contrary as he was faine to take landing in the same Isle where he soiourned for certaine daies at the earnest importunitie of the inhabitants who could thinke themselues neuer enough satisfied with his company but yet the long desire he had to sée the Citie of Constantinople made him imagine the time too tedious till he came thither At length with much a doe hee departed thence in a Galley accompanied with his friend Siluian being in a uew Armour which he caused to bée made in the Profound Isle but kéeping his deuise of the golden Tiger which was renowned thorow all countries in Christendome hauing sayled a long time hee came at last to the Coast of Scotland where his minde serued him well to goe on shoare And after he had trauelled thrée dayes in that Countrey he came into a goodly Valley along the middest thereof was a great riuer and not far off he beheld a faire house standing on the riuer side hauing a bride for passage to it the which was kept by a Knight in gréene Armour who bare in his Shield a white Bull which deuise made him suspect that it should be his brother Pompides On the other side the bridge which crossed ouer another part of the riuer he espied another Knight who seemed as hardy a man as the knight of the Bull being in very rich Armour and he might not passe the bride without hée did first Combate with him that defended it as for him that would not endure the fight hée must yeeld himselfe to Armisia the King of Scots daughter to whom the house belonged This strange Knight attending while the other got on horsebacke he put his fortune in triall to set at libertie the passage but he failed in his intent as you shall heare hereafter and rendred himselfe to the mercy of Armisia who ordained the custome to this ende that she might haue her house furnished with Kinges of good courage whereof she knew she should get a number because this passage was one of the chiefest in all Scotland and none could get to the other side of the riuer without they passed at this bridge which was so large as foure Knights might easily combate thereon and it was so well fenced on either side as they could not bee in daunger of the Riuer while they fought the Combate The Knight of the Tiger stayed a while to sée the ende of the Combate betwéene these Knights and viewing well the Knight of the Bull who had lifted vp the Feuere of his Helmet to speake to a Damosell which stood looking foorth at a window he was then perfectly perswaded that it was his Brother Pompides who hauing concluded his familiar talke with the Damosell tooke his Lance and came further forth vpon the Bridge whereupon the strange Knight spake to him in this manner I feare me Sir knight that we shall be hindered by the night which draweth fast vpon vs before we can make an end of our Combate whereto I sée you prepare your selfe onely to witnesse your seruice to the Damosell in the window What is that materiall to you Sir answered the Knight of the Bull if for her sake I enterprise the fight doubt you not but I will be as good as my promise So without any more words they ranne together very couragiously and after they had broken their Lances they met so fiercely with their bodies as they fell both beside their horses to the ground When they had recouered themselues they drew their swordes wherewith they fought a very doubtfull and daungerous Combate the aduantage whereof fell to the Knight of the Bull yet not so easily but he was glad for to rest himselfe as his enemie which when he perceiued he leaned himselfe against the wall giuing these spéeches to the strange knight How say you now Sir doe you not perswade your selfe now that I haue power sufficiently to accomplish what I haue promised Wherefore I would counsell you to reserue your manhood for other occasions better then to lose your life here and therefore bee ruled by my aduise goe submitte your selfe to the Princesse Armisia who will not deale discourteously with them that will so render their seruice vnto her willingly the straunge Knight returned him this aunswer Sir knight I know as well as you what profite or danger can come to me if I should doe as you perswade mée therefore I pray you let this talke passe and let vs end what we haue begun And so without attending any answer he began to charge the Knight of the Bull againe who entertained him in such sort as in short time he felt himselfe to feeble to re resist the hardy strokes his enemy gaue him so that in the end being vnable to continue any longer he had lost so much blood that he fell downe before the knight of the Bull who taking off his helmet spake vnto him in this manner You shall vnderstand now Sir knight that be cause you scorned to follow my counsell you shall now whether you will or no goe submit your selfe to the Princesse Armisia and if you refuse to doe it I will not fayle to part your head from your shoulders I know not Sir answered the straunge Knight which of these two conditions I should chuse wherewith you present me so dangerous they both seeme to me for I would more willingly receiue my death at your hand then goe submit my selfe to her who can be pleased with nothing else but adioyning me a most shamefull death The knight of the Bull being ignorant of the reason why he feared so much to goe render himselfe to the Princesse Armisia desired that he would tell him his name Truely Sir said the strange knight I intend not so much to satisfie your will for it is yet some contentment to him that is vanquished when the conquerour hath no knowledge of him The knight of the Bull séeing him so obstinate sent his Esquire to the Princesse Armisia desiring her if so it were her pleasure to grant this Knight his life Armisia who was alwaies very courteous to them that had any preferment in her fauour commanded one of her Damoselles to goe to the knight of the Bull and tell him that he should giue the knight his life after he had knowledge who he was The Damosell was no sooner come to the Bridge but she presently knew the vanquished knight to be Adraspe sonne to the duke of Sizana who had slaine the Prince Doriell brother to her Lady and Mistresse Armisia for the reuenge of whose death the guarding of that passage was first ordained Vpon this the Damosell began to crie aloude and teare her haire very pittifully saying he was now come that had slaine the Prince Doriell which her Lady hearing she came downe immediatly with her Damosels waiting on her both shée and they wéeping very bitterly when she spake to the Knight of the Bull in this manner I pray you Sir Knight let me haue your assistance to be
