shall giue me warning for the ill behauiour of these Knights forceth me to leaue it to make them know what error they haue committed It is very reasonable valorous Prince sayd he with the starres and I would goe to assist you were it not to hold my credit and word which I haue giuen to be of their party They could not proceed in their discourse for with another turne they were againe come against the young man He quickly aduaunced himselfe with a loud voice said We shall haue time you cowardly Knights to make you know your cowardise and the passion wherewith you come which hath made you to forget the laws and orders of Knighthood He bare himselfe well against those 3. pillers but he had bin in danger had not Poliphebus come vpon his Rubican The valiant young man had long sought Brufaldoro and now knowing him by his Armes hee came to him swifter then thought found him busy smiting of Rosabel He gaue him a mighty blow on the helme laying him all along vpon his horse neck paid him yet another which made the bloud to spring out at his â—isor Now were the Moores in danger for on one side of the field came 4. which would haue giueÌ„ Mars battell the one was Captaine generall of the Greekes the other Rosacler Don Heleno and the fayre Rosamundi who knowing Bembo who for an old grudge euer since the battell by Sea shée came to him more light then an Ounce and with her sword which was forged in Babylon shée smote him vpon the strong shield the strength thereof serued for little or for that it came from Lupertius for from side to side shée cleft it and it was a wonder that shee had not done the like by his arme The furious Sarafin was more then enraged for all that quarter was so tormented that it had no féeling The Ladie was not idle for shée was one which tought most earnestly and so before that the Sarafin could vnderstand from whence that blow came shée tooke him another on the side of the head which if shee had not ouerreached him without dout had put him in great danger for in hitting him in this maner shée made him to fall so backwards that within little hee had come to the ground The Pagan was terrible when hee was angrie for seeing her which had handled him in that maner there was no Lion so fierce as he Hee assailed the Ladie meaning with that blow to haue felled her Well did Aristoldo perceiue it and the furie wherewith he came being well knowne vnto them by meanes of his ordinarie deuice which hee bare the Antiochians horse was well in breath with whome hée passed betwéene the Ladie and him and aboue hand heâ— smote him on the brest wherewith hee made him to lose his blow and lay his head on his horse buttockes Now was this Prince cleane out of patience renouncing his gods and now séemed all they which were in the field to be but a few and taking his sword in both his hands as
angry yong mâ—n it serued to small purpose to haue a Shield for beating it to his head hee made it so thunder about his eares that hee went crosse-legged readie to fall He hâ—lpe him forwards with a mightie thrust with such force that if the Louer had not wound about letting it passe it had killed him and for all this hee made him set both his hands to the ground but he arose again with more discretion then the Tinacrian imagined who staied seeking oportunitie to strike him without daÌ„ger The Assyrian preuented him setting one knée to the ground letting the thrust passe ouer his head and therewithall thrusting out his arme he smote him on the left legge The Greeke bescarde thought that he had surely lost it the blow was so terrible and drawing it after him he became as fierce as a hungry Lyon and with both hands smote the Assyrian such a blow vpon the Shield that it cut away a péece thereof wounding him somewhat in the shoulder and therewith closed with him fearing because it was almost night that hee should not ouercome him by day light which would haue much gréeued him They came to catch that catch may where was a terrible struggling but as the Tinacrian led Fortune by the fore-locke hee made him hold companie with the rest yet he went out of the field with double honour so much extolling the Tinacrian that his fame passed the cloudes Into the place came one of the most choyse knights in all the fields he was armed in blew set with hearts of gold so well and so artificially that it was very pleasing to behold In the middest of the Shield which was of the same colour that his armour was he bore Fortune depainted as if she with her hand raysed him from the earth although with small contentment with this writing My hand will serue thee to no end Or other helpe that I can lend If thy Lady and loue be not thy friend There was no man in that place but tooke pleasure in that small shew which fortunes Knight had shewed for so they all called him who comming to the Tinacrians Tent and knowing his beloued Rosaluira there is no griefe comparable to that which hee felt when hee saw that it was for her that this Knight fought these combats and that shee tooke pleasure therein The disease of iealousie touched him and seeing that no man