pittilesse and dangerous stormes THe skilfull Ladie Orphisa began then to recounte her aduenture to the Fayrie Knight in this manner You must vnderstand sir Knight that I am daughter to the wise and vertuous king of Lusitania a man by reason of his prudence and valour sufficiently knowne to all the world as hauing doone many things worthie of memorie the â—ame whereof is bruted euery where He being named Diegonde was in his younger yeares a most accomplished knight euen in the time of king Dorino father to the king of Spaine at this instant reigning who had a daughter in yeares mariageable called Pollyda This Ladie beside her excellencie of beautie could cunningly twist spin sowe as is most proper to women likewise she was well instructed in good letters and the liberall Artes in such sort as she was able to disgrace the most wise and studious Philosophers of those times so subtillie could shee dispute of matters depending in Morrall and Naturall Philosophie concerning her selfe By reason héere of shee became so proud and audacious as shee imagined no man then liuing in the world was worthie to ioyne with her in mariage and therefore despised all so that there was no one how woorthie so euer that durst enterprise to demaund the question no not the great King of England who in those dayes was the most fayre and accomplished knight in the world and highly loued of King Dorino because of his valour But the King my Father who was become amorous of her would put it in aduenture either to gaine her in marriage or be altogether refused And in this resolution hee wente to the king of Spaines Court where within short time after his arriuall the Daughter hauing heard the cause of his comming thither gaue him to vnderstand by one of her Pages that he could win nothing but losse of time by séeking to ioyne in marriage with her and therefore he should do much better to imploy his purpose about other occasions Héereat although the king my father was extreamly offended yet left he not for all that to pursue the cause and made his request to the king of Spaine who would not marrie her against her will with such importunitie as in the end the Father and the daughter were constrained to graunt the pretended marriage yet vnder this condition That eight dayes before the nuptials my Father should be bound to hold open Ioust a whole day together against all knights that should present themselues at this generall tourney which expresselie was there appointed for honour of that day and if hee were vnhorsed by any knight hee should desist from his importunate sute and request of mariage But if fortune smiled so fauourablie on him as that he went away conqueror in this enterprise then eight dayes afterward the desired mariage should be accomplished My father who was caryed away with ouer hot and â—urious heat of marrying this faâ—re and skilfull Pollyda accounting no danger to be in the enterprise willingly yéelded to the mariage vnder the condition proposed although he knew right well that those times affoorded great number of most hardie and braue knights that knew how to behaue themselues in the Ioust and could dismount such as carryed better estéeme then themselues But amongst all and beyond all the rest was reckoned as most strong and valiant in each point of chiualâ—ie the young knight Floridamant sonne to the great king Brandismell of England and him onely my Father doubted as sundry times before hee acquainted me withall Weighing then aduisedly the valour of this young knight he began somwhat to dispayre of the issue of his attempt and as in this thought he stood pensiue and troubled he concluded to put in practise what heretofore was sayd by the great Lacedemonian Admirall Lysander to wit that where the Lyons skinnâ— fell out to short to peece it out with the Foxes case minding to vse industrie and cunning in these affayres where hee thought strength and manhood might happen to fayle hauing to deale with such mightie and puissant aduersaries In this determination vnderstanding that the great king Belligande of Gaule had a Launce the yron poynte whereof was so inchanted as all such as were touched therwith should bee dismounted eyther by sleight or force hee resolued to be possessed thereof imagining which of these meanes were lykest to speed and to aduenture both rather then fayle of his intent To bring about this stratageme he went with all speed into the realme of Gaule where beeing hee heard that in a Forrest appertayning to that kingdome dwelt a certaine man which termed himselfe a knight but commonly hee was called the cunning Théefe and so subtill was hee in robbing as nothing could escape his fingering and all his attempts were so artificially compassed as such as had lost any thing or were otherwise robbed presently the blame of their losse was imputed to him he likewise séeing each one estéeme him such a famous théeâ—e and so admire his sleights and pollicies tooke great pleasure therein and oftentimes would sit solemnly smiling thereat To this man the king my father foorthwith trauailed and promised him very large summes