Armour to the aged King Fredericke who caused it to be placed in the House of Ensignes amongst the Armour of many famous Knights THe renowed Knight of Fortune whom through occasion we left to speake of remained so long in the house of the ancient Gentleman his Hoste that his woundes were perfectly healed and his body well able to endure the bearing of Armor When Siluian had prouided him new Armor like his other and a shield with his vsuall deuise of Fortune vpon it he departed which way he thought soonest to finde the Castle of Dramusiande At last arriuing at the foote of a mountaine he espied a little Pauillion wherein were a great many of lighted torches which because the darke night was somewhat entred gaue a very great shewe of light to the place This strange sight moued him to take his way thither as well to sée what it might be as to driue other fancies away that greatly annoyed his mind When he was entred the Pauillion he perceiued two séemely Knights the one lying on a sumptuous Béere more like a dead then a liuing creature the other making great lamentations and pittious bemonings ouer him whom hee presently knowe to be Don Rosiran de la Bronde the Cousin of the aged King of England which made him suppose that the Knight on the Béere was some man of great authority estimation Comming to Don Rosian and saluting him very friendly he presently had knowledge of him that he was the noble Knight of Fortune to whom he began in this manner following Sir I sée that Fortune hath greatly fauoured you in permitting you to sée the dead body of the Knight of the Sauage man to whom you were alway a mortall enemy yet could not bée he that should vanquish him in fight The Knight of Fortune hearing the wordes of Don Rosiran was ouercome with such heauinesse that the teares trickled down his chéekes when he began to frame his answere thus Indéede neuer had I more desire to preuaile against any man then my minde laboured to conqure this hardy Knight whose prowesse is no lesse bruted euery where then his knightly behauiour deserued But now since death so hath cut off this famed Champion whom I laboured to know yet could neuer attaine my wish I will end the enmity that hath bin betwéene vs with so sharpe a reuenge of his vntimely death as were it possible for his ghost to imbrace my friendship himselfe should perceiue his enemy is become as deare a friend to him as euer was any Wherefore of all courtesie shew me the place where he hath receiued this misfortune and I wil die on him that hath bene the death of so good a knight Trust me Sir answered Don Rosiram my arriuall hath bene here so lately that I am ignorant how he happened to this mischance neuerthelesse I was aduertised by one who departed not long before you came that at the Castle of Dramusiande where all the knights remaine that haue bin so long lost he hath sustained this vnfortunate hap yet not without iniuring him and his traine as the memory of this knight shall remaine to him while he liueth albeit Fortune would not suffer him to end the aduenture The knight of Fortune greatly displeased to sée this knight brought into such extremitie began to conceiue better estimation of the aduenture then euer he did before albeit he was greatly abashed that so good a Knight had failed in that enterprise Then began he to behold the Armour that lay there by him being defaced and hacked in so many places which vrged him to commend them that had the strength to vse it so but more the man that had the might to resist such an extreme danger wherevpon he saye I may well perswade my selfe that the hope to end this adventure is altogether lost the Knight béeng dead who had the puissance to finish all other At these words he approched to the Béere to sée if he were cleane depriued of life when lifting vp the shéete of Silke he perceiued his countenance so grim and hardy as it was at the time he entred Cambate with him As he stood wishly beholding this noble Knight his heart began greatly to conceiue an inward ioy and his minde began to muse on a thousand matters But chéefly the lesse of his Brother was his greatest thought whom he suspected this knight to be by diuers markes he knew ie his face for the better assurance whereof he called Siluian willing him to behold the knight and report as his minde serued his answer was comfortable to his Maisters opiâ—ions giuing credite that it was Florian who returned not after he departed with the Lyons Vpon this perswasion the knight of Fortune desired Don Rosiran to certifie him of the name of the Knight of the Sauage man insomuch as it should neither disprofite the one nor the other but that he might resolue him in a matter which caused him to vse great suspition to which words Don Rosiran thus answered Sir Knight in what I may or can satisfie your desire assure your selfe I will do my best As concerning his name neither my selfe nor any other that I know were so happy as at any time to vnderstand it for that he vsed no other name then to call himselfe the Fatherlesse But in times past he hath often declared vnto me that the best friend he had remembrance