came into the Listes spurring his horse he entred all men wondring at his good countenance Poliphebus made more accompt of him then of any of the rest past being much delighted in beholding his good constitution perswading himselfe that he should accordingly be verie strong With a slow pace bearing his launce vpon his arme the mightie Tinacrian went towards him and putting vp his Beauer séeing that hee was not of the Moores Campe he said Ualorous Knight in my Cartel I challenge onely those which are in the Campe defending the beautie of the Moore Ladies against her which commaundeth my soule and so séeing that you are none of them I cannot enter into the combat with you This made him more hautie to heare the mild reasons of the Tinacrian gessing that in déede it was for feare and so he answered him For many causes I may haue the combat against you for I assure you that in the Campe is that whereto I owe most dutifull loue and the like in your Citie so as I may well fight with you I doe beleeue it aunswered the Tinacrian But yet except you maintaine the beautie of the Moore Ladies I am not to fight with you these fifteene dayes and then there wil want no occasion for you and me to méete It may not bee endured that I should goe forth of these Lists without making you know the errour which you vphold and although that I may not shew you my Ladie which is here present and that you are not worthie to maintaine such a challenge for her I doe challenge you to fight presently The yong man was so much displeased herewith that hee was about to turne his horse and had done it but for displeasing those of the Campe who attended to fight and said vnto him I neuer thought that by vsing you courteously I should haue giuen you occasion to shew such pride but because I will not deferre the reuenge let vs goe to the Iudges and they shal say whether that I may enter into this single combat with you or not hauing onely challenged the Princes of the Campe. All the Iudges which were foure Kings said that hee could begin no battel without leaue from the ladies Stay presumptuous Knight said fortunes Knight for I will goe to demaund it for your death doth as much import me as my owne life He went to the proud Chariot where the Ladies were where doing a slight reuerence hee said Soueraigne Princesses seeing the great valiancie of the knights which were appointed to be of your partie and for that you haue reposed this matter in their hands I haue not presumed to intrude to bee of so valorous a number but by another way I hope to let you know how much in the world there is due vnto you and thereupon I haue deâ—ied the Knight with the Eagle vpon this that hee is not worthie to maintaine such a challenge but hee may not fight with mee hereupon without your leaue although that I haue not deserued it yet relying on that desire which I haue to doe you seruice I beséech you to giue me leaue séeing there yet remaineth time enough for these Princes to answere the challenge The most strong Bembo drue néere to heare the Knights Ambassage to whome when the Empresse of the Romanes saw him shée said This Knights request séeing it concerneth you is to be answered according to your liking whereupon all these Ladies and my selfe will stand The pride wherewith he answered the courteous Tinacrian had almost angred him thinking that hee would giue accompt of himselfe he said There is no more to bee said but that I may goe with your good leaue for I shal stand in néed thereof The Pagan humbled himselfe vnto the Ladies although not to Bembo whereat he was not a little offended And returning to the Gréeke he said with a loud voice that all those which were in the place might heare it Goe to you cowardly Knight the Ladies desire to sée how dearely your presumption will cost you At the least if pride may beare it answered the Tinacrian there was neuer seene anie more valiant then you Let the battell begin presently wherein I will shew you better hands then you doe mee a tongue The Iudges stayed them saying that after Sunne set a particular combat was not to bee allowed and therefore they were to stay vntill the morrow Let it bee as it shall please you answered Fortunes Knight for I neuer was in any Countrie in my life where combats were admitted with so many conditions He went from the Lists
wrestling should passe in obliuion without witnesses and these which came were no lesse theÌ„ the most mighty Alphebus the two pillers of fortitude brought him betwéene them Bramidoro and Brandafidel with the gentle Tirifeo of the other part came Torismundo the braue Lord of Spaine with his sonne and his valiant brother in law they mist not the venturous Zoilo with the beloued Lisart and the Prince of Argentaria so as a man may well say there was at that méeting the best and most tryed company that was in the vniuersall world All this comming could not cause them to giue ouer the battell for the Dacian séeing his Ladie in danger it made him draw new forces euen out of his wearines and to giue the aduersarie worke inough to doe who condemned himselfe of cowardise