of money if he could rob the king of this enchaunted Launce which he so safelie kept in his Cabinet as it was thought impossible to get it thence The cause why hee held it with such vigilant care was for the loue of a fayrie named Oziris who thereof had made a present to him hoping withall hereafter to leaue it to a sonne of his which as yet was but a very yong infant Notwithstanding the great difficultie consisting in this busines yet in respect of the large summe of money the théefe promised to deliuer this Launce into my fathers hand as he did the day after my father had this conference with him but first he thus bespake him Knight quoth he to the king my father in that hee had no other knowledge of him it is necessarie if yee would haue this Launce that to morrow you goe with me to the great Cittie of Poictiers where the king of Gaule at this present maketh his abode and where hee is determined to holde a generall tourney because as to morrow is the day when he wan the victorie against the Giant Perceuall who had long time before greatly trauayled and molested him with warre I will stay for ye néere the place where the Torney is to bee kept and you shall go to the king telling him that I am the Knight Lorgolio Cosen to the Giant Perceuall whom hee slew by treason wherefore I am come to defie him in combate man to man to reuenge the death of the Giant my Cosen with which reuenge I should thinke my selfe satisfied might I but breake a couple of Launces with himselfe no other in his defence to offer me iniurie beside hee shall not strengthen himselfe with his enchaunted Launce whereby my Cosen receiued his death and for better assurance heereof he shall deliuer that
thinking the Quéene had tolde the trueth indéed as within short while after he minded to goe on pilgrimage to pray at the holy Sepulcher of Iesus Christ and returning thence to visit Saint Iames in Galicia at each place to thanke God for this fortunate euent Beeing thus resolued one day hee secretly departed in disguised garments feigning some other excuse to accomplish his intended voyage in which time beeing the space almost of a whole yeare it chaunced that the fayre Olympia was deliuered of me to the great content and pleasure of Quéene Pollyda who nine moneths together feigned her selfe with childe though but meere dissimulation and vsing the Damosels deliuerance as her owne gaue generally to be knowne by some of her fauourites and moste familiar Ladies that this long expectâ—d fruite had issued from her owne bodie And to the end this mysterie might not be discouered the wise Ozyris tooke to her inuisible Fairie house or Pallace the faire Olympia my mother where euer after she continued of selfe same nature as her other nimphes and faires among whom at this present she is most beloued as I certainly knowe by such reuelations that her selfe hath showne me Now the king my father being ignorant of all these things was so glad when he returned from his voyage to sée me growne to a prittie porte or stature and that the Quéene was not sicklie or felt such paynes as other do after their deliuerie as all his care now was for my education and instruction not onely in curious weauing and sowing but also of good letters especiallie poesie and musique perceiuing my voyce apt and proper for singing Héerein likewise did the Quéenes care agrée with his and so dearely did shee looue me as if I had beene indéed a braunche of her owne bodie for neuer wente shee to any place but still I must accompany her through which continuall association it happened one day among the rest that she would needes ride on hunting a pastime wherein she tooke excéeding pleasure I being with her the hounds egerly pursuing the graue and she chasing that things fadged not according to her minde roade so fast that wee had soone lost one another The space of a whole day almost remained I thus alone in this meruaylous great forrest wearyed and spent with séeking to finde my company againe till at length by good happe I came to a fayre and cléere fountaine from whence streamed foorth a swift gliding riuer that made his course quite thorow the forrest where alighting from my horsse to rest and refresh my selfe on the soft tender hearbes that grewe about the banckes of the fountaine I had not long sitten there in this sorte but the fayre Olympia my mother appeared in sight vnto mee in the habit of a Nimphe at whose sudden sight I was greatly amazed But with her swéet and gratious language she deliuered my heart from feare and dismaying recounting to me as in a dainty compiled historie the whole discourse of my birth in manner and forme as you haue heard albeit somewhat more at large Moreouer she told me how the mightie and skilfull Fayrie Ozyris her Mistrâ—sse had disclosed to her that by the craft and meanes of an old abhominable Necromancian named Charonyfer should bee nourished a cruell and hideous monster called the Polyppe whose crueltie and puissance should be doubted and feared ouer the whole earth This beast to iniurie both her and me should one day steale me from my parents and friends