off was a Sauage man who nourished him a long time and whom he supposed to be his Father but because he could not certainly assure himselfe thereof he termed himselfe as I haue told you The Knight of Fortune whose minde was maruellously reuiued at the words of Don Rosiran perswaded himselfe that the knight of the Sauage man was his Brother Florian for which cause he offered to embrace him as he lay but on a suddaine there entred foure men who lifting vp the Béere vppon their shoulders departed away with it in very great hast The Knight of Fortune endeuouring to follow them they willed him to the contrary giuing him to vnderstand that such good prouision should be vsed to him as if the Diuine bountie would agrée therto his life would be preserued his estate recomforted With this perswasion heâ— returned to Don Rosiran to know which way he intended to trauaile because he had determined himselfe to go séeke the place where this good knight had bene so ill handled and reuenge his cause though it were the losse of his owne life Sir quoth Don Rosiran I meane presently to take my way towards London where I will present the armour of my deare Friend to the king mine Vncle at whose hands he receiued the order of knighthood that it may be reserued in such a place where the remembrance of his déedes done in his life time may eternize the memorie of his infortunate death With this answere the knight of Fortune was very well pleased desiring if he could shewe him the way to the Castle of
the Giant Dramusiande to whom Don Rosiran replied Credite me Syr I thinke few or none can accomplish your demand such incantations and exorcismes are spread ouer all the wayes but as it should séeme by this good knight it cannot bée farre hence as you might iudge by his wounds Thus with sundry embracings they departed the knight of Fortune which way pleased him and Don Rosian with all spéede rode to London bearing before him the Armour of the Knight of the Sauage man which he could not put vpon his body because it was so cruelly martired Being come to the court he found the king sitting very solitary for want of the noble knights that were woont to kéepe him company and comming into his presence with dutiful reuerence he began in this manner Most gracious soueraigne I neither thought my heart in quiet nor the time so happy as it should be till I had presented your Maiestie with the Armour of the couragious knight of the Sauage man whereby you may perceiue although the more misfortune hée maintained his life in honour and with Fame ended his dayes in the face of Fortune proouing himselfe no lesse then he was the man that deserued most the name of a Champion And in reward of his taken paines he craueth no more of your Maiestie but that his Armour may beautifie some place of honour to witnesse the vertuous behauiour he was woont to employ it in After hee had certified the King of the whole request hee declared at large the aduentures of this hardy knight against the Gyant Dramusiande and his noble Company not forgetting to tell him how hée mette the knight of Fortune at the Pauillion who tooke such great griefe for this mishappe that hee is gone to reuenge his death on him and all his The King thinking on this froward mischance and breaking foorth into diuerse passions expressing the great dolour of his minde he commended the valiant attempt of the Knight of Fortune and bemoned the losse of his son Don Edward with his princely children attributing this mishap to bée procured through his search and how many aduenterous Knights were lost to finde him Now hée began to vespayre that he should neuer heare of him againe since the Knight of the Sauage man was dead in whom he placed sure trust for his deliuery yet againe hée remembred the Knight of Fortune iudging the aduenture such as none but he could finish Then went he into the Chambers of the Quéene and the Princes Flerida shewing them the Armour of the Knight of the Sauage man and by what misfortune hée had lost his life As concerning theyr heauines for these vnhappy tydings because I will not Gentlewoman that you should conceiue any sorrow thorow their dealings I referre their lamentations to your gentle iudgements The King commaunded the armour of this good knight to whom he gaue the name of the Fatherlesse to be placed where the auncient Kings of England kept their Armour so that their worthy déedes should not growe into obliuion and this place was called the House of Ensignes which they alwayes vsed to adore their Triumphes and wherein was registred the perpetuall renowne atchieued by such as vsed their Armour to the aduancement of vertue Here was the Armour of the valiant Marlot and also of the aduenterous Syr Launcelot du Lake as also of diuerse of the Knights of the round Table in this place the Armour of the knight of the Sauage man was royally hanged vp to witnesse what aduentures he had knightly discharged The Knight laboured in deuotion to put out of memory the losse of this hardy knight the Fatherlesse setting his minde on euerlasting true and permanent things as for the other as they were transitory and vaine so to their frailtie hee gaue them ouer For Nature hath bestowed so great a benefit vpon vs that shee hath left vs iudgement to discerne betwéene good and euill and by what meanes we shal purchase our eternal heritage which is the chiefest and best riches she could indue vs withall and the onely direction wherein to spend the whole course of my life CHAP. XLI How the Knight of Fortune being departed from Don Rosiran de la Bronde arriued in the Valley of Perdition at the Castle of Dramusiande where a Damosell brought him the shield of the Palme Tree which was taken from Siluian when he was Captiue to the Giant Camboldam And how the Knight of Fortune Iusted with his Father the Pricne Don Edward vanquished Pandare and