to suffer one Knight to vse him so in the presence of his father and other friends They were both out of breath and they could not continue and maintaine their obstinate fight but the one thrust the other a great way off from him the Gréeke fell downe hard by where Rosamundi stood and where hee had left his battell axe he tooke it vp and with a wonderfull readinesse hee made towardes the Dacian but before that he was come néere him Archisilora stept betwéene them saying Hold you out Knight in the yellow for the Prince of Dacia is not a Knight with whoÌ„ this battel may be suffred to be ended The Greeke stayed vpon his Ladies words and then knew the valorous Dacian for he had no desire to do ought but what might please his Queen But the noise of a most fierce blow which Bembo gaue the Lady suffred him neither to giue any answere neither to procéed forwards The fierce Claridiano turned about as malicious as a serpent to see his faire Ladie on the ground vpon her knées and had somewhat lost her senses and that the Pagan forgetting from whom hee came would haue closed with her There is no Pard that more lightly rampeth after his pray theÌ„ the Gréeke did to defend her he came in good time for before that his sword alighted on her he reacht him a blow on one side of the helmet with his axe and made him fall on his hands and his axe pierce his target smiting him with both his hands standing on his left foot againe smote him a full blow on the brest and made him with greater haste then he would withdraw himselfe three or foure paces from the Ladie the which free from danger hauing bene busied with him had not perceyued the people which shee there beheld vntill shee was about to assaile her aduersary her husband slept before her saying Shall I neuer deare Lady leaue to haue cause to complaine of your crueltie sith comming to so apparant danger you would not bée defeÌ„ded by him which was borne to loue youe These Ladies good Sir are in the fault which alone desired to take vengeance on the Romanes which is done in such sort that those which remaine shall haue whereof to talke of the Gréeke Ladies In fewe words shée told him what had past and how they had ouercome theÌ„ in the Iusâ—s and of the death of the two Giants and of the comming of Claramante with the other Knight more furious then a Lion and how they had waged battaile with those in that black to whose ayd came the rest which there remayned rouÌ„d about had that famous company compassed those famous warriours whole battaile seemed to Mars to be but new begun according to the dexterity wherewith they charged and the quicke retiring of them all foure The battaile-axe seemed somewhat trouble some to the Gréeke in a priuate battell chiefly because he had neuer bene vsed thereto wherefore pitching the blunt end thereof into the ground he left it for a testimony of the owners valour and so drawing out his good sword with his shield in his hand he assayled the mighty Bembo O Apollo I would thou wouldest recite this battaile which made all men to wonder for the dexteritie of them both was without comparison they were both wel breathed by reason of their long exercise in armes and for that cause hastening their mighty blowes so thicke that it séemed to them which saw them not that Vulcans Forge was thereabouts for according to the noyse it was to bee thought there had bene a great many of Knights to the close came these two most rare men at armes with their swords aloft But that warre lasted but little for both fell which was a meane much to prolong the battell in that maner and so againe entring with their left féete forwards and their swords in both hands they made hard Anuils of their Helmets There was neuer particular battaile in the world better fought for eche of them both was the flower of his Nation and exercised in the Arte as well of Loue as in this wherein no man excelled them no not loue it selfe nor Mars The Moore had the worse by reason of the Christians good Armes but supplied that with his strength giuing and taking blowes which would haue beateÌ„ a rock to péeces The Gréeke would play the fencer thinking with a thrust to haue striken his aduersarie in the face but hee had not well fastned his blow when the Moore soundly gaue him a knocke on the top of the Helmet he tooke him at vnawares and so the blow lighted so much the heauier made him set one of his knées to the ground and in that warde he stood to sée if he would second his blow which had lifted vp his sword but the young man would not attend the weight wherewith it came but with a iumpe standing on his féete he let slip the blow on one side leauing the Moore deceiued who gaue so fierce a blow that it turned him round about smote the one halfe of his sword into the hard floore Upon the armes the nephew of the great Trebatius gaue him a great blow he was much distressed being assured that hee should lose his sword breaking the little chaine with a skippe hee turned about for in agilitie no man excelled him and if the Gréeke had not the better looked vnto it the like had happened vnto himselfe But seeing the Pagan giue way he let slippe one hand to weaken the blow hee stayed but little herein but it was enough for the nimble Pagan who like an Eagle séeing his sword was lost he suddenly tooke vp the Axe wherewith he was a second Mars In many dayes before he had not receiued the like contentment as in séeing that in his hands assuring himselfe now of the victorie he now made roome in the spacious gréene field All men knew him to bee verie expert with that kind of weapon many were sorie for it but hee whome it touched euen at the verie soule was Archisiloraes louer who framed a thousand complaints against himselfe calling himselfe coward séeing that so retchlesly he had committed so