to keepe me in extreame miserie and thraldome vntill the best knight in the world nourished and brought vp by this Fayrie as her owne childe albeit extracted originallie from the best puissant and most vertuous king aliue should trauaile to the place of my imprisonment and there by his prowesse and valiancie killing the monster deliuer me out of captituitie Beside this shee tolde mee that during the last seauen yeares of my detayning and miserie a young noble man brother to Quéene Pollyda to hinder the monster from killing me should follow me to the place where I was imprisonned and there each day for six yeares space changing into as many sundrie formes as the monster should combate with him for my libertie yet all his endeuours would prooue in vaine because the monster was onely to be slaine by the knight of the Fayrie Ozyris And to let me know when the last yeere of my miserie should ensue she said that from the beginning thereof the noble man who loued mee with perfect loue should be changed into a Foule or Bird of straunge sort in which shape dayly would hee come to visit and sée me euen vntill the Polyppe were slaine when hee should receiue his manly shape againe and the day of the Polyppes death should bee the finall extermination of my miserie After she had imparted to me all these things she threw foorth such a perfume of Poppie vppon me as from the end of her discourse I slept so soundly by the Fountaines side that I neyther sawe or heard when shee departed and as some while I continued in this sléepe Queene Pollyda not a little displeased for my losse hauing with her traine sought thorow the forrest came at last and found me where I slept when gently awaking me wee thence departed againe into the Cittie Within a while after it chanced that by the aduise of the king my father and his Queene Pollyda I was sent to king Dorino my imagined Grand-father who desired to haue me néere him because he verely thought me to be his daughters childe by reason whereof he wunderouslie loued me Hauing continued certaine yeares in his Court this young Prince heere present named Phinander youngest sonne to king Dorino and brother to king Dorian that at this day gouernes ouer the Spaniards beeing equall in yeares with me taking me for so néere in kindered to him spent the time of his infancie with me and I in like sorte with him Among these pastimes and sportes of children it happened that we became amourous of ech other and that in such manner as we could not endure long without each others sight which loue each one imagined to growe by naturall affection that so neere kinne doe customablie beare one to another and the young Prince verily perswaded himselfe that the iouissance of our loue might not bee compassed because of the prohibition of Christian laws concerning mariage betweene so neere kindred as we séemed to be Héerevpon séeing him one day very sad and pensiue being alone in the Garden I faithfully discouered to him the manner of my birth according as my swéete mother Olympia before had tolde me which highly comforted him causing both in him and me farre greater affecton to each other if more might be then was commenced before Our passions were still worne out with honest sollace and pleasure expecting that the long delay of time should minister more intire delight of our loues according to the honest desire abiding in eyther of vs
meanes whereby they might escape the tyrants power that forciblie sought to make a rape of her wherevnto before shee would condiscend shee minded to murther her selfe with hir owne hands When the knight of the Flower had noted his words desire of honor prouoked him rather to fight for her then all her teares promised her with the helpe of God that dread of death should not with-holâ— him from defence of her case which according to her recitall séemed to him most iust and reasonable In this resolue he thus aduised the Quéene to answer the Persian tyrant that shee would not yeelde her selfe to his mercie before shee made some proofe of the loue he bare her aâ—d whether it were so effectuall that he durst on the morrow aduenture the combate against one knight man to man with what armes himselfe would choose For one should be sent foorth of the Cittie armed at all pointes whom if hee could vanquish shee would condiscend to his will but if the contrary happened and he were conquered he should raise his siedge and depart with his hoste from before the Cittie deliuering and restoring into her repossession all such Citties townes borroughes places castels lands and seigniories as he had taken and ruined rendering and restoring to her likewise all the treasure which she spent to maintaine her resistance in warre the vale we and summe whereof he should credit aâ—d beleeue vpon her owne oath If he pleased not to accept this offer she was determined to kill her selfe with her owne handes rather then shee would graunt what he so earnestly desired This councell was so agreeable to the Queene that presently she dispatched a messenger to Artabaz to heare from him some answere or resolution At this