cut the head of the Giant Alligan entring Combate with Dramusiande whom he likewise conquered setting all the captiue Princes at libertie And how an aged man came with two Domosels and healed the wounds ot the knight of Fortune AFter the knight of Fortune had taken leaue of Don Rosiran de la Bronde he had not trauailed long before he arriued in the Valley of Perdition when because it was night and he knewe not well which way to take he alighted sitting downe at the roote of a Trée where he determined to sléepe vntill the next morning but such was the griefe he receiued at the wounds of the knight of the Sauage man with sundry other cogitations that tormented his minde being all this while ignorant of whence or what he was so that hee could not suffer his eyes to receiue any sléepe nor his troubled thoughts to enioy any rest For stil desired to be at the Castle where so many noble knights were held as Prisoners vowing to redéeme them from that aduerse estate or hee would leaue his life there as pledge of his valure In the morning Siluian brought him his stéed when presently they mounted on horsebacke and rode on which way he thought soonest to ende his pretence Eutropa hauing now brought Dramusiande and all his Knights to their woonted health that they could beare Armour and resist their enemy suffered the knight of Fortune to come before the Castle where he perceiued the knights newly come foorth making a shew of resistance if he durst offer to venture This sight caused him presently to couch his speare when on sodaine a Damosell came riding on Horsebacke with a shield vpon her arme and this staied him sir knight I desire you before you begin your Combate to take this Shield for your better defence because this is the day you shal haue most néed of it and this day it shal stand you in cheefest stéede Here ending her talke deliuering him the shield immediately she departed in such great hast that he could not haue the leisure to speake vnto her or to giue her thanks for her so great courtesie Then he deliuered his Shielde of Fortune to Siluian fastening the other vpon his arme when he knew it to be the Shield of the Palme Tree that was taken from Siluian when he slew the Giant Camboldam of Mulzella which made him to expect some good aduenture for the wordes the Damosel spake when she tooke it from Siluian how yâ—
from iniury This heauy tale vrged them to ride with the Gentleman till by Fortune they met with the Damosel in the Forrest of the Cleare Fountaine that brought the Shield from the Sage Aliart to deliuer to the yong Prince Palmerin whoÌ„ the knight of the Sauage man was desirous to know When Don Rosian saw how he had taken the Shield from her sent her with the answere you haue heard before hée desired that hée might accompany the Gentleman to reléeue the distressed estate of the Lady promising to returne to what place hée would appoint After leaue obtained he departed with the Gentleman and had such good Fortune that he slew two of the Knights in combat and compelled the third to flight himselfe being before hurt and his Armour bruised as you haue heard when he met with the Knight of Fortune But because you shall be certified why he was called De la Bronde you shall heare what in the English Châ—onicles is affirmed for this matter King Marke had by his Quéene Yseul a daughter named Yseul who was thought by some to be the daughter of Tristam she being ioyned in marriage with the Duke of Galles haâ— a sonne by him named Blasanon de la Bronde Duke of Galles and Cornewall who espowsed Marlottâ— daughter to the king Charlian of Ireland who hauing a sonne by her at her request named him Marloâ— De la Bronde And in this order it did contiâ—e to the Duke of Galles who because he would not haue his house grow into obliuion named the sonne of sir Pridâ—s and Attaida Don Rosiran De la Bronde Who after he haâ— thus bene vanquished by the knight of Fortune was conducted by his Esquire to a Monasterie where he remained till his wounds were heâ—led CHAP. XXV How the knight of Fortune stayed so long in the Castle of Rianda that he was aduertised by a Damosell named Lucenda who was newly come from the Emperours Court the knight of death in defence of his faire Altea had born away the prize from all Ladies And how vpon this report he rode to Constantinople accompanyed with Siluian and there in the honor of Polinarda he vanquished the knight of death who resigned his Tent to the noble knight of Fortune COncerning the knight of Fortune who remained at the cure of his woundes in the Castle of Rianda who shal vnderstand that a Damosell who was attendant in the Emperours Court and Couzin to this Ladie Rianda desired leaue to came and visite her Aunt in the time that the Knight of Death endured his Tournament for the faire Altea This Damosell being named Lucenea arriuing at her Aunts Castell was presently knowne by the knight of Fortune because he had béene daily in her companie in the Emperours Court which vrged him thus to commune with her Mistresse Lucenda it is maruell to sée you so farre from the place where I wish my selfe euer both for the honour of the persons as also their happinesse of pleasure Lucenda right glad to see the Prince Palmerin gaue him her answere as thus Trust mee sir if you would follow my counsell not that I speake by way of commaund but rather on earnest desire to intreate you I would wish you to hasten your selfe to them and well to discharge you of the Emperours anger as also to satisfie those that receiued no small offence at your suddaine departure The Emperour and his Knightes thinke more then I will speake and the Ladies iudge worse of you then I can say in that the one imputeth it to your small friendship and the other suppose you owe them small fauour But if you are desirous to wipe out this blemish and to make apparance of your perfect