him armelesse being desirous to hasten his death shée came to the ships side where with a thrust shee pierced him cleane thorow she escaped not so scotfrée but that another smote her on the top of the crest whose good temper gaue her life yet not so but that she set both her hands to the floore the Pagan would haue giuen a second when the warlike Spaniard Don Clarus drew néere cutting both passage and life from the renounced Infidell In many parts they began to crie Uictorie Uictorie but chiefly there where the foure pillars of fortitude Claramante and his companions went who as there waÌ„ted not on whoÌ„ to try their swords so was it a pitifull thing to sée how many they slaughtered No lesse went they ouercomming euery where where the braue Astrutio went encouraging his Souldiers to doe well in hope of the reward which they expected which made the Spanyards draw force out of weaknesse and the most tired to shew himselfe couragious of such force are the spoyles of warre But the enemies were so many and their Ships Gallies so innumerable that they neuer mist any that were wanting for all the care that Bembo going from one part to another nor of the mighty Pagans Brauoranâ—e and Brufaldoro could take were not sufficient but that they gaue ground vpon the water In this conflict the Pagans were very desirous notwithstanding they were mortall enemies to meet with Claramante and his companion fortune here in gaue them their wish for those Princes Galley came where they were that made way wheresoeuer they passed well were they knowne by their Armes the two valiant yong Gallants Claridiano and Claramante whom with his Battell-axe no man would abide so great was the damage that he did therewith And the vnknowne Louer séeing himself in presence of his Lady who tooke pleasure to see him not knowing him for Claridiano it was wonderfull what hee did The foure rare men at Armes of the world séeing one another with an excelleÌ„t grace and terrible boldnes came to ioyne The braue MauritaniaÌ„ fell with Trebatius his nephew at their encounter they gaue together so mighty blowes that they were inforced to receyue them with ordinary curtesie they rose againe and returnd to giue other being assured to receyue the third for they came not to the fourth but that they first saw the starres of the heaueÌ„s in their Helmets Behind theÌ„ as a bird some space was Claramante who brandishing his axe smote the Pagan vpon the rich Helmet more hard theÌ„ Diamant his â—â—xteritie nothing auailed him but that he made him giue two steps backwards with apparant shew of falling hée gaue him a lucky thrust which tooke him on the side of the brest plate barâ—â—way the maâ—les and therewith the flesh that blowe did so much trouble him that the Gréeke had time to leap aboord his Galley and to cry Grecia and for it Uictorie His speaches cost him deare for Brufaldoro returning to it finding him neere at hand and out of order with his leap with all the force that he was able he smote him vpon the rich Helmet he made a thousand sparkles fly out of it and the bloud out at his mouth By this time came Brauorante as fierce as a Basiliske seeing his Galley entred he threw his shield to ground and with both his hands he smote at him a cruell blow The Greeke well saw it coÌ„ming and vnable to shâ—n it he crost it with his strong halbert for if he has stricken him at full he had bene in great danger he smote it backe to his Helmet tormenting him so that he had almost lost his senses With another came Brufaldoro which put him more to his shifts It greatly grieued his Nephew to see what past and although that with his Uncles leap the Galley was put off yet taking his rising in his owne Galley he leapt aboue twentie foote at a iumpe With the force wherewith he came he fell on his knées at Brauorante his feete who was about to fasten another blowe on the warlike young man but séeing him so neere vnto him and knowing him by his Armes he addressed it vnto him discharging with all his power a cruell blow vpon the Gréekeâ— there were but few Knights within boord and those so busied and some wounded that they let these foure proceed in their battell which was wonderfull to behold Claramante let slip no occasion to take reuenge on the Moore who séeing him busied with his Nephew before that the Mauritanian could come at him making roome in the Galley he came at him