message hee did nothing but smile and laugh in derision and mockerie as it were assuring himselfe of the victorie and therefore accepted the Combate with knightes ordinarie armes of Launce and Swoord but to make short the knight of the Flower and hee combatted the next day man to man in such sort and so long time as after a fierce and extreame cruell fight Artabaz was vanquished and yeelded prisoner to the Queene Lyxander where by meanes of the knight of the Flower he forcibly was compeld to performe the articles conuentions sollemnly sworne on either part before the combate When Artabaz was enlarged from the Quéenes prison conquered despight and despaâ—â—e hee ranne himselfe vppon his owne sword to let out the loue he before had conceyued towardes the Quéene Lixandra who thus was deliuered from miserie and captiuitie as also the violent furie of so great an enemie Nor fayled â—he to thanke the yong knight the mean of her deliuerance entertayning and feasting him there the space of a whole yere euen perforce as it were causing him to tarrie with her so that in the end she became enamoured of him and but that she was a Pagan and hée a Christian he being lykewise else where vowed she woulde haue ioyned with him in marriage And notwithstanding this prohibiting bond both of the one and other religion she could not support the extreame flame of this amorous fyre but being ouercome with incontinencie was constrayned to yeld her selfe in such sort as she had knowledge of him almost against his heart and will Howe oft this continued I knowe not but within short time she was conceiued which the young knight perceiuing beeing wearie of these amourous sportings which else where ought to be emploied euen in place where his heart serued one daie secretly getting from his companie and being disguised hee went whether the winde and fortune would conduct him At his departure she was meruaylously discomforted causing diligent search to be made for him in all places her lande as also far and neare to enquire after him being willing to change her religion and become a Christian onely to marrie with him or once more to get him in her custodie But hearing by credible reporte that hee was the valiaunt Brandismel king of great Britaine who being a young knight so chaunged his name and disguised his armes hauing espoused his Florixa from whome came the king Floridamant of whome at this daie is held such account she comforted her selfe so well as she could and couered her fault so cunningly that albeit shée was great with child she married with the worthie Knight Florinor at that day king of Armenia in time of whieh mariage by about seauen 〈◊〉 after she was deliuered of a goodly son called Florant in remembraunce of the knight of the Flower his father Within thrée years after she had thrée other sons one named Adylas the second Phoas the third Orontes all found such hardie aduenterous knights as euer liued in anie time Now because Ferramond was chased forth of Armenia by Clarion brother to Artabaz who was king after him and father to Mutinel at this time raigning a long while he vexed him with warres to recouer home his kingdome agayne but he could not compasse what hee intended vntyll Florant grew strong and abie to carrie armes who beeing assisted with a mightie and puissaunt armie and especially imployed in these affayres went forward with his charge so effectually that hee expelled thence Clarion and his people who grew into such vexation heereat as séeing he was no longer able to stand agaynst him he caused him traiterously to be slayne by foure Persians who counterfeiting to come in embassage to him with letters pretended from Clarion as he talked alone with them in his chamber they câ—uelly murdered him with certaine pistols which for the purpose they had closely hid vnder theyr maÌ„tles Florinor who tooke himselfe to be his father was so offended and grieued hereat as a good father will naturally be for the death of so valiant a sonne and sent Adylas his other sonne with a far more great and stately armie to reuenge the death of Florant his brother but hee followed his busines so slenderly that albeit he was a valyant knight ther he lest his life and his armie discomfited which went so neere the hart of Florinor that with conceyt of griefe he dyed being then aged in yeres as lykewise was his Quéene Lixandra who carefully nourished me vp being the sonne of Florant and endued with his name as also young Adylas bearing likewise name after his slaine father In this time or soone after the death of Florinor Phoaz and Orantes seeking after aduentures as knighâ—es arrant prickt forward with desire of fame and honour were slayne in two seuerall encounters by king Floridamant beeing then as they were a young knight and following the same affayres Eache of them left a sonne behinde them bearing their owne names who lykewise remayned in the charge and kéeping of Queene Lixandra our grand-mother shee verie carefully nourished and brought vs vp especially me to whome verie often shée discoursed these accidents and litle before her death which rather was through age than anie other extremitie she parted and