bountie now is it time to winne you the Spurres or to gaine you the report of a continâ—all shame and now shall they know if your affection be such as preferreth their Fame before your owne ease The Knight of Death who came thither lately and hath set vp his Tents in the honour of his Ladie hath eclipsed the beautie of our Courtlie Ladies to the reproch of many Knights and glory of his faire Altea If now there remaine in you either the Nobilitie of Knighthood or vnspotted loue you haue aduouched to your Saint let him knâ—w there is one farre aboue Altea that both shall and must beare away the title of beautie so shall you expresse an inuincible minde and al Ladies triumph in so gallant a Champion These newes set the knight of Fortune in a chafe for that he knew he had conquered him once alreadie which made him leaue Lucinda and take himself to his Chamber where a thousand heauie thoughts doe on sudden ouercharge him First what might be thought of his long absence from the Court then how hee might incurre the displeasure of his faire Polinarda whose commandement did binde him out of her sight yet must come in her sight if he went to auenge her quarrell But when he considered euery thing as he ought comparing likewise the bold atempt of the knight of Death he determined to thrust himselfe in the face of Fortune and either to finish his tormented life or to make known the truth of his inuiolate loue In the morning Siluian armed him in a verie faire armour all beset with golden Lyons and taking his leaue of Ricada and Lucinda they rode both of them toward Constantinople the Knight of Fortune all the way being very pensiue and sad whom Siluian would often cheere in this maner Good sir consider with your selfe if you forsake your Lady in such great extremitie how can you thinke your selfe worthyâ—at any time to haue her fauour Imagine with your selfe the honor you shall gaine in this fight with the noble report both of your friends and foes thinke againe the shame that may attaint your Knighthood if you leaue off this enterprise which is the onely type of renowne O withdraw these sad conceits and thinke if you were now in the field how Polinarda would triumph to beare the name of all estimation and the Knight of Death die with sorrow to see his good Fortune dasht in the presence of such a royall assembly Trifle not the time therfore with any fond delay because danger may arise by lingring and dolor by ouermuch loytering These words of Siluian were greatly esteemed by the knight of Fortune who made such haste that at last he arriued at Constantinople where passing by the Pallace the Chamber of his Lady Polinarda he fel into a multitude of amorous complaints but Siluian left him not with his wonted perswasion At last he came before the tent of the Knight of Death when he had euen then conquered a Grecian Knight named Titubant who aduentured for the beautie of Cardigna Daughter to the Giant Fiottan who was sent presently to the Sepulchre of Louers While they were vnarming Titubant the Knight of Fortune came prauncing into the Listes vppon a very faire Courser that Rianda
Knightes returned to him that had carried Targiana away perswading himself in her company to attaine the title of immortall praise CHAP. LXXXVIII Here shal be rehearsed who the knight was that carried Targiana away and what happened to him in her company REmembrance is made in the History how the King of Denmarke had thrée Sonnes al of them prooued to bee noble and valiant knights especially the eldest who was called Albanis of Freze so renowned thorow his fathers Kingdom that there was no knight durst encounter with him He being come to the age of fiue and twenty yeeres and hearing the braue report of the Princesse Miragarda he became so affectionat to her that leauing his Fathers Court he trauailed to the Castle of Almarol accomplishing many notable déeds by the way and arriued there at such time as Albayzar had carried the shield thence When he saw he could not attaine his will to enter the combat he staied till fortune would suffer him to sée the princesse Miragarda at whose view hee became so seuerely vanquished that he vowed if it were possible to bring her sheeld againe and if Fortune did stand his friend so much he purposed to make her greatly beholding to him but she was of such a strange condition as I haue told you that shee reioyced to receiue euerie one without making shew of their welcome Albanis preuailing in diuers aduentures came to the Cittie of Constantinople where séeing the number of shields this valiant Moore had woon and the great renowne was held euery where of his valour he purposed to manifest his courage against him But albeit his worthinesse was very great and that he brake thrée Speares on the valiant Albayzar yet was Fortune so much against him that he receiued the foyle his Shield was placed among the conquered Knights Being departed from thence out of opinion euer after to serue Miragarda hee arriued in the valley where Florian and Palmerin fought where beholding Targiana he estéemed her the fairest Creature that euer he had séene and knew it was shée on whose behalfe Albayzar sped so happily Wherevpon he concluded to bring her with him to Constantinople to trie if Fortune would fauour him better against Albayzar hauing in his presence the faire Targiana to whom he offered great honour and curtesie which was not of power to altar the faithful affection she bare to the Prince Florian Wel on they rid and drawing néere to Constantinople in an euening they met a Knight in blacke Armour riding very sad and heauily to whom Albanis gaue spéech of friendly salutation but the Blacke Knieht rid on without making any answer whereat Albanis was somewhat displeased and desirous to shew some courage before Targiana he turned to the Blacke Knight in this manner Sir albeit my