in such sort with his battel-axe as would haue made Mars afeard The valorous young Gallant mist not of his blowe for striking him with great force on the one side of the Helmet hee made him fall downe vpon his hands to the ground Claridiano closed with him meaning to haue kild him and had done it had not Brufaldoro come so soone who to rescue him was likely to haue lost his owne life for againe striking a downe right blow with his axe the blow lighted on his left shoulder leauing it all disarmed and with a small wound they all betooke them to their weapons where they began a battell worth the seeing for those which fought it were gréedie thereof and angry for former matters which was the occasion that made it farre more cruell The night came so fast on that for all that they could doe they could not end it the Greekes being coÌ„strayned except they would lose themselues to returne to their Galley where they might sée their enemies Nauie burning in a light fire for there comming a fresh gale of wind from the shore it was a fearefull thing to behold the slaughter that there was made if Nero had séene it I beleeue he had séene that which he so much desired The Greeke Nauie was not free from that danger for as there were many Galleyes grappled together the flame tooke hold on them and had done much mischiefe had not the Captaine wisely preuented it casting on much water and with all possible spéed as the case required cutting the grapples and tackling falling off from the fire The enemies vsed the like policie and were forced to take landing much lower then they would haue done hauing lost great part of their Nauies but séeing so great a multitude of people they were recomforted purposing to make amends by land That night and the next day they landed all their people in the Hauen of Hircambela ten miles from Constantinople which they would haue razed but for staying They presently ordred their battels according to Bemboes direction who that night came forth of the Campe accompanied with the best men in the armie with a hundred thousand men of warre to leuell the passages betwéene that and the Citie and to pitch their Tents The victorious Gréekes although with some losse of their Gallyes returned to their Port went ashore there was great ioy made in
them for it made him to set both his hands and his knées to the ground casting out aboundance of bloud at his mouth another blow the Pagan meant to haue giuen him but his furie was such that it made him to misse for if he had hit him right it had gone ill with him Garrofileaes sonne arose and seeing the Giant vnprouided for his blow was past without any feare hee ranne at him with a thrust and smote him in the middest of the broad brest his armour was three double yet the sword entred into the hollow of his brest he felt the wound which he had giuen and séeing the Giant comming drawing his lame legge after him with a leape he ioyned with him who vnable to strike as hee pretended compassing his Mace about his head he threw it at him and smote him in the middest of the shield it was a wonder that he had not beaten it to péeces The young man was not strong enough to kéepe himselfe from falling to the ground the bloud gushing out both at his mouth and nosthrils The young man could not defend himselfe but that he tooke a blow on the shoulders which made him thinke that all his bones on that side were broken Being now as furious as a Lion casting his shield at his shoulders and smoake out at his visor couered with bloud and sweate brandishing his reuengefull sword hee smote the Pagan a full blow on the brest there were fewe such blowes as this euer heard of for neither his thicke brest plate nor his doublet of fine Maile could defend him but that he almost cleft him into two péeces The young man was glad that he had giuen so good a blow but he escaped not scotfrée for turning about to set vpon the wounded Giant two crowned Lions ramped vpon him which in strength excelled that which the braue Hercules slue they seyzed vpon him and hee was not able to defend himselfe His armour saued his life but they so crushed him that they put him cleane out of breath The most cruell Pagan had not lo◠his ioynt who drawing out a broad crooked knife was comming towards Poliphebus He well saw him cōming and not as was reason without most great feare séeing he had so much to doe to defend himselfe but there he shewed the bloud from which he was descended for in despite of the Lions haling them after him he eschued the enemie and so with all his force he got one arme at liberty which he put to his dagger and therewith ended the Lions warre He was so gréedie thereof that the fierce Pagan came who being desperate smote him vpon the rich Helmet and beat a thousand sparkles of fire out of it and made him set his knées to the ground He came vpon him with another before he could recouer himselfe it was great hap that he had not stretched him all along for he made him to fall on his face vpon the ground and had it not bene for his lame leg without doubt he had killed him But the future louer