diuâ—ded the kingdomes betwéene vs appoynting to one the realme of Phez Adylas Phaos and Orontes my cousins had giuen to them the three other seigniories to witte Morocco Thunis and Alger wherewith wee all haue beene well contented without quarrelling or falling at debate for anie cause whatsoeuer But we being as yet verie young were assayled again by Mutinel the king of Persia in reuenge of Artabaz death his predecessor and would haue depriued vs againe of our kingdomes but we so well defended our selues as he coulde not altogether defeate vs of our right but in regarde of our ouer young yeres we promised him certayne yerely tribute and obeisance or homage when he woulde commaund vs to haue it done which euer since we haue dayly continued and in consequence hereof being charged by him to arme themselues agaynst the king of great Britaine in companie of king Brandissant and his brethren to ruinate and destroie all christendome together wee entered on the seas with a goodly great armie thitherward and sayling merrily certayne daies in our voiage we were surprized with a greate tempest which separated vs one from another in such sort as I know not what is become of the rest Well wot I that my ship was wrackte against a huge rocke and none saued aliue of all that were with me but my selfe alone Since when hauing recouered horse and armour such as by fortune I brought with me into the forrest of great aduentures wher méeting a proud and arrogant knight that challenged all passengers to combate with him promising for prize of theyr victorie a goodly horse a fayre armour and a golden cup of inestimable value desirous to gain these thrée if I could I entered the combat with him and all daie wee fought together without apparance of victorie on either side till the verie declining of the daie when wee were euen on the point to knowe where the lot woulde fall when another knight no lesse valiant than proud came to trouble our intent very suriously assayling vs both In which sirange conflict it chanced that this curteous Lord came and seeing our confused order of fighting behelde howe I was wounded of which hurts through the mighty and supreame diuine vertue I am now healed Thus good Father haue I fully satâ—sfâ—ed your request if ye will command me anie other seruice assure your selfe I will doe it verie gladly Thus king Florent of Phez ended his discourse when the olde hermite began an excellent exhortation to confirme him soundly in the christian fayth charging him to liue and die in defence thereof and not to persecute it as before he had done Taking occasion by the example of Saint Paul to incite him forward to his dutie according as he procéeded in Gods soruice after hee was so diuinely called When he had finished his sermon wher with the king was highly satiffied and contented after hee hadde humbly thanked him for so great good receiued he departed in companie of the faire pilgrime with him to go visite the holy sepulchre of Iesus Christ where what happened to them afterward you shal reade at large in the third volume of this worthie historie which if God permit you shal see verie shortly The discourse of the Giant Squamell SQuamell the ouer wéening proud knight mightie in strength and of Giantine stature was conducted on the blacke riuer as yee haue heard very farre vnder the earth by the diabolicall arte of the Necromancer Charonifor euen into a dark chamber full of fyre and smoake the verie next neighbout to black Auernos wherein hee was no sooner arriued but certaine young spirits or deuils the waiting seruants on the sorcerer came quickly about him foure bringing vnguents others clothes another a candle of Rosen to light their maister that he might make readie his necessarie emplaisters wherewith the Giants wounds should be healed And he being halfe dead was laid along on a banke before a great fire that burned extreamly within the chamber which onely serued to giue them light night and day thrée times he swouned while Chironifer his chirurgion felt the depth of his mortall woundes which notwithstanding by his speedy helpe succour and dilligence within few dayes after were made verye whole and sound Right well he knew how to thank the Necromancer vowing his loue for euer after to him and Charonifer likewise as glad of his health exhorted him still to follow his aduenture and returne to the Forrest where hee was wounded there to stay till he met a knight in black armour mounted on the horsse which was one of the prizes of the combate assuring him that hee was one of the best knights in the world If therefore he 〈◊〉 at honor and reputation such as beséemed â—he order of knighthood hee should not rest till he had fought with him and slaine him otherwise it he failed in this 〈…〉 great 〈…〉 performe 〈◊〉 departing froÌ„ his nightly shade after he had taken leaue of the Necromancer he was conducted back againe by the same way he went entring the black Boate to goe view the light of the sunne which hee had neuer seene since hee â—ame thither Beeing in little