words are so little estéemed of you that you haue made no shewe of a courteous answere yet doe I thinke it had béene your dutie to offer some friendly motion to this Lady wherto the Blacke Knight made this reply Good Sir if I haue béene obliuious of my selfe towards this Lady I am ready to recompence the same in what she shall commaund but if you séeme so discourteous in spéech because I haue not saluted you trust me you are very farre from reason for my minde was so busied with other affaires that I neither saw you before me much lesse did I heare you I would faine knowe sayde Albanis from whence ariseth the cause of your doubt to sée if it be sufficient to excuse your vnciuill behauiour Syr quoth the Blacke Knight I would wish you to kéepe on in your iourney for to tel the cause of my griefe to you would gladly pleasure me and but little profit you Albanis being desirous to know what he had demanded was so importune on the Blacke Knight that he tooke the Field at his pleasure and encountred Albanis with such force that the horse fell downe with his shoulder broken and before Albanis could recouer himselfe the Blacke Knight alighted and forced him to abide his mercy which done he was riding away but Targiana came and stayed him thus Sir Knight I desire you euen as you make hazard of your person in many dangers and magnanimitie doeth accompany you against all aduersity that you will not abandon those who liue in affliction but beare the gentlenes of mind to keepe them câ—mpany And if so be you trauaile to the Emperours Court suffer me to be a partner in your iourney for that my businesse lyeth in that place to expect a Knight who conducted me in my trauailes hither Lady answered the Blacke Knight I thought this knight had vndertook to conduct you but now perceiuing the contrary and that you are minded to goe thither where of force I must be I will pleasure you in so small a request albeit the extremitie of my liâ—e stood thereon And thus they departed together leauing Albanis more sorrowfull then euer he had bin The Blacke Knight by the way requested of her wherfore the Knight had enforced her to goe with him to whoÌ„ Targiana ript vp the whole matter wherefore the Blacke knight gaue her greater honor then he had done before for he knew it was she in whose cause Albayzar kept the Shield of Miragarda which made him somewhat to excuse the déede of Albayzar for that the beauty of Targiana would haue vrged any Knight to aduenture the hardiest exployt They arriued at Constantinople wheÌ„ Albeyzar was appointed to depart from thence and to carrie the Shields away with him because none durst aduenture to recouer theÌ„ which made the Emperor greatly agrieued estéeming this yâ— greatest shame that euer happened in any Princes Court. On the other side Primaleon was so chafed because his Father would not grant him to Combate with Albayzar that he was minded to stay his comming foure miles without the Citie and to beare in his Shielde the Image of Gridonia which he had secretly caused to be made to sée if he might vanquish Albayzar and bring backe the Shields to the ladies that had lost them But Fortune so hindred him that his purpose tooke not effect and also would not suffer Albayzar to depart thence with so great glorie CHAP. LXXXIX How the Blacke Knight entred the Combat with Albayzar THe Blacke Knight lodged that night without the City in the house of an ancient Gentleman because he would not be knowne and the next morning Targiana attyred her selfe very sumptuously in a Gowne of the Turkish fashion of Crimson Sattin adorned with braue biâ—laments of gold and precious stones and mounted on a Palfray as white as a Swan her Damosels and Esquires likewise very braue in apparrell and atteÌ„ding on her in seemely order in this maner she came into yâ— city accompanied with the Black Knight arriued at the Iusting place wheÌ„ Albayzar had euen then conquered an English knight and placed his shield among the other The Emperour with all his Courtly company behelding the braue gesture
forsake him in so great necessitie entred the Hall attired after the English manner not hauing any Armour on him for that he had not the leysure to arme himselfe so greatly he pittied the misfortune of his brother Florian of the Forrest the Sage Aliart was no sooner come vnto him but he saluted him with these speeches I perceiue Sir Knight you haue altogether forgotten me and especially in the place where you haue most néede of my helpe At these words the Knight of the Sauage man presently arose and embracing the Sage Aliart in his armes he returned him this answer My Lord and Brother I am sure it is not vnknown vnto you that one occasion of gréefe thorowly setled in the minde causeth the party so vexed to commit all things else to forgetfulnesse therefore me thinks you should not be offended though you were not in my remembrance I being in such a sharpe extremity from which I desire to be deliuered by your ayde Woorthy sir answered Aliart he whose knowledge serued him to bring the Quéene Leonarda in this place hath done it by such a maruellous means as it is impossible to recouer her hence so spéedily but Fortune reseruing you to employ your valour in aduentures worthy most high renowne will not suffer his intent that brought her hither to be fully executed but hath ordained it in such sort as by my Arte I shall end this cruell Enchantment neuerthelesse it shall be necessary that you kéep me company because your courage and strength may much helpe in this case When hée had thus said hée commaunded the knight of the Sauage man to shut the window and hang the key in the place whence hee tooke it but first hée looked in to see the estate of the Quéene Leonarda aâ—d Florian hee laboured very bustly to extinguish the light of the Tapers because hée coulde not suffer that their extreame shyninge