which now for that he was a stranger hastned his lot séeing that he came againe shifted himself to one side and with all the strength that he was able he smote him vpon the shield it was of hardned stéele after the maner of a Target which hung at his necke he parted it in two iust in the middest and made the Moore to réele likely to fall The couragious young man séeing him stand some what amazed hee shewed not him selfe so but suddenly leaped close to him so as that before he could turne he had giuen him a knock on the pate he smote off halfe of his Helmet and good part of the crowne of his head he was driuen to trip to kéepe himselfe vpright With another blow came the sonne of the great Trebatius wherewith he ended the battell bereauing the accursed Moore of life being so tyred that he was constrained to leane to his sword and put vp his visor to recouer his breath hee might haue inioyed his rich hood which was inestimable he spent some time herein and thinking it more then reasonable and taking a view of his weapons he tooke vp one of the Giants Macee and went to the other gate with so great courage as would haue made Mars afeard which stood wide open a little within appeared a very comely Knight on a roane horse his Armes were all lion coloured with some gréene spots he séemed so comely a man that the great Tinacrian affected him He entred the gate without any shew of distrust with his club on his shoulders In passing a little vault hee of the Castle came to him saying For the fayre disposition Sir Knight which you shew I would not willingly fight with you but being commaunded of force I must obey particularly Ladies to whom is promised the head of euery one that commeth here since the comming hither of a certaine Damsell Without fighting with you gentle Knight answered the Tinacrian I would goe forwards but seeing it impossible I am to be excused wherefore bethinke you of the maner of our battell On horsebacke answered he for for you cōmeth one which the Ladies send you He turned his head to one side thinking that that had bene true which he of the Castle told him but he had scarcely turned when the other clapping spurres to his swift running horse ouerturnd him with his horses brest and gaue him a great fall in the middest of the yard He thought that his body had bene brokē the fall was so terrible This horse was taught for this purpose onely and so he was not full risen when with a new carriere he returned to tread vpon him and ouerthrew him vpon one side this was worse then the first for falling vpon one side vpō his shield it had almost put his arms out of ioynt There is no Hircane Uiper like to this netled yong man who lightly raising himselfe on his féet without losing his terrible club which he had takē from the Giants he attended the returne of the horse which was so quickly that he could hardly slep aside he did him no harme to speake of But it was much for him to sée that hee had escaped the trained horse his brest which with new force returned against the young man here hee gaue a signe of his warlike arme and the great valiancie of his person for leaping a little to one side the horse mist to runne vpon him hee giuing a gallant blow for raising his Club aloft hee smote the Knight vpon the shoulders making the bloud to gufh out at his mouth hee stretcht him along vpon his horses necke but the blow which the Master receiued was no let to the horse to returne againe at the Tinacrian beating the pauement in péeces with his héeles Now had the sonne of Trebatius taken fortune by the foretop for slipping to one side he tooke the knight by the arme it auailed him not that he was
his soule for hee would not ouercome him with any aduantage and lightly leaping from him he sayd Pardon Sir Knight for it was not in my power for I desire not to fight with any man with aduantage eyther of horse or Armes The Assyrian was so furious that he made him no answere but with his sword in both his hands hee set vpon him On foote no man excelled the Tinacrian for he was an Eagle he suffred him to approche but before he could strike him hee shifted him to one side made him lose his blow which being past he gaue him such a knocke vpon the Helmet that he made him set his hands to the ground and would haue closed with him but it was too late for the angry young man was againe on foote very nimbly made a famous assault for he gaue Garrofiliaes sonne two stroÌ„g thrusts one after another which made him goe backwards somewhat out of breath which gaue occasion to the young man with a wheeling about to lay him at his féete and within a little had hought him one leg tormenting him The Tinacrian felt the blow but would not shew the effect which it wrought for hee charged his enemie vpon one leg vntill the great payne was past rare valour in a Knight for the want of his leg was not perceiued for with a leap although but vpon on leg he came home to the Assyrian there was no defence against his arme for hitting him vpon one side of the shield he smote him so hard as made him set his knées to the ground he entred shouldred