while arriued in the forrest of high aduentures and riding by the morning light the space of an houre he found a Ladie of meruailous beautie hanging by the neck on a Tree the fatall instrument being the laces that bound vp her hayre which being discheueled round about her hung downe to her very feete The Giant presently knew her to be the Lady Lucinda whom somtime he loued and now so mortally hated as hee was not a little ioyfull to behold this sight lauding his gods especially Cupid who so meritoriouslie reuenged the rigour which shee in former time had vsed toward him for when he intirelie loued her she scorned him wherfore in â—esting maner he imbraced the dead bodye swinging her about from one side to another but at last hee was ware of a paper which with a small thred was fastened on her bosome which hee taking downe and seeing them to be verses read them to himselfe in this manner The verses written on a little Labell and fastned about the Ladyes neck as she hung vpon the Tree THou that goest by if pittie thee possesse then take compassion on this noble dame Who foyld by loue and fortunes forwardnes heere as thou seest hath doone a deed of shame Making her hands the engines of her death And on this Tree sent foorth her latest breath If â—hou be knight and valour doost containe doo thy deuoire to wreake her haplesse end On cruell Squamell honors foulest staine whom teares nor treates could make a Ladies frend But full of rancor pride and high disdaine Still made her breath her sighes sutes in vaine If thou be Lady or some vertuous dame and knowst the man that holds thy fauours deere Loue him againe and thinke not on my name in whom the effects of scorne dooth well appeare I was beloou'd and then
him to receiue aduise from them what best might be doone â—or defence of the Christians against all euents wanting honest excuses to delay the day of battaile and tarriâ— for the supplie which was comming The Pagans on the other side disposed their men being many in number to assayle the besiedged forcaâ—â—ing all the best wayes and mâ—anes for the same that might be possible And as these affayres passed on in this sort the fayre Infant Polydamie being on the top of a high Tower of the pallace royall where she might behold the confused and bad ordered multitude of enemies sawe them martching foorth of their pauillions which were erected a pretty way off from the â—ittie that they might to raine themselues néerer where the Archers Crosbowes and Slings might eastlie reache the towne with their shaftes and stones as in those times the Pagan nations knew how to vse the same as well in assayling as in defending or where they soonest might come to handie gripes or make some sudden surprise in the night whereat the beautifull maide was greatly abashed But had they beene assembled there to some better purpose then they were shee might haue conceiued excéeding pleasure in beholding so many goodly Ensignes or Guydons such riche gilt glistering armour so many pikes and launces so many braue Captaines well furnished so many hardie knights well mounted in equipage so many Drummes Fyfes and Trumpets which with warlike noyse chéered vp the souldiers hearts as one would haue sayd seeing the footmen leape and daunce so merrily and the horsemen carryre so brauely that they rather were prepared for a wedding then the fight yet notwithstanding this pleasing sight she curssed them in her minde desiring betâ—ter pastime and more agreeable to her contentment Continuing in this displeased thought and contemplation Angrafolt the king of Corse came vp to hir hauing long sought her in many chambers of the Castell and not finding her ye may guesse his greefe by his humor for he was so passionate and impatient in his loue that beeing absent from the fayre Infants sight he could enioy no rest wherfore finding her by her selfe after hee had so long sought hir in euery likely place iudge yee whether he were pleased or no and the Princeâ—â—e contrarywise displeased to be alone in such a place farre from the Queenes company and the other Ladyes with such a mightie enemie to hir modestie which as she well knew bee sought all meanes to attempt yet â—éeling himselfe to be a prisoner fearing likewise to raise any further offence in his enemies against him and especially being ouerruled by the force of loue which made him so milde and gentle as I tolde 〈◊〉 before he vsed such regaâ—â— of the Princesse as not so much as with a looke or a word he would be drawne to vse any force or violence towards her Which when the Lady noted with a benigne and gracious welcome wishing him to abandon those melancholly humours she intreated him to shew and tell her perticulerly who and what were the chéefest leaders in that multitude And séeing a chariot 〈◊〉 â—edeckt with golde and siluer drawne by foure lustie 〈◊〉 Coursers brauely caparosonued wherein sat an auncient knight his heard white and countenance reuerend enuiroâ—ed with a goodly troope of horssemen that rode before him along the field all shewing dutie to him and rainging which way hee pleased she was desirous to