brightnes should dazell his eyes when he looked on his swéete Quéene and wife so that the light was some hinderance to him when he thought to guard her excellent beautie wherevpon Aliart spake thus vnto him I perceiue well my Lord that you are ignorant of the verture of these Tapers whose light onely maintaineth the life of your Quéene Leonarda for looke how soone they shall be extinguished or consumed euen so soone shall her life be fully compleate and ended After this communication these two Knights went foorth of the Castle and so soone as they were come into the open Field the Ayre began to be excéeding troubled so that for a time a maruellous darkenesse ouer-shadowed them yet at last it cleared againe when the Knight of the Sauage-man was greatly abashed séeing himselfe depriued of the Sage Aliart and no company with him but a huge and monsterous Bull who séemed as hee had come to the top of the Rockes vppon this Bulles necke the Knight of the Sauage man cast himselfe and he brought him immediately into a darke and obscure Caue where the Bull left him and vanished away All these fearefull motions could not dismay this hardy knight for he did imagine them to be but only illusions sent of purpose to hinder him in his determination therefore he would make no further account of them but looking about this Caue the light somewhat increasing he beheld the figures and pictures of the most renowned knights that carried arms in the time of the famous King Amadis There hee might discerne Esplandian among the Moores a spectacle that delighted him very much and in the most hononrable place of all stood Armato the noble King of the Persians hauing letters of Golde on his left shoulder which declared his name and famous progenie While the Knight of the Sauage man earnestly beheld these gallant Images he perc yued to enter the caue a very aged woman so weake and feeble with extremity of age as she seemed ready to fal to the earth but wheÌ„ shée looked on the Knight of the Sauage man she started backe in a great amazement and crying out aloude very pittifully demaunded aide and succour of the grauen pictures that they would helpe her to conquer the Knight that was come to violate and deface her Pallace At the cry of the olde Encauntresse the Images began to stirre themselues and lay holde on theyr Swoordes and Speares but when the Knight of the Sauage man made offer to defend himselfe they stood silent in their former estate and the old woman vanished out of sight Wherevppon the Knight of the Sauage man departed thence comming to the Hall where the Serpent was and there he beheld the same old woman standing by the windowe where he looked in and beheld the Quéene of Thrace his wife which made him presently to coniecture how in that place was inclosed the remedy of his trauailes whereto he would very gladly attaine but it grieued him to shewe his force against a woman who thrust with her shoulders so strongly against the window as at length it opened and she went in then turning to close the window againe it was made fast againe so ingeniously as one could not iudge by which way she made her entrance The Knight of the Sauage man could not chuse but laugh to see with what a grace this olde woman maintained her enchauntment and comming to the windowe where hée iudged the entered he knockt and kept such a bounsing thereat as the olde woman came and opened the windowe presenting her selfe before him accompanied with foure Knights who were clad in Armour very costly and sumptuous and to them she declared how the knight of the Desart sought to destroy her ancient Pallace These foure Knights lifted vp their Maces but when the Knight of the Sauage man seemed to defend himselfe both they and the olde woman vanished away incontinent At these straunge motions hée could not chuse but wonder and sitting downe to viewe the brauery of the house hee perceiued in the middest of the Hall a Candlesticke of Golde set on a Brasen pillar of very costly workemanship and in the Candlesticke burned a goodly white waxe Taper whose light shewed after such a straunge manner as many wonderfull occasions was presented before his eyes wherevpon he imagined how that Castle had not béene founded but onely to some maruellous and especiall cause When he had more narrowly and circumspectly looked about the place he beheld a number of Cofers round about him euery Cofer hauing a key of Gold hanging at it which made him to open them one after another where he found the Library of the Queene Melia and very gorgeous apparell belonging to a woman which Melia had caused to be made to giue to her Couzin the daughter of King Armato her brother as the knight of the Sauage man found it set downe in writing in the Library which when he gad read he beganne againe his woonted griefe seeing himselfe out of hope to recouer the Queene of Thrace his wife in which affliction the Sage Aliart
sore hurt and ouertrauailed I haue small pleasure to be thought I would deale with such a one sauing that your fond words doth withhold my pittie and denying my gentle offer doth vrge me to exact the vttermost The knight of the Sauage man would make him no aunswer but taking vp the Shield of the Giant Alligan which was in much more better estate then his owne he aduaunced himselfe to Dramusiande shewing such agility and nimble behauiour in his fight as though he had not bene so wearied as he was but yet his dexteritie and magnanimitie of courage had not the power to abash the hardy Dramusiande who was both esteemed and aporooued to beene of the strongest knights vnder the Sunne The Knight of the Sauage man found this enterprise the worst that he had yet attempted the happy ending whereof were sufficient to win him perpetuall renowne wherefore he did endeuour himselfe with such goodforesight as all the Princes receiued good occasion