him threw him downe vpon his backe he knéeled downe vpoÌ„ him with his dagger in his hand Floralisaes louer was in dout of his life this made him draw streÌ„gth out of weaknes setting both his hands vpoÌ„ Poliphebus his arme held him so that the yong maÌ„s choler could go no further the Knight with the stars was sory to sée his coÌ„panions il hap as angry as a Serpent hee leapt from his horse to goe to helpe him Rosabel did she like but the vnknowne youth came first The Tinacrian saw him comming became he would giue no occasion of any ill successe he stood vp taking his good sword The starred Knight came blind for ioy that he came in time whereby Poliphebus had meanes to giue him a cruell blow for as he had neuer a shield so hee gaue him a great slash in the brest Now was the Assyrian on foote who séeing Rosabel come running he gaue him a thrust but hee neuer boasted of it for Lirianaes louer with a blow backwards made him to fall on his face to the ground the noyse of this battell was so great that all the hils and vallies rung thereof The moone shined bright which gaue light to three Knights which sate on the hils side to sée all this battel they were no worse men then the Princes of Silepsia Leobello and Claribel which came with the Knight which found them newly borne as hath béene before declared hee was one of the chiefest in that Realme and brought some troups to the aide of his King which hee had sent vnder the commaund of his Lieutenant to the Campe and hee with his two sonnes for so he called them went vp that mountain By reason of the noyse of the battell they came downe from thence in great haste and came iust at the time that the Gréekes had the better for Rosabel had wel-néere ouercome the Prince of the Assyrians and Poliphebus desirous to make the Knight with the Starres to know that hee was the glorie of armes hastned so the battell that he had already made him breathlesse The Silepsian nouices wondred who putting themselues in the middest betwéene the foure Princes said In courtesie valorous Knights tell vs the cause of your cruell fighting for me thinketh that the aide which either of you might giue to your party should be no smal matter why wil you then end it thus alone It is no other thing Knights anâ—wered the beloued Father but that these Knights mainâ—â—â—â— the quarrel of the Souldan of Niquea and that which we could not performe in the last battell wee haue left for this present and therefore stand out for this battell is to be ended Let vs intreate you gentle Knight answered the Princes to giue it ouer vntill to morrow because we then may the better enioy the sight of your fortitude To content the Princes they all consented whose beautie and comelynesse made them to admire They all seuen sate downe vnder a gréene Oliue trée and taking off their Helmes to take breath it was a marueilous thing to sée when the one came to behold the other for if there were beautie in the world thither it was withdrawne Rosabel was not yet thirtie yeeres old neither had his trauels altred his complexion for hee was the Phenix of his time for Poliphebus all the sages agrée that he was excéeding faire He with the Starres and the two young men were but children for the oldest was not yet fiftéene yeeres old but so faire that they contended for beautie with the heauenly inhabitants The two Princes of Silepsia were so like vnto Poliphebus that their father did maruaile thereat and séeing so much beautie met together in them sixe that for complexions and armes they were the flower of the world The two youthes came with a desire to receiue the order of Knighthood at the hands of the Captaine generall of the Pagans armie whose fame reached to the starres but hauing seene the valiancie of those foure Knights the elder of these youthes whose name was Claribel directing his pace towards Rosabel whome according to the constellation of his Natiuitie hee was inclined to loue said Ualorous Knight my brother and I are desirous to receiue the order of knighthood at the hands of some worthie man of warre which desire hath forced vs to come from farre Countries with our father to haue receiued it of the King of Achaia whose worthines fame hath spread ouer the earth But hauing séene what you haue shewen in this battell we both intreate you that although we haue not deserued it yet wee may receiue it at your hand The Prince did so affect the two youths that he was glad in his soule that occasion was offred to doe them any pleasure yet hee would not bereaue Bembo of that which hee deserued saying vnto them The heauens defend it that séeing that you may receiue it at the hands of so worthie a Knight as is that Prince whom you haue named that you should receiue it of me to whom fortune hath not bin so fauourable This knowledgement valorous Knight sufficeth answered Leobello which was the younger of these Princes to assure my brother me that it remaining in your hands there may happen vnto vs some rest of good fortune and so wee beséech you to graunt that which my brother hath requested I would be verie glad answered