know the estate of this old man whom first her eyes had taken view of wherefore she thus began I pray yee sir knight if ye beare me such loue as ye haue made speeche of tell me truely what this old man is that rides in such riche and fayre a Chariot to sport himselfe along the Caâ—pe Lady quoth Angrafolt I shall willingly tel yee without fabling for in obeying your commaund I would make no spare of my life much lesse then deny to satisfie yee in this Among these matters of so great importance know madame that this is the puissant king Grandowin my father cheefe of all this great multitude of men by him leuied in his youth he hath doonâ— many fayre 〈◊〉 and worthie deedes of memorie and although by reason of his yeares hee is not as hee hath beene readie in force and prowesse for the fight yet is hee so wise and pollitique in councell concerning these affyres of warrâ— a Prince 〈◊〉 riche opulent and redoubted withall as all the Pagan nations stand in awe of him respecting onely his â—ommaundemâ—nt All these which you sée heere are 〈◊〉 for his defence the renowne of his vertue and 〈◊〉 beeing so spred through the world are all at his direction to fight 〈◊〉 citties or what else beside and 〈◊〉 are they to learne 〈…〉 Then tell me sir quoth she what is yonder portly knight of stature whose countenance appeareth so proud and arrogant that with his great blacke Courser fetcheth such 〈…〉 hauing so rich and fayre a plume of 〈◊〉 blew and white in the treast of his Helmet anâ—wering the same in couller that are on his horsses head his Beuer being open makes me coniecture by the small sight of his face that hee should bee a man of high resolue and in martiall enterprises a couragious warriour Beside if 〈◊〉 â—ye deceiue mee not hee somewhat resembles your selfe in countenance the couller of your haire nothing diffeâ—ing for his armes as I guesse standing so farre off hee beares in his shéeld three bloudie rampant Lions in a field blewe Heâ— whom yee speake of Madam answered Angrafolt â—éeâ—ing to hardie and magnanimous is my brother Brandissanâ— a man repleat with wounderfull prowesse valiant and readie at armes beyond all the rest of the armie a riche and mightie prince hoth in lands and treasure who in his tender youth held such warre against his enemies as ouerâ—â—â—â—â—ing and â—anquishing them he conquered with all sundrie 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 rich and fertile well garnished with people borne and brought vp to follow the warres But he quoth Polydamie whom I behold yondeâ— a little on the left hand who priding in the course of his horse makes him carrire toward king Brandissant your brother he â—eares in his sheeld â—oure Giants and the figure of a monster dead or 〈◊〉 as I 〈◊〉 by the painting and there stands a knight 〈◊〉 in the conquest what is he and what are those other three that follow in the same course all seeming to be of one minde or disposition They are quoth Angrafolt foure great Pagan princes the subiects and seruants to king Brandissant my brother the first of them is called Solazard that beares the monster and the Giants slaine as yee perceiue by the painting in his shéeld those in times past hee alone vanquished in a foughten field He is a riche and puissant Lorde a man of great valour and addresse at armes and by reason of his prowesse worthie estimation though he were deformed and of monstrous fashion as ye might sée if he were vnarmed The other likewise that follow
of his birth and valour The young princesse lending eare attentiuely to these wordes cheered vp her thoughts and tooke great pleasure in contemplating the excelling beautie of this fayre Noiade as also to heare her swéete and gratious language the sence and substance whereof concerned the thing shee most desired and was so agréeable to her So that longing to heare what the Nimphe had promised after a modest and ciuill kinde of questioning she thus made answere Whatsoeuer thou be most faire and gentle Nimphe right welcome art thou into this place and albeit thy presence at the first brought me some cause of feare and displeasure yet now on the contrary I am as glad and ioyfull héere to beholde thee for reasons as yet knowne to thy selfe and this ioye I receiue by sight of thée procured the motion and change thou didst note in my countenanâ—e not any fright feare or discontent receiued through thy beeing with mee If then thou hast any thing to tell mee chéefely concerning that I most desire to know I pray and intreat thée againe and againe by the reuerence and respect thou bearest to thy Mistresse Ozyris by these Fountaines and waters which thou hauntest and wherein thou delightest vsually to bathe thy selfe likewise by the loue and honest affection thou bearest my knight by the golden tresses of thy haire with the swéet fauour and beautie I beheld in thy face I coniure thée not to depart from me vntill thou hast tolde me who and what the knight is that beareth name of the Fairie of whence hee is where and in what part hee is at this present and whether he be dead or liuing Tell me withall if his affection be such to