to commend his valour For oftentimes the desired hope of victory doth encourage one to aduenture the greatest danger so that receiuing but a good opinion of successe doth so animate the courage that he followeth his purpose with an inuincible pretence Don Edward Primaleō maruelling at this hautie exployte séeing Dramusiande neuer gaue blow but it was so fiercely rewarded verily supposed the perfect nobility of Knighthood to remaine in thy neuer dismayning knight of the Sauage man which after a long times fight caused Dramusiande to vse these spéeces Trust mée sir Knight the perfect proofe of your infallible minde constraineth me to lament your present approching daunger in that the gréeuous expence of your blood cannot long sustaine you from the vnhappy death But if Fortune appoint the ruine of your dayes at my hands and that as it is no other like but it must of force be so I shall condemne my selfe of monstrous ingratitude in that such a hardy knight shall be cut off in his flowring yeares Wherefore let me intreate you that our Combate may here take conclusion and to venter no more the daunger being imminent which it selfe will may not suffer you to grant yet the ruine of your Armour the sore wounds on your body and the blood that hath coloured the ground vnder your féete me thinks should prouoke you to satisfie my request Good counsell is better late followed then neuer where it tendeth to the aduancement of honour and maintenance of the spotlesse estate of knighthood Sir quoth the knight of the Sauage man your request doth aske such a scope of argument that I rather desire to renue the Combate then consume time in making you aunswer And hereupon assure your selfe that neither your eloquence can allude or your force compell to hinder my enterprise but I wil haue it or else resigne thée my carkasse to glut vp thy gréedy minde With these words they went to it againe chéerely deliuering such forceable blows to each other that in short time their weakenesse withdrew them from any more hurt For though the Knight of the Sauage man were in great debilitie Dramusiande was brought into as great danger that the Redants knew not to whom to impute the most hurt so that the Giant would gladly that the knight had made acception of his offer because he felt himselfe to haue receiued small aduantage in this fight But no maruell if the Knight of the Sauage man were weake indéede hauing iusted and dealt with so many before net did he alway beare such a courage that they who beheld him supposed the contrary Primaleon and the Prince Don Edward came aud were uery desirous to separate them asunder because they feared the death of the knight of the Sauage man but they laboured in vaine for no perswasion could withhold the hardy knight who saluted Dramusiande with such a mighty stroke vpon the Crest that he cleft his Helmet and wounded him very dangerously on the head wherewith his sword brake in a great many péeces Dramusiande séeing his sword was broken and himselfe lie likewise vnprouided of weapon came and caught the knight about the middest who receiued him in like maner that they threw ech other to the ground with great violence being iudged as men depriued of their liues so that it could not be said whether had the victorie The night approching very hastily on the Sage Aliart knowing of this Combat addressed himselfe thither in all the hast who made such an obscurity ouer all the Valley as he had done before at the other battaile in which darknesse he departed and the knight of the Sauage man was taken away no body could imagine how or which way so that theregardants who thoght to haue carried him into the Castle could not tell themselues in what he was gone Dramusiand was conducted into his fortresse where he was diligently tended by his Aunt Eutropa who fearing least at thie time the knights would séeke meanes to escape away she locked them into a great hall all together where they had no light but what came in at a very small window at which likewise they receiued such things as was néedefull for them In this order she vsed them till Dramusiande and his Giants had recouerd their former health when she brought them forth againe into their accustomed chambers greatly displeased that Dramusiande would behaue himselfe so friendly to them as he did But such was the conference he reposed in their oath in that they would not attempt any thing contrary to his wil and pleasure that he exempted all discourtesie from his heart continuing his wonted friendlinesse to the captiue Princes For on this he alwayes grounded his perswasion that it were a point of marueilous ingratitude to breake the vowed oath a man had made to his friend and hée that would so greatly dishonour himselfe should bée estéemed and reputed as one that alienated and estranged himselfe from the course of all vertuous déedes CHAP. XL. How the Knight of Fortune staying in the house of the ancient Gentleman his Hoste had his woundes very well recouered and his body established in sound and perfect estate of health which moued him to depart from thence to seeke the aduenture of great Brittaine And how in trauaile he arriued at a little Pauillion wherein he found the Knight of the Sauage man lying sore wounded on a Knightly Beere and Don Rosiran de la Bronde standing by him vsing many sorrowfull and heauy lamentations And how the Knight of Fortune by markes he perceiued in the face of the Knight of the Sauage man and by conferring with Don Rosiran about him had knowledge that it was his brother Florian whom when he thought to take further view of was presently carried away by the art of the Sage Aliart And how the Knight of Fortune departed on his iourney and Don Rosiran carried the Armour of the knight of the Sauage man to the English Court where he manifested the death of the hardy knight and presented his