me as mine is to him what ease helpe and comfort or loue like recompence I shall receiue in the end for the loyall affection I beare him and what will bee the issue of both our loues Thy knight faire princesse answered the Fayrie is a man vertuous and of great valour for he is the onely valiant and most accomplished knight in all perfections that at this day liueth or heereafter shall liue vppon the earth in like manner his exhorâ—ation or originall hath he receiued from a father that is the most hardiest king on earth no one so worthie to weare a crowne royall namely the great monarch Floridamant of England a prince so perfect and accomplished as may be possible He being in quest of sundrie strange aduentures which long time hee exercised as a knight errant onely to acquire honor and reputation left his quéene conceiued with childe wherof she was deliuered in the absence of her king and he was nourished vnder the wing and gouernement of the quéene his mother vntill the age of seauen or eight yeares when the skilfull Fayrie Ozyris who all her life time bare good affection to the king in the countrey where shee her selfe inhabited as also to all that were of his familie knowing and perceiuing well by her skill that if the young prince should remaine long time in his fathers Court hee was destined to incur some great misâ—haunce euen no lesse then a strange and cruell death by sudden inuention she found the meane to rob her of her Son in respect that if this misfortune had happened it would haue prooued such an exceeding domage and preiudice not onely to all the realme of great Brittaine but likewise all the Christians that liue vnder heauen neuer felt the like in regard of the good they should one daye receiâ—e by him Hauing then so subtilly gotten him away I will not tell you how or in what manner because it requireth too long a discourse and I intend to tell yee but breefely the principall points of this historie She nourished and brought him vppe long time in her riche and opulent Fayrie which is as huge big or rather greater then the wydest kingdome in the worlde and there enstructed him in all good manners vntill hee was of able age and capable to beare knightly armes whereby hee might discouer what hee was She prouiding him of all things necessarie for a knight chusing and appointing him as her loyall and faithfull seruant she being the wisest and most faire princesse liuing as likewise he is the most valiant and vertuous knight in the world directed his course sending him as thou knowest and canst very well testifie and witnesse to the princely Court of the great Emperour thy father where what befell him thou canst tell without my reporting as also thou wast not ignorant of his departure What is become of him euer sithence his departure would require a long time to recount the houre of my departure so vrgently presseth me as at this instant I can tel thee no more because I am constrained to leaue thee But to morrow at the selfe same houre I came this day I promise to returne againe not onely to tell the rest of his aduentures but to let thee sée them all to thy great pleasure and contentment Hauing thus spoken the Nimphe plunged her head at the first into the water of the Fountaine and so departed where likewise I meane to finishe this Chapter CHAP. 21. How the Nimphe Aegle by the will of hir Mistresse Ozyris appeared another time to the fayre Porphyria and made her for to see her knight in a Sphere withall the aduentures that happened to him since the time she saw him last THe nymph Aegle hauing thus left the company of the yong princes she remained very pensiue more desirous than before to know the newes of her knight for now shée would faine bee acquainted with what the nymph had concealed not contented with what was alreadie reuealed though in some sort pleased by knowing that her part and amorous desires aimed at no meane or base obiect but so sortable and worthy as she could make choice of And verie certaine it was that in those times there was no Empire or monarch more renowmed nor anie king or Christian prince more esteemed then was the realme of great Britaine the worthie king Floridamant For his predecessors and himselfe had inlarged and augmented theyr gouernment further a great deal then the continent of England not onely by their force and prowesse but likewise by their swéete curtesse and benignitie so valiant did they euermore shewe themselues to bee as also humane and affable withall yet al this aduantage was not sufficient to satisfie the princely maide but rather vrged her to more pensiuenes and impatience vnderstanding him to be of such rase and originall whome before shee reckoned and estéemed but as a simple knight arrant now proouing to be of so high extraction and great birth hauing seated her affections in place of such dignitie she remayned still doubtfull whether he were aliue or dead for so long absence might verie well raise great and vehement suspition thereof Here vpon she withdrew her selfe secretly into her chamber beeing much discomforted and verie passionate as before musing